To the reader: This is a nine-part story of erotic romance leading to graphic sex. If you're not into a lot of dialogue, and that's what successful relationships are all about, then you should read elsewhere. Also, if you are looking for a quick jerk-off tale, then this is not for you.
I am so excited about my twelve days in the Caribbean that I started writing notes on the overnight plane home! The following is the result.
1. Julie
With an exaggerated sigh, the attractive brunette flopped down into the empty seat beside me, her bright red backpack clutched to her lap. When the last of the nearby passengers were seated I offered to hoist her bag up into the one remaining space in the overhead locker.
"No thank you, I can manage," was the cool rebuff. I gained small satisfaction as she attempted to force the bag into a space designed for half of it, hiding my smug grin as she flopped back down muttering comments about sardines.
For those readers well acquainted with Boeing 747s you might be aware of the two sets of twin seats situated at the very rear of the plane, whereas all the others are either in threes or fours. In the paupers section that is. Despite the noise from the engines, I prefer to reserve one of these knowing that I won't be disturbed by a parent and child but more likely to strike up an interesting intellectual conversation with a single person, hopefully of the female gender. So far, this particular encounter didn't look very promising, clearly my new Carl Hiaasen novel was going to be well read.
We remained silent as the plane slowly filled up, passengers scrabbling for non-existent luggage spaces, arguing over wrongly occupied seats. I stared out of the window through the morning mist hanging over Gatwick Airport as the baggage tender pulled away, while my neighbour fiddled inside her handbag, and repeated the sigh. I sensed frustration or anger and was quick to spot her remove her gold wedding band. A break-up or heading for a secret fling?
To my surprise, the strained atmosphere eased considerably when she attempted to obey orders to buckle up, I was sat on her strap!
"Sorry." I displayed my most charming grin of the day and lifted myself clear.
"That's okay. I hate these bloody things anyway." Her voice had a faint north-country accent.
For a moment she remained quiet, then, with yet another sigh, unbuckled and removed her suede jacket. Finally she settled, turned to me and smiled, studying my face.
"Sorry about that, it's not been a good day so far."
"No problem, hopefully the next eight hours will be an improvement."
"They certainly can't be any worse. I'm Julie." She held out her hand and smiled. Her teeth were white and even, extremely kissable. I am a sucker for Hollywood mouths.
"Hi Julie, pleased to meet you. Tom. Tom Graham. From Kingston, just outside London. I am an architect." For some reason, that little addition always seems to lead to an interesting conversation, and it didn't fail me this time.
"That's interesting, Tom, my father is an architect too." Her hand was slightly moist, but her grip was firm.
"You sound as though you are not from this part of the world?"
"You're right, Leeds actually, I left home at some Godforsaken hour, had a blazing row with my husband and nearly missed my train. And it was packed all the way down."
Now we were talking face to face, I had chance to fully appraise my travelling companion. Julie was clearly of slim build and a little younger than my 32. When standing, her crotch level with my eyes, she had seemed tall, but then at the time I was sitting admiring the view. She was wearing tight pale blue jeans with the obligatory rips at the knees.
"I haven't been to Leeds in years," I replied, keeping the conversation going, "That was when I was a Liverpool fan." I sensed disapproval and quickly added. "Not that I'm a football addict."
Fortunately she smiled, "My husband supports one of the Sheffield teams, I can't remember which. All I know is, he seems to spend more time there than at home."
My married companion on this Virgin Atlantic flight to Barbados was blessed with cobalt blue eyes and long curly brunette hair down to her shoulders. Above her full painted lips poised a fine Roman nose, her cheeks still red from the mile-long safari from the departure lounge. Her denim jacket folded in her lap, Julie revealed ample breasts contained in a light blue sweater. She will need to remove that, I mused, as soon as we hit the blast furnace that is the Caribbean in March!
A female voice announcing herself as the assistant driver for our journey apologised for the obligatory delay in departure and we both gave each other an exasperated look.
"They usually make up for lost time on this flight," I assured her.
Julie's persona was attractive, bordering on sexy and apparently travelling alone. The brain between my legs was already working on means to extend our friendship beyond this flight. Barbados is a venue for couples and families, with available single women hard to find. Those that you don't have to re-mortgage your house for, that is! And with several thousand dedicated cricket fans occupying the island, the competition would be fierce.
The plane started to taxi and the magazine on my lap fell to the floor between us. Julie, still defiantly unbuckled, leaned forward to retrieve it, the vee of her sweater exposing an inviting acreage of tanned cleavage.
She glanced at the cover, and looked up at me with an unbelieving expression, "Cricketing Monthly! You're not by any chance on the tour are you? The twelve-day one?"
I grinned and nodded. "Certainly am! You too?"
She nodded her head. The England cricket team were visiting the West Indies and a couple of the five one-day matches would be played in Barbados with the remaining game on nearby St Lucia. Those that had signed up would most likely be staying at the same hotels. Half the work done! Thank you mister tour organizer!
"I'm not really interested in cricket, it's my sister that's the real fan, she follows the team everywhere. And of course to go with it there's the sun, sea, and you know what!"
I laughed, this might turn out to be fun after all, "Yes, I think I know what! Is she with you today then?"
"Yes, Sara's the one in the green top, with the black collar." She pointed forward a few rows towards the middle aisle.
Immediately a reluctant chivalry crept into the picture, with of course brownie points in mind, "Wouldn't you prefer to be together? I don't mind swapping over."
I had unbuckled and half risen out of my seat when she put out a hand and stopped me. The plane still hadn't reached the runway.
"No, Tom. Thank you for the kind thought, but I prefer it this way. When we are travelling she talks non-stop, it's a nervous reaction. I booked this seat pretending there were only singles available."
I sat back down. "If you are sure. What about the poor people next to her?"
Julie laughed, "Oh, that's okay, she only talks to people she knows. Or fancies," she added with a grimace.
"Is she married too?" I asked, pointing to the indent on Julie's wedding finger. She blushed, but didn't remark on the absent ring. I puzzled on why a married woman would remove her proof of marriage while accompanying her sister on a cricket tour. My devious mind settled for the obvious.
"Still single, lucky girl, although she is dating some weirdo at the moment." She cocked her head, her eyes asking the question, "And you? I don't see a ring. What's a handsome guy like you doing on the loose I wonder?"
I laughed, "I lived with someone until recently, before that I was briefly married."
"What happened?"
"Quite simple really, she wanted a monogamous relationship and I didn't."
Her smile disappeared, "Oh, isn't that a bit unfair?"
"Not really, we both had an open relationship until she decided to move in and ruin things. Rachel and I even nearly got married and that would have been a disaster."
My neighbour replied as the plane inched forward in the queue awaiting take-off, "I know where you are coming from, you men seem to possess this primeval urge to fuck females, as many and as often as possible and, it would seem, more often as not when they are married." She looked at me with a glum expression.
I smiled at her openness, "It sounds as though you have been on the wrong end of such a situation."
She groaned to herself and looked away, "Tell me about it."
For the moment she didn't expand any further so, as the stewardess reminded her to buckle up again, I continued with my own saga.
"Rachel wasn't so innocent herself. Unknown to me, she had been having an affair with the sister of my previous girlfriend."
She turned her head sharply, "Your girlfriend was bisexual?"
"Yes, has been since her teens, although I didn't find out until we two became an item."
Like a giant eager bird, the plane was now hovering at the end of the runway and, as soon as the pilot stepped on the gas, Julie reached across and grabbed my hand, and closed her eyes. I clasped her hand in mine and remained silent, enjoying the unexpected intimacy. As soon as the 400 tonnes of aluminium and flesh had clawed its way clear of the tarmac I felt my companion relax, but I didn't release her hand.
She opened her eyes and grinned, "You can let go now!"
"Sorry, I was enjoying the moment!"
"It's me that should apologise, Tom, I hate take-offs. And if you must know," she added, "The moment was cool, you have nice hands."
I patted hers as I slowly let it go, "Are you sure? There can be lots of turbulence in the Atlantic this time of the year, and landing in Barbados can be quite bumpy too."
She took my fingers and stroked them softly, "Thank you, let's see what happens shall we?"
The seat belt light went out and we tipped our seats back to relax. Julie turned her head to me, her breath smelt of almonds, we were within tongue touching distance of each other. As if sensing my amorous thoughts she pulled back a little.
"You were telling me about your girlfriend. How long had you known her?"
"Ever since I was this high." I placed my palm about four feet from the floor. "For years we were platonic friends, shared all our secrets, even the same workplace for a while."
"So when did you fall in love with her?"
I laughed, "It was lust actually, she caught me in rather an embarrassing situation in my office. At least it was after hours."
(See: A Desk Job in London)
She clasped her hands together and leaned closer again. I had known this woman less than an hour and already I wanted to kiss her soft lips. Little Tom, dormant in my pants up until now, approved of the thought. "Mmm, sounds interesting! I suppose you were shagging your secretary?" I was soon to discover that a similar situation with her own husband was causing her distress.
I smiled. If Julie expected me to be embarrassed at the question, she would be disappointed, I was totally cool with this woman. "Not quite, not then anyway." I acted a little coy, "And you really don't want to know. After all, we only met...." I looked at my watch, "…forty minutes ago?"
Her eyes shining, Julie squeezed my arm, "Come on, now I really want to know. I am a big girl, I do know about these things. I want to hear the man's side for a change."
I placed my hand over hers, my forefinger exploring her knuckles, "Okay, your call. The office was empty, I was on my own, or so I thought, and I had just received a very raunchy email from an old girl friend in Australia. And to make matters worse, it was Friday night and I had no date for that weekend. Get the picture?"