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Karen Black Ch. 01

By: markelly



(This story is in two parts, I've often wondered if something is too good to be true, is it always the case. Human nature makes us wonder but sometimes when it stares you in the face, you do have to ask yourself, maybe... Just maybe.)

My very special thanks go to LSEiland, for her editing of both these chapters. 

*****

Being asked to step into my boss' office one sunny Monday morning and fed enough bull to make me want to throw up about how this company couldn't do without my talents... blah, blah, blah... did not start my week off all too well. I had zoned out and waited for the punch line. Not even I saw this one coming down the tracks- I was given one of those good news, bad news talks by my then boss.

The good news was I was being promoted to become one of the youngest department heads in the company. The bad news was the job promotion meant I had to up sticks and move to a new state. It seems our company was opening a new office in Houston and you can guess who they wanted to run the IT side.

I think what made my boss stall was how quickly he got me to agree. Hell, why not. My last relationship had recently cratered with most of our friends taking her side. When Jasmine decided to pull the plug on our relationship, she did a fine job of pulling up the drawbridge on the way out. For some reason she thought I would drop to my knees and beg her to stay.

When I didn't go crawling to her, she got pissed about it. This wasn't fitting her plans to leave me a broken wreck. Yes, Jasmine was a real piece of work and the false accusations and out and out lies that followed made me wonder who this woman really was. The accusations ranged from taking her ass while she was asleep to feeding drain cleaner to the neighbor's children.

All my time was spent countering her accusations that in the end, I just didn't have it in me to fight her anymore. At least we never made it past the engaged stage. Lord knows what I would have been worth when she finished divorcing me.

So for the last three months, all I seemed to be doing was drifting. A change was what I needed and if this company was going to pick up the bill for the move, and throw a promotion into the mix as well... Hell, why not.

Although I would never admit it to upstairs, it was one of my smarter moves. The team I found when I got here was a good bunch and reaffirmed to me that geeks make good computer people. We were actually working sixty hour weeks for the first two weeks- until I pulled everyone aside and reminded them they had a life outside of work.

Tony being the mouth of the group pointed out that I didn't. The room hushed some right about then. Poor Tony shifted on his feet and found the floor real interested just then. What could I do? The guy was right, so I did what this geek needed to do and checked the internet for locations of gyms in my area. Shortly, I found myself sitting with one of those personal trainers who asked what they could do for me.

I did stretch a point and ask if they could make me into an Adonis, but would settle for some exercises that made sure my stomach didn't extend over the waistband of my pants. Well the girl laughed, much to my relief. She let me down gently when she mentioned that the Adonis look may take a while, but she did get me started on the machines that would keep my waistline at bay. 

So there you have but a brief glimpse of my life as I huffed and puffed away on one of those pain machines. A man in his late twenties, head of IT in a city I had never been in until my promotion, staring at myself in one of those mirrors they always seem to place strategically around the room.

*******

Karen didn't make any sort of grand entrance, but you sure knew she came into the room. My attention was divided between the machine and Karen, simply because of what went on when she came in. The gym rats just nodded to her and continued to lift the equivalent of a truck engine at each end of a bar. The women looked and smiled, some waved, but everyone -and I do mean everyone- left her alone.

It was clear to me that she was known in this gym, yet not one person went up and talked to her. All I could say to describe Karen was that she was definitely a woman. I wasn't sure about the rest because she wore track bottoms and either a sweatshirt or track top. It was both her face and demeanor that made you look, and if you weren't careful, stare.

She was a brunette with hair that stopped short of the middle of her back. The eyebrows matched, so I figured the brunette in her came natural. There always seemed to be a look about her that made you smile as she passed, yet never initiate a conversation with her. She was never rude and when she did talk to the folks at the gym, they always felt like she had made their day.

One time I passed her and noticed her head height matched mine. She was five foot seven, although she never used her height to intimidate anyone. Her beauty was natural, what she looked like as she came into the gym would be what you saw when she woke next to you in the morning.

If a piece of equipment was already being used and Karen looked like she wanted to be next to use it, invariably the person using the machine would step aside. Not in fear. Karen never gave off that sort of vibe; it was just genuine respect that led to people cutting short their own fitness regime for her. She would always smile and thank the person. You could tell, even from across the room, that there never was any animosity about it.

So that's how my life was for the next three months- work, work, work. Did I mention I worked a lot, the typical no life guy? First one in the building and the last out; even then I didn't go home, instead heading for the gym. Sometimes I would see Karen every day, but then she would disappear for a week or so. Another thing about Karen was the tracksuits; she was never out of them.

She would train in one until the sweat seeped through, but it never came off in the gym. The change came in mid-June. The AC at the gym decided that it didn't want to play anymore. Most folks went home and some of those who stayed lost a couple of pounds in that sauna. Even I was thinking of heading home when Karen walked in.

Her routine was always different; today she had decided to bench press some weights after looking around for one of the gym assistants. When she couldn't find one, she asked one of the knuckle draggers to assist her. I swear that man added an inch in stature that Karen had not only spoke to him, but had asked for his help.

Karen set off with warm up weights but soon got into some impressive stuff. As she was lifting, the arm of her tracksuit got caught on something and ripped. Seeing the danger, he grabbed the bar while Karen slid out from the weights. His stature went up another inch when she thanked him. She then pulled her top off and for the first time, I noticed that Karen had tits and a very impressive set at that. The sports bra held them firm to her body, yet showed them in a glorious light.

It was as she once again lay on the bench that I spotted the bruise on her right side. About the size of my hand and very recent given the color. There were a couple on her arms and a smaller one on her left side. I watched for a while, yet the knuckle dragger didn't seem to notice the damage to this woman's body.

The last few of us left in the gym either didn't notice or care. It was that very moment that Karen Black became an enigma to me that would haunt my thoughts for days. How could a woman with such an aura about her be nothing but a punching bag? Why wasn't anyone in that gym the least concerned that one of their own was being beaten, and judging by the bruises, pretty badly as well.

The words 'it's none of my business' haunted every thought I had about her along with the words 'don't get involved.' Hell, I only knew her name because a couple next to me said it as she walked in with one of the gym assistants one day.

*******

Even though work was still full on, the demands from the folks upstairs started to ease off and my team actually managed to sit down for a few minutes a day. To us, that was a step in the right direction.

Tony still kept the badge on his chest as the mouthpiece of the team.

"You know boss, we've been here for just over eight months now and you haven't mentioned a girlfriend, boyfriend even."

As I looked up at him, he held up the family photo he had on his desk.

"You know your yearly evaluation is going to suck right? You know that when I fire your ass you won't have a reference worth shit?"

Tony shrugged his shoulders.

"What can I say, the team delegated me to look after you and make you feel welcome."

I laughed, and could see the relief on the faces of all in the room as well. I still didn't answer his question; knowing why saddened me slightly. The cratering of my last relationship and this promotion left me with no time to do much else than hit the gym for an hour or so, and go to bed after I had eaten.

Knowing that I had to break the cycle I was in, and actually do it, seemed to be the puzzle I was dealing with now that upstairs had started to ease the pressure on us all.

The unexpected manner of this cycle ending came in the form of a flower lady standing by the entrance to the gym. She looked like she could use a good meal, and the thirty I gave her for the flowers made her smile. The trouble was it left me with a bunch of flowers I had no use for. Keeping the red colored one and handing the rest to the nice lady at reception was all I could think to do.

She smiled and even held up her hand to show me her wedding ring. It simply made me laugh. I told her it was a thank you for her smile each day, not a bribe. As I made my way up the stairs to the changing room, I did notice that she stood to get something to put them in, rather than tossing them in the trash can. The machines kept me company as my thoughts once again drifted back to the comments Tony had made.

For months now I had no excuse. With the pressure easing on us all, there was no logical reason to continue this way. All my team had made that point very forcefully. It was also then that Karen came in and sat on the machine next to mine. Although she set about her exercise regime with some venom, it was plain to me she had something on her mind.

With a sigh, and visions of those bruises on her body I had seen some months earlier, I was still at a loss to decide if any of this was my business. It was also time to head on home. I had an early meeting in the morning and then onto a plane back to head office. As I picked up my bag, the flower came into view. Still my mind screamed it was none of my business, perhaps one day I will listen to myself.

Karen looked up as I stood in front of her, her hand automatically coming out to accept the flower. The confused look as she held it made me wonder if anyone, even a stranger like me, had ever given her flowers.

"Just remember you're never alone. People do care and wish you well. Take that to heart and choose the path that will help you achieve what your heart wants the most."

I didn't think I was being profound. Hell I was more shocked she didn't tell me to take a hike. She just smiled and thanked me before I left the building and drove back to my apartment.

Other than spending half the night staring at the ceiling, my mind went over what I had said to Karen, thinking that it was the stupidest thing I had ever said to a woman. Hell, thinking about it, I was even more amazed she didn't call security and have me tossed out of the building.

With a sigh and a thought that I really should get some sleep, I tried to think of a positive about the event at the gym. The only thing I could think of was that she didn't laugh in my face. Sleep took me soon after the flush of embarrassment subsided.

*******

The next ten days were a haze of meetings at head office. The good news was I got a slap on the back for the job we did to get the office up and running ahead of schedule. The bad news was there would be times they would send me places to do the same again. That wasn't such a big deal with me, since my social life sucked real bad anyway.

So with smiles all around, I headed back. Since it was late when I landed, heading home seemed the most logical thing to do.

Being updated from my team meant I was still at work well past office hours, sorting out the details. The gym got missed again that evening, but picking up my bag in the morning on the way out was a must. The receptionist at the gym waved and smiled as I passed her. That girl had the cutest smile.

I was deep into my session on my last machine when Karen came in. It was the voice that startled me; I hadn't even seen her until she spoke.

"You need to talk to one of the assistants. You're using that machine wrong; with your stance, you're placing too much stress on your lower back."

Turning to look at her made me smile. I hid the anger real well. Karen had her sweat top off and the bruises had moved to different parts of her body this time, but looked recent. I understood the advice of a total stranger wasn't worth shit, but why was she still putting up with the beatings? And why didn't her friends say something? That's what I didn't understand.

"Thank you, but the damage is already done. Skiing accident when I was twelve years old. My back now has a slight bend that the traction couldn't fix."

Karen winced as I explained, the smile returned soon enough though.

"Skiing sure sucks doesn't it?"

I thought for a moment, before mentioning that skiing didn't suck but rolling down the hill only for a tree to stop me from going any further sure did. Karen looked like she wanted to be sick about then.

I had to leave, seeing those bruises on her and the casual way she dismissed them started to make me sad.

"Thanks again for the advice and the flower. Although I noticed that Cheryl seemed to have got the better end of the flower deal. She kept them until they died. You have a fan for life with that girl."

I shrugged my shoulders. She was married, and I'm not a home wrecker. I liked Cheryl and her smile sure made my day.

"Advice is cheap; it's what we do with it that counts."

I knew I should have kept walking. The showers seemed to be calling to me, yet I stood and looked at her. Her eyes were captivating. The feeling that I should try just once more rushed at me and made itself known before my senses told my mouth to shut the fuck up.

"You have no idea how well people like you. I'm a casual observer and I see it. You have what it takes to turn this around, yet for some reason you don't feel you can. Look around you and see. Even the folks in this room alone would walk side by side with you on this. Stand and fight it Karen. You're not alone, you're never alone."

I had to force myself to stop, even biting my lower lip in case she sensed my anger growing at the casual manner she looked over the beating her body was taking, and the lack of anyone doing anything about it.

Even as I walked out of the gym and to my car, I still asked myself how anyone could treat a woman like her the way she was being treated.

That evening, I resolved to quit the gym. I liked Karen and wanted to get to know her better. The beatings she was taking showed she was already in a relationship. Hell, even I snorted at that thought - some relationship that is. But the evidence was in front of me. When she was just an enigma, I coped. When we started talking to each other, those dynamics changed.

*******

Work became my buddy again. Upstairs wanted two of the rooms converted into video conferencing rooms, so we set about putting in all the bells and whistles. We also used one of the smaller offices as a training room to familiarize the folks using the conference rooms with the equipment going in.

We finished three days ahead of schedule and one, or both of the rooms, seemed to be in constant use. I did insist on a service period for each of the rooms, and a roster went onto the door so the geeks didn't clash with the non-geeks. Houston started to get noticed by head office. The big boss was lavished with praise and as usual, the worker bees got ignored, or so I thought.

Three weeks after the completion of the conference rooms, I was summoned to head office. When my ass hit the seat, I was told that upstairs was so impressed with the work done at Houston on the video conferencing rooms that they were going to use them as a template for the rest of the company. Some rooms would only need updating, while others would have to be ripped out all together and replaced with more up-to-date technology.

I swear for a week while we worked out the details, conference room six looked like geek central. Come five o'clock that Friday, everyone was in a cab and heading for the airport. I wasn't stupid - no one was leaving until all the work was done and upstairs had signed off on it.

I was still in my hotel room packing when my cell went off. I never answer withheld number calls, but felt this time I had no choice, in case it was one of the bosses and there were questions.

"Hello?"

"Hi... It's Karen."

I went through every woman's name at head office in my head and couldn't come up with a Karen. The laugh on the other end sounded like she needed to fill in the gaps.

"And here I was thinking I was rather memorable; Karen from the gym."

Sitting down was a necessity. The pause was longer as well. I thought it best I spoke this time, and asked her how she got my number. It turns out I'm not the only one who could bribe Cheryl. Karen commented on the fact that I had left rather abruptly, and not returned. She listened to me telling her of the project that got dropped onto my lap and had taken all my time. I even added the trip to head office.

When she asked me where head office was, she practically squealed down the phone that she was in town for an event. Once my hearing came back, I asked her what event she was at.

"You're kidding right, the MMA event over at Tara-Plex Stadium? I tell you what, stay an extra night and come and watch me. I will leave a ticket at the reserved tickets counter for you, ok?"

I agreed, told her what hotel I was at, and she said that was only a couple of miles away, but to get a cab over by six so we could talk before the event started. Pulling my laptop out of my bag, I looked up the Stadium and then looked up what MMA was. I will say one thing; we geeks know nothing about sports. What an eye opener this was.

After adding another night to my room, getting a cab to the stadium got me there ten minutes early. The crowd already started to gather. It took me a moment to find the ticket counter and show them proof of ID before being handed a pass and told it would allow me backstage, as well as grant me a seat in the balcony overlooking the event.

Whoever Karen was, she could sure pull some strings. I did wonder how much this pass would go for any of the people waiting to come in through the front door. The woman at the ticket counter told me to come in and stand over by the wall. Someone was going to come for me. Still unsure what or why, I did it anyway. Five minutes later, some guy came up and checked my pass. There was not an inch on his arms, other than his hands, that didn't have a tattoo on it.

He smiled and introduced himself as Brad and asked me to follow him. And thank goodness he did, I would never have worked out the labyrinth of corridors and doors we went through to finally come up to a single door. He knocked once and when he heard something, opened it and let me in, closing the door behind me.

Karen sat on a table in the middle of the room in shorts and a tight top, her hair held back and tied to form a tight ponytail. I would like to think of myself as polite, but even my jaw dropped.


Karen Black Ch. 01



"Are you ok, you look like you've seen a ghost?"

"I'm... I'm... Sorry, I'm more used to seeing you in tracksuits. Seeing this much of you, I needed a moment to digest."

Once she finished laughing, she got off the table and pointed to a couch she was walking toward. We met in the middle and I thought it prudent to put a little space between us. For a moment, she looked intensely at me and I couldn't help but feel like I was under a microscope.

"You really don't know who I am, do you? It occurred to me back at the gym a couple of times, but I thought everyone knew me at the gym so by extension, my assumption was you did as well."

Before I could answer, there was a knock at the door. Brad leaned in,

"Sorry Karen, but you've been pushed up to second bout. We need to get your guest up on the balcony and you in place."

Karen nodded and looked towards me,

"Please stay, we can talk later."

Brad coughed and pointed to his watch. Karen shrugged, and I stood and went with Brad. We made it to my seat as the first two contestants were being introduced. I don't remember much other than it looked like an intense fight. The crowed sure enjoyed it. They had only just calmed when Karen's match was announced... And all hell broke loose.

The noise made it impossible for the announcer to be heard anymore. The vibrations around the whole stadium were felt beneath my feet as the two contenders walked into the octagon. The woman facing Karen had a good three inches on her and, judging by her stance, she was pure muscle.

Both women stared at each other for a moment, before taking a step back and turning to stand against the walls of the octagon. As Karen turned, she looked up at me. I felt so cold. I'm not even sure I knew the person looking up at me, her eyes were so dark and her features, that always seemed to be so relaxed and calm, were now hard and callous. After a pause, she walked to the line in the middle and waited.

*******

I watched in stunned silence as Karen took her opponent to pieces, much to the crowd's pleasure. Her opponent retreated and regrouped, surprised by her onslaught. A few kicks and punches to the body gained her some respite, forcing Karen back against the wall of the octagon. I'm sure there are names for the kicks and punches that each dealt the other, but since this was my first ever visit to one of these events, all I saw was two women trying to kill each other.

Karen lifted her arms to protect her body, keeping her elbows close in. My mind compared her stance to a boxer. It was also now that I knew where the bruises she sported at the gym came from. Karen seemed to absorb a great deal of punishment before her knee came up, forcing her opponent to take a half pace back. The crowd bayed for blood. Two kicks later, Karen's opponent had to take another pace backwards.

The more knowledgeable within the crowd spotted what Karen was doing and the volume increased to fever pitch once again. The onslaught was one sided after that. Karen forced the woman backwards with continuous kicks and punches, her own face showing pain with each landed punch. Suddenly Karen's arm hooked under her opponents arm and twisted, forcing her over her opponent's body. She landed with a thud that was never heard above the crowd. Karen went to ground with her opponent to finish the event.

The ref stepped in then. Karen was up on her feet and bounced around the octagon to thunderous cheers and applause. She smiled, and her whole being glowed. I had seen her smile, and even laugh, at some joke one of the gym rats had told her, but I had never seen Karen glow. It's the only way I can describe what that woman bouncing around the octagon looked like that evening.

I couldn't stay. A few hours ago this world was unknown to me. My comfort zone was my computers, and yet here I was watching Karen beat another woman into submission. This Karen wasn't the one I had seen and talked to at the gym. Violence in my world simply didn't exist. My world was all spreadsheets and computers, meetings and schematics, long range projections and fellow geeks.

I sat in my room and recounted the evening, desperately fighting the urge to get drunk. The knock at the door was hesitant; it took a moment for me to even realize it was the door, and not just my imagination.

Karen was standing in the hallway, as our eyes met I could tell she was just as nervous as I was. With a sigh, I took a step back and let her in.

"You left."

Nodding my head wasn't enough for her. Karen's eyes stayed on me, demanding more as I motioned her to a seat, even offering her a drink. When half the bottle of water disappeared in seconds, I figured I was right to offer her one.

"You have to understand, what I saw tonight was all new to me."

Karen looked so intensely at me. Holding her stare was easy, there was nothing in me to hide, what I had said was the truth. After a moment she just shrugged her shoulders, placed the water on the table next to my laptop, and stood.

"Sorry... I just assumed you knew who I was and when you gave me such good advice and it won me my match, I was almost certain you knew."

She sighed once again, apologized, and walked towards the door. This was the Karen I knew, not the one who could flip a switch in her head and physically destroy another human being with thousands of people watching and cheering her on. Her hand got as far as the handle of the hotel room door before I spoke again.

"It's obvious that you came straight from the arena. Go take a bath and relax for a while, I'll get room service up and will knock when it's arrives."

The pause as her hand hovered over the handle made me think I had been over familiar. It would have been understandable if she had thought that. Not even I knew where her next statement came from.

"How will I know you won't take advantage of me when I get naked?"

Her shoulders shook and eventually she giggled. Hell, even I laughed as I stood and opened the bathroom door for her. She turned and looked at me. The smile was genuine, just as we both knew that if she had left my room right then, we would never have spoken to each other again.

"You're kidding right. After what I watched tonight I'm never going to be picking a fight with you. Go get a bath. I would offer one of my world famous massages but I never give one of those out until at least the third date."

Karen laughed as she passed me.

"Oh? Sounds interesting. Well since tonight could be classified as a date, I have one down, two to go."

She twisted her side, bumping her hip into mine as she passed - her sweatshirt already off her body before the door to the bathroom was closed. I thought it wise to allow her body to soak for a while before ordering anything from room service. The news station was on, but not a lot of it soaked in as my eyes kept wandering from the TV to the bathroom door.

I knocked once room service had left. I knocked louder the next time. The sound of water splashing made me smile; Karen had fallen asleep in the bath. I forewarned her I was opening the door enough to pass something into the room, and did before she said anything about it. My hand held one of my shirts and dropped it onto the bathroom floor before the door closed again. Karen came out five minutes later in my shirt, a confused look on her face.

"Is there a reason I'm wearing one of your shirts? I could have just gotten dressed again. It wouldn't have been a bother, although this is a nice shirt by the way."

My smile made it to her before the hidden reason why did.

"Karen, you came straight from the arena after your contest. What would be the reason for having a bath, only to put on sweaty clothes again?"

Politeness made me stop there. I could also have added that she also looked hot dressed like that and smelled a lot better as well. Karen thought about it for a moment before shrugging her shoulders and sitting down to eat. Well, again I'm being polite. She would have beaten a plague of locusts to her plate and had finished her drink before I got half way through mine. Pushing my plate towards her and her understanding why turned her beet red.

"Sorry, I burn a lot of calories when I fight."

I understood her statement just as I smiled while her gaze still alternated between me and my plate. She held off asking for another couple of seconds before she caved and went on to finish mine. All I could do was sit in wonder at where the heck she put it all. The shorts and top I saw her in for the contest proved that none of what she was eating sat on any part of her long enough to encourage friends of theirs to visit and stay for a while.

Her burp was unexpected, but funny. She turned a different color red this time. I stacked the plates while Karen went and sat in the middle of the bed. I chose the chair and moved it slightly since she was crossed legged and airing parts of her I shouldn't be seeing. The conversation turned to her. Born Karen Sharon Black and if I dare call her that, be ready to spend time in hospital.

She still hadn't forgiven her folks for that one. The youngest of four children, the three oldest were all boys, so she learned from a real early age to stand up for herself. She took her education into the army and ended up an unarmed combat instructor. When the papers for her re-enlistment were put in front of her with the incentive of promotion, something in her said no.

"I can't explain it. I had everything, my life was just perfect as far as I was concerned and yet I refused to sign up again. I knew there was nothing out there for me, and yet I turned my back on the one thing I got out of bed with enthusiasm for every morning." 

As a civilian, she kept fit in a gym and moved on to MMA soon after. It turned out the money she won off the back of her contests bought the gym I worked out at. That made me smile. I was in my hotel room with the boss of the gym. No wonder the gym rats left her alone. When Karen stared at me, waiting for my life story, I blushed slightly. It was nowhere near as exciting as hers.

Born Martin Anderson, both folks died in a car accident when I was ten and then was raised by my aunt. The insurance from the accident paid for my education. Passed third out of MIT and then on to IT. Karen waited for more. When none was forthcoming, she went looking.

"Married?"

"Nope, came close once but I found out she decided that life as a wife would restrict her social life too much."

"That doesn't make sense. You can have a social life and be married."

It was as she finished her statement that she realized what I had meant. The nod of her head and the 'oh' meant she understood. It was my turn to ask.

"Why me?"

Karen went beet red again. 

"I thought you were my muse."

As I leaned forward on my chair waiting to hear this, Karen took her story back to the flower. She was in negotiation to fight the only woman to beat her. She wasn't sure if she wanted to do that now or leave it until next year, when the fans would be more and more eager to see that match once the publicity people stirred the pot a little.

"Please bear in mind I still thought you knew who I was, ok?"

The nod of my head was enough. She told me that in her eyes, while she was at the gym thinking about the deal on the table, I had walked up and told her to fight that opponent. The flower was a nice touch since it was her favorite. She looked at it as a sign, and signed on the line. Karen won the fight, hence the bruises I saw on her at the gym.

"It wasn't until I got into this game that I realized that we are a superstitious bunch. One moment I'm thinking about whether to sign on the line or not, and the next you get in my face and you utter those words that, even now, I can say word for word. 'Just remember you're never alone. People do care and wish you well. Take that to heart and choose the path that will help you achieve what your heart wants the most."

Now it was my turn to turn beet red as she recited those same words I used with her. Karen made herself more comfortable on the bed. I had seen that look before, she had said enough, it was my turn.

"The folks I work with are a great bunch, but also quick to point out that I was all work. Since I was in a gym back home, out of habit, I decided to return to it. The way people acted around you made me look closer. Not one person in that gym has a bad word to say about you."

Karen once again blushed. She took in a lung full of oxygen to calm and hold the redness threatening to creep up her neck at bay, before she gave me one of those smiles once again.

"The day you came close to having an accident on the bench press and took off the track top is when I noticed the bruises."

My memory of the anger that rose within me that day came again, as did the embarrassment of finally finding out the truth.

"My assumption was that you were in an abusive relationship. What angered me was that the guy you had helping you either didn't notice or didn't care."

The hotel room erupted with laughter. Karen fell back onto the bed, holding her stomach while laughing. As she did, the shirt rolled up her body and her pussy came into view. With all my might, I pulled my eyes back towards the laughing woman rolling around the bed. Finally her senses came back to her and she once again sat crossed legged on the bed, her arm outstretched towards me.

"Good evening, allow me to introduce myself. I'm Karen. I own a gym in Houston, and I also fight in an organization known as MMA."

We smiled. I held out my hand and we both shook on it. As our eyes locked on one another, something also seemed to change between us. As my hand came away she looked at the time on my watch. She frowned slightly and then looked back at me.

"It's getting late and we both have to travel home tomorrow. Do you sleep naked?"

I blurted out that I usually do, before my mind realized the question. This time I tuned beet red. The smile from Karen was as disarming as ever.

"Well I'm sleeping here tonight, and if you're ok with wearing underwear to bed, I could do with the body contact."

It was clear to see from her eyes, and the anxious look, that she was worried I would want more. The nod of my head was enough. I even went to my suitcase and tossed a spare toothbrush, still in its wrapping, onto the bed. She gave a squeal and climbed off the bed, wrapped her arms around me, and gave me a kiss on the cheek before heading for the bathroom once again.

*******

The room was dark. The feeling from my loins told me something was definitely going on and the faint slurping sounds between my legs reaffirmed everything. My body put my senses on hold and told them to stay there. Minutes later, I erupted into Karen's mouth. She stayed attached to me until I had gone down and then put my cock back into my underwear.

"I know you're awake, and thank you for not asking for more, but your cock had been stuck between the cheeks of my ass half the night and I just couldn't get to sleep. Now that that's out of the way, I can."

The kiss on the lips tasted of us, and was a warm acceptance that this woman couldn't be rushed. Karen turned and backed into me. Her hand searched for mine and held it, traveling up her warm body until my hand came into contact with her breast before she would let go.

"It's not much of a consolation for you, but I can promise you no man has been where you are now for sometime. I don't know where we are going or if you wish to travel this route again. I'm sorry, but I can't give you anymore of myself right now."

Her voice broke once as she spoke. Being attached to her via my hand, I felt her shudder ever so slightly as she finished speaking. Part of her was trying to tell me more - another part was preparing itself for the worst. I gave her breast a small squeeze to let her know that I understood and added to my reply by moving my lower body away from her another couple of inches. She would have felt me start to grow again otherwise, and I couldn't allow that right now.

For a woman I had seen not more than six hours ago take another woman bigger than herself to pieces with a crowd of thousands watching, she was feeling ever so vulnerable. She sighed and I thought I heard something from her, yet it was intermingled with those funny little noises we all make when we are content and happy to share something about us with those we care about. Karen had placed her trust in me. We are all vulnerable when we sleep, and tonight that gift was mine to hold onto until she woke.

The sun was up when my eyes opened. The clock on the cabinet showed me that it was later than I expected. My room was empty. A part of me was sad, yet I knew as I showered and got dressed that I had made a friend that night. The geek in me wanted to get my laptop out and find out all about her; the man in me refused to violate what little privacy she had fought so hard to hang onto. Perhaps when it was time, I would know the Karen that she wanted me to know and if she did, then I would be the one richer for it.

I headed straight back to the office when I landed, sat down with the big boss, and we talked for over an hour about my meeting at head office. Our conclusion was the same; Huston had stolen a march on the other branches of the company and although the boss had gained points over it, he knew that it wouldn't take long for us to be one amongst many once again.

Catching up with paperwork meant that I had to give the gym a miss that evening. The next day gave me a lesson in seeing but not looking. It also gave me a lesson in talking and listening. As I walked into reception at the gym, Cheryl waved and I stopped. She dipped under her counter and came out with a bag.

"Washed and ironed for you. Karen said thanks for the loan and from me, thank you for keeping her company. She needed it."

Her attention then went to the young lady behind me, and I was left to look into the bag to find the shirt I had loaned to Karen. As confused by all this as I was, the autopilot in me took over and pointed me in the direction of the changing rooms and then onto the gym floor. I was an hour into punishing myself on the machines before Karen sneaked up on me.

"You're still using the machine wrong."

I smiled when I heard her.

"Do you think I should sue the gym for not giving me the required instruction?"

The laugh that followed made me smile.

"I'm starving, want to go to dinner?"

"Is this a bribe?"

"Hell yeah, get showered, I will meet you downstairs at Cheryl's desk."

Cheryl had as big a grin on her face a Karen had. She then pointed to one of the walls. A huge picture of Karen, in the middle of planting a kick to the side of some woman in one of her competitions, hung on the wall. I'm told, although I will flat out deny it to my dying breath that the same picture hung on that same wall all the time I had been going to the gym.

To change the topic as quickly as I could, I gave Karen the option of picking where we went to eat. The waiter in the family-owned Italian restaurant two blocks down took one look at Karen as she came in and quickly escorted us to the tables in the back. We were still there when the owner started to turn the lights off. We found ourselves holding hands on the way back to the gym.

"Please don't freak when we discuss this, but I talk with Cheryl a lot. She seems to think that although you will accept what I do, you won't like it. I can understand that, but it's my life."

"Totally agree with Cheryl. You are who you are Karen, and I refuse to make you change to be someone you're not."

That comment alone earned me a hand squeeze. We stopped at a door next to the main doors to the gym. It seemed when she bought the building to turn into a gym, Karen decided that the ideal solution was to have an apartment built at the top for her. I got a punch on the arm when I told her I would check to see if that was tax deductible.




Karen Black Ch. 01



She pointed to the open kitchen and told me how she liked her coffee. She came out of the bedroom the same time I was pouring hers into a mug. The t-shirt she was wearing left nothing to the imagination, other than the initial eye strain before the gentleman in me stopped staring and focused on her face.

"That's date number two. Want to order the lotions for this world famous massage of yours, or do you keep them handy?"

Thinking she was joking with me, I said, "Nope, tossed them when I left home and set up home here."

As she passed a table, she scooped up a piece of paper and handed it to me, in exchange for her coffee. She watched as I read the address on it while sitting crossed legged once again on the couch.

"Thought you would have when you told me about you're ex. That shop will see you right for what you want. It's just down the block from were you work as well. You're going to need them by Friday, since that's going to be our third date and it is Chinese night, by the way."

Curiosity got the better of me I must admit.

"And if I have something already on for Friday?"

She smiled. I think she was expecting my question.

"You're not going to let me get away with pushing you around are you?"

This time I sat across from her and although the gentleman in me kept eye contact with her, she knew it was a battle I would loose in the end. I'm not sure she factored in all the alternatives either. Especially when I placed my cup down, leaned over, and kissed her on the cheek before I stood and left.

*******

My aunt raised me, and she did it alone. She placed her life on hold and not once did she resent me because of what she did. To her, I was family. Although when she asked me the day before my fifteenth birthday what I wanted, and answered that I would like to meet her girlfriend, she had to sit down before she could find an answer for me. I met Brandi the day after my birthday, but only because she was out of town at the time.

Brandi moved in ten days later when I told them to stop treating me like a child and that we only ever get one life to live - so please live it, together if they wanted that, but live it. I learned a lot from them both, right up until I went to MIT. I saw love in its truest form from them, and wished the same for myself one day. Learning something else took slightly longer. If your partner has already started making plans for you without at least making it look like she asked you, then your toast.

My aunt and Brandi discussed everything. What they couldn't decide on went to conference, and a middle ground was found. Not once did one dominate the other and that's what I wanted for myself. The drawback to my life was that I was a geek. So what, I was born with a brain and knew how to use it and was fine with the fact that every other part of me was Joe average. The days of being pushed around by anyone ended when I went to MIT.

As usual, my back up plan came into effect and work took over again. I'm not sure if Karen made any attempt to contact me, since I still had my aversion to answering calls on my cell from withheld numbers. When Tony sat down across from me, the honorary member of the 'look after the boss club' came into effect again.

"Who are you avoiding?"

This time I leant back in my chair, the smile still there.

"If I asked you guys to leave this alone?"

He shook his head.

"Won't happen... You're our boss, and a not half bad one at that. We plan on keeping you around, so it's a double whammy for us. Not only do we get paid well, but the boss has our backs rather than just looking after his own ass."

Sometimes we geeks are just to honest with ourselves. Hell it took more than a moment to finish laughing. Tony wasn't going anywhere, so he could wait.

"Believe it or not, girl trouble, although it's been resolved now."

For a moment Tony just looked at me before he shrugged his shoulders and stood, before walking to the door of my office. His hand was on the door handle before he spoke again.

"You're a bad liar, and the reason I know that is because you wear your heart on your sleeve. Oh, and by the way..."

His hand pressed down on the handle and the door opened. Tony took a step to one side to finish what he was saying, although the person standing in the doorway made it obvious to me what he planned to say.

"It hasn't been resolved."

Once Cheryl thanked Tony, she looked at me again before she pulled air into her lungs and walked in, sitting in the chair that Tony had just vacated. It was clear by her eyes that she was a woman on a mission. Judging by the way she fidgeted in her seat, she was just unsure how she was going to proceed.

"You left Karen on the couch with no idea why you left."

She actually stuck her chin out. The self-righteous bitch thought she was on a crusade.

"Do you know why we get called geeks, nerds, dweebs and all those other names your cheerleading goody-two-shoes crowd always called us, Cheryl?"

The crusade stalled right about then. Hell, I had time to spare and my mood needed someone to vent at. Shit, she came here; I didn't go looking for her.

"I was raised by my aunt, Cheryl. I had a great life and a broadminded upbringing. I learned what a lesbian was, and my aunt and her girlfriend taught me tolerance. I'm not a homophobe of any kind, Cheryl. Just as I knew what you were the minute I joined the gym. It took me longer to figure out who your partner was though, and then I got real confused."

Cheryl flushed. Her mouth opened for a moment before she shut it, only for it to open again. The poor girl didn't know what to do or say after that. Her hand went to her wedding ring and subconsciously she moved it around her finger.

"Both your actions leave me real confused Cheryl, and I'm not comfortable with the drama. Karen pushed me too far in thinking she could tell me what to do. I'm no home wrecker, Cheryl, so I left you two in peace to get on with whatever seems to be your kink. I sure don't want any of it."

I had obviously said something that tipped the scaled for Cheryl. Her eyes bored into mine for sometime before she started to shake with rage.

"That makes you a fucking hypocrite then. You know nothing because you bailed before she could talk to you. You call yourself broadminded? Huh, we would get more change out of the clan than you, you fucking bigot."

I'm sure the slight smile on my part only spurred her on. She stood and leaned across my desk.

"Dinner is at seven thirty at the apartment, and we will both be there. You have a decision to make 'Mr. so open-minded.' Be there, or I cancel your membership in the morning."

At that, she stomped towards the door. All I heard was...

"Fucking men, no wonder us girls turn to pussy in the end."

Tony stuck his head in a couple of minutes later. I'm almost sure he expected to see my broken body on the floor, the way Cheryl stormed out. I phoned down to Gail, and after we exchanged pleasantries, I asked how many days holiday I had accrued. I thanked her and went to see my boss. Thankfully I was still one of his shining stars, so he agreed to my very late notice time off as long as I could catch up on outstanding paperwork.

When I got back to my office, I called over to Tony and Naomi, walked them into my office, and laid down the ground rules.

"Tony, I thank you for being the mouthpiece of the group and, as you know, I have let you get away with more than I should because I know the true feeling you folks place behind it. Now that stops. I have a mountain of paperwork I need doing, and all three of us are going to be here until it's done. So keep your mouth and your opinion to yourself and let's get this done."

Both he and Naomi stiffened. It was boss time and they both knew it. As five o'clock came on by, I only had some internal mailing to do, so I let them go. I was out the office by six and on the plane home two hours later.

*******

Brandi opened the door. She looked confused for a second before she leapt into my arms and kissed me.

"What the hell happened to your key, or is that why we haven't seen you in years?"

My aunt heard Brandi talking to someone and came looking. I ended up with both of them in my arms and I hadn't even made it as far as the hall yet. They both knew me too well, but at least I made it to the couch before I told them everything. Brandi asked a question on occasions, my aunt just sat and listened. When I was done talking I was exhausted, both mentally and physically. My aunt told me to go to bed and sleep it off, they would both talk to me in the morning.

As I woke, I was staring into Karen's eyes. My first thought was that I was still dreaming, that the vision I was having was the residue of my conversation with my aunt and Brandi. She blinked and didn't say a word.

"I sleep naked."

This time she smiled.

"I know. Would it help if I took my t-shirt off?"

"No. But thank you for asking."

"You ran off."

This time I nodded.

"Cheryl left me no choice. I don't handle threats or blackmail too well. She came to my place of work, that's not acceptable. With you two the gym is your place of work. It's also where you both live, so we have no choice. My work is my refuge. Cheryl didn't have to do what she did. The second she got in my face you were both history."

"I came to see you."

"I know. You're semi-naked in my bed."

"If I kissed you, would you respond?"

This time I paused. Karen took that as an agreement until my hand came between us.

"My body would respond because I have a beautiful, almost naked, woman in my bed. My mind would wonder why you are cheating on your partner."

"Cheryl and I talked before I got on the plane. Her words were 'fix this by any means possible.' She's protective of us, but she knows she pushed too hard and too fast."

"And fixing everything means cheating on your partner?"

Karen slowly shook her head. Perhaps she saw some sort of trap that my words were sending her to. I was just asking questions.

"If I explain, will you listen?"

That seemed like a fair question.

"How long will it take?"

Now Karen was confused.

"Is there a time limit?"

I shook my head.

"No, it's called nature. I have to pee and I'm wondering if it would be better if we wait until I have, or is there an abridged version you want to pass by me?"

The flush of her cheeks and the little giggle even made me smile. Since my side of the bed was against the wall, the only way to the bathroom was over Karen. She backed away from me, enough for me to climb over her and walk into the bathroom.

"Cute ass."

"This is me not listening, Karen."

Again she giggled. Only this time, she told me why.

"You may not be listening to me, but I can hear you."

Since I had no chance of stopping once I got started, I left Karen to giggle some more. The volume got louder and seconds later, she came into the bathroom and sat down once I had finished. Moments later she added to mine. I was naked in front of her, but this was my room, my comfort zone perhaps. As I stood cleaning my teeth, Karen pulled a couple of sheets from the roll, held my dick, and dapped the end.

It was then I stopped cleaning my teeth and looked at what she was doing. 

"Hygiene, most important, don't you think?"

There was something about this situation that had only just hit me, I was actually in a room naked with Karen, and yet I didn't have an erection.

"Only just noticed, huh?"

When I looked at Karen, she was just pulling more sheets off the roll. Her legs opened and her hand went between her thighs.

"Why are you in my head?"

She stood and flushed, then turned and kissed my cheek.

"Remember, ladies first for the shower, although, if you want... You can join me."

"Are you always like this?"

I watched as she reached into the shower, turned it on, and tested the warmth of the water. She dried her hands on a towel and then looked at me. A slight chill went through me as I felt her stare, as though she herself was within me. Her cheeks took on a redder color and she smiled before her hand came to rest on my cheek. Her thumb gently moved up and down it.

"Only with Cheryl... We need to talk. I want it to be with all three of us, but I'm willing to go it alone if I have to."

"Why?"

Again that stare, only the smile was missing this time. She hugged me and then turned her back on me.

"No, you're not ready to listen just yet. Your aunt and Brandi are lovely by the way. I'm about to get naked, so I can have my shower. Care to join me or will I see you at breakfast?"

Her hands went to the bottom of her t-shirt and pulled it over her head. She held it close to her tits and turned her head, waiting for my answer. I backed out of the bathroom and closed the door as I did. She was still in the shower when I pulled on track bottoms and a top.

My aunt and Brandi were sitting at the table waiting. They knew I had questions, and facing them together was always their way.

"Ok, which one of you ratted me out?"

My aunt raised her hand. I had to stifle a laugh, this wasn't a classroom.

"I found her via the internet. Brandi phoned the gym, and Cheryl answered. When we explained who we were, she put us on hold for a few minutes so she could get Karen, and asked one of the gym girls to cover for her while they both talked to us."

"You shouldn't get involved."

Brandi held onto my aunt's hand before speaking.

"That statement became void the second you turned up here and told us everything. You are family. You came to us for answers we simply couldn't give you. Karen and Cheryl can. With their help, they will give you the answers you are looking for, but are you willing to listen?"

Even after I got myself a cup of coffee and sat down, I didn't have an answer for them.

"What ever happened to normal?"

The silence was longer this time. I heard the water shut off and looked towards my aunt and Brandi.

"You're asking two lesbians what normal is. Society tells you a couple and two children are deemed normal. So by extension, we almost had normal for many years. We are a couple and we had one child, you. Would you class what you had with Jasmine normal?"

I shook my head.

"Jasmine was a controlling bitch. When she figured out she couldn't have every male piece of cake and eat it while I was part of the equation, she dropped me and pulled the lid over me on the way out."

Brandi nodded. I'm sure they had heard some of the rumors. I'm just thankful they left well alone and understood when I took the promotion and left. Karen came down in a summer dress and sandals. She picked up a coffee on the way to the table and sat down next to me. Karen was waiting for me to look at her. I could feel it in my bones. I held out for as long as I could, before seeing that smile on her face again.

"Your turn smelly, I put dry towels in the bathroom for you. And mine are in the basket, if you want to sniff them on the way through."

My aunt spat back into her cup and quickly excused herself. Brandi smiled, and I went beet red. My aunt had to change her top before she came back. I showered. All three were deep in conversation when I came back into the kitchen. They waited until I sat down before Karen said anything.

"I was going to start this conversation with 'do you trust me,' but that would rain shit all over this before I even got started. So I'm going to ask this of you... Will you give me three days of your life? I guarantee you won't get hurt, but if you say no then I will kiss you once more before I leave you, with the promise I will never come into your life again."

Everyone at the table was looking at me, waiting for my answer.

"Why three days?"

"It's a good question, but you don't get an answer. I've told your aunt and Brandi what I plan and have sworn them to secrecy. But they are your folks, and if they thought for one moment that I mean you harm, they would be telling you this by now."

Even as I looked towards them both, they were nodding their heads. My aunt could still see me hesitating.

"Three days of your life is nothing son. At the end, you will at least have the answers we can't give you. Would you prefer to say no and always wonder 'what if?' That's not life, son, that's being a coward and I know you're better than that."

I knew there was more to this scheme that all the women in this room knew about. Trying to figure out what else was concealed within her one statement of me giving her three days of my life would be futile. I still wondered if she would tell me if I asked. As I looked around the table at all three women, I knew the answer would be 'no.' Karen wanted me to ask, so she would know I was curious. And if I was that curious, then she had an edge.

Perhaps my own stubbornness won out, I'm not totally sure. Her hand came towards mine and gently held onto it, forcing me to look at her. For the first time in Karen, I had seen uncertainty.

"This isn't a romance novel where chapter one leads to chapter two. We came to each other from different angles. Our worlds truly collided back at the arena. Give me three days of your life, and I mean really give me three days, don't bolt for the door, sulk, or get angry with anything that's going to be shown to you. At the end of three days, decide, but decide when you know all the facts, not assumptions."

Again I looked at Karen. She was emotionless, waiting for my answer. When I looked towards my aunt, Brandi was holding her hand. My aunt's fingers were blue.

"Please hurry up and decide before Brandi breaks my fingers."

Poor Brandi let out a yelp, and quickly let go. My aunt smiled with relief and started to flex her hand, trying to get the blood flowing once again. I laughed. Hell, we all laughed.

"Ok."

Karen felt she had to push her luck just a little.

"Unconditional -three days, then you decide- and I won't even have a gun in my hand when you do."

I thought a moment longer and nodded my head. I was sure the smile she gave me was going to split her face.

*******

Karen disappeared for an hour with Brandi. The temptation to get answers from my aunt was quickly dismissed. Ever since my parents died, she has always had my best interests at heart, even sacrificing huge parts of her own relationship with Brandi to do it.

Both came crashing through the door, bags in hand. Brandi rushed upstairs with her bags. My aunt followed, collecting Karen's bags from her on the way past. Karen met me in the day room, sitting next to me on the couch.

"Ok, everything is set. We leave in twenty minutes, so give your aunt and Brandi a hug. You will see them in three days."

I smiled to myself as we drove down the highway. At least she hadn't insisted on a blindfold. She kept to herself as we got closer into the city, hooking a right at the junction and pulling up outside a hotel, with the engine still running.

"Don't forget your suitcase. Just head on into the hotel, you won't make it as far as the reception desk, I promise you."

The look she had left with gave me little doubt that the conversation was over. Karen leaned into me and kissed my cheek. There seemed to be a sadness that I couldn't understand. She gave me a smile, took her hand away and placed it back on the wheel.

Karen refused to move until I headed for the hotel door. Once I heard the car move, I stopped for a moment and watched as she merged with the traffic. Taking a deep breath, I walked into the hotel. I was ten yards from the reception desk before I felt Cheryl walking alongside me. We reached reception together; her hand came towards me.

"Your cell, please."

As I reached into my pocket, she was already taking hers out of her purse and placing it onto the counter. Mine came to rest next to hers. The receptionist watched all this and waited. Cheryl showed the woman her swipe card and the receptionist recognized it.




Karen Black Ch. 01



"We're in the Clearwater suite. Could you put both our cells in the hotel safe for me, please? To say we don't want to be disturbed until tomorrow when we check out would be a gross understatement."

The receptionist smiled. Her neck went slightly red as well. She covered well though when she leaned under the counter and came up with a large brown envelope, placed both phones into it, asked both Cheryl and me to sign the seal. With a pen, she wrote 'Clearwater suite' onto it and took it into the office behind reception, coming back with a receipt which Cheryl placed into her purse.

By now the bellboy had my suitcase and we followed him into the elevator and to our suite. I tipped him, even though Cheryl had her own purse out. She gave me one of those looks.

"I hold doors open for women as well, Cheryl. It's called being a gentleman. My folks raised me to be one."

She blushed and looked a little guilty with her assumptions.

"I know, sorry."

At least she relaxed a little. She pointed to a door across the room.

"That's the bedroom. Please get changed into shorts and a t-shirt, the bathroom is the door at the far end of the bedroom."

I think she was surprised when I just picked up my case and walked into the bedroom. I had given them three days, and refused to spend any of it asking questions that wouldn't get answered or to just be told that it wasn't time yet.

Cheryl was sitting on the couch when I came back in. She must have had clothes stashed in the room because she was dressed the same as I was. With a bottle of champagne and two glasses, she patted the cushion next her and I sat down. Since it seemed that these two women knew the rule, I kept my peace and sipped from my glass.

"You're not a big alcohol drinker, I know that. There are soft drinks in the fridge."

My first instinct was to ask how they knew that. My second was to realize that my aunt and Brandi had been busy. She caught me by surprise when she swung her legs over me and rested them on my lap. Cheryl waited for me to say something, I didn't.

"You call yourself a geek and nerd and all the rest of those words. For every time you got stuck with the word geek, I was called Barbie. For every time you got called a nerd, I was called an airhead."

I leaned over Cheryl's legs and placed my glass back onto the coffee table. She waited until I sat back.

"We are all guilty of name-calling. I had to go into your file to find out your first name. To most at the gym, you're invisible. Oh, we know you're there, but you come in -do the required amount of work that your trainer asked of you for your fitness regime- and then go home."

This time it was Cheryl that placed her drink onto the coffee table.

"I have you for a full day. You promised not to run, thank you. I caused you to run the first time, which is why I asked Karen to do it this way. It's down to me to make this right."

Even as I watched her, she showed uncertainty. I couldn't prompt her because I still had no clue. In the end, we guys resort to form. We sit and keep quiet while the women around us figure out what they have to say.

"Karen and I grew up across the street from each other. They say opposites attract, well that was us. Karen was the tomboy, while I was the Blondie. Karen did track, while I was the cheerleader. The saying was true back then... I got the quarterback, while Karen joined up."

Once again she paused as she reached for her drink, took a sip and continued. She went onto college with Rick. He even got noticed by a couple of scouts. Rick's opinion of himself became too much. He seemed to believe the world now revolved around him, and Cheryl had to take a back seat. As Rick's ego fed on itself, Cheryl was reduced to a bystander.

Her sorority helped her, and she decided to let go of Rick since he had made it clear to her that he was going pro at the end of college anyway. There just didn't seem to be enough hours in the day for practice, him, socializing, him, chasing other women, and him.

He only just held his grades together enough to stop himself from getting kicked out of college. With the last couple of months of the football season left, he was sacked and stretchered off with a blown knee, the end of his hopes to turn pro. It was only then he looked around and found that Cheryl had moved on. That's when he went full on to reconnect with her.

"I'm told love is blind. Boy was I a poster girl for that statement. My old love for him resurfaced and the shit way he treated me before we broke up soon got forgotten. We married soon after college. I got a job with an insurance agency and he ended up a car salesman."

It seems the resentment grew as her first promotion meant she earned more than he did. The drink took hold and the beatings became a regular thing. He would cry and apologize, and days later they would start again. Karen came to visit. She took one look at Cheryl and beat the crap out of Rick. While he was in the hospital for accidentally falling down the stairs, Karen moved Cheryl out and into a friend's apartment.

"When Karen left the Army, we soon became lovers. My fear of men was so bad that I ended up leaving the insurance office. No money, and living in a friend's apartment slowly going nuts. Karen started her fighting career in the MMA and it was then she talked me into coming with her to work in the gym."

"But you're still in a male environment?"

Cheryl nodded her head, leaned over to pick up her glass, handing me mine as she did. She waited until I had finished mine before she continued.

"Remember, I have a desk between me and you. You can't hurt me. As time went on, my fear calmed. Karen and I married and for a while, we were happy."

Now we seemed to be getting to the real reason for the three days.

"Karen and I can deny it all we want, but we're not full-on lesbians. We soon realized we married and are together for convenience, not for true love. It's a mistake we have spent close to a year trying to rectify, yet neither of us could agree."

That was it. She simply stopped talking, waiting for me to catch up. To filter everything she had told me- and I suspected to ask...

"Ok, I will bite. Agree to what?"

She smiled and gently took my hand. Although it was easy to see, by the way she held it, that if I tried to pull it away, I would have a fight on my hands.

"I'm going to let you into a very well known secret. Women choose their mates, not the other way around. It was plain to see by both of us that at best, we are friends with benefits to each other. Oh, don't get me wrong, we love each other. Just not as deeply as your aunt and Brandi do."

For some reason, she held my hand tighter this time. Her eyes bored into me.

"We want a man to share us. I don't mean every now and again, neither of us can do this every month. We want a man in our lives to love us. Not one of us, we come as a package deal. For a year now we have looked. Either I would come up with someone, or Karen would. Yet we could never agree on the same man then you came into our lives."

So now I finally understood, and yes, I did try to take my hand back. The bruises lasted a day afterwards. My habit of pacing to think things through was greatly discouraged as well. Cheryl wanted me close so she knew what I was thinking.

"I know you have questions. Ask away, but you're not moving from here. It's taken me years to be this comfortable with a man. I'm not going to give it up without a fight."

My mind felt like a tsunami; all those questions just rushed to the front of my head, and yet I couldn't distinguish one question from the other. I breathed in and out a couple of times and tried again.

"Why me?"

Cheryl giggled. When I looked at her, she shook her head.

"That's not the first question you want to ask, so I'm going to wait for you to calm some before you have another try. Ok?"

Again my thoughts rushed at me. My mind's eye surveyed every male member of the gym. Twice she smiled when she caught me shaking my head as I put one or another of the regular crowd next to Cheryl and Karen. Something else occurred to me, and I knew I had to ask.

"Are you sure you want a partner and not a sperm donor."

Slowly her hand came to my cheek. Her hand felt so warm.

"I understand we are all pushing you along just a bit faster than you would like to go, so I will let that one slide. Under normal circumstances, I would have busted you in the mouth for that comment."

Hell, even I smiled at that. Even as my mind once again drifted, my hand reached for her feet and began to massage them. Cheryl gave a yelp, and instinct made her want to move her feet away from me. Once she realized what her body was doing, she stopped and put her feet back on my lap.

Soon she started to gently moan. That smile held out as well. She had shut her eyes, probably the first time she had taken her eyes off me since I had been here.

"You're what folks call a 'people watcher.' The thing is... You're not unique. I've been watching you. You're one of the few men that talk to my face, and not my tits. You have always had nice things to say when you come in. That's what got us thinking about you."

This time she giggled, and I thought I had caught a nerve.

"Karen called you her muse. She told me you freaked out when you watched her fight."

She felt me pause, and her eyes opened; the smile faltered when she looked at me.

"I went from a nice quiet hotel room to seeing two women beat each other into submission in the span of three hours. Karen lives in a world I know nothing about, and kind of scares me. I saw her face when she fought. That girl has a rage within her, but she controls it well."

The giggle lasted longer this time.

"Take her away from her training, and she's the kindest gentlest person you will ever meet."

The only sound in the room for a while was Cheryl's breathing, moaning and shifting from one ass cheek to another. Her smell was faint to begin with. The damp patch between her legs and the slight glistening that seeped out of the bottom of her shorts confirmed what I was thinking.

Suddenly her eyes flew open. Her hands went behind her to grab the arm of the couch, and she used the leverage to lift herself away from me. I saw fear. Cheryl wrapped her arms around her legs and gently rocked back and forth. She watched me for such a long time, waiting for me to move towards her- and afraid if I did.

"We have a lot to talk about. There are things you need to know, personal things. I... Can't... Please don't push for more yet. Karen... Karen can... I mean."

I had seen that look once before. Cheryl had been raped. I had caused her to freak out and I needed to calm her quickly before her self control really came unstuck.

"Answer this for me, Cheryl. Do you trust me?"

After a pause, she nodded her head.

I tried again. "No. That's not a good enough answer, Cheryl. Do you trust me?"

Again, she nodded her head. She watched as I stood and went into the bedroom, coming out moments later with a blanket. I put half on the couch and then tossed the other half over the back for now. I looked towards Cheryl.

"You chose me, Cheryl - you did. Something in you has seen something about me that says 'trust him.' We are going to test that, Cheryl. You are going to challenge your fear."

Confusion was now mixed with her fear. She watched as my hand extended towards her.

"You have it within you, Cheryl. There is no one in this room that's doing anything they don't want to do. You have to always remember that. But you have to make a choice now- does the past own you, or do you own you."

Some of the color had come back to her, and I was feeling like I was getting somewhere.

"It's still your choice, Cheryl. I'm going to lie down, and you're going to lie next to me. The choice is this: If you come here, are you going to lie down as you are, or are you going to remove your top? I will match each item of clothing you give up."

The outright fear returned. Perhaps it was only my calming voice that kept her from bolting for the bedroom and locking herself in.

"Remember, Cheryl, you both chose me. You chose because there was something in you telling you something. Listen to that voice now. Make a choice and take a step forward. Ignore it and continue to live with that fear. But you have to choose now honey."

I suppose this was what people always call moments when time stops. Cheryl just sat there. Her eyes darted from me to the blanket, and then to the space I had left at the front of the couch- and then back to my outstretched hand.

Finally her arms came away from her legs. Her hands went to her t-shirt and lifted it over her head, dropping it on the floor. She moved as though a leaf falling to the ground two miles away would spook her. She crawled on all fours to the space I had left her, and lay with her back to me. Lying next to her, I pulled the blanket over both of us. My hand then rested on her stomach.

For such a long time, she was tense. My hand didn't go looking for her naked breasts. It stayed were I put it, and ever so slowly she started to relax. What I heard next was little more than a whisper. I think she was saying it more to herself than to me. 

"Please don't hurt me."

I was laying next to a hot blonde with the nicest tits I've seen this side of a porn magazine, wrapped in a blanket and thankful that for the first time in my life, I didn't have an erection.

End of Chapter One.



Karen Black Ch. 02



(At some point in our lives we all stand on that precipice wondering if the one choice we know is going to change our lives is the right one. I've even seen people flip a coin since they don't want to make that choice by themselves and ultimately they now have something else to blame if it goes wrong.)

My thanks to LSEiland for her editing.




As I woke, I could hear Cheryl quietly talking to someone. When I opened one eye she was on the room phone, a smile threatening to split her face in half. She was still topless as she spoke on the phone.

"Yes, we slept for about an hour. He's a man and I slept half naked with him, Karen.... No, not once; his hand went to my stomach and stayed there. Not once did he even touch my tits.... He gave me a choice, Karen. Me, yes, he gave me a choice.... Yes, we picked the right one, I know that now.... Oh, Karen, he called me honey. He looked right at me and called me honey.... You too, hugs babe. See you tomorrow." 

For my part, I closed my eyes, gave it another five minutes and made groaning noises like I was about to wake. The empty space in front of me was quickly replaced by a warm body. Her hand held mine and replaced it on her stomach. A few minutes later, I opened my eyes and went to pull my hand away from her stomach; my hand made it by a couple of inches before her hand held mine still.

"Thank you."

She didn't see the confused look on my face.

"For what?"

"There is much to tell you."

I felt I had to stop her. Just remembering the fear in her eyes was enough.

"You have no need to say anything."

"Yes, I do, and it's important. The evening before Karen came to visit me, my husband came home drunk. He wanted sex, and I refused. He told me that I couldn't refuse him since I was his wife. He then took what he wanted, and when I didn't appreciate the fact that he had just raped me, he beat me up. Karen took one look at me and knew."

Even as Cheryl talked, her hand squeezed mine hard as she re-lived such a dark time in her life.

"I come with baggage. I understand you're a man, and Karen will take care of that side of things for you. This is all I can give you at the moment."

The lump in my throat made it difficult for me to breathe properly. It took a few swallows to move it so I could talk.

"I like the sassy lady who talks to me at the gym. Are you that person?"

Since I could only see a head full of blonde hair, I knew I was going on instinct with this conversation. A part of me prayed that I didn't fuck it up and make things worse.

"Yes."

"I like the sassy lady who laid bare her history and soul to me. Are you that lady?"

"Yes."

"I like the sassy lady who showed bravery I have never seen in anyone other than Karen. The same sassy lady that could have run and hid in the bedroom, instead, she pulled her top off and lay next to me because she knew I wouldn't hurt her. Honey, are you that person?"

This time her body stiffened for barely a second before she molded her body into mine. The grip on my hand lessened, and I rested it again on her stomach. Moments later, her shoulders shook and she cried. Cheryl turned. Her head rested under my chin and the rest of her body sought out the warmth we both shared.

It still took a moment before I heard, "Yes."

There was no need to say more. I'm not sure I dare push her more, anyway. I held her and that was all I could do for now. Cheryl needed time to regroup as I held onto her. Each of us was stuck in our own thoughts for some time.

"I don't know about you, but I need the bathroom. I'm sure we both need something to eat as well, so why don't you order room service. Now I challenge you... I will answer the door to room service and you will hide in the bedroom, but the state of dress you go into the bedroom must be the same state when you come out."

She giggled and her head came out from under my chin. Her eyes were red, but the smile made up for the sadness I still see in her.

"You're just curious to see if I'm going to keep showing you my tits."

I had a favorite professor back at MIT. Whenever he pondered a difficult question, he always made a face like he was staring at the stars, hoping for some divine intervention. He clearly wasn't, and by the time he looked at the class, half of us were laughing at him. I tried so hard to emulate that same expression towards Cheryl right about then.

"Let's just say we are exploring your comfort zone to its fullest potential."

The full on laugh I got from Cheryl could still be heard from the bathroom. I heard her talk on the phone for a moment, and when I got back she was still only wearing shorts. 

"You do know we will have to get dressed sometime?"

"Oh yes, I know that. A nice dinner down in the hotel restaurant will be nice. But we have a day, Cheryl, and I'm not wasting any of it."

We talked of general things for now, not wanting to start a real conversation only to have it stall when room service arrived. I now knew she had two sisters and a brother and that it was her idea to build the apartment above the gym. The knock on the door sent Cheryl into the bedroom, her t-shirt in her hand. When I called over that it was safe to come out, now she came out of the bedroom empty handed, the t-shirt on the bed. I pulled mine off and tossed it to her. She threw it into the bedroom and joined me for lunch.

"So, what do you think?"

Cheryl could clearly see me confused. Heck, I still had yet to take a bite out of the sandwich I had in my mouth, so I sure didn't know what she was referring to.

"You're the only man that's seen my tits since my husband, so what do you think?"

Her face was a mask. It worried me that she was withdrawing into herself, and to do that needed something from me to put her there.

"Please go to the bedroom and get your t-shirt."

"What."

"Well, it's occurred to me that your wondering why I'm talking to you and not your tits. Cheryl, don't pick a fight with me. All I'm trying to do is keep us going forward. You told me you come with baggage; well, that's fine. So tell me the name of the therapist you're talking to about your rape."

Her shoulders relaxed and she went back to eating. The smile even made it back to her face.

"Beth Osterman, over on forth; Karen usually comes with me. Sometimes when she has a contest, I go alone."

"My aunt and Brandi have often told me I have an infuriating habit when I am given a gift for birthdays or Christmas. I will carefully un-wrap the gift, not tear the paper off to get to the gift. I would peel off the tape, undo the wrapper and put the carefully folded wrapper to one side, before I would even play with the gift."

Watching her as I talked, I could see she tried to hide some confusion.

"Your tits are not everything about you, Cheryl. One day you will allow me to un-wrap you, and I will be as gentle then as I am with any gift I'm given."

She dropped what was left of her sandwich back on the plate and ran past me into the bedroom. The urge to follow her, and check to see if she was okay, eased when the toilet flushed and she came back into the room looking rather sheepish.

"I'm going to need to get some pads."

Hey, I'm a guy; my initial thought was that her monthly had started.

"I want to talk to Beth when I get back. If I can arrange it, will you come with me?"

"Sure, if that's what you want. May I ask why?"

Cheryl blushed and went back to finishing off her sandwich. The pause was simply because she was hungry.

"I'm going to introduce you to Beth. I know when we get back I'm going to start talking to her about you. She's going to want to talk to you, so I want you with me from time to time."

Her face gave her away, and I wisely kept my mouth shut.

"You talked about us all going forward. We both want that. I'm not letting my ex-husband run my life. He ruined my body and has fucked with my mind for too long now."

The tear that trickled down her cheek was a forewarning of what was to come.

"I'm sorry I can't do more for you than we have now, please be patient. Karen has promised to look after... your needs. I can't offer you more; I wish I could. Just don't give up on me. We are a package deal."

For such a long time, all I could do was sit and watch Cheryl. Finally I stood and turned the TV on, where I found a music channel. I stood over her and extended my hand. She took it and we danced real close. Not once did she hesitate when she held me.

As the morning progressed, we alternated between the couch and dancing as we talked, the music a permanent fixture with us. When a slow one came on, or one that we liked started, we would automatically get up. The conversation was never interrupted as we shuffled around the hotel suite.

*******

"Close your eyes."

I looked at her instead. The smile on her face was her response. With a shrug, I closed my eyes as we held each other on our makeshift dance floor.

"Tell me everything we have talked about this morning."

The laugh I gave her showed I was up to her challenge. I started with her family, then that she lost her virginity the evening of the prom. Her grades at college and the names of two of her sorority sisters, was what I mentioned next. I told her the team her ex played against the day he blew out his knee. By the time I got to the vows Karen and her ex gave at their marriage ceremony, she was pressed close to me on our dance floor.

I stopped before she told me to because she had figured out by now I was paying attention. We still shuffled around our dance floor for a minute or two before Cheryl suggested we got dressed and go for a walk before dinner. We did a couple of laps around the park across the road from the hotel before she spoke again.

"Why didn't I meet someone like you at college?"

"If you had, you wouldn't have dated him. Peer pressure; all the pretty and rich people gravitated towards each other. The thought, let alone the actions, of dating someone like me meant you would have been ostracized by your sorority house, and any friends you had outside of them as well."

Cheryl was going to try and defend her friends. I knew she would be wasting her time. Beauty and geeks never mixed unless one wanted something from the other, because that's just the way it is. Once outside of college influence, it changed slightly, but not all that often. The paths that people now walked were already set for them.

We both kept an eye on the time, and I made Cheryl shower first. By the time I got out and dressed, she was waiting on the couch. We walked hand in hand to dinner and covered almost every topic conceivable. Her main sport was baseball. I promised not to laugh when she told me her team, and promptly did so when she did. 

In her defense, she rattled off stats. In mine, I reminded her that I'm a geek and we don't do sports. We stayed for coffee and headed back to our room. Cheryl was quickly out of her dress and into her usual shorts and t-shirt, before reminding me that I was over dressed. I countered by coming back in shorts and reminded her she was the one over dressed.

She was still smiling when her shirt lay on the arm of the couch, her tits once again on full display.

"Can I ask you something?"

I nodded and waited. She watched as I folded her t-shirt before placing it back on the arm of the couch.

"Why aren't you hard? I'm ok looking and sat next to you with my tits out. Human nature dictates you should be hard."

There was no denying I had been expecting this conversation off and on throughout the day.

"It's that fine line thing again. If I'm tenting my shorts, the only thing you're going to be is uncomfortable. Yet, if I don't, then something is wrong with either you or me."

Cheryl actually thought about my statement for a moment, and then nodded her head. 

"I'm as red blooded as the next man, Cheryl, and you're as red blooded as the next woman, despite your history. You rushing to the bathroom earlier proved that when you soaked your panties."

Poor Cheryl went beet red; I felt her heat from my side of the couch. It took her a while, but she admitted something I had eventually worked out. When the clock chimed ten, we headed to bed. My hand stayed on her waist and she spooned herself into me. That night would rank amongst the best sleeps I've had in some time.

*******

Cheryl waited for me to wake before she moved close. Her hand touched my cheek and stayed there. She smiled that smile I had looked forward to every time I went to the gym. No longer was it from across a desk, she was in bed with me, inches from my face.

Her lips touched mine. She was still tentative at first, but her response increased.

Finally our lips parted and her forehead touched mine. She let out what little breath she had left.

"I asked for a day, and you gave me that without judging me. You showed me I judged you, and for that, I can only apologize. If you don't mind, I would like to give you a gift before we leave. It's not much, but it's the best I can do and I trust you now."

Nodding my head, I watched Cheryl stare back at me. She pulled air into herself and lifted the covers off the bed and stood facing me, paused for a moment and then pulled down her shorts. Her hands were a distraction for her now. A couple of times, she placed them over her pussy.

Once she realized what she was doing, she placed them to her side. The smile fought hard to remain with her. She looked worried, until I realized that she wanted me to stand. Oh, my goodness. I realized it's rude to stare, but my brain told me to shut the fuck up and look at Cheryl. The blonde was natural if her pubic hair was anything to go by. Her hips screamed 'hang on for the ride.' Even the little tattoo of a heart with the devil hiding behind it about half way between her pubic and hip bone, looked real cute on her.

"An item of clothing for each item of clothing, I believe the deal is."

My shorts got handed to her once I was able to pull them over my hard on. Her smile was only matched by the shading that now covered her cheeks.

"If you try and tell me that's morning wood, I may have to kill you."

We both giggled, and I shrugged. What's a guy to do when given that type of death threat? She held out her hand, and I grasped it. The fear was barely being held in check for her. This was taking its toll on Cheryl, and I truly felt for her.

"I want to give you a gift. It's perhaps more than I can offer you, so if I panic and rush out, please don't let it put a dent in your ego because you're doing wonders for mine, and I'm trying. Perhaps a little too hard, but I want to try."

We showered together that morning. I touched parts of her, and her eyes looked like a deer caught in headlights, but she hung in there. She touched me and her hands shook so much that I had to take a step back, but she hung in there. She looked like she won the state lottery when we got out of the shower. She even stood still as I wiped her down with a towel.

Reception gave us back our cell phones, and I paid for the room. It was worth every damn cent as well. Cheryl was quiet as she drove across town. She pulled up outside the hotel and smiled that smile at me.

"Karen won't let you get as far as reception. Thank you for yesterday, and I'm phoning Beth Osterman as soon as you leave the car. She's not going to believe the progress I made with a man."

I just leaned across and kissed her cheek. Cheryl turned her head and went into attack mode. Our lips touched, and we kissed. Her arms wrapped around my neck and wouldn't let go until she was finished.

"Thank you, Martin. Now, go. Remember, Karen promised."

Cheryl pulled away and I watched as she did. Once she turned left at the light, I walked into the lobby. Karen was waiting for me.

*******

"I was beginning to think that you were going to become a permanent fixture out on the sidewalk."

We walked to reception, and Karen repeated the same process Cheryl did with our cell phones. Once inside the hotel safe, and the receipt in her bag, we walked to the elevators and on to our room. Karen sat on the couch while I put my suitcase away and then joined her. She handed me a drink and waited for me to finish mine.

"I know she told you everything. She didn't want to at first; she thought it best it came from me. I couldn't do it. It was Cheryl's life; she had to tell it from her standpoint. Even Beth agreed. You're going to like Beth."

Karen suddenly stood and reached for the buttons of her blouse. I asked her to stop and sit back down for a moment. She looked confused, but did anyway.

"You had Cheryl semi naked almost the whole day and she didn't freak. I figured you would want me at least the same way."

"I need to ask some things first. You're married, do you love Cheryl?"

Karen nodded, at least allowing me to ask my questions.

"My life went from simple to downright complicated within months of leaving the army. Cheryl was my friend since the first time we set eyes on each other. What that husband of hers did turned her inside out. She needed stability, so I married her. We are partners in everything, she knows me just as I know her.

"I placed my life on hold so I could get my friend back. The girlie sex is fantastic, but we both, and I do add Cheryl to that equation, need cock. Neither of us are lesbians, but I'm not putting Cheryl back on the meat market for someone else to fuck up."

"So, the marriage is fake?"

"Not all of it. We are partners, and I'm keeping her. She made a bad choice and now I have her mind focused on making the right choice."

"I'm not a magician, Karen."

"Oh, yes you are. That girl gets semi-naked, hours after leaving her in a room alone with you? By the end of a day she's sharing a shower with you? You did that. Not someone from the gym, but you."

Karen watched me for a moment, and then pressed ahead.

"Look, I'm not even supposed to tell you this, but I'm going to. Cheryl is at your folks place right now, and will be until the morning. She wants to know everything about you and those who know you best. You got under her guard and showed her that not all men are bastards. I imagine what your folks are saying to her now is proving that to be true."

I suppose all this still goes back to the three day promise. I had agreed, my folks had my back and perhaps meeting Cheryl, since they had already met Karen, was a natural extension to all this. My aunt and Brandi had been right. They couldn't give me answers because all the information was one sided. Now with Cheryl there, they could form their own opinion for when I spoke to them again.

"There are a couple of things I need to know. Cheryl is actually great fun to be with. I felt that way back at the gym and I will continue to look out for her, but the emotional minefield that is Cheryl has a key stone. I know if I push that she will crumble, so I will need to avoid it. What is it?"

Karen sat and thought for a moment, and nodded her head.

"Good point. Her ass, don't go near it. Oh, you can give her ass a slap on the way past, but touch her anus and we will have a basket case on our hands, giving Beth years more therapy to handle. When Rick raped her, he took everything from her. She had never done anal sex. Rick took that cherry from her, and she needed stitches after he was done."

"And you?"

"Nope, I'm good, love anal. I'm one of those women who believe in the theory that I was born with three holes and enjoy the use of all three."

"Karen, you swerved around the question real well. So shall we go back and try again."

Her eyes left me and watched the floor for a moment. To us, this was truth time, I suppose.

"Don't ever tie me down. I will hold your hand all day long, but don't ever hold or tie me down."

All I said was 'agreed,' and then went to move on.




Karen Black Ch. 02



"Whoa there, don't even think that's happening. Tell me yours, so I can tell Cheryl. You brought this up, and I agreed you may need to know. It spilled over to me and now that puts you in the spotlight."

Boy was she sharp. Thinking back over my life, there was only one point that crushed me, and that was Jasmine's betrayal. The knife in my heart was enough, but the continued twisting of the knife was when she took up with her lovers and flaunted them in front of me.

"Communication; If for whatever reason you both decide that 'I'm not the one' and you both wish to end this, sit me down and tell me. Jasmine took what we had and humiliated me to our friends. I was lucky, this time, and got out from under that. I'm not sure I would be so lucky if it happens again, so just tell me it's over and let me leave with some dignity intact."

She looked at me with the saddest puppy dog eyes I have ever seen, especially when you take into consideration that they were coming from Karen.

"Not happening, bud. You passed the Cheryl test. I'm already a fan, remember. You're my muse. You're ours, and we're keeping you. And other than with each other, we don't share."

*******

We talked from then on. Karen's life with Cheryl; My time with Jasmine, and her need to cheat thinking that it was fine and no harm was done. We decided on room service for lunch, and talked right up to the knock on the door when it was brought in. I tipped the guy and turned to see Karen taking her blouse off. Her hands were already behind her back to undo her bra by the time I was finishing putting out the food.

"I'm never going to live this down, you know. Cheryl was already topless with you for an hour before lunch, and I haven't even shown you my tits yet."

I smiled at this friendly competition they had between them. Before I sat down, the bathroom got a visit. I came out holding two towels, tossing one to Karen. She held onto it, unsure of why she had it in the first place.

"You can go naked now. Just put that on the couch before you do, ok."

I've seen some of her moves at the MMA bout, so I knew she was quick, but this put those moves to shame. She was out of her clothes so fast; even I was scared of blinking in case I missed something. She was as toned as I had seen her before. Her tits were a good C-cup, with thick areolas. She carried a six pack and hips that were something else. The heart with the devil hiding behind it tattoo seemed to be a theme for these two girls.

"You like?"

I wasn't going to be baited. There was no way I was going down the comparison trail, that could get messy.

Pointing to her pussy, I asked, "Shaved or lasered?"

"Shaved, I do like to grow it out sometimes and get a landing strip. So if that happens, you know you're in the wrong hole too often and I'm giving you directions."

This time, I went back to eating. Karen knew she wasn't getting anything else out of me until we had finished. With lunch stacked and out of the way, Karen did remark that I was overdressed. As clothes came away, she watched and smiled. Her face did take on a look of disappointment when I stopped at my underwear. The tenting was a giveaway, but my mind justified that with being next to this crazy hot woman.

"Cheryl told you that I was going to take care of your needs until we get her back to being Cheryl."

"Your very forward aren't you?"

She shrugged, and then decided to answer.

"Most of it is because of timing. She's not going to be fixed overnight, although the way things are with you and her, I'm sure Beth may have to re-think any schedule she first had for her."

"And if I said I would wait?"

Karen looked hard at me, a smile danced across her lips.

"Any other man, I would call a liar to their faces. You, I think I would believe. Do you want me to put shorts on then?"

"Yes, please, for now at least. I just want to talk, understand everything and hug a lot."

Karen picked up her clothes and disappeared into the bedroom, coming out moments later in shorts. She sat back onto the couch and snuggled in close to me. We talked; it started out about her, and then her friendship with Cheryl. She figured out real quick where this conversation was heading. It didn't stop her emotions climbing over her as she talked about visiting Cheryl and seeing what her husband had done to her.

I held her tighter, her breasts crushed into me. I thought for a moment she may be uncomfortable, so I eased my hold on her. She retaliated by shifting her own body closer to mine. We settled on lying down on the couch as she spoke. My hand moved to her stomach and stayed there.

"I know what you're doing, and it's real nice of you, but please stop. I need to be touched."

Was I ever glad she didn't see me smile. The palm of my hand lifted from her stomach, leaving me to trace my fingertips up her body until my hand enveloped her breast. She shuddered twice on the way up and quietly moaned when I held her once again.

She knew I was baiting her and ignored it. Her conversation about her relationship with Cheryl continued with her supporting Cheryl through the court case, and guilty charge handed down. Karen quickly got Cheryl into therapy, and with Beth's help, the court granted a quick divorce. The buying of the building and therapy sessions kept them both busy, yet it took Cheryl to sit Karen down this time and explain to her that they still needed to get on with their lives.

Karen's entry into MMA, plus the opening of the gym, led them to decide that they simply needed each other, and no one else. They had a private ceremony and settled down as a couple. Then I came onto the scene and they both realized that there was room in their relationship for one more.

"Your relationship with your aunt and Brandi gives you something that not many men can get their heads around. I'm not letting anyone hurt Cheryl ever again. You have already proved you're not out to do that, and she's real comfortable around you and doesn't even need a desk between the two of you."

She giggled. Her eyes watered, and a tear trickled down her cheek. Karen used her hand to wipe it away. Although she smiled, her eyes took on one of those far away looks seconds before she spoke again.

"When she phoned me, I was already getting my coat on fearing the worst. She told me she showed you her tits. This is Cheryl we are talking about here. To me, that was her climbing Mount Everest. You punched a hole in her defenses and stopped when you felt how vulnerable she was."

We both sat in silence then. It was clear she hadn't finished. I just held her and said nothing.

"You cared enough to stop, and she's not the only one that appreciates that. You keep surprising us, and even though we thought we had you figured out, you just keep surprising us."

Karen went quiet after that. She had decided she had given enough. My palm gave away her arousal, as her nipple dug into it. Her body heat started to rise as well. She finally gave a low groan and pushed the blanket away. She stood and held out her hand as she did. Her face told me not to argue with her, so I took it and she helped me stand. Hand in hand, we walked into the bedroom.

As we stood face to face, with my back to the bed, Karen looked at me and said,

"I'm going to bend down and pull your shorts off. That's the only chance you're going to get to stop me, so make it count. If I don't get anything out of you, I'm going to blow you- and I do swallow. Then I want a good hard fuck, followed by a cuddle and then slow tender loving. This isn't an audition- you already have a pass with me. It looks like Cheryl as well, but I have needs and you're a male, so don't lie and say you don't."

Karen went to kneel, and I held her for a moment. She looked at me and tried to hide the sadness from her eyes. I held a finger to her lips before I knelt in front of her and pulled her shorts down. Her legs parted as soon as her shorts hit the floor. This was the first time I was up close and personal with a warm pussy since Jasmine, and all I could do was stare.

Not very romantic, I know, but I took a second and held onto it until that picture of Karen, with her legs open and her bald pussy looking so inviting, transfixed me. That part of our mind, where we store the most precious of memories, just got another one added to it. Taking a small breath before I stood, added her scent to my senses. Karen's smiling face met me when I stood.

She lunged across the little distance there was between us and wrapped her arms around me. We kissed, tenderly at first, but even this guy figured she was getting impatient. As our lips parted, she looked down and her body lowered. My underwear followed hers to the floor. She kept her word. No sooner had I kicked them off than her mouth was around my cock.

I wasn't fully awake the first time she did this to me. Now I wished I had been. No part of me doubted that at that moment, I was as hard as I have ever been. Karen didn't tease. She had already forewarned me what she had planned, and pulling her shorts off now made me a willing participant. I would like to say I lasted for a long time over Karen's administrations of my cock, but neither of us could fool anyone.

Karen knew I hadn't gotten laid in months, and the load that I emptied into her proved just that. She felt the end coming and gently stroked my balls just in case anymore wanted to join the rest. Karen never stopped. She expected me to wilt and was working on making sure that didn't happen. A minute later, my cock felt cold and Karen's face once again reappeared in front of me.

"A quick word to the wise, you've seen me fight- I won't break. It's not often I need a little rough sex, but this is one of those times. Just to get me over my dry spell. I won't deny you anything, but that doesn't mean I won't make you work for it."

Silence prevailed after that. To Karen, she had told me the rules. It was now my turn. To any male of the species, this was a blank check; the night that inhibitions are put to one side- and even names are never used. A time when we are no longer civil, just carnal; stop will always mean stop. But deep in the recesses of your mind, you knew that for this one moment in time, she would bury that word because her need equaled yours.

*******

Neither one of us had seen the sun go down. Karen had rested her head on my shoulder, her scent as intoxicating now as it was before. I rested my hand on hers, only for her to entwine her fingers with mine before resting both our hands back on my chest.

"Well, that was fun."

Since I kept my own silence, she looked up at me and smiled.

"We need to eat. Perhaps, open the window as well."

I nodded and then stood. Karen rested her upper body on her elbow, and watched me. As I returned, she was still shaking her head. Her eyes wandered down my body and she smiled again.

"Cheryl will never believe me. I gave you a free pass to go all caveman; hell I was even getting ready to count the bruises and all I got was a rosy red ass.

Karen moved so that she now sat crossed legged on the bed facing me. Her nakedness natural to her, the spreading of her pussy lips also causing the residue of our cum to leak out of her.

"I told you I wouldn't break, Martin. This woman, who has a free mind, asked you -a male of the species- to fuck her senseless, and you just warmed my ass for me."

Her hand moved to my cheek and smiled when she felt the warmth.

"We both know you won't go all caveman on Cheryl, just as we both know neither of us will ever do this in front of her. But we are individuals, and I do need it on occasions."

Although I nodded my head and relaxed a little inside, she didn't seem to notice.

"Martin, we can make this work. Expect a few hurdles chucked in your way, occasionally, that's fine. But the essence of any relationship, even the one you're getting involved with now, is communication. Talk to us, either together or individually, ok?"

Perhaps, she was right. I just wondered if what I was about to say would sit right with her.

"You and Cheryl are two sides of the same coin. Oh, don't get me wrong, you are unique and both have your own individuality, but you are the same coin. You're married to each other, Karen. You're already in a relationship with Cheryl."

Even when I had finished, I was sure she had missed the point. So I tried again.

"One, or both of you, can't just stand on either side of me and say 'he's the one.' That's not fair to what you both have at the moment. We all come with baggage and we all know that Cheryl's has to be the one we work on. While we are doing that, I can't treat either of you any different than the other."

Thankfully, she understood and nodded her head. This time I leaned in and kissed her. The stirring in my loins told me that she was good at it. As we broke from our kiss, she looked down and giggled, then suggested I start the shower. She wanted to find out how Cheryl was getting on. Karen joined me a few minutes later and helped with my back.

I tried to help with hers, but she said she needed more help with her front. We both knew we would never get out of the shower if that happened, so we settled on me doing her sides. We did open the window as we left our room and headed for the restaurant. We even managed a walk around the hotel grounds when we finished, as well.

Karen entwined her fingers with mine and wouldn't let go for the entire time of our walk. As the hotel's front entrance came into view, her pace slowed. Instinctively, I looked around for a seat and pointed to it. She smiled and nodded. Her hand let go of mine and she then wrapped her arm around my waist for a moment before she sat.

"Admit this conversation to Cheryl and I may have to kill you. I've thought about what you said, and you were right. If Cheryl ever found out you went all caveman on me, the chances are it could push your relationship back with her."

She waited until I looked directly at her before she continued.

"It will work, Martin; we both know it will. You did more for Cheryl in one day than I thought possible."

This time she leaned in, and we kissed. As our lips parted, I knew I had to give her something.

"You gave me a free ride on a hot body. Don't think I won't be kicking myself every waking moment for months to come over my decision. But, like it or not, I do have to watch over both of you, and for now, one person's needs have to outweigh the others."

Karen rested her head on my shoulder and we just sat and watched people come and go from the hotel for a while. Eventually she pulled air into her lungs, stood and held out her hand for me.

"Come on, I have you for a few hours yet. I need to be loved. Expect to be woken in the middle of the night for more of the same, as well."

We had just made it back to our room before Karen's need became too much for her. She was naked way before me and took up position on her knees on the edge of the bed, waiting for me. I did point out that since she only had on a summer dress, bra and sandals, she did actually have a good head start on me.

All I got from her before her mouth enveloped my semi-erect cock was 'excuses, excuses.' Things went to gentle moans after that because I had pulled her hips across and was already using my tongue on her clit. Her scent was a forewarning. Her moans around my hardness came to an end as her mouth came away from me.

"Oh, fuck, that's just perfect."

Her body shuddered just then, and her hand held my erection even tighter. Her lips were now puffy and glistening, and she tried so hard to move her pelvic so that she could expose more of herself. I drank from that well for a while as my own senses assaulted my brain. Every synapse in my brain screamed and kept that charge coursing through me. I sucked and devoured her.

Karen's own mind had given up hope of anything coherent. Her hand still moved along my length. Suddenly her hand stopped. Her breath caught in her throat as she buried her head between my thighs. The scream of her orgasm matched the cum that covered my face as I sucked greedily on her clit and refused to let go. She bucked and screamed some more as another orgasm took hold as my tongue once again danced its way across her pleasure nub.

As my arms let go, she rolled over and landed beside me, panting. I spun around and pulled her legs up onto my chest, her eyes met mine and her whole face just smiled back at me. With one thrust I was inside her. Her body arched while her hands grabbed the sheet and held it between her fingers. As I looked down on her, my mind took that snapshot of her. Her neck exposed as her head was arched back.

Her chest heaved in and out as she pulled air into her, so she could convert it to a slow moan on the way out. Her tits were just something else. Sensing I was watching them, they showed their appreciation by trying to make her nipples even harder. You could still see her flat stomach even though the rest of her was bent towards me.

My own hands came into view just then. Holding onto her hips, my finger dug deep into her, forcing her lower body onto me as I pushed myself into her. Karen moved her legs, and for a brief moment, my hands changed position. Her heel that dug into me seconds later, just confirmed what her thighs tightening against me were signaling.

As Karen rode my cock, something in my mind yielded itself to her need. I just prayed it would be enough for her. As her last orgasm was building and flooding her hot tunnel with juices, my thumb nudged her clit. Its hood moved to accept the attention this gift was getting. I held back as long as I could, but no amount of mentally singing the Star Spangled Banner backwards is going to stop your body when you're in someone like Karen.

So with one final thrust, I held myself hard against her and emptied all I had into her pussy. Karen's hand held onto mine; her grip like iron as she herself rode her own orgasm. Her body once again slowed to a steady calm. My own eyes watered and inwardly, I prayed that what I could do for her was enough. My hand came down hard against her exposed clit. The change in her was instant.

Karen's body arched once again as my hand turned, and I used my thumb to press down onto her glowing clit. Her upper body left the bed and she wrapped her arms around me, her face pressed tight to my chest as her orgasm ripped up her spine. Without noticing she was doing it, her pelvis would rock over my thumb, moving her clit around, sucking every last ounce of pleasure it could from its unexpected source.

Finally her hands released, and her body rested back onto the bed. Her chest was going up and down so fast that I was genuinely worried. When I looked at her face, all worry simply vanished. Her smile said most of it. The clenching of her pussy muscles as they looked to relieve me of anything I had left, said the rest.

She felt me leave her. Karen's arms came up; a sheen of sweat covered every inch of her as I rested into them. She moved a leg so it draped over me. I felt her leak us onto my leg. Her body was a furnace; it still took a while for her body to grab hold of any semblance of normality. Her body heat had to once again come down.

"Thank you. I know that was difficult for you to do, and what added to the pleasure on my part was that I wasn't expecting it."

I didn't answer, not because I didn't want to say anything; more like I had too much to say. I had knowingly hurt a woman, and that was something I alone had to wrestle with my conscience about. When I woke again, it was dark. Karen was sticking to her promise. The warmth around my cock came to an end, and I saw the form of Karen squatted over me for a second before she lowered herself.

"I'm glad you're awake. My friend down here and I have been awake and talking to each other for sometime."




Karen Black Ch. 02



She was slow and methodical; she was quick and calculated. This was the one position she wanted to be in, and broached no move on my part to move her. When she needed to rest, she lay across my chest and we kissed. When her visit was over, she went back to riding me. Once Karen felt me twitch and instantly stopped, I twitched inside her a couple more times and then stopped.

Karen, once again, lay across me and kissed me. With her arms on my chest, she pulled back and even in the room's half-light, I could see her smile.

"I know you haven't cum, but you are close."

This time I smiled back at her and nodded my head. Karen leaned in and we kissed, these slow tender moments pulled at my heart. Her pussy muscles seemed to run the length of my cock; my attention was divided. Every time my thoughts went to what was happening between our legs, her kiss became more passionate. When I returned that passion, her pussy muscles increased their activities.

When women multi-task, us guys are toast. I was asking for release. She waited for me to beg. When I tried to get out from under her, her body weight held me there. She was on a mission, and I was the target. When I tried to change the tempo using my hips, she forced her body down, limiting my movement.

In frustration, I swung her around, forced her legs wide apart and pounded her pussy for all I was worth. Karen giggled. Her hands came around my neck and held on for the ride. When my thrusts started to push her up the bed, I stopped, pulled her back and started again. She laughed as her body was dragged back and I entered her once again.

"Ata boy, I knew you had it in you. Push it in deep, deeper, make me cum. Make me scream."

She got half a wish. As I came, she held on until I started filling her up before she lurched up and bit down on my shoulder. Karen was pulling air into her lungs through her nose. Not once did her jaw slacken, until her own orgasm had subsided. Finally, she slumped back onto the bed. The silence between us grew.

Karen lifted her hand and placed it on my cheek, her voice was but a whisper.

"You have questions, I know you do. Please just hold me for now, and I promise we will talk in the morning."

The relief was plain to see, even in the half-light of the room when I rested next to her. Karen turned and backed into me. She went searching for my arm and when she found it, she pulled it over her and rested my hand on her breast. My eyes watched the back of her head. For such a long time, all she did was gently run her fingertips over the back of my hand.

"Please, sleep. You need to rest. I promise we will talk in the morning."

By the time I woke, Karen had already showered and dressed. She sat in the chair across the room watching me. Her eyes gave away that she had been awake the rest of the night, thinking about this. I sat up and waited.

"You were right. All along you were right; our focus has to be Cheryl. It was selfish of me. You spoke common sense, and so help me, I understood when you said it. But I needed it and afterwards when we cuddled, I realized what I had made you do. I can't take it back; I refuse to take it back. It's done now, and I've spoken to Cheryl. She understands."

There seemed no point in talking further about it. She had a haunted look in her eyes, and by the look of her, she had spent the night beating herself up over it.

"Last night, you said -no you promised- that we would talk about it in the morning."

Karen nodded her head.

"Well it seems to me, you gave your speech and then decided all was well. Do I get a say in this?"

Again she nodded her head, unsure of what she was agreeing to.

"I've been brought up to believe every action has a consequence. Even though you knew it was a bad idea, your body got in the way and wanted it anyway. I admire that you took it upon yourself to tell Cheryl, now get your clothes off."

"What?"

As I got out of bed and walked towards her, she stood, still uncertain of what I meant. As my hands started to unbutton her blouse, I continued.

"You cheated me out of a morning shower with you. I can't see the point of being angry with you about last night, since you've done a wonderful job of doing that yourself. Telling Cheryl was the right thing to do, but I'm damned if I'm going without my morning shower with you, so get your clothes off."

Karen's smiled pierced through her confusion. Her hands were a blur well they were once they brushed mine aside, since it seemed I wasn't undressing her fast enough. If we had the time, I would have settled for a bath together. But these two girls were on the clock, and today was day three. It didn't stop us from fooling around. We cuddled and kisses in between getting clean, as well.

*******

The receptionist smiled as she came back from the hotel safe and handed us the envelope that contained our cell phones. I'm sure she thought it odd, just as I'm sure that she's had even stranger requests from the people that stay here.

Karen wouldn't talk as her car moved towards the airport. It was only when we got to the drop-off and pick-up point that I noticed Cheryl standing by the doors. She spotted the car and leaned down to pick up her case.

"This is day three, Martin. That security guard over there will give us about three minutes before he wanders over here and tell us to move along. That's how long you have to make a choice. If you get out and join Cheryl, then I will return this rental and will join you at the boarding gate for home. Or tell me to leave, and you can take a cab back to your aunt and Brandi's."

I watched the security guard. His eyes locked on mine for a moment, before he quickly scanned the rest of the cars once again. In his mind he had registered us parking, and the clock in his head was already ticking.

"It's not that simple, Karen. I need to talk to my aunt and Brandi about all this."

"No, you don't. Cheryl was with them all yesterday and this morning. They know if you walk through their door, you have made your choice. And if we all come crashing through their door next month, then they know you took us up on our offer."

The security guard's eyes scanned the cars once again, and came to a stop on our car. His body moved this time."

"I'm not happy with you trying to force me to make a choice, rather than allowing me time to think about this."

"What's to think about? You have lived with each of us for a day. Your own instincts would have given you enough information to decide. If they haven't, then it's not our fault you didn't ask us the right questions when you had the chance."

By now the security guard had stopped five cars down, and had knelt so he could talk to the passenger of the car. Moments later, he stood again, and the car drove off. Karen continued to stare at me while my attention was divided between her and the guard.

"One day isn't enough to decide the rest of your life, Karen."

"Most of the time, I would agree with you. But, Cheryl... See how quickly you took apart her defenses, yet didn't get her to the point of running and screaming from the room? Hell, she even got naked with you and shared a shower. You, as a male of the species, have touched more of her than anyone but her ex, and that's not therapy talking, that's Cheryl. I told you that you got a pass from Cheryl, but you didn't listen, did you?"

The guard had tapped on the roof of the car two in front of us. His smile disarming, yet his manner told the occupant that she had better give the passenger a final kiss and get moving. The way he laughed told me the female passenger was trying to flirt a few more minutes with her mom.

"And what about you, Karen?"

"What about me? If you're looking for proof that this will work, look at the woman standing with her case in her hand. If you ever need confirmation, then look at the woman sitting next to you. I've never known anyone like you. From growing up, and time in the army, I thought I'd seen every type of man. Let's face it, Martin. We are any man's wet dream. Two women willing to share, and yet you don't see us like that."

The woman got out of the car holding a camera, stood next to the security guard, and she took a picture of them together. The mother got out and went to the back seat and pulled out a suitcase while the girl, who was clearly her daughter, kissed him on the cheek and thanked him.

"The only time I've ever had a man look after me was in my unit, and we all looked out for each other. I've seen that look in your eye. The Secret Service calls it 'taking a bullet.' You've had that look every time I've been with you, and this morning when I told you that I spoke to Cheryl. It's plain to see you could never play one of us against the other. To you, we are, as you put it, 'two sides of the same coin.' An extra day would be a waste of time."

This time, the mother gave the guard a kiss on the cheek and waved her daughter off before she jumped into her car and pulled out. The guard looked directly at me now and took his first step toward my window.

"Don't for a moment think we pushed you. We have all suspected, and I include your folks in that, that you have known for some time what you plan to do. We can continue to share with you both emotionally and physically, but your mind is about made up. Bringing you here is forcing you to go with the decision you've made."

I wound down the window and looked at the security guard, and then back to Karen, as I opened the door and took a step out of the car.

"See you at the check-in desk."

He walked on past us and onto the next car. While I pulled my suitcase off the back seat, Cheryl met me halfway. Her arm went around my neck, and we hugged, before we both watched Karen pull away.

"What about the rental I came in?"

This time Cheryl held my hand and we walked towards the main building.

"How do you think I got here?" was all she said as we continued our walk into the building.

Other than one of the flight attendants recognizing Karen, and going an unusual shade a red when she asked for her autograph, we didn't say a word. Well, that was because Karen threatened to punch us both if we did.

I drove us all back to the gym. Both the girls were asleep in the back. They woke when I pulled into their garage. Karen took me upstairs to their apartment, while Cheryl checked in with the girl they had on reception. She joined us twenty minutes later, telling Karen that Becky promised to lock up and had no drama that the staff couldn't handle amongst themselves.

Cheryl sat and looked at both of us.

"Right, let's get this out in the open right now. I refuse to be the elephant in the room. We all know I still have some way to go, but that don't mean either of you have to tip toe around me. Martin, I called Beth, and she has us booked in for Monday at four. If you can't get time off, then let me know and I will re-book."

It was about then the elephant fell out the window. I told Cheryl I would get the time off. We phoned in dinner and talked. Both seemed confused when I said I was returning to my apartment later, but calmed when I walked into their bedroom and pulled a closet open before asking them where my clothes would go.

The lease on my place ran for another three months before it was up for renewal. They both nodded when I pointed out that it would be best to keep it up until then, and move in stages.

When Monday came around, I was finally introduced to Beth. She looked more like an English teacher. At Cheryl's insistence, she made Beth fully disclose all the session the two had together. And hour, and a box and a half of tissues later, I took her home again.

Karen said nothing as I stripped Cheryl down and pulled her into the shower with me. All I did was hold her. My mind hoped that a shower would cleanse her, even if I didn't wash her down. Karen just held towels ready for when we came out. When I asked her how long her ex got and she told me, my only answer was that it wasn't enough. If ever a wish was granted, I truly wished for his cellmate to be called Bubba and that her ex was now his toy.

*******

Karen was due to fight again soon. She had the arrangements already made, so I moved in with Cheryl while Karen was in training. Word spread around the gym that I was involved with them, and once Cheryl heard about it, she put a notice up on her desk that I had a ten inch dick, so who was she to pass up a chance to climb on that. I tore up the notice and she replaced it with one that said I had a ten and a half inch dick.

By the end of the day, the notice on her desk announced that I was the proud owner of a thirteen inch dick, and not one member of the fitness team could look at me without smiling. When that girl went for stubborn, she went there first class, that was for sure. Karen came back three weeks later, smiling but bruised. It was a tough one, but it got her closer to a belt challenge.

We had already found out the shower wasn't big enough for three, so Cheryl held her while I held the towels. Once they came out, I wrapped them both in towels and we all had drinks on the couch. Even though I had seen the bruises on Karen, it was obvious that they still had a way to go before they fully healed. Karen told us how the fight went and how she was feeling when they told her who her next opponent was going to be.

We listened and asked the right questions, until Cheryl stood and held out her hand towards me.

"I need the keys to your apartment. You're staying with Karen tonight. Love her... Go all caveman on her, and I will personally cut it off your body."

Although the threat hung in the air, her smile gave her away. Once I stood and held her to me, the towel now on the floor, I once again had a naked Cheryl in my arms. I'm glad to say her comfort level with me had been increasing by the day. Her sense of humor was slightly off the wall, but given her background, I was more than in tune with it.

We kissed, and as she turned and left to get dressed, I swatted her ass and made my way to my coat to retrieve my keys. When I turned back to the couch, Cheryl was still in the bedroom, but Karen was watching me with her mouth hanging open.

"What?"

"You touched her ass."

Cheryl heard us and her voice traveled from the bedroom.

"He's had his hands on it everyday since you've been in training. The first day he did it, I managed to resist the urge to break a vase over his head."

The pause in conversation was Cheryl pulling a sweater over her head and down her body as she came back into the day room.

"Now I just tell him that one of these nights, he's going to go to sleep and never wake up again."

She leant down and kissed Karen, then walked over to me, her hand open as I dropped my apartment keys into it. We kissed and she headed for the door, talking as she went.

"I will open up in the morning, so sleep in, you need the rest. The builders are coming by the day after tomorrow to work on adding space for Martin's clothes. The king size is due when the builders leave, so we can decide where we want it. He's no use, when I ask him he just shrugs his shoulders and says anywhere is fine."

Cheryl closed the door behind her and once again I looked at Karen staring at the closed door.

"You touched her ass."

I smiled and sat back down. Her eyes followed me as I did.

"I think Cheryl covered that."

This time her eyes narrowed, her head inched toward me.

"Who are you, and what have you done to Cheryl?"

Our conversation lasted longer this time. The appointment with Beth was the base, and a better insight into Cheryl. I then pointed out to Karen that when she went into training, Cheryl and I already had the hotel day, so nothing about us was new to the other. In a sense, we just picked up were we left off. Her comfort level with me just grew, and I had only needed to point out to her once that I wasn't her ex.

"Fuck, I bet that got a response out of her."

"Your couch is comfortable to sleep on. I can tell you that as a hint."

Karen laughed.

"She's right, though. I do need tender. That bitch tried to work me over real good before she stuck her chin out just enough for me to take a swing at it."

This time it was my turn to laugh as I stood, took her hand, and walked her into the bedroom. I had her lay on her front and then set about her body with massage oils. I'm pleased to say she moaned in the right places and groaned when I reached the tough spots. So, between her body and what was coming from the pillow, Karen was letting me know that my hands were in the right places.

She did take a sharp intake of breath, once in a while, when I found a bruise that hadn't come to the surface yet. I didn't see it until she told me. I figured it was time to put the oils away when her breathing became regular. Every once in a while she let out a slight snore. I showered in the morning, and just made it to work on time. Karen was out all the while I was there.

I guess even she didn't realize how much the fight took out of her. I did get a call from Cheryl asking what happened. When she got back, Karen was still asleep and I was gone, and the room didn't smell of sex.

"Cheryl, a gentleman never tells about such things."

"Yeah, right; she fell asleep on you, didn't she?"

We both laughed. I had grown close to Cheryl over the weeks that Karen had been away. For the first week, we still struggled to find a way to fit. Me, sleeping on the couch that night, would testify. But we hung in there, and the comfort level between us was good now. I cared for her a great deal. Maybe not enough to use the 'L' word just yet, but I did find myself looking for an alternative word when we held each other.

"That poor girl was exhausted. We are going to have to have a talk with her, Cheryl. She's going to have to realize that when she comes away from a fight, she's going to need down time. Coming home and telling us that although she's all busted up she needs some loving, makes me notice she's trying too hard."

"I agree, but Karen can be Karen sometimes. It's those moments she forgets there are three of us in this now."

"Well I'm stuck here all day, so I would suggest that you get someone to cover for you for an early lunch break, and go upstairs to release some of that tension that's building up in her."

Cheryl's laugh was infectious.

"You lying sack of shit, you just want me to warm her motor for her until you get off work."

Both of us laughed this time. My mind thought back, compared times and how far our own relationship had progressed from the time she had stormed out of my office.

"I'll get Becky to cover for me while I'm gone, but if I see flowers on this desk when I get back, you and I will have words, buster."

We said our goodbyes and I got on with some paperwork, knowing I couldn't leave my office while my mind still conjured up pictures of what those two would be doing right about now. I left it until late afternoon before I sent the flowers to both of them.

*******

I phoned upstairs and asked for a meeting with my boss. I seemed to have had a lucky moment because his secretary told me he would be available in thirty minutes. That gave me enough time to get my pitch ready. At first, he was reluctant until I pointed out that he himself knew I would be out of the building for lengths of time on company business. Setting up of the conference rooms was an example.

Once he saw my point, I went back to work and asked Naomi to come into my office. Naomi was like the rest of us, a geek. But her mind was also real sharp when it came to office paperwork and politics. Pitching a promotion to her was harder. She asked for time to think about it, and to run it past her husband first. Thinking it a valid point, and once I handed her a sheet of paper with her new salary and job requirements, I told her to take a few days to think on it.




Karen Black Ch. 02



The gym was still a place I used to think and keep in shape. Other than the staff, only a few people seemed to know that Karen and I were seeing each other. The staff understood the relationship Cheryl had with Karen, hell some even made it to their ceremony. It slowed them down when I turned up though, and left a couple scratching their heads about us. But they all liked both the girls, and in their eyes, as long as they were happy, who were they to comment?

The builders did come in. They were in for a week, and the girls packed a case each and moved into my apartment while the place was ripped apart, and bits added. The queen size in my place proved that the bigger bed was a real good idea. Once we got their apartment back to something like normal, I started filling boxes, and the girls came over a couple of times to help me pack as well.

Naomi took the position, and other than the teasing from Tony, the rest patted her on the back and were pleased that I didn't pull anyone else in from outside. I took Friday and Monday off, and between me and the girls, I moved into the apartment at the gym with a week left on my lease. That gave me enough time to get cleaners in for the handover.

I had finally settled down. It took two women with fire in their eyes, but I got there in the end. Naomi settled into her new role far quicker than even I thought she would. My boss was pleased, and of course was proud that he decided that she could do the job. Head office was already talking about borrowing me for a couple of weeks after Christmas to work on another project.

Once I secured a promise that once the project was done I could return to Houston, I was ok with it. Cheryl and I still attended therapy sessions with Beth, and I still insisted we showered together when we got back. Cheryl had long stopped calling me a pervert and saying that I used any excuse to see her naked. Agreeing with her tended to take the wind out of her argument.

I do tell the girls I love them. It was Karen that surprised us when she burst into tears. I expected it to be Cheryl. When Karen and I make love, Cheryl sometimes sits and watches. She says it's not torture, but therapy. A big step forward for her was when she placed her fingers around my cock and guided it into Karen.

With tears in all our eyes, Cheryl looked down at Karen and said, "When it's my time, I expect the same from you."

Karen understood and smiled when she nodded her head. Cheryl left the room then, and closed to door behind her. All we could do was hold each other. What Cheryl had done just then was the closest we had seen so far, and signified that she was almost ready. After we finished our hug and cry, we got up, went into the day room and pulled Cheryl back into the bedroom, putting her between us.

We spent the night with Cheryl in the middle, rather than me.

The End.