The message light was blinking on my answering machine when I returned mid-morning from the gym.
"Hey Larry, this is Nancy. I need a favor. A girlfriend and I have booked a cruise that leaves in four weeks and I have a situation that just came up and now I can't go. She would like to do the cruise and I don't want to have to cancel. I told Joyce about you, that we have taken trips before and she is agreeable to have you take my place. Call me and let me know one way or the other. See ya."
I hit the redial and Nancy answered on the second ring. "Hi Nancy; I got your message and yes I can take your place on the cruise."
"Great, Joyce will be thrilled. This will probably be a repeat trip for you but we have been to only one of the islands and it was with a different cruise line."
"No problem, I'll be happy to do my part and show her around."
Nancy gave me the particulars and she was going to have Joyce and me over to meet and use her computer so we could book the air together.
I've known Nancy for many years. Our association is scuba diving and we have roomed many times when we do a trip with our dive club. She is a wonderful person but just not my type to get romantically involved. In addition to scuba diving, she competes competitively at tennis and golf. It was an invitation to a senior's tennis tournament that caused the schedule conflict with the cruise.
I arrived at the appointed time and Joyce was already there helping with dinner. Nancy had told me that Joyce was petite and cute as a button. She was very accurate in her description, light brown hair that came to her shoulders and hazel eyes. I shook her hand and maybe it was my imagination but I felt a jolt of electricity that shot up my arm. She had me when she said, "Hello," with a big smile that lit up her face. I did a quick scan up and down her body and I couldn't help but notice her nipples pushing against her blouse. I could feel my heart race and as we walked down the hall. I had to make a quick adjustment to make room for my growing erection.
We enjoyed a nice chat over dinner where I learned more about Joyce. She and Nancy met by accident as spectators at a golf tournament. It seems both are avid golfers. However, unlike Nancy, Joyce doesn't play tennis. Their friendship led to teaming up for various trips, especially places to play golf. They had been on a few cruises together, too. While Nancy never married, Joyce had been divorced for over ten years. Her two children were grown and married.
We discussed the cruise and what Joyce wanted to see and do. Nancy made the necessary changes with the cruise line and we completed the airline arrangements. In my heart I hoped everything would go well and that Joyce and I would do some traveling and more in the future. It was nice to be with an experienced traveler and from our conversation it appeared we shared the same travel style and expectations. I was attracted to her from the start and I hoped she felt the same.
Before I departed for home, Joyce and I agreed to meet the following week to discuss the cruise and the various island excursions we might do. We exchanged contact information and she invited me to dinner at her home. "What kind of wine do you enjoy?" I asked.
"Dry red, like a Merlot or Malbec."
"What a coincidence; so do I."
On my drive home I couldn't believe my luck. On the surface everything appeared perfect. I just hoped it wasn't too good to be true. Only time will tell. Maybe our next meeting without Nancy will tell me more about her. I certainly like what I saw and heard. Thinking about her gave me a hard-on. No doubt I'll need to do something about that when I get home. A warm shower and a soaped up dick make a nice way to pump my aching friend.
The week passed slowly. I felt like a kid waiting for Christmas. I replayed that evening with Joyce many times, the ease we felt, the sound of her voice when she talked, the way her eyes lit up when she laughed and what a contagious smile. The "accidental" touching was nice, too, and my dick enjoyed her frequent display of erect nipples. I would wake up with a hard-on just thinking about her. I felt like a young kid falling in love for the first time. Nice way to start the day.
I arrived at Joyce's place for dinner at the appointed time. She greeted me in shorts and tee shirt. I gave her a hug and breathed in the heady smell of her perfume. It was all I could do to keep from running my hands all over her. The top of her head came to my chin. She had a nice body and from the way she filled out the tee shirt, I guessed a 32 B/C. I wanted to kiss her right then and there but I kept telling myself to just be cool.
We chatted about ourselves over dinner. Joyce revealed more about her past than she had done at our first meeting. She had some previous relationships but not found "the one". She talked about her children and their spouses, no grand children in the picture. We shared stories about places we had been and those on our "bucket list". I was pleased that we had similar places yet to be visited. In my heart was the hope that I had found a travel partner and more.
Joyce and I adjourned to the couch with wine glasses in hand to look at cruise excursions on her laptop. I was particularly pleased that she sat so close. Touching was unavoidable but I kept myself under control because I didn't want to rush anything. That's not to say I didn't flirt but I exercised a lot of restraint. We decided on several shore excursions and a plan for activities on the ship which included working out, the shows, and hopefully dancing.
When Joyce walked me to the door our good bye was a much longer hug and I kissed her gently on the lips. Our lips parted and our tongues danced together. I was pretty certain that, given how tightly she held me, there was no missing my erection pushing into her belly. My gut told me that what she did was intentional, at least I hoped so. If it was her desire to get me hot and bothered, she succeeded. I couldn't help but wonder if she was as turned on as I was. I so wanted to rip her clothes off right then and there but I managed to stop and thanked her before walking out the door. No doubt I would need some shower time and serious stroking of my hard cock when I got home.
I picked Joyce up in the early morning for our flight to Florida. I was pleased that she knew how to pack and there wasn't much luggage. She dressed in business casual clothes and looked terrific. "You like?" she asked as she did a slow 360.
