Cockatoo

Cockatoo Part 19

I live for feedback nikkie.silk@outlook.com

We finished dinner in the restaurant, then walked upstairs to the flat and sat out on the terrace, drinking and talking about what our next steps should be in the plan to launch the new club. We threw around ideas for possible names, some better than others, and we provisionally settled on Cockatoo Cabaret as a tie in with the bar.

I also mentioned that when I had googled Koh Samui Blue, I discovered there were barely any hits, and most of them were press reports referring to the pirate attack. There was no website, Facebook page, Twitter account, or Instagram for Koh Samui Blue or Cockatoo, and I suggested I add this to my IT stuff, as it was easy to set up and get running. Alex and Areeya liked the idea and happily agreed that I should get on with it as soon as possible.

When It came to setting up the club, Alex wanted me to see what was already on the island and to see what other places in Thailand, such as Pattaya or Phuket had offer as well as Bangkok. Areeya had seen posters for Miss Tiffany's Universe competition which was to be held in a couple of weeks in Pattaya. Miss Tiffany's is Thailand's biggest local Transgender beauty competition and has produced several winners of the Miss International Queen competition. We agreed it would be too good an opportunity to miss. We wouldn't ever be able to afford to attract these competitors to be in the show, but I could at least see what the best of the best.

Something had changed in Alex since I told her about the deal I had made with Kritsada. She had become distant and distracted and I hoped that a good night's sleep would improve her mood. It had been a long day for me, and the effects of the flight to Bangkok together with the activities at Cockatoo had caught up with me, and I felt my eyelids getting heavy.

`I'm sorry, I have to go to bed or I'm going to fall asleep right here.' I announced.

Areeya said she was going to sleep on the boat tonight as Sam was flying in for a few days holiday in the morning. I had completely forgotten about that, so I kissed Areeya goodnight and turned to Alex who said, `You go ahead, I'll be there in a moment.'

I went inside and could see Alex talking animatedly with Areeya for some time, until Areeya threw her hands in the air and walked off down the stairs. Alex pulled her knees up against her chest, wrapped her arms around them and stared out into the darkness. I thought it would be better to give her some time to herself, so I undressed, fell onto the bed and was asleep in seconds.

I woke sometime during the night, and I stretched out my arm, but Alex wasn't there. I sat up and could see a strip of light shining under the closed kitchen door, and heard what I thought was sobbing. I got out of bed and walked across to the kitchen door, where I could clearly hear sobbing through the door. I slowly eased it open, and there was Alex, sitting on the floor, with her arms around her knees, crying her eyes out. I knelt down in front of her, reached out and touched her arm, when she noticed me for the first time.

`Alex, what's the matter? Why are you crying?'

She looked at me and her eyes were rimmed with red from crying.

`Because I'm a fucking screw up, that's why.'

I put my arms around her.

`No you're not, you're wonderful. Why do you think you're a screw up?'

She bit her lip and turned her head away.

`Come on, come back to bed with me, please?'

I stood up and took her hand and gently pulled her to her feet. I wrapped my arms around her and hugged her tight to me. She was still crying but not as much as before.

`Come on, let's go to bed and talk there.'

With my arms still around her, I walked her back out to the bedroom where I picked her up and put her down on the bed. I lay down beside her, put my arm around her shoulder and held her tight. She had now stopped crying, and I stroked her hair hoping it would soothe her. She pulled her head back and bit her lip as she looked away from me. I brushed a lock of hair away from her face as she sniffed, and I smiled as she had to wipe her nose.

`Don't you dare smile, I must look fucking horrible,' she said.

`What's the matter? Why were you crying?'

She looked away and said, `Because I'm a cow and I'm scared.'

`You're not a cow, and why are you scared?'

`I'm an ungrateful cow because you do the most wonderful thing anyone could ever do for me, and then I fuck it up by getting mad at you for what you did with Kritsada. I can't get anything right.'

I hugged her as tightly as I could and said, `Listen, it wasn't you that screwed up, it was me. I shouldn't have just barged ahead and agreed it with Kritsada without talking to you first. I was so scared that you might say no, I didn't want to take any chances. I wanted it so badly, I was only thinking of myself. It wasn't your fault you reacted that way. It would have been more difficult not to.'

`Areeya didn't, she took it in her stride.'

I thought for a minute, `Areeya has less to lose than you, she has the family business to fall back on, but you don't, this is everything for you. I think Kritsada realised I was being a fool, not telling either of you, because he offered me a couple of days to say no if I wanted. He's smarter than I thought.'

She looked at me and I knew what she was going to say, `Do you want to back out?'

`No, not a chance. Cross my heart and hope to die in a cellar full of snakes.'

She giggled, `Where on earth did that come from?'

`What we used to say as kids.'

She sniffed, `I don't want you to back out either.'

I leant forward and kissed her. `So, what are you scared of?'

She bit her lip again, `I think I'm losing Areeya to Sam.' That explained Areeya's arm waving outside on the terrace.

I hugged her again, `Baby, I don't think you will ever lose Areeya, she loves you in a way that nobody could ever replace. I promise you she isn't going to leave you for Sam. Not going to happen. Hell will freeze over before that would come to pass.'

`Maybe.' She said, searching my face to see if she could see the truth somewhere there.

`I promise you, Areeya loves you and Sam is not going to change that, period.'

She sniffed again and smiled.

`Come on, let's try to get some sleep. Everything will look better in the morning, I promise.'

She leant forward and kissed me, `I love you, Mr James.'

I said, `You sound like Pao.'

`She loves you too, you know that.'

I kissed her back and said, `Well, I love you sweetheart.'

I'm not sure she heard me as she was already asleep.

I awoke sometime after the sun had risen and it looked like yet another beautiful day was on it's way. Alex wasn't in the bed and I yawned and stretched and called out her name.

`I'm over here.' I turned over and she was sitting at the desk, working on her computer in her robe, glasses perched on the end of her nose.

`You know I love that look, come over here and give me a kiss.'

She grinned and walked across and sat on the edge of the bed. I reached out and linked my fingers with hers and said, `How are you this morning?'

`Better. I'm sorry for last night. I had a bad moment. Thank you for being there.'

I kissed our interlocked fingers, `Least I could do as I was the cause of some of it.'

She bent down and kissed me and I tried to grab her.

`Steady, tiger. I have some work to do, so you'll have to keep your dirty thoughts to yourself for a bit.'

`I'm sure I can help myself out,' I said.

She looked at me over the top of her glasses, `If you so much as touch your cock by yourself, I will have to punish you severely.'

`Yes ma'am.' I said.

`That's right, and don't you forget it.'

She laughed and then disappeared off to the shower, leaving me to make coffee and breakfast. I sat outside on the terrace, enjoying the morning sun and the chug, chug sound of the fishing boats as they headed out to sea. Alex came out onto the terrace, dressed in her best business suit, gave me a kiss and said, `We're having dinner with Areeya and Sam tonight, don't forget.'

`You OK with that?' I asked.

`Yeah, I was tired and emotional last night. I'll be fine. I'll see you later, I have to go to see our accountant. Should I tell him about the new business partner?'

`If you mean by that, do I still want to do it, yes, I do, and I won't be backing out. I guess we need to see a lawyer too?'

`Second meeting today, I'll set up a session for us all to do the paperwork.'

With that she gathered up her computer and disappeared down the stairs. Areeya, I knew, was up at the airport to collect Sam; so I planned a swim, followed by some work on my ideas for social media, then lunch somewhere, and a massage later to iron out some of the kinks in my back before dinner with three lovely people. I smiled as I thought back to a few months ago, when I was flogging away at my dull job in rain soaked Cambridgeshire. How much my life had changed in such a short time; I might as well now be in a different universe.

When I went to see Kritsada I had just enough time to dash into Siam Paragon, Bangkok's flashiest shopping mall, to buy a iPhone, iPad and a MacBook Air, so I now felt fully equipped again. After the swim, I spent a few hours setting up accounts and getting the basics done for the website. It would need some good photography and I would ask Areeya if she knew someone locally. Lunch was Tom Yam Goong and a beer, after which I popped into Cockatoo. Pao wasn't there yet, so I treated myself to a massage in one of the many massage shops along the strip. A Thai massage is one of the wonders of the world and this one was no exception. By the time I got back to the apartment, Alex, Areeya and Sam were already there, sitting on the terrace, late afternoon beers in hand.

Sam jumped up and gave me a big hug, and Alex fetched me a beer. We were planning to eat downstairs, and then head off to check out what was happening at Cockatoo. Areeya told us that they had caught the Mamasan at Cockatoo skimming off the top, had fired her today, and Pao was now in charge of the bar. I was delighted for her, not only was I very fond of Pao, but she was also a great girl, and I knew she would do the job perfectly. Over dinner I asked Sam what was happening at my old company.

`Big changes, James. After you resigned there was a lot of bickering and backstabbing. The Board had a big clear out and a lot of people have already gone. They've confirmed me as your replacement and it's all gone so well it might be made a permanent role looking after South East Asia.'

`Congratulations, Sam, that's great news.'

`Thanks, James, that's lovely coming from you.'

How did I feel about that? I was pleased for Sam, as she had done a great job picking up my role during my convalescence and she deserved it. I did feel an unexpected pang of jealousy; after all, I had done the groundwork in Bangkok, and she was reaping the benefit. If it hadn't been for the trouble stirred up by that journalist, that might have been my job. On the other hand, that had given me the chance to move on with my life in a completely different direction. Would I have preferred the job to my new life? No contest; I had the better of the two options. Sometimes, you have to play out the hand you're dealt. I wondered how Alex would feel about Sam being out here full time, but Sam's job might not get made permanent, so it might never happen.

`I have some news of my own, Sam. I've decided to stay out here, there's nothing for me back in the UK, and I feel this is where I want to be.'

Sam smiled broadly, `Well done, I'm pleased for you, but I'm not really surprised. It wouldn't happen to have anything to do with a certain old university friend, I suppose?'

I laughed, `Maybe. OK, not maybe. Certainly.'

We clinked glasses and she said, `I'm delighted for you. What are you going to do out here?'

`I've agreed with Areeya and Alex to overhaul their business processes, put some technology in place to help the business, and to set up some social media for them.'

She frowned, `That sounds good, but it won't keep you busy for long, will it?'

No,' I said, and thought I may as well tell her the rest. I'm going to take a stake in the business here as well, setting up the new venture.'

`Oh, that sounds great. What's the new venture?'

Before I could reply, Areeya said, `We should be getting over to Cockatoo, check out what's happening tonight. Maybe go for a late night swim afterwards?'

Alex was all for it, `That's a great idea, I have to sort a few things out at the restaurant, but I'll catch you up at Cockatoo.'

Sam looked doubtful and said, `I haven't got any swimming things.'

I said, Ah, don't be so English. You won't need to wear anything, Sam.' Areeya and Alex burst out laughing, and Alex shouted, You've changed your tune since last time.'

Sam looked puzzled, and I went very red.

Leaving Alex at the restaurant, the three of us walked down to Cockatoo. Areeya and Sam were arm in arm, which left me feeling like the spare wheel on a bicycle. The bar was heaving when we got there, the sound system was on full blast and people spilling out into the street. Areeya went to get some beers as everyone of the girls was busy, either serving, or with customers.

Through the crowd I spotted Joy playing pool with a guy who fancied himself as a player. He wasn't bad, but she was just toying with him, let him win on the last ball, and he punched the air. Joy saw me watching and gave me a little smile as he put his arm around her shoulder. She whispered something in his ear, and he grinned and nodded. Joy took his hand and led him through the curtain at the back of the bar.

I spotted Pao and pushed through the crowd towards her. She saw me, gave a little squeal and pulled me into a big hug.

`Hey, congratulations, Areeya told me you're in charge, I'm delighted.'

I had to shout to make myself heard and a broad smile broke out across her face.

`Thank you, Mr James, I very happy too.'

A group of young Australians pushed between us and Pao got surrounded and serenaded with a chorus of Waltzing Matilda. I eventually found Areeya and Sam outside on the pavement, where at least we could hear each other talk. Areeya handed me a beer and we chatted happily for a while. It gave me a chance to watch Areeya and Sam together, and they seemed very happy with each other. All those signs of mutual attraction were there; the brush of fingers on arms, the way their bodies mirrored each other, heads close to each other, and the sudden little smiles. Was Alex right about Areeya? I had wondered about what Areeya really felt about me arriving on the scene. Was this not the same thing, just the other way round?

Sam excused herself to go to the toilet and Pao, bless her, sent us out another round of beers. As I drank, I turned to look down the strip, and my heart skipped a beat. Alex suddenly appeared through a throng of people further down the road, and it was as if I were seeing her for the first time. Her hair was tied up in a loose bun, and she was wearing a short, strapless white dress that accentuated her colouring and her figure. She stopped to speak to one of the girls outside another bar, and they laughed together at something Alex had said. She looked radiant, and I thanked whatever God was up there, that we had met and that she loved me.

`She still has that effect on me,' whispered Areeya in my ear as she saw me watching Alex.

I turned to her and smiled, `Was it that obvious?'

`You looked as if you had been hit by a thunderbolt.'

I nodded, `You should tell her you still feel that way, Areeya.'

Areeya sighed, `I try to, James. I know she is frightened that I will leave her, but I won't do that.'

I kissed her and said, `You're very special, Areeya.'

Hey, no kissing until I say so,' Alex arrived and punched us both on the arm. Place looks busy tonight, should we go somewhere else?'

Sam came back at that moment and we talked about where to go. The other bars would be just as busy, and none of us felt like going out of town.

Areeya said, `Why don't we go to the boat? We can sit out on the stern with drinks, and then go for a swim. If it gets too late we can all sleep on the boat.'

Sam and Alex both agreed quickly and it left only me who hadn't said anything. Alex, sensing my reluctance, put her arm through mine and said, `Don't worry, it will be fine, nothing will happen.' I thought that I couldn't avoid the boat forever, and at least this time it would be tied up.

OK,' I said, Come on, let's go.'

It was a clear, still night and, although the clinging heat of the day had subsided, it was still humid on the strip, and the walk out along the pier to the boat brought a little relief. The sky was so clear that even a short way from the lights of the strip, the stars could be seen clearly, with a full moon tracing it's silver path across the water. I walked arm in arm with Alex, and she rested her head on my shoulder as Areeya and Sam walked ahead, hand in hand.

`Do you think I'm being stupid?' she said softly.

`In general, you mean?'

That got me a soft punch.

`No, you idiot, about Areeya.'

`It isn't about being stupid. Look, we all have things to worry about, but Areeya still loves you and that's a fact. The two of them are happy together, but I don't see either of them thinking this is a permanent thing. Put yourself in Areeya's shoes. How did she feel when I arrived?'

`Mmm, I hate it when you play the mature one. You're right, all I could think of was lusting after your hot body.'

I gave her a punch this time.

`I guess that makes me a thoughtless, selfish cow, then?'

`No, you're none of those. We all have fears and desperately try to keep them hidden away, but sometimes we can't do that, and they come out and scare us to death, but It doesn't make them true.'

She squeezed me her arm, `You are a lovely bloke, did you know that?'

`Yeah, all my girlfriends tell me that, just before they dump me.'

`Liar, you told me you only had one girlfriend, and you dumped her.'

I laughed, `Sad git, aren't I?'

`Not any more,' she said, and pulled me into a long kiss.

Areeya shouted back to us, `Can't you two wait until we get on the boat?'

We giggled, and walked quicker to catch up with the other two. Areeya had left Cockatoo 3 moored to a buoy and as we reached the other two, Areeya was readying the small tender dinghy we would use to get out to the boat. She expertly fired up the small outboard, and we all climbed in, and were soon stepping up onto the stern of Cockatoo 3.

Areeya put on the lights and Alex went to the galley to organise the drinks. Sam was obviously impressed with the boat, as she couldn't stop saying Wow' as she looked around. Areeya put on some soft jazz, and after Alex brought out beers, we sat around the table and clinked the bottles. Sam glanced at me and said, Isn't this where it all happened? The attack, I mean.'

Alex reached out for my hand.

'Yes,' I said, `right here is where it happened. I thought I would feel bad about coming back here, but I don't. It was traumatic alright, but luckily, it turned out OK.'

Areeya said, `Luck had nothing to do with it, James. If it wasn't for you and Alex, none of us would be here right now.'

I said, `Enough about that, let's get the party started. Who's for a swim?'

Areeya and Alex immediately stood up and started to undress and I followed suit, slipping off my t-shirt and dropping my shorts and boxers. I was now used to seeing their naked bodies, but Sam just sat there with her mouth wide open as we threw our clothes into the corner. Come on, Sam.' Areeya said as she moved towards the stern ladder. Sam shrugged and said, Oh hell, why not,' stood up and pulled her dress over her head. She had a beautifully toned body and small firm breasts. She wasn't wearing a bra, but tried to keep her knickers on. Areeya said, `Oh no, all off.'

We all watched as Sam went bright pink, turned away and peeled off her knickers.

`Stop staring,' she said, her hands over her groin.

We all laughed and she went bright red this time. Areeya switched on lights that were fitted just below the waterline, and they flooded the area under the hull with bright light. Alex was the first one into the water, followed by me and Sam. Areeya said, `Wait, I'll get the masks.'

She pulled four masks from the locker and threw two to me for Alex and myself, then jumped in and passed one to Sam. It was my first time underwater in the dark, and in the illumination from the lights it was a revelation. The light attracted the fish and we were soon swimming amongst schools of fish and their colours looked sharper, more brilliant and more defined in the lights. Even our own bodies looked different; skin shimmered and glinted and flashed as we swam lazily around. We bumped into each other and someone grabbed my backside and a hand brushed against my cock. I swam straight into someone and found my mask right up against a pussy. It looked bizarrely distorted through the glass of the mask.

Eventually, even in this water, we began to feel cold, and Areeya signalled for us to get back to the boat. I followed Sam up the ladder and I realised that it had been her pussy I had swum into. She seemed to have left her inhibitions in the water as she dried herself on one of the towels that Alex had fetched from the cabins. More beers were produced and everyone sat down wearing their towels in some form or another. Alex came over and sat on my lap and Sam did the same with Areeya. Alex wrapped her arms around me and kissed me, her tongue flicking into my mouth and I instinctively responded. She began to nibble my ear and I could see over her shoulder that Sam and Areeya were also kissing, their hands all over each other.

Alex began to kiss and lick my neck and I closed my eyes as I felt my cock begin to respond. Alex slipped off my lap and I opened my eyes, just as she dropped her towel and then pulled mine away as well. She stood naked in front of me, her body glistening in the lights, moving gently to the rhythm of the music and I was totally entranced. She pushed her hands through her hair and then down to cup her breasts, slowly kneading them until I could see her nipples growing hard. She lifted up her left breast and bent her head forward to flick the nipple with her tongue, and I think I moaned as she repeated the movement with her right breast.

I could just see Areeya on the other side of the boat and she seemed be mirroring Alex's movements in front of Sam, wide eyed as she watched Areeya. Areeyas long dark hair fell down almost to her waist and she was moving with the grace and fluidity of the dancer she was. Almost as if there had been a signal, Alex and Areeya turned to face each other and then embraced, their hands snaking around each other's back. I was rooted to the spot as I watched them lean into each other and began to kiss, tongues and lips mashing together. Areeya's darker body contrasting and complementing Alex's lighter colour.

I could not have moved if I had wanted to, I was so transfixed. I saw Sam sliding forward on her seat and her hand slipped down to her groin, her legs now apart and her fingers began to stroke her pussy lips. I felt my own hand descend to my erect cock and I began to gently stroke myself as I watched. They were still kissing and I saw Areeya's hands grip Alex's bum and squeeze the cheeks hard as Alex did the same to her. Sam was now almost humping her hand and I was stroking myself harder and harder. Alex's hands moved between her and Areeya, and I knew she would be stroking Areeya's pussy, whose own hands would be on Alex's cock.

The two of them suddenly broke their embrace and turned back to face Sam and me. They fell to their knees in front of us and Alex knocked my hand away from my cock, opened her lips and took me deep into her mouth. I moaned as I felt her tongue licking the head and she began to move her head back and forth as her hand circled the base of my cock and began to stroke me as well. I could see Areeya on her knees in front of Sam, her face buried in Sam's pussy who was moaning loudly as Areeya licked and tongued her. I was breathing hard now and I knew I couldn't hold out for long. Sam was now writhing as Areeya went hard at her, her head buried in between Sam's legs. I heard Sam moaning louder as she began to climax and that sound brought me close to the edge. I shouted I'm cumming,' just at the moment Sam went over the edge and she threw her head back and screamed Fuuuuuuck.'

I slumped back onto the seat, and Alex stood up and sat on my lap again hugging me tight.

`Did you enjoy that, baby?'

i nodded, not trusting my voice.

She bounced up and down on my lap, `So did I. That was awesome.'

I tried to talk, but my voice was thick and I had to clear my throat before speaking, `You two didn't plan that did you?'

Areeya,' Alex yelled across the boat, James wants to know if we planned that.' Areeya, who was sitting on Sam's lap, with her arms wrapped around Sam's neck, laughed, `No, James, but you know there are people who finish each other's sentences, well, we do the same kind of thing with sex.'

Alex kissed me again and whispered, Take me to bed, bad boy, it's my turn.'

She grabbed my hand and pulled me up and through the cabin door into one of the staterooms where we fell onto the bed, arms around each other as we lay together, kissing and stroking slowly and sensuously. Alex threw her leg over my thigh and I could feel her cock getting hard as the intensity of our kissing grew. She began to rub her cock along my thigh, and I slid my fingers around it and stroked it slowly. She moaned as we kissed and I rolled over onto my back, allowing Alex to pull herself on top of me, her cock now fully erect, and rubbing between my thighs.

`Wait,' she said, and jumped off the bed. She went outside and came back in with something behind her back.

`Will you do something for me?'

`What?'

`I promise it won't hurt, in fact, I think you'll enjoy it.'

`What is it, for God's sake?'

`Wear these for me tonight.'

She brought her hand from behind her back and dangling from one finger were the knickers she had worn earlier. They were white and lacey and looked very small.

`I don't know ...'

`Please, it would make me very happy, baby.'

`Do I have to?' I began to whine.

`Remember you promised ...'

Shit, I thought she would have forgotten that promise, but I thought if I wore them now she would let me off it.

`Ohhh, OK, but just this once, right?'

She grinned, `Whatever you say, baby. Stand up for me, will you.' I stood up by the side of the bed and she moved in front of me.

I'll hold them open, so you can put your foot into them.' She held what appeared to be a tiny wisp of lace just at my knee level and I put my hand on her shoulder for balance and then placed my foot into one side. That's good, baby, now the other one.'

I did as she asked and she gently and slowly pulled them up my legs and over my thighs. I could feel the softness of the lace sliding over my skin and I gave a little shiver at the sensation. Alex noticed and said, `Feels nice doesn't it? It will feel even better when we get your legs shaved.'

I ignored that because it just wasn't going to happen, and she paused with the knickers halfway up my thighs, looked at me and said, `Get ready, baby, here comes the good bit.'

With that she pulled them right up so that they cupped my cock and balls and slid silkily over my bum. It was as if a little explosion had gone off in my brain as I felt them tighten around me. I had not expected that they would feel quite as sensuous on my skin as they did. I let out a little `Oh' as Alex ran her fingers around the waistband and touched the tip of my cock which had subsided by now.

`They feel so sexy, don't they?' She whispered, her lips gently brushing my ear. I felt her hand slide down my body and her fingers slip over my lace covered bum, sending another shiver through me. Her other hand found a nipple and she began to roll it between her fingers. She was playing me like a musical instrument, coaxing and stroking me with her fingers. The sensations were exquisite, my system in overdrive from Alex kissing and licking my neck, her hands on my bum and my nipples. My cock, which had become limp, now awoke and began to grow, pushing against the soft lace of the knickers, and my knees began to shake.

`Doesn't this feel so good, baby? My knickers are so soft and they fit you so well. They were around my cock a little while ago, and now you know what they feel like when I'm wearing them.'

She was purring into my ear as her hands played their way across my body. She moved slightly so that she was in front of me and I felt her hands move to my shoulders and press down so that I sank to my knees in front of her, and I felt the lace stretch across my bum. Her cock was now fully erect and she placed her hands behind my head and pulled me towards it.

`Open up baby, come to mama.'

Her cock tapped against my lips and as I opened them her cock slid into my mouth. I licked greedily around the head and Alex's hands kept me in place as I took more of her cock deeper into my mouth.

`Use your hand, baby.'

I put my hand on the base of her cock and my fingers wrapped around and began to stroke it as I licked and sucked her. I could hear Alex making little sounds as she became more excited and her hips began to move, moving her cock in and out of my eager lips. My tongue was lapping beneath the head, where it is most sensitive. Her hips began to move faster and i knew she was close to the edge. I slowed down a little to try to prolong the climax, but with a small cry, she came into my mouth, cum flooding past my lips and tongue. I choked a little but kept swallowing and and took it all down. Alex stopped thrusting and with a little sigh she pulled out of my mouth. I looked up at her and she was smiling down at me, a glow of pleasure on her face.

I thought I heard her whisper, Good girl,' and then, more clearly she said, I mean, that was great, baby, thank you.'

She pulled me to my feet and we embraced and kissed before tumbling onto the bed. We lay there arms and legs entwined, kissing and stroking each other until we both had calmed down. Sleep finally overtook us, but not before Alex, stroking my lace covered bum one more time said, `Why would you want to wear boxers, when you could wear these?'

We awoke to the motion of the boat rocking gently. The wind had picked up overnight and the sky was darkening, a summer storm on the way. Alex went out to pick up our clothes and claimed that she couldn't find my underpants. She said, `Keep my knickers as you've been wearing them all night.'

`No.'

She pouted, `Don't you like them? You seemed to last night.'

It was true that I had enjoyed the feel of wearing them last night, and as it didn't feel so silly wearing them now, I shrugged, said, `Why not?' and pulled my shorts up over them.

Alex smiled and pulled her dress over her head.

`Aren't you going to wear any?' I asked.

`Well I can't, silly, as you're wearing mine and I don't have any more with me. I'll just go commando.'

Before I could say anything else, she pushed me out onto the deck where Sam and Areeya were having breakfast. They were both looking tired and I could only imagine what they had been up to last night. We joined them for coffee before Areeya got the tender ready to take us back to the pier. Alex went in first as Areeya held the rope tight for me to climb in. As I went to get in, I slipped and Areeya grabbed the back of my shorts to stop me falling into the water. I felt her hand slip inside the waistband as she held me, and I knew she would easily feel the lace knickers. I prayed she wouldn't say anything.

`Mmm, nice underwear, James, must look cute on you.'

I blushed deep red and jumped into the tender. Alex had heard what Areeya said and she was grinning at me all the way back to the pier. We parted there, Areeya returning to the boat and Alex and I walked back to the apartment. I immediately took off my shorts and Alex's knickers.

`Oh, why not leave them on, you look so cute.' said Alex.

`No thank you, I think I'll go back to my boxers.'

Alex said something under breath, and I thought it sounded like, `Not for long.'

I wanted to get on with the analysis for the business and Alex was on duty in the restaurant today. I worked through the day on the business analysis for the IT support and managed to produce a rough draft of what we could do to improve the business. Frankly, anything would beat the pieces of paper they had at the moment. Around 7 o'clock my phone rang and it turned out to be Pao, calling from Cockatoo.

`Mr James. There is man here asking questions about you. He is not nice. He want to know all about you, offer money to the girls for information. They not say anything and tell me about him. I thought you should know he asking questions.'

`Pao, thank you, do you know where he's from?'

`We think Engrish, Mr James. He not very nice.'

`Ok, is he still there?'

`Yes, he getting drunk.'

`Is Areeya there?'

`She gone to market, I think.'

`Ok Pao, you've done well, thank you. Can you try to keep him there? I'll be straight down.'

`OK, Mr James.'

I sat back and wondered who the hell this could be? I didn't like the idea of someone nosing around and I knew Pao and the girls wouldn't say anything, but I wanted to see this guy for myself. As I walked down to the bar I called Alex, but it went to voicemail, so I left her a message and carried on to Cockatoo. It was just getting busy as I arrived and Pao saw me and came over.

`He over there, Mr James. In the corner with Nin, she keep him here.'

`Thanks, Pao. You can call me James, you know, it's OK.'

`OK, Mr James.'

Pao got me a beer and I sat at the bar to get a look at this guy who was so interested in me. Nin was a very pretty ladyboy and she was playing Connect 4 with a tall, skinny and very pale man, with a bad haircut and a loud beach shirt and shorts. He was also wearing socks with sandals, which made him English for sure. Nin was easily beating him, which wasn't exactly a surprise, and he looked as if he was already drunk. I thought he looked familiar but I couldn't work out where I might have seen him before.

Pao was still next to me, `What's he been asking about, Pao? Do you know?'

`Girls say he asking about you, where you from, what you do and about Miss Alex. Do you want me to throw him out, Mr James?'

I had seen Pao deal with a few rowdy customers before and I had no doubt she would be able to deal with this guy.

`No, Pao, not yet, anyway. Let me see what I can find out, first.'

I went over and sat with my beer at the next table to Nin and the guy, caught his eye and nodded to him. He was pretty far gone and tried to nod back but his head kept going and I thought he would topple over.

Hey' I said to him, You OK, mate?'

Yeah,' he said, bit drunk, I think. Had too many of these.' he waved his empty bottle of Leo about.

`Can I buy a fellow Brit another one?' I asked.

`Ahh, good man, nice to talk to Brit, can't understand these people, cluck, cluck, cluck all the time, horrible chatter.'

I wanted to kick him out on his arse, but not until I knew who he was.

`I'll get us another beer then.'

`Very kind of ya, pal, yeah, cheers.'

Nin, who I knew spoke good English, and had understood everything this idiot was saying, looked at me and I waggled the bottle and two fingers. She got the message and disappeared to get us two beers. She brought them back and looked at me to see if she should stay but I shook my head at her.

I put the beer down on the table. Here you go, mate. This one's on me.' Good on ya, sport. Where ya from, then?'

We clinked the bottles together and he took a huge gulp.

`I'm from London, Tottenham. On holiday here, and you?'

`Poxy Midlands, me. Wish I could get to London, much better than Birmingham.'

`Maybe, Brum's OK, good Indian food there, anyway.'

`Hate all that foreign shit, me. Steak an' chips, that's more like it.'

`If you don't like foreign food, why are you here?'

He hiccupped twice and then looked around to see if anyone else was listening, and leant forward towards me, almost falling over again. `Here for work, sort of undercover.'

Wow,' I said, you're police, then?'

He shook his head, `Nah, journalist. Work for papers.'

Go carefully here, James, I thought,

`Oh, big story is it? Drugs, or people smuggling then, or pirates?' For a moment I thought I'd gone too far by mentioning pirates.

He looked at me, almost cross eyed by now, Pirates, yes, s'right.

Looking for a bloke here, s'posed to be hero, saved a couple of tarts from the pirates.'

I felt my fists clench, and only with a conscious effort did I manage to relax them.

`So, that's the story, then? Sounds alright, I guess.'

He laughed, or at least, a filthy noise that could have been a laugh, gurgled out of his throat.

`He's no fucking hero, shacked up here with some tranny, pretends she's whiter than white.'

My fists started to clench again as he hiccupped and finished his beer. Nin materialised at his elbow with another Leo and the guy took it and belched. She looked at him as if he was something on the bottom of her shoe, and turned to me to see if I wanted her to stay. I shook my head, winked at her and she spun on her heel and went back to watching us from the bar along with Pao.

`She was doing the dirty in Bangkok for years, mixed up with gangsters and everythin'.'

Trying desperately to stay calm I said, 'So you got the story then, I guess.'

`Nearly pal, just need to get pictures of them together and then I can sell the story, big bucks.'

`Where are they, then? Should be easy enough, I suppose.'

I thought he had sussed me because a cunning look passed across his face, but he may have just been suppressing another belch. Had he recognised me? I knew most of the photos of me taken after the attack weren't that clear, and I had stayed away from cameras until it all died down. There had been a few stolen facebook pictures used, but they were so old nobody would have recognised me now.

`Whad you say your name was?' he asked, his eyes glazing.

`Robert, what's yours?'

He tried to focus his eyes and said, `Tony, nice to meet ya Bob.'

`Likewise, mate.'

Got to go,' he staggered but managed to get up, Thanks for the beer, pal, see ya round.'

He meandered out of the bar, knocking into tables on his way out. I hurried over to the bar where Pao and Nin were watching him stumble out.

`Can we get someone to follow him? Find out where he's staying?'

`I go', Nin said, and disappeared onto the strip after Tony. He wouldn't be difficult to follow.

I asked Pao to let me know as soon as Nin found out where he was staying, and I called both Alex and Areeya to meet me back at the apartment as soon as they could. By the time I got back to Koh Samui Blue, Alex was already there, and Areeya arrived a few minutes later. She had been on the boat with Sam and had left her there to come back to the apartment.

We sat on the terrace with a drink, and I gave them a full rundown on my encounter with Tony. At first, Alex was very agitated and then quiet and calm as I told the story. By now, I realised the more controlled she seemed on the outside, the more she would be seething inside. Areeya, equally aware of her body language, was throwing anxious glances at Alex as she became absolutely still, a sure sign an explosion was on it's way.

I finished and Areeya was the first to speak. `James, do you think this is the journalist who was chasing us a few weeks ago?'

`Yes, I think it is, Areeya. He's from the same place, he's using the same kind of words about us, and I'm sure it's the same guy.'

Alex stood up and said, `I'm going to fucking kill him, now, the little shit.'

She turned to go down the stairs from the apartment and both Areeya and I shouted `No!' Areeya was closer to her than me and tried to grab her, but Alex was too fast and sprinted down the stairs. Areeya and I both ran after her but she had already disappeared into the darkness. I knew she didn't know where to find the guy, so I guessed she would go first to Cockatoo. Areeya was trying to call Alex on her mobile but it went straight to voicemail. My phone rang, and I hit the answer button.

`Alex, where are you?'

`It not Miss Alex, it me, Pao, Mr James.'

Pao,' I yelled, Is Alex there?'

`No, but Nin followed man and we know where he live.'

`Great, Pao, but don't tell Alex until I get there, make sure of that.'

`Yes, but Nin also saw him meet someone, Mr James.'

I was having difficulty keeping up with Areeya as I was talking to Pao.

`Who was it, Pao?'

`Mr James, I'm so sorry.'

`Pao, why are you sorry? Who was it?'

`It was Miss Sam.'

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Love Nikkie