Yesterday was day three of our cruise and it was a strange day. Carrie was still glowing when she got up. She must have thanked me for the adventuresome evening of firsts at least ten times. I was basking all her praise and strutting like a peacock when we went to breakfast. After breakfast, Carrie was in a rush to get to her private bridge tour with the ships third officer.
I worked all day never seeing her again. But my writing was brilliant, if I say so myself. I made lots of progress. My dick was sore and my back hurt but knowing how I earned both was a very pleasant thought.
At bedtime, still alone, I thought about Carrie. She was in no danger. The ship is a very safe protected environment. There was no reason to be jealous; we both knew this cruise was a one-time fling. Besides the last two days was worth many times the price of the cruise.
As I awoke on the fourth day, knowing Carrie had not come back to the cabin last night. The Third Officer must have gotten lucky. I liked Carrie and sincerely hoped she had stumbled onto Mr. Right. Her life had not been all roses. She was a small town girl, never traveled, married right out of high school to a guy who wasn't a worker and would never be a good provider. She stuck with him way too long, had kids, received no help, got slapped around and finally divorced him when he hit one of her daughters with a closed fist. With no skills she took up stripping and had made her living doing that for several years. She wanted things to be different, but she also knew she would need someone else's help to make any good changes happen.
Breakfast alone didn't taste as good without the company of a beautiful woman. Only half heartedly, I thought about my writing plan for the day. As I left, I gave a friendly smile to a thin, brunette who had also eaten her breakfast alone. I had seen her alone in the library and alone walking around yesterday.
Writing wasn't going well. Must have been feeling sorry for myself, maybe coffee would help. At the coffee counter, I saw the woman from breakfast coming across the room for coffee also. We exchanged niceties. When I turned to go back to my computer, she spoke up, "Can you take a break from your computer and have your coffee with me? I hate not having someone to talk to during a coffee break?"
"I would love to have coffee with you. Everything I've written today is a disaster. Maybe a conversation with a lovely lady will turn things around." Her library table was filled with travel magazines, "Are you going to be traveling a lot in the near future?"
"I don't know. I was widowed over a year ago and my daughter prodded me to get out of my house in Sacramento. She talked me into us taking our first cruise. By the way, I'm Linda, Linda Colton."
"It's nice to meet you Linda Colton. I'm Tom Daton from Medford, Oregon. I've only seen you alone, I haven't seen your daughter."
"Yes, she's shopping today. I didn't want to get off the ship. We are supposed to be traveling together but I haven't seen much of her. At eighteen she is too active to hang out with her plain, old, boring Mom. There seems to be many activities and club activities for the youngsters on the ship. How about you? Where is that lovely woman I've been seeing you with?"
"Oh, you mean Carrie. She is beautiful. She came along to keep me company. I'm also widowed." I leaned forward and whispered like it was some great secret, "She didn't come back to the cabin last night. I think she has the hots for the ships Third Officer. I've got to get me a uniform. Pretty women always like uniforms."
Linda laughed with me and we got to know one another for about an hour. It was eleven- thirty. I told Linda I had to get back to work but would be having a late lunch at the Lido at one fifteen (It closes at 1:30.). Then I sternly looked at her and said, "We haven't known each other very long but I already really like your company. What I'm going to say is very politically incorrect. If you ever put you self down by calling yourself plain, boring or old again, I'm going to paddle your cute little butt." Linda looked very surprised. I added, "Hope to see you at lunch." I walked back to my computer never glancing back.
I had my plate of food and was sitting by a window, when Linda walked up to my table. I stood and said, "Hello, sexy." She looked around quickly to see if anyone heard me. "Do I embarrass you?"
She returned her attention to me, "Yes, but for some reason, I like it. Let me get some food and I'll join you."
We talked until about three and I mentioned needing to get to work. Linda went back with me to the Explorations CafΓ©, "What do you write?"
"Mostly adventure and action novels. I sometimes write for magazines and even do a few naughty stories for Internet sites. I have a publishing deadline coming up in three weeks."
"Can I see some of your work? What do you mean naughty stories?"
I walked over to one of "Explorations'" bookshelves and brought a book back to Linda. "My first mystery. Mostly for the guys, I'm afraid. As for the naughty stories, have dinner with me tonight, tell me your best fantasy, we'll write it and submit it to Literotca while we are still on the ship." I loved this. I had shocked her again. "What's wrong, Linda, don't want to have dinner with me or too shy to share your fantasies?"
"Too shy, I guess."
"Listen you wonderful woman. Everybody has great, exciting fantasies and experiences but their stories are lost because they are too shy to share them. I know you are going to run away from me at the end of the cruise. Before you do consider trying something safe and different. Consider playing verbally with you naughty side and tell me your risquΓ© thoughts. I have a feeling each of your fantasies would keep me as horny as a teenager for days."
I opened my laptop. Linda was blushing from head to toe, "I would love to have dinner with you but I don't know about the other. Now I have to go see if my daughter is back."
"That's fine. I'll work out dinner. What's your cabin number?" I could see her recoil as she pondered whether to risk giving her cabin number to this strange man.
"2675"
"I'll call you at six with the details. For a my first date with a pretty woman, it will have to be something more impressive than the Lido."
When I returned to my cabin, there was a note slipped under the door from Carrie. She apologized and was sort of hiding out, afraid I would be angry. She was really taken with her handsome officer and had been with him during the very few hours he had free. She asked if she could come back to the cabin about ten tonight and talk. As she requested, I left her a note in the holder outside the cabin door.
Dearest Carrie,
I am sincerely happy for you. You are very special to me and in the last two days, you have given me memories to keep me smiling for years. I am not mad and I want to hear all about the ugly, impotent man you left me for.
I may be later than ten tonight. This is your cabin too, please don't be afraid to sleep here or use it. Even if it is to spend time with your guy. Just leave me instructions. Except for swatting your cute little butt when you are in my way; I'll be a good boy and will honor everything I promised you before this cruise.
Love, Tom
I called the Pinnacle Grill and discovered, the reservations Carrie made for us were for tonight. Her loss; Linda's and my gain. At six I called Linda and confirmed that we were still on for dinner. "Wear some soft slacks. I'll pick you up at seven for cocktails. Dinner is at eight."
"I'll be ready, that all sounds wonderful. But I'm not comfortable with the fantasy thing."
"That's alright, Linda. Just relax; I would never push you beyond your limits. Let's enjoy dinner with no pressure. Before dinner I am going to try one last time to convince you to verbally play with me."
A suit and tie for me tonight. I arrived at her door looking really good, but not in the league with the beautiful Jamie Lee Curtis look-a-like that stood before me. I guess I was gawking. She said, "You like what you see?"
"Every cell in my body likes what I see."
She had a big smile. I helped her with her wrap and we headed for cocktails. After a few minutes of small talk about her flighty daughter, I sensed Linda wanted to settle the issue about sharing fantasies. Earlier today I had learned that we had both retired young and taught at least a while during our careers; she had taught high school history; I had taught college level business courses. Also, I learned money was tight for her daughter's college.