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Two Chapter Tease

By: thornapple



Editor In Residence

           Philip Johnson

            Prologue

Greg lived next door to Laura and Wayne, her husband, who was in the late stages of colon cancer. He watched her as she picked at the few flowers she had planted and he marveled at how she, though as tall as she was, could bend down with ease as she pulled weeds. Laura wasn't an especially striking woman, but at forty two she still had a firm body and youthful skin. Her auburn hair was cut short and Greg decided she now wore it that way for ease of care because so much of her time was spent seeing to Wayne's needs. He was several years older than she was, but had always been the picture of health until that surprising and deadly diagnosis was made less than a year ago. 

            Chapter One

Greg made it a point to go next door and visit with Wayne, but two or three times a week was about all Greg could handle. His friend and neighbor was wasting away right in front of his eyes and no force on earth was going to halt the inevitable outcome. Not long after he had received the bad news of his impending death, Wayne had asked Greg to look out for Laura and he had started doing that by checking on her as much as on Wayne. He went out his front door and called to her as he approached the kneeling Laura. "Morning. Don't get up on my account."

Looking up she said, "Good morning Greg, how is the writing going?"

"Oh, well enough I guess, how's Wayne?"

"A little better actually, the new drugs seem to be making it easier for him. He even went over to see his sister Nina."

"Actually I came over to see how you're doing and to ask if there's anything I can do for you." She stopped what she was doing and stood up, dusted her hands off on her shorts and smiled.

"Thank you, care for some iced tea?"

"If you have time, but don't let me ruin your day."

"You never ruin our day, lets go inside." Laura was the picture of efficiency as she added ice to two tall glasses, poured the tea and added a touch of sweetener, making it just as Greg liked it. "You've never told me what your story is about or how far you're into it."

"Well, I'm about halfway through and it's my usual murder and mayhem. It starts in Maine and the story slowly unfolds and works its way west."

"Oh, that's right, you spent a few weeks on the road going from east to west."

"And right now, the story is in northern Indiana as they make their way around the great lakes."

Their idle chat continued until their glasses were empty and beyond, with Greg declining the offer for more tea. "Greg, I really enjoy seeing you, but you really don't have to keep an eye on me, I'm doing okay."

"I know you are, but I promised Wayne that I'd keep myself available to you in case something did come up."

She smiled and looked down at her empty glass, looked back up at him and said, "I know, he told me you two had a talk about me. I think he worries more about me than about what he's going through."

"Of course, because he loves you." He saw a tear appear on her cheek so he reached over and wiped it away with his finger as she silently smiled at him again.

The smile disappeared again and her voice softened as she looked down again and said, "I know the new medication is helping him to feel better, but it will do nothing to stop the cancer."

Greg reached across the table and touching her hand said, "I know, and I'm so sorry and I hurt for you."

She looked up at him and said, "But Wayne is the one that is dying," and the tears flowed unchecked.

"I know Laura, but there really is no medicine to help your hurt and that breaks my heart. I just wish there was something that I could do for you."

She didn't worry about her tears as she showed a small smile and said, "Just knowing you're there for us...for me, helps more than you know." Then she stood up and said, "I better put myself together before Wayne comes home. I don't want him to catch me crying. He sees that too often as it is and that just puts more on his shoulders."

Greg stood up and she joined him as they moved toward the door. They shared a long embrace, he kissed her cheek, smiled and then as he walked out said, "Remember, I'm right next door if you need anything at all."

"Thank you Greg." She watched him cut across the lawns and then closed the door.

Greg didn't see Nina, Laura's sister, more than a few times a year, but when she called several weeks later, he instantly knew it was her and that she was delivering a sad message. Her voice was controlled, but he could hear the sadness and fatigue as she said, "Greg, Wayne is gone. He died a couple of hours ago at the hospital." The long struggle, the pain, the vomiting from the drugs; all of it was over for Wayne now. Nina and Laura could begin the long healing process. The nights of crying, the heartache and feeling of being lost and alone would slowly ease and be replaced with acceptance of Wayne being gone. All of the well meaning platitudes uttered by family and friends would be forgotten, and for Laura, a new routine would slowly emerge. Time really does heal all wounds, but that too is just another of those platitudes...strings of words spoken because silence didn't seem appropriate.

Walt, Wayne's older brother came in from the west coast for the viewing and funeral, and stayed a couple more days in the hopes that he could be some help for Laura and Nina, Walt's sister, in some small way. They shared long embraces, soft words of comfort and many tears before he had to leave.

Greg kept his promise to Wayne and checked on Laura every couple of days. Like he had done every week or so before Wayne died, he checked on her again by going next door and having iced tea with her. They shared another long embrace and then as their own routine, they had tea at the kitchen table. It was where she was most comfortable and relaxed. The living room seemed too formal she had once said. 

In a way it was like they were picking up their lives where they had left off so many weeks before. "How is your writing coming along Greg?"

"Stop and start. It's taken me a long time to get back into that frame of mind I guess." She smiled knowing just what he was referring to, but added nothing. My characters are now in western Iowa and on their way toward Wyoming." He knew she really didn't care where his characters were, but it was something to say. 

It was then that Nina came in through the front door and moved to the kitchen as though she knew exactly where to find her sister. "Hi you two, mind if I join you?"

"Of course not," Laura offered. "I'll get you some tea."

"Relax, I can do it." Nina was recovering from losing her brother quite well it seemed, or perhaps it was a show for Laura's benefit. The three way conversation progressed, and Nina also asked Greg about his writing before she asked Laura, "Have you decided if you'll go back to teaching English or if you'll retire?"

"I haven't decided. I'm also considering just teaching part time if that could work out. You know substitute, or something like that." Laura's new life would slowly take shape. Her grieving was long from over, but she had decisions to make and she now had more time to see to her flowers and her friends and family.

            Chapter Two



Many more weeks passed, with Greg continuing his visits and because of that he was seeing more of Nina as well. Laura was going through her stages of mourning, and Greg watched her as she slowly recovered. She was smiling more and even laughed the last time he saw her. 

One Saturday morning, just to make things different, Greg called her and invited her over for breakfast and coffee and she was there within half an hour. They shared their customary embrace and then settled at the table where Greg had already placed the food. They were almost done eating when he said, "You know Laura, I do believe you look the best I've seen you in...well a very long time." 

"Thank you," and she smiled before sipping her coffee.

"A touch of makeup, a pretty, and I have to say, sexy top."

"Oh this isn't so sexy at all."

"I guess it's like beauty, it's in the eye of the beholder." She smiled again, but added nothing so he said, "I'd like to ask a favor of you."

She put her cup down and with a serious expression said, "Of course, what do you need?"

"I need somebody to read a story I'm writing. You know, check the punctuation, spelling, syntax and so forth."

"But you have an editor and a researcher."

"But not for this other story." She gave him a confused look so he added, "I've been working on an erotic romance story."

"You're what? Why?"

"Just something I've been kicking around for a long time. Something I want to do for fun more than profit. I'd use a different pseudonym of course. Would you read it for me?"

Her cheeks flushed slightly as she said, "Greg, I'm sorry, but I don't read erotica."

"Don't misunderstand, it isn't porn. Just...you know lovemaking or teasing. Things that we all...well either do or have done."

She was showing a hint of a smile so he pushed ahead. "Just read a couple of chapters and see if it's something you could stay with."

"But...I mean I know you so well and to...you know...I mean I wouldn't be able to appreciate what you are doing."

"I'm sure not, but that's perfect because you'll focus on the structure and punctuation and not be distracted by the story. You'd be perfect. I know what you mean, so if you think it's something you can't do I do understand. I get into my stories sometimes and make obvious errors that I just seem to miss so I do need help."

"Okay, I'll try a couple of chapters as long as you promise not to be upset with me if I bail out on you."

"Of course not. I'd be disappointed of course, but I'd understand. I'll send them home with you on a flash drive unless you'd rather have me print them for you."

"On a flash drive would be fine. I can't believe you've talked me into reading porn...sorry, erotica," and she smiled again. 

"Wonderful."

"But this will be our secret only right?"

"Of course it will be."

It was after dinner when Laura called Greg and said, "I've edited the first chapters."

"Really, so fast, that's great. I'll come over and pick them up."

"I'll have wine poured."

"Fantastic, see you in a few."

He let himself in the backdoor and found her pouring the wine at the counter. "Perfect timing," and she handed a glass of wine to him. "I think this calls for the living room. There's something about sitting at a kitchen table and wine that seems incongruous to me unless I'm eating." He followed her to the living room and sat on the couch a couple of feet from her. She put her glass on the coffee table and paused before she smiled and said, "Reading that wasn't as bad as I anticipated. Of course it's just the start of the story too."

"That's right, but I'll bet you can get an idea where the story is going."

"Well I have some guesses, but there are several ways it could go."

"Wonderful, that exactly what I wanted to hear."

"But you're right, your punctuation does need help."

"I know. Like I said, I get into my story and my fingers just get ahead of my brain sometimes."

"I've highlighted the points where I've added or corrected anything."

"Perfect. I knew we'd be great together."

She smiled, picked up her glass and said, "That remains to be seen. I never would have guessed that you'd write erotica."

"There's just a touch of pervert in me."

"As in most men," and she sipped her wine rather than look at him right then. "How much have you written on this story?"

"About fifteen chapters." He pulled another flash drive from his pocket and asked her," Ready for a couple more?"

"Sure. Nina will be here after while though, so I'll read them tomorrow."

"Great." They put thoughts of his writing aside and talked until Nina arrived. Greg talked to her a minute, kissed her cheek, then Laura's and then he went home, leaving the two of them to talk.

As Greg sat at his computer later, he thought about the chapters he had left with Laura. There was nothing overly suggestive or explicit for her to read, but the story had definitely moved ahead. He had to smile as he tried to picture her sitting at her computer reading what he wrote about over imbibing women discussing vibrators and men in general.

It was Friday afternoon before Greg heard from Laura about his third and fourth chapters. "Hi, it's Laura. I've read the next two chapters."

"Great, thanks, ready for more?"

"Um...I don't know...maybe." That wasn't what he was hoping to hear. 

"It's up to you of course, so you just let me know."

"I mean, it's a good story and I've enjoyed it, but..."

"But if you're offended by it we better stop."

"It's not that I'm offended, it's just...you know awkward. I mean to talk to you about it."

"Would it help to talk about it over dinner, say at Remo's? That's the only place I can think of that might provide a modicum of privacy."

He heard her almost chuckle before she said, "Now wouldn't that be something to have somebody overhear us talking about vibrators."

"That might be kind of funny. Okay, we'll whisper or send notes back and forth. Okay, try this. Let's go have dinner and then if we talk about it good and if we don't okay."

"Okay, say in half an hour?"

"Great, I'll pick you up, bye." Once he was ready, he put two more chapters onto a flash drive just in case she said yes, grabbed his keys and drove next door.

            Chapter Three



Laura was wearing cream colored slacks and a satiny top with fine brown stripes wrapping around her at an angle. Small heels and a deep brown beaded necklace. "Very nice Laura. Sexy too."

"Now stop trying to be so nice, I'm not sexy," but before he could reply she dropped her house key and bent over to pick it up. 

He saw her slacks pull across her butt and he smiled as he stared. "I'm very impressed."

She quickly straightened up and asked, "Impressed with what," she asked innocently.

He pretended that he hadn't even noticed her trim ass, and just as Wayne had told her before he died, Greg said, "You bent over without even bending your knees. I can't believe how flexible you are."

"Oh that. I work hard to stay flexible."

"It shows. I noticed your slacks fit you perfectly too." That was when she flashed red on her cheeks, but she said nothing, smiled and led the way to the door.

Remo's was fairly busy, but they managed to get a booth by waiting a few minutes and letting the next couple go ahead of them. The only jeans that would be seen at that restaurant would be the stylish jeans worn with high heels by thin and very nicely adorned women. But on the other hand, very few ties would be found there. 

Greg made sure they had wine to sip on right away and then they studied the menu. "You order first Greg, I'm still deciding," she said. He ordered the herb roasted pork, garlic potatoes and green beans, and she had too much on her mind so she said, "I'll have the same," and handed the menu to the waiter.

"How is Nina," Greg asked her for something to say.

She's fine and asked about you as well. The three of us will have to go out one of these nights."

"I thought of that for tonight, but then that wouldn't work, considering what we will be talking about."

"Greg...about your story."

"It's okay if you need to stop."

"No. I know we were going to keep all of this a secret, but I told Nina about it and she read the chapters too, I hope that doesn't make you mad."

"I guess not, did she have anything to say?"

"Just that she liked it a lot."

"I'm glad to hear that. So what...how was it for you this time? Tough on you?"

"Not tough really but..." and she licked her lips as she worked on how to explain her feelings. "I have a question first. How did you...how do you know what women talk about when their drunk and the subject is men?"

"I don't know, I just guessed. I mean anything could have been said, especially considering they were getting pretty juiced. Was I too far off track?"

Laura laughed and said, "I have no idea. I've never talked to other women about men when I was halfway to drunk." Then she recalled different parts of that fictitious conversation and stopped for a second. "They sure got down to the basics didn't they."

"I guess they did, but they were all talk." He refilled her wine glass and watched her. 

She made eye contact with him, tasted her wine again and then asked him, "Have you ever known any women like that?"

"Two to be precise. Oh they weren't very forthcoming with me most of the time, but I heard enough that I could fill in the blanks, and others would admit to what had been said...or even done for that matter."

"I mean it isn't like I've lived in a vacuum, I know about vibrators," and then she stopped, flashed a quick smile and said, "I mean I've heard about them and so forth not that I...damn it you know what I mean."

"Yes, I know what you mean. Laura if this is too difficult for you, let's stop."

"No, damn it, I'm not some naïve eighteen year old. I know about adult toys and erections and..." and that's when she realized she was talking too loud. In a softer voice she said, "I'm okay, I really am. Did you bring the next chapters?"

"Yes, but I'm not convinced this is a good idea for you."

"It's fine, it gives me something to do, to focus on. I'm not doing much teaching so this keeps my mind alive. You really are a good writer."

As he handed the flash drive to her he said, "Thank you, it's important to me that you like my work."

"Why is that?"

"Because you're very important to me." 

"I'm glad. I guess it would have been okay to have Nina along after all, we're handling this just fine. It's still hard to look at you and not hear those women talking dirty. That it's you that wrote all of that. It's like...I know this sounds silly, but it's like I have a window into your very private and intimate world. Like I was standing there as you wrote those words. It's...I give up, I can't come up with the right words."

"You're doing just fine."

"Want to know one of my very intimate secrets?" He was smiling and his eyes were dancing as she studied him.

She couldn't help but return the smile, but she hesitated. I'm not sure...okay, what?"

"I was sitting there in my skivvies as I wrote that." Her eyes went wide and she stared in silence. 

His smile continued so she said, "You did not, now stop making it hard...making it worse for me."

"I'm telling you the truth. Sometimes in the morning I'll get an idea and go straight to my computer before I lose the thought. That's what happened with that conversation the women had. I didn't even have coffee for the first hour in fact."

"Oh great, now how do I get rid of that visual? Now every time I read something I'll wonder if you were dressed when you wrote it."

"The next time I write in my underwear I'll...I'll precede it with an asterisk."

"No, don't do that. Just write okay?"

"Okay. So Nina read all about the drunk women talking about men's attributes and um...shortcomings."

"Yes. You even made both of us laugh a couple of times."

"Would you say I was reasonably believable?"

"I didn't ask Nina, but I'd say you were very believable."

"That's good."

"Greg, will this story get a lot more graphic?"

"Would you like it to?"

"What kind of question was that, of course not. I was just wondering."

"No, not a lot more graphic, but there will have to be a few scenes of lovemaking or something like that."

"You don't even know?"

"Not yet, at least not exactly. I'll continue to work out the details as I go."

"That surprises me." She needed to get on to another subject. "Greg, thank you for asking me to dinner. This has been very nice and of course I always enjoy your company, even considering the subject of conversation."


Two Chapter Tease



"Thank you love, I really enjoy being with you too. Did it help to be here instead of at your place or mine?"

"I guess it really doesn't matter. I just have to get used to this whole idea of editing porn. Excuse me, erotica," and she smiled at him.

"Can I ask you a personal question Laura?"

She studied him for just a second so he smiled and said, "It's only fair because you know that I write in my briefs sometimes."

"Oh, so now it's briefs. Before it was just skivvies, so now we're being more precise."

"Oh. Well I guess you know even more about me now."

"Okay, what is your question?"

"Do you have or have you ever had a vibrator?" That surprised her. She blinked and stared at him for long seconds before he said, "Okay, never mind, that's none of my business." She relaxed slightly, but she didn't answer him either.

Dinner was long past and the wine bottle was empty, so they headed back home. He got out of the car to walk her to the door and she said, "Greg, you don't have to do that, this wasn't a date you know."

"I certainly don't mind and besides, I owe you an apology."

"For what?"

"Asking you about vibrators."

They were at her door and she had unlocked as she said, "Well you certainly did shock me with that one."

"Forgive me?"

"Of course I forgive you." She took his hand in hers, smiled and before backing toward the door she told him, "No to both of the vibrator questions," and she stepped inside, smiled at him and then softly closed the door before anything more could be said.

            Chapter Four



The following Sunday afternoon, Laura called Greg and asked him, "Am I distracting you from your writing?"

"It doesn't matter, I'm glad you called."

"I've finished chapters five and six. If you have time, I'll bring them over to you."

"By all means, what would you like to drink?"

"Believe it or not, I feel like a very cold beer."

"Your wish is my command, cold beer it is."

When he went to the door about ten minutes later, there stood Laura and Nina. "Now how is it that I can be this lucky," and he stepped back to let them in. Nina was last in and she showed him something between a smile and a sneer before breaking eye contact with him. He served the cold beers in half frosted glasses and they got comfortable in the living room.

Laura took a generous taste of her Michelob and then said, "Your cast of characters are staying very busy."

"They have a lot of territory to discover and experience."

"I'm not going to ask what you mean by that."

Nina was studying him until she took a long drink of her beer, sat it down and said, "I would have never guessed that your mind would go the places you're taking us."

"Now I've kept everything at a more or less even pace. Not too fast and not far afield, or don't you agree?"

She watched him smile as she said, "You're really enjoying this aren't you. Poking at us with your suggestive comments and inferences and then almost, but not quite have something happen that would cross into the porn category."

"Like I said, steady pace."

"I read that to mean teasing."

"I can't disagree with you."

"You asked Laura if she had a vibrator, which by the way was very cheeky of you, so I get to ask you a question. What do you get out of writing this story other than perhaps money?"

"Now wait, the vibrator question was for Laura, so I don't owe you an answer. However if you'll answer one of my questions I'll answer your question."

"Now aren't you just too clever. Yes I have a vibrator so I've answered your question, now answer mine."

"Okay," and he looked at Laura and said, "Remember, this was Nina's idea not mine." Then looking back at Nina he said, "I assume you want me to be totally candid."

"Of course we do."

He knew his answer was going to make Laura very uncomfortable so he kept his eyes on Nina as he answered, "So what do I get out of writing this adult rated fantasy? I get hard," and his eyes stayed locked on hers as he smiled innocently.

Nina smiled as well, but it was a guarded one and she didn't know where to go from there. Then without making eye contact with Laura right away he said, "Sorry love, but your sister demanded an honest answer." Then he looked at her and her cheeks were pink. She wasn't smiling or even moving, but she held his gaze until he looked back at Nina. "Okay now about my question."

"Oh no, you had your question and I answered it."

"No, you made a statement on the presumption that would be my question. Would you two care for another beer? I find I'm quite thirsty."

"Yes I want another beer," Laura answered too quickly. Greg retrieved three more beers and then resumed his seat in the easy chair. 

Laura, sitting at the right end of the sofa looked at Nina at the left end as Greg said, "I've been thinking about this question that you owe me and here it is. It's been established that you do own a vibrator so my question is, do you use the vibrator?"

Nina stared at him. No smile and no verbal reaction until she said, "You're just trying to embarrass Laura."

"Why would my question to you embarrass Laura? She knows about vibrators, she told me so in fact."

"Okay, yes I do use my vibrator, so what will you do with that information, tease me about it?"

He smiled and answered, "Probably not, but I may write about our conversation one day."

"You'll what?"

"That's what writers do, they accumulate information and experiences and mold them into stories." He had no intention of doing that, but he was having fun giving her fits. He looked to the other end of the sofa and asked, "Laura honey are you okay?"

She grew a crooked smile and said, "It's a little late to ask me that question. Between you and Nina, I've learned more than I ever thought I would and more than I needed to know. Yes, I'm okay, I'm getting used to your verbal tricks."

"So the question is, do you want two more chapters?"

"Of course, I think I'm ready for about anything now. I mean that you might write. Wayne would be laughing himself to death right now if he was here." That was the first time he had heard her mention her husband's name since he had died. Now he knew she really was mending and that pleased him.

Greg stood up and said, "I'll copy the next two chapters for you before I get another beer and get too drunk to function."

"On four beers?" Nina asked.

"I'm a cheap drunk," and he headed to his office. He was still in front of the monitor when he realized Nina and Laura were standing close to him.

Nina smiled and said, "I just wanted to see where you sat in your briefs and worked and got hard writing porn."

"Erotica," Laura said with a smile as she corrected her.

Nina said, "If you say so," as Greg focused on the monitor and finished what he was doing without commenting. As soon as he handed the flash drive to Laura, Nina said, "Okay, let's go have that fourth beer. I want to see the famous Greg Anderson get loopy."

"Be careful or you may get what you asked for. What if you don't like me when I'm loopy?"

"We have the option of going home and leaving you here to suffer alone."

"I can see you have a big heart."

Their fourth and last beers didn't last all that long. Greg had a good buzz going and both women were even closer to drunk than he was.

Laura was just drunk enough to put her arms around Greg when she had the chance and said, "You know, this is the first time I've been even tipsy in well over a year."

Greg smiled and put his arms around her at her waist and said, "Then it's time I'd say."

Her eyes bored into his as she asked him, "Did you really get hard when you were writing?"

"I shouldn't have said that, but yes I really did. I really do. Not every time, but often."

"Do you leave your briefs on?" 

It was easy to see the beer was talking for her and her question caught Greg by surprise. "No, I take them off. I like to be naked when I get turned on."

"Were you hard when you wrote the chapters you just gave me?" Their arms were still loosely around each other and Nina was following their conversation closely. 

"Yes, especially when I wrote chapter eight."

"I'll remember that when I read it tomorrow."

Nina was just sober enough to know that Laura was getting in over her head, so she put her arm around Laura and said, "We better get home. We can talk about naked Greg as we drop off to sleep." That seemed to be the answer, because Laura backed away and dutifully followed Nina to the door.

Greg was right behind them and at the door Laura turned around and put her arms around Greg again and kissed him. A long tongue sharing kiss, before she said goodnight. Not to be out done, Nina did the same and then told Greg, "It's only fair that I get a goodnight kiss too."

"Absolutely hon," and he kissed her again lightly before she moved through the doorway and turned toward Laura. With one last wave, Greg told them goodnight and closed the door. The next thing he did was go to bed and sleep off his four beers. That was something he rarely did and he knew that in the morning he'd remember why he rarely drank that much.

            Chapter Five



It was Tuesday evening before Greg heard from Laura. When he answered the phone, she told him, "Greg, I have the next two chapters ready, but can we talk?"

"Of course, now on the phone or what would you prefer?"

"Could you come over here?"

"I'm on my way. Oh, and let's not have anything stronger than tea okay? I'm not ready for another hangover."

"The tea will be ready, bye." Her tone of voice said she had a problem and that she wasn't in a joking mood. She couldn't still be hung over so it had to be something else. He copied chapters nine and ten onto a flash drive and headed next door.

He was a little surprised when Nina met him at the door saying, "I'm here for moral support. Isn't that just too funny, me supporting morals? I'm the one that turned the other night into such a mess."

"I can't wait to hear the story behind this."

"Before we go in, I want to talk to you tomorrow night without Laura aware of it."

"Okay, call me and we'll set something up." They went in and Laura was standing in the middle of the living room looking a little pale and nervous.

"Laura honey do you feel okay?" Greg asked. Rather than answer she walked into him and buried her face in his chest as her arms went around him. He glanced over at Nina, but she just smiled and held her silence. "What's the matter love, talk to me."

Her voice was soft and muffled as she talked into his shirt, but he made out, "I'm so embarrassed I can't even look at you right now."

"Whoa, what do you have to be embarrassed about? Oh, the other night. Honey the three of us suffered from loose tongues is all. Your sassy sister got it started, but the three of us just got a little carried away. I'm sorry I said some of the things I said. Had I behaved, things might have turned out a lot different."

"You can't take the blame for what happened. The way I remember it is you just answered our questions."

"That's not quite right, but it doesn't really matter."

Her voice rose and in comparison she sounded sharp as she said, "Damn it Greg, we talked about your...your hard on for god's sake. We talked about you writing in the nude and I don't know what all," and she pulled herself into him even more tightly. 

"On top of that I kissed you. I mean I really kissed you, not a peck on the lips, a real kiss."

"I know and I still think about that and thank you."

"Damn it, poor Wayne has only been gone what...seven and a half months. That's...I should be ashamed."

He pulled her away and forced her to look up at him. "Damn it Laura, that's enough. You did nothing wrong at all, you just let go for a few minutes after months of grieving and mourning. Do you really think Wayne would condemn you for that? I all but talked dirty to you and to Nina. If anybody should blush and apologize it's me. Not you or Nina, but me. It was my crazy idea for you to edit my story and that's what started this whole mess. I think we better stop with that in fact."

She looked up at him again and said, "No, I want to finish that story. Damn it I'm involved in it now and want to read the rest of it."

He smiled at her and told her, "That's up to you."

"I want to read it too," Nina added. "Now you two kiss and let's settle down and enjoy our iced tea before the ice melts."

"Nina's right," Greg offered and he kissed her gently. 

"But Greg, the way I behaved isn't how I am. I don't know what came over me."

"I don't think it matters actually. I know you fairly well and I know that's not the usual you, but even if it was, so what? No harm was done, and as they say, no harm, no foul. If you'll forgive me, I'll forgive you and we'll pretend none of that ever happened."

She smiled at him then and said, "I can't do that, because I keep seeing you at your computer writing...naked." He just gave her another hug and led her to the couch, where they both settled down. By the time he left, Laura seemed in much better spirits and was even able to laugh a little over some of the things they had said while under the influence of the Michelob beer. Nina seemed in very good spirits too.

When he got home, he thought about Nina wanting to talk to him. He and Laura had just settled their little problem so what could Nina want? She didn't seem bothered by their bawdy conversation the other night, so she couldn't have issues could she? If so, what the hell could they be? Those thoughts revisited him as he lay in bed that night. As he slipped off to sleep he still couldn't imagine what she had on her mind.

Wednesday afternoon, Nina called him and said, "I can't come over there or Laura will see my car, so would you mind coming over here? Meeting at a restaurant wouldn't be very good for having a serious conversation."

"Of course, an hour be okay?"

"Fine, do you remember how to get here?"

"Of course I remember, see you then."

An hour later and after she opened her door to him, she greeted him with an embrace and a kiss on the cheek. Then with her arm around his waist she walked him into her living room where wine was waiting on the coffee table. "We have to talk, but that doesn't mean we can't be comfortable and enjoy it as much as we can."

"I couldn't agree more," and after she sat down, he sat next to her on the couch with what he considered a proper space between them. After he had tasted his wine he said, "Laura seemed a little better when I left last night."

"She was. That poor woman is so mixed up. In fact, that's one of the things we need to talk about."

Holding his glass by the stem, he leaned back and said, "Okay my sweet, what might the problem be?"

She leaned back and turned toward him slightly before answering, "You."

"Me? How is that?"

"It's a little complicated. It all started with your story."

"Damn it, I was afraid of that and that's why I wanted to stop."

"It's far too late for that now. Your story started out fairly innocently, but interesting. It was apparent from the first page that something was in the wind for that cast of four and she...correction, we were pulled into it. Neither of us wants to stop now. Greg, I'm a little more outspoken than Laura is, so forgive me if I get a little graphic before the evening is over."

"Be as candid and outspoken as you please. I'm sure you know that I can handle it."

"I'm sure you can." She tipped her glass back and nearly emptied it, took a breath and said, "As I'm sure you can imagine, lovemaking for Laura and Wayne stopped long before he died."

"I'm sure it did."

"Laura was okay with that of course. Both of them had their hands full as they fought the disease and he became so ill from the chemicals and medicines. His weight fell a lot and his energy all but disappeared. When he came over to see me it took everything out of him and he'd have to rest so he'd have the strength to make it home again. He was strong and stubborn, but he was no match for the cancer. Sorry, I'm digressing. Getting back to our problem, that means that Laura hasn't made love for over a year. Almost two years in fact."

"I might see where this is going."

"I'll spin the story anyway just to make sure there is no misunderstanding. Let me ask you, do you love her?"

"Do you mean as a friend or as a possible life partner?"

"As a life partner."

"No. I love her and would do anything for her, but...well the environment hasn't exactly been conducive to falling in love. Both of us have always worked hard at behaving, especially once Wayne became ill."

"I understand," and she refilled their glasses, picked hers up and leaned back again before she took another long drink. 

"God that tastes good tonight for some reason," she said as she looked at the ruby red fluid in her glass. "I'm trying to be tactful, but it sounds like I'm beating around the bush. When the three of us started talking about you writing in your briefs and then in the nude, and then on to you getting...oh hell you getting hard when you write erotica...that...oh God, and did I hear about that once we were back at her place. She cried with frustration because she didn't want to keep seeing you like that when she looked at you. She's vulnerable as all hell Greg. That's what it comes down to, she's so very vulnerable right now. But at the same time she's totally confused, because she feels guilty for having carnal urges and what she thinks are strong feelings for you. Guilt on one side and desires on the other and she's caught right in the middle. Then add your story and it gets worse. We read your chapters and she wants to talk about them. Oh, and that part about vibrators. Oh god, did you open something up with that."

"Shit, I'm sorry."

"Hey, don't apologize to me, I don't care one way or the other. I won't get into her most intimate matters, so that's all I'll say on that subject other than that whole thing feeds into her feelings for you, the story, the other night and so forth. We talked later about you two kissing and that conversation took awhile all by itself."

"Damn, I don't know what to do, you have any suggestions?"

"Me? Not one I'm afraid. Look, remember I just told you, your story is very good so I'm getting...Greg, I'm pretty vulnerable too."

"Oh great, so am I, so now we have three vulnerable people, all close friends that are sharing an erotic story. How much worse can that get?"

"Why are you so vulnerable?"

"Several reasons probably. I feel a certain obligation and devotion to Laura because I promised Wayne I'd look out for her and I meant that. But that's a duty that I treasure and I'd be hurt and maybe even a little jealous if somebody else tried to assume that role. My love life for the last...I don't know nine or ten months has been nil."

"Why is that?"

"Self imposed I'm afraid. After my last relationship collapsed, I decided to just stay away from women for awhile and focus on my writing. So now here I am in a mess that I created for the most part."

"Like you said, this isn't a good situation."

"Not at all. Both of you are so damn easy to look at and both of you are sexy without trying to be. One thing I do know, there's no way that I want to stop seeing either one of you, so we have to come up with something other than that."

"That wouldn't work anyway. Okay let me make this mess worse. I'm no better than Laura, at least in one way. When we were talking and drinking the other night, I had visions of you naked as much as Laura did and I was entertaining ideas that just wouldn't be a good idea at all, especially right now."

"I take it you have a problem you're trying to get past too."

"Yes, I was engaged and about three months before the wedding I caught the ass making love to a friend of mine. He now has the engagement ring and I'm minus one friend."




Two Chapter Tease



"Life sure can deal some bad cards sometimes." 

She put her glass down and said, "I have to stop drinking that stuff or I'll be as bad off as I was the other night."

"Nina, I better get out of here. We know that all three of us are messed up and vulnerable. We know we've made a series of mistakes that can't be swept under the rug, and we all know that each of us is experiencing thoughts and urges that we have to fight." 

They walked into each other's arms and shared an embrace in silence until he added, "Holding you close feels so good."

"It does to me too. Listen I better tell you one more thing before you leave."

"What's that?"

"You better tell your pants it's not nice to point." He paused and then moved back enough so he could look at her as he smiled. 

"Sorry about that, but my pants and my brain aren't on speaking terms these days."

She smiled back at him and said, "Don't misunderstand lover, I don't mind at all, but I wouldn't want you to embarrass yourself in public."

"Wouldn't that be an experience. Speaking of that, I was going to see if you and Laura would join me at Remo's for dinner one night."

"I'd love to even if your pants point at me. Or at Laura, since it could be either one of us...or both of us."

"More likely it would be both of you. What chance do I have of controlling myself with a situation like that? A thorn between two roses."

"You poor darling. Be strong and I'm sure things will work out for you."

"It has to work out for all three of us. We're all in this mess together."

He kissed her softly and then turned toward his car as she called after him, "By the way, the next two chapters. Are they any more tame?"

He stopped and turned to face her as he smiled and shook his head no. "I'm afraid not, in fact they go the other way."

"Oh great," and then she mumbled to herself, "Guess I'll be visiting my vibrator very soon...again."

"Did you say something Nina?"

"No, I was just thinking out loud. Night Greg."

"Night Nina. Thanks for the wine and the stimulating conversation."

She just laughed and waved before she closed her door.

            Chapter Six



The following Wednesday, Nina called and said, "I'm at Laura's and I've just finished those chapters. You're not making this any easier for any of us you know."

"I'm sorry, but that's where the story goes. How I've had it planned in my mind, so I'm in too deep to just throw it out now."

Her voice was smiling as she told him, "You may see the day where we all regret that situation." There was a pause and then she said, "Would you believe that Walt just appeared out of nowhere? He didn't even call, he just showed up at Laura's door."

"Why don't the three of you come over? I'll break out my best Kabinet wine."

"If it's a no, I'll call you back. Otherwise look for us in a little while."

"I'll be here."

After hanging up, he made sure he had enough wine chilled and pulled four glasses from the cupboard. Then he waited. No call and no company until they appeared forty minutes later and Greg and Walt shook hands. That was only the second time he'd ever seen Wayne's brother, but in minutes the four of them were talking and slowly getting rid of Greg's inventory of white wine. 

When Greg took the empty wine bottles to the kitchen and retrieved the last of his wine from the refrigerator, Nina followed him. "Nina, what took so long, was Laura crying?"

"No, but she and Walt got into a lot of those, 'remember when,' stories and I couldn't even get their attention. I think it was good for them though, so that's okay." 

How long has it been since you saw your brother?"

"The funeral was the last time. He's in Oregon as you know, so it's no small feat for him to get over this way. This time his company sent him to Knoxville, so he rented a car and drove up here. He only has a couple of days before he heads back." Then Nina moved until she was up against him and whispered, "I think you can stop worrying about Laura so much. She's doing fine all things considered," and then she kissed his cheek, smiled and turned to return to the living room as he watched her go. Was he really worrying about Laura too much? He didn't think so.

Greg spent Thursday and the better part of Friday morning in his office working on his novel, but made little progress, so he grabbed his laptop and copied his erotic romance to that and went to the kitchen. Maybe just a change of scenery would help his thinking. A change of scenery and a large mug of coffee had to help.

That move seemed to be the key, because he wrote like his fingers were on fire for a couple of hours and it surprised him when his phone rang, and he realized he'd skipped lunch completely. He grabbed the phone and Laura said, "Hi Greg, I'm going to the store, need anything?"

"I don't even know, I just realized I forgot to eat lunch."

"Now how can you do that?"

"I've been busy."

"Then go with me and we'll both have a late lunch and then get groceries."

"Give me ten minutes." He couldn't care less about the grocery store, but lunch sounded great and going with Laura would make it that much better.

The subject of his writing didn't come up through lunch or at the store, but on the way home, as she turned left onto their street she asked him, "Are the next chapters ready for me to read?"

"Just take a minute to put them on a flash drive."

"Okay, then I'll come over after I put the groceries away." 

Greg had coffee waiting when she got there, so they sipped the hot beverage and talked mindlessly until she said, "Nina said that she told you I'm doing great and don't need to be watched so closely."

"What did you say to her about that?"

"You mean, do I need to have a babysitter?"

"Was I making you feel like that?"

"No, that's how she made it sound. I like knowing you worry about me Greg. I feel safe knowing you're next door and that I can call you night or day."

"Of course you can."

"How are you doing with your writing?"

"Do you mean my novel or my smut," and he smiled at her.

She returned his smile and said, "Okay, the smut as you call it. I think it's been a nice love story..." then she looked at him and said, "With a lot of teasing and a little sex thrown in." Again she looked at her hands and then asked him, "Where did you...why did you have that Jeanette and Carl make love. I thought sure it would be him and Angela."

"Because he was responding to, and enjoying Jeanette on so many levels. Because it was pretty clear that she was going to be good in bed with him. I'm curious, what made you think it would be Angela?"

"I'm not sure. She's beautiful and successful and she and Carl could relate on a professional level."

"Good point, but what Jeanette and Carl needed, was to satisfy their physical needs. They had been building toward it despite their best efforts to avoid that complication." 

Laura held her coffee cup in both hands as she looked up at him and asked him, 'Where did you get the idea to have them so much in lust with each other?"

"I'm not sure, but as the story evolved that just seemed like the right direction to take it."

"They certainly did respond to each other physically, but what about an emotional level?"

"That's there too. Not in the form of love, but didn't you feel a strong bond between them?"

"Of course, but Angela had so much to offer him."

"She did have and remember, the story still has a long way to go."

"It does?"

"Yes, you've read chapter ten and I'm finishing chapter twenty and the story isn't finished. You know, in a way, Jeanette and Carl are a lot like you and me."

She didn't even blink as she looked at him in surprise. "What...in what ways?"

"Well, Jeanette is very attractive and sexy in such a sweet and innocent way, like you are. She's intuitive like you are too. Of course it doesn't take a lot of intuition to know that you and I have come close to getting involved, both physically and emotionally. I worry about you, I care about you and I enjoy being with you. I know my story has had an effect on you as it's had on me, and..."

"Greg..."

"Laura honey I know you love me as a friend and I feel the same for you."

One single tear appeared on her cheek as she got up and put her cup in the sink. Greg joined her and put his arms around her and held her close to him. She responded by putting her arms around him as they came together in their second kiss. It lasted much longer than their first kiss and seemed loaded with significance. They were both sober and well aware of where they were and what they were doing this time. 

"Greg you're right of course we are like Jeanette and Carl. Is your writing being influenced by what's happening to us?"

"I wasn't thinking of it that way, but maybe there's something to that."

"But you...they made love for hours, or it seemed that way."

"Because they cared for each other and they had denied themselves that ultimate pleasure for too long. The longer they waited the stronger their needs and desires became."

"I know. I could feel what they were going through and..."

"Laura I want you so much. I want to make love to you."

"Oh god I want that so very much, but I'm so mixed up. But...has it been long enough since..."

"Do what you feel is right Laura, but it's been a long time since Wayne died and much longer since you have been able to experience lovemaking. I want this to be special for us and I am eager, but I'm also willing to wait if we must."

She kissed him again, a hard and demanding kiss that put more fire in their souls. "I've imagined making love to you so often as I read your story. Take me to bed please. Right now before...before I go crazy.

            Chapter Seven



They both knew it would be fast and intense. There was just too much passion denied for them to hold back and try to make it last. It was also that pent up desire that carried them for well over an hour beyond their first orgasms. Neither proclaimed undying love. In fact the only words spoken for some time amounted to whispered words of pleasure and encouragement; of appreciation for the intense sensations they were experiencing. Her eyes would close as he pushed into her and her lips would show a silent 'yes', or it might be a whispered command like 'more' or 'faster', as she neared yet another orgasm, and he was eager to please her and himself. His hard cock that had so persistently pointed at Nina was now staying hard for Laura and far beyond his normal maximum endurance.

They couldn't keep the pace they had set, no matter how much pent up desire they had in the beginning, and how much they wanted this moment in time to last forever. 

Greg was exhausted, but his cock defied him by staying erect. He lay on her and managed to move his hips enough so they could feel that sweet sensation for just a little longer. Laura had no chance for another orgasm, but just feeling his hardness slowly move in and out of her was the thing of sweet erotic dreams. She found her voice and told him, "Oh yes, God I can't get enough of you and of your cock." He managed to bend down and kiss her as he held himself up and stroked in and out of her in slow motion. His shoulder and arm muscles were trembling under the constant strain and she could do nothing more than lie there and receive his cock with her legs spread wide.

Greg lowered himself onto her once again and they kissed one more time. Only time and lying still was going to permit his cock to relax, and even with it still planted deep inside of her, it slowly started its retreat. "Laura you are fantastic. The more we make love the more I want of you."

She smiled up at him and said, "Now we'll have to see if this appears in your story."

"It can't because Nina will be reading it."

"But she won't know it's about you and me."

"Would you like me to write about us? Would you like to be Jeanette?"

"Yes, make me Jeanette. Write about what we've done and what we still want to do."

"Then I have to be Carl, and I'll make the story about us as much as I can and still keep our secret."

She smiled and pulled him down to her lips for one last kiss. "Just make sure that Carl eats me."

"Oh, you don't have to worry about that love. He'll do that and so much more." 

They were determined to stay in bed, even if it was just to talk. "I want to watch you write while you're naked. I want to watch you get hard as you tell tales about us."

"If I get hard and you're here, how will I be able to leave you alone?"

"I don't want you to leave me alone for very long."

"My writing is going to suffer, you do know that don't you?"

"Only at first. We'll settle down somewhat, and I'll make sure that you don't spend too much time with me. After all I want to see how this story ends."

"Me too," and they both smiled at that remark.

His bed was a wreck, with the spread on the floor and the blanket and sheet waded and pushed toward the foot of the bed. The bottom sheet was all that remained and it was well spotted with her juices and his cum. Their only choice would be to change it and wash the now well used bedding. 

Their very passionate time together had worn them out and they fell asleep in each other's arms before they could even strip the bed, and didn't wake until late that evening. In fact, Laura didn't even go home until almost noon Friday.

Life settled down for the next several days. Greg kept at his working on either his novel or his sexy romance and Laura read chapters eleven and twelve and marked the errors for him. Nina was at Laura's Wednesday evening and then went over to Greg's for a minute. "Okay Greg, I have the two chapters to read tonight, is there anything you want to tell me before I get into them?"

His heart almost stopped. Had Laura told her about them making love? "Um, like what?"

"I don't know, anything you want to warn me about for example?"

"I don't believe so, but I'll be eager to hear what you think about what happens."

"I'll let you know."

"I didn't hear, when did Walt leave?"

"Oh, he left early Friday morning, why?"

"Just curious, I didn't see him again and neither you nor Laura mentioned him."

"Not much to say about him I guess."

"Were you...or rather are you and Walt close?"

"We weren't for a long time, but Wayne's illness seemed to bring us a lot closer. He was as bad as you are about worrying about Laura."

"I think Laura is going to be just fine. I'm still here for her, but I'm not worried about her anymore."

"Oh really? What brought about that change?"

"Maybe it was what you said to me."

"Really? I didn't think you were even listening to me."

"I always listen to you."

"Sure you do. So do I get a hint about what those chapters are about? You seemed to think hard when I asked you if I needed to know anything about them."

"I was just being thorough before I answered."

"Were you naked when you wrote them?"

"Maybe. See if you can guess, and if so at what part?"

"Okay. Let's see, this is Wednesday so...come over for dinner Friday night and I'll tell you what I think."

"I'll be there and I'll bring the wine."

"See you then pervert," and she smiled, did an about face and slipped out closing the door behind her.

            Chapter Eight 



Thursday evening, Laura called Nina and then went over to her place to talk. When she got there, Nina said, "You sounded kind of serious on the phone, are you okay?"

"I think so, I just have something on my mind that I have to work out. So have you read the last two chapters?"

"I just finished them, why?"

"I was curious about what you thought about them."

"Well they were steamy to say the least. Damn, Greg out did himself with those chapters."

"Don't I know that though. Did you expect Jeanette to be the one with Greg...I mean Carl?"

Laura's slip of the tongue meant nothing to Nina, so she answered, "I couldn't decide. I could see him going either way."

"But then, Jeanette sure seemed to enjoy her time with him."

"Most definitely she did."

"Oh damn it Nina, I have to tell you something before I explode with confusion."

"Okay, what's chewing on you?"

"Please keep this to yourself okay? I...I mean Greg...we made love not long ago."

"You what?"

Laura looked down feeling that Nina was disappointed in her. "Don't be mad at me okay?"

"I'm not...I'm not mad at you, but why...I mean...I don't know what I mean. You really made love to Greg?"

"Oh god yes, and we didn't get out of bed for a long time."

"So where...my god I don't even know what ask you. You two made love and it seems safe to assume that it was wonderful for you, so what's the problem?"

"I don't love him...I mean not in that way, but...I don't know, maybe it's his damn story is all, but whatever, I just couldn't leave him alone any longer."

"Well it sounds like you didn't offer any resistance."

Laura smiled guiltily and said, "Hardly. Had I been strong enough I would have carried him to the bedroom and ripped his clothes off."

"But you don't love him."

"No, and please no sermons okay?"

"I'm about the last person to preach to anybody about anything."

"I care for him so much, but...I don't even know if I'm capable of loving again."

"If you aren't now, you will be, so don't worry about that."

"Walt invited me out to Oregon to visit, did he tell you? He said that it's like I'm a link to Wayne and he thinks it would be good for me to get away."

"Some brother, he didn't tell me that, but you two got along well enough."

"I guess so and I have to admit, there is a temptation to do that, go out there and run away from all of this if only for a few days. Maybe I'd see things clearer, I don't know. The fact that Walt looks a little like Wayne did before he got sick contributes to my confusion."

"I hadn't thought about that, but I'm sure that would have an effect on you."

Nina let a smile show as she asked, "You'd go out there and miss the next chapters of the book?"

Laura smiled meekly and told her, "I'm just babbling, I'm not going anywhere. Besides, like you said, we have to finish the book. I have to find out what happens between Jeanette and Carl. And where Angela will fit into the story."

"What about that Jackson Colliers guy and his wife...um...Becky?"

"Oh god, that's right, sexually insatiable and rich Jackson Colliers. I think Becky is looking for a way to get away from him and take some of the money with her."

"Oh, without a doubt and I don't blame her." They were talking about Greg's characters as though they really existed. 

They discussed the story and possible endings and then Laura said she had to leave. Nina waited until they were at the front door before she asked, "Laura, how...was...well I think I know the answer, but was Greg good in bed?"

Laura actually blushed slightly before looking at Nina as she said, "Yes, he's very good in bed. But then I have to remember that was the first sex I've had in almost two years." Nina just smiled before they shared a quick hug and Nina watched her sister leave.

Laura thought about going out to see Walt as she drove home and wondered how it would feel to stay with him and go see hers, Gene and Wanda, his and Wayne and Nina's parents. Could she handle that situation emotionally? She just didn't know, but all of that was still on her mind even after she got home.

Nina did her best not to think about it, but images of Greg and Laura making love popped into her head several times. That was about the last thing she would have ever guessed would happen. There had been some teasing, but to actually make love? She would have been less surprised had she weakened and made love to him because she wasn't as reserved as Laura was. Then she quickly turned and headed toward the kitchen to fix her dinner. The last thing she needed to be pondering over was making love to Greg. All of that half drunken teasing and kissing had put her thoughts on that path and it had taken her some time to put all of that in the back of her mind. But now damn it, Laura had stirred things up again talking about making love to him. Without thinking she picked up the phone and called him.




Two Chapter Tease



"Hi, Nina."

"Hi, how are things?" She didn't even have much to talk about and in fact when he answered she fumbled for a second for words to come. "Things are great, what are you up to?"

"Getting ready to fix something to eat actually."

"Well stop and I'll pick you up. I think a beer and dinner at Pug's is in order."

"Right now?"

"Sure, I'm starved, you're ready to eat and I sure don't feel like fixing dinner. I'll have you home early and safe so you can go to work tomorrow."

"Thanks, I accept." 

"See you in half an hour then," and he hung up. Damn, now why did she say yes, was what flashed through her mind. She wondered if he would admit to her that he had been intimate with Laura, but how was she going to sit across from him and smile innocently knowing that he had been naked...and she shook her head. Don't go there, she told herself, especially going out for beer. She dropped onto the couch and with her head back she looked up at the ceiling and chastised herself by thinking, "You dumb shit, you can't sit across from him and not think about him making love to Laura." Then she sat up and smiled. A simple solution, she'd sit next to him rather than across from him, that would be a great way to handle the evening. Minimal eye contact and yet friendly. He would never guess what she knew and at the end of the evening the crisis would be past. She jumped up and raced to the bathroom to freshen up and change into something nicer. She didn't want to go out in jeans, even if it was just to Pug's for beer and burgers or whatever.

            Chapter Nine



Greg arrived wearing Dockers and a somewhat weathered polo shirt left untucked, and he had an obvious five o'clock shadow and that gave him a slightly earthy look. Nina met him at the door and he gave her a light peck on the lips and said, "Now I'm starved too." 

He just smiled, put his arm around her waist and pulled her toward the door saying, "Then let's not waste time because food and ice cold beer awaits us." When they got to Pug's he asked her, "Booth or table?" She couldn't very well sit next to him at a table so she answered quickly, "Booth please." That was his preference as well, so he smiled and they followed the waitress as she led them to an empty high backed booth about half way toward the back. He waited for her to sit down and then moved to sit across from her. "No, sit next to me okay?" That surprised him, but he smiled and sat next to her before they ordered two Heinekens and the waitress left.

"I like sitting next to you, but I'm curious why you said that."

"I just thought it might get a little noisy in here and this would make it easier for us to talk." She fabricated that lie so fast it surprised her.

They were near the end of their second beer when he reached over with his fork and stole one of her French fries, so she did the same with one of his onion rings. That began a period of adolescent behavior that had them laughing. His hand went to her thigh as he leaned toward her and told her to behave. Nina was smiling and having a great time, but she was also aware of how close he was to her and how warm his hand felt on her leg. 

Greg didn't know if it was her shampoo or a light cologne, but some delicate fragrance was teasing him and he loved it. It kept him well aware of how close she was to him and he already knew how she felt in his arms and her lips felt on his. He wasn't out to conquer this woman, but at the same time he couldn't help but submit himself to that sweet tug at his soul. 

She wasn't even aware that her hand would land on his thigh and linger there as she talked to him. She wasn't aware that she would lean into him whenever he made her laugh. But she was aware of his hand when it landed farther up her thigh. She was also aware of the fact that she liked it and didn't even consider discouraging him. She was once again imagining him naked, but this time Laura was far from her thoughts. She knew she was in trouble, but she solved that thought by tipping her glass of beer back and emptying it. She wasn't even close to drunk on two beers, but that would be her excuse to herself later if she needed one. 

Nina was determined to stoke the fires of passion by asking him, "So give me a hint about the next two chapters."

"Now I can't do that and spoil it for you."

"But...you had Carl with Jeanette and I know he won't end up with her. So...I mean doesn't he...you know go see Angela?"

"I'm not going to tell you, but tell me why you're sure that Carl won't end up with Jeanette."

"The chemistry is wrong. It's all carnal urges. They never spent time doing...well things like what we're doing now. Just having fun at a tavern, being together and bonding. For them, even though they were good friends, there wasn't that special moment or event you know? So, that gives Angela a chance to be where she really wants to be...with him."

"Oh, is that right. So you don't see him going to Angela, having a fling and then going back to Jeanette or...well have you considered the possibility that another women will come into the picture?"

"No, that can't happen, not now. He has to be with Angela first so they'll at least have a chance together."

"Is that right? So I should have Angela and Carl go to Pug's and have a wonderful evening together like this."

"Well...yes, or something like this."

"I think we better continue this back at your place before I order another beer and get too foggy headed to talk straight. I mean if you don't mind."

"Of course not." When they left Pug's, his arm was around her and she was leaning against him as they walked. "I think we left there just in time."

"Feeling tipsy?"

"Not at all, but it wouldn't take a lot more to get the that way."

"So did you decide if I was naked when I wrote those chapters?"

Her smile was half sneer as she told him, "Of course you were, the last part of chapter eleven and most of chapter twelve."

"You're right of course, very good."

"Is the rest of the story going to be like those chapters?"

"Not at all, but there will still be things happening between the foursome and of course the Colliers will get more involved."

"Oh great, his money and out of control sex drive and her reckless spirit, what a combination."

"Before you get carried away, keep in mind that things will change." 

Greg wasn't aware that Nina knew about he and Laura making love, so he was surprised when she asked him as they went into her apartment, "Do you see me as a reasonably attractive woman? I don't mean really good looking, but maybe...maybe pleasant looking."

"I think you look great. Shiny auburn hair, healthy, and you have a very nice complexion, your brown eyes that add to your bright and lively glow."

"Thank you, and my shape? Is my butt too big or am I fat or whatever?"

He stopped moving and turned to face her as he asked, "Where are we going with this? These are dangerous questions for a guy to answer you know."

"Be truthful, I can take it."

"That's easier said than done."

"Come on, just tell me. Sugar coat it if you feel the need, but tell me."

"Okay, but no hitting or getting mad."

"Of course not."

"You are good looking. Not centerfold or magazine cover, but good looking. Your butt is...well it's fine I think. I mean I've never seen you naked of course or in a bikini or whatever, but you have a nice body as near as I can tell. Nice tits too," he added with a smile. Her reaction to his reference to her tits was somewhere between a smile and a sneer. "Now are the questions over?"

"Why, do you have to be someplace?"

"No, I want to be able to relax and let my guard down."

"Very funny."

"So are you feeling left out or love starved or neglected?"

"Of course not. I just thought you would be honest with me."

Greg relaxed a little and said, "Sure I would. As long as the no hitting rule is in effect anyway."

"Thank you," and she kissed his cheek.

"I better get home, those beers are starting to work on me. I need to be thinking clearly if there are any more questions coming my way."

She walked him to the door and then put her arms around his waist as she looked up at him and said, "Thank you for saying all of those nice things about me."

"You're welcome, but I just told the truth."

He kissed her lightly and then headed to his car and she waved as she watched him leave.



            Chapter Ten



As he tossed his keys on the counter when he went in, he noticed there was a message waiting. It was from Laura saying she wanted him to call when he got home, if it was before midnight. Greg checked and it was only ten thirty, so he punched in her number. When she answered he said, "It's before midnight, is everything okay?"

"Yes. Can I come over for just a minute?"

"Of course, I'll be right here and the door will be unlocked." She was there in minutes, but she wasn't smiling. "I thought you said everything was okay."

"It is...well sort of. I wanted to tell you that I'm going out to Oregon and see Walt, and probably thes."

"Really? What brought this idea on?"

"Well, he invited me when he was here and I said maybe. I've changed that to yes."

"How long with you be gone?"

"Does it matter?"

"What do you mean, of course it matters, at least to me it does. What's going on?"

"I just have to get away from here. From the memories of Wayne and from you and temptation and...and...everything." She wouldn't look at him. Her eyes were on her shoes or her hands or the painting on the wall, anywhere but on him.

"But Laura I..."

"I know you worry about me, but just maybe you worry about me too much. I know how to get on a plane and I know how to take care of myself."

"Well, excuse me, but just the other day you told me you liked knowing I worry about you."

"Okay, yes, but..." and she walked into his arms and held him close. "I'm sorry Greg, I'm just mixed up and I'm not getting much better. I have to try this."

"I hope this does help love, I really do."

"I'll stay with him of course. A motel wouldn't make sense."

"That's brave of you considering you don't really know him that well."

"What do you mean, he stayed with me for those days he was here."

"He did? I thought...I just assumed he'd stay with Nina."

"No, he wanted to stay with me so we could talk. He worries about me too."

"Oh...well of course he would...I guess. How long will you be gone?"

"I don't know, a few days at least, maybe a week."

He tipped her chin up and looked into her eyes as he told her, "I'll really miss you."

She looked down again, pressed the side of her face into his chest and told him, "Now stop that, I'll be back."

"When do you leave?"

"In the morning, I have to be at the airport by nine."

"Want me to drive you?"

She looked up and without a smile told him, "Of course not, you're part of what I'm running away from."

"Want me to email the next chapters to you?"

That made her smile and she said, "Yes, I'll send you his email address. I better go so I can get some sleep. Tomorrow will likely be a long day because of the three hour time difference." 

He walked her to the door where they shared a soft kiss before he told her, "Just be sure you run home again." She smiled at him and then cut across the lawn to her house.

Greg just stood there trying to sort out what had just happened. He had the impression that she was doing quite well, and in fact he saw her as ready to get on with her life up until no more than minutes ago. They had made sweet intense love and he'd had hopes of them sharing a bed again soon. He cared for her, he really did. Even he didn't know just how deep that feeling went. He wasn't thinking marriage and he was certain Laura wasn't either, but just knowing she wouldn't be right next door to him knocked him back a little.

By Friday afternoon, he had to admit to himself that with Laura out of town he was getting more done on his novel. Still nothing great, but certainly an improvement. In fact it was after that realization that he lost all track of time. He wrote, slept, wrote and ate, slept again and continued his marathon productive period.

Monday evening Nina hammered on his door, paused and then rang the bell and hammered again. The lights told her he was home, so she wasn't about to give up without seeing him. She heard the lock and doorknob rattle and then turn and the door opened. "Oh, hi Nina."

She stood there in near shock as she stared at him. "My God, what happened to you?"

"Nothing why?"

"You look like a pig. Your...are you going to let me in or not?"

"Oh...sure come in, I'm sorry."

"You're unshaved, your eyes are blood shot you're...oh God, you're in your skivvies, are you writing about Jeanette and Angela?"

"No, I'm working on my novel."

He reached for her to kiss her, but she stepped back and told him, "Oh no you don't, not until you wash up at least." Then she looked around. "Good God I can't believe this."

"Yeah it kind of needs to be picked up."

"No, it needs to be fumigated and hosed down. Greg, what's going on? Pizza boxes on the coffee table with dried crust and...and left over pizza. Empty beer bottles, dirty coffee cups. What has come over you?"

"I've been kind of busy working."

"Well go wash up at least. No better yet, take a shower. Then maybe we can talk over coffee, that is assuming I can come up with clean cups and I can find the kitchen." She smacked his ass as she stepped past him and added, "Get going," and she moved on to the kitchen.

In reality it wasn't as bad as she let on, but it was the worst she'd ever seen his house, or him for that matter. She'd never seen him with three or four days of stubble on his face and that alone jarred her. That and his bloodshot eyes. While he was gone, she picked up the boxes and remnants of dried pizza and the beer bottles and took them to the kitchen before she made coffee.

It took him half an hour to shower and shave, and when he went to the bedroom with a towel around his waist, she was sitting on the side of the bed with clean underwear laying on the bed next to her. Next to his briefs were jeans and a faded tee shirt from Wiley's Tavern. He didn't say a word, and dressed with his back to her as she looked at his naked ass. It was only after he had dressed that she put her arms around him and kissed his cheek. "You look so much better, and I'm sure you smell better too. Coffee is waiting for us."

"Thanks," and he obediently followed her to the kitchen.

            Chapter Eleven



The coffee cups were on the counter next to the Bunn, and Greg filled the cups and set them on the table before sitting down across from Nina. She watched him and then studied him for just a second before she asked him, "What happened to you? I've never known you to be such a slob, are you in some kind of crisis?"

He held his cup in both hands and hesitated before he told her, "Well after Laura left...you do know she's with Walt right?"

"Of course, she called me before she told you."

"Okay. Well after she left, I hid in my office for...I don't know how long. Anyway, I started to pick at my novel and for whatever reason everything clicked for me. The words came to me like I was listening to a recording, and if that slowed down, I'd write on the other story. Oh, I've named it Angel's Intervention by the way. Anyway, that's my story."

"But all of the pizza boxes and dirty dishes. Don't tell me you've lived on pizza for the last however many days."

"And nights. Yeah I guess I have. I didn't want to stop and cook or even think about what to fix."

"So you've lived on pizza and beer since Laura left."

He gave her a weak smile and nodding his head said, "Pretty much. But I varied them. A Hawaiian pizza and then maybe a shrimp pizza and so forth"

"So have I ruined your creative marathon by coming over here and making you bathe?"

"I doubt it, but I don't know."

"Well you certainly couldn't continue like you were. God, talk about an unhealthy existence." 

"I know, but I've never had a productive period like that before and I loved it. It was so easy, the plot twists and the dialog, all of it just poured into the computer. I'm almost done with the Angel story and probably three quarters of the way through my novel."

"What's the name of that one?"

"I haven't decided. What brought you to me by the way?"

"Well, you didn't answer your email and you weren't answering the phone or responding to my messages so I got worried."

"Sorry. Again, I was busy and I put the answering machine in the cupboard so I couldn't hear it. I disconnected the other phones."

"You're unbelievable."

"Thanks for worrying about me."

"I don't know if I should feel relieved or grossed out from seeing you in your squalor. Do you do that often?"

"Never before actually. Maybe I need to hire a housekeeper."

"Well at least a keeper anyway," and she smiled at him before picking her cup up and tasting her now less than hot coffee.

"Thanks for picking up part of the mess by the way."

"You're welcome, but that was partly self preservation. I now know you're not lying in a corner someplace dead so I guess I can go home. So what happens now? I mean will you go back to your office and live on pizzas again?"

"Probably not. I need to do some more work, but I'm past the pizza and beer diet for awhile...I think."

She stood up and put her cup in the sink as she said, "I'm going home, but don't scare me like that again."

"I promise to answer the phone next time."

She smiled then as she told him, "I was talking about the gross sight that assaulted me when I came in." 

Ignoring her last comment he told her, "Oh, I have the next two chapters if you want them."

She dug in her purse for his other flash drive and said, "Of course I want them. If you're almost done with the story, why are you parceling out the chapters to Laura and me?"

"I want to get your feedback as we go." The real truth was, he was enjoying dragging it out and teasing them. "Be right back," and he went to his office.

When he reemerged Nina asked him, "What about Laura? She'll be behind now."

"She sent me Walt's email address so I'm sending them to her."

"How is she doing?"

"She didn't say much, just that the flight was fine, Walt was there to meet her and she loves the west coast."

"She's pretty stingy with information."

"I'm sure we'll hear all about it when she gets home."

"I hope so, and I hope her head is on straight by then."

"Oh, and she said she's staying the full week, not coming home until late Sunday."

"Then she must be enjoying herself."

"She must be." Greg walked with her to the front door, but before she left he asked her, "Want to come over for dinner Friday night?"

"Pizza and beer?" She tried to keep a straight face after she said that, but failed.

"Funny. I'm sure I can come up with something better than that."

After Nina left, Greg went back to his writing and contrary to what he'd just told Nina he ended up ordering another pizza, but he was out of beer so he had to settle for iced tea. He didn't do much writing though. He thought about Laura and decided he had been right. She had to be getting things straightened out in her mind, otherwise she wouldn't have said she loved the west coast and that she was staying for the week. 

Then he thought about Nina and smiled. He'd answered the door in his underwear without thinking and she wasn't even shocked. Of course she had his dirty scruffy look to deal with along with the trashed living room. It was a good thing she hadn't seen his office.

           Chapter Twelve



When Nina arrived Friday night, Greg said, "You seem in great spirits."

"I guess I am. I feel good, the work week is over and the weather is great, so why not be in a good mood? Plus, thanks to you, I don't have to cook tonight."




Two Chapter Tease



"That's right, and dinner is ready."

"What did you fix?"

"I didn't, the restaurant did and delivered it no more than ten minutes ago. Veal scaloppini with sweet peppers and a picatta sauce and a nice Italian salad, fresh baked bread and of course, plenty of wine that I've selected for this occasion. In this case a very light rosato wine."

"Sounds wonderful, thank you."

"My pleasure." 

Their dinner was very low key. They talked about Laura and wondered how she was doing and then talked about his erotic story when Nina said, "So Carl and Angela really are going to be together."

"Don't bet the farm on that love. Yes, they have something special going between them, but there is still the Collier factor among other things to consider."

"You love this don't you, all of this misdirection and teasing."

"Yes I confess, I do love all of that and more." 

"Okay, so now you've had Carl in bed with Jeanette and with Angela. I think you...how can I say this...you're Carl in a way. You have a fantasy of making low to two women. Not at the same time, but almost."

He looked at her and sipped his wine at the same time before he said, "My very pretty friend is playing at being psychologist." Telling a half lie he continued. "I never think of Carl as being me, but who knows? I don't think I can accurately analyze myself." Then he remembered he and Laura talking about her being Jeanette. "If I'm Carl, then perhaps you and Laura are Jeanette and Angela."

"Which would be which?"

"You'll have to decide that one," and he smiled at her again. Yes he really was having a great time with his erotic story game. "You didn't even mention the Colliers making love."

"It wasn't all that exciting to read about, after all they're married to each other."

Greg leaned back and studied her as he asked, "Was it sexy the way they made love, or perhaps romantic?"

"Of course, but more sexy than romantic."

"Oh, and are you sure they're married to each other?"

Nina was surprised by what Greg had just said. "What? Well of course...do you mean that they aren't?"

"I just mean that I've not said one way or the other. You and Laura have assumed that, but is that correct?"

She smiled and slapped his hand as she said, "But you've made it so seemingly apparent that they are married."

"Yes I know."

"So if they aren't, what does that mean?"

"No comment."

She was smiling as she said, "Damn you, I hope you have nightmares tonight." Greg just smiled at her and once again sipped his wine. Nina paused and then also leaned back as she said, "Okay, it's my turn. Would you be willing to answer my questionnaire?"

"What kind of questions?"

"Personal ones...very personal ones. I figured if you could write dirty and Laura and I could read it, then this shouldn't bother you."

"For what purpose?"

"Damn you're suspicious."

"Just cautious."

"Okay, I'm thinking about writing an article and submitting it to a magazine."

"Article about what?"

"Relationships from the perspective of an average woman."

"Hon remember, I'm the one you found unshaven and slovenly. I'm the one that's screwed up about relationships and you still want my input?"

"That's one of the reasons I want your...well to interview you. To get a candid look at a guys thoughts."

"Will my name be on the questionnaire?"

"Of course not."

"Okay, assuming I say yes, does that mean I can ask you those same questions?"

"Would you want to?"

"I don't know since I don't know the questions, but I might."

She didn't think it through before she smiled and answered, "Sure okay, it's a deal. Let's clear the table so I can make notes as we go through the questions."

"Um...how many questions are there?"

"Twenty seven or twenty eight."

"Wow, that's a lot of questions, I better open another bottle of wine first."

They cleared the table and Greg retrieved another bottle of wine for them after pouring the remaining wine from the first bottle into their glasses.

As soon as they were back at the table, Nina retrieved her notes from her purse along with a pen, and trying to look totally serious and professional she straightened her back, took a generous taste of her wine and began.

"You have to be truly honest okay?"

"Whatever. Didn't we go through something like this not long ago about your looks?"

"That was different. This is...we'll call it a survey I guess.

"Shoot."

"Okay...Do you think the woman is a true partner and not inferior?"

"Of course."

"Are you able to put aside your wishes and do something she wants to do once in awhile?"

"I'd like to think I can do that. I mean here I am answering your questions."

"What do you like to do?"

"Travel."

"To where?"

"Many places."

"Where do you like to eat?"

"No place special. Depends on my mood."

"How do you prefer to dress. Sloppy, casual, i.e. jeans, slacks or whatever?"

"Jeans or shorts..." and he looked at her and added, "Or skivvies."

"Yes I remember that, okay, or skivvies?

"Assuming it isn't winter and assuming I'm writing a novel, I'd likely be in shorts and tee shirt. Sometimes underwear because like we talked about before, I might get up in the middle of the night and write."

"Do you like to look at dirty pictures of women a lot?"

"I've never looked away, that's for sure. Yes I like to look at naked women, but not excessively."

"What is your favorite car?

"Don't have one."

"Your favorite color?"

"I'd say green....well certain shades of green."

"And music?"

"That's tough. It totally depends on my mood."

"Do you like bondage?" That one stopped him. He looked at her and, though it was awkward for her, she returned his gaze.

Then Greg casually offered, "Not really, but then I'm not well versed in the art either. But I have to admit, you caught me off guard with that question."

Once again she changed directions. "If you could go anywhere for a week where would it be?"

He shrugged his shoulders and told her, "Again, it depends on my mood. I sometimes feel like I'd like to be deep in the forest and just walk. Other times I wish I could be someplace where there are a lot of people and entertainment."

"Would you prefer to go with somebody, or alone?"

"Depends on who I'd be with. If it would be you for example, then definitely not alone."

She smiled and stopped for more wine before she said, "Thank you, that was nice. I wrote this next question before finding you in your underwear the other night. Do you wear boxers, briefs or go commando?"

"Depends."

"You mean you sometimes go commando?"

"It's been known to happen. I even went commando one time at a fancy writers dinner, just for the hell of it. I do stupid crap like that once in awhile."

She had to think about that answer for a second before she asked him, "Do you flirt with other women when you're with a woman?"

"Not much. Don't get me wrong, I love to flirt, but I like to think I'm sensitive enough not to go overboard with it."

"Do you have a favorite sexual position?" Again she stopped him, and this time he took his time sampling his wine and topping off their glasses before he answered.

"Damn you are surprising me, but remember, I get to ask these questions of you too." She tried to look calm and in control as she smiled thinly, but her cheeks quickly glowed red. "Okay, yes I have a favorite position. Well two actually, the old tried and true missionary position and taking my woman from behind." He made it a point to be looking into her eyes as he answered her. It was her turn to stop and collect herself before going to her next question.

"Do you enjoy pleasing your woman sexually?"

"I live for it.."

"Be serious."

"I am serious...well okay maybe that's overstating it a little. I love to please my woman."

"Do you fall asleep after making love?"

"No."

"What kind of TV shows or movies do you like?"

"Not very many at all. In fact I can't remember the last movie I watched."

"Do you like the water or the seashore or lake or whatever?"

"Very much so."

"How many women have you made love to?"

"I'll say this, you'll end up knowing more about me than anybody else in this world. How many women have I bedded? Let me think." He started spinning some fictitious details as he said, "Well there was Aggie on my high school graduation night. There were the twins. Ellie and Edie."

"Wait, twins? At the same time?"

The lies became even more ridiculous as he went on. "I had to, they were so inseparable. Of course I can't leave out Mandy...or was it Mindy? I don't remember. There's...I guess I can't remember them all."

"You forgot Laura, how could you?"

"Of course I didn't forget her, but you already know about her." He would have to decide at what point he would confess he had made up a lot of what he'd told her.

"If you were married, could you ever see yourself being unfaithful?"

"Of course not."

"Are you a jealous person"

"Maybe a little."

"Do you snore or walk in your sleep?"

I don't walk in my sleep, but I'm not sure about the snoring issue."

"What is your favorite meal?"

"I don't have one."

"Do you like to stay in bed until ten on the weekends?"

"Not alone," and again he smiled at her. She drank more of her wine.

"Last question. Do you masturbate?"

"Nina, I can't believe you just asked me that one." Her whole face flashed pink, but she smiled and returned his stare as he added, "I'm trying to decide if I should answer that."

"Oh, come on, I probably already know the answer."

"Well, you asked for it. Yes I...I jack off now and then. More sometimes than others. Sometimes when I'm writing erotica." She wouldn't look up at him that time, choosing to once again sample the wine and stay busy writing on her paper. "Do you masturbate?" he asked her. That made her look up quickly and found him looking at her with a smile. She was still staring at him when he said, "Never mind, we'll get into all of that later. Besides, I probably already know the answer. You do realize that your chances of a magazine printing your article is slim to none."

"I know, but all of this talk about writing makes me want to try. Write about what you know they say, so by asking questions I'll know."

"Well I'll give you points for being thorough. We are done right?"

"We're done...well unless I think of something else."

"I can't imagine what that could be."

Both of them were getting about half looped as they poured the last of the second bottle of wine in to their glasses. "Great," Nina said, "Now I'm tipsy, so I'll have to wait and read the next chapters tomorrow."

"Gives you more time to think about what happens."

"I don't need anymore time, because no matter what I expect, you pull a fast one and send us off in another direction."

"Once you're finished, you'll look back and it will all make sense to you."

"I doubt that. Nobody in the world would live the life your characters are living."

"I could never write anything that could be as unbelievable or outlandish as what some people do in real life."

"I guess that's right."

They put their wine glasses on the counter and headed to the living room, where they both dropped heavily onto the couch next to each other. Greg took her right hand in both of hers and said, "Okay, I've made a decision."

"Oh? What about I'm afraid to ask."

"I'll ask you all of those questions next weekend."

"Oh, you don't want to know that stuff about me."

"But I do want to know all of that stuff about you, and in fact I can hardly wait now that I think about it."

"You have to provide dinner again."

"Now wait, shouldn't dinner be at your place the next time?"

"Your house is nicer than my apartment," was her excuse.

"Thank you and since you're being so nice to me I have a confession to make."

"What about?"

"I didn't make love to all of those women I told you about."

"Now damn it, you were supposed to be honest with me."

"I don't know how many women I've made love to, but for sure never to twins one at a time or both at the same time."

"Then why did you make all of that up?"

"Because it was more exciting than my truthful answer would have been."

She turned toward him slightly and doing her best to look stern and serious, she asked him, "So those nice words about wanting to be with me rather than alone were jus so much baloney."

"Jus? You just said jus. I think you're getting drunk."

She blinked her eyes and asked him, "Did I just jus say jus, like you jus did?"

"Yep."

"You're right, it's time for me to go home."

          Chapter Thirteen



Greg didn't see or hear from Laura on Monday. Or on Tuesday, and despite him leaving her a message, he didn't hear from her Wednesday. He finally called Nina and told her, "I've tried to connect with Laura, but no luck. Have you heard from her?"

"I talked to her last night."

"Okay, and?"

"She sounded kind of mopy. You know, stingy with conversation, soft voice and so forth."

"Well damn, I guess going out to see Walt didn't help her much at all then."

"You'll have to find out from her. What little I did learn I'll keep to myself. It's her business, so it's for her to talk about her week on the west coast."

"You're no help either."

"You don't have room to talk. It's you that made love to her and added to her confusion. It's you that has kept her supplied with porn to read, and it's you..."

"Now wait a second, so now her problems as well as yours are all my fault? How do you figure that?"

"It isn't so difficult. You and your damn story have been playing with my mind and hers. She didn't exactly say so, but I'll bet her emotions are still in a turmoil."

"Well hell, I have a solution to that, no more story to read for either of you then. That's an easy fix."

"And another thing, why did you ask her to edit your story? You had to know she was still fragile. Why not ask me, or...or whoever?"

Greg was getting an edge in his voice by that point. "And why didn't you say something before now? The last I heard, both of you were eager to get the next chapters

"I can only speak for myself when I say I've come to my senses at last."

"So now I'm the pariah, the leper in our group."

"I don't want to talk about it anymore and I don't have anything more to add about Laura. You're on you own with this one," and she hung up.

He looked at the dead phone in his hand like he was going to blame it for the bad news, but he just dropped it onto the end table and stared at the far wall. It didn't take him long to give up trying to sort out what had just happened, because he knew it was hopeless. Nina was mad at him and Laura simply wasn't talking to him and that was the end of it. He couldn't decide if he was mad or hurt or both. No, he knew he was pissed and the hurt part would just have to sort itself out. About the only good that was coming out of his mess was it helped him with his novel. A strong argument, complete with shouts and loud voices, cursing and flying dishes were in the story and with the anger he had going that helped him write a very stormy and emotionally charged two chapters, all in what remained of the week. In a way it must have been a catharsis for him, because by Friday he was feeling better about himself and he liked what he was writing. He even used his emotions to add a very steamy, sexy couple of chapters on 'Angel's Intervention.'

Then he had a very adolescent pity party for himself, made a call and was soon flying to Des Moines, Iowa. He needed to check on something for his novel and he decided he'd show them. He'd leave town and not even tell them he'd be gone. The adolescent bent that he had created would stay with him until Thursday, when he was in the air and halfway home again.

He'd been home no more than a couple of hours when his phone rang. He checked the caller ID and then in a cold and business like voice he simply said, "Hello?"

Her voice soft and timid as she said, "Hi, it's me."

"Um...who is this?"

"Damn it Greg don't be like that."

"Okay, I'm sorry Laura."

"Can I come over. I need to talk to you."

His voice also softened as he said, "Sure, I'll be here."

"Be right there," and she hung up. He had no idea how she would be. Unlike Nina had sounded, she didn't sound mad, so at least that was a good thing. 

When he opened the door for her, she walked into his arms and held him tightly without saying anything. His arms went around her and he bent his head down and softly kissed her neck as he inhaled the subtle sweet bouquet from her hair. He was hers for the asking from that point. He'd worried about her and he'd missed her and he was hurt when she wouldn't return his calls, but all of that was past. He could see that at least physically she was fine and they could work everything else out.

She looked up at him and touching his cheek she asked him, "Could we sit down and talk?"

"Of course, can I get you anything?"

"I'm fine, but thanks." She motioned for him to sit at the end of the couch and then she sat very close to him and turned slightly toward him. "Greg, I'm sorry about not calling you or coming over."

"Just tell me you're okay."

"I'm not sure I can do that right now."

"Was your visit out west a bad idea?"

"No, that isn't it...well not exactly anyway. It was a wonderful week. Mys were so sweet and caring, and Walt treated me like a queen the whole time."

"I'm glad it went so well, but...talk to me hon, what's going on?"

She licked her lips slowly as she worked to choose her words. "Greg...god I don't know how to explain my mess. After Wayne died you were there for me whenever I needed you. You seemed to sense what I needed and took such good care of me. Your patience and understanding were vital to my healing and I'll never forget any of that. Remember when you asked me to edit your story and I was so reluctant?"

He smiled and nodded saying, "Of course I remember all of that time."

"And then I started to ask for more chapters."

"Yes, I remember."

She hesitated at that point as her hand went to his arm and she looked deep into his eyes as she said, "Remember when we made love for so long and stayed in bed and talked?"

"Laura, I'll never forget that day. I'm at a loss for words to explain how much that meant to me."

"It was all so wonderful and liberating, and sexy and erotic. You have been and still are such a wonderful guy."

He knew she was working up to something, but he didn't have a clue what, so he just said, "I'm glad you think so."

Then with tears in her eyes she kissed him. What she was working up to saying had to wait then because a minute later, with her help, Greg was undressing her. Then they stood up and she undressed him and slipped down so she could take him in her mouth and taste his manhood. He was looking down at her and his right hand went to her pretty and soft hair. That only lasted a couple of minutes before they made their way to his bedroom where he watched her lie on her back before he joined her. The spread was still in place, but that was of no importance to them as their hands moved to explore and they kissed again and again. 

Like their first time together, there were no pronouncements of love or devotion, but they bathed each other in sweet flattery and tender words. His cock was as hard as it had ever been, and her emotional fragility seemed to pour out of her in the form of desire and physical need. Whatever was bothering her was lost in their lovemaking. There was no need for great urgency this time. No frantic fucking. They were tender with each other, but their carnal needs ruled and he was soon ramming into her. Then he'd pause and they would kiss and whisper to each other before he would pump into her again. Her legs were splayed wide, and then they were in the air or halfway around his waist and then her feet would be planted on the bed so she could push her pelvis up to meet his thrusts. His body was covered with a sheen of sweat and to him Laura looked like she was flushed from head to pussy.