"Delko, I'm no good on boats!" Natalia cried as Eric lifted her up into a sharp-looking sailboat.
"Natalia, this is the Sloop Poseidon's Pride. My friend Max said I could sail her around for awhile." Eric took his place at the helm, having pulled the anchor, and arranged the masts to collect optimum windspeed.
Natalia sat near the front of the deck, thoroughly impressed. His knowledge and ardent passion for sailing was a hidden talent she hadn't known existed. It was refreshing to see him in another arena altogether.
"Do you feel that?" Eric said, closing his eyes as they left the marina. Natalia gave a curious shrug.
"The wind…it's good today. This is the perfect day to cruise." He remarked with a smile. Natalia finally noticed the wind, the rush of it flowing through her hair. The waters sparkled beneath the bright Miami sun.
The Bay of Biscayne had never looked better, Natalia thought. Sure, she had traveled to Fisher Island on a private ferry to visit her grandparents a few times, but something about sailing…or perhaps something about sailing with Eric Delko, made the trip that much more memorable.
Keats undressed and stepped into Ryan's shower. It was spotless, as was every other square inch of his apartment. Good thing he only saw my room in the dark…it's messier than messy.
She slipped under the hot water, tying her hair up so it wouldn't get wet.
"Need any help in there?" Ryan asked, knocking on the door. Keats froze. Sure, she had slept with him, but that didn't mean she was comfortable parading her naked body in front of him.
"No." She managed to squeak out. She began to hurry, afraid that he would come in anyway to tease her. She rinsed off and stepped out, glancing around for a towel.
"Keats…do you need a towel?" Ryan asked outside the door. He set me up, the dirty dog!!!
Keats hopped back into the shower, pulling the curtain around her body.
"Sure. Could you hand me one?" She asked, more than a bit mortified. Ryan strode through the door, setting a towel on top of the sink near the door. Ryan walked a bit further and stood near the trembling shower curtain.
"Thanks." She said, wondering if he'd take the hint. Ryan remained where he was.
"Well, aren't you going to get the towel?" He asked, standing between Keats and her towel.
"Yeah, but not while you're standing there." She replied. Ryan gave a knowing smile, and crossed his arms over his chest.
"Is it that big a deal?" He asked. Keats nodded emphatically.
"Then I guess it wouldn't be such a good idea if you moved in with me." He said as he left the bathroom with a grin. Keats smacked her forehead in frustration.
Not fair. He was testing me!
"You mean you were actually gonna ask me that?" She yelled after him. Ryan's head poked around the door.
"We're married, Keats. It's not right that we live under separate roofs." He explained. Keats nearly jumped for joy.
"But eventually you're going to need to get over this shyness." He added, getting closer and closer. Keats tightened the curtain around her instinctively. Ryan rolled his eyes and took his shirt off.
"What in blue blazes are you doing?" Keats asked. Ryan continued to shed clothing as though he hadn't heard her. Keats closed her eyes before he was completely naked. She felt Ryan tug at the curtain and bit her lip.
"Do you mind, Keats? It's my turn to shower." He said, stepping behind the curtain. Keats made a mad dash for the towel, but Ryan latched onto her elbow. He pulled her back in, the pelts of hot water cascading down her back.
Before she could think to be self-conscious, he pressed her against him, running his lips across her wet shoulders. She kissed him teasingly, shying away at just the right moment until he was sufficiently angered.
When she finally did kiss him without backing off, she punctuated it by bounding out of the shower. She wrapped the towel around herself in a hurry and gave the toilet a hearty flush.
"Mr. Wolfe, I do declare! I never shower with married men!" She said in a thick, mocking southern drawl.
"Eric, it's so beautiful." Natalia murmured, gazing over the side of the Poseidon's Pride. He had taken her to a place where the water was clear and blue enough to see to the very bottom. It was breathtaking.
"Um…Nat…I have some bad news." Eric said, glancing up at the sails. Natalia's eyes widened.
"We're not sinking, are we?" She asked in terror. Delko laughed.
"The wind died down. It looks like we're stuck here for awhile." He got up and went behind the helm, grabbing a few things from a large bag.
"Here. I was going to wait until we went to the beach later, but now is as good a time as any." He handed her a tall crystal glass, uncorking a bottle of Dom Perignon champagne.
"Eric…it's so expensive." Natalia said. Eric filled both glasses and clinked them together.
"I wonder when the wind will come back…" He said, mildly disappointed that his special date with Natalia hadn't gone as planned.
"I don't think I care if it ever comes back." Natalia whispered, inching her lips closer to Eric's. The kiss was one that made Delko think that even if the date had been changed, it definitely wasn't for the worst.