While working on one of the domestic staff who had contracted some sort of intestinal disorder, Lia had come by to invite me to dinner with her brothers and I assumed, Captain Rolph and probably Martin, the first officer.
This was curious I thought. Since joining the yacht's crew as the physician on board - what I thought would be a low stress working holiday of sorts - I had become entangled in the sexual politics of the boat and particularly the three wealthy siblings who owned the yacht.
The dinner invitation was unusual in that I normally dined with the working staff and often with the two women, nominally employed by the sibling's company, but who really seemed here to take care of the sexual needs of the brothers. So Lia's invitation peaked my interest.
Oh, and did I mention that with all the sex going on around me I was feeling just a bit needy myself. And did I also mention that James, the older of the sibling brothers was treating me like shit whenever he had the opportunity. His sister, who I rather liked, insisted he liked me despite his boorish behaviour. I shuddered to think how he would act if he actually hated me. Lia explained her brother's asshole behaviour as a bad attitude to all women after he got burned at the alter. Don't take if personally she seemed to say. Yeah, right, just ignore the jerkish behaviour.
Whats more, I was having a hard time ignoring the warmth I fell around Lia. She and I had spent a few torrid moments on a lonely beach and the kiss she gave me was seared into my memory. I had only been with one other woman and yeah, that was a special circumstance. I didn't think I was really into women but Lia was making it hard to accept I wasn't bi. There's just something about soft breasts and thighs against my own.
Yep, I was horny and my inability to get myself off when alone or just my reluctance to do so was becoming a liability. I needed someone soon. I did try though and as I slipped my hand into my sleeping shorts I brought images to mind of Rob and Joanne kissing me, licking me down there and Rob's beautiful cock buried inside me. But the face of the man fucking me in my mind morphed into James's face and I would stop cold. What stupid short circuit in my brain brought this jerk into my fantasies, ruining everything. As I drifted off, still frustrated and my sex aching I couldn't shake his image.
****
Stepping into the Azure Cloud's owners lounge and dining room I stopped abruptly. Looking at the table I was surprised to see only the three siblings, no captain or officers. I hesitated and then asked, "Am I early?"
"No Shannon sweetheart, you only have us to put up with tonight," Lia said with a smirk as she glanced at me and then James and Grainger. 'Okay', I thought, 'this 'could be an interesting evening.'
"Well okay and thanks for inviting me tonight. To what do I owe the occasion?"
Lia laughed a trifle nervously and then said, looking at James, "Well, my brothers feel they owe you an apology. And they would like to begin again, so to speak." Yeah, I thought, begin again to act like normal human beings and not like entitled rich assholes. But I didn't say that of course.
I replied, "No apology necessary. I'm okay." Not really, but I didn't need them to play nice, just leave me alone to do my job and enjoy the beautiful Caribbean Sea was all I wanted.
"Nonsense, Grainger please say what you need to say to Shannon," Lia snapped at him while giving James an evil stare. "James, you're next so don't look so smug."
Grainger cleared his throat and began, "Shannon first let me tell you how pleased we are to have you as our physician on board." Okay, so he realizes that my job description is not fuck toy for rich pricks. He then continued, "And I want to apologize for any pressure I put on you to... well, ahem.. umm spend time with me socially. I shouldn't have assumed you would want to be with me."
Lia spoke up, "Shannon, my younger brother is trying to say he shouldn't have assumed you would want to jump into bed with him, right dear brother?" He looked very uncomfortable and then nodded.
"Yeah, I shouldn't expect every woman to sleep with me. Most do though just for the record."
"Grainger shut up you idiot. Don't dig yourself in any deeper."
"Yes, dear sister, I'm suitably chastised." I was spellbound by this little drama playing out in front of me. One that made me the centrepiece of the issue. I wracked my brain for something to say to that and couldn't come up with anything. Could we just get to dinner?
However, I finally attempted a response, "Well, thanks Grainger for that - I think - but I am a pretty big girl, well not so big ha ha, but I've dealt with my share of unwanted attention. And no disrespect to you but I'm just not leaping into anybody's bed just at the moment. I'm sure your partners are very satisfied to be with you." I don't know why I added that last bit. My guess was that someone as arrogant as Grainger thought little about the needs and wants of his partners. But no harm in saying nice words to one of the bosses.
"And by the way, dinner smells delicious," I said with a chuckle as Maeve made her appearance with a steaming succulent smelling dish.
They all laughed and we sat down and began the salad course. I was wondering when we would hear from James. Grainger was a standard garden variety boor but James was really something else and I wanted to hear what Lia would pry out of him.
I had just finished the last of my salad when Lia spoke up, "So James, do you have something you would like to say to Shannon?" I fucking hoped so as he was the reason I wanted to jump ship and swim for it - anything to get the jerk out of my life.
What I got was something unexpected. He began with, "Shannon I want to apologize for anything I have done that you've found offensive. I hope that I haven't caused you any discomfort or upset." Seriously, was he kidding me? He treated my like a piece of meat and he wants to know if he upset me? REALLY? I dropped my fork and stared at him.
The three siblings were looking intently at me and I choked out. "James, are you really asking me that? Do you understand that little incident on the beach after you caught me falling from the rock step was the closest I've every been to being raped?"
"Shannon, I wasn't going to rape you," he replied flatly.
"And how would I have known that? When a large man is lying on top of a small woman, who is resisting and his.. his.. penis is pressing into her sex, what am I supposed to assume - that its just a joke. James, women get raped all the time and we all fear that."
Grainger spoke up, "Really James, how did I not know you had done this to Shannon. You should be ashamed of yourself."
Lia jumped on him, "Grainger, shut up please. This doesn't involve you. James, answer Shannon's question. How would she know you weren't going to molest her?"
"Shannon, please believe me it wasn't my intention."
"Then what was your intention. Did you just want to scare the shit out of me for the fun of it?"
James put his head back and sighed deeply. He took a sip of water and looked at me. He began, "I was disturbed by what you were doing on the cliff. I thought you were taking a needless chance. And... well.. I'm not sure how I feel about you."
"What is that supposed to mean James?" I was truly perplexed and wanted him to explain that statement.
He took several deep breathes and started, "It means that you are different than the women I'm familiar with. You actually seem to have a brain in your head. And you aren't trying to climb into my bed."
"Well, you certainly got the last part right," I snarked back. "Anything else to add James?"