S. Welles - To Ocean's End

“So… the shower’s all yours.” He released her shoulders and made room for her to pass.

Jessie faced him, her gaze serious to hide the disappointment that he hadn’t kissed her. “I’ll need to know where you are at all times. I’m still not a hundred percent comfortable.”

“That’s fine. I can talk to you from the other side of the door if you want.”

“Sounds good.” She collected her new clothes and took them into the bathroom, then left the door ajar. Mido pulled up the desk chair and set it next to the doorframe. “Put your back to the door.”

Mido rotated the chair, then plopped in it. “This good?”

“A little more to the side so I can see the back of your head.” He scooted over. “Perfect. Make yourself comfortable.” He propped an ankle on a knee and folded his arms. Jessie took a moment to admire his muscles without being caught looking, then left the door open a whole two inches and backed away, keeping a close watch on the back of his head. Once she reached the curtain, she got the shower running and used its noise to hide the sound of her stripping to her birthday suit, then looked in the mirror big enough for two people to share.

She still had a generous amount of purple and blue bruising on her hips, waistline, and biceps. Hopefully, once they faded and her limbs got more meat on them, it would be easier to forget that chapter in her life. She’d done her best to avoid mirrors on Dyne’s ship, but every now and then, her bruising was too morbidly fascinating to not look at. She glanced through the gap in the doorway. Mido still hand’t moved. She envisioned herself standing behind him and pressing his head between her breasts, feel his hair tickle her sensitive skin, and then his hands could—

She stepped into the shower and pulled the curtain closed as she sighed at herself. She’d kicked him. She had no right to daydream like that. “It’s safe for you to turn around now. And… thank you for putting up with my quirks.”

“You’re welcome and you’re worth it. I really want to help you feel comfortable around men again.”

“I feel safe around you.” Jessie began washing up, starting with her hair.

“That’s… that’s great! Thank you. You have no idea how happy that makes me to hear that.”

“You have no idea how relieved I am to not be suffering from nightmares and feel scared all the time anymore.”

“I never want to know what that feels like. I hope your nightmares never come back.”

“Me, too.” Jessie took a short shower as she went on to describe some of the odd dreams she’d had since they’d met, even the one Amphitrite had shown up in. Since she and the rest of the crew had cleaned up before docking, she just needed a good soap-down to feel refreshed. She also spruced up her bikini line now that she had a reason to perform maintenance on it, then made sure the tub was spotless. Once she was done, she told Mido to turn back around, then hopped out, toweled off, and got dressed. The fresh, dry cotton against her skin was such a pleasant relief after spending a while in soaked clothes under a sweltering sun.

She opened the door wide and stopped. Mido was sitting there without a shirt or boots on. It was his bare chest that made her do a double-take and catch her breath. Her hands ached to explore his amazing physique and she wanted to inhale his scent.

“I can take off my pants, too, if you’d like,” Mido said.

Jessie tore her eyes from his pecs. He was smirking. She spun to face the mirror and began brushing her hair, her face burning. Mido just laughed. She brushed her teeth as well, moisturized her face, and exited the bathroom without saying a thing. She feared opening her mouth would betray her unchaste thoughts.

Mido returned the chair to the desk and collected Jessie’s boots and his own change of clothes. “Just in case you still feel a need to run off.”

“I don’t,” she said. Well, a tiny part of her still did but she doubted she’d listen to it ever again. That part might also never stop feeling a need to stay away from the rest of the world.

“I believe you but I’ll feel better if I hold onto these while showering.”

“Fair enough.” Eyes on her to the last second, Mido gently shut and locked the door. Jessie stared at the doorknob a moment, then decided against testing to see if it was really locked. It’s not like she needed her boots at the moment anyway. She sat on a chair near the patio doors and admired the scenery and the soothing sound of crashing waves. Yeah, this place reminded her of home in a roundabout way. Maybe she should consider convincing Mido to settle down in Paphos with her… Now there was a thought.

A while later, she heard the shower turn back off. She watched a few more waves roll in, then meandered back to the bathroom. Before she could lean against the wall, the bathroom door opened. Mido was wearing nothing but his boxers. He set her boots back inside the room as he brushed his teeth. He flashed a foamy smile. Jessie just stared in open awe at the results of years of weightlifting as he turned back to the sink. She licked her lips, consciously realized she’d just done that, then blushed again. Thankfully Mido was too busy brushing his teeth to have noticed. She covertly watched him brush his hair, examine his shaved jawline, and don his shorts and t-shirt, then together they slipped on their sandals and headed out, her arm threaded through his.

Since they had some free time before their appointment, they explored the resort. They discovered an outdoor stage with a pair of salsa dancers performing to intense Spanish music. Mido and Jessie watched on from the back of the audience as the couple danced through a flashy, high-energy, and sexy performance. The audience cheered and clapped at intervals, then gave them a standing ovation once the song concluded. The two clapped as well.

Mido said, “Now I wish I knew how to salsa.”

“I could teach you a little.”

“You know how?”

“Everyone on Cyprus is taught nowadays. I just haven’t danced in a few years.” They headed back inside ahead of the throng.

“Well this seems like a fair trade. I teach you how to cook and you teach me how to salsa.”

“Sounds good to me.”

They smelled the spa before they saw it. The distinct aroma of jasmine candles greeted them right before the employees did, who all had dreamy gazes like they’d been massaged recently. The spa had classical music playing over the sound of water bubbling over pebbles, and it was one huge, vaulted room with Chinese paper walls partitioning off tables. Ample sunlight poured in through the glass walls. The whole spa was bright and serene, minus a few sections where blinds had been drawn.

Jessie and Mido were led to a changing room to swap into bathrobes with nothing but underwear underneath. No bras allowed to stay on. Jessie decided on not letting her fear of being so exposed around strangers ruin her afternoon. The spa was too relaxed an atmosphere to disrupt.

She and Mido were placed side-by-side on their bellies and both assigned female masseuses who went to work the moment they settled down. Jessie warned her masseuse about her bruises but told them she’d fallen on the ship, instead of the truth. She wanted to forget about that for now.

Between the jasmine, the music, and the deeply relaxing massage, Jessie started falling asleep. It was like Mido’s presence had created a spa-sized bubble of security, and everyone inside had joined in to protect and coax her to relax and feel safe. And right as she was about to nod off, her masseuse asked her to switch to lying on her back. The daydream bubble popped, but her sense of security didn’t. Jessie rolled over with a yawn while the lady held her towel over her for privacy, then she settled back down.