Power of Three

ACT TWO

It'd taken four changes of clothing to decide what to wear, and even then Laurie had ended up in the first outfit she'd tried on — a floating tropical print sundress with a halter neck that tied in a bow at the back.

It was a daring choice for her, but she'd been planning to wear it for an all-sex honeymoon, luring Jim back to bed almost as soon as they'd got out of it. Now, even though there was a little guard fire of anger and pain still burning inside her, the thought of sex with her former fiance was starting to make her cringe. She couldn't get over the image of him with chubby Melanie, sweating and heaving.

An especially repugnant thought, after the competition quality erotic exhibitionism she'd observed last night from both the villas across the patio. And particularly from beyond the door she was about to knock on now, taut with nerves.

Doubts had resurfaced as the appointed hour had rolled around. How could she face them? It was the moment of truth. She'd spent a large part of the day, alternating between reliving last night, and convincing herself that it had probably been just a tipsy dream, even though she knew it wasn't. She'd never seen herself as a brazen woman, but last night she'd not only come close to the border of brazen, she'd smashed right on through it.

You can still change your mind, kiddo. You can plead a headache tomorrow. I'm sure they won't be offended. They don't seem like the type to bear grudges, and maybe they'll just get the message that you're not interested and keep it all friendly, but distant?

But another voice murmured coward. The same one that told her she was interested. Listening to that one, she took a firm grip on the neck of the bottle of over-proof she'd brought as a gift for her hosts, and knocked sharply before she could prevaricate and chicken out.

A low masculine murmur emanated from beyond the door. Hard to tell its tenor, but she hoped it was the sound of someone who was pleased by her arrival. Maybe she wasn't the only one having second thoughts. After all, these were a couple of gay lovers, into each other, not some stray woman.

The door swung open, and Dark-Eyes' warm smile both quelled her fears and reminded her of the pleasures of last night. His eyes twinkled, and up close she could see they were brown, rich and glowing as the rum in her bottle, and very, very sexy.

"Well, hello! So glad you decided to join us. Do come on in!" He threw back the door and waved her through, his gesture expansive and graceful. Dark-Eyes was the skinnier of the two men, but he looked fit and strong in a black, long-sleeved cotton top and snug fitting jeans.

His partner, Blondie, unwound himself from the planter's chair he'd been lounging in, and came towards her, his smile just as welcoming, but quite different to his fellow's.

Blondie, up close, was simply dazzling; there were no two ways about it. His hair was a tousle of dark gold curls and his face bordered on the angelic it was so pretty, yet still it was full of character, and strong. He was slightly broader built than his friend, but moved lightly and lithely as he held out his hand. The acknowledged beauty of the two, he looked like a film star in his white shirt and cream linen trousers and waistcoat, as if he'd fallen from a screen showing Brideshead Revisited.

"I'm Denny. Delighted you could come." He grinned on the word come, and it sent a frisson through Laurie's vitals. She smiled back, feeling a bit idiotic, but very turned on, remembering last night. Denny might look a bit fey with his cherubic curls and his creamy linen, but his handshake was firm and excitingly manly. "And this is Ed, my lover."

Just like that. No shilly-shallying about. Well, why would they be anything but up-front after their unequivocal display?

Ed smiled, stepped forward and shook her hand too. Like his lover, his grip was firm and his skin smooth and warm.

Laurie blinked, just staring at them. She felt like laughing out loud, nerves notwithstanding. She'd come to the island to get away from men and their complications, and now she'd managed to end up here with two of them. Two who were completely gorgeous examples of the gender and who probably came with twice as many complications.

The lovers stared back at her, and a little tilt of Denny's blond head seemed to be asking a question.

Oh hell, of course, my name!

"Oh, sorry… I'm Laurie Jones. Pleased to meet you…" Meet? How absurd was that after she'd masturbated to orgasm in front of the pair of them last night, not to mention the fact that they had already shared smiles and vague pleasantries around the pool in the last couple of days. A bubble of laugher escaped her lips, and suddenly Ed and Denny were laughing too, as if they'd both known her for years.

"I suppose I should say sorry for spying on you last night… and… um… making an exhibition of myself too." She could feel a fresh sizzle of blush start to rise up through her decolletage and her face and throat. "But I blame that lot in Cabana Two, they started it with their… um… performance."

"Indeed," said Ed with a grin, "It would have been cowardly not to, well, rise to the challenge." He winked at his lover. "At least that's what we thought."

"Yes, it just had to be done, didn't it?" Denny waggled his sandy eyebrows at her, reminding her more of a naughty boy rather than of the hot, mature, rampantly sexual man he so obviously was.

"Absolutely," concurred Laurie, still blushing but feeling her edginess ameliorate and the promise of relaxation with the two men beckon.

"Shall we have a drink… Just chill out a bit, eh?" suggested Denny, reaching for her hand again and leading her towards the large wickerwork sofa that matched the planter's chair. As Laurie sank down onto it, he sat beside her. "Ed's ordered some food from the hotel kitchen. Just finger stuff, seafood, chicken and the like… It'll be here in a little while, so we can have a bevvy first and get to know each other." he paused, dropping an outrageous wink "… with our clothes on."

"At least for the time being," added Ed, from across the room, presiding over the drinks tray.

For the time being?

Trying to suppress her quivers, Laurie looked at her left hand and realized she was still clutching the bottle, a bit like a protective talisman. "Maybe we could have some of this?"

"Good idea. Thanks for bringing it. You're very thoughtful, Laurie." Denny took the bottle from her, almost having to prize it from her fingers because she was still processing the implications of "For the time being". He strolled across to Ed and set it on the tray while his lover did the honors with highball glasses, ice, and slices of lime.

"Rum and Coke?" enquired Ed.

"Yes, please!"

A shot of rum was just what she needed; anything to settle her nerves a bit. She was feeling quite giddy from the sight of so much raw male pulchritude, and the transition from last night, which still felt like something she'd imagined, to tonight, which was oh-so real. As the two men stood by the cabinet, it was all she could do not to ogle them and wish she had X-ray vision so that she could admire them as if they were standing there naked, as they'd done last night.

Laurie stole a glance at the innocuous woven rug on which they must have been standing for their performance, and then flipped back to the men. Even in their clothes they were devastating. Ed's legs were long and lean in close-cut denim, and Denny's ass was a poem of spectacular desirability beneath the creamy linen of his trousers.

"Here you go." He handed her the tall, generously proportioned drink on his return, as Ed took up station in the planter's chair, just a couple of feet away, at her other side. "Chin-chin!" He clinked his glass to hers as Ed raised his in affirmation.

"Here's to a happy holiday."

Momentarily, Laurie felt as chilled as the icy drink. It seemed stupid to think of what might have been, in such warm, sexy company, but she couldn't help herself. To cover her pang of angst, she took a sip from her drink. It was strong, but a delicious balance of spirit and mixer, just the job.

But meeting Denny's eye, she saw he was frowning, concern writ large across his heavenly features. He wasn't a fool, he'd seem her sad little twist, and as she glanced across at Ed his expression was an echo.

"Are you OK, Laurie?" Ed asked, "I know it's a bit weird, us all being together here, after what happened last night. But I swear, last night was last night, and tonight is tonight. There's no pressure. We don't even have to mention it any more if you're uncomfortable. We can just hang out, eat some good food, and then maybe go for a stroll on the beach?"

"Yeah, just three new friends, hanging out on holiday, simple as that." Denny laid a hand lightly on her arm as he spoke.

But it wasn't simple, and in a flash vision, she suddenly saw that hand on his own flesh, caressing, laced with Ed's, and flexing, flexing, flexing. At the same time, she desperately wanted Denny's hand upon her own body, moving and exploring in intimacy. It didn't matter that they were patently gay, she couldn't help desiring them. Both of them.

"I'm fine, thanks… both of you." She turned from one to the other, enjoying the little squeeze Denny gave her forearm before releasing her. It seemed strangely filial almost. "And weirdly, despite everything, I feel quite relaxed here with you." She smiled at both of them, aware that she was beginning to loosen up. "Although that might just be Ed's demon interpretation of rum and Coke… Phew!"

"There's plenty more where that came from. We've got a few bottles of this and that in reserve," Ed said roundly.

Laurie sipped her drink, eyeing them both. For a moment or two, there seemed to be no need to speak while they all enjoyed the killer cocktails. Just as Laurie was feeling she should open the conversation, there was a knock on the door and their buffet meal arrived.

Chat, over food that was just as delicious as predicted, was light and strangely innocuous. They discussed the resort, the beaches, and Denny's first forays into scuba-diving, which apparently hadn't exactly been all that accomplished.

"He swims like a baby hippo with the tanks on," teased Ed, but Denny seemed unfazed and laughed it off, saying he had other talents.

You certainly do.

Laurie stole a glance at the golden boy out of the corner of her eye, imagining him naked and writhing again. When she flicked a look to Ed, she could almost believe he was thinking the same thing himself, his eyes were so intent on his partner.

The evening sped on, becoming more relaxed and easy, despite the slow simmer of confused desire Laurie felt. The men seemed to know that she didn't want to talk about the reason she was here in this romantic place, all alone in a Cabana appointed for two. Instead they launched into their own lives, telling her all about who they were, what they did.

Good grief, not only brawn and beauty, but brains too.

Laurie was slightly awestruck. Both her new friends were scientists, quite eminent by the sound of it, but in entirely different fields. Ed's research specialty was climate studies, with a particular interest in long term weather patterns, global warming and other issues; while Denny was a leading volcanologist. Laurie actually fancied she'd seen him on the television, interviewed when there'd been a large eruption. His hair had been much shorter, and the clip had been barely seconds, but thinking back, she was sure it'd been him.

"That's why we're here, really," he said, swirling his glass as they touched on field work. He was drinking water now, Laurie noticed. Did he think that he needed a clear head for something? "We've been loafing around in colleges and cozy cloistered seats of learning long enough, so now we're both going out in the field. This is a last hedonistic holiday for a while, a chance to have some fun together before we head off to the ends of the earth, in different directions."

Ed shrugged, quirking his lips. "Well, not quite the opposite ends, but near enough. Denny's off to Indonesia to study his pet volcanoes there, and I'm away to Antarctica at the end of October, to monitor the ozone layer amongst other things."

"Bloody hell! Antarctica? No wonder you wanted some late season Caribbean sun." Laurie stared at him, trying to see him with a bushy beard and bundled up in multiple layers of insulated parka, looking like a sexy Ernest Shackleton. It was difficult; she still kept seeing him naked. "And I suppose half way up the side of volcano in Indonesia isn't a bed of roses either."

"No, it can get a bit hairy, sometimes, close to something active," admitted Denny.

They were back in the conversation area now, with her and Denny sharing the settee again. She'd noticed that contrary to her expectations, having seen Ed fuck him last night, the blond was the ever so slightly dominant persona, in conversation at least. Ed seemed content to be quieter, listening and watching shrewdly while almost basking in the golden glow of his stunning partner.

"So how long will you both be away for?" She glanced from one to the other, and caught a look passing between them. It was fleeting, but also telling. They cared deeply for each other and it was going to be hard to be apart.

"Well, Denny's off for five months and me just for four." Ed swirled his drink in his glass. "I'm looking forward to it, professionally speaking, but it's going to be tough without sex for all those months." He case Laurie a seductive glance. "I'll just have to rely on being absorbed in the work… and internet chats and my good right hand."

Laurie's blushes had settled during their over dinner conversation, but now, instantly, she was glowing again. Especially when Denny added, "His very good right hand."

"Um… yes, it must be difficult when you're established couple," she observed, at a bit of a loss. The looks being exchanged between the two men were sultrier now, and Denny had this particular quirk of running his tongue over his bottom lip that was doing devilish things to her libido. It was crazy, but still, she couldn't help herself. "Do you… do you live together?"

"Part of the time," said Denny, returning his attention to her, "We have a place in London, that's near to my college… and Ed commutes and we spend weekends together. A good thing too. Because if we lived together all the time we'd probably spend far too much time shagging and never get any work done."

"Er… yes," was all she could manage.

"Pack it in, Den… you're embarrassing our guest," chided Ed, although his eyes were sparkling as he spoke. No doubt eager to get to the shagging.

"It's okay. No harm done… although maybe I should be on my way. I'm a bit tired."

Chicken! Scaredy cat!

But even as she chastised herself, Denny shot out a hand and prevented her from rising.

"Don't go, Laurie… please." His eyes were clear and blue, and the request seemed genuine. "Tell us about you. What's your story?"

Ah, the crunch. She'd known it would come and here it was.

"There's nothing much to tell you, really. I'm an office manager, working in a boring office for a boring firm. I don't do anything exciting or valuable to society. I'm twenty seven… but… well, at the moment I feel old as Methuselah and about as interesting. No special hobbies, except reading and sometimes I do a bit of sketching. I like art."

She was babbling, and avoiding the issue. Ed clearly knew that, because he leant forward in his chair, his warm brown eyes intent. "What are you doing here, Laurie? It's not usually the sort of place where a woman, or a man for that matter, holidays alone."

To her horror, Laurie's eyes started to water, and a strange wobbly feeling gripped her. If it hadn't been for Denny's gentle hold on her arm, which seemed to be supplying strength directly into her bloodstream, she might have had dizzy turn. She squared her shoulders, blinked, and mentally braced up.

"I'm on my honeymoon, actually."

Both men had the grace to look taken aback. Denny blinked. "But… don't you need a husband for that? Where is he?"

Laurie took a big breath. She felt oxygen starved. "I don't have a husband. I nearly did have one… but the guy I was engaged to told me he was going to marry his pregnant girlfriend. And he waited until two weeks before our wedding to inform me of th… that!" Her lip quivered. She fought to control it, but it was getting hopeless. "So there you are. I'm honeymooning alone because it was too late for a refund. And I've left that fuck bastard to make the arrangements for selling our house and sorting out everything else. To hell with him!"

It'd been more superficially civilized than that, but Laurie didn't care how it sounded. The grief and anguish and shock broke over her all over again like a great wave crashing over the white beach just a couple of hundred yards away. She began to gulp and sniff and sob, and descend into being a complete mess, longing for the ground to open up, allow her to drop in, and cover her up again.

She was a pond of shame and distress, isolated by her state of rejection. Until Denny's warm, white-clad arms folded around her, and she found herself clasped against his firm chest and enveloped in a delicious cloud of his spicy male cologne. Even as she still gulped and sobbed, she was aware of Ed swiftly crossing the gap between his chair and the sofa, and dropping his knees in front of her. While Denny hugged her, his lover stroked her back and her forearm in a slow, soothing rhythm.

Laurie had no idea how long they rocked and comforted her. It could have been minutes; it could have been hours. She only knew that their attention, even just their presence, was far more of a panacea than the commiserations of her girlfriends had been, and even gentler and more tender than the response of her family.

Enclosed in a circle of warmth and silent understanding created by two virtual strangers, she suddenly felt the ice shell she'd formed round her heart starting to melt. A carapace she had barely been aware of, that she'd erected to keep herself sane, but which she suddenly realized that she didn't need as much. Not now.

"What a despicable, idiotic fuck," growled Denny, breaking the silence, "How the hell could he do that to a gorgeous woman like you?"

Laurie laughed, and dabbed at her eyes with her free hand. The one Ed wasn't caressing.

"He is… yes, he is a despicable idiotic fuck, you're right there."

"Exactly," concurred Ed, "And he doesn't deserve a woman like you. You're obviously far better off without him."

They were just being nice, but still it felt good. The way they spoke of her, describing her as gorgeous, made her spirits soar.

Settling down, she found herself smiling. "It's funny… the way you two call me 'gorgeous' and all. Surely you really think that… well… you each think the other is gorgeous, not some leftover woman who blunders in and makes an exhibition of herself?"

Denny took her by the shoulders and set her a little away from him, staring into her eyes with his, that were as clear and blue as the beautiful skies outside were at midday. Ed took her hand very firmly, and when she stole a quick glance at him too, his eyes were very intent.

"Newsflash, beautiful Laurie," said Denny gently. Then he leant forward and pressed a quick light kiss to her lips. As their mouths made contact, Ed's thumb stroked against her palm, just as lightly, "Just because Ed and I are together, and we share a sexual relationship, it doesn't mean that we're not attracted to women sometimes too." He kissed her again, and this time, simultaneously, Ed kissed the palm of her hand. "And we especially like sexy women who aren't afraid to join in when we're playing a little game." His eyes flirted briefly to the spot on the rug where he and Ed had stood last night, fucking.

"Especially nice women who've been done over by bastards and who deserve a bit of fun and sexual pampering to take their mind off things…" It was Ed now, and he punctuated his observation by slowly licking the palm of Laurie's hand in a way that left no doubt what he was mimicking.

Between her legs, a pulse of desire woke and fluttered. In her chest, there was a commotion in her heart, a tilt-a-whirl of wonder and anticipation.

This is it. This is it.

Even after last night, she'd not believed anything could happen with these two. A part of her mind still didn't quite believe last night had been real.

But it had been real, and this was too. She could feel the touch of Ed's nimble tongue; and see the mind-bending blue of Denny's eyes. "Do you dare?" he said soft and low, inflected with challenge.

It was the tipping point. She could draw back now, just go. They'd understand her reticence, and think, well, just another shy girl who isn't quite up for it, no problem, maybe we'll find someone else.

Or she could stay, plunge in, and give herself over to them and whatever they wanted to do with her. They seemed decent guys, the type that wouldn't really hurt her. But still, but still.

Denny eased her closer to him, taking her mouth again, using a kiss as the challenge this time, inviting her to respond.

Laurie hadn't really had a lot of sex before. There'd been Jim, obviously, but regardless of whether he was randy as a goat with Melanie, he'd seemed almost under-sexed with her — and definitely not that imaginative. Before him there'd been two or three boyfriends over the space of her adult life, all of them seeming like a serious thing at the time, but later fizzling out. And in each instance, she'd not really been to cut up about it, not from a sex point of view. With Jim, she'd been fond of him, and somehow bewitched by the idea of something permanent and lasting, and the idea of being in love rather than actually feeling it. So she'd overlooked the shortcomings that now seemed so obvious.

But this was completely different. A desire and an adventure she'd never be able to overlook or forget. If only she had the boldness to reach out and grab it.

Do you dare?

Yes, I do! I do!

Reaching up, she dug her fingers into Denny's silky curls, and opened her mouth to his, meeting his tongue when it plunged in, warm and hungry.

Yes! Not two but three silent voices seemed to chorus the word; those of the men, cheering her on, and her own inner voice proud of her own courage.

Denny kissed hard, kissed hungry, kissed dominant. Again, savoring his onslaught, Laurie almost wanted to laugh at the misleading quality of appearances. His fey, pale clothes and golden looks concealed the heart of a predator, and even the fact that he'd "received" last night probably only meant he'd demanded that his partner service his needs.

He held on tight to her, a hand at the nape of her neck, another on her shoulder, making her accept his kiss in a thrilling, primal way. He tasted of wine and honey and new beginnings.

And all the time, Ed was at work too, at first gently kissing her hand as if it were a holy artifact, but then, suddenly, on the move. As Denny kissed and subdued her, Ed began exploring. Still kneeling, he settled his hands on her thighs, one each, on the outside surfaces, slowly sliding them upwards, then down again, and then up, tantalizing her. Laurie sighed into Denny's mouth, feeling the urge to open her legs, and lift her bottom, to allow Ed more access.

"Good girl," whispered Denny, his lips starting to roam too, as he gently pushed her so she was leaning against the woven back of the settee. He kissed her brow, her cheek, and a sensitive spot beneath her ear, then tracked down the side of her neck, on and on down until he nipped at a spot just above her collarbone. As his sharp teeth plagued her, Ed's hands were down below, sliding between her thighs, urging her to open her legs, and to open her heart and self to the pair of them.

"Relax," urged Denny, still nibbling. Laurie could feel his fingers at work at the nape of her neck, then before she had time to stop him — not that she wanted to — he unfastened her halter top. Peeling it down, he exposed her breasts in her flimsy strapless bra.

A momentary dark cloud drifted into view. Melanie had huge boobs, and she imagined Jim, who was a breast man, fiddling and playing with them. Laurie's own breasts were smallish, nicely shaped, but not an enormous handful. But as if he'd sensed her qualms, Denny uttered a hungry masculine rumble of appreciation.

"Mm… so nice, so very nice…" Cupping her, he ran both thumbs over her nipples, teasing her through the lightly forming Lycra of her bra. "Look, Ed, aren't these just the most beautiful breasts you've ever seen? Oh God, I love women with pretty little tits… and wicked hard nipples."

Laurie closed her eyes and rolled her shoulders, loving the way he teased and played with her, and silently begging for him to bare her breasts completely.

"Let's have this off, shall we? And get a better view."

Despite the fact he had a male lover it was obvious that Denny knew his way around a brassiere. In less than a second, hers was unhitched, whipped off and flung cheerfully across the room, out of the way.

"Yes, that is better. Much better… Much, much better…" His fingertips drifted over her flesh, teasing each nipple, flicking at them, and then suddenly, he was reaching behind her, gripping her upper arms, drawing her shoulder blades together so that her breasts were lifted and presented.

Laurie's eyes shot open. The move wasn't what she'd expected, but it was stunning, thrilling. The sense of exhibition reminded her of what she'd done last night, showing herself to them. Only this time she was being shown, exposed and offered to Ed's hungry lips. She saw the quickest of glances pass between the men, and he came up on his knees and leant forward, drawing her left nipple into his mouth and sucking hard.

As he did so, Denny nipped at her neck again, teasing delicately with the edges of his teeth. "Isn't this nice?" he murmured, between nips.

Nice? It was incredible. Like nothing before. With Denny worrying her neck, and Ed's mouth tormenting her nipple, Laurie just couldn't keep still. It was like the men were creating an ever growing circuit of desire inside her body, energy bouncing from her throat, to her breasts, to her pussy. Between her legs she felt swollen and tense, ravenous for pleasure.

"Do you like it, Laurie?" taunted Denny, his voice and breath warm against her skin, "Do you like commanding the services of two men? Feeling two mouths paying homage to your beauty?"

Laurie didn't know what to say. She barely could say anything. She just wanted to groan and gasp and wriggle about.

Sliding his hands down her arms, Denny caught both her wrists in a single-handed grip, then reached out with his freed hand to caress her other breast. He pinched, lightly, and then rolled her nipple to and fro, to and fro between his fingertips, somehow managing to match the rhythm of Ed's sucking, teasing lips.

"Oh, God!"

Laurie couldn't keep quiet any more. It was harder and harder to keep still. Getting desperate, she bore down on the seat beneath her, parting her thighs further. Ed laughed softly, his breath wafting her breast, and Denny said, "Good girl… good girl… that's it… show us that you want it."

Laurie bore down harder, gasping for breath, willing one of her enterprising swains to take off her panties. No, more than that. She wanted one of them to rip her knickers off, tear them off, wrench them from her body and jam a hand between her legs. She didn't care which of them did it as long as one of them did.

"What shall we do now?" Denny, as ever, was the spokesman, and he punctuated his words with rougher, wickeder tweaks, "Tell us what you want and we'll do it. We're your slaves, beautiful, beautiful Laurie."

No, you're wrong. I'm your slave. I'll do anything, anything you want of me.

It was a new state of mind. She was a new Laurie. She'd morphed into a woman whose daring and hunger thrilled her; a woman who wasn't afraid to have the pleasure of two men.

She was even a woman who could say outrageous things.

"I want you to touch my pussy and bring me off!"

"Oh, you're a wicked, dirty, gorgeous woman," growled Denny in her ear, "and I can't think of anything… or anyone… I'd rather do right now."

"Not even him?" she gasped, nodding at Ed, kneeling before.

"Don't worry. He'll get his turn. And he'll enjoy it all the more if you're there too." Denny was so in charge, so dominant. His voice and his fingers thrilled her. "Now, come on, buddy," he said, turning his attention to his partner in lust, "Let's get this delicious hussy's knickers off and show her what we can do."

Ed chuckled, gave Laurie's teat a last little nibble, and then sat back on his haunches, reaching for her panties. He slid his thumbs beneath the elastic, then paused and gave her an odd little look. With a slight nod, he withdrew for a moment, and in a swift, efficient movement, whipped his dark cotton top off over his head, baring his chest.

"There you are," observed Denny cheerfully, "Something pretty to look at while you come."

Pretty? Well, that wasn't the first word she'd have chosen. Gorgeous was more accurate. Hunky… Desirable, absolutely and completely…

Ed's skin was rather pale, but it had a creamy, healthy sheen, and his muscles were lean but crisply defined. He had very dark, pert little nipples and Laurie suddenly longed to repay the compliment and kiss them. But it seemed she wasn't going to get the chance just yet, because the men were clearly all about her for the time being.

With all the ruthlessness she craved, Ed peeled off her panties, efficient, but impatient. He flung them away with a flourish and took hold of her thighs, prizing them wide apart and exposing her in a way that made her gasp. She'd never been this open, this… this presented before. It occurred to her how staid her sex life had always been, but it didn't bother her. She was certainly making up for it now, especially with Denny's lips against her throat in a renewed, nibbling kiss, and his fingertips twirling around her nipple as Ed surveyed her pussy.

"Exquisite," murmured Denny.

"You bet," echoed Ed.

As if she needed any further proof that these two unusual men liked women as well as enjoying their own gender, Denny suddenly clutched at her hand and conducted it to his groin. He was hard as rock and huge inside his pale trousers.

"See, what did I tell you?" His teeth grazed her neck, and he caught his breath as she squeezed him, a reflex action. "And look at Ed too. He's dying to taste you."

It was true. Ed's erection was pushing hard at the zip of his jeans, deforming their smooth snug line.

"It's all right. I believe you," gasped Laurie, her entire body filled with energy and desire. She edged forward where she sat, opening herself wider. Her pussy felt as if was screaming for touch, for attention. "Please get on with it!"

Both men laughed. "With the greatest of pleasure," growled Ed, plunging forward, ready with hands and lips and tongue to obey her.

A sensation of her own power made Laurie's heart sing. She was at their mercy, and yet at the same time she controlled them. They were hers, to give her pleasure, and to worship her. She felt herself smash through yet another barrier of her grief and disappointment, and burst through to another realm of joy and confidence.

Sliding his hands beneath her bottom, Ed angled her hips so he could get at her better, and then dove right in, nuzzling at her pussy. At the same time, Denny too applied himself to the heart of the matter, reaching down to deftly part her curls for his friend.

"Oh God, oh God," Laurie groaned as Ed's hot mouth found her flesh.

She started to wriggle. She couldn't help herself; the sensations of Ed's lapping tongue were so exquisite. But Denny held her firm, one arm slung around her middle, the other on her thigh, holding her apart so his lover could gain better access. For a moment his hand drifted to Ed's short brown hair and he ruffled it, seeming to complete a circle of intimacy, joining them all.

Laurie still squirmed, but they held her firm and close, strong arms steadying her, protecting her. The three of them were one being, devoted to her pleasure, their focus Ed's nimble tongue, flicking, flickering.

She closed her eyes, arching, lost in a world of sweet sensations, touch, sound, and scent. Every sense was acute. Her own gasps and moans echoed around the room, blending with Denny's murmurings of encouragement, and Ed's hungry little grunts of appreciation. She could smell, quite distinctly, the different colognes of the men: Denny, rich and spicy, Ed, crisper, blue, Alpine somehow. And she could smell herself, hot and foxy, drenched in desire.

And still Ed worked her with his tongue, merciless yet bountiful, attacking her clit with exactly the pressure and variation that she needed. One moment it was dabbing hard, the next like a hummingbird's wing fluttering, sometimes mixing things up by furling to point and dipping into the entrance to her vagina.

"Oh please, oh please," she burbled, not quite sure what she was begging for, but getting it anyway when Ed brought his fingers into play as well as his mouth. He thrust two into her firmly, coasting in on her copious silkiness, while at the same time sucking hard on her clit.

Climaxing hard, Laurie let out a shriek, part of her mind dimly wondering what the playmates in the other cabana would think, as surely they could hear it.

But the other part of her mind, the greater part, was lost, lost, lost, soaring high on a great gust of glowing white bliss as she jerked and bucked in the men's hold, all the time hearing Denny's chant of pride and encouragement in her ear.

It seemed to go on for an indeterminate period, rising and rising, filling her with pleasure and power and a joy unalloyed. Even when it began to ebb, she wasn't sad. No post orgasmic melancholy. She just subsided back onto the sofa, a huge grin on her face and an exquisite satisfied glow between her legs.

To bracket the experience, she received two kisses. One came from Denny, a touch of his lips to the corner of her mouth; one from Ed, a reverential little buss against her sticky pubic curls.

"There, do you still think we only like men?" His brown eyes glittered as he looked up at her, his mouth still only inches from her pussy.

Laurie laughed. She was still catching her breath and blown away by intense, sweet, aftershocks. "Well, you either do like women or you're a pair of geniuses at hiding your aversion, and that's a fact."

"No aversion, sweet Laurie. None at all," said Denny, giving her a strangely sexless, almost brotherly hug, "You're gorgeous and delicious." He flashed his friend a broad, wicked wink, "As my compadre here can no doubt now attest."

"Yum!" Ed licked his lips in a slow, lascivious swipe, then unfolded himself from his knees, gave Laurie's thigh a gentle squeeze, and resumed his place in the planter's chair.

Still hazed, she glanced from one to the other. They looked smug, and very pleased with themselves, but she couldn't find it in her to be in the least bit annoyed by that. Yes, they were a pair of sexual pirates, if not usually, well at least on this holiday. They'd selected her as a likely playmate for their threesome games, possibly even targeted her as a lone and needy woman. But still her gut feeling was that there was nothing fundamental venal about either man. They were pleasure lovers, and pleasure givers, out for fun, but still basically caring and decent.

They were what they were. They weren't hiding anything. Their honesty was refreshing, and a relief after what had happened recently.

The shade of Jim drifted into her mind, but seemed insubstantial. It was as if she'd only imagined him, while Ed and Denny were real, oh so real.

Yes, real men, both with erections.

"So what now?" She sat up, her momentary exhaustion fading, only to be replaced a new energy, and astonishingly, fresh desire.

Here she was with the two most gorgeous hunks on the island, and the night was beautiful and young.

"Let's go for a walk on the beach," said Denny, "I fancy making love beneath the stars."