Chapter 5.Revelations!Roy(There is no pain quite like the pain you feel when you find out that everything you believe in is just an illusion.)
When I awoke a little after six-thirty, Anna was already up and in the shower. I’m not sure how a raccoon got on the ship, but as I climbed out of bed and went to take a piss and brush my teeth, I was sure the little fucker had shit in my mouth while I slept!
“Morning, baby,” I said when I walked into the bathroom.
“Good morning, honey.”
“Hey, did that raccoon get you too?” I asked as I drained my vein.
“Yeah, I think so!” Anna chuckled.
“You’re up early,” I noted.
“Well, I decided to get in on that sunrise aerobics class.”
“When does it start?”
“Seven,” she replied. “And hey, you should get signed up for the sailing experience while I’m working out.”
“Yeah, I can do that,” I replied, still not completely sold on the idea.
“Do you need to sign up for the aerobics class?”
“No. The brochure says you just have to show up,” Anna replied as I vigorously brushed my teeth.
“Mmm…” I mumbled around my toothbrush, then rinsed, and felt human again.
“Your turn, honey,” my beautiful wife said as she stepped out of the shower.
My eyes wandered to her amazing tits, and I noticed light bruises around her nipples. Anna saw me looking and quickly wrapped a towel around herself. I felt a little guilty about it, but in my defense, we had been really going at it last night!
“I’ll get us some coffee from Sammy’s as soon as I’m dressed,” Anna said as I slipped into the shower.
“Yes, please,” I enthusiastically replied.
Sammy’s panoramic restaurant was conveniently located at the aft end of the luxury stateroom deck and served lighter fare than Luigi’s Bistro. And the best part: Sammy’s was always open.
When I came out of the bathroom, our coffees were on the nightstand, and I couldn’t help but think that Anna must have really made Sammy’s or whoever’s morning. She had on a baby blue sports bra that was a touch too small with matching spandex shorts that looked more like bikini bottoms as she sat on the bed, looking at a piece of paper. Then Anna looked up at me with a pained smile as tears ran down her cheeks.
“What’s the matter, baby?” I asked as I rushed to her side and looked at the paper.
It was a young child’s crayon drawing of a pink and purple sunset with two smiling stick people holding hands on a sailboat. It said, “Happy second honeymoon to Roy & Anna from the Gomezes.” Tears welled in my eyes as I sat next to Anna and put my arm around her shoulder.
“Ah, I see you ran into the Gomezes.”
“Yeah, Little Becky was so excited when she saw me! Sandy and Becky were on a coffee run too, and they were planning to slide it under our door,” Anna replied through watery eyes and sniffles.
I took her into my arms, and she began to weep on my shoulder as we hugged tightly.
“I love you so much! And I’m so sorry, honey!” She blubbered.
“I love you too, baby, and I know you didn’t mean to hurt me,” I replied, then broke our hug and lifted her chin. “So, please stop crying. And you don’t have to go to that class if you’re not up to it,” I said.
“I’ll be fine, honey. I’m sure I’ll feel better after a good workout,” Anna replied as she wiped the tears from her eyes.
“Well, you have a few minutes yet,” I said as I grabbed our coffees and handed one to Anna.
We both took a sip, and she gave me a sheepish smile. Unfortunately, that made what I needed to do next even harder: it was time to address the Elephant!
“Look, I know you were just playing, but you know as well as I do Todd didn’t see it that way, and he’ll be expecting more!” I sternly stated.
“Well, I don’t care what Todd expects!” Anna defensively snapped back.
“Good! I’m glad you feel that way. Because I’m not putting up with any more of their shit!” I declared.
“Oh, please, honey. Don’t do anything rash,” Anna pleaded.
“Well, let’s just hope it doesn’t come to that,” I solemnly stated.
I was sure Anna would be mortified if I created a public scene, but deep down, I knew Todd wouldn’t leave her alone, and I had a bad feeling that, at some point, I would have to stand my ground!
Anna glanced at her watch, and I could tell she was ready to change the subject.
“I better get going,” she said with a sigh.
It was five to seven, and it might take Anna all of two minutes to get up to the sundeck. But then, there was something important I thought I should point out before she ran off as I gently took her face in my hands and looked lovingly into her eyes.
“I think I found that raccoon!”
“ROY! That’s not funny,” Anna snorted as she tried to hold back her laughter.
She ran into the bathroom. Fixed her makeup. Ran back to the bed, gave me a quick smooch, and headed for the door. Then Anna suddenly stopped and turned around.
“Oh yeah. I almost forgot. Sandy told me that Rob signed up for the sailing experience too, and I know you’re gonna write in your journal, but don’t forget to sign up.”
“I will, I will!” I replied.
“Hey, let’s meet up at Sammy’s after my class. Say, around eight. We can get a bite before you do the sailing thing.”
“Sounds good.”
“I love you, honey,” Anna said as she hurried out the door.
“I love you too, baby,” I replied to the closing door.
I got dressed and went to get signed up. I wanted to get it done and out of the way so I could concentrate on writing in my journal. When I arrived at the concierge’s desk, I was happy to see Pattie tapping away at the computer.
“Good morning, Mr. Benson. How can I help you,” she asked with a bright smile.
Pattie seemed a lot nicer than Terra, and I already liked her because of the way she reacted to the Captain, Todd and his cronies when we were boarding.
“Good morning, Pattie. I’d like to sign up for the hands-on sailing experience,” I replied.
Her smile faded as she grabbed a clipboard from under the counter.
“Okay, you’ll have to sign here; and initial here, Mr. Benson. It’s just a standard waiver,” Pattie said as she pointed at the form, then handed me a pen.
Well, that explained why I had to sign up. I saw Robert Gomez and one other name on the list when I signed and initialed. I liked Rob and felt a little better about the sailing experience thing as I pushed the clipboard back.
“Are you a good swimmer?” Pattie asked with an odd look of apprehension on her face.
That struck me as a strange question. I read the brochure after Anna convinced me to sign up. It didn’t say anything about swimming?
“Like a fish,” I said proudly.
I still held the 400-meter freestyle record at my alma mater in Michigan.
“Okay then. Come to the conference room at nine, and Dave will walk you through the basics,” Pattie replied, then pointed to the conference room door.
I thanked Pattie and headed back to our room with a nagging feeling that something was a little off. But then, I was more concerned with getting the stuff rattling around in my head on paper and leaving it there!
I opened my journal, dove in, and the next thing I knew, it was twenty-past eight. Shit! I hope Anna hasn’t been waiting too long, I thought as I rushed out the door. But when I arrived at Sammy’s panoramic restaurant, I didn’t like the view!
They both had coffees, and I wondered how long Todd had been feeling up my wife’s leg as I headed toward their table with that twisting pain welling up in my chest. Anna saw me coming and nervously glanced at her watch as she surreptitiously tried to push Todd’s hand off her leg.
“Hi, honey. Um… you’re running a little late,” she proclaimed with an exasperated look as I approached their table.
Anna knew I was already at my breaking point with Todd, but for her sake, I wasn’t going to make a scene if I didn’t have to.
“Apparently!” I growled through my clenched jaw.
She was quite flushed, and I wondered if it was from her aerobics class or the aerobics she had been doing with Todd as I stared at his hand halfway up her inner thigh. Anna gave Todd a pleading, big-eyed, what the hell are you doing look as she kept trying to push his hand away without being too obvious. But instead of letting go, Todd grinned at me and slid his hand further up her thigh.
“You need to get your hand off my wife,” I said as controlled as I could muster.
But everyone in the restaurant plainly heard me, and the place went quiet. Then Anna swiveled and gave me her big-eyed what the hell look.
“Huh… I thought you had your hubby trained better than that,” Todd facetiously stated. “And there wasn’t a problem until you showed up,” he sniggered.
Unfortunately, I was right. Todd had taken her performance as an open invitation. Then Anna piped up in a desperate attempt to defuse the situation.
“Hey, I was just telling Todd that you signed up for the hands-on sailing experience this morning. You did… didn’t you?” She asked pointedly.
I loudly cleared my throat. “Yes.”
“Well, good. I think you will find it very enlightening,” Todd said as he slid his hand another inch closer to my wife’s crotch and squeezed her leg, then let go and stood.
“Please, have a seat,” he insincerely offered as he gestured for me to sit.
I just stood there and glared at Anna as I tried to decide if she had actually gone to the aerobics class or his room while Todd stood there and ran his mouth.
“I have a few things to attend to. Then I would be more than happy to give Miss Benson a tour of our beautiful ship while you’re off having fun!” Todd declared as he grinned at me.
“That’s Mrs. Benson,” I growled through gritted teeth.
“Oh… Sorry,” Todd smugly replied.
Every muscle in my body rippled with the urge to wipe that smug grin off his face, and it took all my willpower not to make a scene; regardless of the ass-whipping I would get for my trouble.
“As I was saying. If you get bored while your hubby is off playing. I would be more than happy to give you a private tour, Anna.” Todd offered again, just to push my buttons.
My pressure valve was about to blow when Anna cut in.
“Actually, I’ll be busy relaxing and reading on the sundeck with my new friends Sandy and Becky,” she replied dismissively.
Then she smiled at me, obviously hoping her statement would break the tension and set my mind at ease.
“Well, I hope you enjoyed the coffee. Have a nice day, Miss Benson,” Todd said to get in one last dig.
I heard some chuckles and a coughed-out “cuck” as Todd walked away. Then I looked around the restaurant and saw at least half a dozen patrons straining not to laugh as they grinned at me.
“Please, honey, sit… Please!” Anna quietly pleaded as she pulled on my arm.
I didn’t want to give the gawkers anything more to laugh about and sat in the chair Todd had occupied. I was too pissed to speak, and Anna knew it as she put her hand on my leg. I angrily pushed it away and heard more chuckles, but I didn’t care what they thought as I glared at my wife!
“I’m so sorry, honey! I was waiting for you when Todd showed up with the coffees, sat, and just started talking. I was only trying to make the best of a bad situation. Please, don’t be mad,” she implored.
“He had his hand on your leg!” I growled under my breath as some dip-shit a few tables away coughed out a not-so-veiled, “Bull-shit!”
“What could I do? I didn’t want to make a big scene!” Anna replied under her breath.
“Well, I’d say it’s a little late for that.”
“Look, I don’t want anything to do with Todd! Please, honey. Don’t let him ruin our second Honeymoon,” Anna begged as she took my hand.
I knew she was right, and even though she brought this on herself, I felt sorry for her. Anna was stuck in the middle, and I could tell Todd wasn’t going to let it go, no matter how hard we tried to ignore him.
“Hey, as long as we’re here, let’s get something to eat. Then when you’re finished with the sailing thing, I’ll spend the afternoon making it up to you… Sergeant Benson,” she playfully purred.
“Yeah, I could use another cup of coffee: and I will hold you to that, mam-sir,” I replied.
“Promises promises,” Anna mused with a sly smile.
My stomach was still a little edgy, so I settled for yogurt and coffee, and Anna got a fruit bowl. Then she explained that Sandy had invited her to hang out on the sundeck with her and Becky while Rob and I were off playing! I still wasn’t all that enthused about the sailing experience, but I had to admit I was glad Rob would be there.
The next thing I knew, it was about ten to nine, and Anna was tapping her watch. We heard a few sniggers as we headed for the exit, but we just ignored them.
I had a few minutes before I needed to be in the conference room, so I walked Anna to our room and opened the door for her.
“Let’s meet at Sammy’s for lunch,” she said as she stepped inside.
“Sure, why not,” I replied, thinking we would have to eat somewhere, regardless of the hecklers.
“Have fun, honey.”
“I’ll try. Have fun with the girls, baby,” I replied.
“Oh, I’m sure we will. I’m going to wear my new bikini,” Anna said as she winked at me and quickly closed the door before I could reply!
I knew she bought a new bikini for our second Honeymoon. Anna had made a point of not letting me see it yet, saying it was supposed to be a surprise, but I was sure Todd would like it as that twisting pain crept into my chest; again. Then I saw Rob coming down the hall.
“Good morning,” I called out.
“Good morning. Nice to know I’m not the only sailing fanatic on the ship,” Rob said as we greeted each other with a handshake.
“Yeah, well, I’m really not, but my wife had other ideas!” I replied as I shrugged my shoulders with defeated enthusiasm.
“Ahhh, I see. Well, I guess we’ll just have to make the best of it then,” Rob declared with a good-natured smile.
When we got to the conference room, the First mate, Dave, invited us to come in and take a seat while we waited for the third guest to show up.
After a few minutes, Dave sighed and joked that he was just glad two out of three actually showed up this time. Then he pulled a small remote from his pocket, dimmed the lights, clicked on the overhead projector, and got right down to business.
Rob and I learned that, unlike traditional three-mast schooners with fifteen or more sails, like classic pirate ships, the Artistic Challenge was designed with just two sails on each mast.
Dave explained that The Artistic Challenge was one of the few ships in its class that hadn’t been updated with fully automated sail controls. So they were able to offer their guests a hands-on sailing experience. Just my luck, I thought.
Dave told us since we left Miami, the ship had been running a few miles off the Florida coast and along the Keys, and we would be passing by Key West soon. Then he joked that we would be earning our keep because the wind direction wasn’t ideal, and the Captain would have to tack often to maintain course.
It was about ten when Dave looked at his clipboard and gave us our assignments for the hands-on portion of our sailing experience. Rob was assigned to work with the crewmen on the rear mast, and I was a little disappointed when Dave said I was assigned to the front mast. Then Dave looked right at me and stressed that we needed to be aware of what was going on around us at all times because things can happen fast on the working decks.
I made my way to the front mast and found the enclosed ladder up to the working deck. The sign next to the ladder read, DANGER! SHIP PERSONNEL ONLY. Well, I did sign the waiver, and after learning so much about the ship, I was actually looking forward to this as I climbed up to the deck. At the top of the ladder, I was met by one of the crewmen, Steve, and we greeted each other with a firm handshake. Then I heard a familiar voice behind me.
“So, you’re my new whipping boy.”
You’ve got to be shitting me, I thought as I turned and saw Jerry. The tension was palpable, and Steve looked a bit confused when I didn’t offer my hand.
“It’s okay, Steve. Mr. Benson and I have already met,” Jerry said with a smirk.
I knew I would be stuck on this ship with these assholes for the better part of two weeks. So, for Anna’s sake, I decided to let it go and make the best of the situation.
Jerry went to his station by the mast, where he controlled the Vang and Halyard lines. Then Steve took me port side to what was, more or less, an oversized trailer winch with a large hand crank and a thick cable attached to the boom. He showed me how to operate the ratchet lever, so I could crank the mainsheet line in or out as needed and told me not to touch the freewheel lever. Steve explained that the idea was to keep tension on the line so the boom wouldn’t slap when we turned and the sail caught the wind. Then Steve said he would signal me when we needed to adjust the trim and returned to his station at the opposing or starboard mainsheet line.
Yesterday, the wind wasn’t good, and I didn’t pay much attention to the furled sails. But today, standing only a few feet below the boom, the massive sails on the towering 150-foot masts were impressive!
The working deck was about ten feet higher than the sun deck and made from expanded metal sheeting. When I looked out over the sundeck, I saw Sandy and Becky coloring at a table in the shade by the refreshments stand, but I didn’t see Anna. Then I looked around and spotted my wife reading her tablet, in a lounge chair, on the far side of the deck.
Her new bikini was a “surprise, all right!” The three small triangles of neon green fabric, attached by neon green strings, didn’t leave much to the imagination. But, as I stood there and pondered whether her new bikini was a T-back, I wasn’t surprised to see several men doing their best not to let their better-halves see them gawking from behind their sunglasses.
I stared at her suntan-line-free, perfectly tanned skin shining with her favorite suntan oil as I thought about the privacy fence I built around the pool so Anna could sunbathe in the nude: for all the good that did. Anna says the neighborhood boys regularly fly their drones over when she sunbathes.
I suspect there are plenty of neighborhood dads with drones too! Oh, and I’m sure, if I looked around on the internet, I would find drone footage of my wife sunbathing in the nude!
Then that twisting pain gripped my chest again, as a vision of Todd (running his hands all over my wife’s practically naked body while he applied her favorite suntan oil) played in my head. But before I could dwell on that happy thought too long, the Captain signaled that we were about to tack, and I snapped out of my day-mare!
I remembered what Dave said about things happening fast on the work deck as I took my position and watched for Steve’s signal. Then that damned “The Cruise” story popped into my head. I wasn’t sure why it mattered to me, but we had sailed past Key West over an hour ago, and I knew we would be out of US territorial waters soon; if we weren’t already.
It was a little past eleven-thirty when we finished tacking for the ninth time, and it struck me that Dave wasn’t kidding about earning our keep!
The boom was starboard, and the mainsail was full when I took a moment to scan the sun deck. I saw Sandy and Becky, but I didn’t see Anna anywhere. Maybe she went to the bathroom? Or, heaven forbid, went to put some clothes on! Then, before my mind wandered any further down that rabbit hole, Jerry called me over to a storage bin by the railing.
He opened the bin, tossed out some ropes, and told me to coil and bundle them while we waited to tack again. They were a tangled mess, and I knew Jerry was just fucking with me, but I wasn’t going to let him get to me. I’d be done soon, and I was looking forward to spending the afternoon relaxing on the sundeck with Anna as I began to untangle the ropes.
It was ten to noon when I finished bundling the last rope, closed the storage bin, looked down, and figured out where my wife went. Anna was leaning over the railing of the fourth deck with her long black hair blowing in the breeze as she watched some dolphins playing in the bow wake.
I don’t think she knew I was up here, and I probably should have been upset that her new bikini was, in fact, a T-back. But it was the hand firmly gripping her bare ass cheek as Todd looked over his shoulder and grinned up at me that was really pissing me off!
That was the last straw!
But then, just as I was about to go kill Todd or die trying, Captain McSorley turned hard to starboard, and I felt the rumble of the prop as he gave it full-reverse. Then someone yelled, “Duck!”
I turned to see the massive mainsail (that Jerry had slackened so it would catch the wind and spill over the guidelines) billowing across the platform. Steve had obviously pulled the freewheel lever that he told me “not to touch!” Then Steve engaged the ratchet, and the boom stopped. I didn’t have time to react as the sail snapped out, swatted me like a bug, and sent me flying over the railing!
It was a good forty feet to the warm waters of the Gulf, and it’s remarkable how fast you can react and think when your adrenaline is flowing. I was able to right-myself and add Steve to my shit list before I hit the water feet first.
The man overboard alarm was already sounding when I surfaced, and I was pissed and sure Jerry and Steve had just tried to kill me!
Captain McSorley gave three long blasts of the horn, announced man overboard, and I looked up to see the sails being furled as he brought the ship to a full-stop. Then Todd tossed a life ring over the side and dove off the fourth deck railing as Anna hysterically waved her arms. Before Todd hit the water, it dawned on me that he was standing right next to that life ring when I saw him with his hand on my wife’s ass! Then when Tom came from the stern in the inflatable, less than thirty seconds after I hit the water, there was no doubt in my mind; this whole thing was a set-up.
I was sure everyone on the ship had come to the railings to see who fell overboard by the time Todd swam up and tried to put me in a rescue hold. I cussed and elbowed Todd until Tom hauled me up by my belt and tossed me in the boat. Then Todd climbed in, and we glared at each other as Tom took us back to the marina deck.
The Captain was impatiently waiting, and as soon as the inflatable was secured, he keyed his walkie-talkie and called for full speed ahead. I was fine, but McSorley insisted that I get checked out by the medic: it was policy.
Of course, none of the other passengers knew how I ended up in the gulf, but they all wanted to see the schmuck who fell off the ship as Todd and Tom roughly escorted me to the sickbay. Some of the passengers looked at me with sympathy, and some just looked away, while a few that I recognized from Sammy’s, grinned and chuckled.
We were almost to the sickbay when I saw Anna running toward us. She looked terrified, but her boobs were wildly bouncing, and I wanted to laugh at the absurdity of it all because my loving wife had found the time to put on a matching neon green, see-through lace cover-up over her micro bikini! Though, as far as I was concerned, she may as well have been naked.
“Oh, God! Roy, are you hurt?” Anna screeched as she closed the last few steps between us and tried to hug me.
Todd just shrugged her out of the way as he and Tom dragged me into the sickbay and sat me on the examination table. Anna tried to follow us into the room, but Captain McSorley stopped her at the door and said she would have to wait outside.
I sat on the table and glared at Anna through the doorway as the Captain explained that after I was checked out by the medic, he would take my statement. Then, if I was okay, he would release me. But if not, Anna would have to wait until I was cleared by the medic before she could see me.
The Captain told Anna she could wait on the bench by the concierge’s desk, and I heard her crying in the hall when Mcsorley and Terra came in. Then Todd closed the door, and the hair on my neck stood up.
“Let’s get him checked out,” McSorley gruffly ordered.
Apparently, Terra doubled as the medical officer and told me to take off my shirt as she grabbed a stethoscope and blood pressure cuff. My blood pressure was, understandably, a little high. Then she did a routine heart and lung check.
“He’ll live,” Terra scoffed.
McSorley thanked Terra and playfully swatted her bum as she sashayed out of the room. Then he picked up a clipboard and scribbled away on some forms as he chastised me.
“I have to say, that was very careless of you, Mr. Benson. I’m sure Dave stressed how important it was to be aware of your surroundings while you were up on the work platform. And it’s a good thing I have brave crewmen like Todd here. You could have easily drowned,” McSorley said as he gave Todd a fatherly pat on the back. “But, since you seem no worse for the wear. You can go, Mr. Benson.”
“Hey, wait a minute. What about my statement?” I asked, still pissed about being set-up.
“Oh, I have your statement, Mr. Benson. You agreed that you were careless. So there will be no need to follow-up,” McSorley replied with a smirk as he patted his clipboard, then left the room.
I was more than ready to leave, but when I started to get off the table, Todd and Tom grabbed my shoulders and firmly sat me back down.
“Hey, where do you think you’re going? I haven’t heard a thank you for saving your life,” Todd said with a nasty edge in his voice.
“Look, I don’t know what you want from me? But I’m sure-as-hell not going to thank you for trying to kill me,” I replied as a bad feeling churned in the pit of my stomach.
Then Todd slapped me on the back and chuckled. “Oh, don’t be so dramatic. Hell, I don’t care if you thank me, but I’m sure that Hotwife of yours will be more than happy to!”
After seeing his hand on her ass, I was pretty sure my “Hotwife” already had.
“Keep dreaming, asshole. Anna doesn’t want anything to do with you,” I spat, still clinging to hope.
“Yep. Another clueless cuck,” Tom chuckled.
“Yeah, I really hate breaking in new cucks,” Todd added with disdain.
“Hey, I’m sorry my wife gave you the wrong impression. But we aren’t into that,” I replied, hoping he would respect my honesty.
Todd looked at me pensively and rubbed his chin.
“You know… when you two boarded the ship, I was sure you were into the lifestyle. Hell, you even passed the Miss test. But it didn’t take long to figure out Miss Benson was just another wannabe Hotwife!” Todd mused.
I knew how Anna acted would have given any man that impression, and I understood what Todd meant by the Miss test. I didn’t react when they called my wife Miss, and that was my fault! But I was no longer clinging to hope as that bad feeling churning in the pit of my stomach became a twisting pain in my chest at the thought of Todd and Anna fucking.
“Look, Just leave us alone,” I replied, sure it was futile.
“Hey, don’t feel bad, cuck boy. While you were off looking for your suitcase, I stopped by your stateroom, and your wife put up an admirable fight. For about ten seconds before she fucked me like the wild little slut she is,” Todd goaded with his smug fucking grin.
Images of Terra and Jerry texting flashed through my head, and my anger overrode the pain in my chest as the reality that my wife was a “cheating slut” set in. Suddenly, I had nothing left to lose, and my anger turned to rage as I lunged at Todd. But he was ready and sidestepped me with perfect form as he twisted my arm behind my back and slammed me hard against the wall. I had broken the first rule of hand-to-hand combat: never strike out in anger.
“Look. Dumb-ass! I don’t care if you like it or not! That wild little slut, is going to be my fuck-toy until we get back to Miami, and if you try an fuck things up for me, you wouldn’t be the first drunk dumb-ass to fall overboard in the middle of the night,” Todd said, then twisted my arm harder as he leaned in closer, “And I’m sure your distraught wife would jump in to be with you. You feel me… Dumb-ass!” Todd growled in my ear.
I nodded.
“I didn’t hear you,” he barked like a drill sergeant as he twisted my wrist harder.
“OK-OK! Whatever you want. Just don’t hurt her,” I replied.
“Well, now that’s up to you: isn’t it,” Todd said coldly.
“Can I go now?” I asked.
“Just one more thing. I’ll expect to see you two at Gulliver’s tonight. Say, around ten. I’m sure your Hotwife loves to dance, and you can buy the boys and me a round of drinks. You know… out of gratitude for saving your life,” Todd chuckled with a smart-ass grin.
“Whatever you say,” I replied as I shook with anger.
Then Todd tightly gripped my shoulder and looked me in the eye.
“Hey, dumb-ass, that woman loves you! She probably just read too much Hotwife porn and got herself all worked up, so don’t make this any harder than it has to be. Just go with it. Hell, you might even like it! Then you can go back to your boring little lives, or not. I really don’t give a fuck,” Todd chuckled crudely. “Oh, and don’t think for a minute I’m bluffing: Sergeant Benson,” he said with a convincing cold edge, then sucker-punched me in the solar plexus just hard enough to wind me.
Todd opened the door and motioned for me to leave. I wasn’t waiting for a second invitation and stepped into the hall, still trying to catch my breath. Anna heard the door open, sprang off the bench, and rushed to me.
“Oh, God! Roy, are you okay?” She blubbered, her eyes puffy and red from crying as she wrapped her arms around me.
I hadn’t caught my breath yet and winced when she squeezed my sore arm. Anna let go, stepped back, and looked me over.
“What’s the matter? Are you hurt?” She asked with desperation in her voice.
I still couldn’t speak when Todd came out of the sickbay and slapped me on the back.
“The medic cleared him. He’ll be fine! And I have to say, your hubby is a real stand-up guy. Why; he offered to buy me and the guys a round of drinks at Gulliver’s tonight for saving his life!” Todd announced, like the self-righteous prick he was.
“Oh, I don’t know if he’ll be up for all that?” Anna replied as she tentatively wrapped her arms around me and tried to kiss me.
I turned my head, and she kissed my cheek just as I caught my breath.
“I’m all right,” I grumbled.
“See, he’s fine. And hey, Gulliver’s has a great DJ. So I’m sure we’ll all have a good time dancing with Miss Benson,” he said. “Right, Roy-boy,” Todd added as he slapped me on the back again.
My head was spinning, and I just wanted to get away from Todd.
“Let’s go. I need a hot shower and dry clothes,” I said sternly.
“Let me help you,” Anna offered as she tried to take my arm.
I shrugged Anna off, and she stayed a few steps behind as I headed for the stateroom. Then she stood well back as I fished my key card out of my wet shorts, and for the first time in my life, I opened the door and left Anna standing in the hall as I went inside.
She looked scared and confused as she tentatively came into the room. Anna didn’t have a clue I saw her with Todd, and I was sure she was still clinging to the idea that I didn’t know anything. And, as bad as I wanted to, I wasn’t going to say a word. Because after two combat tours in Afghanistan, I knew the difference between a man who has had to kill for his country and a man who just likes to kill, and I had no doubt Todd would kill us.
“Lay me out some dry clothes,” I grumbled as I went into the bathroom and started peeling out of my wet clothes. “And put some damn clothes on! I think you have been running around naked long enough,” I half-shouted with disgust.
“O — okay, I will,” she stuttered with an unusually mousy tone.
My heart was trying to tear out of my chest, and I wanted to scream, “WHAT THE FUCK” as I stood in the shower and wondered how long my soon-to-be ex-wife had been fucking around on me. I couldn’t believe Todd was her first, given she had fucked him less than fifteen minutes after we boarded. Then when I saw them from the working deck, not thirty feet from our stateroom, I was sure Anna had just fucked him again!
I wasn’t surprised Todd had done his recon, and I knew he called me Sergeant Benson to point out the pecking order. Then an even sharper twist of pain stabbed me in the heart as I wondered if Anna was in on their plan to throw me overboard? After all, she did talk me into doing the sailing experience. But then, she was genuinely scared for me, and that didn’t make sense?
Todd must have tricked her into it somehow. But why did he want to play hero for Anna? He was already getting the milk, so-to-speak, and he could have pulled me aside and threatened me any time. Hell, none of this made any sense? But then, none of it mattered either because when we stopped in Cozumel for a day of sightseeing and tourist shopping, I planned to catch a flight home. Then Anna could fuck every guy on the ship for all I cared!
When I finished my shower and came out of the bathroom, Anna was sitting on the bed with her head down and her hands folded in her lap as she quietly wept. She had changed into a sleeveless tropical print dress and laid out a matching print shirt with khaki shorts for me. Obviously, she bought the matching outfits as a surprise.
I didn’t care much for her last surprise, and I wasn’t sure why it mattered to me anymore, but I was glad to see Anna with clothes on. Even if the dress was low cut and mid-thigh, at best!
She never looked up as I put on my new shorts and shirt. I really had nothing to say to Anna and decided to write in my journal. But when I saw the sunset drawing from Becky on the desk, my stomach turned, and I flipped it face down. Then I sat, opened my journal, and began to write about my latest adventure. A few minutes later, Anna broke the silence.
“I was so scared, Roy,” she squeaked through her sniffles.
I knew I had to play the clueless cuck and not upset her too much as I set my pen down and turned to see Anna staring into her lap and shaking. But my feelings were in the grip of a cold iron hand, and my mind was chomping at the bit to verbally strip her bare and expose her for the treacherous slut she was!
“I’m fine. It was just a freak accident,” I said in a calm, matter-of-fact tone.
“Oh, God! It’s all my fault. I never thought about you getting hurt!” Anna blurted out as she buried her face in her hands and began to bawl!
I knew I couldn’t confront her about fucking Todd, and I didn’t think she was in on the plan to throw me overboard, but I sure-as-hell could get some satisfaction from guilt-tripping her over that ridiculous bikini.
“Hey, it’s not your fault. Like I said, it was an accident,” I reiterated. “But I have to admit, your new micro-bikini was a real… surprise!” I added with nasty sarcasm.
“My bikini?” she muttered as she looked up, bleary-eyed and confused.
“The neon green one,” I offered to jog her memory.
Then it clicked. “Oh… I–I-I’m sorry. I should have known better. I’ll get rid of it,” she sputtered, grasping at anything to appease me.
That threw her off, and I knew I shouldn’t, but Anna was making this way too easy.
“Oh no, don’t get rid of it. From what I could see, your bikini was a big hit, and I’m sure Todd enjoyed rubbing your favorite suntan oil all over your practically naked body!”
“He did no such thing,” Anna defensively snapped.
I saw the wheels turning as she realized I could see everything from where I was helping with the sails.
“Oh, sorry. I didn’t start the hands-on part of my sailing experience slash swimming lesson until about ten o’clock. You were already oiled up, and I just assumed. My bad!” I replied with a chuckle.
“Oh Roy, I’m so sorry! When we left the house yesterday, all I wanted was to make our second Honeymoon better than our first,” Anna choked out, then dropped her head. “I’ve made such a mess of everything!” She blubbered.
I knew Anna deserved everything I threw at her, and I was sure her head was spinning as she tried to figure out what I had and hadn’t seen. Yet, as she sat there sobbing, I found myself feeling guilty for making her cry, and I went to comfort her. But her eyes were closed when I reached down and took her hands from her lap, and she recoiled like I might hit her.
That made me feel even worse, and I squeezed her hands to reassure her it was okay as I pulled her to her feet. Anna threw her arms around me, buried her face in my chest, and hugged me tightly. I gently ran my fingers through her hair as I thought about what she said and how happy we were when we left the house yesterday as she shook and cried.
We stood there for several minutes as she tried to pull herself together. Then Anna broke the awkward silence.
“I love you so much, Roy. Please don’t give up on me. Everything will work out. You’ll see,” she sobbed with a choppy, broken cadence.
I took her face in my hands and looked into her red puffy eyes, hating myself for still loving her.
“Well, this certainly isn’t what I had in mind for our second honeymoon,” I replied. “But we are stuck on this ship, so I guess we’ll just have to make the best of it,” I added as I told myself I’d be on a plane and far away from this whole fucked up mess soon enough.
“We never made it to Sammy’s for lunch,” she offered wearily.
“You’ll have to forgive me if I don’t relish the idea. And are you sure you want to be seen with the idiot who fell off the ship?”
“Oh, honey… Please don’t feel that way. You are my husband, and I don’t care what anybody else thinks,” Anna replied with surprising conviction for a cheating slut!
“I’d rather just write in my journal.”
“Yeah, I understand. How about I go get us some sandwiches and bottles of water,” Anna offered with a sad smile.
“Sure, why not. We need to eat something.”
“I love you more than you will ever know,” she said as she hugged me tightly. Then stepped back with a big forced smile. “I’ll fix my raccoon eyes and be right back. Okay, honey.”
I really didn’t know what to say to Anna. Other than to make some nasty comment about her running into Todd at Sammy’s! But then, there seemed to be no point, given the jam I was in.
“Okay,” I replied flatly.
Anna went to fix her makeup as I sat, looked at my journal, and wondered if it was all just a waste of time. Then I picked-up where I left off this morning and thought, well, at least I would have something to show my lawyer.
Anna said she would be right back, and I heard the door close behind her, but I was so intently focused I didn’t respond. When Anna returned, she set a sandwich, chips and water on the desk without a word. I was thirsty, downed half the bottle, and took a few bites of the sandwich as I wrote like a possessed scribe.
I’d been writing for about two hours when I heard soft snores and turned to see my “slut-wife” curled up in the bedspread. My adrenaline rush from all the excitement had faded, and a nap seemed like a good idea. Then my stomach turned as a thought I couldn’t have imagined just two days ago crossed my mind. I didn’t trust Anna not to read my journal. Before that moment, I wouldn’t have cared if she had read my journal, but it was a matter of life and death, and I just couldn’t take the chance.
I hung my new shorts and shirt on the chair, slipped my journal under my pillow, and carefully crawled into the bed so as not to wake Anna. I quickly drifted off to sleep and began to have the most amazing dream! I’d gone to the concierge’s desk for… something? Pattie was there, and I thought she was cute but not a sex-pot like Anna as we stood there talking. Then, out of the blue, she came around the desk, grabbed my shirt, and aggressively dragged me into the conference room.
The next thing I knew, Patti pushed me back onto a table, yanked my shorts down, and began to wildly suck my cock! Then, for some reason, I looked up and saw Anna standing in the doorway, wide-eyed and speechless. I grinned at her and thought, “How do you like me now, you cheating slut!” as I took two hands full of Patti’s hair and began to throat fuck her. Then I awoke from my dream, still thrusting my hips with two hands full of hair.
I quickly realized Anna was the one aggressively sucking my cock, and my first instinct was to push her away. But I was pretty far gone and thought, fuck it, why should Todd have all the fun! Then I curled my fingers tighter into her hair and began to throat fuck my slut wife harder. I felt her nails dig into my thighs, but I didn’t care as I relentlessly thrust my hips and forcefully bobbed her head.
Anna kept trying to say something, but I never gave her a chance as she desperately flailed her arms. Then my orgasm hit me like a freight train, and I held my cock buried balls-deep in her throat as I blew my load. When I finally released her head, Anna spat my cock out and fell over with a panicked look in her eyes as she coughed, sputtered and gasped for air.
I noticed her dress was neatly hung over my shirt and shorts. So I knew she didn’t just wake up and start sucking my cock on a whim, and I couldn’t help but wonder if her panicked look was simply from lack of air or the fear I wouldn’t have done that to her unless I thought she had fucked around on me.
When Anna finally stopped coughing and sputtering, she glared at me, her eyes full of fear and anger as her chest heaved. I just smiled, rolled over, and snuggled into the pillow. Then my slut-wife sprang off the bed and ran into the bathroom crying.
I slid my hand under the pillow, patted my journal, and thought, ha! Wait until I send a copy of my journal to your lawyer. Then you’ll really have something to cry about!
I had fallen back asleep, and the next thing I knew, Anna was rubbing my shoulder. “Wake up, sleepy-head. It’s almost time for dinner,” she said softly.
I opened my eyes and wondered if I was still dreaming? Anna had showered, fixed her hair and makeup, and put her matching tropical print dress back on. Then I began to wonder if her blowjob was all just part of my wild dream, but when I sat up and saw the nail marks on my legs, everything came back into sharp painful focus, and I wished it was all just a bad dream as my guts churned!
Anna grabbed my shorts and handed them to me. I slipped them on, and by the time I stood, zipped-up, and fastened the button, she was waiting to help me into my shirt. My shoulder was still pretty stiff from my heart-to-heart talk with Todd, and I actually appreciated the help.
“I’m not very hungry. How about we grab something at Sammy’s,” I suggested.
I figured there would be far fewer people at Sammy’s because most of the guests would be eating at Luigi’s.
“Roy, don’t be silly. Let them look. I don’t care. You’re my man, and I almost lost you today. I’m sure most everyone is just glad you are okay,” she cheerfully offered. “Now, are you going to take your wife to dinner… Or not?” Anna asked with a defiant tone.
~There was so much I wanted to say to my wife as I picked apart what she said. I truly wanted to ask her why she qualified her statement with “most” everyone. I had a list of people I was pretty sure didn’t care if I survived, and I had to wonder who was on her list. And when she said, “Take your wife to dinner,” I could have sworn I heard, “Take your slut-wife to dinner.” And did she really think everyone would be gawking at me because I was thrown overboard by a pack of psychos? No, I was sure she knew they would be laughing at the dumb-ass cuckold who was letting Todd fuck his slut-wife! Then I took a deep breath and tucked all my rage back into its little box because, as much as I hated Anna, at that moment, I couldn’t stand the thought of her being hurt or worse as Todd’s words echoed in my head.
~”Let’s go to dinner, Dear,” I replied, with a remarkably civil tone, as I gestured towards the door.
When we stepped out of the door, Anna saw the Gomezes coming out of their room.
“Oh, good. I was hoping we would run into Rob and Sandy,” She said.
Just then, little Becky broke away from her mother’s hand and came running, but she wasn’t giggling this time. In fact, she had a scowl on her little face as she marched up to Anna and glared at her with her tiny fists firmly planted on her hips.
“You made my mommy cry,” Becky exclaimed with her bottom lip curled out, about to cry herself.
“Rebecca Ann Gomez. You get back here right now!” Sandy scolded as she picked up the pace with Rob right behind her.
Then out of the mouth of babes.
“SLUT!” Becky blurted as she lunged forward and punched Anna mid-thigh with everything she had.
Becky glared up at Anna’s shocked face for a moment longer, then burst into tears as she turned and ran back toward her mother. Rob and Sandy were frozen in their tracks, about ten feet away, with equally shocked looks on their faces.
“I–I’m so sorry. I don’t know what’s gotten into her,” Sandy sputtered as Becky latched onto her leg and buried her little face.
I had a pretty good idea of what got into that precious three-year-old little girl, and I was sure Becky had very recently learned the word “Slut!”
Obviously, Rob and Sandy had been arguing about Anna. About what, I could only guess? But then, Rob did have just as good a view of the sun deck as I did, and he might not have been too happy about his three-year-old daughter being around Anna in her micro bikini! And I could only imagine that Sandy was none too happy about it either. Yet, it was all I could do not to laugh as I cleared my throat and held up my hand in a truce gesture.
“Hey, it’s all good. And I say if the shoe fits, wear it!” I declared with a bobble-headed shit-eating grin.
Sandy picked up Becky and put her head over her shoulder to comfort her daughter. Then Rob motioned for them to get moving, and I was pretty sure we wouldn’t be having dinner with the Gomezes.
“Again, we are so sorry,” Rob sincerely apologized as they hurried past us.
Anna stared off into space as tears welled in her eyes, but I couldn’t tell if she was just numb or contemplating everything that had happened since we left the house yesterday. And, to be honest, I really didn’t care as I put my arm around her shoulders and escorted her to Luigi’s.
(Before we left the house yesterday morning, if someone with a crystal ball told me this is how my life would go today, I would have laughed in their face. But now I would give them everything I own to know what I’m supposed to do next?)
(Auther note: I have 34 chapters in the can, so-to-speak, with a few more to write, and while I’m giving each chapter a once over when I add the (HTML) crap for Lit, I have no plans to change the plot or any other aspect of this story. So if you don’t like the (Roy and Anna) back and forth: go ahead and bail now! Because the whole novel is written that way. Also, if you missed it in the opening credits, my good friend and editor/proofreader, Kiteares, just died, and I am posting this in his memory. So if you feel I need a proofreader, don’t hide behind an anonymous post. If you are that good at proofreading, step up and help me out, or bugger-off! As my dear departed British friend would say. Like I said before, I will attempt to post one chapter per week, and with all the other stories posted here on Lit, I’m sure everyone can find something to fill the time. To everyone who understands that this is not a short story and doesn’t expect the whole plot to be laid out in the first chapter, I hope you are enjoying the ride. And finally, to all the prognosticators with their “Crystal balls” and one-paragraph synopses, thanks for all the laughs! Not even close!)