Chapter 63

Nobody bothered dressing for dinner.

When I woke up, the three women were asleep. In the swirling foam at the far side of the hot tub, Ellie was snug to Lara. Still on the stern bench, Mandy had lowered her legs and was curled into a tight ball.

Only as I moved around in the galley, preparing the meal, did the trio of shadowy silhouettes slip past me. Familiar with such vessels, Ellie and Lara led the way, taking Mandy down a narrow spiral staircase.

As I cooked and set a table on the fantail, muted giggling amid the sound of showering kept a smile on my face. When at last they appeared, all had brushed their gleaming hair behind bare shoulders. The aromas of flowery soap and an exquisite perfume they’d found somewhere wafted into my nostrils.

When Mandy’s petite curves slid into my spine and her lips pressed onto my ear, I shuddered. As the ring of her collar tinkled and mashed into my shoulder, her breathing hitched.

“Hey there, sexy man,” she whispered. “I had another naughty dream about you.”

“Oh, yeah?” I eased my head upwards as she sucked hard on my neck.

“Um-hmm, very naughty.”

Even as I chuckled, the little imp planted a soft kiss on my jaw and pranced away, giggling. The others had filled the wine glasses and were watching us. When I flashed them a grin and raised an eyebrow, both joined Mandy’s giggles.

Yeah, it was gonna be a fun night.

Once we’d all taken seats, a gentle breeze sent wispy hair across their faces as they leaned to eat. But as forks tinked, and glasses glinted in the dimming sunlight, all our glances grew longer.

By the time I’d cleared the dishes and returned to sit on the bench, both girls were snuggled tight, sharing a single glass. With Lara’s hand roaming her thigh, Mandy was beside them, staring at me over the rim of her wine.

Clarity. Even with them, she remained mine.

And I was hers.

Sorta.

“Did you tell them?” I said, while looking at her.

“No.” She sighed and lowered the wineglass. “Do you think it’s—”

“Tell us what?” Lara asked.

“I do,” I replied to her, ignoring Lara. “They told you their offer?”

“Yes, master.” She nodded and lowered her hand to clasp Lara’s fingers, stopping their slide up her thigh.

“What are you two talking about?” Lara leaned closer with her eyebrows tightening.

“Mandy’s not my wife...”

As both girls gasped and Mandy sat in silence, I explained everything. Well, all that I knew. Whenever I looked at Mandy, seeking answers to why she’d kept silent to Charles, or why she was angry at him, she didn’t even twitch. But her eyes were glistening blue lasers when I stopped talking.

“Wait. So, Mandy is married to this Charles guy and you two...?” Lara muttered with her head tilting. “Um, just hit it off. And been having an affair ever since.”

“Yep.” I nodded while looking at Mandy, but she again said nothing.

“Cool.” Lara snorted. “He sounds a bit dull. And Jim, you are not dull.” While sliding her hand free of Mandy’s grasp, she leaned close enough to sweep her tongue along Mandy’s shaking lower jaw. “And Mandy, I don’t blame you. He’s a fucking stud.” She shrugged and winked at me. “Besides, from the sound of it, doubt the guy minds, anyway. Happy wife, happy life.”

“It’s not that uncommon,” Ellie added as her shiny nails roamed Lara’s stomach. “We’ve served a lot of men and not a few women in similar circumstances.” She also shrugged. “Some spouses knew. Some didn’t. Others played as well. Or just watched. Meh, who cares? You’re both happy. And Charles most likely is. Hmm, whether or not he knows about you.”

“We record some of our exploits. I have a video site. Jim made it for me.”

At Mandy’s first words, spoken in such a quiet, even tone, I cocked my head. As both girls gasped, I watched her. Those lasers were even more focused. Yeah, she’d deftly avoided discussing her husband once more.

“What!” Lara flicked her gaze between Mandy and me. “Um, what kind of exploits?”

Rather than respond, Mandy arched an eyebrow while lifting the wine to her lips. Blue pools locked on me, she took a long drink.

“No way!” exclaimed Ellie, with her eyes widening. “Give us the link.”

“No,” I replied, shaking my head. “She’s anonymous.”

“Wait. So are we being filmed right now?” Lara asked while glancing around with her brow tight.

“Nope. This is Mandy’s birthday vacation.” I smiled at Mandy. As a finger traced the letters on her collar, her azure pools were boring deeper into me. Okay, the women might figure out her channel’s name. “What happens here, stays here”—I managed a quiet chuckle—”until she writes her memoirs.”

Before anyone else could speak, a yawn escaped Ellie. After a sigh, I stood and finished my wine.

“Enough chit-chat. Bedtime, I think, ladies,” I said before clearing the last items from the table.

None of the trio spoke while getting to their wobbly feet. Very wobbly; we’d emptied two bottles. After a day in the sun. Plus, all the action.

For that matter, maybe the robust vintage and the day’s events had frazzled me as well. There was no reason to confess any of our history to the girls. Yet, somehow, saying it aloud to strangers lifted a weight from my heart.

However, a glance at Mandy left me with only more questions. Although her shadowed face was neutral as she slid hair behind an ear, her eyes glittered. Was that a good thing? Another mystery. But it was late, and after a quiet exhale, I walked past them.

“There’s a couple of guest cabins with twin bunks.” I pointed towards the stairwell while sealing the main cabin from the chillier night air. “Master suite is all the way forward, Mandy.”

As I clomped by them once more and headed downstairs—the exhaustion was hitting me as well—giggling broke out behind me. When I halted just outside the massive suite’s open hatchway to look back at them, all three were huddled together.

Arms around their waists, Mandy was tugging the pair past the other cabin hatches. As she beamed that impish grin at me, the girls’ vivid green eyes flashed.

“Jim, you horny stud.” She glanced down at my dangling rod; at that point, I was more tired than horny. “Hmm, I just don’t feel safe in there with you all alone. You could take advantage of an innocent married woman.”

Okay, well, at least she wasn’t aggravated about my confession. Or her own. But why’d she brought up the porn vids? More mysteries. However, that was for later. With perfume and flowers wafting over me once again, my rod was stiffening with every beat of my heart.

“Hah.” While trying to look stern, I held in a chuckle and growled. “Could just as easily take advantage of the three of you.”

“Oh, God!” Mandy’s eyes went wide as she glanced at my cock, throbbing ever higher. Yeah, she remembered what I’d done to Susan, her daughter, Desi, and then her in quick succession. “Run for your lives! Big Jim needs feeding!”

With a loud chortle, she shoved them past me and lunged for the expansive bed. All three were giggling as the girls landed on either side of her and moved higher into a mound of overstuffed pillows. When I climbed onto the creaking mattress, reaching for the nearest ankle, they all yipped. But Ellie groaned and clawed at the covers as I tugged her closer.