A Pirate’s Life for Me: Book One
By
Tricia Owens
Smashwords Edition
Copyright 2012 Tricia Owens
Read other titles by Tricia Owens at
https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/TriciaOwens
A Pirate’s Life for Me
CHAPTER ONE
The ad seemed too good to be true:
Work in paradise. Now hiring entertainers for adult tourist shows in the Caribbean. Free room and board. All transportation supplied. Must be in good physical condition. HIV test required. Actors and models encouraged to apply.
After the last few months Lucas Hart had been having, finding the ad was like finding a hundred dollar bill in the gutter.
He'd immediately called and was granted an interview three days later with Susan Moore, director of Human Resources for a company he'd never heard of. Dressed in a borrowed suit and tie, he sat across a desk from an attractive blonde in her early forties. He tried to look confident while she thumbed through the resume he'd submitted, but inside the butterflies were going crazy. His confidence had taken a beating lately.
"Tell me about your work with the Tall Ships Festival, Lucas."
"Yes, ma'am. I was part of the crew of a hundred and ten foot schooner that sailed Lake Michigan and engaged other ships in mock battles. My duties included running the sails, maintaining the rigging, cleaning and of course acting in the shows. I've included a letter from my captain," he added, hopefully. He desperately wanted this job. "I've been trained in sword fighting and I'm pretty good at diving off the rigging. I don't have formal stage training but I'm reasonably good at acting. I'm a quick learner."
"You might be the most qualified applicant I've ever met," she remarked as she looked over his resume. "At least for this job." Susan Moore closed the folder containing his paperwork and looked up, her blue-gray eyes sparkling behind stylish square glasses. "Let me explain what this job entails and you tell me if you're interested. At this point, I'm ready to hire you on the spot. You've got the experience, looks and personality." She gave him a brief once-over. "I think you're perfect."
Lucas released a deep sigh of relief. "That's fantastic news, Ms. Moore."
"Susan," she said with a twitch of her lips, still studying him.
He smiled. "Susan." He ran a hand through his honey-colored hair, glad now that he hadn't gotten it trimmed before coming in here. He'd thought it might make him look a little more rakish, and it appeared to have worked. When women looked at him the way Susan Moore was looking at him, Lucas had the situation under control. "This is really great news," he repeated with a growing smile. "I'm definitely interested in hearing all about the position. Your ad was vague enough to make me imagine all sorts of things, from drag shows to aerial acrobatics."
She laughed. "No on the former, yes on the latter. Have you heard of the Arcadia Hotel?"
"I'm sorry, I haven't. I've been a little out of touch for most of the last year since we don't get much news on the ships."
"What about Anteros Island?"
He thought for a moment. "It's in the Caribbean, isn't it?"
"Yes, it's a tropical resort that caters to several cruise lines. The Arcadia is one of several hotels on the island and it happens to be an adult hotel. One wing is Heaven, the other Hell. Where they meet is Purgatory."
Lucas laughed in disbelief. "You're kidding."
"I'm not. It's amazing. I had the good fortune of staying there for two weeks last year. In Hell, of course," she said, grinning. "Best time of my life." She winked at him and then blushed a little as if suddenly realizing she was flirting with a young man nearly twenty years her junior. She looked down and straightened the papers in her folder. "The Arcadia, in addition to offering several in-house clubs, restaurants and adult shows, sponsors a pirate show five to seven days a week. This pirate show is what I'm hiring for."
Lucas couldn't believe his ears.
"The shows are performed in a bay on an old schooner which has been modified to allow a close-up audience. There's a screen behind the ship where the shadow of an opposing ship is projected. Pirates on the 'real' ship battle against privateers and Caribbean spirits on the shadow ship. It's surprisingly effective. They do a great job."
"Sounds incredible."
"The pirate ship holds a twelve-man acting crew. You'll be expected to climb rigging, swing from high locations, participate in sword fights, and occasionally fall into the water -- everything you've already done."
She smirked at him. "Now comes the good part. If you sign on, all room and board is included. You can eat at any of the Arcadia's restaurants for free, although you will be responsible for paying for alcoholic beverages and for gratuities. Housing will provided for you in the form of a cottage you share with other members of your crew, two to a room. It's fully furnished with everything you might need: full kitchen with all the appliances, flat screen TV, DVD player, game consoles -- you name it and it's probably there.
"You will receive a weekly salary of five hundred dollars. Because Anteros is a U.S. territory it will be taxed, by the way -- and you'll also receive a fifty percent employee discount on all activities on the island that offer employee discounts. You'll work the show every day while ships are in port and then you'll be off until the next docking."
Lucas shook his head, afraid to believe everything he'd heard. "What's the catch?"
She smiled. "There are a few: one is that I need you there in two weeks. Also, you'll be living on an island for one year. Unless you're fired, you won't be able to leave unless you pay your own way. Granted, it's not a tiny island. There are plenty of places to explore and it offers nearly every amenity the mainland does. There is a local government and you're subject to all the same laws as you would here, but also all the benefits. But though it's similar to here in some cases, it's still a very different lifestyle. Not everyone can pack up and go, or are willing to live on a secluded island. Nor is everyone willing to work fourteen days in a row without overtime."
"But the time off between sailings more than makes up for it," he pointed out.
"Depends on your perspective, I suppose." She tapped the folder containing his information. "The only thing I need from you to complete your hiring is for you to take a comprehensive physical at one of our approved clinics and pass an HIV test. We'll be running a criminal background check as well as your credit report. After that you only need to clear up your personal business here and we'll transport you to the island via one of the cruise ships."
"I'll be taking a cruise there?"
"You'll be traveling as an employee in the employees' quarters," she clarified with a laugh. "It's definitely not the same."
"Still sounds better than flying," he laughed back. "Wow," he repeated, setting back in his chair as everything she'd described sank it. "I have to tell you, Susan, this sounds like a dream job. I loved working the Tall Ships festival and this sounds like doing more of the same, just in a bigger pond. And I won't have to sleep on the ship, which sounds great. A tropical island, free food and housing..." He shook his head, incredulous. "I'm interested. This is too good to pass up." And I can get away from everything that reminds me of Lisa.
Susan beamed. "Excellent. I was hoping you'd say that, Lucas. As I said, you're perfect for this job. Now, let's discuss the move. There are private banks on the island which..."
Two weeks after that interview with Susan, Lucas flew to Fort Lauderdale. From there he'd boarded the cruise ship, the Excelsior, and shared a cabin with a friendly Filipino crewman named Andy. A week later, well-tanned from afternoons lounging beside one of the ship's pools, he'd disembarked on Anteros Island and jumped directly on the employee tram.
I can't believe I'm about to live on a tropical island... as a pirate.
It brought a wide smile to Lucas's face as he looked out the side of the open-air tram and watched the scenery of his fantasies -- now his new home -- whiz past him. Turquoise waters, red hibiscus, green palmettos and white sand beaches -- he'd entered a world of primary colors. Everything was vibrant and fresh and a million miles away in both distance and spirit from Chicago.
"Somebody pinch me," he murmured.
"Only if I get to pick which body part."
He turned his head in surprise. A petite blonde girl sat beside him. He'd been too awestruck by the surroundings to notice her when he'd taken his seat.
He noticed her now. She had a cute pixie face that would have been even more pronounced had her shoulder length blonde hair been pulled up instead of brushed in around her face. As he watched, she nervously tugged the locks tighter to her cheek. Her sunglasses were tinted pink, which revealed that her eyes were a light color -- green or blue.
"It doesn't seem real, does it?" she asked. She was wearing a white tank top with a rabbit face stitched across the front of it. Each time the tram rode over a bump, her breasts jiggled. Lucas was glad for his dark lenses that allowed him to sneak glances without being caught.
"I'm from Toronto. When I told my friends I was going to live on an island they thought I meant somewhere in Nova Scotia," she laughed. "I can't wait to send them postcards from here. They'll hate me." She twisted sideways in the seat and extended her hand to him. He couldn't help noticing she kept her left hand hovering over her cheek and hair. "I'm Nicole. I'll be working on the beach as a cocktail server." She smiled awkwardly. "Funny, huh?"
He cocked his head, curious. "Why is that funny?"
Again, she pulled at her hair until Lucas realized she was trying to cover part of her face with it. "I'm not exactly model material," she said. "I was in a car accident a few years back and I -- I was burned."
She didn't mention where the scars were located, but Lucas had a pretty good hunch.
"You'll probably be the most popular girl on the beach," he told her earnestly. "To be a horrible male, the truth is that we're going to be staring at your breasts the entire time, and from what I can see they're stunning."
Her eyes widened. Then she burst into laughter and lowered her hand. "Well, at least you're truthful! Wow."
He shrugged and grinned. "You really have nothing to worry about, Nicole. Whatever you think is holding you back -- believe me, it's not. You're gorgeous and you're friendly. Two pluses in my book." He shook her hand. "I'm Lucas. I'm working in the pirate show."
She shook her head in wonder. "There's a pirate show? What do you do in it?"
"I'm not exactly sure," he admitted, "but I bet it's a lot of swinging from rigging and yelling 'Argh' a lot. Maybe spanking some wenches," he added playfully.
She laughed. "Pirates are sexy. Will you get to wear an earring and an eye patch?"
"Of course," he replied loftily, though he had no idea what the costume would consist of. "I'll be properly decked out for raping and pillaging."
"Oooh," she teased, turning more in her seat to face him. "Sign me up. I make a great damsel in distress."
He laughed. "Something tells me I might find the tables turned, Nicole. You're not fooling me."
Her grin was flirtatious and fun. "And something tells me you'd be able to handle it."
He just grinned.
"You've got a nice smile, Lucas. Maybe after we get settled in our housing we can get together and explore our new home, what do you say?"
Unfortunately, her wording made Lucas realize just how permanent this new situation was. They were now living on an island. If things went badly between them there wasn't any easy escape. They might run into each other every day. It made him think of Chicago, and how every restaurant and street reminded him of Lisa...
"I'd love to, but I think for the first week or so I should try to bond with my cast mates," he told her, smiling sheepishly. "You know, sit around and compare scars and see who can burp the alphabet. But I'd love to catch a drink with you sometime later. I'd love to hear what you think about this place and your job after you've gotten to know them a little better."
She sighed dramatically, but her eyes twinkled. "I guess I can live with that. I should probably try to hang out with my new co-workers first too. If I'm going to be stuck living with them for long..." She tugged self-consciously at her hair again.
To distract her, he quickly asked, "Do cocktail servers live in the cottages too?"
She gaped. "Cottages? What? No fair! We're stuck in big 'ol dorms. Why do you get the cushy digs?"
"Well, we are sexy pirates," he teased. He held up his hands to ward off her swat. "Maybe it's because we're part of an adult show. They think we'd be too irresistible in general population."
She snorted loudly and indelicately, which made him laugh. She blushed and hit him again. "Irresistible, my ass," she huffed.
He shrugged, grinning. "Trying to make myself feel good."
"So you said adult show, hmm?" Blue eyes turned speculative once again as they roamed over him. "Now, I'll have to catch your show. Oh, hey, look!"
She pointed up ahead where the front of the tram was clearing the hill and heading down into the semi-circle of the bay. The horseshoe shaped bay spread before them, shops on either side, but it was the beach which held their attention. "See those guys in the blue shirts? They work for the Arcadia. Farther north will be the Royal Capeside. That's who hired me."
Several young men and women wearing turquoise blue polo shirts and white shorts were busy wiping off chairs and picking up debris and trash from the beach. Since the Excelsior had just docked the beaches were still relatively empty of tourists and the Arcadia employees were busy preparing for their arrival.
Lucas pointed at a tiki hut bar where three young women in floral print sarongs and turquoise bikinis were preparing their stations. "That looks like where you'll be working, right?"
"I think that's only for the Arcadia servers. I'm not sure how much territory each hotel covers, like, if the Arcadia gets the south end of the bay and the Capeside is limited to the north. Ooh, I'm so excited now!" Nicole exclaimed, rubbing her bare arms. "I'm getting goosebumps. Isn't this exciting?"
Lucas looked beyond the people on the beach to the incredibly blue waters of Hidden Idol Bay. He could see a ship sitting out in the water, a vessel similar to what he'd sailed in Lake Michigan. A shiver went down his spine when he spotted the familiar skull and bones of the Jolly Roger flying from its mast.
"Yes, Nicole, this is exciting," he breathed.
~~~~~
The employee tram turned off of the main cobblestone road of Hidden Idol and onto an asphalt road which carried them away from the tourist area into what were clearly the neighborhoods of the bay. The tram passed some private backyards before making stops at several housing areas in Hidden Idol including a small apartment complex, what looked like a small bungalow town named Arcadia West, and a dormitory-style housing unit called the Capeside Villages where Nicole disembarked with a cheerful wave and promise to get together later with Lucas. After these stops only Lucas and another man in his early thirties at the front of the tram continued to ride it as the caterpillar-like vehicle wound its way back towards the water.
"Where you headed?" the brunette man up front asked as he twisted in his seat to look back at Lucas. He was even more tanned than Lucas was, with squint lines radiating out like sunburst from the corner of his blue-green eyes. Though brown, his hair carried heavy blonde streaking from the sun. A trim soul patch fit perfectly on his square face and matched his thick, but also trim eyebrows. "You going to the orientation too?"
Lucas shook his head. "Orientation for what?"
The man's face dropped. "Guess not. I'm heading up to Bayside. Orientation for new diving and fishing crew."
"Sorry. I'm being dropped off at some cottages. I work for entertainment." Lucas looked over what he could see of the man. He was well-built, maybe more so than he was, with a wide chest and thick arms. "So which do you do -- dive or fish?"
"Both, though I prefer diving," the man said, his grin a veritable flash of lightning in his tanned face. "Name's Chasen. You do any diving?"
"I'm Lucas. Nice to meet you. No, I've never had the chance, but I wouldn't mind giving it a try. Especially here," Lucas added with a smile. "The view underwater must be amazing."
"That's an understatement and a half," Chasen laughed. "On Anteros, it doesn't matter if you're looking at fish or people -- both are beautiful." His hazel eyes flicked over Lucas, assessing him. 'You ever come up to the piers, you look me up at Blue Yonder. I'll take care of you and make sure you learn the right way. I'll make you fall in love."
That's the last thing I want, buddy. But Lucas nodded. "Thanks. You'll be seeing me soon."
Chasen's grin widened. "I'm holding you to that." He hesitated. "So you're here on your own, right?"
"Yep."
The diver looked him over again. "Good."
~~~~~
Chasen was dropped off at a bus stop where he said he'd catch a ride up to the northern end of the bay. The friendly older man again extended the invitation to come find him at Blue Yonder, which Lucas promised to take him up on. Alone, Lucas rode the tram southeast, heading up into the hills overlooking the bay. After a five minute trip, the driver let him off at the end of a narrow road.
Cottage 22 was a small, one-story pale pink abode that sat side by side with three other pastel colored cottages on a crushed shell road that ran parallel to the bay. Behind the cottages rose a hill covered in wild vegetation and palm trees that led into a real-life jungle. The cottages' front yard was the crescent-shaped beach that melted into the turquoise waters. On it, a sand volleyball game was in progress, and two young men and a woman were tending a barbeque pit dug into the sand. It looked like a scene from a vacation, yet Lucas knew this was what his life would be like for the next year.
Smiling wistfully, he walked up the driveway of Cottage 22, passing an electric blue Ninja. He paused to admire the motorcycle, something he'd always dreamed of driving. He noticed then that none of the cottages had garages, and he remembered he hadn't seen many private cars down on the main roadways either. Apparently most people traveled by two-wheeled vehicles, walked, or used public transportation. It made sense since cars were probably difficult and expensive to transport over.
Now I have an excuse to get a street bike, he thought as he approached the front of the cottage. This keeps getting better and better.
He slung his duffel bag from his shoulder and knocked on the front door. Beside the welcome mat sat a collection of conch and spiny shells, as well as two pairs of well-worn flip-flops. A wooden wind chime spun gently from the eaves but there wasn't enough of a breeze to make it rattle.
"Just a sec!" he heard a male voice yell from inside.
A minute later the front door swung open, revealing a skinny young man around Lucas's age. He certainly looked like an island native with his head of light brown braids that reached his shoulders where colored beads rolled across his skin. Deeply tanned skin brought out the brightness of seaweed green eyes. His lanky form was dressed in a loose white tank top and blue board shorts with white stripes up the sides. His feet were bare. He smiled at Lucas, the act poking two deep dimples into his cheeks and making his button nose crinkle. "Hiya!"
Lucas couldn't help grinning back. "Hiya, yourself. I'm Lucas. I think I'm your new housemate."
The other man's eyes rounded and he did a quick once-over of Lucas. "Right on! Come on in, Lucas. I'm Kip." Kip stepped back to allow him inside. "Welcome to Cottage Twenty-two, the coolest house on the island. Man, this is great! I didn't expect anyone so hot."
Lucas gave him a bemused glance but Kip rattled on, unaware: "You came at a good time. The other guys are at the store buying food for grilling tonight. It'll give you time to unpack and settle in before they all attack you. And boy," Kip added, taking an unabashed look at Lucas's backside, "are they going to attack you."
The comment and implication was so unexpected Lucas couldn't help but laugh. "So, uh, why don't you give me the tour while we wait for them?"
"Sure thing, bro. You're with me. We've got a great room that faces the ocean. It's the second best room in the place. But first, let me show you the house!"
They were standing in a tiled alcove just inside the door. Kip led him straight ahead into the living room. More Spanish tile covered the floor, along with a large, colorful braided rug in the center of the room on which sat a gnarly driftwood coffee table whose glass oval top was covered with beer bottles, food wrappers and a centerpiece of a giant abalone shell in which someone had placed some tea lights. A coral colored sofa and loveseat formed an L around the table, facing a flat screen TV mounted on the wall. Above the TV hung a fake marlin. Lucas smiled at the jock strap dangling from the fish's beak.
"Kind of a mess right now, but we clean it up when we have guests," Kip apologized. He pointed at a console beneath the TV. "We've got TiVO and satellite, so we can watch anything and everything. Also Xbox 360 and a Wii. I think we're getting a PS3 soon."
Lucas pointed at the framed photographs of island scenes which hung on the adjacent wall: a macro of a crab's eyes peering out of a tide pool, a Caribbean child mouthing a pomegranate, and one Lucas especially liked -- a pair of hands buried by sand with only the entwined fingers peeking out. "Those are nice."
"You think so?" Kip beamed. "Adam took those. He's got a real eye for it. He takes pictures of the crew too, but those photos stay in his bedroom. Too personal for the living room, he says."
Mention of another roommate prompted Lucas to ask, "So how many people live here?"
"Four." Kip pointed between them. "There's you and me, then Adam and Tyler. There are three other cottages for the rest of the crew."
Must be the girls, Lucas mused.
"Here's the kitchen."
This room was smaller than the living room, but contained all the necessary appliances. It amused Lucas to see a couple of pineapples and a coconut sitting on the counter. He couldn't remember the last time he'd seen a real coconut.
"Tyler likes to cook, but the rest of us eat at the Arcadia or down in HI."
"HI?"
"Hidden Idol. It's that touristy section where all the gift shops and restaurants are," Kip explained as he walked to a sliding glass door beside the circular dining room table. He pulled the door open and grinned at Lucas. "Check it out, bro. The backyard is small, but it's sweet."
Lucas peered out into the small patio behind the house. "A Jacuzzi! Nice."
"It's great at night," Kip enthused. He waited until Lucas backed away before he slid the door closed again. "We go to the beach for barbecues and parties. The Jacuzzi is for more intimate action," he leered. "Everyone looks sexy when we light the tiki torches. I'll bet your hair really glows in it."
Uncertain about the vibes he was getting, Lucas stepped away from the other man. "And the bedrooms and bathrooms?"
"We share the guest bathroom. Adam and Tyler have the master bedroom so they get their own bathroom. Privilege of being the captain and first mate," Kip said with a roll of his eyes. He led Lucas down a short hall. "Here we are." Kip entered a room at the front of the house which was barely furnished with two dressers and two double beds. He flopped down on the bed that was nearest the window. "Sorry, but I've got dibs."
Lucas smiled. "No problem." He wouldn't have minded if he was forced to sleep on the floor, quite frankly. He paused for a moment to admire the scene outside before he tossed his duffel beside his bed. There was a chest of drawers on the opposite wall which he assumed was his. A closet with mirrored doors sat to his right. Someone had pinned a red kite to the ceiling as decoration, its tail twisting up and down the wall as though it were in flight.
Lucas took a seat on the end of his bed. "I thought it would all sink in by now, but it hasn't," he said, laughing at himself a little. "This all still seems like a dream." He studied the other man. "How long have you been here?"
"Going on sixteen months," Kip bragged. "Best job I've ever had. You'll believe it too, once you start. And as long as you do a good job and don't get into trouble on the island you can stay here forever. Our boss takes more vacations than the tourists do."
"When do I meet him?"
Kip grinned. "You don't. He's here, but Mr. Aras is more concerned with what's going on inside the Arcadia than what we're doing in the bay. He left a letter for you -- it's in the top drawer of your chest -- but he leaves the orientation and explanations to the captain of each show. Don't sweat it," he added when he saw Lucas's worried look, "we'll all help you out. We're part of the same crew now. We won't steer you wrong, bro. Get it -- steer you wrong. Haha!"
Lucas rolled his eyes. "So we don't have a boss, is that what you're telling me?"
Kip looked thrilled. "Pretty much. Yep."
"Isn't that a little risky for the show? A bunch of young people on their own on a resort island seems like a recipe for goofing off."
"Not if you know Adam," Kip snorted. "Which you will when he comes back from the store. Cap'n Blackheart, as he's known, runs a tight ship. No fooling around unless it's part of his script."
That caught Lucas's attention. "When do I get to see that, by the way? The script, I mean."
For the first time, Kip looked a little shifty. "Well, er, you'll get the main script. That's in the envelope Mr. Aras left you. The other one... Adam'll fill you in on it. It tends to change with his moods."
"What does that mean?"
The other man shrugged. "It means he makes it up as he goes. We follow the main script that Mr. Aras gives us when we think the boss might be in the audience or when he sends VIP guests who might report back to him. When Aras is off the island, Adam runs his own version of the shows. They're wild, but they're fun. Don't worry." His grin turned suddenly lecherous. "Only half of the crew gets stripped."
"Oh, yeah?" Images of naked female pirates swam through Lucas's mind. "Is that the extent of the 'adult' portion of the show?"
Kip burst out laughing. "I know what you're thinking, you dog. Oh, it gets better, trust me. You know that HIV test you took? It wasn't because they worried you might cut your finger if you know what I mean."
Lucas raised both eyebrows. "You don't mean we engage in sex on stage, do you?" He'd never been especially exhibitionistic with Lisa, but that was only because she was self-conscious of her body. Lucas took good care of himself. He knew he had nothing to be ashamed of.
"I'm not going to spoil the surprise, bro," Kip said evilly. "You'll find out yourself when you watch our first show. The practices won't mean anything. Adam will pull things out of his ass at the last minute. And no pun intended by the comment, by the way. Adam's all top."
"Well, yeah, he's the captain," Lucas said, bemused by the clarification.
"In ways you haven't even imagined. There's no way I'm ever getting fired from this job. No way, no how. I like being strung up before the mast too much. Ha-ha!" Kip suddenly slapped his thigh. "Hey, why are we doing this indoors? You just moved to an island! Let's take this to the beach, Lucas. We gotta work on that tan of yours, bro. Plus, I want to check out your bod."
Lucas was sure of it now: his new roommate was gay, or at least bisexual. It made sense. Kip was skinny and had a cute, almost girlish face. He looked gay. It didn't particularly bother Lucas -- he was open-minded and didn't care what people did as long they didn't hurt others -- but he'd never been the focus of such aggressive come-ons. Most gay guys didn't hit on obviously straight men. It made him a little self-conscious as Kip checked him out again before turning and leading Lucas out of the bedroom.
"Leave your shoes here," Kip instructed at the front porch. After kicking off his sandals Lucas followed the other man across the shell road to the white sand.
Lucas gasped in delight. The sand was so fine it almost felt like baby powder between his toes. "This is amazing," he moaned as he sank down beside Kip on the beach a good distance away from the volleyball game in progress. He stretched out his legs and dragged his fingers through the fine granules. "It's like powder."
"Wait until the other guys bury you in it," Kip warned, grinning mischievously. "It's become a tradition when new guys join the crew."
Lucas panned his eyes over the turquoise waters. "Do you like them? The rest of the crew?"
"For the most part," Kip replied honestly, nibbling on his lower lip. "Tyler can be a real bitch sometimes but Adam will keep him in line. He's probably the only one I'd say be careful around at first. Tyler treats the crew like it's a dog pack, and everyone has to learn their place in it. The other guys are pretty laid back, although Orinth in twenty-three can get on my nerves since he's got a big mouth. But the guys are cool. I don't think you'll have a problem with any of them. You seem pretty laid back."
Lucas sighed. "I don't want to give anyone a reason to complain about me. I really need this job. I don't know what I'd do if I lost it."
"You running from home too?" At Lucas's surprised look, Kip nodded knowingly. "Lots of guys are when they come here. It's no biggie. This is an opportunity to start over. Can't blame a guy for that."
Hearing something in the other man's voice, Lucas asked, "What about you?"
"Bad relationship," Kip replied, avoiding Lucas's eyes as he looked down and drew patterns in the sand.
Lucas sighed. "Me too."
"Sorry to hear it, bro. But I can't say I'm sorry it brought you here." Kip whipped his tank top up over his head and folded it into a loose pillow behind him. His upper body was lightly muscled and hairless like a young boy’s. Lucas's eyes caught on the golden nipple ring in Kip's left nipple. "You'd better start working on that tan, roomie. Adam wants us all to look like island natives."
"I guess I'm lucky I don't burn easily or freckle," Lucas remarked before taking hold of the hem of his T-shirt and pulling it off. He could feel Kip's eyes on him and tried to ignore it as he also made a makeshift pillow.
"Nice, bro," Kip said after a low whistle. "Real nice. That's some chest you've got. Not bulky, but really cut. And look at that six-pack!"
"A friend showed me a good routine," Lucas replied simply. "And I like to swim."
"Swimmers have the best bodies," Kip opined, "all tight and firm with that V down the back leading to a tight bubble butt... mmm."
Lucas bit his tongue and said nothing.
They both stretched out on their backs. Lucas closed his eyes and luxuriated in the warm sunshine and the sound of the seagulls cawing over the water.
"Don't fall asleep," Kip said softly. "It's easy to do."
"I won't," Lucas mumbled.
But he'd spoken too soon. He'd been too excited to sleep last night, and had tossed and turned all night. The beach seemed to sway beneath him, much as his bunk had while he was on board the Excelsior. It rocked him like a baby, and with the pleasant breeze dancing over his bare chest and the warm sun on his face, he felt himself dozing off.
"Tell me about yourself," Kip murmured softly after several minutes. His voice sounded closer and Lucas guessed the other man had rolled onto his side and was looking at him. His voice was low and quiet, blending in with the serene surroundings. "Tell me about Lucas. What did you do before you came here?"
What did he do... The answer was less interesting than he would have liked. "I worked on a pirate ship," he breathed, eyes still closed. "A friend got me the job. My first ever. I guess it's all I know how to be."
"You only know how to be a pirate, huh?" Lucas felt the sand bunching against his arm as the other man slid closer. "Lucky guy. Go on. Why'd you leave it to come here? What drove you away?"
Stupidity. Naiveté... Reality.
"I thought I was in love," he sighed. "I was wrong. I was glad it was over. But I felt like I should have tried to make it work. I'm usually the kind of guy who's good in relationships. But maybe that's only when they're short-term. This was my first serious one."
"You think you don't know how to love?" Kip whispered.
Lucas frowned. "Maybe. No. I don't know. I don't want to think about falling in love, anymore. I just want to work and have fun and just live."
"No obligations. No ties," Kip agreed. "Just an island boy. An island pirate."
The image that brought to make made Lucas smile with relief. Here was someone who understood, who wouldn't condemn him for being immature and selfish even though this was the first time in his adult life he would be acting so. He'd tried hard to be a good boyfriend to Lisa, and as a result he couldn't help feeling used. Hurt. His spine relaxed into the sand as obligation fell away. "Yeah," he breathed, "that's what I want."
"It's what we all want, Lucas. We're young guys here to enjoy ourselves. We're here to live it up the way we can't back home without apologizing to nobody for it. That's what being on a pirate crew is all about. You're going to fit right in. I can tell already."
Something brushed over his forehead. He realized Kip's fingers were lightly combing through his hair. He thought about asking the other man to stop, but it felt too good and if that's all Kip intended to do Lucas supposed it was alright. He didn't want to come off as a homophobe on his first day here.
Kip's voice floated over him. "Living here is like living in someone's dream. Sometimes I'll fall asleep right here on the beach, with the stars as my blanket and the water lapping against the sand as my lullaby... It's a great place to bring someone for the first time."
Lucas opened his eyes when the other man's head blocked the sunlight from falling across his face.
Kip smiled endearingly at him. "Don't mind me."
As the other man descended, Lucas turned his face to the side. Kip's lips fell on his cheek, surprisingly soft for a guy; he'd expected something rougher.
Lucas rolled away from the other man. He came to a stop on his stomach a few feet from a confused looking Kip. "Hey, look," he said as gently as he could, "don't take it the wrong way. It's cool and all but I'm not like that, Kip. I'm not interested in guys."
Kip's confusion gave way to humor. "Um, okay. What is it -- you like the whole seduction thing? I guess that's okay. I like chasing too. Especially when you're so cute."
Lucas shook his head and sat up. He grabbed his shirt and pulled it on. "I'm not playing hard to get, Kip. I'm serious. I'm not gay. I'm sorry if I accidentally led you on."
He brushed the sand off his shirt and shook it out of his hair. After a moment he realized Kip hadn't moved and was staring at him. "What?"
"You're really serious," Kip said, his mouth hanging open. "You're straight."
Lucas didn't understand what the big deal was. "People usually aren't that surprised by that," he joked.
Kip laughed too, but his was one of incredulity. "They are when they've been hired to join our crew."
"Why?"
"Lucas," Kip slapped his forehead, "you've been hired to work in a gay show."
CHAPTER TWO
"I have to say, Lucas, this has never happened before and again, I'm sorry you've been brought all this way out here because of a mistake."
Lucas paced the kitchen with Kip's cell phone pressed to his ear. Kip sat cross-legged on the counter, shamelessly eavesdropping. First he and then Mr. Aras, the entertainment director for the Arcadia Hotel, explained the bad news to Lucas: there were two pirate shows -- one featuring men and women performing for a heterosexual crowd, the other featuring a crew of all men who performed for a gay crowd. Apparently, much to Lucas' dismay, Anteros Island pandered heavily to gay men.
"So there really isn't any opening in the regular show?" Lucas asked, biting his thumbnail. "Nothing in the near future? Someone finishing up their contract, maybe?"
He listened to Mr. Aras do a few mouse clicks. "The next expiring contract on that show comes up in four months, and there's a good chance that crew member will renew. This is his third extension."
"Damn."
Lucas was stressed. He couldn't go back to Chicago now. Not after he'd seen what a dream job this was. When would he ever get another opportunity to work on a tropical island as a pirate? Sure, he could be added to the waitlist for a spot on the heterosexual show, but what would he do in Chicago in the meantime now that his contract with the Tall Ships had expired? Work fast food? Sell clothes? He didn't have any other skills.
He stabbed a hand through his hair while he thought furiously. At the counter, Kip gave him an encouraging smile. Lucas smiled back weakly. Kip was a nice guy. Gay or not, Lucas could imagine them becoming friends. Lucas stared at him for a long moment and then made up his mind.
"Mr. Aras, what if I stuck with this show until an opening came up on the other crew?"
"But, Lucas, you said you aren't gay."
"I'm not, but how much gay content is there on this show? Couldn't I play one of the supporting roles? Like a crewman who hangs around in the rigging or something? You don't need to be gay to swing from the ropes, do you?"
Kip smacked himself in the forehead again while Mr. Aras paused in answering.
"The crew of the show is gay and the audience is gay, Lucas. I can't help thinking it would be dishonest or disrespectful to have a straight man in the show." Aras sighed heavily. "Don't you think?"
"Not at all," Lucas jumped in, seeing a chance to sway the older man. "We're putting on a performance. They want to see attractive men dashing about being pirates. I can fulfill that fantasy. It's not like I'll be expected to have sex with them or anything." He mentally shuddered at the thought. "They'll have no idea I'm straight and I promise I'll be nothing but respectful of my crew's preferences. It won't even be an issue. I'm an adult, Mr. Aras, and I think I'm a pretty decent one, at that. I respect other peoples' choices."
Kip cupped his hands around his mouth and whispered loudly, "Being gay isn't a choice, bro!"
Lucas waved him down, hoping Aras hadn't heard him. "I want to be here, Mr. Aras. I'll do everything I'm asked and I'll be an asset to the crew. Let me stick with the show until there's an opening on the other crew. Please, Mr. Aras."
Another drawn-out sigh. "Lucas, I really don't think--"
"I'll work for $300 a week," Lucas blurted. He immediately winced at the rash decision, but if losing out on $800 a month for a few months gave him a chance at full-time on the straight show, he'd take it. "You can't beat that bargain, Mr. Aras. You won't have to pay for my passage back and I'll work for peanuts until I can transfer to the other show. You know you can't turn that down. All the paperwork has been done. I'm already here. Use me."
He heard Aras's chair squeak as the man shifted. "I like your persistence, Lucas, and I appreciate your offer. But your contract has already been written. I can't change your salary."
"Then what about--"
"I'll consider it." Lucas shut his mouth and jammed the phone to his ear. "I'll consider it," Aras continued, "and if Adam gives me his personal okay, then you can remain here. But you have to meet with him and discuss this. It's his crew. If he feels comfortable with the situation, you stay. If he doesn't, I'm sorry, Lucas, but we'll have to make arrangements to return you to the mainland. Is that fair enough?"
Lucas shut his eyes and slumped back against the refrigerator. "More than fair, sir. Thank you. Thank you so much."
"Don't thank me yet," Mr. Aras warned with a chuckle. "You still have to convince Adam why you should stay. He'll be tougher than I."
Lucas tried to picture a tough gay guy and couldn't. Every gay man he'd ever known had been similar to Kip: short and/or skinny and usually very effeminate. In other words, easy for a jock type like him to charm. "I'll win him over. I'll show him that I can be a positive addition to the crew."
"Then I wish you luck, Lucas. You sound like a nice guy. It'd be a shame to have to send you back."
"Thank you, sir. Don't bother making plans. I'm staying."
He could hear the smile in Aras's voice. "I'll be looking forward to hearing from Adam, then. Take care."
Lucas closed the phone and handed it back to Kip, who was shaking his head. "What? You don't think I can convince him?"
Kip tucked the phone into his pocket. "No, I don't. And I know Tyler isn't going to go for this, either. Tyler's got a chip on his shoulder about straight guys. He thinks they're all repressed queers." Kip sighed, looking like a defeated puppy dog. "I think you're going back, bro. I wouldn't unpack if I were you." He sighed again and hopped off the counter. "This really sucks. I was looking forward to hooking up with you."
"Kip, I'm not leaving. I can't."
The other man shook his head, avoiding Lucas's eyes. "You're not staying, Lucas. But good luck trying, I suppose."
Lucas blinked as understanding dawned on him. He caught the other man by the arm as he moved to exit the kitchen. "I should have asked you if it was okay if I tried to stay," he said quietly. "I'm taking the spot of someone who'd be better suited as your roommate." Though he hated to say it, he needed to: "If you'd rather I leave, just say the word, Kip. I'll go without another word. It's not fair to you otherwise."
Surprise rounded Kip's features. "But I thought you needed this job?"
Lucas sighed, releasing his hold on Kip's arm. "I do, but I'm not going to bulldoze my way onto your crew. This is your home and your job. You're the one who's supposed to be here, not me. So it's your call, Kip. I won't hold it against you if you decide you'd rather have a gay roommate come in. Honestly I won't. If the tables were turned and I had a chance of a gorgeous girl in my room instead of you, you'd already be hitching a ride on a tuna boat." He grinned to show he was teasing.
Kip's green eyes deepened. He suddenly stepped forward until he was toe to toe with Lucas. "Would I? Even if I told you I'd let you fuck me?"
Lucas sucked in his breath at the bolt of tension that snapped between them. His face flamed.
Kip slowly smiled.
"Yeah, I want you to stay, bro. If you do, I might get that glimpse of your naked bod."
Lucas had to force his laughter. He couldn't believe he'd just imagined having sex with Kip. "If I make it onto the crew you can stare at my lily white butt all you want."
Kip made a face. "Tan lines? Bro, we gotta get rid of those!"
The tension was broken and Lucas breathed a secret sigh of relief. "Help me convince Adam to let me stay and I'll let you take me to every nude beach on this island."
Kip's grin was pure sex. "You are so on." He checked out Lucas from head to toe. "They'll be coming home any minute now. Let's clean you up. The hotter you look, the less likely Adam'll be to send you home. It's important to him to have a good-looking crew, you know?"
Lucas nodded. He was relieved to have Kip on his side. He stood a better chance with Adam this way. "Let me take a quick shower. Look through my bag and pick out what I should wear."
"What, you think just because I'm gay I'm into fashion?" Kip snapped, planting his hands on his hips.
Lucas's stomach sank into his feet. "Oh, shit, no, I didn't mean--"
Kip's lips split into a grin. "Don't sweat it, bro. I was only teasing you. Go jump in the shower. I'll find some clothes for you."
"You asshole," Lucas grumbled before heading for the guest bathroom.
~~~~~
"You don't think my button-down would be better?" Lucas looked at himself in the mirror doubtfully. "I thought I was supposed to get dressed up."
"In this case you need to be dressed down," Kip replied as he lounged on his side on his bed, admiring Lucas while he stood in front of the mirrored closet doors wearing only a pair of tight brown shorts. "You've got a hot bod, bro. No one can resist a blonde swimmer. Hopefully not even Adam."
Lucas ran a hand through his hair, sighing inwardly. He'd stopped Kip from rubbing oil onto his chest and shoulders but he still felt like a piece of meat on display. Still, if it got him the job, it would be worth it. And what was the point of all his workouts and healthy eating if it wasn't to show off his body?
He turned from the mirror so he wouldn't have to see Kip staring at him in it. "So tell me about Adam. What do I need to know about him?"
Kip dropped his eyes and picked at the comforter on his bed. "Don't resist him, bro. That's the best advice I can give you. He's the captain. Do what he says. Even when we're not working."
Oh, great. A guy who takes the alpha male thing to the extreme. Lucas had had to deal with his fair share of them on the ship. Fortunately he was easy-going for the most part. It was only when someone was incompetent that he had a problem submitting to their orders.
"Okay, I can do that. Anything else?"
Kip raised his eyes. The worry on his face touched Lucas a little. The other man was really trying to help him. "Try to get on Tyler's good side as soon as possible. He's the key. He and Adam are together, you see, so if Tyler hates you, he'll convince Adam to hate you, too."
"Together as in..."
"They're fucking each other." Kip grinned.
Lucas breathed deeply. "Okay. So treat Tyler like the bitchy girlfriend. Got it."
Kip groaned. "This is going to go down bad, I can already tell."
"Hey, don't give up on me already! Come on, roomie, you're my ace in the hole!"
It made Kip laugh. "Okay, okay, bro. I won't run up the white flag just yet. You're hotter than most of the crewmembers and Adam might get off on you being straight, who knows. I'll keep my fingers crossed." He abruptly sat up as they heard the sound of motorcycles pulling up to the front of the cottage. "They're here, bro. Pinch your nipples! Bite your lips! Make 'em all puffy!"
Lucas stared at him as if he were nuts. "What the hell, Kip, I'm not meeting them looking like I just had sex with you!"
"Oh, damn, this is so not going to work," Kip muttered as he jumped off the bed and grabbed Lucas by the wrist to drag him out into the living room.
The other man's nervous reaction contributed to Lucas's. He forced himself to breathe deeply. He told himself this was just another job interview. Impress Adam for the next half hour and for the next year he'd have the best job of his life. No problem. He could do it. He would do it.
Then the door opened and the man who stepped through it made Lucas realize he'd underestimated this situation entirely. As his eyes widened, beside him Kip cleared his throat and said, "Hey, Cap'n, guess who just landed on the island? Our new whipping boy!"
CHAPTER THREE
Lucas hadn't thought he was the kind of person to stereotype, but he realized to his dismay that apparently he was, because in his opinion the man who had paused just inside the door, a motorcycle helmet in one hand and another beneath a muscled arm, couldn't be a gay guy.
He just couldn't be.
For one thing, Adam looked to be about the same age as Lucas but was much bigger than him, taller and practically built like a linebacker. He wore a white tank top which showed off the solid mass of his shoulders and thick arms that could probably beat Lucas in an arm wrestling match. His chest stretched out the shirt, hinting at impressive pecs topped by thick nipples, and the navy blue board shorts he wore revealed thick, defined calves lightly dusted with black hair.
He looked to be of Native American descent -- cinnamon-skinned -- with straight ebony hair that just brushed the tops of his shoulders. He possessed dark eyes set in a face that was as square and symmetrical as any model's.
From the moment he'd stepped into the cottage and seen Lucas there, Adam's attention hadn't moved from Lucas, not even to acknowledge Kip.
"Aras did right by us this time, yeah, bro?" Kip was saying nervously. "This here is Lucas. Lucas, this is Cap'n Blackheart."
Lucas cleared his throat self-consciously. He broke free of his stasis and stepped forward, hand outstretched, trying not to be intimidated by the dark stare. "Hey, how're you doing? Adam, right? I'm Lucas. I arrived today."
Adam switched the helmet to his left hand and shook Lucas' hand. He flashed a disarming smile. "How's it going, man?" His voice was deep and slow, full of confidence. It wasn't at all what Lucas expected. "We've been wondering when our new crewmember would be arriving. Your timing is good. You came just in time for grilling." His grin widened. "You also showed up just in time for me to win the pool. Thanks, man. I'm five hundred dollars richer. I owe you a round of beers one of these nights."
How can this man be gay? Lucas thought in bewilderment. He never in a million years would have pegged Adam as anything other than a magnet for the chicks and a drinking buddy during Sunday football.
"Grilling and free beer, huh? This day keeps getting better and better." Lucas shot a smile at Kip, whose own smile was looking a bit strained at the edges. "What more could a guy ask for?"
"It should get lots better," Adam said with a chuckle, releasing Lucas' hand. He finally glanced at Kip. "Isn't that right, Kip? I take it you've already seduced him with everything that Joyboy can offer? You're good at that."
Kip saluted, eyes darting anxiously between Lucas and Adam. "Aye, aye, Cap'n. I've got him hooked. The last thing he wants to do is leave."
"You can say that again." Lucas laughed nervously.
"Enough with the Cap'n bullshit, already. Can you get out of the way? These bags are heavy."
Adam smirked at Lucas and rolled his eyes like a long-suffering boyfriend before he stepped to the side, allowing a second man holding three grocery bags to enter the house. This man was similar to Lucas in appearance and build -- like a soccer or baseball player. His hair was nearly platinum blond, cut short above his ears, but his face was more in keeping with what Lucas had expected when Kip told him his roommates were gay: large gray eyes ringed with thick lashes, a pointed, delicate nose and wide, lush lips. Gold hoops swung from both ears and a leather cord holding a shark tooth rested against his collarbones which were exposed by a white tank that matched Adam's -- although wasn't filled out the same.
This guy is definitely the girl in the relationship, Lucas thought as he looked the other man over. He tried not to squirm uncomfortably at a mental image of Adam and this new guy -- most likely Tyler -- making out hot and heavy.
Tyler froze when he caught sight of Lucas. After a quick once-over, his gaze turned suspicious. "Who's this?"
"Our new crewmember," Adam told him, still smiling. "Lucas just got in today. Tyler, be nice and give him a proper island greeting."
Lucas smiled. "Hey, Tyler."
But the blond pursed his lips and shifted the bags in his arms. "Yeah, hey, what's up? I see you've already made yourself at home." He looked pointedly at Lucas' state of undress.
Lucas was embarrassed, but he knew it would look worse if he tried to cover himself. "You have a great place. You'll have to tell me what I can't touch, which I imagine is a lot." He grinned to show he was teasing.
Tyler didn't play along. He thrust out the bags. "You can take these, for starters. Apparently they hold the dinner I'm now cooking for you, although no one bothered to tell me there'd be an extra mouth to feed so someone's going to get shafted. Don't blame me that the newbie is getting your food."
"Take it easy," Adam said casually. He reached out and massaged the back of Tyler's neck. "Lucas just got here. Put away the claws for at least a few hours. We don't want to scare him off already."
The look Tyler sent Lucas was just shy of a glare. Lucas responded by smiling evenly and taking the loaded bags from the other man's arms.
"I ate a little something on the ship," he said, trying to be diplomatic. "You really don't need to fix me anything, Tyler. I'm good."
"Well, lucky for us," was the blonde's reply, dismissing Lucas with a wave of his hand as he turned to Adam.
Lucas gritted his teeth and kept the smile on his face as he watched Tyler wind both arms around Adam's thick neck.
"So he's not going to ruin our plans, is he?" Tyler asked, not bothering to disguise the fact that he was referring to Lucas. He stretched his body against the slightly taller Adam. "You promised me, Cap'n."
When he realized Tyler was about to kiss Adam, Lucas turned and headed for the kitchen with the bags. "I'll put these away for you," he muttered, hoping his unease wasn't too obvious.
"Yeah, I'll help you, bro." Kip hurried after him.
"Tyler already hates you!" the slender man hissed once they were inside the kitchen.
"I haven't done anything!" Lucas protested as he began unloading the bags. Steaks, fresh shrimp, papayas and a variety of vegetables went into the refrigerator or on the counter. He paused, palms braced on the edge of the counter. He was more shaken than he'd realized. "I don't know if this is going to work," he admitted. "They're not what I expected at all. I don't know how to--" he shook his head, confused, " -- I just don't know."