Chapter Thirty-Nine
On Friday morning, breakfast was served in the atrium, and good-byes were said as luggage was loaded onto the Riva by Wolf’s porters. Ivorie took a moment to take Petra aside and hug her. “Are you okay? Do you need anything? Help to leave here?”
“That is very kind of you, Fräulein, but I am fine. I think you misunderstood the nature of my relationship with Wolf, my Master. This is as I choose it to be. I am not here under duress or against my will. I love my Master more than life, and I know that he loves me. We have negotiated this relationship to meet both of our needs. You need not worry about me. Perhaps we will meet again, maybe at the club in New Orleans. Have a safe trip.” She smiled radiantly at Ivorie and kissed her cheek. “Thank you for your concern, but it is unnecessary.”
When they boarded the Riva, Drew pulled Ivorie tightly to his side. “Are you okay? You look a little upset.”
The scene in the dungeon the night before had been disturbing. Although she didn’t think Drew would be into something so extreme, she was still a little concerned. When she remembered what had happened, she thought that even Wolf had seemed to think Petra’s punishment was too severe.
“I’m okay. I was just concerned about Petra, but she tells me that she’s fine and that they have ‘negotiated’ their relationship.”
“That’s the case. Actually, they have a written Master/slave contract that specifies each of their duties, rights, and responsibilities. It’s not something I would want, but it works for them.”
“Wow. I guess I have a lot to learn about BDSM. It just seemed so harsh and scary.”
“Wolf is a sadist, and Petra is a masochist. They have their own set of hard limits. Every relationship is different, but theirs seems to work for them.”
The trip back to the ship seemed to pass more quickly than the trip out to the plantation. Ivorie was glad that Jenni was feeling more herself as was evidenced by her improved color and her insatiable curiosity about what had happened in the dungeon the night before. Ivorie had to promise to give her every detail when they had a private moment after lunch before she was satisfied.
The Dolphin was scheduled to leave Manaus at four o’clock, and Ivorie was ready for a quiet afternoon at the pool with a good book. After she had checked on e-mails and things in the office and when she was sure everything was under control, she changed into her white bikini and settled on a chaise next to the pool on the top deck.
Manaus was the turnaround point of the cruise, and they would be heading back down the Amazon that evening. The next scheduled stop was Parintins, another small river town approximately three hundred and fifty miles downriver from Manaus. She was disappointed that they had missed the famous Boi Bumba Festival that was held every June, but she was looking forward to a day of shopping and sightseeing nonetheless. After that, they would just be cruising downriver for a day and then back out into international waters for another day until Tuesday when they would be stopping at Devil’s Island off French Guiana.
Ivorie was looking forward to some time alone with Drew. They were already on day thirteen of their twenty-four-day cruise, and each day seemed to go faster than the one before. Before she knew it, this fabulous trip would be over, and she would be back in the office. She hoped it would not be with the old “Mr. Blessingame.” She didn’t think she could face that.
Chapter Forty
The Golden Dolphin—Devil’s Island, Six Nautical Miles off the Coast of French Guiana, October 22, 2013—Tuesday 8:00 a.m., Day Seventeen of the Cruise
Drew looked up from the contracts spread across his lap and the chaise as Ivorie walked out on the private deck off the Master Suite to join him. She held a tray with two cups of steaming coffee and fresh donuts from the galley. The white silk caftan she wore was semitransparent, although he doubted she realized that. He was definitely enjoying the view as she put the tray down on a table and leaned back against the railing. The breeze blew her hair back and gently pushed the caftan into every crease and curve of her body. It was a sight worth seeing. He pushed the contracts aside and gestured for her to join him on the chaise.
“Did you want to go ashore and see Devil’s Island? I think I’m going to pass. I want to finish these contracts. I’m sure you could go with Jenni and Chris.”
“No. I think I’ll just relax on deck and get some sun. Devil’s Island just seems like too sad a place.”
“Not a garden spot? I think I agree. We could always go back to bed,” he said hopefully. He just couldn’t seem to get enough of her, and the days of this trip were slipping through the hourglass faster than he’d like—only one more week and they would be back in Key West. He had to wonder what would happen when they were back to real life.
* * * *
Ivorie put her cup down and turned into his arms eagerly. She was storing up memories one by one. She knew that the office and the beginning of the cold weather in New York awaited her at home, and she didn’t know what else their return to the city would bring—maybe a continued closeness, or maybe a return to their previous relationship. He hadn’t really told her how he felt about her, hadn’t offered any words of love, only the love and tenderness expressed in their lovemaking. Oh, she knew he enjoyed her body and her company, but she also knew that vacation relationships rarely survived the real world. She knew how she felt about him. She loved Drew—the caring, sweet, funny, sexy man she had come to know. She didn’t think she could stand to be in a relationship with Mr. Blessingame—the autocratic, sarcastic, and cold man she had known at work. It was almost like he was two people to her. It was as though the good and bad sides of his personality were in a struggle for supremacy. She knew that was ridiculous, but that was how she felt. She knew she wanted to stockpile as many sweet, sexy memories as she could before the dream ended, as she was pretty sure it would, one way or another. She just wished she knew what he thought and felt.
Ivorie kissed his throat and ran her tongue down his chest until she latched on to one of his flat male nipples. She sucked and nipped at each of them and then continued down over his smooth chest until she reached his belly button. She delved into the sexy depression before exploring further south until she reached the top of his skimpy, white bikini bathing suit. She really loved the way he looked in that suit. She ran her hand over the thick ridge of his erection. He raised his hips to help, and she pushed and tugged until she had stripped it off him. His erect member greeted her with a bob, and she took it between her lips, kissed the tip, and began to pleasure him with her mouth. She sucked, and licked, and kissed her way up and down the shaft while she held the base in her hand. She loved the intimacy of giving him pleasure this way. She played with his cock and teased him until he was at the edge, but before she could bring him to orgasm, he quickly rolled on a condom, pushed her down, tugged off the bottom of her bikini, and plunged into her as his cock throbbed in time to her heartbeat.
He stroked her with a merciless rhythm until the exquisite pleasure broke over her like a wave. She arched her spine as her orgasm spun out of control, and his shaft jerked against her womb. She felt the pulsing stream of hot semen jet into her center through the condom he wore. He smiled down at her, radiating supreme male satisfaction. She knew she had the look of a woman who had come hard and loved every minute of it.
Chapter Forty-One
The Golden Dolphin—San Juan, Puerto Rico, October 26, 2013—Saturday 8:00 a.m., Day Twenty-One of the Cruise
Ivorie was sipping a cup of the galley’s very excellent café con leche on the private deck of the Master Suite. The Golden Dolphin had made port in Bridgetown, Barbados and St. John’s, Antigua before docking in San Juan, Puerto Rico, the last port of call before returning to Key West. They only had until nine o’clock that night to sightsee, shop, and hopefully visit one of the stunning white sand beaches outside of San Juan, and she was anxious to get going.
“Have you been here before, Drew?”
“No, but I’ve heard the rainforest, El Yunq
ue, is a must see. Let’s rent a car and see how much we can accomplish. Definitely El Yunque and the beach. I’d like to snorkel, roll around in the sand with you…” He laughed, and she knew she was blushing. “Maybe have dinner in Old San Juan before we have to be back on board the Dolphin. Then we have two days at sea before we’re back in Key West. I’m going to hate to have this trip end. It’s been great, much more than I expected, in every way.”
Ivorie made arrangements with Casey to rent a car. Once in the car, they drove out of the port and headed straight up into the mountains toward El Yunque, the Forest of Clouds, a twenty-eight-thousand-acre tropical rainforest which was the only tropical rainforest in the United States National Forest System. Drew parked the car and purchased some of the fresh, hot meat pies called empanadas that were sold on the side of the road by local vendors. They took off down one of the many well-marked hiking paths. Enormous ferns and banks of wildflowers crowded the path. After an hour or so of walking down the slippery, muddy path in the near one-hundred-percent humidity, Ivorie was getting tired. When they came around a curve in the path and saw a beautiful, small waterfall pounding down into a boulder-strewn pool, Ivorie broke into a huge grin. “Let’s rest here for a while. This is gorgeous.”
Drew pulled the empanadas and two cans of Coke out of his backpack. He handed the food to Ivorie before he settled down on a rock next to her. He smiled at her, flashing the dimples she just could not resist. “Are you thinking what I’m thinking? After we eat, if there’s still no one around…” They had not seen a soul since they’d parked the car and bought the food.
“You’re crazy!” Ivorie laughed up into his leering face.
“Yeah, crazy—for you.” He brought his head down and kissed her. Ivorie finished her meat pies and chugged some of the Coke.
“Well?”
“Still thinking…” She bundled up her wrapping paper and can and put them into Drew’s backpack before she stood up, started pulling her T-shirt over her head, and said, “Last one in’s a rotten egg!” She stripped off her shorts and was splashing into the water toward the waterfall.
“I have noticed that you do not play fair, Ms. James,” he called after her as he grabbed a condom from his pocket and stripped off his shirt and jeans. He followed her into the water and pulled her under the edge of the waterfall. He kissed her as the cold water pounded down on their heads and shoulders.
“You’re going to drown us!” She sputtered and giggled as she tried to struggle out of his tight hold.
“Hold your breath.” He pulled her further into the waterfall, before they entered into a small cavern on the other side. Ivorie looked around in amazement. “Did you know this was here?”
“No, but I was hoping it was. No one can see in here. It’s totally private.” He pulled her back into his arms and kissed her silly. She didn’t know how she was ever going to be able to give this man up. He had crept into her heart and her soul. She couldn’t believe it herself, but he was the most passionate, sweet, and caring man…She just couldn’t believe he was Drew Blessingame.
He pulled her down onto a flat, moss-covered rock and kissed her again. He ran his tongue down her neck, following the valley between her breasts. He sucked first one chilly, puckered nipple and then the other. His hot mouth on her icy skin felt exquisite. He licked the droplets of water from her breasts. She ran her hands over his shoulders, down his well-muscled back and butt, and pulled him as close as two naked, slippery, wet bodies could get. He put a little space between them and continued his exploration of her silky skin. Finally his mouth was over her aching core, his hot breath teasing the still-cold, delicate skin. He ran his tongue around her tingling clit and plunged his tongue into her quivering pussy. She smiled in anticipation of the pleasure she knew he would bring her. She was aching for him. He made love to her with his mouth, pleasuring her until she whimpered with need.
Finally she could stand no more. “Make love to me, Drew. I need you.” She wanted his hard, demanding cock inside her now as her arousal spun out of control.
* * * *
Drew rolled on the condom he had grabbed from his jeans pocket, and then he entered her hot, steamy inner channel with a strong surge. Instinct had taken over. He had a primitive need to claim this woman for his own, brand her with his passion and the dangerous beast lurking between his thighs. He was beyond reason as he felt her tight muscles convulse around his pulsing cock. He felt his balls tighten as he blasted over the edge. He continued to piston his hips until she joined him in an intense climax, and they were both lost in the pleasure of their joined bodies.
When the storm had passed, they lay cuddled against each other on the hard, mossy surface. He tried to share his warmth with her, but he could feel her cool skin against his chest. “Are you okay, babe? Maybe we should get out of here and get dressed. I don’t want you to get sick.”
At her nodded assent, he poked his head out of the waterfall and took a quick look around to be sure no one had found their hideaway. He was relieved to see they were still alone. He picked her up in his arms and carried her back through the curtain of crashing water and back into the pool. He put her down on the rock and dried her off with his T-shirt.
“Drew, I’m okay. You’ll have to put on a wet shirt.”
“Small price to pay for one of the best experiences of my life.”
She laughed shyly. “Mine, too. I think I’ll be telling my grandchildren about their crazy grandmother’s wild experience under a waterfall someday.”
That gave him pause for thought. And who is the grandfather going to be? It better be me!
* * * *
Ivorie and Drew spent the remainder of the afternoon at a secluded, but unfortunately not deserted, beach at the bottom of the mountain. They snorkeled and lay in the sun on big, bright-colored beach towels. They napped and relaxed until it was time to return to the ship. They showered together in the opulent bathroom of the Master Suite and dressed for dinner in Old San Juan where they had a traditional Puerto Rican dinner. They enjoyed a chicken and rice dish called arroz con pollo, fried plantains called tostones, and mashed fried green plantains called mofongo. The delicious, strong coffee was grown in the hills of Puerto Rico, and the fresh roasted beans were ground at their table just before the coffee was brewed. It was a fabulous meal. After dinner, they enjoyed walking the streets of the old city, listening to the street musicians, and browsing the shops that were open late into the evening before they returned to the ship. Ivorie knew it was a night they would both remember.
“Thank you for a wonderful day, Drew. It was one of the high points of the entire trip.”
“My pleasure. I know it’s one I’ll never forget.”
In her private thoughts, Ivorie wondered what would happen when the trip was over and they returned to New York and their day-to-day lives. Would they have nothing but their wonderful memories? Or would they be able to bridge the gap to the everyday world?
Chapter Forty-Two
Key West Harbor, Key West, Florida, October 29, 2013–Tuesday Afternoon, Day Twenty-Four, Last Day of the Cruise
Ivorie was in the office boxing computer equipment and files to be shipped back to the office in New York. Breaking down the office seemed to be a bigger job than it had been originally to set it up. She knew that Drew was up on his deck doing a final read through of the Riverstone contracts and reviewing another prospectus of a promising shopping center property in Connecticut. She now had a more realistic idea of the work he actually did. Previously, her view of him was that he spent his time making everyone else miserable when, in fact, he worked harder than anyone else. It was a new perspective. She hoped she could retain this more benevolent view of Mr. Blessingame when they were back in the office.
She had left one computer and printer connected in case she needed to print anything else before Drew left the ship. He was scheduled to return to New York that evening, and she was scheduled to follow on Wednesday afternoon after she had completed the break
down of the office and arranged for the shipment of all the files and equipment. Ivorie was torn between being ready for the trip of a lifetime to be over—a treasured memory—and never wanting it to end. She was anxious to pick up her Yorkie, Annie, from her grandmother and sleep in her own bed again, although she would definitely miss cuddling in Drew’s arms. She knew she had to return to real life and that things between herself and Drew were destined to change. She just hoped they would not revert completely to the way they had been before the trip. She was really ambivalent about her return to New York.
She checked her e-mail and found yet one more set of revised pages for the Riverstone contracts from the Legal Department. She printed them out for Drew and rose to take them up to him in the Master Suite. When she opened the door to the cabin, she heard his voice. She realized he must be on his iPhone, so she was quiet as she walked toward the open door to the deck.
* * * *
Drew had his iPhone cradled between his shoulder and ear as he continued to mark up the contract. “Jamie, I have to say this was a fabulous trip. The boat is magnificent, and I’m really glad you talked me out of cancelling. I’ll definitely be taking another cruise.”
“I told you you’d love it. It’s too bad you had to miss the shakedown wedding cruise. We had a ball. I think this venture is going to be a real winner for Devereau Shipping. So, did you meet any interesting new subs?”
“No, no new subs. I did have an interesting liaison with the admin I brought along.” Drew laughed delightedly. His relationship with Ivorie was too new to quantify. He had a feeling it was going to be intense, and possibly permanent, but he wasn’t ready to tell that to Jamie, who was a born romantic and a newlywed and thought everyone should be as happy as he was.
Ivorie's Surprise [Golden Dolphin] (Siren Publishing Classic) Page 16
