I didn’t want to talk. I wanted to show him my appreciation and I wanted to feel his gratitude in return. I wanted to feel just how far that connection would make us go.
My arms wrapped around his waist. I placed my hands on his back and gently stroked the skin that I could reach with my fingertips. I touched my lips to his collar bone then carefully and delicately tasted his skin with the tip of my tongue. I wanted to see if his skin tasted like honeysuckle because there was almost no hint of musk but the wild honeysuckle was pretty potent. Just like everything else, that aroma affected me like a primitive siren call to a would-be lover.
Michael was slow to respond to the frenzy of sensuality coming from me, perhaps due to a “wait and see where this is going” attitude or maybe he was in shock. Actually, probably due to being comfortable with the strength of the connection he was in his own head. It just took a couple of heart beats for him to react physically. When he finally reacted to my summons, he pulled out all the stops. I pulled my hand in front so that I could put my arms around his neck and pull his hair.
Michael put his face in my neck and moaned “Oh God! You smell so damn good. There’s no hope.” He reached down and put an arm behind my knees and lifted me as though I were a baby.
I placed my hands on his face, looked him in the eyes and simply said, “Thank you Michael.”
There was a loud knock on the slider. I thought, ‘Oh my God, I don’t think so!’ I’d found my watch earlier, checking to make sure it still worked and yes, still ticking. It’s only 7 a.m. It was Denice. I knew it.
Michael set me down but held me close without moving for 5 or 6 heart beats. He took the lead and went to answer her knock.
He opened the slider and held up one finger to stop Denice from speaking. He then turned to me, met my eyes to get my full attention.
“Helen, I was going for it. You know that, right?”
Without hesitation I said, “Me, too.”
I made a mental note to address that complete acquiescence we both took part in when the connect current took us past our proprieties and into pure passion and the search for ever better ways of imparting our requited appreciation.
Turning back to Denice, he said, “Good morning Denice. I see you have the Patter.”
He said it with a questioning look in my direction.
“How bout we get to it.”
He pulled me onto the balcony to sit at the table. To our surprise Ma Soeure had brought us some coffee, some lox and bagels, some tomato juice – she knows it’s my favorite, servings of medium-flipped eggs and bacon, and jello – lemon for Michael and cherry for me, her little joke.
Denice smiled and said, “Why don’t you guys eat your breakfast while we see what’s happening aboard ship today?”
“Ma Soeure,” I used my most endearing knick name for her. I know it pleases her.
“This is just lovely. You are just lovely. Thank you so much. I’m starved and need coffee.”
Michael and I sat down to a breakfast feast. We lingered over our meal and sipped coffee for long after.
Denice busied herself with the newsletter and her highlighting. It took us less than 2 minutes to look at the ships activities. Come on, we both knew we weren’t going anywhere.
So, we watched Denice puzzle her way through the ship’s itinerary, giving each item her attention for the briefest second and moving on to the next item. When she actually highlighted something we could see her thought process – she would first show recognition and then consideration and finally pleasure at choosing that particular event, gracing the world with a sweet smile meant only for her.
Her hair hung down long and full and had the bounce of a child’s curls. A striking blue and white flower held her hair back on her right side; it exactly matched the sundress she was wearing. I swelled with pride that that beautiful woman was my sister. Michael was checking her out. I hoped not comparing the two of us. Eventually she looked up to indicate that she was done.
She said, with one finger in the air telling us not to speak but to listen.
“I know after reading the Patter, that nothing on it would remotely interest you save the movie under the stars.”
She paused and took a deep breath.
“I do have a bunch of stuff highlighted again today. I’m feeling rather ashamed I’ve left you so much on this cruise.”
It was my turn to put up my finger and take control of the conversation.
“MaSoeure, say no more – I’ve done only what I’ve wanted to do. I’m the one who is selfish – but it doesn’t matter. I’m fine; I’m quite content. Please go enjoy. Just please keep me posted as I’ll be right here at home base.”
She didn’t look like she was in a hurry so I asked her, “So, what you got goin’ today? You look very nice, by the way.”
She was wearing my lapis lazuli tin cup necklace. It looked stunning against her tan skin.
“You know Hellie, Manny is nearly as easy to be with as you are – we’ve been spending his pennies on the slots, he’s awfully funny. I like being with him, he’s kind and he surprises me when he talks about gentle things – she reached over and touched my jaw.
Michael chimed in, “It’s a come on, you know?”
“Yes I do know, but I’m so pleased he makes the effort. Who wants to spend their vacation or anytime on the sidelines when you can be in the game? Or, you can be like Hellie who has her own game going – I’d never lump her in any group. She is a one of a kind.”
“I love you, too, MaSoeure. What else?”
“He loves to dance and go for long walks in the moon light or in the day light or twilight or dawn. He’s just a walking fool. I’ve kept up with him though and haven’t been tired.”
“What are you talking about; you are fit as fit can be and now you are surprising yourself. How nice is that?”
I continued, “Manny sounds great and you know I’ll like him if he’s making you happy.”
“Hey, what time is it?” she demanded.
“A couple minutes to 9.” I gave her exactly what she needed to know.
“Gotta go – I’m glad to see you’re getting the hang of hanging around and not doing any thing. Are you enjoying everyone else’s confusion?”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah, just go dance with Manny but check in now and again. Be safe.”
We watched her retreat to her cabin and blew us kisses, the first one for Michael and then one for me – she’s such a drama queen – another thing in my life that’s not unpleasant. The two hours we spent with Denice were a treat.
Michael tried to pinch the palm of my hand to get my ear, “She really is a tonic.”
“She’s easy to like, sincere, loving, and happy.”
It’s always good when someone says nice things about the people I love.
Kiss Back
Rising from the breakfast table, I pulled Michael along as I made my way to the rail, our first real chance to greet the new day on the same ocean. The wind blew my hair out behind me, a surprisingly chill wind passed through us – deep into our bones. I stepped closer to Michael as he put his arm around me and stepped that final step into me, igniting our connection and sparking and then blazing with the agony of knowing it couldn’t go anywhere. But, we could comfort each other and filter the inevitable agony through what ever means at our disposal. It didn’t matter, nothing mattered but his arms around me holding me possessively and smelling so delightfully of wild honeysuckle.
Michael whispered in my ear,