Colin

It seemed like I was losing Abby. No matter what I did or what move I made, I only seemed to make things worse. I had no idea how to reign in the situation or make it any better since it had spiraled so badly. It seemed that between Abby and I, everything I touched turned to dust instead of gold.

And I didn’t understand why.

I didn’t want to lose her. I loved Abby with every fiber of my being. It didn’t matter that I didn’t know her favorite color or most cherished childhood memory. I loved the woman she was. The person she was. The person she wanted to be. I wanted to stand by her side and support her. Help her. Watch her grow and flourish and succeed. I wanted to help her reach any height she wanted to launch herself towards, and I wanted to be there to catch her when she fell. I wanted to kiss her tears away and wake up to her smile every single morning for the rest of my life.

I wanted Abby, and I was willing to do anything to have her.

As I sat in my office over the lunch break, I thought of her. Of how badly I wanted her. How badly I needed her. I had no idea what to do, or what the right step was now. I was petrified that the more space I gave her, the more she would convince herself that she was happier without me. But I knew I could make her happy. Our time together had proven that much to me. No one would ever be able to convince me that she wasn’t happy when she was with me.

But the hectic nature of our lives seemed to get in the way of all that.

I needed to do something to make her see that this was the right step for us. That we were meant to be. That our paths had converged the way they did for a reason, and that this was it. Spending our lives together and building a world just for the two of us. That was our destiny. To forge bonds together and conquer the world in whatever capacity we dreamed of.

Individually or together, side by side.

We were closer it seemed when we were on our road trips. When it was just the two of us stuck in a shabby room together. Our schedules had gotten busy so quickly after we had gotten engaged that we didn’t really have time to enjoy it. Work, including endless meetings, got in the way and my desire to keep her safe was stifling her ability to fly the way she was used to flying. To exploring the way she was used to exploring.

To learn the way she was used to learning.

That was the answer. We needed another trip together. Another trip with us stuck in a room where we could come together as a couple and simply enjoy one another. I just didn’t know if a road trip was the answer.

So, I opened up my computer and started doing a little research.

Abby had mentioned something about taking vacations together. Taking a vacation somewhere to a place that meant something to one of us. It wouldn’t really be a vacation if I took her back home, but I knew where I could take her to educate her on me a little bit.

A Caribbean cruise.

It was perfect. I could get us a balcony suite and treat her to spa days and hot tubs with endless drinks, and I could tell her stories about the first cruise I ever took. The cruise that got me hooked on cruises from that moment on. If she wanted to know what my favorite type of vacation was, then I wouldn’t just tell her about it.

I would take her on it and show her.

Looking up availability, there was a Caribbean cruise leaving a nearby port on Monday. That was a pretty short timeframe—only three or four days from now. But the next cruise up to my standards didn’t leave for another three weeks, and I was worried that would be too late.

I was worried Abby might leave me before then.

So, I booked the trip without hesitation. Two tickets on a prime Caribbean cruise for seven days. Nothing but the ocean surrounding us, luscious foods to indulge in, and a balcony that hung right over the ocean waves below.

All I had to do was convince Abby to go with me.

Picking up the phone, I dialed her number, hoping she would pick up. I knew she needed space, so I had to make the phone call quick. On the last ring, when I figured it was going to shoot me to her voicemail, she picked up.

“Hello?” she asked.

“Abby. Hey,” I said, smiling.

“Hey Colin. How are you?”

“I’m doing okay. I’m at work. How are you?”

“Just laying around which is nice. I’ve been feeling so tired, like I haven’t gotten enough quality rest since the conference.”

“What if I told you I had a remedy for all that?”

The phone went silent before I heard her sigh.

“What is it?” she asked.

“Would you have dinner with me tonight so we could talk about it?”

“I just told you I’m tired and you want to take me out to dinner?” she asked.

“I’m sorry,” I said. “I wasn’t thinking. I just—”

Be honest. Be open. Be communicative.

“I miss you more than I can stand,” I said, breathlessly.

There was silence on the other end of the line. I could feel her considering my words. I could feel my heart thundering in my ears as my hand began to tremble.

Please say yes. Please say yes. Please say—

“Okay,” she said.

“Okay? You will? Perfect. If you want it to be a short dinner, I understand.”

“Just let me get a nap beforehand. A late dinner maybe? Pick me up around eight?” she asked.

“Whatever you want, you name it,” I said.

“See you then.”

I could hardly contain my excitement. Finishing up at work faster than ever, I rushed home to get ready. I put on my best suit and called in reservations at my favorite restaurant. I planned on telling her why it was my favorite tonight in the hopes that she would learn a little more about me.

Enough to give this cruise a shot.

When I got to her apartment, she came out in a lovely dark green dress. It fluttered around her knees and matched the heels she was wearing. Her hair was piled high on top of her head and she wore a beautiful necklace.

She looked absolutely stunning as she climbed into the car.

“Hey there,” she said, smiling.

She reached for my hand and took it instinctively, causing hope to spring forth in the pit of my stomach.

“You look phenomenal,” I said, smiling.

“So, where are we headed?” she asked.

“A restaurant called Trois Mec. It’s my favorite restaurant in all of L.A.”

“Why is that?” she asked.

“The first time I ever ate there I was a cocky bastard. I tried to order everything in the butchered French I thought I knew, and the waiter actually laughed at me.”

“That sounds horrendous,” she said, giggling.

“But the food, it was fantastic. I wanted to compliment the chef, and when he came to the table he started rattling off in French. I nodded like I could understand him, then responded in kind. I meant to tell him the food was fabulous, but I ended up telling him he looked like a goat.”

“Oh Colin,” she said.

“The place keeps me humble. That is why I enjoy going there.”

I could feel Abby’s eyes on me, and I turned to catch her sparkling stare.

“You really do look beautiful tonight,” I said.

“I’m glad you got me to come out,” she said.

We pulled up to the restaurant and I led her inside. Her skin felt so warm against mine, and I could feel my body raging out of control. I hadn’t so much as kissed her lips in days, and my entire body was aching to pull her into one of the restrooms.

But I took a deep breath and tried to silence the voices in my head.

“So, what is this magical remedy of yours? To help me get rested up?” she asked.

“I want to start off by saying you were right.”

She cocked her head slightly as her brows furrowed in confusion.

“That happens a lot. You’ll have to be more specific.”

“I’ve missed that wit of yours, too,” I said, grinning. “You were right. We don’t know much about each other. Not as much as two people who are engaged should know. But that doesn’t mean we can’t get to know one another.”

“Okay,” she said, “I’m listening.”

“We bonded the best when we were away from work. When it was just the two of us in a room. Or in a car.”

“Not another road trip,” she said. “I can’t take another one.”

“In our uh—rather heated discussion, you mentioned something about vacationing to our favorite places,” I said.

“If you tell me you’re taking me on another road trip—”

“I’m telling you I’m wanting to take you on a cruise.”

Her eyes grew wide as a grin slipped across my face.

“A Caribbean cruise, to be specific.”

“A cruise to the Caribbean.”

“Yes,” I said. “It’s my favorite kind of vacation. I love the ocean and I love to eat. I can combine those two elements on a cruise while enjoying excellent shows, libations, and lots of sleep. No land in sight, no cell service, and no work distractions at all. It’s my favorite kind of vacation, all wrapped into one.”

I watched her eyes light up as a smile spread across her beautiful face. I had missed this. I’d missed making her smile. I’d missed treating her to things she wanted. Ted had been right. I hadn’t been spoiling her in the way that was unique to her. I was just throwing things at her without any particular thought, hoping it would be enough.

And it was destroying us.

“I’ve always wanted to go on a cruise,” Abby said.

“Well, if you’ll go with me, I’ve already booked us one.”

“You have!?”

“Yep. A seven-day cruise to the Caribbean. All the food, drinks, hot tubs, and massages you want. Not to mention sleeping in late and taking a nap on the deck under the sun.”

“That sounds heavenly,” she said. “When do we leave?”

“Monday.”

I watched the smile fall from her face in an instant, and I began to panic.

“If you don’t want to do that one, there’s another that leaves three weeks later from the same port,” I said.

“Monday,” she said.

“I can rebook the trip if you want me to.”

“This Monday?” she asked.

“Abby, please don’t say no.”

“I’m not saying no. I’m just—wondering what my boss will think.” As I watched a playful grin creep across her face, I let out a sigh of relief.

“I would love to go on this cruise,” she said. “But is this going to be okay at work?”

“Well, since I’m the boss and you work directly underneath me, it’ll be fine,” I said.

“I don’t know. I haven’t worked directly underneath you in quite some time.”

I watched a mischievous glint sweep across her face and felt my cock pulsing against my pants.

“We could fix that—if you wanted to,” I said.

Just then our waiter interrupted, and I briefing considered reaching out to choke him. I ordered a bottle of red wine for the table and left Abby to pick which one. I could see her cheeks flushing as she looked over the menu, then I felt something rub up against my ankle. My eyes shot over to her as her eyes fluttered up to mine, as she named the bottle of wine she’d chosen for the night.

Then the waiter left us to fetch our drinks.

She got to her feet and offered me her hand. Her eyes were darkening and I knew I was in for a treat. I stood and took her hand as she started leading me towards the restrooms. I strode in front of her before I pushed her into the men’s room. I locked the door behind us and pressed her up against it. Without another word, my lips came crashing down on hers.

My girth was throbbing against my pants as her hands made quick work of my belt. Soon, my pants were being shoved down my legs. I pulled her dress up to her waist, exposing her panties that were glistening wet for me. My thickness was bobbing in the air, the head dripping as I slipped her panties to the side.

Abby jumped and locked her legs around me as I pinned her to the wall. Then I looked up into her eyes and kissed her lips fondly.

“Are you sure?” I asked.

I watched the clouded haze of lust lift behind her eyes before her hand settled onto my cheek.

“I’ve missed you, Colin,” she said.

Effortlessly, I slipped into her heat. She was so tight around me, I knew I wouldn’t last long. She clung to my suit coat, her face buried in my neck. She pressed kiss after kiss onto my skin, my hands planted against the wall of the bathroom. My pants were around my ankles and my cock was sticking through my boxers. Her warmth was fluttering around me as she nibbled on my skin.

“Abby. I’m not gonna last—I’m—we should—”

“Go, Colin. Let me feel you,” she said.

My girth was growing against her walls as her nails raked along my back. I peppered her face with kisses, feeling my body reach its own end. I was desperate for her. Desperate to feel any sort of closeness with her after the space that had grown between us. Her curves were calling to me and her legs were pulling me closer. Her moans were vibrating my skin and her lips were swelling underneath our passionate kisses.

Her throat swallowed my groans as I spilled into her, my hips stuttering as I pushed deeper and deeper into her body.

We panted, breathing each other’s air as our juices trickled from her body. I held her close, reluctant to release her as I breathed in her perfume. It had been days since I’d felt her like this. Days since I’d kissed her lips like this. I wanted to carry her out of the restaurant, take her home, and give her what I knew she deserved from me.

But instead, I set her down on her feet and handed her some paper towels so she could clean herself up.

She looked up at me, a healthy blush filling her cheeks. She giggled as she slid her panties up her body, like an embarrassed school girl. I tucked my cock back in and we quickly put ourselves together. Then I took her hand and we ventured back out to our table.

Our wine glasses had been prepared and the bottle left for our enjoyment.

We sat down and drank our wine leisurely, taking our time before ordering our food. The conversation flowed easily between us, like old lovers passing in the night again. We picked at our food and cracked jokes about the people around us. The stuffy and the aristocratic. The famous and the infamous. I watched her eyes twinkle all night with the flame of the candle on our table, and I didn’t think twice when I slid my foot against hers and let it rest there.

The night was perfect, and for the first time in days I felt that everything was going to be all right.