Neptune's Ring (12 page)

“I took the liberty of picking out a couple
of outfits for you in one of the on board shops,” Vanessa said.

“Tonight’s dinner is semi formal and I
realized I hadn’t packed anything suitable for you when we left,”
Vanessa said. “So I picked something out for you.”

Levi smiled at Vanessa. “All you had to do
was say something and I could have gone shopping.”

“I know, but I had so much fun doing it for
you,” Vanessa said with a grin. “Besides, dressing for me is so
easy, it’s white, white and more white,” she said with a chuckle.
“Choosing something other than white was a real treat for me. Why
don’t we shower and then you can model the outfits and select what
you want to wear,” she suggested.

“Sounds good,” Levi said, as she left the
bed.

“Oh, by the way, Liz sent a message thru
Killian and NeNe to us. She and Nat want us to meet with them for
lunch on Friday.”

“I wonder what those two are up to now,” Levi
said.

Vanessa chuckled. “With those two, you never
know, but she mentioned something about a business proposal.”

“That should be very interesting then,” Levi
said, as she reached for Vanessa’s hand.

“We better get moving or we are going to be
late for the Captain’s dinner,” she teased.

“Well there is one good thing about being the
Captain, they can’t start without me,” Vanessa said, with a
grin.

“That’s true, but it would make such a
horrible impression for you to be late,” Levi said.

“Relax, we have plenty of time,” Vanessa
said, as she pulled her into her arms and kissed her sweetly.

“You kiss me like that again and you will
definitely be late,” Levi said, with a smile.

“I will save them for later then,” Vanessa
said.

“I will hold you to that, my sexy Captain,”
Levi said, as they walked into the bathroom.

They showered quickly and dried their bodies.
Vanessa wrapped a towel around her waist and took Levi’s hand, then
walked to the large walk in closet. Vanessa reached for the first
of two outfits and watched as Levi’s eyes lit up.

Levi took the hangers from Vanessa and laid a
pair of black Versace slacks and a black blouse on the end of the
bed. The slacks were silk lined and the blouse was very trimly
tailored. The size looked about right and she dressed in panties
and bra then pulled on the slacks. The length and fit was perfect.
Levi could not have chosen better if she had shopped for herself.
She picked up the tailored blouse and slipped it over her arms and
slowly fastened each button.

Vanessa smiled, pleased with her choice and
watched as Levi got dressed. “I must admit, I may have made a
mistake,” she said.

Levi looked at her with a puzzled look.
“What, do you think they don’t fit well?” she asked.

“No, they clothes fit you perfectly, but you
are so beautiful I may need to employ a body guard for you
tonight,” Vanessa said.

Levi chuckled. “I thought Killian was my
assigned body guard in your absence,” she teased.

“Killian may not be enough tonight,” Vanessa
said. “You look fantastic, Baby.”

“Thank you, Vanessa, but you really shouldn’t
have spent this kind of money,” she chided.

“I get a really good discount,” Vanessa said
with a wink. “I saw this outfit and I knew you had to have it and
it suits you so well.”

“Thanks Baby,” Levi said, as she kissed
Vanessa.

“My pleasure Sweetheart,” Vanessa said. “You
will also find shoes and accessories in the box,” she said, as she
walked into the closet to dress for work.

As promised, Levi opened the box on the bed
and pulled out soft black leather dress boots and black hose. Also
inside the box was a smaller box, commonly sized for jewelry. Levi
lifted the lid to discover a slim jeweled Rolex dress watch. Levi
fastened the watch on her right wrist and again it fit
perfectly.

“That’s it,” she said. “From here on out, you
are doing all my shopping,” she said to Vanessa who leaned against
the bathroom door watching her.

“Well then, I hope to do it for the next
thirty years or so,” Vanessa said, with a wink. “After that, I
think we will retire to a nudist colony so we won’t need any
clothes,” she said with a chuckle.

“That could prove very interesting,” Levi
said, as she walked over and kissed Vanessa.

They finished dressing and left the cabin for
the main dining room. “Killian will seat you at our table as I
welcome the guests,” Vanessa said as they walked. “I will join you
once dinner begins.”

Killian was waiting at the front door of the
dining room and her face glowed when she saw them approach. “You
look ravishing, Levi,” she said as she kissed her on the cheek.
“You two make such a handsome couple you must have some pictures
taken tonight.”

“I think that can be arranged,” Vanessa said
with a grin. “Killian, will you take care of my lady while I greet
our guests?” Vanessa asked.

“It would be my pleasure,” Killian said, as
she offered Levi her arm. “You really do look gorgeous,” Killian
said, as they walked to the Captain’s table.

“Thank you, Killian. Vanessa did a wonderful
job shopping for me,” she said.

“I can definitely agree with that,” Killian
said, as she winked and pulled out a chair for Levi and then took a
seat beside her.

They watched as Vanessa greeted the guests
and when Killian had seated Cass, she said, “If you ladies will
excuse me I will help our Captain greet the guests.”

“Thank you, Killian,” Levi said.

“You look fantastic, Levi,” Cass said, as she
took the seat next to Levi.

“So do you Cass,” Levi said in return.

“Thank you, but I admit, I hate these formal
dinners,” she chuckled. “As soon as we are done here, I am back to
shorts and sandals,” she grinned.

“I don’t think I will be too far behind you,”
Levi said with a smile.

“Thank goodness there is only one formal
dinner on this cruise and they get it over with quickly,” Cass
said.

“I hope you plan on coming to the club once
we get to the island,” Levi said. “We have a laid back atmosphere
and the place is generally crowded.”

“I will definitely be visiting you to try out
your Tropical E’s,” Cass said. “When do you have to go back to
work?”

“I will probably work at least part of the
evening Thursday. Nat and Liz have been filling in for me and will
probably be ready for my return.”

“If I know Nat, she will be right in the
thick of things, with Liz right behind her,” Cass said with a
chuckle.

“You are absolutely right about that.”

Killian and Vanessa joined them at the table
as the last guests were seated. They brought Barb and Sydney with
them and introduced them to Levi and Cass.

Additional wine was brought to the table and
Vanessa made a toast. “To old friends and making new ones,” she
said, as she touched glasses with everyone at the table.

Killian sat beside Cass and kept the
conversation going with Cass and the new couple, while Vanessa and
Levi talked quietly.

“You sure are handsome in that uniform, my
dear Captain,” Levi said.

“Several of the staff have complimented on
how nice you look,” Vanessa said. “I guess I did ok shopping,” she
teased.

“You did an excellent job,” Levi said.

The dinner went smoothly and they finished
dessert and decided to share another bottle of wine before they
parted for the evening. Levi was excited about her evening plans
with Vanessa and Killian and smiled when the wine was finished and
the guests began to leave the table.

When it was down to Cass, Levi, Vanessa and
Killian, “Vanessa said, “We are going to meet Killian up on the top
sun deck to observe the meteor shower tonight if you would care to
join us.”

“I think I will pass and call it an early
night,” Cass said. “I will see you tomorrow,” she said to Levi as
she stood and was escorted from the dining room by Killian.

“We have a couple of hours to relax before we
are scheduled to meet Killian,” Vanessa said. “Would you mind
having some pictures taken with me?”

“I would love that,” Levi said, as she stood
and took Vanessa’s hand.

They walked out of the dining room and down a
hall where several photographers were set up taking photographs of
guests in front of a variety of backdrops. Levi and Vanessa took
several shots at each backdrop and thanked the photographers for
their services.

“The photographs will be on display tomorrow
morning before we arrive at Venus Rising,” Vanessa said. “I would
like to come down and view them with you and select some for
enlargement.”

“Great idea,” Levi said. “I will look forward
to that.”

“Are you ready to change into something more
comfortable?”

“These are very comfortable clothes,” Levi
said, “but yes, I think shorts would be better for star
gazing.”

Vanessa beamed at Levi. She was very proud
that Levi approved and enjoyed her selection of clothing.

They strolled down the deck and passed one of
the dance clubs, the wild beat vibrating through the walls and
Vanessa looked at Levi.

“I would rather just spend our time together
with you,” Levi said.

Vanessa smiled at Levi and they continued to
walk. When they reached the bow of the boat, they stood facing the
breeze and held one another close as they stared across the
water.

“I wish this moment could last forever,” Levi
said.

“The moment won’t, but I hope the happiness
will,” Vanessa said, as she took Levi’s chin in her hand and kissed
her lips softly. “I love you,” she whispered.

“I love you too,” Levi said, as her hands
circled Vanessa’s waist.

They spent nearly an hour walking the decks
and talking before they walked back to the cabin to change clothes.
They both changed into shorts and pull over’s and slipped into deck
shoes.

Vanessa took Levi’s hand and they walked to
the elevator to go up to the sun deck. Killian had already arrived
and was sitting comfortably on one of the loungers as they
approached. She smiled at them and poured glasses of wine as Levi
and Vanessa got settled.

“It is such a beautiful night,” she said, as
she handed them each a glass.

“It looks like the show has already begun,”
Vanessa said, as she pointed toward a bright streak across the
sky.

“They are getting more frequent,” Killian
said, with a soft smile.

The three women sat gazing up to the heavens
as they watched the meteors streaking across the night sky. Their
silence was broken every few minutes when one or more of them would
let out an “oh” or “ah” when a spectacular display was seen or a
particularly colorful light was made.

“This is absolutely beautiful to witness,”
Levi said. “Have you seen anything like this before?” she
asked.

“The only other thing I can think of that
comes close is seeing the Northern Lights,” Vanessa said.

“Very true, Captain, I can remember a cruise
two years ago when the skies were so purple and green, that it was
almost as bright as daylight hours,” Killian said.

“Do you still have the photographs from that
night?” she asked.

“Somewhere, I would have to dig them up,”
Killian said.

“I would love to see them when you run across
them,” Levi said.

“It was truly amazing to see the lights
shimmering in the sky,” Killian said, as she remembered back to
that night. “That was one of our first cruises together wasn’t it,
Captain?” Killian asked.

“Yes, it was Killian,” Vanessa smiled.

They watched the shower until almost three
when the meteors became fewer and fewer.

“I think it is time we called it a night,”
Vanessa said. “See you for breakfast in the morning?” she asked
Killian.

“Of course, my Captain,” Killian said. “I
will drop in on the control room before heading in for the
night.”

“See you at seven then,” Vanessa said, as
Killian walked ahead of them.

“Thank you for sharing tonight with us,” Levi
said.

“My pleasure,” Killian said then she turned
to walk toward the control room.

“You must be exhausted,” Levi said, as they
walked toward the cabin.

“I am tired, but I will catch up on some
sleep once we arrive at the resort,” Vanessa said.

“You can sleep all day by the pool or in my
room,” Levi said, with a grin.

They undressed and climbed in between cool,
fresh sheets. Vanessa rolled onto her side and Levi draped her arm
over Vanessa’s waist as she snuggled into her body. “Good night My
Love,” she whispered to Vanessa, but she had already fallen
asleep.” Levi smiled and held her lover close as she followed her
into sleep.

“Hey Baby,” Liz said when Nat walked into the
room. “Did you have a good evening she asked?”

“It was busy,” Nat said, as she leaned to
kiss Liz. “Simone came in and I thought she was going to cause a
stir, but tonight’s events seem to be working out for the best,”
she said with a chuckle.

“That sounds like a wicked thought. What
happened?” Liz asked.

“Well Del shows up at the bar with Petra and
is dancing pretty hot and heavy on the dance floor when Simone
walks in and starts shooting daggers with her eyes.”

“Good lord.”

“I caught her by the arm before she reached
the dance floor and drug her back to the bar to cool down and to
warn her about causing a scene in the club,” Nat said.

“The cool down period worked wonders and the
three of them ended up leaving together right before Susan
arrived,” Nat said, as she shook her head. “My deviant little
sister is going to have her hands full tonight apparently.”

“Well at least it keeps her out of trouble, I
think,” Liz added as an afterthought.

“We can only hope.”

“I see you are doing more research,” Nat said
as she looked over her lover’s shoulder,