Clarye was content to be a teacher at a small school for girls in tiny Cado, Mississippi. That is, until she chaperoned a group sailing in the Caribbean on their senior trip.
Handsome charter captain Tony thought he had the ideal life, taking guests sailing in the tropical waters without a care in the world.
Everything changed with a dance and a kiss that ignited the fires of passion in them both and led to more exploration of the emotions that were unleashed. They soon found they were no longer content with their lives void of passion, and were eager to chase the affairs of their hearts.
Tony awoke to the steady clanging of the halyards against the masts of the Bon Temps, his 46’ schooner. With her reverse transom and sharply pointed bow, Bon Temps was as graceful and sensual as any woman. A real Audrey Hepburn of the seas. Her teak and chrome fittings had seduced him the instant he had seen her at her mooring in King’s Bay. He knew then he had to have her.
The cabin was filled with the sweet, lingering smell of sex. The sudden squall the night before had forced him to get up and close the hatches, and the aroma from the night before filled the air. Clarye was still asleep, so he tiptoed to the galley to fix a pot of coffee before going above. Their clothes littered the floor where they had fallen, having been removed piece by piece. He slipped on his shorts and moved toward the steps to go topside. Glancing back, he saw Clarye’s bare ass peeking out from under the sheet that didn’t quite cover her completely.
He blinked when the bright morning sun reflected off the water, blinding him as he entered the cockpit. The fresh tropical air, cleansed by the rain, was a sharp contrast to the fragrance below. He surveyed his surroundings; they were still the only boat in Horseshoe Bay. Life was good. Tres bon en effet.
* * * * *
The Rialto, Tony’s usual watering hole, was closed for a private party. Some rich sugar baron from Mobile had reserved it for his darling daughter’s wedding reception. So instead, he went to the Sandbar, a small place known for its cold beer and good, local music. The Ily Boys, who played old rock with an island flavor, were on the bandstand. They were finishing up Delbert McClinton’s “Sandy Beaches” when Tony found a table to the side of the dance floor.
He spotted Clarye at the bar. She had been the chaperone for a group of young girls on a cruise he had skippered to one of the nearby islands earlier that day. A group of young guys were hovering around, trying to impress her. She may not have been impressed, but she didn’t seem to mind the attention from the younger men or the free drinks they were supplying. She saw Tony alone at his table and smiled. As the Ily Boys transitioned into “Glad Tidings,” she stood up and started toward him.
“Can I join you? They’re sweet, but a little too young for my liking,” she asked, nodding toward the boys at the bar.
“Be my guest,” he answered as he stood up. “Nice to know I’m now considered ‘age appropriate.’”
As they exchanged small talk about the day’s activities, the Ily Boys slowed things down with “Into the Mystic.”
Tony’s head bobbed to the rhythm, and Clarye looked at him with a smile.
“Do I have to ask or are you going to offer to show me what those sea legs of yours can do?”
He stood immediately and offered her his hand.
“C’mon. I’ll show exactly you what sea legs can do.”
He led her to the dance floor. As soon as his hand touched the small of her back, she felt a jolt of adrenaline surge through her body. “You are quite the gentleman, aren’t you?” she asked teasingly. “But, I know what you’re thinking.”
“Oh? I’m not always sure what I’m thinking. So what is it that I’m thinking?”
She grinned knowingly.
“You’re thinking maybe because I asked you to dance I might be looking for a little more than just a dance partner. Am I close?”
“Who me? I’m just a sailboat captain, though maybe a slightly irresistible one, who’s happy to oblige a guest. After all, technically a day cruise lasts all day and since it isn’t midnight yet, the day isn’t over. I’m just trying to give you your money’s worth.”
“Just good business, huh?”
“Well, maybe a bit of pleasure mixed in, too. An attractive woman in my arms, good music, and our bodies so close, only a whisper could slip between us. Who knows?”
Tony had noticed her during the cruise, but in his line of work, he had noticed a lot of attractive women, in all stages of undress and immodesty. It was an island thing. Here and up close, he noticed she had lively green eyes that danced when she laughed. Her dark hair, pulled back, framed the delicate features of her face. She had an engaging smile that drew him in. She was more than attractive. Sensual and magnetic was more like it.
“My goodness, are we that close? A whisper? How poetic. However, I do appreciate your concern for my getting my money’s worth.”
The band slipped seamlessly into Marley’s “Mellow Mood,” and their dance became a slow swaying of their bodies. They had practically melded into one another. No one else seemed to exist on the floor.
