Taken By The Shark

Chapter 3

It was about the fifth day since they’d started training, and things between Mark and Chelsea seemed just as flirty as ever. They never had any chances to be alone though, so it hadn’t gotten past Mark whispering things in Chelsea’s ear when he thought he could get away with it, and Chelsea blushing profusely at the increasingly suggestive content.

Tonight, however, would be their first trip into the tiny village that bordered their camp on the small island on which they were staying. Chelsea couldn’t really say why she felt so excited by the prospect, except that she was hoping to spend a little time with Mark away from the others while they were there. He hadn’t specifically said that they’d be able to do it, she just couldn’t seem to get the notion out of her head.

But if they did find time to be alone, she needed to make sure he knew about her complete lack of experience where dating was concerned. She didn’t really think he was the kind of guy who would be looking for a quickie in the back of some barn or anything, but if he was hoping to progress in a s*xual direction sometime, her virginal state might be something he’d want to know about.

How did a girl inform a guy that she had never had s*x without making him think she was asking him to remedy the situation? Chelsea really had no idea, and she didn’t feel comfortable asking any of the other girls a question like that. They’d obviously figure out who she was plotting to bang without much effort, and she wasn’t sure if she could take the teasing.

Hey, Nereid, what are you over there thinking about so deeply? came a message from Poseidon. She looked up, but she couldn’t see Mark anywhere in sight. But he had to be someplace where he could see her, right? Did that mean he was being a Peeping Tom over the wall into the courtyard?

How do you know what I’m doing? she typed in response.

I can see you, of course, he replied. I am testing out the telescope on one of the boats.

If you must know, I’m thinking about how school can sometimes kill any idea a girl might have had about dating, she admitted.

So, you didn’t get to date much?

I’ve never dated at all. Ever, she explained. The only time I ever kissed a boy on the mouth was on prom night, and that was as far as that ever went. He went to one college and I went to another.

So, why the preoccupation with dating, sweetheart?

I don’t know—in case somebody wanted to ask me, she commented.

As it turns out, somebody does. I wanted to have dinner with you tonight, he told her. Just the two of us. Complete with a kiss or two at the end of the night. You think you could handle that?

I’m pretty sure, she said, and found herself laughing.

What’s so funny? I see you laughing over there.

I’m just happy, she explained.

Me too, he told her. See you in about an hour. That’s when we’re all heading out.

Okay, she agreed.

*****

Later, all twenty recruits and their four instructors walked together toward the village, which was about two miles north of their camp. Though they were together as they went, they had also formed a few smaller groups within the larger one as well. Chelsea and Mark walked toward the back, both of them unable to keep the stupid grins off of their faces as they went.

“What’s up with those two?” Dan chuckled as he walked past them.

“I don’t even want to know,” Erik grumbled, speeding up his pace.

When they reached the outskirts of the village, Mark stepped up to the front. “All right, everybody, listen up. I’m going to allow you to split up and look around, but remember, everything you do here is a reflection of Explore and of our camp. I expect you all to be on your very best behavior. We’ll be meeting back here by ten. Don’t be late. Got that?”

Everyone disappeared so fast it made Chelsea’s head spin as she watched them go. Then she turned to look at Mark and smiled, blushing slightly. He walked up to her and slipped an arm around her waist. “Good, let’s go have some dinner,” he said. “I already have reservations.”

Chelsea chuckled. “You have to have reservations in a place like this?”

“Not really,” he chuckled. The two of them started to walk together, and Chelsea shyly slipped her arm around Mark too. His chuckle turned into a huge grin as he pulled her closer still. “Actually, I reserved it by asking Steve and Gayle to clear out for a few hours. We’ll be dining at their place.”

“And they’re okay with this?” Chelsea clarified.

“Perfectly fine,” he said. “I told them it’s strictly dinner and promised we wouldn’t make their bed all sticky, so it’s all good.”

“Mark!” Chelsea gasped, blushing hotly.

“Well, since you said you haven’t dated, I took that to mean we probably wouldn’t be getting anything sticky, but if you want to—”

“Will you stop!” she told him, blushing even more. “Let’s just do the dinner thing, okay?”

“No problem,” he agreed, and he leaned over to kiss the top of her head. “First things first, right?”

“Right,” she agreed.

Mark’s arm moved down, and he took her hand instead, giving it a little squeeze. Soon, they came up to one of the little houses along a row and he retrieved a key from under a plant pot next to the door and used it to let them inside.

“Here we are,” he smirked as he drew her into his arms. “Finally all alone.”

“Hmm, that sounds a little scary,” Chelsea teased him. “You’re not going to suddenly turn into a ravening beast, right?”

“Just a little ravening?” he asked hopefully, bending down to give her a peck on her lips.