Love Anchored

Chapter 4 - Peter - It Started With a Date

Stepping into the café, we were greeted by the hostess, handed our cards, and given a table number. The boys and I grabbed drinks and settled at our tables. We were introduced to the rules and expectations. Looking around the room, I had to roll my eyes at the calibre of women that speed dating has to offer. I'd seen these types before: women who wanted to be kept comfortable. Most had fake nails and eyelashes that took up most of their faces.

The ding of the bell marked the beginning of the speed dating round. The atmosphere buzzed with nervous energy and awkward introductions. Despite our initial skepticism, we found ourselves surprisingly engaged. Each of us navigated the conversations with varying degrees of success; approving giggles and belly laughs echoed throughout the café.

After a few rounds of drinks and conversations, none of the women so far were my type or had a personality I felt I'd get along with. My initial thoughts were correct. These women all seemed like copies of one another; it was like a weird hive-mind situation with the same conversation and the same questions: "What do you do? Where are you from? What are your hobbies?" It started to become irritating. The bell rang for the ladies to switch tables. Just when I thought all hope was lost for the night, I found myself in a riveting conversation with a blonde-haired, aqua-eyed girl who knew quite a bit about the Navy because her grandfather had served. It may have been two months without female contact, but I was enthralled by the conversation. She spoke so passionately about her job as a pediatric nurse. The type of conversation made you lean in closer and ask questions. When the timer finally went off, I was saddened to watch her leave for the next table. I kept an eye on her as she moved from man to man.

We had a break halfway through. All the boys gathered at the end of the bar, gossiping quietly while the ladies floated near the tables. I glanced over to see which of the ladies I hadn't spoken to yet. I used this time to fill out the piece of paper, hoping she felt the same way. I folded the paper in half and placed it in my pocket.

I got another drink before we all headed back to our tables for our next date. The next lady looked like an ancient Greek goddess statue; her dress flowed onto her lap as she sat down. She was one of those girls who made you feel things. I couldn't help but stare at her as she started the conversation. Her brown eyes pierced my soul. I leaned back in my chair to take a deep breath, making sure I didn't come across as too forward. For me, it wasn't just two months at sea without a woman's touch; I really couldn't recall the last time I went on a date. I felt it had definitely been over six months. All this attention was overwhelming me with different emotions. I knew I had to be tame, and they might not like me back, but the things I would do to them on top of this table or in a back room were on my mind.

I stared at her as she told a story, just watching her. The way she leaned into the table and placed her hand on mine as she giggled really got things going. If there hadn't been a table between us, I would have grabbed her and kissed her. But I've been taught to be respectful, and courtship is a significant part of my morals. I tucked the thoughts away and calmed myself down.

As soon as the night started, the final bell rang. After finalizing all the details on my paper and passing it to the hostess, I caught up with the boys. Joel was in deep conversation with a girl. He shooed us off as they walked in the opposite direction. I'd been so deprived, but if I didn't hear back from any of the girls, it would just be normal for me. Being on duty as long as I had, I learned not to let people get too close; this wasn't going to damage my ego. I knew that nothing could come from this situation. The chatter of the boys echoed in the streets of Sydney. Despite the initial doubts about the speed dating event, I found myself surprisingly content. The conversations had been refreshing, a break from the usual banter aboard the ship.

The next morning, I received text messages from both Taliah and Natalia, catching me off guard and stirring a whirlwind of excitement and anticipation within me. It was a pleasant surprise but also a dilemma, as I had only three days left before we were set to sail again. Time suddenly felt like a scarce commodity, and I found myself torn between the desire to spend more time with both of them and the looming reality of our impending departure.

I did a quick Google search for lunch and dinner places before giving them both a call. I planned to have lunch with Natalia, as she was free tomorrow morning, and a late dinner with Taliah. I let the girls know the locations and that I'd be happy to pay.

I kept telling myself that this would not be a long-term thing and that I couldn't take it too seriously. I knew that relationships this far apart don't usually work out. But it would be nice to have some female company. The boys ended up finding out about the dates and bantered with me about how I got two girls while some of them got one or none. "For someone who didn't even want to go to this, you could at least share?" said Warner from the couch on the other side of the room. "Can I come with you? I'm hungry," yelled Harrison. "Fuck off, let me have this," I said, flipping them both off as I prepared for a shower.

As I sat across from Natalia in the cozy café, sipping my coffee and engaging in polite conversation, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was missing. Despite Natalia's charm and intellect, there was a palpable absence of the spark that had been there before. We finished our lunch and exchanged well wishes as we left. I felt she knew the vibe was off. When I got back to the ship, I typed out my reply to Natalia, gently explaining my decision and expressing my gratitude for her company. I couldn't shake the feeling of guilt that accompanied it. But deep down, I knew that nothing could have come from this. The amount of absence I would have in a friendship, let alone a relationship, was too significant.

I took a nap to ensure I had enough energy for the next date. It felt like déjà vu, still in a dream state. I made my way to the shower, trying to avoid unnecessary eye contact. I knew that once one of the boys locked eyes with me, the teasing and school antics would begin. Once washed and dressed, I made a beeline for the gangway, took the base bus to the main gate, and got onto public transport into the city.

Navigating my way through the Sydney streets to dinner, she must have spotted me before I saw her, as I saw her frantically waving. She was already seated, wearing a dark green top and tight jeans that showed off all her assets. I couldn't help but glance at her chest on the sly, and, as that night, my body wanted her. I could barely keep my mind from wandering as we chatted.

As the night started to wrap up, she leaned in closer. "I was wondering if you want to come back to mine for a movie or something?" I could tell she was a bit nervous. "Sounds good, I'll just have to be back on base by morning," I responded. "My car is just down the street, and if you want me to drop you back into the city after the movie or whatever, just let me know." "Yeah, that sounds good, but if you could excuse me, I'll just go to the bathroom and pay the bill as promised, then we can head off." I made sure to pay the bill first so she didn't feel obliged to do so.

I didn't need to pee, but I knew I hadn't jerked off in a while, and if the night led to anything more, I would bust embarrassingly fast. I locked myself in a stall, pulled up the most explicit porn I could think of, grabbed onto my semi-hard cock, and went for gold. Trying not to overthink if I was taking too long, it only took a few minutes to bust. I cleaned myself up, tucked my cock back into my pants, and met her back at our table.