Smooth Sailing (11 page)

“What does your dad do?”

“He’s a banker. He manages the Royal Dutch Antilles branches in the Caribbean. It’s not a good name since the Antilles doesn’t exist any more. Our side of the island is an independent country now, as I assume you’ve heard.”

Laurie nodded even though she had no idea what an Antille was or why it didn’t exist. “I guess I’m surprised you…the bank has a branch here.”

“The island is still a part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands,” Kaatje said slowly. “Is that what you’re confused about? The news media didn’t cover the constitutional change very well?”

Trying not to look completely dull witted was not easy. Kaatje was speaking gibberish, but she seemed to think whatever she was talking about was common knowledge. There was one morsel that might be exploited. “You said
your
side of the island. What did you mean by that?”
An intelligent question. Hurrah!

But Kaatje looked even more puzzled. “The island is half Dutch and half French. Did you not know
that
?” She emphasized “that,” as though the dullest of the dull would know at least that much.

“Uhm, no. I had no idea.” They’d barely covered geography in school. No one in America knew anything about this stuff. And what did
half
French mean? Which half?

“Didn’t they give you something on the ship to tell you where you were going?”

“Yeah, I guess they did. I didn’t bother reading much of it. I guess I should have, huh?”

“Only if you’re interested.” She resumed eating. “Americans can get away without knowing much about the world. The alpha dog doesn’t have to know about the pack, but the pack better understand the alpha.”

“I guess I’m more interested in business than…geography.” That wasn’t the right word, but what was? Not politics, not sociology. Who the hell knew?

“There’s room in the world for all kinds of interests. I have no interest in business, but I know a lot about…geography. I travel whenever I can.”

“We could start a business teaching people about geography. We’d make a killing.”

Slowly chewing, Kaatje nodded politely with no interest showing in her cool blue eyes.

It wasn’t going to be easy, but she had to be able to show she wasn’t a dunce. “Is this island like the US Virgin Islands are to America?” Thank God she’d read that part in the book that was in her cabin.

“Kinda. Everyone here is a Dutch citizen and we can travel back and forth without restriction.”

“Really? You’re all citizens?”

“Sure. But more people come here from Holland than go the other way. Most of our professional class is Dutch, but the island is much more Caribbean than Dutch. The French side is a different matter. Many West Indians speak French and a lot of French retire here.”

Okay, there is no way to understand this without looking even more stupid. Might as well get it over with.
“The French side? Side of what?”

“Of the island. Half of the island is Dutch. Half is French.” She was speaking so slowly she must have thought Laurie was hard of hearing…or thinking. “They drew a line across the middle of the island—well, not quite the middle, the French side is bigger—and each country took half.”

“Recently?”

“No,” Kaatje said, clearly trying to stifle a laugh. “Not recently. In the seventeenth century. Legend has it they were going to war over the island, but the generals met in a tavern, had a few drinks and decided to just draw a line.”

“That’s interesting. I wish I had more time to explore.”

“Are you going back to work as soon as you get home?”

“Yeah. After four more days of punishment on that stinkin’ boat.” She rested her head on her hand, looking glum.

“Why don’t you do what you want?” Kaatje said this remarkably softly, as if she were afraid of being dismissed.

“I want to go back to work now. That’s what I
really
want. But Fernando won’t let me.”

“Second choice?”

“Oh, I don’t know. It’d be nice to poke around and see what’s on the islands, but it wouldn’t be that much fun going alone.”

Again, Kaatje nodded, her eyes heading back to her plate. She finished her meal in silence, still methodically eating in a neat pattern. When she was finished she got up and picked up their plates and set about washing the dishes. Laurie sat at the table, gazing out at the dark sea that surrounded her. Kaatje was ticked off about something, and Laurie was pretty sure it wasn’t geography. She was hard to read when she got quiet, but she’d closed down even more when talk of work came up. Maybe a woman didn’t want to rock your world and then have you say your fondest wish was to go make some phone calls about a theme park.

Once finished, Kaatje stood by the table. “What now? I can take you back to the tender dock or…whatever you want.”

“Really?”

“Sure.”

“Do you have any plans?”

“No.”

“Would you like company?”

Now Kaatje’s real smile was back. “I’d love company.”

“Then I’d like to stay here.”

“Great. We could stay overnight at anchor, but I should move further out just to be safe. Or we could go back to my mooring.”

“Your mooring is…?”

“Where I dock my boat.”

“It doesn’t matter to me. If we have to move, I suppose we should just do it once, right? The mooring sounds most efficient.”

“Great. We’ll go over there in a bit. In the morning I’ll take you to my parents’ house and you can use your phone and their computer.”

“Damn it, I don’t have my laptop. I feel like I’ve been robbed.” She sighed heavily, then looked back up at Kaatje.
Stay focused and stop thinking about work. You’ll be back in civilization tomorrow.
“That’s very generous of you. Do you have to work in the morning?”

“Yeah. I’ve got people coming at ten, and I have to get lunch made. I’ll probably have to take you up to my parents’ at about eight. Is that okay?”

“Sure. Can I get a cab to the airport from there?”

“Yeah. No problem.” She grinned, then held out her hand, lifting Laurie to her feet. “Let me take a shower and you can pick up where you left off.”

Trying to hide her trepidation, Laurie enthusiastically said, “Great!”

*

They both showered, separately, since there was barely room for a solo adult in the tiny enclosure. When Laurie was finished she found Kaatje outside, an extension cord leading to the blow dryer she held. She was naked and seemed completely unconcerned with modesty as she stretched her arm behind her head to finish drying her hair. Laurie stood in the doorway, wrapped in just a towel. “Hi.”
Time to pay the piper. Can’t let a woman go down on you like a pro and beg o
ff
just because you’re chicken.

“Come on over here.” When Laurie stepped outside to stand next to her, Kaatje wrapped an arm around her and pointed to the town’s glittering lights that created a soft blip of interest in an otherwise dark void. “Look.”

“It’s remarkably beautiful.”

“So are you.” She put her lips to Laurie’s neck and delicately kissed all across her skin. “I’m glad you decided to stay.”

Laurie rested her hands on Kaatje’s arm, then leaned into her embrace. “I am too. You probably can’t tell this, but I’m a little nervous.”

“You’re kidding,” Kaatje said, flatly. “Who would ever have guessed?”

“I know you can tell. That’s why I can talk about it.”

Kaatje kissed the top of her ear, then made her way down her neck, resting for a moment on her collarbone. “Don’t worry. I have no expectations. We don’t have to have sex again. I just like you and want you here as long as you can stay.”

“You do?” She tried to turn to see Kaatje’s eyes, but she was held tightly by that strong arm. “You’re not just being polite?”

“No. I really do like you and I’m very happy you’re staying with me. I always sleep well when someone shares my bed. It’s soothing.”

“It usually takes me a while to get used to sleeping with someone.”

“Then you should stay longer.”

What a perfect thing to say! She didn’t come on too strong, but she’s not afraid to show her feelings. Those are awfully nice traits.

*

They went into the bedroom, where Kaatje opened small windows on either side of the bed. Laurie smiled when a cool breeze wafted across the room. “I love to sleep with the windows open.” She stood as far from Kaatje as she could, hoping to delay the inevitable move to the bed.

“Let me hang up your towel.” Kaatje took it and went to put it into the bathroom. Laurie quickly slipped into bed and covered herself with the sheet, not nearly as unconcerned with her nakedness as Kaatje was.

A few seconds later Kaatje reappeared and she got under the covers as well. “Nice, isn’t it?” She put her hands behind her head and took several deep breaths. “The air is saltier out here, even though we’re just a few hundred yards from the bay.”

“Are we going back to the mooring soon?”

“Yeah, but there’s no rush. I like being alone out here.”

“Me too.”

They were quiet for a minute, then Kaatje said, “Tell me, how did a girl like you wind up in a Dutchwoman’s bed?”

Laurie giggled despite her nerves. “I have no idea. I guess the Dutchwoman’s just too charming to resist.”

“That’s not very likely. I think you might have had an…inkling you might like being with a woman, and you let yourself go with the feeling.”

“I’ve said no to that question every time someone asks. But I was probably fooling myself.”

Kaatje shifted quickly and sat up enough to lean on an arm. She looked almost incredulous. “People have asked?”

“Yeah. Quite a few.”

“No one has ever asked me if I’m possibly straight. Well, not since I’ve been an adult.”

“Really? I wonder why people ask me?”

“Strangers? People on the street?”

Laurie elbowed her. “Of course not. But my mom and my sister and my boss have all asked. Actually, Colin asked. Several times.” She looked at Kaatje. “That’s odd, isn’t it?”

“Seems a little…different. I’m not sure what I’d think if a girlfriend asked me if I were straight.”

“When you say it that way it sounds silly.”

“It doesn’t really matter. Maybe they’ve just asked because you’re not married or serious about anyone.”

“Yeah, maybe. But that doesn’t explain Colin.” Nothing explained Colin. That was probably worth thinking about. Some time. Later.

A few seconds passed, and when Laurie didn’t elaborate, Kaatje said, “You didn’t seem surprised when I told you about my girlfriend leaving me. Did you guess I was gay?”

“Yeah, I thought you were. I work with a lot of gay people, and I can usually tell. My friends tell me I’m one of the few straight women who can almost always pick out lesbians.”

“Maybe that’s why people ask about your sexuality. Maybe they think it takes one to know one.” Kaatje grinned, looking so pretty Laurie had pull her close to kiss her seriously.

Their kisses, growing in intensity and fire, continued until their bodies were entwined. “I like this very, very much,” Laurie breathed, her voice heavy with lust. “No wonder men are sex crazed.” She kissed her again. “We should have sex again, don’t you think?”

With a very seductive grin, Kaatje nodded. “Fantastic idea.”

“I’ll do my best to give you an orgasm or two, then we can conk out.”

“I’ve got a few things to do before I can sleep, but I’ve never refused an orgasm.” Her bright eyes were twinkling, and she looked happy, relaxed and expectant.

“Let me see how involved in this lesbian sex-exploration program I can get.”

“That’s a good idea.” Kaatje stroked her hair as Laurie started to move down her body. “This is one of my favorite views. The top of a woman’s head. Better than a perfect sunset.”

Kaatje was obviously trying to lighten the mood by making a joke, but it didn’t cut the tension. Laurie was as nervous as she’d been the first time she’d had sex, and she knew it was blatantly obvious.

She had fourteen years of experience, but she felt like a raw rookie, unsure of how or where to move, what or when to do it. She tried to still her racing heart and concentrate on what Kaatje had done to her, but she was terrified she’d put her mouth on her and gag or pull away. The first time she’d given oral sex to a boy, she’d held her nose under the covers, sure the taste would make her sick. But she reminded herself that she got over that response and eventually became pretty good at giving head. She had to admit she’d never, ever liked it, and was fairly sure this would be more of the same. Bodily fluids and odors weren’t her thing, but you had to be fair. If you loved getting, you had to give in return.

Kaatje had gone down on her with enthusiasm and what seemed like real pleasure. She pushed on, kissing her way down Kaatje’s lean, muscular body, without a sheet to cover her if she were inept. She stopped at her abdomen, amazed at the tight muscles she found there. In a way, it reminded her of her first boyfriend’s body. He’d been a swimmer and she’d loved to tease his hard belly with kisses, always taking her time to get to where he wanted her to go.