Love Sick

by HJ Bellus

  “Wank Stain, she’s out on the island exploring before our big date tonight. Is there something you want me to tell her?”

  I’m not sure if it’s a language barrier. I call bullshit. His English seems fine to me, but Wank Stain turns his head seemingly confused by my response.

  “She’s what?” I don’t miss the vein in his neck throbbing because he’s pissed. Good. He should be.

  “I said she is out exploring the island before our date tonight. Do you have a problem with that?”

  His mouth snaps shut. The muscles in his forearm flex and bulge with anger. Oh, little lover boy has a temper I see. I’m sure he never showed that side to Raylan. No, the only side she was ever graced with was the player side. The one where he made himself look like a knight in shining armor until he was able to get what he wanted from her.

  Not happening on my watch. He remains silent for a long time, which I take, as his question is answered. Before I can leave yet, another person joins our little, merry group and it’s none other than the son of a bitch I saw earlier walking off the ship with Iris. This one reeks of trouble, and it’s not one ounce of jealousy. Hell, I should be down on my knees thanking him for taking over what I threw away. There’s something about him and the rest of this clan that doesn’t settle well with me.

  Could this cluster fuck get any bigger? The Gods of the Seas must be fertilizing it with their bullshit causing it to grow out of control. This time…shit, I don’t remember his name, doesn’t act like he knows me. Thank God. Roberto slaps him on the back, and they exchange their precious, little bro greetings. The man whispers something in Roberto’s ear, and they’re off. I don’t claim to be a genius, but I’m not a fool either. Good riddance, Wank Stain. I hope Iris swallows your dick whole and chokes on it.

  I send the girls one final wave before rushing away. I got me some taco business to nail down. May not be Tuesday, but Goddamn it’s our Taco Tuesday.

  Nineteen

  Raylan

  I played it safe today during my exploration of the island. Everything is so full of life and the minute I stepped off the ship, I was swept away into a fantasy land. I found myself forgetting about all my worries in the world and taking in the environment.

  The fear of being left behind was weighing in the back of my mind. It would be my luck to miss boarding the ship before it took off. I spent some time at local gift shops near the dock getting things for myself. I found a cute fedora and bought it. The woman at the shop was nice enough to let me use her mirror to adjust my hair and wear it right out of the shop.

  The next stop was a bar where I ordered as many drinks as I could without getting black out drunk before heading to a spot on the beach. It’s been perfect because everybody else was off exploring, leaving the whole beach to me. I spread out my towel and settled in for a long time.

  When I pulled out my notebook and read what I had so far in a story that I was currently working on I was in shock. One because it didn’t suck the way my work usually did when I read back through it and two, because of how close it was to my current situation. It was as if I was writing the story of me being the boring, safe girl who grew a set of balls and took on life.

  It’s ironic where I find myself right now, sitting on a beach on a tropical island. The prologue a dead ringer for my life back home and how lonely I feel yet have no courage to step up and do something about it. I knew my writing has always relaxed me and been a form of therapy, but this is more than that.

  I was not bringing Memphis with me today because I needed this alone time. I never ran into Iris and her crew on the island, and that’s a blessing itself. I check the time on my cell phone one more time, snap another selfie with the ocean in the background, and pack up my belongings.

  I’ve always wanted one of these fun hats, but hats and I tend not to mix well together. It is now my official hat wear for the rest of the cruise. Score.

  I make it back on the ship and all way to my room without bumping into anyone which I find odd. I was half expecting Josi and Brenna to be waiting like lost puppies by the entrance for me. But they weren’t. Those two know something is up with Memphis and will be starving for the details. It’s odd they are nowhere to be found.

  I shouldn’t be shocked because they’ve been entertained by the twins. I’m going to have to have a talk with those two about leaving me out. I get they need to be treated, and they love their fair share of the opposite sex time, but we did come on this trip as three friends.

  It makes me wonder what would’ve happened if I never fell into Memphis’s lap. Would those two still be out whoring it up and what would I be left doing? I know what I’d be left doing. The same thing I do night after night back at home, but out in the sunshine on deck lounger sipping a sweet drink. Attached to my Kindle, writing stories, or relaxing. They are going to have some major groveling to do after their little stunts of ditch tactics. And they’ll have no room for rebuttal after they gave me such a hard time about Memphis at the spa. Those bitches will be eating their words.

  I peer over at his door once I’m in front of mine. It’s closed. I wait for a beat, listening for any movement, and there’s nothing. Great, now I’m a certified creeper. I unlock my door, juggling my bag, and everything else I bought today, and step into my room to find another note slid under my door.

  The memory of the last one makes me smile, and I wonder what the crazy guy wrote me this time. I let my bag tumble to the floor and scoop up the note quicker than I should. Blame it on the excitement. The same sinful handwriting fills the page, alluring me in without a second thought.

  Raylan,

  Six o’clock sharp I’ll be at your door. Don’t be late. Wear something comfortable, nothing fancy at all. Oh, and the place we are going requires no bra or panties. I hear they have a super strict security policy and they pat down for them so to be on the safe side leave them in your cabin.

  Love,

  Memphis

  PS- You cannot play with me unless you blow me. - Balloon

  I set the note on top of the other one, and I can’t help the smile and laughter that bubbles out of me. It’s never like this with another guy, and I know I sound like a broken record, but I keep waiting for the catch.

  Like when an annoying salesman in the grocery store talks you into signing up for a year’s supply of free hot dogs. All you have to do is sign on the dotted line. You don’t read the fine print and trot out of the grocery store with your first pack of free wieners as if it was your first gold Olympic medal. The fine print ends up slapping you in the face because if you would’ve read, it states the first package was free, and it’s forty-nine dollars and ninety-nine cents for the remaining eleven months.

  That’s exactly what this feels like with Memphis. I’m waiting for the fine print to smack me back into reality. Since the hotdog incident, I’ve never signed up for free shit again. The reality is, nothing in life is free. There’s always a price to pay, and I’m afraid this time it’s my heart. Call me a hopeless romantic, but everything inside of me screams at me that Memphis is the one.

  Snapping out of the Memphis Love wave trance, I realize I have ten minutes to get ready. I’m shocked he’s not knocking on the door. I’ve come to learn real fast that what Memphis says he means.

  I look in the mirror and love the way my sun glowed skin reflects back at me. I got some sun today, and it’s already showing in the color of my skin. I don’t want to cover it up for this date. A genius plan hits me with that thought. He said no bra or panties, so that’s what I’ll do. I dig through my suitcase until I find what I’m looking for and throw off my cover-up to put on another one.

  It’s sexier and comfier if that’s even possible. It’s not black like the other one, instead a light floral print that dips down really low in the front and comes up way past mid-thigh into ass cheek peeking territory. An evil giggle escapes me beating him at his own game.

  I did want to wear my hat the rest of the cruise, but hats and kissing ar
en’t a good combination. I don’t want to be left with hat hair during a hot make-out session because there will be lots and lots of kissing.

  My hair has always been easy to fix because there’s so much body and natural wave. It requires a flick of the wrist, a little fluff, and it’s ready to go. Tonight I decided to put it in a side braid sticking with the casual look. Once that’s in place, I look back in the mirror and figure the bit of eyeliner remaining from earlier this morning is perfect.

  I’m not sure if it’s the glow from the sun and or the combination of the glow and what Memphis brings out in me, but I feel pretty tonight. I slip into my third favorite pair of Sanuks right when there’s a knock on the door.

  Looking over at the alarm clock on the nightstand, it’s six o’clock on the dot. I shake my head at this crazy man not believing he’s real. Like an eager teen on her first date, I race to the door, squealing and fist pumping before I pull it open.

  “Were you squealing?” Memphis’s face peeks around an enormous bouquet of wildflowers.

  Jaw hanging wide open, I shrug and pull him into the room not allowing his damn signature smolder to make me weak at the knees.

  “Good girl, you’re right on time.”

  I pull him further into the room then spin around for him to see my outfit. This is what it must feel like to be high on life. He eyes me up-and-down. I know what he’s doing. He’s checking to see if I followed orders. The surprise is on him because I did follow directions, but I doubt he will approve.

  “Where do you want these flowers at, Sunshine?”

  I grab them from him and set them down on a counter. He doesn’t have a chance to move before I leap into his arms. Memphis catches me with ease, pulling me in closer until there’s no room left between us. My arms wrap around his neck, and then I’m lifted up with my legs following suit, wrapping around his hips, locking right above his ass. He wastes no time roaming his hands down to my ass. He avoids my kiss when his palm connects with a scrap of material down there. He legitimately growls.

  “You shouldn’t growl like that. It makes you look like an animal.”

  Memphis jerks his chin at me. “I’m about to be a very pissed off animal if this is what I think it is.”

  I bring a hand to the front and tap the tip of his nose. “You said no panties or bra; I’m not wearing them. I left on my bikini from the island today.”

  He throws his head back, staring up at the ceiling, letting out another growl.

  “What is so wrong with me wearing a bikini under this?”

  He snaps his gaze back down to me staring right at me. His chocolate eyes blazing. “I’m trying to get over the fact you were laying out on the beach all day today in what I assume is a skimpy bikini and I wasn’t there to see it while other men were.”

  I run a hand through his thick messy, red hair and smile at him. “Quite possessive are we? And don’t worry, I was all alone today sitting on the beach like a good girl working in my notebook.”

  “You better have been, or I’m going to have kick someone’s ass.”

  He relents, offering up his lips for me to kiss. And kiss I do. I have no self-discipline in his arms wrapped up in his scent. I’m the one leading the dance of our lips this time, swiping my tongue across his lips until they part. I take full advantage of him, soaking in his taste. Memphis moans into my mouth, keeping up with me, and I’m a goner.

  I pull back knowing this will lead to us tangled in the sheets which isn’t a bad thing, but I’m starving.

  “So, what’s the plan, Stan?”

  “Well, it was going to be a special dinner and then a secret surprise, but since you didn’t follow orders, I think I’m going to strip you out of this bikini so you can pass through security at this private club.”

  I wiggle out of his arms until I’m on my feet placing my hands on my hips.

  “I am starving, Memphis. Please, can we go have dinner?” I place my hands in front of me in a pleading gesture.

  He gives in, gifting me with one of those pant-melting smiles, dragging me out of the room. It’s not until then I realize what he’s wearing. Like I said before he wears the clothes; the clothes don’t wear him. He took casual to a whole new level of sexy. He has on loose board shorts again in a different pattern with subtle, rich colors. A white button shirt half buttoned, exposing hard pieces of his tantalizing chest. The sleeves are rolled to below his elbows. He’s topped it all off with the casual pair of flip-flops. Sanuk. Love at first sight.

  “You look mighty fine tonight.” I’m brave and go for his hand, lacing our fingers together.

  His fingers squeeze into mine holding tight. A silent promise of a good time.

  “I’d tell you the same thing, but the bikini underneath your dress is hideous.”

  I slap his chest as we walk down the hall swinging our linked arms back-and-forth. “Quit being a crybaby, Memphis. It doesn’t look good on you.”

  We enjoy carefree banter all the way to the upper deck until we reach a secluded patio with no one else in sight. I crack a joke about him throwing me overboard, but he shrugs it off. It’s not convincing at all. He swings open another glass door, and we walk out onto the prettiest sight I’ve ever seen.

  Simple elegance and the view is stunning. A sign reads reserved for Memphis Love and Sunshine. The words make me pounce, wrapping my arms around his neck, peppering kisses all over his jawline. There’s a faux fireplace in the center surrounded by loungers and different styles of chairs. Pillows in all sorts of sizes and colors cover every surface. It’s straight from a home décor magazine.

  Then it hits me. The aroma is so strong I nearly pass out.

  “Memphis, is that what I think it is?”

  He lifts me from the ground, swings me around in a circle, making me dizzy for a second before answering me.

  “What do you think it is?”

  “Memphis, if there are carne asada tacos in the near vicinity I’m going to…Wait, are there tacos and are they for us?”

  “Maybe, but if there are finish that phrase.”

  “If you feed me carne asada tacos, I’m going to fuck you like you’ve never been fucked tonight.”

  He reaches down, palming my ass. I’m starting to think it’s his favorite place to have his hands. He crooks a brow. “Is that a promise?”

  I cup his cheeks in my hands and stare right into his eyes serious as a heart attack. ‘Yes. If carne asada tacos are involved, it’s on like Donkey Kong. I’ll fuck you like a porn star tonight.”

  “Pinky promise?” Memphis holds up his pinky to me with a shit-eating grin on his face.

  I don’t think twice about it before my finger links in his. I whisper back to him. “Pinky promise.”

  This is a win-win for me. No doubt. My mind made up, I am giving the rest of this cruise my all with this man. And more of what he gave me the other day is for sure on the list of things to do.

  He wastes no time guiding me over to a small couch covered in beautiful pillows. Memphis flops down right in the middle of all of them, leaving me staring down at him. He has me by the waist, dragging me down to his lap.

  “Memphis, I’m typically a very patient person unless it comes to carne asada tacos. You better feed me now, or I’m going to hurt you.”

  He ignores my threat as he adjusts me in his lap how he wants me. My ass nestled between his thighs, my feet kicked up on a pile of comfy pillows, and as cozy and romantic as it is, I’m starting to get irritated. Call it hungry or a girl in love with tacos I don’t care. He reaches forward and grabs an empty plate and places it on my lap. I get what he’s trying to do here, and that’s to be all romantic with the ambiance feeling, the moment…blah, blah, blah. But when a girl wants to eat you feed her, dammit.

  Right when I’m about to go level one thousand batshit crazy, the door we entered swings wide open. Servers enter the small patio bringing a plate full of tacos and a bucket filled with ice-cold Coronas. Memphis gestures for the server to place the platter on t
op of the plate in my lap. It’s a tight fit, but I’ve never met a taco I didn’t like.

  Once everything is settled, we are once again left alone. It’s love at first sight when I study the tacos. There’s no cilantro or onions just cheese and a lime wedge.

  “Holy shit! No cilantro.” I stare, dead serious. “You don’t like cilantro?”

  He shrugs not answering me, so I rattle on about my theory.

  “I hate cilantro. It’s a vile weed. There are two types of people in the world and seriously it’s how the human race should be classified.”

  “How’s that?” he asks, running a palm up and down my side, getting plenty of side boob action.

  “The first group and most superior are those who despise cilantro and the second are those who like. Bluccck.”

  “Quite the theory you have there.”

  I pick up my first taco, wasting no time digging in. I moan with the first bite. Heaven. Life doesn’t get any better than this. Cruise ship, sitting on a delectable man’s lap while eating tacos.

  “Are you hungry, Memphis?”

  He doesn’t answer but only continues running his hand wherever he can reach.

  “Taco.” I hold one out, readying myself for the second one.

  “Naw, Sunshine. I'm enjoying myself watching a girl devour a taco.”

  “Come on and eat. You are making this awkward,” I plead though it’s not awkward at all, but I fear I’ll finish the platter before he has a chance to eat.

  He opens his mouth not making a sound as a gesture for me to feed him. This is a first for me. I bring the taco to his lips, let him take a bite, and watch him enjoy the most amazing taste in the world.

  We eat in silence until all the tacos are gone. I’m happy to report I did not out eat Memphis. The rate I started, I’m surprised I didn’t bite one of my fingers off.

  “Are you thirsty?”

  Memphis leans forward, keeping me clutched to him, and grabs the bucket.

  The bucket is filled with Coronas nestled in ice with wedges of limes and a salt shaker. I start to get suspicious. The tacos could be a coincidence, but the way I drink my Coronas no way in hell.