Three female housemates/lovers

After getting Scott and Dirk settled, Amber greeted the next group. A slim blonde in a translucent linen sundress was accompanied by a buxom golden-skinned brunette with thick gold hoop earrings.

"Welcome aboard, I'm Amber, owner and captain," she greeted them. "You must be..."

The blonde smiled and extended her hand. Amber noticed the short, smoothly-trimmed nails. "Arielle. I go by Ellie."

Amber felt Ellie's middle finger caress her palm. Amber felt her ears and cheeks grow warm. Well, that was the quickest pass she'd ever gotten from any passenger, male or female. Amber mustered her professional grace and smiled at Ellie, keeping her gaze resolutely above the other woman's chin. Arielle's long-lashed blue eyes sparkled in the sunlight.

"Welcome aboard, Ellie," Amber said. She turned to Ellie's companion.

"I'm Isabelle," the dark-haired woman said. "Izzy." She giggled as she took Amber's hand. "Looking forward to the cruise. We don't have a chance to get away that much."

Isabelle's hand was soft, warm, and a little moist. A glitter caught Amber's eye, and she looked down to see a silver pendant in her deep, braless cleavage. The pendant was a full moon flanked by two crescents. Wasn't that some goddess or witch thing? Amber wondered.

"Welcome aboard to you, Isabelle," Amber said. "But weren't you part of a party of three?"

"Tarnation!" a woman's voice called from the dock.

"Yes, that's Dorothy behind us," Izzy said. "She insisted on taking the luggage."

"Miss, por favor, Señorita, I will help you," Julio said.

"No, leave off, I have them balanced," Dorothy said.

Amber crossed to the head of the boarding ramp. Broad, with safety walls and a canopy, it could hardly be called a gangplank. A short, freckled redhead with a big cowboy hat and bright pink boots was trying to pull a large load of travel bags lashed on top of a wheeled rolling case, but it was stuck at the foot of the ramp.

Amber cleared her throat and spoke loudly and clearly. "Please let my crewmember direct you. Boarding and loading are matters of safety, and you must follow direction on safety matters.

"Sorry, Captain!" Dorothy called. "I almost had it." Though neither Arielle nor Isabelle were large women, Dorothy was both short and petite in comparison.

"Miss, please pull steadily now," Julio said. He assisted as Dorothy dragged the load up over the bump at the bottom of the ramp and up the incline. She outpaced Julio easily and pulled the luggage with a thump onto the deck.

"Welcome aboard, Dorothy," Amber said. She took the smaller woman's hand.

Dorothy had a tight, sure grip. "Pleased to meet'cha, Captain," she said. "I'm sure we'll have a swell time." She looked sidelong at her companions. "Just you two let me know before you go horizontal with any MEN this vacation, huh?" she said. "Or I'll regret you talking me out of Olivia Cruises."

Ellie and Izzy smiled and spread their arms.

Amber smiled and studiously avoided raising her eyebrows at Dorothy's insinuation and her mention of a famous all-women's cruise outfit. Amber glanced at Dorothy's fine neck chain, which bore two pendants -- a copper double-axe, and a bent-kneed, big-boobed, side-on silver girlie outline of the sort that used to adorn truck mudflaps, except this one was wearing a cowgirl hat and boots.

"Just tell me first, huh?" Dorothy repeated to her companions. "Anyway, I guess we're ready, Captain?"

"Very good. Let's get you girls tucked into your cabin," Amber said. "Dorothy, why don't you let Julio take your luggage. Dealing with loads on board is better left to the crew. I'll go over some basic safety rules with you and the other passengers before we're too far along, but till then, please let me and my crew guide you."

"You're the boss, ma'am. Captain." Dorothy said.

Amber laughed. "You can call me Amber," she said, and smiled at Dorothy.

The petite redhead smiled back. "Thank you, I will. Amber," she said, as if tasting it.

"Well, let's show you your cabin!" Amber said.

"C'mon girls, let's get this show on the road!" Dorothy said.