Cheddars, Chapter 34
The following morning came early for the four young men. They had set the alarms in their phones, and to make certain they wouldn't miss their flight, had a wake-up call from the hotel clerk as a backup.
Adam and Parker had just double-checked the bathroom for anything they might have left, when there was a knock on their door. Rob stood there grinning, teasing them about being all worn out from their honeymoon the night before.
"We're up and ready," Adam protested. "We actually got some sleep. Did you?"
"Yup, I managed to get my husband satisfied after a while. That boy is insatiable!"
"Are you talking about me?" Darrin asked, pulling his suitcase as he came from their room.
"Who else?" Rob grinned, as he planted a kiss on his cheek.
"He's right! Making love with him is awesome because he satisfies me, and keeps me wanting more at the same time. I know that's contradictory, but that's how it feels to me. I've heard it said that cigarettes are like that, but I've never tried them. Sex is so much better for your lungs!" Darrin snickered
As they headed for the elevator, they all agreed that sex was a kind of addictive pleasure. Since the other guests on their floor weren't in the hall to overhear their conversation, they could share their feelings without being self-conscious.
After a substantial breakfast, the four boarded the shuttlebus. The ride to the terminal was a short one, and they were soon checking in. Rob cringed at having to pay $25 for his luggage, but then he put Darrin's on his credit card as well.
"Hey, I'm not planning to be a kept man," Darrin protested. "I can pay my own way."
"It all comes out of the same pot in the long run. Besides, I intend to KEEP you for as long as you'll have me!"
"Now, let's not have a marital squabble so soon," Parker joked. "It hasn't been 24 hours since you tied the knot.
They were using the self-check kiosks, so they didn't have to be concerned about someone at the counter overhearing them. However, they were already enjoying their marital status to the point that they didn't really care who else knew about it.
Flying out of a small airport didn't require the amount of time for screening that it would take in a big-city one. Going through security was fast and simple. They had their passports and tickets in their hands, and there wasn't a long line ahead of them. When they got to their gate, they had 45 minutes to kill.
The flight to O'Hare was a short one, so it didn't matter to them that the seats in tourist class were narrow, and had little legroom. Darrin certainly didn't notice, as he snapped pictures of the rising sun with his phone as they approached O'Hare. The streams of vehicle lights on the expressways also fascinated him.
The minute they exited the jetway in Chicago, they checked the electronic board to make sure their gate and departure time hadn't changed. There was only a half hour between fights, and a rather long distance to cover to their gate, so they needed to move right along.
They began following the signs for concourse G for their plane to Orlando. It seemed like they walked for miles, but since they were all keyed up for the trip, that likely played a part in how they judged the trek.
Their flight hadn't been called yet when they reached the gate, so they availed themselves of a nearby men's room. There was no need to get on with a bladder half full, and then wait until the seatbelt sign was turned off, heaven knows how much later.
They had barely sat down in the waiting area when the lady at the counter called for all pre-boarding passengers. Shortly thereafter, she announced boarding for first class, and the boys got in line.
The seats on this bigger plane were roomy and more comfortable, especially since they were in first class. Darrin was impressed. Of the four, he was the only one who hadn't flown before that morning. He had been a little apprehensive about how he might react to the experience, but after their initial, short flight, he was eager to continue. Rob switched seats with him so he could look out the window more easily.
The guys pulled out their earbuds to plug into the monitors on the backs of the seats in front of them. They hoped to watch a movie to pass the time.
As it worked out, they all got to see something they hadn't had time to catch in the theater, and between the entertainment and refreshments, they were engaged nearly up to the time the fasten-seatbelt sign came on for their touchdown in Florida.
After retrieving their bags from the carousel, the guys checked in at the Carnival desk to get on the list for the shuttle to the ship in Port Canaveral. They didn't have to wait long.
Everybody napped a little on the 45-minute drive to the coast. They hoped to be fresh for whatever activities they would pursue once on board.
The royal treatment they received during the boarding process was much appreciated. Because they were in two of the nicer suites, they received several perks. Instead of waiting in long lines, they got their pictures taken for their sign-and-sail cards right away. Then, after their passports were checked, they could immediately take the ramp up to where they would step onto the ship on deck 3.
Once on board, their priority was to find the Lido deck for something to eat. They hadn't had more than a snack since breakfast, and their stomachs were complaining. Soon, they were seated on an open deck with plates of food to assuage their hunger.
"This is the life!" Darrin grinned. "We need to write thank-you notes to the family for this awesome honeymoon!"
"We could take a few pictures of the ship and send them after we finish eating," Parker suggested. "They'll probably love that more than a written note."
"We'll do that, but we still need to write notes," Rob insisted. "This is a spectacular gift, and they didn't have to include us! It's only proper that we write a formal thank-you as well."
Since their cabins weren't made up yet, there was still time to kill. Therefore, the guys explored the deck where the water slides were located, and the areas that were limited to guests 18 and older. They soon learned that the age restriction wasn't because of nudity, but its purpose was to keep noisy little kids from disturbing the grownups.
As they were checking things out, an announcement came over the PA system saying that all suites on the upper four decks were now available for occupancy. They went quickly to find their accommodations. It was cool to be staying on the Lido deck where it was only a short walk to go to breakfast and lunch, or to sit out in the sun. There was a huge theater screen on deck 10 as well.
Parker had sailed enough with his grandparents to have a gold card, and he had enjoyed great cabins before. This suite was on a par with several of his accommodations in the past. It was like being in a luxury hotel. The extent of the balcony, especially, impressed him.
"With both cabins having balconies, we have a lot of room to soak up the sun when it's in the right position. All this privacy would allow us to lie out here and work on our all-over tans. At least part of the time we won't have to compete with anyone else for a spot out on the deck, if we don't want to."
"We can also sit out here nude in the evening if we wish," Adam grinned, as the four of them went through the connecting door to see the other suite.
"Our bed is a king just like yours," Rob exclaimed. "I thought from the pictures it was going to have twin beds."
"They can be made up as twins, but Dad specified that we wanted big ones," Parker said. "I wonder what the steward will think when he finds they're being shared by guys."
"He can think whatever," Adam replied. "Who knows, he may be getting a little on the side from another male member of the staff. Obviously, we aren't the first same-sex couples to take the fun ships,' because lots of others, including Jon and Bart, have cruised before. There are also special gay' cruises!"
"Speaking of gays, and cruising, Dad said we should look for an announcement in the daily activities sheet that says something like `a meeting of friends of Dorothy' because that's a code for a gay get-together. It's probably more important to singles than us old married types, but it might be fun to meet others from our team," Parker said.
At that point, their conversation was interrupted by an announcement that they were about to set sail. The guys hurried out to the balcony again, where they could take a few pictures of the buildings and other ships in the harbor as they pulled away.
Shortly thereafter, everyone was told to report to the deck designated on their key cards to practice the lifeboat drill. Once there, they got more-detailed instructions on how to proceed if they had to abandon ship. Parker had been through the briefing probably eight or nine times before, so he kind of spaced out while the others were hanging onto each word.
By the time they got back to their suites, their luggage was waiting outside the door, and they hung up their dress outfits to avoid wrinkles before finding places in drawers for other things.
Dinner wasn't formal that evening, and the guys were soon seated at a table for four toward the aft end of the lower dining room. The wait-staff was very attentive, a fact that impressed the three experienced servers. They knew exactly what to look for.
Many of the waiters came from far-flung places around the globe. The young man who kept their water glasses filled was an adorable Indonesian lad who looked to be close to their ages.
The food was delicious! Darrin was probably the most impressed of the group. He ordered escargots as one of the appetizers, to share with his husband. It was listed on the menu as a "didja (as in did you ever...) food you always wanted to try, but did not dare." It was a chance to sample new things without being stuck with a large order if you didn't like it.
Since Parker had eaten snails before, it wasn't exciting for him, but he ordered a plate to share with Adam. They decided they would take advantage of the opportunity every evening to experience the taste of new things. All of them were adventurous eaters.
Darrin liked the escargot, but commented that you could probably serve garden slugs in all the butter and garlic sauce and have them taste as good.
Rob made gagging noises at his suggestion. That brought laughs from them, and a middle-aged couple sitting nearby.
Mahi-mahi was the entrée everyone ordered. It sounded exotic to all but Parker. He didn't mention that he'd had it on numerous occasions. He didn't want to remind anyone of his privileged upbringing.
Servings weren't as large as they'd been in the old days, but none of them was aware of that. They ate slowly, and were sufficiently full, but not so stuffed that they'd forego dessert.
Parker recommended that everyone try the chocolate melting cake at least once during their trip. However, he said it was often on the menu, and they might want to sample something else.
Three of the guys thought they'd go for it, but Rob said he wanted the crème broulee because he'd heard about it, but had never had the chance to try it. In case it wasn't on the menu again, he wasn't going to pass up the opportunity. That changed the minds of the others, and they all ordered it, knowing they'd have other chances at the Carnival signature dessert.
Although they were on their honeymoon, the guys weren't going to spend all their time in bed. After dinner, they walked around to check the shops and the exercise facilities. The equipment for working out wasn't bad for a place that wasn't a health club as such. There were several treadmills, some stationary bikes, a few elliptical machines, and a variety of machines for doing leg and arm exercises. There were also two benches and a fair variety of free weights.
Parker was impressed by the spa facilities that came at no extra cost for people staying on floors 10 and above. He was disappointed that sauna and steam rooms were coed. He had enjoyed being around other naked guys in the older ships. However, the guys did find a very small sauna in the men's locker room where one could bare it all.
Of course, neither Parker, nor the others, were planning to "cruise" in the alternative sense of the word. He could certainly lie naked on the balcony with his husband, and possibly make love out there in broad daylight. They would have to try that at night for sure!
Both couples had the same idea for their evening's entertainment. After going to hear the comedian at the early, PG-show in the "Liquid Lounge," they retired to their cabins. Once there, they took a quick shower, laid their beach towels out on the balcony where they made love to the sounds of the ocean splashing against the ship. They didn't open the partition between their balconies, but they could hear just a little of the moaning taking place on the other side. Both couples had checked for any signs of life on the balconies that abutted theirs, and were relatively sure no one else could overhear their activities.
Early in the morning, all four of them hit the gym for about 45 minutes, and then took their showers. Their next stop was for breakfast on the Lido deck. There was a variety of choices, so they had to be careful not to overdo it. Wisely, they went heavy on the eggs and fruit, skipping most of the carbs.
Rob made a wisecrack about not getting as much protein in his diet now that they making love in a different way. Of course, there was always the possibility that their bodies were absorbing it more directly.
By the time they had finished eating, the gangplank was being secured, so it wouldn't be long before they could set foot on their first island. They were excited.
This wasn't only a honeymoon, but an adventure in traveling to new places as well. They had purchased tickets for the most popular shore excursions in advance, and would use the on-board bonus credits for others.
Their first port of call was St. Thomas. They had decided to skip the sight-seeing tours and spend a chunk of their day on an excursion which included ocean kayaking, snorkeling with turtles and tropical fish, and time to play in the water at Honeymoon Beach. What could be more fitting for guys on their honeymoons?
At $150 per person, it was a bit pricey, but everyone felt it was worth the cost, and it included a good lunch which featured local foods.
Armed with caps and plenty of heavy-duty sun screen, they managed to have fun without getting burned.
For Darrin and Rob, playing in the salt water was a definite highlight. Neither had experience it before. Everyone took lots of photos of each other, and a few selfies.
Their bus brought them back to the port in time to check out the souvenir shops which were conveniently located near the ship. As they were looking at T-shirts, Parker advised them to buy only the ones which were name-brand because the cheap ones often shrank badly when washed.
Each of them bought one as a reminder of the Virgin Islands, and the fact they weren't virgins anymore in any sense of the word. They still had plenty of time to shower and relax before dinner.
At dinner that evening, the main entrée offerings included New York strip steak, New Zealand lamb, langoustino tails, and other sea foods as well as a chicken dinner, and a vegetarian alternative. The guys all went for the sea food, knowing they could get excellent beef at home.
This time, everyone had the chocolate melting cake, and pronounced it fine!
The following day was a full day at sea. It was also an "elegant" night for dinner. Again, they began their day early with exercise.
Rather than going to breakfast immediately, they spread their towels on four lounge chairs on the adult deck to hold their places. Their balcony wasn't sunny enough for any serious tanning, and they hoped to catch a few rays before lunch. Later, they could play on the water slides and give up their loungers for someone else to use.
Being young and fit, they weren't embarrassed to wear rather skimpy swimsuits. They drew a certain amount of attention from males and females alike. The girls were impressed, and, no doubt, other men who weren't in as good a shape envied them.
For several hours, they lay in the sun, reading from their electronic books, or listening to music. They also napped a bit. Luckily, they all kept an eye on one another, so no one got burned. Caring husbands made sure to slather enough sunscreen on their spouses to prevent that.
In the afternoon, they made a few runs down the water slides. It was fun, but they had to compete with a lot of little kids, so the time waiting in line made it less appealing. After a while, they retired to their cabins for a shower, some loving, and a nap.
Dressing up for dinner was fun. The guys looked quite stylish in their black suits, with narrow striped ties.
The tables in the dining room had linen cloths, and a full complement of china and silver, with their napkins folded into fan shapes on the plates. Parker mentioned that dinner had always been served in style in years past. However, using table cloths less often was supposed to be more environmentally friendly. He hoped it made a difference, because he missed the elegance.
The favored entrée that evening was Chateau Briand. Everyone at the table ordered it, and no one was disappointed. Again, it was something that most of them hadn't eaten before. They felt that their horizons were expanding daily. The trip was not only fun and relaxing, but it was raising their level of sophistication.
Following dinner, there was dancing in the largest entertainment venue. It began with the ship's dancers demonstrating new steps, and then teaching them to anyone in the audience who wanted to learn. The guys had been sitting on the lowest tier of seats, so they were among the first on the floor. Four of the sexiest ladies immediately engaged them in the lessons. Being agile and athletic, the guys picked up the moves rapidly. When they felt fairly secure, they were asked to teach four new ladies.
It was a lot of fun! Some of their partners were old enough to be their mothers, but there were four teenage girls who snatched them up toward the end of the program. Two of them invited Parker and Rob back to their cabins to "get better acquainted."
Both of them tried to decline gracefully, but the girls seemed not to take the hint.
"We're here on our honeymoons, and I don't think our spouses would be pleased if we went off with you," Parker grinned, holding up his left had to display his wedding band.
"Oh, sorry! I didn't see any girls with you," one of them frowned.
"Uh, that's my husband coming this way," Parker pointed to Adam. "And the other one is Rob's spouse. We got married last Saturday."
"Oh, my God! I've heard girls say that all the cute ones are either married or gay."
"Thanks for thinking we're cute," Rob grinned. "In our case, we're married, AND gay."
"Well, we wish you happiness," the other girl offered, graciously, as they looked around to see if they could find someone else to dance with.
Their various ports of call had different attractions. On St. Lucia, their main entertainment was the zip-line course. It had nearly a dozen runs, including a vertical drop, and a rope swing between two platforms. The guys felt like Tarzan on the latter one, even though their harnesses would prevent them from falling if their hands slipped off the rope.
On Barbados, they did more sightseeing. They explored Harrison's Cave to view the beautiful stalactites and stalagmites. It was not only a "cool" experience, but also a cooler time out of the hot sun.
They took a tour of Sam Lord's Castle, too. The Georgian style mansion had been built by a famous buccaneer. It seemed odd to be vising a place that was created by ill-gotten gain.
Parker purchased two bottles of Mt. Gay rum to have shipped to his family. He feared it would be confiscated if he tried to bring it through customs, since he was under 21. He knew his dads and grandparents would appreciate it.
On the island of St. Maarten/St. Martin, the guys booked a four-and-a-half-hour tour to see the highlights of the Dutch and French sides of it. They were pleased with their choice because, besides the colorful sights to see, they learned a lot about the history of the area, as well as enjoying interesting foods and beverages. It would likely be a long time before they would return, so they wanted to see all they could.
The bus which transported them was luxurious and sparklingly clean. The four of them exchanged seats at various times so all could get a chance at the window-seat. Traveling with friends had advantages.
All too soon, the ship was headed back toward Florida. They had a full day at sea, which meant another dress-up night for dinner. They wore the same suits, but had different ties. This time, they used the lavender ones from their wedding. Again, they looked great.
Finally, the morning came for them to disembark and take the shuttle back to the airport in Orlando. Their airplane connections got them back to eastern Iowa in time for dinner. They took a limo to Iowa City. As soon as their luggage was in the house, they got into Parker's Beemer to drive to Cheddars for supper. Several of their friends greeted them there, and admired their golden tans. It had been a memorable trip in every sense of the word, but it would be time to hit the ground running again on Monday.
Author's notes: Thanks to all who wrote to me since last posting: Bob K, Walt Sz, Eric L, Paul F, Bill K, Paul R, JLF, Geoff S, Tom A, Chandra B, Avid R, Wayne, Tony C, Mendy D, Luke C, John L, Joe W, Ott H, Bill T, Owen L, Tony F, Brandon A, Steve C, Gary C3, Douglas and Lawrence, Dorian, Jim W, Jimbo, Jeremy R, Frank K, Tom S, Ralph K, and Al B, and Joe S. As you can see, there are new names on the list.
As usual, I hope you're contribute to Nifty if you are able.
I found a short film that I think you might enjoy. Here's the link:
https://www.outsports.com/2017/7/16/15973950/gay-ncaa-athlete-film-love
Gay NCAA athlete makes short film for under $300 about gay athlete falling in love
www.outsports.com
Ryan Beene's `In The Dark' features a gay college athlete falling in love for the first time.