Jack navigated Slip Slidin', his 30-foot sailboat into Douglas harbor on the Ilse of Man. Clouds streaked across the sky as the freshening wind blew in from the Irish Sea. The barometer was dropping and the wind promised to strengthen as it wiped salty spay into the air and stung Jack's nostrils. The sun was just starting its final slide down the western sky to hide behind the island and cast a rose hue across the harbor and the 15 other 30-footers entering the harbor mouth behind Slip Slidin' after the days race. Jack had won this race as he often did. A successful tacking duel on the last windward leg and favorable wind shift had carried Slip Slidin' across the line finish line with the sound of the victory gun.
Work had been frustratingly slow and his personal life stagnating. While the sense of victory permeated his body and he wanted to celebrate, he also wanted to avoid the typical post race party. He wanted to get away, escape, to be anonymous. To avoid the fake greetings of the other sailors as they leered at the young racer chases looking for a piece of action. He wanted to savor this victory alone.
He barrowed the harbormasters Vespa scooter and headed north into Onchan. The sound of the 50cc engine whined as the scooter climbed over the hills. After a short ride, leaving the docks behind him town of Onchan before him. He stopped the Vespa in front of a small pub called the Three Legs of Man which posted a bill outs side advertising live music featuring the band Spezialdienste from Germany. Jack smiled. That sounded more like it. He stepped into the dimly light pub and was greeted by the sound of the band playing a cover of "Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life)." Jack made his way over to the bar and ordered a pint of Okell's Bitter. Drinking the Bitter, his eyes adjusted to the light and he watch the patrons of the pub dance to the music on the small dance floor in front of the band. Finishing his drink, he drifted toward the band, drawn by the motion of the crowd. The sound of the music filled his head as a new song started. He found himself off the left side of the band. The sound of the beat driving his movements he was not conscious of his dancing and gave little thought to the presence of the people around him. Gradually Jack became aware of someone close to him. He glanced down and saw a beautiful brunette dervish at his side seemingly oblivious to those around her.
Wearing black shoes, black stockings covering her long legs, a black mini skirt and a red silk blouse. She dance with a graceful abandon. Looking up at Jack she grinned with a careless desire he had never seen before. The beat of the music, clear in his mind, became faster as he and the woman danced, circling one another. The crowd seemed to melt into the ancient masonry walls of the pub. All that existed were the music and the brunette goddess that Jack was now moving in synchrony with, spiraling about the same axis in smaller and smaller circles. When the music ended they were touching. He could feel her breasts against his chest, firmly beckoning him forward. Without saying a word, the got their goats and stepped out into the cool air. The offshore breeze strengthening as Jack mounted the Vespa and she straddled the seat behind him. The sound of her leather jacket scrunched in his hears as she held him tight. The Vespa's engine now sounded more confident. Jack silently urged it to go faster, the wind wiping in his face, his passenger holding him tighter. He turned the scooter out into the country roads, the same ones used by the annual TT motorcycle races. Jack felt if he could go fast enough, that time would stand still, even if just for a moment. The wind, the grip of the woman, the sound of the Vespa, these sensations could be his forever.
At the dock he parked the Vespa and he boarded Slip Slidin. Jack then easily lifted the mysterious woman over the lifelines into his arms. They embraced on the deck, his face buried in her wild dark hair, the splash of the waves pushed by the wind sounded against the side of the boat. Instinctively, they both moved to the companion way and below deck. Jack carried her to the V-berth in the bow of the boat laying her down with head at the point of the V. He kissed the Nape of her neck, breathing his hot breath on her skin that he could see respond with goose bumps in the dim light. Then gently he kissed the soft spot in the center of her neck. He unbuttoned the first button of the flame red blouse and kissed the newly revealed skin. The next button showed the black lace of her bra. Jack kissed the skin above and below the center v of the bra, breathing life into the flesh. The next button revealed her navel that he slowly kissed a circle around - then a smaller circle - finally a circle around it's rim licking it lightly with his tongue. As the boat rocked in the wind, the bumpers moaned as the weight of the boat pressed them against the dock.
