Page 70 of Evidence of Deceit

“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 hadhappened 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 herneck. “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.”

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