Page 11 of Secrets Aboard!

It was the first time Westly had held another man’s hand. He wanted Luka. This was his ship, and luckily for him, it was Pride Week with a Pride Cruise. They bumped into Brock, who was walking with Charlie, of all people. He was dressed like Luka, so it wasn’t obvious Charlie was a part of the crew. They stopped and greeted each other.

“Where are you two going?” Westly asked.

“Hamburger Palace.”

“That’s where we were going. Why are you taking a crewmember to lunch?”

“I’ll discuss that with you privately.” Brock held Charlie’s hand.

“I’d invite you two to sit with us, but we need to have a private discussion.”

Luka and Charlie laughed. When they entered the restaurant, the couples separated. The fluorescent lights of the Hamburger Palace cast a sterile glow over the chrome and red vinyl booths. After they ordered cheeseburgers, fries, and milkshakess, they sat away from most of the noise and away from Brock and Charlie. Westly shifted in his seat, the faint hum of the ship’s engine a constant thrum in his ears. He enjoyed seeing Luka’s eyes sparkle as he smiled with curiosity.

“So, let’s talk about us.” Westly kept his voice casual. “It won’t be easy, Luka. Ship life’s tough—long hours, demanding work, not much free time.”

“I can agree with that after today. I’ll be busy with my shift and soon school.”

“For a year, that’s all true. When you’re free of your one-year contract, tell me what’s the first thing you’ll do. Be honest.”

“Fly back to California.”

“See. If we were in a relationship, you’d fly home, and I’d be left here without you.”

“Why are you worried about a year from now? Things can change for both of us. How many cruises do you operate per year?”

“I run each cruise for two months, then off for two months.”

“What will happen to me during your time off?”

“You’ll stay with me. I need a vacation between cruises. So, you’ll go on vacation too, but you can work on your online classes, and I’ll find other things to keep you busy.”

“Aren’t you worried that I’ll run away?”

“No. I don’t think you’ll do that.”

The server brought their cheeseburger platters and milkshakes.

“I want to say something,” Luka said.

“Go ahead. You have the floor.” Westly squeezed ketchup on his fries.

“If we’re together at the end of my year, I’d want to be with you. The thing is, would you give me a better job on board?”

“After you’re trained, I would. You’re going to be working on three cruises, so I’m hoping you can learn different jobs each time.”

“What about sex?”

“What about it?”

“Well?”

“There are some other issues you’d have to deal with if you’re with me. I have a lot of parties to attend. I’m on call twenty-four hours a day. I can’t show you favoritism among the crew. If you break rules, then you’ll suffer the consequences like anyone else.”

“You’re doing that already. Nothing new.”

“You’ve been here for two days, Luka, but forever or until I retire or want a change is different.”

“Why do we have to be forever on day one? Can’t we just let things grow into that? I mean, you sound like you want a marriage contract.”

“Not a contract at all, but marriage is something I’d like someday.”

“You kissed me, and you expect me to tell you I’m yours forever?”

“Do you want a one-night stand?” Westly raised his voice a notch higher than he intended.

“Hardly. That’s not at all what I want with you, but I’m not going to sign a contract and say I’m yours forever, especially over one kiss.”

“We already have a contract. You belong to me for a year. Sex isn’t included in that contract.”

“So, you want to add sex to our contract?”

“I told you I don’t do well in relationships. I don’t exactly know how to share what I want. But with us, I want to be sure you’re not wanting to be with me because I’m the only one available to you right now.”

“No, you’re not the only one available. I want you though. Can’t we just let things happen? Things would happen faster if you let me stay overnight.”

Luka continued, “No man ever fucks me unless I want them to. When I say I want you to, then I’m giving you my consent. That means you’re not taking advantage of my situation. I need someone like you who is so different than I am. You can teach me how to live successfully even though sometimes it’s a pain in the ass.”

“What are we going to do about your language?”

“What about it?”

“Profanity in passenger areas is forbidden and can get you fired and dropped off at the next stop. I have something in mind. I’m going to try it out when we go to my cabin.”

Luka grinned as if he had enjoyed being reprimanded. He doesn’t have a choice with what I’m going to do to him. He broke the fucking rule again.

“What are you going to do to me?”

“Eat your lunch. You’ll find out soon enough.”

“So, when are you going to let me stay overnight?”

“Well, I have a party to go to tonight. I might have a solution for this.”

“A solution for what?”

“When I have the solution completely worked out, then I’ll tell you. Tonight, I’m going to take you to dinner with me. My table is full of officers and their dates. Instead of you eating in your cabin alone this week, I’m going to keep you with me so I can better keep an eye on you.”

“That’s great because I think Charlie said he was going to go to dinner with Brock.”

“Call him Officer Morgan. Be respectful to all the officers on the ship.”

“Yes, sir. I’m just learning about all this military respect from you and that welcome pamphlet.”

“Weren’t you raised to respect elders?”

“I guess not.”

“Your mother is a surgeon. Why wouldn’t she teach you respect?”

“Don’t blame her. She tried, but I didn’t listen.”

“Have you ever been in trouble before this recent incident?”

“Not with the law.”

“But you have been in trouble?”

“Here and there.”

“Let’s go back to the cabin and talk more.”

On their way out, Westly stopped at Brock’s table.

“Meet me in your cabin in ten minutes. We need to talk.”

“Yes, sir.”

On their way back, Westly held Luka’s hand. “Things have to change for me to make room for you.”

“Make room in your closet, bed, or life?”

“I know if you spend the night once, you’ll never spend another night on your side.”

“Is that a bad thing?”

“I don’t know.”

“That tells me a lot about you, then.”

“I’ve never been with anyone on my ship.”

“I figured that.”

“You’re different from anyone I’ve met. You do what feels right at the time, then worry later. It’s risky behavior. The more I learn about you, the more I want to know.”

“I’ve never met such a control freak. You plan everything out before you act. Nothing is ever out of place. How do you function?”

“I do and have. Now, I have a question. How will you deal with me being in control of you?”

“You already are.”

When they reached Luka’s cabin, Westly unlocked it, and they went inside.

“I’m not done talking to you, but I have that meeting with Officer Morgan.”

“So you’re leaving me here?”

“For now. Don’t leave. Do you know we have a small jail cell on board?”

“No. Why are you asking me that?”

“Don’t break any more rules, especially taboo rules. When I get back, you’ll receive a consequence for using profanity in public.”

“Are you going to lock me in?”

“Yes, you haven’t shown you can be trusted.” He walked up to Luka, pulled him into his arms, and kissed him. “You taste so good.”

He left, locked Luka inside, then made his way to Brock’s cabin. He knocked on the door and Brock let him in.

“Want a drink?”

“Scotch on the rocks.”

“What do you want to discuss?”

“You and Charlie. You know Charlie is part of the crew. Officers don’t associate with the crew socially or take them to the passengers’ areas.”

“I just saw you and Luka together in the same place.”

“I’m the captain and Luka isn’t really a regular crewmember.”

“What the hell is the mystery with Luka?”

“I can’t discuss that with you.”

“Tell me this. What kind of cruise is this?”

“It’s a gay cruise as you already know.”

“Who owns this cruise ship?”

“I do.”

“Who made up those rules?”

“We did.”

“Do you see where I’m going here?”

“No. Where are you going with this?”

“If we wrote the rules, then we can change them.”

“It’s not that simple.”

“Remember when you hired a Native American with long hair, and he told you that was his culture?”

“Yes, and we let him keep his hair long.”

“And we both agreed we needed to remove that rule, but you haven’t removed it yet. I noticed Luka still has long hair. I’m sure it’s not his culture.”

“I’ll update the welcome packet for the upcoming cruise.”

“When you want to change something, you do it because it affects you personally. You don’t need to dictate who we fuck.”

“Why is this a problem?”

“The problem is you’re taking Luka to passenger areas, and you’re telling me not to do it.”

“Then I won’t do it anymore.”

“When are you going to realize it’s 2024? We don’t need to follow those norms we created years ago.”

“If we allow officers to date crewmembers, they will be in the passenger areas. We can’t have that.”

“You walked all over with Luka today.”

“I know what I did. I probably should have had lunch in the cabin. If we could come up with something that doesn’t mix crewmembers with passengers, then maybe that might work.”

“There it is. Allow the officers to bring their dates to officer-only areas with them. Crewmembers won’t be allowed to enter unless accompanied by an officer. They must never wear their uniform when they go to an officer-only area. The way we both dressed our guys today. No one knew they were part of the crew.”

“That’s a possibility. Right now, neither of us can take them to passenger areas.”

“What about the Grand Dining Room?” Brock asked.

“I think it would be okay if they wear a jacket and tie. There are passengers, but they are invited passengers. For this cruise, it will work. I’m not convinced this is the right thing to do.”

“Do you approve of it right now?”

“You already invited Charlie to dinner.”

“How did you know that?”

“Luka told me. It’s Pride Week. Let’s go with it and see how it works out.”

“Stop planning. Just let yourself enjoy, Luka.”

“I’ll take him to dinner. See you there.”

“Thanks. You made an excellent decision that will benefit many.”