0 comments/ 40073 views/ 16 favorites The Overlook Ch. 01 By: LSanders Seth saw the crest of the hill, which gave him the strength to push on to the top. Sweat was pouring off of him on the hot, humid August day. When he finally reached the summit, he did a small solo victory dance and leaned against a tree while he guzzled water. This was his spot. He panned the vista and caught his breath. When he had recovered from his uphill sprint, he hauled his small backpack over to his favorite perch on the edge of the ridge overlooking the waterfall and the pool at its bottom. He pulled out a couple of Power Bars and grabbed another water. Seth took a deep breath of the clear air, cleansed by the pines rising all around him. He used his t-shirt as ground cover and his backpack as a pillow, stretched out in the sun and fell into a contented sleep. An hour or so later, Seth was awakened by the sound of a horse and splashing in the water below. He shook the cobwebs out of his head and peered down. He saw a woman dismounting an elegant black stallion. She patted his neck and reached into the saddle bag for carrots. As Seth watched, she even put one end in her mouth and allowed the horse to grab it from her. She clearly loved the animal. The two of them interacted for a few minutes; then the woman patted the horse again and let him graze on the lush grass growing near the water. Seth smiled and was about to return to his nap when the woman began disrobing. First, she took off her baseball cap and shook out her pony tail. Her shiny medium-brown hair fell three-quarters of the way down her back. He sat up when she unbuttoned her plaid shirt and draped it over a tree branch. He was very attentive as she removed her sports bra. Even from this distance, Seth could tell she had creamy skin the color of cappuccino. Her firm B-cup breasts rose proudly above her flat, toned abs. The woman sat on a rock and removed her boots and socks. Seth was barely breathing as she pushed her jeans down her sleek, athletic legs. His heart was pounding as he watched her tug her black thong down her tawny thighs and hook it on a branch with the rest of her clothes. She stood facing him in her nude glory and stretched. His eyes were riveted to the space at the top of her legs. Though he couldn't see her luscious vagina from this distance, he could tell she believed in being clean-shaven. The woman then walked over to the edge of the pond, stepped up on a flat rock and dove into the water. She was underneath for so long that Seth was starting to become alarmed, but she finally broke the surface on the other side of the pool. Seth got comfortable and rested his chin in his hand as he watched her swim and splash in the warm early afternoon sun. At one point, she climbed a series of small rocks and was able to walk behind the waterfall. She stayed behind the falls for a long time, so long, in fact, that Seth packed up to leave. When she finally did emerge on the other side, her hair was mostly dry. He assumed there must be a cave behind the falls. Before heading down the mountain, he watched her wrap her delicious body back in her clothes. She whistled for her horse, hugged his neck and he bent down closer to her. She kissed the space between his eyes. Then, she climbed into the saddle and road away. Seth looked at his watch and saw that it was 2:45 pm. He figured that he arrived about 1:00 pm and decided to make a trip to this spot the next day at the same time. As always, Seth searched for the crest of the hill to give him the motivation to finish. He had been jogging up the three-mile ascension for the past couple of years whenever he was home from college. This time, he broke his routine and paused only long enough to catch his breath before moving to the overlook. It was deserted, so he sat down for his usual lunch of a Power Bars and fruit. He was getting anxious waiting for his unknown goddess to hopefully appear. He pulled out his iPod and settled on his backpack, letting the sun wash over his salty body. Seth soon fell asleep to the strains of Coldplay. The high-pitched whinny of a horse broke him from his slumber. He rubbed his eyes and looked down to find the cocoa-haired maiden once again dismounting the muscular black stallion. Since the temperature was in the mid 90s that day, she was wearing very short denim cut-offs and had her shirt tied below her breasts. She also wore a cowboy hat to give her more shade. Seth watched her disrobing ritual with the same intensity and pulled out a pair of binoculars. When she peeled off her tan sports bra, he focused the lenses on her body. My God, she's beautiful! He could now see the blond and gold highlights of her hair glinting in the bright sun. Her skin was even more captivating, like a coating of bronze butter spread tightly around her petite frame. He could now see her stiff mahogany nipples standing proudly from her round, perfect breasts. As Seth drank in every detail of her shoulders, arms, breasts, and torso, his penis threatened to reach beyond the waistband of his running shorts. The woman leaned one hand on a tree trunk as she slipped off her boots. Seth marveled at how gravity was helpless in pulling against the firm shape of her breasts as she bent to remove her socks. I've never seen a woman this beautiful. He stopped breathing as she slowly stripped her lower body of her shorts and tan thong. His eyes followed the flawless curve of her ass. His gaze fell slowly down her amber thighs to the muscular curve of her calves. When she turned to face him again so she could stretch, he zoomed in on her pussy. His tongue became dry and pasty as he stared open-mouthed at the open split of her labia and the tiny tuft of brown curls above her opening. Fuck! His heart was now pounding so hard he could hear it. From below, a shiny glint caught the woman's attention, and she stared up right at the spot where Seth was sitting. She brought her hand up to shield her eyes from the sun's brightness as she searched for the cause of the bright light. As soon she looked in his direction, Seth instinctively dropped the binoculars into his laps and pressed himself behind the trunk of a large pine. She searched in vain for a few minutes and decided she must have seen a reflected sun ray from the water. She dove into the cool wetness and let the bubbles from the falls wash off the salt and the heat from her skin. She swam to the other side and turned over on her back to float on the crisp surface of the pond. She loved the contrasts of the blazing heat on her chest and the chilly tingle on her back. Seth took out a water bottle, drank half of it, and poured the other half on his head. He slumped against the tree. He felt like a pervert for spying on the woman, but frankly his attraction to her was so strong he was powerless. He closed his eyes and replayed what he had just seen. His hand was drawn to the flaming steel of his cock. He rubbed himself through his nylon shorts and then took out his cock and began jacking his hand up and down. His hand became more frenzied as the movie theatre in his mind drew closer to the moment when she was completely naked and facing him. When he got to the point where he was gaping at her open pussy, he grunted and sent several hot bursts of semen flying onto the forest floor. He sat there for some time with his softening dick in his hand, imaging how she must feel and smell and taste. When he finally emerged from his spell and tucked his spent member back in his shorts, he looked over to find the woman putting on her hat and climbing onto her horse. The following day, Seth was surprised to find his goddess already swimming in the pond. He was disappointed that he missed watching her shed her clothes. He looked down to find her once again floating naked on her back wearing sunglasses. She looked so peaceful she could have been floating on a cloud. He started getting hard as he pulled out his binoculars. He sat in his favorite spot and drank in her beauty, starting with the top of her milk chocolate hair and panning slowly down to her delicate feet. She was so content that she was dozing in and out when she, again, caught the unmistakable glint of bright light reflected from the hill above the pond. Behind her sunglasses, she didn't react. She paddled over near the bank and tossed her glasses onto a towel. Then, she dove under the water and emerged at the steps leading to the waterfall, climbed them and disappeared behind the wall of cascading water. Seth assumed she would not be visible for awhile, so he lowered his shorts and began jacking his hand up and down his long, thick, purple shaft. In just a couple of minutes, he was able to coat the forest with more of his seed. He tucked himself in his shorts and slumped against the tree trunk and began to slide into contented sleep, which prevented him from hearing the soft footsteps approaching from his rear. He did, however, perk up when he heard the unmistakable double click of a shotgun being cocked. Seth jumped up and found himself facing the object of his lust with a loaded gun pointed right between his eyes. "So, you like spying on women in the woods, pervert?" she asked in a no-nonsense voice. At first, Seth was shocked, then embarrassed. "Look, I'm sorry. I never do this kind of thing." "Uh huh. You just happened to accidentally trespass to the same spot at the same time with binoculars. Bird-watching?" she asked menacingly. "No ... no ... you're right. I was spying on you," he said as he hung his head in shame. "I don't even know what to say. I'm so embarrassed. I promise I'm harmless. I'll just get my things and go," he said as he started to pick up his belongings. "Drop 'em," she ordered. He looked at her, puzzled. "what?" "Drop 'em ... your shorts. You've been spying on me for three days. Now it's payback." Seth stared at her without moving, trying to figure out if she was serious. She aimed the shotgun into the air and fired it. Then, she quickly pumped the barrel and aimed it back at Seth. He got the hint and slid his shorts down his legs and tugged them over his running shoes. She stared at him unblinking for a moment before scanning down the length of his body. Damn, he's cute! She focused on the limp red hose dangling over his balls. He's gotta be an athlete or something with that body. Even in her anger she found herself moisten as she surveyed him and imagined what his cock must look like erect. Of course, Seth was humiliated. The longer she stared, the more self-conscious he became, but he was too scared to move. "Grab your stuff. Let's go." "Like this?" Seth asked in horror, indicating his state of undress. "Yes, just like that pervert. Move it," she said as she pointed down the path she had taken to reach him. Seth's mind raced as he trudged down the hill with his cock flapping in the sun. At the bottom, the woman quickly packed the clothes she had worn earlier that day into a saddle bag. Seth assumed that she must have arrived early so she could stash the gun and extra clothes behind the waterfall. When she had mounted her horse, she asked, "You got a name, pervert?" "Seth ... Seth Majors." "Okay, Seth ... Seth Majors ... we're going for a walk back to my ranch. I'll decide whether to call the cops along the way." Seth sighed deeply. A conviction for voyeurism was going to look just great on his application to vet school. Those were the types of forlorn thoughts that filled his head as they walked through a field toward his doom. The woman watched the powerful muscles in his legs and his hips as he walked. His broad lean back rose in a perfect "V" above his trim hips. His shaggy blond hair was stiff from the salt plastering his face. After walking for most of an hour, she noticed his shoulders getting pink. She stopped the caravan next to a stream. "You're starting to burn, Seth ... Seth Majors." He looked up at her face and saw that her expression wasn't nearly as menacing as it had been. "One Seth will do," he said shyly. She smirked. "Okay, Seth. Why don't you wash yourself off in the stream to get some of the salt off your skin. Then, I've got some sun block so you don't fry in this heat. We've still got about 45 minutes to walk. She watched as he bent down to scoop water into his hands and soak his face. She smiled, despite herself, as she watched his long legs flex and saw his cock hang down as his tight ass was pointed at her. He is gorgeous. I can't believe I'm getting wet staring at this peeping tom. She watched him apply the sun block to his neck, shoulders and arms and found herself wishing she was the one rubbing the lotion into his skin. Still, she managed to keep an impassive look on her face. When he finished, she tossed him his t-shirt. "The pants stay off," she added before he could ask. Seth didn't protest. "Okay. Let's go," she ordered. "Before we get to your ranch, can I beg for mercy? I'll do anything you want to keep from being turned into the police. I'm getting ready to apply to graduate school, and this will kill my chances of getting in." She looked into the deep rivers of blue in his pleading eyes. She wanted to torture him some more, but his gentle manner and staggering good looks were breaking down her defenses. The little boy expression in his eyes melted her angry heart. She breathed deeply and asked, "Are you willing to come here every day to muck out the stalls and do whatever other disgusting thing that needs doing?" He brightened. "Absolutely. Anything." "I'll think about it. First, keep marching." Seth turned and headed off along the path with renewed vigor in his step. The woman smiled more broadly once he turned his head away. The more she stared at his tall, lean body, the more excited she was that he was going to be coming to the ranch every day. At the bottom of a hill she stopped him. She silently tossed him his running shorts. He looked at her as if he needed permission to put them on. I'm going to miss seeing that cute butt and that scrumptious cock, she thought. He tugged on his shorts and looked at her for direction. "The ranch house is just over that hill. I figured it's easier to let you put on your pants than it is to explain why I'm marching a naked man through the fields," she replied to his unasked question. "Go on," she said as she pointed with the gun barrel. Seth marched to the top of the hill and stopped. He had been excepting a typical Colorado ranch house and was stunned to see the huge stone mansion rise up to greet him. He looked at her with wide eyes, and she just pointed the gun to indicate that he needed to keep walking. Seth approached the huge, ornate iron gate and saw the large brass "F" at its top. He turned to look at the woman. "What's your name?" "Why do you need to know, pervert? Going to add me to your MySpace peeper page?" "No! I'm really not a peeping tom." She stared at him and raised her eyebrows. "Okay. I was spying on you, but that was different." She crossed her arms, wrinkled her brow and gave him an explain-that-to-me look. "What I mean is I'm not some creep who scours the countryside looking for naked women to spy on. You're just ... Jesus ... you're so beautiful, I couldn't help myself." She tilted her head, squinted her eyes and gave him an is-that-the-best-you-can-do look. He stared into her eyes and momentarily got lost in them. She had blue-green eyes unlike any he had never seen. When the sun shined directly into them, they looked green, but in the shade, a pronounced bluish tint filtered into them. Fuck, the closer I get the more beautiful she is. "So, that's it? That's your explanation?" Her words broke his trance, and he jumped. "No! I ... Look ... I don't have a defense other than the truth. You are the most stunningly beautiful woman I have ever seen in my life." The more he talked, the stupider he felt, but he continued. "I've been running up that mountain and having lunch in that same spot for years. You're the only other person I've ever seen anywhere close. When you ... uhm ... went ... uhm ... swimming, I was ... I don't know ... I couldn't take my eyes off of you ..." he stammered, searching her face and hoping she would interrupt him and put him out of his misery. No such luck -- she just continued to stare. He hung his head and added, "I can't explain it any better. I'm terribly sorry, and I feel like a creep. I just hope that maybe if you get to know me you'll forgive me ... a little." As she watched him, she could tell he was speaking from his heart. Listening to him try to explain his overpowering attraction to her made her feel warm inside, but she didn't want him to know -- not yet anyway. So, she rolled her eyes in mock disgust, turned to lead her horse into the barn and said, "You're pathetic." "I am pathetic. Hey ... wait! You never told me your name." She turned to him and said, "Molly Fournier." Fuck! "I thought that must be you ..." He said to her back as she entered the barn. "Can I groom him?" Molly stopped again and turned to look at Seth. "I love Andalusians. Please?" He asked. Molly studied his face to judge if this was a ploy to get on her good side. The request seemed innocent, so she walked over and handed Seth the reins. He smiled broadly. Seth walked the horse into the barn, surveyed all the empty stalls and asked, "It's this one, right?" Molly cocked her head to one side and answered, "Yes. How did you ...?" "Simple," he answered as he walked the house into the stall marked "Meilleur Ami." "I watched you with him for three days. 'Meilleur Ami' ... Best Friend. It wasn't hard to figure out. What do you call him for short?" "Ami," she answered slowly. Seth surprised Molly, keeping her off-balance, and that rarely happened to the formidable Molly Fournier. "So, how does a peeper know so much about horses?" "Ouch!" he said in reaction to the peeper label. She wasn't smiling, so he continued, "My uncle used to own a ranch, and it was my second home growing up. I couldn't wait to get there every morning when school was out. I never minded the scut work. I just loved being around the animals. I'm actually hoping to get into vet school and become a large animal vet so I can work with the farmers and ranchers around here." She was fascinated at how he handled Ami and how comfortable Seth was. Ami treated Seth as if he was an old family friend. "What an incredible animal! How long have you had him?" Seth asked. "He was born here. Father raises Andalusians. He likes to show them, but when I met Ami, I knew I had to have him for my own. He's like my big brother. I know he'd fight off a herd of wild coyotes for me, but he's so gentle and playful. I don't get out here nearly as much as I want. But, whenever I walk into this barn, he whinnies, stamps his feet and gets so excited to see me. He's like a big kid." Her face finally dissolved into a wide smile as she talked about Ami. Seth stopped brushing the animal and smiled at look of pure joy on her face. "Yeah, I know. People who haven't been around horses don't realize how social they are. I like pretty much any animal, but horses and dogs are at the top of my list," Seth said. "Do you have horses?" Molly asked. Seth's face fell and he sighed. "No. Not since Uncle Alex sold the ranch. I used to have a quarter horse named, Temple. We didn't own her. Uncle Alex did, but he let me treat her as if we did own her. She considered me her property too ... kind of like Ami does with you. She could be lazily eating hay, but as soon as my bike came into view, she'd start galloping around the pen." He stopped and swallowed hard. He tried to pretend he got something in his eye so he could secretly wipe away a tear, but Molly saw the tear anyway. The more she watched Seth's easy gentle manner and listened to the sincerity in his voice, the more her heart melted. Molly was an heiress to an incredible fortune. Her grandfather had started Fournier wineries in Bordeaux, and her dad, Pierre Fourier, had developed the company into a multinational conglomerate of wines and spirits. He had even added some high-tech investment to the family portfolio and had amassed a fortune now estimated at $1.2 billion. Molly and her step-brother Erick were the sole heirs. They had been brought up in such luxury and privilege that royalty and business barons were her everyday friends. This Colorado ranch hand was so different she was becoming intrigued. There was something so sweet and simple about Seth that she couldn't help but be drawn to him. The Overlook Ch. 01 "What happened to your uncle's ranch?" she asked. "My Dad's the baby of the family, so Uncle Alex was getting on up in years. None of my cousins had any interest in working on it. They were only interested in finding out how fast they could drive in the opposite direction" "What about you? Did you tell him how you felt?" "Every day! But, I was only 13 at the time he had a stroke. My Aunt Sadie knew she couldn't run the place without him. They sold it, and he died a month after they moved into the retirement community. She's never forgiven herself. She thinks she caused his death because she forced him to leave the only place he ever loved." Molly felt sad for this woman she'd never met. "That's why your sentence of mucking stalls is more like pleasure than punishment." Molly smiled weakly at him, still lost in all the things he had just told her. Seth took her hands in his and stared into her eyes. "I really am sorry for spying on you. Really sorry. I probably deserve to go to jail." Molly looked up into his angular face with his thin cheeks and his gentle eyes and replied softly, "Yeah, you probably do. Guess you caught me at a weak moment." He smiled. "Timing's everything, huh?" "Yeah." Molly decided Seth looked like a more rugged version of Hayden Christensen, the actor. "Well, I better get back to Ami," he said abruptly turning back to the horse. She was startled at his sudden change. "Uhm, Ms. Fournier, do you think I could get some water or something?" "Oh! I completely forgot. I bet you're dying, and call me Molly." She walked over and picked up a phone and dialed Henri, the head butler. In French, she told him that she had a guest in the barn and asked him to bring a large pitcher of iced tea and whatever wonderful delicacies he could find. "Avec plaisir, Mademoiselle," he answered. ("With pleasure, Miss.") Molly turned to Seth and said, "Since I did kidnap you, I suppose we can call it even, Seth. You really don't have to muck out the stalls." He stood up and said, "A deal's a deal, Molly. Besides, I'm actually looking forward to it. I really miss the smell of the horses and the hay ... even the crap!" She laughed. "I've never missed the stench of merde, even though I do love Ami." "It is an acquired aroma," he replied. "If it's all the same to you, I would really like to complete my sentence." She shook her head slightly and replied, "I've never met anyone attracted to horse shit, though I have met a quite a few people who were filled with it." He shrugged and replied grinning, "Mom always says she worried about dropping me on my head a few too many times when I was a baby." "That's something else I didn't think of. Do you have somewhere to be or need to call someone?" "Nope. I'm on summer break from Colorado State, and Mom knows not to even think about me until dinner time at the earliest." "Oh," Molly said smiling. About that time, Henri came driving into the barn on a golf cart with a table, two chairs, flowers and two place settings, a drink cooler, and a picnic basket. He smiled and nodded to Molly and set everything up. "Sera-t-il rien d'autre, Mademoiselle?" ("Will there be anything else, Miss?") "No, Henri. Merci." Henri nodded and drove away. She turned to Seth and said, "I don't know what he fixed for us, but get ready to be blown away." Molly opened the basket to find salad nicoise, poached salmon, French rolls, and individual fruit tarts. She looked up at Seth's wide eyes and chuckled. "This is a simple snack?" he asked. "That's Henri. Father stole him from the Danish royal court. When I told Father I was coming to the ranch to clear my head, he put Henri on the next plane to take care of me." "Your Dad sounds like a cool guy." "He can be. I just wish I saw more of him." They ate and drank in the middle of the barn and were as happy as if they were on the Champs-Elysées. The barn had a cooling system, so the surroundings weren't all that bad, if one didn't mind the smell. Molly began opening up to Seth about her life and her recent blow-up with Federico Moretti, who was from one of the old money families in Northern Italy. "The Morettis are involved in shipping and manufacturing and happen to be one of the richest families in Europe. We were to be engaged, but I caught him cheating with my cousin and told him to go to hell. That's why I came here. I knew that time away with Ami would help me deal with the fallout from all of that." "Damn! The only famous person I've ever met is a former lieutenant governor of Colorado, and that was only because one his tires blew out when it hit a fence nail right in front of our house." Molly laughed loudly. "That's the first time I've laughed hard in quite awhile, Seth. Thank you." He grinned. "I bet you never expected you'd be saying thanks to the weirdo who was spying on you." She chuckled. "You're right about that!" Molly looked down at her watch and saw that it was 5:30. They had been talking non-stop for an hour and a half. "I didn't realize we'd been here this long. Listen, if you're really going to come here every day, I'm going to pay you," she said reaching for her purse. He took her hands and laid down the purse. "You already have paid me, Molly." She squinted and looked at him. "Excuse me?" "Molly, just having the opportunity to get to know you is all the reward I want. Compared to that, money's pretty meaningless." Molly was momentarily without words. Finally, she asked, "What planet are you from anyway, because you're definitely not like any of the men I've met on this rock?" He snickered. Then he took one of her hands and tenderly kissed it, which sent an electric shock through her. "They sound like a pretty slow-witted breed to me." That made her laugh again. "You'll get no argument here!" "So, what time should I be here tomorrow?"Seth asked. "Whenever you want," she answered. Then she added slowly, "You can even stay if you'd like ... for dinner, I mean." "Thanks, but I know Mom's expecting me. Since Dad died, you know, dinner for one's not too much fun." Molly's face sank, and she answered, "Oh ... sure." Seth saw her disappointment and asked, "Molly, do you have dinner plans?" "Me? No!" she blurted, probably a little too quickly, she thought. "Want to come home with me? My Mom's a great cook, maybe not as good as Henri, but really good simple food. I think she's making fried chicken tonight, which is one of her specialties." "But, what would she think about someone just dropping in unannounced for dinner?" "She'd think, 'Thank God Seth's found a friend -- and a hot one at that,'" he said, squinting. Molly hit his arm. "Oh, yeah, I'm sure that's what she'd say. You're terrible. If you really don't think she'd mind, I'd love to join you. I'll get the car and meet you at the front of the house." Seth picked up the brushes and led Ami to the outside pen so the horse could stretch his legs and nibble on some grass. Then, Seth met Molly in her red BMW Cabriolet, and they drove to Seth's house. It was just as Molly had imagined ... a white clapboard house with a huge wraparound porch and a white picket fence. "Mom! I'm home!" he shouted as they entered. "It's about time. The chicken's going to -- Oh!" she said when she entered the room and saw Molly. "I didn't know you were bringing a friend." "Hi, I'm Molly," she said extending her hand. "It's nice to meet you, Molly. I'm Cathy," she said extending her own hand. "I hope it's okay that I showed up unannounced. I wasn't sure whether to trust Seth on that or not," she said with a concerned look on her face. "Oh, dear, any friend of Seth's is always welcome here. I usually cook like I'm feeding a fire hall, so there'll be plenty." "Mom, I'm going to take a quick shower. Molly's really nice. Just take her into the kitchen. I'll be back before you know it," he said as he bounded up the stairs. Cathy got them some lemonade, and they sat at the kitchen table. "I love your home," Molly said looking around. "It's a real home, not a decorator model house." "No, it's definitely not that," Cathy said, chuckling. "Where do you live, Molly?" "On a ranch at Pickens Junction." Cathy wrinkled her brow. "Pickens Junction, hmm? The only ranch I know of there is ..." she stopped and looked at Molly. Molly smiled and shrugged. "So, you're Molly Fournier? Wait until the women at the garden club hear I entertained Molly Fournier. I'll probably get my picture on the front page of the newsletter!" Molly laughed hard at that. "So, what do you think of her, Mom?" Seth asked as he raced into the kitchen. "I think she's lovely, dear," Cathy said. Then she leaned into Seth and whispered loudly, "And, she's hot!" Seth turned to look at Molly and give her an I-told-you-so look. Molly laughed so hard she practically fell onto the floor. They dined on fried chicken, fresh corn, biscuits, and tossed salad. Cathy had baked a German chocolate cake for dessert. She also kept the conversation lively by telling Molly about all the mischief Seth got into growing up. Molly's favorite story was about the time he wanted to feel grown up and cut a paper bag into strips so he could fill them with his Dad's pipe tobacco in an effort to make his own cigarettes. He lit his first one, took a huge puff, and started coughing so hard he got dizzy and passed out, nearly setting the house on fire in the process. Afterwards, they all went out on the porch to rock and swing. Cathy brought out some brandy, and they continued talking. Cathy watched Seth and Molly look at each other. The only time Seth's eyes strayed from Molly was when he looked at his mother out of politeness. Cathy also watched Molly gaze at Seth long after he had finished talking. "Oh ... it's almost 9:00. I've got to go," Cathy said, setting down her glass. "Mom, where are you rushing to?" Seth asked. "'Lipstick Jungle's' coming on, dear. You know I never miss that show! It was a pleasure meeting you, Molly. I hope you'll come back many times. You are always welcome." "Thank you, Cathy. I do feel very welcome here." Cathy kissed Seth on the forehead and Molly on the cheek, and she was off. "Your Mom's like an energy tornado," Molly remarked. "That she is," Seth replied smiling. He looked down into Molly's beautiful, beautiful face, and his smile faded as he got lost in her radiance. He followed the feminine curve of her eyebrows arching over those mesmerizing blue-green eyes. His gaze flowed down her pert nose and soft, slender cheeks to the cardinal creaminess of her lips. Her supple lips looked so inviting that he bent down to meet them with his own. Molly closed her eyes and shivered in anticipation of their mouths colliding for the first time. Seth gently brushed her lips and placed his hand along her cheek to draw her face closer to him. She immediately felt the heat in her face as she flushed from the rush of blood storming out of her pounding heart. He inhaled her perfume and pressed his lips harder against her and invaded her mouth with his tongue. He was already granite hard when he pulled her onto his lap. She sighed as she pressed into his crotch to feel his full length. Molly felt the heat continue to rise in her body as she ran her fingers through his soft hair. She turned so she could press her whole body into Seth. She had an aching need to consume him. They lost all track of time as they melded into each other's embrace. After a small eternity, she broke their embrace and panted to catch her breath. "Seth ... I ..." she stammered as she tried to regain her composure. He just sat there with a big smile on his face. "I ..." she said as she got lost in his eyes again. "You have to go?" he asked, raising one eyebrow. She pointed at her car and spluttered, "Uhm ... yeah ... I ..." He rose from the swing and reached down to take her hand. Then, he walked her to her car. She unlocked the door and turned back to him. He put his arms around her and kissed her again. She immediately wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him feverishly. She finally broke from him and reached for the car door explaining, "If I don't drive away from those lips right now, I'll never leave." "That's the idea," Seth said grinning. "God, you're so cute," she said as she kissed him again. Molly surrendered to kisses two more times before finally getting into the car. "Ok ... uh ... yeah ..." Seth chuckled at her bewilderment. "See you tomorrow morning!" he shouted as she drove away. She waved to him as she left. When Molly drove past the iron gate into her driveway, she suddenly realized that she had no recollection of the drive at all. Her thoughts were consumed by Seth. In some ways, the evening was like a first date in high school, only Molly hadn't experienced normal high school. She attended a formidable Swiss academy where future world leaders roamed its hallways. Dates were social events and led to conversations about the financial symmetry of the two families involved. Her evening with Seth was raw and pure and charged with more sexual energy than she had ever felt. How could she ever explain Seth to her father? Why was she even contemplating such long-term ramifications with a college senior she'd only met that day? But, the fact was ... she was more excited about seeing Seth in the morning than any personal encounter she'd ever had. None of the world famous men she'd dated created a sexual inferno like the one she currently felt. It felt good. It felt right. It felt like this was how love was supposed to make you feel ... crazy and giddy and wet and excited, not like you're portfolio just gained a couple of points in value. Molly masturbated three times before finally drifting into slumber. All three times, she had her eyes closed and replayed the feeling of Seth's thick erection pressed against her hips as she sat on his lap. Morning couldn't come too soon. As the clock approached 9:00 am, Molly threw more and more clothes on the floor of her closet. She couldn't decide what to wear. She felt like a stupid schoolgirl, but that still didn't solve her dilemma. Seth arrived on his bike, using the 15-mile ride as an opportunity to get in a workout. He rang the front doorbell and asked Henri if he could see Molly. In broken English, Henri explained that she had not yet descended for breakfast. Seth asked him to give her the bouquet of wildflowers he'd picked that morning from Cathy's flower bed. Then, he went whistling into the barn the start his chores. Molly finally settled on a simple outfit similar to the one she'd worn the second day at the Outlook: very short denim shorts (she thought her legs were her best feature) and a yellow checked shirt tied snugly under her breasts. She walked into the barn to find Seth talking to Ami and giving him fresh alfalfa and hay. When Molly approached, he froze and looked at her. She could feel his eyes scanning her body. He smiled broadly and looked so happy to see her that she felt butterflies in her stomach. "How is it even possible that you get more beautiful every time I see you?" She blushed. "You're just a horny peeping tom. At least, I'm wearing clothes this time." "For the moment," he said with a devilish look in his eyes. She rolled her eyes and tried to hide her grin. "Have you had breakfast?" she asked. Seth stopped and looked at her with raised eyebrows, reminding her that he was Cathy's son. "You've had breakfast. So, you want to go for a ride?" "Yeah," Seth said excitedly. "You can take your pick, but ..." "That one!" Seth said, pointing to a tall brown stallion with a black man and black markings on his legs. Molly laughed and shook her head since he immediately picked Max, the horse she was getting ready to suggest. "His name is Max. He's probably Ami's best friend ..." "Other than you," he interrupted. "Yes ... other than me," she said as she smiled at him. "I'm curious. What made you choose Max?" "He looks very sure of himself ... very much in control. I've already paid him a visit of respect and fed him. He looked down at me, but he lowered his head so I could rub his muzzle. He acknowledged my homage to him and gave me permission to ride him. I figured he will provide a great ride." "You are full of surprises, young Mr. Majors. You're right on all counts. Showing Max that you respect him is vital. Otherwise, you'll end up in the nearest cactus patch!" she said giggling. "That sounds like the voice of experience talking." "Not me," she said quickly. "Have you heard of Peter DeMarco?" "The actor? Dr. Stephanic from 'Mercy Hospital?'" Seth asked. "That's the one. I met him at a charity event, and he came to the ranch. He wanted to impress me with his knowledge of horses. So, he decided to slap a saddle on Max. Peter was trying to show off for me and wasn't paying any attention to Max. Max began blowing the ground and pawing the dirt. As soon as Peter mounted him, Max took off like a rocket and headed straight for that cactus patch on the other side of the fence. He galloped as hard as he could go. Peter was hanging on for dear life. Max stopped on a dime and threw Peter right over the fence. Peter landed butt-first in that chollo patch," she recounted. Seth winced at the thought of a butt full of the long, sharp needles of the jumping cactus. "Needless to say, Max was very pleased with himself!" Seth laughed so hard he fell against the wall. Molly looked up at the big horse and added, "I gave Max an extra helping of oats that night after we got the last needle out of Peter's butt. We had to send him home on Daddy's private jet so he could lie on his stomach in the aisle." Seth had to wipe the tears from his eyes. Molly walked over to pat Max's neck. "Don't just stand there, cowboy. Saddle up!" Molly said as she climbed onto the Ami's saddle. "What about the chores?" he asked. She looked around and answered, "It looks to me like Ramirez and his crew have already taken care of the lusty aroma of horse droppings." "Ramirez?" Seth asked with raised eyebrows. "Uh huh," Molly answered, trying not to smile. "Ramirez and his crew?" Seth said as he sauntered next to Molly. "Yep," she said stifling a giggle. "Just a wandering band of stable cleaners no doubt," he said walking his fingers up her thigh. "Of course," she said, still trying to hold back her laugh. "That's good because if Ramirez ..." "... and his crew ..." "... and his crew worked here every day, there would have been no reason to march me half way across Colorado with my Johnson flapping in the breeze," he said, still playing with her thigh and looking up at her with skeptical eyes. "Certainly not," she replied giggling. He walked his fingers up her shorts to her flat belly and added, "Anyone who did that might deserve payback for the payback." "Maybe ... but one thing's for certain ..." "What might that be?" "You'll have to catch me first!" With that, she slapped the reins against Ami, and they bolted out the barn. She yelled back, "Race you to the quarry!" Seth leapt onto Max's saddle and snapped his reins in a pale hope of catching her. Molly roared out of the gate and over the hill across the road. Ami didn't get a chance to gallop as often as he would like, so he took full advantage and kicked up a huge cloud of dust as he sped along the dry earth. Seth hadn't ridden in a couple of years, so he started slow. But once he became comfortable on Max, he let the big stallion loose, and the race was on. They sped through the scrub forest, past the abandoned farm house from the 1800s, through the river, and along the ridge. Molly looked back at Seth working madly to catch her and howled with laughter. She was having as much fun as Ami. She could see the edge of the abandoned quarry in the distance and knew Seth had no chance of catching her. Molly began tightening Ami's reins as they got close. Seth saw her slowing down and took the cue to do the same with Max. He trotted beside her and bowed his head in defeat. Molly threw back her head and laughed heartily. The Overlook Ch. 01 She led the way down a narrow, winding path to the bottom of the crater. At the base was a spring-fed pond. They took off the bridles and let the horses get much needed drinks. They walked under a shade tree, and Molly pulled a couple of beers out of a large plastic bag filled with melting ice. "To the winner," Seth said in deference to Molly. They clinked their bottles and took long, hard pulls on their beers. They leaned against the tree with their shoulders resting against each other. Seth reached over and took Molly's hand and held it. She looked out at the horses grazing and smiled a contented smile. Seth kissed her hand and pulled her over to his lap. He brushed some errant stands of hair away from her face and let his eyes roam over all her features. "It's really not fair, you know," he said in a low voice. "What?" "When you're this beautiful, how am I ever going to be able to get upset with you?" he asked as he caressed her cheek. She shrugged. "It's a cross you'll have to bear, I guess, huh?" "Yeah," he said in a quiet, deep voice. He pulled her face close to his and let his lips meet hers. Molly put her arms around his neck, and he reached around her waist. He was hard within seconds, and she moistened as she pressed into his rigid manhood. She took his face in her hands. They kissed slowly, soulfully. There was something so pure and innocent about Seth that all of the defenses Molly usually employed with men were gone. She wasn't thinking; she was feeling. The intimacy of the kisses here in the seclusion of the quarry made her flush. There was no more sun or sky or horses. There was just the heat and the sweat of their skin. Seth put his hand in her shirt and felt the moist weight of her firm, perfect breast for the first time. He held his hand under her breast and let his finger explore the hot, puffy point. Her nipples were stiff bullets, and she sighed when he rolled them gently between his thumb and fingers. She ran her hand up and down the thick, hard lump in his jeans, and he pushed into her hand. They continued exploring each other's bodies, oblivious to everything else. Seth broke their kiss long enough to say, "I've never wanted to make love to any woman as much as I want you right now." He opened her shirt and took one of her nipples in his mouth. It was drenched and sweaty, and he relished its feel and its taste. Molly was experiencing an entirely new level of passion. He heart slammed against her ribs and every place Seth touched ignited in a new blaze of sexual fire. She wrapped her arms around his head and pressed him into her chest. Her denim shorts were soaked. She was breathing so hard, she couldn't speak. So, she acted under the spell of the raw carnal power that coursed through her veins. She lifted herself off his lap and brusquely shoved her pants down. Then, she looked in his eyes as she roughly yanked open his belt and unsnapped his jeans. He shoved them down forcefully. Molly closed her eyes and impaled herself on thick purple cock. She gasped at the savage feeling of his invasion. She wrapped her arms around his head again and clutched him to her chest as she rode up and down on the fire poker rising up to greet her. Seth knew he had no hope of lasting very long. The power and the passion of the moment were simply too much. Molly ground her clit against his cock. Her orgasm detonated with such force that she screamed so loudly it echoed around the quarry. Seth let himself go and was rocked by an orgasm that pounded him with wave after wave of pleasure. He sprayed Molly's vaginal cavern with a deluge of molten cream. When they were spent, they grasped each other tightly and heaved air in and out of their lungs. No force of nature this strong had ever washed over either of them, and it took several minutes before either one could process what had happened. Molly still had Seth's softening penis inside her when she finally loosened her grip and looked into his eyes. She saw the tears leaking out them, as he looked at her and whispered, "I love you." She clasped him tightly to her chest again and kissed his head repeatedly. "I love you too." He hugged her so hard she was momentarily unable to breathe. They sat there for a long time in that same position, rocking back and forth. When Seth's dick finally slipped out of her slick canal, Molly stood up and used her thong to wipe the away the rivulets running down her legs. When the thong was saturated, she smiled and shrugged and tossed it into a thicket. Seth stood and wiped away dirt and rocks that were embedded into his butt. She laughed when she saw them fall to the ground. He closed his eyes and kissed her as deeply as he possibly could. When they finally broke their embrace, Molly was slapped in the leg by his renewed erection. She looked up at him and raised her eyebrows. "Don't blame me," he said. "Have you looked at yourself in the mirror lately?" Molly punched his arm, kissed the tip of his dick, handed his pants and asked, "So how are you going to get these on?" "With a great deal of care." Molly was amused as she watched him struggle to push his swollen member far enough to the side so he could zip up. "You're not the only one with issues," she said as she stood in the saddle and let him see the soaking stain on the seat where she was sitting. He laughed as they rode back up the trail and out of the crater. ********************************** Molly wanted to surprise Cathy for dinner, so she had arranged for Henri to arrive at 7:00 with a catered meal for the three of them. The day's activities had left Molly and Seth famished, so they tore into dinner with abandon. When she was finished, Cathy pushed back from the table and asked, "Oh, my, Molly. That was delicious! What was it again?" Molly snickered. "Ham and fig tar tines; Coquille St. Jacques ... scallops in a sherry and mushroom sauce; broccoli almandine; and Henri's famous French custard apple tart for dessert." "I guess Mel Brooks was right," Cathy said. Molly and Seth looked at each other with furrowed brows. Cathy looked up and saw their confusion. She explained, "It's good to be the king." Seth and Molly broke up laughing. After dinner, Seth cleaned up the kitchen. Then, he told his mother that he and Molly were going for a drive. Cathy smiled, walked up to her bedroom, and said, "Have a nice evening, dear. See you in the morning." Molly drove to her house, and neither of them said a word. The tension in the car was thick. As soon as she turned off the engine, they swarmed onto each other. They backed out of their car doors, and Seth ran around to pick up Molly. She held his face and smothered him with wet kisses. Seth carried Molly into the house, up the stairs and into her bedroom. He laid her on her bed and ripped off his shirt. Seth stopped her from doing the same. He wanted to undress her. He unbuttoned her shirt slowly, staring into her eyes. Molly shuddered as his gaze bore into her with the eyes of a predator. Seth opened her shirt and bent down to kiss the top of her chest. She was already breathing heavy and beginning to sweat. He sat up and unhooked the front clasp of her bra, still staring into her eyes. She felt her own eyes moisten as she watched him survey her body. He put his hands behind her back and lifted her body off the bed. Molly arched her back and closed her eyes as he inhaled her nipple. He breathed in deeply and rubbed her nipple against the soft texture of his tongue. Molly sighed at the sensation. Seth repeated the action on the other nipple and began kissing down her abdomen. Seth laid her back down and unbuckled her jeans. He pulled them off her sleek legs and tugged her lace thong down and off her delicate foot. He held her foot against his cheek and clutched her panties to his nose. He kissed her foot and opened his eyes to take in the complete majesty of her nude body. As his heart pounded, a single tear slid down his cheek. He shoved down his own pants and crawled onto the bed toward her. Molly reached down and wrapped her hand around his hard cock, which was pumping to the beat of his hammering heart. As Seth lay on top of her, he pressed his rigid manhood against her flowering sex. He put his hands on either side of her face and kissed her with renewed passion. Molly clasped his body between her knees. Seth knew he had to have her. His mind was no longer in control. A carnal energy emanated from deep within him, and he reached down to line his cock up with her entrance. "I love you, Molly," he panted as he entered her. Molly clutched his back as he plunged into her sopping pussy. She was so slick and so ready, he met no resistance. As Seth continued his assault, Molly arched her hips so he would go in deeper. She let out a guttural sigh when he reached the outer edge of her cervix. Seth was burning with a desire for this angelic creature. He began pistoning furiously in and out of her. Molly matched his movements. She ached with a need to drive him deeper and deeper. His sweat fell in streams and bounced off her drenched skin. Neither of them was capable of speech as they were transported to an untamed place of fury and carnal yearning. When Seth could hold back no more, he soaked his middle finger in his mouth and attacked Molly's swollen clit. She bucked her hips and squeezed him with the spasms of her vaginal walls. Seth released a flood of semen into her. He was so deep inside her that she felt the first blast explode against her cervix, which ignited an earth-shattering orgasm within her. "Oh, God!" she screamed as wave after wave of intense animal pleasure wracked her body. Seth kept pumping until he was completely spent. He collapsed on her, and they lay locked in each other's arms, covered in perspiration, feeling their hearts beat against each other, slowly recovering from their lovemaking. Molly held Seth as tightly as her strength would allow and began sobbing quietly at the enormity of the passion she was feeling. Seth looked at her with concerned eyes and asked, "Are you alright? Did I hurt you?" Molly grabbed his face and kissed him. "No, my love, how could you ever hurt me? This day has been magical. But, the realization that until today I'd never actually made love has left me a little overcome." He smiled as he looked down at her. His eyes welled up with tears. She pulled his face to her and kissed his moist, salty eyelids. Then, she wrapped her arms around his head and rested it on her breast. They both fell in a deep, contented sleep. ********************* Molly was still in a sleep fog when the gentle tapping on her bedroom door awakened her. She looked at Seth, and he hadn't stirred. She somehow managed to slip from under him, put on her robe and went to the door. "Henri, what it?" she asked in French. "I am so sorry to disturb you, Miss. It's your father." She looked alarmed. "Is he alright? Has something happened?" "You father is fine, but he wants you to call him immediately." Molly could tell Henri was shaken and asked him to explain. "Miss Fournier, I would give my life to protect you." "Yes, of course, Henri. I know that. What's wrong?" The poor man looked sick. "When your father called to talk to you, he asked me to wake you. I explained that you had a guest and that I would not intrude. He began asking lots of questions, and I'm afraid I may have said too much. He told me to pack your bags and put you on the next plane to Paris." "That's Daddy for you. Don't worry, Henri. I can take care of myself." "He was very angry, Miss Fournier. He was raving and saying that he was not going to let you throw away your future on an American hillbilly. He has dispatched a local security team to come here and to bring you to him. The plane is fueled and ready at Denver International." "How much time do I have, Henri?" "Thirty minutes. Maybe less." Molly put her arm around Henri. "Please, Henri. Don't fret. I knew that getting involved with Seth meant dealing with my father. You did nothing wrong. He simply knows a little early, that's all." I don't have time to make Seth understand, and I don't want him to get involved with Daddy's hired goons. I'll quietly pack a few personal things and leave him a note. Henri, you have to give him this note and make him understand that none of this is his fault. Tell him I will call him when I have a chance." "Of course, Miss. I will take care of your young man. I have seen how important he is to you." "Yes, he is, Henri. I'm sorry you were thrust in the middle of all of this." Molly completed all her tasks and was waiting downstairs when the security team arrived. They were surprised that all they would be doing was providing a taxi service to the private terminal Denver International. Seth was so worn out that he didn't awaken for two more hours. When he saw the empty bed, he figured Molly was either having breakfast downstairs or in the barn with Ami. She had Henri launder his clothes, so he jumped in the shower. Once he was dressed, he came downstairs to an empty breakfast room with a single place setting waiting for him and a note with his name on it. Henri came in and told him in broken English that Molly left him the note with instructions to make himself at home for as long as he liked. Henri then served him eggs Benedict, fruit, coffee and fresh orange juice. Seth was puzzled, so he opened the note. It read: Dearest Seth, I have had to attend to an emergency at home in Paris. By the time you read this, I will probably be somewhere over the Atlantic. My love, I do not know how long I will be away, but you need to know that I am taking you along in my heart. When I have a chance, I will call you. I long for the day when we are in each other's arms again. I remember a passage from Kahil Gibran ... One day you will ask me which is more important, my life or yours. I will say mine, and you will walk away knowing that you are my life. Please don't despair, my love. We will be together again. Love, Molly Seth sat staring at the letter for the longest time. He wasn't sure what to feel. He couldn't be angry because she was responding to an emergency. He couldn't feel hurt because she made it clear how much she loved him. All he felt was empty ... depleted, sad and alone. Molly was half a world away. He wasn't hungry. He put the letter in the pocket over his heart and silently left. Hi heart ached so much it burned in his chest. He wondered ... how long would it take to feel alive again? The Overlook Ch. 02 "Well, holy shit, Romeo!! This may be your lucky day after all!" exclaimed Katie. She sped up to get to her house. "Bonjour," Henri said when he answered his cell. "Henri, this is Seth!" "Excuse-moi?" "Seth!" he shouted as if increased volume was the key to international communication. "Oh ... Monsieur Seth! Bonjour!" "Uhm ... uhm ..." he stammered as he looked at Katie with his hand over the phone. "How do you say ..." "Parlez-vous anglais," she said, completing his thought. "Par-lay view English?" he asked with a shrug. "No, Monsieur. Pardon!" "Yeah ... O ... I'll call ..." and he hung up the phone. "Dammit! Who the hell do we know that speaks French?" Katie racked her brain for a minute and brightened up. "Miss Ellie!" Seth wrinkled his brow. "From middle school? Is she still alive? She was like 114 years old when I went there." "She's still alive and kickin'. She goes to my church. She just lives over on Luna Street. Let's go!" When the door opened, Ellie Baker greeted her surprise visitors with a welcoming smile. "Well, hello. What can I do for you?" "Maybe save my life, Miss Ellie. May we come in?" Seth asked. "Oh ..." she said as she stood aside and invited them to enter. Though Seth was eager to get right to the point, Katie held him at bay and helped Miss Ellie bring in lemonade and cookies before getting down to business. After a few more excruciating pleasantries, Seth explained his need. Miss Ellie chuckled with delight at being able to use her French to help a young man in love. "Bonjour." "Bonjour, genre monsieur," Miss Ellie said in flawless French. (Hello, kind sir.) "I am here with Seth Majors, and he would like to ask you a question." "Yes ... Master Seth ... of course. How may I help?" Henri asked. "He wants to know if you know where Molly might be." "She was supposed to go to her father's home in Paris, but I would not be surprised if she was with her mother in Nice." Miss Ellie relayed the information to Seth, who was taking the phrase edge-of-his-seat to the extreme. "Ask if he has a phone number." "Do you have a telephone number for the young lady?" Henri said he needed to check his Blackberry, and Miss Ellie's eyes widened. She told Seth and Katie that he was looking for some fruit at the moment and that he would be right back on the phone. They looked at each other in utter confusion. "Non, je suis désolé. Je n'ai que son ancien numéro de téléphone." (No, I'm sorry. I only have her old number.) Seth figured he'd be persona non grata at her dad's house, so he asked for her mother's phone number. Henri looked it up and gave it to Seth. "Seth dit je vous remercie beaucoup." (Seth, says thank you very much.) "Mon plaisir. Dites jeune capitaine Seth bonne chance." (My pleasure. Tell young Master Seth good luck.) It was 2:30 pm their time, and Seth determined it would be 9:30 pm in Nice. "Bonjour," came a female voice on the other line. "Bonjour, Mademoiselle. Je suis en train de parvenir à Molly Fournier." (Hello, miss. I am trying to reach Molly Fournier.) "Je suis désolé, mais Mlle Fournier est encore à un dîner avec M. Moretti." (I'm sorry, but Miss Fournier is still out to dinner with Mr. Moretti.) "Savez-vous quand il sera de retour?" (Do you know when they will return?) "Non, madame, probablement en retard. Puis-je prendre un message?" (No, madam, probably late. Can I take a message?) Seth said no message. "No. Merci." (No. Thank you.) "Vous êtes les bienvenus." (You're welcome.) Miss Ellie hung up the phone and was eager to relay the information. When she told Seth that Molly was out to dinner with her old, almost fiancée and would be home late, his whole body collapsed. Seth suddenly got up and ran out the door, and he kept on running. "I'm sorry. Did I say the wrong thing?" Miss Ellie asked. "No, Miss Ellie. You did great. It's just ... thank you," said Katie as she patted Miss Ellie's hand, gave her a $20 bill and ran out to find Seth, but he was nowhere in sight. ******************************** Molly sat on the opposite side of the limo seat with her arms crossed fuming. She had as much interest in going to dinner with Federico as she had in dining with a scorpion. When her father and mother both ganged up on her, she figured it was easier to have an obligatory dinner than to listen to any more nonsense. At the table, Federico tried to break the ice by saying, "Molly, I know mere words can't heal the wounds I inflicted upon you, but you have to know the fling with Annabella was a huge mistake. I was drunk. She was throwing herself at me ... I, eh, just responded." She glared at him with smoldering eyes. "Responded? That's your explanation for fucking my whorish cousin?" "We weren't technically ..." The fire in her eyes increased, and he decided it was best to belay the rest of his comment. "How can I make it up to you?" "By setting yourself on fire," she shot back with her arms folded tighter. Federico ordered champagne and sat back. "You really are exquisitely beautiful." Her glare deepened. He knew any chance of reconciliation was lost, so he asked, "So, how did you meet this cowboy?" She looked at him like a second head just sprouted and asked, "Why do you want to know?" He leaned into the table and offered her his hand. "Because I know we will never be lovers, but I do hope we can be friends. I mean that, Molly. So, I want to know about this stranger who has touched your heart." She studied him for a long time trying to determine if this was a ruse to regain her trust. She decided that the best answer was an honest one. "I met him at the ranch in Colorado. It was a chance meeting, and I didn't think anything of it at first." Her body relaxed and a smile began inching its way across her face as she talked about Seth. "The more he talked and the more I looked at him on that first day, the more I tingled in a way that was wholly new. When our hands touched, it was like touching fire; when we kissed, he made me immortal." As Federico watched her face and listened to her words he actually felt a sense of shame that he was there, ostensibly, to lure her back to him. He could sense that the flame that smoldered inside her was not going to be extinguished by another man. "Why did you leave him?" "Because of my father's insufferable meddling." "Why didn't you tell Pierre to go to Hell?" "Because Henri told me Daddy was sending some hired goons to kidnap me, and I was terribly afraid that Seth would try to be a hero and would get hurt," she answered as a tear fell from her eye. Federico now began feeling angry at Pierre himself. Most of the people in Federico's world were as shallow as paper. They worried much more about power than about other humans. He found the purity of Molly's feelings humbling. "You need to tell your father how you feel, Molly." "He won't listen. He's too much focused on the synergy of a Fournier-Moretti merger," she snapped. Federico offered his hand again. "Then, make him listen. Make him hear you. If he refuses, I will berate him myself until he wakes up." Molly looked at Federico and realized he meant what he said. She took his hand. "Thank you, Federico." "Shakespeare said, 'Love is a smoke made with the fumes of sighs.'" Molly thought of Seth and sighed. ****************************** Seth was in a complete tailspin now. The grizzled ache of wanting her had been replaced by the catatonia of losing her. As hard as it was to have her torn from him, the thought that she had rushed back to her old almost fiancée the moment she returned to France was utterly destructive. "Honey, you can't keep doing this to yourself," Cathy said as he lay on the couch. "You've got to keep up your strength. Come into the kitchen and have some stew." He didn't move. "Seth, don't make me get the switch!" Seth slowly rose from the sofa and padded into the kitchen. Mentally, he wasn't hungry, but he knew his body needed energy, so he ate his mom's ranch stew and cornbread. They ate in silence until Cathy said, "School starts in a couple of weeks. That should at least provide some distractions." "No, it won't," he said, looking down. "I can't pry her out of my mind, Mom. She's like the SA node in my heart. If she's not there, my heart'll stop beating." "I'm not exactly sure what an SA node is, but I get the picture. What else can you do, Honey?" He dropped his head and shook it no. "I've run out of ideas. I've run out of options. And, she's running back to her old boyfriend." "I don't believe that for one second. Son, I saw how she looked at you. The last time I saw a woman look at a man like that was when I said, 'I do' to your father. I'd stake my place in Heaven on the fact that she's in love with you." "I wish I felt the same." ******************************* When Federico and Molly returned to her mother's house, Pierre had been relegated to the back seat of the limo. Federico nodded his head to indicate that Molly should go talk to him. He went inside the house to have a brandy. Pierre saw Molly coming toward the car and braced himself for the onslaught. When she opened the door, he saw her chin quiver and her eyes flooded. "Daddy!" she cried and shot across the seat to throw her arms around his neck and bury her face on his shoulder sobbing. He had been prepared for an obstinate Molly, who could sling invectives that sizzled on the skin. He was ready for a petulant Molly, who would probably sling additional rocks at his head with much greater accuracy than D'Arcy. He was completely unprepared for a vulnerable Molly. The great Pierre Fournier had a reputation for unparalleled ruthlessness. He could outmaneuver an opponent with his quick mind and decisive action. He could decimate an underling with his acid tongue. He was a complete master of his domain ... with one exception. His beloved Molly was the one person who could level him with her eyes. She, alone, had the ability to cut straight through his bluster to peer directly into his soul. When he saw the misery in her eyes, his resolve and his heart quickly dissolved. He no longer had the will to deny her what she so fervently wanted. Pierre struggled for words and grappled even harder to deliver them through his constricted throat. "Molly, my sweet, talk to me. Why are you so distraught?" She fought to regain some measure of composure. "Daddy, I left part of my heart at a small ranch in America, and I'll never be whole again until I retrieve it." "But, Molly, this young man is not part of your world. He ..." "Yes, he is very much the center of my world. He's just not part of your world, Daddy. " He searched for the right words. "How can you be so sure, Molly? You've know this young man for the blink of an eye." "The beat of heart. Daddy, when you decided to go after Regency Distillery even after your board, the stock analysts, and your own advisors were telling you it was a huge mistake, why did you make that decision?" "When you studied the cost structure and realized the subsidiary potential ..." "Daddy?" she said with a cut-the-bullshit tone in her voice. "I – I knew in my gut, and it turned out to be one of our best acquisitions." She stared at him; he understood why. His shoulders slumped, and he really looked at her for the first time. "What if I told you this young man of yours scares me?" She wrinkled her forehead. "Scares you?" "You're the most precious thing in my life, Molly. I love your brother, of course, but you've always occupied a place in my heart that is unique." She smiled and touched his face with her hand. "Your feelings for this young man are so powerful; I guess I'm afraid of losing you." "How could you ever lose me? You're my father. I'll always love you ... even when you exasperate me to the point of apoplexy. But, Seth now resides in a special place in my heart, and I need you to understand and to honor that. I can no more cut him out of my life than I you can cut me out of yours. You need to meet him to understand." "You're really this sure?" "It's the truest thing in my life, other than my assurance that your love for me will never fade." That statement cut directly to his core. He sighed. "Then, go find your smile, Molly, and bring this young man back so we can meet him." Pierre was startled by the intensity of the sudden embrace. "Thank you, Daddy!" ******************************* Seth woke up the next morning and lay in bed for a long time, staring at the ceiling and thinking. If he was going to have to move past Molly, he was going to have to find a way to deal with the pain. He came downstairs dressed in his running gear. He guzzled two large glasses of orange juice and chowed down two raisin bran muffins. He threw a couple of big water bottles in his knapsack and went outside. Cathy was working in the garden and turned when she heard the back door slam. She smiled broadly when she saw Seth in his familiar outfit. He kissed her forehead and winked as he strode to the truck. The drive to the Overlook gave him more time to think. At least, his encounter with Molly showed him what true love was all about. It taught him what he needed to look for in future relationships. He decided he would hold onto the magic and try to let the pain go. A brutal September Sun scorched the Colorado hills. Seth struggled to adjust to the heat for much of the run before settling into a rhythm. As Seth rounded the curve to Cactus Pass he stared up at the three-quarter mile thirty percent grade path to the peak. It was his test ... his Heartbreak Hill. He looked at his watch and was surprised to see that he was ten seconds ahead of his personal best. Tom Petty's "Learning to Fly" was starting on his iPod. He cranked it up. "Well I started out down a dirty road." "I started out ... all alone." "And, the Sun went down as I crossed the hill," "The town lit up, and the world got still." (Seth saw Molly's face ... smiling at him ... glaring at him ... enveloping him.) "I'm learning to fly, but I ain't got wings." "Comin' down is the hardest thing." (He saw Molly's gleaming hair fly behind her as she galloped ahead of him.) "Well the good old days may not return," "And, the rocks might melt, and the sea may burn." (He saw Molly lying in the grass looking up at him.) "I'm learning to fly, but I ain't got wings." "Comin' down is the hardest thing." (He felt Molly's lips press against his.) "Well some say life will beat you down," "Break your heart, steal your crown." "So, I started out for God knows where," "But, I guess I'll know when I get there." (He saw her eyes smolder as she looked at him.) "I'm learning to fly around the clouds," "But what goes up must come down." Seth's legs felt like lead bars, and he could taste copper as his lungs burned in the desert heat. But, his heart pumped and drove him harder and harder up the relentless hill. "I'm learning to fly, but I ain't got wings." "Comin' down is the hardest thing." (He felt her body press against his.) "I'm learning to fly around the clouds." "But, what goes up must come down." He felt the crest of the hill beneath his ragged legs as he reached the pinnacle. "I'm learning to fly." "I'm learning to fly." Seth's hands were on his knees as he fought frantically for air at the top of the pass. "You know, the first thing we have to do is buy you fucking cell phone. Okay ... maybe the second thing." Seth raised his head and opened his eyes as he tried to determine if he was hallucinating. He saw Molly leaning against a tree in the shade with the world's biggest smile on her face. He was too stunned to move or to speak or to think. She tossed him a bottle of water, which he gulped in a couple of swallows. Then, she leapt into his arms so hard he staggered backwards, and she wrapped her legs around his waist. She kissed him with volcanic intensity, devouring him. The heat didn't matter. The salt didn't matter. As they consumed each other, she felt for the remaining bottle of water from his backpack and poured it over their heads as they laughed and kissed in the simmering sunlight. He took her face in his hands as tears washed down his face. It all seemed like a beautiful dream. "How did you ... where ..." "We'll have time to talk about all of that, my dearest love, but not now." She led him by the hand to the shady spot where he first spied on her. A thick horse blanket was laid out. She stripped off her shirt and tore off her tiny denim shorts. It took Seth a moment to catch up. Molly lay down and was breathing desperately when she pulled Set between her thighs. There was no foreplay, no escalation of emotion. They were both already soaring. Seth plunged into her hungrily. They both wrenched their eyes closed as their bodies met. Seth pushed as deeply as possible into Molly, and she met his every downward stroke, grinding her scalding clit on his unbreakable cock. Their tongues gripped each other as they invaded the other's mouth. When their orgasm hit, Molly screamed so loudly it echoed around the small canyon. Seth's entire body tensed in cataclysmic pleasure as he poured semen into her innermost crevices. In that ultimate moment, they had become one. They lay in each other's embrace for a long time, both desperate to hold onto this feeling. When, with a contented sigh, Molly smiled through her tears and looked at Seth, she said, "I'm so glad I'm home." Seth and Molly made love two more times with his dick never leaving the heat of her pussy, shrinking and growing each time within her vaginal grasp. After their third trip to Nirvana, they lay on their backs with the arms intertwined. "I thought I'd lost you forever. I still wonder if I'm going to wake up from the best dream ever," he said. Molly rose up on one elbow and looked at him with absolute love. "You'll never lose me, Seth. You're part of me now ... forever," she said as she held his hand to her heart. They brought each other up-to-date on everything that had happened, and Seth's eyes kept sweeping over her sensuous body. He was fully erect again and reached to kiss her and to pull her into another embrace. Molly stopped him with her hands and a huge smile. "This was just the appetizer. For the main course, I have something else in mind." She told Seth that he needed to go home and pack for an overnight stay but that he would also need a tuxedo. She told him she'd take care of that. He was to meet her in two hours at her ranch. He looked over the side of the cliff and saw Ami grazing contentedly by the water. Seth was five minutes early. He broke his own downhill record by almost a minute as he raced for his truck and flew home to shower, change and pack. He was so fast that Cathy, who had been in the barn, only knew he was home because of the screeching tires. As he raced down the stairs three at a time, he stopped long enough to tell her, "Molly's back! Don't wait up!" Then, he kissed his mother, spun her around in a dance move, and bolted out the door. A helicopter was waiting for the couple when he arrived. Molly ran up and jumped into his arms again ... a habit that was quickly becoming a favorite of his. She kissed him deeply, then grabbed his hand and dragged him to the aircraft. The pilot tossed in their bags, and they were off. They held each other tightly during the flight with Molly resting her head on his shoulder and him kissing her head every three seconds. They landed at a heliport high in the Colorado mountains at a resort that was little known outside the inner circles of the world's über rich. Each suite was independent and supported by giant wooden poles, which made it appear like you were part of the world's largest tree house. Covered walkways connected the suites. Each master bedroom was encased in glass and was situated so you could leave all blinds open and retain total privacy. The round beds floated on cushions of air, which gave its occupants the feeling of floating on a cloud. The Overlook Ch. 02 Upon arrival, the couple was escorted to the King's Haven suite, which faced west. Seth couldn't imagine the cost, but he didn't care. They collapsed onto the bed when the porter left, and Molly cackled when she saw Seth's eyes widen at the feel of the bed. They quickly stripped off each other's clothes. Molly pushed Seth back onto the bed and mounted him. She rode his fleshy steel with the same ferocity they'd exhibited at the Overlook, which again brought them to shattering orgasms. Then she took his hand and brought him into the huge double shower where they giggled like school children tossing water at each other and washing each other to a glistening shine. Molly spent the next hour trying to get dressed and swept her hair into an elegant style. It wasn't easy as Seth kept reaching for her breasts from behind and pressing his galvanized cock into her back. She tried to swat his hand away but eventually concluded it was a lost cause. "If you don't get dressed and do something about that constant erection so you can squeeze into your trousers, I'm going to dinner alone!" she snapped between stifled laughs. Seth eventually relented and got ready. Molly had purchased a classic tux with a white dinner jacket and black trousers. She smiled proudly when she saw him fully dressed. "You clean up nice for a cowboy." He grinned, offered his arm and replied, "Madam." They walked to the dining room, which was also encased in crystal glass. All the booths lined the exterior ring, and the kitchen was in the center along with the bar. They were led to their table and were served Vichy water and hot towels. Molly had ordered ahead, and their waiter, Kenneth, was the height of efficiency, anticipating their every need. A chilled bottle of Dom Perignon accompanied their first course of bay scallops over puff pastry with saffron and a light crème sauce. Seth watched Molly for cues and followed her lead since he was definitely out of his element. The second course was a pan seared foie gras in a sauternes sauce, which was served with a California Chardonnay. The third course of Kobe beef with peppercorns, cabernet, sage and Courvoisier was served with her favorite Bordeaux. A light salad followed. For dessert, the shared mixed berries with crème Anglaise and Asti Spumonte. After dinner, they went out to the terrace and danced to the music of a talented quartet under the stars. It was easily the most enchanting evening Seth had ever experienced. Later, they retired to their suite. Once inside, Seth released Molly's hair from its clasp and kissed her sweetly, reverently. He turned her around and slowly unzipped her black satin gown. She stepped out of it and was deliciously naked underneath. He sat her down on a silk bench and removed her shoes, taking time to rub feet and kiss her toes. He beamed when he saw that her luscious vagina was already glistening and blossoming in anticipation. Next, it was Molly's turn. She removed Seth's jacket, untied his tie, released his cuff links, and pulled his shirt over his head. She ran her hands over his hard chest and kissed his nipples. His athletic hips were so slender, that his slacks fell as soon as she unbuckled his belt and unzipped them. She bit her lower lip and smiled up at him as she slowly tugged his silk boxers past his throbbing erection. He stepped out of his pants and kicked off his shoes. They lay on the bed, and Molly rolled down his socks to he would match her nakedness. They held each other's faces in their hands taking in the respective beauty of their lovers. Then, their lips met electrically. Seth rose up enough so that he could fill his hands with her breasts and feel her long, taut nipples between his fingers. He moved between her sleek thighs and planted his molten cock along her oily umber gash. He hungered to taste her delicate nectar and sank so that he could bury his face in her sex. Seth ran his tongue roughly between her private lips and teased her bud with each stroke. Molly closed her eyes, arched her back and clutched the bedspread each time Seth came near her deep pink clit. Seth luxuriated in her taste and drove his tongue deep within her satiny crevice. He slid his hands beneath her smooth ass cheeks and tilted her so he could run his tongue around her puckered anus. Molly briefly opened her eyes, not expecting this sensation. She released more liquid at the erotic act. Next, Seth invaded her womanly tunnel with his fingers and blew on her glowing clit. He lowered his mouth and coaxed her bud from its shroud. The intensity of direct contact pushed Molly over the edge as she began a freefall of unbridled pleasure, bucking and pushing her sex into her lover's talented mouth. At her collapse, Seth released her bud and pulled her into an all-encompassing embrace. "Oh, my God, that was so amazing. No one else could ever make me feel like you make me feel," she said she kissed him. "I want to taste you as well," she added as she moved on top of him. Molly cupped her hands behind Seth's rigid penis and ran her tongue up and down his length. She took just his head into her mouth and massaged the sensitive underside with the tip of her tongue. She took each of his testicles into her mouth and gently rolled them along her tongue. Then, she returned the favor and tasted his anus. She still had so much juice running down her thighs that she scooped it up and spread it along Seth's cock. She used it to jack him with her hands while her mouth concentrated on his purple tip. The aroma and feel of her special lubricant catapulted Seth toward climax. When Molly felt his head widen, she shoved most of his cock into her mouth and throat. Seth exploded with missile after missile of semen spraying against the back of her throat. When his pulses subsided, she pulled him out so he could coat her tongue. As his body sank into the air mattress, she rolled her lover's gift around her mouth and swallowed. She lay against him relishing the warmth of his body next to hers. This felt so right to her that she let out a soft moan. He held her tightly with his eyes closed. After a little time, he looked up at the blanket of stars filling the sky. Molly hugged him and lightly ran her fingers up and down his penis. "I'm so glad we are where we are supposed to be," she said. "I know we live in completely different worlds, but is it possible to never be apart again?" he asked. "Seth, I missed you so much my heart would not survive another separation." "Then, how do we merge two such different lives?" "We'll figure all that out, my love, but not tonight. Tonight is just for us." Once she'd coaxed his cock back to life, Seth moved again between her legs. He focused intently on her eyes as he entered her. She returned the gaze. All their lovemaking since the reunion was borne from primal yearnings. This one was different. This one was for their souls. He began slowly and arched his pelvis to reach as far as he could into her innermost sanctum. She pushed her body onto him to amplify the penetration. If they could have physically crawled completely inside their lovers, they would have done so. His strokes were long and steady. He let his body control the pace and gradually increased his speed and urgency in accordance with his growing need to fill her. Molly clasped her fingers around his back and her legs around his thighs so she could use her strength to pull him further and further into her. When they came, she wanted to know he was as deep as was possible. The escalating heat from their bodies swarmed around them and sweat dripped off both of them. Without each other, their worlds had become tombs. In each other's arms with their bodies melding, their world was a sunburst. The fever was growing within each of them. They strained to keep eye contact, but their mounting coital intensity was overtaking them. Their breathing was ragged and ancient. Their hearts raced to meet the needs of their loins. Faster and faster Seth pumped. Molly punished her clit against him. They became immortal within an instant, like the flash of a nuclear explosion. Seth's body pelted Molly with salty life. His head swam from the intensity of his ejaculates. Molly was rendered speechless. The power of her orgasm exceeded any feeling she'd ever experienced, even with Seth. She felt as if her whole nervous system was vibrating, and she lost the ability to move. She became the Goddess receptacle for his germ. Once the cascade of pleasure had abated, they both fell into deep sleep. At some point during the night, Seth rolled over, and Molly followed his body and continued sleeping on his chest. They awoke mid-morning in each other's arms amid salty residues. Molly awoke first with her head in a thick fog and her pasty mouth practically cemented together. It took her a few moments to remember how she came to be in this state. Once the mist cleared in her head, she smiled and laid her head back down on Seth. Her stirrings brought him slowly to consciousness, and he similarly had to focus to recall the events of the previous evening. "Do you think it possible to make love better than that or is it all downhill from there?" he asked. She chuckled, "I don't know for sure, but I'm willing to put in the necessary research to find out." She looked at him and smiled. "My mouth feels like a landfill. I want to give you a good morning kiss, but I must brush my teeth first." She did kiss his penis before rising and walking into the bathroom. He watched her sumptuous body make its way into the bathroom before rising himself. He saw her sitting down to pee and started to turn. She stopped him. "You're stuck with all of me now, the good and the bad." "I've yet to see the bad," he said as she flushed. He then walked over to the toilet to relieve himself. She held his dick for him while he peed. "Just hold it. If you move your hand at all, I'm going to start painting the walls." She laughed hard, but she held on until he finished and even gave him a little shake. Then, they drank big glasses of water, brushed, flossed, and gargled. "Now, bring that bewitching mouth over here," she implored. They pressed their bodies together and kissed for several minutes before breaking and jumping into the shower together to resume. They let the steamy water flow over them for a long time before deliciously soaping up each other's bodies. "So, what's next?" Seth asked as he looked down at her. "Depends ... do you and your mother have valid passports?" "Nope. Never needed them before." "That's what I figured." She picked her cell phone and dialed Michel, her father's right-hand assistant. He said he could arrange temporary entrance visas through the Finance Minister's office but that it would be tomorrow. "I'm taking you and your mother to meet my parents, but my father's office has to make arrangements." He rolled his eyes. "My Mom's gonna freak out." "I'm not letting you go ever again. The past 18 hours has confirmed everything I have been feeling since we were torn apart, Seth. I'm not just attracted to you; I'm falling irrevocably in love with you. I need you to get to know my world and vice versa." He picked her up and squeezed her in his arms. "I still have a hard time reconciling this with reality, but I do know I love you with all my heart, Molly. I can't wait to explore every facet of your life." Molly called for the helicopter, and they went back to her house to get her car and drive to Seth's house. When they arrived, Cathy ran out to meet them and gave Molly the kind of hug a mother gives her long lost child. Molly felt so warm in Cathy's embrace that she felt like she now had two mothers. Cathy made them a dinner of meatloaf, mashed potatoes and green beans. It was a far cry from bay scallops and Kobe beef, but it was perfect for Molly's homecoming. When Molly explained that she planned to take them both to France, Cathy had to fan herself. "Why don't the two of you go? I wouldn't know what to do or say to those people. They'll wonder what you're doing with this old ranch hand." "I love your son, Cathy, and he loves me. You're going to have to meet them at some time. Why not now?" "Oh, believe me, Molly, I do want to meet them, especially your mom, but I need a little time to get used to the idea." Molly turned to Seth and said, "If it was only you this time, it would make things easier." "As long as I'm with you, I don't really care," he replied. "Hmmm ... If we can stay awake until 1:00 am, I can call Michel and make altered arrangements. Do you think you can hold out that long?" "As long as I can hold you until then, I can," he said with a grin. "Oh, Lord, he gets that from his father, dear. Take it from me, you won't have to worry about warming your bed sheets," Cathy remarked. Molly laughed and said, "Something tells me you could be right." "Dear, you don't have to pretend with me. I grew up on a ranch where everything that could move was always trying to get in something else's pants. I know Seth didn't race out of here yesterday with that huge grin on his face so you two could play a rousing game of Monopoly." Both Seth and Molly laughed hard at the remark. "Mom always gets right to the heart of the matter." "I just know that sex feels damn good and that young people in love have sex a lot. That's the way we were made, so there's no sense in denying it." "Well, now that we've cleared that up ... yes, Molly, I do believe we could find some distraction to keep us occupied until you can make your phone call." "Well, I'm going upstairs to watch one of my shows. You two have a wonderful evening. Will I see you in the morning?" "Yes, we can have breakfast no matter what is decided," Molly answered. "Good! I'll make applesauce pancakes. Those were always one of Seth's favorites growing up." She kissed them both goodnight and went inside. "Seth, to be honest, I'm a little sore from yesterday. Would you mind if we just kissed and held each other?" "Let me see," he said looking deep in thought. "Getting to hold and touch and kiss the most beautiful, enchanting woman I've ever known ... hmmmm ... That is a lot to ask, but I'm young ... I'm strong ... I have all of my own teeth. Doggone it! I think I can do it!" She sat on his lap, put her hands around his neck and replied, "Vous êtes aussi un maître de la bullshit." (You are also a master of bullshit.) "I missed most of that but I got the operative word," he said laughing. "Now, I'm gonna have to take French just so I know when you're insulting me." He placed his hand on her adorable face and added, "Now I know what Tennyson meant when he wrote, 'If I had a flower for every time I thought of you, I could walk in my garden forever.'" Molly kissed his hand and said, "Love is a dream that came to life when I met you, Seth." Then, she kissed his mouth. "Let's see. It's 8:30. Do you think we can suck face for four and a half hours?" "We can try," she answered. And, try they did.