16 comments/ 93164 views/ 44 favorites Coming Home Ch. 01 By: autoplot Kerri had not seen her father in three years. Driving up the narrow mountain road in her Jeep, she felt a flutter of nerves in her stomach. The last time she had seen her father had been just before she'd left for college -- she remembered his gentle hug, the smell of his flannel shirt as he held her close, and that had been all. When she was growing up, the two of them had been close -- aside from her turbulent teenage years, which put a predictable strain on their relationship, they had always gotten along well. But then her mother, Karen, had fallen ill the year she turned seventeen, and her father had grown distant as his own life became consumed by taking care of her mother. Then Karen had passed, a little over three years ago, while Kerri was in her freshman year at college. She had made it through the school year, feeling fragile and breakable, only to collapse with grief during the summer. Now, her junior year behind her, she had decided to see her father again. His house was on the end of a winding mountain road; a sprawling two-story log house flanked by evergreens. Kerri wore her khaki shorts and a tank top, her blonde hair tied back in a curly ponytail. The season had been wet, and the roads were soft and lined with deep tracks. The butterflies in her stomach increased as she pulled up to the front of the house. It was as impressive as it had looked in the photos he had sent her during their brief correspondence. She put the Jeep in park and stepped out, brushing her hair back from her eyes. She mounted the front steps, her boots clunking on the wood, and raised her hand to knock, when a voice called out. "Over here." She looked to her right and saw him walking towards her; tall, his hair blonde like hers, but cut short. He wore the same flannel shirt she seemed to remember -- was it the very same one? -- and his blue eyes were still the same. Most of all, she was struck by how young he looked. She knew that he and her mother had married very young, but somehow she had expected something else -- gray hair, perhaps, or a beard. He had neither. "You made it," he said, and hugged her close. Kerri caught a whiff of that same smell -- a peppery whiff of sweat, woodsmoke, and lumber -- comforting and stimulating all at once. "Hi, Dad," she said, trying the word on for size for the first time in a long while. He took her hands in his and looked her over, his eyes running down and up her once. She caught his eye and felt something ineffable -- something between affection and adoration that made her smile and avert her eyes. When she looked back, he was still smiling. "What?" she asked, suddenly feeling self-conscious. "I'm sorry," he said. "It's just that you look so much like your mother. It's amazing." He took her hand briefly, squeezed it, and let go. "Come back here, I want to show you something." The smell of fresh-cut wood and varnish hit her nose as he led her behind the house. Just in front of the treeline was a modest stable, unpainted, with three box stalls and the beginnings of a fence. Kerri grinned helplessly as she saw it. "You know how much your mother loved horses," he said. "I started building this in the early spring. I've got the fence almost finished, and by fall, well... maybe you can help me pick out some horses." "I'd love that," she said, and hugged him tightly, wrapping her arms around his chest. She pressed herself to him a little harder than she'd expected, and let the smell of him overwhelm her memories again. He held her affectionately, but after a long moment, he took her shoulders in his hands and gently pushed her back. "I still can't believe how grown up you are," he said. "You've become a lovely young woman." He kissed her on the cheek, and she felt herself grinning foolishly, her face growing warm. "Come on, let's get you unpacked," he said. # # # "So Dad," she said, unzipping her duffelbag on the bed. "Not to be the interfering busybody daughter or anything..." "Please," her father said. "Your younger sister takes care of that." She smiled. "So have you been dating anyone?" Her father smiled. "You're as bad as Kim. She's always after me to get out there, start seeing people..." Kerri giggled, a bit nervously. "That sounds like her, all right. So, have you?" "No," he said, leaning against the wall casually. Kerri marveled again at how young he looked -- almost boyish in the way he stuffed his hands into his pockets -- but the light caught his face and she saw the emerging gray in his stubble, and a little at the temples. "I never was really interested," he said. "No one could ever compare to your mother. Karen was an extraordinary woman." Kerri smiled. "Yeah," she said, wanting to think of something to say, but unable to. "I still think about her," he said. "A lot. I don't think I could ever date anyone else -- it just wouldn't seem right." "Sure, but... you can't live the rest of your life alone, Dad." She leaned herself against the other wall, hands in her back pockets. "You're still a man..." She blushed, looking down at her shoes. "I didn't mean that the way it sounded." He laughed. "I'm not sure how you meant it!" he said. "Neither am I," Kerri said, and examined her shoes. But, of course, she was, and she knew it. "It's all right," he told her. "I'm going to start dinner. I'm making your favorite." "Oh, yeah?" she challenged. "What's my favorite?" "I was hoping you'd tell me," he said, and smiled as he tipped out the door. # # # "So," Steve said over pasta, "how is your sister?" Kerri swirled spaghetti around her fork. "Kim and I talk a lot -- we share everything. She thinks it's great that you and I are talking again. But -- " "She thinks I should date," Steve said, and chuckled quietly. "She's been calling me once a month and telling me that for years, you know. She keeps threatening to come up here and take matters into her own hands." "God forbid," Kerri laughed. "It's because she cares. She is always talking about you. You know, when we were little, she always worshipped you. She said that when she grew up, she was going to marry you. She was completely in love with you." Her father laughed. "She was? I never knew that." "She was. She made me swear to never tell you." "What about you?" he asked, picking up his wine glass. Kerri laughed softly. "Yeah, I was in love with you too for awhile. When I was little. But then Kim told me that you and I couldn't get married. I was so pissed at her." Her father laughed again, more quietly this time, and drank his wine. "I wish your mother had lived to see what beautiful young women you all became," he said, and suddenly finished off the glass. "More wine?" "Sure," Kerri said. "Dad, it's been such a long time. Don't you miss... I don't know, the physical side of things? Being with someone?" "I don't know." Steve poured wine for the both of them. "After such a long time, I don't even remember what it's like anymore. I guess I don't miss it." "I doubt that," Kerri said, feeling bold for reasons she couldn't quite pin down. "Human beings aren't wired up that way. People have needs." "Oh? Where did you learn about that?" "College," she said. "I took a human sexuality course." "Oh my lord," her father said, and drank theatrically. "My sweet little girl, corrupted by the system..." "I'm not a little girl anymore, Dad." "Well, clearly not." He shrugged and drank his wine. "So, what about you? Why aren't seeing anyone?" Kerri shrugged. "I just never met the right man, I guess." "Well, you'd better hurry up," he joked. "You're twenty-one now -- practically a spinster." "Shut up," she said, and feigned throwing a roll at him. He ducked to the side and smiled. "But really," he said. "You're young, you're beautiful, you should be dating. I know I'm not supposed to be saying that -- I should be the overprotective father who thinks no one is good enough for his daughter..." "Aren't you?" she teased. He shrugged. "Maybe a little." "I know, it's been a while," Kerri said, playing with her food idly. "I haven't been with anyone since high school. I don't know, though. I guess I'm just not interested in the boys at college. They're all so dumb and... young." "Oh god," her dad said. "What? Afraid I have a taste for older men?" "We're not having this conversation anymore," he told her. "And that's final. Time for dessert." "Ice cream?" He smiled. "Neapolitan. Your favorite, right?" She smiled. "Right." # # # After dessert, Kerri took a shower to wash the dust of the road off her. The sun had gone down, and the night was warm, so she put on a cotton undershirt and pajama shorts. She padded barefoot out to the deck, to find her father sitting on their old orange couch and drinking another glass of wine. He wore a pair of boxers, his tee shirt, and his flannel shirt. "Well," he said, looking at her wardrobe choice. "Great minds think alike, it seems. You should put on a robe, though." "Who are you, my dad? It's way too warm for that," she said, and sat down next to him on the old couch. "My god, I can't believe this old thing is still around." "I'll bet you remember it from the old days," he said. "Do you want something more to drink?" "Maybe a little," she said, and he handed her a glass, already a little under half-full. "Well, you came prepared," she said, and drank. The wine, along with what she'd had at dinner, was making her light-headed and effervescent. "Do you always drink this much?" "Every chance I get," he said, and put an arm around her bare shoulder. "I laid in a hell of a wine cellar, and I intend to use it." Kerri drained her glass and nestled into him, putting her head on his chest. Again, she smelled that comfortable smell of woodsmoke and lumber, and underneath it, the scent of his sweat, alien and familiar at the same time. "They say you shouldn't drink alone," she said, giving him a hug. She felt exquisitely comfortable, and yet her heart fluttered a bit when he squeezed her arm and leaned his head against hers. "You'll end up a total alkie, drinking Scope and writing manifestos." "They teach you that in college, too?" "Manifestos? No. Drinking, yes." He laughed. "Anyway, there's not much choice," he said, and drained his own glass. "It's pretty lonely out here." "It's so quiet," she said. "No one around for miles," her father said. "Just the way I like it." "Really?" she asked. "You don't really seem that happy." "I'm happy to see you," he said, and squeezed her again, stroking her arm. She smiled and cuddled closer to him, drawing her knee up over his leg. She realized she was testing the waters, seeing how familiar she could get with him, seeing if he would push her away or distance himself. So far, no sign of discomfort on his part. "I'm happy to see you too," she said. "But it seems like maybe... maybe you're really lonely out here." "I am," he sighed, and silence fell for awhile. "I get lonely, but I don't know what to do. I miss you girls so much, but I don't relate to other people. Sometimes I feel like I don't want to be in the world anymore. I love you, and your sisters, but the rest of it... I could take it or leave it." "Oh, dad," she said, and stroked his chest with her hand. She leaned up to kiss his cheek, but he turned his head, and somehow their lips met. They kissed, chastely, and she drew back, looking into his eyes. His expression was unreadable, but he still didn't turn away. She bit her lip, weighing the moment, looking into his eyes. Slowly, she leaned in and kissed him again, longer this time, and she felt her heart begin to race. For a moment, he responded, drawing in his breath and pulling her close, and when she put her hand on his chest, she could feel his heart racing. But then he pushed her away, gently, his hands on her shoulders. His big strong hands. It had the opposite effect of what he'd intended. "Kerri --" he said. "It's okay," she said, and put her hand on his cheek. "Let me do this. I want to do this for you." "Do what...?" he looked at her, befuddled. "Do you trust me?" she asked. "Of course," he stammered. "But--" She cut off his words by kissing him again, letting the tip of her tongue touch his lips. He tensed, but didn't push her away this time. "Just relax," she said between kisses, and stroked his cheek lightly. "Relax and trust me." She ran her hand down his chest, slowly, over his stomach -- a little softer now than she expected, but still muscular underneath -- and down over his boxers. He was hard, and when she squeezed him there he moaned under his breath, but didn't move. She stroked him through his boxers, feeling him grow harder. "Kerri," he whispered, and reached for her hand. "You can't--" "It's okay," she whispered, burying her face in his neck. "It's okay to want this." "We shouldn't be doing this," he said, but his hand curled around her shoulder, squeezing. She heard a quaver in his voice and felt a sudden rush of pleasure at how powerful that made her feel. Slowly, she eased his cock out of his boxers, putting her hand around it, squeezing slowly and rythmically. She felt him tense, and a little gasp escaped him. "But I want to," she said in his ear. "I've wanted to for a long time. And I think you might want that, too." "It's wrong," he said weakly. She leaned forward and kissed his ear. "Do you want me to stop?" He didn't answer for a long moment, his hands moving up and down her body as if searching for an answer to that question. "No," he finally whispered. She grinned and slid down his body, down to her knees in front of him. She wrapped his fist around his cock -- bigger than she'd thought it would be -- and positioned herself between his knees, pushing them apart with her body. She looked at his cock up close, studying the gentle curve of it, the shape of the head, the curls of his pubic hair. It felt to strange to see his nakedness like this; strange and exhilirating. Her heart pounded against her ribcage, her breath coming fast. She felt her own breath quicken with his when she squeezed; felt a thrill rush through her when his body responded to her touch. "Kerri, this is crazy," her father gasped. She looked up at him. He was sprawled back on the couch, eyes closed, breathing quickly. He had one hand over his eyes. "Dad," she said, and then, feeling both mischievous and cruel, said, "Daddy. Look at me." He opened his eyes, and she lifted her pajama top over her head, revealing her breasts. She tossed it aside, and it landed on the edge of the balcony, slipped between the rails, and was gone. Oops, she thought absently, and giggled. When she met her father's eyes again, he was staring at her, and then averted his eyes uncertainly. "You can look at me if you want," she said, and hooked her fingers through his boxers. She pulled them down and hiked up his shirt, revealing his belly. "You can look. It's okay." She curled her fist around his cock again, and this time he didn't protest any further. She held it in her hand. Her father's cock. Her father's body. The tabboo of it roared in her head. Was she really going to do this? The question turned in her head as she stroked him gently. Would it cross a line to put it in her mouth, to take it inside her body, to make him come? Obviously she had crossed a line already. She was kneeling half-naked before him, wanting him, making him want her. Did a little further matter so much? His cock throbbed in her hand. She leaned down and gave it an experimental lick, tasting the flesh. He shuddered and called her name, touching his hand to the back of her head, ever so gently. She smiled, taking it as a signal, drew in her breath, and took him in her mouth. His response was instant, electric. His fingers curled into her hair, and his hips tilted up, driving him further into her mouth. She squeezed, pulling away before she gagged. He tightened his fingers in her hair, pushing her down gently, and she obliged, taking as much of him as she could, feeling his body quiver, reveling in his pleasure. "Kerri... we... oh god! You have to..." "Nuh-uh," she said. She began to move her head up and down, using her tongue, squeezing rhythmically again. He groaned loudly, putting his hand on her shoulder, his fingers squeezing into her bare flesh as she worked on him. She put her hand on his belly and felt his breath pick up, his groans growing louder, echoing out into the empty night around them. "Kerri... I can't..." "It's okay, dad," she said, and looked up at him, meeting his eyes. "I want you to." She squeezed and went down on him a third time, taking him deep into her throat, moaning a little as she sucked. His groans reached a high pitch, and she actually felt him pulse a moment before he came in her mouth in a hot flood. There was more than she'd expected -- far more -- and she pulled away reflexively, a spurt of semen painting her cheek and neck. Even as she drew in her breath, he spurted again, splattering her breasts, and she gave a little cry of surprise. "Oh wow," she said, and looked up at him, feeling a sudden surge of joy. He gazed down at her, his expression a mixture of ecstacy and disbelief. and she looked down to see a little bit dribbling out of him. Leaning down, she took him in her mouth one final time, cleaning him off. She felt his wetness dripping down her neck, down her breasts, still warm. "Kerri," her father gasped. "Jesus Christ..." He reached out to touch her cheek gingerly, looking at her with an unreadable expression. "Did you like that?" she asked. He opened his mouth to say something, then just nodded silently, trying to catch his breath. "Good," she said, and smiled at him. "I'm, um, going to go clean up... you made kind of a mess of me." She stood up and padded to the screen door, suddenly feeling awkward. She didn't look back at him as she went inside the house. # # # Kerri went into the bathroom, cleaned off, and pulled on a fresh pajama top. She was still quivering from what she'd done, her heart beating heavily. She felt aroused, confused, satisfied, doubtful, all at the same time, a torrent of emotions that left her feeling too much energy. She brushed her hair briskly as she looked in the mirror, letting the action give her focus. She wasn't sorry for what she'd done -- she knew now it was what she'd come here to do. She'd wanted it since she was too young to want it, and now that it was done, she could admit it. She'd crossed that line forever, and he'd let her cross it. Did that mean he'd felt the same way about her? Most of all, she knew she wanted more -- she wanted to feel him inside her, to feel his body pressing down on hers. She set down the hairbrush and drew in a deep breath. All of this depended on what her father chose to do next. She considered the possibilty that he didn't, and that she'd just done something horribly destructive. But somehow, she didn't think that was the case. She just felt it, an instinctual response, like the one her father had whenever he knew she'd lied to him. Kerri made herself wait a few more moments before she padded back out to the balcony. She opened the screen door and found the couch empty. Frowning, she came back and checked the kitchen and the living room. Nothing. "Dad?" she called out into the empty air. No reply. Quietly, she made her way up the stairs to the bedroom, and found the door closed. She thought of knocking, then surreptitiously tried the knob. It wasn't locked. Shit, she thought, and suddenly found herself more worried than satisfied. She put her ear against the door, listening for some sound, some clue that it would be all right to knock. She heard nothing but silence. Coming Home Ch. 01 Finally, she went back down to her room, laid down on the bed, and crawled underneath the covers. She lay there, looking at the ceiling, listening to the ticking of the clock on the wall and the gentle brushing of the branches against the window. # # # Kerri awoke the next morning to a slight headache from the wine. The last thing she remembered from the night before was laying in bed, touching herself idly, her whole body tense, waiting for the door to open. Waiting for her father to come in and put his hands on her. He hadn't, and eventually she fell into a deep, dreamless sleep. Things seemed very different now, by the light of day. Doubt had replaced arousal, and she wondered if she truly had ruined things between them with her actions. Curiously, she still didn't feel ashamed -- she knew the allure of taboo from the classes she'd taken and the books she'd read, and understood its power. They were both adults, and he'd gone along willingly enough. As long as it remained between them, there was nothing wrong about what they'd done. Who are you trying to convince? she thought as she pulled on a pair of denim shorts and a white tank top. She should have knocked, should have talked to him. Maybe she shouldn't have come up here at all. It doesn't matter, she told herself. Whatever he thinks of me now, it's done. He wasn't in the kitchen. She poured herself a glass of juice and walked out to the living room, looking up the stairs. His door was open, but there was no sign that he was in there. She drank half the juice, left the glass on the coffee table, and went out the door to the yard. She'd slept late, and the day was already growing sunny and warm outside. Her father was working on the fence, in a tee shirt and jeans, sawing away at a piece of lumber, already sweating. He didn't look angry -- not from here, anyway -- but Kerri approached cautiously. "Hi," she said. Her father stopped working and looked at her, wiping his brow. "Hi," he said, and to her relief, he smiled at her a little. "Can I do anything to help?" she asked. "No, I think I've got it," he said. "Please?" she asked. He pursed his lips and met her eyes briefly, then looked away. "Sure," he said. "Help me drag these sawhorses into the stable. It's going to be hot today. No need to bake in the sun." "Okay." Together they lifted the dusty old sawhorses into the stable, then began moving the long planks from the yard and stacked them inside. Her father met her eyes intermittently as they worked, but said little. The work wasn't particularly hard, but by noon they were both hot and sweating. Kerri fanned herself and blew air from her cheeks. "It shouldn't be so hot this late in the year," she said, feeling lame. Was it really going to be like this? "I know," her father said, and put another plank on the sawhorses. It looked like he was about to begin sawing again, and Kerri drew in her breath before he could. "Dad, I want to talk about it," she said. The saw paused in midair, and he stood there for a moment, staring into space. Then he put it down. "I'm not sure we should," he said. "Why?" she asked, and stepped between him and the sawhorse. He put his hands in his back pockets, almost as if he were afraid to touch her. "Are you angry with me?" "No," he said. "I just don't understand... I don't understand how it happened." She drew in a nervous breath. "I wanted it to happen, Dad. I think that you did, too." Your body certainly did, she thought, but bit back the comment, surprised at her own cattiness. "No," he said softly, and shook his head. "Fathers aren't supposed to do that with their daughters... you're my little girl..." He looked past her, into the space behind her, and she couldn't bear it. She took his chin in her hand and turned his face to hers. "I'm really not a little girl, dad," she said. "I haven't been in a long time. You know that. I love you. I wanted to make you happy..." "Oh, God," he said, and turned away from her violently, walking to the back of the stable. She followed hesitantly, watching him. "What if this got out?" he asked. "What would happen if your sisters..." "No one has to know what happens here, Dad. God, you live a hundred miles from anybody. Who's going to find out? You could do whatever you want..." she trailed off, biting her lip, then decided to finish her thought. "You could do whatever you wanted with me." He turned back to her, his face full of puzzlement. "Is this what they taught you in college?" he asked. She laughed despite herself. "No, they don't teach this in college. I think they would have a hell of a time writing up the syllabus." He smiled a little at that. "Smart-ass." "I learned from the best," she said. "Still," he said, his face turning serious again. "What happened was wrong..." "Maybe," she said, lifting her chin defiantly. "Maybe that's why we both wanted it." He put a hand to his head and, unexpectedly, laughed. "My god," he said. "You really are just like your mother." "No," she told him. "I'm really like me." She stepped close to him, leaned forward, and lifted her face to his, her hands behind her back. The smell of him once again aroused her senses. Without warning, he drew in his breath and grabbed her, rough hands on her shoulders, and kissed her, hard. She squealed, lifting her hands to put them around his neck, but he pushed her, her back fetching up against the door of the box stable, and she gasped. "Is this what you want?" he asked her, his face close to hers. "Really?" His tone carried equal parts challenge and desperation; daring her to want him, daring to want her himself. She saw no reason whatsoever to be coy. For answer, she looked into his eyes and put her hand on the crotch of his jeans, squeezing. He was rock hard, as she'd expected, and she grinned wickedly up at him. "Yes," she said. "It's really what I want." Suddenly he was kissing her again, and his hands were on her hips, then on her breasts. He squeezed them through her shirt for a moment, then reached down and hiked up her top, not pulling it off but bunching it under her armpits. Her heart pounded to new life when she felt her hands on him. She realized that she was grinning from ear to ear, breathing fast. They both were. "Wait," she told him, and reached down to undo the snap of her shorts. She fumbled it apart with quivering fingers, pulled down the zipper, and they were gone; a moment later, her shirt was gone too, and she stood naked before him, head to toe. He looked at her with something like adoration, and then pressed himself up against her again. With tiny, quick gestures, she teased his shirt out of his jeans and pulled it over his head, leaving his chest bare. She pressed herself against her father's body, feeling the slickness of their sweat, the heat coming off his body. His hands squeezed her breasts, traveled down her sides, under her buttocks, lifted her up into the air. She wrapped her legs around him as he kissed her deeply, his tongue exploring her mouth. The rough wood of the door scratched her back. She didn't care. She buried her fingers in his hair, feeling the short sharp hairs at the back of his neck, twisting her fingers there, drawing moans from him. She could feel his hardness through his jeans. "Oh God, Kerri," he moaned as he pulled away. "Sweetheart..." "Here," she told him, and unwrapped her legs. He let her go, and her feet touched ground again. Leaning her bare body against him, she unzipped his jeans, letting his cock free, taking it in her hand again. "There," she said, and gave him a squeeze. "That's better --" her sentence turned into a gasp as he lifted her off the ground again, pressing her hard against the door. She felt the hardness of his cock bump against her, and then suddenly he was inside her, filling her. "Oh my g--" Kerri buried her face in his shoulder, her fingers digging into his flesh as he thrust inside her. Her body turned electric, time stretching out into gasps, the creak of the stable door, the sound of their flesh meeting. He thrust against her, gently at first, then harder, and her breath caught in her throat as she felt him slide deep into her. At last, though, as good as it felt, practical concerns had to take over. Kerri could feel her back beginning to ache, the hinge of the door biting into her shoulder, chafing her bare skin. "Dad," she said. "The door..." "I'm sorry," he said, and put her down, slipping out of her. "It's okay," she said hastily, and undid the latch on the door. She took her father's hand and drew him to the pile of dry grass, lowering herself into it. She bit her lip a little -- it was scratchy, but it would do for the moment. "Much better," she said, and pulled him down on top of her. "Wait," he said. "Do you want to go inside --" "No, please," she said. "Please, don't stop now." She reached her hands out to him. He knelt obediently, leaned forward, and she put her hands on his shoulders and pulled him the rest of the way down. "Oh, dad," she whimpered, feeling the tingle of pleasure as he entered her again. She buried her face in his shoulder as he began to thrust frantically, making short little moans under his breath. When he put his hand on the back of her neck and squeezed, she came, almost unexpectedly, and she buried her cries in his flesh, digging her teeth into his shoulder. Her father slowed but kept going, both of them slick with sweat, and she took the lull after her orgasm to savor the detail -- the rustle of the hay under their bodies, the smell of his sweat, the crease between his eyebrows, the rough whiskers on his cheeks and chin. Minutes later, she felt another orgasm swelling and gave herself to it, crying out as loud as she wanted. Her pleasure seemed to fuel his, and he began to shudder, picking up speed. "Oh God, Kerri, I'm -- " "It's okay," she gasped, and pulled him close to her, wrapping her arms and legs around him. He groaned loudly, his body stiffening, and she felt him come inside her. She grinned and leaned her head against his, holding him as his orgasm subsided, relishing the feel of his weight on her. They lay there for a long time, with no sound but their breathing, gradually slowing from pants to long, satisfied breaths. He raised himself up on his arms and opened his mouth to speak, but she kissed her father, long and slow, running her fingers down his cheek. "Feel better?" she asked, giving him a mischievous grin. He laughed a little under his breath and looked down, almost shyly. "Did you..." he trailed off. "Yes." She giggled a little. "Twice. You couldn't tell?" He shook his head. "Do you want to go inside?" "Maybe in a little while," she said, and squirmed underneath him. Then she said: "I love you, dad." He didn't answer her, but buried his face against her neck and shoulder, his thumb caressing her neck. She held him in the angling sunlight, wondering what he was thinking. # # # Eventually, they got up. Her father gently brushed the stalks from her naked body as her sweat cooled in the afternoon air. She did the same for him, though he'd mostly kept his clothes on. They spoke only a little, and she saw that he routinely avoided her gaze, though his gaze passed over her body more than once. She saw equal parts arousal and guilt, but decided to say nothing. She got back into her clothes, discovering that it made her feel oddly uncomfortable to be clothed now. She liked being naked in his presence, as if it were the outer reflection of her feelings for him. There could be no confusion when she stood bare before him, no question as to her meaning or intent. "I'll see you inside," he said, and touched her shoulder briefly as he walked past her. His touch was affectionate, but she knew the troubled look on his face all too well, the one he'd worn since she was old enough to drive and date. She thought about saying something to him then, but they'd already had one confrontation here, and no matter how she'd enjoyed where that led, it didn't seem right to raise the issue here again. She bided her time for a bit after he left, wandering around the stable once, taking in breaths of the mountain air, feeling the swell in her shoulders and back where he'd driven her against the stable door, the tiny aches on the back of her neck where he'd grabbed her. She dwelt on the pleasant memory of it as she took a brief walk up into the treeline, taking her time. She found a stump and sat watching the trees move until the shadows began to grow a little long. Eventually she grew bored and walked back down to the house. She came in through the back door, went to her room, and changed out of her shorts and top -- they were still scratchy and full of hay -- into a yellow sundress and sandals. She took a moment to put her hair up in a high ponytail and went out to find her father sitting in his recliner in the living room, a drink in his hand. She stood there for a long time, watching him, grasping one arm behind her back, tilting one foot behind the other. She knew it to be a girlish and seductive gesture, and when he looked at her again, she saw that he knew it, too. But after a moment, he looked away. "Did I upset you?" she asked. Her father took a drink. "No," he said. "No, you didn't. Come over here and sit down." "Do you want to talk some more?" she asked, and sat down on the ottoman opposite him. "I don't know," he said. "I feel like... this is wrong. I mean, of course it is, you're my daughter, you're half my age... this is insane." He put his face in his hand. "And I know it's been... I've been lonely out here, and seeing you again, but I don't want to ruin... I mean--" "Dad, you're not going to ruin anything," she said. "I wanted this to happen. I came here to do this. Do you understand?" "Why?" he asked. "Why did you?" "Because I wanted to," she said. "Mom raised us to do what we wanted, to take what we wanted. You're the only man in my life that I ever really loved." He laughed and took another drink. "God, if your mother could see this." "She'll never see it," Kerri said, and the rawness of her words made her pause for a moment before continuing. "This will be ours, dad. Just yours and mine. We're all alone up here, and we can do whatever we want. And if it's a little bit wrong... well, isn't that what makes it fun?" His face hardened. "I'm still your father," he said. "You're not supposed to be telling me what's wrong." She felt a sudden thrill at the authoritative note in his voice, and felt herself grinning. "Oh?" she asked. "Does that mean I've been a bad girl?" He put down his drink and stared at her sternly. "Okay, don't start." "Or what?" she asked, and pushed her knees together, splaying her ankles girlishly. "Are you going to punish me?" "Seriously," he said. "That's not funny, just knock it off. I'm being serious." "So am I," she said, and giggled. "You'd better bring me back into line, Dad, or you're never going to be able to control me." He actually rolled his eyes at her, a gesture that both amused and irritated her. "Kerri, knock it off," he said, raising his voice a little, and that only added to her arousal. She shrugged and decided not to push her luck. "Okay. But you don't know what you're missing." He ran a hand down his face. "You really are something." "I know," she said, and rose to sit beside him on the couch. "Dad, as ridiculous as this is going to sound coming out of my mouth, I don't want this to be weird. It doesn't have to be. I don't regret what happened. Do you?" After a long moment, he shook his head. "No. But--" "Then what's the problem?" He rubbed his cheek, thinking. "I feel like I ought to regret it, I suppose. It's--" "It's what we want it to be," Kerri said. "It's just us up here. Miles from anybody. We can do whatever we want. Don't you like that idea?" When he didn't answer or make eye contact with her, Kerri scooted over and threw one leg over him, sitting in his lap. She put a finger under his chin and turned his face toward hers. "I think you do," she said. "You just can't admit it." He laughed under his breath. "When did you get so goddamned smart?" She gave him a teasing smile. "College," she said. "You're not supposed to be the one doing the interrogating around here," he said. "I'm your father." "Oh yeah?" Kerri grinned. "You want to interrogate me? Is that it?" He laughed, a bit nervously. "You keep talking like that... I'm not..." "Listen," Kerri said, putting her hands on his shoulders. "I'll make this really simple for you. I'm here for three more days. If you want to be happy father and daughter and go bowling and watch crappy reruns and look at old photo albums the entire time, I will happily do that. If you want to forget this entire thing ever happened and we never so much as mention it again, I'll do that too. But I love what happened. And if you want to have your way with me like a dirty, filthy old man, I'm telling you right now that I'll do that too." He gave her an indignant look. "Who are you calling old?" "You, dad," she said, and slapped him playfully on the chest. "So, what do you think?" "I think--" he put his hands on her hips and squeezed, pulling her closer. "I do love you, Kerri." "I love you too." "I don't want to hurt you." "You won't." "Or take advantage of you." She gave him a skeptical look. "It that a joke?" He smiled, and his fingers wandered up her left arm, brushing the skin so lightly that they left goosebumps in their wake. With a delicate touch, he teased the strap of her dress off her shoulder, and Kerri felt a little thrill run through her. "I want to take you upstairs," he said. "To look at photo albums?" He put a hand behind her neck again and squeezed gently, and she felt her heart jump in her chest. "Not quite," he said. (to be continued) Coming Home The flight home was quick and uneventful. I had told my wife that I would be a couple of hours late because airlines tend to run behind schedule, but for a change we landed on time. I had arranged for a good friend to pick me up and boy was I lucky. As I caught a glimpse of her behind the crowd I felt a smile emerge. It's always nice to see good friends after being away. When the crowd cleared I heard myself gasp. What was standing in front of me was a gorgeous smile, sun kissed curly hair and slender legs that went all the way up to her – well you know. Wearing 2-inch heels and a too short skirt, that surely caught the eyes of some passing men, I felt a sense of pride as we hugged. But this wasn't a friend to friend hug. What happen next kind of sent a shiver up my spine. Standing taller than me she bent over and gave me a tight hug and then gave me a small peck on the cheek. But she didn't let go. She nuzzled my neck and gave me a playful bite on my ear at the same time groping my crotch with her hand between our bodies. Not wanting to pass up a chance I returned the favor by grasping her ass with both hands. What seemed like minutes I'm sure was only seconds but a memory that would last my lifetime. We had the usual conversation as we headed to car for the ride home. And I managed to cop a sight of her blue panties as she slid in the seat. And I think she caught me because she made no effort to pull her skirt down as we drove away. I suggested we stop for a beer because I just came from a dry county and was limited on what I could drink. But she was well versed on the local bar scene and agreed to have a beer or two. She told me her husband just happened to be out of town and she was in no hurry to go home. I thought to myself maybe she set this whole thing up! High heels, short skirt, nibbling my ear, husband is gone.... no, she's just a cool girl and I'm lucky to have her as a friend. Who wouldn't? The atmosphere was dark, but charming with a short counter and a few booths near the back of the pub. She chose a booth and as I slid in she slid right next to me. I felt my heartbeat rise but settled back and drank my beer. We had some small talk about what I had missed being away for so long and who was mad at who and how disgusting some people can be, then I don't know what had gotten in to me but I put my hand on her thigh and thought she is surely going to push it away. She continued to chat as if nothing had happened and as I started to pull my hand away she grabbed it and brought it up to her lips and started to wet my finger tips. She then looked straight into my eyes and put my hand back between hers legs and with her other hand she slid her panties to the side and slid my finger into her already moist pussy! She just kept staring at me as she pumped my fingers in and out. She squirmed little and I squirmed a lot as I started to become engorged. I took my cue and started to nibble around her ears and on the back of the neck. I could her her starting the breathe a little harder and this just encouraged me more. She then stopped pulled my hand away and whispered in my ear. As I looked around I noticed the bar had filled with customers. She grabbed my hand and led me back down the hallway towards the bathrooms. She peaked in the Ladies room, opened the door and pulled me in. She pushed me into the first stall and locked the door behind her. I don't know if I was nervous or excited but I wasn't about to stop her, whatever she was about to do I was completely in her trance. She pushed me up on top of the toilet and unzipped my pants, pulled out my throbbing cock and proceeded to give my head right there. I don't know if it was because she knew what she was doing or if I just don't get a blow-job that often, but I was feeling really excited right about now! She took her time, up and down my cock. Licking the tip. Cupping my balls. Then in one stroke she took the whole shaft into her warm mouth. I almost came right there but I wasn't about to let this girl get me off that quick. It was right about then when I heard the bathroom door open, I don't think she did because she was really sucking me off at this point. I tried to be quite as I could hear the lady pissing in the stall next to us. I was a little embarrassed at this point but this just made her more active as she was moaning and slurping like a crazed whole. I wouldn't care if the whole world was peaking over the top because by now I was grabbing her hair and pushing myself deeper and deeper into her mouth. I could hear her choke and she was starting to drip saliva down her chin but this just excited me more. I was slamming her face so hard I was afraid I was going to hurt her but she just sucked harder and harder. I has been so long since I had a blow-job I knew I was cumming any second. I figured if she didn't like to swallow it's to late for her now. I grabbed her by the back of the head and I swear to God I came into her so much she choked and slightly bit my cock. I just kept pounding her and pounding her. She tried to back away but to no avail. She's going to have to swallow every last drop I was telling myself. I finally took my hands away expecting her to curse at me but she just looked up and licked the cum off her lips and smiled. She cleaned up as if nothing had just happened. She walked out and left me in the stall with my pants around my ankles. I quickly zipped up and as I was leaving a women opened the door and gasped at the sight of me leaving the restroom. I just smiled and walked on. As we left the bar she threw me the keys. She told me she had some business to finish on the way home. I knew she had something else in store for me. We headed towards the highway when I noticed she started to rub herself through her skirt. She paid me no attention as she lifted her skirt and rubbed her pussy getting her panties visibly wetter and wetter. She started to moan when she arched her back and slid her panties off. She looked in the back seat and stuffed them in my briefcase. I just had to remember that before the wife opens it. She then turned in her seat facing me and pulled her legs to her chest. I had a full view of those moist lips as she spread them wide. She continued to play with herself. Slowly at first then faster and faster... I could see she was enjoying me watching her. Then she pointed at my side window. As I turned I saw a trucker giving me a thumbs up. I think this just made her hornier as she was rubbing harder and harder and her eyes started to roll up. I could see she was starting to shake when I noticed our exit off the highway and turned just in time. Right then I heard the truckers horn and she must have came right then because she shook and let out a loud moan. She stuck her fingers in my mouth and I licked those babies clean. She then rubbed herself again and licked her fingers also. She said we better head to her house so she could change before dropping me off. I thought that was a good point but she had other plans as I was about to find out! We pulled into the garage and went to the kitchen. She told me to grab a couple of beers before she took me home. She said she was going to change real quick and to just have a seat on a kitchen chair. I didn't think anything of it and slowly enjoyed a few sips. She came out wearing some sexy outfit right out of Victoria's Secret. What a knock out! I could have came right there again!But knowing that I last far longer the second time I thought I was going to make her work for it this time. She knelt down between my legs, pulled down my pants and took me in her mouth. Just like the first time only I wasn't going to touch her. I was just going to kick back and enjoy. She sucked on me for a good 10 minutes. I could tell she was enjoying herself. Then she stood up and mounted me with one stroke. She was so wet there was no friction as she proceeded to hump me. She closed her eyes and continued to fuck the hell out of me. Sometimes fast, sometimes slow. She obviously has done this before. She knew how to grind and rotate she was fucking me so hard I could feel our pelvic bones hit. It hurt but it was a good hurt. At one point I thought the chair was going to break but she continued to fuck. Finally she stood up, turned around, grabbed my dick and put it in again. She pressed her hands on the wall and kept fucking the crap out of me. I grabbed her hips and pulled her harder on top of me. This was one helluva lap dance. I sensed she was getting tired so I thought I should take over. I took her to a couch and proceeded to fuck the living daylight out of her. I was pounding so hard I knew it must hurt but she just bit her lip and took it. I could feel the sweat dripping on her belly as I slid in and out of her. She pulled her legs up to her chest allowing me to penetrate even farther. What a ride girl! Pounding and pounding. Grinding and grinding. I'm starting to pant when she grabs my shoulders and pulls me on top of her. I could feel us sliding on the sweat. She tells me to, "Fuck Me, Fuck ME!" I was too tired to speak. I knew I was about to cum and she did too! She wrapped her legs around me and squeezed. I could feel her fingernails digging in my back. She squeezed harder. I knew I couldn't hold it any longer and let out a scream! At that moment I could feel her squeeze her muscles and milk my cock for every last drop. She didn't release her grip as I fell on top of her. Panting and sweating. She continued to squeeze her muscles, I was thinking she has mastered a good fuck! I still had other plans. I slowly withdrew and kissed her lightly on the cheek then the lips. Slowly moved down her chest and cupped her breasts, kissed her erect nipples. Slowly sucking each one. I kissed her belly tasting the sweat of both of us. Slowly working my way down to her small patch of pubic hair just above the slickest pussy I have ever seen. I gently pulled on her hair with my teeth and I could hear her breathing get deeper. My cum was still dripping from her as she pulled her pussy lips open. I stuck my tongue in as far as I could tasting the sweetest taste I have ever experienced. The both of us! As she held herself I licked her clean then took a breath. Now was the time to pleasure her. Very few guys take the time to do it right. I love going down on a woman and take pride in my skills. I softly kissed her lips and slowly found her clit. I flick back and forth ever so lightly. I could feel it getting erect and hard. I took my tongue and made circles around it. Then slowly I sucked on it. She clutched the couch and started the arch her back. I could tell she was enjoying it. My fingers explored her feeling the slight contractions. I concentrated on pleasing her. She kept arching finally falling back on the couch. She grabbed my head and pushed me into her crotch. I could hear her panting. Then one more suck on her clit and she came. I swear she ejaculated right in my mouth! And I continued and she came again. We both were panting and trying to catch our breath. She winked at me and suggested we take a quick shower before I went home. I just thought, a quick shower my ass! She turned on the water and pulled me in. Grabbed a sponge and soaped it up a started scrubbing me. We took turns washing every inch of each other. What a turn on! I knew she was by her erect nipples and she knew I was by my erect cock. She soaped up my dick a started to give me a hand job. And I was playing with her. But when I spotted a bottle of baby oil I had other plans. I turned her around and started to play with her tits. Then I put one of my hands to her pussy and started to play with her. My cock was between her ass checks slowly grinding up and down while I continued fondle her. With my other hand I grabbed the baby oil and poured it on her back as I watched it trickle between her checks. I covered my dick with more oil then pushed on her back to make her bend over. I think she was expecting a good old fashion fucking but I was going for a new target. "Has she ever done anal before?, I asked myself. No time to ask! It was now or never. She knew what I was up to and grabbed my dick and slowly put it to her ass. She slowly pushed back as I held firm. It took a few strokes but I finally entered her. I could feel the muscles tighten then slowing relax. She started to get the rhythm. Being my first time I came within seconds. But what an experience. I knew it was time to go so we got dressed and left. She drove me home and gave me a wink as she drove away. Coming Home He wondered about the letter that sat, rather uneasily in his jacket, of what reason his father's lawyer had to contact him. He knew that his father had disinherited him after the unfortunate incident involving Mary Wells, the one that had sent him into the Marines and from there, into two dusty hell holes. As the bus carrying him into town slowed, he could not help but notice how much his home town had changed. Gone was the drive-in, replaced by a chain fast food place, and just outside of town he had seen the strip mall with its big box store and supermarket. As the bus traveled further into to town it was not hard to notice that all the small mom and pop stores were gone, replaced by antique and specialty shops that he had no memory of. He got off the bus and looked around, wondering if his father or his lawyer had sent anyone to pick him up. After waiting a good half hour to 45 minutes he decided that they had not, and being that he was tired and the hour was late, he decided to walk towards old man Ryan's bar and see if anybody he knew was around. He was sure he would find someone he knew, as many in the area had always done the same thing, graduate high school and either go to work on one of the ranches or in the mines, or for those lucky few, would go off to college. Even they usually came back to work in management in the mines, have families and continue the cycle. As he approached the bar, it was hard not to notice that it, and the area surrounding it, now looked much like areas around some of the bases he had been stationed on during his service. Old Man Ryan's was now called "The HELLCAT XXX" and there were two more places nearby with similar names. Deciding to see what was up, he entered The HELLCAT, paying his cover at the door, the doorman giving his beard and hair and his clothing a long look, which had all seen better days. But with all the time he had spent down range, his wardrobe was quite limited and lacking of anything not made for comfort. The inside of the bar was as dark as he had expected, but what was going on up on the stage surprised him. He had thought bars like this were restricted to places outside of the US. Up on the stage was a pair of girls doing a full on lesbian show, with a strap-on, and not far from the seat he had chosen was a girl giving a guy a hand job under the table. Shaking his head and wondering what was going on, he almost did not hear the waitress speak to him, "You're new around here?" "Yeah, sort of," he replied. "What can I get you?" "What you got?" "Well we have beer on tap, the usual brands, hard liquor and if you are looking for a good time, any of the other girls or I who are working." Again shaking his head, he asked for a Budweiser and a shot of whiskey. The girl nodded and said she would have his order in a few minutes. So as he waited he looked around the bar, he did recognize a couple of the men in the place, many of them where older than him, some closer to his elder brothers in age. He really was starting to wonder about things and reached into the pocket of his over jacket and pulled out the letter he had received. The letter still read strangely, as it was not in his father's handwriting, but was a personal note and not a business letter. Junior, Your presence is required as soon as possible, I will inform you of the reason when you arrive. Please expedite your arrival post haste. Your Father As he put the letter back into his pocket, he observed the girls who were up on stage working the room for more tips and what he assumed where offers of more of a private show. The serving girl arrived and put down his drinks on the small table, asking him if he wanted to run a tab to which he nodded his head no and handed her a twenty, for which he got a 5 back. She looked at his reaction, and his face was stone-like, so she moved on to her next customer. One of the girls from the lesbian show approached him, "Hi, my name is Crystal." A loud 'sure' went through his mind as she continued, "Are you looking for a dance or more of a good time?" "I am just enjoying the scenery at the moment, but maybe later," he said, using a stock line he always used at places like this outside the country. He wondered again how this was possible. Over the loud speaker the DJ called the next act to the stage saying, "And here is the what many of you have been waiting for, its Mary!" As the curtains at the back of the stage moved, the old school rap song by Run-DMC 'Mary Mary' came on. Within the first few seconds of seeing the girl, he was shocked, because here was someone he knew well, and she was the reason for his long absence from his home town and family. TWELVE YEARS EARLIER It was a typical day at high school, the jocks razing the nerds, the dead head types planning the next party, and the outcasts and wallflowers just trying to stay out of the cross hairs of everybody. Then you had the social butterfly types, the ones who befriended anyone and everyone. It was on a day such as this that the lives of so many would be affected. Bill Grove was the golden child of the school, star athlete, scion of the wealthiest family in town, and the target of every female in the school , for to catch his eye, even for a short time, was both socially helpful and could get you into the upper crust of the local gentry. And maybe you might end up the next mistress of his family's vast ranch, as he was the only child, thus due to inherit the family business. But if Bill and a few of his well-heeled buddies had a vice, it was that they thought every girl thought this way. They were wrong. "Hey, Mary, wait up," called out Bill as he walked out of the classroom. Mary turned to see who was calling her name. Her first thought was, "Oh great, it's God's gift to woman, will he ever get the idea and leave me alone?" Instead she answered, "Yeah , Bill, what you want?" "I was wondering what you were doing for prom?" Mary knew that she was the one junior or senior girl that had ignored Bill's advances, wanting no part of him or his money. "I have no prom plans as of yet, but I am waiting for someone to ask." "And who would that be?" "Junior." "Junior? That overgrown retard?" Several of Bill's posse laughed and chortled at his statement, " Mary, I hate to tell you, but that boy is half a deck short of all there." Mary let out a little laugh, as she had to work in the office as an aid and had seen everyone's GPA and class rankings, and she knew that Junior was far from dumb. "And what's so funny?" As this transpired Junior was walking up looking for his friend Mary, to tell her he could not give her a ride home as he was leaving early to help on the family ranch. He had become friends with Mary at a young age since both of their older brothers had been friends for years and the two of them had spent many a night at a sporting event or some such other thing together. He had never looked at her as anything more than a friend, well at least not until recently, and he could not help but hear the conversation as he approached. Walking with him was another friend, one who had a secret, one that only Junior new about. Her name was Katherine Karol Kolby, and yes everyone including her parents acknowledged what a bad idea the name was, but it was the first names of her grandmothers. It was an sop to both of them, as neither had really approved of her parents' marriage. It was Mary who started to fight, innocent as the comment was, it was a unfortunate case of not knowing that someone was within hearing range and would hear a comment that could be misconstrued . "Bill , I hate to tell you, but your grades are far inferior to his and as a matter of fact, he is in consideration for an appointment to the naval academy. While I hear the only appointment you have is one for marriage. Katherine gasped, "Junior, I thought you were not going to tell anyone!" Mary and Bill both spun upon hearing what Karol had said. Junior just looked down at her, his eyes showing that he was hurt and Karol immediately knew her condition was out of the bag and decided to just let loose. "Bill, I have to tell you something, my baby, it's yours." Gasps and other sounds of shock resonated throughout the hallway. It was a tense scene. Bill stared at Karol, his eyes intimating that she was lying. Junior, who stood a touch to the front of her, wondered if some else knew about Karol and Bill, which would be a scandal in the area, seeing as Karol was half Black and half Native American. That was something that his family would not like. And Mary stood there, realizing that an inadvertent jab had hurt a friend. Bill was the one who escalated the incident from a simple shocking claim to a confrontation. "What do you mean your child is mine? How do I know that you have not been fucking everyone and are just claiming it's mine for money?" Karol let out a sobbing cry, "Because you are the one that took my virginity and I have not slept with anyone else. Not to mention, in this day and age, a simple amniocentesis can provide DNA and prove paternity!" Junior stepped towards Bill, "Let's not have this out here, let's find someplace private." "How do I know it's not yours, Junior?" "It's simple, have her take the test, and if it's not yours, what do you care? But, if it is, then you have to deal with the consequences of not keeping your dick in your pants or at least being smart enough to use a condom." Now Mary, who was not known for holding her tongue had to add fuel to the fire. "And Bill, that is why I would not go out with you any of those times you asked, because you fuck with no regard for those you sleep with. You ever notice how those who fawn over you, including your buddies over there, always want money, gifts or your castoffs? All except Troy, he wants your ass with his dick in it!" Troy started to step forward to answer the charge when he noticed the other guys moving away from him. Junior spoke, "Like I said, let's do this outside of school since not everybody needs to be hearing these things." "Mary, hate to run, but my brother and father called and needed me at the ranch, Karol I think you should go up to the office and call your parents since it's not going to take long for this to make it out of school and I think they should know what is going on." Karol went to speak but junior reached up and put his finger to her lips. "K, do it. You know I have your back, but your parents have been asking about the little one's father. It is out now, so you should tell them." Karol just nodded and started towards the office. As he turned to leave he heard Bill open his mouth again, "So Mary, you going to follow him home and fuck him?" Junior glanced over his shoulder and Bill said, "What are you going to do, hit me?" "Nope, Mary will clean your clock easily enough, so no need for me to break a sweat." Mary, God bless her, took the statement for what it was, but walked away and ignored Bill. But Bill, being the prick he had always been, did the one thing that should be never done. He turned and went after Karol from behind, shoving her into a group of lockers. Junior turned because he heard someone yell at Bill not to do something stupid, and witnessed his attack on the pregnant girl. Many who were in that hallway, including a teacher doing hall monitor duty, said time seemed to stop for a moment and only two people moved, Junior and Bill. And one thing that all agreed on, was that Junior, for a person who no one had ever seen move at more than a shambling pace, covered the distance between himself and Bill in a the blink of an eye and stopped right in front of him. "Care to take a try at me?" Bill took him up on the offer, hitting him in the jaw, snapping Junior's back. But what followed was what everyone would probably remember till the day they died. Junior's punch and the sickening sound of a jaw breaking were heard and along with the sight of Bill falling. Karol was crying and there were screams and the voice of the teacher who had finally moved yelling, "Call for an ambulance!" It was later that day, after Junior's brother had come to the school to see what had happened, that he said, "Principal Johnson, from what you have told me, my brother was struck first and after the punch that he took, he struck Bill once and he went down. I see no reason why but for a suspension, that he should be punished any further than that." The principal looked up at him, "He shattered Bill's jaw and broke his neck! It is possible that he will not walk again and you think he only deserves a suspension? That is not what Sheriff Cane thinks." "Well, as I see it, Bill is 18 and my brother is 17, making him a minor and he was defending himself and a pregnant girl, who at this moment is in the hospital, with the distinct possibility of losing her child. So, I ask the sheriff whether or not if that happens, will there be charges filed, or is it going to be another thing that family gets away with?" Both the principle and the Sheriff mumbled and glanced at one another, but it was Junior who spoke up, "I have a question, do I have enough credits to graduate early?" The principal logged onto his computer and checked while asking Junior as he did so, "Why do you ask?" "Because I am sure I have the grades and after this I think it would be best if I left. I know Bill's father will be after me and my family, and if I am gone things might just calm down." The principle looked at his screen. Yes, it is possible and as a matter of fact, even without your final test this coming spring, you have enough to graduate." Junior turned to his brother, "You think dad would sign the papers for me to go into the Marines?" "I thought you were just waiting for the senator to forward your appointment to the academy?" ` "You really think after this, that is going to be possible?" "You're right, it probably will not happen, not with Bill's father on the warpath." Junior stood up, "Sheriff, am I going to be charged with anything?" "Your brother is right, no." "Then I will go to the recruiting office tomorrow and enlist." And that is why, due to the circumstances, his arrival San Diego put him in the class that graduated just post 9/11. So, his first assignment was 15TH MEU which started out in Pakistan and soon was in Afghanistan. PRESENT Junior wondered what Mary was doing working in a place like this and decided to leave and go call his father's place instead of waiting for tomorrow. As he got up and picked up his travel bag he caught sight of another face, and was deflated, it was Karol. His first thought was where was her son, the second being what had happened that she would be on her knees, giving a guy a blow job? The same bouncer gave him a look as he left, probably wondering why Junior's stay was so short. Junior walked over to the fast food joint, pulling out his recently purchased cell phone and pressed the number for his father's ranch . As it rang, he continued his perusal of the downtown, noticing the lack of business that there that was not fast food, sex related or pawn shops and such. Someone finally picked up the line, "What the fuck, its 2 in the morning!" A smile came to his face," Hello dad, I thought you would have someone in town to pick me up?" "Junior, we did not expect you until tomorrow, well until today now, I guess. Where you at?" "I'm across from the HELLCAT, and dad , what the fuck is going on around here? I saw Mary AND Karol working in there!" "Son, that is one of the reasons I called you back to the ranch, because we need you. They need you. I'm sending Karol's father to get you. He works for us now and he will start to fill you in. By the way, nobody has seen you in ten years, what you look like now?" With a laugh he said, "He will know it's me as soon as he gets here. I sort of stick out, even down in this mess." About an hour and a half later, a big 4x4 truck pulled up in front of where he was sitting and a voice came out of it, "Damn son, ever heard of a razor?" Looking into the cab as he opened the door, he could not help but see that while his voice was good natured, his Native American features where strained. "I guess my father told you I saw Karol. So as we drive back, please tell me what the fuck happened around here!" Karol's father, Walking Bear, was known to those near him as WB (pronounced weeb). WB looked at him and answered, "Well, where to start? About a year or two after you left, Bill's father started to push for the state legislature to legalize both gambling and prostitution, citing that until the sixties both were legal in this part of the state and that with the state constitution written as it is, the banning of both was not within the purview of the state." Junior nodded on his side of the cab, remembering that he'd heard about the talks. "Well not long after you and your father had the falling out over you deciding to join the Marines and make it your career, Bill's father got the bans over-turned and proceeded to open up the HELLCAT and slowly force out everyone from downtown. He ramrodded the mall out on the state highway and then started in on the small ranches, either buying the bank notes and demanding payment in full or using the sheriff to harass the ones who owned their property outright, by bringing them up on various violations of the Water and Feed Act." Junior sighed hard, knowing that Bill's old man was playing loose, but within the rules. "Okay, I get that part, but what's with Karol and Mary working at the HELLCAT? The last I knew, Mary was up in the capitol working for the DEP and your Karol was raising the little one out with your parents on the Res." WB sighed, "I guess your blow up with your father was so complete that neither he nor your brother, who we have to talk about next, wanted to contact you. Then, last year they tried, but you were nowhere to be found, according to the government. Then last week you call and say you are going to be here tomorrow on Friday and you surprised us getting here today. Might I ask why you even went into the HELLCAT anyway?" "I guess I had an idea of what it would be by the way the place looked and had to see for myself. I noted the other places to get a drink and it was closest, but back to the girls, WB." "Ok, well, my Karol had to move off the res when my parents died, but what I did not know was she had started doing drugs and drinking on the Res. Next thing I knew, I was taking care of Little Bill and she's working there. This all happened around the time your pop sent the first letter." Junior closed his eyes thinking of where he was when the letter found his 'home' at the time, which was halfway around the world from where he actually was. The first letter, in his pocket, actually caught up with him at Pendleton about a day before the rest of the letters arrived. "And what about Mary? Why is she there?" WB pondered his reply for a moment and decided to pass the buck. "You will have to ask your brother about that, and speaking of which, I can clue you in on why your father wants you back." "Which is?" "Your brother is sick." "Sick?" Junior asked. "Yes, but I will let your father explain." Knowing WB as he thought he did, he knew the man wanted to say more, but felt it was not his place. They soon passed under the main gate of the ranch and passed right under the sign that was so simple, yet for many, made no sense. The sign read: FIADHAICHEAD It had been put up by the first of his family to claim this area, a ranch that now spanned nearly 18,000 acres with cattle, hay and the occasional puma and wolf. It was his home for the first 17 years of his life and until recently, he had not thought of returning. Coming Home As they approached the main house, Junior could see his father standing on the porch. Just looking at him made Junior miss his mother who had died when he was very young. What did startle him was to see his brother standing next to his father, looking like he had twenty years or more on his father's robust 55. WB pulled the truck to a stop and Junior opened the door and stepped out. His father looked him over, seeing the beard and the long hair, but what he noticed most was that while the face, even under the hair and beard was familiar, it was his eyes that were most different. He didn't recognize them, for they no longer held the mirth and seeming constant mischievousness of his youth. "Joseph, I'm glad to see you, son." Joe Junior looked at his father, realizing that he now had to look down at him, something he had forgotten from his last brief trip home. He now towered over his father, which was no mean feat, as his father stood a robust six foot four. It was seeing his brother close up that made him turn to his father. "What is wrong with John?" Joe senior looked at his elder son and back at his younger one. "Joe, he has cancer of the brain and I have to tell you of something he has done, something that happened before we knew about the cancer." "Oh man, what did he DO?" "Come inside, son, and sit and we will talk." "Father, just tell me, nothing he could have done can overshadow the things I have seen or even done in the past 10 years." Before his father could speak, John spoke, "I raped Mary." Coming Home Goddamnit. I can't sleep. Every time I close my eyes, I hear screaming and bombs going off. Instead of sitting on the ratty secondhand couch in my trashy apartment, I'm transported back to Iraq. Back to sleeping curled around my M16. Back to breathing in sand and hot dry air all day long. Back to that day. Before I get into that, I should give you some background. My name's Kane. Staff-Sergeant Kane Mckinney until that day. After that day I was "Unfit". A security risk. Ah, god, I'm getting ahead of myself again. Anyways, I joined the Marines right out of high school. Two hours after I got my diploma I was in the recruiters office signing papers. A month later I was on the plane to San Diego. There was a reason I wanted to be gone so fast. The day I graduated was also the day I told my father that I was gay. He wasn't happy, to say the least. He said that the Marines weren't going to take a "Fucking fairy faggot like you". He wasn't amused when I laughed at him for that. Even at eighteen, I was a full half foot taller and forty pounds heavier than he was, beer gut included. He was a stupid old drunk. In the Marines, only a few people knew my preferences. My drill instructor guessed during bootcamp, but thankfully, had enough heart to keep it quiet until after I graduated. He asked me the night before I boarded the plane back home. Lucky for me, Ray was a good guy, and is still one of my few friends. He's worried about me. That last time we spoke, I was coming off the plane in Seattle. To say that I was going off the deep end would be an understatement. Not only had I lost everything, but I was back here. In Seattle. The one place I never thought I would ever come back to. I grew up in Rainier Beach. It's southeast of the city, and considered one of the dirtier places of Washington. I know that it definitely wasn't all sugar and spice and everything nice growing up. My days were more filled with grime and blood and fear and sadness. Now it's all back. I'm back in the grime and every time I sleep, blood and fear take 1st place in my dreams. As for sadness... I'm lonely. I know that I, of all people, don't deserve happiness... But I haven't held a man in so long. I think at night that maybe my nightmares would go away if I had someone next to me. Maybe if I had someone to wake up to the pain would dampen. But it's all just dreams. No guy would ever get near me. My scars would scare anyone who was considering me right off. But even besides those, I have so many counts against me it's ridiculous. First, I'm huge. I know some guys like that, but most don't appreciate MY kind of huge. I'm not a bear. I'm just ridiculously scary big. That's what one of my exes in high school told me. He said that he was scared when I held him too tight, and that he didn't like to sleep in the same bed as me because if I rolled onto him, he wouldn't be able to push me off. I'm 6'7". Yeah. That big. 6'7" and 274 pounds. All of it muscle. In the Marines, my build was advantageous. I excelled in bootcamp, and in Afghanistan, our enemies ran once they saw me coming. I was faster, stronger, bigger, and all together intimidating. Which was great then. But now, it doesn't exactly make for good dating material. But, it is perfect for my job as bouncer at Neighbours. Several times, I've gone out to split up a fight, and the idiots are already backing away. It's been years since I held a man in my arms that wasn't dying or being carried out of a building. I just want to feel another mans hands on me, another heart beating next to mine. ********** I met a guy. The perfect guy. Goddamn, if only I had offered to give him and his friend a ride home or asked for his number. No, instead I just stood there and shook his hand dumbly while he smiled up at me, thanked me, and walked out of my life. Fuck! He had been everything I ever daydreamed. Sweet, delicate without being fragile. His name was Emerson. His eyes were a striking green that even when watery with tears, had managed to sear right down into me. His whole gorgeous face was sprinkled with freckles, and from what I could see, they littered the rest of his body as well. His hair had been a deep coppery red and was lustrously curly. He was just the right height to fit under my shoulder, about 5'8", I'd guess. His hand in mine had made me never want to let go. His skin was soft, even the groomed fingertips freckled. The shirt he had been wearing was formfitting to his tight lean body. It was a sheer green mesh, and the little dents of his nipples had practically made my cock leap out of its cage. I was drooling by the time my eyes had traversed further down his body, to the shadow of abs under his shirt and the outline of his thighs in tightly fitted dark wash jeans. All in all, absolutely and utterly perfect. I have to see him again.