She quickly checked her appearance in the mirror, picked up her cabin key, and left to meet Nico.
Chapter Four - Nico
Nico watched Veronique as she went about her duties. He had watched her since she arrived on board a few years ago. In that time, he had watched her blossom, become more confident and she had surpassed the abilities and professionalism of the previous cruise director. Over the years, his affection for her had grown. However, she was so wrapped up in her job that she was completely oblivious to his feelings for her. He had started to tell her once, but she had gotten a strange look in her eyes and he had stopped mid-sentence. It was that look that made him feel invisible, small and inconsequential. It was a look that made him only discuss matters relating to the ship and the cruise. Nico had tried to scratch the surface of her emotional security blanket and not even made a dent in it. He remembered their most recent encounters.
Walking towards her office he could see her bent over her desk. Her hair fell in a silky golden curtain. As he moved closer, he could see her face glowing with a light satin sheen of perspiration. She looked up as he entered.
“Morning Nico,” she said sweetly. He smiled his best smile, one that he reserved for difficult cases, and one that would soften the hardest woman or so he hoped.
“Hello, my darling,” he replied in Greek. He loved the fact that she spoke his language. It aroused him to know that she understood everything. He could say anything, tell her anything and know that her comprehension was complete, fluent.
“And what can I do for you today?” He walked over to her desk. He could feel the electricity in the air, mainly from her badly hidden hostility. He looked down and was pleased to have a view down her cream blouse. She had returned to her writing and was unaware of his gaze.
“We have a problem in the engine room.” His voice was quiet and low and he had watched her, as she looked up to meet his eyes. He could see her frustration and knew that this problem was going to cause a lot of problems for her, a lot of additional work. Her desk was already piled high with papers and things to do. She leaned back in her chair and his view down her blouse was lost, but replaced with the outline of her breasts through her blouse. He momentarily traced the outline of her nipples with his eyes. Her arm moved and effectively obscured his view. His eyes looked up and met hers.
“Anything else, Captain?” Her sapphire blue eyes were as cold as steel.
“Yes.” He continued to speak to her in Greek. He told her of the soiree he was having and he watched as she accepted his words and invitation. Leaving her office a few moments later, a small smile played at his lips, curling the flesh at the corners. She had accepted without question, as he had known she would. Where work was concerned, she would never refuse. Her whole ambition was to be a success and work always came first.
Walking briskly to the bridge on the gently rocking ship, his mind planned the evening’s events. She would be the only person to attend. He had invited no one else. He had ordered a small buffet to be delivered to his quarters prior to her arrival. This would ensure that they were not disturbed during the evening. He hoped to lead the conversation onto a personal level, and when she had relaxed a little with some wine, perhaps a glass or two, he would tell her, once and for all, about his true feelings. How over the years, his respect had grown for her. His admiration had flourished and exploded into such proportions that he was passionately in love with her. He could not contain himself any longer. She was haunting his life and dreams, and she wasn’t even aware of it. He had to make her his, now, once and for all. When she was in his presence, his skin crackled and burned with the passion and brightness of the sun. He was sure that he was the fire that could melt the ice of her heart. His being could penetrate hers, right to the core. He was compelled to tell her, he couldn’t hide it any longer. It was interfering with his life to the point that his every thought was of her. She was his first thought when he awoke, and his last when he slept.
He stood outside the bridge on the deck and inhaled the fresh sea breeze, the warm currents of air rising from the waves ruffled his dark brown hair, and turning towards the door, he entered the controlled atmosphere of the bridge. Nico looked at his watch and found that at last it was time for him to leave and prepare for her. Throughout the day, he had been checking his watch, glancing at it impatiently. His words to his crew were curt and blunt; the day would just not pass quickly enough and his crew was at the receiving end of his frustration. Now, with relief, he signaled his first officer that he was leaving at the bridge for the evening.
“You know where I am if you need me.” He smoothed his hair and left. In his absence, the remaining officers and crew immediately relaxed and the tension in the room lifted.
“Thank God he has gone. He’s been a grouch all day. Anyone know what the problem was?”
“Maybe the delay?”
“Nah! He needs to get laid, and soon!” There was a round of laughter from them all.
***
After showering, Nico toweled himself dry. He splashed aftershave liberally on his tanned face and muscular body. His face, reflected in a small steamy mirror, smiled boyishly back at him. His attention turned to his hair and he cursed as he spotted a slim streak of white hair at his temples. He would have to do something about them, before they took over and aged him prematurely. Besides he was too young to go grey. Leaving the bathroom, he went to his wardrobe and went through the crisp white uniforms that were hung inside, each displaying the dry cleaning ticket. Taking one out, he tore off the small piece of paper and dressed. He had just lowered the lights and switched on some quiet background music when there was a knock at his door.
Veronique was standing outside, in a light peach colour dress that shone in the bright lights of the corridor. Her face was flushed and several long tendrils of damp hair hung loosely to her shoulders. She smiled her professional smile. Nico stood back and held his arm wide, a signal of his permission for her to enter.
“Ah, come in, my darling,” he said in Greek. He was always afraid that he would use the wrong words in English, and she would laugh at his mistakes.
She walked passed him, unaware of her animal magnetism. He guided her to a seat, his eyes never leaving her once. He wanted nothing more, at this precise moment, than to have her in his arms, pliable, warm and loving. Together they would soar higher than the clouds, through the white blinding lights of ecstasy and surpassing the brightest of the celestial stars light years away. It would be sublime.
She sat down and crossed her legs, they were slim, long and bronzed. He tried to ignore her rising breasts as she breathed. She spoke and her words melted into thin air.
“I’m sorry, what did you say?”
“I said a drink would be lovely, thank you.”
He nodded and he watched in disbelief as her dress fell away to reveal her breasts as she bent forward to adjust the ankle strap on her shoe. His mind screamed in agony and frustration and his cock throbbed suddenly in his trousers. He looked away and went to pour her a drink. His hands were trembling, and his heart beating so fast, that his mouth had gone dry. She had that affect on him. No other woman could do this to him. She left him speechless like a young schoolboy at his first dance. Turning towards her again, he handed her a drink, and for a split second, his fingers brushed against hers, as he handed her the glass. He sat next to her, his pulse throbbing passionately, both in his head and his cock. He marveled at her perfection. He watched her, wondering what to say, but he didn’t want to speak, as he felt that whatever words he said would be wasted in that moment, and so he just looked at her and drank. His eyes were starting to take on the predatory stare that a lion would have for a gazelle. She shivered and he sensed her discomfort.
“Are you cold, my dear?” He moved towards her and she leant away from him, then she stood up and started to walk across the room. He followed her, his heart thumping loudly. He could see she was about to say something, even though her back was turned towards him. H
e didn’t want her to spoil the moment. She turned around and he saw surprise on her face before it turned to momentary fear. He watched her control her emotions. She stepped backwards as though he was standing too close, which he realized he was, and so he took a step back and he saw her relax.
“When do the others get here?”
“Anytime,” he lied. I have given them the time, but they may be late.”
“Oh.”
“No worry, we shall have to wait until they arrive.”
She crossed the room and sat down again. He moved towards her and sat by her side as he had done before. He wanted to lean across, take her in his arms and smother her with kisses; to kiss along the length of her neck, to hear her moan with pleasure with each touch of his lips upon her skin.
He looked down at his glass solely to have something to do. Looking at her was driving him crazy. The softness of the dress material that outlined every curve of her body, called for him to caress her. Her nipples begged for him to tenderly nibble at them. Her lips were made in heaven, just for him to kiss.
“Oh forgive me,” he suddenly said. “Would you like a canapé whilst we wait?” He gestured to the small table with the tray of delicious looking canapés. Veronique looked at the selection, suddenly realizing there were too few, for a formal soiree.
“Captain, how many are coming this evening?”
“Only a couple.” He said noticing the suspicion on her face. “I didn’t want too many people here; in fact the other two are old family friends.”
“Is this a social evening?”
“Well, yes.”
“Why didn’t you tell me? I thought this was work related. If this is informal, then it is not part of my duties on board.”
“I wanted you to come this evening,” he said gently.
“Did you not think to just ask me?” He refilled her glass as she spoke.
“I thought about it, but I knew that if it were social you would most likely say no. Would you have come?”
“Of course not!”
“Well then, how am I supposed to ask you for a social evening then?”
“Lying is not the way.” She stood up to leave suddenly, causing the contents of her wine glass to spill down her front.
“No please.” He grabbed her arm. “Now you are here, surely you can stay a while. I won’t do this again, I won’t lie.” He released her arm and she shook her head.
“No, my dress is ruined. I can’t stay now.”
Nico looked at the red wine stain, which was spreading across and down the front of her dress. The wet patch had stuck to her skin, making the dress appear transparent; her breasts were beautifully outlined by the material. Thinking quickly, Nico said
“Okay, but you can’t leave now. You should wait until your dress is dry. Sit here and I will get you a robe to put on.” He turned and went into his bedroom, and returned moment later with a robe in his hand; the memory of her breasts was seared into his mind. If he didn’t distance himself from her soon, he would have to have her in his arms and ravage her. She was sat in the seat drying her dress. She had pulled the wet material off her skin, and this exposed her perfect orbs even more, from his standing position. He held out the white toweling robe for her.
“If you remove your dress it will dry quicker. My bathroom is over there. You can change there, or in my bedroom.” He looked away, and nonchalantly went to have a canapé to appear disinterested, whilst she decided. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw her walk towards his bedroom. He smiled, the thought of her naked under his bathrobe was tantalizing. She couldn’t leave whilst she was wearing his robe, and neither could she, whilst her dress was wet. If he could delay the drying of her dress she would have to stay longer, and he would have more time to try and charm her, relax her and tell her that he loved her. When she came out of his bedroom wearing the robe, she had such style and class, that it could have easily been a white fur she was wearing as his toweling bathrobe. As she sat down, and crossed her legs, he caught a glimpse of her bronzed thigh. She caught him looking and quickly pulled the sides of the robe together.
“Would you like another drink whilst we wait for your dress to dry?”
She nodded and so he poured her another glass of wine. He sat further along the sofa, further away from her, so as not to worry her. Looking at her, he thought his heart would explode with love. He would explode if he didn’t tell her tonight.
“Oh I had better cancel my friends. We don’t want them arriving now. It would be most embarrassing.” He crossed to the phone on his desk and began to press in the numbers. One finger held the connection down so it looked as though he was actually calling someone.
“Yassoo Aris, I am sorry, I have to cancel this evening. I am needed on the bridge,” he paused for effect, “Yes, yes, another time. Thank you, and sorry again.”
He replaced the receiver and turned towards her.
“Well, we must talk about something as you are here, and while we wait...you’ve hardly said anything this evening. Tell me about yourself.” He smiled disarmingly.
“I’d rather not, if you don’t mind.”
“Why not? Surely, you have a lot of experiences; after all, you are so well travelled. What about before you joined my ship?”
“One ship is much like another.”
“Okay, what about your family?”
“My mother remarried when I was little. She left. I haven’t seen her since.”
“Who brought you up?”
“My brother.” She gulped her wine. “He must have been a bit older than you.”
“Yes, ten years.” She sipped her wine again and his eyes narrowed when he saw her trembling hand. He poured her another glass of wine.
“Where is he now?”
“Nice, in France.”
“So that is why you were upset at the delay, you wanted to see him again. Now I understand. I thought you had a boyfriend there.” He noted that she flinched at his words. “Here have some more.” He held out the bottle and she drained her glass so that he could refill it again.
“No I don’t have a boyfriend. I don’t want one either.” She drank her wine and a small section missed her mouth and dribbled to her chin. Her hand came up automatically and wiped the wine away. She giggled for a moment and then smiled drunkenly at him. Nico was taken back by the sudden change in her personality. One minute hostile, cold and then, the next, she was relaxed, smiling and occasionally giggling. Her robe fell apart slightly and he couldn’t help but look at the exposed skin. Her hair fell in silky strands and he reached forward to move the hair aside. Their eyes met and time seemed to stop. His heart was beating so loudly that he thought it would burst forward, and come right out through his chest. Her eyes were just staring at him, glazed and glassy without feeling. He felt momentarily ashamed of himself; ashamed at the lengths he would go to, to get her. He shrugged off the thought and leant forward and kissed her lightly on the lips. He could taste the wine. She giggled and pulled back, and as she did so, he leant forward and kissed her fully on the mouth. She leant backwards and he followed her with his lips and body. He could feel her breath on his face and he kissed her with more intensity. His eyes were wide open, watching her, as she had closed hers. This wasn’t meant to be happening. As much as he wanted her, he wanted her to know it was him, to choose him. If he took her this way, he could be anybody. He took her upper arms and pushed himself back and looked at her intently. Her hair was flowing over her shoulders and down on to her bronzed body. Her robe was open, giving him a full view of the delights previously hidden within. He felt his dick jump in his trousers, and he held back a groan of desire. She smiled at him, and then her head lolled to one side, and she grinned to herself. The gentleman in his heart was fading fast, and replacing him was the devil, the man who had spent years lusting after her, and the man who, despite everything, loved her from afar.
Unable to control himself any longer, he leant forward and kissed her once more. Her lips were warm and te
nder, the strength and passion growing. He could feel the desire welling up inside him. He wanted to tear her robe off her and take her, right there and then, to feel himself plunging into her hot depths, her pussy like a warm velvet glove yielding to him until he came deep and hard, but he stopped kissing her, pulled away, knowing that if he didn’t stop then, he never would.
She laughed again, lost in her own world. A drunken laugh that pulled at his heart strings escaped her. She needed him, she needed protecting, and he could feel it. He stood up and crossed the room, and helped himself to another drink. When he turned back towards her, she was sat on the edge of the sofa, leaning forwards, her hands were holding on to the edge of the seat and her hair had fallen forwards. He wanted to cross the room, kiss her, caress her, touch all the softness that her now exposed body offered him. His eyes flashed hungrily as he walked back towards her. She looked up and smiled at him, inviting him, her eyes full of drunken mischief. He didn’t know what to do and so he picked her up and carried her through to his bedroom.
Hours later, he still watched her, she had slept almost the instant he had lain her down and since then, he had been watching her childlike innocence; her trust in him, her natural ethereal beauty in the soft lighting. He had been transfixed by her breasts, rising and falling, as she breathed, and he had lain next to her, wanting to feel her close to him. Her perfumed, naked body, wanting her, aching for her, yearning for her. As the dawn broke, he couldn’t stand it any longer and he left her side and went to sleep on his sofa in his living room.
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