"What the hell Nate?" I exclaimed, in disbelief at what my husband had done.
"Well; I really had no choice," Nate explained. "They said they knew you and that Sue had let them down."
"Oh!" I replied, quickly calming now that secret was out.
I looked at my husband attempting to gauge what more they might have told him. He didn't appear angry, so I assumed he'd only heard part of what had occurred the previous evening.
"Sue let them down! How so?" I queried.
"They said when you were all drinking last evening, she promised to take them on her and Ben's yacht. I don't think they're happy that she left early without them; but you know them, and they seem nice enough...I thought I'd better offer."
"Oh shit!" I thought, my mind whirling. "Yeah; nice enough to have fucked your wife and her friend last evening. Nice enough to have stolen my rings and bracelet. There's nothing 'nice' about either of these two, and now they're on my boat."
"You didn't tell me you'd met any men last evening. You said you and Sue just had dinner and talked."
Nate didn't say it in an accusatory tone, but I knew him. His insecurities were aroused and he was fishing for the truth.
"Yeah well, that was Sue who decided that. I just went along with it," I lied. "I think she thought Ben would be jealous. I knew you'd be OK, but I thought I better keep to the story."
"Oh yeah!" my husband said, looking closely at me.
"Fuck!" I thought. "He doesn't believe me."
To my relief Gabriel walked down the boat and interrupted us.
"Jessica, so good to see you again. I hope you don't mind giving me and Marcos a lift. We are desperate to sail south and Sue promised to let us travel with her. Now she is gone, so we thought..."
"No, no! Not at all. It should be alright," I lied again.
So many lies, but I knew it was too late to say anything else. If I continued to make a fuss, he could easily just tell Nate what had occurred between us. And there was plenty to tell. That would end my marriage, I was certain of that. Just when we were getting things back on track. The other bonus was that I'd get the chance to retrieve my wedding rings and bracelet off the thieving bastard.
"That's settled then. I knew from talking with you last evening that you were a very giving person Jess. So our thanks to the both of you for helping us. Here; we have brought some food," he said, pointing to a large box packed full of food. "We can't sail for another two hours. Shall we eat and discuss where we are going. It will be an adventure."
"Oh; an adventure. Well that sounds good, eh Jess?" Nate said smiling.
"Oh my god, you naΓ―ve man," I thought. "What sort of an adventure?"
Full of trepidation I went below and began to prepare the meal, while the men pulled the zodiac on board, deflated and stored it away. I knew I needed to speak with Gabriel alone. What had he told Nate? Where the hell was my jewelry; and where were we headed?
I heard a noise and turned to see that Gabriel come below. We exchanged smiles, while I waited to see if the others were following. It appeared they had remained aloft, so I dropped the front.
"Where the hell are my rings and bracelet; you thief," I spat out at him.
"Jessica! Is that any way to speak to your lover?" he drawled, in his thick Latin American accent.
"Don't call me Jessica. What have you told Nate?"
"Well; I needed a ride on his yacht, so I didn't begin by telling him that I fucked his wife last night; if that is what worries you."
I'd wanted to stay strong and appear in charge, but his blunt statement of fact took the wind from my sails.
"Oh god!" I exclaimed, bringing a hand to my forehead and bowing my head. "That was such a mistake."
"Noooo! I don't think so. One time a mistake...twice..." he replied, stepping forward, placing arms around me and gripping my buttocks.
He squeezed hard, before I wrenched myself clear.
"And there'll be none of that," I said, wrenching free and pushing him away.
He laughed at me.
"Senora. We got on so well last evening, when you came to my bed and we fucked. I..."
"My jewelry you bastard...I want it back," I cut in.
"And you shall have it...all in good time. For now, both your jewelry and our secret liaison are safe with Gabriel. If your bitch girlfriend had not gone back on her promise to Marcos, we would not be here. But here we are. It is fate! We want a smooth journey, so these rings I hold in my top pocket..." he said tapping the pocket, "...will stay there. I have no cause to slap your wedding ring down on the table and have you explain to your husband how I came by it. Now I'm hungry. So get on and cook my dinner...puta."
The word stung me, but I had no right of reply. He turned and went back up the ladder.
"What a situation," I thought, stirring the food, now flooded with conflicting emotions, which overflowed.
I seldom cried, but at that moment a tear ran down my cheek and dropped into the food. My alcohol fueled plan had seemed so solid the previous night. A one-night stand with a man, who exuded the rough masculinity and danger I had not experienced in such a long time. A real contrast to my husband. It had all seemed so naughty and exciting. I cursed at myself, but mostly I cursed Sue.
Soon the meal was ready and despite my misgivings about the whole situation, I set the table and opened a bottle of red wine Gabriel had brought. It was a long table, with bench seats on both sides. After they came below to eat, Nate and I sat on one side with the two of them on the other. Gabriel was directly opposite me.
Gabriel told us where we were headed. The island off the coast of Colombia was three days sail away. His domineering manner pissed me off.
"It's our boat and we can sail where we want, not where he decides," I thought and was pleased when Nate raised some sort of an objection.
"We can't get there in that time," Nate complained.
Gabriel went on to say we could if we sailed day and night with all sails set. This was not something Nate and I had ever done. When it was the two of us, we'd drop our sails and recommence our journey the next morning. Gabriel said it would require two on deck at all times during the night. The men would take in in shifts. Six hours on; three hours off.
I waited, hoping Nate would raise further objections. He said nothing.