Jetsetters

by S J Crabb

  By now my room is back to well-ordered perfection. I couldn’t rest until every towel was folded and straightened on the rails. Each item of clothing was colour coordinated in the wardrobe and my shoes lined up in order of size and colour. My toiletries are once again facing the right way in order of use and the wet wipes have graced every surface, removing any bacteria or other people’s DNA. I take a deep breath and look around at my orderly life with satisfaction. Finally, my head is as tidy as my room and I can breathe again.

  As soon as I knock on the door, it opens and my breath catches as I behold the object of my desires. He grins at me with that lethal smile and it’s the hardest thing to stop myself launching myself on him with a frustrated spinster style howl. Instead, I smile my nearly perfected mysterious woman smile and follow him inside.

  Today we breakfast on the balcony and I sigh as I see the bay laid out before us like a sparkling blue lagoon. The sun is hot already and I feel the excitement growing at the promise of a day marooned with Luke on a deserted Island.

  We feast on pastries and fruit with the odd yoghurt thrown in and then Luke looks at his watch.

  He turns to me the excitement shining in his eyes.

  “Come on. We’re due to leave in ten minutes. I wonder what it will be like?”

  I smile happily.

  “Probably amazing like everything else here.”

  He nods. “Yes, this place is pretty amazing.”

  I feel his eyes burning into mine as he says it, looking at me with a heated gaze. As I feel the hot flush exploding inside me, I wonder if the air-conditioning has broken.

  Shaking myself out of yet another hot, crazy fantasy, I look around at the remnants of the breakfast.

  “Do you think we should bundle the rest of this up and take it with us? I mean, you never know, we may not like the picnic.”

  Luke grins and his eyes flash with amusement

  “Yeah, sure. I’ll grab a bag. You never know, we might be glad of this if we are stranded.”

  He winks and goes off to grab a bag while I wrap up the leftovers to take with us. Then I contemplate the mini bar.

  “Should we raid the bar as well? It would be awful if we ran of something to drink.”

  Luke laughs and opens the door with a flourish.

  “Hm, let me see. Gin, vodka, wine - what’s your fancy?”

  I laugh and peer in, selecting two bottles of chilled water instead. He raises his eyes and I pretend to look at him with a stern expression.

  “You shouldn’t drink alcohol in the sun. It’s extremely dehydrating and could mess with your mind.”

  He snorts.

  “That would explain a lot.”

  Nudging him, I take great delight watching him fall over and he looks at me with a challenge in his eyes.

  “You’ll pay for that.”

  As I dodge to safety on the opposite side of the huge water bed, I really hope that I do pay for it. In fact, I don’t mind paying for it for the rest of the holiday. I laugh and quip.

  “You’ll have to catch me first.”

  He lunges for me and I make a dash for the other side of the room. He’s not a trained military man for nothing though and soon takes me down. He sits astride me, pinning my arms above my head and grins.

  “You’re now my prisoner and will be escorted to the Prison Island. There, you will have to exist on vodka and yoghurt for at least five hours, in extreme temperatures that will mess with your mind.”

  I snort and then look at him with embarrassment. Whoever invented snorting when they invented humans was having a bad day at work. How is that considered a good thing in any situation?

  I just giggle and then my heart flutters as Luke leans down and kisses me softly. Willing myself not to groan and add to my bodies betrayal after the snorting incident, I just allow myself to enjoy the only thing I really want this week - Luke’s lips on mine.

  ~*~*~*~*~

  Chapter 19

  Ok, whoever chose this Island as a paradise escape for couples in love, was having a laugh.

  First, we endured a reckless speed boat dash across the bay where I feared for my life. Then, we were abandoned on an uninhabited Island with nothing but a box - and I mean cardboard box- of food and drink.

  There are no sun loungers to recline on, no pool to take refreshing dips in and no bar to swim up to for a thirst quenching cocktail.

  They haven’t even raked the sand like they do on the hotel’s private beach. There are also twigs and leaves mixed in with the odd bit of sea fodder, littering the beach area.

  Luke looks around him and whistles as we watch the retreating boat speed off back to civilisation.

  “Well, this is unexpected.”

  I shake my head, looking around me with dismay.

  “Do you think they brought us to the right beach? I mean, call me mad if you like, but I’m sure if this had been in the brochure it wouldn’t have sold the experience. It’s a mess.”

  Luke looks worried.

  “I’m sorry, Becca. I thought we would have a lovely day in a place not dissimilar to the one they use on Love Island. This is more like a survival programme.”

  Laughing, I roll my eyes.

  “Lead on, Tarzan. We may have to fashion a shelter out of a few palm trees and build a fire using our sunglasses to catch the sun’s rays.”

  Luke grins and dumps the picnic box on the floor.

  “It may not be so bad. I expect what we’re really here for is just around that corner, like an oasis in the desert. I’ll race you to the beach front bar.”

  He sets off and I chase him in hot pursuit. Of course, he’s right. There must be five-star excellence just around the headland.

  Ok, we have now run around this Island in ten minutes and every bit of it is the same as the first. This place is seriously in need of development. There isn’t even a hammock to erect between the twin palm trees that are swaying in the gentle breeze. Luke looks worried.

  “I’m sorry, Becca. This isn’t what I hoped it would be.”

  I shrug. “It’s fine. I’m sure we just need to place our towels on the sand and sunbathe while pretending we are in luxury. The time will pass by in a flash.”

  Shaking out my towel, I lay it neatly on the sand and then grab my suntan lotion. I try not to ogle Luke as he rips off his t-shirt and flops down beside me. That body will melt all of my principles by the end of the day if he continues to wave it in front of my face.

  Carefully, I strip down to my bikini and start applying the lotion. Luke watches, his head propped up by his hand as he lies beside me.

  “Do you want me to do your back?”

  I shrug nonchalantly while trying to stem the raging lust within me as I imagine his handling of my near naked body.

  “Sure, thanks.”

  He jumps up and grabs the bottle from my hand with rather a lot of enthusiasm and says gently.

  “Lie down so I get good coverage.”

  Trembling inside, I do as he says and allow myself to enjoy the administrations of my fantasy love god. Gosh if Marcus could see me now he would be insanely jealous. How I wish I could take a selfie and send it to him.

  Focusing hard on not groaning, I try to start planning my Christmas list in my mind to offset the pleasure my body is receiving. After quite a while Luke finishes and immediately I feel the loss of his touch. Sitting up, I almost drool as I say matter-of-factly.

  “Here, let me return the favour.”

  He chucks me the lotion and I allow my hands to roam freely all over his body. I take my time to enjoy the sight of those muscles rippling under my shaking fingers as I fantasise about what could happen if I allowed it. Luke groans and I feel a small victory. Huh, now we are even in the groaning stakes. He can no longer tease me about my lack of control. Leaning down, I whisper,

  “Did you just groan, Luke?”

  He laughs softly.

  “Sorry, Becca. You’ve got to remember I live at sea. I don’t get to feel a woman’s h
ands on my body very much so I apologise for my lack of self-control.”

  I feel the fire burning in my face at his words. Either that or the sun is out of control and inflicting sunburn on me as we speak.

  I say softly as I rub.

  “It must be hard being at sea all the time. You must get quite close to your fellow submarinist members.”

  Luke chuckles.

  “Another professional term. Do you write for the Thesaurus in your spare time?”

  I giggle and carry on rubbing as he laughs.

  “I try not to get close to any other members on board. It’s not really my thing.”

  Pushing him, I roll over onto my towel and prop myself up in a similar pose to his so we are facing each other.

  “What’s it like living under the sea like Neptune? Do you see treasure and fallen galleons? Are there mermaids and ferocious sea creatures to contend with? Is Atlantis real and have you been there? Have you ever seen another submarine and visited?”

  Luke leans over and silences me with a kiss. Suddenly, I couldn’t care a fig for life under the sea. Life on a dirty Island is becoming just that as I kiss Luke back with everything I’ve got.

  As Luke and I make out on dirty Island all of my fantasies are coming true. I’m almost hoping that the boat never comes back because then we would have to live here forever like they did in that film, The Blue Lagoon. As Luke’s hands start their wandering my anxiety makes another unwelcome appearance. I must stiffen because he pulls back and whispers.

  “Is everything ok, Becca?”

  I look at him with troubled eyes.

  “I’m sorry Luke but what if there is somebody around? What if they have cameras here to check we’re ok and not in danger from fearsome sea turtles and poisonous spiders? I’m sure I saw a flash of light in the distance which could be from someone’s binoculars as they watch our every move. I’m sorry, but even on a desert Island, all I can think of is the sand in my knickers and how long it will take to get it all out. Not to mention the fact that my suntan lotion has acted like a sand magnet and I’m now covered in grit. I suppose I could wash it off in the sea but what if there are jellyfish and conga eels? I’m just one anxiety filled mess and you are probably regretting ever inviting me.”

  Luke sits up and laughs loudly.

  “No problem, Becca. I’ll admit it’s not very comfortable. How about we brave the sea and I’ll protect you? I mean, I was trained by a merman once in the art of sea survival so you will be perfectly safe.”

  I giggle as he pulls me up from the sand.

  “Come on, I’ll race you.”

  We race towards the sea, leaving my anxieties behind on the sand. Who cares if I die at sea? At least I will have lived a little first.

  Frolicking in the sea with Luke is every bit as amazing as rolling around with him on the sand. My inhibitions desert me and we play fight, kiss, swim and talk while being bathed in the crystal-clear water. Luke is such good company and the conversation never dries up. We talk about everything and by the time my skin resembles a prune I feel as if I have known him all my life.

  We retreat back to the beach for our picnic.

  As we share out the rations, I look around with interest.

  “I wonder how many other couples have visited this beach. I wonder what they did to pass the time?”

  Luke grins and I giggle nervously.

  “Do you really think they… you know… um…” I lower my voice to a whisper, “Do IT on here?”

  Luke smiles sexily.

  “Most definitely. They are on honeymoon after all. My bet is they’re at it all the time at every presented opportunity.”

  I blush and look interested in my papaya. Luke pours me some of the champagne that was provided with the picnic and passes me a handful of strawberries.

  “We may as well enjoy the rest of what they’ve provided though.”

  As I take the glass from his hand, I feel like such a fool. Opportunities don’t ever come around like this and here I am letting my insecurities getting in the way of what could be the most romantic experience of my life. Luke must think I’m a weirdo. Then he says softly.

  “Look at me, Becca.”

  I raise my eyes to his and see the soft sexy look he is shooting me and my heart starts pounding in my chest. He says softly.

  “You must know that I like you a lot. You are everything I never thought I would meet one day and everything I hoped to. When I took this holiday, it wasn’t to meet and fall in love. I was just here for the break and a bit of luxury before I return to my metal home. When I met you, things changed. I watched you on the plane and couldn’t get you out of my mind. When I knew you were staying at the same hotel, I emailed them from the transit bus to ask for you to be put in the room next to me. Even then, there was something compelling me to get to know you and find out if the woman who captivated me was what I thought.”

  I look at him in astonishment.

  “You really did that?”

  He nods and looks at me with a soft expression.

  “I don’t have long before I leave and didn’t want to waste any time. I don’t want this to be the end but the beginning of something special. When we return home, I want to see you again and keep in touch. I can wait for you to be comfortable with me before we take it further, because if I have to, I will wait a lifetime. I think you’re worth the wait because I have been waiting for you all my life.”

  Ignoring the warning siren going off in my head that he is a typical sailor spinning a line, I smile and say softly.

  “I like you too, Luke. I’m probably just afraid that this will all end and am protecting my heart from the inevitable shattering it’s about to receive. More than anything, I want to let go and be the sort of person I have been encouraging Jenny to be, but I can’t. I don’t want you to think that I’m the sort of woman who does this with any willing sailor that passes her door. It matters what you think of me.”

  Luke pulls me close and touches his lips to mine, then says softly.

  “Trust me, Becca. I’m not the rogue you think I am. Contrary to public opinion, I don’t have a girl in every port and there is nobody else on the horizon. You are everything I want and I will wait as long as it takes.”

  Then he kisses me so sweetly and the little doubtful voice in my mind is replaced by my braver self, shouting, “For god’s sake, idiot. Grab him and never let go. Do whatever it takes because this is the best opportunity of your life.”

  So, I give into my desires and push the doubt away. Who cares if it all goes wrong? The memory of this will keep me warm as I reminisce with my potted plant about the day I lived on the edge.

  ~*~*~*~*~

  Chapter 20

  I never thought my walk of shame would be in a speedboat. As soon as the driver came to collect us I didn’t miss the knowing smirk on his face or the amusement in his eyes. I can’t blame him because I must look a total sex hussy mess. My hair is all over the place and filled with sand and parts of beach matter. The sand has stuck to my skin and my flushed appearance has nothing to do with the suntan that I’m sure to have after rolling around naked on the sand for the last two hours.

  I feel different. Now I feel like a woman who has changed in a matter of hours. I feel fulfilled and in love. What just happened with Luke was everything I thought it would be and much more. Any doubts I had are firmly buried in the sand we disturbed because he has made me feel like the most gorgeous woman on earth.

  He puts his arm around me as we speed back to civilisation and whispers, “No regrets, Becca?”

  Snuggling into him, I sigh with contentment.

  “No, none. What about you?”

  He squeezes me tighter.

  “Are you seriously asking that? I’ve wanted to do that since you read out that stupid message on the plane, that I wrote, incidentally. It was my idea of a joke to my brother that backfired quite spectacularly.”

  Giggling, I lay my head on his shoulder.

  “Wel
l, I’m glad it happened. Their loss is our gain, although I never expected to meet my dream man on his honeymoon.”

  Luke laughs and kisses the top of my head.

  “Yes, it’s an interesting story. We will keep our kids entertained with it for years.”

  A warm feeling spreads through me at his words. Our kids! I hope the overexposure to the sun hasn’t affected his brain because I want to believe every word he says. This man is my future I have never been surer of anything in my life.

  Once we get back to civilisation I am surprised to see a large shape on the horizon. Luke looks at me with excitement. “If I’m not mistaken, that’s one of ours.”

  I look at him in surprise.

  “What do you mean, one of ours?”

  As we both contemplate the extremely large warship that appears to be invading Acapulco Bay, Luke grins.

  “It must be one of our Naval ships on exercise. I’ll head over later and see if I can find anyone I know.”

  I laugh. “They won’t let you on there, you’re now officially a tourist.”

  Luke grins. “They will. I am an officer of her Majesties armed forces after all. They are my family and it would be rude not to visit.”

  He takes my hand and pulls me after him towards the hotel.

  I now feel like a new woman. Luke and I returned to our rooms and showered and changed. He has headed off to the warship and left me to find my friends with the promise of meeting up when he returns. I can’t ignore the warm glow that surrounds me as I think about the day I’ve had. I actually think this has been the best day of my life. How can it not be? I fell in love with my soul mate. Life doesn’t get any better than this.

  I spy Jo lazing by the pool and glide over in a self-satisfied haze. Arranging my towel and products neatly beside her she looks up and grins.