And He Called It Research

"So that means fifteen for each of you?"

"Right. Oh hell I didn't even try to bed all of them, but in the two weeks that they were here, I damn near wore myself out trying. Didi even had it so one of the guests stayed in our guest room and the second week we had another one."

"She was crazy to do that."

"Very, and that whole two weeks was the beginning of the end of our marriage."

"I can only imagine what that was like. So Liz knows at least a little about that time?"

"Probably, but I don't know how much that is. But before you put too much on that information, make sure you have the details from Liz. Her time here without a doubt affected her a great deal. How, only she can answer though."

"So now how do you feel about...I don't know, how you see life maybe?"

He tasted his drink as she tipped her glass back and he smiled. "I still love all women, but I'm not driven to make love to all of them."

"Just some of them."

"A very select few actually. I still love this island and I love to be naked on this island with my friends."

"And lovers."

"One and the same hon. I would never have a relationship with a woman that I didn't respect and whose company I didn't enjoy. It's a lot more than just about sex. Take you for example."

"Oh, do we want to go there?"

"Why not? I liked you when I met you, but I under estimated you in the beginning and I'm not proud of that fact."

"You were fascinated with my boobs."

"To be sure I love them, but something like your titties only lasts so long on their own. You had substance. That sounds odd perhaps, but that's how I explain it to myself. You have brilliance, and by that I mean visually. You're eyes and...all of you really. You shine love. Then I realized you're smart and clever and resourceful and oh so gutsy."

"You make me sound pretty awesome."

"That's you in a word. I loved it when we made love and I'd like us to be together again. Yeah I know about that boss employee shit, but that doesn't stop me from wanting you. Remember, you started this whole mess."

She smiled and nursed her drink again before she said, "That's right."

Mac raised his hand and Lilly appeared with another round and he told her, "Cut us off after this one love."

"Done, but I'll check back later to see if you need anything else."

"I need more people in my life like this lady across from me."

"No he doesn't," Sissy said with a smile. One thing I don't need is more competition," and she and Lilly laughed.

"More questions about me Sissy?"

"Of course, but with your permission we'll save them for another time."

"My life is pretty much an open book."

"A very hedonistic and interesting life. A guy that loves to be naked as much as I do has to be pretty damn okay."

"We'll have to spend a couple of hours over at Tropic Treat as a reward for our hard work."

"Oh damn, but okay," and she tossed him a kiss.

As they drove back to the house Mac laughed and said, "Great, you drive and you're as drunk as I am."

I'm not drunk. I'm not even tipsy," and she looked at him as she added, "But oh, do I feel good."

"Me too," and he proceeded to strip naked while she tried to keep the little car on the two track lane and watch him toss his clothes behind his seat. "Turn right so we can go down to the beach and blow a kiss at the moon and the stars."

"Oh baby, you are tipsy, but what you just said sounds so romantic."

A minute later they were out of the car and walking through the sand to the warm water. Mac waded in a couple of feet and then came back as she said, "I thought you were going to blow a kiss at the moon."

"I've changed my mind," and he started to undress her.

"Mac, I'm not going to stop you, but I will remind you that we have to work together and in the same room."

"Didi and I did that for a long time and it worked great."

"But you loved her."

"Did I? I still wonder if I really did."

She helped him rid her of her clothes and they came together in an embrace as he said, "I decided I wanted to save that kiss for you. We can kiss the moon when it's full and bright, and we'll save the kiss for the stars until there is no moon to hide them from us. Right now you are my moon and stars," and they shared a long tender kiss.

It was second nature for Mac to drag the cushions down to the water, but after that it was anything but tradition or routine. He lay her on her back and made love to her starting with kissing her thighs at her knees and slowly worked his way up until they were kissing again. But then he moved down and tasted her feminine sweetness. He truly wanted to make love to Sissy. He wanted their time together to last and be meaningful for them. He didn't want to just fuck a woman again. He'd all but lost what meant the most to him. He wanted to please her first and foremost.

After he slid into her he took a moment to bathe her impressive breasts with kisses and he teased her nipples as he slowly moved his cock in her. Neither of them was drunk except on their desire for each other. They both had orgasms, but neither wanted the night to be over. Their mats were in the water and the little waves were teasing their sides, but they didn't care about anything but each other.

They had to rest and it was then that she told him, "You make me sorry that I made that call earlier to help you. I don't want to share you now. I know I have to, but I don't want to."

Chapter One Hundred Seventeen

Allie was lying in wait for Liz when she got home from her meeting. "Wow, you said you wanted to talk to me, but I didn't expect you to be camping at my door."

"I've only been here a few minutes."

"What's up?"

"First we go inside and we sit down."

"If this is bad news, save it okay? I'm just not up to anything negative."

"This isn't bad news unless you're determined to make it be."

As the door closed Allie took Liz's hand and led her to the sofa and they sat down next to each other "Okay, Mac told you to grow up and you got so mad you actually slobbered on me."

"I did not."

"Well almost."

"I had good reason to be furious with him and you said as much."

"I did and I still agree with you. Okay, Sissy called me after you two fought and you hung up on him."

"How did she get in the middle of this?"

"She heard Mac slamming drawers or something, so she ragged on him and he told her. To paraphrase her, she told him he was an idiot."

That brought a thin crooked smile to Liz's face as she said, "Well so far it's unanimous that he's an idiot."

"She also said the he loves you and he's going nuts down there without you."

"Oh come on."

"I think you have a real inferiority complex."

"I do not, my self image is just fine."

"Not. Why are you finding it impossible to believe that he loves you?"

"Why? Because he has women coming out of his ears and he can't leave them alone. Because he told me to grow up and that isn't something he'd say if he loves me."

"You have to be kidding me. Martin has told me the same thing when we got into a real argument. That isn't exactly a new line you know. Things are said in anger, or frustration and certainly when both are involved. He loves you and he wants you down there with him. It would appear he can't even get you to go down there, let alone tell him you love him and that you'll stay."

"I can't tell him that if I don't love him."

"Is that right? I mean you really don't love him? If so, then why would you care if he has one woman or fifty? Why not just tell him to go to hell and be done with this whole thing?"

"Okay so I do care for him."

"That's one small step for mankind."

"Now don't make fun of me."

"I'm trying not to laugh at you. You are a very convincing liar and I mean to yourself. Oh and he told Sissy that he was an idiot, so I guess it's still unanimous. She said he was really mad at himself. He didn't call you back to apologize because he knew you wouldn't answer."

"Well he had that part right."

"See, he wanted to apologize and you didn't even acknowledge that point. She also said they talked about him flying up here to talk to you, but he has a very important meeting tomorrow and they have another issue that is super important and they can't walk away from it. Something about Tropic Treat."

"Oh god that's right, they might have their first guests lined up for the new Tropic Treat and there are...oh hell never mind."

"So you know that he's balls deep in issues then."

"Well I thought Sissy was there to help him."

"Is all of that doable by one person and his one assistant?"

"He could hire somebody."

"But then you'll say see, now he really doesn't need me down there. Girl, you are totally your own worst enemy. So answer me this. What body part would fall off of you if you called him?"

"Damn it Allie..."

"Hey, be mad at me, but don't waste your time being an idiot too."

"Well thanks a lot."

"Okay, I'm going home, but either call him and talk to him, or at least call him and tell him you never ever want to see him again or have any contact with him. Tell him to hire somebody to help them and get on with his life with out you. I'll talk to you later," and Allie left her sitting there to consider what they had talked about.

Liz cried for a minute, but got a tissue and walked around as she dabbed at her eyes and remembered what Allie had reminded her of. What did she have to lose if she called him? According to Sissy at least, Mac was sorry for what he said to her. She talked to herself as she walked to her phone and she called him.

Sissy answered and Liz said, "Hi, it's me Sissy."

"Hi, how are you doing?"

"I'll let you know after I talk to Mac."

"Okay, just a sec," and she covered the phone with her hand. Whispering she told Mac, "Okay boss this is the love of your life so don't screw it up again. This may be your only chance to grovel and beg forgiveness."

Mac picked up the phone and Sissy headed for the beach, stripping as she went and leaving her panties hanging on the little post at the bottom of the stairs on her way by.

"I'm so damn sorry honey," he told her right away, "And I love you so much."

"Mac, let's start over okay."

"Whatever it takes. Liz, I really do want you to come down. We need to talk."

"Mac I really want to be down there with you."

"Do you still have a job up there?"

"For two more days."

"And the divorce. You don't have to be there for anything dealing with that right?"

"No, papers will come in the mail. It's all over, but the law says so much time has to pass after the filing."

"Then come down honey. If after we've talked you feel that we aren't meant to be, all I can do is see that you get home safely. I need time to tell you about the real me. As I was, as I am and as I want to be for you. I want you to know what I see as my failings and my successes and my short comings. I want to tell you what I hope to see and experience with you. I'm going to be totally honest baby, good bad and indifferent. I'm not worried about you. I know I love you and I know we can be happy together. I know you have an imperfect past and so do I, but that is part of who you are and why I love you.

"I couldn't be there before Friday."

"That's great. Just let me know and I'll have Cletus or Henry at the airport waiting for you. And just so you know that I'm not hiding anything from you, Sissy has been staying in the guest room."

"She's staying in...oh Mac."

"Honey, she really is staying in the guest room. That's not a bad euphemism for she's sleeping with me. That arrangement gives us at least two more hours a day to get things done and it saves her money. She goes home on the weekends."

He heard her sigh and then she said, "Okay honey, I'm sorry. We can talk about all of that and more Saturday okay?"

"That's fantastic and thank you for giving us a chance."

"You better thank Allie and Sissy, because Sissy called Allie and...well Sissy can probably tell you her end of it, but Allie was all over my ass on your behalf."

"Sissy went for a walk after she answered the phone so I'm going to find her and..."

"You better kiss her and buy her an expensive dinner, because without her interference we might not be talking right now."

"I'll make sure she's rewarded."

Liz laughed and said, "If anybody else said that, I'd think a gift or a raise, but with you , we both know what came to my mind."

"Maybe you could convince Allie that you need to make love to Martin to help clear your thinking or something."

"Mac, you're terrible. I'll get the flight information to you as soon as I can, now go find your loving assistant. Bye Mac."

"Bye honey."

Chapter One Hundred Eighteen

Sissy was sitting in one of the plastic lounges and watching the ocean when Mack eased up behind her and put his hands on her breasts from behind. She jumped and quickly looked back and saw him smiling at her and it took her a second to collect her wits. "Damn you scared the hell out of me."

"How the hell did you pull that off?"

"Pull what off?"

"Stand up smart ass."

He moved around in front of her and pulled her to her feet before he threw his arms around her and kissed her deeply.

"Well naked man, I can feel one thing I didn't pull off."

Come with me sweetheart."

"Where are we going?"

"Home."

He pulled her along behind him and she half hopped as she tried to be careful where she stepped with her bare feet. "Wait, slow down."

"I'm in a hurry honey."

"Well at least you don't sound mad at me."

"I love you too much to be mad at you," and they went up the steps. Once inside he pulled her to his bedroom and pushed her to the bed as he dropped down on top of her.

She smiled as she told him, "You do not love me, now what are you up to?"

"I'm up to making love to you until neither of us can move and don't argue with me, I do love you, so deal with that little detail."

"We can't make love until you tell me what's going on."

"You called Allie."

Sissy smiled and said, "Oh that. We just talked for a few minutes is all, so what's the big deal?"

"Don't try to be coy with me beautiful. Whatever you said to Allie sent her next door to Liz, and Allie said or did something with Liz and she called me."

"I know that, I'm the one that answered the phone remember?"

"Oh right. Well what the hell did you tell Allie?"

"Just the truth. You love Liz like crazy, you were a real jerk when you talked to Liz and now you want to apologize and beg forgiveness and so forth. I guess Allie told Liz what I said. No big deal and no real mystery. Hey, if you love Liz, why are we in bed together and naked no less?"

"I'll explain that later."

"Liz will find out and she'll raise hell and you'll be right back where you were an hour ago."

"Oh no I won't. You're going to stay with me tonight and tomorrow night and we're going to make love and then we'll make love again and maybe even again if we can still move. Seriously Sissy, I owe you so much and never argue with your boss. If he says he loves you then that's how it is. If he says you'll get a raise, then that's how that is too."

"Well okay boss if you say so," and she kissed him. "Of course I think you're a great boss, and I also think you're pretty hot, so you might want to warn Liz how I feel about you."

"I'll be sure she knows, but I'll be careful how I tell her."

"Well at least you're learning. Now we better do something about that man of yours that keeps poking me in the wrong places."

They did make love and then again, but there was no hope for that third time and their productivity the next day wasn't impressive until Sissy took a call. She ended the call and then called out, "Where are you lover?"

"Bathroom."

"Well hurry up because I have news for you."

They met in the hallway as he asked, "Tell me the good news."

"I didn't say it was good."

"Then save until later."

"I didn't say it wasn't either," and then she smiled. "Tropic treat is booked for one week."

"When?"

"Two weeks from tomorrow. Saturday afternoon to the next Saturday morning."

"Just like that?"

"Of course not, I talked to that James Pollack for several minutes. I assured him that we would take very good care of them and we talked in some detail about how he would like the week to go. I started by asking him to rate it from G to triple X."

"You didn't."

"I did and he hesitated so we talked about what that might mean. Mac honey I didn't spare the adjectives, and in the end he decided on starting with PG and move on to double X before the end of the week. Triple X if it seems the group is ready."

"And who makes that decision?"

"Oh he does honey.. I'd be amazed if we went past X though."

"The devil could be in the details of that interpretation though."

"I know, and we spent a minute on that too."

"All while I was in the bathroom?"

"You were gone for awhile."

He held up a file and said, "I was reading," and he smiled.

"Oh and we negotiated the price."

"Here comes the bad news."

"He wanted to be assured that the food would be excellent because he and his friends enjoyed good food and wine. That added three grand to the total."

"Damn woman, that was gutsy."

"I learned that money is much less an issue than finding a place like Tropic Treat for them to play. I also told him that with us providing a few bits of entertainment we would have to add two thousand."

"You didn't."

"That's not much when compared to what they're paying for the week, but it's something."

"There's your bonus honey."

She smiled and kissed him, and then patted his ass and said, "Oh I do love working for you."

"I assume you have the entertainment all lined up."

"Well...okay so not exactly, but I'm working on it. I'm not going to keep them occupied every day or evening or whatever. I described a couple of ideas to him and he was all for it. Something in the day room after dinner. Maybe the first one Monday after they've adjusted to the sun, sea and sand, and need a distraction. Then Wednesday after they've had time to adjust to the first after dinner game, and again say Thursday or Friday night."

"Just some silly game?"

"Of the adult variety. Like the idea we kicked around yesterday."

"Oh, that kind of game. And he was good with that?"

"He was great with that, and he's not telling Linda about them either."

"Oh shit. Okay baby, this entertainment thing is your gig, so have at it."

"Totally?"

"Unless you don't feel you can handle it."

"Oh baby I'll handle it, and if I wasn't so used up I'd handle you lover."

"I might have to lay there and watch you in a solo performance because you drained me last night."

"Nothing is too good for my boss and lover."

"Another small entry for your diary. My boss is my lover. Pretty catchy."

"And I have started my diary."

"Great. Speaking of that, how about a journal in the dayroom where the guests can jot down thoughts or experiences? You know maybe even anonymously."

"That's a great idea, and we can leave it there for future guests to read. That alone could start some fires."

"I'm sure."

"I'll find a fancy journal of some kind, but on their arrival you should encourage them to leave their thoughts, dreams and fantasies with us. We just might be able to use some of their comments in the future. One step farther though. Have it so if they prefer privacy, they can leave something posted on...I don't know, maybe...oh, just have them leave it on their computer. We could set up a file for that and after they leave we could download them."

"Can you make that happen?"

"I'm on it sweetie. Oh damn, another idea. I'm going to plant a few comments on each computer. Little seeds to encourage them to open up and share intimate comments. I'll put a fantasy and one or two comments on each one. Oh honey, ideas are pouring into me now."