I woke up slowly, groggily, not really sure where I was. I realised someone had their arm draped across my hips, resting their hand on my belly, it was a woman's hand. Rolling onto my back slowly, so as not to disturb her, I turned towards her, and realised that it was Sarah who was snuggled up against me. As I looked around the room, the events of the previous evening came back to me. This wasn't a room, but the cabin of a boat, a very luxurious boat. I became aware of the movement under me as the boat pitched and dipped with the waves and I could hear the wind outside, still strong, but not as strong as it had been last night. Last night, when Sarah and I had almost drowned when the storm caught us by surprise as we paddled our sea kayaks from the mainland to our planned campsite on Peterson Island.
Sarah had capsized first when a wave caught her broadside and I had followed a few minutes later as we tried to get her boat upright and her back in the cockpit. We were only a kilometre from our destination when we first went over and as we held onto our boats and paddles, being battered by waves and wind, we discussed whether we should abandon our boats and try to swim. The next time we looked up, we were level with island, and in what seemed only a few more minutes, we were travelling past the eastern end of the island, and we realised we were in open ocean. The wind, plus the waves, plus the tide was carrying us out to sea much faster than we could possibly swim.
We tried to get the kayaks over and empty, but the waves were just too big, too steep. We had been in the water for about fourty-five minutes, and it was getting dark, when we saw the boat pass us, heading out to sea. We waved and called out, but it travelled on past us. About 15 minutes later it came back, heading towards the island. Again, we called out and waved but it travelled about 200 metres past us, then turned again, heading back out to sea. Was it looking for us? Had someone seen us capsize? It took two more passes before we were found. We had been in the water for over an hour and were beginning to get hyperthermic. I found out later, that Steve, the guy on the boat had seen us drift past and had come out from his safe anchorage to find us.
I looked down and realised I was only wearing a guy's tee shirt, a fairly short tee shirt, no panties, no bra, no sign of my other clothes. But of course, everything I had been wearing last night was saturated and this was one of Steve's tee shirts. Then I remembered how Sarah had been so exhausted that she had just wanted to fall into bed in her wet clothes, and Steve and I had had to undress her and get her warm. I looked over at Sarah who had pulled the thick doona over herself, and I realised that she was also only wearing one of Steve's tee shirts.
I rolled out from under Sarah's arm, being careful not to wake her, and headed along a narrow corridor and up some stairs to the main cabin.
Steve was sitting at the table with a coffee, and he smiled as I approached. Last night I had been in survival mode, running on adrenaline, and really hadn't taken a lot of notice of my rescuer, I just remember being thankful that he had seen us, and that he had risked his boat in the storm to rescue us. I saw his smile and realised that he was a good-looking guy, probably mid 40's, about ten years older than me, a bit of salt and pepper around his temples, but well built, very well built, with broad shoulders and large hands. He obviously kept himself fit.
"So good to see you up Julie" he said. "Were you warm enough last night? Is Sarah all right, she seemed to be more hyperthermic than you."
"Yes, thanks, Sarah is still sleeping, but she seems to be OK".
"Coffee? Breakfast? I can cook up some eggs".
"Let me cook you breakfast" I replied, I at least owe you that.
"Let's tag team, you do the coffee and will cook" he told me with that amazing smile again. "Coffee and a plunger are in that cupboard."
As I reached up for the coffee, I realised that this tee shirt was riding up, maybe exposing my arse, so I snuck a quick glance at Steve as I turned back to the bench. Yep, he was turning away, he probably had a good look and I realised then that I really didn't mind. He was my rescuer and maybe I owed him more than making the coffee.
As he cooked and I made coffee and tried to help, I was very conscious that I was naked under the tee shirt and that my breasts, a comfortable C cup, were moving around with the movement of the boat. Steve was a perfect gentleman, behaving himself, but I could tell that he noticed. Women always know when men are noticing their bodies.
As we ate, we shared stories. Sarah and I had been friends for years, enjoying all sorts of outdoor activities and camping together. I could see the obvious question that he wanted to ask, so I explained that no, we were not lovers, just friends. I learnt that Steve was a widower. After Steve's partner had died eighteen months ago, he had sold his company for much more than he ever expected to get and now worked as an adviser to other businesses around North Queensland, while spending lots of time enjoying himself.
As we were washing up, I took both his hands in mine and held them tight.
"I really don't know how to thank you for what you did last night. Saving us, getting us warm. You saved our lives."
He just smiled. "What should I have done, just watched you drift out to sea?"
"You know what I mean... thank you," I reached up and put my arms around his neck and hugged him tight, pressing my breasts against his firm chest, resting my head on his shoulder.
He let me hug him for a minute then he broke away. "Let's get your gear out of the kayaks and do you need to call anyone. We have no mobile phone reception here, but we can relay a radio message via the volunteer marine rescue service. We don't want your friends calling out the emergency services."
After we had reassured our emergency contacts that we were OK I told Steve that I had to check on Sarah. I found her awake and sitting up in bed, looking a bit confused.
"I have no idea where I am" she said.
"You were not well last night, really cold, and pretty out of it" I explained. "We got you out of the water, put you under a warm shower and put you to bed".
Sarah was still a bit confused as I explained how the night had played out, but eventually she understood.
"Um", Sarah asked, "Julie, did you get me into the shower and bed last night"?
I must have looked a bit sheepish.
"I couldn't get you into the warm shower and into bed my myself" I told her, "especially down the stairs, so yes, Steve helped get you warm and safe".
I saw her blush but she didn't say anything.
I crawled up on the bed beside her and held her hand.
"He saved our lives" I told her. "And he is being a real gentleman. I think he is a good man."
"So you don't think he will be fantasising about what might happen, having two women, wearing next to nothing, in his bed" she asked.
"Yeah, he was a complete gentleman while we were making breakfast, but he definitely noticed me, noticed my body."
"Do you think we are safe with him" Sarah asked.
"Yes, or course" I replied, but after a pause. "But maybe he isn't safe from me. You know that there is a traditional way for a woman to thank a man when he saves her life."
Sarah looked at me and opened her eyes wide. "You want to fuck Steve?"
"He saved our lives, and he is a good-looking guy," I responded.
She just smiled at me. "If he is such a gentleman, he will not accept your offer, he may even be offended."
"Maybe, but I want to try. I'm just feeling really horny after my near-death experience."
Sarah laughed, "You're just looking for an excuse to get laid. And while this is an amazing boat, there aren't that many places where I can go so that I don't have to watch."
"You could always join in. Maybe the offer of a threesome would break down his gentlemanly barriers."
She did not immediately say no, which I found interesting. "I'll wait here, if you want to fuck him, do it up in the main cabin, there are plenty of lounges, or the floor, or the table, or the back deck. If you want the bed, let me know and I will go upstairs."
When I went back upstairs, Steve was sitting on the lounge reading a book. He looked up as I entered. "We are sheltered here, but this storm is going to blow for most of the day, we may be here for a while."
I walked up to him and stood in front of him. The tee shirt was not long, covering my arse and the top of my thighs, and while it was loose across the chest, my nipples were hard with anticipation and stood out proudly. He looked up at me. I had already caught him checking me out, letting his eyes roam across my body, but this time he definitely lingered on my hips and breasts, before he caught himself and looked me in the eyes. He has beautiful green eyes and there was a suggestion of lust.
"I like you looking at me like that" I told him.
"Like what" he bluffed.
