"Are you sore, Chester?"
"Furious." He smiled. "But I'll get over it too. He needs you now, Whit. He needs a son to take over. He'll settle for a bright grandson, and the hell with who he looks like."
"Oh, Chester!" Monica sobbed happily, hugging him again, loving the strong old body.
"I thought we were sunk," Whit grinned finally. "How'd you do it, Chester? I could have sworn I gave you the slip last night."
"You did. It hurts my pride to admit it, but you did. It was Burke and his father who came across your car back on the hammock. Burke called the house, and then he went looking. When he saw the boat docked here earlier this afternoon, he radioed in, and his father got in touch with me."
He looked at Monica. "There's another change," he said, his eyes twinkling. "You won't have to pay such close attention to that bougainvillea arbor any more. Your young man is welcome any time."
Monica turned her head. Burke was standing next to her, grinning from ear to ear despite his arm.
"Oh, Burke!" she cried happily, hugging him.
"Better get dressed, honey," he said, all too conscious of her nudity and his father's presence at the same time.
"Just for now," she whispered. She went serious. "Oh, Burke – I wanted it to be you!"
He looked at her and swallowed down a lump. "That's good enough, Monica," he said.
It was all she wanted to hear. She put her head into the hollow of his shoulder and sobbed with happiness and relief.
Chester drew himself and Whit away from them. He surveyed the row of tied-up people and watched Burke's father pull the last knot tight and straighten up.
"I think the best way would be to get the Marine Patrol out of Naples," he said. "I'll radio them."
Chester nodded, then glanced toward Monica and Burke. "Why don't you and I take a walk and look at the water, Mr. Hammond? Talk a little, I have the feeling we're going to be seeing quite a bit of each other."
"His arm," Hammond said.
"It's not that serious. Just winged him. I think she can fix it better than either one of us."
Hammond hesitated. "She isn't even dressed."
Chester grinned. "Hell, you're not that old. He's growing up, Mr. Hammond. Don't make the same mistake Galt did."
Hammond grinned back. "Fair enough," he said.
They left the cabin, taking the others with them. Monica pressed her naked body against Burke. Then she drew him toward the bedroom and closed the door.
She lay back on the bed. She held her arms open and took him in them. She reached for his prick and found that it was stiff and eager.
"It's the best one, darling," she said. "Ohhhh, fuck me and make me feel clean and good and right!" she cried.
He didn't get to ask if she was ready this time. She didn't give him time.