Into the Belly of the Beast 3 page

She was in a very confused and agitated state as she carried her swim bag down to the docks to wait for Madam Peri and her child.

For Peri things had not been much better. She had tried to work but her thoughts had kept going back to walking beside Kate on the way to work. It had felt right. The frog she had spied on the tree truck had given her an excuse to touch Kate. She had enjoyed the feel of Kate’s form nestled against her own and the softness of her hair next to her face as she pointed out the frog over Kate’s shoulder. It had been a weak, pathetic act of need. She had acted impulsively. Had she thought for a moment she would have resisted.

What was she thinking? Since Odette, she had carefully and successfully avoided any attachments. Why was this woman different? No matter what the reason, she needed to get a grip on her emotions. Involvement was not for her. No one, not her mother who had left her at birth, her father who had rejected her or her lover who had betrayed her had loved her. She was the lone woman, the shark, and would remain so. Besides, to make a pass at a straight woman and an employee was just totally foolhardy. She could end up being sued for harassment. No, she must do everything she could to keep Kate at arms length.

Peri gave up the pretence of working and went back to her home. She changed into white slacks and a resort t-shirt and then went to find Marau in her room. They gathered the things they would need for the day and had a porter carry it down to the yacht. Hand in hand, she walked with her daughter down to the dock her face set with determination.

Kate had expected that they would take one of the resort’s outboard boats with the colourful canvas tops and bench seats. They ferried guests back and forth from the reef resort to the island of Bora Bora. Instead, Kate was led to a forty-five foot yacht. The ship, for that is what it seemed to Kate, was equipped with a beautiful lounge of bamboo furniture, a flying bridge for observation, a wheel house, a full galley, several bedrooms and a luxurious central cockpit. The yacht’s tender swinging from its derricks on the stern seemed like a big enough boat to Kate.

L’Explorateur was simply a magnificent ship and for the first time Kate became aware of just how wealthy Peri Dubois really was. Aboard the yacht there was a crew of four, a cook, maid, pilot and deck hand.

They climbed aboard and Marau immediately climbed up to the flying bridge to watch as the crew cast off and head out into the lagoon. Kate found herself alone with Peri Dubois in the midship cockpit. There were a few seconds of awkward silence.

“Would you like to take the tour of L'Explorateur?” Peri finally asked.

“Yes, I’d like that. I’ve never been on a ship before.”

Peri laughed. “This is hardly a ship but it is a reasonable sized yacht. I bought it second hand from a retired businessman who decided that Manhattan suited him better than a yacht in the South Pacific.”

They made their way towards the bow. Passing the navigation centre with its impressive array of technology and the well equipped galley, going through the main cabin and on past the head and storage closets to the two small bedrooms that filled the bow of the yacht. Then Peri led her back to the stern of the yacht and showed her the master bedroom with its wrap around stern windows, double bed and private bath. It was lovely but Kate felt on a razor’s edge being in there with Peri.

What if Peri used the opportunity to touch her? How would she react? Her body tingled with excitement and fear. She was aroused just being in Peri’s quarters. She wondered how many women had.

Then the touch on her shoulder. Kate turned and looked up into Peri’s face. For a minute nothing was said. Kate could feel her heart thumping and her desire had pooled into a pain of need. This had never happened to her before. Never. And it was both exciting and terrifying all at once.

Peri went to say something. Then stopped. Instead, she took a step closer and took Kate by her shoulders. Kate leaned into Peri’s body resting her head against Peri’s chest. She could hear the steady beat of the mysterious woman’s heart. Peri’s arms moved around her. Long, gentle fingers explored the contours of her back. Kate shuddered with desire and looked up into grey, passionate eyes.

Peri’s head lowered. Their first kiss was tender and gentle. Kate ran her arms up Peri’s chest and wrapped them around the taller woman’s neck. The kiss became needy, demanding. Kate had wondered if this moment came if she would pull away realizing that it was all wrong. Instead, she melted like butter next to a hot knife. It was definitely right. A need far greater than she had ever felt consumed her. All she wanted was to be loved by this woman. To feel the release that she knew she had never felt before.

Peri’s hand’s felt her breasts and Kate gasped with excitement. She was pushed back against the bulkhead and Peri kissed her mouth, her face her neck and finally her breasts.

“Stop,” Kate whispered.

Peri did so immediately. Stepping back but looking at Kate with eyes filled with want.

“I...I’ve never-”

“But you do want to.”

“Yes. I just need time. I ...I’m confused.”

Peri’s face was expressionless. “Very well. Shall we go back on deck? Marau will be wondering where we have gone.”

“Yes. Yes, of course.”

Hurriedly, Kate straightened her clothes and stumbled out of Peri’s state room and up the ladder to the cockpit once again.

Peri followed much slower. Lifting her braced leg one step at a time up the teak steps and trying to come to terms with what had happened. Hadn’t she just decided not an hour ago that this woman was taboo? Hadn’t she realized that getting involved with this woman was dangerous? Then why had she succumb at the first touch?

On deck, she saw that Kate had retreated to the flying bridge and was letting Mararu point out all the sights to her. Peri smiled. It was not a warm smile but that of a predator. Kate might have not been with a woman before but Peri had felt her want. She would not give her heart to this woman. She had no heart left to give but there was no harm in an affair as long as they both knew the rules. After all, not quite four months ago, Kate had promised to love, honour and obey her husband. It hadn’t taken her long to get over him. It had been Kate who had come on to her.

When she had touched Kate’s arm she had merely wanted to show Kate the built in sound system in her stateroom. But Kate had turned into her arms and the look that had passed between them had been all about desire. Peri could not resist. Since the first day she had seen Kate, she had wanted the woman. Now having touched the softness of Kate’s skin and tasted the sweetness of her lips, Peri wanted more.

She sat in the corner of the cockpit watching Kate above her. Her eyes focussed on Kate’s breasts, her tight, round bottom and the shape of her crotch. She wandered what it would be like to claim this woman and knew immediately that it would be wonderful.

Kate looked down and saw Peri undressing her with her eyes. She didn’t blush or look away as Peri thought she might. Instead, she looked back, drinking in Peri’s long legs and firm body with curiosity and desire in her eyes. Peri smiled and Kate smiled back. This wasn’t over.

It had been a day of wonder for Kate. The yacht had anchored off the reef and they had taken the tender into the shallows where they had snorkel dived. Below Kate had been an underwater paradise of beautiful castles of coral and colourful fish of all shapes and sizes. It had been amazing to see.

In the water, Peri was like a fish moving freely and gracefully through the current with her daughter close at her side. On deck, it had been a different matter. Peri had removed her slacks to reveal an expensive knee brace and a scar that told the story of a grisly attack. Hundreds of teeth marks formed an oval shaped scar over her knee and up her thigh. Above the knee the muscle tissue was particularly mangled and a deep hollow ran for several inches where flesh was torn out. A surgical scar over the top of her knee indicated that she’d had knee surgery. Kate wondered if she had and artificial joint. Peri had removed her brace and with little difficulty had hopped down the ladder and into the water. Marau had dived off the gunwales and joined her. Much more cautiously, Kate had joined them, the scar on Peri’s body a good reminder that the ocean was an unforgiving place.

Once in the water though she forgot all her fears so taken was she with the beauty around her. It was only reluctantly that Kate followed Peri and Marau back to the yacht. The small child had wrapped her arms around her mom’s neck and was riding her back through the waves. Kate was envious of that intimate contact.

What was she thinking? Hadn’t she just got married only months before? Okay, he’d been a jerk and walked out on her but hadn’t she loved him? She thought she had. Hadn’t she enjoyed the sex? She’d thought she’d had. But Peri’s touch had awakened something in her far more powerful than she had ever imagined. She was like a moth drawn to a flame. She suspected that Peri hid a dark secret and yet she couldn’t help but want more of the woman. She was playing with fire and she should be afraid to be burnt but she wasn’t. It would be a wonderful pain.

Next, they had taken the outboard tender to a spot where the water was shallow and the bottom white sand. There Peri had slipped into the water and held a small bait-fish in her hand. Within a few minutes, she was surrounded by stingrays. Huge grey bat like fish swam over her body trying to get the fish. Their dangerous barbed tails trailing up her form. Marua squealed with delight and Kate, although apprehensive, was mesmerized. Peri gave up the fish and the when the stingrays had backed off she held up her hands and Marau slipped into her arms. Once again, Peri took a small fish from the bait bucket and the stingrays returned allowing Marau to feel them as they swam around the mother and daughter.

Then it was Kate’s turn. Marau scrambled up the ladder and Kate nervously slipped into the shoulder deep water. Peri wrapped an arm around Kate and held their bodies close together. The thrill of their naked skin touching almost made Kate come right there.

Peri gave her some brief instructions. “Try not to make any sudden moves. Do not touch their tails and avoid their mouths that can suck. You can touch them though. Are you ready?”

“Oui.”

Marau passed Peri a small fish and a few seconds later they were surrounded by the magnificent beasts. They moved smooth and gracefully around them, slipping up and around their bodies. Peri took her hand and together they reached out and touched the wonderful creatures. The darker grey of their backs felt like fine sandpaper but their bellies felt as soft as silk. The fish released for the stingrays to take, they climbed the ladder once more.

“It is so much fun, non?” asked Marau.

“It is. I could never have imagined swimming with such wonderful creatures. Thank you, Marau for bringing me.”

Marau smiled and gave her a big hug. “But the best is yet to come. You’ll see.”

Peri had by now pulled herself up the ladder and swung herself onto the seat by the motor. She started up the engine and they headed back through the aqua lagoon water to l’Explorateur. On deck a wonderful meal of salads and cold lobster waited for them with a pitcher of tea ice.

Marau chatted away about fish she had seen and laughed with her mother about adventures they’d had in the past. Kate smiled. It was clear, the mother and daughter had a close and very deep bond.

“So while my back was turned, the Little Coconut here, spots a bloom or smack of Portugese Man-of-War and swam straight toward them.”

“I thought they were very beautiful. I didn’t know then that they could sting. I was just a child,” said the seven year old indignantly. She turned to Kate to explain. “You are supposed to call them all jellies not jellyfish because not all are fish. The Man-of-War isn’t really a jellyfish. Is that not so, Maman?”

“Oui. They are jellies and you swam right for them. I just managed to grab your foot and pull you back before you entered the smack. Marau knows no fear.”

“But the ocean is wonderful, Maman. I know better now than to swim near Man-of-War. Maman got stung. They used hot water to get the venom off and then rubbed meat tenderizer on her arm. Didn’t they mom?”

“Oui.”

“Meat tenderizer?”

“Oui, it helps to soften the muscle again.”

“Are we going to swim with the sharks, Maman?”

“I see no reason why not.”

“What?”

“They are very powerful,” Marau explained.

“They also bite.”

“Non! That is not true, is it Maman?”

Kate raised an eyebrow and looked at Peri. Would Peri tell her the story of how she had been attacked.

Peri winked at her daughter. “I think Kate has been told the story of the shark woman.”

Kate blushed and the mother and daughter laughed.

“Well, weren’t you bit by a shark?”

“Oui. I had thrown chub into the water and the sharks were feeding. I fell in and a shark bit me. As soon as it realized that I was not chub, he spit me out and I was able to pull myself back up on the diving platform.”

“It didn’t swallow you whole?” Kate asked in mock disappointment, smiling now herself.

“Oh you have heard that one. I’m afraid not. There are about 200 shark attacks a year. Most of those are accidents. The shark sees a splash in the water and thinks a fish is in trouble or a human steps on a shark in the sand. Only about five people a year actually die from a shark attack. We taste bad, I think. Still they are wild, dangerous hunters and it would be foolish not to treat them with respect. Is this not so, Marau?”

“Yes, Maman. Nature must always be treated with respect.”

An hour later, Kate watched from the runabout with her heart pounding with fear as Peri swam out with a bucket of chub and stood waist deep on a pile of coral. She didn’t like this at all. A shark could easily swim by and grab Peri. The fear must have shown in her face.

“Do not worry. Maman knows what to do. Remember to hold onto the anchor rope. Do not swim away,” instructed Marau seriously.

“Oui.”

Pierre, the deck hand, had come with them when they left L’Explorateur after lunch. He slipped into the water and then reached his hands out for Marau. Kate followed. They formed a group along the anchor line. Pierre carefully holding Marau close to him.

When Peri saw they were in place, she started to throw chub from the bucket. Within less than a minute, five black finned sharks knifed through the water and started to eat the bait. Wearing snorkels and face masks, the three observers watched in awe as the powerful and magnificent fish swam past opening their mouths like huge canyons as they grabbed the pieces of fish. They moved swiftly with the minium of movement, darting in and out. They were creatures that had reached their evolutionary level of perfection millions of years ago and had barely changed since. Nearly two metres long, they were massive, graceful hunters.

When the chub was gone, the sharks swam off disinterested and they all returned to the runabout. Regardless of what she had learned about sharks, Kate was relieved when they were all safely back in the boat.

“Wasn’t that great?” Marau asked, eyes sparkling.

“Yes, it was. But I think it will take me awhile to feel comfortable swimming in the ocean. I’m used to city swimming pools.”

Marau laughed and the crewman took the three woman back to l’Explorateur. Kate looked over at Peri. The day had cost her. Kate could see the strain in her face and the tightening of her jaw. When Peri thought no one was looking she would gently massage her mangled leg.

They pulled up to the diving platform of l’Explorateur and took turns climbing up the ladder onto the stern deck. Peri came last and slowly. By the time she reached the deck, Kate had a lounge chair ready for her and a chilled glass of ice tea. Then she took Marau to play hide and seek. Peri sat watching as the two ran about laughing and in the case of Marau squealing with delight. It made Peri smile. Kate and Marua got on well together. Marau needed someone with whom she could rough house. She was an active child and her mother was partially lame.

They sailed back to the hotel dock just as the sun was setting. Tired or not, Peri set the example of responsibility for Marau by helping her gather all their equipment, clean it and put it back in the plastic container they used for storage. With Kate’s help, they soon had it done. The crew would see that the container was brought up to The House later. Marau skipped ahead along the path while Kate walked slowly beside Peri who leaned heavily on her cane.

“You over did it today and are in pain.”

“A little. Marau enjoys days like this very much.”

“Yes. She swims like a fish.”

“She has been about water all her life but I worry that she has no fear. I do not want her to be afraid, but I have tried to warn her to be a little more cautious. She lives on a reef and she lives at a hotel where many sorts of people come and go. She needs to think before she acts.”

“Yes. I’m sure when she swam into the smack of jellyfish you were beside yourself.”

“Oh yes. But she was young then. Only five. She is more aware of the ocean’s dangers now.”

“Why don’t you have a hot shower and then if you want I could massage some of that soreness out?”

Peri stopped and looked down at Kate with a cheeky smile on her lips. “That sounds like an invitation.”

Kate raised an eyebrow. “It wasn’t. I’m a nurse. You are someone in pain who needs my assistance.”

“You do not want me to kiss you again?”

“Yes - No. I mean, I don’t know. I’m attracted to you Peri but I’ve never been involved with a woman. I’ve never even considered it. I don’t know anything about you. Damn it, I was just married three months ago. I’m pretty confused.”

“Understand, that being my employee isn’t part of this equation. You may do as you like and it will not effect our agreement. You have my word on this. As for your marriage, you seem to have got over him quickly. But I am not looking for commitment just a sexual relationship, please understand that.”

A number of emotions ran through Kate. She was relieved that Peri didn’t feel that sexual favours were part of her job description. They certainly were not. She was angry that Peri felt her marriage vows had meant so little to her. They had meant a lot at the time. She was still dealing with the pain of betrayal. Mostly, she was disappointed and hurt that Peri didn’t feel the emotional attraction that she did. It was just sex to her. Kate couldn’t live with that.

“The failure of my marriage is a personal grief and not one I choose to share,” she responded stiffly. “I’m not a person who would be interested in casual sex, Madam Peri. I think what happened today had better not go any farther.”

Peri looked confused but responded quietly. “As you wish.”

They continued their walk in silence yet the sexual tension and attraction was still there between them. This was not over and no matter what they said, in their hearts they knew this.

The weeks passed into months. Kate continued to have breakfast and dinner with the Dubois and to work at the clinic during the day. She was on call at night as well and on weekends she would often accompany the Dubois’ on day trips. On these occasions, Marau was always full of life and fun. Peri Dubois, on the other hand, although treating Kate fairly, acted very formally with her. She had not teased or touched her since the first day on the l’Explorateur.

Marau was different. She had taken to coming to the clinic after getting off the ferry that brought her back from school each day. Declaring that she was far too old to go to the hotel babysitting service until her mom came home from work. She would help Zenie and Kate cleaning up at the end of the day and then Kate would play a game with her before dinner. The woman and child had become good friends.

The strange noises from Peri Dubois’ room continued each night. Most nights too, Peri Dubois would take her nightly walk through the resort stopping to swim in the lagoon. Kate, often watched her from the balcony. She had not tried to get into Peri’s quarters again. It hadn’t taken her long to realize that Peri Dubois had caught her in the act because there were surveillance cameras throughout the house. She thought she had located most of them but she couldn’t afford to take the chance. Already, Peri must know she had tried to get into her suite and also knew she had lied about it. She wondered why she had not been confronted with the evidence.

Despite the beauty and friendliness of Bora Bora, the first few month’s had been tough as she came to terms with the fact that she had married a gigolo who didn’t love her and who had used up her savings and then left. That betrayal had been devastating. But since the encounter on l’Explorateur the emotional pain she carried had grown worse. She was now confused about her orientation, plagued by doubts and hurt by Peri Dubois’ attitude.

More than that, she was confused about her own feelings. She found she ached to be near Peri Dubois. That her body wanted desperately to feel Peri’s touch. She knew Peri Dubois did not care for her beyond a sexual encounter and yet she couldn’t control how she felt about the mysterious woman. Even knowing that there was something not quite right going on at The House, she couldn’t help being attracted to Peri. That Peri did not return that attraction left her both relieved and hurt. She continued to lose weight and to sleep badly.

“I am worried,” declared Zenie one day.

“About what?”

“You.”

“Me?”

“Yes, you. Look at you. You are all skin and bones and the black has shaded your eyes. You are not well.”

“I’m okay, really Zenie. This has just been a very difficult six months for me. I love Bora Bora and working here at the clinic but...well you know.”

“Yes. I know. You have fallen in love with the shark woman.”

“What? That’s nonsense. Really Zenie.”

“I am not blind. I see. You come alive when she is near and when she is not you are like a fallen branch. Did I not warn you?”

“Zenie, Peri Dubois was not swallowed by a shark. And Marua was conceived artificially in Hawaii. Peri wanted to give her father the grandchild he always wanted. She had wanted a child but she also hoped a child would help her get on better terms with her father.”

“How do you know this?”

“Peri told me. She didn’t know she was pregnant when she was bit by the shark. They checked when she was in the hospital. Naturally, she was terrified that anything might have happen to her baby.”

“She told you this?”

“Yes.”

“What about the strange noises? Do you still hear them?”

“Yes.”

“What are they?”

“I don’t know. There are surveillance cameras in the house. I can’t check.”

“You are in love. I think for the first time. And look with who you have fallen in love. It is making you sick. I am very worried about you.”

“Zenie, I have never thought of myself as being a lesbian. I have never had a relationship with a woman before coming here. I can’t deal with this and the betrayal of my husband and the loss of my money and all the other issues.” Much to her embarrassment she burst into tears. Zenie held her as she had often done before.

“I’m sorry Zenie. I always seem to be crying on your shoulder. I just can’t cope with it all.”

“I know, Little One. I know. You just cry that pain out. Zenie is here to help make it better.”

And she had. Instead of getting on the resort ferry boat to go back to the mainland at the end of the day, she had headed first to the resort office and asked to speak to Madman Peri. She only had to wait a few minutes before she was ushered in by Maria.

“Zenie,” said Peri, making the effort to get up from her chair and shake the woman’s hand. “It is not very often I see you in here. Please be seated. How can I help you?”

“One of your staff is not well and I think you can help.”

“Of course. Who is it? You know Dubois enterprises cares about the welfare of our staff.”

“This I know and for this reason I have come to talk to you about, Kate Madison.”

Peri’s heart skipped a beat. “Kate? She’s ill?”

Zenie was glad to see that Peri was genuinely alarmed. There was feeling for Kate in this woman. “Of course, she is ill. Has she not had a no good husband walk out on her? Is she not trapped in a foreign country even one as beautiful as Bora Bora. Is she not pennyless? And now you have her working at The House so she must work night and day, non?”

“I hardly think having breakfast and dinner at my home can be considered over work.”

“But it is. She must work at the clinic with me and be on call all night and be there for little Marua while all the time she is so unhappy and can not eat.”

“I didn’t realize there was a problem.”

Zenie’s face showed her disgust. “How could you not see how skinny she has become or the black under her eyes? How could you not notice how little she eats?”

Peri blushed. She wasn’t used to being corrected. “I provide good meals. I can’t force her to eat or to be happy under my roof.”

“You should take her out to dinner.”

Peri sighed and leaned back in her seat. “Kate has made it quite clear that she’d rather not know me on a social level.”

Zenie’s eyes sparkled. “Ah, so you have tried to get to know Kate better.”

“Kate Madison is a married woman. She is not interested in me,” Peri responded stiffly.

“Maybe. Maybe not. She needs a night out.”

For a few seconds, Peri played with her pen in thought. “I will ask her. Is there anything else I can do to help?”

“I will see. Thank you Madam Peri for seeing me. I will keep you informed.”

“Thank you,” Peri smiled, realizing that she had been neatly played by Zenie.

After, Zenie left, Peri sat for a long time wondering how she could make this happen. Taking Kate out was easy enough there were a number of fine French restaurants. It was how to resist Kate that was the problem. It was hard enough now. Having Kate in the house had been - difficult and yet she couldn’t imagine not having her there. She looked forward to seeing her and Marau adored her. She had planned to get a full time babysitter for Marau and a nurse but she had kept putting it off. She knew the reason she did so was because she would have no excuse to keep Kate at the house anymore.

Now she was being asked to spend an evening with Kate Madison. Could she and maintain the wall of formality that she had placed between them since that day on the l’Explorateur? She wasn’t sure. And what had Zenie said? Maybe Kate was interested in her. If anyone would know it would be Zenie. She was the hub of all the gossip and knowledge at the resort. Was Zenie trying to tell her something?

The phone rang and Peri reached for it. It was the office at the pearl farm calling. They had good news. Very good news. Peri knew now what she would do.

Chapter Three

Pearls

“Precious stones are forged in the heat and pressure of our active planet but the pearl is different. It develops layer after layer for years within a living organism. In a way, it is birthed not created. A pearl stands for purity, loyalty and trust. Yet many have died diving for them or been murdered in order to obtain them. There is, I think, a drop of blood in the history of each pearl. They are part romance and part adventure and they are very, very beautiful.”

The waiter had quietly served a small salad of fresh greens, tangerine bits, and almonds coated in caramelized sugar and fresh black pepper. It was served with a raspberry vinegarette. It was simply heavenly. They had a chilled glass of Dubonet with it.

Earlier, Peri had walked down to the clinic and asked if Kate would join her for dinner and an evening of celebration. Marua was to be babysat by Maria, Peri had explained and they would take one of the resort ferries to the mainland of dinner.

Kate had been delighted. She had taken some time in preparing and had slipped into a long red dress that she knew fit her well and was very becoming on her. It was a little more roomy than she would have liked because she had lost so much weight but with her tan, she knew she could turn eyes in this outfit. Peri had wore a grey pant suit as she always did but this one was cut in the line of a tux and the silk blouse she wore with it must have cost her a fortune. They had taken the boat to the mainland.

As they sat side by side near the bow, Peri had explained that today she had got a call to say that they had found the last pearl that was needed to make a necklace. At the dock, they disembarked.

Date: 2015-12-18; view: 594