She’d come so close just now to telling him that he was an agent. That the nightmares weren’t crazy ramblings. Then he’d demand to know how she knew, what the hell was going on, and the rest would unravel.

She wasn’t ready. Selfishly, she wanted to cling to him as long as possible, to pretend for these next few days that he was hers. That he wouldn’t order her to leave when he learned what she’d done.

Pushing away the melancholy, she glanced toward the volleyball game and smiled in spite of herself. Liam was right in the thick of it, laughing, soaking up the attention from the ladies. He moved a bit stiffly from the sore, bruised muscles on his back, but he looked good.

“He’s having a great time,” Lily remarked. “He’s got more energy than anyone I’ve ever met. Even when he’s still healing.”

“I hope this trip is good for him. And that Dev has come to his senses by the time we go home.”

Home.

Some things just weren’t in the cards, no matter how badly one might want them. Or how hard one fought.

Lily settled them into beach chairs under an umbrella and tried to forget about secrets. Lies.

And how they’d soon destroy a life she hadn’t known she wanted until she met Jude.

Thirteen

Jude relaxed in a lounger on the resort’s patio area, soaking in the revelry around him. Not wild and crazy, but lively, friendly. The folks they’d met today had been nice, some curious about Jude’s blindness.

To the few who dared to ask outright, he gave them the simple explanation of being in a car accident. Most left it alone, but two or three had commented about the heightened- sensuality angle, and the true anonymity of the partners he’d enjoy at a resort like this one. Though he’d give anything to have his sight back, he had to give them that point.

Especially now, with certain murmurs and moans of pleasure drifting to his out- of-the-way spot on the fringe of the activity. With the setting of the sun and the arrival of evening, inhibitions loosened and vanished.

Whispers of “Lick her there” and “Stretch him wide” washed over him like a low electric hum, heating his blood, thickening his cock. Where in blazing hell were his own companions? The debauchery around him began to get to him and he spread his legs some, adjusting his growing dick in his swim trunks.

“My, my,” a female voice purred close to his ear. “Who disappeared and left a stud like you alone and wanting?”

“I’m here with my two friends, but they’ve obviously found something to keep them busy.”

She skimmed his bare chest, nipped his shoulder. “The pretty young man and the petite woman with long dark hair,” she said. “I’ve seen you with them today. I see one of them now.”

“Which one?”

“Your lady friend. She’s on the opposite side of the patio in the darkness with her legs spread and one of the hunky bartenders lapping her cunt.” Her exploration continued to the waistband of his trunks.

“Oh, God.” His cock went hard as a steel pole.

“He’s really getting with it, eating her while two of his friends have her ankles, keeping her open for him.” She delved inside, wrapped her fingers around his scorching flesh. “Your young man went off down the beach with two hot girls some time ago, and here you are, in such a sad state. Let me help you, and we’ll give them a show in return.”

“Yes,” he hissed. He’d been on a slow simmer all day, and with his friends partaking of their own pleasures, he wasn’t about to refuse.

“Let’s get naked, sweetheart,” she said with a laugh.

Jesus, this place was getting to him, sending his libido into hyperdrive. To be in a haven solely for adults who shared the same attitudes about sexual freedom was a heady experience.

“What’s your name?” he asked.

“Brenda. Yours?”

“Jude.”

With those preliminaries done, Brenda took his hand and pulled him up. As soon as he stood, they were all over each other, devouring each other’s mouths, tongues spearing. Searching.

With his help, her skimpy bikini top went first, then the bottoms. She yanked his trunks down his legs and off, then knelt as he widened his stance for her.

Grabbing the base of his cock, she guided the head to her lips. Licked and teased, tasted the drops of pre-cum oozing forth.

“We’re gaining quite an audience,” she informed him, pleased with herself. “Oh, your lady friend is watching, too.”

“Fuck, yeah. Let them all look their fill.” Jude fisted his hands in her hair, cut in a chin-length bob. He wondered at the color, then decided he didn’t care. Hot, dirty sex with a total stranger was what he craved tonight. Knowing Lily was enjoying the same, while observing him, aroused him beyond belief.

“You’re so huge.” Lick. “Hung like a bull.”

“Suck me, honey,” he growled.

She obliged and his entire length was sheathed by a warm, wet cavern. Her clever tongue bathed the ridge underneath his shaft, mouth sucking. His balls were manipulated, rolled in her palms, as she worked him.

“Ahh, yes. Like that-suck it.”

Losing himself, he fucked her mouth harder, hitting the back of her throat. She took him easily, no novice at servicing a man this way. So good. The sounds of sex around them drove him higher.

When the familiar buzz began in his balls, hummed at the base of his spine, he tugged gently. “Need inside you. Now.”

She pulled off him with a last slow lick and stood. “Can’t wait. Damn, you’re so freaking sexy. How do you want me?”

“I think there’s a low wall nearby. I want you to face it, brace yourself, and spread your legs for me. I want everybody to be able to see me fucking you.”

“Fuck, yeah,” a man groaned. “Do her.”

“Condoms?” she asked.

“In the pocket of my swim trunks. Put it on me.”

The package crinkled and she smoothed the rubber over him quickly. His cock twitched. He’d always been turned on by a lover doing it for him, though he was in no coherent frame of mind to reason why.

“Make sure we’re visible,” he said as she led him into position, hardly able to contain his release at the image of fucking Brenda in public. “Spread wide and poke your ass out. I want your pretty pussy exposed to me. To everyone.”

“Shit, yes.” She moved into position. “Take what you need, handsome.”

First, he’d treat her with the same consideration she’d showed him. Crouching behind her, he rubbed a hand up her leg, to her ass cheeks. When he parted her and rimmed her taut little back entrance with his tongue, she gasped, nearly coming unglued.

“Oh, God! That’s good… Tongue me. Lick me.”

He tongue-fucked her, plunging into her tiny hole. Inhaled her earthy scent. After a few moments of attention there, he moved lower. Tasted her slit, her readiness for him. She was sweet and plump, dripping, and he feasted on her, licking and nibbling until she was grinding onto his face. Sobbing and begging.

“Please, fuck me! Do me, now!”

Several voices moaned their own pleasure to punctuate the demand.

Ready to burst, he rose over her, grabbed her curvy hips. Carefully, he brought the head of his cock to the opening, worked between her lips. In one smooth motion, he buried himself deep inside her. Reveled in their bodies, connected, hot and sweaty. He felt dark and nasty, gave himself to the glorious feeling of being buried in his lover’s cunt. Owning her, for this brief space of time.

For all to see.

Especially Lily.

He imagined them, two attractive strangers moving together in this beautiful setting, sharing their bodies. He wondered whether Lily was as swept along by the tide of lust permeating this place.

The thought did him in and he fucked her hard, hips pumping rapidly. He couldn’t get enough of his cock pounding her sheath, her little cries, her body wild underneath him.

“Fuck, yes!” she yelled in time to his strokes. “Yes, yes! Harder… almost there…”