Unchartered Curves (Cruisin’ With Curves)

7. Anisa

Chapter seven

Anisa

I t was nice waking in the penthouse, I thought, as I woke in a soft, luxurious bed, in a room with enormous windows. I loved my little cabin, too, and was grateful to be on this trip, but I could get used to this, too. Especially the part about being with the two guys.

In the next bedroom, I peeked in to see Gill sprawled on his back on the bed, one of his arms stretched to his side. I loved his muscular chest, with the light dusting of dark hair. I wanted to slip under the sheets and curl into his side.

Then, I looked over the railing to the living room area below. I felt a little bad that Duane slept on the couch, but it was a fold-out bed, and he was smiling in his sleep, showing a dimple in his cheek.

What would it be like to wake up with the two of them every day? Would we all share a bed? I didn’t know, but I couldn’t wait to find out.

It was hard to leave that luxurious shower, but the view in the kitchen area when I returned was even better. First there was sexy Gill wearing only pajama bottoms, then Duane was wearing a tight white t-shirt and grey sweatpants.

Then there was the spread of fresh fruit, croissants, and coffee. “Can I just move to this cabin?”

I asked, moving to kiss each of them.

“Yes,” Gill said.

“Absolutely,” Duane added. “I know you think we’re kidding, but we’d love it.”

“We’re happy to take this at whatever pace you want, Anisa, but we are picturing us being together back in Hopeton, too.”

“We’re not pushing you to move in with us yet,” Duane teased.

I hadn’t planned on staying in Hopeton, thinking I’d have to get a well-paying job in downtown Chicago or Milwaukee. The thought of leaving my little condo in Hopeton and finding something that would no doubt be much smaller for the same pay in a city was hard to think about. Would it be possible that I could stay in Hopeton, or at least date the men?

“I’d like to try dating at home.” I wouldn’t think about the logistics of their careers and my new job. I wanted more mornings like this. Not just the luxurious penthouse, but them. “I should probably go get dressed at my cabin if I’m joining your meeting with the Captain, though.”

“I’m glad you’re joining us,” Gill said.

“And I don’t mean to monopolize your time, but there’s a trivia contest tonight in the Aqua Aura Pool Bar.” I was rushing my words. I’d been thinking of asking the men to join me for this since I saw the sign for the contest yesterday morning.

“You’re not monopolizing us, and that sounds fun,” Duane said.

“We were worried we were monopolizing you. Duane said we’d scare you off.”

I felt joy spread through me. It was almost as nice as the amazing orgasm they gave me the night before. “Okay. We’ll go. It’s a date.”

Gill pulled me in for a kiss. “But of course we want to win, right?”

***

I was still laughing as I walked back to my cabin.

As I got dressed, doubt crept in. Did actual relationships really happen this fast? Was this love-bombing? I didn’t want to miss signs as I clearly had with Steven. But I’ve known and respected these guys as teachers.

I added lipstick and light eyeliner before gathering my iPad and bag for the day. There was no rush. Forget the fact that I could picture myself moving in with them back in Hopeton, I would force myself to take it slow and be practical.

“No hurry,” I whispered to myself again, even as I hurried out to the deck to meet up with them again.

***

I’d told them an hour, and I was out at the pool deck within 30 minutes. I had to laugh at myself as I sat in the shade near the side of the main pool. It was a beautiful morning, and people were relaxing and chattering happily all around me. At least it seemed that way.

“Anisa?”

It was Steven, standing in front of my lounge chair.

Oh, here we go, I thought. I wasn’t having it. Nothing was touching my bubbling happiness today.

“Steven? I don’t think there’s anything left to say. You made it clear I was a–what did you call me? A Hopeton Hoe?”

“I did not call you that. I was surprised that you were dating two guys, though. And don’t they work at the University? Is that where you met them?” He made a move to sit in the chair next to mine, but I held up a hand.

“I’m meeting them here. Please don’t sit down.”

He sat, and I stood.

He sighed. “I don’t understand why we can’t talk.”“I don’t understand why you haven’t tried to talk to me all this time.”“I realized you made me happy.”I snorted. “No, I don’t think that’s true. I think you wanted to be free, but you also enjoyed having someone to split the bills with and to listen to you. I think you did us both a favor by breaking it off, Steven.”

“Don’t say that, Anisa. I know it’s not too late for us. You can’t be serious about those old guys. I’m sure it’s fun to screw two guys, Anisa, but that won’t last.”

“Shut up, Steven. I mean it. Leave me alone.” I moved to leave, as he was drawing attention.

“Don’t walk away, Anisa. I have things to say.” Then he grabbed my wrist.

“Let me go.”

He pulled harder, like he wanted to pull me into his lap.

I stepped hard on his foot and punched him in the jaw, then watched as he fell back, his chair going backwards.

The sound his head made as he hit the deck was sickening, before he rolled into the pool.

I felt Duane and Gill come up to me, but I couldn’t move at first.

Then Duane moved to the wall, opening a panel and punching in numbers, before I heard his voice calling out codes over a loudspeaker. Gill jumped into the pool and then I could move.

I jumped in next to him and helped him pull Steven to the steps nearby. By then Duane met us along with the nearby bartender.

Two more staff came running, and we all carefully moved Steven to the pavement. Medical staff soon had him breathing.

I don’t think I breathed again until I saw his eyes open. The blood on the side of his face seemed to be a lot.

“He’s going to be ok.” Gill put an arm around me as we stood nearby. Duane moved to join us.

“I didn’t mean to hit him that hard.” My teeth were chattering.

Duane pulled off his t-shirt and put it over my head. They both helped me get my arms through it.

As Steven was talking to the medics, I felt myself relax a little.

“I had a couple of drinks this morning,” I heard him say.

It was only 10:30 in the morning. Steven liked to drink when we were together, but it hadn’t seemed problematic. He’d have more on weekends. But maybe his drinking had increased.

Security stepped in front of me, and I tried to explain what had happened. When I held up my hand that he’d grabbed, I noticed faint bruises.

“He grabbed you?” Duane interrupted. He and Gill glared at Steven, who was now sitting in a chair. Someone had brought him coffee, and he was also answering questions from security while the medics continued to check him out.

“Yes, and he pulled harder. So I shoved him. I didn’t mean for his chair to go back like that. Where-where did he cut his head?” I was crying now.

The men moved closer to me.

“I think he scraped it on the side of the pool. Several others saw him bothering you.”

We looked over at Steven. He wasn’t protesting, thank goodness, just nodding at whatever the medics and security were saying to him.

“Are you finished questioning Anisa?” Gill asked, his arm around my shoulders.

“Yes, he does not want to press charges.” The young investigator consulted his iPad. “I have your contact info if there are further questions.”

“Do you want to press charges?” He asked me.

I jolted a little.

“You could, you know,” Duane said quietly next to me. He also had an arm around my waist. I loved the feel of both of their powerful arms around me.

“No. No, I don’t think so. I just want him to leave me alone. Leave us alone,” I added.

“I don’t think that will be a problem. I’ll let him know that myself. Please let me know if he bothers you again on this trip.” The young officer stood up. “You may want to avoid being alone in the corridors. This is a safe cruise, and we have a lot of surveillance, but we can’t be everywhere all the time.”

He shook Duane’s hand. “Thanks for making that call. How did you know the right codes?”“Gill and I are researching our next book,” he pointed at Gill.

“Really? Do you guys have a pen name?” When Duane said it, the man shook Duane’s hand more enthusiastically. “Fantastic. I love those! Could I get a selfie?”

“Of course,” Gill said.

I ended up taking the picture for them. The man’s enthusiasm for my two author guys made me smile for the first time since I’d come out here this morning.