4 comments/ 54537 views/ 8 favorites Carolyn and John Ch. 01 By: JohnFranks Funny how things work out sometimes. There you are, minding your own business, just getting on with things and suddenly...wham...something nice just drops into your lap out of the blue. I was in a city I didn't know well on business, and having a free afternoon one day I decided to park near the centre and look around. There wasn't much to amuse me, just the usual shops and cafes, so I decided to drop into a bar for a drink before heading out. The place was fairly empty, a small group in one corner and a smartly dressed black woman on her own in the other, nursing a glass of wine and reading a copy of Cosmopolitan, a magazine I always think of as a female sex manual myself. I bought myself a drink and sat down a few seats from her, and watched the rather sluggish football match being played on the bar TV. After a minute or two I began to sense that she was looking at me. Not staring, just the odd glance, looking me up and down, but too often for her not to have seen something that interested her. Now I don't think of myself as some sex god lady killer by any means, but I've had my moments and I can read the signs. She was sizing me up and by the way she kept coming back she wasn't unhappy with what she was seeing. I was surprised, and more than a little excited. I knew several black women socially, and liked them a lot, but I'd never been out with one or even flirted. I'd never expected one to be interested in me, but this girl seemed to be. So I returned the compliment, pretending to look out of the window but really having a look at her. She wasn't at all bad either. Mid thirties perhaps. Shoulder length braids, nice face, a little on the plump side but shapely with it, smartly dressed in a light summer dress, bare legs and sandals. She looked up and caught me watching her, twinkly brown eyes met mine for an instant and she smiled, then she looked away, obviously embarrassed , and she fidgeted on her seat. I knew instantly that she found me as attractive as I did her, the question was, what was I going to do about it? As if she could read my mind, she reached for her drink and accidentally knocked her magazine across the slippery table top and it fell to the floor on my side. Quickly I rose and with a step forward I picked it up and handed it to her. "Thank you. " that delightful smile again. Do black people really have whiter teeth or is it just the contrast? I wondered. I smiled down at her "My pleasure." "Were you watching the match?" she asked "Not really," I answered "football isn't my thing, I was watching out of boredom more than anything." "You're bored?" "Well I'm a stranger around here," I said "and I don't know the area well enough to know where to go to find anything interesting." "Mmmmmm" she thought for a moment "Well if you have a car there is some beautiful countryside a few miles from here." "I have a car, but I don't know my way around. I'd need a guide or I'd soon get myself hopelessly lost I'm afraid." "Well........." she stared hard at me for a moment, then seemed to come to a decision "I'm at a loose end myself this afternoon, I suppose I could show you around." "Are you sure you want to get into a car with a strange man?" I asked, a little surprised. The dark eyes twinkled again "You don't look very strange," she said "just how strange are you?" I laughed " I didn't mean that kind of strange. " I said , and holding out my hand "My name is John." She took my hand in hers and shook it "Carolyn." "There," I said "now we aren't strangers anymore" We finished our drinks and strolled out into the warm afternoon sunshine, chatting easily and feeling more relaxed by the moment in each others company. We reached my car and she climbed in quite happily beside me, smoothing her dress and putting her hands in her lap. I pulled out of the car park and she gave me directions out of town and soon we were heading through open country, the sunroof open and a warm breeze fluttering her hair. "Are you married John?" she asked suddenly. Well I've never been one to lie to a woman, whatever the cost, so I answered honestly. "Yes I am Carolyn, but it isn't exactly a match made in Heaven, if you understand me." "Yes I do John, I understand perfectly, I'm in the same boat. His work comes before me or anything." "Well not quite the same for me, " I said "we've just grown apart, lost touch with each other. We share a roof but that's about all." She looked sideways at me " So there's no...........romance...between you any more?" I laughed "If you are diplomatically trying to ask if we still have a sex life, Carolyn, the answer is no, we don't." She sighed "Nor with us, and it's something I miss a lot. Do you think it would be wrong to find an outlet away from the marriage? If nobody knew...nobody got hurt?" her voice caught a little in her throat "It's something I've often thought about myself, " I answered "and no, I don't think it would be wrong. " She looked straight ahead, and I saw her nibble her bottom lip thoughtfully, then she said "Turn down this next side road." I did as she asked, and after a few hundred yards she told me to pull over. "There's a nice quiet spot just down that path," she said "we could sit down there for a while and enjoy the sunshine." I found a blanket in the boot, and her leading the way, ( and her plump but shapely little bottom was well worth following ), we ended up at the edge of a quiet meadow, the grass knee high, a tall hedge behind us. We sat down on the blanket and she kicked off her shoes, leaned back on her elbows and shut her eyes to the sun. I realised how full and round her breasts were as they thrust against he material of her dress, and I could see that she wore no bra and the nipples pushed through the thin fabric. She opened her eyes and caught me staring and laughed as I glanced away embarrassed, then she wriggled over next to me and leaned against me. I could smell her perfume and feel her warmth through my shirt. "I didn't mind you looking," she said "as long as you liked what you saw!" "You know I did. " I answered. "Then why stop at looking?" she whispered "Remember what we said in the car....as long as nobody gets hurt..." It was like a dam had burst. I put my arms round her and kissed her hungrily as we fell back on the blanket, our hands roaming over each others' bodies, rolling over, me on top, her on top, until we parted with a gasp and looked at each other a long moment. Then, slowly and gently, we began to undress each other. I popped the buttons of her sundress as she undid my shirt and pulled it out of my trousers. We flung off both garments and hugged again, her full breasts pressed to my bare chest, then I quickly shed my shoes and trousers. She had full but shapely thighs and ample hips, curvaceous and so inviting. I could feel my cock already hard inside my shorts, bulging the material out. We sat on the blanket, me in my boxers, her in a pair of skimpy white cotton panties, and began to stroke each other gently, her fingers combing through my chest hair, me stroking her arms, neck, hair, and then cradling and caressing her full breasts in my hands, rolling the hard little nipples between thumb and finger. I savoured the sight of her, the deep brown skin gleaming in the sunlight, the dark nipples and aureolas almost purple against the brown. I leaned forward and sucked gently at a nipple, teasing it with the tip of my tongue. She moaned and closed her eyes,and her hand slid down to cup my groin, gently massaging my balls through the fabric, then she popped the buttons and her hand slid inside, searching for my cock and feeling it already hard and thick with lust. She sucked a breath in as she felt the size of it, then slid it out through the slit and began to stroke it gently, making me gasp with pleasure. I have a thick cock and her eyes widened as she saw it. Her brown hand caressed the swollen tip and she murmured softly. I returned the compliment, slipping my hand down to cradle her pussy through the thin panties. I could feel these were already damp from her juices and this excited me even more. I slid my hand down inside the waistband and felt her bush of hair under my palm, then my fingers found the swollen bud of her clitty and I began to stroke it, teasing and circling as she gasped and wriggled. The finger movements became even more frantic on my cock, then she moaned "John, please, I want you inside me now......please....don't lets wait any longer!" Quickly I slid my boxers off my legs, then hooking a thumb into the waistband of her thin panties I peeled them off her as she raised her hips. For a moment I looked down on her, feasting my eyes on her brown body, the black pubic hair short and wiry and neatly trimmed to a small triangle, her pussy damp and open, pink showing through the swollen brown lips, then I slid down beside her and gave her clitoris a few last gentle caresses as she stroked my swollen cock between her fingers. After a few moments she lay back and parted her strong shapely legs, raising her knees. I rolled on top of her, and for an ecstatic moment I rubbed the purple tip of my cock through her triangle of hair, pushing it into the slit to rub against her clitty, then her hand reached down and guided it to her entrance and with a long thrust I was deep in her welcoming pussy, feeling the walls of her warm cunt hug my thick cock in a love embrace. She threw her head back and moaned softly with her eyes closed. Carolyn and John Ch. 02 Carolyn raised and parted her knees, the fine hair on the lips of her open cunt glistening with her juices. I rolled on top of her, and for an ecstatic moment I rubbed the purple tip of my cock through her bushy hair, pushing it into the slit to rub against her clitty, then her hand reached down and guided it to her entrance and with a long thrust I was deep in her welcoming pussy, feeling the walls of her warm cunt hug my thick cock in a love embrace. I began to stroke, slowly, but she wrapped her legs around mine, her calves pressing into the backs of my thighs and as high as my straining buttocks, and her fingers dug into my back. "Faster John!" she whispered "Fuck me hard, don't wait, please! It's been so long! I want to feel you cum in me! Just fuck me hard!" "It's been a long time for me too." I whispered "Oh Yes! Yes!" and I began to pump into her faster, short strokes, my balls against her buttocks each thrust, our bodies tight against each other, the sun hot on my naked back as I fucked her, feeling her buck her hips up to meet my thrusts, panting as we coupled, until the ache of a cum became undeniable and I felt myself reaching orgasm, the sensations almost paralysing me, making me thrust in huge slow jerks and as she felt me starting to cum Carolyn gave a long moan of pleasure and I felt her cunt tighten as she climaxed and suddenly I was pumping my spunk deep into her, my thrusts timed to each heavenly spurt of jism into her gorgeous tight tunnel, her nails raking my back as she orgasmed under me, until I was spent and with a long groan I collapsed onto her and she hugged me tight as we caught our breath and our heartbeats came back to normal. She burrowed her face into my chest "Oh John, thank you!" she said. "I should thank you Carolyn, " I answered "you are fantastic" We lay there, sleepily, talking about nothing much, stroking each other's bodies and taking pleasure in seeing each other's nakedness. Suddenly there were voices, from the path at the other side of the hedge. We froze, and listened as a group of hikers stopped to consult a map, listening to them talk. I reached out and with a fingertip I tickled one of Carolyn's big dark nipples. So intent was she on the hikers the shock made her gasp, then start to giggle, which she muffled, so I tickled the other nipple and she slapped my hand away then reached down and gently squeezed my balls. We lay there stifling our laughter as the hikers slowly moved on, never guessing that if they had looked over the gate they would have seen two naked people only yards from them. As our laughter died away, we looked into each others' eyes, then embraced and kissed gently. As we did I felt myself begin to stir again, my cock twitching and thickening, and I cradled her breast and stroked and tweaked the nipple. She looked at me "Again? Can you?" "I can try." I said "I certainly feel like I can." She took my cock in her hand and began to fondle it, stroking along the shaft and teasing the tip, feeling it grow thick and hard in her hand, then she wriggled down the blanket and took my cock in her mouth, swirling her tongue around the head and sucking gently. I moaned with pleasure and stroked her hair, black and shiny, gleaming in the afternoon sunlight. Gently she played with my engorged cock, teasing with tongue and fingers, licking beads of precum from the tip, massaging my balls in her hand. I lay back and went to heaven, letting her play and knowing that I would give it back and more. She slid up me and we kissed again. I tasted something on her lips and realised it was my own precum. Somehow the thought aroused me even more and I could feel the pulse throbbing in my groin. I gently layed her back and kissed her down her belly, scenting her warm cunt and it's juices as I ran my tongue through her bush, then laying between her spread legs I probed with my lips and tongue between her swollen cunt lips, finding her clitty and sucking hungrily at it then licking rapidly as she wriggled and made little animal noises of pleasure, pushing my head deeper into her cunt, her heels drumming gently on my back. She gave several deep long moans and I knew that she'd come, I felt her juices flow faster and I licked them up and swallowed. I slid up her body, looking down on her nakedness, thinking how incredible she looked, her full breasts with the hard nipples, the surrounds large chocolate circles, the curve of her belly and hips, the fuzz of pubic hair shading the welcoming womanhood. She reached down between us and stroked my cock rock hard, and I slid it into her, deep inside her, and she sighed as it parted her wet warm lips and nestled into her pussy. We fucked again, but slowly and deliciously this time, the strokes long and deep, feeling each other's muscles tighten and relax, our bellies sliding together, her soft inner thighs gripping me, hands stroking my back. I took my weight on one arm and slid my other hand under her buttocks, feeling them harden as she rose to meet my every thrust. We fucked like this for a long while, then I rolled off her, my cock hard and heavy, and onto my back. Without any bidding she rose to her knees and straddled me, slowly lowering herself and guiding my cock up into herself with her fingers, then she began to ride me, gently, her tits swaying in the late afternoon sun, her hands on my shoulders as I held her hips.I looked down the length of my body, watching my pale blue veined cock slide in and out of her brown body, the dark pussy lips parted wide and the swollen cock glistening with her juices as she moved up and down on me. I slid one hand round her belly and stroked her clit with my thumb and she gave a little "Mmmmmm." of pleasure and wriggled her hips, sending electric waves through my cock. For a long age she rode me, her eyes closed, her breathing gentle, savouring the feel of me inside her. "Lets finish doggy style! " she whispered, and raising herself off me she kneeled down beside me on the blanket, bending forward to cradle her head on her arms, her curvy hips and buttocks presented for my pleasure. I knelt behind her and once again, for the last time, my hard cock slid into her eager oiled cunt, and I began to fuck her from behind, stroking her back and sides gently, and she slipped a hand underneath herself and stroked my tight ball sack with it. I quickened the pace, short fast thrusts, gently holding her hips as I moved. Her breathing quickened, and her round buttocks moved in time to my thrusts, my lower belly gently slapping against the brown globes of her gorgeous ass each time I slid the full length of my cock into her. I looked down at her full womanly hips, writhing with pleasure in my hands, and I felt a sexual excitement so great my head was spinning. I clasped her hips tighter and began to thrust hard and fast, grunting with each stroke, fucking her like I'd never fucked a woman before, hearing her cry out and seeing her back arch as her orgasm built then feeling my own burst inside her, ramming my cock into her in rhythmic thrusts, giving a loud UUUUGH! at each cum spurting stroke, emptying my balls for the second time into her tight pussy as she shuddered and cried out in her passion as the orgasm carried her away, pulsing through her body in warm waves of ecstasy as her hungry cunt sucked my straining cock dry. Our passion spent, I slumped over her and she made small whimpering noises in her throat, then as I looked up I saw them. Two teenage boys, mouths agape, were leaning over the gate staring at us, Carolyn still on her knees, her head on her arms, and me with my softening cock still inside her. As they saw my head come up and realised that I'd seen them they glanced at each other then ran, their footsteps pounding down the lane. Carolyn looked up. "What's that?" she asked "Two teenage kids were watching us" I answered. She said nothing for a moment, then shudders went through her and I realised she was laughing. "You mean they saw us fucking like rabbits?" she said "Looks like it" "Well that will give the little buggers a few weeks worth of wanking material." she chuckled. The sun was setting, and we dressed slowly in the warm twilight, then walked back down the lane to the car, hand in hand. We drove back to town in silence, and I dropped her in the centre. Before she got out of the car she leaned over and kissed me. "Thank you for this afternoon John, it was wonderful." "I think we both needed it Carolyn" I answered. "Will we see each other again?" "Maybe" she said "If you are ever around these parts again. Here!" and she pressed a piece of paper into my hand with a cellphone number on it. "Text me if you're coming this way again," she said " and you never know, maybe we can see the countryside together again." "I'd like that." I said "I'd like it very much." "Me too." she said wistfully, then she opened the car door, and with a quick swirl of sundress and a last waft of perfume she was gone, her bare brown legs gleaming in the lamplight as she hurried across the market place toward the taxi rank. Carolyn and John Ch. 03 John was more nervous than he'd felt for a long time. Restlessly he paced the hotel room, his stomach tightening. Again he looked at the table, set with flowers and wine brought by room service minutes before. Again he looked at his watch. Time seemed to have slowed to a crawl, but she should be here, surely she should be here. When he knew he was coming back he phoned Carolyn straight away, and they both knew they had to meet again, but this time he wasn't near her home town, so she'd arranged time off work and told him to book a double room so she could join him. She had a long drive, but she said she'd be there just after six and already it was quarter past. Maybe she'd changed her mind. Maybe she'd wrecked the car. Maybe, maybe, maybe....his head span with maybes. When the knock came his heart lurched. Was it her? For a moment he froze, endless possibilities racing through his head, it was room service again, it was someone at the wrong room, it was... His momentary paralysis lifted and with two quick steps he reached the door and with his heart racing he flung it open. She stood there, just as he remembered her. Braided hair to her shoulders, twinkling brown eyes in a pretty chocolate face, neat full figure in a smart blouse and skirt. For a moment he stood fixed to the spot, then she asked "Well? Aren't you going to ask me in?" "Yes, of course." he stepped to one side and she came in, closing the door softly behind her, then she dropped the bag she was carrying, wrapped her arms round his neck and kissed him long and hard as he hugged her to him. "Pleased to see me?" she asked "More than anything Carolyn, you know I am." "That's good, for a moment I thought you had a gun in your pocket!" He laughed. "You haven't changed!" and slapped her lightly on the butt. "Well talking of changing," she said "I've been working in these clothes all day and right now I need a shower and change. I've brought clean stuff in here." and she picked up the hold all. "OK." He said "and when you come out we can decide what we're going to do" "Oh I've already decided what I want to do," she said as she vanished into the bathroom "but if you want to do something else, guess I'll just have to put fresh batteries in the vibrator." "You're incorrigible!" he yelled through the closed door. For a few minutes he sat idly, thinking about her, and the more he sat the more his thoughts turned to their last meeting and the fantastic love making, their bodies pleasuring each other long into the warm summer day, fingers and tongues exploring every inch, eyes feasting on each other's nakedness. Suddenly he snapped out of his revelry, aware that he had an erection bulging in his pants. "Damn!" he thought "and she's not even out of the shower yet." The idea once in his mind wouldn't let go. Only a few feet and a thin door away the woman he felt such a huge desire for was standing naked, water cascading over her breasts and down her............... "Damn!" he wrenched his mind away from the image, but it came back with a vengeance. Would it really harm if he opened that door? I mean, would she mind? Would she be offended? It wasn't like he'd never seen her naked, after all. Slowly he rose to his feet, put his hand on the bathroom door knob, and began to turn it. Quietly, he opened the door. At first he could see nothing for the steam, then as it cleared he could make out the shower cubicle, Carolyn's outline a dark blur through the steamed up glass. His courage failing him, he began to back out of the room quietly, closing the door, when suddenly her voice startled him. "It took you long enough!" "What?" "Took you long enough to decide to come in. A girl only has so much patience you know!" "You were expecting me to come in?" he asked, relieved. "I'd have been damned insulted if you hadn't, now, get those things off and get in here!" Quickly he shed his clothes onto the floor, and sliding the door back he stepped into the shower stall with her. He stood for a moment, his eyes feasting on her, their bodies almost touching, then she pressed a bar of scented soap into his hands and said "OK, wash my back." and turned away. His hand trembling, he began to rub the soap across her body, along her shoulders and working down to her delicious round buttocks, gently leaving a trail of white lather wherever he touched her brown skin. "Don't forget my legs. " She said softly He kneeled down and soaped the back of each shapely leg, feeling the thigh muscles under his hand, running his fingers down the calves and ankles. His head was now level with her warm brown butt, and on impulse he bent forward and placed a kiss on each soft wet cheek. She wriggled and laughed. He put a hand on each of her hips and tickled the small of her back with the tip of his tongue and she laughed again. He rose to his feet and she turned to face him, the warm stream washing the soap off her back. "Now," she said huskily "do the same with the front" Gently, he soaped her shoulders, slowly working his way down until he was running the scented bar backwards and forwards across her breasts, seeing the hard nipples jiggle as he passed over them. She closed her eyes and gave a little "Mmmmm!" of pleasure. He began to wash her belly, his hand moving in small circles, dipping ever closer to the tiny triangle of hair above the slit of her womanhood. Her eyes closed and her breathing quickened. Gently he soaped over her groin and she opened her legs. He ran the soap down each thigh, caressing the soft inner legs gently, then kneeling before her again he washed her lower legs. He looked up at her, running his gaze slowly up her naked body to her face. "Stand up," she said softly "and turn around." But I haven't finished down here yet." he answered, and leaning forward, he buried his tongue in her belly button, then he began to kiss gently down her stomach toward her groin. "Oh God" she whispered, and her hands went up to grasp the shower socket over her head to steady herself. One hand dropped for a moment to turn the distracting flow of water off, then rose back above her head. So she stood, eyes closed, arms raised and her legs parted for him. Gently his tongue found her secret place, the soft slit crowned with a neat fuzz of hair, and probed between the lips of her sweet clean womanhood. The questing tip touched her clitoris, already swelling in anticipation, and she moaned softly and writhed against him. His firm hands slid gently up the backs of her thighs and cupping her buttocks in his palms he pressed his face onto her, the tongue ever flicking and searching to give pleasure, teasing and circling on the clit until she thought she would burst with the feel of it. She felt the warm ache of impending orgasm build in the pit of her stomach and she dropped one hand to his head, pressing his face tighter into her groin. She began to moan softly and hearing this he intensified the force and speed of his licks, stroking her buttocks and upper thighs, his head bobbing against her and the feeling building until with a long groan she came, her legs trembling as the waves of pleasure pulsed through her body, leaving her weak and panting. He stood up and gently held her as her heartbeat returned to normal, then pulling herself together, she turned the water back on , moved him under it, facing the wall, and picking up the soap she began to wash his back. Tonguing her had given him a strong erection, and standing with the water playing on his chest and splashing over his throbbing cock, while she gently soaped down his back, he stayed hard, feeling her gentle hands roam over him, down to his buttocks and legs, until finally she said "OK, turn around now." He turned, trembling with anticipation, and she washed his shoulders and chest, down his belly, but carefully avoiding his cock she moved down to his legs and soaped them first. Having a naked woman tend to him like this kept him not just hard but getting harder, and just as he felt that he couldn't wait a moment longer she stepped to the side of him, put one arm around his waist at the back, and with the other lathery hand she began to slowly soap his stiff cock along the shaft and over the tip. He grunted softly with the pleasure of it, and putting one arm around her too, he fondled one of her breasts with the other hand, the nipple hard in his palm. Gently she stroked the stiff shaft, up and down, over the tip the skilful fingers moved, bringing him to an ecstasy of feeling. He began to pant slightly and hearing this she tightened her grip and began to stroke faster, gradually increasing the speed until he was at the point of climax and with a long moan he came. As he did she used long slow strokes to pump him dry and the hot spunk spurted in gushes through her fingers and over the wall of the cubicle until there was nothing more and with a sigh he dropped his head onto her shoulder. Gently he stroked his cock as it softened in her hand, and then she kissed him and asked "Nice?" After they had cleaned the shower stall up they dried each other with large soft towels then dressed and sat together, sipping wine and chatting easily. He loved her soft voice, her fun sense of humour, the easy relaxed way they seemed to have with each other. After a while they were hungry, so they drifted down to the hotel restaurant and ate together, a candle flickering on the table highlighting their faces and giving the meal a romantic air. "You really are staying the night?" he asked. "Yes, I said I would. And I have tomorrow off work" "What about your husband though?" She screwed her face up "Oh he thinks I'm visiting an old school friend, and frankly he doesn't care where I am as long as I don't stop him working!" "No change there then!" "No," She replied sadly "how about you?" He hesitated a moment, then answered "We separated a few weeks ago." Carolyn tried not to give any obvious reaction to this news, but inside her mind was in turmoil and her heart began to race. He was free! Well, almost free. She fought to speak calmly. "Well, I'm all yours for another day, so let's make the most of it." "Great, we can do some sight seeing then." She laughed "I have all I want to see right here." "Me? You can't mean fat bald old me!" "You are not so!" she kicked him under the table. Laughing, hand in hand, they made their way back to the room, softly lit by wall lights, the large bed warm and inviting. She took her necklace and rings off, placing them carefully on the dressing table, John watching her move around the room, the soft lighting gleaming on her brown shoulders. She had a natural grace he had rarely seen, and he knew that her body excited him more than almost any other woman he had ever met. Her personality, too, the way she looked at him, her soft voice, all these things attracted him strongly to her. For a moment he wished there could be more between them than these brief sexual encounters, but he shook the thought off even as it surfaced. "Damn it man," he said to himself "she's married, and so are you still. Besides, you're on the rebound and vulnerable. It would be a stupid move to see more in this than there could be." Even so, the feeling of longing wouldn't completely go away. She turned to him and smiled, here dark eyes gleaming with mischief. "I brought a surprise for you." she said "What?" She rummaged in her bag, and brought out a bundle of silky material. As she held it up in front of her, he saw it was a red chemise, in a satin texture material. "I read somewhere that a woman can be even more exciting partly covered than totally naked." she said. "Its true." he answered. "Well let's put it to the test." and she vanished into the bathroom. A few minutes later she re-appeared, wearing the chemise. The front was low cut with thin straps and the hem came to just below the tops of her legs, the skirt flaring slightly around her strong brown thighs. "Do you like it?" she asked, twirling so the hem flared out. He saw in the second it did so that she wasn't wearing anything under it and he felt his cock begin to stir under his pants. "It's beautiful, like the woman wearing it." he said softly She put her arms around his neck and kissed him long and hard, then she moved across to the bed and lay on her side, watching him and waiting, saying nothing. Slowly, he undressed in front of her, taking his time, giving her a show. First his shirt, slowly unbuttoned and tossed casually on to a chair, then his shoes and socks, dropped on the floor. Finally he slowly unbuckled his belt, unfastened the button, teasingly slid down the zipper, and let his pants drop, stepping out of them. Crossing to the bed, he kneeled on it, bends and kissed her gently. "Aren't you going to take those off too?" she asked, indicating his boxers. "Thought I'd see if a man was more exciting partly covered too" he replied, "I'll let you deal with them when you're ready" "Mmmmm....,oh boy. Yes!" He lay down beside her, cradling her in his arms, kissing her gently at first, then more passionately. Their hands roamed over each others bodies, caressing and stroking. Gently he cupped a breast and felt the nipple hardening through the silky material. He rubbed his thumb over it, and she wriggled under his touch. He felt her fingers stroking his chest and belly, sliding ever downward toward his shorts. Her fingers slid over the cotton covering his hips and then down to his thigh, finally cupping the bulge of his ball sack and caressing it gently through the cloth. He could feel his cock throbbing and he knew it was hard now. Her hand traced its outline under the material and squeezed it gently. He kissed her again, his tongue searching for hers, parting her lips and tasting her sweet breath, the wine she'd drank still on it. His hand slid down her silky flank past the edge of the chemise and he began to stroke the inside of her thigh, petting her, caressing the skin as silky as the short garment she wore. Her legs opened for him and gently his fingers slid upward to touch her secret place, her womanhood, she was offering it to him and he accepted. Gently his fingers parted her love lips, probing in the dampness of her until he found the welcoming clitoris and began to caress it gently. As he did she unfastened his boxers and taking the thick heavy cock out she began to stroke it lovingly. For a long time they lay there, petting each other gently, kissing as they stroked and played, feeling each other's pleasure and taking their own in it. Finally he began to stroke her faster, circling his finger tip on the swollen bud as he began to build her excitement, feeling her tension rise as he did, her head burying into his neck, her hips beginning to writhe and shake until she came under his hand, panting into his chest as he stroked her gently through the climax, feeling her wetness on his fingers. For a long minute they lay there, still, holding each other, then he stripped off his boxers, tossing them aside and let her caress his cock and balls for a short time, stroking her thigh, breathing faster at her touch. She lay back, and he rolled over onto her, the thick cock touching her lower belly, feeling her warmth and softness under him. He shifted to bring himself in line and gently parted her love lips, then with one sweet movement he slid deep inside. For a moment he paused, then with long slow strokes he began to make love to her. Carolyn had never felt so alive. Every nerve end seemed to be extra sensitive. She could feel his belly sliding over hers through the silky material, the rise and fall of his hips as he moved, the buttock muscles tightening each time. She felt the hard cock sliding in and out of her in delicious slow motion, his thighs moving between hers. She looked up at his face, his eyes soft with passion looking back at her. She dug her heels into the bed and moved with him, stroking his arms, his back, the straining buttocks, the beauty of the moment overwhelming her. He began to quicken the pace of his thrusts, making them shorter and faster. The mattress bounced beneath them, his face became a mask of concentration. Soon he slowed the strokes again and she knew he was delaying his climax for her sake. Gently she stroked his back and whispered "Don't wait, go when you want. I want to feel you cum in me." He bent his head down and kissed her gently "Oh Carolyn" he whispered, then after a few more slow thrusts he began to move faster again, his breathing beginning to quicken. The strokes came faster, longer, and she wrapped her legs around his, feeling his thigh muscles pump. A warm ache began deep in her belly and she thought "Oh God, I'm going to cum again" and her fingers dug into his back. She watched his face, his eyes locked on hers, his mouth slightly open, his breath coming in sharp pants with each hard thrust. The pace built to a frenzy, him riding her bucking hips, ramming the hard cock deep into her, the bed shaking under them. Suddenly his frame stiffened and she knew he was coming. The feel of him drove her over the edge, her own body climaxing in response, and as he emptied himself deep inside her in long thrusts, groaning with pleasure, her own orgasm pulsed through her, making her gasp and cry out with the sheer joy of it. For long moments after their climaxes were finished, they lay, him still on top, kissing each other and sharing each other's pleasure, then gently he rolled off her. Afterwards they lay in each other's arms, talking sleepily, stroking each other gently, until they began to drift off. Her last thought was "And I still have him for all of tomorrow." Carolyn and John Ch. 04 The next day dawned warm and fine, a few fluffy clouds chasing each other across the city sky, and a bright sun beaming down between them. Carolyn woke early, wondering for a moment where she was, then remembrance came like a warm wave, filling her with happiness as she felt the warmth of John's body beside her. She rolled into him, savouring the feel and scent of him, until he awoke himself and, seeing her face inches from his own on the pillow, he kissed her gently and hugged her to him. They showered together, laughing and playing as they sprayed each other with water, and flicked suds at each other. Dressing casually, they made their way to the restaurant and ate a leisurely breakfast. They chatted easily across the small table, making plans to go sightseeing, blowing each other kisses and laughing at the stares of other guests. Carolyn felt like a honeymooner. For the first time in a long while her cup felt full. After breakfast they strolled out into the morning sunshine, walking hand in hand down the streets. In the busy shopping centre they looked in windows and chatted about clothes and food, exploring each other's tastes and ideas. They walked leisurely through a park, fountains playing in the sunshine, the water sparkling like jewels. Young mothers sat on the grass with their children, and John and Carolyn sat on a bench and watched them play for a while, his arm around her shoulders. Whatever thoughts went through their heads at that time, they kept to themselves. In a shady square, with little traffic, they found a small restaurant and had lunch. John insisted on paying, despite Carolyn's protests. She had already figured he had something of an old fashioned streak where women were concerned. Feminism had passed John by without stopping. It was in the afternoon when they passed the small jewellers shop, and Carolyn paused to admire a bracelet on display in the window. Before she could stop him, John had entered the shop and was in the process of buying it. "No, John, I didn't look at it as some sort of hint!" "I know you didn't." he smiled, "I'm buying it for you because I want to, so you'll remember today every time you look at it. Please Carolyn, take it, I want you to have it." In the end she gave in, and the bemused shop assistant wrapped it and handed it to her, but they were no sooner out of the shop than John had her open the package and put it on. "I want to see you wearing it" He said "We don't know what time we'll have together." Carolyn reflected on this as they walked. He was right, no matter how happy they were right now, it was so fragile, so ephemeral. She had to go back to her husband that evening, and when would she ever see John again? Would she ever see him again? She looked at the bracelet, bright stones glittering in a gold setting against her brown wrist, and a wave of anguish and wanting flooded through her. She turned toward him "Lets go back to the hotel!" He stopped, surprised. "Why? We haven't seen all the town yet." "I've seen as much as I want to. For the rest of the day I want you all to myself" He laughed, and arm in arm they strolled back, both knowing what was to come, both feeling a rising excitement. In the hotel room, he pulled her to him, hugging her gently, and kissed her long and hard on the lips. Carolyn responded passionately, standing on tiptoe to wrap her arms around his neck and searching out his tongue with her own, then slowly and carefully they began to undress each other. She unbuttoned his shirt, stripped it back down his arms and tossed it onto a chair. John took the hem of her T shirt and lifted it, and as she raised her arms he slid it up and off her, then his hands moved round behind her, stroked her back gently for a few moments, and as she closed her eyes and stood very still she felt him unfasten her bra and slide it down her arms. He feasted his gaze on her, the firm brown breasts jutting proudly from her curvy body, the purple brown nipples already hardening with passion at his touch. From her waist the gentle inviting curve of her womanly hips vanished into her low cut jeans. Gently he put a hand up to each warm globe of a breast and stroked the nipple and Carolyn shuddered and ran her hands up and down his arms. Suddenly she kneeled down, and her hands fumbled at his belt. Unfastening it, she popped the button on his pants and slid the zipper down, and pulled them down his legs to his ankles. He realised what was coming and felt his cock rising and hardening in his boxer shorts. Carolyn stroked the bulge of his cock through the material, feeling the shape of his erection, then she took hold of his shorts on either side and slid them down his legs, his cock springing free level with her face. Gently, she took it in her hands and moving her mouth towards it tortuously slowly, she began to gently blow on the tip. The cold air of her breath made it grow even thicker and harder, and she put her tongue out and licked the tip of his cock with it. He moaned and put his hands on her head, holding her gently. Finally she took his cock into her mouth, sucking it as her tongue teased it. John gasped and buried his fingers in her braids, feeling her lips slide along his shaft and the never stopping tongue tickling and teasing as her hands held the base of his cock and stroked his balls in their tight sack. She kept this up until John was gasping and writhing under her touch, but he realised she wasn't going to make him come this way, this was just foreplay. Carolyn stood up, and looking round she spotted a straight back chair in the corner. Pulling it into the centre of the room, she asked John to sit in it, and when he did she peeled his pants and shorts over his feet, leaving him naked. Standing in front of him, she unfastened her jeans and stepped out of them, then coyly slipped her cotton panties off as he watched. Wondering what was coming next, he was amazed as she stood in front of him, hips swaying like an exotic dancer, and eyes closed, she began to play with her nipples with one hand while the other slid slowly down her chocolate brown belly toward her womanhood, finally reaching the damp slit below her small neat bush of hair. As he watched, his excitement growing, she slid one finger into her pussy slit and began to pleasure her self, her hips swaying, her lips slightly parted as she made soft moaning noises. John felt like he was going to burst. His cock stood out like a ramrod and he began to stroke it, wondering if she intended them to masturbate in front of each other, but suddenly she opened her eyes and stepped up to the chair he was in. Opening her legs wide, she moved forward and over him, straddling his thighs, then she slowly lowered herself onto his lap, leaning back slightly, steadying herself on the chair back. One hand dropped down between them, and taking his cock in her fingers, she guided it to her entrance and gently lowered herself onto him, his erection slipping deep inside her warm pussy. Face to face they sat, stroking each other, kissing, his thick hard cock buried deep inside her welcoming hips, until finally she began to move, softly and gently, rising and falling, her cunt slipping up and down his throbbing cock in delicious slow strokes. He groaned and put his arms around her, running his fingers up and down her back. He thought that he could feel every ridge and ripple inside her love tunnel, his cock end was so sensitive. He realised she was moving so slow because she wanted to prolong it for them both. Her eyes were closed and she was breathing softly through her mouth. He pulled her to him and kissed her full on the mouth, and her dark eyes opened and stared into his, soft with passion. Again he marvelled at the contrast between them, her deep chocolate skin against his. She gleamed in the sunlight coming through the window, a rivulet of sweat between her breasts. He groaned and stroked the soft curve of her hips, and she closed her eyes again and quickened the pace, bouncing up and down on him faster. He slid his hands under her buttocks and began to help her move, lifting her each stroke, feeling the strong muscles tighten and relax under his fingers. Her breath began to come in short gasps and he sensed she was building towards orgasm. He began to buck his hips in the chair, digging his toes into the carpet and flexing his back. He felt the ache begin deep in his lower belly and spread into his cock and balls. Carolyn was bouncing very fast now, and gasping each time, the sound growing louder, until suddenly he felt her tighten around his thick cock and she jerked frantically, throwing her head back and moaning as she came. He felt his cock begin to pulse in waves of pure pleasure that spread through his body as he spent himself inside her, spurting his semen deep into her as she ground her hips onto him and finally slowed and stopped, panting, her head on his shoulder. For a while afterward, they lay down together on the bed, stroking each other, then Carolyn sat up. "John, I have to go soon." She said softly. "I know." He answered. "I'll just go grab a shower, then I'll pack my stuff up." She vanished into the bathroom. When she came back out, things had changed. She didn't know how, she just knew they had. He had dressed and was sitting near the window, gazing out into the early evening. There was something about him, the look on his face, the way he held himself maybe. Putting a robe on, she walked over and stood beside him, putting her hand on his shoulder. "It's been a lovely day John. Thank you. Really, it's been great." "Yes." Was all he answered. "Is something wrong John?" "No. Should there be?" His voice was strange, almost bitter. What had she done? She kneeled down beside his chair, her face close to his. "John, what's wrong, is it something I've done or said." He turned away from her, looking out of the window, then he began to speak, his voice tight, as if he was having to force the words out. "It's been wonderful. But it's over, isn't it. Now you have to go back to your husband and tomorrow I go home to my empty house. What was the point Carolyn? What was the fucking point?" She felt as if he had slapped her in the face. This day, this beautiful day, had ended like this, with him feeling angry and bitter. What was the point? Two people had stolen some happiness for a few hours, shared something wonderful that they couldn't find anywhere else, and he asked what was the point? She stood up. "Well if that's how you feel, then fine. I'll get my things and go. You obviously don't want this to go on. I'm sorry it was such a disappointment to you! I'm sorry I wasted your time!" "NO!" the cry came from deep within him, a cry of pain. He snatched at her, caught her hand and held onto it tightly, stopping her from moving. "No! You don't understand." "Then try explaining to me!" she answered, still hurt and angry. He held his head in his hands for a minute, rubbing his eyes, then he looked up at her. "Carolyn..." he began and faltered, swallowed, started again. "Carolyn, today was fantastic. I haven't been happier for years. Literally years. That's the problem. My problem. I've just left a woman I had nothing in common with, got out of a world of misery. I'm still sorting my head out, still trying to get my feet back on the ground. It would be so stupid of me to jump into anything else right now. I'm too vulnerable, too mixed up." He looked up at her, his face full of emotion. "But I love you Carolyn. I never wanted to, but I've fallen in love with you. I'm not ready for this, and for all I know you never will be, but I love you, and I know it's real. I never felt like this about anyone before. When I bought you that bracelet, it wasn't just to remember today. It was to remember me. It was a token of how I was feeling. I hoped you'd realise." His head drooped. "Now you can go. It's best. I'm so, so sorry. I've spoilt everything. Just go." Carolyn looked at him for a long moment, then she turned and walked to her bag. Bending, she took out her cell phone and dialled a number. When she got an answer, she put on a cheery voice. "Hi! It's just me. Do you mind if I stay on here another night? You know what us girls are like when we get together. We still have so much to talk about. You're OK with it? Great! See you tomorrow evening then!" Closing the cell phone, she tossed it onto the bed, and came back over to John in the chair. "Well that's hubby sorted." She said casually. She looked down at him for a moment, then she kneeled. Took his hands in hers, looked up into his face, her brown eyes shining. Softly she began to speak. "John. My John. You are so lovely, and you are the world's biggest fool. How could you not see? How could you not tell?" She took his head in her hands, kissed him gently. A tear crept from one deep brown eye and trickled down her cheek. "I love you too John. I've loved you since that first day in the meadow. I love the way you look at me, the way you talk, your gentleness, your honesty. I thought I might never see you again after that day. Do you know what it means to be here with you, now? Do you know how many times I've dreamed about being with you? And more than that...." She hesitated " I've dreamed about being free to stay with you, to start again with someone who loves me the way I want to be loved. Whatever happens between us, John, my marriage is as dead as yours. He loves his work, not his wife. It's only a matter of time, choosing the right moment to tell him. To be honest, I don't even think he'll care or miss me. I'm just a distraction to him now. If you really want me, then you can have me John, all of me, forever. But I'm not going to rush you into anything. You need time, like you said, and I'll give you all the time you want." He sat, stunned, unbelieving, then with a sobbing cry he flung his arms around her and hugged her so tight she couldn't breathe. Finally he let her go, his face alight with joy. He went out and bought a bottle of wine, and back in the room they sat and drank and talked and talked. Like a storm after a drought, the words poured out of them, all the feelings, all the pent up emotions, the misery of the lost years, everything poured out in a stream of speech until exhausted they lay in each others' arms. John finally broke the silence. "Carolyn, you know when we were in the park this morning, watching those kids? I just got this picture in my head, that one day we could do that. Take our kids to the park and watch them play. Oh Carolyn, I know it's too early to talk about stuff like this, but I really would love us to have kids. I haven't got any, my wife and I, we kept putting it off, always something else to think about, a better house, a bigger car, a promotion to work for. By the time we were where we wanted to be we'd already drifted so far apart we weren't even sleeping together anyway." He turned to her, not noticing her stiffness, how she wasn't meeting his eyes any more. "I know you haven't got any kids Carolyn. Same reason I guess. But that's past. We won't make the same mistake. I love kids. I would be the happiest man in the world if you had mine. But like you say, we have plenty of time yet. We aren't even properly together yet. But children mean so much to me Carolyn, I've dreamed about having them for years." Carolyn said nothing for a while, then she turned to him, her face a mask of sorrow. "John. I have to tell you something. Before I met my husband I only had one other lover, only one other guy I ever slept with. I thought I was in love with him, but I found out that he was playing the field. When I found out he had other women I dumped him. A year later I met my husband." She paused for a moment, gathering her thoughts, then continued. "A couple of years after we married, we started trying for a child. After months of nothing happening, we went for tests. He was fine, so they started to look at me. It turned out I'd had an infection, a sexually transmitted one. The only place I could have got it was from my first lover. It wasn't serious, nothing that was going to kill me or my husband, they cleared it up soon enough with some meds, but it had done its work." She looked at him, her eyes meeting his, hers wet with tears. "John, I'm sterile. It destroyed my fallopian tubes. Scarred them to hell. I can't have children, ever. Not with you or anyone. I'm sorry. So sorry." He stared at her, his face a mask of pain and disbelief. Finally he rolled off the bed and almost ran to the door, grabbing his jacket. He shot out of the room, the door slamming behind him like a gunshot. Minutes later Carolyn head an engine start in the car park. She ran to the window, in time to see John's car pull out of the hotel and drive fast down the highway. Carolyn stood for a moment, her mind numb, then she flung herself on the bed and her body shook as she sobbed, her heart breaking. Carolyn and John Ch. 05 Carolyn had never felt so low. Her whole world seemed to be collapsing around her. Ever since the night almost a week ago, when John had stormed out of the hotel room and out of her life, everything had ceased to have any meaning for her. She ate, dressed, worked and slept like a zombie. She picked up books only to throw them down again minutes later. She had no interest in television or music. Her mind was numb. Her body ached. She caught herself crying for no reason. Everything was bleak and pointless. She felt bereaved, as if something inside her had broken that could never be mended. If her husband noticed anything he didn't comment about it much. Either he didn't care or he simply accepted her explanation that she had a summer virus and was feeling under the weather. In her mind, every waking moment, was that last meeting with John. The look on his face when she told him that she was barren, infertile. The slamming of the hotel room door echoed in her head like the slamming of the casket lid on her dead hopes and joys. She replayed the evening again and again in her memory. Could she have done or said anything different? Could she have simply not told him? Deceived him? Withheld the fact that she was sterile? No! To have lied to him or tried to fool him would have been something she could never have forgiven herself for. But her honesty had lost him. Early on Friday afternoon, as she sat at her desk, her cell phone chirped that a text message was incoming. Barely interested, she glanced at the screen and her heart turned over in her chest as she saw that it was from him. For a moment her head swam and she picked up the phone in a trembling hand, not daring to access the message, and yet knowing that she had to sooner or later. Quickly she got up and almost ran to the ladies washroom, gaining some rather worried looks from fellow workers who had noticed her low mood and were concerned about her. Locking herself in a cubicle, she held the phone as if it was a snake about to bite her, then summoning ever bit of determination, her heart pounding in her chest, she pressed the keys to read the message. TONIGHT. SAME HOTEL, SAME ROOM. WE NEED TO TALK. PLEASE SAY YES. The words blurred as she read them, burning themselves onto her retinas. He wanted to talk! But why? To say what? No matter how many times she read them, the twelve words gave no clue as to his state of mind or his intentions. Her hand shaking so badly that it took her several attempts, she typed her one word answer and sent it back to him. YES For better or worse, she was committed. She left work early, making the excuse that she felt unwell. It wasn't a total lie. At home, her husband was hunched over his laptop as usual, charts and graphs flicking in quick succession across the screen. Hoping that she sounded sincere, she gave him her prepared story about a call from an old friend who was going through a bad break up and could use some company and moral support for the weekend. He dismissed her with a wave of his hand and "Sure. You go. See you when you get back." Packing a small bag, she hesitated over what to take. She stroked the satin chemise that she had bought to wear for John, and that she'd worn when they made love, but that seemed a million years ago now. Maybe he simply wanted to finish with her in a more civilised way, that would be just like John, always the gentleman. Sadly she put the chemise back in the drawer and packed some pyjamas and a change of clothes. The drive seemed endless. She had to keep forcing her concentration back onto the road, fighting down the butterflies in her stomach and the thoughts racing through her head and distracting her. Why did he want to see her? Why? Why? Why? When she pulled into the car park of the hotel, she saw that John's car was already there. He was waiting for her, and she had no idea why. No alternative that she could conceive of seemed better than any other. If he wanted simply to say goodbye more gently, then she would have to survive without seeing him ever again. If he wanted her back, to kiss and make up, then she was condemning him to a life without children, and how could she do that to him if she loved him? She would have to let him go. Either way she had lost him. Slowly and reluctantly she made her way to the room. Part of her wanted to turn and run, to escape from this awful situation, to let go and flee. She stopped at the door, staring at the wood as if she could bore through it with the intensity of her gaze and read the mind of the man inside. She gathered her determination. Raised her hand. Knocked. He opened the door immediately, obviously waiting, he must have seen her car pull in. He was just as she remembered him, she found herself thinking, then "Stupid! Stupid! It's only been a week!" went through her head. "Carolyn!" his face was serious "Please, come in. Thanks for coming. I was scared you wouldn't." She entered the room, putting down her overnight bag. He ushered her to a chair, sat her down. "Drink?" he asked, indicating a bottle of wine on the table. "No! Thank you." She looked up at him. "Why did you want me to come, John? Please, don't spin it out. I need to know what's going on in your head." "OK." He toyed nervously with his wine glass "Carolyn, I want you to know I'm sorry for running out a week ago. I've had time to think, and I've come to terms with the fact that we won't have children. So I'm sorry, really sorry, and I'd like to try again please, if you are willing to." Carolyn sat for a moment, saying nothing, then she rose to her feet. She pushed her face forward into his and began to speak, hissing the words out, her eyes blazing at him. "You've come to terms with it? In a week? Really John! How noble of you! How very gracious of you to accept me with my faults!" "What?" he rocked back on his heels. "Come to terms with it?" Carolyn continued, her voice rising "Come to terms with it? I've had years....YEARS!...and I haven't come to terms with it! Every time I see a mother pushing a buggy, or I pass a school and see kids out playing, it's like someone has stuck a knife in right here!" She stabbed a finger at her chest "It hurts John! It hurts every single damned day! And you say that you've come to terms with it in one single lousy week! Well if you have John then either you're in denial or you never really seriously wanted kids in the first place! And if you do want them, John, then go and find yourself a nice fertile little lady to have them with. But don't you dare stand there and tell me that you've come to terms with it after a week you condescending bastard!" John sat down heavily on the bed, his face white with shock at her rage and intensity. Carolyn stood over him, shaking, tears streaming down her cheeks, then she turned away and sobbed into her hands, her shoulders heaving with each cry. John looked up at her, his face a mask of grief and anguish, then he stood up and gently hugged her from behind. She stiffened but she didn't pull away. "Carolyn, I am so very, very sorry. I am so damned selfish. I never even once thought about it from your side. And you're right. There's no way I've come to terms with it in a week, but I wanted you to believe that I had because I thought it was kinder than telling you the truth." "And just what is the truth, John?" She asked quietly. He turned her around, and lifted her tear streaked face so that their eyes met. "The truth, Carolyn, is that it will always hurt me not to have children, just as it will always hurt you. And yes, sure, I could go and find someone else to have kids with, but she wouldn't be you Carolyn. She wouldn't be the one woman I really wanted to be with. And every time I held her hand, or kissed her, or made love to her, I would be thinking about you, and wishing that she was you. I would be living a lie." He paused, collecting his thoughts, then he began to speak again, each word carefully spaced and chosen, like beads on a wire. "Carolyn, everything in this world that is worth having comes with a price, and the more precious it is then the higher that price becomes. If you really want something, you have to decide whether or not you are willing to pay the cost. Well, you are the most precious thing in the world to me, and if the price I have to pay to be with you is childlessness, then I will pay it. I'm not going to pretend any more that it will be easy, because it won't be, but if you want me as much as I want you then we will have to face it. I love you Carolyn, completely, utterly, more than anything, more than life itself. Please, don't turn me away because you think it's for my own good, or because I lied to you to try and protect your feelings. Just accept me. We will never find what we have together with anyone else, of that I am convinced. And I swear to you, I will never lie to you again about anything, not ever." Carolyn stood silently for a moment, then she stepped close into him, put her arms around his neck and buried her face in his chest. Gently he pulled her to him, stroking her back and her hair. There was nothing more for either to say. Eventually they did sit down together, in silence, and they drank the wine John had brought. They held each other a great deal, and stroked each other, but they said little more. Both felt that a chasm had been crossed, and in that there was a kind of relief, but before them was a strange and unknown land and they were both a little scared of what they might find there. At last they went to bed together, and lay in each other's arms. Neither had wanted to make love, neither thought that it would happen, but as they lay together and tenderly stroked and kissed each other, the pull of the flesh overcame them, and gently they aroused each other and then became one. After John entered her, he was slow and gentle, until he came inside her with a low moan. Carolyn didn't climax, but it didn't matter. It had not been about sex. He had made love to her to show her that he still wanted her, and she had let him, to show him that she wanted him too. There was little passion in it, but there was warmth, and comfort, and love. Afterwards they drifted off to sleep, locked in each other's arms, the frontier of tomorrow waiting for them. The next morning, Carolyn drove home with a deep sorrow in her heart, not for herself, or for John, but for the husband who she was about to leave for another man. To her surprise and relief, he took it well. He told her that he had been aware that she was unhappy for a long time, and had half expected her to go at some time. They agreed to make the divorce as painless as possible, and then she packed a bag and drove back to John at the hotel. In the afternoon they went to bed together, and this time the union was more passionate, but there was a feeling of sadness and desperation in their coupling too, for they both knew that no matter how much they enjoyed this, it could never bear fruit. Over the next few weeks, Carolyn gave up her job and moved to John's hometown, to live with him. She soon found work there, for she was determined that John would not keep her. They settled down easily into a routine, like the married couple they intended to be once their divorces were finalised, but always over them hung the shadow of a future without children. They asked about IVF treatment, but a sympathetic doctor told them sadly that Carolyn's womb had been damaged by the infection which had made her sterile years before, and that the chances of successful implantation were negligible. They made tentative enquiries about adoption, to be told by a stony faced social worker that it was very unlikely that a mixed race couple with a history of divorce would ever be seriously considered. Carolyn felt like murdering the stupid woman. Surrogacy they discussed, but both rejected the idea. They were frightened that the surrogate mother may decide to keep the baby, and the heartbreak for them would be intolerable. Months drifted by. Their divorces were finalised, and on a warm spring morning, with just a few friends and family around them, they married in a small registry office. Carolyn's brother, Paul, was there with his wife. Paul was a tall handsome black guy who worked as a teacher. His wife, Jenny, was a petite blonde white girl, very pretty, who worked in a bookshop, and both John and Carolyn liked her a great deal. The couple had a young son, Luke, only three years old, who was a totally delightful and his aunt Carolyn adored him, although fussing him always sent pangs of regret through her as it reminded her that she would never have a child of her own. One hot summer evening, a year after they were married, John and Carolyn had Luke as a guest for the night. It was Paul and Jenny's wedding anniversary, and they planned a romantic meal in a restaurant followed by a theatre trip to see a popular musical, not getting home until late. Carolyn had insisted that she and John take Luke for the night rather than having him looked after by a baby sitter, and Jenny and Paul had gladly agreed. Around 11 in the evening, with Luke already settled and asleep in the spare room, John and Carolyn were tidying up before bed when the doorbell rang. As John made his way down the passage he could already see a blue light flashing through the frosted glass of the door. Outside stood a grim faced police officer. He told John and Carolyn that there had been a traffic accident, a drunk driver had run a red light and smashed into another car, killing both occupants, and himself. The driver of the other car was black and his female companion was white. From his driving license and a list of addresses and phone numbers found in his wallet the police believed that it was Paul, Carolyn's brother. Carolyn collapsed in hysterics, sobbing wildly, refusing to believe that it could be true. John left her with a female police officer while he was driven to the local mortuary, where he confirmed that the bodies were indeed those of Paul and Jenny. After the funerals, which took place together, and saw the couple laid side by side in a small shady cemetery, Carolyn and John took Luke into their home. They had known from the first night that they could do nothing other than that. They knew that he would need a lot of love and care to help him get over the death of his parents, but they were both willing to give that in plenty. In a sad, ironic way, they now had the child that they had always wanted, but if either could have turned the clock back they gladly would have, and been childless all their days, rather than have it come to this. In the course of time, they applied to officially adopt Luke. There was no opposition from anyone, they were his closest family. He became their son, but they would never let him forget who his true parents had been. It is said that time is a great healer. This is not true, time does not heal, it simply buries the pain deeper and deeper until it can hardly be felt unless one really looks for it, but it is always there, it will never go away. Carolyn and John had their love of each other, and of Luke, to help them. It would be a wonderful thing to say that they all lived happily ever after, but who is ever truly happy? We all play the cards that we are dealt. We can do nothing else. They had their lives, and in the end they had their child to complete things. That their parenthood was born out of tragedy rather than joy is a sad thing, but no two hearts ever beat together more closely, and the strength that they gave each other helped them through the dark. Over the years they found a kind of peace, a type of contentment, and who of us can ask for more?