Relations

The few moments he had to observe were priceless. The aquarium was fashioned into a high-top table lounge, exotically colored fish bringing the walls and ceiling alive with sinuous rainbows. Gigi was there, sitting at one of the tables, drinking wine with a companion. No sooner than she put her half-empty glass down, the dark-haired man sitting opposite her refilled it from the carafe they shared. His profile was strong, proud...aristocratic, his hooded eyes watched Gigi intently as she spoke. She seemed to welcome the attentive manner, her body language open and receptive. Something she said made the swarthy man grin, turn his head slightly. Fine laugh lines bracketed his eyes and mouth, but he had a youthful appearance. Silvery strands flecked the sable of his thick, wavy hair at the temples, but the neat, hip goatee he sported gave no sign of his age. A keen observer would guess approximately forty-five. Despite the obvious age difference, they made a very striking couple. The comfort between the pair and their constant eye-contact during conversation was a deflection for interlopers. And Jack was not immune to the envy that tingled along his nerves. He was not expecting this, but was glad to have spotted Gigi first; glad to have seen her interact with this stranger, unnoticed. Then she saw Jack and smiled.

Gigi pasted on a grin when a change in the air drew her attention toward the entrance of the aquarium. Jack was there. She really hadn't expected him to show up, not after their little tiff...and she was here with... Oh, no! Overall, she was pleased to see him and waved him over to her table. Obviously, he too had dismissed their disagreement, although Gigi hadn't changed her position on anything she said. Jack had that rugged GQ look again...like the kind of man who could fuck a woman in the bed of a pickup, or just as passionately make love to her on a bed of rose petals and silk sheets. Why did he just keep getting more attractive? Even when he was a moody jerk, he held a magnetism. And why did Jack have to see her with this man?

His mind raced as he advanced on the table. Maybe this was Gigi's uncle. Maybe this was her father. Maybe this was one of the artists signed to the Terranova Record label. Maybe this was her lover...something Jack had never even considered. Gigi had a lover...and she obviously liked her men older. Of course she would. The boys her age only wanted her on her knees, on her back or riding their cock. An older man would want that too, but would also be patient and more receptive to all of the things Gigi had to offer that didn't include sex. No, she wasn't 21. She was just Gigi...and Jack could have kicked himself for realizing that too late.

Gigi slid off her chair and reached up to hug Jack. He was caught off guard by the gesture, but returned the embrace warmly. "No hard feelings" she whispered the question in his ear.

The smell of her faint perfume mingled with the scent that branded her a female...and it was truly intoxicating. Jack was careful not to breathe too deeply or soon he would be drunk with need. "No hard feelings."

She stepped back and turned to her companion, who was watching them with open interest. "Stavros, this is Jack Urgayle. He's the Command Master Chief at Rock Island Naval Station." Her gaze returned to Jack. "And Jack, this is Stavros Mandolastokis."

"That's excellent," Stavros lauded immediately, sparing Gigi the social duty of having to explain who he was, as she had done with Jack. "Perfect pronunciation...and the name is still new to your tongue." He stood, held out a manicured hand. "It is good to meet you Master Chief Urgayle."

Jack shook the offered hand politely, although he didn't want to. Something was off about this guy. "Likewise, Mr. Mandolastokis." The name wasn't that hard.

Gigi watched as the two men respectfully sized one another up. Stavros took in Jack's height, his athletic muscularity and his stoicism. Those things in addition to his naval rank, revealed a man not afraid to work hard for what he wanted and never complained during the struggle. A man who would not tolerate others wallowing; someone who didn't suffer fools. Mr. Urgayle's eyes were the reflections of his intelligence. This soldier knew a smokescreen on and off the battlefield. He smelled a rat at that very moment.

Stavros was from old wealth. With the Greek surname, his family was probably involved in shipping. He was almost as tall as Jack, but with a leaner, more lithe build. Definitely a runner. Stavros had an air of authority and whatever he did, he was the boss. Jack was sure this guy played second to no one. He always had to have the best. Best car, best home, best yacht...best woman to warm his bed at night. But Mr. Mandolastokis wasn't completely on the level. When people came off too smooth...too used to luxury, too adamant about the finer things, there was something dark driving that kind of strive toward perfection. Jack just hoped Gigi wasn't involved in any of this man's business. She may be wise beyond her years, but this Greek with the throaty, robust accent, could tear her down to nothing in five minutes.

To Gigi's eye, the two men silently agreed that they would prefer to stay clear of one another. She wasn't surprised; both Jack and Stavros were alphas. Their caveman qualities were hidden beneath civility, but let these two loose on the same mark and it would be a clash of the titans.

"So, where's your lady tonight?" Gigi asked, glancing towards the restrooms.

"Here I am!" A giggly reply sounded before Jack could open his mouth. Three pairs of eyes turned to see Sheila strutting into the aquarium, flashing everyone a generous view of her assets. A frown of disbelief froze Jack's face. Sheila just smiled at him and pecked his cheek. She had to wipe away a very red lipstick stain. "I'm sorry I took so long, sugar. Ran into some friends." Possessively, she took Jack's arm and nuzzled her ample breasts against him. "Hi. I'm Sheila," she waved to Stavros and Gigi.

Stavros introduced himself and since Gigi seemed speechless at the moment, he had to present her also.

"Oh, I know you," Sheila laid a hand on Gigi's. "You're here often enough. You must love the slams."

Gigi nodded, her eyes darting back and forth between Jack and Sheila. "Is that how the two of you met? Here...tonight?"

Jack didn't know what kind of game Sheila was playing, but he wasn't a part of it. "Yes."

"Well, yes we met here, doll face, but not tonight. I swear, I wonder about the minds of men sometimes." Sheila looked to Gigi for female commiseration.

"Yeah," she mumbled, her perplexity still clear, "I wonder about their minds too."

Jack could have died. That statement was directed at him...right between his legs. "Listen," he moved to unlatch Sheila from his side. "This is not-"

"Not the best time to chat, huh honey?" Sheila's light brown eyes gazed into Jack's, urging him to play along for just a little longer. "Yeah, we've gotta run to our table before someone swipes it. It was beautiful meeting you both. Come on baby, I got your favorite drink waiting for you. Bye, now!" Sheila waved again and led Jack out of the aquarium, her shapely rear-end undulating beneath a figure-hugging skirt.

Stavros raised his brows as he and Gigi took their seats. "She seems...endowed with much spirit." He cleared his throat of a chuckle.

Gigi stared after the departed couple. No more Condom Lady? Now, Jack was screwing that... twit? "Spirit?" Skepticism twisted her lips. "You are silver-tongued aren't you? And much too kind."
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Sheila watched him toss back two Double Jack's before he even spoke. One of them was supposed to be for her. He took a deep breath, let the liquor settle and stared at her...hard.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" The words were much harsher than the tone.

Sheila smiled and leaned forward, resting her abundance on the table. Jack looked, let his attention wander over the supple flesh, then met her golden eyes again. "I said if things didn't work out with Gigi, to give me a call. So," she shrugged innocently, "I picked up the phone before I heard the ring. So what? Maybe I just wanted to get to you before anybody else had the chance." She touched a passing waiter on the hip. "Sweetie, bring us a couple more Double Jack's, would you?"

"Double Jack?" He had to laugh. "How did you know my name? Were you in there the whole time?"

"Long enough." Sheila ran a hand through her blonde-streaked, boyishly short tresses. "But I saw right away you needed to be roped in. You came here looking for Gigi...not Gigi and Rico Suave, in there. Lord," her voice went sotto voce, "but didn't he have some gorgeous teeth and pretty hair?"

Jack's face went blank. "You thought I was the one who needed help?" A bitter laugh escaped him, "that's rich." He kept glancing back toward the aquarium.

After the waiter discreetly delivered their drinks and disappeared, Sheila asked, "why does she think you've got a woman?"

Jack didn't answer for a long while, just stared into his drink. "I did have a woman until very recently."

"Uh-huh. So you were going to tell Gigi tonight, that you were a free man. Get something cooked up with her?"

"No," his denial was too swift. They both knew it.

Sheila went on with her theory. "But you see her here with this man and they're all cozy...sipping wine, staring into each other's eyes. Now what? Right? You never knew she had a man and here you were, ready to make a pass; but you got intercepted."

"You're wrong," Jack took issue with her assessment in a brooding whisper. "Gigi and I...we're friends. I had something to say to her."

"Did you say it?"

"I don't know why I'm sitting here, talking to you." He pulled out his wallet and threw some cash on the table.

Sheila grabbed his arm. "Because we both know that I got you out of there before you used that slickster's face to clean the floor. You are so ga-ga over Gigi, you can't even see straight right now; and the liquor's got nothing to do with it."

He settled back, scowling at Sheila and her spot-on insight. "Tell me how you just figured all of this out? How did you know I wasn't going to let Gigi walk out of here with him tonight?"

She smiled sympathetically and touched Jack's face. "Boy, I never had a chance did I? Even after this, you want her so bad."

Jack ignored her prattle. "How did you know, Sheila?"

"I saw you come through the door and you had this...flirty spring in your step. You were looking forward to the evening. You even played with me a little bit," she winked, shifted her breasts. "Then you got to that hall and just froze...like shock or stage fright. Now look at you, all busted up about catching your would-be sweet thing with another man."

"There is nothing between Gigi and me," Jack forced the words through gritted teeth.

"I never saw that man in there with her," Sheila kept on, "she was sitting by herself last I saw her. You had such a sparkle in those pretty eyes of yours, when you first came in here. I swear," she raised her right hand in oath, "I would have kept my big flap shut if I knew she had somebody with her."

He studied her doubtfully. "So, you figured if she had a date, I should have one too? That's wonderful fucking logic. Now Gigi thinks..." he gestured toward Sheila and her twins in frustration.

"Well, as long as you've got all this, sugar," she wiggled her shoulders, "Gigi will have no idea that you came here to see her...without a girlfriend in tow. She's got a man and it ain't you, Jack. Don't let her see you tripping over your own two feet, stumbling away in shame."

"If you think I'm going to play house with you because I have a bruised ego, you're way off base. "He rose, left the money on the table. "Gigi is a good woman...but he...he's not what he seems. A man like that, doesn't deserve her. She is smart, grounded..." Jack shut up when he noticed the look Sheila was giving him. Encouragement to keep talking, to dig himself into a deeper hole of denial. The gentleman doth protest too much. With a final glimpse toward the aquarium, Jack stalked out of the club, his second apology forgotten. He didn't need it. No hard feelings, right?