3 comments/ 8798 views/ 1 favorites The River By: DemoonKatjie Most of my stories are just me, myself and I. All but one or two belong in the masturbation section. I rarely write about a coupling simply because I'm not usually one to kiss and tell details. This is something that's been in fantasies for sometime, I hope you like it as much as I have. *** The River The one hundred-eighty-seven mile long Willamette River runs north in a winding and often dangerous path before it merges with the even larger Columbia and eventually finding the Pacific Ocean. It, along with its tributaries, forms the basin region named the Willamette Valley where eighty-six percent of Oregon's population resides. The largest towns in Oregon were built along its edge for easier shiping of goods and supplies; Eugene at its starting point. There are areas where the water runs a dirty brown and areas where it runs clear as ice blue glass with icey white caps and you can see every rock, stone, fish and plant beneath it's surface. My favorite place in all the world is a slight out cropping that can only be reached by walking through some bushes from a bike path near by. The out cropping is mainly packed dirt, but there is a fallen log, and depending on the season, a six inch to four foot drop to the water. During the day you can see the working plant across the way half hidden by trees and bushes and the over pass connecting the city of Eugene and the city of Springfield. I love this spot becauase I can sit there and see the balance of nature and humanity. The sound of the water is as calming as my own heart beat. Another reason I like this spot is that it's protected from the bike path by bushes and I can do nearly anything I want there. I've had nude pictures taken there, I've sat and day dreamed, drawn and sketched, and even slept. One night, my friend James called me wanting to meet up. James and I are friends under the loosest sense of the word, we only see each other when we're horny and want to fuck. He's taller then me, built well and has a southern Cajun accent. This time we couldn't be at either my place or his, so I offered my spot by the river. We pulled into the parking lot near the entrance to the bike path. He leaned across for a kiss and I obliged him hungrily. I could already feel my body's beginning soft thud. Jamie's hand slide up my waist to cup my breast and I moaned against his lips. When we finally separated, I jumped out and walked around the back of his red pick-up. Where I caught his hand and started to pull him down the walk way. The night sky was clear and what few stars could be seen through the city night sparkled high beyond. No clouds cluttered the view past the tops of the gently packed trees. He slid his hand down my back over my ass and danced away playfully giggling. But when he slipped his hand down the front of my pants and found my pussy already wet I could only moan and clutch his arm to me. He pet me for a moment and pulled his hand out. I grabbed him and slowly licked his fingers clean. Running ahead I looked back at Jamie to make sure he followed. It was dark along the trail, what little light filtered through the leaves of the trees laid wild patterns across the floor and our bodies moving silently along the walkway. I left the bike path and made my way through the light bushes on the animal trail to my spot. He found me looking out across the water at the lights of the factory and the head lights of semi trucks driving over the bridge. The trees, the small island in the middle of the river all but dark shadows in the darkness; crickets chirped from their beds and the rustle of a rabbit could be heard behind us. He walked up behind me, slipped his hands around my waist and I sighed as I leaned back against his chest. "It's a beautiful night" he whispered into my ear and I could only nod my head as he pulled me back to the log. For a moment we sat and watched the lights dance on the flowing water. Jamie's hand found its way to my chest. I closed my eyes and sighed softly. He reached below my shirt and pulled my bra up to free one breast and then the other. I moaned as he pulled one nipple into his mouth, rolling, tugging and biting gently before moving on to the other. I reached behind my back and unhooked the offending piece of fabric, slipping it down over my arms while leaving my shirt on. Leaning back to lie on the log, Jamie leaned forward and I closed my eyes as he licked and fed upon my nipples and breasts. I rose and stood before him removing shirt. He grabbed my waist and hip and nuzzled his nose at my breast, sucking and nipping at my skin. I danced back a couple of steps giggling. The cool night air and the moment making me playful. He patted the seat next to him, I sat and we kissed long and hard; all my rising passion showing. "Do you want my cock inside of you?" he whispered. I looked down at his jeans and nodded my head. He smiled and asked "what was that?" I grinned up at him and said, "I do want your cock in me." He took my hand and moved it to his crotch; I could feel the length of him beneath the fabric. "Would you be willing to help me get ready?" I smiled, licking my lips and kissed him harder. My hand slid over his fabric covered cock and pressed the heal of my hand slightly to it. He opened his pants and pulled out his hard penis. He groaned as pulled me up, helping me kneel before him. I stretched up to kiss him and then slowly moved my face down to his crotch. I licked my lips and his cock's tip. I took his hands and moved them to back of my head where his fingers threaded through my hair, he pulled me closer to his cock and I wrapped my lips around the head pulling it in slowly. I savored the natural raw, silky, hard taste of his cock filling my mouth. I enjoyed the taste of the man who taught me how much fun I could have with the oral fixation I'd had since I was a teenager. I licked him and messaged his cock, played on the head and the spot just below it. I moaned my pleasure from deep in my throat, my hips wiggling with my need. I pulled off and looked up at him. "You want it inside of you, don't you" he asked. I nodded, "yes, I want you inside of me" I whispered, He pulled me up and asked, "How do you want it?" I moaned and dug my fingers into his thighs, "I don't know..." I replied He shifted in his seat slightly, "I want you to choose first," he said, I licked from his shoulder to the sensitive spot just below his ear and whispered, "How do you want me?" "I want you from behind bent over this log." I shivered and watched as he got ready for me. James helped me stand, turning me and bending me over where he had sat. The feel of the log beneath my fingertips, I could smell the grass and leaves around me; the breezes off the river chilling my heated body. I moaned out loud at his cock's touch. As it slipped in I clutched my muscles around it. He slowly began to move hard in me, going as deep as he could. I moaned and lowered my head to the backs of my hands, allowing him to reach even deeper within me. He pressed into me over and over again, driving me crazy. To soon my body ruptured and I silently cummed over his still working cock. My legs barely shook with my spent passion but his hips kept pounding into me. I whispered his name over and over begging as my body started to build up heat again with no break. James reached around me, playing with my clit as I creamed again, this time in his hand. He stood, slipping out of my wet and still hungry pussy, playing with my clit a little before sitting down on the log and patting his lap. I stood straddling him, my back to his chest as he pointed the way for his cock. I leaned back and moaned as he entered me again; leaning forward to grab his legs for support. I rode him, slowly and then fast. Up and down and circled around grinding against his lap. I didn't know what to do. Not only was I unused to this position but I was too lost to think properly. I wanted to make him happy so I tried to keep a rhythm. He reached around again to finger my clit and I moaned as we came together. My legs shook and I lost their support. Standing, I turned and sat next to him. His hand cradled his spent cock as we kissed and he cleaned up. Jamie helped me right my clothing. Watched as I put my bra back on, and then helped me through the bushes back to the bike path. We laughed about the fact my legs were still shaking which made it hard for me to walk. We talked about an upcoming event I would have with my room mates. All the while hot little pussy still throbbing from his attentions. The ride home was filled with more kisses and hands on thighs and other places. Laughs and shared promises of a next time... The River We are in the beer garden enjoying the live music and cold beers. It is a warm night and the moon is full. Vaughn has gone to get us another round of drinks. When he returns I'm dancing with a good-looking blonde guy. He (Rob) hangs around after and even buys the next round of drinks. We decide a midnight swim in the river would be a great way to cool off and wind down after the beer garden closes. Rob heads for his trailer to get a towel and soap. Vaughn and I do the same and agree to meet at the river. We find a nice spot where the riverbank is sandy and wide enough to spread the blanket. We open a couple of beers and wait for Rob to find us. It is quite private and we think if we are quick we can go in nude and wash off before Rob finds us. We take off our clothes and wade into the warm knee-deep river. There is a waist deep channel mid river and Vaughn gets behind me and proceeds to soap me up and wash my hair. Our naked, wet and warm bodies rubbing against each other in the moonlight. I can feel his cock getting hard against my inner thigh as he caresses my breasts. We have each other quite turned on by the time Rob arrives. We are in a bind because our towels are on the riverbank but it only makes us more excited. He takes off his clothes and Vaughn catches me staring at his cock. He finds a spot 6 feet from us. We dunk under and let the current rinse the soap away then head for the blanket and our towels. There is a light breeze blowing and the dry air feels great. Lying on the blanket Vaughn starts to kiss my face, neck and shoulders. Rob comes over in only his towel and I can see the outline of his cock pressing against the towel. The site of it is turning me on big time. He tells us to get a room so I say to him "you don't have to look if we are bothering you" He admits we are not and it's turning him on. Vaughn says, "That makes 3 of us" and begins to lightly run his hands over my body. He is sneaking my hands under my towel so I shoot him a disapproving look but do nothing to stop him. I decide to call his bluff and slip my hand under his towel and start rubbing his cock. He is hard in an instant. Rob shocks me by jokingly asking if he can have my other hand. Vaughn winks his approval so I nervously slip it under his towel. His cock is hard and I can't believe I have both hands wrapped around fully erect cocks. I have never done anything with a third person before. My mind starts racing, where is this going. How and when should I stop this! They are both running their hands all over me and my towel has fallen away. Vaughn is rubbing my pussy and it is getting very wet. Rob has his hands on my boobs lightly pulling on my nipples. Vaughn moves so that his cock is close to my mouth. I know where this is going and make up my mind to let what ever happens happen. Rob does the same hoping you'll suck his too. I am sucking Vaughn's cock and balls. I start taking him very deep the way that drives him crazy and he is getting close so I pull away. I turn my head and begin to suck Rob's cock giving him the same treatment as Vaughn. Vaughn moves between my legs and starts rubbing his cock on my now soaking wet pussy. I start thrusting at him so he goes in me very slowly and holds it deep inside me before beginning long slow strokes. I let out a long moan. After a short while he pulls out and moves up to my mouth again. His cock is covered in my juices and glistens in the moonlight. I eagerly wrap my mouth around it and start sucking. Rob goes between my legs and begins to tease me by kissing and licking all around my pussy. Finally he finds my bud and flicks his tongue back and forth over it for a bit. He then starts to rub his cock on my pussy but I am not letting him in. He slides up and down but each time he is in the right place I shift my hips and deny his cock entry. Vaughn and Rob trade places and Vaughn starts to tease me by rubbing the tip of his cock up and down my pussy. Each time he gets to the right spot he starts to enter then pulls out and rubs up and down some more. I let out a moan and he senses my frustration. Rob and Vaughn trade once more and Rob starts rubbing his cock on my pussy again. He is really trying to get in and I am trying hard not to give in. I'm not sure I want to go that far and fear that Vaughn may not want me to. It feels so good and I am craving a hot hard cock inside me. Suddenly my body takes over and I thrust hard against him. He goes deep inside me and starts fucking me hard and fast. Now I have his rock hard cock thrusting in inside me and I am going crazy on Vaughn's taking it deep in my mouth and sucking very hard. They are touching, licking and kissing me all over. After a while Vaughn pulls out of my mouth and lies on his back. Rob pulls out of my pussy and I lower down on top of Vaughn. His familiar cock feels awesome, not that Robs was any different. He starts fucking me with deliberate long thrusts of his hips. Rob goes to my mouth and I run my tongue all over his cock and balls before taking him deep in my mouth with long slow strokes. We are to busy to realize that there is another couple coming our way until they are to close for us to separate so we just keep a nice slow rhythm. They say nothing to us but we here them giggle after they pass. All is quite again, we are continuing when we realize they have stopped 25 feet passed us. They are standing in the moonlight and are a young slim attractive couple. He is shirtless and is undressing her as she undoes his jeans. Soon they are naked. They don't go in the river but instead lie down and begin to make love. We can't help but watch and enjoy them watching us. I am close to cumming and I can tell Rob is too so I start to fuck Vaughn as fast as I can. Soon Vaughn is cumming and I let go too. With in seconds Rob cums as well. We all collapse in to a heap to catch our breath. We decide to go in the river again to rinse off. I wash them clean and they return the favor. Afterwards we wrap towels around our waists and I take their hands in mine as we walk back to the campground. We pass a few people on the way before I decide to put on my tank top. It drives me crazy that I am walking topless between Rob and Vaughn while others can see. I can't believe I'm not done yet. I want them all over again. Finally back at our trailer and I kiss Rob goodnight and he leaves us. We climb into bed naked. We make love. It is the most passionate ever for us. I spend an eternity kissing, licking and sucking every inch of your body until you beg me to fuck you again. We fall asleep immediately afterwards. When we wake I am wrapped in your arms. We make slow passionate love again and giggle excitedly about our crazy night. I don't know if I could ever do anything like that again but I sure don't regret it. The River My thanks go to my proofreaders LadyCibelle, and my friend SH, for attempting to sort out all of my co... foul-ups! But I must remind the reader that I still retain my annoying habit (Well I would be surprised if I doesn't get right up their noses, after all the effort they put in on my behalf!) of fiddling with my tales of woe, almost every time that I open them. So blame for typos, spelling mistakes and all grammar foul-ups, should be laid at my door. For clarifications of Tow-path, Bedsit or Wobbly; please see the story's end-note. The River I didn't often walk along that towpath by the river any more. I'd enjoyed the tranquillity of the place since I was a child, and in my younger days spent many happy hours fishing there and watching the waterfowl raise their young. To see the transformation from cygnet to swan take place over weeks and months had been my idea of heaven as a child. It could have been that my fishing expeditions to the riverbank -- which were never very successful - were an excuse to sit and watch the swans and all the other waterfowl. Bird watching -- as it is euphemistically called -- wasn't really a pastime that was readily accepted by my peers back then; well not the kind of birds with wings on them anyway! As I'd got older, I had got into the habit of taking a stroll along the towpath almost every day. Even when we started courting, Mary and I spent a lot of our time on the riverbank. Not exactly what you could truthfully describe as bird watching or fishing by then though; Mary and I enjoyed that grassy riverbank for its... yeah well, I don't have to spell it out to you, you know what I mean! Once I'd lost Mary, I tended to walk there nearly everyday. I suppose recalling my childhood and the many happy hours Mary and I spent there together. That was until the day I looked into the water and saw those eyes staring back at me. That young woman's face has haunted my dreams ever since, and maybe I feared that I would see it looking back at me again if I walked by the river again. Look, maybe it's best if I go back to that afternoon again and I'll try to explain it in a more coherent manner. Back then my life was in a kind of limbo and had been for many years; my mind remained in a kind-a fog of memories most of the time. I was literally drifting through life day to day. Anyway, it had been my routine to take a long walk after work everyday; it didn't really matter where I walked, as long as it kept me from sitting in the house alone. I'd vary the route I took quite often, but it always took me through the cemetery where I could say hello to Mary and Loretta. Mary and I had tried for years to have a child, but her pregnancy was to bring an unexpected end to our happiness. I suppose it's unusual in this day and age, for both the mother and baby not to survive a birth; but it does still happen when complications set in, and I'd been the unlucky husband and father that it had happened to. I suppose I sort-of withdrew from the world after the funeral. Of course, our friends had tried to be very supportive, but they were flogging a dead horse really. I just didn't want to be around anyone, let alone married friends and their children. Over the years, my life dropped into a routine of work and long quiet walks alone. Maybe I should have sold up the house and moved away, but somehow I couldn't bring myself to sell the house Mary had loved so much. But just being inside that great big Victorian pile, reminded me of all the work that Mary and I had put into it together to make it into the comfortable modern home we intended to spend the rest of our lives together in, and her enthusiastic excitement as we'd converted the smallest bedroom into a nursery. "Three!" Mary had said, "Three children are going to begin their lives in this room and grow up in this house!" she'd grinned when we finally finished decorating it. As the years rolled by we'd began to think that children were never going happen for us and then eventually she fell pregnant. Mary and I were both ecstatic at the news. But less then eight months later my life just stopped! Now the door to that nursery room stays permanently closed, as does the door to the room Mary and I once shared together. I never did sleep in that room again after... It held too many memories! Anyway, I've digressed; Mary really has nothing to do with the particular day I was telling you about - you'll please forgive me if I keep referring to her though - other than the fact that as I did every day I had visited the cemetery and had my little daily talk with her and our baby Loretta, before I headed down towards the river. Although it was a warm spring evening, there were very few people about as I took the steep path that led down from the bridge to the towpath beside the river below. That path is narrow and quite a claustrophobic place, with almost vertical banks either side. Those banks did strange things to the sound of the traffic on the road above, sort-of deadening it and distorting it at the same time. I suppose that I must have been three quarters of the way down the path when a strange sound caught my ear. For some reason -- probably the distortion caused by those steep banks - I had trouble working out what the noise was at first; eventually coming to the conclusion that someone had thrown something - probably some rubbish - into the river from the bridge above. What I'd heard was the distorted sound of the splash as it hit the water. "Arsehole!" I called out loud. Not that there was much chance the miscreant would have heard me. It amazed me even after all the time and effort that had been put into cleaning the river, from the environmental disaster area it had become. People would still used it as a convenient dumping ground for their crap; rather than take it a few miles up the road to the official tip. Probably still annoyed about the idiot's thoughtlessness, when I eventually got down to the towpath, maybe a minute of so later, I found myself studying the surface. Looking back, I suppose I was hunting for any clue as to whatever had been dumped in the water. But all I could see were the usual ripples in the surface as the water moved slowly along by the current. Proceeding on my way along the bank, my mind noted a young courting couple walking towards me, maybe about a hundred yards away. And I think I wondered whether they'd spotted what had been thrown into the water. But having second thoughts, I realised that, like Mary and I had been all those years before, they looked far too into each other to notice anything. It was doubtful they'd have noticed if the QE 2 had steamed by. "Remember when Mary and you, used to walk along the towpath arm in arm together like that?" A little voice - that I didn't want to hear - said somewhere in the back of my brain. A lump immediately formed in my throat, as I tried to ignore the voice. I didn't want to get into conversation with that voice again; those conversations always ended with me feeling even more melancholy. Instead, I turned my attention back to the water, looking again for any sign of the detritus that I was sure had just been added to it. What I saw took my breath away for a second; two eyes just below the surface, staring back at me. Christ! The sight of them gave me such a shock, that I staggered backwards for a few paces. But then, taking my heart in my hands I moved back to the bank edge and looked down into the cold water a little more carefully. Sure enough, there was a face, just below the surface whose pleading eyes were staring back up at me. Things kind-of happened quite quickly after that, as I moved into a kind of automaton mode. Look, I'm no hero and I believe if I'd stopped to think about it, I most likely would have stood there and yelled for help. But I wasn't thinking, my mind was concentrating on or captivated by the pleading expression in those eyes.. I remember yelling something -- god knows what - to draw the courting couple's attention, and then I plunged head first into the cold water. It took me only a couple of strokes to reach the body; then taking firm hold of it under the arms, I found my feet in the mud and struggled to get her back to the bank. Where I found that the young man of the courting couple had jumped into the water with me, to help pull the inert body from the water. "I could hear the guy's girlfriend talking to the emergency services on a mobile phone, as her fella and I started resuscitation on the apparently lifeless form. I, doing the mouth-to-mouth bit; whilst the young man, counted out the chest compressions as he did them. I find it strange to have to say, that as two people who didn't know each other - but who both had obviously trained in the technique -- not one word passed between us. We both knew what had to be done and we both did our part, with dedication. Even though for a very long time, no sign of life came from the body we were working on. I believe that inwardly we both thought that we were too late. Not speaking to each other prevented us from having to actually air those thoughts. Whilst we kept working, there was a faint chance we would be wrong. I think we could hear the sirens wailing in the distance, when - what we I'm sure we both feared was going to be a corpse - gave a sudden -- and very unexpected - cough -- spraying river water all over us - and then she began to breath on her own. Then the young man announced, "I have a pulse." Just as suddenly as she'd started breathing, her eyes - that had been closed by the time we'd laid her on the riverbank - flashed open and stared at me again for a few seconds, before they slowly closed again. She was breathing steadily, so the young man and I could relax a little; I rolled her into the recovery position, where she lay coughing up more water with every couple of breaths. Then I looked at the young lad properly for the first time. We both smiled at each other, knowing that we'd done what very few ordinary people get a chance do; we'd brought someone back from certain death. "Nice work man!" The young man said, with a smile of satisfaction on his face. "Thanks for your help." I replied, moving back from the young woman's prone body, as my assistant's girlfriend covered the casualty with her coat and began talking soothingly to her. We could hear that the sirens were getting closer by then. "I'll go up to the road and direct them down here!" I found myself saying, then I turned and ran back along the towpath and up the path to the road; where I found the police and an ambulance crew just arriving. I shouted a quick explanation and directed them to where they could find the casualty; then I stood and caught my breath as they raced away from me down the path For some reason, I didn't want to follow them back down to the river. I've convinced myself since that it was possibly because a shorter route to my house was by the cemetery, and my clothes were soaking wet. So I went that way home and climbed into a hot bath. Warm spring evening it might have been, but the water was cold in that river and I felt frozen to the bone as I walked the streets back to my house in wet clothing. Lying in that hot bath, I tried to convince myself that that was the end of it. That I'd done what anyone else would have done in the circumstances and I could push all thought and memory of that afternoon out of my mind. But of course it wasn't, and I couldn't! Oh, the conscious memory, I believe I wiped from my mind quite easily; for a few days at least. It was that unconscious part of the brain, the part that forces us to recall and replay happenings over during our sleep, that wouldn't let go! As if my nights weren't bad enough dreaming of Mary; now I had another face that I kept dreaming about. Even worse, Mary's and that young woman's face, looking back at me from below the water, kept getting mixed up in my unconscious mind. Sometimes I saw Mary's face distorted as it was by the waters surface. Sometimes I dreamed that the woman I'd married and lived with for five years had those appealing eyes I'd seen in the river. Those first few nights were as bad as my nights had been right after I'd lost Mary. But things were to get much worse later. Something I hadn't even contemplated happened; the press picked up on the story. "River hero disappears after saving drowning woman!" and "Shy rescuer vanishes!" were the headlines in the local papers that week. Before I knew it, everyone in my office was talking about the unknown man who'd jumped in the river and rescued a drowning young woman. Everybody seemed to be speculating on why a hero would slip away without leaving his name. The young courting couple were interviewed at length by the newspapers and even appeared on a morning TV show. I found it somewhat embarrassing to hear myself described as a handsome man who leapt into the raging torrent like Superman and dragged the young woman to safety. The young couple certainly played down their own part in the rescue. I was surprised to hear the young couple say that they'd seen me on the towpath many times before. Although I walked there quite often, I certainly couldn't remember seeing them in the past. But then the young woman added that she thought that I was a very private or shy person; she had noted in the past that I avoided looking anyone in the eye. I had to admit to myself that since Mary and the baby's death, I did try to avoid people. The odd thing about those news reports was that they skirted around any details about the young woman I'd pulled from the water; except to mention that she was a local woman, aged about nineteen or twenty and that it was rumoured she had been pregnant. It was inferred that she might have fallen into the river by accident; the inference instead of a direct statement leading me to believe that she'd jumped into the river in an attempt to end her life. But that somehow didn't tally with the expression I'd read in her eyes when I'd seen them below the water. I was convinced that they were appealing to me to help her. "Maybe she had second thoughts!" I unintentionally said out loud in the office one afternoon, as I played the events of that day over again in my mind. "What's that Bill?" my work colleague who occupies the next desk asked. "Oh nothing. I was just thinking out loud." I replied. "Doing a lot of that lately mate, half the time you're off in a world of your own!" He replied. I didn't reply, because he was probably right. For many years I'd spent much of my time daydreaming about my life with Mary, and by then I had that young woman on my mind as well. I couldn't stop wondering what possibly could have driven her to try to drown herself. Surely, it couldn't have been because she was pregnant? In this day and age it's reasonably easy to have a pregnancy terminated. Easier still, to have the child and then put it up for adoption; there's a queue of prospective parents, a mile long for newborn babies. ------------------------------------------------- Weeks passed and the furore in the local newspapers - about finding out who the vanishing hero was - began to subside and so I'd thought it was safe to return to walking beside the river again. Leaving the cemetery, I took the same narrow path from the bridge down to the towpath. Glanced under the bridge to my right, I assume to make sure no one was around and then set off the way I usually did along the bank. I tried not to, but when I reached the spot from where I'd spotted those eyes in the water I stopped. The months between, had wiped away all sign of the drama that had taken place there that day, but somehow I intrinsically knew the exact spot. I have no idea how long I had been stood there staring down into the murky water, wondering how on earth I'd even managed to spot the outline of the young woman, let alone seen her eyes. When behind me a female voice suddenly said. "We knew you'd have to come back here eventually!" I spun around to find the courting couple standing there smiling at me. "You kind-of run off and left us holding the bag that day." The young man continued with a grin on his face. "I'm not one for notoriety and you two handled it all just fine." I smiled back at them. "We kind-a guessed that Mr Shaw." The young woman replied. "And we believe we have a good idea why." "You have?" "Yes we've seen you in the cemetery many times. We're so sorry for your loss." Her face took on a very sad expression. "We understand why you didn't want reporters asking all those stupid questions that they asked us. I should imagine that they'd have had a field day with your story." "I thank you for not giving them my name, but how long have you known who I am?" "We saw you by your wife's grave about five weeks after... Well, then Carrie did a little research, she's good at that kind of thing, and well... then everything kind-a made sense to us when we thought about it. I'm Ben by the way." The young man replied. "Well hello Ben and Carrie, you can call me Bill, every other bugger does. We didn't really have time for introductions last time we met, did we?" I said. Not really sure why I felt so comfortable talking to these two youngsters. Perhaps it was what we'd done together that afternoon, which had formed an unbreakable bond between us. "Mr Shaw... Bill." Carrie said in a tone of voice that told me that a request of some kind was coming. "I know that you don't know Ben or I from Adam. But I would like to ask a very special favour of you, if I may?" Jesus what could this young woman possibly want of me? I thought. But still being the sucker I'd always been for a pretty face, I found myself replying. "You may young lady. But I can't promise that I can grant it for you, until I know what it is!" "Well, you see, it's like this, Mr Shaw... Bill. Benjamin and I are going to get married in a few weeks time, and... er... well, to put it bluntly, my father died four years ago. That's when I saw you in the cemetery the first time by the way, when I was visiting my father's grave one time. Then Ben and I saw you there again today." "Carrie insisted that we told her father that we'd decided to get married first, before we told anyone else. That's what we were doing there today and we saw you." Ben added, by way of explanation. "We wouldn't like you to get the idea that we were stalking you or anything." "I understand, I'm there most days." I informed them. "Yes we thought as much. Anyway Bill, I know this might sound silly, and I don't know whether he can hear us?" Carrie went on. "I'm sure he can and did." interrupting, I assured her. "I talk to my wife Mary and Loretta all the time." "Yes I've watched you." Carrie added, looking a little embarrassed. "And that's why I wanted to ask you... would you... Well would you mind giving me away at our wedding?" "Oh my, Carrie; why me? Surely you've got relatives or people you know who would fit the bill far better than a complete stranger." I replied. Completely taken aback by her unexpected request. "Yes I have got uncles, but I want you. Look Bill, obviously my dad was a lot older than you... "I somehow doubt that Carrie, I'm almost forty; easily old enough to be your father." I slipped in when she hesitated and took a breath "God, you're the same age as my dad would have been. Maybe that's what it was? Anyway, when I watched you doing what you did that day, you reminded me so much of my father. That's what my dad would have done in the same circumstances, dived into the water to rescue someone without thinking of the danger to himself." "I just did what was required Carrie. As did you, and Ben here! I'm sure anyone else would have done the same thing." "You might think that Bill, but I know better. Most people would have stood on the bank and called for help, that's if they didn't just look away and pretend they didn't see anything." The River "You have a low opinion of the general public Carrie." I suggested. "After hearing Bethany's story, I don't have much confidence in many people!" Carrie exclaimed. "Bethany?" I asked Carrie had confused me by mentioning the name. "Yes Bethany, the pregnant girl you pulled out of the river that day. Ben and I have got to know her well." So the young woman's name was Bethany; I finally knew her name. And she definitely had been pregnant; I suppose that that explained a lot to me. I was somewhat elated to hear that Carrie and Ben knew more about what had happened to her. "How is she, I wondered how she'd got on; the newspapers never did say very much about her. Did she lose the baby, do you know?" "No, she's fine. Actually she's a very plump Bethany now, you'd have trouble pulling her out of the water with that great big baby inside her." "I assume the baby was connected in some way to what she did that day." "Oh yeah, you can say that again, poor girl didn't know which way to turn." "A bit drastic though, wasn't it. You know, trying to drown herself just because she was pregnant." I suggested. "Well, maybe you wouldn't think that way if you knew her and what she'd been through. Look Bill, Beth had a very sheltered life. You know, she went to one of those convent schools and was never allowed around boys. Her parents kept her on a very tight leash and she was unbelievably naïve for a girl of her age. Anyway, when she eventually went to work, she was easy prey for some slimeball in her office. From what we've learnt, he was an older man and he knew all the tricks. Poor Bethany had no idea what game he was playing, and from what she says, at first she looked at him as a kind father figure in the office; until he seduced her." "Ah, one of them!" "Yeah a complete ars... bastard. The bleeder was into her pants before poor Bethany really knew what was going on; I told you she was very naïve and had no idea how the buggers work. He'd given her all the old flannel, "you're such a beautiful young woman" and "my wife doesn't understand me." Do I have to spell it all out?" "No not really, standard office wolf stuff. Most women see through it though!" I pointed out. "Unfortunately not when they are as naïve as Bethany. You know, they didn't even have a TV set in the house at home. Bethany was completely lost in the real world." "So I assume that eventually Bethany got pregnant by said office wolf." Yes... sooner rather than later though. The poor girl was so naive that she had no idea about birth control or anything. When she told him that she thought she was pregnant, he called her a scheming little slut who was trying to trap him for his money and told her to get lost." "Arseho..." I began to say, but then checked myself; I was talking to a young lady. "My sentiments exactly." Carrie replied, and then she went on. "Well, Beth told us that she didn't know what to do. Look, she was that naive she didn't even know that she could have turned to the social services for help. She agonised over telling anyone else that she was pregnant for a long time, but eventually she had to tell her parents. And their cold hearted reaction was to call her even worse names than he had done, and order her out of their house." "Oh my. Are there people out there who don't have any compassion at all, even for their own children?" I commented. "Unfortunately it seems that there are Bill!" Carrie replied. "Poor Bethany wandered the streets all night and found herself up there on the bridge the following afternoon. Well, you know what she did then, she really had no idea what else she could do." "And now; how is Bethany getting along now?" "Oh fine, all things considered. Social services found her a little one room flat for the time being. It's a bit of a dump... well; you know what bedsits are like! But they say they'll move her to somewhere a little bigger when she's had the baby. My mum has really taken to Bethany and I wouldn't be surprised if she doesn't invite her to move into my room after Ben and I get married. Mum loves children; she can't wait for me to get pregnant." "That's a relief to hear. I've always wondered what happened to the girl." "Well Bill, what about my request?" Carrie suddenly asked. "Sorry!" I said. Carrie had lost me for the minute by her sudden change of subject. But then I remembered. "Oh yeah, your wedding! Well, I'm extremely flattered by the request, but what will your family think of a complete stranger walking you down the isle?" "The only person's opinion that I'm worried about is my mother and she's already said that it's my decision." "But we haven't told her about us getting married yet!" Ben blustered. "About the date of the wedding, no Ben, we haven't. But we've been together a long time and mum has been expecting you to ask me for some time now. To be honest, she drives me nuts sometimes; I think she's almost been wetting herself with anticipation. Anyway I told mum that when we set a date, if we set a date, then Mr Shaw was the man I wanted to give me away." Carrie explained to a very confused looking Ben. "Looks like you've got a lot to learn about women Ben, they kind-a run things really. Well the good one's do!" I said grinning at the young lad. "Thanks Bill, I'll take that as a compliment." Carrie grinned back at me. "But you still haven't answered my question. God, I'll bet poor Mary was tearing her hair out half the time with you." Carrie grinned again. "Carrie, you've got a way about you, maybe you remind of my wife in a way. Yeah all right, if you insist and providing no one else objects, then I'd be happy to give you away." I found myself replying. Carrie grinned at Ben when he said. "She always seems to get her own way. She had her dad wrapped around her little finger most of the time!" "I'll have you know my dad was very strict with me!" Carrie retorted. Ben didn't reply he just gave me "the look!" ------------------------------------------------- So it was that on a Friday evening some six weeks later I found myself sitting in my car outside that same church that Mary and I had been married all those years before. I was late, I knew it, but it's easy to say you're going to do something; it's somewhat harder to go through with a promise and meet and mix with people when you've avoided such occasions as long as I had. This particular occasion -- Carrie and Ben's wedding rehearsal - wouldn't be as bad as the actual event the following day, but I was still filled with apprehension over the whole thing. "You Clown, what'd you agree to do it for?" That little voice said in the back of my brain somewhere. "Your trouble always has been that you're a sucker for a pretty face. But you've been avoiding them for years, how come you got trapped by this one?" It was true, I'd always had been a mug where pretty young women were concerned. Since my Mary had gone, I'd avoided getting into conversation with them for years. I don't know, I suppose I had been afraid that one of them might have taken a shine to me and I could have ended up getting involved in some way. I just couldn't let any other woman replace Mary in my heart. Eventually I plucked up the courage and got out of the car, then, pushing that same door Mary and I had walked through on our wedding day open, I entered the church. "Bill! Oh boy, am I glad to see you. Carrie's throwing a wobbly down there; she thought you'd forgotten for a minute!" Ben who was waiting just inside said to me. "Sorry, Ben, I ran a little late today." I replied. "No worries mate, just please don't be late tomorrow. I'm counting on you to make sure she actually does turn up. I don't fancy looking like a complete lemon standing there at the altar for hours." "You have my word young man; she'll be no more that the traditional five minutes late!" I grinned at him. "Five minutes!" he said his eyes getting really large. "That's how long my Mary kept me waiting!" "Oh that's all right then. If you were willing to wait that long for Mary. Then I think I can wait as long for Carrie. Now you'd better come and meet Carrie's mum." Ben led me down the nave to where Carrie and her mother were sitting. Carrie grinned at me over her mother's shoulders; that grin alerting her mother of our approach. Both women turned to face us. "Josette... Mrs Mercer, may I introduce Mr William Shaw, he's the..." Ben began to say but Carrie's mother was on her feet before he finished speaking "Introductions aren't really necessary Benjamin, I remember Billy Shaw from our school days, even if he doesn't remember me! I was a year behind you in school, Bill." She said, throwing her arms around me and kissing me on the cheek. "Well I'll be, Josette Banner! Of course I remember you." I replied. "I guess you must have married Tony Mercer; you know, I never made the connection in my mind." Josette had changed very little from the young woman I'd seen around school. Maybe she'd put on a few pounds, but they were obviously all in the right places. "I'm surprised you do remember me, we all thought that the only girl you ever saw was Mary!" Josette said, with a big grin on her face. "I've always appreciated a pretty face, Josette." I smiled back at her. "Ah well that will make things easy then, because there's a young woman with a very pretty face around here somewhere who's really dying to meet you. And Bill I mean that was almost literately! Where has Bethany disappeared to, Carrie?" "The ladies again, Mum!" Carrie replied. "Oh yes of course. Beth's very near her time, Bill, and she has to keep running..." "You don't have to explain, Josette, I went through it all with Mary." "Oh yeah, so you did. Bill, we were all so sorry when we heard." "It all happened a long time ago, Josette, I prefer not to talk about it." "I understand, Bill, but it was only when I could talk about Tony going, that I started to get over losing him." "Could we begin now please? I have another rehearsal in half an hour!" The vicar who'd been patiently waiting by the altar interrupted us. The rehearsal didn't take long really. The vicar just ran quickly through the service and run us through our lines. Mine being "I do!" when he asked, "Who gives this woman?" Then I had to retreat and sit out the rest of the service. I should think that most of the older dads reading this will have been through the rigmarole at least once. Although after Mary went, I'd never thought I'd have the honour. Bethany returned, smiled at me and then sat on the other side of Josette, so I didn't get to meet her until after the rehearsal was over and we'd rehearsed the parade out of the church. Then without a by-your-leave she walked over to me, took me in her arms -- pushing her very large protrusion into my stomach - and planted a kiss on my lips that would have made Rudolf Valentino go weak at the knees. "Oh my young lady. Such a show of undeserved affection!" I said when she let me breath again. Yeah well, what the hell would you have said in the circumstances? "Thoroughly deserved you mean. You gave me my life back, Mr Shaw." "I did no more than many other people would have done, Bethany; take my word for it." I replied. "Bill, shall we take this over the road? Josette interrupted. "We are all going to a meal in the Kings Arms. I hope you are going to join us?" I nodded and we set off across the road; Bethany firmly attached to my right arm. In the King's Arms restaurant I found myself sitting between Josette and Bethany, who was still hanging on to my right arm as if her life depended on it. Luckily I drink with my left arm! Bethany had a lot to say for herself; well I spent the rest of the evening getting direct from the horse's mouth what Carrie and Ben had roughly told me in outline. That is until she started telling me about when she'd been under the water. "I knew I was dying and I suddenly realised that I didn't want to; but I could do nothing about it. I was all but gone, Bill. And then there were your eyes looking back at me through the water! I was trying to beg you to help me. They were all I remember until suddenly your eyes were inches away from mine and you were smiling down at me. You know I'm convinced that when I was unconscious I could feel your lips on mine. Oh my nose was all bruised from where you were holding it closed." She grinned. "Sorry, but I had to make sure the air went into your lungs." "Hey, I'm not complaining. Ben broke, well he cracked four of my ribs; but I didn't care, between you, you gave me my life back." "Well next time you find yourself between a rock and a hard place, ask someone for help before you do anything drastic will you. Made a real mess of the suit I was wearing, I had to throw it away in the end." "Oh, I'm terribly sorry! I'll buy you another one when I can afford it; I promise you." Bethany said with a forlorn expression n her face. "Bethany, Bill's funning you! I have it on good authority that Bill was wearing jeans that day." Josette said from the other side of me. I smiled at Beth, and she - releasing my arm for a second - gave it a friendly punch. Before she grabbed hold of it again and kissed me once on the cheek. "I wish my father had been like you Bill!" Bethany said. I got yet another kiss on the cheek when I drove Bethany back to her bedsit in a very iffy part of town late that evening. Waiting outside until I saw the light come on in her window. She gave me a wave to show that all was well, before I drove away. I was getting quite used to those kisses on the cheek by then, Carrie had got into the habit of doing it when we met and parted; but somehow when Bethany did it, it meant so much more. Yes, I believe that I did begin to wonder; but I immediately pushed the thought out of my mind, as being impossible as much at it was impractical. Christ, I was almost twice the girl's age! ------------------------------------------------- Carrie and Ben's wedding itself went off like clockwork. Except for the fact that I got some very strange looks from some of the other guests. They obviously had no idea who Bethany and I were, Josette, Carrie and Ben having kept mum about us, to save Bethany any embarrassment; Ben had not even told his parents who we were. I think most people were turning their noses up at the sight of a forty-year-old man who appeared to have a very pregnant and very young looking twenty-year-old woman hanging tightly onto his arm all night. And -- I might add - who danced with him in a very familiar manner to say the least; large bump or no large bump! Josette almost had to prise Bethany off of me, so that we could dance together a couple of times. Not that I really minded, hero worship is very good for the old ego, and by that time in my life, my ego needed a boost. Bethany had stepped back respectfully the few times Carrie had indicated that she'd like to dance with me. Usually grabbing hold of Ben in my place. "Yeah well, I suppose it's better that the hero worship is directed at you rather than Ben." That little voice said. If she'd clamped on to Ben like she appears to have you, then Carrie's nose would get put out of joint." I received yet another kiss and a very long longing look from Bethany when I dropped her home that evening and once again she waved goodnight from the window. I'll be honest I didn't feel comfortable leaving her in the part of town she lived. ------------------------------------------------- It was two in the morning when I was roused from my sleep by the insistent ringing of the telephone. "Bill, it's Josette! Beth's waters just broke, we have to get her to the hospital right away, can you please drive us?" "On my way, Josie. I'll be there in five minutes!" I replied. But then I had a thought. "Er, Josie, where are you?" "At Beth's bedsit, she rang me earlier and told me she didn't feel right." "Be there in ten!" I said slamming the phone down. ------------------------------------------------- Odd, I thought as I drove over to the bedsit. Why does Josette need me to drive them to the hospital, she must have driven to Bethany's place? I was to learn later that Josette doesn't drive; fifteen failed driving tests and she'd given it up as a bad job. Yes, there are some people who just don't have the coordination. Josette claims that she gave up because she feared that even if she had eventually passed the driving test, she'd probably have killed someone, or even herself eventually. ------------------------------------------------- Josette and I sat in the maternity suite waiting room for several hours before a nurse came out and announced that Bethany had had a daughter. Bethany had been one of those mothers who didn't want to know the baby's sex until it was born. "What are you going to call her?" Josette asked, when we were finally conducted into the room where Bethany sat up in bed, cuddling her newborn. "Well, if she had been a boy, I was intending to call him William Benjamin. But she's a beautiful little girl, so, if I may Bill, I'd like to call her Loretta Mary Carrie; would you mind?" Bethany asked looking at me with a plaintive expression on her face. What could I say; Bethany had taken me completely by surprise? "I think I'd like that!" Was the best I could come up with. I suddenly realised that my right arm was restricted again. Looking down I saw that Josette was clinging on to it, as Bethany had got into the habit of doing. "I think Loretta is a beautiful name, Beth, and Carrie will be so proud that you given your baby her name as well." Ten fingers, ten toes, two eyes, a nose and a mouth that a cry came out of that Josette and I had heard from the waiting room, kind-a told us that the baby was in fine health. So after a while Josette and I retired to the hospital's cafeteria for breakfast. Beth I believe, after feeding Loretta snatched an hour or so's sleep. ------------------------------------------------- "I really don't like the idea of Beth taking that baby back to that horrible bedsit." Josette said as we ate. "Um, well I thought... well Carrie sort of thought, that you might invite Bethany to move in with you." I said, rather hesitantly. Not really being sure whether I'd said too much. "I wish I could, but Carrie and Ben have got to stay with me now; they got gazumped on that flat they were after." "Oh my, they didn't? I thought it was all cut and dried!" "So did they, the estate agent called last Thursday. They never told anyone before the wedding because they didn't want to put a damper on things. The trouble is, they can't afford any of the others they've looked at; they'll have to wait a while until they can get a bigger mortgage. She can come to my place for a week or so, until the kids get back from their honeymoon. But then it's down to what the council can dig up for her, none of the ones we've seen so far are really suitable; I've been going to look at them with her. You know all in that same area!" A solution had formed in my mind, to be honest more than one solution; but I was a little reticent about putting them forward. In the end, I plumped for what I considered the safer option. "Look Josette, how about Carrie and Ben come and stay at my place until they can afford somewhere of their own." Good idea, Bill, but for one thing. Carrie and Ben are two young newly-weds and they were... Um well they are noisy enough at the best of times. Now they are going to want to throw parties for their friends and all that sort of thing." "So!" I said, not understanding the problem. "Bill, you've been living in the house on your own for... what ten, maybe fifteen years now. And you're not really the party type, are you? Don't say anything; I happen to know that you never have been. Remember that I remember you from way back when you were young. Mary and you were into quiet walks and all that kind of thing." The River "Yeah we were; but I don't see the problem. "Can I suggest that maybe you invite Bethany and Loretta to move in with you; you'll even get a free housekeeper out of it. And besides you've never experienced having a baby in the house!" Josette grinned at me. "From what I recall that's an experience that some fathers would have preferred to miss!" I quipped back at her. "But there's a big problem to that idea, Josette; and the reason I didn't suggest it in the first place. Did you see how folks reacted to Beth and I being together at the wedding? Christ, some people might get the idea that I'm the baby's father. And Bethany... Well, I'm afraid that she might get the wrong idea." "I do believe that you might have misread things a little, Bill. Bethany has adopted you as a father figure for herself, not for Loretta. Every man she's known has let her down and she's looking to you to guide her through life. I hope that clears that up for you." "Thanks, Josette I was beginning to worry just a little. But there's still the problem of what other people think. An old man, and a slip of a girl who has a baby living in the same house together." "Who's the old man, there's plenty of life left in you yet, Bill! But I understand your concerns, and have a further suggestion to make." A strange expression came over Josette's face. "And that is?" I asked. "Well, you said that it's a big house. Why don't I move in as well for the time being? I could do the housekeeping for you and advise Bethany about Loretta. Then the kids can have my place until they find something of their own." A wry smile came over Josette's face." I sat and stared back at Josette while I ran my mind back over exactly what Josette had said. She didn't break eye contact and never flinched, she just kept smiling back at me waiting for my reply. "Can't come up with a reasonable excuse for us not doing as you suggest. But by Christ Josie, we've got some work to do. Most of the house is closed up; I use the kitchen, lounge and one of the bedrooms, that's all." "Then we'd better get started as soon we can then, hadn't we? They kick mothers and newborns out as soon as they can nowadays; I was in for a week when I had Carrie." The smile on Josette's face had turned into a massive grin as she spoke. After checking in on Bethany and informing her of Josette's plan -- the information bringing an even bigger grin to her face than it had Josette's -- we headed to my house. ------------------------------------------------- "Oh bugger reinforcements are called for here." Josette had said when she'd surveyed my domain. "I know you said you lived in just a couple of rooms Bill, but did you ever open the doors or windows to air the place out?" "No Josie, I never had cause to until now." I replied. I think it was then that I noticed that every time I absent-mindedly called Josette, Josie; she would give a little smile. I'm not sure what I made of it, but she surely wasn't upset that I'd abbreviated her name; but I had also noticed that when other people did the same thing, she rapidly corrected them. Josette's two sisters were called in by way of back up; and I called into work and told them that I was taking a few days off. No I didn't ask for the time off, I told them I was taking it. My boss didn't ask why, he just told me to take all the time I needed. Of course, it didn't cross my mind that I hadn't had time off work for so long that most of my fellow employees thought that I had shares in the place. Or, that my boss had shown great interest in my buying a new suit for the wedding a couple of weeks before. He'd been full of questions about whose wedding it was, when I brought the suit into the office after the lunchtime I'd purchased. Josette and I got into a little wrangle when I suggested that she used the master bedroom. I insisting that I stayed in the room I'd been using. "Okay Bill, if that's the way you want it, but really you should be in that room." She'd said when finally giving up the argument. But then, sort-of half under her breath she added the words. "For the time being!" and grinned at her younger sister. Who gave me a very strange look. I'm afraid to say that I didn't place any significance of those three words at the time. Nor the look that Josette's sister gave me. The nursery needed very little doing to it except - of course - a good dust and airing out. Josette's other sister disappeared with a carload of bedding, curtains, etcetera that needed washing. All the girls noting with some surprise that moths seemed to have avoided the house. Josette insisted that I was with her in the master bedroom, when she packed away all of Mary's things. It was a painful experience for me; but something I should really have done many years before. To be completely honest I was pleased that Josette did it for me; I'd never had the heart. I must admit that I felt a little better as I watched Josette unpacking her stuff the following day. The room didn't look right without all of those female things around. ------------------------------------------------- We brought Bethany and Loretta home to what seemed to me like a new house three days after the birth. Bethany stood in the middle of the Nursery and cried for some time before she composed herself. Actually if Loretta hadn't decided that she was hungry, Beth might have stood there crying all day. I'll admit that as I watched Beth breast-feeding Loretta for the first time, that lump formed in my throat again; I'd never got the chance to see Mary do the same thing to our baby. I think I might have cried myself, had not I suddenly felt the pressure of someone squeezing my right arm again. I looked down and there was Josette smiling back up at me. ------------------------------------------------- Somewhat surprisingly, I settled in to my new way of life very quickly. Suddenly having two other people and a baby sharing the house you've lived alone in for so many years is a major change for anyone. But I was definitely not expecting the change it made in my work life. Every morning someone in the office would enquire how the baby was. And some of the guys would laugh when I told them that Loretta had made everyone in the house aware that she was hungry - or needed changing - several times during the night. Then one day, when I was leaving for lunch, one of the guys invited me to join them in the pub for a change. I accepted and from then on, it became my routine to have lunch with numerous different collections of staff. For years I'd always eaten alone and suddenly I was one of the crowd again, I really hadn't missed being one of the gang, but I wondered how I'd become a loner for so long. Carrie and Ben came back from their honeymoon and had themselves a pink fit when they discovered that not only wasn't Josette home, but all her belongings were missing as well. They very quickly tracked her down though and spent most of the night telling us of their adventures and cooing over Loretta. Well not all of their adventures, they had been on honeymoon after all. Ben was looking just a little bit flaked out though. ------------------------------------------------- I can't really say how long it took for Bethany to start calling me dad and referring to me as granddad to Loretta. Actually, I'm not sure what came first, the dad or the granddad. I just remember Bethany saying something like "You like it when granddad cuddles you, don't you Loretta." Then another day - maybe before or maybe after, I can't recall which - I realised that Bethany had asked "Cup of tea, dad?" "Yeah, Beth's been calling me mum for weeks now. I think we've replaced her real parents in her heart; do you mind?" Josette had asked when I mentioned it to her. "No, quite the opposite, I find it extremely flattering!" I replied. "And it takes that other worry off your mind." Josette smiled. "What? Oh yeah, what I mentioned at the hospital that day. Yeah you could say that!" I grinned back at her. "Well don't, relax too much old man, there're plenty of other fish in the sea, you know?" Josette replied, with an expression on her face that I'd seen before, but never really been able to make head nor tale of. "What's that supposed to mean?" I asked. Josette didn't answer; she just went into the kitchen and put the kettle on. I seemed to recall that Mary had used to do the same thing when she wanted to avoid answering a question. ------------------------------------------------- I don't know for sure, maybe eight or nine months had gone by and home life had settled into a routine. I do recall that there'd never been any more discussion about Carrie and Ben looking for another house or flat to live in. There had even been a couple of hints that possibly they could buy Josette's house off of her; but maybe because I never entered into those discussions they always stopped at the hints. I also don't know for sure when a lot of the other changes crept in. Oh, I'd pretty soon got used to having Bethany hanging on one arm and Josette hanging on the other whilst I pushed Loretta along in her pram when we went for our walks or to the supermarket to do the weekly shopping. And I'd quickly got used to both women giving me a kiss on the cheek when I left the house to go to work in the morning and arrived home again in the evening. What I have no idea about, is exactly when Josette's greeting changed from "Bye Bill!" to "Bye Darlin'!" Damn it, it was so subtle that I never realised that she'd been doing it until after her birthday. Oh yeah, Josette's birthday, the day that everything changed. I arrived home from work that evening to find Josette in the house alone. Much to my confusion, Josette explained that Ben had taken Carrie, Bethany and Loretta off somewhere. I thought this odd because it was Josette's birthday, but Josette herself seemed to think nothing of it. And I also didn't realise that it was for the night! "Here's your birthday present, Josie!" I said handing over the carefully wrapped package containing an expensive perfume that the assistant in the store had convinced me would have any wife convulsing in raptures. The assistant had given me a very funny look when I explained that it was for my friend and sort-of live in housekeeper. "It's for my friend!" I'd explained when she'd said that my wife would love it. "Oh your girlfriend, she'll love it as well." The girl had said, but then her facial expression suddenly changed. I followed her eye line and realised that she was staring down at my wedding ring. "Oh no, she's sort of my housekeeper and a very good friend at the same time." "I see!" The girl had said still carefully wrapping the expensive packet. Then I thought of what I should really have said in the first place. "I've been a widower for over ten years!" "Oh, then she is your girlfriend then." The assistant said, a broad smile returning to her face. Josette unwrapped the package and as promised by the shop assistant swooned over its contents. I thought that she overdid the enthusiasm a little when she threw her arms around my neck and planted a real humdinger of a kiss on my lips. Maybe just a little over the top, not that I was going to complain or anything. There is nothing in this world -- well almost nothing - as pleasant as kissing a beautiful woman. Well maybe, being kissed by the woman in question comes out top on points. "I'd better go up and get changed." I'd said when Josette let me come up for air. "No you can't!" Josette snapped back at me, taking me completely by surprise by the sharpness of her tone. "Er, what I meant to say was that your dinner is all ready to serve and it will get cold; you can change later." Then she dragged me into the dining room where I received a real surprise. The curtains were drawn -- it was still light outside - and the room lit by candles. Josette pushed me into my usual chair and handed me a bottle of wine. "Open that and pour while I get the food!" She'd said planting a kiss on my forehead. The meal was very romantic, but I'm afraid that Josette's efforts were completely wasted on me. Honestly, I had no idea whatsoever what she was up to. Although the light did begin to glow a little when we adjourned to the lounge after eating and Josette put on a film of the type that I believe is commonly referred to as a "Chick Flick"; then snuggled up close beside me. All right I'll admit it; Josette seduced me! Exactly what time it was when we started making out on the couch, I have no idea. But it sure felt like the right thing to do at the time. And I'm willing to admit that I have no idea whether I had my hands on her breasts first, or she had her hand on my rampant member. I do know that I was nursing on those magnificent nipples, well before her head disappeared into my lap. And the noise Josette made as I sucked and kissed them, spurred me to even greater efforts. I can remember warning her that I was about to lose control and her brushing my hand away as she renewed her efforts. Then after I'd lost my erection, she'd raised her head and smiled at me. "Don't you think we'd better take this to the bedroom, Bill?" "What if we fall asleep and the kids bring Bethany home and find us in bed together?" "Christ Bill, haven't you got it yet? The children asked me what I wanted for my birthday. I told them and... well, Bethany and Loretta are staying over at Carrie and Ben's tonight. The girls said that the rest is up to me." "Hmm..." I replied, after thinking for a few moments. "What's that supposed to mean?" "Well to be honest Josie, I wish I was as brave as you." "Brave?" "Yeah, look, Josie, I realise that you've given me more subtle hints than I could wave a stick at. But I never had the nerve to risk losing what we had. Well... to be honest, to risk what I had; I've been alone for so long you know." "Bill, now I'm going to be honest with you. I had a crush on you way back when we were at school; but you had Mary then and she made sure no bugger got a shot at you. I loved Tony, but he was always my second choice. When I discovered your name after you saved Bethany I thought all my Christmases had come at once. Oh and it was my idea to ask you to give Carrie away, although she did jump at the idea. All I've been doing since is scheming to get you into bed." "Oh, that's some admission, girl!" "I know, but I didn't want you to suddenly realise that I laid a trap for you, in the future sometime. I want you now, just as much as I did when we were at school. But only if you want me the same way, Bill? It's up to you; you can take me this evening and then we can return to how we've been living for the last few months. Or... if you'd prefer it, I'll move out of the house and leave you in peace; it is really your decision! "Oh, I can see some moving getting done alright. But I think that it'll be my gear into the master bedroom. Maybe we'd better get started on it right now?" I suggested. "Not much point really Bill, Bethany and I moved it all in there this afternoon." Josette replied with a grin. "Wow, confident weren't we?" I commented laughing. "Not as confident as Bethany was; it was her idea." "Nice kid that Bethany!" I replied. "Well, if you're happy with the arrangements, then I'll get back to where I was, shall I?" "Sorry?" I asked, Josette had lost me again. But Josette couldn't reply, her mouth was full! ------------------------------------------------- Epilogue It was funny how quickly Josie and I kind of settled in as if we'd been married for years. Mind you, I was pleased that my daily walks had kept me reasonably fit. Although I soon found that Josie had me using some muscles, that don't really normally get used when walking and I hadn't used since I lost Mary. Still after a few weeks, I suppose you could say I was in fine physical shape for a man my age. Probably fitter than most, because Josie had been doing without since Tony had passed away and I do believe that she has been making up for lost time. We aren't exactly planning to get married in a hurry, although Beth and Carrie have been making comments about it not being a good idea that the children ever find out their grandparents aren't actually man and wife. Mind you, I do appear to have assumed the title of Gramps and I'm not too sure that I'm happy about that. Look suddenly becoming granddad to two little girls is a bit of shock for the old psyche. Ah, you spotted that did you? Yeah, Carrie dropped her little girl three days after Loretta's first birthday. Beth had a great time playing the old experienced mother to her friend and fussing over Carrie and her baby, even more than Josie did. Josie and me? Well, we kind-a play the unpaid baby sitters bit most of the time, whilst the youngsters go out and live it up. Oh yeah, Beth has taken up with one of Ben's mate's. Phil is nice lad, and to my mind, it looks like he's in for the long haul. Phil certainly dotes over Loretta, almost as much as -- if not more than -- he does over Beth. Once he'd learnt the details, I did have to stop young Phil from looking up and sorting out, one particular office wolf though. The so and so had played hard to get with the CSA. Well those tosser's are pretty good at coming down hard - financially - on absent fathers who admit parentage. They don't seem -- well they didn't in Bethany's case -- to be too enthusiastic about bringing paternity suits against men who deny that they are the father. Young Phil had decided that a little friendly persuasion might be called for; that is until, by lucky coincidence, I ran into the SOB in a pub one night. One of the guys in my office's wife, had presented him with twins that week and just about everyone was in the local pub with him on the Friday evening wetting the babies' head. Well, I'll admit that I'd had maybe a few more than I should have that night. But Beth -- who I'd got through her driving test by then, Josie positively refused to try again - was picking me up; so I wasn't worried about driving home that night or anything. Anyway, when I was up at the bar getting a refill, I spotted Loretta's father in the other bar with some little slip of a girl about the same age Beth would have been when he seduced her. "Christ, the bugger was up to his tricks again!" I thought, and maybe said out loud. Pissed, yeah you bet I was pissed with the a-hole. I'm not sure whether I told any of the crowd who he was or not; but they were all aware that Josie and I had a young unmarried mother living with us. And, they also knew that the baby's father was denying parenthood. To my knowledge no one had made the connection between Bethany and the young woman pulled from the river a couple of years before, though. Anyway, where was I? Oh yeah, well, as I said I'd had a few and I was pissed off with the guy, so without really thinking about what I was going to do; I headed into the other bar and confronted the sod, rather loudly. Actually loud enough and explicitly enough for the slip of a young girl to realise that safely at home with mum and dad might possibly be the best place to be at the time and she left "tout-de-suite". It took me completely by surprise when the wanker very suddenly changed his tune and admitted publicly to me that he was Loretta's father. Although it did strike me at the time that without plenty of reliable witnesses, that admission wouldn't be much use to us in a court of law. It was only when I turned around; that I discovered that almost the whole of my office had followed me into the other bar. Some of them, taking the opportunity to demonstrate to how useful their technical toys were to everyone, by recording the whole encounter on their mobile phones. I wondered afterwards whether it was me personally who'd scared the guy into accepting his responsibilities, or if it could possibly have been the horde of angry looking faces standing behind me. The River The guy did actually come and visit Loretta a couple of times; but that was all. We haven't seen him in yonks. He's regularly paid maintenance directly into Bethany's bank account every month since though. Actually, he must be on a damned good screw, what with the maintenance money he pays Beth for Loretta and the alimony he has to pay his ex-wife and maintenance for their children. Either that, or he's living on the bloody bread line. I can't say that I've seen him about town in the evenings since. I think that's everything, although someone is bound to complain that I've forgotten something; but hey, what's new? Whoops, no it isn't! Anybody spot that I get away with calling Josette, Josie? You know, I didn't. That was until Carrie pointed it out to me one day in a rather confusing statement. "Mum's only ever let two people get away with calling her Josie, dad, and that's you and my dad!" Life Goes On ------------------------------------------------- End note One of my proof readers who resides outside of the UK, often picks up on some of the colloquialisms I use, that they feel some readers might not have come across before. In the past I've put these clarifications at the beginning of stories. Henceforth I will only list them in the opening text and explain them in the story's end note, where I have more room; I hope. Clarifications:- Towpath, a path beside a river or canal, originally used as a pathway for horses towing barges. Bedsit, a rented room consisting of a combined bedroom and living room, with cooking facilities. Wobbly, (in this incidence) a fit of panic. Besides the definitions given in most dictionaries colloquially wobbly can also mean, a fit of temper, also referred to as "Throwing a wobbly!" Or it can refer to something that (or someone who) isn't exactly kosher in some way. "There's definitely something a bit wobbly about that guy!" The River Will he shut up already? I mean, I get that girls like the whole talking thing, but will he just kiss me already? She rolled her eyes as she walked along the worn path, her purple skirt swaying. She heard him behind her, the sound of his boots crunching a twig, the way his jeans hit the air, and his voice, which was soft, almost unsure. This worried her; she was trying everything to put him at ease. She was glad he couldn't see her face, with her flooded cheeks from walking the trail, which was awash in spring foliage. Coming around a bend, she saw it. "There! That's the bridge I was talking about." She looked over her shoulder and flashed him a grin, with just a hint of coyness. She started running towards the bridge, her skirt flying, showing her lacy pink boy shorts which hugged her ass. Her breasts bounced heavily in front of her, and she tossed another look behind her to find him jogging after her. Her panties moistened at the idea of him chasing her... catching her... taking her... She giggled as she stopped by the stairs of the bridge, and waited for him. Crossing her arms under her breasts and pushing them up a bit as she panted lightly she looked him up and down as he caught up to her. She spouted some information about the bridge and gave a wild smile before clambering up the steps and stepping onto the suspension bridge. He followed her, as his footsteps let her know. The water of the river rushed underneath them, and down stream a hiker flitted through the woods. She stopped in the middle of the bridge, turning to face him as she gripped the cables of the bridge, watching the water flow over the rocks. This is the perfect spot. I should just kiss him. Right here. It's a picture perfect moment -- bridge, couple, kissing... The water sounds beautiful and it just drives me crazy. She glanced up at him, giving a shy smile to mimic him. His eyes met hers, briefly, before dropping back to the bridge. Fuck... He looks really good... Why won't he kiss me! She held back her frustration by biting her lip, looking him over. Under a button down was a fairly tight shirt, which hinted at the contours of his chest. She yearned to touch him, run her hand over his chest, over the bulge she was pretty sure she could see even in his baggy jeans. He looked up at her again and took a step forward. "It's pretty cool. So open." he turned away from her, putting both hands on the cable and leaning over "High up, too." She nodded, murmuring in agreement. She would never admit her fear of heights, but somehow it made it that much more... electric. Dangerous. She was scared of falling in the river, but she was horny, too; watching him move made her squirm. The way his hand ran through his hair as he turned to face her. He looked conflicted. Glancing down and then back up she gave him another shy smile, and tilted her chin up. He was just a foot in front of her, and a couple inches taller. She let her eyes linger on his lips before looking up into his eyes, her body as relaxed as she could let it be. Inside, she was begging for a kiss, and she could feel the sexual tension that was between them. She couldn't explain it, neither could he. They knew. They knew that they were attracted to each other... sometimes. Other times she was bitchy, he was crazy. But she would tease him and watch his reaction, usually shy and a little freaked out, and that turned her on. This was it -- crossing the line between friends and... She didn't know. Didn't quite care. It was taking a lot of self control not to slide her hand down his jeans and feel what she knew was a hard cock straining against the material. "So... to the house?" He raised an eyebrow, looking past her to the train on the opposite side of the river. That had been her excuse to get him on the hike -- a show wilderness cabin. Fuck, just kiss me god damn it! She shrugged. "Sure." and she turned, making sure her skirt twirled and revealed her ass, and strutted to the end of the bridge. Within minutes they reached a wilderness cabin -- a couple rooms and doors, without the glass or doors themselves. She gestured to let him go first, and explore the cabin. He moved past her and she barely resisted running her hand over his lower back. She slunk in behind him, suddenly too brave. His voice echoed as he spoke. "This is really cool. You could totally just hang out in here." His hands ran over the wood of the walls while he walked from room to room of the small cabin. "Yeah. Or other things." Her voice gave her away. "Other things?" He turned just as she approached him. His back was to the only solid wall of the cabin and he soon realized that something was different. Her eyes were gleaming and she stepped up to him quickly, pressing him back into the wall with her chest on his. Mumbling "Yes" she cupped his cheek with her right hand, and kissed him on the lips. It was soft as her lips met his, and once she felt his lips move against hers she bit his lip, lightly. The moan he let out filled her ears and immediately made her clit twitch and her nipples hard. She let her left hand rub roughly over his pants, finding his hard cock and running the palm of her hand over the length of it. Her other hand found its way to the back of his neck, pulling him in to kiss her. He resisted a little, his right hand trying to pull her left one away. She batted his hands down and started to unbuckle him, at which he groaned, and she pulled away, opening her eyes. The hunger on his face was evident, but it was a war inside him. Her free hand slid from the back of his neck down his chest, then helped with his belt. "I'm fucking down with this coy game." She glared up at him, suddenly angry that he was resisting her when he clearly wanted her as bad as she wanted him. "I want to suck some dick and I'm going to, whether you want me to or not. So shut up, and enjoy it, or make me stop." She left the challenge floating in front of him, daring him to take it, while she dropped to her knees, unzipping him and dropping his jeans, revealing his boxers. She cupped his dick between her hands while she closed her eyes, enjoying the sensation. "Someone could see!" he said in a hushed whisper. His cock bobbed as he said this, though his legs were still. Oh, he definitely likes that... She opened her eyes and smiled wickedly, licking her lips. "Then they get to enjoy the show!" and with that she quickly lowered the waistband on his boxers, revealing his cock, which seemed to radiate heat and glistened at the tip. "And it's a show you're very lucky to have the lead role in" Smirking she took him in her hand, feeling his girth and the silky skin. Unconsciously she let out a soft moan. "What if a park ranger walks by?" His voice didn't waver like before. In response she took him into her wet mouth, sliding the length of his cock between her lips. He gasped, expecting a slow start. She pulled back and ran her hand over the spit-covered shaft. "If it's a girl, she might wanna join." Her eyes glinted again, and maintaining eye contact she licked him from base to tip, swirling her tongue around the head as she took him in as much as she could. His hands suddenly ran through her hair, brushing a lock out of her face. A sweet touch, she noted, as she pushed his dick into her throat, carefully avoiding her gag reflex. She let her free hand trickle down his thigh before climbing back up. As her tongue ran against the underside of his dick his hips bucked. Surprised, she gagged slightly before her teeth came down on his shaft, lightly. He groaned, but not out of pain. Glancing upward she saw his face was one of bliss, and she quickly raked her nails over his thigh -- he seemed to like a bit of pain. She pulled back to gasp for air, stroking him with the forefinger and thumb of her left hand, in slow deliberate strokes. Breathlessly she asked "Did you like that? Your dick sliding down my throat?" She wiped away a bit of saliva on her chin before taking just the tip back into her mouth, swirling her tongue in circles again. "Yes. I like feeling your teeth." His response surprised her, and carefully she ran her teeth over the shaft, watching his reaction. He trembled and bucked his hips again, but her hand kept him from thrusting into her throat. Encouraged by the response she took him between her teeth and bit gently, pulling off him and letting her teeth trace over the head. Immediately she took him down into her throat, both hands braced on his thighs. His hands entwined in her hair and he thrust into her mouth repeatedly. She struggled to keep up, her head bobbing over his cock as it left her mouth, only to scratch down his legs when his cock was rammed into her throat again. After a minute of this, she pulled back, gasping. "Fuck. Not scared of getting caught now, are you?" Her hand slowly stroked his cock while she caught her breath. Her face was covered in saliva and her hair stuck to her cheek. She quickly brushed her hair out of the way and smiled. "Where do you want to cum?" Her hand ran suggestively over her tits, traced up her neck, and she let a digit slide into her mouth. She pulled it out with a pop noise before leaning over to lap at the precum that oozed from his dick. "There." He meant her mouth. She moaned in agreement. "I get to taste your cum? Swallow every drop like a good girl?" she teasingly played innocent, speaking softly between licking his shaft and the underside of his cock. "That's so hot. Yes. Swallow all my cum. Every drop." His hands found their way into his hair again. Annoyed, she grabbed his wrists and pinned them to the cabin wall, making a thud. "If you want to cum you better get your hands off my fucking head." She glared at him, fidgeting from being on her knees, but also from arousal. She loved dominated from such a submissive position. It's like he had all the power, but she controlled his orgasm. She toyed with the idea of teasing him until he begged her, but she couldn't. She wanted to make him cum, wanted to feel him explode in her mouth. He let his hands dangle where she left them, his cock pointing at her. "I bet you're about ready to blow, aren't you?" She grinned at her own joke, then gripping him in one hand she bent down and gently licked his balls, taking one into her mouth to suck. He nodded just as a crack noise came from the front of the cabin. She stood, pushing him into a corner and then down. She threw her legs over his lap as footsteps echoed in the cabin. Adjusting her skirt to cover the evidence, she brushed her hair away from her face. Under her breath she muttered "Just shut up and pretend you're resting." A girl in a sports bra and running shorts and black headphones came through the cabin. Seeing the two huddled in the corner she smiled, before recognizing the position. She looked at the girl and grinned knowingly. "Nice day, isn't it?" He nodded while she responded. "Yeah. Hot though. Nice to be able to cool off here." The runner nodded. "Sure. Don't loiter though. I passed a ranger a ways back. He's probably a couple minutes from here." With that she left, the consistent pounding of her feet on the grounding fading. Moving off his lap she pulled him up. "You're going to watch for the ranger" and she dragged him towards the front of the cabin, positioning him against a wall that overlooked the oncoming path. "Just let me know when you see him" she licked her lips, returning her attention to his cock, finding him still rock hard and ready. "And when you're going to cum" she added as an after thought. Her lips engulfed the tip, and she moaned softly, making her lips buzzed. Slipping him into her mouth she sucked gently before quickly biting down, hard. Not hard enough to draw blood, but enough to make him gasp. She slurped greedily and took him into her throat, her hands sliding up his thighs, over his hips, and up his stomach slowly as she worked over his cock. His hands trembled, as if he was fighting the urge to grab her hair again. Sensing his lacking will power she let her hands cascade down his chest, over his stomach, and her fingers wrapped around his wrists, pinning them to the walls. His hips bucked as she pulled away, desperate to stay in her hot little mouth. "No! I was so close!" He groaned. She smirked. "So?" she bent to his cock and licked it softly, teasingly, while firmly holding his hands in place. She laid wet kisses on the head and traced her tongue downward, running the tip over his balls, tracing each one. "Calmed down yet?" "No." He murmured and strained against her hands. She held them tight and kissed the base of his shaft, then lightly bit where she kissed, and followed it with a luxurious lick. In this manner she continued up his shaft, swirled her tongue over the top and worked her way down. He groaned, drumming his fingers on the cabin wall. She continued this pattern, biting harder each time she completed a circuit, until his breath caught and he was staring out the window. "Ranger." he said. She couldn't hear anything. Suddenly she released his wrists and took him into her mouth, her hand pumping on the shaft, in time with her mouth, which bobbed relentlessly over his cock. The saliva made his cock slick and her fingers squeezed the base as she slurped, releasing just as she thrust him down her throat. His body trembled and his hands wound into her hair, pulling her closer. His muffled moans accompanied the jet of cum that shot down her throat. Her hands against the wall she pushed, pulling out of his grasp just as he finished, leaving a trail of cum on her lower lip and chin. Her hair was sticking to her face and she looked completely disheveled. "Get your clothes on!" she ordered, breathlessly, licking at the cum on her lip. She stood, wiping the cum from her chin, and blocked him from view of the ranger who had just reached the house. Brushing her hair out of her face she smiled brightly and greeted him to cover the rustle of clothing. "G'd'evenin'" He said, ducking his hat and passing by the house completely. "Fuck! That was close..." She turned around to find her partner dressed, his belt in his hand. She giggled and licked her lips, immensely turned on from almost being caught. He nodded, a grin spreading over his face. The River Exploring the woods was something that I loved to do and went as often as I could. Never being one for trails I always just look for unobstructed ways into the woods. Parking my car on the side of the road was a regular occurrence for me. I was always prepared with a backpack full of goodies for those times I did something stupid. After a few hours of walking, I came to a river. The water had been moving at a steady pace and looked shallow. I walked along the bank before coming to a stop at a point where I thought for sure I could walk across with ease. Yes, the current was moving rapidly, but it looked shallow enough to not be an issue. My gut feeling was to not chance it. My confidence thought you got this. Stupid act part one is now underway. I got halfway across when I slipped on a rock, lost my balance and downward I went. Before I could even react the current had me in its grasp and away I went. It being early spring the water was still freezing. I knew I had to get out. Trying my best to work my way closer to the bank and grab onto a fallen tree or branch that I could use to pull myself out of the river. Then I can warm myself up avoiding hypothermia. I floated far along the river before I got a hold of a fallen tree. Losing strength fast I managed to pull myself up on to it before I was completely exhausted. I just laid there for a moment when I thought I heard a voice. I lifted my head which had been a struggle its own. That's when I first saw you. "Hello. Don't you think it's a chilly for a swim?" It wasn't till I looked up at you, that I could sense the sarcasm. I just nodded in agreement. Next I felt you reaching out and pulling me closer to shore with your right arm as your left had been anchored to the tree. It took several attempts on my part, as well as yours but we managed to get me to the river bank. Not wanting to stop the momentum of my rapidly freezing body, you hurriedly led me back to your camp. You had a nice size fire going outside of it. The cabin behind it looked very inviting at the moment. "Not so fast there frosty. Only once you earned my trust will I consider allowing you in my cabin. First priority is stripping you of those wet clothes." I knew this was going to be an endless onslaught of sarcasm with you. I hoped once I was stripped naked the humor may have sympathy on the effects of what freezing water and temperatures will do to the male anatomy. I spotted a wooden bench next to the fire and descended upon it. Way to frozen to move I sat there as you began to unlace my shoes with urgency. Knowing full well frost bite was no joke. Once done you pulled them both off, followed by my socks. My feet hurt beyond belief, and I knew of the importance of getting them dried off and warmed up fast. If not it'd be difficult if I ever expected to get out of there on my own. You then stood up in front of me helped me out of my jacket. Removing my soaking wet backpack first. Once removed you reached for the bottom of my shirt and pulled both the shirt and undershirt off in one motion. The heat on my now topless body felt utterly amazing. I stood up as best as I could and started to fumble with my belt. "Oh, not so fast there frosty. You don't intend to ruin this for me now, do you? I've obviously stripped you 90% of the way. At least let me finish. It's not every day I get to do this. Then again it's not everyday someone decides to join the polar bear club in the middle of the woods either." This time you chuckle at your own joke, as you push my hands out of the way. My belt had been undone by me, so you undid the button, dropped the fly and before I knew it my pants and boxer briefs where at my ankles. I stepped out of them and sat just enjoying the warmth of the fire. At this point I didn't care much for covering myself up just wanted to thaw out. "Enjoying the heat on your bare skin?" "Yes, it's so much better than wet clothes. Thanks for helping me out back there." "Well as I said it's not every day you see someone go floating on past." I stood up stepping closer to the fire, my front side warming up nicely as I genitals came out of hiding and my balls dropped. I turned around to give my backside new warmth. "Hm-mm, look at that perfect little ass." "Thanks. So, I guess I owe you now for saving me." It got quiet for a short time fearing I had said something wrong I turned around to see you just sitting there with an interesting grin on your face. "Wow, you do owe me. I say you standing there totally nude should be good enough, but then of course I'd be lying." Your smile and grin grew bigger. I became even more aware of my nudity now, as your comment made my cock twitch and maybe the heat coming off the fire. I moved my hands to hide it. "No point in hiding it now. I have seen it now just because you're thawing out and your cock is getting excited doesn't mean you have to cover it. Be one with nature let hang." Nakedness had been a thing of mine. I was always quick to jump on any opportunity to strip. Any opportunity to show what an average Joe can do I was all over it. Though I loved the feeling of being nude, so why change now. I dropped my hands as it now hung semi-hard between my legs. My balls had a nice dangle clearly completely thawed out now. I then watched as you moved closer to me, stopping right next to me. "Well don't mind me just want to give you a once over to make sure you didn't get frost bite anywhere." I have to admit I did jump when her fingers first touched my skin. It reminded me of being frisked. She started at my shoulders working her way south to my waist. Then reaching under my arms she went back up to my chest and moving her finger tips along my body. My cock began to react to the stimulation. I was now at full attention. Once she reached the happy trail I had on display only one hand continued downward stretching across the length of my cock. As the heel of your hand cascaded across my shaft making its way to the head you stopped. Wrapping your hand around my cock and stroking your hand back and forth. You kept this grip tightly on my shaft, as you other hand reached under me and began to fondle my balls. "Ahhhh..." I couldn't help it as the moan escaped my mouth. It felt utterly amazing what you were doing. "You're enjoying this. Nice boner and size you have there either. You are clearly a grower not a shower." "To bad it's not about you anymore, time to own up to your debt." A small grin crossed my face with her remark. With that you released my cock stepping back, and sitting on the bench behind you. "Well, it's your turn to strip me now, make it good or your naked ass will be sleeping out here by the fire." Then it hit me that I knew you removed my clothes but I never watched to see what you did with them. As I spun around my eyes glanced around and I couldn't see any of my belongings. "Curious are we... Don't worry as long as I am satisfied in the morning your stuff will be given back to you. If I am not, well then, that's another story." I just stared at her knowing I had nothing. Thinking, this could be a dream and not wanting it to end I just continued with it. I moved over to her, knelt in front of her and began to remove her shoes and socks. Once they were off I began to massage them with my hands. Even bringing them up to my face and sucking her toes into my mouth. My tongue continued to move up along the souls of her feet. Reaching your toes, I sucked each one into my mouth making sure to give each one individual attention. After sometime I stood up repeating what you did to me removing your top and bra. Then standing you up I pulled your pants and panties off in one shot. As you continued to tower over me I began to move my hands up your legs. One on each leg I leaned in and began to use the tip of my tongue to lightly lick the outside of your pussy lips. My hands finally got to the top of your thighs rotating them outward spreading your pussy wide. Moving closer and pushing my tongue in deep the warmth of your juices now beginning to form was a good sign. I felt your hand move to put force on the back of my head holding it in place as the tip of my tongue found your clit. The tip of my tongue flicked your clit in intervals of slow and fast at a steady pace. I could sense your legs growing weak as they dip causing you to almost lose your balance. You then sat back on the bench though twisting so you could lay on it. I moved to the end so you could drape your legs over my shoulders. My sights now on my target I didn't hesitate going for your pussy. The taste drove me crazy as I felt the need for me. I now moved and began to suck each pussy lip into my mouth one at a time trying to suck every ounce of juice you had to offer. I moved up right hand and began to push two fingers up inside of you nice and slow. My left arm went up and I began to tweak your nipples while still keeping a steady pace up on your pussy. The sucking, licking, nibbling, continue with consistency. Though it had only been close to 45minutes. I felt your hips begin to rock signaling you're about to have your first orgasm. You grabbed the back of my head holding my face tightly between your legs rocking violently. "AAAAAARGHHHHHH........." You scream out it what can only mean I just gave you an amazing orgasm. I have no doubt at this moment if there were any animals that may have been stalking us, they absolutely have fled at this moment. Your moaning continued as I continued to lick and suck your pussy clean till you couldn't stand it anymore pushing me back away from you. Your legs collapsed to the ground on either side of the bench. You place your hands on your face as to try to regain your breath. I just say back on the warm ground next to the fire, my hard cock dangling between my legs. I of course wanted to know if I earned a trip inside and chance at round 2. The River Paul's kayak, slid down the slow brown river. He was well into the holiday, to kayak the length of the river. It had long ceased to be the lively stream leaping in stony river beds, that it had been near its source, and now it crawled across flat sparsely populated fenlands, Slow and lazy between high reeded banks, on a long sinuous progression to the sea The sun was glancing slow over the wide water sparkling in the late evening light. The day was receding into one of those gorgeous British evenings, that come so seldom in the late summer but are so glorious when they do. The amber sun on the horizon had lost the heat of the afternoon, and bathed his bare torso in a warm relaxing glow as he almost drifted with the stream. He was proud of his firmly muscled chest, just a sprinkling of dark brown hair. Now it was getting cooler, his skin went to goose flesh for a moment as a breeze gusted over his lightly perspiring body. He coasted on silently barely disturbing the birds now settling into the reeds. After a baking day, the sight of the pub on the river bank was a vision of heaven. He steered over to the bank, and sat down outside to enjoy a well earned pint. The Unicorn Pub was unpretentious, serving the local boatmen and the small local village. Right on the water's edge it overlooked the river, chocolate brown with the silt of centuries, he sat contemplating the sinking sun over the water, pint in hand as generations of locals must have done in that very spot. The land lady of the pub came to collect the empties, smiling at him. Her voice carried only the slightest lilt of the local accent, smooth and deep toned – it felt warm like velvet. Laura was dressed in jeans and a check shirt, open at the collar, displaying a fine deep cleft between slightly freckled breasts, full and firm. Her hair deep auburn and green eyes were welcoming and friendly. She was a striking woman tall, and whilst not skinny had a firm, full figure, that had an immediate allure for Paul, despite being maybe forty five some 20 years older. There was something about her that spoke of the allure of the experienced woman over the fragility of the naïve girl. "You'll be on holiday then I guess," looking at his touring boat pulled up on the bank with his lightweight camping kit. "If you're needing somewhere to put up a tent, pub's got a patch of land about a mile down. Folks can be funny round here about trespassers, but you'd be welcome to use the field – can't miss it, there's a short jetty just as you get to it, and that way you'll have time for another pint." Paul grinned acceptance; he'd pitched his tents every night for a fortnight on the banks, and was just starting to wonder where he might crash for the night. Problem solved, he settled for a last pint to complement his evening meal. The spot for the tent was just as easy to find as Laura had said. The river bank was only a few feet above the water, with a slope into the water, it was thick with brown clay mud. Paul unloaded his kayak, feet squelching in the warm brown ooze. In ten minutes a practiced routine had set up his tent just as the sun finally went down and a swollen moon, full and silver yellow crept over the horizon and the night settled in. The night was hot, sultry and sleep difficult. He lay inside the small tent on top of his sleeping bag, perspiring slightly in the humid night. Paul awoke, to the low purring of a diesel engine. He looked through the flap of his tent to see the early twilight before dawn slanting over the meadow, beaded with dew and strung with a billion gossamer spider threads. Paul lay in his tent staring out of the entrance when he saw a faint white figure moving ghost-like over the meadow. Lying still, he watched as she walked down to the muddy slope, almost ethereal in the grey pre-dawn light he saw Laura, now dressed in a thin white cotton dress. Slim straps over the shoulders and so short it barely covered the firm ass that he'd so appreciated earlier in those tight jeans – certainly short enough to disclose the tops of her white hold-up stockings with each lithe step. In graceful movements She kicked off her shoes, and slipped the straps from her shoulders, her back to Paul's tent, apparently oblivious to his presence. Paul was riveted. As she peeled the dress down to her waist, she was wearing a thin white satin bodice under the dress, which folded delicately over her breasts. As she stepped out, she leaned forward giving Paul a vision of her rounded buttocks, the lace of her French knickers stretched smooth over her pale flesh, emphasising the length of her long, well shaped legs. Bending well forward, feet crossed at the ankles She rubbed her ass cheeks, pulling the gusset taught over her mound, and between her buttocks. Paul was now in no doubt that she was aware, and desirous of his presence. Colour was rapidly starting to return to the world as the sun continued to rise in a cloudless dawn. She stood at the edge of the muddy slope now contemplating the river for a minute, her body clad in soft white, tinged with the pink of the early dawn. The world was silent except for the calls of the water birds, and the soft lapping water. She took a sharp breath and stepped forward. Her long stockinged leg, foot pointed, she slowly lowered her foot into the thick mud, smiling at the feel of the cool glutinous stuff, seeping through her stockings and between her toes. Laura stepped forward into semi liquid mud – three inches deep. Paul watched in fascination as she slowly sank, very slowly, to her knees in the stuff, coating her calves, then white thighs. Settling back on her haunches. Laura started to massage the sticky brown into her thighs, soaking the white nylon and staining the pale flesh between the lace band of her stockings and her knickers. Soon she was scooping double handfuls in a broad path up between her legs, pulling aside the gusset of her knickers, she massaged the grey- brown ooze into her slit, then further back between her ass – cheeks. The flimsy lingerie now a stained wet cord over her womanhood. She continued, smearing the stuff higher now over her abdomen and coating her cupped breasts with the slimy mud. Head thrown back as she knelt in the morning light, revelling in the feel of the cool mud, as it squashed between her full freckled breasts, and smoothing it over her throat. Even at his slight distance Paul could see how the nipples stood hard as the mud soaked satin clung to her round breasts. Laura's hands were now moving in circles over her body – massaging in the thick mud over her buttocks, breasts and abdomen. Sliding the thin straps of the bodice from her shoulders, Laura pealed the soaking fabric down over her soft breasts, they stood firm in the sunlight, nipples firm and puckered. Paul had been sleeping only in his briefs due to the hot weather. He left the tent and walked the few steps to the edge of the river. The kneeling woman looked up from the dark mud – red hair flowing over her shoulders, milk white in the dawn, body streaked with the finger wide streaks of smeared mud. She looked wild, hungry. Like some Celtic queen of ancient days, a finger to her lips to be silent, then a gesture to tell him to stay just where he was. Laura continued her mud bath, pinching her nipples to harder peaks, scooping up handfuls of the stuff to fill her brief underwear – once fine satin, they were now sopping with the mud, she slipped them free sliding over her rounded buttocks before tossing them to the bank at his feet. She knelt naked now except for her ruined white stockings, rubbing the ooze in great handfuls, over her neatly Brazilian trimmed pussy, and the cleft between her buttocks. At last she beckoned – Paul stepped into the mud, feeling the delicious stickiness squelch between his toes. Stepping out of his briefs, his manhood stood erect and throbbing. As he reached her, Laura's hands reached out and stopped him a foot or so away. Scooping up the cool mud, she smeared it up over his taught thighs and tightly muscled abdomen. Her fingers lingered and twisted in the sparse dark curls of his lower abdomen, thickening towards his tight balls and hard angry cock. Finally the cool slippery hands caressed his tight testicles and proud firm cock. He pulled her to him, as they sank down on the muddy slope, their bodies lubricated as they squirmed against each other. His mouth now full on her lips, their hands now smearing the thick mud over each other's yearning bodies. They squirmed like primitive creatures in the semi liquid mud. She faced away from him on all fours, as Paul slopped the thick stuff over her welcoming ass, delineating the line of her sweet pussy and anus with a slippery finger. She turned on him, rubbing his muddy cock and balls over her cheeks, before fastening her mouth on his – kneeling they faced each other now in the slime, he holding her fast in his arms. Slippery body, pressed tight against slippery body. Her graceful clever fingers, slipping up and down his shaft, then lower to cup his balls, Paul moaned slightly as her muddy hand explored his perineum, and finally, to probe his ass with her middle finger tip . From the mud bank to the river was a short step – they swam in the water, washing the mud from their goose-bumped bodies kissing, naked and waist deep in the river before making their way to the short green grass on the bank to dry and warm in each other's arms.. The grass on the bank was soft, lawn like, under a solitary age-old hawthorn tree, twisted and gnarled with time. She knelt on the grass, arranging her tousled hair. He knelt behind her, kissing her lightly freckled shoulders, reaching round her to cup her heavy breasts in his hands. Nibbling and sucking at the junction of neck and shoulder, he was aware of her increasing arousal. Her left hand snaked over her shoulder to caress the nape of his neck, she leaned forward against the tree with the other. Laura purred a low murmur of pleasure, as Paul's kissing continued to trace the line of her spine, she lay comfortably on her stomach on the grass, hands under her forehead, feet slightly apart as Paul explored and tantalised her back. Working lower, ever lower, gentle nibbling, licks and kisses he explored her body with a slowness that built her arousal with an almost intolerable anticipation. She luxuriated in his touch and the growing warmth of the early day. Paul knelt between Laura's creamy thighs. After what seemed an age, she felt his hot aroused breathing across her buttocks, and his lips encountered the valley between the two soft globes, his hands cupping her rounded firm cheeks. With an almost reflexive action, she pushed her ass high in the air, the cleft opened like an exotic flower. Paul feasted his eyes on the vision of Laura's neatly trimmed pussy, and tightly puckered bud of her ass-hole. For the first time Paul was able to see properly the delicate crenulations of her labia, the dark moist welcoming hole stretched wide for his view and her pink button, now unsheathed and begging for his attention. Parting her buttocks wide with his hands, Paul took a lingering lick, savouring her musky wetness, from clitoris back over her pussy lips, sliding his first two fingers into her willing cunt, still he moved further back gauging her eagerness from the tension in her body. As his tongue tip touched her puckered ass, she groaned and pushed back on his face, he continued to tease and tickle her clitoris, cunny and ass. As he felt her arousal build, her gaping pussy dribbled a drop of her honey, to be eagerly licked up by Paul's nuzzling mouth. By now Laura was gasping her arousal. Reaching behind her, her fingers entwined in his hair, pulling him closer to her exposed wetness. Paul, teased her cunt lips with the head of his engorged prick, coating its thick red head with her glistening moisture, before sheathing it deep inside her. His hips ground hard against her rear, slowly, rhythmically pumping his tool into the furnace of her cunt. Laura was close now, gasping for him to fill her, faster, harder into her, begging for him to go deeper. She felt her willing wet pussy stretch welcoming his thick tool as it opened her up. Paul was obviously close too. His long strokes now faster hammering into her, his hips slappping into her firm backside. Surely he couldn't last long before he filled her, but Laura had to come and come now! – Reaching under herself, her deft slim finger sought out her swollen clitoris. It needed only the lightest touch to start a spasm of ecstasy . It started as a growing warmth at the base of her spine – her breath came in short puffs, through clenched teeth her muscles tensed and twitched as it built and then a shuddering explosion of delight. She gasped and cried out loud as the wave hit her and seemed to go right through her. In the release that followed, sobbing and gasping, she was left feeling light headed, her cunt spasming around Paul's manhood. He couldn't control himself any longer, hands clasping her soft breasts, he hunched over her, trying to pound ever deeper into this majestic woman. His mouth gaping and shouting his release, Paul unleashed his pent up seed, pulse after pulse of semen filled her aching vagina. His hot fluids blending with the molten fire that consumed her, as his hips slammed time and time into her buttocks, finally burying himself as deep as his thick shaft would go into her inviting depths. They lay together, he behind her, his thick cock still inside her. His arms wrapped tightly round her, pulling her close, She could feel the slight brush of his chin on her shoulder, inevitably he started to soften inside her, and as he withdrew, a thick dribble of semen seeped from her. Laura gathered his cum up on a finger and tasted her lover's seed – slightly salty, thick and slippery on her tongue and lips. Paul kissed her still sticky mouth, and drawing back looked deep into her eyes. They sat naked under the twisted tree, looking out over the river for a while, her slight body leaning against his firm skin. His hand sought hers, and they sat in silence, and at peace in the warmth of the English sun. The River Eric stopped to wipe his sweating brow with a red polka-dot handkerchief, before renewing his grip on the long pole and pushing the punt along again. He was seventy-three years old and slightly overweight. The poling was very hard work and Eric was looking forward to reaching the end of the journey. Mavis, his wife of fifty-two years, reclined in the double love seat of the boat and looked around at the countryside as they made their placid way along the gently-flowing water. She was also a touch overweight, and her face was filled with wrinkles. Her collar-length hair was thick and a delightful shade of silver-grey. It was their private joke that he wanted to steal it to make a wig as he had gone bald in his early fifties. She adjusted the wide-brimmed hat she wore to protect her from the hot summer sun and took in the splendour of the trees and flowers that grew along the banks of the river. Weeping Willows dipped their long branches into the water, thirsty giants drinking their fill. A small patch of reeds jostled with movement and an otter slid gracefully under the surface. Water lilies with their large pads spread out like sun worshippers basking in the heat. Mavis loved flowers and she enjoyed the riotous display of colour from the crocuses and daffodils, amongst others that she couldn't identify, that filled the gaps between the trees. She could smell their delicate perfume as it wafted over the river in the gentle breeze. Mavis had never been happier than she was right now, travelling through this wonderful countryside with the man she loved so much. The current of the river increased slightly and Eric found that he no longer needed to help it along, so he placed the pole along the side of the boat on the hooks provided and sank down gratefully next to his wife. He wiped his forehead again and said, "Phew! I'm glad the current's picked up a bit; I was getting tired," he grinned somewhat sadly, "I'm getting too old for this sort of thing." Mavis returned the grin ruefully, "I don't think that'll be a problem for much longer. " Suddenly a little morose, Eric's grin faded and he responded slowly, "No, I suppose you're right. Still, I'm glad of a rest." He wrapped his arm around Mavis' shoulder and she snuggled into him. The punt slid effortlessly forward and Eric started to daydream, remembering how he had met Mavis as though it was yesterday. ++++++++++++++++++++ The young man had just moved to the industrial town in search of work. He walked into the local shop, saw a lovely young woman behind the counter and was thunderstruck. She had jet black hair that came down to her collar in a bob, her eyes were a lustrous brown and her milky complexion almost took his breath away. High cheekbones and soft, red lips nestled beneath a delightful button nose. Even with the shapeless and decidedly unfeminine overall she wore, he could see that she had a lithe, slim figure. As he stood staring, her brow winkled slightly as she asked, "Can I help you?" Her husky voice was music to his ears. He shook himself slightly, embarrassed as he said, "I'm sorry, erm... could I have a local paper please and a packet of mints?" She handed them across to him and has he reached to accept them, their hands touched briefly. The feel of her cool fingers sent a spasm up his arm. Mavis grinned playfully at his obvious discomfort, "You're new around here, aren't you?" "Yes, I came here looking for work." "Well the pickle factory's always hiring. If you can stand the smell, the money's quite good." "Oh, right. Thanks." Mavis regarded the young man in front of her. He was about medium height and had broad shoulders that gave him a box-like appearance. Not handsome as such, but his face had an open honesty about it that appealed to her. She thrust out her hand, "Seeing as we're going to be neighbours, my name's Mavis." He took her cool fingers in his hand and once again a tremor ran up his arm, "Eric," he replied. "Pleased to meet you, Eric," she smiled. That was the start of their morning routine. Eric gained employment at the pickle factory and every morning he would stop off at the shop to buy his usual newspaper and mints, and to spend time chatting with Mavis. He was by nature quite a shy, young man and had never been what you might call a Jack-the-Lad, but she was so easy to talk to that he always looked forward to their little interludes. It was some days later; Eric was walking home from the pub after a few beers with the lads from work and was just passing the old graveyard when he heard voices coming from the darkness. "No Jimmy, please. You mustn't." Eric frowned. He knew that voice -- it was Mavis. He knew that the graveyard was the favoured meeting place for young lovers to find privacy, but Mavis hadn't sounded like she was enjoying herself. Peering into the darkness, Eric tilted his head to listen and heard the voice again, this time sounding more alarmed, "Jimmy, please! Stop!" Carefully, Eric entered the graveyard through the slightly open wrought iron gates and crept toward the place from where he had heard Mavis. He looked around a large gravestone and saw Mavis pressed against the wall of a mausoleum, she was pinned in place by a young man Eric had seen here and there in the local area. Her skirt was bunched around her waist and the man was rubbing roughly between her thighs with his face pressed against the side of her neck. Eric watched as Mavis tried to push the man away by his shoulders as she sobbed, "Jimmy, please stop... Please!" A red mist descended and Eric stormed across the small patch of grass that separated him from the couple. He grabbed Jimmy by his collar and pulled back roughly. Jimmy stumbled backwards with a shriek of surprise and landed on his backside on the grass. He looked up in shock and anger at the intruder, "Who the hell are you?" "I'm the bloke that's telling you to piss off before he kicks your head in!" Incensed, Jimmy scrambled to his feet and squared up to Eric, just as a hard fist slammed into his face with a satisfying thud and deposited him back on the ground. He shook his head and placed a hand carefully to his mouth. Jimmy could feel a growing wetness on his throbbing lip and it hurt. He looked back up at Eric, who was shaking with rage. This wasn't Jimmy's scene; he preferred to act tough with those who were weaker, not someone who was both willing and able to fight back. Once again Jimmy scrambled to his feet, being careful to remain out of range and hissed, "You're welcome to her," glancing over at Mavis who was still crying as he spat, "Slut!" With a roar, Eric stormed forward, fists at the ready and Jimmy ran back towards the gate and away. Once Eric was certain that Jimmy had indeed gone, he turned back toward Mavis. Placing a gentle hand on her shoulder, he quietly asked, "Are you okay?" Mavis' only answer was to throw her arms around him and bawl into his shoulder. Unsure of what to do, Eric carefully enfolded her in his arms and rubbed the back of her head soothingly. As they continued to embrace, Mavis began to calm down. She pulled away slightly so that she could look him in the face, blinked back her tears and whispered, "Thank you." Somewhat discomfited, he replied bashfully, "Oh, anyone would have done the same." "Perhaps, but you did... Thank you." Unsure of what to say and ill at ease with her gratitude, Eric could only murmur, "Come on, I'll walk you home." As they walked home, they talked. Eric wanted to know why a lovely girl like Mavis had been with a scumbag like Jimmy. "He was charming, in a rough sort of way," she replied, "I mean, I knew he had a bit of a reputation, but I thought I could handle him. I told him I didn't want to... You know... Until I was married and he said that was okay. We were only in the graveyard for a snog, but he started going too far and I got scared... Especially when he wouldn't stop," Mavis teared up again, "I don't know what would have happened if you hadn't been there." Eric stopped to look at her. Carefully he wiped away her tears with his fingertips and said, "But I did, so that's okay then." They arrived back at the shop where Mavis lived in the little flat above and she searched her bag for her keys. She opened the door, then turned back to Eric and gave him a peck on the cheek. The feel of her velvet lips and the aroma of her perfume intoxicated and emboldened him to ask, "Mavis... Would you... Would you like to go to the pictures with me tomorrow?" She smiled warmly, "Why, yes. I'd love to." ++++++++++++++++++++ The sun was just reaching the western horizon when a small building hove into view. The punt veered towards a small wooden jetty of its own accord and bumped gently into one of the supporting posts with a soft thud. The old couple clambered out of the boat and after Eric tied the punt to the post, made their way to the front door of the building. The door opened into a small, dimly-lit room which was illuminated only by a large candle in a tall glass set in the middle of a dining table set for two. Eric stood behind Mavis' chair and helped her to sit before taking his place opposite her. Ghostly hands appeared and served the first course. It was a light vegetable consommé. A bottle of wine floated through the air and poured a healthy measure of amber fluid into each of their glasses before floating away back into the shadows. Mavis looked around her, "Well, they think of everything." Once the aroma of the soup filled their nostrils, it reminded the old couple how hungry they were, so they began to eat. As soon as a course was finished, the used crockery and cutlery vanished into the darkness as the ghostly hands did their work, until Eric and Mavis sat, each with a tiny cup of Turkish coffee and a snifter of brandy. Eric sat back in his chair, replete and said, "That was delicious." Mavis didn't reply, she merely patted her equally full stomach and smiled. When they had finished their drinks, the candle in the glass centre-piece stuttered and went out, only to be replaced by a line of candles leading up the stair flickering into life. Mavis grinned, "Well, looks like bedtime then." They stood up and followed the line of candles up the stairs and over to a set of ornately carved double-doors that swung silently open as they approached. As they stepped inside the room, Mavis' hand flew to her mouth, "Oh my God! Do you recognise this place?" Eric looked around at the four-poster bed that had carved spiral posts and a thick, heavy, red velvet canopy. The wooden furniture and the painting of two young lovers sat together on a mountainside. He pulled Mavis gently into a warm embrace and whispered, "How could I forget?" ++++++++++++++++++++ The young, fresh-faced bellboy opened the door and led the newly married Mr and Mrs Wainwright into their room. He pointed out the various features and where the en-suite facilities were, accepted a tip, bid them good night and left the room, closing the door quietly behind him. Eric, still dressed in his morning suit looked at his wife... His wife! He thought that his heart would burst right there. Mavis looked so beautiful in her white, silken bridal gown. She smiled shyly back at him. He took one of her hands in both of his and drew her gently to the bed were they sat down next to each other. Carefully he pushed her veil completely away from her face and whispered, "Mrs Wainwright, I love you." Nervously she responded, "Mr Wainwright, I love you too." Gently they kissed and as their passion grew, the kiss became more forceful. Eric insinuated his tongue between her lips and she responded by reaching out with her own to meet it. His hand slid slowly up her side from her hip and cupped her breast. Mavis shivered slightly as she felt his hand massage her tender flesh. Slowly, almost diffidently, they helped each other undress, never letting their lips leave each other, until both were almost completely naked. As one, they moved together, their bodies entwined in the tender, and frightening act of making love for the very first time. Together, they felt the sensations build until as they crashed and exploded over the lovers. They held each other close, riding the waves of ecstasy until they slowly ebbed away, leaving Eric and Mavis wrapped in a warm glow. "Eric, that was..." He placed a finger to her lips, "Shhh," and kissed her gently. The kiss ended and Mavis whispered, "If I'd known it would be like that, I never could have waited." "You and me both!" he grinned in reply. Mavis sighed and snuggled into his side as he wrapped an arm around her shoulders. She playfully stroked his chest and asked, "Want to do it again?" "Do you?" "Yes. Now! I want to do this with you... Forever." Eric kissed the top of her head and agreed, "Forever." ++++++++++++++++++++ Mavis snuggled next to her husband and smiled quietly to herself as they lay together. That first night had been the beginning of a wonderful exploration of physical love and experimentation that had lasted almost their entire adult lives together. She laid her head against his chest, as was her wont. She could feel it rise and fall in a measured tempo as he slept, then she too drifted off into a peaceful sleep. In the morning, they woke early and felt refreshed and ready to continue their journey down the river. The dining area had been set with a continental breakfast for two, fresh rolls and a variety of meats and cheeses. There was also a flask of freshly brewed coffee. The old couple broke their fast in a leisurely fashion before setting out once more on their journey. As with the previous day, Eric had to pole the little craft down the river, but today it was different; it seemed to him that it was easier going. Either that, or the fresh air was actually doing him some good. Also, he had none of the expected aches in his muscles after the exertions of the previous day. In fact he felt ten... No, twenty years younger. He declared, "I feel great today." Mavis turned to look at him and he was suddenly struck by a change in her as well. She looked younger, like she looked in her early fifties. He shook his head and looked again, he thought it must be a trick of the light, but it wasn't. Mavis definitely looked younger. She answered with a puzzled expression, "Me too. Must be the fresh country air." Mavis was not sure what to make of what she saw: she could see a younger, slimmer version of her husband poling their little boat down the lazy river. "No! It couldn't be. Could it? No, these old eyes must be playing tricks on me," she thought, "Yes, that's it. Tricks." But deep down in her heart, Mavis knew that wasn't true. She smiled at Eric, "I think... I think that this is a very special place. I could stay here forever." Eric returned her smile and said, "Forever." Mavis was drawn immediately to the memory of the first time she had seen that special smile. It was not the smile of a happy man; it was the smile of a man genuinely overwhelmed by the emotions that filled his being, and who had no other way of expressing himself. ++++++++++++++++++++ Mavis lay in the delivery room with her legs up in stirrups and a midwife sat on a low stool between her spread thighs. Eric stood at his wife's side by her head and held her hand tightly. The medical people had not really wanted him there. At the time, fathers were expected to be in the waiting room, pacing the floor and smoking endlessly. But Mavis had insisted. She wanted her husband there when their first child was born. He was nervous. This was an entirely new experience for him and he wasn't altogether certain he wanted to take part. He knew that childbirth was, at best, uncomfortable and at worst, hideously painful. Eric hated the thought of Mavis going through that sort of agony, especially as there was absolutely nothing he could do to help. But he had to be strong. She wanted him there, so there he was. The next couple of hours were a time that neither Eric nor Mavis looked back on with any fondness. The shouting and the pain though, were more than compensated for by the arrival of the newest member of the Wainwright family. Eventually, a sweating and exhausted Mavis was presented with a small bundle. She gazed down at her baby and bared her breast, so that the small human she and Eric had created could nestle against her mother's skin for the first time. She looked up at Eric and asked, "So, what do you think... Daddy?" Eric gazed in awe at his wife and daughter and murmured, "She's so tiny... I'm a dad... She's perfect," he transferred his gaze to Mavis, "And you're perfect too. " Mavis lifted the child up and offered her to her husband, "Say hello to your daughter properly, Eric." Carefully, he accepted the baby, uncertain of the correct way to hold such a small child. He was diffident, almost frightened, in case he was clumsy. Eric peered at the face of his daughter and smiled that smile. Mavis watched her husband make his acquaintance with their baby and fell in love with him all over again. The next few months were hectic to say the least, what with midnight feeds and the extra work and expense involved with looking after and raising a baby, but the couple always made sure that they had time for each other. Not always to make love in the physical sense, but just to cuddle and kiss or a quick stroke of his buttock and a fleeting cupping of her breast in passing. When Mavis felt able and their daughter started to sleep through the night, they were able to once again take the proper time to enjoy each other. One night, after a particularly frantic and passionate bout, they lay together in bed and basked in the afterglow and snuggling together under the blankets, Eric heard Mavis whisper, "I want this to last forever." "Forever," he agreed, before they both drifted away to sleep. ++++++++++++++++++++ Slowly, the punt continued its lazy way downstream and once again, the current picked up so that Eric was able to lay the pole aside and crawl down next to Mavis in the love seat. He placed his arm across her shoulders and his hand hung limply down next the swell of her breast. She was absently watching the middle distance, where a small family of swans and cygnets made their dignified way over the water. Dimly she registered the feel of Eric's hand lightly stroking the side of her breast. She shivered slightly and turned her head toward him, "It's been a while since you did that." Wistfully, he responded, "It's been a while since I was able." Mavis began stroking the front of Eric's thigh and let her hand wander further upwards. Her eyes widened slightly as she felt something that she had not felt for quite some time. Her eyes shone and she smiled broadly, "Oh Eric!" He shuddered as he felt his wife touch him intimately; it had been far too long since she had been able to evoke the response she was now getting. He thought back to that last time. ++++++++++++++++++++ It was at the christening of their latest grand-child, and they had travelled down to Southampton where their youngest son lived. After the happy occasion was over, they had retired to their hotel room and settled down for the night. Eric sprawled naked on the bed and waited for Mavis to finish her shower and join him there on the comfortable bed. The door to the en-suite opened and Mavis entered the room. She was completely naked. She was older and her breasts sagged, baby-chewed and lived-in as they were. Her lower torso was a patchwork of stretch marks and wrinkles and it must be said that she carried a little extra weight here and there. Her silver gray hair hung loose and spread its tresses over her shoulders. The expression on her face could only be described as wicked. The River Eric feigned fear and pulled the duvet up to cover himself, "What's going on Mrs Wainwright?" She grinned a filthy grin, "Defend yourself!" "Oh no! You're going to ravish poor little me!" Mavis carefully crawled onto the bed, after all, she wasn't as young as she used to be, "No one can save you, My Pretty." She grabbed the corner of the duvet, "I think we'll be doing away with this," and pulled it completely off the bed in a single motion. What followed was a gentle, slow enactment of physical love. With great care and affection, Eric and Mavis enjoyed each other's company in that most physical of ways. Afterwards, as they lay together, Mavis in her usual place nestling against her husband, she whispered, "Forever." And once again, Eric agreed, "Forever." But it was not to be. Not long after that, Eric started to feel increasingly unwell and was diagnosed with a particularly aggressive form of cancer. His decline from glowing health was both rapid and frightening. ++++++++++++++++++++ Eric came out of his reverie; He preferred not to think about that time any more. Instead, he looked at Mavis and was astonished to see that she looked exactly like she did when they had married. She was even wearing her wedding dress. Mavis had been gazing out at the far river bank as she absently stroked her husband's thigh when she felt a change in the material of his trousers and turned to face him. Her mouth fell open in shock. He looked exactly as he had on their wedding day and was even wearing the same rented morning suit. She looked down at herself in her wedding gown and felt her eyes sting as tears formed. "What does this mean?" she wondered. "I don't know." The current picked up speed and the little punt moved ever faster downstream. They watched as a small, rickety, wooden jetty hove into view. The boat veered slightly as the river's current increased in power. Just beyond the pier they could see the end of the river as it tumbled over the edge of a rocky waterfall. The roar of the water was deafening now and the foamy maelstrom caused a small rainbow to span the river as it tumbled over the cliff. The nearest end of the rainbow was on their side of the river, but the other could not be seen as it stretched out into the distance through the spray from the raging torrent. In a panic, Eric leaned out as they passed the jetty and managed to get a hand to a small rope that hung from the end. He pulled them in so that the boat was butted against a post and was protected from the buffeting water. There was a small sign affixed to the post which read, "Last Chance." Mavis examined the jetty and could see that where it met the bank, a small cobbled path led away into the trees. She knew exactly where that path led. ++++++++++++++++++++ Mavis gazed sadly at her husband of fifty-two years where he slept fitfully in their marital bed. He was a pale shadow of his former self, no longer the hearty, older man he had been just a few short months ago. His bedside was filled with a cocktail of medicines and assorted drugs designed to stretch out his existence just that little bit longer. But Mavis knew that they were now at the upper limit of their effectiveness. He was dying and all she could do was watch helplessly. His eyes fluttered open and he whispered something that she was unable to hear. Placing her ear next to his mouth she asked, "What did you say, Love?" Weakly he repeated, "I... Love... You... Forever." There was a rattle from his throat and he exhaled for the last time. His eyes closed and Mavis knew that he was gone. With tears in her eyes, she took two or three of the bottles from the bedside that she knew contained the most powerful of his drugs. She removed her dressing gown and lay down next to Eric's body, snuggled into his side as she always had. And one by one, she began taking the pills. She began to feel dizzy and was soon unable to make her hands work properly. Her vision dimmed and she could feel rational thought slipping away. Just before unconsciousness took her, Mavis murmured, "Forever." Mavis woke up on a boat and looked around. She was sat in the love seat on a small punt and stood at the rear was Eric slowly working the boat along with a pole. ++++++++++++++++++++ Mavis looked at the cobbled path and then back at Eric. She reached out and took the rope from his hand. Eric said, "Mavis, I have to travel on... You don't." She replied, "I said forever, and I meant it." Mavis let the rope slip from her fingers and once again the boat started following the water as it travelled toward the cascade. Faster and faster, the little craft moved. Within seconds they were within reach of the waterfall. Eric and Mavis embraced tightly and she whispered, "Forever." "Forever." The mist surrounded them... Except it was not the mist. It was golden. It shimmered and danced. It filled their senses and lifted them gently from the boat which carried on its journey over the edge of the cliff and down to the darkest depths below. Eric and Mavis, still wrapped in each others arms started to float up to the rainbow. As they intersected its path, they ceased moving upwards and gently floated along the surface of the coloured bridge. Neither of them knew where it would lead them, but they did know that wherever their journey took them, they would be together. Forever.