6 comments/ 18022 views/ 17 favorites Eros' Errant Arrows By: Mostodd07 Cupid looked at his cards again and grimaced. His tell said he might be bluffing, but he could not meet the last raise. It looked like I would win the hand unopposed. Cupid pulled a golden arrow out of his quiver. In the dim light of the poker table, it glowed with intense warmth. Every eye around the table fixed on it. "How much is this worth?" asked Cupid. "Not enough, Cupie doll." His cheeks turned red, and his golden hair looked like it was on fire. "Do you know the power of one of these arrows? You shoot a someone with it, and your target will not rest until she has given herself to you." " 'Given herself to you?'" "If you hit her with one of these, she'll fuck your brains out." The table erupted in laughter, and everyone checked their cards again. I could see in my buddies' eyes they were considering their potential targets. "I'd aim for Katie Perry," said one. "Taylor Swift! Absolutely!" "Too skinny. Emily Ratajkowski, mmmmm." "What about Rachel Burch?" "Oh, yes! Rachel Burch!" The consensus winner among my buddies was the girl Maxim called "The Most Desirable Woman in America". For a moment their thoughts drifted to a night of pleasure with Rachel Burch. "Anybody but Rachel Burch," I said. "She's a spoiled rich kid." "You know her, don't you Ross? Your mom and her father work together, and you take vacations with them. How can you not notice her?" "Yeah, I know her." Because my mother worked with her father Robin Burch, we spent way too many working vacations together. I'd seen her grow from a skinny kid with scraped knees, to a snotty teenager who teased boys, to a curvy coed with more jewelry than books. Now, she was out of school, and exploring her rich girl's world. Her latest bit of annoyance was to hire my girlfriend Marian as her companion. I hadn't seen Marian in three months. So I needed those arrows. I turned to Cupid. "Let's play." Cupid said, "This arrow is a one-time shot. She won't rest until she's gone to bed with you... But she will only feel compelled once. Whether she feels true love after that depends on you." We paused while we considered the responsibility. Then my friend said, "So, I can fuck her, and not have her calling me in the morning? Where's the down-side?" "I'm in!" "Me, too." "Go for it, Love-God." He met my raise. We settled on 3 golden arrows and a slightly used bow. Just making the bid was an orgiastic experience for Cupid. His shoulders relaxed, and he stopped sweating. He had the biggest grin on his face I've ever seen. "Okay," I said, "time to see 'em." Cupid turned red again, his lower lip quivered, and his eyes swelled with tears. He sobbed, "I was just bluffing!" He buried his head in his arms, and made us all uncomfortable around the table with his blubbering. Still, it was memorable, and one of the reasons we like to play cards with him. He gave me a bow and one arrow for each month Marian had been gone. My buddies still couldn't get Rachel out of their minds. "Marian is beautiful," they said, "but she's no Rachel Burch." "I wouldn't wish her on my worst enemy," I said. They groaned. "You're going to play with us again next week, right, Cupie-Doll?" With a devilish smile, he said, "Of course!" And that's how I became the owner of three magical arrows. I called Marian at the Robin Burch Compound. She said, "Rachel is planning a little trip to a secluded island she knows. I don't think I can keep up with her." "I don't want you to keep up with her. I want you to come home to me." "Oh, Ross, I'd love to, but I can't pass up this money. I can't thank your mom enough for getting me this job. She told me I'd love it." Yeah, thanks, Mom. My mother was the executive personal assistant for Rachel's father, the great lobbyist. They argued fiercely and constantly, but their business worked spectacularly. She had known Robin Burch since he was just starting as a young lawyer, and had stayed with him through his rise to the Mount Olympus of powerbrokers. My mother dressed the part of the personal assistant to the most powerful man in DC, and kept herself ready to be photographed at any time at Robin Burch's side. That didn't leave much time for me, so she made up for that by giving me everything that Robin Burch's lobbyist money could buy. Despite their fights, she had that kind of sway over him. I never knew my own father; it was a subject she would not discuss. Robin Burch became my surrogate father in a lot of ways. When I started dating Marian, Mother had her investigated. After investigating Marian, my mother approved. But less than a year later, that the wonderful position of companion for Rachel Burch opened up. Marian was hired at an extraordinary salary. Now, Marian travels the world with Rachel for a living. I knew exactly what to do with those three terrible arrows. If I struck Marian just once, she would come running to me, and nothing could stop her. Just think what hitting her with three arrows would do! I wanted to get to her before she and Rachel left for their next yacht voyage, so I needed to get to Robin Burch's compound immediately. Robin Burch's isolated, gated compound sprawled on beach three hours away from the office by express train. Robin Burch kept the gawkers and paparazzi away using long, secluded stretches of beach together with towering fences. Still I learned of a weakness in his defenses, a place that I could sneak in to catch a glimpse of my Marian. There was a grove of rare palm trees on a ridge overlooking the spot Marian and Rachel sunbathed. Yeah, I admit it; I spied on them. Rachel's bodyguard, Tony, caught me a few times, but he's not a bad dude. He understands that Marian and I are totally committed to each other, but he warned me about Mr. Burch. "Don't let Mr. Burch find you spying on his daughter," Tony said. "I just want to see Marian." I looked at the beach. Marian stood up, arranging her towel and taking special care with her camera. An ocean breeze whipped her dark mahogany hair across her face, and she shook it free. She was tall, slender, with a flat stomach and long, lithe legs. She hunched her shoulders to slip off her bikini top, then stretched backwards. I remembered what her breasts felt like — soft, responsive, and perfectly shaped if a little on the small size. Rachel ripped off her own bikini. Her gestures and body language told me she expected Marian to lose her bikini bottoms. When Marian was with me, she was too embarrassed to visit a nude beach. She shook her head. Rachel laughed, and snatched the ties to Marian's bottoms. In an instant, Marian was bare-assed. Her tan lines were nowhere near as pronounced as when she had been with me. When Marian turned around, I saw that her bush had been narrowed to a tiny strip. Tony, the bodyguard, gave Marian and Rachel lessons in self-defense, and it showed in her improved muscle tone. She stretched again, enjoying the warm sun, and it was clear she had overcome her shyness. She crouched down to shoot a few tasteful nudes of Rachel. She was so limber her thighs rested easily on her calves. She stretched out on her tummy next to Rachel, who turned tummy-side up. Rachel Burch was tiny, but she had perfect proportions. Her shoulder-length hair was sandy brown and caught golden highlights in the sun. Her waist was impossibly narrow, especially when I considered the inviting width of her hips and the luxurious weight of her breasts. Her well-rounded ass was taut and brown. If Marian was just a bit too small up top, Rachel's tits were just a bit too large. Her areolae were a milk chocolate brown, with pencil top nipples that never seemed to relax. Her eyes sparkled with an unimaginable mystery. Her nose was slender, her lips were naturally red and turned up into an inviting smile. Her teeth dazzled with their pure whiteness. For as long as I'd been spying on her, I'd never seen any hint of pubic hair on her. Her thighs bulged slightly to cover her modesty when she walked, so I had to look closely. Which I had, and I'm telling you, she was slick and hairless as a bicycle inner tube. Next to me, Tony gave a long, anguished sigh. "Tony, what are you looking at?" "Nothing, man. Sorry." Tony seemed flustered and looked around quickly to assure that his boss Robin Burch was nowhere to be found. When I looked down at the beach again, Marian was stretched out full-length on her back next to Rachel. I asked him, "Why does Rachel act like such a tease?" "To get her daddy's undivided attention? To make up for not having a mother? Maybe she likes to torture men." Tony gave a head nod to emphasize what he had said, and to confirm that I took it seriously. No problem. Marian held my heart, and she was the object of my desire. Now she would be the target of Cupid's incentive plan. Tony tore his eyes away from the two women. I couldn't complain, because it was his job to keep an eye on them. As he left he warned me again, "Don't hang around here much longer." I retrieved the bow and three arrows from under a palm tree. I tested the strength of the pull, and liked it. Each arrow seemed to vibrate in my hand, and I wondered if one was any more likely to incite Marian's desire than another. Eventually I just pulled the longest, straightest one, with dark feathers and golden highlights. The other two, I stuck in the ground again near the palm tree. I waited. The shot while she was lying on the ground was too difficult. I enjoyed watching her. Each shift of her long legs, each time she raised her arm to put it behind her head creating lift on her pointed breasts, caused a thrill from my chest right though to my knees. Eventually she stood up to stretch, one arm reaching for the brilliant sun, the other counterbalanced toward the ocean. She arched her back, and thrust her hips slightly forward. Rachel rose to her knees, too, stretching on all fours, her ass raised high. They were getting ready to leave the beach. The moment was now. I notched the arrow, and pulled. I drew a bead on her. The bow trembled under the intense pressure to release its load. My left arm was straight and trembled holding the pressure. Allowing for the slight wind, the height of the ridge, and finally the fist-sized target of her heart, I let fly the arrow. It whistled through the air. It took forever to strike. Then it landed with a satisfying, resounding thunk, quivering in its final resting place. Marian made no movement that would let anyone know she had been struck by love's insistent shaft. Why should she? The arrow had flown toward Marian's sweet heart, but dropped and drifted to the right. It protruded from the ass of The Most Desirable Woman in the World. She straightened up, and squeezed her round buttocks together. She had a quizzical look, but a sly smile on her perfect lips. Rachel stood, her nipples tense, her tongue licked her lips, and her hands rubbed up and down her thighs. She rolled her hips, enjoying the feeling of the quivering shaft, which began to fade away like smoke in a gentle mist. Marian was oblivious to the attack on Rachel's nether region. I was so shocked, I couldn't move. Rachel scanned the horizon for her new love. She spotted me. "Uh oh." I dropped the bow near the two remaining arrows, and ran from the beach area. I hadn't covered fifty feet before my phone rang. The ID said, "Rachel." Uh oh. I refused to answer. I needed time to think. I took the express to Robin's and my mother's offices. Rachel called me hourly for the next four hours. She texted me every few minutes. She sent me photos, too, but I was not even tempted to open them. I could image what they might show. It was nothing I really wanted to see. I hoped the arrow's magic would eventually wear off. Marian didn't know it, but I was dying to talk to her. When I called her from the privacy of my mother's office at the end of the day, Marian picked up immediately. "Where are you? What's going on with you and Rachel? She's driving me crazy asking about you!" "I'll tell you when I see you." "I love you, but I don't understand what is going on." "It's hard to explain." Marian took a deep breath before saying, "Well, then. Good-bye." "Wait! Are you alone? I mean, Rachel is not around is she?" "No, Rachel's father came after Tony called. You have five seconds to explain." She began to count. "Okay. I missed you so much that I shot a magic love arrow at you. It missed you, and it must have grazed Rachel." "What? How gullible do you think I am? If you don't want to tell me about you and Rachel, fine." "It's the truth!" I was desperate now. "Look. Are you still at the compound? Do you know that rise about the beach where you and Rachel sometimes go to ...ah...swim?" "I know the place. How do you know it? It's supposed to be extremely private." "Trust me, I know about the place. Go up there, and you'll find a bow and two arrows under the tallest palm tree. Those are the magic things. They are arrows that make a person go nuts over someone." "So, is this the magic you used on Rachel?" I could hear Marian's voice breaking. "No! I mean, not intentionally. You've been gone so long, and I haven't seen you, and I was worried that you had forgotten about me..." "Aw, Ross, that's so sweet. But you are an idiot." I couldn't disagree. "Ross, there are no other men out here. I worry about you. Every night I worry about what you might be doing, and what other girls you might be meeting. You have nothing to worry about with me." "Not even Tony?" She laughed. "Please. He's old enough to be my father." "But you wear almost no clothes when he's around." "Well, that's true. He does make us work out and defend ourselves completely naked. He says if we can attack when we look completely vulnerable, we'll be fine. But he doesn't even pay attention to my nakedness." "Trust me, Marian. He notices." "Really?" She sounded as though this was new but fascinating information. "I'll pay more attention next time." "See? That's why I wanted to use the arrows on you. It drives me crazy to think that anyone else sees you. I want you all to myself." "You have me all to yourself, you silly boy. I just have to see you to convince you." I imagined her teasing smile. "I'll be right there." "Say, Ross. Here's a fun idea. What if I used one of those arrows to shoot you? Do you want to be crazy in love with me that way?" I laughed. "Well, sure. But I'm so crazy in love with you now, how would you tell if there was any difference?" "Well? That would prove your love for me couldn't get any greater. Where are those arrows?" I knew this was a bad idea, but I wasn't exactly sure why yet. "What do we do about Rachel? Can you keep her from attacking me? Her father can not happy with the emails and texts that she has been sending." "Did you like them?" "Like them? I didn't even see any of them. I don't want to encourage her." "Oh." Marian sounded a little disappointed. "I took those pictures. I was proud of them." "Marian! I don't want to see another woman, especially not Rachel. She does nothing for me! I love you. I only want to hold you, and kiss you, and if I can't do that, then I'll settle for gazing at pictures of you. But for my eyes only, please." "Of course. For your eyes only. Can I use the arrows?" I was kind of stuck. "I think they might be lost. I just dropped them after one arrow hit Rachel. So, they might not even still be on the rise." "I can check. I'll call you back." "Wait!" But it was too late. The phone showed she was gone. I left a note on my mother's desk, promising I'd call. I hoped that would stop her relentless calls, too. Just then, she returned to her office. I was trapped. "Ross? What's going on?" I played dumb. "Ross, Rachel Burch has been driving me crazy. She says you haven't been answering your phone. I told her that was so unlike you. What's going on?" "I swear, Mother, nothing. Probably Marian was telling her about me, and she wants to get to know me better." "Marian must be telling her awfully nice things about you," and here my mother's voice got louder, "because Rachel wants to invite you to her house for dinner, or lunch, or breakfast. She wonders if you'd like to go on a cruise with her, or to Acapulco for a vacation." Now my mother's voice became uncomfortably shrill. "I don't need to tell you that you can't see her, do I? She's Robin's daughter. I know how young men are. Believe me, I know." "Mother, I'm in love with Marian. I feel nothing for Rachel." I could tell my mother was losing it. "She has other ideas for you. Whatever you're doing to encourage her, stop it! Stop it right now. I am very serious about this." "Mother, I have no interest in Rachel. If you see her..." "If I see her? Robin went to the compound to calm her down. What am I supposed to tell her, hmm? I can't exactly say you have no interest in talking with her." "You know, this is really your doing. You set Marian up to be her companion. Now if I want to see Marian, Rachel is around. Can you get Marian fired? We just want to be together." There was an uncomfortable silence. I recognized the cause. Mother's plan had backfired. She expected to separate Marian and me, and that would end of our romance. Instead, the "Rachel factor" had been triggered. "Ross? Listen to me. You don't want to mess around with a girl like Rachel. If Robin Burch finds out that you and his daughter.... Just stay away from her. I think I better have a word with Robin. And with Rachel." "He's down at the compound." "I know," she said. She slammed the office door, leaving me to wonder how whether I could get to the compound before her. Another ping, and a text with attachment. I'll say this: Rachel is persistent. A part of me wanted to open those attachments -- after all, these were from The Most Desirable Girl in the World. I grew up in the permissive generation. Sex wasn't a commitment but a way to scratch a biological itch. Women were as casual with hookups as men, and there was no shame, no regret, and no strings attached. At least that's how most women were, but not Marian. Marian was different. I could trust her. She was always where she said she would be when we were apart, at least until she got the job with Rachel. Who knows where she was now? I trembled when I thought of the deck hands on Rachel's yacht who saw her in her tiny bikini, or no bikini at all. But still I trusted her. So, why did I need the terrible arrow? Because I was insecure, I admit it. I had to get to the compound, as quickly as possible. The express train was quickest, and I was there in three hours. As I left the station and ran to the compound, Marian called me. "I found the arrow," she said "Two arrows," I said. There was a pause. "Sorry, Ross, there is only one arrow." "Well, keep looking! It's got to be there." It was quiet again. "I've got the one arrow. That's all I need." "Sure," I said. "I'll be there in about fifteen." "Should I practice?" she asked, not exactly innocently. "No! Don't touch anything until I get there. Promise?" "You sure know how to wreck a girl's fun." I began to worry who might have possession of the last arrow. I ran as fast as I ever had. The guards knew me, and let me pass. I was focused on reaching the rise, and seeing Marian, and getting both arrows back. I heard my name being called, and turned to see Rachel. She was accompanied by Tony and Mr. Burch, who each held one of her arms. One arm broke free to wave to me before Robin Burch pulled her toward the main house I pretended I didn't hear her. I ran until I reached the rise, and looked around. Nothing. I called out, but no one answered. I looked under the palm tree where I had dropped the bow and had left the two arrows sticking in the ground. Marks showed that the arrows had been pulled up. Eros' Errant Arrows I glanced toward the beach and saw Marian, sitting on a beach towel, her knees draw up. The bow was slung over her shoulder, and she twirled one arrow between her fingers. "Marian! Marian!" I waved to her, until she shaded her eyes with her hand, and saw me on the edge of the rise. She stood up on her long, narrow legs. She was topless. She smiled, unslung the bow, and notched the arrow. She let the arrow fly and I closed my eyes. With my arms outstretched, my back arched, I awaited feel of the arrow burrowing into my chest, and if lucky, into my heart. Instead, I was tackled by a screaming Rachel, who dragged me to the sandy earth. I heard the arrow fly past me, so close, but not a hit. Following Rachel were Tony and Mr. Burch. The arrow flew past me, and despite Rachel ripping at my clothes, I turned my head, and saw that the arrow had found a target. Uh-oh. "Tony, help!" I called. "What the hell, man?" he said. He was surprised by Rachel's ferocity, and stood watching her trying to kiss my neck, her hands pulling at my shirt and my trousers. Then he grabbed her arm, and tried to pull her away. "Not Rachel, Tony. Grab Mr. Burch!" Could Tony not see the arrow that was lodged in Mr. Burch's chest? It was dissolving quickly, like a mist in the sunlight. Mr. Burch forgot about Rachel, and began an implacable march down the rise and toward the beach. His eyes saw only Marian, who danced a little from foot to foot, unsure where to place her arms, or what to do next. "Run, Marian! Run!" I called. Rachel sat on my chest, making it difficult to take a breath. "Where?" Marian called back. Mr. Burch was about 40 yards from her and picking up speed. "Anywhere! Away! Go!" Marian bounced from foot to foot Her tanned breasts quivered with her hands at her side, standing with her back straight as her employer approached. She dropped the bow, which wobbled at her ankles. Mr. Burch kept marching toward her, a lecherous smile on his perfectly-tanned face. She squared her shoulders, stuck out her right hand for a business handshake, and took a step forward. Actually, she tried to take a step forward, but her feet tangled in the bow, and she pitched forward. Mr. Burch caught her as she was falling. His right hand quickly found her breast, as she grabbed his shoulders to right herself. His left hand went to her bikini bottoms, and ripped them away. Marian, still off balance, was too surprised to cover herself.. I saw what was happening, but Rachel had me pinned. She made progress with my belt buckle. I heard a loud zip and my penis was free. "Tony! That's Marian! Stop him. You've got to stop Mr. Burch!" Tony shook his head, still watching Marian's naked dance, trying to untangle her feet. Mr. Burch's hand found her slightly sunburned ass, and pulled her so close that her pussy was jammed into his crotch. Marian screamed, "Ross!" I shouted at Tony. "Go help her, man. Please!" Tony looked stricken. "That's my boss, Ross. He can fire me." He pulled Rachel's feet, but she had her hands tightly on my belt. He said, "My job is to keep Rachel away from you!"Then her mouth found my penis, and she clamped down hard, her tongue swishing around like a drug-crazed eel. Tony pulled Rachel's feet again, and almost pulled my cock off in the process "Forget Rachel! You're tearing my dick off. Go help Marian!" Tony stopped pulling, looked at Rachel and at Mr. Burch, and then stood upright. He dropped Rachel's ankles, and said, "The hell with this! I have my own things to do." He trotted back toward the compound, and wouldn't turn around no matter how I hollered at him. I craned my neck, and saw Mr. Burch trying to unloosen his own trousers. Marian's lithe body squirmed in his arms, but she was held fast with his left hand while his right hand worked his own belt and zipper. I turned my head back to Rachel, who was still attached like a lamprey to my penis. Her eyes were closed, her lips were tightly sealed going up and down my shaft. I didn't know that anyone could bob her head that fast! From the beach I heard Mr. Burch cry out in pain. Tony's self-defense lessons had paid off for Marian, who was now free, and running along the sand parallel to the rumbling waves. Mr. Burch rubbed his balls, hitched up his pants, and jogged after her, calling after her. "Young woman! Miss! You, bitch! I can give you anything you want. Come on, you cunt! You know you want it!" Marian didn't slow down, but kept up her pace. There was nowhere to go, though. The private beach was closed off at each end by rocky embankments, and unless she swam a half-mile into the ocean, she would not escape. Despite the distraction of the Most Desirable Woman in the World gnawing on my happy place, I had to think. The tension in my loins was building, and it wouldn't take long before I exploded with delight, either into her lovely maw, or all over her. But if I came, would that satisfy the charm of the arrow, or do we actually have to have intercourse? What about a mere hand job? What about anal sex? Was oral sex, sex? Where was Bill Clinton when you needed him? Rachel's slobbering was distracting my thoughts. Meanwhile, Marian was calling for help, and if it didn't come from me, then from whom? I snapped myself out of it. "Rachel!" I said. "Rachel!" She opened her eyes, but not her mouth. Her head was still moving like a V-8 piston. She was listening to me, though. So I tried a new strategy. "Rachel! That feels so good!" She smiled as much as she could with a cock in her mouth, and giggled. "Rachel! I want to come on you!" She arched her eyebrows, and looked at me slyly through those dazzling blue eyes. I really thought she couldn't move her head any faster, but she proved me wrong. From the beach I heard Marian call for help again. I wondered how close Mr. Burch might be to catching her. "Rachel! I want to cum on your tits! I want to see jizz on your naked shoulders! Come on, baby, strip. Take off those clothes. I want to see you. I want to see all of you, baby." Rachel smiled, but did not release my cock. She shrugged off her blouse, and let her bra slip off her shoulders and her arms. Deftly, she unsnapped it behind her with one hand. She unbuttoned her shorts, and pulled them apart at the zipper. By wiggling her rear end , she was able to slide the shorts and her thong off her taut ass with the help of alternating hands. All this, while still slurping my dong. She was having trouble getting completely naked, though, because she had to stretch her legs out. "Stand up, Rachel! Let me look at you, baby. All of you. From your baby blues to your curly toes. Let me see your smooth thighs. I want to see your pointy boobies. Are you completely shaved? Really? This I gotta see." Rachel tucked her blond hair behind her ear while kneeling over me. She slid to the tip of my shaft, and stopped. Then, she gave the most sensitive tip of my nob a gentle grazing with the point of her flicking tongue. Oh, my God. She had to know what it was doing to me. Involuntarily, my hips raised towards her generous lips. She pushed me down as she stood up. She looked incredibly sexy, her engorged pussy waiting to be filled, her breasts pointed slightly skyward and looking as hard as nutshells, her hips flaring from her narrow waist, her thigh muscles strong enough to support the weight of my body as it entered her, and then her lips, so soft, mobile and beckoning. She slowly ran her tongue along her top and then her bottom lip, then snapped her dazzling white teeth shut, in what looked like a snarl. Still, Rachel just didn't do it for me. There must be something wrong with me. I looked at her with as much arousal as if I were gazing on a desert sunset. Sure, it's lovely, memorable, and exhilarating, but I just didn't want to become a part of it. She was beautiful and willing and doing her best to excite me, but she just wasn't Marian. At last, Rachel released my member, and I was not longer afraid of her dazzling white teeth. I swept my legs viciously, and Rachel tumbled into the gritty sand. She crouched, and growled like a stalking lioness. Seeing my opportunity, I tucked my dick into my slacks with some difficulty, and hiked them to my waist. Rachel leapt at me, her hands like claws to rip into my flesh, but I rolled to the side, and she bit gritty sand. With a quick move, I was on top of her, pinning her face down. It didn't stop her. She arched her back and wiggled her behind. "Take my ass. I want your cock as far in my ass as you can force it. Give it to me, Ross." "No!" I looked to the beach, and saw that Mr. Burch was closing the distance between himself and Marian. The thick sand sank beneath her feet as she ran, and was tiring her. Her feet kicked little plumes of sand as she pushed forward. Mr. Burch, though, walked easily on top of the sand. His shoes were wider, I suppose, and he was not tiring as he pursued her. Beneath me, Rachel pushed her ass higher. "I'm an ass virgin, did you know that? I want to feel you in me. I want you all up my butt. You've already been down my throat, and that felt so good! Come on, big boy. It's all tight for you." "Jesus, Rachel. I'm not going to butt fuck you." She turned a pouty face to me. "Not even if I beg you?" "No!" "Can I suck your dick a little more?" "No. Go put your clothes on." With that, I pushed her back down, and began running down the edge of the rise and trying to catch up to Marian. Because of the sand, she almost looked like she was running in slow motion. Each stride was long-legged, her buttocks strained, and her stomach flat as a Gran Tour cyclist's. It was almost poetic, until you saw her hands, desperately clenching and opening with each reach of her leg in front of her. She looked as though she were trying to pull herself forward through clear molasses. I tumbled to the bottom of the rise. In a small recess partially blocked by grass and palm fronds, I saw a brief white flash. A woman hid in the recess, wearing a white bra and panties. She was in the process of unlatching her garters and unrolling her silk stockings down long slender legs. A strand of pearls dangled around her neck. Then I saw her face. "Mom?" She covered up a little, then decided it was not much use. She crawled forward, and looked out. "Is it safe?" "Mom? What are you doing?" I looked up at the edge of the ridge, expecting Rachel to swan dive on top of me any minute. But so far, the coast was clear. "Mom, where are you clothes?" "I ditched them to throw him off the scent. He's unstoppable, like a horny blood hound." "Who are you talking about? Mr. Burch?" She scoffed. "Mr. Burch. Hah! He should be so lucky. It's that other one. Tony. He's been following me around, trying to ..." She looked at me. She weighed her words carefully. "He was trying to cop a feel." "What?!" "He grabbed my butt and pinched my boob. I slapped his face of course, and Mr. Burch was not aware of what happened. At first I thought Tony was punishing me for trying to kill Robin." "What? You tried to kill Mr. Burch?" "Of course, dear." She slipped her stocking past her calf, and her heel, while leaning on my shoulder. "He tried to hurt Rachel. He's a ruthless bastard, but I can live with that. But when he tried to punish my son — after all that I've sacrificed for that rat bastard — Well that was it." When the hosiery was completely off, she handed both to me. "Here. I want you to go put those along the far edge of the beach. That should draw Tony's attention." I heard Marian call for help again, this time weakly. She was exhausted, and soon would have no fight left in her. "Mom, I have to help Marian." "Is Tony after her, too? What the matter with him?" "Not Tony. Mr. Burch. He's chasing her." "Why? He's old enough to be her father, if not her grandfather." "I think he wants to rape her." Now it was my mother's turn to say, "What?!" "He won't stop until he's ..." I took a deep breath. "...until he's fucked her, Mom. He's driven to fuck her." Mom shook her head. "What's gotten into these guys?" Over the top of the ridge, I saw Rachel's crazed eyes and hungry mouth. "There you are, you bad boy. Hi, Ms. Adams! Your mommy can't save you, Ross. I'm going to fuck you until you cry for mommy." My mother blushed, but instinctively stepped in front of me. Rachel stood up, still nude She started carefully down the slope, but gravity and her momentum caused her to gather speed. Her arms started to pinwheel while she screamed in unexpected delight. She was on a collision course with us, so my mother braced her self. My mother is slender, but rather tall. She does yoga and visits the pool regularly. There was no way little Rachel was going to bowl her over and grab her son. I waited for the collision, which knocked my mother backwards, but she held on to Rachel. "Keep her busy, Mom. I'll go hide your stockings." "Thanks, son," she said, before their two voices began screeching. As I ran toward Marian, I glanced over my shoulder, and saw Rachel and my mother wrestling in the sand. Rachel was focused on immobilizing my mother by ripping her underwear off. Rachel must have thought that my mother would be too embarrassed to be seen bare-assed, and that she would give up the fight quickly. But getting her naked would be quite a challenge, given the heft and secure fit of the garments enclosing my mother's naughty bits. The sand wasn't much of a problem for me as it had been for Marian. I flew across the surface barefoot. Up ahead about 100 yards, I saw Marian collapse, her back against the embankment meant to keep trouble out of the beach Mr. Burch marched toward her. His hands flexed, anticipating her smooth tender skin. I called his name, but he didn't hear. He focused entirely on his prey. I dove at Mr. Burch, and tackled him around the waist. Despite his age, he was solidly built and didn't fall down. I dug in my heels, but he pulled me through the sand. He brushed at me with his arms, but I wouldn't let go. My grip slipped until I was holding on to his knees. I wrapped the hosiery around his ankle so he couldn't step, but he wouldn't tumble. "Ross, look out!" My mother called. I had no time to prepare myself for the attack by Rachel. She had escaped my mother, and jumped me. It didn't matter that I was holding onto her father. We all crashed onto the beach, inches from Marian's toes. My mother ran up, still wearing her undergarments. She stood there nervously while Mr. Burch, Rachel and I thrashed on the ground. Marian pushed herself up, and buried her head into my mother's shoulder. As Rachel and I tussled, Mr. Burch untangled the silk stockings from around his legs. Tony ran up, a lascivious grin adorning his square jaw. His eyes sparkled as he ogled my mother and Marian huddled together. He stuck his arms between the two and pushed Marian to the ground, holding my mother by both arms. Then, in plain view of Mr. Burch and me, Tony planted a greedy kiss on my mother's shocked face. He pulled her closer, and wrapped one leg around her. My mother stood there, her shoulders sagging. When Tony came up for air and Mother's lips were free, she said in a tiny, questioning voice, "Robin? Are you okay with this?" Robin Burch looked up to see Tony with his arms and legs engulfing his underwear-clad personal assistant. He pushed off Rachel and stood up. Rachel found herself splayed upon the sand, but still her left hand clutched my ankle. "Tony! Stand down!" Tony paused for an instant, shot his boss a pathetic glance, shook his head, and squeezed my mother even tighter. That made Mr. Burch stiffen his back. He grabbed Tony, and swung him around so they stood face-to-face. Seeing his tight, snarling lips, I thought Mr. Burch was going to punch Tony. Instead, he held his arms while Tony squirmed, gradually less and less. "Control yourself, man!" Mr. Burch said. He glanced at his daughter, who was doing her best to climb up my legs and into my pants. With a quick jerk, he grabbed a handful of her sandy blond hair and pulled until Rachel was looking directly into his eyes. "Rachel!" He covered her with his dazzling white shirt, which reached nearly to her knees. Rachel shot her cuffs so her hands were free, but did nothing to close the front of the shirt. We stood at an impasse, looking at each other. My mother, Marian and I nearest the embankment; Tony, Mr. Burch and Rachel facing us. I realized that the three in Mr. Burch's group were all acting like they had been shot with the love arrows, and the three in my group were the archers. I knew about the arrow that hit Rachel, and the arrow that Marian had intended for me, but hit Mr. Burch. The third arrow must have hit Tony. While Mr. Burch's group breathed heavily, and caught their breath, I turned to Mother. "Did you find a golden arrow?" "It didn't look that golden. It was in the ground on the rise, together with a bow. It seemed fate, since I was looking for a way to hurt Robin" "Me?" said Robin. "Why?" He looked genuinely hurt. He reached out to her, but Tony stepped between them. "She's mine," Tony said. "And Ross, you're mine!" said Rachel. She sloughed off her father's shirt, and would have jumped at me again except for her dad's quick tug on her hair. I stepped in front of Tony and my mother. "So you shot Mr. Burch?" I asked her. "I tried," she admitted, "but I missed. I don't know what happened to the arrow." She looked a little flustered. She blushed when she looked at Tony, who was removing his shirt now, and showing his pecs in all their muscular glory. "Mother, you hit Tony." "Well, maybe." Marian said, "Mrs. Adams, you shot Tony with a love arrow?" Her head cocked to the side as she tried to understand my mother and her son. "Love arrows?" said my mother. In Marian's surprise, she seemed to have forgotten that she was naked. She was so lovely, I had to admit. And now that she was so self-confident, she seemed even more desirable. Mr. Burch noticed as well, and stepped a little closer to Marian. When he did, Rachel slipped out of his grasp, and stood next to Marian. She only came up to her shoulder, and she faced me. "Well, Ross?" She ran her hands down her sides like she was a game show prize. She cupped her breasts and gave them a slight jiggle. "She's just a bag of bones compared to me." Mr. Burch stared at Marian, taking all of her into the place where his sex dreams began. He glanced at Rachel, and said, "Will you put some clothes on?" in a disgusted, fatherly fashion. That was exactly what I would have said to her. To someone who didn't know her as well as I did, her shape, her tan skin, her blue eyes her pert ass atop shapely legs, all would melt a man's resolve. But to me, it was, "Eh." Marian next to her seemed so much more lovely, graceful, and sexy. My heart raced when I looked at her, and my breath came in shorter bursts. Tony glanced at Rachel, but for the most part, his eyes focused on my poor mother. His eyes were like a pair of hands exploring every visible part of her body. She wrapped a lock of frosted hair around her ear while she balanced on one leg, her hipped cocked to the side. "Love arrow?" My mother said again. "What's a love arrow?" "A love arrow is something that should be used only by Cupid. It's my fault taking them in the first place." I positioned Marian behind me again, and felt her try to hide by pushing her self into my back. The tips of her nipples and the warmth of her breasts pressed firmly against me. She laid her head on my shoulder, and her dark hair spilled over my chest. "You stole an arrow from the Love God?" my mother reprimanded. "No, I won it in a poker game. Cupid is a lousy poker player." Mr. Burch nodded his head. "I knew that." He didn't explain further though. Eros' Errant Arrows "Anyway, I won three arrows." I held Marian's hand, and she held mine back, brushing my knuckles with her thumb. I used it to shoot at her, but I missed." Marian lifted her head. "And I used one to shoot at Ross, and I missed." Then she laid her head back on my shoulder. My mother raised her hand like she was in school. "I shot an arrow at Robin." She waved her hand a little at Mr. Burch. Mr. Burch asked the question that I didn't want answered. "Ross, if you missed Marian, where did the arrow go?" I swallowed hard, and held Marian's hand firmly. "I missed Marian, but hit..." I pointed at Rachel, "...her." He turned to my mother. "Maria, whom did you hit?" My mother dug her toes in the sand, but she straightened her shoulders, stuck out her chest and said, "The arrow missed you, Robin, and hit..." she waved at Tony, "...him." Finally Robin Burch turned to Marian, who was trying to make herself small behind me. "And your missed arrow hit me, right?" I could feel Marian nodding her head without lifting it from my shoulder. "Well, this is a dilemma, isn't it?" Mr. Burch had slipped into problem-solving mode. He walked in a circle around the entire group as he made thinking noises, of "Hmm" and "Okay," and "Huh." At one point, when he had moseyed behind me and Marian, I felt her flinch and squeak, and I knew that his mind wasn't entirely on the problem we faced; his hand had found Marian's red-tinged behind too enticing. "Ross, back me up on this. I know how this magic works. Once you've been hit with one of Cupid's arrows, you become crazed for your love object. Now, Cupid shooting the arrow knows who will be the target and who will be their love interest. It's a game he plays. You think he's bad at poker? Maybe, but look at the matches he came up with!" I had no experience in this matter, so I deferred to Mr. Burch. "Once in a while, Cupid is foolish enough, or sly enough, to let mortals shoot the arrow themselves. The target the mortal hits becomes obsessively compelled to possess the shooter. That would not have been a problem if you all could shoot straight." My mother had a curious look in her eye. "You know all this how, Robin?" she asked. Mr. Burch seemed to bluster a bit. "Mythology books, right, Ross?" I shrugged my shoulders. I had never read about this, and in retrospect, wish that the Love God had been clearer on the consequences of misplaced arrows. My mother stood directly in front of Mr. Burch, halting him in his tracks. "You've used these arrows before, haven't you?" Mr. Burch harrumphed, but my mother wouldn't let the idea go. "I never had the least bit of interest in you when I first started as your assistant twenty-five years ago. Then one day, zing! I couldn't stop thinking about you. Morning, noon, and night I thought about Robin Burch. It wasn't like me at all." She punched a finger into his chest. "But that kind of dirty trick is just like you, Robin." Robin Burch gathered his shaky authority, and tried to go on. "We're not looking to solve an old problem. We need to satisfy the demands of a new problem." My mother crossed her arms, and sat on the beach. Tony tried to get a little closer to comfort her, but Mr. Burch gave him a look and said, "Stand down, soldier." Tony stopped in his tracks. Burch continued. "My suggestion, in light of the reality of the situation, is very simple. Until we satisfy the urges, the lust, the desires, that have been kindled in our loins, none of the arrow targets will be able to rest. We will follow that person the rest of our lives if necessary, until that one night of sweet passion and deliverance. The tension of anticipating the culmination of love will be unbearable." Rachel ran her hands along her thighs. "That's so true, Daddy. I just need to fuck him." "Be quiet, and wrap that shirt around you." He shook his head. "So you see, we have a problem. My suggestion is simple. For one night, we indulge ourselves. Right here, right now, if you like." His eyes devoured Marian. "Or I can arrange a trip on the yacht for all of us, a vacation to your favorite romantic destination, or a secluded hideaway anywhere in the world." Tony nodded his head. Rachel stood with her legs apart and her hands on her hips. She was ready, no matter who might be watching, even her father. She realized, as we all did, that her father was more interested in bedding Marian than watching his daughter. One night. Then it would be over. Maybe. What if Marian really started to fall for Mr. Burch? He had all the money in the world and it would be very hard to say no to the things that he could buy for her. My mother looked at Tony appraisingly. She saw the breadth of his chest and the stoutness of his legs. His arms were strong enough to carry her into the surf, or across the threshold of any hotel room. She turned her nearly-naked body back and forth the way precocious children do before a person they want to charm. I think my mother was sold on the idea. Rachel wanted to fuck me. No doubt. She licked her lips seductively, and stood with her legs spread. She had proved that she could arouse me, despite my lack of passion for her. She had the skills of a technician fine-tuning vintage car. The engine doesn't have to have any feelings, does it? Still, I felt nothing for her. My mother spoke up. "Are you out of your mind, Robin? Do you have any idea how badly you are screwing with these poor children?" "They are already screwed, Maria. The arrow did that." She shook her head. "Admit it, Robin. You used one of those arrows on me. I can't believe you. That was so unfair what you did." "Old news, Maria. Get with the times. Anyway, you made me pay dearly enough for what we had together." My mother slapped his face, which made him turn his attention from Marian to her. "We both suffered." I was confused. "What are you talking about?" My mother and Robin Burch had been very close. They worked together. We took "working vacations" , where I got to know both Rachel and Mr. Burch, and my mother spent time with Rachel. I treasured these times, and often wished that my own father could have shared these days. Even Rachel had confided in me that she felt closer to my mother than she ever had with her own mother, whom she could no longer even remember. My mother turned next to me. "Ross, put any thoughts of Rachel out of your mind.." Rachel said, "Ms. Adams! You don't control me. You don't control Ross.." "Shut up, Rachel," said my mother. "You have no idea what you're talking about." Rachel set her jaw and stepped up to my mother, who was a head taller than she was. "I know what I'm talking about. I see the way you and my father are when you think I'm not watching. I know what those 'work vacations' are about. You and my father, finding time together. And don't deny it." She looked at her father out of the corner of her eye. "Don't you deny it either. At least Ms. Adams is closer to your age than some of the women you let into our house. And Ms. Adams cares for you." Robin Burch looked abashed. Tony looked like he was about to cry. "I thought you loved me, Maria." She waved her hand as if to erase the misconception. Rachel tried to snuggle between me and Marian. "And if Ross and I want to be together, we should have the right." Both Robin Burch and my mother spoke at once. "No!" "Why?" Rachel asked. My mother cupped Rachel chin in her hand. "Darling, you should know something. You can't sleep with Ross because...well, because he's your brother." My jaw dropped. "Ew," I thought. But it did explain a lot of things, like why I just had no interest in the Most Desirable Woman in the World. Marian started to laugh so heartily that she had to hold her sides. Even Tony was laughing, just not so outrageously. Rachel looked to her father for confirmation. He nodded "You can't sleep with him. You and Ross are siblings." Rachel turned red, and stamped her feet. Then she became very quiet. She looked her father in the eye, and said, "So?" "What?" "So what? It's just once, and then it will be over." She tried to grab me again, but I dodged her. Suddenly I felt a little ill at the memory of her on top of me, sucking like mad. "No, darling. You can't. We won't let that happen. Right, Robin?" my mother said. Robin was watching Marian trying to stop laughing, trying to get back on her feet. She kept slipping, and chuckling. "Robin!" He answered. "Yes. Of course." Well, that was uncomfortable. Rachel finally believed that she had a mother, Maria Adams. I had a father, Robin Burch. They had had their affair when he was just starting up his office, and my mother fell uncontrollably in love. When she found that she was pregnant, he didn't exactly step up to the plate. In disgust, my mother only asked for him to support her and her baby. Neither suspected that she was carrying twins until they were born. At that point, Robin demanded that at least his son, and maybe both children, be with him because of the advantages that he could offer. She said no. She threatened to expose him to his law firm, and expose the law firm to the bad publicity and hefty damages that could be levied for the sexual harassment and hostile environment lawsuit. The solution they both came up with was not ideal, they realized as the years went by. She would continue to work for him, and be his primary assistant. As he become more successful, she shared in his success, but not as openly as if his wife. If she were bothered by his affairs, she never let on. But she kept his son; Robin kept her daughter — a weird kind of balance. Our working vacations were a wonderful part of my childhood. Rachel was my best friend growing up on these trips. Yet we never had the desire to explore, experiment or otherwise engage each other. Now I know why. Robin and Maria reluctantly agreed that she could do more work if she moved to Robin's estate. She could also better protect Marian from Robin's advances. In the meantime, Tony always had an eye out for my mother. I expected Robin to fire him immediately, but it was not to be. Tony knew too many of Robin's secrets. Whenever my mother and I met for dinner, I asked her whether she felt threatened by Tony's presence. "Threatened? Why, no, dear. I wouldn't say I felt 'threatened' at all." Then she would give me a sly smile, and I guessed that my mother was getting along satisfactorily with big, burly Tony. Marian quit her job as Rachel's companion. She couldn't spend any time with her without smirking and giggling. Marian moved in with me, and took a job as a photographer. Her work was very good. Robin promised to get her a show of her work. Her shots were as provocative as the ones she did of Rachel, except that now Marian sometimes posed her own model. The photos captured something extra in her eyes. She had learned a secret that she was eager to share. Everyone who viewed the photos wanted to hear that secret advice and share in the cosmic joke. Did Robin ever try to jump Marian's bones? I'm sure he did. After all, the arrow's magic was still at work. But Marian had learned from my mother the kind of man that Robin Burch was, and no promises could allay the potential harm that Robin Burch was capable of causing. Did she sleep with him anyway? Who knows? I try not to think about it. Rachel changed. Her father and mother had lied to her for all of her life. Her mother had been close all the while. Rachel was no longer carefree. She also had a new look in her eyes, that reflected the depravity of the world. I worried about her. I didn't want her to fall into despair, when I knew that she had so much to offer. We remained friends. In fact, I think you would say we were best friends. When we found time together, we talked about the old vacations, and our lost time with parents, and about the one time when she had tried to fuck me. Then, because I saw that she was in so much pain, I made the sacrifice. I gave in to her. We took her yacht to an island she knew about. We spent the days in seclusion, where she and I felt comfortable in our nudity and sexuality. I didn't desire her, exactly, but I appreciated her beauty more than before. She was natural, unencumbered, and open to me. We could be naked together and not feel awkward. At night, we cuddled by the campfire. Her dirty blond hair tumbled on my shoulder and chest. Her legs folded up, and rested against mine. We held hands, and counted the sparks flying up to the sky. It wouldn't take long before she began to tease me with her body. I accepted her, submitted, and loved her, for her own well-being. I often recalled Cupid's devilish smile when he gave up those arrows. Perhaps he knew that every brother should have such a wonderful, winsome, willful sister.