Disclaimer - All characters are 18 or older.
Author's note - This story was written in collaboration with Diana R.
For those familiar with other editions of Diana's Tales, then you already know what you are getting into if you proceed. This story (like all of Diana's Tales) straddles the line between reality-based fiction and the ridiculous. Racial stereotypes abound. Promiscuity and infidelity are flaunted. If any of these are triggers for you, please find another tale more suitable to your palate.
*****
Diana's Tales: Cruising Pt. 02
*****
I returned to the ship after my beach encounter with Miguel. I was sitting poolside before heading to dinner in an hour. I saw my friends from last night, Javier, Chan, and Nigel, had lit a spark with some other young ladies also on spring break like themselves. They playfully splashed about in the water and held each other. I don't even think they noticed me at first, and I'd almost swear they were purposefully avoiding eye contact with me, although Chan did end up given me a muted wave hello a while later.
Although I wanted to be happy for them, I was admittedly a little disappointed, even though I couldn't blame them. After all, I'd just explained earlier that afternoon to Miguel how we were basically strangers having no strings attached sex. I knew any sex I had on this cruise fell under that code, and though I knew I should be thankful for the time I spent with them last night, the fact they had moved on to other women still stung. I saw my younger competition with their young, firm bodies, and I wasn't sure how I could compete. Besides, they each had their own girl they were shamelessly flirting with, as opposed to last night when they all had to share me. The numbers worked in my favor last night, but I could understand why they would each want a female companion of their own.
Feeling blue and a little less than desirable, I ended up retiring early to my cabin for the night and calling room service for dinner. A half hour later, there was a knock at the door.
"Room service," a voice called out. He sounded familiar somehow, although I couldn't quite place it.
As I opened the door, Ramon, the porter who brought my bags to the room on the first day stood there with a cart carrying my meal. "Ms. Diana, it' s a pleasure to make your acquaintance again," he said warmly. "Please, let me bring your dinner into your room."
Ramon stepped in, and I closed the door behind him, happy to see that he remembered me. Maybe I'd actually made an impression on him on that first day. I know he had certainly made an impression on me.
"Are you feeling a little under the weather, if you don't mind my asking? We offer so many dining options, I'm surprised you are not out enjoying all that we have to offer. A lovely lady such as yourself could be living it up."
"Oh, I've felt better I suppose," I admitted. "But this is lovely. I'm sure I'll be back out to exploring the ship tomorrow."
I sat down and admired his body as he finished preparing my meal. He set it up on a nearby table, placing the plate on a mat with salt and pepper shakers as well as silverware and napkins. He was dressed in the standard worker uniform for the ship. Khaki pants and polo shirt.
"You're serving people all day long. When do you have time to eat?" I asked as he finished up setting the table.
"This is actually my last task for tonight. I'm off the clock after this," he replied with a smile.
"Do you have plans for tonight? Would you care to join me for dinner? I ordered way more food than I could hope to finish. My eyes are always bigger than my stomach."
"Oh, I'm honored, but they don't like us mingling with the guests like that," he replied, clearly trying to let me down easy.
I was still feeling the sting from Javier, Chan, and Nigel moving past me, however, and Ramon must have seen the disappointment on my face.
"I don't mean to offend," he quickly apologized. "It's just, we're here for a job. Some people are unscrupulous, and they'd try to take advantage of guests."
"I don't mean to get you in trouble. I just figured it's nice to have some company and good conversation. I bet you have a girlfriend, anyway."
"Actually, I don't," Ramon admitted. "I'm always away from home to work on cruises, so it makes relationships hard. Some people will try to take advantage of it. Some of the staff would spend all their time hitting on guests, basically harassing them if they didn't have some rules in place."
"Oh, I can imagine. Still, it's too bad they discourage you from fraternizing with the guests. You have needs too," I pointed out. "After all, what's a little fun between adults as long as everything is consensual, and no one gets hurt. I mean, especially if you're off the clock now."
I knew I was guilt tripping him, and I saw the struggle on his face. I smiled earnestly at him, and I could see him looking me over, trying to decipher my intentions. I had flirted lightly with him when he brought my bags to the room, and now I was practically begging him to stay. It shouldn't be hard to read between the lines, but I decided to clear up any mystery for him.
"Just so you know, you wouldn't be taking advantage of me. If anything, I'd be taking advantage of you. We're both adults, and you yourself said you're off the clock. I'm a grown woman, and I can take care of myself. I won't force you to stay. I would never do that."
I could see how uncomfortable he felt. His mouth was almost salivating, but his eyes were darting between me and the door, a worried look on his face, the threat of reprimand from his bosses clearly weighing on his conscience.
"It's okay, you're unsure. Maybe it's not meant to be," I said, finally breaking the awkward silence.
"Please, don't be offended. You're a lovely woman. If it was normal circumstances, I'd - " his voice dropped off.
"I understand," I assured him.
Ramon hung his head in shame as he turned to leave.
"Your tip," I said, as I held out a bill.
"It's okay, keep it. When you're done with the meal, you can just leave the cart outside in the hall. Someone will be by to collect it," he said somberly as he trudged off.
Well, this is a hell of a night, I thought to myself. The cart had a chilled bottle of wine in a bucket of ice, and I immediately grabbed it, figuring it was best to drown my sorrows. I poured myself a glass and pondered my own disappointment. I had fun with Miguel on the beaches of Escambron that afternoon, but this whole evening had turned into a train wreck. I couldn't help but truly feel my age, and the thought frightened me. I'd heard my other girlfriends complain at various points how they felt invisible to men as they turned older. I'd resolved that would never happen to me, but now I wondered if I was relegated to the same fate. Maybe time, my age, was finally catching up with me.
Next door, I heard the newlyweds in the throes of passion, obviously enjoying each other's company. It only further depressed me, and I turned up the volume on the tv to try to drown out the bride's shrill cries of pleasure. I poured myself another glass and drowned my sorrows, falling asleep on my bed watching reruns of shows that I remembered watching as if it was yesterday, although it pained me as I realized those shows were older than the newlyweds next door.
*****
I awoke the next morning to a knock on the door.
"Housekeeping," another familiar voice called out.
As I wiped the sleep from my eyes, Felix stood expectantly in my entryway, his eyes hopeful for a rerun of yesterday's sex romp. In my eyes, he was like a dream, a reprieve after the rejection I'd endured the night before. He was validation that some young men did still find me attractive, that maybe I wasn't destined to be just an afterthought.
A thin smile formed on my face. "Close the door," I told him. "We only have a little time to play since you're on the clock."
He excitedly stripped off his clothes and jumped into bed.
"Do you always sleep naked?" he asked as his eyes feasted on my body.
I nodded in the affirmative.
"Naughty, naughty boy," I playfully scolded him. "I thought the workers weren't supposed to have relationships with the passengers."
"Well, I won't kiss and tell if you won't."
"Tell me, how old are you?" I asked, curious how badly I was robbing the cradle.
"21. Am I too young for you?"
"No, I'd say you're just perfect," I replied as he spread my legs and prepared myself for him to enter me.
Ten minutes later, Felix was done having his way with me, and I laid in bed, a fully satisfied woman with his cum dripping out of my pussy and a smile on my face.
"Same time tomorrow," Felix asked hopefully.
"I'll be waiting for you. You give excellent room service," I complimented him. He laughed as he opened the door to leave.
"Oh, there you are," a woman's voice called out. We're out of toilet paper if you could - "
Then I heard a gasp as the young newlywed bride stood just outside my door and caught sight of me naked on the bed. Felix quickly closed the door, but there was no doubt she knew that Felix was doing more than just making my bed.
*****
An hour later, I was freshened up, and left my room to find the day's adventures. As I closed the door, the newlywed bride stepped out at the same moment with her husband. She looked at me indignantly, and I felt the weight of her judgmental stare. Her husband, on the other hand, looked at me in a different light, almost as if he was looking upon me as a sexual creature for the first time. I figured she must have confessed her suspicions to him, however, unlike her outrage, he seemed to harbor curiosity. She couldn't help but notice his interest and gave him a sharp elbow jab.
I shook my head and moved past them, making my way to the main deck. As I stepped out into the bright morning sun, I was pleasantly greeted by the gorgeous landscape of Montego Bay. As I stepped off the boat, there were various buses staged to ferry people to local destinations, and I was contemplating which destination to explore when a booming voice called out in a thick Jamaican accent, "Hey there, sexy, what is a beautiful woman like you doing all alone?"
I turned around and was greeted by the sight of a 6'2" chiseled Adonis of a black man. He smiled, and his gleaming white teeth contrasted sharply with his coal black skin. The sight of him left me shaking in excitement.
"Welcome to Jamaica. I could be your tour guide if you like," he kindly offered.
I'd read about older women who visit Jamaica and end up in relationships with young local men. I knew right away that's what I was facing. There's no such thing as a free lunch, as they say. For the women, it gave them companionship and sex with men more handsome and younger than they could ever attract back home. Back at home, those older women were expected to be grannies who acted with propriety, but here they were free to pursue their lust fueled fantasies in a foreign land where their friends and family could not judge them. For the men, the women often showered them with gifts and money that their country's poor economy otherwise afforded little chance of obtaining.
I immediately recognized that was likely the case here, but I made a brief calculation and quickly decided our relationship could be mutually beneficial.
"And your name is?" I said with squinted eyes.
