by Anthology
“You’re so beautiful,” he said softly.
“Marco, I don’t want this to end.” He stared into my eyes, but he didn’t respond. I felt doubt travel through me to settle in the pit of my stomach. “You don’t feel the same.” My words came out as a statement rather than a question.
“Of course I feel the same.” He tucked my hair behind my ear before palming my cheek. “But, bella…”
“No buts. Please.” I pressed my lips against his desperately, and within seconds, he was responding with everything he had. He gripped my head, wanting to deepen the kiss between us. The way our lips moved together, the way his tongue searched for mine was validation of all the emotions we were both trying to contain. It was all too much, and I felt like exploding to release it all.
In a swift motion, he shifted until we lay side by side in the center of my bed. His hands roamed my body, and he sank his fingertips into my skin urgently. We stripped the clothes off each other’s bodies until we lay bare, skin-to-skin and heart-to-heart.
“Rebecca,” he said my name as if he were in pain. “I wasn’t prepared for this. I’m sorry, but I don’t have a condom.”
“I don’t care. I’m on the pill, and I trust you. Please, tell me you trust me. I need you, Marco.” I didn’t care how desperate I sounded. I didn’t know when we’d be together again, and I needed him more than my next breath. He must have felt the same because, during our kiss, he slid inside me with deliberate determination. My muscles tightened every time he dragged his cock both in and out in the slowest of motions. It was perfection.
When I closed my eyes as my orgasm ripped through me, I knew he was watching. He confessed that he held back his own so nothing could distract him from the pleasure he received by watching me come. Once done, I reciprocated and watched his gorgeous face alter into one of complete and utter ecstasy.
I wanted to tell him I loved him, but I feared he would think it was the heat of the moment. When I finally said it, he needed to know it came from my heart. I also didn’t want to pressure him into saying it back. Even without the words being spoken, Marco was making love to me as sure as I knew my name. It wasn’t just sex; it was everything I’d never had or never knew I’d needed.
It was love.
Chapter Fourteen – Marco
AFTER MY SECRET visit to Rebecca’s cabin, time stood still. When we embarked that day, it was the first time in the history of my career where I didn’t enjoy my job. It had little to do with the allegations hanging over our heads, and all to do with missing her. I felt I also missed so many opportunities to tell her how I felt. I wanted her to know that no matter what was to happen, I wanted to be with her.
I waited a few days before I snuck back to her stateroom in the middle of the night. This time when she opened her door, she wasn’t as surprised to see me. A radiant smile spread across her face. She quickly pulled me into her cabin and wrapped her arms around me in a desperate hug.
“I missed you so much,” she whispered into my chest. I ran my hands up and down her back, wanting to permanently mold her form to my body.
“I missed you too, bella.”
“Marco, I’m afraid we’re going to get caught. I don’t want you jeopardizing your job more than you have.”
I pulled her toward her bed and forced her to sit beside me. “It’s worth the risk. I have a lot to tell you.”
She watched my face anxiously. Even in the dimly lit room, I saw her vivid blue eyes grow wide with worry. I skimmed my hand down her face before placing it on the back of her neck. “Rebecca, I never expected to feel what I’m feeling for you. I’ve never experienced this before. You have completely captivated me.” While staring directly into her eyes, I added, “I’ve fallen in love with you.”
Tears instantly shimmered as a stunning smile spread over her face. “I love you too. I also have never felt this way before, which is why I’m so scared.”
“Don’t be scared. I have a plan. You’ll be meeting with Aida alone on Saturday before I arrive. When she asks questions regarding our personal relationship, do not respond. You have the right to refuse to respond. They don’t have proof. It is their word against ours. What they are interested in finding out is whether I harassed you in any way. If they want specifics, you are entitled to have a lawyer present. That will buy some time until I arrive.
“I’ve spent the past few days scouring over possibilities and found a potential job swap. What I have going for me is the fact I hold the most coveted cruise director position within Sunset. The CD on The Vista is a young, ambitious man who would love the opportunity to take over The Horizon. The Vista ports in Bari, Italia. It travels the Mediterranean. There’s also an open position on The Vista for a youth staff manager. With your years of experience as a camp counselor, plus the time you spent here on The Horizon, they’d be lucky to have you. I know it’s not as part of the entertainment staff, but your singing talents and personality would make you a great fit.”
I anxiously waited for her to respond to my brilliant plan.
“I love that idea,” she said after a few seconds. “We could openly be together?”
“Yes. You wouldn’t report to me, so we could go in as a couple.”
“But Marco, that is a huge step down for you.”
“I don’t care. Bella, if I could be CD on a ship with you by my side, in my home country, then I’d consider myself very lucky and I’d take the opportunity in a heartbeat.”
She threw her arms around my neck. “Thank you. I was so lost not knowing how it would work out.” Love shone all over her face, and she placed a gentle kiss on my lips. “Also, thank you for loving me.”
I shook my head at her comment. “Bella, you have it all wrong. I thank Dio every day for bringing you to me. You made me realize I was missing love in my life.”
“I never realized it was missing from mine either. You changed that for me.”
I pulled her toward me to kiss her full lips. “Things could work out for us. We deserve to be happy. Ricky’s right. Love doesn’t come along every day. Our love is worth fighting for.”
“Where does this leave Ricky?” she asked, concerned for her friend. Her concern caused the love I felt to swell. She had such a good heart.
“He comes too. When CDs move around, they often take their assistants with them.”
A tiny squeal escaped as she bounced up and down on the bed. I couldn’t help but chuckle at her enthusiasm. “I won’t take your excitement personally,” I teased and kissed her nose.
“Sorry.” She shrugged. “I love him. Not like I love you, of course. But I have a special place in my heart for Ricky.”
“I know, bella. He feels the same. He’s a lucky man to have you as a friend. He’s luckier to be gay, because otherwise, I’d have to make sure he knew that you were mine. That would get me in even more trouble with management.”
She giggled at my comment. “No need to hurt Ricky. I’m yours,” she confirmed with a strong nod.
My heart felt optimistic for the first time in days. My plan would work. Sunset would be just as anxious as us to keep the drama from this situation. Many couples often applied for jobs together, and keeping Rebecca and me apart would be bad for morale in an industry that promoted love and happiness.
I ran a hand into her hair, reveling in the feeling of her silky strands between my fingers. “I love you. I should go, but before I do, I want to make love to you.”
“So formal, Mr. Puglia. I would love for you to make love to me, sir,” she teased.
She stood before me, grabbed the hem of her T-shirt, and quickly removed it over her head. Her naked breasts were spectacular. In awe, I reached out and skimmed the back of my hand across her erect nipple. Wanting more, my hand circled her small waist and I pulled her closer to mold my mouth over her perfect pink point. She arched into my mouth and ran her fingers through my hair.
I lavished attention on her breasts, taking my time on each one. Slowly, I lowered my hands enough to slide them into the
waistband of her bottoms and eased them down over her thighs. With a gentle push, they pooled at her feet and she gingerly stepped out of them. She stood before me completely naked. While still sitting, I skimmed my hand over the curve of her hip, the flat, taut skin of her belly, before moving down to cup her intimately. My touch was teasing, and her moans clearly indicated that I was driving her crazy. It was she who was driving me crazy. The sight of her had my erection painfully straining against the zipper of my pants.
“Ti amo toccare,” I whispered in awe. I ran my tongue over her belly button and added, “Ti amo degustazione.”
“What does that mean?” she asked in a raspy voice.
“I love touching you. I love tasting you.” I looked up into her eyes and smiled. “Ti amo.”
“I love you?”
“Sì.”
I lifted her and placed her in the center of her bed. My hands spread her legs just as my mouth landed on her warm folds. She squirmed beneath my touch, forcing me to hold a firm hand on each thigh. I made love to her with my mouth, feasting on her until she could take it no longer. At the sound of my name from her lips, I increased the pressure of my sucking and slid two fingers into her wet center. Instantly, she clenched around me, arching her back as she came.
Distractedly, I watched as she skimmed a hand over her heated flesh while she tried to calm her breathing. I removed my clothes quickly, desperately wanting to take her again, but this time for my own pleasure.
I took her hands in mine, linking our fingers, and stretching her arms above her head. She spread her legs wider, giving me access to slide in without delay. The moment she was fully penetrated, I stilled, overwhelmed with the sensation of her surrounding me. When I felt my balls tingle with need and I couldn’t take it any longer, I started slowly thrusting with renewed purpose. I needed to come inside her or I was going to fucking explode. A stream of Italian curses flew out of my mouth, causing her to smile triumphantly at the state she was reducing me to. The heels of her feet pressed into my ass, forcing me to move faster and harder.
It wasn’t a surprise that I came first with a low growl.
“You’re so sexy,” she said with a smile.
“You are,” I managed to verbalize as I kept sinking in, wanting to stretch my release out as long as possible. Her orgasm came seconds later. She gripped my fingers, wrapped her legs around me possessively, and parted her lips in the most gorgeous way. After one final jerk of my hips, she cried out and I collapsed on her in a heap of exhaustion. I buried my face in her neck, dragging her scent into my lungs like an addict getting his next high.
She trailed kisses along my jaw, my neck, and landed with her lips on my ear. “I love you, Marco.”
I shifted to stare into her beautiful eyes and said, “I love you too, bella.”
***
WE HADN’T SPOKEN or met secretly in two days. When I wasn’t acting as CD on deck, I was in my office working on paperwork. When not on duty, I was in my cabin hiding. My nerves got the best of me, and most of my staff noticed.
Dina, who was suspiciously lying low all week, approached me after bingo. “You okay?” she asked with a tilt of her head. Her words may have meant to comfort, but the steely gleam in her eyes was a contradiction.
“I’m fine. Why?”
“You haven’t been yourself.” She touched my arm and added, “I’m worried about you.”
I stepped back, causing her hand to fall away. “I’m great. Just busy.”
She plastered a smile on her face. “Okay. I’m here if you need me. Even though you’re my boss, I am your friend first, Marco.” She stepped closer and ran a hand over my forearm before leaving the stage.
What a fucking joke. Friends like her I could do without. I still didn’t have confirmation she ratted us out, but I would bet my entire savings that she was behind it somehow. Playing her game wasn’t worth it. Ricky struggled each day with his need to “bitch-slap” her with his words. I made him promise to ignore her, and he wasn’t happy about it.
After my encounter with Dina, I found it hard not to want to tell her off myself. The day we’d anxiously awaited came after a sleepless night. I ran my plan over and over in my head, trying to anticipate any reasons that would cause them to deny our request. For the most part, I felt confident it would all work out. The part of me that still felt we tested fate by defying the rules nagged at the back of my mind.
Rebecca met with Aida before my appointment, which was called for eight a.m. When I arrived, they sat waiting quietly. I tried to gauge her expression, but the only emotion I saw was fear.
The door to the conference room opened, and in walked the vice president of Human Resources. A chill instantly ran down my spine. His presence was not a good thing.
Chet Holt was an older gentleman with twenty years’ service for Sunset. He was not a jovial person. I often felt the reason his staff was so grumpy, Aida included, was because of his disposition. I rarely interacted with Chet, but when I had to, it always left me feeling incompetent.
Rebecca met my eyes from across the table.
“Mr. Puglia. Ms. Stanton,” he said as he took his seat. “Thank you for being prompt.”
We both nodded but otherwise said nothing.
“Mr. Puglia, Aida has formally questioned Ms. Stanton on her professional and personal relationship with you. She vehemently denied harassment of any kind. However, she also refused to answer questions detailing the nature of said relationship.”
I sat silently, refusing to respond either way.
“Unfortunately, you were warned to maintain a solely professional relationship with Ms. Stanton, but you ignored our request.”
“What are talking about?”
Chet pushed an iPad across the table and started a video. It was extremely grainy but left no doubt that I was entering Rebecca’s stateroom. I felt sick. I wasn’t sure what made me feel worse, the fact they had that video or the fact I was followed to her room when foolishly thinking I had been careful.
“You can’t be serious with this?” I stalled, not coming up with a single suitable comment in our favor.
“We are extremely serious, Mr. Puglia.” He turned toward Rebecca and said, “Ms. Stanton, would you mind stepping outside while we talk to Mr. Puglia?”
“This isn’t his fault.” She attempted to plead my case, but Chet shook his head.
“Ms. Stanton, please.”
Rebecca stood on shaky legs and wordlessly left the room.
Once she closed the door, he and Aida leveled me with their condescending glares.
“Someone is obviously trying to sabotage our careers,” I pathetically claimed. “I have every right to know who on my staff sent you this video.”
“It was sent anonymously. You must understand the real issue here is that you are an executive and she works for you. Your refusal to comment on your relationship, along with this video, leaves us no choice but to proceed as policy states.”
“What happens to Rebecca?” I asked impulsively. My question just confirmed in a few words what they’d been trying to prove. But what was the point of continuing with my charade? My plan was moot. Our careers hung in the balance. I called their bluff and lost.
“This is all on me.” I voiced my thoughts out loud. “I will take full responsibility as long as she gets to stay. I don’t want her losing her job.”
“Ms. Stanton can remain in her position, provided this doesn’t occur again.” I immediately considered it ever happening again. Would it? She would never fall into something like this again…I tried to convince myself. “She is officially on warning. This incident has been documented in her file.”
“And me?”
“Your employment with Sunset Cruise Lines has been terminated, effective immediately. You are to pack your personal belongs and you’ll be escorted off the ship.”
The air that was trapped in my lungs suddenly felt toxic. I fought to maintain my composure as panic swelled with every breath.
; Chapter Fifteen - Rebecca
“MR. PUGLIA IS NO LONGER employed by Sunset.”
“Mr. Puglia is no longer employed by Sunset.”
“Mr. Puglia is no longer employed by Sunset.”
“Mr. Puglia is no longer employed by Sunset.”
That’s all that ran through my mind, over and over, the entire way from Corporate to The Horizon.
“Mr. Puglia is no longer employed by Sunset.”
Panic propelled my legs to run as fast as they could through the terminal, into the ship, and toward his cabin. I needed to see him before he was escorted out of my life. I needed to tell him…
I had no clue what I was going to tell him.
I wasn’t prepared. This wasn’t supposed to happen. We were supposed to be transferring to a different ship to start our relationship properly, publicly, without sneaking around. Yet, here we were, forced to never interact again simply because we fell in love?
Huffs of air and muttered apologies were all I could utter as I ran my way to Marco. If I missed him, I didn’t know what I would do. They held me for so long, forcing policy after policy down my throat. Scolding and reprimanding me like a naughty child. All I could think as they disciplined me was, yes, we knew it was wrong, and still I couldn’t bring myself to regret it.
These past months I’ve spent with Marco have been the best of my life. Finally working my dream job during our time together was a bonus. It was him that had me waking up with a smile and falling asleep with visions of kissing a tanned, stunning Italian. How will I smile without him?
The unanswered questions that plagued me made me feel desperate as I ran like a lunatic. A small crowd was gathered at the purser’s desk with Marco in the center. I halted in my tracks, as if I’d seen a ghost. He smiled at some of our team and nodded at others. He shook hands, gave hugs, and wished them all the best. The one person suspiciously missing was Dina.
Beside Marco stood a Sunset Cruise Line security guard who waited patiently for Marco to say his good-byes.
