Author's Notes: There is no sex here, but it is about an almost cheating wife who found her way because she was unable to step off into that quagmire. So having said that, its vintage c1992w for those who know my work. For others, I hope you will try it. Feedback is appreciated and thanks to those who mark my submissions as a Favorite.
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Alison's Magic Cruise
Alison Miller lay in her stateroom bed at sea on her way back to Florida from a Caribbean island. The ship had just passed through the tail end of a tropical depression that was more violent than forecasters had estimated. Many of the guests on board had been sea-sick and many, like Alison, were in bed now recuperating from nausea since the sea was again calm. Too weak to get up she could only smile as she recalled the life changing events of the cruise. Alison's sister, Melissa James, lay in her twin bed in their shared stateroom recuperating from the stormy sea as well.
!!
Alison was a 32-year-old housewife and a telecommuting lead Java programmer. She and her husband picked up and dropped off their ten-year-old elementary school student school days. As beautiful women go, her husband, 34-year-old George Miller, was one of the many who considered Alison a 'ten' while in college - where they had met as juniors. He was envied by their friends because eleven years later she still was a 'ten' to most men who met her.
But Alison, the perennial loner, and extreme introvert, had a deep and dark longing for something she couldn't describe. At first, she blamed her blah feelings on no longer having bullshit conversations with coworkers since her office was only at home now and she talked to no one except her programmers who resided around the country. Alison no longer kept up with what was going on in the world - the recluse had never voted, for example. In fact, she didn't do social media or watch mainstream news or programs either. Always on guard against wasting a minute of her time, Alison did watch a classic movie from time to time. Her problem was that she not only spent her days alone, but she also didn't feel loved and appreciated by her husband. He seemingly was always caught up in his man-cave activities. Her abiding thought was, "Something is missing, and surely someone as smart as I am can solve this problem."
The programmer did work out extensively in their home gym - partially to break the monotony of grinding out code - and she enjoyed quiet music using the family's audiophile equipment. Sometimes her muscles would ache from sitting in one position too long. When this happened, she lay her head on her cluttered desk and reminded herself, "This is a two-year contract, and I am making more money now than ever before so just trudge on, old Girl." After a rest and a walk around the room, she either labored at her keyboard again or was talking to team programmers for fourteen hours on many days.
One part of Alison craved company, but she cared nothing for the few who were available and wanted to hang out with her - "Gesh! What a dull man." Her reward was that one night a week she went to a studio dance party alone where she was much in demand as a dance partner simply because she was a beautiful woman. She also followed a strong leader on the dance floor. Everyone knew she was married and that her husband tacitly supported her social dancing, but mostly opted not to go dancing with her himself.
Melissa James, Alison's sister, was two years younger but she had allowed her body to become 'fleshy, ' and it showed as her BMI was four points higher than Alison's, whose BMI proudly registered 23. Melissa never worked out so that her once hard muscles had now turned soft - albeit, she was a trained silver level dancer. The Mom had two children and was a stay at home Mom while her husband, Harry James, successfully refurbished resident bathrooms and kitchens. He was well known and successful since word of mouth advertising worked well for Harry.
The sisters' two husbands, Harry and George, were close friends and both were hunting and fishing devotees - though both families lived in a small city West of Boston. They rarely did such outdoor activities. So, they had saved their money for an all-inclusive, once in a lifetime, big game hunting trip in the Northern British Columbia wilds. Since the men would be in the woods for eight days, Alison and Melissa decided to farm the three children out to their parents and take a ten-day dance cruise. After they booked it on the internet - with the quartet in complete agreement - the ladies would fly to Ft. Lauderdale and cruise to the Western Caribbean. This plan was a win-win for the four adults plus the three children. After the plans were finalized excitement in both households was high.
After the inpatient group had awakened on their travel day, the kids were dropped off at the two sister's mother, and the quartet continued the drive to long term parking at Logan Express. Later, George's final words to the two women before he and Harry left the bus at a different terminal before them, was, "Enjoy your dance cruise, but don't be seduced by a couple of hot males on the dance floor."
The chubby Melissa answered, "Don't you worry George, I will be the official chaperone and will beat the shit out of any man who tries to feel your wife up on the dance floor." The four laughed.
Melissa's husband, Harry James, spoke up and said to his wife, "Darling, you are a silver level dancer, and men will come out of the woodwork wanting to dance with you - and maybe more, as you know how men are. So, I am worried because you will be at the mercy of all the wolves on board who are advanced dancers. So, if you are the chaperone, then who will chaperone you?"
Alison raised her hand and spoke up and said, "I will - because I look like a woman with baggage and the wolves aren't interested in any woman with a mortgage and a child."
George spoke up and said, "Thank you, Melissa, as I now feel Alison and you are safely in each other's hands." Turning to his wife, he continued, "Kiss me goodbye before the bus reaches your terminal. Alison, I love you very much so hurry back safely to us."
After both couples had finished kissing warmly, Melissa said, "Good hunting, you guys, and be careful to not shoot each other or anybody else with your high-powered rifles."
!!
Later, during their first evening at sea, the two ladies dressed in their most stylish and beautiful gowns and made their way from their stateroom to the ship's ballroom. When they entered, the eight-piece orchestra and vocalist were belting out a Sinatra-like, "...Come Fly with Me..." song. The ladies sat down and watched some advanced dancers doing the international foxtrot around the floor. Melissa said excitedly, "We have hit the jackpot, Allie, Ole Girl! There are many advanced dancers here. Hot Dawg!"
After the waiter had delivered their cocktails, two of the ship's paid dance hosts asked the sisters to dance. Melissa noticed one's nameplate and told him her name and said, "Johnny, how many years have you been dancing?"
"Fifteen."
"O.K., let's dance."
Johnny Williamson learned something new about competition-grade dancers from Melissa even after fifteen years of teaching dancers to prepare for such competitions. After two songs he escorted her back to their table and said, "Thank you, Melissa, you are professional grade! What a treat! Most of the unescorted guests with whom I dance can only wiggle around. So I must work hard to be charming and friendly. Oh, what a treat to dance with you were that is not the case! But, ship's rules are that I may not ask you again until after dancing with three other women, but may I ask later?"
The chubby housewife said, "Oh please do! My dear husband is not a dancer but allows me to go to the studio to practice with students often, so dancing with a Pro makes the whole trip worthwhile for me." After having seen her dance, two gentlemen guests raced each other to their table to ask Melissa and Alisa to the floor.
Alisa's next dance partner was another paid employee of the ship whose job was to dance and make fun talk with unescorted female guests. This one was devilishly handsome, tall, hard-bodied and a skilled dancer and maybe ten years older than her. Mark Morley's, as his nameplate stated, was relaxed and their conversation was light and witty and flowing. He skillfully led the mother of one gracefully through some easy patterns restraining her from pressing her body into his on slow songs. She said to him, "Now I know why my sister and I came on this cruise - my husband doesn't like to dance at all, while I love it. You, on the other hand, are a seasoned professional. I love the way you lead me around the floor as it makes me feel like a Pro. My sister and I will be dancing here every night - please ask me when you again when you can."
For the next Alisa and Morley dance, the small talk was light and friendly at first, but then Alison found herself relaxing and enjoying the moment in this dance host's presence. She thought to herself, "It's his eyes that captured my attention - he must be super intelligent, yet chooses to be a dance host?" The next dance while they remained on the floor talking was an American Tango. Mark always danced with single ladies who were clamoring to dance with him while keeping a discreet distance - especially when dancing the tango. Maintaining the ambiance of the ballroom was his first order of business - as he was through and through a 'company man.'
Mark Morley was a Portuguese National and was raised by a single mother in extreme poverty because his English father married and then abandoned his mother. The opportunity to apply to and his acceptance by the cruise ship company as a late teen was his 'pot at the end of the rainbow.' He became a chef's assistant in the ship's kitchen for his primary work. Then he later tried out as a dance host for evening work on board the ship and was selected. He now sends his Mom money every month because of his increased pay.
So when it comes to dancing, muscle memory and elegant moves continue to be his strengths. There were some stressful evenings, however. For example, on one pattern, some ladies attempted to press their upper thigh into his groin area mostly in the Tango. Mark always stopped a guest lady from doing that because management might fire him and 'toss him overboard' at the next scheduled stop if the incident were caught or even reported by a jealous peer.
After the dance host had asked others for three dances, he returned to his favorite, Alison, and asked her again. This time, however, it was again a Tango, and he could not constrain her politely. He felt her leg move towards and press into his groin in one pattern. Always an embarrassing moment when this happened, he stopped dancing and backed away and said, "I like my job, Alison, so let us, please, just talk while we dance?"
