Sipping on her strawberry margarita, Lindsey took in the fresh air of the morning. A slight breeze blew through her soft, wavy, brown hair. This trip was exactly the escape she needed to clear her mind and refresh her body. Long exhausting hours at work, combined with recently breaking up with her boyfriend, had taken much out of her the last few weeks. When she found a Caribbean cruise online at a great price, she jumped at the chance. Now here she was looking out over the railing of the luxury cruise ship – staring out at the waves of the cerulean blue water. This was perfect – she was in paradise!! And it was the final day of her 7-day trip through the Caribbean – a time for rest, reflection and relaxation.
With the sun so warm and vibrant on her skin, Lindsey felt the need for a refresher, and walked from the railing to the Aloha deck swimming pool. She could see a few guys turn their heads to look as she walked by. Although never asking for it, she seemed to get noticed wherever she went. Being a runner, her body was fit and toned. Her long legs were smooth, developed and perfectly tanned. She slowly took off her shorts and shirt, prominently showing her white bikini that fit ideally around her hips.
The water felt so refreshing as she stepped into the pool for a quick dip, engulfing her body with an instant electrifying vigor. She loved getting wet and then lying in the sun afterward. Being from the north, she would never get this opportunity in the middle of January. Yet here she was – in her own little slice of luxury. With water droplets clinging delightfully to her entire body, she got out and lay down in a poolside lounger, anxious to soak up the sun's rays.
Just as she was fading into a much-deserved nap, she sensed her sunlight was gone. Opening her eyes, she saw a tall, dark and handsome man standing in front of her lounger, gazing down at her. His eyes were bright and he was very cute. She smiled sweetly, not sure what he could possibly want. In her mind though, she had other thoughts. Although this was the last place she figured she'd meet a guy, she might just give this guy a chance – that is, until he opened his mouth:
"Hey baby, you didn't need that sun anyway. You're the brightest star in my eyes already."
Lindsey groaned inside, smiling to be polite and chimed in, "Nice try sport." She closed her eyes, smirking inside all the while. She had to give him credit -- if he was going to bomb, he crashed and burned incredibly with that horrible line. Her sunlight reappeared as he left and she continued sunbathing in peace.
When Lindsey awoke from her mid-afternoon nap, the first thing she saw was the figure of a man walking out of the pool. Taking a better look, she thought he could possibly be the most gorgeous man she had ever laid eyes on. He was tall and handsome, with dark wavy hair slickened from the warm pool waters. He wasn't overly muscular, yet he had the look of someone who took care of himself very well. Even from a distance, his eyes shined bright and cheery. She smiled as she got up and headed for the pool herself. As she passed him, she marveled at his nice physique. Instead of getting out of the pool, he followed her back into the water.
Smiling in a way that made her feel comfortable, he said, "I know there's never really any good 'first' thing to say to a pretty woman you don't even know, but I noticed you're by yourself and thought maybe you'd enjoy some company." He was right too, she thought, there never really is a good first line to tell a woman.
"You're right, you know. I'm still waiting for any guy to say the right thing to me." She laughed and was put at ease by his comforting smile. He was so cute – the type of cute you just can't look away from. "I'm Lindsey," she added, smiling.
"I'm Eric. It's nice to meet you Lindsey." His eyes were so blue -- as blue as the magnificent waters in the sea. She could sense that he really liked her. And he was so dreamy too. She blushed as she realized she was smitten with Eric.
"Where are you from Eric? What do you do?" She was curious about this man for some unknown reason and needed to know more.
He chimed in, "You're not going to believe this, but I'm actually from right here. I'm one of the captains here on the ship." He laughed playfully as he added, "The ocean is my home. You caught me here on my day off."
Wow, she thought. Instant visions of Captain Stubing, Gopher, Doc and The Love Boat flashed through her mind and she giggled, but not letting Eric in on her joke. This beautiful man was no Captain Stubing, that's for sure.
Lindsey didn't need to let him know what she was thinking, though, and he joked, "Let me guess – The Love Boat, right? I get that all the time. Well let me tell you – I'm no Captain Stubing!" They laughed and splashed around in the water and got to know each other for another hour or so. It was getting later and dinnertime was near.
The two new friends decided they would go to dinner together. For Lindsey it was a nice change of pace to have a dinner companion. It had been a long time since she looked forward to a new date. And a captain too! She never thought she'd be able to say that.
They met for dinner, she in a flowered summer dress, and he in a casual white suit. During the meal they learned they really enjoyed each other's company. As the night progressed, they drank a bottle of champagne and became more and more relaxed. Eric and Lindsey danced, and she felt his hands held firmly around her lower back and waist. It seemed like ages since she felt a man's touch on her body and it warmed her inside. She moved in perfect motion with his body, locked in a warm embrace. The situation was ripe for romance and passion.
A little tipsy and full of life and energy, they walked along the main deck overlooking the water. It was now nighttime and the only sounds were of the cruise liner cutting through the dark mysterious waves of the ocean. It was so soothing and romantic. Eric smiled and took Lindsey by the hand, leading her to a row of lounge chairs near the end of the ship. They laughed and talked for what seemed like hours, but in reality it was only about thirty minutes. He smiled as he looked at her, transfixed by her beauty, the moonlight reflecting in her blue eyes. She was fluttery inside -- feeling flush and warm from the champagne, from the moment and from the man. As he leaned into her closer, she tensed and then relaxed -- he was going to kiss her and she knew it. The timing was ideal, the moment was right, and he was perfect for her. His lips brushed her lightly and pushed against her mouth. She melted and gave in at once. Wrapping her arms around him, she met his kiss and licked his upper lip teasingly. He whispered into her ear, "Lindsey, you are amazing! I feel so alive with you. Would you like to go somewhere more...quiet? To a special place?" The champagne answered for her, nodding, and they walked away, arm-in-arm.
To her surprise, he led her to a dark, deserted side of the ship. He smiled and said, "We're almost there. It's just down this walkway and up the stairs." She was in a state of euphoria, caught up in the moment with this gorgeous man and the magical ambiance of the night. Eric stopped her and pointed upward. Her eyes got wide as she looked up and saw a row of lifeboats suspended about ten feet high by pulleys and ladders.