FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Approximately three days into their voyage, the four person crew of the Lady Pirenza decided to dock at the port of Tortola, a Caribbean island renowned for it's resorts and world class rum. On an island filled with temptations and pleasures of all varieties, a hard truth will be brought to light, and the future of these four individuals will be altered forever.

"Is the boat secured and anchored?" called out Tom from the wheelhouse, his finger tapping along the mahogany and oak surface of the steering wheel.

"The anchor is deployed, just give me a moment to tie this thing off..." responded Nick, the burly bull quickly moving towards a docking pillar with a long line of rope in both hands. 'Damn this shit is heavy,' he thought to himself, already working up a sweat as he dropped the bundle unceremoniously before the pillar.

It took only a few minutes for him to tie a quadruple knot, the bull giving his creation a few good tugs before being satisfied with it's stability. "Job's done!" he said, giving a thumbs up to Tom, who grinned and gave him a quick middle finger.

"Alright, I'll be down in a moment, lemme go get Riga and my wife." Tom stepped out of the wheelhouse and strolled along the main deck, taking in two lungfuls of crisp sea air. Gods, it felt good to be out on the ocean again, but sometimes a little land beneath your feet was necessary to keep your bearings. They'd come to Tortola to stock up on more food and fine spirits for the rest of their journey and return, and to perhaps spend an evening or two at one of the highly-rated hotels in the area.

This was their vacation, and they were going to spend it how they damn well pleased. Tom had grown rather exhausted by his corporate life, and was planning on retiring early and using some of the money his father had left him to start up his own business; instinctively, he reached into his pocket and traced his finger along the "lucky" coin his father had given him on his death bed. The coin was a family heirloom, passed down generation after generation, and was said to bring great fortune to those who maintained possession of it. Tom couldn't argue with it's results, he'd been struggling to find a job relevant to his Masters degree for years after graduating; he'd swallowed his pride and taken on a few relatively low-paying jobs until his father's condition took a turn for the worse.

Nick and Natalie had been there through the worst of it, always offering emotional support when they could; they'd been there with him that night when he received that fateful call from the hospital. He hadn't been there when his father had passed, but his mother had. Tom didn't blame himself for his absence, there was no way they could have known the exact hour or time; he was glad that his dad had someone there to see him off, wherever that new journey may have been.

That night, with family heirloom in hand, he made a call that would alter the dynamic of his day-to-day life; he'd called Riga.

Riga slid into a cute pair of swim trunks, his favorite ones that made his crotch look like a rave in the dark. Tacky though it was, they looked perfectly presentable in the daytime; a few crossing lines and symbols made of light colors that neither dazzled nor offended. The lithe drake wasn't one to shy away from showing off his eye-catching legs or tail, and he took great joy in strutting what he had.

"You know, I could think of a time when wearing something like that would make you have a panic attack." Riga jumped back as Tom spoke, the buck definitely surprising him with his sudden appearance.

"Jesus! Did you put all your points into stealth?" The drake caught his breath and rubbed the back of his neck nervously.

"Nah, you just tune everything out when you focus, it's why you always did so well on tests." Tom chuckled and uncrossed his arms, placing them on his hips in an uncharacteristically feminine display. "You look good."

The compliment made Riga blush rather hard, and he met Tom's gaze; he bit his lip, his tail flicking behind him. 'Wouldn't it be so easy...' he thought to himself. 'Right here, right now.'

Suddenly, the distance between them seemed vast, mere feet apart now continents on the other side of the world. To cross that threshold would be to do the unthinkable, but they'd done the unthinkable so many times before...what was one more reprehensible action atop the pile they shared?

He saw the grin creep across Tom's face, they shared the same sentiment, then he watched with regretful understanding as he shook his head.

"Not now..." He took a step back from the door frame, maintaining eye contact for a few more agonizingly delightful moments before he turned and walked away.

Riga was left with the sensation of an emptiness in his gut, and a need that burned in the back of his mind. He grit his teeth together and clenched his fists, trying to dispel the overpowering tension that had gripped him mere moments ago. He felt disgusted with himself, like he was just a slut being dragged along by his basest instincts and desires.

'No.' He knew it was more than that, but he couldn't say it; the words would not come to his lips, caged behind walls of societal disapproval. Worst of all, was when he spoke it to another and meant every word, but now when left unspoken, it still rang just as true and meaningful.

He hit the bed and curled up, wanting to just sleep the day away, to drift off and forget about this complicated world and all the warring emotions it instilled in him. It took every ounce of his determination just to sit up, and it took a miracle for him to be on his feet again. Still, he'd found his way there, and somehow at the door.

Tom's cologne still lingered, and with it's presence he felt an icy grip placed upon his heart as he passed through to the world waiting just beyond that door.

Natalie took several opportunities to snap a few photos from her smartphone before even setting foot onto the port, her jaw hanging down almost constantly as she took in the tropical sights and sounds. Here and there, she'd catch glimpses of children running down paved walkways, of kites soaring between gusts of wind that had kissed the seas, of couples adoring the wondrous sights together. How strange it was, she thought now, that her own husband was standing next to her but seemed on another world entirely; she studied him as he leaned over the railing just above the beach, the buck seemingly unaware of her presence despite the two of them having walked there together. His eyes were scanning the sea, never resting in one place too long before flicking to another location. Something big was on his mind, she'd seen that look a few times before, namely at his father's funeral.

She tugged on his arm, relieved that her physical touch could bring him out of his reverie; she noticed his expression an instant before he smiled at her, but did not mention it. "It's so beautiful here, love. What do you think we should do first?"

He turned to her and gripped her hand tightly in his, his eyes once again filled with passion and vigor; "We can do whatever you want, darling. I didn't come here just to stare at the waves, after all."

She grinned at him, holding onto his hand and turning around, tugging him along. "Good, let's hit the beach! Been waiting too long for a good swim!" Tom came along easily, even eagerly she'd say, but she was still left to wonder one thing: Why had he been frowning earlier?

Riga cocked his head curiously as he watched a weathered looking toucan preparing a freshly caught fish; the avian's hands were working in incredible synchronicity as he went about de-scaling, slicing, and seasoning the morsel. The drake had eaten his fair share of seafood before, preferring it raw, but this method looked particularly appetizing to him. As the toucan finished removing the fins, separating the head, and cutting the main body into multiple chunks, he began placing the succulent meat into what appeared to be be palm leaves; several chunks of pineapple were added to each, along with a smattering of spices before being carefully wrapped up in foil and placed inside a stone oven.

As if sensing the hungry drake's eyes, the toucan smiled and motioned for Riga to come over. The dragon approached and placed his arms on the shop's wooden counter, taking in the scents wafting from the various cuts of meat and exotic spices that littered the tables behind the owner. He felt his stomach growl, causing him to reflexively rake his claws along the wood counter. "Tourist, yes?" asked the owner.

"Aye," said Riga, nodding his head perhaps a little too gingerly. The avian gentleman smiled and walked over to the drake, whose tail was swaying energetically. A dragon's hunger wasn't something to take lightly, and Riga was one of the more ravenous drakes, despite his smaller size.

"Hunger in your eyes, plain as day; no drooling on counter, yeah?" Riga wiped his chin instinctively and gave a little whine of embarrassment, he really hadn't been paying attention.

Before he could apologize, he felt a familiar presence behind him, then a firm grip upon his shoulder. "Being a troublemaker?" teased Nick. Riga frowned and stuck out his long tongue in response, crossing his arms defiantly.

"Nah, just being hungry."

"You're always hungry," said Nick as he laughed, gripping his boyfriend by the waist and tugging him to his side. The drake squeaked and leaned in against his lover, trying not to be too obvious to anyone around them; Riga had heard some parts of the Caribbean Islands were not very accepting of LGBTQ culture, and he didn't want to cause an incident. Nick on the other hand, seemed to not be giving a single fuck what anyone else thought of his display. Some people close by stole a few glances, but no one seemed fazed, not even the shop owner, who wasn't even paying attention to their public affection.

"One or two?" asked the owner, walking over to the stove and withdrawing the tray upon which several chunks of wrapped fish lay; after a moment of inspection, the toucan placed the metal tray back inside, letting the succulent morsels cook a little longer.

"We'll take two," responded Nick, retrieving his wallet. Before he retrieved any money, the bull leaned in close to Riga and whispered, "What am I paying for, exactly?"

"Fish," said the drake, grateful but flustered that his boyfriend always insisted on paying. Riga made a decent living as a data analyst, but Nick wouldn't let him pay even if he was a billionaire.

"Ah, and here I was hoping for something more Italian."

Riga placed his hand over his mouth to keep himself from bursting out in a fit laughter. That little in-joke from their first date was something he would cherish. Back then, the two had decided to become more serious than just friends with benefits, and Riga suggested that the two of them stay in and have a romantic evening. Nick, on the other hand, wanted to show off, so he took the drake to an upscale restaurant known for it's varied menu; Riga ordered a salmon BLT, whilst Nick ordered spaghetti and meatballs. When their waiter returned, he brought Riga's order, the salmon BLT, and gave Nick a plate of lightly seasoned Tilapia.

Without missing a beat, the witty bull responded with "Well, I was hoping for something more Italian." The drake was quite embarrassed after he had burst into a fit of laughter, but he bet it was nothing compared to how the waiter felt after his manager had come over due to the commotion. Nick, being the sport he was, laughed it off and told the manager the waiter brought him exactly what he asked for, offering the gulping gray fox a knowing wink as his manager walked away. Nick requested several different sauces to spice up the fish, which the waiter dashed away to retrieve.

It was a wonderful memory, and the smaller drake rubbed the bull's leg with his tail affectionately. Nick grinned and rubbed his hands along his boyfriend's soft tummy, he never complained when Riga wore something that exposed his toned midriff. The drake let out an adorable little squeal that even made the older avian gentleman chuckle.

"Young love, hell of a thing. Enjoy it, extend it as long as you can."

"Oh, we intend to, I'm not going anywhere without him," responded Nick, reaching for his wallet. The shop owner placed his hands upon the counter and leaned forwards, eyeing the two. "At some point, the thrill wears off; that be the hardest part, adjusting. If you have enough love and trust in one another, then it will last."

Riga felt claws digging into his stomach; trust, a word that caused him no end of problems. His smile was now fake, but he kept it as Nick held him close and boasted of their strong relationship. Was it so strong, though? He loved Nick, of that he knew absolutely, but he did not trust him fully, not like he trusted Tom; then again, he couldn't really talk about trust, not when he was destroying his relationship every time he saw the handsome buck. 'Oh gods, what am I doing?" he asked himself, staring through the shop-keep as if he didn't exist.

His tail fidgeted and he tapped his claws together impatiently, a sudden growl from his stomach pulling him back to the world. Nick brushed his neck gently, causing the drake to shiver in both comfort and unease.

"Feeling okay there, babe?" asked the bull, tilting his head to the side and eyeing his lover; Riga smiled and waved him off nonchalantly.

"I'm fine, just really really hungry."

"Understood," Nick responded, motioning to the shop-owner so that he could pay.

Nick was a bit worried about his boyfriend, the smaller drake had eaten in almost complete silence since they had sat down, only really responding when addressed directly. He could tell something was bothering Riga, but he wasn't sure it was wise to inquire; so he acted normally, brushing off his lover's distance as something to be addressed later, should he remember.

It didn't take long before they were finished, both males being unusually quick eaters, and soon Riga was acting like his normal self again. Nick thought it would be a good idea to explore the area more and see some of the local sights and landmarks. Riga was more than happy to oblige and set off with his boyfriend with a bit more spring in his step; Nick, on the other hand, had another thought that nagged at him; what was Natalie up to at this very moment?

Natalie let out a loud giggle as she felt a wave of salt water crash into her, nearly knocking her off her feet. She was already waist deep in the ocean, and didn't intend to go out any further; here, she could sit down and just relax, taking in the sights and the sounds of the sea. She closed her eyes and tilted her head down, feeling the water lapping along her chin; below, schools of tiny fish were already nipping at her toes, causing her to wiggle her feet. This really was paradise, an escape from all the stress she had accumulated over the course of months of work.

A sudden splash nearby caught her attention, but she didn't think much of it; here, it could be another person with the same idea she had, to come out a little farther than usual. Or it could have been any number of the native sea life in the area, making it's presence known with but a small disturbance to the shimmering surface. The fear of a feral shark nabbing her foot briefly flashed through her, but she waved it off as nothing more than needless worry; a shark's fin would be easy to spot this close to the shore, and even then, most species around this area were relatively docile and steered clear of larger species.

That thought didn't provide much comfort to Natalie as she felt a strong, sudden grip on her leg...

Tom grinned as he moved under the water, hoping his splash hadn't brought too much attention. For all his wife knew, he was still on the beach, kicking back; the buck had plans, something he had never attempted before.

Salt water stung his eyes, but visibility beneath the surface was astounding. He reckoned that he could see for about 80-100 feet in any direction, which made navigation an absolute breeze. He crept upon the sand, moving closer and closer to Natalie's legs; his eyes caught the movement of a large eel as it drifted out to the open waters, the blue and green maze-like patterns along it's body almost mesmerizing as Tom nearly came to a stop. 'No', he told himself, giving the creature one last glance before moving closer.

To keep her in the dark, he had gone further out and circled around, coming up for breath only a few times before he was in range to really approach her. The buck was an unusually good swimmer, and he owed most of that to the swimming lessons Riga had given him in college. He felt the tell-tale burn in his lungs, he needed to do this now or else he'd shoot to the surface, sputtering and gasping like a fool. She'd kick like crazy, and he'd be lucky to not get hit in the face, but this was an opportunity he needed to take.

Now, within reach, he could fully admire her lower half; her legs were long and toned, her hips wonderfully curvy with a tight little bikini bottom that covered just enough of her juicy mound. Goddamn, she was one hell of a woman, and he had some serious doubts about the very stupid thing he was about to do. Still, Natalie enjoyed a good surprise, so maybe she'd love this one. Maybe.

With all the courage he could muster, the buck pushed all his doubt to the back of his mind and reached forward, grasping onto his wife's ankle.

On the shore, a teenage iguana girl named Chrissy watched in bewilderment as an orange-furred fox lady started waving her arms frantically and suddenly crashed backwards into the water, disappearing from sight. She was about to get her parents attention, but her older brother put his hand on her shoulder in reassurance.

"I wouldn't worry about her, she'll be fine." he said, giving her a warm smile she couldn't help but return.

"But why did she go under?"

"Grown-up stuff." he responded, having seen the buck doing his best to be sneaky and maneuver out of the vixen's line of sight before going under the waves. The guy drew more attention to himself than he realized.

Natalie thrashed and sputtered, doing her best to get away from whatever had gripped her ankle; her reaction had been so violent that she had thrown herself off balance, losing her footing and tumbling backwards into the surf. The first thing that crossed her panicking mind was the possibility of a feral shark, maybe she had been bitten but had been too shocked to feel the resulting pain, maybe it was even the tentacle of a giant squid that had ensnared her, preparing to drag her into the lightless depths! She screamed, kicking and jabbing every which way under the waves, doing anything, everything to escape her unknown assailant. Something in the back of her mind told her to open her eyes, a curiosity to gaze upon the sunken horror that had come for her. With extreme fear and no shortage of reluctance, the vixen forced her eyes open, the adrenaline pumping through her veins dulling the stinging and slight pain from the salty water.

She had fully expected to come face to face with a nightmarish beast from the deep, not her extremely concerned looking husband. She barred her teeth just as she found her footing, giving him a glare as she pointed up to the surface.

Tom was wondering if he'd be better off staying underwater and drowning, might be less painful than the earful his wife was about to give him. He gritted his teeth and contemplated just swimming away, but the increasingly dire burning in his lungs told him it was time to get some air. He took a second to mentally prepare himself, then he stood up.

Sometimes when caught off guard and in a bad mood, Natalie had the particularly bad habit of launching into a rather fiery tirade. Tom got more than an earful as she yelled and gestured at him wildly, what's more, he could see her still shaking. He didn't realize he'd scared her that badly, and he'd have to make that up to her as best he could.

He explained to her what his intentions were, watching as her expression changed from one of aggravation to one of genuine interest. He knew he had her attention when he saw those cute ears perk up. It took a couple more minutes of coaxing, but she finally seemed happy to oblige his particular request, despite the public setting they were in.

Natalie didn't want to fully admit it, but the idea of her husband eating her out under the water and out of sight of any prying eyes really turned her on, way more than she felt comfortable confessing. She bit her bottom lip suggestively, her little way of showing him she was interested, a sign he had been on the lookout for since their dating days.

Tom grinned widely at her, wanting to embrace and make out with her, but knew that to do so would be to show off to everyone, and he didn't feel like being arrested for voyeurism that day or giving any kids some very uncomfortable questions to ask their parents. He simply gripped her plush hips and slid his head below the surface, where only the tips of his antlers were visible.

Natalie shivered and blushed fiercely, almost giggling as she felt Tom's muzzle press between her legs, his nose firmly buried against her covered muff. She gave a little whine as she felt his tongue start rubbing against the fabric covering her labia, his fingers digging into her ass cheeks and spreading them.

She thought she had her reactions under control, right until he untied her bottoms and buried his tongue against her sensitive clit. She let out a sharp yelp of pleasure, but quickly held her own mouth shut with both hands in an attempt to keep herself quiet. Tom wasn't one to relent until he had her cumming hard, so she knew it was only going to get more intense.

From his perspective underwater, Tom couldn't fully appreciate his wife's reactions, but he took it that he was doing well based on how much her legs quivered and buckled when he focused on her little pleasure nub. He helped support her with his hands, which were generously groping handfuls of her lovely ass; it wouldn't be long before she came, but he wasn't going to stop at just one. Tom loved making his wife as wet as possible before he fucked her, and his tongue rubbing against her pussy or ass was a great way to achieve that. He licked and suckled on her clit for a few moments before delving his tongue between her luscious pussy lips, spreading her walls gently around his probing organ. He felt a slight burn in his lungs, but ignored it and pressed on, wanting to see if he could make her cum before needing air.

Natalie was trying her damned hardest not to squeal or scream in carnal bliss as her husband went to work absolutely devouring her cunny, the poor fox having to cover her mouth to avoid making a commotion. She gyrated her hips against his face, moving in rhythm to the flick of his tongue as it worked every inch of her needy pussy. Gods, he was incredible at this, about as good as...No, she wasn't going to let her mind go there and make her feel guilty, not today. She did her best to ignore that particular thought, choosing to focus as best she could on the pleasure she was receiving from her buck, closing her eyes and clearing her mind.

Tom could feel his wife shivering almost violently in his grasp, her climax only a few more moments away. He pulled his tongue back, focusing now on her clit, rapidly flicking and rubbing along the nub. They were both lucky she hadn't screamed, that would have guaranteed a premature end to their fun and quite a bit of embarrassment.

He knew he'd gotten her off good as soon as he felt her hand grasp along his antlers, her hips working wildly as she started cumming hard. He kept licking and kissing her clit as long as he could, wanting to draw out her climax.

The vixen had tried to keep as quiet as possible, but his tongue was just too damn good for her to be completely silent. She started whimpering and gasping out, her exhalations sounding exactly like the repressed moans they were. Luckily for her, no one was close enough to notice the adorably pathetic noises coming from her, so she got to enjoy the entirety of her orgasm in peace.

After a few more moments, Tom surfaced, gasping as he sucked in several lungfuls of air; his work did not go unrewarded, as his wife grabbed his head and pressed her lips to his own, the two making out heatedly as they forgot they were in public. Their lips parted and they looked around in embarrassment, finding more than a few eyes pointed in their direction.

"Back to the boat?" asked Tom, already knowing her answer.

"Fuck yes!" responded Natalie, reaching down to ensure her bikini bottoms hadn't gone missing.

"So are we renting a hotel room or going back to the boat tonight?" asked Riga, rubbing his full belly and leaning against his lover. He watched the bull fool around on his phone, flipping through business articles and new movie reviews as they lounged together.

"I dunno, might be nice to have some privacy, right?" Riga nodded and smiled, enjoying the feeling of warmth between them; the smaller male cooed happily as his boyfriend rubbed the back of his neck tenderly, a soft spot that Nick took advantage of whenever he could.

"Might also be nice to go for a dip."

"We've got plenty of ocean here for you to jump into," responded Nick, turning off his screen and placing the device back in his pocket.

"A heated dip," said Riga, sticking his tongue out.

"Ah...so that's what you're after again." Nick chuckled, pleasant and pleasureful memories running through his mind of their last encounter in a jacuzzi. "Well, I suppose that settles the matter then; I'll book us a room for a couple nights after I check in with Tom and make sure he isn't planning on sailing away tonight."

The cute femboy dragon giggled and leaned harder against his boyfriend's muscular side, tail swaying quickly under the table. "That sounds fun!"

"Gods, you're incorrigible," exclaimed the bull, rubbing behind the drake's ears and making him coo affectionately.

"Heh, you know me, sweetheart."

'But do you know me?' The question popped up in Nick's mind, causing him to grit his teeth and tighten his grip around Riga's arm. The dragon gave a yip of surprise, pushing against the bull.

Nick snapped out of it quickly and released his boyfriend's arm, quite honestly surprised with himself. "Shit, hun I didn't mean that!"

"Ouch...what was that about?"

Nick rubbed the back of his neck nervously, fumbling his words, "I-I really don't know...just a f-freak muscle spasm I suppose."

He could tell that Riga saw right through his lie, but to the drake's credit, he didn't press the matter.

"Mmm...well alright, I hope you are okay."

"Yeah yeah, I think I'm fine; being with you definitely helps me keep my head on straight, not sure where I'd be without you in my life." He knew it sounded sappy as hell, but Riga was a sucker for basically anything romantic.

He couldn't help but grin as he watched the girly drake blush and wiggle in his seat, that cute tail wagging every which way. There were so many qualities to adore in Riga, and Nick really did love him. The two made a great couple, but Nick always wanted more. Riga didn't completely fulfill him, in truth, no one ever had. What he had with the two people he was with, it was the closest he'd ever felt to being truly happy; keeping it in the shadows tarnished it, one knew about the other, and thus both of them carried that guilt. In truth, Nick wanted to come clean to the two people he was hurting with his lies, but he didn't know what their reaction would be if he did. He wasn't a coward, at least he kept telling himself that, he just needed to pick the right time. Would that time ever come, though?

He quickly excused himself from the table, asking Riga to stay put as he called in for the hotel reservations. He really wanted to stretch his legs, being around his boyfriend right now was making him nervous, making his teeth itch. Nick looked at his phone, the automatic time-zone adjustment telling him it was already 4:33 p.m.; he'd need to call now if they were going to book a half-decent room for the night, or even a few, depending on how Tom felt about staying a little longer.

It only took a few minutes of waiting before he was connected to an employee, then only a couple more minutes before everything was set up. He wished more things were that easy and hassle free, but then he supposed he'd appreciate them less. He saw a waiting text message from Natalie pop up before he put his phone away; Nick just stared at the chat bubble, hesitating to even open it, part of him just wanting to ignore it and go back to Riga. He wouldn't do that, though, he'd read it just like all the others he'd gotten. Placing his regret behind him, he opened the message and read it's contents, quickly placing his phone in his pocket when he was done. It appeared he wasn't the only one with plans that evening.

Natalie shifted her ears slightly, listening in on the conversation going on in the next room; from what she could tell, Tom was talking to Nick about their evening plans and what he had laid out for the next few days. Due in no small part to her coaxing, Tom decided to remain docked on the island for a few more days, after he had spoken to Nick and Riga, of course. Their love life was already pretty healthy, but the exotic nature of this place just seemed to light it on fire and set off fireworks.

She smiled and browsed on her phone, waiting for her husband to come in and tell her about the plans she already knew about, he always seemed to underestimate her hearing. Her eyes flicked to their wedding picture, displayed prominently in the living room area of their yacht, right next to the kitchen. Her eyes lingered on it for a while, happy memories interlaced with sadness filling her head. They got married on the beach that day; she remembered the smell of the ocean, the feeling of sand between her toes, the sensation of the wind flowing through her hair, the tightness of Tom's hand as he clasped her own the taste of his lips on hers. It was the most perfect wedding she could have ever dreamed of, and Tom was the most amazing man she'd ever been with, but...

'But you're a goddamn slut!' She dropped her phone suddenly, surprised at just how loud her conscience seemed to be screaming at her today. She cleared her head, leaning down to nab her phone just as Tom walked through the door.

"You okay, hun?"

"Yeah, damn phone just slipped out of my hand is all."

"Oh, alright then...can we talk real quick?" She nodded and leaned back, crossing her legs as her husband walked over and sat across from her on the couch. She smiled and watched as he checked his phone again, a habit he seemed to have whenever he sat down, like he was going to miss something in that instant if he didn't look.

"Nick just called me, he said that they are going to be spending a night or two at a nearby hotel. We can make a couple alterations to the trip in order to facilitate a stay here for maybe two or three days, or we can just sail off and come back within that same time-frame to pick them back up. What do you think?"

She pretended to ponder the question for a few moments, having already made her mind up as soon as Tom got off the phone. She shifted in her seat, making eye contact before answering. "I think having part of this trip without them would defeat the purpose of why you wanted to come out here in the first place."

Tom tilted his head and narrowed his eyes at her, his heart skipping a beat. 'Ah shit...' he thought, already preparing himself for a difficult conversation. He opened his mouth but she interrupted him before he could say a word.

"We've been drifting, all four of us. We've been letting life get in the way of our relationships and friendships; we take each other for granted, we just kind of assume that the other will always be there."

He nodded and relaxed his shoulders, realizing that she was thinking about something entirely different than where his mind was going. Women could be so perplexing, married for four years and she still subverted his expectations, what a gal. "I feel the exact same way, babe. It's why I started this cruise in the first place."

"So we should embrace good opportunities when they present themselves, instead of sticking to a schedule that may just end up causing us undo stress, right?"

Damn, the woman had a point. Due to his work-life, he was so used to planning everything out that he didn't really take spontaneity into account. "Heh, I guess you are right; you're always thinking in the now, while I'm always looking ahead, we make a good combo."

She smirked and winked at him, "Gee, it's almost like we're married or something." Her penchant for sass was something he really admired about her; Natalie was a strong woman with equally strong opinions. She carried herself in a manner that spoke of her inner strength and resolve, not to mention her drive to always help others be better. God help those who crossed her, hell hath no fury...

"So are we staying here or are we getting a hotel room?" she inquired, rising from her seat to stretch.

"Well, since those two already have a room, maybe we could stay in the same hotel? They might have a few more rooms left if we're lucky."

She gave him a big smile, nodding enthusiastically, "Sounds like a great idea!"

With their plans now made, Tom was sure they were going to be in for a most interesting night.