Free Voyage To Submission by Mlyn Hurn

possible.”
    Jack lifted his gaze towards Ray. “Good
Lord, Ray, is there anything you haven’t told her?”
    Gayle smiled and patted the mattress beside
her.
    Ray sat, gratitude to be back in her good
graces evident on his face.
    “Pillow talk, Jack. Now, I’ve got an idea.
You two put on your pajamas—” She stopped at the appalled look on the men’s
faces. “Geez, you guys! Pretend and just put on something that will pass as pjs
and a robe. If anyone asks, we’re just taking a last-minute stroll. Well, what
are you waiting for? Change!”
    Jack stood. “At least turn around, Madam
Dictator. I don’t want you telling everyone I’m fast and loose.”
    Gayle stood and walked over to the glass
door leading to the small balcony. “Wouldn’t you like to boast on your first
night of the cruise a woman saw you naked?”
    Jack groaned as he started to move off the
bed. “Why haven’t you drowned her yet?”
    “Because he loves me, Jack.”
    She started to turn to add something when
both men yelled. “Hey! Eyes front!”
    Twenty minutes later, they stood outside
the impressive double doors to the Balmoral suite. Gayle rapped her knuckles on
the door loudly.
    “If these doors are any indication, this
must be some cabin.” Ray looked around them, and then down the long hallway.
    “We have staterooms, darling,” Gayle
reminded him gently.
    As the door opened, all three turned to
smile at Andy. Instead, there was a tall, dark-haired man dressed in silk
pajamas, slippers and a monogrammed robe, all in deep, rich burgundy and hunter
green. From head to toe, he looked like the gentleman’s magazine ideal for a
pajama model that was worth a million bucks.
    Gayle was the first to speak, a grin
spreading across her face. “Wow! Talk about trading up.”

Chapter Four
     
    Not too much earlier, in the crew’s
quarters—
    The phone rang twice before it was
answered.
    “Hey, Rick, good buddy, did you forget to
sign out?” The voice on the phone asked, more joking than serious.
    Richard Henderson the fourth closed the
leather-bound book he’d been reading. “I haven’t signed off, David. What are
you talking about?”
    “The kitchen called the night-duty desk to
see what the problem was.”
    “David, stop stringing this out and just
tell me what you need.” Rick made no effort to keep his frustration out of his
tone.
    “You must have pissed off the ritzy lady
paying for your lone ranger ride in the Balmoral, friend. She just called room
service, instead of ringing the night desk.”
    Rick came to his feet immediately. Once
he’d left Ms. Bond, he had assumed she retired for the night. He’d also gotten
the distinct impression the gentleman with her planned on sharing her bed. Over
the last fourteen years, he’d seen all kinds of wealthy people occupying the
largest and most expensive suites on this cruise line. None of his passengers
had ever complained about his work service, which was one of the main reasons
he’d been promoted when this newest ship had come off the production line last
year.
    He was fourth-generation English butler and
very proud of his history and his work. After attending the prestigious school
in London, he could have had any number of posts considering whom his father
worked for. Instead he’d decided to travel and see the world. The money was
good, he had a bed at his parents’ house for vacations if need be and he
enjoyed what he did. David’s voice caught his attention again.
    “So I’ll deliver this but I’ll need you to
turn your call button over to the night desk now.”
    “No thanks, David. Tell the kitchen to
prepare whatever it is, and I’ll be down in less than five minutes to pick it
up.”
     
    Seven minutes later, Rick waited quietly
for the elevator doors to slide open for the Balmoral Suite. A soft, deliberate
ding sounded. Alerting guests of the suite that the elevator was arriving, it
could be turned off. Stepping into the living room of the suite, he