Sabbatical For The Soul -- Day 6: Sabbatical For The Soul free porn video

"Hold the door!" He panted as he rushed towards the elevator, his skirt parting inches above his knees and trailing dramatically behind him. Luckily, a hand shot out from the lift, halting the closing doors. "Thanks!" His leather flip-flops slapped hastily as he skipped across the tiled elevator lobby and slipped into the elevator. Without a second thought, he gathered his fluttering skirt back around his hips, narrowing missing the shutting doors. The past few days of enforced dress-wearing has made managing flowy clothing second nature. Which was just as well, as he had chosen a yellow paisley wrap maxi, cinched with at the waist with a neat butterfly knot. The wrap skirt was conservatively cut, well- overlapping down its entire length, only drifting apart to reveal his hairless legs when he ran. He inspected his reflection in the mirrored elevator door, making sure his hair was still held in place by the ponytail he had tied. After the previous day, he decided that on a more practical hairdo was needed to keep his hair away from his face. After all, he was expecting a more physically strenuous day. The ponytail gathered together his long hair and lifted them away from the nape of his neck, which he hoped would keep him cool during the hot Mediterranean afternoon. A pair of aviator sunglasses perched atop his head, completing his summer look. He adjusted his purse strap on the short sleeves of his dress. This too was a practical decision, as halter-style bodice of yesterday's outfit meant that his purse strap had rubbed uncomfortably on his shoulder all day. The covered shoulder also meant he could wear a more conventional bra without showing his bra straps - while yesterday's dress did have built-in boning, by evening's end his strapless bra had shifted and felt out of place. The flounced sleeves added a flirty touch to the outfit, but he had chosen them because they were airy, which he hoped would keep him cool. Of course, the sleeves did look nice too. The neckline was the only reservation he had about the dress. This was the first time he had worn something lower than a crew-cut neckline, and his bra was able to bring out his breasts to their full potential. A deep chasm of cleavage emerged from the point of the V, swooping up and outward as it marked the contours of his buxom. Shifting nervously, he saw and felt the light jiggle of his breasts. "Good morning, and you're welcome!" A muted voice reached his ear. Looking at the elevator door, he saw Trevor's smiling reflection. He turned to face him, feeling another pleasant jiggle of his breast. ~Ugh.~ "Sorry! I didn't realize it was you. Thanks for getting the door for me!" "Don't mention it. Hey where's Tammy?" "She said she felt a bit off and didn't want to risk getting the rest of us sick. Something about a stomach flu." "Eh?" He arched his eyebrows in concern. "That stuff can be pretty nasty especially on a cruise ship. I hope she's alright." "She'll be OK. She said she just felt a bit nauseated and crampy. She didn't have her usual spunk when I visited her this morning, but she didn't look really sick or anything." He couldn't help but feel a twinge of disappointment as he said that. He had grown comfortable with her company, and her absence gnawed at him. The elevator slowed as they reached their floor. As the doors opened, Trevor held his hands forward, inviting her to exit first. "Ladies first." "Thanks." He smiled back. ~~~ *** ~~~ *** ~~~ *** ~~~ A gentle Aegean breeze brushed by him as the small ferry dipped up and down through the waves as it meandering towards the Cretian shore. They were headed for the port of Heraklion, where they would board a shuttle that would take them to the archeological site of Knossos for a guided tour. The group had decided to do a more rigorous outing today, with the cruise company planning excursions to both Chania and Heraklion. Julie suggested the latter, as it had housed a number of historical, while Chania was just "a larger version of Mykonos, at least that's what the guide book makes it sound like. Besides, after touring the ruins of Knossos in Heraklion, the cruise company is going to shuttle us by bus to Chania where we can hang out before getting back to the ship." He suspected that Julie wanted to do something a bit more cerebral today in comparison to yesterday's leisurely stride. Tomorrow scheduled shore leave would be at a private beach, so a guided tour was a good change of pace anyways. Despite the blazing Aegean sun, he chose to sit in the outer decks. The small ferry bobbed constantly in the gentle Aegean waves, which made him feel a bit queasy inside the stuffy cabin of the shuttle. The fresh Mediterranean spray was just what he needed. He sat with his legs crossed, maintaining his modesty as the wrap skirt opened alluringly from his knees, before draping smoothly down onto the floor. He had adjusted the opening to show a hint of thigh, in order to help him cool down some more. His outfit was more flowy than yesterday's number, but his bra still stuck somewhat uncomfortably to his breasts and back under the hot sun. To the onlooker, it just looked like a young lady, flirtingly revealing a bit of her creamy thighs as her dress pooled lazily down onto the floor. Her head was rested on the crook of her arm, draped across the railing, as she stared at the horizon through her sunglasses. She absent-mindedly twirled the cottony material between her fingers, lost in thought. Indeed, his mind had drifted back to Tamara, as the disappointment he'd felt earlier grew into a gnawing guilt. She was the first person to have spoken to him, a complete stranger, on this ship. In spite of his evident inability to care for himself, she was generous and inviting. And because of her extroversion, he's gained a new group of companions on this trip. And met Trevor. ~I really should be back at the ship taking care of her~. But she had insisted that he kept the day's plans. "I'll be fine. It's just a precaution and I don't feel that ill at all. It's probably just from all the gluttony over the past few days." "All the more reason I should stay with you. If you aren't sick, then you won't get me sick anyways. And if you are sick, it would be horrible of me to just leave you to suffer. I can at least get you some food and water." "Room service is free remember? And I'd probably just get you sick if you stuck around." "But..." "Listen. We just made a bunch of new friends, and the day trip planned today is lovely. So it'd be a waste of a wonderful day to be stuck here with me. Besides, it's not every day you get to go on a cruise like this, unless you're a travel writer like me of course" ~You have no idea how true that is.~ He thought to himself, as he examined the relationship that they had built the past few days. Though he had decided to allow himself to enjoy her companionship, he was nonetheless surprised how quickly he had warmed up to Tamara. How much of it that was due to him, and how much was due to this body? The Exchange clearly has the ability - and indeed has - to scramble both mind and body. The occasional Compulsions was proof that his thoughts were not always under his own control. If it can Compel him towards certain action, can it Compel him to like someone? Simultaneously, the arousal he felt when he first saw Trevor on that diving platform were clearly not from his own psyche either...or was it? What about the arousal with Tamara? Was that a product of his own mind? Or was this body actually bisexual? Or maybe he was? That was the most worrisome to him - he couldn't tell whether his attraction towards Trevor was originating from this body as he had assumed, or whether they were internally generated.... ~What does all this mean?~ He asked himself. He heard footsteps approach. Turning he saw Mia, who kept it sporty with a simple tank top and short shorts, and a simple knapsack on her back. She sat beside him. "You're looking quiet sitting here all alone - are you feeling alright?" "Yeah. It was a bit suffocating in there and the waves aren't helping." "Well luckily we're almost there. Look!" The Cretian shoreline approached. Unlike the Grecian white-and-blue motif of Mykonos, the port of Heraklion was a mix of urban and historic. At the narrow mouth of the man-made harbor sat an ancient fortress, its grey walls of stone rough and weathered by the thousands of years that it must have stood sentinel. At the back of the harbor sat a number of similarly ancient erections, the most impressive of which was a series of four looming archways, their dark mouths agape. As they approached, he realized that the archways were enclosed at the back and didn't actually lead anywhere, suggesting they were shelters meant to house large sea-faring vessels. Amongst these impressive structures stood more modern low- rises, their smooth concrete walls belying their youth. By now, the rest of the group had joined them at the outer deck. Julie was wearing a simple T-shirt and knee-length skirt. Sarah had chosen to pair her T-shirt with a pair of tan khaki hiking skirt. The men lumbered up last, Richard wearing khaki shorts that matched Sarah's outfit. He looked particularly poorly as he leaned over the railing, as if attempting to get the freshest possible gulp of air to combat the nausea that was evidently bubbling underneath. This brought Sarah and Trevor much joy as they took turns ribbing him. "Why are you guys being hard on him?" he asked, his own seasickness being a source of sympathy. "You don't understand," Trevor chuckled. "He's always been a bit seasick, but he was bragging how being a sailor now meant those days were behind him. Guess not huh buddy?" "Oh honey. You gave it your best shot," Sarah soothed, as she rubbed Richard's back. "You should take the seasickness pill when we come back. You're still the *best* sailor in my books, OK?" She quipped sarcastically as she winked at the redhead. "Oh, you sail?" he asked. "Wouldn't that mean you're used to windy and choppy seas?" "By sailing," Trevor added, "he means lessons. He's taking sailing lessons. In those tiny two-person sailboats." "It's the cabin!" Richard moaned. "It's so stuffy in there, nothing like the open air sail boats...and it's Laser class OK?" "I know dear, I know," Sarah comforts, rolling her eyes. ~That's adorable; they're already acting like a married couple.~ "I think after we get to shore we still have a short shuttle ride to the site," Julie comments. "Arrgghhh, really?" Richard groans. "Why did I agree to this?" as the rest of the group laughs. ~~~ *** ~~~ *** ~~~ *** ~~~ The red-haired lass clung delicate to his skirt as he hopped off the shuttle into the dusty parking lot, which was jammed with tourists queueing up to enter the archeological compound. Thankfully, he and other cruise goers were immediately escorted to a temporary tent set up at a side entrance, bypassing the line altogether. It turns out that most of the passengers had chosen this particular excursion, so the cruise company needed to make last-minute arrangements to accommodate the extra numbers. Thus, rather than entering the compound simultaneously and overwhelming the site, the guests were organized into different groups, in order to stagger their entry and departure times. Unfortunately, this meant that their group was now split up. Mia, Julie, Richard and Sarah were in group two and had already gone ahead, while Trevor and himself were in group four - the last group. ~This must be some sort of comedic plot device,~ he thought to himself. ~First Tamara had to skip out, and now I'm stuck here with him.~ He thought to himself. Even though they hit it off well when they first met, yesterday's conversation had uncovered some uncomfortable things about himself. Things that he was not quite ready to unpack yet. Currently, the ginger-haired girl was sitting cross-legged on a wooden bench, purse beside him, watching the other tourists as they milled about the waiting area. He glanced over at Trevor, wearing a white polo T-shirt, black cargo shorts and boat shoes to match. He was walking over, carrying two paper bags. "I know it's still a little early for lunch, but they were handing these out while we wait our turn," Trevor said, handing him one of the bags. "There isn't much to buy in terms of food around here, and it would be late afternoon before our group ends up back at the dock. So they're handing out boxed lunches to keep us fed and hydrated. They really have thought of everything huh?" "Maybe. Then again, this place looks crowded already, and it's not like it's an especially popular time for travel right now, so I feel like this isn't their first time having made this arrangement." "You're probably right," Trevor replies as they rummaged through their packages. Inside they found a bottle of water, a roast beef sandwich, a bag of chips, and some tabbouleh and couscous salad packed in a plastic carton. "Thanks for the food by the way. This is perfect since I skipped breakfast." He said as he tucked into his salad. "So," David asked as he took a bite from the sandwich, "why'd you choose this cruise in particular?" "Um...it just sort of happened to me. How about you guys?" "Well, same for us I guess. Julie looked up the available cruises during the times we were all available and settled on this." "Seems like Julie is the brains of the operation huh?" "Definitely." The boy and girl continued to nibble quietly at their food. The crowd of tourists had thinned, as their and other guided tour groups finished their itinerary. Most of the remaining tourists hid under the tent, their only shelter from the heat as the sun approached its apogee. A few kids played tag on the parking lot, their laughter piercing the thickening silence that grew between them. "Listen," Trevor finally said, clearing his throat. "About yesterday. I feel really sorry about being so intrusive in my comments yesterday. I feel you're still bothered by what I said and I really want to apologize for that. I've had a lot of fun hanging out with you and I'd feel horrible that came to an end, especially if it was my insensitivity that caused it." "No no," he replied, playing with his ponytail nervously. "You were really kind and said all the right things. I guess I was just caught off-guard - you were so spot on with what you'd said it wasn't even on my radar yet." ~Let's not shoot the messenger here...he's been nothing but nice to you.~ "It's just something I need to mull over and work through." He continued. "I just need to know how I feel that's all." Setting down his salad, he opened his bag of chips. He had gotten used to this new body's smaller stomach, and anticipated that he would be full with just the salad and the chips. "Still, I want to say again that I'm sorry." "It's alright! You did nothing wrong, you don't have to apologize so much!" "Well, I can't help it. I'm half-Canadian." He looked at Trevor, who gently smiled back. They shared a glance as the absurdity of the situation settled in. Neither of them really knew what Trevor was apologizing for, or what he was bothered by. The fiery-haired lassie was the first to laugh, girlish giggles harmonizing with the brown-haired boy's soft chuckles. "I wondered why you say 'eh' so many times, eh?" he teased. Trevor laughed. "I moved from Canada to the US when I was in the grade five. I guess that was old enough for my Canadian-English to stick! In fact Sarah made fun of me so much when we first met. But we really bonded through that as well, and look at where we are now." "Yeah you two are really quite close. If I didn't know any better I would've thought you guys were dating!" "Well we did date, a long time ago," Trevor said, without missing a beat. "Oh!" he uttered, not knowing how to react. "Don't worry, that was ancient history and we are well over it. In fact...." He trailed off as one of the cruise officials announced that it was time for their group to start their tour. "...in fact, this will have to be a story for another time. Right now, we have some ruins to explore!" he finished, winking. He held out his hand, "shall we, milady?" The young madam took him up on his offer. Uncrossing his legs, he used one hand to keep his skirt from opening as he set his foot on the ground, and took Trevor's hand in his other as he stood up. They made their way to the tour guide with the remaining group of tourists, as the guide started towards the entrance of the compound. He was a stout man at the dusk of his years, peppered hair growing in a ring around the side and back of his head, having receded decades ago from the top of his head. He wore a simple short-sleeved button down shirt, grey dress pants, and brown loafers. He had a shrill, piercing voice, that spoke in short abrupt sentences, echoing off the walls of the stone archway as they entered the archeological compound. "Welcome to Knossos! My name is George!" "...Costanza," Trevor muttered to him. They both snickered in the back, like a pair of misbehaving children at a school trip. Trevor was right, he did resemble the famous character. "I will be your guide for the next hour," the guide continued. "Please stay close. The site is large and it is easy to get lost. There are places you cannot enter - please pay attention to the signs." "...or no tour for you," he whispered back to Trevor. They chortled silently, eliciting a dirty glance from George. Knossos, as George explained, was the mythical home of King Minos and the Minotaur, the monstrous beast with the head of a bull and the body of a man. The king had ordered the construction of the Labyrinth, a gigantic maze, in order to house the creature. However, it required the regular sacrifice of seven young men and women, whom it devoured, until it was finally slain by the hero Theseus. To the disappointment of the tour group, George explained that there is no evidence that the labyrinth actually existed. Nonetheless, the ruins suggest that the ancient Cretans had constructed a magnificent palace, with vibrant frescos that adorned many of the walls. The grandest of these were found in the throne room, which were decorated along its entire circumference with a motif of griffins resting among reeds of grass, lifting their heads towards the heavens, which were dyed a rich crimson. A lone stone seat sat alongside one walls, with the griffins on either side facing it reverently. A stone basin sat in front of the alabaster seat. "Wow," he and Trevor both breathed, joining the chorus of awe as the tourists peered into the room. "The throne room was first thought to be the seat for the priest-king. Later we think it may be for a priestess. Whoever the room was meant for, we are sure it was for religious purposes." There were other marvels in the compound as they wandered from area to area. Large storage jars, some as tall as a person, sat unearthed in neat rows inside the excavated cellars. George explained those were for storing grains, oils, or wine, and would be over a ton in weight when full. There were also expertly crafted stone structures amidst precision-cut walkways and paths that stretched across the large compound, flanked by a complicated irrigation and sewage system that help guide the waste out of the palace. Off in the distance, the hills were rimmed with a long stone rampart, its stone sawtooth sharply splitting sky from earth. By far the most majestic, however, were the remnants of the two- storey palace. The second storey wall had a mural that rose to the entirety of its twenty-five height. In front of it were two crimson columns which, George explained, were actually trunks from ancient cypress trees. Even though only of the columns remained and most of the structure was restored posthumously, it still gave a hint of the splendor of the original palace. Eventually, the tour reached its conclusion, and the group was given a chance to wander among the ruins for photos. Trevor and himself slowly roamed to the far end of the compound, away from the dwindling crowds. He wanted to find a quiet space to talk about something that ate at him during the guided tour, but didn't know how to quite broach yet. "So...earlier you were saying something about you and Sarah?" he asked eventually, deciding to simply be blunt about it. "Oh? Oh yeah, we dated." "I see...." He wasn't sure how to explore this further. "You want to know how I feel about her and Richard, don't you." He asked, making gentle eye contact as they walked towards a metal railing that overlooked one of the numerous excavated cellars at the site. "I'm sorry, I don't mean to be intrusive, it's just...." It's just that he couldn't help but draw some parallels with his current situation with Tamara. He was reluctant in calling it a relationship, for it was a level of commitment he wasn't sure either of them had yet invested. But nonetheless, he was starting something romantic with someone, even if he wasn't wearing his own skin. He knew Sharon wasn't around anymore but...what would she think? "Oh that was just puppy love." Trevor laughed. "We were friends back in elementary school and had lived only a few houses apart, so we spent a lot of time with each other. Eventually we both moved but ended up going to the same high school. Being newcomers, we naturally clung to each other and that eventually grew into a something a bit more than friends. "We sort of drifted apart as we developed our own peer groups, and eventually we just both realized that we just weren't that into each other romantically. But it was a good experience, and we were still really close despite afterwards. So we kept in touch, even when our lives took us to different places. We'd visit each other whenever our paths crossed. Eventually she started seeing Richard. "During that time, I started dating around as well, but didn't come across anyone I really clicked with. Partly that's because of work though - it's too unpredictable for me to be able to start anything steady, really." "I see," he mused as he hopped onto the top railing, facing the excavation site, while Trevor leaned with his back to the rails. He swung his feet contemplatively, letting his calves feel the Mediterranean air as they peaked out from the split skirt. "I don't think I've ever been in that situation, so I wouldn't be able to imagine how it'd feel." "That someone you used to date is now marrying someone else?" He asked. "More like being over someone." "It doesn't feel like anything. She was a close friend, and we realized early on that our love for one another was more brother- sister than romantic. I'm thrilled that she's found someone. Truly, I'm really happy for her." "That's good to hear. And it sounds like you're moving forward with your life," he said politely. He couldn't help but see some of the parallels between him and Trevor. "While it sounds like you're still trying," he observed, as he too hopped onto the railing beside the pretty ponytailed girl, facing the opposite direction. "That's what's been bothering you these past few days?" "....yeah," he said finally, trailing off into silence. "Someone back home break your heart?" Trevor asked. He looked at the handsome brown-haired boy beside him, a gentle expression on his face. "No. Maybe. Not intentionally. My fianc?e passed away two years ago while we were planning to tie the knot ourselves, so I don't know if that counts." "Oh, I'm so sorry to hear that," Trevor sympathized, patting his new slender shoulders comfortingly. "It's my turn to say that I don't really know how that feels, but I can imagine how gut-wrenching it must have been." "It is. It was," he reflected. "I still miss her. But this vacation has been really eye-opening. Except I don't know if I'm doing the right thing." "What are you talking about?" "Tamara." "...tell me more." "I don't know. She and I really just met, but we've gotten so close without even realizing it! And I don't know what to make of it, or any of this to be honest." He gestured all around him as he said this. "Just that, so many things have happened these past few days. Can you believe this cruise was not my idea? It just sort of happened. "It's been one thing after another these past few day. I can't help but feel like I'm just a passenger in...my...body." A gentle flush of Compulsion waxed and waned as it corrected his grammar from "this" to "my," to prevent him from betraying the truth. He barely noticed though, as his mid was racing from thought to thought as he struggled to crystalize emotions into words. "I don't know if I'm ready for another relationship. Should I be? Or should I give myself more time? Or hell, is this even a relationship to begin with? Or am I seeing it too lightly? How does Tamara think about this whole thing?" "Have you asked her?" Trevor suggested. "How could I? 'Hey I know we just met, and we'll probably never meet again. But are we a thing? Is this a thing?' I'm going to sound crazy...crazier than I already sound!" "Sounds like you're beating yourself up pretty harshly about this." Trevor observed. "I'm sure your fianc?e would be delighted that you were finally able to find happiness again." "You don't know that," he replied bitterness seeping into his girlish voice. "Well, with Sarah at least, I have nothing but best wishes. It just so happens that I wasn't meant to be her ever after. Doesn't mean, though, that I haven't contributed, or continue to contribute, to her happiness. "So I'm sure your fianc?e is the same. I can't see her being anything less than pleased that you were able to find your happiness. She sounds like a wonderful person she would most certainly want the best for you, even if she isn't the one who provides it to you." "I know that...logically I do. But I still can't get over it, starting something with someone else. This wasn't anything I'd ever imagined." "Nor did you imagine her passing away right? Or as you said earlier, being on this vacation, meeting Tamara, meeting me, or having this chat." Trevor retorted. "That's true," he sighs, swinging his feet meditatively as he gave some thought to what Trevor said. "Life's like that no? It's dealt you some surprises you didn't expect. Some were bad, but I'm sure some of them are good as well. Especially if you let them be good. Right now, it's given you this vacation, and the company of Tamara. From where I sit, it sounds pretty non-committal if you want it to be. At the end of the cruise, you'll go back to your own life, and she back to her's. If it feels good, you guys can keep in touch. If it stays good, you can meet up. If it's not clicking, you're already apart." "As tempting as that sounds, it also seems kind of floozy. I don't think I'm into the whole casual thing," he replied. "But as you said, you're feeling like a passenger in your own body. Why not just stay on the ride a bit longer and see where life takes you? Again, once the cruise is over and we pull into port, life goes back to what it used to be. No repercussions. Even if you go all the way with Tamara, it's not like you'll end up getting pregnant or anything." "Geez if you put it that way," he mutters as he turned away from Trevor, blushing furiously. ~We've gone all the way a few times already...multiple home runs here.~ "I'm sure you're here for a reason, and maybe that reason is for you to have this adventure. This vacation that takes you out of your comfort zone, a departure from your routine that may be good for you. Like chicken soup." "Chicken soup for the soul?" he muses. "A sabbatical for the soul." Trevor smiles back. "For what it's worth, I'm happy that you ended upon this cruise. It gave me the chance to meet someone so kind and wonderful, and I'm honored that you opened up to me, and honored to have had the opportunity to help you. You deserve nothing but the best, and I'm sure that's just over the horizon." "That's really sweet of you Trevor," he replies warm-heartedly. "Thanks for letting me vent and think out loud. You've given me a lot to consider, but I think what you said was really helpful." Brushing his ponytail back, he stares towards the skies, feeling the delicious brush of his skirt as his feet swung openly into the air. Trevor had a point - maybe he was thinking too much about what this all meant. Who else would have this opportunity, to be able to do completely escape from one's own life, and to gain such an absolutely external vantage point on oneself? "You're right, Trev. This is a once in a lifetime escape. If I keep fussing over the details of the moment, the moment would pass by before I know it. It's time to focus and cherish what's right in front of me!" he exclaimed, kicking his feet up in celebration. Except he had put a bit too much enthusiasm into the gesture. A high-pitched "whoops!" escaped his rosy lips as his inertia continued to swing him backwards. In futility, he tightens his grip on the railing but feels his dainty hands simply slip on the bare metal. In that instant, Trevor leans forward to reach for the falling girl, who reflexively grabs hold of his outstretched hands. He pulls the lithe maiden into his arms, tucking his feet behind the bottom rung to halt their collective momentum. Still recovering from his sudden loss of balance, he huddled in Trevor's embrace, his share shallow breaths heaving in and out in high pitched gasps. At that moment, he registers the lack of the familiar tug of his flip-flops between his toes, while over Trevor's shoulder he sees a solitary leather slipper fall out of the sky...and land neatly into one of the archeological jars. "Oh. My. God." He pushes Trevor away, looking at his now mismatched barren right foot, before gazing back at the priceless archeological artifacts that are the Minoan storage jars. Trevor too, looks at the empty foot, and following the redhead's gaze, his own hazel eyes lands on the jars as well. "You're...kidding right?" The pair stares at one another in incredulity, as what just happened slowly sinks in. He was the first to break into a fit of giggles, with Trevor following soon after. "What are the chances?" Trevor asked in disbelief. "It's like those carnival games where you have to throw a ping-pong ball into a cup, except those always miss - but of course this of all times it goes in!" He replied, wiping a tear from his eyes. It was the most unexpected but best conclusion to the serious discussion just a minute ago, and provided the proof that he'd needed that despite all that's happened, life can and is still good if he's open to it. "Oh crap!" Trevor blurts suddenly. "Look at the time! We have to get back to the bus or else we're going to be stranded!" "Right!" The redhead acknowledges while hopping off the rail, landing ungracefully on one foot. They started making their way across the compound, but soon he had difficulty keeping up with Trevor. "Ouch. Yeowch!" Under the Mediterranean sun, the Minoan landscape had become scaldingly hot to his unprotected foot, made worse by the small jagged rocks that peppered the site. Hopping and skipping his way awkwardly, he tried his best to keep up with Trevor but inevitably, he started falling behind. "How are you making out there Isabelle?" Trevor asked. "I'm going as fast as I can!" He replied, ignoring how whiny he'd sounded. "The ground is really hot and sharp!" He gritted his teeth and dug his manicured nails into his palm, using the pain to distract himself from each blistering step. ~I gotta do better than this.~ "Sounds like you need a lift," Trevor offered, as he looked back at the struggling damsel hobble along. Turning away from the girl, he knelt down onto one knee and placed his hands behind him, in an invitation to give him a piggy-back ride. "We still have quite a distance to go so I'm not sure your foot is up for this. And it'll be faster." He looks at Trevor apprehensively. Being open-minded about his situation was one thing, but straddling another man between his feminine thighs was a level of intimacy he was not prepared to explore - especially with Trevor, to whom this body was clearly attracted. ~It's not like I was prepared for any of this to begin with~, he sarcastically remarked to himself. As he readjusted his stance, his right foot glanced the ground, sending another of jolt of pain as a reminder of what lay ahead. ~Still, I think he's right. Even if I make it, I don't think it would be in time for the bus.~ "It's OK...I do this for a living," Trevor reassured. He could detect the trace of urgency in his voice. ~Ever the gentleman, even when being made late by a female.~ "F...fine." He steeled himself, stepping up to Trevor. He hikes his skirt apart as he climbs on to Trevor's back, muscular arms wrapping snugly around his legs. The inside of his knees rubbed against the cotton of Trevor's shirt, slightly damp with sweat, whose muskiness mixed pleasantly with his own feminine scent. "Grab on tight, OK?" He responds by encircling his arms around Trevor's broad body. Leaning forward, he felt the alien pressure of his soft breasts against the warmth of Trevor's back. But before any potential embarrassment registered, Trevor had spring to his feet, drawing out a surprised yip from the young lady. "Away we go!" Trevor trumpeted as they made their way briskly across the site. He couldn't help but think that Trevor was walking with an extra bounce, forcing him to tighten his grip around him. "You're enjoying this a bit too much, aren't you?" He asked. He could feel Trevor grin mischievously in the pause that followed. "Well I do this for a living - so what's wrong with liking my job?" "What, letting people ride you around?" "I'm search and rescue remember? Though I guess if we're going by what you're calling this, then I guess only if the girl is pretty," Trevor taunted. "Hey! That's not what I meant!" he retorted abashedly, throwing a playful swat to the sound of Trevor's laughter. They had made their way from the rear of the compound back onto the main pathway. Being later in the day, the attraction had emptied out quite a bit. Still, he noticed a few glances from the remaining tourists as they passed by, a mixture of bemusement and envy. Making eye contact with an old couple, the old lady smiled warmly at the sight. "What a gentleman, carrying her because she's lost her shoe. He's quite the catch dearie!" She added, giving the already- embarrassed girl a knowing wink. Through fate or providence, he was able to make a friend as wonderful as Trevor. Not only to be found by him, but also to have been saved, both metaphorically, and quite literally as was currently the case. ~Search and rescue, huh....~ He felt a flush of blessed contentment as he rested his head on the nape of Trevor's neck "We better get a move on, we're late enough as it is. They will probably wait for us, but they can't wait forever. Arms and legs inside the ride at all times OK?" He felt Trevor's arms tighten over his smooth legs. "Ready!" He answered, clinging tightly onto Trevor. And with that, Trevor broke into a brisk sprint. He couldn't help but squeal in delight as they zoomed through the compound, a sound that even brought Trevor to fits of laughter. To the remaining tourists, they were simply a boy and girl, horsing around mischievously through the compound, her dress fluttering with abandon behind her, and both intoxicated from the joie de vivre of the moment. "I see Costanza! I think we made it!" Trevor puffed as he rounded the corner, heading down the final stretch to the exit. Their guide was waiting at the gate, arms crossed, and the severest of looks on his face. Upon seeing them turn the corner, he threw his hands up in a final sign of exasperation, before pointing to the tour bus that lay another fifty yards beyond him. As they zipped past, the scarlet-haired maiden shouted a carefree "sorryyyy?!" that he was sure only irritated the guide even more. He didn't care though. He was having too much fun. ~~~ *** ~~~ *** ~~~ *** ~~~ He tapped lightly on the cabin door, drawing a muffled "coming!" from the other side. Swinging open, he was greeted by a casually- dressed Tamara, in a tank top and sleeping shorts. "Hey! You're back already!" Tamara remarked in surprised. "Hiya!" he greets her. "Can I come in?" "Sure! How was your day?" "Eventful! How are you feeling? I've missed you," he said as he slipped into her room, closing the door behind him. "I'm feeling OK. The nausea's mostly. Nothing abnormal happened really, so I spent my time reading and lazing around my cabin. Went out a bit for food. Now I'm feeling a bit peckish." "You haven' eaten either? Why don't I just order some room service here OK?" "You're certainly looking perky. Whatever happened must've been...hey why are you only wearing one shoe?" "That's only part of the story!" the bubbly lass replied. "Sit down and let me tell you all about it." As Tamara listened, she couldn't help but notice that the girl in front of her was somehow different, more open. It was just a few days ago that she was shy and timid, and now she was laughing vivaciously as she recalled the day's adventure. It was refreshing and captivating. "And then at the end we ran past George Costanza, he looked *sooo* cross! We zoomed by anyways and jumped onto the bus - and not a moment to spare too because the bus pretty much took off immediately! We rolled into town just in time, but unfortunately we were so late we never got the chance to explore Chania." The neophyte girl continued breathlessly. "Chania is much of the same as Mykonos, a bit bigger but quite touristy. You probably didn't miss much." "That's what Julie said too! I was so tired by then though that I was just glad to be back." "Well it sounds like you had a lovely day, Isabelle." "It was...but it would've been even lovelier if you were here with me Tamara." The redhead in front of her bashfully said, staring with hazel eyes that glistened with longing, with feminine hands that wrung nervously. "That's sweet of you to say. I've missed you too." He did miss her very much. Even before he had left in the morning, he already had felt her absence eat away at him. His heart-to-heart with Trevor only served to underscore that he only had a few days left with Tamara. If he wanted to live in the moment, he had better make the most of it. "I mean it Tamara. I've had some time to think during the shore leave today, and I realized that after this trip things are going to be quite different. You were simply the best thing that's happened to me on this trip, Tamara, and I want to make the most of the time we have together now." "You sound like we're aren't going to ever get together after the trip is over, Isabelle," Tamara replied, her voice quivering with emotion as she reached out to hold his hand. "I mean, I feel a special connection with you that I haven't felt in a long time with anyone else. Once we're back home, I'm sure we can keep in touch somehow. We don't have to just let this fizzle." "I know, I know. I mean...things will be different once the trip is over, no matter what. We're going to be leading separate lives - geographically and figuratively. Our daily lives will once again resume." He gave her hands a reassuring squeeze, as he shifted closer to her. "Between now and then though, all we have is time and each other. It's not limitless, but I want to make it count. And at the very least, make a good memory out of it." The fragile beauty in front of her, pouring her soul out, was achingly moving. Tamara could feel her heart melting, as her eyes began to slowly well with her loving sentiment. "So thank you," he whispered, leaning forward. "Thank you for being yourself." He kissed her tenderly on her cheek. "For being here for me." He grazed her gently on her nose. "For being yourself." He pecked her softly on her forehead. "And," he hovered over her lips, filling her nostrils with his strawberry-scented lip gloss, "I promise from now on I'll make the most of our time together. Starting now." He brought his lips to hers, letting their soft lips press together. Whereas the past few nights were lustful and fervent, this kiss was more empassioned, more loving. He poured his essence into the kiss, hoping she'd receive the emotions he's hoping to convey. She did. Tamara was taken aback at first by the scarlet-haired girl's advances, but gradually the two's ministrations began to crescendo as they celebrated their newfound appreciation for one another. Gentle sighs gave way to labored breathing as two female silhouettes melted into one. He found Tamara guiding his smaller figure up from the loveseat, as they continued showering each other with kisses. "Mmmmm...." he exhaled, as he felt Tamara's hands glide into the opening of his skirt, slowly meandering up between his thighs. He sank willingly into it, yearning for her fingers to flutter closer to his moist, yearning ladyhood. Returning the favor, he slipped his hands under her shirt, up towards her breasts. Kneeding her busom gently, he rubbed his body against hers, knowing that it will further entice her. Slowly, he backs her towards her bed, a reversed re-enactment of their first night together. He continues to massage her bosom, occasionally pausing to tweak her nipples, drawing muffles cries of pressure between their kisses. He felt Tamara's other hand slipping into the neckline of his dress to return the favor, gently massaging his nipples. "Hnnhhh..." he quivered, knees buckling from the pleasure. Gently, he guides Tamara's shirt upwards. Taking the cue, Tamara pauses her ministrations to tug the shirt over her head, tossing it to a corner of the room. In turn, he unties his dress, slipping his arms out of the short sleeve, and letting the delicate material flutter to the ground. As Tamara leans back into her bed, he reveled in the glow of her skin, set against the glistening backdrop of the moonlit ocean through the open window behind her. He spreads over top of her, letting the bare skin of his body rub sensually against her toned figure, drawing another long erotic "oooooh." He kissed her neck and nibbles at her ear, the ticklish sensation causing Tamara to squirm coquettishly underneath his smaller frame. Unclasping his bra with one hand, he slides his arms through the holes, allowing his own breasts to swing free. By now, the two women were gasping in desire, as their words gave way to their hands, gesturing the language of lust. Their hands grazed every inch of their partner's figure, every voluptuous mound and sultry valley. Their legs intertwined, relishing in the silkiness of each other's thighs. Amidst the heated sexual tango, he inched down towards her breasts, raining down kisses as his button nose sliding lusciously over Tamara's skin. Arriving at her breasts, he buried his face into the cushiony orbs as he kissed, licked, suckled on them. He felt Tamara's hands clutch at his head in carnal need, her fingers digging into her hair. In response, he reached back and slid off the scrunchie keeping his ponytail in place, feeling his locks pool luxuriously over his back. "Yes..mmmm...." Tamara urged. He grinned with pride at being able to pilot Tamara's body to such bliss. He continued, suckling on one nipple, while kneading her other breast. Slowly, he made his way down, drawing whimpers of half giggles as he lingered over her belly. He tugged at her shorts, sliding them down her to reveal her mound, practically dripping in hunger, as it emanated the familiar bouquet of a woman in heat. He continued kissing his way down, stopping just short of the target. He exhaled over it softly, allowing the warmth of his breath to heat her already fiery womanhood. He paused, shorts half removed, breathing. Titillating. Tormenting. Tamara arched her bum upward, her hands sliding down the waist-band of her shorts and panties, urging him to continue. Presented with the glorious entirety of her mound, he puffed on it warmly, taking a page from Tamara's playbook. A shrill yelp escaped her lips as she trembled in response. "You're...so evil. St...stop teasinggyyeaAH!" He timed this moment to gently lap at her clitoris with his tongue, sending spasms of pleasure through Tamara. He tasted Tamara's muskiness, noting its pleasant differentness to his own flavor. As one hand continued to tweak her nipples, his other hand continues to tantalizing her, brushing over her inner thighs as he kisses all around her bud, by now twitching with hunger. He feels her hand tug at his hair towards her ladyhood, beckoning him to hit her mark. He obliges, gently cupping his small hands over her creamy folds and moving them in a circular motion, allowing her labial walls to rub against each other. Tamara exhales a lengthy purr of delight in response, a sound that moistened his own feminine sheath in anticipation. Feeding his mounting urge, he starts massaging his own fleshy chest, sending ripples of warmth throughout his tiny frame. At some point, his hand found its way to his own engorged clitoris, which he began to stroke in earnest while continuing to work on Tamara's mound. "Unnhh.... Hnnnhhh.... Hnnaaahhh!" The small cabin was filled with the soprano songs of the two women, synchronized with one another as they writhed in carnal pleasure, a tangle of hair and limbs as they worshipped each other's bodies, straining and yearning for the harmonious chorus that they knew awaited them. He looked up. Tamara was breathing heavily, her bosom heaving up and down as she drowned in ambrosial delight. Her hair was matted against her face, which glistened from the sweat of her exertion. Her eyes were glassy, rolling back into her fluttering eyelids whenever he entered her with his fingers. He himself shuddered as another ripple of energy tore through him, drawing an urgent cry from his lips as his drew closer to his climax. His high-pitched cry prompted Tamara to glance at the diminutive girl below her. Her scarlet locks had become a delicious mess, frazzled and strewn about as their owner was engrossed in the hedonistic ritual. Strands of her long bangs were matted across of face, through which her hazel eyes peered, glistening in the reflected starlight. Her mouth hung open as she gasped, vainly trying to cool the boiling craving that raged through her as she pleasured herself. Their eyes met in that instant, the shared gaze piercing through their heated passion. Tamara reached down, beckoning her. "Turn around... it's my turn." Timidly, the redhead complies, muttering a simple "I'm yours." He moans eagerly as he laid onto the soft sheets, legs opening in anticipation of Tamara's warm breath. Instead he feels her smooth thigh slide under one of his legs. Looking down, he saw Tamara sitting up in bed, legs spread, shimmying towards him. Small static shocks trickled through his body as their loins slid together. "Hmm...." he exhaled, the sensations stoking the mounting fire in his womb, as Tamara rubbed her warm, moist labia over his inside thigh, enticingly approaching his own slit, but never quite reaching it. He adjusted his own curvy hips, seeking to bring her closer to his quivering canal. Sensing the shifting weight underneath her, Tamara pauses, realizing that she has not yet reached her intended target. An impish grin appears on her face as she sees the maiden underneath her, straining to find something to rub against. "You're going to love this," she whispers, before bringing her dripping entrance in contact his. "Hnnaahhh!" he cried. The warmth of Tamara's vulva glided fluidly against his own folds, igniting a pleasure that was at once gentle yet intense! He shivered, grinding down onto Tamara's mound in response, drawing an equally sweet cry from her lips. He began to rock his hips, his lithe figure granting him a flexibility he did not know possible, but grateful for all the same. The two women lay in bed, legs intersected, gyrating fervently against one another. He reached down, grabbing Tamara's hand, trying to pull her into his ravenous lower lips. She does the same, intensifying the pleasure even more. With his other hand, he pulls against his thigh, trying to open his legs as much as possible. To contact her as much as possible. Their loins were now soaked with their intermixed juices, spreading slickly over their inner thighs. Each rock of the hip emitted a wet squelch, a soft percussive backtrack to their unified cries as their joined arousal continued its impossible ascent. "Iszzy...yeah? Don't st...Don't...NNYYEAHHH?" "Tam..I...I'm...I'mm...HAAAHHNNNHH." Simultaneously, their bodies tensed as they sung out in a unified chorus, finally achieving a rapturous climax. His whole body arched backwards, rocked by the eruption that gushed from between their legs. He opened his eyes, not having remember closing them, and saw explosions of color in his vision as crest after crest of erotic energy flooded through his core. He felt Tamara quivering underneath him, sending another orgasmic surge through his core, tearing his hand from Tamara's as they collapsed onto the bed. As frenzied orgasm ebbed gradually into a gentle bliss, they stayed in that position, legs scissored over one another, each too worn out to move. "That...was amazing....." He whispered. He found himself slowly becoming addicted to the erotic pleasures of this body - and it didn't bother him one bit. "Yes...yes it was...." Tamara dreamily responds. The tick-tock of the second hand percussed their soft, panting breaths, a soft denouement to their earlier festivities as they floated contently in a shared post-orgasmic nirvana.... ...Which was interrupted by a drawling, growl from Tamara's belly. The two stared at each other in disbelief, before erupting into mirthful laughter. "Really?!" he said. "right after we had sex?" "Like I said, I was hungry," Tamara replied sheepishly. "I haven't had anything to eat. You at least ate me." "I thought we had each other," he teased back, as he untangled himself from her legs, slinking up into her embrace. "Why don't you get dressed while I call for some room service?" They stayed with one another for the rest of the evening. His head nuzzled onto her shoulder as they sat on the balcony, the remains of their dinner and wine strewn on the table. The waves lapped peacefully against the hull of their ship, only to be interrupted many hours later by a sweet feminine duet, an encore performance that echoed wafted over the gentle waves of the Mediterranean. To the ignorant it would have sounded simply like a song of sex. But in actuality, it was a melody of two women, making love.