Alan whistled along with the Christmas Carol on the radio as he pulled John’s GTO into the parking lot. The weather was perfect for a drive in a convertible, and he was glad John had offered him the keys before he left for London. He looked up at the condo building that towered above him. A Christmas tree adorned one corner balcony on high and he smiled, certain that was Melissa’s place. A tiny figure dressed in red shorts and a green shirt leaned over the balcony and waved at him as he got out of the car. He waved back and stood for a second, enjoying the look of her bare legs even from twenty seven floors below. He opened the trunk and quickly pulled out his flight bag and the plastic Ron Jon bag that held the new shorts he’d bought as well as a brightly wrapped box to put under Melissa’s tree.
As he approached the lobby the security guard opened the door for him. “Mr. Carter?”
“Yes.”
“Ms. Thompson just called down and said to send you right up.”
“Thank you. I parked the car in one of the visitor’s spots...”
“It’s fine. Ms. Thompson already cleared that. We’ll keep an eye on it for you while you’re away.”
“Thanks,” Alan said. The man had walked him to the elevator and entered his passkey. He stepped inside and punched Melissa’s floor.
“Merry Christmas,” the guard called as the doors closed.
“And to you,” Alan called just in time. He watched the numbers above the door light up in sequence. He knew it was a fast elevator, but this time it seemed interminably slow.
The elevator doors opened and Alan headed to the end of the hallway. The door was cracked open. He pushed the door open and walked in. The room was light and airy as usual, all windows wide open and a gentle breeze blowing through. The Christmas tree was on the terrace just outside the sliding glass doors. Christmas carols played on the stereo and Melissa was kneeling underneath the tree, carefully placing a wrapped box with several other presents. Her back was to the door giving Alan an excellent view of her behind, tightly wrapped in bright red denim shorts.
“Now that’s exactly what I like to see underneath my Christmas tree.” Alan said, setting his bags on the floor.
“ I just finished wrapping your present. I didn’t expect you to get here so fast.”
“Want me to leave and come back?” he teased.
“Not a chance. I didn’t realize you’d be driving the old Goat. You must have been flying.”
“It drives better the faster you go,” Alan said with a shrug. “John said it needed exercise and gave me the keys before he left for London.”
“He must really trust you. Helena told me how silly he got over that car.” She stood and moved across the room to put her arms around him.
“I’m a trustworthy guy.” He put his arms around her waist. Her top was a tiny green t-shirt with palm trees embroidered across the chest. Each palm tree was strung with tiny red Christmas lights. Pink embroidered flamingos stood on one leg between each tree, holding the strings of lights in their beaks. The bottom of the shirt didn’t quite meet the top of her denim shorts, leaving a tantalizing view of bare skin. “You look great.”
“You look pretty good yourself,” she replied leaning forward to kiss him. As usual, a kiss from Melissa was something to stop and savor. Alan’s hands found their way underneath her shirt and moved up her back. She wore no bra, and he rubbed her back as she pressed against him.
There was a tapping on the door that was still unlatched. “Melissa?” an elderly woman’s voice said.
Alan pulled back and stifled a sigh, removing his hands from underneath her shirt. Melissa glanced down at his khaki slacks and stepped discreetly in front of him. Alan placed his hands on her shoulders as she called, “Come on in Mrs. McGurty.”
“I just brought down a bit of my home made divinity for you and your young man.” A tiny lady with silver-blue hair pushed open the door and peered inside.
“Oh, that’s so nice of you,” Melissa took the plate from the woman. “Thank you. Mrs. McGurty, this is Alan Carter,” Melissa introduced him.
Alan squeezed Melissa’s shoulder and leaned forward to shake the woman’s hand. “How do you do?” He said politely, hoping Mel wasn’t planning on inviting her in.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, young man. Melissa has been looking forward to your visit. I’m so glad she’s not going to be spending Christmas alone.”
“I’ve been looking forward to it too,” Alan grinned. Mel would play it cool, but Alan was glad to know she was happy he was here.
“Well, I can’t stay. My son will be here any time to pick me up.”
“Merry Christmas, Mrs. McGurty.”
The tiny lady nodded left. Melissa closed the door, making sure it latched, then quietly closing the dead bolt. She turned and winked at Alan and took his hand and led him to the sofa. She set the plate of candy on the table. “Want a piece?”
“Of what?” Alan asked, pulling her back into his arms.
She laughed.
“And what have you been telling Mrs. McGurty about me?”
“Oh, let’s see, I’ve told her that you like to sail, drink Margaritas, fly, and be blown while you’re sailing.”
“Hey!”
Melissa laughed. Alan pulled her close and kissed her.
“Well, you do,” Melissa said when he moved his lips from her lips to her neck.
“So you told her all about me? Does that mean you missed me?”
“Maybe.”
He tickled her. She giggled. “Take me to bed, flyboy!”
“It’s the middle of the afternoon.”
“And your point is?” He laughed and scooped her into his arms and carried her through the open door into the bedroom. He put her down gently by the side of the bed and she threw back the covers and turned around to him. He kissed her and unfastened her shorts, sliding his hands from bare waist down to now bare hips. Both shorts and panties landed on the floor. Then he moved his hands up, pulling off the little green t-shirt. He paused for a moment and enjoyed the view of her evenly tanned skin. She smiled and unbuttoned his shirt, while he watched her. He shrugged out of the shirt and she unfastened his pants and pulled them down. Then she stepped back and lay down on the bed, inviting him to join her, patting the mattress next to her with her hand. He quickly stepped out of his pants and slipped off shoes and socks.
For a moment he stood above her, he remembering the way she had looked in her mother’s barn at Thanksgiving, laying on the hay, bare and eager for him. He was just as eager for her now as he had been then. He pulled her to him and she melted against him. For a long time neither spoke. They touched and pleasured each other with great intensity. He knew her well enough now to realize she wanted more than just one peak, and she was very capable of coming several times, and inspiring him to greater heights in the process.
He rolled over onto her and entered her quickly. As usual she was more than ready and met his thrusts eagerly. He kissed her lips, cheek, jaw, earlobe, and nuzzled her neck just below the ear as she came.
“Oh, Alan!” She moaned, holding him tightly and clamping down hard on him. He released and moved his hand down to fondle her breast. He rolled off of her, and she turned to face him, allowing him to touch her and stimulate her, arousing himself again in the process. When he seemed to be ready for another round she rolled on top of him and took control. He lay below her, holding her breasts in his hands, squeezing her nipples and watching her reaction. She pushed herself up off of him and then down onto him again with a moan.
“Do that again, Mel,” Alan whispered, loving the feel of her moving against him. She moved onto and off of him, in a silent version of a lap dance, the two of them hearing their own rhythm in their heartbeats. As she began to peak he pulled her down against his chest, kissing her deeply as she moaned through her orgasm, his own peak again blending with hers.
Melissa sighed and settled against him.
“Mmm, I’ll have to tell Santa you’ve been very, very nice.” Alan said.
“Not naughty?”
“Not a bit,” he stroked her hair. “So, where do you want to go for dinner?”
“On Christmas Eve? Most places are closed. I’ve got a quiche ready to go in the oven and a bottle of wine chilling.”
“Sounds great. Do we have time for a walk on the beach first?”
“We have all the time in the world,” she said lazily. They lay together a while longer in relaxed and comfortable silence. But Melissa wasn’t the sort to remain still for long. She rolled off of her side of the bed and headed into the bathroom. He noticed that she didn’t bother to close the door. Alan stood and collected his clothes. He headed out to the living room for his bags so he could put on shorts.
The beach was beautiful, as usual. They walked nearly two miles south along the beach, strolling hand in hand with the water swirling around their ankles. The water was chilly, but the day was warm. As the sun began to set they turned back. Alan poured the wine while Melissa set the table. They sat out on the balcony by the Christmas tree while supper baked and watched the lights of Vero Beach. It was a clear night and the moon was already high in the sky. They played Christmas carols on the stereo and talked about Alan’s upcoming move to Alpha. Melissa seemed a bit amused at his excitement over the promotion but she let him go on and on about it, asking questions and encouraging him to tell her all about what he would be doing.
A kale salad and a chocolate mousse for desert accompanied the quiche. After supper Alan helped her wash the dishes. They moved back to the balcony with a plate of Susan Thompson’s Christmas cookies and large mugs of eggnog. Usually he didn’t care for eggnog, but Melissa’s was smooth and spicy and went well with the delicious cookies.
“Your mom makes fantastic cookies,” Alan said as he finished off the last decorated snowman.
“It’s a tradition. She and her housekeeper Maggie spend days cooking and decorating them. When we were little Helena and I were allowed to help with some of them, and our grandmother let us make a horrendous mess while Mom and Maggie made these incredible works of art.” Melissa examined the angel she was about to eat with golden hair and a silver halo, and even holding a tiny carol book of icing.
“You tell her how much I liked them next time you talk to her.”
“I will.” She gently hit him on the arm as an idea struck her. “You ought to email her and tell her yourself!”
“She has an email address?”
“She bought Dad a computer for Christmas. She told me all about it last weekend. She even had someone come out from Austin and set it all up for them, with internet access and everything.”
“Do you have her email address?”
“Yeah. Horsecrazy at hillcountryonline.net.”
Alan laughed. “Okay. I’ll email her right now. Can I use your computer?”
“Go ahead. I’ll get these dishes washed and slip into something … more… comfortable.” She winked at him.
Alan grinned, knowing he wasn’t about to spend much time online.
He booted up the computer in her living room and telnetted to his own email system with the space program. He glanced at his email and found that he had a message from John. No other new messages were there, but he didn’t expect any because of the holiday. He opened the message and grinned.
“Hey love, come look at this.”
Melissa moved up behind him and put her arms around his neck, leaning over his shoulder to read the message. She gave a short laugh when she came to the sentence telling him to roll over and ask Mel to invite her parents. “Doesn’t he know we have better things to do in bed than email?”
“I wonder if he and Helena do email from bed?” Alan laughed
“Helena was eagerly awaiting his presence in London. I’m surprised she gave him time to send this.”
“She must be asleep,” Alan suggested, looking at the time the message was sent.
“He must have tired her out. Oh well, she hasn’t had much activity in bed lately. She’s out of shape.”
“Naughty girl,” Alan said, reaching back to tickle her. She poked him in the ribs.
“Does John know all about your encounter with my father? I wouldn’t think he’d be all that eager to meet the man.”
“John thought the whole incident was hilarious. And he doesn’t think the same thing will happen to him.”
“You astronauts and your egos! Well, tell him we’ll ask. Damn, I wasn’t planning on enduring my father again for months.”
Alan drew her into his lap. “I’ll be there to protect you. And we’ll get him a hotel room somewhere very far away from my place.”
“Amen to that.” She kissed him quickly and stood up. “I’ll call them in a little bit. Get your email finished quickly flyboy.”
She disappeared into the bedroom and Alan was eager to follow her. He sent a short note to John, then a slightly longer one to Susan, adding her to his address book. He liked Susan and hoped he would hear from her as she learned how to use the Internet. Then he signed off, shut down the computer and headed for the bedroom.
Some time in the middle of the night he woke up. The moon hadn’t set yet and was shining through the open bedroom door. Melissa lay on her side next to him, her lips so close to his shoulder that he could feel her breath. He was amazed at himself, lying here next to her like this. Women had been a hobby of his for years. He liked the excitement of pursuing them, and impressing them, but he didn’t want one to depend on him or get too used to having him around. He generally avoided staying all night with a woman, and particularly bringing one back to his place to spend the night. That might give a girl ideas about setting up housekeeping and tying him down. Besides, he never slept well when sharing a bed with anyone. So why had he flown halfway across the country to spend Christmas with Mel?
She had asked what he was doing for Christmas and suggested they go to the Keys. He hadn’t hesitated, accepting immediately. Perhaps it was because she was so independent it intrigued him. She certainly wasn’t trying to tie him down or own him. And when she had asked him to hold her all night at her parents’ house he had done so quite willingly. He felt more relaxed and comfortable with her than any other woman he had ever been with.
Melissa shifted slightly in her sleep, exposing her bare breast to the air. The nipple tightened quickly, reacting to the cooler air out from under the covers. He reached out and touched her nipple gently with his finger feeling himself growing aroused. She smiled without opening her eyes. “Mmm. Santa? Is that you?”
“Ho, ho, ho,” he murmured into her ear. He pulled her into his arms and she wrapped her legs around him.
“I want you,” she whispered. “Come on inside.”
He accepted her invitation and they made love then slept again until well after the sun was up.
After a breakfast of lox and bagels and coffee they opened the presents under the tree. There was a package addressed to both of them from John and Helena. It contained to brightly colored shirts with tropical flowers and pink ’57 Chevys. John and Helen knew they were going to the Keys and this was their idea of a joke. Melissa put her shirt on over the skimpy negligee she was wearing. She loved it. Alan rather liked his too and knew he would happily wear it this week while Mel wore hers.
Alan unwrapped three presents from Melissa. It was swim fins, a mask and a snorkel. They were all of high quality and the fins were just his size. There was also a present from her mother, a diving watch and a note telling him to be careful when they were diving.
Then he had Mel open his presents to her. The first was a string bikini that he had found at Ron Jon the day before when he was in Cocoa beach. It would look fantastic against her tanned skin and even matched the loud shirt that Helena had sent her. The second was a small blown glass sailboat. It stood about six inches tall, the sails were impossibly thin and a pale azure blue. When she saw the stern she gasped. “It’s the Windseeker!” The name of the boat was spelled in a tiny line of black colored glass. “Where did you get this?”
“There was a glass blower in the mall in Houston. He had several different styles of ships and I just asked him if he could put the name of your boat on the back.”
“Oh, Alan. I love it!” She kissed him and placed the ship on a shelf above her computer.
He got the best reaction from her third present however.
“Alan! It’s a Dive Goddess suit!”
“This one is called Tequilla Sunrise,” he said. “Helena told me to go to www.divegoddess.com, but she didn’t say which one pattern you liked best. I figured I’d be able to find you easily in this.” The lycra suit had diagonal stripes of hot pink, brilliant yellow and bright orange, all flowing together like a spectrum.
“I love it.” She threw her arms around him. “I just showed her that website a couple of weeks ago. Thank you.”
“I hope it fits.”
“I’m going to try it on right now.”
She swept off to the bedroom with both the dive suit and the string bikini, then treated him to a tantalizing private showing. With the bikini and new shirt on she suggested they go for a walk on the beach. Alan quickly agreed. They both liked walking on the beach, and he certainly didn’t mind being seen with such a beautiful woman.
They returned to an apartment filled with the welcoming odor of the turkey breast Melissa had put in the oven at breakfast time. Melissa changed while Alan set the table. They had a very traditional Christmas dinner for two with turkey and the trimmings, acorn squash, cranberries, and pecan pie a la mode. After dinner they went down to the marina to get everything ready for their trip the next day. High tide was at six in the morning, and Melissa wanted to sail with the tide. Alan didn’t mind, astronauts were used to launch windows at odd times, and when on Alpha he worked whatever hours he was needed, without concerning himself with day and night. They checked the fuel in the generator, topped off their water tank and packed their clothes and dive equipment. They would rent tanks in the Keys rather than transport them, but Melissa had rented Alan a regulator from someone she knew in Vero, and she owned her own.
Dark came early and by six they were sitting on the balcony watching the sunset and drinking Margaritas. They turned in early as well, knowing they would be getting an early start.
The sun was still below the horizon, the sky just changing from gray to pink as they sailed out the inlet. Melissa instructed Alan to steer while she rigged the sails. She climbed all over the boat and asked Alan if he was interested in speed. He told her he always liked speed and she tightened the rigging and set a course that would take full advantage of the strong offshore wind. The boat tilted a bit, but since Melissa didn’t appear concerned, Alan didn’t worry either. They cruised south, feeling a slow steady roll over the waves headed inshore. It was a beautiful day for a sail, and Alan applied sunscreen liberally to Melissa, removing the top of her pink bikini to do a thorough job.
She had the wheel, and he started at her back and shoulders, rubbing the creamy lotion into her smooth skin. He moved down her back then began to work around toward her front. She was wearing Raybans and he couldn’t see her eyes, but her smile encouraged him and he worked his hands up from her panty line toward her breasts. He rubbed and caressed her and pressed against her back, kissing her just below the ear. Her nipples were taut underneath his ministrations and he moved his hands down and inside her bathing suit bottom.
“Alan?” she asked with a smile.
“Yes, love?”
“Think it’s time to turn the autopilot on?”
His hands moved her suit off and continued down her thighs. “I think it’s definitely time to turn the autopilot on.”
She leaned back against him, feeling his erection through the thin swimsuit. She reached forward and flipped a switch, then pulled her hands from the wheel and watched the compass and the sails. Alan was much more interested in her body. He continued his actions, nibbling at her neck and running his hands up and down her body. She waited until she was certain that everything was all right, enjoying his attention, but not allowing it to distract her until she was ready. She turned and gave him a deep leisurely kiss and led him to the console.
She opened the compartment below the console and pulled out a large soft towel and spread it across the console. Alan wondered how many other men had been on this boat doing exactly the same thing. Melissa turned and smiled and the thought vanished. She removed his shorts with efficiency and guided him to sit. She climbed quickly onto him and placed her hands on his shoulders. The boat went over the swell and she swayed to keep her balance, brushing her breasts against his chest.
She was wearing nothing but Raybans and he still couldn’t see her eyes. It made her smile look a bit cold, but her body was definitely hot and that’s what attracted his attention. She was slender, but not skinny. Her figure was healthy and well built. Alan had dated models before and they were frequently underweight and unhealthy when examined closely. Melissa reveled in his appreciation of her, and was justifiably proud of her body, whether stylishly clothed or bare, as now.
Alan loved looking at Melissa’s breasts which were large and perky. Melissa wasn’t the type to starve herself. When they were together she ate heartily, but Alan knew that she also exercised vigorously. Their romantic walks on the beach, no matter how long, were no challenge to her. She had told Alan before that she usually ran several miles at sunrise. She also enjoyed surfing and swimming, both energetic sports. The muscles of her thighs were tight and strong. He moved his hands along her thighs from knees to buttocks and back again, enjoying the feeling of smooth skin beneath his hands. She moved closer to him and brushed her lips softly against his. He reached up and pulled up her sunglasses. She smiled and tucked the Raybans on top of her head and leaned forward to kiss him more deeply. During the long drawn out kiss she shifted easily to allow him entry and they made leisurely love to each other.
The autopilot called for attention as they held each other after their lovemaking, and Melissa stood gracefully, picking up her suit bottoms as she headed back to the helm. Alan watched her with a great deal of pleasure.
“Can I help?”
“We need to change course slightly. It’s time to head more to the West. Care to steer for me while I trim the sails?”
“Of course.”
They busied themselves with the boat for a while, the sun was warm and the day was bright. The worked in pleasant concert, re-engaged the autopilot and settled back on the console with a couple of beers. They sailed just off the coast, close enough to see the tall buildings, condos and hotels. They passed Miami Beach around lunch time, enjoying turkey sandwiches and fresh oranges. After lunch they passed into Florida Bay and followed the keys with its long bridge. The wind wasn’t quite as favorable here, but Melissa knew what to do. The water was a brilliant blue around them, and clear. Alan could peer over the edge and watch schools of fish glide beneath the surface.
“Wait until you can be in there with them,” Melissa said with a grin.
A pod of dolphins accompanied them for a while, riding their bow wave. At Melissa’s urging, Alan climbed up to the bow to watch. One dolphin seemed determined to show off for him, diving deep then shooting up into the air and flipping. They appeared so joyous and delighted both Alan and Melissa with their antics.
It was nearly sunset when Melissa pointed out a channel and steered them closer to one of the many islands they were passing. There were no sandy beaches to be seen, instead the bushy looking mangrove trees grew right out into the water, and sometimes it was difficult to tell just where the land started. There was nothing higher than the mangroves on most of the islands. Occasionally there were clumps of palm trees in the center of the island. There had been signs of civilization along the way. The highway, on pylons, connected the islands like a line on a child’s connect-the-dot activity book. There were also houses, most built well off the ground, some no more than shacks, others appearing to be mansions, with piers and expensive boats tied up at the dock. They passed other boats of all sorts, sailboats and power boats, jet boats and windsurfers. They were obviously not the only people wanting a tropical holiday this week.
A canal became evident in the mangroves and they sailed slowly past two small cabins, each with berths for boats, and gently pulled up to the dock of the third cabin. Alan looked up at the small house on stilts. It had a metal roof and a wrap-around deck. The landscaping was lush and tropical. The stairway up to the deck was flanked by large red hibiscus bushes in full flower. At the corner of the house was a clump of banana trees. The ground was covered with struggling grass in white sand, with a wide shell driveway winding its way into the mangroves. Stepping stones led from the dock up to the cabin.
Melissa tied the stern rope to a cleat on the dock, jumped off and headed forward to tie off the bow. Alan went below and pulled out their bags and set them on the dock. Melissa knelt beside the bags and kissed him. “How do you feel about dinner and some dancing?”
“Sounds great. Do we sail there?” Alan wasn’t used to being in the States without a car.
“No, the highway is just over there, near the beach,” she pointed down the gravel road.
“You’re the expert. I’ll follow your lead,” he said. She smiled again and grabbed their bags while he returned to the cabin for the two boxes of food Melissa had packed.
She was already showering by the time he got both boxes up the stairs. He pulled his clothes out of the bag and asked through the open bathroom door, “How fancy is this place?”
He could hear Melissa laugh over the sound of the shower. “This is the Keys, Alan. Fancy means that your flipflops match! There’s a great little beach joint less than a quarter mile from here. Just put on a pair of those shorts and that shirt John and Helena sent you and you’ll fit right in.” She stepped out of the shower and grabbed a towel but left the water running. “Your turn.”
“Thanks.” He stripped down quickly and washed off the layers of salt and sunscreen. Although she was deeply tanned, Melissa was a hearty believer in sunscreen and after the day in the sun and wind he was glad she’d insisted on repeated applications. He had no wish to spend this vacation in pain.
By the time he was out of the shower Melissa was slipping on a pair of sandals with soles about two inches thick. They were clear, with little red studs across the top. She was wearing some kind of dress that looked like a large t-shirt with a wide red belt. It was short, well above her knees, and the neck was wide enough for one bare shoulder to show. As usual, he couldn’t take his eyes off of her.
“Hungry?” he asked.
“Starved.”
“What kind of food do they have there?”
“Seafood mainly. Ever had fried conch?”
“Not that I recall.”
“It’s popular around here. Oysters, of course, and shellfish. And they make this fantastic conch chowder. You’ve got to try it.”
“Sounds great.” Alan slipped on a pullover shirt and shorts and deck shoes and was ready to go himself. “And they have a place to dance?”
“A little dance floor. And usually some local band trying to be the next Jimmy Buffett. But fun can be had.”
Alan put his arm around her and led her from the bedroom. “Miss Thompson, I’ve found that whenever you’re around, fun can be had.”
Melissa laughed and they headed for dinner.
The short walk whetted their appetite but Alan hesitated when they reached the highway and Melissa pointed out the establishment she had in mind. It looked like an old shack, hammered together out of used corrugated metal and old crates. There was a rusty sign out front that wasn’t particularly readable. It was adorned with Christmas lights as was the porch to the building. A half dozen motorcycles were parked out front along with a rental convertible and a purple Dodge Neon. Parked around the side were three rusted out Chevys. Melissa noticed the hesitation and hooked her arm with his. “Come on, you’ll like it.”
The sun had set and the stars were out. Alan could see the water behind the building and a white sandy beach glowing gently in the starlight.
The bikers were sitting at the bar, all wearing well-worn leathers. There was a family of tourists at a table in the back corner. Three young women in short skirts sat together at a table laden with full baskets of fried food and a pitcher of beer. Melissa swept in as if she owned the place. Alan still thought the place was a real dive, but was willing to give it a chance, especially since he was hungry and the alternative would be to go back to the cabin and cook something.
“Mel!” A male voice called from behind the bar. Everyone in the place turned to look at them. The bikers were eyeing Melissa and the young women—probably college students, or office workers from Miami—were eyeing him.
“Jerry! Where are you?”
Melissa took Alan by the hand and pulled him toward the bar. The bikers didn’t really look like the right group to associate with, but Melissa seemed to be interested in them at all.
A tall—very tall—black man stood up behind the bar. He came from behind the bar and picked Melissa up in a bear hug. “Good to see you again! Everything okay at the cabin?”
“Beautiful, as always. Jerry, meet Alan Carter. He sailed down here with me.”
“Mr. Carter,” Jerry set Melissa back down and took Alan’s hand in his huge one. “A pleasure. Welcome to our island paradise.”
“Call me Alan. Nice place you got here.”
“We like it. You here for dinner?”
“And we’re starved,” Melissa said. “How’s your Mama?”
“Bustling around in the kitchen like crazy, and hoping you’ll stop by. I told her you were coming down.”
“I’m going to pop in and give her a hug. Can you set us up with some drinks?”
Jerry nodded and placed his hand on Alan’s shoulder, drawing him toward the bar. He turned to Melissa, “I assume you’ll want your usual table?”
“Could we? Do you mind?”
“Mind that it’s ‘way out there on the deck?”
“It’s such a beautiful night.”
“Go on, we’ll get it set up for you,” Jerry said indulgently. Alan noticed that Jerry had reached out to pat Melissa’s bottom, but stopped himself just before he touched her. Melissa swept into the kitchen, oblivious.
Jerry moved behind the bar, asking Alan what he was drinking while fixing a margarita for Melissa. Alan ordered the same.
The biker next to him looked him over and said, “You ain’t from around here are ya?”
“Not exactly,” Alan said with a grin. He wondered if this was a prelude to some kind of trouble.
“Now Bobby Joe,” Jerry said, handing Alan his drink. “Not one of us is a native here, technically speaking.” He turned to Alan. “That sounds like an Australian accent.”
“That would be right,” Alan noticed that Jerry’s deep baritone held virtually no regional accent.
“Did you meet Melissa there?”
“No, actually, her sister introduced us here in Florida.”
Jerry placed silverware, napkins and Melissa’s drink on a dray and led Alan away from the bar. “Melissa flits around so much, it’s hard to tell where she might meet up with someone.” He motioned Alan to a seat at a table at the edge of the deck. There were a half dozen vinyl tables with four chairs each spread around the small deck that overlooked the beach. Strings of tiny white Christmas lights were wound around the railing and hung from the eaves above them.
Alan sat and Jerry set the table. Melissa joined them moments later. She bounced through the door and put her hand on Alan’s shoulder and her arm around Jerry’s waist.
“Mama J is taking care of fixing supper for us. Jerry, tell me what’s new and who the band is tonight. I’m in the mood to dance.”
“The band is my little brother’s. They’re pretty decent. Wait until you see Rashaad’s dreadlocks. They play a combination of reggae and folk rock.”
“Last time I saw Rashaad, he was still in high school.”
“He formed a band while he was attending the University of Miami. The last two years they’ve been playing various bars around the Carribean. I booked him here for the holidays so he could visit Mama.”
“That’s great!” Melissa moved around to the other side of Alan, trailing her fingers across his shoulders as she moved. She settled into her chair and took a sip of her Margarita. “What else is new?” She crossed her legs, moving her toes down Alan’s calf as she spoke.
“I finally got all the permits to start construction on three more cabins.”
“Excellent! You build ‘em, I’ll book ‘em,” she said with a laugh.
“It’s worked well so far,” Jerry said with a smile. It was obvious to Alan that Jerry was more than fond of Melissa. Jerry turned to Alan. “She’s been my biggest supporter. I probably would have ended up back in Liberty City if not for her.”
“Nonsense,” Melissa said. “You had the brains, and the will to succeed.”
“How did you two meet?” Alan asked.
“We met at the university,” Jerry said. “I was playing pro ball and working on my MBA in the off seasons. She thought I was nothing but an arrogant jock.”
“And you thought I was some airhead bimbo,” Melissa added.
Jerry grinned. “Luckily we were both wrong. Mel encouraged me to invest the money I was making playing football in something I could do when I could no longer play. Once she tasted my mother’s cooking, we both knew I had to open a restaurant. But I wanted to get my mother and my little brothers out of the inner city, and she found this place. By renting out the cabins too, we make a decent living.”
“Good thing you listened to me,” Melissa smiled and leaned forward. “Considering how messed up your knee got. How’s it doing?”
“My knee is much better. I run and swim every day. I don’t want to put it back on the gridiron, but it does me just fine.”
Melissa smiled. “Good.”
A waitress arrived at the table with two bowls of soup and a platter of fried conch. Jerry stood. “You two enjoy your meal. Let me know if you need anything.” He slapped Alan on the shoulder and looked over at the waitress. “Ruby, you take good care of my friends, here.”
“Yes, sir.” The young waitress said with a smile.
Dinner was delicious. The batter on the fried conch was spicy and light. The soup was excellent. Two slabs of blackened grouper followed shortly, it was excellently prepared. The drinks arrived with regularity as well. The band arrived and began to tune up while they ate. Some people arrived, others left, most remained inside. Once they’d eaten, Melissa and Alan returned inside to dance. Any dances they sat out they returned to their table to fresh drinks and fresh air.
Some time after midnight they finished a dance and Melissa melted into his arms, moving her body against his. “Take me to bed, flyboy,” she whispered in his ear.
“I hope you know the way home, love.”
“Come on, I can get you there.” She took his arm and they headed for the door.
Jerry joined them at the door. “Why don’t you let me drive you home?”
Alan grinned. “Now that’s some service.”
“Not one I offer to everyone,” Jerry said as he ushered them out the door. He led them to a four-door Mercedes. Alan and Melissa settled into the back seat together, and Melissa placed her hand against his thigh. Alan put his arm around her.
“You two want to go diving in the morning right?”
“That’s right,” Melissa squeezed Alan’s thigh and ran her toes up his calf.
“What time?”
“How about around ten?”
Melissa pulled something from her small purse and put it in Alan’s hand. It was her panties, and Alan knew he was responding to her not-so-subtle suggestions. Fortunately, the drive was a short one. Jerry pulled up to their cabin. “I’ll have one of the dive boats at your dock at ten, then. And you just need tanks?”
“We have everything else. Thanks Jerry,” Melissa said. She opened the car door and stepped out.
“Thanks for everything, mate,” Alan called.
Jerry nodded, waved and drove off.
Melissa turned to Alan and planted a kiss that emphasized her mood. Alan’s hands moved down to her hips and below her hem-line then back up her bare legs to bare bottom.
“Mmm, I want you,” she said when they came up for air.
“Down here or upstairs?”
“Both,” Melissa said with a laugh.
Alan looked around. There was a swing down by the dock, he led her down there and sat in the swing. She unzipped his shorts and climbed on top of him. He pulled her dress out of the way and entered her quickly. She moaned with pleasure. “Oh, yes, that’s what I want.” The swing creaked and swayed and she moved up and down on him. Alan’s fingers moved to caress her and Melissa moaned louder. She arched her back and Alan could see her nipples tighten through the thin fabric of her dress. She reached her peak with a scream and Alan released. She moved back against him and he held her close, giving another thrust, and her clamping down on him, holding him inside her.
“How about a shower?” Alan asked.
She smiled, her cheek against his shoulder. “What a wonderful idea.” She moved up and off of him slowly, and he caressed her gently before she stood with a sigh.
They headed for the cabin hand-in-hand and without speaking moved up the stairs, through the bedroom into the bathroom and stripped off each other’s clothes. They soaped each other leisurely, and kissed and moved against each other and aroused each other again. Melissa pulled the towels from the rack and they dried each other off and Melissa led him to bed. Alan turned off the light and she welcomed him into her arms with enthusiasm.
Much later, they lay together, Melissa’s head pillowed on his shoulder. Alan knew she wasn’t asleep, even though it had been a long day. She still seemed tense, despite the fact that he knew he had satisfied her and she usually relaxed completely after their lovemaking. There was something about this evening that had upset her, but he didn’t know what it was. He thought back over the day and the evening. He was almost positive that Jerry had once been Melissa’s lover. There was still an attraction between them, and both of them had seemed to be resisting it.
“I like your friend Jerry,” he said softly, wondering if he could get her to talk about it. Wondering if she’d rather be with Jerry than him.
“I thought you would. He’s a terrific guy.” She put her arm across his chest and pressed her body against him.
“You two were pretty close?”
She gave a silent laugh. “Pretty close. I would have married him if he’d asked me.”
“And he never asked you?”
“My skin isn’t the right shade. We could be friends. We could be business associates. We could even be lovers. But he couldn’t marry me.”
Alan didn’t know what to say, and she didn’t seem to be planning to say anything more. He felt a tear on his chest. He’d found another man who had hurt her, forcing her to build another wall around her heart. He stroked her hair and held her tight like he had done at her parents’ place. Her breathing grew more regular and she finally relaxed, asleep.
The next morning, Melissa was up well before Alan. The only sign of her confidences of the night before was the faint smell of cigarette smoke in the air. She had evidently gotten up and smoked on the balcony as the sun rose. She brought coffee and toast to bed for him and settled next to him, already wearing her pink bikini in anticipation of their planned activity for the day. They talked diving and reefs and then she donned her dive goddess suit while he got dressed. He certainly couldn’t lose her on the reef in that outfit. He almost needed shades to look at her.
The pontoon boat arrived promptly at ten and they moved their gear aboard. A teenager with sunbleached hair and raybans was their dive guide. He piloted the boat out to the reef and would remain aboard the boat while Melissa and Alan were in the water. The boy had earphones in his ears and a discman clipped to his trunks and pretty much ignored them, so they returned the favor, busying themselves with their gear on the trip out.
The dive was an incredible experience. The reef teemed with life. There were schools of fish, shellfish, crabs, lobsters, octopus. At one point Melissa grabbed his arm and pointed. About five yards away was a barracuda cruising by looking disagreeable and menacing. Melissa indicated they should swim in a different direction. A loggerhead turtle passed beneath them. It was nearly three feet across. When their time was up they returned to the boat for the sandwiches and iced tea Melissa had packed. Their pilot was still listening to his discman, bouncing slightly to the beat only he could hear as he helped them on board.
They had another set of tanks and headed back out for another dive after lunch. In the evening they returned to the bar for dinner and more dancing. This time they drank a bit less, left a bit earlier, and walked back to their cabin, enjoying the fresh air and the sky full of stars. In bed Melissa peaked quickly welcoming Alan inside her with all her usual eagerness, but both were tired and they also fell asleep quickly.
Melissa was up again at dawn and coaxed Alan out of bed for a run on the beach. They ran nearly two miles as the sun came up, then waded into the water for a swim. Alan pulled her into his arms as they floated together. “I’m going to miss this kind of exercise on Alpha.”
“What kind of exercise it that?” Melissa asked with a laugh, wrapping her legs around him.
He moved his hands up and down her back. “Oh, you know, fresh air, sandy beaches…” He nuzzled her neck, “A beautiful woman in my arms.”
“What? There aren’t any beautiful women on Alpha?”
“Not like you, love.” It was the perfect answer and she rewarded him with a passionate kiss.
They went diving again and made arrangements for their guide to take them to Fort Jefferson the next day. The fort was a U.S. Park occupying an island all its own. Alan volunteered to grill steaks for them that night. They walked over to the highway and bought steaks and potatoes and ice cream for desert at the small grocery. They used the gas grill and relaxed in the swing together while the steaks were cooking. They ate by candle light then sat on the balcony and watched the stars.
All too soon, the thirtieth arrived and they woke up before dawn. They had packed the boat the night before and once they cast off Alan fixed coffee for them in the tiny galley on the boat. They sailed into the sunrise. It was like leaving paradise. Alan stood behind Melissa as she steered and held her close. The winds weren’t quite as favorable and Melissa warned him that they wouldn’t be back to Vero Beach until very late. She asked Alan to take the helm for a while in the morning while she napped. After making lunch she took over from him while he rested.
He only intended to close his eyes for a moment. It had been a marvelous vacation. He hadn’t been diving that much in years. They had eaten good food, drank, danced, made love. He couldn’t think of any better vacation he’d ever had. He hoped they could come back again sometime. He yawned and drifted off to sleep.
The dream was erotic in the extreme. They were on a large float on the ocean, rolling with the waves. He lay on his back in the warm sunshine while Melissa pleasured him. Just as he began to peak he woke up. The late afternoon sun was streaming in the window above him. Melissa knelt between his legs. She had unzipped his shorts while he slept and was indeed pleasuring him. He moved his hand down to her silky blonde hair. “Oh, Mel!” he moaned. He felt her breasts rub against his thighs and he released with a gasp. She pushed herself up, licked her lips and grinned at him. He leaned forward and pulled her into his arms.
“You are incredible,” he told her, kissing her cheek, jawbone and neck.
“You’re pretty good yourself. You were dreaming weren’t you?”
“Dreaming about you.”
She smiled. “It looked like too good a hard-on to waste.”
“Where are we? How long have I been asleep?”
“Oh, you’ve been asleep for a while. We have another four hours or so of sail time. I’ve got the autopilot on.”
He held her close, caressing her, and running his hand through her hair.
“My hair’s a mess. I’m going to need to get it fixed tomorrow before we go to that party. Our flight’s pretty early though, so I won’t have time to go to my usual place. Do you know of a place in Houston where I can go?”
“I go to a barber shop, love. I’m afraid I can’t be much help.”
“Come on now, where do your girlfriends in Houston go?”
“No clue.” He wasn’t very interested in where any of the girls he dated got their hair done. He was much more interested in untying Mel’s bikini top.
“Well, can you call someone up and ask them? Some girl you’re dating who has nice hair.”
He pulled back and looked at her. She was serious. It would never occur to him to call a girl he had dated about another girl he was dating. He wasn’t certain what to say to Melissa. Before he could say anything, he realized he hadn’t even dated anyone else in the last month. He’d been back and forth to the Moon and to Florida, and when he was with Melissa, he certainly wasn’t thinking about anyone else. “I’ll, um… have to think about it.” He decided that he could always call someone at work.
“Okay,” she said with a smile. She willingly shrugged out of her bikini top and encouraged Alan’s attention. “I could call Helena, but I know John wanted me being in Houston to be a surprise. And I want to look nice for you. John said this party is one of those important political things.”
“You’re always a knock-out, love. I’d be proud to be seen with you anywhere, anytime.”
“Even if we have to endure my father this weekend?”
“Even then, but remember, we won’t really be in the hot seat this time. He’s going to be checking out John.”
“True.”
“Mel, this has been a great vacation. Alpha is going to be dull after spending a week with you.”
“Consider it incentive to come back to see me.”
“Believe me, love. You always provide plenty of incentive for coming back to see you.”
Maureen J. Long
December 31, 2000
