Chemistry

Day Too Soon

"Good evening Mister Cumberbatch," the attendant addressed him as he and Rebecca approached the marina docks.

"Please, James. I wish you'd just call me Ben."

"But don't call him Benny. He hates that," Rebecca interjected, giving Ben a gentle poke in the ribs.

"James, this is Rebecca. She's my...my--"

"First mate," she jumped in to ease the mounting tension, giving James a little salute.

"Pleasure to meet you, Rebecca. Ben, you're all ready for departure. Just finished filling the petrol."

"Thank you James," he replied as he took Rebecca's hand and led her out onto the docks.

***

"Comfortable?" Ben asked as he navigated through the calm water of the marina while Rebecca settled into the seat next to him.

"Very. What kind of boat is this?"

"It's a Chris Craft Corsair Thirty-Six. There's a loo and a shower down below, a kitchenette and a bed if you feel like taking a nap."

"I've half a mind to tell you to steal me away, out into the ocean and never return me. I could live on this thing," she purred, running her hand over the buttery soft leather of the seat.

"Trust me, the thought has crossed my mind. Now, hang on tight," he opened it up and the boat's engine roared to life, unleashing its true power. The vessel careened over the surface of the pristine water, taking them further and further out into the vast ocean. Rebecca turned her face to the wind, letting it blow through her hair and lift away the nagging stressors of her day to day life.

Finally, once the Brighton pier was only a speck in the distance, Ben slowed to a stop and dropped the anchor. The sun was beginning its slow descent into the horizon and the stars started to speckle the sky.

"Is this far enough out to sea for you?" Ben asked as he flipped some switches, illuminating the interior of the boat with soft, warm light.

"It'll do. Thank you for bringing me here, this is a far better way to spend my evening than I'd imagined I would."

"My pleasure. I'll be right back," he ducked down into the cabin of the boat, later reappearing with a tray of cheese, meat and fruit for them, along with a chilled bottle of wine.

"You just happened to have these things at the ready?" Rebecca marvelled at the spread before her.

"I called ahead while you were in your flat changing."

"Tricky-tricky, Ben. With this kind of treatment, I'll never want to go back to my real life on land," she grinned, as she reached for a grape and popped it into her mouth.

"Like I said, the thought did cross my mind to just steal you away--"

"I would, but Chloe would miss me and the lab would certainly fail in my absence," she grinned.

"Just for tonight then?"

"It's a deal, I'm not going to have sex with you though," she clapped a hand over her mouth, shocked at the indelicate remark that slipped through her verbal filter. Ben just threw his head back in laughter, making her blush even more.