“Oh, Captain…I know you’ve done it before.”
I am getting somewhat irritated at this point. Standing in front of the entire crew, she first propositions me and now she is pretty much calling me a liar.
“Done what exactly, Brittany?”
“Stop, Brittany, you are drunk, go to bed.” Marie tries to control the situation.
“That might be a good idea,” Maci agrees.
“You should take the advice from your fellow coworkers. I’ll see you all in the morning.”
I walk away taking a deep breath. I was two seconds away from going off on her and that isn’t me. I was known for keeping a level head most of the time. But nothing can get on my last nerve like an annoying drunk person, male or female. I can only take so much. I’m pretty sure I know what she’s referring to, but I wasn’t entertaining her with a response. I think back to the incident two years ago; I was pulled into one of the crew bunk rooms by a very, very pushy chief stewardess. She had kissed me, I didn’t return it back, and she was immediately put on probation and given two options. She could step down, becoming a second stewardess and stay on the boat to finish out the rest of the charters or she could leave immediately. I really didn’t care either way, but I was trying to handle it the best way I thought possible. I knew she was hammered and would wake up vaguely remembering what she had done the night before, but I couldn’t let it be swept under the rug. In the end she chose to leave and then proceeded to tell everyone that we slept together and then I made her leave the yacht. She made sure to tell anyone who would listen, even tried to talk to a lawyer. Little did she know, there were cameras everywhere on the boat, other than the bunk rooms and bathrooms. In other words, we were taped in the hallway right before she grabbed my arm, pulling me into her room. And I think she forgot her roommate was in the bathroom and others were in the galley, which was right outside her room. They heard the entire conversation and knew I was in there for less than a minute, and I can guarantee you, any woman I’m with will have me inside her for a hell of a lot longer than a minute. In the end, after her lawyer came to talk to me, as well as other staff members, he told her she didn’t have a case and she should just drop it.
About seven the next morning, I’m standing in the flybridge, looking over the sheets on our next guests. Whether or not they are friends, they have to fill out preference sheets; this allows us to know exactly what they like to drink, eat, and do for activities. Plus, we will know if they are celebrating anything while on board too. We need to be prepared for anything they may have in mind.
There’s a knock at the door and I’m assuming it’s one of the engineers who works down below, as there’s no way it’s a crew member at this hour. I’m sure I won’t see any of them until right before nine.
I don’t even turn around when I respond to the knock, “Come in.”
Knowing the scent immediately, it causes my body to move all on its own. “Maci.”
“Sir, sorry, I mean, Captain.” I can tell she didn’t do it playfully, as before, but it was a real slipup. She’s still as cute as before when she’s done it.
“I already told you, either name is fine, Maci. No need to apologize. What can I do for you?”
“I was coming first to tell you I’m sorry for last night. We were loud and probably really obnoxious.”
I cut her off to respond to her, “Not you, so you shouldn’t be the one up here right now. Though I will admit you are a beautiful surprise this morning.”
She blushes slightly at my words.
“Brittany was in rare form, that’s for sure. I didn’t know what to do to shut her up.”
“Yes, she was. And I will be having words with her today about it.”
Normally I could care less what someone thinks of my reputation, though with Maci I think I owe her one about what Brittany said last night. I find myself asking her to sit in one of the half-circle benches in the center of the room. I start spilling everything to her. She in turn apologizes for me having to go through that. She’s way too kind to others, especially me. If she only knew I don’t think I’d have the strength to turn her down if she was the one to pull me in a private room. I’d be the one begging for more from her. No one has affected me quite like she has.
“Thank you for explaining it to me, though it wasn’t necessary,” she says, as she starts to slide out from behind the table, “I see how you are with her, how professional you try to keep it, so I had a feeling it was just gossip.”
I stand up, looking down at her I start to speak words I think I need to say, “Please know that I would never cross the line between captain and crew member. It makes for a very sticky situation.”
“Good to know.” Her eyes flicker while she gazes downward.
Lifting her chin, she looks up at me. While our eyes are locked on each other, I speak, “During this charter though, it’s been very difficult at times. I almost welcome a sticky situation.” One that would include her and me in a horizontal position.
“I understand.” Her lashes slowly close again and I want to kiss her. I want to devour her, every inch of her while she’s pressed up against the door. At that point she’d be able to feel how hard she’s also made me.
“Now I’m going to ask you to leave before I say to hell with it and kiss you.” I wasn’t going to admit it, but I need her out of the small space we are in together. The back of my hand grazes the side of her jaw; it’s soft. I have to inhale a deep breath to keep my composure.
“I’m going to leave now.” She starts toward the door when I stop her.
“Maci…”
“Yeah?”
“You said first, so I’m assuming there were two things you came in here for?” I questioned her.
“Oh, yes there was. I wanted to know if you wanted some coffee. I put on a full pot before I came up here and was going to bring you a cup if you wanted it.”
“That would be great, thanks, and a good idea for the rest of the crew. After seeing the shape of everyone last night, I think they are all going to need a cup.”
“A cup or two,” she giggles out as she responds.
I watch her walk out, noticing how great her ass is, covered up or in a barely-there bathing suit.
* * *
“Marie, Marco, and Rob, can I get you all to come to the flybridge to go over provisions?” I announce over the walkie-talkie.
“Absolutely, Captain, I’ll be right there.”
“On my way,” Marie answers.
“Right behind Marie.” And Marco was, as they both walk in at the same time.
As we all settle around the table, we dive into what we need to have this time around for drinks and food, then I instruct Marie to find a Bingo game…a nice one, not the little game you find at Walmart but an actual Bingo game. Tripp informed me that these ladies were the real deal when it came to playing it. I also explain the same thing when it comes to the Scrabble game and a couple decks of cards. I discuss with Marco directly what he should or shouldn’t make. They are old-school ladies, which means no over-the-top fancy meals, but definitely still put on a beautiful display for them. I want them to feel at home and well taken care of all at the same time. I let Marco know Muriel and Bertha would probably sneak into the kitchen to lend a hand with cooking, so he’d have to keep an eye on them. I also warn Marie they may show up in the laundry room too; they are just ladies who love to help. I don’t want them lifting a finger. Tripp really wanted to thank them for all they do at Silver Shores for everyone, especially him. Knowing his cat is being taken care of while he’s away flying commercial airlines is a load off his mind when he’s up in the air, and coming home to incredible home cooked meals in his refrigerator and freezer made by the older ladies, is more than he could ask for. So, he figured this is the least he could do for them.
I then dive into giving them all a heads-up when it comes to Ben and why he may show up to dinner wearing his NYC garbage man jumpsuit. He is a man who did it for over forty years, a
proud man, and it is part of him, so he wears it most of the time. And as for George, I alert them he might be in Carter’s pilot uniform for dinner. Don’t act surprised, just go with it. He likes the attention he gets from the ladies while in it. We all laugh and it reminds me to hide mine.
Then as for Tripp and Kendall. I let them know that Tripp is also known as Carter and also as Captain, and he is a pilot for a large airline company. Carter is his real name but he’s gained some nicknames along the way of his career. I explain about how the two of them met, the roller coaster of a relationship they’ve had while falling in love.
“You all have thirty minutes to be in your whites and on the dock for the greeting of our guests,” I announce over the handheld walkie-talkie.
Everyone responds back to me. I walk out to see the place looking as good as it did on day one of the last charter. It’s what I expect so I’m pleased as I glance around.
I stand first in line as I see six people walking toward us. Marie stands to my left, followed by her team: Ann, Brittany, and Maci. Rob is next and his guys are right behind him: Scott, Derek, and Eric. Brittany and Maci hold a tray with four champagne-filled glasses, while Marie and Ann hold flowered leis.
“Tripp, how the hell are you?” We do the half-hug, handshake thing that guys do all the time.
“I’m hanging in there, Reed. And you?”
“It’s nice to see a friendly face. I’m happy you decided to join us.”
“We are too.” He gestures to the line of people behind him. He introduces everyone to us and I do the same of my crew.
“Damn, girl, you could have given us old ladies a warning about the hotness we’d be seeing. Muriel, can you see these guys, do you need to borrow my glasses?”
“Honey, I got my own. I can see perfectly fine.”
“You all are in trouble with these two.” Kendall laughs out as she addresses the crew.
“This ship isn’t alcohol-free, right? Like there’s alcohol in these glasses right?” Bertha questions the ladies standing in front of her.
“No, not at all, and yes there’s champagne in them,” Brittany responds.
“Oh, thank God above.”
“But that doesn’t mean you should be hitting the sauce as soon as we step on board. Or there’s a chance that either your clothes or you will be overboard.”
“Oh, you hush up. Don’t listen to her, that only happened once…my clothes that is. And it wasn’t my fault.” She waves one of her hands in the air.
“It never is.”
“Exactly.”
Marie leans forward, places a lei around Muriel’s neck, as Ann does the same with Bertha. This only fuels more banter between the two of them. They are hysterical to listen to.
“Look at this, Muriel, we just got laid.”
“This is my first lei.”
“Oh, sweetie, she hasn’t been a virgin in years,” she leans into Marie as she whispers to her, loud enough to let us all hear her. “Don’t let her fool you.”
“Okay, you two. Let’s get you on the boat and settled in a room.” Tripp chuckles at the both of them.
George and Ben are the other two guests, they seem like great older men, and big-time flirts with the ladies. I think the entire crew is going to have their hands full, not only with the guys but with Muriel and Bertha too. Though I believe it’s going to make this charter one that no one will forget.
“Marie will show you all around and then there will be a light snack and beverages at the outside bar area,” I announce to them all as we stand on the back deck.
“Tripp, don’t be a stranger on the flybridge,” I say, giving him a tap on the shoulder before I head up the stairs, it’s time to set sail. He nods in agreement.
Pressing the button on the walkie-talkie I let the deck crew know our next step, “Let’s get everyone in position for our launch.”
Rob calls out orders and everyone announces when they are in their position. Each of them steps up to the plate when needed and follows every rule in yachting. I am extremely pleased; we make it off the dock in record time, with no glitches.
We’ve been sailing for a few hours when there’s a tap on the door. Tripp and Kendall walk in together.
“Much larger cockpit than yours, huh honey?” Kendall giggles out.
“Perky…don’t ever say that.”
“What?” She smirks at his straight face.
“That anyone’s cockpit is larger than mine.”
“Seriously, Carter, you’re like two at times.” She playfully slaps him while smiling.
“That’s nothing to joke about.”
“Lord, you’re ridiculous.” She walks toward the large display of windows in front of us. “Wow, what a view.”
“Want to take the wheel, Tripp?”
“Nope, these hands are holding only two things on this vacation, a drink or her ass…I mean hand.”
I look over and see Kendall roll her eyes, smiling at him before turning back toward the view.
“Understood.”
Another knock comes from the door.
“Come in.”
In walks the one person I can’t keep my eyes off of.
“Sir…I mean, Captain. Can I get any of you a drink while you’re chatting?” The stumble over her words is cute. She can’t help herself, it’s only been a week and as much as she’s been playing around when addressing me; she truly is trying to call me just Captain. I smile at her, letting her know she’s been caught again.
“I’ll take a bottle of water. Carter and Kendall, would you like anything?”
“I’d take a Manhattan,” comes from Carter.
“Oh, make me something fruity. Anything is fine.”
I can see Kendall eyeing us out of the corner of my eye. She looks back and forth as we both try to pull our vision off of each other.
Maci responds to both of them directly before leaving us alone. “No problem, I’ll be right back.”
“Holy shit, I’d say she’s got the hots for you, Captain.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Jesus, the poor girl can barely talk around you.”
Kendall isn’t far off but I think I need to correct her somewhat. “She’s grown up calling her bosses or authority figures, Sir, so it’s hard for her to remember that she only needs to call me Captain.”
“Oh, I’d say you have a thing for her too.” Kendall leans against the wall with her arms crossed as she quizzes me.
Tripp saves me when he says, “You can call me Sir if you want to, Honey.”
“In your dreams, Honey.”
He shrugs. “It was worth a try.” Both of us chuckle while Kendall smiles, shaking her head. Maci walks back in within fifteen minutes, carrying all three drinks. She hands Kendall hers first; it’s a tall pink frozen concoction with an umbrella on top of it.
“This is amazing. What the hell is it?”
“I call it a naughty strawberry mudslide,” she says to Kendall but I catch her looking out of the corner of her eye at me, for only a second.
Hearing her say anything with the word naughty in it makes my dick twitch. She’s beautiful when she does anything, even talk.
“Girl, I need this recipe before I get off this boat. I’ll also need to go on a diet as soon as I get home at the rate I’m going.”
“I feel the same way,” Maci responds.
“I’d say you look okay. I mean the both of you, of course,” I try to recover from my slipup, but I’m sure I didn’t do well with it, as my eyes are only on Maci.
After handing Carter his drink and then me my bottle of water, she excuses herself but not before she hesitates slightly while she slides her hand across the back of the seat she passes.
“If you need anything else, just let me know, I’ll be downstairs in laundry.”
She walks out and the interrogation immediately starts.
“Okay, spill it. What’s the deal with her?” Tripp throws his thumb in her direction.
“W
hat?” Looking over the open water is much easier than looking directly at the set of four eyes drilling into me.
I’m not sure what to say, because let’s face it, I have no clue what the hell is going on with me. I never overstep with crew members, but she has me wanting to change my thought process on it.
“Reed Nichols…you like her.”
“She’s my crew member.”
“She is, but she’s also a woman.”
Kendall definitely isn’t going to let this go. She is all over me to say something. Tripp stands there smirking.
“What the fuck are you smirking at?” I direct to him.
He smiles wide before answering, “I’m just watching. She’s not going to drop this…so you might as well spill it.”
“There’s nothing to say because nothing has happened. We’ve had little moments together, but that’s it. She’s beautiful, so it’s hard not to notice her when she enters a room. But she’s an employee and that’s where she’ll stay. I have rules.”
“You let me know how those rules go in a few days.”
He’s busting my balls about this and I can see he is loving it. The way he’s smiling says it all.
“Those same rules will be just fine.”
“Okay, buddy, whatever you say.”
“Why?” Kendall doesn’t let it go.
“Because they have to be. The minute you sleep with a coworker or employee, things fall apart and it makes things awkward. Plus no one on the boat knows I’m not only the captain, but that I own the company, this very boat, all of them actually and everything that goes with them.”
“First…I agree it could make things a little weird if it doesn’t work out, but what if it turns out to be amazing and she’s the one, the one who rocks your world, your soul mate? Second…what the hell does that matter? Who cares if you own the company, the boat, or whatever?”
“It matters because I don’t want anyone to act any different around me and if I start messing around with her, she’ll find out and then soon the entire crew will know, then I’m no longer just the captain.”
“It’s nothing you have to share as soon as you get together. You could see how things go first, then if you decide to share that with her, it’ll be your decision. But I think you’ll miss out on something that could be amazing. I can tell after only a few minutes with her, she seems like a great gal.”
Sexy Seaman Page 7
