Maeve was up dancing with Brent which made me smile. She was my closest friend on the Azure Cloud and she had shared that she was very interested in the yacht's Australian Engineer. I didn't blame her. Brent was strong and silent, propagating an air of quite confidence and he was really good looking as well. I was happy for her.
Myself? Well after the day of climbing that James had set up followed by the funky beach side bistro to end the outing I was moved off my base. I had kissed him. Not just a peck on the cheek for the great day but a full on lip to lip kiss. And I had held his hand. I was wary of James but I had to admit he was really good looking and when not being a dick could be quite personable, almost charming. But I didn't trust him. My hormones and yeah, my need to get laid, almost clouded my judgment. Did I say that he had a great body? But I pulled back realizing who I was with and how he had treated me. Our evening ended in a hurry when I asked to go back to the yacht.
The Azure Cloud was a large sailing vessel but still it was a confined environment. When I had encountered James on the boat after the beach side kiss he looked at me with an impassive expression that I couldn't decipher. I had made up my mind anyway to keep my distance for the rest of the cruise.
The siblings were meeting daily to manage their business during their absence from the corporate offices. I knew little about their business dealings, just that they were very successful. Their constant attention to running their empire helped keep James occupied and away from me. And there was just a couple of weeks left of the cruise and my contract on the ship. I was then heading back to Toronto to begin my surgical residency.
But tonight I was enjoying the beach side bar and music. The moon was rising over the water and I decided to wander down to the beach to get a better look. There is something about the steady warm trade winds that blow continuously in the Caribbean Sea during the winter. The warmth just wraps around you and its effect is magnified by the dark. I just love it.
I gave a wave to Maeve and a smaller one to the siblings who were sitting at another table. Lia gave me a friendly wave. James just gazed impassively at me for a moment and then returned to the conversation he was having with Rolph. the captain. Grainger was up on the dance floor with Maddy and Olivia, his live aboard employee/sex partners.
The warm water felt great on my feet as I strolled away from the music and lights of the restaurant and bar. Moving around a small fishing boat pulled up on the beach I moved further away from the sound and light. Looking out over the waves I didn't notice a piece of drift wood embedded in the sand. I stubbed my toe on it and let out a cry and a string of profanities. Wow, did that hurt.
I heard a voice, "Hey there what happened? Are you alright?" The voice belonged to one of two guys who emerged out of the darkness. From what I could tell they were young and maybe local. One guy was dark with dreads and the other one, the one with the voice. was lighter with a ball cap. They were both big guys and frankly, a bit scruffy from what I could tell in the moon and star light. I felt uneasy around them. I thought best to re-assure them I was okay and move on. I could still hear the music from the bar in the distance and that was where I wanted to be then.
"Thanks guys but I'm okay, just stubbed my toe on a piece of driftwood. Very clumsy I know, but thanks for asking." With that I turned and began walking back down the beach towards the bar. They followed along behind closely. I thought I smelled liquor on them.
"Hey girl, are you sure your foot is okay. We could give you a hand back." With that the dreads guy put his hand on my arm. I shook it off.
"Not necessary. I'm really fine," I said as I hurried along.
"Whoa girl, no need to hurry,. These are the islands. In fact my friend and I were going to a house party just up from the beach. Why don't you come and join us and see some local colour."
"Thanks for the invite but I really should be getting back to my friends."
Both guys now were walking closely beside me. Their arms were brushing my shoulders. One said, "Just for a while honey. You want to be friendly with us locals don't you? Come on, we won't keep you away from your friends for long."
"Really, guys, thanks but no thanks. I don't want to worry my shipmates."
"Hey, a cool babe like you would really enjoy what we could give you. My friend has some talents you would appreciate. Plus we've got some good weed. Just for a quick party, no problems really." With that he grabbed my elbow and started steering me away from the water to some shady buildings at the back of the beach. I was now really scared. I didn't like the vibes at all from these guys. Twisting my elbow free I broke into a jog. I was barefooted. carrying my flip flops and I couldn't move quickly in the sand. They kept pace.
"Hey girl, that's not very friendly, running away like this. I think we're just going to have to help you make the right decision here." With that they both grabbed an arm and started pulling me off the beach. Terror was setting in.
I screamed, "Get your hands off me!" They just laughed and continued. I looked back down the beach and saw a figure coming fast towards us. The person came right up beside myself and the guys and I could make out a face. James! I never thought I would be so happy to see him but here I was. I yelled, "James, Its me Shannon."
He looked over the scene quickly and yelled, "What's going on here? Who are these guys?"
The locals released my arms and took a look at James. I sensed they didn't like the size of him and the look of anger on his face.
"James, it's okay. These guys were helping me when I stubbed my toe on some driftwood." I ran over to his side and wrapped an arm around his waist as much from my own relief as to send a message to the locals who were abducting me.
"Really, so why were you screaming?" James said, glowering at the men who were now backing away.
"Hey man, we were just trying to take care of your woman here. No worries. We'll leave her in your hands now." Good decision I sensed as James felt like a coiled spring at my side. Hostility was dripping off him.
I pulled him away and started us back and yelled to the guys, "Thanks for stopping. Have a great party."
James looked down at me, "Party?"
"Yeah, they wanted to take me to a local party but I think it was going to be just them and I was to be the entertainment."
"Shannon, you were an idiot to wander off alone like that. I'm really pissed at your thoughtlessness."
'Oh Oh,' I thought, 'From the frying pan to the fire.' He had his hand on my shoulder as we walked quickly back and I could feel the tension radiating from his body.
****
James marched me back to the bar and then a dingy ride to the boat. I was now standing in his cabin where he had unceremoniously pulled me into. I wanted to just escape to my cabin but he was having none of it. I was beginning to wonder who the hell he thought he was and what control he thought he had over me. I was an employee for heaven's sake!