With the weather getting warmer and warmer, this time of year always makes my mind turn to thoughts and day dreams of vacations and summer fun. I never was one for the big ship type of travels but I got to thinking about it one day and thought it could be a place where that magic could happen. Maybe it was from watching the Love boat on TV as a kid ? Either way I hope you all have a wonderful summer and enjoy my travel inspired piece of looking for love while touring the world on a very large boat!
Thank you again for taking time to read my works and leaving such wonderful and amazing comments. It is truly humbling and inspiring
Forever Grateful,
The Amoristicpillow
Love at First Cruise
They say that half of romance can be in the ambiance of your surroundings and that magical moments are more apt to happen in a romantic setting than say a more sterile environment. The other half of the romantic quotient is obviously the company you are with. They also say that there is a phenomenon that happens when two perfectly matched souls find each other and from the first look they know. They experience a moment of clarity when everything seems to mesh and the world makes sense and that yearning for completeness is forever put to rest in the blink if an eye. How often that happens I wasn’t sure or if it really happened at all. But part of me wanted to believe in such fancies as love at first sight but so far my experience has been anything but to the contrary. Maybe there was a learning curve or an apprenticeship one had to complete before becoming so successful in the love department. Trying to change my luck I thought a change of venue was in order and that it might improve my chances by spending some time in classically romantic destinations and so I decided to take a well earned vacation. I Picked a popular location, convinced some friends to come along and packed my bags.
And so I found myself sitting in a charming outdoor café in a quaint Tuscan like Village halfway around the globe and I felt like I was in a romantic paradise. Alone. At least my surroundings were charming and evoked daydreams of romantic interludes and possibilities but unfortunately daydreams were the only kind of romantic liaisons I’d been having lately. Recent real life was filled with more mundane encounters and worse, no encounters at all. Being a part of a large cruise ship contingent I quickly noticed my traveling companions fell into a few simple categories. First there were buddies and their numerous female counterparts who where the drunken spring break type of revelers who were apparently trying to drink their way across oceans and continents. Then of course there were the couples that were on first or second honeymoons and seemed oblivious of everything around them as they enjoyed the company of only each other. Last but not least was the geriatric army that was not only numerous but had a powerful lobby with the ships directors on how much fiber and orange juice that was available at the buffet tables.
They roamed the streets in huge slow moving packs once the behemoth of a vessel docked and disgorged its thousands of passengers into the quaint villages. All that was left were the smallest portion of the ships population which were people like myself. We were traveling basically alone and often got lost in amongst the flow of humanity that moved in and out of that huge boat. Pushed along by the human tide like a raft at sea hoping that someday I would be rescued. None the less I was content for now to immerse myself to explore and soak in the flavor of the land. As I was sitting and absorbing in the ambiance of my surroundings I sipped some boldly flavored espresso and people watched over the rim of my tiny cup. Not being fluent in the local language I had to be satisfied with primarily observation as I wasn’t privy to conversational details. As each person or couple strolled by I studied their body language and invented personalities for them which I thought seemed to match their posture and gestures. Most gave a friendly smile in passing which was nice too but with the communication barrier always on my mind I felt alone even in such a friendly place as it was.
I was with a group of friend traveling on a cruise and was in port for a few hours as scheduled and for whatever the reasons were we all went our separate ways in our explorations of the countryside. Some went shopping and some went on guided tours or coordinated activities while I took the path of least resistance and wandered around the town by myself. I still had a while before I had to get back to the ship so here I was people watching and sampling some strong brew and delicate local cookies. All around me were flowing conversations and at best I could catch a word I knew here and there but for the most part it was unrecognizable. Each conversation had its own speed and flow and I tried to imagine what the subject was from the tempo and intensity of the speakers. I watched a couple seem to be having a low key argument and even though I didn’t know the content it was fascinating to watch the verbal duel progress. She was making quick lunging attacks and he casually parried each attack waving his hand in a symbolic defensive gestures. After a while she seemed satisfied that she had given him as much a workout as she thought he deserved because her fiery eyes and attacks quickly changed to a more coy and sensual nature. Although visibly happy she still made him work for her affections and it was quite amusing to watch. When they left she clung to him adoringly and he had a satisfied smile as they walked past and couldn’t help but be thankful I wasn’t in a relationship with a volatile dynamic like that. Then again maybe that was better than what I had which was none at all.
Lately I’ve been thinking about relationships and what I did and didn’t want and people watching just made me wonder how some couples stay together. So many seemed to be at odds with each other usually over such petty things and I couldn’t fathom how they handled important issues or major challenges. There were couples I knew where the relationship was all one sided physically and emotionally. One person did all the work and the other seemed to just be along for the ride. There are some guys I knew that relished and looked forward to the time when they could get away from their girlfriends or spouses and it boggled my mind. In my head I would wonder why they ever got together in the first place or why they stay in the relationship if all they thought about was escaping. All I know is I didn’t want to have to work at being together I wanted to be in a relationship where I couldn’t imagine being apart. I wanted to be trusted and not have to prove my devotion everyday but to give it freely and often and get the same in return. Someone who I wanted to run to not run from.
The woman for me would have to be a good conversationalist as well as someone who I could just as easily sit silently besides and still feel contented. It would be heavenly to fall asleep curled up with someone so perfect and dream of waking to next to her every time I closed my eyes. Never growing tired of or desiring a different dream. Someday, someway, somewhere I would find that special woman that could fill the position of my other half. The only problem I had in filling such a job was sifting through the myriad of unqualified applicants along the way. I came on this cruise with some of my buddies to relax and have some fun. I thought too that perhaps I might meet some nice women who might be traveling my way too and the idea of captive audience on a cruise ship sounded like it might be advantageous. Much to my dismay that boat was filled with mostly those that were either way over my dating age threshold or too young. Another contingent was the right age range but too drunk and wild to consider serious. Dragging home a half unconscious date isn’t my idea of a good time. Call me weird but I’m just fussy that way. There were some very nice local women here that smiled and seemed interested but the language or the culture and ocean proved too large a barrier to a serious relationship so I would politely smile and continue on my way.
Just as I was pondering getting up and walking around to kill the last hour or so I had before I had to get back on the ship an attractive woman walked up to the café and took up residence at a the table next to mine. I wasn’t sure if she was a local or another tourist like me on one of the many ships and tour buses that come through the area but she was pretty, alone and sitting close to me so I thought id hang around just a little bit longer. When she arrived she was a whirlwind of bags ruffled clothes and decidedly limping which I could see was from the lack of a heel but with a few moments of arraigning her bags and some quick primping and preening she regained her composure and perused the small menu looking quite dignified despite the previous ordeal. While she waited for service she dangled a shapely leg crossed over the other and suddenly my surroundings no longer were as interesting as I now drank in this attractive creature before me. Wearing sunglasses that were quite large it was kind of hard to get a full view of her face and perhaps discern what she looked liked or any kind of true emotional state she might be in but on the whole I’d say she was easy on the eyes. She ordered in a mix of practiced Italian and some English which was a dead giveaway as to being a tourist but she was friendly with the waiter without being flirtatious as she made her best effort to cordial. I could see she was friendly and charming without pretensions and it was refreshing to see after so many rude clueless tourists and even some short tempered locals who’ve had their fill of such obnoxious travelers. Perhaps it was the atmosphere of such a romantic setting or the surge of caffeine from the espresso or even a side effect of my earlier musings about romance but now I was highly intrigued and attracted to this lovely creature before me. Creature being the operative word because her sun glasses were fairly large which reminded me of a praying mantis with her long legs thin body and huge eyes. I wondered if the male mantis ever knew that they would be devoured after mating. They probably did but with legs like that I couldn’t blame them for not running away I thought to myself.
Whist I was daydreaming about insects with luscious legs some smooth operating local Romeo swooped in and sat at her table and was moving in on my bug! How rude I thought and I recognized his modus operandi right away. Watching her body English I think she recognized it too. He was neatly dressed and was as smooth as extra virgin olive oil when he spoke and even with his limited command of the English language he was applying the full court press which I’m sure works well on most impressionable travelers. She seemed amused at his advances perhaps flattered as well and I watched for an opening or look of distress where I could zoom in and save the day. At least that’s what I hoped for but this guy was pretty good. I watch somewhat amused by his sales pitch and she seemed to be enjoying the company if not the pursuit itself. I kept and eye and ear out for an opening but he was professionally charming and disarming yet she didn’t seem to be taking any of his bait.
With my coffee gone and my modest tab staring me in the face I felt I had lingered enough and was about time I sauntered back towards the ship so I figured it was time to play my hand all in so to speak. I left enough to cover my tab and tip and as I got up to head back to the port I threw all my chips on the table. I walked up to the beautiful mantis and pointed to my watch and said “hey we better start back to the ship because it sails in about and hour!” I hoped she would catch on and follow my lead and use me and an excuse to leave Romeo behind and as a bonus is my escort all the way back to port.
There was a second of surprise and then instant recognition of my ploy and with a sly smile she said of course and started to wave for her check and quickly wrap things up with Romeo. He looked somewhat stunned and watched open mouth as I stole the girl right out from under him. She shook his hand goodbye and he kissed her knuckles to show he wasn’t a sore loser and just like that I was walking back to port with the beautiful mantis. Of course she was limping quite a bit with only one heel so I offered to carry some of her packages and suggested we go barefoot and follow the grassy shoulder as far as we could back to the piers. While removing out shoes I found out that we were headed to the same pier and in fact the same ship so I could walk her all the way home and I relished the chance. She removed her sunglasses while we took off our shoes and I thought her smiling face so beautiful it was stunned for a few moments. She held my arm for balance for a moment while she took off her shoes and it gave me a second to recover my wits. She did give me thanks for getting her out of the café encounter and that although she was quite flattered by the interest and enjoyed the pursuit she was grateful for the easy exit. While adjusted our footwear and balancing packages I got a chance to see her without the big dark glasses on and up close her eyes were gorgeous. She had a strength to her gaze that made her seem much wiser than her apparent age and her eyes smiled when she did making her entire face simply beam. She as captivating in her appearance and the personality seemed equally as engaging. In my head I was thinking that it was going to take us about and hour to walk back to the ship. I had sixty minutes to get to know this intriguing creature, I though to myself. Time to see if I wanted to continue this dialogue on the ship or cast off at the gangway kissing her hand and make a hasty exit into obscurity.
After five minutes I knew I wanted to keep in contact once we got back on the ship and after ten I hoped she would meet me for dinner. Conversation flowed in a steady stream and not once that whole hour did we have a seconds worth of awkward silence. I made her laugh and she not only got my humor but she made me laugh too. It was a funny feeling to make such a fun and interesting connection someone who was basically a perfect stranger. Although we had never met it was as if we were on this magic mental wavelength. I would mention one thing and she would know about it or the answer to my question or even complete my sentence occasionally. There were a few times we said the same thing at the same time followed but a quick duet of great minds think alike before laughing together. The more we conversed the more I enjoyed her company and the more I hoped to see her again once we reached the ship. I decided to mention food in hopes of steering the conversation towards dinner giving myself a chance to ask her to dine with me later. It was as if she could read my thoughts because as soon as I even mentioned eating she asked me if I’ve had dinner in the grand dining hall to which I said I haven’t. Excitedly she suggested we go there tonight as she’s hasn’t gone yet either because she didn’t want to go alone. As quick as that not only did I have a date for tonight but we were going to the most romantic place on the ship as well. This was turning out to be a very special day indeed.
There was magic in the air between us while we walked and it was almost tangible. Ill never forget that hour hike back to the ship. The ambiance of the Tuscan village, her sweet perfume tickling my nose and connecting with this beautiful charming woman made a memory to last forever. I had come on this cruise with a few buddies of mine who swore it was the best way to meet women. But so far it had been a disaster with the ships night life consisting of the drunk the desperate and the socially mal adapted with varying combinations of all three. If it wasn’t for the spectacular sights of the countryside and the pleasant locals I’d be having one miserable expensive time. But now almost a week into my excursion and felt I finally met someone special. As we made out way barefoot through the quaint seaside town my attraction for her was getting stronger and stronger. She put me totally at ease and we conversed like we were old friends and I enjoyed every second of our stroll.
The sun was painting the landscape with its golden orange wash and we could smell the salt air and felt wrapped up in the slow pulse of this romantic little town. Part of me was so excited about going to dinner with her that I wanted to run to the ship and head straight to the ballroom but a bigger part wished we could have walked for hours enjoying the ambiance and each others company. Almost on schedule we turned a corner and towards the entrance to the docks and the landscape took on a more commercial aspect. She stopped and turned to me abruptly right at the edge of tarmac and I almost knocked her over.
I think she was trying to keep our bare feet in touch with the old cobblestone pavers not wanting to lose contact with the old world just yet. I think we were both hesitant to leave the old for the new lest this magical aura not follow up aboard the ship. Standing so close as we prepared to step back into the modern world I thought I should have just kissed her. It would have be so easy to reach out and hold her while our bodies and faces were so close. My lips could have softly landed on hers and the magic would surely have continued then. But the moment and opportunity passed so fast and I had to make a snap decision and I thought it best to wait. Part of it was I was captivated by her beauty and refreshing candor and didn’t want to ruin my chances by being so forward so soon. Looking into her eyes for those fleeting moments I felt myself flush with excitement and I hoped I would get many more opportunities to gaze into those intense orbs so intimately close for a long, long time. I’m not sure how long we would have stood there just standing close before we would have made a move own out own but the ship let out a blast from its air horn and a voice over the P.A. called out for final boarding check. Securely clutching all the packages and shoes we quickly headed back onto the big boat. She held my hand as we ran up the ramp trying to beat the throngs pouring out of the port shops and restaurants. At the top we presented our boarding passes and amidst a sea of returning tourists we waved goodbye as we were shoved in different directions by the mass of humanity flowing back into the ship. When I gave her back her bags she did manage to give me her room number and said seven o’clock as the time I should pick her up before we got separated and then lost her in the tide of people flowing up the gangway.
I soon found myself trying to get dressed for dinner and I had no idea how formal I should outfit myself. A tux was right out especially since I didn’t have one but so was wearing a bathing suit so I had to find a reasonable middle ground. I wanted to impress but not over dress and of course everything I owned was wrinkled from living out of a suitcase for a week. I let the steam from the shower help with the wrinkle factor and after a quick shave I felt like a brand new penny. Slightly wrinkled. I decided to wear a nice pair of slacks with a contrasting dress shirt and I carried a sport jacket over my arm just in case I needed to kick it up a notch. With a final mirror check and a small pat of musky cologne on my face I headed off to find her room and take my new found romantic interest to dinner in the grand dining room. I found her cabin without too much difficulty and noticed I was five minutes early so I paced the hall pretending to be doing something with my cell phone killing those last few long minutes. A few seconds past seven I knocked on her door and heard her familiar voice sing out and ask “who is it?” Speaking into the seam of the door I said “it’s your chauffer madam I’m here to collect you and take you to the Ball.” With amusement in her voice she said “just a second!” And I heard a cacophony of clunking noises as if drawers were being open and shut amidst a whirlwind of activity. Eventually she opened the door and was just installing a second earring. She seemed a tad breathless but none the less she looked absolutely stunning.
I was able shake off the hypnotic spell she cast on me to tell her she looked fabulous and managed not to ogle or drool and she kissed me on the cheek hello and said I looked great too. Our faces hung precariously close for a few long moments as we both seemed to stare into each others eyes. In a soft voice I told her that I had made reservations for us for eight. “Perfect” she said barely above a Whisper. “If we walked up and around the sea side of the ship we could catch the sunset on out way to the dining room too “she added. “Perfect” I whispered back and I thought to offer her my arm but she was already holding on. Earlier we had walked and chatted for over an hour without a single awkward moment and all of a sudden I found words hard to come by. My body on the other hand was screaming for me to grab her and kiss her. Long and strong with my whole body to let her know exactly how good I was feeling inside. Unfortunately some people walked by engaged in loud conversation and since the door was still open it broke that trace we had been in. “ Curses! Foiled again!” I said to myself.
She grabbed her purse and we both composed ourselves before we started off for the ships outer deck. We walked out in much the same way as we walked back to the ship earlier except this time her arm was tightly tucked through mine. Our bodies were hip to hip as we strolled along the rail in matched step and stopped midway on the ship to watch the sun melt into the sea.
It was turning the sky into a blaze of colors from pink to purple to deep dark blues. The whole show was perfectly framed by the gorgeous hilly countryside which sloped to meet the waters edge perfectly framing the harbor in our huge field of view. She rested her head on my shoulder as we watched nature’s grand epic and I put my arm around her to keep her warm and to share the spectacle as close together as possible. She snuggled up to me as we watched the sun say good bye for the day in grand style. In a few minutes it was all over and the rich pastels in the sky were rapidly fading to the deepest dark blues with the black night sky not far behind. When she turned and looked up at me I could hold back no more and moved in for a kiss that I hoped would be as sweet as that sunset. I wasn’t disappointed. Just before I made my move her eyes bore into me and there was no doubt that her face said kiss me and I obediently obliged. Her eyes closed just as my face drew near and my body felt like I was slowly sliding into a warm bath. Waves of warmth enveloped my body heating me to the core and my chest beat hard and strong. When our mouths sweetly merged together it was both exciting and emotional as so many feelings surged through us both. Nothing else existed for us while we were connected so delicately at the lips. It was as if we pulled the ethereal curtain aside and spent a few glorious moments slow dancing in heaven.
She kissed divinely and it felt from her heart. Soft and tender yet explorative and hungry. We kissed as if we’ve kissed each many times before and she felt perfect in my arms. All I could think about was how much I missed this intimate contact and how happy I was that she was the one to break my dry spell. As I kissed her with more and more passion I felt her body go limp and she trusted my arms to keep her from slipping to the floor. Like holding a newborn I cradled her in my arms while we connected wordlessly with our mouths. She laid her head on my chest and half hugged me and half held on till her legs felt more stable. Just then the breeze kicked up and I felt her shiver so wrapped my jacket around her and I mentioned we should heading to dinner which she heartily agreed. This time we walked arm in arm and as we passed countless passengers along the way and I had this giddy urge to tell them all that she kissed me. She kissed me! I was still in shock from the kissing on the deck and wasn’t until I heard the music inside the dining hall before I shook off the auto pilot and swept her out onto the hardwood floor. I felt like I was dancing with a magical fairy with the way her hair and dress were softly flowing as we spun and swayed to the music. My body ached for her touch every time I had to let her go to pirouette or spin and I savored every second of the slow numbers where I could press her back into me. She felt wonderful in my arms and I held her as close as I could as often as I could if only to get more of those amazing kisses. Which of course she willfully obliged. On stage a man is a tux started singing Lady in Red and I never really noticed that song before but its sentiments were spot on tonight. It was as if he was singing just for us. I could hardly believe this beautiful woman was dancing with me. She did take my breath away and I felt like the luckiest man on the ship. When the music stopped I was reluctant to move at first but when the band started to leave for their first break she asked if we could get a drink so off to the bar we went.
With a glass of red in our hands we got ourselves seated at a nice table off the main traffic routes for the wait staff and potential dance floor participants. We sat on the same side of our table to get a view of the dance floor and the band but mostly it was to sit closer. It’s a lot easier to steal a kiss or give soft touch on a whim that way. The room was a buzz of activity as diners came and went all night and the service and food was first class. It was kind of like being at a wedding reception without the wedding. The music was first rate and our dinners were superb. The table was candle lit and intimately romantic but it was my company that was best of all. I had thought her quite attractive the first time I saw her but now after a few glasses of liquid red courage I felt my inhibitions relax and a warmth grow through out my body that I doubt was all due to the wine. Feeling bolder I let my eyes drink her in more and more and I noticed her doing the same. In between courses we would return to the dance floor to enjoy most of the slow numbers. Slow dancing afforded us to get much closer physically that we would otherwise and that intimate contact was turning my infatuation with her into something much deeper and stronger and I was loving every second. I have been on my own for a while and now with her in my arms I realized how much I missed the touch of another. I realized how much I needed to be touched and held with the same grateful passion with which I enveloped her body into mine. I would feel pangs of withdrawal every time the music stopped and I had to let her go. Fortunately the band played mostly slower tunes and my growing addiction to her presence was sated more often then not. I didn’t know what would happen to us throughout this magical evening but I do know I didn’t want it to end.
After dinner she scooted even closer to me and I put my arm around her as we watched some of the dancers out on the floor and all I could really think about was how good she felt next to me. When she reached down and put her hand on my knee the electricity was palpable. After that I switched to drinking club soda lest the alcohol fog such wonderful sensations. I felt her hand slide over my inner thigh and she tucked her fingers under the back of my knee and I in turn slid my hand down her back and around her hip. With that luscious fleshy curve in the palm of my hand I pulled her even closer to me and kissed her again and again till the coffee and dessert arrived. We ordered a decadent dessert to share and a simple plate of some cake, ice cream and chocolate lived up to its sensual reputation. I felt somewhat like a voyeur watching her have an almost erotic experience from each delicious spoonful. It wasn’t hard to imagine her sounds of culinary happiness were not much different from her sounds of pleasure. Watching her lips work the spoon and the pleasures on her face had my imagination running wild. The band started another round of slow numbers and we headed back out for some more public displays of affection and full body contact. The only problem with a good idea like that is it catches on fast and in minutes the dance floor was pack with slow swaying couples. Good for business but tough for trying to dance. With slow tight swaying circles we danced and tried not to bump into anyone. Being it was so crowded I was able to hold her even closer and I could feel her body match my form as she clung to me. I clung onto her just as strong and as passionate. I kissed her shoulder and then all the way up her neck stopping at her ear to whisper an invitation to go somewhere a little more private. With a smile on her face like a Cheshire cat she held my arm and said lead the way.
I walked us back out the way we came and as we strolled back along the outer deck we could see the sky was full of stars. In the shape of the hills we saw earlier the lights of homes twinkled in clusters not unlike the stars above. It was as if the stars were resting before taking flight back up into the heavens. With the hour growing late the deck was mostly deserted and dimly lit with just essential lighting emitting an ethereal glow giving us the impression that we were strolling along a tributary of the Milky Way. It did feel as if there was a heavenly aura in the air as has the entire evening and this warm sensual creature in my arms had to be an angel. I wasn’t sure what would happen next but my body and heart didn’t wanted more and more. When we came to the hallway that lead back to her cabin and we would have to head back into the bulk of the ship and I swung us wide to the rail to get at least one more good kiss in. she leaned her back on the rail and my body engulfed hers and we kissed as lovers do, tender passionate and rapturous beneath a sea of twinkling stars. Our mouths melted together and our tongues and lips danced a tango as intricate as any we saw on the dance floor tonight. She kissed me with a passion and desire that equaled mine and it stoked a fire in me that had been dormant for far too long. With her kisses she awoke in me a part of myself I had been neglecting and denying and afraid to face. Now I felt unleashed and I wanted to escalate out intimacy as far as it could go be it just one evening or I dared to dream, for as many nights as I could live. I felt like I could never tire of our intimate explorations of each other or out time spent in these all too brief amorous moments in heaven. My hands caressed her body and hers roamed mine adding another level of intensity to our already boiling passions. When a passing couple walked by it broke our trance and we giggled and smiled at each other and I said “I’m all for public displays of affection but I think were making some people jealous.” I said I would escort her back to her cabin where I hoped to she would invite me in to resume our slow dance of exploration in a more private setting.
She took the most direct route back to her cabin that cut through the service hallways which I presume were darkened for the later parts of the night to conserve energy. With the cover of darkness giving me courage I decided to push the envelope and let loose the desires that have been blossoming since the moment I first saw her. With her leading the way I could view her figure from behind as it glided along and the curves and lines of her body tantalized me like nothing else before. I wanted to hold and touch that body so fiercely I thought I might explode from the anticipation. All night I had been in physical contact with her but now I wanted to handle her not in the casual way or even in the more intimate levels as I have done so far. Now I wanted to touch her in a deeper sensual and erotic way. I wanted to caress and explore her like I was creating a work of art. A sensual masterpiece of love and affection straight from my hands to her body. Stopping at her cabin door in the dimly lit and deserted corridor I got my chance. While she fumbled for the key I put my hand in the small of her back and used my body to move her back up against the wall where I could work on my living canvas. I smiled a soft and sexy smile while looking deeply into her eyes and they blazed and smiled back at me. When I went to kiss her she tilted her head closed her eyes and took me in with her lips arms and body.
I began to touch and explore her body like a craftsman working with his favorite medium would. For some it might be wood or clay or plaster but tonight the female form was my medium of choice. I derived immense pleasure from giving it energy through my mouth and molding it with my hands. She purred like a kitten letting me know my touch was not only welcomed but greatly appreciated too. The fabric of the dress and her soft cool skin drove me wild as my hands explored and roamed her silky exterior and I felt like I was touching the third rail with amount of electricity flowing between us. Inside it felt like my body was humming with high voltage. Surging and pulsing with power from every new sensation my finger tips experienced. I could feel her hands on me moving with the same thrilling intensity that propelled mine. We explored each other more and more in depth and since our mouths were deeply entangled it added even more energy to the equation. Megawatts were being produced deep within up and were being transmitted throughout our bodies and out to our roaming hands. At first I caressed her arms and hips and outer thighs while she roamed my arms and chest but quickly the touching escalated to more erogenous zones. I cupped her breasts in my hands and gently squeezed and massaged them in my warm hands. They were firm and soft and felt amazing in my hands and she gave me sweet whimpers of pleasure when I touched them so. I felt her hands trail down my torso and touch me gently across my lap feeling my hardening contours through the soft material of my pants. Sliding her hands around to my cheeks she grabbed handfuls of meat and fabric as she pulled me into her grinding us tighter together and back more up against the wall.
I encircled my arm around her waist and pressed my body into hers as she pulled me in and I caressed her inner thighs and slide my hand up higher and higher. When I touched her mound of pleasure she gasped and I felt her sag into my arms momentarily. Regaining her composure she came back for kisses and now there was a hunger in her lips and a passion in her touch that I felt was as intense as my own. Had we not been interrupted by a member of the band walking down the hall I would have consummated our relationship right there in the darkness up against the wall. Thwarted for the moment I wasn’t going to be derailed that easily so we headed into her cabin. Slightly red in the face from being embarrassed and half from being so worked up it felt like we were in a sauna. Grabbing the door first I realized I didn’t have the key but one of the perks of being with a smart woman is she is always on top of things and already had the key in hand. While I closed the door I also adeptly hung the do not disturb sign in one swift motion, She tossed her key and small bag softy on the bureau and met me right as I turned back around. We picked up right were we left off with sweet intimate and sensual kissing and energetic caressing. This time with some privacy. There were white blue beams of moonlight that softly illuminated the room through the cabin’s window to guide us in the dark. I stole a peek as she kissed me and I saw her eyes were closed but slightly a flutter. While I kissed her my eyes became acclimated to that unearthly light and her face was even more beautiful with its features bathed by the soft glow of the moon.
In times like this one would think that the mind would lose control to the body and pleasure would be the driving force behind everything I would do. But here in the dark I found my emotional self equally awake and it was mingling emotions with every sensation I was feeling. I felt raw sexual energy combining with those strong feelings of attraction I was having for her. I’ve never felt like this before I thought and it was both an incredible and yet scary feeling. My body desired her in every sense of the carnal but my heart ad its own agenda as it was falling in love at the same time. Half of my essence wanted to take pleasure in her body and the other half wanted to hold her tightly against me and never let go. I hoped she could sense it in my kisses and from way I touched and held her tight. I swear I could feel the same loving energy emanating from her and the more we kissed the more I became lost in the moment. The more I became lost in her. We kissed until we were breathless. We explored the nooks and crannies and the graceful curves to our skins. We touched and titillated every erogenous spot we could reach while still standing just inside the closed door. Her soft yet strong hand rubbed my chest inside my shirt and that was just as exciting as feeling the silky skin on her thighs and rear as my fingers explored beneath her dress. I nuzzled her neck and breasts inhaling her sweet perfume and it was euphoric. I slipped the straps of her dress off her shoulders as she unbuttoned the rest of my shirt while we tried not to lose contact with out lips.
This was too good to be true I thought and as I watched her fabulous figure slink out of her dress. It felt so surreal I knew I had to be dreaming and I prayed no one would ever wake me. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would be in this kind of a situation. I thought I might interact with a few women perhaps flirt and enjoy some company at the bar or dance floor. Never did I imagine something like this would ever happen to me let alone on a ship on a vacation in a far off land. Maybe there was something to these romantic towns after all. Some kind of magical attraction that brought like souls together in their search for a perfect partner. The magic was subtle yet once the fuse was lit the explosion to follow would last forever.
She draped her dress across a chair next to the bed and I, well, I threw my pants off to the side in the dark somewhere. Standing next to the bed we helped each other out of our remaining garments and this time when we kissed we both reached out for those parts previously covered by fabric. If there was any cooling off of our passion whilst we disrobed it was quickly reignited and fanned into a raging inferno as we continued our tango in the raw. Like slow dancing earlier we were pressed close and swayed to the music of our purrs of pleasure. To finish our little intimate dance I leaned her back and dipped her with a kiss trailing over her chin and down her neck and chest while laying her gently on the bed with my body following closely behind.
Laying there next to her on the bed with the layers of clothes removed was incredible. Every inch of me felt her warm soft presence as we entangled and caressed with our arms and legs as well as our mouths. I could feel powerful urges rushing through me yet I didn’t feel the urgency to rush and bring about the sweet relief such physical contact usually culminates in. I was content for the moment to just explore her body and to feel her nakedness entwined with mine and it was a Tantric like experience. Her kisses were much more intense and moving when I held her warm naked body against mine and every place her soft delicate hands touched me my skin tingled like it never has before. There is a sensation when you glide your hand over the fine lines of a freshly waxed car or a well made piece of furniture that feels somewhat sensual and pleasurable as you appreciate the workmanship through your finger tips. Now when I slid my hands over her silky body it was a similar sensual feeling but a thousand times more intense and erotic. Caressing her was mesmerizing and electrical and kicked my passion up another notch with every new soft erogenous place I explored. I left no spot unvisited from the underside of her wrist to the nooks behind the knees. She purred like a kitten for me and I purred right back in my own deep throaty tones. Sometimes it was into her ear and sometimes right through my lips into hers as we braided our tongues over and over. When she moaned at my touch I understood the allure of the song of the sirens of the sea that took so many sailors of legend and all I could think of was how wonderful it was going to be to crash upon her shores.
Slowly and steadily our hands circled in closer to more and more highly sensitive areas and it fueled our passionate purring and the intensity of our kissing. Her breasts felt perfect in my hands and I could feel them stiffen from my touch and caress. I teased and kneaded them and let them feel the warmth of my hands. My fingers tugged them and squeezed them with varying pressures from soft to firm sometimes full handfuls and sometimes just fingertips on her nipples. She tickled and tugged on mine too and it telegraphed tingles straight to my loins. I nuzzled and kissed her neck from the ear down to her shoulder and continued on down her chest on my way to fulfilling my intense desire to have those perky orbs in my mouth. I kissed my way down her cleavage and divided my attention between each delicious breast softly suckling each and never letting one go too long without attention. I would suckle a bit then take it away from my lips and blew on the nipple evaporating my salvia making it cool and tingling. I would get an extra special moan when my warm mouth would take it back in. She gently held onto my head and ran her fingers through my thick hair while I made love to her body and soul.
While I indulged her chest for a while I felt her reach down and grab my firm self. She squeezed and caressed my throbbing appendage till I felt like steel and it drove me mad with pleasure. Like dance partners we moved as if we knew each others steps and were always ready for the next move and in synch every step of the way. I climbed atop her and she accepted my lead and opened like a blooming flower. Luring me close with her sweet pheromones and willfully offering up her nectar for me to drink my fill. Her legs and arms welcomed my body in close to hers and she kissed me with the same hunger I felt inside. I ground my harness on her mound and she whimpered for more urging me on with her song of wanting.
Lifting my hips I let my tip caress its way down in search of its ultimate goal and her hand slipped between us to help guide me in. She teased me at her opening taking time to swirl my head in her flowing liquid passion. Her body trembled as I slowly entered and the first long deep plunge felt heavenly. My head and shaft were at a peak of sensitivity and the warm wet sensation of me melting into her resonated tingles throughout my body and I felt the ripples echo in return from our epi-centric intimate connection.
Those few minutes were an amazing euphoric wrestling match as we found our rhythm and continued our dance horizontally atop the bedding. My arms held her tight or were under her hips to pull her ever closer. Her nails raked my back and caressed my muscular frame while her legs surrounded me and helped me thrust and grind to our own special beat. When she breathlessly told me she was peaking I was already there to meet her at the edge and together we fell of the precipice into nirvana. For a few glorious moments time did not exist nor did we as individuals. For those fleeting moments we were one thrashing explosive being. Fused together at the hips lips and soul. We shook and shuddered with the throws of a tumultuous orgasmic tidal wave. No longer under our own guidance we were like a ship lost at sea. Totally at the mercy of the currents and tides to bring us home. All we could do was hold on tight. What seemed like forever and yet no where near long enough we could feel our journey on the sea of pleasure was coming to an end. The sands of the shores of reality were surfacing beneath us. We were slowly becoming aware of things like gravity and the sensation of coming to ones senses as the echoes and remnants of the tidal wave were still reverberating throughout our bodies. Had we had to get up and walk right now the task would probably escape us. The passion was finally sated inside me yet not the desire to kiss her and I kissed her with the same fervor I’ve had all evening. With out bodies still interlocked we kissed for a long while after savoring the memory not only in our minds but enjoying the memory of the bodies experience as well.
She fell asleep in my arms and I didn’t have the heart to wake her so I slept entangled with her for as long as I could. There was so much I wanted to ask her so much to tell her about how wonderful I thought she was and how she made me feel that I had trouble falling asleep. But it would all have to wait till morning. With dreamy visions of what had transpired throughout today still reeling in my head I started to anticipate the morning and hadn’t felt this excited about waking up since the days when I believed in Santa Claus. In the morning when I woke I had a few panicked moments as I wasn’t sure if it was all just a dream. Using my one awake eye I quickly realized I wasn’t in Kansas anymore. At least not the tiny cabin I had been crammed into for the last few days. The warm sleeping beauty next to me reassured me that in fact that yes I had died and gone to heaven. She was beauty sleeping and looked angelic wound up in the covers. The light of day proved her just as pretty as she was the night before. I kissed her forehead when I got up from bed and she managed to awaken just enough to acknowledge me with a sleepy purr of happiness.
I ordered some breakfast and then washed up while she slept some more and if I had not cared about waking her I would have been singing I was so happy. While I was in the shower room service arrived much faster than I thought they would and I guess that now I didn’t have to wake her since the knock on the door took care of that for me. She was pleasant and cheerful in the morning but not overly so which was fantastic. No matter how much I liked her if she was super perky in the morning I might have had to make a quick escape. Breakfast was great I ordered several things from eggs to pancakes to bagels not knowing which would be her preference and she laughed at the grand buffet before us. While the sun did its work and warmed up the world outside we broke our fast in her quaint little cabin. She grabbed my dress shirt off the floor and wrapped herself in it and looked adorable with her wild morning hair sleepy eyes and wrapped over flowingly with my shirt. She was delighted with the breakfast idea too and said she was grateful and starving which I thought was unfortunate because despite being hungry myself she looked so delicious half naked wearing my shirt that id rather have had her for the start of my day.
While we ate we talked and enjoyed each others company and it felt so natural that it was as if we have always woken up next to each other. It was amazing how well we meshed together mentally as well as physically. Especially considering how short a time we knew each other. I was never a believer in love at first sight but I was starting to wonder just exactly what was going on here. I had three more days on this boat with her to figure it all out before I had to fly home. I knew she lived not too far from where I lived so reconnecting after this trip was not going to be a hardship and we had already made plans to meet when we got back home. By then I was hoping to figure out if this was too good to be true or if something magical was really happening. The next three days were some of the best days of my life as we explored quaint villages and sea side towns by day and each other by night. We were inseparable and explored the world hand in hand, arm in arm or hip to hip only parting when we had to.
Before I met her I viewed the world in a much less colorful light. Love and romance were things that only happened in the movies. I thought real life was much more mundane and matter of fact. I had always appreciated a good love story but to me it was always that a story. A fable to keep people dreaming of something better even though it was inevitable that they would never see that kind of a dream. I had been adrift on a sea void of color and beauty but now she was having quite the effect on me and the world never looked better. I no longer saw just a hill side or a row of houses or the simple end of a day. Through her eyes they were now picturesque landscapes charming villages and spectacular sunsets. She saw beauty in everything and it was inspiring. Her friendly personality was charming and her compassionate soul was endearing. Knowing her in the physical sense also changed forever the way I viewed intimacy too. At one time I thought it just an act of mutual self gratification but now I knew it for the art form it really was. It was the art of making love and we immersed ourselves in our passionate craft as often as we could. I derived immense pleasure from her body and equally as much giving that pleasure in return. Nightly our symbiotic relationship created masterpieces of love and affection.
The hardest thing I’ve ever had to do was to leave her on the ship and fly back home as she was booked for another week after my trip was done. Not that I was afraid of local Lotharios moving in on my girl but more to avoid the ache of emptiness in my chest I felt when she wasn’t there. I promised to pick her up at the airport when she returned and it helped a little to think we would take up right where we left off the moment she returned. I kissed a tear from her cheek and then good and long on the lips not to say good bye. Actually she said good bye and I asked never to say that again because good bye was more of a final statement and I would most assuredly see her again. From now on all of our partings shall only be temporary so the appropriate phrase should be something like see you later or till we me again my love. She heartily agreed. As the bus took me away from the pier I watched her through the window and we waved till she was gone from view. It was a long lonely flight home and the entire following week I tried immersing myself into my normal routine but there was no doubt my body and soul ached for what it was missing.
Over the next several days we managed to keep in sporadic contact while lamenting the shortcomings of ship to shore communications. Most of the quaint romantic towns were fantastic for romance but not quite up to par for phone access. The time difference was a problem too as she was long ready for bed by the time I was home and free to chat at length. Still any contact was better than none and every time I heard her voice I couldn’t help but smile. I could hear her smile too when she spoke and I could detect an audible excitement in her voice as she recanted her adventures of the day to me. When the connection was clear I could hear her breath as she spoke. There was a cadence to her speech that was uniquely hers and if I closed my eyes it was almost if she was sitting right next to me. That sweet voice stirred memories inside me of our time together and it warmed me from the inside out. It fanned the embers of my very soul making it ache to have her in my arms again. I fell asleep each night in a wash of dreams of her laugh her scent and wistful accounts of her body intermingled with mine. It was no substitution for the real thing but it would carry me through the week.
Usually when my alarm rings in the morning I wish it evil nasty things in retribution for startling me awake but today I was eternally grateful to be awaken even by such a crass noise as that alarm buzz. Today there was no possible way you could get me out of my mood. This was the day I had to make a very important pick up at the airport and I bolted out of bed like a fireman answering the call. I had plenty of time before her arrival so I made sure I shaved meticulously wore nicely pressed clothes and smelled as good as I felt. I packed an overnight bag too as the plan was for me to take her home from the airport and I had no intentions of leaving early. If ever. While I was parking in the airport lot I realized I couldn’t remember much about driving here to the airport. And I figured it was totally understandable as most of the way I was daydreaming of the last days of my time on the cruise and of my days yet to be. I’ll admit some dreams were purely physical in nature; she had that effect on me. But many were of more mundane adventures and situations and yet just as pleasurable. A large part of my musings were of what it felt like to be a couple and perhaps something much more. I was intensely proud to be able to call her my girlfriend of dare I say fiancée? I wanted to world to know who I was committed to and had high hopes of making those dreams a reality.
It seemed my initial infatuation had blossomed into a deeper and more intense adoration of this woman whom I’ve only known for a short time. At first my motives were driven by simple lust. The primitive attraction genetically wired in all males to a female they find visually alluring. But now the driving force behind my actions was dominated by the more powerful attractive force of love. I wanted to wake up to her every morning and rush home to her every night. I could easily envision us in a small house somewhere making dinners hosting parties and sleeping in on Sundays. I pondered more travel for us too as I wanted to experience more of the world through her eyes and by her side. Exploring the terrain on foot by day and exploring each other by night through intense passionate love making. I’m not sure how I knew but there was no doubt in my mind that she was the one I wanted to spend the rest of my life with and no decision I’ve ever made seemed easier.
Of course I wouldn’t bring that subject up for a while till I felt she had the same intentions but it was now the major theme of my day dreams. When her flight arrived I could hardly stand still as I tried to peer over the disembarking jetliners as the made their way up and out of the hallway that connected to the plane to the terminal. I kept switching between the posted information to make sure it was the right plane and then back to the tunnel double and triple checking the flight numbers with the posted arrival sign in front of me. Then back to scanning the crowd looking for that familiar figure to come sauntering towards me. Finally appearing out from behind some slow pokes waddling up the aisle I saw her unmistakable form come into full view.
Her smile said she was happy to see me and she was even more beautiful to my eyes than in my dreams. I’m sure she could sense the same happiness of me especially since I was smiling just as wide and held a bouquet of wildflowers for her. She put down her carry on bag accepted my flowers and kissed me hello. The gave me a thank you kiss for the flowers. Then one for picking her up. Another for just being there. Of course each was sweeter than the first and each was longer and longer until we were locked in the deepest of kisses yet. The world melted away and only we existed while we got reacquainted. I was instantly flooded with memories of our time together and how the real thing, having her in my arms again, paled in comparison to my daily imaginings. Nothing in my dreams equaled the euphoric sensations caused by her perfume, her delicate warm body and sweet tender lips. My heart felt a contentment I’d not known possible and inside my body lusted for her like a beast. Unfortunately my passionate animal had to be held in check as public displays of affection are frowned upon. Especially the displays of affection I had in mind would get us both arrested. I picked up her bag and held her close as we walked to the baggage claim area to pick up her other luggage and I felt like a kid in high school carrying his best girl’s books home. I held her tight because not only did it feel great but I also wanted people to know we were together. To know she was with me and to see the happiness I was feeling inside. I wanted them to see how well we fit together too. How we looked at each other when we talked or stole glances as we walked. How we barely paid attention to where we were going because we were too absorbed in each other. One wouldn’t need strong powers of observation to know that we were lovers, it was that obvious.
While waiting for the bags we stayed arm in arm while we caught up on what we’ve both done since we last had a chance to talk. It was fantastic to have her in my arms again to be hip to hip and just chatting about anything and everything. Even her voice did it to me. There was no aspect of her I didn’t find charming or alluring and it made me simply giddy. I was so happy that the past week was finally over too and now I was enjoying that familiar euphoria that I had had when we were on the ship together. In the car on the way to her place we had a great time too laughing all the way as she recounted her trials and tribulations of the last few days of her cruise and accounts of the return trip. When we got to her place I would have tried to kiss her just like I had done at her cabin on our first night together on the ship but this time it wasn’t as dark nor as deserted and my arms were occupied with luggage instead of curves. The next hour or so was a whirlwind of unpacking clothes opening mail and two weeks of phone messages to tend to and all I could do was watch. Which wasn’t a bad thing. I perused her bookshelves to see what she like to read and the same for music by the stereo. The most curious aspect of my snooping was looking at all the photos she had hung up around the place. I wondered who were family and which were friends and hoped none were old boyfriends. Who ever all the people were there was on main constant in all the picture of her I saw. In almost every photo there was that smiling or laughing women I was so infatuated with. It was an un narrated glimpse into her life and I couldn’t help but wish I was around when some of them were taken.
I open up some windows to get some fresh air and helped out when as best I could. Mostly by lifting heavy luggage. She did give me a vase which I promptly filled it with water and set her flowers in it and then I made a pot of tea for us. I sipped and contemplated the possibilities of some of my earlier daydreams while she scurried about unpacking and unwinding from her journey. Like a Bee collecting its pollen she fluttered about occasionally stopping by long enough for a sip of tea or a quick kiss. Like the fresh air that wafted into the room from outside she too brought an air of freshness to her lifeless apartment. My first impression was its dark emptiness and cleanliness it looked like a hotel room awaiting its guests and no one really lived here. But now she was leaving signs of life all over from a scented candle burning somewhere to just the sounds of her footfalls echoing around as she buzzed back and forth. I didn’t feel neglected sitting on the couch by myself while she acclimated herself back to a more usual routine which is quite a departure from that fantasy realm of being on vacation. Even sitting by myself I felt like I belonged here. We belonged together I though and those day dreams of being a couple dominated my thoughts as I sipped my tea and relaxed. When she finally finished all her immediate and pressing tasks she must have changed because now she was wearing one of my big t-shirts I gave her during one of our sleepovers on the ship. She looked both mischievous and incredibly sexy and she jumped right into my lap. In her hands she had a present for me and gave me a box with a big kiss. It was a collection of cookies and coffees the likes of which we had in that charming café on the day we met. I said cookies and coffee would always remind me of her and she said that for her it was certain words that would conjure up memories of me like boat, ship, dock, cabin and especially the phrase dimly lit hallway. I think she would have kept going too spouting out more key words but I managed to place my lips over hers and that quieted her down in a hurry. Our giggles and smiles quickly turned into red hot passion and we let our carnal beings get reacquainted.
This time our lovemaking was rather straight forward and quick. We got right to the point as we both were not interested in much foreplay or exploration like we usually had venture off into. This time there was an overwhelming desire to be connected and stay that way. We wanted to get as close as our skin would allow and the joy and pleasure we derived from such intimacy made us feel as if we merged into something special. Something greater than the sum of its parts. We held each other tight from the moment we started through the climax and for a long time after enjoying the simple pleasure of being so deeply connected to someone you love so much it hurts. Lying on the couch with out bodies still entangled she played with my hair and I peppered her chest and neck with soft kisses while we talked like the lovers that we were. All was right in the world. In a few weeks the magic of the newness of our relationship was gone and in its place was something even more special. While it's exciting to first fall in love and to get lost in that giddy euphoria that is the onset of love, it is even more magical to be in love and have it last and grow. Truthfully I believe if it doesn’t evolve and endure then it wasn’t much more than an infatuation in the first place. There is nothing to keep the relationship together once the enthusiasm and the novelty is gone. But when love does endure and blossom it is amazing to know each others heart with just a look or touch. The simple act of being there not even speaking can be reassuring and comforting and is part of the magic too. I now whole heartedly believe in love at first sight since it happened to me. I believe in soul mates for exactly the very same reason. I had found mine.
One night we were lying in bed just relaxing together as we often did and she was going on about far off events and was using the words us and we and I thought it amusing that she spoke about us in the future in such terms. It was just a natural assumption that we would always be together and took for granted that we would someday be married too as part of the natural progression of things and I gave no arguments to the contrary. I decided I would tease her about it and then ask her right then and there. Not quite the romantic set up I had in mind but was as good time as any I thought. So I said “hey what are you talking about, what’s with all the matrimonial talk? I never asked you to marry me. In fact” I continued in a semi serious tone “I’ve never even brought up the subject.” She seemed taken aback and confused and she wasn’t sure if I was kidding or not. So I crawled up close until we were nose to nose and I looked right into her eyes and said “we’ll now I’m asking.” What?” She asked me back, looking and sounding even more confused now. I said “I’m asking!” Being more direct. “I’m asking if you’ll marry me!” I said. “Do you mean that?” She asked with a twinge of hope and delight in her voice. I said “I’ve never wanted anything more. I would be honored to be your husband.” “And I would be honored to be your wife” she said through watery eyes. We were both so happy it was hard to speak but we did manage to whisper soft thank yours into each others lips before we started kissing. If over our life spans we would have made love countless times under as many different emotions and conditions I will tell you this, that I will never forget the love we made that night. Never.