Neptune's Ring Read online

  Simone woke late in the afternoon and found that she was alone in the suite and she was surprised by Del’s absence. She probably went down to the pool to tan and will be back later for dinner, she thought as she stretched painfully on the bed. Last night’s sex had been wild as Del filled her body with wanton lust which surprised even Simone. She would be a good one to keep around until she left the island on Sunday. Her nipples grew hard thinking of Del and her hand slipped between her thighs to give her pleasure.

  When early evening arrived and Del had not returned, Simone placed a call to Del’s room. The phone rang and rang but Del did not answer. Simone placed the receiver back on the telephone roughly as her anger rose.

  Del slept until five and woke up starving. She showered and walked to the dining room and was sitting at a table waiting to order when a young woman approached.

  “Mind if I join you?” the young woman asked.

  “Not at all,” Del said, with a charming smile.

  “My name is Petra,” the woman said. “I saw you dining alone and I thought it would be nice to join you.”

  “Very nice of you indeed, I am Del,” she said.

  “I know, I saw you in the club the other night and I asked the bartender who you are,” Petra said, surprising Del. “I really enjoyed watching you dance and I hoped I would catch you alone sometime during this trip.”

  “It looks like you are in luck then,” Del smirked. “Would you like to join me in the club later?”

  “I would like that very much,” Petra said.

  The waitress arrived to take their orders and then Del and Petra made small talk as they waited. They were laughing over a funny comment when Simone walked to the entrance of the dining room. Simone had tired of waiting for Del to return and had decided to go to the dining room for some dinner. She stopped dead in her tracks when she saw Del with another woman. Simone glared across the room at Del, who was deep in pleasant conversation with the attractive young woman.

  Simone spun on her heels and left the dining room with tears welling in her eyes. She could not believe that Del would betray her like this as she stormed back to her room. Simone had to regain her composure and do it quickly.

  Petra ordered a bottle of wine to accompany their meal and they had nearly a half bottle left when they finished their meal. “Would you care to walk with me to the end of the pier and finish this bottle of wine?” she asked.

  “That would be lovely,” Del said as she rose and picked up her empty glass and the bottle.

  Del and Petra walked to the end of the pier and sat on a small bench. They shared the delicious wine as they continued to get to know one another and several hours passed before they decided it was time to enter the club.

  Nat was behind the bar when Del walked in with Petra on her arm. She smiled up at them as they approached the bar and Nat would loved to have known what occurred for Del to be here with someone new and where Simone was in this turn of events.

  “Good evening ladies,” she said, and Del smiled brightly at her. “What can I get you two tonight?”

  “We would like a couple of tall Tropical E’s,” Del said, as she placed a twenty on the bar.

  Nat poured the drinks for them and took the twenty from the bar and made change for Del. “Here you go ladies. Enjoy,” Nat said.

  “Thanks, Nat,” Del said, before she led Petra into a booth near the dance floor.

  Nat watched them snuggle into the booth and looked up to find NeNe standing in front of her.

  “I wonder what that is all about,” NeNe said.

  “I have no clue, but I am sure there is plenty of drama attached to that story,” Nat said. “I just hope it doesn’t rear its ugly head in here tonight.”

  “Me too,” NeNe said. “May I have a soda?”

  “Certainly,” Nat said, as she poured a drink for NeNe.

  “Where is Susan tonight?”

  “She called to say she was running late, but promised she would be here by eight, so I am covering for her for a little while.”

  “It looks like a good crowd for a Wednesday,” NeNe said.

  “A thirsty one too, I have been busy since the doors opened,” Nat said.

  “Well I will do my best to keep them hot and thirsty,” NeNe said, as she turned to walk back to the booth. “Keep your eyes open NeNe, there is strange electricity in the air tonight,” Nat warned.

  “I will, Nat,” NeNe said, and then walked away.

  Nat couldn’t place her finger on what seemed so odd, but she had a feeling that something was not quite right in the club and she scanned the room nervously.

  Simone rushed back to her suite and collapsed onto the bed crying. Her shoulder was throbbing with pain as her sobs wracked her body and she rolled over to take a pain pill. She swallowed the pill with a sip of water and tossed the glass across the room.

  “Damn you Del,” she screamed after the glass shattered against the wall.

  Simone’s brain was cloudy with so many emotions bombarding her at the same time. Rage filled her body as her heart felt the pain of being discarded by Del. Simone had wrongly assumed that the young tiger that had filled her bed for the past two nights would be there until she left the island and her confidence hit rock bottom.

  “Think Simone,” she said to herself as her body rocked on the edge of the bed.

  Levi sat in the control room for several hours watching Vanessa and Killian as they set all the ships controls. She glanced out the window as Key West came into distant view and saw the lighthouse which graced the emerald shoreline.

  “That’s the last land you will see for a couple of hours,” Killian said, “until we pass a few smaller islands.”

  “I think I will take a walk on the deck and then go back to the cabin for a short nap,” Levi said. “I want to be well rested for later tonight.”

  “Ah, yes,” Killian said. “Vanessa mentioned you were going to witness the meteor storm.”

  “We saw a few falling last night, but I am sure it was nothing like the peak will be.”

  “The report said to expect sixty or more per hour,” Killian said. “It should be a wondrous sight.”

  “Why don’t you plan to join us then, Killian?” Levi asked.

  Killian looked at Vanessa who smiled and nodded at her friend.

  “I will bring the wine,” Killian said, with a huge grin.

  “I will see you later ladies,” Levi said.

  She kissed Vanessa then left the control room and walked back out to the pool.

  Cass was still sitting at the bar chatting with Cory as Levi walked onto the deck.

  “I hope you had a good lunch,” Cory said, as Levi took a seat at the bar.

  “You are correct, the club sandwich was spectacular.”

  “Welcome back,” Cass said, as she turned to Levi with a smile.

  “May I get you anything?” Cory asked.

  “Let me buy the lady a slow grind,” Cass suggested.

  “Very well,” Levi said. “I will have a slow grind, Cory.”

  Cory poured two drinks and placed them in front of Levi and Cass.

  “Thanks for the drink,” Levi said as she picked up her glass and raised it to Cass.

  “You are very welcome,” Cass said, as she touched her glass to Levi’s. “So is this your first cruise?”

  “Yes, Vanessa and I flew back from the resort on Monday and I am an official stow away for the trip down to the island,” Levi said.

  “Well I am very happy to see you on board,” Cass said.

  “How often do you travel?” Levi asked.

  “I take this cruise every few months, but I travel extensively for pleasure,” Cass said.

  “What do you do that allows you to travel so much, if you don’t mind my asking?” Levi said.

  “I was born into money, but I have made my own fortune in the publishing business,” Cass said. “So many people believe that silver spoon babies cannot be successful, so I chose to prove them wrong,” she sa
id with a confident sparkle in her eyes.

  “I worked hard to build my business for ten years and now I employ others to keep it successful as I enjoy reaping the harvest of my hard work,” Cass said.

  “So have you pretty well seen it all?” Levi asked.

  Cass chuckled. “Not even close yet. I have been on every continent, but there is so much to see and do, I am not sure one lifetime will be enough to see it all.”

  “Pardon my asking, but do you always travel alone?”

  “Only for the last three years. My partner of ten years died from cancer and since then I travel alone in search of another soul mate,” Cass said with a warm tone of remembrance in her voice.

  “I am very sorry to hear that,” Levi said, with a blush.

  “There is no need to be sorry for asking anything, Levi. I was blessed to have ten years with Melinda.” She sighed softly. “I have searched many places and when I find someone I am interested in they are generally already taken as is always a case with the good ones,” she chuckled. “So, I travel and search and have a good time doing so,” Cass said with a friendly grin.

  “I hope you find another soul mate,” Levi said. “It sounds like you were lucky to have found Melinda and I am certain there is another just waiting for your arrival.”

  “I hope you are right, Levi. My soul is tired of being lonely,” Cass said, as she took a sip of her drink. “This really is an excellent drink,” Cass said. “If you ever get tired of working for Nat and Liz, I would gladly steal you away,” she said.

  “You know Nat and Liz?” Levi asked.

  “I have known them for years, and two better women cannot be found,” Cass said.

  “That is truly spoken my friend,” Levi said.

  “So you mentioned Vanessa and Killian earlier,” Cass said. “Which one of them makes you smile so?”

  Levi laughed and said, “Vanessa definitely puts a smile on my heart.”

  “That is very refreshing to hear. Sometimes I think true love is a lost cause,” Cass said.

  “I don’t think it is as much a lost cause as it is that people today don’t feel the need to work on love and give up at the first sign of trouble,” Levi said. “It seems a lot of people find it easier just to move on to the next person and hope it will be better.”

  “You are so right about that, Levi,” Cory said. “I see it happen all the time on here as I am sure you do too. Ladies come on board as lovers and leave with someone else. It is impossible to keep up with who is with who anymore, even with our regular crowd.”

  “There was always one part of arguing with Melinda that I liked,” Cass said.

  “Which was what?” Cory asked.

  “The part where I admitted I was wrong before we kissed and made up,” Cass said with a chuckle.

  Levi finished her drink and popped the last chunk of pineapple in her mouth.

  “Would you care for another?” Cass asked.

  “Thanks for the offer, but I need to take a nap. I have a hot date for some meteor gazing with a hot Captain later tonight and I would hate to fall asleep on her.”

  Cory and Cass laughed at Levi’s quick wit.

  “I have really enjoyed talking with you ladies, maybe we can meet again tomorrow,” Levi said.

  “Unless Cory plans to kick me off the stool, I plan to be right here,” Cass said.

  “No way, Cass, you know I love your company,” Cory said.

  “I will see you ladies tomorrow then,” Levi said, then walked to the elevator.

  When she returned to the cabin, the air was nice and cool. Levi stripped out of her clothes, then crawled beneath the covers as she hugged Vanessa’s pillow close to her body and fell asleep.

  PART NINE

  Simone showered and dressed in black jeans and a low cut blouse. She was determined to show Del exactly what she was missing when she entered the club tonight. Simone knew her entrance would attract attention, just as it always did, but tonight, she wanted to make it special. She sprayed her neck with two hundred dollar a bottle perfume loaded with pheromones then made sure her hair was perfect then swallowed another pain pill before she left her suite.

  Del and Petra were heating up the dance floor with some very seductive dancing and Nat was about ready to go tell them to get a room when the door flung open and Simone came strutting into the bar. Her eyes immediately flew to the dance floor and fixed on Del as she ground her hips into Petra’s ass as they danced and Nat saw the anger color Simone’s cheeks.

  Simone blew past the bar like hurricane force winds and was headed for the dance floor when Nat ran up behind her and grabbed her left arm.

  “Oh, no you don’t,” she said, to Simone as she turned her around and escorted her back to the bar. “Sit,” she said to Simone.

  Simone glared at her sister, fire burning in her eyes.

  “Simone if you get up from that stool, I will put you out of the bar myself,” Nat warned. “You need to sit here and cool down or get the hell out.”

  “Would you look at her dancing with that tramp,” Simone said, with lethal venom in her voice.

  “She is not a tramp, Simone and Del is a grown woman and can dance with whomever she chooses,” Nat reminded her.

  “She has spent the last two days fucking my brains out and then just disappeared,” Simone said. “How dare she do that?”

  “Bad karma,” Nat said, suppressing a grin.

  “Fuck karma,” Simone said. “I need a drink.”

  “What do you want?” Nat asked, as she walked back behind the bar.

  “A double scotch please, easy on the water,” Simone said, as her eyes bored holes in the back of Del’s head.

  Nat shook her head then poured her sister a drink and placed it in front of her. “Have you considered taking a break from women for a while, Simone?” Nat asked.

  “Why on earth would I want to do that?”

  “Well, dear Sister, it seems you have hit a streak of bad luck with women, so maybe a break would change your luck a bit,” Nat suggested.

  “You have got to be kidding, I can have any woman I want in this bar,” Simone said.

  “That’s your biggest problem Simone, your endless arrogance,” Nat said. “Maybe if you treated women like human beings instead of your personal sex toys, you would find someone who could love you.”

  “Who needs love as long as the sex is good,” Simone said.

  “One day Sister you will wake up to find your youth and good looks have passed you by, what will you have then?” Nat asked.

  “Some very hot memories of wild sex,” Simone said with a grin.

  “Well I hope those memories will keep you warm in that big empty bed of yours,” Nat said, as she turned away to pour a tray of shots for Karen.

  Simone drained her glass and felt the burn in her throat as she downed the scotch. She spun around on her stool and stood up facing the dance floor.

  Simone took a step toward the dance floor and Nat called her name.

  Simone stopped and turned back to Nat. “I won’t cause a scene in your precious club,” Simone said.

  Nat watched as Simone turned plenty of heads as she strolled onto the dance floor. She walked up behind Petra and wrapped her left arm around her waist as she danced closely behind her.

  “Hello, Del. Why don’t you introduce me to your new friend,” Simone purred.

  “Hello, Simone. Petra, this is Simone,” Del said, as Petra turned to face Simone.

  Petra’s smile lit up when she saw the beautiful Simone inches from her face. “Pleased to meet you,” Petra said, as she breathed deeply of Simone’s sensual perfume.

  Petra’s tongue snaked out of her mouth as she licked her lips, while her body gyrated with Simone’s.

  Simone returned her smile and turned Petra back to face Del on the dance floor.

  Petra could feel Simone’s hot breath on her neck as she whispered, “would you mind if I joined you two?”

  “Not at all,” Petra said her voice near
a purr.

  Del smiled at Petra then at Simone. Simone had reacted just as Del had planned, showing up at the club as the jealous lover.

  She stepped forward and sandwiched Petra between she and Simone as they danced to the upbeat song, until sweat was dripping from their bodies on the heated dance floor.

  “What are you ladies drinking?” Simone asked, as they moved away from the dance floor.

  “Tall Tropical E’s,” Petra said.

  “I will get drinks and then join you in the booth,” Simone said, then walked to the bar.

  “See Nat, I am playing nice,” Simone said.

  “Like a cat toying with a mouse,” Nat said.

  “You were the one who reminded me that they were grown women who could make their own choices,” Simone said.

  “Right,” Nat said, her tone coated with disgust at her sister’s behavior.

  “Please give me another scotch and two tall Tropical E’s,” Simone said sweetly.

  Nat turned to prepare the drinks and placed them on a small tray for Simone. When she handed Simone the tray, Simone said, “I will be back for refills soon,” and walked to the booth.

  Del had excused herself to use the ladies room, so Simone slid in beside Petra and handed her a drink. Simone’s hand rested on Petra’s thigh for a moment.

  “I hope you will save the next slow dance for me,” Simone said, with a charming smile.

  “I would like that,” Petra said, as she pressed her thigh into Simone’s.

  Another one hooked, Simone thought as she watched Petra lean toward her as she breathed in deeply.

  “You smell so delicious,” Petra said, as she placed her hand on Simone’s thigh and lightly stroked it.

  “Thank you, it is a private blend made especially for me.”

  “Smells good enough to eat,” Petra said as she leaned over to lick a bead of sweat from Simone’s neck. “Tastes good too,” she said.

  “That’s just a sample,” Simone teased. “You should try the main course.”

  “Simone, are trying to seduce my dance partner?” Del asked, as she slid into the booth beside Petra,

  “I am trying, yes,” Simone said.

  “Doing a very good job of it too,” Petra said, as she sat between the two gorgeous women.