Chapter 35

Kavita was still sleeping when Eitan rose from the bed in the early morning light. He snatched up his clothes and tiptoed to the head. He had no idea where his gym bag was, which left him wrestling back into yesterday’s clothes in the galley. They did not smell yet as far as he could tell. He started the coffee.

He was sipping a mug as he sat at the stern. The delivery trucks were growling on the nearby streets while the gulls flew overhead, silent but vigilant. Danielle plopped down next to him wearing a T-shirt without a bra. Her hair was mussed.

“Tell me about Reggie,” she said softly.

“Good morning,” Eitan said. “Isn’t it a little late for that?”

“Morning,” she replied. “We didn’t boink last night, if that is what you’re concerned about, Eitan. I asked him to play nice while we were making the drinks. I told him I needed a drinking buddy, someone I could trust to put me safely to bed. He did.”

“You already have your answer, then,” Eitan said. “Reggie has changed a lot in the last few years. He did it on his own, by the way. He doesn’t have my nano yet.”

She nodded and sipped her coffee for a bit. “I’m sitting here calm and collected, but I’m still freaked out about yesterday. Your family and friends are intense. The assault. The gun. My hands are still shaking. I fought back and I’m proud of that. You’re science fiction. I have these moments when my body is in one place and my mind is over there, looking at me.”

“Yeah, Akemi and I freaked out your parents too,” Eitan said.

“I so resented you,” she said. “You and Akemi stole all my thunder. I was the baby receiving all of the attention from the ‘rents. Suddenly, you two absconded with my sisters and bowled over my parents. As bedlam descended, I was consigned to mucking out the stables, pushed as far away as possible. Worst crime of all, you were nice about it. Now, I have to sleep with you if I want the nano.”

“You miss the point that all of us are a little freaked out,” Eitan said. “Your parents were trying to protect you even if they did not know how.”

Danielle sighed and shook her head. “You miss my point. I like Reggie; we understand each other as the rich, privileged children that we are. I see possibilities with him, but I want to sleep with you.”

“If you want me, you can have me, Danielle. Akemi, Kavita, and your sisters have all told me that I am obligated to spread the nano, and I keep trying to explain to them that I’m not built that way. There is the fantasy of being a man whore, having my way with wanton women who throw themselves at me and then, there is me. I don’t want to have sex that I regret the next day. I never want to feel dirty because of where I stuck my dick.”

He gulped the last dregs of his mug. “I’m sitting on a bench having a cup of coffee in the quiet of the early morning and I’m happy, head over heels ecstatic this morning. Yesterday, I destroyed the curse hanging over my family. Last night, I cycled through sex, love, lust, and a hundred other emotions in between. You forgave me this morning. If you want to try together to boink each the other, I’m happy to oblige.”

He reached up and stretched. Handing his empty mug off to her, he said, “Would you mind? I want to go wake up my bedmate and tell her again what I think of her.” He winked.

As he made his way to the stateroom, Akemi emerged from her room in a pair of sweats and an unbuttoned shirt. “Where are you going?” she asked softly.

“To wake up Kavita.”

“Good, you’re not busy. Leslie will wake up Kavita. Please grab me a cup of coffee and join me in here.” With that request, Akemi spun on her heel and disappeared inside. As Eitan returned with a fresh mug, Leslie slipped out of the room in a pair of men’s boxers and nothing else. She took the mug from Eitan and gave him a gentle kiss on the lips. He stood frozen while she opened the door and crept into the room that he shared with Kavita. He fetched another mug and stepped into Akemi’s room.

She was sitting on the bed, looking out the window. The morning glow was on her face. Eitan placed the cup on the small table and sat down next to her. She turned to him with the same smile that was already etched on his face. He leaned in and she met him. Their kiss began gently until they opened their lips. As the intensity grew, Eitan began running his hands up and down her back and along her sides. She held herself still with her hands perched on his thighs. As he reached over her arms, he brushed the shirt off her shoulders and slid down to her breasts. They fit into the palms of his hands, tickling the center of his hands with the hard pebbles of her nipples.