A/N: Another update since I had time while testing. I hope you all enjoy. It's about to start getting interesting. :)
Alex looked around the grandiose Norwegian cruise liner as she and Casey boarded that afternoon. Most of the journey to their stateroom was spent in quiet solitude, which gave her time to ponder what the hell she was doing. Everything had happened so quickly that she hadn't stopped to think.
It seemed that the moment Casey had arrived at her hotel room door, that every following reaction was adrenaline induced. From packing to rushing for the boat, she hadn't taken a second to stop and think about what she was doing. This partly excited her because it was such unfamiliar territory, but it also terrified her. She was clearly attracted to Casey, but was it just infatuation or true chemistry.
She knew she liked Casey, and in fact felt like she could develop genuine feelings for her given the appropriate amount of time. However, she found herself apprehensive of going away alone with her. What if they ended up hating each other? What if they lacked intimate chemistry? What would they do when they were trapped on a boat for two weeks together?
All in all, she thought her fears seemed a little silly, especially since she'd been the one to impulsively follow Casey to Naples in the first place. Yet, now walking down the 17th deck of the enormous cruise ship, she wondered if she'd bitten off more than she could chew. The only thought repeatedly running through her mind like a broken record was, "Am I ready for this?"
She liked Casey's mysterious and driven persona, it was polar opposite of her ex-girlfriend Billie, yet she was also shaken by it. In a way, it was like waiting for the other shoe to drop. Seeing the butler that was leading the way turn them down a hallway towards the final staterooms, she began frantically looking everywhere for a way out.
Casey looked over her shoulder at the clearly nervous blonde. Alex seemed almost ashen and kept her eyes wandering everywhere but to her, and it was impossible to miss the tremble in the woman's hands. She couldn't help but figure her fears probably had a lot to do with their sporadic departure. Taking a swift breath, she broke the ice, "Are you okay?"
The startled look on Alex's face gave her completely away for good. "Yeah, I'm fine."
"Don't play poker," Casey said with a chuckle.
"Why?"
Rolling her eyes, she shook her head, as their butler stopped before a stateroom. "Because you are a lousy liar."
"Oh," was all the blonde could reply, before the doors were opened to a very large expansive room.
"Welcome to the owners suite, ladies," the forty something year old man spoke, "This is your main living and dining area, straight ahead is your balcony lounge space, and on either side of the main room you have two guest bedrooms with private baths. You also have unlimited access to the spa, and you have unlimited use of the penthouse courtyard. Your passes are linked to your wrist bands. If you need anything while you are here just page me, my name is Joseph."
Alex found herself perplexed by the information overload, so much so, that she didn't even notice the man leave the room. Shaking her head clear, she looked to the redhead. "There are two bedrooms?"
Casey couldn't control her sudden snort of a laugh, "Yes. You have to wine and dine me a little more before I would be willing to share a bed with you."
Straightening herself, Alex quickly countered, "Well, I am glad your dignity held true. I was a bit nervous that you were expecting more."
She couldn't help but smirk at the other woman, "Personally, I prefer to wait till I know my interest, is equally interested," she replied with a wink as she grabbed her bags.
Alex wasn't sure if the redheads comment was genuine or meant to insult. Shaking it off, she picked up her own luggage and walked into the other room. The moment she stepped inside she gasped at the beauty. There were floor to ceiling windows looking out onto the water and the bed was laden with exquisite linens.
"Case, is your room as nice as mine?" She called out.
"Well, if by nice you mean the enormous windows and posh bed then yes."
"Good," Alex replied with a laugh, "because I would have hated to trade."
"Glad to know we are equals then," the redhead called back with a laugh, "Let's get unpacked and go exploring."
Two hours later, the unusual duo found themselves sitting at one of the crowded pool bars looking over a map while enjoying margaritas. The enormous kid free ship seemed ladled with different ends and outs for getting lost. Yet, while this may have amused Casey, it seemed to cause Alex the need to memorize every deck.
"I think you are trying too hard," the redhead scoffed, as she watched her companion, "Just let go and get lost a little. Live a little!"
Watching Casey lick the salt from the rim of her drink, she shook her head, "I like knowing my way home. Don't you like knowing the way home?"
Watching some passengers bouncing in the wave pool, Casey thought the question over. "I haven't had a reason to know the way home in a long time."
"What do you mean?"
"Nothing." She sighed looking off at the wave pool again.
Alex frowned at her companion. "No, tell me please."
Looking in the direction of her counterpart, she answered, "Home is not where my heart is, so I don't see a need to go back."
"And where is your heart?" Alex asked softly as she looked at the woman intently.
"Right here," she responded pointing at her chest.
Fastening her eyes on the redhead, she continued to question, "Do you miss anything from home?"
A genuine smile formed on Casey's lips, "Yes, I miss the Empire State Building."
With that answer, a million questions exploded in Alex mind, only to be interrupted by a deep southern voice.
"Do you mind if we sit here?"
Looking up, Alex and Casey found themselves staring at a beachwear clad brunette and blonde. The blonde was wearing a big sun hat, while the other woman simply wore big Jackie-O style sunglasses. The confusion Alex and Casey wore on their faces must have been evident, because the blonde quickly added, "My name is Serena and this is my fiancé Abbie, we just thought you two might be...um...accepting..."
"Oh," Casey exclaimed in understanding, "Yes, please take a seat." Alex quirked an eyebrow at Casey, earning a fast answer, "They think we're a couple."
"Oh my god, I didn't mean to assume!" The woman they now knew as Serena exclaimed.
Casey simply smirked at the two women now occupying the once free seats opposite them. "No offense taken." Reaching her hand across the table to Abbie she continued, "Name's Casey," shaking both women's hands she gestured to her counterpart, "and this is Alex."
"Well," the southern continued, "It is very nice to meet you. Thank you for letting us join you. We have been a little turned around."
"So have we!" Casey laughed as she threw a thumb in Alex's direction, "My partner here has been memorizing the map around the boat."
"Smart woman," Serena stated as she flagged a waiter. As the young man approached, she said, "I'd love a rum punch, and my fiancé will have a mai tai. Would you all like something?"
"I'd love another margarita," Casey added as she looked to Alex nodding, "and so would my partner."
As the waiter walked off, Abbie stared at her two new acquaintances, "So, not together, but you refer to each other as your partner..."
"Um, yeah," Alex said with a chuckle as she finished her margarita.
The couple quickly turned their gaze to Casey, who looked to the wave pool, "Well, this is a story better shared over dinner...So, would you like to join us?"
