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Second Chances

By: oneiria



She was ramming his cock, as hard as she could now, deeply down her throat. She gently squeezed his balls with each thrust and closed her mouth around the shaft, sucking it like a lollilop, milking it with her tongue, drawing every last precious drop of sperm down her eager throat.

Alice could feel Milton's body convulse as he came, exploding in her mouth, his hands grasping her long silky brown hair before his arms finally relaxed against the sheets. His breaths grew deeper and slower, before deteriorating into snores. Milton had fallen asleep as usual.

After two decades of marriage, their lovemaking had devolved to the robotic plane. Alice was now reduced to MonaLewinskying Milton each Saturday night at precisely 9:30 P.M. He no longer even seemed to have the energy for his weekly missionary ride in her willing cunt.

Alice's fingers absently circled her erect, rosy nipples before tracing their way down the still firm muscles of her abdomen to stroke her throbbing mound. It had not always been like this, she thought, but she should not have been surprised at the way things turned out.

After all, the very first time she kissed Milton it had been on his cock, already brought to full erection by his extremely generous girlfriend and expert fluffer Ellen Dantoni. It had happened at the beach house, during Milton's drunken excuse for an nineteenth birthday party. With all the other birthday revelers conveniently passed out on the floor, Alice had staggered up the stairs in search of the bathroom. She had mistakenly opened the door to the guest room, revealing Ellen and Milton's naked bodies, intertwined in the moonlight.

"Come join us," Ellen had whispered, her brown breasts heaving in the darkness, her arms raised to receive Alice.

Urinary needs forgotten for the moment, Alice had not hesitated. She had simply stripped off her clothes and come to them, her first touch being that of Milton's throbbing cock upon her slithering tongue.

She remembered how Ellen had hugged her, her soft breasts laying against her back as she rode Milton for the first time.

A week later Milton had dumped Ellen in favor of Alice, and the rest, as they say, was history. She had heard Ellen was working at some women's shelter over in Providence now. People said she had turned to the love of women after her experience with Milton. Alice hoped she that she had finally found the happiness she deserved.

As her fingers reached her mound, Alice remembered that the party had occurred on the same night Johnny Hartley died in that fiery crash.

She had been dreaming of Johnny lately, of the way his eyes used to undress her during their American lit class. He had the eyes of a poet, but no one had really understood him. Milton, on the other hand, had the eyes of an actuary. His life's partner was his consulting firm, not his wife.

Alice suspected Johnny's death had been a suicide. Everyone knew about the cliff up on the bluff. It was a popular parking spot. She had seen Johnny up there all the time. He knew where the cliff was. His driving off it had been no accident.

As she stroked herself, she imagined Johnny's hands on her breasts, his mouth down below. He had been the one, she thought. He alone had the soul to be consumed by the love of a woman. To be consumed by her.

She actually felt Johnny inside her when she came, almost as if he were being made real by her fantasies.

Just like the dreams, she thought as she drifted off to asleep. They too were becoming more and more real.

Johnny called to her again.

This time she could even see his eyes, set against the clouds. They were filled with a deep hunger, a consuming passion for Alice's very soul.

Come to the place of my dying, his voice whispered to her, his full lips unmoving, and I will be made real again. Life gives the chosen few a second chance. Don't squander the gift that is offered to you.

She awoke in a deep sweat. This dream had been even more real than the last one.

She knew what she had to do.

She fumbled around in the darkness for her keys, glanced back at Milton's snoring form, and headed for the garage.

On the way to the bluff, the radio started acting up. Alice's favorite talk station seemed to be suddenly off the air, as if it had never existed. No matter which button she pushed, each station was featuring the ever forgettable music of the '70s. Right now she was being treated to Minnie Ripperton.

Loving you. It's easy 'cause you're beautiful.

The steering wheel even felt strange. Thinner. Suddenly she realized that she was no longer driving the Cherokee, but her dad's old Chevy Nova.

She looked at her hands. The slack skin and wrinkles around her knuckles were gone. She now wore the skin of a teenager. Her body and mind felt more alert, more alive than they had in years.

She really was in the past now.

As she pulled off the road into the lookout point on the bluff, she saw Johnny's red T-bird waiting for her. Just as she knew it would be.

"Fa la la la la la. Fa la la la la la. Fa la la la la la la la," the long dead Minnie Ripperton observed..

She turned off the engine, piled out of the Nova and walked over to Johnny's car.

"Hi, Johnny. Need any company tonight?" she asked him.

He rolled down the driver's side window. Alice could smell whiskey and the stale smell of cigarettes on Johnny's breath. She saw the empty bottle of Jim Beam nestled snugly in the passenger seat.

"Sure, baby," Johnny said, caressing the stubble on his chin and nodding his head toward his now empty, and therefore useless, glass companion sprawled in the adjoining seat. "Get in."

Alice walked around and let herself in on the passenger side. Once she had displaced the empty bottle from its resting place, she turned to face Johnny. "Are you all right, Johnny?" she asked him, her voice full of concern.

"I am now, baby," he told her, as he ripped her blouse and bra from her chest. He savagely bit her right tit and forced her hand onto his crotch. Vaguely recalling the self-defense lessons from Norma Thorton's consciousness-raising group in the early '80s, she viciously twisted Johnny's conveniently offered genitals, grabbed her torn garments, and ran from the car.

She heard the T-bird's motor revving up. "Come back here, you fucking cockteaser," Johnny yelled as he floored the accelerator.

He meant to run her down, Alice knew as she deftly stepped aside and watched the T-bird plummet over the cliff.

So this is how Johnny dies, she thought. Not in some suicidal funk, but trying to run down the ghost of her future self after a frustrated rape attempt. So much for the misunderstood poet theory. So much for lost chances.

She headed back toward the Nova, ignoring the flames and explosions on the rocks below.

As she drove the Nova back from the bluff, she waited for it to change back into the Cherokee, but it never did. It appeared that she was going to be stuck in the past for good. She decided to head over to Milton's birthday party, maybe meet her former self, give her a few quick words of advice.

When she pulled onto the front lawn of the beach house she saw the duplicate copy of her Nova, but it quickly faded into nothingness, leaving her a convenient parking spot. She pulled the present Nova into the space vacated by its doppelganger, got out and started walking in the direction the house.

When she opened the front door, she saw all of her former childhood friends passed out in exactly the same positions they had occupied twenty years before.

There was no sign of her former self. Alice supposed that the laws of physics might allow for only one copy of Alice Swenson in these here space-time parts. She walked over to the easy chair she had been sitting in those many years ago before going up to indulge in the threesome with Milton and Ellen Dantoni. She tentatively put her hand out to feel it. The seat was still warm.

With some trepidation, she walked up the stairs and opened the door to the guest room. There was still no sign of the other Alice. Just Milton and Ellen intertwined in the moonlight as before.

"Come join us," Ellen whispered, her brown breasts heaving in the darkness, her arms raised to receive Alice.

Alice came. But this time to Ellen rather than Milton. She buried her face in Ellen's crotch, tasting the sweet juices of her cunt.

Ellen raised Alice's lips to hers and kissed her deeply and passionately, before allowing Alice to resume her ministrations to her cunt.

As Alice drank Ellen's sweet juices, she felt Milton enter her from behind. He fucked her hard and deep, but it was Ellen's mouth she kissed and Ellen's arms that enveloped her as she came.

As the years went by, she knew she had made the right choice. As Ellen so astutely observed one night not so long ago, stroking Alice's hair as they lay in bed together, "Men are nothing but pigs."

Second Chances



A/N: I hope everyone enjoys reading my writings just as much as I enjoy writing them. Peace and Blessings. 

I jadedly watched steam slowly coil around my hand-painted Artisan coffee mug as I tried my best to concentrate on my case briefings. I was set to defend an eighteen year old African-American male for attempted murder and alleged rape of a sixteen year old female classmate tomorrow morning at around ten. I knew the case would take up the bulk of my day and was going to be one hell of a headache. I had just made partner at my firm, Johnson and Troy, and was given my first hard-hitting case right out the gate. With the scandal being made into national news that stirred much racial and ethical controversy, my involvement was either a smart career move on my part that could greatly influence my current salary and position at the firm, or it was an unwise choice, my boisterous ego and overzealous persona getting me into deeper waters than I can swim in-yet again, that could finish to my law career before it even began. It was already two in the morning and I needed sleep, the five hour energy drink I took earlier now waning. To make matters worse, I was to be in front of one of Chicago's more ruthless judges, Judge Irvine. She was known to be a bitch in and out of the courtroom and was rumored to lack any sympathy in her cold, calloused being. She was twice divorced due to infidelity issues with her two late husbands and was without children; so I can see why she was a bitter and angry old woman that envied anyone with a sliver of happiness in their spirits. To top to top it off, I was starving and the dry, stale bagel I had stolen from the coffee room was making me even more frustrated. There wasn't any cream cheese or jelly either. My morning was certainly turning out to be quite the experience.

I took a small bite out of one of the coffee room's many dry, stale bagels I had snatched to ease my late night hunger, sipping my hot chocolate I had just prepared shortly before from my mug. I had a sudden craving for Chinese food but resisted the urge to call Chin's. I was currently on a low-fat, low-calorie diet that restricted my consumption of all sweets, sugars, and, my favorite, fast-foods. With me being a curvaceous beauty with a weight problem, according to Cosmo magazine, it truly was hard to avoid going through the McDonald's drive through and getting my usual ten piece nugget meal after a long day's work. I did not really consider food to be an addiction before, but since going on this diet I came to realize that those tasty treats I love munching on during my drive home from work, while watching my late-night reruns of Jerry, and my rainy evenings snuggled up in my backwards robe, were causing me to become addicted to their tantalizing flavor. I never knew I could miss the sweet and tangy taste of sweet and sour sauce mixed in with the flavor of fried chicken so much. 

Fuck my life

I looked at my computer monitor sometime later and saw that the time was now 3:45 a.m. I now had a pounding migraine that made every word I read blurry, every yellow streak of highlighter painful to even look at, and the bright desk lamp on my office desk simply unbearable. My case briefings were halfway finished, no where close to being ready for the final presentation. I was supposed to be in the courtroom, ready to address the press, talk to the media, and defend my client in less than seven hours and I had a migraine and lack of sleep. Not the ideal first impression you want to make as your first time as newly elected partner. I sighed and buried my face in my palms, running my freshly manicured hands through the thick curly locks of my hair. 

Fuck my life

There was a small knock on the door, but I did not bother to look up to address the person. I thought it was Ursula, the Cambodian cleaning lady that spoke very little English and always smelled of Lysol and vanilla, and just gestured for her to come in and begin her daily disinfecting ritual with a small wave of my wrist. She came in abnormally early to clean the entire office suite but was compensated handsomely from what I was told from staff. Every day, without fail, she would flaunt her signature smile and attempt to say "Good Morning" in her thick accent, never daring to part ways with her weapon of choice-Clorox- and her trusty companion-Windex. This time, there was no aroma of Lysol or Vanilla, but the heavenly scent of men's cologne, Armani perhaps. I heard to door close and someone sit in one of the two leather chairs I had positioned in front of my desk. It took me a moment to collect my thoughts to finally realize that the person that was in my office was not Ursula. I looked up and saw Troy, thee Troy of Johnson and Troy. He was grinning and gracefully had one leg over the other, leaning backwards into one of the cushions lazily. I quickly fixed myself up and fixed my disheveled desk to make it seem as if I had been somewhat productive over the last hour and a half.

I cleared my throat and graced him with a small smile. "Mr. Troy. I thought I was alone in the office. I did not know I had company." I began to ramble nervously, intimidated by his carefree demeanor and shroud of silence. "If I knew you were here, I would have said hello or made your coffee or umm...got your briefs prepared."

"It's quite alright, Tasha. I decided to come in a bit earlier than usual and get a head start on the Phillips vs. Texas case. I saw your light was on in your office and decided to drop in and see how the new partner was doing on her first big case."

I laughed nervously as I felt his stare move downwards towards my full, ample breasts, proudly protruding through the deep plunge of my V-neck chiffon blouse. I had a pink blazer over it earlier to conceal any amount of sexuality I could have exude but had taken it off when everyone had left for the evening and I had realized I was alone. My pink lace bra was visible to the naked eye through the taut fabric of my shirt and I began to blush crimson. 

Mikeyl, Mikeyl Darnell Troy was his full name, and I had a romantic affair years back when we were in college together. He was four years my senior and was a semester away from graduating and going to Northwestern to study law. At the time, he had a girlfriend, Shayla Watkins, and was madly in love with her-until he met me. We started off as friends but blossomed into something much more months later when he and Shayla broke it off after some petty argument about groceries. I was a virgin and a freshman in college and he was a well-endowed, truly experienced senior that had aspirations to become a future lawyer that made my panties moist with just a "hello". We did not officially date because of his conflicting feelings with Shayla, but on numerous occasions, we made passionate love throughout many of nights in either his apartment or my single dorm that could not deny our inevitable feelings for one another. After he graduated, we lost contact because he and Shayla reconciled their differences and decided to give their relationship another try; my heart ending up broken and my self-worth now diminished, feeling as if I gave all my love to the wrong person. A few times he tried to contact me but I never responded nor acknowledged his presence. Eventually, we fell off and I hadn't heard from or seen him until I applied for a position at Johnson and Troy-unbeknownst of who the Troy truly was. 

"Still, I would have said hello, Mr. Troy."

Mikeyl sighed and uncrossed his legs, getting in a less formal position. "Tasha, no need for the formalities." He gave a small, sensual smile. "We are friends, aren't we?"

I nervously cleared my throat and looked at my abandoned case briefings. I did not feel like getting into it with Mikeyl. Ever since he found out Chad Johnson had hired me to be apart of their firm, Mikeyl has been trying to win back my affection. It was bad enough he was my first love; I did not need him to be my employer as well. "Sure. But I really need to get on these case briefings. I have court at ten and I am barely through..."

"You know I never stopped loving you."

I grew speechless and began to stare at the yellow streaks of marker I had drew on my files, my migraine damned to hell. My breathing became much more brisk, the yellow lines of marker now beginning to become one. He continued. 

"I haven't seen you in seven years and out of the blue, Chad tells me there is a new lawyer he wants me to meet and...there you stood." I remained silent. He drew in a small breath. "Shayla and I were a mistake, you and I were not and I first and foremost, would like to apologize for that."

I began to stare at the perpetual motion balls that were resting at the corner of my desk. I could see my reflection in the steel spheres and decided to pull on one gently, making a motion that resonated through all five balls and knocked the fifth, causing a repetition in motion. I could feel Mikeyl watching me, causing me to sweat.

"Mikeyl...I mean...Mr..."

"Mikeyl is fine, Tasha." 

I continued. "Mikeyl, that was in college and it's ok. You were in love with Shayla and who could blame you. She was skinny, light-skinned, pretty..."

"Don't give me that bullshit, Tasha." He interrupted, his voice growing irritated and louder. "You are equally as beautiful as she is, if not more."

"You did not seem to share the opinion when you were twenty-one." I shot back, almost angrily. Ever since joining the firm, I tried my utmost best to keep the romantic affair Mikeyl and I had in secrecy. Everyone, even my secretary, can tell there is some tension between us, but the last thing I need to happen is for everyone to find out Mikeyl and I was college mates and fucked each other in every position possible. The small flirting he does here and there does not hint off any major signals about our past rendezvous, but it ignites the fire I thought had long gone out. I had thought my feelings for Mikeyl were long over, the passion and love I had for that man nothing more than a distant memory. For almost a year, I gave him every part of my being without looking for anything in return but his love and affection. Shayla was his heart, I knew that; but I wanted to become his soul, to be apart of him-something he could not live without. The last thing you want the man you love to tell you is that he and his ex are back together and there is no possibility of a relationship, especially after I spread my legs for him and gave him the gift of my purity. I felt myself getting angry just thinking about the past, deciding to take the latter and change topic. 

"It does not matter Mr. Troy." I went back to being formal to mask my feelings of pain and anguish. Just looking at him pissed me off and I just wanted to go back reading those stupid briefs so I could at least go home by five. "That was the past and we are both past that."

"Are we?" he asked.

"I am. The question is, are you, Mr. Troy."

There was a pregnant pause before he answered, the stiffness in his body showing great amounts of tension as his poised manner resembled concentration. He grinned and stood over my desk, causing me to fall back into the soft, engulfing skin of my office chair. 

"Are you really over me, Tasha?"

"Mr. Troy, please..."

"Tasha, answer the question and stop stammering like a dumbstruck little girl."

"No one is dumbstruck!" I felt slightly insulted. "I am simply saying that..."

"Answer the question." My hazel eyes never left his dark brown ones as I watched his figure move from in front of my desk, to the side of my desk, to finally, behind my desk, only inches away from me. I felt that flame within begin to grow with much more ferocity as I slowly began to roll my chair away from him. He looked better than I remembered. His jet black dreadlocks were now long half-way down his back in a nice French braid that started at his crown, much longer than the shoulder length ones he donned in college. His cocoa brown skin was smooth and much more even, his facial hair now more shapely and masculine contrasted to the somewhat rugged look he had before. He was taller and a bit more muscular as well; certainly dressing much more finely that complimented his newfound career and social status. The only thing that had remained consistent being his pearly white teeth that I envied, wishing I could have the ability to smile like I had come fresh off the set of a Crest commercial.

I swallowed, hard, and eyed my briefs. I don't know what I was expecting, but I was hoping they could somehow save me. "Mr. Troy, I have court in a few..."

"Tasha." He spoke my name in a command, his voice reverberating my name in a way that sent my fire to a region long forgotten. I clenched my thighs together as I tried hard to conceal my obvious excitement. It brought me back to when I was in school, laying on his king sized bed fully exposed in nothing but my natural beauty waiting patiently, eagerly as he prepared himself for me. "

"Mikeyl...I have the briefs..."

He shushed me by grabbing the arm of my office chair, slowly sliding it towards his loin. I could not help but notice the obvious erection he had through the perfectly ironed black slacks his body elegantly modeled. I had to catch my breath as I began to go back into memory to the first time I saw his penis. It was not huge like many women say black men's penis' are, but it sure as hell was thick. He was an average seven inches but truly had the width of an untamed stallion, knowing how to work it like one as well. The night I had lost my virginity, he had me in the traditional missionary to begin with, then doggy style to ease some of the pain. Soon after came backwards cowgirl, the rodeo, and other sex names I can't even remember. The man truly was talented in and out of the bedroom, his intellect not being the only thing that makes any woman reach out for their "ticklers" and wish that it were him in between their thighs and not some silly piece of plastic. 

"Tasha, I meant what I said." He carefully pried my legs apart, placing them on either side of his body. "I never stopped loving you and leaving you was a mistake."

I remained silent. He continued. "You say you have surpassed me but your body says otherwise. You truly do not understand how much I missed you over the course of these long seven years. I tried emailing you, calling you, texting you before you changed your number, even went to Facebook and Myspace." There was a small pause before he spoke again. "Nothing."

"You...You broke my heart Mikeyl." I finally let it out, beginning to feel myself weld tears in the corners of my eyes. "I thought we had something."

"We did, still can."

"Obviously not if that...bitch was able to take you away from me!" I did not mean to shout out at him but I could not control it nor take it back. I quickly covered my mouth and regretted expressing the pent up emotion I had towards him. I had to admit, it felt damn good to finally tell him after all these years how I had felt, but I completely forgot that he was my employer and he was never supposed to know. The expression on his face turned stoic, as he pulled away from me ever-so-gently. I turned away, ashamed and feeling completely exposed. "Mr. Troy, I think it's best if I go home and work on these case briefings."

"Tasha..." 

He began to speak but I cut him off quickly. "I better go."

I began to collect my things from desk before I felt his hand lay atop of mine, forcing me to look into his eyes. He said nothing but simply kissed me, his lips soft as cashmere as his taste resembled apricot. I tried to pull away, those tears I had welding between my eyes now beginning to fall but he held me close. Before I could react, he pushed me deeper into the depths of my seat and spread my legs wider, exposing my lace Victoria secret intimate. I gasped lightly in between our kiss, feeling his masculine hands roam my voluptuous thighs and graze over my jewel lightly. 

"Mikeyl..."

"Let me show you how much I love you, Tasha."

My mind could not formulate a proper response before I watched him kneel before my entrance, kissing the clothed dampness of my cavern. His dark brown eyes never left my hazel ones, a deepening shade of scarlet rouging my cheeks as he placed my each of my legs on his shoulders. He slowly licked my entrance through the confines of my panty, outlining my swollen lips with his tongue. I moaned out lightly as I watched his slowly remove the fabric from my waist, tossing them to the side like an abandoned childhood rag doll. At that moment, I was thankful I decided to get a wax that morning and wore some sexy underwear other than my Fruit of the Loom I always wore during the week, 

Gently, his lips touched my lips and I exhaled a cry of pure pleasure, running my hands through the grooves of his braided dreads. I felt him snake his tongue inside of me, licking slowly and gracefully along my inflamed clit. I felt myself become wetter with each stroke of his artistic brush he called tongue as he began to increase speed. Each stroke was as if it were addition to his final touches of his masterpiece, creating and birthing an art form that could rival even the Mona Lisa. He rolled my clit around, swirling and suckling on it in a rhythmic beat that could not be forgotten. He traced the concaves of my womanhood with his brush, careful to lap up every droplet of nectar that held my unique taste. It became much more intense when he added two of his fingers, holding them against my clit and rubbing it gently in circular motion. I moved my hands from gripping his braid to the grabbing onto the arms of my chair with dear life. 

As he inserted his two fingers in my wet heat, I could feel myself clench around him, as if he were mine and I was to not let go. His brush began to stroke against my clit once more, this time flicking at my nub at a greater pace than he had set before to match his fingers. I arched my back in ecstasy as I cried out to sweet baby Jesus in the manger. I finally freed my aching breasts from my blouse and began to rub my nipples, playing with myself and Mikeyl played with me. They resembled freshly cultivated black pearls and were enhanced by the dim moonlight from my window. I could feel myself near an orgasm and began to tease myself more; matching the speed my beloved had set for me to compete with in the ultimate conquest for my orgasm. His fingers quickened in pace and I matched him in tempo with ease. His tongue was beginning to vibrate against my clit and that sent me over the edge. I gave myself one last taunt before I felt a long-lost friend encase my entire being with intense vibrations that shook the core of my soul. I closed my eyes as my orgasm washed over me like waves to a restless sea. Before I could open my eyes, I felt a familiar hardness enter me and it sent my orgasm tenfold. I was not certain when or where, but when I last looked, Mikeyl was in between my thighs going in on an early breakfast. Now, he was deeply planted inside of me. 

He quickly pulled me into a deep embrace as he lifted me up from my seat and onto my desk, ferociously pushing all my documents, briefs, letters, paperwork, and utensils to my freshly carpeted floor. I heard my cup of pens and paperclips fall violently as my papers began to resemble the paper planes I made in grammar school. I would have freaked out considering how some of those documents were my case briefs for later that day, but I did not give damn. Beginning his tempo, the maestro had begun to conduct his symphony. He began to move in and out of me at a medium speed, quickly speeding up and then going back to his set rhythm. I spread my legs eagle as I let him go to work on his orchestra, playing with my body as if it were his own personal instrument. I felt him gently begin to suck on one of my nipples, never breaking his tempo. I wrapped my legs around his waist as I played with his hair, trying to pull him closer to me. He lifted his head from my chest and kissed me, this time with much more passion, his thrusts now faster in motion, creating more friction. All I could hear was the sound his skin hitting my skin, his sack against the moist entrance of my aching heat that begged for more. I whispered in his ear words that would make even a porn star blush and felt his infamous smirk burn through my skin. 




Second Chances



As I wished, he positioned himself to where I was atop of him and he was lay flat against my desk, him using my office chair as a support system for his long legs for balance. I slowly began to bounce on his dick, careful not to hurt him with all of my weight. He wrapped his hands around my waist and helped guide me as I began to "ride" him. I started to twirl my hips in a hula-hoop motion as I rode him harder; wanting to please him as he effortlessly pleased me. I watched as he closed his eyes in erotic bliss, biting his lower lips gently. I began to go harder, bucking against my stallion as if I were in a Texas rodeo. I watched him watch me go to work, palming my bouncing breasts as they matched me against him. I felt him grip my waist tighter and bring me deeper onto him, releasing me as I went up and gripping me again as I came down. I went faster, bucking harder as I began bounce deeper onto his length. I swirled my ass along his crotch to purposely go deeper against his dick, alternating between twirling and bouncing on his dick as he aided me. Our erotic cries of lust and passion could be heard throughout the office floor but we did not care. I could feel his penis stiffen inside of me as I grew closer and closer to my second orgasm. With an animalistic cry, I felt my beloved orgasm in the depths of my flower, releasing himself into me. I felt myself come shortly after and collapsed atop of his sweaty torso. I looked at my clock that was now hanging lopsided from my lamp and sighed. It was now 5:00 a.m. and the sun had begun to rise. 

I started to play with his half-buttoned Ralph Lauren dress shirt, tracing over the little man and the horse on his right pocket. I did not dare take his now flaccid penis out of me, but I knew I had to at some point. For almost ten minutes we laid quietly atop my desk and listened to the sounds of downtown Chicago. He finally spoke. 

"What happens from here, Tasha?"

I listened to his heart beat. "I don't know."

"Did this mean anything to you?"

I looked up at him with hurt eyes. "How could you even ask that?"

He sat up and propped himself on both his elbows. I blushed slightly at the sight of him looking so damn good in the virgin sunlight. He resembled a Calvin Klein model but also African royalty. "So, let me ask again. What happens from here?"

I shrugged and removed myself from off of him, beginning to search for my lost pair of panties. "I'm still not convinced you truly love me and just did not want to fuck me."

Mikeyl chuckled as he began to compose himself, buttoning up his dress shirt and zipping back up his pants. "You really think I'm like these other niggas, huh?"

I immediately shot him a look. Never, and I mean never, have I heard Mikeyl Darnell Troy use the "N" word. I coughed. "What did you say?"

He brushed past me and unlocked my office door, revealing a stunned Ursula- infamously holding her Clorox and Windex. I tried to mumble Good Morning to her while shielding my still exposed chest with a folder, Mikeyl not really phased by the entire situation. He took out his wallet and handed Ursula a few crisp hundred dollar bills and told her to come back a little later after she treated herself to a nice, long breakfast on him. He finally addressed me.

"You heard me. You think I am going to hurt you, don't you?"

"You don't exactly have a great-standing track record!" I was furious and wanted to go home. I did not like where this was headed. I quickly buttoned my shirt back up and cursed my panties to damnation. I decided that it was too late to even think about reading the briefs at this time of day and was going to choose the option of just freelancing it. Before I could grab my purse and car keys, Mikeyl stopped me and forced me to look at him. I could feel that familiar heat rush back into my cheeks.

"I meant what I said Tasha. Shayla and I were a mistake. I believe you were put back into my life for a reason and I'll be damned if I let you go a second time."

"Mikeyl..."

"Go home, get some rest, and I'll take care of your case. I'll ask for a continuance if need be but don't stress about this and let me handle it."

"But, Chad...!"

"I'll handle Chad. He would prefer a more seasoned lawyer take this case anyway, no offense."

I pouted. "But..." 

Mikeyl kissed me once more and reassured me everything was going to be taken care of. I finally obliged and allowed him to take over my case, feeling completely drained and unable to fully give it my best anyway. Before I left, Mikeyl whispered in my ear that I should not try and change who or what I am, telling me he adored my body and wanted it to stay that way. I felt that familiar fire begin to ignite in between my thighs and hurriedly ran out the building. When I got home almost a half hour later, there were dozens of red roses lined along vicinity of my apartment, all from, of course, Mikeyl. I inwardly smiled as I began to have a feeling he set the entire night/early morning up just to prove himself and his feelings to me. He was not there to start on the Texas case, but rather to see me. He knew I would be there late with my first big case, I was almost certain. Inside my room was a blue Tiffany's box surrounded by dozens of rose petals and I quickly held my breath. Slowly opening it, I revealed a small note and a heart shaped ring that had "Second Chances" engraved on the band. 

I read the note and could not help but smile to myself, now unable to find the will to sleep. It was a quote by some famous unknown philosopher:

Everybody deserves a second chance, but not for the same mistakes.



Second Chances



There comes a point in a man's life when the hard decisions have to be made. Do you fight or throw in the towel? I believed that there wasn't anything that could make my wife do what she did to me. I had been married to her for 25 years and we have three kids. Macy is my baby girl and she is 18. Mike is 20 years old and in the Navy. Jason is 24, married with my 3 grandkids. I haven't worked this hard and provided for my family to just walk away. It isn't that she cheated, it's the way she cheated. I guess after 27 years together she had been getting bored and made the decision to spice up her own life. I'm quite sure that she thought I was clueless and would never think she was capable of cheating. I understood how she felt, it's just I would never have hurt her in that way. Maybe I'm just a fool in love or maybe I'm stupid and believed in the wrong person. 

My name is Wallace Banks and my wife is Marion. We're both 45 years old. I would say we're middle age but I don't feel that way. I run three miles a day, eat right and love my family. Isn't that what a man is surposed to do, take care of his family. Marion has been my rock for 25 years of marriage and she laid the foundation in the two years we dated. Marion had always been the one that holds our family together. She has been there for weddings, hospital visits and deaths. Through out it all she was steady as a rock. So why am I sitting alone in our family home awaiting the kids' return? Here's why! 

Over the last year Marion had been somewhat distant. She didn't go out as much and she always seemed to be in deep thought. Whenever I asked what was wrong she said "nothing". Over the last three months, I wouldn't let her end it at that. I told her time and time again that we're husband and wife. We have always been there for each other and nothing would ever change that. For the first time in a long while, she smiled. It melted my heart and I started thinking we would be okay. 

Marion asked me to sit down and no to say anything till she finished. I nodded and sat. Marion spent the next hour telling me how she was feeling. A lot of it was news to me but I truly listened. She felt that she was losing her idenity in our marriage. She needed to get back to being her. She wanted to live alone for a while and find herself. Marion let me know she had been feeling this way for the last few years. Now that Macy was leaving for college, it was time for her to live her life. Marion told me that she had found an apartment and would move out the day after Macy left for school. 

I don't remember Marion leaving the room. The next time I was aware of anything was when Macy asked me what was wrong. It was 2 am and she had just got back from a date. Macy looked at me and said, "Mom told you didn't she?"

I asked when had she found out. Macy said that Marion had told all of them about 3 months ago that she planned to leave. I looked at Macy and asked why hadn't she told me before now that she knew what her mom had planned. Macy said that her mom made her promise not to say any thing. Now I was feeling not only had my wife thrown away my love but now I felt my kids betrayed me also. They knew and just didn't tell me. Later on, I found out everyone also knew something else but they weren't telling me. But I had a feeling it was coming to a head soon . 

I found out later on that Marion had been having an affair for 3 years and she was in love with the other man. James was 33 and she felt that this was some thing she had to do. I decided not to fight the divorce. If she wanted to walk away I would let her, but there would be a price to pay. Marion's price would be the house and my retirement. She wants to go, so be it but I'm not giving up the house I paid for because she wants to move on with her life. I also refused to pay for her cheating on me. She cheats, chooses to leave and I have to pay you for messing me over. Never gonna happen.

With the stroke of a pen, a 25 year marriage is over. She walked away with everything that belonged to her or things that where left to her. That final day in court, I wished her well and left. I was moving on with my life. It would be seven years before I laid eyes on Marion again. The first thing I did after I was granted my freedom, was to go deep sea fishing. It was one of the best choices I have ever made. I loved it so much that I sold the house and got a boat. I put in my retirement papers and cashed in my 401k and planned my next move. I had $450,000 in the bank and I would recieve a check for $2,500 monthly for the rest of my life. I purchased a 25 foot cabin cruiser. I planned to sail around til I died or at least met a sexy mermaid. A man can dream can't he? A life on the sea was the one for me, isn't that how the saying goes. Life moves pretty fast. I've been a free man for about 7 years now.

I had just finshed a three month cruise when I recieved a call from Macy. Macy asked how I was doing and where I was. I asked her why and what was up because it sounded like she was fishing for info. Macy then told me that Marion needed my help. I asked Macy why would her mom need my help? Macy asked if I knew her mom had given birth to a little girl. I told her no. Then Macy asked if I would sit down and talk with her mother. I said no to that question too. Macy then asked how I could be so heartless. I asked her what do you call a family that knows their mom is leaving her husband for two months but never tells their father. Then I hung up. The phone began ringing off the hook for the next ten minutes. I couldn't take it anymore so I turned it off. The next morning I changed my number and planned my next cruise. I would head for St. Thomas and then head for Berumda. After that I would come up with some new place to travel to. The day I got ready to leave, my two sons showed up. Mike and Jason looked like they were scared to talk first so I invited them on the boat and offered them a beer.

Jason was the first to speak. "Dad, we know we were wrong for not telling you what mom had planned, but in all fairness we didn't think you would hurt that long. I'm mean you spent all of your time at work," said Jason. 

Mike then said "Mom was lonely and made a mistake. Now she needs your help and you're turning your back on her."

I just sat there looking at them. 

Jason asked, "Are you going to say anything?" 

I wanted to make sure that they understood my point before I sat sail. "I don't understand you guys. Your mom cheated, left, we have been divorced for years now and she has now had a baby with another man. So exactly what does this have to do with me? Remember I'm the guy that you helped blindside. All three of you knew what you mom had planned and you said nothing. Now, she's down and out and I'm the bad guy. I'm surprised you found me, I mean I haven't heard from either of you in seven years. I did see a picture of the three of you with your mom and her new husband in the paper. You guys where having a cook out celebrating their new wing at the hospital. It called the group of you the happiest family in town. So once again, why are you here now?" 

They both sat there just looking at each other not knowing what to say. Jason cleared his throat and said, "Karen needs a kidney and she needs you to be tested." 

I asked, "Why would I need to be tested, Marion's child isn't related to me, so once again why are you here? 

Then Jason and Mike completed my betrayal. "Dad, Karen is yours, Mom was pregnant before she left." 

To say I was shell shocked was an understatement. "How old is the child? 

Jason said, "She is 7 years old. I asked, "When did you find out?"

Mike said, "Mom told us at the same time she told us about her plans for divorce."

I couldn't believe that I raised them to be men like this. I had always taught them to do what is right and they turned out like this crap. I got up, walked to the door and opened it. I stood there looking at them till they got the point. They both left. I was preparing to leave when Marion showed up. I had pulled anchor and I was floating away from the pier when she ran and jumped aboard. The boat was about 7 feet from the pier when I turned off the engines. I was about to toss her ass over board when a little girl walked up to the pier. She was yelling for her mom.

I told Marion to get the fuck off my boat. Marion pulled out a pair of handcuffs and locked herself to a mooring point. "Wallace, I know you hate me right now but she needs your help. Karen will die without a kidney. Please do not hurt her because of what I did. I know you're mad but you're a bigger man than that." 

I looked at Marion and said, "No. I'm not a bigger man, I am dead inside and you caused that so, "no" I won't help you or her. Hell, I never knew she existed. You never planned on telling me. You and our sorry assed kids are dead to me." I walked over and grabbed my axe out of the case. I was about to cut the mooring point off when it hit me. This was a second chance to fix the things I messed up the first time.

"Marion, I have changed my mind. I'll help Karen anyway I can. But it's going to cost you."

Marion was so happy I was going to help Karen she said, "I'll do anything." 

I pulled the boat back into shore. Jason came with the key to uncuff his mother. I called my lawyer to get my plan put in writing. The next day we showed up at the hospital, Me and my attorney. Karen looked worried. The doctor took blood and came back with a positive. I could donate a kidney. Marion was happy until my attorney gave them my terms. To save Karen they had to give her up. 

"All of the years we were married, I always made the sacrfices. Never you or the kids, it was always me. When you wanted a new car, I traded in mine. When the kids wanted something I was the one that went without. I missed their growing up because I was working to make sure they had everything and I was repaid with betrayal. And now you need my help, well Marion, it's your turn to give up something. If you love her, let her go or take your chances waiting for a donor." 

Marion said, "There is no way I'm giving up my child." 

We got up and headed out. Jason and Mike came over to try and stop me. My attorney told them if they put one finger on me they would spend the next ten years in jail. Macy ran over to me and asked, "How will you sleep at night knowing that you are killing our little sister?" 

I stopped and looked at Macy and asked, "How do you sleep at night knowing you threw away your father? That's how I will sleep."

It was the beginning of world war 3. In the next few days, I was almost served an injuction preventing me from leaving. But I was away from the pier about a hundred yards out. When the server came back with a speed boat, I set sail. They would have to follow me up the coast about 400 miles before I would have to put up my sails. The server gave up when we hit international waters. 

I pulled in about 6 miles up the coast. I got to within cell phone range and called my attorney. He said that Karen was getting worse and Marion wanted to talk. So I told him to set up a video confrence. Marion pleaded with me not to do this. I laughed and said, "It's the same thing you had done to me. The three of you threw me away. So all I can say now is bye-bye."

Marion agreed to the terms. The day I showed up to the hospital, I came with Child Protective Services. I also hired two off duty cops to stand guard. No one was taking Karen out of the hospital but me.

The surgery went fine. On the 3rd day of our stay, Marion and some guy walked in to my room. He introduced himself as James Paxon. He was Marion's husband. He reached out to take my hand but I passed on the friendly shit and asked what they wanted. They had come to pull on my heart strings. The only problem was I had none. Marion and the kids had already cut them. Then he offered me money. This was getting too damn funny, they felt I could be bought off.

December 4. 2007, Karen and I rolled out of the hospital. CPS charged Marion with costodial interference. Her court date would be in three weeks. My guards were there with their hands on their pistols in case anything happened. Karen and I were placed in a car and headed right to my boat. One guard went aboard to make sure no one was aboard. For me something didn't feel right so once I got the word that the coast was clear, we sat sail. 

Karen cried for the first 2 hours till I opened up her cabin. There was every type of Barbie, the Bratz and Ipod that could be found. Then Karen asked me to hold her phone. She said her mom said she would know where to find her if I held it on the top of the boat. I looked at the phone as Karen went to play. The phone had some type of tracer program. So they want to know where we are at? I'll help them out. I put the phone in a ziplock bag and attached it to a life preserver and threw it over board. I think we'll sail to the coast of Turkey or Greece who can tell. 

We ended up in Ireland. We had a slow start but we're doing fine. It's been about 10 years now and it's time for Karen to got to college. She wants to got to Duke. Karen wrote her mom and let her know she was on her way to the states. In the years here I met a wonderfull woman named Tilia. Karen has grown to be a caring and considerate young lady. I have already paid for her schooling so she is ready to take over the world. I'm a proud father.

Jason found out about betrayal when his mom and his wife went to Vegas. Jason's wife came back very loose and very pregnant. When she gave birth the baby looked Mexican. Marion left James for his brother. There's no counting for taste. 

Macy got dumped the night before the wedding. It turned out he was gay and didn't want to come out till his dad passed away. 

Mike he's doing fine, I guess. He's the guy who scraps gum off the walls in the subway. All in all, I'm glad life gave me a second chance.

*

I want to thank mikothebaby for editing this. I know she took had more important things to do. But Thank you mikothebaby for doing a great job because you damn well I can't spell. 



Second Chances



One of my classes is critical to all students graduating high school. They must get a passing grade or else they cannot move on to whatever awaits them beyond the hallowed halls of the only high school in this county. It is English after all, our native language. I moved here from the city because I wanted peace and quiet. I had thought that maybe my experiences would be different. But I see the same amount if not more students just squeak by or drop out. Then they go on to local farms thinking that perhaps they don't need the education since they already know the trade.

It's June and just six days before the last day of school and I have one that I just got out of a meeting with an hour ago. Betsie, she seemed to slack off way too much, and I had to tell her she will not be graduating with her class, and that she will have to take the extension course this summer instead of working.

With a blank expression she tried to reassure me that she could pull it off. She wanted to work all summer and reach her goal of getting out of this small town. This was the reason I gave her one last chance. But like so many, the pull of family needs to keep the local trade going is stronger than any free will they might have left. She came in to tell me she was giving up on it entirely. I tried to get her to reconsider so she could at least march with her class at graduation. She said she was not interested. I had cut her a lot of slack in the two years I have had her in my English class. She had been very ill her freshman year and had to be held back. Now age 19 and older than all of her classmates, I guess I expected her to lead the pack, so to speak. But it just wasn't happening.

I was sitting in my office during the last week of school, finishing up my grading. I was not in a particularly good mood because another one of my students is throwing her life away. Not to mention my wife of 20 years left over three months ago to go back to the city we came from. The trouble had been brewing for a long time. She had told me that if I wanted to fix things I need to join her. When I called her last month she told me she had moved on. It seemed to be no wonder that I was having a difficult time getting through the usual end of the school year disappointments. I gathered my papers, and turned off the lights in the classroom. I went over to the door, opened it and twisted the lock with my key. 

I sighed as I rested my head against the door, "What am I doing here?" 

Realizing that I forgot something, I unlocked my door and went back into my office. I let the door close behind me and I go back around the corner to my office and library to grab the stack of essays I forgot to pack. As I put the stack into my bag, I hear a knock on the classroom door. It is barely audible from my little corner office at the back of the classroom, and I go around to see who it is. It was Betsie, the girl I had the meeting with. She seems anxious or nervous about something. I go over to let her in.

"Betsie what can I do for you," I said as I inched the door open a bit.

"Can I talk to you?" she asked politely.

"I am getting ready to leave, can it wait until tomorrow?" I sighed.

"Well yes...but I would like to talk to you now if you have a minute," she said with desperate eyes.

"Ok", I sighed and motioned for her to come in.

I couldn't help noticing that she had changed her clothes and her hairstyle from our meeting earlier. She looked more provocative as if she was trying to be noticed. I had not realized that such tight clothing was allowed at the school.

"Let me set these down," I said as the door closed behind her.

"I have given some thought to my future and...well I need to work this summer for the cash, but, I don't want to be someone who didn't finish high school and ends up regretting it," she said softly.

"You never know if you might end up needing that high school diploma that you've worked four years for," I smiled as I sat at my table in the front of the class and folded my hands.

"I know," she sighed, "Is there any makeup stuff I can do to at least get a C and pass so that I can work this summer or is it a lost cause?"

"Well hmm," I said as I stood, "When I talked to you earlier I told you the best option was to take the two week extension which is very intense and do over what you had trouble with. It would be difficult to catch up in the week that's left".

"Oh," she said with a sigh.

"Wait a moment," I smiled as I walked over to my small out of the way office.

I heard her start to follow me as I walked. I thought that maybe I should have asked her to stay where she was because I do not usually allow students back there so that they have contact with testing materials that they have not seen yet. But since exams are done, I didn't see the harm. However, it caught me off guard when I turned around and she was right directly behind me. I looked down at her for just a second and she smiled at me. It was infectious and I looked away quickly, and went to my desk. I sat down and went in to the drawer to bring out her folder. I set it on my desk and busily went through it without looking up. 

Looking out of the corner of my eye I could see that she seemed to want to sit down on the chair on the other side. Glancing over to acknowledge that she could have a seat I was frozen for a second by her attire which I had said is different than the jeans and t-shirt she was wearing earlier. My first thought was not so appropriate and I tried to cover it in my own mind. I made a mistake, and a big one. I swear it was an accident that I stared. She sat in the chair with a tank top and a mini skirt. I could tell right away that it was far against the dress code that the school allows. For the bottom half of her body, did not have much to hide it. I was about to speak to her about it, then realized that I had been staring. I glanced up and saw her smile, and quickly looked away and back to my work.

I think I even heard her snicker a bit as I fumbled with her papers in the folder. I had to recover, so I got down to business and began figuring exactly what she needed in order to actually graduate. I frowned from her lack of attention to my class as I made a list just to show her that it would be impossible. I don't enjoy giving bad news, so I just did so and got it over with. I looked at her as I finished and saw her expression of disappointment, mixed with a little desperation.

"I'm sorry," I sighed. "I don't see how you could get it all done this week. I don't have to remind you that you should have done this work to begin with."

We talked for a while and she eventually told me that she wanted to try anyway. I let out a sigh because I thought that I would be wasting my time and hers, but I did as she asked. She took the assignments and left. I stood as she started to walk away and again my eyes gazed upon her. I watched her feminine walk as she did not look back. Even after she exited my classroom I stood thinking about those long legs that I know she had brought out on purpose. I can't help thinking it worked because I really should not have given her that work knowing full well that she couldn't pull it off.

One week later...

It has always baffled me how students can have such an opposition to following instructions. But with amazement I had passed everyone in this year's senior class. All except for one, that is. One more appointment and the school year for me is officially over. This does not count graduation tomorrow of course. I never miss that. I just have one more duty to perform. I was not looking forward to it. That was of course if she even shows up.

She was late by over thirty minutes. I gave her that chance, but the work she passed in this morning is not complete. She has no choice now but to take the extension or forget it entirely. In my disappointment, I had already filled out her paperwork to turn into the office. I just couldn't help thinking of the hard road she has ahead of her not finishing her basic education. Who knows what she will have to take for a job. A rather bright student in this year's class had a sister that failed to graduate two years ago. When I asked him about her, he said she never smiles anymore. I remember that situation, and it was so similar to my only failing student this year. 

"Marry a rich guy," I whispered to myself, instantly regretting the thought.

But I began to think how that might not be so difficult for her. She is striking, with her long red hair, and thin body. As I began to think about her, I quickly realized again that I really need to get out more and meet some people. 

"Ok I've had enough," I said and finished the paperwork.

Quickly I picked a few things up, and headed for the door. Locking it, I closed it behind me. Suddenly I head heavy running footsteps behind me.

"Wait, please!" Betsie said as she approached.

"Your late," I said as I opened my door.

I walked back over to my desk and set my things down. I sat heavily in my chair. She handed me a fairly large essay. I looked it over a moment.

"This seems good, but Betsie it still leaves you the one assignment short," I sighed, "And a big one too."

"I know," she sighed, "I tried my best but it seemed like my dad gave me extra work this week."

"He should know school is first, but under all that you did have plenty of chance to get it done when it was originally due," I said, "You need to take charge of your future. Your 19 years old. Take charge regardless."

"I know. I don't know what else to do," she said with a whimper, "I mean I'll do anything."

"I think that has been the problem all along this year Betsie. You haven't done that," I said.

"What it takes," she said as she raised her hands up in frustration, "You know that I thought about coming in here and offering to sleep with you just to have you sign off on my graduation?" 

"Well I uh...that...That's really not the way to get what you need in life," I stuttered.

"I know but I was saying to myself, ok just this once to get the right start in life. Just this once do this," she said.

"Could you live with yourself afterward?" I asked.

"You know I did ask myself that question," she said, "I thought long and hard about it when I went to bed last night. Honestly I said yeah I could. I could do this for my future."

"Well," I stuttered, "I...don't make sacrifices that you will regret."

"It wouldn't be a sacrifice," she admitted with her back turned.

"Betsie," I started then was interrupted.

"Would it work if I offered myself to you?" she asked.

"No," I sighed after a ridiculously stupid pause. "You are a nice girl and I would like to see it stay that way."

"Me too, but as long as it doesn't get me in trouble, the offer is there anyway," she whimpered.

"And for the wrong reason," I smiled nervously. "No. You would think that being a year older than all your classmates would give you a few more smarts."

"Ok whatever then," she whimpered, "I understand. But I'm more than willing."

"But," I smiled, ignoring her last comment. "I am giving you this one last chance so listen very carefully."

"O...ok," she perked up and moved closer to me, "Finally."

"No I am not changing my mind about that," I said with my hand facing forward.

"Sorry. Just wishful thinking," she smirked.

"Get that last damn paper in to me right here by two tomorrow. I don't want any excuses. You will have to work on it several hours but if it is here in my hand by two, you will be graduating with a smile at six,", I snapped.

"Really?" she smiled and wiped her eyes.

"Yeah really, and a good job too, or I'll be putting in the yellow paper instead of the blue one, know what I mean?" I snapped.

"Thank you," she perked up. "I'll go right now and...I'm not going home. I'm going to the library right now."

"Go then and get it done," I said.

I watched as she ran out of my office with a smile. I can't help but be hopeful. But for her to offer what she did to me, I had to stop that idea right now or else hear about her making a habit of it someday. This certainly wasn't going to help my thoughts any because it's hard not being tempted.

The next day - 4 hours before graduation - my office

"Ok Betsie you graduate," I said as I quickly looked over her paper.

"Thank you," I worked hard on it.

"It looks like it," I smiled. "Now go and get with your class."

"Ok," she smiled.

I watched her head for the door with a spring in her step and smiled at her new found enthusiasm and accomplishment. As she disappeared out of my office, I followed. I found her new enthusiasm infectious. I watched as she stopped before she got to the door and seemed to just stand, staring at nothing. Her back is turned to me so I can't see her expression. Wearing her white skirt with white formal top like all of the girls are supposed to wear this year she looks so professional. I thought at that moment maybe she would turn out ok. 

But I couldn't help noticing that her skirt is a bit shorter than the specified length. I guess she didn't hear that briefing from the grad coordinator. Suddenly she stretched her arms up in the air and continued walking toward the door. I watched as she reached it, then paused once again with her hand near the knob. But instead of reaching out to turn it, she pressed the lock button in the middle, and reached up to twist the shade closed. 

Nervously I backed off a little but still stayed close enough to peek out to see what she is doing. Not even once looking over in my direction, what she did next was unbelievable. Setting down her graduation gown on the desk next to her, she turned sideways to me. I watched as she began to unbutton her white blouse top. Now pulling it out from her skirt, she took it off of her shoulders and set it on top of her gown. In the same fluid motion, she unsnapped the front of her pinkish bra and removed it, fully exposing her small but perky breasts.

I ducked out of the way just as she looked my way. Then I regained my gaze in between two book shelves. Reaching behind her, she unsnapped, then unzipped her skirt, and pulled it down, and stepped out of it, being careful not to let it get dirty on the floor. Now standing there only in light pink panties in the middle of my classroom, she turned to walk toward my little corner office area. 

Beginning to sweat I tried to figure out what to do. I know what she wanted. Even an idiot could see it. But is this for real or what? This is crazy and dangerous. But why was I feeling so interested? I watched her stop again, smile, then keep on walking. Not knowing what else to do, I rushed over and sat at my desk seeming oblivious to her advance. I tried to thumb through her essay as I felt her round the corner and into view.

"How does it look?" she asked.

"Fine...fine," I said without looking up.

"How do I look?" she asked.

I sighed, knowing that I would now have to look at her. The question forces me in to it. But what will be my reaction? I am supposed to be in shock and tell her to get her clothes on. But I've already seen it and it's affecting me.

"I um...Dammit Betsie!" I tried to cover. "What are you doing?"

"Walking around in my panties in your classroom," she smiled.

"I know...I know what your doing but why?" I stuttered as I looked away.

"It occurred to me that I got a second chance from you and I want to give something back," she said as she came closer to my desk.

"This is inappropriate Betsie,", I said nervously.

"Very," she giggled as she rounded the side of my desk.

"I'm your teacher," I said softly, feeling the tension.

"I'm your student," she giggled. "So what?"

"So this stuff isn't supposed to happen," I said just as her hand reached out and rested on my shoulder.

"Your right," she sighed. "Everyone else blows me off. They don't say it but I can tell. You were firm but fair with me and..."

"Ah dammit Betsie," I said, "I am 20 years older than you."

"Don't think this is the first time you have gotten me horny just from looking at you and hearing your voice. I get that way in class all the time," she said softly.

"Betsie," I started.

"You can't tell me your not curious," she said as she brushed her exposed leg against the side of mine.

"Curious?", I asked nervously.

"Yeah, about more than one thing," she said as she touched the side of my face. "That one question I know is in your mind. Am I really a redhead?"

"Ah fer...Betsie!" I said as I started to get up, but she seemed to be blocking the way.

"Find out question number 1...come on,", she said as she took my hands.

I looked up at her sweet young face and it's long gaze at me. Her closeness drew out an interest in me that was hard to avoid. Her energy and desire seems to be so contagious. I looked down as she took both of my hands in hers and places them on her hips and inside the band of her panties. She smiles as she guides me to lower them. As we did this, I couldn't help it and I look down as her neatly trimmed and so deliciously red thin patch of hair came in to view. I look her over and remark on her beauty and grace and revel in the pure rarity of this site. Taking my hand, she smiled at me, then guided it over to her. I felt the tickle of her fiery patch then pulled my hand back. She was quick however, and didn't allow it.

"I'm offering everything to you and no one has to know," she said softly.

"Betsie...this isn't right," I sighed.

"Then stop if you want...pull back," she panted as she rubbed my hand on her thin young hair covered lips.

"I...but," I started as I looked at her.

"You know I thought about taking a chance and not passing the work in, " she smiled. "Then offering myself. I've always been attracted to you. I guess it's a good thing I like a kind professional man." 

I sighed and looked into her deep blue eyes. So deep that they seemed like oceans. My hand rested on her inner thigh, and I feel the heat of her young budding womanhood. I try to close my eyes to pull my increasing desire back. She decided to kiss me and it was all over. Just a peck, square on the lips and I felt her breath on my skin.

"Ah damn", I whisper as she pulls back.

"Can I help having feelings for you?", she asked. "No."

"But there are other ways to get to know someone," I sighed as I opened my eyes.

"Later yes, and I want that," she whispered. "But I think we know what we want right now."

"Oh my," I sighed as she hugged me with her naked form.

"Want me to leave, teacher?" she smiled seductively as she began loosening my tie.

"No...yes...both...but...you are so...um, maybe we could have some coffee sometime," I stuttered as I realized that she had started to unbutton my shirt.

"Well yes, later if you still can respect me after what I want right now," she said as she pulled my shirt out from my pants and took it off of me.

She next tried to pull the zipper down on my pants but didn't have much luck. This was like an infection that I couldn't stop. But I was starting to think I didn't want to. As I stood and she quickly unbuttoned my pants and pulled them down I felt a definite draw.

"Hey slow down, what's the rush?" I asked.

"I don't want you to change your mind," she said.

"I don't think I can," I said.

I flinched just a bit as her small soft hand stroked me. It had been a while since I had this kind of touch. It had been over a year. It wasn't possible any longer to ignore the attention I was getting. Being a full foot shorter than me, I looked down at her fiery gaze. I could see in her eyes that this was not about graduating at all. Yes this whole thing isn't appropriate. But she truly desired me, and I had to admit that I felt the same.

I brought my student over to the edge of my desk and she sat up on it. Now even level, I looked into her eyes and kissed her soft lips. Her tongue twisted around mine. I put my arm around her and the other I guided downward. Her breathing seemed to intensify with what she thought was pending. But I stopped, then went to my knees to gaze upon her beauty. Gently running my fingers over the opening, she let out a small moan. I looked up at her and smiled as I spread her open just a bit. Moving my head closer I became dizzy with the intoxicating sight. I had the perception that she had been around by the way she carried herself everyday. But it seemed I was wrong. Reaching out my tongue, I gently touched what I knew is one of the sweetest spots of all.




Second Chances



"Oh my," she trailed off with a happy whimper.

Slowly I cupped my lips around her tasty young spot and sucked on it gently. Occasionally I would flip my tongue over it. With my hand I brushed over the pale soft skin on her legs. It seemed like she would pass out from her heavy breathing, but I know what that means and it just made me more determined. It seemed as if she was too overly excited, or else didn't really have the experience she seemed to have. No one has ever been man enough to give her this intimate pleasure. Just as I smirked with amazement, it happened and nearly gave me a fat lip as her hips jerked upward.

"Uuuhhh!!!" she screamed.

I was amazed at how easy it was for her. Perhaps it was the first time excitement, but I intended to find out for sure. Bucking wildly, I almost lost my balance as I watched her bask in the pleasure I gave her. She settled and tried to speak but couldn't. For some time after I gently caressed her sweetness. A woman should never have to stop with just one orgasm. Even in the worst of times, that is how I feel.

"Oh fuck...oh my," she panted. "I...think I'm gonna pass out."

"Shouldn't use that language in front of your teacher," I smiled.

"Oh.," she panted then smiled. "You'll probably punish me now right?"

"The thought had crossed my mind," I smiled.

"Oh god I hope so...I watched a tape once with that and...well it made me curious.", she grinned as she stood back up.

"Weirdo," I smiled.

"Yeah well," she smiled.

"Your really wet right now," I remarked.

"Take advantage of that," she said as she moved her leg to the side. "I have the same reaction when I'm alone at night thinking of you."

"Oh my," I smiled.

I embraced her, feeling warmth press against me. She had proceeded to remove the rest of my clothing, knowing what she really wanted. With nothing between us I held her tight a moment, just to take in her warmth and scent.

"Please fuck me," she whispered.

"Again with the language," I whispered. "There are better words."

"I know I deserve a spanking," she giggled. "Should I bend over your knee?"

"You have a one track mind," I laughed.

"Bad girl didn't do my schoolwork," she laughed as she slid off the desk.

"Nice girl who pulled it off at the last minute," I smiled.

"Are you talking about my papers or this, sweety?' she grinned.

"The papers," I said. "This is...really happening isn't it?"

"You bet you ass it is," she smiled.

"Oh the language again," I smiled.

"If I keep saying stuff will you put me over you knee?" Betsie grinned.

"I think we need to talk about that...obsession," I said with my hands on my hips.

"Well I'll just do something else with my mouth then," she said as she dropped to her knees quickly.

Betsie started to scrunch forward then put her hands on my hips and pulled them toward her. She reached out her hand clasping it around me, looked up almost as if for approval. Slowly she leaned forward and gently kissed the head. I closed my eyes a second at the gentle nature of her approach. Opening her mouth, she slowly pushed it between her lips. The light touch that I had not had in a long time made me close my eyes a moment, almost as if all of my energies were heading south.

"Ack," she backed off quickly. "Sorry, I almost choked."

"Never this either?" I asked.

"This is a good spot isn't it?" she said, ignoring my question and rubber her fingers underneath, just below the head. "It's like a special spot right?"

"Yeah," I moaned.

Betsie looked up at me as she ran her tongue on the underside in just that place. Her long gaze as she licked the length of my shaft made me want to melt into her. Once again she tried her luck at the whole thing. I watched as she opened her mouth and put it inside. As she did, she closed her eyes and moaned a bit. She seemed to understand her own limitations. Slowly her head bobbed in and out as her little moans escaped. I let out a long gasp of approval. Her hand reached out and rubbed the underside of my sack. Occasionally she would try to put it in further and further, testing herself. I smiled at her and she seemed to understand the unspoken message that any effort was ok. She seemed to enjoy wiggling her tongue just under the head, and so did I.

"Hmm," she panted as she again licked the entire length.

I backed off and looked at her as she met my eyes. She wiped off her face a bit and smiled at my expression. I knew she was looking for approval for some reason. I had to find a way to prove to her that she didn't need to.

"Was that alright?" she asked as she licked my shaft once more.

.

"So Amazing," I smiled.

"Um...how much really comes out when you...you know", she asked, changing her tone. "I mean if you were to um."

"Oh that's a big step," I said. 

"I know but I think I want to try. I mean I saw it on the tape and..." Betsie said before I interrupted.

"Forget about the tape," I smiled. "Not this time ok."

"Oh my another time," she smiled brightly.

I had never experienced what she had suggested. I was curious for sure. But it was obvious that after all her posturing and prose walking around these hallowed halls, she was somewhat new at this. It didn't seem appropriate to take that road. Not this time anyway. But I was about to make the next move.

I turned and walked over to my desk and took a condom out of my bag. Because it had been there so long I checked the expiration date. I opened it and turned as I slipped it over myself. Then I went to the corner of the room and sat in the chair without the arms on it. I looked up at her and she didn't yet move. I put up my finger and motioned for her to come over.

"You want me?" she said in a voice filled with deep desire as she walked slowly over.

"Oh yes," I said as I watched her young well figured goodness.

"That's something I do know about," she smiled as she approached.

She walked slowly toward me, making eye contact the whole time. When she reached me, her knees pressed against mine. I took her hand, and gently pulled her forward. Her legs spread apart and she inched onto me, now sitting my legs. Reaching out in front of her she quickly stroked me, then moved forward again. Lifting up, she rubbed it on her wetness then pressed it through herself.

"Oh sweety," she whimpered slightly as she inched around me.

Feeling her tight and so warm young womanhood slowly surround me made me glad I waited around an extra half hour for her. She kissed me once, then moaned gently as she moved her hips slowly up and down.

"Your so warm," I remarked as I put my arms around her.

"For you sweetheart," she panted as she moved her hips.

Betsie gazed into my eyes as the sound of her light moans permeated my ears. She was like nothing I had ever felt before. With the closeness of her body, and the way she squeezed around me, I couldn't think of any place I would rather be. I flexed upward and watched her mouth open wide as her eyes closed. She put her arms around me and held me tight as I felt her insides pulse and tighten around me. I smiled as her release had been one of the most wonderful I had ever seen or felt.

"That's it sweety," I whispered.

"Oh so nice and strong,", she moaned. "There is oh...nothing like finding a man with experience to...ho baby...show you how it's done."

"It matters to me," I said as I kissed her.

As she looked into my eyes she seemed to believe my words. I directed her young body to start moving her hips on me again. It only took a second, and she understood and made the effort on her own. She moaned with a partial gasp each time as she looked into my eyes. Like two beams she told me all that I needed to know and sort of looked through me, a second before she closed her eyes and moaned an almost whine in delight. Faster she went with her face flush, she shook all over, then crashed her head against my chest, heaving her breath onto my skin.

Taking her hand, I kissed it, then pulled it to the side. She seemed to know that I wanted her to stand. As she did, so did I. The experience had been so gentle thus far. But I wanted her to experience something more. I thought she might be ready for it. Perhaps an experience that was a bit more primal. I couldn't wait to see how she would like that.

"What do you want me to do for you?" Betsie asked.

"It's about what I can do for you," I smiled as I led her over to the desk.

Looking around a second, but knowing full well what my room has for features, I know there is no place to lie down properly. There is no real comfortable way to do it the old fashioned way. I think she saw my pondering as she turned with a smile. Walking over to my desk she put her hands on it and slowly lowered herself, resting her elbows on the hard surface. Pushing up on herself just a bit, she spread her legs apart just a bit, as she bent right over, waiting for me. All her young womanhood smiled back at me in its unbelievable beauty. It seemed like she knew what she wanted and perhaps me as well.

I approached and reached down to spread her legs apart more to my liking. She complied very quickly in a way that seemed to be in a hurry. Spreading her cheeks apart with my hand, I rubbed my stiffness on the length of her from hole to hole so to speak. She gasped in one particular place. I wonder if she thought I was going to get really dirty.

"Oh my!" she panted as I slowly inserted into her tight womanhood.

I didn't want to be too aggressive at first. I listened to her low pitched moans and simply enjoyed the tightness. Her sounds grew mellowed and I saw her fingers dig into my desk. I started to go a bit faster without thinking, and then realized it, slowing back down.

"N...no, faster," she panted.

"Are you sure?" I asked.

"Oh yes please," she moaned. "Show me what you've got."

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"Come on, don't make me beg", she moaned.

Doing as she seemed to want, I thrust into her as I held on to her hips. Her loud moan permeated the room. I felt her get tighter as her fingers crinkled up papers on my desk. I will have to explain that somehow, but who cares. She howled as the stack of papers slipped through her fingers on to the floor. I even heard a whimper as I started to slow. It was followed by an annoyed voice telling me, actually ordering me not to stop. Pushing into her now with everything I had, I felt her tighten. 

"I'm cumming!" she hollered.

I slowed again and she told me to keep going. I would comply. It was too fantastic to stop just yet, but I soon realized that her beautiful tightness seemed to take its toll on my stamina. I couldn't hold it. Somehow she felt that too.

"Oh cum baby yeah," she moaned, "Take it off and do it."

"No...safer...this way," I grunted as I filled the condom.

I looked down at her form, back to me as the sensation I had not experienced in so long made me almost lose my balance. I relished in it, and enjoyed until the very end, held inside of her not wanting to move. I wanted to stay there forever and for a moment I wished I could have.

"Oh that's warm," she sighed as I pulled out quickly.

I wanted to check just to make sure the protection had held. Her comment had made me nervous for a moment. Everything was ok, and I quickly pulled the condom off and wrapped it in a tissue from my desk. As I tossed it away, she turned around and smiled at me. Immediately she dropped to her knees and took me into her mouth once, then let go. As she stood up she touched her fingers to her lips.

"I just had to see what it tastes like," she smiled as she rested her hand on my desk.

"And?", I asked.

"I um...have to get use to it," she said as she went to the doorway to the small office area.

"Ok," I said as I went over to where my clothes were and glanced at my desk.

"But I will," she said.

"Ah why is my desk wet?" I asked.

"I sorta drooled a little I think," she said as she winked at me and went out to the classroom.

"Oh," I smiled.

I assumed she was going out there to dress. Her words were on my mind and I wondered if there really was a next time. I couldn't help but remembering that she is over twenty years younger than me. Was this just physical, or was this town ready for something like this? 

I used the opportunity to get dressed, though I had a few nervous feelings about what I had done. She came in a few minutes later dressed in her graduation attire. I glanced at the clock was shocked that it was only ninety minutes until her big moment. Or as we both knew, her second big moment of the day. Kissing me on the cheek before she left, she whispered to me.

"Don't let this be a one afternoon stand," she said and walked out the door quickly to get with her class.

I went to graduation and cheered for everyone, including her. I think my applause was louder than anyone's. She gave me a hug after the ceremony and whispered the same reminder as earlier. Only this time she added another line. She had told me that it had started as a physical attraction, but that it can be so much more. I stayed around congratulating my other students and saying many farewells. As the students began to board the bus to head to project graduation I started to think a little. I watched her take her gown off and hand it to her parents. She smiled me, and boarded the bus. In that brief moment I could see that her feelings were much more than physical. I suddenly felt better than I had in a long time. I looked at her through the bus window and motioned for her to come off for a moment. I watched as she smiled again at me as she approached. 

"Coffee, 9 AM Monday at Torry's?" I asked.

"I'd love to," she smiled.

"Wonderful," I smiled.

"I'd kiss you, but then it would be on the front page of the Gazette," she smiled as she got back on the bus with a smile. 

As I turned, the town Sheriff was standing a dozen or so feet behind me looking in my direction. My heart sank a moment as I watched him approach. I was thinking that my life was about to become a lot more complicated. Somehow it didn't matter.

"Sorry to bother you with this today John but, well this is yours," the Sheriff said as he handed me a large envelope.

I knew what it was. I did breathe a sigh of relief because it wasn't about what I thought. But I knew what was in the envelope. It was the divorce papers, signed and delivered. Somehow it didn't seem to matter as much today. So I just took it and walked away. Waving to the bus, I got into my car and went home.

I wondered as I drove home what the future would hold for me. I thought about it all weekend. I also made a big decision in those few days. I wondered if I should even stay in this town. Bad marriage, and not feeling like I made a difference would certainly prompt anyone to leave. A full year later as I write this in my home office in my new suburban home, I know the answer to that. Just as I know so well the owner of the sweet voice that just called me out for dinner.



Second Chances



Another sequel I'm afraid. This is from Huedogg's Second Chances. I imagined a different revenge. It was supposed to be a simple revenge tale. How stupid of me! The story goes where it takes me.

Let me take a moment to thank Huedogg and everyone else who is brave enough to allow someone else to play in their sandbox. My writing is easy enough to do. It's mere second guessing. The creative spark is to come up with the original story in the first place. 

The beginning two paragraphs of the story were borrowed from Huedogg's work.

Thus begins a synopsis:

My name is Wallace Banks. I used to be married to a wonderful woman named Marion. We lived happily as man and wife for 24 years, or so I thought. It turns out that it was only 21 years. She decided one day to call the whole thing off. It seems that she found a playmate named James Paxon and they had been 'falling in love' for three years...with a hot side of sex, of course.

I'm an adult male. If the bitch didn't want to stay with me, then fuck her. It hurt. God it hurt. But shit happened.

The betrayal really started to bite into me when I found out that my three kids, Jason, Michael and Macy, all knew about the affair and their mother's plans to dump me. They didn't 'want to be in the middle of it' so they left me ignorant and blind. Effectively, they took their mother's side.

Bitter doesn't even begin to describe how I felt. But I bought a boat and went sailing. Occasionally I did some charter work but for the most part, I piddled around.

This went on for seven years. Then my daughter Macy called. Her mom needed a favor. She had a new little girl named Karen and wanted me to be tested to see if I could be a match for her kidneys.

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to understand the implications of that, and my sons, having no faith in my mental abilities, came and outlined that, yes, my wife had been pregnant and I was the father when she left. I was ashamed to know them because they knew that too. What do you do when you have something like that dumped on you?

Me? I decided to take a trip to Bermuda...

***

I was preparing to leave when Marion showed up. I had pulled anchor and I was floating away from the pier when she ran and jumped aboard. The boat was about 7 feet from the pier when I turned off the engines. I was about to toss her ass over board when a little girl walked up to the pier. She was yelling for her mom.

I told Marion to get the fuck off my boat. Marion pulled out a pair of handcuffs and locked herself to a mooring point. "Wallace, I know you hate me right now but she needs your help. Karen will die without a kidney. Please do not hurt her because of what I did. I know you're mad but you're a bigger man than that." 

I stared at her a moment and then I laughed at her. "NOW you have faith in me? A good man when you want something, just not good enough to stay with."

"Mommy!" the child screamed from the dock. 

"It's okay honey!" Marion screamed back. "Mommy's fixing things."

I felt a dark laugh well up from deep within me and pushed the throttle of my boat forward again.

"Wallace! What are you doing?"

"I'm going to Bermuda. I planned to stop at St. Thomas first. Thanks for keeping me company. I see you packed light."

"But what about Karen?"

"Who exactly is that, Marion? I don't know a Karen. I never met a Karen. I never got to hold her bike or kiss her good night." 

"She's your DAUGHTER!"

"Funny, I don't recognize her. Because I remember my kids since I was there to raise them...granted, not very well if how they turned out is any indication. I guess I'll put that on you."

"What do you want?"

At this point, we had gotten into the channel and were heading out to open sea. I saw that several figures had joined the little girl. While I was too far for details, I guessed they were my former family. I waved.

"Wallace, you need to turn back!"

I turned on my Android and spent a few minutes booting up the recorder ap. Obviously I hadn't bothered to read the manual to do such a useless function, so it took me a few minutes. While I was doing this, Marion was going on in the background.

"Wallace! Are you even listening to me?"

I think I had finally booted the darned thing up. "Not really. Could you repeat it?"

"Wallace, we need to talk about saving Karen's life. Couldn't you see her stagger to the end of the pier?" 

"Marion, unlock yourself and get the fuck off my boat." Granted, we were almost two miles from the quay at this point, but I was saying it pro forma.

She just smiled at me. "We can't do that. Jason has the only key and he's back at the dock. So you have a choice of going back and helping my daughter or..."

"I like 'or'." I was now past the point and opened the throttle to wake speeds.

Honestly, I was in a quandary. On the one hand, I really wanted the bitch off my boat. But I really didn't see any need to get guilted and pressured by a bunch of faithless curs who had not only abandoned me, but essentially forced me out of their lives totally. If I chopped her hand off, I'd probably get in trouble and it might stain my deck. Or I could chop the mooring point free, which would damage the deck. I didn't like either option particularly much and I certainly didn't think she was worth the $1500 dollars for a life raft. She continued to talk to me, so I was still in the midst of reevaluating what my peace and quiet was worth lifeboat-wise when my reverie was cut short by the damned Coast Guard.

Being a basically law abiding sort, I heaved to. Do I need to mention that they had a chaingun on their bow?

They sent a zodiac raft over full of a bunch of humorless looking fellows in uniform. I put the Android in my little stowage bin in the deck house under a few charts. They piled onto my ship without asking.

"What's going on here?" The fellow in charge asked.

"Thank god you've arrived!" That bitch said. "He's kidnapping me!" She rattled her cuff at them.

"Sir, is this true?"

"Well, I'm pretty glad you're here too. If we can just figure out a way to get her off my boat, you can take her with you. And no, I didn't kidnap her." 

"Sir, it would be much easier if you just gave us the keys and told us what was going on."

"I don't have the keys. This crazy bitch jumped on my boat and handcuffed her...self...to..." I looked at the expressions on their faces and ran my explanation through my own BS detector. Wordlessly, I turned around and offered my wrists. Do you know how much cuffs sting when they slap them on? Guys who join Boarding Teams live for this shit, just like SWAT guys. I think one of them came in his BDUs. I was lucky they didn't face plant me on the deck. As a kidnapper, I was a celebrity! I did, however, insist they search me for the keys to establish that point.

My humiliation wasn't complete for the day, however. That bastard of a Boatswain's Mate in charge had one of the men take a screwdriver and release the bitch by unscrewing the mooring point from the deck. Why didn't I think of that? 

She sat there smirking at me. "Now you have to come back."

"You're going to regret this." I said. Not original, but I was feeling rather shitty at the time.

There were a lot of questions, but I lawyered up and was taken into custody. Arraignment was going to follow reasonably quickly when I got an expected visitor.

"Look, let's put this all behind us. Just donate your kidney and we can go about our lives. You'll have done a wonderful, huge and heroic thing. My daughter will be alive and we...well, maybe we can look at this as a bonding moment. I know I...we treated you rather shitty. Maybe..." Marion licked her lips and squeezed her husband's hand. "maybe we could invite you over for Christmas?" She glanced at him nervously. He nodded condescendingly.

It was good to see that one of my fucking organs suddenly made me something less than a persona non grata. Maybe if I gave them my testicles, they'd invite me to Thanksgiving as well.

"How about this? We wait till my trial. Know how long that is going to take? No judge on Earth is going to make me give up an organ while I'm incarcerated. Have a really nice night. That is if I don't just plead guilty for a lesser charge. I wonder if I'll get seven years?" 

Both of them blanched and were hammering on the glass partition as I turned and walked away.

***

Oddly, I had a lawyer pretty darned quick.

"Hello Mr. Banks. I'm Mathew Hughes. I will be representing you."

"Oh...are you a public defender?"

"Noooo...Mr. and Mrs. Paxon are paying for my services."

"Yes, but are you my attorney or their attorney?"

"You raise a thorny issue."

"Not really. If you are my attorney, I'd like a notarized letter that you represent ME. I'm also not accepting your representation unless you are prepaid a very large retainer by those assholes. I am not taking you on and then having you quit because they suddenly don't want to finance this."

He considered this for a very short time. "That...works. It is a very awkward situation they put me in and that might clear up the ethics handily." Why did I think that the prospect of a large retainer had just as much weight as his ethics? Cynical of me, I know.

"You'll see the papers tomorrow." 

The night before I was going to be released on bail (nope, I didn't pay a dime),I was in my cell, thinking very carefully about who I was and what kind of man I wanted to be. Was I the kind of person who could callously walk away while someone was drowning? I didn't like to think so. But when it came to my family...ex-family, the hate seemed to override my morality. Marion was correct in that regard.

But by the same token, obviously my family was the kind to abandon someone. I had been drowning and they all walked away. Well, not drowning. I was still breathing. I could find some happiness. Somehow, I'd just lacked the ability so far.

And I know that was a weak point in my character. They would hammer me and hammer me about doing the right thing and I had no defense. Was a rather innocuous medical procedure worth my daughter's life? I quickly backed up. No...not my daughter. I was, at best, a cup of sperm bought at a sperm bank as far as my connections to her were concerned.

Briefly, I toyed at somehow forcing an interaction. She WAS technically blood of my blood. I could insist on visitation rights...

I quickly dismissed that. If I could find a judge who would go with that, she's still be living in that poisonous environment and she'd resent me.

What about taking her from that nest of vipers? I could adopt her. Take her touring the world with me. It would certainly be in her best interests. I started to consider the logistics. There was that tiny cabin next to the master. I could clean out some of my memorabilia, and...I started thinking life jackets, cooking for two, not being able to walk around in my underwear. What if she fell overboard? She was a curious girl, I was betting. What if I was distracted? How about school? Was I going to teach her? Could I homeschool from a boat? That would take up a lot of my time; time I was currently enjoying by fishing and doing other things.

Then there was the prospects of friends. How could she make friends on a boat? No...the boat would have to go. Then I'd be...a fucking single dad with a girl torn from the bosom of her family. If someone did that to me, I'd certainly be resentful. I wasn't rich enough to be able to bribe her more effectively then that asshole Marion married. Living on a boat would pall quickly for a little girl.

I sighed. I would need to think more on this.

***

I was leaving with my lawyer when they ambushed me outside the Federal holding facility. "Wallace, we have to talk!" Mr. Hughes left my side and returned into the facility.

"Talk? I have to worry about a federal offense. I'm not supposed to be anywhere NEAR you, since I alledgedly 'kidnapped' you. The FBI's involved. You know that's on my record now."

She flushed. Jason and Macy were with her. "Dad..."

"I told you before, you gave up the right to call me 'Dad' a long time ago."

"Fine...D...Mr. Banks. Karen is doing worse. She's on dialysis. You have to help her NOW." Jason said.

"I HAVE to go to court. I have to pay taxes. I may even have to die...by the way, just so you know, I tore up my organ donor card and had an amendment added to my will that I am to be cremated intact without harvesting my organs...just in case." All three of them looked horrified but with a twinge of guilt when I said this. People were as moral as they could be...but desperate times made them do desperate things.

"How could you think we'd do something like that?" Macy asked.

"History? You've picked sides before and I know who you chose."

Marion decided to put on the serious adult cap. "Look...there is a lot of bad history between...between all of us. I treated you badly. Okay? I'm sorry! There. I will regret what I did to my dying day. But it's done. SHE didn't do anything to you. So we all need to act like adults about all this and do what's best for Karen."

"You know, when someone generally brings up the term 'let's all act like adults about this', what they really mean is 'please ignore all the shit I did to you.' " She opened her mouth, but I motioned her to stop. Mr. Hughes had come back out with a pair of officers.

"Madam. I'm afraid I have to put you under arrest," one of the officers said.

"What? Why?" She looked at me, lost "Wallace? What's going on?"

"I believe the formal charge is 'making a false statement to law enforcement. Maybe they'll give you visitation to see Karen occasionally..." Mr. Hughes had been instrumental in getting my evidence into the right hands. I needed to rattle her cage.

Jason started to shout at the officers and it looked like a fist fight might break out at any minute. Unfortunately, Macy was able to calm him down as Mr. Hughes took me to my motel.

***

It was just my luck that I met them in the hospital. An attractive nurse was fawning over me, which was rather nice considering the last seven years. That damned mermaid still hadn't shown up.

"Thank you ever so much for your generosity," she gushed.

Macy and Marion just gawked at me. Then smiles broke out on both of them and they started running at me. I started and quickly ducked behind the nurse.

"Mrs. Paxon. Ms. Banks! How ARE you?" the nursette gushed. "Mr. Banks..." she paused a moment. "Um...Mr. Banks here just put himself on the kidney registry." She looked questions at my daughter and me. "Are you related or is it just some coincidence?"

"Yes." Macy said at the same time I said "No." Macy's smile was officially gone. The nurse blinked. 

"Well...I'll just finish the paperwork," she said awkwardly and hurried away.

"This is a magnanimous gesture you're making," Marion fawned , not detecting the subtext. She was a desperate mother; irrational. "I'll make sure that everyone knows exactly how big a man you are."

Macy whimpered. She'd caught my expression.

"Not really. It seems that because of moral blackmail, I'm going to lose a kidney no matter what. Not if I want to be able to look in a mirror. So I have to save SOMEONE'S life."

"And you can! You WILL!"

"What makes you think it's going to be Karen?" I said bluntly.

"What? But you'll be a match. I know you will!"

"Yes, but there might be others who are ALSO a match."

"But why would you help strange...?" She clamped her mouth shut and her eyes narrowed.

"Because strangers might actually be grateful. Strangers might actually fucking appreciate me rescuing some loved one's life! Not think it's their due because of time served. It would be poetic justice if some other little girl could use my kidney. Personally, I'd prefer a dad. A nice hardworking, blue collar dad with a family who appreciated having him around. I'd like to rescue a family like that." Macy covered her mouth and ran off. 

"Why are you being like this? When did you turn into an asshole? I thought I knew you."

"You know what? You cheated on me for three years, ambushed me with a divorce, turned my kids against me...and I just walked away. Of course I was angry, but I WALKED AWAY! YOU dragged me back into your life. YOU keep making your problems my problems. YOU got me arrested. YOU gave me up. YOU took me away from my daughter. So now YOU don't get to say anything about who I am and what I've become. You want me to fix things? Fine! Have the Paxon clan show up day after tomorrow morning at 8 sharp. All of them. Anyone's missing, and I walk. Make sure that you get the releases signed so if we come to an arrangement, you don't need to wait for this to happen." I pulled an envelope from my pocket. "Macy has a doctor appointment today. She needs to be there. It's a personal letter." 

"What games are you...?" she started.

"You'll see day after tomorrow." I turned and walked away. 

**

I sat at the conference table, my stomach rumbling. Mr. Hughes was there sitting next to the notary. I thought about using a video camera, but reconsidered at the last moment and at the advice of my counsel. 

We'd heard from the DA that the charges on Marion and me had both been dropped and we were warned that we shouldn't involve the criminal justice system in our domestic difficulties, which I found odd since I was the victim here. Marion had been put on notice.

The sorry lot of them came in: James Paxon, now getting over 40. Why he married my wife, I'll never know. Marion, that bitch. The two sat together and held hands across from me. Mike came in. I'm surprised he wasn't deployed somewhere. Maybe he was off on emergency family leave. His hair was cut high and tight as befitted a naval aviator. Jason was also there. Last and late, Macy slunk in, not looking at me.

"I want you to know right off the bat that the doctors have found not one, but two matches for my kidney. There is one very good match...and one which is also pretty good." I lied. I let that sink in for a moment. "They are really annoyed that I insist on controlling who gets my kidney. They feel that it should be strictly a medical decision. But better that it give someone else even a good chance."

"Why are you being such a hard ass, Wallace?" James Paxon said.

"First, you can call me Mr. Banks and I have nothing to say to you right now. All of you want me to take a piece of myself out of me and give it to a stranger. You're trying to blackmail me into making a sacrifice. Well, you started the ball rolling and SOMEONE is getting a kidney. But it doesn't have to be your little sister. So if you are going to tell me to do the right thing and rescue a life...I am. Since I am on board, willing to sacrifice for a stranger, now it's your turn."

"Is this about money?" Paxon asked.

"Money? Just shut up and let family...oops, FORMER family talk." I couldn't believe this guy.

"First off, I want a divorce." At their expositions of distress, I held up my hand. "I don't mean from the slut there. I mean from you three."

"What do you mean 'divorce'?" Mike said.

"Even though there is no legal rite for this, you all are incredible disappointments to me. You haven't called or written or done anything until, once again, you needed something. Okay. I could live with that before. But now you've run me down again and I want out. There is one last thing all three of you have that I want back."

"Huh?"

"My name. She's a Paxon now." I said, pointing to my ex-wife. "I want all three of you to change your names to something else. " Hughes started to pass out the forms. "Honestly, I don't care what it is, though I suspect it will be Paxon. If I might make a suggestion, Jason, I think that 'Arnold' would make a dandy last name for you." Jason's middle name was Benedict.




Second Chances



"If it will get Karen a kidney, I'll be glad to sign." Michael started signing immediately. "You turned into a real asshole DAD." 

"Since you show willing in sacrifice, why not start with you. If the rest of you could give me and Michael a moment alone." Confused, they shuffled out the door. Macy put her hand on Michael's shoulder in sympathy. She had a sense of what was coming in. He looked at her confused.

After they were all gone, he glared at me. "You always taught me to do the right thing. I guess it was just words to you."

"Considering how well my teachings seem to have been learned, I was a rotten teacher."

"It's a divorce. They happen. Sometimes bad shit happens and you got to suck it up, tough guy." The military had not been very good for his temper and attitude.

"I'm glad you feel that way. Bad shit DOES happen and it can be inflicted by outside parties. It's nice to know that that sort of thing is coming around the bend. Friends and family look out for each other. So, how do you reconcile your military teamwork attitude with what happened to me?"

"Mom asked us not to."

"How nice! So if one officer asked you to do something immoral and wrong, you'd be on board!" I had opened my valise and removed the vial, mirror and razor. "Let's play 'don't ask, don't tell'." I tapped out a small mound of white powder on the mirror and cut it into lines. "Here."

"And what do you expect me to do with that? I assume its cocaine."

"Assume away. It's the price you pay for my kidney."

He flipped the mirror over, spilling the contents onto the highly polished surface. "Fuck you. I won't do it. I don't believe you'll let her die."

"You'd be amazed at what I'm capable of these days," I said in cool tones. "And the guilt is on you. See, I AM going to save a life. YOU are choosing not to help your sister...as is your right. This really doesn't surprise me much since I know what family loyalty is worth to you. See, she isn't rich. She can't do anything for you. "

He looked like he wanted to lunge over the table at me. "FUCK YOU! I love my sister! But I'm not throwing away my career when I don't have to. Do you know how long I worked to get from the ranks to flight officer?"

"Yes...one third the time I spent keeping a family and marriage alive. Cry me a river 'tough guy'."

"Just...give her the kidney. It's...why are you making this so fucking hard? Why are you trying to hurt us?" I just stared at him. He looked down at the table with the powder spilled across its top.

"You're kind of funny, you know that? Here you are, some big bad fighter pilot. Did you ever think about what that really means? It means you're supposed to get into a jet and put your LIFE on the line for a bunch of strangers back home. You are supposed to be willing to DIE at the beck and call of other people. No...I don't think that aspect of the job occurred to you. You think it's only about the bad guys dying. Because you can't even RISK a sacrifice for a person whom you know personally. I guess it was all about the uniforms and picking up girls. Having people tell you you're wonderful."

"Fuck you! Mom was right to divorce you."

"Perhaps. Perhaps not. Me, I'm going to save a life. You, Mr. Big Bad Fighter Jock...now you get to make the hard call. You thought it might be shooting down an airliner. Maybe starting a war. No. You get to decide if a little girl dies when you could do something about it. No cheering crowds. No fellow officers congratulating you or commiserating with you. Just a simple act FOR someone besides yourself, you selfish prick. Except that the family will know. They'll know you had that choice and you wimped out. Because you love your pretty uniform more then you love your sister. Tell me. When you played with her when she was young...two...still developing speech...what did she call you?

I could see the break in his eyes. "Mic-...Mickey...she call....called me Mickey. Give me your goddamn poison. I'll...I'll do it." He gestured to the half empty vial.

"No." I said, leveling the coldest look I could muster. "Now you can lick it off the table."

**

Jason came in alone as I requested, an extremely guarded look on his face. He'd seen Michael when he left.

"Sit." I instructed. "You know...I'm the most disappointed in you. You had a wife and kids when you did this to me. You should have known better if you loved them." I paused. "You DO love them, don't you?" Best not to take this for granted.

"YES!" he hissed out.

"So you have an inkling how I felt. Or you should have."

"Dad..." At my glare, "Mr. Banks, mom was unhappy. She'd been unhappy for years."

I set the envelope on the table and scooted it back and forth between my hands. His eyes followed it. "So...were they the years she was fucking James Paxon behind my back or was it years before that? Do you think she communicated to me that she was unhappy? I knew she was down and different for a few months, but she never mentioned a thing. Don't you think you'd want Pamela to tell you if she was unhappy? Or let's say she didn't have the guts. Wouldn't you hope that your kids might give you a heads up before you were blindsided? If your wife was seeing a man when you weren't home, wouldn't you like your boy to mention it to you?"

"What do you want from me? An apology? I said I was sorry! I'm still sorry."

"Yes. You're sorry. An apology is just words." I flicked the envelope on the corner with my finger and it spiraled over to him, catching a bit of air as it hit an errant breeze. "That is what I want from you."

With trepidation, he opened the envelope. Inside, there was a keycard with the Quality Inn logo on it. "What's this?"

"A hotel room. Room 341. Inside, there is a nice attractive young lady, disease free, who would like to make your acquaintance. In fact, I think you should get to 'know' her in the Gideon Bible sense. In fact, I insist on it."

"And what exactly does that do? Why are you playing these stupid games instead of just..."

"Helping people who stabbed me in the back? Once upon a time, there was a young man, married mind you, who held his father's marriage in his hands. It wasn't a perfect marriage, but it was one the dad happened to value. Like most marriages, it was a work in progress. We know what kind of care that young man took of that marriage. Karma called. It's my turn to hold onto your marriage. If you love your sister, you'll make sure she lives. Even if I am an indescribable asshole and sent the video," he jerked at that, " to Pamela, you might fix things. You can explain what an incredible pain the ass I am. How I forced you to have sex with an incredibly sexy woman. That might not be the end of your marriage, particularly if you based it on trust and honesty. Does she trust you? Does she believe your word? You might fix it...but it won't be the same. Just like I'm not the same. You should have a lot of fun. Consider it a belated birthday gift."

I thought of something at the last minute. "Oh...give me your cell phone. See, I only...'rented'? Is 'rented the term? Hired. Yes, I only hired her for three hours. And just to give you a bit of incentive, since the charges against me have been dropped, I have my boat back. So...how much do you value your sister's life?"

I sat back and let the cursing start. After he started to wind down, I looked at my watch. "You have 2 hours and 25 minutes left. Send in Macy. And don't forget to leave your cell phone."

**

Macy came in looking like a whipped dog. "Dad...Mr. Banks. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I never...I never put myself in your shoes. . You were always the strong one. The one who disciplined us and took the...hard knocks," she almost sobbed the words, "in stride. We thought you'd get over it quickly and you seemed to. You just started screaming and you disappeared and I figured you hated us"

"You got that last part right."

She winced. "But...I didn't think it would hurt. Not that much."

"It did and it does. Do you know the worst part for me? The very worst part about this entire situation?" She shook her head. "It's because you came back...YOU came back, not because you were sorry. Not because you missed me. Not because you thought you were wrong. But because you had to."

She sat there and looked down at her hands. "Is that why you scheduled the doctor's appointment for me with for an Essure Implant?" Essure was a non-reversible sterilization procedure. Two plugs were put in the fallopian tubes and they caused scarring which ensured that no eggs reached the womb.

"You took my future away from me. "

"That's not true." She whispered.

"Not technically. You took A future away from me. I am simply taking A future away from you. You'll meet someone. You'll make love. You'll have a career, hobbies, joys, and friends..."

"Just...just no children." She sobbed.

"No. Maybe you'll appreciate family a bit more. Maybe Karen can be your surrogate daughter."

She sat there silently, still not looking at me, watching her hands. "That's what this is all about. Sacrifice. The doctor...I was numb when she described the pro....procedure. She says I need a three day waiting period, to make sure I was serious. The doctor said..said...that I need a family member or loved one to drive me home afterward." Now she looked at me. Her face was bereft of all human emotion. Just this mask of features that used to look like my little girl. "I chose you instead. Father, I wish you'd take this cup from me, but your will, not mine, be done." Bitterness. Such bitterness.

**

Marion met me outside the room after Macy walked out like a zombie. "Are you enjoying destroying your family?" she asked me venomously.

"Excuse me. I was on a boat. I was going to Bermuda. I was physically thrown out of this family seven years ago, when each and every one of you took sides against me."

"So that justifies you using your own children horribly?"

"They aren't my children any more. You saw to that. I obviously did a terrible job raising them if they could do what they did to me. But I don't think they'll forget this lesson. Not. One. Bit."

"So this is vengeance?"

"Call it what you will." I felt suddenly tired. It was a terribly stressful day and I knew it would get worse before it got better. "Do you mind? I'm tired. Being an asshole takes a lot out of you." And it did.

"So is it our turn now?" She asked, glaring more at me.

"Sure. Why not finish this up." As if on cue, Jimmie boy came in, carrying two cups of coffee. He handed her one and she blew on it, giving him a smile which turned a knife in my guts. She had an entire life without me. 

Mr. Hughes also came in with the notary. He set his folders down and sat next to me. It was my show.

"Would you like to know the difference between you and me, Marion?"

She took a sip of her coffee. "I have a soul?"

"Very nice. Still have that wit, I see. No sense of shame, but a soul."

"No...I was going to say that you still have all your good memories. You made the choices. You had the kids. Everything was just peachy for you. Meanwhile, I had all our prior memories shit on. I had to wonder about my relationships with all of you. You had Macy and Jason and Michael all supporting you. I got tossed overboard."

"Wallace, how many times can I say I'm sorry? And the last few years of our marriage didn't have many happy memories for me."

"No...you were saving all your happy memories for Jimmie boy. Didn't bother to save any happy times for me. You went from one set of happy memories to another." I could see James wanted to say something wise but he clenched his jaw instead. Maybe he was smart.

"That isn't...it doesn't matter. I can see from the faces of our kids that you want to do something awful to me, so let's get to it, shall we?"

I smiled but the expression didn't get to my eyes. "James...how's my wife? Having a lot of fun with her?" He stayed silent, waiting. "Want to know why everyone is attracted to married folks? If someone is at all attractive, they are looked at fondly by single people, James being a case in point."

"It's because married people have already rubbed off all the rough spots. People are like rocks that way. See, I'd already broken in Marion and you decided to take her, James. That's stealing. Theft. You saw a pretty thing and you took it."

"Are you saying you want her back?" James asked, shocked.

"Oh no. It's like a stick of chewing gum. Once someone's used it, you don't exactly want it back. Why would I want a faithless and deceptive slut back?" Marion paled a little at my description, but she said nothing. "You might want to keep that in mind for your future. I doubt she has 25 years left in her, but in 14 or so...just a word to the wise. Been there. Done that."

"Are the insults part of the package?" he asked.

"Nah. They're free. But back to my point. You didn't just help yourself to my wife. You took my entire life. What I had. What I expected. Past, present, future. You changed my entire life and you didn't even ask."

I took the two folders from Mr. Hughes. "These are quit claim deeds. One is for your house. You give it to me..." 

Hughes interrupted me. "He made these out in case you wanted to give him a gift." I smiled and nodded.

"This other is a quit claim to all your chattel."

"What's chattel?" Marion asked.

Hughes stepped in. "That is the contents of your house. You are deeding him all the contents of your house, your boat, and your cars."

I continued "Your clothes...including the anniversary lingerie that you buy. The box with the baby outfits in it. The photo albums. The trophies and the diplomas. Your grandmother's cast iron frying pan Marion. Your favorite book. The bed you made sweet sweet love in. The backyard where you entertained with all your friends. All of it. I want it all. Here's how it works. You sign, we file the paperwork while you sit here, giving me the keys to all that stuff. A PI will watch the house taking video to make sure you don't sneak in and steal any of my stuff. I'm not heartless. I'll allow you to gather one suitcase of clothes each including Karen and any legal documents you might need such as birth certificates, passports and the life. No marriage licenses though. I have plans for that little document."

"So this IS about money!" Paxon snorted.

"Did I say anything about your 401k? Did I ask for your stocks or your cash? No. This is your memories. This is your life. You took my life. I get to take yours."

Marion just had a focused expression on her face while this interplay went on. Then she opened her purse and pulled out a pen. "Where do I sign this?" Hughes assistant had put down sticky pointers and she started to sign and date her name.

"Wait!" James said. "He's not allowed to do this! You can't sell a kidney. It's illegal."

"This isn't a sale. We make no promises." Hughes gave me a disgusted look. I think lawyers take on and appreciate scumbag clients just so they can occasionally feel morally superior to somebody. "This is a simple request without any quid pro quo being offered. Call it restitution for prior grievances."

"And if we report it to the police?" he blustered.

"Don't be an idiot Jim." Marion said. "Then he won't be allowed to donate the kidney or he'll be in jail and Karen will die. We already tried this once. " She gave me a look of disgust. "This time It's our turn over the barrel."

"The price is too high. We need to negotiate."

"I'm game." I interrupted Marion. What is the going price for a little girl's life? Just curious." I tapped the file folders with my finger. " But I know what my price is."

"Jim, sign the papers."

"I've had that house for 15 years! It has everything I've worked for my whole life."

"It's a house."

"It's everything we have."

"I KNOW! And it hurts. It hurts a lot. All her birthday pictures. All her clothes. My stuff. My jewelry..." she looked at me and reached behind her neck and undid her gold chain and slammed it on the paper. "Here." She started to twist rings off her fingers. "My rings too. Do you want my wedding rings too?"

I waved my hand languidly at her. "No thanks. I know exactly how much you value such things. " She actually growled at me.

He grabbed her head and turned her toward his face. "Marion, listen. He's just playing fucked up games. He isn't going to go through with this. We can't be weak here. He's just trying to rip us apart."

"Thank you Mr. Obvious! But there's nothing we can do about it."

"We can wait. We can hope he grows a conscious. We can see if we can get another match. We can't just throw everything away because of one..."

"You aren't throwing everything away." I interrupted. "You still have your health. You still have each other. You still have that oh so lucrative job that you used to lure my wife into adultery." Marion had the shame to blush and look away. " So you'll be fine. Just...the stuff will be gone."

"No deal!" James shouted at me. "You need to come up with another price. Marion he's bluffing. HE'S BLUFFING!" he screamed at me.

"Jim...he was sailing to Bermuda! He's full of hate and spite! Jim...we can't take that chance with our daughter!"

"She's not..." he started, but he stopped. There was a pregnant pause.

"I don't know what you're going to say but don't say it." She said in very precise tones, but her face was stricken. She turned to me with hate filled eyes. "I hope you're satisfied."

I sighed. "Yes and no. For years I told myself that you were a soulless tramp who threw everything away for some bucks and a younger stud. But that meant that the woman I thought you were was a total lie and I was a sucker for 24 years. That you were play acting. But...when you just picked up that pen and signed away everything...it reminded me of the woman I married. The one who made the right choices and cared heart and soul for her family. My judgment wasn't all off. So if a piece of that Marion survives...maybe I'm at fault, at least partly."

"But just a piece. When push came to shove, you didn't give me a chance to fight for my family. It doesn't change the fact that when offered the chance for stuff," my voice was filled with contempt, "and family, you made the right choice. The only good choice. But, and you need to live with this, that was a choice you denied me. I didn't want the house. I didn't want the car or the half of the retirement fund. I wanted my family. And I wasn't allowed to keep them because of you."

I checked my watch. "This has been fun and it looks like you two have a lot to discuss. Unfortunately, your other daughter has an appointment of her own and now I have to drive her to it. Mr. Hughes can represent me on this." 

My work here was done with those two words from James Paxon.

**

It was a silent drive. I was running that entire last encounter through my head. Marion was not a total waste of space. She was willing to do the hard thing for her daughter. Was I a hate filled monster? Was I getting even, teaching them a lesson , exorcising my demons, or just indulging my sadism? There was plenty of room for all four theories, I'm sad to say. And only two of those motives were at all complimentary.

On my way to the doctor, my cell beeped a text. Jason paid his price. She also added he was crying like a little bitch. I sighed and recalled my days after the divorce. He had seven years of regret before we were near even. I hardened my heart.

It was a typical OB/GYN doctor's office. There were lots of magazines about pregnancy and pictures of mothers holding cherubic babies. The walls were painted nicely and one corner had some children's toys. Of course there were pregnant women there. Macy's face was drawn and her eyes kept flashing around the room, looking for a safe spot to look. Finally she just closed her eyes and curled in on herself.




Second Chances



I could hear her muttering to herself. "I am doing this for Karen. I'm doing this for Karen. I'm doing this for Karen." Her knuckles were white.

Memories from the past, one's I'd avoided for seven years came unbidden to me. Macy loved dolls. She played with them fully up until she was thirteen. In her teen years, she just graduated to 'artistic' china dolls.

I remember her when she broke up with Gary Dodson. He seemed like a nice boy, but when I asked her about it, she said "He's not nice to kids." I recall when she used to beam at me with her daddy smile. This was going to be unbearable to her.

"Macy Banks!" the receptionist shouted.

Her hand grabbed mine and I swear my bones ground against each other in her grip. Her voice came low and fast "Promise me! Promise me that you'll do what you said you'd do. Swear to me that this erases...erases all the pain I caused you. Tell me that this isn't in vain! Make me believe it. I don't care what the others do. Swear to me...swear to me that this...this is over. Please...just tell me that I'm a good girl, Daddy." She broke down and wept.

While this was going on, the receptionist watched and then picked up a phone quickly. I was torn. I reached over and grabbed her hand with both of mine. "I..."

"What is this?!?" shouted a woman in a white doctor coat. She looked at me with my face like death and my daughter who probably looked worse. "I was told that she'd already made this decision. I am NOT going to operate on this woman. Not in this state. Until I get a psychological profile from a psychologist stating she is alright, we're done here."

"Of course. Send me the bill." I said with a gravelly voice as I helped Macy to stand.

"NO!" Macy screamed. "You HAVE to do it! My sister...Don't ...you need to do it!" she said almost hysterically.

I pulled her toward the door while the doctor muttered about security.

"Daddy! This isn't my fault! I'm sorry! We can find another doctor! I swear I'll do it but it might take me some..."

"Shh shh." I was a broken man. "Do you know the funny thing about sacrifice?" I barely choked out. "Sometimes it's enough to just be willing to...do the hard thing. You paid in full."

In the car, she finally stopped her sobbing. "What now?" she asked leadenly.

"Now, I go to the hospital."

There was no outburst of gladness. There were no smiles or joy. I don't think either one of us had that much emotion left inside of us.

Like an old woman, she reached into her purse and pulled out a sheaf of papers. "Here. These are the name change forms. I filled them out and filed them before I came to the doctor's office. I...I don't deserve to be your daughter and frankly right now, I don't WANT to be your daughter."

I absorbed this and I couldn't blame her. "It is to my eternal regret that I didn't take you from that doctor's office before the doctor refused us service. You have no reason to believe me, but I was wrong."

"And yet we still have the scars." She said.

"Yes, scars. Marks for lessons learned. This is a second chance for you. When you have your babies, make sure...make sure you raise them right. Make sure they can't do what any of us did to each other. Tabula rasa. Help your kids do better than we did!"

We drove into the future.

**

Epilogue:

I was sitting in a café in St. Maarten. That damned mermaid hadn't shown her face yet, even after 10 years of looking. Still, I gazed up and down the French beach. There were consolation prizes.

The angry young man sat across from me uninvited. "What can I do for you son?" I asked mildly.

"I'm not your son."

"No. I recall my boys. Mostly good men, I suppose. Made some serious mistakes but they paid them off. They learned what's important in the end, and that's all a body can do. Would you like a drink?"

"No. You're a hard man to find." He glared at me some more. Then his eyes started examining instead of prosecuting me.

"So who's looking?"

"My name is Harold Weiss." He didn't offer his hand and he fell silent.

I offered mine instead. "Okay Mr. Weiss. You obviously already know me, though I don't know how. Now how can I help you?" He didn't take my hand at first, but finally shook it.

"I need a favor. A large favor. And only you can do it for me."

"Mr. Weiss, I've never laid eyes on you before in my life. Maybe you need to tell me your story."

He sighed and motioned to the waiter. He waited until he had his drink. "This is just too weird. I expected someone more..."

"More what?"

"Hateful."

"Ah." Time and the Karen incident had baked a good bit of hate and bitterness out of me.

He regrouped when I didn't go on. "I married Macy Arnold. I'm sorry. You remember her as Macy Banks."

"I knew her both ways. She showed me the name change forms, though I never thought of her as an Arnold."

Macy disappeared after I donated the kidney. In fact, I donated it that same day that I faced the family. In the end, Marion browbeat James into signing the forms, though from the looks on their faces, it had been a particularly ugly battle. Marion thought that Macy went off to do something harmful to herself. But I didn't think so. I think she was working through a lot of issues.

Yes, I stayed in their house during my convalescence. For the first three days, I had a nurse look over me and I spent my time snooping into stranger's lives. They seemed happy in the pictures. But I wasn't part of this life.

When I was feeling better, I spent my time going through their files. Any picture of Mr. and Mrs. Paxon went into their grand fireplace. Any picture of Mr. or Mrs. Paxon AND Karen was left intact. Any picture of a relative I didn't recognize I destroyed. All his trophies, diplomas, his toys and her frilly undergarments became ash and twisted metal. It seems that Mr. Paxon used to be quite good at high school baseball. 

I considered destroying all her clothes too, but two things stopped me. One, I remember my mother. I remember her church dress and her apron and her 'visiting' suit. They were major memories for me. Additionally, there was the picture at the bottom of her dresser. It was of the five of us when we went to Disney World, back when we were a happy family. I spared them in honor of my mother and for Karen.

The rest of the month was spent contemplating the future and drinking up their cases of wine and a special bottle of 25 year old Laphroaig in a wooden case. Meh. It tasted like Scotch. When I needed the money, I hawked one of her pieces of jewelry. I certainly wasn't going to dip into my funds. His clothes, both cars, her remaining jewelry as well as some select heirlooms I knew she valued were donated to the National Kidney Foundation. I left them the receipts on the kitchen table. This wasn't about money.

I decided I wasn't going to try to destroy a little girl I had nothing against except for her relatives. I looked at her swing and noticed a little gap in the bushes. There was a small headstone with the name 'Frodo' scratched on it with a little circle of rocks and a withered flower. No. I was willing to burn this place to the ground if it was just Marion and James. It was the only other gift I could give to a daughter I would never know. I called Hughes and had him reverse the paperwork.

Why did I wait a month? Well, I wanted them to work hard to establish a new household, with deposits, furniture and appliance purchases. Yes, this was petty at this point, but while Macy and Marion had shown a sense of remorse, more or less, well, I owed James a little something. And recovery is a slow process. 

Since Marion showed she was still a reasonably sensitive individual, I left her little notes. 'She's a beautiful girl. Too bad I never knew her' I wrote in their photo albums. I left a few other notes where she'd find them over the years. 

But all in all, I was done with this family...AGAIN. Family illness, moving, a fire: all of these things are stressful on a marriage. They got the equivalent all in one go. Let's see if good old James could keep things going when it was raining as easily as when it was sunny. I wished him no luck at all.

But now I had this young man whom I'd never seen before asking me for a favor.

"Mace was in therapy a long time." Another glare. "She's better now. She said you were the hardest son of a bitch on the planet." He waited for me to comment in vain. "Anyway...when we started to go together, she wanted to make sure that her husband understood the meaning of sacrifice." Again he watched me, but I didn't have a clue. I hadn't seen her for three years.

"So she told me up front that any children we had would be named Banks. This was non-negotiable."

"So have you had any children?" I asked, a lump in my throat.

"Greta and Alois Banks. She let me name them. He's less than a year old."

"And where do I come in here?"

"My brother just died and he didn't have any children, though he was married. I want to continue the family name, but my wife refuses. I think you are the only man who can get her to change her mind. You're my last hope."

I mulled this as I finished my Carib Lager. "Could you give me your phone?"

He handed it to me. "Just hold number one. Her cell is connected to that one."

I gave him an approving look. "As it should be." I hit the button.

It took a while to connect. "Hi Sweetie. How are you?" There was warmth and affection in that voice. She was happy to hear from him. I remember when someone felt that way about me.

I tried to put some gruffness in my voice, though it was hard. "You still don't seem to learn your lessons very well." 

A gasp came over the phone. "Da...Mr. Banks...what's this all about? What lesson? How did you get this phone?" Her voice sounded stunned. 

"The lesson was of sacrifice AND grace. Your young man...your husband came down to give me a piece of his mind about how badly I treated you. I think...I think you have a fine young man here. It took a lot of courage to risk so much for this. Family goes both ways. Can you see your way to giving him title to his children?"

Her tone came back in a forced light and breezy tone. "You know what? I think I'll keep him." There was silence. "Was there anything else?"

"Yes." There was an unclenching in my chest and my voice was hoarse. " I'm sorry and I'd like to see my grandchildren. If you'll let me."

There was a long silence which was only slightly less painful then the seven years of Purgatory I spent alone. "I think Banks is a perfectly good MIDDLE name. What do you think?" There was another pause only slightly less stressful. "When can you come?" It was as if a weight I hadn't realized I was carrying suddenly fell away. Macy had, after all, learned about sacrifice and grace.

Everyone deserves a second chance. Even me.



Second Chances



Chapter 1 

I locked the shop door for the final time, 4.30pm Christmas Eve. That was it, officially retired at just 45 years old. If I was honest I didn't really know what I was going to do now. I wasn't relishing retirement, just sitting doing nothing. I suspected I was going to be lonely! 

I went round the back of the shop and got into my new SUV, a retirement present to myself. It was really too big for just me but I'd always fancied one and 'what the hell' - I'd made enough money selling the business that I could afford it. As a salve to my conscience I'd bought a Mazda CX-5, something with low emission and with reasonable fuel economy. 

A quick visit to Tesco then back home - I had no intention of leaving home again for a few days - not until the festive season was over. I'd watch TV, listen to music, read or surf the net to keep myself occupied. Don't get me wrong, I liked Christmas as a family occasion, but with my wife dead just over three years now, from cervical cancer, and my two kids living abroad, it was just me. 

My daughter Sarah had met a Kiwi at university and followed him back to New Zealand - they had married in the Summer just past. My son Pete had moved to the States when he was twenty and now played drummer in a band. They were never going to be huge but played lots of gigs locally and made reasonable money. With the extra he earned teaching drum kit out of a local music shop he lived OK. 

Was I lonely? I had got used to living on my own. I kept busy with work. Until now anyway! 

I had built up a very successful business. Fortunately I didn't know what I wanted to do when I left school, and couldn't see the benefit of going to Uni just to get a degree in something I wasn't really interested in. I took a year out and managed to get a job in a local chemists shop. 

The pharmacist was a nice chap but not very with it! After a few weeks I noticed that a lot of clients coming in to get their prescriptions filled were asking where to buy other 'over the counter' products. I persuaded Charles, my boss, to invest in some shelving and bought some simple products - shampoo, talc, some cosmetics, etc. (most prescriptions were brought in by women I had noticed). Sales jumped up and soon the shop was making more from over the counter sales than from the prescriptions. 

I sat Charles down after I had been there a few months and showed him a business plan I had made. He was a bit wary but eventually decided to give it a go as the over the counter sales had done so well. It worked - we were making much more money, reflected in an increase in my wages. Charles was not really a businessman - he was a pharmacist and a good one, but had taken over his Dad's pharmacy one year out of University. Despite having no formal training in business I seemed to have a head for it and soon was running the shop all except for the pharmacy. 

After two and a half years Charles asked me to be a partner, as we were making so much more money. He felt I was going to leave and set up a rival business. I had hinted to him I would like to own my own business. Within five years we had a small chain of pharmacies in the town and surrounding smaller communities. 

We computerised our records as soon as computers took off, which helped us streamline the business. When internet pharmacy became legal we started an online business - that was the deal breaker. Getting in at the start meant we picked up a lot of the early business, and ended up renting a business unit to deal with the volume of sales. The business rapidly grew and we employed more and more people. Charles was older than me and when his wife became ill when he was mid fifties he decided he wanted to retire. 

We had the business valued and when I found out what it was worth, I couldn't afford to buy him out without selling the business. A major internet company offered us over twenty million for the business so we jumped at it. We sold the shops separately to the individual pharmacists, they were separate from the internet company anyway, and netted another couple of million approximately for those. After the government took its share in Capital Gains Tax we were both left with more than enough to live on without ever having to work again. 

Charles retired immediately, and I agreed to work for another six months at two of the shops, in a consultative capacity, to teach the new staff the business. Today was the last day. I'd gone to one shop in the morning, and come to the second one at lunchtime to just check that the new owners were happy with everything, The owner of the second one was stressing about getting everything ready for Christmas for her young family so in a burst of Christmas spirit (or idiocy) I offered to let her go early and run the shop for the afternoon, then lock up. 

I turned left out the car park to head to the supermarket. Most of the shops in the row mine was in (not mine any more - had to stop thinking of it that way) were closed already and in darkness. I did notice a girl standing in the doorway three shops down, huddling back to avoid the flurry of snow that was just starting. Probably waiting for a lift, I thought. The snow we had had over the last few days had partially melted earlier in the day but the temperature was dropping rapidly, my dashboard thermometer told me it was below freezing already. It felt bloody cold! 

I just needed a few perishables, milk and bread mainly. God, Tesco's was crammed. I had no option, having offered to work till the end of the day, but surely most of these other people, especially Mums with kids in tow, should have shopped earlier. It took me an hour to pick up a few essentials and get through the checkout. People are strange - shopping trolleys packed to overflowing. I wanted to shout at some of them - "They're only closed one day. Sunday opening hours on Boxing Day." You'd think they were stocking up for a national disaster. What a waste to time and money! 

At last - home, to lasagne and garlic bread, and I thought, a glass of red! I had to retrace my journey and go past the shop on my way home, which was on the other side of town. I did notice a strange lump in the same doorway three doors down from the shop out the corner of my eye. Ten minutes later I was unpacking the shopping and putting it away. Lasagne in the oven - I'd prepared it last night. 

Fed and the dishes in the dishwasher, I relaxed in my big, comfy leather armchair. A second glass of wine sat with my coffee ready for drinking, the TV on in the corner for some sound, though I wasn't really watching the programme, a Christmas film, and I suppose I started to dose. Certainly I wasn't thinking about much. That's when my brain obviously started to process information gathered through the day. 

Suddenly alarm bells were ringing in my head. I sat up, tried to work out just what my brain had been subliminally working on. I took a swig of coffee, it was lukewarm now. I jumped up, grabbed my thick jacket off the chair in the hall, picked up the car keys and went out. 

The car windscreen was frosted up, but a spray with de-icer and a couple of minutes sitting with the engine on sorted that out. Ten minutes later I was pulling up just past the shop. Yes, the lump was still in the doorway. I left the engine running and got out to investigate. It was a blanket over the top of something, and it was frozen to the doorstep. A good tug got one corner loose and I was able to pull it off. My brain had been right, underneath, huddled on the doorstep, was the young girl I had seen earlier, and not in a good condition. Her breathing was shallow and her lips were blue. She was freezing. 

She was non -responsive when I tried to talk to her. Should I call 999, police, ambulance? Bugger it, I stooped over, one arm round her waist, the other under her knees and pulled. I almost ended up falling on top of her. The long jacket she was wearing was, like the blanket had been, stuck to the floor. I bent my knees a bit more and repeated the process and up she came. God, she was light. I carried her to the car and buckled her into the passenger seat, went back and picked up the blanket and a small rucksack, presumably personal items, chucked them in the back seat and set off, with the heater and fan on full blast. 

Fifteen minutes later she was wrapped in a dry blanket, in my armchair. She was starting to shiver and the blueness round her mouth was less noticeable. All good signs. Still not responding when I talked to her though. I made another coffee for me and a hot chocolate for her, and added three heaped spoonfuls of sugar. I took it back through and tried to feed her sips of the drink. 

It gave me a chance to really look at her. Young, maybe sixteen or seventeen, blond hair I suspected though it was filthy, pretty, heart shaped face. Why was a young girl like this living rough on the streets? Presumably a runaway from home. 

I heated up a couple of wheat pillows in the microwave and put one behind her and one on her tummy. I checked her hands. Although cold, her fingers looked fine, no frostbite. I removed her trainers and wet socks, again her feet though wet and cold, were OK. I put on 3 pairs of my socks on her to try and warm her feet up. I knew I had to get her out of her wet clothes and into something dry. 

I called Sammy, one of the girls who'd worked in one of my shops, who I knew lived this side of town too. By this time her two young ones had been put to bed, so a bit reluctantly she left her husband in charge and came over. I answered the door and explained my predicament. Sammy, God bless her, took over as I found some old pyjamas of Sarah's and some more dry socks. Soon the girl was in bed in my spare room, wrapped up in the downy with the reheated wheat pillows to warm her up. She had mumbled "Thanks" to Sammy, but still wasn't really talking. 

"Thanks Sammy, go home to your kids. I didn't feel it was right for me to strip her. When she wakes up hopefully she'll talk to me and we can get her story." 

I sat for a while, had another coffee and listened to some music. I put on some classical music, Bruch's Violin Concerto, to help me relax. I checked on the girl a few times to see she was OK. The shivering had reduced and had now stopped, her face felt warm and she was deeply asleep. Although not really very religious, I always went to Midnight Mass at the local church on Christmas Eve. Not this time though, I couldn't leave the house. I watched the service from Westminster Abbey on the TV, a final check on the girl then I went off to bed too. 

Chapter 2 

I woke up before eight, before the alarm. I was going to have to re-train my body clock to stop waking up early now. I lay for a minute unsettled, then realised why. Jeez! I jumped up, pulled on jeans and sweatshirt and quietly went to the spare bedroom. I gently pushed open the door and looked. All you could see was some hair on the pillow, everything else was under the covers, but I could see gentle movement of the downy confirming regular breathing. Quietly I closed the door, went for a shower and downstairs for breakfast, coffee and croissants (traditionally we'd always had croissants for Christmas morning breakfast) 

I searched the net for local homeless shelters. There were some provisions locally for 16-25 year olds, which I thought she would qualify for. Why hadn't she tried to get a bed for the night instead of sleeping rough? More questions I didn't have answers for. I prepared the vegetables for Christmas dinner, and put the turkey in. I'd managed to find a small turkey, far too big for just one, but the remains would freeze OK for future dinners and I would make stock for soup from the carcase. 

About 10.30 I heard a noise upstairs then a scream. I rushed up the stairs and knocked on the bedroom door. 

"Can I come in?" 

"Where the fuck am I?" Almost a scream, certainly high pitched and loud! 

"If I can come in I will explain." 

There was a chair in the corner of the room, I picked up and took it to the side of the bed. She was sitting upright, and immediately pulled the downy higher to cover everything but her face. 

"Hi, I'm Mark, Mark McKay, I found you last night, half frozen." 

"Where the fuck are my clothes. And who stripped me you fucking pervert?" 

"Calm down. I asked a friend of mine to help me last night to get your wet stuff off and dress you in dry clothes. She left her young kids in bed to come and help me. I put your clothes through the washer last night and they're in the drier now. 

"If you look in the dresser there, bottom two drawers you might find something that fits you - they are some old clothes of my daughter's she didn't take when she left. They'll be a bit big for you but will do till yours are dry. There is a bathroom with shower just down the hall. Get a shower if you want." She badly needed to clean up but I wanted to be tactful. 

"Then I'll make you breakfast and we can talk." I got up to leave. "Oh, use any of the towels on the rail, they're all clean." As I walked out the door I had a thought, I turned round, smiled and said, "By the way, Merry Christmas." 

Fifteen minutes later she came down in a baggy jumper and a pair of jeans too big for her, presumably held up with a belt. Couldn't see really as the jumper came down past her bum. She was subdued, but asked for tea when offered a choice, and toast. 

First order of business, her name. A bit reluctantly she offered "Emma", no surname. Yes she was living rough, had been for several weeks, had moved from the local city to our town a couple of weeks ago. 

"Why didn't you go to the homeless shelter? You're of an age they would let you in?" 

"Fuck! Ruth. I have to go. I have to get back into town. Where the hell am I anyway?" The voice rapidly becoming higher and more tense. 

"Who's Ruth? Where is she?" I asked 

"My friend, she's my only friend. We sleep together to keep each other warm. She can't get into the shelter, she's too old. Please, take me back to where you found me." She jumped up. 

"Where are my trainers?" 

"I'll get them. I put them on a radiator to dry" 

On the way into town Emma told me Ruth was also homeless, older and had taken Emma under her wing. She tried to get Emma to go into the shelter but she refused, staying with Ruth while they lived rough. We looked at the shop doorway I had found Emma in, where they had arranged to meet - not there; then drove round town checking their usual haunts. Nothing. 

We drove around them all again, then a third time. 

"Anywhere else?" I asked. 

"I don't know, I can't think," she was in tears. 

We were passing a church. There were still a few people outside. I had a brainwave. "Are there any churches doing Christmas lunches for the homeless?" I asked. She didn't know. I pulled in and said, "Wait here, I'll be back in a minute." I found the vicar and asked if any of the local churches were doing food for the homeless. Yes, it was an interdenominational thing, this year at St Jude's church hall. Ironic, St Jude's was my local church, where I would have gone to midnight mass. 

I jumped back in the car and told Emma. Five minutes later we pulled up and got out. They hadn't started serving but there was a large crowd waiting. I hadn't realised our small town had so many homeless people. Emma rushed through the crowd looking then shouted "Ruth" and ran up and threw her arms round a tall, thin woman. She wasn't just thin, more gaunt, deep shadows under her eyes, lacklustre, dirty red hair. She looked like she'd been living rough for a while. However on seeing Emma her face broke into a relieved smile and you could see a bit of life come into her eyes. 

I went over and introduced myself. "Hello, you're obviously Ruth. I'm Mark. Emma was going frantic worrying about you. I found her half frozen last night and took her to my house to warm her up." I paused, then continued, "Look, I know you can get food here but I've got a turkey in the oven at home and it's just me there. Emma's stuff is still back there too. Why don't you both come back with me and have Christmas dinner at my house? Please?" 

I actually surprised myself with the offer - I was usually more reserved than that. Ruth looked me over carefully, then asked for a minute to speak to Emma. I went over to chat to one of the helpers, who pointed me to the vicar so I spoke quietly to him for a few minutes before Emma came over and said they would come with me. While she was there I told the vicar that I was taking two of the homeless ladies back to my house to feed them, and gave him my address. I made sure Ruth, standing back a little, heard me. 

Chapter 3 

We headed to my house and I offered Ruth the opportunity of a bath or shower whilst I finished off dinner. The turkey was doing fine and I had the vegetables all prepared - some for roasting, some for boiling. Emma went upstairs with Ruth and I pottered round the kitchen getting everything ready, and setting the dining table. I have to admit I tended to sit in the lounge to eat, with just me there was no point in using the dining room. However I set three places and set out three wine glasses - I wasn't sure if Emma should have wine, but if she was old enough to live away from home she possibly expected to be treated like an adult. 

Emma came down and asked if Ruth could wear some of the spare clothes as hers were dirty. I thought they may be a bit on the short side - she looked a bit taller than Sarah was, but I told her to look through what was there. She also asked, a bit shyly, if Ruth could use a razor. Having a beard and moustache I didn't shave, used an electric trimmer when necessary, but I thought there may be some old razors in the bathroom cabinet and told Emma to tell Ruth to look. I also told her dinner would be ready in about half an hour. 

What a difference a bath could make - it didn't hide the fact that Ruth was far too thin, but with clean hair and a scrubbed appearance she was obviously pretty. If she put on some weight to fill out her appearance she might just be more than pretty, possibly very attractive. 

We talked over dinner. Both ladies were wary about giving out too much information, but I talked a lot, told them a bit about my circumstances, about having retired the day before after selling the business, about being a widower with the children far away. Half way through dinner the typical - Pete could never work out time differences so phoned to say 'Merry Christmas' and have a chat. He didn't talk long, going to someone's house for Christmas. Good, at least he wasn't alone. 

I manage to tease at bit out of Emma - a fractured family, Dad long gone, Mum with a succession of boyfriends, then remarried. Her Mum became ill and new Stepdad thought she could become his new bed partner. When she told her mother she suggested it was time to pay back her stepfather for the money he spent on the family. That was the last straw. She stole all the money from his wallet, walked out and caught a bus to the Midlands. Lived rough in Birmingham for a week, then Nottingham for another week before moving to our town. She met Ruth the first night in town and they had been 'looking after each other' since. Ruth had gone last night to try and find some food and had arranged with Emma they would meet on the street where I found her. She had walked the streets all night trying to find Emma, and had turned up at the church hall, not just for food but to see if Emma was there and ask the other homeless if they had seen her. You can't really report a runaway as missing to the police, so there wasn't much else she could do. 

Ruth was much less forthcoming, just saying she was down on her luck and ended up living rough. I could tell there was a lot more to her story, but she was only going to tell it in her own time. 




Second Chances



I asked where they had planned on sleeping tonight, stupid question really. Nowhere. Anywhere they could find some shelter and hopefully a little bit of warmth. 

"Look, I know you don't know me but there are three spare bedrooms here, Emma already slept here last night. I can't let you just go back out there, it's only late afternoon, but there's already frost on the car windows. It's going to be another cold one. Would you like to stay the night? No strings. You heard me tell the vicar where you were coming." 

Ruth looked nervous, Emma looked hopeful. I think a night in a warm bed and the shower were tempting. 

I wouldn't fancy a night out of doors tonight but I could understand the reluctance. "If it helps Emma's room has a lock on the door - it was my daughter's room and she liked her privacy. If you want to share the room you can lock the door, then you know you'll be safe." 

With a bit of reluctance they agreed. Emma looked happy about it, Ruth still seemed unsure. 

We did the usual Christmas things, ate lots and watched TV. I was almost embarrassed to open my few presents in front of them - again family tradition, you didn't open presents till Christmas Day. I had a few from friends and colleagues at work and one from each of the kids. I phoned New Zealand late enough to be sure Sarah was up, and spoke to her for a while, said Merry Christmas to James, her husband. We picked at the turkey and made cold turkey sandwiches plus salad for supper. Looking from outside we might even have looked a bit like a family. It was definitely a surreal Christmas. 

Chapter 4 

Boxing day Ruth and I were both up reasonably early, Emma slept in, typical teenager, but also possibly her body still recovering from her hypothermia only less than two days ago. Over breakfast I talked to Ruth. 

"Look, I don't know your story." I held up my hand as she was about to speak. 

"I'm not prying, you can tell me if and when you want, or not at all. But you both are living rough. The weather is not predicted to get any better for several days - that North wind is coming from the Arctic. Emma could have died out there - she was in hypothermia when I found her. I get the impression you are a good person just having bad luck. 

"Look, you didn't have to start looking after Emma. The fact you were prepared to help a young girl speaks volumes itself. I've got the room as you've seen. This house is too big for me, but the memories keep me here. You are welcome to stay until you get back on your feet again." This was odd from me - I'd become quite a private person. 

"What's in it for you? I won't let you touch Emma." 

"God, woman, I'm not after Emma. She's just run away from that situation. I'm trying to help. Look, my daughter is just a few years older than Emma. If she were in Emma's shoes I hope someone in my place would help her out. And you keep showing you're a good person, looking out for her. Emma needs help; I'm willing to help her. You can be her chaperone/Mother figure. Whatever you want." 

"I'll talk it over with Emma." 

I sent a couple of e-mails to the kids thanking them for my presents and hoping their Christmas had been good. Emma came down in time for lunch, and ate well. She already looked a bit better with just a couple of days of food and warmth. They had talked upstairs and agreed to stay a few days - very open-ended. 

I made a decision - if they were going to leave to live rough again at least I could get them warm, waterproof clothes. 

"Come on, I said, we need to go shopping." 

We started at Tesco's, where I told them to get some clothes that fit them instead of Sarah's oversized/undersized clothes. Ruth was wary again 

"Look Ruth, I can afford it. Just get some new, warm clothes. I'm paying. Please." 

We then went to Go Outdoors and got good quality waterproof boots and thick, thermal jackets, hats and gloves. 

Back home, Ruth offered to help with dinner. Was she finally thawing to me, starting to trust? 

Emma offered a bit more. She had lived near Keighley, north of Leeds. She went to the Midlands to be well away if her Stepfather tried looking for her. And 'No' she was definitely not going back. She'd gradually become distanced from her mother and her suggestion she sleep with her stepfather was the last straw. She had left school after her GCSEs and enrolled at her local college. She had started a Nursing and Midwifery course, with a view to becoming a midwife. Although her home life had not been the best I got the impression that she was actually clever. She certainly could hold a decent conversation. 

Ruth still wouldn't say much about herself. 

Chapter 5 

We fell in almost domesticity. On the 29th I noticed both girls back in Sarah's clothes, their new clothes in the wash. Back shopping, this time I told them to get several changes. Emma seemed happy to pick up lots, Ruth less so. I had a little word with Emma, and more things Ruth's size went into the trolley. I also told them to get some cosmetics - I had a good working knowledge of these things having sold then extensively in the shops, but they are essentially a very personal thing, so they each needed to pick what the liked\what suited their skin types. Again Emma got far more than Ruth. I suspect she thought that she may as well take advantage of my generosity, she didn't know how long it was going to last. 

On one of my outings by myself I went back to St Jude' and spoke to the vicar again. Yes. They were doing a New Year's Day lunch for the homeless, this time at St Mary's, the Catholic Church. They were looking for volunteers, did I want to help. 

I had been invited to a Hogmanay Party, but with my house guests, I declined. We had a quiet evening in, watched Jules Holland's Hootenanny to bring in the New Year and went to bed by 1am. 

At 10.30, after breakfast on the first I told the girls to get their coats, we were going out. I explained on the way that I had been back to see the vicar of St Jude's and that I had volunteered us all to help feed the homeless at today's lunch. I told them that I'd lived in town for all my life and never realised the level of homelessness there was. 

Lunch was a success. I helped in the kitchen, Ruth and Emma acted as servers. Several of the homeless recognised Ruth - she had obviously been living rough in the area for a while. Fewer recognised Emma, she had only been in town a couple of weeks. A number of the helpers came to talk to me, and a couple of them even recognised me from the shop. They asked about myself and why I was helping and about my two companions. I explained that I was helping them out during a difficult phase of their lives, and their plight had prompted me to offer my services today. 

We got back home tired but happy. Just before bed Ruth touched my arm and said thank you to me for helping out at the dinner today. I got Goosebumps all up my arm from that simple gesture. 

The following Saturday night I got another surprise when Ruth asked if I would take her to church the following morning. When I asked her which one she replied 

"Any, God will be in all of them." 

Emma wasn't keen on going so we left her in bed and went to the early morning communion service at St Jude's. It was a long time since I had taken communion, but when Ruth went up I just followed along. The vicar was delighted to see two new faces at the service. He did recognise me but as I said I tended to be a once a year church goer. While out, I spoke to Ruth about Emma. The local college did similar courses to the one she abandoned when she ran away, but as most of that time was holiday I wondered if she could transfer her course here. Again Ruth questioned me on why I was helping. 

"I can't really give you an answer, Ruth. I just seems the right thing to do. When I sold the business I became quite rich. Not stinking rich, but I'll never need to work again. Maybe this is just me giving something back. Whatever the reason, I'm willing to sponsor her to get back into education. What do you think?" 

Again her answer was that she would talk to Emma about it. 

Chapter 6 

We made an appointment with the principal of the college, all three of us went. First of all I found out that yes, she could transfer to the college. They could get her records from her previous college and assuming the courses were compatible and that she wasn't too far behind she could continue. If the courses were too far apart then she would need to restart college after the Summer holiday, effectively missing/wasting eight months. 

I explained that Emma was estranged from her family and did not want any contact unless she instigated it, so this would need to be done with the understanding that her previous college would not tell anything about the request, preventing her being traced to here. 

Within a week Emma started college in a similar course, close enough to her old one that she could cope with the transfer. 

I sent her out with Ruth and my credit card to buy more clothes, and college supplies. While they were out I went to Curry's and bought a student laptop, laptop case, internet security, and a mobile phone. I wanted her to be able to communicate with me and Ruth if she needed to. I also bought a mobile for Ruth, again if Emma needed her she needed to be able to contact her. 

Emma was over the moon, Ruth still reluctant to accept anything of value. She kept saying that she would repay me when she started working. I agreed as when I had previously said about not owing me she refused to take anything. 

When I dropped Emma off at college her first day Ruth asked me to drop her off in town, saying she would get a bus back. Instead I arranged to meet her at lunchtime. We went to a local pub for lunch, and she told me she had been and registered as unemployed, looking for work. I think the idea was to get a job and get somewhere to stay for her and Emma to get away from my place. 

St Jude's had a coffee morning every Tuesday so I took her along the following day after dropping Emma off at college again. She chatted to the helpers and the vicar and next thing I knew was she was volunteering to help the following week, and with the Thursday lunch for the elderly of the parish. The vicar chatted to me about her. I couldn't tell him much - she had been homeless, obviously had a good heart with taking care of Emma when she first came to town, but that she hadn't told me much more, and I didn't want to force her. I was waiting for her to trust me enough to tell me her story in her own time. Although I didn't think she was much above thirty, she mothered Emma. However she obviously trusted me enough that she did move into a separate bedroom, opposite Emma's. The day after I went to B&Q ,bought a lock for the door and installed it. She didn't say anything but I hoped it made her feel safe. I told the vicar, Father David, it was starting to feel like a family house again, not just me and two guests. 

Emma seemed to be doing well at college, Ruth helped at church two days a week, and was also looking for a job. As part of her unemployment benefit, she was required to be actively looking for work, especially via the internet. And she had to have proof by using certain websites specified by the UBO (Unemployment Benefits Office). A bit nervously she asked if she could use my laptop. After the first, week, when she would spend several hours a day as required on the net, I paid another visit to Curry's and soon was the owner of a new laptop. Ruth continued to use my old one. One night I logged onto the laptop and changed its name from Mark's laptop to Ruth's laptop. She didn't make a huge fuss, but she did put her hand on my arm that evening just before bedtime and with a shy smile said thank you. I got those goosebumps again. 

A month went by. Emma was gaining confidence; she had put on weight and was looking really good. College were having a Valentine's Day dance and she had said she wanted to go. A sexy sixteen year old, although I knew I wasn't her father but was at the moment 'in loco parentis', I knew she was going to break hearts. Ruth wasn't too keen about the dance, but I didn't want to say a straight 'No'. We had no real jurisdiction over Emma, except that she did seem to respect the 'house rules' and kept her room clean. I didn't really want to go into her room; I felt it important that she have her 'Private Space'. Ruth, I know, did do some tidying in Emma's room, changed her bed sheets and stuff. 

From the nervous-aggressive scruffy individual I had talked to on Christmas morning Emma had transformed into a beautiful, even tempered, hard working young student, helped in no small measure by Ruth. I spoke to Emma and said Ruth was worried about the dance. She promised me she would behave and that we could both take her and pick her up at the end of the evening. Ruth still seemed a bit reluctant but she knew she didn't really rule Emma either, although she did mother her quite a bit. Occasionally Emma would say 'Yes Mummy' if she felt Ruth was getting a bit oppressive. 

The week before the dance Ruth failed to come down on the Tuesday morning before I took Emma to college, which was unusual. When I came back she was still upstairs. I made her a coffee and took it up to her room. She didn't answer her door when I knocked, or called. I tried, it wasn't locked. 

I cracked the door open and called that I was bringing in a coffee and entered. The room was dark and smelled bad, I turned on the light. Ruth looked terrible, had obviously been sick in the night and was still lying in it. She was burning up and obviously ill. Over the last month she had gained weight, her skin had improved and her hair had regained its lustre. Now, she looked terrible. I opened the curtains and opened the window to air the room. 

I helped Ruth to the bathroom; she was so weak she could barely walk by herself. While she was in the bathroom I stripped and remade her bed, but the room still smelled unpleasant, so I moved her into the fourth bedroom. She had managed to wash her face, but there was still vomit in her hair. I had her kneel by the bath and rinsed her hair for her, then shampooed it and washed out the lather. She managed to wrap her hair up in a towel then I helped her back to bed. 

I phoned my GP. Obviously Ruth wasn't registered there, probably not anywhere locally. When you are living rough and have no address, you're not likely to get a doctor to accept you. Fortunately, although I was fairly healthy, I knew my Doc well through both the pharmacy and also from when Sue had the cancer. I persuaded him to register her with the practice and make a house visit. 

Acute gastric flu was the diagnosis, probably only last 24 hours, but because Ruth was still underweight, and with the previous lifestyle, he thought her immune system was probably a bit suppressed so it might take longer to recover. He injected Ruth with an anti-emetic, and urged bed rest for two or three days. I had some bottles of Lucozade Sport in the cupboard so I left one with Ruth to sip. 

I made myself a coffee and took it back up, brought a chair from the other bedroom and sat with her. She was weak, and sat half the time with her eyes closed, but not actually asleep. I had brought up a big bowl too in case! After half an hour Ruth tried to sit up. "I'm going to be sick again!" I held the bowl under her chin and sure enough she threw up again. I took the bowl and washed it out, then filled it with cold water, and took her toothbrush and toothpaste through. Hopefully a fresh mouth would make her feel a bit better. She settled down again and did fall asleep. 

I had lunch, kept a check on Ruth through the afternoon before picking Emma back up. She was worried about Ruth, but I told her the doctor had visited and she had only been sick once since. Ruth slowly improved, the Doc popped in to check on her on the Friday, and declared her recovering well. I pampered her - wouldn't let her do anything and made her sit in the warmth of the lounge. She was pleased when three ladies from the church came to visit; obviously I'd told Father David why she wouldn't be helping for a week or two. 

Thursday was Valentine's Day. Emma was excited, finished early and came home to dress up. I'd taken her out again at the weekend and we'd got 3 nice dresses, so she had a choice when she went out. I also got her to pick a couple in Ruth's size. One was in autumn browns, the other a deep forest green. I thought that the green would set her hair off perfectly. 

I told Ruth to dress nicely when Emma was getting ready. I put on a smart pair of pinstripe trousers, a good shirt and a silk tie. Ruth wore the green dress and looked lovely despite the fact she was still not fully recovered from the sickness. I'd booked dinner for us at Gino's, a small Italian 15 minutes away. The food, as always, was brilliant. Gino himself came out to see us. Sue and I had come here for special occasions before the cancer. I think Gino wanted to see who I had brought. He sat with us for five minutes and chatted mainly with Ruth. 

Emma was on a high when we picked her up. She had had a great time, and felt she was fitting in and making friends. We gave another girl from her course a lift home too. The following day she told Emma that she thought her Mum and Dad were cool. Emma thought it a laugh, but didn't say we weren't her parents. 

Chapter 7 

Life progressed much the same for the next few weeks. Easter was a big celebration at the church and Ruth became more involved. As a result I got dragged in to help too. Emma was getting excellent reports from college. I told Emma that if she continued to do well a college I would pay for driving lessons for her during the Summer holidays. My 'family' were settling in. 

Ruth had started to visit some of the elderly of the parish to help; make meals, clean house, shop for the more housebound ones, sometimes just to sit and have a chat. When she had applied for Unemployment Benefit she had been required to get a bank account, for them to pay her unemployment benefit into. Obviously with my wealth the bank manager wanted to keep me happy so was prepared to open an account for Ruth at my address, although with her history of homelessness they would usually have been reluctant to be so forthcoming. I sweetened the deal by lodging a thousand in the account to start it. After she increased her time helping at church I asked her to stop looking for a job. "Why," she asked. 

"Do you think what you are doing at church is helping people?" 

"Of course. Most of the the ones I visit are elderly. Many of them are lonely. As well as a bit of help round the house, what they really crave is companionship. In many cases we just chat over a cup of tea. There's already a rota for some of the ladies at church do this, but there's more people needing help than they can visit." 

"I've talked with Father Dave about what the church needs, to help more. Money obviously, but more bodies on the ground. I was thinking of offering to pay for someone to do just what you are doing. I could give the money to the church and they would pay it to you, but then you get into the realms of paying tax. Isn't it better if I just put the money for it into your account? I'm not giving it to you, you're earning it." Then I had another thought, "Ruth, can you drive?" 

"I took lessons and passed my test when I was in college. I never had a car so haven't driven since." 

I arranged an intensive refresher course and insured her on a small runaround. She was a bit reluctant, but did seem to accept it a bit more readily than previous efforts I'd made. I explained that it would help her get round and help more people than if she had to wait for the bus to get her between visits. 

A couple of months later Father David had asked me to help move some furniture, heavy stuff, at the church hall. I got home for lunch to find Ruth feeding a little girl, maybe 4 to 5 years old. She was supposedly 'educationally challenged' and her parents had given up on her, dumped her with her Grandmother and disappeared. The Grandmother had been a regular attendee to the Thursday lunch at St Jude's. When she missed three lunches in a row the church checked on her. The following Thursday Ruth collected her then looked after the little one while Grandma Joan had lunch. This became a regular occurrence for several weeks. Then Ruth went to pick up Joan and found her collapsed - she had had a stroke. The ambulance took Joan off to hospital, and Ruth brought the little one back to the ,church. After speaking to Father Dave, Ruth then brought her home. She briefly explained the situation to me. 




Second Chances



"We can't let her go into care! Can we look after her until Joan is better? Please?" 

"What do we need?" 

Without much pause for thinking she gave me a list. I grabbed a sandwich and set off. And so my 'family' increased. We were the classic nuclear family, Mother, father and two kids, except we weren't! We were 4 separate people living under the one roof. 

Rosie was a lovely child. Very demonstrative, always wanting cuddles. When it became obvious Joan wasn't going to come home but would need to go into long term care, Ruth had a long talk with Father Dave. He then had a long talk with me. The upshot of that was the church asked the authorities to consider us as foster parents. 

We were visited by a social worker to assess us, to see if we were suitable for fostering. I was well off, Ruth was a natural mother, was brilliant with Rosie and Emma loved her 'little sister'. BUT, we were not a family. We were initially declined, despite the fact that Rosie was still living with us. 

Father David was brilliant, and started to aggressively fight our case. He did come to visit us. He sat us down, we all had coffees. "Look," he said, "I've never seen a better suited couple than you two. You and the children make a perfect family. But the social worker is digging her heels in that the family is not suitable because it's not a family." He paused, "Think about it. If you really want Rosie you are going to have to move in their direction." 

After father Dave left, I took Ruth's hands and said to her, "Ruth, I promised not to pry, but if you want Rosie we need to make some big decisions. It's time you told me your story." 

She asked for another coffee then started. 

"Simon was always my boyfriend, even in primary school. We lived on the same street, would walk to school together, even hold hands. A big deal for a boy in primary school. He got teased, but he'd just smile and say that when we grew up we were getting married. I loved him. He was a late child and when he was sixteen his dad had a heart attack and died. His Mum took it really badly and within six months she had gone too. 

"We all said it was a broken heart. He was going to be taken into care so left school and got an apprenticeship. He lost the house - it was a council house in his parents name and they wouldn't transfer it to his name. He got a small bedsit. 

"My parents never liked him or his family, and now he wasn't finishing his education they were very against him. It made me want him more. He insisted I finish school and go to college. I loved him so much I just wanted to get married and start a family. I did a business course at college and got a job in HR at a local factory. We kept seeing each other. 

"My parents forbade me to marry him - well I told them I was going to anyway. We married on my 22nd birthday. It had to be a very small affair as we paid for it ourselves, a couple of friends from school and a couple of friends from Simon's work. Registry office then a meal at a local restaurant, a weekend in Blackpool and then back to the bedsit. 

"We were happy. We wanted a family but decided to wait a couple of years, we wanted to get ourselves something better than the bedsit. We were on the point of buying a house when Simon's company went bust, the start of the recession. We moved for work, from just outside Manchester to Northampton. Simon had got another job, but by the time I found another company to take me on we'd used up a lot of our savings. It took us a while to save up again but eventually, even though it was tight, we bought a small starter home. 

"Nine months later I got pregnant. We had a beautiful baby girl, Rebecca. Because I had to stop work Simon had to take all the overtime he could get. He never complained. I sent pictures of their Granddaughter to my parents - they were returned with writing on them - 'We are not going to support you or your bastard'. I just wanted them to know their grandchild. I've never contacted them again." Ruth drank some of her coffee, already starting to go cold, then took a deep breath and continued. 

" At first everything was fine. I started to worry when Becca was about seven months, I didn't think she was quite right. The doctors kept telling me she was fine. By nine months I Knew there was a problem. They finally started to investigate. 

"Then they gave us the diagnosis - something called Tay-Sachs Disease, a genetic disease that is always fatal. They are missing an enzyme that causes something, some sort of a fatty substance, to build up in the brain and damage it. Simon wouldn't believe it and threw himself into working longer and longer hours. I was left to look after a dying baby. 

"It's a horrible death, they gradually become unresponsive and end up usually choking to death with pneumonia. Simon finally accepted that Becca was dying. We blamed ourselves, it's inherited, both parents need to be carrying the gene for it. We promised we would never have any more children. I decided to have my tubes tied - I was never putting another baby through this. 

"I was kept overnight in the hospital as I was slow to wake up from the anaesthetic. Simon was supposed to come and collect me but he never arrived. I discharged myself and caught the bus home. 

"I found them in our bed. Simon had suffocated Becca and taken an overdose. The shock made me collapse. I wasn't found for 2 days, then was taken to emergency intensive care - when I collapsed I hit my head badly, cut my scalp and bled quite a lot and caused a bad concussion. I was in hospital for over a week. When I got out it was all over, they had cremated them both. I didn't even get the chance to say goodbye!" 

I stood up, I wasn't sobbing but I was hugely emotional, and had tears running down my face. I pulled Ruth to her feet and just wrapped her up in my arms. "I'm so sorry Ruth. I had no idea. I would never have asked you to go through it again if I had known." Huge sobs ripped through her body, she dug her head into the crook of my neck and just bawled like a child. I picked her up and carried her through to the settee and sat down with her on my lap. She cried solidly for an hour before exhaustion took her and she fell asleep. I laid her down on the settee and covered her with a blanket. 

The dam had broken, Ruth now wasn't just willing to talk, she needed to get it out. Over the next week it all came out. How she became depressed, how she blamed herself for Rebecca's illness, blamed herself for Simon committing suicide. 

She started to self harm, cutting herself, especially her breasts, thinking it would revolt any future men so she would never have more children. The fact she couldn't because she had been sterilised didn't count to her depressed, befuddled brain. Obviously she was in no state to work, there was no money coming in and with her depression she never asked anyone for help. The building society finally foreclosed on the house, she was homeless. 

Ruth had been living on the streets since, begging, skipping (dumpster diving), occasionally stealing food. She had stayed in a squat for a few months but just drifted away. She'd been in town about three months and was just on the point of moving away when she met Emma. She knew Emma couldn't cope by herself and was heading for serious trouble so roused herself enough to start looking after the young vagrant. Then I stepped in. 

Father Dave to the rescue again - there was someone in the church who ran therapy sessions. I persuaded Ruth to start going to see him. I offered to go too but was told this needed to be one on one for the moment. 

After three weeks I really thought Ruth was improving. She seemed much happier, smiled more and was more physical. She would often reach across and touch my hand or arm, especially when she was doing things with Rosie. No-one could tell us much about Rosie's 'educational problems', or why had she been classed as 'Special Needs', just what the problem was. The primary school we sent her to, a mainstream school said that she was behind most of the other children in the class, but seemed to be picking things up quickly. They couldn't see a problem. 

Ruth spent hours with her, reading, colouring, playing. I bought educational games for the laptop and quickly she was playing quite happily on various programmes advised by her teachers. Ruth came home in tears the day Rosie came out of class and ran to her shouting "Mummy". We had to keep her. That week I bought an engagement ring. I was going to ask Ruth to marry me so we could not just foster but adopt Rosie. And we hadn't even kissed. 

Chapter 8 

I asked Emma to babysit Rosie on Saturday. We would be going out early evening and not be back till midnight or so. She was happy to look after her 'little sister'. I got some appropriate videos on Netflix, Disney ones for Rosie, then a couple of Chick Flicks for Emma once Rosie had gone to bed. 

We drove to Leicester, to De Montfort Hall, where we took in a classical concert, then back to Gino's for a late supper. Again Gino excelled with the food. Over the coffee, I took Ruth's hand. 

"Since we met we've learned to get along We've lived in the same house now for about six months. I've discovered that I both admire you and like you as a person. I like you a lot. I'm not sure if it's love yet or ever will be, I'm still sort of hung up on Sue and you are on Simon. But we both love Rosie, we're good for her. She needs us and the only way we can be sure of getting her is this. Ruth, will you marry me?" 

She tipped her head to the side. Her hair, now with the lustre back, was the colour of burnished copper. She had left it loose tonight. The natural waves cascaded across her shoulders, The light from the candle on the table brought out lighter highlights - with her gain in weight her face was gently rounded, not angular any more. Her lips were a dark red, enhanced by lipstick. Make up was subtle; a touch of green eye shadow, possible some mascara. She really was beautiful. 

"You're not really old you know," She replied. "You could still find someone and fall in love. Why tie yourself to someone you don't love? And where does Emma come into all this?" 

"Ruth, you've seen how much Emma has settled in here. Haven't I provided everything she's needed up till now? Do you really think I'm going to abandon her at this stage? Whatever happens between us, I intend to support Emma until her education is complete, at the very least. I've become really attached to her. She's a lovely girl. She just needed a family to support her. Her own one didn't come up to scratch. I'm not about to have another family fail her again." 

I took a mouthful of coffee. "Maybe I could fall in love again. Maybe it'll be with you - stranger things have happened. Look at the last six months. Bizarre! If someone had told me a year ago that I would rescue two homeless people and then get a five year old living with me, then asked one of you to marry me I would have told them they were nuts. We've become comfy living in the same house. And if you want Rosie I think this is the best way." 

"Mark, I'm scarred. Both inside and out. Do you really want to burden yourself with someone like me?" 

"Yes, Ruth, I do. We can work well together. We both want what's best for the girls. We've shown we can live together, at least in the same house!" I smiled, " I also think we both would be in a better place with someone else in our lives. I'm hoping that someone else could be you. 

I paused, and smiled at her, "You don't have to give me an answer tonight, think about it, but I'm worried that social services will decide to place Rosie in a foster home. If she goes it will be very difficult to get her back. If we get married I thought that we could apply to adopt Rosie, not just foster her. Father Dave is on our side. He does have quite a lot of pull." 

Ruth leaned across the table and took hold of both my hands in hers. "I'll give you an answer after church tomorrow, I promise." 

I changed the subject and after coffee we headed for home. Ruth excused herself as soon as we got home, saying she was going to bed. Emma was still up, reading, her films having finished. Ruth asked her to come into her bedroom after she had cleaned her teeth, she wanted to talk to her. She started up the stairs, then turned round, came over to my chair and kissed my cheek. Very demure, chaste, but my cheek burnt for the next hour until I went off to bed. 

Chapter 9 

Ruth, Rosie and I went to church Sunday morning for the 10.30 service. Emma got up for breakfast but stayed to do college work. She didn't come to church with us and we weren't going to force her. Ruth asked me to take Rosie home while she stayed to talk. 

At dinner that evening Ruth very casually announced, "Mark has asked me to marry him and I have agreed. Nothing changes, Emma, your future is still secure like we talked about last night. Come on Rosie, can you help me clear the table. Mark, go through to the lounge, I'll bring you a coffee. If you've finished your work Emma, you can help me with the dishes. If not go and finish before it gets too late." 

And with that I was engaged. When Ruth brought through the coffees I took hold of her left hand and slipped the ring on her finger. It was slightly large, but we could get it resized easily. "If you'd rather a different ring we can go and look this week." 

Ruth looked at me and shook her head. "No Mark, this ring is lovely, and it symbolises so much. No, I don't want to change it. I don't want to take it off, ever. It represents a new start in life for us, especially for me. Life, maybe God, has offered me a second chance. As long as we stay together It won't come off my finger." She leaned forward and kissed me, lips to lips. A soft, sweet, gentle kiss. There was so much promise there. "But," she said, " I'm not moving into your bedroom yet. We need to set an example for the children. I'm not going to sleep with you until after the wedding." She smiled, "So maybe you need to get organising." 

Half an hour later Ruth was sitting with Rosie on her knee reading a book when Emma came down stairs. Ruth showed her the ring and they talked quietly for a couple of minutes. She walked over to me, pulled the Sunday Paper out of my grip, throwing it on the floor, and climbed into my lap. She stuck her head into the crook of my neck, and although she didn't seem to be crying I could feel the tears on my skin. I put my arms round her and just cuddled her to me. We must have stayed like that for ten minutes, then she moved her head a bit and kissed my cheek. "Are you OK about me and Ruth, Emma? Whatever happens between us doesn't affect what I'm still going to do for you." 

"God, Yes. I'm so pleased for you both. I've lost my family, seriously I don't want to go back, have any contact, anything. You two stepped in when I really needed help. I think I might have died last Christmas if it wasn't for you. At the time I wouldn't have cared. Now I'm so happy you found me when you did. I know you're not really my Mum and Dad. Ruth's far too young to be my Mum anyway. But you are a bit like parents to me. I want to do well in life, and I want you to be proud of me. I think I love you a bit too." 

"You're growing up fast, soon you'll want to be independent, but there will always be a place for you here too. That's a promise. If nothing else Ruth would never forgive me if I broke my promise to her to keep looking after you." I tightened my arms round her for a second, "And if I'm honest I think I love you a bit too." I turned my head and gave Emma a kiss on the cheek like she had done to me earlier. She snuggled back into me, and I was content just to let her sit there. 

The one thing that bothered me was the age difference. I was 45 and Ruth would turn 30 next month. I tried speaking to Ruth about it but she was quietly adamant that it didn't matter, and didn't really want to discuss it. I tried a different tack, "Emma, I'm a bit worried about the age difference between me and Ruth. What's your take on it?" 

"Mark, you're good to Ruth, and good for her too. Ok you're a bit older, but by the time you're 65 she'll be fifty. It won't matter so much then. We've lived in the same house for months now. You know you two can live together. You've given her hope, faith in herself again. I think you will make a great couple." She then gave me a cheeky grin. "C'mon Daddy, get your head out of your arse and give me a new Mummy." With a big 'Mwah' she noisily kissed my cheek. "Now if I can stop being an agony aunt, I'm off to finish of my coursework that's due in at the end of the week." 

So there it was, my wife had died, my kids had flown the nest and I'd been looking at a future of being on my own. Now, in the space of a few short months I had a family again. I was a happy bunny. 

We planned on a late Summer wedding. That would give us a chance to go away for a family holiday before Emma's second year at college started. We were going to be restricted to school times if Rosie was going to be ours now. With the engagement and impending wedding the social worker and authorities, who could see the improvement in Rosie, had agreed for us to keep her until a final decision was made. Father Dave was fairly sure, having spoken to his contacts, that the decision would be in our favour. 

As the ladies were involved in organising the wedding I decided to investigate a few matters myself. An internet search gave me a name and I made an appointment. The private detective I saw agreed to investigate two things for me, Emma's and Rosie's parents! 

If we were going to possible adopt Rosie we might need the parents to waive their right to her. Even though they had 'dumped' her with her Grandmother, it was still a family member and they might decide they wanted her back. I though some background information may be useful. Emma had said she didn't want anything to do with her mother and stepfather, but I thought I would get some info about their whereabouts to make sure Emma was safe. 

Once that was underway I set myself another task. Ruth had told me that one major regret was that when she lost the house she just walked away from everything, and had no pictures of Becca. I contacted every professional photographer in the Northampton area, inquiring if they had taken pictures of a baby for a Blackshaw family. I gave them a time scale of Becca's birth and death. I struck lucky. 

Sims Photography has done a stint in a local shopping centre and Blackshaw was one of the names. All the photos, of both a young baby by itself and with its mother, were stored as digital images. They kept the images for five years before disposing of them, so were still available. They were archived due to their age, so it would take 48 hours for them to be available. I arranged to visit at the end of the week, at a time I knew Ruth would be busy at church. 

Peter Sims wanted to know my connection with the photos. I explained I hoped they were of my fiancée with her first child, who had died tragically. I showed him a photo of Ruth and I, taken by Emma, so he could see us together, and also confirm if the woman in his photos was the same. It was Ruth and Becca. He told me that they had bought a 10x8 of the baby and a couple of 7x5s of Mum and baby together. 

I asked if the photos were good enough to enlarge to A1 size, on canvas. He suggested for canvas that A2 would be better, give a clearer image. Together we picked one of Becca alone and one of Ruth holding Becca, both to be enlarged. I also bought all 12 pictures, to be put onto a CD, with the right to print them. I arranged to collect them all the following week. 

My private detective has come up trumps. The reason Emma's Mum was ill was in fact severe morning sickness. Yes, at 38 she had become pregnant again. It still didn't excuse her in my mind for suggesting Emma have sex with her stepfather. However, she had delivered a baby boy just one week ago. Emma had a stepbrother! The detective actually had a drink with the stepfather in his local pub when he went in to celebrate. He bought him a drink and congratulated him, showed him pictures he carried of young children, claiming they were his, to get chatting. No, this was his and his wife's first baby, they had no other kids. He admitted his wife was married previously, but there were no kids. Good! They were obviously not looking for Emma, not even acknowledging her existence. 




Second Chances



Rosie's parents were different. Her Dad had done a bunk, reported to have gone abroad. Did I want them to try tracing him abroad, it could get quite expensive! Her Mum was a registered alcoholic, living in Portsmouth, had turned to prostitution to earn money for the booze. He had spoken to her, but turned down her offer of 'a good time'. She was in no way going to be classed as a 'Fit Mother', and be able to take Rosie back. He thought for a reasonably small amount of cash she would be willing to waive her rights to Rosie. Although we wanted Rosie badly, I wasn't going to buy her like that. The money would just go on more alcohol and she would probably just drink herself to death. I asked him to speak to a couple of the local shops to see if I could pay for food and essentials for her, absolutely no alcohol though. He came back to me to say one local shopkeeper was willing to do it. I told him to provisionally arrange it - I would lodge a lump sum with the shop, and top up when it was running low. We would work out a total once all the arrangements had been made. 

Rosie's Mum, when told of the arrangement in exchange for waiting any future rights to her child, swore she would get her back. My detective told her in no uncertain terms how unlikely it was, having worked cases like this before. She then demanded a stupid amount of money. He told her that going through the courts we could have Rosie made a ward of court then we could adopt her legally. By her agreeing to the adoption it would speed things up and get Rosie a safe and secure home, and she would never want for anything. Finally she agreed. I agreed to pay her utility bills for 2 years, and her food bills for the same amount of time. I'm sure she would still buy drink with the money she got turning tricks, but I couldn't stop that! She did say as a parting shot, I was told, that she was going to have another baby to replace Rosie. God help that child if it ever came to pass. Born into squalor with, most likely, Foetal Alcohol Syndrome. I shuddered at the thought. 

Chapter 10 

The following week was Ruth's 30th. It would also have been her 9th wedding anniversary. Emma took Rosie out shopping to get presents for 'Mummy', wouldn't tell me what they'd got. "A girl's got to have some secrets," she said with a giggle when I asked. 

Thursday arrived and Ruth got cards from the girls before they went off to school and college. Ruth was at church midmorning to help with the Thursday lunch, as usual. I had tipped off Father Dave, and they embarrassed Ruth by singing 'Happy Birthday' to her. She got several small gifts from the other ladies helping with lunch. Ruth had become popular in the church. She wasn't that demonstrative, just quietly got on with things that needed to be done. Ruth picked up Rosie while I collected Emma from college, then we all assembled back home. I'd arranged for us to go out for dinner, all four of us, so booked a slightly earlier time than usual so we weren't back too late for Rosie. The girls proudly gave Ruth their presents. Rosie gave her some cosmetics and a new dress - Emma had developed a very good sense of fashion, and knew Ruth's size. Emma gave her a day at a local Spa, and suggested she use it the week after next, before the wedding, to have a great day's pampering. It was time for me - I had found an antique pearl choker with a ruby inset at the front, perfect as ruby was Ruth's birth stone. Tears ran down that beautiful face as I fixed it round her neck. "It's too much, too expensive" she whispered through the tears. 

I lifted her hair and kissed the back of her neck. "No it's not. It suits you and enhances your beauty" I whispered back. "Nothing is too much for the lady I love". As I said it I realised it was the first time I had declared love for Ruth, it came out instinctively. And what's more I meant it. I whispered again, "I meant it Ruth, I believe I do love you." 

She whirled into my arms and crushed me to her, dug her head into my shoulder and cried. After a couple of minutes I gently disentangled her and kissed her, not just a peck, longer and more sensuous, though not full blown tonsil tennis - we were both aware of the girls still in the room. 

"I don't want you to cry again but I do have a couple of more presents for you, and I suspect they will make you even more emotional. Come with me a minute girls and help me. Ruth, just sit down and wait please." 

I had hidden the canvas prints upstairs. I very briefly explained to Rosie that these were pictures for Mummy of her and her baby that died, and Mummy would probably cry, but cry because she was happy to have the pictures. Well we did cry, all four of us. Ruth wept with happiness and sadness, the girls cried because Ruth cried, and I cried in empathy with them all. It WAS all very emotional. 

That night, after the girls went to bed, Ruth came and sat on my knee. We cuddled and talked. I explained how I had come by the photos, told her about the others on disc. We decided to hang the one of Ruth and Becca in the lounge and the one of Becca by herself in the bedroom. She asked if it could go in my bedroom, as after the wedding in 9 days it would be our bedroom. I liked the sound of that, our bedroom. 

We kissed, exploring each other's mouths. Ruth tasted sweet, her tongue shy at first then became more demanding. I explored her breasts, through her clothing. She had worn her new dress from Rosie, and it didn't lend itself to slipping a hand inside! 

We never heard Emma come downstairs for a drink of water until she stuck her head through the door and said "Teenagers!" With a giggle she was gone again. Fortunately the position of the chair prevented her seeing anything more than Ruth sitting on my lap with her arm round my neck. Ruth however sat up and smiled at me, "Bedtime, I think." 

I had to adjust myself in my trousers when I got up. Up till now falling in love had been about romance, now there was a definite sexual undercurrent. Ruth's face was slightly flushed, colour spreading down her neck to below the top of her dress. Her nipples were prominent through the silky material - it wasn't just me that was feeling it then. 

I took her in my arms and kissed her again. "Good night, my love. Go to bed before I drag you to mine." 

"I'm tempted, but I promised myself to wait until we were married," she replied. "I'm also nervous. It's been a long time, and there are the scars you've never seen." 

"It's been a long time for me too, love. And I don't care about scars. They're on the outside. What I love is in there," and I put my hand over her heart. 

Chapter 11 

I had spoken to both Sarah and Pete on the telephone at some length about my new circumstances. At first they were worried that I was being taken advantage of, but they had both gradually come round to accept that I knew my own mind. Funnily enough they both seemed more concerned about me, not about their inheritance. 

I knew we had brought up some good kids. I told them that I had spoken to my financial advisor and intended to create trust funds for both of them, which would initially pay them dividends, but which they would have complete control over when they reached the age of 25. Both of them told me they were comfortable, and although more money never went amiss they didn't really need it. However I felt it was important - it was going to happen. 

I sent them plane tickets so they could come to the wedding. On Wednesday first Pete, then two hours later Sarah and James arrived. Everyone was nervous about meeting, probably me most of all. Rosie broke the ice. A five year old, all excited, she couldn't contain herself. She wanted cuddles from everyone, especially Sarah. Another big sister, too good an opportunity to miss. 

Emma had finished at college two weeks ago, and school had finished for Rosie last Friday. We did some moving around in the house. Ruth moved in with Emma, with Rosie sleeping on a blow-up mattress on the floor. That meant Sarah and James could have one spare room and Pete the other, smaller room. 

The only down was Thursday, which was the anniversary of Simon and Becca's deaths. Father Dave had arranged a small service in church, a celebration of their lives. He felt it would be good for Ruth, a closure for her. I gave him pictures of Becca. He had them printed up and displayed. I hadn't been able to find any pictures of Simon, only a tiny, grainy, black and white one from a local paper in Manchester of Ruth and Simon together outside the registry office after their wedding. It didn't blow up well, but there were several small ones scattered around with the ones of Becca. My family were brilliant. Neither Pete or Sarah were church goers, but both came and joined in. It was sad, but strangely satisfying too. 

Friday - one day to go. This morning, after Sarah realised that Ruth and I were not even sleeping together, she had taken me to one side to talk to me. She told me she liked Ruth and thought we would be good for each other. "I don't think I'll ever see her as my Mother even if she is married to you. Maybe more like a sister. I think I'll get to really like her. She's obviously been through a lot, I think she deserves a bit of good luck in her life. You're definitely lucky for her." 

Pete was planning on meeting up with old friends on the Sunday for a couple of days, another day with me/us then head back to the States - the band had several gigs booked starting the following weekend. He was loyal and didn't want to miss out on the gigs and let the band down. The band had cut a couple of CDs which they sold when they played. Pete gave Emma a copy of each. She was chuffed. Sarah and Pete wanted to catch up with some old University friends too - they were going to London for 3 days where there was a small reunion planned. They had to leave the following weekend. Before we had announced the wedding they had arranged a family holiday with James' family. It left them with limited holiday time from work. Sarah had to beg a couple of extra days as she was actually over her allowance, but her bosses agreed when she explained she was flying back to the UK for my wedding. 

Ruth and I were going away just for the weekend, Saturday and Sunday night. I'd booked a room at the London Ritz, plus I had got tickets for Miss Saigon for Sunday evening. Emma was going to look after Rosie for the two days we were away; Father Dave and his wife, Christine, said they would keep an eye out for us to make sure everything was OK. The following weekend Ruth, Emma, Rosie and I were all travelling to the South of France, where I had rented a villa for two weeks. We had been given permission by the local authority to take Rosie, as she was still technically under their care. I had fast-tracked passports for the other three, I had one already. Emma wasn't a problem. As she was sixteen she could apply in her own right, didn't need a parent to approve it. Father Dave countersigned the photos. After a family meal, organised by Ruth and Sarah, James, Pete and I went out to a local hotel for a couple of drinks. I'd had a stag night when I married Sue, I didn't need another. We chatted about various things men do, just catching up. James left at 10 to go back home. Pete, who I'd asked to be my Best Man, and I had booked in and were staying. I had told Ruth that I would see her at the Church for the wedding. 

Chapter 12 

Saturday turned out to be a lovely sunny summer's morning, with forecast for good weather for the next week. After a reasonable breakfast, I showered and trimmed my beard, dressed in my new suit, white dress shirt, dark blue bow tie with matching cummerbund. I went down for a coffee and Pete joined me, dressed to match. He looked good, very smart so I hoped I was OK. I wasn't nervous; actually I was looking forward to it. Once I made a decision I wasn't one to worry if I had made the right choice, I'd already done my thinking before, so just got on with it. We checked out the hotel and left at 11, were at the church by ten past. I had a chat with Father Dave, who was conducting the wedding. The organ was playing quietly in the background as the church started to fill. I expected there to be few, mainly family, but word had got out and people continued to drift in. Several of the shop workers who used to work for me had arranged an hour off to come to the ceremony. I was touched. I hadn't realised so many people wished us well. The ladies of the church were out in force on the bride's side of church. 11.30 arrived without Ruth, but it was fashionable to be late. 

Five minutes later and the wedding march started. Maybe I broke tradition, but I turned to watch her entry. Rosie entered first scattering rose petals from a small wicker basket. She was dressed in a sky blue long dress. She looked enchanting. She was followed by Ruth, escorted by James who had agreed to give her away, and flanked by Emma and Sarah. Both Emma and Sarah were in matching full length blue halter neck gowns, a slightly darker shade of blue than Rosie's (I was told later it was Maya Blue). How they had managed to get Sarah a matching dress in such a short space of time I didn't know. 

Ruth was in a strapless Empire Line Geek Style creation in cornflower blue, the high waist accentuating her small bust. An ivory lace shrug covered her shoulders and the top of her breasts, which I knew was to cover her scars. The lightly pleated skirts floated round her body, just giving a hint of the treasures lying underneath. 2 pearl hair combs, one either side, lifted her hair up on her head, with long floaty strands left loose to frame her face. The outfit was finished off with the pearl and ruby choker. She was beautiful. I felt proud to be marrying this lovely woman, though as I had told her before, she was beautiful on the inside too. She seemed to glide up the aisle until she was standing beside me. 

I know I said the appropriate words in the right places, and when Pete handed over the ring for it to be blessed, I do remember slipping it onto Ruth's finger, but the memory does seem a bit blurred, I think I was a bit overwhelmed. I kissed the bride, we had rice and confetti throw over us and had pictures taken. Most of the pictures were taken by the trees in the churchyard, especially by an ancient yew tree, with others been taken at the Lychgate, which had been decorated by the ladies of the church. The wedding party plus Father Dave and Christine then made our way to Gino's where I had booked the wedding breakfast. Gino had set us up in the small back room for privacy. As usual the meal was excellent. We were surprised at the end by a wedding cake which Christine created. More pictures as we cut the cake! With such a small party I hadn't planned on speeches. Gino and his wife Danielle joined us when they brought the cake through, and provided champagne - their gift to us. 

Pete said that he wasn't going to chicken out on giving a best mans speech, and as we didn't have a bride's father to give the first speech it was up to me. I was very brief, thanking everyone for joining us to celebrate our wedding, thanking my kids for welcoming our three new additions to the family, thanking Dave and Christine for their support, especially all their help for Ruth. Finally I thanked Ruth for having faith in me, and promised to ensure the rest of her life would be as good as I could make it. 

Pete gave a short, quite amusing speech. He tended to talk to the audience between tracks at the band's gigs, so was comfortable with public speaking. He also proposed a toast to the bridesmaids, including the Maid of Honour (Sarah) and the flower girl. 

Ruth surprised us all by then standing to say a few words. "I just want to say 'Thank You' to everyone. Sarah and Pete, for your understanding. It couldn't have been easy suddenly being told you had two new sisters and were going to get a stepmother. I'm not going to try and take your Mum's place, but I hope we can be friends. And I promise to look after your Dad to the best of my ability. Dave and Christine for your help and support. Gino and Danielle, for the wonderful meal and of course the champagne. James, for giving me away. Emma and Rosie, for being the family I needed. I love you both. Mark, for just being you. Kind, generous, thoughtful, supportive. You've dragged me back from the brink. 

"When you found me I was at a very low point in my life. I needed someone to show me that I deserved something better than how I was living. Without even knowing me you did that. You showed me I could be a better person. Because you had belief in me, it allowed me to believe in myself again. You've shown your love for me in so many ways, I want to return that love. I intend to keep showing you how much I love you for the rest of our lives." She leaned down and kissed me. There were tears in my eyes, and I suspect in others too but I didn't see, I only had eyes for Ruth. 

We changed into comfortable clothes, collected our cases from home and set off for London. The room at the Ritz was waiting. With a delay on the roads it was mid-evening when we arrived and checked in. Neither of us really wanted to eat a big meal as we had already had that wonderful meal earlier at Gino's. 

I ordered a cheeseboard for two and a bottle of champagne from room service. We sat and relaxed, although there was an underlying tension to both of us. It had been a long time since I had been with a woman and I wanted to be good for Ruth. She was worried about me seeing her scars and being put off. 

I went for a shower and came out in a bathrobe, complements of the hotel. Ruth asked me to go to bed and she would join me. I offered to run her a bath, and added in aromatic bath oil for her. I relaxed and listened to the radio while I waited. Eventually Ruth opened the bathroom door and walked towards the bed. She was wearing a long, satin nightgown in deep midnight blue. Her hair was loose and tumbled over her shoulders. She was shivering, not from cold but from worry. I pulled down the covers and invited her to join me. 

I stroked her face, my thumb rubbing along her lips, and kissed her eyelids, first one then the other. "I love you, Ruth Mckay" I whispered, then our lips met and I captured her mouth. My tongue brushed her lips and she opened them to allow entry. I caressed down from her shoulder to her hand, then brought it up to my mouth and kissed her palm. "Trust me Ruth, have belief. I won't hurt you, it'll all be okay" 

I moved her head gently towards me and licked her neck, capturing her earlobe with my teeth and softly nipping it. I kissed down her neck to the soft area between neck and shoulder and nibbled gently. Ruth groaned and tensed up. I licked down to the hollow at the base of her throat and sucked the skin, bringing heat to the surface. As I started to kiss down towards the top of Ruth's breasts, I slipped the nightdress straps down her shoulders, to expose more. Ruth moved her hands to cover herself but I caught them and firmly held them to the bed either side of her head. 

"Mark" - almost piteously - I stopped any further speech but kissing her again. I dropped her hands and slipped the straps down to elbow level. I moved back and kissed the top of Ruth's left breast. I could feel the difference in texture where the scars were and carefully kissed each scar as I reached it. I lazily swiped my tongue down her cleavage and across to the right breast and repeated the process. I looked up and could see tears sliding down Ruth's cheeks. I kissed the tears and whispered " I don't care about the scars. They're part of you and I love you". She sobbed and dug her head into my neck. 

She held me tight for a couple of minutes then started to kiss my neck. Her left hand slid from my shoulder to my bum, then round the front to grasp my rock hard dick. I don't think I'd ever been so hard before. Her fingers gently slid up and down the shaft for a few seconds, then she said "Please Mark, let me do this for you", slid down and before I realised what she had planned I was deep in her mouth. The warm, wet suction was devastating. There was no messing about, no licking, nibbling or blowing air on the end. Over half my rigid member was in her mouth with her head bobbing up and down rapidly as she sucked hard. There was no way I was going to last long. "Ruth, if you don't stop I won't be able to stop myself cumming." 




Second Chances



"Good" came the mumbled reply as she increased the speed of her head. "O God, O God, O G...O...D" I groaned and my cock jerked and shot several ropes of cum into Ruth's willing mouth. She didn't slow up until she was sure she had drained me, then licked round the head as she loosed me from her lips. She hadn't lost a drop. 

She moved back up to face me and whispered, "Now you'll last longer when we make love." I kissed her deeply, and yes, I could taste the remnants of my cum in her mouth. I didn't care, I just wanted her to know how much I appreciated what she had just done to me. 

I rolled her onto her back and kissed down her neck again to her breasts. I pulled on the nightdress and it slipped down below Ruth's breasts. They were small, 34B, but the nipples stood proudly away from the pink, crinkly areolae. Her breasts were crisscrossed with fine scars from her old life. I ran my tongue around the right areola for several circuits before sucking the nipple into my mouth and sucking hard. Ruth nearly went into orbit, she was so sensitive. It seemed unfair to ignore her other breast so I lavished attention on that one too. By the time I stopped sucking her nipple she was gasping. 

I slid down the bed and raised the gown until it reached her hips and was bunched in her midriff. I kissed her navel and pushed my tongue into it - she wriggled. I slowly moved lower, kissing and licking my way across her tummy and gently pushed apart her legs. She had shaved, just leaving a red landing strip, with bare lips below. 

I kissed the inside of her left thigh, sliding my tongue up the crease between her leg and mound. Then I repeated it on the right leg. Finally, with Ruth quivering under me with anticipation, I licked a long stroke up her vulva from bottom to top. With a groan Ruth's head lashed from side to side. 

I used the flat of my tongue to lick repeatedly from bottom to top several times as her outer lips parted. I then speared my tongue as far into her passage as I could get. She was wet, and tasted slightly musky, but divine. Ambrosia, the nectar of the god, must have tasted like this. As I plunged my tongue into Ruth my nose was rubbing her clit. Ruth started to push back, grinding her clit against my face. I moved up and caught her by now prominent clit between my lips and sucked. Ruth's hips came off the bed as she arched her back. A few rapid flicks of my tongue across her bud and she screamed and came. My chin was suddenly soaked as Ruth let loose as stream of juice. I kept licking until Ruth pushed my head away. "Too sensitive," she gasped. 

I circled her hips with my arms and kissed her tummy, then rested my head there as she slowly came back to earth. Once she stopped shaking she caught my arm and pulled me up to kiss. We cuddled for a few minutes, then mush have dosed off. Ruth woke me about an hour later getting out of bed to go to the toilet. I poured us the remains of the champagne. Ruth returned, and slipped into bed. She kissed me then said, "Your beard is all sticky, go and wash your face." 

"Your fault, you made it sticky," I replied. 

With a smile she countered, "You made me make it sticky though, so it's really your own fault." I got up and washed my face. When I came back I noticed the nightgown on the floor by the bed. 

We started kissing, our tongue playing hide and seek in each other's mouths, whilst our hands explored the other's body. I found as small area on Ruth's left shoulder that was intensely sensitive, ticklish - she squirmed when I caressed it and moaned sensuously when I leaned across and played with it with my tongue. "O God Mark, that feels... " She didn't finish the sentence, just groaned again and buried her head in the pillow. 

I pulled her hips over so he was fully lying on her front and started to rub her back, slow firm strokes circling round her shoulder blades, then long strokes down to her lower back. I then moved onto her buttocks and massaged her lovely, sexy bum. It was too much for me too and with my left hand I flipped her hair away from her neck and kissed hard at the nape, nipping with me teeth whilst my right hand slipped between Ruth's legs and I slipped 2 fingers into her wet, slippery love tunnel. 

She rotated her pelvis to push back against my fingers as I sawed them back and forth inside her. She was tight. Despite having given birth, three years of abstinence had made her like a virgin again. She rolled onto her back. "Make love to me Mark" she whispered. 

I slipped between her legs - my cock was nestled between her thighs. As I kissed her again, out tongues sliding against each other, I slid up the bed until my cockhead was gentle easing apart her outer lips. Ruth rolled her hips and I slipped into the start of her passage. She was tight, but wet. I rocked back and forth and Ruth kept rotating her pelvis up and down and I gradually slipped further in until I bottomed out and my pubic bone was mashed against hers. "God Ruth, that feels so good." "Make me yours, my love" Ruth groaned, "I want to feel you cum." 

I wanted to last, and with Ruth's earlier efforts with her mouth I didn't explode immediately, but she was so tight and hot and wet I knew I was still not going to last that long. I tried to think of something else - started doing maths in my head, the 27 times table. It was no use, the sensations going through my groin were just too exquisite. 

Fortunately Ruth was in a similar place to me - "Feels so...so, wonderful" she sighed, Then I felt her internal muscles clench, she groaned "I'm cumming" and I felt my groin become very wet again. It was too much, my scrotum drew up, I felt that old tingling sensation and I erupted. It was so intense it was almost painful. I managed to say "I love you" through gritted teeth, then collapsed onto Ruth. Her arms came round me and held me tight. After a couple of minutes I went to lift myself off Ruth, I must be squashing her. 

Her arms tightened. "Don't move yet, please. It feels so good to have you there." 

"Aren't I too heavy?" I asked. 

"Not yet," she whispered into my ear. 

I felt myself soften and slipped out of Ruth, but we continued to lie as we had been. I was so relaxed. This felt so good, so right. After another few minutes I got up and went and washed myself, brought a damp flannel out and wiped Ruth clean, then we just cuddled close. We made love another twice through the night - four times in one night! Not bad for a middle aged man. As long as Ruth didn't think that was the norm! 

The next day we wandered round central London, has lunch in Covent Garden. I bought Ruth a couple of new dresses in Monsoon and we bought some specialist teas from Whittards. Really we just wanted to wander. We got back to the hotel mid afternoon, changed and went out for a pre-show dinner then onto the theatre to watch Miss Saigon. Amazing and emotional musical, Ruth was in tears before the end, and my eyes weren't much better. It was a nice night, so we decided to walk back. 

There was a cocktail bar just one minutes walk from the theatre so we popped in and had champagne cocktails. The atmosphere was lively but we just sat close together and held hands. Afterwards we meandered down Shaftesbury Avenue back to the Ritz. We went into The Rivoli Bar, their cocktail bar, and enjoyed a nightcap before heading back to our room. 

Our second night as man and wife was much more relaxed, Ruth was more sure of herself, less self conscious of her scars. Me, I knew I could still perform, make Ruth cum, keep her satisfied. We only made love once, but enjoyed lots of exploring of each other's bodies beforehand. Again the climax for both of us was intense, exhausting. We slept cuddled together. 

Monday saw us check out and head back up the road to the Midlands and family. We wanted the chance to spend a couple more days with Sarah and James and with Pete before they flew abroad again. And if I'm honest Ruth was getting a bit antsy at not seeing 'her children'. We had become such a family that we wanted to be with Emma and Rosie. 

So what of the future. Children - not ours with Ruth's previous sterilisation op. She could try for reversal but she says there are so many children out there like Rosie that need loving parents, do we really need to make them ourselves! It won't be long before Emma flies the nest, although she will always have a home and family here. I can imagine coming home one day and finding Ruth feeding another young child, a companion for Rosie. 

My life - I've gone from someone who was money rich and life poor to a man with endless riches, the riches you get with a loving wife and family. Money does make life easier but if I lost it all tomorrow I would still consider myself a rich, and blessed, man. 

All four of us, Ruth and I, Emma and Rosie, have been given second chances. We intend to make the most of them.



Second Chances



Laura sighed in resignation as she knocked on Jonathan's door. He had made it plain on the phone that all he wanted from her was friendship.

Since her divorce, all she wanted was someone to care. And obviously, that someone wasn't going to be Jonathan.

He opened the door with a smile, dressed in blue jeans and a T-shirt. "Come on in," he said, pulling the door open wider.

Laura stepped inside and forced herself to smile, as Jonathan's god children, Ashleigh and Dustan, came running to launch themselves at her. She hugged them and stepped back.

"So, are we going to the grocery store?" Laura asked. With a grimace, she dug her brush out of her purse and caught Ashleigh before she could escape and began brushing Ashleigh's hair.

"Yeah," said Jonathan. "Let's just grab a couple of frozen pizzas and come back. I don't really feel like cooking anything big."

Once they were back, Jonathan ordered each kid into the shower. Once they were out, Jonathan slid the pizza in the oven.

Laura was tossing a salad to go with the pizza. When she was done, she turned and said teasingly, "Jonathan, you haven't hugged me tonight!"

Jonathan laughed and pulled Laura gently into his arms, then dragged her halfway across the room playfully. Laura was laughing when Jonathan leaned in and pressed a fleeting kiss on her lips.

Laura backed up and immediately began rubbing the back of her neck with her right hand, a dead giveaway that she was nervous.

"Laura? You okay?" Jonathan asked, concern in his voice.

Laura nodded. "Fine."

After dinner and the kids were in bed, Patrick changed into his pajamas and settled on the floor. He patted the floor beside him.

"Laura, come sit with me."

With a shrug, Laura slid off the couch onto the floor, her heart leaping in her chest. Maybe something was finally going to happen!

"We're friends, right?" Jonathan said, slipping an arm around her. "We don't need anything else to make us happy."

Laura's blood began to boil. Friends. That was it? That kiss, fleeting though it had been, meant nothing?

Laura pushed away from Jonathan. "That's all you want? When you asked me to come sit with you on the floor, I thought it meant something! My heart began to race and my stomach went into knots, and . . ."

She trailed off as she saw Jonathan drop his face into his hands. "Oh, God," he moaned.

Laura shifted uncomfortably, as Jonathan really looked at her. Looked at her like he never had before.

No guts, no glory, Laura thought to herself. Do it now, before you lose your nerve!

"Well, there's something I have to do, Jonathan. And if I don't do it now, I never will. Close your eyes."

Jonathan obeyed. Laura got on her knees, leaned over, and placed her lips on his. She kissed him in an effort to show him what he could be missing.

He kissed her back. The kiss grew heated. Jonathan tugged her sweater up so he could fill his hands with her lace covered tits, and Laura tugged at the waistband of his pajama pants.

He broke the kiss to untie the drawstring of his pajama pants, and then Laura slid her hand inside. 

She took his cock in her hand, hard, hot, pulsing. The skin of her hand felt scorched as she stroked the huge cock.

"Oh, yes," Jonathan moaned as she stroked him. He pushed her onto the floor on her back and kissed her again, until they were making out like a couple of teenagers.

Within minutes, they had moved to the bedroom. 

"I don't know how much longer I can wait to have you inside me," Laura gasped breathlessly.

With a muttered oath, Jonathan dug into the drawer of his night table and retrieved a small foil package.

He rolled the condom onto his near-to-bursting cock and moved to lie on top of Laura.

"You're so beautiful," Jonathan whispered, looking down at her. Laura blushed with pleasure.

Clenching his jaw, he slid his cock into her dripping wet pussy, inch ny inch.

Laura gasped and clutched Jonathan's shoulders as he kissed her. It had been so long...



Second Chances



This is a story co-written with a woman who I like to refer to as my favorite GILF. This story, which may or may not be a one-off, is strongly based on our actual first time together. Our story will be told from alternating points of view. Keep in mind, just as there was a long build-up to our actually getting together, so there is in this story. Please be kind in your comments, as this is my GILFs first attempt at writing.

**********

Kurt

Teri and I had known each other for about 10 years, having worked for the same company starting when we were both in our early 30's. We worked for different departments, but quite often had to work on projects together. Over that time, as we progressed up the ladder at work we got to know each other quite well, and as often happens, we would talk about our personal lives.

As the years progressed, we both grew unhappy in our home lives. Both of our marriages started to sour, and we used each other to vent about our respective spouses.

As time went on, we eventually began joking about how we should just dump our partners and have them get together, since they seemed so similar, and that would leave us alone to explore other options, including each other.

I had always considered Teri to be a beautiful woman. Just an inch or so shorter than me, she is very curvy, with a large chest and what seemed like a nice ass. She would often wear skirts to work, and I knew that she had a great set of legs, especially when she wore short heels. Quite often, I thought that she caught me looking her body over, but she never said anything to me about it. Her silence always made me wonder if she didn't actually enjoy the attention. From what she told me, especially after the semi-regular Friday after-work drinks with a few other co-workers, her husband never seemed to pay any attention to her.

*****

Teri

I really enjoy my position as head of office projects. As the "go to" person when new projects come into the company, I get to see everyone in the company at one time or another. I meet with the different teams and together we go over the plans, get the proper equipment and permits, etc. in place and get the ball rolling. I have one favorite co-worker Kurt. When certain projects come through I need to work closer with him and those are the times that work gets more interesting.

Over the years Kurt has not only been a wonderful co-worker who helps me with the things I am not the best with on some projects, but he has turned into a great friend who, when I had a really bad weekend would sense it and would get me to talk about what was on my mind. He is someone who has that shoulder to lean on that everyone needs to have, that one special friend that you know you can just open up to and not be judged. In turn he would rarely open up on how things were in his marriage.

Lately on those occasions, I would find myself dreaming of fantasies that involved Kurt and me.

I have always admired his bright blue eyes and cheerful hellos. He would often stop for an extra few minutes for a short catch-up conversation on how things were going. I admired his strong physique as he would lean against the wall of my cubical and talk to me. It was sometimes hard to make a conversation with him when my mind would drift off into fantasyland, thinking how wonderful those well-built arms would feel getting a hug from him. Wondering if the way his jeans hung on him was as "manly" as his upper body seemed to look through his shirts.

It was always harder to concentrate on matters at hand in the conference room when Kurt, myself, and a few others would be working on a project and had to work out a new project's plans. Getting that close to him, to be able to smell his cologne and see his muscles flex as he leaned on the table across from me with his hands... Those were the days that made going home to what I was living with a lot easier. Kurt was always the flirt, and I always flirted right back. He always lifted my spirits. Even though I felt he could never really feel anything for me, I liked to think that he liked me more than just a co-worker.

*****

Teri and I had been working together so long, some of our co-workers referred to us as "work married." I was her "work husband," and she was my "work wife." Hearing comments like that did nothing to calm my growing desires for her.

When I went through my divorce, I think that she was more surprised than any one. I rarely spoke about my marriage at work, and especially not to her. I knew that she was going through a tough time with her asshole of a husband and really didn't want to burden her with my problems.

One night shortly after my divorce was final, she asked what I was planning on doing with myself now that I was free. She looked stunned, and then laughed softly when I told her that now I was just going to have to wait for her.

"Yeah, right," she replied after taking a sip of her drink. "Like you're not going to have a line of women in and out of your new bachelor pad."

"Nope," was my only reply. Secretly, I thought to myself that I would be happy if I could get her there, even once.

I knew that Teri was at least as unhappy in her marriage as I was in mine, and I tried being subtle on our Friday after-work drink sessions when our co-workers would ask about being single again. I wanted her to know how much better life could be when it wasn't spent in turmoil.

*****

Monday morning. It's been 2 weeks since I've been back to work. I took some unexpected, unannounced personal time off. Mid-morning, Kurt came down the hall where my cubicle was like he does every day since I've been working here.

"Hey beautiful," was his usual line when he popped his head in to say 'hello' on passing.

"You doing ok? Where have you been the last 2 weeks? Office hasn't been the same without you around."

In response to his questions all I said was, "I needed some time to take care of a few things," and left it at that.

As the week went on, Kurt kept pressing me with, "Is everything ok?" comments due to the fact that I was more buried into my work and quieter than I have been in the past. I always answered back with a simple "Yes, all's fine," and he would shrug his shoulders and remind me that his shoulders were strong enough to lean on IF I needed to vent again. Thanking him, I would go back to my work and he moved onto his.

Friday was finally here, and Kurt asked me if I was joining the gang for our usual end of week drinks before heading home. I said "Yes, I'll join everyone shortly," as I had to wrap up a project file before I could leave.

On joining everyone already on their 2nd drinks, Kurt asked me if I was ready for my usual glass of wine. I said, "Nope, I need something stronger," and ordered a Captain & coke. Kurt, looking surprised, took my order, bought me my drink, and placed it in front of me.

"Ok, lady spill the beans," he told me firmly. "Why the quiet week, and now the hard stuff?"

I glanced at everyone around the table downed my drink, asking for a second one as everyone looked on in surprise. I usually nurse my wine, one glass to their two.

I took a deep breath and told them all the reason that I was gone for the last 2 weeks. I had finally moved out and was getting a divorce.

I looked across the table at Kurt to see his reaction and it was hard to tell if he was glad to hear the news or not. We always would tease each other when we were flirting about how we wish we were out of our marriages, and what would happen.

The others had their comments of comfort to make me feel better but Kurt didn't say a word he just sipped on his beer. We toasted to better, happier times, and as we clanked bottles and glasses my mind started drifting off back to some of the comments said between Kurt and I when flirting at the office.

**********

'Holy crap!' I thought to myself. 'That was a shocker!'

My next set of thoughts included things like, how much time do I give her before I make a move? SHOULD I make a move? Was she serious in her flirting, or was it just harmless playing?

Fortunately, I had the weekend to think about the sudden change of events. I decided to try and play things cool, and to see what Teri did. 

Monday morning was our usual staff meeting. The first thing that I noticed as I walked in to the conference room was Teri. Sitting in her customary seat toward the far end of the table, with my normal seat next to her still empty, she almost had a glow to her. 

In all of the years that I had worked with her, I don't think that I had ever seen a smile on Teri's face like the one that I saw that morning. She was laughing at something as I walked in, and then made a crack about how I was 'late,' and not my usual fifteen minutes early.

I just smiled and nodded as I sat down, also noticing that Teri was dressed a lot differently than usual as she said hi to me. Soon after, the owner of the company, known to everyone simply as 'the old man', walked in and our meeting started.

A couple of times during the meeting, as we both turned to face whomever was speaking, I noticed that her leg bumped or brushed against mine. That immediately distracted me with thoughts of, 'Did she do that on purpose, or was I just imagining things?'

As the meeting broke up, Teri smiled at me and told me that she needed to talk to me about an upcoming project that our departments would be working on together. Returning her smile, I asked, "Your office, or mine?" 

*****

While finishing some notes before I forgot my thoughts I said, "Yours, since you have the bigger desk for the plans. How about we brown bag it and have a working lunch so we can get out of here on time? This meeting went longer then I had hoped, and I still have piles of files and forms to go through." 

Kurt shrugged his shoulders, saying, "Sure if you bring lunch." 

I turned in my chair to face him. "Ok, I guess, since I am imposing on your office. Let's say one o'clock." 

As I stood to leave the conference table my heel hooked on the rim of my chair and I fell forward into Kurt's face. His hands reached out to grab me and I came inches from smacking my face right into his. Our eyes meet closely for the first time ever. It seemed like I was staring into those baby blues for hours but it was only seconds. His warm sweet breath was caressing my neck.

His hands gripped my forearms and pushed me up saying, "Wow...what was in that coffee? I think I want some next meeting!" 

I smoothed out my skirt trying to gather my composure, my face feeling very flushed. I responded, "Oh hush! See you at 1." I turned and walked out of the room before I could make more of a fool of myself.

As I walked down the hall back to my office I couldn't stop thinking about the deep gaze into Kurt's eyes. It was like being on a deserted beach looking into the deep blue ocean with awe of the spectacular view.

I sat in my chair, looked at the clock and saw I had 2 hours before my lunch meeting in Kurt's office. 

Blushing again, I wondered if he noticed me all flushed over my little mishap. Wondering if he is going to have anything to say. Did he think it was intentional? Was it subconscious? Oh my, my heart took a jump with that thought. WAS I subconsciously flirting more physically now that I cut my ties loose and knew he was also available? 

Biting on my pencil in a daze of wrong thoughts considering the work piled on my desk I hear a voice at my doorway saying "Stuck on an issue? You look deep in thought." 

I looked over and saw Shirley from across the way. I smiled and said "I'm good, just looking at this pile wondering which one to tackle first. You know how that is!" 

Shirley said "Sorta. I am glad I don't have your job, although I wouldn't mind working close to Kurt like you get to." 

Hearing that didn't settle too well with my ears. I felt something I haven't felt before when hearing his name. I said "Shirley, you think Kurt is hot?" 

She says back, "HOT? Hell I have been flirting with him ever since I heard through the grapevine that he was back on the market, and he doesn't seem to notice. A few of the other girls at lunch also said they have tried to get his attention but all he does is smile and say hello, nothing more. Not what one would think a new man on the market would do, but then again we are all at work so maybe he isn't wanting to risk his position flirting on job." 

I said maybe, and left it at that. I excused myself, saying I had to hit the piles so I could get out on time today.

At 12:30, I ran to the building next door to grabbed some soup and sandwiches from Panera and was back up to Kurt's office promptly at 1.

"Knock knock," I said as entering his office. I often wondered why he had this massive office with the sweet view of the city behind his contractor's desk, and I am the go to person in the cubicle. I saw he was on the phone with one of the crews. Some big issue must have been happening because his tone of voice was one I never heard. 

He waved me in and pointed to a smaller desk on the other wall. He had it set with 2 bottles of water, ready for our lunch. 

I walked carefully over to the table and set out lunch while he finished his call. I didn't notice he was on the cell phone because as I turned back around he was right there behind me and for the second time today I smacked right into him. This time his chest! 

His tight muscular chest bump hard against my breasts. I felt an instant reaction when my nipples grew firmer. I was hoping he didn't notice my reactions to my body touching his like that, but for the moments I was there, I was going to cherish the new feelings brewing inside me. 

My arms reached out, this time grabbing his forearms. I had those strong arms in my hands finally. After all those times just admiring them, I actually had a hold of them. They felt exactly as I had always dreamed. 

He didn't seem to mind the extra closeness because he made no move. He did seem to enjoy the pressure of my breasts against his chest just as much as I did.

His hands were on my hips holding me steady. Not sure how much more of this I could handle, all I could muster up to say, as my eyes were once more staring into those baby blues was, "Hi again!" 

Kurt laughed and said in that flirty tone that he uses on me once in a while, "Let's eat lunch before we have dessert. Even though it looks tasty, it's not as tasty looking as you are today." 

Again, I could felt my face blushing, and was lost for a comeback. All I could do was just turn and sit in my chair and say "Let's eat."

'What just happened?' I thought to myself as we sat semi-quietly for a few minutes eating our lunches. 'What was he thinking? Was he thinking I was coming on to him too strong, too fast?' even though I really wasn't intentionally doing those things today. 

Was I going to end up putting distance between two friends, after all this time of being there for each other? I was finding myself getting scared. I had to get off of this train of thought. I was being ridiculous. 

I started a small casual conversation in between bites but we weren't as chatty as we have been in past length of times together. This was different for some reason. 

Once done with lunch Kurt didn't waste any time, saying, "Let's hit the plans so you can get out of here on time today." 

I looked at him saying, "OK." 

He stood and stepped over to my chair and said "Let's not have a 3rd encounter of the close kind today. Let me help you up. I may not survive the next one without injury!"

Taking his hand as I stood I said, "Would that be such a bad thing?" 

He smiled, not letting go of my hand and walked me over to where the project plans were laid out, getting right to business.

While we were working, our hands brushed against each other as we pointed at different things on the plans. Our elbows and shoulders kept touching as well. I started to notice these things happening and I started thinking back to other work sessions like this, wondering if the same things happened and I never noticed, or was this a first and my body is like a magnet drawing his to me? 

Am I really subconsciously wanting to feel a man's touch after all this time? I can't be. This is crazy. I didn't even have my court date yet for the divorce. After all I just moved out not that long ago. 

As I pointed to an area that didn't look right to me I asked Kurt about it. Getting no response, I turned my head to look at him and noticed him looking down toward the plans, but like he's lost in space. 

"Earth to Kurt. Did you hear me?" 

Kurt popped his eyes up to mine, looked at me with a stammering voice and cleared his throat. "I'm sorry. What? Yeah... Ok, let me look that over."

I stood up and chuckled, saying "Are my planning sessions boring you today?" 

As I stretched my back after being bent over the desk for an hour, I said, "Maybe we better call it quits for now. I have other things to finish up yet." 

I gathered my notes and as I was heading to the door he just stared at me as he leaned on the table and said "Ok." 

*****

'Holy crap!' I thought to myself as I watched Teri's ass sway out of my office. 'What the hell is going on?'

It was bad enough that I was having all sorts of thoughts about what I wanted to do to her, now we had to work very closely on what could be a year-long long project together. Was all of that contact intentional, or was it a happy accident? 

'For fuck sake, man, get your shit together!' I told myself. 'You're 43 years old, and you're acting like a damn hormone-addled thirteen year-old!'

Over the next few months, Teri and I talked daily about our project. The sexual tension seemed to stay the way it had been, and now I was doubting whether it was intentional or not. I still joked and teased with her, but I didn't notice any change in her demeanor. 

I eventually talked her into taking over the smaller desk in my office, as she was spending so much time with me anyway. Spending that much time together, we soon started talking about the progress of her divorce.

Her soon-to-be-ex was delaying matters because it seemed that he didn't want to lose his insurance coverage that he was getting through Teri. He even missed more than half of the meetings with their lawyers. She had all of her belongings, and was even getting comfortable in her new condo. He was the only thing holding up progress, and I knew that was starting to annoy her. 

It wasn't long before the company Christmas party was fast approaching. The annual party was the biggest social event of the year for our company. The 'old man' was cheap and sexist (which was the reason that I had the big office and Teri, whose department was easily as important as mine, was stuck in a cubicle) but he went all out for the Christmas party.

The party was always a catered event, held in a ballroom of one of the biggest hotels downtown. The old man also made arrangements with the hotel to rent out rooms to anyone that wanted to spend the night instead of driving home after the party, something that I had taken advantage of the past few years.

This would also be the first year that Teri and I would both be going solo. In the couple of years following my divorce, I went to the party alone, and while I managed to have a good time, enjoying some of the attention that I got from Teri's friend Shirley and her main partner-in-crime, Barb, I wasn't looking for a hook-up, especially one that was work related. 

As the day approached, our conversations naturally gravitated toward the party. We both had rented rooms at the hotel, and the only other thing that I knew was that Teri had apparently found a nice dress to wear.

The party was on a Friday night, about a week and a half before Christmas. That morning, I talked to Teri for a little while before I went out to our remote job sites and handed out the Christmas bonus checks. As I left, I told her that I would see her for a couple of pre-party drinks, and she joked about how I would need them to warm up, if I was going out in the sub-freezing temps that morning.




Second Chances



*****

The work day ended mid-afternoon so everyone could get home to get ready for the big office holiday party.

Earlier in the week I had gone shopping for a new dress. After all, this was going to be my first party as a 'single lady,' so I HAD to do everything I could to look good! 

I was nervous enough just to be going alone, even more nervous that EVERYONE from the office will be there, including Kurt. I told myself that even though my budget until the divorce is settled was tight, that it would be a good idea to go to my first party in a new dress since I am working towards a new chapter in my life.

I had tried on so many dresses, not liking anything for any of the usual reasons us girls find to not like something we try on, and was about to call it quits and settle for whatever was the newest old thing in my closet. 

As I was heading for the door there it was on the end cap, like it appeared out of nowhere, because I surely would have noticed this dress earlier. It was perfect. Modest enough to not be slutty, yet it had a very sexy look to it. Plus it was in the color that I get the most compliments on when I wear it. I tried it on and it slid over my curvy body perfectly, and gave such a new gracefulness to my look that I had tears of happiness in my eyes.

I hadn't ever been so excited over buying a dress and the way it looked on me since I was married. My husband never took us out anywhere that would cause us to dress up. 

Every year I dreaded the office party because it was a battle from the time the invitation appeared until the end of the party night itself. If he couldn't wear a ragged pair of work jeans and an old flannel shirt he would bitch up storm until I would say forget it we are staying home. 

The only times I never backed down was for this office party, because I had to make an appearance. Being head of projects, it wouldn't look right not being there. It was an inside joke that 'the old man' took attendance and considered it an insult if his managers didn't show. I would have to put on the happy face and rarely had the enjoyable time that I should have had at a party like this.

As I stood in front of my full length mirror fresh out of the shower, hair wrapped in a towel, I looked at my 40+ year old body asking myself, 'Is this a view that could turn a man on, or am I setting myself up for a lonely future?' Taking a deep breath, I removed the towel from my hair. The coolness from my long hair hitting my back just past shoulder blades gave me a chill and my soft nipples perked up.

I tousled my wet hair deciding how I should style it. Should I wear it like I do every day at work, twisted up in back or let it go long?

After playing with it I decided to wear it long. When I wear it long my hair has a soft natural wave that enhances the lighter blonde highlights in my natural dishwater blonde color.

The dress that I bought was Christmas Red, a perfect shade of red for me. It was mid-thigh in length, had a satin slip with sparkly matching red lace over lay and a small slit up the right side of my outer thigh. It was very flattering to my curvy shape, and strapless, which enhanced my second best feature, the girls. My legs have always been, in my opinion, my very best feature.

I even found an outrageously expensive matching pair of stilettos for the perfect finish. I also went so far as to shop for new lingerie, to give me that sexier-on-the-inside feeling that I was needing. I wanted to go all out and treat myself for my first big party.

As I was getting myself ready I was running thoughts of the party through my head. What I would say when any one asked where my soon-to-be ex was if they hadn't heard of my news for some reason? How should I act if Kurt had any kind of remarks to my choice of dress for the evening?

Things around the conference table and casual meet ups have had a change in the atmosphere between us. I was confused about the vibes. Were they just my imagination from being lonely and on my own for the first time in my life? I got married the summer I was out of high school to the only man I had ever dated ... if you can call the things we did dates. I was young, naïve, and clueless.

I tossed many different scenarios around in my head while getting ready. All too soon, my phone rang. It was Kurt confirming that I was going to meet him before the party at the lounge of the hotel, and to confirm the time. 

Once that was all settled, I put on my lip gloss and I took one last, long gaze in the mirror at the woman staring back at me. It was a vision I never saw in myself before. There was a spark of sexiness in my look and even a smile and glimmer of excitement about going out with no battles. I was actually delighted for the event to get started.

*****

By the time that I finally got to the hotel, it was mid-afternoon. Our company had a great year, and the crews that I led were at the top of the heap. I like to believe that one of the things that brought about a lot of the success that we had was the fact that I took care of my people. 

The old man basically left me alone in the way that I ran my jobs, knowing that I was almost always ahead of schedule and usually under budget. That morning, I told both of my crew leaders to have what we called an "appreciation morning," which they knew meant that they should spend the first few hours walking the job sites appreciating all of the fine work that they had accomplished during the week. After that, I would meet them at a local pizza place, where the company would buy lunch, and I bought beers and handed out the Christmas bonuses.

A few beers later, I made it to the hotel. By the time that I checked in, I had enough time to take a quick nap before I had to get up and shower. After stripping down, I laid on the bed and soon drifted off.

I woke up a couple of hours later feeling a bit more refreshed. I called Teri to make sure that we were still meeting before the official start of the party for a drink, and then got in to the shower. 

About an hour later, wearing my suit, I walked in to the hotel bar and ordered a beer as I waited for Teri. As I was finishing my drink I saw the bartender look up toward the door, and his eyes widened. Turning to the doorway, I saw Teri walking toward me.

'Holy crap!' I thought to myself as she approached. 

I had seen Teri in dresses and skirts before, even dressed up for past company parties, but I had never seen her looking like this. Wearing a red dress that seemed to cling to every curve on her body, her breasts swaying and bouncing slightly with every step, all while carefully balancing herself on a pair of four-inch heels, it took every ounce of strength I had to keep my jaw from hitting the floor. 

Showing just enough cleavage to get attention, with the skirt reaching mid-thigh and her long hair down, Teri looked stunning. I immediately felt my blood rushing to my cock as I watched her walk.

"Hi," she said as she reached the bar, placing her hand on my arm. "You look nice!"

"You look amazing!" I replied, helping her in to a seat. As she sat back, I saw more of her leg thanks to a slit going up the outside if her skirt.

"Thank you!" she responded, smiling at me.

I ordered her a glass of wine, and another beer for myself, and we talked for a while, mostly about my visits that morning and the atmosphere at the office. The whole time that we were talking, I was taking in the entire package that was Teri. The way that she looked, the smile on her face, the intoxicating, sensual perfume that she was wearing, all of it was a shocking treat for the senses.

I also noticed while we were talking that she seemed to lean in to me, and touch me on the arm, even brushing me with her leg, a lot more than usual. Or was I just imagining it?

We eventually decided to take our drinks and head in to the banquet room. I helped her out of her chair and as I took care of the bartender, Teri took a couple of steps away. As I turned around, Teri was facing me, and then turned toward the hall as I approached her.

I paused for a second, taking in the view of Teri's back. Again, I'd seen her in skirts and dresses before, but this was different. The way that dress hung on her body made her ass look amazing, and with the heels she was wearing, her legs looked even better.

Teri and I sat at the same table with a couple of mutual "work friends". Dinner was the normal, boring business event, although with good food and drink, followed by boring speeches from the old man and a couple of other execs. Once the band started playing again and the bar reopened, Teri and I each got a drink and started mingling, both separately and together.

A couple of times, I got dragged out on to the dance floor by some of the women that worked on my floor, and I had to admit a twinge of ... jealousy? ... when I saw Teri out there dancing with another man one time, although I certainly enjoyed watching her dance with Shirley and a couple of other women to the fast songs.

As the party went on, Teri and I both had to laugh that every time one of us would go back to the bar, we would find the other one already there. In the back of my mind, I wondered how much longer she was going to be able to keep her heels on. It already looked like she was a little wobbly, and I was sure that taller heels had to add to the effect.

Toward the end of the night, I went to sit down and found Teri already at the table. She smiled as I sat down, and we talked a little.

After we were sitting for a few minutes, the band started playing a slow song, so I asked Teri if she wanted to dance. "I was wondering if you were going to ask me," she said, taking my hand. "I saw you dancing with some of the other women."

"I was just saving the best for last," I told her as I led her on to the dance floor.

As I took her into my arms and we started to sway, my body started to have an instant reaction to having her body so close to mine, this time intentionally. The way that she felt, pressed up against me, her breasts pushed in to my chest, the way that her lower back felt, even through her dress, her perfume still strong enough to be detected this close, it all added up to my blood rush south to my quickly hardening shaft.

Not wanting to freak her out, and not sure of her feelings and intentions, I quickly pulled my hips back just enough so she hopefully wouldn't feel my cock pressing against her belly.

***** 

When Kurt first called me about meeting him in the lounge for a pre-party drink, I felt like a teenage girl being asked on her first date. My heart was racing while we settled the time and I finished dressing.

I knew that wasn't the case, after all Kurt and I couldn't possibly be that way. I admit, I have been having some really strange feelings when near him. I think it's the fun, flirty manor that Kurt has that makes it comfortable to play back in the office as we do. But getting ready for this party, being in the sexiest dress I have ever worn to a party, helped add some exciting tension to the way I was feeling tonight. .

When I walked into the lounge I was second guessing my choice of dress. I was about to head back up to my room to toss on something simpler yet dressy when his baby blues hit me just as I walked in to the lounge. The look on his face gave all of the affirmation I needed. I walked over and settled into the chair next to him. Kurt was his usual fun flirty self, but now I wasn't sure how to take his compliments.

As the party progressed it was flattering to feel the looks I was getting from co-workers. It was especially exciting to see the look of approval when Kurt would spot me. I found myself looking to see where Kurt was, who was he talking to, etc. 

Several times when I caught sight of him on the dance floor with some of the single and even a few of the married ladies, I'd feel funny pangs that I had to shrug off. I enjoyed looking at him from afar, he looked so yummy in his suit. That is something the soon-to-be ex never wore, no matter the event. I was used to seeing Kurt in job site attire more times than not at the office, and I thought he dressed up very nicely at these events.

I was having such a fun night and now it was winding down, but not before Kurt and I got the dance in that I was hoping for all night. I found myself giving in to some unfamiliar feelings as I let the music flow through my body, weakening in his arms.

All of the drinks were beginning to take their toll on my senses. I felt myself getting too comfortable in Kurt's arms as we danced. I put my arms around him and nuzzled into his neck, inhaling his fragrance. That has always been a weakness for me in men, fragrance.

Not thinking about what I was doing, I got lost in the moment and felt my body pressing harder against him. My body was tingling but I had to resist the sexual urges my hormones were boiling with.

I wanted to whisper in his ear to come to my room, but I didn't want to spoil the night, or even just this dance, with him telling me we were just close friends and we couldn't do that.

I told myself I was just to enjoy the fantasy, that it wasn't the same for him. Plus, I wasn't really a free woman legally yet. Again my damn spouse has found a way to make me mad at another office holiday party, and he wasn't even here this time!

All of a sudden I could feel Kurt putting a little distance in our bodies while the song came to an end.

I looked into his eyes, wanting to say sorry but I couldn't say the words. I wasn't sorry!

Kurt looked at me then said "Someone looks like they had a lot of fun tonight." 

"Yes, this has been the best party I can ever remember," I told him. Maybe it was because there was no pre-party battle to dampen my mood before, and I think the freedom of no one constantly telling me 'let's go' sure made a difference. "But I'm afraid I took advantage of the night. I'm feeling a wee bit tipsy".

Kurt offered me his arm once the song finished and walked me over to our table. 

He heard last call at the bar so he went and got us a night cap. I was in no hurry to leave the party until the last person was gone. That was something else I never had the chance to experience, and I was taking full advantage of being my own person in charge of my decisions this night.

As Kurt was at the bar, I removed my shoes. My feet were hurting, not being used to stilettos like that, and my legs were screaming for some relief. I was massaging my calf and foot when Kurt returned with drinks each for us. 

Smiling at me, he placed them on the table and sat down next to me. His eyes immediately travelled down to my legs, gazing at them for a few seconds.

I suddenly realized how un-lady like I must have seen, sitting with my legs crossed the way that they were. I realized my dress was hiked up my thighs as far as it could go, showing a lot more than I intended, sitting like that. I was glad I bought new panties to go with the dress, because I wasn't sure if they were exposed or not and I didn't want to draw attention to the position if he hadn't noticed.

As I looked around with a slight nervousness, I noticed that the room was now empty except for us. I put my feet back on the floor just as one of the staff came up to us and suggested we call it a night.

With a disappointed look on his face, Kurt stood offered me his hand and helped me to my feet. He took my shoes from my hand and offered me his other arm as we walked out to the hall. I was feeling off balance from the drinks and leaned into him, placing my head on his shoulder as he held me up. Stepping into the hall I felt the cool tile on my tired feet and let out a soft moan, it felt so soothing.

As we stumbled through the lobby, no thanks to my tipsiness, Kurt led us to the the elevators.

*****

As the song ended, I led Teri back to our table. I knew that she had drank more than usual, and it was starting to show. She seemed a little uneasy on her feet, and she was starting to slur her words. She even admitted to being, as she put it, "a little bit tipsy."

Once she was settled, I went to the bar to get us one more round. As I came back, I saw her rubbing her feet and lower legs. Her dress had ridden up on her legs, showing a lot of her thighs. From the vantage point that I had, I could almost see her panties.

As much as I wanted to see more of her, I didn't want to scare her off, so I stopped myself from staring at her. Fortunately, or unfortunately, she soon had her feet back on the floor and was smoothing out her dress.

The next thing that I knew, one of the waiters was coming up to us, telling us that it was time for them to close up. We both quickly finished off our drinks, and I took her shoes from her and held my other hand out. As I helped her to her feet, she leaned in to me, still unsteady on her feet.

After all that I had been drinking, going back to lunch with my crew, I was feeling it a bit myself, but I did my best to maintain myself so I could get her back to her room safely.

I led us out of the room and toward the elevators. I heard her sigh as we walked on to the tile floor, and that immediately got me wondering what kind of sounds I might be able to get from her in more intimate settings.

I led Teri on to the elevator and pressed the button for her floor. She leaned against the back wall and sighed, louder this time. As I looked at her, leaning, looking more beautiful that I had ever seen her, I wanted to take her in my arms and kiss her. I wanted to kiss her long and hard as my hands held her tight.

"Thank you so much," she said softly. "I had such a wonderful time tonight."

"It was my pleasure," I replied. 

"Did you enjoy yourself?" she asked, looking worried.

"How could I not?" I told her. "Good food, top shelf booze, and I don't even have to drive home."

"Top that all off with the fact that I got to spend most of the night with the most beautiful woman there, and the night couldn't get much better."

Teri looked at me for a second and smiled. She then looked down, blushing slightly. "Thank you," she said softly. 

"Thank YOU," I responded. 

Just as I was about to take her in my arms, the elevator dinged and the doors opened on to her floor. She told me her room number and I gave her my arm again as I walked her to her door.

As we reached her door, Teri started looking for her key card. "I'm sorry," she said as she fumbled through her little purse. "I probably should have looked for this earlier."

"No worries," I replied, laughing softly as I looked her body up and down again as I continued holding her up.

Finally, she found her card and pulled it out of her purse. Sighing again, she turned and tried to slide the key card into the slot. I watched as she kept trying to get her door open, either missing the slot, or putting the card in wrong.

After a few tries, she dropped the card and I bent down and picked it up. Giggling, she took the card back from me and tried to get it to work again.

"Here, let me help you," I told her. I stepped behind her and held her hand as I turned the card the correct way and started to slide it in the slot. Teri leaned back against me and sighed softly as I held her. 

The feel of her body pressed against me like that, combined with the alcohol that I had consumed, soon had my blood rushing south again, and it was seconds before I felt my hardening cock pushing against her ass. 

Teri moaned softly, and I swear that I felt her press her ass back against me just as I got the lock to open. I opened the door and led her in. I helped her toward her bed and dropped her shoes on the floor. As I turned, she was leaning against the wall, looking at me.

"Are you ok?" I asked before I left.

"Yes, I'm fine," she replied, smiling.

"Good." I smiled back at her and turned toward the door. 




Second Chances



"Thank you again," she said, reaching her arms out to me. Not being a fool, I stepped to her and she hugged me tightly.

I felt her sigh again, and my shaft started filling up once more. I leaned back and our eyes met for a second, before her eyes closed and her head tilted. I leaned in, and our lips met.

Teri whimpered softly and pulled me in closer. By now, my cock was as hard as it had ever been, and I knew that she had to feel it pressing against her belly. 

Her hands started sliding up and down my back, and I slid one hand down hers. Soon, it was cupping her firm ass cheek, and I pulled her in closer as I pressed harder against her.

Teri moaned softly, pulling my head in even closer as I squeezed her ass. Suddenly, she pushed me back.

"Kurt, I'm so sorry," she said, her hands on my chest, trying to hold me back. "I ... I can't."

*****

My eyes began to swell with tears, my body was screaming at me to enjoy the pleasures that were at hand, but my mind was saying not like this, not now.

I buried my face in Kurt's chest. I couldn't look him in the eyes. He must be mad at me now for sure for kissing him like that and then stopping. I could feel the hold his arms had on me slowing falling away.

He drew his hand up to my chin and lifted my head to look him in the eyes. My tears were flowing, I was so confused. I took a shaky breath and try to talk. 

"Kurt, I ... I'm sorry! I can't do this. I want to, but I just can't. Not tonight. Not until I'm divorced. I'm sorry. Please forgive me. I need time to think about what's happening."

As I was saying this he leaned his face in and kissed my forehead. He placed a finger to my lips and said, "Good night, Teri" and turned to walk out of my room. The next thing I heard through my sobbing was the door shutting.

I flopped onto my bed, curled up, and cried myself to sleep.

I was awakened the next morning by the sunlight pouring in the window. I sat up and winced as my head throbbed when I lifted it off the pillow. Still in my dress, I looked around the room, getting my bearings, forgetting for a moment where I was.

I dragged myself to the bathroom to splash some water on my face. Finally, I looked in the mirror. My eyes were all puffy, hair all over the place and the smell of Kurt's cologne on my skin still. Oh my god. Kurt... I stared blankly into the mirror.

My thoughts were all over the place. What happened last night? How did it get so hot? Was it the drinks or was it real feelings? What have I done? How did those wonderful, lovely urges get so strong, so fast, and so easy? What's happening?

Man he can kiss! I can still feel the way his tongue danced with mine. The way I felt when he pulled me close to him. The way his chest heaved with passion from the heat of the kisses. The softness of his hair as my fingers ran thru the back of his head. How my legs went weak in the knees. It had my panties getting very moist. I could feel a new sensation that I thought was dead. The stronger that sensation between my thighs got the deeper I could feel the kiss get.

I could feel his cock getting harder and harder against my lower belly as we held each other tight, the eagerness from his hips pushing against mine with lusting pressure. It had me wanting him ever so badly. I just wanted to run my hand down his front to feel that bulge.

Totally the whole package, how I want to feel when kissed in my dreams. Never being kissed quite like that, even by my soon-to-be-ex. This kiss had a different feel to it. But what exactly? Was he just wanting to get lucky, or was he having the same battle in his head today? How could it be this way?

How will I ever face Kurt after this? My stomach churned with the thoughts of Kurt being upset with me, being what might be, in his opinion, nothing but a tease. How will I be able to work so closely with him without thinking of that kiss, thinking about how easy it was for my body to burst with such desires, even worse, how I stopped him cold?

I turned on the shower and slipped out of my dress. I stepped into the soft stream of warm water, hoping that would help my head clear up some. As the water pelted over my face, I went over the night's events. How wonderful I felt every time I caught Kurt looking at me across the room. The feelings that went thru me on that dance. Everything was so terrific. What would this morning be like if I had let him stay? Would he be in this shower with me right now? OH TERI! WHAT DID YOU DO??

After the fight with myself in the shower I got ready. I gathered my things and sat on my bed. I looked at my cell phone sitting on the side table to see if Kurt tried to check on me, but nothing. I contemplated calling him to see if he was ok, but I was afraid, ashamed of what I had done, or didn't do more like it. What's wrong with me? All the fantasies I have of this man, on a great night, it all could have been ideal, like a dream come true, but NO I had to get scared and stop him! 

I walked out into the hall towards the elevators. Every door I passed gave me a deep pang in my stomach, not knowing if one of the rooms I was passing was Kurt's, and if he'd be stepping out and see me. What would his reaction be?

The elevator doors opened. It was empty. I had hoped maybe Kurt was even on a different floor above me and was on this car going down. Maybe that would give me a chance to try talking to him, but no luck. I stepped in and for only being on the 5th floor, the ride down seemed like I was coming down from the 50th floor, it felt that long. The door dinged as it came to a stop at the main lobby, the door opened, and before stepping out I looked around to see if Kurt might be in the lobby, leaving too. No sight of him.

I thought maybe after my pushing him away last night that he could be in the bar. I peered in as I past, but no Kurt. I started thinking the worst. Maybe he found a girl last night when he left me and could be with her doing what he wanted to do with me. With those hard thoughts starting to cloud my mind and not wanting to know if that was true or not, I rushed out of the lobby and had the valet get my car so I could go home.

***** 

"What just happened?" I asked myself as I pressed the call button for the elevator. 

When I was in Teri's room, I had a hard-on you could tie an ocean liner to, and now I was standing in the elevator with a dick afraid to peek its head out. Not knowing what to think, I went to my room and went to bed. 

The next morning, I woke up early as usual, showered, and left. I wanted to avoid Teri if at all possible. I really didn't know what I could, or would, say to her. Having to work with her, especially with her practically moved in to my office, was going to be rough. Fortunately, I had saved enough vacation days to be off of work until after the holidays.

What were we going to say to each other? We couldn't just ignore it, like nothing ever happened. If we just worked for the same company, it wouldn't be as bad. We could avoid each other as much as possible, but we worked TOGETHER, leading the same project, in the same office for at least half the day!

As luck would have it, be it good or bad, Teri and I didn't interact the first two days after we were both back. Between visiting the job sites and phone calls, I was too busy for anything else.

Finally though, just before lunch on Wednesday, Teri walked in to my office to talk about our project. I told her that after visiting the job, if the pace kept up, we would be able to turn it over to the customer by Memorial Day, almost a month ahead of schedule. Teri told me that things were running very smoothly on her end, also.

After a few minutes of talking business, Teri finally brought it up. "We need to talk," she said softly.

"Yeah, I guess we do," I replied.

"Can I close the door?" she asked.

"Of course."

I watched her body move as she closed the door, the profile view of her big breasts, her ass, the great view of her legs peeking out from under her dress, and I felt my blood start to migrate as I wondered what could have been. 

"I'm sorry," she started. "I don't know what happened. I guess I just freaked out and froze up at the last second."

I nodded and stayed silent for a minute as Teri looked at me. I couldn't tell if she didn't know how to go on, or if she was waiting for me to say something, so I spoke up.

"I suppose that I should apologize too," I said, "but I can't. I am sorry if it seemed like I was taking advantage of the fact that you were drunk, but I'm not sorry that I kissed you."

"That was, hands down, one of the best, one of the most exciting, sensual kisses that I've ever had."

"Yes, it was," she relied softly, looking down at the floor.

"I don't know what's going on in that beautiful head of yours, but I think you know where I stand," I continued.

Teri just nodded, still looking down.

"Teri, look at me please," I told her.

Slowly, she raised her head and our eyes met. I could see that her eyes were watery, and I didn't need her crying in my office where everybody could see her.

"Don't cry," I told her. "Everything will be alright."

She nodded again, and then straightened up her shoulders.

"Ok. I need to make some calls," she said as she gathered her papers.

"Look," she said, stopping before she opened the door, "you need to know, it really isn't you. As we were kissing, I heard a little voice in my head tell me, 'You're still married.' I don't know why, but that stopped me."

"Ok."

"Please, don't be mad at me."

"I'm not. Really," I told her.

"Can I ask a favor?" I asked just as her hand reached the door knob.

"Sure," she replied.

"Give me another shot when you finally officially get rid of that idiot."

***** 

"I would really love that Kurt, Thank You!"

After I said those words I felt a huge relief come over me and the stress I was causing myself vanished.

Kurt was a true friend and a gentleman. I only hoped that I never disappointed him again in the future.

Working that close with him finishing up this project got a lot easier after that conversation. The work atmosphere did stay strictly office appropriate, no flirting on his part or mine. But it was much more comfortable to be in his office now. 

Once more I found myself able to peer over at him, look at his face, finding my eyes drawn to his lips when he was busy and not noticing me staring. I was still struggling with those deep longing feelings of wanting to feel my lips on his again. It wasn't easy to feel the warmth that grew between my thighs on those occasions and I would have to make excuses to leave the office to cool off.

The Friday night after-work gatherings had either me or Kurt there but never the two together. It seemed like one of us always found a reason we couldn't make it. I didn't trust myself around alcohol and Kurt now that we are back to co-working friends again.

Now that Kurt and I cleared the tension between us my body was reacting to the thoughts I was having. 

At night, alone in my condo, I had a lot of thoughts flowing through my head. I found myself having fantasies again about that Christmas party night.

I was sitting on my bed, fresh from the shower wrapped in my towel, rubbing my body oil over my legs. That bought back the memory of me rubbing my tired, sore legs at the Christmas party and seeing the look in Kurt's eyes peering up from my foot to my upper thigh. The heat that ran thru me just from his eyes that night surprised me.

As I was thinking of that feeling, I noticed that my oil soaked hand was running up my leg as if it was Kurt's eyes, very slowly, not missing an inch of skin from my toes all the way up to my inner thigh. I stopped myself for a moment when I felt the warmth radiating from my hot pussy.

Enjoying the fresh sensation, I crawled into my bed. I went into my night table and got out my mini vibe. Then, I took my body oil and squeezed a nice trickle at the top of my trimmed mound. With my eyes closed I imagined that slow, warm, wet feeling as the oil rolled over my clit, down between my lips, and pooled at my steamy entrance. 

Kurt's kisses were going down my body. Arching my back some I took my vibe and placed it teasingly against the puffy skin surrounding my lips. I was thinking about how Kurt would most likely be a bad, tormenting tease when pleasuring his woman based on the way he flirts, and the way that tongue flitted in and around my mouth when we kissed. 

Slowly I moved the vibe up and down between my lips from the clit to my hot entrance, circling up and down, breathing, gasping with hard jolts of sensitivity running thru me every time the vibe brushed along my clit. My hips were rocking up n down...

I took the vibe and pressed it slightly into my swelling hole and let my thumb circle my clit. It wasn't long before I had my eyes rolling, my back stiffened and a feeling like a gushing river flowing over my hand. 

As my body came down from its big "O", as my eyes opened I imagined seeing Kurt's smiling wet face looking at me, very pleased with what he had done. I so desperately want to experience the way Kurt would make love, wanting to feel the huge bulge that was pressed between us while we were kissing. Thinking of his bulge, my oily hands were squeezing my 38 DDs like I would if I had Kurt's manhood in my hand. 

I rolled my nipples in my fingers as I imagine it was the fat tip to his cock. My moans being his moans, my other hand slid down my tummy back between my legs. My fingertip teased my swollen clit. Still super sensitive, it jolts me to touch it. I pressed my finger tip against my clit, holding it there as my hips rocked. My head pressed hard against the pillow as I rolled into another deep orgasm, moaning and gasping, my thighs shaking, I felt another gushing wave of cum pouring from me.

When I woke up the next morning, I was laying naked, uncovered, with the wet towel under me. My vibe was still buzzing next to me, and I was feeling like I had run a marathon in my sleep. That was the first orgasm I had given myself that deeply in many months. I only hope that's how it could feel with Kurt.

My fantasies were the only thing keeping me sane. Dreaming of the kiss, the touch of his hands on my body, the look in his baby blues, would put me to sleep with the warmest feelings every night now.

*****

The next couple of months were interesting, to say the least. After out talk, things between Teri and I cooled down considerably. I pretty much gave up any thoughts of a romantic, or even just a sexual, relationship with her, so I concentrated on the project.

A couple of time while she was working in my office, I thought I caught her looking at me, but I ignored it. If anything was going to happen between us, she was going to have to make the move. 

It seemed like we were rarely, if ever, at the bar for the usual Friday get-togethers, and I didn't know what to think of that. I will admit, there was more than one night that ended with my hard cock in my hand as I thought about her, what her body looked like, how her lips would feel wrapped around my hard shaft, how she would taste on my tongue, how her body would react as I thrust my cock in and out of her...

Eventually though, our project wrapped up. Friday morning of Memorial Day weekend, Teri, the old man, and I made a final walk-through with our client. Teri wasn't at work the day before, and I was a little worried that she might miss the whole thing. After all, she put as much work as anybody into making this all work so smoothly.

The old man, who rarely came out to see the jobs anymore, was very impressed at the work that was done, and I spent a bit of time explaining how valuable Teri had been handling all of the minute details.

As we were walking out after we were done, I asked Teri to excuse the old man and I, and I pulled him aside to talk to him. A couple of minutes later, he said his good-byes, leaving Teri and I outside. I told her that we were going to an end-of-the-job celebration at a bar a block away with the crew, and she immediately tried coming up with an excuse not to go.

"C'mon," I told her. "I've already cleared it with the old man. You're free from work until Tuesday. You deserve this as much as anybody."

"Besides," I continued, "I've got a surprise for you, and I'm not going to tell you unless you join us."

She thought about it for a few seconds, and then finally agreed, telling me that she was only staying for a couple of drinks. "That's perfect," she told me. "I can just walk home from there!"

She then surprised me by telling me that her condo was only a couple of blocks away from the bar.

*****

Friday morning came, the final day of the big project that Kurt and I were working on.

Oddly enough the project is only a few blocks away from my condo, so I decided to walk to the final inspection to sign off on it with Kurt and the big boss.

As I walked down the sidewalk I wasn't sure how I felt about this. It was a bittersweet day, happy and sad all in one. This meant I would be working back in my cubicle and not directly with Kurt, the two of us alone in his office.

As I turned the corner I saw Kurt and the big boss looking at their watches waiting on me. My thoughts must have had my feet moving slower than I thought. I was almost late.

As I approached I gave my good mornings and the guys motioned me to walk ahead of them as we entered the building.

The boss was impressed and made a few notes as Kurt was pointing out certain features we had improved on, giving me a lot more credit than need be. He even pointed out the error I had caught on the plans that saved the company a lot of money if it had gone unnoticed.

When everything was done he shook both our hands, congratulated us on a job well done, and said his good byes. Kurt asked me to wait a minute while he talked to the boss. They had a few words together and then the boss took off as Kurt walked back over to me smiling. I hadn't seen him smile since the Christmas party and it looked good seeing him smile about something even if it was just over a work project.

Kurt had asked me to join the celebration at the bar just down the street. I tried to find an excuse but he wasn't buying it so I had to give in and say yes. 

We walked down the street to the bar, talking shop talk mostly, and he also asked how I was doing in my own place and if it was all unpacked. Then I told him where I was living, just a few blocks from the bar, and that I had walked to the inspection. That was why I was almost late. He looked at me and said, "I wondered where you parked your car. I guess that explains it."

As we walked into the bar the crew was already there and drinking, and had also ordered up some pizzas. Kurt introduced me to everyone, telling them that I was "the brains of the operation." 

Of course, because we were the last to arrive the only two chairs left at the table for us were side by side. I thought to myself that I hadn't sat this close to Kurt outside of work since the Christmas party, and here we are with drinks, next to each other at a party once again. I would have to really put on the self-control radar to get thru this. I ordered my safe drink, wine, because I knew how I handled that.

I caught myself watching Kurt enjoying himself as he laughed along with the guys. I sat back sipped my wine and lost my thoughts in looking at him in a different way.

I asked myself if this was the day that I should break my news to Kurt.

Kurt caught me looking at him and he gave me a small grin. I felt my face flush, like a kid getting caught with their hand in the cookie jar. I simply raised my glass of wine to him in a silent toasting motion and took a sip to cover myself being caught. He did the same in return with his beer.




Second Chances



Then I remembered what he said to coax me here and I couldn't imagine what his big surprise was.

I finally got the nerve up to lean into him. His cologne filled my nostrils with memories, and I asked him, "So, what's your big surprise?"

*****

When we walked in to the bar a couple of minutes later, I introduced Teri to the crew and immediately ordered more drinks for everyone. Once I knew that she was set, I walked around and handed out everyone's Christmas bonuses. A couple of times, as I was walking around, I saw her watching me out of the corner of my eye.

I was glad not only that she came along, but that she seemed to be getting along with everyone, too. I still didn't know what was going through her mind as far as her personal life, but I was pretty sure that it didn't include me. Other than catching her looking at me when she thought I couldn't see her, I was getting nothing from her.

The waitress brought out the next round of pizzas so I sat back down next to Teri and took a couple of pieces. We talked while we ate, mostly me giving her stories about some of the crew and other assorted small talk. 

We had been there a couple of hours and some of the crew was starting to filter out to get a head start on the long holiday weekend when she leaned in and placed her hand on my upper arm. "So, what's your big surprise?" she asked me softly. 

I finished my beer and caught the waitress's eye again, ordering one for me and a wine for Teri, before I answered her.

"Ok, you know that John Jameson is retiring next week?" I asked her, referring to the manager in the office next to mine.

"Yeah, I heard," she replied. "What about it?"

"Well, I talked to the old man and convinced him to give you the office."

"What?" she exclaimed. "You're kidding me! Why? How?"

"Why? How?" I repeated. "Because you deserve it. Hell, if we keep working together on projects like this one, which the old man seems to think is going to happen, then you're going to need a real office."

"Oh my god! Wow! Thank you! I was starting to think I was stuck in that cubicle for the rest of my life!"

"Don't thank me," I replied. "I told you, you deserve it. Obviously, the old man realized it too."

Teri smiled at me and took a drink of her wine. "Maybe, but he never would have given that office to me without you talking to him. Thank you."

I lifted my glass to her and we toasted her new work home. A few minutes later she gulped down her wine, leaned in closer, and said, "I have a surprise for you, too." 

*****

"I want to tell you why I wasn't at work yesterday. If you want to walk me home, I can tell you as we walk."

"Ok. You've had a couple, and I don't want you walking home alone," he told me.

"You know, I am still surprised that you got me that office next to yours. When I woke up this morning I honestly thought I wouldn't get the chance to work on your team anymore. I am happy that isn't true. Hey, isn't this your truck?" 

"Yes, it is why?"

"Do you want to drive the rest of the way so you're not walking back here after I am home?

"Ok, sure. Hop in." 

Once in the parking lot of my condo complex, I invited Kurt in to see my new home.

"Are you sure you want me to come in?" Kurt asked questioningly. 

I said, "Well that's the only way you are going to hear about my surprise." 

"Oh, you mean the invite in isn't the surprise?" 

I shoved at his shoulder and said, "No silly. Even though yes, inviting you in is a surprise in itself, I have another one to tell you."

I gave Kurt the grand tour, offered him a beer and we sat out on my balcony enjoying the view of the sunset.

Looking over at me he said, "So, when are you going to tell me the other surprise?"

"Here." I reached into my pocket pulled out a sheet of paper and handed it to him. "This is why I wasn't at work yesterday. I'm hoping that now the divorce is officially final, you might give me another chance at one of your kisses. I think I'm ready to handle it better than last time." 

"That is if you want to. If not I understand and am ok with just being a close friend."

*****

"Don't tease me like that, Teri," I replied, shocked.

Yeah, that was quite a surprise. Teri hadn't said anything about her divorce, or even her now ex, in a long time. I had started to think that maybe she was getting back together with him. After the Christmas party, I certainly didn't think that I would ever have another chance with her.

I thought that it was a little odd that she asked me to drive to her place, as she knew that I didn't mind a walk of only a couple of blocks. That part if town didn't have parking meters yet, at least where I was parked, so I didn't have to worry about that...

I could tell by her silence on the short drive over, and by how she acted as she showed me her condo, that something was on her mind

I'd had more to drink than she had, having done a couple of shots of Jameson with some of the guys from the crew, I was as horny as I could ever remember being, and Teri was looking very good in her light summer dress. I was really not in the mood to get myself started, only to be shut down cold again.

"I honestly don't know if I can take a repeat of last time."

*****

"I don't blame you, Kurt. I have to admit all these crazy new feelings messing with my emotions is quite a lot to deal with, but if you're feeling the same way I'm feeling I am really hoping that we can work this out together now that my one obstacle is cleared."

With that said, I stood and walked over to his chair, rested my hands on the arms of his chair, looked him in the eyes with a look of desire and asked, "Yes or no to the kiss? After all, we are celebrating today aren't we?"

*****

Leaning over in front of me the way she was, it was impossible for me not to look down the front of her dress. Her full breasts, although still held back by her bra, were swinging down as she grasped the arm rests.

As much as I wanted to reach up and cup her breasts, squeezing them and feeling their heft while I kissed her, I was still a bit gun shy after the last time. Finally though, after looking her in the eyes for a couple more seconds, I reached my hands up, grasped the collar of her dress, and pulled her to me.

Our lips met, softly pressing against each other at first, and we kissed again for the first time in months. Our mouths both opened, and our tongues were soon dancing with each other as the kiss heated up.

Trying to kiss while I was seated and she was standing in front of me was a bit uncomfortable, so after a few seconds I gently pushed her back. As Teri looked at me confused, I stood, placed my hands on her hips, and directed her toward her balcony railing.

Once her back was against the railing, I stepped in and kissed her, harder this time. Teri whimpered softly as our bodies pressed against each other, our hands slowly gliding and grasping.

*****

Feeling Kurt's excitement pressed against me took me back to the kiss in my room at the Christmas party. I was nervous and aroused all at once. This kiss was having the same effect on me. The only difference was this time I am nervous about giving myself to him with this kiss. I had not kissed nor been with any other man, ever, except my ex.

Noticing my body giving in, I could feel my hips pressing against his. My arms wrapped around his neck, and I told myself that this was a good thing happening. It was not a fantasy, it was is a dream coming true.

My head was swirling with hot thoughts. I gasped as I felt his hands start to move slowly down my back to my ass, cupping it and drawing me in with a thrust. I tossed my head back, breaking our kiss so I could catch my breath. 

He took his kisses from my mouth to my neck as I did this. He slowly moved his lips to my collar bone, dragging his tongue along my skin as well. He nuzzled his face right between my cleavage as his strong hands held my arched back. The feel of his warm breath caressing my heaving breasts was driving me insane.

All I could do was sigh in deep gasps. The sensations running thru me were like a lit fuse heading toward the dynamite for the finale explosion.

*****

Teri moaned into my mouth as we kissed, holding me and pulling me in tightly. I could feel her press her hips into me, pushing her belly against my ever-growing bulge. 

As I cupped her soft, full ass cheeks and pulled her toward me sharply, Teri gasped and bent her neck back, her grip on me tightening even more. Seeing her neck exposed like that, I immediately started kissing along her jawline, down her neck, across her collarbone, and followed the neckline of her dress.

Bending down slightly, I continued gliding my lips across her exposed skin, kissing and licking the sensitive skin along the tops of her heaving breasts.

Teri's moans and gasps increased as I slid one hand up her back to the top of her dress. I quickly found the zipper and slowly lowered it until it stopped halfway down her back. I brought my lips back up to hers, and we kissed again as I slowly slid the back of her dress open, exposing her skin to the cool late afternoon air.

My cock was harder than I could remember in years, pressing into her as Teri whimpered softly and tightened her arms around me. She then broke off our kiss, pulling her head back slightly as she looked deep into my eyes. 

*****

"Kurt wait, stop..."

Kurt looked at me with a scowl on his face said, "Not again!"

I grabbed him close and said, "Hold on. Wait, I mean not out here on the balcony. Let's not have me be the talk of the complex as the new loose girl in the building, ok? That's what I meant by wait."

"Let's go inside. I think we gave the neighbors enough of a show. We can give them something to talk about another time," I said laughingly.

Kurt gave a huge sigh of relief and swooped me up in his arms. I let out a squeal as he carried me inside and asked where I wanted to be put down. I simply said, "The room at the end of the hall."

As he carried me down the hall to my bedroom I nibbled at his neck and ear. When we got to the door way of my room Kurt set me down and wrapped his arms around me. 

Drawing me in tight, he looked me in my eyes, pressed me against the door jam, and said, "Once I step through this doorway with you there is no going back. Are you sure you're ready for this?"

I lifted my lips to his, gave him a soft passionate kiss and took his hands in mine as I walked him through my door. Once he was fully in my room I took a deep breath and then said in a nervous voice, "I do have to tell you, I have only slept with one man. You will be my second and I am very nervous, to be totally honest with you. But all these years of working with you and having the fantasies of you, I am more than ready now to share my desires with you, if you still want to, knowing this."

Not wanting to give Kurt any chance to refuse me, and to show him that I was serious, I immediately took my hand while peering into his eyes and began to run my fingertips over his jeans along his hardness. 

As my fingers went on their journey tracing along his manhood I was in awe over what I was feeling. The bulge was very hard, wide and long. 'This can't be his cock,' I was telling myself.

Not wanting to actually look, I took my palm and gripped his fullness thru the jeans, trying to make sure I was indeed feeling the biggest, hardest cock that I could ever imagine a man could have. 

I took his hand in my other hand and placed it on my breast. I needed, wanted to finally feel his touch on my skin. When his finger cupped my full breast every feeling I imagined was starting to burst to reality. There was no stopping now. I had to feel the heat of Kurt's naked body tangled with mine.

*****

"Holy crap," I thought to myself, "this is actually going to happen!" Teri had surprised me when she told me that her ex was the only man she'd been with until tonight. Now I really didn't know what to expect, as far as experience was concerned.

Teri continued squeezing my hard shaft, looking surprised at the size. I raised my other hand and started squeezing her other breast as I felt her nipples hardening.

She moaned loudly and closed her eyes, squeezing my cock a little harder, when I began pinching her stiff nipples.

After a few seconds, I cupped her breasts with both of my hands and squeezed them as I stepped up to her. I then slid my hands behind her and leaned in to kiss her. Teri released my bulge and wrapped her arms around me as we kissed and I slid my hands up the bare skin on her back.

Shivering slightly under the light touch of my fingertips, Teri broke our kiss and lay her head on my shoulder as she moaned again and held me closer. 

I turned my head and softly kissed her neck, my hands sliding her dress open. Teri gasped once more at the feel of her skin being exposed and I stepped back as I slid the dress off of her shoulders.

I took another half-step back as Teri's dress started sliding down her body, and I watched as she caught it just before her bra was exposed.

My eyes stayed locked on to her chest for a couple of seconds before they slowly traveled up her body, until our eyes locked again.

Holding her dress up, Teri looked at me questioningly. I said nothing. I just smiled and slowly nodded my head. Teri smiled back and let her dress fall, pooling around her feet.

My eyes slowly went back down her body, taking it in. Her body shined, glowing in her excitement. She was wearing a white strapless bra and what looked like a matching lacy thong, which paired well with her skin tone.

"Wow!" I said softly as my eyes traveled up and down her body, concentrating on her bra holding back her huge tits and her panties covering her mound. "You look beautiful!"

*****

Blushing, with the urge to want to cover up, I stood there thinking that it was good that I put on the nicer of my under garments today.

Talking to myself, I said, "Ok Teri, it's now or never. Finish what Kurt started." 

As I stared at Kurt checking out my semi nakedness I caught his eyes with mine. I took 3 steps back from him reached behind my back and unhooked my bra. Ever so slowly, I lowered it, watching as his eyes widened like he was watching a gift being opened. The bra fell to the floor and my arms crossed over my breasts covering them. I felt my face turning red as I looked to the floor slightly embarrassed.

The next thing I remember is Kurt's hands on my arms, he kissed me and lowered my arms exposing my full DD's. He stepped back and looked at them, smiling, before leaning in and kissing them.

All I could hear was the pounding of my heart and my breath echoing in my head. I was shaking as I felt Kurt's fingers tracing just under the front of the waistband of my thong. His fingertips grazed slowly past my clit and through her lips feeling her wetness. In a few moments he will be seeing me totally naked.

He then started to lower my panties. My knees were feeling weak with excitable nerves. I could feel the moisture between my thighs growing. I was now standing with my panties around my ankles, totally naked. He leaned down and lightly drew his tongue over the top of my mound and placed his open mouth over my clit, giving it a hard suck. I let out a loud moan, my knees shook. I grabbed his shoulders to pull him up. I relaxed when Kurt's passionate smile met my eyes.

As I stood there motionless I watched Kurt stand, and then I reached down and started opening his jeans. My eyes wandered down his chest to watch as he removed his jeans and stood there with a bulging pair of boxer briefs covering his hardness. The tightness of the briefs outlined perfectly his full erection and at the very tip was a wet spot forming from his arousal.

"Would you like to unwrap your present?"

Taking a sharp, gasping breath I nodded yes and stepped closer. I placed my fingers under the waist band and slowly started lowering them. As I got to his erection I stretched the waist band to release that hard cock and it sprang upright. 

I found myself lowering to my knees as I drew his briefs down to his ankles, not taking my eyes off of it. I was face to cock on my knees and I could not stop myself from staring at the beautiful sight in front of me. I bought my hand up to take his flesh in my grasp. It was so thick my hand could barely close around it.

My ex was abnormally small compared to what I was looking at. I'd never seen a cock looking as hot as Kurt's.

*****

Teri's body was everything that I had expected. Soft, curvy, and so far very responsive. Her big tits had just the right amount of sag to them, especially considering their size, and she had a light blonde, downy covering of hair on her pussy. 

The scent that I caught as I pulled her panties down enticed me, and I just had to get a quick taste. I was definitely not disappointed! From the way that her knees buckled when I slid my tongue up her slit, though, I knew that I would need to have her laying down when I really went down on her.

After I had her naked, I stood and started taking the rest of my clothes off. From the hungry look that Teri was giving me, I thought that I would test her and asked if she wanted to finish undressing me. Happily, she did not hesitate, and was now on her knees, slowly stroking my thick, hard shaft, her eyes locked on the head of my cock.

Much to my enjoyment, she then slowly brought her face in closer, and I soon felt her tongue sliding along the length of my pole. 

"Oh yeah!" I moaned in encouragement.

Teri then started concentrating on the head, sliding and flicking her tongue all around the bulbous knob. Seconds later, as I watched, she wrapped her lips around my cock and slowly started sliding them down.

"Oh damn!" I moaned louder. "Nice!"

That seemed to egg her on, as she then started bobbing her head up and down my shaft. It was quite a beautiful sight, the way her hair framed her face, and her soft lips were stretched around me.

For someone that had only been with one other man, and from what she had told me in the past he was not very adventurous or giving in bed, Teri had amazing oral skills!

I noticed that she was moving her hair out of her face a lot, so I reached down and took as much in my hand as I could, which also gave me a better view of what she was doing. I had to smile at her when I saw her look up at me, her mouth full of my cock.

As our eyes were locked on each other's, Teri slowly slid her lips all the way down the length of my cock, until her nose was almost touching me!

"Oh shit!" I exclaimed as I felt the tip of my cock pressing against the back of her throat. "No one has ever been able to do that!"

Teri was obviously very proud of herself, as she began bobbing her head up and down even faster, constantly swallowing my pole.

With all of the talent and enthusiasm that Teri was showing, it didn't take long before I knew that I was reaching the point of no return. "Oh shit, baby. You keep that up and you're gonna make me cum!" I warned her.

***** 

Kurt's cock was such a mouth full. That was something that I was not use to, but was enjoying it immensely.

As I was sliding him in and out of my mouth I start thinking about how I was going to handle his thickness in my pussy. How blissful his throbbing was going to feel pounding against my sensitive, under-used walls.

Soon, he was telling me he isn't going to last very long if I kept it up. I slowly drew my lips to his tip and pulled him from my mouth with a 'pop' from sucking hard as I drew him out.

I gently grasped his balls in my hand, feeling how tight they were from being so ready to empty. Wanting to enjoy his hardness a little longer I stood up and drew my hand from his balls to his cock and guided him toward my bed as I walked backwards. 




Second Chances



When the back of my knees hit the mattress I leaned back on the bed. I wanted to feel Kurt's hot flesh pressed hard onto me. He crawled onto the bed and used his knees to push my thighs wide open, and he crawled up between my legs.

*****

Teri stopped sucking my cock minutes before she made me cum, making me wonder if she didn't think that I could go again, or if she didn't swallow. I would definitely have to find out which soon.

The way that she pulled me down on top of her, I knew what she wanted, but I wasn't quite ready for that yet. Instead, I lightly lay my body on hers and kissed her, pressing my body against hers and moving my hips so my cock slid through her wetness.

Teri moaned and started moving her hips, trying to line my head up with her wet opening but I kept back just far enough to deny her. I straightened my arms, raising my chest off of hers and breaking our kiss, and slowly started kissing my way down her neck and chest.

Teri breath was getting heavier as my lips made their way to her tits, and she gasped the first time I flicked my tongue across her stiff nipple. I then leaned down and wrapped my lips around her nipple, sucking it in to my mouth. Teri moaned loudly, bringing a hand to my head.

After a couple of minutes I switched sides, giving her other nipple the same attention while gently pinching the wet nipple that I just left. I then cupped both of her big tits and pushed them together until her nipples were almost touching.

Teri gasped and arched her back, pushing her tits up at me as she held my head a little harder when I pushed her tits together a little more and started sucking on both of her nipples, sliding my tongue across both tips at the same time.

A couple of minutes later, I continued traveling down her body, kissing my way across her belly until I reached the top of her mound. I slid further down, lightly kissing around the edges of her sparsely haired pussy, until I was at the edge of her bed.

I stood at the side of her bed and hooked my arms under her knees. Lifting her legs, I then sharply pulled her toward me until her ass was at the edge of the mattress and my hard cock was resting on her stomach. 

Holding her legs up, I knelt on the floor and leaned my face in. I waited for a second, looking closely at Teri's wet pussy. Already slick with her excitement, her lips were spread, creating a beautiful pink butterfly. I heard her gasp and start to mumble something, but that was quickly replaced by a load moan as I slowly dragged my tongue up her wet slit, from her dripping pussy up to her stiff clit, standing out looking for attention.

*****

I'm not sure what was happening to my body, but it felt like it was on a roller coaster of sensations it had never felt before. It's hard to explain, but it felt like Kurt enjoyed the tormenting of my sensitive areas with his tongue instead of just doing the deed because he thought he had to. What a marvelous difference. 

The way Kurt lightly fluttered his tongue and warm breath against my hard clit was making my thighs shake like Jello. I couldn't resist his passionate assault if I tried. I was limp and under his spell. I begged for him to ease up, asking for a breather as he peered up at me from between my legs with a devilish smile

As I lay there, my body quivered from the feel of Kurt's pleasures to my body. All I could do was deeply sigh. He had me under a spell of uncontrollable sensations being released. It had been so long since my body had felt the warmth of passion and it was exploding with the excitement of each touch, breath, and hot staring peers to my body.

The feel of Kurt's tongue flicking at my clit like a lizard had my legs shaking like Jello.

His face was buried hard between my thighs arousing every inch of my overwhelmed pussy. As he sucked firmly on my engorged clit I could feel the jolts zip through my body like a bolt of lightning. It made my back arch, my eyes roll, and fingers dig into the mattress to get thru the blissful feelings. 

Then he dragged his tongue from my clit downward to settle at her opening. The way he lapped at my opening made his deep breath tickle against my hard, wet clit. His fingers slipped in and out in motion with the flicks of his tongue against my clit. The double sensation sent me closer to wanting to cum.

Kurt seemed to be able to feel when I was ready to cum and he drove me crazy holding it off by switching his assaults on my begging pussy. I couldn't help but whimper with my growing desires to share everything my body could give to Kurt.

He drew his fingers from my wetness and traced them along the puffy lips. He pinched them together and then sucked them. I could feel the throbbing grow even harder. My chest was raising and lowering hard, my head was swirling. There was no stopping my reactions. I ran my fingers thru Kurt's hair grabbing it, trying to pull him back. He ran his tongue between my lips and I loudly panted uncontrollably, hips bucking, begging Kurt to let me cum.

*****

Teri was writhing on the bed, her hips bouncing off of the mattress as I brought her closer to her orgasm. My fingers were sliding in and out of her tight, wet pussy, pressing along the top. 

When I slid my first finger inside her, I was surprised how tight she was. She moaned and gasped, raising her hips as I slid the second finger in, her pussy even tighter. Her juices, flowing freely from her, made it easier to slide my fingers in and out, but she was still very tight. My initial thought was that either her ex was very small, or it had been a long time since she's had sex ... or both.

Her breath was getting heavier, her moans louder, and her hands switched back-and-forth from grabbing my hair to hitting the mattress. First she begged me to stop, to let her catch her breath, and then after a short while, she was begging me to let her cum.

I leaned back in and wrapped my lips around her clit, sucking firmly on it again, as I continued sliding my fingers in and out of her increasingly wetter pussy. Teri grabbed my hair again with one hand, pulling my head in closer, while her other hand was grasping her bed sheet, pulling hard on it.

"Oh yeah, baby! Right there!" she gasped. "Oh gosh! Yes!"

"Ooohhhh! Oohhhhhh! NnnnGGooohhhhh!" she exclaimed when I stopped sucking on her clit and started quickly flicking my tongue at her clit. Her body started to shake and her pussy clamped down on my fingers. 

Teri let out a long, low, loud moan, and suddenly her pussy started to gush, a powerful surge of nectar flowing from her soaking the lower part of my face. Her thighs, which were shaking and hitting the sides of my head, suddenly collapsed, spread wide apart.

"Ooohhhhhhhh!" she moaned softly, a few seconds later. "Holy shit!"

I backed off a bit, kissing around her now soaked mound while I slowly slid my fingers out of her pussy. Teri moaned as her hot, wet hole was suddenly empty, and I reached up, pinching her stiff nipples with my juice-coated fingers.

Teri remained sprawled out on her bed, trying to catch her breath as I stood. Her eyes were closed, her nipples shiny and stiff, and she had a large red splotch between her tits. 

Without a word, I grasped my rock-hard cock and started sliding it up and down her slit, coating it in her juices. If her pussy was that tight on my fingers, I was going to need all the help I could get on my cock.

Once I knew that it was nice and slick, I lined it up with the mouth of her pussy and slowly slid just the head in.

*****

My hands were on my face wiping away the beads of sweat on my forehead, my head pressed hard into the mattress, and I was thinking, "What the fuck just happened!" My insides were screaming from the biggest orgasm I ever had.

Tipping my head up slightly, looking down at Kurt standing at the end of my bed,

I couldn't even say a word. I plopped my head back down, eyes closed and then I felt it. A pressure at the entrance of my pussy. I panic a little, wondering if he will fit in me. I haven't had a cock, or even a toy for that matter, that size in me.

I could feel his fat head entering and my pussy stretched around it the deeper he pressed in. Kurt tried to ease himself in, and my loud, gasping breaths lead to his hips slowly grinding. His hands massaged my legs as he lifted them to his shoulders to relax me. I so wanted to feel his fullness in me.

I concentrated on the touch of Kurt's hands and kisses on my legs, allowing the feel of his touch to flow through me, hoping this will help him enter more easily.

I felt Kurt's other hand down by my clit. His thumb was circling it. My hips arched upward and each time his hardness sank into me more. I could feel my pussy's excitement at being filled with him fully. My wetness was seeping down the crack of my ass and his balls were feeling wet against me when they lightly slapped at my bottom.

As I peered up again at Kurt I saw his eyes were fixed on the site of his cock slowly sinking in and out of me. He assures me that he is almost fully in. I beg him to place the full length of his throbbing shaft fully into me.

"Give it to me!" I told him. "Please!"

Kurt looked up at me and confirmed that he heard me right. I again tell him "Please let me feel all of you in me now!"

With that last plea, Kurt held my thighs firmer against his shoulders and I felt him pull out some, and then, wham, he thrust into me, hitting bottom. I burst out in a louder than normal squeal of surprise to the feeling he just impaled on my tight pussy. 

After a moment, once I was settled down, Kurt said "Oh my god! You feel amazing! So tight! So wet"

*****

"Damn, this girl is tight!" I thought to myself as I slowly slid my cock into her pussy. Teri was panting and breathing hard already, and I was only half way in.

I looked down was took in the sight of her beautiful pussy stretching around my girth, her lips clinging to my shaft as I pulled back. Eventually, I lifted her legs and placed her ankles on my shoulders, giving me a little more leverage.

In an effort to get her to relax a little, I started stroking her clit with my thumb. That caused her to moan louder and start moving her hips again. That hip motion helped my pole slip in further, until I only had a little left to go.

Her pussy was weeping its juices even heavier, and my cock was nicely coated when she told me that she wanted all of me.

"Ohhh!" she moaned, looking at me with begging eyes. "Give it to me! Please!"

I looked down at her naked body, a thin coat of sweat just starting to appear on her chest, when she repeated her plea.

""Please let me feel all of you in me now!" she begged.

I then held on to her legs a little tighter and pulled my hips back a little. I reached down and pinched her nipples, and then thrust my hips forward, burying my cock deep inside her.

"Ohh DAMN!" she exclaimed, her eyes popping wide open.

I stood still for a couple of minutes, letting Teri accommodate my size, and to savor the feel of her tight pussy squeezing my shaft. Finally, I began pulling back, only to plunge forward again. Teri moaned and gasped in appreciation, her hands wrapped around my arms and squeezing them tightly.

"Oh my god," I moaned. "You feel amazing. So tight! So wet!"

Teri just nodded in agreement, squeezing my arms again.

"Now fuck me!" she said, opening her eyes again. "Fuck me good!"

I was surprised, in a pleasant way, to hear Teri talk like that. I rarely ever heard her swear, and don't think that I'd ever heard her say 'fuck' before. That made me think that she was as frustrated and pent up as I was. Maybe I was starting to get her to open up!

I stood still for a second as I looked down at Teri's nude body laid out before me. Her big tits were splayed out across her chest, a light coating of sweat getting heavier, and her ankles resting on my shoulders, her pussy hugging my cock tightly. I immediately flashed back to the Christmas party, and what could have, and indeed should have, been happening since then.

"Yeah," was my only response, as I started slowly sliding my cock in and out of her. 

"Ohhhhyyeeeaaaah!" she moaned softly arching her back and pushing her hips up at me.

Once I thought that she was ready, I held tightly to her legs and started thrusting a little harder and faster.

"Oh yeah!" she gasped, squeezing my arms again. "Oh geez!" A couple of minutes later, I stopped, and then slid her legs down until they were hooked over my arms. I spread her legs open a little wider and looked down at our union.

"Such a beautiful pussy," I said softly, gazing at her wet pussy lips wrapped around my pole.

Teri sighed as I pushed her legs back until her tits were almost pressed against them. With my thumbs hooked behind her knees, I started slowly sliding in and out again.

"Mmmmm..." she moaned as I started slowly moving my hips. I started with slow, short strokes, until she started moving her hips with mine. Her hands, still on my arms, were squeezing in rhythm with my hips, like she was trying to pull me in farther.

I soon started taking longer strokes, pulling back until just the head was still inside her pussy, and then slowly sliding all the way back in to her hot, wet depths. 

"Oh my gosh!" Teri gasped, her eyes wide, as I bottomed my cock out deep inside her. "So deep!"

I stood pressed against her for a couple of seconds, my manhood buried inside Teri's pussy, our hips mashed together, as I moved just slightly, back and forth, side to side. Teri moaned softly, pulling on my arms again. Spreading her legs wider, I leaned in and softly kissed her lips.

Releasing my arms, Teri wrapped her arms around my neck and kissed me back passionately. After a couple of minutes, I pushed back on my arms and looked in her eyes,

"Now, didn't you say something earlier like, 'Give it to me,' and, 'Fuck me,'?" I asked her softly, moving my hips around again.

*****

Looking back up into Kurt's eyes, I raised my hand and cupped his face. I slid my thumb over his parted lips and stared at him in awe at what he'd already done, knowing that there was more to come.

"Kurt," I said in a wanton voice, "I need you to FUCK me. I want to know how it's supposed to feel."

As I looked back up into Kurt's eyes, feeling the fullness inside of me and the sweet pleasurable pain of my walls being stretched, I thought to myself that I had to take control of his teasing, the light and hard thrusts, the not knowing what to expect when has me on edge.

Holding on to his arms, I rolled him on his back and straddled his hips. 

I wanted to heat things up again, now that my pussy was ready for another round of Kurt's girth. I wiggled my hot pussy lips firmly against the thick shaft, his velvety tip was cradled between my wet lips, feeling his hardness pushing against my begging clit. I had to have him deep inside me again. I needed what I knew Kurt could give to me.

The heat from his shaft radiated at my entrance. I squirmed, letting him slide along the outside of my cavern, teasing him like he teased me. As my naughty hips did their teasing dance, I leaned back, getting a chance to see the beautiful sight of his slickness as I started guiding his head into my dripping hole.

The way that his mushroom tip stretched my swollen opening was breathtaking. I couldn't believe how much of him there was to fit in. I watched as I wiggled him in slowly, needing to be more open to take all of Kurt's cock.

I bit my lower lip, and then dropped my hips in one quick motion and took it all. All I could see now was our wet pubic hairs tangled together and a blur of stars from the fast insult I just gave myself insides.

Letting him settle in, I slowly started grinding to finish stretching to meet Kurt's girth. Now that I was comfortable with him in me, I was loving the new sensations in new places never before touched.

I leaned forward so my breasts were dangling over Kurt's face. They hung and swayed in rhythm with my hips' movements. 

Kurt's lips parted and I lowered slightly so that my firm nipples brushed against his chin upward to his lips. The tingle of his warm breath and wet tongue sent chills all the way to my groin. Kurt stuck out his tongue and caught my nipple with each swaying motion past his mouth.

He grabbed my nipple with his teeth and nibbled hard down on it, holding me in place. My eyes widened in shock at the sudden feel it sent through me. 

As I was still adjusting to this new sensation, Kurt's hands were on my hips and he held me still. He lifted his hips in a quick upward motion and moved his cock into me. I couldn't pull my nipple from the grasp of his teeth and his eyes were beaming with the pride of having me momentarily confined, as he was trying to take back control. 

Under the grip of his teeth I matched his hip movements with mine. Soon my rocking hard on his cock had him breathing deeply and he let go of my nipple. I arched my back and ground down as hard and deep as I could on his cock. My thighs were squeezing against Kurt's sides, the sounds of my wetness gushing with each gliding stoke down his pole filled the room with the mixed musky aromas.

"Kurt, Ohhhhhhhhhhh baby! What's happening?"

I felt this hot gushing, body shaking, eye-rolling, uncontrollable feeling burst from deep in my tummy. It was on-going, and I couldn't move. All I could feel was Kurt's hips pounding into me, driving me insanely crazy with something I never felt my body do before.

Gasping for my breath, I fell forward, my chest pressed hard onto Kurt's, with him still inside of me. I felt his hands softly rubbing my back as my pussy still throbbed around his shaft. Our hips kept grinding and as my body finally stopped shaking, my thighs loosened the tight hold they had against his hips. My entire body felt like a wet noodle.

*****

Teri was bouncing and grinding on my cock like a woman possessed. She was so wet I could hear her juices squish every time that her ass hit my hips, and I could feel them running down my balls. Her tits were flying and bouncing around, hitting me in the face until I bit down on one of her nipples. While I didn't bite hard, just hard enough to get her attention, Teri seemed to enjoy my soft bites, based on her loud, almost screaming orgasm.

After she came down from her orgasm she collapsed on top of me, her tits pressed against my chest. I slid one hand between her shoulder blades while the other hand slid down to her ass. Planting my feet on her mattress, I then started jackhammering up into her, hard and fast.

"Oh shit!" Teri exclaimed loudly, burying her face in my shoulder and grasping my shoulders hard. "Oh! My! God! Yes!" 

It didn't take long before Teri started gasping, flattening her chest on me. "Oh shit! Oh god, yes!" she gasped loudly, her body stiffening, her hands grasping my shoulders harder. 

"NnnnnggghhhhhhOOoohhhhh!"

"OhhhmyyygodddddI'mmmcuuuuummmmiiing!" she moaned as I felt a gush of her juices surge out of her pussy and coat my balls. The walls of her pussy were squeezing the length of my shaft as her body shook. 

A few seconds later Teri backed up a little, burying my cock inside her as her body continued shaking. She gasped a little louder as I lifted my hips again, jamming the head of my cock even deeper. I lay still, holding her body as she rode the waves of her orgasm down.

"Holy shit!" she moaned a couple of minutes later as she tried catching her breath. "What the hell are you trying to do to me?"

"I'm fucking you," I replied, thrusting up hard and fast when I said 'fucking.'

"Oh my god!' she exclaimed, arching her back. "Stop! I need a break!"

I laughed to myself and held her close, until she started pushing up and looked down at me. "Holy crap!" she said as she wiggled her hips. "You're still hard?"




Second Chances



As always, all characters are over 18 and feedback is welcome; enjoy!

/////////////////

"Are you Celia Mixon?" I nearly fall as I spin around to greet the gentleman that wasn't supposed to be here for another month. In my haste, I stumble and fall forward only to have two strong arms catch me before I complete my face plant into the sidewalk.

"Are you okay?" The accent is hard to place as the stranger sets me back on my feet and backs away.

"Yeah, sorry, yes. I'm fine but Celia is...was...my grandmother. She passed about four months ago. I'm her granddaughter, Markie Bradford. Are you Ford Peterson?"

"I am and I'm sorry to hear that. So, is the bed and breakfast closed then? I probably should have called before driving out here but it never occurred to me to confirm my stay."

"No, I actually own it now. I was just trimming the bushes and getting the place ready for the winter. I'm sorry, but I wasn't expecting you for another month or I would have been better prepared."

"No, I should apologize. I had sent your grandmother a note in the mail telling her I'd be here early but now I know why you look so surprised to see me here."

Wrapping my jacket around me, I sit on the wide porch steps to rest for a bit. I'd been working all day, trimming bushes, cutting back trees and getting the big house prepped for the winter and I was tired. 

"I haven't looked through her mail other than to pull the bills out as they come in," I softly say as I stare off across the horse pasture to watch the two mares play with their colts.

My grandparents had bought the place in southern Oklahoma back in the 50's, slowly buying up land around them to build the ranch that had been my grandfather's dream since he was a young boy. The steps I was sitting on had been built by them as they'd raised 8 boys and expanded the little shack they had first lived in.

The house was a beautiful work of love and architecture, looking like something from the east in its grandeur. It had a large wrap-around porch that I'd loved to sit on with my grandmother as she shucked peas or churned ice cream; the relentless Oklahoma heat less pronounced under the roof of the porch. I'd been close to my grandparents and had explored every inch of the house as a child when I'd spend my summers down here.

My grandfather had died back in the 80's so, with her boys long since raised, my grandmother had decided to keep the house when two of my uncles had taken over the cattle operation for her. They both lived the next town over with their wives and families but stayed in the bunk house quite a bit during the spring and summer when they worked the livestock. 

Realizing that the house was too big for her, she'd opened up a bed and breakfast and had the boys turn a room downstairs into her master suite so the entire upstairs could be for guests. The big five bedroom house was perfect for a bed and breakfast and she'd stayed busy up until she'd had a heart attack four months ago. She had left the house to me to do with as I pleased since I was her only granddaughter and had been the only one ever interested in the house. The cattle and horse pastures went to my uncles with the rest of the family not wanting anything other than some heirlooms and furniture.

I'd been ready for a change when the will had been read. I was a 36 year old English teacher at a high school in Missouri, and while I loved my kids, I couldn't stand to be in the same town that my husband and I had called home anymore. Two years after his death and I was tired of still getting sympathy cards and casseroles from the old ladies on my street and from church, the pitiful looks cast my way during important dates and holidays more than I could take at times. I was ready to heal and move on but my neighborhood wasn't.

I had quit my job, rented out my house, and had driven down here last week to take over the bed and breakfast. I was still settling in, trying to get the property cleaned up, with the occasional help from my uncles and cousins when they had the time, when my new customer had found me. I'm not sure how I knew who he was but I had cancelled the customers for the next several months after my grandma had passed and probably had deduced who he was from that.

He sat down next to me on the step, folding his arms over his knees as he joined me in companionable silence. I already liked the man and I'd only known him for ten minutes. The fact that he wasn't chatting uncontrollably in the silence telling me a lot about him.

From the corner of my eye, I watch him gaze across the yard, taking in the large flower beds that held my grandmother's prized roses, and the peach orchard off to the right that my uncles and dad had all planted when they were little boys.

Ford was probably in his mid-50's, his neatly combed black hair streaked with grey. His eyes were dark, his deeply tanned face gently lined from the weather and from age. A cleft in his chin marring an otherwise strong jawline. He was handsome in a way that screamed elegance and charm and, not ever being drawn to older men before, I was puzzled as to why I found myself so attracted to him. Probably loneliness setting in from being a widow for so long.

Like me, he wore a wedding band and I wondered where his wife was if he was staying here for six months. I didn't remember seeing the room booked for two people but maybe she'd be in and out.

I'm not what you'd call a classic beauty. I had always been referred to as cute growing up. I'd been a tomboy most of my life and had to toughen up fast with three brothers and countless male cousins. I'd always preferred jeans and t-shirts, my chestnut hair up in ponytails or tangled around my face much of the time from playing outside. I had hazel eyes that turned colors depending on what I wore or what mood I was in. 

My husband, Russ, said that was what had attracted him to me when we were in high school along with my large breasts and athletic body. He had been my one and only boyfriend and we'd learned everything together; from making love, to making our young marriage work, to buying a house, to grieving over two miscarriages. We'd grown closer over the losses and were thinking about adopting when he'd been killed overseas during his last deployment. I still missed him terribly but each day was getting easier.

"This place is gorgeous," Ford states softly so as not to disrupt the silence. It's late November and most of the vegetation is brown, the leaves on the trees long since gone when the first freeze came in. But, even now, the ranch could still take my breath away. The fences were whitewashed, the hills rolling off into the distance to disappear over the horizon. The sunsets were legendary; the splashes of reds, oranges, and pinks streaking the sky luring more than one artist into its charm. During the summer, the pastures were lit by emerald green grass and brilliantly colored wild flowers.

"It is, isn't it? My grandparent's started all of this with $20 in their pockets in the 1950's."

"How long has this been a bed and breakfast?" Shifting around so my back is to the railing, I fill him in on the history.

"Incredible."

"Yeah. I spent my summers here as a kid but it's always been home, you know?"

"Markie, I don't know you that well, but there's one thing I do know and that's the passion and love you have for this place. Your grandmother made the right decision in leaving it to you."

Smiling at him, I ask him if he's ready to see his room. "I'm sorry it's not ready, but it won't take but a couple of hours to get it set up. I just have to clean it and the bathroom and wash the bedding. But, you're welcome to make yourself at home. I'll show you where everything is and you can unpack or do whatever."

//

Two months later, we've settled into a routine. I get up early to feed the various farm animals and to start the coffee. By the time I come back, Ford is settling into his second or third cup, laptop on the table so he can read the papers online since I didn't have them delivered anymore.

I cook dinner but leave breakfast and lunch up to him since I eat at random times depending on what I'm doing. I had cleaned the house top to bottom that first month with Ford insisting on helping out when I needed something moved; but, by the second month I was starting in on repainting, taking down wallpaper and patching walls where it was needed as I went from room to room. From talking to my grandmother, I knew my busy months would be starting in the late spring and would last until early fall. So, I was taking the reprieve to spruce the house up, trying hard to keep the charm that it was known for.

For the most part, Ford stayed in his room, working on his laptop as he wrote a novel. I had been curious one day and had asked what he wrote all day long. Turns out, he was a retired Army general and was writing about his travels, hoping to sell it to the public. 

It was rare that I stayed up past 8 or 9 at night, usually too exhausted to make it any later, but I would wake up throughout the night to hear him pacing the floor above me. After dinner, we sometimes talked but I'd usually watch a bit of TV before calling it a night while he'd read a book or would go upstairs. It's not that we didn't like each other. In fact, we were comfortable with each other and were just doing what we normally would do with anybody else; almost as if we were settling into the routine of an old married couple.

I had been watching the news for several days now and knew that a big winter storm was headed our way. We'd been extremely lucky so far with just two light dustings of snow and mild temperatures but this one looked to be bad and it was aiming right for the ranch. 

"What are you doing?" Ford asks in surprise as he comes into the kitchen to get his first of many cups of coffee. It was rare that I was still in my pajamas when he got up but what he didn't know was that I'd gotten up at one because I had been restless. I had just gotten back up a few minutes ago after drifting off for a half hour.

"I'm making a list of things we'll need in town before the storm hits. Do you need anything? We may be stuck here for a while."

"Do you really think it'll be that bad?" he asks as he sits in the chair across from me. He's gazing at me with a look that I can't decipher. Maybe he was offended by my lack of makeup or my tangled hair tumbling down my back. I wasn't sure but at times he was hard to read.

"They're calling for blizzard conditions, ice, sleet, at least a foot of snow...so, yeah. It'll be bad. I don't think we'll lose heat because it's gas, but if we do, we have the fireplace. We'll probably lose electricity and the roads will be closed for a couple of days but we have plenty of food and the hot water heater and stove should still work since they're gas."

"What do you need help with?" My surprised look makes him smile as he gets up to refill our coffee mugs. "Do you really think I'm going to sit around and let you do everything? Tell me what I need to do."

"You're a renter, I can't ask you to do that, Ford."

"You let me help you while you worked on the house," he counters with a smile as he sets a steaming mug of coffee in front of me. "Please, I insist."

"Okay, then. Will you help me bring in some wood for the fireplace? Maybe we'll stack some on the porch so we don't have to go outside too much."

The next day, the storm hits and it's every bit as bad as they said it was going to be. An inch of ice falls first, downing power lines and breaking branches; trees fall all night long, the crashes eerie in the silence. We lose power that night, but the heat is still on and the fire sends out a rosy glow across the living room as we watch the snow swirl across the yard. By the third day, the storm has passed but conditions are horrible outside. It is bitterly cold, wind chills down near zero during the day and I'm shaking and numb all at the same time when I go outside to feed.

Ford had been adamant that he help me and I was grateful for his help as we shoveled snow and trudged back and forth through the cold to take care of the animals.

I was able to find a radio and had it going on the fireplace mantle. Roads were still bad, power was out throughout half of the state, and temperatures were expected to stay below freezing for several more days. This had been a bad storm even by Oklahoma standards, and it was going to take a long time to recover and clean up.

One night I was curled up on the couch, sipping on some cinnamon tea as I gazed at the flames in the fireplace when Ford asked to join me. His laptop had died days ago, my offers to turn the generator on so he could charge it falling on deaf ears, so he'd taken to carrying around a notebook to write on until the power came back on. Surprisingly, he was empty handed as he settles into the chair next to me.

"Am I interrupting something?" he asks in that hypnotic voice of his. He had a way of talking that made it impossible to figure out where he was truly from and it was fascinating.

"Just thinking," I softly say as I look over at him and smile.

"Can I ask what about?" 

"Life, I suppose."

"You're awful young to be thinking that deeply, young lady." I'm still looking at him so I see his quick look at my left hand, the gold ring Russ had given to me so many years ago still front and center, gleaming softly in the firelight. 

"I'm awful young to be a widow, so, I guess I have a right." He doesn't flinch at my bitter tone; but, he continues to gaze at me with a knowing look. The firelight and candles are flickering, casting shadows across his face but I'm drawn to his dark eyes, the flickering candle flames giving them a strange glow. We could have turned the generator on to light the house up with electricity, but I had decided not to use it for anything other than the two refrigerators and three freezers to keep the food from spoiling. Why waste it on lights when fire worked just as well?

He's wearing a pair of black-framed glasses, a thick, off-white sweater and a pair of black jeans; completing the picture of a distinguished intellectual. He looked like a professor or even the author that he was trying to become and again I wondered what it was about him that was so attractive to me.

"How long were you married?" he asks me in a gentle voice.

I sigh deeply and look away to stare into the fireplace. "We were 18 when we got married. The day after graduation, if you can believe that. I didn't want to wait and neither did he. He joined the Army right out of school and found that he loved it. We lived so many places but he encouraged me to go to school and to become a teacher since I loved to read and write so much."

I barely notice when Ford gets up to add another log to the fire, refilling my mug from the teapot on the coffee table, before sitting next to me on the couch. I'm lost in my memories but his warm hand on my shoulder brings me back as I smile sadly over at him. The soothing motion of his thumb rubbing my shoulder blade is welcome as I continue.

"He was the only man I ever loved, Ford. The man I thought I'd spend the rest of my life with. We were together for 18 years, married for 16 of those, and we only ever fought once. Can you believe that? We were soul mates but two miscarriages take their toll and I pushed him away."

"It wasn't your fault, Markie," Ford says soothingly. His arm is still resting on the couch behind me, his hand warming my shoulder as I blame myself yet again for my miscarriages. The loss cut deep and I had felt worthless as a woman for not being able to give my husband children.

"That's what he always said. He was so strong and eventually we both healed. We were talking about adopting when he went on his third deployment. I had a bad feeling and begged him not to go. That was the fight we had, Ford." My tears are blinding me as I choke back a sob. The vision of the two uniformed soldiers at my door forever imprinted on my brain as was the folded flag that sat in my bedroom.

"He didn't come back." Not a question, just a statement from a man who'd seen more than his share of war and fighting after serving for 35 years in the military.

Shaking my head, tears splash onto my cold hands as Ford finally pulls me to him, setting my tea down so I don't spill it. I hold on tight as I finally sob out my heartache and pain over everything that had been taken from me. The loss of my grandmother had thrown me for a loop and I'd yet to grieve over her. She had been my best friend. So many losses had broken my heart into a million pieces and the pain was just too much at times.

Minutes, hell, maybe hours pass as he holds me. My tears long since dried on my cheeks as I take comfort in the male arms that are wrapped around me and the chin that rests on my head.

"Ford?"

"Hmmmm?"

"Why do you wear a wedding ring?" I can feel his chest hitch against me, his sigh heavy as he releases me enough to where I can shift around to look at him.

"Probably the same reason you still wear yours. I miss her. Connie was my best friend. Her heart was never quite right though and she died in her sleep about ten years ago. I always thought she would have been gorgeous pregnant or holding our child in her arms, but..."

"I'm so sorry."

"As am I for your loss."

My mind starts to wander and the question blurts out before I can stop it. "Has there been anybody since Connie?"

His smile is sad as he shakes his head and I know what he's feeling. Russ had been my one and only and I'd had no interest in any other man but him. That was until now, anyway. I'm still confused as to why this man is affecting me but decide that I'd better go to bed before I say something that I might regret later.

"Thank you for tonight. I needed that more than I thought." My hand comes up to rest on his cheek in gratitude and the look that I had seen at the kitchen table a few mornings back crosses his face again. Searching his eyes, I quickly take my hand back and say goodnight, dreams of Ford caressing me with his fingers and making love to me where once only Russ' memory had been disturbing me enough to drive me out of bed at the three in the morning.

Chores are done in silence, a new tension surrounding us as we get cleaned up and settle on a game of cards to pass the time. 

"Is your back bothering you?"

"What?"

"Is your back bothering you? You've been shifting around a lot and Connie used to do that when her back hurt."

Looking at him in surprise, I realize that he's more perceptive than I had previously thought. "A bit. I might take a hot bath later. That usually helps."

"I can give you a back massage. Strictly a friendly one, no strings attached! Scouts honor!" His smile lights up his face and before I can think too much, I agree.

"On one condition though."

"What's that?"

"I can give you one."

"Deal. Where do you want to do it?"

Glancing around, I see the plush rug in front of the fireplace and point it out with a smile.

I had just settled onto my knees and was about ready to sink onto my stomach when I hear a low chuckle from behind me. Looking back, he's resting on his knees, hands on his thighs as he shakes his head and laughs at me!

"What?"

"I can't give you a proper massage with that sweater on, honey. Do you have something on underneath it?"

Nodding my head, I shuck the sweater off and settle onto my stomach in my white tank top. A full minute passes before I feel him move to straddle my hips with his legs. His hands are magic on my shoulders and neck, kneading and pressing down to relieve the tension. My eyes are heavy as he works, my head resting on my folded arms until he starts to work his way down my back.

My shirt had ridden up and when his fingers brush my exposed skin, my eyes fly open at the contact. I don't say anything but moan appreciatively as he works back up my back, stopping to rub circles here and there as he rubs out the knots. When his fingers linger on my skin, my breath catches in my throat as I wonder what he's going to do next.




Second Chances



I won't stop him and I think that he knows that. His fingers lightly trace the edge of my shirt, sending goosebumps dancing across my back as his fingers ever so gently caress and glide over the sliver of skin that's revealed to him.

I'm almost afraid that if I move, I'll break whatever spell he's under, but I have to look behind me. Feeling me shift, his dark eyes rise to meet my own. Nothing is said as we gaze at the other but I think we've always known where we'd go if given the chance.

"There's lotion on the table by the couch," I quietly say, turning to lay my head back on my arms. I can feel him move, his clothes rustling as he goes to get the bottle, then the feel of his legs straddling my hips again.

The scent of lavender fills my nose as he squirts it onto his hands and slowly brings them to my lower back. Inch by inch he moves upward, my shirt riding up until it bunches underneath me. Not a word is said as I move to take it off, leaving me in a lacey pink bra.

My heart is pounding at my boldness but I simply settle back onto my stomach as his trembling hands smooth the lotion up and down my back. My groans are closer together as his moist hands work their magic, soothing my sore muscles and relaxing me further. Russ had used to give me back rubs when I was wound up tight about something and he'd never fail to turn it into a night of orgasms.

Pushing Russ from my thoughts, I focus on Ford's hands undoing the clasp of my bra, the feel of it being parted as its gently laid on the floor to either side of me. His hands are now able to run up and down my back with no obstacles to stop him. 

"Please don't stop," I softly say when I feel him shift and remove his hands.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

"Lift your hips up."

I obey and feel his hands reaching underneath me to undo my jeans, the waist loosening as he gently tugs it down my hips and legs. My thick socks are next, leaving me in a lacey pink thong, the warm glow of the fire warding off the chill as he straddles my knees to reach my ass and thighs. 

More lotion is applied as he works down my back, over to each ass cheek then down my thighs. I'm getting turned on but I'm afraid to say anything, not wanting to break the spell we seem to be under.

Minutes later, my feet are next, his weight no longer on me as he kneads every square inch of my calves and soothes my feet with his thumbs. My groans are louder, but he's silent behind me.

"I think my back and thighs could use some more attention."

My gaze meets his, and I watch his eyes close briefly before he settles back on top of my legs. Hearing rustling, I again look over my shoulder and watch as he removes his sweater and t-shirt. My pussy gives a little pulse as I watch him throw his shirts across the room. His body shows signs of aging, his dark chest hair sparse, belly flat. I had never imagined that a man in his 50's could affect me this way but he was and I was looking forward to touching him.

"You have such a beautiful body, Markie." His words are low but clear as I settle back onto my stomach. The second time his fingers caress the edge of my pussy lips is when I realize that it was intentional.

He had been kneading my ass cheeks apart little by little, his hands working the insides of my thighs as his fingers brushed against my labia. By the third time, I knew what he wanted and moved my legs farther apart, making him adjust his stance over me.

His fingers tremble slightly as he slips them into my underwear, touching my pussy lips briefly before returning to my ass cheeks.

His weight settles onto my back as he slides his hands up my sides and underneath me to hold me to him as he lays on top of me. Turning my head slightly I feel his warm breath in my ear as he whispers to me.

"I never wanted this to happen, I swear, honey. But when I saw you at the kitchen table the other morning with no makeup on and your hair a mess like you'd just had sex, I couldn't get the image of you out of my head. You are so sexy but I'm just an old man when you deserve so much better."

"I know, Ford. But, maybe we need to move on from the past and I want it to be with you."

He doesn't say anything for a minute as he processes what I just said. "Are you sure, honey?"

"I'm positive."

He kisses the side of my neck then and I know it's too late to back out without breaking one of our hearts.

His breath is warm against my skin as he kisses his way down my spine, pulling my thong down as he works his way down my ass and to my thighs. I help by lifting my hips and spreading my legs more to give him room.

"Turn over."

I reach for him as soon as I'm on my back, pulling him to me so I can feel his chest on mine. His chest hair tickles my nipples and they pucker immediately as they become stimulated. "Look at you," he breathes as he moves my hair from my face.

His lips are so soft as they settle onto mine, his tongue wet and warm when he slips it into my waiting mouth. Our kisses are deep and passionate and I get wet as we suck on each other's tongues and nibble on the other's lips.

Soon, he's moving lower, trailing kisses down my body until he's settled between my legs, his mouth inches from my breasts. "Please, Ford."

He holds my gaze as he latches onto a nipple, causing me to arch my back up as I cradle his head to my breast. He's so gentle as he sucks, his tongue swirling around my nipple as he reaches to hold my other breast in his palm. I break eye contact first, throwing my head back and closing my eyes as I enjoy his touch. 

"Just like that...harder!" I beg as my pussy gets wetter and my clit begins to throb.

His lips sucks harder, his tongue swirling faster as I press his head tightly to me. 

Our gazes meet again when I feel him shift lower, kissing his way to my pussy. "I love that you don't shave," he whispers.

I'd never understood why women did it, preferring to keep it trimmed short. I'd shaved once for Russ but the itching as it grew back had been so annoying, I'd vowed to never do it again.

I want to watch him so I prop myself up on my elbows. His eyes are closed as he slowly runs his tongue around my clit, dipping down to my pussy to taste my juices, then back up again. His groans are so hot as he starts to get into what he's doing.

"Right there, baby, just like that," I moan out as I coax him on. His tongue constantly moves around my clit, his fingers find my opening and soon he's got two fingers buried in me as he sucks my clit into his mouth.

Our groans overlap as he pushes me closer and closer to an orgasm. I can feel each lap of his tongue as he runs it over my pussy, each thrust of his fingers as he curls them up against the front of my vagina, each pull when he sucks my clit into his mouth. I can feel everything, my senses on high alert as my lover works his magic on my body. 

Finding my nipples, I play with them, the pleasure going south to my pussy. 

"Please...faster?" I pant and his fingers increase their pace, his tongue flicking over my hard clit faster as I start to buck my hips up to meet his mouth. Collapsing onto my back, I reach with my arms until I find the leg of the couch, holding on for dear life as I buck my hips up faster, needing more friction and more of Ford.

"So good...so good..." I pant out, "Please...yes, yes, YES! Right there! Don't stop!"

My heart is pounding in my ears as I close my eyes and focus on what he's doing to me. I'm so close to cumming but I'm overstimulated. Sensing this, Ford backs off, his fingers steadily stroking my g-spot as he simply licks my clit and swirls his tongue in circles, finding that spot that will set me off.

"That's it, sweetheart. Cum for me. I want to feel your sweet pussy around my cock, your juices on my balls as you cum all over me." His words are like magic and when he goes back to licking me, my orgasm breaks. At first I feel nothing but then the pleasure overwhelms me as wave after wave hits me hard. My hips are bucking, my head is thrashing as I hold onto the leg of the couch. 

He's relentless as he continues to pump his fingers into me, licking my clit as he rides out my second orgasm and then third. I can't think as I explode around him, my thighs clamped around his head as I scream and curse. All of my pent-up sexual needs were coming out in full force tonight and, now that they were realized, I wasn't sure I could go back to being celibate.

Finally, I pull back. I can't take anymore and need a break. The image of me riding his cock urging me on.

"No more!" I gasp. "Fuck, Ford! That was incredible!"

His face is covered in my juices, but he makes no move to wipe it away as he smiles sexily at me. "I'll take that reaction any day! Make sure to tell everyone, okay?" His wink makes me laugh but I can hear the sadness underneath the teasing.

"Honey, I don't think I'm going to be able to let you go."

"Then don't." Simple as that.

We simply stare into each other's eyes for a few minutes, not wanting to break the spell. He's resting on his side, head propped in his hand as his fingers trail up and down my body. I'd yet to move from my back, my head turned to watch him as I stop his restless fingers and twine mine through his.

We kiss and soon I'm straddling his waist, working the button on his jeans and undressing him as I order him onto his stomach.

I knead his back in much the same way he had done mine; working from his neck down to his feet and then back up again. Minutes pass as I ease the tension in his muscles, hearing his heavy breathing and deep sighs of contentment.

"Turn over," I tell him and watch as his hard cock comes into view. I'd glimpsed it earlier but now I was free to stare at it as I settle between his spread thighs.

He's average in size with a shaved dick and hairy balls. I'm surprised that he does this but I'm happy to see it. Moving backwards, pulling me with him, he rests his back against the couch so he can watch me.

Keeping my ass in the air, I slowly lower my body so I'm eye level with his crotch. He smells like Irish Spring soap, clean and fresh. 

Using only my mouth, I take the head in and hear his gasp just as his hands find my hair so he can tangle his fingers in it. "Suck the head, baby."

I gently pull with my lips and tongue and am rewarded by a strangled curse word. I swirl my tongue around the head and sink lower onto his shaft. "That's it, baby. Suck my cock."

Increasing my pace, I brace myself on his thighs as I sink my mouth down as far as it will go, holding myself on his cock. His balls are warm against my chin but soon I have to let go and rise back up again. 

Using my tongue, I lick his shaft up one side and down the other, making sure to clean him of his precum as I bathe every inch of his cock. "So good, sweetheart. Just like that...suck me, baby."

Again, I plunge my mouth down his cock and suck hard as I come up. "Baby, you have to stop or I'm going to cum." His eyes are apologetic as he pulls me up to him for a kiss. "I'm sorry, but it's been a long time since I've had sex and I'm not a young man anymore." I guess I must have given him a puzzled look because he continues. "I can't get it up again once I cum. At least not for a few hours."

"Oh. So, one time and no more until tomorrow?"

"Exactly. I'm sorry, sweetheart." 

"Don't be! That just means we better make this one count!" I say with a laugh as I grab hold of his cock and give it a tug, moving to straddle his hips so I can ride him.

"No arguments here!"

I rise up and tilt my hips back to take him inside of me, my pussy still wet from being turned on by the sexy man underneath me.

"You're so tight," Ford hisses under his breath as I sink down inch by inch. "Fuck, you feel so good!"

"I love your cock," I moan, resting my head on his shoulder as I get used to having a cock inside of me again.

His arms wrap around me, holding me to him as I slowly ride him. His cock fills me perfectly, rubbing against my g-spot as I rock my hips back and forth.

I balance myself on his thighs as I lean back, feeling his cock go deeper into me so he can watch his cock disappear into my very wet pussy.

"That's a beautiful sight," he breathes, his gaze locked onto our joined pelvises.

"Watch this," I say as I raise my hips up and down so my pussy is milking his cock.

"Holy fuck!" 

My head is thrown back as I rock my hips from side to side, up and down, and around in circles; feeling his cock hit spots I'd forgotten about as his thumb finds my clit and presses down on it, causing me to buck against him harder.

As I cum, Ford pulls me to him, taking over as he thrusts up into me with force. His jaw is clenched as he keeps to a steady pace, not wanting to cum yet but knowing that it's inevitable.

"Cum for me, baby," I say sexily as I kiss him.

"You feel so good! Fuck!...So good..." 

"I want to feel you, Ford, that's it, honey! Cum in me!" And he does with a loud yell, his cock jumping as he spurts jet after jet of warm cum inside of me.

Our hearts are pounding as we slide to the floor. I can feel his cum oozing from me as we laze by the fire all afternoon. Eventually, Ford is able to get it up again and we make love with him on top of me, our sweaty bodies gliding over each other's as we explore and pleasure the other, finding what turns the other on.

Months later, I'm surprised and scared when I find out that I'm pregnant, never in a million years dreaming that it could happen again.

Instantly, I worry that I'll lose it and I'm scared to tell Ford, even though we were now living together permanently. The tears in his eyes are far from what I expected and the next day the local justice of the peace marries us.

I never thought that I'd be happy again, so many losses having broken my heart, but the image of my husband holding our newborn daughter is forever imprinted on my brain as one of the happiest times of my life. Russ will forever be in my heart as Connie will forever be in Ford's; but, we're happy to be where we are and I'm forever thankful that I never called Ford to cancel his reservation at the bed and breakfast.



Second Chances



I always hear the term "dirty old man" referring to a lot of older men that gawk at pretty young girls. Well, no one ever really mentions "dirty old woman" although there are a lot of us out there. I am one of them myself. Here is my dirty little tale.

It was that one summer that changed everything. My husband had died earlier that year and I was left alone in our small country home. My daughter Caroline had just met a wonderful young man whom she would be marrying. Caroline had a very hard youth.

She'd gotten pregnant at the very young age of 18 and the boy who'd gotten her pregnant wanted nothing to do with her. My husband Dan and I were upset just like any parent would be but we stood behind our daughter one hundred percent since we had Caroline when I was only 19. We both helped her raise her beautiful son, our wonderful grandson Luke. 

I raised Luke while Caroline went to school and managed to get a great job at a bank. I would cook for him and bathe him just like a mother would. Dan and I grew very close to our grandson and were quite sad when Caroline finally got her life together and moved away. She dated a few men in her years until Luke was about twelve and that's when she met James. They dated for several years and now they were about to get married. They would often go away on weekends together leaving Luke to stay with me. Now this summer Luke had just turned 18 and was getting ready to leave for college.

I felt sad in a way watching my grandbaby become a man. I figured he wouldn't need his old granny anymore. He'd be off to college meeting new people and moving on with his life. He was my only grandson and I didn't like the idea of losing him already.

Caroline lived in a cozy apartment downtown with Luke and James. She called me up that one Thursday evening to let me know she and James would be leaving early that morning for a weekend getaway in Vegas. I never expected her to say that Luke wanted to stay with me that weekend since I figured he was of legal age to stay home alone.

"He likes your pool, Mom," Caroline advised me when I was surprised to hear Luke wanted to stay with me. 

"Well that's fine darlin'. He can stay with me. It's not like I had big plans," I replied playfully.

"Well I'm sure you'll have plans soon Mom. You're still beautiful after all these years you know that right?"

I beamed while my lovely daughter complimented me. "Oh you're so good to me honey. Right now I'm not looking for any dates. Your father will probably be the only man I'll ever love."

I heard my daughter laugh and some static on the phone. "Oh mom you're too much! I've gotta get going this phone is about to cut off and James and I got an early flight tomorrow. Luke should be at your house early in the morning."

I hung up the phone and sighed. I thought about what my daughter had said about dating other men. How in the world would I ever do that again? Most men my age didn't want 56 year old women like me. They wanted nice pretty twenty year olds with firm breasts and baby smooth skin. It was going to be impossible to fall in love again. I might as well get used to living alone just like the old ladies I used to make fun of when I was young myself. 

I was awaken the next morning by a hard knock on my front door. I opened my eyes quickly searching for my glasses. I grabbed my long robe and tied it around me. I knew it'd be my grandson. 

I walked towards the door slowly still almost half asleep. I peeped outside and saw my handsome grandson outside. He'd gotten so big! I could see his dark hair was spiky and his green eyes were still droopy from lack of sleep. 

"Luke, sweetheart!" I yelped opening the door to greet my wonderful grandson.

"Hey grams!" He put his arms around me tightly. I felt I was about to lose my breath.

"Come on in, hun. Is your mother still outside?" I asked peering out the door.

"No, she and James were in a hurry and had to get to the airport quickly."

"Well it's still early hun, why don't you get some sleep and I'll wake you up in about two hours for some breakfast?"

He smiled so sweetly like he always did. "Aww thanks grams. I love your cooking, you know that. What room should I sleep in?"

I pointed to the room next to mine. "That's the guest room. The sheets are clean and I think some of your clothes are in there."

"Thanks grams. I brought some of my swimming trunks and a few t-shirts and shorts just in case," he said holding a small duffle bag.

Luke went on to sleep and I started doing my daily chores. It was the same routine over and over since my husband had passed away. I'd get up early, usually shower and then whip up a small breakfast for me and watch some morning talk shows. Afterwards I'd clean up and do some laundry followed by my usual afternoon walks and then off to bed. It was so lonesome but what else could I do?

A few hours passed by and Luke woke up to the delicious smell of my bacon and eggs. He walked in the kitchen wearing his plaid boxers and a t-shirt. My eyes widened looking at his gorgeous youthful body!

"Hey grams, that smells sooo good!" He said closing his eyes and taking the time to smell the food.

I was still left speechless. I'd never realized Luke had gotten so gorgeous. Or maybe I had never paid attention. Either way, he was a very striking young man. 

"Grams? Uh, are you ok?" he asked looking at me closely.

"U-uh y-yes. Yes sweetie. Here you go. Some nice home cooked eggs and bacon. I'm making some pancakes with that too."

Luke licked his lips and I saw a small silver stud on his tongue. "Oh my sweetie, what in the world do you got on your tongue?"

He laughed softly. "It's just a tongue ring grams. I got it last week."

"Why on earth would you do something like that?"

"Well, it's because…because I hear a lot of girls like tongue rings."

"Why would girls like that sort of thing?" I asked confused.

His handsome face turned bright red and he just nodded. "Never mind grams, so what have you been doing lately?"

Luke and I spent that afternoon watching some TV and I felt somewhat uncomfortable knowing he'd rather be out somewhere having fun instead of with his old grandmother. 

"Luke sweetie are you sure you don't want to borrow my car to go out with your friends?" 

He looked at me with a small frown on his face. "You want me out of here huh? Why is that? You got some man coming over?"

I laughed. "Oh yes I've got a date tonight. In fact I've got two dates," I teased.

He put his strong arm around me and looked deeply in my eyes. "Grams, I'd believe that you know. You're still a very pretty lady."

My heart was racing as I could feel his warm breath tickle my skin. "I'm not. I'm just an old hag."

He kept a straight face. "No seriously grams. I mean when a lot of my friends met you, they actually thought you were my mom and that my mom was my sister."

"Well your mother is still very young. I'm over the hill hun, there will be no second chances for me."

He sighed heavily. "Yeah right. I bet you have tons of men that are in love with you. I know I'd be in love with someone like you."

I felt my face turn red. Luke just went back to watching TV leaving me speechless.

Later on as the sun was setting, Luke had decided to invite some friends over to swim in my pool. It was a huge swimming pool my husband had built and where Luke learned to swim. He'd bring all his little friends from elementary over and they'd spend hours out in the pool. Now it seemed so arousing to know that he'd be in the pool all wet and half naked. I'd be able to see Luke with his hair drenched and wet swim trunks giving me a slight hint of what he has between his legs…. Ok stop it Vivian,  I kept reminding myself.

A few hours later, some of Luke's friends showed up at my house that evening. The other boys were Tommy, Kevin, and Lance. They were all very good looking as well. Luke had been playing baseball with them since he was just six years old. I knew the boys well and their parents too. 

"Grams? You know Tommy, Kevin, and Lance right?" Luke announced as he brought the boys in.

"Yes, hi boys," I said nervously.

The three boys just smiled and waved. Oh god they were all so gorgeous! Quit looking at them! They're only 18 damnit!

They boys headed off to the pool wearing only their long swim trunks and nothing else. I was in the kitchen washing dishes and cleaning up but managing to ogle the boys every chance that I could get. With four young guys in my pool, I felt so excited. Never had I been this excited in a long time. Even though all the boys were sexy as hell, my grandbaby was the most gorgeous one out there. 

I could see small droplets of water clinging to his skin as he got out of the pool ready to dive back in. His chest beginning to form so nicely and his tummy looked so flat and hard. I found myself hypnotized by his looks and charm. It was starting to get so hot in the kitchen for a moment. I kept picturing myself with my grandson, fucking him and sucking him. Such bad thoughts for a granny like me to have.

I was starting to drift off into a sexy, nasty little fantasy when I heard another car pull up the driveway. It was a small red convertible crowded with about four young girls in their bikinis. I should have expected that. I knew my grandson had several little girlfriends and most of all I knew they were cute little blonde girls. I watched the girls get off the car and walk towards the pool to join the boys. 

I just decided to go to my room and rest. I could faintly hear the laughs and screams of the boys and girls having fun out in the pool. I kept wondering if my Luke had had sex yet. It was not going to be such a shock to me if he had. After all he was so sexy and I know I'd be after him myself if I was eighteen. Hell I'm 56 and I'm having naughty thoughts about him!

As I started to change to my nightclothes I took a good look at my body in the full-length mirror. My green eyes traveled down my body examining it. My breasts were small so that was a good thing for a woman my age. They were still firm and in place. My light pink nipples were still large and hard. I looked at my tummy, which was somewhat soft from old age. My legs were still smooth and my waist small. You don't look so bad Vivian,  I told myself. 

My hands ran down my entire body feeling the softness and even tenderness of it. I knew I looked pretty damn good but for an eighteen year old this body was not a very ideal one. I'm sure an eighteen year old liked nice hard tummies and long wavy hair. I let my hair down that was being held by one large pin. It was short just under my ears and light brown with a few strands of gray. Looking at myself naked wasn't so bad, but I just kept wondering if I'd ever let anyone see me naked again.

The next day Luke didn't wake up until past noon. I didn't rag on him for that knowing that he had the right to sleep in late, since he was young and this would be the last summer of total freedom before he left for college. I had decided to make some of Luke's favorite spaghetti for a late lunch. 

"Hey grams I'm gonna go take a shower so if any of my friends call, just tell them I'm not here."

I gave my son a puzzled look. "Not here? Why?"

He sighed as he held his clothes in his arms. "Well the girls that came over last night turned out to be real airheads and, well, I don't want to talk to one of them especially. I know Lance might have given her this phone number."

Oh young love,  I thought to myself. "Ok hun. I'm gonna make your favorite spaghetti today."

I saw Luke’s green eyes light up. "Alright grams! I'm gonna hurry out of the shower and I'll help you out ok?"

"Ok sweetie."

It was almost half and hour later and Luke came to join me in the kitchen. He wore his khaki shorts, white t-shirt and was barefoot. It was extremely hot outside that day. 

"What can I do to help grams?" He asked gently touching my shoulder making me almost feel weak. 

"Well you can cut some onions and gather the spices for me. You know what goes in my spaghetti, you used help me all the time, remember?"

He smiled looking up as if he was trying to recall. "Yeah I know. I even remember telling you I wanted to be a chef."

We both laughed and reminisced as we cooked together in my tiny kitchen. I couldn't remember ever having a more glorious time with someone. I remembered having all these nice talks with my husband and had missed talking to someone and laughing with someone. 

"No hun that's too much salt. You know I can't eat that much salt," I warned Luke as he started to dash a large amount of salt in the spaghetti sauce. 

"I can't wait until this is done grams. I'm starving!"

I felt so warm inside knowing he loved my cooking. "Luke, can you check on the garlic bread please?"

"It's almost done grams."

"Ok now I'm gonna take a quick shower and then we can eat. The sauce is done and so is the pasta."

"Alright I'll wait here for you. I promise I won't eat anything yet." 

I gave him a devious look. "I hope so Luke. Last time you said that and you'd already eaten a plate of my spaghetti."

He laughed and I playfully slapped his arm. "Go on grams. I'll wait for you."

I took a fast cold shower and decided to wear my long flowery dress and let my hair down as well. I slipped on my black sandals and headed over to the kitchen. Luke had already drained the water from the pasta and taken the garlic bread and stacked it nicely in a small wicker basket. 

"Look I set the table," he said proudly.

I felt myself flush. "Oh sweetie it looks beautiful."

"Look come over here grams and taste my spaghetti sauce. It turned out better than the other times!"

I laughed and went over to have a taste of my grandson's spaghetti sauce. He held the huge wooden spoon full on sauce and offered it to me. My eyes widened and I shook some of the sauce off letting it fall back to the pan. 

"That was too much there Luke. Ok let me taste it." He put the spoon by my lips and I slowly licked the tip of the spoon tasting the delicious sauce my grandson had made. I licked more and more as if I had never tasted anything better in my entire life. I was lost and hadn't realized until I opened my eyes and found Luke staring at me so deeply.

I felt my face turn red once again. "Oh sorry baby. It's really good!" I shrilled.

He didn't say anything and just put the spoon down and put his strong hands on my shoulders. He gave me the sweetest smile ever. I then felt him reach by my mouth to clean off a small glob of sauce I had by my lower lip. 

"It must be good grams. You are getting so dirty here." His voice was husky now.

I felt his finger wipe off the sauce and he slowly started to insert it in my mouth. My heart was racing and I couldn't remember ever being this aroused. I didn't hesitate and sucked on his finger. The flavor of the sauce was being dissolved slowly as I sucked on my grandson's finger. I watched his mouth part slightly and his breathing grow rapid. 

Luke leaned down and softly kissed my lips. I closed my eyes as my grandson placed small pecks on my trembling lips. I didn't know if I should kiss him back or not. Why was I being so turned on my own grandson? I'd watch him grow all these years and never thought I'd be kissing him and letting him get me so hot. 

I put my arms around his neck and felt him almost lift me off the ground while his strong arms wrapped tightly around my waist. I had to let myself go. My lips parted inviting his tongue that was already curiously trying to make its way into my mouth finally reach its destination. 

Our kiss was deep and so seductive. I never thought my grandson could kiss so nice! His lips were so warm and his tongue softly massaged mine. I could feel his tongue ring tickling against my tongue as we French kissed. 

"I've been wanting to do that grams. I've been wanting to do that for such a long time," Luke said in a low voice.

I stroked his handsome face and kissed his nose softly. "I love you Luke. I know it's wrong, but I love you more than just a grandson."

His green eyes danced as he looked at me. He grabbed my hand and walked me over to the couch in the living room. He sat me down on the couch and kneeled in front of me. His shaky hands began to pull up my long dress slowly. I felt so shy as if I was 18 years old myself experimenting with sex for the first time. 

I placed my hands over his weakly trying to stop him. "Luke, are you sure you want to do this? I love you baby, but I don't want you to feel uncomfortable."

He just grinned slyly. "I want to grams. I do."

I sighed feeling so excited. "Luke baby, don't call me grams right now. Just call me by my name, Vivian."

His hands started to pull up my dress more. "Yes Vivian. Such a sexy name."

I leaned back not quite knowing what to expect. Luke's hands kept crawling up higher lifting my dress and exposing more of my body little by little. I let my sandals slide off my feet and let my legs wrap around Luke's back. His hands were up by my thighs now gently massaging them as he looked at me.

"Vivian, I'm gonna let you know why I got this tongue ring. I'm gonna let you feel it between your legs." Luke rasped and wiggled his long tongue at me. 

I gasped looking at how fast he moved his tongue and saw the shiny silver stud that was going to add extra pleasure in this wonderful oral sex I was going to experience. Luke began to tug at my white cotton panties. I voluntarily lifted my hips to give him the access he needed. 

I felt my panties come off instantly and Luke slowly parted my legs. He looked down and licked his lips. I didn't shave between my legs all the way, but I did manage to keep trim since I'd heard about it in the new magazines. I had just a small strip of light brown curly hair. 

"Such a nice pussy Vivian," Luke said as his fingers rubbed my pussy lips slowly. "I can't wait to taste it and make you cum on my tongue."

Such sexy words coming from my gorgeous grandson!  I kept thinking to myself. 

I watched Luke dive his head down in between my legs. At first all I could do was feel his lips gliding on my pussy lips. I felt Luke apply small kisses all over my cunt as he teased me. I squirmed on the couch and closed my eyes for a moment. It'd been such a long time since I had received oral sex. That was one of my biggest pleasures and now my sexy grandson was willing to please me this way. I never thought I would be able to enjoy this and now I truly believed in second chances. 

Luke's fingers started to spread my lips open and I knew right away he would be able to tell how much he turned me on. I felt my pussy drenched with desire and longing for my grandson to taste me. His fingers teased my clit as he moved them in circular motions.

"Mmmm, yes baby, lick me Luke. Oh please!" I was already begging.

Luke kept silent and I shuddered as I felt his tongue touch my clit for the first time. I bit my lower lip trying to contain myself from shouting loudly how good he was pleasuring me. Once his tongue wiggled faster and faster on my clit, I was speechless. I tried to moan but nothing came out. I was in total shock on how delightful his tongue made me feel. I wanted to watch him lick me, taste me. Our eyes met instantly and I picked up my dress some more, pulling it way above my waist and spread my own lips open to let my grandson have more access to my aching clit. 

"Yes! That's it baby, lick me! Ooooh Luke you feel so good! Baby you're so wonderful!" I said loudly.

Luke smiled and showed me his tongue ring once again. "I'm gonna make you cum hard Vivian. I'm going to drink your juices up just like I've always wanted to."

He moved his head down a bit more and placed the sliver stud right on my clit. He gently glided it on my clit making my legs shake. He did it in slow strokes and increased his speed. Pretty soon I could feel the silver stud tickling and taunting my cunt. I flung my head back and felt the lower half of my body being pulled down by Luke as he buried his face in my pussy. 




Second Chances



"Hmmmgggghhhh! I-I'm c-cumming! Oh baby! Luke I'm g-going to c-cum!!!" I cried out as I grabbed on to one of the couch pillows, squeezing it tight.

I felt my pussy ooze out as I came hard. It was the most intense orgasm I had ever experienced. Even with my husband, no orgasm had ever felt so delicious and forbidden. My thighs were clamped around Luke's face as I held him there to let him taste my juices. I wanted to make sure he licked me clean.

I was almost out of breath and just lay there on the couch, my legs still wrapped around Luke. I felt his mouth swallowing up my juices and his tongue cleaning me up. I felt my legs go wobbly as they fell off Luke's body. His face was soaking wet from my cum. 

I was still trying to catch my breath when he rushed up to kiss me. He kissed me hard and plunged his tongue in my mouth while I tasted myself in his kiss. We shared my juices for what seemed to be an eternity and I suddenly felt Luke's hard on pressed on my leg. 

"Oh baby that was so good! So goooood!" I squealed as our kiss finally broke. My hand crept down trying to tug at Luke's shorts.

He put his hand over mine and smiled so cunning. "No. Don't unzip me yet Vivian. Let's go have our lunch first and then tonight I'm going to make love to you like I've always dreamed of."

My aching pussy was throbbing now wanting Luke inside of me, but he had something else planned. I loved surprises. 

I got back up and I was about to grab my panties, but he stopped me once again. "No. I don't want you wearing any panties. I want you to be ready for later."

I blushed and did as he said. He held out his hand for me to get up and we walked to the kitchen together. He put his arms around me as he walked behind me. We ate our late lunch without much to talk about. I didn't know what to say after the beautiful orgasm I had just had in my grandson's mouth.

Never once did he take his eyes off me. Luke's pretty green eyes beamed with love and lust at the same time. My heart kept a fast beat just looking at him. The food was delicious and yet I couldn't eat much from feeling so anxious as to what was going to happen next. 

Lunch was short but sweet and I gathered the dishes and rinsed them off. Luke automatically came behind me putting his arms around me and pressing his body against mine. 

"I can still taste you Vivian. Your taste still lingers in my mouth."

I closed my eyes smelling his cologne and feeling his strength. "Luke I love you so much. You're the best thing that could have ever happened to me. Just remember that many women will come and go in your life but I'll always love you and be here for you."


I felt him turn me around and cup my chin. "Vivian I'll always love you too. You're an incredible woman. I know I'll never meet another woman like you, so beautiful and charming."

We kissed again softly and I felt him run his fingers through my hair. The shiny metal stud in his mouth was rubbing on my tongue again. It was incredibly erotic.

"I'm gonna go freshen up a little bit. I'll meet you in your room,” he said to me with his words so sweetly.

I nodded and watched him walk away. I myself wanted to clean up a little bit. I looked down at the dirty dishes and shrugged walking away from them. I'd wash them later, at that moment I just wanted to be with Luke. 

I used my own bathroom to brush my teeth and fix myself up. I dabbed a little bit of makeup, which I rarely wore, and I brushed my hair. I was almost lost in my own little world of vanity, when I looked up in the bathroom mirror and saw my grandson standing there, eyeing me. 

"How long have you been watching me?" I asked giggling like a teenager.

He just smiled and extended his hand out. "Come with me. I'm so ready for you Vivian."

I didn't delay and rushed over to him. Once we were near my bed we kissed some more and Luke put my hands on his t-shirt, hinting at me to take it off of him. My hands pulled up his t-shirt until he was finally topless. I just had to stare at him for a moment. His body was so perfect. So young and flawless. His muscles were bulging everywhere and his skin was so fresh. I ran my hands slowly all over his chest and stomach muscles. 

"Do you like my body Vivian?" He asked shyly.

I nodded, still in a deep trance. I leaned down to kiss his chest and ran my tongue down his tummy feeling the ripples of his muscles make my tongue feel like it was going over speed bumps. He tasted so young and so yummy.

I was kneeling in front of him and looking up at him. I wanted to hear him beg me to suck him off, to please him. His lost youthful eyes looked so nervous, yet so full of wanton. 

"Do you want to let my mouth please you first?" I blurted out.

I heard him gasp slightly and then just blush. "Y-yes. Please. I want to finish off in your mouth Vivian. Can I?"

I didn't reply. I was just going to do it. I'd do anything at this point to satisfy my grandson. I started to undo his shorts and could already see the huge bulge growing inside. I couldn't wait to see what my grandson had to offer me. I had only been with my husband my entire life and always wondered what other men would feel like, taste like.

I pulled down Luke's shorts and his boxers came down with them. His hard cock just popped straight out. My god he was so huge! It had to have been eight inches at the least. My jaw almost dropped looking at my grandson's length. I looked up at him and not quite knowing what to say.

"Am I smaller than what you're used to Vivian?" He asked sounding unsure of himself.

"N-no. Baby you are such a nice big size! Oh Luke your so huge!" I couldn't help but compliment him.

He reached down to stroke my face. "You are going to be the first to taste me. I've never been blown before."

It was hard to believe but I knew he was telling me the truth. Luke was so innocent yet he was devilish in his own way. I grabbed his hard cock and ogled it as if it was the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen. Luke's cock had thick pulsating veins and his purple mushroom head was already oozing out his youthful precum. 

I slowly took only the head in my mouth. Immediately I tasted his salty cream filling coating my tongue. My tongue slithered on his head and long gooey ropes of precum dangled in between my tongue and his cock. 

"Hmmm oh yesss! Oh suck me! Please suck me." Luke began to beg in such an innocent voice.

I wrapped my lips tightly around Luke's cock clamping them hard. Slowly I moved my head back and forth on his long shaft. It was so erotic being able to finally taste him and have him inside of my mouth. 

I felt his hands cup my face and our eyes met. "Look at me while you suck me Vivian. I want you to look at me when I cum in your mouth." 

I felt a rush of excitement flow through me and I gripped my lips tighter on Luke's cock. I could feel it pulsating in my mouth as I sucked harder and harder, savoring his taste. He was absolutely scrumptious. I loved the light brackish taste of his precum and I knew I was going to fall in love with the taste of the hot load he had waiting for me. 

His green eyes were glowing like never before while he looked at me. The grunt of pleasure he moaned was turning me on even more. I knew he was loving the fact that he was fucking my mouth. 

"Mmmm yes! Oh fuck you suck cock good Vivian! You like sucking my big dick?" He asked so aggressively now gripping my hair with his hands.

I nodded with his cock in my mouth. I reached up with one of my hands and gently massaged his balls. They were so big and looked overloaded from cum that he was holding in just for me. I felt his cock twitch in my mouth and heard him moan so loud. He never looked away and came hard in my mouth. His eyes widened with excitement as he shot out his hot cum.

"Hmmmmgggghhh owwwwyeah! I'm c-cumming! Oh drink it Vivian. Swallow my cum!"

I felt a hard heavy spurt of cum hit the back of my throat. It was so warm and then another and another. My grandson was finally cumming in my mouth. It was sexy as hell and I loved drinking him up. His seed was now oozing down my throat and I could taste it so good! 

Luke left his cock inside of my mouth making sure every cum drop he had to offer was guzzled down. His cock was still hard as a rock and he smiled at me slowly taking his cock out of my mouth. 

"Come here beautiful. I'm so ready to be inside of you."

I took his hand and stood back up. He put his hand on my lower back and walked me over to my huge bed. We stood in front of my bed and his fingers slowly went up and down my chest. He reached to my back and I felt my zipper beginning to come undone. 

 Oh God he's going to make love to me!  

My dress quickly fell to the ground leaving me in just my white lacey bra. He unsnapped my bra easily, letting my breasts fall out. Luke stared at me up and down and I felt somewhat uneasy about showing him my aging body. I crossed my arms over my tummy and breasts.

"No. Let me see you. Let me see how beautiful you are." 

I sighed and slowly uncovered myself and let him eye me. His eyes danced with each glimpse he got of me. 

"You are absolutely gorgeous Vivian. I always knew it. Every time you were in my fantasies I knew it."

I threw my arms around him holding him close to me. "I love you Luke. I'm falling so much in love with you."

He glided his lips over mine so gently. "I love you Vivian. I've always been in love with you. Now I get to show you how much I love you."

He lifted me up slightly and laid me on the bed. My legs were on his shoulders as he kissed my calves so sweetly. I hadn't had sex in over a year and was scared in a way but so anxious to know what Luke would feel like making love to me. 

He moved my legs down and wrapped them around his waist. I felt my body being pulled closer to the edge of the bed and Luke took his big cock and slowly began to enter me. I gasped at first feeling such a huge prick sliding inside of me. It was so wonderful to be able to make love again. To make love to a man I'll always love no matter what.

"I hope it doesn't hurt you too much." Luke said in a concerned tone. 

I held his hands in mine tightly. "It hurts a little bit sweetie. But please don't stop. Make love to me until you explode inside of me."

Luke leaned down to kiss me hard and he plunged his thick member all the way inside of me. I moaned in pain and pleasure at the same time. Luke seemed so experienced and I loved the fact he was taking full control of the situation. 

"Hmmm yes baby! Oh fuck me just like that! You feel soooo goood!" I yelped letting him know how much he was pleasuring me. 

Luke was now thrusting in and out of me so vigorously. His eyes were full of passion as if he was trying his hardest to please me. He didn't have to try too hard. Just having him near me pleased me. Having him tell me he loved me pleased me. Watching him grow up and taking care of him was the most wonderful time of my life. Now he was a man. A handsome and intelligent young man who was making me feel so good. A young man that was letting me know love does come around a second time. 

Luke's cock was buried deep inside of me poking at that one spot that always made me get so hot. I gripped his arms almost scratching him with my nails. "Yes! Keep doing it like that baby! Oh Luke I'm going to cum!" I closed my eyes and felt my body tense up. I slowly started to shake as I came like never before. My body was relieving all the tension I had built up in the last year. It was the most amazing feel. Absolutely beautiful. "Ahhhhh baby! Luke I'm so hot right now! That felt so good baby! Just so wonderful!" I blurted out.

Luke licked his lips and sweat started to break out of him. His mouth parted and he moaned. "Arrrgggghhhh yeah! I'm cumming again! Oh Vivian I'm gonna cum inside you!"

"Yes baby. Squirt your seed in me. Oh Luke I love you!"

I felt hot splashes of cum roll inside my pussy like waves crashing. Luke's eyes were closed and fluttering as he released his sexy orgasm in me. His breathing was heavy and he just fell on top of me gently with his head on my chest. 

"I love you," Luke said so quietly.

I felt myself feeling so good like never before. "I love you too honey. I love you so much!"

I stroked his hair and put my arms around him. He was still inside of me until he slowly grew soft again. That night we slept together in my bed and made love again in the middle of the night. 

The morning sun woke me up and I stretched my body. Reaching over I smiled in satisfaction feeling Luke's strong body next to me. I felt his body move and then suddenly I could feel his arms around me. 

"Good morning beautiful," he said quietly. 

I giggled like a little girl. "Morning sweetheart. Did you sleep good?"

He held me tighter. "Mmmm yes I did."

I turned around to face him. His hair was such a mess and his eyes were still small but he never looked more handsome. "Your mother comes home today," I said sadly.

He sighed, looking up at the ceiling. "Yeah I know. I hate leaving you. You always make me feel good and I'm not just talking about what we did last night, but I mean all of the time. Will I ever find a woman as fine and charming as you Vivian?"

I didn't want to cry but I felt my eyes water. "I-I don't know Luke. But I know whatever young lady you decided to spend the rest of your life with will be good to you. You are a wonderful and caring young man."

He saw my tears and wiped them with his hand. "Don't cry. Please. I'm sorry."

I felt my heart aching. "No don't be sorry. I know one day you'll have to marry someone and have a family and I do want to live to see that day Luke. I'll be so happy for you baby."

His eyes too began to water and we kissed softly. We talked more and slept until past noontime. I heard Luke get up and slip in the shower. I was going to join him but then at that moment I heard Caroline and James pulling up the driveway. I quickly stumbled to put my clothes back on and pin my hair up. 

"Mom, hey look, I brought you back a t-shirt from Vegas and James brought you these little earrings he thought you'd love." Caroline was blissfully smiling with her new beau on her side.

"Oh sweetie thank you. Thank you too James." 

"So uh is my baby here or did he leave with his friends again?" Caroline asked looked around the house suspiciously.

"He's in the shower honey. Here have a seat you two." I offered Caroline and James a seat on the couch. 

Caroline sat there talking about their wonderful little weekend escapade while I just kept thinking about my darling Luke. A few minutes later Luke stepped out wearing just a towel around his hips and calling my name. 

Caroline frowned and Luke's face turned white as a ghost seeing his mom and her boyfriend in my living room. 

"Luke, that's not very polite calling your grandmother by her name. Don't tell me that's some kind of new ‘hip’ thing to do."

Luke looked so scared.

"No it's ok Caroline. I told him to call me Vivian because lately I've been feeling so old." 

My daughter laughed and put her arms around me. "Oh mom. I've already told you that you don't even look old. She's beautiful isn't she guys?" Caroline asked both James and Luke. 

"Yes ma'am very beautiful." James responded politely.

"The most beautiful woman that God will ever create." Luke added never taking his eyes off me.

"See mama I told you. Now Luke hurry and get dressed cuz we gotta get going. Tomorrow Luke has to start packing for school. My baby is going to become a successful lawyer momma. You watch and see."

I turned to look at my wonderful grandson. "I know he is."

Luke rushed off to get dressed and Caroline and James waited out in the car for him. He came out of the guest room quietly closing the door behind him holding the black duffle bag. 

"Well I'm leaving now. I'll call you anytime I can I promise."

He put my hand on his face. "Take care sweetie and remember that I'll always be here for you."

He leaned down to kiss my lips. We shared a small sweet kiss for a few moments. "I love you."

"I love you too."

I watched him leave and I knew that college would be a new beginning for him. He would eventually go on with his life and many women would come and go. I knew for me that I might get another chance to meet a man who would love me and pleasure me like my husband did and how Luke did. I now believed in second chances.



Second Chances



It had already been a long night for Casey and she was ready to get off her feet and go home. Unfortunately, the clock on the wall reminded her she still had 3 hours left on her shift. So, with a deep breath, she went about wiping down the bar and emptying the overflowed ashtrays. Casey had been working at the same bar for almost 8 years now. She had seen many people come and go, heard many sob stories, and had even played taxi cab on a few occasions. 

But, one person always stuck out in her mind. His name was Billy Tanner, and he had, at one point, been the love of her life. Casey and Billy met one night when the bar was hosting a pool tournament. Billy won first place and walked out that night, not only with a trophy and $10,000 prize money, but with Casey on his arm, as well. They proceeded to have a very steamy, very violatile 4 year relationship, until one day, things just stopped being interesting.

The sex had become boring and the conversation redundant, and soon, Casey and Billy parted ways. It was on nights like this that Casey missed Billy, often wondering what had become of him. Had he accomplished his dream of becoming a world famous pool player? Or had he just settled into life, perhaps even marrying and having a couple children. 

Just then, someone played their song. The song that Billy and Casey fucked to for the first time. Casey froze for a moment and scanned the bar, trying desperately to find the person who had just played J-13, also known as, Push, by Matchbox 20.

There was no luck in finding the person, everyone was either seated and drinking, or at the pool tables across the bar. Casey suddenly came face to face with the past, there was Billy, seated on the last bar stool, at the end of the bar.

"The person you're looking for is right here, baby," he said, giving a half cocky grin.

"Oh my God, Billy Tanner, I was just thinking about you," she said, wide eyed and grinning, "What brings you round here after all this time?"

"Well, I'm competing in a pool tournament about 20 miles down the road and I thought I'd drop in here and see if I recognized anyone," he answered, flicking his cigarette into the ashtray.

Casey felt like a nervous teenager. Words escaped her and her mouth was dry as a bone. Not to mention her heart was beating like a bass drum, she felt sure she would pass out any moment. Billy looked great, even more so then he did while they were a couple. 

"Can I get you something?" she asked, barely able to speak without stuttering.

"Sure, baby, slide me down one of them beers," he said, pushing the filter of his Marlboro into the stained glass ashtray.

Casey's hands were shaking and her heart was still racing, but somehow, she managed to pour Billy's beer into a mug and slide it down to him.

"So," he said, "Have you replaced me yet?"

"I was wondering the same thing about you. I wondered if you had achieved your pool player dreams or had you just settled into marriage and fatherhood," she said, walking down to the end of the bar.

"No, no marriage, no kids, not that I know of," he said, grinning and sipping his Budweiser, "How bout you?"

"Well, definitely no marriage and no kids, not even a boyfriend, pretty sad huh?" she asked, wiping down the bar.

"Not sad at all, just means the door is wide open for me," he said.

"Oh, is that right?" she asked, grinning at him.

"Yeah, that's right, baby, I always did regret losing you," he answered.

Casey looked down at the bar, unsure of what her next words should be. She nervously wiped down the bar, wanting to say so much to Billy.

"It's not gonna get much cleaner, baby," he said, taking her hand and pulling the damp rag away, "What time do you get off?"

"Two, around two anyway," she answered, looking into his dark brown eyes.

"Okay, I'll be back then," he said, "Be ready, Casey, we got some catching up to do."

Two minutes later, he was gone. Casey took another long, deep breath and went to the back for a moment. She paced back and forth in the storage room, both nervous and happy that Billy had wandered back into her life.

The next few hours passed rather quickly, and true to his word, there was Billy, waiting for Casey to clock out.

"Goodnight, Ben!!" shouted Casey, "See you in three days."

"Three days?" asked Billy.

"Yeah, I have the next three days off," answered Casey, grabbing her purse and jacket.

"Okay with you if we go to my place?" he asked, as they walked to his truck.

"No, not at all," she answered, grabbing a Marlboro from her jacket pocket.

As the couple drove off into the night, Casey's butterflies returned, but this time, it was okay.

Miles and minutes later, Billy pulled into a long, dirt road driveway, that hosted a small, wooden cabin, surrounded by woods and nature.

"This is it, huh?" Casey asked, climbing out of the truck, "It's nice, Billy, I like it."

"I'm glad, baby, I like it too, I have my privacy and the outside world only bothers me when I want it to," he answered, walking up onto the wrap around porch and unlocking the door.

Casey's eyes widened as she stepped in. It was nothing like you'd expect a bachelor pad to look like. It was neat and tidy and, to her surprise, very nicely decorated. Much nicer then the apartment she called home. 

"I'm gonna go get us some drinks, baby, make yourself comfortable," said Billy, removing his leather jacket and disappearing into the kitchen.

Casey nodded her head, and she too, removed her jacket, slinging it over the black leather sofa. Her eyes scanned the room, the pictures, the decorations. There were plaques and trophies from various pool tournaments, all neatly displayed in a small, glass china cabinet. She wandered off to the left, finding the bathroom and the utility room, complete with washer and dryer. 

Finally, she came upon the bedroom. Placed perfectly in the center of the room, was a huge, king sized bed, decorated with black sheets and plush black comforter. Matter of fact, most of the house, from what she had seen, had touches of black and deep gray. Casey looked over her shoulder, checking to see if Billy was coming yet, then playfully fell onto the huge bed, stretching out and easing into the warm, inviting comforter.

"Well, I see you've become acquainted with my bed," said Billy, smiling and placing their drinks on a small, wooden night stand.

"I'm sorry," she said, quickly sitting up, feeling very stupid and embarrassed.

"No need to apologize, Casey," he said, "You and I are no strangers to being in bed together."

Casey gave a half smile and slid to the foot of the bed, right next to Billy.

"So, what is this catching up you mentioned earlier?" she asked.

"Well," said Billy, taking her hand, "I miss you, Casey, that's one of the reasons I came back. I can't stop thinking about you and wondering what went wrong with us."

"We just ran out of things to do and talk about, Billy, that's about it," she answered, nervously looking into his eyes.

"I can't accept that it's over," he said, leaning closer to her.

"There's no future in the past," she whispered, coming dangerously close to his warm, soft lips.

"And history always repeats itself," he whispered back, grazing her lips with his.

"Oh, Billy," she moaned, pressing her lips to his, as they fell back onto the bed.

Billy and Casey lay there, kissing and pawing at each other passionately, both seemingly trying to overpower the other.

"Wait," she said, quickly breaking the kiss, and pushing his body off hers, "If you missed me so damn much, where the fuck have you been the past three years? Huh?"

"Baby, I wanted to come back, many times, but, I don't know, call it foolish pride, call it stupidity, I don't know, I just couldn't," he answered breathlessly.

"So, what made you decide, after three years, to finally come back?" she asked.

"I told you, I'm playing in a pool tournament, not far from the bar you work at and I remember we spent many good times there. I wanted to go back and see if you were still there. And, as luck would have it, there you were, baby, that's the truth," he said, looking deep into her dark blue eyes.

"Why did you leave so easily, Billy?" she asked, lighting another cigarette.

"At that time, baby, we couldn't get along to save our lives. Everyday was a fight, we weren't going anywhere anymore. You didn't seem interested in saving us. I thought you wanted me gone, so I ended it," he answered.

"Oh I know all about how you ended it, Billy. I came home from shopping and you were gone. After four years of being together, you couldn't even face me. You left me a note and you took off. Maybe it was over for you, but it wasn't over for me!!!" she yelled, getting up from the bed.

"Damnit, it wasn't over for me either, Casey, I told you, I thought you wanted me gone, baby," he said, jumping up from the bed and grabbing her hard, pushing her back to his bedroom wall.

"I don't want it to be over anymore," he whispered, kissing her hard, pawing at the buttons on her shirt, ripping them like a wild animal.

Casey kissed him back just as hard, dropping her cigarette and stomping it into the carpet. As their tongues played tug of war, she slid her hand down his ultra tight jeans, forcefully grabbing his thick cock, the very cock that had sent her into another orbit, each and every time it fucked her.

"Oh God, Billy," she groaned, as he bit and kissed her neck, ripping her shirt off her body and pulling her lacey bra up over her tits, exposing them to the cool air of the bedroom.

As Billy sucked and bit her nipples, Casey shoved his jeans open, ripping the button, sending it flying across the room. She slid his jeans down, just below his ass cheeks, allowing his fat cock to bounce free. 

"I fucking need you," he whispered, reaching down, beneath her skirt and ripping her panties right off her body.

"I fucking need you too, Billy," she groaned, as he lifted her, cupping her ass and slamming his fat cock deep into her almost virgin like pussy.

Casey had not been with another man since she and Billy broke up. So, as you can imagine, in three years time, a woman's pussy has become tight as a virgin.

"Oh God," he groaned, "Your cunt's like a fucking rubber band baby, so goddamn tight."

"Fuck me, Billy," she groaned, throwing her head back and wrapping her legs around his naked hips.

Billy kissed her hard again and pulled her from the wall. With his cock still buried deep in her cunt, he walked them over to the bed, falling on top of her. He looked down, his mouth watering at the sexy sight of her huge tits and sexy brown nipples. His cock began to harden even further and he could no longer hold back. He pulled himself up to his knuckles, burying his hands into the bed and throwing Casey's legs over his shoulders, and proceeded to bang the shit right out of her virgin pussy.

"OH FUCK!!" she screamed, reaching up and grabbing the large, wooden headboard, "Oh God, please don't stop, Billy, please!!!"

"Fuck, you feel good," he groaned into her ear, slightly biting and tugging it with his razor sharp teeth.

Billy reached up to the headboard too, gripping it tightly and letting Casey's legs fall down beside him. The harder he gripped, the harder he pumped her sexy sloppy wet pussy. Every muscle flexed and small drops of sweat decorated his body and rained down on Casey, mixing with her own. 

She locked her legs tightly around him, flipping him over, as if to say, I am in control now. With a wicked gleam in her eye and a devilish grin on her face, Casey took full control of the situation, quickly straddling Billy's naked, sweaty body and teasingly kissing his wet cock tip with her sloppy, sticky pussy. 

He placed his hands on her hips and slowly pushed her down, feeling his cock, once again, reclaim the pussy he had loved so much, for so long. 

Their eyes locked and their bodies molded into one, as Casey slowly began pumping her pussy up and down Billy's long, fat shaft. She arched her back and dug her cunt walls hard around his cock, using her muscles to suck and slurp every vein on his shaft.

He threw his head back and groaned, almost like an angry lion, forcefully pumping his hips upwards, fucking deep into Casey's pussy. She locked her fingers with his and they spent the next hour, not only fucking, but reclaiming the love they both thought had long gone.

As the night wore on, and Billy and Casey both had each came several times, finally they lay there resting, holding onto each other, remembering once more what had drawn them together all those years before.

"I still love you, Casey," whispered Billy, as she lay there, resting her head on his strong, hairy chest, "I wanna give us another try, baby."

"I still love you, Billy," she whispered back, "I'm willing to give us another shot."

Billy closed his eyes and thanked God for giving him a second chance. A second chance at love, at lust and a second chance at having the woman he had always loved. 

"I won't fuck it up this time," he promised, gently playing with her hair, "I won't lose you again."

"I love you," she whispered, closing her eyes.

"I love you, baby," he said, closing his eyes and holding her close. 

The moral of this story? There may be no future in the past, but the past can and does repeat itself, and there's always room for second chances. 



Second Chances



Chapter 1

Willamette Valley, Oregon

October 1852

Naomi Tisdale pulled her horse to a stop and patted his neck absentmindedly as she surveyed her new home. She had wondered how much of a house and farm her thousand dollars would buy her, sight unseen. She smiled ruefully as she concluded, apparently not much.

The house was really not much more than a rustic, very small cabin. Still, it looked solid and sturdy, and she didn't really need much space. The kind of space she needed was from pitying glances and disapproving frowns. The cabin sat nestled beneath several majestic oak trees that would shelter it from storms and the summer heat. There was a river burbling nearby, and a stone well, complete with a bucket and rope, stood in the front yard. At least it didn't look like she would have to worry about having fresh water handy.

A large vegetable garden stretched out from the cabin, and she could tell the soil was black and fertile even though the patch had mostly gone to weeds. On the other side of the cabin was a rough stable that looked like it was just large enough to house a couple of horses and maybe a cow. A crude fence had been erected around the front, forming a corral. Naomi dismounted and led her horse into the enclosure before exploring the interior of the cabin.

She stood in the doorway, waiting for her eyes to adjust to the gloom. The thought that there might be other creatures inhabiting the space made her shudder. As long as there weren't any rats, she could handle just about any other kind of critter. The wood floor seemed sound enough, and she was relieved not to hear any scurrying sounds as she walked to the center of the room. A small table with four rickety chairs stood in the kitchen area. There were a few shelves built along the wall, and a cast iron cookstove took up one corner. A low bed with a lumpy cotton mattress occupied the opposite wall, making up the last of the furniture. A rock fireplace was centered along the back wall of the cabin, and a small stack of firewood was piled nearby. Every surface was covered with dust, grime and cobwebs, and a sour, stale smell hung heavy in the air.

So this would be her refuge, Naomi mused. She had come here seeking solitude, hoping to find some remnants of peace and happiness. It had been two years since her husband died. For two years she had agonized about all the ways she had failed him. She had failed to make him as happy as he had made her. She had failed to save him when the fever had him in its death grip. She had failed to give him the one thing he had wanted most in the world.

Naomi heaved a heavy sigh as she set her saddlebags and suitcases on a chair and began rolling up her sleeves. This was no time to get lost in morose memories. First things first, she thought. She would start a fire to provide light and heat, and then she might as well start cleaning. There was no way she was going to spend even one night in this filth. It was already late afternoon, so if she intended to get to bed before midnight, she had better make the most of the time she had.

***********

Aidan McKenzie frowned thoughtfully as he watched a thin stream of smoke rising through the trees. He knew it must be coming from old man Hatcher's cabin. The cabin had remained deserted after Mr. Hatcher died the previous year, and Aidan had heard that someone had bought it. He had considered buying it himself, since the farm that went with the cabin was prime land, and it bordered his own family's farm. It would have made a nice addition to their property, but the McKenzie brothers didn't have enough cash to make such a purchase just yet. They were just getting their feet on the ground after moving out from Kentucky two years before, and so they had reluctantly waited to see who would become their new neighbors.

Aidan was on his way home from town, and thought about continuing on his way, but curiosity got the best of him. He decided to drop by and introduce himself and see just who had bought the farm. The trail leading to the cabin from the main road wended through a small forest, and when he emerged from the trees, Aidan paused to watch as the new owner struggled to drag an old mattress through the narrow doorway.

From fifty yards away, Aidan judged the boy to be in his mid teens. He was somewhat scrawny from the way he was huffing and puffing to maneuver the mattress through the opening. He was dressed in brown breeches and a cream colored shirt of homespun cotton. As Aidan neared, the boy bent over further at the waist to get a better grip, and Aidan's eyes opened wide. That was definitely not a boy!

Why on earth a woman would be dressed in men's clothes was a thought that Aidan would later ponder, but at the moment, he was too busy taking in the sights. At closer range, he could see that she had long hair that had been wound into a tight bun. The woman's breeches lovingly stretched across the curviest bottom Aidan had ever had the pleasure to view, and as he drew his horse to a halt, his mouth watered as he took in the sight of a seemingly endless pair of slender legs. Perfectly proportioned hips tapered up from her bottom, and a flashing image of his hands gripping those hips as he plunged into her from behind made Aidan squirm a bit in his saddle. A wide belt cinched the breeches around the woman's tiny waist. Aidan wanted nothing more than to get his hands around her waist at that moment.

She had been so preoccupied with the mattress that the woman hadn't noticed him yet, so Aidan cleared his throat to announce his presence. She dropped the mattress and whirled to face him as he climbed down from his horse. He removed his hat and gave her his best smile.

"Good afternoon, ma'am. I'm Aidan McKenzie. I live just down the road, and I thought I would stop and introduce myself to you and your husband."

Naomi managed to squelch her yelp of surprise, and she answered out of habit as she cautiously eyed her unexpected visitor. "I'm a widow, Mr. McKenzie."

Naomi's eyes widened further as she took in his appearance. Had she not known better, she could have sworn here stood Apollo. He was several inches over six feet, with tawny, sun-streaked hair and darkly tanned skin. His eyes were a deep, soulful brown, and they were set beneath a pair of dark eyebrows. His cheekbones, nose and jaw were perfectly sculpted, strong and handsome, but it was his mouth that drew her stare. His lips were just the right mixture of firm and sensual, and the thought of them cruising along her nape made her nipples crinkle into tight buds. At that moment they were parted in a smile that revealed even, white teeth. Oh, what must he think of her, dressed in these clothes? She hadn't thought that anyone would see her dressed this way, and she fought an urge to squirm.

Her clothes were the last thing on Aidan's mind. His smile had deepened when he saw the woman's face. The knowledge that she did not have a husband, at least not a living husband, pleased him immensely. Delicate, creamy skin covered high cheekbones in a perfect, heart-shaped face. Her hair was a rich chestnut color that caught red highlights from the late afternoon sun. Moist, pink lips were parted to form a surprised O, and her wide blue eyes were tilted slightly up at the corners, lending them a hint of mystery. At that moment, her eyes were transfixed on his mouth, giving Aidan a chance to survey the rest of her.

If the sight of her backside had been appealing, the sight of her front made him ache with lust. Her breasts were full and sumptuous, thrusting firmly out to test the confines of her shirt. He glimpsed the edge of a white lace chemise above the vee of her shirt, and even beneath the layers of cloth, he could clearly see the outline of her erect nipples, straining against the fabric. In that moment, he knew he wouldn't rest until he had tasted those nipples as well as every other one of her charms. His smile deepened and he raised his eyes to meet her surprised stare just in time to avoid being caught in the act of ogling her.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Mrs...?"

Naomi started slightly and a delicate blush crept across her cheeks.

"Mrs. Naomi Tisdale. I'm sorry, you simply caught me by surprise. I don't usually have to be prompted to remember my manners."

Aidan shrugged and gave a small chuckle. "That's quite alright. You were so busy with that mattress, that I'm not surprised you didn't hear me coming. Please, let me give you a hand."

Aidan handed her his reins and bent to scoop up the mattress. He rolled it under one arm and turned to her with one brow raised.

"Where were you going to take it?"

"Well, maybe you could hang it over the corral fence. It's horribly dusty, so I was going to beat it clean and air it and see if it's still usable."

Aidan draped the cotton mattress over the fence and gave it a few hard pats of his hand. Clouds of dust billowed out from the cotton, and they both laughed.

"Well, maybe not," Naomi said with a wry smile. "Would you like a cup of coffee, Mr. McKenzie?"

"I would love one if it's not too much trouble."

"None at all. I already washed the kettle and cups, and I have coffee and sugar in my supplies. Please, come inside."

Aidan tied his horse's reins to the fence, and followed her, enjoying the gentle sway of her hips as she walked. Once again, a vision of creamy hips, naked and spread before him as she waited for him to fill her, flitted through Aidan's mind, and he grinned. He would definitely have to find a way to spend a lot more time with his new neighbor!

He stood in the doorway, facing out to the garden to give his blood a chance to cool as Naomi hung the kettle over the fire. She set out two cups and a small tin of sugar.

She turned to invite him to sit at the table, and her breath caught in her throat. He was standing with one hand braced high on the doorframe. His forearms rippled with muscle, and his wide shoulders and chest tapered down to a pair of trim hips and a perfectly delectable ass. The desire to grip his buttocks in her palms as he thrust into her again and again and again shot through Naomi's awareness, causing her cheeks to burn with a heated blush. What had possessed her to have such a wanton thought? She had only just met the man, and she was fantasizing about what it might be like to have him make love to her! Of course, her husband had been dead for over two years. Wasn't it normal for a healthy young woman to feel pangs of desire, especially when faced with such a gorgeous specimen of masculinity?

"Please, Mr. McKenzie. Won't you have a seat?"

"Thank you," he said, turning with a smile. He seated himself on one of the chairs and laid his hat on another. "I prefer to be called Aidan by my friends."

Naomi gave him a shy smile as she leaned over his arm and poured a cup of coffee for him. "Alright, but only if you call me Naomi."

She poured herself a cup and settled in the chair across from him. She gripped her cup in both hands to disguise their trembling, as she watched him add a bit of sugar to his coffee and take a tentative sip.

"You make a great cup of coffee, Naomi. Thank you."

Once again, Aidan flashed her his charming grin, and she returned his smile as her cheeks flushed with pleasure. Why it should be important that he like her coffee, she didn't know, but at that moment, it seemed terribly important.

"Were you thinking of putting in a fall garden?" Aidan asked.

Naomi shrugged as she nibbled her bottom lip. "I wanted to, but I don't know whether there will be enough time. I might just have to make do with store bought foodstuffs for this first winter until I can get the place into shape."

"Hmmm," Aidan said, sipping his coffee as his mind raced with possibilities. "I think there might be a way we could help each other."

Naomi eyed him skeptically. "And how is that?"

"Well, my brothers and I already have our fall crops planted this year, so I have a bit of extra time on my hands. However, I also have a large crop of late peaches that need to be preserved or sold. Now, we love peach preserves, but we don't know how to make them. If you were willing to make them, I would not only share the preserves with you, but I would be happy to put your garden in for you."

Naomi's face brightened as she thought about his proposal. The thought of having some help was appealing, and if she could do it without having to dip into her savings to hire someone, all the better.

"I certainly know how to make peach preserves, if you bring me the jars, sugar and peaches."

"It's a deal then." Aidan drank the last of his coffee and stood. "I'll be out first thing in the morning to get started."

Naomi rose as well and followed him to the door. She held out her hand with a warm smile.

"It was a pleasure to meet you, Aidan."

Aidan ignored her hand and looped an arm around her waist as he pulled her hard against his chest. Before Naomi could collect enough wits to react, he swooped and claimed her mouth. She moaned as he parted her lips and explored her mouth with fiery strokes of his tongue. Sharp pangs of desire sprouted in the pit of her belly, and Naomi wound her arms around his neck, pressing her breasts even more snugly against him. She could feel the hard ridge of his erection pressing into her belly, and she released another low moan as she returned his kiss with heightened desire.

He had only meant to kiss her, but Naomi was so willing and responsive, that Aidan couldn't resist the urge to cup one full breast in his palm. He kneaded the firm mound, and she arched her back, pressing it into his hand. He squeezed her hardened nipple, twisting it between his fingers as he continued to ravish her mouth. She rubbed her hips against him, cradling him against her softness as her body called out to his. His cock was throbbing painfully as he toyed with her breast. Soon, he reassured himself. Very soon he would have her, but not today. He ended the kiss and waited for her eyes to flutter open. It took her several moments to realize that he was still intimately handling her nipple before she blushed and took a step back, breaking the contact but not stepping fully out of his embrace.

He gave her a slow, wicked grin as he brushed his thumb along her swollen lower lip. When he spoke, there was a husky timbre that she hadn't noticed in his voice before. "I assure you, Naomi, the pleasure was all mine."

He was gratified when she shivered with awareness, and he could easily have lost himself in the luminous depths of her startled blue gaze. He hauled in a tight breath and released her.

"Good evening, Naomi. I'll see you first thing in the morning."

Naomi couldn't find her voice to respond, so she merely nodded. She watched as he walked to his horse, mounted, gave her one last salute and rode off through the woods. She slowly closed the door and leaned back against the planks. Her nipple felt like it was on fire, and she could feel moisture seeping from her throbbing pussy onto the crotch of her breeches. She had experienced her husband's lovemaking for three years, and while it had been pleasant, it hadn't compared to this. She had never burned with a need to have him inside her.

Had Aidan not ended the kiss himself, Naomi had no doubt that she would be lying beneath him even now. She remembered her shameless behavior, when she had ground her hips against his and pressed her breast into his hand. She had practically begged him to use her for his pleasure. The thought made her gasp, but even as color flooded her cheeks from the memory, a slow grin spread across her face. Having him inside her would have served her own pleasure every bit as much as it would his. She didn't doubt for a second that Aidan was more than capable of satisfying her every desire.

Why shouldn't she take a lover? She had already decided that she would never marry again, but there was no reason not to enjoy a man's touch. Especially when that man was as desirable as Aidan McKenzie. If his lovemaking was one of the few pleasures left to her, then she was determined to savor every moment of it!

Naomi crossed to her suitcase and began unpacking her clothes. She would need to press one of her dresses tonight. When Aidan returned in the morning, she was determined that he would find her looking much more feminine and appealing than she had looked today. Now that she had made up her mind to have him, she was full of impatience. It seemed a little well-aimed seduction was called for to get him into her bed sooner rather than later!

**********

Aidan rushed through his morning chores and grabbed a sausage and biscuit for breakfast that he could eat while he drove his wagon to Naomi's cabin. She had haunted his dreams. He couldn't wait to see her again, to hold her again, to taste her again. Even now, the memory of her soft belly and thighs lovingly cradling his erection made him ache to have her.

He arrived just after sunrise, and he jumped down from the wagon. He could see signs of activity from inside the cabin, and he could swear he smelled bacon frying. He knocked on the door and heard Naomi's muffled voice from inside, bidding him to enter. The sight that greeted him as he opened the door drove his breath out of his chest and sent hot blood pounding through his loins.

Naomi was dressed in a white cotton nightgown with only a soft blue wrapper over it, belted at her slim waist. She was bent over pulling a pan of biscuits from the oven, and the hem of her gown had risen in the back to give him a tantalizing view of shapely calves, dainty ankles, and delicate bare feet. Her bottom wiggled enticingly as she stepped back with the pan and closed the oven door before turning to face him.

She flashed him a brilliant smile of welcome and set the pan of biscuits on the table beside a platter of bacon and eggs. Aidan ignored the food as his eyes made a slow survey of her from head to toe. Her cheeks were rosy, and her hair hung in thick, shimmering chestnut waves down to her hips. Her breasts were soft and unfettered beneath her gown, and he paused for a long moment to enjoy the sight of her nipples standing proudly erect. Aidan wished fervently that he had been beside her in bed when she woke up looking so tempting and luscious. Naomi stood composed beneath his heated regard and waited for him to meet her eye again before she let her smile deepen.

"Come sit down. I made you some breakfast, and I hope you are hungry."

Naomi turned aside to reach for the coffee pot, but Aidan caught her hand in his and turned her back to face him. He pulled her slowly toward him, giving her ample opportunity to resist if she wanted. Instead, she came willingly into his arms and sank against him, pressing her succulent breasts to his chest until their fullness threatened to overflow her gown. He tried to read her eyes, but all he could see was anticipation in their cornflower blue depths. Could it be that she wanted him as badly as he wanted her? He cupped her cheek in his palm and caressed the side of her neck as he held her gaze.

"I'm starving," he growled, letting his gaze dip to the tantalizing view of her breasts. "I feel like a feast has been laid before me."

Naomi stretched onto her tiptoes to kiss his jaw where it met his neck. She traced a molten path with her tongue to his ear, and her voice was sinful delight as she whispered in his ear.

"I'm willing to satisfy any appetite you might have, Aidan."

With a satisfied growl, he gripped her buttock in his palm and swooped to devour her lips. Naomi felt as if she had been caught in a hurricane as he plundered the depths of her mouth. She met his every demand, only distantly aware that he had untied her robe and brushed it over her shoulders. His fingers were impatient on the buttons of her gown, and when he had gotten a few opened, he wrestled the garment down over her breasts and hips and let it slither to the floor.




Second Chances



Naomi stood naked before him, feeling consumed by the heat in his gaze but allowing him to look to his heart's content. His eyes touched her everywhere, and beneath his burning stare, her nipples swelled and hardened into painfully hard nubs. With another primitive growl, he bent her back over his arm and seized one nipple with his mouth.

Naomi gasped from the flaming heat of his tongue on her breast. She cupped her breast and held it up to his mouth as he feasted, drawing so hard on the tender morsel that she cried out from the mixture of pain and pleasure. Aidan nipped her with his teeth, and she quivered in his arms but pressed her breast more fully into his mouth. Her wanton responsiveness only made him more ravenous, and he shifted to her other breast to see if it tasted just as sweet. Naomi was happy to oblige him, and she threaded her fingers through his hair, clutching his mouth to her breast as her head dropped back with a low moan of pleasure.

Possessed with an urgency he had never felt before, Aidan scooped her into his arms and carried her to her bed. He laid her cross ways on the bed, noticing that she had made a pallet out of several blankets over the rope bed frame. It was serviceable but not very soft, and he made a mental note to bring her a mattress by tomorrow. He had no intention of seeing her lovely ass get bruised from having him ride her on a bed that wasn't soft enough for her.

Naomi made no move to shield herself from his gaze, as he pulled her legs wide, exposing her pussy to him. She watched his face as he stood beside the bed, lightly running his fingers over her outer folds. She was dripping with musky dew, and he slid first one then two fingers inside her, spearing her rhythmically and spreading her fluid until she was shiny and swollen. She resisted as long as she could before arching her hips against his fingers.

Aidan met her eye and unbuttoned his breeches. He didn't bother to undress. He merely freed his magnificent cock and stood stroking its length as he studied her eyes. He hadn't planned to take her like this, like some barbarian intent on ravishing her. He had meant to take his time, to woo her and court her. But he hadn't planned on being broadsided by the sight of her half-dressed body so soon after spending a torturous night fantasizing about her.

"Are you sure this is what you want?" he asked, holding his breath while he prayed for the answer he needed.

Naomi gave him a siren's smile and pulled his hips toward her with her calves. "Yes! Now hurry! I'm dying to feel you inside me."

He spread her thighs wide apart and moistened the tip of his cock with her juices before slipping partway inside. She was incredibly tight and hot, and he closed his eyes to savor the sensation of working himself into her snug sheath. When he was finally buried to the hilt inside her, he gave a groan of pure pleasure and buried his face in the crook of her neck. Then he rode her with deep, leisurely, mind-shattering strokes that coaxed a steady stream of moans and gasps from her parted lips.

Naomi met each thrust, encouraging him to wallow in her wet heat with every probing invasion. She had never been this full before, stretched to the point of pain to accommodate his size. Her breasts jounced on her chest as he possessed her, and he reached to squeeze her nipples firmly in his fingers. She shattered, clutching him with her thighs as her inner muscles squeezed his cock in wonderful waves. Sweat broke out on Aidan's forehead as he watched her orgasm roll through her. She was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen, and he wasn't ready to have their first joining be over so soon.

He suckled one nipple into his mouth and bit down hard enough for her to gasp and come back to full awareness. Her nipples were sensitized from his earlier ravishment, and he taunted them, suckling hard on them and scraping them with his teeth as he stroked in and out of her velvety heat. He reached down to grasp her clit and squeezed in time to his thrusts. She came apart a second time, screaming her pleasure as she clutched him deep inside her. The grip of her inner muscles almost made him climax, but he held on to his control by a thread.

Aidan abruptly withdrew from her and flipped her onto all fours, smiling when she whimpered from the loss of his heat. He nudged her knees wide apart, gripped her hips and plunged into her, just as he had done in his dreams. His hoarse groan of satisfaction made her shiver with delight. Naomi tilted her hips backward, blatantly offering her pussy to him as he took her. With each thrust, she felt him battering against her womb, and she moaned. The feel of his hands gripping her hips, his rough breeches scraping the backs of her thighs, his balls slapping against her clit made her scream, and she climaxed yet again. In this position, she couldn't stop his thrusts while she came, and it seemed every stroke made her orgasm last even longer until she thought she might go mad.

When she thought she couldn't stand the pleasure for one more moment, he ground his cock into her depths and held her bottom snug against him as he poured his seed deep into her body. She could feel his molten fluid bathing her womb in a series of endless, spurting waves. When the last tremors had faded, he slipped from her depths and allowed her to fall in a boneless heap on the bed. He kicked off his boots and joined her, pulling her spoonlike against his chest. He cupped one breast in his palm and gave her nipple a final squeeze as he kissed her neck.

"Thank you. I definitely needed that," he murmured drowsily.

Naomi smiled and snuggled closer against him. She could already hear his breathing slowing down, and with a deep sigh of satisfaction, she fell asleep in his arms.



Second Chances



I sat in the stuffy, dusty attic staring at the picture of a young girl. She was a somewhat attractive girl, although, it was plain to see that she took no pains to enhance her appearance. There was a bare minimum of makeup visible. Her blonde hair was carefully brushed, but no attempt had been made to fashion it into any sort of style that would further highlight her best features. The only adornment that could be seen was a fine silver chain that looped around her delicate neck.

The one thing that leapt out at you was her eyes. They were a very pretty shade of blue. They were definitely a feature that one would remember if they were turned in your particular direction. However, the color wasn't the thing that made you take notice. It was the intense determination that grabbed your attention. You could almost feel the heat burn you as you took in the fierce resolve that her gaze contained.

These were the eyes of a young lady who was going places in life. No obstacle would ever be too large to keep her from her appointed goal. Hard work and gritty willpower were two virtues that she would have in abundance. This was most definitely not a young lady that would ever stoop to using her looks to get her places in life. No, this young woman was certainly not someone to ever be trifled with.

I smiled to myself as I read the caption beneath the photograph -- "Sandra Parker, Valedictorian 1976."

The book that I was holding in my hands was my old high school yearbook from St. Benedict's Catholic School. The young lady in the photo was me.

How had I managed to hold on to this old thing for the past thirty-one years? I was not exactly what anyone would ever call a sentimental person. I preferred to use my energies in life to concentrate on the next challenge before me, rather than reminisce over days gone by. 

I was very meticulous in my cleaning habits. Every Fourth of July I would cull through the clutter that I had acquired during the past year and have anything was that wasn't of vital importance hauled away. I wondered how I could have somehow missed the dilapidated box that had held this old relic.

I made myself comfortable amongst the dust bunnies - below the bare light bulb suspended from a wire dangling from the rafters overhead and absently leafed through the old yearbook. I couldn't help but smile at seeing some of my former classmates that I hadn't even thought of in many years.

God! We looked so young!

The more that I browsed through the pages, the more I began to study each and every face of my fellow graduate. In the legal profession you learned to watch the eyes of those you were dealing with for any telltale sign of fear or evasiveness that might flicker across their surface. It was a trick that I was quite good at and it had given me an advantage in many situations.

As I looked at the eyes of one classmate after another, I noticed something that almost all of them had in common. In each of their eyes you could see a hint of pure, unadulterated joy. After all, for many of them these photographs were taken during the last really carefree days that they would know. What did high school kids know of the real world of bills and taxes and troubled marriages?

From time to time, I would turn back to my photograph. I searched in vain for any sign of that same light heartedness that was so plainly etched into the other student's faces. As hard as I tried, I could find no evidence that the young Sandra Parker emitted anything but an aura of raw determination and strong will.

"Was I really that much different from all of my peers?" I wondered.

Surely, I must have had many things in common with them. After all, hadn't I been elected class president? Nobody would have voted for me if I had been so much different from everyone else.

I flipped to the pages that had been reserved for each of us to gather the signatures of our fellow classmates. Rather than feeling any sense of fond nostalgia as I read through their written offerings, I began to sink more and more into a state of melancholy.

Where were the little personal remarks that friends always scribbled in each other's books? Where were the pledges that we would always be close friends throughout the rest of our lives? Where were the little inside jokes that no one who wasn't a part of our tight little group would ever understand?

I was surprised at the paucity of the number of people who had actually signed my book. The ones who had signed had only left little, short notes along the lines of "Good luck at Princeton", "To the smartest girl in our class", "Best wishes in the future", and (worse of all) "You have my respect".

A knot was forming in the pit of my stomach as the past started coming back to me. Not the conveniently warm memories that I had convinced myself were a part of my past, but the true memories of how it had really been for the young "Sandra Parker -- Valedictorian 1976".

As I once again turned back to the page with my photograph, I remembered how I had always felt left out of so many things that were going on during my high school years. I remembered all of the talk about the various parties that my classmates were attending, the school dances, the sleepovers, and the latest gossip of who was dating who. That type of frivolous behavior might have been alright for the others, but they weren't the daughter of Bertram and Elizabeth Parker.

My father had been one of the most respected attorneys in the state. He was the best at what he did and everyone knew it. Even after I had begun to garner a little attention in the legal arena, there were always plenty of people that would feel compelled to relate some little story of my father's exploits upon learning who I was. Most often, these stories were not of the warm and fuzzy variety, but rather, a retelling of how my father had ripped into some up and coming legal hotshot or corporation and left them sobbing for mercy.

My mother had been a competitive figure skater. When I say that she was a skater, I don't mean that she was a young woman who merely liked to skate. No, she had been to the Olympics in both 1956 and again in 1960 and was one of the most well known female athletes in the entire world at one time. In short, she was probably the most driven person that I have ever known.

These were the genes that had been passed along to me. I can't honestly say that I was ever aware that I was an unhappy child. I had just been raised to set lofty goals for myself and any goal was a challenge that must be conquered. If my resolve ever faltered for a moment, my parents were there as an example to redouble my efforts and keep me focused.

My mother was often quick to point out that you only had one chance to prepare yourself for the rest of your life. You didn't get a second chance to go back and do it all over again. You had to get it right the first time.

In today's permissive society, that may sound like a harsh philosophy in which to raise a child. However, I have never found any fault with it. The intensity that had been forged in me from an early age made it possible for me to graduate from Princeton in just three years. From there, it was on to my law degree and today I am one of the youngest vice presidents and one of only a handful of women presiding over a major corporation in America.

No, I wouldn't have had it any other way. While I saw the looks of joy in the photos of my former classmates, I wondered how many of them would have wished to switched places with me now. How many would wish to be able to live in one of the houses that I owned? Or to drive one of the luxury cars parked in my garage? Or to be able to travel the world whenever the mood hit them like I could? How many of them had enough money in the bank to live comfortably for the rest of their lives even if they never earned another nickel?

Maybe it was just the atmosphere of being in that dingy attic, but my once steel-like will crumbled for just a moment.

Yes, I could travel the world whenever I wanted to. But, did I? Of course I didn't. There was always another meeting to prepare for or a crisis that could not be entrusted to anyone else. But, that was just part of being a responsible, mature adult, I rationalized. I always thought there would be plenty of time when I got older that I could indulge my urge to travel.

And, houses? I owned three in total -- including the magnificent beach house on Cape Cod that I was presently rummaging through the attic of. In addition to the houses, I also owned three condos in Miami, Los Angeles, and New York City. These were three of the most exciting cities in the whole world. Who in their right mind wouldn't be just a bit envious of that?

It was a thought that should have lifted my spirits. However, it had the entirely opposite effect on me. I found that my depression only deepened as a tiny voice crept across my conscious mind.

You own houses, yes. But, do you have a home?

A house is merely a structure for keeping the outside world at bay. Other people owned homes. They had loving spouses and perhaps even children. They had families that cared for each other and with whom they could share all of life's ups and downs. They had a team that they could always count on, no matter what obstacles life may set in their path.

I thought ruefully, that I too had once had that. I had been married for twelve years until the divorce became final nearly ten years ago. My husband, Bill, had been an attorney at a different firm. I had thought that he, of all people, would understand the pressure that we constantly toiled under and the commitment that one must have in order to be successful.

The sixty to eighty hour weeks that I had put in at work had slowly crushed the life out of our marital union. The accusations and recriminations had started slowly, but grew in their frequency with every passing year until we were left with little more than a seething resentment of each other.

I have always been more than willing to shoulder my share of the blame for our failed marriage. I knew that I could sometimes be very demanding and that I didn't suffer the failings of others easily.

Sometimes? Face it Sandra, you were about as subtle as a steamroller on the best of days

But, what's wrong with being demanding? Was I supposed to just sit quietly by while Bill and our daughter, Lindsey, made mistakes that they would only regret later in life? Couldn't they see that it was my way of saying how much I loved each of them?

At least, Bill was a grown man. He had the strength and maturity to deal with whatever perceived criticisms may have come his way. Lindsey was not so fortunate. The more that I tried to help her, the more she seemed to turn away. It should not have come as any surprise when she asked to be allowed to live with her father after the divorce. Surpised? No, but I had indeed been crushed inside when she made her intentions clear.

I tried to schedule as much time with my daughter as I possibly could. I always made sure that there was a special room in any of my residences reserved for her use when we were together. I've watched her blossom into a beautiful young lady. Whatever differences I may have had with Bill, I have to give him grudging respect for the marvelous job he did in raising her.

I felt a small tickle on my cheek and quickly brushed it away -- fearing that it was a spider or some such disgusting insect. I was surprised that the culprit was indeed not of the arachnid family at all. I looked at the spot of moisture on the back of my hand as if it were an alien creature from another planet.

 A tear?

"Sandra Parker, what has gotten into you today?" I asked myself, "Do you think that sitting here crying was going to solve anything? Maybe we should all just sit down and have a nice long cry together!"

I recognized the words immediately as one of my mother's favorite admonishments. The mere thought of the look that she used to have in her eyes as she towered over me was enough to snap me back to the present. Crying was a waste of time that never did anyone one little bit of good. I set the yearbook aside and started to pick myself up from the floor. That was when I noticed something else that was in the box that had contained that wretched book.

In the bottom of the box was a timeworn jewelry box. It had been many years since I had even thought about that box. I knew what it was immediately. I hesitantly reached for it and lifted the lid. Inside was my old St. Benedict's medal suspended from its delicate silver chain -- the same chain that I had worn in my yearbook picture so many years ago.

My head swam as I fingered the long lost pendant. I searched my memory in an effort to remember what the priests and nuns at our school had taught us about the venerable St. Benedict. I smiled as I thought about the stories they had told us of how St. Benedict had lived as a hermit for many years. Later in life, he had left his self-imposed isolation to found the first seminaries where other fellow hermits could come together and live in brotherhood.

Without even thinking about it, my fingers opened the clasp. I placed the necklace around my neck, and refastened it securely. All of a sudden I felt a certain kinship with the patron saint of our old school that I had never felt before. I wasn't used to the self-pity that seemed to have taken hold of me during the past hour or so as I had rummaged through this dusty attic. St. Benedict, of all people, might be able to give me the strength to deal with the feelings of loneliness and regret that I was now experiencing.

There's no such thing as second chances, Sandra.

My mother's words again came floating back to me. I had long ago given up any belief in the silly superstitions that the good nuns had tried so hard to instill in us. I shook my head that I had almost slipped back into believing those quaint notions again. Yet, I left the necklace in place. It felt somehow comforting as it nestled against the soft skin of chest.

At long last, I brushed the dust that clung to my clothes, snapped off the old light, and carefully climbed down from the dusty attic. The clutter would just have to wait for another day. I suddenly felt completely exhausted and wanted nothing more than to lay down for a little while. I wasn't sure if it were the memories that had assaulted me during my excursion in the attic of maybe an allergy to the dust, but I was feeling decidedly lightheaded. I made it as far as the sofa in the living room before I laid down and fell sound asleep.

I awoke some time later. I wasn't sure how long I had been asleep, but I was surprised to see that the sun had begun to set. Rather than being groggy as one might expect, I felt surprisingly good. I got up from the couch and stretched. Something felt different, but I couldn't quite put my finger on it. I walked through the house on my way towards the kitchen to find something to eat.

As I passed by a mirror in the hallway, I stopped to see if there was any dust still clinging to my hair. When I looked into the mirror I froze in shock! Instead of my reflection, I was gazing into the face of a stranger!

No, not a stranger -- I knew this face. After all, it was the same face that I had just been looking at in the yearbook. It was the face of "Sandra Parker -- Valedictorian 1976"!

I stood there staring with uncomprehending eyes. How could this be? Was I only dreaming? I slowly lifted a hand to touch my cheek and looked on with amazement as the reflection in the mirror did likewise. I could feel the touch of my fingertips against my smooth cheek. Surely, I wouldn't be able to feel the touch so clearly if this was only a dream, would I?

Sandra, you never dream

This was true. I only viewed sleep as a necessary activity to prepare oneself for another day of work. I couldn't recall having a single dream since I was a really little girl. But, if this wasn't a dream, then what in the world was going on here? I did the only thing that I could think of -- I ran upstairs to my bedroom to check the reflection in my full sized mirror.

I don't know what it was that I was expecting. Maybe, a burst of energy would clear my head and reality would somehow swim back into focus? However, when I arrived in front of the mirror in my room, I was greeted by the same sight. My younger self stood there gazing back at me with the same open mouthed expression that I was wearing.

Another small detail caught my eye. The clothes that I had been wearing when I had embarked upon my attic cleaning assignment now hung on me baggily. I wasn't what anyone would call heavy to begin with. I stand five foot-four and weight one hundred and twenty-five pounds. However, the waif that stared back at me looked to be the same one hundred and three pounds that I had weighed in high school.

A sudden thought occurred to me. I reached up and grasped the neckline of my t-shirt between my thumb and index finger and pulled it outwards. I lowered my eyes and looked down my distended top.

"Oh, my lord," I muttered.

I quickly reached down and pulled the t-shirt completely off. My hands flew behind my back and unclasped the now loose bra and let it fall to the floor. My eyes slowly raised to once again look upon the image in the mirror. The sight that I beheld was a vision that any forty-nine year old woman may have fantasized about at some time in their life.

There I saw, captured in the glass, was the image of me at the peak of my beauty. My skin had that fresh-scrubbed glow of vitality that until now had only been a distant memory. It hadn't yet been ravaged by the consumption of countless fast food meals or been neglected for far too long from the use of gentle body washes and creamy moisturizers.

I slowly placed my hands over my flat stomach and traced my fingertips along the flawless skin. I raised my eyes slightly and took in the sight of my small breasts. They were the same small size that they had been thirty-one years ago, but they stood up proudly, without any of the sag that came from aging. If this was indeed a dream, then I fervently hoped that I would never awaken from it!

Without even thinking about it, I lifted my hands up to cover my young breasts. A soft sigh escaped my lips as I gently applied pressure to the small pink nipples that poked through my extended fingers. I swayed on my feet momentarily at this unaccustomed feeling. I have never been the sort of woman who ever had the time to waste in indulging themselves in such activity. I had always considered self-pleasure to be degrading and the time could always be spent in some other endeavor that would be far more beneficial in the long run.

I suddenly was swept up in the desire to see what the rest of me looked like. I quickly peeled off my shorts and panties and kicked them aside. I couldn't believe what I was seeing reflected back at me! I ran my hands down my sides and over my narrow hips. My smooth legs looked to be quite toned and the tiny thatch of light colored pubic hair was the only contrast to my milky complexion.

"How come I had never noticed just how lovely I had looked when I was a teenager?" I wondered to myself as I stared brazenly at my nude reflection. I turned around and looked back over my shoulder and nearly came to tears when I gazed upon my bottom. Soft, round, and high, there was not even a hint of the sag that I had become accustomed to seeing.

I almost squealed with joy as I spun back around towards front again. My sudden movement made the St. Benedict necklace bounce against my soft skin. I stared at it for a moment. Could this somehow be a tiny miracle being performed by the Patron Saint of school children? I laughed at my silliness in dredging up that old superstition. However, I also made no attempt to remove the necklace from its place around my neck.




Second Chances



"If this is small gift from you, St. Benedict," I thought, "then I shall be only too happy to accept it for as long as it lasts." 

But, what was I to do with myself? I was on vacation, so I didn't need to worry about going to work. My usual routine of catching up on emails with various colleagues did not seem like something that I wanted to spend the evening doing. Suddenly having the energy of an eighteen year old was pretty powerful stuff. I had never tried crack or any other drug, but I wondered if this was the same sort of high that addicts experience when they indulged in their practice.

I needed a plan. The only way that I knew how to deal with any problem was to break it down into individual steps and start plugging away at fulfilling them. First of all I would need some clothes. It seemed that my entire wardrobe was now out of the question. Judging from the way that my t-shirt and shorts had fit me, I knew that any of my other clothing would likewise be too large on me now. Luckily, I remembered that Lindsey had some clothes that she kept here in her closet.

I padded naked through the large house to my daughter's room. I was pleased to note that there was not the slightest evidence of aching knees or my chronically sore lower back caused by too many hours hunched over my desk at work. I rifled through Lindsey's closet and dresser for something to put on. She was nineteen years old and about the same size that I was now, so I figured that I should be able to find something to wear.

I tried on several different things, but decided upon a pair of very short shorts and a t-shirt that was for some reason cut off at the midriff. I had always been of the opinion that Lindsey dressed in too provocative a manner, but she was a lovely girl and I didn't feel that it was my business to interfere with the way that Bill was raising her. Unfortunately, Lindsey didn't keep any bras here at the beach house. I had never before gone without one, but I decided that I didn't really have a choice in the matter.

I looked at myself in the mirror and couldn't believe my eyes. "You know, Sandra," I thought to myself, "you were quite an attractive young lady at one time. How come I never took the time to notice that while I was growing up?"

I was feeling so good inside that there was no way in the world that I wanted to spend the evening all alone inside this empty house. I grabbed a pair of my daughter's sandals and bounded out of the front door and down to the beach. It was now fully dark outside, but there was a bright moon overhead. I kicked the sandals off and walked along the beach in the moonlight -- just enjoying the feel of the sand between my toes. It occurred to me that I had owned this house for the past fifteen years, yet I could count the times that I had taken the opportunity to enjoy the beautiful beach on one hand. This was certainly something that I would have to remember to do more often in the future.

As I walked along the shoreline, the gentle waves lapped around my feet. Without even thinking about it, I absently kicked at the water as I practically skipped along. If anyone would have been watching, they might have thought that I was just another young school girl enjoying the beautiful surroundings. If any of my colleagues had seen me, they would not have believed their eyes.

Up ahead I could hear the sound of music and I could make out what looked to be a bonfire. I knew that young people would often have impromptu parties on the beach. They were not permitted, but nobody ever complained about them either. The gatherings were almost never of a rowdy nature. After all, these were the scions of some of the wealthiest families in America. There were trust funds and Ivy League educations in the balance that none of the young people were too anxious to put in jeopardy.

I found myself slowly drifting in their direction. Perhaps if I had taken a moment to analyze the situation, I might have acted differently. I may look like just an average teenager, but there was no way in the world that I would ever be able to blend into a crowd of young people. At times it seemed as if they spoke a completely alien language and what did I know of youth culture anymore. It wasn't as if I spent a great deal of time watching MTV or anything. However, in-depth analysis was something that was the furthest thing from my mind. It seemed that this new fun loving attitude was winning control of my mind.

I walked over towards the gathering. There were about fifteen to twenty young people sitting around a small bonfire listening to a young man who was playing the guitar and singing. A few people looked in my direction and I thought for a moment that they could instantly see through my disguise. I held my breath for a moment until several of them smiled in greeting and then went back to listening to the music.

They couldn't tell a thing!

I felt my confidence soar. A couple of the kids scooted aside to make room for me on their blanket and I took a seat with my stomach churning. One young man reached across and handled me a cold bottle of something. I turned it towards the light of the fire and discovered that it was a wine cooler. 

I was certainly aware that there were such things as wine coolers, but somehow I had easily managed to never have acquired any personal knowledge of just in the world they were. My taste in wines was of a rather more refined nature. I am sure that any self respecting sommelier would have gagged if he had ever permitted a drop of this noxious liquid to alight upon his tongue. I, on the other hand, was grateful to have something to do with my hands. It helped to keep the nervousness that I was feeling at bay.

Tentatively, I took a small sip from the bottle. It wasn't the most exquisite beverage that I have ever tasted, but at least it was cool and refreshing. I took a longer sip and that one went down even easier than the first. Who knows? Maybe I could even develop a liking for these!

I turned my attention to my fellow revelers. You could tell immediately that they all came from old-monied families. I recognized some of the designer clothes that they sported and even thought that I could see some family resemblances to long time neighbors. Everyone seemed to have a bottle of wine cooler or beer in his or her hand as they nodded their heads in time with the music. I never had time to listen to music, but the rest of them seemed to know the songs quite well and they sang right along.

I smiled and partook of more of that suddenly delicious wine cooler. It felt wonderful to be accepted by the other young people and I was simply enjoying the moment. I wondered absently if this was what I had been missing during my high school years. Why hadn't I ever taken the time to do this way back then?

To my surprise I found that my bottle was empty. Almost as soon as I set it down in the sand by my feet, somebody passed me another one. I took it without a moment's hesitation.

"Thank you," I smiled -- speaking to my newfound friends for the first time.

The girl sitting next to me gave a small giggle while holding up her own bottle and said, "I just love these. Don't you?"

I laughed right along with her and managed, "I like them more and more all the time!"

My companion turned her attention to the young man playing the guitar. "Derrick sure is something, isn't he?" she said, "I don't know which is hotter -- his voice or his looks."

I followed her glance and took note of the budding artist for the first time. He was certainly a striking young man who looked to be in his early twenties at most. His sandy hair caught the glow of the campfire and the moon overhead as he played his instrument for all. I didn't have the slightest idea of what the song was that he was playing, but I had to admit that his voice was quite pleasant.

I lifted my bottle and took another long drink while I watched his hands move along the stings of the guitar with an impressive dexterity. I noted that he didn't seem to be showing off at all. It seemed that his playing was the most natural thing in the world.

Off to my side I spied someone striking a match and I glanced over. A young man appeared to be lighting a cigarette, but as soon as the smoke drifted in my direction, I knew that this was not the case. I might not have been of their world, but I certainly had smelled that aroma before! For the first time since settling down on the blanket I began to have reservations about being in this company. If the police were to show up, irreparable damage would be done to the futures of everyone here. I tried to concentrate on the music while I figured out what to do.

Just as I was about to get up and leave, Derrick turned his head in my direction and flashed the most winning smile. It was almost as if a thunderclap went off in my head! Suddenly, it seemed as if there wasn't another soul sitting around that bonfire. I couldn't swear to it, but it looked like he even gave me a small wink. I found myself smiling back at him in spite of myself. The moment couldn't have lasted longer that a couple of seconds at most. However, it seemed that it had lasted much longer.

I looked away shyly, but I could feel an unaccustomed heat permeating my body. Had that young man just flirted with me? I may have been more than twice as old as anyone sitting around that campfire, but in some ways, I was the one who lacked the experience that they all had. I chided myself for being so foolish. After all, wasn't I the one that could bring other hard-bitten attorneys to their knees with one withering stare? I took another drink and watched the guitarist once again. The joint that was being passed along to my left was a forgotten issue.

It didn't take long before Derrick again turned his glance in my direction. Again, he flashed the same dazzling smile. Only this time, I was ready for him. I held his gaze steadily and waited for him to be the one to look away. To my surprise, his gaze never flickered. I had the fleeting thought that he was singing just for me as our eyes stayed locked together. I found myself smiling back at him once again.

This young man was good. I thought to myself that if he was considering a career in the legal profession, that he would probably go a long way. We continued to communicate with just our eyes when the guy sitting next to me handed me the joint from earlier. I took it without thinking and was snapped back to my senses immediately. What was I doing?

I almost tossed the offending object away. Then a thought occurred to me -- What if this gift that had been granted to me was so that I could experience things that I had previously let slip by? Hadn't I always wondered about what it was about this stuff that it could get such a grip on so many people? How could I judge a thing if I had never even tried it?

I slowly raised the object to my lips and inhaled. As soon as the acrid smoke hit my lungs, I began coughing. It seemed as though I had to fight to catch my breath. The young girl sitting to my right gently patted my back and was asking if I was alright. I saw a hand reach to take the joint from me, but I shook my head in protest.

Sandra Parker was not a woman that was used to failure. I raised it to my lips once again and took a smaller puff. Through sheer will power I was able to hold the smoke in my lungs with no trouble. I passed the joint along and the group seemed to forget the entire episode. I held the smoke in my lungs for as long as I could. If I was going to do something, I was going to do it right! I went back to drinking my wine cooler and watching the young guitar payer -- wondering if our little game was to continue.

I didn't have long to wonder. Derrick repeatedly returned his gaze to me while he played. I even found myself waiting anxiously for his eye to look in my direction each time. If this was indeed flirting, then I secretly wished that I had taken it up at a much earlier age. Between the alcohol and that other substance (which kept making the rounds) I was beginning to feel a bit bolder.

I was in the act of taking another drink the next time that Derrick looked my way. As I held the bottle aloft, I waved my pinky finger at him. I was turning into such a brazen hussy!

After a while, some of the kids started to get up and leave the bonfire. Derrick continued to play and I found myself talking with more of the young people. Gone was any trace of the nervousness that I had felt earlier. If I gave any indications that I was not exactly up to snuff on certain topics, nobody seemed to notice. Young people could always be more accepting of the differences in people than those of my age group. 

I was talking with the girl sitting next to me and her boyfriend when the music came to a stop. I looked up to discover that the four of us were the only ones left by the fire. The others had all drifted away at some point. Ashley and John smiled and said goodnight, then went off into the darkness hand in hand. Suddenly, I was all alone with my young guitarist with whom I had been flirting all night.

Now, here was an eventuality that I hadn't planned for! Derrick was walking right towards me and I suddenly felt foolish for the way I had been behaving all night. I turned to beat a hasty retreat when he reached out, took hold of my hand, and spun me around. There was nothing rough in his manner. In fact, he was laughing as he did it.

"Where are you going in such a hurry?" he asked, "What's the rush?

My heart was hammering in my chest. What was wrong with me? I had faced more tough attorneys and judges than I could ever begin to count. Early in my career I had prosecuted criminal cases and had been nose to nose with rapists, drug dealers, and murderers. Why in the world was I all of a sudden scared to be here with this young man at this moment?

"I'm sorry", I replied, "But, I have to be getting home."

I turned to leave and had even gotten several steps away when I heard his voice once again. "How about giving me a hand loading my stuff back in my truck?" he queried, "Nobody else stuck around to help."

All of my instincts told me to turn on my heels and go. However, I hesitated for just a moment too long. There was something in the way that Derrick's eyes were looking at me. I was used to being sized up by an opponent, but I certainly wasn't used to having a man (even one as young as Derrick) look at me in the way that he was doing right now. I was grateful for the cover of night because I am sure that I was blushing.

"It looks to me like you should find a more charitable group of friends," I teased. I didn't move forward to help, but then again, neither did I slip away into the darkness.

Derrick smiled at my remark. Even in the dying light of the fire his shining white teeth and handsome features were clearly visible.

"I'm Derrick," he said while still holding onto my hand.

"Sandra," I replied, "Sandra Par-"

I caught myself at the last second. I couldn't possibly tell him my real name. How would I ever explain that away if he ever started asking around for me by name?

"Well, Sandra Parr," He said easily, "Maybe you will be the first member of my new batch of friends?"

"I don't know about the 'friends' part," I answered lightly, "but I might help you this once out of the goodness of my heart."

"Great!" he beamed.

I fell into step right along side of him. I was suddenly aware that he was still holding my hand in his. I wanted very much to let go, but I didn't know how to do so without seeming to be rude.

Who was I kidding? The truth was that it felt nice to be walking on the beach while holding hands. Let's face it - my life to this point hadn't exactly been filled with too many romantic gestures by members of the opposite sex. Maybe it was the wine coolers or maybe it was that other substance that I had partaken in, but I was enjoying the attention that was being shown to me.

"That was quite a nice crowd tonight, wasn't it?" Derrick asked as we came to a stop next to what was left of the bonfire.

I had no way of judging such a thing, but in my line of work I was accustomed to responding to statements as if I were an expert on any topic that might come up. I quickly recalled seeing liquor bottle left behind on the beach on many occasions in the past.

"Yes," I replied, "I'm glad that no one brought any of the hard stuff this time.

I held my breath and waited to see if I had blundered in some way. Derrick just gave a small chuckle and said, "You've got that right. Sometimes these things can get a little out of hand when the heavy drinking gets going."

I smiled in relief that I hadn't given myself away. I was doing it! I might just get out of this thing without anyone discovering my little secret. I began to relax more and enjoy the simple pleasure of talking about inconsequential things with a nice looking young man while holding hands by the fire. The tension and the drama of a courtroom were the things that I certainly lived for. However, there might just a spot in my life for quieter moments like this as well.

We continued to talk easily. When he would ask me questions about myself, I bluffed along -- saying that I was attending college, but was undecided about what to do with my future. I had heard my own daughter say many of the same things when I would try to pry for information from her.

As we talked, Derrick's voice seemed to get softer. The distance between us shrunk as I would lean in closer and closer to hear what it was that he was saying. It seemed so natural that I almost didn't even notice when Derrick released my hand and slipped his arm around my shoulders.

If I had been thinking straight, this is the point where I should have put a halt to things. However, the fire had burned down to a few dying embers by now and the breeze from off of the ocean was beginning to give me a small chill. I found myself welcoming the warmth of his protective arm and the nearness of his body.

I was so intoxicated be the intimacy of the moment that I made no objection as Derrick turned his body so that he was facing me. My heart was pounding in my ears as I heard him say, "I've wanted to do this all night since the first time that you smiled at me."

With that, Derrick placed his hand along side my cheek and leaned down to kiss me. His lips pressed against mine so softly that a small moan escaped me. When I felt his tongue touch my lips, I tentatively opened up for him and our kissed deepened even more. My hands moved up as if with a mind of their own to his broad shoulders and we shared a very passionate moment together there on the abandoned beach.

I might have wished that the moment could have lingered on for a great deal longer, but I felt Derrick's hand eventually slide down to touch my waist beneath my cutoff t-shirt. He pulled me closer and I instantly felt the erection inside his shorts pressing against me. I thought that it was sweet that this young man could feel such lust after just a brief moment.

I had just an instant to acknowledge the delicious feel of his hand along the curve of my exposed flesh when the reality of what was happening exploded in my mind.

What are you doing, Sandra? He's just a kid!

Reluctantly, I slid my hands down from Derrick's shoulders to his muscular upper chest. It took all of my strength and will power to gently push him away and break our kiss. I was thankful that he allowed me to put a stop to things before they got too far out of control. We stood there for a few seconds breathing heavily beneath the night sky. Derrick's hands still felt incredibly nice holding my bare thin waist and if he had pressed his advantage, I'm not sure that I would have been able to offer any further resistance.

My head was swirling and I could see by the look in his eyes that Derrick was also feeling the same avalanche of desire that was coursing through my body. Our hips were still touching. The evidence of Derrick's need pressing against me was something that I simply didn't have the will to pull away from. It hadn't been often in my life that a man of any age had shown such unabashed ardor for me.




Second Chances



At last, I managed to find the strength to croak, "We had better get this place cleaned up."

Was I hoping that he would acquiesce to my putting a halt to things? Or, did I secretly desire that he would take me back in his arms and let the passion of the moment take us where it would? I couldn't honestly give you an answer to that question. All I know is that, if he had done the latter, there was no way in the world that I could have offered any further resistance.

Perhaps Derrick was wrestling with the very same question because he didn't do either thing for the longest time. I noted his flared nostrils and the slightly clouded look in his eyes. The moment seemed to stretch out forever before I felt his grip loosen and we reluctantly separated.

I saw him take a deep breath -- as if to clear his mind -- and he gave a small chuckle. "You're right," he managed, "You just looked so beautiful. I couldn't help myself."

He didn't know it, but I almost jumped back into his arms right there at his words. I had a certain amount of respect in my profession and had received more than my share of awards throughout the years. Those things were nice, but suddenly they paled in the face of this new accolade being handed to me by this incredibly good looking young man. I wanted to bottle this moment and keep it with me forever.

We finally broke apart. I instantly missed the warmth of his young body pressing against mine. I stood there on shaky legs as Derrick kicked dirt over what remained of the fire. I chanced a furtive glance down at the front of his shorts and noted that his condition could not have been very comfortable for him. I felt more than a little guilty for having allowed him to reach such a stage. However, I would be lying if I didn't admit that I also felt a little pride that I had been able to evince such a reaction in him.

Derrick looked at me sheepishly and said, "I don't really have all that much to carry. There's just my guitar and a cooler. It was just the only excuse that I could come up with to get you to stay."

I was touched by his honesty. I smiled back at him and replied, "That's okay. A promise is a promise, after all."

We walked over to where he had left his belongings and Derrick handed me the guitar to carry. I snuck another peek as he bent over to pick up the cooler and was rewarded as a delicious thrill passed through me at the sight of his tight buns beneath his shorts. He stood up and looked back at me before I had a chance to divert my eyes, but thankfully, he was a gentleman enough not to make any mention of it.

"I'm parked just beyond that dune over there," he said as he indicated the direction with his head.

It was just a short distance to his truck and I felt an unfamiliar uneasiness inside me. I knew that this was a completely silly situation, but a part of me was really enjoying the attention that this young man was showing me. Somehow, I wanted the evening to last longer.

I looked over at Derrick and I flattered myself with the notion that he was feeling the same way. Gone was the easy self confidence that he had displayed earlier in the evening while he had been playing his music around the bonfire. Now, I could see he had become more distracted -- talking more quickly. I thought that it was so sweet that he would try so hard to prolong out time together.

Finally, we arrived at Derrick's truck. He easily hoisted the heavy cooler into the back and reached for the guitar case that I was still holding. I don't know what came over me, but I was suddenly feeling playful. I snatched the black case away from him and said, "Not so fast!"

I could see the surprised look in Derrick's eyes at my sudden action. "Since you've made me your roadie for the evening," I said, "I think we should discuss what remuneration I will receive for my services."

I watched as Derrick tried to hide the smile that threatened to break out on his face as he tried to maintain a business like demeanor. "So, you want to get paid, huh?" he replied in mock seriousness, "That's the trouble with today's youth. What ever happened to helping out someone in need just out of the kindness of their hearts?"

"A nice sentiment," I replied, "But I'm afraid that I prefer cash." I was turning into such a shameful flirt!

I danced away another step or two with a giggle. I couldn't believe the way that I was acting. Anyone who had ever had the misfortune of facing me in a courtroom or across a boardroom table would have certainly been shocked to see me behaving like a silly, flirtatious school girl. At that moment, I couldn't have cared less. I was actually having fun. Surely, that wasn't such a sin, was it?

Derrick opened the passenger door of the truck and said, "I think that I might have a little something here for you." I looked on bemusedly as he reached inside and seemed to be struggling to pry something loose. I stepped forward tentatively to see what it was that he was trying so hard to free. I was completely unprepared when he spun around suddenly and took me in his arms.

There was no time to think. All I could do was react - and my body's reaction was quicker than my mind's. I let go of the handle of the guitar case and it banged to the ground -- the instrument inside making a long and sustained tone in protest. Derrick's strong hands pulled me to him as my own hands reached up around his neck in a passionate embrace. Our lips opened and our tongues writhed together with a hunger that I had never experienced.

I was a woman who was used to always being in control of any situation. However, at that moment, control was the furthest thing from my mind. An unfamiliar flame burned within me and it was threatening to consume my being. The only thought going through my mind was that I was starving for the pleasure that this young man had awakened inside me.

One of Derrick's hands disappeared up the back of my cut-off t-shirt while his other slipped down to my petite bottom to pull me roughly against him. I once again felt the bulge of his erection through the material of our clothing. For my part, I was greedily pressing my small breasts against his young, hard chest and moaning against his insistent lips non-stop.

Derrick swung me around towards the opened door of the truck and easily lifted me up to sit on the bench seat. I eagerly moved in to make room for him. He practically flew inside the cab of the truck and slammed the door behind him. We were on each other instantly! Our lips came together wetly and out tongues rejoined their merry dance.

I let out a loud moan as I felt Derrick's hand cover my breast. It felt so good to be touched like that without the interference of a bra to get in the way. I arched my back to push my breast more firmly into his grip and could feel Derrick capture my erect nipple between his thumb and forefinger.

I had never had the experience of making out in an auto before. I was surprised by how hot it had become so quickly. A quick glance told me that the windows had begun to fog up with our heavy breathing. I had a fleeting thought that anyone could come along without us even knowing it and we would be on display to whoever was passing by.

Derrick removed his hand from my breast and I instantly felt the ache of the loss of his intimate contact. He broke our kiss for the moment as he reached up and removed my hand from his shoulder. The sound of our panting filled the small cab of the truck. My heart began beating even harder as he looked me deep in the eye and slowly guided my hand down to his lap.

"Sandra, you are so sexy," he breathed, "I want you so much!"

He needn't have said anything. The evidence of his desire was clearly on display as my hand made contact with the bulge in his shorts. I could see Derrick's eyes cloud over as I pressed my hand against him. Our lips came together again and his hand once again moved back to cover my breast. We kissed deeply as we let our hands show each other pleasure.

I thought again of the discomfort that Derrick must have felt being in this condition for such a long time. I owed so much to this young man for having shown me so many things that I had missed out on in life. Perhaps, I might be able to do something to show my appreciation.

I reached my hand up towards the button of his cargo shorts. I fumbled with it for a moment or two - then finally felt it give way. Derrick let out a long moan as my fingers next moved to the zipper. He had to reach down and hold the top of his shorts taut so that I could actually pull the zipper down. The sound that it made filled the quiet night air.

As the material parted, I was surprised to find that Derrick was not wearing anything beneath his shorts. The backs of my fingers brushed across the hard warm flesh of his manhood. I was rewarded with another sweet moan from his lips.

After the zipper was all of the way down, Derrick lifted himself up off of the seat and pushed his shorts down over his hips and all of the way off. I was now sitting in the cab of a truck in public with a twenty year old boy who was completely bottomless. This day was certainly not turning out like I had expected it to when I woke up this morning!

I raised my hand to Derrick's chest and eased him back flat against the seat. "Let me," I whispered.

Derrick looked at me with wild eyes and barely managed a, "God, yes..." in reply.

I leaned my head against his shoulder and let my hand absently trace across his heaving chest. I took my time and let my fingers find each of his nipples to tease them for a bit. Derrick was having trouble sitting still as I slowly explored the contours of his young body. By the time that I reached his flat stomach, I was worried that he might pass out if his desire grew any higher.

I finally decided that he had had enough. As I looked down at his erect manhood, which was standing so tall and proud, I dropped my hand and took hold of him. Again, Derrick rose up off of the seat as my small hand wrapped around his stiff shaft. It was a moment that demonstrated how much power I had over him at that particular moment. However, power was the furthest thing from my mind. I was totally focused on showing this young man as much pleasure as I possibly could,

I gripped his flesh in my fist and began to slowly stroke him. Derrick's hips rose and fell with the movements of my hand. When I reached the top of my next stroke, I felt moisture against my fingers. I looked down to see his precum gleaming in the moonlight as it pooled at the tip. Derrick was writhing so much that I didn't know how much longer he could possibly last as I continued with the movements of my hand.

Just when I thought that he couldn't take anymore, Derrick twisted in his seat to face me. His movement took his manhood from grasp and I reached for it desperately. I might have recaptured it, but Derrick started kissing me deeply again and I couldn't see the object that eluded me.

As I once again accepted his tongue inside me mouth, I could feel Derrick reaching down and beginning to stroke my bare thigh. The shorts that I had hijacked from my daughter's dresser were quite a bit shorter than anything that I had ever worn before, so Derrick had a lot of freedom to explore my exposed flesh.

I had been so intent on pleasuring Derrick that I had not really taken notice of how much my own desires were out of control. I moaned deeply each time that his hand rose up high on my thigh and I was beginning to have my own trouble in sitting still. Just when I thought that I would explode from the mounting tension, Derrick covered my mound through the thin material of the shorts with his large hand.

I really let loose with my loudest moan so far and nearly jumped up off of the seat. Derrick centered the attention of his fingers right over my clitoris and applied the most delicious pressure to that pleasure zone. My body reacted on instinct --my right leg rising up over his powerful thigh while the left opened wide in the opposite direction.

I was on fire! Never in my life had I ever craved pleasure in such an abandoned way. I strained to push my sex against his hand more firmly like an animal that was completely out of control. As lost as I was in this unfamiliar sea of pleasure, my mind barely registered Derrick's next movement.

Derrick dropped his left arm from around my shoulders to my waist while he removed his right hand from my sex to my hip at the other side. He grasped the thin material of my shorts and panties and tugged them down over my hips. I had to slightly lift myself up to assist him as he bared me from the waist down. The scent from my core filled the small cab as Derrick quickly returned his hand to the place between my legs.

I had become so wet that he easily slid a finger inside me, causing me to squeal in response. I clenched my inner muscles around the intruding digit and tried to pull it deeper inside me. Derrick was all too willing to assist me in my endeavor -- pushing his finger in and out of me over and over.

I had broken our kiss in an attempt to get enough air into my lungs. I was panting harder than a locomotive and moaning unintelligibly as the feelings inside me rose to a crescendo. Just as I was about to climax, Derrick once again grasped my hips. He hoisted me effortlessly to straddle him. He tried to lower me onto his erect member, but the first couple of attempts failed. In desperation, I reached down between or bodies and held the rigid staff steady as he lowered me once again.

This time I could feel the bulbous head at my moist opening. Slowly and steadily, Derrick lowered me onto his staff. I moaned as I could feel myself stretching around him. When he was about half way inside, Derrick pulled me down the rest of the way. I cried out loudly in ecstasy and I clung to him tightly with both arms around his neck. Mine were not the only cries of bliss. Derrick, too, growled his pleasure as my wet passageway encased his rock hard appendage.

We stayed in this position for just a few seconds. I reached up and smoothed the hair from Derrick's handsome face as he looked up at me with such tenderness. Lowered my lips to his and we kissed deeply. Then he used his hands to start lifting and lowering me on his wonderful shaft. I strained with my knees to assist him as we made love in the cramped cab of his old truck.

I don't know if I had ever been so wet inside. He easily slid in and out of me. The noise of our lovemaking was the most erotic thing that I have ever heard. Derrick raised his hands under the front of my t-shirt and pushed the material up until my small breasts were uncovered. I purred as his rough hands mashed and kneaded the exposed flesh. I lifted my arms over my head as he pushed my t-shirt up high and off of me completely.

I was now totally naked and impaled upon the stiff rod of a young man that I hadn't even known existed less than three hours earlier. The sheer naughtiness of the situation only served to fuel my desires all the more. I began to feel that familiar build up of tension that signaled that my orgasm was swiftly coming upon me. I ground down harder at the bottom of each powerful thrust in anticipation of the climax that I had been denied for far too long. I was about to reach that glorious point of no return when I saw the headlights of an approaching car shine through the back window of the truck.

The orgasm that was so close only a moment before began to ebb away with the fear that we would be discovered. Just at that moment, Derrick reached up from behind me and tugged on my hair. My head tilted back from the pressure and Derrick attacked the soft flesh of my neck and upper chest with his hungry mouth.

That was all it took! My orgasm came crashing upon me like a force of nature. I pushed down with my hips and ground my sex into Derrick for all I was worth. I was screaming out loudly when the lights from the other car fully illuminated me in the cab of the truck. However, I was so far gone in the throes of passion that I hardly paid it any attention. The only thing in the entire world that my mind could focus on was the intense pleasure that wracked my body over and over as Derrick made love to me.

The only thing that brought me somewhat back to reality was the fact that Derrick was also moaning loudly and straining to push inside me faster. He released his grip on my hair and ground my hips down hard onto his unyielding erection. I wrapped my arms around his head and kissed his face all over as he gave one last deep growl. I could instantly feel his warm seed erupting inside me. I gripped him tightly with my inner muscles and our lips found each other's again in a long and tender kiss. I wished that this moment could somehow stretch on forever.

As my mind began to slowly clear, I once again became aware of the headlights nearby. I buried my head in Derrick's shoulder in a belated attempt to hide myself. Derrick stroked my hair gently and murmured, "Don't worry, they'll go away."

Even as he was finishing his statement, the car backed into another hidden spot among the dunes that dotted this stretch of beach. I relaxed as I saw that it wasn't the police as I had feared, but just another couple looking to find their own share of one of the greatest joys that life has to offer. I had dodged this bullet, but I had made up my mind that I had better not push my luck any further on this night.

Derrick wanted me to stay longer so that we could talk a bit more. However, I told him some story about curfews and how I was already late getting home. I declined his offer of a ride, saying that I only lived a couple of houses down from where we currently were. He kissed me goodnight and I headed back down the beach towards my house.

As I was walking up to the door, I could feel the changes in my body begin to reverse themselves. I didn't know how this miracle came to be or whether it would ever be repeated. I only prayed that I would be able to take some of what I had learned and experienced forward for the rest of my days.



Second Chances



She stood there waiting for him feeling as if she had stepped into some kind of surreal painting. She expected the clock on the wall to melt or her subconscious to come spilling out of her head on display for the whole world to sift through. All because she never expected to be standing in a hotel lobby waiting for this particular man ever again. When he messaged to say he would be in town on business and requesting to see her after nearly 2 years of silence, she had no choice but to agree. She never had any choice when it came to him.

So here she stood waiting for him after calling up to his room to tell him she had just arrived. She wasn't sure what to expect, wasn't sure what he wanted other than dinner and conversation. As she spotted him approaching down the hall from the elevator, she felt memories rushing at her, threatening to overwhelm. 

"Hi," he uttered when he reached her, and took her in his arms for a hug of greeting.

As she stood there pressed snuggly against him, she felt tears prickling at the back of her eyes, threatening to overflow. She willed them to stop. She would not let him know what his absence had cost her. Her pride didn't want him to know she had never gotten over him.

As she pulled away from his embrace, worried about what he might read on her face, he smiled that endearing smile of his that always got her, cupped her cheek in his palm, and whispered, "I've missed you."

"Me too, she agreed as one rebellious tear escaped her iron will and rolled down her cheek to meet his thumb.

"Are you hungry?" he queried.

"Yes," she heard herself reply, holding back the truth that it wasn't exactly food she was hungry for.

They agreed that she would drive since she was familiar with the area. She took him to a nice, little Mexican restaurant nearby because she knew he enjoyed Mexican. She also knew he loved barbeque, and probably wouldn't mind having some down home Southern cooking while he was here, but she needed a margarita at the moment.

They were able to get a table right away as the dinner crowd hadn't quite kicked in at 5 in the afternoon. When they sat down, she finally got a good look at him, and was pleased to find he hadn't changed much since the last time she saw him. He still had the same broad shoulders, same sexy, masculine hands, and those same blindingly gorgeous green eyes with maybe just a hint of sadness in them now which was to be expected.

They chatted amiably, catching up on the things they had missed in each other's lives over the last couple of years. Her youngest and his oldest child had now entered elementary school. They talked about his business, her promotion at work, home repairs, the ridiculously high price of gas. They did an admirable job of staying away from the land mines...why they hadn't spoken in two years, why they both knew at the time it was unavoidable, regrets, and "what if's."

She didn't need to talk about those things anymore. She knew all the answers. She had long since made peace with the words he used to toss at her regularly as some sort of mantra, "What you want just isn't possible for us." 

She knew they each had families they loved waiting at home for them, she knew they would each do just about anything to avoid hurting them, she knew neither of them ever had any desire to start over with someone new. Agreement on all of these basic things is what had made them feel so safe with each other for so long. That is until she could no longer hide from him that she had fallen in love despite her best intentions. That began the long spiral of arguments, recriminations and his constant tossing of his mantra at her as if to ward off evil spirits. As it turned out, the evil spirits he was attempting to ward off were his own feelings. At the end of the day, he did what she didn't have it in her to do, and walked away before their happy, suburban lives blew up in their faces. '

She sat in front of him now with all of that behind her. She no longer needed to extract those three words from him like a miner blindly digging for gold he desperately hopes to find. She no longer needed more than he could give. She could see it in his eyes, and that was enough. 

She noticed as she sat there with him that something felt different. She couldn't put her finger on it until they had nearly finished their meal. Then it struck her with startling clarity. That empty space she'd been carrying around with her (the space that used to contain her desire, her passion, her fantasies, her sexual self) was full again. She'd grown so accustomed to working around it, tiptoeing past it each morning in order to get on with her everyday life, that it took a while to recognize the absence of longing. She squirmed around in her own delicious wetness, and wanted more than anything to fuck him, wanted more than anything to keep that emptiness at bay.

After finishing their meal, and "catch up" session, they returned to her car. She was keenly aware of his presence beside her as they slid into the car. They continued to chat as she drove. Nonchalantly, almost imperceptibly, he placed his hand on her thigh as they talked. When he had finished his sentence, they exchanged a glance, then a smile, nothing more. His hand sent electricity through her body, dilating her pupils, quickening her breath, hardening her nipples and turning the area between her legs into a sloshy, wet mess. 

Her single thought as she drove, simply, "Let me get us to the hotel safely. Please God don't let me have an accident with this man in my car."

She breathed a sigh of relief as she pulled into a spot in the hotel's parking lot. As soon as she had turned off the engine, he turned to her, drew near, and touched his lips to hers. He drew back to search her face for clues, finding no resistance there, he kissed her again, more deeply, tongue dancing around in her mouth. 

Her mind replayed their very first kiss, wondering if he remembered it at all. It had been in an elevator on the way up to his room. As soon as the doors swished shut, he had pressed her against the wall and covered her mouth with his. She remembered her first thought being how different his lips felt from her husband's....fuller, softer, unfamiliar. She remembered running her hands through his hair, unable to contain the moans that escaped into his mouth. She remembered being startled when the elevator door opened, so lost was she in this first kiss of theirs. 

As she played these thoughts in her mind, his hand moved gently up her thigh, under her dress, his fingers just brushing against her pussy lips. She heard him moan softly as his fingers met her wetness. He merely stroked her outer lips, slowly, up and down as his kiss continued to increase the river of wetness between her legs. She reached down into his lap, felt the hardness there, saw the tiny spot of precum growing on his pants, and breathed, "Let's go upstairs."

They were out of the car faster than she had believed humanly possible, she with her large bag of "goodies" she had brought along "just in case" she had told herself that morning as she carefully packed them; he struggling to walk with the unruly bulge between his legs. Their kisses and fondling continued during the elevator ride up to his room, bringing their needs to a fever pitch by the time his electronic key card "popped" in the lock, and allowed them entrance. 

He shoved her against the wall, before the door had even closed; his bulging cock, pressing insistently against her thigh as his tongue explored every corner of her mouth. 

He struggled with her dress a moment, before stepping back and simply saying, "Take it off."

"You too," she returned as she expertly untied the sash in the back, and lifted the dress up and over her head; Next came the bra until she was standing before him entirely naked.

She watched as he quickly removed his clothing, stopping him just before he removed the tight boxers she so loved seeing on him. She knelt in front of him, her tongue grazing his stomach just above the waistband. She could feel the heat coming from his cock, see it straining against the fabric of the boxers. She rubbed her face against it, tongued him through the fabric, before gripping the waistband of the boxers and tugging them down to his ankles.

His beautiful cock bobbed in her face. Her first instinct was to swallow the entire shaft, but she held back; lightly licking the tip, massaging his balls in her hand. Tongue traveling down the shaft, over his balls and back up again. 

"Fuck," she heard him whisper which was her cue to take him. 

She sucked the tip into her mouth, swiveling her tongue around it, before slowly swallowing his entire length. She worked her head up and down, grunting each time his head met the back of her throat. She cupped his balls in her hand, sucked harder and faster until he gripped two fistfuls of hair, pulled her off, his cock slipping out of her mouth with an audible "pop", and up to his waiting lips.

"I want to cum inside you the first time," he mumbled against her mouth as he walked her over to the bed.

She allowed herself to be laid down across the bed as he lowered his head to her breasts. He sucked one nipple into his mouth as his hand rolled the other nipple back and forth between his fingers. She felt nearly on the edge of orgasm with the intense stimulation when he moved down to position himself between her legs.

He kissed his way softly up one inner thigh and down the other, going off course to spend a few moments circling her navel with his tongue before diving headfirst into her swollen cunt. 

She arched her back, gasped, and gripped a handful of his hair as his tongue slid inside her. She looked down to watch as he licked his way up to her hard clit, sucking it between his lips. His tongue flicked expertly over the head of her clit, as he snaked a hand up to pinch a nipple again. 

"You taste so damn good. I never forgot how good you taste," he told her, his face glistening with her juices.

She pulled him to her, wanting to taste herself on his lips. Her own scent filled her nose as they kissed.

He flipped her over on all fours, positioned perfectly to view them in the mirror on the dresser at the end of the bed.

His cock slid gracefully inside her needy, sloppy pussy. He pushed slowly in, balls deep before thrusting hard. He slapped her ass, once, twice, as they both watched her tits bounce in the mirror.

He gripped her hips, pounding her so hard the room was filled with the sounds of their bodies slapping together as she reached down to finger herself.

He grabbed a fistful of hair, snapped her head back as his assault on her pussy raged on, spitting out between clinched teeth, "Such a tight fucking hole." 

With that she was lost. "Oh fuck, baby, I can't stop," she gasped as she came all over his plunging cock.

Her tight pussy pulsing around his cock sent him over the edge as well. He threw his head back and pumped one last thundering pump before spilling over inside her. 

His orgasm seemed to stretch on and on as he emptied every drop inside her, before collapsing beside her. They lied there, limbs tangled and sweaty, his cum dripping out all over them until he rolled off her, murmuring into her hair, "That was long overdue."

They lied there together afterwards, cuddling, talking, and enjoying each other's company. 

"So what's in the bag? Are you moving in?" he queried with a chuckle.

She lifted her head and glanced over at the large overnight bag she had carefully packed with "goodies" that morning which had fallen to the floor as he had shoved her against the wall earlier.

"Why don't I show you," she responded as she got up and walked over to it, pausing to pick his shirt up off the floor and slip it over her head, her nudity suddenly causing her to feel very vulnerable in front of him.

She brought the bag over to the desk in the corner of the room, and proceeded to remove items. First placing her beloved vibrating egg on the table, then the dildo that was so intimately familiar with every curve of her vagina. Intrigued, he got up from the bed to stand beside her and watch as she continued to empty the bag. 

Next she removed her pink vibrating rabbit and a bottle of lube until she was down to the items she was a bit uncertain about. Items she deeply desired him to use, yet also hesitated to bring out of the bag. She reached in and brought out a paddle to lie quietly on the table, glancing furtively up to read the expression on his face. His eyebrows raised, his lips formed an "O" she read as interest which encouraged her to continue. Next came the nipple clamps, followed by the crop, lengths of rope and finally a small whip.

They stood there glancing from each other to the desk and back again every nerve in her body buzzing with what would come next.

"Wow," he finally whispered. "Are you really asking me to use these things on you?"

"I'm going to go back and lie on the bed. You pick out whatever items please you."

She retreated to the bed, tossing his shirt to the floor, silently praying he was the man she thought he was.

She lay prostrate, face down on the bed, hoping this would encourage him. She listened as he sorted through items... picking up, putting down, picking up again.

She felt his weight on the bed seconds before the crop smacked her ass.

"On all fours," he commanded.

She raised herself up on her hands and knees, ass swaying prettily in the air for him.

SMACK went the crop again against her ass. She moaned with the pleasure of it. More blows rained down across her ass over and over again as she gripped the sheets and cried out with a mixture of pleasure and pain.

"Did I hurt you, my pet?" he murmured as he bent down to bestow wet, soothing kisses on her stinging ass.

"Yes, Sir. Please hurt me a little more," she mewed.

Her request was rewarded with the sting of the whip across her back. He crisscrossed her back with perfectly timed blows. She tried desperately to endure his discipline in silence like a good submissive, however she was rather untrained and the sensation was more than she could bear.

"Ah," she cried as the whip slashed across her back.

"I'll be a good girl, Sir. I promise," she begged as the whip dealt another stinging blow.

He snatched a handful of hair and pulled her up and back until her backside was flush against his front, his erection poking against her ass,hissing in her ear, "I know you will my pet because I'm going to teach you how to be a good girl."

He tossed her back on the bed face first. She dared not move or speak until she heard him beckon her to him from the chair in the corner.

She approached him, head down, meekly awaiting her next move.

He patted his lap, saying, "Bend over, baby. Let us continue our lesson."

She laid herself out across his lap, ass naked and vulnerable before him.

THWACK went the paddle against her tender ass followed by his loving caress.

"Does baby like that?" he questioned

"Yes," she replied, her voice barely audible.

SLAP again went the paddle, and again and again.

"I can't hear you, pet. Speak up when Sir addresses you."

"Yes, Sir. More please," she replied.

She felt his hand caress her back, slowly up and down before he smacked her soundly on the ass with it.

She felt her pussy gush with the touch of his hand as he continued to teach her.

"What's this? Is someone getting excited?" he questioned as he shoved a finger in her wet hole.

She squirmed on his lap, trying to drive his finger deeper, wanting more than a finger.

"Get up, pet," he directed with one last swat at her ass.

He led her to the bed, instructing that she lie on her back. The next thing she became aware of was the rope in his hand as he grabbed her wrist and began to tie it to the bed. He worked for some time, tying each of her four limbs to the bed with great care.

He brought the dildo to her mouth, forced it between her lips, and roughly shoved it in and out before inserting it into her vagina. He fucked her with the dildo, slowly, teasingly. 

She heard the buzz of the egg in his hands, and whimpered, "Please. Oh please, Sir, I need to cum."

"Do you now?" he replied.

"All in good time, my pet," he added as he tenderly attached the nipple clamps to her hard nipples.

He moved to her head, stratling her face as he mounted her and shoved his cock, balls deep, into her mouth. 

She laid there, prostrate, arms and legs bound and spread as his cock rammed in and out of her mouth, his balls slapping her chin with each stroke as he tugged on the chain connecting her clamped nipples. Her pussy gushed around the dildo, her arousal building to a fever pitch just before his cum exploded into the back of her throat. She gagged and coughed as he unloaded into her mouth, a little dribbling onto her chin.

He stroked her hair, and whispered into her ear, "Now you may cum my pet."

He mercifully placed the vibrating egg against her aching clit. On the verge of orgasm for some time, she came almost immediately, her back arched, her mouth thrown open, moaning his name as her cunt bore down around the dido.

When she opened her eyes and came to a bit, he was standing at the foot of the bed, watching her. Her hair was sweaty and tangled, her arms and legs still spread, the dildo still hanging from her cunt. His cock was already hard again at the sight of her.

Without a word, he gently removed the rope from her wrists and ankles, rubbing the angry red marks left on each limb. He lowered his full weight on her, kissing her deeply, cock rubbing against her wet, swollen cunt.

"What do you want, baby?" he whispered against her ear.

"You," she breathed.

With that, he slid effortlessly inside her. His strokes were slow and deep. She wrapped her legs around him, digging her heels into his ass to push him deeper. They rocked together, their bodies giving each other such exquisite pleasure. 

She gripped his shoulders as she came, her whole body trembling, calling his name over and over in a voice filled with wanting.

When he came, it was in silence, his face pressed into her neck, as he filled her with his warmth.

She ran her fingers through his hair, chastely kissed his forehead as he lay on top of her, his softening cock still inside her. They both knew their time together was drawing to a close although neither wanted to break the intimate contact.

In time, they rose from the bed, dressing in silence. He reached out for her, pulling her to him in a tight embrace. His face pressed into her hair, inhaling her scent.

"I missed you," he told her for the second time that evening.

Her only reply was to tighten her grip around him, nodding her head ever so slightly.

When they finally parted, he tilted her face to meet his gaze and said, "Let's keep in touch."

"Yes, let's," she agreed.

As she walked down the hotel hallway to return to her real life, she couldn't help but smile. Life had just handed her a second chance, which she intended to savor. 



Second Chances



She really wasn't a tease. Teasing implied some kind of sexual knowledge, some instinctive awareness that how she acted, what she said would produce a specific male response. Teasing sounded so calculated, so knowing, so deliberate. Better to wrap the tease in innocence and just a touch of the demure and, honestly, that wasn't so far from the truth. She would have gotten the medal for both at one point, plus the blue ribbon for "most naïve" college freshman. Somehow, she'd never really lost that innocent aspect and men just seemed to sense that about her. Besides, she never teased indiscriminately. Most of the time, she was just friendly. Only when she was really attracted, really intrigued, really challenged, did she bring out the tease. It happened rarely and it hadn't happened in a long time.

She pushed back from the desk, reached for her coffee cup, found it cold and buzzed her assistant for more. Swiveling around to look out the walls of glass that bounded her office was Santa Monica at its best; early summer, bright blue sky, glorious wedge of sapphire water. The view took the edge off sixty hour weeks and needy celebrity clients with too much time and money and not nearly enough common sense. Not exactly what she thought she'd be doing when she entered law school but, as it turned out, she was damn good at dealing with the law and the stars. Didn't leave much time for, what did they call it, oh, yes, a balanced life. No husband, no children, not even a cat although she did have a drop dead condo, a killer wardrobe, and the sweetest little Beemer. And friends, lots of them. Most of the time that was all she needed since she was just a mite picky about men, love and sex. 

5:30. She had a 6:30 cocktail party and a limo coming at midnight to take her to the Bahamas on a private jet thanks to a grateful client who was not going to see his photo plastered over People while he slobbered over some woman who was definitely not his wife. Perks of the trade and most of the world would think she was lucky. Well, it would be nice—a few days away—but alone in the tropics was still alone. If she weren't so exhausted, she'd have passed it up but she needed the time to think. She was pushing thirty-three, more successful than she ever imagined and lonely as hell. If she stayed in the game, she knew exactly what the future looked like. More money and bigger perks, the best tables, the A list parties and endless work. Celebs were like needy children; always promising to be good and always in trouble. No wonder she'd not even considered marriage and a family; who needed to leave the office and go home to the same damned thing. 

Time to change. A quick shower, redo the makeup, slip into a slinky pewter satin backless sheath. Her office came with its own bath and dressing room—another perk— and downstairs to the waiting limo; grateful clients did come in handy. Fifteen minutes later she was walking into the foyer of Martin Grey's over the top house where the requisite A-list milled around standup tables and a poolside bar. She made her way over the nearest group, didn't matter which one; she fit in any of them and well enough known to be a desired compliment. Good lawyers were a dime a dozen in LA, really good lawyers who were female and easy on the eyes, knew now to keep a secret and didn't sleep with anyone's husband, they were at a premium. Someone handed her a glass of champagne, someone said hi, someone kissed her cheek and she would have missed him completely if a waiter hadn't accidentally bumped her. She started to shift away when she caught the eyes of a tall, dark haired man standing alone across the terrace. He had the most amused expression on his face, as if the whole scene arrayed before him was some kind of movie set (well, he wasn't that far off) and he was the only one in on the joke. He looked back at her, raised an eyebrow, shook his head back and forth once, and turned away. 

It bothered her, that rebuff, and it had been a very long time since she had entertained that feeling. Did he mean it for her? Who else was he looking at? Was she imagining it? No, he was still there, still looking over the terrace and she was still bothered. A smile, yes, we must get together for lunch...say whatever it takes to gracefully extract herself from the group and wander across the terrace. She recognized the feeling; it was a challenge. It had been awhile and she wanted to play. 

She walked toward him, instinctively knowing that she had to make the first move. Well, that was part of her tease persona; a bit brazen and then back off. Her heels clicked on the stone terrace announcing her arrival when he suddenly turned to face her.

"Long time, Clare." The words were scarcely out of his mouth when a flood of memories rushed her. Lordy, he had changed, well, filled out was probably the better term. In place of that tall, skinny college kid with glasses was a well muscled man, clearly at ease in Armani although in her mind he was still wearing jeans and a sweatshirt. He still parted his hair on the left, still had a clef in his chin, still had a voice like warm chocolate and clearly still remembered her. She blushed a bit, didn't quite know what to say. Fifteen years was a long time to remember a brief college fling if you could call it that. How long had it lasted? A week? 

He held her glance, a slight smirk the only clue that he might, just possibly remember that last time. Shoot, of course he remembered. Who wouldn't? She'd made an absolute fool of herself, going from pseudo-femme fatale to gawky freshman in less than thirty minutes. 

She'd gone off to college pretty darn naïve, the result of a somewhat sheltered education and parents who were pretty strait laced: a professor dad with his head buried in a chemistry lab most of the time and a mother whose chronic asthma kept her housebound. From a small college town in Pennsylvania to UCLA had been a giant leap forward. But her grades had been outstanding; her SATs off the chart, and both of her parents were totally convinced the good sisters at St. Mary's Academy had drummed the importance of virtue and responsibility into her head, so they let her go on a full ride with total confidence. She didn't disappoint them; Dean's list every semester, summa cum laude without breaking a sweat but along the way, she made good on a few promises to herself. 

She wanted to shed every vestige of small town Pennsylvania, goody two-shoes, and total innocent that she could. It was an impossible task and she was doomed to failure, something she discovered the first week when some guy tried to cop a feel around an orientation bonfire. Okay, she was never going to be the easy lay (amazing how her vocabulary had broadened after only a couple of weeks living in a dorm) but she certainly was going to test the waters. 

He, Brad, of the current bemused expression, had been a genuine fiasco, a total failure on her part. She was intrigued with him from the get-go which had been a chance encounter in the bookstore and then, surprise, he was also in her Psych lecture. She'd smiled, he sat down beside her and something had just fluttered inside. He'd said bye after the lecture and walked off but the next week he found her again, sat with her and ended up asking her to his frat house for a Friday kegger. She'd met a lot of people, sipped very little beer, and was feeling trés sophisticated so she figured that this was a good time to try out her new persona—sexy college coed. Right. When he suggested that they go up to his room, she tipped her head down a bit, looked up, and smiled. Walking up the stairs with his arm around her shoulders felt pretty good. He was awfully cute and, heck, only a couple of years older. Besides, she was getting tired of being the only girl on her floor who had nothing to share at the Sunday night pizza fests.

His room was pretty tidy; bed made, books piled on the desk. He put on some music, sat down on the bed, gave her arm a little tug and, before she knew it, she was sitting down next to him.

"Not so bad, is it?" he said, pushing her hair behind her ear. "I've wanted to ask you out from the first but, I don't know, you always seemed so aloof. I'm glad you came tonight. I was beginning to think I didn't have a chance. Besides, I was hoping that we could partner up on that Psych project."

Psych project-- that was his interest, her mind? No, no, no. She was not going to be the study date. What was wrong with her? The entire situation called for a change in tactics.

She looked straight into his eyes, said she'd love to work on the project with him, spied the textbook on the nearby desk and suggested that they get started. She opened the book, bending her hair so the mass of it fell across her check and they shyly looked up and him and smiled.

"Exactly what did you have in mind for our project?" she asked. "Maybe we could..." She never got to finish the sentence. The hand around her waist pushed the book to the floor, his other tipped her head back and an instant later he was kissing her.

She'd been kissed before but this was different. He sucked on her lower lip a little, eased his tongue into her mouth, applied more pressure, all the while pulling her closer and slipping a hand under her sweater. She wasn't sure exactly what to do; it all felt so good. She found herself kissing him right back, running her hand over his back, meeting his tongue with hers. She hardly noticed at first that he was cupping her breast and rubbing her nipple with his thumb although that probably accounted for the sudden gush of wetness that she felt in her panties and the overwhelming urge to rub against him.

"I don't think we should...Brad...what are you doing?" Well, it was pretty clear what he was doing. He had his hand on her breast and was rubbing her nipple into a hard pouty nub sending the most exquisite spiral of pleasure all the way down to her crotch. She could feel herself arching against him and making little whimpering sounds against his lips. Good as it felt she knew this was something that the good sisters would want her to stop so she put a hand down on his leg with the intention of pushing away but somehow ended up pressing her hand against...No, that must be his cock (only she clearly remembered at the time that the term that came to mind was "his thing") and she wasn't all that sure what to do so the fact that she gently squeezed wasn't really intentional, it just happened. That's when the problem started. Brad must have thought that she was moving things forwards because his hand shifted down from her breast and moved up under her skirt and under her panties and through the damp curls of her mound and before she could think he had slipped a finger into her cunt and was rubbing her clit and moving his finger inside her and she was pushing against him and still stroking his cock. It felt incredible, so good that she just wanted to push herself against him and feel...what was she thinking?

She shook her head abruptly and brought herself back to the present. The rest of that evening has been mercifully short and humiliating. She distinctly remember jumping up to her feet, a flailing hand knocking his glasses to the floor, and stammering apologies before she bolted out of his room and down the stairs and...well, enough. So much for the sophisticate, bring on the bumpkin. She'd avoided him at Psych, creeping in late after the lecture began, mortified that he would see her and laugh. That he might not have laughed, that he might have liked her enough to get past her obvious inexperience, that inexperience might even have been an attraction had never occurred to her then. By the time that she realized all three were perfectly possible, it was way too late, years too late. 

He was still looking at her, that same amused expression on his face. Well, things were different now and she wasn't some naïve freshman and she was going to wipe that ridiculous smug male look off his face tonight. 

"It has been a long time, Brad, and how do you know Martin?" She asked, slipping effortlessly into celeb lawyer mode. 

"We're old friends, I was in town and he insisted I come over. And you?

"Martin's a client. Where's home for you now?

"Omaha. Just here for a couple of days, a few meetings and then I'm off for a short vacation. Martin and I were going to have dinner but he seems pretty caught up in guests and martinis. On the other hand, you look pretty bored and probably do these kinds of things on a regular basis. Why don't you let me take you to dinner and you can tell me what you've been doing since you ran out of my frat house."

That was it...the gauntlet. He hadn't forgotten. If he thought for one second that she was the least anxious, he was very, very wrong. Clare the naïve bumpkin was history.

"Exactly what I was thinking. You know, my condo's just a couple of blocks away. I'll bet you're tired of restaurants and I'm a dynamite cook. Why don't you let me make dinner and we'll catch up." That'll show him. Omaha, what's in Omaha? Times have changed Brad and you're on my turf now. 

A few air kisses and quick goodbyes and fifteen minutes later they pulled into a soaring luxury high-rise on Wilshire. She handed the keys to the doorman and moments later they were walking into her foyer of her penthouse condo. 

"Drinks and ice that way," and she pointed toward a bar set up near the glass walled living room that overlooked L.A. , walking down the hall to her bedroom. While he got accustomed to the view, she'd just change into something a little more casual, something to...well, to tease. She left the door open, heard ice clinking, and pulled on a coral, knitted silk low necked patio dress. Perfect. Soft, sensual and she didn't need a bra. Let's see if he noticed. She smiled at her reflection in the mirror and left the room knotting the tie belt around her waist and letting the tasseled ends fall to the floor.

He was holding a short cocktail glass in one hand and a champagne flute in the other—nice touch, he remembered what she had been drinking and certainly wasn't shy about foraging in her kitchen. As she recalled he wasn't shy about much. She sipped champagne and was just about to ask him what he did, make some kind of small talk when he reached over and pulled the comb from her hair.

"Better with the dress this way," he murmured into her ear as a mass of sun- streaked tresses spilled onto her shoulders. "I assume that women who put their hair up with a single clip expect a man to pull it out. Wouldn't want to disappoint you and, yes, I did notice that you're not wearing a bra and this is the kind of dress that says, touch me."

What? Had she missed something? He was supposed to be awed by the million dollar view, her casual sophistication, the way that she glided from Hollywood party to intimate dining. She was going to cook, damn it and she was going to run this show. Who did he think he was?

"You ran out on me the last time, Clare. It's not going to happen again. We have something to finish here."

Her eyes went wide and something clutched in her stomach. What did he mean, finish. She would have said something, anything but his hands moved around her waist and he pulled her into his chest, lowered his head and began kissing her neck, bending her back to get better access. She would have said something but his hands spread and strong fingers moved up her ribs, pressing her into his erection while his lips slid down her throat into the hollow of her breasts. She should have said something when he slipped straps off her shoulders, a move that exposed her breasts and she didn't have to look to know that her nipples were tight firm buds aroused by his lips or that she was arching into him on her own now. She wasn't eighteen anymore, or naïve. She didn't intend to run away but she would control this seduction. Things would move at her pace.

Wait. What was he doing? Unlatching the glass doors to the terrace, and pushing the doors open. Well it was warn and there was a double wide chaise so perhaps they could neck for a bit. She just didn't expect it, the sudden swoop of being picked up and deposited on the chaise, or the odd tingle in her stomach when he bent over and dragged her lacy peach thong off in one smooth movement. Then he just stood there over her, looking down. And she just laid there, breasts fully exposed, hair mussed, the hem of her dress somewhere between calf and knee. She didn't move, almost mesmerized as he shucked off jacket, tie, and shirt, exposing a well muscled chest and biceps. Nice, but what was he thinking? Belt, pants, briefs; he was standing there absolutely naked and very aroused. His cock was engorged, tilted up, and leading a very determined man who was untangling the knot in his tie.

She should move, or say something but "What are you doing?" sounded so lame. Somewhere she had the tiniest inkling of what was coming and she wasn't sure whether she wanted to stop it or let it happen. He hadn't said anything; just kept looking at her with that same bemused expression. She scooted her legs up, drawing her body into a ball. He sat down on the side of the chaise, put one hand beneath her head and she felt him gathering her hair, holding her head and then he was kissing her again, deeply, telling her to open her lips before his tongue invaded the soft warmth of her mouth. He probed, touched, kissed her hungrily and she responded in kind. Her arms ran up the length of his, fingertips pressing into his shoulders, breasts aching to be touched, arching toward him. She could feel his fingers at her waist, untying the sash and pulling it from under her and then his voice, quiet and low, telling her that she'd gotten away from him the last time but that it wouldn't happen again and did she know how he was going to make that happen.

She felt him take her hands from his shoulders, kiss her palms and then raise them over her head and then, suddenly, he was looping his tie—that very costly Armani tie— around her hands and, what was he doing...good lord, he was tying her hands to the iron frame of the chaise. Was he crazy? They were outside, on a terrace, twenty stories up...why...

"You're a little tease, a bit of a temptress, aren't you? And little teases, well, they always want the same thing, but you knew that. They want to get caught. And now that I've caught you, I get to do whatever I want."

"This is ridiculous. Untie me, right now." She did say that, didn't she? She intended to, but, and this was just the tiniest bit hard to explain. She liked it, being tied, being handled, being dominated. She could feel tingles in her cunt, knew she was wet, knew he would touch her, and knew he would spread her legs even as she drew them closer to her body.

He knelt at the foot of the chaise and slid his hands under the soft coral knit of her dress, grabbed hold of both knees and pushed them up and apart. She gasped as the dress fell onto her belly. Her legs, mound, vagina were fully exposed, open to the night breezes and this man. She pushed her knees against his palms, testing to see what he would do, knowing that he would...and did push them further open. He looped one end of the coral sash around an ankle and then tied it under the chaise, securing it to the wrought iron frame, repeating the same technique with the other. Way too good with knots, must have been a boy scout. What was she thinking? This man had just tied her up and she hadn't screamed or scratched or... She'd watched him, amazed at her reaction because now she was effectively immobilized. She could move her knees back and forth, could achieve some small measure of modesty, if you ignored the bare breasts, but for all intents and purposes, she was at his pleasure. 

He stood, walked back to the living room and retrieved his drink. Took a sip, put the glass down, and returned to the chaise. 




Second Chances



"I wanted you that night back in college. I knew you were a virgin. Hell, it might as well have been tattooed on your forehead. I wanted to be the first. Well, this is a kind of first, isn't it? Ever been tied up and taken? 

She shook her head. Her mouth was dry. Did he really expect answers? Yet, it was so incredibly erotic that he was talking to her. Weren't men supposed to lose control? What did it mean when a man could calmly, determinedly tie you up, talk to you? She took a couple of deep breaths. What was he going to do? 

He knelt over her and sucked on each breast in turn, rubbing the already erect nipples even harder. She felt herself arch off the chaise, offering more of herself to him. She pulled at the restraints but they were tight. She couldn't touch or hold him; she could only feel. She must have drawn her knees together because she felt him push them apart. 

"Spread your legs for me, Clare. I want to see you. I want to see your cunt. I want to watch you come."

He ran a finger down her belly and she watched it disappear into the dark pubic curls. Then she gasped as he used both hands to spread the slick pink lips and expose the bud of her clitoris. She could feel her inner thighs pulse. He slid one, then two fingers into her cunt, massaging the clit, rubbing small gentle circles around it. Her breaths became shallower and she knew she was moving in rhythm to his fingers. His fingers were wet with her and he pulled them out but continued to press, and rub, and circle her clit. She was groaning now, eyes closed, pushing at the restraints. Not being able to move seemed to heighten the sensation. She didn't want any of it to stop when she felt his fingers move away and...no, she moaned, don't stop, please...

Oh, my god, she arched further off the chaise as he spread her legs even wider and lowered his mouth, sucking on her clit, tonguing her vulva. His mouth was hot, his lips and tongue strong and he wouldn't let her move her legs. Her arms pulled the ties even tighter. She wasn't sure if she was trying to get away from him or trying to get closer. She had lost all sense of inhibition. She was simply at his mercy and she had the distinct feeling that he was controlling her, that he would push her to the edge, pull her back, and push again until he was ready for her to finish. She couldn't control the arching and pulsing, the tide of feeling that was overwhelming her. She felt his mouth move away and fingers play with her.

"I want to watch you come, Clare. I want to watch you come. Arch for me Clare. That's it, baby. Do you like this? Answer me. Clare.

He rubbed harder, and then stopped. No, don't stop. Did she scream that? 

"Answer me, Claire. Do you like me fingering you? Sucking you?"

"Yes, alright, yes." He rubbed her clit with his thumb and eased fingers into her aching cunt and whispered, now, Clare, now, now...and she pushed against his fingers, rocking and arching, rubbing against him as she orgasmed for long seconds. When she finally stopped arching, the tingling went on. She opened an eye to see him standing, taking another long sip from his drink. Her eyes ran down his body, lingering on his still erect cock from which glistening drops of liquid hung. He followed her glance, gave her that same amused expression.

"It's really not fair, you know. Women can come several times. Men, well, they get one good shot and then, they have to wait. Now, when you're eighteen, the wait's not so long so it's easy to be greedy. Get older and you begin to appreciate the finer points of sex, like having total control over a woman. That's what I have over you Clare."

He set the glass down and knelt between her legs, spreading her legs apart. Reaching down with a hand, he gently touched her clit, noted that she moved back against him. He rubbed a little more, making circles on her clit, gently tugging, then pulling on the lips, bent over and sucked on her nipples, arousing her again easily, too easily.

"Been a while since you've been taken, Clare. It shows."

She watched him touching her, spreading her legs, listened to his voice telling her what he wanted to do. The air was warm over her body. She closed her eyes only to hear him tell her to open them and look at him.

"I'm going to fuck you now Clare. Put my cock in you and thrust until you scream and I come. You can't stop me, but then, you don't really want to."

She watched him ease into her, his hand beneath her ass, lifting her slightly to change the angle. Gasped as he began thrusting into her, gently at first and then harder and stronger. They watched each other, almost as if each was daring the other to give way first, admit to the pleasure. Clare began to draw raggedly breaths as the pleasure mounted, as his thrusting became harder and more rhythmic. He reached for a chair cushion, pushed it under her ass and settled her, moved his hand to her knees and pushed them further apart, telling her he liked to see her spread her legs for him, liked to watch his cock go in and out of her cunt. She wasn't sure if being tied up or hearing him talk or feeling him fuck was pushing her pleasure. She was so used to being in control; this was so different. There was no use fighting it; she felt vulnerable, exposed but completely sensual. She didn't remember moving this way or wanting to thrust with a man so completely. She felt wanton; that was the only way to describe it. She wanted him to touch her and bite and thrust into her; she wanted to be completely mastered. The more she twisted, the more trapped she felt but somehow that made it feel better. And then a wave of the most intense pleasure came rushing and she thought she was going to break apart, certainly scream and she heard him moan in turn and thrust into her and then she was gone, arching off the chaise, pushing into his thrust. It was harder to think now, she just wanted to feel, and call his name, and come.

She never slept after sex so it was a bit of a surprise to find herself opening her eyes. Almost as much of a surprise to find that she wasn't tied up anymore. Instead, the ties were tossed in a heap on the ground and she was pulled against his chest and, yes, damn it, he was taking yet another sip of his drink. He looked down at her, dropped a kiss on her head and asked if that home cooked dinner invitation was still good. She really didn't know what to say, or where to start. This was definitely unchartered territory. What do you say to a man you hadn't seen in fifteen years who had just thoroughly tied you up and ravished you? She supposed he was hungry and she had offered. Well, she'd pull together some pasta and a salad. That was quick and the limo would be here at midnight to take her to the airport. Now how to tactfully tell him that he wasn't spending the night.

"I'll help. Have a limo coming around midnight to take me to the airport. Wouldn't want to leave you with dirty dishes." He smiled and pulled her to her feet, searched around for her dress and dropped it over her head. Then he bent and picked up the sash (she'd never look at that sash quite the same again) and wrapped it around her waist, knotting it securely.

"So," she started as they walked toward the kitchen, "where are you off to?"

"The Bahamas." He said it quietly and looked at her with that same damn smirk. 

"No, this is not going to happen. I am definitely not going to be on the same plane as you. We are not to the same tiny island, sharing the same house for the same week. You are not going to, to tie me up again, to....she sputtered and stopped, both hands on her hips and she would have stamped a foot but it seemed so cliché.

He just looked at her, took another sip of his drink, and nodded his head once. "Yes, Clare, you are, we are, I absolutely will."



Second Chances



Prologue

It had been quite awhile since Evie and I had spent any length of time together. Because our daughter was having an operation, both of us decided to be at the hospital for her until she was out of recovery.

Evie arrived first since she brought Jessica to the hospital. I made it just before she was taken into the operating room.

After Amy was wheeled away, Evie and I went to the waiting room. We began doing some reading we had brought with us, but soon began to talk. Talking about general things and trivial things at first, we then reminisced about our past. Talking quite a bit about the good times we had together with our parents, kids, and friends brought some laughs, even the beginnings of tears. Soon, our talk turned to our past relationship and resulting divorce. We talked about where our marriage went wrong. We both admitted to selfishness. We both agreed that another thing that drove us apart was a lack of intimacy. 

"I know now that I never made you feel really loved. I never made you my first priority. I had to be in so much control that I wouldn't, couldn't, let myself go, even when it came to sex," Evie said.

I thought for a moment then said, "I understand that now. But I still cared for you and, in the best way I could, I loved you. And I still love you, Evie. There's a part of my heart that is still filled with you. You've never left my heart."

With tears watering her eyes, she said, "And I loved you the best I could. And I still love you too."

We were silent for a moment, then I said, "And do you know what's even better? You and I have changed so much through the years that I feel like we actually like each other now. I'm sure there were times you didn't like me very much."

"Yes, there were. But you've changed. You're now the man I always hoped you would be."

She paused, and with tear sliding down her cheek said, "I'm so sorry. I wish we knew then what we know now."

"Me too." I said. "But our marriage wasn't all bad. Even the sex was good. Except," I added with a smile, "when you were angry with me."

"That was just part of my control thing."

She paused and said, "I've often thought ..."

Just then, the doctor came into the waiting room and told us that the operation was a success and that we could see her in the recovery room. We were able to visit our daughter for a few moments. We talked with the doctor for awhile. He told us that she would be alert by evening.

Relieved that the operation was a success, we walked to the parking garage together. 

Along the way, our conversation turned to our relationship again.

I began talking as we neared her car, "You know, Evie, you really didn't know what you were missing. You only touched the surface of the intense emotional and physical feelings you could have felt," I told her. "I wanted you to feel them so badly."

"I know you did. And I'm sorry again for denying you, for denying me, what we could have had."

I looked at her for a moment then took her into my arms. She tilted her head back and gave me a kiss so warm that it touched my heart.

She broke away and said, "Well, I'm coming back tonight. I'd better get going."

"And I'll be here tomorrow," I said.

She looked at me for a lingering moment, and then said, "I'll see you later."

**********

A few days later, I heard a knock on the door.

Opening the door, I was surprised to see Evie standing there.

"Well, Hi there stranger," I said.

"Hi back," she responded.

"What are you doing here?"

"It's a long story. May I come in?"

"Be my guest," I said as I opened the door and stepped aside.

Closing the door behind us, I asked, "So, what's the story?"

"Well, seeing you at the hospital ... it just brought back so many memories."

"I know, it brought back memories for me too."

"It got me thinking about what life with you, what our life used to be like."

"Now wait, Evie, we've already talked about this just a few days ago. We tried the best we knew how. And we did all right. Both of our kids are successful and happy. What more could we want? And, anyway, I wasn't the best husband."

"But there is something that has bothered me ever since our talk at the hospital."

"Which is?"

"I can't help but think that if we had a better sex life, the divorce may not have happened."

"There's more to life, more to a marriage, than sex, Evie."

"I know that. But we never seemed to be of the same mind. It was like we were just roommates. living in the same house, raising the kids. But there was no real intimacy between us, no respect, no unconditional love," she said.

"I know, Evie. We seemed to try, but there was something that held us back. I, we, never really gave ourselves totally to each other."

She looked away as a tear dropped down her cheek.

Taking her in my arms, I said, "It's OK, Evie. It's OK."

I tilted her head and asked, "So ... why are we having this conversation?"

"Because I was always afraid to let myself go. Because I always had to be in control. Because I was afraid to give myself to you completely. Seeing you at the hospital and our talk there got me to thinking about the last ten years. It made me wonder if we could really give ourselves sexually to each other. Not holding anything back, just giving each other everything we ever wanted from each other physically and emotionally."

"We did satisfy each other, though. We gave each other orgasms," I said.

"I know, and they felt great. But there was this feeling that there just had to be something more. And I know you felt that way too."

I looked at her for a moment and asked, "Are you here because you want to have sex, then?"

"Yes. Honestly, yes. I want to finally try to give myself to you. I want to try giving up control to you. I want to find out if there is more that we can give each other, a more intense feeling than we ever shared in the past."

"I had that dream all the years we were married, Evie. And I still do."

I took her in my arms again and gave her a tender kiss. She broke the kiss and rested her head on my shoulder. Raising her chin, I kissed her again. When she tried to pull away, I held her head with my hands and kept my lips firmly pressed against hers. 

I leaned back and said, "If you want to experience what we've been missing, are you willing to relax and follow my lead?"

"I'll try."

I took her by the hand and led her to the bedroom.

"I'd like for us to get undressed if you think you can do that."

She took a deep breath and began taking her clothes off.

When she finished, I looked at her and said, "I always liked to see you naked, Evie. You were always such a sexy woman to me. And you still are," I added.

She smiled nervously, "Now it's your turn. I don't want to be the only naked person in the room."

I removed my clothes and brought her into my arms. Leaning down, I gently kissed her. I held the kiss for a long time, and then we hugged each other tightly. We kissed again. She parted her lips and I began exploring her mouth with my tongue. She rolled her tongue around mine, then began sucking on it.

"I always liked sucking tongues," I mumbled, "among other things."

I felt my penis harden. When she felt it against her abdomen, she parted her legs and let it slide between them She pulled her arms more tightly around my neck and pushed her breasts against my chest. I put my hands on her buttocks and pressed her firmly against me.

"You're making me leak, Evie," I said. "And you're leaking too."

"I know," she responded, "I can feel the wetness between my legs." 

"Can we get more comfortable?" I asked.

"I'd like that."

I walked her to the bed. She looked at me for a moment, sighed, and made herself lie on her back on the bed. 

"Just close your eyes, relax, and really enjoy what we're going to share."

I sat next to her and caressed her cheeks with my fingers.

"Close your eyes and focus on the feelings," I said

Then I began to make circles on her abdomen with my fingers. With my other hand I began caressing her chest and breasts. When she felt my fingers near a nipple, she crossed her arms over her chest.

"No, Evie, don't do that. Open your mind and your body to me."

She uncrossed her arms and put them at her sides.

I took a nipple and slowly twirled it around with my fingers. She tensed. 

"Relax," I whispered.

I moved my hand from breast to breast, gently stimulating each nipple. With my other hand I made the circles on her abdomen larger, every so often brushing against her pubic hair. While continuing my circles on her abdomen, I moistened a finger and ran it over the ends of her nipples. Her body trembled slightly and her nipples became erect. She started to cross her arms again, then stopped, and put them back to her sides. 

I leaned over and gave each nipple a lick and then a gentle suck. She moaned. I alternated making love to her nipples with my mouth and tongue and whispering loving words in her ears. 

I sat up, turned my back to her, and began running both hands up and down her inner thighs. I worked the pads of my fingers upward and downward, occasionally touching the lips of her opening. 

She moved her body uncomfortably.

"Relax," I whispered again.

I took her outer lips between my fingers, pressed them together, then gently pulled them apart, and stroked her inner lips with my thumbs. 

She caught her breath. 

I turned around to position her legs. Placing the soles of her feet on the bed, I moved her knees apart. She looked at me. I bent down. 

She squeezed her knees together and said, "I don't know if I can do this. I know you always liked kissing me between my legs, but I never really enjoyed it. I always thought it was disgusting. I only did it because you wanted to."

"Believe me, Evie, it was never disgusting. I can still remember your aroma, your taste, the feel of your smoothness on my tongue."

"But I never had an orgasm that way. I don't think I can." 

"Yes you can, Evie. And, you'll love it. Just close your eyes and give yourself away."

She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and allowed me to spread her legs farther apart. Hesitating a moment to take in her aroma, I opened her outer lips with my tongue and pressed my mouth against her warm opening. 

She twitched.

I looked up and said, "Just go with the feelings, Evie."

With the first lick of my tongue, a shiver went through her body. 

I looked up again and said, "Close your eyes and focus all your attention on the sensations you're experiencing. Don't think about anything else."

I continued licking her opening. I could feel more wetness begin to flow. I ran my tongue up and down the slit of her opening. Her juices began to flow even more freely. I found her clitoris and gave it a flick with my tongue. 

"Oh!" she exclaimed. 

Her body shuddered and she moved her hands and started to push my head away.

"Please," I said and held her hands to her side.

I pulled her legs over my shoulders and ran my tongue around her outer lips. I found her clitoris again and took it between my lips. As I slowly sucked it into my mouth, she arched her back and pressed her mound against my face.

I heard a moan, almost a growl.

She gasped, "Why did I not want you to do this before?" 

Not wanting her to come too quickly, I returned to licking, this time her inner lips. 

"Ohhhh," she cried out, "I never knew I could feel like this."

I felt her inner lips part and inserted my tongue as deep into her vagina as it could reach. She grasped my head and pushed it hard against her swollen lips. 

I pulled my tongue out and traced it toward her anus. When I touched it, her body jumped and she let go of my head. 

"Not that. Please," she begged. "I'm afraid. I don't want ..."

"Go with the feelings, Evie," I whispered.

I licked across her anus, then gently pressed the tip of my tongue against her opening. She moaned with delight.

"Oh ... Oh ... I never ... I never knew ..."

She was responding to every touch of my tongue. Her body began to writhe. She pressed her hands firmly against the bed.

After lingering at her anus a few moments, I worked my way back to her clitoris and began liking around it, across it. Taking it between my lips again, I began sucking and flicking it with my tongue. I inserted two fingers of one hand between her sex lips and began stroking in and out of her opening. With her juices, I moistened a finger on the other and gently pushed against her anus. 

She tried to clamp her legs together and said, "Don't. I don't want that. I don't want to do that."

"I'm sorry, Evie. I'll never hurt you."

I removed my fingers and began squeezing her buttocks. She relaxed her legs and I continued licking her clitoris and sucking on her outer and inner lips. 

She was becoming agitated. She squirmed. She began breathing rapidly. She was having difficulty controlling her body. 

I moved my finger back to her anus and made circles around it while licking the length of her pussy. She offered no complaint this time, so I gently pressed it against her anus. It opened slightly. I pressed my finger slowly against it, but not inside, then backed off. I felt a tremor coursing through her body as it strained toward orgasm. I reached for a nipple and twirled it between my fingers. Suddenly she screamed, pulled my mouth against her clitoris with one hand, clamped her anus tightly against my finger, and exploded with and orgasm. Keeping my lips on her clitoris and pressing two fingers into her vagina, I brought her to another orgasm, more shattering than the first. She grabbed my head with both hands and pushed it against her with so much force I could hardly breathe. She came a third time and then collapsed her body on the bed. I rested my head on her sbdomen.

Finally, barely able to talk, she said, "No more. No more. I can't take any more." 

After a while, I sat up. 

She gave me a weak smile and said, "I never ever thought I could feel like that. I'm so sorry I never let myself go before. And I never thought touching my bottom would feel like that either. And to think, all I'd ever let you do was get on top of me with your penis inside me or just make each other come with our hands. "

"I told you that you would love it," I responded.

"I've got to rest a minute."

She lay there, breathing deeply until she fell into a peaceful sleep.



Second Chances & Erotic Romances



She lay awake in bed, her eyes tracing the posters of beer advertisements and gracefully distasteful Playmates. The sheets reeked of body odor, beer and ancient semen. Shelley swore she never knew why she stayed in that contemptible bed, but deep down, she knew the truth. The reason she fucked the arrogant frat boy was for a quick thrill and hopes for affection. Both were illusions: the thrill had melted onto discontent with sex and the affection never existed. She only slept there for convenience after the quick screw; he was always too drunk to drive her home. Removing his dick, he would grunt good night, and then turn around into slumber.

The sun woke Shelley and she clumsily threw on her clothes from last night. She left without a kiss or a goodbye and stumbled down the Walk of Shame. Too annoyed for sleep, she showered away the tears of regret, slowly rubbing her clit, accomplishing what the Neanderthal never could. After drying off from the shower and orgasm, she dressed and went to see the only person she knew would be awake this early on a Saturday.

Shelley was never ashamed of her body, as you could tell from her outfit consisting of a miniskirt that clutched her firm ass and the powder blue tank top that exposed her tempting and luscious breasts. Even without the dynamite body, her fierce, emerald eyes could strike a hard on for any man daring enough to look her straight in the eye. It was no surprise that even that nuns who taught at her high school turned their heads when she walked by. Despite all her credentials, she found herself settling on the first archaic pick up line she heard in college. 

Shelley walked slowly to Chris’ apartment. She didn’t know him well, but his expertise in computers and quirky sense of humor made the friendship beneficial. He opened his door quickly after the first knock, only slightly shocked by her arrival at dawn. He had undoubtedly been laboring at his computer all night.

“Hey Shelley, good morning. Wanna cup of coffee?” he asked as he lead her inside his place. For the first time, she noticed the drastic contrast between his ebony hair and gentle blue eyes. When he turned around for an answer, she gasped when she saw violent waves of sapphire roll through his eyes. Her vision moved lower, past his pouty lips, onto his bare, chiseled chest. He was not an exotic steroid pumped body builder, but his torso was perfectly toned and dominating. Shelley bit her lip as she felt her panties moisten.

“Coffee? No thanks. Let’s just go to your room,” she finally replied. Shelley’s mind raced with her newfound attraction. Did his shy and demure nature keep his extremely fuckable qualities hidden? Or did her obsession with the loser who quickly faded from her memory prevent her from seeing real opportunities?

He sat at his desk as Shelley lay down on his bed. They had ten minutes of frivolous small talk about weather, classes, and mutual friends. Shelley could stand it no longer as her carnal lust possessed her. She walked to him, then straddled her legs over him. 

“I want you to fuck me,” she announced confidently. Chris seemed overwhelmed by the possibility, but he overcame that as he looked into Shelley’s eyes.

“Okay. I’ve never had sex, so why don’t you fuck me?” 

Shelley answered with a decisive kiss. As their warm tongues met, he wrapped his godly arms around her, pulling her into his erect cock. Shelley’s clit tingled with anticipation as she felt his bulge beneath her. The deflowering had begun.

Kissing became an uproar of passion. Chris’ virginal hands roamed freely across her back. That wasn’t enough for Shelley as her flawless tits burned with ardor. Slowly taking off her tank top, she revealed to Chris his every fantasy. A light pink bra bound her voluptuous breasts. Chris’ purity vanished as he fumbled with the bra, finally removing it to exhibit her hard, pink nipples. 

“Lick them.” Shelley demanded. Chris encased her lovely nipples in his lips then tasted the sweet, soft flesh. At first he was timid and gentle, but then an erotic fervor spread through his loins. His hand cupped the breasts his mouth wasn’t savoring and caressed it with hunger. This intense and affectionate stimulation was intoxicating to Shelley and she let out a low, melodic moan. 

As his unsure finger graced past her crotch, she could no longer take the teasing. Her clit tickled, then ordered more. Shelley sat up from Chris’ lap. Torturing Chris and his hard dick, she slowly danced out of the skirt. Now, only in a pink, lace thong, she laid down on his bed, offering her curvy, feminine body to him.

“Take off my panties.” Chris followed her command, shaking with arousal and apprehension. Kneeling at the edge of the bed, he gently peeled the moist thong from Shelley. Immediately, he was dizzy with rapture as he saw the smooth, silky skin surrounding her pink cunt. Possessed by an appetite he had never known, he dug his face deep into her legs, hungering for the sweet juices of her pussy. As he licked the outer lips, Shelley’s body eagerly tensed up. His tongue teased and kissed. Neither could stand the temptation, so Chris spread open her lips, embraced the Mecca before him, and unleashed his strong, sensual tongue onto her throbbing clit. He was obsessed with the smell of sugar and sweat. Shelley shook with delight as her clit swelled with pleasure. His tongue quicken its pace and increased pressure; Shelley let out shrills and groans of euphoria. Her own hands added to the experience as she pinched her erect tits. For being a sexual novice, Chris indeed mastered eating pussy. He massaged her soft thighs as Shelley had the most intense orgasm of her life. Her muscles exploded with energy and a flood of cum flowed into Chris’ mouth. He moaned at the full, delicious taste of his lover.

By now, Chris’ cock ached for sex. 

“I need you to fuck me right now,” Shelley said. She sat up and lead his shoulders to the bed. Chris was on his back now, lying down. Shelley slowly took off his boxers, revealing his dick pointing to the sky. Amazed, Shelley observed the length and girth of his impressive cock. Leaning over his thick cock, she licked the warm, sweet precum of his soft head. Chris’ breathing became deep and heavy as Shelley’s tongue rolled around the tip of his penis. Her tongue felt smooth and firm. Chris’ fingers went through her silky hair as Shelley swallowed his dick deeper and deeper into her throat. He growled with ecstasy as her tongue stroked his rock hard dick and her hands massaged his balls. Shelley’s intense eyes gazed into Chris’ as she bobbed her head up and down his cock. Just as Chris felt his muscles tense up, she released his member from her satin mouth. 

“I want to feel you inside of me,” Shelley whispered as she straddled his again. She sat on his huge cock, rubbing it against her hard, wet clit. The friction was irresistible, so Shelley firmly grabbed his smoldering cock and thrusted him inside her dripping cunt. Chris’ eyes widened with surprised pleasure as Shelley moved her body in a lustful rhythm. His finger furiously attacked her clit as he pulsed deeper into her tight pussy. Drunk with passion, they gazed into each other’s eyes. They fucked hard as Shelley’s hips plunged his giant, juicy manhood into the depths of ecstasy. Shelley aggressively fondled her tits to deal with his electric dick and finger. 

“You’re beautiful,” Chris shouts as he climaxes and releases a lifetime of desire. Shelley’s body shook with tremors as their cum mixed inside of her. Still connected, she lay on him. For an eternity they’re still, their heartbeats corresponding. At last they separate, but only to spoon and kiss throughout the night. She felt his breath on her back, smelled his luscious, sweaty body, and heard him whisper heavenly praises in her ear. 

They slept into the day, eventually awaken by Shelley’s cell phone ringing. She recognized the number and ignored the call, never to speak to the drunken frat boy again. She crawled back to into his arms, and drifted back into a peaceful slumber. This is where she was meant to be.