Ghost-ARC

by John Ringo

  "No comment," Courtney said, pulling at the top of the towel.

  "Here's the question: When do you have to go back to Missouri?"

  "That's a big question," Pam said carefully. "Not until classes start, I guess."

  "I've said it before, you can stay as long as you'd like," Mike said, just as carefully. "If you'd like, we can just fish and dive—I'm a qualified SCUBA instructor by the way, so I can get you qualified on that if you want. Or we can fish and dive and . . . play. For as long as you'd like. Or, rather, until it's time to go back to Missouri. Not forever."

  "Why not forever?" Courtney asked sharply. "Commitment issues?"

  "Really complicated ones," Mike answered, nodding. "Let's put it this way, for reasons I won't get into it would be a really bad idea for me to ever get married. Really bad. Having kids is out of the question."

  "Well, I wasn't talking marriage," Courtney said, shaking her head.

  "Just leave it, if we can," Mike said, shrugging. "But you can stay for a couple of days, or a week, or until it's time to go back to Missouri. No strings at all. But. If we're going to do scenes, we're going to do it right. Full contract."

  "Contract?" Pam said, raising an eyebrow.

  "Contract," Mike answered, grinning.

  "That sounds ominous," Courtney muttered, pulling at her towel again.

  "Not nearly as ominous as the actual contract," Mike replied, grinning again. "Trust me, you'll love it. Just doing the contract is a scene."

  Pam looked at Courtney, who shrugged and waggled her head.

  "Okay," Pam said carefully. "We'll stay for . . . a bit longer."

  "Works," Mike said, nodding. "Okay, we are very much out of scene at this point. Courtney, I've got a bunch of T-shirts that are going to be long enough to be a dress for you. Why don't you grab one of those for the time being, or your suit. Maybe your suit under the shirt if you want. I'll get the anchors in, we'll head back to the marina and get your gear. Maybe do a little shopping unless you have more suits."

  "I've got one more," Pam said.

  "I don't," Courtney said. "I never used them for anything except sunning, really. I don't swim much at home."

  "We'll be swimming, and sunning, a lot," Mike said, standing up. "And let me pay for the suits, okay? The proprietary amount I got in the buyout? Just say it was in excess of ten mil. I can afford bathing suits. Even very pretty, very expensive ones."

  "And anything else you'd want!" Courtney said, her eyes wide.

  "No," Mike said, pausing at the opening to the companionway and not turning around. "I can't buy the very real pleasure I'm getting from your company. I don't even mean the sex, which, by the way, was incredible in case I didn't mention it. I mean the real honest pleasure I'm getting from just having the two of you around."

  Chapter Six

  "Are we insane?" Pam said quietly, when the cabin door closed.

  "If I am," Courtney said, lying back on the couch and closing her eyes, "I don't ever want to go back to sanity."

  "I think that's the trap he was talking about," Pam said, shaking her head. "I think I know what he means. I think if he told me to do . . . just about anything, I'd do it."

  "Yeah," Courtney said, sitting up. "But . . . I trust him not to really hurt me. Except, maybe, break my heart," she added sadly.

  "He really hit the nail on the head with that one," Pam admitted. "The M word."

  "I'd marry him in a heartbeat," Courtney agreed, nodding. "And he says he can cook."

  "I'm a great cook," Mike said, tossing her a brown T-shirt. "Sorry, I need to do laundry. It was all I had left clean."

  "What is it?" Courtney asked, holding up the light tan shirt with "Alpha Five" stenciled on the front.

  "One of my team shirts," Mike said, shrugging. "It will cover your lovely nakedness, which is a pity. Your gorgeous blonde bush is showing under the towel."

  Courtney stood up and dropped the towel, posing.

  "Does this make you think of anything?" she asked coyly.

  "Nope," Mike said, shrugging. "Can't think of a thing."

  "Take your pants off and prove it," Courtney said, stretching and arching. "Nothing?"

  "You really want me to prove it?" Mike said, raising an eyebrow.

  "You're serious?" Courtney asked, looking at his crotch. "God, you're serious."

  "One of the requirements of being a good dom is control," Mike said. "Okay, I'll prove it," he added, backing towards the companionway. "Pam, could you take off your suit, please?"

  "Uhm . . ." Pam said, looking from one to the other and then shrugging. "God, I can't believe I'm doing this," she muttered, reaching up to untie her top.

  When she was naked, Mike shrugged off his shorts and raised an eyebrow.

  "You're not even a little hard," Courtney said accusingly.

  "Nope," Mike said calmly.

  "How 'bout this?" Courtney said, writhing towards him, hands behind her head, hips working.

  "Nope," Mike said, looking over her body disinterestedly.

  "He's serious," Pam said, shaking her head and looking away.

  "That's . . . sick," Courtney said, stopping and looking at him angrily. "It's insulting! I know you like us!"

  "Very much," Mike said in the same calm tone. "Would you like to see how much?"

  "Yes," Pam said, looking back, her eyes widening as he thickened and lengthened before her eyes. "Jesus!"

  Mike reached out quickly and took Courtney's jaw in a hard one handed grip.

  "So do you really want to challenge me?" he growled, looking her hard in the eye.

  "No," Courtney whispered, panting.

  "'No, master,'" Mike growled.

  "No . . ." Courtney closed her eyes and panted for a second. "No . . . master."

  "Very good," Mike said, smiling at her, his eyes hard. He released her and pulled up his shorts, then looked over at her. "Are you okay?" he asked gently.

  She just looked at him in confusion and raised a hand that fluttered in the air like a bird.

  Mike gently took it and pulled her into his arms, his face in her neck, holding her naked body gently.

  "It's a strange feeling, isn't it?" he asked quietly. "But it's okay. I really do care. But if you tease or challenge, well," he said, pulling back and looking her in the eye, grinning, "this old dog has way more than one bite."

  "Okay," Courtney said, smiling and rubbing at his chest, still obviously agitated. "I won't tease."

  "Unless you want to get bit," Mike said, rubbing at her hair. "That's part of the play, too."

  "Uh, I'm sort of . . ."

  "Later, unfortunately," Mike replied. "We have real life to contend with for a while. You probably should get dressed and catch a breather; this is a lot to deal with all of a sudden."

  "Yes," Pam said, softly, "it is."

  He pulled Courtney back into his arms, then moved to Pam, bringing her into a group hug.

  "We'll have fun," Mike said gently. "And any time, any time, that you want to stop or just take a breather, you can tell me that and we'll stop for as long as you want. Permanently, if that's what you want. I'm not a rapist. I'm not a slave owner. We're, all three, friends. And we need to stay that way. Okay?"

  "Okay," Pam said, smiling, her face working. "This is just . . ."

  "Scary like a scary movie?" Mike asked, loosening up his hold. "Or scary like . . . Syria?"

  "Truth?" Pam said. "Somewhere in between."

  "Probably about right," Mike said, shrugging. "The analogy isn't perfect. There's no physical touch in a movie. Speaking of which, did you call your friend back?"

  "No!" Pam said, her eyes wide.

  "Do that while I go get the anchors in and head back to the marina."

  When he was gone on deck, Pam looked down, realized she was naked, and blushed scarlet.

  "I think we're going insane," she repeated, putting on her suit and heading to her cabin to dig out her cell phone.

  "I'm all for it," Courtney said, picking up the
T-shirt and sniffing it. No smell of Mike, more's the pity.

  "You're a slut, Courtney," Pam said from the cabin. "Oh, crap."

  "What?" Courtney said, walking to her door.

  "There are six messages," Pam said. "Probably all from Stacey. I hope she didn't freak out too bad." She hit the speed dial.

  "Pam!" Stacy said, desperately. "Are you okay?"

  "Yeah," Pam said, giggling. "More than okay. Really, really insanely okay, okay?"

  "You didn't call!" Stacey said. "And you didn't answer your phone. I was going out of my mind! I almost called the police."

  "Sorry, sorry," Pam said. "Don't, it's okay. It's really, really okay. It's not just okay, it's great."

  "Me!" Courtney said, grabbing at the phone. "Me!"

  "Courtney wants to talk," Pam said, handing over the phone.

  "Stacey!" Courtney squealed. "You know the tall, dark, and handsome stranger? How about tall, dark, rich, dangerous, handsome stranger?"

  "You're kidding," Stacey said enviously.

  "Did I mention great in bed?" Courtney said, flopping down in the lower bunk and kicking at the top one happily. "Did I?"

  "Just you or . . . ?" Stacey asked incredulously.

  "Both!" Courtney squealed. "Pam . . . well, a bunch of times. Me once. Came twice!"

  "Courtney!" Pam said, gritting her teeth.

  "I think Pam came . . ." She looked over and shook her head. "How many?"

  "Some." Pam sighed, shaking her head.

  "Like, six?" Courtney asked, raising an eyebrow.

  "Six?" Stacey shouted. "You're joking!"

  "More like . . ." Pam said, shaking her head. "Give me the phone, Courtney."

  "Come on," Courtney replied. "You can count that high, right? Three, four? Five?"

  "Give me the phone," Pam said, holding out her hand.

  "Stacey," she said carefully, "we're having a lot of fun. We're probably going to stay down here for a few more days . . ."

  "Weeks you mean!" Courtney yelled. "Months!"

  "Mike's invited us to stay," Pam said calmly. "He'd invited us to stay before last night and I think we'll take him up on his kind invitation."

  "We're slaves!" Courtney yelled. "Slaves to his desire!"

  "Is she out of her mind?" Stacey asked.

  "Yes," Pam replied calmly. "And so am I. Completely round the bend. Head over heels in . . . lust, I guess." She shook her head and sighed. "But Courtney's right. This guy is nice, he's . . . pretty handsome, he's got a body like . . . Christ you just want to spend you life running your hands over his pecs. Great boat, we went fishing for dolphin fish, that's mahi-mahi, and we caught a bunch and then took them to this great restaurant he knows and the cook fixed them up great. Then when we got back to the boat Courtney kind of passed out . . ."

  "He didn't drug her, did he?" Stacey asked, suspiciously.

  "No, she was just worn out," Pam said.

  "Exhausted from looking at him," Courtney said, humming happily.

  "It wasn't drugs," Pam said. "She went to bed while Mike was reparking the boat, then he was helping me put on aloe and . . ." She paused and sighed. "Whooo. Great hands. Did I mention great hands? And you know the bondage thing?"

  "He didn't tie you up!" Stacey said.

  "Not yet," Pam sighed. "But he totally took charge. I could barely think. It's like he reads your mind, it's just insane. I think we did it about four times last night and I came at least three times, but a couple of them were like one continuous . . ."

  "Me, too!" Courtney caroled.

  "Hush," Pam hissed. "Anyway, we're going to stay for awhile. We'll call our parents. And I'll call you, too. He was the one who told me to call you last night, and he reminded me that I hadn't called back this morning."

  "Courtney said something about 'dangerous,'" Stacey said cautiously. "I'm still worried about the 'dangerous.'"

  "He's a former SEAL," Pam said. "And just about covered in scars; he got really shot up somewhere. But . . . he's a nice guy. He can be really dominant in a good way, then turn caring in the next second. It's . . ."

  "It's making me cum just thinking about it," Courtney said, her legs in the air, crossed, and rubbing back and forth.

  "Courtney, would you quit that?" Pam said, looking away. "Courtney is just . . . gone. She's turning into a total whore, I swear."

  "As long as I'm Mike's ho," Courtney said, laughing and sitting up. "Me."

  "Here's Courtney."

  "I really was tired last night," Courtney said. "It wasn't drugs, it was being out on the boat and being amazingly horny for hours. It really took it out of me."

  "He's that great?" Stacey said, disbelieving.

  "He's got a body like a ruined Adonis," Courtney said. "Great legs, huge thighs, nice calves, stomach's a bit big, but I think that's age because it's strong too. Arms, shoulders, great tan, and these massive scars on his chest and stomach. Like Pam said, he got really shot up, I don't know how he lived, you know? When I got up I checked Pam's cabin . . ."

  "You were on the boat last night?" Stacey asked.

  "Oh, yeah, it's a big boat," Courtney said. "A yacht, I guess. Did I mention he's rich? Anyway, I checked Pam's room and she wasn't therrre . . ." she caroled, grinning evilly.

  "Oh, shut up," Pam said, shaking her head.

  "So I crept up to the main cabin and peeked in and he was awake and Pam was just out like a light. I guess she was worn out," she added, winking at Pam.

  "It had been a long day," Pam said.

  "Long night more like it," Courtney said. "When he got out of bed it was like watching a Cro-Magnon or something. He's apparently got a lot of joint damage. And he still looked good. Well, except for the new scars on his back," she said with a grin, winking at Pam.

  "And he started making coffee, moving better by then, and then . . ." Courtney paused and shook her head. "It got sort of confused. There was this apple and then we were on the floor and he pinned my arms down with my shirt and stuffed my . . . anyway, he just . . . took me. He played with me, I mean really played, not just 'let's get her wet enough to get it in,' but just worked me all the way 'til I came and then just . . . took me." She stopped, panting.

  "Courtney," Stacey said, a bit breathlessly. "I don't have a boyfriend right now. Could we cut back a little on the description?"

  "Well, let's just say I know what Pam meant by one continuous cum," Courtney said, shaking her head. "Mindblowing doesn't begin to describe it. When Pam came out I was still stark naked and I liked it. He's into bondage and all that, by the way. We talked about it this morning. But he's . . . he keeps talking about safety and making sure we're clear when we're not in what he calls 'scene.' He's . . . just so blunt about some things. But in a good way. It's almost like taking a class. A really fun class!" she finished.

  "I wish I was there," Stacey sighed. "But I've got to work."

  "Come on down," Courtney said. "Plenty of room. And I'm sure he could wear all three of us out!"

  "Won't fly," Stacey said. "But I'm glad you're having fun."

  "We are," Courtney said. "Lots of fun. Fun fishing, fun snorkeling, fun partying, and lots of fun screwing. God, I want to screw him again. I want him to screw me again. I'm getting wet just thinking about it."

  "I'm getting wet just hearing about it," Stacey sighed. "Look, call me, okay? Every day you can."

  "Okay," Courtney said. "Talk later."

  "Girls," Mike said when Pam and Courtney came up on the flying bridge. "Do either of you have a passport? Barring that, how about a birth certificate?"

  "I've got a birth certificate," Pam said, frowning. "But not with me."

  "Me, too," Courtney said. "But, why?"

  "I want to take you to the Bahamas," Mike said. "It's just over the Stream. The diving's better, for one thing. And less boats, for another, once you get away from Bimini. Some good clubs on the islands, too. I was thinking about just going . . . cruising. Fish some, dive some, play around, do a little clubbing. I don't dance, but I'd l
ove to watch you two. But you need birth certificates. Getting into the Bahamas is no big deal, but you need one to get back in the States. Technically. Probably we could slip you in to Islamorada, but it would get sticky if we got stopped or if customs found out."

  "Mine's at home," Pam said, shrugging. "So's Courtney's."

  Mike nodded and sighed. "You'd have to ask your parents to send it down, right?"

  "Oh, that would be a great call," Courtney said, grimacing in panic. "'Hi, Dad, I've met this guy who's into bondage who wants to take me to a foreign country so he can work his will on me.' Not."

  "Well, we've got a couple of days to decide," Mike said, shrugging. "I need to call a friend to send me some gear, and that will take a day or so to get here."

  "Bondage gear?" Pam asked nervously.

  "Very," Mike replied. "I've got a FedEx number. If you can work up the courage, all you have to do is give it to your parents and they can send the paperwork. You're both eighteen or older, right? I should have asked before, my bad that I didn't."

  "Yes," Courtney said. "I'm eighteen, Pam's nineteen."

  "Well, I'd really like you to call your parents and get the paperwork," Mike said. "If we can't, we can't, and I might just go ahead and go anyway. Like I said, we probably wouldn't get caught coming back in. And even if we did, well . . ." He shrugged. "I've got some strings I can pull to get it cleared up." He suddenly stopped and blanched as he imagined the report getting to the President. It probably wouldn't go higher than Pierson, which would be funny rather than embarrassing. But if it got to the President, or even the NSA . . .

  "What's wrong?" Pam asked worriedly.

  "I was just imagining if the conversation got . . . as high as it might," Mike said, shaking his head. "Embarrassing doesn't begin to cover it. Much as you don't want your parents getting in on the conversation, you really don't want it going where it might go otherwise."

  "What do you mean?" Courtney said uncertainly.

  "Well . . ." Mike said, wanting to explain but not knowing how to do so. "Let's put it this way. From what I did with the Navy, I've got some pretty high contacts who would be willing to pull strings to let my two coed . . . girlfriends, who obviously are American citizens, back into the country. But do you really want your names going across the desk of, say, an undersecretary of defense?" Not to mention Donald Brandeis's, he thought.