0 comments/ 18281 views/ 0 favorites Mary By Moonlight By: Bacomicfan The warm, dry breeze which skipped playfully across Cedar Point Beach from the West blew gently through Mary's hair, rousing her from her mental wanderings. Her eyes opened to peer through her sunglasses at the slowly setting sun. She removed the glasses to view the natural beauty of its many golden hues. It took her breath away. She sighed at the many resplendent colors created by the departing sun, almost jealous of how easily it painted it's perfect picture...of its mastery of shade and tone. Stretching, she looked to her right, at her own painting as it rested comfortably on the sun-warmed easel. The setting sun even made the artificial colors she'd created in acrylic seem more beautiful. Her painting was also of a splendidly vibrant sunset, but the beach it bathed in its slowly cooling reds, pinks and lavenders was nothing like the beach on which she had spent the day reading and painting. It was completely different, having sprung from Mary's imagination and almost having painted itself on the canvas. Her hands had seemingly come to independent life, almost magically creating the sun-tinted hues of cooling sand and darkening rock. As she looked at her work, it seemed to draw her into it...beckon her in some mystical way. Tearing her eyes from the alluring picture, her head slowly lolled to her left, pausing only briefly to again admire the natural sun as its lengthening rays caused the lazily undulating waves of the ocean to sparkle...creating merry giggles of light. Still with her sunglasses removed from her eyes, she focused on Nathan. She'd known him for some eleven years or so, and was always impressed by his quick wit, compassion, sensitivity and down to earth nature. Of the half dozen friends she'd come to the beach with, Nathan was the one she most enjoyed talking to...and looking at. Despite the fact that he was gorgeous in the extreme, he didn't have the inflated ego that sometimes went along with it. He never put anyone down, at least not to Mary's knowledge. And his eyes had a way of looking intently at you when you spoke to him, as if they absorbed your every word and transmitted them directly to his clever, active mind. And those eyes...such a pale, limpid blue-green...almost like the very sea who's tranquility she'd tried to capture on canvas. Those eyes made her melt...gave her flashes of warmth and chills at the same time. Looking around the beach, almost everyone else had gone back to the their hotels or rented villas. The other friends that she and Nathan had traveled here with had apparently called it a night. Only a few straggling strangers still lingered about, walking hand in hand in the darkening sand or more briskly through the lapping waters of the rising tide. It was a scene of serenity and bliss, and it filled Mary with a deep peace that made her breathe a long, soft sigh. From this distance, Nathan appeared to be dozing in the barely swinging hammock. The bronzing rays of sunset made his tanned body appear even moreso with each passing moment. Clad only in pastel yellow swim trunks, his tan again appeared even more stark. His tall, lean body, each sculpted muscle glistening from either the remnants of his tanning lotion or a light spray of sea mist, stretched nearly the length of the twined rope of the hammock. His short, wavy blond hair, bleached even lighter by two days at the beach, playfully curled about his ears and forehead. Sadly, dark green shades hid his incredible eyes from Mary's prying ones, but his luscious body and full lips were certainly enough to keep her attention. As she admired his reclining body, his head turned toward her, his shade covered eyes aimed in her direction. Her assumption that he was asleep was quickly proven wrong, as his low, deep voice greeted her. It seemed to bathe her ears in warm, pleasant vibrations as it said, "Mary...come her for a minute. I want to tell you something." Though his voice was soft, it bore into her...igniting her brain...fondling her soul. Almost trancelike, Mary rose from her beach chair and began walking toward him. Her filmy sundress billowed in the soft beach breeze, reminding her of her wicked little indulgence. The cooling air flapped at her dress, lifting it just enough to sneak under it and witness first hand the unMarylike decadence. Bringing her hand up to cover her self-amused smirk, Mary felt the warm waft of air play sweetly in the fine, soft curls of her naked pubic area. She felt it dance unobstructed between her legs as it stirred those tiny hairs and tingled the soft, pink folds of her sex. It tickled, and made her have to stifle a giggle...but it felt incredible, especially in the wake of her arousing - and moistening - thoughts about Nathan. It was the first time she'd ever worn a sundress - or any other type of clothing for that matter - without wearing panties beneath. But she very much enjoyed it...and made a mental note to so again...whenever possible. Trudging barefoot through the warm sand and having successfully warded off the impish titter, Mary came up alongside the hammock with its tall, sexy occupant. The sun was almost below the horizon now, and the moon was stretching and flexing its muscles to take over the night sky. When Nathan removed his sunglasses, even the waning light couldn't mute their blue-green sparkle. His smile set Mary's heart aflame, and she sighed when she tried to speak to him. Taking a second stab at it, she managed to ask, "What is it, Nathan? What is it you wanted to tell me?" In her heart, she was hoping he wanted to profess his undying love for her, but she was a realist. This man could have any woman on this, or any other planet. How could she even hope he'd want her? "I know where it is," he said softly, his words framed by the hushed lapping of waves on sand. "What? You know where what is?" Mary asked, confused. "That beach. The one you painted so brilliantly in your picture. I've seen it. I know where it is." His eyes gazed into hers with not only honesty, but a childish eagerness...like he wanted desperately to share something with her. "Nathan," she laughed lightly, mildly disappointed at not hearing the words she knew she'd never hear anyway, "I painted that from my imagination. It's not a real place. I made it up." "Well, hon," he smiled, "I hate to burst any bubbles, but that place exists. It's about twenty miles down the coast. Beautiful, too. You've captured it almost exactly." Turning to look at her picture, fading in the encroaching darkness, she started to become irritated, thinking Nathan was making fun of her. "Nathan...you've never made fun of anyone before...why are you doing it to me? If you're just teasing or joking, that's fine, but...." "Mary," he interrupted, sitting up quickly and reaching out to take her hand in his. The hammock swayed vicariously, Nathan rocking from side to side in it. When the rocking slowed, and an awkward fall to the sand was averted, he continued. "I'd never make fun of you. I think you're great. You're fantastic. Why would I make fun of you? No...I swear...I wouldn't lie to you. That place exists....or one damn close to it." "Nathan...c'mon. Don't..." "Mary, believe me, I...." he started, but then realized words alone weren't going to convince her. Swinging his legs over the side of the hammock, he stood up quickly, his broad shoulders thrust back in firm resolve. He was apparently upset that Mary didn't believe him...or that she had believed he was being cruel to her. It almost seemed to hurt him....and provoke a need in him to prove himself. "Mary, I swear I've seen that place. I thought you had, too...and that's why you painted it. I can prove it to you. I can prove it exists." Mary was still skeptical, but her doubts seemed to flounder when Nathan stood close to her and held both her hands, those limpid eyes looking down at her. She gulped hard and tried to keep her weak knees from buckling under her. "Nathan, I believe you. You don't have to...." "Oh, but I want to, Mary. If you haven't seen that place for real, then you need to. You'll love it. It's a little slice of Heaven right here on Earth." Then, a cloud seemed to cross over his beautiful eyes. He said, "Unless...you don't want to go there with ME." Mary was shocked. It appeared as though the gorgeous Nathan was hurt that she didn't want to see this lovely beach with him. She tried to tell him this wasn't so, but all she could do was stammer and sputter. "No! Nathan.....it's.....I mean...it's not..I...really...I'd.....that would be....I....." Nathan put a stop to the babbling. He let go of one of her hands and lifted his hand up, placing his index finger on Mary's blithering lips. Her incoherent, verbal fumbling stopped. He looked her in the eyes and said in a low, clear voice. "Do you or do you not want to visit that beach with me? I'd love to show it to you. We could go see it...and maybe....talk a while...just the two of us. I know that place will look awesome in the moonlight. Please, Mare? Let me show it to you. If you don't agree with me that it's gorgeous, we'll come right back if you want to. How 'bout it? Let's go right now and see it. What do you say?" Mary was shivering all over...every inch of her body....even though it was warm. But somehow when she spoke to Nathan, the stammering didn't return. She sighed, and the trembling almost stopped as well. With a smile, and a glimmer of hope in her breast, she replied, "Nathan, I'd love to see a beach like that - or any other beach - with you. Sure, let me just pack up my stuff and we'll go." Nathan's smile was genuine. Mary could feel a warmth radiating off of him. As she turned to gather up her belongings as quickly as she possibly could, , Nathan said something that made her sweat from head to toe. It was one simple word. "Hurry," he said. The drive from Cedar Point Beach to the their new destination took hardly more than twenty minutes. During that time, conversation between the two of them was light and friendly, as it had always been between them. The one thing that Mary noticed that was different this time, however, was that her pulse was racing and she could swear she sighed at least once every thirty seconds or so. She'd had many wonderful conversations with Nathan before, but never had she felt like this. She felt like she was going to explode, as if skin and muscle could barely contain the energy that was quickly reaching critical mass deep inside her. After driving for miles along the ocean road, Nathan steered his SUV left, onto a dirt road. It wound snakelike for a few miles, slowly meandering its way down a moderate grade. Mary was certain she'd never been down this road before, though she surely must have passed it dozens of times during her fairly frequent seaside trips, both with friends, and alone to ply her artistic talents. Just as the moon was beginning to bathe the shore in its radiant white glory, Nathan pulled his vehicle to a stop in a tiny, sandy area surrounded by dark rocks. It almost looked like a private parking space for one. When he looked over to Mary, she saw the moonlight reflecting in his eyes, giving the pale blue-green a slightly washed out look, though that didn't stop them from peering directly into her soul. The natural brightness of his pupils was replaced by a delightful, moonlit twinkle. His eyes seemed to dance, and reach out for Mary to join them. "We're here," he said, his voice low and soft. "Just around there, past those big rocks to the right, is the spot I'm talking about. If you're serious that you've never been here, you're going to get one helluva shock when you see how close to your painting it is." "I AM serious, Nathan. I may have driven past this place a dozen times, but I've never stopped here. I swear!" "Well, then, you're a psychic or something. Just wait'll you see this." Nathan's moon-dappled eyes turned away - causing Mary to sigh deeply at the loss - and he opened his door. She did likewise. Standing alongside the SUV, they both realized that the moon was so full and bright, and the sky so completely cloudless, that they'd only need flashlights if they entered a cave or burrowed underground, neither of which was on the agenda. Nathan walked around the car and took Mary's hand in his. She was so immersed in the beauty of the moonlit beach that his hand touching hers startled her. "Oooh...a bit jumpy?" he asked, "maybe afraid to be here with me?" He smiled, then tried to look sinister. "Oh, please, Nathan," she laughed, and then became serious. "I'd never be afraid to be anywhere with you." "Come on then. I can't wait for you to see this place." As he started to lead her forward in the moonlight, Mary noticed he'd somehow retrieved a large blanket from his car. He had rolled it into a tube and held it under his arm, the one that was not gently holding her hand. The walk down to the large rocks - boulders if one was to speak technically from a size standpoint - took only minutes. As they rounded the seaward curve of the nearest boulder, tiny, muted splashing noises could be heard, like the sound of leaping fish in a small, serene pond. Also, there was the quiet lapping of water against some unyielding object or objects. It was all very calming, soothing. Combined with the romantic moonlight, it made Mary's entire body sigh. But when they completed rounding those two large, solid rock sentinels, calmness gave way to a wash of disbelief for Mary. She gasped, staggered slightly, putting one hand to her mouth and latching tightly onto Nathan's arm with the other. She needed his support, because she couldn't believe what her own senses were telling her was true. There it was. Her painting. In every minute detail. Except for the fact that it was awash in ivory moonlight and not the spectacular hues of an ocean sunset, it was there before her unbelieving eyes. She held more firmly to Nathan's muscled arm, still swaying. Eventually, she just leaned against him, weak and wobbly. Her eyes roamed about what Nathan had earlier called "a little slice of Heaven" and she could only agree with him. "Still say you've never been here?" Nathan asked, looking down at her gaping mouth and incredulous eyes. "Nathan...I swear to you...I've never...." "Okay," he replied, "then how do you explain your painting?" He couldn't help but believe her, because not only did he feel her shivering, but he was busy trying to hold her up as well. "I....I can't," she said, shaking her head, "I just....can't." "Wow," he said, "this is one for the books, then. Maybe you ARE psychic." "I don't know. I just...don't...know. But...you're right....it's EXACTLY like my painting. This is so incredible!" Nathan watched her as she stared dreamlike at the rocks surrounding the tiny, moonlit inlet. "C'mon," he said, still holding her arm, "you can see it even better from over here. There's a nice sandy spot to spread the blanket and just sit and talk, too." Mary now held onto his arm with both her hands, as he continued to lead her closer to the beautiful little beach. Walking down a sandy hill for about fifty feet, they came to the place Nathan was talking about. Here, rocks were small and scarce. The sand was smooth and warm and flat for a distance of perhaps thirty feet before dipping downward again to the rocky little inlet. Nathan left Mary to stare out over her painting's heretofore unknown twin, as he spread out the blanket. Then he walked over to where she stood mesmerized. Coming up behind her, he put his hands on her shoulders gently, so as not to startle her again. They stood like that, entranced by the splendor and tranquility of the little beach/alcove, for several quiet, thoughtful minutes. Below them, beach and rocks formed a horseshoe shape, the arm nearest them being an extension of the sandy area on which they now stood, but being some dozen or so yards downhill from them. As it swung around to form the other arm of the horseshoe, the sandy beach slowly gave way to dark, moonlit rocks. It was these that the incoming gentle waves lapped against with their small, tickling ripples. The open end of the horseshoe was an inlet for the sea. Quiet, moon-sparkled water meandered happily between the arms of the horseshoe shaped beach, seeking rocks and sand to kiss. The open end wasn't completely open, however. It was only open horizontally. Vertically, the two ends of the horseshoe were connected by a curved arch of the same dark rock that formed the far side of the beach. The moon shone brightly just over the tip of that arch, creating a dizzying combination of moonlight and shadow, and a veritable orchestra of dapples and sparkles on the mostly, but not completely, calm water inside the loop of the horseshoe. The cool whites, blues and blacks, combined with the murmurs of the sea, held Mary and Nathan quietly in awe for quite some time. Or was it their closeness, their touching, that held them so rapt? "Amazing, isn't it?" Nathan said finally. "Beautiful," Mary replied in one long, low sigh. "I imagine it would look exactly like your painting if we'd gotten here at sunset." "I believe you're right," she answered, still sighing. "I'm sure that's exactly how it would look. I can't imagine how I could've painted this place. I KNOW I've never been here. I'm certain of it!" "Look," Nathan said, rubbing her shoulders, "these things happen. It really doesn't matter. It's just one of those things, y'know. There could be a dozen explanations if you dig hard enough. Let's just sit down and enjoy the view from the blanket, okay? It's really nothing you should worry about, Mare." "Oh, I'm not worried, Nathan. I'm just....amazed...blown away. Right up until the last second I was sure you were pulling my leg." He laughed, "Well, now, from now on when I tell you something, maybe you'll believe me, hmmm? Now...let's get comfy on the blanket and talk, okay? I really enjoy talking to you." Nathan turned to stroll back to the blanket, giving Mary's shoulders one last, quick rub before doing so. Slowly, she turned, still shaking her head, and followed him. As she walked away from that tranquil scene, every few steps she turned to look back at it...fascinated...her skin generously sprinkled with goosebumps at the eerie familiarity of it. When they were both seated on the blanket, Mary got a good look at Nathan in the moonlight. His strong, lean body was a playground for the moonlight. It danced on him, diluting his deep tan but making him even more beautiful...like an exotic painting of the perfect man. She watched as both moonlight and rippling water reflected in his blue-green eyes. Watching those eyes, admiring his body...was putting her into a trance...a warm, tingling trance. And the tingling was concentrated in some very specific, naughty places. So in awe of Nathan's appearance by moonlight was Mary, that she didn't realize he was looking back, equally in awe of what he saw. She was facing the moonlight, and her already light complexion was more starkly perfect, like a glowing white goddess, or an earthbound angel. Her filmy, cotton dress billowed in the light breeze, making the goddess or angel image all the more ethereal, surreal and beautiful. With neither of them realizing it, they were both smiling at each other. Silent lips curled in approving smiles. "You're beautiful," Nathan said quietly. The statement took Mary by surprise, but she heard it clearly. She at once flushed hotly and shivered. She had to take her eyes off his body and regroup her senses to reply. "Why....thank you, Nathan." was all she could think of to say, though a million words rambled incoherently through her brain. Again she shivered. Eventually, however, her self-consciousness took over, and she refuted his statement, as all women tend to do. Mary By Moonlight "Nathan, I appreciate that, but I'm not beautiful. I'm...okay, I guess. But, again, thank you." He shook his head, his eyes still looking directly at her. Sparkling with moonlight, his eyes then roamed all over her body. She shivered yet again as she watched his eyes exploring every inch of her. She was breathless, and a tiny bit uncomfortable. She'd always fantasized about a romantic interlude with Nathan, but she felt more and more self-conscious as his eyes openly fondled her body. Finally, he just smiled and nodded. "Oh, yeah, Mary...trust me, you ARE beautiful." Before she could protest, he asked, "Have I ever lied to you?" "Well....no, Nathan. No...you never have." Then with a wink, she added, "Not that I know of, anyway." His returned smile was a wry one. He chuckled a bit as he said, "No, Mare, I've never lied to you. So, when I say you're beautiful, you can trust me on that." Adept at warding off compliments, Mary quickly changed the subject, diverting Nathan's thoughts once again to the odd circumstances that brought the two of them here. He would have none of it. Every time she started to talk of the beach, the moonlight, her painting, or even this weekend trip with their other friends in general, Nathan would again tell her how much he enjoyed her company, how pretty her dress was, how he liked her eyes or her hair, how lovely her smile was. Parry and thrust....the verbal fencing duel went on into the night...the moon rising higher and higher....it's light washing more and more over them as the shadows receded from its advance. Finally, in the middle of a statement by Mary of how intense the moonlight was becoming, Nathan suddenly said to her, "Mary, I know one of your weaknesses." His grin was at once dashing and disarming...and totally wicked. That grin made Mary want to giggle...among other things. She felt giddy just looking at it. "Weakness? I have no weaknesses," she kidded, laughing openly. "Oh, yeah, you do. Remember...um....I think it was two boyfriends ago....that fellow..what was his name? Ralph...Rich....Rex? He told me some things about you." Again the evil grin. "You mean Ryan? Oh my God. He was such a prick. What did he tell you?" "Well, he told me you have certain 'weaknesses'...things that really drive you crazy. Things that relax you and make you open to...you know...suggestions." Now Mary was really getting warm. Never had she and Nathan spoken of such things before, and she wasn't sure how she should respond. "Nathan, Ryan was a self-centered asshole. He's not the type of guy you should be listening to when it comes to women." "Yeah, maybe," he said, looking upward toward the sky thoughtfully, "but maybe what he says is true in some cases." That grin was becoming more playful by the second. Mary was squirming now, wondering whether she should grind the conversation to a screeching halt, or see where it was leading. With her tongue firmly in cheek, she decided on the latter. Nathan was way too cute for her to just try to shut him up. If events began to carom into an unsavory direction, she could easily enough squelch things, but she just couldn't see sweet, sexy Nathan turning into the kind of jerk Ryan was. So, she decided to bide her time and see where the wind blew. Maybe it was the romantic, moonlit beach setting...or maybe just the sweet, sexy Nathan. But for now she would ride this out. "Okay, then, Mister Recorder of Weaknesses....exactly what did Ryan the dirtbag tell you?" "Well, how about I just show you?" he replied. "Oh, no....if it was something Ryan said, you might've been led to believe that being pounced on against my will was a turn on for me. Or that pleasing a man while getting nothing in return is something I aspire to. Nope...you TELL me what he said. Then we'll discuss whether it's correct or just something from Ryan's fevered little brain." "All right," Nathan said with a chuckle and a sly wink, "but if what he told me is true, THEN do I get to show you? Then can I get to do it for you?" His grin was warming her inside and out. Her interest was indeed piqued now. She bit her lower lip as she replied cautiously, "All right...but only if it's true." "Fair enough. Okay....one thing that Ryan said relaxed you to the point where he could just about have his way with you, was..." he grinned from ear to ear, "if he rubbed your feet. He said that made you all weak and willing. So...is it true?" Mary laughed, but she knew it was true. Then she looked at Nathan and imagined this strong yet gentle man massaging her feet....with the hopeful intent of "making her weak and willing." Hell, she'd be willing with Nathan no matter what! If he touched ANY part of her, it would be all over except for the lighting of the cigarettes! She sighed, "Well...yes, I have to admit...he's right. Foot rubs are definitely a weakness of mine." "So," Nathan smiled back at her, "now I get to do it for you, right?" Mary laughed nervously, "You want to rub my feet, Nathan?" "Mary, I'd like to do anything that made you feel good. But," he winked again, "let's start with that. Why don't we just talk here under the moonlight for a while, and I'll massage your feet. I think that's kind of romantic, anyway." "What's romantic? Rubbing my feet?" "Well, yeah...but, really, anything that makes a woman feel good. I think it's romantic to pamper a woman..to kinda spoil her." "And you want to sit here and rub my feet....excuse me, spoil me...while we talk? Why, Nathan?" "Well," he sighed, "I've always liked you, Mare. You're smart, fun, sexy, cute....you're the whole package. I'd like to get to know you better. I've wanted to for a long time. And if rubbing your feet while we talk gets me in the door, then I'll rub like a pro." The hopeful words were framed by a cute, sexy smile and not one, but two flirtatious winks. She couldn't believe her ears! She'd been fantasizing about Nathan for almost as long as she'd known him, and here he was sounding like HE had to try hard to win HER! Her head was swimming. She tried to think of something clever to say, but her brain froze. The intellect she'd always been so proud of suddenly and stubbornly seized up on her...squealing to a hissing stop like a barreling locomotive after someone had pulled the emergency brake. Her mouth hung open waiting for the words that never came. "C'mon, Mare. Put your feet on my lap and let me pamper you a little bit. Then we can talk about anything you like...all night if you like. It'd be a shame to let such a romantic place as this go to waste, no?" Mary was in a trancelike state as she slowly slid around to face him, plopping her feet in his lap. Smiling at her, Nathan unbuckled her sandals and took them off of her. Moments after the second sandal was placed on the sand next to the first, she felt Nathan's strong hands massaging her feet. He was good. It was a forceful kneading of her foot flesh with strong, but careful hands. It was so soothing, relaxing. It did indeed make her weak. She wondered how long it would be before she'd go from just relaxed to "open to suggestion" And she wondered just what those suggestions might be. She remembered how she'd always told herself that if Nathan ever wanted her sexually, she would never even think of saying no. With a shiver of expectation, she wondered if she'd be called upon to back up that statement...and if push came to shove...would she? Her focus came back to the soothing hands working on her feet...and the gorgeous man who owned them. As her hazy eyes looked at the moonlit Nathan with his sparkling blue-green eyes and sweet smile, she heard him speak, though it sounded as far away as another planet in the solar system. "Well, now," Nathan grinned, "this really seems to be working. I think I like that. So, now, while I give these cute feet of yours a nice, thorough massage, what would you like to talk about, Mare?" His eyes glinted with glee, and Mary knew she was completely in his control. The moon, this incredible beach, being alone with Nathan, his apparent interest in her...and the piece de resistance...the gorgeous Nathan rubbing her feet with the apparent hope of working his way into her heart. Could this all be happening? Was she dreaming? Was the whole thing real? Or was she actually still back at Cedar Point in her beach chair, looking over at a dozing Nathan and concocting all of this in her oversexed little mind? "Nathan," she sighed weakly, "you talk about anything you like. I'll try to listen, but with you massaging my feet like that, I'm not sure how much of what you say I'll absorb." He chuckled. "Okay then. All you have to do is lie back and enjoy. I'll just rub. We can talk later." Mary sighed and tried to focus on the moon. Nathan rubbed long and hard, turning her to mush. She found herself eager to find out what would happen when the rubbing stopped. But, for now, she just went with the relaxing, erotic flow of it. Time enough for moral dilemmas later. She was already hoping that those strong hands would soon be caressing and fondling other parts of her. Would she allow it to go that far, as she'd always told herself she would with Nathan? Oh, yes....yes.....she definitely thought so. Bright, romantic moonlight. A soft, warm breeze blowing across her body. The faint blips and giggles of playful marine life and the lapping tide. And Nathan's finely sculpted form sitting at her feet, eyes glinting the moonlight back at her along with his grinning teeth. His hands kneading and pampering her feet. How could Mary possibly hold back the many sighs? How could she not melt from her beat-skipping heart straight to her liquefying core? She couldn't possibly have dreamed a more perfect scenario with a more perfect man. As bright as the moon was, her eyes were too hazy with desire to focus on it. Her eyelids fluttered too much to allow a clear picture of it. She gave up and just smiled in the general direction of that warm, vibrant sphere. If this wasn't a dream, then she surely must have died and gone directly to Heaven. As her tongue began to slide to and fro between her lips, a dim corner of her brain became aware of sensation above her ankles. At first her brain didn't care. It was too inundated with satisfying stimuli to pay attention. But the tiny sparks skipping along her calves wouldn't be denied. Her eyes fluttered open more fully. Her neck lifted her head off the blanket and aimed her moonlit face toward Nathan. The strong, tanned hands were caressing and stroking her calves. It felt almost as wonderful as the foot massage had. Her feet were still tingling from those incredibly talented fingers, and now her calves had begun to follow suit. Her eyes watched numbly as Nathan rubbed her calves, only slightly aware of the implications of such an upward climb of those hands along her body. She just sighed and watched. Nathan noticed her watching him. "Is this okay, Mare? I'll go back to rubbing your feet if you don't trust me." Her response was low and soft, as if whispered into a lover's ear. "I'd trust you with my life, Nathan. Besides, it just feels way too yummy for me to stop you." Nathan smiled at the encouragement. With Mary sighing and cooing like a dove, he slowly rubbed higher and higher up her calves, eventually slipping his hands under her soft, summery dress. Consciously unaware of it, Mary squirmed. She smiled up at the warm, winking moon. Softly...oh, so softly...she breathed, "Ohhhhh, Nathan." Again unconsciously, Mary separated her legs just a tiny bit. But as Nathan rubbed above her knees, the distance between her thighs increased. Her legs spread inch by inch as he rubbed ever higher up her thighs, the palms of his hands and pads of his fingers taking special delight in her soft inner thighs. Mary's brain, previously relaxed and soothed, was becoming a convoluted mass of liquid fire. It bubbled over with erotic thoughts about Nathan's strong, persistent hands. It seethed with visions of his full lips replacing his hands on her inner thighs. It roiled and hissed with the desire for his masculine body to be pressed against hers, his firm, throbbing manhood inserted deeply within her yearning center. Her mind left her. It floated free, soared high above, a hovering companion to the voyeuristic moon. From above, she saw herself lying on her back, her filmy dress hiked up to her hips, Nathan's relentless hands caressing her thighs much higher than she had thought. She saw her wicked indulgence revealed as Nathan's twinkling eyes caught sight of her softly curled, decadently unclothed mound. Sliding his hands up to her hips, raising the dress still further, she saw him lean down to kiss just below her navel. It had to be a dream. Her eyes fluttered open again. Her entire field of vision became filled with the smiling face of the gorgeous Nathan. His tempting lips were mere inches from her own, but she was too weak to jump up and suck on them. His warm breath cascaded over her mouth and neck as his heavy breathing became more and more apparent. When her eyes had finally focused completely on his handsome face, she saw the look of love in his eyes. It smoldered deep behind their pale, blue-green hue. Those wistful eyes focused on her lips. His hands no longer stroked her thighs. Rather, one hand was on each side of her face, holding it firmly as he gazed longingly at her mouth. The thumb of each hand lightly stroked her cheeks. He sighed as he moved his lips closer still to hers. "My God, Mare..." he said so softly she could barely hear it, "you're so beautiful." Mary instantly lost all will power. Her muscles became jelly. Her body temperature increased by several degrees. She became limp, weak...yielding. Her jaw dropped, more from the need to let extra air in to help her failing lungs than anything else. When it did, Nathan leaned slowly downward, traversing those last few millimeters, and pressed his mouth against hers, accepting what he saw as an invitation. His kiss was deep, erotically tender. At the same time it was needy, insistent...brooking no resistance. He kissed her long and hard, his lips capturing hers and savoring them, his mouth clamping against hers and sucking the air from her. His tongue explored deeply and at will, savoring the moist, hot cavern of her mouth. Mary could barely breathe, but her arms found strength. They shot up and encircled his neck, holding him firmly in place as they kissed passionately. Slowly their kisses grew hotter, the passion growing exponentially from kiss to kiss. Their tongues danced together, an elegant waltz of lust and desire. Before long, they were panting and pressing their bodies tightly against one another. Suddenly, Nathan pulled back from her hungry mouth. Her teeth lunged forward and tried to capture his lips, to keep them from escaping, but they weren't fast enough. With a low moan of frustration, Mary opened her eyes and glared up at him. He was stroking her cheek again, looking down at her with longing eyes. "Mary," he sighed, "I want so badly to make love with you...right here...right now. You're incredible. God, how I need you right now." The gauntlet had been tossed. Nathan had expressed his desire to make love with her, and now the final decision rested in her hands. Was she going to make good on her promise to herself, or miss the opportunity of a lifetime? Would she risk their friendship for a moment of mad, passionate lovemaking? Could she live with herself if she let this chance pass her by? Could she live with herself if she lost the friendship of this incredible man? "Nathan, I...." she sighed, struggling with her feelings. The look of desire in his eyes was the final, deciding factor. She trembled as she looked into those incredible eyes, saw the deep need there. Her heart pounded and her mind raced. She needed him as much as he needed her. "Oh, God, yes, Nathan....make love to me," she said, her mouth once again seeking out his. Passionate kisses heated the warm sea air. Mouths explored and savored each other. Two hearts melted into one. They kissed so forcefully that their teeth scraped and their lips became raw. Their throats rasped with each sigh and pant. Their bodies trembled whenever and wherever they touched. Nathan suddenly got up on his knees. When he clutched at Mary's dress, she knew what he wanted and she assisted him immediately. She sat up and raised her arms, letting him lift the soft, thin material over her head. He tossed the dress aside and instantly wrapped his arms around her totally naked body, kissing her even harder than before. After several more minutes of kissing her, his hands became bolder, exploring her body freely. She made no move to refuse him in any way. Finally, his strong hands found something other than tired feet to rub. Insistent fingers captured her breasts as he sucked on her hungry mouth. He kneaded and fondled her soft globes, fingers exploring both gently and roughly. Nipples became the eager captives of those insistent fingers. You could almost hear her nipples squealing with glee as they hardened in Nathan's grasp. Mary wanted Nathan naked, too. As her lips attacked his, her fingers fumbled with his swim trunks. They were tight, and hard to get a firm hold of in their kissing frenzy. "Wait," Nathan said. Nathan kissed Mary's lips one last time before standing up. In the moonlight, the left half of his body was illuminated a ghostly white, while the right half was shadowed, making him a semi-silhouette of masculinity in the warm night air. He kicked off his sandals and then just stood there in the moonlight for a moment. Then he grabbed his trunks. Slowly, he worked his hands into the waistband and lowered them. He seemed to deliberately take his time, enticing Mary, teasing her...making her quiver with anticipation. Nathan bent over and tugged his trunks down to his knees, then over them. He let them drop to his feet and calmly stepped out of them. Then he stood up, straight and tall. The moonlight and shadows sculpted his lean, muscular frame into a sensual work of art. The soft white light highlighted his sinewed body in all the right places, while the shadows in recessed areas clearly defined the firmly muscled arms and legs, the broad shoulders, the washboard abs. The tiny shadows of his nipples seemed to be racing across his firm, hard chest toward some unseen goal. But it was lower, below his flat stomach with it's shadowed navel, that the soft lighting brought most prominently to Mary's eyes and senses. Standing slightly to one side, the rounded curve of his naked left buttock appeared to be contracting and relaxing, in preparation for some hopefully strenuous act to follow. And his manhood...his erect, throbbing penis...bobbed visibly in semi-shadow. The moonlight enhanced its erotic appeal. The mingled light and darkness etched every glorious detail of it into Mary's reeling mind. So thick...so round and full. The shadows played here, too...exposing every detail of its firm texture to her admiring eyes. Her mouth watered and her heart skipped several beats as she took in it's full beauty, and her mind realized it would soon be hers for the taking. Below it, Nathan's dangling jewels could barely be seen hiding in the darkness, but she knew they must be lovely, indeed. She sighed at the thought of touching them, fondling them...squeezing them in her palm. But, even in her heated state, her head dizzy with erotic thoughts, the artist in her brimmed with envy. Despite all her artistic talent, never had she been able to capture such vivid beauty on canvas. For if anything could rightfully be called a work of art, Nathan's naked, excited, masculine body was it. Mary looked up to Nathan's face, and saw a man filled with lust. But through all his desire and need, his face was still that of the caring man she'd known for at least eleven years. He was powerful, yet gentle...lustful, yet loving. Not only did her sex organs overheat just looking at his naked form, but her heart melted knowing what kind of man he was. And just that quickly she needed him more than ever. Mary By Moonlight Mary got up on her knees, her wide eyes still taking in the totality of her naked, soon to be lover. She thrust out her hands, her arms opened wide. She could barely breathe as she exclaimed, "Nathan...take me now. Make love to me RIGHT NOW!" In an instant, Nathan was on his knees, kissing her with all the pent up passion of someone who had loved and desired another human being for years but had never been able to express it. He held her tight. She held him just as tightly. They kissed. Their hands explored each other, leaving no stones unturned. Nathan pushed Mary down onto her back. Looking into her eyes, he said, "Mary, I just have to kiss every inch of you. You're so incredibly sexy." Not waiting for her reply, he did just that. His lips roamed every inch of her body, top to bottom, front to back, side to side. She sighed and squirmed and moaned while he kissed her, taking whatever opportunities she could to touch or kiss him in return...but mostly just savoring the sensation of his hot, soft lips all over her body. She didn't care where he kissed, or how long he enjoyed a given part of her. It all felt so wonderful, she'd have let him kiss her totally for as long as he wanted. Every kiss, every light nibble or flick of his tongue, made her wetter and wetter. She yearned to have him deep inside her. She longed for the feel of his thick, pulsating member plunged directly into her molten core. Suddenly, while he was kissing just along the crevice where her thigh meets her abdomen, Mary felt Nathan shiver. He moaned. He sighed, "Oh, Mary...I need you so," and before she knew it he was again kissing her mouth passionately. But this time he was doing much more. His strong arms had spread her legs wide. With a breathless, barely audible moan and another shiver...he entered her. Mary gasped as his hot, erect organ worked its way deep into her, filling her as completely as she'd ever been filled in her life, both physically and emotionally. Mary lifted her legs and wrapped them around Nathan. But rather than just wrapping them around his waist, she moved them up higher, just below his shoulder blades, giving him total access to her burning nest. Nathan approved, doubling the force and tempo of his thrusting. Apparently he was quite the talker during sex. As he passionately kissed her face and nuzzled her neck, he whispered deliciously sexy thoughts and feelings into her ears. During his unbridled passion, he bared his soul to her, telling her how much he wanted her, how long he'd desired her. He told her she was the most beautiful woman alive. He told her he worshipped every inch of her body. He said that kissing any part of her was like savoring the sweetest of sweets, and that any man with eyes and a brain would want her. With her eyes closed, feeling him thrust into her again and again, Mary absorbed it all, every word fueling her own fires. Nathan sucked her mouth hotly as he thrust his thickness into her. Then he hungrily devoured her ears, neck and shoulders on his way down to her erect nipples. He sucked them hard, nipped them with his teeth. He licked around and around the aureolas with his firmed tongue, never once slackening his dizzying thrusting pace. Mary could only ride on the incredible wave of pleasure. Whenever he kissed her mouth, she sucked at his tongue for all she was worth. Nathan became a rutting animal. Everything he did was at a dizzying pace, like he wanted to do everything to her at once. In mid thrust he suddenly sat bolt upright, pulling Mary up with him. He wrapped his arms tightly around her, bucking his hips as she sat on his lap. She took the initiative to help in this endeavor, squirming and hopping feverishly on his throbbing scepter. Then again he forced her down on her back...but then rolled her onto her side. Straddling one of her legs, he lifted the other up over his shoulder. One hand held her belly firmly, while the other braced tightly against the small of her back. With her calf and ankle alongside his cheek, he fucked her soundly from a sideways position, kissing and licking her calf and ankle as he pushed his swollen manhood into her over and over again. Mary's body rippled from the force of it, and she fought to keep control. After deliciously long minutes, Nathan again switched positions. With the speed of a cobra, he quickly grasped her raised leg and brought it across his chest, flipping her onto her stomach. She flopped onto her belly with a startled gasp, but adapted immediately to the new position, awaiting eagerly the continuation of his thrusting. She didn't wait long. Lifting her hips up, pulling her into the classic doggie position, Nathan reinserted himself between her legs and continued his pounding of her sex. Her panting breath blew tiny grains of sand off the blanket in rapid, gasping puffs of swirling air. Nathan's hands once again found her breasts, which they plundered at will. His lips found her neck, kissing and sucking madly. His tongue played there, too, before finding soft, sweet ears to savor. Mary's flesh continued to ripple with the force of his animalistic thrusts...all save her breasts, held firmly in his groping hands. As Nathan neared release, his hands abandoned Mary's soft breasts and tender nipples. They found their way down to her hips, to hold her fast for his impending explosion. Mary knew he was about to ejaculate, because his thrusting intensified, each slam of his groin against her bottom harder and faster than the last. She knew that she, too, was about to explode, and couldn't wait for it. But mostly she wanted to feel Nathan's hot liquid spurting into her, filling her deeply. For every intense thrust Nathan provided, Mary reciprocated in kind, until they were slamming together like mad, humping animals. Holding Mary's hips firmly, Nathan shivered from head to toe. His tightened sack squeezed its fertile load into the shaft of his throbbing organ, forcing it out of him...and into her. Mary gasped as the first volley slammed hotly against her sugar walls. She writhed and squirmed and moaned with each satisfying spurt. She too shivered. When Nathan screamed her name, the shivers turned white hot, and she rammed herself against him, gyrating her hips, squeezing his shaft with her greedy vaginal muscles to keep him right where he was. With a head to toe shudder almost exactly the same as Nathan's, her pussy contracted and spasmed, sending her own fluids mingling with his. Both of them were moaning now, bellowing each others names. If anything, when Mary came it intensified Nathan's orgasm, and his potent thrusts began to lift her sore knees off the wrinkled, sandy blanket. She tried to scratch the intense, pleasantly annoying itch by slamming herself against Nathan with mind-numbing force, and he was only too happy to counter her moves. Even as they came together, they didn't seem to be totally satisfied. Each tried to out-hump the other, thrusting and slamming and gyrating against each other, hoping to finally ease that nagging itch. Nathan continued to spurt into her, and she continued to flow around him. For long minutes the rutting continued, until exhaustion overcame their depleted bodies. Mary collapsed, followed by the drained and gasping Nathan. She lay on her side, and he, hands still holding her hips, lay behind her. Sweating and sucking for air, they lay still entwined, Nathan's organ still inside her, though just beginning to deflate. Slowly, they regained themselves. The adrenaline coursing through them, spurred on by copious amounts of sexual hormones, began to finally dissipate. As they approached normal breathing again, Mary rolled onto her back, turning to look Nathan in his beautiful, blue-green eyes. She rolled slowly, enjoying the feeling of his softening penis vacating her inch by delicious inch. She stroked his cheek with her finger and kissed him on the mouth. They kissed gently, but thoroughly, mouths savoring and exploring each other. The kiss was long, sensual, laced with a sigh. "That was lovely, Nathan....just amazing." Her lips and eyes smiled together at him. "YOU'RE amazing, Mary," he beamed down at her. "I've never enjoyed sex so much in my life." "Oh, get out of here, Nathan. Now I KNOW you're bullshitting me. You've had some of the most gorgeous women I've ever seen. Please, don't even BEGIN to compare me to them." "Beauty does not make a woman sexy, Mare," he replied, his eyes brimming with total honesty. "I've known some beautiful women who aren't sexy at all. But you...you're not only very easy on the eyes, but you're sexy, too." "Nathan, get outta...." "I would never lie to you, Mare....not ever," he said, putting his finger to her lips to stifle any debate that might be forming there. "Well....I don't know...." she finally said, unable to accept what he was saying, despite the honesty in his eyes. "Mare, I've wanted to do that for several years now. I think I've been in love with you for at least half a dozen years. But the sex...well, I've wanted THAT forever." He grinned widely and winked several times in rapid succession. "Wait," she said, her heart pounding, "Back up, Nathan. What did you say? Did you say...'LOVE'?" He looked at her, smiled, and nodded slowly. "I've been crazy about you for a long time. I can't believe you never noticed. Actually, I thought you did but you just weren't interested." "What?! No way!....I mean....why didn't you ever say anything?" She could barely breathe as she looked at him incredulously. "Honestly, like I said, I thought you just weren't interested. Every time I was without a girlfriend, you seemed to have a guy. And every time I found a woman, you seemed to be solo again. I thought sure you knew I wanted you but you just had other plans for your personal life....ones that didn't include me. I mean, I know we've been good friends and all, but I thought maybe I just wasn't your type." Wide eyed, her whole body trembling with frustration (despite her current sexually satisfied state), Mary reared back her arm and swung it around, swatting him hard on the shoulder. The strong muscle it connected with barely flinched. "Are you insane?!! Are you out of your fucking mind?!! Do you have any idea how much time we've wasted...how long we could've been together by now? Do you?!!" Nathan looked at her as if she'd grown a second head. He appeared genuinely befuddled. The look was so humorous that Mary's anger gave way instantly to peels of laughter. Even if he hadn't looked so boyishly, sweetly confused, she'd have had to laugh at the supreme irony of it. Both of them had contented themselves with a deep friendship rather than risk making fools of themselves by wearing their hearts on their sleeves. Each had been sexually attracted to the other for years, but too afraid to make any moves, to speak their true, deep feelings for one another. "You mean," Nathan whispered, leaning to nibble her ear, "I AM your type, Mare?" "Nathan," she sighed heavily, "I can't think of any woman who's type you're NOT...except maybe a lesbian...and even SHE might consider changing sides for you." He laughed again, and the sound of it was soothing, warmer even than the summer breeze. Then he again held Mary's face in his hands, kissing her face gently all over. "So, then, maybe we should get to know each other even better...see where things might lead?" "Nathan, I'd love that. I would love that very, very much." "And maybe," he winked, "we can have some more of that fantastic sex you just drove me crazy with?" "Nathan," she cooed, stroking his chin, "you can have me any time you want me. In fact, I made that promise to myself many years ago." "Really?" He seemed intrigued now, and as frustrated by the irony of the situation as Mary was. All those wasted years. All those moonlit nights they could've been naked on this very beach enjoying one another. But then he made a decision. If all those years together had been missed, then it was up to the two of them to make up for lost time. They owed it to themselves...to balance out the lost embraces with ongoing ones that would carry them into the future. With a grin, he licked Mary's lips with the tip of his tongue. "Well, then, I think I want you again. This beach and the moonlight are too lovely to be wasted on anything but lovemaking. So, if I can have you any time I want you...I want you again...now." Smiling back up at him, Mary reached down, gliding her fingertips along his hard, tanned body. Her fingers briefly squeezed his ass, finding it firm but just soft enough to be enjoyed. Then she moved her hand around to his front, and it found what it sought. His firmest muscle of all swelled in her grasp, and she could feel every detail of its surface, her fingers registering every inch of its veined surface even more intricately than the moonlight had when he had stood towering over her almost an hour ago. She smiled at its pulsating thickness and hardness. "Oh, yes, Nathan," she sighed, "you can have me again. And I'll be happy to take you again, too." Nathan began to kiss her passionately, but then stopped suddenly. He looked to his side, raising his head to aim his eyes at the brilliant moon, and then lowered it to gaze at the horseshoe shaped beach below. His smile shone brightly in the moonlight. His eyes again twinkled. "I've never been grateful to an inanimate object before," he said, seemingly out of the blue, "but I am now." "What are you talking about?" Mary asked, eager to get her lips back on his. "Your painting," he replied, "It got us together. After all these years, that psychic painting of yours managed to bring us together when we ourselves couldn't seem to do it." "Yeah," she said, momentarily deep in thought. "But, Nathan?" "Yeah, beautiful?" he answered, his shimmering eyes working their way into her soul. "Let's think about that later, okay? Let's just get back to what we were doing, shall we?" "Mmmm...you bet." Again their lips locked. Bodies came together. Hands and fingers explored freely and more boldly than ever. They savored each other tenderly and with burning passion. They joined, became one, writhed in pleasure...moaned and proclaimed their love in panting gasps. With the moon ogling their animal lust, the sea murmuring words of encouragement and the warm shore breeze caressing their naked bodies, Mary and Nathan engaged in delicious hours of lovemaking...until the leering moon gave way to the rising sun. And as the sun crept up over the horizon, banishing the reluctant moon, the peaceful little beach was bathed in color. As the two lovers sighed and moaned their desire for one another, bright reds and purples and pinks dappled the receding sea...tinting water, sand, rocks and lovers alike in resplendent morning hues...looking exactly like Mary's prophetic painting. END AUTHOR'S NOTE: Sunrise...sunset...who can tell the difference? If a person is standing in an unfamiliar place, unable to tell the time and not knowing in which direction he or she is looking, might not a sunrise be mistaken for a sunset? It's an easy mistake to make. And whereas sunset connotes an ending, sunrise symbolizes a new beginning. In the case of Mary and Nathan, a painting was mistakenly thought to be a sunset. A beautiful one, but a sunset nonetheless. In reality, it was a sunrise...a sunrise promising a new day, a new and bright future of many loving sunrises...and sunsets...to come. Sometimes, when human beings can't quite make things work out the way they're supposed to, a higher power takes over...and makes things right. Fate is always the hunter...and sometimes that can be a very good thing. "Mary By Moonlight" copyright Bacomicfan/Mike, 2003