Jetsetters

by S J Crabb

  “Impressive, isn’t it?”

  I look around in astonishment and laugh softly.

  “This room is like a brothel. Not that I know what one look like of course.”

  I feel myself turn as red as the sheets as Luke laughs loudly.

  “My thoughts exactly. Although, like you, I wouldn’t know.”

  I raise my eyes and look at him pointedly and he grins.

  Shaking my head, I take another look around the room as I wander through the Love Palace. I am stunned. This place is everything I would hate to find on my honeymoon. I look at the rose covered bed and shudder. Luke looks at me with interest and I smile.

  “These petals would seriously annoy me. Not only would they stain the sheets but they would end up sticking to you. I expect you will be finding them for the next year in places you forgot you had.”

  Luke laughs as I blush even further. I must stop talking - immediately!

  He nods towards the bathroom.

  “It doesn’t get any better in there.”

  Grinning, I head towards the bathroom and do a double take as I open the door. Inside is a bath for two and a huge double shower. Like the bedroom it’s fashioned in marble and looks like a scene from the Borgias. Naked paintings and marble statues showcasing various erogenous zones provide the art in the room. The mirror on the ceiling is in the worst possible taste.

  Trying to shake the image of myself and Luke in the bath together from my mind, I look at him and laugh.

  “Well, this is interesting.”

  Luke grins as I step into the empty bath and stretch out.

  “Hm, I could actually get used to a bath this size.”

  He smiles and then says firmly,

  “Wait there.”

  I watch him disappear and in no time, he is back with a bottle of champagne and some strawberries. He jumps into the bath and lies the opposite end and hands me a glass of champagne.

  “Let’s have a bath party. Champagne and strawberries and a crash course in each other’s lives.”

  Grinning, I take the glass and help myself to the strawberries.

  Leaning back, I savour the sight of him at my feet and picture us like this forever.

  He presses something on the wall and the blinds move at the window and suddenly we can see the bay outside.

  He smiles.

  “Perfect. We can see the sun rise from here.”

  I scoot down to his end of the bath and sit beside him facing the view. He clinks my glass to his. “So, tell me everything about yourself, Becca.”

  I smile but feel a little anxious. He will be so disappointed when he hears about my boring life. I take a deep breath.

  “There’s not much to tell, really. I live with Malcolm my potted plant in a flat near the airport. I have a sister who is married with a family. I am now an Aunt to Dolly and Ralph and they live near my parents in Milton Keynes. Despite everyone’s best attempts, I am still single and have devoted my life to my work. What about you?”

  I quickly take a gulp of champagne while I wait with bated breath for his potted history.

  “I am thirty-three and live at sea with a bunch of smelly men and a few mad women. When I’m not travelling under the sea, I go home to my parents’ house who live in Wiltshire. I have a brother as you know, who was jilted at the altar and a sister who works as a nurse. Like you, I have resisted their attempts to marry me off to absolutely anyone they can think of. One day I hope to settle down and have a family of my own, but that just seems like something in my distant future. I am here because they wanted me to have a nice break before I head back to sea at the end of the month.”

  Silence stretches between us as we digest each other’s words. I feel crushed. All of my hopes and dreams of a future with the gorgeous man beside me are sailing away under the ocean. How could anything ever work between us? If he wanted to that was. After all, we have just met, and he is probably just being friendly. Just my luck. The man of my dreams with the job of my nightmares.

  As the sun rises over the horizon, I gaze at it in wonder. Luke pulls me from the bath and we venture out onto the balcony.

  The view is breath-taking.

  I say, softly. “Wow.”

  Luke laughs.

  “Yes, wow indeed. You don’t get to see many sunrises under the ocean.”

  I turn and find him looking at me with a strange look in his eyes. Almost lost and wistful. My heart thumps as we share a look. Two strangers wanting the same things by all account. Both locked in a world with no escape, wanting to find that special someone. Maybe destiny had a hand in putting us both here and something could work out between us. The trouble is, we will both be strangers again in a few short days when the return flight arrives.

  It may be best not to start something we can’t finish. We should just stay friends for both our sakes. I didn’t order a broken heart this week and I can see one heading my way if I allow myself to get carried away by the man in front of me.

  Once again, my life sucks.

  ~*~*~*~*~

  Chapter 14

  By the time the sun rises we are the best of friends. We chat about everything we can to delay the inevitable parting of the ways. It must be 8 am before we hear a knock on the door and Luke grins.

  “If I’m not mistaken, this is my breakfast. When you’re on your honeymoon it appears that you get breakfast in bed.”

  He heads to the door and I watch in amazement as a waiter wheels in a trolley laden with breakfast items. The man winks at me and I suddenly feel very self-conscious.

  Luke tips the man and jumps onto the bed that wobbles precariously.

  He grins, “Waterbed. It takes some getting used to, but it’s quite comfortable, really. You should try it.”

  Grinning, I sit on the edge gingerly and laugh as it wobbles underneath me. Luke laughs and pulls me down beside him and we stare up at ourselves in the mirrored ceiling.

  We burst out laughing at the sight and I grin.

  “Imagine who has laid here before us and looked at themselves in that mirror. I’m betting they were wearing considerably fewer clothes.”

  Luke raises his eyes as I blush. My mouth needs a zip, how embarrassing.

  He shivers. “Yuk, imagine that. You know, this bed is obviously the sex bed. Countless people have used this bed for their own pleasure; it goes with the territory of the honeymoon suite.”

  Suddenly, I am very grateful for the layer of clothing separating myself from the sheets.

  Luke laughs and pulls me up.

  “Come on, you can share my breakfast. Then we can head down to the pool and sleep off the night before.”

  As I join him I feel considerably brighter than I did yesterday. Even if we’re just friends, that’s good enough for me.

  After breakfast, we decide to head down to the pool to catch up with the others.

  I quickly rush back to my room to change and look around with disbelief. I forgot that I trashed my room last night and the sight of the devastation brings my anxiety to the fore. Fighting the urge to restore order to my life I am torn between not missing a minute more of Luke than I have to against giving in to my OCD. My heart wins and I try to blank out the mess as I just quickly grab my sexiest bikini and sarong. I grab hold of my flip flops and glasses and am good to go. It must only be five minutes later that I rush out to meet him.

  We surface from our respective rooms at the same time and my heart does a somersault as I stare into those mesmerising eyes. He grins and I try to focus on not giggling like a schoolgirl and blushing profusely. Instead, I just smile with what I think is a mysterious look but must look like I’m a total idiot to a normal human being like Luke.

  We head downstairs and I pretend we are on holiday together. By the time we hit the pool area we have just enjoyed our silver wedding in my mind.

  I must be so wrapped up in my deliberations that I don’t notice that things have changed considerably since yesterday. Luke, of course, wouldn’t know and as we mo
ve outside we are greeted by a man with a clipboard.

  “About time, darlings.”

  I notice him looking us up and down and nodding approvingly.

  “Good, good, you’ll do perfectly. Now, we’ve reserved your position on the far side of the pool. Set up there and then lie on your beds and wait for further instructions.”

  I look at Luke in shock and he looks as puzzled as I am as we take in the sight before us.

  All around the pool are various cameras and lighting equipment. The pool looks the same but there are considerably fewer beds and it almost looks like someone’s own private pool. Even the bar has been shielded by what appears to be a backdrop and there are people milling around everywhere looking as busy as can be.

  Luke whispers. “This is strange. Was it like this yesterday?”

  I shake my head.

  “No, it was just your normal run of the mill pool area. Do you think they know we’re just guests because if I’m not mistaken this looks like a film set?”

  Luke nods.

  “I agree. Maybe we should tell them we’re in the wrong place.”

  Before I can answer a woman rushes up.

  “Hurry up, we’re running behind. You need to go and lie over there and wait for further instructions.”

  I open my mouth to explain but Luke nudges me and I see a wicked gleam in his eyes.

  “Fine, come on Becca. Let’s do as we’re told.”

  I follow him in surprise and he laughs softly, whispering,

  “Come on, it’ll be fun. It’s their mistake and we might never get another chance like this.”

  I say quietly.

  “What do you think it is?”

  He shrugs. “Looks like a film or a TV programme. I expect we’re a couple of extras. All we probably need to do is lie there in the background.”

  He grins and I can’t help but be caught up in his excitement. He’s right, things like this don’t happen every day and it will be fun, something to look back on when I’m older and still alone.

  We head over to the far side of the pool and deposit our stuff. As usual, I place my towel carefully on the bed and set out my belongings in order of use. Luke watches me and smirks as the woman rushes over.

  “No products are to be visible. We can’t advertise anything so put them away.”

  I look in surprise as she grabs my neatly placed toiletries and bundles them into a bag. She whips my carefully placed towel away and thrusts a large cushion on the bed instead.

  She looks us up and down and then says briskly, “Ok, lie on the beds facing each other. The actors will be here soon and we will make a start. Just do what you would normally do and don’t make a sound.”

  She rushes off and Luke shrugs as he leaps onto his sunbed.

  “Fine by me. All I want is to catch up on some sleep, anyway.”

  Eyeing up the cushion, I wish that she had left my towel. Who knows who has laid their sweaty body on that before me. Gingerly, I lower myself and lie back in what I hope is a sexy pose. If I’m about to be immortalised on film, I want to look my best. Luke, of course, has nothing to worry about. He couldn’t get much hotter if he tried. I can’t take my eyes off his stomach rippling underneath the muscles and the ink on his chest straining against them. I try not to look at his body but I am human after all. He must work out a lot!

  I watch as he dons his shades and leans back, his hands behind his head and I sigh inwardly. Perfection like that has no business lying beside me. How did I get so lucky to have his brother jilted on his wedding day? It’s as if the gods are looking down favourably on me from heaven. Either that or my faithful child companion Blackie the cat who died when I was fifteen. He is the only one who could be looking out for me in the afterlife because so far so good, none of my family have died yet. Even both sets of grandparents are still going strong. I must have good genes.

  I try to lie still but find myself fidgeting and feeling extremely curious. I can hear movement all around me and know that filming has begun. I daren’t look in case I ruin the ‘take’ but the curiosity is overwhelming.

  I hear gentle murmurs carrying across the pool area towards us but otherwise, there is silence. I think Luke must be asleep because he is so quiet, I daren’t look in case I ruin the scene.

  It must be five minutes later we hear a loud - “Cut.”

  Then somebody shouts on some sort of megaphone.

  “You, over the far side. It doesn’t look right. We need some action over there.”

  I sit up and look around me and realise he is shouting at us. The woman rushes over and thrusts a bottle of suntan lotion at Luke and says hurriedly.

  “Rub this into her. It will look good and give him the action he needs.”

  Luke grins as he takes the bottle and I feel a hot flush creeping over my body at the thought of his hands on my skin. Cocking his head, he looks at me thoughtfully.

  “Hm, this could be interesting.”

  I blush and then lie quickly back down as the man with the megaphone barks, “Hurry up, we haven’t got all day.”

  We hear him shout, ‘action’ and then I wait with bated breath. This could end up being extremely embarrassing.

  Then I feel Luke’s strong hands start rubbing my back. I hold my breath because they are doing unmentionable things to my insides. I try to focus on a lizard that is running around under a neighbouring sunbed. Normally the sight of that would freak me out but nothing and I mean nothing, is going to ruin this fantasy moment for me. All I can feel are his strong hands massaging my skin and nothing has ever felt so good. Now I know I’m in paradise. This is the best moment of my life and I only wish I could film it for my own private collection. I will need this memory on the dark days when I am home in my bachelorette flat for one and a plant.

  I suppose it must be a combination of the warmth of the sun and the healing hands of Luke because I can’t stop myself and groan as he moves lower down my back. Suddenly, we hear a terse, “No groaning over there. Only the actors can groan.”

  I hear Luke laugh softly and bury my face in the suspect sweat cushion with embarrassment. Did I really just groan out loud?

  Luke whispers.

  “Did you just groan, Becca?”

  I feel my cheeks flame as I hiss.

  “Of course not. You just um… caught a tense spot… um… and my muscles spasmed. Yes… that’s it, muscle spasmation.”

  Luke laughs softly.

  “Spasmation. Is that a medical term?”

  I can hear the amusement in his voice and stifle a giggle as I squeeze my eyes shut, trying to block out my most embarrassing moment ever. I notice that he carries on though-luckily. I would kick myself if my groaning antics caused his hands to leave my body.

  His hands carrying on massaging my back and it feels like heaven. I open my eyes and turn my head towards the other side of the pool. From behind my shades, I get a good view of what is going on. I can see several ‘actors’ all lying on similar beds to ours. Most appear to be doing the same things, except a few that the cameras are trained on.

  As my eyes adjust to the scene, I feel the shock radiating through my body as I see what they are doing. It appears that there is some kind of mass orgy going on in broad daylight. Naked women are sitting astride equally naked men who are doing a lot more than groaning. What the hell?!

  I feel tense and quickly turn my head the other way facing the sea. O my god - a porno! Luke and I are acting in a porno movie and now the whole world will see my face. My parents will probably see my picture on the advertising billboards that will spring up all around the world and wonder at the morality of their eldest daughter.

  Luke carries on oiling me up and must notice my tense body because he leans down and whispers, “Just look away Becca. Pretend they aren’t there.”

  How can I pretend I’m not in a porno? This is going from the best day of my life to the worst. How humiliating.

  The only plus point is that Luke’s hands are all over me - legi
timately.

  I suppose I can put up with being a sex siren if it gives me a few more moments of shoulder rubbing. I feel his hands moving down my back and feel like throwing caution to the wind and joining the others with some action. In fact, if I am to make my screen debut with anyone, it’s this sex god rubbing my body seductively, while the warm sun caresses parts of me that are never normally seen. I try to block out the sounds of fornication around me. Trust my happiest memory to be tinged with depravity. The trouble is, the sounds of their um - enjoyment, mixed with my own fantasy playing out right here and now, is starting to turn me on. Thank goodness, I must lie here and not move. I’m not sure that if I looked at Luke, I wouldn’t throw myself at him with the howl of a woman possessed. So, all I do is enjoy the ride.

  Finally, it’s over and we hear, ‘Cut.’ Luke’s hands leave my body and I instantly feel the loss. Sitting up, I look at him in shock and he laughs.

  “That’s something you don’t do every day.”

  I giggle and look around me furtively.

  “I can’t believe that just happened.”

  We look over at the actors who are now thankfully wearing dressing gowns. The woman rushes up and thrusts my lotions and potions back at me. She pushes her clipboard towards me and says in a rush,

  “Sign the release form and then you’ll get your money.”

  Money!! This gets even better. Quickly, I sign my morality away and Luke does the same. She thrusts an envelope at each of us and then smiles wearily.

  “Thanks. If you want to look the film up, it will be released in January. It’s called, Hotel Hottie.”

  I daren’t look at Luke, who I can tell is finding this all extremely amusing. Quickly, I grab my stuff and we both make a hasty exit.