We had ourselves a lovely limo ride, and ended up going to the shore. Our destination was a glorious cruise ship party. We came, we mingled a bit. There were quite a few celebrities there. Some were mingling too. Others, musicians in particular, were performing side by side with amateurs. They weren't really playing for a performance, just enjoying themselves.

I got to say hello to Dumb-dumb and Loco. They asked me how I was doing and things. We visited, caught up a bit. I left out the new developments between me and Alejandro.

I attempted to mingle a bit with the people my age, but I could see more and more that it really was not my thing. It was nice to have a reason to get all dressed up; but the only reason I had, the reason that mattered most, was the one person that was nowhere to be found. There was a boy here and there that attempted to flirt with me. I just wasn't feeling it. I could see Loco and Dumb-Dumb watching me. I wondered if they knew. It felt like they did, and they were observing from afar, both of them, and Al, giving me one last chance to just be young instead of embracing the life I was bred for.

I looked around. There were some that appeared to be enjoyable company, but I was not precious to a single one of them. It dawned on me how much I wanted that in my life: to be precious, to be loved unconditionally, to be that one special girl. I looked around at the girls as well as the boys. Both sexes I noted were content with their lives. Some of them had their parents in the backgrounds, watching over them as they enjoyed one another's company. I felt a pang of sadness. My parents never cared enough for me that way. A part of me wondered if the ones such as myself that were so desperate for love because we lacked that parental love. It made me think of Sandy and Bruno, and how they clung to one another, both of them desperate to have someone love them, even if they didn't know it. How lucky they were to find one another. I noticed a slow tune in the background. Bruno and Sandy were long engrossed in each other's arms. I smiled. Tonight, they will be falling for one another deeper than ever. I began to exit the room. I did not feel like I belonged there.

The night air enveloped me. We were far away from the city lights. It was a full moon tonight, with blinking stars and cloudless skies. The lovely night reflected on the ocean water below. I held onto the railing, and closed my eyes, breathing in the watery scent.

I felt his warm embrace.

"I missed you," I said, leaning back, further into him.

He tenderly kissed my neck, nibbling my ear, stroking my body. He grew more bold in the manner that he touched me, touching me in places he touched only in my dreams. I responded, raising my arms round his neck, arching my back, raising my lips forward for his kiss.

He groaned from deep within his soul. For just a moment, something changed. He ripped my hands from his neck, fastening them to the railing. He bent me over, hiking up my skirt, starting to unfasten his pants, and paused. He growled deep beneath his chest, his breath coming in struggling heaves. His hand tightened over mine, his other digging into my bare hip. It hurt, but I liked it. With another moan of pure agony, he pulled my skirt down, stood me up, and took me by the arm. He was a gentleman again.

He led me to the sounds of music. The lights flickered from the ceiling, reflecting in our eyes, making it easier to see our unshed tears of joy. Deep, turbulent emotions began to make themselves known. I never wanted this feeling to go away.

He held out his hand in invitation. I took it, and we danced. I gave him my full yield: heart, body, and soul. We moved as one. Eventually, the music ceased. No matter. We only had one thing on our minds now.

He led me down a faux candle-lit hall, taking us to a private room. He paused at the doorway, looking at me once again, taking my full image in. It was like he couldn't believe I was actually here. I finished opening the door for him, leading him in by the hand.

The room was a beautiful, white and gold. The bed was big and round. He let me look around. I had enough. I turned to him and smiled. I began to twirl around. I danced and I swayed. He watched. I sang. He listened. It was a random song on the radio, full of love and longing. I liked the pitch, but to Alejandro, he was in awe of it. It made me feel like a goddess. Eventually, I got near the bed. I began to twirl near, and then back away, getting a little closer each time. When I was finally crawling on top of the covers, he came to me then, his stride full of purpose. He roughly put his hands on me, throwing me down and pulling me close. He then whispered in my ear in a tone I had not heard before.

"Flutter by, butterfly. It's time for our fun in the sun."

"Al?"

"No words."

He shoved his finger down my mouth, balling his fist in my hair. He pulled very hard, hurting my scalp, and made his finger slide in and out in a repetitive motion.

"Are you going to be my obedient little kitten?"