by Demi Alex
“Hello,” he said, lowering his face and brushing his lips over her mouth before the Latin Lover. “Started the party without me?”
That was an asshole move. He’d never needed to mark his territory with any other woman.
“Nah,” she said. “You arrived on time. We’re just getting started.” Her bare shoulders rose and her sweet butt moved in an inviting wiggle. She held out her arm to the Latin Lover. “This is my friend Luis.”
Ford moved behind her and pressed his body against hers, snaked an arm across her middle, then extended a hand to the other man. Her friend. Who cared? As long as it was his arm brushing her skin. He’d make sure it would be his arm every time from this point on.
“Nice to meet you,” he said. “I’m Ford.”
Quinn returned as the two men clasped hands and shook. Ford didn’t miss the way he winked at Charlie.
“You met his boyfriend, Quinn, earlier,” Charlie said, leaning back against Ford’s chest to give him easier access to Quinn’s extended hand.
Ford nodded and quickly shook the All-American’s hand. “Good to see you, Quinn. I’m Ford.”
Boyfriends or not, Luis and Quinn had room on their roster for an addition. If he had anything to say about it, Charlie would not be drafted. Ford was keeping her exclusively on his team.
He draped his arm down her body and settled his hand on the curve of her hip. She fit perfectly against him, and he nuzzled his way just below her ear. “You still up for chatting starboard after we sail?”
“Absolutely,” she replied. “We’re also planning on the happy hour party.” She glanced at the jock, who was wearing an amused grin. “What’s it called?”
“The Erogenous Zone party,” Quinn said.
“Right,” Charlie said, nodding and turning back to Ford. “Care to join us?”
“Absolutely,” he said, throwing her enthusiasm back at her. “I go where you go.”
The drill leader blew his whistle. Ford settled his chin atop her head, inhaling the coconut scent of her hair deep into his chest.
Purgatory.
Chapter Seven
“You’re meeting him starboard?” Quinn asked when it was just the three of them walking back to their cabins. As Charlie fit her keycard into the slot, he touched her arm and made her turn to look at him. He fixed her with an inquisitive stare.
“Yup. We set it up earlier,” Charlie explained, stepping back from the doorway and letting him into her cabin. Luis waited for her to enter and followed. “Why?”
“Have you read the material provided by the group?” Quinn insisted, reaching for one of the pamphlets on the counter and offering it to her.
“I’ve read most of it,” she replied, taking the paper and returning it to the pile. “I have a job to do. I can’t spend all my time learning about kinky sex and all it offers. I have to concentrate and write about the perfect place to find love. I need to look at the big picture, not the details.”
“Mi querida, that Ford guy has his mind set on a very specific detail,” Luis said. “There’s no big picture with him. He all but pissed a circle around you, marking you as off limits to everyone else onboard. I’m surprised he let you walk back to your cabin with us.”
“He has some work thing to see to,” Charlie said. They weren’t obligated to be together all the time. “We’re looking out for each other, while meeting professional needs. It’s a professional arrangement. We’re not even considering this a friendship.”
“It’s not a friendship,” Quinn agreed. “Read the damn material. This is a cruise centered on sexual exploration and expression, not on finding love. Love and friendship are byproducts and possible results of the sex. They’re not the purpose. Plus, there are certain parts of the ship that are clothing optional—no clothing needed or expected.”
“The starboard side of the lido is such a place,” Luis said.
“Shit. Shit. I missed that. Triple shit.” She dropped onto the edge of the bed and hid her face in her hands. Her stomach did continuous somersaults, so she appreciated her lack of appetite at lunch. “I’m not a nudist. I wouldn’t be caught dead naked in front of a bunch of strangers. I can’t sit on deck in the buff.”
Luis laughed. He hooked a finger beneath her chin and angled her face upwards. “If you’re with him, that won’t be an option,” he said, dropping a reassuring kiss on her forehead. “We won’t be an option.”
“What?” Her eyes burned and alarm pulsed in her mind. “Nobody, and I mean nobody, dictates who my friends are. Never.”
Luis’s laughter continued. “Oh, querida. You are such a refreshing pleasure. I’m glad we’re friends.”
Quinn nodded in agreement. He leaned over and kissed her cheek. “Very happy we’re friends.”
“Me, too,” she admitted, feeling a twinge of regret in her core. What would it be like to be involved with two men like Quinn and Luis? They were handsome, charming, considerate, and totally sexy. Her shoulders dropped in disappointment. No matter what they were or how easy it was to be with them, they hadn’t ignited a fire low in her belly the way Ford had. It burned hotter each time he touched her. But she wasn’t relinquishing control to him or anyone. She was working.
“I say who I associate with,” Charlie said. “No one else does. I won’t be around anyone who tries.”
“Don’t sell the man short,” Luis warned. “Ford may be possessive, but he’s not an idiot. I doubt he’d ever try to name your friends or restrict your nature. And as far as we’re concerned, I’ll admit to holding onto hope that you’d change your mind until I saw you respond to him. Every inch of your skin turned the prettiest pink. Your nipples went so hard and your pupils dilated. No question. He’s not meant for your friend zone. We are, and we’ll be in your corner every step of the way.”
Talk about being a straight shooter. Luis didn’t bother with extra words for the sake of niceties. He placed it all on the table, making it absolutely certain she was on board with his understanding of the situation.
“However, pequeña, that doesn’t mean that I’m negating our previous agreement,” he continued. “And if you’re honest, which is what you agreed to, you’ll admit to wanting to meet him on any terms.”
“Almost any terms,” she said, pointing a finger in the air. “I’m not going naked.”
“Trust us, sweetheart. He won’t allow you to expose that body,” Quinn said, grinning and waving a hand in the air. “If you strutted in naked, he’d tackle you to the floor and cover you up himself. He’s not about sharing.”
“Whatever. I’m done daydreaming,” she said, groaning and pushing against Quinn’s massive back. “Just go. I’ll deal with Ford. You guys have it wrong. Our relationship is a business relationship. He has no right to say what I do or don’t do.”
“If you say so, baby girl.” Quinn stood, pulling her up and into a tight embrace. He brought his mouth to hers and gave her what felt like a good-bye kiss. “Just have fun.”
“May I?” Luis asked, stepping up and gazing into her eyes.
Charlie licked her lips and nodded. She wanted this. Wanted to know what it was like to be given the control and feel treasured.
With one hand tight at her nape and the other cupping her cheek, Luis turned her to face him. He pressed his thumb to her chin and her lips parted. He slid his lips over hers, swept over her tongue, and feasted on her curious desire. Pressed against his hard body, she felt the length of his arousal against her belly. Another good-bye kiss. “Be honest, querida.”
“I will,” she breathed, reaching for the back of the chair and her balance.
“If not, we’re getting back in the game,” Quinn warned, walking ahead of Luis and out the door.
“That’s a promise,” Luis added, latching the door behind him.
They’d accepted her decision, agreed to play by her rules, and shown her they wouldn’t abandon her and let her go at it alone.
She lowered to the chair and let out a long breath. And friends or no
t—not that it was typical to kiss her friends like that—those men were master kissers. She should be clawing at their backs and begging them to stay. Luis and Quinn offered her every decadent fantasy she’d never had the courage to dream of, but no matter how dizzying their kisses, they didn’t burn through her like Ford’s.
She was doomed. He wasn’t allowed in guest cabins, and so he wasn’t allowed to give her what her body craved. Officially, they worked together and therefore were allowed to interact because they provided cover for each other. That included being a couple for the other guests’ eyes, but never really being together. It would be four nights of torture.
Or, if she was smart, she could keep things easy with Ford, forget about the supposed date they’d set for ten days down the road, and enjoy the carnal company of two sexy-as-fuck men. They looked good, tasted delicious, and smelled like heaven. There was no doubt in her mind that Quinn and Luis could more than physically satisfy her and teach her things that books were written about.
She shook her head. Nothing was going to happen with Quinn and Luis. She wasn’t wired like that. Her mind didn’t rule her body. Her heart did. At the moment, her body was preparing for heartbreak.
Grabbing the pink bikini bottoms, she walked into the small bathroom and prepped for self-imposed celibacy . . . again.
* * *
Ford checked the bedside clock and reached for the phone. He dialed Charlie’s cabin, and laughed at the bothered manner with which she answered the phone.
“Hello. What has you so breathless?”
“I didn’t expect the phone to ring,” she replied. “I was getting dressed.”
“In that case, may I suggest we change our meeting spot?”
“No. I’m good with it,” she insisted.
He could picture her lips in a pretty pout and her proud chin jutting high. She must have read about the starboard side, but was too stubborn to admit it would be too much for her. He wondered how she’d really handle the scenes.
“Do I need to bring extra sunscreen?” Ford asked.
“Depends how easy you burn.”
“Cute. I’m not the blonde in our pair. Unless . . .” He didn’t bother to hide his laughter. It was easy to envision her blush at his implication and he liked that.
“Funny, Keaton.”
“Ford. And I’ll meet you by the elevators in five.” He wanted to add that clothing optional meant she should be dressed and not on display, but he held back. She’d go naked just to annoy him. He went for casual. “We’ll ride up together.”
“Fine. I’ll see you in five.”
She disconnected, and he felt the loss.
He hurried out of his cabin and up the staircase to their meeting spot. He stared at the entrance, praying she’d walk through in more than a sarong. She did.
Charlie wore the same strapless blue dress she’d been wearing during the drill. Her full breasts were perfectly outlined by the elastic that hugged them, and the tips still beckoned for his lips to close around them, but there was enough material flowing around her body to keep it covered.
“Hi,” he said, crooking his arm and offering it to her. “Ready?”
“As I’ll ever be,” she replied, fitting her hand through his arm and resting her dainty fingers on his forearm. “Luis and Quinn said that starboard was clothing optional.”
He nodded, pressing the call button for the elevator, then covering her hand with his. “And privacy optional.”
“What does that mean?”
She looked up at him, adorable and way too cute, and he considered hiding her in his cabin for the duration of the trip. She was sweet and innocent, at least on the surface, and he didn’t want her exposed to the eyes of others. Fucking unreasonable, he knew.
“Privacy optional means you may see more than you’re prepared to see,” Ford said. “Are you sure you still want to talk there?”
“I’m sure,” she said, squaring her shoulders. “I’m a professional observer. I’m with you. No one will bother me.”
“They better not,” he said, feeling good that she’d thought of the fact that she was with him. He pressed the button for the top deck.
Chapter Eight
Ford led her to a high top near the railing overlooking the pool. “I figure we can review tonight’s program with a little peace from here. If you like, we’ll make our way down when we’re done.”
So, he hadn’t exactly complied with her request to chat on the lido. He’d taken it on himself to give her a bird’s-eye view first. He didn’t want her in the center of the action. And no fucking way would he risk another man’s hands reaching for her tempting little body. He’d probably find himself in a fistfight, and the captain wouldn’t hesitate to yank her away from him and have him thrown overboard. Well maybe not literally overboard, but he’d be relieved of his position and off the ship, shattering not only his opportunity to have Charlie, but also his ability to secure the remaining money for his café.
He kept quiet while she looked around, then climbed up on the stool without any objection. She glanced down at the party and scanned the crowd with intense curiosity. Her gaze stopped at a group gathered on two lounge chairs that had been pushed together.
Two women, a brunette and a redhead, were sprawled naked on the blue and white striped towels. The redhead was on her back, her legs spread wide, and on display for the guests. The brunette was on her side, massaging the redhead’s breasts and rolling dark nipples between her fingers.
When a man dropped his head and suckled an offered tit, the brunette moved her hand between the redhead’s thighs. A second man stepped up behind the brunette and kneaded the pale globes of her ass. He whispered something in the brunette’s ear, and the woman slid her fingers into the redhead with a great show of zeal, as the redhead lifted her hips to the brunette’s pumping.
“Are they part of the group’s entertainment?” Charlie asked, leaning over the railing as if searching for a director. “A show?”
“No,” Ford said, closing his fingers around her wrist. “You can say it’s a show of sorts, but not organized. Some couples, oftentimes more than a few as you can see, have fun in public. The only rules are that their actions be consensual and not harmful.”
“They’re guests?” Her big eyes matched her surprised tone.
“Yes,” he replied, standing and moving behind her. He snaked an arm around her middle and held her close as she pushed up the footrest. He shifted to hold her securely and her breasts rested on his forearm, causing his libido to go into overdrive. He intentionally moved his hold lower so as to not torture himself. “Does it turn you on to watch while the brunette fingers the redhead? Does the idea of a woman’s touch make you horny?”
“Not usually,” she replied, her tone more scientific than sensual. “But this is sexy as shit. I’m amazed at how free and comfortable they are with their bodies. All of them.”
The man who had whispered to the brunette motioned for someone to approach. An employee of Lovers Sail appeared, outfitted in only a stainless-steel cock cage, and held out a tray of condoms. The man chose one, tore off the packaging, and rolled it on. He then selected a tube and squeezed the lube into his palm, dismissing the server with a toss of his head. He settled on the chaise behind the brunette and lifted her right leg.
Ford pressed his arm across Charlie’s abdomen as he tightened his fingers on the soft swell of her hip. He didn’t bother watching the scene below them; rather, he studied the expressions rolling over Charlie’s face. She didn’t look away from the thrusting bodies, and the writhing limbs didn’t bother her. She was intrigued and, if he wasn’t mistaken, she was extremely turned on. “You like that?”
“It’s interesting,” she breathed. “I like the freedom to do what feels right.” She turned in his arms, her breasts brushing across his ribs. “Is that an orgy?”
“Considering he’s fucking her ass, while she’s fingering the other woman and sucking another guy’s dick, who happens to be play
ing with the redhead’s tits, I’d say it’s an orgy,” he said, chuckling as she burrowed against him but turned back to look.
“There is another guy sucking one of the redhead’s boobs,” Charlie added. “And a fourth guy lubing up behind him.”
“Officially an orgy,” Ford confirmed, intrigued that she was so into it. “There is also an ordinary and boring couple going at it by the bar.” He pointed to the man bending a woman over a stool and pumping into her for all he was worth.
“Ew.” She jumped away from her stool and onto his toes, practically crawling up his body and wrapping her arms around his neck.
She was so into the group activities, that her reaction to the single, heterosexual couple shocked him, and he hardly had time to secure her curvy little bottom in his hands. He leaned back and looked at her face. “What’s wrong?”
“You think someone did it on this one?” She pointed to her seat.
Laughing, he cupped her ass and lifted her against his body. “I doubt it. Wrap your legs around my waist, and I’ll keep you off any potential fuck surfaces.”
“Okay,” she said, surprising him again. “It’s kind of nasty to think of their jizz all over the place. I’m not about exchanging bodily fluids with strangers.”
“Duly noted. No bodily fluid play with others.” Ford laughed louder, and the movement of his chest had her sweet ass filling his hands.
* * *
Charlie didn’t want her flabby butt jiggling against him. “You’re laughing at me.” She smacked his shoulder. “Stop it. You know it’s gross.”
“You know the table and stools are clean,” he replied. His large palm cupped a fleshy ass cheek as he grinned at her. “Our staff has received extensive training on properly cleaning the ship for the sailing’s specific activities, and the event organizers have their own crew of sanitizing engineers. The surfaces are clean. Plus, sex acts are restricted to certain venues. This isn’t one of them.”
“Really?” Charlie asked, searching the tabletop and stools for stains.