together; we’ll only have to separate for 2 minutes, tops.”
“An immediate plan,” he said. “Let’s execute.”
We cleared the dinner onto the trays and set them outside the cabin door; gathered the music and the CD player and took them to my balcony; then back to Michael’s stateroom for his bedding, sundry kit, and pajamas.
Michael put his blankets and pillows on one of the lounges as he followed me into my stateroom, pinkies hooked. I gathered my pajamas and put his kit in our bathroom. We then stripped my bed and took the blankets and pillows out to our bedroom under the stars. Michael thought of something and dashed, dragging me along, back to his stateroom where he retrieved a bottle of wine from the fridge.
“This’ll be good to have tonight.”
Next we had to figure out the dilemma of getting out of our dressy clothes and getting into our pajamas in privacy. I had a thought, praise be, I could think again.
I said, “Maybe we could experiment with proximity and the connection. I mean, maybe I could dress in the bathroom leaning against the door you could be on the other side in contact with the door. Maybe it’s like a current that can be conducted through other objects. Understand?”
He caught my thought instantly and recognized the possibility.
I gathered my pj’s and we headed for the wardrobe. While we were still linked physically, I kicked off my shoes and asked Michael to get the zipper at the back of my dress knowing that I could get the dress off without unzipping it; after all, it was already zipped when I put it on. So, I’m not actually sure what that was all about. Maybe I just wanted to feel his hands on my skin. Maybe that was my form of a tease.
But before I could get through the bathroom door, Michael stopped me and turned me around so that we were facing each other. He put my arms around his neck and hugged me with the force of a gentle bear. The closeness sent me reeling again.
He whispered into my ear.
“I just need a little fortification to tide me over.”
We buried our faces in each other and breathed deeply, taking in our joined scents. Both of us sighing I went into the bathroom and closed the door; immediately leaned against it.
It took nearly no time to remove the dress and underwear and slip on my pajama bottoms and then; I threw the top on and buttoned it quickly. Nervous and didn’t want to chance being away too long I held off brushing my teeth until I saw how Michael was doing on the other side of the door.
Stepping out, Michael was ready for me and he wasn’t looking for a pinkie hook up; he went for the full body connection again. Even if I wanted to protest, I couldn’t. I’d already forgotten where I was and wrapped my arms around his neck, my fingers found his hair; I cuddled my face into the curve of his neck. I was instantly his partner again, responded by following his lead. Our hearts were beating faster and in unison. Our combined heavy breathing was intoxicating; it took us further into the dream. His hands explored the feel of the silk on my back and shoulders, he wanted closer. Oh, God, I was so needy and weak; I wanted that, too.
We heard a disturbance from the other side of the cabin door. Our reactions were the same; we jumped away from each other but held hidden hands. That action left us both in pain, like we were ripped apart, it was just wrong. I stepped in closer to Michael and whispered in his ear.
“Relax, shhh, it’s Denice.”
The proximity was a help but any closer and I would lose my free will. The door thing was working for me. Yes, I’ll admit that I was feeling a bit nervous but I didn’t get dizzy or sick to my stomach or want to cry – but he was having a full-on panic attack. I tucked that away for a future look-see.
When I pulled the door open, Denice turned away from me for a moment; I could tell that she was talking to someone. She came through the door and closed it behind her. She didn’t wait to catch her breath.
“Hellie, I need to ask you for a favor.”
She cooed. Yeah, she can coo even a bit winded, actually it’s cute.
Michael and I both chuckled at her delivery. There was silence for a while as Denice sorted out how to ask her favor. She looked straight down at the floor and got distracted by her toenail polish, for just a brief second of time. Enough time that Michael squeezed my hand to get my attention. I squeezed back but otherwise ignored him and focused on Denice.
While Denice was thinking, Michael, looking all fine in his tuxedo, reached into the little bathroom and retrieved his sundry kit and waited behind me in the wardrobe, holding my hand and leaning into me. Pushing him away from me with my butt had an interesting effect on him. He didn’t have to lean into me for me to be able to feel him. It was mildly funny but if he didn’t watch himself, I would’ve exposed him to Ma Soeure.
Denice looked at me, head tilted to one side and said.
“Manny’s with the trouble in his cabin and, stay here once.”
Ok, that’s a demonstration of some of her language. I don’t speak ‘Deanese’, but I do understand it.
I said, “That’s fine, we were planning on sleeping on the balcony under the stars, anyway; it’ll be no inconvenience to move our cots to Michael’s balcony.
“Right Michael,” I thought I should ask. He was still trying to function with a chubby but he managed to give me a positive nod.
That was the first time in our exchange that Denice understood that Michael was there. She was instantly composed.
“Hi Mike. I didn’t know you were there.” She said blankly.
“It’s good to see you again. Thank you for offering the use of your balcony tonight for Hellie.”
Oh, thanks Denice that made me sound like a puppy suffering banishment to the balcony for acts not acceptable to the humans inside.
Michael looked at me for a long moment and then replied very slowly to Denice.
“Yes I can make room for her in a corner.”
I looked at Michael and then at Denice and said, “thanks…” They both laughed.
Waiting and allowing Michael the decision of when to move; he was the one with the physical problem, after all. I got my sundry bag from the bathroom, mine was about 4 times the size of Michael’s, grabbed a fresh set of clothes, my slippers and my book. We left the stateroom in single file after Michael managed to work his way around me and take the lead. He was good at taking the lead. On the way out, I stopped to get us a snack bag and to make sure I had access to my Pinky. I turned and gave Denice my best “sister you are a bad girl” smile and oddly enough she gave it back to me.
We closed the curtain and the door to the slider, gave her as much privacy as possible when we left the cabin. It took only minutes to schlep our stuff over to his balcony and then a few more minutes to set up our “outside room.” It was cozy.
Michael opened the wine and poured a full glass for each of us. I was thirsty and drank it like water. He did the same and then refilled our glasses. Michael selected a CD and we toasted the day. Together like conjoined twins, we raised our glasses and gave my favorite toast, “Cheers, thanks a lot eh?”
Michael
