Day 1 Saturday
"Oh my...God...Sis, is this really happening?" I gasped as the ship slowly chugged out of Southampton harbour on its way to the Mediterranean.
"I know what you mean," My younger sister Sam grinned as I hugged me; "this is going to be the best holiday of our lives!"
Sam had won an 'All-inclusive Cruise for two' plus £500 spending money, in a magazine competition. At 38 my sister was still unmarried but was the only person in our family that this didn't seem to bother. Her comfortable job as a librarian and a host of hobbies kept her busy and mentally fulfilled most of the time.
Me on the other hand; I'm a divorcee who had finally left my drunken husband 18 months earlier and my job in tele-sales just about managed to clothe and feed my 15 year old daughter.
Without giving it a second thought Samantha had decided that this would be my 40th birthday gift.
As the trip got nearer my friends at work had all joked that this would my opportunity to catch a 'sugar-daddy' and live the rest of my life in the lap of luxury.
When the English coast eventually trailed off into the distance we eventually made our way to our cabin to begin getting dressed for dinner in the Ballroom.
At the entrance to the Ballroom we were introduced the Captain then shown to our table which we would share with 10 others; by a handsome young waiter. The rest of the diners were all married couples apart from two Newcastle businessmen called Bob and Terry. It was a fun evening with plenty of wine and a beautiful meal. The men were good company; keeping the table entranced until we finally retired, alone, to our cabin at 10.30.
Day 2 Sunday.
The following morning I awoke to find my cabin flooded with bright sunshine as the ship sailed down the coast of France.
As usual Samantha was already up and about so after a shower and a slow breakfast I decided to sunbathe alone on the top deck while my younger sister explored the other decks.
Quickly realising that I was the youngest woman on the sun deck I sauntered casually along the side of the pool like a glamorous film-star as the older guests stared at me in my sarong and bikini top. Within seconds of selecting an empty sun-lounger in the corner a waiter in a starched white polo shirt and navy blue shorts asked if I would like a cool drink.
Without hesitating I ordered a long Vodka and tonic with lots of ice and made myself comfortable.
When the waiter arrived with my drink I was liberally smearing my skin with sunscreen. As the young man placed the tray on the side table I secretly wished that I had the courage to ask him to rub some into my back; but I hadn't. I eventually settled down to read my book and occasionally sipped the vodka and tonic while sporadically glancing through my large dark sun-glasses to see if anyone under 60 had materialised...we didn't.
As I scanned the deck a little Devil took over as I rubbed sunscreen into my stomach and chest. Acting on impulse I decided to take my bikini top off and bathe topless for the first time in my life.
As casually as my trembling fingers would allow I nonchalantly dropped my bra onto the wooden flooring and massaged a handful of cream into my aching breasts making me bite my bottom lip when my fingers brushed against the solid pink nipples.
When I was sure that the cream was absorbed I sat back on the lounger and began reading my magazine; but I couldn't concentrate as a dozen pairs of very old male eyes stared at my naked 34b breasts.
When Samantha joined me at 3.30, she was shocked to see her elder sister lying on a sun-lounger exposing her naked breasts to anyone who cared to look. We had a drink together as Sam excitedly told me about all of the things that were available on board including table-tennis, quoits, shuffleboard, bridge and a host of other activities that left me bored witless.
As Sam twittered on I sank the last of my drink and suddenly realised that this was going to be a very long voyage.
After an hour's nap we dressed and went for dinner. This time we shared a table with 5 couples from Scotland and hardly understood a word that anyone said. Yet again we returned to our cabin at 10.30.
I couldn't sleep for tossing and turning with sexual frustration. My fingers kept wandering between my legs and tickled my tingling pussy; but I was afraid that any noises I made would wake Sam in the bed only 4 feet away. While not regretting coming on holiday with my sister I couldn't help thinking that it might just turn out to be a bit of a nightmare.
There were only two years difference in age between us but we had always been like chalk and cheese; Sam being the studious one who had gone to University and me the party-girl who had fallen in love with a series of 'bad boys' until I finally met my match with Jeff who got me pregnant within six weeks of meeting and then making my life Hell for the next 13 years until he eventually hit me too hard one drunken night and I left him with our daughter in one hand and only a bag of clean underwear in the other.
Day 3
When the ship docked on the Monday, Samantha and I made our way into Lisbon to sight-see. After an hour or so of looking at local artefacts I feigned a headache and hid in the shade of a street café to watch the world go by as Sam wandered off with a guide book in her hand.
"Hello," a familiar Geordie voice greeted me just as the waiter began to make my feel that I was outstaying my welcome; "it is Sue; isn't it?" The tubby man in an immaculate white shirt smiled as he waited for me to recognise him.
"Oh! Yes...from Saturday night," I stuttered, "Terry?"
"That's Terry over there," he laughed as he pointed towards his travelling companion who was bartering with a market trader, "I'm Bob. Do you mind if we join you?"
"No," I smiled; grateful for the company, "not at all."
As we made small talk over a glass of beer, Bob was the more outgoing of the two and made the introductions; eventually explaining that he was 67 and had retired 10 years previously when his wife had died. He'd sold a building business and after sharing the proceeds with his son and daughter, had decided to 'live life to the full'. This usually meant having 3 or 4 golfing holidays a year plus a couple of weeks somewhere hot and exotic. His pal Terry was a three time divorcee and had suggested a nice leisurely cruise as a change this year.
I decided against lying about my humble background and told them a brief synopsis of my life ending with it being my 40th birthday the week before.
Bob immediately insisted on buying me and Samantha dinner that night as a birthday treat. The three of us sat outside the Café chatting like long lost friends drinking beer and eating snacks. When Samantha finally joined us we were already a little bit drunk. Terry demanded that Samantha also had a drink with us; but she made him pout like a naughty schoolboy when my sister told him that another drink would make us late getting back to the ship.
As we got dressed for dinner I told Samantha about my afternoon with the men and what we'd talked about; giggling like schoolgirls as we playfully argued about 'which one fancied me the most!'
The men were already waiting at the Restaurant bar with a bottle of chilled champagne, when we arrived fashionably late.
"Happy Birthday," Terry laughed as he handed us a glass each and bent forward to kiss me on the cheek.
At the end of the meal Samantha thanked the men for their hospitality but said that she would have to leave us as she was very tired. I kissed my sister goodnight and promised that I wouldn't be too late; but I wanted to carry on the party especially now that the strains of a dance band were filtering in from the Ballroom.
I had a great time dancing with Terry and Bob; who was soon ordering cocktails by colour rather than by name; which we all guzzled with gusto.
