CHAPTER EIGHT

 

EDDIE

 

 

I barely had any time before my short shift started and I desperately wanted to organize something that my captain, a man who could literally have anything he wanted on board, would enjoy. Talk about putting myself under pressure. I was determined to make our third date—a day on Lifou—a special one. It was an idyllic place already, and a perfect few hours would make it unforgettable. Hopefully what I’d organized fit the bill, but I had to wait until the end of my shift to see if it would be.

I scanned identification cards for the queued disembarking passengers with a smile and exchanged a few kind words with those who were doing more than saying thanks. The crowds were already thinning, most of the passengers getting on the tenders within an hour of mooring. I couldn’t wait to head over there myself. The azure water and white sand were calling to me, begging me to jump and make a swim for it if I had faced being stuck on the ship all day. Thankfully I only had an hour to go.

Our replacements arrived and I slipped into the staff only area. Making my way quickly across the ship, I ducked into my stateroom to pick up the things I needed before dashing off to collect the food and drinks I’d organized.

I met Will right on ten o’clock. He was walking down the corridor to me all stupidly sexy in a pair of long swim trunks, a tank top and flip flops, a pair of wrap-around sunglasses hanging from his loose shirt and a Broncos ball cap on. The grin that lit up his face was mesmerizing, and I found myself mirroring it until he swept me into his arms and dipped me low. Giggling like a teenager, I kicked up a leg and threw my arms around his neck, kissing him like I hadn’t seen him in months. It started out playful, but quickly turned long and slow, incredibly sexy but a little desperate too. My shy boy was becoming bolder, showing me what he wanted, and I loved that side of him. I smiled against his lips. “Happy to see me, handsome?”

“No, just needed some lip gloss,” he teased, straightening up then leaning in to kiss me again. Taking me by the hand, he tugged me toward the elevators. “Come on, I need some sun and sand.” We walked together to the disembarkation point enjoying the quiet corridors followed by the short queue of people. In plain clothes, we blended in, no one blinking an eyelid at us until we got to the front of the line.

“Good morning, Captain. Enjoy your day onshore,” one of the crew members said, looking me up and down and apparently finding me lacking.

“We will, thank you,” Will replied bluntly, his displeasure at the other man’s reaction obvious. Chastised, he handed back our ID cards and smiled politely at us. Once we got out of earshot, Will pulled me close adding, “I’m sorry. I hate that they look at you differently because you’re with me. If it’s too much…”

“If it’s too much, I’ll tell them to grow the fuck up and butt the hell out of my life, Will. I’m not going to walk away from you because someone else has their nose out of joint. I’m not that man.” He kissed my knuckles softly and I didn’t need him to thank me to see just how much my loyalty meant to him. 

“Ma told me I had to protect you from anyone being an ass to you,” he said sheepishly when we were seated in a corner of the tender boat. There were people around us, but we paid them no attention, talking to each other in hushed tones.

“You told your mother about me?” I asked, surprised. Actually, I wasn’t surprised; I was blown away. Maybe I was reading more into it—maybe just being mentioned to the parents wasn’t that big a deal, but it sure felt like it was. That made me smile and it spread even more broadly when he nodded.

I squeezed his hand and confessed what I’d done. “I told someone about you too. I know its early days but I wanted to make sure that we did everything by the book. I didn’t want any question of propriety.” I paused, adding, “That’s how I knew that you had time off today.”

“Who?” he asked curiously, smoothing his thumb over the palm of my hand.

“HR.” I looked at him, hoping he didn’t get angry, but the smile that lit up his face was boyishly shy. He was adorable and I found myself wanting to kiss him. That was the wonderful thing about being out of uniform—I could kiss him, so I did. “You aren’t mad?”

“Beautiful, why would I be mad?” He ran his fingertips down my face in the way I loved. I was quickly coming to crave his touch, his affections. “It was sweet. I love that you’re making things official, especially knowing I needed a little time.”

“I’m not pressuring you—”

“I know,” he interrupted. “This is good, we’re good. We are good, aren’t we? Do I need to do anything?”

“No, I asked the HR executive whether relationships on board were permitted and she said that as long as it wasn’t with an immediate supervisor, it was okay. I didn’t really have a choice but to tell her it was you when she said that, but apparently there’s no issue for us because I don’t report to you. If any issues arise, I’ve signed an authority for your first mate to make a ruling so you’ll never have a conflict of interest by having to discipline me. It’s the best outcome we could have asked for—apparently people have been transferred off the ship when those lines of control are blurred.”

He nodded, agreeing but before he said anything, his gaze cut to the window over his other shoulder. We’d pulled up to the jetty and the tender was being lashed to the pylons so we could get off. Will picked up the bag I’d set between my feet and waving off my protests, he dumped his towel on my lap. “We’ll swap on the way back.”

I followed him out and as soon as I stood on the pier I understood why he was enamored with the island. It was exactly like you would picture an island in the Pacific. Swaying palm trees and crystal clear water. Huts with palm frond roofs lined the hill away from the beach, a larger open-air hut standing in the middle of the gathering with a lawn surrounding it. Flowers blossomed on the bushes and fruit dangled heavily from the branches of others. The smell of barbecuing meat surrounded us and my mouth watered. I’d be stopping there on the way back from our swim.

“There’s lots to see on the island. What would you like to do?”

“Your favorite thing,” I replied, hoping like hell he didn’t want to go for a swim at the same beach that every other passenger from the ship was swimming at. The beach was busy, but everyone had their own space along what looked like a mile long stretch of sand. They just didn’t have any privacy, and I was dearly hoping for that. “But I would love a swim.”

“Follow me.” My heart sank when Will led us to the beach, but I bit my tongue. I wanted the day to be special for him, and if this was his favorite spot to swim, then that’s where we’d go. After walking down the steep descent onto the sandy foreshore, I kicked off my flip flops and pulled my hat out of the bag.

We walked and kept walking, traversing the full length of the beach. At the end, there was a steep, narrow, rock-strewn path leading between dense vegetation and tall palm trees. Breaking through to the other side was like we were a world away—the only indication we were with one thousand odd guests on a tiny island was the visible ship floating peacefully in the deep waters off the island.

A small cove stood before us, with the same white sand and perfect clear water, except that it was deserted. The trees behind blocked the excited chatter from the tourists invading the beach and the almost vertical bluff that ran down to the sand ensured there was only one easy entrance and exit for our secluded getaway. The afternoon would see the little cove in shadow, but for now brilliant sunlight lit the beach, drying the sand and making the water sparkle like diamonds.

“This beach is underwater when the tide is at its highest. We’ve only got a few hours here before we’ll have to shift back over to the other side,” Will explained, “But it’s worth it.”

“This is heaven,” I breathed, the salt carried by the light ocean breeze filling my lungs.

“I’m glad you like it.” Will was behind me, his big body pressed against mine as he wrapped his arms around me. When he kissed down my throat and tugged my tee out of the way so he could nibble along my shoulder, my knees almost buckled. His touch was something else. Forcing myself away from him, I laid out the towels, stripped my shorts and tee off and turned to see Will staring at me. He looked hungry, like he’d devour me if given the chance. I was grateful in that moment for the hour I’d spent trying on swimwear at the cute little boutique in Bondi Beach to find just the right one. The skimpy, tight little shorts I’d chosen were perfect—bright floral print and just small enough to show the beginnings of the curve of my ass at both top and bottom, I’d known they were the ones as soon as I’d spotted them. I had to bite back the smirk at the tenting in his loose swim trunks when he saw me. Not that he was alone; my own semi was pressed against my hip care of my Speedos.

“What’s up, handsome?” I asked, feigning innocence and mentally high-fiving myself for the bad pun. He shook his head, rolling his eyes and pointed to the towel.

“Sunscreen first or you’ll get burned and it won’t matter what part of me is up.” I lay down, resting my head on my hands and let Will look after my back. I didn’t expect him to straddle me, his semi resting along my crack. I’d never been one for bottoming, but I might just change my mind for him. He sent shudders through me when he shifted his weight, massaging the lotion into my back and pressing more of his hardening length against my ass. I sucked in a breath when he ground down into me, teasing me with what I couldn’t yet have. If it weren’t for the sand in places where only dicks, lube and dildos were meant to go, I would have been tempted to make a go of it right there on the beach. 

Fingers delving below the waistband of my tiny swim trunks had me moaning, tilting my ass up for more of his touch. “These things are sexy as fuck, you know that?” Will rasped as he scooted down and spread the sunscreen over my legs. When he nudged me to roll over, I mentally begged him to straddle me again, and I wasn’t disappointed. His strong legs, thick from hours in the gym, gripped my smaller hips tight and he teased me, not resting his full weight on my aching cock. Snatching the sunscreen away from him, I squeezed a generous portion in my hands and reached up to rub down his skin. In the bright light of day, I could see the few grey hairs in the smattering of chest hair he had. Running my fingers over his nipples, they hardened at my touch, his abs quivering as I splayed my hands over them and around his waist, rubbing in the cream. Pulling him down onto me, I thrust up at the same time and watched enraptured as Will’s back bowed and he choked out a cry. God damn, he was sexy. I couldn’t wait for the moment that we did this for real. I wanted to be buried in him, wanted to make him mine and give myself to him.

I reached up, tugging him down onto me until we were chest to chest so I could kiss him. The moment his mouth met mine, I was lost. I couldn’t get enough of him, couldn’t touch enough of him at once. With our tongues tangling, our breaths mingling, I moaned into his mouth desperate to get closer. With my hands dry, the sunscreen wiped all over his back, I slipped them under the waistband of his bright blue shorts and grasped his ass, gripping the firm globes in my hands. I wanted to touch him so bad, wanted to make him cross-eyed with lust, to delve deep inside his hole and stretch him for my cock, but I hesitated. This was supposed to be a date, our time in the sea and sun to enjoy and relax. Hell, I loved sex, but not here, not now. Will deserved so much more than a quick fuck on the beach. I didn’t want to be discovered, not because of embarrassment, but because I wouldn’t be able to take the time to make love to him. It’d be about getting off, and I was determined that our first time was not going to go down like that. I wanted the connection with him, deep and meaningful, intimate. I wanted to worship him.

I pulled my hands free and placed them on his chest, curling my fingers into his pec. Will broke our kiss, resting his face against mine and rubbing his smooth cheek against my stubble.

“Swim,” I murmured, unable to utter anything more coherent than a one-worded sentence.

Will shifted, nudging my knees apart with his own and reached down to wrap my legs around his waist. I held onto him like a damn spider monkey as my world tilted and he lifted me effortlessly until he was standing, carrying me to the water like I weighed nothing. I loved his strength, his gentle touch as he handled me reverently, but the glint in his eye and his smirk told me he was up to something. It didn’t take a genius to guess that I’d be getting wet. Question was, how long would it take. Three. Two… In the thigh deep water, the soft waves lapping around his legs, Will spun and fell backward taking us both underwater. The cold water enveloped me in a rush and my breath caught. The day was warm, my skin overheated and the water was a shock to my system.

Laughing and choking, I swallowed far too much before breaking the surface again and muttering, “You sod,” with a pout. Pushing away from him, I splashed Will and charged out, running into the deeper water away from him. He chased me with a playful grin on his face. I had a head start but he was a better swimmer than me; it was obvious he’d spent countless hours in the water. He caught up easily and even with my futile efforts to splash him, he gripped my waist and hauled me against his body. Being this close to him, seeing the beauty of the water dripping from his hair and sliding down his face, I was hit by a wave of affection. Cupping his face in my hands, I brought him closer and kissed him softly before wrapping myself around his big body. Will smiled gently and the butterflies in my belly and the ones taking up residence in my heart took flight, making me giddy. It wasn’t just lust between us, it was something far deeper. Looking into his rich, chocolate brown eyes, I could see the same unnamed emotion reflected back at me and I fell even harder for him. He was magnificent—every inch of him. But it wasn’t just his mussed up, blond sexy surfer hair, or his body that rivaled any Calvin Klein model’s, it was his heart, his brilliant mind, the caring and shy man who I wanted to call my own forever. Those three little words that I’d never uttered to another soul outside of my family were on the tip of my tongue. Soon, I coached myself. It was far too early to be professing my undying love for him no matter what I saw in his eyes. Any sane person would run for the hills and there was no way I’d risk that from the man who’d turned my world on its head in a matter of days.

I kissed him instead, a soft brush of my lips over his and Will tightened his grip around my waist. We floated like that for what could have been hours, the soft lapping of the water against our bodies as we kissed slowly there in the Pacific. This tiny strip of sand surrounded by thousands of miles of ocean was paradise. It was our own little private slice of heaven. When I auditioned for the cruise company, I hoped to have the experience of a lifetime, dancing my way around the world. Never in my wildest dreams did I believe it could lead me to Will. I sighed happily and speared my fingers through his hair, tugging gently on the strands as I kissed him harder.

“Beautiful,” Will murmured against my lips, his tone desperate. He opened his eyes and I saw the blazing need in their depths, the same desire reflected in my heart in his own. He wanted this, wanted to take the next step. When he tilted his head toward the ship, I nodded immediately. I wanted whatever he was prepared to give me. Still in his arms, Will carried me to shore. Capturing his mouth again, I kissed him harder, longer, my tongue stroking against his in a sensual dance. One more passionate kiss before we had to straighten ourselves for the trek through the public part of the beach.

The walk back to the tender and trip to the ship was a sweet form of torture. A never ending form of foreplay. The air between us cracked and sparked with anticipation, with desire. I wanted him like I’d never wanted anyone before. My mind swirled with fantasies of his hot and sweaty body against mine as we slaked our lust, but it was the tenderness in the way he held my hand and placed his other at the small of my back when I stepped up onto the tender that made my heart flip flop. He motioned for me to go first when the boat docked against the ship and I led the way through the embarkation check point and into the crew only area.

Finding myself standing between our staterooms, I paused. Shower or bed? Looking at the time, I realized there was no rush, that I could take my time with Will and make every moment together special. I led him to my room and swiped the lock on the door, opening it up. We stepped through and I stripped off my wet towel, doing the same to Will as he placed the still full bag onto the floor. Standing there dressed only in our swimming shorts, I sucked in a breath and trailed my fingertips down his face, salty from the ocean water.

Stepping away from Will, I turned on the faucet, adjusting the water temperature before going back to him and hooking my fingers under the waistband of his shorts. “You ready for this, handsome?”

He nodded and I leaned in and kissed his collarbone, his chest, as I tugged the offending material down, letting it pool on the floor to reveal Will in all his glory. He was tall and strong, corded muscle over every inch of him. A smattering of chest hair, dusted his pecs and a set of abs that I wanted to spend hours worshipping, pointed down to a thatch of trimmed pubes framing a beautiful cock. Erect, long and thick, I wanted to fall to my knees and blow Will’s mind. I resisted—barely—instead stripping off my own shorts without fanfare and dragging Will under the warm spray. I took my time, lathering his hair and skin with the shampoo and body wash Will had left in my shower. It was a hell of a thrill when I’d seen it there, knowing he was comfortable enough to leave it.

His skin was silky smooth against the palms of my hands, his soft moans as I rubbed him down ramping up my own excitement. Down his legs I washed, falling to my knees as I did. Looking up at him, at his beautiful face, his lids low and pupils blown with lust, his tongue snaking out to wet his bottom lip like he was hungry, turned me inside out. I didn’t just want him anymore, I needed him. He was my oxygen, the blood pumping through my veins. Like they had a mind of their own, my hands moved to his ass, cupping his solid cheeks in my hands as I toyed with and teased his crack. “Please,” he whispered, tilting his hips and begging me to go further. I couldn’t resist him even if I wanted to. Kissing up his leg and across his hip toward his cock, I breathed him in before licking up his length and swirling my tongue over his crown. I relished the salty tang of his pre-cum with a hum. “Eddie, no,” he gasped and the urgency in his tone stopped me in my tracks. “I’m gonna come.” Will pinched the end of his crown trying to stave off his orgasm, his shallow breaths making his chest rise and fall rapidly. “I want you inside me.”

I was up off the floor in an instant, rinsing what was left of the ocean’s salt off me with a sluice of the warm water over my body. Tumbling out of the shower, I waited for Will to turn off the faucet and handed him a fluffy towel. He scrubbed it over his hair, drying the blond strands before wrapping it around his waist and stepping out of the cubicle. Standing on my little mat, I did the same and when we were done, I clasped his hand and stepped out of my cramped bathroom taking him to my single bed that was resting against the wall. But it wouldn’t do, not when I wanted to take my time and savor him, explore every inch of his perfection. Doing it on a bed as small as mine just wouldn’t cut it. “Let’s grab the bag. We’re going to your room,” I ordered, unsurprised by the rasp in my voice.

Wearing nothing but towels and Will carrying the bag and me holding his clothes, we hurried up the quiet corridor and burst through his door. It hadn’t even swung closed before we’d dropped everything and I was on him. His mouth, sweet and yielding only made me hungrier. I wanted to devour him, to lick and nip at every inch of his skin. To make him mine. To give myself so completely to him. I wanted him to feel me, to feel the way my heart was beating out a crazy rhythm for him. Walking us backward, Will led me to the bed and when his knees hit the mattress, I paused and smiled, loving him being in this very position again. Will’s shy smile had me tugging off our towels and tossing them aside, leaving us naked together. He sat down and kissed my hip, but I knew I’d lose my head if he touched my cock. I pushed him back playfully and he scooted up the mattress, making room for me. Aligning our bodies, my smaller one lying on top of his solid bulk, between his spread legs was like coming home. His heat, the soft hairs on his legs rubbing against my own, the warmth in his gaze had me falling into him, licking his bottom lip before pressing my mouth to his. I sucked on his tongue and Will cried out, his hips jacking up seeking out friction against his cock.

“Want you,” he whispered, opening his legs wider in invitation. I didn’t need more of a hint. Moving down his body, I kissed him, nipping the taut skin stretched over firm muscle, licking the grooves between his abs and down his cum gutter to his pubes. He sucked in a sharp breath when I nuzzled his sac, his balls already drawn up tight. I could do this for hours; tasting him was intoxicating. Licking down the soft skin under his testicles, I circled his hole once, twice, then flattened the pad of my tongue and swiped right across him. His taste wasn’t entirely masked by the soap and I was grateful for that as I worked my tongue over his tight muscle, softening it for my fingers to enter him. He’d told me he loved to bottom. He’d also told me that with his hookups he’d topped and it’d been a while since he’d taken anyone. Unless he’d used toys, it’d been literally years and there was no way I wanted to give him any doubts about bottoming for me again. One time with him would never be enough.

The snick of the cap on the lube was unmistakable, so I held out my hand for him. Will drizzled the clear slick on my fingers and I took one last taste of him, before sitting up on my knees and introducing my finger to his puckered hole. Will lay before me, all flushed and gorgeous, holding the covers in a white-knuckled grip. His eyes closed and mouth open, I had the insane urge to take a photo to remember this moment and the blissed out frustration painted on his face forever. His legs were spread wide and his hard cock saluted the air. A drip of pre-cum fell from his slit and landed on his belly as I pressed against him. He was bearing down, begging me to slide my fingers into him but I resisted, wanting him crazy for me. I kept up the taunting, the feather light touches and the sensual tease until he mewled and thrust his hips trying to impale himself on me. I could see the veins on his cock throbbing, his shaft flexing with need. I used my middle finger to penetrate him slowly and his breath left him in a rush, a shudder passing through him before he moaned. I didn’t wait long before I gave him a second finger, letting him feel the burn of the stretch. He was riding my digits, and his choked gasps and moans as well as the schlick, schlick, schlick of my fingers inside him had me harder than an iron rod. I was going to embarrass myself if I didn’t get my wayward cock under control. But having him there, knowing we were taking this step was big. Huge. And not just in the size of the cock I was eyeing like a damn lollipop.

“Eddie,” he gasped. “I’m ready.” He opened his eyes and his gaze bore into mine, beseeching me to understand what he needed. I did, and kneeling there between his legs I promised myself I’d always give him everything he needed. Whatever it was, whatever it took, I’d do it for him.

I sheathed myself in the condom Will had dropped by his side and slathered my shaft in lube. It’d be a hell of a slippery ride, but that was half the fun. Hovering above him, I took his lips with mine and kissed him slowly as I moved into place. Without breaking our kiss, I lined myself up and Will hooked his calf over mine, running his foot up my leg until he was open for me. I pressed forward, the tight ring of his muscle stretching to accommodate my girth and enveloping me in nirvana. He was slick and hot, silky smooth and wrapped around me like a tight glove. Sensation raced up and down my spine making every nerve ending in me tingle. Staring into Will’s eyes, something sparked between us and I held myself still, never wanting to break the connection. Finally, the puff of air against my overheated skin came as Will exhaled the breath he’d been holding. When his other leg came up, wrapping tight around my hips and forcing me deeper into him, we moaned together.

“God damn, handsome. You feel so good.” I rested my forehead against his shoulder, nuzzling into his throat as I pushed in deeper still, not stopping until my hips were flush against his. Buried to the hilt. Will’s arms came around my shoulders, his fingers spearing through my short hair as he tilted his head, giving me room to nibble on his throat. I hooked my hands under his shoulders and ever so slowly pulled out until my corona was ready to slip back out. I rolled my hips, moving leisurely enough that I could savor his channel clasping tight around me. The moans he made were so fucking sensual, so sexy that I had to capture them, keep them close within me. I kissed him, our tongues stroking, his frisky muscle flirting with mine as I pumped my hips. There was no wild slapping of flesh together, no crazy squeaking bedframes, but fuck me, there was sizzling heat and hands exploring and mouths caressing as we made love. As tacky as it sounds—make love—that’s what we were doing. Sure, one day we’d fuck. We’d be so damn crazy with lust that we’d lose our shit and attack each other. I’d find a few surfaces to bend him over for a quickie, especially in a ship with lots of darkened spaces, and we’d screw around just to get off, but today wasn’t that day.

I pulled back and looked him in the eyes. Our bodies were pressed together, him wrapped around me for a change. Every inch of him I could touch I was, and it still wasn’t enough. I brushed the pad of my thumb over his lower lip and he kissed it, sending a spike of lust through me. Those lips were divine, so incredibly sensual. Seeing them wrapped around the base of my cock had sent me into overdrive. Wickedly hot on his knees for me, I’d had to pull him off or I would have gone off like a bottle rocket, when what I really wanted was a ride to the moon.

Moaning when he clenched those muscles tight around me, he grinned mischievously and I muttered, “Tease”. I nipped his lip, biting down, then sucking on it until it popped out of my mouth and Will’s eyes rolled back in his head. I punched my hips forward, pressing my point home and hitting his prostate dead center if his shudder was anything to go by. His muscles vibrated under my touch and when I shifted to take his cock in hand, he cried out.

“Oh fuck, yes. There,” he gasped. “Do it again.” Keeping the same position and not daring to adjust my weight to balance on one hand, I rolled my hips again, pushing deep into him. The cords in Will’s neck strained, his breaths came out in stutters and every muscle in his body tightened. He was magnificent, so fucking beautiful as he let go and came, his orgasm hitting him in waves and pulsing through his body and around my cock. The slick grasp of his channel tightened further and I hurtled to the edge, into a sweet oblivion I never wanted to find my way out of. His cock pulsed, painting stripes of cum between us as Will moaned incoherently. Still riding out his orgasm, his eyes barely open and his plump lips slick from my kiss, a drop of sweat beaded at his temple and I licked it away. Running his hand down my body had me shivering and when his other joined in, grasping me around the waist, his legs still locked tight around my hips, I was lost. Will kissed me as I cried out, capturing the echo of my orgasm as it washed over me like the tide—unstoppable, all powerful. I flexed my hips, reigniting the buzz of the chemical reaction firing through me, then did it again until all I knew was him.

I don’t know when I slumped down onto Will, but the play of his fingertips along my spine and my now softening cock slipping out of his channel told me I needed to move, if only to toss away the condom. I shifted, but it was Will who took matters into his hands and slipped the rubber off my shaft, knotted it and tossed it in the general direction of the bathroom without lifting me off him. “I should clean you up,” I murmured.

Will wrapped his arms around me again and replied, “There’s no rush.” I raised my head and looked at him, taking in his beautiful face and that post-orgasmic glow that he was rocking. He looked thoroughly blissed out and it was damn fine on him. I wanted him to wear that expression forever. When he smiled at me, his fingers reaching up to brush against my face, my breath came out in a rush and my heart flip flopped.

“God, you’re so beautiful,” I whispered, the awe in my voice obvious. “So damn sexy. Every inch of you. But when you smile you take my breath away.”

A flush stole over his cheeks and down his throat and I couldn’t help but trail my fingertips to the hollow there. When I met his gaze again, Will became serious. “Me too,” he whispered before tugging me closer and letting out a happy sigh. I don’t know whether his reply was in response to my comment or the emotions that I mustn’t have been good at hiding when they were riding so close to the surface, but either way it didn’t matter. He knew. He understood what I was trying to tell him.