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Chapter Thirty-Eight

C laire looked around her bedroom one more time.

She had packed a small overnight case. She and Joe were going to spend the weekend at a fishing camp owned by Joe’s friend Seth Bowman.

Everything was going well in their relationship, but they had never been away as a couple.

The camp was only two hours away but far enough from work to feel like they were on vacation.

She had packed the essentials: shorts, top, a see-through nightie, and a set of red underwear designed to drive Joe crazy.

The doorbell rang. She looked out, saw Joe, picked up her overnight and then walked out into a very pleasant day.

“Hi.” Joe stepped in, kissed her on the cheek and took her overnight. He pressed his hand to her back and opened the truck door, put the case in the back and helped her up.

“Seat belt.”

Yes. The seat belt. She’d been staring at his mouth, a very sexy mouth that she wanted to kiss, and she forgot to belt up.

Joe smirked. “Hold that thought.”

I will. And what a way to go. Claire smiled.

She had big plans for him tonight and hoped he was up for it.

Going to the fishing camp seemed so out of place for Joe.

She didn’t realize he fished. But then again, there was a lot she didn’t know about Joe.

She understood from Marlee that the camp was both rustic and charming.

Although Marlee’s memories of a killer chasing her at the camp made her shiver.

Seth had told Joe the camp was quiet this time of year and they would probably have it to themselves. She was looking forward to being alone with Joe.

They talked a little as they headed for the camp, catching up on what they’d been doing.

He held her hand and rubbed her knuckles as they were driving.

She blew him kisses occasionally. He would moan.

Then she licked her lips if he looked at her.

Claire could tell he was getting excited and frustrated, judging from the bulge in his jeans.

Just the way she wanted him. It had to be a little uncomfortable, but Joe wasn’t complaining.

He stopped once at a small grocery store to pick up a few things, and they arrived at the camp a half hour later.

“Oh my, this is just like I imagined it,” Claire exclaimed. She took in the small but rustic cabins, all with front porches, and a peaceful lake in the distance with small boats bobbing up and down.

“Which cabin are we staying in?”

“Seth gave us one back from the road. It’s private, so even if someone else comes, we won’t be disturbed,” said Joe.

“Perfect.”

Joe drove down the dirt road looking for the driveway to the cabin.

“Here it is.” He pulled off the road and parked the truck. They gathered the food and overnight cases and walked up to the front porch.

“Oh, this is so private.” She turned and pointed. “Oh look, Joe, the lake is perfect. ”

“It looks calm. I’ve heard there’s good fishing in it. Seth said we could take out one of the boats or a canoe. That is, if you want.”

“Hmmm. Sounds like fun. Maybe later.” She winked at him. “I have a better idea for what we can do right now.”

Joe gave her a full-body look and growled. “You’re such a tease.” He opened the door to let her in and gave her a light slap on the rear. “Get in the bedroom and take those clothes off.”

Claire gave her rear a little wiggle and laughed. “Your wish is my command.”

She opened the door to the bedroom, saw the king-size bed. “Seth doesn’t fool around, does he? That bed takes up practically the whole room.”

Joe walked over and turned her around. He kneeled and removed her sandals, then reached up to unbutton her top. One by one, the buttons were loosened.

“Joe, you’re killing me here. Let me take off my shirt.”

“Uh-uh. You had your chance. Now I’m going to take off all your clothes. But I’m going to relish every inch of your body while I do it. And I don’t want you to move an inch.”

Joe was true to his word. Worms could slither faster than he took her clothes off.

Claire was frustrated, but she stood still, watching him lick his lips and run his fingers over her body.

This wasn’t how she imagined their lovemaking would go.

She’d wanted to take the initiative, show him how much she loved him.

Then she wanted him to make love to her hard and fast. Later would be the time for slow.

“Stop moving, or I’ll take even longer.” He had her shirt off, stared at the red bra until he pushed it down, exposing her breasts.

“Mmmm. Maybe I’ll just taste one of those gorgeous beauties before I go lower.” He leaned over, took her nipple in his mouth and started caressing it with his tongue .

She moaned and pushed her chest out to get closer to him. He stopped and let go. Her nipple was cold, but he turned to the other side and started licking and sucking while massaging the breast he was finished with.

“Oh, my goodness. That feels amazing.”

He grinned while sucking, letting her nipple go with a pop. “Wait until I get lower.”

He slowly unzipped her shorts and let them drop to the floor. He picked her straight up in his arms, and her shorts slid off.

“I like,” he said, staring at the matching red thong she wore. Her crotch at eye level. “I like a lot.” He pulled her closer and sniffed at her sex before he put her down.

He slipped his fingers into the waistband and slowly, ever so slowly, slid her panties off.

Finally, she was naked. And excited. And wanting. “Please.”

“Please what, sweetheart?”

“Please make love to me.”

“All in good time. Lie down on the bed, knees bent and open wide.”

Claire lay down and did what he asked.

He stared at her pussy, licked his lips. “Beautiful.” He kneeled at the edge of the bed, pulling her forward. Leaned in and kissed her feet, her ankles, her calves, her thighs. Kissed each side of her mound and then her stomach. Rubbed her breasts, sucked them, and started over again.

Claire was moaning and bucking. She didn’t think she would ever get to make love. She stared down her body. Joe was opening her up, rubbing her pussy, rubbing her clit. Oh, my goodness. If she thought it felt good before, now she was in heaven.

Then a warm tongue started flicking her clit and sucking it. Joe inserted one finger, then two fingers into her pussy, and she bucked some more. Faster he went. Claire closed her eyes.

“Sweetheart, look at me.”

She opened her eyes and stared into his blue eyes, full of desire.

“Come for me.” He rubbed even faster. Claire couldn’t hold back. She bucked and screamed Joe’s name.

Next thing she knew, Joe was holding her and kissing her. She tasted herself on his lips. She felt his hardness on her side.

“Beautiful. Just beautiful,” he whispered.

“I think someone is overdressed here,” she said. He just grinned at her and started removing his clothes, piece by piece.

She sat there and watched him, ogling every inch of his body. Stopped him to ask about the frog peeking out from the side of his arm. She had seen it before but hadn’t asked about it. He didn’t have any other tattoos.

“I thought all big, bad SEALS had tattoos covering their bodies.”

“Nah, not everyone. I never needed tattoos to identify who I was. Mark and I got these after we left the teams.”

“Why a frog? And one that looks skeletal?”

“It’s a bone frog, honoring team members who have died.”

“Did any of your team die on a mission?”

Joe rubbed his chest with his hand. “Yeah.” He took a deep breath. “But that was a while ago. I’m here, you’re here, and that’s all that counts right now.” He looked at her and gave a small smile.

“Joe, make love to me.”

His eyes lit up. “Oh, sweetheart. I plan to and not just once. ”

He reached over to his overnight bag and removed a box of condoms.

“Wow, you must think you’re really getting lucky,” she quipped.

“Oh, darling, you have no idea.”

He unwrapped a condom and sheathed himself.

He got on top of her, holding his weight on his elbows, and slid into her slick pussy.

Claire felt a moment of fullness. Joe started moving slowly at first, then faster.

Claire felt another orgasm coming out. Joe’s cock got harder, bigger, and just as she screamed, he came in her, calling her name as he plunged into her.

When he was finished, they lay there for a few minutes holding each other. Then Joe pulled out, and Claire felt an emptiness.

“Claire, you are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.” He nudged her neck, kissing it. “Come closer. Let’s take a short nap, then we can put things away and maybe go out on the lake.” He smirked. “Or maybe not. I still have a full box of condoms to use.”

Claire closed her eyes, dreaming of being held by Joe, being loved by him.

Joe woke up an hour later. Making love to Claire was the most special thing he had ever done in his life. She was so responsive and giving. He wanted to wake up every morning like this.

Her back was to his front, and he started nibbling on her shoulder.

The sun was peeking around the shade, casting golden shadows.

As he was working his way down her back, he noticed several small faint scars.

What the hell had happened to her? Had she been in an accident?

Funny, she never mentioned that. Although they just met up after ten years apart, so he didn’t know everything that had happened to her.

He looked more closely. They were stripes. Stripes were going down her back. Five different thin stripes. He’d seen stripes like this before in a land no sane person wanted to visit. Could…

No. No. No. She hadn’t been in an accident. Those were whip marks. Goddamn. She had been whipped. Keith? It had to have been him. If he weren’t dead already, he would be now.

Joe felt ashamed of himself. Why hadn’t he stayed with Claire?

This would never have happened to her; she would have been safe with him.

Women should be protected and cherished.

What kind of animal was Keith that he would do this to another human being?

It reminded Joe of some of the animals in war he encountered.

He never understood the things they did to other human beings.

What he knew for sure was that he could never forgive himself for leaving her.

He kissed each one lightly. Claire tensed beside him. She held her breath. Didn’t say a word. When he was finished, he held her tight.

“When did this happen? Was it Keith?”

She nodded, wouldn’t look at him. “It was a while ago, and the wounds have been healing. I thought they weren’t visible.” She sighed. “I guess I was wrong.”

Tears leaked out of his eyes. He wiped them with his thumb.

“Joe, it’s okay. Keith is dead, and I never have to worry about this again.”

“I know, sweetheart. I’m just sorry you had to go through that. I’m sorry I wasn’t around to stop him.” He kissed her neck. “I’m sorry for so many things.” He whispered in her ear. “Turn around. I want, I need to feel your lips on mine.”

Claire turned around, worry in her eyes—oh no, not on his watch. She never had to worry about how he felt about her. He kissed her lids. “The one thing that surprises me is that you haven’t had any nightmares. Do you need to see a therapist?”

“I am seeing a therapist. As to your question about nightmares, I was never to blame for what Keith did to me. I’ve wasted enough time feeling guilty.

I’m not wasting any more time, beating myself up over the woulda, coulda, shoulda.

I made a mistake. I suffered. And I will never make the same mistake or suffer like that again. ”

Joe lay there with Claire snuggling in his arms. He knew people who never got over the abuse or wouldn’t let it go or blamed themselves.

“You were brave and strong as a girl, but as a woman…” He had to stop for a second.

His voice was trembling, and he swallowed hard.

“You are the bravest, strongest woman I know. You certainly didn’t deserve to get hurt. ”

“I agree. But it’s water over the dam.” She took his face in her hands. “The only thing that counts is right now. You’re here, I’m here, and I’m going to give you an orgasm.”

He started to protest.

“Shhh,” she murmured.

She reached her hand down to rub his balls and cock, then turned to go down on him.

“Claire, you don’t have to do this.”

“Shhh.” She moved lower. Her soft fingers caressed him, rubbed up and down, then her mouth enveloped his cock, and Joe was in heaven. He sighed. She moved slowly, then faster. Joe could only lie there. He couldn’t, wouldn’t move.

“Sweetheart, I’m going to come. Come up here. ”

She shook her head and sucked even faster. Tonguing the vein that was pulsating, tonguing the tip of his cock. Licking and sucking so hard, he didn’t want her to stop. Couldn’t even if he wanted to.

Could this get any better? He didn’t think so.