The original novel by Francis Burnett published in 1909, "The Secret Garden" is the source of this story's title. No similarity exists other than the title. This is a long read with four chapters and I hope you find it enjoyable!
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CHAPTER ONE: The Cruise
Michelle was a picture of elegance, standing on the ship's deck just outside the dance club on this cool summer Caribbean night. She steadied herself with one hand resting on the ship's railing as she unconsciously flirted with the gentleman by touching his forearm with the other.
He must have said something intriguing because her face smiled brightly as her hand touched him; her knee instinctively bent, bringing her foot up onto its toe and nervously twirled on its axis as she leaned into him, exposing the sole of her peek-toe pumps to her husband, watching from inside the club.
"Michelle, you're such an incredible woman!" Frank whispered as he lifted his drink to his lips. He looked at her hair that was full of luster and long; rippling as she passed her hand through it, pulling it behind her shoulder. The light from the dance club danced off the golden locks as they fell off her fingers. Behind her, the light of the moon shimmered off the water of the Caribbean, silhouetting Michelle and the tall gentleman standing with her.
Against her better judgment, and only to please her husband, she had agreed to wear the skimpy black dress into the ship's dance club. Frank didn't consider the dress to be risqué'. But, she knew better. She was somewhat annoyed when he first sprung the idea on her. He had purchased it in Miami and had it delivered on board before the ship left port. And tonight he had the porter deliver it to their cabin, where Frank insisted she wear it to the club. He was having nothing of her warning that she couldn't wear a bra or her regular panties with it. And now, here she was in her revealing dress, a very thin black thong and her matching black heels. Michelle would never entertain the idea of going out like this back home.
Frank was glad he hadn't let Michelle off the hook! The dress was open in back above her ribcage and a small silver clasp holding the halter top together behind her neck. The thin material in front hugged her natural, large breasts. Viewing her from the side, her big supple orbs seemed to amplify the small size of her waist and slender frame.
The material was very fine silk that draped smoothly over her breasts. Thin straps held the dress close to her body and prevented the portion against her tits from blossoming out just above her nipples. Below her ribcage, small straps connected the front and back halves of the dress with equally small silver clasps, but left a gap between them that descended down her waist to the top of her hip and naughtily exposed the black strap of her thong.
Her mother had taught her to resist flaunting her body by wearing a dress like this. She was raised to dress conservatively and be cautious of how she presented herself to strangers. Lucky for her, Michelle's mother was just as gorgeous as she is and had spent considerable time educating her in the fine art of proper dress and presentation. Because of her mother's efforts, Michelle knew the effect a beautiful woman's body has on the opposite sex and how to control it.
He watched from the corner of the bar, hidden from her view as the breeze fluffed up her dress, revealing more of her bare legs. Just a little more wind, he thought each time her skirt fluffed, only to be disappointed again and again.
Her always sensitive nipples were protruding through the thin black fabric as the cool sea air brushed across them; while the moonlight on the ocean framed them in silhouette, making the scene especially erotic to him. Voyuering her from the bar excited Frank; and knowing she was caught up in the moment and didn't notice him excited him even further!
"Very beautiful woman. Is she yours?" The Asian bartender asked, breaking him out of his trance.
"What is it about us husbands with pretty wives, that make us want to show them off," he answered with a question to the bartender as he was handed another round.
A smile curled on the bartender's face as he looked at Michelle and gave his answer. "I don't know, mister. But, I see it every night of every cruise. She's a beauty. I envy you!"
"Thanks. Yeah, she's something else," Frank tossed him a healthy tip and refocused his attention on his wife.
After several of Michelle's unconscious flirtations, the tall gentleman reciprocated by placing his hands on the back of her waist. The sensation of his fingers on her exposed skin must have alerted her because she moved backward and broke off the conversation.
She was walking toward him, anxiously brushing her skirt down when they made eye contact. "Hello sexy! Where have you been?" she teased Frank.
"Just enjoying the view!" he answered. At that, she blushed and looked down into her drink, knowing precisely what he was talking about.
She lifted her drink to her lips, mischievously tilted her chin and looked into her husband's eyes. Sipping her drink she queried him nervously, "What exactly did you see?"
After ten years of marriage Frank knew all of her womanly tricks to deflect attention from the subject at hand. He enjoyed her effort but wasn't going to let her off so easily! He told her he had seen a good-looking man hitting on his wife. When Michelle's eyes flushed wide open and her hand came up to her face covering her mouth Frank knew he had surprised her.
"Frank, I'm so sorry! Oh, my goodness! I didn't realize what was happening and all of a sudden he had his hand on my waist and...and....and..."
Frank interrupted her before she could finish her sentence by placing his finger on her lips. "Sshhh, honey. Don't worry," he tenderly said. "I know you weren't doing anything, baby." He paused a moment and added, "You are a truly rare woman."
Michelle looked at him and gently laughed, then blushed suddenly but kept on looking at him.
"You are blushing," Frank said to her.
"No I'm not."
"Yes, you are blushing now."
"Why are you so perceptive," she said and hugged him. "I adore you, Frank."
"I love you too, Michelle."
With that, she became more comfortable and suggested they have some fun in their cabin. "I'm married to the most handsome man on board. Can I talk him into buying me a drink in my cabin?" she teased as her bright blue eyes sparkled!
"Well, well. You do seem to have a thing for older men! And, since I'm over forty and you are a mere twenty-nine, I think I qualify!"
Her fingers ran through his graying temples as she reached to kiss him. Then, they turned and walked out of the bar. Minutes later they were lying on their bed, with Michelle on top, still in her dress and heels.
"Honey, you know I'm completely devoted to you? You know that, right?" she asked, still somewhat concerned about the inappropriateness of being with the man by the ship's railing.
Frank had never spent a single minute worrying about Michelle's faithfulness to him. From the very first day they met in that dusty crowded lecture hall she had known she wanted him as her husband and in a very short period of time, he knew she would be his wife.
