Love a Sailor by Amanda Sandton Page A

say, “I would like to kiss you
but I can’t reach.”
    “That’s easily solved,” he says, and
widens his stance. “What about that kiss then?”
    “Fair’s fair,” I answer, and gently
stroke my lips along his jaw line and up to his ear, first on one side and then
on the other.
    The Captain stands with his eyes shut, a
look of rapture on his face. He sighs deeply. He loves what I’m doing to him,
and my anxiety lessens as I discover what joy I can give. But he can’t stay
still for long. He drops his arms around me and pulls me in close. His mouth is
on mine, demanding my response which I give gladly. His tongue taunts and
savages by turn. I never knew a kiss could last so long or be so pleasurably
exhausting. We break away at last, panting softly, and stare into the darkened
whirlpool of each other’s eyes. There is no blue, no brown, only an unfathomable
yearning.
    He sweeps his hand up under my dress,
grasps my thigh and lifts my leg up to hook it round his hip. I stagger at the
unexpected movement, but he catches hold of me with his other hand and brings
me in hard against him to kiss me again. He strokes my thigh, each caress
climbing higher and higher. I tense with anticipation of his touch on my sex,
half-wanting, half-fearing it, but his hand only reaches up inside my panties
to cup my buttock, which he molds and kneads. Just when I think I can take the
suspense no longer, he draws his hand out and runs it over my panties and down
between my legs, startling me.
    I pull away a little, but the Captain
murmurs in my ear, “Whoa there, there’s nothing to be afraid of. Stay with me.”
    The ease with which the fabric slips
backwards and forwards beneath his fingers surprises me. I must be so wet, and
I can’t ignore the tremors of pleasure his touch is evoking in me. My body is
ready for this even if my mind is holding back. Willing myself to relax, I once
again take a more active role and I cover his hand with mine.
    It’s the Captain’s turn to be taken
unawares. He chuckles and withdraws his hand. “Merry, you’re so ready. I’m
finding it difficult to remember what I said.”
    Holding my face in his hands, he kisses
me lightly on the lips. “But a promise is a promise, and you’re worth more than
a quickie in a cupboard your first time.”
    Part of me is disappointed, but I’m also
relieved that I haven’t been tested too far this time. I feel I reached my
limits. Any further and the gray mist could have made an appearance. If we take
things one step at a time like this, maybe I’ll really be able to cope and keep
it at bay.
    The Captain takes my hands in his and
looks down at me with a tender half-smile. “Don’t look so serious, Meredith. We
have plenty of time to explore each other. We don’t have to hurry.”
    I straighten my dress while the Captain
opens the door and checks the passageway. He beckons me out. It’s only a few
steps now to my cabin.
    When we reach the door the Captain takes
my arm as I’m about to unlock the door. “I won’t be able to see you tomorrow,
Meredith. It’s the First Officer’s turn to go ashore and I’ll be minding the
ship.”
    Although I’ve been expecting that, and
I’ll be spending the day with Sukey anyway, I can’t stop myself from drooping
with disappointment.
    “Hey, it’s okay,” he says. “We’ll have
dinner together tomorrow night. Cheer up!”
    I try to smile as I slide the plastic key
in the lock. The door clicks open. The Captain pats me on butt and gives me a
push into the cabin. “Sleep tight!”

10 – Barcelona, Spain
    I’mup on deck again early to watch the Albion steam into Barcelona.
I love the hustle and bustle of docking and take a silent pride in the
Captain’s skill in maneuvering the great ship alongside the quay. The deep sea
berths in Barcelona, as in Malaga, are once more cradled right up against the
city, which lies stretched out before us in the early morning sun.
    How I wish I could go on the sightseeing