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Way to Go

By: EdDivers



When Dan Carney had first stepped out onto the hotel patio at 9 am the heat of the sun had hit him like a wall of fire. Scrambling his six foot frame into his van had been like squeezing into an oven. Now that he was on the road with the windows wide open allowing the rush of warm air give some measure of relief, he reckoned that it had to be the hottest day ever. He pulled the peak of his baseball cap lower to counter the glare of the sun.

Not for the first time he wished he could afford a van with air conditioning. But he had to admit that his art work was not yet earning him enough to take such extravagant steps.

Dan was twenty six years old, and since leaving university he had been making just enough money from his art to keep the wolf from the door. That door was fixed on a tight little downstairs flat in a city which was a long way from where he was at present. 

Most of his earnings came from doing carbon sketches of people. He could do caricatures if requested it, but mostly factual representation that, if he rendered them slightly flattering, usually ensured a better fee. Yes, a few successes with portraits in oils, which he was good at, had helped his bank balance, but he did not yet have the contacts or the stability to build on that.

He would admit to an equal expertise in landscapes, oils or water colours. This meant that his little flat was often uninhabited now. He was always on the move, chasing that illusive masterpiece. He maintained a dream of one day having his own studio, where people would come to view and buy his landscapes or to request a sitting for something more personal. But right at this moment all his art equipment, finished paintings, pads, paints, blank canvases and easels, were stored haphazardly in the back of this van

Hitting the main road east that the hotel manager had indicated, Dan sighed, as he recognised the fulfilment of his dream might be many years away. This near nomadic life he was leading had already cost him a two year hectic and hot relationship with Vanessa. She had been keen to show Dan how generous her voluptuous body could be in bed. Without ever commenting about it, Dan had sensed her motives very early in the relationship. It was her mistaken belief that attaching herself to this, then twenty three year old artist might one day repay her sensuous attention. Dan was the first to admit he had learned much from her profound sensuality.

It had taken her a year to learn that it wasn't easy to be good in bed with somebody who was rarely there. So six months earlier, Dan had returned to his flat from one of his trips to find Vanessa, and her whole wardrobe gone. A note, written on the back of an envelope, merely stated, 'Bye, bye, loser!'

Dan's regrets had been short-lived. Yes, he had looked forward to coming back to the flat to experience the avid attention she gave to his penis, hard or soft. But her frequent moaning and griping during those later weeks he did not miss at all. Now, she was gone, and near forgotten. Too active, he hadn't even tried to replace her.

On this particular day he was heading for the Arrowhead Falls, one of the features of the Ascow River, which he had noticed in a magazine photograph. The falls and various aspects of the river life intrigued him, and he hoped to do some justice to it in water colours or even oils.

This road he was on passed through ever changing countryside, mostly flat with occasional hump backs of hills. Open farmland, a mix of cereal, crops and cattle, shone in the bright sunlight. There was the occasional farmhouse set well back from the road. At one point, about two miles out of town he saw on a hill partly shaded by trees, a large white fronted house, which, he thought seemed slightly out of place in the general lay of the land.

Dan groped beneath his seat, and uttered a loud curse. Dammit, he'd left his water bottle back at the hotel. Intense heat had his shirt sticking to his back, and he could have done with a drink. He could just imagine himself having to slurp in some dubious stream to keep his thirst quenched.

He noticed a cross roads up ahead. Was this the one the manager had advised him to turn left at? Without giving it too much consideration he turned the wheel left. Apart from a few rise and falls the landscape remained very similar, farms, hills, and some woodland.

Driving two or three miles along this road there had been no sign of a river, let alone a falls, and he was beginning to wonder if he had taken the wrong turn. Then up ahead was a farm house, the first that had been close to the road, set just a hundred yards back. Maybe the farmer could give him some directions.

When he was level with the house he pulled the van up onto the verge, under a patch of convenient sheltering trees. He hauled himself out, and stood for a moment, stretching his legs and easing the shirt that clung to him. A wide gate blocked the drive up to the house, and Dan clicked it open, stepped inside and closed it behind him, having noticed a pig and several hens loose beyond what looked like a small garden in front of the house.

As he took the first few paces towards the house, a woman appeared out of the front door, holding a glass of something. She was about to sit down by a table on the porch when she noticed Dan's approach. She put her glass down, and stepped to the edge of the porch.

For some crazy reason, Dan had not expected a woman. From this distance he could not tell much about her. Her figure looked fairly neat in a yellow summer dress, and the way she stood suggested that she was not an aged old crone. Conversing with younger women always made him slightly uneasy, in spite of what he'd experienced with Vanessa.

Cassandra Masters, known to everyone as Cassie, wasn't expecting anyone as she watched the tallish man coming down the drive. Presumably the blue van out on the road belonged to him. Seeing a strange man approach always produced that initial frisson of concern, mainly because it was so rare. Ever since Gordon, her husband, had been killed two years earlier she had run the small farm.

Gordon had been the first and only man she had ever slept with. After succumbing that first time, she had found that she was pregnant, as a consequence, and under pressure from parents, they had married when she was twenty years old. The birth of her son, Vince, had brought some joy into her life, as, very early on, she knew the marriage had been a mistake. 

Gordon owned the farm, and filled the role of farmer very well. The role of husband was a different story. His demands on Cassie were that she helped with the farm, kept the house tidy, cooked his meals, and, when he was in the mood, parted her thighs for him to relieve his physical tension. One of those cold couplings had resulted in a second pregnancy, and the blessing of her daughter, Angela, who was now eight years old. Cassie could not recall anytime when words of love had spilled from his mouth.

Both children were away at summer camp until the weekend, and she missed them terribly. Watching this stranger approach had her feeling that at least here was a break in routine.

As he strode nearer, she was taken by the easy movement of his body, a sway, a rolling walk that she found quite fetching, but didn't know why. She saw the damp patches under his armpits, and the way his checked shirt was glued to his broad chest by sweat. He took a kerchief from a pocket removed his baseball cap, and mopped at his brow. A crop of short, black hair curled out in all directions, and a smile creased his face, as their eyes met.

Something jumped inside her, and she was strangely glad that, because of the heat of midmorning, she had changed out of her working jeans and boots into her thin summer dress. She didn't even question why she was bothered about not having brushed her hair or applied any lipstick. She rarely wore lipstick. 

His walk, his hair, the smile on his open face, all combined to scramble her thinking. When he spoke his voice had a deep brown quality that so fit in with the rest of his persona, as he smiled again, and said, "I'm sorry to trouble you, but I'm not sure if I've taken a wrong turning. I'm supposed to be finding the Ascow River, and particularly the Arrowhead Falls."

Cassie's breath had seized up in her throat. Somewhere inside her brain had developed the realisation that something was about to change. As she stood looking down at him from the porch, taking in the pure masculinity of him, noticing the deep brown eyes, the way his light blue jeans pulled tightly across his thighs, she struggled to formulate an answer.

"Th-the n-next turn off would have been better. But there isn't that much in it. Just a mile down this road there's a right turn along a narrower lane, and that bends directly to the falls." Having spoken she was even more breathless, as the stranger's head nodded, and he half turned away, before turning back to look up at her. God, were his eyes on the front of her dress?

"Might I trouble you-" he began.

Cassie would never know what prompted her next move. This was a complete stranger. He could be anything, but nothing else seemed to matter except to make him the offer, "You look awfully hot out there. Come and sit under the porch. Would you like a cold lemon drink? I was just about to have one." Vaguely she waved a hand at her glass on the table.

For a moment he appeared to hesitate, a serious look on his face. Then he said, as he took the two steps up to the porch, "That's very kind of you," 

Standing on level ground he seemed to tower over her. Looking up into those deep eyes, Cassie could smell the sweat on him mingled with something unfamiliar, but not unpleasant. She was wrestling with twin impulses, one to step back and the other to move closer to him. "Please, sit," she mumbled, before scuttling into the kitchen for his drink.

Just a little confused, Dan eased himself into a chair. Whoever said distance lends enchantment was totally misguided. His early impression of this lady changed as each step along the drive brought him closer to her. Definitely not an old crone, and in that yellow dress her figure was a few points ahead of just 'fairly neat'. As he neared the woman standing on the porch, a wayward breeze stole in from the heated atmosphere and pressed the yellow dress against her thighs emphasising the point where they met.

As he gave her his warmest smile in an attempt to reassure her of his innocent intentions, his eyes took in the way her hair tumbled wildly around her face. Hair that was somewhere between brown and blonde, a tawny colour, that happened to be his favourite. 

That hair framed a face that was just lovely. No make up, the bluest of eyes, which regarded him with some concern he felt, and a mouth that was full lipped and looked so kissable. Dan tried to think of any woman he'd known who could look so good without make-up.

After she had kindly given him directions, he had turned away, then looked back intending to ask for a drink of water. As he began to speak he couldn't help noticing that her nipples pushed out against the thin material of the dress. Did that signify that she didn't need a bra?

When she made the offer for him to sit, he was sure his heart had pushed in an extra beat, as, for the first time, he'd wondered where her husband might be. Dan had noticed the ring on her finger. Standing on the porch close to her, he had thought she had swayed for a moment. A good rich aroma of the earth and something floral, not perfume, came from her. 

As she came back holding out the glass of iced lemon, he couldn't help noticing that her hair was less mussed than it had been. Dan felt flattered. "This is very kind of you," he told her, as she settled down in the chair on the other side of the table. Dan took a quick thirsty gulp at the contents of the glass. It tasted so refreshingly quenching that he had to congratulate her, adding, "I'll enjoy this and not delay you any further."

Cassie felt a twinge of regret that he would leave. Yet common sense told her it was inevitable. To hell with common sense, as she looked directly at him and said, "I don't get much company." She needed to know much more about him, and asked, "Why do you want to see the falls?"

"I'm an artist. I want to paint them and the general river area."

An artist? Cassie tried to cover up her surprise somehow she did not equate his stolid masculinity with an artist. Still it was intriguing. "Might I have seen any of your work?"

He gave a rather bitter chuckle, "Only if you looked in the back of my van." And then, as though he wanted to change the subject he asked, "Is your husband out working the fields?"

Cassie looked from that strong face, out to where one of the pigs was trying to nose his way past the wire mesh into the vegetable garden. What to say? Let him know she was alone and defenceless in this house? But her insides had already told her how she felt about this stranger. Besides, telling him would delay his departure

"My husband was killed two years ago," she said in as matter of fact voice as she could muster. 

The stranger's face showed instant sympathy and concern, "Oh, I'm so sorry. I didn't realise—"

"How could you? "

"How did it happen?" 

"He was helping a neighbour, and drove a tractor along a dip in one edge of a field. The tractor toppled throwing Gordon out but it rolled on top of him. They said it was instantaneous." Cassie was surprised how easy it was to talk about it now. She was almost tempted to tell this compelling stranger how her personal grief had been short lived.

Brown eyes were fixed on her face, "Have you managed the farm alone?"

Cassie had to look away from the intensity of his gaze. "The farmers around here all help each other," she told him, "but I'm lucky enough to have a couple, Anna and Barry Naylor, in their late forties, good honest farm hands, who live in the small shack we have just over the hillock behind the house there."

She looked back at him, into his eyes, so deep, so genuine, and wondered how old he might be. Younger than her thirty years, was her immediate thought, yet there was a worldliness about him that made his age difficult to read.

He glanced at his watch and said, "It's been really pleasant, but I really must get on."

As he stood up, Dan knew he had to keep up his resolve to move. Staying here with this lovely lady had so much appeal, so much so that he found himself trying to make pointless conversation.

"I saw a big white house on a hill just out of town. It looked so out of place"

For a moment he thought she looked just a little annoyed that he would move the conversation to something meaningless. "But she did answer, "Oh, the Cunningham place. Great grandfather made a fortune in timber, but descendants have become general entrepreneurs, fingers in many pies, very rich, very boring."

Looking down at her, at the subtle curves showing at the split neckline of her dress, had him quivering inside. On a sudden mad impulse he said, "Are you able to come with me to show me the way?"

For a moment , he was sure her eyes had lit up, but just as quickly her face fell as she said, "That might have been good, but I have two friends calling for coffee this afternoon."

Dan nodded, hoping his disappointment didn't show. If her reason was genuine, fair enough, or maybe she was just uncertain of him.

"Will you be going back tomorrow?" she asked.

Was this a door opening? "Oh, yes," he said positively, "I'll only be doing a preliminary inspection of things today. Maybe make a sketch or two, ready to make a start tomorrow."

His invitation for her to show him the way had set her heart pounding. Did he really want to be with her beyond this brief meeting? By the same token she wondered what she was getting so excited about. Why was he affecting her this way?

Nevertheless Carrie had cursed the fact that Dianne and Claire were coming around today of all days. Desperately she had wondered if she could phone them, but no ready or believable excuse would come to mind. Yet his request deserved something more than a blind refusal, didn't it? Are you going to take that big step, Carrie Masters?

There he stood, looking down at her, and maybe, down the front of her dress, and she didn't care. Take the step, you fool. Coming to her feet, she asked, "Would you allow me to come with you tomorrow?" And just to divert her motives she added, "I've never watched an artist working before. If you wouldn't mind?"

His answer came back faster than she'd dared hope, "I don't mind at all." he said, as he moved to the edge of the porch. "Nine o'clock too early?"

The fluttering in her chest would not go away, and she said, "I'll be at the gate." A moment's pause, then to add extra garnish to the prospect , "Could I ask your name?"

His laugh warmed her insides even more, "That would be useful. I'm Dan. Dan Carney. 

"My name is Cassandra, most of my friends call me Cassie"

His smile was as effective as his laugh had been when he said, "I hope I will fit into that category."

She tried to keep her voice calm as she replied, "Yes, I think that will be all right. But only if you let me bring the refreshments we'll need tomorrow."

"That'll be good. Till then," he said, and the look he gave her was so intense, so full of something she could not read, it brought a rush of blood to her face.

She watched his tall figure stroll down the drive with that enthralling rolling style, and she noticed how small and firm his buttocks looked under the tightness of his jeans. Another first. Had she ever noticed a man's buttocks before? Oh, tomorrow was too far away.

Opening the door of his van, Dan took a last glance back at the figure in the yellow dress. A small, distant figure, but her image filled his mind. Face, hair, the body hinted at under her dress, her gentle voice, her kindness, all remained with him as he drove away.

Getting his thoughts back on his work, and the directions she had given him, was not easy. He did find the lane on his right, and followed its curve, until through the van window he heard the sound of splashing water. Parking the van on a patch of ground which had clearly been used for that purpose many times, he picked up his A4 pad, a couple of pencils, and tracked the sound.

Cassie Masters, no, concentrate on work. There was initial disappointment as he came to the falls. Not as high as he'd expected, seven metres maybe, but there was no large flow. Four separate streams poured into the river below, each flow scattered thinly as they struck jutting rocks. The photograph he had seen suggested a torrent. It certainly wasn't that.

Dan spent some time deciding where he would pitch his easel on the following day. He sat and made two quick sketches of the scene, before viewing the river above and beyond the falls seeking other worthwhile landscapes. Hot and hungry, he returned to his hotel, to bathe, eat, consider the sketches he had made, and allow his thoughts to return to the prospect of seeing Cassie Masters again.

Cassie prepared to retire that night after having spent much of the afternoon trying to concentrate on what her friends had to say, while her mind continually drifted to that six foot image called Dan Carney. As she removed her clothes, she did something that she could not recall having done for many years. She stood in front of the mirror and viewed her naked body critically. Her breasts had acquired little droop, her belly maybe had a slight swell, but was acceptably level, and her thighs remained strong.

She could be quite pleased with what she saw, but still could not reconcile herself to why she should be viewing herself in this way. There was only one obvious reason, and that was Dan Carney, but what was she expecting? She had been a sensuous person, in her late teens, but Gordon had cooled most of that. All she knew, from chats and gossip with Dianne and Claire, both married, was that she had been missing something in her married life.


Way to Go Ch. 02



Chapter 1 should be read before this follow up.




Freshened by the shower, and looking forward to whatever the rest of the evening might hold, Dan Carney dried himself, and put on the robe Cassie had mentioned. Unless he was mistaken it was brand new, and, as she said, had never been worn.

Going down the stairs he had his stomach juices teased by the aromatic cooking smells that rose from the kitchen. There was quiet gentle music playing on the radio, and Cassie was standing over the hob, as he entered. When she turned Dan thought she looked as lovely as ever, and rather sensuous in the clinging robe she had put on over her naked body. Her blue eyes viewed him appreciatively.

"That robe was bought for Gordon, my husband, just before he was killed," she said, placing a steaming plate on the table. "He wouldn't wear it, because he said it wasn't manly. You've just proved him wrong."

Dan moved around the table to hug her, before leaning back to look into her face, which, he guessed she had washed since their earlier lovemaking. There was no trace of lipstick. Once again he thought how it made no difference. She was just too naturally good looking to need it. Holding her close, that is what he told her. 

She laughed and gently pushed him back, "Sit down and eat. Save your sweet words for later." The intimacy of that suggestion held them both still for a brief second before she asked, "What will you drink with it. There's wine or beer."

"Beer will be fine," Dan told her, and as Cassie moved to the fridge, he looked down at the plate before him. Sausage, she had told him, but she had dressed it up with what looked like a succulent onion and tomato sauce. Quickly tucking in, he was soon telling himself that he had never eaten such tastily done sausage, rarely sat opposite such a delectable lady, and even the beer tasted special. 

They talked tentatively about how much more work his waterfall painting would need, and when he told her this one wouldn't take long, he quickly added that it was only a first attempt.

Both knew that there were deeper things they would need to talk through. Once again Dan found his thoughts dwelling on how little time they has spent together, yet how stimulating that time had been.

Meal over, coffee poured, Cassie stood and saying, "You sit there, relax and enjoy your coffee. I'll get my shower." Dan watched her as she appeared to drift across the floor, her robe wafting out behind her.

Up in the bathroom Cassie, having turned on the shower, slipped out of her robe. Just as on the previous evening, she stood naked in front of the mirror. It was almost a surprise to see her body looked exactly as it had then. Yet it felt so different. The heat that Dan's solid penis had injected into her in such a prolonged manner, just over an hour ago, had her whole being exuding excitement and the desire for more. It was like being woken up from a long sleep.

While the shower water splashed deliciously over her, she couldn't help savouring her thoughts of Dan. In less than thirty six hours he had lodged himself into her thinking. Not many minutes ago he had actually stood, naked, on this spot. My God, he had taken charge of her libido. Already, between her thighs, she was being reminded what it would be like if he was here now. Not possible though in such a tiny shower cubicle. Still, his unseen power filled her.

With ten years in an unfulfilling marriage, followed by two years of total celibacy, was her reaction to an attractive strange man in just a few hours so very strange? Sure enough, in that time many men had been up to the house, most of them were familiar neighbours helping out in some way. Occasionally it would be delivery men, with products for the farm. Yes, one or two had made unsubtle advances, so easily rebuffed, but none had an effect like this stranger, this Dan, had managed. 

She tried to close her mind to the thought that she might only be an occasional conquest to him. Pushing that thought away, she told herself, 'Enjoy it Cassie Masters, while you have the chance.' But she knew she wanted more than just 'having a chance.' 

Dried, she doused her body with a fine, subtle spray of lavender and, even though it was still rather damp, her hair brushed out to her satisfaction. Cassie slipped her silken robe on, and eagerly made her way down stairs.

Dan had been sitting facing the window as she entered the kitchen. Immediately, he stood, and once again she thrilled as his eyes stroked over her body. "Refreshed?" he asked, holding out a hand. "I've poured you a coffee."

She took his offered hand and allowed herself to be led to a chair alongside where he had been sitting. On the radio, with the volume low, Jennifer Rush was singing about 'The Power of Love', one of Cassie's favourite oldies. Cassie looked into Dan's warm brown eyes as she sat down. He could easily hypnotise her with those eyes. 

Watching Cassie settle beside him, noticing how her robe gaped for a moment at the top, Dan tried to shed the troubling thoughts that had assailed him. In an effort to overlay those thoughts he asked lightly, "Do you always spend so much time in the kitchen?"

Cassie laughed, and nodded, "It has become something of a habit." She went on to explain how the living room had the television, and when the children were home it was always on. "So this kitchen, being so big and comfortable, and with most of my household work centred here, is where I relax, listening to the radio or reading."

That led them into discussing what books she read, and it was good to find they had tastes in common. Dan was fascinated by her animation when she talked about Vince and Angela, her children. Her face lit up on the good points, and lines appeared between her eyes when she spoke of any mischievous behaviour..

But they were skirting the real issue, and at last he saw in Cassie's face that she was building up to ask a searching question. When it came, he was not surprised at all, "How long did you intend to stay in the area?"

Dan thought it best to stick with his genuine intentions, "I had always thought in terms of two weeks."

Cassie nodded her head, but all she said was, "Oh."

Quickly Dan added, "That gives us plenty of consideration time."

Cassie nodded, "That'll be useful. Well, better get cleared up here."

Together they cleared the table and side by side at the sink they washed the few dishes, and for Dan it felt good to be in a domestic situation like that. Outside the light was fading as the sun had just disappeared behind a row of trees.

"Come out onto the porch," Cassie said, taking his hand." I often sit out at this time as the sun disappears."

It was very pleasant to sit out on the bench seat out there, and Dan thought how easily they could sit like a long established couple. After a while the radio gave out with a romantic orchestral piece that Dan liked but could never remember the name of.

"Do you dance?" he asked, 

"I'm hopeless," Cassie admitted.

"So am I. This should be good." And he stood, pulled her to her feet, drew her close, and they stepped briefly around the porch before he guided her back through the door into the kitchen.

Cassie gave a little sigh, and laid her head against his shoulder, as they moved, perhaps a little clumsily, yet cosily, over the floor. Enthralled by the intimacy of the moment, Dan pulled the cord of her robe loose and slipped one hand inside to glide over her skin.

He heard her make a little 'Mmm' sound and next minute she was repeating the action on his robe, and within seconds they were skin to skin, belly on belly, and Dan sensed his penis rising against her.

Cassie had been happy to be held close to him, and to find that he hadn't lied. He was just as poor a dancer as she was. None of that mattered as they drifted over the floor. When his hand had slipped inside her robe and glided over her skin she felt all the familiar tingles of earlier returning. 

She had no hesitation in repeating the action on him, and the sensation of the bare bellies rubbing together made her awkward steps even clumsier. That was as nothing though as when, what had been a gentle nudge became a clear hardness, and she wondered whether it would be all right to reach for his erection. Instead she made the more obvious suggestion, and thought how daring her phrasing had been, "Dancing on the bed?"

"Sounds interesting," Dan murmured, his lips nuzzling her hair.

Holding his hand she led him, for the second time that day, up the stairs, and into the bedroom. As they entered she felt his hands pulling her robe from her shoulders. She turned to push his towelling to the floor, and stepped in close so that his now solid erection pressed against her belly, making her tremble. "You look wonderful," his voice was almost a growl, as his hand slid over one breast. What extra delights awaited her, she wondered.

Dan had a clear idea of what he intended, but was determined to make it as good for her as was humanly possible. He didn't want to take, he wanted to give, to show his gratitude to her for just being here, as though she had been waiting for him.

The kiss they shared as they stood by the side of the bed started off very gently, lips circling, tongues only teasing. That was the way Dan wanted it to start. Carefully he eased her back onto the bed, where she lay flat, her legs slightly parted, maybe expecting a quick entry. That wasn't in his plan.

Kneeling alongside her, Dan switched on the bedside light to lend the scene a quiet glow, and then he asked her, "Would you mind if I just looked at you?" 

He saw her eyes widen in surprise then they closed, as her head gave a little shake.

Earlier Cassie had been inhibited about him seeing her naked body. She felt none of that now, even though his request had surprised her. His eyes were on her face as he asked the question. She gave a little shake of her head, closed her eyes momentarily, but opened them almost immediately to absorb the thrill of being seduced in this way.

His handsome face, those deep brown eyes were directed towards her breasts, and his head was nodding in warm appreciation. Being regarded like this was so totally new, so exciting, that Cassie was sure she had started to moisten already.

Dan's eyes moved very slowly, like some hovering hawk over her breasts, before, with equal steadiness travelled over her belly. Cassie's breath shuddered in her throat. It was becoming like some magic caress, as his eyes lingered on that point where her thighs joined, that point disguised by her pubic hair. Was his look a fond one or was it lustful? She didn't care. Finally, giving her thighs calm regard, Dan raised his body from crouching to kneeling so his gaze seemed to require a full exposure of her whole body.

Cassie could not believe that being regarded with such intimacy could be so stimulating. So much so, that when Dan lay down alongside her, and leaned in for a kiss, her response was immediate and almost desperate as her tongue searched inside his cheeks before tangling with his. He would want to be inside her now, she thought.

His hand was smoothing through her hair, before passing to her shoulders and neck. Stroking, stroking, oh so respectfully, and then very slowly it moved onto her breasts, one and then the other, circling over the slope of them, fingers light on her nipples, before tenderly rubbing at them. Electronic pulses coursed from her breasts throughout her body, centring deep, low in her belly, where everything felt to be melting. Cassie became aware of her breathing being difficult.

Dan's touch was so caring. This woman he'd known, this Vanessa, had she shown him the way to a woman's deepest desires? He certainly knew how to find them. What now?

Dan had broken the kiss, and his mouth moved down the side of her neck, then back again, down and back, down and back. What a wonderful sensation. Connie hadn't known that could be so pleasant.

"Oh, Dan, that's so---"

"Just go along with it, Connie. The pleasure is all for you."

How kind he was, how---"Oh!" Her involuntary gasp had escaped when his hand moved from her breasts, but the sense of disappointment had been brief as his lips and tongue began exploring where his hand had been. His tongue licked and probed around her nipples. Next moment his lips closed around a nipple and he was sucking at her. Each suck sent electronic messages to her vagina. God, he was driving her wild.

At the same time, his hand had drifted down, circled her belly a few times, before riffling through her pubic hair. Oh, yes, he was going to touch her secret part, and she knew he would find total moisture. But no, his hand moved onto her inner thigh, where it stroked smoothly, and hinted at touching into her labia.

All too much, all one way, Cassie could hardly keep her head still, but she felt compelled to do something for him. Desperately she groped her hand down over his belly, searching out his erection, longing to reward his manhood, which earlier had afforded her so much pleasure. Her fingers reached the bulbous head, almost silken in its texture. Under her delicate touch his erection felt so large, and she tried to grope along his length.

He gave out a little grunt of pleasure but now—now-

Dan, having been so circumspect and deliberate in his caresses, was well aware that they were reaching a crucial point. He was listening carefully to her breathing and any other sounds she was making. It was all a question of how far he could take her along this next step before she lost total control.

Her fingers reaching over his penis had given him a real buzz. He wondered if he should move his body so that she could get a better grip on him, but that could mean not being able to get his mouth where he intended it to go. He wondered if he turned his body completely to what would be a near sixty nine position whether she had the nous or the incentive to take him in her mouth.

Moving his fingers onto her labia, he decided against that idea. His whole intention was to pleasure her, and with that last touch, he felt her whole body spasm, and her hips lift. Her labia did not need probing, she was so moist, and it was as though his fingers had dived into a warm pool. Her gasping cry also told him that progress had to be steadier.

"Dan, what are you doing to me?" Her words came out as individual croaks of wonder.

His fingers ploughed along the whole valley of her, touching carefully at her vaginal opening which was clearly wide and ready. But when he moved forward to find her already erect clitoris then she really began gasping for breath. Her fingers pinched fitfully on the end of his penis. How would she handle the next move he intended to make?

Cassie, when she could think straight, could not recall a time when her sexuality had been so exposed. Things were happening to her body that had rarely happened before. There had been one young man, just before she met Gordon, who, with his hand up her skirt, had briefly touched her clitoris, but then he had immediately lost it, and that affair went no further. Gordon in the first few weeks of marriage had made cursory probes but never lifted her to where she was at that moment.

Dan's fingers were calm in their caressing, subtle in their exploring. She had to catch her breath. Surely she was about to explode. But what was he doing now? She felt Dan's face moving swiftly down over her belly, his mouth nuzzling in her pubic hair.

She reached down to catch his head, "No, Dan, you can't put your---Oh, no one has ever—Dan! Aah"

His lips were there. One hand stroked her thigh, and while the other was poking gently at her opening, his tongue was lapping at her clitoris. All too much, too much, she felt her whole lower body gaping to greet what she knew was going to be a massive climax.

She tried to warn Dan, but her voice was a mere gurgle in her constricted throat.

Dan knew exactly where she was heading so he slid his mouth away from the creamy, musky centre of her. Quickly moving up over her body, he placed his penis into her desperately hunting vaginal passage and was sure that it was being sucked up into her. He allowed that first stroke to be a deep hard one, for he knew, from her cries, from the heaving of her hips and the wild tossing of her head that she was in the throes of her orgasm.

Her gasps, groans and cries were all of pleasure, and that had been his aim. Now he could just ride up into her, again and again, feeling strong within himself. He was pretty certain that, on this occasion, she would have climaxed even if he hadn't entered her. Too much foreplay was not always the best move, but on this occasion it was so right.

As Cassie gradually came down from whatever cloud Dan had driven her to, she was deliriously fulfilled. Her whole body had spasmed, her vaginal walls were---My God, Dan was still thrusting into her, deep and deeper, harder and harder. Cassie had to admit that one of the benefits of having a fast orgasm was that she then had time to relish the sensation of Dan's erection inside her, that total piston effect.

Yet, in spite of that, she was compelled to give to him, and as his thrusts increased, filling her, thrilling her, she responded with hefty lifts of her hips driving up at him. With a sense of triumph she sensed the brief hesitation in his strokes as he realised she was pulsing with him. He was at full stretch inside her, not drawing back, just push, push, pushing as his climax approached.

Dan had thought he was in charge, knew Cassie had had her orgasm, so when her hips started to match his own efforts he was just a little shaken. God, she was really pushing at him, and he forced himself up to the hilt, he knew his scrotum would release very soon. Without any drawback he flexed his own hips against her, and within seconds he was bursting inside her, releasing his storm as her hips met his demands, 

Delighted that her efforts had brought Dan to climax, Cassie just lay warmed by his weakening twitches, and the fading, gasping grunts that sounded in her ear as he collapsed over her. 

"You witch," was the next sound he made in her ear.

"I did nothing," she half chuckled, "except get caught in a rapturous storm." As he began to slip out of her, Dan rolled to one side, and Cassie reached for a tissue. They were quiet for a while, regaining some composure.

"Dan, I've got some bad news for you," Cassie said at last, and almost laughed as Dan sat up and leaned over her anxiously.

"What is it?"

She gave him what she hoped was a lascivious stare and said, "I'm going to tie you to this bed so you can't get away."

His half smile was pleasing, as he leaned over her, kissed her breast, before kissing her gently on the lips, and then saying, "I'd be happy to let you do just that—" He gave a significant pause before going on, "—if I didn't have a living to earn."

"Could you work a farm?" Cassie knew it was a hopeless question.

"I believe I could, but my painting isn't just a hobby."

Cassie had expected that answer, but was half pleased that he didn't dismiss the idea of working the farm. They talked on, admitting that the idea of parting appealed to neither of them. She weakly suggested that he stay for a few nights. The children weren't due back from camp for until Sunday, four days away.

She wasn't surprised when Dan resisted that idea, "We might be establishing something that would make it more difficult for us," he told her.

Sadly Cassie had to agree. In the end they agreed that until they could somehow resolve the situation Dan would continue his painting through the day and come back to the farm in the afternoon or early evening. For Cassie it wasn't satisfactory but at least she would be with him for some part of the day. 

She knew she couldn't accompany him to the falls every day. There were too many farm chores to attend to which she couldn't leave to Anna and Barry all the time. They were willing workers but she couldn't impose on their goodwill too much.




Way to Go Ch. 02



As he drove away that night, Dan had to be careful as the roads were unlit, and his headlights were not that reliable. At one point lights up on a hill really stood out. He realised that it had to be the large house belonging to, what had Cassie said? Yes, the Cunningham family.

But his thoughts would not avoid the pull of wanting to stay with her. It would have been so easy to go along with her suggestion to stay with her for a few days. But there just seemed to be too many complications tied up in that, appealing as the idea was. The return of her children Vince and Angela was an event that could throw an extra complication on the situation.

For a very brief spell he had contemplated just making a completely clean break. He rejected that idea, as he recalled the positive manner in which they had come together. He could have no doubts about the way he was feeling about her, even taking on board the short term nature of their relationship. Reluctantly, he had to thank Vanessa from his past for endowing him with the techniques that had so entranced the sexually deprived Cassie.

So it was that on the following day Dan took his place by the falls and had a good long session on his first canvas. In the early evening he drove up the drive leading to Cassie's farmhouse, and she met him on the porch with a massive hug which he happily returned. From there the evening took on the pattern of the day before; good food (pork chops) followed by good sex.

Cassie wanted each day to pass swiftly to evening. She flung herself into her work, busier than normal, just to speed the time until she saw Dan again. Having given him pork chops, on this day it was to be a lasagne. Seeing his van coming up the drive, she was out on the porch to greet him. She really wanted to make it feel like a real domestic situation.

So when he appeared on the porch she ran to him as a good wife would. She noticed the fairly large item under his arm wrapped in loose brown paper. After Dan had rather awkwardly returned her hug and kiss, he held out the package to her. A broad smile lit his face.

"What's this?" Cassie asked.

"Can't you guess?"

Quickly she tore the paper away to find the waterfall painting. To her unpractised mind it looked absolutely wonderful. "What are you going to do with it?" she asked.

"I want you to have it," Dan said, as they went back into the kitchen.

"But it's the only one you have."

He smiled at her, "It was only a practice. I've already started a second one."

Cassie was so thrilled with his gesture that having placed it on top of the cabinet, she went to him and kissed him avidly. After a lasagne that Dan declared was 'magnificent', they had another erotic evening, in which, once again, he kissed, stroked and licked her into submissive ecstasy, and, as before, it was good. Before he left Dan agreed to finish earlier on the afternoon of the following day so that she could show him around the farm.

Much as he would have liked to, Dan could not escape from the worry that sooner rather than later he was going to need to drag himself away from the comforts, the passions, that had come to him with Cassie. He needed to make a living, and all the pinpoints of domesticity he had encountered were only going to make any break more unbearable.

He drove out to the falls extra early. Why? Because she was going to show him around the farm in the afternoon, and he needed to get as much work done as possible before then. Was Cassie hoping that viewing the farm might make him more willing to stay? Even though he had shown some interest, Cassie knew where his skills lay. .

Her two children were due home the next day. That was going to be another brush with a kind of domesticity. Maybe it would be helpful if the children objected to his presence in their home on a regular basis. Certainly there was going to be a restriction on the closeness he and Cassie had known. A decision in that area would clearly have to be Cassie's. One thing was certain in all his thoughts, his feeling for this lady were strengthening, which increased his worries.

That morning Cassie's thoughts were split between the realisation that Vince and Angela were due home on the following day, and the pleasure she would find in showing Dan around the farm. After her usual farm chores, Cassie spent part of the morning tidying the children's bedrooms. 

Both rooms were on the ground floor, and she wondered how their return was going to affect her relationships with Dan. They would cross that bridge when they came to it, but there were greater worries as she admitted to herself that Dan could not live without his painting, which was likely to take him away from her.

Late morning she made herself a coffee, sat at the kitchen table, pondering the whole situation, as she gazed at Dan's waterfall painting. He really was such an accomplished artist. The way he had sketched her, in so little time the other day, had been most flattering, but it had drawn that first comment of his attraction to her.

With her eyes fixed on his painting a vague little thought began to grow in her brain. Was she being too fanciful? But wasn't any opportunity of finding a way of keeping them together worth exploring? The more she thought about it, the more certain she became. Yes, dammit, she would try it. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Within minutes she was in her own pickup van, driving into town. It was another scorching day, and she was pleased about that, for it fit in with her later plans for the afternoon, when she intended to show Dan more than just the farm. At that moment her excitement knew no bounds, and she was praying that this idea she was now pursuing might be successful. However, she was warning herself that it was a very long shot, and she couldn't tell Dan about it. 

For Dan, despite the heat, his morning work had gone very well, and very good progress had been made with his second painting. He was being much more careful with this one. When it turned two o'clock he was just a little sorry, but he had to pack up to fulfil his promise to Cassie. At the same time he reminded himself that any time spent with her was no hardship.

It was almost standard procedure as he drove up to the house to see her waiting on the porch. Dan was just a little surprised, since they were going to look at the farm, to see her dressed in a pale green summer dress, with the button up front that she seemed to favour. He had been expecting jeans and maybe boots.

They had their customary hug on the porch, before she urged him to follow her into the kitchen. "I have a cool lemon drink for you before we start."

"That will be very welcome," Dan told her, squirming to free his sweated shirt which was clinging to his back. "Would you mind if I took a quick shower first?"

Her smile was quick, as she said, "Please do, and leave that shirt, so I can hang it out to dry."

Within ten minutes, Dan was showered, refreshed and sitting, bare-chested at the kitchen table, sipping at a cool lemon drink which, Cassie told him, was her own invention. His warm appreciation was rewarded with a kiss.

Finishing off his drink, he looked around the kitchen, and didn't see what he expected. Cassie was standing at the sink as he asked, "Where have you put the painting?"

She only half turned her head as she replied in a matter of fact voice, "I took it to town this morning to have a frame fitted."

Dan nodded his approval, "Good idea. I'm sure it will look better that way."

Dan found his shirt had dried very quickly in the sun, and as he pulled it on he said, "Right, I'm ready to see the farm."

Cassie, her blue eyes glowing, came to his side, and said, "Bring your sketch pad with you."

"My sketch pad?"

"You never know," she laughed, taking his hand, "you might want to sketch a duck."

Laughing, and enjoying her enthusiasm he said, "Good idea."

What surprised Dan as they went on there walk around the farm was how much the house and the trees behind it hid most of the farm buildings, the barns, byres, pig pens and chicken runs. 

They all seemed to be set in a line at an angle behind the house that kept them hidden. "Apparently," Cassie told him, "the original family designed it deliberately that way. "

"Good idea," Dan said, breathing deeply having just left one of the pig pens.

Cassie laughed, "You'll get used to the smell."

Quickly she showed him the fowl they kept, and he questioned the need to sketch a duck. But the farm was larger and more active than he had expected. He met the Naylor couple, Anna and Barry, in their late forties he reckoned, an amiable pair, who, judging by the fact that their hands and arms were soiled up to the elbows revelled in their work.

One of the things Dan had noticed was that a rise in the ground had disguised the thick band of trees across the stretch of pasture. When he commented again about not having sketched anything Cassie had taken his arm, and giving him a strange look that he couldn't comprehend, led him across the pasture towards the trees.

"Wait and see," she said secretively. "Maybe you'll find something you can sketch when we're sheltered from the sun."

Absolutely puzzled, Dan allowed himself to be led towards the trees. The nearer they got, the more he realised how vast the area of trees was. It clearly extended way back from the farmland. He was thinking that if they were going among those trees it was going to be a relief, as the sun was still incredibly hot on their backs.

"Just where are we going?" he asked her, looking down into the beautiful face that was turned up towards him.

"I'm going to show you my secret hideaway," she told him. "Somewhere I come to when I want to escape the trials of farming, or anything that has been troubling me."

"I'm really intrigued," Dan told her, and he was. She was acting so teasingly.

Teasing was only part of Cassie's intention, as they entered the cool shade of the trees. She led him along a narrow pathway of shrubs and bushes until they reached a small clearing. This place was so familiar to her that she was sure she could find it blindfold.

"Is this it" Dan asked.

"Not quite," Cassie replied, leading him along one edge, to a point where she suddenly ducked into a small arch of branches. "Follow me. Keep your head low."

Happily to be so close to her goal, she heard Dan struggling behind her. Then she was out into the smaller clearing with the grassy slope leading up to the base of a large oak. Her personal place, and she flung herself down on it, and began unbuttoning the front of her dress. Dan came through the arch to straighten up just as she shrugged out of her dress, holding it close around her waist, her fine breasts bared.

"See, Dan Carney, you have turned me, an innocent young woman, into a brazen hussy. " She looked up at him enjoying the astonished look on his face, held her breasts briefly and added, "This is why I wanted you to bring your sketch pad."

Dan was almost speechless. To come out of that wooded arch to be faced with the image of Cassie half naked in front of him, had his whole body shuddering, and that so familiar response inside his jeans. She sat there like some woodland nymph, looking at him with eyes that dared him to touch her. 

The desire to do that was very real, but he asked, "You really want me to sketch you like that?"

"Down to the waist, yes. Maybe someday you might consider using oils--" Her eyes seemed to glow with fire as she added, "--perhaps all the way to my toes."

The prospect of that task really got to him. In his van he kept an oil painting of a naked Vanessa. That was the only nude he had ever attempted. If this was a ploy by Cassie to get him to stick around, it was a good one.

"Are you going to do it, or not?"

Dan opened his pad, and as he settled his back against a nearby tree he asked, "Why this? Why now?"

She seemed to consider this for just a moment before saying, "So that, when I'm in my sixties or seventies I can show my grandkids that there old granny was quite a swinger."

Dan shared her laugh, and she instructed, "Be honest, no embellishments."

As he started, Dan said, "You are already embellished. Just keep your head pointing the way it is."

How long did he work on it? He was never sure. Getting the eyes and the mouth right was most difficult. There was a sensuality showing there that was a challenge to catch, and he knew it might be easier in colour. The breasts, he felt, he had perfectly, the roundness the darkly moulded nipples, all just right.

At last he took it to her. She took it in her hands. "Do I really look that sexy?" she asked.

Dan kneeled down beside her, "Do you like it?"

Her eyes were on him as she said, "If it shows what you think about me, then I like it. I think you're brilliant, and I'm sure other people will when they see your work." She chuckled and clutched the sketch to her, "Although not this one." 

"It hasn't happened too much," he said, rather bitterly, running his fingers from her shoulder down over one of her breasts.

"But it will. Now get out of that shirt. Didn't I say that I'd never done it in the open air? So this might be a first."

"Life is full of firsts," Dan said cheerfully, flicking his shirt off, and gasped as she leaned into him, and trailed her hands down over his chest.

"And another one is on it's way," she said, and it almost sounded like a hiss, as her hands continued down, one rubbing at the bulge in his jeans, the other fumbling at his belt.

"What do you mean?"

Cassie was determined to show him exactly what she meant, as the waistband of his jeans opened, and, as she slid her hand down inside to find his erection, she raised her face to his and they kissed. She felt Dan's hand trying to slide under the lower part of her dress, and immediately broke the kiss. It was time to give him a clue to her intentions, and with just a slight nudge she had him falling onto his back.

As her mouth and tongue roamed along his neck and onto his chest she managed to mumble, "These past nights you have given me all of your goodwill, enveloped me in sheer rapture, kissed every part of my body, caressed every inch of me." Her hands had been busy pulling his pants down, "Lift your backside. It's my turn now."

Dan protested, "Cassie, you don't have to---"

"Lift!"

How good it was to have him obey her request, and she was able to push his pants down, and she saw his erection, purple headed, fall against his belly, looking so eager for action. Well, Cassie thought, I'm into the right mood to supply just that. She had considered doing this for so long. All she needed now was a little heating up to increase the vitality of the whole event.

Without any more words she brought her mouth up and buried her tongue into his mouth, glad to feel his surprised response. Her left hand stroked over his chest, describing ever widening circles. Dan managed, as she hoped he would, to slide his hand onto her breasts, his magic fingers tickling over her nipples. Almost instantly she was aware of that so familiar, so exotic pulling inside her lower belly.

Oh, yes, that was her delight, and she could so easily just succumb to it. But not today, not out here on her favourite place for languorous relaxation. This was going to be her time to give. Her circling hand ran over his belly, and as it struck against his heaving erection, she set her fingers on a new task of wandering up and down his length. Despite the skin smoothness of his rod there was the strange sensation of stroking a bumpy log or tree branch. 

Cassie allowed her fingers to probe around the bulbous head, doing little flicks at the tiny slit there, thrilling at his moans against her lips. Sensing his heaving up she gripped the whole penis hard, and worked it up and down. His fingers on her nipples were sending so many charges through her bloodstream that Cassie knew she would have to get on with her own intentions before Dan had her bursting.

Breaking the kiss, she slid her mouth down his neck and onto his chest. Lingering briefly there her lips moved down over his belly, while she fingered his penis with featherlike touches. His body squirmed. That squirming increased when her hand checked to gently squeeze his scrotum, and she giggled to herself in feeling that she was juggling with his balls.

Her movement downwards had dislodged his fingers from her breasts as she lovingly rubbed them over his metal hard penis. He made some kind of noise, pleasure or protest? Cassie wasn't sure, as she concentrated on giving Dan pleasure. She had to admit that having his erection between her swaying breasts was highly pleasurable for her.

Now she lowered her body further to where her lips came into contact with that purple head. It was as though he had only just realised her intentions. She felt his hand on the back of her head, "There's no need for you to---"

Cassie knew exactly what he was going to say. But there would be no stopping her now. As the bulk of her body lay comfortably between his twitching thighs, her hand held up his stiff rod, and her eyes studied the swell of the head as she lowered her mouth towards it.

No man had ever had this treatment from her. In the past she knew that she would have considered this action with some revulsion. But here and now, after all the pleasure Dan had bestowed on her over their few days together, Cassie had the need to return his favours.

Out of all the books she had read there had been the occasional reference to women taking it in their mouths. It had appeared to be perfectly acceptable, and in some accounts the woman seemed to enjoy it. This would be her first time, and she so wanted to do it right for him.

Accordingly her tongue licked over Dan's shiny purple penis head, tickling into the tiny slit there. It was good to feel his body shudder, and he had one more mumble of protest, which gave her the opportunity to reply, with words he had used on her, "Just go along with it, Dan." And she slid her tongue right along his length to his pubes, before licking back along the vein on the underside of his penis.

Now, she told herself, here was the first time, and her lips closed tightly around his erection. Did she hear him groan? Good. She allowed his penis to travel deeper into her mouth, her lips and tongue tracing every inch of it. For her it was not unpleasant at all, and knowing it was bringing him delight made it just right. 

Then she checked and ran the head along the inside of her cheek, and that was extra special. It certainly had her whole mouth buzzing, and by glancing down she could see the bulge in her own cheek. All very exciting. Pushing her mouth further on to his rod, Cassie felt it strike the back of her throat. Drawing back a little she was immediately aware of a little involuntary thrust from his hips, which pushed him deeper into her throat again.

Sure he was going along with her, she forced her tongue around the bulk of his penis as it filled her mouth. There was an unexpected salty, bitter taste. Had he ejaculated? Couldn't be, there had been no sign from him, but maybe he was ready to go. Cassie pushed with her mouth harder along his shaft. This was the key part, taking it down her throat. That was what she had read, but she was ready for it.

Dan, at first enjoying Cassie's determination to rule him, had become just a little concerned when her mouth had moved down towards his penis. Her fingers working on him had been great, but he didn't want her to feel compelled to do anything just because he had treated her. Yet, when her breasts pressed against his erection, he had to admit to a warm reaction. 

When she slid between his thighs, thus moving her lips near his penis head, he felt he must stop her. That kind of experience might not be good for her. She had just ignored his protests, and as her tongue ran along his throbbing penis he had to admit that she was definitely getting to him.




Way to Go Ch. 02



Her mouth closing around him had been so special. His penis head striking gently against the back of her throat had been so wonderful that he felt his scrotum heave, and did it just leak a drop? It was then he knew he had the choice of just lying back and pumping his juices down her throat, or being more respectful in remembering that this was her first time at doing this. Maybe later, if there was to be a later, he would succumb to going all the way, but not in these circumstances.

Knowing he was very close, Dan struggled to sit up as he pushed at her shoulders, forcing her mouth back from its deliberate purpose. "Please, Cassie, it's been wonderful. But there's nothing for you if I get the joy of pouring down your throat."

Her head back, her eyes wide, and oh so blue, she protested, "But that's what I want—to give you joy. I wanted to be in charge for once."

"And you can be," Dan told her, and eased her body forward so that she was astride him. "Slide over me, spread your legs on either side of me, take me into you and ride me. God, it won't take long."

Cassie had been disappointed when Dan pushed her back so that she could not keep him in her mouth. She was certain that he had only been seconds away from discharging down her throat. But now, she followed his instructions, and straddled him. Knowing that she was good and moist, she reached for his erect penis, guided it to her opening, and eased herself down.

Immediately, the sensation of his rod travelling up inside her was just magic, yet so familiar, only this time she was in charge. At the same time one of his hands stroked her breast, while the other reached down between her spread thighs, and one finger sought out her clitoris. Cassie heaved up with the wild ecstasy of it. She looked down into Dan's face, his lips were parted and his words were carried on desperate gasps as he told her, "I'm so close, " His finger flickered madly on her clitoris. "I need to take you with me."

Cassie continued to rise and fall, and couldn't decide whether it was Dan humping inside her or his finger favouring her clitoris, but there was no doubt, if Dan was close to orgasm then they would go together.

Dan let out a groaning cry as though he was being tortured, but the fast rise of his hips against her, told Cassie that it was his time. She raised her own hips just once more, and then drove down as hard as she could. That's all that was needed. As they both exploded, their cries rose up among the branches of the sheltering trees.

For Cassie it seemed to go on and on and it was so good. Weakening she lay forward on top of Dan, her lips searching for his. The kiss was long and gentle.

At last, as their lips separated, she managed to say breathlessly, "Another first."

"Yes."

"We've never quite hit at the same time before," she told him, and then with a chuckle she added, "I know how to control you now."

"You were marvellous," Dan said quietly."I wish—" He stopped.

"What?"

"Oh, nothing. Passing thought."

Cassie was fairly sure what he was going to say, but she let it go. It could be painful.

Lying quietly for a while, gently stroking each other, they talked about the following day when the children came home. 

"I'm collecting them in the morning," she told him. "I've thought about this. I'll advise them that you are a good friend, working in the area and that you've been calling for an evening meal. I'm sure they'll be intrigued that you're an artist."

"I hope so."

"Don't be worried. Even though I'm just a little biased, they're sensible kids. Of course, we may have to curtail our sex life at first until we work out something."

Dan nodded his understanding, and then said, "If that's the case we'd better build up a reserve." He rolled on top of her, and, for the next half hour Cassie shared the delight of them satisfying each other.

Despite his concerns, Dan found that the meeting with the children was much easier than he had expected. Angela, only eight, with hair colour, eye colour, and winning smile, Dan could tell she was set to be the double of her mother, whereas Vince's face had a much darker look, with larger features, like his father, Cassie confirmed.

They each eyed him curiously at first, but then Vince held out his hand for a formal handshake, while Angela came and kissed him on the cheek. Dan could see that Cassie doted on them but they were very well mannered, and very curious about Dan.

On that first night, as they sat at the table in the kitchen, Angela asked Dan, "Are you really an artist?"

Dan had deliberately kept his sketch pad nearby, guessing that the question would arise at some time. He extracted the first sketch of Cassie, the more revealing one having been stored away by Cassie.

"Can you tell who that is?" he asked, holding it in front of the girl.

A quick glance brought instant recognition, "Did you really draw that?"

"He did," Cassie told her, smiling as she patted Dan's head. "He's quite a clever boy."

"Could you do one of me?" Angela asked.

"Oh, now, Angela, Dan is very busy."

Dan shook his head," No problem."

Vince had moved around to have a look, "And me."

So that was Dan's first step into catching their affection. He sketched them both that night, and was delighted at their acceptance of him. Apart from the sketching, playing football before the meal was popular.

As expected Dan's sex life with Cassie was seriously disrupted, but on the Wednesday Cassie told him that Anna and Barry had the afternoon off, were going to the cinema in town and had offered to take Vince and Angela. A salacious gleam in her eye, Cassie had told him, "If you can take some of the afternoon off we might have a little playtime."

"I'll have to think about it," Dan said, feigning a shy grin. His work had been going well. The second waterfall painting was finished, and he had started on a scene from further down stream, with the river mirroring overhanging trees. But, at the same time, such progress seemed to bring his leaving time closer. He hated even thinking about it.

However, that Wednesday, after three days of looking at each other, stealing a crafty hug, but other wise totally celibate, they threw their naked bodies at each other like wild tigers. Within minutes, and without any discussion of it, they were in the sixty nine position, with Dan slurping noisily in the cream between her thighs, while Cassie sucked hungrily on his eager erection. 

Each avoided climax, and broke so their hands could explore each other's bodies. As Dan's hands stroked over Cassie's buttocks she jerked as his index finger, not accidentally, she was sure, nudged into the tightness of her anus. Cassie was surprised, after the initial shock, at just how pleasurable it was, and she wondered, briefly, what full penetration there might be like.

However, they ended that little session in the more conventional manner in which Dan reduced her to a quivering wreck with his work on her clitoris, while she gave his penis a thorough mouthing and they came together in a gorgeous mutual bang.

Thursday became the life changer. Cassie had joined Dan and her children in a ball passing game outside, when the telephone rang. Cassie threw Dan a puzzled but worried look before hurrying inside. Dan followed her and stood in the doorway watching her, hoping it wasn't bad news. He hadn't known her have a phone call this late in the day.

Cassie introduced herself, and then she smiled, "Oh, Harold, good to hear from you. You have some news."

Dan watched her face, as she said "Yes." Her eyes looked across at him, as she went on her voice rising, "Who?"

Then came, her voice indicating some amazement," Honestly?" Followed by, "She took it away without paying?"

Dan was thoroughly confused by the conversation as Cassie's eyes kept looking at him with a wild excited glow.

"Yes, how much? Oh, my God, Harold, is that true?"

She listened again, and looking directly at Dan, her blue eyes as briht as he'd ever seen them. He had moved a little closer by this time, "Of course, he's here with me now."

Her face aglow with excitement, Cassie lowered the phone and asked Dan, "Dan, could you be at the Cunningham house at eleven o'clock in the morning."

The Cunningham house? That big white building on the hill? "But why?"

"Just say 'yes'—it's about your painting."

How could it have anything to do with his painting? "My painting? But---"

Cassie was talking into the phone again, "He'll definitely be there, Harold. You'll let them know?"

As she put the phone down Dan started to say, "What the hell's going—?"

Cassie came to him, clasped his hands in hers and drew him to the table, "Please, Dan, just sit here. I have a confession to make."

His head in a whirl, Dan did as instructed, "A confession?."

She sat facing him, her face reddened with excitement, "The waterfall painting you gave me—"

"You were having it framed, you said."

Cassie nodded, "Yes, well that was only half true. That call was from Harold Bramstone, he's an old and dear friend of mine, and he has an antiques and memorabilia shop in the centre of town."

"I think I've looked in his window."

Cassie shook her head, laughing as she said, "Not recently you haven't, otherwise, you would have seen your waterfall painting there."

"What?" Dan stared at her not knowing what to think.

Cassie reached out a hand to touch his, "I'm sorry that I was so secretive. The day after you gave it I sat and looked at it, so desperate to keep you here. It was only a remote chance when I went to see Harold, but he agreed to frame it and put it in his window. As I said having it framed wasn't a total lie."

Dan was weighing up what he had heard in her phone conversation. "He has sold it?"

Cassie's head nodded emphatically. "When he asked me what price he should put on it I hadn't a clue. He was very impressed with it, by the way. I said I would trust his judgement. If someone made an offer he thought reasonable to accept it."

"So it is sold?"

"There's more," she said, and she was so like a child at Christmas that the similarity he had seen with her daughter came to mind. "The person who came in wanting to purchase it was---none other than Mrs Nancy Cunningham, just the wife of the multi-rich entrepreneur."

"From up there?" Dan gestured vaguely out towards the hill.

Cassie nodded, "Harold said she loved it, and he was so dumbfounded himself that he allowed her to take it away for her husband to see it and make an offer."

Sharing some of her elation now, Dan leaned forward, "So what has happened?"

"She phoned Harold with her husband's offer, and the request that you go to see him tomorrow, with any other work you may have."

When, after his anxious request, Cassie told him what the offer had been, Dan almost fell off his chair. No work of his had ever sold for that staggering amount. He jumped up, unable to contain himself. "Oh, my God. Cassie, you little beauty!" he chuckled, as Cassie, face alive with delight, came into his arms, and they hugged wildly.

"Are you two in love or something?" Angela's voice piped from the door way.

Behind her Vince cried, "Is dinner not ready yet?"

The following morning Dan turned up at the farm just after nine. Cassie had never seen him look so formal, in jacket and sober blue tie. They sat and drank coffee, talked about what might happen, about the amount of money he'd been offered. "Hell, think of the gear I might buy with that."

The children were eager to be told what that big white house was like inside, "See if they have many dogs," Vince asked.

Dan left at half past ten, after a long warm hug. Cassie tried to busy herself. The children would be going to the gym in town at two o'clock and to their credit they helped her with the chores around the house. 

Midday came, no sign of Dan. 

One o'clock arrived, but Dan didn't. That was two hours, Cassie fumed impatiently, what could he be doing up there? The initial news about the sale of the painting had been so exciting, but now, what could this follow up mean?

Two o'clock and still no Dan, but the father of Vince's friend arrived to pick up Vince and Angela to take them to the gym. "Back about four," he called as Cassie met him at the gate, and her children bundled into the back of the car. As they drove away, Cassie stood and looked up the road, but there was no blue van. 

She poured herself a glass of lemon and sat out on the porch. It was two thirty five when she saw the blue van appear over the horizon. Being so pent up, Cassie had to overcome the urge to run down the drive. She couldn't imagine what could have taken him so long.

Standing on the edge of the porch, she watched as Dan guided his van up to where she stood. To her surprise he stopped it there, climbed out and strode towards her, his head shaking.

"My God," he cried, as he came up the steps, and reached out for her. "My God! You're wearing the same dress that you were wearing the first time I saw you standing here."

Enjoying his enthusiastic approach she was still too eager to know what had happened, and she struggled free from his grip. "How did it go up at the house?"

Dan took her hand and led her into the kitchen, "Wow, that house. You wouldn't believe how big it is. Goes back much further than—"

"Dan, just tell me about the house later. What happened with Cunningham?" her voice had begun to show her irritation. Was he just teasing her?

Dan's face creased as he said, "What a surprisingly lovely couple they are. With all their money, they are so down to earth. Nancy Cunningham must have been stunning when she was younger---she's very attractive now at –what? Must be in her sixties."

"I've met her," Cassie hissed, her exasperation rising. "Are you going to tell me---anything?"

"I had about thirty canvasses in the van and while he viewed them we had a sherry."

"And--?"

It seemed like Dan's composure suddenly broke up and his teasing could not go on as he said with laughter locked into his voice, "He liked all of them. Had a good old leer at the nude I have of Vanessa. Told me I was highly talented, and said he would buy two others."

"The nude? You never told me about that."

"No, two other landscapes. Then he asked if I'd prefer cash."

"How much?"

Dan's voice broke as he gave her the figure, and she leaned across and hugged him. "Wonderful, wonderful. Why are you so late?"

"His original reason was to see if I could do a large portrait of Mrs Cunningham." Dan chuckled as he went on," He pointed at the Vanessa nude, and both of them laughed like mad, as he said 'Not quite as revealing as that." 

Cassie frowned, "Go on." She could tell from the way Dan's face had suffused that there was more.

Dan nodded, "He asked if I'd be happy doing a portrait, and I showed them the sketch of you and of the kids. Mrs Cunningham recognised you immediately. Thought it was a brilliant likeness. Have you met?"

"At charity events.."

""Anyway I offered to do a sketch of her there and then, at no extra cost. Mr Cunningham told me he'd see about that."

"And you sketched her?"

Dan nodded, "I advised them I'd be working faster than I normally would, but we went through to the conservatory where I started work."

"Was she pleased with it?"

"Hold on," Dan said with a grin, reaching across to place his hands on her knees. "After about forty five minutes I was almost finished and that was when a couple of their close friends, a man and his wife, arrived. It was obvious they were in the same financial bracket as the Cunningham's."

"So?"

"The visitor asked if I'd sketch his wife said he'd pay for it. So I did one there and then, and just like Mrs Cunningham—who has told me to call her Nancy, by the way. Her suggestion since she would be posing for me. Anyway, the visitors were just as happy with the result."

"So they should have been. You, Dan Carney, are just brilliant," She stood and drew his head against her breasts. At the same time she unfastened the top buttons of her dress so his lips were against the rise of her skin. All this talk of his success had her moistening. "Want to celebrate?"

He looked up at her, sliding his hands along her smooth thighs under her dress, as he replied. "A good idea. But I haven't finished yet. Please sit down again."

Puzzled at the serious look on his face, Cassie sat, still enjoying the fel of his hands, gentle on her bare thighs. "What else?"

Dan drew in a deep breath before saying, " Mrs Cunningham, Nancy, led the guests away somewhere else because Mr Cunningham said he wanted a private word with me. We sat in their vast conservatory and he asked me about my ambitions, and I told him what I hoped for in time---my own studio—a selling point---you know."

"And?" Cassie just couldn't imagine what might be coming next.

Again Dan hesitated, as though having trouble with his breathing, "He looked hard at me—into me—he has such piercing eyes, and he said he had an offer for me."

"What kind of offer?"

Cassie knew it had to be good just by the look on Dan's face as he began to speak. "He has offered to sponsor me. Told me that given his entrepreneurial habit, for twenty per cent of all profits, he would finance a location and any extra materials I might need. There were two shops vacant in town that he knew of that might be good locations, and any alterations to form a working studio he would arrange."

Cassie wanted to reach for him but found she was just too stunned and Dan went on, "He asked if I wanted time to consider." His eyes were warm on Cassie, "Well, just taking twenty per cent off the money I earned this morning still left a hell of a lot. I accepted after a pretend few minutes. He's told me to take a look at the two shops that are currently empty."

All Cassie could manage was, "Oh, my God. My God, Dan. This means--" She started towards him again, but he held up a hand, "There's one more thing. Have you any champagne?"

Cassie shook her head, "Sorry. Of course, you want to celebrate. Brandy do?"

"That'll be fine."

In no time Cassie found two glasses and poured two liberal amounts of brandy. When she brought them to the table Dan was standing, smiling fondly at her. He took his glass in one hand, and urging her to do the same, took a little sip.

"Here's to—" Cassie began but Dan held a finger to his lips.

"I have a little speech to make," he told her.

For Cassie the last half hour had been a mounting series of surprises, but now a speech.

Dan put his glass on the table and drew her close. Immediately Cassie was aware of the bulge in the thinner pants he was wearing, and she was delighted since it matched the moistening that had been building between her thighs as his news developed.

"My father once told me that once your luck changes it usually changes big." Dan's face was very close to hers and she wanted to kiss him but he went on. "That moment I first saw you dressed exactly as you are now, I was sure my luck might be changing. But what you have done, what you have been to me, since that moment makes you the luckiest charm I could have ever had. Your actions have brought about this fantastic situation."

Cassie was practically melting at his words. "So how can we celebrate your luck?" she said her hand moving down for that bulge. As soon as she touched it she took a half step away. It wasn't the shape she had expected.

Solemn faced again, Dan reached into his pants pocket, produced a small cube shaped box, and held it out to her. Cassie's leg felt shaky. A box of that shape usually contained only one thing.

"Put your glass down, take it and open it."

Trembling Cassie did just that and found herself looking at a ring bearing, not the biggest diamond in the world, but the most wonderful one she had ever seen. There were tears of pure joy in her eyes as she looked up into Dan's face.




Way to Go Ch. 02



"If I thought it might make you cry I mightn't have bought it, Cassie Carney.

She frowned, "What did you call me?"

"Well, that's going to be your name, isn't it? Drink your brandy."

It was just three minutes later, stoked on elation and brandy, they were naked together on the bed, stroking each other with such warmth, kissing each other everywhere, their skins seeming to melt together. All aglow, Cassie finally lay back, parted her thighs wide, eager to accept Dan's gratitude through the medium of his hungry penis.

Unlike their first time together his entry into her was one long thrust deep into the very heart of her. His draw back was slow, but the second thrust was harder again. She was so ready, her whole being tensed in anticipation of the approaching climax. When it came, her hips, her whole body pressed up to receive him, her blood turned to lava that flowed all over her body.

For Dan this was the last stage of a near perfect day. His earlier delights which appeared to have secured his future, were nothing to that moment when he revealed his future intentions for Cassie, dear Cassie. Now they were all being eclipsed by being inside her once more enjoying the sensation emanating from her orgasm shaking her body beneath him. Her vaginal walls pulled at his erection, as he continued to pulse full length into her. He wanted her to reach those heights beyond anything she had ever experienced just to prove how much he felt about her.

Not for the first time, coming down from her high Cassie realised that Dan was still warmly sliding along her vaginal passage. As ever it was devastatingly good to have him finding that kind of pleasure inside her. Each of his torpedo thrusts was an extra joy for her, and all she wanted to do was to go along with it until she was struck by a second less devastating orgasm. 

Still stroking up inside her, Dan's lips found hers and their kiss was like some added treat. The kiss, hands squeezing her breast, all added to both their excitement, and as faster and faster, his erection heaved into her, with her vaginal juices flooding around it. She knew Dan was about to climax, but quite amazed, Cassie realised that so was she. Yet it seemed so fitting that on this occasion, on what had become such a special day, that they should hit that high in unison.

Their mutual cries of release and joy, seemed to echo through the house, as they hugged and stroked madly at each other, hips heaving, bodies rocking. At last they lay completely still, happy in each other.

"Forever?" Dan asked.

"Forever and a day." Cassie sighed, and she held up her left hand to reveal that her wedding ring was gone and a diamond sparkled in its place. Dan took her hand and kissed it.

At that moment, a car horn sounded from down by the gate. Vince and Angela were back. Hastily Cassie and Dan dressed, before, hand in hand, they descended the stairs towards the rest of their lives.



Way to Go



Climbing into her bed she wondered how well she might sleep, but when the alarm woke her at her usual six thirty she was quietly surprised. There had been no dreams, but the day ahead, the Arrowhead Falls and Dan Carney were quickly to the fore, as she occupied her time with the daily routine of the farm, with the able assistance of Anna and Barry. 

After advising them she would be missing after nine o'clock, she had a quick shower, before deliberating on what to wear. It looked like being another scorching day, but a dress would probably not be suitable for the kind of terrain they would be on. 

Accordingly, she chose jeans and a thin white blouse. Bra or no bra, only took a moments consideration, no bra. She brushed out her hair, and again, after a little thought, she applied a delicate touch of pink lipstick. A good twenty minutes before nine she completed and packed the refreshments she had promised for the day ahead. As she walked slowly up the drive she wondered what else the day might promise, before advising herself that basically seeing an artist at work was all that had been promised.

Dan Carney did have a dream about Cassie. In it she had frowned in his direction, before placing her hands over the dress covering her breasts, and shaking her head vigorously, and mouthing, 'No, no, no.'

However, he awoke feeling good in anticipation of seeing her again. He checked the rear of the van to make sure that all the materials he would need for the day's work were, for once, neatly placed. 

At five minutes to nine Dan drove his van down the road towards the farm of Cassie Masters. He was contemplating what he would do if she wasn't at the gate waiting for him. Would that mean she had changed her mind? Should he just stop the van and wait to see if she arrived?

Given the camber of the road, the house came into view first, and then, very quickly, he saw that his fears were unfounded. A pure white blouse appeared to glow in the sunlight, and the heat Dan experienced had nothing to do with the sun. Getting closer, and he saw her step out to the roadside, her hips slim in light blue jeans, her smile wide as she held up a basket, obviously keeping her promise of refreshments.

Cassie knew she was at least five minutes early, but she couldn't help worrying that he wouldn't turn up. She refused to face the question of whether that could be so utterly disappointing, because she knew the answer, knew she was desperate to see Dan again. Had her observations of yesterday been so misleading?

The first sight of the blue van appearing over the brow of the hill, had her insides quivering. Calm it, Carrie, she warned herself, as she stepped out holding up the basket. 

The van stopped and there he was, his black hair wind blown, his tanned face so manly, his smile so genuine as he opened the passenger door for her to scramble in. He took the basket, and placed it behind the seats. Carrie could see the mixed range of items in the back of the van, and, as she settled herself she realised that the undefined aroma about him on the previous day had been something to do with his artwork. It was a smell that dominated in the van.

"You look very cool," he said, as he set the van in motion, paused, before adding, "and very neat."

Neat? Was that a compliment? But since it raised her pulse rate she reckoned it had to be, and she was compelled to respond, "And so do you." Now how vague a reply was that?

"Well, I'm cool anyway." he said. 

Seeing her up close as she climbed into the van, Dan had immediately noticed the light coating of lipstick, the slickness of her tawny hair, and the subtle perfume which might have been lavender. He just could not resist making his comment.

Once again he had to remind himself that, in spite of her company, he was here to paint. When Carrie asked whether he'd found the falls easily, he told her how he had been a little disappointed at the way the flow was split into four.

"A dry spell with little rain always has that effect," she told him. "If you saw it after a few days rain you'd see a real tumble of solid water."

Dan went on to tell her about other aspects of the river he'd viewed, and how he had selected a point from which to start his painting. Then, he moved his hand from the wheel to indicate his A4 pad between the seats. "See my first impressions in there."

Having driven into the narrow lane he regretted not being able to take his eyes of the winding road to see her reaction to his sketches. But her keen comment gave him some satisfaction. "Oh, they're so good. So accurate. Even in black on white you've really caught the sense of flow." 

Even as he was revelling in her admiration she added, "You're really good."

"Did you doubt it?" he asked, having his words carried on a laugh.

"Never," she replied, joining in with his laugh.

Then he was applying the hand-brake exactly where he had parked on the previous day. Dan risked a quick look at the lovely face beside him, telling himself that she didn't really need the lipstick. This lady had a natural beauty which, in his opinion, was very rare. The urge to kiss her was massive, as she looked at him questioningly.

"Now we unpack and prepare," he said, breaking the spell, and taking his sketch pad with him, he climbed out of the van.

At the rear door, he took out the easel, a canvas, pulled a small box containing his oil paints to the edge. Perfume hit his nostrils, before he realised she was standing beside him. Once again the sun was not responsible for the warmth that suffused his body at that moment.

"Is there anything I can do?" she asked. 

Cassie was happy to have been of some use in getting Dan's equipment to the site he had chosen. She had carried the large parasol that was to provide some protection from the sun, and had watched fascinated as he set up his easel. His movements were so co-ordinated , so positive. She found time to clamber down to the river's edge and deposit the few bottles she had brought in the water to keep them cool. 

It had been a long time since Carrie had been at the falls, and she had to agree with Dan when he commented about what a beautiful area it was. He had brought two folding chairs which he placed in the shade of the parasol, and gestured for Carrie to sit in one, while he remained standing as he set out his palette and chose his starting colours, explaining to her as he went exactly what he was doing.

He fell silent as he commenced painting, and Cassie took the hint that he was in deep concentration. She was perfectly content just watching his movement, the creasing of his brow as he worked, the movement of his fine hands. They were indeed fine, long fingered, and she wondered what it might be like to be touched by those fingers.

She found it fascinating to see how definition appeared on his canvas as he worked. There were four separate spouts of water and she could see the first, the farthest away taking shape, in greys splashed with white. 

After almost two hours Dan put down his brush, and turned to give her a smile, "Bored yet?" he asked.

"Not at all," she replied, adding rather boldly, "I enjoy watching you."

"A drink of water would be appreciated," he said, and had his eyes wandered down over her blouse as he spoke?

"Just water?"

"There's a choice?"

"There are a couple of bottles of beer or a flask of coffee." 

His eyes on her face were appreciative as he said, "Water would be fine."

Cassie stood and moved towards the descent, "I hope it's cool enough."

Dan watched her nimble figure, move easily down the rough descent. He would never admit it but having her near did impinge on his concentration. Time and again he found himself wanting to look at her, to see that face, the hair, the eyes. Just a moment earlier, when he'd been asking for a drink, he couldn't help noticing that the way she was sitting had tightened her blouse over her breasts and the nipples were prominent once more.

The bottle of water she brought back was indeed cool enough and he gulped at it gratefully. As he lowered the bottle he saw that she had been watching him, and she immediately looked away and began drinking from her bottle. The bending back of her head, revealed the throbbing motion of her throat as she swallowed. It also tightened her blouse, so that he had to look away, and bend to his brush once more. 

Shortly after he started and almost as though she sensed she was distracting him, she said, "It's so long since I've been here. I think I'll take a little stroll downstream. Find you some other interesting subject locations maybe."

She put on her wide brimmed hat, and Dan laughed as he said, "Mind you don't fall in."

"I'll be careful," she replied, and quickly disappeared behind some shrubbery. Dan immediately began working furiously at his painting. In spite of Carrie's presence, he was quietly pleased with how it looked. Now he had to make as much progress as possible as some instinct told him that he wasn't going to get in a full day's work.

Cassie took wary steps as she moved down towards the river edge. She knew that even though there was a rough path along the water's edge, it was still very uneven underfoot.

She had wondered whether her presence might be effecting Dan's concentration, and noted that he hadn't protested when she told him she was going for this stroll. Yet at the same time she was hoping that her presence had some effect on him. She tried to advise herself that she shouldn't be thinking like that, but surely she hadn't misread the way he looked at her,

After walking a while, she found a place where she could settle on a rock in the shade of a lone sycamore. The busy activity of a kingfisher, and the comings and goings of a pair of water voles fascinated her so that she sat for a long time. When she got back to where Dan was stooped over the canvas, his smile of greeting was so warm she had an eager compulsion to reach out to touch him. When she saw his canvas she had to gasp in admiration at how much he'd done.

"I've been working rather faster than I usually do," he admitted, "just to see how it turns out."

"Could you eat now?"

Once again his smile bathed her, "I thought you'd never ask," he said.

Eagerly she watched him eat, and listened to his complimentary words as he tucked into the sandwiches of thick ham and pickle, the hard boiled eggs, the potato chips, all washed down with the coffee, she had brought in a flask. While eating, and in answer to his question about children, she proudly told him about Vince and Angela.

Suddenly, Dan picked up his sketch pad moved to sit on the ground across from where Carrie sat, and said, "Just sit still and look towards the falls."

"What are you going to do?" She knew very well what he was going to do. "Oh, you're not --I'm not a good subject." But she patted nervously at her hair.

"Please, just sit still."

In a surprisingly short time, he stood and showed her what he had drawn. Her first comment when she saw his representation of her face was a defensive, "You've flattered me. You've made me look— too attractive."

"It's in the eye of the beholder," he said quietly.

It took her only a moment to grasp the significance of what Dan had said. She looked up at him standing over her, trying so hard to ignore the sparks that seemed to be there between them.

Dan knew he had been taking a chance in doing the sketch. For a start he had not asked Cassie's permission, fearing that she would refuse. But, after the excellent refreshments she had provided especially for him, the compulsion to do something to show his gratitude had been strong. The sketch itself, although done quickly, had been easy, and he felt it portrayed exactly the way she looked. 

When he had made his comment about 'the eye of the beholder,' he had felt the glow of that moment immediately afterwards as their eyes met. Now they were silent, and Carrie was looking away down towards the base of the falls.

"See something down there?" Dan asked.

She shook her head, "No, I was just remembering Vince, my son, talking about his father taking him behind the waterfall."

"You can get behind the falls?"

She looked up at him, "Oh, yes. Want to see?"

The prospect really appealed to Dan. There could even be an angle he could put on canvas sometime. "It will certainly be a place to stay cool."

As she stood up, he advised her, "It looks pretty rugged down that way. Just stay close and step where I step."

He took very deliberate steps all the way down the rocky slope, very aware that she was close behind him. Just before the flat pebbles of the river's edge, there was a drop of almost a metre. Having made the jump himself, Dan, without even thinking about it, held up his hand to guide Cassie down. For a brief moment, she looked at his hand, then at him, thus reminding him of what he was doing.

Cassie took his hand, and easily jumped down to the pebbled base. It was the first time there had been any physical contact between them, and there appeared to be no hurry for either of them to let go. But eventually they did.

Taking Dan's hand could have been a bold move for Cassie, but she hoped she had just planted an idea into Dan's head which was going to lead to the most provocative move she had ever made with any man. The plan having just materialised in her own mind as she'd looked at the falls, she asked herself if she could really go through with it. Had she really become so eager? She knew exactly what they would encounter if they went under the falls.

Dan had already moved to the cliff base where the first spout of water began. He was trying to peer beyond it.

"There's spray right across the gap," he told her, looking back dubiously.

"I remember Vince saying they had to dash past that."

Dan nodded, "You game?"

Was she? She had gone through with it this far, now she was ready for some revelation."If you really want to have the experience."

Cassie wondered if Dan had caught her double entendre as he nodded, smiled and turned away. Ducking his head, he darted through the spray. Standing out in the sunshine, Carrie could see his shape through the water spout.

"It's fine, once you get past that spot," Dan called above the splashing of water. "Just dash."

Bending well forward, Carrie made her move, feeling the chill of water on her back. Then she was standing beside Dan. As he asked, "Okay?"

"Nicely cooled," she said lightly. "Can we go on?"

Dan was looking along the route ahead of them, and he glanced back at Carrie. "Looks like there could be much more spray ahead. Want to turn back?"

"How bad can it be?" she asked, knowing well that this was why she had brought him here. Revelation time, she called it in her own mind.

"Might get your hair wet."

"My hair will dry in the sun."

Dan nodded, turned away and moved forward, "It's the way each spout strikes the rocks on the way down."

Cassie knew that the two centre spouts were bigger than those at the sides, so she was ready for the more pronounced splash on her back as she followed Dan.

When she came alongside him, her own hair was dripping, and she saw Dan's had been flattened. He reached out to flick at a strand of her hair from across her face. The very gesture excited her, as they stood and looked at each other. Cassie realised that she was breathing heavily as though she had run a race. She knew a very big moment was not far away.

"So I guess we're dead centre in the falls. It must be impossible in the rainy season." Dan was looking out to where the river ran away from them. "Any point in going further?"

Carrie shook her head, "We'll get just as wet going back." Saying it almost brought a smile to her face, as Dan darted away in the direction they had come. She followed close behind him, but as the spray fell over her, she remained straight backed, and felt the chill of the water all over her. What was Dan's reaction going to be when they emerged from their exploration?

Dan went straight on through the spray of the first spout, and stood in the sunlight , pushing back his hair, squeezing water from the shoulders of his shirt, contemplating taking it off to dry on a bush. But he turned to look at how Carrie's hair had coped with the return journey.

When she appeared, his throat seized up, his heart hammered in his chest, his legs trembled. It wasn't her hair, it wasn't her delightful face. His eyes could only stare in some time stopping wonder, at the front of her blouse. Only it was no longer the blouse he could see there, it was as though it no longer existed. 

Cassie's breasts were completely exposed by the clinging wetness of the garment. So thin was the material that the whiteness had been absorbed by the colour of her flesh underneath. Dark brown nipples were stabbing through the material. As his lower belly responded he wondered how only the back had been wet as they entered.

Looking up at her face as she stood so close to him, what he saw in the lowered lids of her eyes, in the pouting curl of her lips could only be pure desire, matching exactly what he was feeling.

"You should be out of that wet shirt," she said, her voice strangely hoarse, as she reached out as though to unbutton him.

Manly respect went out of the window as he pushed her groping hands to one side, pulled her towards him, briefly noticing pleasure in her face, before their mouths came together, and they clung to each other, wet and wild. Dan's tongue probed for hers, and he found it just a little slow in responding although her lips were hot and eager.

Wasn't this what she had planned for? Locked in his arms, lost in his kiss, Carrie knew for certain, that from the moment she first saw Dan Carney striding up the drive, a moment like this had been her priority. Initially she wouldn't have dared admit it, knew her uncertain life would have had difficulty with this recent sensuous act, this desperation to reach out to an unknown man.

How had she come upon the notion of what effect her wet blouse would have? His sketch of her and that suggestion from him, that she was beautiful. She hadn't misread that, had she? No, this kiss his tongue searching for hers gave her that answer. Kissing with tongues was something she recalled vaguely from her late teens. 

In directing Dan's interest in going behind the falls, she had long known, Vince had told her, that it was rather like taking a cold shower back there. Oh, she had known so well what affect this thin white blouse would have when wet.

Dan's hands were moving over her back, her own were on his shoulders, wanting to move down over his chest. What now? The moistness between her thighs was almost a new experience it had been so long since it had happened. They were surely heading that way. The thought of that, the time since she'd had this kind of feeling, made her long for it, but also concerned about how it would be.

That was the moment that Dan broke the kiss, "I've wanted to do that ever since--"

"Yesterday—same for me," Cassie was happy with his response.

His hand moved over her breast, and as she gasped, he moved it away. "I'm no perfect lover, if that's what you want."

This was an admission she hadn't expected, but she was ready with her answer, "All I want is whatever the fates have in store for us. I'm not used to this kind of consideration."

He leaned back to look into her face with a puzzled expression.

"I'll explain sometime," she said."What do we do now? I seem to have interrupted your work."

As they kissed Dan had the distinct impression that the wet blouse had not been accidental. That thought didn't bother him, rather it delighted him. Cassie was sending out clear signals that overcame his initial inhibitions about coming on to a lonely lady.

There were other aspects of this wonderful, hoped for, yet unexpected, turn of events. As Carrie said, it was stopping his work, and that was something he could not allow to happen. Against that, they were here, wrapped in each others arms already committed to something. 




Way to Go



Dan had noticed how her tongue had delayed in meeting his own. That had felt like inexperience, yet she had been a married woman for ten years. There was so much about Carrie that he did not know, and right at that moment he wanted to know everything.

He looked into her face, so open, such a look of abandonment there now, "It has to happen, doesn't it?"

Her head nodded, but she said, "You'll think I'm being silly, but having wanted it, I'm just a little nervous now."

He gave her a gentle kiss on the cheek, whispering "Don't be. I'm nervous too."

They stood there laughing together at their mutual admission, then he said, "Do you want it to happen out here?" And he gestured around the rough mix of grass and rocks.

Her eyes roamed around the terrain, "I've never done it in the open air," she said quietly, "but on this occasion I think a little comfort would be more fitting."

"You want to go back?" Dan glanced at his watch and was surprised to see that it was past three o'clock. 

"Oh, but your work?"

Dan nodded, "My work is important." Deliberately he tightened his arms around her. "But once in a blue moon something comes along that transcends that importance. I like the idea of comfort."

Clambering back up the slope their hands touched each other almost indiscriminately. When she was in front of him he pushed at her neat tight buttocks, while she reached back and her hand brushed over the spot where his jeans were under pressure. She muttered a little, "Oh."

Reaching the level, they kissed deeply once more, and he stroked her breasts, finding that the blouse was already nearly dry. Then they packed his gear quickly, and were on the road back to the farm. Dan really feared that his excitement would let him down. The pressure of his erection showed no sign of abating as he drove. From time to time he took his hand from the wheel and placed it high on her thigh, and when he did that Cassie leaned across, kissed his cheek, nibbled his ear, but her hands stayed in her lap.

In a sense Cassie could not believe this was happening. Briefly her mind had wandered into a future beyond what was already rushing towards them. What would come next, fond farewells? She dismissed that thinking.

More urgently she was aware of the continuing dampness between her legs. When Dan touched her thigh she longed for him to go further as his touch only added to the eagerness in her loins. Scared to move her hands from pressing the physical ache in her lower body, she was happy to peck at his cheek and ears. She was very aware of what his jeans were disguising. The journey seemed to take ages.

At last they were at the gate, and Cassie said, "I'll open the gate, so you can drive up and park on the other side of the house." She paused and gave him an apologetic smile. "The neighbours would wonder—you understand?"

Dan understood her worry very well. He watched the delightful movement of her as she opened the gate, and he drove inside, waited until the gate was closed. As she climbed back inside, he leaned across and kissed her. Her mouth and tongue responded immediately and with unsuppressed passion.

They managed to break apart, and as he parked the van behind the house, Carrie leapt from the van and hurried up onto the porch. When Dan got there she was standing by the open door, a welcoming, yet nervous smile on her face as she held out her hand for his. 

His hand was gripped tightly as she led him into what appeared to be a surprisingly large kitchen, with a table in the centre and a low cupboard against the wall opposite a sink and work top. A radio stood on shelves to the rear, but Cassie led him to a door on the right, on to a corridor where there were other doors. More importantly there was a staircase which they were quickly mounting.

Dan was trying to control his breathing, and the bursting sensation in his belly. Maybe he should have showered before they did anything, there were streaks of paint on his hands.

As Carrie pushed open the first door, and he saw the large bed with its blue cover, he made that suggestion.

Carrie turned and put her arms around his neck before gasping, "Do we have time for that?"

Dan managed a quick, "I guess not," before their lips came together and their bodies crushed against each other. 

They stood there for a number of minutes, simply devouring each other. Dan ran his tongue along the inside of her cheek, and she responded by doing the same to him. The tingling that provoked seemed to run all the way down to his already aching groin.

At last he broke away, reached for her blouse buttons, "We're overdressed."

He was surprised when one of her hands reached up reflexively as though to stop him. "God, I'm so nervous, Dan."

He gave her what he hoped was a dubious look, "After what you allowed to happen under the waterfall?"

"You noticed?

"Isn't that why you took me under there?" And since her hand had dropped away he continued to unbutton her blouse.

Cassie was totally bemused by her own state of mind. She was wanting all of this, yet she was trying to hold back from it. It was the kind of feeling a young bride might have. Well, she was hardly that, and in a few seconds her naked breasts would be before his eyes, unfettered this time. Beyond that she would soon be revealing that part of her body that only Gordon had viewed.

Was that why she was so nervous? Especially since, she was so wet down there. Without further thought and as Dan pushed her blouse off her shoulders, she rapidly pulled at the buttons on his shirt..

Her breath shuddered in her throat as his fingers trailed down over her breasts, followed by his mouth and she could not hold back a 'hiss'of pleasure as his lips trailed over a nipple. She pushed his shirt away and stroked his broad muscular chest. Everything was coming to a peak, her lower belly, and her insides were pulsing with her need.

Dan was on his knees, unfastening her belt, unbuttoning her jeans, pulling them down, snatching at her panties. He was going to see her, going to see that part of her that so desperately demanded his entry.

Suddenly she felt his lips moving over her belly, seeming to move down. Too much, too much, her insides were begging for it. Frantically she pulled at his head. " No, Dan. In me. Come into me."

Carrie staggered back towards the bed, not believing that she was actually demanding the indecent haste that Gordon had usually imposed on her. But this time her desire was so much greater, so demanding.

Her legs struck the edge of the bed and she allowed her body to fall backwards into the familiar comfort. This she knew would be over quickly, but it didn't matter. It was a need that had to be filled.

Dan was standing over her, and she saw that his jeans were being pushed down. He was viewing her whole naked body, her bare skin, her intimate places exposed under his eyes. But, as his shorts fell away, she had a quick glimpse of his erect penis. That was going to be inside her, and without any delay.

"You sure?" Dan was asking bending over her, his hands moving up her waist and onto her breasts.

Don't ask, she wanted to yell, just do it, but all she managed was, "Yes, oh, yes."

She was aware of him gently parting her thighs, and almost giggled in realising that she hadn't thought of that being necessary if he was going to enter her. But then, Gordon's rough groping had not prepared her for this caring preparation.

Dan was against her, he was placing himself. Oh, yes, oh, please let it be good for him. Then he was inside her, and her vaginal passage seemed to widen to accept him, but this was no rough penetration that her husband had subjected upon her. Dan was moving his erection so slowly up into her, that she felt her hips heave to urge him towards her satisfaction.

Trembling everywhere, she knew that Dan had taken the hint from her hip spasm, as his whole length filled her. Oh, great God, he was immense, jerking up high into her. Her whole b elly seemed filled by his erection. This was the point when Gordon usually spilled. He had been that immediate. As Dan's penis drew back she thought that it was over for him too, and the stirrings inside her told her that this could be mutual.

Yes, oh, yes, she knew she had been so ready, and like some great hot, raging storm her orgasm was upon her. But even as she let go, and her body and mind soared, she realised that Dan was plunging up in to her again, as strong as ever. 

"Dan—I'm - I'm -oh, God--going."

As though from another planet his voice floated into her brain, "Let it come, Cassie. Love it. Enjoy it."

The keening noise she was hearing over his voice was coming from her as she experienced his hardness thrusting over and over again, deep, then even deeper into the very soul of her. 

His voice again, low and sweet close to her ear, "You are just so wonderful."

This solid log inside her didn't stop. His low voice enchanted her and she knew he had missed exploding with her. Yet now, having had an orgasm like she had never experienced in her whole life, Dan's prolonged pounding was continuing. His massive heaving inside her, was surely driving her towards something new. Was there yet another dam that was ready to burst? 

Dan, having been so pent up by all that had happened in the past hour, had feared that he would be premature when he entered Cassie. Add to that the sheer pleasure as he lowered her jeans, and found her sweet tawny bush. Then he had the urge to kiss her belly intending to move his mouth lower, before she made him aware of her desperation.

Touching the smooth skin on her thighs, belly and breasts as he rose over her had not lessened his worries about how he would perform. Yet once he had been reassured of her need, had parted her thighs and made that first easy probe into the surprising moistness of her vagina, he knew it was going to be all right. 

At some point he would remind himself that this was one part of his affair with Vanessa that he could give her credit for. She had always been the leader in their 'screwing' (her word for it), and it was she who had schooled him in the ability to hold back his orgasm no matter how provocative she might be.

For Dan, it was a joy to sense the pleasure he was giving to Cassie. From the moment he entered her he had been overcome by her passion. When her hips had jerked to urge him deeper, and his keen response had made her cry out as her orgasm was almost immediate, he realised how great her desire had been. 

He had tried to kiss her, but her head had been jerking from side to side, her lioness hair sweeping across her face. Dan, happy that she had experienced her orgasm, found the strength to continue to push deeply into her, at times drawing back a good length in order to make some thrusts long and vital. All the time Cassie's vaginal muscles gripped and pulled him onwards.

It didn't take much of this for him to sense her build up again. Her breath gasped out of her. Could he give her two orgasms? He had done it for Vanessa once, but Vanessa had always been highly sexed. Dan was fairly sure that this hadn't been true of Cassie. But yes, he was sure she was on the verge of another burst. Should he let himself go along with her?

Cassie could not believe that Dan had kept going and was taking her up to this new high. Her whole body was alive and tingling. His hands had fondled her breasts, and she was aware that he had tried to kiss her lips but she just could not keep still. She had never felt like this. Every orifice would have gladly taken his hot penis. God, did she really mean that? These were sensations that had never ever crossed her mind. 

Dan's hands were gripping her hips as he pulled her further onto his driving rod. Carrie tried to respond with thrusts of her own but as soon as she moved, as soon as she felt him reach her cervix, it started again.

"Dan!" she heard herself yell, as her whole body opened out and her thighs gripped at him, her heart pounded like a mad thing that was pumping electrified blood into her veins. Every part of her felt subject to each stab of his eager shaft.

As she calmed, and marvelled that she had experienced two orgasms when over the years one had been something of a miracle, she felt that Dan's movements inside her were different. How did he do it? But yes, his strokes were shorter and faster, much faster. For the first time she noticed his breathing, more like grunting.

He was about to pour inside her she was sure, but his renewed movements were giving her added pleasure, heightening her already ecstatic emotions. His arms tightened around her, his rod pushed, pulled back, and pushed again, rapidly and with greater power. Then as his head came alongside hers, she heard his massive groan of pleasure and release, and was positive that she could feel his seed spilling and spurting inside her.

All good things must come to an end, and Dan, having been overjoyed at Cassie's reactions, finally succumbed to the suction of her vaginal walls, and his climax had been massive. He lay for a while flat on top of her, as, very slowly, his penis slithered limply out of its delightful nest, and he sensed Cassie dabbing at herself with something, a tissue maybe.

Catching his breath he was preparing to ask her how it had been. He had a pretty good idea, but he wanted to hear it from her lips. But he didn't have the chance to ask, as Cassie was only too keen to let him know. "Dan, you might not believe this," she began her hand stroking over his chest, "but I've had nothing like that in my whole life."

"It was all right then?" 

"For me any kind of orgasm has been a rarity, but what you've just given me-"

She went on to tell him of how her husband had treated her body. "It was merely a receptacle for his only occasional needs. I was grateful that they were only occasional. And yet—" She paused.

"Yes?"

"I still can't understand why you'd say you weren't a perfect lover."

Since she had been so open about her husband, Dan told her about Vanessa, and how she had been the dominant one in their brief relationship. "So I was never sure about my performance because she was always so critical."

There was a long silence as Cassie seemed to be weighing up what he had told her, and then she asked an important question. "That wasn't just a one off, was it?"

Dan sat up and looked down at her, all of her, lying there, superb in her nakedness, "I don't want it to be. Your husband never caressed you? Kissed your body?"

"He pulled my thighs apart, complained if I was dry, but didn't let that stop him."

Her face was so lovely. He kissed her before saying, "Before I eat you, some real food would be welcome. We might have an interesting evening ahead."

Cassie sat up alongside him, her mouth came up to his once more and as they parted she said, "You go and get a shower. You'll find towels in the small cupboard. And there's a man size towelled robe-" She paused, and her eyes were wide as she looked at him,"- unused. I'll cook us a meal. I only have sausages I'm afraid, but I'll make them special for you. And then—I'll have a shower. And then--"

"We have a lot of talking to do," Dan completed for her, keeping his tone light. They laughed together.

Standing in the shower, with the warm water flowing deliciously over his body, Dan had to face the fact that there was indeed a lot of talking to do. On the one hand he was sure that there could be so much to look forward to with this lady. But the future? Could it be together? 

Chapter 2 will be in without delay, and will follow their progress—if any.