Chapter 9

Graduation was over. The bags were packed and there were thirty minutes till take off. Hugs were passed around and goodbyes were said. To Lora's surprise and happiness, Michael wasn't there. His family hadn't seen him since the day he talked to Lora. The three ladies got on the plane and in no time were in Barbados being greeted by Ralph. Ralph kissed Lora and embraced her. He did not want to let her go. He also greeted Tracy and Denise with a hug. They got all of their luggage and he took them to their house.

The house was right next door to his and almost just as big. Each of them had their own floor and private access to it. They just loved it. Tracy being the oldest got the first choice of floors and chose the top floor. She wanted to be able to see everything around her. The view from up there was spectacular. Denise picked the second floor because she didn't see the need of having the middle floor empty when if the bottom floor was empty they could throw parties down there.

"Don't try to fool us; we know good and well you are not going to be over here as much as you are at Ralph's, so it makes sense to put you down there," Tracy said quickly. Lora couldn't really argue.

Ralph gave each of them some money to decorate the house and the girls discussed taking classes at the university with him. He told them he could get them in right away if that was what they wanted. After all, that was settled Ralph and Lora took off to his house. They got in the door in just enough time to keep from being exposed. The last article of clothing came off and they made wild, crazy love. It was followed by calm, compassionate love. The lovers felt connected again. Lora knew she could make this her life. It felt so comfortable, so right.

The three ladies decided that it was a smart idea to take classes at the university. Registration for the summer was easy and all the classes they wanted were open. Tracy went into communication and law; Denise knew from early on that she was going into psychology and sociology; and Lora went into drama and music. A few of their classes were the same so they decided to take them first. Everything was great for Lora. She had a perfect lover, she was starting college and she was staying in with her two best friends. They had been on the island for three months without any problems. She could see that her friends needed some permanent company. Sure their classes were easy for them but their love lives were non-existent. She talked to Ralph about it and asked him to set them up with some of his friends.

"Sure we can set it as a blind date that could never be from hell," Ralph said.

"What do you mean?" Lora asked.

"Well there is a fair on the island and we can go to that. There is no way you can be bored or not have fun at the fair. It would be great even if you don't like your date. Of course, I think I know Tracy and Denise well enough to get them some guys that they will like." Lora could just see Ralph's mind working.

Ralph went out that evening to set things up. Lora went to talk to the girls. Ralph decided to get Carlos and their new friend Marshall since he was just coming to the island and Ralph knew he wasn't attached. Ralph thought it a coincidence that Marshall showed up when he did but he was glad for a third guy. There was something familiar about the guy but he just didn't know what. Being as untrusting as he was he had Marshall investigated to no avail. Marshall checked out fine.

"That would be great. I'm glad you are finally getting around to hooking me up. Marshall, as Ralph's oldest and best friend, I get the first choice. Plus, I know which I want to be with since I got to see the pictures." Carlos said.

"That's fine with me. I'm just glad to be hanging with you." Marshall replied.

"Don't worry about money 'cause I'm backing the dates. Ralph remarked.

"Good cause I'm broke," Carlos said.

Lora went over to the house to talk to Tracy and Denise. Without any hassle, they agreed. They had gotten a little bored being without a guy. They got their clothes together for the weekend.

The guys came over at sunrise in a big roomy Hummer to sweep the ladies off their feet. They piled in and took off. The Hummer had all the extras: refrigerator, phone, bed, everything. Introductions took place in the Hummer. Since Ralph knew everyone, he did the introductions.

"Tracy, this is my best friend Carlos. He really liked your picture when he saw it. Since he is as headstrong as you I thought you would hit it off."

"Really. Tracy replied. "I hope he likes to be wild and spontaneous."

"That's me wild and crazy. Hell, I'll try anything once." Carlos remarked.

"This, Denise, is my new friend Marshall. He goes to the university. I figured you eggheads would hit it off. He is majoring in mathematics. I guess that makes him a bigger egghead than you." Ralph said jokingly.

"You know with me the smarter the better," Denise replied.

"Don't get too caught up on the smart thing, I'm very unusual at times," Marshall replied.

The conversations continued all the way to the other side of the island. Lora thought there was something very familiar about Marshall but she couldn't tell what. When they got to the fair they all went their separate ways. Ralph and Lora went to the Marriott hotel to get rooms for everyone and told them the keys would be at the front desk. He had given the guys their money ahead of time so that the girls would not know that he was footing the bill. Lora and Ralph went straight to their room. They spent the whole trip making love.

Tracy and Carlos went around the fair trying to out daredevil each other. They rode all the rides and played all the games. They were great together. They talked to each other openly and found out that they had many of the same sexual interests and that they were at the same university. Carlos would graduate in a year with a degree in Business Administration. Carlos told her that he knew of a group that would let them explore their sexual interests if she wanted to and Tracy agreed. Carlos decided to set things up for next Friday. Tracy couldn't wait.

Denise and Marshall were becoming close. It was almost as if they already knew each other. He could guess just about everything about her, it was spooky at first. He guessed that she was eighteen, valedictorian of her class, and Lora's best friend. He also knew that she was once a fat girl and that her three brothers picked at her.

Denise was amazed but after a while, she just assumed that Lora had told him about her. Marshall knew he should not push his luck with her though. When she asked about his life, he told her the lie that he had come up with. He told her that he had lived on the island all his life and that his parents wanted him to be a Computer Engineer so he decided to go to the university. He was nineteen and met Carlos in a class. Carlos introduced him to Ralph later that night at a club. They got along great and became great friends. Now they hang out all the time.

The group agreed to meet at the Marriott Hotel's dining room around noon. Ralph and Lora were the first to arrive (after all they were just upstairs). They got a table and began to order when Denise and Marshall sauntered in (Marshall could not wait to see Lora again). Tracy and Carlos showed up about a half hour later apologetically.

"We can guess where you two have been and what you have been doing." Joked Ralph.

"We are not you and Lora, Ralph. We do not have to have sex all the time. We are more adventurous than that." Carlos replied as he stroked Tracy's nipple.

"It is good to see that you have hit it off," Lora said with a big smile of relief and pleasure.

"Yeah, we are hitting it on and off and on," Tracy exclaimed and then laughed.

It was great. Lora knew that with her friends with her, she could be more comfortable and that with companions her friends were more apt to stay. The group got along perfectly well.

Marshall wanted to get closer to Lora.