The love boat chapters 5 and 6
Chapter 5 - Day 4
The hike was not easy, but Steve was sure Danny would be enthralled by the view waiting for them at the top of the hill.
He'd had to rearrange his whole schedule to free his afternoon and show Danny around, but it was all for good. Stan would be happy, and Steve got to spend more time with Danny.
The opportunity to learn more about him was too good to pass, so Steve began with a few easy questions before he came to the more personal ones.
"Why did you become a cop ?"
"Man, that's a difficult one. I don't think that I ever quite decided to become one, it was just something I had to do. I went to college, got my degree, and then straight to the police academy. I knew it was the place I had to be, the way to make a difference."
"Your family was okay with that career choice ?"
"Mostly. My mother said she had seen it coming since I was about five. My father deplored that I didn't follow in his footsteps but thought that being a cop made up for it. My sisters and brother made fun of me, saying I had always wanted to lord over everyone, and Matty added that I would be useful at least to cancel parking tickets."
Steve snorted but realized Danny hadn't alluded to his ex-wife.
"Did you meet Rachel before or after getting into the police ?"
"After. Back then, she thought the uniform was quite becoming, and she was proud enough to be a cop's wife."
Danny gave a boost of energy to put a bit of distance between him and Steve, clearly showing he didn't want to keep talking about that.
"My turn," Danny said after a few minutes of silence. "What about you ? Why did you become a sailor ?"
"Family business, I guess."
"Your father was in the Navy ?"
"My grandfather, actually. My father's a cop, just like you.
"Really ? And you didn't follow in his footsteps ?"
"I thought about it. And my grandfather too, from what I heard, but the Navy was more appealing, I guess. He died on the Arizona, in December 1941."
"A war hero," Danny concluded. "It's hard for a kid to find a better role model. Either you embrace it, or you reject it as far as you can."
"You're right, and my relationship with my father wasn't great at that time. My old man was not big on talking about his feelings, so going my grandfather's way seemed like a better option back then."
"Did you regret it ?"
"No. I served my country and the distance between us helped me understand my father better. It probably wasn't easy for him to see me and my sister compare his achievements to those of his father."
"Probably not. I get what you mean. My father's a firefighter, and there's this part of me that feels like I'll never measure up to him."
Steve put a comforting hand on Danny's shoulder, slowing his stride to walk next to Danny.
"I'm sure your father is proud of you. Your children too."
"Oh I know they are, don't get me wrong. I just don't think we're ever quite as good as our ego would wish us to be. And some people are very good at reminding us of our failures."
Steve squeezed harder. Nothing worse than the woman you gave your heart to making you feel like you were not enough. Or a father keeping you at arms' length to make sure you won't get too far into his head.
"It's always the ones closest to us, right ?"
"The ones who know what button to push."
Danny turned towards Steve as if to end that part of their discussion.
"So, how did you go from the Navy to a liner touring Hawaii ?"
Steve took his hand off Danny with regret.
"Well, my father was injured in the line of duty, and I decided to come back and take care of him. I didn't want to lose any chance of mending our relationship."
"Did it work ?"
"Well enough. I mean, we're still two guys with issues as wide as the channel between Oahu and Molokai, but we got better at spending time with each other, and talking about the small things that make our lives."
"That's good to hear. And what about the change of job ? It's probably not quite as exciting as going on missions all around the world."
"Not quite, you're right, but I feel like I've created a second family here on board this ship, people very dear to my heart. What the locals call ohana."
The stray thought that Danny would fit right into this ohana took Steve by surprise, but he couldn't deny it. Not with the way Danny, after they had known each other for all of four days, made him spill the path his life has taken. He couldn't be sure his very last secrets would be safe if Danny ever tried to make him confess. Navy missions were one thing, but the personal stuff seemed to be made just for Danny's consumption.
Steve's thoughts were brought to a stop by the forest opening suddenly to reveal a charming pond and a gentle cascade. This was the place he had wanted to share with Danny.
"Nice," Danny approved. "Is that where you bring all your conquests ?"
The wink left Steve almost speechless. Was Danny flirting with him ?
Would it be so bad if he did ?
Unable to answer his own question, Steve played it aloof.
"Ship captains are not allowed to have affairs or romantic flings with passengers."
Danny laughed out loud and Steve didn't know if he should be relieved or disappointed.
"I bet that line has saved your ass more than once when confronted with stubborn pursuers !"
"Once or twice, maybe. The last rampart to keep the enemy at bay."
Steve shouldered off his backpack and secured it on a branch to avoid attracting insects.
"Would you like to swim ?" he asked.
"I'm not big on swimming," Danny replied with a grimace.
"Really ? Do you know how ?"
Danny rolled his eyes.
"I do. I'm just not having such a good time in the water."
"Come on. We've been hiking for more than one hour, and you're probably just as hot and sweaty as I am. The water is clear and cool, the pond is not that deep. It would do you a world of good to have a swim."
He could see Danny was still not convinced.
"Come on," he added as he began to undress, "it won't be much fun if I do this alone while you sulk on the shore."
That got him a small grin. Without another word, Danny followed his lead and in a few seconds they were both down to their shorts, walking next to each other towards the water.
Steve hadn't lied. The thick vegetation kept the water cool and Steve didn't miss the blissful expression on Danny's face as his whole body was finally immersed.
"So," he said, "was I right or was I right ?"
"Yeah, yeah, you might have been right. But didn't your mother teach you it's not nice to say I told you so ?"
"My mother constantly tells me I told you so."
"That explains a lot, actually," Danny mumbled loud enough to be heard.
Those words meant war.
Steve dove deep and fast, making sure to be invisible to Danny's eyes.
"Steve ? Steve !" he heard the muted sound of Danny's voice getting alarmed. "You better not do what I'm sure you're gonna do or there'll be hell to pay !"
He watched as Danny turned around, looking for him through the shallow waters.
"I'm telling you, if you do this, I'll sic my kids on you and it won't be pretty."
Steve would have laughed if he wasn't holding his breath. He kept circling around Danny's legs, brushing past him at times, until he surged upwards and gripped Danny tight to make him overbalance and fall back into the pond.
Maybe it wasn't his most adult moment, but Danny seemed to bring out of him this playful side. And he probably should have seen coming the way Danny fought back and gave as much as he got.
Danny spluttered, spat water and stared at Steve with murderous eyes, and then launched his own attack that Steve couldn't entirely dodge and they both went underwater again.
For all he lacked in height, Danny was scrappy and he fought dirty. Surprisingly strong, he got Steve more than once by grabbing his legs and pulling hard, and Steve was all too happy to retaliate, careful not to spend longer than Danny's lungs could handle in the water, but not making it too easy on the man either.
Danny finally managed to escape after ducking Steve one last time and to get to the shore and their backpack. Steve kept on swimming for a little while until he saw Danny applying sunscreen on his skin and struggling to get to his back.
His feet took him to the beach without conscious thought on his part and next he found himself offering to help.
"Turn over," he said to Danny, "and I'll put it on you where you can't reach."
It took shockingly long to go over Danny's back and arms, but then Danny's back was large, and his skin needed all the protection against a beating sun it wasn't used to.
"Okay," he said when he couldn't justify continuing, even to himself, "now you put it on me."
Danny grumbled for show but soon after Steve's skin was tingling with the feeling of Danny's fingers lingeringly roaming all over his back.
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As he finished putting away the different tools and toys he had used to get people to dance, Eddie watched with pleasure Buck entering the dancing room. It was clear Buck was enjoying the view too : Eddie was wearing only shorts, that still rode low on his hips after all the jiggling and hopping of the afternoon - Eddie still felt the energy of the dance needing to go somewhere and the perfect solution had just presented itself in a 6'2 package full of biceps and golden skin to explore.
"Where's Christopher ?"
"With the Edwards, Grace and Charlie. The Lion King show was booked over, they only had that one place left and Stan Edwards offered to take Christopher with them. So I don't know what to do with myself for about two hours, and…"
Eddie knew just what to do. The CD was still in the player, he only had to hit the switch to play.
"Come on, dance with me !" he took Buck's hand and led him to the dance floor.
"Eddie," Buck whined, "you know I'm terrible at this."
"You're really not, and you know how much I enjoy having you in my arms."
It shut up Buck's next words of denial. Eddie wrapped his arms around his shoulders with no more protests and dragged Buck into a slow dance that had them swaying on their feet to the rhythm of the light music he had chosen to end the lesson. Nothing swift or violent, just the heady feeling of the other's body rubbing against his, the scent of a man so familiar and beloved that nothing much, not even the ones of his own parents, could make him feel as grounded and happy.
Taken in his turn by the magic of the moment, Buck relented enough to put his head on Eddie's shoulder, his own arms closing tighter around Eddie's waist with a sigh of deep contentment. Eddie felt their bond flaring alive more than ever, Buck's hands on his bare back making him feel safe like nothing else could. He knew this man would do anything for him, walk into a fire or offer his life for Eddie's, or Chris'.
Buck was no professional dancer, not like Eddie anyway, but he had learned enough moves in all those years together that he made for Eddie a perfect partner whenever they indulged for a moment the need to be close and wrapped around each other.
"Mmm," Eddie appreciated, rubbing his cheek against Buck's, "you feel so good. This cruise is fun but I miss all the moments we can steal during the day to be together when we're at home."
Buck leaned down, brushing his lips over Eddie's neck in many kisses as light as butterflies. Eddie shivered, his body responding to Buck's touch in its usual manner : a deep, encompassing need for more taking over all of Eddie's being.
"Anything you want, you know I'm game."
"Yeah ? So what do you say about going back to your bedroom and using that free time ?"
Buck put a little distance between them to look him in the eyes, but still they kept on dancing.
"Something particular in mind ?"
"What about you making love to me ?" Eddie suggested, kissing Buck right on the lips.
Buck squeezed him tight, kissing back with all he had.
"I can get behind that. The hard part is gonna be going back to our deck without a horde of your adoring fans getting in the way."
"I thought about that. I told Kono it was difficult at times to go around without being stopped every three steps for autographs and she said I'm not the first one in this situation, that guests like me are authorized to use the lifts usually reserved for the crew. It will make the way much shorter and easier to navigate."
"Good call," Buck approved.
They finished the song like that, bodies swaying impossibly close to each other, lips and tongues attached for kisses that grew hotter and hotter. By the time it ended, Eddie's need for Buck's hands all over his body was so urgent, it was only thanks to Buck that he remembered to take the things he had brought with him before they left the dancing room.
As he had promised to Buck, they managed to get back to their deck with minimal stops in between, still very much in the mood for hot sex when they finally closed the door behind them.
Buck made quick work of Eddie's shorts and underwear, showing off his biceps by lifting Eddie, who closed his legs around his waist, for the few steps taking them to the bed. There, Buck laid him gently, joining immediately and pressing him to the mattress with his added weight. Getting pinned like that had always been one of Eddie's biggest turn-ons.
"Take your clothes off !" he urged Buck in between kisses.
"I don't know, Eds," Buck teased him as his free hand began to set his body on fire, already looking for all of Eddie's sweet spots. "Have you been a good boy today ? Do you really deserve it ?"
"Been so good, Buck," he joked back. "Thinking about you all the time, you in me, fucking me hard."
"Oh, it's gonna be hard, baby. Hard and long, and you're gonna walk funny enough that people will know someone took such good care of you."
Buck let an impatient Eddie take his shirt off. Buck's words made him so eager for it. There hadn't been any opportunity to properly make love since they had left home and Eddie felt empty. He needed his lover in the worst way, the one that made him beg and whine, ready to do anything to get Buck inside him.
"Buck," he cried out as Buck's teeth bit not so gently on one of his nipples and his hand found his hole, "love, get in me !"
"Not without preparation, it's been a few days."
Buck was probably right, but it didn't make the need more manageable. Eddie decided to move things along, looking for the lube he knew to find under the pillow. It meant he couldn't keep touching Buck as much as he wanted, but it was all for the greater good, right ?
"Here, take this."
"Someone's in a hurry," Buck sang to him.
"Someone is fucking sexy and spends his time walking around showing off his biceps in sleeveless shirts, so sue me for wanting a piece of the action," Eddie retorted, claiming Buck's mouth again.
Buck was good at multitasking and soon after he finished taking off his clothes, Eddie felt his now-lubed fingers back to working inside him as they kept kissing hungrily. And all it did was heighten his need to get Buck's cock to work its magic.
"I'm good," he decided, "let's go."
Buck's happy laugh was one of the best things in the world, right along with his caresses, his kisses and his huge heart. All of which Eddie could sum up by talking about Buck's love for him that made him feel so special, the luckiest man in the world.
"Buck, please," he insisted, and Buck got in place, slowly pushing to get inside him.
"I missed you too," Buck whispered once he was completely sheathed inside Eddie. "Dreamed of you every night, just like that, under me, taking it hard, always asking for more."
"I need more."
Eddie squirmed, trying to encourage Buck into moving, and the effect was immediate, Buck's cock hitting his prostate. Eddie gasped, losing coordination and letting Buck take control of the kiss as well as everything else. He was now floating on his pleasure cloud, tossed around with Buck's enthusiasm and power, shutting down his own power to better feel Buck's and enjoy this special feeling of being loved so thoroughly.
He was so hard, and yet so far from the orgasm he desperately wanted. And Buck was faithful to his words, drawing it out, forbidding Eddie to use his own hands on himself to tip the scale.
"You come on my cock," Buck announced, "nothing else. Just like you love it, baby."
It was not impossible, Eddie knew it for a fact, but he groaned in dismay all the same. Buck laughed again, cut short by another powerful move of his hips, another prostate hit that sent stars throughout Eddie's whole body.
And again and again, until all Eddie could feel and think about was Buck's cock making him his.
Then it was over, sudden explosion of bliss and love, Buck's hand on his dick to enhance the experience. Soon after, Buck followed his release, coming deep inside Eddie's ass as if marking his territory once more.
Eddie vaguely thought he would have to take a shower before they go find Chris at the show, and maybe he could persuade Buck to do that with him and play some more. But now was time for a nap.
"Love you," Eddie whispered, "so much."
"Love you more," Buck whispered back.
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Chapter 6 - Day 4
Steve had a hard time connecting back with what felt like the real world once they were back into the city, and maybe even more back on the Pearl of Hawaii. Images of the time spent with Danny on that small beach were all he could focus on.
Contrary to what he had said about himself, Danny was capable of being silent and enjoying the moment, lying next to a friend, half dozing and half listening to the sound of the forest surrounding them. But that was not what Steve kept replaying in his mind. That would be the times when Danny had used his hands on him and Steve had shamelessly abused the opportunity, getting sunscreen not just on his back but encouraging Danny to keep with the good work all over his arms and torso.
Danny had done it, and he didn't seem too concerned about it. He had asked about Steve's tattoos and made a thorough job of making sure Steve's skin was protected from the worst of the UV.
"Do you often do this ?" Danny had asked. "Use your passengers as your personal slaves ?"
The barb might have stung, had Danny not been busy in that moment rubbing the lotion deep into Steve's pecs, passing again and again over his nipples in a way that was sure to make other parts of Steve's body stand up and take notice.
"Only the competent ones."
It had been a struggle to keep himself under control while admitting at last to his deep attraction to Danny.
He should have seen it coming, really. Should have understood sooner what his constant need to spend time with Danny really meant. He hadn't bothered looking behind Stan's request for help, but there was no hiding anymore once it had become clear how much he wanted Danny to keep on touching him. To kiss him, to take him.
And he knew that as long as Danny was a passenger on his ship, he couldn't do anything about it, besides encouraging him to come live in Oahu, so that they might be able to see each other now and then after the cruise. So maybe now was the time to launch a frontal attack, see if something was really keeping Danny back in New Jersey, other than his parents and siblings and a job that surely he could exchange for more of the same in Hawaii. HPD had to be a step up compared to Brigantine PD, right ?
"Stan told me he wants you to come live here," he said out of the blue.
"Really ? Did he also tell you he doesn't get to decide for me ?"
Danny's lovely mood was fast evaporating and Steve knew he had to do damage control, right now.
"Don't bite my head off, I'm just hoping we'll be able to have a good time again, sometime in the future, just like we had this afternoon, and it would be considerably easier if you lived in Hawaii rather than New Jersey."
"Ain't that the truth," Danny answered noncommittally.
"I mean, you've seen parts of Hawaii now, and you can't say it's a bad place to live. Some would kill to get the opportunity to spend the rest of their lives on one of these islands."
"I'm sure they would."
"You could be one of them."
"And then I would have to arrest myself for murder and spend the rest of my life in prison. Sorry, Steve, but even in Hawaii, and with the prospect of getting you to visit me between cruises, prison is not the place I wish to live in."
"Stop avoiding the real matter. Don't you like what you've seen so far ?"
"It's all pretty, I'll give you that. If you like sand and sun at all times."
"Then what's keeping you in New Jersey ? Did you leave someone there ?"
Steve kept his head straight as they walked the last steps to the ship, not sure he could hide that well his beating heart and wild hopes.
"Beside my family, you mean ? No, I don't have anyone waiting for me back home."
Steve wasn't sure his relief wasn't clear in the huge sigh he tried and failed to stifle. But maybe Danny hadn't be too attuned to Steve's reaction as he kept talking, using the distance created by walking behind Steve on the path leading up to the ship's deck.
"I've lowered my expectations quite a bit since the divorce. I'm not waiting for anything meaningful at all anymore. Divorce has kind of this 'fool me twice, shame on me' effect on you, you know. You don't wanna get caught again giving everything you have to someone, only to get it thrown back at you for not measuring up. Better keep it to yourself."
"You can't live your life this way, Danny," Steve stopped and turned to look at him. "You're young and handsome, and you have so much to give."
"It's not a bad life," Danny shrugged, not meeting his eyes. "I give the good parts to my kids, and I share a few good times with loners like me who need the physical release but don't want the pain of a relationship. It all works out."
"Nah, that's convenient at best. Look, I have nothing against one-night stands, sometimes that's all you can get, maybe even all you should wish for with a particular someone. But they're not a life goal, not for men of our age. We need and we can do better."
"Steve, I'm happy for you if you've found someone who loves you enough that they're okay with you spending your time on a boat while waiting for you at home. That's kind of what I thought I had, and then I realized it was all a pipe dream. I learned my lesson. That's all."
For some reason, Steve couldn't let Danny believe he was one happy half of the strong relationship Danny had described. He resumed the walk up the gangplank to avoid Danny's too-smart gaze.
"First of all, this is a ship, not a boat. Second, I'm not any happier than you when it comes to relationships. You hit it right on the nail when you talked about my life spent on the Pearl of Hawaii. It doesn't leave much room for someone else, and everyone so far has decided at some point that I wasn't worth the wait. But it doesn't mean I'm not still searching, or at least keeping my eyes open for the right person to come along. I know I will find them someday."
"Or maybe you will love them enough to quit your job and spend your time with them," Danny offered, challenging.
"Maybe. Is that what went wrong with Rachel ? She asked you to quit law enforcement ?"
"That's part of it. Being a cop in Brigantine is not as dangerous as the big cities so she was okay for most of it. Until that bank robbery. I was shot in the knee, nothing life-threatening but she made it into this big thing, and the more I tried to be reassuring, the more hysterical she became. It quickly turned into this kind of highlighter for everything that had gone wrong between us, all those little misunderstandings and unsaid harsh truths that plague marriages. She felt I didn't listen to her, I felt she wouldn't listen to me, we grew apart, more and more, fighting every single day, and then she met Stan. The rest's history."
Steve didn't break the silence, mulling over what Danny had shared with him. He could understand Rachel's fears, sort of, but she knew going in that she was marrying a cop. He couldn't really blame her and yet found himself on Danny's side, knowing how important his job was to keep a community safe. He found it unbearable that the woman Danny had loved would also be the one who had him questioning himself and his life choices.
For it was clear to him that Danny didn't know what to make of himself right now, stuck between either losing a job he liked or the prospect of losing his family for good. Danny loved his children too much to put so many miles between him and them, but it meant putting that same distance between him and the rest of his family. And Danny was stubborn, so Stan's offer to join them in Hawaii had to grate him in the worse way. Wherever he looked had to present him with a picture of heartbreak and Steve felt for him.
Before he could find the right words to remind Danny of his self-worth, Kono appeared at Steve's side as they reached the deck.
"Sorry to interrupt, boss, but it seems we've got a thief on board."
Steve sighed again, albeit for a very different reason. Time to get back to work already. Theft was hardly a rare occurrence, but it didn't make it any easier to know they'd have to keep an eye on all passengers.
"What happened ?" Danny asked, before he turned to Steve. "Sorry, that's none of my business. Just a detective, it comes with the job."
Kono chuckled but answered, turning back to Steve to show proper deference to the ship's captain.
"Three ladies' purses have disappeared so far, that we know of. And it's still early in the cruise…"
Steve took a look at Danny who tried very hard to mind his own business and not intervene again.
"What would you do if this happened at home ?" he asked.
Danny grinned and didn't try to pretend he wasn't happy for the question.
"See if it happened all in the same place, get someone to watch security records, make sure the women were not targeted for a particular reason, other than their money… and offer a few opportunities for the culprit to get caught red-handed."
"What do you mean ?" Kono asked.
"Get a woman to "forget" her purse somewhere, a purse you filled with a soft detonating device that will cover the thief's hand in indelible ink, or just the ink if you don't have anything safe enough on board. I'm sure your security officer will know about all this."
Steve sighed again as Kono grimaced. Nothing was less certain.
"My security officer is not exactly the best out there."
"Then why is he still your security officer ?"
Trust Danny to nail once again the problem in one question. Steve only hesitated for a second to answer truthfully in front of another officer. Kono was already well aware of the situation.
"Because I may be the captain of this ship, I don't own the company. I can recommend people I want to work with, but I can't fire a man who's been placed by someone higher than me in the food chain. And believe me, I've tried."
Kono had been one of the people he had recommended for a job, and he congratulated himself every day, for she was one of the best assets on his ship, with her cousin Chin, Steve's first mate. Those two were not only good at their jobs, they enjoyed taking care of the Pearl of Hawaii just as much as they did making sure the rest of the crew and the passengers were all safe and happy.
His security officer was an entirely different matter.
"Well," Danny thought aloud, "maybe you can get me to meet that guy by accident and I'll have no problem playing the obnoxious cop who knows better and tries to tell him how to do his job. Who knows, maybe a few ideas will stick ?"
"Maybe. Hirsch is not just bad at the job, he's also incredibly full of himself."
"But maybe if Danny challenged him somehow," Kono suggested, "his pride would push him to look like he knows what he's doing…"
Steve liked this idea.
"And it might even work better if I was the one to get them to meet," Kono continued. "You know how Hirsch has been trying to get in my pants. He would hate to look like a loser in front of me."
Steve really liked the idea, but he certainly didn't like the way Danny smiled at Kono.
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After a well-deserved shower - sadly each on their own - Steve met with Danny again so that they could plan the best way to sway Hirsch into doing his job for once.
Kono joined them soon after, and then Chin. Steve looked at the three wonderful people in his quarters with this quiet feeling of rightness, as if they were made to work with him and for him, giving their best to the job and each other. Then reality reasserted itself and reminded Steve that Danny would leave soon, either going back to his life in New Jersey, or settling down in Oahu. Whatever he chose to do with his life, the four of them would not work again together. Steve had to make the most of this moment.
So plans were made, using Danny and Kono's ideas. They both would meet with Hirsch accidentally on the next day and proceed to talk about the snatched purses. Kono would fawn over Danny and his incredible talent as a detective, asking what he would do in Hirsch's place. Depending on Hirsch's reaction, they would either challenge him or let him prove on his own that he could do better.
Next they visited Pua Kai, an ensign working the souvenir boutique who Kono felt they could trust, and asked him, after making sure that Hirsch hadn't already, to take a long look at the videos showing the area, close to most robberies. Danny told him to search for patterns, such as any similarity about the places visited, the kind of women targeted, the hours of the day the thefts took place… No report had been written that they could find, so even that kind of detail was unavailable to them.
"Why don't you use his lack of writing skill to get rid of Hirsch ?" Danny asked Steve discreetly when they left Kai to his mission.
"I told you I tried, and that was one of the arguments I brought up to show his ineptitude, but to no avail. He was able to convince the commission that he had, I quote, a paper phobia, and that he preferred to remember everything."
Danny looked at him in disbelief.
"They really swallowed that ?"
Steve shrugged. He was done trying to understand those guys. Clearly, Hirsch had powerful protection if he could pull off such absurdity and still get paid for a job badly done.
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Later in the afternoon, Danny and Kono met Steve again in his quarters to tell him about the afternoon's events. Steve felt uneasy at their new, easy camaraderie and the casual way they kept touching each other.
"We said we're very distant family, one of my cousins who married one of her aunties," Danny explained, "and Hirsch took it at face value. The rest was the honest truth, I just told him I was a cop from New Jersey and that Kono had piqued my interest with the story of the missing purses, so I wanted to offer my help."
"Of course," Kono took over, "Hirsch answered that he had it all under control but Danny didn't let him get away with it."
"I asked him what he had done already, lots of simple and very clear questions he couldn't misunderstand. Had he interviewed any passengers ? Especially the women robbed ? Did he know how much money was missing ? What about other items ? Anything else that would explain why those women were targeted ?"
All questions Steve himself would have tried to find an answer to, had he been in Hirsch's shoes.
"Did he have answers for you ?"
"None beyond 'it's all taken care of,' so Kono had to get the big guns out."
"I just put in gear what we’d talked about. A hand on his arm, a seductive smile, anything to get him to believe I wanted to be impressed by his detective skills and to see him prove that we could do as well in Hawaii as they do in Jersey."
"And you got the impression it’s going to work ?"
"At least she got him eager to shine in front of her," Danny chuckled. "He waited until she was gone before he took my arm and dragged me to a corner to tell me he didn't have enough people for all the work and would I mind helping him a bit."
"You're like, the Hirsch whisperer," Steve laughed.
"And don't you forget it !"
"So what happened ? Did you two came up with a plan ?"
"We're far ahead of you, my friend. We already went to interview the three women whose vacations have been so rudely spoiled. I had time to talk with two of them while Hirsch chatted with the third."
"And ?"
"Are you always this impatient ? As I was going to say, the two women I talked to had just won a nice sum of money at the casino. Not a fortune, but enough to attract unwanted attention. They're both alone on board, they chose this cruise especially in the hope of meeting someone. As for the exact moment they discovered they had been relieved of their winnings, one went to dance and her purse was missing when she came back. The other was having a few drinks at the bar in celebration but she can't remember anyone approaching close enough to rob her apart from the bartender, but she said he was cute enough that she kept watching him at all times so she's pretty sure he's got nothing to do with it."
"What about the woman Hirsch interviewed ?"
"He said she didn't report having much money in her purse, and she didn't see anyone either. Apparently, she was a bit drunk, and she thinks she might have been robbed in the ladies' room."
"Does it mean we're looking for a woman ?"
"Not necessarily. She couldn't remember for sure if she still had her purse when she got in the restroom, and then anyone could get in and out without being seen at this late hour."
"So what do you make of it all ?"
"First, we need to protect any other winner when they get out of the casino, encourage them to keep their winnings somewhere safe - I assume your ship has a safe ? Single women especially, but stealing a man's wallet is easy for a seasoned thief, so maybe we can talk to your staff and have them remind all passengers to be extra careful. We could also put up a few posters in the casino, if only to remind people that they're responsible for their money once they leave the place."
Something in Steve settled with happiness at hearing the 'we' Danny kept using, as if he was part of his crew, a shoulder Steve could lean on in case of need. A valued and skillful member of the Pearl of Hawaii crew.
"Then I want to arrange for a few traps myself, without coordinating with Hirsch. Someone like him is too susceptible to flattery and I don't want the robber to realize what we're doing before we get a chance to catch him. So with your permission, I'll work with Pua to get him to watch in real time the few traps I'll set."
"Sure. Kono, please go and explain to Pua he's working with Danny for the foreseeable future, and arrange for someone to replace him at the boutique."
"Right on it, boss."
Kono left immediately with a smile for them both.
"Danny," Steve said as soon as they were alone, "I can't thank you enough for doing this for us when you're supposed to be resting and enjoying your free time at the pool or with your kids."
"Sadly, my kids seem to have a great time with the other kids on this metal box. I don't think they need me that much."
"Metal box ? Really ? Would it kill you to show a bit of respect to my ship ?"
"Sorry. Metal and glass box. Is that better ?"
"Not one bit. If you weren't so needed right now, I'd have you walking the plank."
"You realize we're far past the time when ship captains were allowed to act like they were God ?"
"That's what we want you to think, but the truth is, on board this ship, I am God."
"And delusional, clearly," Danny chuckled.
"I get no respect !" Steve lamented.
Danny stood up, prepared to leave.
"One last thing I wanted to run by you," he seemed to suddenly remember. "I thought about calling my PD and asking a friend to look into Hirsch and the reason why he's so well protected. Are you okay with that ?"
"Please, by all means. If you can find out what leverage he's got and over who, I want to know."
"Okay, I'll call as soon as we get back to civilization and the land of mobile phones."
"You could use our radio."
"Nah, too much risk that Hirsch would hear about it. It can wait till tomorrow. Plus my friend's probably back home at this hour, maybe even asleep."
"Right. I guess I can wait one more day."
"Well, I'll see you later," Danny threw over his shoulder as he got to the door.
"I'm sorry, Danny, I can't invite you at the captain's table tonight, it's booked solid."
"Don't worry about me, I have other plans anyway."
"You do ?"
"Don't sound so surprised. I'm meeting Gabby in less than an hour for drinks and then we'll have dinner together."
"Gabby, really ? I thought you were done with her ?"
"I'm a gentleman, Steve. I'm not done with a lady of Gabby's class before she tells me we're done or I'm going back home, whichever comes first."
-------------
Someone who didn't know Steve might have said he was sulking.
Obviously, someone who did know Steve would say sulking was not something he was prone to, not after being in the Navy, and then becoming the captain of a liner capable of transporting a few thousand people at a time.
This great career didn't make watching Danny having a great time with Gabby Asano any easier, not at all. The more those two seemed to enjoy their dinner, the more Steve's tasted like ashes. The conversation at the captain's table was stilted at best, while the couple sitting a few tables away shared laughter every few minutes.
Steve almost stood up and marched to that table, to order than they cease and desist when Gabby brought to Danny's mouth a sample of her shrimp entrée. There was something absolutely indecent in the way her fingers lingered on Danny's lips, more so in the way Danny's lips closed around them.
Steve felt quite sick watching the display. Such a classy lady, really !
And the dinner dragged on, with the most boring guests he ever had the displeasure to spend time with, obligated as he was to entertain them all the same and feign interest in their conversation. Eyes constantly going back to a certain table he tried in vain to ignore.
He was happy to see Grace and Charlie appearing next to him suddenly - and not just a little annoyed with himself for feeling so numb he had all but missed them approaching him from the opposite side of the dining room where Danny's table could be seen.
"Gracie ? What can I do for you ?"
"My dad told me to tell you that he doesn't need his shorts back, you can keep them because he found something else to wear."
"Why do you want to keep him naked ?" Charlie asked, all innocence.
There was a collective gasp from the older people at his table and Steve felt attacked with many outraged stares. He had to do damage control, quick, and then he'd think about the best way to kill Danny Williams.
"That's not what it means, Charlie. Your father and I, we went swimming this afternoon and we had to change after that, so I offered to take his trunks in my backpack, that's all."
It was clear most of his guests didn't believe one word of his explanation and Steve's projected air of confidence didn't fool them at all. Grace and Charlie left, called by Rachel and Stan, totally unaware of the mini-drama the children had unleashed as they herded them out of the dining room.
Steve turned back to Danny to find him looking back at last. Danny had a glass in his hand, held high to toast Steve, and the most obnoxious grin on his face.
There would be hell to pay, Danny had said in the afternoon.
Well, the game was on.
-------------
Steve leaned on his elbows on the rail and watched Danny and Gabby, deep in conversation on the deck below. As usual, Danny was talking with his hands as much as his mouth and every time Danny touched the woman Steve felt validated in regard to the wedge he was about to drive between those two.
He didn't have long to wait. From the other side of the deck, two young people appeared, a pretty girl and her boyfriend that Steve knew very well for they were part of his crew. The fact that Danny knew them or not remained to be seen.
"Danny !" Tani screeched, running towards him.
"Tani ?" Danny replied, obviously stunned by her attitude.
And before he could react in any way, Tani threw her arms around his neck and planted one on him.
Livid, Steve almost shouted at her to stop, but he didn't have to. Tani got herself on one side of Danny, while Junior occupied his other side, sliding his arm over Danny's shoulders. Seeing Danny speechless made Steve feel a lot better and forget about this stolen kiss and the way Junior was holding him.
"You must be Gabby ?" Junior asked the woman who was staring at the three people in front of her with complete bewilderment. "Danny told us so much about you last night."
"Yeah, we thought we could invite you to continue what we began," Tani agreed, waggling her eyebrows suggestively.
"Danny, what does this mean ?" Gabby asked.
And this time, Danny had found his voice again.
"I have no idea. First, let go of me, you two. What's wrong with you people ?"
It was not easy to get away from two persons on a mission for Steve. But Danny finally managed to evade the octopus formed by Tani and Junior, retreating next to Gabby who didn't seem so fond of him anymore.
"I swear I don't know what this all means, Gabby. These guys are crewmembers, I see them every day, but that's all I know about them."
Tani pouted and Junior put his arm around her as if to console his girlfriend. Those two were good, no doubt about it, even Junior who could look stodgy at times but hid a kindness, a keen intelligence and a wealth of fun that had seduced Tani irremediably.
"That's not nice, Danny," Junior kept in character. "You may not want to do it again or share with us, but at least own up to your actions."
Without another glance, Junior led Tani away, leaving Danny to face Gabby.
"This is the most surreal encounter I've ever had. I don't know what got into those two but…"
"Danny," Gabby stopped his rant, "he's right. There's nothing to be ashamed of, I guess, consenting adults and all that jazz, but you need to own up to your desires and needs. The fact that I don't share them shouldn't stop you."
Steve refrained from laughing out loud and diverting their attention towards him. The plan was going so well, he couldn't fail now.
"But that's the thing, Gabby. There're no desires and needs to speak of in relation to those two."
"So why would they say there's something between you all ? It doesn't make sense."
"That's what I keep telling you. I. don't. know."
"Well, I'm sorry, but their story against your lack of explanation… I'd like to believe you, but I can't."
"Gabby, let's not…"
"No, we better stop before we might say something we'll regret. Have a good night, Danny."
Gabby !"
The woman walked away and soon left the deck. Danny stayed right there, slumped shoulders showing his defeat. Steve felt bad suddenly. Sure, Danny's action, earlier in the dining room, deserved retribution, and Steve didn't think Gabby Asano was supposed to be the love of Danny's life. But still, Danny found himself left behind by a woman once more, and it was all Steve's fault.
"I hope you're happy with yourself," Danny said in a louder voice, as if to reach someone on the upper deck.
Danny had seen him. Danny knew he was there and had orchestrated the meeting with Tani and Junior. Danny knew who was to blame for Gabby's departure, beyond the crewmembers who had consented to play along when Steve had told them about the little war going on between Danny and him.
Slowly, Danny turned around and looked up, finding Steve's silhouette in the dark of the night and the shadow of a wall. Challenging Steve to own up to his actions.
Steve raised the glass of champagne he had brought to be able to mirror Danny's move at dinner.
Danny shook his head and sighed in disappointment.
"You're such a putz !" he threw at Steve before he turned once again and left like Gabby had done.
Victory was bittersweet.
-------------
They didn't talk about it again. But they didn't rule out the possibility of more pranks in the future.
The next evening, after a day spent looking for the thief and some time with his kids, Danny was invited at the captain's table and sat next to Steve. To fill his other side, and at the captain's order, Chin had invited an old man Steve was sure wouldn't try to seduce Danny. In front of him and at Steve's right, Stan and Rachel sat, while the children, who had already had dinner, enjoyed a late game with other kids.
Steve had a great time during the whole meal. In no small measure thanks to Danny who proved his interest in him with many questions asking Stan about what teenager Steve was like. Danny made fun of him, of course, but Steve also had his moment of glory when Stan told him about his football achievements.
Steve was fast becoming addicted to the little bit of worship he could read at times in Danny's eyes.
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To chapter 7
The hike was not easy, but Steve was sure Danny would be enthralled by the view waiting for them at the top of the hill.
He'd had to rearrange his whole schedule to free his afternoon and show Danny around, but it was all for good. Stan would be happy, and Steve got to spend more time with Danny.
The opportunity to learn more about him was too good to pass, so Steve began with a few easy questions before he came to the more personal ones.
"Why did you become a cop ?"
"Man, that's a difficult one. I don't think that I ever quite decided to become one, it was just something I had to do. I went to college, got my degree, and then straight to the police academy. I knew it was the place I had to be, the way to make a difference."
"Your family was okay with that career choice ?"
"Mostly. My mother said she had seen it coming since I was about five. My father deplored that I didn't follow in his footsteps but thought that being a cop made up for it. My sisters and brother made fun of me, saying I had always wanted to lord over everyone, and Matty added that I would be useful at least to cancel parking tickets."
Steve snorted but realized Danny hadn't alluded to his ex-wife.
"Did you meet Rachel before or after getting into the police ?"
"After. Back then, she thought the uniform was quite becoming, and she was proud enough to be a cop's wife."
Danny gave a boost of energy to put a bit of distance between him and Steve, clearly showing he didn't want to keep talking about that.
"My turn," Danny said after a few minutes of silence. "What about you ? Why did you become a sailor ?"
"Family business, I guess."
"Your father was in the Navy ?"
"My grandfather, actually. My father's a cop, just like you.
"Really ? And you didn't follow in his footsteps ?"
"I thought about it. And my grandfather too, from what I heard, but the Navy was more appealing, I guess. He died on the Arizona, in December 1941."
"A war hero," Danny concluded. "It's hard for a kid to find a better role model. Either you embrace it, or you reject it as far as you can."
"You're right, and my relationship with my father wasn't great at that time. My old man was not big on talking about his feelings, so going my grandfather's way seemed like a better option back then."
"Did you regret it ?"
"No. I served my country and the distance between us helped me understand my father better. It probably wasn't easy for him to see me and my sister compare his achievements to those of his father."
"Probably not. I get what you mean. My father's a firefighter, and there's this part of me that feels like I'll never measure up to him."
Steve put a comforting hand on Danny's shoulder, slowing his stride to walk next to Danny.
"I'm sure your father is proud of you. Your children too."
"Oh I know they are, don't get me wrong. I just don't think we're ever quite as good as our ego would wish us to be. And some people are very good at reminding us of our failures."
Steve squeezed harder. Nothing worse than the woman you gave your heart to making you feel like you were not enough. Or a father keeping you at arms' length to make sure you won't get too far into his head.
"It's always the ones closest to us, right ?"
"The ones who know what button to push."
Danny turned towards Steve as if to end that part of their discussion.
"So, how did you go from the Navy to a liner touring Hawaii ?"
Steve took his hand off Danny with regret.
"Well, my father was injured in the line of duty, and I decided to come back and take care of him. I didn't want to lose any chance of mending our relationship."
"Did it work ?"
"Well enough. I mean, we're still two guys with issues as wide as the channel between Oahu and Molokai, but we got better at spending time with each other, and talking about the small things that make our lives."
"That's good to hear. And what about the change of job ? It's probably not quite as exciting as going on missions all around the world."
"Not quite, you're right, but I feel like I've created a second family here on board this ship, people very dear to my heart. What the locals call ohana."
The stray thought that Danny would fit right into this ohana took Steve by surprise, but he couldn't deny it. Not with the way Danny, after they had known each other for all of four days, made him spill the path his life has taken. He couldn't be sure his very last secrets would be safe if Danny ever tried to make him confess. Navy missions were one thing, but the personal stuff seemed to be made just for Danny's consumption.
Steve's thoughts were brought to a stop by the forest opening suddenly to reveal a charming pond and a gentle cascade. This was the place he had wanted to share with Danny.
"Nice," Danny approved. "Is that where you bring all your conquests ?"
The wink left Steve almost speechless. Was Danny flirting with him ?
Would it be so bad if he did ?
Unable to answer his own question, Steve played it aloof.
"Ship captains are not allowed to have affairs or romantic flings with passengers."
Danny laughed out loud and Steve didn't know if he should be relieved or disappointed.
"I bet that line has saved your ass more than once when confronted with stubborn pursuers !"
"Once or twice, maybe. The last rampart to keep the enemy at bay."
Steve shouldered off his backpack and secured it on a branch to avoid attracting insects.
"Would you like to swim ?" he asked.
"I'm not big on swimming," Danny replied with a grimace.
"Really ? Do you know how ?"
Danny rolled his eyes.
"I do. I'm just not having such a good time in the water."
"Come on. We've been hiking for more than one hour, and you're probably just as hot and sweaty as I am. The water is clear and cool, the pond is not that deep. It would do you a world of good to have a swim."
He could see Danny was still not convinced.
"Come on," he added as he began to undress, "it won't be much fun if I do this alone while you sulk on the shore."
That got him a small grin. Without another word, Danny followed his lead and in a few seconds they were both down to their shorts, walking next to each other towards the water.
Steve hadn't lied. The thick vegetation kept the water cool and Steve didn't miss the blissful expression on Danny's face as his whole body was finally immersed.
"So," he said, "was I right or was I right ?"
"Yeah, yeah, you might have been right. But didn't your mother teach you it's not nice to say I told you so ?"
"My mother constantly tells me I told you so."
"That explains a lot, actually," Danny mumbled loud enough to be heard.
Those words meant war.
Steve dove deep and fast, making sure to be invisible to Danny's eyes.
"Steve ? Steve !" he heard the muted sound of Danny's voice getting alarmed. "You better not do what I'm sure you're gonna do or there'll be hell to pay !"
He watched as Danny turned around, looking for him through the shallow waters.
"I'm telling you, if you do this, I'll sic my kids on you and it won't be pretty."
Steve would have laughed if he wasn't holding his breath. He kept circling around Danny's legs, brushing past him at times, until he surged upwards and gripped Danny tight to make him overbalance and fall back into the pond.
Maybe it wasn't his most adult moment, but Danny seemed to bring out of him this playful side. And he probably should have seen coming the way Danny fought back and gave as much as he got.
Danny spluttered, spat water and stared at Steve with murderous eyes, and then launched his own attack that Steve couldn't entirely dodge and they both went underwater again.
For all he lacked in height, Danny was scrappy and he fought dirty. Surprisingly strong, he got Steve more than once by grabbing his legs and pulling hard, and Steve was all too happy to retaliate, careful not to spend longer than Danny's lungs could handle in the water, but not making it too easy on the man either.
Danny finally managed to escape after ducking Steve one last time and to get to the shore and their backpack. Steve kept on swimming for a little while until he saw Danny applying sunscreen on his skin and struggling to get to his back.
His feet took him to the beach without conscious thought on his part and next he found himself offering to help.
"Turn over," he said to Danny, "and I'll put it on you where you can't reach."
It took shockingly long to go over Danny's back and arms, but then Danny's back was large, and his skin needed all the protection against a beating sun it wasn't used to.
"Okay," he said when he couldn't justify continuing, even to himself, "now you put it on me."
Danny grumbled for show but soon after Steve's skin was tingling with the feeling of Danny's fingers lingeringly roaming all over his back.
-------------
As he finished putting away the different tools and toys he had used to get people to dance, Eddie watched with pleasure Buck entering the dancing room. It was clear Buck was enjoying the view too : Eddie was wearing only shorts, that still rode low on his hips after all the jiggling and hopping of the afternoon - Eddie still felt the energy of the dance needing to go somewhere and the perfect solution had just presented itself in a 6'2 package full of biceps and golden skin to explore.
"Where's Christopher ?"
"With the Edwards, Grace and Charlie. The Lion King show was booked over, they only had that one place left and Stan Edwards offered to take Christopher with them. So I don't know what to do with myself for about two hours, and…"
Eddie knew just what to do. The CD was still in the player, he only had to hit the switch to play.
"Come on, dance with me !" he took Buck's hand and led him to the dance floor.
"Eddie," Buck whined, "you know I'm terrible at this."
"You're really not, and you know how much I enjoy having you in my arms."
It shut up Buck's next words of denial. Eddie wrapped his arms around his shoulders with no more protests and dragged Buck into a slow dance that had them swaying on their feet to the rhythm of the light music he had chosen to end the lesson. Nothing swift or violent, just the heady feeling of the other's body rubbing against his, the scent of a man so familiar and beloved that nothing much, not even the ones of his own parents, could make him feel as grounded and happy.
Taken in his turn by the magic of the moment, Buck relented enough to put his head on Eddie's shoulder, his own arms closing tighter around Eddie's waist with a sigh of deep contentment. Eddie felt their bond flaring alive more than ever, Buck's hands on his bare back making him feel safe like nothing else could. He knew this man would do anything for him, walk into a fire or offer his life for Eddie's, or Chris'.
Buck was no professional dancer, not like Eddie anyway, but he had learned enough moves in all those years together that he made for Eddie a perfect partner whenever they indulged for a moment the need to be close and wrapped around each other.
"Mmm," Eddie appreciated, rubbing his cheek against Buck's, "you feel so good. This cruise is fun but I miss all the moments we can steal during the day to be together when we're at home."
Buck leaned down, brushing his lips over Eddie's neck in many kisses as light as butterflies. Eddie shivered, his body responding to Buck's touch in its usual manner : a deep, encompassing need for more taking over all of Eddie's being.
"Anything you want, you know I'm game."
"Yeah ? So what do you say about going back to your bedroom and using that free time ?"
Buck put a little distance between them to look him in the eyes, but still they kept on dancing.
"Something particular in mind ?"
"What about you making love to me ?" Eddie suggested, kissing Buck right on the lips.
Buck squeezed him tight, kissing back with all he had.
"I can get behind that. The hard part is gonna be going back to our deck without a horde of your adoring fans getting in the way."
"I thought about that. I told Kono it was difficult at times to go around without being stopped every three steps for autographs and she said I'm not the first one in this situation, that guests like me are authorized to use the lifts usually reserved for the crew. It will make the way much shorter and easier to navigate."
"Good call," Buck approved.
They finished the song like that, bodies swaying impossibly close to each other, lips and tongues attached for kisses that grew hotter and hotter. By the time it ended, Eddie's need for Buck's hands all over his body was so urgent, it was only thanks to Buck that he remembered to take the things he had brought with him before they left the dancing room.
As he had promised to Buck, they managed to get back to their deck with minimal stops in between, still very much in the mood for hot sex when they finally closed the door behind them.
Buck made quick work of Eddie's shorts and underwear, showing off his biceps by lifting Eddie, who closed his legs around his waist, for the few steps taking them to the bed. There, Buck laid him gently, joining immediately and pressing him to the mattress with his added weight. Getting pinned like that had always been one of Eddie's biggest turn-ons.
"Take your clothes off !" he urged Buck in between kisses.
"I don't know, Eds," Buck teased him as his free hand began to set his body on fire, already looking for all of Eddie's sweet spots. "Have you been a good boy today ? Do you really deserve it ?"
"Been so good, Buck," he joked back. "Thinking about you all the time, you in me, fucking me hard."
"Oh, it's gonna be hard, baby. Hard and long, and you're gonna walk funny enough that people will know someone took such good care of you."
Buck let an impatient Eddie take his shirt off. Buck's words made him so eager for it. There hadn't been any opportunity to properly make love since they had left home and Eddie felt empty. He needed his lover in the worst way, the one that made him beg and whine, ready to do anything to get Buck inside him.
"Buck," he cried out as Buck's teeth bit not so gently on one of his nipples and his hand found his hole, "love, get in me !"
"Not without preparation, it's been a few days."
Buck was probably right, but it didn't make the need more manageable. Eddie decided to move things along, looking for the lube he knew to find under the pillow. It meant he couldn't keep touching Buck as much as he wanted, but it was all for the greater good, right ?
"Here, take this."
"Someone's in a hurry," Buck sang to him.
"Someone is fucking sexy and spends his time walking around showing off his biceps in sleeveless shirts, so sue me for wanting a piece of the action," Eddie retorted, claiming Buck's mouth again.
Buck was good at multitasking and soon after he finished taking off his clothes, Eddie felt his now-lubed fingers back to working inside him as they kept kissing hungrily. And all it did was heighten his need to get Buck's cock to work its magic.
"I'm good," he decided, "let's go."
Buck's happy laugh was one of the best things in the world, right along with his caresses, his kisses and his huge heart. All of which Eddie could sum up by talking about Buck's love for him that made him feel so special, the luckiest man in the world.
"Buck, please," he insisted, and Buck got in place, slowly pushing to get inside him.
"I missed you too," Buck whispered once he was completely sheathed inside Eddie. "Dreamed of you every night, just like that, under me, taking it hard, always asking for more."
"I need more."
Eddie squirmed, trying to encourage Buck into moving, and the effect was immediate, Buck's cock hitting his prostate. Eddie gasped, losing coordination and letting Buck take control of the kiss as well as everything else. He was now floating on his pleasure cloud, tossed around with Buck's enthusiasm and power, shutting down his own power to better feel Buck's and enjoy this special feeling of being loved so thoroughly.
He was so hard, and yet so far from the orgasm he desperately wanted. And Buck was faithful to his words, drawing it out, forbidding Eddie to use his own hands on himself to tip the scale.
"You come on my cock," Buck announced, "nothing else. Just like you love it, baby."
It was not impossible, Eddie knew it for a fact, but he groaned in dismay all the same. Buck laughed again, cut short by another powerful move of his hips, another prostate hit that sent stars throughout Eddie's whole body.
And again and again, until all Eddie could feel and think about was Buck's cock making him his.
Then it was over, sudden explosion of bliss and love, Buck's hand on his dick to enhance the experience. Soon after, Buck followed his release, coming deep inside Eddie's ass as if marking his territory once more.
Eddie vaguely thought he would have to take a shower before they go find Chris at the show, and maybe he could persuade Buck to do that with him and play some more. But now was time for a nap.
"Love you," Eddie whispered, "so much."
"Love you more," Buck whispered back.
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Chapter 6 - Day 4
Steve had a hard time connecting back with what felt like the real world once they were back into the city, and maybe even more back on the Pearl of Hawaii. Images of the time spent with Danny on that small beach were all he could focus on.
Contrary to what he had said about himself, Danny was capable of being silent and enjoying the moment, lying next to a friend, half dozing and half listening to the sound of the forest surrounding them. But that was not what Steve kept replaying in his mind. That would be the times when Danny had used his hands on him and Steve had shamelessly abused the opportunity, getting sunscreen not just on his back but encouraging Danny to keep with the good work all over his arms and torso.
Danny had done it, and he didn't seem too concerned about it. He had asked about Steve's tattoos and made a thorough job of making sure Steve's skin was protected from the worst of the UV.
"Do you often do this ?" Danny had asked. "Use your passengers as your personal slaves ?"
The barb might have stung, had Danny not been busy in that moment rubbing the lotion deep into Steve's pecs, passing again and again over his nipples in a way that was sure to make other parts of Steve's body stand up and take notice.
"Only the competent ones."
It had been a struggle to keep himself under control while admitting at last to his deep attraction to Danny.
He should have seen it coming, really. Should have understood sooner what his constant need to spend time with Danny really meant. He hadn't bothered looking behind Stan's request for help, but there was no hiding anymore once it had become clear how much he wanted Danny to keep on touching him. To kiss him, to take him.
And he knew that as long as Danny was a passenger on his ship, he couldn't do anything about it, besides encouraging him to come live in Oahu, so that they might be able to see each other now and then after the cruise. So maybe now was the time to launch a frontal attack, see if something was really keeping Danny back in New Jersey, other than his parents and siblings and a job that surely he could exchange for more of the same in Hawaii. HPD had to be a step up compared to Brigantine PD, right ?
"Stan told me he wants you to come live here," he said out of the blue.
"Really ? Did he also tell you he doesn't get to decide for me ?"
Danny's lovely mood was fast evaporating and Steve knew he had to do damage control, right now.
"Don't bite my head off, I'm just hoping we'll be able to have a good time again, sometime in the future, just like we had this afternoon, and it would be considerably easier if you lived in Hawaii rather than New Jersey."
"Ain't that the truth," Danny answered noncommittally.
"I mean, you've seen parts of Hawaii now, and you can't say it's a bad place to live. Some would kill to get the opportunity to spend the rest of their lives on one of these islands."
"I'm sure they would."
"You could be one of them."
"And then I would have to arrest myself for murder and spend the rest of my life in prison. Sorry, Steve, but even in Hawaii, and with the prospect of getting you to visit me between cruises, prison is not the place I wish to live in."
"Stop avoiding the real matter. Don't you like what you've seen so far ?"
"It's all pretty, I'll give you that. If you like sand and sun at all times."
"Then what's keeping you in New Jersey ? Did you leave someone there ?"
Steve kept his head straight as they walked the last steps to the ship, not sure he could hide that well his beating heart and wild hopes.
"Beside my family, you mean ? No, I don't have anyone waiting for me back home."
Steve wasn't sure his relief wasn't clear in the huge sigh he tried and failed to stifle. But maybe Danny hadn't be too attuned to Steve's reaction as he kept talking, using the distance created by walking behind Steve on the path leading up to the ship's deck.
"I've lowered my expectations quite a bit since the divorce. I'm not waiting for anything meaningful at all anymore. Divorce has kind of this 'fool me twice, shame on me' effect on you, you know. You don't wanna get caught again giving everything you have to someone, only to get it thrown back at you for not measuring up. Better keep it to yourself."
"You can't live your life this way, Danny," Steve stopped and turned to look at him. "You're young and handsome, and you have so much to give."
"It's not a bad life," Danny shrugged, not meeting his eyes. "I give the good parts to my kids, and I share a few good times with loners like me who need the physical release but don't want the pain of a relationship. It all works out."
"Nah, that's convenient at best. Look, I have nothing against one-night stands, sometimes that's all you can get, maybe even all you should wish for with a particular someone. But they're not a life goal, not for men of our age. We need and we can do better."
"Steve, I'm happy for you if you've found someone who loves you enough that they're okay with you spending your time on a boat while waiting for you at home. That's kind of what I thought I had, and then I realized it was all a pipe dream. I learned my lesson. That's all."
For some reason, Steve couldn't let Danny believe he was one happy half of the strong relationship Danny had described. He resumed the walk up the gangplank to avoid Danny's too-smart gaze.
"First of all, this is a ship, not a boat. Second, I'm not any happier than you when it comes to relationships. You hit it right on the nail when you talked about my life spent on the Pearl of Hawaii. It doesn't leave much room for someone else, and everyone so far has decided at some point that I wasn't worth the wait. But it doesn't mean I'm not still searching, or at least keeping my eyes open for the right person to come along. I know I will find them someday."
"Or maybe you will love them enough to quit your job and spend your time with them," Danny offered, challenging.
"Maybe. Is that what went wrong with Rachel ? She asked you to quit law enforcement ?"
"That's part of it. Being a cop in Brigantine is not as dangerous as the big cities so she was okay for most of it. Until that bank robbery. I was shot in the knee, nothing life-threatening but she made it into this big thing, and the more I tried to be reassuring, the more hysterical she became. It quickly turned into this kind of highlighter for everything that had gone wrong between us, all those little misunderstandings and unsaid harsh truths that plague marriages. She felt I didn't listen to her, I felt she wouldn't listen to me, we grew apart, more and more, fighting every single day, and then she met Stan. The rest's history."
Steve didn't break the silence, mulling over what Danny had shared with him. He could understand Rachel's fears, sort of, but she knew going in that she was marrying a cop. He couldn't really blame her and yet found himself on Danny's side, knowing how important his job was to keep a community safe. He found it unbearable that the woman Danny had loved would also be the one who had him questioning himself and his life choices.
For it was clear to him that Danny didn't know what to make of himself right now, stuck between either losing a job he liked or the prospect of losing his family for good. Danny loved his children too much to put so many miles between him and them, but it meant putting that same distance between him and the rest of his family. And Danny was stubborn, so Stan's offer to join them in Hawaii had to grate him in the worse way. Wherever he looked had to present him with a picture of heartbreak and Steve felt for him.
Before he could find the right words to remind Danny of his self-worth, Kono appeared at Steve's side as they reached the deck.
"Sorry to interrupt, boss, but it seems we've got a thief on board."
Steve sighed again, albeit for a very different reason. Time to get back to work already. Theft was hardly a rare occurrence, but it didn't make it any easier to know they'd have to keep an eye on all passengers.
"What happened ?" Danny asked, before he turned to Steve. "Sorry, that's none of my business. Just a detective, it comes with the job."
Kono chuckled but answered, turning back to Steve to show proper deference to the ship's captain.
"Three ladies' purses have disappeared so far, that we know of. And it's still early in the cruise…"
Steve took a look at Danny who tried very hard to mind his own business and not intervene again.
"What would you do if this happened at home ?" he asked.
Danny grinned and didn't try to pretend he wasn't happy for the question.
"See if it happened all in the same place, get someone to watch security records, make sure the women were not targeted for a particular reason, other than their money… and offer a few opportunities for the culprit to get caught red-handed."
"What do you mean ?" Kono asked.
"Get a woman to "forget" her purse somewhere, a purse you filled with a soft detonating device that will cover the thief's hand in indelible ink, or just the ink if you don't have anything safe enough on board. I'm sure your security officer will know about all this."
Steve sighed again as Kono grimaced. Nothing was less certain.
"My security officer is not exactly the best out there."
"Then why is he still your security officer ?"
Trust Danny to nail once again the problem in one question. Steve only hesitated for a second to answer truthfully in front of another officer. Kono was already well aware of the situation.
"Because I may be the captain of this ship, I don't own the company. I can recommend people I want to work with, but I can't fire a man who's been placed by someone higher than me in the food chain. And believe me, I've tried."
Kono had been one of the people he had recommended for a job, and he congratulated himself every day, for she was one of the best assets on his ship, with her cousin Chin, Steve's first mate. Those two were not only good at their jobs, they enjoyed taking care of the Pearl of Hawaii just as much as they did making sure the rest of the crew and the passengers were all safe and happy.
His security officer was an entirely different matter.
"Well," Danny thought aloud, "maybe you can get me to meet that guy by accident and I'll have no problem playing the obnoxious cop who knows better and tries to tell him how to do his job. Who knows, maybe a few ideas will stick ?"
"Maybe. Hirsch is not just bad at the job, he's also incredibly full of himself."
"But maybe if Danny challenged him somehow," Kono suggested, "his pride would push him to look like he knows what he's doing…"
Steve liked this idea.
"And it might even work better if I was the one to get them to meet," Kono continued. "You know how Hirsch has been trying to get in my pants. He would hate to look like a loser in front of me."
Steve really liked the idea, but he certainly didn't like the way Danny smiled at Kono.
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After a well-deserved shower - sadly each on their own - Steve met with Danny again so that they could plan the best way to sway Hirsch into doing his job for once.
Kono joined them soon after, and then Chin. Steve looked at the three wonderful people in his quarters with this quiet feeling of rightness, as if they were made to work with him and for him, giving their best to the job and each other. Then reality reasserted itself and reminded Steve that Danny would leave soon, either going back to his life in New Jersey, or settling down in Oahu. Whatever he chose to do with his life, the four of them would not work again together. Steve had to make the most of this moment.
So plans were made, using Danny and Kono's ideas. They both would meet with Hirsch accidentally on the next day and proceed to talk about the snatched purses. Kono would fawn over Danny and his incredible talent as a detective, asking what he would do in Hirsch's place. Depending on Hirsch's reaction, they would either challenge him or let him prove on his own that he could do better.
Next they visited Pua Kai, an ensign working the souvenir boutique who Kono felt they could trust, and asked him, after making sure that Hirsch hadn't already, to take a long look at the videos showing the area, close to most robberies. Danny told him to search for patterns, such as any similarity about the places visited, the kind of women targeted, the hours of the day the thefts took place… No report had been written that they could find, so even that kind of detail was unavailable to them.
"Why don't you use his lack of writing skill to get rid of Hirsch ?" Danny asked Steve discreetly when they left Kai to his mission.
"I told you I tried, and that was one of the arguments I brought up to show his ineptitude, but to no avail. He was able to convince the commission that he had, I quote, a paper phobia, and that he preferred to remember everything."
Danny looked at him in disbelief.
"They really swallowed that ?"
Steve shrugged. He was done trying to understand those guys. Clearly, Hirsch had powerful protection if he could pull off such absurdity and still get paid for a job badly done.
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Later in the afternoon, Danny and Kono met Steve again in his quarters to tell him about the afternoon's events. Steve felt uneasy at their new, easy camaraderie and the casual way they kept touching each other.
"We said we're very distant family, one of my cousins who married one of her aunties," Danny explained, "and Hirsch took it at face value. The rest was the honest truth, I just told him I was a cop from New Jersey and that Kono had piqued my interest with the story of the missing purses, so I wanted to offer my help."
"Of course," Kono took over, "Hirsch answered that he had it all under control but Danny didn't let him get away with it."
"I asked him what he had done already, lots of simple and very clear questions he couldn't misunderstand. Had he interviewed any passengers ? Especially the women robbed ? Did he know how much money was missing ? What about other items ? Anything else that would explain why those women were targeted ?"
All questions Steve himself would have tried to find an answer to, had he been in Hirsch's shoes.
"Did he have answers for you ?"
"None beyond 'it's all taken care of,' so Kono had to get the big guns out."
"I just put in gear what we’d talked about. A hand on his arm, a seductive smile, anything to get him to believe I wanted to be impressed by his detective skills and to see him prove that we could do as well in Hawaii as they do in Jersey."
"And you got the impression it’s going to work ?"
"At least she got him eager to shine in front of her," Danny chuckled. "He waited until she was gone before he took my arm and dragged me to a corner to tell me he didn't have enough people for all the work and would I mind helping him a bit."
"You're like, the Hirsch whisperer," Steve laughed.
"And don't you forget it !"
"So what happened ? Did you two came up with a plan ?"
"We're far ahead of you, my friend. We already went to interview the three women whose vacations have been so rudely spoiled. I had time to talk with two of them while Hirsch chatted with the third."
"And ?"
"Are you always this impatient ? As I was going to say, the two women I talked to had just won a nice sum of money at the casino. Not a fortune, but enough to attract unwanted attention. They're both alone on board, they chose this cruise especially in the hope of meeting someone. As for the exact moment they discovered they had been relieved of their winnings, one went to dance and her purse was missing when she came back. The other was having a few drinks at the bar in celebration but she can't remember anyone approaching close enough to rob her apart from the bartender, but she said he was cute enough that she kept watching him at all times so she's pretty sure he's got nothing to do with it."
"What about the woman Hirsch interviewed ?"
"He said she didn't report having much money in her purse, and she didn't see anyone either. Apparently, she was a bit drunk, and she thinks she might have been robbed in the ladies' room."
"Does it mean we're looking for a woman ?"
"Not necessarily. She couldn't remember for sure if she still had her purse when she got in the restroom, and then anyone could get in and out without being seen at this late hour."
"So what do you make of it all ?"
"First, we need to protect any other winner when they get out of the casino, encourage them to keep their winnings somewhere safe - I assume your ship has a safe ? Single women especially, but stealing a man's wallet is easy for a seasoned thief, so maybe we can talk to your staff and have them remind all passengers to be extra careful. We could also put up a few posters in the casino, if only to remind people that they're responsible for their money once they leave the place."
Something in Steve settled with happiness at hearing the 'we' Danny kept using, as if he was part of his crew, a shoulder Steve could lean on in case of need. A valued and skillful member of the Pearl of Hawaii crew.
"Then I want to arrange for a few traps myself, without coordinating with Hirsch. Someone like him is too susceptible to flattery and I don't want the robber to realize what we're doing before we get a chance to catch him. So with your permission, I'll work with Pua to get him to watch in real time the few traps I'll set."
"Sure. Kono, please go and explain to Pua he's working with Danny for the foreseeable future, and arrange for someone to replace him at the boutique."
"Right on it, boss."
Kono left immediately with a smile for them both.
"Danny," Steve said as soon as they were alone, "I can't thank you enough for doing this for us when you're supposed to be resting and enjoying your free time at the pool or with your kids."
"Sadly, my kids seem to have a great time with the other kids on this metal box. I don't think they need me that much."
"Metal box ? Really ? Would it kill you to show a bit of respect to my ship ?"
"Sorry. Metal and glass box. Is that better ?"
"Not one bit. If you weren't so needed right now, I'd have you walking the plank."
"You realize we're far past the time when ship captains were allowed to act like they were God ?"
"That's what we want you to think, but the truth is, on board this ship, I am God."
"And delusional, clearly," Danny chuckled.
"I get no respect !" Steve lamented.
Danny stood up, prepared to leave.
"One last thing I wanted to run by you," he seemed to suddenly remember. "I thought about calling my PD and asking a friend to look into Hirsch and the reason why he's so well protected. Are you okay with that ?"
"Please, by all means. If you can find out what leverage he's got and over who, I want to know."
"Okay, I'll call as soon as we get back to civilization and the land of mobile phones."
"You could use our radio."
"Nah, too much risk that Hirsch would hear about it. It can wait till tomorrow. Plus my friend's probably back home at this hour, maybe even asleep."
"Right. I guess I can wait one more day."
"Well, I'll see you later," Danny threw over his shoulder as he got to the door.
"I'm sorry, Danny, I can't invite you at the captain's table tonight, it's booked solid."
"Don't worry about me, I have other plans anyway."
"You do ?"
"Don't sound so surprised. I'm meeting Gabby in less than an hour for drinks and then we'll have dinner together."
"Gabby, really ? I thought you were done with her ?"
"I'm a gentleman, Steve. I'm not done with a lady of Gabby's class before she tells me we're done or I'm going back home, whichever comes first."
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Someone who didn't know Steve might have said he was sulking.
Obviously, someone who did know Steve would say sulking was not something he was prone to, not after being in the Navy, and then becoming the captain of a liner capable of transporting a few thousand people at a time.
This great career didn't make watching Danny having a great time with Gabby Asano any easier, not at all. The more those two seemed to enjoy their dinner, the more Steve's tasted like ashes. The conversation at the captain's table was stilted at best, while the couple sitting a few tables away shared laughter every few minutes.
Steve almost stood up and marched to that table, to order than they cease and desist when Gabby brought to Danny's mouth a sample of her shrimp entrée. There was something absolutely indecent in the way her fingers lingered on Danny's lips, more so in the way Danny's lips closed around them.
Steve felt quite sick watching the display. Such a classy lady, really !
And the dinner dragged on, with the most boring guests he ever had the displeasure to spend time with, obligated as he was to entertain them all the same and feign interest in their conversation. Eyes constantly going back to a certain table he tried in vain to ignore.
He was happy to see Grace and Charlie appearing next to him suddenly - and not just a little annoyed with himself for feeling so numb he had all but missed them approaching him from the opposite side of the dining room where Danny's table could be seen.
"Gracie ? What can I do for you ?"
"My dad told me to tell you that he doesn't need his shorts back, you can keep them because he found something else to wear."
"Why do you want to keep him naked ?" Charlie asked, all innocence.
There was a collective gasp from the older people at his table and Steve felt attacked with many outraged stares. He had to do damage control, quick, and then he'd think about the best way to kill Danny Williams.
"That's not what it means, Charlie. Your father and I, we went swimming this afternoon and we had to change after that, so I offered to take his trunks in my backpack, that's all."
It was clear most of his guests didn't believe one word of his explanation and Steve's projected air of confidence didn't fool them at all. Grace and Charlie left, called by Rachel and Stan, totally unaware of the mini-drama the children had unleashed as they herded them out of the dining room.
Steve turned back to Danny to find him looking back at last. Danny had a glass in his hand, held high to toast Steve, and the most obnoxious grin on his face.
There would be hell to pay, Danny had said in the afternoon.
Well, the game was on.
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Steve leaned on his elbows on the rail and watched Danny and Gabby, deep in conversation on the deck below. As usual, Danny was talking with his hands as much as his mouth and every time Danny touched the woman Steve felt validated in regard to the wedge he was about to drive between those two.
He didn't have long to wait. From the other side of the deck, two young people appeared, a pretty girl and her boyfriend that Steve knew very well for they were part of his crew. The fact that Danny knew them or not remained to be seen.
"Danny !" Tani screeched, running towards him.
"Tani ?" Danny replied, obviously stunned by her attitude.
And before he could react in any way, Tani threw her arms around his neck and planted one on him.
Livid, Steve almost shouted at her to stop, but he didn't have to. Tani got herself on one side of Danny, while Junior occupied his other side, sliding his arm over Danny's shoulders. Seeing Danny speechless made Steve feel a lot better and forget about this stolen kiss and the way Junior was holding him.
"You must be Gabby ?" Junior asked the woman who was staring at the three people in front of her with complete bewilderment. "Danny told us so much about you last night."
"Yeah, we thought we could invite you to continue what we began," Tani agreed, waggling her eyebrows suggestively.
"Danny, what does this mean ?" Gabby asked.
And this time, Danny had found his voice again.
"I have no idea. First, let go of me, you two. What's wrong with you people ?"
It was not easy to get away from two persons on a mission for Steve. But Danny finally managed to evade the octopus formed by Tani and Junior, retreating next to Gabby who didn't seem so fond of him anymore.
"I swear I don't know what this all means, Gabby. These guys are crewmembers, I see them every day, but that's all I know about them."
Tani pouted and Junior put his arm around her as if to console his girlfriend. Those two were good, no doubt about it, even Junior who could look stodgy at times but hid a kindness, a keen intelligence and a wealth of fun that had seduced Tani irremediably.
"That's not nice, Danny," Junior kept in character. "You may not want to do it again or share with us, but at least own up to your actions."
Without another glance, Junior led Tani away, leaving Danny to face Gabby.
"This is the most surreal encounter I've ever had. I don't know what got into those two but…"
"Danny," Gabby stopped his rant, "he's right. There's nothing to be ashamed of, I guess, consenting adults and all that jazz, but you need to own up to your desires and needs. The fact that I don't share them shouldn't stop you."
Steve refrained from laughing out loud and diverting their attention towards him. The plan was going so well, he couldn't fail now.
"But that's the thing, Gabby. There're no desires and needs to speak of in relation to those two."
"So why would they say there's something between you all ? It doesn't make sense."
"That's what I keep telling you. I. don't. know."
"Well, I'm sorry, but their story against your lack of explanation… I'd like to believe you, but I can't."
"Gabby, let's not…"
"No, we better stop before we might say something we'll regret. Have a good night, Danny."
Gabby !"
The woman walked away and soon left the deck. Danny stayed right there, slumped shoulders showing his defeat. Steve felt bad suddenly. Sure, Danny's action, earlier in the dining room, deserved retribution, and Steve didn't think Gabby Asano was supposed to be the love of Danny's life. But still, Danny found himself left behind by a woman once more, and it was all Steve's fault.
"I hope you're happy with yourself," Danny said in a louder voice, as if to reach someone on the upper deck.
Danny had seen him. Danny knew he was there and had orchestrated the meeting with Tani and Junior. Danny knew who was to blame for Gabby's departure, beyond the crewmembers who had consented to play along when Steve had told them about the little war going on between Danny and him.
Slowly, Danny turned around and looked up, finding Steve's silhouette in the dark of the night and the shadow of a wall. Challenging Steve to own up to his actions.
Steve raised the glass of champagne he had brought to be able to mirror Danny's move at dinner.
Danny shook his head and sighed in disappointment.
"You're such a putz !" he threw at Steve before he turned once again and left like Gabby had done.
Victory was bittersweet.
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They didn't talk about it again. But they didn't rule out the possibility of more pranks in the future.
The next evening, after a day spent looking for the thief and some time with his kids, Danny was invited at the captain's table and sat next to Steve. To fill his other side, and at the captain's order, Chin had invited an old man Steve was sure wouldn't try to seduce Danny. In front of him and at Steve's right, Stan and Rachel sat, while the children, who had already had dinner, enjoyed a late game with other kids.
Steve had a great time during the whole meal. In no small measure thanks to Danny who proved his interest in him with many questions asking Stan about what teenager Steve was like. Danny made fun of him, of course, but Steve also had his moment of glory when Stan told him about his football achievements.
Steve was fast becoming addicted to the little bit of worship he could read at times in Danny's eyes.
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To chapter 7