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A Kiss

By: LukkyKnight



On the surface it might seem ordinary enough, a kiss. A kiss that started with a hug... 

As our arms relaxed the pressure slightly our faces tilted together and our lips met. Intoxicated by the scent of you my tongue darted out to caress your mouth, and my hands slid down to your butt... it seemed that each time I inhaled more of your scent filled me, and the next thing I knew both hands were cradling your jaw lightly as the kiss stretched. 

After running my hands over your ears to find your hair surrounding my fingers, they took on a sense of their own. I unbuttoned your blouse as that same kiss wandered down to the delicate, hot skin of your neck. I felt your fingers move to my hair while my lips held me connected to you. Unwilling, but also unable to break the contact as I slid your blouse over your shoulders and it dropped to the floor, my hands began to roam the smoothness curves of your back while my mouth sought yours once more, leaving a damp trace back across your cheeks.

No, baby, this was no ordinary kiss. I listened to you drawing deeper and deeper and it reminded me of how gorgeous your breasts are as they rise and fall, and so my lips led me lower, kissing and licking down your neck, my fingernails scraping your sides and back as my whiskers tickled your skin and hot breath escaped my nose to create a contrast of warmth and coolness along the damp path to your nipples. Sucking one in deep and fast my fingers teased their way inside the waist of your slacks and I delighted in the sound of your voice reminding me of your ardor, your arousal swelling and blossoming... and the kiss went on.

Holding your nipple gently between my lips I let my tongue flick the tip in speedy little caresses. My hands slid down your hips, around the sides... they broke contact briefly, though my mouth would not, for this kiss had taken on a life of its own, and my mouth was nothing more than a means to convey my desire for you, to incite yours for me. Breathing deeply I licked from that first nipple to your other, lips and whiskers grazing your skin all the way. Licking a lazy circle outside your nipple and loving the feel of your hands in my hair I reached as low as I could, turned my palms toward your thighs, then scraped my nails firmly on them through the denim, drawing parallel lines of intent up the front of both legs... stopping only when I reached the point they join the torso. I knew you were feeling each somewhat differently...

Allowing my lips to tug your nipple in gently, I repeated the tongue flicks I had so recently lavished your other breast... then, with my hands all but forgotten for the moment, I took this nipple between my teeth and leaned my head back, allowing the nipple to slowly scrape and slip almost free as I tugged. Just before I might lose my tenuous grip I reversed, drawing as much of your breast into my mouth as possible, sucking hard, drawing you deep, and brought both hands to your inner thigh, creeping to your crotch to repeat the scraping-through-denim along your lips and clit, noting that the jeans were already quite damp. Oh the sound of your voice calling my name, urging me, needing me, loving me... I looked up and saw your head rolled back, your face to the ceiling, and my mouth needed yours... never leaving your hot skin, my kiss stretched back up your chest and neck, questing as I tasted, so that in time my lips met yours. I was startled at the heat of those lips as my tongue probed your mouth. I released the waist and zipper on your jeans.

I reveled in the gasp that escaped you directly into my mouth. Standing in front of you I slid just a trifle to my left, feeling the heat of your breast through the cotton of my shirt. I slid my right hand slowly inside your jeans, matching the way your hips wriggled side to side, one hip pressed firmly to my crotch... and such things you were saying... oh you urged me to fuck you now as my kiss smothered your words and my hand slid down toward your twat... you were having trouble standing as I invaded your tight clothes. My fingers found the top of your slippery pussy, and slid right down over your clit. With my index and ring fingers pressing, wrapping your lips around your swollen clit, the tip of my middle finger slipped up inside you. My palm pressed firmly to your clit as you rocked your hips toward me, rocked your head back... one hand in my hair the other grabbing my cock through my pants you gasped my name right into my mouth, our tongues dancing as you came within our long, slow, loving kiss.

A Kiss at the End of Our Day



Melanie is wearing a black silk camisole and matching bikini, lacey apparel with the salacious character of a whore's costume in that it scarcely covers her nearly bald mons or cloaks her measure of healthy breasts. Through the gauzy weave, I see pale brown nipples, the pink skin of flat belly, and the prominent slash so dear to me, the cleft of buttocks. 

In the center of my bed, I have positioned her up on all fours; her rump facing the chamber door, her mane of Cinderella locks forward toward the simulated stone wall. My index finger under the gossamer material follows the cleaving in her ass, pushes into her wet center. I introduce two other fingers the same place. Spongy wet heat envelopes my digits. She moans.

"Your cunt is so hot sweetheart. You want a cock don't you?"

"Yes."

"You forgot the rule sweetheart. No talking, just nod your head. Remember?"

Melanie nods. She knows the rules, understands them, endorses them or she'd not be here.

"Good very good, but no cock just yet my randy slut. Something almost as good, something you will enjoy no doubt."

Melanie and I are in my candlelit fun factory, a basement play room I keep cool so she has the requisite chill bumps on her firm, compliant body. I have installed a sound effects system to instill the proper mood, create a setting appropriate for our shared passion. Our only distinction in this mutually held obsession is my dominance and her submission. I have sounds of guards shuffling by, pausing, rattling keys in cell doors, prisoners screaming, rats scurrying inside the walls, the clanging of manacles, a helpless female crying somewhere, the crack of a whip, a woman begging for release from her bondage. The entire hullabaloo associated with damp dungeons and fetid prison cells. An audio encyclopedia of sound bites, guaranteed to stir our special passions. In the background, a Deutsch Grammophon recording of a male chorus sings Onward Christian Soldiers.

From my little box of tricks, I remove a large shiny black dildo. It is fifteen inches long and four inches in diameter. I found it in sex store, an emporium catering to every imaginable fetish. Hanging on a silver hook, sealed under shrunk wrap plastic and displayed on the face of eye catching pink cardboard, it went directly into my shopping tote and now here it is. A little while ago I filled it with hot water; boiling water matter and now gripped in my hand it is still hot to the touch. The toy could have been cast from the immense cock of El Magnifico, the legendary Cuban sex star in pre Castro Havana. This powerfully built purple black man, his body always greased with oil, stood six feet six inches tall and his member dropped below his knees in its flaccid state. Seldom was it flaccid. Every night in the center of an auditorium packed with spectators, El Magnifico labored on a circular mattress big enough to sleep a dozen people in comfort.

Sultry, raven haired Cuban beauties with bodies of indescribable perfection fucked El Magnifico night after night. Actually, he fucked them. On top of these wenches or these women squatting on him, he never tired. Some of the braver senoritas allowed him to penetrate their resilient anuses, others tried to encircle his hardness with their mouths.

In the dark amphitheater lit by several flood lights focused on the action, five nights a week El Magnifico took on all comers, never seemed to run out of sperm. His control was amazing and he seemed to hold off orgasms forever, and most women he frolicked with did not wish for him to stop. El Magnifico had groupies; woman fucked by him who wished to be fucked by him some more. They stood vigilant sentry outside his dressing room or under a beam of light focused on the theater's stage door. Some he deemed to dally with after a show or he allowed them to suck his cock on his days off.

Every night, the watchful audience of these performances was international in its character. Men openly stroked their cocks; beautiful women in evening gowns went down on their dates and other stunning women hid their heads under the gowns of overheated females.

Western women, Nordic blondes, olive skinned ones from the Mediterranean basin, ladies with the dark complexions of the Middle East vied to fuck El Magnifico. Many did. They returned to their marriage beds, their husbands no longer able to satisfy them. El Magnifico must have wrecked many a marriage in his time.

In honor of El Magnifico who is no longer with us, I pushed the oversized dildo into Melanie's pliant pussy. Slowly, taking my time, not pushing too hard, the black cock slipped in until it no longer existed but the nub held by the tips of my fingers.

Melanie moaned again.

"Oh my God, oh my God."

I say nothing. I do not criticize her for speaking. I do rip the swatch of fabric from her body, toss it to the floor.

Already naked, my cock is swollen; I stroke myself and fuck her some more with the hefty black dildo.

Melanie, flaxen hair falling down off her head, pushes back against the dildo.

"Melanie, you are such a slut. Imagine what your co-workers would think, your parents, your husband."

"Fuck, it feels so good. Push it in some more."

"I can't sweetheart. It can go in no farther. You are talking a bit too much. I think you may need some discipline."

` Melanie so stunning in this bed, now fully exposed to my ministrations. I drink in every precious inch of her lithe body, the pale flesh, the tiny mole on her left ass cheek and the several unobtrusive blemishes in the small of her back and on her left thigh. She has the most intense blue eyes. Those eyes, the ash-blonde hair sweeping down on her shoulders, she'd have been the perfect breeding vessel in Nazi Germany for the gestation of an Aryan superman. 

Her gently swaying breasts, the peach fuzz triangle of pubic curls about her gash, down lower the thick folds of labia, then the puckered stoma in her ass. All these facets drive me mad with desire. My cock hurts, wants to be in her.

Earlier, Melanie, blonde hair in a ponytail, a shiny yellow purse dangling on her arm, arrived at my home wearing a yellow sun dress, yellow high heels. No brassiere, not even a flimsy pink or yellow soutien-gorge from Paris, but yes, a yellow thong brief, a mere ribbon of fabric to give definition to her round buttocks. In the foyer soon as the door closed behind her, I unzipped my dress gray trousers, ripped Melanie's sundress off, and stretched the thong until it came apart in my hands like an archaic rubber band. She kicked her shoes off, they arced, the left one landed upright on the antique oak umbrella stand, the other one on its left side near the potted plant and on the terrazzo floor, and I fucked her. My cock pumped in and out, my hands stroked her smooth, cool thighs, fingers stretched to calves corded so nicely when she wears heels. Finally, I rubbed the bottoms of her sexy bare feet. It was hard rough fucking, cave man fucking with no love only lust, lots of lust and violence, much violence. Consensual rape it was. It was a compact, a marriage contract, a connubial bed made on the cold floor. I wished to get my edge off for the coming night; she wanted to spill my passion to keep me going the distance.

Later, the two of us naked in the playroom, the dildo dancing inside her, all the way inside her, I imagine El Magnifico doing her in that amphitheater fifty odd years ago. Hang dog Melanie hounding the star, pushing other women out of the way, to get closer to his celebrated schlong.

Melanie looking back over her left shoulder watches me stroking my cock. She pushes against the dildo and grunts. Her voice is echoing in this chamber of thrills. She knows I want to fuck her until we are both raw and out of breath. I see her want so clearly under the hooding of her perfect blue eyes. 

I know this woman. I am familiar with all the pink and red colors of her blooming body when she is pleasured to the hilt. The crimson hue of her puckered anus when inflamed, the cherry shade of her lower lips opened wide to gain my entry, the ruby glow of her mouth gapping open to receive my package. 

She knows I never permit her to wear panty hose nor she is to sleep in my bed with clothing hindering my access to her. She knows to be unerringly compliant with my wishes, to obey my desires, to be my ever ready slut. 

In this moment before ejecting the rubber implement, just before our union, ecstatic memories bubble to the surface of my mind. I remembered her call from an out of the way desk at work, her voice in a whisper telling me she shaved her pussy, now it is itches terribly, wants fucking. She came here; we fucked until both of us were limp as dish rags, slept afterwards like hibernating bears. Near the noise of ocean surf, the rush of evening tide, we dozed on the cooling white sands of a beach baked all day by a tropical sun. I had pulled off her conservatively cut bikini bottom, my tongue went between her legs, gently brushed her clit; she hammered her legs against my noggin, screamed at the full moon. The first time I doggy fucked her sans condom. That time I pushed up her blue skirt, squeezed past her indigo panties, humped her on the faux marble countertop in the bathroom of the contraceptive museum in the French town of Condom. The luxuriant texture of Melanie's mouth suctioning my cock in front of television set showing perspiring, buttoned down cops grilling a cucumber cool Sharon Stone. That delicious moment, I first took suzerainty over Melly and she licked my earlobes, nipples and cock head in willing servitude.

In the present, playtime over, my dominant nature and her submissive self sated for a time, we snuggle in our warm, fireplace lit bed. She my cherished wife, who during the day wears opal-colored scrubs and carries on for Florence Nightingale, on weekend's train's guide dogs, the latest a Lab named Price. Now, as she always does, she comes to bed naked and in my eyes she is quite perfect. I am wearing pale blue boxer shorts and need a shave. Her hand caresses my cock through my brief's slit, her foot and mine are intertwined. We fall asleep but not before we kiss at the end of our day.



A Kiss At The Party



I heard your voice even before I saw you, instantly my stomach tightened and that tingle swept through me. I was helping in the kitchen, preparing platters of goodies for the table. It was a celebration for our mutual friends. The guests were all milling about, talking and laughing with each other. The only voice, the only laugh I heard was yours; my hands trembled from the excitement I was feeling inside. I was drawn to you the moment I met you, you were intelligent, easy going and funny. Had I had the guts I would have told you right then, but I didn't and now I felt like a schoolgirl, blushing as I was thinking of you. My friend hadn't told me you were coming, she knew better, and she knew of my feelings for you. When I dropped the silverware on the counter, I caught her eye and knew she knew why my fingers had suddenly become useless.

"Are you okay?" she said with a knowing laugh. I could have crowned her!

"Of course I am" blushing with my replied, knowing I was caught. She just laughed more.

I did not see or hear you come into the kitchen, probably because my senses were so overloaded at that moment. I had all I could do to just breathe. As I turned to ask where the platters were, I saw you. My heart skipped a beat, I know it did. Your eyes, stunningly beautiful, were piercing into me. I could feel the blush, no flush, overcome me, damn why do I have to do that I thought. I have no way to stop it and no defense from it, immediately giving me away. My mouth opened as if I was about to say something, but there were no words, only feelings. 

With all the milling about it was strange to be alone in the kitchen with you, it seemed as though everyone disappeared quickly. Fumbling with the plates and bowls, you offered a helping hand.

" Hi, Cate, may I help you with those", you asked, looking almost as if you knew something I didn't.

"Oh, hello, sure, that would be great, thanks. These can go out to the dinning room now. Its nice to see you." I said as I handed you a platter and then quickly returning my eyes to the table.

I knew I was talking fast, without a semblance of order, so off balance, hands shaking. How was I going to get through this evening without making a fool of myself? I was so lost in my thought I didn't notice that you were still there, holding the platter. Thinking I must have said something wrong, I glanced up at you. Now I knew, it's your eyes, there is no way I could think and look at you at the same time. My whole body seemed to be shutting down, my knees felt weak, my lips parting, just a total betrayal of my feelings. I turned my head back to my tasks, trying to stay busy. I saw you put the platter down, not sure why you did that, I turned my head up towards you again. 

That is when I noticed your hand and it was reaching towards my cheek. Your hand was so gentle. Thinking I was in a dream, I raised my hand to yours, placing mine over yours, shocked to actually feel it. You turned me to face you now, the stir in me was so deep and real, I knew right then, this was not a dream.

"Hello, Cate", was all you said. My mouth opened to respond, but no words came out only my breath, which I had been holding for what seemed like a lifetime. Just when I thought I could muster a word, your mouth came down on mine. Softly but firm, tender but sure. You were kissing me! My head was swirling with thoughts, but my body was not confused any longer. I pressed my lips against yours, my hand reached round to your neck. I felt you pull me into you more, holding me around my waist. Our kiss grew more passionate, your lips parted and I felt your tongue at my lips, urging me to open my mouth to you. As your tongue touched mine for the first time, a moan escaped me, and I fell into your embrace. 

Unsure how this happened, but so caught up in the moment, I reached for your hand and placed it within mine. Fingers interlaced, as if we were long time lovers. This was no ordinary embrace; no this had so much feeling, as though it was meant to happen. The sparks began to fly; we were kissing with intent now. There was not an awkward moment, there was only passion. I felt your hand move and your fingers traced my ear, and then move to my neck. My whole being was involved in this kiss. There was no turning back, no reason to either. I wanted this so much, we both did and we both knew it too. 

When you broke the kiss, I was back in the kitchen, we both looked at each other and I could almost see a blush start on your cheeks, I knew I was blushing. Without a word you took my hand and that platter of goodies. You placed the platter on the dinning room table and lead me off down the hall towards the home office. My emotions were running rampant now, my body was like jelly. When you turned to shut the door, I didn't know what to think. Your hand still holding mine, your other caressing my face, I had no fear, but I had no thoughts either.

"Cate, I think we both know now. I want you, in so many ways, I want you." You said without hesitation or doubt. 

"I, umm, yes, I think, umm." Was all I could manage.

"Just say it Cate, just say it!" Not loudly, but softly, with encouragement.

"I know too. I want you too. From the moment I met you I wanted you, I just couldn't summons the courage to tell you. I was hoping somehow, someway you would just read my mind. But there was no way I was going to ....." your kiss cut me off effectively. 

A long, slow, deep kiss, full of power, full of feeling. I thought I was lost in this kiss, never to return to my senses again and not caring in the least. You held my head in your hands and kissed me long and hard. After breaking the kiss you pulled me into an embrace and my head lay on your chest. I was about speechless and said so.

"Cate, you were hardly speechless," you said with a sweet laugh, "I thought you wouldn't stop talking once you started and all I wanted was to kiss you again. I hope you don't mind."

Laughing now I was able to say "Well anytime you want me to be quite, that would be a fine method."

We both began to laugh and then heard the laughter from the party guests too. We had been lost in our own world and were reluctant to return to the party, but we knew we must. Walking out of the room I was smiling and glanced at you to see your smile too. We knew this was the beginning of something very special between us, something seemingly meant to be. All we had to do was get through this party to be alone together.



A Kiss Before Dying



The morning news from CNN bounced off my subconscious while I made coffee. (CNN)'....North Korea rattling sabre again....' I don't know WHY I was making coffee, other than it was a habit I'd picked up in the 15 years of my now-failing marriage to John Anderson. (CNN)'....Corrupt New Jersey cop sought in slaying....' I'd never enjoyed the bitter taste of coffee, only the smell. Was there a metaphor there for not dipping too deeply into life's choices, I wondered, enjoy the surface things, don't dig too deep, you'll regret it? (CNN)'....Earthquake in China claims at least 300...'

My life with John had started in high school, both of us smitten with the other nearly on first sight. Nothing Special John, Nothing Special Jesse, but special to each other, and that sense of delight in each other hadn't started to fade until we had been married for 5 years, like an old joke, 'My husband and I have had 5 wonderful years together. Not bad, out of 15....'. Our marriage, and our love, was inevitably ground under 15 years of sameness, and little in common, other than a past. John had succumbed to temptation in an office encounter, and to my own shame I hadn't given him enough reason to turn away, though I felt no other emotion.

Now here I was, 34 years old, and it looked as though I wasn't likely to be a part of an "us" anymore. The saddest thing, I think, was the lack of regret I did, or didn't rather, feel. We'd separated 6 months previously, and I can't say that my life had changed much as a result, other than that John was now never around to carry the burden of keeping our palatial home, make that 'house,' together, though he was so good about paying for all expenses and keeping me comfortable. As a successful stock broker, he had put himself in a position where he could manage that easily enough, and to his credit he didn't drag his feet about paying bills or in any other money matters, so I really didn't bear him any ill will. Worse, I felt nothing inside regarding John.

I took quick stock of myself physically: 34, slightly overweight, a size 14 where I'd almost always been an 8, short, raven-black hair, with wisps of gray showing up, crows-feet developing in the corners of the skin around my eyes, lines, heck, wrinkles, a little more difficult to cover every day, sagging breasts - in short, I was growing older. Mentally: I had no clue. To use a nautical term, I was completely at sea about where I was headed, and what the future might bring. Emotionally: even worse, don't ask.

I had promised John that I would winterize our family boat, a 34' Whisper Jet sport cruiser. It was docked at St. Michaels, MD, across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge a few hours from our Bethesda, MD home in the Washington, DC suburbs. I prepared a sack lunch of Boars Head country ham sandwiches with mustard, home made cookies (bought at Zabar's in Manhattan), and some apples and bananas, along with a jug of iced tea I'd brewed my very own self. I climbed into the Dark Blue Pearl Lincoln Navigator, making sure I had my cell phone, and headed out to the Capital Beltway, then east on Rte 50 and the Eastern Shore of Maryland. The brilliant fall colors of red, orange, and yellow in the sugar maples lining the streets of our comfortable neighborhood gave a joyous and gay punctuation to what was otherwise a fairly blah day, in both mind and body, so far as I was concerned.

The drive was unremarkable, marked with less traffic than usual, particularly on the Beltway, which had become a slow-motion parking lot at most times of the day in recent years. I had made the drive to St. Michaels countless times, though usually with John, and while I drove, I thought about the missed opportunities for both John and I in repairing our relationship. I had no idea, even at this late date, what or how to fix things, or what I really wanted. One thing I knew in my belated trip to wisdom, I'd better decide what I DID want, or I'd end up making the same mistakes I'd made throughout my life. I had to learn to make choices, whether for good or bad, and be responsible for the consequences. Though I might regret those decisions, at least I wouldn't regret life making them for me. 

After crossing over the immense southern span of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, a drive which had always slightly unnerved me due to the great height of the structure, I drove south down Rte 50, then west on St. Michaels Road, and finally entered St. Michaels itself, a picturesque, but still fortunately sleepy bayside town, that still depended heavily on the Chesapeake area's tradition of fishing and 'ostering,' as the oyster harvesting business was pronounced thereabouts. But it was also reaping the bounty of increasing amounts of Yuppy and Generation X tourist dollars, as St. Michaels' attractive and historic area was again being discovered by another generation. I drove down Talbot Street, turned left at Chew Ave, then to Meadow and to the marina parking lot.

I pulled up to the marina in St. Michaels, the picturesque town and its Fall Harvest celebration preparations only peripherally on my mind, as I began mentally ticking off the list of actions I'd have to take to get the 34' boat ready for winter. I took out the large grocery bag of food, and tea, locked up the Navigator, and walked down to the dock. The St. Michaels marina is composed of a long central pier extending far out into the Miles River, with cross docks where the water craft are actually docked.

The closer in docks are for smaller craft, like boats, as the water is shallower there, and the outer docks, farther from the shore and in deeper water, are where the larger craft, 'ships,' are docked, with their deeper draws. As the "Melancholy Baby," a Whisper Jet sport cruiser, was capable of ocean travel and was a little longer and with a deeper draft than many of the other boats berthed at the Chesapeake Bay marina, it was berthed among the fancier craft, including some yachts that exceeded 80, and even 100 feet. I wasn't going to be doing a great deal to get it ready for the cold weather, just adding additional anti-freeze, fuel stabilizer, and doing some lube work on the fittings, setting a trickle charger on the battery, as well as picking up miscellaneous junk left behind during the summer, battening down the hatches and emptying the refrigerator, etc. 

Passing a short, roughly dressed man tying his shoes, I walked to the security gate, about 30 feet farther out on the pier past the tackle and supplies store, which was closed for lunch, and pulled out my magnetic pass card to open the welded steel gate. When the buzzer sounded, I jerked the heavy gate open, and began walking through. Just then, I was bumped into by the man as he, too rushed through, muttering a brief apology. I turned and glared at him, but he kept his head down, looking at the silvery gray, weather worn oak planking of the pier, a cheap fisherman's cap pulled down over his face.

I began to feel alarm, and I started looking around to see if there was anyone else around. My hand came out of my jacket pocket with my cell phone flipping open, when the man's arm struck upwards under mine, and the phone went flying into the shallow water. My fears confirmed, the 'man' lifted his face to mine (he seemed shorter than I am, and I'm 5' 8"), though still in shadow, and steel blue eyes locked onto mine, a husky voice whispering at the same time, "I've got a gun pointed at your middle. Don't scream, don't make any abrupt movements, and you'll get out of this without being hurt in any way. Do you understand?"

I stood frozen in fear, unable to move, or even breath. Just seconds before I had been bemoaning the loss of my marriage, and here I was facing the loss of my life. I managed a shaky nod, my hands and the bag they held shaking like a rose bush in a hurricane. "Good," the man said. "Now, where's your boat?"

Barely able to put my thoughts into any kind of order, I said, "Cruiser. Only landlubbers call these ships 'boats.'"

"Shit!" the voice hissed. "I don't give a FUCK what you call the fuckin' thing, where's your goddamn boat!" I pointed towards the end cross tree, and in a tremulous voice, said, "There."

"Take me there," the man said. I managed, barely, to pull my feet forward to walk out to the Melancholy Baby, aware of a heat running down both legs from my crotch. God, I'd pissed myself! We walked, or more aptly, shambled out to the craft, my body barely able to obey the command, the man hunched over and striving to keep his head down as he walked behind.

When we got to my cruiser, he said, "This is it?" I nodded yes, he muttered, "This'll do, I guess," and gestured for me to climb aboard. He followed close behind, and sat down on one of the deck chairs. "Get us out of here," he said. "And I meant it when I said I wasn't going to hurt you."

I started up the engine, the fuel gauge said there was about 150 gallons in the tank, half her capacity, though I had no idea how far this guy was going. The engine purred like a kitten, it had just had an overhaul the previous month. I moved to cast off the bow and stern lines from the dock cleats, and pushed off. We drifted out from the wooden structure about 15 feet, already taken by the tide, and I slowly eased away from the marina, in the 'no-wake' zone. Outside of that, I began to cruise up the Miles River.

"Go south," the man said.

"You have to go north, to go south from here," I called back to the man, slumped in the chair. It looked as though he had dropped a red kerchief from his pocket on the white painted deck. "It's the way the river runs." Plucking up more courage than I had shown heretofore, I asked, "Where is it you want to get to?"

"Florida," he answered laconically. 

"Holy shit," I thought, "this isn't a shipjacking, it's a fucking kidnapping." I figured it was best not to get too involved with this guy by asking too many questions, so I figured on a course for the mouth of the Bay, and then playing it by ear from there. John and I had shared skippering duties on the craft, so I was pretty familiar with its operation. I set a course by dead reckoning out the Miles River, into the upper Chesapeake Bay, and around to the west where I could hit the main channel. Passing well to the spit of sand north of Claiborne, MD, I entered the main channel of the Chesapeake and headed south now, staying about 1/4 mile off the eastern shore, keeping in deep enough water without getting into the main shipping channel, where the Baltimore-bound freighters run. There was little comment from the man the whole of this time.

Finally, hours later, down near Gloucester Point, north of Hampton, VA I said, "We're nearly out of fuel. What do you want to do?" 

The man roused himself, then said, "Well, pull over and get some gas." Landlubbers! I brought us into a dockside fuel station in Gloucester Point, and got ready to refuel. 

"We need to pay for the gas," I said. 

The man said, "Use your credit card." I figured it was no use pretending I didn't have one, with that gun he might make me pay too high a price. I sighed, and pulled out one of my Visa cards, and ran it through the slot, then pulled the long hose over and set it into the fuel reservoir opening. I knew it wasn't going to be cheap. With a 300 gallon tank, and gas at about $1,80, it ran to nearly $500. I guessed that, after it was all over, if I were still alive, I might be able to get the money back from insurance or something.

Completing the transaction, I fired her up, and moved us back into the channel, and past Hampton and its gigantic US Naval vessels, out into the Atlantic itself, and staying within 10 miles or so of the coast. I turned to ask the man what he wanted next, and if I could at least eat, since it was now late in the day, and found him slumped to the deck, in a pool of blood, a small pool but no less shocking.

I stepped down onto the deck and over to him, moving cautiously, and put my fingers on his thumb, to check his pulse. An extraordinarily small thumb for a man, the fingers smooth, and I was stunned to see flecks of fingernail polish on the nail. A woman? He/she showed no signs of rousing, so I reached gingerly inside the jacket for the gun, which turned out to be a 9 mm police issue. The only reason I recognized it as such, was because John had one like it. Checking further, I found an ID flip wallet inside the jacket pocket, with a policeman's badge on one side, and an ID card issued by the State of New Jersey, with a picture of an attractive young woman in the uniform of the New Jersey State Police, smiling for all she was worth. The name on the ID card was 'Trooper Jenny Clark.'

I compared the picture to my kidnapper's face, pushing back the battered fisherman's cap, to see ringlets of golden hair matching those in the picture. The face, too, was the same, but lined and dirty, pallid in her cheeks where in the picture she'd had a ruddy glow. Only God knew what was happening, but it was clear to me that I had an injured police officer on my hands, and that I'd have to act quickly. After I quickly set the sea anchor to minimize drifting, I dragged/carried her below to the small double sized bunk that served as the sleeping surface in the tiny cabin, and laid her out on the bunk. As I lay her down, a packet of 35 mm photographs fell out of her shirt pocket.

I looked through the photographs quickly. It looked like the series of pictures had either been taken very closeup, or through a sophisticated telephoto lens. It seemed likely that the telephoto lens was the right choice, as the series of pictures showed two groups of 3 or 4 men each, meeting inside an apparently abandoned industrial building, the place looked like a real mess by the dirt, dust and oil on every surface. The pictures looked as though they were sequential, and they progressed to a point where one of the groups of men pulled out guns and started shooting the others, apparently killing or seriously wounding them. I looked at the back of the photos, but there was nothing there, other than one photo that said, 'Capt. Jameson?' or something like that, hurriedly scribbled in pencil

I turned back to the girl. She looked as though she was in her early twenties, but also as though she'd been through holy hell. I looked first at where she was obviously injured. The blood seemed to be coming from her upper right thigh. I gingerly unbuckled her men's style jeans and belt, then eased them down her slim legs until a long, but shallow cut from a knife or other sharp object was revealed on the outside of her upper thigh. I didn't know much about wounds, but I didn't think there was an artery in that area that would result in fatal blood loss. The blood wasn't spurting, so I figured it wasn't an arterial wound, which probably would have finished her off long ago. From the way she smelled, it had been a while since she had a bath. I pulled off the jeans, leaving her in, oddly enough, a pair of pretty white lace bikini panties.

We didn't have a very good first aid kit on the cruiser, but at least it had a bottle of Betadine, which would serve as a disinfectant. I thought a little bit about what might work as a bandage, and I remembered that I had left a package of maxi-pads in a storage cabinet by the head, when I was having my period on one of our past trips. Along with duct tape, which every boat has (or should have), I had the makings of a workable bandage, and just about the right size, too. I cleaned the cut as best I could, using cold water from the tap at the small multi-purpose sink, and some paper towels from a few rolls accumulated on board, part of the 'junk' I had intended to bring back after closing up the cruiser. I then applied the napkin, soaked with Betadine on the cut, and taped over it, onto her thigh, with duct tape. Her thigh was firm and warm under my fingers as I moved her leg to minister to her. I looked between her legs then, and saw a fairly large spot of blood, at about the spot where every woman has seen one, at least once in her life, at her vagina.

Believe me, there was nothing sexual about this police officer/girl, not at that point. Dressed like a bum, filthy and smelly to heaven, and apparently springing a leak, she was basically just a mess. I sighed, and my mothering instinct went into high gear. I quickly pulled her panties down in front, saw that it WAS just her period (not shot, or knifed, or anything), then I pulled her panties back up, and began undressing her top. The men's flannel shirt she was wearing was filthy, as though she'd crawled through a sewer, and I could at least try to prevent infection, and improve her smell. I unbuttoned her shirt, pulled it off (not easy with a dead weight), then reached behind her and unsnapped her bra (a very lovely lace pattern again, and a match for the panties, go figure), and gently took it off her, revealing her small breasts and her pretty little pink nipples and areolas, like a small girl's (the nipples, not her breasts). She stunk really bad, so I set to work.

I covered her with a blanket, to keep her warm, then drew some fresh water from the tap (a tank on the boat holds a couple of hundred gallons), and set it on the camp stove in a large pot to take the chill off it. After the water was heated, I took a roll of paper towels and some liquid body soap, and started giving her a sponge bath, starting at the top of her head, doing what I could with her hair, then soaping and wiping down her face, neck, upper chest, as much of her as I could reasonably reach, then dried her and covered her upper body with the blanket again.

I finished up her stomach and as much of her lower back as I could without flinging her all around, then pulled her panties down off her hips, and down her legs to the floor. To my surprise, there was a long wadded mass of cheap toilet paper, serving as a makeshift sanitary napkin, half of it stuck in the crotch of her panties, and half still adhering to her vagina, where it had been pressed in.

What kind of desperate circumstances can a woman be in, where she can't get her hands on some kind of pad or tampon, or at least attend to herself to some extent? She smelled pretty bad there, as can happen. I gently stripped off the blood soaked residue of the toilet paper from below her golden bush, which was full and abundant, though neatly trimmed, and apparently shaved around her labia. I gently wiped around her vulva, removing the dirt, and residue from her flow, and for some reason began crying. I sat there helplessly for maybe 5 minutes, sobbing, tears running down my cheeks, and not knowing why. I guess in retrospect it was sadness at seeing this young girl's desperation (under the dirt, she looked like she was 17, though obviously older), so severe that she couldn't take time to reach a minimum level of human semblance. From her ID photo, though, it was obvious that she'd been happy and composed once upon a time.

I forced myself to just stop crying, and finished cleaning her, so that by the time I finished, all the way down to her feet, she didn't smell quite so bad and looked a lot more human, and feminine. I didn't have any panties for her to replace her dirty ones, but I did have an old, but clean, bikini bottom that would fit her and keep the breeze off her ass, which, honestly, looked nice. I could remember when my bottom was that trim, though I was heavier now. I thought she must have all the boys admiring her as she went by. I put one of the spare pads inside the bikini bottoms, between her legs, where it would do some good.

She'd need medical attention soon, and I thought about where I could take her in. I decided not to go back, but to go forward, through one of the inlets of the North Carolina Outer Banks. There was something extremely odd about this affair, and I wasn't quite ready to take her to the police until I'd had a chance to learn a little more from her, if she awakened any time soon.




A Kiss Before Dying



I sat watch over her for an hour or two in a deck chair, then dozed off, waking when I sensed movement. She was sitting up in the bunk, holding her head, and in a soft voice said, dazedly, "Where am I?"

I said, "You're on my ship, where you kidnaped me." She looked at me blankly.

"Oh, God, I'm SO sorry," she said. "I was desperate. They had trailed me down to St. Michaels, and one of those marina boats was my last chance."

"Who is 'they?'" I asked.

"I don't know, exactly," she said. "I was on a New Jersey State Police Governmental Corruption Task Force, and we were tracking down a lead about a government official who was meeting with some Organized Crime members in an old mill in Trenton, down by the Delaware River. I was there, hidden behind some broken and junked old equipment with my partner, and best friend, Trooper Roberta Jenson, and we were taking pics when the two groups showed up, as we'd been tipped. To my surprise, one of the people was a Captain in the State Police, my boss's boss, as a matter of fact, and from the way these guys were talking, they knew exactly who he was, and he was one of them.

"Anyway, his group just pulled out their guns and began shooting these Mob guys, which didn't break me up any, but it was really cold, no, 'You're under arrest!' no nothing, just gunfire. Roberta and I knew we had to do something, so we stepped out with our weapons drawn, and shouted, 'State Police! Drop your weapons!'"

"Another man we hadn't seen fired on us, and hit Roberta dead square in the forehead. She dropped like a sack of wet shit." Here, Jenny stopped talking, and tears began running, no, pouring, down her cheeks. She cried for the longest time, at least it felt that way to me, but it was just a few minutes, and she snuffled and wiped her face on a clean piece of the paper towel.

"I'm sorry," she said, brusquely. "So, Roberta was dead, and I wasn't and I was running. I was on foot in one of the worst parts of Trenton, cut off from my police cruiser, which we'd parked blocks away, trying to get to a phone. Did you know, there AREN'T any fucking pay phones in Trenton? You've either got a cell phone, or you're fucked."

"No cabs, no other cops, no fuckin' anything but a GODDAMNED WAR ZONE!" she screamed this last. "And in the couple of hours of my tryin' to get back to .... someone.... anyone ....there was an APB put out ..... on ME, claiming that I had shot Roberta, and was armed and dangerous!"

"That fuckin' Capt. Jameson, my boss's boss, had convinced somebody, somehow, that I was a bad cop, and had gunned down my partner, and every cop in the northeast was on my ass. I had to make a decision, and that was to run. My only chance to prove my innocence is down in Florida, in Fort Lauderdale. I knew that if I were on the road, there'd be a lot of people who'd be looking for my face, but on the water .....," she paused, then resumed.

"I'm sorry for kidnaping you, and for my language, I'm just really pissed that Roberta's dead, and that piece of dog crap who did it, is trying to pin it on me. I figured my uncle in Fort Lauderdale could help me, he's a retired colonel in the State Police. No plan, just going to ask for his help."

I didn't know what to say, but this was an unexpected twist, as far as I was concerned. Then I remembered that blurb I overheard on CNN.....Corrupt New Jersey cop sought in slaying.... either the word WAS out unfairly, and she didn't have a chance, or she was a corrupt cop, like the story said....she didn't seem like a killer, but then I don't think I've ever known a killer.

"What made you join the police?" I asked, stalling for time. I had to make a decision, to at least play along, until I knew more. One thing for sure, I wasn't giving her the gun back until I knew more about what was going on. "It's a family thing," she said. "Going back to my great-grandfather, we've been a family of policemen. Both my brothers are cops, in New Brunswick, my dad was a cop in Newark. He was gunned down trying to arrest a bank robber when I was a kid. I always wanted to be like him, and after I graduated from Rutgers, I joined the State Police. I've been on the force two years now. I'm not too sure how long that's gonna last, though," she said sadly. "That fuck." I guessed she was talking about the crooked cop she said they'd run across.

"Umm, would you like a sandwich?" I said.

"Yeah, sure, thanks," she said. "And uh, thanks for cleaning me up .... it WAS you who did it, right? I know I smelled, I had to go through some rough places to get out of Trenton, then stole a car and drove down here, really anywhere I thought I'd find a boat, it's kind of mixed up, I think I've got a little fever or sump'n." She sat back down, hard, bringing her hand to her head, rubbing her temple. "Let me just rest....a little." She fell over, unconscious.

I laid her out on the bunk, and put my hand, palm down on her forehead - it felt as though her forehead was in flames. She was very feverish, something was going to have to be done for her fast. I didn't know what to do, other than let the heat out as best I could. I took the blanket, which was only partially covering her anyway, off her, and she lay on the bed, naked except for the bikini bottoms, sweat rolling off her body. I wet some paper towels, and wiped down her face, and forehead, trying to help her cool down.

I sat next to her for hours, until late, swabbing her face and changing towels, I guess about two in the morning, until her body cooled down. Then I had to figure out some way to keep her warm. There wasn't much by way of warm cover on the boat, I'd pretty much used up our resources between the left over sanitary napkins and the duct tape, so I used the only cover I had for her, the thin blanket, and my body. I'd never actually laid with another girl before, and it certainly wasn't sexual ... but, well, it WAS sexual, kind of. 

Oh, none of the things you read about in ...those kinds of stories, but just a comforting, oddly, safe, kind of feeling. I was there to keep Jenny safe and warm while she was unconscious, but oddly, I felt a warmth and safety with this girl, and I quickly dropped off to sleep. The next morning I awoke, before Jenny did. She seemed to be sleeping peacefully, and her forehead seemed to be about the right temperature, and her skin had normal color, her breathing was deep and unhurried. I figured she'd weathered at least one of her storms. 

I headed up to the cockpit to get my bearings. It was a foggy morning, and I wasn't exactly sure where we were, so I turned on the GPS, and we were no more than about twenty miles from where I'd set the sea anchor the previous night. I estimated I could get us to an inlet through the Outer Banks within a couple of hours, and find a doctor for Jenny.

I navigated us by using the GPS, and dead reckoning, and brought us under the Hwy 12 causeway into Pamlico Sound, a little south of Manteo, NC, an island inside of the Outer Banks, but well off the mainland. Remote enough, built up enough, to get medical care without much attention. I navigated us to the small marina on the east side of Manteo, and berthed the "Melancholy Baby." Unless someone had seen Jenny abduct me, there was no reason why we would attract attention, and I doubted that law enforcement authorities would be looking hard for her here.

There's no hospital, per se, on the Outer Banks, the nearest one being in Elizabeth City, but as I recalled from a previous trip to Manteo that John and I had made, there were a couple of urgent care clinics, mainly attending to sunburn and other related maladies. But first, I went below and told Jenny that I was going to head out and get us some clothes.

"You'd do that for me?" she said, at first, such a sweet expression on her face, like a little girl who's been told that she's going to get a treat. Then, I guess the cop in her took over, her expression got a little hard, and she growled, "How do I know I can trust you?"

"Well, you don't, do you?" I threw back in her face. "You're just going to have to have some faith." I was a little annoyed, after all, the chick HAD kidnaped me, and I just wanted to give her a fair shot at justice, IF she was telling the truth.

"Sorry," she said. "I have trust issues."

"From your story, I can see where you would. No offense taken." She said she was a size 8, and I knew was a 14. Since I was only getting slacks and blouses, along with a couple of changes of underwear, I wasn't going to get fancy. Three blocks from the marina on Budleigh Street, was a little women's shop that was just perfect. I got us each simple blouses, for Jenny a red check and a plain blue one for me, both of them work shirt styles, and two pairs of khaki slacks, a couple of pairs of panties, and I estimated her bra size and got myself one, too. We'd look a tad on the butch side, but not overly unusual considering we were in a fishing area.

I charged the purchase, and picked us up some food from a McDonald's on the way. When I got back on the boat, and went below, Jenny sat on the bunk, the thin blanket over her shoulders, and the bikini bottoms her only other cover. She looked very relieved to see that it was me.

"I had a dream last night," she said.

"Yeah?" I said.

"I dreamt you were making love to me," she said, looking straight into my eyes. I don't know if it was her comment, or the 'cop stare,' but I felt kind of nervous, even though I hadn't done anything.

"Well, I didn't," I said, defensively.

"I didn't accuse you," she said. "I just said I had a dream." A silence fell between us, and we went back to chowing down on our Chicken Selects. God, that chipotle sauce sucks, but it tasted pretty good to us then, just the same.

"Roberta was more than a friend and patrol partner," Jenny said, breaking the silence at last. She didn't say anything more, and I looked over at her. Tears were streaming down her face. No sobbing, or hiccuping, no other visible signs of despair, just silence and tears.

"Was she your lover, Jenny?" I asked, gently. She just nodded, and finally broke down. I took her in my arms, and held her while her body shook with her emotions, released at long last. God, she must have cried enough to fill Roanoke Sound. I just made little hushing noises, and let her cry. She really, really needed it, and I think that, before the end, that cry was the best, and perhaps only, good thing that happened to her.

"Geez, I REALLY need a real shower," she said. "You cleaned me up, but I still stink," she said.

"Well, you don't smell as bad as you think," I said, "but, yeah, you could use a shower." She laughed at that, the first and possibly only one of hers I ever heard. She had a musical laugh, and I found it enchanting. "I'm pretty sure there's a public shower here at the marina, and they've got towels, soap, hot water and even a vending machine with small body splash bottles. Nothing fancy, but ....."

"I'm not fancy, anything'll do," she said. I watched as she lowered the blanket from her lovely shoulders, the rough fabric dropping to reveal her small, but perfect, breasts, and I so wanted to touch her there, and comfort her more, but the moment had passed. We put on the new clothes, but tried not to actually touch them, as we didn't want to carry over our present smells into the clothes. I kind of think that, if you pretend to not touch clothes while you wear them, you don't make 'em dirty. I don't know if that 'mind over matter' approach really works, but, hey, it can't hurt, right?

We stepped off the cruiser, and walked up the dock to shore. 

"Where's this?" Jenny asked.

"Manteo, in North Carolina. It's an island next to the Outer Banks."

"What are the Outer Banks?" Jenny asked.

"You never heard of the Outer Banks? Did you ever hear of Kitty Hawk?" I asked.

"Yeah, that's where the Wright Brothers first flew their plane," she said, looking offended. "That's on the Outer Banks? Is that like on the coast of North Carolina?"

"Jenny, have you ever BEEN outside of New Jersey?" I asked. 

"Well, yeah, down to Maryland as a kid, to St. Michaels a couple of times, that's how I knew to get there. I went to high school in Livingston, and college at Rutgers."

"Law enforcement major, right?" I said.

"Yup," Jenny said.

"Well, the Outer Banks is like Sandy Hook, but way longer and way out into the Atlantic Ocean. We're far away from the world here," I said.

"Far away from the world, huh?" Jenny mused. "I need far away from the world. I'd just like to crawl into, um, Roberta's arms ....." she began tearing up a little, but got it under control. The poor kid, I thought, she could use a good cry, all night long. We got to the showers, which are used a lot by boaters. Since it was later in the season, we had the place to ourselves, which was just as well. They had private shower stalls, so we paid for our stuff, and headed into the shower room.

I took the third stall from the left, and Jenny took the one to the right of it. We both sighed loudly when the hot water hit our bodies, and as I scrubbed away my dirt and tension from the previous day and night, I found myself thinking about Jenny and her lover, Roberta, and from there wondered about what lesbians really do together. Of course, I'd seen dirty movies, but did they really go around fucking each other with enormous double-headed dildoes? That didn't seem very attractive to me, if you wanted a dick inside you, why not just get married and suffer like the rest of us, LOL.

Now, lesbianism would be pretty great, I thought, if the other girl would act like a girl, and be sweet and soft, and nice, and not yell, and smell nice, and just be, well, a girl. Maybe I'd ask Jenny about that if I got the chance. Little did I know, you should probably ask questions while you've GOT the chance.

As I was musing, I heard a yell from Jenny's stall. I tore out of my stall, sweeping the curtain aside, heedless of what anyone might think of a nude middle aged woman tearing out of a shower stall, and entered hers. Jenny was holding her leg, where the makeshift bandage was coming off. I was taken by the sight of her naked body, all dirt washed away, her golden hair delightfully wet and clean, rivulets of water running down her body like runoff from a magnificent glacier, though there was nothing cold about her look, quite the opposite.

She had a scared look on her face, and she said, "it's bleeding again, Jesse. I'd better get to that urgent care right away." I got her towel, and dried her off. God, I never realized the pleasure to be found in touching another woman's body. I tried to be businesslike, and I think I succeeded, but touching Jenny's breasts, small but perfect, her slim body, hips and waist, her perfectly round ass, and kneeling down in front of her, my face inches away from her pussy, now clean and lovely, small vertical pink slit, thin labia on the sides, a beautiful trim bush, as golden as the hair on her head, and I imagined I could see her little reddish clitoris peeking out at the top of that unforgettable pussy. And I never would forget that vision of loveliness, not until the day that I died.

I finished drying her, and we went into the locker room, splashed ourselves with the cheap body splash, then got dressed. "How do I look," Jenny said, shakily. I thought about making a comment about us looking like a couple of lesbians, but fortunately held my tongue! I can be so thoughtless sometimes, probably a part of the reason John and I were no longer together.

"I think we look pretty good," I said. "A couple of sisters."

"Or girlfriends," Jenny said. "Umm, regular girlfriends, not like, um...."

"I know what you meant, honey," I said softly. "It's okay. And let's get you to see a doctor, okay?"

We went two blocks over to where I remembered the Manteo Urgent Care Clinic was located, from a fishing hook misadventure years before with John, and we entered. A typical medical institution waiting room, although it had all the cliches like old magazines, it was a great deal more pleasant, and much quieter than any emergency room. I gave my insurance information, but claiming that Jenny was me, and I was her sister, 'Jenny.'

Jenny got seen right away, by a female doctor, who had no objection to my being in the examining room with her and 'Jesse." The doctor was very kind and considerate, but when we spun our planned story about a 'fishing accident,' the look of skepticism in her eyes was pretty plain. She stitched up Jenny's wound, and gave her a prescription for an antibiotic, and a few samples to get her started. Just before she left the room, she said, "Look, I see a lot of women pairs in here for injuries like this. Sometimes it's a wife and her best friend, sometimes sisters, sometimes life partners, but there's almost always some jealous man who caused the injury. If that happens to be the case, I encourage you to file charges. That's going to leave a scar."

Well, if she was going to guess our real situation, that was as useful a wrong guess as any, so Jenny and I simultaneously crafted looks of 'oh, you guessed it,' and I said, "Thank you doctor, that's good advice," and Jenny tried to look sheepish. I walked, and Jenny limped, out of there, so I let her lean on me as we made our way to a local supermarket. Her touch was like heaven to me, soft, and warm, and needing me. We got her prescription filled at a Food Lion, picked up some 'easy food,' and headed back to the boat. Jenny plopped down onto the bunk, weariness clear on her otherwise lovely face. "I never really got a chance to thank you," Jenny said, and stood up and kissed me on the cheek. It felt like heaven on my skin, and I never wanted it to end. But eventually, she pulled away from our slight contact, and our eyes met, then after an awkward pause, she sat back down again, a possibly different future missed. 

While we were at the dock, I decided to gas up the boat, though it wasn't near empty, then headed the boat back outside of the Outer Banks. I knew that Jenny wanted to get to Ft. Lauderdale, and I knew how to get there, so I pointed the Melancholy Baby south-southwest, at a slow cruising speed. I went below, and found Jenny asleep on the bunk. I went to put the blanket on her, cursing the fact that I'd forgotten to get any other warm clothing, and just sat next to her for a few minutes, looking down at her.

God, she was beautiful. Her golden blonde hair was naturally curly. When she stood, it flowed over her shoulders in lovely waves. As she slept, her head resting on the thin pillow, it fanned out around her head like a halo. Cleaned up, and free of her waking stress, she looked angelic. Her small mouth and full lips moved in little 'mewing' movements, just like a little girl, and I found myself wondering what she was dreaming about. It must have quickly turned into something bad, because she began jerking, and uttering broken sounds, "No! No! Stop!" among many indistinct words.

I lay down next to her, then, to hold her and give her reassurance. I found that the touch of her body, spooned with mine, gave ME reassurance, and peace. I fell asleep, though I hadn't intended to, and found myself dreaming that I was kissing a lovely young girl, her face indistinct, but I sensed that she was good, and kind, this dream girl. Her arms were around me, in my dream, her soft lips on mine, and I felt her hand softly stroking my crotch, my clothes mysteriously and suddenly disappeared, as happens in dreams.

I lay back, in that dream, my legs slightly spread, my dream girl gently stroking my pussy with her fingertip, my pussy wetting under her touch, her warm breath on my cheek as her breathing increased rapidly, turning hot, her finger penetrating me softly, deeper and deeper. I woke, to find Jenny above me, looking down on me and smiling, her face nearing mine, her lips nearing mine, her warm body protecting me, her sweet breath on me, my head lifting up, my mouth opening to accept her, our lips touching, pressing, tongues dancing, my hips pressing up to her, her hand, not a dream girl's hand, between my legs, stroking me. I cursed softly as I realized I still had pants, and panties on, keeping my dream/real girl from touching me where I needed to be touched, from stroking me where I needed her touch, from feeling her on me.




A Kiss Before Dying



I hurriedly unsnapped the snap at the waist of my pants, and furiously pushed them down my hips, my panties thankfully going with them, my wet pussy exposed to Jenny for the very first time. "Please," I whispered. My angel smiled, and kissed me again and again, her soft fingers now on me, inside me, for real, I was cumming instantly at her touch. I moaned with an ecstasy I had never imagined, much less ever felt. My body exploded with pleasure, jolts of electricity shooting through me, all centered on my tiny nubbin of a clitoris. She had me imprisoned under one small fingertip.

I was delirious with pleasure for a few minutes or a lifetime, and when I came down from that infinite high, I wanted nothing more than to pull off Jenny's pants and panties, and pleasure her with my finger. I fumbled at Jenny's snap on her pants, and she gave a throaty chuckle, and helped me by wiggling out of her loosened pants. "Oh!" she said at one point.

"What? Oh, I'm sorry!" I exclaimed. "Your thigh!"

"No, it's okay," she said. "I just need to stay off that part ..... but don't stop," she said, taking my hand in hers, and bringing my naive touch to the heat and moisture at her pussy. "I must warn you, I'm still....." and I remembered she was having her period, now at least with decent tampons, her preferred method, instead of toilet paper.

"Does it hurt if I touch you now?" I asked, though I myself had never had a soreness problem, and I actually preferred to masturbate during my period, as it relieved a little discomfort.

"I'd like you to touch me .... please," Jenny said, and my finger lightly traced the outline of the fertile opening between her slim legs. She sighed. "Yesssss," she hissed, as I developed a rhythm that I thought that I would have liked, and then her finger recreated those same motions on my pussy and clit, both of us fingering the other, passion building, pleasure rising, lips and clits swelling with our lust. We came, multiple times each, and too soon we each had to push the other's hand away, the pleasure too much. Then we cuddled, and kissed, and slept some more.

I woke up, remembering that I had left the boat cruising, and thought that I'd better hurry and attend to my sailing, lest we crash and sink. I whispered, "Thank you. Thank you SO much," and kissed her warm, smooth cheek. I put on my panties, and pants, then hurried to see where we were. There was nothing around us, and I checked the GPS. Fortunately we were just where we should be, so I slumped back in the high captains chair, when, suddenly the chair swung around, and Jenny was standing there, her shirt on but unbuttoned, her breasts and sweet nipples very visible to me, as she had no bra was on. She had only her panties on below. God, she looked SO sexy in the late afternoon sun, the light reflecting off her beautiful golden hair, her eyes a deeper blue than any ocean.

"Are we okay?" she growled throatily.

"Yeah," I said, "No problem," and she lowered herself in front of me, kneeling, her head at my crotch level, pulling, tugging until my pants gave up the fight and slipped down my thighs, my still wet pussy now glistening for her in the late afternoon light, her face close, closer to me, her hands pushing my thighs up, my legs up, my pussy so available to her now. Like a hawk on a rabbit, she devoured my wet slit, her tongue licking and circling my labia, my slit, my clit, my curly brown hair, her fingers following voraciously, ignoring my relative virginity and penetrating me two at a time, elevating me, impassioning me, lust filling me, my cunt demanding to be fucked! And for the first time in my life, I communicated with a lover what I wanted.

"God, fuck me! Fuck my cunt with your hard fingers!! Fuck me, now!! I want you to fuckin' make me cum!!" Jenny took her fingers out of my eager pussy, disappointing me momentarily, but then her full lips fastened on my pearl of a clit, and squeezed gently, driving me mad with sensation. I came, hundreds of times, I'm sure, at that moment when her lips imprisoned my willing prisoner of a clitoris, simultaneous with two of her perfect, white, front teeth nipping at the top of my clit, and her two wetted fingers slipping inside my unsuspecting ass hole. I have never, ever felt anything like that, before or since, and words fail me now in adequately describing the rush of sensations overwhelming me.

I had no choice then, at that moment, but to love Jenny forever for that, and for everything I imagined we'd be allowed by Fate or God to do together, however long that might be.

We decided to set anchor for the night, and spend all of the next day sailing to Ft. Lauderdale. Jenny took my hand, and led me down below, to the double wide bunk. Jenny finished undressing me, then lay me down on the thin mattress, my heart in her hands. Jenny did a teasing striptease for me, slowly pulling off the unbuttoned shirt from her shoulders, her beautiful, petite breasts fully exposed, and her tiny, sweet nipples erect with lust, and I hoped, love. She put her fingers, index finger and thumb only, on the elastic waistband of her panties, and slowly slipped them down her hips, her gorgeous pussy red and swollen, her golden curls a lovely contrast.

She stood at the end of the bunk then, naked and perfect, then crawled between my legs. I moved them apart to allow her entry. She pressed her pussy into mine, and I lifted my legs up so that our vaginas could kiss. Her pussy was incredibly hot against mine, and I became concerned that she might be feverish, then I remembered her period. Jenny gently rocked herself against me, each part of my mons matching up with hers, our clits rhythmically rubbing together, causing sparks to tingle through us both. Jenny fucked me like that, over and over again, and we kissed throughout, sweet kisses of promise, promises to forever love and cherish, and not a word spoken. Grunting, moaning, groaning, cooing, breathing. Explosions of hips, thighs shaking in the ultimate pleasure. Entire conversations not in words, but in feelings, emotions, in the 'being' of one another. I could have died then. I would have gladly died then, if I knew we would be joined forever by that act. But we didn't know then, that which we would know later.

We slept. And woke up happy, and for once, rested. I fixed us coffee, without any sugar or cream, my skills at providing condiments on boats being somewhat poor. We smiled at each other, through the bitter taste, and I've never had a better or sweeter cup of coffee. "What do you want me to do, Jen?" I said.

"Well, right now, we just need to get us to Ft. Lauderdale. Can you do that?"

"Sure, by tonight," I said.

"Okay, when we get there, I'm going to go see my uncle. He'll know what to do, when I give him the photos, and he'll be able to get them to someone, without me getting killed by a trigger happy cop." We spent the rest of the day cruising at high speed to the Florida Coast, and approached Ft. Lauderdale through Lake Mabel, which opens onto the Atlantic, and berthed at the public docks by Spangler Boulevard.

We went to the public phone at the dock, and Jenny dropped a dollar's worth of quarters into the slot, and dialed a number. She spoke for a few minutes, and when she got off the phone, there was a very happy look on her face. "Uncle Jeff says he's home, and that I can come over ASAP."

We took a taxi to Lauderdale Harbors, where her uncle lived, and the driver stopped in front of the home on SE 15th St, a modest little bungalow. Jenny turned to me in the back seat, and said, "A kiss before we go?" and we kissed a sweet and loving kiss I always will remember.

We got out of the taxi, I turned to pay the driver, while Jenny stepped from the street up onto the neat Bermuda grass lawn, when suddenly a sound like a shot rang out from the bushes adjacent to the house. To my shock and horror, a red rose suddenly blossomed on Jenny's blue shirt, right above her right breast. As though in slow motion, her mouth slowly opened as if she were going to tell me something, but no words came out, and the rose began to melt, running down the front of her shirt, as her hand came up to the spot where the flower had blossomed, her eyes moving downward to look at the red flower, then up at me, a questioning look, then she was falling, falling, falling and I heard a woman scream and scream and scream in anguish. I didn't realize that it was me screaming, then kneeling by her prone body as she lay there, lifeless. I heard more shots ring out, and yelling, blue and red lights flashing, then two men gently lifting me to my feet, saying, "It's all over, Mrs. Anderson," and dragging me off.

They held me in a room at the police station. Fort Lauderdale police. FBI agents. New Jersey detectives, all asking me about things that were completely meaningless now. "Where's Jenny?" I asked. No answer. 

"Mrs. Anderson, we're trying to get this whole thing straightened out...."

"Mrs. Anderson, did you know that law enforcement authorities were looking for this Jenny Clark before she abducted you?"

"Mrs. Anderson, we don't think she abducted you for money..."

I wanted to scream at them, DAMN YOU, YOU KILLED MY ONLY LOVE!! SHE WAS INNOCENT, YOU BASTARDS!! YOU SHOULD HAVE KILLED ME, NOT HER!!

Finally, I did.

Then they listened. And then they said, "We'll get back with you."

I never heard anything. And, I returned to my life, but I knew now that it would never be with John Anderson. That it would never be with anyone else. And I would die, eventually, as I lived. And I would mourn until that blessed day came.

EPILOGUE

One gets used to changes in one's life. Over time, even the deepest hurts scab over, the pain fades, the memories of loved ones dim.....

Do you believe that?

I don't. Three months later, the pain was still there, the emotional wound suppurated and festered, and I began to think more seriously about ending the hurt forever. Can I do it, for you, Jenny? I wondered. How would I do it? I wanted to join Jenny, but I didn't know how. I sat in my bedroom, shades drawn, listening to "Sweet Surrender," by Sarah McLachlan, over and over, waiting to make that inevitable decision. 

Just as I decided to make the final walk to the bathroom, to the waiting medicine cabinet, there came a knock at the door.

I opened it, and a pleasant looking young man stood there and said, "Mrs.Anderson." Not asking me if I WERE Mrs.Anderson, but rather confirming for himself that I was, indeed, "Mrs. Anderson."

"Mrs. Anderson," he repeated, "My name is Michael Dunphy, I'm a United States Marshall. Here's my badge, and identification card. Please look it over carefully, until you're satisfied that it's genuine. In addition, if you would like, I will stand outside your locked door while you call the United States Attorney's office in Washington, at the Department of Justice, and they will be happy to confirm my identity. Once you feel safe, and certain that I am who I say I am, then I need to take you to a meeting in regard to the events of three months ago. Do you understand, and will you please cooperate?"

I said, "Okay," and left him there to cool his heels while I looked up the U.S. Attorney's office number in the governmental blue pages in the phone book. They confirmed that the young man was indeed who he said he was, and that he was ordered to bring me in for questioning. I guessed that finally, either they were going to get to me in regard to helping a (now) dead fugitive from justice, or maybe, just maybe, they would investigate the man who destroyed my love's life.

We drove in silence to the federal building in DC, a big, imposing building in a city full of big, imposing buildings, right there on Pennsylvania Ave. He parked the car in an underground parking lot, then escorted me to an elevator that whisked us up to the 7th floor. We walked down a long hallway and he ushered me into a small room with 4 hard wooden chairs, and a medium sized conference table. I had never been interrogated by police before, so I wasn't sure if I was getting the deluxe treatment, or if this were just the standard. He left me there, alone, and I waited for whatever was to come.

After about 15 long minutes, the door opened, and a wan girl with long ringlets of beautiful, golden hair limped into the room on a pair of crutches, and I exploded in joy. "Jenny!!!" 

"Oh God, love, I thought you were dead!! No one would tell me anything!! Oh God, it's SO good to see you!!" Tears were flowing from my eyes, and Jenny's cheeks were wet, and we were both crying, and hugging, and I guess I could have died the happiest woman on earth then.

"Oh, sit down here, honey. Tell me what happened, please!! Oh God, I've missed you SO!!" I pulled a chair next to her, and held her hand, warm and firm, while she told me just what HAD happened.

"Well, when you and I stepped out of the taxi, the police were waiting for us. They'd been tracking your credit card usage, and a certain Capt. Jameson of the New Jersey State Police had a heads up that, if I ended up in Ft. Lauderdale, I'd probably end up at my Uncle Jeff's. The only problem was, Capt. Jameson had another corrupt officer worm his way onto the Task Force that was looking for me, and ultimately, you. When we got out of the taxi, the crooked cop took a shot at me, a pretty good one, as I almost died right there. My Uncle Jeff shot the cop, the police arrested Uncle Jeff, arrested me, and fortunately had a paramedic nearby in case of trouble, and then started sorting things out." 

"It became very clear, once they saw those pictures, and finished the ballistics tests, that I had not been the one who was corrupt. Once it was verified that I was telling the truth, that meant that a lot of people were telling lies, and they're still rounding them up. I was asked to go into the Witness Relocation and Protection Program, and I agreed on one condition."

"What was that?" I asked. 

"That we both be allowed into the program, if you were willing to do it," she said, suddenly looking apprehensive. "Oh, I hope I'm not wrong in asking ...."

"I do," I said, laughing. "I don't care where, or how, we live, so long as it's together," I said. "Jenny, I love you, " I said.

"And I love you, Jesse," she said, and then we kissed, not for the last time, but one of many over the next 37 years. 



A Kiss Before Midnight



"Oh Helen you look so beautiful!" Lillian, her younger sister, exclaimed. Helen giggled, "Thanks Lillian,"

Lillian giggled, "I'm so jealous! I can't wait to go to my prom."

Helen smiled, "It'll happen soon Lilly don't worry."

Lilly nodded, "Yeah that's true, but still!"

Helen giggled smoothing down her royal blue dress. It was the night of her senior prom, she couldn't be more excited. Her shoulder length black hair was held up with an equally royal blue ribbon. Her hair was curled with curls going around her face. She had diamond earrings, with an equally beautiful diamond necklace, and matching bracelet. She had a blue satin bag with purple eye shadow and dark blue lipstick. She wore a royal blue spaghetti strap gown which was an Olivia Hunter original made just for her. The V neckline top enhanced her chest, the empire waist enhanced her waist, and the flowing skirt enhanced her legs. She looked at herself in the mirror again with a smile on her face. Not even her mother could find anything wrong with her outfit or the way she looked.

Victoria walked in smiling, "I must say Helen you look very beautiful tonight."

Helen smiled, "Thanks mom,"

Her little brothers Johnathan and his twin Thomas walked upstairs, "Diane, Jessica, Mari, Regina, and Sabrina are here with their dates." Johnathan said as Tommy nodded.

Helen smiled, "Great, is um Marc here?"

Thomas shook his head, "Nope nothing from him yet."

"Oh…" Helen said sadly, but perked up quickly, "He told me he'll be here I know he will. Let me go and greet them, come on Lilly."

Lilly noticed the sadness flash in Helen's eyes for a brief second before she nodded in agreement, "Ok Helen let's go say hi."

Helen smiled as she walked out the room with Lillian following behind her. Victoria frowned walking over to Johnathan and Thomas, "You all haven't heard anything from Marc yet?"

Thomas shook his head, "No nothing just a message that said he would be a little late."

Victoria checked her watch, "He said that at 6 it's almost eight now…"

"Don't worry mom I'm sure he'll be here." Tommy said as Victoria nodded, "True…well let me tell Alex that Helen's ready and her friends are here."

"Ok…" Johnathan and Thomas said nodding.

Victoria checked her watch one more time before leaving the room. Johnathan noticed Thomas clenching his fist, "Yo Tommy are you ok?"

"No…what if Marc doesn't show up? I mean he's been acting weird around Helen nowadays. Everytime they have a date he suddenly has something to do." Tommy said.

"I know I've noticed that too. I've noticed another thing he's not over here as much as he's used to. He keeps turning down mom's and Helen's dinner invitations." Johnny said.

"Do you think they've hit a rough patch?" Tommy asked.

Johnny shook his head, "No, if they have why would Helen be in such a good mood?"

"That's true, well, we'll see if we need to have a conversation with Marc later." Tommy said smoothing down his polo shirt.

Johnny nodded, "Right that's true, well, come on Tommy. I'm sure Helen and Lilly are wondering where we're at."

Tommy nodded, "That's true let's go." 

They left the room both of them trying to push down the uneasiness they felt. Even though Thomas and Johnathan or Tommy and Johnny as they're often call are next after Helen they still care about her and protect her like they were the oldest. Tommy has a shorter fuse than his twin Johnny. Johnny always calms him down. He figures out the situation before he decides to stop him or join him. They've been worried about Helen and her relationship with her boyfriend Marc.

Marc Halloway is the son of CEO Bryant Halloway. He's one of the heirs to the Halloway Banks, one of the major banks in New York. His family is one of the leading African American owned banks that has held their own against other major banks in the business world. He's one of the male valedictorians in their class and president of the Black Business Professionals of America club. Not to mention vice president of the investment club as well. He's smart, successful, and nice. Sometimes he has fun when he isn't doing anything for school or the banking firm.

He met Helen at a dinner party his mother threw and they hit off pretty well. They decided to go out and they've been going out for seven months now. At first Tommy and Johnny thought that he was pretty good. He made Helen laugh which was good. He treated her nicely another plus and he made her happy another plus, but one day Tommy saw something that sparked his suspicions. 

One day he was going through the living room when he heard Marc and Helen talking. They were talking about different things regarding real estate, banks, and what not. He heard Helen say something about banks, but since she doesn't know that much about banks as she does about real estate it was natural for her to be unsure about the information she knew. Well Marc took it upon himself to correct her and talk to her like a four year old in the process. That's when Tommy started being suspicious about him.

He noticed that whenever Nate talked to Helen he just talked to her. He didn't try to talk down to her or make her feel dumb. He noticed with Marc that sometimes he would talk to Helen like she was dumber than a sack of hammers. Helen is the female valedictorian for her class. Even though she wasn't good in science or calculus didn't mean she isn't smart. She knew how to read investments and she could follow the dow market pretty well, but Marc made it seem like she didn't know much about anything. It started to irritate Tommy.

He told Johnny about it the same day. At first he thought that Tommy was being his overprotective self until he overheard Marc talking to Helen one day in the kitchen. They were talking about something on t.v. when he heard Marc talk down to her again. Once Johnny heard he decided that Tommy was right about his suspicions. So they've been suspicious about him for about three months now, but they've kept it away from Helen. They didn't want her happy mood to leave.

They walked downstairs hearing Helen and her friends chat happily about the night coming up in the living room. Before they walked in the door bell rang.

"I got it," Tommy said going to the door. He checked to see who it was before opening it smiling, "Hi Nate, hi guys."

Nate smiled walking in the parlor with four guys behind him, "Hey Tommy, how's it going?"

"I'm good how about you guys." Tommy asked.

"I can't complain," Nate said smiling running a hand through his black hair.

"No dye, today Nate?" Tommy asked.

"No not today because…" Nate started when the guy standing next to him jumped in, "It's because we're performing at the prom tonight so Nate decided not to put it in."

"Gee thanks Donald," Nate said.

Donald, a guy with black hair blond tips and blue eyes, smiled, "No problem Nate, now where's our little princess?"

"Yeah I can't wait to see her!" Marcus, a man with red streak black hair and blue eyes, said smiling.

"Me either!" Jake, a man with snow blond hair and blue eyes, said pushing his way in between Donald and Marcus. 

"Is she done dressing? She wouldn't let us see the dress she bought." Adam said placing his sunglasses on top of his head showing a pair of brown eyes pulling his reddish brown hair back in a ponytail.

"Yeah she is, she's in the living room with her friends and their dates. Come on," Tommy said.

Donald smiled, "I know Nate can't wait to see her…" he joked as everyone laughed. Nate's cheeks tinged pink, "Shut up Donald!"

But it was true. He was anticipating how Helen would look all week. She wouldn't tell him anything no matter how hard he begged. He just remembers her smile and going, "You have to wait just like everyone else Nate."

It was nerve racking, but he endured it. He endured the teasing he faced all week too especially from Donald since Donald knew how he felt about Helen. Donald knew that Nate was in love with Helen. He also knew that Helen felt the same for Nate deep down. He didn't know why she was dating Marc when Nate has been with her more times than Marc. He just hoped Nate and Helen wouldn't drift away from each other before their true feelings come to light.

They walked in the living room with Tommy watching Helen talk happily to Diane and her date Bill. Nate eyes widened when he saw Helen. She looked so beautiful Nate didn't know what to say. Helen looked over smiling happily when she saw Nate and the guys.

"Oh my god! Nate! Guys! I'm so happy to see you!" Helen said happily standing up quickly and going towards them. They were amazed she could run so well in heels. She hugged Donald first since he was closest to her, "Donald! I'm so happy to see you!"

Donald smiled, "I'm happy to see you too kitty. You look so cute!"

Helen smiled giggling at her nickname, "Thanks Donald," 

Donald smiled being mindful of her hair as he gave her a slight pat on the head, "My little kitten is all grown up now. You're so cute!"

Helen giggled messing with the hem of her purse, "Thanks Donald." 

Donald smiled kitty was the nickname he called Helen ever since he met her in second grade after meeting Nate. The way she walked on ledges, how she would fall on her feet, and how she would curl up during nap time reminded Donald of his cat, Boots, so he started calling Helen that. Helen doesn't mind since she sees Donald as her older brother, but he's one of the few people in the world that can call her kitty or kitten.

"Aww you look so adorable!" Marcus cooed hugging Helen picking her up slightly. Helen screamed a bit, "Marcus! Please!"

"Aww I can't help it! You're so cute!" Marcus said happily placing Helen down. Helen giggled, "Thanks I told you the dress was pretty."

"You were right. It is and it looks so good on you!" Marcus said as Helen turned in her dress. She giggled, "Thank Marcus,"

Marcus laughed as he looked around the room smiling and waving at Helen's friends and their dates. His gaze landing on her mother who narrowed her eyes at him, he smiled wider at her "Hello Victoria, how are you?"

Victoria took a breath closing her eyes, "As I told Nathaniel it's Mrs. Robinson Marcus."

"Oh excuse me Mrs. Robinson, how are you?" Marcus said smiling.

"I'm fine it's good to see you're wearing some clothes this time…" Victoria said.

Marcus chuckled, "Yeah this time my mom made sure to sew everything before I tried it on."

Victoria nodded, "That's good to know Marcus."

Marcus chuckled as Helen flushed a bit. There was a reason why her mother didn't like Marcus. One day during the summer before her eleventh grade year Nate invited her to go out with them and Anna, Donald's current girlfriend at the time, to hang out with them for the day. Helen agreed she couldn't be happier to see them since she didn't have chance to see them a lot during the school year. While she was getting ready Nate and the guys came by to pick her up. Her mother answered the door thinking it was Nate, but instead it was Marcus at their door naked. Their mother screamed scaring Helen and her siblings who thought it was someone other than Nate at the door. They were right, but they didn't know that it was Marcus. 

They all got a kick out of it, well, except their mother who became very angry at Marcus. She's still a little tick to this day. Helen and her siblings found out the reason why he was naked. His mother, Olivia, is a pretty well known fashion designer. She designs clothes for different types of age groups from teenager to middle age. She loves using Marcus as a model for her clothes and he loves being a model for his mom. His sisters have as much fun dressing him up as his mom does. He gets to keep the finished product before they hit the stores, which make it even better. 

The day they were going to pick up Helen his mom forgot to tell him that he was wearing a prototype so it wasn't completed all the way. His clothes became caught in little nooks and crannies in Nate's car. He noticed his shirt unraveling and had a great idea. He didn't want to mess up his mom's new outfit, but at the same time he wanted to freak out Helen's mom. So he decided to kill two birds with one stone. He took off the outfit then volunteered to go pick up Helen. He didn't know that Helen's mom would answer the door nor did he know that she would scream bloody murder the way she did. 

Victoria still hasn't forgotten about that day nor has she forgiven Marcus all the way. It took Helen a lot to calm her mom down and to let Marcus come back over to hang out or hang out with the twins again. It was also a good thing that Olivia loved Helen, she was willing to talk to Victoria for Helen's sake which helped her out a lot. Helen shook her head feeling arms wrap around her waist. She smiled turning around to a smiling Jake, "Hi Helen you're so cute. You smell so good too!"

Helen giggled, "Thanks Jake, you're so sweet."

Jake smiled hugging Helen again before turning to her friends. He smiled, "Well hello ladies aren't we all pretty tonight. The gentlemen look nice as well."

Her friends started giggling as their dates shook their heads. They weren't offended though they knew Jake was only playing. Jake met Helen in his tenth grade year. He had just moved to New York from Atlanta he was still feeling a bit homesick. He wasn't used to the hustle and bustle of New York from his little Atlanta town. Not to mention the cold attitudes of the many people he met in New York. He was starting to think that high school would be worse than expected until he met Helen. She was the first person he met in New York that had a warm personality. Ever since their meeting they've been good friends. Helen is the only few people that know Jake is bi, but it's hard to tell with the way he flirts with girls. He's one younger older than Helen, but one year younger than Nate.

While Jake chatted with Regina, one of her childhood friends, and her date Chris Adam pushed his way through giving Helen a hug.

"Why hello sweetheart you look so nice tonight." Adam said.

Helen smiled hugging Adam back, "Thanks Adam, you look nice too."

Helen met Adam during the summer when she was hanging out with Nate and their friends. Adam and Nate had become good friends their 12th grade year which was Helen's and Jake's tenth grade year. Nate invited him over to hear him play and during practice he met Helen. She was nervous of him at first. His quiet attitude made her think he wasn't really interested in meeting her, but he assured her that he did like her. He was just like that around people he just met. That after awhile he would start talking and it was true. After a couple of weeks of hanging out he became good friends with Helen. Helen's nervousness went away during that time as well.

Adam smiled pushing a loose strand of hair back, "Thanks, so where's Marc?"

"I don't know he told me he would be running a little late so I hope he'll be here in a little while. I hope he's not having car trouble or anything." Helen said.

Adam pushed back his feeling of uneasiness and smiled, "I'm sure he'll be there Helen waiting for you. So are you all ready for prom?"

"As ready as I'll ever be," Diane said.

Helen smiled, "I just can't believe we got Diane in a dress."

Diane gave a play frown as everyone in the room laughed a little even Victoria smiled. Helen's friend, Diane, was a tomboy ever since middle school. She's known Helen since the third grade and she has made it her mission to break Helen out of her shell. She has dark brown skin with off black hair and hazel eyes that turn a blazing dark brown when she's angry. She has been noticing Marc's distance from Helen and his new closeness to his co worker Chantrice. She hasn't said anything to Helen though. She doesn't want to seem like she's being nosy, also she doesn't get in between a friend and her man. She has seen too many friendships break up over that. 

"I have to agree though I never thought we would get Helen in a dress. Doesn't she look so cute!" her friend, Regina, said smiling.

Helen giggled, "Aww, but that black dress looks so great on you Regina!"

Regina smiled running her hands down her designer black spaghetti strap evening gown. Regina has light brown caramel skin, dark brown hair, and blue eyes, a result from having a Puerto Rican father and French mother, but she loves both sides of her family. She met Helen in their ninth grade year in English class. After working on a project together they became good friends.

Jessica, a French-American girl, with red hair and green eyes giggled going over to Helen, Diane, and Regina.

"I think we can say that we all look nice tonight." Jessica said playing with one of her many curls in her hair. She pushed her Antonio Bartelli original gown down. It was a red and black sleeveless gown with a V neckline and a flowing skirt. Helen giggled walking over to Jessica giving her a small hug, "You're right we do!"

Jessica giggled hugging her back. She met Jessica in ninth grade as well. They met during math class. Helen needed help with Algebra so she asked the girl next to her who happened to be Jessica. Jessica didn't mind she started helping her during class and they became friends along the way. 

Mari smiled, "I love our dresses. I hope no one else has our styles."

Juan, Mari's date, shook his head, "I'll never understand you females and this whole I don't want her with my dress thing."

"Like I told you Juan it's the principal of thing. As a woman you don't want another one to have your dress right guys." Mari said.

"Right," the girls said nodding in agreement. Mari smiled as Juan shook his head. Maribelle or Mari as her friends call her is a Spanish girl with dark drown hair and hazel eyes. Her family immigrated to New York from Spain after her father and his partners were transferred from their investment firm in Spain. She met Helen in ninth grade during a Japan club meeting. She was a new member like Helen, Diane, and Jessica. She was pretty nervous about meeting new people in a brand new country, but after she found out they all like the same manga artist they quickly became friends. Mari smiled placing her hands on her royal purple Angelo Vasquez's gown. It was sleeveless with a V neckline. Her dress stopped mid way showing off her legs and elegant black four inch heels.

Sabrina, an English African American girl, giggled pushing back her jet black hair, "Well I just love our theme this year."

"What's the theme?" Jake asked.

"The girls picked it it's called a romantic night in Paris. It also has a Cinderella feel to it. You know have a ball at the castle, be with your prince, then leave at the stroke of midnight. I wanted to have a 50s theme, but Christina knock my idea down. She said it would be more romantic to have a Parisian theme." Aidan, Jessica's date, said.

"Well, of course it's romantic. I love going home to Paris every year." Jessica said.

"Yeah I'm glad Christina thought of the idea." Sabrina said. Sabrina met Helen and everyone else in tenth grade. She met them during lunch time after Jessica asked could they sit with her at her table. Sabrina agreed and that was the start of a nice friendship. Sabrina smoothed out her designer Toshirou Aizawa blue and white dress. It was a medium length dress with a beautiful blue and white pattern around the dress. The dress had little sapphire and diamond flowers right along the waist of the belt. 

"Well I can't wait to see it. I heard the decorations in the country club looks so nice." Jessica said.

"I sure hope so, after all the money we paid in senior dues. Not to mention the donations our parents have given the school over the years." Aidan said.

"That's true I just hope the food there is good." Diane's date, Daniel, said.




A Kiss Before Midnight



"Ahh I remember our prom there. Our theme was a night in the stars. I have to say it wasn't bad. It was like dancing in space in a way because they decorated the ceiling with different types of star designs and constellations. The whole room had different type of star theme items. I have to say it was really nice." Jake said smiling in remembrance.

Donald snapped his fingers, "Oh yeah I remember that. That was nice."

"I hope ours is. I can't wait to see how the decorating committee decorated the room." Juan said.

"I know it better look good. After Jeff bragged so much about how great this interior decorator he hired was." Sabrina's date, Josh, said.

"I heard she does great work." Helen said.

"Well she better he bragged so much it was getting annoying." Josh said.

"Tell me about it, but that's how Jeff is you know." Daniel said.

Helen nodded in agreement as she smiled looking around the room at her friends talking and getting excited about tonight. Everyone knew each other from either class or from a club. They met Josh in ninth grade after joining him at his empty table for lunch. He pushed a strand of his red hair out of his face as he joked with Daniel. They met Daniel in eleventh grade while in social studies. Helen and Diane worked with him on a project and they've been friends ever since. He touched his waves as he laughed with Chris. Regina met Chris in ninth grade and introduced him to Helen, Mari, and Diane after that they all became good friends. Though sometimes Daniel and Chris argue it's more playful than anything. Juan laughed making sure not to knock down Victoria's vase. Juan met Mari and Helen in Japan club and their rock music club in tenth grade. He met Jake along that time too in their Japan club. He laughed at a joke Jake made about what would happen at their after party. Jessica and Helen met Aidan in eleventh grade in creative writing. He was the only boy in their class who read Jessica's story about two teenage males falling in love during war torn times. He didn't flinch or make any immature comments or anything. 

They were Helen's little high school family. She couldn't be happier to know each of them. She smiled looking around again when she noticed something. Everyone hugged her except Nate. The one person who bugged her for weeks to see her dress and she didn't see him around.

"Donald, didn't Nate come with you?" Helen asked.

Donald smirked, "Yes he did, he's just so shy to see you."

Helen blinked her face flushing a bit about Nate. It's true that even though she was with Marc and she was excited for him to see her dress she was more excited to see Nate's reaction. 

"Oh really? Um do you know where he is?" Helen said trying to keep her blush down.

Donald's smirk grew, "He's in the foyer talking to the twins."

Helen nodded, "Ok um thanks,"

"No problem," Donald said the smirk still on his face. Helen tried not to blush while walking into the foyer. She knows that Donald knows about her crush on Nate. She's had this crush since she was fourteen. At first she thought it was because of her hormones, but now she knows it's something more. She can't put her finger on it, but she knows it's more. She knows it feels stronger than what she feels for Marc. She has noticed that he's been very distant lately. He also has been talking to her like's 18 going on 4 not 18 going on 19. She doesn't know why he's been talking to her like a child, but she doesn't like it or his new attitude. Something in the back of her mind is telling her that Marc might break up with her, but another part is telling her that's not so bad. She would rather be by herself than have a guy talk down to her all the time. 

She walked inside the foyer watching the twins talk animatedly about what's been going on with them to Nate. Nate smiled running a hand through his hair, "That's so cool guys. Johnny, I know you're going to win your baseball tournament. Tommy, I know you're going to be awesome in soccer."

"Aww thanks Nate," Johnny said as Tommy nodded in agreement. 

"Did you play any sport in school?" Tommy asked.

Nate nodded, "Yep I was on the soccer team and sometimes I played tennis too, but I liked swimming the most. It was pretty fun."

"Swimming sounds awesome. I'm gonna try it this summer." Tommy said.

"Not me I'm gonna try tennis this summer." Johnny said.

"That's great you two. You guys call me and tell me how it turns out ok." Nate said.

"Ok," Tommy and Johnny said. Johnny saw Helen walk in out of the corner of his eye he turned to her smiling, "Hey Helen, left to get some air?"

Helen giggled, "Yeah it's getting pretty stuffy in there. Well hi Nate I'm surprised you weren't in there. One of the first people who bugged me for weeks to see my dress…"

"Hey even though it's a big living room it gets pretty crowded in there with everyone. Especially Marcus and Juan I mean they're pretty big guys." Nate said.

Helen smiled, "Yeah, that's true, well now that you see my dress what do you think?" 

Nate eyes roamed all over her dress, trying to take in every feature he could without staring at her. It was perfect this dress fit her perfectly down to her bust, to her waist, even to her curves. It was like a higher power made this dress to torture him. Helen was beautiful. He didn't know when his cute little friend became so beautiful, but she was. He felt his cock stir, he bit his lip trying to calm down as he answered, "It's beautiful…I really like it."

Helen beamed a slight blush on her face, "Thanks Nate, I thought so too. Well, was it worth the wait?"

Nate smiled, "Yeah it was, I mean you look…wow…I mean…so…pretty. You look really nice Helen." /Don't get hard, don't get hard, don't get hard / he kept repeating to himself. 

Helen smiled her blush growing, "T-Thanks Nate," she looked at Nate their eyes locking with each other. It felt like they were seeing each other in a different light. Nate didn't see the shy little girl with messy pigtails. He saw an attractive, smart, sophisticated woman. Helen didn't see the silly little boy with messy hair that would fall in his eyes. She saw a handsome, smart, talented man. Helen couldn't form any words neither could Nate who just seemed to move closer to her. Tommy and Johnny already knew what was going to happen when Nate saw Helen so they walked back in the living room keeping everyone busy there. 

Nate was standing in front her. Helen couldn't remember when he became so tall. She didn't know who Marc was at the moment and she didn't care. She didn't feel her heart do a guilty lurch like she thought it would. In fact smelling Nate's cologne just made her heart beat faster. Helen's perfume was having the same effect on him. He brushed a loose strand of hair away from her face, his finger brushing her cheek lightly, "Just making sure you can see."

Helen nodded, "T-Thanks," she said a bit breathlessly. Nate smiled, "You're welcome," he kept his finger on her cheek a little longer than he normally would. She brushed some hair out of his face, "Your hair is still as messy as ever." She giggled as Nate chuckled, "I tried my best, but my hair has a mind of his own you know."

"Yeah I do…" Helen said softly watching the slight pink appear on Nate's face. Nate was holding himself back as best as he could. He wanted to wrap his arm around Helen's waist, pull her close to him, and kiss her like no tomorrow. He was hoping that his excitement didn't show too bad in his black slacks.

/Maybe Donald is right… / Nate thought cupping her cheek staring into her hazel eyes. Helen blushed she felt like Nate would kiss her right here, but she wanted it. She wanted to see how it would feel to kiss him, to be wrapped tight in those strong arms of his as his lips devoured her mouth like a decadent sweet. Helen swallowed trying to push the thought out of her mind, but it didn't work. She felt an invisible force push her closer to him. She wrapped her arms around his waist in a hug. She rested her head on his chest, "I'm happy to see you," she said softly.

Nate wrapped his arms around her waist, "I'm happy to see you too."

Their moment was interrupted by the doorbell. They snapped out of their daze separately quickly, their hearts beating wildly in their chests as they stared at each other again. 

"Helen who's at the door?" Victoria called out from the living room.

"I-I'll see mom," Helen called back tearing her eyes away from Nate to go to the door. Nate walked to the entrance of the living room, but he didn't go in. He leaned against the wall taking a deep breath. 

/What happened just now? Why did I want to kiss her? I mean she has Marc, her boyfriend, it wasn't right for me to try and do that, but I couldn't help it. I wanted to kiss her. I want to kiss her… / Nate thought running his shaky hands through his hair. He closed his eyes taking deep breaths. He felt a tap on his shoulder he looked up staring at Ben, the Robinson's butler, who looked at him in concern. 

"Young Master Nathaniel, are you ok?" Ben asked in his English accent.

Nate nodded quickly, "Yeah I'm fine, it's allergy season you know so it's hard for me to breathe sometimes in the beginning of the season."

"Oh ok, would you like some water?" Ben asked.

Nate shook his head, "N-No I'm fine. I'm just going to join everyone in the living room is all."

Ben nodded, "Ok, well, you know you're welcome to the kitchen any time."

Nate smiled, "Thanks," 

Ben returned the smile nodding slightly, "No problem young master." He walked in the living room leaving a relieved Nate who started taking deep breaths again. He had to calm himself down. Helen's mother, Victoria, didn't like him in the first place. He's sure walking in the living room with a boner wouldn't make her warm up to him. While Nate was trying to calm himself down Helen checked to see who was at the door. She smiled quickly opening it, "Hi dad,"

Johnathan sr. smiled, "Hi sweetie, I'm so glad my plane came early so I could see you on your big day. You're so beautiful." He hugged Helen tightly. Helen giggled, "Thanks Dad I'm glad your plane came early too."

Johnathan sr. smiled reaching in his suit jacket to answer his phone. He looked at the id cursing under his breath, "I'm sorry sweetie let me get this."

"Sure thing, I'll go tell mom you're here." Helen said walking in the living room. She glanced at Nate who looked back at her. She smiled sheepishly as he returned one back. She continued into the living room. He followed right behind her taking a seat in the closest chair next to him resisting the urge to wrap his arms around her waist again. Donald noticed Nate bouncing his leg running his hand through his hair more than usual. He did notice that Helen and Nate were out in the foyer long after Tommy and Johnny left.

/Maybe the two of them will open their eyes tonight. / Donald thought looking over at Helen who took a quick glance at Nate when she thought no one was looking. Nate bit his lip again repeating the same mantra in his head /Don't get a boner, don't get a boner, don't dream about slipping her out of that dress and kissing every inch of beautiful skin you see. Don't daydream about hearing her call out your name. Fuck! Don't think about that! / 

"Mom, dad is here." Helen said. Victoria smiled, "He is? I'm glad. I thought we would have to send him a pix message or email the pictures."

"Dad's here, great now the pictures can begin." Lillian said happily walking into the foyer followed behind Tommy and Johnny.

"I thought dad would still be in Paris." Tommy said.

Johnny shook his head, "Well I'm glad he's here for Helen's prom at least."

"That's true. I hope he'll be here for Lilly's and our prom." Tommy said.

Johnny nodded, "I do too,"

Being CEO of his own Real Estate agency makes Johnathan sr. a very busy man. Especially when he leaves the country to meet with his investors though it means that he's not home a lot, but his family understands. Helen and her siblings are used to their father coming in at different times during the night. Sometimes he's missed different events, but he makes sure to not miss them all. He's been there for Tommy and Johnny's competitions, Lilly's recitals, and Helen's concerts. He also tries to stay in town when anniversaries and birthdays come up.

Johnathan placed his phone back in his suit jacket as he walked inside the foyer, "Sorry about that guys how are you?" He kissed Lilly on the cheek. Lilly giggled, "I'm great dad I'm just so excited about Helen's prom night."

"Me too I'm glad I could make it. T and J how are my athletes doing?" Johnathan said clasping both boys on the shoulder. Tommy smiled, "I'm good dad,"

"I am too our season has been great." Johnny said.

"I'm glad to hear it. Hello dear," Johnathan said kissing Victoria on the cheek. Victoria smiled, "Hello dear it's good to see that you're back in town."

"It's good to be back. T and J Lilly go get the photographers. I'm here so we can start taking pictures now." Johnathan said.

Lilly, Tommy, and Johnny nodded, "Ok dad," they walked in the den where the photographers were waiting. Johnathan looked over in the living room before turning to Victoria.

"Is Marc here yet?" Johnathan said quietly. Victoria shook her head, "No he's still not here yet. He called saying he was gonna be a little late, but that was thirty minutes ago. We haven't heard from him since."

Johnathan shook his head, "For his sake and his family's he better be here."

"He better be." Victoria said.

Helen checked her phone again for the umpteenth time that night. They were all gonna leave in an hour and she still didn't hear anything from Marc. He wouldn't stand her up prom night would he?

Donald walked over to Nate who was taking deep breaths to help control his libido. He tapped his shoulder, "Are you ok?"

Nate looked up trying to push his blush down, "Yeah I'm fine, why, wouldn't I be."

"Because you're sporting quite a boner there…" Donald whispered as Nate's face turned beet red.

"I've been trying all night to keep it under control, but nothing has worked. I mean look at her Donald she's beautiful." Nate said pushing his shirt down as best he could.

"I know which is why you should be taking her to prom not Marc." Donald said in the same tone.

"But I'm not her boyfriend Donald. I'm only her friend." Nate said softly.

"Maybe it doesn't have to be that way tonight." Donald said in the same tone his words hitting Nate deeply. Donald was right it was prom and many things did happen on prom night. Maybe he could fulfill the daydreams he's had since he hit puberty. He thought once he had a girlfriend his daydreams of Helen would stop, but they didn't. He just daydreamed about her more. Now that he split from his controlling ex-girlfriend, Miranda, he was single again. It takes every ounce of his self control not to just push Helen against the wall and have her scream his name. He controls himself each time because Helen is one of his oldest friends. He wouldn't know what he would do if his advances scare her off or end their friendship. Then again he lost himself a bit in the foyer and she wasn't scared. In fact the look in her eyes said something more…

/But would it be right for me to do it. I mean Helen's my friend, my silly little friend with the bright smile, nice chest, and cute ass. Fuck it's happening again! / Nate thought catching Helen's gaze once again. She smiled sheepishly at him trying to hide the worried look in her eyes. Tonight was a happy night. She would see Marc he wouldn't stand her up…he couldn't…

"Ok everyone time for pictures!" Lilly said happily walking back in the living room with a group of photographers. They heard the doorbell go off everyone looked at the door as Helen's head shot up. She gripped her purse strap in anticipation. Ben walked in the foyer to answer the door, "The families are here,"

"Great just in time for pictures let them in Ben." Victoria said walking in the foyer with Johnathan to welcome the parents. Helen sighed releasing her strap. She felt her heart give a sickening lurch. Something telling her that, maybe, her night won't be as happy as she planned. She put on a smile around her friends' parents. Like her father all of their important meetings ended early as well. They were here to see the special night in their children's lives.

Diane noticed that Marc still wasn't here. They were gonna be taking pictures in five minutes and Helen would be by herself. She shook her head pushing down the anger she felt for Marc at the moment.

/Damn him! Helen can't take prom pictures by herself. It wouldn't be right. What can she do? Hmm… / Diane thought looking around the room. She could see everyone in the room thinking about the same thing. She saw the sadness flash in Helen's eyes, she frowned. She'll be damned if she lets Helen become sad on this night. Her eyes landed on Nate who was still trying to keep his other head down. She smiled, being mindful of her dress as she walked over to him. 

"Hey Nate how are you tonight?" Diane asked.

Nate looked up, "Oh hey Diane, I'm good just amazed that Helen and Jessica actually got you in a dress you little tomboy."

Diane hit Nate playfully on the shoulder, "Shut up you!" 

Nate laughed; Helen introduced the two of them when he was in the sixth grade. Helen and Diane were in the fourth. Diane wanted to know who was the older kid who sat at their table a lot, not to mention who helped Helen when a couple of people tried to bully her. After a couple of lunch periods Nate and Diane became friends fast. Diane is one of the only few girls who could keep up with the boys in their gym class. Not to mention she can hold her own in a sport video game. She's always been the little tomboy of the group.

"But you look nice though." Nate said smiling.

Diane smiled back, "Thank you, say Nate how would you like to do me a favor."

Nate nodded, "Sure what is it,"

"Because a certain someone isn't here to take pictures and I don't want Helen to have pictures with just us, would you mind taking prom pictures with her? I know it would make her feel better." Diane said holding back her chuckle at Nate's red face.

"Y-You want me to take pictures with you guys? I mean I'm a performer I'm not her…date…" Nate said finishing the last part softly.

"Well…you're single again right?" Diane asked.

Nate nodded, "Yes I am,"

"Well then what's the problem? If Marc says anything we'll tell him that since he wasn't here we had to find someone else." Diane said.

"Yeah we're all friends here we're just taking pictures. What do you say Nate?" Chris said as Diane smiled. Nate ran his hand through his hair as he nodded, "Sure why not? I mean we're just taking pictures right? Besides I've known you guys since you were all little anyway, so it's good. Sure I'll do it."

Diane smiled, "Great, let's tell her." She picked up her dress slightly as she walked over to Helen with Nate and Chris. Helen was staring at her phone, a frown on her face as she kept waiting to get a text or call from Marc, but so far nothing.

/I don't understand he could at least call. / Helen thought staring at her phone feeling a mixture of confusion and anger.

"Hey Helen," Diane said.

Helen looked up her frown disappearing instantly, "Hey guys what's up?"

Diane took a seat next to her, "Have you gotten any word from him?"

Helen shook her head, "No, nothing since the message T and J gave me."

"Oh, well, I know you're waiting for Marc, but the photographers are here along with our parents. So we were wondering if…" Diane started when Nate jumped in, "Would you mind if I took pictures with you? Would you feel ok with that Helen?"




A Kiss Before Midnight



Helen could feel her face heat up like before. She looked at her phone which went off at that moment. She checked it seeing an incoming text message. Nate bit the inside of his cheek, he secretly hoped that Marc wouldn't come, but he didn't want Helen to be unhappy. She sighed throwing her phone back in her purse, "That was Marc he said he won't be able to make it for the pictures. He said he'll meet us there."

Nate felt a strange mixture of anger and relief. He couldn't believe that Marc wasn't going to show at all for the family time, but at least he could spend more time with Helen.

Diane frowned, "He could've told us earlier. Well do you still want to take the pictures?"

Helen nodded, "Of course, he's not going to stop me from enjoying my night. Nate…will you take a picture with me?"

Nate could feel his face flushing as he nodded, "Sure I don't mind even though I'm not wearing a tuxedo."

Helen smiled, "That's ok you still look good."

Nate smiled sheepishly, "Great, well shall we then?" he outstretched his hand in a joking manner.

Helen nodded standing up leaving her purse on the couch. She placed her hand in his, "Yes we shall."

She felt a small jolt go through her when she placed her hand in Nate's. He felt the same jolt go through him. He couldn't believe that he would be taking prom pictures with her like he was her date. He wished two years ago on his prom night that he was taking Helen instead of his date from hell. He remembers going home that night imagining dancing with Helen, then kissing her, then taking her dress off slowly kissing her neck, hearing her little cries of pleasure…he shook his head. He certainly didn't need a boner now.

Helen smiled a secret little smile. She felt right holding Nate's hand. It felt different when they would hold hands as kids. She didn't feel the same heat or the need to pull him close against her then like she did now. Diane and her other friends would joke with her about Nate being her future husband. She would always push it aside, but maybe they were right. Helen shook her head before she could even think about Nate, like she has many times in the past, she had to see if this was the end of her and Marc. She secretly hoped it was.

*~*~*~*

They took many different types of pictures. First the girls took one together, then the guys, then there were the family pictures, then one with their dates, then everyone switched dates and took pictures with them. Helen could tell that everyone was trying their hardest not to be angry at Marc and to keep her having a good time. She invited Adam and the others to take pictures with them. Since everyone has known each other for a long time now since middle school and for others high school. Helen could see Tommy and Johnny out of the corner of her eye clenching their fists. They were fighting the need to call some people to find Marc. Lilly was doing a good job being her bubbly self and keeping everyone in a good mood. Her mother even tried talking to Nate which surprised him. 

Most of the time Victoria doesn't like Nate, it's not because he's white, seeing as his mom is one of her good friends and business client, it's because Nate finds things to indirectly tick her off. He gets back at her in his own little way for when she's being really hard on Helen for making mistakes. Nate respects an adult like the next person, but with Victoria he always finds something to do that he knows will tick her off. She tries kicking Nate out, but it doesn't work because Helen invites him back the next day. Also his mother usually makes a donation to one of the restaurants they own around the time she threatens to kick him out so Victoria drops the threat. 

Johnathan sr. is like any other father. He knows the day will come when his little girls will be gone and married with their own lives. That doesn't stop him from being protective of his baby girls Helen and Lilly. He, like any other father, wants his girls to end up with guys who will take care of them and treat them like the queens they are. Right now he's not very happy with Marc, neither is Victoria. Who's trying her best to keep her anger in and not call his mom and act ghetto over the phone. 

Helen sighed pushing her anger back down especially when Nate wrapped an arm around her waist. He smiled, "One more group picture smile Helen."

Helen smiled feeling her face heat up slightly, "Ok, cheese," they said when the flash went off.

The photographer, Dave, smiled, "That was great you guys. I envy you gentlemen going out with such lovely ladies tonight."

Everyone laughed as his assistant, Keith, joined in, "He's right you all look very nice."

"Thank you," everyone said. 

David and Keith smiled, "Well we've been holding you back for awhile now. We better let you go. With beauties like this the whole world should see them." Dave said as Keith nodded in agreement.

"My you are quite the charmer sir." Jessica said giggling behind her hand.

Dave smiled and waved, "My wife tells me the same thing. Well see you later everyone, have a good time." Keith smiled waving back as well.

Everyone smiled, "We will," they waved back watching them take their equipment back to the truck.

"Ok now that the pictures have been taken and most of our guests are here should we let our babies go?" Victoria said.

Helen smiled even though her and her mother didn't see eye to eye on a lot of things she still loved her, but the same thing could be said about Jessica and Diane. Not for Mari, Sabrina, and Regina. They were really close to their mothers sometimes you couldn't tell if they were mother and daughter or sisters. 

"I think we should you know Dave is right about letting our beauties out in public." Johnathan said. Jean-Michael, Jessica's father, nodded, "Yes, he is right! Everyone looks tres bien tonight!"

Jessica blushed, "Dad! Jeez," she muttered something in French to which her dad smiled. 

"I know we should. It's almost eight o'clock we don't want to make them late." Isabella, Mari's mom, said as her father, Miguel, nodded.

"Oh they're right. Well have a good time everyone!" Carolyn, Diane's mother, said.

"Now remember gentlemen we have the power to find you, but that shouldn't deter you from having a good time." Edward, Diane's father, said.

"Oh don't listen to them guys. They seem to forget that it was them in the same boat when it came to us." Alice, Jessica's mother, said.

Regina's mother, Belle, giggled, "That's true it was like that. Well goodbye my babies have fun, but not too much fun."

Regina giggled, "Mom we'll be ok,"

"So Nate, guys, what will you all be doing at the prom?" Armando, Regina's father, asked.

"Oh we're part of the entertainment. Helen helped us get the job." Adam said.

"The entertainment committee came to me for suggestions so I put in Nate's band as a suggestion. They loved them after they heard their cd." Helen said.

Nate smiled, "We have Helen to thank. We have a job and exposure as well. We're gonna be working with a DJ and another performer."

Helen smiled sheepishly, "Aww you're welcome I'm really glad I could help."

"I can't wait to hear you guys play. You guys sound pretty good even when Nate plays." Diane joked.

Everyone laughed Nate shook his head, "I'm gonna get you one day Diane. You'll see Ms. Comedian."

Helen laughed she was happy that she was able to book Nate and his band for their prom. At first she thought they wouldn't want to perform since they graduated from high school, but when they excitedly told her yes and shoved a cd in her hands she knew they wouldn't mind. Nate originally had the idea for the band in sixth grade. He told fourth grade Helen and Diane and they loved the idea. He told Donald who agreed to it since they both loved music and didn't want the responsibility of running their families companies. Marcus and Adam agreed to it in the eighth grade. The last member to join them was Jake he joined during his eleventh grade year who, like Helen, only watched from the sidelines at first.

Nate sings and occasionally plays guitar on some of their songs. Donald is lead while Marcus is bass. Jake is rhythm guitar while Adam is drums. They haven't figured out a permanent name for their band yet, so they go by the name Endless Torture for now. Though they think that's a pretty good name. Helen is happy to help them any way she can. She secretly loves the fact that Nate can sing and play guitar. There have been many nights were she has thought about Nate's sensual voice in her ear while his skillful fingers played her like a finely tuned piano. She shook her head she did not need to get excited now, not in front of everyone.

"Ok, that sounds good. Good luck fellas. If you need anymore equipment just ask." Sabrina's father, Reginald, said.

"Thanks sir," Nate said as Adam and the others gave their own thanks. 

Victoria smiled checking her watch again, "Well it is getting late we shouldn't keep you."

"Ok bye mom, bye dad, bye guys, bye Lil." Helen said hugging everyone as her friends said goodbye to their families. Helen found it funny that it was so hard for her parents to let go, even though she's 18 now. After saying their goodbyes and taking last pictures for their parents they made it to the limo. Helen made sure to get the stretch limo so everyone could sit comfortably.

While walking Jake tapped Nate on the shoulder, Nate turned around, "What's up Jake?"

"I think you should go ride with Helen." Jake said.

Nate's face heated up again that night, "Should I?"

"Think about it Nate. Everyone is in there with their date while Helen is waiting for hers who's supposed to meet her there…I hope…anyway the point I'm trying to make is I think you should ride with her. It would make her feel better." Jake said.

Nate thought about it running his fingers through his hair again, "Are you sure? Do you guys mind?"

"Nate, of course we don't mind. I thought you were gonna ride with her anyway." Donald said.

"I thought so too. Listen you can Nate we'll be right behind you." Marcus said.

Adam pulled his box of cigarettes out taking one out and lighting it. After taking a smoke he turned to Nate, "You should it would make her feel happier."

"See it's unanimous so go already." Jake said smiling.

Nate smiled, "Thanks guys," he jogged a little to catch up with Helen.

Adam smiled taking another smoke, "If they don't fuck soon they're gonna explode from the tension alone."

"And here I thought I was the only one who felt it." Jake said.

Donald scoffed, "Are you kidding me? Any more tension and they would have gone at it in the kitchen or in the closet of the foyer."

"I wonder what's stopping them." Marcus said.

"It could be because of their friendship. I mean they met each other before they met any of us. I'm sure they don't want to mess anything up." Jake said.

"But if they let their fear hold them back then they'll never know if they can work or not." Adam said.

"I sure hope they tell each other soon." Jake said.

"Thanks to Marc Nate might get his chance tonight." Donald said as Adam and the others nodded in agreement. 

Nate tapped Helen's shoulder, "Hey princess, do you mind if an old timer rides with you?"

Helen smiled giggling behind her hand, "No I don't mind, sir. You sure you don't mind riding with a youngster."

"Of course not, got any room for me?" Nate said smiling. Helen noticed a certain gleam in his eyes that made her heart jump. She never saw him look at her like that even when they were playing with each other.

"Of course you know I'll always have room for you Nate." Helen said smiling. Nate smiled back feeling the same warm sensation go through his heart as he took Helen's hand. He helped her inside the limo as he followed behind her. He saw the guys who each waved and gave him thumbs up. Nate laughed shaking his head as he closed the door behind him.

"So, we get to ride with a celebrity lucky us." Diane said smirking.

Nate laughed, "I see we just got jokes tonight Diane."

"Of course I do Mr. Rock Star." Diane said smiling. Nate laughed shaking his head, "Rock star I wish, most of the shows I'm doing is to repay your dad Sabrina."

Sabrina waved it aside, "Oh Nate my dad said you guys don't have to worry about anything. He wanted to give you guys that stuff since your aunt hid your last guitar."

Nate groaned, "Yeah I just love Aunt Linda. Ever since she became supervisor over one of our home companies she thinks she owns it now. So she thinks she can control me and my brothers and sister without my parents knowing about it. She's so smart…"

Helen's gaze softens as she stared at Nate. It's been known throughout his family that his aunts and uncles have been trying to become the CEO of the company ever since their grandparents announced their retirement. His grandparents are CEOs over a pharmaceutical company which helps out hospitals here in the states and over the world. They're pretty well known for being one of the pharmaceutical companies that doesn't have a lot of lawsuits against them. After the announcement his grandparents started to decide which one of their children would take over. They have his mom, their daughter, Caroline, on their mind for becoming CEO, but his aunts and uncles have their eyes set on the position. 

His mother is the second oldest out of everyone, his aunt Linda being the oldest. She thinks that she knows how the company should be run and how the employees of the company should act. She also believes that she can tell the children of the employees how to behave behind their parents back. Nate, his sister Carla, and his two brothers Marc and Vergil are one of the many children who want to break away from the company to pursue their own things. Though Aunt Linda tries to stop them every way she can. Even by telling them what kind of friends they can have to what they should wear. Helen understands Nate's frustration her aunt Melinda is the same way with her and her siblings. 

Helen placed her hand over his, "Yeah, but she doesn't know that you have us and your parents on your side. Don't worry about it Nate. Besides you shouldn't worry about those things tonight."

Nate looked over at Helen giving her a relieved smile, "Yeah you're right tonight is a happy night. You guys are going to prom! I can't believe it's already here. You guys are growing up so fast." 

He sniffed pretending to wipe a tear off of his cheek. Helen laughed shaking her head, "You act like you're so much older than us."

"I am,"

"You're only two years older than us." Jessica said.

"True, but I'm still older than you guys." Nate said smiling as everyone laughed. Nate noticed that Helen's hand was still on top of his. He shifted his hand linking his fingers through Helen's. Helen blushed lightly as she squeezed his hand. Nate could feel his face heat up a bit as he squeezed back. It was different then when they linked their hands together when they were children. Now the comforting feeling that was always there was accompanied by a spark that sent both of their hearts racing.

Diane noticed that they tried to hide their conjoined hands in between them. She nudged Chris who turned to her. He leaned towards her, "What's up?"

"Look at Helen and Nate," Diane said.

Chris looked over noticing Helen and Nate having a private conversation between the two of them. Helen would giggle quietly while Nate would coo something else to her, which resulted in another giggle from Helen and a bright smile from Nate. Chris smiled he had to admit he never saw Helen look so comfortable when she was around Marc.

"I see that's so cute." Chris said.

Diane nodded giggling quietly, "They're so cute together."

Chris nodded in agreement, "You're right they are, but what about Marc?"

"Something tells me that this might be our last night seeing Marc." Diane said as Chris nodded in agreement.

"So who's coming to my after party?" Sabrina said.

"Girl you know I'll be there." Diane said happily as Jessica and Mari nodded in agreement.

"You're parties are always fun Sabrina." Josh said as Daniel nodded in agreement, "They sure are I can't wait to go!"

Sabrina beamed she looked over at Helen and Nate trying to stifle her giggles. She gathered her composure before asking her question.

"Nate, Helen are you guys going?" Sabrina asked.

Helen nodded trying to hide her blush from everyone, but knowing that it wouldn't work.

"Of course Sabrina I'm going." Helen said.

Nate nodded in agreement, "You know I'm gonna be there. You throw some awesome parties Sabrina."

Sabrina smiled, "I'm glad, so will you two bring dates or go together?"

Everyone smiled at the blushes growing on Helen and Nate's faces. They looked at each other knowing the answer, but they were too shy to say anything. This surprised Nate since he normally didn't get shy around Helen and her friends, but it happened a lot recently. Helen normally wasn't shy around Nate, especially when they were together with her friends, but she couldn't find her voice at the moment.

After another minute of their silence, which amused everyone, Helen spoke first, "Well we always go together so yeah we will."

"Aww how cute," Mari teased as Nate ran his free hand through his hair while Helen blushed deeper, "Guys…don't…"

Everyone started laughing as Helen and Nate shook their heads. They knew they were in for a long evening of teasing from basically everyone, but they didn't care. It happened a lot when they were all together. They noticed something while riding along. They didn't let go of their hands like they normally would. Helen thought for sure Nate would have pulled away, but he didn't. Nate thought the same about Helen, but she didn't. He felt a mixture of relief and happiness when she didn't pull away. Helen felt the same warm feeling. They smiled at each other before turning back to the different conversations happening in the limo, never separating their hands.

*~*~*~*~*

"Here we are!" Sabrina said happily as William, Helen's driver, opened the door. 

"Awesome!" Aidan said stepping out first holding his hand out for Jessica. Jessica blushed lightly as she placed her hand into his open one. She looked up at the country club which was decorated to look like a Parisian nightscape. The juice bar was turned into a replica of a Parisian café. The lights shaped like flowers lit their way inside. There was a miniature sculpture of The Eiffel Tower outside the front door. With many different items someone could by such as flowers for their dates or berets. 

"Wow this place looks beautiful. See Jeff came through after all." Mari said stepping out the limo with Juan. He nodded, "I guess he was, damn we owe him some money Chris."

Chris scoffed holding his hand out for Regina, "Damn you're right. I guess he did know what he was talking about."

Regina smiled taking Chris's hand as she stepped out the limo, "I told you he did."

"This is amazing. It looks so nice." Diane said as Daniel helped her out of the limo.

"It is very nice. I have to admit that Christina and Jeff did a great job." Helen said stepping out the limo with Nate.

"They did a really good job this year." Nate said looking around at the decorations. He started looking around for Adam and the others keeping an eye out for Marc. He narrowed his eyes when he didn't see him.

/Where the hell is he? / Nate thought angrily. He looked over at Helen who looked around with him. She bit her lip trying to calm down. Nate reached over grabbing Helen's hand again. She looked up at Nate who was trying to hide the anger on his face.

"I-I guess he's caught in traffic still." Helen said.

"Yeah I guess so." Nate said. /That bastard…/




A Kiss Before Midnight



Diane noticed Helen's worried look and Nate's anger as he kept looking around for Marc. Diane took a breath, pushing her own anger down, as she walked over to Helen. She placed a hand on her shoulder, "Don't worry girl I'm sure he'll be here."

Nate nodded in agreement, "Yep any minute now."

Helen nodded, "You're right I'm sure he'll be here any minute." 

She didn't want to worry the others by looking around every three minutes. She felt her heart start to sink in the pit of her stomach as tears welled up in her eyes. The only thing keeping her tears at bay is the warmth of Nate's hand, but he couldn't stay with her for too long since he had to do sound check in a minute. She wanted nothing more than to wrap herself up in Nate's strong arms and bury her head in his chest to get rid of this feeling. The feeling of having your heart ripped out, the feeling of being made a fool, the feeling that someone didn't care about you like you thought they did. She knew Nate could help her make those feelings go away.

Nate noticed the look in Helen's eyes. It's the same helpless look she gets when she's being reprimanded by her family or when there was a problem she couldn't fix. Nate hated that look it just made his anger grow. 

"Hey Nate!"

Nate turned around to see Jake jogging towards him. Nate smiled, "Hey Jakey good to see you made it in once piece."

"Me too especially since Adam was driving. I thought we would never make it here alive." Jake said.

"Hey I heard that you know!" Adam said around his cigarette as he unloaded one part of his drum set. Jake and Nate laughed as Helen giggled shaking her head. 

"So…where's…" Jake started when Adam walked over to them.

"Hey um Nate we have to do sound check soon. I hope you don't mind, but we have to steal Nate for a minute Helen." Adam said smiling taking a drag on his cigarette catching the attention of a couple of girls walking by. He smiled at them as the girls giggled smiling back as they walked inside.

Helen looked over smiling, trying to hide her emotions as she nodded, "Sure thing Adam. You better behave Nate." She teased touching the tip of his nose.

Nate smiled, "You know me Helen when have I ever acted up?"

Helen giggled, "I know how good you are Nate."

Nate smiled as Jake and Adam started laughing. They looked around for Marc, but didn't see him. Jake gave Adam a worried look. Adam tried to reassure Jake, but it was hard when he was trying to calm down himself.

"Well let me go get things ready. Are you gonna be ok?" Nate asked. Helen nodded as she looked down at her nails, "Yeah I will," 

Nate nodded, "Ok," he looked back over at Helen seeing the helpless look in her eyes once more. He couldn't help it. He didn't care if there was people around or if Marc finally appeared. He let Helen's hand go before wrapping his arms around her waist in a hug. Helen's eyes widen in surprise before she closed them. She loved being in his arms, she felt safe and loved. It felt different than when Marc hugged her.

"If you need anything just call me ok?" Nate whispered in her ear. Helen nodded blushing slightly at the feel of his breath in her ear, "Ok,"

"Ok," Nate said as he nodded. He placed a kiss on her forehead a gesture he hasn't done since they were in middle school together. He looked down in her eyes feeling the same force as he did in the lobby. He smiled reluctantly pulling himself away from her. He squeezed her hand one more time before walking off with Adam and Jake. Helen smiled Nate always knew how to make her smile no matter how crappy she was feeling. She looked around for Marc again sighing when she didn't see him.

"Maybe he's inside," Diane said.

Helen nodded, "Yeah let's go," she gave Diane a smile as Diane returned it taking Helen's hand as they walked in together with their friends.

*~*~*~*~*

They gasped when they walked inside. It was decorated like a Parisian night scene. There was a paper machie replica of the Eiffel Tower off by the side. The dim lights added to the romantic feel of the room. Many couples giggled and whisper sweet things to each other under the cover of the dim light. On the side of the room was a photographer. On the other side a buffet table with a variation of different French and American food. The dance floor was empty now, but it would be full of people in a couple of minutes. Helen could see Nate and his band setting up with the DJ. She looked up catching Nate's eye. He smiled as he waved, she smiled back.

Adam smiled walking over to Nate, "So when are you going to have your way with her?"

Nate blushed, "Adam! What do you mean?"

Adam smiled lightening up another cigarette, "Oh don't act dumb. I know you have been itching to get your hands underneath that dress since the first time you laid eyes on her tonight."

"I-I-I haven't I mean yes she's beautiful and that dress flatters her in all the right ways, but… damn it Adam!" Nate exclaimed as he ran a hand through his hair.

Adam laughed, "Dude I think you should just solve the sexual tension that has been going on between you two for ages."

"It has not," Nate said.

"So the time you said that Helen was good enough to eat didn't mean anything?" Jake said walking in with his guitar case.

"Shut up Jake! No one asked you!" Nate said as Jake started laughing.

"Come on man everyone can see it. You two are getting it on tonight." Adam said before going in the back to get the rest of his drum set. Jake chuckled before following behind Adam. Nate ran his hand through his hair again. Sure it was true that he has felt something building for Helen for awhile now, but would it be right? Would it affect their friendship? There were too many factors involved for him to try and risk anything, but he couldn't help his feelings. He bit his lip he didn't know why he couldn't control his feelings tonight. He walked to the back to grab his guitar case. He really hopes he wouldn't just unravel tonight.

*~*~*~*~*

"Man he is going to freakin lose it." Adam said chuckling.

Jake laughed, "You're right he is, but I think Helen is going to lose it too. I feel that those two are made for each other."

"They've been made for each other since high school." Adam said taking a long drag on his cigarette. He blew a smoke ring out as Jake watched him. He turned his head away quickly a small blush on his cheeks as he nodded, "You're right they are. Um don't you think you should calm down on the smokes Adam? It's like your fifth one."

"I can't help it Jake. I get nervous before a show especially with my dad on my back. He wants me to go to a board meeting tomorrow which is going to bore me to tears." Adam said rolling his eyes. Jake shook his head he knew how much Adam's dad wanted him to take over his hotel chain, but Adam wasn't interested in the hotel business like his brother David. Jake knew though it was a conversation for another day. Before Jake could say something to cheer him up he saw Marc's limo pull up and Marc stepping out. Jake opened his mouth to greet him, but stop when he saw Marc lean back in to the female passenger in the car. 

Jake couldn't believe it. He didn't know what made him angrier. The fact that Marc was cheating on Helen or the fact that Marc had the nerve to bring the girl to Helen's prom. Jake turned around hoping that Nate wasn't behind him. He knew that Nate would go nuts if he saw Marc with another woman. Jake turned back around only to see Marc kissing the mystery girl deeply. He didn't look like he did when he was with Helen. This look was different. He looked happier than the times Jake has seen him with Helen. Jake balled his fist as he looked away. He couldn't believe Marc he wasn't being fair to Helen.

Adam noticed Jake's clenched fists he walked over to him, "Hey Jakey are you ok?"

"No!" Jake exclaimed.

Adam raised an eyebrow, "What's wrong?"

"Marc's here with another woman!" Jake exclaimed.

Adam cursed reaching in his pocket for his pack of cigarettes, "You gotta be kidding me. Damn it."

"What's up?" Donald said walking over to Jake and Adam.

"Marc is here," Jake said as Adam lit up again.

"Well that's good right?" Donald said.

"No it's not," Jake said.

"Why?" Donald said.

"Because he's here with another woman, he had no intention of going with Helen to her prom." Jake said.

"Damn it that is so fucking grimy. How is he going to break up with her on prom night? At least he's here in person, but still. Shit!" Donald cursed kicking the ground out of frustration.

"What's going on?" Marcus said.

"Marc is here with another woman. He's going to break up with Helen on her prom night. I know he is. He better not dance with her when he has another woman waiting on him." Jake said glaring at the floor.

"Aw shit we can't tell Nate. He will kill him or get close to it." Marcus said.

"How are we going to hide it? Nate can practically read all of us like a book. There's no way we can hide it from him he's gonna…" Jake started when Nate stormed in the back.

"Adam I need a damn cigarette and your lighter." Nate said angrily a frown on his face.

"Sure, but may I ask why?" Adam said tossing him a cig and a lighter.

"Because Marc is here and for some reason I'm pissed the fuck off." Nate said catching the things Adam tossed him. He thanked him before putting the cigarette in his mouth and lighting it.

"Damn I hate that I'm doing this, but I have no other option." Nate said taking a drag on the cigarette. Jake and the guys looked around each other. They didn't know if Nate already knew what was gonna happen or if Nate caught Marc in the act. Nate could feel the light tension in the air. He looked around seeing the uneasy look on his friend's faces.

"What?" Nate asked. He looked down at the cigarette in his hand, "I'm gonna quit guys I just have to tonight you know."

"No it's not that it's about Marc." Jake said being the only brave one to speak.

Nate raised an eyebrow he could feel himself getting angry. He knew it had something to do with Helen and the clues about Marc's weird behavior tonight. Nate looked around again he took the cigarette out of his mouth before taking a breath.

"What about him?" Nate said.

"Well…" Before Jake could start Jeff, the president of the prom committee, ran up to them.

"Oh there you guys are. I see taking a smoking break before the show." Jeff said chuckling. 

Nate hid his anger behind a smile, "Jeff you know how it is before a show."

Jeff nodded, "Right, right I'm really glad you guys could play. My sister will not believe this."

Nate chuckled, "It's no problem. You should thank Helen really for telling us."

Jake nodded, "Yeah if it wasn't for her we might have not known there was an opening for a band."

Jeff nodded, "That's true I'll be sure to thank her again. I'll tell my mom to make her famous thank you basket. There's one coming for you guys too don't worry."

They smiled Jeff's mother is the owner of many famous gift basket companies. They make gift baskets for any occasion. Jeff's mother, Christy, makes a personal basket for her closest friends, their children, and business clients.

Donald waved it aside, "Jeff it's fine we're still eating the fruit from the last basket we got from your mom."

Jeff laughed, "Yeah that's my mom, but you know her she's gonna make one anyway. It's on the house though."

Jake smiled, "Thanks Jeff,"

Jeff returned it, "No problem well guys are you ready?"

Nate nodded snuffing out his cigarette, "Ready,"

Jake, Adam, Donald, and Marcus nodded in agreement, "We're ready too," Jake said.

"Great, man this is going to be one hell of a night." Jeff said before walking to the stage. Nate sighed as he followed behind the others to the stage, "Tell me about it,"

*~*~*~*

Diane saw Marc walk inside with his tuxedo, but she noticed that he looked a bit disheveled. She didn't like the feeling coming over her. She looked over at Helen who was talking with Sabrina and Jessica. She felt that Helen wasn't going to be happy after tonight. She forced a smile on her face when Marc approached them, "Hey Marc how's it going?"

"Fine sorry I'm late. I was a bit caught up in traffic." Marc said.

"I'm sure you were…" Aidan said under his breath. Chris bit back his chuckle along with Juan.

"Well I'm glad you made it Marc." Helen said smiling. She was relieved that he made it, but she could feel her heart clenching slightly. She didn't know why. She shook her head pushing down the feeling. Nate looked over at the table Helen and her friends were sitting at. He pushed his anger down when his eyes landed on Marc. He cleared his throat, "Hey guys are you having a fun tonight?"

The crowd cheered as Nate smiled, "That's awesome! Well then let's make this night unforgettable!"

Everyone cheered as the dance floor started to fill up with people when the beginning chords of their song, Starlight Dreams, started. Helen stood up with her friends as they walked to the dance floor. She noticed Marc checking his cell phone before joining them on the dance floor. She felt her heart clench again, but didn't dwell too much on it. Helen started to dance to the music along with everyone. Nate noticed the sway of her body from the stage. He could imagine how her hips would feel grinding against his to the beat of the music. Nate closed his eyes concentrating on the music as he willed himself to stay in control. He didn't need everyone seeing his boner. That wouldn't be too good.

Helen noticed that Marc seemed a bit distant to everyone while they danced. He didn't even dance with her for awhile until Diane mentioned it. She didn't understand it. After being late he could have least made an effort to be with her. She knew Nate would be dancing with her right now if he was in Marc's shoes. His strong arm around her waist his hips grinding against hers as he leaned down to whisper something in her ear. She shook her head slightly again, /What a time to be daydreaming about Nate. / she thought trying to concentrate on her boyfriend.

"Ok guys now we all know what happens when the lights go out right?" Nate said as he gave a low chuckle. He saw many people in the crowd laugh with him or blush in the dim light. He looked over at Helen seeing Marc next to her. He smirked as he winked at Helen. Helen giggled as she waved to him. Diane noticed hiding her laughs behind her hand while Jessica and Sabrina giggled. Mari and Regina hid their laughs behind her glass.

"Well because it's such a special night. We're gonna sing a special song called After tonight. How does that sit with you guys?" Nate asked. Everyone cheered in agreement as Nate smiled, "Alright that's all I need let's do this." 

A slow, seductive beat started to fill the room as many couples smiled at each other. Helen loved this song it always turned her on whenever she would hear Nate hum or sing it.

She turned to Marc, "So what to dance again?"

Marc opened his mouth to reply when his phone went off. He checked the id as he sighed, but Diane could tell that it was forced. She quickly stood up muttering a quick "I'm going to get something to drink" before walking to the buffet table. She couldn't take being around him another minute. Daniel could tell she was getting pissed. He stood up following behind her while the other couples walked to the dance floor.

"I have to take this I'll be back." Marc said as Helen nodded, "Oh ok,"

Marc nodded as he got up to answer his call. Helen sat at the table messing with the strap on her purse. She felt a bit let down that he didn't want to dance again. He was supposed to be her boyfriend right? Then why was he causing her so much stress? Especially on prom night!

Daniel placed a hand on Diane's shoulder, "Hey you ok?"

Diane shook her head, "No, I'm not. You know Marc doesn't want to be here. You can tell right?"

Daniel nodded, "Yeah I can. It's bothering me too. It's really irritating. Look he left her behind to answer his "important" call."

Diane rolled her eyes, "Let's go cheer her up." She threw away her plastic cup as Daniel nodded in agreement. They walked over to her noticing the sad look in her eyes as she played with her strap. Diane placed a hand on her shoulder as Daniel placed a hand on her other side. Helen looked up quickly making the sadness in her eyes disappear.

They smiled at her, "Hey want to dance with us? You don't need Marc to dance." Diane said.

"She's right," Daniel said.

Helen nodded as she stood up, "That's true and that's what I'm going to do. Come on let's dance."

Diane and Daniel smiled walking with Helen to the dance floor. Helen ignored the nagging feeling as she started to dance. She looked up at the stage watching Nate swing his hips to the beat of the music. He locked eyes with Helen as Helen stared back. She smiled moving her body to match his movements. Nate bit his lip holding back his moan. He didn't know Helen could be such a little flirt. He smiled back rocking his body to her movements. Adam and Jake smiled at each other Donald chuckled as Marcus laughed. This night is turning out to be very interesting.

Diane and the others smiled at the interaction between Helen and Nate. They noticed that she was having more fun with Nate than she was with Marc. Daniel gave a relieved sigh, he didn't want to see Diane angry nor did he want to see Helen hurt, but he knew either one or the other would happen tonight. Before that event comes he was trying to keep them as happy as possible. He knew Nate was doing the same thing, they all were really. Nate smirked, when Helen moved her hips again, being thankful that the dim light could hide his growing erection. He gripped the stand trying to calm down before he jumped in the crowd. 

/Calm down Nate you can't do anything especially with Marc here. You have to calm down calm down. / Nate thought closing his eyes then opening them again. His gaze caught Helen's as he smirked again, "After tonight things will change, after tonight you'll only know my name." 

Helen blushed feeling her heart jump in her chest. She's heard him sing this song tons of times, but she never felt so turned on by it before. Diane giggled dancing towards Helen, "Nate sure knows how to work up a crowd doesn't he,"

Helen nodded as she blushed, "He sure does,"

During the song Nate made sure to look at Helen during the suggestive parts. Helen felt her face heat up as her palms felt sweaty. She felt herself getting turned on more and more by Nate than by Marc. She expected to feel guilty about daydreaming about him, but the more he sang the more he moved his hips to the song the more she could see herself dancing with him. She shook her head she didn't know what to make of her reawakening feelings for her best friend, but she liked it. Nate smiled as he finished the song being thankful for the break. 

"Thanks for listening to us all this time guys. Now we're gonna let DJ Smooth take over, but we will be back." Nate said as the crowd cheered for them. They bowed twice before walking off the stage. Jeff ran up to them smiling happily, "You guys were great! I can't wait to hear your encore."

Nate smiled sheepishly, "Thanks Jeff we're glad you like us."

Jeff smiled, "Of course why wouldn't I like you guys. You sound great! I'm surprised you guys haven't been signed to a record company yet."

"Haven't had enough time between practicing and finishing a second year of college." Adam said.

"Well, um, my dad knows some people that work in the music industry. If you want I can get you guys some studio time." Jeff said.

Nate raised an eyebrow, "Seriously Jeff you can?"

Jeff nodded smiling sheepishly, "It's the least I can do for performing for us at such short notice." 

They all broke out in identical smiles as they cheered. Jake ran over to Jeff with Adam and Nate almost knocking over Jeff in the process.




A Kiss Before Midnight



"THANKS JEFF!" Jake yelled happily hugging Jeff.

"THAT'S SO AWESOME! THANKS SO MUCH MAN!" Nate yelled happily.

"YOU'RE SO AWESOME! THANKS JEFF!" Adam yelled happily.

Marcus and Donald joined in with their own cheers and thanks. Jeff smiled he was happy he could do something for Nate and his friends since they did such a big favor for him. He couldn't find anyone else to perform after their original performers quit because they couldn't get out of their previous engagement. Having Helen hook him up with Nate's band made him really happy along with the DJ they were able to get. Giving them some studio time for free was the least he could do for asking them to perform on such short notice.

"I'm gonna tell Helen the great news." Nate said quickly walking backstage to the door leading him to the dance floor.

"She's going to be so excited." Jake said as Adam, Donald, and Marcus nodded in agreement.

"So Jeff, how are you enjoying yourself?" Donald asked taking Jeff out of his thoughts.

"Oh I'm having fun I'm a bit tired from doing things behind the scenes, but other than that I'm fine." Jeff said.

"Hey, why don't we relax a little during our break. Do you mind Jeff?" Marcus asked.

Jeff shook his head, "Nope I don't mind in fact I'm going to back to my friends and my date now. Um you can join us if you want."

"Sure that sounds like fun," Jake said smiling as Jeff returned a sheepish smile back. While Jeff got acquainted with Adam, Jake, Donald, and Marcus Nate made it to the dance floor. He looked around, but he didn't see her. 

/Hmm she must be sitting with Diane and the others. / Nate thought looking around for Diane or one of the girls or their dates. When he spotted Diane he walked over to the table noticing the different emotions on everyone faces. It was a mix between anger and sadness. Nate approached the table knocking on the surface gently, yet hard enough for them to hear him. They looked up their faces softening instantly.

Diane spoke first, "Hey Nate, you guys were great up there."

"Thanks, Jeff said we were so good he wants us to do an encore." Nate said.

Josh smiled, "Awesome man,"

Nate beamed, "Oh and that's not all the good news. He's giving us studio time for free. He said his dad knows some people in the music industry so he's going to get us some studio time."

"Why that's great Nate! Congratulations!" Jessica said as everyone gave him similar congratulatory responses. Nate grinned running a hand through his hair, "So where's Helen? I saw her on the dance floor, but now I can't find her."

He saw Diane's jaw tighten slightly under her smile, "She's with Marc they're in the foyer if you want to catch them."

Nate nodded, "Ok I'll wait till she gets back then."

"No Nate you should go and tell her the great news now. I mean why wait? Right?" Jessica said her eyes narrowing slightly behind her happy mask. Nate noticed the atmosphere change at the mention of Marc. He felt his jaw tighten as he nodded, "You're right guys I'll be back."

Mari nodded, "Ok Nate,"

Nate waved before making his way towards the foyer. When he was gone everyone dropped their smiles. Diane sighed crossing her legs, "Someone has to talk to her after Marc breaks her heart."

"Spineless bastard," Aidan said under his breath as Jessica and Mari nodded in agreement. After Nate finished his song Marc found Helen. He told her that he had something important to tell to her. Helen nodded agreeing to meet in the foyer of the country club not ignoring the weird feeling going through her this time. She gripped her purse strap knowing that something big was going to happen. She could tell by the way Marc shifted once they were in the foyer. There were a couple of people there, but they were so into their own conversations they wouldn't notice them.

Helen took a seat in one of the benches outside. Marc leaned against the wall next to her taking a breath as if to clear his mind.

/I wish he would get over with this already. / Helen thought feeling her eyes water. She hated that they were watering against her will, but her body already was acting on instinct. 

Nate made it to the foyer he scanned the crowd noticing Marc and Helen in the back. He wanted to go back there, but he had to be inconspicuous. He pulled a cigarette out of his pocket walking on the other side of the wall. He looked over making sure he was in the right spot. Just in case he needed to spring into action if Marc did something stupid. He leaned against the wall lighting his cigarette waiting for Marc's speech. The same speech many guys gave Helen after going out with her for seven months. Then realizing they won't become the husband to one of the heirs of the biggest real estate company around. Since Helen has no interest in taking over the company.

When the guys she dated realized that they would give her the same song and dance, but she knew the truth. They only dated her because of her name. Nate knew the truth as well. It didn't help that he felt angry towards the guy everytime. He tried not to look like the over protective friend each time.

Helen sat on the bench hearing those same words, "Well we had fun, but I think after tonight we shouldn't go out anymore."

"Really? Why?" she asked pushing her anger down behind her sad girl mask.

"Well you're at a point in you're life, I'm at a point in my life and where am I at right now I can't juggle that and a relationship." Marc said.

Helen bit the inside of her cheek, "Oh I see, so you had to make this decision on my prom night. You couldn't have waited to tell me afterwards?"

Nate eyes widened usually Helen wasn't so curt with her soon to be exes. She usually played the role of the broken hearted girlfriend. 

/I guess this time is different. / Nate thought taking a slow drag of his cigarette.

"I know it's tacky…"

"You're right it is,"

"But I didn't want to break your heart because you couldn't go with me."

Helen looked up at him her anger starting to slip out from behind her mask, "You think I wasn't gonna go to prom because of you? You really think my whole damn world revolves around you?"

"Well I heard how sad you become after a guy breaks up with you, but I didn't know when I should do it." Marc said.

"So you want to do it now, but you didn't answer my previous questions. Do you really think that?" Helen said.

"Well, yeah, I thought you wouldn't go to prom without me. I am part of your world right?" Marc said.

Helen scoffed, "Not anymore and a little fyi I would have gone to prom anyway. There was no way I would have missed one of the greatest moment of my life because of you. Oh and my whole world did not revolve around you. I just let you in that's all."

"I can see that this is going to be a hard thing for you to deal with. So I'm gonna-"

"No you're wrong this isn't going to be a hard thing for me to deal with because you want to know something I'm glad we're breaking up. Since we're on the topic I was tired of you talking down to me, I was also tired of you speaking to me like a child. I'm not a child Marc not anymore. Just tell me have you been thinking about it for awhile." Helen said looking in Marc's eyes.

Marc looked down avoiding her gaze as Helen became agitated. She took a breath closing her eyes before opening them again, "Will you just answer me?"

Marc nodded, "Yes I have I just didn't know how to tell you without hurting your feelings."

"Ok that's all I wanted to know." Helen said.

"Do you hate me?" Marc asked.

"No, not really, but I will say I'm mad that you decided to do this on my prom night." Helen said.

"I didn't want to lead you on, but I felt bad about not showing up at the same time." Marc said.

"It must have been such a hard decision for you." Helen snapped.

Marc nodded, "Yeah…"

Helen scoffed she knew the answer to that question. She didn't even know why she bothered to ask. Nate took another long drag on his cigarette holding his anger in, /Even if Marc wanted to break up with Helen he could have done it before prom night or even a couple days afterwards. That spineless bastard, / 

Helen didn't like the awkward silence that hung in the air. She gripped her purse strap waiting for this awkward moment to be over. 

"So…" 

"So…" 

"I should go…" 

"Yeah…"

"You're a great person Helen. I know you'll find the right person." Marc said placing his hand on her shoulder.

Helen nodded her mind going back to Nate when she felt something open in her heart. Something she didn't acknowledge until now. 

"I'm sure you'll find the right person as well." Helen said quietly.

Marc nodded before taking his hand off of Helen's shoulder. He looked at Helen one more time before walking outside towards his limo. He looked over seeing Nate staring at him. He didn't look away as he finished his cigarette. He walked to over to the public ashtray snuffing his cigarette out. Marc didn't move as Nate took his spot back against the wall. Nate gave him a hard stare as Marc returned it. He never really like Marc, but tolerated him for Helen. He felt that Marc was a bit too stuck up for Helen, but he always kept his opinion to himself. Now that their relationship was over he could go back to not talking to him again, except for the polite banter if they happened to see each other on the street.

"How long have you been standing there?" he asked.

"Long enough,"

"Well you should go and talk to her. I know she doesn't want to talk to me." Marc said staring at Nate one more time before turning around walking back to his limo.

"I have one question…"

"What?" 

Nate smirked, "What's her name? Oh, excuse me I meant to ask what's his name" 

Marc turned around shocked before glaring at Nate's smug look. He turned around walking back to his limo. Nate saw the woman waiting in Marc's car recognizing her immediately. It was Chantrice his co-worker at the bank. He noticed they were together a lot, but thought nothing of it. Rather he knew it wasn't his battle to fight. Nate knew something Marc didn't know. Chantrice may be pretty, but she's dimmer than two light bulbs. Many of his friends who went out with Chantrice told him she's something nice to look at, but that's it. Nate gave an evil grin watching his limo pull off /That's what he gets stupid asshole. / 

Nate took a breath before walking around to Helen. The site made him bite the inside of his cheek to keep his anger towards Marc in check.

Helen had her face in her hands trying her hardest to keep her tears from leaking out. She felt a strange combination of relief and sadness. She couldn't believe that Marc broke up with her on her prom night, but at the same time she was relieved. She felt free for the first time in a long time. She didn't feel worried or stressed or anything, but she still hated her natural response. She sniffed feeling someone take a seat next to her.

"Diane…please…I'm fine," Helen said looking up, but not into Diane's eyes. She blinked wiping the tears from her eyes as she looked at Nate.

"I hate that you have to see my makeup run like this. I mean…I…I guess I'm going back to being a cry baby again huh Nate," Helen said laughing a little.

Nate gave a small grin when they were children Helen would cry over any little thing no matter how big or small. Whenever that happened, Nate would be there with something to make her happy. Be it a puzzle or some candy. He didn't have any candy or a puzzle now, but he knew he had to help her feel better like he used to.

"Yeah, well, it's ok to cry sometimes you know. Too bad I didn't have some chocolate that used to cheer you up right quick." Nate said trying to lighten the mood.

Helen giggled, "Yeah that's true," she wiped her eyes again cursing at the stray tear that rolled down her cheek. Nate brushed the tear away, "I don't like it when you cry Helen."

"Yeah well I can't help, but cry. I feel so stupid Nate. I gushed over him so much and the way I acted." Helen said shaking her head as more tears rolled down her cheeks. Nate wiped the tears away with his thumbs turning her face towards his. Helen felt her face tingle as she stared back.

"It's ok you really liked him. As Chris likes to say you were all caught up." Nate said chuckling softly. Helen tried to giggle, but it came out as a soft cry. Nate lowered his hands from her face. Helen missing them instantly, but the feeling disappeared when his arms found a place around her waist. He hugged her close to him. Helen's eyes widened as she relaxed against him.

"It's ok to cry. Even though I don't like it when you cry it's ok." Nate said softly.

"But I don't want to cry anymore. I'm tired of crying." Helen sniffed snuggling deeper into Nate not knowing the effects it was having on him.

/Don't get hard you have to comfort her. Don't get hard. / Nate thought rubbing her back. Helen sniffed picking up a bit of Nate's scent.

"Yeah, but you're a cry baby remember." Nate said chuckling softly.

Helen giggled softly, "Yeah guess I never grew out of it."

"You have just this is a special situation." Nate said softly.

"Yeah," Helen said softly playing with his pendant her fingers brushing his neck softly with every turn. Nate smiled as he looked at her, /She looks so much like a cat. /

He shifted pulling her closer to him. He took a breath ignoring the thundering of his heartbeat as he looked down in Helen's eyes. Those chocolate orbs that he loved so much. Now that Marc was out of the picture the lock he had on his feelings opened. He knew it wasn't right. She just had a breakup, but better now than never right?

"Helen…I…you…I…" he stuttered rubbing her back slowly.

Helen looked up at him, "What Nate?"

He took another breath steadying his voice, "I know something that could make you happy." he said softly rubbing her tear stained cheek.

"What?" Helen said as another stray tear rolled down her cheek landing on his finger. Nate cupped her cheek drawing her face closer to his. He pressed his lips softly against hers, reeling in the amazing feeling from it. He thought she would stop him not wrap her arms around his neck drawing him in. It started softly before his pent up passion took over. He licked her lips as she opened her mouth under him. She gripped his shirt moaning when she felt his tongue coax hers out of her mouth. She never felt such an electrifying kiss before not even with Marc.

Nate couldn't help it Helen tasted so good. He never knew his friend would be such a tasty treat. He groaned softly running his hands up and down her back. Helen moaned softly trying to hold the kiss as best as she could before she had to breathe. Helen broke the kiss softly staring at Nate whose face reflected the same emotions of surprise, happiness, and arousal.

"Helen I'm sorry if it feels like I took advantage of you, but I couldn't help it. Well I could, but I wanted to kiss you for so long and I thought that maybe now was a good time. I know you just broke up with Marc and that you're now single again, but I'm sorry if you think I tried to catch you on the rebound too soon." Nate said rambling on as a light red tinged his cheeks.

Helen blinked before she smiled. Whenever Nate became nervous he rambled on and on. She found it to be quite cute. She placed her finger on his lips softly shushing him quietly.

"Nate, it's ok, I liked the kiss. In fact I loved it. It felt good, you feel good." Helen said smiling as she blushed. Nate stopped his rambling as he started smiling. He reached up tracing her lips, "You feel good too, real good." He leaned forward kissing her again. Helen moaned softly wrapping her arms back around his neck as his arms wrapped around her waist. They started kissing slowly both of them getting used to the wonderful feel of their lips on each other. Nate moaned licking Helen's lips again. He wanted to taste her sweet mouth once more. Helen moaned opening her mouth under his again.

It was true that she did just breakup with Marc, but she didn't want to spend the rest of her prom night sulking over him. He was gone now and as her mother says "One monkey doesn't stop the show." Besides, her feelings for Nate were much stronger than her feelings for Marc anyway. Helen broke the kiss, "Wait," she said breathlessly as Nate looked at her curiously. She stood up before taking a seat in Nate's lap, "Now let's continue." She pressed her lips against Nate's softly. Nate smiled returning the kiss feeling the tent he was slowly pitching. Helen shifted pushing herself closer towards Nate. Nate groaned resisting the urge to push Helen down on the bench. He didn't care if people were around at least he didn't have to hide his feelings anymore. 

Helen felt something poking her through her dress. She smiled she didn't know she had such an effect on Nate. She shifted again giggling slightly at Nate's soft groan. He broke the kiss placing a small one on her neck, "Helen…you're playing with fire."

Helen giggled she leaned towards his ear, "I'll try not to get burned."

Nate groaned placing small kisses on her neck, "You're such a tease. You always have been."

Helen moaned, "Me? You're the tease…walking around with those pants on and your shirt open." 

Nate chuckled, "You noticed that?" he trailed his fingers down her dress towards her behind.

"Yeah I have to admit you're pretty handsome and nicely toned." Helen said running her fingers down his chest. Nate smiled placing a smaller kiss on her neck, "I have to admit you're pretty cute and nicely shaped. "

He stopped his kisses looking up at Helen, "You know…this will…change our relationship…"

"I know, but I think for the better." Helen said softly placing a soft kiss on his lips. Nate smiled kissing her back feeling like his birthday came early. He couldn't believe that Helen shared his feelings. That she was in his lap kissing him back with as much passion as she could muster. He never felt so lucky. Helen was so happy who knew Diane was right. She always told Helen that her feelings for Nate would bubble over, but she never imagined Nate would feel the same. 

She felt something unlatch inside her. She kissed Nate back running her fingers through his hair sending a jolt through him. Nate gripped her waist tighter breaking the kiss, "Helen…do that again," he breathed before placing kisses down her neck.

"Do what again?" she whispered running her fingers through his hair again. Nate groaned, "That…do that again,"

"Oh you mean this?" Helen whispered running her fingers through his hair again. Nate groaned, "Yes," he breathed.

"I didn't know you like when people do that." Helen said running her fingers through his hair again. Nate's breath hitched, "It's one of my spots, but I always love when you do it." He ran his finger up and down the back of her neck. She bit her lip arching her back slightly. Nate smirked, "I see I found one of your spots." He ran his finger up and down her neck again hearing Helen moan softly. He started a small rhythm against the back of her neck smiling at the emotions dancing in her eyes. She closed them as she gasped softly, "Nate,"

His eyes widened as he licked his lips, "Say it again," he rubbed one spot on her neck hearing her cry out again, "N-Nate," 

He groaned /God that sounds so good. /

He started placing kisses up and down her neck while his hand rubbed her waist. Helen leaned forward gripping Nate's shoulders as she started panting softly. She didn't know how good his lips would feel. She nipped Nate's neck playfully hearing the quiet groan rumbling in his throat. 

"Helen," Nate moaned placing a soft kiss on her lips.




A Kiss Between Friends



His arms were tight around me and I held him close, my eyes closed and my face buried in his neck. We stood motionless, and time slipped away. The only sound I was aware of was the rhythmic beating of his heart. I could feel it against my chest as surely as he could feel mine. It was always like this, and I'm always too content at the time to go further. Afterwards I scold myself and dwell for hours as to why I didn't make a move. Then, in frustration, I wonder what it is that is holding him back. 

I opened my eyes and lifted my face from his neck so I could look at his face. As always, his expression was warm and his smile put butterflies in my stomach. My heart began to pound uncontrollably and I knew he was as aware of it as I was but I tried to refrain from being embarrassed. Instead, I studied his expression. His eyes were locked into mine and his smile lit up his face. He was looking at me as if he loved me. He loves you, I told myself. He really loves you. I reached up with my right hand to pet the side of his face. Leaning into my hand, he sighed and closed his eyes. I told myself to kiss him. Do it, I prompted. He won't mind. A tranquil feeling enveloped me and I suddenly wasn't nervous anymore. I lifted my mouth to his and my heart didn't even skip a beat.

"I can see clearly now, the rain is gone. I can see all obstacles in my way. Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind. It's gonna be a bright, bright sun-shiny day." The alarm on my phone sang, startling me out of my perfect dream. Startled, I opened my eyes, but then I closed them tightly, willing myself to go back to sleep and pick up from where I left off. The phone continued to sing and I buried my face into my soft pillow and groaned. As I blindly fumbled for my phone and turned the alarm off, I wondered why I didn't have the dream a few minutes sooner. I kicked myself for setting the alarm for six o'clock instead of a quarter after. Hell, I might have gone all the way with him if I'd had an extra fifteen minutes! That almost-kiss was going to be on my mind all day and I knew I would dwell on it to the point of near insanity. That was enough to inhibit a bright, sun-shiny day. 

I went through the motions of the morning in a haze and it took me longer than usual to get ready. The dream played in my mind in the shower and I began to fantasize about him as I lathered myself with vanilla scented body wash. I began to imagine it was him getting me soapy while simultaneously replaying the dream in my mind. Sweet, innocent love mixed with my imaginary shower partner made my clitoris throb. I didn't really have time to relieve myself but I was too hot and bothered to ignore my desires. Normally when I pleasured myself while I bathed, I used the shower head and set it to high pressure mode. That gave me mind blowing orgasms. I weighed my choices. I could grab the shower head and use on myself, I could use my fingers or I could ignore the feeling between my legs. "Fuck it," I muttered, and I began to finger myself. As the hot water pounded on my body, I saw him naked in my mind, his cock erect and waiting for me. Soon he was on top of me and I rubbed my clitoris in time to his humping. I let out a huge gasp as my body shook when I climaxed. It had been too rushed to be considered a great orgasm, but it did feel good. I was able to concentrate and I no longer felt tense and I knew I made the right choice. Besides, I was a firm believer that life is too short to pass up a good orgasm.

Because of the delay in the shower, I only had time to down a cup of coffee before work. I grabbed a banana to eat on the way. I got into my silver Dodge Ram 2500, turned it on and the engine roared to life. Gosh I loved my truck. It was only a year old and it looked exactly the way it did the first day I brought it home. My previous vehicle had been a tiny car and I couldn't see a damn thing besides the rear end of the car in front of me. Now with my truck, I felt as if I were on top of the world. 

Led Zeppelin was blasting so loud that I couldn't hear the rumble of the engine, and I did it on purpose. Music distracted me from being distracted from him. It was peaceful to have nothing in my head but a well loved song. I cheerfully sang "Whole Lotta Love" along with Robert Plant, keeping my voice slightly lower than his so I wouldn't ruin the song too much. I'm a horrible singer and I wouldn't be caught dead singing in front of a person, but when I drove alone I sang my heart out and nearly forgot about him. How nice it was to have a clear head!

I pulled into the parking lot at work and headed inside. I taught fitness classes at the gym near my house and I liked it. I taught yoga, aerobics and kick boxing. Getting paid to stay physically fit while training people in need of a lifestyle change and those who liked to keep in shape was incredibly rewarding.

It was a little chilly out and walking from my truck to the front doors made me shiver through my thin pants, but when I went inside I suddenly felt hot all over. There he was; the object of my romantic and lustful desires. It wasn't even a half hour ago that I had masturbated to a sex fantasy about the two of us and it made me feel slightly uneasy, as if he could see through me and read my dirty thoughts. 

Oblivious, he smiled at the sight of me. "Hey, Amy." 

"Hey," I said, returning the smile. I quickly looked him over. I saw him nearly every day, yet I never tired of checking him out. My eyes settled on his face, hopefully before he caught me checking him out. He had a killer body, as any personal trainer should, but it was his face that had initially enchanted me. He had a warm, inviting face and his cheeks looked round and adorable like a chipmunks' when he smiled. His blue eyes were mesmerizing and his teeth were perfect-straight and unstained. What I loved most though, was his dirty blonde hair. It was neatly brushed but it had somewhat of a disheveled look about it and it was just long enough to run your fingers through. It was perfect for me. 

Patrick was my best friend and I loved him. That's common in a friendship between man and woman, but I was certain that my love for him exceeded what was typical. I was attracted to him and no one else, my thoughts never strayed far from him and he was the only person in the world that I couldn't get enough. Most important, I recognized his faults, accepted them and loved him anyway. In my experience that is rare. People who fall in love have a tendency to think the object of their affection can do no wrong, as time goes by realize that their loved ones are indeed, only human, then try to change them in hopes that their beloved can once again resemble the perfection they had fallen in love with. Patrick had many faults. In fact, sometimes he just about drove me crazy, but his downfalls were part of who he was and I didn't plan to change him.

I couldn't understand why he didn't want me. Yes, he was with someone else, but he was living the life of someone trapped in an unhappy marriage, except he wasn't married. He didn't even have kids to tie him down. I listened to him vent his frustrations several times a week and I felt like shaking him and yelling, "Replace her with me for Christ's sake!" But I didn't have the balls to do it. I couldn't risk making him uncomfortable in our friendship; he was too important for me to lose. Besides, nothing I could say would change anything. 

Day after day I took the position of the caring and reliable friend and it was exhausting. The only love I received was me pleasuring myself as I fantasized about him. Well, I got a hug and a kiss on the cheek instead of just a verbal goodbye, but it wasn't quite satisfactory. Mind you, we did have a lot of fun times. We shared many laughs at work and we did plenty of activities outside the job, but it killed me to not be able to fall asleep and wake up in his arms daily. Instead he went home to someone who didn't love him. I spent countless hours speculating why he was with her and why I didn't just give up and try to find someone else, but I never came to a conclusion. 

It was noon and we were on break, sitting at a small table in the back room of the gym when he mentioned, "I got Emily a bracelet for Valentine's Day. It's made of hearts linked together with white gold. I think it's really pretty...I hope she likes it."  

We had been nibbling on sandwiches and I suddenly lost my appetite. I had forgotten that Valentine's Day was only two days away. It always killed me to hear him describe the sweet things he did for her, knowing she didn't appreciate him at all. I had seen for myself what a bitch she was and it made my blood boil. I couldn't help feeling jealous and I hoped it didn't show in my expression. I didn't have a poker face. No matter how hard I tried to hide my feelings, people rarely had trouble reading me. "It sounds beautiful," I managed to say. "I don't know how a girl wouldn't love it." I wish you were giving it to me.

"I never know what to get," he went on. "I think I tend to pick good things in the end, though. That's probably the only thing about me she doesn't really complain about," he said with a chuckle. 

I didn't think it was too funny, but I continued to try to hide my contempt for her. The best way for me to do that was to try to change the subject indirectly. "I think you pick out great gifts. You never fail to get me something that I love." It was true. He always got me something nice every year for my birthday and Christmas.

He flashed me one of those million dollar smiles. "Yeah well, you're easy to buy for. People like her are rarely pleased by anything." His expression grew dark. "I don't know why I got involved with such a high maintenance girl. I guess I secretly hate myself."

No, you're just a moron. Sometimes I offered him friendly advice when the opportune moment arrived. I was careful not to directly insult her as I knew I'd be heartbroken if he came to her defense. "Well, getting involved with her wasn't the problem. It's the fact that you continue to stay with her despite everything. You could leave her whenever you want but you stay put. Think about the present, Patrick, not the past." I silently applauded myself. Well said. 

He slowly nodded. "You're right, Amy, as usual," he said, his voice sounding weary. I studied his face. He always looked weathered when he spoke about his problems with Emily and I couldn't help feeling bad for him. I didn't want to. After all, the situation was his own doing, but I still had a strong desire to fix his problems. I wanted to lean over the table and pet the side of his face. I wanted to cuddle my face close to his and kiss him gently on the cheek. I wanted him to feel loved. 

I noticed the clock on the wall behind him. "It's getting late. We should get back to work." I noticed that his sandwich, like mine, had barely been touched. I giggled. "We're going to starve to death eating together." Sometimes when we went out to eat it took us about three hours to finish because we spent too much time talking and enjoying each other's company. I felt a pang of sadness at the thought as I closed my lunch up in the sandwich bag I had brought it in. 

"Alright," he said as we were nearing the main part of the gym. "I'll see you after work."

"Okay." I turned to him and gave him a quick peck on the cheek. He smiled.

A few hours later we were in the back room again, finishing our sandwiches and talking when out of the blue he asked me a question that nearly made me choke. 

"Why don't you have a boyfriend?"

Because I'm in love with you, obviously. I slowly swallowed the food in my mouth and wondered what I should say. Finally, "Do you have any theories?"

He shrugged. "No. I guess I just thought of it because Valentine's Day is coming up. It occurred to me that you're never with anybody. What's up with that?" 

I began to calm down and I even found myself amused. "You've known me for a long time, Patrick. You only just realized that I'm always alone?"

"I don't know," he said. "I'm just so used to you being single that it almost seems natural for you. I think it would be weird if you had a boyfriend."

"That can be taken offensively, you know."

He patted my back. "You wouldn't take it offensively. You're too cool for that."

Yep, that's me. Totally cool. "To answer your question," I finally said, "Why don't you think of some answers and get back to me?" 

"Okay, I will." He suddenly looked distracted and glanced at his watch. "I have to get going. I promised Emily I'd cook a real dinner tonight. She said she's sick of spaghetti."

I snickered. "Okay, Chef. You better go home before she gets the whip out."

He tried to look annoyed but he smiled despite himself. "I'll see you tomorrow," he said, grabbing me and holding me tight for a moment. I relished in the feeling of our bodies close together and inhaled his sweet scent. I felt warm, at peace, and all too soon he let go. 

"Goodbye," I said wistfully.

A cold, empty feeling hit me as I watched him leave. I felt that way every time we parted and the only thing that made me feel better, other than seeing him again, was not seeing him at all. I sometimes wondered if I should find a job elsewhere and cut off all contact with him. I would probably be happier in the long run. Call me a masochist, but I couldn't bring myself to do such a thing.

The next morning when I got to work I was disappointed to find that he wasn't there. "Where's Patrick?" I asked the manager, Carl.

"I dunno," he mumbled. "He called about a half hour ago and said he couldn't make it. Now I'm stuck calling his clients and cancelling his appointments. You'd think he would give some notice." 

"Yeah," I said half-heartedly. I walked to the locker room to get ready for my class and thought about calling him to see what was going on. Then I remembered that it was seven in the morning and if he had gone back to sleep after calling, he wouldn't appreciate hearing from me. So I waited.

"Hey," I greeted his answering machine when I was on lunch break. "I wanted to see what was going on. You didn't tell me you weren't coming in today so I just wanted to make sure you were alright. Give me a call back. Bye." 

I felt uneasy throughout the day as I always did when I didn't hear from him. I scurried into the locker room every chance I had to check my phone but he never called me back. By the end of the work day I wasn't sure if I should be worried about him or just annoyed. I contemplated my options as I drove home and by the time I pulled into my driveway I decided that I should be annoyed. He would probably be at work tomorrow and refuse to give me a decent reason for not calling me back. 

Do I expect too much from him? I wondered as I walked inside. Would I be upset if any other friend didn't return my call in a timely manner? It was hard to tell. I wasn't really close with anybody else. I didn't know what to think. I went straight for the kitchen. I was hungry and eating might make me less irritable. 

When I actually reached the kitchen though, food had escaped my mind. There was an elegant glass vase holding a dozen beautiful roses sitting in the middle of the table. Nobody had ever given me flowers before. I slowly approached the vase and gently reached out to stroke a ruby petal. The flowers were gorgeous. A note was attached to one of the roses' stems. "Go upstairs," it read. The note was typed, keeping me from recognizing the handwriting of my gift giver. That was when it occurred to me that somebody was in my house. Somebody had broken into my house and here I was getting excited about roses. There was probably a psychotic killer in my bedroom waiting to hack me to pieces. I didn't want to think that Patrick was up there waiting for me. I'd be setting myself up for disappointment. 

I went upstairs and wondered how Patrick had broken into my house. Then I scolded myself for jumping to conclusions. I was excited, expecting to find Patrick in my bedroom, when I would find some creepy stalker instead. A creepy stalker who needed a calendar. Valentine's Day was tomorrow. I should have left the house and called the police. Patrick was home with that bitch, Emily, not in my bedroom waiting for me. I reached the top of the stairs and thought about turning around. My bedroom door was shut; not the way I left it that morning. I tried to remain calm but my pounding heart had other ideas. I opened the door.

The lights weren't on. Why wait for me in the dark? I reached for the light switch and cringed when I flicked the light on. Despite the situation I was amused at myself; being afraid of the light instead of the dark. 

My room had been transformed. The white lightbulbs were replaced with red ones, making my white walls look pink. The unmade bed with blue sheets and a blue blanket was now neatly made with an inviting, pink blanket and fluffy, red heart shaped pillows. A white bear holding a red heart with "XO-XO-XO" written across it sat at the edge of the bed and taped to the heart was a plain, white card. I went to the bed and opened it. "I did some thinking," it read, this time in Patrick's handwriting. 

I held the card, staring at it for an unusually long period of time, trying to keep myself from crying. Tears blurred my vision anyway so I placed it on the bed and wiped them away with my hands. "Happy Valentines Day Eve," I heard Patrick whisper into my ear from behind. His hot breath sent an excited shiver down my spine. "Tell me you love me." 

I turned slowly. Our faces were inches apart. We kissed in unison, a long, tender kiss. He wrapped his arms around me and held me tight while I ran my fingers down the sides of his face, kissed him again and relishing in the fact that he was finally mine. I had fantasized about it many times and the fantasies were dull compared. I felt weightless; carefree and filled with inexplicable joy. 

"I love you, Patrick." We stood like that for a short while, I had my arms around him now and we held each other as if we would never let go. He lowered his head and began to kiss my neck. Feeling his lips and his tongue on my skin took my breath away. I closed my eyes and gripped him tighter.

He stopped after a little while and I opened my eyes. I wondered what was wrong. "Why didn't you ever say anything?" He asked.

"I didn't want to make things awkward between us...I assumed you didn't want me." 

He kissed my forehead. "I would rather be with you than with Emily, or anybody else for that matter."

"You could have told me so."

He nodded and kissed me again. 

"Let's not think of the past. We have the present to focus on," I said. 

We undressed each other slowly, enjoying each other's bodies. We caressed each other where skin exposed as each garment slipped away. When we were completely naked I looked him up and down quickly. His perfect, solid body was breathtaking, but it was his huge, hard, throbbing penis that kept my gaze. I couldn't wait to have that thing inside of me.

In a fit of passion I jumped on him and wrapped my legs around his abdomen. Our lips met again as he blindly stumbled to the bed. He lay me down on my back and his mouth explored my body. To know that he enjoyed making love to me along with the feel of his mouth on my body was more pleasurable than any sex I had ever had in my life. It was intoxicating.

He gently kissed my inner thighs and spread my legs. When his warm tongue went inside me, I moaned shamelessly. I rubbed his head as he licked and sucked on me, wishing I could make him feel as good as he was making me feel. "Ahhh!" I screamed as my body exploded in an earth shattering orgasm. I had gripped his poor head, dug my fingers into his scalp, but he seemed to enjoy it because he worked at me more frantically and before I knew it another orgasm hit me and I responded the same way. I was hot, panting and shaking and dying to have him inside me. He knew. Before I could say anything he stopped, planted a kiss on my clitoris and sat up.




A Kiss Between Friends



I sat up, too. We were smiling at each other as if we were in love for the first time. I felt young and innocent. Making love to someone had never felt so right. But we belonged together, and I had known that for a long time. 

I wrapped my right arm around his neck and my left arm around his back and we kissed again. "I want you to know that you're the only man I have ever enjoyed kissing." I breathed. "Gosh, I could do it forever." After a few more kisses began to run my hands up and down his gorgeous body. "It's my turn, Sweetie. Lay down." 

He complied and I found that it was almost as enjoyable to give as it was to receive. I loved running my hands up and down his body, but doing it with my mouth was heavenly. I wondered what it would be like to squirt whipped cream on him and lick it off. I would find out the next time I went grocery shopping. 

My hands found his testicles and I slowly rubbed them while my mouth slowly went down his stomach. An "Ohhh" escaped his lips when I took him in my mouth. I started out deep throating him right away and then I took my mouth off of him, exposing his dick to the cool air. Still rubbing his testicles with one hand, I held his shaft with the other and slowly ran my tongue around his head. Then I sucked on it while I jacked him off. When he was reduced to short, deep breaths, I let go of his shaft and began to deep throat him again. When he blew his load into my mouth and I felt him go slack, I swallowed, took a breath, and licked him clean. "Gosh, Amy," he breathed when I sat up and looked into his eyes. "You are incredible." 

"Mmmm...I love to hear you say that." I straddled him and rubbed my hands up and down his chest before bending down to kiss him again. While we kissed, I reached behind me and rubbed his balls again and when I felt him get hard, I sat up. "Ready for round two?" 

He nodded eagerly.

I eased myself onto him and gasped at the feel good sensation of his cock inside me. I rocked myself in slow circles on him, gasping and moaning with the pleasure his throbbing cock brought me. He was holding my hips and leaning forward, sucking my breasts, bringing a new wave of pleasure throughout my body. 

He nibbled on my nipples and massaged my ass and I rode him faster, overcome with excitement. I heard his steady grunting, muffled from my tits in his mouth, and it drove me over the edge. I shrieked as another orgasm hit me like a tidal wave pounding the shore. A rapturous, almost electrical feel went through my body. Oh, it was heavenly. 

The next morning, Valentine's Day, I got what I had wanted for years. I opened my eyes to find Patrick's arms tight around me. I closed my eyes again and snuggled my face into his chest. I wanted to fall asleep and wake up in his arms every day for the rest of my life and now I had my wish. Life was sweet.



A Kiss Between Murders



June 9th, 1947

It was two a.m. and my eyes burned as badly as the cheap whiskey I was pouring down my throat. As fast as they were going down you would have thought I could convince myself that it was the good stuff, but my stomach kept reminding me different.

Lou's Last Stop was filled with the usual crowd of sad sacks and lonely hearts. All scrambling to find their next big score and someone with the brains to help them get away with it. With this broken bunch of losers half a brain would've been too great a load to carry. 

"Again?" Lou Mackenzie poured me another before I had a chance to answer then retreated back to his corner. For a retired cop he wasn't too interested in chewing the fat, which was fine by me. I didn't come here to socialize. I was killing time before meeting an informant of mine.

"Thanks, Lou." I threw back my drink and then tossed a crumpled ten on the counter. Outside the heat hit me like a furnace. Four days into a heat wave and the only relief the night offered was that you didn't need your sunglasses. 

I lit a cigarette and crossed the street, avoiding the potholes and the winos. People were sleeping on their porches or with their windows wide open. Not the best idea in a neighborhood like this.

My gun felt heavier than usual in its holster and my shirt stuck to me like a streak of bad luck. Jimmy's place wasn't far and the booze helped to loosen me up, so I decided to walk. Once I turned onto Lancaster I was all alone with only overturned trashcans and the occasional voices shouting behind closed doors for company. 

The Wilshire Estates was hardly the palace its flashy sign made it out to be. Dark bungalows faced each other on opposite sides. In the center of the courtyard stood an empty fountain with a headless statue of a cherub. It was the kind of place that offered its tenants plenty of privacy, mostly because no upstanding citizen would be caught dead there. Or maybe that's the only way they would be there. The swimming pool came at no extra charge even though it was never filled with water.

Jimmy Morgan lived in bungalow number 6 in the rear of the courtyard. I walked past large palm trees. They overshadowed the dying Birds of Paradise that lay along the cracked pavement. I saw shadows moving behind drawn curtains, so I wasn't the only one up at this hour. 

I tossed my cigarette at Jimmy's door and knocked. All the lights were out and there was no answer so I tried the doorknob. It turned easily and I opened the door. "Jimmy?" 

I stepped inside and the plaster above my head exploded into pieces. I hit the ground and rolled. When I came up my gun was in my hand. 

"Get outta here." A voice as thin as paper called out. 

"Goddammit Jimmy. It's me." I still couldn't see him but I could smell him. 

"Mike?" I could hear him fumbling in the dark, then a light came on. 

"Put the fucking gun down, Jimmy." I stood up and kept the dangerous end of my .38 pointed at his head. 

Jimmy dropped his gun and crumpled to the floor. He was laughing and crying. "I'm sorry. I didn't know. I'm sorry." 

I holstered my gun and shuffled through the trash-filled carpet. I picked up his gun and set it on the coffee table and then dragged Jimmy toward the couch. God he stank. I left him on the floor and pulled up a chair and sat across from him. 

"What's with the shoot first ask questions later, Jimmy?" I reached inside my shirt pocket and pulled out another cigarette. 

"I thought you were...someone else." Jimmy was in a cold sweat and his words were slurring. I guess we both had been hitting the bottle, only his bottle used him as a punching bag. He tried to stand but his legs had gone on vacation. 

"Like who?" I lit my cigarette and offered Jimmy one. He shook his head and closed his eyes. 

Jimmy started to lean to one side like he was getting ready for a nap so I kicked his foot and he sat up straight. God, he had wet himself. 

"Jimmy?" 

"What?" He was looking around like he didn't know here he was. Maybe he was just looking for a bottle. 

"Jimmy. What do ya got for me?" I was beginning to feel that this was a waste of my time. Jimmy usually had some decent information for me. But running down cheating spouses was never a reason for Jimmy to start waving a gun around. 

"I thought I had somethin' for ya. But I was wrong. It didn't pan out." He chuckled to himself and started looking for that bottle again. 

"What's with the gun, Jimmy?" I got off my chair and picked up his piece. The gun was as dirty as he was, but I took it any way, fitting it in my trench coat pocket . 

"You know, Mike. For protection and stuff." He looked worried that I wasn't gonna give it back, which meant he was scared for his life. 

"You know, Jimmy. I can help you if you level with me." 

He managed to pull himself up and made his way into the kitchen. Bottles crashed to the floor as he bumped into the kitchen table. 

"Shit. I really need a drink." He yelled. Then I could hear the sobs dripping out of his pale, sweaty face. "Could you spare me a couple bucks, Mike?" 

I was tired and ready for bed and the last thing I needed was to babysit a lush in the middle of the night. But between the two of us, I had the better chance of returning with an unbroken bottle.

"I'll get you a drink, Jimmy." I stood up and helped him back to the couch. 

"Thanks, Mike. You're a real pal. I'll pay you back." He fell onto the cushions mumbling something that sounded like "liquor" and closed his eyes. He was fast asleep before I got half way across the room. I kept his gun. No sense dodging bullets twice in one night. 

I went back to Lou's and came back with a bottle of cheap whiskey. If we were going to talk over a drink, it might as well be one that I liked. Jimmy's door was ajar when I got there. I hoped he hadn't run out on me and tried to find that drink on his own. 

The lights were out again but I could see Jimmy was still asleep on the couch. I went into the kitchen and turned on the light. There were two glasses in the sink that could pass for clean if I wasn't being too picky. I took them into the living room and set them on the coffee table and poured us both a drink. 

"Jimmy, wake up." He didn't stir so I kicked his foot. I turned on the lamp by the couch and saw what was left of his brains on the pillow behind his head. My heart tripped over itself as my senses went into overdrive. I took my gun out and turned off the light. Taking a breath and moving quietly I checked the bedroom and closets but the place was empty. 

Whoever did this must have waited until I left and then slipped away before I got back. That explained why Jimmy took a shot at me before. And I had Jimmy's gun. He couldn't hit his own reflection if he was standing in front of the mirror, but that didn't make me feel any better about have left him defenseless. Whatever his last thoughts were they were now splattered all over his dirty sofa. 

I checked his pockets. A pack of matches, a ring of keys, and a patch of lint weren't the best eulogy for a man, but in Jimmy's case it was better than nothing. I took a drink and then finished Jimmy's glass as well. No sense wasting it. I took the bottle and left his gun. I doused the lights and closed the door on my way out. 

Back at the bar I asked Lou for the phone and dialed the cops. 

"Twenty-second precinct. Officer Mills." 

"Get me Lt. Dobbs." 

"Who is this?" I guess Mills felt like his toes were being stepped on. I didn't care. 

"Tell him it's McCabe and tell him now before I tell him you're obstructing a murder investigation." That seemed to do it. When Dobbs got on the line he wasn't too pleased to hear from me, which wasn't much of a surprise. 

"Jesus, McCabe. It's late, I'm pulling an all-nighter, and I'm up to my ass in paperwork. What the hell do you want?" He was being his usual sweet self so I got right to the point. 

"Got a body for you, Lenny." 

"Who'd ya kill this time?" 

"A snitch of mine by the name of Jimmy Morgan, 2435 Wilshire, bungalow six. Somebody didn't like the secrets he was keeping so they put a bullet in his head to see what would come pouring out." 

"Christ, Mike. I got better things to do then pick up after you." 

I heard him yelling in the background, "Send a couple of units to 2435 Wilshire, bungalow six. We got a cold one waiting." 

"Hey, Lenny." 

"Yeah?" 

"I'm heading home. You know where to find me later." 

"Goddammit, McCabe. Your ass better be --." 

I hung up. Tomorrow there would be a lot of explaining but right now, more than anything, I needed to sleep. I took a taxi home and stumbled in the front door tossing my hat and coat on the couch. Falling into bed I took my gun out and held it tight as I got comfortable. Whoever killed Jimmy had seen me, and although I didn't notice any one following me, I wasn't taking any chances. 

By the time I woke up the sun was scorching my head like someone held a magnifying glass over my face to burn out my eyes and the smell of coffee was filling my apartment. There was someone in the house, but I'd never heard of a killer making coffee before taking someone out. I got up quietly and entered the kitchen, my gun pointing the way. 

"Is that anyway to say good morning?" It was Vera Chandler, my secretary.

"What are you doing here?" I closed my eyes and imagined myself going back to sleep while still leaning against the kitchen counter.

"Here." She handed me a hot cup of Joe and poured herself one. I sank into the kitchen chair and set my gun back in its holster. 

"Jeez, Mike. Did you sleep in your clothes again?" She set her ruby lips on her cup leaving lipstick on the rim. Brushing her blonde hair out of her face she stiffened at the taste and scrunched up her face. "God. If that doesn't clear out the cobwebs nothing will." 

I took a sip. It tasted like battery acid but it helped wash away the taste of last night's activities. 

"What's a kid from Kansas doing breaking into a man's home?" I rubbed my eyes and got up to look in the fridge.

"I'm from L.A. and I have a key, remember? You gave it to me last week to pick up the Gorman case files and take them back to the office." 

I reached for the eggs and dropped the carton. "Shit." 

"Let me. Sit down." 

She was a good looking dame with a body that didn't punch out at quitting time. She got down on her knees and I couldn't help but notice the way her chest strained against her blouse. I sat down and watched as she bent over to clean up my mess.

"Got an eyeful yet?" She smiled and looked up at me, her hair falling over the right side of her face. 

"Just making sure you don't miss anything." I met her gaze and she laughed.

"I don't miss a thing, Mike." 

"Right." I took another sip hoping to start my engine. 

"Lt. Dobbs called the office. He wants you downtown as soon as possible. He didn't sound very happy." She stood up and smoothed out her skirt.

"Do me a favor. Check on Jimmy Morgan. He had an old partner. See if we have an address on him." 

"You gonna be ok, boss?" She set the eggs on the counter and took another sip of coffee. 

"Just dandy. Now get outta here." 

Vera poured her cup out in the sink. "I'll see ya later." She scooted out and left me with an empty stomach and a head full of mashed potatoes. I took a cold shower which helped with the heat, and I managed to fry some bacon and finish my coffee without making more of a mess. 

The coffee was doing its job. I felt ready to have my best pal at the L.A. police department bust my chops. After scrounging around for ten minutes trying to find my keys, I drove to the 36th precinct where I found Dobbs sitting at his desk. 

"Shut the door." He lit a cigarette. "Sit down." 

I took a seat and lit one of my own. If I had known it was going to be like a steam bath in there I would have dressed in a towel. Neither one of us said anything for a while until he burst out with, "Are you gonna tell me what the hell you were doing at Morgan's place last night or am I gonna have to beat it out of ya?" 

"You're gonna give yourself a heart attack like that Lenny." I took a drag knowing it would just irritate him more. 

"Just tell me what happened." 

"Jimmy called me last night. Said he had a tip on something big and to meet him at his place at two a.m. He helps me now and then with a case. I got there and he took a shot at me as soon I stepped in the door. He was scared of somebody but he wouldn't say who. I left to get him a drink and when I came back he was dead." 

"What was he working on?" Lenny leaned forward, his elbows were digging holes in the desktop. 

"He didn't say." 

"You expect me to believe that crap?" Lenny crushed his cigarette in the ashtray and hopped out of his seat. He came around the desk and sat on the corner jabbing his finger in my face. "I don't like it when people hold out on me, McCabe." His shirt was wet and a bead of sweat ran down his face.

"Would a friend do that to you, Lenny?" I loosened my tie a little hoping to get some air.

"We are not friends and I'm two seconds away from throwing you in the slammer." The overhead fan had strings of dust hanging down from the blades, which meant it was still broken since the last time I was here. Christ, didn't the L.A.P.D. pay enough for a desk fan?

"On what charge?" I leaned back in my seat and smiled. 

"Murder one." 

I reached in my jacket and laid my gun on the desk. "Go ahead. Check. You'll find the slug buried in Jimmy's brain pan didn't come from my .38." 

Dobbs shifted his fat ass and a stack of files behind him hit the floor. "Goddammit." He looked at me as if he expected me to pick them up. "That's all you got to say?"

"You've got lovely eyes, Lieutenant." 

He slid off the desk and sat back down in his chair. "Get the hell outta here and take that with you." 

I grabbed my gun and slid it back in its holster. 

"You come across anything you call me right away or I'll drag your ass in here as an accessory." He lit another cigarette and took a deep drag. I guessed our little chat was over, so I stood up, my shirt sticking to my back, and opened the door 

"Why, Lieutenant. Would I keep anything from you?" I closed the door before he could reply. Back out in the hot sun my legs felt heavy and awkward, but at least my head was finally clear. I drove to my office on Lancaster. The elevator was out again so I had to take the stairs to the third floor. My landlord was not getting a Christmas card this year. I couldn't wait to get into my office and just sit in front of the fan. Vera was on the phone when I walked in. 

"Yes. I'll be sure to tell him." She hung up and took a deep breath which always took mine away. 

"Let me guess. Dobbs?" I dropped my coat and hat on the couch. 

"He said to make sure to tell you that if you slip up even a little your ass was his." She smiled. "Which would be a shame because it's a nice ass." 

"Control yourself, Vera. Did you find anything on Morgan's past associate?" She handed me a file. 

"That's all we got, boss." 

"Alright." I went into my office and closed the door. I sat behind my desk, opened the file, and propped my feet up. Good old Vera already had the fans going.

Every office needs a pretty girl to keep the clients in a good mood, and Vera had that talent in spades. But she was more than just a pretty face. She had a knack for finding things out and was smart enough to know how to dig for them. The file she'd compiled on Jimmy Morgan covered all the bases. 

Jimmy had once had a great future in the boxing ring. Jimmy "The Mauler" Morgan they used to call him. He'd had it all. Women, money, fame. He would have made the middle weight title if he hadn't been having an affair with every bottle of booze he could get his hands on. His weakness for the ponies didn't help either. By the time he was taking dives to pay his bills, he had one foot in the grave already. But he was popular. Even his old gym let him keep a locker at no charge. Probably just for the publicity.

After his boxing days were over he'd done favors for certain criminal elements. Nothing major, just a little strong-arm stuff, collections. He didn't last long with all the drinking. I was working a case four years ago that had involved one of Jimmy's old bosses, a two-bit player named Vincent Carlisle. For the right incentive Jimmy had been more than willing to share some old secrets. You could say we'd had an agreement since then. Whatever he had gotten himself involved in was way over his head. Now he was just a number on a drawer at the morgue.

Looking through the file I found what I was looking for. He used to drive Tommy Capra, also known as Tommy Hooks. This guy was a real piece of work. He liked to hang his victims on meat hooks. Last I heard he was still working for Tiny D'angelo who ran the unions in L.A. harbor. Tommy liked the whores running out of the Sunset hotel on Cyrus Street, in particular, a red head named Evelyn Crandle. 

I dropped the file on my desk and decided to pay Miss Crandle a visit. I told Vera I'd be back in a couple of hours. I was just grabbing my hat and coat when the phone rang. 

Vera answered with the usual, "McCabe Investigations. How can I help you?" I didn't wait to hear the rest. By the time I got downstairs my legs felt like jello and my head suddenly remembered it wanted to practice drumming. I didn't feel like driving so I found a cab on the corner. 

"Sunset Hotel on Cyrus," I said, falling into the back seat. 

"I'm eating my lunch buddy." The driver had a mouth full of something that looked like either a meatball sandwich or the slaughter at a pig farm. 

"Listen pal," I said. "Either you get moving or I force feed you that sandwich until it comes out your ass." I lit a cigarette and waited for this joker to make up his mind. It didn't take long. He dropped his sandwich and screeched away from the curb. I probably shouldn't have barked at him, but I'd left my patience back on the sidewalk by my office. When he pulled up to the Sunset I dropped some bills on the front seat and got out with barely enough time before the driver tore out of there. 

Pushing through the dirty glass door into the lobby I could see a few girls sitting in the lobby. Some were alone and others were entertaining their clients. I didn't see any redheads among the Lana Turner knockoffs. 

At the front desk a fat man with a pencil-thin mustache and a shiny forehead was reading the paper. The stench of cheap booze and cigars hit me as I got close. He didn't seem to be in any hurry to find out how my morning was so I hit the desk bell just to annoy him. He looked up from his headlines. "Yeah?" 

"Evelyn Crandle," I said. 

"Never heard of her." He looked down at his paper again. I pulled I out from under his sweaty hands and rolled it up. 

"Where is she?" 

"Take a hike pal and give me back my paper." He gave me the evil eye so I tried asking a little nicer.

"You're too stupid to read so quit pretending and tell me where she is." He reached below the desk so I grabbed a fistful of shirt and pulled him hard. I shoved his head down on the counter and pressed hard, trying to see which would break first, the desk or his head. 

"You wouldn't be pulling a piece from down there, would ya?" He struggled and the grease from his hair made me want to let go in a hurry. "Evelyn?" I lifted his head and brought it down on the bell. 

"309," he spit out. I let him go and wiped my hand on the newspaper and then tossed it at him. 

"You're a helpful guy. And don't try anything. I haven't had my target practice today." I opened my coat and showed him my piece. He puts his hands up and backed away from the counter. "Good boy." 

I took the elevator and got off on the third floor. It was dingy and dark and the carpet looked like it hadn't been cleaned since before the war. At 309 I listened for any voices but all was quiet. I knocked. 




A Kiss Between Murders



"Keep your pants on, sugar." The door opened and a woman with too much lipstick and a cigarette dangling as low as her breasts stood in the doorway. "Hey honey. Why don't cha come in?" Her robe was undone and she lingered for a moment and then turned away and left me standing in the doorway. 

I stepped in to a practically bare apartment. There was a small kitchen area with a table and two chairs, one of which was missing a leg, and a refrigerator. On the table was a hot plate and a frying pan with some bacon doing the breaststroke in a sea of grease. A beaded curtain separated the bedroom from the kitchen. There was a smell like wet dog in the place, and I couldn't tell if it was her or the apartment itself. Evelyn was not what you would call high class. She parted the beaded curtain and sat on the bed. 

"Aw, honey. Don't be shy. If you wanna have some fun you gotta come a little closer than that." She laughed and picked up a glass form the nightstand. 

"My mother always told me to stay away from girls like you." I came into the bedroom and sat on a chair by the window. I took off my hat and ran my hand through my hair then remembered the grease from Smiley downstairs. 

"You always listen to your mama?" She stood up and took my hat and dropped it on the nightstand. "Why don't make yourself comfortable and loosen your tie?"

She fidgeted with my tie and I grabbed her hands and stood up. "Have a seat, Evelyn." 

"Sure, baby." She sat on the bed and opened her robe wide. "You ever seen anything like this before?"

"In a nightmare I once had." She jumped up to slap me but I pushed her back down on the bed. The springs creaked in protest as though they were on their last legs.

"You son of a bitch." She started to get up again. 

"I'm sure you're used to getting knocked around Evelyn but you better stay on that bed or we're gonna see how many rounds you can go." 

She settled back and yanked the ties on her robe into a knot. "What the hell do you want?"

"I'm looking for a friend of yours. Tommy Hooks." It was gone in a second but I saw the look of fear on her face. 

"I don't know who you're talking about." She turned to her bottle and poured another drink. 

I took the glass from her and set it back on the nightstand. "Tommy Hooks," I said again. 

"And I told you I don't know him." She snarled like an angry house cat that had to catch its own mice for dinner. 

"Evelyn, either you start talking or I have a little talk with a certain police lieutenant about your poor career choices. We'll see how sweet Tommy is after he hears you've been talking to the cops." 

"You dirty bastard." She grabbed the drink and I let her drink it this time. "Tommy comes on Friday nights after midnight. He's got a poker game on 47th street behind the Italian joint. He usually wins big, likes to treat me." 

"He's a real gentleman." I took my hat and headed to the front door when Evelyn ran in front of me and put her hands on my collar. 

"What's your hurry? Maybe you could treat me, too?" She moved in for a kiss but I pushed her away. God, everything in this hotel made my skin crawl.

"I could treat you to a penicillin shot but I don't like to waste my money on a lost cause." I smiled and opened the door. 

"You scum." She yelled. "Who the hell are you?" 

"Just another dirty bastard." I walked down the three flights of stairs hoping the air outside might help get rid of the cheap perfume that clung to my clothes. When I hit the sidewalk I heard Evelyn behind me. I turned just in time to duck the bacon that came flying as Evelyn swung the frying pan at my head.

"You son of a bitch." She took another swing but I grabbed her arm and twisted until she dropped the pan. I gave her a shove and she landed on her ass with all her goodies out in the open. A couple stopped short of us and stared at our little dance, especially the guy who seemed to be enjoying what he saw. 

"What the hell are you looking at?" Evelyn roared at them. She stood up without closing her robe and put her hands on her hips.

"Evelyn. You better eat your breakfast before it gets cold." I pointed to the bacon lying cold on the sidewalk. A taxi pulled up before I could hail it. At least Evelyn was good for something. I got in as Evelyn took off her robe and threw at the cab. Crazy bitch .

"Hey, buddy." I tapped the driver on the shoulder. "You can always come back for the full show but right now how's about driving?" The cab driver stammered an apology and pulled away. 

______________________________________________________________________________

Outside my office I could hear voices. Probably another unhappy housewife with three kids hanging from her curlers while she tries to get the goods on her husband. Oh well. Bills needed to be paid. 

It was Friday and I figured I would pay a visit to Tommy tonight after sacking out in my office. I entered the office and Vera stood up from behind her desk. "Mike, this is Mona Morgan."

Mona Morgan's dress hugged her body like it was thanking her for wearing it, and it was obvious why. She had the kind of body that reminded me why they made signs that read, "dangerous curves ahead." She removed her over-sized hat and brushed back the brown curls that fell across her face. She met me halfway across the floor, and in that short distance I could see the graceful balance of an athlete or a panther.

We shook hands and her fingers lingered just a moment longer than they needed ,like she was dipping her toe in the water to see how cold it was. "Won't you come into my office, Miss Morgan?" 

Vera rolled her eyes as we entered my office. I winked at her then shut the door. I offered Miss Morgan a chair. "I'll take this one," she said, taking the chair closest to the window. The light poured in like a spotlight but she seemed pretty comfortable there. I sat in my chair and offered her a cigarette. 

"I prefer my own." She placed one between her lips with a well-practiced movement and waited for me to light it. I waited like I didn't understand until she said, "Light me, Mr. McCabe?"

I reached over with my lighter but made sure she would have to meet me halfway. Her eyes never left mine as smoke blew out of those perfect ruby lips. She sat back very straight, giving me a full view of her ample cleavage. 

"I understand you were with Jimmy when he was killed." She crossed her legs slowly like I was supposed to notice. 

"I didn't know Jimmy had a wife." She didn't have a wedding ring on but I was just winding her up.

"He didn't. I'm his sister. Do you have an ashtray?"

"And how did you know that I was with him?" I slid the ashtray to her.

"The police told me. A Detective Dobbs."

"I see. What can I do for you?"

"It should be obvious Mr. McCabe. You're a private detective and there's been a murder. Your swiftness doesn't inspire confidence."

I ignored her comments and pressed on. "When was the last time you saw your brother?" 

"About three years ago."

"Sounds like the two of you were close."

"We had a falling out."

"Over what?"

"That's not your business, Mr. McCabe." 

"How did you know Jimmy had died?"

"I had a call from the landlord of his apartment. Jimmy had given my name and number in case of an emergency. When I heard, I came to L.A. right away." 

"From where?"

"Santa Cruz."

"Why would Jimmy leave you as a contact after three years?"

"He was a lush, Mr. McCabe. When he drank he could be overly sentimental. He was sentimental a lot."

"Are you the sentimental type, Miss Morgan?"

"When it's necessary." She uncrossed her legs and looked out the window.

"And when is that?"

"You'll know it when you find me charming." She turned back and gave me a wry smile.

"With my swiftness I may miss that." My sarcasm didn't faze her at all. "My fee is forty dollars a day plus expenses and a retainer of twenty dollars." 

"Very well." She didn't bat an eye.

I pressed the button on the intercom and Vera's voice crackled through the speaker.

"Yes, Mike." 

"Vera. Draw up the usual contract for Miss Morgan." 

"Sure thing." 

"Alright Miss Morgan. You can go over the details with my secretary and I'll be in touch when I know something."

I offered my hand and her grip was hard and tight through her gloves. "Goodbye, Miss Morgan."

"It's been a pleasure, Mr. McCabe." She placed her other hand on top of mine and smiled. "I'm being charming."

She walked herself out and closed the door. Back at my desk I checked the clock. I still had plenty of time to grab some supper before catching some shut eye. Vera came in a few minutes later. 

"Quite a looker." Vera sat on the corner of my desk and folded her legs. 

"I didn't notice." I put my hands on Vera's shoulders and shoved her out the door. "Call A.J.'s and have 'em send up a couple of sandwiches. I'll be needing to get some shut eye so be a good secretary and hold my calls. Lock up when you leave." I shut the door and went back to my cool breeze. 

Another late night chasing after bad guys. These guys were like roaches. They only came out when the lights went off. After I ate I stretched out on the sofa and laid my hat over my face. It wasn't long before I fell asleep. When I woke up it was after midnight and the office was pitch black. 

I got up and clicked on the desk lamp. The neon sign across the alley flickered on and off sending shades of red into my office. My corner office had a great view of the next building and if I strained my neck I could probably see the street. The Troubadour was a cheap hotel for those who didn't have time to spend more than an hour or two before checking out. I had caught many a cheating husband there without having to run all over town. 

I grabbed my jacket and was about to put out the light when I noticed a light had come on in the room across from my window. There was about thirty feet between us which was close enough to see the shade was pulled down perfectly framing the silhouette of a dame. 

The shade came up then and I saw a woman standing at the open window. She was partially in the shadows, just standing there with her hands on her hips as if she were waiting for something. I stepped closer to my window, wondering if I would scare her off. I didn't.

Her hands came up slowly to her neck and came back down again over her breasts and down to her crotch. She turned her back toward me and I thought she was going to leave, but she was giving me a taste of things to come. Her head was turned to the side and her hair tumbled over her bare skin as her blouse slid down her back and dropped to the floor.

She came in and out of the darkness as the hotel sign flashed on and off. It was like watching a photograph that changed every few seconds. I needed to get going but my hard-on reminded me that there was always time to be neighborly. 

Her hands hugged her shoulders then drew down to her skirt, unzipping it with two fingers. It fell down revealing a pair of panties that made silent promises in the dark. She was turning up the heat and I wasn't about to stop her. There was a cool breeze blowing through the window but I was sweating.

I wiped my mouth and loosened my tie. A moment ago all I could think of was going up against a crazed killer and now all I could think of was going window shopping. I grabbed a chair and placed it at the window. I sat down and the sign went off. When it came back on again she was gone and the shade was down . I groaned with frustration. I was still hard but I wasn't going to get any relief here. I stood up slowly and grabbed my hat. It was just as well. There was a roach out there waiting for me. 

The Italian restaurant was owned by Vincent Manello, a mob boss and self-professed connoisseur of Italian cuisine. I'd never eaten there myself, a bit too rich for my blood, but it was a popular place and was always packed. 

The games were held in a back room by the kitchen, and getting a seat at the table was by invitation only. It was a little after one a.m. when I arrived. There was still time so I went to the bar and had a drink while waiting for the game to break up. 

I was only two drinks in when a string of enforcers came strolling out of the kitchen with Tommy in front. He must have hit it big because he was slapping the backs of his buddies, laughing at their sour pusses. They didn't seem to take it too well, but a guy Tommy's size encouraged diplomacy.

Tommy was holding a fat wad of bills in his chunky fingers, waving it around like a flag on Independence Day. When he left the restaurant I followed him hoping he was on his way to Evelyn's.

He must have had a few drinks in him the way he was sliding across the sidewalk. A stupid man would think he was easy mark but I knew from experience that looks can be deceiving. Drunk or not, Tommy was a goon I needed to be careful around.

At the Sunset Tommy stumbled through the front door. I looked through the window and watched as he passed the front desk without a word. The elevator door closed and he was on his way.

There was a commotion in the lobby. Two sailors were fighting over the belle of the ball who looked like she was going to pass out any minute. There was a different guy behind the desk, and he bolted from his position with a baseball bat in hand.

While the four of them worked out their disagreement, I snuck by them and hit the stairs. Three floors up I came to 309 and listened with my ear against the door. From the moaning I thought maybe they were already going at it, but it was not the kind of moaning you'd expect in a place like this. It was Tommy and he sounded like a wounded elephant.

I tried the door. It wasn't locked. Once inside I could see through the bedroom beads that Tommy was sitting on the bed. Evelyn was stretched out on the bed and he was muttering something I couldn't hear. I moved in closer and the floor creaked beneath me. Tommy turned. Tears streaked his face. He wiped his eyes and stood up.

Christ, he was huge. If we had been outside he would have blocked out the moon. I looked from him to Evelyn and understood why he was crying. She must have seen the same interior decorator as Jimmy. Her brains were blown out and decorated the pillows and the wall.

"Who are you?" Tommy struggled between sobs.

"I just wanted to ask you a few questions." I said.

Tommy advanced a few steps and visions of dripping meat hooks filled my head. I had no desire to add to this gorilla's list of victims.

"You killed my Evelyn." His eyes were crazy, the way a person on fire would be.

"Look. She's not dead." It was a stupid ploy but I hoped he wasn't thinking straight. I had to act fast and when Tommy turned back to the bed and reached down to touch her face I freed my gun and whacked him on the back of the head as hard as I could. Most guys would've gone down but Tommy barely moved. He turned, his face full of rage, and I popped him another one across the jaw. He fell back on Evelyn's body and I gave him one more to make sure he stayed down. Three times was the charm. He rolled off the bed and landed face down on the floor.

I fished my handcuffs out and cuffed Tommy to the radiator then checked Evelyn's body. The same neat hole in the forehead. I guess someone thought she knew something. Or they were following me and thought she was a loose end that needed to be tied up as soon as possible. Two people dead and I was no closer to finding out what it was all about. 

Tommy groaned and started to stir.

I moved out of his reach and sat down in my favorite chair and waited for him come to. When he saw me he tried to lunge but fell short. Then he tried to break his cuffs, and I thought of a wild animal gnawing off a limb to escape. Fortunately, Tommy wasn't willing to go that far.

"I'll kill you, you son of a bitch." If looks could kill he would've killed me already.

"Slow down big guy. You got the wrong idea. I didn't kill her." I pulled out a cigarette and offered him one.

He remained motionless, his eyes boring into me.

"Uncuff me, or I'll tear you apart." 

I believed he would do it if he had the chance, but I wasn't about to give him that chance. "Your old partner Jimmy Morgan got himself shot just like your Evelyn."

"Jimmy's dead?" A look of worry changed his scowl, and I couldn't help but wonder what a guy like Tommy would be worried about.

"When was the last time you saw Jimmy?" I asked him.

"I ain't seen Jimmy in a couple years." 

"Any idea why someone would've wanted him or Evelyn dead?"

Tommy turned toward the bed and the waterworks came on again. "Evelyn."

"Was Jimmy one of Evelyn's customers?"

"You don't know what you're talking about. Jimmy had a girl. He wouldn't go messing with mine." 

I almost felt sorry for the bastard.

"Who was Jimmy's girl?" 

"I don't know. He didn't talk about her. Only said that they'd soon be able to leave L.A."

"I thought you said you haven't seen him in a couple of years."

A dark cloud came over his face and I could feel lightning was about to strike. Tommy got on his knees and gripped both sides of that radiator with his meaty paws and started to pull. Damn, if that thing didn't start to rise up with him. It was like watching a Superman cartoon. The radiator ripped free from the floor and Tommy turned toward me. The only way he was gonna stop would be if I put a bullet or two in him, and I needed to know what he knew so I picked up my chair and threw it at him and then got the hell out of there. I ran down the hall with Tommy banging that radiator alongside him as he chased me down three flights of stairs. 

"Hey." The front desk guy yelled as I ran out the front door. Behind me I could hear breaking glass. Tommy had smashed into the front door. That radiator was like a bell hanging around a cat's neck, only I wasn't planning on being the mouse dinner. I ducked around a corner and then disappeared down an alley, where I hopped a fence. Fumbling my way into the street, I almost got run over by a taxi. The driver yelled at me, but I didn't care. I jumped into the back seat. 

"Step on it." 

"Like hell I will. What the hell's the big idea running out in the street like that? You trying to get yourself killed?" His was practically foaming at the mouth until he heard the sound of Tommy falling over that fence.

"Step on it buddy or we're both dead." I advised.

"Right." He floored it and the car sped away, leaving a raging bull screaming like a maniac behind us. I lit a cigarette and offered one to the driver who took it.

"What was that all about?" His voice shook.

"You don't want to know. Take me to Fullerton."

"What's the address?"

"Just drop me at Fullerton and Cyrus."

"Sure, pal."

We didn't' talk the rest of the way and when we arrived I stepped out and handed him a couple of extra bills. I figured he deserved a little something extra for saving my life. 

"Next time do me a favor, pal. Walk." He hit the gas and I started the walk home. It started to rain. I pulled up my collar. Six blocks later I was in my apartment. I kicked off my shoes, poured myself a drink, and thought about my next move while I changed clothes.

Jimmy was scared the night he died. He knew someone was after him and he needed my help. It was obvious that Jimmy and Tommy were working on something together. Evelyn must have been a part of it too. Somebody was cleaning house and I had to move fast before the next body hit the ground.

I needed sleep or to get laid. Instead, I had another drink and before I knew it half the bottle was gone. I fell asleep in the chair, my gun in my lap.

Daylight pried its way into my living room and burned my eyes again. A wise man would've stopped drinking last night but I had never been accused of being wise, only stubborn. The phone rang and I knocked it over reaching for it. It was Vera.




A Kiss Between Murders



"Hey boss. Where are you? It's after nine." Vera sounded worried.

"I'll be there soon." My head was spinning.

"Lt. Dobbs called. He's waiting for you at the city morgue."

"Shit. Alright. Oh, see what you can find on Mona Morgan."

"Right away, boss."

I hung up the phone. Christ, Dobbs. After a shower I thought about the way Tommy cried over Evelyn's body. Who would've thought he had a soft spot. He really loved her. Maybe I could use that against him next time we met. 

I made it downtown around ten thirty. Dobbs was waiting in the hallway piling up a small mound of cigarette butts in the ashtray. He was his usual pleasant self.

"Where the hell have you been?" He sounded like he'd had a bad night but it couldn't have been worse than mine.

"I was meeting my decorator. I'm looking to change the look of my office."

"Smart ass. Follow me." He crushed his cigarette on the floor and we went through the morgue doors. You'd think it would be quiet as a church bell on Monday. Nothing but the sound of your stompers among the dead to remind you, better them than you. But the morgue was a pretty lively place if you'll excuse the pun. Attendants bustling back and forth, detectives asking questions hoping for a lead in a case, and the sound of bone saws making themselves useful. 

It was pretty routine except for the cold. It should be a relief coming out of the hot sun but it wasn't. The cold felt alive, like it seemed to know how to get inside me. I'd seen my share of dead bodies in the war, but it was different down there. It wasn't hard to forget all the people I killed during and after the war, but it just takes one particular body to take all the fun out of the morgue. We walked past several sheet-covered tables until we came to where Evelyn Crandle lay. Only her face was uncovered. Now that she was dead, she showed some humility by covering herself up. 

"Something you want to tell me?" Dobbs had his arms folded and resting on his ever growing belly.

"I like your aftershave." I folded my arms as well. 

"Listen shithead. I got a witness that places you at the scene last night, running from the Sunset hotel while being chased by a steam roller dragging a pet radiator on a leash."

"I was following up a lead. I went to question her about Jimmy Morgan."

"Why?" He tossed the sheet back over her head and waved to the attendant who pushed the table back into the fridge unit.

"I can't tell you, Lou. Client confidentiality."

"What client?"

"I do work, Lou, when I'm not passing time with our pleasant chit chats."

"You better watch your step, McCabe. You're my number one suspect now."

"C'mon, Lou. Even you can do better than that." I stepped away from the table.

"How about this?" he said. "Ballistics made a match on the bullet with the one we dug out of Morgan's brain pan. I'm thinking Jimmy boy was messing with the wrong woman and her jealous boyfriend found out about them."

"You see Lt. That's why I could never make it on the force. I'm just not as smart as you." I pulled my coat tight around me and turned to leave.

"Where do you think you're going?"

"Back to my decorator. I need to discuss the color of my curtains." The cold had its fingertips digging beneath my skin and I had to get out of there.

"McCabe!" 

I left the Lieutenant in good company and returned to the overbearing heat. 

_________________________________________________________________

Back at the office Vera had a cup of coffee ready for me.

"Look who decided to show up for work."

"You can send a letter home to my parents if you like."

Vera handed me the cup and then picked up my messages and read them off. "Mr. Lacey called. He wants to know if you found out anything yet about his wife and if, and I quote, that cock-sucking bitch is screwin' my best friend or some other prick."

"You can pick up the photos from Smitty. Call Lacey back and tell him to meet me tomorrow morning at ten." I took a sip and cringed.

"Ok. And Mrs. Drumwell called. She wants to know if we found her husband, and I quote, and if that shit heel thinks he can just dump me with the kids he's got another thing coming."

"Call her back. Tell her to come in at ten thirty. Call Smitty and tell him I need the Drumwell photos this afternoon and to call us when they're ready."

"Right. I dug up some info on Mona Morgan. I left it on your desk."

I took another sip and wondered if this stuff was illegal. Vera was a great secretary but the coffee she made here was even worse than at my apartment. If it wasn't for its medicinal properties I would've thrown the percolator out of the office a long time ago. 

I went into my office and sat down at my desk. With my feet comfortably propped up, I read the report on Miss Morgan. Seems she worked for Phillips Construction, personal assistant to Emmett Phillips. Emmett and his brother Harold also owned Phillips Consolidated, which owned quite a number of oil rigs on Signal Hill near Long Beach. Mona was doing alright for herself until last week when Emmett got himself killed in a car accident on Mulholland. That left Harold in charge and Mona out on her heels.

I took the Jimmy Morgan file out of the drawer, along with a set of keys that I'd snatched from his house the night he died. The key ring held what looked like a car key and a house key. I buzzed Vera.

"Yeah, Mike?"

"Find out if Jimmy Morgan's car was impounded."

"Right away."

Twenty minutes later Vera buzzed back. "According to the report, Jimmy hasn't owned a car for some time."

"Thanks, Vera."

There was a cabin in the Los Angeles foothills that Jimmy used to use when he needed to dry out or when he shacked up with someone's wife. If he was hiding a car, that would be good place to stash it.

The small house off Canyon road was almost hidden behind a block of trees. I parked in front and stepped out of the car. It wasn't as hot up there and the cool breeze felt good against my face. It was secluded and quiet and about as private as you could get. 

There was a small garage that stood separate from the house. Of course, the door was locked so I went around to the window. Inside was a dark blue Buick Skylark. New model. The car had been pulled in front first but I could still some front end damage. I took down the license plate number.

I went up to the house and was about to knock to see if anyone was home. On a hunch I tried the key from Jimmy's key ring. The key fit. I went in and closed the door. There wasn't much in the place. A sofa against the picture window and a couple of overstuffed chairs. Table and chairs in the kitchen. Funny, there were no pictures on the walls. I checked the fridge. There was food inside. Had Jimmy been up here recently?

I heard a door open in the other room. I took out my gun and pointed it at the bedroom door which suddenly opened. I was treated to the sight of Mona Morgan in the buff. 

She gasped but regained her composure real fast.

"Mr. McCabe. You startled me."

I didn't know what to say at first so I just let my eyes do the talking.

"Do you intend on shooting me Mr. McCabe or just keeping me prisoner?" She put her hands on her hips and waited for an answer.

"I don't think either of those would benefit of us, Miss Morgan." I put the gun away and she walked past me into the living room. 

"Call me Mona." She went into the kitchen and came out with two glasses. "Drink, Mr. McCabe?" Without waiting for an answer she took a bottle from a cabinet near the picture window and held out a glass for me.

"What are you doing here, Miss Morgan? I took the glass and she filled it before pouring herself a drink.

"I was going to ask you the same thing. Or is it common practice for Los Angeles private detectives to break into people's home while they're taking a bath?"

"I didn't break in. I had a key. I didn't know you were here."

"Well, as you can see I am."

"Yes. I can see that. Don't you want to put something on?"

"Why. Do I make you nervous?" She smiled and slowly drank her drink. 

"I'm not the nervous type."

"What type are you?" Her eyes took in all of me like a mountain lion ready to devour its prey. 

"The suspicious type." I set my glass down on the coffee table.

"And what do you suspect me of?"

"Disturbing the peace. What are you doing here?" I looked out the window at the driveway.

"This place belonged to our father. I thought I would be more comfortable here than in a hotel."

"Where's your car?"

"I took a taxi." She sat down on the sofa and patted the cushion next to her. "Would like to sit down?"

"Whose car is in the garage?" I sat in one of the big chairs.

"Must have been Jimmy's." 

She picked up my drink and brought it to me. "And what are you doing here, Mr. McCabe?"

"I was looking into your brother's death." 

"I was hoping you came here to see me. To fill me in on what you've found out so far." She sat down in my lap and put her arms around my neck.

"I understand your boss died up in these hills."

"Yes. Some people are just unlucky."

"Do you consider yourself lucky, Miss Morgan?"

"Don't I feel lucky?" She took my hand and placed it on her breast.

"You like to play, don't you Miss Morgan?"

"No, Mr. McCabe. I like to win." She traced her finger against my cheek and kissed me gently then pulled back.

"Is this one of the benefits of being in your employ?" My hand was still on her breast. I could feel her heart beating faster.

"Are you complaining?"

"No." I kissed her hard. She tasted like silk sheets and chauffeured limousines, that is, until she bit my lip. Then all I could taste was my own blood. I pushed her away spilling my drink. I wiped my mouth and saw a little blood on my hand. The rest of it she was licking off her lips.

She laughed when she saw my reaction. I stood up and she fell on the floor. She just lay there on her back slowly opening her legs.

"Too rough for you, Mr. McCabe?" Her fingers lightly touched between her legs.

"Let's find out." I took off my clothes and left them on the floor. I opened those gams wide and shoved my face between her legs. I was hungry now and she was the tasty meal. Her scent was musky and she was wet. I shoved my tongue inside her and she tasted like VJ Day, where every bum who made it home alive had a grateful gal in the sack. 

She liked what I was doing and shoved my head down hard but I wasn't having any of that. I lifted up and tried to get on top off her, but she raised her feet and shoved me away. Then she ran into the bedroom. I ran after her and caught her by the arm. I whirled her around and pushed her face down on the bed. She laughed again. 

"Are you gonna fuck me, Mr. McCabe?" She was taunting me but I didn't care. I wasn't about to let her run the show.

"No." I said. I was starting to enjoy myself.

"What?" She turned over and stared at me like I'd killed her cat. My dick was hard and I was ready, but instead I backed into the bathroom and turned on the shower. I stepped in and felt ten pounds of sweat and grime wash down the drain. I knew she wouldn't wait long and sure enough the hot steam was leaving the stall as she opened the curtains and stepped in. She brought the heat back as soon as she got under the water with me and wrapped her mouth around my prick.

I was ready now, so I pulled her up. She kissed me roughly but not enough to shed blood this time. She grabbed my dick and led me out of the shower. We were dripping everywhere and the shower was still running, but she didn't seem to care too much about the water bill. 

She turned me around and pushed me down on the bed. She climbed on top, buried my dick in her soft, moist cleft, and rode me like a rodeo queen. She was bouncing up and down so hard I thought she would snap my dick two. The deeper she took me in the more she dug her nails into my chest. I was wondering if I'd have any blood left by the time we were done. 

I still had enough in the place I needed it most, so I rolled over and started my own ride. The whole bed shook as I grabbed her waist and jammed my dick halfway into her internal organs. She was unrelenting. She bucked and screamed, grabbing my ass cheeks and pulled me in. I was about to come and she sensed it because she pushed me away and went down on her knees.

I was about to pop and her mouth was doing everything possible to make sure that happened. She took me in all the way to hilt and I exploded in the back of her throat. She kept me inside and swallowed my load, squeezing every drop out. When she was done I was exhausted. I felt like I'd just gone ten rounds in the ring. She licked me clean and then asked, "How's about one more drink for the road?" She left the room and came back with my clothes in one hand and a bottle in the other.

She dropped the clothes on the bed and tossed me the bottle. I took a swig while she went into the bathroom. "Thanks for stopping by. I'll expect to hear from you tomorrow." She closed the door and I sat a moment to catch my breath.

I didn't know if she meant a report on the investigation tomorrow or another wrestling match. It didn't matter because I was working on my timetable and not hers. I got dressed and did a quick search of the bedroom. Other than a blonde wig beneath the bed I turned up as much as I'd found in the rest of the place. A big fat nothing.

Before I left I used the living room phone and called Vera to check with DMV on that license plate. I left without my goodbye kiss and headed back to downtown traffic and my office. When I got there, Vera had already gone for the day. 

I made a few phone calls to Phillips Construction. According to Emily Pierce, who was the new assistant to the new director of operations, Miss Morgan had come to L.A. with Emmett Phillips for a conference. The last day of the conference, Emmett had sold his shares of the business to his brother. Then that night Emmett had driven up Mulholland and his car had gone over the side. Convenient was what I thought that was. The police had found nothing suspicious about a drunk driver meeting his maker late at night on an unfamiliar road. But where was he going? Was he on his way to that love nest in the hills? Vera had done her check with DMV on the license plate. The car was registered to Mona Morgan.

She lied about the car and Jimmy. His keys most likely went to the Skylark, so they had obviously seen each other before his death. The pieces were slowly coming together, but I was still running into a brick wall concerning Evelyn's involvement and why she and Jimmy were killed.

Something was nagging me about the blonde wig. I had a hunch and decided to talk to the front desk guy at the Sunset Hotel. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________

My old buddy with the dirty t-shirt was back on duty, and as I approached the desk he picked up the phone and began dialing. I reached over and pulled the phone out of his hand and slammed the receiver down.

"Why is every time I come in here you're reaching for something?" I shoved him back and put the phone on the counter out of his reach. 

"You can't just come in here like this and do whatever you want. I don't know nothing about nothing." He was probably as bad at poker as he was at lying.

"Did Evelyn ever have any special customers or anyone special she was seeing?" He looked at the phone and then under the desk.

"C'mon pal. Let's not go through that again." His eyes returned to me.

"Evelyn had a lot of special customers. She was a favorite here."

"I'm sure she was a national pastime. Did she have anyone you saw her with a lot?"

He lost his voice so I decided to help him find it. I came around the counter and pushed him into the back room. It was a storeroom filled with boxes. He fell over a stack and hit the floor. I tried to help him up by placing my foot on his throat. 

"I know a guy like me doesn't look he weighs much pal, but I guarantee you I can crush your windpipe in the time it takes you to try and scream for help. So use that second like a smart boy and tell what I want to know." He gurgled something and I let up a bit so he could talk.

"A big guy came to see her every Friday night. Like clockwork. Sometimes they stayed in. Sometimes they went out."

"Anyone else?"

"There was another guy. Tall. Sometimes he joined them. Sometimes he came alone."

"What did the tall guy look like?"

"He was tall! I don't know. He had a bad eye. Always looked like he was looking at two different things at the same time. He looked familiar like I'd seen him somewhere before but I don't know." That had to be Jimmy. 

"What about the night Evelyn was murdered?"

"What are you asking me for? You were here." I pressed a little harder like I was grinding out a cigarette.

"How about before I was here and the big guy came? Was there a blonde here?"

"I don't know. Have you seen the lobby? It's full of blondes. How do I know which blonde you're talking about?"

Maybe that was exactly how Mona planned it. The blonde wig kept her identity safe and she killed Evelyn without being noticed. It still didn't give me the why unless.... I didn't have a chance to finish my thought. 

I felt myself being picked up by my shirt collar and thrown against the wall. A fist the size of a sledgehammer came at me and the next thing I knew I was taking a swan dive into a black murky pool. I sank deeper and deeper until the lights went out.

Before my eyes were open I could feel the cold. For a moment I thought I was back at the morgue. The thought gave me a different kind of chill. My head felt like I'd caught a home run with my face and I could taste the blood in my mouth. Lying on the floor I could hear my breathing and the soft hum of a motor from somewhere. I took a deep breath and opened my eyes . 

Even with blurred vision, the overhead bulb gave enough light to show that I was in someone's nightmare. Mine was the closest candidate. My breath came in frosty clouds and, as my vision cleared, I could see I was surrounded by meat hooks dangling from the ceiling. They seemed to stretch out into the darkness on both sides of me. I heard footsteps behind me and it didn't take long to figure out they belonged to my sparring partner Tommy Hooks. 

"Hey there." He stood over me like a mountain about to start a rock slide. Then he lifted me up and dropped me in a chair beneath the swinging bulb.

"Well, looks like it's your turn to answer some questions. Before I get rid of you that is."

He sat down on a chair down facing me. Slipping a meat hook off its catch Tommy turned it over and over in his meaty hands, his thumb scraping over the point. 

"You know we could have just grabbed a beer down at Vicky's if you wanted to talk." I smiled and my jaw protested with a sharp stabbing pain that shot through my head.

"I just might stop by there after we're through. Nothing like a cold beer when you've worked up a sweat." He scooted his chair closer and I could see that look in his eyes, the one that told me he was going to enjoy this.

"I didn't kill Evelyn, Tommy." He slammed the hook between my legs. The point missed my valuables but the chair seat probably had a higher voice. 

"Don't lie to me." His voice echoed through the warehouse, and he would've looked comical with his bulging eyes if I hadn't known how this was going to end.

"Evelyn told me you had been snooping around. She called me because she was worried about something. By the time I got there it was too late."

"Think about it, Tommy. If I murdered her why would I come back?"

"Maybe you was looking to off me, too. Thought you could sneak up on me."

"I did sneak up on you. I had you cold. If I wanted to murder you I would have done it." I had to keep him talking until I could figure a way out of this.




A Kiss Between Murders



"Then what were you doing there?"

"I'm just trying to find out who killed Jimmy Morgan. Why were you and Evelyn spending time with Jimmy? Was Evelyn seeing Jimmy behind your back?" 

Another home run hit me, almost knocking my seat backward. I didn't want to take too many more of those.

"My Evy loved me." His hand was squeezing my face like it was putty. "Sure, she had clients but they were just business. She would've never two-timed me. Besides, I told you. Jimmy had a girlfriend." 

Tommy stood and pried the meat hook free. "You know I've done a lot of work in this place. And I've been doing this for a long time. You'd be surprised the amount of pain a person can take before they die." He reached up and attached the hook back on its chain. "The worst part is how much time it takes. I had this guy a couple of years back. He hung up there for almost two days before he died."

"I think I know who killed Evelyn, Tommy." I wasn't ready for a chalk outline just yet so I had to go for broke.

"Yeah? Well, you're gonna tell me and then we'll get this show on the road."

"I don't think so. You can kill me, Tommy, but you won't ever find out who took your Evy away from you."

"I'll make you talk." He finished with the hook and turned to me. He lifted me out of the chair like I was made of paper. Tommy smiled like a kid about to open his Christmas presents. One of us was going to enjoy this and it wasn't me.

"Not before her killer gets away."

"Tell me." He was squeezing my arms so tight it felt like they would snap at any moment.

"I'll do better. I'll show you."

"I don't think so."

"Then you're never gonna get the person who took away the love of your life."

He lifted me up and moved me in front of the hook. I struggled but it was no use. I was going to be shish kabob and spend my last moments with Tommy's ugly mug escorting me into the next world.

He held me above the hook for what seemed like an eternity then he threw me down on the ground. "How about I just beat it out of you?"

"Do your worst Tommy. But you won't get squat from me and you definitely won't get it in time." He reached down and pulled me up by my lapels. 

"Fine. We'll do it your way. Let's get going."

He shoved me toward the door while still holding on to my collar. I was bluffing about the amount of time we had left, but I had an idea as to who the murderer was. He dragged me through the door to a car parked in the alley. Tommy pulled me to the passenger door and opened it. He shoved me inside and slid in beside me.

He gave me the keys and said, "Drive."

I started the car and pulled out of the alley. At the intersection my mind was racing. I had no gun and nothing to use as a weapon. Now I was wishing I had shot the sonofabitch before. I just had to hope for the best. I turned left and headed for Mulholland. It was time to check in again with Mona, although I'm sure she wasn't expecting a threesome.

I thought of Emmett Phillips driving up on Mulholland, probably to see Mona. I figured he was the lucky one. He didn't know what was waiting for him. We didn't talk at all and the silence was anything but calming. Tommy had that grin again on his face as he stared dead ahead.

It was the longest drive of my life but not long enough. I parked in Mona's driveway and Tommy yanked me out of the passenger side and held on to me tight. He didn't waste any time. Instead of knocking he busted down the door. I was grateful he didn't use me as a battering ram. He threw me through the doorway where I landed at Mona's feet. I was getting tired of being thrown around.

"What are you doing here?" Mona was dressed this time. I guess she was getting used to men breaking into her home.

"Hello, darling." Tommy picked me up and threw me on the couch.

"Sit down." He said to Mona. 

"Listen Tommy...." He took a step toward her and she shut her trap and joined me on the couch. She shifted her leg and pressed it against me. Christ, did her motor have an off switch?

"Start talking, McCabe." Tommy sat down opposite us. Far enough away so I couldn't reach his gun, which was dangling in its holster at his side.

"In the garage outside is a car with damage to the front end. It seems that Mona and Jimmy went for a drive last week and had a little accident. Mona's boss, Emmett Morton, was driving up Mulholland on his way to see Mona. The two of them were having an affair. He never made it to the top of the mountain because he was run off the road by the happy couple."

I could see from the look on Tommy's face that he was surprised by the murder. 

"I take it you gave Emmett some encouragement to sell his half of the company?"

"You bitch." Tommy made innocent look guilty. "I was paid to make sure he gave up his rights to the company. Then he was supposed to get out of town."

"He was on his way up here when he went off the road," I said. "What did you tell him Mona? That you'd run away with him? You and Jimmy were waiting for him on the road. As soon as you saw him you ran into him from behind and over the edge he went. I assume it was Emmett's brother Harold that hired you. But whatever he paid you wasn't enough. You got greedy and decided to blackmail Harold. How much was it, Mona?" 

"One hundred thousand." Mona smiled. She may have looked frightened before, but now she was cool as a cucumber.

"Cunt!" Tommy snarled. "You pay me a measly five hundred to put the squeeze on Emmett and you and Jimmy pick up a cool hundred thou." 

"You knew Jimmy had some contacts, so you got him to find Tommy." I kept going. "Tommy gets the papers signed and you bump off poor Emmett and keep poor Tommy out of the big payoff. Then you figure you deserve more so you blackmail Harold and he pays big. He's afraid you'll spoil everything for him. So what happened?" I kept talking hoping for a moment when Tommy would lose his cool and I could make my move.

"There was no share for you because you weren't in it. But your girlfriend was." Mona stared Tommy dead in the eye. The predator was back and she was enjoying taunting him.

"What are you talking about?"

"Evelyn knew about it because Jimmy told her."

"That's a lie. She would have told me." He looked like he'd just found out Santa Claus wasn't real.

"You dumb ape. Evelyn was two-timing you with Jimmy. She and Jimmy were gonna walk away with the money and stiff me. Jimmy told me he'd hidden the money and I wasn't gonna see a cent of it."

"So you killed him." I was looking at Evelyn but I could feel Tommy's rage growing. "You were waiting outside his place the night I came over. What did you tell him? That Tommy here was onto him? That he was as good as dead? That would explain why he took a shot at me when I came in the door. Too bad you didn't know that Jimmy had your keys. That pretty much blew away your story of not having seen him in years."

"I wasn't gonna let that bastard steal my money. It was supposed to be the two of us. Not that cheap slut."

"Where's the money?" Tommy took out his gun and pointed it at Mona's head.

"Jimmy hid it."

Tommy stood up and Evelyn stiffened. I shifted closer to the edge of the couch hoping for the right moment to move. Tommy turned to me and barked, "Get back." I leaned back and saw Mona dig her hands between the sofa cushions. Tommy's attention was still on me. What was she doing?

"Jimmy never told me. I was sure he had told Evelyn, but she didn't seem to know either." Mona continued as Tommy slowly moved back a couple of paces.

"Why did you kill her?" Tommy had tears rolling down his eyes.

"Besides the fact that she was double-crossing me with Jimmy, she was a loose end, Tommy. You know more than anybody that loose ends always need to be tied up" Mona said. 

Tommy wiped his eyes with his gun hand, and Mona's hand came up quick from the cushion. She held a .38 in her hand and shot him once in the chest. Tommy stumbled back, dropping his gun, and fell into his chair. He gasped for air. 

Mona stood over him and pumped two more shots into his chest. She signed her work with a bullet to the head. This was my chance. I shot off the couch and dove through the open window . I heard two more shots behind me and felt one of them hit my arm. 

I rolled onto the ground and scrambled for the bushes taking a long tumble down an embankment . With every branch and stone whipping my head I was lucky I didn't have a broken neck when I came to a stop. It was dark and I didn't have a flashlight so I had to move slowly through the trees and rocks. My whole body throbbed with pain and I was losing blood from my arm. 

I had to get to a phone. Lights sprang up in the distance. With a pounding heart, I dove behind a tree but then realized it was a truck approaching. My ride out of here. I nearly got run over diving out in front of it. The driver screeched to a stop and I ran to the passenger side. 

"Hey pal," I said through the open window. "Can you give me a lift into town?" 

"Jeez, mister. Do you know your face is bleeding?" He looked worried.

"Yeah. I cut myself shaving. There's a ten in it for you if you can take me without any more questions." That seemed to do the trick. He unlocked the door and we drove off.

I must have passed out after I told him where to go because I didn't remember the ride. I don't know how long it took, but he dropped me at my office and I stumbled upstairs. Once inside I pick up the phone and dialed my good friend Dobbs. I noticed Vera's purse was still here. That kid was always forgetting her purse.

"Listen, Dobbs. Take this address down, 5433 Price Avenue off of Mulholland. You'll find an empty house with a broken window and a dead body. The stiff is Tommy Hooks and no I didn't kill him. You're looking for Mona Morgan. Yeah, that's right. The sister. You can come pick me up at my office. I'll fill you in on the rest."

I hung up. The room was glowing red from the Troubadour. Any other night I would have enjoyed a little window shopping form my neighbor across the alley, but I wasn't really in any shape to make a purchase. I pulled up a chair and faced the window. What the hell. It never hurt to look. 

I sat down and took off my belt and wrapped it tightly around my arm. With a heavy sigh I waited for the show to begin. Unfortunately the curtain went up on the wrong performance.

"Mr. McCabe. You kept me waiting." Mona stepped into my office. The gun she had emptied back at the house was now pointed at me. I didn't have to ask if it was reloaded.

"Miss Morgan. I would've thought you'd be long gone by now." She moved behind me.

"I couldn't leave without saying goodbye." She caressed my temple with the gun.

"The police know all about you. They're on their way here. If I were you I'd make a getaway while I still could."

"That's a very good idea. I just need to know one thing."

"You wanna be pen pals. I'm flattered." Blood was dripping into my eye but I left my hands in my lap. I didn't know how itchy her trigger finger was.

"Where's the money?" She pressed the barrel against my head.

"How would I know?"

"Because you're a smart man. You put all the pieces together and I'm sure you have an idea in that pretty little head of yours."

"I might have an idea or two. But why should I tell you?"

"Because if you don't..." She cocked the gun.

"You won't shoot me without getting that money."

"Actually, Mr. McCabe. I already have a substantial amount. I am greedy. Just like you said. I want it all. And if I can't get it from you then you're no use to me and I'll have to figure it out myself."

"Is that why your brother was gonna cut you out? Because you got too greedy? Maybe he thought you were going to try to rip him off and he just beat you to the punch."

"My brother was a weak, ungrateful bastard. I gave him a break, a chance to cash in with this job. And what does he do? He falls for a red head and decides to run away with her and all the money."

"Love makes a man do strange things."

"And what would you do for love?" Her hand moved down my chest to my crotch.

"I have a feeling that you're unlucky in love."

She whacked me across the back of the head with the gun. I was seeing stars and it didn't help when she yanked my head back by the hair. She moved in front of me, the gun still pressed against my forehead.

"Last chance, Mr. McCabe. It doesn't have to end like this."

I looked her in the eyes and smiled. If a man can't choose the way he dies he can choose how he dies. "It always had to end like this."

She stepped back a few paces and pulled the hammer back. "Goodbye, McCabe."

I closed my eyes. I heard the shot. Blood splattered my face. I opened my eyes and saw that what used to look like Mona now resembled a bowl of spaghetti. She fell down dead as a door nail.

Someone shouted from across the alley. "Are you OK, Mike?" The red neon flashed and I saw a woman through the window, a gun in her outstretched arm. She bent down and poked her head out the window. It was Vera. "Mike?"

"Yeah. I'm OK." She disappeared into the dark room. I stepped away from Mona's body and lay down on the couch. Mona. She might have had half a chance if she'd left town while the getting was good. But she just couldn't let that money go. Sure I knew where the money was. Jimmy had told me himself. That night at his apartment when I thought he said,"liquor." He was saying locker. The only place no one would think to look. His locker at Going the Distance. His old gym. 

When Vera arrived I was somehow still conscious. She knelt beside me and pulled out a handkerchief to wipe some of Mona off my face. "Jesus, Mike. You sure know how to pick 'em." She looked at Mona's body and from the look on her face I thought she was admiring her aim.

"Yeah. I'm a great judge of character. So you're moonlighting next door? Interesting job."

"Well, I've only got one client. That is if he's still interested in my services."

"I'm still interested. How did you know I was here?"

"I came back for my purse when I saw you go up. I got to the apartment just in time."

"Whose apartment?"

"Empty."

"How did you get in?"

"I jimmied the lock." She smiled.

"Do all girls from Kansas pick locks?"

"I told you Mike. I'm from L.A."

She kissed me and her hand moved down my arm. I jumped at the pain.

"Sorry." She looked like she was about to cry.

"How about we wait until I get patched up?" 

"I think I can keep a future date open for you."

"The hell with the pain." I pulled her down with my good arm. As our lips met I could hear the sirens outside.



A Kiss Ch. 01



I wanted a story that was more romantic than my other writings; one that built characters and tension in a different way. The birth of this one was tough, but I'm very pleased with my new baby and hope you like it also. Please be sure to leave your comments for me.

Thank you - SassyLynn

A KISS

"It really feels like I should kiss you goodnight or something." She said to him as she reached for the door handle of his car.

"It does, doesn't it?" he laughed nervously in reply.

"Well," she said as she grabbed the door handle, "thank you so much, again, for coming out with me. I had a blast – even if the people in front of us were shushing you."

"I had a great time, too, and thank you for thinking of me. You know, for getting me out and about for some fun." He told her.

She got out of his car and crossed in front of it to get to hers.

"Hey," he called from the open window. She turned back to him.

"Yes?"

"You forgot this." He passed the night's program through the open window.

She went back to get it, grasping the booklet but unable to pull it from his hand. She saw the look on his face, nervous and tentative; like there was something more he wanted to say or, perhaps, do. She allowed him to pull her down to the window as he pulled on the program in their hands.

"It would be ok," he said softly, "if you wanted to do that goodnight kiss." 

She thought about it for only a moment then leaned into the car through the open window, quickly licking her dry lips, her eyes closing as their lips came closer, her heart pounding loudly in her ears, her skin hot as she felt the flush rise in her chest.


Their lips met, gently, sweetly, touching for only a brief time, yet she felt a jolt of electricity from her lips to her toes. That moment seemed like an eternity; she stepped back, bringing her head out of the car.

"Wow." She said as she backed up, her fingertips touching her lips, making sure they were still there as she remembered the sparks.

"Yeah, wow." He said. He put the car into park, put on the brake and got out. 

He stepped towards her. She was wearing heels tonight which brought her closer to his height, but still shorter than him. He reached out to her, his arm wrapping around her waist, pulling her toward him, their bodies touching, their eyes locked on one another. 

His free hand touched her, just under her chin, tilting her face upwards to him. He brought his head down, their lips meeting again gently. He pulled away briefly and when their lips met again, hers parted, the tip of her tongue gently touching his soft lips, lightly probing, his lips parting to allow her tongue to explore. Their kiss became more passionate as she lifted her arms to him, one hand on his neck, the other under his arm wrapping to his back, their tongues entwined. 

"Ok.", she said with a sigh as she broke their kiss. "I've got to get going – some of us come into the office early." She chuckled

"You'll be ok driving home?" he asked.

"Sure. My last cocktail was a couple of hours ago and they were weak ones anyway." She said with a smile.

"I'll see you tomorrow, then." He said.

"Count on it." She said as she tiptoed up for one last kiss.

She got into her car and drove down the aisle, looked in her rear view mirror and saw him still standing by his car. She stuck her arm out the window, waved one more goodbye.

As she drove toward home, she reflected on the kiss. Was it so amazing because she had wanted it for so long, or was it amazing simply because it was amazing? She decided to not think on it too hard because if she did, she'd be much hornier than she already was – just the thought of his lips on hers, their tongues touching and his hand on her back made her stomach flip.

She thought back on how they'd been brought together a couple years ago, two people who needed each other in so many ways. How they'd gotten along instantly, talking like they'd known each other for years. Anyone who saw them together knew that there was a great "thing" between them – the two of them truly liked each other, got along very well and teased each other mercilessly. 

She'd realized some time ago that she had developed a crush on him. She'd been in this position before and had little difficulty hiding her feelings. In the past, her humor and personality got her through when she figured out that the crush wasn't mutual. She knew this would be the same. But now, with this kiss, would it be the same? 

"Well," she said to herself as she pulled into her parking place at her apartment, "only time will tell."

SEVERAL DAYS LATER

He sat in his hotel room with papers on the table, his laptop open, humming its own tune. He was at an out of town conference but there was so much going on with this client that he hadn't made it out of the room today. Hell, he hadn't even gotten dressed yet – he was sitting in the chair, dressed only in his shorts. 

He'd just completed a client call, put out yet another fire and sat back in his chair. He gazed at his computer screen but didn't see what was there. His mind was far away, back in St. Louis, reliving what had happened a few nights ago.

He was glad she'd asked him to go along. He'd been on his own for a while and although his friends were helping him stay occupied, he wasn't happy being alone. Since the day he'd met her, they'd laughed and had a great time together. Whenever he needed her, she was there. He enjoyed the teasing that each of them did to the other – she made him laugh and he seemed to do the same for her. 

He was surprised by her invitation to the show, but he knew that she's just a social kind of girl. She loves to go places and enjoys going with someone else, but he also knew that not having a companion for the evening wouldn't have stopped her from going.

They'd had a quick bite to eat and took his car to the theater. After the show, they drove back to her car and joked around about feeling like there should be a good night kiss or something. She got out of his car, and he realized he didn't want her to go, so he got her to come back by reminding her of the program she'd left in his car. 

He took a chance and told her it was ok to "do" that goodnight kiss they'd teased about if she wanted to. And she had wanted to. He remembered the vibration he'd felt from her lips; something he'd never felt with anyone before. He didn't want it to stop, so he got out of the car and kissed her again. As he relived that moment in his mind, his cock rose; not surprising at all – he'd had a hard on after he'd kissed her the second time that night, too. 

He picked up the phone and dialed her number.

"Hey there" he said when she answered.

"Hey back! How are you doing?"

"Ok, but I have so much going on I haven't even gotten out of the room." He said.

"Um, aren't you supposed to be at a seminar?"

"Well, yeah." He said. "But I haven't even gotten dressed yet. I'm sitting here in my underwear." He said as he laughed.

"Boxers or briefs?" she asked.

"Briefs." He replied, not even questioning why she would ask something like that.

"Ok, working on a visual." She laughed heartily into the phone.

"Sorry about that." He pouted.

"Oh, please, don't worry – it's a good visual, trust me." She said

They caught up on what had been going on with work when he decided it was time to dive in with both feet.

"When I get back tomorrow, can we get together for dinner?" he asked

"It's a Friday night, I don't have my son, and Lord knows I don't have a date, so, sure, I'm all yours. Is everything ok?" she asked, sounding genuinely concerned.

"Absolutely. I just want to take you to dinner – my thank you for taking me along last week."

"Ok, sure." She said.

"I'll see you tomorrow, then."

"K, take care." She said as they hung up.

As he put the receiver down, he realized his cock was harder now than when he started the conversation. He'd thought that getting his mind off of the kiss and onto business would have helped. He caressed himself through the material of his underwear and realized all it took was to hear her voice and he got a hard on. 

"Great." He said to the empty room. "I'm going to have to start doing baseball scores in my head or something when I'm around her. Can't walk around the office like this," he said as he looked down at his cock poking out of his underwear. 

He laughed a while on that one, caressed his smooth cock, gently teased himself, closed his eyes to see her and . . . the phone rang with, he was sure, yet another fire to put out. 

FRIDAY AFTERNOON

She wasn't completely sure what was on his mind and it surprised her that he asked her to go to dinner with him because he'd bought dinner that night as a thank you for the ticket to the show. But, she wouldn't pass up an invitation to a good meal and conversation.

The day was actually a bit tough to get through; her mind on other things besides the work. What did he need to talk with her about? Why did he want to take her to dinner to do it? Hmm, probably "the dinner" where he'll tell her not to say anything to anyone about what happened and that it was a big mistake and that it's never to be spoken of again. Yeah, she'd had that dinner a few times in her life – although not in a very long time.

Around 3:30, her phone rang and she saw his number come up on the display.

"Hiya." She said.

"Hey," he started, "we're about to take off for St. Louis. Are we still good for dinner tonight?"

"Sure. What time and where?"

"I want to go home for a few, grab a shower, unpack, all that "back home from traveling" stuff. How about something halfway – somewhere in Westport?"

"Sure, how about Trainwreck at the Plaza? Have a burger and a beer or two?" she asked.

"They do have awesome burgers and I haven't been there in ages. Sure, that's a great idea. Say about 6:30?"

"You got it." She brought him up to date on several things they were working on before saying goodbye.

Hmmm, what was he up to? Well, at least with it being at 6:30, she'd have time to go home, freshen up and change into jeans.

FRIDAY EVENING

He sat on his bed, fresh out of the shower, still damp and catching a bit of a chill from the breeze blowing in through the curtains. The weather had snapped; the temperatures were far below normal for the past several weeks, and this was the kind of weather he enjoyed the most. 

His mind turned to her. What was he doing? He told himself there's nothing wrong in going to dinner with her; they have a great friendship. But it's the other things he's been thinking of doing with her. 

He thought about that night again, the feel of her lips on his, her hand on his back, his arms around her; he enjoyed the memories and felt the tingling as his cock started to awaken from thoughts of her. 

He laughed to himself thinking of having been in the airport and talking with her on the phone, sure that his jacket was in his lap – just in case her voice gave rise to something as it seemed to do lately. What the hell, it's a good way to spend a few minutes while you're bored at the airport!

He got off the bed, his hardened cock gently bobbing as he stepped over to the closet to choose his clothes for the evening. Trainwreck is a comfortable bar, so khakis and a polo shirt. That would be just fine he thought to himself as he got dressed and ready to meet her.

She sat on her bed, fresh out of the shower, her hair rolled up in a towel. She always gets too hot when she takes a shower so she lay back on the bed, arms and legs out to the sides, so she could cool down. As she lay there, she listened to the specially burned CD of soft jazz music she had playing in the background and her mind wandered.

What in the world was going to happen tonight? One of the most optimistic people anyone could ever know, she was sure all was fine, but she couldn't help but wonder if something "bad" was about to happen. Convinced that it was just her imagination, she got up to get dressed, looking at herself in the mirror as she walked by. 

"Not too bad for the age and wear and tear", she thought as she chuckled. "I could stand to lose a few more pounds. Nah." she laughed at herself remembering what she'd looked like in that mirror a year ago and 80 pounds heavier. A lot had changed during that year; her divorce finalized, she slipped a disc in her back that put her into physical therapy and finally gave her that wake up call about all that weight she was carrying around on her short frame and what it was doing to her.

She remembered how she lost that initial 40 pounds after the deaths of her parents. Eat anything you want, don't limit yourself. But for her at least, when she got to the point of having to take that deep breath to be able to continue eating, stop eating. She'd gotten out of that habit when she and her husband separated then compounded the problem after a surgery a few months later. Somehow she'd only gained back about 10 pounds, so she had still been 30 pounds lighter than back in 2001. 

Then when her back went out last summer, she realized that she had to lose the rest of the weight, so over the past year, she'd started listening to her body again – stop eating when you get to that deep breath. And this time she exercised with yoga, swimming and walking. She dropped 80 pounds easily during the year with no feelings of deprivation. Now she walked with ease, she could run after her son in the park and wasn't in a state of chronic pain.

She shook her head to shake off the memories and get back to picking out clothes. Jeans and a light sweater; perfect. She got dressed and started the make up and hair process. She'd be out of here and on her way in about 15 minutes. Nervous and excited, she smiled to herself in the make up mirror.

"Well," she said to the reflection, "time will tell."



A Kiss Ch. 02



FRIDAY NIGHT

She walked into the bar and scanned the crowd, but didn't see him. She was seated by the hostess in a booth on the back side of the bar, so she was sure to let her know she was waiting for someone. She ordered a beer from the waiter as she waited for her "date".

Her cell phone rang. She picked it up from the table and checked the number that was calling – it was him. 

"Hey there."

"Hi." he said

"So let me guess, you're running late?" she laughed.

"Who, me?" he said with a laugh, "yeah, I'm running a few minutes late. Sounds like you're already there."

"Please, I have a 98% on time ratio, you know." She said.

"Yes, I do know that – and it's a good thing. Someone has to "hold down the fort" first thing in the morning."

"Ok," she started, "so what is it you need to talk to me about tonight, I'm sure this isn't just because you want to say thanks for the tickets to the show."

"Like we've said before, you weren't hired just because you're cute." He said. "I'll talk with you about it when I get there, which should be in about 10 minutes. But, here's something for you to think about . . . I haven't been able to get that kiss out of my head." 

She started to reply but the call ended.

"You think you can't get that kiss out of your head," she said to herself as she put her phone back on the table.

She thought of that kiss again, feeling the familiar warmth rise in her chest, the flip of her stomach. What is it about him that does that to her? The thought of his lips on hers excited her more than she could remember, especially about just a kiss. She let her mind wander to imagine his lips on her neck, her collarbone, his arms wrapped around her, pulling her closer to him, his hands on her back, moving up to her neck and into her hair . . . . 

"Hello?" he said as he sat down at the table.

"Oh," she said as she came back to the moment, "sorry, I was just off somewhere else."

"Must've been a good trip; you look a little flushed from it all." He told her.

"Yeah," she stumbled, looking him straight in the eyes, "it was a very nice trip." 

They ordered their food and began to talk.

"You know," he started, "that kiss was amazing."

"Yeah, you're right about that. I still think about it often." She said

"Really? Do tell."

"How honest do you want me to be? I mean, if this is going to be "the dinner" where we decide that it was a mistake and it's never going to happen again and no one will ever know and things will just go back to the way they were, then I'll have one version of my description." She began. "Or, if this is going to be an exploratory kind of thing, I'll have a different version."

She saw the puzzled look on his face and continued.

"They're not different versions in order to save face or anything, it's perspective."

"Somehow," he started, "that actually makes sense to me." They both laughed as their dinner was brought to the table.

"So, ok," he said, "don't tell me about it. Let me tell you what I think about it all. Ok?" as he took a bite of his burger.

"Ok." She said as she ate and listened.

"From the moment we met," he began, "there was a "feeling" I got from you. That you're smart, funny as hell and for some reason didn't want too much stress in your life. I mean, that had to be why you took this job instead of pursuing another position up the food chain. You make me laugh, even when I shouldn't. You seem to know when to ask questions and when to just let things go. I have found out over the past couple of years that you're much smarter than you let on to everyone and you seem to deal with stress fairly easily. Now it's even more of a mystery why you're in this job." He took another bite of burger and continued.

"Now, that was the professional side of things. Personally, early on I sensed something from you, a heat that puzzled me. I'm not accustomed to being around women who are self confident, incredibly smart and sexy in a quiet way. There were times when we would talk and all I could do was look at your eyes, or your mouth and wonder what it would be like to be close to you, to hold you, to kiss you. Of course, I had to put that out of my mind because of the whole sexual harassment and hostile working environment thing. But it also became clear, I believe, as time went on when remarks were made that were clearly "harassment", it didn't bother you. In fact, you usually had a come back for them. And that, to me, is sexy as hell."

He continued after another hit from his beer. 

"When my life fell apart, you were there for me. You didn't pry and I knew that if I needed to talk about anything that was going on, I could and that it wouldn't go any further. Trust like that is hard to find and again, sexy as hell." He stopped for a few minutes to eat.

"You know more about me," he continued, "than anyone – including my oldest friends. So now, not only do you know all my financial information, you know me." He laughed as he finished.

"Ok, so if I understand what you're saying, you like me." She summed up.

"Well," he started, "that's putting it succinctly. And it kind of loses something in translation" he said as he smiled.

She smiled as well.

"So, tell me what you want. Is "this" going to be for sex, or are we going to explore a relationship?" she asked.

"No beating around the bush with you, is there?"

"Not really. Not about this."

"I want to be your fantasy." He stated. "I want to be the one who thinks you're "it"."

Her mouth dropped open and it was a good thing she'd finished that bite or it would have fallen onto her plate. He just quoted something she'd said in her writings – she wants to be "it" to someone.

"Why do you say that?" she asked, hoping she didn't seem too surprised.

"Remember long ago you sent me an e-mail invitation to come into your circle of friends on that Yahoo site? Well, I never signed up to be in the circle, but I read your blog every day; I followed the links you included. A lot of the writing surprised me but I have enjoyed it tremendously." He said. "I'm surprised you never figured out that I was eavesdropping on your life."

"No frigging clue." She laughed.

"For a while, I thought you had the guy, the one you needed in your life, but it didn't work. And just for the record, while your heart was breaking outside the office, you couldn't tell it from inside the office. You have an amazing amount of composure for going through a breakup."

"Well, it really wasn't much of a relationship, so it wasn't much of a break up but, oh my God. I'd thought you were just intuitive a few times with some of the things you said and did. I never stopped to think that you were reading about it all as it was unfolding. I mean, I know that's what a blog is all about. It lets your friends know what's going on in your life without having to keep in touch all the time. But,"

"I know. Sometimes I felt guilty for knowing what was going on and not doing anything about it. But I also knew that you needed to find your way to me in your own time. And, too, it helped me get through my break up and back on my feet as well. Your insight into love, as well as the spin on it, is interesting."

"I'm stunned." She said.

She took a big hit off of her beer, followed by another bite of her burger. The noises of the bar seemed to grow more intense as she felt her head begin to swim. A deep breath or two and she was back in the moment.

"So, if you become my fantasy, what of reality?" she asked.

"Ah, yes, the real world must creep in on this fantasy." He said. "What would you envision as reality?"

"I don't want to leave the firm; I enjoy it too much." She told him.

"Move up. Use your skill and talent, not to mention your degree, in a position better suited to you. You know you're good, don't let it go."

"But, then I won't be with you. I'm not sure I want to do that."

"Once we go public, you'll have to leave. If you move before everyone knows, you'll be fine. I can help with this, let me." He said as he took her hands in his across the table.

"Once we go public?" she stammered. "Holy shit, you mean this isn't going to be a secret?"

"Why should it be? I'm in . . ." he paused momentarily, "I'm in a solid position within the firm, I'm divorced, you're divorced, there's no reason why this shouldn't be public knowledge. Once you move up, that is." 

"Until then?" she asked.

"Until then, I'll leave it to you. We can see each other but maintain our relationship as it is now while we're inside the office. Besides, people have gotten so used to the way we are with each other, I don't think they'd notice a difference." He said as he laughed.

They finished dinner, had another round of beers with another round of chatting and left the bar. As they walked along towards the parking garage, he reached for her hand and held it in his. 

"Wow," she said as he held her hand, "I don't remember the last time I held hands with an adult. In public, no less!"

They both laughed and he brought the back of her hand to his mouth, kissing it ever so gently. They continued their walk to the garage and upon arriving at her car, stopped to chat briefly before she left.

"So," she started, "do you have plans for the rest of the evening?" she asked as she stood by her car.

"I don't know. Do I have plans the rest of the evening?" 

She smiled that wicked smile of hers.

"Where's your car?" she asked.

"About half a row up from here."

"Then follow me, please." She said.

"Ok." He leaned down to kiss her quickly then went to his car.

LATER FRIDAY NIGHT

He sat in his car for just a few minutes before backing out to follow her to her home. Never did he think he'd be following her to her home. He was about to go to the home of someone he worked with and not just for a dinner party, someone he'd known for quite a while, someone who had no idea he'd been listening in on her life for the past year, someone who had no idea he was in love with her.

How would they adjust from being co-workers to being lovers? 

"Well," he said to himself, "only time will tell."

With that he put the car in reverse, pulled up to her parking spot in the garage and waited for her to lead him to the rest of his life.

While she waited for him to get to his car to follow her, she hit the highlights of the night in her mind. He'd been reading her blog every day? He knew what she was going through and her thoughts on it? And he still wanted to be involved with her? 

"He's insane." She said to no one in the car.

This, whatever it was, wasn't going to be kept a secret? Was she really about to get involved with not only someone she worked with, but a lawyer?

"I'm insane." She said to herself as she saw his car pull up behind her.

She backed out of the parking place and made her way home.

A LITTLE WHILE LATER

They arrived at her apartment complex, she turned into an open parking place near her apartment and got out of the car. She stood at the back of her car, leaning on the hatch, waiting for him to park his car and come to her. She noticed the ever darkening sky as storm clouds began to roll in.

"You made it." she said as he walked towards her; she couldn't help but smile as he approached.

She leaned against her car, he came to her, his arm encircled her waist as it did in the parking lot that night, drawing her to him, pressing their bodies together, lips melding together once again, their tongues exploring the other's mouth gently. 

In the distance she heard the rolling of thunder and knew the rain would come soon. As they continued to kiss, a light sprinkle of rain began, dampening them slightly.

It started to rain harder, but it didn't stop them at all, in fact it seemed to add a new level of sensuousness; she felt her nipples get hard, aching to be touched. She took his free hand and placed it on her breast, knowing that he could feel her hardened nipple under his fingertips. He moaned through their kiss as he touched her nipple, gently rolling it through the fabric of her shirt and bra with his thumb and finger as the rain fell harder. She broke away from the kiss.

"We can't stay out here, we'll be soaked," she said as she used her hands to slick her hair back from her face, both wet with rain, "let's get inside."

She broke their embrace, took his hand and led him up the stairs to her door. Once unlocked, she opened the door and brought him into her home. She chuckled silently as she thought of him being in her home – not someplace she'd have ever thought he'd be.

She closed and locked the door behind him, not exactly sure how to proceed. She stepped around him, kicked off her shoes, turned to face him.

"Ok, ready for the quick tour? Trust me, it's really quick." She laughed.

"Absolutely – lead on."

"Well, you're standing in the living room slash office. Through here, which we call the "drive thru window" you can see the small kitchen. Then the dining room slash music room. Back through here is the first bathroom, washer and dryer and heat/ac are behind these doors."

"Wow, you've got a washer and dryer here? That's great." He said.

"Here is the family portrait wall. Then," she said as she turned, "this is my son's room, which he didn't get picked up. Back here is my room, which is huge." She said as she brought him into the room, flipping the wall switch which cast a soft golden light in the room. "And over there at the edge of my room is the second bathroom. Yes, there are TWO bathrooms here. We were very excited." She laughed again as she led him back to the living room and motion for him to sit on the sofa.

"Fireplace and everything? This is a really nice apartment for the two of you." He said.

She lit a few of the many candles in her apartment, turned on some soft jazz on the Bose, offered a drink then sat next to him on the sofa.

"We were in a bigger place but I really wanted the two bathrooms and this turned out to be much bigger in some spots like my bedroom and the living room, but the kitchen is a whole lot smaller and the second bedroom is smaller. But that's ok. We have TWO bathrooms."

"You know, you can't tell that the second bathroom was important to you at all." He said as they both laughed.

"So," she started as she looked at him, facing that moment of truth, "you're sure about this? I don't want anyone's heart to break from this."

"Yes. I'm absolutely sure." he said as he reached for her again as he had done out in the rain.

His arm encircled her waist once again, pulling her to him. He brought his lips to hers, slowly, gently kissing her, the tip of his tongue teasing her lips. He kissed his way down her neck, breathing in her perfume which was releasing its fragrance because of her body heat.

"God, you smell good." He said as he continued to kiss her neck, moving onto her chest, her head rolling back to allow him access.

"Thank you. You gotta love the smells of a bar." she laughed, then moaned as he continued to kiss and lick her neck, her collarbone, and as he worked his way back up her throat to her mouth, his tongue a bit more urgent now, needing her tongue to dance with his.

She put her arms around his shoulders, one hand on the back of his neck, the other in his hair, gently caressing him as he continued his exploration, his kisses now falling on her neck, gently sliding to her earlobe, his mouth sucking her earlobe in ever so slightly, his breathing quiet but the air inside her ear from his mouth gave her goosebumps all over. She felt her nipples getting harder; their ache to be touched almost too great for her to withstand.

Almost as if he'd read her mind, he moved one hand from her back to her breast, his fingertips feeling her hard nipple, his thumb and finger firmly pinching the nipple through her clothing. As she moaned her appreciation, she felt a new ache between her legs.



A Kiss Ch. 03



"What do you want me to do to you?" he asked, his eyes filled with passion, his breath soft and warm, his hands gently holding her face.

"I want you to make love to me, make me cum, be mine forever." She said as she looked deep into his eyes for a moment, then moved her head, and eyes, away.

"I am yours forever," he replied, his hand under her chin, bringing her eyes back to his, looking at her intently, "You should know that by now."

She kissed his neck, her tongue traced the skin at the hollow of his neck to just underneath his earlobe, barely touching the skin of his ear; his breathing quickened as he moaned in response to her touch.

He stood up from the sofa, pulled her up to him, his head coming down to hers, his lips landing on the hollow of her shoulder, his kisses sweet and gentle, his arms around her.

She moved back slightly, her hand coming around to unbutton his polo shirt and pull it off over his head. She ran her hands over his chest, her fingers playing in the hair as her hands rose to his shoulders to caress his warm skin. 

She kissed his chest, licked teasingly at his nipples, a sharp intake of breath letting her know she'd hit a good spot. She took one of his nipples into her mouth, gently bit it and listened to him moan as she sucked it further into her mouth.

"Oh, God, that's wonderful." He said as he put his hands to her head, gently guiding her to the other nipple. As she sucked and gently bit the other nipple, her hands found his belt buckle, easily undone. She unfastened and unzipped his pants, put both her hands inside and pushed them to the floor, a puddle of fabric at his feet.

She let his nipple come out of her mouth and licked her way down to the waistband of his underwear. She felt the cotton all the way around his middle, caressed his ass through the fabric, bringing her hands around to the front and feeling the strain of his engorged cock against the material. She snaked her hand between his legs, lightly grazing his balls through the material.

"Ooooh." He said.

"Do you like that?" She asked playfully as she touched his balls again lightly.

"Oh, yeah. Very much."

She took his hand in hers, helped him to step out of the puddle and kick off his shoes. She turned him to sit back down on the couch, slipped her hands into his underwear at both sides then pulled them down to his ankles, his cock free of its prison.

She sat him down on the sofa, kneeled between his legs, and spread them to allow her inside. She looked up at him, their eyes locking, gazing intensely, both of them smiling.

She continued to look at him, held his cock firmly with one hand, the tip of her tongue placed just under the ridge of his cockhead. She watched as he closed his eyes slowly and leaned his head back on the cushions. She grasped his cock in her hand then, starting at the very base of his balls, slid her tongue over the sensitive flesh, enjoying the saltiness of his skin. She licked all the way to the very tip of his cock, then slowly, gently, placed the head into her mouth. She heard his breathing change pace a bit but kept on with what she enjoyed doing to him. She let go of him just long enough to lick her palm, get it really wet, then grasped him again, slowly sliding his cock in and out of her hand, and into her mouth. She did this for a few minutes, noticing his breathing became as hard as his cock; his hands gripped the sofa and she knew he was close to orgasm. She stopped, instead gently licking the inside of his thighs with the tip of her tongue.

"God, you had me so close. Just one or two more strokes and I'd have been done." He laughed.

She just smiled.

"I want to taste you." He said as he put his hands under her arms to pull her to him. 

He took her sweater off over her head, her hot skin goosebumped from the change in temperature. She felt her nipples harden immediately. She reached back to unhook her bra.

"No, let me see if I can still do this." He said as he put his hand on her back and with one twist of his wrist, all hooks were unhooked and her bra was off.

"Yep, I still got it." He said as he smiled then lowered his mouth to one of her breasts, taking the hard nipple between his teeth, biting gently. He sucked her further into his mouth. 

He bit her nipple a little harder this time, enough to make her wince, but when he released his teeth the rush she got from the release of pressure and the blood flow starting again was immense. She moaned as he continued to do this for a bit as he pinched the other nipple with his fingers.

She could feel his erect cock poking her in the belly and reached for him, lightly sliding her hand up and down the length of his shaft. His fingers left her nipple only to be replaced by his mouth as he repeated the biting and sucking as he'd done on the other side. His free hand found the button on her jeans, unbuttoned then slowly unzipped them.

He kept her nipple between his teeth the entire time, biting firmly as he used his hands to push down her jeans, revealing her satiny thong. He let go of her nipple, kissed his way down her soft belly to her panties. He took the waistband in his teeth and pulled it, his hand helping push down the back of the thong. Soon her clothes were in a clump around her ankles and he was on his knees, his hands moving over her calves, up to her thighs, around to her tender inner thighs. He brought his hands up between her legs, pushed them wider apart, his fingertips grazed the soft skin of her shaved pussy lips.

"Ahh" she said as he touched her.

"So you like that?" he asked as he continued to gently touch the soft skin.

She spread her legs wider to allow him greater access. "Yes, I love that."

He leaned into her, the tip of his tongue touching the delicate skin of her inner thigh, his hands wrapped around her upper thighs, just under her ass cheeks. He playfully kissed her thighs, his mouth coming oh so close to her lips. She could smell her wetness growing and ached for his touch.

He let go of her legs and stood up, trailing his tongue along her belly, chest, and neck then kissing her slowly, deeply, passionately; their now nude bodies pressed together. He broke their kiss, took her hand and led her back to her bedroom.

LATE FRIDAY NIGHT

"I've never known someone who shaved their, um, area like that." He said as they walked into her room. "I mean, I've seen it on movies and such, but never in real life. Why do you do that?"

"The first time it was a lark– I'd seen it in a porn flick and thought it looked cool. And it was. God, the sensations you feel when there's no hair – you can feel when someone's breath is hot, the touch of fingertips on your skin." She answered. "Then I just continued to do it even when I wasn't involved with anyone. It's very comfortable to feel the softness of fabric and very stimulating with the roughness of the seam of denim jeans."

"Ok then. I know I want to see it again." he said as he backed her up to her bed and pushed her backwards.

She scooted back on the bed and spread her legs to let him see what he wanted. He lay on the bed on his belly, his fingers exploring her smooth, shaved pussy.

"Ooooh," she said, "that's wonderful. You have a great touch." 

"You know," he started, "I haven't done anything like this in a really long time. I'm probably pretty rusty and certainly not "up" on what to do. So if you want me to do something in particular, tell me. Otherwise, I'll just do what I want."

"Ok. You do what you want and I'll let you know how you're doing." She said as she laughed.

He pulled her pussy lips apart slightly, her wetness spilled out from the inside. He touched the tip of his tongue to one side then the other, then into the middle, just grazing her clit.

"OK, you're doing fine. Just keep doing." She said breathlessly.

"Are you sure? I mean," he licked her pussy from bottom to top, "it's been a really long time since I've done anything like this." He continued to run his tongue along her wet lips.

"Oh yeah, doing very well." She said as she adjusted her hips.

He pulled her lips a little further apart, pressed downward to pop her clit out from under its hood. He touched his tongue to that sweet, sensitive organ and she jumped, but he didn't let her go, he brought his tongue down on her clit again. Quicker and harder.

Her hands grabbed the bed coverings, her hips rose to meet his tongue, her moans louder each time he licked her.

"How's your back? Is everything ok?" he asked.

She raised up her head, looked at him, her wetness outlining his lips.

"Just shut up and kiss me." She said with a giggle recalling the country song that line was from as she lay her head back down.

"Yes m'am." He said. He continued to lick and suck her pussy lips and her clit until he felt she was close to cumming.

"Are you going to cum for me?" he asked.

"Who, me?" she asked breathlessly as she pulled his head back to her pussy.

He licked harder and faster, then slowed, then harder and faster. Her hands grasped the bed covers again, her hips pushed into his face, she stopped breathing, but he did not stop.

"Holy God." She shouted as she came moments later, her juices coming out of her in a rush. He continued to lap them up until she pushed his head away from her.

He slid up her body, her legs still open, his cock throbbing noticeably.

"Let's change positions." She said as she turned over onto her stomach, bringing herself to a hands and knees position.

"My knees aren't going to take that." He said.

"Ok, stand at the edge of the bed and I'll come over to you."

He got off the bed and stood at the side, his cock straight out. She backed up to him and impaled herself, slowly, smoothly, onto his hard dick.

"Oh, God." He said as he grabbed her hips and brought her fully onto him.

He rocked back and forth, his cock sliding in and out of her like a hand in and out of a glove. The fit was tight but good. She leaned on her shoulders, putting a hand through her legs to reach back and touch his balls as he rocked in and out of her.

"Holy fuck." He said the first time she touched his balls.

"Oh, do you not like it?" she teased.

"Just shut up and touch me." He said with a laugh.

He went in and out of her faster and faster. She no longer touched his balls, but rubbed her swollen clit as he rocked on. The faster he rocked, the faster she rubbed.

"God," he said, "I'm going to cum." He said as he pulled on her hips tighter, pounding into her over and over again.

"Go on," she said, "I'm right behind you."

They both screamed "Oh God" at the same time, his load shot into the depths of her; her muscles contracted over and over again, milking his cock of all its juice.

He stopped moving, held onto her hips to keep her from moving, but her contractions and his aftershocks continued. He fell over onto her, his head resting on the small of her back.

"Holy shit," she said as he rested on her back. "Going down . . ." She said as she lowered her legs and pushed them back through his to leave her flat on the bed with him curled over her.

He remained on her back for several minutes then raised himself off of her and climbed back onto the bed. She pulled herself up and crawled under the covers.

"What's this?" he asked as she got under the covers.

"Shit, honey, I'm cold. It happens that way when I get really hot then start to cool off. I mean, really, really hot." She giggled. "Come on in if you'd like to."

"Yeah, that'd be nice." He replied as he got under the covers too.

"Nice sheets," he said as he got comfortable.

"Like those? I love them. They're something like 500 thread count. Expensive as all hell, but worth every penny."

He got comfortable in the bed, his head propped up with pillows. She moved over towards him, laid her head on his chest and fell asleep.

VERY EARLY SATURDAY MORNING

He lay there half asleep, listening to her breathe as her head lay on his chest. He couldn't believe he was where he was and that he'd done what he'd done. What they had done. 

He'd always thought that being with her would be good, but he didn't expect it to be this good. It was apparent she enjoyed every aspect of sex. He knew there'd been a reason he sensed a heat about her when they started working together. Wow. What a heat.

"Yeah, what a heat." He said to himself as she continued to sleep, his hand mindlessly played with her hair.

"This is what it's all about." He thought as he drifted off to sleep.

She awoke a few hours after she'd nodded off with her head on his chest. She woke up facing the opposite direction with him snugged up behind her, his arm on her hip.

She smiled as she thought about what had happened and who it had happened with. She felt so many emotions all at once, something that hadn't happened in a very long time. She also felt a tear fall from the corner of her eye. She wasn't sad – she was very happy. 

"This is what it's all about." She thought as she thanked God for all the good in her life and drifted off to sleep again. 



A Kiss Ch. 4



NOTE:  This is an adult story. If you are not a legal adult in your jurisdiction, please do not continue. If frank depictions of human sexuality offend you, please do not continue. Otherwise, please enjoy. 

Pam and her friends had gathered once again in her living room. Students at Smallville College, they had embarked on a sexual journey that was beginning to worry them.  

They had all grown up in conservative homes. Sex, when discussed, had usually been in the context of "don't." Abstinence, monogamy and, someday, children, were permissible topics. Masturbation, orgasm and pleasure were never mentioned - at least, never positively. 

And yet, these four women and two men had joined together, examined each other's bodies, visited a nudist resort and, in front of each other, had masturbated individually and jointly in the last several weeks. If you had asked any of them if they ever imagined they'd be gathered together like this, having had the experiences they'd had, the answers would have ranged from a gasp of shock through a simple no and on to "only in my most exotic fantasies." 

Jenny was speaking. "I'm not sure what we've been doing is right. Sure, it's fun, and it is bringing us closer together, but I know my parents would be really upset to hear about what I've been doing. I mean, isn't sex supposed to be reserved for marriage, or at least for two people really in love and planning to get married? That's what I was always told." 

"But what about your cousin Clare's family?" asked Alan. "Aren't they nudists? And didn't your cousin take you to a resort to see naked men when you turned eighteen? Didn't they have a different point of view?" 

"Well, yeah, kind of," replied Jenny. "But even though they are nudists they're pretty conservative about sex. I mean, I asked Clare about it that day, and she told me that nudism wasn't about sex. She said that her parents aren't as conservative as mine - they let her date and all that in high school - but they'd been pretty distinct about not having sex. Her mother had caught her masturbating once, and Clare said all she said was 'that wasn't something a lady did' and gave her a look. So I'm still not sure about all of this." 

"Ok," said Pam. "I understand what you're saying. I was raised pretty much that way too. And what we're doing isn't the kind of thing my folks would approve of either. But I think we are learning something, and I do think we respect each other and care for each other." 

"You could get intellectual about it," said Mitsy. "I mean, think about it like this. We're given certain gifts in life, and one of those gifts is your body and another is the pleasure that certain parts of your body provides. And another one is the capacity to care and love for other people. So, with all that in mind, and keeping in mind that you're supposed to use the gifts you're given wisely, aren't we doing that?" 

"You mean fooling around is the moral thing to be doing?" asked Alan, a bit sarcastically. 

"No," replied Mitsy. "Fooling around is not particularly moral. But sharing our gifts with each other, in a respectful, caring, loving relationship may well be." 

"But can six people have that kind of a relationship all together? I mean, only some religions allow polygamy or polyamory." Jenny was perplexed. 

"Well," chipped in Amy, "I don't know if we can limit this to religion. I mean, we all go to church and stuff, and the kind of religions we were raised in frown on this kind of thing, but are we doing something that's all that wrong? We're not doing it to rebel against our faiths or our families or anything. And since we're a group, don't you think we're more likely to think things out a bit more?" 

"But is just thinking it out and being careful and all that enough?" asked Jenny. "I mean, yeah, with six of us someone is going to ask a question if we start doing something really stupid. But are we just fooling ourselves? Are we just giving into pleasure and not keeping sex sacred?" 

"Should sex be sacred?" asked Larry quietly. 

"Well, in some ways, yeah," said Pam. "I think it can be the ultimate union of two people, at least physically." 

"Is it just limited to two people? Hasn't what we've done created unity among us?" Amy challenged the group.  Of them, she'd probably been raised the most liberally, at least in some ways. Her parents just didn't talk about sex. They left her some books and her mom had said to ask if she had any questions. At least she'd told her about menstruation and everything when she came home from school after the hygiene film. She'd tried to date in high school, without a lot of success, but she had hung out with a group of guys and girls. Anyway, she had cousins, too. And her cousins' family lived in a real, live commune, right out of the sixties. Her parents had sent her to visit a couple of times. When she asked her dad about it he said that it was important to be exposed to different points of view. Anyway, those had been pretty memorable visits.  

Amy's cousins were twins - Brad and Melanie. They showed her around the commune and she helped them do their chores and stuff. But at night the older kids in the commune would get together and go swimming and stuff. And they skinny-dipped when they went swimming. But what they said about their parents was what got Amy's attention. Apparently they all considered themselves one big family, and it wasn't unusual for different parents to sleep together or for even a bunch of them to get together for an orgy. Of course, the kids weren't allowed to go to the orgies, but as they got older their parents told them about their beliefs and about how they felt sharing their bodies was a way of keeping their community together. The older kids were told all about birth control and about commitment and the parents were pretty strict about sex and about how it was better to wait until you were more of an adult.  

Melanie had even told Amy about how she and Brad played doctor when they were little, and how one night they had watched each other masturbate. But they thought it was a little weird, being brother and sister and all, so even though it had been fun and really interesting, they'd never done it again. 

"Maybe," Amy said after telling her friends about them, "we're like that group."  

"I don't think so," said Jenny. "I mean, they're established and all, and adults. We're still in school. And we've only been at this a few weeks. What physical and emotional intimacy we have is still pretty much at an early stage. And I'm not so sure we should go further." 

"I don't think you're telling us what's really bothering you," said Amy. 

"What do you mean?" replied Jenny. 

"I think there's something behind all this. I think you're perfectly capable, at least intellectually, of dealing with the idea of us becoming some kind of polyamorous group, or at least a group of people who share some physical intimacy. I think something else is bothering you." 

"Well, yeah, there is," admitted Jenny, quietly. She was ducking her head, blushing and looking at the floor. Her straight brown hair was falling around her face, hiding it from the others. 

"Tell us," demanded Pam. 

"Well," Jenny stammered, "it's how I'm reacting." 

"What do you mean?" asked Mitsy. 

"Well, I mean, it's my body. I mean, how it was last time. What I was doing." 

"I think you were enjoying yourself," said Amy. 

"It was more than that. I mean, I couldn't get enough. I've never been like that. I was sore the next day. I mean, I was jamming my fingers inside me, and..." Jenny blushed bright red. She had looked up and seen Alan hanging on her every word. 

"Don't stop," said Amy. 

"Well, it was just I was so out of control. And if I was that way when it was just me what could it be like if I was with one of you - and especially with Alan or Larry. I mean, it feels so good. How do I know I'm going to do what's right? I went home that night and just thinking about it set me off again and I masturbated a couple of more times before I went to sleep. And all I could think about was how we were all naked and what we looked like and what it would be like to do more, a lot more. And that scares me." 

"Why does it scare you?" asked Larry. 

"Because it seems like it would be so easy to just let go and do anything and with anybody. I mean, let's say we all keep going along the lines we are. So we try oral sex, and intercourse, and maybe anal sex and maybe other things that you hear about. And maybe we all like it, and it brings us closer together, and we get experienced. Well, that's all fine and good. But what if I like it so much I take it outside our group? What if I find some guy, or a couple or whatever and I start thinking, well, I've had the experience. I know what it's like. I can handle it. And I go with him or them and we do whatever and I just let it happen and I don't think about birth control or STD's or anything and I get hurt. What then?" 

"Jeez, Jenny. Don't go overboard or anything," said Mitsy.  

"Lighten up, Mitsy," said Pam. "Jenny, I think all of us have had some thoughts like that. Look, we're all 21. What we've done, and what I think we might do in the future, is going to create a bond among us. But we're probably not going to end up starting our own commune and raising our children together and being all crunchy granola and whatever. We'll meet other people. We'll have sex with some of them, probably. Heck, we'll probably even marry people not in this room." 

"But the point is," Pam went on, "we've started something really special here. We're not on our own learning about sex like so many people. I didn't know much before this, and I've learned something in the last few weeks. So maybe what we're doing is a good way to do it, at least for us." 

"But what about the, well, lust I keep feeling?" asked Jenny.  

"That we're going to have to work on," said Mitsy. "We definitely want to move beyond lust." 

"A little lust never hurt anybody," said Alan. 

"No, it didn't," said Amy. "But we're working on more than just lust. We want emotional intimacy as well as physical intimacy." 

"So how do we get that?" asked Larry. 

"Time," said Pam. "You may be able to fall in love at first site, but it takes time for trust and love and caring and understanding to build up." 

"So, what are we going to do to pass the time?" asked Mitsy. 

"Well," said Pam, "we could keep on working on the physical intimacy stuff." 

"Lust," chuckled Alan. "Like I said, a little lust never hurt anybody." 

Pam hit him with a pillow from the couch. 

"Hey!" he said, grabbing her wrist, "that hurt." 

Pam struggled in his grasp. "Let go!" she squealed. She grabbed another pillow with her other hand and swatted Alan again. 

"Cut it out," he said. He didn't release her hand. Pam swatted him again.  

"It's not lust, at least not all," Pam said, swatting him one more time. 

"All right, all right," he said. Alan grabbed Pam's other arm as she reached back to swing again. Pam squirmed out of his grasp. His arm slipped around her back and he pulled her close to him so she couldn't swing the pillow at him again. She struggled in his grasp. 

All of a sudden they were looking deep into each other's eyes. They were both panting with the exertion from their brief struggle. And then it happened. 

Alan bent forward and kissed Pam. He kissed her long and hard and deep and she kissed him back. And then her lips were parting and her tongue found his and they wrestled together. And instead of struggling to get out of his grasp Pam was pushing her body hard against Alan. She felt her breasts crush hard against his chest, and his lips fierce against hers and something about it felt right. 

The others watched the passionate embrace in front of them. They saw Pam and Alan entwine themselves about each other, and the long, passionate kiss they were exchanging. And they all felt a little aroused, and they all wondered a little about whether it was just lust, or if there was something more behind it. 

"Ok kids, break it up," said Mitsy after a few minutes had gone by.  

Pam and Alan released each other. "Wow!" she said, quietly. 

"Yeah, wow," replied Alan. 

"So what was that all about?" asked Mitsy. 

"I don't know," said Alan. "I mean, she was just swatting me and then I grabbed her hand and then we were just looking at each other and I thought 'kiss her, stupid' so I did." 

"That's pretty much it," said Pam. "We were just kind of fooling around and then he kissed me and if felt good." 

"So is kissing the next step?" asked Amy. 

"Well, I guess it could be," said Pam. "But we only have two guys here. Are we going to take turns?" 

"Why not?" asked Jenny. 

"Well," said Mitsy. "We could. But I'm kind of curious about kissing another woman, too." 

"No!" gasped Jenny. 

"Well," said Mitsy, "Think about it.  We've already kind of gone over that line. I mean, that first night, when we were all touching each other. I mean, you were caressing my thighs, and Amy was playing with my labia and Pam was caressing my breasts and we did it to you, first." 

"Well, yeah, but..." 

"But nothing. I think we should be able to try anything in this group. We still have the No rule. And I'll follow it. If anyone says no, we stop. But I want to try kissing a woman as well as a man." 

"Ok," said Pam. "Let's do this. Amy and Alan, you pair up. Jenny, you go with Larry. Mitsy, since I've already kissed Alan, I'll kiss you and we can solve your curiosity about that." 

Amy sat down in Alan's lap, put her arms around his neck and pulled his face to hers. She parted her lips slightly as they touched Alan's and soon they were involved in a kiss easily as passionate as the one Alan had shared with Pam a moment before. At first he felt awkward, since he had just kissed Pam and he felt there really was something extra behind it, but soon he was concentrating on how soft Amy's lips were and the insistent probing of her tongue in his mouth. 

Larry and Jenny were a little more awkward. They sat next to each other on the floor, propped against a chair. Larry turned toward Jenny, put his hand on her jean-clad hip, and bent down to her upraised face. Their first kiss was a quick peck, just a brush of the lips and then each pulled back quickly. They laughed a little, and then slowly came back together. "He's so gentle," Jenny thought as Larry's lips touched hers. Slowly they relaxed and began enjoying the kiss, and slowly they slipped down to the floor, their bodies pressed against each other. 

"Ok, fantasy woman. I guess it's you and me now," Pam said to Mitsy.  

"Kiss me, you fool," giggled Mitsy. She turned her face up to her friend and slowly kissed her friend's soft lips. The kiss was soft and gentle. Pam parted her lips, and Mitsy slipped her tongue between them. Each of them felt a soft, warm glow grow within them. They hugged each other, breasts pressing together. "This is nice," thought Pam. "With Alan it was special, and there was something extra there, but this is really nice." 

Mitsy was having similar feelings. "This is so much softer than with a boy," she thought. "And Pam's body feels so comfortable pressed against mine. I want this to go on forever." 

The room was quiet, with few noises other than the occasional sigh of pleasure. Each couple slowly reclined, their limbs intertwining, their bodies pressed together.  

Amy was the first to move things further. She leaned back a bit from Alan, and slowly unbuttoned his shirt. When she had pulled it from his body, she grasped his hand and brought it to the top button of her blouse. Alan got the message, and slowly unbuttoned it, savoring each moment, as a bit more of Amy's skin was exposed. 

Her bra was shell pink, the molded cups covered with satin. Amy posed for a moment, then reached around her back and unhooked it. Slowly she pulled the straps off her shoulders, holding it in place over her breasts with her other hand. Then she let it drop away. 

Alan gasped as Amy's tiny breasts were exposed. Her areolas were puffy, two shades darker from the small mounds they rose from. The nipples centered in them were yet again a shade darker.  Slowly he reached out and caressed her left breast, feeling its infinite softness. 

Amy sighed at Alan's touch. A little thrill ran through her as his fingers stroked her, caressing her nipple into erection. She reached out and mimicked his motions, caressing a small brown nipple into a little erection of its own. Alan wondered if the pleasant sensations he felt were anything like what Amy felt. 

Amy and Alan's motions distracted Mitsy from the long soft kisses she and Pam were sharing. All of a sudden she wanted to feel Pam's naked breasts against her own, to feel her erect nipples rub against Pam's. Slowly she reached up under Pam's t-shirt, caressing the soft skin of Pam's back. When she reached the hooks of Pam's bra she gently undid them. 

"What are you up to?" Pam asked.  

"I have to see you, I have to touch you." As she spoke, Mitsy pulled off her own shirt and unfastened her bra. When she finished she reached for Pam's t-shirt and pulled it over her head. After it came off she reached up and pulled Pam's bra from her shoulders, exposing her large, soft breasts.  

Mitsy eagerly embraced Pam, pushing her smaller breasts against Pam's. The sensation was heavenly. She felt her nipples hardening and pulled Pam closer to her, and began kissing her again. 

Larry and Jenny looked up a moment later, catching their breaths after a particularly long and passionate kiss. The glanced at the others, then each other. Their looks were quizzical. 

"Oh, why not?" thought Jenny. She crossed her arms in front of her, grasped the bottom of her shirt and pulled it up and over her head. Larry quickly followed suit.  

A thought flashed through Jenny's mind, and rather than debate it with herself as she usually would, she just acted. She stood up, kicked off her sandals, unsnapped her jeans and pulled them down. Larry gasped.  

"We're going to get there anyway, we might as well strip," she said quietly. She then reached between her breasts, undid the clasp at the front of her bra, and pulled it off. Larry pulled off his shoes and undid his belt. As he pulled down his pants and boxers, Jenny slipped out of the tiny blue bikini panties she wore. Larry noticed her pubic hair was matted down, but her inner lips were clearly visible in their mossy grotto. 

Jenny sat down on the floor again and reached up for Larry. He got down next to her and soon they were tightly embracing, his thigh firmly between hers, his penis rubbing against one of her thighs. "Her skin is so soft," he thought, and he gently began to stroke Jenny's back and down over her butt. A sigh escaped from Jenny's lips, and she pulled herself closer to him. She felt herself lubricate as she pressed herself against his firm thigh. 

Across the room, Mitsy had grasped her right breast and was rubbing its small brown nipple around and against Pam's large soft pink one. She glanced over and saw that Jenny and Larry were naked and entwined in a passionate embrace and that Amy and Alan were pulling their jeans off as well. With a small sigh she ceased her caress and then reached down and undid the button of her jeans, pushing them and her panties down over her ankles. Pam had opened her eyes when Mitsy had stopped the nipple to nipple caress and was soon out of her slacks and panties as well. 

"Ok boys and girls," Mitsy said. The others glanced up at her. "Let's work on some orgasms." 

Amy immediately reached down, grasped Alan's hand, and placed it firmly over her crotch. "Rub me," she demanded, and Alan complied. In return, she gently grasped his penis and began gently stroking up and down its length. Alan turned toward her, embraced her with his freearm, and began kissing Amy again. 




A Kiss Ch. 4



Jenny had blushed when Mitsy spoke. Her mind had been racing. She could feel Larry's erection rubbing against her and how good it felt to rub herself against his thigh. Part of her wanted to throw caution to the wind, roll over on her back, spread her legs open and pull him inside her. Another part was appalled that she was even in the room, much less lying naked in a man's arms. Her thoughts raced. 

"What am I doing? Oh geez, that feels so good. Rub, rub. What are you doing? Get control of yourself! You are not going to lose control again. That feels so nice, and his penis is so hard and soft against my leg. Kiss me again. Oh, his tongue, now put your tongue in his mouth, his lips are so soft. OK, stay in control. Masturbate him, let him masturbate you. Just that. No more. Enjoy it, but stay in control." She reached between their bodies and found Larry's penis. "Oh it's so hard. I want him," she thought. "Stay in control, just stroke him. Gently, make him spurt. Just stroke - up the underside part, where he said it felt good. OH GEEZ, HE'S TOUCHING ME! OH, OH THAT'S SO GOOD!" 

Larry, responding to Jenny's lead, had gently drawn his index finger up the groove between Jenny's labia. They were soft and moist, and they began to part on his next stroke. He remembered what they had learned about lubrication, found the opening to Jenny's vagina, and slowly slid his finger inside her. She was soft and warm and moist, and he could feel her involuntarily clamp down on the finger as he slid it into her a little further. 

"Oh my god!" thought Jenny. She sighed, audibly. "That feels so good. He's in me. It's so good, so good." 

Mitsy looked deep into Pam's brown eyes. She could feel the lust that had been building within her run through her loins, circle around her clit, and then burst in a little internal firework of pleasure. Her body ached with the lust that was building up inside her. She reached over and gently cupped Pam's naked mons. 

Pam looked back at Mitsy, her eyes traveling down the redhead's freckled body. Mitsy's nipples were hard and erect, and her labia gaped open, framed by the fiery red curls of her pubic hair. She jumped a little when Mitsy touched her, and then sighed with pleasure as Mitsy began to tease her labia open, just barely approaching her clitoris before stroking back down and over the opening of her vagina. Pam clamped down on the finger that probed deep into that opening, and slid her own finger deep between Mitsy's inflamed nether lips.  

The smells of arousal filled the room as the three couples writhed within each other's embraces, hands stroking, probing, and pulling, all with the goal of coaxing orgasm from their partner. 

Alan came first. Amy's hand was insistent, pulling and pulling at him. He felt the electric thrill that was the first hint of impending orgasm race through his urethra and engulf his penis, the vague tightening of his balls, and then building congestion in his loins. And then it was there, the race of semen coursing through his penis and then spurting, spurting. He moaned with pleasure as Amy kept pulling at him, insistent that she coax every drop of sperm from him.  And all the time she was pulling at him, and his orgasm was racing through him, his finger was deep within her, and his thumb was stroking the hard bud of her clitoris. He started sawing his finger in and out of her, while his thumb continued massaging her clitoris. Soon Amy's  body was shaking with her orgasm, and she groaned loudly as Alan massaged her mons. 

Hearing Amy and Alan's moans sent Jenny's first orgasm racing through her. "I'm cumming, I'm cumming," she groaned. Larry had remembered how she had asked that Alan tap her clitoris that first night, and how it had helped bring her to orgasm, and now he was duplicating those gentle taps, and Jenny was arching up against him, her body overcome by the waves of pleasure washing through her.  

As her body relaxed from the orgasm Jenny remembered that Larry's penis was in her hand, and she grasped it firmly and resumed stroking it. Larry was still distracting her. While he had ceased tapping on her clitoris, his hand had cupped her mons and he had a finger deeply inside her. The heel of his hand rubbed against her clitoris, keeping her on edge.  

"That's it, that's it, THAT'S IT!" Pam cried as her orgasm washed over her. Mitsy's fingers were rubbing against the sides of her clitoris and two fingers of her other hand were pushing in and out of Pam's vagina.  

Larry glanced over at Pam, saw Mitsy's hands buried in her crotch, and then felt himself coming. "OH god, Oh God, Oh God!" he moaned as the semen burst from him. As he came, his hand clamped down on Jenny's genitals, and the pressure triggered her second orgasm. Her body quivered and shook against him as his semen coated her hand and wrist. 

Mitsy was the last come. Pam had been gently rubbing and circling her clitoris, feeling it grow to its unusual dimension. "This thing's almost as big as my little finger," Pam thought. "I wonder if it's more sensitive because it's so big?" The thoughts were quickly chased from her head as her own orgasm overtook her, but she kept circling and stroking it. 

"That's it, Pam," Mitsy thought, "Just like that, circle, circle, circle then up the shaft, oh that's so good." Her orgasm built slowly. Pam's finger circled around and around the hard red bud protruding from the top of Mitsy's labia. Her rhythm was slow and steady. 

Mitsy's orgasm built like a series of waves at the beach. At first it was a gently ripple, flowing through and over her groin, softly awakening every nerve ending with its hint of pleasure. The next wave was a little bigger, promising more, but teasing, making a gentle little promise of what was to come. It was then that Mitsy began to give voice to her orgasm. "Oh, oh, oh, oh" she panted. The next wave came, washing over her quickly and solidly. "Oh! Ohh! Ohhh! Ohhhh!" The next was stronger, and came more quickly. "Oh that's it, Here it is, oh yes, Oh Yes, Oh YES!" One more strong wave washed over her, bringing Mitsy to the brink. "NOW, NOW, NOW" she demanded. Pam pinched the distended red bud that was between her fingers and a tidal wave of pleasure broke over Mitsy. Another, and another followed it, her body twitching, Mitsy pushing herself hard against Pam, feeling the larger woman embrace and engulf her with the softness of her body. Mitsy was moaning continuously now. "Yeessss, Yessss, Yessss, Yessss," and then the waves were slowing down, and were smaller, and smaller and finally just gentle ripples on a pond, running softly through her body. Mitsy found Pam's mouth with hers, and their kiss was soft and long and deep. 

Thirty minutes later the couples disentwined themselves from each other, reluctant to let go of their warm embraces. Pam and Mitsy went to the bathroom and soon returned with warm wet washrags and towels, and they cleaned each other's genitals. When they were finished, Pam spoke. 

"I think if we're going to continue we have to make a commitment," she said. "We know that nothing leaves the group and that we came together to learn about sex, and how our bodies react to erotic stimulation, and how each of us can get pleasure and satisfaction from sex. But I think we've clearly gone past the kind of clinical examination we started with. Jenny was right; we have to be careful about all of this." 

"I understand more about what Jenny was talking about before. I never thought I'd ever want to touch another woman sexually. But once  Mitsy and I started it was warm and wonderful and arousing and I didn't want it to end and I could have kept going and going - just like I could have with Alan when he kissed me. And I know if we get back together we are going to do more - and it won't just be more mutual masturbation like we have been doing. We're going to have intercourse, we're going to have oral sex, and I know I'm going to have sex with Mitsy again and will want to try it with Amy and Jenny and, since we're experimenting, Alan and Larry may even have sex with each other and we'll probably do even more with threes and fours and the vibrator and other toys and who knows what. And if that's what's going to happen then it has to be really safe - and not just physically, but emotionally too." 

"We all need to go home and think about what we're doing here and what kind of a commitment we can make to each other. I'm not talking about a marriage commitment or some kind of permanent thing, but I am talking about an emotional commitment to each other and to us as a whole. Right now I know I want to make that kind of a commitment, but I also know that we've just shared something special and that I'm still a little aroused and that may be making me want to do it." 

"So let's go home now, and think about it this week. And then let's get together next Saturday and talk about it some more and see where we want to go."



A Kiss For Those At Home



After another long day at work, I arrive home to find a note and a box on the table, the note reads, this is for you to have fun tonight, and in the box I find a pair of japanese clover nipple clamps a small plug a large plug and a VERY large plug with a big bottle of HOT KY.

Going to my room, I strip out of my clothes and crawl into bed. I lean back into the pillows, playing with my nipples until they started to puff up a little bit. Laying on my back, legs spread, knees up, I lick and suck on the smaller plug while I lube my ass with the HOT KY, feeling the warmth spread through my tight hole. As I'm about to slip a finger into my tight hole, the phone buzzes with a new text message that reads "Don't hide under the sheets, db" Can someone see me? Is someone watching?

Fingers, first one, then two, enter my ass, making sure the lube gets deep inside me, stretching me out getting me hot, bothered, and ready. The muscles in my ass quiver and clench at this first invasion, valiantly saying "no!" but secretly hungry for more, trembling at the exploration. I remove the plug from my mouth and give it some lube of its own, caressing it with my fingers, finally slipping it into my ass, gentle but firm pressure causing it to slip inside me, spreading my hole open, getting it ready for whatever comes next. I sigh, feeling it settle into place.

Returning to my nips, I pinch and tease them, grabbing first the left then the right and attach the nipple clamps. Unused to the pinching clamps, it hurts, but oh so good.. I know the pain that will come later when they're removed, and shiver with frightened anticipation. I close my thighs and curl tightly around a pillow, feeling its smooth cool pillowcase on my skin. Rolling over onto my tummy, kneeling with my willing ass in the air, I proceed to lick the larger plug, teasing it like a cock, wishing it were your cock to feed me..

I reach back and start to slowly fuck my ass with the smaller plug.. I wonder if I'll ever have a chance to please two people at once, to have both ends stuffed and serving? The thought fills my imagination for a while, a daydream of being blindfolded and bound, being told to open up to be used for sucking and having a strange cock slid between my lips. I'm started, but a slap to my ass and a whispered command "You'll suck this cock, db, its what I want" and I happily comply...

No time for such thoughts! I'm here to please these toys, not my own fantasies I quickly frig myself repeatedly with the small plug, then as quickly as I can remove it and slide the next larger plug into its place, its girth stretching me open even further, penetrating more deeply. ooohhhh... so good! it doesn't slide in so easily, stretching me so well, my ass is feeling looser now but still hot and tight. Just then, a new text message comes in - "check the bottom of the largest plug" I lean over to see it has a suction cup on it... hmm, I wonder..

I hop up and wiggle over to my wooden desk chair, and sit, legs spread, pressing down with my ass to secure the suction cup on its hard wooden seat. Secured, I rise a little, feeling the plug pop out of my ass, so empty! I sit back down quickly, feeling the plug split my ass open... I start to bounce, oh, how I want it to be your cock in my ass, but I intend to please the plug as if it were - I give pleasure to what you tell me to! If the best ue of my willing ass is to fuck this silicone toy, then that's what I'll do.

I try to fuck the plug as best I can, short little moves, and I start to tug on the chain to the clamps, getting a good rhythm going. The faster I slide my ass over the plug, the harder I tug on the clamps, until oh oh oh OOOOWWWW! one of the clamps slips off my nipple and I cry out in pain, shoving my ass down HARD onto the plug and crying as blood rushes back into my nipple. I shudder and pull on the other clamp, and pull it off as well.. I'm crying, fucking a giant butt plug/dildo attached to a chair, but oh god I want to come so badly, but can't until told I can - certainly not before the plug comes!

BRING! Another text message comes in - "db, don't forget you are to get as many photos of you debasing yourself as possible"

I stand up and rummage around to find my camera, setting it on the chair to film the plug disappearing into my now loose ass, taking stills of my red burning nipples with the plug deep in my ass, I pull them off the camera and email them to the text massager.. is it you? I hope so... while grinding my ass on the seat, keeping the session going. A text message arrives, giving me link to a website... a flickr account.. a PUBLIC flickr account!! I open the link and see that its the pictures I just sent out... I feel so exposed, but I can't stop.. don't want to stop, I want more, but my ass is sore, my nipples numb. A private note in my flickr account says "from now on every time you text me your pictures will go to this account and you WILL send pictures" I click back to the photo album and notice the pictures already have 500 hits. I purr, ready to come, hoping sir enjoys seeing me doing this.

A new message that says for me to load up my laptop and get the web cam ready as I have some "admirers" that want to watch me. Oh my! I turn on my web cam, positioning it so anyone who wants can watch me uselessly fuck myself just because you told me to, slavishly writhing as my ass is impaled over and over again.

Suddenly I hear your voice, "Don't turn around bitch but continue, you have an paying audience now, they want to see you perform for them!" I feel something land on my thigh, its a larger plug than the one in my ass, with ripples and ridges and bumps and what appears to be a heavy chain. "Put the chain on around your neck and lace it thru your nipple chain and the put the clamps back on - I think you can figure out what to do with the plug wench." I have no choice but to obey, as I hear my bed settle down as you sit upon it.

I reattach the nipple clamps with a wince, attach the chain.. standing up, the viewers can see my ass starting to gape a little, so loose and ready, ripe - I switch the plugs and settle this one into my ass in one smooth, confident motion, my ass against the wooden chair seat, impaled with a silicone plug, nips on fire, the cold chain around my neck, across my back and chest. I stand and, leaning forward, one hand on the desk, reach between my legs, grasp the plug, and start to fuck my ass again... slowly at first, more quickly and I lose myself in the dreamy haze of being a good cock socket, my ass becoming just another willing hole in YOUR fuck toy.

I hear something that sounds like you masturbating behind me on the bed, watching as the foot long plug goes deep into my ass, its full two inch diameter stretching me out more than I've been stretched before. Insatiably I try to keep a steady speed, driving my ass back to meet the thrust of the plug, chain jingling against the edge to the desk, tits swaying back and forth, my low, guttural moans and high pitched squeals becoming more frequent, more insistent, signaling how desperately I want to please you.

"Thank you... thank you... thank you for letting me fuck your largest plug" I moan.. its hard to speak and not drool, my mouth as empty as my ass is between thrusts of the invader that impales me. "Sir.... I need to come now!" I cry, tears starting to form in my eyes. I hear you walk over and on my up swing you place your hands on my shoulders and forcefully push me back down out of rhythm down hard onto the plug putting your full weight down on my shoulders. As you do that you whisper in my ear, "Cum for them, bitch!"

I squeal loudly and come all over, running down my legs (good thing I wasn't wearing stockings!) and the desk.. I shudder, legs quivering, embarrassed suddenly to be so naked and vulnerable, so wonton and whorish. You let go of my shoulders and lean close to my ear, "look up and smile into the camera bitch, as this is going up with your pictures.."

I look up, tears in my eyes, glad to not be wearing make up at least, looking up towards the webcam.. and blow it a kiss. I see you smiling broadly as you lean over and shut down the feed.



A Kiss Good-Bye



I never thought an empty room could be so full of emotion. All this formerly occupied space that once held our bed, our books, and our hopes was now reduced to basic white walls and dull beige carpeting.

"So..." Drew sighed, his tread so light I hadn't heard him approach. "I got the last of your stuff into my truck. Are you ready to go?"

I turned on my heel to take one last long glance at the man I'd spent eight months getting to know and love. He lowered his gaze; not wanting me to see whatever emotion took refuge behind his expressive hazel eyes.

"Yeah. I guess." I replied, walking past him to stand in the small kitchen. Here we'd made fancy breakfasts, elaborate dinners, and steamy love all in the same day. That countertop had been damned cold under my bare ass when he'd picked me up to fuck me in the warrior position, his hands pinning my shoulders as I'd come again and again while his pelvis ground against my clit. "I appreciate the help. You don't have to do all this if you don't want."

"Shit." Drew shrugged, looking past me at the softly falling November snow outside. "It's not shaping up to be the best weather for driving. Your little clown car can't handle the roads like my truck. And, we can get this over with in one fell swoop." I tried to bite back my frown, but he noticed and looked all the more awkward.

"Okay." A stray tendril of auburn hair tumbled over my left eye and I brushed it away. "So you're keeping the sofa and the loveseat's mine?" He nodded.

Moving sucks plain and simple. But trying to move unwieldy furniture down open backed stairs in a blizzard sucks even harder. The wind combed icy fingers through my hair, but Drew's reluctance to look me in the eye was more chilling than the arctic spray of snowflakes against my face.

At last, my possessions were all loaded into the back of his truck, the tarp was secured, and we bustled toward the cab to escape the fluffy onslaught around us. The engine roared into life and the truck's lights gave the falling snow a ghostly swirling effect. I sat back, mopping my brow as he floored the accelerator and steered out into our quiet residential street.

"Well you'll never have to listen to me bitching about how you can't seem to play anything but Fallout Boy or Panic! At the Disco when we're driving around." I tried, trying to suppress the shivers that shook my limbs despite my breaking a sweat lugging boxes and furniture.

"Good point." Drew agreed as a reluctant grin spread across his face. "And I honestly don't think I can take another afternoon of Sigur Ros during your yoga sessions."

"Yep. There's that damned silver lining again." I smiled back, playfully slugging him in the arm.

**

"You want me to put in for the pizza?" I handed him a plate and can of soda as we sat surrounded by stacks of boxes. Had we come full circle so quickly? He'd asked the same thing when I'd hosted our first official movie night, though we ended up making out about a quarter of the way into the indi drama I'd selected.

"No. I've got it." I assured, sitting cross-legged beside him on the floor, my hair still bit damp from the snow. "Just consider it thanks for your help."

"Cool."

Awkward silence ensued.

"I unpacked the stereo this morning. Let me find the remote." Boxes were tilted and adjusted in order to locate the missing remote as Drew heartily enjoyed a slice. I felt his eyes on my narrow ass as I bent and flexed. For the first time, I didn't know what I should do. Stand up and look elsewhere? Act as if I hadn't noticed? It didn't feel right for him to be sizing me up given where things stood.

At last, my fingers closed over the smooth plastic of the remote and I paused, still bent over a large box of DVDs. Drew loved to fuck me in this position, and I'd loved it too. Not just because he could get deep enough inside me to give the sex that piquant painful edge, but also because he'd wrap his arms around me when he was close to coming and the embrace seemed so impossibly intimate. The only fading embrace I knew now was the way my aubergine sweater slid down my back as I stood up.

"Lucie? You going to be okay?" I bit down on my lower lip to stop it from trembling.

"Yes. I'll be fine." Starting toward my miniscule kitchen, I longingly eyed the few bottles of alcohol that rested on top of the refrigerator. "Thanks again for letting me use your truck." Drew sighed, dropping the remainder of his slice on the plate and getting to his feet.

"Don't do that," he pleaded, resting against the threshold to my kitchen. "Don't get all formal and ladylike with me. I'm not your attorney. I love you."

I stiffened, my teeth pressing harder into my lower lip.

"Can we please not start this shit again?" Drew went tense, eyes narrowed.

"It isn't shit, Lucienne. It's our lives and my feelings toward you. Believe it or not, I will always love you." My cheeks burned and blood scalding hot as fire raced through my veins. He had a lot of balls.

"You need to leave," my tone was cold as the winter outside my windows but I didn't care. "And you need to leave now. Take the fucking pizza with you if you want. But you have to go home, Drew. Thanks again for helping me move." If I poured myself a drink now, I knew it wouldn't be the last. I had to work tomorrow and getting drunk didn't exactly help one's morale when the alarm beckoned in the wee hours of morning.

"I don't want any more pizza." The tranquil hazel of his eyes grew darker with concealed storms. 

"Well stay if you like, then. I've got unpacking to do."

The television was a bit of welcomed noisy distraction as I squeezed past Drew, stiffening when his hand brushed my waist with a familiarity born from thousands of touches. I shot him a furious glare, and then returned to my destination.

One of the smaller boxes labeled "kitchen" was right on top of the nearest stack. I grabbed it, tossing my hair out of my eyes. Without slowing, I plowed right toward Drew, the order to get out of my way unspoken but plainly obvious. His muscular build drew back against the wall, letting me pass.

"All right." Lowering his head in defeat, he followed me the few steps into the kitchen. "I'm going to go. But you call me if you need anything at all, sweetness. I mean that. Anything." 

Cautiously, he reached for me.

I pressed back into a corner, the box a buffer between us.

"Thank you." My response was a choked whisper and I hated myself for it.

With all the strength I could muster, I focused my attention on the fast and flashy car commercial on the television as Drew reached for the box. I clutched it closer to my bosom, refusing to meet his eyes. But Drew was strong. He had always been strong. Without any great effort at all, he pried the carton from my desperately clutching fingertips, my knuckles white with exertion to not surrender it freely.

"I love you." The gentle whisper of his breath against my cheek tried to penetrate my resolve. I would not allow it.

"Good bye, Drew."

"I will always love you, Lucie. Whether you believe me or not." The threat of tears burned my eyes. Still I said nothing. If I closed my eyes and waited, he would leave. He had to leave. 

The soft chuffing of cardboard against the formica countertop was a warning bell in my head. But like the hare paralyzed with blind panicwhile staring down the shaft of the arrow that will end his life, I was powerless to move. Even as I felt the subtle disturbance in the air when he stepped closer. I only closed my eyes tighter, my breath coming in rapid bursts.

"At least let me kiss you good-bye." Had I truly heard the plea or only imagined it? Drew was rarely so frank and open with his wants. Frantically, I shook my head.

I felt the heat of his skin like the sun's warmth as he leaned close to my cheek, his soft lips a contrast to the five o'clock shadow growing over his jaw. I winced, a whimper escaping me before I could help myself.

As if this had been the signal he'd been waiting for, Drew's arms gently slid about my shoulders, his lips pressing harder against my cheek. I started to shake, desperately trying to shore up the dam that held my tears at bay.

"Please don't cry," Drew whispered, his embrace tightening. "You know I hate to see you cry..." I wriggled to get free but he wouldn't let me. "Come on, Lucie. I know this isn't easy. It isn't easy for me, either."

A great gasping sob broke from my lips and Drew caught my chin in his fingertips, tilting my face up toward his, his features blurred through the veil of my tears. "Your eyes are so beautiful, baby. They're so bright when you cry... Like that jade necklace you wear. I'll never forget your eyes when you're crying." 

Without warning, his face moved closer to mine, blotting out the faint light from the living room an instant before his mouth pressed to mine. I stiffened, refusing to part my lips, but he was undeterred. A soft moan caught in his throat as he trailed kisses over my jaw, down my throat, and just above my collarbone. That wasn't fair. He knew how much kisses on my neck weakened me. And now, he was using that knowledge to his advantage, softly nipping the flesh below my left ear as my knees went weak, my heart pounding in my ears.

Nuzzling, nibbling, and stroking my neck with his lips, Drew's fingertips slid down my back to the hem of my sweater. With the slowness of a snail, they eased up the knitted fabric, then rested hot and hard against the small of my back. The ticking of the wall clock I'd recently hung in the kitchen and the soft murmur of something dramatic on the television sounded particularly loud. My throat sang with tension and pleasure, Drew's lips playing me like a prodigy manipulating their preferred instrument. It wasn't easy to suppress my urge to moan with building waves of bliss, but somehow, I managed.

Without warning, past memories of us in this very position intermingled with what I was presently experiencing. Drew and I kissing outside my old apartment door, wanting to continue the explorations of each other's bodies with our lips and tongues but prevented from doing so by the presence of my very conservative room mate. 

How sweet it had been to share kisses like this under May's full moon, the dogwood trees in our apartment courtyard in bloom, moonlight frosting the ivory petals and dancing in Drew's eyes. We'd kissed under that star-strewn sky as if we were the only ones left in the world. At that moment, it felt as if that could very well be true, but we didn't care.

Now, teetering on the precipice of solitude and a life separate from his, this felt desperate and wrong. I wanted to stop. Wished I could push him away with firm hands and indignant rebukes. All I could do was lay limp in his arms as his lips sealed our mouths and hearts with a painfully sweet kiss. 

If I had been able to breathe properly, I would have analyzed his taste. My entire body was absorbing and processing. The psychiatry student in me was ticking off all the signals of vulnerability I was giving and his attempts to compensate for them by offering strength and reassurance. My body, trained by seven months of his expert touch, was responding despite my mental desires. Between us, my stiffening nipples pushed painfully against my bra, the warm tingling almost painfully intense as he tilted his head, his tongue delving deeper into my mouth.

The scent of snow still lingered in his hair and I was shivering. From cold, lust, or heartache I could not say. Fingertips eased up and down my spine, soothing me into an anxious arch against him. My own fingers twined in the little hairs at the nape of his neck and he moaned, pressing his forearms against me and pulling me closer, his groin against mine. And as I knew it would be, his cock was already hard from our kisses and caresses. When I tried to pull away, he broke the kiss to stroke my cheek with cool fingertips, his eyes asking... No... Begging me for this last bit of heaven between us.

"I can't." The words, choked and painful, fell from my lips. Drew's lips brushed my cheek, my lashes, and my brow. I tried to offer a response but could only stare through wide eyes as his hands fell to the zip and button of my pants.

I was the chrysalis being unwillingly pried from the safety and darkness of the cocoon I constructed to hide from the world. My transformation into the carefree butterfly healed from the tragedy of our mutual loss was nowhere near complete. But his fingers peeled away the softness of my sweater, gently easing it down the silken tendrils of my hair. The cold of this space didn't touch me. I was trying to retreat back into the numbness that had recently served me so well, but he drew me out as he always did. 

My small bottom bumped against the countertop, the cool surface pressing against my thighs for an instant before Drew had me in his arms, his shirt rubbing against my bare skin as the tears began to roll down my cheeks in greater profusion. I looked up and tumbled into his eyes an instant before he fell to kissing me once again.

Love was such a dual instrument of ecstasy and agony. Kisses scalded my heart and cradled my soul, but I couldn't push him away though I longed to do so. He was all soft musky cologne, skin smoothed over muscular abs under my fingertips, and sandpapery stubble against my cheek as I hooked my thumbs into the belt loops of his pants. Of course, they slid down his narrow hips with no resistance, as did his boxers a second later. And though I knew how our story would end, I needed to reaffirm it by touch, sight, taste, and smell. I didn't want to hear anything. No confessions of regret. No declarations of undying love. Not even the guttural groan that foretold the coming of Drew's own thunderous crescendo.

God, his skin was perfect. Resting my head against his chest was instantly soothing, and I recalled long ago winter afternoons identical to this one where I'd done nothing else but cuddle with him and sip cocoa as we snuggled, serenaded by Jeff Buckley. And as a lyric in one of my favorite of his songs so eloquently put it, he would be the tear that hangs inside my soul forever.

"Are you cold?" His mouth was right under my ear, the richness of the words vibrating my very being. "Here..." His arms were sure and tight around my shoulders, and my fingertips traced the definition of his shoulder blades. 

Drew's hot length pushed against my thigh, as he pressed closer, cupping my ass to force my body closer to his, the heat of his skin washing over me like an aura as his stiff shaft reiterated his need against my inner thigh. Oh God, I was going to drown in tears and tension. He smelled so good. Clean and sensual from the weather and soap... My whimper refused to be swallowed back and with its escape went any last bit of resolve.

The moment we were sharing pushed everything else away. My nipples stung from need as my breasts pushed against his chest. The fine sprinkling of hair there buffered my cheek while my fingertips found and rubbed the silken flesh of his cock. I knew the trace of every vein just beneath the skin, the way he'd shudder when my index finger gently circled the velvety tip, and predicted the first drops of precome that would coalesce from the tiny opening there, slipping onto my fingertips to be softly rubbed up and down the underside of the shaft. Drew twitched in my embrace, hands rising to my shoulders to pull me from him so his mouth could ravenously seek the stiff peaks of my nipples.

Warmth and wetness surrounded my left nipple, and the hot flick of his tongue made me shiver. I held his cock in a tightening grip, pumping the hard length with just enough friction to make his hips start a gentle cadence. My left nipple sang with heat and cold as he left it to suckle my right, tingles flooding my breasts and urging my pussy into covetous contractions of need. Drew's teeth pinched my flesh and I gasped, nails of my free hand digging into his shoulders. With that, he stopped pulling on my breast and urged me all the way back on the countertop, capturing my hips in his hands and drawing me close. Drew leaned forward, the point of his cock pushing slowly but relentlessly into the slippery silk of my churning sex, our trembling simultaneous.

Yes. The pressure of his sides against my calves would be just... here... I pressed my legs against him, secure in his unflagging strength. And though he always tried to go easy, the moment I felt him sliding deep inside was the moment I took a shaky breath. I deserved to see the love in his eyes. We'd done such an excellent job of masking our passions for each other lately that the least he owed me was to give me this moment freely and completely. And as I parted my lids just a crack to see how shadow painted his face, the desire and adoration in his eyes seized my heart.

"Hold me, Drew. Please..." my words were frantic and his cock was suddenly demanding, pushing deep inside me with the ease of my wetness and the subtle sound of slippery secretions and thrusting flesh. "Just this last time... Please hold me."

Arms strong as steel slid under my shoulders, and I reached up to cling to him as he worked his hips and I slammed downward, his cock filling me and pounding hard against my womb, each thrust making me sigh sweet sounds against his neck. His hands were warm and reassuring against my waist as I rode his cock, feeling it bringing me closer and closer to orgasm but not quite close enough until I shifted slightly, getting pressure right up against my g-spot. I gasped and he winced as my nails dug shallow crescents into his shoulders.

"Come on, Lucienne. Come, baby..." 

A juicy explosion stole my breath and detonated millions of tingling aftershocks throughout my body, my head back and lips parted in perfect breathlessness. Drew groaned, roughly grabbing my ass and forcing me down harder on his cock until I was practically screaming in overly intense bliss. God damn, but his dick rammed hard enough to hurt. With a moan, we fell back, he on top of me as his hips slammed against my thighs, cock throbbing violently before I felt the sudden hot burst of come deep inside me, squirting out hard enough to seep around the base of his cock and run down my splayed thighs. We lay perfectly still in the aftermath of our heartache and lust, neither of us daring to disturb the tenuous bond we'd achieved.

The rhythmic calming of our breathing let in the ambient noise from the rest of the apartment, and with its return came the reality of us. We, who in a matter of moments, would separate into Drew and I. Right now, we were joined in body, spirit, and heart. But the cleaving had to come, and the break would be clean and gentle. Was it wrong to think of a tiny ember of hope glowing amid the clean and gentle? Probably. But surely as day follows night, I felt that tiny fire still hitching contraband breaths in my heart. Drew was sliding out of my body and life, but he knew where I was if he ever wanted to build our sparks to flames, and those sparks would not be vanquished. Not in the solitary depths of winter, and never in the memories my mind and body forged and cherished.

Finis.



A Kiss Goodbye



Marcy's eyes met Jim's from across the pool. He didn't say anything or make any obvious motions, he just stared hungrily. There was no doubt about the look was giving her and there was no doubt she wanted the same thing. She turned to her husband, Scott, who was sitting on the patio chair next to her. "I'll be right back."

"Sure," he said absently, watching the bikinied babes climbing in and out of the pool. 

Marcy got out of her chair and started in the house. 'I'm going to do this,' she thought to herself, 'I'm really going to do it.' She hazarded a glance over her shoulder and saw Jim was following her. Her pulse quickened.

The party was just as busy inside as it was outside. People were everywhere. She knew where the guest bathroom was, but instead she headed down the hall toward the back bedroom. Jim followed right behind her. She wishing he had waited a little longer to follow her. What if someone saw them heading to the bedroom together?

Jim caught up with her when she was halfway down the hall. His hands firmly grasped her at her waist and stopped her. "I like that skirt you're wearing," he said.

Since she had yet to get into the pool, Marcy was wearing clothes over her bikini. It wasn't the first time she'd received a compliment on how the form-fitting skirt made her ass look.

"Thank you," she said, feeling his breath on her neck.

"I think I like what's under the skirt even better," Jim said as he steered her against the wall, pressing her front against it while pushing against her back so she could feel his rock hard cock against her ass.

Soon Jim's hand was up her skirt. Marcy whispered, "Not here. What if someone sees us?" Nevertheless she arched her back, giving him access to her pussy which was already hot and wet with the naughty thrill of risky sex.

Jim ran his hand along her slit, checking to see if she was wet enough, then he took a glance down the hall to make sure the coast was clear. He freed himself from his shorts, pushed her bikini bottom aside, then kicked her feet out wider. She felt the head of his dick, probing at her center. His rough urgency adding the thrill of the moment, she moaned in anticipation. 

After one more quick glance down the hall, Jim shoved himself into her dripping heat. The risk of getting caught mixed with Jim's almost animalistic thrusts gave made this an experience like Marcy had never felt before. He pounded her hard and heavy, filling the hall with his grunts and the wet slapping sound of their sex. His cock was smaller than her husband's, but his energy drove her to the quickest orgasm she'd ever experienced, and right after she tightened around him she felt him pumping his hot fluid deep inside her. 

* * *

Allison looked all along the pool's edge for her husband, but she couldn't find him. She finally came out of the pool and looked around – no Jim in sight. She saw Scott lounging in one of the patio chairs nearby.

"Have you seen Jim?" she asked.

"He went inside with Marcy." Jim said casually, eyeing her body over the top of his shades. "They're probably fucking."

Allison laughed nervously. She shook her head and said, "No, I don't think-"

"Oh, come on. You've seen how they've been watching each other."

"Yeah, but-"

"Come here," he sat up and motioned for her.

She dutifully walked over to him.

"Have a seat," he said, patting his lap.

Allison looked at the empty chair next to him, but, feeling a little confused over recent developments, she allowed Scott to guide her into his lap instead. People were everywhere. She hoped sitting in Scott's lap like this didn't cause a stir.

"I don't see why Jim would be interested in Marcy when he's got something like this to come home to," he said, gently stroking her hair.

"Marcy's a very attractive woman," Allison said.

"Yes, but she's got nothing on you."

Allison was suddenly aware of a sizable lump in Scott's swimming trunks. Her first instinct was to get up, but he held her there. Her second instinct was more to his liking. She moved her legs to either side of the chair, and, with her back to him, she leaned forward ever so slightly and began slowly sliding up and down in his lap.

The lump grew.

Allison's heart hammered in her chest. She had never done anything so bold. It was almost as if she was on autopilot. 

Scott reached for a towel and handed it to her. Allison positioned it so that it covered her lap. A hand soon snaked around her waist, slid down her stomach and into her bikini bottoms where it found her clit.

Allison couldn't believe what she was doing. She was literally in the middle of a crowd. But, strange as it may seem, with so many people coming and going and milling around, no one stopped to notice that something was going on. As long as they didn't get carried away, they might not get caught.

Scott leaned forward and pulled his cock out of his pants leg, he then cupped one hand under her ass and gently made her rise up. She felt the head of his cock at her center. Scott's hands grasped her hips and slowly lowered her back into his lap, slowly sheathing his nine inches all the way to the hilt. He was so much bigger than her husband; at first all Allison could do was sit there and shudder. Then Scott's hands started pushing her slowly back and forth in his lap, a much more fulfilling version of what she had been doing earlier. 

"Cocktail?" a waitress asked as she passed by.

"No thank you," Scott said. Allison was glad he had answered, she wasn't sure she could have. The cocktail waitress moved on down the pool, never suspecting a thing.

Allison closed her eyes, she was right on the verge of an orgasm and was trying to figure out how to conceal it when Scott spoke and gave her quite a fright.

"Hello Marcy."

Allison stopped and slowly turned her head. Marcy stood there with her mouth wide open. Allison started to get up, but Scott held her there. He took over, slowly pumping himself with small strokes that would be impossible to notice unless someone knew what they were looking for. Still, these short strokes were driving Allison crazy; the whole insanity of what was happening was somehow both frightening and terribly exciting.

"Scott, just what do you think you're doing?" Marcy said with her teeth clenched in anger.

"Just enjoying the party. Not unlike yourself."

Marcy plopped down into the vacant chair next to them, folding her arms and pouting. Tears were in her eyes.

Allison felt something building inside of her. She was having trouble controlling her panting. Suddenly she was aware that one of the partygoers across the pool was staring and perhaps had figured out what was going on, but Allison didn't care. In fact, if anything, it made her hotter. She could feel Scott tensing under her as well. She raised her self a few inches and came back down, her ass slapped down against his hips. She brought her feet back, then leaned forward and his legs at the calves and began repeatedly pounding him with short but powerful little thrusts. Then she stopped and grinded herself onto him. Scott gasped and she could tell he was close and she was about to come as well.

Marcy rose to her feet. Tears streaming down her cheeks, she said, "I'm leaving."

Scott reached out and grabbed her by the hair. "Not before you kiss me goodbye." He brought her face to his and kissed her roughly. When he did, Allison felt his body surge as he shot cum deep inside her. He continued holding Marcy, forcing her to kiss him while he expended his seed. Allison's own orgasm wasn't long in coming. It was so good she had to bring her hand to her mouth to keep from crying out. 

Marcy stumbled away crying.

Scott leaned forward and whispered, "Would you like to continue this inside?"

"Sure."



A Kiss in New York



It was a beautiful sunny day in late August in New York City. I am a tourist and you are showing me your city. We browse the shop windows in the Soho district, eventually wandering down a tree lined street. I never dreamed that New York City was so beautiful. Even the bustle of New Yorkers pressing past does not impede on my pleasure. Nothing could improve upon this moment as I commit the picture of it in my mind. 

I turn to look over my shoulder at you as we walk along the New York street, we are hand in hand and the sun is warm, yet there is a cool breeze gently blowing. The sounds of the city surround us as we stroll along the sidewalk, I sort of walk in front of you as people often do when weaving against the flow of New Yorkers doing whatever it is that they do. 

You tug my hand and pull me back to you and into your arms. You look down at me with your blue green eyes and I am mesmerized. My breath catches even as my gaze travels from your amazing eyes to your lips. It is in that moment that I know you will kiss me. 

You hands slid around my waist, to my lower back, I can feel the fingers of your hands as they spread out pulling me steadily to you, pulling out bodies into contact. Our stomachs touch first, then our hips, and our chests. My hands slide up the fabric of your shirt to rest on your chest. I look again into your eyes, but only for a moment, as our lips touch, then my eyes drift softly shut. 

At first the kiss is soft, like many we have shared throughout the day. Our lips part and our tongues intertwine, playing that ever familiar teasing game of cat and mouse. And then something changes. I’m not sure what it is, but I can feel it deep down inside my soul, this kiss is different. This kiss is the kind that sears the soul, if one allows it to. That is the key, for a moment you stand on the edge of a chasm, if you open your soul and step over the cliff you will fall and you do not know what is at the bottom. 

Hovering at the edge of my mind this fleeting thought, and then the choice is made and I surrender myself. As I slide down deeply into the void, the world softly slips away from me and my mind begins to spin. The feeling is akin to slipping down into a pool. But not any pool, in this pool, each drop is pure dreamy pleasure. I can feel the liquid tendrils curl through my mind, down my spine, and somehow making it almost impossible to stand. I am glad of your arms supporting me. A momentary though of whether you are affected the same way tickles at the edge of my mind, and then that too is gone.

As we continue to kiss, I feel the pull of this pleasure more strongly with each passing moment. With each and every breath in and out, expanding and collapsing my world into a single thought, a single indefinable desire. Draining all thought and consciousness down to a single indefinable point. It is like a soft caress in my mind, or a whisper, to faint to hear. The pulling sensation builds deeply down inside my mind, opening to the possibilities, the dark delight surrounding me, spinning me down deeper, and I revel in it.

This kiss has become the world to me. Nothing else exists. It is the center of the universe, a sun so bright, its pull so unyielding that my “self” is eclipsed by its radiance. All awareness of self disappears as I feel myself slipping deeper into your spell, the dark rapture of my mind captures me and I savor in my submission. 

And then it is over. I struggle to open my eyes and look into yours, and I wonder if you realize the effect you have had on me. My mind shutters as the rest of the world comes crashing back into full reality. Once again I feel people around us, brushing past, paying little or no heed to us beyond finding a way around the block in pedestrian traffic that we pose. You hold me for a moment or two, looking down into my eyes. Then you take my hand in yours again and turn so that we can continue our stroll along the sidewalk in New York hand in hand.

I do not know how long that kiss has taken me away. I look around and see that the world is unaffected by our kiss, but I know, that I am somehow irreversibly and forever altered. 

(Yes this is a true story) 



A Kiss in the Dark



Everything was going according to plan. She had to stop herself from grinning at just how easy it was going to be to break into one of the most secure homes in the city and steal one of the most valuable pieces of jewelry in existence. The plan exploited a weakness in the security that so far had not been noticed or addressed. She was going to get in, get the diamond, get out, get to the buyer, and get paid. 

All was to plan but in the middle of her heist someone else started messing with the security systems. This was bad. The diamond was right there. It was less than five feet away. Without her doing anything wrong or triggering any alarms, all of the sudden they all started to go off. At first she thought she had been caught but after a moment it was clear that the alarms weren't local. Every alarm on the grounds were going off, even the alarms in the cars outside. 

She was in a good hiding spot. This was obviously some sort of malfunction so all she had to do was hold tight and then wait for everything to calm down and she would be in the clear. But that could take hours and she didn't want to be stuck there in her cramped little hiding spot for that long. 

She took a deep breath and decided to go for it. Maybe all the alarms would be a good distraction. She really wanted to get in and out completely unnoticed but even if that was shot, she might as well get paid. She worked fast to get through the glass around the diamond while the lights and the noise threw her off her normal process. She felt rushed and must have let a bit of panic slip into her mind. Her work was much more sloppy than usual. 

Still, sloppy or no, she got the diamond and was just about to skulk away when she heard a voice behind her tell her to freeze. She didn't look back to see who it was. She dashed with the diamond still in hand as gunfire exploded behind her. 

Her heart was pounding as she ran full speed to her spot and tried to duck into it with all the grace she could muster. Her escape route had not been cut off but she decided to make a detour just to try to throw the guards off the trail. She emerged from safety and as soon as she did so she regretted it as there were more soldiers there with gun raised. They didn't tell her to freeze. They just opened fire. She was extremely lucky not to be hit by a bullet as she threw herself to the floor and rolled back to what was no longer really safe. She needed a new plan and to make matters worse, the sprinkler system turned on. Why would a private home have a sprinkler system? Crazy rich people.

She was heaving as quietly as she could. She was hidden laying on her back behind a large painting leaning against a wall. She took a moment to compose herself. She finally got the damn diamond into her pack. She swallowed hard and tried to calm herself enough to remember the layout of the place and come up with a way out. She had to hold in a cough from the dust on the floor. With all the commotion the guards from outside might have come in to help out. If that were the case then if she could get to a window she could repel to the ground and sprint to the gate. It was risky though. On that green grass light up like a Christmas tree, she'd be an easy target. Plus, she didn't have a way to deal with the fence yet. 

The alarms and sprinklers finally shut off but that brought to light a new sound. The boots of the guards echoed down the various halls of the place as they looked for her. It would only be a matter of time before they found her and if their previous behavior was any indication, they didn't care for calling the police to handle things. 

Then a blessing came her way. All the lights went off. She didn't rush to leave her hiding spot. Maybe they were trying to lure her out. She took a survey to see if anyone was nearby. She seemed in the clear, or at least clear enough to get to a window. If nothing else, she could hide on the outside of the building and wait for a better opportunity to leave the campus. 

Darkness was her element and in it she made good time. Things were going so well, she rethought her plan and made her way back to her original escape route. That turned out to be a bad idea. 

Even in the almost complete darkness, some guard who was watching for her to go back that way noticed something and just opened fire without any warning. Thankfully he wasn't able to hit anything but this was getting out of hand. The air duct was generally a bad idea but she had almost no choice at this point. Then behind her she heard the definite sound of violence. The gun fell to the floor and someone was getting beat down. Maybe one of the guards thought the other one was her. 

She rounded a corner and the sound of her running alerted a guard not far away who raised his weapon in her direction. Before he could get it all the way up, something struck him and he yelled out in pain. She just ran right past him. She knew where she was and there was a pretty good alternate exit she could use. She heard large numbers beginning to come after her as she reached the door to a flight of stairs. Most people would be terrified of going down stairs in complete darkness and she was hoping that would make her pursuers reluctant to follow.

She got the door open and dived into the pitch blackness of the stairwell and made her way to freedom. She heard the door overhead open and as it did so she heard punches being thrown and bodies dropping to the floor. The beam of a flashlight got turned on but not for long as she heard glass breaking. 

She was almost out. The secret hatch that was going to let her disappear was only a few more steps away. The hatch led to a tunnel which led underground several hundred meters out to a small shack the purpose of which did not interest her. She had to lay on her stomach to fit through the tunnel. She had a prop installed on her footwear that let her close the hatch so no one would know to follow her. It was a tight fit but she inched herself along one shoulder at a time. 

She got to the other end of the tunnel by the shack. Her motorbike had a camera aimed at the building to let her know if anyone was waiting for her. She watched the display until she was satisfied and then started to open the other end the shaft. She slid out and closed the hatch behind herself making sure to conceal its existence again. 

She was still in stealth mode as she crept up to the door and checked her tiny display again to see if anyone was out there. The coast looked clear and she tried the door. It was locked.

This surprised her. She had specifically made a point of not only unlocking but breaking the lock on the door as it was the only way out save for breaking down one of the walls. There were no windows, no ventilation, no other ways out. She tried the door again as quietly as she could and tried to push on it but it didn't move. 

"You're going to have a hard time getting out that way." said a man's voice from the darkness.

"I'm armed." she threatened. "I can defend myself."

For a moment there was silence but she sensed movement even though she couldn't pin point where. 

"Give me the diamond."

"Not on your life."

"It doesn't belong to you."

"It doesn't belong to you either."

There was silence again. She found herself shifting from side to side and turning to reach out with her hands to see if there was anything there in the darkness.

"Relax." said the voice. "I'm not going to hurt you."

"Then why won't you let me go?"

"I don't think theft should carry the death penalty but I'm not about to let the thief keep what the thief stole."

"You're the one. The one keeping the guards distracted. From the looks of things I'm not the only thief in this room."

"To be a thief you have to steal something. Saving your life doesn't quite qualify me."

She felt him come close and she put her hands up in defense. He grabbed one arm by the wrist and wrapped his other arm around her waist. She could feel that he was a big man. He could have his way with her if he wanted. She didn't have near the kind of muscle mass needed to stave off an attack from a guy like this. 

He didn't attack. As soon as she realized that he wasn't attacking her, she relaxed and he let her wrist go. She wanted to pull away from his embrace but something about him was alluring. She ran her hand along his chest and felt his pecks under the fabric of his shirt. 

"Who are you? Why are you helping me?"

She looked up to the area in the blackness where his head was likely to be. Almost as if he could see as much he leaned down and kissed her. It was the passionate kiss of a man who could not hold his desire anymore. She could tell he wanted to do more with his hands than he was. They wanted to search her body. They wanted to feel her erotic zones. But he was holding them in. He wouldn't let them play. Even the kiss had an element of restraint in it as if he wouldn't completely allow his guard to go down. 

"On second thought, I think I will let you go." he said as she recovered from their moment. 

"Why won't you answer my question?"

She waited for an answer but none came. He pulled away from her and went back into the darkness. She tried the door and it opened. She slowly moved along the shadows to her bike and right as she was about to speed away she let her hand reach to the diamond to make sure it was still there. It wasn't. 

She got off her bike, grabbed a flashlight, and ran back to the shack. He hadn't noticed anyone else leaving. She lit up what she could and saw no one. It was as if a ghost had stolen the diamond right from under her nose. 

...

The buyer still wanted their prize and even though the thief didn't want to try again the buyer insisted. Her reputation and honor were on the line. The diamond wasn't being kept in the mansion anymore. It had been moved to a bank under high security. Lucky for her, that would be even easier for her to steal it. She staked the place out and made the proper preparations and on a very boring night she sneaked in without anyone noticing. 

She was in the vault. There was plenty of money there to pay her for her time. But that wasn't her MO. She had one job and that's what she was going to do. She wasn't being paid to steal any of that other money. She got in undetected and got the lock behind which would be the diamond open. She pointed her light into the container and it was empty save for a note. 

"I figured you might try again. Meet me at the address below tonight and we can talk about the diamond. Waste no time. The clock is ticking." He signed the note "kiss in the dark". 

She was filled with so much rage she nearly threw light against the wall. She was empty handed again and he wanted her to walk right into a trap. 

The address was to an apartment building. The first floor had a convenience store and there was security staffing the front desk lobby. 

She gathered as much info as she could and made a plan. She went in through the roof and made her way to the 8th floor. Unlike the other floors in the building, there were no windows or any light sources on this floor at all. She lowered her body from the ceiling and let her feet on the carpeted floor of the hall. She looked up and down the hall with her light. She looked inside a few rooms but they were all empty. 

She got to room 10 and there was a sign on it. "Turn your light off and leave it outside." Reluctantly she did as it said and entered the room which seemed to be even more pitch black than she knew was possible. She couldn't have seen her hand even if she poked herself in the eye. 

"Thank you for coming." said his voice.

"You have my diamond."

"I do."

"When do I get it?"

"I have a job I want you for."

The words "I want you" somehow seemed to be bigger in her mind than the rest of it.

"I don't take two jobs at a time."

"Then go back and tell your client to forget about the diamond."

She put on her seductive voice. "I'm sure we can come to an arrangement."

"I was hoping you would see it my way. It isn't a difficult job for someone of your skills and for once you'll be doing honest work."

"Honest work? Don't tell me you want me to man the counter at the shop on the first floor."

"That wasn't quite what I had in mind. There's a certain office in a certain building. I've arranged for a window of time tonight wherein someone would be able to enter and make copies of some documents I believe are being stored there."

"All the documents?"

"I want the ones from the year the war started."

"So then you are kind of a thief aren't you."

"I'm trying to solve a murder, if you must know."

"From 15 years ago?"

"14" he corrected.

"Why don't you do it? You're clearly just as skilled. What aren't you telling me?"

"Something's come up. I can't change the window but I can't be in two places at the same time."

"So these documents you want are important enough for you to get me involved in all this but not important enough to keep you from getting distracted."

"300 people will die if I don't act. Most of them are children. I can't ignore that."

"What are you? Some kind of spy?"

"I guess. You get me the copies and don't leave a trace that the originals were tampered with and you'll have your diamond."

"What about all your talk about not letting me keep what I stole?"

She was moving closer to the source of his voice.

"Perhaps I've had a change of heart." he said as she reached out in the darkness to touch him.

"Where do you want me to deliver ..."

"When you're done, bring them here. I'll be waiting for you."

"You made it sound like you were going off to do something dangerous. How do I know you'll make it out a live?"

"That's always a danger in my line of work. That's why there's always a backup. The diamond is waiting for you back at your apartment. Now do this for me and don't throw my trust away."

"You know where I live?"

"I know everything about you. I would never hire you otherwise."

"I don't let my clients know who I am, especially if I don't know who they are."

"My job, my rules."

She found his hand hanging at his side. It was very frustrating to be having a conversation with this man and she couldn't see him. She couldn't see his face. He brought her hand up to his lips and he kissed it. He seemed to let the kiss linger for a moment longer than you'd expect. This was not a man who was used to the touch of others. She could tell he wanted more. His breathing seemed to change as he held her. The way his fingers went over the contours of her knuckles suggested that he was savoring every second of contact. He was compensating for some kind of neglect.

Then even though they were already in the blackest of blackness, his physical body disappeared into nothingness. In her hand he left something. 

"Don't die." she called out. 

She left the room and found her light. The envelope he left with her held the details of where to go and what to get and how to get past the security. Her window wasn't long in the future and she had just enough time to make it. He had also left her with a camera that had a label telling her to use it in the dark. The place was very secure with multiple elaborate levels of security but like clockwork system after system failed for just long enough for her to get by and into that office. 

The camera was some sort of high tech camera. Looking through the view finder to line up the shot made everything look infrared. Page after page she snapped away. She even made some copies of the documents from a little before and a little after what he asked for. Then, as she was about to take one more picture some words popped up in the view finder letting her know the window was coming to an end and that she needed to get out of there.

She made her way though the swiss cheese of security with everything happening exactly as her instructions predicted. She felt a rush of exhilaration as she sped away on her motorbike to finally get this diamond job done. She stashed her equipment in it's hiding place and walked down the street like normal person to her building. She smiled at the guy manning the desk and waited for the elevator to come and take her up. Just as the elevator was opening the staff guy ran up to her and told her someone left a delivery for her. She smiled ear to ear as he placed the box in her hands. 

She locked the door to her room opened the box to see the diamond inside. She checked to make sure it was real and then put it in her secret safe where it would wait for delivery. As for her, she was beat. She got in her bed, curled up and let sleep take her. Her last thought before drifting off was how she was going to spend her money. She'd rather like to get a nice torso like the one the guy in the dark had so she could run her hands all over it. 

...

It was coming on noon when she opened her eyes. She had big plans for this day. Of course her first priority was to get paid. Shadow guy would have to wait until later for his stuff. She wanted her money and she needed to make sure it was safe before she would even consider going to see him. 

She got up and had the thought to make herself a spectacular breakfast with all the trimmings. This was going to be such a great day. She felt like she had leveled up in her craft. She broke into not one but two high security areas in one night. Sure, she had some help with the second but just getting in to meet her mystery client compensates for that, right? 

She walked into her kitchen and immediately saw the blood on the floor. She stopped in her tracks and then backed up. She reached for one of the many hidden weapons around the house and found a gun. She didn't usually carry a gun on a job but this was her home and she knew how to shoot. She circled the island in the center of the kitchen and on the other side she saw a pool of blood on the floor. 

She heard a sound and spun on the balls of her feet to face the large glass doors that opened up to the veranda. The bright sunlight outside was contrasted by a figure dressed all in black from the hood over his face to the boots on his feet. She raised her gun and pointed it at the man. She was almost ready to fire as he stood there stoically.

"I just came for my camera."

As soon as she heard his voice her fear was disarmed and soon her hands were as well as she left the gun on the counter. She ran to him but he did not stay to accept her embrace. He leaped backwards and seemed to fall to his death. She ran after him and almost slipped on the blood he left all over the floor. She brought her hands to the rail and looked over the side but he wasn't there. He wasn't anywhere between her and the ground. He was just gone. 

...

Day after day she staked out the building. Another job came and went but when she had time she kept note of everyone who went in and came out of that building. From what she could tell there were no tenants. The security guards cycled out. The convenience store staff worked and then went home. Night after night not a one light in the building above the ground floor came on. Two months had passed and she was frustrated. She wanted to see him again. She wanted to confront him. She wanted to know who he was. 

She decided to breech. She did not follow the same path that she did before. She never liked to go in the same way twice. She entered the building from the 7th floor, found the stairs, and went up to the 8th. She found the room and knocked on the door. She already knew there would be no answer. 

The room was empty just like all the others she had seen. The only thing different about this one was that there instead of the corner area of the office space being open, it was closed off with a wall and a door. 

Feeling like it was a bit comical at this point, she very lightly knocked on this door as well. She didn't expect an answer and so did not wait for one. She tried the handle and the door opened. Behind the door, instead an empty area or an office as you might imagine she found a very basic living space. There was a bed, a desk, a sort of half kitchen and an open door revealing a bathroom behind it. 




A Kiss in the Dark



She was almost fooled into thinking that someone lived there but upon closer inspection with her flashlight she could see that everything was much too pristine. It was like a small apartment or actually rather a hotel room that was waiting for a guest. 

She went over to the desk to see if there was anything there that might inform her as to who it was she had been dealing with. As she approached the desk she heard his unmistakable voice.

"Turn the light off."

She swallowed. "I wanted to talk to you."

"I figured. First, turn the light off."

She did as he asked and it was black. How was she going to explain this? What possible legitimate reason could she have for coming to see him?

She began to speak. "I wanted to ask you a question."

He didn't answer. "Um." She almost felt nervous like a school girl in love. "Are you ok?" Was that a good enough reason to come by? "You seemed really hurt and ..."

"I heal up good."

"Right." she said as she felt his hand come to her shoulder. She noticed that her breathing was being affected by his near proximity to her.

"I wanted to know, um, you know, if you needed any more of my help."

He was bringing his body close to hers. She reached out and felt him. If her hands could be trusted then he must really be a sight to see. His muscle definition made it feel like he must have had lines going all the way down his arm. 

"I don't need anything at the moment. I'll call you if I do."

"And. Oh the camera. Were the pictures useful?"

"Yes and no."

Somehow this disappointed her. "I did use it correctly..."

"Your photography was fine. The documents just didn't end up being very useful."

"I'm sorry to hear that."

"It's good in a way. I know of one more person who's innocent."

"Who was murdered?"

She waited for an answer but he didn't give her one. She felt him start to pull away but she grabbed his shirt and pressed her body against his. 

"Wait" she said.

He waited. There had to be some words. She had to have some words. What could she tell him? What did she want to say? What was she feeling? "I..." she started but the words that came were too dangerous and she held back. 

She licked her lips and took a deep breath and set up a little silent prayer that she could say the right thing.

"I missed you." he said to her as if to take her moment away from her.

"Well. You knew were I lived." Now that some kind of wall seemed to be down she felt herself more comfortable. "What does it take to get a guy who bleeds on your floor to call you?"

He didn't laugh. Was he judging her? She put her arms around him as way of apology for the bad joke and he followed her lead.

"I don't know how to do this." he said. 

"What?" It was a reminder that she didn't know who he was. She didn't know what he was up to. She didn't know his name or what he looked like. She didn't know anything about him. 

"It's ok. I'll help you."

She pressed her palms into his chest and let her fingers slowly make their way up to his face. Why did he hide in the dark? Was he like Eric from Phantom of the Opera? She felt his face and her mind constructed an image in her head. He seemed to be good looking so why wouldn't he show himself to her? Her hands didn't stay on his face. She reached around and ran her hands through his wavy hair. She brought her lips up to his and they kissed. 

As they kissed he started to move and she followed him. Even is she couldn't see in this total blackness apparently he could because he brought her right to the bed and they sat down. 

She was sitting on a bed with him. What was he going to do? How far was she willing to go? If she wanted to stop would he let her? Would she want to stop? She didn't know who this man was. The sensible part of her brain was screaming in her head to run. To get out. To flee for safety. But another part of her mind was telling her that she could trust him. She wanted to trust him. She wanted ... him.

The emotions insider her started to bubble up. She kissed him more passionately than before. She started to yank at his clothes and he let her get his shirt untucked from his pants. She brought her hands into direct contact with his skin and felt his abs. This guy must do nothing but work out all day. She felt something in her body move and suddenly she had an intense desire to be free of the tight fitting clothing she wore when going on jobs. Her modesty gone, helped by the complete darkness of the place and the trust she felt for the man she was with, she took his hand and brought it to her chest. 

He seemed reluctant to go farther. She reached down to his pants and found his hard on. He had big muscles and a huge cock. This man was a dream. She gave his cock a squeeze through the fabric of his clothing and only then did he feel comfortable enough to likewise squeeze her breasts. 

She found his zipper and pulled it down. She got his pants unbuttoned but he wasn't in a hurry to get them off. He seemed to enjoy just kissing her. 

"On the neck." she instructed. He paused. He brought his face to her neck but didn't do anything right away.

"It's ok. You kiss a girl's neck. She likes it."

He started to kiss her neck and began to explore her upper torso with his lips. That was ample excuse enough for her to slide down the zipper on her suit. She interrupted his kissing to pull his shirt completely off of him and in doing so she got her arms free of her clothes. She brought his face back to her chest and introduced him to each of her nipples. 

He took the first on in his mouth and sucked it for a moment as she worked to get completely free of her clothes. He finally got the hint and helped her out of her boots and now she was only in a pair of panties on this stranger's bed. 

He didn't just jump from nipple to nipple. He kissed his way through the valley to the other side. It was nice but on the third trip she found herself pushing his head south. He kissed her flat stomach and slowly made his way to her belly button. Then he made his way to the edge of her panties but he stopped right there. He made no attempt to pull them off of her. 

She felt her pussy getting wetter and wetter in anticipation of what was to come. She slid her hands under the waist band of her panties and slid them off her ass and to the floor. Her mystery man started kissing again, as if he now had permission to do more and go further. He kissed down past her pubic hair but skipped her pussy. 

She squirmed and felt her body start to buck her hips to him. He kissed her on the inside of the thigh. She moaned with desire and for a moment it seemed like he had stopped kissing her. Just as she was going to protest that he couldn't give up yet, she felt his lips make contacts with her pussy lips. He kissed her pussy and then let his tongue out and licked one side and then the other. He licked her hole for a bit and then moved up to her clit. He wedged the tip of his tongue under the hood of her clit and it was one of the greatest moments of her life. 

She needed something in her. She needed to be filled. She tilted her hips to bring her hole up to his chin. It was almost like she was trying to get his chin in her pussy. She threw her head back and let her hair fling in the air. She didn't care who this man was. She wanted him. She needed him. She needed... cock. She needed his huge cock in her. She had to have him. She was too far gone. 

Deep down she knew why she had really come that night. She knew what she really wanted. Even if the words had not been spoken out loud and in her mind she had yet to truly admit it to herself, she knew why she was really there. She wanted him. She wanted him to make love to her. She wanted him to fuck her. 

She grabbed him by the hair and moved his head out of the way. She reached for his pants and forced them off of his body. She got his cock out, that huge beautiful cock, and gave it a tug. 

"Are you sure?" he asked.

She didn't answer him save but to kiss him. She tasted her own juices on his face and it was driving her wild. She pulled him on top of her and reached around to his ass and got herself a nice handful. She wondered where he kept all his workout equipment. She bulled his pelvis to her and presented her vagina to him. She felt the head of his cock finally touch and she nearly had an orgasm right there. 

"Give it to me." she found herself saying.

He seemed to take that as the all clear sign and thrusted right in. She went from no cock to a whole lot of cock in her. She let out an audible gasp as she tried to get her breath. Luckily she was amply lubed up for the job and he was able to gently slide his cock in and out of her and fast or as slow as she liked. 

She wrapped her legs around him and flashes of light entered her brain. Her whole body was throughly enjoying the massive cock in her pussy. Her hands were enjoying the hard muscles on his arms and chest. Her lips were enjoying this that had been brought back to her. 

She felt herself turn to a kind of putty and she wanted to just wrap herself all round his hard, chiseled body. More importantly, she wanted that manliness in her as deep as it would go and as fast as it would go. 

He had been holding his body up at a slight distance from her but the moment came when he allowed himself to lower his upper body down onto her and her breasts made contact with his muscles. Her nipples were so hard they felt like they were going to turn to stone but then they touched his body and an electric shock ran through her. She was past the point of no return. 

She wrapped her arms around him to hold him in place as her back went through spasms. Her orgasm was massive and she found herself biting his shoulder and digging her fingernails into his side. The joy she felt in her pussy spread to the rest of her body and there were more flashes of light and a bubbly, giddy feeling that brought a smile to her face just as soon as her teeth would let go. 

Her orgasm had just about passed when she felt his already tense body tense up even more. He turned his head from her and she heard his knuckles pop. He restrained his voice but just a bit came out. That was the signal. She should have pushed him off of her. She didn't want to get pregnant. But there was no time. She was too weak from her own orgasm. She felt his cock swell inside her and the walls of her own pussy betrayed her as they clenched his cock to hold it in place. 

She felt his hot cum as it seemed to burn inside her. Her orgasm that was almost gone now had a second wind. Her eyelids twitched. He jaw was held open in a stiff pose that would look rather weird if the lights had been on. She felt her lungs freeze and they didn't know whether to breath in or out. The entire thing washed over her and then she melted into the bed sheets. 

In the aftermath she felt him stumble to his feet and start to get dressed. She was still a bit light headed but she managed to say something.

"I don't suppose you could find my clothes for me."

He put them next to her without saying a word. She suddenly became fearful that he might evaporate into vapor as he did before. 

"Wait. Don't leave me."

He sat back down on the bed and she got dressed as quickly as she could. 

"I have to know who you are." she said.

"There's a price."

Her first thought was to counter by saying she had just paid a price and that he owed her. However, she wouldn't be that petty with a man who was so serious about his secretiveness. 

"I'll pay it."

He reached for her hand and she thought he might kiss it again as he had done before but he did not. He held her left hand in his for a moment and then led her from the bed. They moved though the darkness of the room and then stopped. She didn't know what he was doing or what would happen next.

Fear almost made her pull her hand away when she felt metal glide across the back of her hand. She wanted to trust this man but it was hard to continue in such a strange environment. She was used to the dark for jobs but this was so different from any other experience in her life.

The metal wasn't threatening and it's shape was revealed to her as he brought it to the end of her finger and then pushed the ring into place.

"Wow" she said softly as she realized what it was. "You ask a lot."

"You said you'd pay it."

"I'm guessing I don't have time to think it over."

"I'll give you as long as you need."

There was silence for a moment and she considered what he wanted and if this would in any way be worth it. She liked this guy, she trusted this guy, and she really wanted to know who he was but surely he was asking too much.

"Aren't you going to get on one knee?" she asked.

"No."

"You're just going to ask me standing up?"

"It's difficult for me."

She thought that perhaps he had some injury she wasn't aware of that prevented him from kneeling but he clarified before she could say anything.

"Words about this don't come easy. This is the only way I can get through this."

"Have you ever asked anyone else?"

"No."

"Why me?"

"It was your choice."

"I don't suppose I could pay another way."

He was silent. If he would only debate her on it she might be able to move him but she had no witty comeback for silence.

"Ok ..." she began. "Would we live at my place or yours?"

"You can live wherever you want."

"Do I have to take your last name or can I keep my own?"

"Do as you like."

"You're making this very hard for me."

"You don't need a reason to say no. You only need a reason to say yes. If you don't have one then use the default."

"But you won't tell me your name otherwise."

"No. With me, you're either completely on my side or you're not."

"I thought you trusted me."

"I do. That's not what this is about."

"Sure it is. You trust me to risk my life for you but won't trust me with your name."

"My emotions demand a lot of me. If you know who I am then you'll have to be there for them. It's a big step for me. I won't expect you to understand."

"And the rabbit hole goes deeper."

There was a moment of silence. The lack of sound and light was really bothering her. If she had not already trusted him so much she would be really freaking out about it at this point.

"If I say yes then we have to get married. There'll be none of this cold feet or putting it off crap. I have emotions too, you know."

"I expected no less."

"And we have to start turning the lights on. Turning every room you're in into a cave is not going to work."

He nodded in agreement but she couldn't see it. 

She brought her arms around him and took a breath. Was she really going to say yes to this? It seemed so sudden. Besides that, there was a huge mismatch between what she wanted and how mush she would have to go through to get it. 

"And we have to go on a date, like out in public where everyone would be able to see us together."

"That's fine."

"And you can't die. Whatever you did the last time you can't go doing that kind of stuff anymore."

"If I don't, who will?"

"I'm not going to be some wife who sits at home worried about her husband."

"I can take care of myself."

"You have to promise. No getting killed and no making me worry."

"I thought you were a bit thicker skinned than that."

"Emotions."

"I understand."

She held him and felt the ring on her finger. It was just a standard wedding ring not an engagement ring. It was smooth all the way around with no diamond or crest of any sort. 

"Give me a reason to say yes."

"I can't."

"Then why should I?"

"I ..." He was having difficulty speaking.

"Do you love me? Do you at least think you love me?"

"Yes."

"Well. ... Good. That's one thing."

"I have to go soon. Do you want to answer today or should I come back?"

She held her breath and then just decided to take a chance. It was the same sort of decision making that had led her to the life she now lived. She was a woman who took risks and made them pay off. 

"Yes. I'll marry you."

He held her close. He did not express disbelief or relief or regret. He just held her and let whatever emotions he was feeling work themselves out silently until he was ready to move on. 

"Hello. I said yes so now I need a name and for God's sake turns some lights one before we go blind."



A Kiss In Time



I can't believe what I just did! Oh, it had its humorous side to be sure. Like when the preacher asked me, "Do I take yada, yada, yada.", I answered "I did." instead of "I do.". My blushing bride, bless her, chalked it up to wedding day nerves. I quickly corrected my faux paux. She was none the wiser, but standing there in front of god and everybody, I couldn't get over the fact that less than twelve hours previous to my Freudian slip, I was having wild, uninhibited sex, not with my bride to be, but with my best man's sister!

If I had to blame anyone, it would be Bill, my best man. A better friend you will never find, but he is a little lacking in organizational skill. So much so, that the night of my bachelor party bore no resemblance to the Tom Hanks movie. No, it was more like me and Bill and a couple of our male friends sitting in Bill's apartment drinking beer and watching soft core porno flicks we had seen at least a hundred times. There were no hookers. There were no donkeys wearing disguises.

About 11 PM, we decided to call it a night. After all, I had a big day ahead of me and I didn't want to screw it up for lack of sleep. Also, Bill's sister Ellen shared his second floor apartment with him and she was due home from her job at the local hospital at any time. 

Dave and Mike, two friends who were to be my ushers, had just left. I said good night to Bill and was heading down the stairs when I stumbled on the second to the last step. I felt two hands catch me, but I wasn't sure who they belonged to. 

"Thanks." I said. I don't think I slurred my words. 

"No problem, Jim." a rather amused female voice answered. 

"Ellen, is that you?" Looking up I could see her face in partial silhouette. The entrance light formed a faint halo around her head. 

It took her only a moment to make sense out of the situation. Unlike her brother, Ellen was not shy about taking action when action was called for. 

"You're not driving home." It was a statement of fact rather than a question. The difference was lost on me at that moment. 

"Well, it's too far to walk..." I offered weakly.

"I'm taking Jim home; he's in no condition to drive." Ellen called up the stairs. 

"But he only had three beers, Sis!" I heard Bill call down the stairs as Ellen pointed me to her car, a gray 70s ish Volvo. I wasn't falling down drunk, and I feel I could have driven myself the 2 miles to my house without killing myself or anybody else, but I did feel better having someone else drive me - especially when that someone was Ellen. 

Ellen was a year and a half older than Bill which made her the same age as me. She liked her hair long and strait and as far as I knew had never tampered with its natural auburn color. I don't think I had ever seen her in anything other than sweat pants and a loose t- shirt (or, like she was that evening, her hospital scrubs) for all the time I had known her. Just the way she moved, I could tell she wasn't hiding a weight problem. I was pretty sure there was a nicely proportioned woman lurking beneath those loose fitting clothes. 

"I really appreciate this, Ellen." I said as we pulled out of the apartment building's parking lot.

"Not a problem, Jim. It would be bad form if your young bride had to bail you out of jail just to get you to the church." In the dim light inside the car, I could see that she was half a smile away from a laugh. 

"I don't think she would take that very well."

"I don't think I would either, but I would get over it – eventually. After all, boys will be boys."

"Kathy doesn't think like that, I'm afraid. She's not that way."

"Really?" Ellen sounded genuinely interested and mildly concerned. 

"Look at me! I'm not even married yet, and already I am complaining about my wife to another woman." I felt embarrassed and ashamed at the same time. Maybe it was the beer, maybe it was all of the tension that had been building up over the past three months to the wedding, but I felt if Ellen said anything, anything at all I was going to break down and cry.

Ellen chose the better part of valor, at least for the time being. We rode on in silence until we pulled up in front of my apartment building. I expected her just to drop me off in front, but she pulled into the parking lot. Of course, my space was empty so she parked the Volvo there and turned the engine off.

"Look, its normal to have feelings like this on the night before your wedding. That's why guys have bachelor parties! It distracts them from those feelings until it is too late." 

I could tell she was smiling through the dark. I could tell she meant well. 

"You're right, of course." I said quietly. 

She leaned over to give me a kiss on the cheek. She hesitated just long enough that I saw it coming. As her lips approached, I turned my head so that instead of landing on my cheeks, her moist lips touched mine. She jerked back slightly at the realization of what had happened, of what I had done. That is when I moved my lips towards her and the impromptu kiss began anew. We kissed gently for longer than I had hoped, but then she gently pulled back. 

"We shouldn't..." She said softly.

"Shouldn't what?" I asked coyly. 

"You know!" She said somewhat breathlessly; as if just the thought of what it was we shouldn't do was arousing her. 

"Probably, but I think we will anyway." With that I slid my arm behind her neck and gently guided her back to me. 

"You're probably right." She said with soft resignation. "If I don't have you now, I'll never get another chance."

"My feelings, exactly..." I said trying not to sound egotistical. 

As our lips met again, I heard the distinctive click of Ellen's seat belt being released. It was then that I realized that whatever we were going to do we were going to do right here in the parking lot in the front seat of her Volvo. 

The parking lot was dark. The other tenants and I had been after the owner of the building to add some extra lighting, but so far our pleas had fallen on deaf ears. My parking space was even farther from the building than most and had even less lighting. It was covered and faced a small storage shed just like all of the other spaces in what we tenets called "the South 40". I could only hope that it was dark enough and private enough for our purposes. 

With her seatbelt out of the way Ellen turned more towards me and deepened our kiss by parting my lips with her tongue. Up till then I thought she might just have been teasing me, but as our tongues met, her passion meter jumped up two or three notches. 

I quickly dispensed with my seatbelt and tried to turn more towards her but her hands were all over me – running through my hair briefly before finding their way up my t-shirt. Before I knew it she was straddling me with my shirt hiked up to my arm pits.  

As our lips parted, I heard her gasping for air. I was gasping too. I reached over to my right side and pulled the leaver that allowed the seat back to recline. With my free hand I reached for the waist band of her scrubs. Ellen cradled my face with her hands and kissed me again as my fingers found their way past the waistband and down inside her sopping wet panties to her fury patch. 

She moaned aloud as I dipped my middle finger into her wet pussy. Our tongues were fencing once again as I felt one of her hands on the bulge in my jeans.

We broke the kiss once again, as she looked down my waist as her hands fumbled with my belt. I removed my hands from her pants to help her. The fact that I was no longer finger fucking her seemed to help her eye-hand coordination. Presently, my belt was undone and I heard my zipper being opened. 

"Up, please." She said. I lifted my ass up just enough for her to pull my jeans and briefs down just far enough to release my cock. After that, with some effort, I was able to remove her scrub bottoms and her panties. 

That was all she needed. She balanced herself with one hand while she used the other to guide my cock up into her pussy. 

"Oh, god, you feel so good in me." She moaned as I felt her descend on top of me. 

"You too, babe." Not exactly inspired prose, but what the hell was I supposed to say? If she wanted Shakespeare, she was fucking the wrong person! 

"Fuck me, babe. Fuck me hard as you can!" Apparently she didn't want Shakespeare!

I started thrusting up into her while she rode me like three time rodeo champion! We clasped hand and this gave her some support while at the same time allowed me to guide some of her wilder gyrations. This was a whole new experience for me. Kathy (my fiancée, remember?) didn't believe in making love anywhere other than in a bed, or any way other than the "missionary" position. She is very good at what she does, but she had a limited repertoire - if you know what I mean. 

I could tell Ellen was getting close to coming; by the way she was biting her lower lip, gasping for breath and trying to stifle what sounded like a scream. I could also feel her cunt beginning to twitch around my cock. I quickened my thrusts (not as easy as its sound given our position and the lack of room in the car) to try and push her over the edge, but her orgasm remained, elusively, just out of reach. I hate to admit it, but I was beginning to get tired (it must have been the beer) and Ellen could sense it. 

"No, babe, come on! Fuck me!" 

Acting on a whim, I let go of one of her hand, and using free hand smacked her hard on her ass. The shock of it surprised her, but not enough to stop what we were doing. 

"What did you say?" I tried to sound stern, but I think I sounded like someone who had just run a marathon. 

"I said, 'fuck me', damn it!" She was almost there. 

Smack!

"Fuck me!"

Smack again.

"Fuck... Oh Jesus, god." she screamed. She was there! Her cunt started rymthically contracting around my cock. It only took a couple of strokes before my cock erupted inside her. When it did, I smacked her ass one last time. 

It took a while for us to come down and calm down. By the time my cock finally slipped out of her, our breathing had resumed a more normal rate. I gently stoked her long auburn hair, damp now with sweat. Looking at our surrounds as she gently nuzzled my shoulder I saw that all the windows were steamed up. The air was stuffy to say the least. 

I sat up just enough to reach the window hand crank and rolled down the window. The fresh air cool evening air was intoxicating. 

Ellen looked up and surveyed the situation.

"Jeez! It smells like a gym in here." she said with a chuckle.

"I guess it does." I said. 

Ellen leaned forward and whispered in my ear. 

"Let's go upstairs."

And we did!

So, now it was the morning after and Kathy and I had just been pronounced "Man and Wife". Mendelssohn's Wedding March was playing loudly on the church organ as my new bride and I walked down from the altar and headed out the main aisle of the church. Towards the back sat a shapely young woman with auburn hair and sparkling blue eyes. Dressed in a conservative dark blue pantsuit she had a tired, if satisfied look on her face.

As we passed her pew she gave me a quick, knowing wink at the precise moment that Kathy's attention was focused on the other side of the congregation. I felt a shiver of mixed panic and excitement course through my spine that almost made me jump out of my shoes. 

Look, I love my wife. I really do, but what happened between Ellen and I last night was more than just one time casual sex. There was no getting around that!

Like all new husbands, I don't know what the future holds in store for us, but one thing I do know; it's going to be, well, complicated!



A Kiss Is A Promise



The shirt cost me three grand. I've forgotten the name of the boutique where I purchased it. The name was European, I think. Either Spanish or Portuguese. Although I'm sure it would have little or nothing to do with clothes or fashion in a general sense because the owner didn't look like he'd traveled past Togo in his search for wares. His English wasn't even good. The boutique was one of those shops along CENTRAL PLAZA that starched the OK clothes, wrapped them in nylons, put them in show-glasses, and pumped the prices into over-kill, so much you'd think they were Dolce and Garbana franchises or Armani sub-outlets. Be that as it may, my image on the mirror looked good enough for the evening out I had planned for Diane and I.

"You look handsome enough." my cousin Clara said from behind me. I turned to see her standing at the doorway into my bedroom with a smile on her face. "So quit staring at yourself like that would improve anything."

"It's a first date! It's been a long time for me, or have you forgotten?" 

Clara chuckled and sashayed up to me. "Come on! Talking like that will jinx the whole evening. She's going to look even more beautiful than the first time you saw her, and you'll find out you both have more than a lot in common..." She smoothed my collar at the back of my neck. "...She will tell you how much she enjoyed her evening, hint that she may see you again, and you'll kiss her goodnight in the end."

I laughed. "Clara, the hopeless romantic! No wonder you're still a virgin." I teased. I went to sit on the foot of my bed and pulled on a pair of white Espadrilles. I love flats. I looked up when she didn't reply. 

She was scowling. "There is romance still left in the world, Obinna. Just wait, you'll see." She said it with a sureness that struck me as odd. I stared at her as she walked out of my bedroom without another word. Oh well, I didn't mean to hurt her feelings. I grabbed my green, sleeveless, Dior jacket laid out on the bed and left the house through the front door, shouting at her to lock up after me.

I took my two year old VW PASSAT 2008 – a red salon which was crawling to a ninety thousand mileage on its odometer. It was in pristine running condition regardless of its age, thanks to my buddy, Jerry who now managed his father's garage.

"OWU NO DE TOUCH MY BODY! OH BOY!" Naeto C and Reminisce were singing on the car's music box as I rolled out of the compound. Clara was in my rear mirror locking up behind me. I waited to get infected by their grand feeling of I-am-larger-than-life, but these rappers weren't communicable tonight. I felt no better than myself as I drove, which was probably for the best.

I turned the music down to dial Diane's cell number as soon as I hit Oron road which linked the street I lived with the rest of the town.

"Obinna!" She must have been using the phone because she picked as soon as the dial tone kicked in. "Woah! Is it six pm yet?" She seemed surprised.

Okay. That was totally unexpected. I'd readied a pleasant, maybe-I'll-get-a-kiss-at-the-end-of-tonight voice. It took a moment to switch back to normal, feeling the scowl spreading on my face. "You're kidding right? Where are you?"

"I'm at home! At home! Are you on your way?" She sounded unsure. I almost pulled up. "I haven't even had my bathe yet!"

Is that it? "Okay...uhm...how long do you need to get set?"

"An hour?" She smirked over the phone. "No, thirty minutes," she reiterated.

I parked outside the open gates into her apartment building forty-five minutes later. It was a one story building in the middle of a not-so-large, sandy compound similar to all the other houses along the quiet street. They all looked more than a couple decades old to me, but still retained a certain level of dignity. I didn't have to wait long. Diane exited the ground flat. Two other girls exited the house with her but stopped to watch from the front verandah – flat mates. I didn't notice much about them. My attention was glued to the beauty package walking...uh...approaching my car.

I'd say I'm a breast man, but I'm sure every guy out there is too, so the point is moot. Her breasts weren't visible and yet you knew she was well endowed on the chest level. She was wearing a brown, pintuck, short sleeve shirt with white horizontal stripes at the chest level tucked into a loose, blue skirt which had white polka dots that came down mid-distance between her knees and ankles, and a pair of red, heeled boots. (I know female clothes because my cousin runs a fashion blog) She held a pink purse in one hand. Very modest, and yet the way she moved, I swear I could tell she was very sexy underneath.

I smiled at her as she got closer, taking off my Rayban glasses to give her a clearer perusal. She rolled her eyes at me but smiled too. She got into the car.

"Diane! You look breathtaking!"

"Thank you! You're not looking bad yourself!" She observed.

I grinned as I started the car. "Really? I was afraid you'd think so." I joked and drove off.

We'd agreed we would first put up with a movie at the cinema (there was only one cinema in the whole town). Afterwards, we'd hit a bar or a restaurant, whichever appealed to us then. Nothing really serious, it was just a first date.

On the drive over, I asked her about her day at school. We'd chatted a couple times on BBM before today, so we knew a bit about each other. For instance, I already knew she was a final year student of microbiology at the State University who had just returned from a yearlong industrial training at Nigerian Breweries. She knew I was doing my graduate studies on ICT Management at the Federal University still in the same town. During the drive, I got her talking. It was easy. She liked talking and I happened to have the right questions. She mentioned the seminar presentation she was preparing, and seemed confident she'd murder it. It was a pretty pleasant drive all the way to the cinema location at Udoma Avenue, right at the edge of town. The lot was wide enough. It was easy to find space to park. She was surprised when I got out of the car to open her side of the car. That got her giggling.

"Okay, not that I've entered too many cars owned by guys, but this one never happened before."

I was surprised. "Like seriously?" I chuckled. "Glad to be your first." I said and stepped back because she made to punch my shoulder but sidestepping was easy. I laughed. She smiled. I was glad she was relaxed. I locked the car with its remote key. I offered her my hand. She declined it and walked off towards the cinema entrance. I caught up with her and we went in together.

The movie – a romantic comedy – had a field day with the audience's emotions. It was about the right hand man of the boss of a drug dealing cartel, who stumbled on a girl, fell in love with her, and eloped with her to his own peril. The same night, the boss' heir steals a great deal of loot from his father, and everything is blamed on the AWOL right-hand man. Aha! That was the title of the movie – AWOL. It was an interesting movie that got everyone emotional in the end. Diane had misty eyes which she tried to hide from me. I put an arm around her shoulder and patted. She fished for a handkerchief from her purse and dabbed her eyes. She wore no make-up, so there was no fear from that angle. We still had left over popcorn but our cans of coke were long gone.

"I really enjoyed that...the movie I mean," I said as the credits ran.

"I'd download it to my tab and watch it again. It was really amazing. Can you imagine..." she ran off and started narrating the story in bits like I didn't just watch it with her. Others were commenting too in their own little groups as we all trooped out of the viewing hall. I listened to her and chipped in my two cent.

I don't know if she realized it, but we were holding hands as we made our way to my VW. Night had fallen and that had probably made her relax the boundaries a bit. Her conversation had jumped from the movie we'd just watched to other movies by the same producer. I told her I wasn't a movie fan. I preferred sports. She liked soccer. We both loved Manchester United.

"Man-U!" She suddenly shouted, raising one of her hands.

"For Life!" I returned and we both started laughing. I couldn't tell her that she had a sizeable chest suitable for our club's next TV commercial. Man-Chester. That would be a compliment, but pre-first-kiss...probably too much too early. I have to mention this though, lest I forget. Her laugh was the most beautiful sound I ever heard. It wasn't just the sound. It was the way her face lit up like there existed a special switch connected to the spread of those luscious lips of hers, or the exposure of the beautiful gap in between her incisors which turned on a set of bulbs hidden one layer beneath her facial skin which made her face glow almost literally.

"I can't believe this!" Diane said. "I wonder what else we have in common!" I tentatively threw it out there to guage her reaction. Not that it was a big deal... In this part of the world, soccer fans were either for Manchester united, or Chelsea, or Arsenal, or Liverpool, Barcelona or Real Madrid. I'm not a betting man, but I'd wager the chances were one out of fourteen. Okay...yes, quite a big deal. How did I come about that math again? Fuh-gehht-a-bowt-ith!!!

"The night is not over, is it?" She asked. Eureka! My hope was completely off the roof. It must have showed in my eyes because she laughed. "Lemme see..." I looked up at the clouds, frowning thoughtfully. "Uhm...I'll bet there is a bit more that can be done before curfew time, My Lady." I said opening the door to the front passenger side for her to get in. She even had a thank-you smile for me. My blood vessels...tissues and organs too...fluttered.

For no reason at all, I looked around the place as I walked around the car to my door. i spied a well-dressed male stranger standing at the entrance into the cinema, watching me. My heart quit fluttering in my head and focused, but with the casual smile still on my face. I was quick to capture the face of the watcher before he looked away. He knew me. Or he knew my date. Or he... I searched my memory as I slid in beside Diane. I couldn't remember ever meeting the guy. But then, I'd been in this town long enough to be recognized by people I didn't know.

Still, the way the guy had looked at me...

"So, are we going to a restaurant or a bar?" Diane asked oblivious of my distraction. Focus on the beautiful girl beside you. I pushed all thoughts of unfamiliar-face wanna-be watch dog to the back of my mind. Maybe it was some dude who meant no harm. Just envious of...I looked at Diane. Of course I had the right to be envied, my ego said. Focus!

I drove us to a restaurant by Udoma lake on the other end of the three miles long Udoma avenue, mainly because I was hungry and I was perfectly okay with her doing most of the talking. A couple beers and I'd be competing with her God-given urge to voice her opinions.

Dinner went without a hitch. I got us a glass of wine each and when the menu came, she surprised me with her request.

"I'll have the West African Peanut Stew...with sweet potatoes, please" She noticed my raised eyebrows and shrugged. "I'm a vegetarian," she said. I smiled, even more surprised. "Really!

I have a great aunt who stays at Port Harcourt. She's a vegetarian too. Guess what, she's ninety-six and still drives to her vegetable farm!" I ordered rice and beans with chicken soup, and settled to listen to her lecture about the benefits of eating vegetables.

"I believe you, don't just attempt to take me away from egg and milk and meat... I might kill you." I laughed.

The air at the table was jovial and warm. She was pleasantly surprised when a live band came on and I could tell she enjoyed their rendition. She declined a second glass of wine after the meal. I settled the bill and we left.

Back in the car, we were in no hurry to call it a night. I was glad I met her. I could bet (being a non-betting dude) the feeling was mutual. We just sat in the car and talked.

"Do you remember how we met?" I asked.

"Yeah...classic scenario of boy meets girl at an airport lounge and shares a seat row on a flight. It happens every day."

"True...still not all those everyday situations end up like this...boy sits with girl in his car after dinner, totally content with each other's company. A week ago we were strangers on the same flight. It feels different tonight."

Diane chuckled. "And you think you know me?"

I shrugged. "I'm not competing with your friends or flat mates. They've known you for much longer. This night has shown me a lot though. If I knew you as long as they do, I'd know you much better."

She laughed at my subtlety. "You're a funny guy." She stared at me for a while, then half leaned towards me. "A gentle man yes..."

I swear my breath caught. There is something about a sensuous woman closing in on a man's personal space, especially one whose lips you've been thinking about. It does things to a man's medulla. I wasn't exactly as simultaneous as the second jaw of a pincer, but I didn't hesitate a second more. I met her halfway.

"...but still a funny guy." She finished.

I could feel her warm breathe on my face. "You think?" I whispered. "I wonder how hilarious you'd find this then." My lips touched hers. 

One second. Nothing. I nibbled her lower lip. She responded by pressing some more towards me. Her lips opened. I got bolder; no longer tentative. I nibbled at the upper one. She turned her head perpendicularly and opened up some more. My tongue crept forward and into hers, seeking to explore their wet warmth. I felt her tongue circling mine, an ancient passionate maneuver. I turned my head in the opposite direction to go deeper. She moaned. It got even hotter. I put my arms around her and pulled her into a tight hug. The longer our lips stayed merged, the more frenzied the kiss became. For someone who hadn't kissed a girl in two years, I was glad the leopard still had some spots.

How did it end? I can't remember exactly. Mutually I think, because she didn't push me. We must've simply run out of breathe. We didn't kiss forever, that's for sure. Even though I wanted to latch back onto her sweet mouth, it was a first kiss and we were in public. We leaned back into our seats, heaving after our breaths.

"That was one hell of a thank-you kiss." I said.

She chuckled. "Just shut up and drive me home!" She ordered

I drove her back to her apartment on Nsit lane off Abak road. We were both silent throughout the drive. If what was on my mind was the same thing on hers, I wouldn't blame her for not being her usual self. I mean, she'd gotten her pleasant Friday evening, and I'd gotten my kiss. What happens next?

"I'll like to see you again," I said as I pulled up outside her open compound.

"Well, that'd have to be next weekend. "She saw my surprise and added. "This seminar has four grade points and I want to bag an A," she said.

"When is the seminar?"

She frowned. "You want to come?"

I thought for a second. "Uh, if my schedule is clear. Why not?" She leaned in and gave me a peck.

"Thanks, I'd like that." She opened her door and alighted from the car. "I'll see you on Thursday, that is if your schedule is free."

I didn't tell her, but I was sure I'd push anything aside to spend more time with her. We waved each other and I watched her for a bit as she entered the compound towards the apartment building, unseen hips swinging beneath her loose skirt. I could tell. I couldn't wait for Thursday to arrive. I put the gear in drive and drove home to my cousin, feeling elated.

I was watching an entertainment show on AIT at the living room around midnight when I heard a strange noise outside my house. It sounded like feet shuffling. I muted the TV to listen but it had stopped in the next instant. I had a bottle of beer in my hand which I set on the coffee table in front of me. I wasn't afraid yet. I thought my ears were playing games with me. I was going to investigate though.

Thank God, the living room lights were off and the room was only illuminated by the TV lights flickering. I got to my feet and walked to the window that looked out into the front yard. I pushed the curtain a bit and looked out.

Suddenly, I heard the sound of something familiar – the spursssshhhhh of air out of a pressurized containment– which could only happen in my front yard because... my eyes widened in realization... SOMEONE WAS SLASHING MY CAR TIRES.

I heard the sound again. My ears were really tuned in now. This time it came with a preceding stab. The VW, whose bonnet was in my line of vision, slumped backwards. What the hell? Why would someone want to slash my tires? I saw his silhouette move around to the front.

I went numb, but only for a second. As the rage took over, I remembered the cutlass which Clara usually used to cut dried stock fish in bits. Clara...she was sleeping. There was no need to involve her. I could only think of slashing through the cheeky bastard who thought it was fun to intrude and cause havoc on my property and leave him a permanently grinning jaw bone. I tiptoed out of the living room and was brandishing a cutlass when I returned.

I unlocked the front door careful not to make a sound. I switched on the light next and charged out of the front door, past the porch to shadow crouched beside my car, about to stab the third tire. He heard me and scrambled away from me and the car. I went after him with my cutlass raised, ready to hit him with the flat end when I heard the unmistakable sound of a gun cocking. I froze as my brain slowly registered the information. There was a second guy. I could hear him now, approaching me from behind. I tried to turn.

"Don't even think about it!" I heard him say in the meanest tones I've heard in a long while. I obeyed. The circular mouth rested on my back and a hand relieved me of my cutlass. I felt naked. I thought about Clara sleeping inside, but I knew better than to show my fear. The slasherman walked to me, his assurance restored once I was disarmed. His face was covered with a scarf.

"Go and finish the rest of the tires so we can leave." The gunman behind me ordered. He left to continue his work on my tires. 

I raised my hands in surrender. The gun on my back relaxed. I turned to face the man behind me only to realize it was not one, but two men. The second man held a gun too, but he wasn't pointing it. It was too dark to see the make of their weapons but I knew that the only chance I stood was to behave while the slasherman did his work.

The second gunman walked up to me.

"So, you are the guy going with my girlfriend now? Cinema movies...fancy dinners...parking lot kisses."

The guy was speaking in plural while it had all gone down one time. One cinema movie....One diinner, not altogether as fancy as fancy should be...and one parking lot kiss, a hot one nonetheless. Not that I could make my point. His eyes were full of hate and his face were almost as close to mine as his girlfriend's had been a few hours ago just before I kissed her, that the feeling pulsing beneath his face was crystal enough not to be confused for anything else. That didn't bother me. If shooting me was the plan, I'd be bleeding on the ground by now. Still, Girlfriend?

"Girlfriend! Diane never told me she was seeing someone..." Someone so handsome. I held that bit back. I could hear my tires' dying sighs.

"And that is the only reason you're still on your feet, boy. There will be no next time, because if there is, I won't vouch for my friend's itchy fingers over there." I looked at his colleague-at-arms. He was probably the same height as the guy who'd stalked I and Diane at the cinema house. I couldn't tell for sure though. I turned to Diane's 'boyfriend'. "What if I run into your girlfriend, say at the supermarket, or in school, or..."