dibs

by Kristi Pelton

  “Tell me your name,” he insisted, leaning even closer.

  “Samantha. Sam.”

  “I like that, way better than Rose. Now, here we go. I, Samantha Sam, am very sorry, Mac for the way I’ve treated you.”

  I threw him an eye roll but repeated. “I, Sam am very sorry, Mac for the way I’ve treated you.” Quickly, I turned to walk away.

  “Oh, not so fast,” he said, easily holding me in place. He seemed a foot taller than me. “And I, Sam, think that you, Mac are the most handsome man I’ve ever seen and I desperately want to kiss you.”

  I didn’t know if he could see my slight disbelieving headshake.

  “And I Sam…OK…” my words stopped…I wanted him to kiss me.

  His fingers tightened just a bit around my elbows, clinging to my words. “OK, what?”

  “All of it…whatever you said…OK.”

  His tongue darted out and swept over his bottom lip. “As in you agree with what I said?” He was the one who looked nervous now as I watched his Adam’s apple jet out and back in.

  “Yes. Well…at least the second part of what you said,” I joked but meant every word.

  That’s when his hands left my elbows. His eyes held me mesmerized as he moved with the slowest of intent. One hand slid carefully through my hair, where he wrapped his fingers delicately around my upper neck, and the other hand softly cupped my jaw.

  Instinctively, I moistened my lips as he lowered his mouth to mine. And he treated me to three of the slowest pecks known to man. Perfect kisses…an appetizer as to what was to come…Soft. Slow. Agonizing. Aching for more, I almost swooned when he tightened his grip on my neck, opened his mouth and took complete possession of mine. God, I hadn’t been kissed like this…ever. Thor was making love to my mouth in a way that I knew (and he knew) I’d never forget. The warmth of his tongue only increased the temperature in my mouth and my head was literally floating in his massive hand.

  An involuntary moan ripped up my throat, and my eyes shot wide in humiliation. My body was acting like a fifteen-year-old virgin being kissed for the first time. In response, he simply deepened the best kiss I’d ever experienced. The hand not tangled in my hair crept down my back, keeping me pinned to him.

  “Mac!” the shrill voice interrupted, and he stopped kissing me but still held me close against his body.

  A deep sigh engulfed him as his nostrils flared and his jaw clenched. Without looking, I knew who was there…who had shouted his name, but I couldn’t see around him.

  “Larissa. Leave us alone,” he ordered.

  “Dinner is being served. The entire party is there.”

  “Eat without me,” he said, his eyes frantically searched my face. I don’t know what he was looking for, but I grinned.

  “Seriously? She is like older than you! Don’t you get enough of old at home?”

  Her words snapped me back to reality, and I pulled free of his grasp. When his eyes closed, I rested my hand over my chest trying to contain whatever it was I was feeling.

  “Don’t go,” he spoke softly.

  “It’s ok. My friends are waiting too, and she’s right,” I laughed, though nothing seemed funny to me at the moment.

  “No.” He shook his head, his eyes begging me to change my mind as his thumb trailed down my arm.

  Without another word, I turned and walked away.

  “Come here, Larissa, now!” I heard from behind me. I didn’t turn to see what was going on. It didn’t matter any more.

  “So?” Kat asked as I sat at our table, trembling from what had just happened. An uncontainable smile spread over my cheeks.

  I waved at the waiter and within a minute he had another vodka water at our table.

  “Tell me!” Kat demanded.

  “Did you fuck Thor?” Juls nearly shouted as she joined us at the table.

  “Thor?” a voice rumbled behind me. By the time I spun around, Mac was soaring past demanding the attention once again from every female in the room. Without breaking stride he flashed me a smile and winked.

  Honestly, what difference did it make if he was too young? It’s not like this was going to turn into something real. Maybe he could just be a great fuck. I cringed at the thought. I’d never had that before. But that’s what it needed to be. I refused to get invested in anything else. Besides, he seemed into it. Into me. Just go with whatever and have fun, Sam! Treat it like some kind of game. Hell, I’ll never see him again after this cruise anyway.

  “Shit!” I said out loud. “I’m toast. He kissed me and I don’t mean just kiss,” I panted.

  “I’m wet just thinking about it. A whole kiss, really?” Juls laughed with an exaggerated yawn.

  I kicked her under the table.

  “What happened to Blake?”

  “I just fucked him in the stairwell.”

  “What?”

  She nodded while examining herself in the little mirror from her purse. With her fingernail she cleared the smudged lipstick.

  “Did you really?” Kat asked.

  “Yep.”

  “RULE 4, Juls, never leave a woman solo to meet your own needs. We have a no man left behind policy, and you know it,” I reminded her.

  Kat shook her head. “It’s ok, Sam.”

  “No, it’s not.”

  “You left too, Sam, so whatever,” Juls said.

  “Julia! You were here when I left.”

  “Ladies. These shots were sent over from Mr. Blake,” the waiter said as he sat three small glasses filled with what looked like water on the table. He laid a tray of limes and a salt shaker on the table too.

  Quickly, I grabbed his cuff. “Sir. Wait. Was he ever in possession of these drinks or did they come straight from the bar?”

  “Oh for fuck’s sake! Do you think he roofied us?” Juls spat out, and Kat was laughing so hard tears formed in her eyes.

  “Would you two both shut up!” Kat said licking between her thumb and index finger before shaking the salt on the wet area. I did the same, still ready to punch Juls.

  “I have a toast,” Juls said.

  “I can’t wait to hear it.” My tone was sarcastic.

  She raised her glass. “Here is to new kisses and quick fucks.”

  Kat rolled her eyes but licked the salt anyway, and down the hatch the tequila went. Then came the lime. I noticed Thor…Mac watching me as I finished. There was no possible way to make sucking a lime sexy…and how was I going to explain the Thor comment.

  “Ma’am. From the gentleman.” The waiter handed me a napkin.

  Thor wants to kiss you again.

  P.S. I better be Thor

  “What’s it say?” Kat asked.

  “It says Blake said your friend was a horrible fuck,” I lied.

  Kat’s eyes shot wide, and as she busted up laughing, Juls grabbed the napkin then threw it back at me after reading it. I flagged the waiter down again.

  “May I have a pen?”

  On the opposite side of the napkin, I wrote:

  Thor carries one hell of a hammer. You’re holding a fork.

  After I sent the napkin back, I waited, intently rearranging the food on my plate. The only thing I was hungry for was his response.

  Voila. There it was. I should tip the waiter who was playing delivery boy.

  My hammer? Is that what kids call it these days? It’s a little intimidating. I can’t just have it out and about. With great power comes great responsibility. You didn’t address the kiss.

  Hmmm. A little sexual innuendo. Two could play at that game.

  Oh…that’s cute. I was talking about a BIG hammer though. Not a Little Tykes hammer. The kiss…what kiss?

  I held a $10 bill out with the napkin. The waiter smiled and nodded as he headed back to Thor.

  “What would you say if I cheated on Brady?”

  Both Juls and I dropped our forks onto our plates with a clang.

  “Just once. Just to be with someone else. You two are the only ones who would ever know, and I
trust you both.”

  “Kat. No! Guilt would eat you up,” I said, shocked she would even say this out loud. “Everyone thinks of cheating at one point or another. It’s normal. But you have to say no.”

  “Do you have someone in mind?” Juls asked with arched brows.

  We both stared at her, waiting for a response. Suddenly the waiter tapped my shoulder giving me the napkin and the money back.

  Keep your money. You don’t have to pay me to kiss you either, though I would pay to do so. Clearly my kiss didn’t affect you. I will try again. Thor always gets his gal.

  P.S. Little Tykes hammers are durable and long lasting.

  My heart was hammering. Every part of me wanted to leave this table and go over to him. But Kat, back to Kat.

  “Ok. Sorry.”

  “While you girls were off kissing and fucking, a guy came over to the table and we chatted. He’s not married. We just talked.”

  “About doing the nasty?” Juls asked.

  Kat sipped on her wine and looked away from the table. “Sometimes it’s hard. I mean Brady and I have problems too. And we’ve been married for…”

  “For fucking ever,” Juls add.

  “For sixteen years. Seeing you girls feel those feelings again and the flirty fun stuff, it’s hard.”

  I got up and walked over to her, resting my palm over her hand.

  “Kat. You can’t undo this once you do it. Think about if Brady was on this trip with his buddies and not you. How would you feel if it were him wanting to…” I allowed my words to trail off, though I wondered if they’d have more impact if I actually said it.

  Kat and I had always been the most emotional of the three of us. Juls wasn’t heartless but she was certainly more calloused. Kat pointed at the napkin.

  “Go respond to Thor. You need this way more than I do!”

  I scurried back over and reread his response. Then I wrote:

  Durable and long lasting—sounds like the Energizer bunny?

  It only took a minute for the waiter to come back. His response was written on a fresh napkin.

  You’re wrong. The Energizer bunny keeps going and going and going. Duracell is durable and long lasting. Lucky for you, I am a combination of both.

  Blood inched up my cheeks, and I downed my cocktail. Before I could write my response, the waiter delivered another napkin with a simple heart on it. What was I doing? Oh right, playing the game. I wasn’t falling for a guy on a damn cruise ship! I was simply getting laid. I took a chance and glanced over at him. He was talking to Blake—Jul’s romp. But Larissa glowered at me with such hatred, I did the only thing I knew to do and I scratched my forehead with my middle finger. Her perfect little red mouth fell open.

  Have you slept with blondie? She seems pretty protective for just being pals

  As I swallowed my new vodka water in a very healthy gulp, I kept my eyes on him. It was a surefire way to gauge his response and know the truth. When the waiter handed him the napkin he smiled and unfolded it. We were acting like fourth graders, but it was fun. Then his beautiful smile faded as his eyes rose to find mine zeroed in on his. His vacant stare told me my answer. I certainly couldn’t fault the man. She was beautiful. Annoying and loud as hell…but beautiful. No wonder she was protective.

  “I’m going for a walk.”

  “Everything ok?” Kat asked.

  “Yes ma’am. Just need a quick breath of air.” I forced a smile.

  “I won’t leave the table for the love of Christ,” Juls tossed out there and then rolled her eyes.

  I grinned and strolled toward the exit sign. I think the deck was this way.

  When the soft breeze swam over my skin, I inhaled deeply trying to calm myself and refusing to let any anxiety creep in. The boat railing was cold to the touch and soothing from the warm night air. Staring down at the black water, my ridiculous thoughts got the best of me—spiraling out of control once again. Starting with the thought of falling overboard, to being pulled beneath the boat, to being unable to breathe, to being lost at sea or worse eaten alive… I hated my mind and the thoughts that seemed to control it.

  “It was a year and a half ago,” he said.

  The recognizable voice spoke directly to my womanly parts against my will. I didn’t turn around.

  “You owe me no explanation. It just better rationalizes it, that’s all.”

  Thank God for good nasal passages because I could smell him before I saw him sidle up next to the railing beside me.

  “Rationalizes what?”

  “Her behavior. When you’re with someone else, she knows what she’s missing. If you were mine, I probably wouldn’t let you go either.” Damn. That didn’t come out right.

  “Sam…” he whispered and desire clung to his words.

  Every muscle in my body clenched up. I fought to maintain composure.

  “Bermuda tomorrow,” I said, trying to navigate away from the serious conversation.

  “Indeed. Are you girls doing an excursion?”

  “I can’t keep them all straight. Parasailing, paragliding, snorkeling.” Every. Single. One. Made me want to vomit!

  “And you don’t think Thor should tag along to protect you ladies?”

  “If you’re trying to conjure up a foursome, you’re probably out of luck. Kat’s married.”

  He stepped up behind me, his body pressed next to mine and his arms stretched out on each side of me, capturing me between him and the railing. Unconsciously, I rested my head back against his solid chest. It rose and fell with his breath.

  “I’m not interested in your friends,” he whispered into my ear, sending a wall of goose bumps like a tsunami over my skin.

  “Mac…”

  “Mmm?”

  “Hold old are you?”

  He pulled back. I knew this because the warmth of his body…of his face near my ear… was no longer there.

  “Does it matter, Sam?”

  Good question. Did it matter? Not really. I wanted him. All of him. The attraction was undeniable. I’m sure he knew as well as I that this would end when the cruise did.

  “Are you at least 30?” I allowed hope to seep into my words.

  “I’ll make a deal with you.” He leaned back in nuzzling into my hair causing my body to respond. “Spend tomorrow in Bermuda with me and I’ll tell you.”

  The fear inside me grew with the thought of actually going on a ‘date.’ My last four had left a lot to be desired. Having sex with him was one thing, but spending the day with him? I’d only gone out with four guys since Bryan. Four. One—the nail biter…who spent more time gnawing on his fingers than dinner. Two-Limp Jay. Three—Hip Hop Emino. Four—Sneezy!

  Now, I had Thor, the Asgardian god of thunder, who I’m sure didn’t rap nor had I seen him bite his nails—And God knows this man probably had no problem with an erection—he wanted to spend the day with me, the doctor of vaginas, in paradise.

  I turned to face him, but he didn’t move his arms. “I’m warning you right now…if you are under 33…I’m tying something heavy to your feet and tossing your sexy ass overboard.”

  Even in the dark I could see his brows shoot up. “You think I’m sexy?”

  I shoved him backward, but he didn’t move much. “No. I don’t find you the least bit attractive.”

  “You just said sexy ass, Sam.”

  “I think your body is even uglier.”

  His massive shoulders pulled into a shrug as he shook with laughter. “I just wanna hear you say it.”

  “Say what? That you’re sexy. Ask any girl around here, she’ll tell you.”

  “I don’t wanna hear any girl say it. I want you…to say it.”

  The way his over-sized hands slid around my waist and lured me toward him made me want to feel his hands on other parts of my body too. His tongue peeked out between his lips then back in. A kiss was coming, I could feel it.

  When his lips were an inch from mine, he whispered, “Say it.”

  “Thor… is sex
y,” I whispered back as a smile tugged at my lips.

  “God damn woman, you’re killin’ me,” he chuckled just as his lips covered mine.

  Chapter 4~ Mac

  “I don’t care, Larissa. I’m not going.” My voice held no emotion.

  “Mac!” she snapped. Her tits bounced around like two softballs as she shot around to stop me. “The entire wedding party is going!” Her shrill voice forced me to wince.

  “Not the entire wedding party because I’m not. Neither is Blake.”

  She stomped her foot like a six year old. “Seriously. You’re going to pick this woman over Kyle and Lily? Kyle worked for you.”

  After taking a quick glance at my watch, I realized I was supposed to meet Sam in ten minutes. I’d never make it. “I’ve talked to Kyle and he’s fine with it. The only person who isn’t…is you. We aren’t here to be together and you know it. I’m not doing this right now.”

  My long strides put distance between us quickly, and I hit Blake’s door as I passed it. I wasn’t waiting.

  When I spotted Sam standing with the girls, I noticed a group of guys pointing at them. Why wouldn’t they, all three of them…beautiful… yet very different in their own right.

  When Sam saw me she casually waved, eliciting a cock twitch beneath my shorts. Her red hair lifted off her shoulders when the wind blew. Her neck was beautiful and elegant, and my tongue itched to trace up the side of it. Her yellow sundress hugged her body perfectly.

  “Hey, wait up,” Blake yelled from behind me. I turned and gave him a flick of my head but kept walking.

  “I was about to give up on you, Junior,” Sam teased.

  “I think I like Thor better.” I winked. “Don’t give up on me.”

  Her sunglasses were only lightly tinted so I could still see her eyes beneath the lenses; they flitted over my face when I said that.

  “What the hell did you do to Larissa? Man, she was pissed,” Blake huffed out as he joined us.

  Sam’s eyes dipped down as she turned around. We all started down the beach. Frustrated with Blake, I glowered at him and shoved him backward for good measure.

  “There’s a tiki bar!” Kat squealed, pointing up the beach, and we ventured in that direction.

  “What’s up with the tiki bar?” I asked Sam quietly.