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Two Lonely People

By: JakeRivers



 "We're just two lonely people in a loving frame of mind
We're just two lonely people that need the love we found
Two lonely people..."

- Conway Twitty and Loretta Lynn
Written by L. E. White

*

Author's Note: 

I got the idea for this story from a comment I made on Bazzza's story "A Simple Case of Restitution"

WARNING: MINIMAL SEX!

Thanks to Techsan Angel Love for their help in editing this story.

Enjoy!

IXTAPA

Clara and I liked to travel, particularly to warm places! We would go to Mexico, usually once a year, and somewhere else once a year. We liked Mexico the best; we liked the food, and the climate and the people were always warm and friendly. We usually stayed at a nice family run place in Zihuatanejo but we heard about a new place in Ixtapa called Ocean Dreams, so we decided to give it a try.

It turned out to be very nice: right on the beach, wonderful food and large comfortable rooms. One bad thing about Mexico is that they assume people don't want to sleep together... it's almost impossible to get a queen or king size bed! Well, Clara and I like to sleep together (duh!) so we liked the place, since it had queen size beds. 

Of course they gave us the somewhat obligatory time-share talk, but... this time it made sense. They had built this hotel new and had bought out two other hotel chains and were remodeling them. They were in a partnership with one of the large cruise ship lines, World Cruises. We had been on several of their cruises, and liked the line a lot!

We figured with our daughter in college and that money set aside, and the marriage fund set up (ya gotta be optimistic!) we had the money to spare and we liked the place. I was forty-five and my wife Clara five years younger. 

The first day, we were lounging by the pool and were taking pictures of each other when this woman who had been several lounge chairs over walked up and offered to take our picture together. Clara smiled and said sure! She sat down and we talked a bit and it came out that she had done the time-share too, but directly through the cruise ship line. 

I offered to take a couple pictures of her and send them if she gave me her email address. She looked troubled for a minute, then smiled and said sure. So I took three or four pictures of her with different backgrounds.

I jumped in the pool and started on my twenty daily laps and Clara was still talking to the woman. When I got out we went up to shower and take a short nap before lunch. I asked Clara what they talked about.

"Oh, you know, just girl talk. Her name is Jillian but she goes by Jill. We're going into Zihua this afternoon to go shopping." She smirked and continued, "Unless you would like to go shopping with us?"

"Uh, no, that's okay. I think I'll play some golf this afternoon."

I did play golf that afternoon but had to quit after twelve holes, it was just too hot and muggy! It's a shame because I was shooting three under on a tough course! It's too bad that I was playing by myself 'cause no one will believe me. I went back and went straight to the pool. I have really grown to love swim up bars! The water was warm and the beer was ice cold. 

I sat there on the stool and watched the young lovelies playing volleyball in the pool, trying to keep their breasts in their skimpy bikini tops as they jumped up and down! (In a fit of denial the previous year I had tried joining in and had a sore back for six months!)

Clara came down and we went to the beach and sat under a palapa, dozing and reading with intermittent interludes of chasing the waves and drinking Margaritas. We were pretty smart about not getting too much sun. 

We had a lot of fun; the sex on the big bed was wonderful and wonderfully frequent! Clara is very passionate but she needs the right setting to really unwind. We were doing lots of unwinding and felt very close to each other. One day she teased me about making another baby but I'm sure she was just teasing. I'm pretty sure...

She did go out with Jill a couple of times and the three of us met once for lunch and once for dinner. Jill seemed somewhat off; I couldn't put my finger on it. It did come out that she was separated from her husband and had been for some time. She was a little younger than Clara, around thirty-five and had twin daughters that were twelve. I asked Clara, but she just shook her head and said she would tell me about it when we got home. When she says that with a serious look on her face, I know not to pursue it.

On the way home I managed to wrangle first-class seats. After a couple glasses of wine Clara told me about Jillian.

"We became pretty good friends; you know I'm a good listener and Jill needed someone to talk to. She is going through a very hard time! She and her family live in Wellesley, Massachusetts. Her husband, Regent, is from an old-line Boston family. They still have the name, and they have money, but nothing like they used to. About six months ago her husband was traveling to New York on business. Jill's neighbor told her she would be glad to take care of the girls if Jill wanted to pop down to New York to see her husband.

"Jill was really excited about it. She knew he was there on business, but maybe they could get away for a show. So she flew down and went to the hotel, the Astoria. The desk was quite gracious and gave her a key. She went up to the room and found Regent in bed with his roommate from Dartmouth who had never married! She stared at them for a minute and then cleared her throat and quietly asked her husband where to send his stuff. Two weeks later she heard that he had moved in with Jerry.

"It's still not resolved because her lawyer is negotiating with his parents' lawyers, and you know how that goes!"

I could only say, "Wow!" as I thought how nice Jill had looked in her two-piece swimsuit and how stupid her husband must be!

She turned towards me with her hand on my cheek and said somewhat fiercely, "Mike! If anything ever happens to me I want you to keep taking these vacations. I do not want you sitting at home mourning forever!"

I didn't really know what to say, I'd never seen her like this. I tried to make a joke out of it, "Clara, you know you'll be around for years after I get what's coming to me!"

She grabbed my arm and held it fiercely, "Dammit, Michael! I'm serious! Listen to me! If anything happens to me I want you to find someone like Jillian and make her happy!"

When she said Michael, I knew she was really serious. She hadn't called me that in years. I didn't try to say anything; I just pulled her close and hugged her. The stewardess came by with dinner and broke the mood.

We got home and when I had a chance I downloaded the pictures onto my iMac. I tend to be a procrastinator, so Clara makes me do it right away, down to creating a DVD slideshow of each trip. She is well organized! I looked at the pictures of Jill and thought she looked pretty good. Not as pretty as Clara, but there was a look of peace and sadness that was very attractive. She filled out the swimsuit nicely. I put the pics in a folder for Clara to email to Jill.

I was a writer. I had been a foreign journalist for a few years but after almost getting killed in a riot in Indonesia I decided to be a writer. I mostly wrote historical fiction – as much as anything I loved the research. My editor talked me into trying some romance stories... actually I made money at them. 

It didn't feel right, writing romance novels after having been a top notch journalist. Then my editor suggested I try writing historical romance novels! It was great! I felt better about what I was doing: I got to do the research and they sold like hotcakes. I never realized how many women had a fantasy of being taken to a pirates cabin and ravished! Clara read the first draft of the first one and made me ravish her on the living room sofa... so maybe there is something to it.

I also wrote some editorials on current events... places I had been to and had kept up to date with events. I would do the sporadic travel article just for fun. All in all I enjoyed it and it allowed us to set some money aside and feel comfortable.

Clara had been a pediatric surgical nurse, but when I quit being a journalist she quit. She hated seeing the pain and suffering of the little ones each day. She did continue to do some volunteer work, but mostly she puttered around in her garden or worked on her watercolors. She had studied art in college and mostly did flowers. We had them all over our walls. To be honest, I liked them a lot!

Our daughter, Amanda, came home for the summer and we moved on with our lives. We lived in a very nice house in the Mark West Springs area, just north of Santa Rosa. It was a little rural and high on a hill with a great view of the Russian River Valley. Mandy was going to Chico State and had just finished her junior year. We were having a lot of fun together; one night we drove down to Sausalito, took the ferry across the bay and went to Tadich Grill in San Francisco, which had always been one of our favorites!

About a week after Mandy came home Clara asked me, "Did Mandy tell you about her boyfriend?"

I snorted, "You know the father is always the last to know!"

Well, it turned out that our little girl was on the verge of getting engaged and I should expect a young man to show up next week to ask her hand in marriage! They had it all planned out. They were going to get married and then go to Stanford: Mandy for a master's degree in Microbiology and Phil for the Medical School.

Summer was fun. Phil did stop by and I was surprised at how much I liked him. He was a serious kid with a droll sense of humor. I saw nothing but happiness on the horizon! Then life hit me like a ton of bricks!

THE LONELINESS BEGINS

Clara went to the store to get some milk... and never came back. Some asshole picked her car to use to commit suicide – at seventy miles an hour. And I was sitting at home waiting on her; we were fixing dinner together...

The store was less than a mile away, maybe a 10 minute round trip. Thirty minutes had gone by... okay; I'll call her cell. Nothing.

I got in the car, turned onto the highway... half-mile later red lights, fire trucks, police cars, people standing around. A large pickup, F250, was in the ditch, a mess. Clara's Miata, her beloved little Miata, it was black, glossy black, but... glossy no more! 

Her car was in two parts. He had hit her broadside on the driver's door as she was going around "Karl's Curve." Karl Jurgen was the first of the seven crosses at the side of the road. Clara's would be the eighth. 

I stood there, face ashen, crying, not able to move. My legs were shaking; I felt cold, the scene had an icy grip on my heart.

An officer with a peaked cap walked over to me, a question on his face. I lifted my hand towards the remains of Clara's car – the engine where Clara should have been... 

I woke up in the hospital, drowsy, eyes heavy. The door opened and a tall, gawky, lanky, somewhat stone-faced nurse came in, glanced at me then at the heart monitor. She looked back at me, nodded sadly and left. I drifted off, something nagging at the back of my mind, something dark.

Later, maybe sunset from the rosy glow on the window, the door opened. A woman in doctor's regalia stepped in. Dispassionately, distantly my mind noticed that she was an attractive red head, freckles dusted across her nose.

She moved over to the bed, and smiled, more turning the corners of her lips up than a real smile. "I'm Doctor O'Connell. How do you feel?"

I tried to answer, my throat felt full of gravel. "Water," I ground out.

She poured a glass from the pitcher at the side of the bed, and helped me drink a few swallows.

Trying again, I managed "Groggy. I feel... lethargic." That last was hard to get out.

"You have been under sedation for two days. When you arrived at the emergency room you were diagnosed as having had a heart attack. When I got a chance to look closer, I found that you had a condition called Stress Cardiomyopathy, literally 'Broken Heart Syndrome.' It's not near as serious as a heart attack, but we do want to keep you for observation for a couple days. We'll talk more about it when you are feeling a little better."

"Clara, something about Clara... where is she?" 

A pained look on her face, her eyes misty, she took my hands. "Mister Andrews. Michael, Clara is ... Clara is gone."

Clara, where did she go? Why wasn't she here with me? A shocking image flashed in my mind – Clara's car a shambles, Clara... There was an eerie, shocking scream echoing in my ears as the Doctor reached for a hypodermic needle.

There was a glow on the window, not rosy, a reflection? Dawn? It was quiet as only a hospital can be during the early morning hours. I saw the water on the stand and was able to reach for a glass. Staring at the ceiling, mind empty, my eyelids slowly closed.

Later a girl, maybe sixteen, looking unconsciously young, and wearing a red and white-striped dress entered, a tray in her hands. She had copper colored hair and blue-green eyes. With a beautiful smile only the young can get away with, she asked "Would you like some breakfast? The Doctor, Doctor Erin, said it was okay."

"Please," I mumbled, and then again, with more force, "Please, I'm very hungry."

Grinning at me, she sat the tray down and turned to leave.

"Miss... Miss!"

She stopped, and turned back. "I'm Cynthia, Cindy really."

"Cindy, could you sit with me for a bit? Do you have to leave? I don't want to be alone!"

"Let me check with the nurse's station."

She stepped out and was back in a few seconds.

I started eating, yogurt and a cold banana, also a cold piece of unbuttered toast.

Cindy started talking about herself: school, boyfriend, learning to drive, her younger brother, school some more, her science lab.

Then she looked at me, maybe a little embarrassed, "Oh! I'm just chattering on! I'm sorry."

Trying to smile, I said, "No, it's okay. Please stay as long as you can."

Later she left and I was alone. For the first time since I collapsed at the crash site, I was alert and feeling normal, physically anyway. "Clara," I pleaded. "Clara, why so sudden? I didn't get a chance to say goodbye!"

I finally let it go and started sobbing. It must have done something to the heart monitor, because the doctor came running in. Looking at me she took out her stethoscope and moving the top of my gown over, put it on my chest. My mind registered, almost unconsciously, that she had a wedding ring on. But then so did I, feeling its weight on my hand. My ring! Clara's ring!

"Michael... is it okay if I call you that?"

I nodded, trying to wipe the tears away with my sleeve.

"You can call me Erin. You have received a couple of major shocks. Your wife died and you saw the accident. That was a serious shock to your system and then you had the Stress Cardiomyopathy. You had some underlying problems that I will get to in a minute, but first, do you have any questions?"

Taking a drink of water I asked, "What about my daughter?"

"We got hold of her right away and she will be here later tonight." 

I nodded, but didn't say anything.

"Next are the funeral services. I understand everything is set up for the day after tomorrow, Friday. I see you look confused. Well, I took the liberty of talking to your pastor. He came to the hospital yesterday. He knew about Clara's accident and wanted to know how you were. He's a great guy – he frequently pulls chapel service here."

"You should be feeling much better tomorrow... I'm sorry! I didn't mean to be insensitive! I was talking about your medical condition."

Smiling a little, she continued "I'm sure you haven't noticed, but you have gained a few pounds over the years. One more day of our food and that will be all gone! You have mildly elevated blood pressure, your cholesterol is a little high and you have a leaky heart valve."

I guess I must have looked concerned, because she shook her head.

"No, it's not that bad! It's early days really with most of this. The Stress Cardiomyopathy is caused by intense physical or emotional stress, which sometimes can cause a rapid and severe heart muscle weakness. It is fairly rare for men to have this, but the emotional shock of seeing the wreck was more than your body could handle. It can be life threatening but it does improve rapidly in most cases. 

"You are coming along quite well. At this time I recommend talking to your regular doctor about the blood pressure and cholesterol. My recommendation is that you treat it with diet and exercise. We also have several classes here at the hospital that would help – they are more lifestyle classes."

"Can I get up? I feel so stiff!"

"Sure, I'll get Marge, the nurse, to walk around with you. She'll be in shortly."

A little later, the nurse came in and helped me up. She put me in a wheel chair and rolled me out to the balcony at the end of the hall. Helping me up we walked back and forth in the afternoon sun.

"Marge, that is your name, isn't it?"

Looking down at her nametag, she laughed and said, "Yeah, it must be," as she pointed at the tag.

"Do you know Doctor McConnell?"

"Oh, sure. She's been here for about five years. She came from Massachusetts General when her husband died. It was really sad. He provided a kidney for his brother but somehow caught an infection and died of septic shock. We all really love her. The other doctors are all kind of stuck on themselves but she makes us call her Erin!"

Not knowing how to respond to that, I didn't say anything.

"You know, that was really strange the way she took care of getting hold of your daughter and setting up the funeral arrangements for your wife. I've never seen her do that before!"

After she took me back to the room I lay, thinking about Clara. I could feel the tears welling in my eyes but I didn't wipe them off. After twenty-one years of marriage she was so much a part of me that the future looked bleak. It was so quick, so sudden that I hadn't had a chance to adjust. I felt empty. I turned my head into the pillow, the tears dropping down one by one, making a wet spot on the pillow.

I must have dozed off, for Cindy, the volunteer candy striper, was gently touching my shoulder. 

"Mister Andrews, Doctor Erin asked me to wake you up. Marge will be in shortly to walk around with you again and then I'll bring you lunch."

I wound up out on the balcony with Marge again. This time we talked a little longer. She did say that I would probably be released the next day around noon, as soon as the doctor made her rounds.

Lunch was better, I never did find out why. Cindy stayed and kept me company while I ate. I asked her about why the food was so much better, and she just smiled.

Cindy told me, "My mom and I are from Boston and I've been looking at colleges in New England. I still have family back there!"

Looking at her more closely, it dawned on me: "Is Doctor Erin your mom?"

"Yeah! I thought everyone knew. When my dad, Joseph, died she was really sad staying in the area with so many reminders of him. That's why we moved out here."

We talked for a while then she got up to go. "Bye, Mister Andrews. I'll bring your dinner up later."

"Cindy, please call me Michael! You make me feel like I'm so old that I'm at death's door!"

"Okay, Mich... Michael! It sounds funny but I don't want you to feel old!" Cindy giggled!

And you know what? I grinned at her! I was grieving but I could still smile! I would have to think about that!

I slept for most of the afternoon and when Cindy brought my dinner in Mandy was with her. She came up and put her arms around me and we both cried for a while. We didn't talk much as I ate my dinner; I think we were both still in a bit of shock.


Two Lonely People



"You are up shit creek, David. And I don't mean without a paddle. I mean without a canoe."

Mike had been David's accountant for years and was extremely concerned for his friend. As they studied the numbers from David's car audio business, all the trends were down.

"Its the Internet. All these low margin fly-by-nighters. And new cars come out with such good hi-fi systems that the owners don't need to upgrade them."

Mike looked at his friend and was even more worried. The David he had known two years ago wouldn't have complained about his problems, he would have done something about them. David's appearance also concerned him. He had put on a lot of weight, his clothes were old and increasingly disheveled. Mike knew that David lived by himself in a rundown room above his car audio business. He had stopped inviting David for meals after his wife complained that he was half drunk when he arrived.

"David, we've got to get your sales on the up. I know a marketing consultant who would do a great job."

"Mike, you know I can't afford the fees those people will hit me for."

Mike nodded. "There is an alternative. At the college the graduate students in marketing have to put in three months practical experience part-time. I know they are looking for positions for students right now."

David and Mike interviewed three applicants. The first was a confident young man who took one look around David's premises and said that he was looking for a position with a multi-national. The second was another young man who sent and received text messages throughout the interview. 

The third was Gabrielle. After the first two interviews David wasn't confident. Gabrielle was tall with orange-red hair tied in a tight unflattering bun. She had a gaunt look. 

She was thin and gawky, had prominent cheekbones and large green eyes which were accentuated by her white skin. She wore an ankle length loose dress. It seemed to David that she was all skin and bones with no figure at all. 

Gabrielle was extremely nervous and didn't smile during the interview. Her lips were tight and narrow. At times she looked almost haunted. She spoke in a very measured, restrained way.

"It'll have to be Gabrielle," said Mike afterwards. "She likes music, she's bright and is recommended by her professor."

"Mike, she's so nervous she can hardly talk. And what the hell can a kid like that teach me about this business?"

Mike was fed-up with David's negativity. 

"Someone's going to have to teach you about this business. And Gabrielle is the only one you can afford."

Mike's irritation was aroused. "And lay off the booze David. It's killing you."

David didn't know what a marketing student would do, but gave her a desk and computer in his office. Each had politely said good morning to each other and David had shown Gabrielle his very basic facilities. Gabrielle wore a another long, loose skirt and a shapeless jersey. He did notice two slim ankles.

Gabrielle settled down to work at her computer. Her golden-red hair was drawn into an untidy bun so tightly that her hair seemed more like a skull cap.

She asked David about his computer file structures. He started to go into a detailed description but quickly she interrupted.

"I can see how it works," she said and turned her back to him.

He noticed how she tried to avoid looking him in the face.

David was busy tidying his showroom. When Gabrielle arrived he had been embarrassed at how untidy everything was. When he returned to the office, Gabrielle was gone.

"What the hell has she done for all that money I'll be paying her?" wondered David.

Later in the afternoon Gabrielle's professor came to David's workshop.

"I just wanted to talk a bit about Gabrielle.

"Gabrielle is one of the best students I have taught for years. She will be a great asset for your business.

"But David," the professor looked at him sadly. "Gabrielle is a troubled young lady. It's none of my business, nor any of yours, to know what has happened to her. Just please understand that she is very fragile."

"Holy hell," thought David. "Two emotional cripples in the same place. And it has to be my place."



GABRIELLE'S STORY

Gabrielle couldn't remember her father. He had left when she was two and had soon remarried and moved to the other side of the country. Her mother was a withdrawn woman, who always seemed to feel she was suffering life's worst misfortunes and blamed other people for it, usually Gabrielle.

She had a constantly harassed expression which made Gabrielle feel guilty, as though her mother's unhappiness was her fault. Her mother reinforced this, often moaning at her, saying that Gabrielle should do more to help, how she should understand how difficult her life was.

Gabrielle had a lonely childhood. Her mother's miserable demeanour meant that other children didn't like to come to her house. Whenever Gabrielle said she wanted to visit friends, her mother said she didn't approve.

When Gabrielle was 12 her mother gave her some very explicit sex advice.

She showed Gabrielle a life sized picture of an erect penis.

"This what every man will want to stick inside you Gabrielle. However nice you might think he is, whatever he says, rest assured. All he wants to you is stick his disgusting thing inside you. Then dump you when he's had his way. Just like your father did to me."

Gabrielle was horrified by the picture. The vein covered lump of flesh revolted her.

She agreed willingly to her mother's demands that she did not go out with boys, let alone be touched by one.

But in her last year at school a change occurred. Gabrielle's girl friends were interested in boys. When Gabrielle met them in a group at cafes she enjoyed the company. She started to mistrust her mother. 

These boys were nice and good fun to be with. She went to the movies with a group, telling her mother it was just with girls. 

Her best friend was Maxie a a vivacious girl who always wore shorter skirts than the others. Maxie was in a steady relationship with Bob and Gabrielle felt envious when she saw them holding hands.

She was surprised when Maxie told her how she had been on holiday with with Bob's family, how she and Bob shared a bedroom with Bob's parents' encouragement and how Bob had "done his best to fuck my ass off for two weeks."

"Gay, it was so great," breathed Maxie. "I had orgasms every day."

"Didn't Bob's parents mind?"

"God no. From the groans coming from their bedroom his mother must have come as many times as I did."

Gabrielle pondered. It all seemed so different to what her mother had told her. And Bob's parents had encouraged it.

"Gay, we've got to get you a boyfriend. You know Brad thinks you are really hot, don't you?"

Brad was in the school football team and drop-dead goodlooking. He was always talking and laughing at the cafe and all the girls seemed to like him.

"Really?" said Gabrielle.

"He does, he's crazy about you. Let's go to the movies on Saturday, just the four of us."

Gabrielle had a moment's indecision. But all her girlfriends had boyfriends. And most had said how they wished they could go out with Brad.

"Gay, just unwind. Forget all what your frigid mother has told you. Get a life."

Maxie had found Gabrielle's weak spot. Her mother. All her life her mother had stopped her from having fun. She agreed.

"Now don't give it to him on the first night. We don't want it to get around that you are an easy lay." 

Gabrielle was shocked. Surely she wasn't expected to have sex.

It was a good movie and all four enjoyed it. Brad was good company and Gabrielle didn't mind when he held her hand. Afterwards, he dropped her home. He kissed her in the car outside and Gabrielle panicked. All her mother's words came back. 

She remained motionless as Brad kissed and put his hand on her breast. But before she could react Brad stopped.

"It's been great Gay. Let's do it again."

"Maxie, he put his hand on my tits!" exclaimed Gabrielle the next day.

"Lucky you. Half the girls in our class would do anything for Brad to touch their tits and everywhere else. What's the matter Gay, you two seemed to get along just fine?"

"He's nice. But I'm scared about the sex."

Maxie put her hands on Gabrielle's shoulders and looked her steadily in the eye.

"Gay, all your life your mother has repressed you. You haven't enjoyed life at all. Do your own thing. Sex is so great. Just do it. Give your cherry to the best looking guy in the football team."

After the movie Brad drove to a deserted park. He kissed her. Again, Gabrielle didn't relax, but she didn't resist.

Brad leaned over and kissed her some more and his hand moved to her breasts. Gabrielle felt a mixture of fear and resolution. She must break away from her mother.

Nervously she passed Brad a condom.

Brad couldn't believe his luck. When she hadn't responded he had thought that night would result in him jacking off when he got home.

Gabrielle lost her virginity in the back seat. She still didn't respond but let Brad do whatever he wanted. Brad was puzzled but Gabrielle didn't seem to mind when he took off her panties he rolled on the condom.

It was painful for Gabrielle. She wasn't lubricating and the condom was harsh against her vagina, she had cramp from the awkward position. And when her hymen was broken she gave a gasp of pain. Brad mistook this for passion and pounded away until he came in half a minute.

"Of course it hurts a bit the first time," explained Maxie.

But the next two times were no better. All her mother's talks about men were in Gabrielle's mind as Brad thrust painfully into her non-lubricating vagina. He didn't bother about foreplay as Gabrielle didn't seem interested.

After the third time he didn't call for a week. Gabrielle plucked up all her courage and called him.

"Gay, it's been great but it's time to move on."

"But I've given you all you wanted."

"Honey, you're frigid."

It was even worse when she next went to the cafe and saw Brad holding hands with another girl. Gabrielle felt everyone was staring at her. She never went to the cafe again and always went straight home for the rest of her school days. Her confidence was shattered. She knew that boys were saying she was an easy lay. 

Her first year at college continued her lonely life. Her mother praised her for not going out with boys but continuously criticized her for just about everything else. Gabrielle concentrated on her studies and became an A student.

At the start of her second year Gabrielle met Jamie. In many ways he was similar to her. Shy, a bookworm and with few friends. They met at the college library and spent most evenings studying at the same table and not saying much. Sometimes they went to the student cafe together and talked. 

After a month Jamie tried to hold Gabrielle's hand and she didn't mind. After another two weeks he kissed her on the lips when he dropped her home. Gabrielle found his softness nicer than Brad's. It seemed quite pleasant but she wasn't really excited. She didn't really like or dislike Jamie, he was just some company for her.

Two weeks later Jamie progressed to stroking her blouse over her breasts. Afterwards she reflected that it did feel quite nice. Her problem was that she didn't feel that Jamie was the right boy to do it with. But loneliness and curiosity kept her with him.

"Above the waist only," she resolved. The twin memories of her mother's picture of a penis and the pain from Brad were firmly fixed in her mind.

At Jamie's flat next time he was surprised and pleased when Gabrielle let him put his hand inside her top and undo her bra. Gabrielle felt his inexpert hands on her nipples and wondered what the big deal was. 

His hand moved to the top of her jeans but she immediately put her hand on top.

"No please Jamie, not there." She pushed his hand back to her breast.

"Whatever you say Gay."

They returned to kissing and fondling.

Later Gabrielle thought some more. 

"What a pity it's with Jamie. He's OK to study with but he is so boring. Still, at least he stopped when I asked him to." She decided that was the finish with Jamie.

But Jamie told her that they had been invited to a party being held by a member of his basketball team. Gabrielle relented. She could see how important it was for him and he hadn't done anything wrong. And it would be nice to mix with other people a bit more.

The front room was filled with young people all having fun. Both Jamie and Gabrielle felt a bit intimidated at first, but Jamie's teammates were pleased to see him come and made an effort to help them feel at home. Some of their girlfriends came to talk to Gabrielle and she started to enjoy herself. Someone passed her an orange drink. It was nice but seemed to have a slightly different taste.

"That's vodka you can taste," said a girl who saw her looking at the glass.

Apart from an occasional glass of wine with her mother she had never drunk alcohol before. She hesitated then sipped some more.

"It's quite nice and everyone else seems to be drinking. One glass won't hurt," she thought. 

She enjoyed herself more and more with her new friends. She looked at Jamie and saw he was drinking too. He was more relaxed and confident than she had seen him and was laughing a lot with his friends. When he came to talk to her she found herself liking him more. He could be quite funny and he was saying some nice compliments to her.

"Another vodka and orange, Gay?"

She held out her empty glass without thinking.

The music was turned up louder and the laughter and voices became louder. Gabrielle and Jamie started dancing. The room was crowded and they danced close together and their bodies sometimes touched. Gabrielle was carried away by the atmosphere, she had never enjoyed herself so much and the next time she and Jamie's bodies touched she spontaneously put her arms around him and kissed him. 

Jamie's arms came around her waist and pulled her hips into his. She clung to him and their hips ground into each others. She didn't object when Jamie put his hand on her breast. Two boys nearby wolf-whistled in appreciation.

Gabrielle's glass was filled again but after a couple of sips she started to feel giddy. She clung to Jamie for support. She giggled into his ear.

"Jamie, I think I've drunk too much, I'm feeling dizzy."

"You had better lie down for a bit."

They left the main room, walked down a hallway and Jamie guided Gabrielle into a bedroom. Gratefully she collapsed onto the bed. Jamie closed the door and joined her on the bed. Her head was whirling and she was giddy. He put his arms around her.

"No Jamie I just want to go to shleep," she drawled and closed her eyes.

She woke with a terrible headache. She realized with horror she had no clothes on. 

"What had happened?"

She quickly dressed and staggered to the toilet and threw up. Somehow she returned to the party room where the lights were off and a few couples were lying on the floor. Jamie was nowhere to be seen.

She walked home, tears streaming down her cheeks. Tears from a growing sense of humiliation. But most of all, tears from her loneliness.

When she undressed she noticed semen in her panties. She stared in horror. What had happened?

The next morning she phoned Jamie.

"Jamie, what happened last night? I woke up with no clothes on and your semen inside me."

"What do you think happened? We fucked."

"I was drunk. That was rape."

"Now you're being stupid. I didn't give you a single drink. You were all over me when we were dancing. You came to the bedroom with me. And you didn't mind at the time."

"But I didn't agree."

"Yes you did. It's not my fault you got yourself so pissed you can't remember."

Gabrielle slammed down the phone. 

She thought about going to the police. But she and Jamie had been going out for months. And it was other people who gave her drinks, not him. She had pushed her body into him and kissed him when they were dancing and other people had noticed that. She had gone willingly to the bedroom. And she couldn't remember what had happened. She had no bruises or scratches at all. None of her clothes were damaged in any way.

She went to a student counsellor. She was sympathetic but confirmed Gabrielle's opinion. 

"The police will investigate. But all the evidence supports Jamie. Other people will confirm how you danced with him and went to the bedroom with him. Could you swear on a bible that he forced you. That you didn't agree?"

Gabrielle felt digusted with herself. Why had she let him kiss her breasts in his flat? Why had she danced like that? Letting him grope her in public. She still felt that what Jamie had done was wrong, very wrong. She that felt her body was dirty and defiled from whatever he had done.

But why had she been so stupid? Why had she brought this on herself?

Six weeks later Gabrielle discovered that she was pregnant. The only person she could turn to was her mother who quickly organized an abortion.

"You little whore, you got exactly what you deserved," said her mother after she had forced Gabrielle to tell her everything. 

Gabrielle couldn't stand her mother's incessant and strident abuse. She rented a room from an aged widow who was deaf. They couldn't talk which suited Gabrielle perfectly. Apart from her studies she lived the life of a recluse.

But she took with her, her mother's utter distrust of men and a total lack of confidence in her own sexuality.

A year later Gabrielle came to David's office. 



DAVID'S STORY

David's first two years of marriage to Lucy were bliss. They were hopelessly in love and their sex was uninhibited and frequent. The change was gradual. Lucy was a property lawyer, extremely successful and motivated. She was soon offered a partnership and developed a wealthy client base and her income grew rapidly. 

David had 40% ownership of a car audio business. His partner died suddenly and he realized he had to buy out the other 60%. He was already in debt from the 40% and could only get finance on expensive terms.

He and Lucy had an agreement that they shared joint expenses but each kept the rest of their income for themselves. They had bought a rundown old house in a top suburb and much of David's spare time and spare cash went into renovating it. After their daughter was born Lucy decided to hire a full-time nanny so that she could return to work. Her career and income continued to flourish. Interest rates went up and that, together with the house and nanny costs, put David into a cash bind.

When their daughter went to school Lucy insisted on an expensive private establishment. Her tastes had changed. She now only drank expensive wines and chose upmarket restaurants. Instead of camping at local beaches for their holidays, she her taste now turned to international resorts.

Her clients were high-flying property developers and banks. Her beauty and her sharp legal brain made her sought after. They started to have quarrels about money. Lucy often worked late and became "too tired" for sex. She wondered why David didn't have the same drive her clients had.

After eight years she had her first affair when she was away at a legal conference. It was an exciting fling but on the flight back she was filled with guilt. She didn't tell David but made a real effort for the marriage.

But the difficulties didn't go away. David found Lucy's new high-flying acquaintances boring. Lucy felt she had "outgrown" their friends from early days. She bought a new BMW and David kept his 6 year old Toyota. She devoted herself even more to her career and frequently travelled out of town on business.

Her next affair lasted longer. It was easy to say she was on a business trip when she was staying with her new lover. David spent lonely evenings and after their daughter had gone to bed, started to develop a relationship with the whiskey bottle. He learned of Lucy's affair when a friend had told him he had seen her at a beach when she had told him she was at a conference in the next state.




Two Lonely People



Lucy cried and promised she only loved David. He still adored her and unwisely stayed. But their sex was never the same. Everytime they made love and Lucy said how much she loved his cock, David wondered if she had said the same to the other man. Lucy was racked by guilt, but also in her heart didn't find the sex nearly as exciting as on her illicit flings. Her time away from home resumed and so did David's affair with the bottle.

His business started to go downhill. Unwisely he borrowed more money at even more expensive rates. His monthly repayments were crippling and he told Lucy he couldn't afford more money on the house or to go overseas on holiday.

Lucy made a conscious decision. She stayed with David because he was a good father for their daughter. But she spent more time at work and having affairs. David was suspicious He tried phoning her at a conference she said she was going to. She hadn't even registered. 

He packed his belongings and moved into a dingy room above his car audio business. He was heartbroken and lonely. His only friend was the bottle. He put on weight, took less care about his appearance and less care about his business. Any doctor would have diagnosed him as depressed. 

But he didn't go to a doctor.

BACK TO THE PRESENT

Gabrielle arrived on time for work each day. She wore different clothes but each with the same theme of concealing all her body from her throat to her wrists and to her ankles. As the days progressed she continued to avoid David's attempts to be friendly. 

They spoke very little as Gabrielle spent most of her time with her back to him, studying her computer and files. She did ask David some questions and he noticed that when talked about business she became quite confident. 

But when David attempted some social chat, asking her about college life, the nervousness returned, she couldn't look him in the eye and would turn away to her computer.

David became impressed with the intelligence of her questions and how quickly she had understood the technicalities of his business. After a week felt he should try to see how she was progressing.

"Can you you show me where you've got to so far please Gabrielle."

"The report will be ready next week." She frowned at him and turned her back as she returned to her computer. 

David was starting to feel irritated by her lack of social graces. Did he need someone who was costing him this money and couldn't make an effort to be polite?

"This report had better be good or I'll sack the kid," he thought.

In the evening he pondered. For some reason he felt confident and optimistic for the first time in years. He went to the fridge and got a bottle of wine. Then he hesitated when he took the first sip and poured it down the sink. He walked to his mirror, took off his shirt and studied himself. His fat paunch and bloated face.

"10 kilos overweight. You fat slob."

He went for a two hour walk.

The next week Gabrielle handed him a thick folder. David sighed inwardly.

"Surely this kid doesn't expect me to wade through all this theoretical clap-trap."

He looked at the cover for a moment then turned to some other work.

"Thank you Gabrielle, I'll look at this when I can find the time."

Then he looked at her face and felt guilty. She was so nervous, seeming to be pleading for some recognition.

"You really have worked hard to produce all this." He was rewarded with her first open smile.

As soon as she was gone David picked up the folder. He read it, then read it again. It was good stuff. He noticed that a lot of her recommendations were from his old business plans. She had openly acknowledged this. Why hadn't he put them into action?

The next morning he asked Gabrielle to sit opposite him at the table away from her computer. He needed to talk and didn't want her to have her computer to escape to.

"Thanks Gabrielle. I discussed this with Mike. It's a tremendous effort."

Gabrielle looked painfully embarrassed.

"I've sent an email to your professor saying how pleased I am. Here's a copy."

Gabrielle read it and looked even more embarrassed.

"Now I need to go through some details. Where did you get this figure for website development costs?"

Initially Gabrielle was defensive, thinking that David was criticizing her. But she realized that all he wanted was information and explanations and soon talked freely. She didn't mind when he pointed out some minor errors.

"I can be so dumb," she said.

"I don't think that's true at all Gabrielle," said David. He was rewarded with the second smile he had seen from her.

David stood up.

"OK young lady. Let's do it." He held out his hand.

Gabrielle shook his hand. "Let's do it."

David noticed that although she hadn't minded shaking his hand initially she seemed to recoil after a second. 

In her bedroom that night Gabrielle thought things over. Her first impressions of working for David was that the place was an untidy dump and that he was an overweight slob. When she saw his shaking hands and bloodshot eyes each morning she realized he had a drink problem. She had thought of leaving but there was no other assignment for her.

However the more she worked the more she appreciated him. He was always polite, had an engaging sense of humor and she has never felt threatened physically. As she went through his records she had seen that this had been a good business but had run down. She read David's plans and saw a bright business mind.

"What's caused all this change? Why didn't he do the things he had planned? Must be the booze."

She never considered him in a sexual way. He was 20 years older and fat. But she had enjoyed his praise for her report. After a lifetime of her mother finding fault she wasn't used to this.

That handshake? Was he trying something on? Of course not, it was just a business agreement.

The first stage of Gabrielle's plan was to auction David's old inventory on the internet. David saw the logic; this stuff had been hanging around, unsold, for years. But he doubted they would even get a bid.

The next stage was to target the youth market. The young men who had old cars and wasted a fortune doing them up. David had an audio room designed for up-market customers with a leather couch and polished wood furniture. They needed another for the boyracers.

David and Gabrielle drew up plans for an empty stock room to convert it to an audio room. He worked hard on it in the evenings without his drinking to distract him. He also found that without being hung over in the mornings he was able to clear up his admin work in a couple of hours. Not the six hours it usually took.

Their conversation when they were discussing business was relaxed and open. However David noticed that whenever he asked Gabrielle anything about her life away from work, that haunted expression returned and the conversation stopped.

"You're going to need another salesman once the advertising starts " said Gabrielle. 

"You've said good staff are hard to find."

"You're looking at him. This may surprise you young lady, but I was a hot-shot salesman in my youth."

"But that was so long ago." Gabrielle giggled at her joke and then was horrified she had been rude. David looked at her, started to smile then roared with laughter.

That afternoon Gabrielle watched David selling through the two way mirror. David returned waving a credit card receipt.

"Maybe not too long ago. The old three card play, it never fails. Show him some gear in his price range. Then demonstrate one costing three times as much. Even someone stone deaf can tell the difference. While he's in sticker shock, offer a mid-priced compromise. Never fails."

He smiled at his own cleverness and Gabrielle enjoyed seeing his boyish enthusiasm. Then her frown returned.

"Your clothes let you down."

David looked at her in her usual shapeless neck to ankle clothes, but restrained himself from commenting about her clothes. But she was right. His old clothes were hanging loosely with all the weight he had lost.

"One more week when I've lost the rest of that weight," he said to himself.

Later in the afternoon Gabrielle bent over to pick a folder from a low shelf. David was surpised when the shape of a small, but nicely rounded backside showed through her all covering dress. Gabrielle hadn't seen his stare and by the time she stood up he was studying his computer screen.

As she drove home Gabrielle reflected. She squirmed with embarrassment when she remembered laughing about his age and talking about his clothes. But he hadn't minded, he had laughed. She also thought how he had changed. Lost a lot of weight, no more trembling hands, no bloodshot eyes or bags under the eyes. He looked a lot younger, especially when his face was enthusiastic.

"This is just my assignment. He's far too old. And no man will ever want a woman who is frigid."

A shiver ran up her spine as she remembered Brad and Jamie and her abortion

"She really is very beautiful when she smiles," thought David as he went for his evening walk. "I wonder what happened to her to make so scared most of the time. It really is so good to have her around and already the business is looking up.

"Hell, that was a nice ass," he recalled the shape. "Don't be stupid. You're far too old and fat."

The next two days brought back all Gabrielle's old reserves. She didn't laugh, she avoided David's eyes and was almost rude the way she quickly finished conversations. But on the third morning she turned on her computer as soon as she arrived. Their first auctions of the old inventory had closed the previous night. David had forgotten.

"David come and look here," her voice was excited.

David leaned over her shoulder peering at the screen. The prices were far better than he had expected.

"Gabrielle, you are so, so smart."

She turned to look at him. "No I'm not, anyone could have done it."

He frowned at her. "Listen here. I'm the boss and when I say you are smart, that means you are smart. Understand? Or do you want me to spell it out?" He gently tapped her on the shoulder.

Their faces were only six inches apart. Gabrielle was looking up at him, her face glowing with excitement from the sale and David's praise.

She saluted. "Yes Boss." 

They both burst out laughing, then stopped and looked at each other for a moment. David saw her haunted look and went back to his desk.

David cursed himself. "For fuck's sake don't touch her. Remember what her prof told you."

Again their conversation became limited and purely business and David made sure they were always a meter apart at least.

A week later David was happy with the weight he had lost and went shopping.

Gabrielle took a moment to recognise him. The well fitting and fashionable clothes showed his slim figure and his new, shorter, tufted hairstyle made him look younger again.

"That looks better," she frowned, but inwardly she smiled.

When David got to his desk he sorted through the paper work. He found a high priced sales invoice.

"This looks strange. That isn't Mal's signature on this. Did one of the workshop staff make a sale?"

"No," said Gabrielle.

David looked closely and worked out the first three letters of the salesperson's signatute. "Gab . ."

"Did you sell this?"

"Yes. Mal was busy. I hope you don't mind."

"Mind? Of course not. That's the best sale we've had all week. How did you do it?"

Gabrielle couldn't retrain her smile of pleasure.

"Well, I listened to what my instructor told me. He says he used to be a hotshot salesman. In his youth."

David laughed. "I must have a guardian angel who brought you here, Gabby."

The "Gabby" just slipped out. She didn't react, but inwardly she liked the sign of affection.

That brought down one of the barriers. Never again did Gabrielle retreat into her haunted look. They never touched, but often laughed when they spoke. The "Gabby" stayed and each she heard it Gabrielle felt a glow.

The next week Gabrielle had to go back to college for a full time course and for her professor to review her work. He was extremely impressed.

"You've done well, Gabrielle."

"I've learned so much from David."

He professor looked at her. She had changed so much, seemed far more confident and often had a radiant smile.

That evening he visited David. He was surprised at the transformation in him also.

"I just came to say thanks David. Gabrielle's work is Honors grade and she's the most confident I've ever seen her."

"She's worked wonders for me already."

The professor looked at him closely. There was a clause in the agreement with the college which prohibited relations between employers and students. He thought about reminding David of the clause.

"Why? They won't admit it if they are. And if they are, it isn't hurting her."

During the week Gabrielle was away David closed his business. He and his staff worked hard renovating the showroom and finishing the new audio room.

During her week away Gabrielle spent many lonely and anguished hours in her bedroom. She missed the vibrant atmosphere at work, she missed the challenge and stimulation of her marketing plans. And she missed David. Sometimes at work she had strong urges for him to hug her. She felt them even more now.

But each time her memories of her mother's words, of Brad and Jamie and being frigid overwhelmed her and brought her to tears. 

David and his staff worked long hours. They had to keep to a timetable as Gabrielle had placed advertisements for the grand reopening. He often thought of her, her smile and laughter, the conversations they had. And frequently his mind dwelt on the shape of her backside when she had bent over.

"For fuck's sake! She's out of bounds. Absolutely," he lectured himself.

Gabrielle was excited when she returned. She wanted to see how the renovations looked, how the new audio room worked. And David.

Both deliberately didn't smile when they first saw each other, but soon Gabrielle was "Ooohing" and "Aaahing" in appreciation. The show room was painted all in black with chrome fittings big posters of pop stars and classical composers picked out by spotlights. Display cabinets were also spotlighted. David had upgraded the sound system and music wafted through.

Gabrielle stood in the middle, transfixed by the atmosphere. "David, it's a wonderland. Far better than I imagined. You have done so well."

"We just followed your plans," David replied.

Gabrielle glowed.

They went into the boyracer audio room. Two black leather high sided bucket seats, a large screen showing a Mon Def concert with the sound system blasting out. Gabrielle's eyes glowed with excitement.

"Let's sit here," she pointed to the bucket seats. Without thinking she took David's hand. They separated when they each reclined in their seats. Gabrielle lay back and immersed herself in the atmosphere. David glanced across at her profile and thought how beautiful she was.

They went to the office where there was an email from Mal's wife. He had been in an accident and was in hospital being operated on for a broken arm.

"Bloody hell," exclaimed David. "I need him for the grand opening. I'd better get a casual in. Though they are always hopeless."

"There is an alternative," said Gabrielle.

David caught her meaning.

"Are you sure Gabby? All day selling is tough."

"I've got a good tutor. He says he was a hot-shot salesman in his youth. Many years ago."

"Why not," thought David. "She'll be better than a casual and I can train her over the next two days."

He pulled out some high value banknotes. "Here's your clothing allowance and commission on that sale." 

He paused and frowned. "Your clothes let you down Gabby."

As soon as he said it, he regretted it. How would she react?

Gabrielle initially recoiled, then giggled, poked out her tongue. "Yes boss."

She spent that evening studying fashion magazines and the next two evenings shopping.

She was a willing and fast learning student. She quickly picked up a grasp of the audio techicalities and even more quickly picked up David's sales techniques. She still came to work in her baggy, all covering clothes.

David arrived early on the day of the opening, checking that all the gear was working and doing last minute tidying up. The music was loud and he didn't hear the door opening and didn't hear Gabrielle coming up behind him.

"Boo!"

David turned and his mouth dropped open in amazement.

Gabrielle's hair was at last released from the tight bun and flowed in orange-gold curls to her shoulders. For the first time she had some lipstick and a little make-up highlighting her cheek bones. 

She was wearing along sleeved green satin blouse, but in contrast to her baggy tops this was figure hugging. Her waist was tiny, her breasts weren't large; "A-B" David guessed but they stood out proudly and firmly from her slim body.

Her dark blue skirt came to two inches above her knee showing slim and shapely calves. The skirt was a fine material which seemed to cling to her thighs showing them to be a perfect match for her thighs.

David had known many beautiful women when he was younger, but none like Gabrielle. It was if she had been transformed into a Vogue model. An innocent beauty with an undertone of eroticism.

Gabrielle started to worry at his silence. "The blouse isn't too tight is it?"

"The blouse is absolutely perfect, just like all of you. Gabby, forget marketing and selling. You could be a fashion model. You are exquisitely beautiful," he whispered hoarsely.

She smiled with pleasure, then became embarrassed so she frowned and looked around the immaculate showroom

"Why haven't you tidied up? This room is like pig sty." She repolished a chrome fitting which David had already polished to perfection. With her back turned she smiled as she remembered his words.

Her advertising worked well. A steady stream of boyracers arrived and all looked around in astonishment when they saw the showroom. A pattern quickly developed. David served the boyracers who had brought their girlfriends. The others were more than happy to be looked after by Gabrielle.

She was able to quickly work out who had any money and then they seemed to have no escape. Gabrielle's sales were far more than David's. During a quiet time he took a coffee break and watched through the two way mirror as she worked her magic in the audio room.

She asked her customer what music they liked and agreed enthusiastically with the choice as she put it on. Then she lay back in a bucket seat which was fully reclined. The boy couldn't take his eyes of her as she laid back, eyes closed, seemingly carried away by the music.

When it was finished she enquired, "Which one will your girlfriend like?"

"I dunno," stumbled the youth.

With her eyes wide open in innocence Gabrielle whispered, "I think any girl will go for a guy with this system in his wheels." Pointing to the most expensive. Sale.

They didn't have the opportunity to talk much during the day. Finally David closed the doors as the last customer left. Gabrielle studied the computer to see the day's sales results.

"Look David, we did almost twice as much as we targeted."

"And I know why, you were brilliant Gabrielle. I watched you once and almost felt sorry for your customer."

They laughed together.

"Can I have some wine please?"

David poured her a glass and a lime and soda for himself. She noticed but said nothing as they went into the executive audio room. David put on some relaxing music and sat on the sofa beside her, but not touching. They sipped their drinks and listened and relaxed in silence. Both were tired after the big day.

David glanced across at Gabrielle. He was still as in awe of her appearance as when she had first walked in that morning. He thought about why she had always used to dress in a way which covered her completely. "Why?" he wondered.




Two Lonely People



Gabrielle had noticed his glance but hadn't reacted. She worked out what he must be thinking. She thought what a perfect day. The selling was exciting, working with David was exciting and it was lovely just sitting here with him now. Then her old fears resurfaced. Her fears of how other men had treated her. She panicked about being frigid. 

She wanted to be cuddled in David's arms. She was aware of feelings she never had felt towards Brad and Jamie. But she was afraid of what he would think if he thought she was frigid.

Tears came to her eyes which David noticed.

"What's the matter Gabby? I was sure you were enjoying yourself." He reached out and stroked the tears on her cheek. She said nothing and continued to sob. David took a risk and put his arm around her shoulder. He almost withdrew when he felt her recoil, but then she cuddled in and rested her head on his neck. They listened in silence but her tears still flowed.

David guided her so that she sat on his knees and again she snuggled her head into his neck. He put one arm around her shoulder, the other around her waist. Gradually she relaxed. She became totally confident that David would never be like Brad and Jamie. 

"I'm sorry. I don't know how you can put up with someone like me."

"That's easy. Keep selling like you did today and I'll put up with anything."

Gabrielle picked the joke and giggled. Feeling better she started talking about the day, still with her head against his neck. David kept his arm around her waist, but stroked her hair with his other hand.

Gabrielle became more relaxed and put her arm around his shoulder.

"Do you really like these clothes?"

"They are fabulous. And they suit you perfectly."

"I've never worn anything like this before."

"Always wear them when you're selling to boyracers."

She giggled and snuggled in closer. David became very aware of her right breast touching his side.

He sipped his lime and soda.

"Don't you ever drink alcohol?"

"Not now."

"For how long?"

"About a month."

She thought for a moment. "That's about when I started here."

He nodded. "Strange. If anything you're the sort of person who would drive a man to drink."

She giggled again and tightened her arm around him. Her perfect breast pushed in more.

"Did you stop because of me? Why would you do that? You hardly knew me."

David glanced down and saw that her skirt had ridden two thirds of the way up her thigh. A long, pale skinned and slim feminine perfection. Gabrielle noticed his glance and stiffened. Her first impulse was to lower her skirt, but she resisted. She stroked his cheek.

"Why did you stop drinking at that time."

David sighed. "It's a long and not very glorious story."

"Tell me please."

David looked into her face. "Only if you kiss me first." He saw her fear then saw her relax. She pecked his lips.

David told the story of how his marriage had collapsed, of his financial pressures, of his loneliness and depression. How the booze had taken over.

"I was in a deadly spiral. The more I drank, the more depressed I became and the more the business went downhill. So the more I drank and on it went. I'm not proud of myself."

Gabrielle thought for some time. 

"Well, you're not drinking now. And your business is coming right isn't it?" 

David held her tighter and Gabrielle pecked his lips again.

"And you don't seem very depressed right now."

"Not with you kissing me."

He bent over and she lifted her face. This was a longer kiss. He felt her relax, then stiffen, then relax again. He knew she was battling something and pulled back.

"I think you should be very proud of yourself, pulling everything together."

"With more than a little help from my friend."

Gabrielle was becoming more relaxed and happy. The longer she was in David's arms the more comfortable she became. She knew that whatever happened he wouldn't force her to do anything she didn't want. She noticed him glancing at her bare thigh again. Again she resisted the urge to pull down her skirt. Then she had a strange feeling of enjoying him looking at her like that.

"My legs are so skinny aren't they?"

"No they're not. They're perfect."

"They're skinny."

"Gabby. I'm the boss. I decide whether legs are skinny or perfect. Yours are pefect. Understand? Or do you need me to spell it out?"

"Yes Boss," she saluted and they both laughed.

David instinctively turned her face and she instinctively kissed him. David ran the tip of his tongue across those soft full lips. He felt her flinch, then relax, then tentatively Gabrielle ran her tongue over his lips. He opened his mouth slightly and slowly her tongue explored. David was aware that each time Gabrielle advanced she flinched them seemed to relax.

Softly he sucked her tongue into his mouth and played with it with the tip of his. Suddenly Gabrielle thrust her tongue deeply in. They savoured the moment although David had to fight hard to resist the urge to put a hand on that perfect thigh. But he now understood that she was fighting some demons and he pulled back.

Gabrielle was confused. She was confused about herself. Although she had brief moments of panic, she was loving his touch and kisses. She had never felt like this before. She was confused about David. Why did he stop? Did he know she was frigid? 

David was in seventh heaven. He had felt a great relief as he had told his story and his inner feeling for the first time. And that Gabrielle hadn't been shocked. All the affection he had felt for her over the month had built up and was now reinforced by her lovely kisses, the breast touching him and the semi exposed thigh.

He had a raging rampant hard. He glanced down and saw the tent like shape in his trousers. She followed his glance and saw it also. She stiffened and pulled away from his arms. David saw a look of terror on her face. 

Gabrielle stood up and burst into uncontrollable sobs. David was bewildered but stood up and gently put one arm around her shoulders. 

"It's alright Gabby. Don't cry beautiful lady. I would never hurt you. You know that don't you?"

After a moment Gabrielle nodded. "If I tell you, you'll hate me."

"Gabby, you've saved my life. I could never hate you."

She looked through her tears at his gentle face and knew this was true. David poured her another wine and himself another lime and soda. With a little hestitation she sat on his knee again, but kept apart. She swallowed a big sip of wine, took a deep breat and began.

"This is far worse than your story." 

She talked about her repressed life with her mother, about her sex education and the picture of a penis which still haunted her, how Brad had used her then thrown her away, how Jamie had raped her and about her abortion and how her mother had condemned her as a slut. Tears streamed down her face, she never looked at David, but her voice was steady and matter of fact.

She turned to him.

"So there you are David. Your innocent Gabrielle is a whore, she's dirty and she's frigid." She burst into tears again. David said nothing but just stroked her hair.

After a while he said " A whore is someone who takes money to have sex. Did Brad or Jamie pay you?"

She shook her head. "So your mother used that word to abuse you for whatever her reasons. You were persuaded to have sex with Brad by Maxie and you had no choice with Jamie.

"I can't imagine how horrible those experiences were. But that doesn't make you dirty.'

Gabrielle started to protest. "Yes it does, my mother said . . . "

"Gabby, your mother seems to have said a lot of things to hurt you, but that doesn't mean she's right. I don't think you are dirty, you are the most marvellous, warm giving and tender person."

"But . . "

"Gabby, I'm the Boss, remember." That brought a small giggle.

"But I'm frigid."

"You probably were with Brad and Jamie. How could you be anything else? You didn't really want to do it with Brad and you didn't really like Jamie."

"So I am frigid."

"Gabby your not frigid. Calling a girl frigid is just a cop out by men who are lousy lovers. It's easy to blame the girl."

"But I know I am. I'm scared of men."

"Sure you are. But that's different. I know better. I know from the way you kissed me, from the way your breast was against my chest, from the way you liked me looking at your thigh."

"I didn't like that!"

"Maybe, maybe not."

Gabrielle thought for a moment. Yes it had been exciting when David had looked at her like that. But she didn't say anything.

David stood up. "Let's go and see that new Woody Allen movie." 

After five minutes in the movie David put his arm around her shoulder and Gabrielle relaxed into it. She didn't watch the movie because she felt happy that she had told her story.. 

He drove her home in her car and after a brief peck on her lips caught a cab back to his office.

Gabrielle spent a lot of time deciding what to wear the next morning. Her first choice was an old baggy pair of jeans and a large woollen jumper. She put them on, felt comfortable at first but then felt empty. She put on a tighter skirt which came to four inches above her knees and a tank top. She let her hair out and shook her head until her hair was in flowing locks to her shoulders. She studied herself in the mirror. She liked the look of the new Gabrielle, but she was still worried.

"Gabby, you look gorgeous. Come here and be molested," said David when she came into the office.

She almost ran into his arms and they had an all embracing hug. David felt her breasts against his chest, her tongue enter her mouth and the firm shape as his hands caressed her ass.

"We can't do this all day. I'll go broke." He reluctantly pulled away as he felt his erection rising. Overnight he had worked out that Gabby's basic problem was that she was scared of cocks. No wonder after her mother and what those two bastards had done to her.

Gabrielle looked up the results of the latest internet auction. "I don't think you'll go broke. Look at this." David came and stood over her shoulder. "Where would I be without you Gabby?"

She thought that was about the nicest thing she had ever heard.

They worked hard during the day. The had to process the paperwork from the grand opening and had to service the customers coming in. David looked down through the two way mirror. If it was a man by himself, Gabrielle went down. If it was couple or a woman David went down.

Gabrielle came up waving a credit card receipt for for the most expensive system David sold.

"This is so easy David, why couldn't you always do this?"

He looked at the shape of her nipples showing through her tank top and knew the answer.

"Aren't you pleased? Aren't you going to molest me?"

For the first time he put his hand on her breast when they kissed. He anticipated her reaction. At first a slight recoil, then enthusiasm. He massaged those fascinating niplles between his thumb and forefinger and felt her thrust her hips into his. Again his hardening cock caused him to pull away which made Gabrielle pout.

It was the same after her next sale. Gabrielle stiffened when he touched her thigh on her skirt, then relaxed and sucked his tongue as hard as she could.

After the staff had left they returned to the executive audio room and Gabrielle poured her wine and his lime and soda. When David put his hand over her breast he was thrilled when he discovered that she had taken off her bra.

He lifted the tank top from her body and her two firm uplifted breast were there for his eyes. Pink aureoles with jutting nipples. Her skin was pale and perfect and her belly was flat.

"You are the most beautiful woman in the world," he whispered as he softly stroked.

Gabrielle felt self conscious.

"I'm sorry they're so small."

"I was worried they would be too big. Gabby your boobs are perfect. See an exact handful."

He bent and licked then sucked the right aureole. After a moment she put her arms around his head and held him there tightly.

His hand drifted up the outside of her thigh. Gabrielle's clasp around his head jerked tighter then relaxed. Then the inside of her leg. Another clasp and relax. David moved his head up and she kissed him urgently. Slowly and patiently and tantalisingly his fingers danced over the silken smooth skin of her inner thigh. Gabrielle didn't need prompting to part her legs.

But when his hand came to her knickers she put hers on top and pulled back.

"David, I'm scared. I don't want to have sex."

"We won't have sex Gabby. We'll only do the things you like." He kissed her nipple.

"I hated it the other times."

"You've liked what we do together?"

Gabrielle nodded. "Liked" wasn't the word she would have used. "Adored" maybe. She wanted more of this magic. After only a small hesitation she lifted her backside to help him pull down her panties.

His lips returned to her mouth and his hand to her lower thighs which she had closed. But with his gentle pressure she again spread her legs. She felt his fingers drift over the top of her thighs and impulsively spread her legs wider. Then those lovely fingers were combing through her pubic hair. 

David now knew for certain Gabrielle wasn't frigid. Her pussy was moist and lubricating. He didn't probe deeply, but found her clitoris and delicately rubbed it.

Gabrielle lost all detailed knowledge of what was happening. She was only aware of a glowing sensation building at the front of her pussy. She stopped kissing him and hugged him tightly as her hips started to writhe and the glow became more intense until it seemed to burst.

"Ah . . aaah . . . . aaah . . . . aaaaaaaaaaah." Her first ever orgasm.

Before she had recovered, David's face was between her legs and his hands were pushing them wider. Gabrielle had a momentary panic that she was dirty down there but then sensations even more intense took over and she lifted her knees, opening all her femininity to him. David's lips and tongue lapped her clitoris, two fingers slid a little way into her vagina and her massaged her G spot.

Gabrielle's next orgasm was even stronger than her first and left her quivering and shaking.

David came back up beside her on the sofa and hugged her.

After a few minutes Gabrielle sighed, "I've just been to heaven twice, darling Davey."

She kissed him and noticed the taste of her vaginal juices.

"How could you do that down there on me. Wasn't it disgusting."

David laughed. "Gabby your pussy is as beautiful as the rest of you. And it tastes and smells so sexily, arotically and intimately wonderful."

"Truly?" she was surprised. She kissed his lips again. It did taste quite nice.

She was reclining on the sofa only wearing her short skirt which was bunched up around her waste. She looked and started to push it down. David gently stopped her.

"I want to look at you." He eased her legs apart again.

Gabrielle felt awkward for a moment. "After what he has just done he can do whatever he likes."

She looked at him. He was still fully clothed. David noticed her glance at the tent in his trousers. But this time her expression was more of curiosity than fear.

"Can I touch it?"

David guided her hand to her trousers. Tentatively she squeezed his cock through the material.

"It's very hard."

"That's because of you," he whispered in her ear.

"Is it?" She tentatively explored some more.

"It's huge. How big is it?"

"About average size I guess. Six or seven inches maybe. I haven't measured it."

"Does it have big veins like in my mother's photo?"

"I suppose it does."

"And a big knob?"

"I guess."

Gabrielle started to laugh. "Davey, was that a photo of you that my mother showed me?"

She laughed hysterically at her own joke. So much that she squeezed far too hard.

"Holy fucking hell, that hurt."

"Oh Davey I'm sorry." She kissed his lips.

"It's no good saying sorry to me. Say it to my cock."

She hesitated, then gently rubbed. "Sorry, cock." She burst into laughter again.

She continued to giggle as she snuggled into David's arms and continued to gently stroke his erection.

"Does your cock like that?" She laughed at herself for using the word cock.

"Mmmmm"

David undid his fly. Gabrielle put her hand on his briefs. She could feel his erection in far more detail.

They sat in silence as she explored his shaft and even cupped his balls.

"Davey?"

"Mmmm."

"Were you a hot-shot lover? In your youth?"

"I don't know. I guess I didn't have all that many complaints."

"You're quite a hot-shot lover even now."

Looking earnestly into his eyes she eased her hand under his briefs. She saw him sigh with pleasure as her fingers traced up and down the shaft.

"Does your cock like that?"

"Quite a bit."

Gabrielle grew in confidence. She had had those marvellous orgasms, she could tell that David adored her body and here she was, stroking his cock and not feeling afraid. Even enjoying it as she could see David's pleasure.

She thought more. Here she was, almost completely naked, her legs apart and with her hands on David's cock and loving it. She thought back even two days ago and couldn't imagine how she had changed so fast.

She kissed David passionately.

"Davey, when you were a hot-shot lover, in your youth . . " She giggled.

"Mmmm?"

"Did you always keep your girls waiting all night before you fucked them?"

David laid her on the Persian carpet and put a cushion under her head. Gabrielle watched as he undressed, saw his erection and felt a little bit afraid. Then she remembered how she had liked stroking it and how gentle David always was.

David pleasured her body with kisses and touches, he sucked her nipples so they came to hard peaks, he tantalized her thighs again and gently explored her sodden vagina. Gabrielle's delight and anticipation mounted. She was momentarily scared when David knelt between her legs and raised her knees. But as soon as his knob easily slid between her labia all fear was gone and delight filled her body.

David was delicate. He was still worried about Gabrielle's reaction. Would her terrible past experiences take control? But he as he felt her reactions, he felt confident and thrust more deeply into her tight canal.

"Oh my fucking God," shrieked Gabrielle.

Horrified, David immediatelty withdrew.

"I'm so sorry Gabby. I got carried away."

"That is sooo beautiful. Put it back in, right now."

That was the end of all restraint. She wrapped her arms and legs around him and thrust her hips to feel him more deeply. She came quickly again and was thrilled when she felt David thrust deeply, felt his body stiffen and heard him grunt with his orgasm.

Twice more they made love that night. More languidly, more passionately, more emotionally.

Mal came to work with his arm in plaster the next morning, just as Gabrielle was leaving to go home and get changed. He didn't recognise her at first. The flowing hair, the high fashion clothes, the model's figure and most of all her radiant smile.

"Hi Mal, how's the arm?", she asked as he did a double take.

He spoke to George, the workshop manager.

"Have you seen Gabrielle?"

"Yes I didn't recognise her for a moment."

"Me too. God what a stunner. Why don't you try your luck with her."

"No chance," George sighed ruefully. "I arrived here at 5am to catch up and she was in bed with the boss."

"The dirty old bastard . . . The lucky bastard."

It was as though Gabrielle had been released from chains. She couldn't really understand why David worshipped her pussy so much. But she loved it that he did and to make it easier for him, she had a Brazilian.

Her fear of cocks was completely erased. She loved bringing him to excitement with oral sex. She loved swallowing his semen or having him come over her face. She loved taking his cock deeply into her throat.




Two Lonely People



Her favourite position was kneeling over him facing his feet. After she learned to control her gagging she pushed her face down so hard and pushed his cock so far into her throat that her nose rubbed his balls.

David was doubly blessed. The unbelievable sensations from his cock and the sight and smells of her pussy only a few inches from his face. After he had come in her throat, he pulled her haunches back and licked and nibbled her genitals until she squealed in orgasm and ejaculated over his face.

She bought a book on sensuous massage and they spent long hours caressing and worhipping and delighting each other's bodies. 

Gabrielle noticed that he was totally unihibited with oral sex and often licked her anus and tickled it with his tongue. She was thrilled and excited by the intimacy and the sensations but hadn't even heard about anal sex. She did some research on the internet.

The next night in bed she lay in his arms, her pussy still tingling and feeling his semen oozing onto her thigh.

"Davey, darling, when you were a hot-shot lover . . in your youth . . " she still couldn't stop giggling from this joke.

"Mmmm," murmured David bracing himself for whatever was coming.

"Did you keep your girlfriends waiting forever before you fucked them in the ass?"

She bent down and sucked his cock back to a hard erection then passed him some lubricant. David slowly intoduced her, first with his tongue probing her ass, then one gentle and lubricated finger and as her sphincter relaxed, another finger.

Gabrielle was in heaven. The forbidden excitement, the new sensations, but most of all David's tender and delicate devotion. 

It was uncomfortable for just a moment as his knob pushed in. David ever so gently and slowly probed deeper into her bowel and she sighed with excitement, feeling his cock against her tight rectum walls.

When Gabrielle's ass was completely relaxed he started a gentle rhythm and found her clitoris with his fingers.

Gabrielle had experienced dozens of orgasms by now, but nothing prepared her for the intense pleasure sensations though her vagina and and rectum. Her hips took a life of their own as they writhed trying to get that lovely cock in even deeper. David lost all self restraint and pounded harder until her body seemed to bounce as though she was being electrocuted and a joyous wail came from her lips.

The next morning Gabrielle brought some paint and curtain materials.

"I'm spending just about all my time here so I might as well live here. But I'm not living here with it looking like a dump." She frowned as she surveyed the bedroom.

A week later Gabrielle's professor came for a final assessment interview with David. Gabrielle's written work had been first class and the results for David's business were remarkable. He had seen Gabrielle's transformation and was delighted to see this confident and beautiful young woman emerge from that haunted shell.

However, when he interviewed them in David's office he had a serious problem. The clause which forebade sexual relations between student and employer. The prof didn't care, in fact he was pleased for both of them, but knew he had to protect his own position. 

"Gabrielle, your student records show you've changed your address."

"Yes," she beamed. "I've moved in with Davey."

"We've got a problem." He pointed to clause 46.

David studied it. He hadn't read the form.

"That's not so good. What does this mean?"

"I'm afraid Gabrielle will have be withdrawn from the student scheme with your firm."

David pondered.

"Well, she's finished her assignment and you've said it's brilliant. An honors grade."

The professor nodded. "Yes the academic committee have agreed a first class honors."

"So, Gabby will get her degree?"

"Yes provided her employment here under the student scheme is terminated right now."

"Gabby. You're fired. Fired for flagrant breach of clause 46." David frowned at her.

She beamed even wider and poked out her tongue.

Relieved, the professor handed a form for David to sign. He read it carefully and saw that Gabrielle would definitely get her degree.

"Professor," asked David. "With the firm growing so fast I need to take on a young marketing director. Do you know a graduate student who might fit? Someone who is bright, isn't afraid of hard work and accepts discipline without question?"

"Bright and hard working, no problem," said the professor. He smiled at Gabrielle. "Discipline, well, perhaps you can work that out yourselves."



Two Lonely People Ch.02



SIX MONTHS LATER

"Davey, we need to talk."

Gabrielle was sitting in her "Serious Discussion" position. David was lying on his back and she was sitting on his pelvis facing him, her feet on either side of his body. Her golden orange hair cascaded to her shoulders. Her delicately beautiful pale face was highlighted by her big green eyes. Gabrielle was tall and fashion model slim. 

At this time she was also naked. Her pink aureoles contrasted with her immaculate pale skin. Her firm, orange sized breasts pointed straight at David's eyes. 

Her long slender thighs were apart and her knees were drawn back a little towards her chest. As she was leaning back slightly, her shaven pussy was openly displayed and her outer labia were slightly parted. If David had been looking he would have seen the glistening pink rims of her inner labia.

However David wasn't looking. His eyes were closed as he was savouring the intense pleasure sensations surging from his cock which was embedded deeply into Gabrielle's ass.

"David!" Gabrielle's voice was strict and her frown was stern. "Open your eyes and listen. This is important. And you, Lord Vlad, don't you dare start moving."

"Lord Vlad" was Gabrielle's pet name for David's cock. She enjoyed history and had read about the 15th century Romanian duke, Vlad the Impaler. This original Vlad had earned his nickname from his unattractive habit of killing his enemies by impaling them with a blunt stake through their rectums.

David hadn't felt flattered by her choice but decided that he couldn't really object. Gabrielle took great delight in being impaled by her Lord Vlad, very frequently, in her vagina and mouth as well as her rectum.

David could not conceive of anything more beautifully, wantonly erotic as he opened his eyes and looked at her. With a supreme effort of willpower he switched his mind from sex to conversation. He knew that if his cock as much as twitched, Gabrielle would bounce down hard and painfully on his balls.

"OK Gabby, shoot. What do you want to talk about?"

"What are we going to do with our money?"

His business was flourishing. Internet sales were growing, David's car audio shop was now the place for boyracers to buy their gear. The up-market business was going well and he had branched out into profitable sidelines: fashion sunglasses and a limited range of domestic audio.

He had paid off the most expensive part of his debt and had been able to renegotiate the balance on far more favourable terms.

Gabrielle had earned more money than she had dreamed of. Her salary as marketing director for his firm and sales commissions had built a healthy bank balance.

He looked at her adoringly. He owed so much to her. Before she had a come to work at his firm on a college assignment he had been a depressed alcoholic with his marriage failing, his business failing and had been within a few months of bankruptcy. It was her ideas, her inspiration and most of all her absolute confidence in him which had changed his fortunes.

"Are you going to buy an apartment?"

"No way." David was cautious after coming so close to bankruptcy. "Things are looking great but I'm not going to take on a commitment like that. And we both seem to like it here."

She looked around the small bedroom. It was tidy, but certainly not luxurious. She had always been happy here with David and never wanted anything more. She knew she would be happy anywhere provided David was there. She owed as much to David as he did to her.

Gabrielle's childhood had been blighted by her strict mother who did everything she could to undermine her self confidence and make her mistrust men. Her only two sexual experiences had been humiliating disasters and confirmed her mother's advice. David had brought out her self confidence. And her sexual desire. For him.

She looked down at him. Since he had stopped drinking and started exercising, he had lost weight and looked 10 years younger than when she had first met him. He was 15 years older but she never thought about the age difference. Physically he was perfect and she loved everything about him.

"Well, I am going to hire another salesman. We've both been working 12/7." We don't seem to do anything except work and fuck," said David.

"I'm not complaining."

"There is something I thought I might buy for the business."

"Oh, what is it?

"I'll show you. . . . After. . . . "

"After this?" She squeezed his erection with her bowel, then changed her position slightly to give him room to move and thrust.

David watched as she rode his cock and as her excitement grew. Her small breasts jiggled with her movements. Her head was thrown slightly back, her eyes closed, her lips were parted and she had an expression combining agony and ecstacy. His cock was in paradise, buried deep in her tight, smooth walled ass.

"Darling Davey,"she groaned, thrusting her backside down to take him deeper.

David used a finger to excite her clitoris which was becoming more engorged. Gabrielle's movements became more frantic, small beads of perspiration appeared above her upper lip. David restrained his own desperate urge to come and concentrated on her.

Gabrielle's pelvic rotations became even more frantic and her groans became shrieks as her orgasm consumed her vagina and bowel. She collapsed onto his chest, quivering, shuddering and exhausted.

When she recovered she moved to between his knees and knelt over his cock, looking at it closely.

"Hello Lord Vlad. Where have you been hiding?"

She sucked the knob and licked her lips.

"I can tell. You've been where the sun don't shine."

She reverentially licked all over his still rock-like cock and all over his testicles. She looked up at David and smiled, opened her mouth wide and took him, balls deep, into her throat. She now knew what drove him wild and for the next five minutes fully rewarded Lord Vlad for his efforts. Sometimes she tenderly licked, other times she pushed David's knob down her throat. 

She speeded her movements and sucked even harder. When he started to come she pulled back. A rope-like squirt of semen sprayed onto her face. 

She lowered her head again and gently licked the receding cock.

"Bye bye Lord Vlad. You can come again soon."

They drove to "Panther's Panebeaters". Mark Panther had been a friend of David's for some years and they had referred business to each other. Panther, as he was known, had been dismayed by David's business and personal decline. 

He had visited David when Gabrielle had just started to work for him. They were sitting at their desks with their backs to each other. David had introduced her. The first thing Panther had noticed was her haunted look and how she couldn't look him in the eye. Then he noticed her hair tied in an unflattering bun, no make-up and dowdy, shapeless clothing. He also noticed how she made no attempt to talk to him or David.

The same scenario the next time Panther visited. Perhaps she and David were a bit more polite to each other.

On the third visit Gabrielle's appearance was unchanged, but now she and David laughed. David had lost weight and was wearing fashionable new clothes.

"Are you fucking her?" Panther had asked when Gabrielle had left the office.

"Hell no. It's purely business. I'm far too old for her. And scarecrows aren't my style."

Perhaps Panther had a more educated eye for women. Her beautiful smile was radiant and obvious and Panther suspected something more.

"I think you may be surprised one day, David."

When he next met them he hadn't been surprised by the obvious relationship between her and David. But he hadn't anticipated the extraordinarily beautiful young woman who had emerged. He also hadn't anticipated her selling skills as she easily persuaded him to spend $1,500 more than he had intended for his new car sound system. In five minutes.

Panther took them to his workshop.

"Here it is," he said. There was pride in his voice.

Gabrielle wondered what he was talking about All she could see was a delapidated old wreck of a car.

"'71 Chev Camaro. 350 V8. High-back Strato seats."

Gabrielle could still only see a run down wreck.

"The engine goes a treat."

He started it and even Gabrielle sensed something in the rumble of the eight cylinders.

"Here's what it'll look like when it's finished." Panther opened a magazine. 

Gabrielle understood more. A muscle car. Masculinity on wheels. The styling might be dated, but there was a timeless strength and virility. She became interested and took the magazine from Panther to read some more.

Panther and David went into a discussion about dollars.

"Hit me with the bad news Panther."

"This what it cost me to buy this."

David whistled.

"Here's the cost of the replacement parts which are needed."

David inhaled sharply.

"Here's the cost of the work I'll have to outsource."

David was starting to worry. "Now the hard part. What about the cost of your work?"

"I want to discuss a deal about that."

Gabrielle came over, her eyes glowing.

"Davey, it'll be beautiful when it's finished. Treat yourself. And you know it'll be good for business."

He nodded. It would be like a magnet for every boyracer and their fathers for 100 kilometers. And he could get a tax break.

"What color do you think?"

"You've got to be here when we mix the paints."

"Why?" asked Gabrielle..

"So we can match this." Panther delicately touched her golden-orange hair.

"What do you think Davey?"

"Couldn't be better. Now Panther, how much is it going to cost for your work?"

"Well, it's a big job . . . "

David gave an exaggerated sigh. He was used to Panther's negotiating techniques.

"And good staff are expensive . . . "

David yawned.

"But I won't charge you anything. On one condition."

"You can't do that Panther. There's hundreds of hours work here," David protested.

"What's the condition?" asked Gabrielle thinking faster than David.

Panther looked sheepish. "It involves you Gabrielle."

"What?" asked David, not liking the sound of this. He knew Panther was fascinated by Gabrielle.

"When the car is finished, I want a photographer to take shots of it, with you Gabrielle, for my business calendar.

"Panther! I don't do nude poses for anyone." Gabrielle was shocked. "Well, except for my darling Davey of course," she quickly added.

"Gabrielle, you can wear exacly what you want to and you can pose how you want to. No conditions."

"Wear what I want and pose how I want?" Gabrielle gave Panther one her stern frowns.

"That's the deal."

"Done." She shook his hand and gave Panther one of her radiant smiles.

She looked at her watch. "Come on Davey, we've got to go. I promised Lord Vlad I'd meet him tonight."

"Who is this Lord Vlad?" Panther asked out of her hearing. He hadn't thought that David was the sort who socialised with aristocrats.

"Read your Romanian history," David replied.

Panther did a Google search. It took him five minutes to work it out.

"Fuck. You lucky bastard," he sighed. 

By unspoken agreement they had what Gabrielle called a "Sexless Fuck" that night. She lay on her side, her legs and arms wrapped tightly around David with Lord Vlad so deep inside her, he pushed against her cervix.

They talked a lot, giggled a lot, laughed a lot, passionately kissed a lot, whispered a lot of tender endearments in the other's ear, but didn't orgasm. The went to sleep in each other's bear hug, still joined by David's cock.

A new salesman was hired and soon proved to be a money maker. Now, with free time, they went to Panther's in the evenings to work on the Camaro. It was a labor of love for both Panther and David and soon Gabrielle was caught up in the mood. She insisted that Panther start the engine so she could hear the V8 symphony.

Panther's expert car painter scupulously matched Gabrielle's hair and when the Camaro emerged from the paint shop, a gleaming bronze-gold metallic, they all knew it was an inspired choice. David made three changes from a copybook restoration. The Strato seats were uphostered in black leather, they were adjusted so they could recline flat and he asked asked Panther to increase the amount of travel for the seats to slide back.

He ordered the absolute top of the range audio from Germany and when it was on full volume Gabrielle thought she saw the Camaro shuddering from the beat. She spent a lot of time planning the photo shoot.

After two months the Camaro was finished. Gabrielle and David held hands as Panther started it, then all three went for a slow drive, listening to the engine for some time, being blasted by the sound system other times.

The photographer arrived and started to instruct Gabrielle on how she should pose. She gave one of her withering frowns.

"I'm in charge here."

The first shot was taken through the driver's window. She was wearing a dark green evening dress with a slit which showing more than a flash of inner thigh. Her hand was gently wrapped around the gear lever, her lips were slightly parted and there was a far away look in her eyes.

She dressed in mechanic's overalls which were a size too small and bent under the bonnet looking at the engine with her backside pointing high.

She dressed in a knee length skirt and sat on the bonnet. She drew back her knees and put them together so she could rest her arms on them and then her chin on her arms. Her feet were slightly apart. Some inner thigh and and a hint of green satin panties as she smiled innocently at the camera.

She posed as a traffic policewoman leaning against the Camaro writing a ticket. The policewoman hadn't done up her uniform completely and Panther could see a the pale rounded start of her breasts. The policewoman also had a large truncheon in her belt and had wrapped her hand around the thick end.

She put on a short mini-skirt and a tight singlet without a bra. She reclined the passenger seat flat and stretched out. Her long legs were displayed, the shape her nipples could be seen through the singlet. Her eyes were closed but David recognised the satisfied smile as the one she had after an orgasm

Panther was struck dumb. He had never seen such a display of sexuality and yet she was dressed and in some ways so innocent. Her subtle hints and knowing expressions were more sexy than any porno movie he owned. He looked at David who was watching with a proud smile.

"I think you've got the deal of the century Panther."

"I think I have."

Gabrielle returned after changing again. She had wrapped a big towel tightly around her.

"This is your Miss December, Panther. Christmas has come early for you." 

She insisted the men leave the workshop while she moved into her pose. They returned when she called.

She was lying naked on the reclined seat. She was lying on her side, seemingly asleep. An arm concealed her nipples but revealed most of her left breast. Her upper leg was in a position where her pussy was just, only just, hidden. Her ivory skin seemed almost luminous in the dark against the black leather. Her golden hair was splayed across the seat.

"It certainly is Christmas," breathed Panther. He looked at David. "That Lord Vlad must think all his Christmases have come at once. And all his birthdays."

"Sure is lucky, that Lord Vlad." 

It was dark when they took the coast road home. They didn't say anything, just relished the growling masculinity of the Camaro and the music. They stopped at a clifftop. David took off Gabrielle's clothes, reclined her seat flat, put the music up loud and they christened the Camaro and the Strato seat

He pushed her seat all the way back and knelt between her legs, She knew what was going to happen and put her thighs on his shoulders. David lowered his head to his paradise.

He loved the satin smoothness of her thighs against his ears. He loved the shape of her genitals. Her shaven and prominent Venus mound, her puffy outer labia, the thin inner labia which glistened with her juices. Her clitoral hood which he gently pushed back to reveal her engorging bud. 

He loved the taste of her sexual excitement and the aromatic odours. He knew and loved her reactions. But what he loved most of all that it was his wonderful and beautiful Gabby who was eagerly offering her intimate feminity to him.

Just as Gabrielle knew how to drive him wild, he knew her body and how to excite her. At first he was slow, he licked and blew, he probed her vagina with his tongue. He sucked her clitoris and felt her excitement mounting, then pushed her legs higher and apart to lick her anus. Gabrielle squealed with pleasure. His tongue returned to her clitoris, his teeth gently nibbled and Gabrielle's body quivered into orgasm.

She orgasmed many times over the next hour. David used his fingers as well as his lips and tongue and teeth. He pleasured her G spot and probed her anus.

Finally he moved up and guided his cock into her sodden, pulsating vagina. He thrust in hard so their pubic bones ground together. She tightened her vaginal muscles around him, felt him thrust deep again and heard him groan as his semen sprayed her cervix.

"Do you think anyone can see in though this tinted glass?" she asked.

"I don't think so."

So, as David drove, Gabrielle kept her seat fully reclined and lay back on it. She only wore sunglasses. David glanced at her tall, pale body which contrasted with the black leather. Her golden hair was splayed across the seat. One knee was resting against the door, the other against the gear lever. Gabrielle knew how he loved it when she flaunted herslf

"I've died and gone to heaven," said David stroking her thigh.

"I like this car," said Gabrielle.

David was right about the Camaro being a boyracer magnet. They came from miles. It was kept behind a chain fence in their carpark on public display. Gabrielle seemed to have an instinctive knack of being able to tell who had any money.

When she saw a likely target admiring the car, her routine was always the same. She wandered down and talked in a friendly way.

"It's a Camaro. '71. 350 V8."

"Would you like to see inside?"

She let them sit in the driving seat as she sat in the passenger seat. She asked them what music they liked and put it on.

Then she fully reclined her seat, lay back, closed her eyes and idly writhed to the music.

When the track was finished, "Would your girlfriend like that?" 

Sale.

Panther's calendar caused a sensation. He sent free copies to his suppliers and best customers. All pleaded for more. He had another print run and these soon went. When he visited his suppliers he found that most thought Christmas had come early.

An art critic wrote a flattering review in the local paper and the calendars became collectors' items. Panther started charging $200 a copy which he split with Gabrielle.

However the biggest benefit for Panther was the publicity. Business poured in. David and Gabrielle were pleased for him.

Modelling agencies made offers to Gabrielle and there was interest from a film studio. But there was no responding interest from Gabrielle.

David kept his old Toyota. The Camaro was only used for promotional work and for what Gabrielle described as "Fucking work."

That was when they went to a restaurant, for a drive in the country or along the coast, driving to the ski fields. Occassions when the Strato seats could show their versatility.

SIX MONTHS LATER

"Davey, we need to talk."

Gabrielle was again sitting in her "Serious Discussion" position. David cursed inwardly, there was nothing more that he wanted to do than start thrusting his cock in the ass where it was embedded. But then he realized that life wan't really too tough. There was Gabrielle, fully and wantonly displaying her feminity only a few inches from him. And it was a stone cold certainty that Lord Vlad would have his way sooner rather than later.




Two Lonely People Ch.02



"What are we going to do with our money now?"

It was a good question. His business was becoming a cash cow. His debts were being wiped off quickly.

"The world's our oyster. We could buy an apartment. We could buy a boat. Joe wants us to buy his car audio business. I'm sure we could turn it into a success like this."

"That sounds good. Why don't we?"

"Gabby, I've been doing this for almost 20 years. In many ways I really enjoy what we do, but I'm getting bored. We've got enough money. If it worked you'd be sitting on my cock asking the same question in a year or so. 

"And you," he stroked her breast. "You are so capable of doing so much more. You could build a successful career. Why don't you join a top marketing company?"

Gabrielle bounced on his testicles very painfully.

"Don't you dare suggest I spend any time away from you," she hissed.

"Most couples do."

"We're not most couples." Her eyes were indignant.

David smiled and stroked her face.

"A lot has happened to us in a year. Then I was a depressed alcoholic. And you were . . . . ," he didn't know how to say it.

"And I was a nutcase until you saved me darling Davey."

"A stark raving nutcase. 10 light bulbs short of a chandelier."

She poked out her tongue.

"We were so lucky finding each other. But there are a lot of depressed alcoholics and stark raving nutcases out there."

Gabrielle nodded.

"I think I'd like to see if I could help. Study psychology. Become a shrink."

"You'd be so good Davey. You're such a good listener. You're so considerate with people."

"You could run the business. I'd work part time while I studied. You would be my boss."

"Just like now?" she asked.

"Think about Davey. It seems like a good idea to me." 

After a minute of them looking to each other's face and thinking how much they loved each other, Gabrielle lifted herself off his cock. David was disappointed.

She pulled him up then knelt in front of him. 

Gabrielle licked his cock and spat on it. Then she circled her right hand around it and massaged and rubbed. She looked up and saw the ecstacy on his face. She was now an expert. She pumped her hand and when he came, she put his cock in her mouth and drank every drop of his semen.

The next day they had a meeting with Mal, their sales manager. Mal had worked for David for 10 years and had stuck with him during the tough times. Now, in the good times, he ran a focused and successful team.

After Mal left Gabrielle said, "Mal would be very good at running this business."

"Well he certainly has the sales skills and management skills. His marketing skills could be sharper. And his inventory management and financial skills could do with some sharpening as well."

"I could sharpen his marketing skills. You could sharpen his inventory and financial skills."

David nodded. "What are you trying to say Gabby?"

"I want to become a shrink with you."

As David thought, Gabrielle held out her arms.

"Come here Davey."

"Why?"

"I want to sharpen your fucking skills."

They studied as a team. Their lives were busy. They spent some time training Mal. Gabrielle told David if he ever spoke about "sharpening skills" again she wouldn't let him fuck her more than seven times a week.

They spent a day each week selling in the shop. Partly because it was in their blood. Partly because they made good money. 

And for Gabrielle, because she usually sold more, it gave her the opportunity to frown and say, "Your sales skills could be sharper."

As part of their psychology training they worked two nights a week in a drug rehab center, starting off cleaning the floors and urinals.

Every weekend, sunshine or rain, they packed a tent and camping gear and set off in the Camaro. As soon as they were outside city limits Gabrielle took off her clothes, put on her sunglasses, turned the music up loud and reclined in her Strato seat.

THREE YEARS LATER

"Davey, we need to talk."

Again Gabrielle was in her "Serious Discussion" position. 

"It says in Wikipedia that Russia has about the highest rate of male alcoholism and depression."

"If Wikipedia says that, it must be true. What does it say about female nut cases?"

"I couldn't find details of that. But if there are so many male alcoholic depressives, it stands to reason there must be a lot of female nut cases." 

"I think Russian sounds the most beautiful of any language," said David

"I think so too. It's very sexy. It snows a lot up there. You could kill a bear and make me a bear-skin coat and hat."

"I'll buy you a fur coat."

So, in addition to all their other work they studied Russian. 

THREE MORE YEARS LATER

"Davey. We need to talk."

From her "Discussion Position" Gabrielle handed David a printout of a job advertisement she had found on the internet.

It was from Gazprom, the Russian oil and gas monopoly looking for two resident psychologists for Syktyvkar, a small isolated city near the Artic Circle.

During the intervening years they had qualified as psychologists and worked for two years in the rehab center. They poured in their energy and dedication and occasionally successfully rehabilitated some of their patients.

"What do you think?"

David slid Lord Vlad between her labia and deep into her vagina. He stopped moving for a moment, relishing the feeling. It still felt as exciting as the very first time. He opened his eyes and saw her green eyes glowing with excitement. 

"It just keeps on getting better, doesn't it darling Davey," she whispered as she wriggled her hips. They had one of their long, languid, passionate and love filled fucks.

"I take it that means 'Yes'" she said afterwards.

They arrived at Syktyvkar in the early spring. They found it easy to understand why there were so many alcoholic depressives living there. The landscape was flat and consisted of fir tree forests and snow. Syktyvkar's most obvious features were an enormous Gaxprom gasfield, a Gazprom office building, row after row of featureless low rise apartment buildings and vodka shops.

It took some time before they were accepted. The Gazprom executives thought they had to be mad, voluntarily coming to Syktyvkar and the locals had an understandable suspicion of foreigners. But David and Gabrielle had great listening skills, loved listening to Russian and enjoyed the wry Russian sense of humor. 

David made no secret of how alcohol had almost killed him and the depressed Russians realized they had found a kindred spirit.

Gabrielle made no secret of her troubled past.

"I was ten light bulbs short of a chandelier, Svetlana," she explained to her client and the Russian women realized they had found a kindred spirit.

David and Gabrielle worked out that the long winter nights could be depressing.

"Gabby, these Russian men need something else to do during the hours of darkness," said David. "They seem to spend all that time getting drunk."

"We always have plenty of things to do in the dark," said Gabrielle.

So they started to give sex advice.

"You mean I should lick her down there?" asked Ivan incredulously.

"Well, you'll probably find you like it. And if you do it properly, you'll find that Svetlana will do this to you."

Ivan leaned forward intently as David gave detailed advice with the help of life-sized blowup rubber dolls.

"You mean I should let him put it in there?" asked Svetlana incredulously.

"Well, you'll probably find you like it. And if you do it properly, you'll find that Ivan will do this to you."

Svetlana leaned forward intently as Gabrielle gave detailed advice with the help of the same rubber dolls.

They built up a loyal, but small, following. Ivan and Svetlana became their strongest advocates. They also wanted to lose weight so David got Gazprom to provide a gym. He had to bribe the executives by letting them drive the Camaro which they had shipped over.

Winter brought icy winds and -40 temperatures. The Gazprom executives offered to take David on a bear hunt so that Gabrielle could have a bearskin coat and hat. David bought her a fur coat and hat from Svetlana's shop.

In private she often wore it inside out. She loved the feeling of the mink against her naked body.

There were only two of them and there was only so much they could achieve. But a good number of the men of Syktyvkar managed to kick booze and depression and a good number of Syktyvkar women became sexually liberated. The Russians are a handsome race and the alcohol free men were proud of their rejuvenated appearance. And even more proud of the appearance of their beautiful and now sexually liberated partners.

It was a rewarding time for Gabrielle and David. They developed a circle of true friends, they discovered Russian history and culture. For three months during the brief Arctic Circle summer, when the roads were clear of snow, they drove the Camaro slowly over the potholed roads. They named their children Svetlana and Ivan.

THREE MORE YEARS LATER

"Davey, we need to talk."

Gabrielle was in her "Serious Discussion" position. 

"These long winters and the bleak landscape are starting to get me down."

"Me too," nodded David.

"Wikipedia says there are a lot of depressed alcoholic men in Romania." 

"Then it certainly must be true. I've always liked Romanian food and music."

"I'm sure Lord Vlad will be happy in the land of his ancestors."



Two Lonely People



The next morning Doctor Erin released me for checkout and said she was sending a note to my regular doctor for follow-up. Cindy wheeled me out to the car and Mandy drove me home. 

INTERLUDE

The funeral went by in a blur and a week later Mandy went back to school. She wanted to take the semester off but I insisted I would be okay. The truth was I wanted to be alone with my pain. Mandy had cleaned out most of Clara's stuff ... although seeing her empty closet seemed worse than the way it had been. It seemed like I couldn't focus on anything but I knew I had to. There was a lot of paper work, friends of hers to notify, bank accounts, etc. 

Some days were better, some days worse. I tried drink but I was afraid of it so I limited myself to one glass of wine when I was by myself. One day I was cleaning up Clara's files on the computer, deciding what to keep, and what to delete. I logged on to her email account to see what I had to do there. The business emails I handled as needed; most were from department stores or such – I just closed those accounts. 

I went through her personal emails and responded to everything telling them of her death. Most of them were people I didn't know so I deleted them from the address book. Ones from common friends I added to my own address book. There was a long email from Jillian. It recapped what Clara had told me on the plane and she said she was filing for divorce. At the end she told Clara that she wasn't sure why she felt comfortable enough to share this with her but she wanted to. I replied, telling her about Clara's death and apologizing for reading her highly personal note. I kept her email address and we corresponded periodically.

I'd lost about ten pounds since Clara died, but my doctor was nagging me to exercise more. I used to swim competitively in high school and college but other than our vacations I hadn't swam in years. I finally joined a health club that was really nice, located near the Sonoma County Airport. After a month I joined the Master's swim group and started swimming seriously. I lost the few pounds more that I needed to lose and a few more. I was getting in shape quickly and lost a couple inches off my waist and added them to my chest and shoulders. Physically I was feeling good and, according to my daughter, looking good.

I had trouble writing for a while but finally got started again. I wrote a travel article for the Travel section of the SF Chronicle about Ixtapa and the new hotel we had stayed at – it was funny: I got a letter from them offering me a free week! I also wrote a short story about dealing with grief after the sudden demise of a loved one. This was going to be published in The New Yorker. Writing this story was very cathartic for me and I began dealing with my own grief!

Some days were very dark for me, I felt like giving up. On these days I would go for a long drive, maybe along the coast, and I would feel better. Mandy would call me a couple times a week. She came down for Thanksgiving with her dorm mate and the house was lively and sunny for a week. I told Mandy I was going to sell my time-share, but she talked me out of it. I had told her what Clara had said about continuing to travel. She was going to bring Phil home for Christmas.

I got a nice card from Erin for Thanksgiving. She offered condolences again for Clara and hoped I'd recovered okay. Cindy sent me a Christmas card that was funny with all of her goings on. I wasn't looking forward to Christmas – that was always a special time of year for Clara and I. Mandy and Phil came and the house was filled with light again. I hadn't done the tree so she got after me for that. The more I saw of Phil, the more I liked him. He seemed very mature and levelheaded. They were clearly in love so I felt better about Mandy's future. 

There was going to be a big dinner dance at the Country Club. Mandy thought she would have to twist my arm, but I had continued to play golf and had a lot of friends there. The three of us arrived a little late... people were just walking in to the dining room. We got to the edge of the dance floor and saw Erin and Cindy at a table by themselves. Cindy jumped up and before anyone realized it she had us sitting at their table. We did the intros and sat down and relaxed a bit. I wound up sitting next to Erin.

She turned to me and apologized, "I'm sorry for Cindy dragging you over here. You probably had plans to sit elsewhere. She's just so impulsive!"

I smiled and replied, "Yeah, I know! It's okay, it's actually good – I wasn't looking forward to sitting with any of the couples that were our close friends. Besides I can't think of three lovelier ladies to sit with than the three at this table!" I was looking at Mandy and Cindy as I said this last.

Mandy laughed and Cindy blushed as I turned back to Erin, "I didn't know you belonged to the club?"

"Yes, we joined because of Cindy's tennis. She is on the varsity at school and I wanted her to get more regular competition. She likes to play against the boys. Outside of serves, she plays most of them fairly even."

We had dinner and the conversation was nice. Everyone seemed in a good mood. When the dancing started Phil and Mandy jumped up right away. I was watching them, wishing Clara was here to see her dance with her future husband when I felt someone tapping on my arm. 

Cindy was pulling my chair back and said, "You promised me the first dance!"

I good-naturedly stood up and bowed to her, "Miss O'Connell, may I have the pleasure of this dance?" and led her out to the floor. 

As I looked back I could see Erin laughing at us. It was fun and Cindy was still a chatterbox. 

When we got back, I bowed to Erin and asked, "Mrs. O'Connell, may I have the pleasure of this dance?"

She was laughing again, her green eyes sparkling, as I led her to the floor. It was a slow number, one that Clara and I always enjoyed dancing to. A couple of tears came to my eyes and I turned my head away.

Erin wiped my tears away with her thumb and whispered, "It's really hard, isn't it? It's been five years since Joseph died and I still can't accept that he's gone."

She stepped in a little closer and we finished the dance. The rest of the evening was fun... it was good for me to get out. 

I went into San Francisco with Phil and Mandy for New Year's Eve. I really didn't want to go, but Mandy wouldn't take no for an answer. It was nice to see how close Phil and Mandy were getting. I wondered briefly if they were sleeping together and immediately decided it wasn't my business. I just wanted her happy, and except for missing her mom she clearly was very happy!

I took Erin to the opera and dinner in San Francisco and had dinner at her house a couple of times. We seemed to be getting closer but neither of us were ready to move very fast. I really enjoyed being with Cindy though. She clearly liked me a lot and we would talk about everything under the sun. It was amazing the things she was interested in! I played tennis with her one time at the club and that was enough for me; she killed me and made me feel my age!

Erin invited me to the Valentine's dance at the club; Cindy was there with the number one boys tennis player from her high school. He was the one boy that dominated her in tennis! I think that's why she liked him. We danced a lot and I had more fun than I expected. On the last dance Erin and I were moving around on a slow number and I felt her moving me to a corner. When we were in a little alcove she stopped and kissed me on the cheek.

She pulled back a little and said, "Mike, I know how hard it is for you! Not a day goes by that I don't grieve for my husband. I want to be honest with you: I like being with you; I really enjoy your company and Cindy likes you a lot. I know you aren't ready for anything serious and I'm not either. Can we continue to see each other... to be something more than friends, but..."

I looked at her and tilted my head down and kissed her nose, "Erin... sure! I do like you guys a lot and I enjoy being with you. Hell, Erin – I need to be with you. I don't know if whatever we have is going anywhere but I don't want to lose it. How about I fix dinner next week and Cindy can bring Josh. I cook a mean Osso Bucco!"

Erin leaned into me and we finished the dance. Josh took Cindy home and Erin and I went into the bar for an Irish coffee. We chatted amiably, and I noticed again how attractive she was. She had tight curly red hair that she wore short. It was so curly it was almost kinky. At some subconscious level that I couldn't control I wondered if her bush was that same red, kinky hair! I took her on home and we continued seeing each other off and on.

LIFE'S COMPLICATIONS

In April I went back to Ixtapa to the Ocean Dreams. This was the free week they had offered me. When I checked in the clerk gave me a message from the manager. He wanted to take me to dinner the next night at a really nice Italian place by the Marina in Ixtapa. I was taken to my room and found they had put me in a suite! It looked great, but the journalist in me wondered what the catch was.

It turned out that they wanted me to write articles for their publicity campaign. It seemed it wouldn't be anything too complex and they – the Managing Director was there too – offered me an interesting deal. In return for the articles they would give me thirty days free at any of their hotels and one cruise each year. In addition they wanted me to be their guest of honor on their inaugural cruise in the Mediterranean in the fall, right before Labor Day. 

It was a no-brainer for me. I had the time and I didn't need the money. They were offering expenses and meals. We shook hands and they said they would give me a contract for signing the next day. As I left I saw Jillian with two girls. I stopped to say hello and she introduced me to her twin daughters: this trip was a present for their thirteenth birthday. I wound up sitting with them for dessert and coffee.

They were going in to Zihuatanejo the next morning shopping and invited me to come with them. I went back to the hotel with them in a taxi and walked them to their room. I'd had fun and I was somewhat surprised by it. I went back to the room and read some of the publicity stuff they gave me at dinner and started looking it over; writing down some notes.

The next afternoon I saw Jillian down on the beach sitting under a palapa and asked, "Can I join you, Jill?"

"She smiled and answered, "Sure! And if you can keep these sand fleas from biting me I'll buy you dinner!" as she showed me dozens of angry red bites around her ankles.

"Is that a promise?"

"She said, "Absolutely!"

I reached down and took her hand and pulled her up. "Come on, let's go up by the pool!"

"Wait a minute! That's cheating!"

"I laughed, and answered, "No, it's not! If you get any bites up there I'll buy dinner at the restaurant of your choice!"

Somehow she convinced me that there was one new bite out of the dozens of bites she already had. I knew I was being had but I didn't really care. I was starting to be attracted to Jill. She had a pretty, very brief bikini and I hadn't realized how horny I was! I suddenly realized it was a year since Clara had died and a year since I had any real sex. By "real" I mean I don't count my own pathetic efforts.

I did take her to dinner; in fact, I wound up taking most of my meals with her or with her and her daughters. I spent a lot of time with her around the pool and by the end of the week we were playing a little grab-ass, you know, "accidentally" touching under water while playing volleyball (yes, she talked me into it!) or falling down in the surf. I could tell she was attracted to me. Her daughters mostly seemed to just accept me, or put up with me. It was hard to tell with thirteen year olds. 

By the end of the week we were doing some kissing and light petting in the water at night. It's hard not to with a woman that exudes sex and is wearing a bikini! But nothing serious really happened and we parted fairly casually.

I did have another meeting with the Managing Director and signed the contract and lay out some specific plans. I was getting excited – I didn't realize how bored I was! I actually started writing while I was there – I never travel without my iBook. I gave Alejandro a couple drafts of write-ups and he liked them a lot! 

I went home feeling slightly guilty that I had been unfaithful to Erin. But nothing had really happened so I was able to convince myself that I had done nothing wrong. I continued with Erin the way that we had been: dinners, opera or a couple plays at the Orpheum in San Francisco. One or the other of us would fix dinners. Summer was better because I could grill outside. I was good at it and I had that spectacular view. 

One evening after grilling a Chateaubriand and drinking a nice Alexander Valley cab from Stryker Sonoma we were watching the sunset over the Russian River Valley. It was really spectacular since there was a dense layer of fog at the lower levels. As we stood there I put my arm around her and she tensed up and turned and said she had to leave pretty soon. I guess women have this sixth sense, since I hadn't said anything. We were seeing each other a little less frequently. Erin kept saying how busy she was. I was thinking, "She doth protest too much!"

I don't know what would have happened if things hadn't come to a climax at that inaugural Med cruise of World Cruises. The cruise started and ended in Barcelona, with stops in Marseilles, Genoa, Naples, Palermo, Tunis, and Palma de Mallorca. I was spending three nights in Spain afterward: I was going to the Rioja district. I had always enjoyed the wines from there and wanted to write a travel article about the area.

They were true to their word and gave me a stateroom with a large balcony. There was even a spa in the bathroom. I was unused to this kind of luxury. The Captain would move from table to table, but I was a guest at the officer's table. The food was incredible and they had some really nice wines. It was fun talking to the officers and each of them set up a tour of their domain and responsibilities.

When I went to breakfast the next morning I saw Jillian sitting alone. I was a little surprised but I guess I shouldn't have been. I knew she was a member and everyone had been offered special prices for this inaugural cruise in the Med. She looked up and saw me so I walked on over and sat with her. It was nice to see her and I guess I was pouting a little over some perceived slight from Erin, so I gave her a kiss on the cheek and a big hug. I could feel her breasts pushing into me.

We ate together and had fun catching up on what the other had been doing. At the first stop in Marseilles we went into town. We didn't take the scheduled tour; I guess we instinctively wanted to be alone. I had been there a number of times so I hired a taxi for the day and showed her the sights that tourists don't see. We had a great lunch at a small place I knew of. Jill said it was the best food she had ever had in a restaurant. The great wine might have had something to do with that.

That night I invited her to my suite for dinner. I'd asked the ship's officer in charge of all the restaurants and he said I could do that... just to give him a call. We had a light, simple meal, Coq au Vin, with a nice Alsace Gewürztraminer. It was chilled just right with a very clean taste and just a hint of sweetness on the finish. Dessert was great as it almost always is on cruise ships.

After dinner we sat on my balcony as we steamed towards Genoa. We finished the Gewürtz and I opened a bottle of Martell Cognac Cordon Bleu that the managing director of Ocean Dreams had sent aboard as part of a welcome basket. We took our time with a glass of that wonderfully soft and fragrant brandy and somehow wound up in the spa with the second. We disrobed naturally as if we had been married twenty years!

As we stepped into the spa, the jets swirling the hot water, I had a flashback to that last plane ride I'd made with Clara. I could feel the pressure of her hand on my arm as she had implored me to continue with my life if anything happened to her. I felt sad; I slid closer to Jill. 

Jillian was even more spectacular nude than she had been with a swimsuit. I would venture that most women need clothes and makeup to look their best, but she had neither and looked wonderful! Her breasts had only a slight sag and were what I would call medium-sized. I've never understood all that number and A-B-C-D mumbo jumbo. I guess it's the same way I felt about art... if I liked it I liked it! And I liked what I saw!

She had a pretty well-defined tan line and her breasts were a creamy white. Her areolas were darker than I would have thought, and her nipples looked like she had been nursing. Totally erotic and I couldn't pass them up. No, I didn't get any milk, but damn, it wasn't from lack of trying. Jill had a passion for love wholly unexpected by me. We started in the spa with us taking turns with oral sex and then moved to the large queen sized bed. 

Loving Jill was totally different than with Clara and that helped me make the transition. Jillian was very vocal in her orgasms and seemed to have a lot of them. I told myself that this was due to my skill as a lover but I'm sure I realized she was just that way. What did surprise me was how affectionate she was. During that first long night together she was continually petting me ... touching me intimately, rubbing my back and arms and kissing me lightly almost any place handy. It did make me feel special.

We were together most of the trip and every night. I was afraid I was slacking on my agreement with Ocean Dreams but I couldn't feel bad about it. I figured I'd have to come back on my own nickel and pick up what I'd missed. 

We grew quite close together and established an intimacy that astonished me. I felt the first twinges of love and tried to understand it. The last night I hinted at that with Jillian.

"I've really enjoyed this time together, Jill! I probably shouldn't say this, but I'm surprised how quickly you have moved into my heart!"

She looked a little surprised, maybe startled, and answered, "I've really had fun too, Michael. I hope we can meet on vacation again."

I guess I was expecting something more than that; I'm not sure what. I guess in light of what happened later I should have paid more attention. We said our goodbyes when we docked back in Barcelona, she to head to the airport and me to Rioja.

The trip to Rioja was lovely. I made Logroño my base and drove around the area calling on wineries, both large and small. There were several I liked around Calahorra, but I must say I had the most fun in Ausejo. It was a small town, less that 500 people, and it was known more for their vineyards than their wine. But the people were especially friendly; there were a couple of very small wineries with exquisite wines. The hotel there was, somewhat kindly, a two-star, but there was a small, unpretentious restaurant that served the local wines and great food!

The food there was simple, wholesome, and very tasty. I got to know the people and wound up writing an extensive article for Travel Magazine that was well received. After that I went back to Barcelona and I flew back to... I didn't know what kind of reception.

Truth was I was confused. Flying the long trip home, to Kennedy airport then on to San Francisco, I thought about Erin and Jillian – and Clara. I thought about Jill and immediately got an erection. Hell, that must mean something! I thought about Erin and felt, I don't know, maybe confused. I knew Clara would have loved the trip to Rioja, much more that she would have liked the cruise. I finally gave up, and with the aid of a couple of scotches, went to sleep.




Two Lonely People



DOG DAYS

I got home and thought about calling Erin, but I was too embarrassed. I called Jill and she agreed how much fun we had, but didn't volunteer too much else. I stopped by Clara's grave and cried! 

Mandy was a senior now and they were getting married in June. She brought Phil home for Thanksgiving and slept in the same room without a by your leave. I thought about it, and decided I didn't really care. We went to the club for a dance on the Saturday after Thanksgiving and ran into Erin and Cindy. Erin was sitting with a man I recognized as a neurosurgeon at the same hospital she worked at. 

I did walk over and ask her for a dance and chatted with her a bit. We were dancing to a slow number but she was standing apart a bit. After a few minutes, she stopped dancing and looked up at me. 

"You slept with someone, didn't you?"

I stammered something unintelligible and she looked at me sadly for a minute and walked back to her table. I felt like I had lost something but I didn't know what. 

Over the next few weeks I saw her a couple of times, at the club or the grocery store, and each time she nodded at me but didn't stop to talk. My feelings were very confused – I felt like I was drifting. Life wasn't fun anymore.

In early December I needed to go to Boston to talk to a new publisher my agent had put me on to. After I finished my business with them I went back to the hotel. I was staying at the Marriott near the turnpike and the 128 bypass. Flipping a mental coin I called Jill.

Recognizing her voice, I said, "Hi! This is Mike. I'm in town on business and I would like to see you!"

There was nothing for a bit. I could swear I could hear her thinking before she responded, "Well, this is a surprise! I didn't expect to hear from you! I've got company over and... well, shoot, why don't you come on over?"

I didn't feel good about it but asked her for directions. I was there about ten minutes later and rang her chimes (just an expression). When she opened the door she looked stunning in a simple black sheath dress with a strand of pearls and pearl earrings. To be honest she looked like she was ready to go out. She took me in the living room and I saw a guy standing there: quite handsome and dressed in a very expensive suit! 

She told the guy, "Bill, please wait here for a minute, then I'll be ready to go." And she pulled me back into the kitchen.

She looked at me for a minute, something wistful on her face, and then I could see her make the decision.

"Michael, I... I really enjoyed the time on the cruise with you. No, I mean it! I've met someone else. Bill and I are getting married at Christmas. Bill is a long time family friend and, well, things just happened!"

I could see from her face it was over! I kissed her on the cheek and left without a goodbye. Bill said something and I ignored him too and walked out the door. I went back to the hotel, got a bottle of scotch from room service and tried to figure out the meaning of life and love. 

After the third glass of a fairly nice single malt, and seeing how nicely I had figured out life and love I decided to take on trying to understand women. I had some brilliant insights and decided on the spot to write an article and share my incredible perceptions with other needy men. All I could remember the next morning was that I had a bastard of a headache and that I was alone... no one loved me! Yeah, smile! But it was shattering for me.

I went home and didn't hear anything from Erin. I felt sad without really understand why! Mandy was going to Phil's parents for Christmas so I didn't do anything: no decorating, no tree, nothing. I did send Mandy a blouse I'd brought her in Italy. It was beautiful, scoop shouldered, and intricate lace. I included a nice card with it.

About a week before Christmas, I heard a knock on the door. Glad for the interruption since I was unable to focus on my writing, I went to the door. It was Cindy, looking very mature. I guess she was seventeen now, almost eighteen. She smiled at me and asked if she could come in. I didn't say anything, just opened the door. She pulled me down and kissed my cheek on the way by.

She had a box and an envelope in her hands but she set them down and said, "I'm going to fix us some tea, okay?"

Without giving me a chance to respond, she went into the kitchen. She came back later with the tea and two saucers and a knife.

"I made you a fruitcake but it's so good I want some too!"

Without saying anymore she opened the package and sliced off some fruitcake for each of us and poured the tea. With a smile she said, "This card is for you!"

I opened it and it was a nice Christmas card with a note inviting me for dinner on Christmas Eve. Both Erin and Cindy had signed it. I looked at Cindy with my eyebrows raised.

"Cindy, I don't understand. it seems like your mom is mad at me! What's this about?"

"Michael, you know I like you a lot, right?" At my nod she continued, "Mom is going through a hard time. She is sorta confused."

I looked at her, confused myself, "I don't understand."

"Look, Michael! You are such a dummy! Mom loves you! I don't know why she has been acting funny but she fell in love with you at the hospital. She didn't know it then, but..."

I guess I just stared at her, so she continued, "I know I seem too young to be giving advice but don't ever try to understand women! Just come over to the house at six on Christmas Eve for dinner. And please be smart enough to bring some flowers and a nice present!"

It sounded like my daughter scolding me! Somewhat speechless I nodded my head and we had the tea and fruitcake!

After she left I tried to understand what had happened. All I got out of that was a headache so I marked the date on my calendar and started thinking about a present. I looked around but couldn't find anything. Finally, cleaning out my jewelry box I found an Antique Wedgewood Cameo that had belonged to my grandmother. It had a picture of a woman standing on a cliff watching a boat sailing away. I'd tried to give it to Mandy but she said it was too sad for her. I had it cleaned and put in a nice presentation box.

On Christmas Eve, I showed up five minutes early, nervous as hell. I had a nice bouquet of assorted flowers and a decent bottle of wine. Cindy opened the door and gave me a big hug and pulled me inside.

I could hear Erin walking from the kitchen as she called out, "Cindy, who's at the door?" as she walked in and saw me standing there.

She looked stunned! "What are you doing here?"

The way she said it and the way she looked at me I could see she had no idea that I was coming over. She and I looked at Cindy, who had the grace to blush, and almost yelled at me, "Well, you weren't invited and you are not wanted here!" Her face was mottled with her anger.

I was crushed. With tears in my eyes I lay the flowers and the gift and turned to the door. In my haste I dropped the wine and I could hear it shatter as I ran to the car. I was a fool! Listening to a kid and building my hopes up! I had to be terminally stupid! I drove home, shamelessly crying. I washed two sleeping pills down with a glass of brandy and fell asleep on the sofa. I couldn't face a long Christmas Eve night alone with my thoughts.

Somewhere in the depth of my dreams I thought I heard the phone ring but wasn't able to raise my consciousness enough to deal with it. The next morning I woke up stiff and disoriented. I stumbled down the hallway to the bathroom and jumped in the shower. I dressed in an old pair of jeans and a new Stanford sweatshirt Mandy had sent me for Christmas. I swallowed down some cereal and went into the living room with some coffee. 

I sat there for a couple of hours, thinking of the ways I had screwed up my life. The prize right in front of me all along and I was too dumb to see it. I stared at the blank TV, thinking of Clara and feeling lonely as hell! The phone rang and I assumed it was Mandy. I'd call her later; I didn't want to talk to her now. About eleven the doorbell rang. I ignored it for a bit, but it kept ringing. Finally I jumped up and went to the door, prepared to yell at someone.

Erin was standing there wearing my pendant, looking beautiful! Her eyes were wet and her face was streaked with tears. She didn't say anything; she just came in and hugged me... sobbing into my chest. She was mumbling something but I couldn't understand it. Finally, I disengaged myself and got a wet washcloth from the bathroom and wiped her face off, gently. 

"Erin, what's going on?"

She smiled sadly and asked, "Do you have any coffee?"

CHRISTMAS LOVE

I went into the kitchen and fixed a fresh pot, taking my time so she could settle down. I didn't have a clue what was going on. I finally went back to the living room with the coffee and I could see she had gone to the hallway bath and fixed her makeup. We were both quiet for a few moments, neither of us looking directly at each other. Finally she came and sat next to me, taking my hand.

"Mike, I fell in love with you at the hospital! No, don't say anything; let me finish or I might run away! I guess it was sadness for you at first but it quickly turned into more. I couldn't say or do anything because I knew you needed time to grieve for Clara. It didn't help that Cindy kept telling me that you were the perfect man for me and hinted she wouldn't mind having you for a father.

"It seemed like we were growing close for a while and then you went to Ixtapa again. When you got back you seemed... different somehow! I was hurt, angry, and jealous; but I had no right to any of those feelings. Then when you got back from the cruise I knew you had found someone else and that you had slept with her. It showed all over you – you looked guilty as hell. But you had no reason to; I had no claim on you except for that love you knew nothing about. 

"I hated myself for waiting too long, for not letting you know how I felt. I hated you, too, for being unfaithful to the love you didn't know about. That's pretty dumb, right?"

I could see she didn't expect an answer and I had no idea what to say anyway!

"I talked to Cindy and she told me what she had done. She knew I loved you so she thought it was a great idea. I was so shocked to see you that I didn't react well. I don't want to talk about it now but could you please come over for dinner? Cindy is going to fix everything as atonement to the two of us!"

With that she leaned forward and kissed my cheek, walking away without giving me a chance to react! I sat and thought things over, everything that had happened since Clara had died. I guess in the end I was surprised to figure out that I deeply loved Erin. In a way I had needed Jillian. It almost felt that she was the one Clara had wanted for me. But then I understood that Clara had only meant that she didn't want me to be alone. And I was alone!

I went over to Safeway and picked up some dark red roses. I pulled out the prettiest one and trimmed the stem with my pocketknife. Cindy answered the door again and started trying to apologize. I gave her a hug and shushed her!

Erin walked in, her face flushed a bright red. I handed her the roses and gave her a gentle hug. She took my hand and led me to the dining room. The meal was very nice – Cindy did a great job! 

After dinner, Cindy came to me and kissed my cheek, and murmured, "Merry Christmas. I'm going over to Josh's folks' place for dessert and gifts." Pulling my head down, she whispered in my ear, "Be patient with mom. She does love you and I know you love her too!"

From the mouths of babes...

I helped with the dishes and afterward went into the family room in front of the fire roaring merrily in the fireplace and had some brandy. I sat next to Erin on the sofa and took her hands in mine. Without speaking, I put my hand on her cheek and caressing it gently, gave her a light kiss. She put her arm around me and pulled me tight, opening her mouth and making the kiss more passionate. After a few minutes, she stood and looked at me, a question in her eyes. I guess she saw what she was looking for. She took my hand and led me up the stairs to her bedroom.

We were married a couple months after Phil and Mandy had their wedding; we didn't want to distract from their happiness – and we were in no hurry. Cindy was really happy, and her happiness was contagious. The reception at the country club was a blast. 

Had I done the right things after Clara died? Probably not, but Erin convinced me I was just human, with all the strengths and frailties that goes with that. I might have been happier sooner but I couldn't be anymore happy than I am now. 

Three months after Mandy finished her masters at Stanford she presented me with a beautiful granddaughter. Life was good and I looked forward to living it to the fullest! 

The End

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