Paradise
The runway blurred as the jetliner reached
for the sky. It broke through the clouds into the clear morning sun as Hilton whispered, “Did I tell you that it’s going to take thirteen hours to reach
Beef Island Airport in Tortola?”
She nodded half hearing as he added, “We’ll land in Miami, then fly to San Juan and finally to Tortola. It’s a long flight but worth it. Sailing in the
British Virgin Islands is spectacular and we’re going to be on a fabulous boat”.
Hilton Christopher wanted a fast,
comfortable sailboat. He had looked around the Great Lakes and found one at Port
Weller but before making the purchase he decided to try it out bare boating in
the tropics. What could be better on this cold November day than to join the
birds and fly south? Karen Semple agreed to take time from her work and be his
companion and crew. Close friends for several years, she enjoyed going away with
him. There were always surprises, good food and great sex.
As the plane roared south from the cold
the sky lightened. The clouds become puffy and the strengthening sun beamed
through the windows. The ocean below became a lighter shade of blue and tiny
islands took shape almost surreal looking from thirty thousand feet, their
features became more distinct as the plane dropped for landing, golden beaches
promising good times .
A black moonless night
welcomed the flight to Tortola in the British West Indies. Passengers stepping
out of the aircraft were enveloped in the warm, moist Caribbean air for the walk
to the cool new airport building for immigration checks and luggage pickup. Hilton found a taxi to the hotel in Road Town. He,
excited, wanted to go to the bar to see what was
happening. She preferred bed agreed but just for a nightcap. The hotel piano man
played jazz as they sipped cool Rum Collins before surrendering to the night.
The shaft of brilliant sunlight slanting through a crack in the blind roused Hilton and he rolled against Karen’s soft body. Her
quiet breathing and subtle fragrance stirred him and he reached for her. Not really sleeping she welcomed his touch with a soft moan drawing closer. They
embraced and kissed sleepy kisses. Their senses awakened, tension mounted, body moved over body, she moaned softly as he groaned relief. They experienced the
morning rapture that can only be shared by two sleepy people.
Catching his breath, Hilton
nuzzled her breasts but she rolled out of bed and padded to the bathroom leaving him to his thoughts and after glow. A few minutes later he sat up. “I booked
the boat for tomorrow but we’ll have to go to the Charter Office after breakfast. I’ll sign the papers and get provisions for ten days sailing.” A muffled
reply indicated she heard him. He liked Karen very much and was almost in love with her but wasn’t sure. Maybe this trip would prove that the boat was right
for him and that she was too.
The breakfast buffet offered fresh fruit,
mangoes, oranges and grapefruit with toast and coffee set in a background of red
and yellow hibiscus with brilliantly coloured birds flitting among the branches.
Hilton asked for scrambled eggs but Karen feasted on fruit.
“Would you like to
look around the island?” he asked. “We can acclimatize to the bright sunshine and have a leisurely swim.”
“That sounds like
a great idea, Hilton,” she said nibbling on a mango.
The Charter Office at the marina was a short
walk. The door was opened by a bearded man named Simon and after introducing
Karen, Hilton asked about the Hunter 430.
“She’s across the harbour for a refit,” answered Simon,
“ but she’ll be here this afternoon. Let’s get on with the paper work. Here’s a list of the provisions most people take. Look it over and let me know
what you want.”
Karen took on the food and drink department
while Hilton and Simon completed the charter agreement.
“Don’t order too
much. There are places in the islands where provisions are available and people usually visit island restaurants when they have had enough shipboard cooking,”
he added. Karen and Hilton checked the order arguing about a few items but nothing serious.
“I’ll
have it all put it on board ready for an early morning departure, you’ll be anxious to get going.”
“We want to look
around the island today. Do you have any ideas where we can go?” Karen asked before they left the office.
“The island’s
not big and the best bet is Jakes taxi. He’ll look after you personally if I ask him.”
Jakes reasonably new car wound its way out of
Road Town up a steep hill toward the ridge that runs the length of the island
where dense green bush pressed against the Ridge Road. Jake pointed out the
islands across the channel they would soon visit as he drove across the island
to a quaint restaurant at West End where he recommended they lunch in a garden
restaurant surrounded by bougainvillea and oleander.
“We’d like to
swim after lunch,” Hilton said climbing out of the car. “Do you know a good place?”
Jake
knew of a reef a few metres offshore and after lunch took them to a wide expanse of light brown sand where waves splashed in from the protected bay. “Swim
straight out from here, you’ll find it, sure enough.” .
“This looks fine,
will you come back in a couple of hours?”
Changing behind a thatch was no problem for Karen, who while
modest, is not a prude. She wanted to lie in the sun before swimming. Hilton
joined her gently fondling her breasts and caressing her golden hair. He grinned
when she arched her back brushing his hands away when his touch reached
sensitive places between her thighs. A dreamy hour passed as they began to burn.
It was time to get out of the sun.
The reef was
a short swim from the beach. Hilton held his breath and kicked into the coral
among the small fish while Karen snorkeled on the surface. The coral heads,
clearly visible in the warm water, teemed with fish. He recognized several types
of wrasse and parrotfish. A red squirrelfish hid under a coral and ducked away
as he approached. His mind was totally on the beauty of the reef when the taxi
horn brought him back to reality. Rejoining Karen, they swam back to the beach
and quickly changed for the ride to Road Town.
Jake took them to the Inner
Harbour Marina
where Simon waited in the office saying she was ship shape and ready to cruise
as soon as the last of the provisions were put aboard.
“Did you load the
scuba gear and four tanks?” Hilton asked.
“No problem,”
answered Simon. “You can refill the tanks at Virgin Gorda and Jost so don’t worry about air. Are you ready to look at your boat?”
The
gleaming Hunter 430 was birthed on a dock in deep water. Boxes of provisions
piled along side waited to be stowed. Like children at a party, Hilton and Karen
climbed aboard to see their new home.
The Hunter 430 is a roomy boat, 42 feet long
and 14 feet wide with an auxiliary fifty horsepower diesel engine. She has three
births, a shower and spacious living quarters to easily accommodate six people
but he wanted this to be a private adventure. He also wanted to see if the
Hunter had the speed the builders advertised. It had won races in Texas and was
known to be a good sailor but a boat can only perform as well as the skipper.
She certainly looked pretty in her birth and he was happy when Karen said she
was excited about the prospect of the days and nights ahead. He was sure they
would have a great time in more ways than one. He pictured her trim five and a
half foot body in revealing swimsuits, her tight butt and slim waist
accentuating breasts that, while not large, were round and perky. He loved her
blue eyes and the generous lips that attracted the glance of men, usually after
they had scanned her other features. He was proud of her and liked to show her
as his personal trophy.
Like many self-made
women Karen Semple had not enjoyed an easy life. She had worked with her ex husband to create an advertising agency while raising two girls.
But when the marriage dissolved she got the kids, the house and a challenge. It was her background in advertising that provided the answer and with hard
work she built a successful boutique agency specializing in women’s apparel. Hilton came into her life about five years ago becoming a friend and lover. Their
combined resources provided the freedom to do things most other people could not do making them the envy of their married friends.
|