0 comments/ 15874 views/ 0 favorites In From The Cold By: carl420 I knew a Michelle once. We were high school sweethearts. And we made love like we invented it. Our home was not far away, I walked when the weather was nice. Like you, she had curly hair that painted her face with the pastels of blonde. She also had big breasts that I loved to kiss. She went crazy, though. Ran off to college with my best friend from my school and got married. They did not last very long. She was crazy with him, also. In high school she was a cheerleader. She was very sexy in her short skirts. But she is gone now, somewhere in my very colorful past. You remind me of her, but with black hair that wraps around your face and falls to your shoulders. I don't know you more than that. But I fantasize. You have affected me the same way Michelle did - which is why the character in my story is Michelle. That way I can do to her what I wanted to. And the same goes for you. Richard sat across the street and watched where Michelle used to work. She would be getting off soon and he would wait for her. He began to think back, to the day to when he and her first worked together and when they first fucked. She was teaching a group of nurses at the local hospital. He was one of her students. As they moved down the wing she discussed various procedures. Richard watched her as she spoke. She looked back with green eyes. And then she caught him looking at her. She continued talking about the catheter. "It has to be removed like this." Her hands danced around in front of her. The students watched her as she taught. Richard watched her eyes. Her eyes moved from her hands to her students to him. They looked at each other, their eyes fixed. Everything was normal until that moment in time. She knew and he knew. They finished their rounds When they finished their rounds for the day the group disassembled. As they broke up part and went their separate ways, Richard migrated to Michelle, as if to ask her a question about the class she was teaching. "Excuse me, Michelle, can I ask you a question?" She looked around her to see where the voice was coming from. She looked over her right arm and then her left. Her eyes locked on Richard. He was not a large man, average size but well-built and very toned from what she had seen of his arms. The muscles rippled there when he reached for something. She thought privately of what his back must feel like. She bit her lower lip and said "Yes, what can I do for you, Richard?" "I have a question about catheters. Don't patients sometimes wear a condom catheter?" "Well Richard, yes they do. When a patient has to have one for a long time they will sometimes have the choice of using a condom." She grinned at the word as she was saying it to. That is not very professional, Michelle, she said to herself. She continued "A tube that attaches to the head of the condom, known as the extension, and runs down the leg to the urine bag and, in turn, needs to be emptied. And the condom catheter should be changed daily. At the same time, you should start a bowel regimen for obvious reasons. Are there any other questions?" He thought for a minute and then said, "Yes ma'am. Would you like to go for a cup of coffee." He did not ask sheepishly but with confidence and surety. Michelle looked around to see who might have heard. "There is a rule that teachers will not fraternize was students." She said with her voice lowered. "Who is fraternizing? I only ask you to go for a cup of coffee to cover a couple of other questions." His eyes were innocent, like a puppy dogs. "Tell you what, Richard" she looked around again "I'm going to run upstairs and get my stuff to leave for the day. And I will come across the street to the Starbucks. Is that okay?" "Absolutely." He said with a smile. He waited for the 30 minute he had planned for it to take Michelle to get there. He began looking around at the people who came to Starbucks. There was a college student working on her computer. A grown man was doing something on his phone, probably texting. The baristas were busy with a long line of people. There was soft music playing. The store was very relaxed, everyone enjoying their time to wind down from work or school or whatever. A few minutes later, Richard saw Michelle running across the street. He got up to get in line. He knew Michelle liked cappuccinos from watching her in class. He was going to order two as she was coming in. That would be now. Unfortunately he was not able to move up the line that fast. She was already coming through the door. She walked up behind him and tickled his ribs. He feigned being surprised and turned around and smiled at Michelle. She laughed back at him. In his mind she was giggling like a little school girl. "Hello Michelle, I was just about to order, cappuccino, right." "Why yes. However did you know?" "I've been watching you in class." He did not even look her way. He just kept looking forward at the barista, waiting his turn. "Well then, I'm going to find us a table." Richard watched her walk away, seeking out the right table. She was a tall girl with a very nice ass, he thought. She had long black hair like a stallion. It fell down her back towards her ass. And he thought for a moment about that her around her pussy -- if she had any. He got to the front of the line to the barista. "Can I help you, sir?" He held up two fingers and said "Two cappuccinos, please." "Coming right up, sir." The young man seemed happier then he should have been serving coffee in the evening of a beautiful night. Richard thought he was happy just to have a job. Richard knew the feeling. He watched as the barista filled two coffee holders and put them into the machine that would make the espresso. He watched as the coffee dribbled out into the cups. He then foamed the milk and spooned it out decoratively on top of the coffee. Richard smiled. He walked the drinks over to the table. "Here you are ma'am, a dry cappuccino." He took the chair across from Michelle. "Why thank you, sir." She smiled at Richard and was so glad he was sitting with her. She watched him sip his coffee and began to think of him naked before her. Her mind was shady and he stood before her with his cock hard. "How is it?" He interrupted. She was just running her tongue around the head of his cock. "Oh it's good." She cleared her throat. "Yours okay?" She grinned. She couldn't get the thought out of her head. "Mine is just fantastic." He was admiring the way she looked out, daydreaming. "Are you thinking about, Michelle, if I can ask?" Why was she laughing? "Be careful or you're going to shoot it out of your nose." He smiled at her. "Oh I was just thinking and I promise to share one day..." Michelle said to him, rather coyly. "Well, I wanted to ask you if you like cold weather?" He asked her somewhat nervously. "I do." She said. "But I like the beach more. Why do you ask?" "Well I had an idea would take a few days off and go to the mountains and spend some time clearing my head. Would you like to go with me?" She was flabbergasted and his brazenness. But she was also turned on. She felt herself be again to heat up and get wet between her legs. "I would love to." Richard was overjoyed. He had no idea she would say yes. But he had every intention showing her a good time. Indoors and out. She thought of having sex with him on the couch in front of the fire. Little did she know, he was thing the same thing. "Well," he said. "Why don't we shoot for a week from this weekend, that should give us the time we need to get our work done and get the time off for the Friday and Monday. How does that sound?" He waited for her response. She took the last sip of her cappuccino and said, "Sounds good. I'll take care of things on my end and we will leave a week from Friday." She said happily. They exchanged phone numbers and then she had to go. "See you soon and hopefully talk to you sooner." With that, she right then walked out the door. He watched her as she walked across the parking lot, paying special attention to her ass and the way she walked. There really wasn't very much going on for the next couple of weeks. Richard went back and forth to work, sales at a telecom company. Michelle did the same at the hospital. The only time they saw each other was in class twice a week. Richard could not wait. Michelle could not wait, either. They were both looking forward to their weekend away. At work, Michelle talked to her friends about her new boyfriend. There was a lot of giggling and smiles. Everyone had their opinions but no one knew it was Richard. Conversely, Richard talked to no one at work. Normally, he would not have anyway. He was a manager and did his job with no real conversation with others that was not work related. On the night before they were to leave, Richard called Michelle. Michelle's Caller ID identified Richard and she answered the phone giddy with excitement. She had not felt this way for some time, towards anyone. In turn, neither did he. "Hello Richard, what are you doing?" "Packing, girl. What you doing?" "So Richard, is it okay if I don't pack very much?" "Well baby, we are going be there for a few days. You will need enough clothes for that." He was amazed at how comfortable she was with him. He was amazed at himself. "True. But I don't plan on wearing very much. Do you?" "I guess I agree with you. I did not want to assume anything." He had to work hard to hold the smile back. Oh, it was going to be a great weekend. "Richard?" "Yes ma'am?" "Is it okay if I refer to you as my boyfriend?" She didn't know how he would react to that. "Well, is it okay if I am your boyfriend. I mean after all, I am your student." "Oh yeah, that. Okay, so we have to keep that on the DL at school. Okay with you?" "Yes ma'am." "Well, I am ready when you are." "I'll be there first thing in the morning Michelle. By you have to send me your address via email. That cool?" "I guess you will need that. About 9 o'clock?" "Yes ma'am, the drive will be about three hours, maybe four." "I'll be right here in the morning." She smiled at her new lover. She couldn't wait to get where they were going. She was going to ravage him. "Well then, I will see you tomorrow." He smiled at their conversation. He could not wait to get to the cabin. He was so turned on. All he wanted was to be naked with her. Richard finished packing. Few pairs of jeans, some T-shirts, and some good old flannel shirts. Mr. outdoors. He laughed at himself. And there was the pair of tie-up boots, like a construction worker. Just get some things from the bathroom and he was ready to go. That night, he settled out back with a couple of beers. The moon was heavy in the sky and stared down at him as if it knew a secret but it wasn't going to tell. Richard sat on a lawn chair in the backyard contemplating the sky. He began to think of Michelle. What was she wearing while she packed her things? He bet that it was a T-shirt with nothing underneath. He could feel himself begin to grow hard. He was wearing a T-shirt and a pair of boxers. He watched as his cock began to swell against his leg and push against his boxers. Then he saw Michelle. She sat on him and put his cock into her wet pussy. He was large and thick and she took him all the way inside her. She began slowly moving up and down on his cock. It felt so good he leaned his head back and looked up towards the stars. He was feeling everything all at once from his pelvis to his throat. He leaned forward and took a nipple and his mouth, gently biting down on the end. Michelle was breathing very hard but continued to move up and down on his penis. Richard grabbed her ass and supported her while she moved up and down. "Oh Richard, I'm going to cum, cum all over you!" She was talking in pants right into his ear and breathless words. He hoped she would. She was moving faster and faster. He grabbed her ass and put his finger right on her ass hole, pressing gently to gauge her reaction. "Oh yes, yes Richard, push it inside me. Do it now! Do it now!" Well you never a ignored what a moment calls for. He rammed his hand forward and his finger up her ass. "Oh fuck! God I'm going to cum, right now!" He pulled her to him and held her tightly while she had her orgasm. When she finished yelling and became quiet, moaning. He kissed her on the lips running his tongue along hers. Richard came to and was sitting with cum all over his hands and his stomach. He had imagined the whole thing. He decided he would go upstairs, clean up, and go to bed. He was going to sleep well, tonight. Michelle was already in bed trying to sleep but she continued to think about Richard sitting across the table from her at the coffee shop. He was so sexy all he had to do was look at her and she began to get wet. Like right now. She could feel the heat and the wetness between her legs. Her fingers crept down her stomach until they were touching her clit. He was down licking her pussy sinking his tongue deep into her. He pressed her thighs outward so that the pussy was more exposed. God, she thought, he could do this for hours. But there was already an issue rising, literally. She already felt like she was going to explode in her pussy and then her head. "Does that feel good, baby?" He asked her between his licks. "Oh yes, please Richard, I love that. Do that faster and faster and faster..." Her voice trailed off and became screaming. She yelled, "yes!" And held his face hard against her pussy. Suddenly, Michelle realized she was dreaming and playing with herself. And sadly, that Richard was not there. But tomorrow he would be. And they were going away for days. She went to sleep smiling. The next day they both got up early and showered and got ready to leave. Richard got in his truck and headed to the address Michelle had sent. He drove slowly, somewhat nervous. But then he started to think about his dream while masturbating and sped up. Suddenly he was very anxious to see her. Michelle stood up and looked out the window, looking down the road for Richard's truck. All she could think of right then was being alone with him. As she was daydreaming he turned the corner of her street. Moments later he was knocking on her door. "Richard, come on in." She was so excited he was here. It was like the senior prom. "Can make get you something, maybe a cup of coffee?" "Yes ma'am. That sounds good. But then we should go. Do you have some bags? I will get them in the truck." He looked around her house and the decorations and the furniture. She was obviously very comfortable in this place. It looked like his sister's bedroom. She was definitely young at heart. He hoped she was old enough to handle an NSA relationship. This weekend was all there could be. She went into the kitchen, the room separated from the living room by a cut in the wall, making a window bar. She poured the coffee in a mug that read "slowly but surely my love does grow. I sure do love you, my escargot." It had a picture of a snail that looked like it was moving with what looked like sheer determination. "Pardon the mug." She laughed it off. "I stole it from my father when I left for college." She smiled. Richard loved it. The mug and her smile. NSA was getting harder and harder. "Where are the bags?" Michelle looked surprised and said "oh yes, right down the hall on the right. That's my bedroom. "One date and your already telling me to go into your bedroom. This is going very well, I must say. " They both laughed at the sarcasm. He walked back to her room and grabbed the bag. He turned around to go out to his truck but thought for a moment about the size of her bed. He smiled to himself, thinking he would like to lay next to her in that bed. He continued out the front door to the truck and placed the bags in the back and went back inside to finish his coffee. When he was done he said "are you ready?" "Ready for what?" She asked. "Ready for a weekend in the snow?" "Well, let's go big boy" He followed her out and opened her door to the truck, and they were off. They talked for a little while, while driving to Virginia in the Shenandoah Mountains. They were in South Carolina and the drive would take about four or five hours. After an hour or so of driving, he turned to Michelle and asked her "do you want anything? Maybe some coffee or bathroom?" "No thank you, I'm fine. I'm sort of anxious to get where we are going. Where is that, exactly?" "Probably, straight to hell." He smiled at her and she squirmed in her seat. "Remember, probably in high school, this song by Driving N Crying, I'm going straight to hell." He sang along in tune. "Oh my God, I totally remember that! Just like my momma said," she sang. "That is the one, Michelle." Something in common, he thought. They were not far apart in age. "How old are you?" He asked her. "28." "Really, I'm 27." He noticed she was eyeing him. Behind her the trees were getting thicker. When they crossed the state line in about 45 minutes, the trees would begin to show the cold weather with snow on the tops. They were almost North Carolina crossing over into Virginia. Within the hour they would be going through Roanoke in another hour and a half they would be in the mountains and almost there. "So, when I was young my family had a good friend who had this place in the mountains and we would go and stay for a week in the winter. He's dead now but the place still remains in his family. I call them and they let me stay there on occasion." He told her. "So what do you like to do when you are not nursing?" "I like to go to the beach during the summer time and curl up on the couch with a good book when it is cold. What do you like?" "I like the beach too but during the cold I love to be close to someone, making love all day long. And get out and have coffee." He let that sink in hoping he had not offend her. "Well," she looked out the window in put her hand on the pane. "It's officially getting colder. " He thought she had a funny sound to her voice, like she knew something she wasn't saying. "Maybe you will like this..." She leaned over to the driver's seat and ran her tongue across his ear. She did it again and flicked her tongue this time, breathing heavily. He was immediately turned on. Her hand was massaging his thigh and squeezing the rock hard cock that was beginning to show itself there. What do you say to a woman that does and says that? "Why yes, I do." He decided. She continued to kiss his ear and slowly began to unzip his pants. She reached in and grabbed his cock with very warm hands. It was very thick and her hand and pretty talk long too. She whispered in his ear, "how's that baby?" She stroked slowly and gently. "Oh yeah, that is good." "Well if you like that, how about this?" She leaned down and put her entire mouth around his cock, starting to move up and down. This spittle in her mouth made her lips slide up and down. Every once in a while she would start licking the head like a lollipop. She thought, God this tastes good. She lifted her head and whispered something in his ear while her right hand stroked him faster and faster. She was asking if he liked it and by the look on his face, he did. She continued to masturbate him while talking dirty in his ear. Richard was having trouble focusing on the road. Everything was happening in and below his stomach. It wouldn't be long. Between her mouth and her hand, he was going to explode! She watched as he tightened his grip on the steering wheel. She stroked harder and harder. His knuckles were turning white. And for a moment his right foot pressed down against the gas pedal, hard. He is going to cum. And she was going to make sure every bit of it went into her mouth. She bent down and put his cock into her mouth again. She could feel his cock pulsing. And she moved her head down she knew he was going to cum. And he did. Cum shot into her mouth and she could feel it on the back of her throat. He was still cuming and she continued to swallow. It was an incredible feeling cuming inside her mouth. She still stroked him to make sure every bit was out and in her mouth. In From The Cold "Just think we are not even that yet. It is going to be a great weekend." She smiled at Richard. He was hesitant to take his eyes off the road but he turned to look at her and saw her licking her lips. She had cum around her mouth and he agreed that it was very becoming, pun intended. Richard leaned over and kissed Michelle, his tongue dancing with hers. "Thank you, Michelle. My turn next." "You have a deal!" She could not wait. They continued heading down the road and saw the snow on this side of the road and on the tops of the trees. There were almost there. A few more miles. Richard reached and grabbed Michelle's hand. In his own mind NSA was going to be very hard. A few minutes later they were turning in to a snow lined drive. A few minutes more and they were pulling into the driveway of the home where they would be staying for the next few days. They both went and saw that everything was covered in sheets and had a musty odor from being closed up. Richard and Michelle sat up about to uncover all the furniture and open windows to air the place out. When they were almost done, Michelle asked him if she could get the bags out of the truck. "Of course, do you want some help?" "No, thank you, I've got it." Ahhh, I think I'm falling in love, he thought. He went into the kitchen to make some coffee. While it was brewing and a few minutes later, Michelle came out of the bedroom wearing only one of his flannel shirts. "Is that coffee ready?" "Yes ma'am, all ready. You want some? I was just going to build a fire." She walked slowly up to him, ran her hand down his left arm and said "I would love some. And I will help build the fire." "Let me get you a cup." Richard looked in the cabinet above the coffee maker and pulled down two gray mugs. He poured the coffee and turned to Michelle and gave her one. He could not help but look down at her very nice legs. He wondered what she was wearing under the shirt. They walked together out to the living room to build the fire. There was kindling in a bucket on the hearth. They began to stack the kindling on the iron wood holder. Richard went outside to get some wood. We he got back, Michelle started the fire. Richard placed the wood on top of the kindling. They both sat back with their legs crossed, drinking their coffee, waiting for the fire to catch. "So what do you think of the place?" He asked her. "It is beautiful out here. So quiet. I could live here." While she was talking he leaned forward and kissed her -- gave her a kiss opening her mouth with his lips. Then their tongues were together. The kissed like that for a few minutes. He got on all fours and put his hand on the right side of her head, holding firmly. He continued to kiss her, moved his tongue about, and crawled forward so he was right up on top of her. They continued to kiss. The fire was and all around them was the quiet of the snow. "Mmm, Richard. You feel so good." She said when he let her breathe from the kissing. "So do you, baby. I've been turned on since you came out with my flannel shirt on." He wasn't kidding. He had been thinking of kissing her sense then. "That was the whole idea, honey." His kisses continued while in his hand moved down her right leg. She grabbed both his arms and pulled him close, holding tighter. They were engaged in a kiss when he moved his hand back up under the shirt. He was not looking but he was sure there was nothing there. His hand was moving over skin. Michelle started to think of his hand moving up to her ass. His hands felt so good she wanted him to touch her between her legs. Really, all over her body. He was thinking the same thing. The fire grew and so did his cock. Her hands were massaging his crotch. The fire was growing even more. For that matter, so was he. He paused so he could move up next-to her facing the fire with his back against the couch. He took a very big breath. "Whew, girl, you got me all tuned up." "Not even close." She crossed her right leg over his legs and was sitting on his hardened cock. He began to unbutton her shirt. First the lower buttons then moving up towards her breasts. When he was finished, he pushed the shirt over her shoulders and brought it down off her arms. What he was looking at was a totally naked Michelle. She was glorious with the fire behind her crackling like it was eating itself. And in a sense, it was. "Well, that is not fair. I am the only one with no clothes on. We have to catch you up." She grinned as she began unbuttoning his shirt. She was pulling his clothes off when she realized she was not wrong about him. He was very well toned, like an athlete. Muscular arms, a flat stomach, well formed pecs like a weight lifter. And then she pulled his pants down, she noticed he did not wear underwear and his legs were in great shape, like a runner. Not to mention it was hard as a rock. And Richard was not a small man. She had taken off his boots and his socks so they both sat totally naked in front of the fire. It was now blazing and they both could feel the heat coming forth. "Now what?" He asked her. She was still kneeling at his feet. "What now? I'm going to fuck you. Is that all right?" "Yes ma'am." As he said it, she crawled to him and planted herself so that her pussy was right above his cock. She could not wait to sit down on his big, throbbing cock. He helped her, grabbing her ass with both hands and guiding her gently down. She was wet and slid down until he was all the way inside her. They both let go of the bliss they both feeling, through their breathing. She wrapped her arms around his neck and began to kiss him with passion. She was going up and down his cock. Up and down. Up and down. Then he reached down between her legs and grabbed his dick. With two fingers there, she also allowed him to open her lips even wider with his two fingers. She was breathing heavy and all he wanted was to hear her in her ecstasy. He bit down on her nipple and kissed her breasts. Then he grabbed her hair and pulled back. "Oh God yes." She was moaning at the ceiling and increasing her speed. Up and down. Up and down. Up and down. Faster and faster. "Michelle, I want you to feel me shoot my load and cum with me." He whispered in her ear. "God, yes I will, yes Richard!" He squeezed her ass, tightly and pushed his buttocks together, slightly raising them up. His eyes were focused on her breasts and her nipples. She continued to ride him but they both could feel the urge to cum when they both did, it was like two freight train running head first into each other. He came first, pulling her hair and tightening his stomach muscles. The cum shot out of his dick. Michelle felt him inside of her and it seemed to go all the way into her stomach. She immediately began to cum feeling his ejaculation inside of her. She looked up to the ceiling and cried out "God, I'm cuming. Yes, I'm cuming. The two held each other in a tight embrace. Both of them breathe heavily with the other. Their exertion was mutually felt. They both wanted to sit there and relax, him with his head on her breasts and her with her head resting on his. They must've sat like that for 30 minutes because the fire was down to only burning coals. "Hey baby, are you hungry?" It occurred to Michelle she had not eaten all day. "How about if we make some spaghetti for dinner?" Michelle spoke up that she would love that. When she stood up she dripped cum down on him from her wet pussy. "Don't worry about that, I will get you a towel." With that, he jumped up and went to the back closet and got a towel for him and for her. He used his clean himself off. And he took the other out to Michelle. When he gave it to her she wiped her pussy and wiped off her stomach. With everyone clean, they set about to make dinner. Richard cut up the green peppers and the onions. Michelle set about grading the Parmesan cheese and browning the meat. "Now for the secret ingredient." Richard smiled and reached into the cabinet and brought down the spaghetti sauce. "Voila." He held the jar like in a commercial. He poured it in a pan and turned up the heat. "Why don't you get the noodles? We'll be eating in no time!" She did as Richard said. Meanwhile, he looked for some fresh vegetables to cook and found some broccoli. And he placed the bread in the oven. Richard looked at the spaghetti sauce and it was nearly ready. Michelle said she was going to set the table and Richard nodded his head. This was their first meal together and it was going to be special. He prepared two plates with spaghetti, broccoli, and Parmesan bread, toasted. He grabbed the two plates and placed them on the table and turned around to get the merlot he had just brought out. He sat down waited for Michelle and when she came he filled both glasses with the Merlot. He smiled and held both hands shoulder level out high. "So what do you think, Michelle. Good?" "Very good. I love it, Richard." They began eating and very shortly she spoke. "So tell me, Richard, about this man I've been making love to all day. And plan on doing the same thing tomorrow." "What do you want to know?" "Well, tell me about the things you do..." He took a sip of wine before talking. Made sure his mouth was clear since his mother taught him not to talk with food in his mouth. "I am a sales manager at the local telephone company overseeing the salesman selling residential phone service. I have a good team and they cover five states. It is an okay job. I have a good team that works hard to make me look good. Now I am going back to school to learn nursing." "Why?" "Well I really don't like telecom. And I had my own business for 12 years building websites and hosting and I don't really want to go back there. The Internet has grown a great deal in the last 10 years. My mom was in the hospital for a long time with complications stemming from her MS. I just felt like they were great people and wanted to do anything to help. I decided I wanted to do that. So that is a little of about me. What about you?" "You want to know about who you are fucking, too?" She smiled over a mouthful of food. He started to think he was going to have trouble with NSA, himself. No strings attached was quickly becoming please don't go. "Have you always been from Charleston?" "Yes ma'am. Can't you tell by my manners?" Richard smiled broadly. "I love your manners, Richard. Hell, I could easily love you." He let that one go. Although, he also had the same thought. Richard cleared his throat. "How did you become a nurse?" "Long story short, I was involved with a man when I was 21 who took advantage of the in more ways than one. I went to a community college and became an RN. He's gone now, obviously, and I've been doing it ever since. I love the work. I thought about moving to another state, but I cannot figure out where I want to go. So, here I am and here you are." He thought about that. "Right where we are supposed to be. So where do you see yourself in five or 10 years?" "Probably doing the same thing. In nursing you either stay on the floor or go into administration. I don't really like that, administration I mean." "Do you have plans to settle and have a family?" "Yes and no. I really enjoy the life I live now. The freedom. The parties. The dating. Sex. For the moment I would not make a very good mom. I am to selfish." Michelle smiled and shrugged her shoulders, taking a drink of wine. What about you? Any plans for a family?" I may one day. "I suppose that depends on who I meet along the way. Right now, no. Like you, I like my independence." Between talking, they both finished their meals and were drinking wine, solely. He felt good about their conversation, about knowing more of Michelle. She was very pleased, also. "How about some music and then another fire?" He asked her and she said "absolutely." They went into the other room and he set about to build a fire. She was flipping through the CDs, looking for some good music. She settled on a meditation CD that promised easy listening, mood music. She thought that Richard must have brought that CD on an earlier trip. She put it in the player and pressed play. The music was very gentle so she grabbed her wine and sat cross legged on the couch watching Richard with the fire. "You're getting pretty good at that." She mocked him. "Actually my ex-girlfriend said that I was good at everything. But that I only did what I was good at. There might be something to that?" "Well you certainly are good at everything I have seen and felt you do. "Richard turned around, smiling, to look at her and she was smiling too but had that I--know--something--you--don't--know kind of look. He finished building the fire and went in to the dining room to get his wine. Then he sat next to Michelle on the couch watching the fire. As the fire crackled she turned towards Richard and put her feet up on his legs. He rested his hand on her foot and they both meditated with the music and fire. He wasn't sure but it felt like 9 or 10 o'clock. He yawned and then she did, too. Yawns are contagious and they were both feeling sedated by the music and fire crackling. "Baby, I'm going to go take a shower and get into the bed. I'm feeling sort of sleepy. Do you mind?" She said to him like a lover. And oddly enough, he liked that. "Go ahead baby, I'm just going to clean up from dinner before I head back.""Well do you want me to stay and help?" "No, baby, I got it." He watched her get up and leave, walking back to the bedroom where bathroom was. He heard the shower start and decided to wait a few minutes to start, so as not to interfere with Michelle's shower. The music was soft in his head, the flames of the fire licking the bricks above the fireplace. He had a drink and zoned out. He began to think of Michelle and wondered what he wanted to do. She was a great girl and was smart, empathetic, and savvy. And she was great in bed. So, he wondered what this could mean. Would she want to see him again? Would she want people to know he was her student? What did she want? It occurred to him that she may not be interested in a relationship. Boyfriend/girlfriend. That sounded pretty good to him. He wondered if it would to her. He stood up to go clean up dinner. He felt the need to stretch so he paused and reached to the ceiling and stood on his toes and yelled out while the stretched every muscle. That's much better. He went to the table and started cleaning dishes, taking the dirty ones to the sink to wash. There were not many so it would only take a few minutes. He was right it only took a few minutes. But he noticed it was unusually quiet in the back of the house. He turned off the water looked around the kitchen and left, turning out the light. On the way back to the bedroom he turned out the living room lights and walked down the hall. He turned to go in the bedroom but stopped. Michelle was lying on the bed. She had fallen asleep, waiting, dressed in only a T-shirt she had put on after her shower. Part of the shirt had caught on the bed and was pulled up revealingly part of her ass. Richard stood there in the light of the bathroom just looking at her. He thought about going out with her, holding hands with her, going shopping and maybe to the beach. Either way, he was going to have to wake her up because her ass was too fine not to taste. He walked slowly to the bed and walked around the side where her face was. Her eyes were slightly open and she mumbled "hi baby, I'm sorry I couldn't wait." "No worries." He walked around to the other side of the bed and held himself over her still body with his hands balled into fists. Slowly, lovingly he kissed her ass. He then ran his tongue up each butt cheek. Then he ran his tongue down the ass crack, stopping briefly with his tongue on her ass hole. Suddenly he heard mumbling coming from Michelle. Something like "God, yes, I want to fuck me up the ass." He continued to lick her ass hole. His right hand went to his jeans and unzipped and opened them. His cock was then in his hand. He held it for a moment and started to masturbate. But then the stopped and kneeling on the bed and reached behind him to the dresser drawer. He moved his hand around until he landed on what he knew was the lubricant. He began stroking it on to his dick and it felt so good and for the moment he just wanted to jerk himself off. Then he leaned forward and softly put the head of his cock right up to her ass hole. He lifted her hips up to his waist and began to gently push himself inside her. She started to moan and call on his name. He continued to push himself inside, paying attention to whether or not he was causing her pain. She had taken it more than halfway in. He felt like someone was squeezing his cock with both hands. He pushed through until he was all the way in. She yelled out his name. Her ass was rammed up against his stomach. He began to fuck her -- slowly and gently first and then faster. She was screaming for more. He leaned forward and licked her spine. His tongue ran all the way up to the back of her neck. He could taste her sweat and it tasted like salt. Her breathing had slowed some. She whispered "bring me home, baby." She was breathless and obviously, exhausted. He rammed his dick all the way in and then back out. In, out. In and out, faster and faster. She squeezed the pillows tightly with her hands until her knuckles were white, all of the blood was in her wrists. Of coarse all of his blood was in his cock and it was swollen is a big as it ever was. He kept fucking harder. But it was not just him. As much as he was going forward, she was pushing back slapping her ass against his pelvis. Oh God, he was going to come and so was she. If he talked to about this in the locker room you would say he started to damage that pussy! He reached gently for her breasts while he was still ramming himself hard against her. He found them and started to rub the nipples harder and harder. She was screaming his name like she never had. There was another scream and she yelled out "unngh!" "Jesus fucking Christ! Yes, oh God yes." He wrapped his arms around her waist for a few minutes and they slowly rocked together. It was powerful sex for both of them. Neither would soon forget. Then next day, and they left early to beat the crowds to go kayaking. It was cold but not so much that there might be ice on the River. The water was just damn cold. They both shoved off and took off down the river. He thought there were miles to go before they slept. And it seemed like Michelle was racing. There were both paddling very fast. At this rate, they were going to wear themselves out. "Baby, you got to slow down. There is nothing to gain by wearing yourself out." "Now, aren't you glad I didn't say that to you last night?" She yelled back and shot forward. He laughed and followed suit. Michelle really was a special person. Someone he had never known or experienced. He did not want the weekend to end. He caught up with her and the water was splashing up and making her shirt wet. He saw that her nipples were hard. His mouth began to drool thinking about her luscious nipples. She was laughing and screaming and splashing water on him. She wondered if his pants for as wet as her shirt. She started thinking of his big, sweet cock. Now she wondered if he was as wet as her. He came alongside her. "Hello baby wearing yourself out?" "No, only distracted." She smiled. They paddled along and enjoyed the peaceful afternoon. They kayaked for another couple of hours . Right then the sun began to sink below the trees. Then they turned her around and headed back to the starting point. As they approached the end, they began racing again, to the end. Because he was ready, he won easily. They both laughed. It had been a great day and was the perfect last day. In From The Cold They were heading back to the house talking about how great their visit was. "But is not quite over." She said. He smiled at her, knowing what she meant and loving every minute of it. It was about a 30 minute drive and when they made it home, they were both exhausted. "What do you want to do about food?" He asked her before they got out of the car. "Let's just go inside,, warm-up some soup, and start a fire, and grab a beer. And whatever else." He thought he knew what she meant. It was there last night. She did not want to leave any more than he did. Inside they went. He found some chunky soup in the cabinet and said that he was going to build the fire. She started to heat up the soup. By the time he was done, so was she. She brought out some beer with the soup and they both sat right in front of the fire. It crackled like it was eating itself. "Damn, that kayaking game kicked my ass. I think I am just going to lay back and relax." He leaned backwards and laid back on the floor. He was just taking in the sound in the feel of the fire. He was breathing in and out, meditating. And she was on him kissing him and playing with his hair "I really don't want to leave." "Baby, I don't want to either. Who knows what it will be a like when we get home." "Richard, I would like to have a relationship with you. Only we cannot in school." "So do I and I understand about the school." "Well, good, now I can fuck your brains out. Is that okay?" "Oh yes ma'am." She went about kissing him moving her tongue all over his mouth. His tongue moved around easily with her own. They were symbiotic he thought. While her tongue was in his mouth his hands snuck under her shirt they came to rest on her breasts, playing with the nipples. She blew out her breath and whispered his name. But for once all week, she was in control. She placed his hands on her hips. Then she pulled her shirt over her head. All he could see was breasts and nipples. And seeing them not only made him a hard but also salacious. He wanted them in his mouth. She did, also. So she leaned forward and placed her breast in his mouth. He bit down on the nipple, ever so gently. "Damn, Richard," she whispered "your mouth feel so good on my nipple." He agreed with her and stopped licking long enough to tell her so. She stood up and looked down at him, then unbuckled her pants and let them drop to the floor. She had to give them a little help going down her legs. She kicked off her shoes and pulled off her socks. Then with her back erect, she stood before him, hands-on her hips, and wearing nothing but her panties and nothing else. She smiled down and him. He truly thought he was falling for her gentle smile and exquisite body. "Now it's your turn" she said looking down. "Yes ma'am" he said obligingly. He was on his back but see pulled up his shirt and deftly pulled that over his head. His body was tight and sinewy. From where she stood she could see all the muscles in his pecs and his abs. He was gorgeous. Whatever did he want with her? She could not get that question out of her head. His next step was to remove his pants. Which would be fine except all of the seduction had left him hard. He pushed his pants down below his knees and leaned back, his cock totally erect. She bent down and grabbed his cock and began stroking it up and down. "You know, I really want to see you again when we are back in town. I want to see you for a lot of reasons. 1) you are sexy as hell and 2) you are funny and smart and most importantly 3) you make me feel great about myself." She smiled and he smiled back. He said "I could not have said that better myself." She put her face to his and kissed him passionately. They had one more night to together before they left tomorrow. And kissing her was what he wanted to do. He wanted to take this scent with him. He also wanted to take her hands with him. They were wrapped around his cock and moving up and down. She noticed that he laid his head back more and spread his legs slightly apart. He had a big cock. She wanted to put it in her mouth. All in good time, she thought. She continued to masturbate him and he began to get that gravelly voice. She did not mean move mouse right for to being mean but she did want him to wait and cum with her. She rolled over and slid her panties off then turned back around and slowly threw her leg across his cock and straddled him. She wanted this to be slow and intimate. She rose up and paused before going down all the way, slowly. Every inch of him was inside her. She loved it. She loved him. Back to the top and slowly down. Her pussy was wet and slid easily on his dick. Up then down. For him every movement was a release of every emotion. He was feeling a lot of things. It felt good but it was scary, too. For herself he was everything she wanted in a partner. All the way up, all the way down. Every time she moved she felt her legs quiver. Inside her pussy she was hot and wet. The more she went up-and-down on his cock the more wet she became. She kissed him and he grabbed her head in his hand, his tongue dancing around her lips. She continued to ride him and he moved his hips to meet hers. They slapped together. She breathed heavy. He reached down and put his hands below her ass to support her. She got faster and faster. She reached forward and placed her hands on his chest. He was buried in the feeling of her. She grabbed his hair yelled his name "Oh Richard, I'm cuming I want you to cum inside me." She went up and down one more time and he was washed away. So was she. He grabbed her back and pulled her down hard and shot his load up into her pussy. She could feel them come together. Him inside her and her all over him. She laid her head on his chest and felt his dick throbbing inside of her while she leaked out her cum. Everything was magic and illusion. As they lay together, he could not shake the feeling that something was out of alignment. Something, somewhere was wrong. It was not with them, but it was somewhere. She lay quietly with her head on his chest and he felt like he could not move. So he just lay there, waiting for something to change. In time, he fell off to sleep. Spent, she dozed off, too. They woke a couple of hours later. First her. She had drooled on his chest. She worked to clean it all off. But her movement woke him up "No worries, baby. We have a exchanged much more bodily fluids then that, this week." He smiled wryly and they both laughed. "Would you like to go back to the bed and sleep, Michelle?" She said she would. So that both got up, stark naked and went to get in the bed. She jumped in first and covered up, bringing the covers right up to her neck. He was then right behind her, blankets up, and he scooted over to Michelle to put his arms around her, as if to hold onto her so tight that she would not go. Tomorrow would be the last day and they would straighten up and go back home. He hoped that their conversations would hold true and they would both be together in Charleston. Thinking about that, he fell asleep. In the morning he woke up first, as normally, with a hard on. He rubbed Michelle stomach. She did not wake. So he rubbed her breast. She started to wake mumbling something under her breath. He leaned his head down and took a nipple in his mouth. He bit gently. Slowly her legs spread open. His right hand slid down to her stomach and his fingers went between her legs. She was completely shaved and his right hand passed over the stubble. But he knew what he was going for. Right below the stubble he found her lips, wet like he was hard. He rubbed her clit, slowly at first then faster. "Oh yes, Richard. Right there, please, right there." Michelle was definitely awake now. He slid his middle finger and he pushed her lips apart and pushed his finger all the way inside. She gave a deep inhale and yelled out his name. He got on top of her, his hard on catching her thigh. She reached down and moved with both hands and grabbed where she knew his cock was. She guided it inside her pussy and he pushed it home. All the way in. Her head reared back grabbed his ass. She held on while he fucked her. Slowly at first while he kissed her breasts and made their nipples hard. And then faster and harder. She was calling out his name and encouraging him to go harder still. Obliging her, he was slapping her pussy with his stomach. There were all sorts of noises happening at once. The slapping of her pussy. Her yelling his name. His breathing hard. And the wetness be between her legs, sloshing with his cock going in and out. Something was going to happen sooner rather than later. Sure enough, she started it, cuming rather wildly while pushing her head up to him. And he was fucking her harder and harder. He came and shot his load inside her. She could feel every shot of his cum. And afterwards his throbbing cock like it was breathing heavily, itself. In this silence, wrapped around each other, the two of them fell sleep. They both woke early and got up, showered together, and set about to put things back in order. Richard focused on putting things back in shape in the living room, covering all the furniture. Michelle focused on putting the kitchen bank in order and the bedroom. They both grabbed their bag, which did not require much packing because neither wore very many clothes during the week. They jumped in my car each with their own travel coffee mug and headed back to South Carolina. They both sat quiet and ruminating on the week fondly. It only took an hour and she had placed her hand on his. She squeezed. He squeezed back. "I really had a great time, Richard. Thank you." "Yeah, I did too. The kayaking was really fun." He smiled broadly. "Yeah, that was good too. So were the dinners." "And the fucking was incredible!" "Yes, I agree." She ran her hand across his crotch and felt his dick under his pants. She squeezed lightly and smiled. He smiled back, so happy he had found her. She was glad, too. That they were such a good match both sexually and otherwise. But she was very happy, sexually, for sure. She looked out the window and smiled at the very thought of him inside her. She thought of going down on him but decided to wait until they could do everything. "So what do you think, baby? Are we going to be okay back in town?" "Yes Richard, it's going to be different but it will all be okay." She squeezed his hand. I love you. I really do love you." Still leaned over to his side and kissed him on the cheek. "I love you, too, Michelle." And he really did. He had not met anyone in a long time who was so compatible, who was so sexual, who was so available. He didn't intend to let her go, if at all possible. Many women had gone through his life. Many were beautiful, many were easy, many were needy and clingy. But none were as sophisticated, independent, and diverse as Michelle was. They drove the rest of the way making small talk and looking at the landscape of the three states. When they got to Charleston Richard negotiated I--26 like someone who had been driving their for years. He was not eager to get her home, but he supposed he had to. He made his way downtown to her apartment overlooking the Marina, a few miles from the hospital. He drove up to the front door and stopped his truck. He got out to get her bag and stepped around to her side. They stood there holding hands and looking into the others eyes. "I would ask you in Richard but I have to go to work in the morning. Having coffee and making love over and over again would make me late. You understand don't you?" "Yes I understand. Some other time, then. But know that I had a wonderful time. Thank you." "And I do too. Thank you for the invitation." She stood up on her toes and put her arms around his neck and kissed them like she was never going to kiss him again. He held his hand out to show her the door. She walked inside, unwillingly, looking back and waving. They both smiled. He watched her walk to the .elevators. When she got inside, he turned to go. He wasn't sure why but his legs felt heavy, like they did not want to walk away. As he drove away, he was already thinking of her. He wanted to see her, already. But that would have to wait until class tomorrow night. He thought out loud to himself. Are you becoming codependent, Richard? No, he was simply excited because of his girlfriend. Michelle's apartment passed away as Richard crossed the Ashley River Bridge. His apartment was west of the Ashley and he was going there now. When he got home he looked in the refrigerator and pulled out the beer. He grabbed one. He wanted to sit on the porch. The sun was going down and he wanted to watch. He sat down and lit a cigarette. He did not want to smoke around Michelle until he knew how she fell about it. He took a big drag and breathed it in deep. He blew it out through his nose, making smoke rings with the remaining smoke. He sat on the porch smoking, drinking, and thinking of last week with Michelle, and the week he had at work before him. Michelle was piddling and doing nothing important around the house. She had straightened everything up, taken a shower, had dinner out the freezer, and was thinking there was not much more she could do. Maybe she would go to bed and masturbate. She could feel her fingers between her legs right now. She could feel herself getting wet and decided it was time to go to bed. Normally she wore pajamas but tonight she went to bed with nothing on. In the bed, with the lights off and no sound, she was in a sensory deprivation tank. All there was was her and thoughts of Richard. The dark was closing in. She put her hand on her clit. She rubbed it. She wished out loud that his mouth was on it. She moved her fingers down a few inches and she found her hole and stuck her finger inside her far as it would go. She was now finger fucking herself. She was hard and fast. She moaned Richards name and came rather quickly, squeezing her legs together tightly and arching her back. "Oh God." She yelled. Michelle's fingers were still in her pussy and she was still feeling pulsations throughout her body. She would fall asleep with her hand on her pussy, thinking of Richard. In the morning she woke later than she had planned. Turns out she had hit the snooze button a few times. She was 20 minutes late. She threw the blankets off and ran downstairs and started coffee. She then ran back upstairs to put on her scrubs for work. She rushed to gather things and flew out the door and ran straight to her car. She called Linda on the cell phone. Linda answered immediately. "Linda, hello, it's Michelle. I'm running a few minutes late. If you could, please cover for me. I'll be right there, I'm on my way!" "No problem, Michelle, just be careful." Michelle was frantic trying to get to the hospital as fast as she could. She was also putting on makeup, her lip gloss to be exact. She dropped it and lowered her head to grab it with her right hand. She didn't even see the car. It was an SUV and it slammed into her on the driver's side. The driver was a young boy texting his friend on his phone -- something about needing help with English class. His airbag deployed but hers did not, though it would not have mattered anyway. The cars slid nearly 70 feet after impact. Michelle never really had a chance. * Michelle was walking in the field with the young boy. He was light-skinned with red hair. "Who are you and why are we here?" She asked the young boy. He looked up and smiled. There was something familiar about the smile. "My name is Jeff you are right here, right now." "Do I know you?" Michelle did not understand. "Richard knew you and asked me to take care of you." They walked along some ways. "Well how do you know Richard?" "He is my brother. I was in a car accident when I was four years old and he always talks to me." Jeff saw someone he knew in front of him and raised his hand waving at her. Michelle let go of his hand and he ran ahead to the woman. "Mom, Michelle's here. He was gleeful and laughed and giggled way all the way to Mom. She knelt down and hugged the joyful boy. She picked him up and shifted him on her hip. And she walked forward toward Michelle, smiling. "Michelle, so good to finally meet you." The mother said that to her in a friendly tone. She held out her hand. Michelle took the extended hand and shook it with a smile. Michelle spoke cautiously. "Where are we and how do we know the other?" "I know this is hard to hear. It was for me at first, but Jeff helped through that. You see Michelle" and she took her hands "you are dead, from the car accident and this is your Heaven." Mom let that sink in.. Mom and Jeff laughed and giggled together. Mom again. "You see Michelle, we are here because you made such a profound impact on Richard. We here and here to help guide you until and if Richard comes." "But why would he not," the inquisitive Michelle asked. "Well, honey, Richard has a long life ahead. As you know, you never know when, if, or where you'll fall in love." With that, all three of them walked together across the field. * Paul Douglas stopped working as soon as he heard the crash. He was eight floors up from the road, working on the company AC unit. But he knew from the sound that it was a bad wreck. He stood up and walked over to the edge of the roof. It was a madhouse in the street. An SUV had T-boned a smaller car. The young driver of the SUV was standing now out on the street looking surprised and confused. Firemen had just arrived to cut the other person out of the car. He watched as the firemen cut off the roof with their tools and Paul could see that the driver was obviously dead. She had been laying down probably looking for something on the floor. The SUV that hit her had pushed her forward and probably broken her neck when she had slammed into the other door. The firemen pulled her out and laid her on the street, covering her from head to toe with a white sheet. The police then gave the boy a breathalyzer test. Paul watched as the police about the surprised looking young man and handcuffs and walked him to their car. Paul had two questions. 1) what the hell was a young boy like that drinking in the morning and 2) what would be going through his head now? The site was over now. Paul returned to his work on the AC unit. He thought to himself, as watchers we are all just building stories. * Doug Graham was a teenager working in the flower shop on the corner when the wreck occurred right outside his window. He was thinking of the flowers that he would be delivering that morning. Then he looked out the window and thought the SUV was going too fast. He shrugged his shoulders and looked back at the roses in front of him. He reached for the roses when we heard the crash. He knew immediately the SUV was involved. He ran out towards the street. He wasn't sure what he could do but he wanted to be there if there was something that could be done. There are sirens as the emergency vehicle raced to the scene. Doug stood there horrified at what he saw. The SUV Doug had seen racing by as slammed into a smaller car. That car was now probably 70 feet from the SUV. There was no movement from that car. A teenage boy was getting out the SUV, rubbing his forehead looking shocked. Mom was going to kill him. She was never going to let him drive again. He knew he had been drinking and worried now about the police. He saw a young man coming out of the flower shop. He came running up the man standing. "Are you okay?!" Doug yelled. "No man, is all good. Thank you." "Man, your truck fucked that car up. I don't think the driver's okay." He said that matter-of-factly. "No, I think you're right." He said the full weight of the accident falling on to his shoulders. They sagged with the weight. They went down even more once the police arrived. In From The Cold "Hey bud, I think you should step away." He said dejected. He held his hand out and pushed Doug out of the way. The police ran over and started to talk. "Are you all right, son? What happened?" "I hit that car. And there's been no movement." The second policeman ran over to the car. He looked inside and said nothing to his partner. The boys then saw him talking to the radio on his shoulder. He came back to his partner and said "She didn't make it, Matt. I called the paramedics. They're on their way." The first police turned back to Doug. "Okay now we know that you killed someone. You could tell me again what happened? I see a cell phone in your hand. Were you texting, son?" He looked sideways at the boy. "Yes Sir, I was." "And what is that I smell? Is that beer?" He stood waiting for the answer that the new was yes. "I...umm... Well you see, sir" "Tell you what son, hang right here while I got in the car." He saw immediately the flicker in the boy's eyes as he went from, confident and sure of himself to scared as hell. He knew the boy had been drinking. When he returned from his police car, he had something with him. The boy wasn't sure what it was but it made him nervous. "Now boy, relax and breathe into this." He held out what the boy now knew was a Breathalyzer. The policeman put it into his mouth. The boy shrugged his shoulders, giving up, and would blow a 1.3. "Well now, that is a different story." The policeman said. "Not only were you texting on your phone you are also drunk. "You know that texting on your phone while you drive is illegal in South Carolina. And the drinking limit, that is .08. You fail on both. Now turn around." He started to handcuff the boy and read him his Miranda rights. Oh fuck, now I know my parents will kill me. Behind him the paramedics were pulling the body out of the car and covering it with the white sheet. * Linda was manning the radio when the call came in from the ambulance were coming in with a DOA. "DOA coming in, stat!" She yelled out to the floor. There was running around by the nurses and the doctors to clear a room. There was nothing anyone could do but the body would stay there and be cleaned up. Within minutes the ambulance was there and they were wheeling in the victim of the accident. The nurses directed the paramedics to the empty room. It was Linda's job to go in and see what was needed to clean up the body. A few minutes later, Linda came in and pulled back the sheet. It took her a minute to recognize Michelle because of the laceration across her forehead. When she did, she screamed and fell to her knees crying. Beth, another nurse, came in and held Linda by the shoulders. "Was wrong, girl? Baby, what is it?" She asked, scared to death. "It is Michelle. I was beginning to wonder why she was so late this morning. Now I know. She's fucking dead!" She screamed angrily. "We have to let Richard know before he comes into class." * Richard was trying hard to focus on his annual report. But it was like sirens singing their beautiful music, distracting him from his work. All he could think of was Michelle. He wanted to take her out to dinner again. To see her radiant smile, to see her hands wrapped around the wine glass. To watch her walk across the floor. To make love to her in the dark of night. He looked up at the clock and saw that he only had one hour to go. One hour to see Michelle. He tried to focus back on his report. At 5 o'clock, he left immediately. He was in a hurry to get to class. Brief case packed, bosses talked to, words to the team, all was done. He walked quickly to his truck, got in, and sped off. He made it to the hospital and briskly walked to the elevators. He took it to up to the fifth floor where he had class. The elevator doors open and Richard stepped out of the elevator, his classroom was only down the hall two doors. Linda and another woman was standing there. "Richard," Linda yelled out. "Hello, what's up?" "You don't know, do you?" Linda asked him. "Know what, I just got here." Linda grabbed his arm and walked him into one of the other classrooms and closed the door. "Am I in trouble, Linda?" He smiled broadly. She forced a smile back. "No, no, is nothing like that. If only, it was." She said she laid her hands on his hands." Richard, I have some really bad news. Michelle died this morning in a car accident with a drunk driver. I'm so sorry, Richard." She gave him a hug and held very tightly too. "I...I don't understand. I... I just dropped her off last night after our trip. Are you sure it was her? I mean, could it have been anyone? I don't understand." "You know, Michelle was loved by everyone and everyone will support you." The other ladies said."No Richard, sorry." Linda looked like the world was caving in on her. And on Richard. "And who the fuck are you?" Richard was moving into anger in his processing "I'm sorry," said Linda. She opened her hand on the ladies shoulder." This is Beth McGraw, Richard. She'll lead a team in Michelle's absence." "Well, I guess the show must go on." Frustrated, angry, sad Richard threw his hands up and shrugged his shoulders. He walked away toward the elevator. He heard Linda's footsteps running to catch up with him. She jumped in the elevator right as the door closed. "What do you want, Linda? "I want to be close to Linda, so I am close to you. I know how quickly you two connected. And how deeply. I talked with Michelle last night when y'all got home." Richard sort of blushed from the embarrassment of two girls talking, sharing secrets, telling gossip. "Don't worry Richard, it was all good and Michelle was so happy to have met you and spend time with you. Believe that." The elevator reached the ground floor and the door opened. Linda and Richard stood in an embrace. They both cried. They stood there for a few minutes and kept the doors from closing. The two broke apart and looked to each other's eyes. They made the connection. Richard said good night and left. No matter what, he could not deal with class tonight. He drove out to Folly Beach. There he could be alone with his thoughts. He got to the beach and luckily he had a jacket because it had gotten colder. He parked and walked out to the edge of the water. For a moment he looked at the wide expanse of ocean. He thought and hoped the message got through to Michelle. Why did you leave, Michelle? What am I supposed to do now? I love you. Michelle watched the only way she could. From across a lake. Suddenly the world was so small, she thought. And then she began the hear Richard. Could he hear her? It was worth a try. I did not leave on purpose, she thought. You are going to be fine, lover. And I love you, Richard. That will never change. Not now. Not ever. Richard began to feel the feelings of peace. It is all going to be okay. I am right where I am supposed to be. For And with that, he walked off into the sunset and onto his next adventure.