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Hero

By: Saddle Tramp



I couldn't believe it. A kid driving a real nice little Accord that he had put into a killer stereo and hundreds of dollars worth of trim and chrome and shit hits me while drunk and running a red light. My Harley was totaled, and I wound up in the hospital for 10 days. I had a concussion, dislocated shoulder, and broken cheekbone, collarbone, and several ribs.

Not to mention the warrant the cops found on me for too many tickets.

To make a long story short, I got 30 days, the state got the wreck of my bike, and nothing happened to the kid. His parents didn't have to pay for a damn thing. He got a warning for running a red light, but I was left with nothing.

I lost my job, bike, current girl friend, and 30 days cuz of that kid.

The cops were nice enough to give me a ride from the hospital to the Sierra County Jail, but I had to walk outa the jail with no home, no bike, no cash, and no idea what to do next.

I walked around all day to try to find a job, but I was so busted up, nobody would hire me. So I walked to I-25 thinking maybe I could get a ride anywhere.

When I was still a couple of miles from the interstate, an old friend was stopping to gas up his hog. We slapped hands and hugged like we hadn't seen each other in several years, which we hadn't. Then he gave me the bad news.

Two weeks earlier, my best friend in the whole world had died when he took a nasty spill on a rainy night in Texas.

Pack Rat had been my best friend since fourth grade; we learned about cars, bikes and girls together; got our first jobs together; buried our parents together; and I was the best man at his wedding.

Now, I love Kate, don't get me wrong, but when Rat had to choose between partying with me, or providing for his family, he made the right choice and stayed with Kate. He also started his own bike shop in the panhandle of Texas. Rat had always been a great wrench (unlike me, I just wanted to do enough to get on the road), so his business took off.

Kate's parents were from that area, and when they died (a lot of people dying, huh?), Kate took over the ranch.

Kate has always been a strong gal, but there was no way she could keep everything going by herself. The biker, Midas (his daddy was loaded and Midas never wanted for money) said Kate was gonna work herself into an early grave.

"I'd go help her if I could get there, but I'm busted flat, just got outa jail, and still trying to heal." I told him.

"No prob, bro. I just saw a bike for sale up by the interstate. Ain't much, but if yer goin' to help Kate, I'll spring." Midas also has a big heart.

So I ride this P.O.S. (Piece of Shit) Cow-asaki most of the way to Rat and Kate's. I'm still about 150 miles out, when the motor seizes up. As I said, it's a P.O.S.

I manage to hitch a ride into town and went straight to Rat's shop. There's a kid there working the counter so people can order parts and stuff, but he don't know nothing about working on bikes. I started to tell him who I am, but he already knows. There are like hundreds of pictures of Rat, Kate, and I scattered around the walls of this joint. The kid, who's name is Kent, calls Kate and tells her I'm in town.

After hanging up, he tells me that Kate is terribly busy at the ranch, but I'm welcome to crash at the shop for the night and she'd see me the next day.

At closing time, Kent locks up and leaves me to explore the shop that Kent and I put together nearly seven years ago. I looked at all the pictures and remembered the times the three of us had together. Some of them had whatever girl I was going out with at the time in the pic with us. Rat, or maybe it was Kate, even wrote in the girl's name. Most of them I don't even remember.

That was just the way it was. Rat and Kate started going together as freshmen in high school, and I just bounced from one unfulfilling relationship to another. I was always jealous of their relationship, but I loved them both enough not to try and fuck it up.

Kate was usually the one that set me up with half of them. I know she liked me a lot, kinda like a brother, so she wanted for me the same happiness that she and Rat had found.

After the tears had gone away, I went back into the service area. A few bikes that Rat had been working on when he died still stood on the stands, waiting for the owners to come and get them. In the back was a bike under a tarp. I thought it could be Rat's, then I realized that the wreck out in the yard was his.

I lifted the tarp and saw an antique '46 Flathead that looked like it had been kept in a barn for the last 30 years. I figured it was a project that Rat never did or would get around to.

Even after the day of travel and the trips down memory lane, I was too exited to see Kate to sleep right away, so I started looking at the bikes that Rat had been working on. Nothing I couldn't handle.

So, with the lights on and doors open, I dug in. Tune up here, oil changes, new chain on one, and a ring job. As I started to set the timing on the ring job, I fell asleep sitting on the stool and leaning against a '91 Fatboy.

"Scott? Is that you?" woke me up from an exhausted sleep. It was Kate come in to pick me up. I jumped up and ran to see her. We met in the hall and I picked her up in a bear hug while spinning her around.

"What were you doing back there? There's a sofa in the office?" she asked.

"I was just finishing up some of the bikes in the back and I fell asleep." I said kinda sheepishly. We were looking into each other's eyes, so we didn't need to say that they were bikes that Rat had been working on.

A silence lingered between us as we looked at each other. After several seconds I burst out crying, blubbering like a baby.

"I'm so sorry, Kate. He was the closest thing to family I've had for years. And I'm sorry for missing the funeral. I was in jail and didn't find out 'til a coupla days ago. God, I'm sorry."

She held me like a mother comforting a little child in a thunderstorm.

After what seemed like an eternity, I heard the kid, Kent, come in. I quickly dried my eyes and went into the bathroom to throw some water on my face. Kate went to tell Kent that I had finished the work on some of the bikes in the service area, so he could call the owners to come pick them up.

Finally I grabbed my bag of possessions and left with Kate to get some breakfast.

During breakfast she told me all that had happened in the last five years since I had seen them. No kids, her ranching was booming, and the bike shop had become a center for biker throughout the panhandle. I had seen some of the shop's tee shirts on passing bikers and at rallies over the years, but never went back.

After finding out all about the accident and funeral, we just sat and looked at each other for a while.

"Why did you leave?" she asked me.

"I had to. You've gotta understand. After that last night, we could never be what we were before." I was staring at my hash browns. I couldn't look her in the eye.

"I know." She said and then paused to get her thoughts together. "You and Keith (Rat's real name) had always shared everything, and with all the alcohol in us, it just seemed the thing to do. I'm as much to blame as either of you. I started the strip tease. What did I expect to happen?"

"But you were married to my best friend! I should have known better to egg you on, and when things started getting weird, I should have left. I still can't believe some of the thing you did and that we did to you that night. Sometimes, when I'm real drunk and alone, I still see you and Rat and all that happened that night." I was running out of steam, but she didn't speak. After several minutes of silence, I continued. "I had to leave. If I would have stayed, it would have been awkward for all of us. You for knowing that you started it, me for having done to you what I did, and Rat for knowing that he used you the same way we used some of the girls from school. The whole situation was fucked up. So when I woke up before ya'll, I just packed up and left."

"What do you mean what you did to me? You mean anal sex? You mean cumming in my mouth? Or do you just mean having had any sex with me at all? I loved that night. I still dream about it today. Keith and I discussed it every so often. He never held it against you or me for what happened that night. He loved you, Scott. He loved you more than anybody, and I think that included me. When Keith would get drunk, sometimes he would start asking me what HE did to run you off." This time it was her that ran out of steam.

"I - I - I- I didn't know." I stammered. I just hung my head and started to think about the wasted years between us.

A tear started to form in one eye when the waitress came to give us our ticket. I shook off the tear and the guilt and looked up at Kate. She was getting the ticket.

"Don't ever give it a second thought, Scott. It was in the past and it can stay there. I just buried my husband, I can't afford to loose a friend, too." She went to pay the tab and I walked out to her truck.

The rest of the day she showed me some of the ranch. Two hundred square miles of grazing land and the 25 acres of houses, sheds, barns, and utility buildings. It was beautiful and I could understand why Kate had been unwilling to just sell it and live on what Rat brought in at the shop.

Her house was a five-bedroom ranch that kinda reminded me of the house in "Giant" that Rock Hudson and Liz Taylor had. It was that ornate.

She told me that she had eight cowboys working for her at that time, and that she was mostly a businesswoman, not a cowgirl.

"Oh, I can still ride a horse better that you can ride a motorcycle, you can bet on that. But there is so much more to a ranch than that. I only spend a couple of hours a day outside. The rest is spent in the office." She droned on about the business side, but I started to wonder what I was really doing here.

Kate was 30, the same as me, 5'10"; slender with D sized breasts. But they didn't look huge on her, her being so tall and all. She was wearing tight Wrangler's, which I found she wore all the time. Her waist was incredibly small so that it made her look like she actually had hips.

She had always been that way. Back in school, we used to joke that she had no hips, I had no butt, and that Rat had sense of humor. Kate and I hadn't changed.

Over dinner (Grilled burgers) I asked her if I could keep the shop open for Rat. It was her turn to stare at her plate and think of a reply.

Just as I was about to leave the table (and probably town), she looked up and smiled at me. "I can't think of anything that would do more to keep Keith alive more than that. I want you to have the shop."

"No way. The shop is yours," I said. "I just want to work there for a while. Maybe I can get back some of Rat that I lost over the last five years."

"Oh, yeah, and I'll need all of Rat's biker rags. He was always the mechanic. I just made the beer runs and watched." I said with a smile. The mood had gotten too heavy for me.

We both laughed at that and went out to the porch. We sat there way into the night talking over old times and I caught her up on what had happened to me over the last five years and all the girls I had dated.

"Some things never change." She said with a laugh.

"Yeah, but I'm not getting any younger" I told her. "I've gotta settle down one of these days." Kate started to interrupt, but I cut her off "and don't you go trying to set me up. You lost too many friends that way. Didn't you ever feel like my pimp?"

"No" she said. "I never set you up with any of my girl friends, just some girls that thought a rebel would be cool. Do you remember Michelle Carlson? I just got tired of her being a fucking bitch and I was kinda mad at you for something. So I set you two up. What did you do to her anyway?"

"You mean that short red-head? She was bad mouthin' you all night and teasing me, so I gave her what she was lookin' to buy. The first time was her first time and she screamed through half of it, then had her first orgasm. She "made" me do it two more times before she told me she loved me and wanted to marry me. What was I supposed to do? I didn't want that bitch for my WIFE. So I did what any other coward would do: I fucked her ass 'til she couldn't walk. She never said another word to me, either."

We laughed over that for a while, then went to bed. Separately.

The next morning I got to start working in the shop. Kate let me use one of her trucks. Nothing major at the shop. Just routine kinda stuff. A couple of the old timers stopped in, so they put out the word that Pack Rat's shop was still open. I knew many of them from my days in the area, so we caught up on old times. Some of them knew Kate from our wild days, and asked me to pass on their sympathies.

Bikers are really great people. Most folks think they just ride around drinking beer and causing trouble. Sure we can raise some hell, but there is a sense of family between us. Just because Kate was always busy with the ranch and Rat didn't party every night like the used to, doesn't mean that the bond was broken.

Things went great for a couple of weeks. Then Kate told me about the big rodeo a couple of towns over. She needed my help to get some of the stock there because all of her cowboys were gonna compete in the rodeo, and she couldn't do it by her self.

After getting all the stock loaded, transported, and unloaded, I got to hang out in the back and watch the other side of a rodeo.

As the opening ceremonies started I got a wink and a smile from the gorgeous blonde cowgirl carrying the American Flag. I asked one of the cowboy's what her story was, and they said everybody thinks she's lez, cuz she won't date any of the cowboys and she stays away from the rodeo crowd for the most part. I found out her name was Liz, and that she was easily the best cowgirl in the region.

The ceremony was nice, but as they were leaving the ring, the blonde's horse got a start from something, nobody ever found out, and took off down the chute. When it got out into the open, it bucked the blonde off, but her boot got stuck in a stirrup. With Liz on the ground, the horse started running to freedom, right past where I was sitting on the coral.

As it ran by, I jumped for the saddle, but could only grab the horn. I, too, started to drag behind it, and it stepped on my leg. I not only felt it break, but heard it, too. But the girl was still dragging behind, so I didn't let go. All I had was one hand on the horn, so I took my right hand and unbuckled the saddle. The whole rig fell off, taking Liz and I with it.

She was a mess. There was no telling how many times she had been stepped on by that damn horse.

The rest of the cowboys were on us in seconds. A couple came to help me, but most tried to help Liz. I tried to be the macho biker and tell them I was fine, but the moment I tried to move my right leg, I passed out from the pain.

I woke up in the ambulance. Liz must have been in another one, cuz she wasn't in mine. I asked if she was OK, but the medic told me to be quiet and relax.

As they were casting my leg at the hospital, I picked up bits and pieces of what was going on with Liz. She was in surgery. She was in bad shape. She was lucky to be alive. She'll be lucky to live.

By the time Kate came to get me, Liz was out of surgery. All we could get from the nurses was "wait and see".

Kate told me I was a hero. All the cowboys wanted to buy me drinks for what I did for Liz. I was dirty and all, but Kate took me to the bar for the party anyway.

I was greeted with a hero's welcome. All the cowboys wanted to shake my hand and all the cowgirls wanted to kiss me and shower me with affection. The table they sat me at was quickly covered with beers and shots of anything imaginable. Not wanting to be rude, I did my best to drink all of them throughout the night.

One redhead in particular would not leave my side. She flirted with me the whole night and kept handing me drinks when I couldn't reach them my self.

When I passed out, Kate took me back to the motel room we were sharing. Separate beds. Get real.

The next day, she told me who the redhead was. That's right. Michelle Carlson.

"Did she remember me?" I asked.

"I don't think so, but she does remember me. She did her best to keep me away from you, and put up a fight when I started to carry you out. You almost got raped last night" Kate said with at smile.

"You can't rape the willing." Was the only thing I could think of to say.

The rest of the rodeo, I sat in the stands. I did get an ovation when introduced to the crowd. The announcer then asked for everybody to stand up, remove their hats, and have a moment of silence for Liz. It turns out she was gonna make it, but it would be a rough recovery.

The rodeo was great. Competition was fierce, and the stock was more than a lot of the cowboys could handle.

Many of the cowboys pitched in at the end to help Kate load up the stock. They were helping her both because of what I did for Liz and because many of them knew Rat and they missed him too.

I still went to work at the shop every day, but I couldn't get around at all, so Kent did all my fetchin' and steppin'. He learned a lot and I started to let him do more and more in the shop.

Business was picking up again, now that word was getting out that I was doing good work. As the weather was starting to turn, business really started to pick up. I was fixing the little things that the bikers had let slide cuz they wanted to ride and a lot of the guys wanted their motors rebuilt after a hard year of riding and before spring.

That was fine with me. I needed to stay busy. Kate was busy with the ranch, but we managed to see a lot of each other around the house. We were getting real close again, and I was afraid that one of us would do something stupid.

So I found a release for that urge. Michelle Carlson. I called her up and less than 15 minutes later, I had her clothes off her and her ass in the air. She didn't want any foreplay, but I did manage to get her to start getting me ready with a blowjob while I was fingering her pussy getting it wet. When I was ready, I pulled out of her mouth and moved in behind her. With one strong stroke, I bottomed out. Not much to the quality of that pussy.

I remembered how tight it was when I was the first in there, but I also remembered how loose it was by the third time. That's how loose it was now.

I knew that there was no way I was gonna get any relief this way, so I started to think of other options. I ran a finger over her anus as I looked at it. That looked like one well-fuck asshole. Gone was the little pink rose bud, replaced by a scarred up brown sphincter.

Slipping my finger into her pussy along side my cock, I got it good and wet, then proceeded to stick it in her asshole. It was no where near as tight as it had been thirteen years ago, but it was still tighter than that sad pussy of hers.

Just as she was staring to cum, I slipped out of her pussy, and rammed it home in her ass. She started to scream, begging for more. Harder. Faster.

She and I reached to point of no return at the same time. I squirted and squirted into her well fucked ass.

As I started to soften, she turned around and took my limp cock in her mouth, cleaning it really well.

After it was clean, she went into the kitchen, pulled out a glass from the cupboard, and filled it with the cream from her ass. The gross brown and white liquid looked like swirled ice cream.

Michelle then stirred it around with her finger before putting the finger in her mouth and pulling out a "clean" finger. She smile and made those "yummy" sounds as she offered me the glass.

"Fuck no, you sick bitch." I said in disgust.

With that, she downed the whole glass like a martini.


Hero



WARNING! WARNING! WARNING! This is a rewrite of a story I wrote and published a while ago, under a different pen name! The last time I did this I was accused of plagiarism. I never submitted this story to Literotica but it was published on another site, so if you think you read this story before, you very well may have. 

I have rewritten parts of it and thought I would publish it here. I hope you enjoy the story and like always, I appreciate your comments.

Thanks,

Laptopwriter 

Copyright© 2013 by Laptopwriter

*

A light, misty rain hung in the air as Carl drove his Lincoln along the slick country roads wondering which was colder, the near freezing temperature outside the car, or the freeze he was getting from his wife inside the car. 

"Are you sure you're okay to drive?" she asked, finally breaking the tense silence. "You're going a little fast for this kind of weather aren't you?" 

"I'm fine;" replied Carl. "I've had only three beers all night. I'm not drunk, just pissed." 

"You have no reason to be pissed, we were just dancing, that's all. You had no call to confront him like that. It was embarrassing. I doubt very much if Mary ever invites us to another party; not if you're going to go around threatening to beat up her cousin all the time."

"I didn't threaten to beat him up. I simply told him he would have to prove himself a better man than me if he wanted to continue putting his hands all over you like that. 

"Look, honey, the man was constantly trying to cop a feel. He had his hands all over your ass, for crying out loud. I'm still trying to figure out why you let him do that. You said I embarrassed you? How the hell do you think I felt, when in front of most of our friends, you let that asshole put his paws anywhere he damn well pleased? You don't think I was embarrassed? Hell, I had to do something, my pride was at stake; yours too, even if you didn't realize it."

Bev turned her head and watched the tall pine trees pass by the passenger side window. Quietly she thought about what her husband just said and gave a small conciliatory sigh. Thinking back to the man's actions she knew her husband was right. She really did regret the embarrassing situation she had placed him in. Her eyes lifted upward to gaze at the large, yellow moon glimmering through the murky haze. Its face seemed to be scolding her as it followed along.

"I'm sorry," she said in a soft, apologetic voice. "I guess he was getting a little fresh. I suppose you had every right to do what you did; but you know me, once I get on the dance floor I just like to have fun. I wasn't even thinking about where his hands were. He was a good dancer and I was concentrating on our moves."

"I know, honey. Unfortunately, he was concentrating on putting some moves on you. I watched for a little while, thinking you would put him in his place, but when you didn't I had to step in, that's all there was to it."

"Alright, I really am sorry. I should have been more aware of what he was trying to do," she said, again with a small sigh. "I really screwed up, didn't I; and right in front of our friends too. I really do apologize, honey. Forgive me?"

Carl knew his wife very well and knew she was telling the truth. She wasn't flirting or being promiscuous. She wasn't even paying attention to the asshole, only to his dancing skills. "Of course, honey," he replied.

"When we get home I'll make it up to you," she said reaching over and laying her hand on his thigh.

"Now you're talking," he said. Just then the inside of their car was suddenly illuminated by a pair of headlights from behind. "Damn, you think I'm going fast, this car behind us..."

"CARL, LOOK OUT," screamed Bev. 

Carl's eyes were diverted from the rear view mirror to the on-coming panel truck skating sideways into his lane. There was no time to think or maneuver around the vehicle, all he could do was react. Carl hit the brakes and swerved toward the white, wooden guard rail that separated the edge of the road from the steep embankment that lay beyond.

The powerful automobile lost traction on the slick pavement and slid head on, smashing into the protective barrier, angrily sending tiny scraps of lumber exploding out in every direction. The impact hurled them both forward, straining against their seatbelts. With the sound of a large caliber gun shot, the airbags detonated with such forced that the blast stunned them both and prevented even the slightest chance of Carl maneuvering the heavy vehicle back onto the road.

They felt the car's rear-end spin sideways then start to tip over. Among the sounds of crunching metal and shattering glass, the last thing Carl heard was the terrified scream of his wife as the car rolled down the ridge.

Barry Westchester veered his classic Jaguar to the shoulder of the road, narrowly avoiding the truck. As it passed, its driver regained control and steered back into his own lane as he continued into the drizzling fog. 

The expensive sports car came to a stop at the hole in the fence where its young driver had seen the headlights disappear from in front of him. As he ran to the edge and looked down he saw the overturned vehicle precariously perched on a small ledge that kept it from tumbling the rest of the way down the steep bank. 

"ARE YOU OKAY DOWN THERE?" he yelled, but got no response. Barry turned to retrieve the phone from his car but stopped when he heard the scraping of metal. The wreck slipped a little further down the hill. He looked again for any sign of movement. Shit, he thought, it sounds like that damn car is getting ready to go over the cliff. If they're still alive they won't be after that. He knew there was no time to wait for nine-one-one. I've got to get them out of there now, he told himself.

Barry could feel his pulse racing as he anticipated climbing down the treacherous slope. He could see his breath as he exhaled with a heavy sigh to gather his nerve. Carefully Barry started his descent. He bent over and tried using his hands for support but slipped with his first step on the icy hill and was sent hurtling down the incline. His painful cry broke through the cold night air as his fall ended abruptly with his knee smashing into the side of the twisted wreckage. 

He grabbed his leg with both hands and rolled on the frozen ground, his face twisted in agony. "Damn!" he cursed out loud. He lay there a minute knowing he had to overcome the pain. Then the smell of leaking gas warned him of a new urgency. He forced his attention back to the couple imprisoned within the crumpled mass of steel. 

Every window was busted and there was broken glass everywhere. Carefully he inched himself to the passenger side window and found Bev's unconscious body suspended from her seatbelt. She was scraped up but appeared to be breathing. He reached in and felt her neck looking for a pulse. Thank God she's still alive, he thought. He looked across and saw another person, a man in the driver's seat, also unconscious. Assuming they were husband and wife he scoured the rest of the car as well as the immediate area, not knowing if any children had been in the back seat. After a hectic search he concluded the two in the front were the only inhabitants. Now all he had to do was get them both out.

The way the roof was smashed it was impossible to get them through the side. His pulse quickened even more. He knew the only way to get them free was for him to crawl in through the broken windshield, which of course, would be putting his own life in grave danger. 

In spite of the cold he could feel his palms sweat, his heart was pounding in his chest. He was scared to death, but had no other choice; he knew he'd never be able to live with himself if he let them die. Barry took a couple of deep breaths and carefully scooted through the broken glass and prickly pine needles to the front of the wreck.

Briefly he froze in fear as he felt the wreckage rock unsteadily from his actions. The brave young man lay on his back, reached up and grabbed the sharp edge above him. He pulled with both hands while using his good leg to push at the same time. He could feel the jagged metal shredding his thin jacket and cutting into his back as he forced himself through the opening.

Finally able to reach the female victim, he used one hand to support her then released the buckle of her seatbelt with the other. Still bracing her body to keep her from being cut as much as possible, Barry carefully maneuvered her from the vehicle. With his knee unable to bear much weight, he grabbed her under the arms, and languished through his pain, limping backwards as he pulled her clear of danger. 

Once she was safe he left her lying on the ground to go back for the man. 

"Hey, what's going on down there?" he heard someone holler from the road above.

"There's been an accident," he yelled back. "Help me, there's a guy still trapped in a car down here and it's just about ready to fall the rest of the way down the ravine."

"I'll call for the ambulance," was the man's only response.

Undaunted and with no regard for his own safety, he returned for the driver. Determining he was also still alive, Barry again, lay down among the jagged edges of broken glass and used the same technique in getting to the man as he did the woman; but the man was bigger and heavier. Now the smell of gasoline became more pronounced and the terrifying thought of fire cross his mind. Desperately he struggled to untangle the man from behind the steering wheel. He worked fanatically as he felt the steel coffin around him shift and start to slide closer to the edge of the sheer drop-off. 

Barry was so close to getting the man free; he couldn't stop now. With stubborn determination he used all his might to push the broken steering wheel out of his way. 

Once again, with a terrible creaking noise, he felt the car starting to slip and knew this time it was going down. Holding on to the man as tightly as he could with one hand, Barry fought the excruciating pain in his leg and hurriedly crawled from the shifting wreckage, but the wounded driver got caught in his seatbelt and was still inside. 

The thought of his own death brought tears to his eyes but Barry refused to let go as the battered wreckage continued skidding downward, pulling him with it. 

A large tree root growing out of the ground provided his last hope. He grabbed for it with his free hand, then with his last ounce of strength, yanked Carl from the jaws of death just as the doomed vehicle slid from the ledge and crashed end over end, bursting into flames as it finally hit bottom.

Operating on pure adrenaline, Barry pulled the man further up the hill to safety and laid him next to his wife.

"The ambulance is on its way," declared the man from the road above. "Is everyone alright down there?" 

Barry was in shock and too exhausted to answer. He was just thankful to be alive. His breathing was labored and the pain in his leg was throbbing. There was no way he could climb back up that hill so he lay down himself and decided to just wait for help.

***

Carl thought he heard voices but they sounded so far away. What's that smell, it's so strong, he thought and why is he having trouble breathing..."What the hell is going on?" he said aloud without realizing it.

"Doctor, he's coming to."

Doctor; where was he? Why did he need a doctor, he wondered? 

"Mr. Stapleton, can you hear me?" someone asked him.

"Yes, I can hear you," Carl replied. "What happened? Why am I here?" 

"Mr. Stapleton, you've been in an accident," the doctor told him. "Do you remember..."

"Bev," he suddenly yelled while trying to sit up. "My wife; is she okay?"

"Hey, hey, take it easy," he heard the nurse say as she held her hand against his shoulder preventing his from sitting up. "Yes, Mr. Stapleton, "Your wife is going to be fine. She's just a couple rooms down the hall. She's been asking for you." 

"Are you sure?" he anxiously asked as his memory of the crash came rushing back. "I heard her scream. We were going over a cliff and I heard her scream, are you sure she's okay?" He looked at the doctor with terror in his eyes.

"Yes, Mr. Stapleton, honest, she's going to be fine. She's been very worried about you. She'll be glad to hear you're awake. Look, you've both been through a terrible trauma," said the doctor. "You have two broken ribs and your left ankle is broken in addition to multiple contusions and lacerations. With that cast on your ankle you'll be on crutches for about six weeks. After that, you'll need physical therapy for another four or five weeks. Your wife is in better shape than you. She suffered a dislocated shoulder and she's pretty scraped up, but you were both very, very lucky. The two of you will be up and around in no time."

Carl began to relax a little as he laid his head back down on the pillow.

"There's a state trooper in there with your wife right now. As soon as he's done we'll get her in here for you." 

"I hear he's awake. Would it be okay to ask him some questions, doctor?" Carl heard someone ask from the doorway.

"Yeah, I think so. Would you be able to answer some questions for the police, Mr. Stapleton?" the doctor asked. 

Carl nodded his head slightly. 

"Mr. Stapleton, I'm Lieutenant Richardson with the Illinois State Police. I'm investigating the accident you had. We have a witness who says a panel truck lost control and slid into your lane of traffic. He said you had no choice but to swerve into the guardrail. Is that the way you remember, Sir?"

"Yeah," Carl said with a small groan. He was starting to feel discomfort from his broken ribs.

"I can see you're in pain, Mr. Stapleton. I'll try to keep this as brief as possible. Do you remember what the truck looked like; Color, make, any markings on the side, anything you remember that might help us locate it?"

"Ah, well it was green and there was something about fruit on the side but I didn't really get a good look at it. I have no idea what make, I was too busy trying to get out of its way."

"Of course; that was pretty much what the other witness said as well. He was almost forced off the road too." 

"My wife; they said she's okay, is that true? They said you talked to her?"

"Oh yeah, she'll be fine. Her right shoulder was dislocated. They put it back but she'll have to wear her arm in a sling for a while. Outside of that she has a few cuts and bruises here and there, mostly on her legs, but, nothing too serious. You're both lucky to be alive. If it wasn't for the young man who saw the accident and went down there to save you guys, you'd both be dead."

"Young man; I don't remember anything after rolling down the hill. What young man?"

The Lieutenant checked his notes. "Name was Barry Westchester, only twenty-two years old; he was right behind you when it happened. He pulled you both out of the wreck just before it went the rest of the way down the ravine and burst into flames."

"My God, you weren't kidding were you; he really did save our lives."

"Oh yeah, no doubt about it, Mr. Stapleton. He was in here for a while himself. He banged up his knee pretty bad while getting you guys out of the car. He'll be on crutches for a while but he'll live. There was another guy watching from the road. He says the kid was absolutely fearless; 'the most amazing thing I've ever seen,' were his exact words. Mr. Westchester actually crawled into the wreckage and pulled you out while the car was sliding down the hill. Fricken kid's got to have balls of steel to do something like that; a real hero."

"Geez, Lieutenant, is he from around here? I'd like to find some way to thank him?" Carl asked just as the nurse wheeled Bev into the room in a wheelchair.

"CARL!," she cried out when she saw him. "Honey, my God you're okay," she said standing up on wobbly legs as the nurse brought her up to the side of his bed.

"Oh, honey," he said trying to sit up so he could kiss his wife.

"Mr. Stapleton," the nurse said sternly, "You lay back down there or I'll take her right back out of here."

"Damn, nurse, at least let me kiss her," he said. Bev leaned over the guardrail. Carl put his arm around her being carful of her shoulder and they kissed.

It was heartwarming for both the nurse and the state trooper to see how devoted the two were to each other. After breaking the kiss Bev gently put her head on Carl's chest, put her left arm around him and quietly cried. 

Carl lightly stroked her hair. "Easy, babe," he softly told her. "It's over, honey. It's all over and we're both going to be fine."

She nodded her head slightly and tried to regain control of her emotions. "I know, honey. I was just so scared. God, I was so frightened that I'd lost you," she said between sobs.

"I know, baby; I was the same way. I don't know what I'd do without you, honey. It's okay now. Everything is going to be fine...thanks to a very brave man who saw the accident. Did you hear what he did, honey? Some young guy saved our lives... what was his name again?" he asked the trooper still standing next to the bed.

"Westchester," the trooper replied, "Barry Westchester. You'll be able to get a copy of the police report in a couple of days. It'll all be in there," he said with a smile. 

"Well, I guess I'll leave you two alone. If either of you think of anything else, please give me call at this number," he said handing Carl a business card. "We really would like to catch the guy that was driving that truck. He almost killed you two, and he damn near forced that kid off the road as well," he told them before leaving.

"Okay, you two; If you both promise to be good I'll leave you alone for a little while," said the nurse with a smile. "Just remember those ribs, Mr. Stapleton. They're going to be very tender for a while, so please try to move around as little as possible for now."

"I promise," he said still stroking his wife's hair. After the nurse left the room, Carl and Bev just stayed like they were without saying a word for several minutes; just enjoying the fact that they still had one another.

Finally, between the awkward position she was standing in and the pressure it was putting on her shoulder, Bev had to sit back down in the wheelchair. Carl squeezed his arm between the side rails of the bed so they could hold hands.

"I think we're going to need a new car," Carl said jokingly.

Bev chuckled, "Okay, just as long as I don't need a new husband," she replied. 

"You know, I can't stop thinking about that guy who saved our lives. I've never had my life saved before, it's a weird feeling to know you owe your life to someone," Carl said.

"Yeah, honey, I know exactly what you mean. How do you repay someone for saving your life? What could you possibly do for them in return?"

"Exactly, babe; it's just strange because you know, short of saving his life, there's no way to square things with him."

Bev sat and thought for a moment. "Well, the lieutenant said he was young, maybe we can do something to help change his life for the better. You know...like pay for him to go to college and get an education, or somehow get him started in a career that he'd like...something like that."

"Yeah, maybe; we have time to think about it, we have to get well ourselves before we can do anything."

"Maybe not, honey. That cop said he injured his knee. Why don't we see if he has any medical bills? We could start saying thanks by paying them."

"Honey, that's a great idea. When that nurse comes back we'll have her check. Whatever his bills are we'll pay them. Honey," he said with a smile, "you're an absolute genius, you know that?"

Carl and Bev were disappointed when the nurse reported back to them saying the bill for Mr. Westchester had already been paid in full. They were both released later that day.




Hero



It was dark by the time the cab pulled into their driveway, but even in the dark and with all the lights off, the house never looked so good to either of them. Carl was so thankful to be home that after paying the driver, he gave him a twenty-dollar tip.

"Thank you, sir," the cabby said expressing his appreciation with enthusiasm. "If you need a ride in the future, my name is Jose, you can ask for me by name."

"Okay, Jose," replied Carl with a small chuckle. "I'll be sure and do that."

"Do you need any help, honey?" offered Bev.

"No, babe, I'm doing fine," he responded as he hobbled up the stairs.

"Honey, I don't think I've ever been happier to be home," said Bev once they were both inside. 

"Yup, I know exactly what you mean, feels good doesn't it." 

Bev watched as her husband grappled with his crutches through the living room to his favorite recliner. Fighting to keep his balance, he took them from under his arms and set them against the arm of the chair then, while keeping his cast extending so it didn't touch the floor, Carl hopped into position and lowered himself to sit. The last few inches came with a flop and his arm bumped the crutches knocking them to the floor.

"Shit," was his only comment as he leaned back in comfort letting the foot rest come up.

Bev had to chuckle to herself. She wasn't used to seeing her very competent husband struggle with anything. It wasn't often she was given the opportunity to take care of him. It was always the other way around. Hell, he almost never even got sick. It was almost heartening to know he might have to depend on her for some things. This was her chance to baby him for a change, even if she did have a bum shoulder. 

She watched as he stretched out in his recliner and saw her first chance to offer some tender loving care. She walked up stairs to the bedroom and grabbed a pillow. "Here, honey, can you lift your leg; let me put this under it. You're supposed to keep it elevated, remember?"

Carl opened his eyes to see his beautiful wife standing in front of him with the pillow in her hand. His smile spread across his entire face. "Thanks honey," he said while lifting his ankle.

"How about I make a pot of coffee and we call for a pizza delivery," Bev asked.

"Oh babe, some of your black gold would be like a slice of heaven right now, especially after drinking that swill they served in the hospital."

"Honey, do me a favor," she said getting up and kissing his cheek on the way to the kitchen, "Don't mention heaven for a while. It makes me think of just how close we came to earning our wings."

"You got it," he replied with a chuckle. 

A little while later Bev presented her hubby with his first cup of real coffee in days; "Aaaaaaah, nectar of the gods," he proclaimed as it slid past his taste buds. "Oops, I did it again, didn't I?"

Bev just smiled as she sat on the arm of his chair so he could put his arm around her waist. "Honey, what are we going to do about the guy who saved our lives?" she asked. "I can't stop thinking about that. We have to figure out a way to pay him back."

"Yeah, I know, honey, we will," he replied. "That state trooper said we should be able to get a copy of the accident report tomorrow. That should have his contact information on it. I thought we could invite him over for dinner after we're both feeling a little better. We can get to know him a little and maybe figure out what we can do for him."

The pizza soon came, after which they spent the rest of the evening just relaxing. Right after the ten o'clock news and weather, they decided to call it a night.

Between all their aches and pains, they both had pretty much ruled out any real hanky-panky, at least for a few nights, but that didn't mean they couldn't find a way to cuddle. 

Just before turning out the lamp Carl noticed his lovely wife's eye's glistening in the light. "Are you crying, honey?"

"I'm sorry, darling, I can't help it. I just keep thinking how close I came to losing you." Bev wiped her tears away. "I am so thankful; I don't think I could live without you my love. Personally, darling, I will never be able to pay that young man back for what he's done."

"We'll find a way, babe; somehow we'll come up with something. Come on, honey, this whole experience has us both completely drained emotionally. Let's get some sleep. Tomorrow we'll start on operation pay back," he said turning out the lamp and snuggling up.

Right after breakfast the following morning, Carl checked on the computer and found the accident report they wanted was available to be downloaded. He complied with what had to be done, and a few minutes later, had a printed copy for themselves.

Between the guy who witnessed everything from the road and Barry's own testimony it was all there. They read both accounts of the kid's heroic exploits with astonishment. By the time they were done the need to somehow show their gratitude was stronger than ever.

A few minutes later Bev sat anxiously by while Carl did some internet checking with the report in front of him. Evidently Barry did not want to give his phone number to the police but the address he gave was in an extremely wealthy part of town. With some more checking he found the address was actually listed to a, Bartholomew Westchester.

"Honey, this is not looking good," he told Bev, "You know all those mansions in Barrington?"

"Yes," she replied.

"Well our hero lives in one of them. I'm pretty sure Barry's dad could buy and sell us with his pocket money. I just looked him up. He's the CEO of his own fortune five-hundred corporation."

"Oh, honey, what'll we do? We have to find some way to show our appreciation," said Bev.

"Yeah, I know, honey; I feel the same way. Don't worry, we'll figure out something. Right now though, I have to figure out a way to get a hold of him. People like this aren't listed in the book."

"Westchester Incorporated," he heard a sensual voice on the other end of the line say.

"Hello, my name is Carl Stapleton. My wife and I were involved in an auto accident last week and Barry Westchester saved our lives. I'm pretty sure his dad is Bartholomew Westchester, the CEO there. I'm trying to get a hold of Barry to thank him and I'm wondering if I can talk to him, or his dad?"

"I'm sorry, Mr. Stapleton, but Mr. Westchester is not in," she said pleasantly but not quite grasping the situation, at least not as far as he was considered.

"Okay, look I'm sure they both value their privacy, but Barry risked his own life to save ours. All I want is a chance to thank him. Is there any way to contact him?"

"Sure, Mr. Stapleton, I understand. If you could give me your contact information I will pass it on to Mr. Westchester's executive assistant."

"Okay, but please try to tell her how important this is. Barry is a real hero. We just want to show our appreciation, that's all."

"Of course, Sir; I will let her know."

Carl gave the receptionist all the pertinent information. "Well, that's about all I can do right now, honey. We'll just have to wait and see if he calls us back," he told Bev.

"Oh, honey, I sure hope he calls us back, and soon," she responded. 

The next two weeks went by without a peep from the Westchester family. In the meantime, Bev was able to lose the sling and had an occupational therapist coming to the house to help with getting her shoulder loosened up again. Carl was feeling much better as well. With just over the counter pain meds, his ribs felt fine and he was getting much more proficient with his crutches. 

They had finally settled their claim with the insurance company and Carl couldn't wait to replace his Lincoln. Under normal circumstances he wasn't very comfortable in his wife's Civic; but now, with the cast, he couldn't even fit in it. They were just about to go out in search of a new car when the phone rang.

"Hello," answered Bev.

"Hello, this is Barry Westchester." 

Bev's eyes got big as saucers and she was almost frantic as she waved her husband over to the phone.

"Oh, Mr. Westchester, thank you so much for everything...I mean; oh God, there's so much my husband and I want to tell you and now that I'm finally talking to you I can't think of anything to say..."

"Here, give me the phone, honey," Carl said taking it from Bev's hand. He heard the gentleman on the other end of the line chuckling to himself. "Mr. Westchester, what my wife was trying to say is thank you. Of course those words are completely inadequate; we were both out cold but the state trooper investigating the accident told us how you risked your own life to save ours. Right now I have no idea how to express our appreciation but we'd...ah, well, maybe we could get to know one another a little better. Bev and I really need to show our gratitude somehow. To start, we'd like to invite you over for dinner one night. I know that probably sounds like such a trivial gesture for what you did, but my wife is a fantastic cook and...I...I would really like to shake your hand," he stammered with emotion.

The other end of the line was silent for a few seconds. "I don't know; I guess that would be okay. I'm in school right now though. I won't be back in town until next week."

"Mr. Westchester, that would be fine. We'd be honored if you could make it. What's your favorite dish? I'll have Bev cook it for you."

"Oh, I'm not fussy, and please call me Barry. My dad is Mr. Westchester. I do like Trout Almondine. Our cook at the house makes it for me all the time when I'm at home.

"Trout Almondine it is, Barry," he said looking at Bev who was nodding her head with approval. "What evening would be good for you?"

"How about next Wednesday at seven," he said.

"Next Wednesday at seven o'clock- you got it," Carl repeated excitedly. "Let me give you directions."

"Oh that's okay, I have your address already. I'll just punch it into my GPS."

"Okay, Mr....I mean, Barry, we'll see you then."

They said goodbye to each other and hung up. Bev was almost giddy, she was so happy they were finally going to get a chance to thank the man who risked his own life to save theirs. Carl was almost as bad. They hugged one another like they had just won the lottery.

They were still locked in an embrace when they heard their cab signal his arrival with a toot from the horn. "Loren's Lincoln dealership on Dempster, please," Carl told Jose. They bought their last three cars from there. Carl always dealt with the sales manager and was pretty sure they'd get a good deal on another MKS. The next day their new car was delivered to their home.

Wednesday morning Carl woke to the smell of fresh coffee. He looked at Bev's side of the bed and found he was alone. Since not having to go to work for the last few weeks he was getting spoiled by waking up with his lovely wife curled in his arms. He missed her. He looked at the clock; it was only six-thirty, what is she doing up so early, he wondered. 

"Good morning sleepy head." Bev was sitting at the kitchen table in her robe sipping her first cup of morning pick-me-up. "What would you like for breakfast?"

"Good morning yourself. What are you doing up so early?" he asked sitting down on the opposite side of the table.

Bev got up to pour him a cup of coffee. "Have you forgotten what day this is? Barry is coming tonight, honey. I have a lot to do between now and then," she told him.

"Honey he's not going to be here until seven tonight."

"I know but I have to go to the market and get everything for dinner-I have to clean this place up; there's a lot to do, honey." 

Carl thought she was overdoing it a little but he knew better than to argue with her. He helped as much as he could, which wasn't much, but Bev worked tirelessly and by four o'clock, everything that could be done, was. The sauce was made, the table set, and the house could easily pass the white glove test. The only thing left was actually baking the fish and that she wouldn't start until he arrived. The only other thing left was to shower and dress. When they realized they had three hours to kill they looked at one another.

"Honey I'm so worked up; I feel like a little girl waiting for Santa Claus. You know what I really need to settle my nerves?" Carl just looked at her. He knew exactly what she needed...it had been a while and he needed it just as badly as she did. He raised one eyebrow. 

She knew that look. "Yup," she said with a smile, "you know exactly what I need. What do you think; are you well enough?"

"We'll soon find out," he stated with a smile. 

"Last one up goes down on the other first," she said knowing it was no contest with him on crutches. Of course as far as Carl was concerned, win or lose, it made no difference; either way he was a winner. He carefully hoisted himself up one stair at a time, taking each one with a smile on his face.

By the time he made it to the bedroom door Bev was lying across the bed, wearing only a huge grin. Since almost losing one another, the intimacy they shared as a couple only grew stronger and more significant; but, between the emotional roller coaster, and the physical restrictions they had both been going through for the last couple of weeks, this was the first time either of them would give in to their desire for each other since the accident.

Carl rested his butt down on the dresser for support, leaned his crutches against the wall and started removing his shirt. Bev crawled across the bed like a sleek panther, playing the role to the hilt by producing a seductive purring noise with her tongue. He froze with expectation as he watched his wife moving closer to him.

"Here, let me help," she cooed undoing the remaining buttons. She hoisted the shirt over his shoulders and held it behind him, briefly trapping his arms while she lifted on her toes and kissed his lips. She pressed her hips forward, "Mmmm," she murmured feeling his bulge.

Already panting with anticipation, she pulled his shirt down freeing him of the sleeves then tossed it carelessly in the middle of the floor. Almost immediately her hands went for his belt; "Here, sit down on the bed," she told him. He wasn't going to argue. She made short work of his one shoe and sock then scooted between his legs. Carl lifted his butt just long enough for Bev to remove his pants and shorts with one fell swoop.

Reverently she looked up into her husband's loving eyes. Her hands caressed his legs before circling in on his pelvic region. He had been hard since first seeing his love stretched across the bed.

Bev leaned in and used only the tip of her tongue to tease the head of his manhood. Settling back against his hands, Carl closed his eyes and enjoyed the breathtaking sensations of his exotic wife.

"Oh God, honey," he sighed, "Not that I'm complaining, but I thought I owed you first."

"Just shut up and enjoy," she told him. Bev continued with her prescribed therapy for a hardened cock. She licked and sucked, teased and taunted until Carl was ready to explode.

"Oh, babe, I'm going to come; I can't hold it any longer," he cried out. 

Hearing her husband's words of ecstasy, Bev engulfed his entire tool, taking it deep in her throat. She felt his body convulse with one spasm after another as he vocally pronounced his euphoria to the world. 

Knowing how close they both came to death, she felt as if every shot of husband's enchanted elixir gave them new life. She swallowed as if she were drinking from the fountain of youth. 

As she continued to hold him in her mouth, Bev could feel Carl's magic wand losing some of its magic. She looked up to see him staring at her. "I love you so much," he said with just an element of moisture building in his eyes. She knew he was thinking the same as she, and was sure neither of them would ever take the other for granted for as long as they lived.

They lay together, cuddled in each other's arms before Carl took the incentive to pay up for losing the race. Not since they first met had they gone so long without making love. The simple hint of her husband's lips nuzzling behind her ear caused Bev to catch her breath with expectation. Her pulse raced with every erotic touch of his hand and within the first minute of her husband's attentions Bev burst uncontrollably into an orgasm, her body twisted and bucked wildly with sheer rapture as her screams filled their private den of iniquity. Carl waited just long enough for the tide to ebb before continuing to work the love of his life into another frenzy. 

Her eyes closed tightly as she felt Carl's tongue deftly finding every erogenous zone. She moaned with hedonistic pleasure as her man skillfully manipulated her love button bringing her over the top for the second time within minutes.

Bev's wonderful breasts heaved with labored with breathing, her mind filled only with lust for her man as her husband slipped inside of her. Each long, slow stroke of love was met with his wife's sensuous moans of ecstasy. "Oh God," she shrieked as he picked up the tempo; "Oh babe, I'm...I'm going to com... ahhhhh, she screamed as her body was wracked again with unbridled passions. 

Carl felt her clamping tightly around hardened rod. Every muscle in his body strained as he released the pent up love fluids he had been harboring for so long. Time and time again he felt himself shooting sperm deep inside his wife's love canal. With every ounce of energy drained, Carl collapsed next to his wife. 

"Wow," she said still fighting for breath, "maybe we should always wait for two weeks before making love; that was incredible."

"It's always incredible with you, darling; and don't get any ideas about waiting another two weeks," he joked. 

Bev laughed and agreed.

***

"Damn, honey, you look absolutely stunning, "Carl said coming into the bedroom. Bev was sitting at her make-up table getting ready for their visitor. "You're not planning on seducing this guy, are you?" he joked.

"Is it too much," she said looking at his image in the mirror, "What do you wear when meeting the man who saved your life?" 

"Good point, Babe; no, it's not too much. You look fantastic," Carl said reassuring her. 

She turned around in her chair, "You don't look too shabby either, lover." She stood and kissed him lightly on the cheek so as not to smudge her lipstick. 

They went downstairs to wait. Bev anxiously took one last look around making sure everything was just the way she wanted it. "God, honey, believe it or not, I'm still nervous, are you?"

"Yeah, I am too..." he replied just as the doorbell rang. They looked at one another then walked together to greet their rescuer. Bev stood at his side as Carl opened the door to find a tall, good looking man in his early twenties. 

"Mr. Stapleton, I'm Barry Westchester," he announced reaching out his hand.

"Mr. Westchester," Carl responded, being careful not to lose his crutch as they shook hands. "Please, come in, It is a real pleasure to finally meet you. Please call me Carl, this is my wife, Bev," he said gesturing to the beautiful woman next to him.

Their guest was immediately struck by how attractive she was. She sure looked a whole lot different than the last time he saw her. "Yes," he said, reaching to shake her hand as well. It was easy to see she was nervous. 

"We actually all met, although I won't be insulted if you don't remember," he chuckled trying to relieve some of the tension, "And please, it's Barry."

"Oh yes, I'm sorry," Carl apologized. "There's just something about calling the man who saved our lives by his first name."

"I understand but Barry is fine, really," he told them holding up a bottle in his left hand. "I don't know if you were planning on wine with dinner but I brought a nice Chablis just in case."

"Oh, Barry, you didn't have to do that. Thank you so much," Bev said taking it from him. "I'll open it now so it has a chance to breathe. Dinner will be ready in about twenty minutes."




Hero



Barry didn't want to seem rude or obnoxious but he couldn't help watching Bev as she walked with a gentle sway to her hips on the way to the kitchen. She sure did look different than she did on that terrible night.

"Can I get you anything before dinner? I have some great twelve year old scotch," Carl asked as they settled in the living room. "Or I have beer in the fridge."

"No thanks, I'll just have some wine with the meal," he replied.

"How much longer will you be on crutches?" Barry asked as his host hobbled to the sofa.

"Ah, probably another month," he answered. "It can't be soon enough for me though, I hate these damn things."

"Yeah, I know what you mean. I was on them for almost a week after that night." 

Bev opened the wine and stuck it in a wine bucket to chill before rejoining Barry and her husband. They were already deep in discussion. Again, Barry couldn't help but notice how beautiful Carl's wife was as she sat on the arm of the couch next to her husband. Carl looked at his attractive mate with pride and put his arm around her waist. She leaned over and gave him a peck on the cheek then focused her attention to Barry as he continued with his story. 

"I was coming home from a friend's house," he told them. "I was just getting ready to pass you as soon as that truck went by. It's a good thing it happened when it did, a few minutes later and I'd have been long gone and wouldn't have seen a thing."

Listening to Barry gave Bev goose bumps. She knew they'd had a close call with death but now they were hearing just how close it really was. A chill ran up her spine. She couldn't stop thinking, had it not been for the man sitting in front of them, they would have both been killed. 

"They told us you hurt your knee," Carl said.

"Yeah, it's okay now but it was pretty sore for a while. Like I said, I was on crutches for almost a week. After that I had to wear a brace. I just took the brace off a couple days ago."

"How did you do it; hurt it I mean?" Bev asked.

"It was that damn icy grass on the side of the hill; I slipped as soon as my foot hit it and I went flying down the hill. Your car stopped me, I smashed right into it with the knee," he told them. "At first I was sure it was broken. It literally brought tears to my eyes, it hurt so bad."

Barry was still answering their questions about the accident when Bev announced that dinner was ready. Once at the table, Carl changed the subject.

"Barry," I'm not quite sure how, but Bev and I want to find some way to show our appreciation. Originally we thought of paying for your education, or helping you in your chosen career, but I'm guessing you have all that covered; am I right?"

Barry nodded his head. "Carl I'm one of the chosen few. I wasn't born with a silver spoon, mine was twenty-four karat gold. My dad has more money than I could spend in three life-times. I go to Harvard and when I want to come home for the weekend, dad sends the corporate jet for me. For my twenty-first birthday he bought me a nineteen sixty-four Jaguar XKE and had it completely restored. That's what I was driving that night of the accident. I appreciate your offer but I'm pretty well set for life," he told them. 

To Bev and Carl this was not good news. They didn't just want to do something to show their gratitude, it was a need, a deep seeded need they both felt. "Please, Barry," Carl said almost sounding as if he was begging, "think about it. There must be something, some way we can say thank you." 

"Well this dinner is a start," he said happily. "I thought Mary Anne, that's our cook, made the best Trout Almondine I've ever tasted, but this is better than hers. Bev if you ever need..." he stopped himself from finishing the sentence.

"If I ever need what, Barry?" she inquired.

"Ah, nothing, Bev," he replied sheepishly. "I just wanted to compliment you on the meal."

"I think he was about to offer you a job as a cook, honey," Carl said with a slight chuckle.

"I'm sorry," Barry said admittedly. "It wasn't meant as an insult, honest. I meant it as a compliment, but...well, sometimes I say things wrong." 

Bev smiled; in addition to feeling so grateful to him, she really liked the young man. "Well thank you, Barry. You'll never insult me by praising my cooking, so please don't worry about it."

The rest of the evening went well. Bev served coffee with dessert and they got to know their young savior a little better. They were sorry to see the night coming to a close but it was after eleven and Barry said he had to get going.

"Please," Carl urged, "don't forget to keep us in mind. If there is anything we can do, please don't hesitate to let us know."

"Yes," Bev followed up with what her husband said. "Barry you saved our lives and almost lost yours in the process. Carl and I both are deeply, deeply grateful and truly want to show you how much we appreciate your bravery and what you did for us."

Barry smiled and turned toward the door to leave; he reached for the knob then stopped and turned back to his host. "You really mean that, because I just thought of something."

"Yes," they both said in unison. "Just tell us, what can we do?" Carl asked excited with the prospect of fulfilling their obligation. 

"I...ah, I want a weekend with Bev as my sex slave."

Both Carl and Bev were stunned into silence for a moment. Carl started to grin, "I know you're joking, Barry, but that's not really very funny."

"I'm not joking, Carl. You wanted to know how you can repay me; well...Bev is a beautiful woman. I've been watching her all night. I can't think of anything better than having her to myself, doing whatever I tell her to do for a weekend. You wouldn't have to worry about her. I wouldn't let anyone else touch her. It would just be me and I wouldn't hurt her."

Carl strained to read Barry's face. He still couldn't believe he was serious. How could such a brave young man, a man who risked his own life in the performance of such a heroic, unselfish act, even contemplate such a selfish, evil thought? 

Carl prayed their rescuer would break into a big grin and chuckle out an, "only fooling," but it didn't happen. He could feel his blood coming to a boil.

"Barry I think you should leave now," Carl said trying to control his temper.

"I see, so you didn't really mean it when you said you'd do anything to repay me for saving your lives. Hell Carl, if it wasn't for me you wouldn't even have your wife. I don't think it's too much to ask."

"I said it's time for you to go, Barry...NOW!"

Barry turned to Bev and tried to take her hand but she jerked it back. She looked as if she was still in shock from his proposal. "Okay I'm going, but think about it. You guys were the ones who said you had an obligation, alright I'm telling you how you can fulfill it." 

He turned and left. Carl almost fell trying to slam the door while balancing on his crutches. He looked at Bev. She had a blank stare on her face. "Do you believe that? I don't. He was so nice all night long and then he comes out with something like that? Damn him!"

Bev was more dumbfounded than angry. After hearing Barry tell his story and reading the accident report she had developed and extreme need to reciprocate somehow. She didn't think her conscience would allow her a moment's peace until they found some way to do something in return; but what he suggested...well, the cost was just too high. "What'll we do?" she mumbled.

"What do you mean, what will we do? What can we do...nothing. I'm still having a hard time believing he was serious. Maybe he just has a weird sense of humor or something-I don't know. Hopefully he'll call tomorrow and say he was just kidding."

The more he thought about Barry's request, the angrier Carl became. He had really liked the kid and had anticipated a life-long friendship with him. Now he felt as if he'd been stabbed in the back. It was a betrayal and it hurt.

Bev was still too dazed to even know how she felt yet. All she knew was that she had to find a way to reward Barry for his heroism, but this...this was emotional blackmail, this was immoral. There was simply no way she could go through with what he was asking; and even if she could, how would it affect Carl? Could he live with it, could she? No, there had to be another way...there had to be!

She looked down and realized her hands were shaking. She couldn't deal with this right now. She needed time to think. "Ah, let me clean up a little and then let's go to bed, okay?" she asked needing a distraction. 

"Okay, honey; can I help?" asked Carl.

"No, babe. Thanks for offering but I can handle it," she said already picking up some of the dirty plates. "Why don't you go on to bed, honey. I'll be up in a few minutes."

"Yeah, okay, if you're sure you don't need me to help."

"No, I can take care of things down here, you go ahead," she responded. She just needed a few minutes alone to clear her head. "I'll be right up."

Barry's words were still thundering through Carl's mind as he climbed the stairs. He just couldn't figure it out; he seemed like such a nice kid. Hell, he saved their lives, how the hell could he turn out to be such an asshole? It didn't make sense. Carl was shaking his head in disbelief as he reached the top landing and headed for the bedroom.

A few minutes after Carl crawled under the covers he was joined by his lovely wife. She cuddled into the nook of his shoulder and laid her arm across his chest.

"Damn, Carl, you're so tight your muscles are actually twitching, honey. Are you so upset with what Barry said?"

"Hell yeah I'm upset; aren't you? He's lucky I'm still on crutches or I might have wrung his fricken neck. I just can't get over the nerve of that little punk."

"Yeah, I know, it was completely unexpected; but don't forget, that little punk risked his own life to save ours. We wouldn't even be here if it wasn't for him."

"I know, that's what makes it so fucking aggravating. How can anyone take such an unselfish, noble act like that, and turn it into a selfish, amoral, deceitful..." Carl let the words hang without finishing.

"Okay, okay, try to relax honey. You'll be having a heart attack at this rate. Just forget about it. Come on," she said pushing on his side, "roll over on your chest and let me give you a nice massage. I haven't done that in a while and you could sure use one."

Carl agreed; even his jaw muscles were clinched tightly. Bev worked her magic fingers along his neck and back relieving a lot of the tightness. She scooted down to the end of the bed and massaged the sole of his foot, the one that wasn't in a cast, then worked her way up his legs. By the time she reached his butt she was too turned on to ignore the sack peeking out between his legs.

"Ahhhhh," he moaned as she slid her hand under his testicles and tenderly caressed them with her delicate fingers. He was certainly a lot more relaxed now than when she first started. While still gently kneading his balls, she crawled up a little higher on the bed and started kissing him all over his back. 

Carl turned on his side to better face his wife and reached up putting his arm around her neck. She let out a playful scream as he turned back over literally pulling her over with him. They lay face to face just gazing into each other's eyes. Without looking away Bev reached down and felt his rod of steel.

"I thought guys were supposed to take longer to recuperate when they got to be your age," she said with a smile.

"Not when they have the sexiest woman in the world for a wife," he replied lightly stroking her face.

"Roll over on your back stud, this sexy woman is going for a ride." She was so wet there was no need for any foreplay. She carefully swung her leg over and rode them both to ecstasy. Neither of them had any trouble falling to sleep after that.

When Carl awoke the next morning, his first conscious thought was of Barry's insidious demand. He tried to force it from his mind as he heard his wife waking up. With an affectionate moan, she nestled her head against his chest a couple times before looking up at her mate with a big smile.

"Good morning, sweet heart," she said before laying her head back on his chest. She felt his hand tenderly rubbing her naked back.

"Good morning, honey, did you sleep well?"

"Ah huh," she lied. Actually Barry's suggestion for repayment had been on her mind too. Not since she'd taken her vows had she ever considered breaking them. Just the thought of being with another man was enough to make her sick, but this was different; she had never felt so strongly obligated to anyone before. She prayed her husband was correct and Barry would call back saying it was all a joke. She knew he wouldn't though. She saw the look in his eyes when he made the proposition, it was sheer lust. No, there was no doubt about it, he was serious.

They were both a little more quiet than normal at breakfast. Bev knew her husband's calm demeanor was anything but; under that apparent tranquility he was still seething. He wanted to rip Barry's head from his shoulders and piss down his throat. She knew her husband very well. 

Her own feelings; however, were a little more complicated. Oh she was pissed as well; pissed because she felt trapped. Just the thought of hurting her husband and sleeping with another man was completely and totally foreign to her, but could she live with the alternative? How do you not reciprocate for something as monumental as saving a person's life? My God, she kept thinking, he almost died saving us. How in the world do you simply shrug off something like?

She wasn't about to say anything to her husband-not yet anyway. She would wait until he calmed down some. But even then she wondered how to even broach the subject without hurting him.

Even though it was almost constantly on her mind, Bev didn't dare mention anything for several days. It had been almost a week since having their dinner guest. They had just made love and were now cuddled in each other's arms. Carl seemed peaceful. She thought it was probably as good a time as any.

"Carl, honey we need to talk about Barry," she said very cautiously.

"Barry; why, what's there to talk about?" she could still hear anger in his voice at the simple mention of his name. 

"Honey the man saved our lives, we can't just forget about it."

"The hell we can't. The little prick can go fuck himself because he's sure as hell not fucking you." Carl thought for just a second, "What do you mean we can't just forget about it? You're not suggesting you do what that asshole wants?" he asked in a very menacing tone.

When Bev didn't say anything he took that as an affirmative. He angrily threw the covers off and reached for his crutches.

"Carl where are you going?" she pleaded.

He stood and turned toward her. Even in the darkened room she could see the anger in his face. 

"I'm going down stairs. I'm not sleepy anymore." He started toward the door then stopped and looked back. This time it wasn't so much anger as it was sadness. She could hear it as he spoke. "I can't believe you would actually consider cheating on me with that prick," he hung his head and slowly shook it in denial, "I can't believe it," he said again before heading for the door.

"Carl wait, please; Carl..." she yelled but he didn't stop. She caught up with him just as he was maneuvering down the stairs. "Honey please, we need to talk about this; we have to do something. If we don't find a way..."

"There's nothing to talk about," he yelled cutting her off. "You want to be his fuck slut, go ahead, but I won't be here when you get back!"

"Carl, please don't say that," she said bursting out in tears. 

He turned when he reached the bottom of the stairs and saw his wife still a few stairs up, holding on to the handrail for support as she crumpled in near hysterics. He had never seen her like that; not even when her mother died. Carl hung his head, now feeling guilty.

"Come on," he told her using a much gentler tone in his voice. "Let's go in the kitchen, I'll make some coffee."

He had already started the pot brewing by the time Bev composed herself enough to make it to the table. She was wiping her eyes with a tissue when he set a cup down in front of her. 

"Please, please, I'll never mention it again, but please don't ever say you're going to leave me, Carl; I don't know what I'd do if I lost you," she sobbed. 

He stood next to her for a few seconds. Did he really say he'd leave her, he wondered. Thinking back he knew he did, but he was just so damn angry. 

"Honey," he said switching his crutch to the other hand so he could put his arm around her, "I'm sorry I said that. I'm not going anywhere. Please don't cry." He leaned over and kissed her softly on the cheek.

Before he could straighten back up she turned and wrapped her arms around his neck almost making him lose his balance. He could taste her tears as she pressed her lips to his with desperation. He put his hand behind her head and kissed her back, returning her passion.

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry," she cried, still sobbing. 

"Me too, honey. I didn't mean to say that; I...I...it's just the thought of you..." he had to stop talking and sit down as tears were now flooding his own eyes and spilling down his cheek. Carl reached across the corner of the table, took her hand, and kissed it.

"What do you say we just microwave the coffee in the morning, huh?" he asked. 

Bev was still sniffling and wiping her eyes when she just nodded her head. He turned the coffee pot off and they went back to bed. Carl lay on his back with his arm around his wife as she rested her head on his chest. He could feel her still sob once in a while until she finally fell asleep-something he was still having trouble doing.

Bev didn't mention Barry again but Carl could read her like a book. The things she said and did, he knew damn well she was fighting internally with her emotions, but just what those were he could only guess. He understood her fierce sentiment of obligation. He understood the guy saved their lives, but that did not give the bastard the right to screw his wife and the thought of her even considering it hurt to the bone.

Bev could see it in his face; the hurt. Every time she looked into his big brown eyes it was there, she recognized it, and it was killing her. Never in her life had she been so conflicted about anything. She had no idea how to handle her feelings.

Finding some way to reciprocate for what he did was more than an obligation, it was a requirement of her character. It's the way she was brought up. If someone does something nice for you then you do something nice in return. Her late father taught her that. This was more than just something nice; my God the man saved their lives. She wondered what her dad would do in her situation. 

She desperately wanted to sit down and talk to her husband but was terrified she could do real damage to their marriage. She couldn't bear the thought of hurting him again. She thought just a second about trying to comply with Barry's demands without Carl knowing, but she knew that wouldn't work. There was no way she'd ever be able to hide her guilt. Carl would know in an instant.

The more she thought about her situation the worse she felt. Several times over the last couple weeks she had to find a place to hide from Carl so she could have a good cry. 

It was during this time that Carl could feel a wall building between them. It was subtle but it was there. Never in all their years together, had that happened before...never. Carl knew something had to be done. They had to get everything out in the open and he was hoping he could control his temper enough to be able to have a real discussion.

Bev was silent when he asked her to sit down at kitchen table. She knew it was coming and was afraid it would develop into another fight. She didn't want that. She wanted her marriage back the way it used to be, blissful. She looked into his stern face and could feel the moisture in her eyes before he even said a word.




Hero



"Honey," he started, "we've both been pretty moody over the last couple weeks. This thing with Barry has us both all tied up in knots and I'm scared that our marriage is suffering because of it. I don't want that to happen, honey. I love you too much to let this come between us."

She started to say something but he interrupted her. "Honey, please, let me have my say first, then I will listen to you and we'll hash this thing out." She sadly nodded her head as he continued. 

"Babe I know how you feel about Barry saving out lives, he saved mine too. Damn, unless it happens to them, it's impossible for a person to know how indebted you feel toward someone who you owe for your very existence. When I first read the police report I thought Barry was a brave, young, decent man, but it turns out I was wrong. He's not the guy I thought he was. I don't really know why he did what he did that night; whatever the reason I am grateful, but that doesn't mean I'm going to give him my wife in return. I will not pay my debts by pimping out my wife."

He stopped for a second trying to gather his thoughts. "Baby, I...well, I'm really hurt that you would consider sleeping with him. I don't care what he did. You are an extremely attractive woman, honey. I know you get hit on all the time but never once in all these years have I ever worried about you straying on me. I won't say I haven't gotten angry at the guys who tried their best to get into your pants, but the only thing that has kept me from a lot of fights over the years, is the fact that I knew they didn't stand a chance. Now all of a sudden this guy comes along, and for the first time in our marriage, I have doubts."

Bev's heart was breaking as she listened to the pain in her husband's voice. "Oh Carl," she whimpered with tears streaking her face, "I'm so sorry," she said shaking her head. "I agree things have been strained between us lately. I've wanted to talk but I've been afraid because I don't want to hurt you any more than I have, but Carl, this thing is eating me up inside."

She grabbed a tissue and wiped her eyes. "You said you know how I feel because he saved your life too, but I don't think you do know; there's more to it than that. For me it goes deeper...much deeper. It's not so much that he saved my life, honey; it's that he went back for you." She took a moment to wipe her eyes again.

"Did you read what that other guy said in the report, the guy who witnessed everything from the road? Barry already had me safely out of the car before going back for you. When the car started sliding down the ravine he refused to let you go, even with his own life in peril he refused to let you go."

She tried to compose herself again. "I keep thinking, what if he hadn't gone back; or what if he had let go? Don't you see, my darling; he saved me from something much worse than death, he saved me from living the rest of my life without you."

Bev's words penetrated his very soul as subconsciously he twisted it the other way around. What if it had been him safely laying on the ground and it was Bev that Barry so heroically went back for? He shuddered at the thought. He was just beginning realize how his wife felt. 

Carl reached over and took ahold of her trembling hand as she continued. "Every time I close my eyes I see you trapped in that car, sliding down the hill; sliding out of my life forever. What would I have done if he hadn't risked his life and gone back for you, Carl? I can't even imagine living without you."

She was crying again and had to stop for a moment to regroup. "How...how do you pay a debt like that?"

"I don't know," he said sadly. "I doubt a debt like that ever can be paid, not in full anyway." Carl could feel a cold chill going through his spine. Now that he understood Bev's motives better he didn't feel as betrayed as he did, but now he was even more worried. 

As gently as he could, he had to ask, "What are you going to do, honey. Are you going to do what he wants?"

Her eyes were red and swollen, her entire body was trembling, "I don't know," she cried. "I couldn't live with myself if I hurt you, but I don't know if I can go on with this hanging over my head either." Her face scrunched up in agony. "Sometimes I wish he'd just left me in the damn car," she blubbered. She laid her head on her hands and broke down, bawling like a little girl.

"Don't say that," Carl said as he stood up and used the table for support while hopping to her side. He leaned down and held her. He wished he could ease her burden, tell her what to do and make it all better, but he couldn't. She was the one who had to make the decision.

"Honey, listen to me," he said trying to comfort her. "I really didn't understand how you felt before but now I believe I do. I wish I could give you some magic formula that would make all this go away but I can't. I know you love me and you know how much I love you. I also trust you. I know whatever decision you make it will be because you feel it is the right thing to do." He kissed her and tried to calm her down.

Later that night Carl lay in bed with his wife curled in his arms. He stared up the ceiling while deep in thought. Without really saying it, he had still given her the impression he could live with her infidelity if that was what she chose. It was a lie and he knew it. The thought of his wife fucking another man was something he could never live with. He hoped his wife knew him well enough to realize it. Try as he would to get past it, he knew it would eventually drive them apart. It was a gamble. All he could do was hope and pray she would make the right decision. A tear broke free from the corner of his eye and ran down his cheek to the pillow below. It would be followed by several more before he finally drifted to sleep. 

***

It had been a full month since the accident. Carl was sitting in a chair by the window staring out at little green buds on the tree in his yard. Spring was finally approaching. Bev hadn't mentioned Barry all week but he knew the whole situation still weighed on her mind. It was never far from his thoughts either. 

It was the ringing of his cell phone that disrupted his deliberations. He knew from the ring tone it was Angie, his secretary from the office. She had called several times over the past few weeks with questions regarding one client or another. 

"Hi Angie, how are things going?"

"Hi Carl, I was about to ask you the same thing; how's the ankle?" she asked.

"It's okay; I'm still on crutches for another couple of weeks but it doesn't hurt or anything."

"That good," she responded. "How are you getting around on the crutches?"

"Oh I'm an old pro by now. Why, you want to take me out dancing?" he joked.

His secretary chuckled for a second before replying, "I would, Carl, but I wouldn't want to face Bev's wrath. No, actually Mr. Bremer was wonder if you'd be able to start coming into the office, not full time but maybe three or four times a week for just a few hours."

Carl didn't hesitate, "Yeah, I could do that. It takes me a little while to get ready in the morning, how about if I come in tomorrow around ten?"

"That would be great, Carl. I'll let Mr. Bremer know. He said you could make your own hours and go home when you got tired. He'd just appreciate the help. With that nice big client you brought in last month we're a little overwhelmed right now."

This might be just the thing, Carl thought. Bev and I have been inseparable for the last month; maybe a little breathing room from each other is just what the doctored ordered. "I'll see you tomorrow morning then," he told Angie before disconnecting. 

"Who was that?" Bev asked. She was coming down from upstairs and had just heard the tail end of his conversation.

"That was Angie. They want me to start coming into the office to help out three or four times a week. It won't be for the whole day, they said I could pretty much make my own hours," he told her. 

"Are you going to do it?" she asked.

"Yeah, I told them I'd be there tomorrow at ten. Will you be okay for a while without me?"

"Of course; I will admit it's been good to have you home with me, but I knew it wouldn't last. Can you drive or do you want me to drive you?"

"No, I can drive. Thank you for the offer though."

The next day Carl was greeted like royalty as he stepped into his office for the first time since the wreck. As his co-workers saw him making his way down the hall to his office they all came over to greet him with a hand shake, a pat on back, and in some cases, smeared lipstick on his cheek.

Angie followed him to his office and opened the door for him. A big grin stretched across his face when he saw the large banner hanging from the ceiling above his desk saying, 'Welcome Back.' He heard a round of applause and turned around to see that everyone had followed behind him. He hadn't even realized they were there.

"It's good to have you back, Carl," said Mr. Bremer who seemed to appear from nowhere.

"Thank you, Gene," he replied. "It's good to be back and feel useful again." 

Angie waited until he was safely seated behind his desk before throwing her arms around him enthusiastically, and kissing him on the cheek. "I missed you, Carl; it's so good to have you back," she told him sincerely.

"Thank you, Angie. This is just what I need. I'm just not designed to sit around home doing nothing. It was really starting to get to me. Now," he said settling into his chair, "what's first?"

Angie brought in a stack of files with post-it notes stuck all over them. He smiled; he felt like he was back in charge of his life again. That was something he felt had been slipping away lately.

About three o'clock his ankle was starting to hurt from not being able to sit with it propped up. He had been there long enough anyway. No one expected him to stay as long as he had so he decided to call it a day. When he stepped inside his home it felt just like old times. 

"How is my working man?" Bev asked as she greeted him at the door with a big hug and kiss.

"He's just fine my wonderful wife," he responded. Yeah, except for the damn crutches everything seemed normal again, like before the crash. A sensation of relief washed over him as he rested in his recliner with his foot up to relieve the pain. 

The day's activity must have taken more out of him than he realized because the next thing he knew his wife was waking him up by planting soft, gentle kisses all over his face. 

"Honey, wake up baby, dinner's ready," she whispered in his ear. 

For the first time in a while, he was able to put Barry Westchester out of his mind...well, except maybe for a few fleeting moments, but that was all. 

During the day Bev bought a copy of the newest Bond film, her husband's favorite movie series. After dinner she popped some popcorn and cuddled in his strong arms while watching Daniel Craig outwit the sinister villain and triumph over evil in the name of his majesty's secret service one more time.

The three hour nap Carl had earlier in the day did wonders for his libido. That night they made love for hours before finally falling to sleep in each other's arms. 

Over the next couple of weeks things seemed to be settling back to normal. Carl finally got his cast off but still couldn't ditch the crutches, not completely. He was now going to physical therapy three times a week and had to still use one crutch for support until he could regain the strength in his leg. 

He was also spending more time at work now, going in four days a week and spending the entire day. Except for a passing urge to still kill now and then, Carl hadn't given much thought to Barry.

Bev was also back to her old self as well. Since Carl was at work again she kept herself busy doing the things she like to do and spending time with her girlfriends again. 

It started out as a normal Friday. As usual, Carl threw his cell phone in the breast pocket of his suit coat, kissed his wife, and was out the door. Once in his office, Carl took off his coat and hung it on the rack next to his desk about the same time as Angie came in with his coffee. He had just taken the first sip of brew when Angie's voice came over the intercom, "Carl, Mr. Bremer needs you in his office right away."

"Why, what'd I do?" he asked.

"I don't know, but it sounds urgent," she replied. He thanked her then high-tailed it to his boss' office.

"Hi Carl, have a seat," he said with an air of excitement in his voice. "I just hung up with Andrew Carnahan, the president of TCB Inc.," he told Carl. "Are you familiar with them?"

"Oh sure, they're worldwide, who doesn't know who they are? How did you get a hold of him?"

"I didn't, he called me." Carl wasn't sure what this was all about yet but it sure sounded interesting. "Universal software, in California, has been their chief supplier for a decade now, but evidently something happened because TCB just fired them."

"Fired them; just like that?"

"I guess; anyway Carnahan called me. Carl he's looking at us to replace Universal."

Carl just sat in the chair staring at his boss, not sure he understood what he just heard. "They...they want us?" he asked.

"Well it's far from a done deal. They're not sure we could handle the volume but they want us to make a presentation, and from what he said over the phone, if we can convince him we can keep up with their demand, the account is ours to lose."

"Holy cripe, Gene, this is unbelievable. We could triple, maybe quadruple our size almost overnight. Shit! Okay," he said going into business mode, "we'll need two weeks to get our presentation together. I'm going to need a couple temporary researchers for some of the leg work, I want to get..."

"Ah, Carl," Gene interrupted him. "Hold on cowboy, you haven't heard the bad news yet."

"Bad news," Carl repeated slumping back into the chair.

"Mr. Carnahan is currently on their corporate jet flying back to New York; however, he is making a detour to O'Hare. I have a driver picking him up at one o'clock this afternoon. We have four hours to put a presentation together for him."

Carl was stunned, "Four hours; Gene it can't be done, that's impossible."

"Carl, in all the years we've worked together I've never heard you use that word before. I know you, I've seen you do the impossible before and I'm counting on you to do it again. Anything you want, anything at all is at your disposal. You just name it and it's yours, but he'll be here shortly after one and we need something to show him."

Carl took a deep breath. "I need everyone on this floor assembled in the conference room in ten minutes. I need you to make it clear that for the next four hours they work for Angie and me. I don't care who they are or what their job is, if Angie or I tell them to do something it has to be done," he said standing up and heading out the door.

"Yes, Sir," Gene said with a smile.

"Angie," Carl said walking passed her desk. "I hope you don't have any plans for lunch, if you do cancel them."

"What, why, what's going on?" she asked.

"Just be in the conference room in ten minutes. "He stopped for a second and grinned. "Angie we're about to go global," he told her before disappearing into his office. 

Gene stood looking at all sixty-five people who worked under him as they all crowded together in the conference room. He explained the situation and told everyone what was at stake. For the next few hours, he told them, there were no egos, no one was to feel they were being degraded or talked down to; there was simply no time for hurt feelings. They were all part of a team with one goal in mind, to help land the TCB account. At the end of his speech he turned to Carl, "You're the boss, Carl," he said for everyone to hear. "What do you want me to do?"

Carl went to work. He spat out orders and directives to Angie, who in turn, spat them out to the others. "Angie, get Roberto in here please, right now." 

"Yes Sir," she answered without hesitation.

A minute later Roberto was starting to sit in front of Carl's desk. "Don't sit down, Roberto, you don't have time. According to office gossip you're quite a computer hacker. I don't want any BS, we don't have time for it. Can you hack into the computer system at Universal, and if not, do you know of anyone who can?"

"What do you need, like industrial secrets or something like that?" he asked.

"No, I want access to their email and inter-office memo accounts. I want to know why TCB fired them."

"Oh, if that's all you need, sure; no sweat," he replied. 

"Well, what are you waiting for?" Carl asked. 

"Angie," he bellowed again. She was standing in front of him almost before he finished saying her name. "Angie, in a little while Roberto will have access to Universal's email accounts. I need you to put a group of secretaries together and go through them. More than likely there will be thousands, but what I'm looking for is anything that gives me a clue as to why TCB fired them." 

"Yes Sir," she said, already on her way.

At noon Mr. Bremer had sandwiches catered in for all sixty-five employees, then told them they had to eat on the run, they didn't have time to sit down. 

By the time the limousine service dropped Mr. Carnahan off in front of the building, Carl had everything ready to go. 

It was after six o'clock when Carl, Mr. Bremer, and the president of TCB shook hands on a tentative agreement. Carl watched from his office window as a limo drove out of the parking lot with Mr. Carnahan before letting out a war whoop in triumph. "We did it," he yelled to Angie. "I'll be damned if we didn't do it!" 

Mr. Bremer brought a bottle of scotch from his office and he, Carl, and Angie sat down for a quick victory drink. "To the impossible," Gene said raising his glass. "To the impossible," mimicked Angie and Carl.

On the way home Carl stopped off for a dozen roses and a bottle of champagne. It was a little after seven when he pulled into his drive. He had been so engrossed with his day he didn't even think about the time until he noticed Bev's car missing. Where the hell could she be, he wondered. He looked at the car's clock; Shit, I should have called. I hope she didn't get worried and go out looking for me, he said to himself. 

He walked in and looked around but the house was empty. He was really disappointed and hoped she would be right back. He was aching to tell her the news and take her out to dinner. 

Carl headed into the kitchen to get some water for the flowers and stick the wine in the fridge for later. He found a nice vase in one of the cabinets and was arranging the flowers when he noticed a note on the kitchen table. He sat down to give his leg a rest, pulled the note in front of him, and started to read it;

My dearest Carl,

I've been trying to get ahold of you all afternoon but someone I talked to in your office said you were extremely busy with a big client. I asked him to have you call home, but since you didn't, I'm guessing you never got the message. 

I got a call from Barry Westchester this morning. He's home for the weekend and wanted to know if we had reconsidered his proposition. Honey I had my mind made up that I would not do what he wanted, but when I heard his voice all the memories of that terrible night came flooding back...along with my deep sense of obligation.

I agreed to have dinner with him tonight. I confess, as I sit here I still do not know what I'm going to do. I am lost within my soul. Without his heroism I would have surely lost you, but if I repay him as he wishes I may still lose you, or at the very least, hurt you terribly. 

Please darling, have faith in my love and devotion to you as I have faith in yours for me. I love you so much. I'm not sure when I'll be back, but when I am, I assure you this matter will be finished and we can put it behind us.




Hero



My undying love,

Your Bev

His falling tears stained the bottom of the paper and caused her name to blur. His hand shook as he pushed her note aside. Even though she didn't come right out and say it, by her words and tone of the letter, he was sure that her guilt over failing to compensate their rescuer won out in the battle of her conscience. 

Five minutes prior he had been on top of the world, now he sat bawling like a baby. Every ounce of the elation he felt from his victory at work had been drained from his spirit as he now crumbled in defeat. He had lost the most important battle of his life and suddenly nothing else mattered. 

He had wondered how he would handle this moment if it came. Would he be able to live with her decision? Now he knew the answer...no. The pain in his heart was overwhelming, he had to escape. He had to get away.

His breathing was ragged. He tried taking a few deep breaths as he reached for the pen. Leaving her a note was the coward's way, but he just didn't have it in him to face her. He would collapse and die at her feet. A note was the only way.

My love,

I have to assume from your note that you have decided to submit to Barry's demands. I cannot tell you how deeply this hurts me. I know how hard you fought with your conscience and know your decision cuts you as deeply as it does me, but it a decision I'm afraid I cannot live with. I'm sorry.

I will always love you,

Carl

He laid the pen on top of the writing pad. Never in his life had he experienced such sorrow. His whole existence had become a shambles in just a few short minutes. 

His mind wandered back to the night they had invited Barry into their home. He was the devil disguised as an angel of mercy. It wasn't until the end of the evening that he showed his true colors when he revealed his sinister plot. Simply fucking his beautiful wife wasn't enough. He had to have her as his sex slave. Carl envisioned his bride helpless, with her hands tied to the head of the bed while Barry pounded her with his cock. 

In an instant his grief had given way to a blinding rage. He grabbed the vase of pretty flowers from the table and hurled them at the wall with such force he almost fell from his chair. "I'll kill the mother fucker," he shouted with all his might. "So help me God, I'll kill him," he screamed as the shapely glass container shattered on impact. 

If he only knew where they were but he didn't and he had no way of finding out. He felt lost, empty, and defeated. He slumped back into his chair. Anger and sorrow tormented his soul as his emotions fought for control. 

He sat and stared at the scattered flowers lying about in the broken glass and watched as the life sustaining water now slowly and futilely drained down the wall. 

He had to get away before he went mad, he thought. Carl picked up his crutch and made his way up the stairs and to the bedroom. He bent down and used his crutch to pull his suitcase out from under the bed. Tears rolled down his cheeks as he began to pack.

***

Barry watched as one of the most beautiful women he'd ever seen approached his table with the style and grace of a Paris fashion model. The clicking of her high heels musically highlighted each sway of her hips as she strode across the floor. He rose from his chair to greet her. "I'm so glad you came," he told her. Her young savior took her gently by the hand and brought it to his lips. He could taste her soft flesh and became almost dizzy as he breathed in her essence. He couldn't believe that soon he would have this woman at his mercy, performing sexual acts at his command. 

"Waiter," he said motioning with his hand.

"Don't bother, Barry, I'm not staying that long," she revealed. 

His ear to ear grin suddenly turned to a scowl. "What do you mean you're not staying, I thought we had an agreement," he snapped.

"No Barry, I said I would have dinner with you, I never agreed to your pitiful, little, slave girl fantasy."

"But..."

"There are no but's; I was going to have dinner with you so we could talk and find some other way for us to pay our debt, but on the way over here I decided you just weren't worth it. 

"Since you left our home, Carl and I have gone through hell. I have struggled between what I felt was my obligation to you and keeping my marriage intact. By even considering to accept your proposition I have already hurt the man I love, hurt him bad. If I were to give in to your demands it would cause irreparable damage to my marriage and I would most likely lose the love of the man I cherish above everything else in life." She saw the waiter coming over and waved him off.

"I was a fool to even contemplate such a proposal no matter how hard my conscience told me I owed it to you. You saved my man. You gave him back to me and you will never know the depth of my gratitude, but now you're trying to take him away again. If saving my life means losing the man I love then you should have left me in that car to die, because without Carl life is meaningless. 

"So, in answer to you demands, I will echo the words of my husband, 'Barry, go fuck yourself."

Barry sat, stunned into silence as Bev stood up and walked out. 

It was a little after eight o'clock when Bev pulled into her drive. She had no intention of taking the car out again for the evening so she drove passed her husband's Lincoln and into the garage; from there she entered the house through the kitchen. 

The house seemed quiet, too quiet. She knew Carl was home because his car was in the drive. She saw what she thought was her note on the table, but upon closer examination, realized it was Carl's handwriting. She picked up the tablet and started to read; "No, no, no Carl, you have it all wrong," she spoke aloud while starting to panic. She looked up and saw the broken vase. "Carl," she screamed, "Carl wait..."

She threw off her high heels and ran through the house and up the stairs. Carl was just closing his suitcase when she came flying into the room.

"No, no," she screamed again. "Honey I didn't do anything, I told Barry to go fuck himself," she excitedly yelled. Bev ran into his arms with enough force to knock him off his feet. He dropped his crutch to the floor as they tumbled onto the bed with him wrapped tightly in her arms. 

"But..." 

She interrupted him by smothering his face with kisses. "I'm sorry, my darling. I knew before I ever got to the restaurant how ridiculous I've been. I could never betray you, my love...never."

Carl looked into those beautiful green eyes and smiled. "You told him to go fuck himself?" he asked with a grin. 

She rapidly nodded her yes with a little chuckle. 

He reached behind his wife's head and pulled her gently toward his waiting lips. 

For the next few minutes they lay embracing one another without speaking a word between them. Bev was the first to talk, "I'm hungry," she announced.

"I thought you had dinner," said Carl.

"No, I told him off before we even ordered."

"Hell, honey, you should have hit him up for the most expensive item on the menu first," he joked. 

"Have you eaten," she asked.

"No, I was going to take you out for dinner to celebrate," he said. 

"Celebrate; oh yeah, your big client, what happened?"

"I'll tell you later. How about if we just order a pizza tonight and I'll make reservation at Frank and Marie's for tomorrow night?"

"Frank and Marie's; I hope you got a raise with that big client," she said.

Carl ordered the pizza then took the champagne from the fridge while Bev set the table. She had just turned down the dining room lights and was about to light the candles when the doorbell rang. 

"I'll get it." Bev saw him pass by with his crutch in one hand and money in the other. A moment later she heard her husband screaming, 

"Get off my property you son-of-a-bitch before I kill you." 

That's no way to talk to the pizza delivery boy she thought. She ran toward the door to see what all the hollering was about. As she approached from behind her husband she was shocked to see Barry on the front porch. 

"Barry, we have nothing more to say to each other," she barked.

"I know that," he replied, "Please, I came to apologize."

Bev moved to the side of her husband, touched his arm and looked into his beet-red face. "Let him in, honey," she said in a soothing voice. "Let him say what he has to say." 

Carl gave out a sigh and stepped aside. 

"I'd offer you something to drink but you're not staying that long. Say what you have to say then get out," demanded Carl.

"I don't blame you for being angry, Mr. Stapleton, I know I deserve it. May I?" he asked gesturing to sit. Before Carl could say no Bev told him to go ahead. It was easy to see he was a bundle of nerves as he sat down.

"First, Mrs. Stapleton, Mr. Stapleton, I sincerely apologize for the grief and trouble I've caused. I hope and pray that in time you can find it in your hearts to forgive me. I also want to say thank you, and that you have paid your debt in full."

Bev and Carl looked at one another. "Oh really, and just how did we do that?" asked Carl suspiciously. 

"By showing me what real love is all about," he replied. "You see my dad and mom hate each other, at least that's the way they act when they're in private. When they're entertaining, of course it's a different story, but behind closed doors they can't stand one another. My mother has had numerous affairs and loves to rub my dad's nose in them. Of course the number of affairs my mother has had is pale compared to dad. I couldn't count the number of women he's been with."

Barry had to stop a minute to wipe away some moisture that collected in his eyes.

"Anyway, that's pretty much the way I grew up; hell, their friends are all just as bad. I guess I kind of assumed everyone was like that. Please don't get me wrong, what I did, or at least tried to do, was despicable. I know that. I guess I just figured you two were like my folks. Bev, when you said you would rather I had left you in the car than to live without Carl it...well, I don't know, it just really hit home for me. I don't think I've ever seen true love like that before tonight. It was a real wake up call."

He stopped a minute to try and clear his dry throat. "Would you like a glass of water?" Bev asked.

He looked at Carl to see if it would be okay. Carl nodded with his head and a minute later Bev handed Barry a cold glass of water. He thanked her and took a couple gulps before continuing. 

"You see I'm getting married this summer. She's a wonderful woman, certainly better than I deserve that's for sure. The thing is, I love her with all my heart, but I have no doubt I would have cheated on her. Hell, I was going to cheat on her this weekend with you," he said looking at Bev. But tonight you taught me that cheating is not something you do as a status symbol. Cheating is cheating. It's wrong and it causes pain and heartache for the one you love. That's something they don't teach you at Harvard, although maybe they should."

He took another sip of water. "Tonight I learned the meaning of love. It's a lesson I will never forget, and I'm sure one that will benefit me for the rest of my life...so, we're even. I rescued you and you rescued me back. Whatever debt you feel you owed is paid in full." He stood and reached out his hand to Carl.

Carl was not about to shake his hand, but it was his turn to talk. "To your apology, I say accepted; to your gratitude for a lesson in love, I say you're welcome. As to your excuse for propositioning my wife, I don't buy it. You're old enough to act and think for yourself. Only time will be able to prove whether you're sincere or not. I hope for the sake of your bride that you are. At this point I'll say no hard feelings, Barry, but I don't ever want to see or hear from you again; and if I ever hear that you've tried to contact my wife, I will feed your carcass to the wolves. Have I made myself clear?"

Barry nodded his head. "I don't blame you, Sir; but I was hoping you'd come to my wedding."

"Don't even bother sending the invitation; you'd be wasting a good stamp," replied Carl. 

As they opened the front door to let him out they found the pizza boy just about to ring the doorbell. 

Bev walked Barry past the delivery boy while Carl was busy paying him. "Go ahead and send the invitation," she whispered with a small smile. "I'll work on him between now and then."

Barry nodded with gratitude.

"I suppose you think I was too hard on him," Carl said wiping a little marinara sauce from his chin. Bev got up and walked around behind him. She reached over his shoulders and rubbed his chest as she leaned in close to his ear.

"I'm just wondering where you're going to find a pack of wolves around here," she said with a chuckle.

"Don't worry," he said jokingly, "I'll find them."

Bev gave him a kiss on the cheek. "Last one up stairs goes down on the other first," she said taking off playfully for the bedroom. 

Carl casually finished his last bite of pizza and followed it with the last swig of champagne before grabbing his crutch and heading for the stairs. A wide grin stretched across his face with each step. "I win again," he told himself out loud.

The End



Hero



I grabbed my clothes and got dressed. She walked me to the door and tried to get me to kiss her good bye.

"Not a prayer, not a chance, bitch. By the way, you don't remember me, do you?"

When she told me no, I told her I was the one that took her cherry and first fucked her ass.

Then she told me that every since that night, she hasn't been able to get enough. She said that when she was in college at A&M, she took on an entire frat house. That night she was fucked by 32 guys in every hole imaginable. She worked her way through college by "catering" bachelor parties. Her largest was 132 guys.

She said she owed it all to me, and thanked me. What a sick, fucking whore.

My bad-ass biker persona and rumors and memories of my youth had a terrible effect on my social life in town. Even with a broken leg, the guys stayed clear of me, and the women ignored me. Some even crossed to the other side of the street to avoid me.

So with a choice of Michelle or nothing, I looked for a third option. I shared my problem with Kate. I know this sounds funny, but when we were younger, the three of us discussed everything. Rat and I learned about feminine problems and Kate learned about guy things. Nothing was off limits.

When I told her about my problem, she introduced me to the internet. Between the pics ad the stories, I started going blind, but my terminal case of lack-a-nookie was under control.

Then about three months after the rodeo, Kent came back to the service area and told me someone out front wanted to see me. I followed him up front and got the shock of my life.

The gorgeous blonde from the rodeo was there, but was different. Her face had several long scars though it, one starting at the corner of her mouth and extending back towards her ear. It made her look like she was smiling. She was very thin, probably twenty pounds lighter than the day I first saw her. And she walked with a limp.

"Hi" was all I could manage to say.

"I just came here to say thank you for helping me. I heard that your leg was broken, too. I'm sorry for that."

"No problem. I'm really glad to see you up and around again." What the hell is a guy supposed to say?

"I would very much like to buy you lunch and get to know the guy that saved my life." It sounded like she had rehearsed that line for the last three months. So I said yes.

We went to the café down the street. Everybody turned and stared as we walked in. I still had a limp from my brake, but hers was much more noticeable.

Throughout the meal, the waitress and other customers stared at the scars on her face. I stared at her too, but I was staring at the strength in her eyes. I could see that she had been down a long hard road, but that she fought every step of the way. Just to come and see me had to have been hard for her, but she did it.

As lunch and the conversation wore on, we both loosened up. She got to know all about me, and I learned a lot about her. The reason she stayed away from the rodeo people was because her mother had once been just like her: The best cowgirl and the prettiest woman. Then fell for a cowboy that just loved the rodeo more than the woman carrying his baby.

Liz vowed this would never happen to her. So she stayed away from the cowboys, turned down their romantic advances, and concentrated on her own little ranch and being a champion roper and barrel racer.

Then she started to cry. She said all that she had every worked for was gone. She couldn't ride anymore because of the injuries to her head and body. And she had to sell the ranch to pay for her hospital stay and all the other bills that had piled up. She was living in a small trailer on welfare, trying to heal up enough to get a job, anything that would support her.

We connected that afternoon. I never did get back to the shop, but I did take Liz home to have dinner with Kate and I. Kate insisted that she stay the night, because it was too late for her to drive back to her town, about a hundred miles away.

Kate turned in early and left Liz and I to talk. As it got late I helped her to her room. I told her good night at her door, but she reached out for my head and kissed me.

Long and soft she kissed me. It was like she had waited her whole life for this, and now all of the pent-up feelings were being poured out in this one kiss.

When she ran out of breath, she pulled away, took my hand, and led me into her room. She started to kiss me again, only harder this time, as she started to pull up my tee-shirt. Then she started to unbuckle my jeans.

I took her hands, and told her she didn't have to do this. When she started to cry, I wanted to kick myself.

"Is it because I'm ugly? I know it is. It's because I limp and I'm skinny, and I'm ugly." She cried.

"No. It's not that. I've slept with ugly before. This has never happened to me before. The reason I said that is because I do like you. I respect you. I just don't want you to do this because you feel you owe me something. You don't. All I want from you is you friendship. Please think about this."

I don't know where this came from. It used to be a woman was just nice to me, I wound up in bed with her and never thought twice about it. But this was different. For once in my life I was interested in someone because of who she was, not just as a sexual object.

"Then I think I want to make love to you for what you just said. All my life men have wanted to give their left arm for a chance to sleep with me just for my looks. Now I might have found a true gentleman."

With that she started another kiss and fumbling with my belt. She started to slide my jeans down over my hips as I started to unbutton her blouse. I pulled it over her shoulders and let it hang from her jeans by the tail. Her bra was next, then her jeans found their way down to her thighs.

Liz then knelt down and began to take off my boots before she reached for my cock. Like a child with a new toy, she looked it over, touching and exploring it before taking it all into her mouth.

I started to grow in her mouth, the end of my cock moving towards the back of her throat. The longer I grew, the harder she worked to give me the blowjob of my life. But that wasn't what I wanted. That is what I expected of a saddle tramp or a bar pick up.

I wanted to make love to her. Not fuck her. Not find out if she swallows. For once it was love and not sex.

A soft pull of her head and she realized what I wanted. She began to stand up, but I had to reach for her arms when she couldn't do it by herself. When she was standing, I led her to the bed and helped her off with her boots and socks. I pulled her jeans off the rest of the rest of the way. I studied her closely head to toe. The scars a maze, crossing for one side to the other and from top to bottom. If her insides were damaged even half as badly, there is no way she would have lived.

But I found them fascinating. Beautiful not in the classic sense, but beautiful to me none the less. I started to kiss my way along them, covering them lightly with my tongue. I wanted her to know that I found them beautiful too.

I kissed my way up to her breasts. Clearly they had been much larger and firmer in the past, but tonight wasn't about boobs, but about Liz. Tonight I wanted Liz to experience as much pleasure as she had pain in the last three months.

Gently I kissed and licked her nipples. Taking each bud in turn between my lips and teeth a tenderly pulling them and causing Liz to sigh softly with pleasure.

When Liz's nipples her hard and tingling, I started the voyage down her stomach to scar-bisected hair of her womanhood. Around the bush, across her thighs, an up to her waiting pussy.

It was already starting to flow with passion. Her scent was strong, but pleasant, as was the taste of her lube. I lapped up all that had started to drip, then went inside for more. Parting her lips with my tongue first then my fingers, I probed deeper into her sex with my tongue. The further is got, the more she moaned and squirmed. Finally I moved my attention from the depths of the fold to her clit. As my tongue touched it, her first orgasm struck her. As she continued to reach her climax, I began to nibble on it, driving her further over the edge.

I continued to slow my work on her pussy as she came down from the orgasm, then moved up beside her. The look of passion and love in her eyes was the greatest source of happiness I'd ever know.

Again we kissed. And as we did, she reached down and began to stroke my cock again. When I reached my full potential, she rolled over on top of me and guided me into her. Slowly she traveled down for about five inches, then I ran into a barrier.

"Is this your first time?" I asked. She nodded. "You don't have to do this now. We can wait and see about building our relationship first."

"Shut up. I know you've probably had virgins before."

"Yeah, but I didn't love them. I want it to be special for you."

"It is special." With that she relaxed her legs and let her body weight sent my cock piercing through her hymen. Liz bit her lip to reduce the scream to a whimper.

She laid there for a couple of minutes getting used to the intrusion into her womb before starting the slow journey up. Then down. Faster and faster she repeated the journey. Before long, she was a blur. Her small emaciated breasts wiggling up and down as she rode me like she was once again the queen of the rodeo.

This was too much for her and me, and we both let go at the same time. Her entire body in spasms and my balls emptying themselves deep inside her.

She collapsed on top of me, laid her head on my chest and fell asleep. She had not much time to build up her stamina since the accident. I pulled a sheet over the both of us and fell asleep with her in my arms. I never even considered moving to my own bed like I had done a hundred times before.

The next morning, I let Liz sleep in and had breakfast with Kate. She knew what had happened and was happy for me. She said that Liz could stay as long as I wanted her to.

Liz and Kate became great friends. Their common love of horses and ranching the thread that held them together. That and their common love of me. I helped Liz with her exercises and a year later neither of us limped any more. The scars on her body faded quickly. Before long, the stares of the townspeople were no more.

Liz and I married a year after we met. We bought a nice trailer near town. I still run Rat's shop and Liz works for Kate, doing much of the business end of the ranch, allowing Kate to be a cowgirl.

Kate gave us that '46 Flathead that was in Rat's shop as a wedding present. I've since restored it and even put on a backseat for Liz. Since she can no longer ride horses (one of the blows to her head affected her balance), her riding behind me on the Harley is a special thrill that we love to share with each other.

If you have and questions or comments, feel free to write me.



Hero



I know the reasons for which I have been taken. I understand fully the intent of my captors. This frightens me in ways that I don't care to ever admit. I know that it is extremely likely that I am to die here. Ryu is my only hope. 

These beings are vampires. I'm not saying that as some sort of fancy analogy... they are the real deal with sharp teeth and a penchant for human blood. The only reason that I am still alive is my affiliation with Ryu, both tonight and for the past 6 years. 

One of the great myths about vampires is that once they have become these "creatures of the night" that their conscience immediately goes away. This is untrue for most. It is like with most humans eating animals. For some, it is something that you just do for survival. For some you just do it because everyone else does and you never question it. For some, it is something that you unquestionably cannot do because you cannot kill another living being.

Obviously, Ryu is the latter. However, he has pushed himself beyond just the complacency of not eating living things to actually trying to help and protect people from each other and from other predators of the night. 

In general, he does not bother with the night-to-night feedings of his brethren. He won't intervene on behalf of humans unless the vampires are feeding upon a child or someone that could ultimately reveal vampires at large. Mostly he hires himself out as a bodyguard or a bouncer for clubs at night. He occasionally will take on private detective work or, if he's of a particular mood, settle domestic squabbles that get out of hand late in the night.

He still cannot explain why on this particular night, he was moved to assist a doe-eyed prostitute from being a meal from a very intent vampire. Evidently, I did put up more of a struggle than most. Even after the what was supposed to be the "settling" influence of the actual bite. I flailed and wrestled and screamed. I kicked and pulled hair and punched and kicked. From blocks away, Ryu could feel the vibrations and something told him that this woman was worth saving.

Don't get me wrong, the vampires that feed upon people do not begrudge Ryu the occasional fit of morality. Finding another person to feed upon in this dark city isn't so difficult that being pried off a particularly difficult meal is cause to have much animosity. It is just that vampires, having lived so long, get bored easily and find Ryu a fun target to upset. That is why I am here tonight. No big holy war. Just the evening's entertainment.

I know I am safe at least until he gets here. They won't kill me until he is here to witness it. There's no fun in it unless it causes him pain. And me... well, as a human I am frail enough to go at any time. I'm like a ball of string to a kitten. I work hard not to show fear, no matter what they do. The fear is what's fun for them. Although, I think all of it is great fun for them.

Sarah slides a revolver over to me. We both know that there is little danger in me having a gun. I couldn't possibly kill them with it, and I wouldn't shoot myself. But they are bored. And so am I. 

I pick up the gun and confirm that there are live bullets in it. I take dead aim on one of the leaders, a middle-aged appearing woman with shoulder-length grey hair wearing an elegant light blue sheath dress with matching jacket. There is a window between she and I, but I figure shattering glass might entertain them enough to give me a chance to run.

I pull the trigger and the bullet flies straight for the woman's head. Then the bullet merely bounces off the window. I sigh. They laugh. I put the gun down and stare at it dejectedly. This amuses them greatly. They are all standing around me in a loose circle, like I'm a cute puppy that they all get to play with for a while but don't want to escape.

"Come on, try it again! Shoot me!" says Frank, a young vampire looking for more amusement. I rest my head on my chin and roll my eyes at him and let out another big sigh. I'm terrified, but perhaps if they get the impression that I'm not going to entertain them they'll get distracted enough by something else that I can find a way out.

Sarah has other ideas. She drops to all fours and approaches me slowly, crawling with an evil smirk and a glint in her eyes that makes me very wary. It is a misconception that vampires are a sexless group. In fact, after a feeding, they are flush with sexual energy, and Sarah was looking very pink in the cheeks. I stared at her thoughtfully.

It was a forgone conclusion that I would be having sex of some variety with this woman. I was surrounded by killers that certainly weren't afraid of me. The only choice I had was how I was going to participate. 

She crept up to me, still in her leather guard suit, the soft matte leather making soft noises as she moved. I sat there on the floor in the blankets wearing nothing but the oversized T-shirt of Ryu's that I had been sleeping in. 

I just laid down and closed my eyes and felt her crawl over on top of me. I felt the soft leather stretched over my abdomen and opened my eyes and looked up into her soft brown eyes. I felt her long brown hair brush over my cheeks, down my shoulders as she leaned down to kiss me.

I closed my eyes again and kept still as a corpse, laying my hands flat down on the blankets. Her tongue brushed softly through my mouth, cold, but swift. Her fangs swept casually over my bottom lip, then down gently scraping my neck. My body twitched involuntarily and I could just feel their greedy smiles, their satisfied smirks that my body could not lie. 

I felt Sarah move herself down and pull my shirt up to reveal my body, my nipples erect from her cold caresses. Despite my own personal feelings, my body betrayed me, wanting her, wanting more. 

The cold steel feeling, the hard gripping of my nipples and the cold feeling between my breasts could only have been nipple clamps. She tugged on them to make sure they would hold fast and I gasped as an electric feeling from my nipples sent shockwaves to my head and then to my groin. I heard a soft lip smacking and then felt cold, moist fingers probing for my clit.

Expertly, she found it and alternated between gently caressing it to pinching it. I fought the urge to move my body along with her strokes, but it was ultimately a losing battle as she pulled the clamps to throw me off of my focus. The room exploded in riotous, evil laughter. As I felt her hair caress my thighs and then her cold tongue probing me, licking me, gently taunting me, everything started losing its focus. My grip on where I was, on what was happening was fading away in this incredible feeling. Everything was quiet, save for the smacking, the chains rattling, my gasping, my panting, my moaning. 

My nails dug into the blankets... I tried so hard to think of something, anything else. But there it was... the feeling, the rubbing, the caressing... I could feel all of their hands and tongues on me. Every part of my body was being attended to. Hands on my breasts, whispers in my ears, fangs dragging over my belly, gentle tickling on my feet. It all gave way as I screamed for "RYUUU!" My entire body, everything I had went into that one piercing, shrill scream. The last of all of the energy I had.

And just after that, everything went away. They had all backed off, sitting on their knees, laughing. I crumpled into a small ball crying. Crying, mad at my body for this horrible betrayal, and finally crying for all of the fear I'd been trying so desperately to conceal. They had won and they knew that. So they laughed.

I heard them get up and move back into their circle formation around me. I pulled the blanket up over my body and my head. This seemed to make them even more amused. Then, over the din of laughter, I heard him. 

"Did someone call my name?" Ryu said, leaning casually into the windowed doorway. He winked at me and my shame melted away. He knew, he didn't blame me. I was ready to fight with him.

They were shocked that he had gotten into this deep, inner sanctum without anyone noticing. This shock gave me just enough time to run over next to him with the gun. No, guns do not kill vampires, but it does injure them and it takes a couple of days for them to recover. Particularly when you shoot them in the head. Of course, I only had 5 rounds left and there were 11 vampires in this room alone. Not a wooden chair or pencil in sight, either. 

Ryu was prepared, however, as he lit a Molotov cocktail that was hidden in his long trenchcoat and threw it into the middle of the circle where I had just been. The fire caught the blankets and soon the room was ablaze. I took aim at a couple of the vampires and shot them, but I wasn't sure how accurately, as Ryu scooped me up and started running.

His chest was hard and cold, but I felt safe and warm with him. I felt him leaping over objects and running at a speed only a vampire could keep. I put my arms around his neck and pulled myself up to look over his shoulders and took aim with the remaining 3 bullets I had. I took down the 3 closest vampires, and that appeared to be enough as we were very quickly outside and on the streets. 

There was a soft mist of rain falling outside. Ryu's hair and eyelashes were dew-covered. His hair was black and short and usually spiked, but it was mussed and fluffed from the fighting and the rain. He was deathly pale and his eyes were a cold shade of light blue. But they looked down at me with genuine warmth as we reached his underground apartment and he laid me down into his bed. "I love you," I said, cradling his face in my hands. "I love you, too," he said, "get some rest." He backed out of the room and turned out the lights. 



Hero



All characters in this story are over twenty one except the baby.

Morton Franks was out for his Sunday walk. He liked the peace and quiet of the neighborhood on Sunday. His route took him around the park and then down Oak Street. He was a mile from his house when he saw the smoke. The smoke was coming from a small house set back off the road. As he approached a woman came screaming out of the front door followed by a blast of smoke and flame.

"My baby! My baby!" she screamed, "I can't find my baby."

Mort grabbed her by the front of her dressing gown.

"Where is the baby!" he shouted at her.

"I couldn't get to her. She's in the back room!"

Mort turned the woman loose and sprinted into the flame filled house. He heard the baby cry through the roar of the fire. Holding his breath and running through the flames, he found the back room door and kicked it in. The child was enveloped in smoke and the flames were almost upon her. He snatched her up, holding her tightly in his arms and crashed through the back window and onto the lawn.

His pants were on fire so he rolled, holding the baby, until the flames went out. It was beastly hot from the fire out on the lawn. He stood up and ran to the sidewalk in front of the house. He held the baby out to the distraught mother.

With tears in her eyes she accepted the child. 

"Thank you sir," she smiled through her tears.

"Take the baby to a hospital maam. She's inhaled a lot of smoke," Mort said. 

He turned and walked away. 

"Wait, wait, who are you?" the woman cried.

"Mort," he answered and disappeared down the block.

The fire trucks arrived and were just in time to see the little house collapse. They doused what remained of the flames.

"He was magnificent!" the woman declared.

"Who was magnificent?" asked the fireman.

"A man was walking by and he ran inside and saved my baby, then he left," she replied.

"Who was he?" the fireman asked.

"All he said was 'Mort'. He is my hero. I'll never forget him."

The media did their usual search for the mysterious Mort but had no luck in finding him. It was about average for New York. After a while, Mort was forgotten.

Three years later, Sylvia Preston was reporting to work the first day at Franks and Company. She had just graduated from secretarial school so she was a fresh face in the huge building. Her boss gave her a desk in the secretarial pool and she got to work. 

Six months later, the company was hosting a Christmas party in the main conference room. Sylvia spotted him as soon as he came into the room. She rushed to his side.

"You're the guy who saved my baby and then scooted away before I had a chance to find out who you were. I've searched the city trying to find you. You're my hero!"

"You look familiar. Who are you?" he replied.

"I'm Sylvia Preston from the secretarial pool. Everybody needs to know about you!"

"Please Miss Preston, don't reveal what you know about me," he said.


"Why not? Are you some kind of big wheel in this company?"

"Well, I own it, if that is what you mean," he chuckled.

"Oh my god! I had no idea!"

"I'll make a deal with you Miss Preston. If you keep your mouth shut, I'll give you an interesting interview after the first of the year, okay?"

"But people should know about your heroism and how you saved my baby from certain death. I promise that I won't say anything, but you really should reconsider."

"Fine! Let me get you a drink. What'll you have?"

"Some punch would be good. I don't drink very much."

When he returned with the drinks he asked, "How is your little girl?"

"She's doing great. She just inhaled a little smoke."

"Would you like to dance?" Mort asked.

"Yes, but I must warn you, I'm not very good at it. Won't your wife get jealous?"

"I don't have a wife. I've been too busy building an empire. Sometimes I truly regret it."

As she stepped into his arms and began to whirl around the dance floor she could tell that he was a very muscular guy under that two thousand dollar suit. She laid her head on his shoulder and relaxed into him.

Wow! What a woman, Mort thought. I'd better be careful.

Three weeks later Sylvia's boss, Amanda Herman, told her that Mr. Franks wanted to see her. She had almost forgotten his promise to her. Amanda accompanied her to the office of Morton Franks.

Once inside, Mr. Franks addressed Amanda. "How is Miss Preston doing?""

"She is a quick study. There is very little she can't do on her own. I just point her to the task and it gets done. I don't have to worry about it."

"Thank you that will be all Mrs. Herman."

Amanda left the office wondering what was going on.

"Now Miss Preston, how would you feel about becoming my private secretary?"

You could have knocked her over with a feather!

"I don't know about that. I've never been a private secretary before. How would I learn?"

"My current secretary is leaving in a month. She's retiring. I've been looking for a replacement. The position will require some travel from time to time but not too much. We'll arrange for child care whenever we go somewhere. She can teach you most of what you need to know in a month."

"I'll try sir. When do I start?"

"There is no time like the present. Go clean out your desk and report back here as soon as you can."

"Yes sir," Sylvia replied enthusiastically.

With the new position came a major increase in salary. Sylvie took to her new duties and learned them quickly. At the end of her first month, she was well prepared and ready. 

Mort called her into his office. "My old secretary said you are ready to take over. She'll be leaving tomorrow. That's when you become my new slave. Are you up for it?" he smiled.

"Yes sir. I want to thank you for this opportunity. Now I can afford some new things for my baby."

"Don't worry about a thing, you'll do great."

Sylvia was a small redhead with medium tits and a curvy butt. She wasn't drop dead gorgeous but she wasn't a woofer either. Mort surveyed her, assessing her assets. He remembered how he felt when they danced at the Christmas party. He felt a long forgotten tingle.

As Sylvia worked into her new position it became obvious to Mort that she was going to be a super secretary. By the end of the second month she was handling everything for him. She was waiting for him when he came in on March first.

"You have a three week trip to Trinidad to sell the Drummond account. I have booked you into the Hilton," she informed him.

"You have to go with me. I always take my secretary with me. I hope you booked two rooms."

"I only booked one room but it's a Presidential Suite. Surely it has more than one bed!"

"Maybe, maybe not, you have to be careful with these things. You'd better book a room for you too."

Sylvia slumped back to her desk. Her first out of country assignment and she had blown it! 

She was on the phone to the travel agent. "Harry, I've got to have another room. The boss wants me with him," she explained.

"I'll see what I can do."

"Thanks Harry, call me today and let me know."

Two hours later Harry called back. "Bad news! There are no more rooms available in that time slot. Can you change the dates?"

"No way! I guess we'll just have to make the best of it. Thanks Harry."

Sylvia entered Mort's office and sat down heavily in her chair. "Big problem boss," she said.

"What's the matter?"

"There are no more rooms. I guess I'll have to stay home."

"But I need you with me! We're not teenagers. Surely we can spend a few nights together without complications."

"I guess you're right. I was just being silly."

The jet touched down at Port of Spain. They went through customs and into a waiting limo which whisked them away to the hotel.

"I've never been in a hotel this nice," Sylvia remarked as they entered their suite. 

"It's okay," replied Mort. "Let's go get a drink."

They unpacked their bags. Sylvia was dismayed to see that there was only one king size bed in the suite. After they had a couple of drinks they went back to the suite. 

"I need a shower," stated Mort.

"Me too," agreed Sylvia.

"You go first," said Mort.

"Okay," Sylvia replied.

Twenty minutes later Sylvia stuck her head around the door.

"I forgot my underwear in all the excitement," she said.

Mort went through her things and found a pair of panties and a bra. He took them to her as she hid behind the door. He could see her smooth, fine little body in the mirror. The twinge returned.

Sylvia accepted the underwear and shut the door. She was trembling. What is wrong with me? I'm acting like a school girl, she thought, but the dampness forming between her legs told her that this was going to be much more than a business trip. Suddenly emboldened, she put on her underwear and walked into the main room.

Mort immediately came to attention. He had an instant erection when he saw Sylvia standing there in her bra and panties.

"What's this Sylvia?" he asked.

"I had an epiphany in the bathroom. It suddenly occurred to me that I wanted you to see me like this. The longer I'm around you, the more I care for you. I think I'm falling in love with you."

"I didn't want to say anything to you, but I have been harboring some really un-boss like feelings toward you, too. It started with the dance at the Christmas party. You felt so good in my arms. I want that feeling again," Mort confessed.

Sylvia stepped into his arms and kissed him tenderly on the lips. "Let me help you with your shower," she whispered.

Mort watched as she divested him of his clothing. When she pulled down his shorts, his cock popped to attention. She kissed it, grabbed his hand and led him to the shower. Once in the bathroom she removed her panties and bra. They stepped into the lukewarm water together. She giggled as she soaped and scrubbed him. She spent a long time on his business section. Finally she declared him clean. They dried each other off and headed into the bedroom.

As they settled in together Mort remarked, "This is an excellent solution to the bedding problem. I like it."

She nestled into his arms and he hugged her tightly to him. He felt her wriggled closer trying to get his cock into contact with her pretty little pussy. 

"I want to eat you, but I want to fuck you first," Mort said.

"That's what I want too, replied Sylvia as she rolled over onto her back and spread her luscious thighs. "Come on, make love to me."

Mort slid his cock into her wet pussy and started the rhythm of love. He could feel her quivering around him. It had been a long time since Mort had sex.

"I'm not gonna last long," he told her.

"I'm not either, it's been a long time for me," she moaned. "Do me faster Mort."

He did his best to satisfy her demand and soon his ass was pumping as hard as it had when he was a teenager.

"Oh! Oh! Oh!" Sylvia panted, "Oh god, it's so good. Don't stop. Please Mort. Screw me to death."

Mort was emitting a low pitched moan. He clamped his lips on hers and sucked her tongue as he drove into her pussy.

"I'm going to cum!" he excitedly cried.

"Wait for me Mort. Fuck me hard!"

Suddenly Mort froze over her and drove as far into her love tunnel as he could. He felt her pussy throbbing on him and knew she was cumming too. He released a huge amount of pent up semen into her hungry tunnel. 

Panting into her mouth he mumbled, "I think I love you."

Her pussy flexed around him, refusing to let him go.

"Keep it in me. Don't take it out. It feels too good to lose," she whispered. "You have to do me every day from now on. I love you Mort."

"Are you sure this isn't just gratitude?"

"If you had thrown me on the lawn in front of my burning house and nailed me then, that would have been gratitude. This, I do because I love you. Even if you don't love me, even if I'm just your fuck-toy, I'm yours for as long as you want me."

"I wonder how it's going to be, having a wife for a secretary?" he pondered.

"Did you just propose to me Mort?"

"Well, yeah, I guess I did."

He felt his cock starting to grow in her. She felt it too.

"Fuck me hard Mort. Don't ever stop! You'll always be my hero!"

Mort and Sylvia finished their business in Trinidad and flew to Miami where they were married. Together for five years, they couldn't be happier.



Hero



"Help me, Please!"

The terror in her voice split the night air. The blue of her eyes seemed ablaze. The car had come to a stop 30 feet off the road, the lights still on, smoke wafting from under the hood.

I had seen it as I came around the curve, had hit my brakes to avoid her standing, waving frantically. I pulled over and was out of the car as she came running.

"He's trapped! I can't get the door open!"

Now I was at the SUV, crumpled against the rock. It wouldn't budge, and the man seemed unconscious. The smoke wasn't from a busted radiator. The car was on fire under there, and I had to get him out. Spotting a good-sized rock, I lifted it over my head and smashed the passenger window. 

"Hurry, Please!" she cried. The button gave when I yanked and I climbed in, reached by his side and unsnapped the seat belt, felt around for the recliner lever. Where was it? Got it! Yanked, and the seat fell back on me.

I scrambled out, the heat was intensifying. I grabbed under his arms and yanked. His body moved, but he was pretty big. I braced on the frame with my legs and hauled for all I had. He was sliding now, and I kept moving, away from the burning vehicle, with her pulling, too. Black smoke filled the SUV and poured from the open door, circling, then drifting into the sky as the sounds of sirens filled the night.

I woke up in the back of the ambulance, sat up with a start, but the EMT had me tight, and it all came back in a rush. I must have gotten a few lungfuls of that black smoke, and passed out. 

They kept me overnight, for observation. Cops took my statement, someone from the local paper wanted a story: Hero Saves Man From Burning Car, that kind of shit. I declined. I only did what anyone would do. The paper wrote it anyway, but with less fanfare since I wouldn't go along with it.

I asked about the guy. The nurses claimed confidentiality prohibited giving any info, but on the side, they said he had a few cracked ribs, and would pull through.

We all know what health care costs, so I was ready to get out as soon as possible to minimize the financial damage. The nurses assured me that all my expenses were covered, hinting at my SUV guy.

By 2PM the next day, I was going stir-crazy. A bit of a headache, nothing unusual they said. I could have a headache at home just as well! they said maybe tomorrow and if I checked myself out before they released me, I could pass out while driving. So I ordered lunch, watched game shows. I hate game shows.

They woke me at 7AM. If the doctors said okay, I would be released at 10AM. They checked the basics, blood pressure, breathing, looked into my eyes. I was dressed and seated, waiting for the okay.

At 10:30, I began to worry, then she came in. I had almost forgotten her. The blue eyes brought it all make so clearly, but the fear was gone, only a warmth and serenity. 

"Hello, Mr. Rust, it's good to see you under better circumstances." She held out her hand, and shook mine warmly.

"Hi," I stuttered. "How..how is he?"

"Thanks to you, he'll be coming home in a week or so. He's pretty banged up and sore, but alive. Thanks to you." She smiled broadly.

"That's great to hear. How about you? Are you okay?"

"Me? I'm fine, a few cuts and scrapes, but you two were breathing that awful smoke in, that's what put you here, they tell me. So, are you ready to go?"

"Yeah, just waiting for the okay," I said.

"Oh, I'm sorry, I asked if they could wait until I got here. I have a car downstairs for us. Your car will be picked up and delivered to your home." "Oh yeah, I hadn't even thought of that, I just wanted out of here!"

For insurance purposes, they take you out in a wheel chair, so you don't fall and sue them. She waved to the orderly, and the nurses gave me a big goodbye as I was wheeled out.

It was a stretch limo at the curb, and the driver held the door for us. It felt good to breath real air, and I opened the window. She laughed and had the driver open the sun roof!

It was huge back there, and she sat smiling at me. All cleaned up and without the terror in her eyes, she seemed so in control. A woman in charge. I said, "I don't even know your name."

"I was wondering if you would ask. You seem so nonchalant about everything. I'm Ashley Wilder. And my husband Richard sent along his thanks as well as mine. When the time is right, we'd like to discuss repaying you." 

She brushed back her auburn hair with blonde highlights. Although about 50, I couldn't get over her smooth skin and bright eyes, and crooked smile, almost laughing at the world. The burnt orange jumpsuit seemed to radiate heat, or was it her?

"Repaying? You've done enough. I'm guessing it was you who covered the medical bills, and now the ride home? I'd say we're even."

"Oh Mr. Rust, you are so refreshing! So many people just see dollar signs! Well, Richard has a way of getting what he wants, so I'll leave the monetary part to him."

"Look, it's Jack. And please tell him thanks. But I'm good."

"Oh well," she sighed, and her chest heaved as she said it. Man, she had a healthy chest, too. I bet she was a model or dancer as a younger woman! The hair, shoulder length, seemed too perfect. She seemed too perfect. Totally different from the other night. 

I realized we had passed my cut-off, and mentioned it. "Yes, I know, I told Henry to just drive for a while, so we could chat. Do you mind?"

Not at all, nothing to go home to, living in a studio over a hardware store.

"I know it's early, but I could use a Mimosa. Would you care to join me?" She dropped the bar open, and champagne and OJ were chilling. 

"Sure, no work for a week, they said, right?" 

She poured. "To you, Jack, for coming to my rescue, and Richard's too!" She seemed to emphasis "coming", or was it just how her lips seemed so soft when she said it?

"I try to do a rescue a day," i joked.

She sipped and smiled slyly. "I'd like to see you come to the rescue again, soon."

Okay, I'm not crazy, she did that "come" thing again. Is she offering? The glass is up and the driver is oblivious. Was this her portion of the reward?

I took a huge gulp. I've always appreciated a good-looking older woman, and Ashley definitely filled that bill. As far as married women, I try to keep my distance: Too many single girls to get in trouble with, why risk it? But, if she was offering...

She chuckled, "Do I make you nervous, Jack? Big, cool Jack, my hero! I'm just trying to show my appreciation." She shifted on the seat, sliding closer. "I just want us to come together about how I can be of help."

My dick was filling with hot blood, and I swallowed hard. She knew she had me. I knew, too. "Maybe we should wait for Richard?"

"Oh, Jack! How kinky! But Richard doesn't roll that way. I thought we'd take things in our own hands." With that, I felt her hand on my thigh, squeezing as she smiled. She leaned closer, and her body was against mine. She stretched and our lips met. I tried no to react and she paused. Our lips inches apart, she whispered, "If you want me to stop, I will."

"You...you don't have to do this."

"I know that, Silly! I can afford to hire an escort to come over and fuck the shit out of you! But that's no fun for me! I like to repay my own debts!" With that, her hand found my crotch and squeezed. My growing cock reacted, jumping in her hand. "Oh, Jack!"

She was practically on top of me now, her mouth on mine, her tongue probing. Looking up at her, those blue eyes showing the fire, but a different flame setting. She slid to the floor and opened my fly, using both hands to dig in and find me, pulling me out into the open air. Her slender fingers wrapped around me and began stroking as she smiled. "Oh, Jack, I'm gonna enjoy this!"

She bent and blew cool air on me, then licked her lips. Opening for me, she took me in. My seven inches throbbed as she kissed and licked at the head, swirling her tongue around the crown, then diving down.

My hands got busy, too, unzipping the front of her jumpsuit, exposing black half-cup lace bra. I caressed her breasts as she moaned in satisfaction, slurping and sucking. 

She shrugged the top off her shoulders, unhooked the bra for me, and her glorious nipples stood firm. She smiled. "Suck them for me, baby." She slid higher and gave me her nipple. I sucked greedily and she laughed and shuddered. 

She somehow managed to get her jumpsuit off entirely, and crawled up on me, spreading for me to enter her. I held it steady and she took me inside her, rocking back on it, feeling it deep inside her.

Her head rolled back as she grunted and moaned, riding up and down, her hands on my chest, and me staring up at her awesome chest, heaving.

She looked down. "Oh, yes! Jack! Like that, my hero boy. Fuck me like that!"

She was on fire, a woman on a mission, all niceties gone, just humping her brains out, doing the same for me!

A few times, she quieted, shivered and slumped, only to push harder and faster, until I was at peak and I said the magic words, "I'm coming!"

"Yes, Baby, Come, COME!" 

I exploded at the same time she released a flood of juices, coming together in gobs and gobs. We lay there panting and she reached for the glass controller. 

"Henry, home, Henry!" She raised the glass to "Yes, Ma'am", then slid off, grabbing the champagne. 

"Jack, you don't know how much I needed that! You continue to amaze me, and I'm more indebted to you!"

I chuckled. "Who's being silly now?"

"Honey, Richard is 75, he rarely gets it up and usually then I just give him head. Believe me, I needed that! And, you know what? He won't be home for a few more days! And you need to recuperate, with me watching out for you. A win-win situation, Honey!"

Just call me Hero!



Hero



ACT I

HERO

(NARRITIVE)

The rain is coming down heavy and if that isn't bad enough, it's cold as shit. I have been perched on this statue for a few hours now and my joints are screaming. I watch from this spot every night; watching and waiting for when I will be needed. So far tonight it's been rather quiet. I guess that's good for would be victims, but in all honesty....I am bored.

(The masked hero looks up and down the dark alley below him and occasionally looks out towards the city behind him. Rain runs down his dark mask and pours from the eye holes. The cape our hero wears is partly draped over his knees and hanging over the ledge. He is uncomfortable)

(Some time goes by and a girl enters the alley below him. She's very beautiful. She has light brown skin and luscious lips. Her hair passes her shoulders in dark strands. A look of concern sits on her face and this is what catches our hero's attention. He watches closely and doesn't make a movement. The girl collapses slightly against an alley wall; bracing herself from a fall. It's starting to seem that this quiet night may be over. Laughter comes from an adjacent alley way. It's loud and sounds like it's from multiple people. Sure enough three silhouettes come into view. The girl hides behind a dumpster.)

THUG 1

Here pretty lady! We only want to play. Don't you want to play with us?

(The thug gestures to his friends and they laugh at his antics.)

THUG 2

Yeah, like my buddy says. We only want to play with ya.

(The three laugh again)

THUG 1

If you ain't gonna come out, then we gonna come in.

(Once again the three laugh their heads off. Our hero; witnessing this from his perch slowly smiles)

HERO

(UNDER BREATH)

Time for some fun.

(As the three attackers span out looking for their prey, our hero slowly makes his way down. He drops to his feet trying to make as little sound as he can and lands behind a car. Two of the thugs continue their search for the girl, but one of them stays behind blocking the entrance to the way they came in. To bad for him that is where the hero decided to drop. The mask vigilante creeps up slowly on the unsuspecting thug. Quickly, he springs to his feet and clasps the attackers mouth with his hand)

HERO

Got ya.

(The thug tries to scream, but the hold over his mouth is too strong and he is pulled back into the shadows with the hero. Totally oblivious to their mate being taken down, the other two search frantically for the girl and horrifyingly enough they find her. The biggest of the thugs grabs her by the arm and pulls her up from her hiding place. She screams.

GIRL

Help! Help me please....someone!

(The big thug pulls her close to him)

THUG 1

Shut up!

(The girl begins to cry as they both close in on her. A sudden sound of a can hitting cement stalls the would be attack)

HERO

It still amazes me that even though idiots like you know that I am out here you still try to have your fun.

THUG 1

Shut up! We don't give a shit about you! You're a prick in a cape....nothing to worry about.

(The big thug pulls a revolver from inside his jacket and points at the hero. His friend follows suit and pulls out his firearm.)

HERO

Yeah, this not is not going to go well for you two.

(The hammers on both of the thugs guns are pulled back and this triggers the girl to scream. Tears roll down her face from fear.)

THUG 2

You're dead man.

HERO

No...I'm not.

(The masked hero quickly pulls from his waist what appears to be a grapple gun of some kind. The two thugs open fire and the girl screams loudly. Our hero fires his weapon and two ropes fastened to blunt hooks are released from the small canon and fly quickly through the air at the attackers. Both objects strike the thugs. One; the smaller of the two is instantly knocked unconscious. The bigger one takes off while still holding the girl. The hero flashes a smile again and takes off in pursuit. He fires his cannon again this time towards the top of the buildings and takes chase on the rooftops. The thug leads the scared woman down more twists and turns in the alley and then stops by a dark corridor. He holds a knife to her throat.)

THUG 1

Okay, you listen to me. If you as so much as little out a little squeak I will cut your throat like a rip banana. Do ya understand me bitch? Do ya get what I am.....

(In mid sentence a large object falls on the thug. The girl lets out a surprise yelp. It seems our hero decided to drop down on the unsuspecting criminal. The hero begins to get to his feet.

HERO

(OUT OF BREATH)

You know, I took out this idiot a few months back and a few more times before that and for some damn reason he keeps begging for more. Maybe he likes the taste of my fists? What do you think?

(He offers her a smile. She has heard about this man before. He is all over the news and papers. There are no photos of him so all that were in the news reports about him were descriptions of what he looked like and how he acted from those unfortunate enough to run into him; mean as hell and darkly dressed. That is how they described him, but here he is making fun and flashing a smile. He is dressed darkly enough, but his personality is quite surprising and light hearted and in a way, very warming to the frightened woman. So much so she begins to cry. Our hero stands up and looks at the attractive woman.)

HERO

You're okay now. You are safe. What is your name?

(He touches her shoulder and to his surprise she doesn't pull away. She wants to collapse into his arms, but she is still too scared)

GIRL

(LIPS SHAKING)

Crys...Crys...Cryst...Crystal.

(The hero smiles again. The thug begins to move on the ground and the avenger quickly throws his leg back and kicks him unconscious all without ever taking his hand or his eyes off the girl. His first instinct is to tell her his real name. He doesn't know why really, but he finds himself very attracted to this girl even in the midst of what just happened. He thinks it over and gives her the name that the media gave him.)

HERO

They call me The Watcher.

(He offers her his hand and she collapses into his arms. He holds her for a second. He is engulfed in the moment. In his arms he holds a beautiful woman and around him rain is falling; blanketing them both in wetness. He looks up and we fade to black)

ACT II

(The beautiful woman awakens after she passed out. Her eyes are foggy and she doesn't recognize where she is. A fire is roaring in a very old fireplace. She begins to hear dishes being handled and an appetizing aroma fills her nostrils. Her once foggy eyes begin to clear and she can just barely make out a man. He is shirtless and wears a bandana around the bottom part of his face. She begins to panic. Her heart feels like it is running laps in her chest. The air seems harder to take in and she begins to feel faint once again. Suddenly a hand clasps her shoulder.)

WATCHER

(SOFTLY)

It's okay. I am sorry I brought you here, but I couldn't find an ID and I didn't know where you lived. I didn't mean to frighten you. I am very sorry.

(The girl sits up and starts to breathe slowly. She wets her tongue with her lips and puts her hand to her head.)

CRYSTAL

It's...okay. My head hurts really bad.

(Watcher gets to his feet and grabs a glass of water. He brings it over to her. Crystal takes it and begins to drink.)

WATCHER

They roughed you up pretty good. Your headache should go away soon. I tended your wounds and gave you medicine. You'll be better in no time.

(Crystal gives Watcher back the glass of water and squints a bit as if the light from the fire bothers her.)

CRYSTAL

Who are you? I don't mean what you're called, but...who are you really?

(Watcher leans against the wall that holds the fireplace and looks at the glass of water he is holding. He contemplates telling her his real name, but is unsure if he should do so. As Watcher is busy over thinking his current dilemma, Crystal is come over by a bit of sensuality. The fire light is hugging the Watcher's bare torso in just the right ways. His muscles look more definite in the lighting. If anyone could see into her head at the moment they would say she should be ashamed; this is neither the right time nor place for such thoughts. Crystal couldn't help it. She wanted this man who saved her. She wanted him more than any man she has ever been with. Her stare was broken as the Watcher began to speak.)

WATCHER

I hope you don't think of me as being rude, but I just don't think I should tell you who I am. It's just not a safe thing...for me or you.

(Crystal barely heard him. She was once again stuck on her very untimely thoughts. Watcher cleared his throat and Crystal snapped out of her trance. She saw him smiling at her and she felt a strong sensation of embarrassment. He had caught her staring at him.)

CRYSTAL

I'm...I'm sorry. I shouldn't stare at you. I was being rude.

(Watcher puts the glass of water down and walks over to Crystal. Once again she is caught in the trance of his body. She asks herself why she can't stop thinking like this, but at the same time she wants it. She wants him.)

WATCHER

It's okay. I don't mind.

(When he spoke those words it was like something had swung open. It was if it was now okay for her thoughts to be where they were. She wanted him and even though she couldn't see his thoughts, she knew he wanted her. Crystal reaches up hesitantly and Watcher takes her hand and places it on his hard chest.)

CRYSTAL

I...I...

(Her words are cut short as Watcher embraces her in a passionate kiss. Their lips interlock and press tightly together. They both can feel the rapidness of the others heartbeat. Crystal places her hands around Watchers head and slips her tongue into his mouth. He follows her lead and does the same. Crystal and Watcher's tongues wrestle each other in an erotic dance. As they kiss they both begin to undress the other. Watcher pulls off Crystal's top and then removes her bra. Crystal guides Watcher's head down towards her breasts and he begins to suck on her soft nipples.)

CRYSTAL

Ugh.

(Crystal slowly begins kissing Watchers chest as she undoes his pants. She uses her tongue to lick his muscular indentations. He gives off a slight moan and gropes her breasts. His hands glide up and down her back; feeling any bare skin he can. Crystal's kisses are starting to get lower and are now passing his belly button. She pulls his pants down and as she does his hard penis bumps her lips. It sends electricity through her body. She looks up at him. She reaches for the bandana he has covering his face, but stops half way and reconsiders. Instead she takes her hand and places it around his hard cock.)

CRYSTAL

Is this okay?

(Watcher nods his head with a yes and Crystal begins to lick his penis's head. His cock jumps as her tongue wiggles around it. She licks all of it and teases the under part of his penis. Watcher runs his fingers through her hair and leans his head back to let out a soft moan. Crystal's hand moves up and down the shaft of his penis; jerking him off softly as her tongue continues to please. Slowly, she takes the hard penis into her mouth where she begins to suck on it with a firm and strong pressure. Watcher shakes a little bit when she does this. This must feel quite good to him. She offers him more and begins to moan as she sucks the heroes cock. Crystal slides her hand down her stomach and into her panties. Her fingers glide into her wet pussy and tease her. She picks up her pace and sucks harder than before. The sound of her sucking his cock is too much for Watcher and he warns Crystal.)

WATCHER

I'm going to cum!

(Crystal looks up at him and pulls the cock out of her mouth, but keeps masturbating him.)

CRYSTAL

It's okay. I want you too. I want to taste my hero.

(With that she puts the cock back in her mouth and a moment later it begins to shake.)

WATCHER

Oh...oh, my god.

(A flood of cum erupts into her mouth and as it does Crystal's fingers bring her to orgasm. She moans loudly with the penis in her mouth; catching and swallowing all of her hero's warm cum. Watcher almost topples over and braces his hands on Crystal's shoulders. She continues to give him head, but slower now. Watcher slides his hands down her sides and grabs her ass. He quickly lifts her into the air and turns her around so her pussy faces him. He grabs her panties and tears them off her. It only hurts Crystal slightly, but she barely notices as she is still fully focused on Watchers hard penis. She feels the bandana against her ass and then the heat of his breath on the lips of her vagina. She knows what is coming.)

CRYSTAL

Do it! Do it now!

(Watcher follows through and begins licking the lips of Crystal's pussy. She moans with pleasure with every swipe of his tongue. She begins sucking his cock harder again. His moans are felt on her pussy as his tongue has now entered her. Every slight movement is felt as his tongue glides around inside her. She pulls his cock from her lips to let out a scream of sensation.)

CRYSTAL

Ohhhhhhhhhhh....oooooooooh!!!

(Watcher continues his onslaught on Crystal's pussy. His tongue does spirals inside of her. Crystal moans with pleasure with every swipe of his tongue. Watcher adjusts his arms around Crystal's waist and begins thrusting his hard cock into her mouth. She gags on his hard member and grasps it firmly with her hands. The tongue in her pussy is causing her to orgasm frequently. It's so large and strong inside her. The saliva from the Watcher's eating begins to flow down her clit and drip on her stomach. Watcher quickly pulls his tongue out and takes a lick of the dripping clit. This causes Crystal to cum immediately.)

CRYSTAL

OH MY FUCKING GOD!!!!

(The cock drops from her mouth and she begins to shake uncontrollably. She bites Watcher's right thigh to try and hold in her screams, but the orgasm she is having is too strong to be controlled. She breathes in heavily and then notices that she is being turned around slowly. Lighting begins to fill the room as the rain shower outside seems to have shifted gears into a full thunderstorm. Watcher looks her in the eyes.)

WATCHER

Are you ready?

(Crystal shoves her lips against his and forces her tongue in his mouth; licking his teeth and sucking his tongue)

Crystal

Fucking give to me.

(Watcher carries her over to the fireplace and spins her around. Crystal is facing the mantle and her backside is facing Watcher. He once again lifts her into the air and Crystal wraps her legs behind Watcher and leans forward and braces her hands o the fireplace mantle. She turns to face Watcher.)

CRYSTAL

Fuck me baby.

(Just as the words leave her mouth Watcher slips his cock into her pussy. The sensation of her tight, warm and soaking wet vagina causes him to moan. She looks back and smiles. He begins to thrust his throbbing penis in and out of her. His heaves are slow at first, but Crystal rears up a bit and begs him to go harder. Watcher obeys the command and begins a more forceful thrust. His body and his testicles slap against Crystal's ever perspiring ass. She screams at him.)

CRYSTAL

Don't stop, don't stop!!!! I am going to cum!!!

(And cum she did. So much so that it sprayed right down Watcher's hard penis.)

WATCHER

Oh wow.

(Crystal reaches back and tongue kisses Watcher. She then hops down from his erect pole and hits the floor on her knees. She begins sucking his cock again and more strongly. Watcher let's out a strong moan.)

CRYSTAL

You like that baby?

(She licks the tip of his cock with her tongue.)

CRYSTAL

Let me ride you.

(She gestures to him to join her on the floor. He lies down and she quickly grabs his cock and slides it back in. She wastes no time with her sexy effort and rides furiously. Her beautiful breasts bounce as she slaps her ass up and down; riding him like a pogo stick.)

CRYSTAL

Baby, baby, baby.....ooooooh, baby!

(Watcher grabs her tits and squeezes hard. He then glides his hands down her back and holds her ass as she bounces. He begins to clench his teeth. The feeling is coming again. Crystal sees this and smiles; looking down at him.)

CRYSTAL

I'm thirsty baby. What do ya got?

WATCHER

Oh fuck!

CRYSTAL

Mmmmmm, just what I wanted.

(Crystal licks her lips and jumps off Watcher. She quickly grabs his quickly throbbing penis and begins jerking it off with her mouth over the top of it opened and ready to catch her drink.)

CRYSTAL

Come on baby. Mmmmmmm, that's what I want. Come on, come on.

(Watcher screams in passion and fires his hot beverage into Crystal's mouth.)

CRYSTAL

Yes, yes! Mmmmmm baby give me more. 

(Cum erupts into her mouth. Filling it as far as it can go with white orgasm. It drips from Crystal's lips and she licks it up with her tongue and swallows it all. She continues to lick and suck on Watcher's cock, but almost in a cool down fashion. She slightly strokes it as well.)

CRYSTAL

My hero.

(They both begin to laugh. They lay on the ground with each other until they both fall asleep. Later during the night Crystal awakens and sees that Watcher is still asleep. He is still wearing the bandana around his face. She so desperately wants to remove it and see her lovers face, but she doesn't want to betray the trust he has given her. She slides her hand down his body and feels his sleeping penis. Crystal is enthralled with him. She knows she wont stop thinking about this night ever. She begins to drift to sleep and the world fades with her.)

ACT III

(EPILOGUE)

(It's a hot summer day and it's been almost five months since that unbelievable night. Crystal sits by herself on a park bench reading a book. Ever so often she will glance up and look around. She watches the park parishioners as they enjoy their fun fill day, but she also is keeping an eye out for him. Does he do these types of things too? Could he be watching her or looking for her like she does him? She thinks of these things and she thinks of the way she felt that night. Just the thought of it sends shivers down her body. Shivers she likes very much. Where could he be? Why wouldn't he tell her his name? Hell, that's the least he could have given her. She woke up in her apartment the next day. How did he know where she lived? Maybe one day she will get those answers.)

(As the summer day begins to end and make way for evening Crystal is deeply involved with her book. She is so involved in fact that when she hears the voice it startles her.)

MAN

I'm sorry. I just wanted to ask what you were reading.

(Crystal folds her book close and looks up at the man. She looks at him closely. He is attractive enough and she finds that she is very drawn to the look of his figure.)

CRYSTAL

It's okay. I was just really into it. It's a horror story called "THUD". It's pretty creepy.

(The man smiles at her.)

MAN

I thought that is what you were reading. I know what you mean. It is pretty creepy.

CRYSTAL

I'm sorry. I don't mean to be rude, but do I know you?

(The man pops himself in the head with his hand.)

MAN

Oh damn. I forgot to introduce myself. It's the heat. It's affecting my manors.

My name is Eric.

(They both laugh at the goofy action and remark.)

CRYSTAL

Would you like to sit down?

ERIC

I would love too.

(The two begin to carry on a conversation. They talk about the book Crystal is reading as well as other mundane subjects. While they talk Crystal finds herself enthralled with the gentleman. He seems like a good guy and she feels very comfortable with him. Time goes on as the two get to know each other some more. Eventually it gets late and Crystal begins to pack up her things.)

CRYSTAL

I have to get going. It's getting late. It was nice to meet you Eric. I hope I see you around here again.




Hero



(She offers her hand and Eric takes it.)

ERIC

Yeah, I should be going too. I have a busy night on hand. It was nice meeting you too Crystal. I hope I see you again as well.

(They both smile at one another and begin to walk their separate ways. Eric turns around.)

ERIC

Hey Crystal!

(Crystal turns around to face Eric.)

CRYSTAL

Yes Eric?

ERIC

I hope I see you again too. I will keep a "watch" out for you.

(Crystal turns back around after flashing Eric a smile and begins on her way again. As she walks she replays over and over in her head what Eric just said to her and how he said. It was like he said watch as if he put it in quotations. And when this thought entered her head it was like lighting struck her.)

CRYSTAL

Son of a bitch!

(Crystal, in a mad dash drops her belongings and heads back to the bench, but Eric was long gone. Could he really have been him? Could he be The Watcher? He did say he had a busy night on hand. She wanted so badly to believe that he was him, but she wasn't sure. She looked around for a second. She began to turn back and retrieve her things and that's when she saw it. Tied to the benches leg was the bandana. She ran to it and yanked it from the leg. It was the one he wore on his face that night. She examined it and on the inside a note was written on the fabric.)

NOTE

I will always be "watching" out for you.

-Eric

(Crystal hugged the bandana and walked away. She carried a smile across her face as she left the park that night. She also carried with her the hope that they would have another night like that one again.)

THE END



Hero… Assassin?



Alberto held the straight razor tightly as he gazed into the mirror. His freshly shaven face glistened slightly. He pondered the smooth skin and the razor. He whispered. "A scar, a rebel needs a scar." He placed the razor down on the sink with a smirk. Rebel... Alberto knew he was no rebel. He wiped his face with a towel and then gently hung it on the hook. He looked back into the mirror, ran his hands through his dark black hair. He looked closer, at the hint of gray creeping in at his temples.

He laughed, "The people call me a hero." Looking into the bedroom he noticed the woman had not stirred. "She sleeps through my rebellion," he whispered.

Some people called him a hero; others called him assassin. Hero... assassin? The only difference was in the people who called him those things. Some wore rags and the others fine suits and clothing. "I am but a man. I eat, sleep, breathe and yes even this," he said pulling the chain to the toilet.

He stepped into the bedroom. The woman in his bed had still slept. Remembering last night he smiled, she was an enthusiastic lover, at one point even climbing on top of him and riding him as she came twice, pulsing her tight cunt over him in a wet splash of ecstasy. Then she climbed off him and took him into her mouth, draining him like no one before. Amazed at her appetite, he watched her lick the last droplets of his come from his softening cock. She later fell asleep resting her head on his thighs.

Now her long black hair lay twisted and rumpled on the pillow. He thought of waking her and rushing her out. He thought of asking her to stay. She was young, beautiful and passionate. She was far too dangerous. Beautiful, passionate women were a need, for one to stay with him was a luxury. A luxury he could not afford.

Rather than wake her, Alberto grabbed his jacket and hat and stepped into the hallway. He quietly walked to the stairs and then carefully walked down, each step creaking under his weight. He paused at each landing, glancing back up the stairs, then down towards the door. Once downstairs, he gently pulled the burlap covering from the window and peeked outside. Everything was quiet so he opened the door and stepped into the empty street.

A tension seemed to leave him as he began to walk down the street. Outside he was free, away from the walls, the ceilings and the doors, the terrifying doors. He feared doors, the hand carved wood, the sensuous curve of the grain, patinaed hinges and knob, the powerful strength of the lock. It was all a lie. He had seen it. He had witnessed the door crashing down, exploding into splintered shards as the soldiers entered and took his uncle away.

He had seen it again as they dragged off his teacher from the school. Like his uncle, his teacher never returned. Now he feared the door, any door he stood behind. Doors were a lie; they protected no one. He continued walking over the cobbled streets.

He looked at the buildings, a strange array of brick, plaster and wood. Some were scarred by bullet holes; others were oddly untouched. This early in the morning most of the windows were dark, shades or covers pulled tight. He remembers a time when these streets were vibrant, people would shout greetings from the windows. Neighbors would converse across streets, over the bustling traffic below. But now, the streets remained silent through the day. Neighbors feared each other and they feared the door, everyone feared the door.

Alberto paused and watched the sun rise over the tops of distant buildings. It shined through the haze in an almost pink. It was time for him to go to work. He crossed the street and headed back to his building. He walked faster now, intent on a purpose.

As he walked he thought of the movement, what the people called a revolution. He hated that word; he was a patriot, not a revolutionary. He lived for his country. His uncle and teacher lived and died for this country. Alberto had done more. He looked at his hands and saw the stains, stains he couldn't wash away no matter how hard he tried.

At his building he tried to peer inside through the glass, but the burlap inside covered the opening. He quickly opened the door and headed upstairs. The stairs seemed to creak louder as he walked up to his room. The woman would be gone, quietly awakened, paid and whisked away by his friends.

He slowly turned the knob and stepped inside. Not bothering to lock the door he walked past the empty bed and sat at the chair. A stack of paper lay on the desk. After a few moments of thinking, he deftly grabbed his sword, dipped it into the inkwell and began another battle in the revolution. "Another poem in the war," he thought to himself.