Author's Note:
Well here it is Part VII I hope you enjoy it. Sorry I was having more computer problems and a little bit of writer's block but I can't complain. This one is rather long and has some shippery moments. Anyway feed back is much appreciated and Thanks to all of you who may read it.
The Royal Tahitian
Out in the Pacific Ocean
0630 Romeo
Harriet and Bud stood outside Suite 19, deciding whether or not to knock. They couldn't hear any movement. Harriet was about to knock when Bud said,
"Oh Harriet they are surely awake by now and remember the steward gave us that extra key to their cabin."
"No Bud! That is terribly rude. What if they are still asleep? We can't just…" Bud ignored her and put in the key and slowly opened the door. They stepped inside and shut the door as quietly as possible and took in the sight.
Mac's eyes fluttered open and once she recalled where she was she realized she couldn't sit up due to the fact of someone's arms around her. She stiffened when she felt a body up against her through the linen sheets. She then relaxed when she realized it was Harm. She wasn't quite sure what had woken her up until she heard, a voice whisper,
"See Bud I told you they were asleep! Now can we just go?" Harriet pleaded softly.
"Not so fast lieutenants." Mac said from the bed. Carefully she untangled herself from Harm who groaned with displeasure in his sleep at her leaving his side. She pretended not to notice as she still in her pjs led them out onto the balcony.
"Now what are you doing in here?" She asked pointedly. Harriet was first to speak,
"Well ma'am we were heading off to breakfast then to explore the ship and we wanted to see if you two would like to join us. Bud somehow got a hold of an extra key for your cabin and instead of waiting patiently or knocking he decided that we should just go in." Harriet scolded, looking directly at Bud. Mac sighed,
"Alright I'll believe that but next time please knock. Now you two just go ahead and head to breakfast we will catch up in a few minutes." Mac then stepped back inside after Bud and Harriet. After ushering them out she walked to Harm's side of the bed and gave him a playful slap on the ass and said,
"Alright Sailor up you get. It's time to stop dreaming of long legged blondes and Tomcats, we have a breakfast date." She heard him groan and saw him pull the sheets over his head. She quickly walked back over and threw the covers back so that Harm cringed from the lack of warmth.
"No, I don't want to." He protested like a little boy. Mac hopped into the mother role and countered sitting on the edge of the bed,
"Yes, now come on get up whatever you were dreaming about can't be that great, so let's go!" Harm sat up sleepily at this comment and climbed out of bed and yawning said,
"Okay 'mom' I'm up and by the way I wasn't dreaming about blondes." Mac rolled her eyes and shook her head. Harm smiled at her and padded off into the bathroom to get ready.
Within 35 minutes they were showered ready to go. Mac's hair was still wet when they left to meet the Robert's. They found the Robert's in the main dining area at a small table sipping coffee and Bud was reading the paper.
"Hello ma'am we were about to start without you, but now that you're here I say let's eat.
They all rose and made their way to the buffet table, which was piled high with every breakfast food imaginable. From apples to waffles it was all there and Mac piled her plate high. Harm however was pickier and only filled his plate to the minimum.
Sitting back down they all ate breakfast quietly no one saying a word about the morning or the previous night's events. After his second cup of coffee Harm finally started up a conversation.
"So where do you think we will start today?"
"Oh I don't know maybe we should start on the top and work our way down." Mac suggested. Harriet pulled out a map of the ship and they decided that they would start on the Sunrise deck and work their way down. They finished breakfast and then made their way up the gigantic staircase to the Sunrise Deck.
Stepping through the doorway to the small café up there Mac let out a gasp. It was beautiful. The glass windows that spanned the deck showed a magnificent view of the open ocean. The furniture was light colored and looked very comfortable. There was a grand piano at the far end and the rich carpeting looked so soft you could sleep on it. Bud and Harm however were not extremely interested and stood looking out the window while Harriet and Mac chattered about it.
After what seemed like a half-hour the foursome continued on their journey through the ship. The saw everything. The indoor and outdoor pool decks and the casino the theater and much to Mac and Harriet's pleasure the salon and spa. They skipped lunch and by the time they had finished it was almost three o'clock and Mac's feet were sore from wearing her sandals so long and her stomach was growling uncontrollably.
"Mac are you hungry?" Mac shook her head no when Harm asked her on the way back to the suite. They had left he Robert's at one of the cafes on the lower decks and Harm was ready to crash on the balcony for a nap in the deck chairs.
" I can hear your stomach growling. Do you want something to eat? We could catch up with Bud and Harriet." He chided, Mac sighed back softly,
"No, Harm all I really want to do is get back and take off my shoes and just relax. I'm sure our evening is going to be a busy one." Harm cocked an eyebrow and tried to hold back a remark but when they stepped inside suite 19 he said,
"A busy evening? Don't you think your rushing it a little bit? I mean… OUCH!!" Harm shouted as Mac's sandal collided with the back of his head.
"HEY! What was that for? What did I say?"
"You know perfectly well what you said and you had better be thankful we aren't in uniform or…or, never mind! You know that I should…" Harm interrupted sitting down on the bed next to Mac,
"I know a red light but like I said once I think we are past the traffic lights."
"Well then if we are past it I suppose I can tell you why naval aviators…"
"Mac don't even go there. Look I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you. You know I would never do that, but did you have to throw the sandal at me?" Harm rubbed his head gingerly, flinching slightly. Mac smiled and said,
"I know you wouldn't but I needed to get that sandal as far away from me as possible and you were just in the way." She stood up and walked over to the French doors and opening them stepped out onto the balcony barefooted and sat down with a sigh in one of the deck chairs. Harm still inside shook his head and stepped over to the telephone and picked up the receiver.
"Hello…Yes one plate…. Put it under Rabb…Yes, suite 19…Great it will be here in fifteen minutes…Thank you, goodbye." Harm hung up the phone and joined Mac on the balcony.
"Hey you, how are those feet?"
"They're still sore but I'll live." Mac said still keeping her eyes closed and basking in the sunlight. Harm smiled at how peaceful she seemed.
"How does this feel?" Harm picked up one of her feet and setting it in his lap began to massage it slowly with his strong hands. Mac groaned with pleasure at his touch and she felt safe and at peace. Harm continued to massage her feet gently until he thought he heard a knock at the door. He stood up much to Mac's disappointment and sauntered over to the door. Mac from her chair could hear muffled voices from inside and puzzled got up just as Harm walked out, with a platter of fresh chocolate covered strawberries.
"What are those for?" She asked looking at them hungrily.
"Well aren't we nosy? But since you asked they're to eat and don't tell me you don't want any, because I know you do." Harm answered, setting the tray down on the small table between the two chairs. He then picked one of the strawberries up and held it just inches from his mouth with the intention to eat it. He held it in his hand and prepared to take a bite. Mac watched him with longing. Harm took a small bite and then Mac had had it. She grabbed Harm's hand and ate the rest of it out of his fingers. When she finished it she stepped back satisfied, Harm stared at her. She was eating out of his hand literally and he was amazed, he shook his head and set the stem on the tray before teasing,
"You know you could have gotten another one. You didn't have to eat mine."
"Well it just looked so good and I just… well, I don't know what came over me. I'm sorry." Mac admitted embarrassed. She then sat back down on the chair and grabbing another one devoured it. Harm sat down in the chair next to her and smiling watched her eat in silence. There was something sexy about the way she ate but Harm couldn't quite put his finger on what it was. Mac could feel his eyes on her and she suddenly became self-conscious of the way she was eating. She slowed down a bit and took smaller bites. By the time she had reached the last one she was eating with so much seductiveness it took everything Harm had not to become rather excited. Oh man I wish I was that strawberry. He thought and continued to watch her. Within a two more bites Mac had finished it and licking her fingers she looked at Harm. What she saw caused her to double over in laughter.
"Well Harm I'm surprised I had no idea something innocent as strawberries turned you on."
"What did you say?" Harm asked and then following Mac's line of sight he understood.
"Oh, SHIT! If you will excuse me." He then quickly stood and hurried inside.
Once inside Harm went into the bathroom and turning on the cold water stripped down and stepped in. Standing there in the cold water he mentally scolded himself.
Great, that was just great. Now what is she going to think? I really blew it. God this sucks! But she did look awfully sexy… WHOA! No way I'm not going to think like that. Think clean pure thoughts. She is your friend. Your best one in fact. Yes but you love her don't you? Harm's conscience reminded him. Harm turned off the water after a few more minutes of his scolding and then after drying off and dressing he rejoined Mac who was now lying in the late afternoon sun dozing. Quietly he sat down and watched the horizon until the warmth from the sun caused him to drift off to sleep.
The Royal Tahitian
Out in the Pacific Ocean
01745 Romeo
Mac awoke with a start. She was still asleep on the balcony but now the sun was sinking in the sky and the breeze over the ocean was getting cooler. Looking over at Harm who was curled up in the chair fast asleep, Mac smiled. He had had a long day and she hadn't helped much, but his antics were rather funny. Standing she went inside and grabbed the light weight cotton blanket from the end of the bed and turned back to cover Harm when a soft knock stopped her.
"Come in." She called softly. She then stepped out and quickly laid the blanket over Harm and tucked in the edges. She went back inside and then remembered she had to let whomever it was in. She opened the door to see Bud and Harriet standing there.
"Hello ma'am are you ready to go to dinner it's almost six." Harriet asked.
"Dinner…Oh dinner! Harriet come in I'm sorry I guess we lost track of time. Harm's still asleep, let me go wake him up." Mac opened they door wider and ushered the suspicious Roberts into the small sitting area then she went out onto the balcony and gently shook Harm.
"Hey Harm wake up we got to go." Mac cooed.
"Alright Sweetheart I'll be up in a minute." Harm muttered he was still half dreaming and thought the Mac that he was talking to was the Mac that he was married to in his dreams.
"Okay lover boy come on I'm hungry and I'm sure Bud and Harriet are too."
"What are Bud and Harriet doing here?" Then it occurred to him where he was and he sat straight up almost falling out of the chair.
"Come on let's go, and thank goodness it's a casual night and we are going up to the Sunrise deck to eat at the cafe there." Mac filled him as she folded the blanket and stretched a bit. Stepping inside Harm blinked and adjusted his eyes to the light before seeing Bud and Harriet grinning at each other. They had heard what Harm had said and had taken it at face value. Harm quickly ran a comb through his short hair while Mac fixed her makeup. They both then alongside the Roberts left for dinner.
The Sunrise Café
The four of them sat around at the small lamp lit table conversing softly while they waited on their dinner.
"According to the itinerary we are going to reach Papeete at around nine am. And then Bud and I are going on a tour of the island do you want to come along, or do you have something else planned?" Harriet prompted.
"Of course I will come along it would be really fun and I don't know when I might come back to Tahiti so why not. How about you Harm?"
"Sure, that's fine just as long as you're there." Harm stated absentmindedly. He was more focused on the waitress carrying their food.
"Harm when you've put your eyes back in we can plan tomorrow's events."
"Mac my eyes are in and I was listening I'm just hungry and that blonde just happens to have a veggie burger calling my name." Harm stated.
Mac rolled her eyes, but was surprised when Harm was right. The blonde waitress brought their food over and set Harm's veggie burger in front of him with a sickeningly sweet smile and then sat Mac's steak down in front of her. She then set down the Roberts fish and walked off swaying her hips a little too much for Mac's liking. She pursed her lips and began to cut her steak with a purpose. She knew Harm wasn't looking at the food on the tray and she couldn't help but be jealous and protective it was in her nature.
They ate in almost silence Mac and Harriet occasionally commented on the food or bout what they were going to do the next day. Before they knew it they had finished their meal and it was going on eight o'clock. Mac carefully folded her napkin and set it on the table and leaned back in the plush chair. Harm and Bud had ordered a cobbler and were still eating and Harriet had bustled off to find a restroom. She still didn't have her sea stomach yet and the seasickness came back. Mac didn't see how you could get sick when you were laying in bed was really the only time you could feel the ship moving.
When Harriet returned she said to them,
"Well the fish didn't quite agree with me so I think I will turn in."
"Goodnight Harriet and I hope you feel better tomorrow." Mac said. Bud rose and left with Harriet and Harm and Mac sat there for a minute before Harm sighed,
"Well we should turn in too I think. After all we have a busy day ahead of us." Mac nodded. They gave their ship board credit card to the waitress and she rang it up and then they were on their way back to suite 19.
30min. later
Harm climbed in beside Mac in the bed and turned off the lamp.
"Hey Mac,"
"Yes Harm."
"How are we going to get at Bud and Harriet?"
"I don't know I haven't really thought about it. I sleep on it and see what I come up with. Now goodnight Harm."
"Hey Mac,"
"What Harm?"
"Umm… goodnight. Sweet dreams."
"You too… Darling." Mac teased back softly and rolling over she closed her eyes and fell asleep quickly leaving Harm laying there confused in the dark.
