Author's notes: Hi, everyone! Thank you all for the reviews, follows and favorites. I hope you all enjoy the next chapter.
The Overdue Escape
Chapter 4: The Walk Of Shame
"So, I have a great ass?" Michael joked, shaking his head. "Out of all my assets, I would not say, my back end is my best one."
"She was so funny Michael. I tried so hard not to laugh. I can't imagine my grandmother or anyone else in my family saying something like that, they were always so uptight." Sara continued to reminisce out loud. "They were a great couple though. Can you imagine being married for 50 years?"
"Fifty years is a long time" Michael said, continuing to walk hand in hand with Sara towards the Serenity. "It's difficult for me to imagine any relationship lasting longer than ten minutes with Aldo and Christina as role models." Michael said sadly. "However, I'm in it for the long haul, if you'll have me."
"Michael," Sara said, "you had me from the first day we met."
Arriving back at the dock, Michael and Sara boarded the Serenity and took a seat in the back of the boat. The seat was on the lower deck of the boat under an awning. It offered not only privacy, but a chance to get out of the sun. Looking out over the ocean, Michael said, "I could really get used to this lifestyle. No stress, no obligations"..."no money", Sara finished.
"Yes, that would be a problem." Michael smiled looking over at Sara. "How would I keep you in the lap of luxury?"
"Wouldn't that be the other way around, Scofield?" Sara laughed.
"Welcome Aboard!" Captain Jake said loudly interrupting Michael and Sara's conversation. "What are you both doing out here all by yourselves?" Captain Jake didn't wait for an answer, he just kept talking. "What do you think of the boat? She's a beauty isn't she?" Michael wondered when the man would eventually come up for air.
Jake continued to talk as if Michael and Sara were old friends. Jake explained that The Serenity was owned by a man named, Cal Ringler, who started his own charter boat business about three years ago. The Serenity was used mostly for transporting guests between Isla del Sol and the Ocean Side Marina. However, it was also available for scuba diving through the week. Cal and Lincoln had formed a partnership earlier in the year and that's how Jake met Lincoln. Jake finally stopped talking and took a breath.
"Now if you'll excuse me, I have a boat to captain. Relax and enjoy yourself." Jake headed to the upper deck to begin his checklist and departure protocol.
"I didn't think he would ever stop talking." Sara said, pulling out her bag to look for sunscreen.
"I'm thinking Lincoln only does business with Cal. I can't see Lincoln having the patience for Jake." Michael said as he sat back in the seat, simultaneously leaning his head back, shutting his eyes and taking in a huge breath of sea air. Sara put her bag down and reached over and started to run her fingers through his short hair.
Michael looked so peaceful laying there, a little pale though. She was glad to see him relax and knew he could use the rest. He was working a lot and with all the stress of the past year, she wondered how much more he could take. He didn't sleep well and even when he did sleep, he woke up frequently.
Secretly, Sara worried about his health and tried to monitor him discretely. On occasion, she would ask to check his blood pressure and listen to his heart and lungs under the pretense of needing to keep her medical skills sharp. He was usually a good sport about the whole thing, lifting his shirt up while making jokes about "Dr. Feel Good." Sara was convinced that Michael knew what she was up to, but he never said a word.
"How are you feeling today?" Sara asked casually.
"I'm good, just a little tired. But, I am looking forward to getting some much needed rest this weekend." Michael said. "How about you, what are you looking forward to?"
"I wouldn't mind seeing the private waterfall. It sounds really nice and very romantic. Do you think swim suits are optional?" Sara laughed.
Michael took Sara's hand, kissed it and said, "I don't know, but it's a date."
As the boat pulled away from the pier and started the journey towards Isla del Sol, Sara snuggled in closer to Michael. She laid her head on his shoulder as he sat further back into the boat seat, putting his arm around her while stroking her bare arm and shoulder. As she leaned over to kiss him, the wind caught the collar of his button down shirt exposing his neck and collar bone. It was not overtly sexual as the shirt was not unbuttoned very far. However, she did see some of Michael's dark chest hair which added a little mystery. Sara couldn't take her eyes off this little dance between his open shirt collar and the ocean breeze. The dance continuing as the boat went further across the ocean almost as if it was taunting her. Sara felt the overwhelming need to touch Michael, to connect with him in some way.
"Just relax." She whispered in his ear.
Sara began by massaging Michaels scalp and temples slowly. She then moved to the back of his neck and then softly ran her fingers over his throat. Her hands further explored downward under his shirt collar, touching his collar bone and massaging his shoulders. Sara knew Michael was surrendering as she could feel him relax.
Michael looked up at her, his intense blue eyes silently saying 'yes' as she began to slowly unbutton his shirt. The first button, then the second button, three buttons until she got to right above his naval. Michael was coming unglued.
She continued to open his shirt wider without unbuttoning it further, exposing more of his skin. She ran the tips of her fingers back over his throat and then down his neck to the area between his pectorals through the dark chest hair, softly, back and forth, rhythmically. She continued to press her hands into his shoulders and massaging around his neck working her hands further over his chest trying to alleviate the tension. Michael never knew what hit him.
"May I offer you a drink...or a cigarette?" Captain Jake asked startling the couple. "Should I ask the chef to add Michael to the menu?" Sara blushed while Michael quickly tried to button his shirt.
Captain Jake just winked and walked away, saying nothing, which was probably some kind of record for him.
After about 30 minutes the boat started to slow down as it made its approach to Isla del Sol. "How are you feeling now?" Sara asked, as Michael sat up in the seat and stretched his arms over his head.
"I feel like I've been hit by a truck, but in a good way." Michael said as he sat back into the seat.
Sara laughed picking her bag up off the floor of the boat and said. "Is there ever a good way to get hit by a truck?"
"Probably not, but it was worth the risk and the embarrassment. Speaking of risks, how long did you plan...you know...this." Michael said pointing to his shirt that was clearly buttoned incorrectly in his haste attempt.
"It was spontaneous. But, I did study a little massage therapy while in Medical school. Just be grateful we were out here alone or so I thought. Captain Jake is not only a talker, but a stalker too."
Michael just laughed. "Massage therapy? You've been holding back on me Dr. Tancredi" He said as he started to re-button up his shirt.
Sara took Michael's hand gently and said, "I know it's out of your comfort zone, but you're on vacation and you look great, please leave it open."
"How about I button it up just a little and correctly this time?" Michael blushed.
Trying to depart the Serenity was no easy task as Captain Jake stood at the exit. Michael leaned over to Sara and said, "Why do I feel like I'm doing the walk of shame?"
"Because we are," Sara said.
After thanking everyone and promising to be on time for the return trip on Monday, Michael and Sara awkwardly walked past Jake, grabbed their bags and left the boat quickly. "If Jake tells Lincoln about our little public display of affection, I will never hear the end of it." Michael said as they walked toward the resort. "But it was still worth getting caught. When do you think we can try that again?" Sara just laughed.
Checking into the resort went fairly easy as there were not many people waiting. From the information Michael gathered, Isla del Sol was a resort mainly for couples but families and singles came there too. It had many amenities including tennis courts, a large infinity pool with a swim up bar, two different restaurants, a fitness center and a health center. The resort was immaculate and decorated beautifully. The grounds were lush and well taken care of.
"Michael, this place is amazing." Sara went on as she looked around. "Have you ever been to a resort like this before?"
"During my fourth year working at the engineering firm, I attended a conference at a resort in the Bahamas. I thought that place was nice, but it can't compare with this. Besides, my roommate is much better this time." Sara just smiled.
"Here we are, Cabana 12," Michael said.
The Cabana was everything they could have hoped for. It was spacious and decorated very simply, but tastefully. Through the back glass doors was a hot tub on a private patio. Michael pointed to the hot tub and said, "That's going to be useful."
"Michael, did you see this?" Sara said picking up a card sitting next to a silver bucket filled with ice and a bottle of non alcoholic wine.
"Chocolate covered strawberries too? That's a nice touch." Michael said as he opened the card. "The wine and strawberries are from Lincoln and Sophia. They say to have fun."
Michael stood there with the card in his hand."Is everything okay?" Sara looked at him concerned.
"This letter is a lot less stressful than the last one he sent."
To Be Continued