0 comments/ 18840 views/ 2 favorites A Romance Slowly Sets Sail By: Egmont0409 CHAPTER 1 Just before midnight six male businessmen and a young presenter attending a three-day conference on (big breath)'Empowering Executives to Accept Their Role in Collective Responsibility' decided to have one last drink before heading to their hotel. With wait staff assisting cleaning behind the bar the oldest man in the group, Perry Taylor, went to the bar to order. He asked Bernie Bader, the presenter who'd that day had spoken about ten dynamic ways to consolidate the team, to help carry back used glasses and empty beer bottles. Curly blond Bernie collected the six bottles and two of the glasses and grinned, weaving slightly, "Can you managed the reminder Perry?" "Fine, follow me slave," Perry slurred. Bernie had placed the six bottles held against his chest by one arm and the glasses from his other hand on the bar when balding Perry, rarely anything but charming, attempted to slip in the gap but bumped a guy standing with two others at the bar. "Watch it you jerk." "Sorry but I doubt I'm the jerk." "Calling me a jerk are you," snarled the guy and threw a punch that Bernie he anticipated. He stepped between the two men and jolted the blow off-course with a forearm. "You hurt my arm punk." "My apologies," Bernie smiled. "The contact with you was unintentional and the slight was rather provoked." "What's a slight?" bellowed the aggressor. "Jake it will be what you feel if I hit you with this," said the woman behind the bar, holding up a baseball bat. Jake reached over and grabbed the bat from her. "Welcome to the world of sore heads you jerks," he said, drawing back the bat to swing at Perry who stood frozen, mouth open in shock. Bernie, in suit and jacket, leapt and kicked under the descending bat into the belly of the guy, knocking the assailant into his friends who caught him and restrained him, not that restraint was necessary because the guy was sucking in air as if on his last gasp. "Our apologies for being involved in disturbing the peace," Bernie soothed handing the bat back to the barmaid. "Nothing broken and here's a hundred for you guys not to take this incident any further. We're off now, thanks for your service." Jake hurried back to the table and said, "Come on guys, let's go. We must give Bernie twenty each and I owe him greater thanks. My head, it could have been cracked." * * * Three months later Dyan Taylor was in the elevator glaring at a guy and a woman staring at her breasts. What kind of weirdoes where they? Why couldn't they be like the blond guy looking up at the ceiling? She looked up and saw a spider and closed her eyes shuddering. The duo who she thought had been thinking about asking her to join her for night-play left at the next floor, both grinning at her like apes. Now the good looking guy was looking at her breasts. God, other women had breasts. Why didn't he look at them? Well she had to concede she and the guy were alone in the elevator. Perhaps she should ask what he thought of them? The elevator stopped at the reception floor to her office and he moved to exit but held the hold door open button. "Good morning ma'am?" "It's miss," Dyan all but snarled. "Miss you have dripped toothpaste between your... your ums." The guy smiled apologetically and left. Dyan was aghast, looking down the front of her black shirt. It was true. Toothpaste was splattered between her, er, 'ums'. Her what? She giggled as held her handbag against her chest at the next floor and hurried to the bathroom. Almost an hour later her father appeared with the blond guy in toe. He looked at her 'ums' and winked approvingly, presumably because the toothpaste had disappeared and the material had dried. But one can never tell with men. Perhaps he just approved. "Hi darling, this is Mr Bader who will be with us for three months to examine our entire operation and to recommend practical ways to streamline and improve productivity. Bernie this is my daughter Dyan." "Um, um. How lovely to meet you Dyan." Dyan's face flamed and her father asked was she okay. "Yes perfectly," the 30-year-old brunette said icily. "Well I'm placing another desk in this office for Bernie. I should have said something but it didn't come up." "It didn't come up because you forgot to discuss it with me." "Other matters are more important around here darling than who sits where." Dyan felt ready to hunt, hit and destroy but before she could fire the newcomer said smoothly, "Perry name me one thing more important than your daughter?" Perry stood scratching his head instead of telling the guy to get lost. Her father then grinned and said, "My wife?" The three of them laughed and Dyan realized she'd been expertly defused. Oh wasn't he just adorable? Perry looked at his watch and asked, "What do you think about office-sharing with Dyan not you have met my fiery daughter?" The cur smiled and said, "Dyan is production manager. I was wondering why her office is not down in the plant, ideally being elevated so she can see and be seen?" "Well whatever," Perry said. "You sort that out with Dyan but don't ruffled her. I have a meeting. I'll leave you in her capable hands Bernie." Dyan stood glaring at Bernie who appeared mystified and asked what? "If you don't know already you'll never know," she snorted knowing he never would. "Fetch us coffee please Dyan and let's talk about it. My turn to get coffee next time we have it together." God he was smooth. Before she'd had time to thunder and tell him to get his own fucking coffee he was declaring he'd get the next one, signaling he didn't expect her to be a mule. She handed him coffee and didn't invite him to sit and she stood, two arm lengths clear of him. "May I say something personal?" She nodded knowing he was about to apologize for attempting to relocate her in the plant. "You are very beautiful." Dyan felt her chest begin to tighten and her stomach pulled in involuntarily. God, her body was preparing to have sex with him! The jerk had nailed her: how the hell could she reject being called beautiful and now he was staring at her breasts. Where they really swelling that much? No that was impossible. "I don't want you touching me," she shrilled. "What?" "Never touch me." "Do you mean never touch your hand or does your thinking go much deeper and are you thinking groping?" She gurgled, "P-please tell my about yourself." The résumé was over in four minutes and then he said, "Now tell me about yourself including why you are paranoid about being touched." "Paranoid? I like being touched... oh god. I'm so... oh fuck, saved by the bell. Here comes your desk." "Is the f-word allowable around here?" "No but tolerance is given to hot-headed women with visitations of paranoia." "Good heavens, what a wonderful combination for a woman who yearns for release." Her brain almost disabled by his intensity, Dyan yelled to the two men, "The desk, over here!" At that moment Christy from HR arriving to induct the newcomer. Dyan managed to kick back into gear and thought Christy was practically devoid of breast development... the guy was forced to appraise her by her legs. She heard the smooth-ass reply to the introduction, "Christy? Was your father a count?" "That was Monte Christo, not Monte Christy," the head of HR giggled. Dyan closed her eyes momentarily and groaned as if about to vomit. "Are you okay Dyan?" "Never better thank you Christy. Have Bernie all day or all week if you wish... er... if you need him then longer." "Why thank you." Dyan saw Christy looking at Bernie's wide chest and wondered what Christy was thinking. There were rumors that at times Christy suspended her marriage vows. When they'd disappeared and the men had placed the second desk where she wanted it and added two filing cabinets and they'd left, Dyan called Leigh. "Mom, I have a man in my office." "Oh lucky you. May I have him as a discard?" "Mom, stop being silly. Dad has brought in this work efficiency and management consultant to run through our operation with a fine tooth comb." "I would have thought that was both sensible and desirable." "Perhaps, but daddy has placed the jerk with me in my office and the jerk has already said why isn't my office above the floor of the plant." "Oooh, that appears good thinking. Get a male production manager and find yourself a role in planning and debit control if you wish to justify remaining in the office suite." "Mom, that's a great idea. Not debtors though because that is soul-destroying work." "Go for the position of general manager then. You think that woman's a jerk." "Yes mom but unfortunately it's likely where this guy Bernie is heading if he wants permanent employment." "Well fight him for it; you always have loved to scrap." "Mom that's brilliant. I must buy you a present." "Thank you dear. Bring the jerk home for dinner tonight to allow me to make my assessment." "Er mom, he'll only stare at your boobs." "Oh great, I need someone who does that." Dyan groaned. "Mom, I don't wish to mislead you. He is handsome and could be brilliant." "Oh god, that's why you are behaving erratically like this? You know he's the one." "Mom, don't be so fucking ridiculous." When her mom stopped laughing she said, "Ah, that foul mouthing tells me I'm right. Wheel him in tonight darling." Dyan threw down her phone and kicked her trash bin across the room, hurting her toe. She mouthed obscenities and was surprised she knew so many of them. * * * Leigh called down the passage to the bedrooms, "He's arriving darling." "Please get the door mom; I'm still dressing." Perry was glued to a sports report on TV. Leigh checked her hair in the hallway mirror and opened the door to be greeted by Mr Flowers. "These are for you ma'am." "Oh, thank you. These are out of season... there was no need." "I've impressed the boss and now wish to impress you ma'am." "Oh you naughty boy," she giggled, and stood to be kissed. Bernie obliged. "Call me Leigh." "Um how will Dyan handle that?" "Politely I would hope. I take it by that remark you're already found my daughter has a quick-ignition." "Yes, it's refreshing. The task though is for her to increase her chances of being either correct or justified when she blows." "That is a very discerning comment Bernie. Please come in. These flowers are lovely." "That tells me they have come to the right home." "Now Bernie," Leigh giggled. "There's no need to go over the top." The evening went pleasantly, everyone behaving and Dyan even managed to say the flowers for her mother looked lovely, although adding and looking at Bernie, "That was a civilized gesture." The parents noted Bernie coped by just winking at Dyan who flushed. Mother and daughter found the 34-year-old had degrees in management and law because he'd planned to leave consulting eventually and end up holding the tiller of a reputable and successful company. "Our company doesn't have a tiller," Dyan charged nonsensically and the great ape then said to her, "Oh but is it reputable?" Her father roared in laughter and her mom perhaps had an edge of restraint behind her grin. Dyan managed to choke, "Oh that was funny." It fell flat as Christy Thomas' chest. The great ape had been with her all day. So during the next pause in conversation she asked, "How did Christy manage to occupy you all day?" "She was tremendously informative. She answered my questions about staff deployment and management, what training and job backups were in place and after we had lunch at the yacht club we built a multi-dimensional model of the company in operational mode." "The yacht club?" "Ah yes, I transferred my membership here although I sold my sail boat before leaving Seahills." "But it's almost impossible to get in to the club." Her father smiled like a fat cat and said, "Bernie was lucky. His uncle Richard Gapes on his mother's side is club commodore." "Oh we have a boat," Leigh said. "A motor-yacht, a forty-eight footer," Perry explained. Bernie said, "Very nice" but Dyan said, "No it's not. A friend told me Sonnet is dubbed 'Granny of the fleet." "Sonnet?" "We are not a literate family," Dyan said. "The wife of the previous owner was a poet." "Well perhaps I ought to take a look at her." Perry snorted and poured Bernie more red wine. "I'd like Sonnet very much. Nothing ever goes wrong with her and so I never have anything done to her." "God Perry," Bernie laughed. "Boats are like women... expensive to maintain and hard work to get the best out of them." The two women sighed at one another as the two guys roared in laughter. Perry asked if Leigh wanted more wine; she said no and he slopped the wine, overfilling her glass. "I'll talk to you afterwards Perry." That was all she said. She shouldn't have even said that in front of a guest but it showed Leigh as being in control of her home and maintained herself under control as well, leaving Bernie to wonder if the hot-headiness had jumped a generation. Bernie went to leave an hour later. Leigh kissed him with hesitation and said, "Good night our charming guest. Perry shake hands with our guest and please show Bernie to his vehicle Dyan." "Is he short-sighted?" "Dyan!" "This way Bernie." They stood expectantly in the driveway. Dyan reached up and gave him a goodnight peck. Dissatisfied he said, "I bet Christy kisses better than that." Dyan flashed into super-boil but before she could explode he'd grabbed her and was kissing her... gently, beautifully and long. She almost melted but then no guy had ever pulled the blindfold over Dyan Taylor. She pulled away and huffed, "That was uncalled for." "Can you blame me? If I waited for the invitation I'd be retirement age." "Well try this: touch me again and you'll be jobless." He said quietly, "Well try this: I have convinced you father I can set the systems that will increase company efficiency by up to a third within two years and without extra manpower or capital expense. If one of us is to go which one do you think it will be?" "Then I must use my head wisely and do nothing to initiate brinkmanship." "That's very intelligent. May I ask do you like sex?" "Up your fat ass sailor," Dyan smiled sweetly and walked away not looking back, knowing she'd hit a foul because he appeared to have a really cute ass. However she felt immeasurably better because he'd just had her over a barrel over that question which one of them her father would choose. Um, was he really thinking of having sex with her? * * * Dyan saw that Captain Bader was on the fly bridge when they arrived. The engine was already idling, the main lines had been cast off and the inflatable had been unlashed and was sitting in the water at the stern ready on the right length tow line. God, how nauseatingly correct, she scowled. Captain Bader came to the end of the bridge deck and waved down to them as if his crew had just arrived. "Hurry Perry, get aboard and take stuff," Leigh called. "It's weighing me down." Just like in films Captain Bader jumped clean over the railing and landed in a crouch seven feet down on the jetty and was already upright and taking the box of provisions off her mother before Dyan had only realized what had just happened. "Oh thank you Bernie," cooed her mom. "Put those aboard and then please help me. I get scared stepping over the railing when the tide is full like this." "No problem," he said, kissing her mom lifted Leigh who squealed like a wacky teenager over the railing and on to the decking. "Next please." "Keep your hands to yourself," Dyan snarled softly. As she was attempting to step over the railing her foot caught in her two-layer sari wrap and she fell sideways and only just recovered her balance but with a foot hanging into the closing gap between the boat and the jetty. Dyan looked down and saw the gap was no longer closing so held her scream. She looked along and saw Bernie straining to hold the boat from pressing into the fenders, pushed by a tidal surge. Dyan called, "I'm safe, thanks to you." "My pleasure," he said not looking at her. Leigh and Perry hadn't seen the close call. Handing Bernie a beer Perry said, "My security is not great huh? You found both sets of keys." "People casually steal boats because of people like you are too slack to really hide keys. But the real tough and determined guys will get in no matter what are your security systems, even alarm mechanisms attached to sirens. Give then well inside two minutes and everything will sound quiet and sleepy again." "Okay, seen anything much wrong with the boat?" "Nah, $25,000 to $40,000 should fix it well. The main item would be say twin diesels, possibly turbo-charged. Or maybe gas engines. You need to engage a consultant. He'll ask what you do with your boat and how often and recommend you over-power so that you run the boat at no more than 80% of available power. What you have installed here is a six in-line gas-guzzler dog that probably no one will buy. If you need to save costs ask the consultant about rebuilt motors that should come in at one third the cost of new ones but they are nothing more than reconditioned old motors. I recommend twin motors for smoother cruising. But for goodness sake, get this boat out of the water and its hull attended to. Some of the poor performance is the result of hauling all that weed around." "What weed?" "I told you the hull below water looked slimy dad." They anchored and did some fishing and after lunch and everyone helping to clear away the oldies went down for a nap, but it sounded pretty loud for a nap. "What are you going to do?" Bernie said log an inventory of what he believed needed to be done to the boat. "Dad should sell it and buy a new one." "Why?" "It looks worn out, scruffy." "That's because it hasn't been maintained. I believe it's actually an excellent boat and performs how I hoped it would for its type. Despite the heavy weight of that prehistoric engine it got up and planned well." "Whatever, I'm doing up to the rear of the fly bridge to sunbath. Keep away." "I need to go up there to complete my list." "Okay, please yourself and embarrass me." Bernie arrived with his improvised clipboard and Dyan moved to cover up. "Nah hold it, I've seen lots of tits." "You make it sound as if you're looking at a piece of meat." "Oh, permitted to look am I?" "I'm too big here." "That's your opinion. I'd say about perfect." Dyan looked at him carefully. "Really?" "Yeah. Want to have sex?" "Nah, I have a boyfriend. Jack Doyle, assistant sales manager." "Ohmigod." Dyan looked anxious. "What?" "A mommy's boy if I ever saw one." "You don't know what you're talking about Bernie. He's soft with me and attentive and plays the piano. He's... he's intellectual." "Aren't you in need of a guy like me with a bit of grunt?" "Fuck off Bernie." Bernie went off to complete his self-appointed task. No one would thank him for this. But he grinned. Until now he hadn't really dwelt on shafting The Daughter, but she had great tits and he'd also glimpsed the outline under her bikini bottom of thick pussy lips. Yummy. A couple of hours later he was on the aft deck outside the saloon when Leigh arrived, appearing to be half waddling. Bernie was bored reading Perry's comics. She picked up the list and said, "Oh my, a huge list of things to do." "Yeah but a decision on the engine first and any replacements done before this other work is commissioned. It will amount to a minor refit." "Do you think it's worth it?" A Romance Slowly Sets Sail "Absolutely." "Oh you darling young man," Leigh said, kissing him rather wetly. Bernie was quite sure she smelt of sex. "Come in the saloon and drink a bottle of wine with me," she said. "There's one thing that really makes me keen to come out on Sonnet." "The wine?" Leigh stayed clear but licked her lips sexily. I like the delightful touch of absurdity in your humor darling." Walking back along the jetty with Bernie, Dyan said too softly for her parents to hear, "Were you serious in complimenting me about the shape and size of my breasts?" "Absolutely." "Do you wish to take me out to dinner tonight. The folk have been bouncing around in their stateroom so will be tired." "Okay, is Jack Doyle invited?" "What, so you can show him how to do it with grunt?" She smiled wickedly at Bernie and walked on faster. "Wait up mom, I need to tell you Bernie is taking me out for dinner." Her mom was brilliant. "You two will be tired after being out on the water; get Bernie to cook for you in his apartment." "He probably can't cook." "Yes I can; great suggestion Leigh. Want to join us, you too Perry?" "No thanks, we're fucked," Perry yawned. * * * "God, this is rather pleasant and expensively furnished." "Yes the owners are touring Europe for two months, perhaps three." Dyan turned and soon had her tongue down Bernie's throat. When they stopped for breath she said, "It's been months since I've had a half-decent fuck." "Okay, what say we skip dinner? Tell your mom I did burgers. Actually we can stop for a burger when I return you home." "Oooh, yes. Unclothe me my man." They'd kissed and Bernie had her nipples up like miniature rods before he whispered, "Unzip me." "Oh god, at last," she complained, but understandably. Judging by the noisy exclamations Dyan was pleased by what she found and dug out. She soon had the end of it deforming inside her nearest cheek. Bernie rubbed that part of her cheek and asked, "Does this count as masturbating? Dyan choked on cock and saliva and had to temporarily clear her mouth but she quickly came right and really impressed them both, showing just how much she could sink down her throat. For a moment Bernie came close to believing she was capable of swallowing his balls as well but size was a problem; her mouth was smallish. Bernie rammed a finger into her and squelched it around. "More!" He finished up with three inside her and was rolling his thumb over her clit when she heaved and came, gasping and looking at him with huge eyes. "Do it, you mother-fucker." Did that mean she thought he'd done his mom, or hers or both? Guessing it would be too dangerous to ask, possibly sending her into a rage, Bernie grabbed his cock and shoved it in. She was leaking like a rusty bucket so it just slid in on the slime without complaint. And then, oh boy, could she move her ass; she was really into it. Somewhere along the route to mutual ejaculation she had a finger up his ass, aping what he was doing to her. He yelled, "Ohfuckohfuckohfuck ohmyhereitcomes." "Plaster my glorious tits," Dyan began screaming. She wrapped a leg around his leg and he got cramp. "Oh fuck," he screamed. "Yesyesyesyes," she encouraged, spurting. Almost blind in pain, rather as a result of beginning to ejaculate excessively, Bernie held himself up on one hand and steered to blast her chest. She screamed in delight and he rolled off into a writhing, sweat-soaked heap. "Oh god, are you having a heart attack?" "No," he groaned. "Cramp." "Oh is that all. I was such a slut. I had a finger up your ass. You really worked me up until I had no idea of what I was doing. Please stop that groaning. Massage the back of your thigh." She sighed and said, "That's pathetic. Here, I'll do it." "Ow, ow, ow fucking ow-ow." "Better?" "Yes thanks Dyan. God, feel all this moisture. You didn't pee on us did you?" "Of course not," she said angrily. "What a fucking asshole." Dyan remained very pissed with him. They didn't talk when he took her home. She jumped out and slammed the door before he could move, so he didn't, and reversed his vehicle out o the driveway. Bernie stopped for a couple of hamburgers on the way home and the store-soiled woman laughed and pointed at Bernie to her male colleague and the mess on him. "Look Jimmy, the poor asshole's girlfriend has creamed on him and then pissed over him." Because Dyan and Bernie never did discuss that very wet incident Bernie never found out the truth. It would have been hard-going finding out because for the next four days she only spoke to him to answer his questions. Dyan had figuratively pulled down the blinds. However, Bernie found an unexpected pal, although Dyan would not have been surprised if she'd found out. Bernie was in the photo-copying room after 5:20 when the general staff had left for home. Christie came in and said hi, locked the door and dropped her skirt. "I have something you might wish to exploit," she said, bending over the smaller photocopier and spreading her legs. "Um Christie?" "Don't waste time Bernie. The cleaners will be here soon." Bernie was running on slack so worried how could he get it up in time with no tits to bite and dribble on and no kissing. This wasn't how fucking was supposed to be. It was fucking mechanical. Reluctantly, although he didn't believe that, Bernie stood behind Christie, unzipped and gave his slack a couple of shakes. There was some progress but would she wait? He smelt pussy juice and that assisted a bit. "Push it in and then lift me parallel with my body and then bang me... I have a good grip over the machine." Bernie was heating up and that was good. Pulling the panty leg aside he pushed his half-mast member in, keeping a finger along the side of it to signal to Christie something hard was entering. Actually he was left with the impression his whole hand could disappear into her depths. "You're not very big," she complained as he lifted her from just above her knees and holy shit. She squeezed on him and suddenly it was akin to pushing into a block of creamy Délice de Bourgogne cheese from France. She eased off to get the friction from him and they were away. Regrettably there was no intimate passion and tonguing and all the other stuff Bernie liked packaged to consummate the rambunctious act. It was rather like riding the roller-coaster with your eyes shut. Even so as Christie finished screaming and bucking and he hosed the floors, walls and roof of her vagina, sighing in immense satisfaction. Bernie stood back and Christie groaned and stood up, no doubt with the shapes of hinges and screws embedded into her skin. Turning she then scowled and cried, "Did you piss in me?" "No, it's just cum and your juice. I'm a big pot guy." "Ohmigod, look at it?" Bernie had seen far many more attractive sights in his life. He cleaned Christy with a duster and then found another one to pack in her panties and she kissed him and said he was such a charming guy. "Have you sunk one into Dyan yet?" "There are problems. She's being dated by the guy Doyle in sales." "God, he's not half the man you are. I actually think he's confused about his sexuality. Want me to work on Christy for you?" "Nah, I'll work it through." "Perhaps you could make Jack's position redundant in your efficiency crusade?" "Christ Christy, ease off. That's hitting below the belt." "Well thanks for the wheelbarrow; quite the best I've ever had." "Thanks for getting my nuts off Christy. You really are great." "I'm slowly working my way through the entire company, leaving off guys like Jack Doyle though." "And skipping the boss?" "No, Perry was my first but he was somewhat lethargic. Little wonder his wife gets it elsewhere. If you can't get into Dyan's pants, try her mom." Bernie rather went off Christy after that. CHAPTER 2 On Friday Bernie asked Dyan would she like to go for a wet lunch and she sighed and agreed. At the table, a martini almost finished, she sighed and said, "May I tell you something very private and it goes no further than this table?" "Oh, you're pregnant?" She scowled. "Christy whispered to me there's a rumor that Jack Doyle is a mother-fucker." "And what does Jack say?" "I-I haven't asked him. God, that's the last thing I though you would ask." "Why, a rumor like that could kill your relationship with him?" "I've already dropped him. We basically are incompatible." "Oh, in what way?" Bending forward with her second martini Dyan said, "He doesn't fuck robustly like you. When he and I come together we seem to slither." Bernie was surprised Dyan was unbundling on him like this. "Slither?" "Yes, like two snakes on the grass. In comparison you leap at me like a lion and it becomes just short of a life and death struggle." Bernie wondered what was mixed in her drink. He had to say something. "I'd like to do it with you again." "Me too." Bernie pushed it. "Are we suited?" "Probably not. But if we both made an effort, who knows? I can honestly say you are my best fuck ever Bernie. I have this great desire to have you in me. I can't understand why I'm thinking this way." "Why think about it? You like to fuck and you're getting it how you like it. Just lie back and enjoy it. Do you wish to go off somewhere and do it now?" "Bernie please be responsible. We have almost finished our lunch break. You should have asked what about it after work." "Now you tell me," he scowled. She laughed and tickled him under the chin and called him her little boy. "Ohmigod I really do feel like one." They both sighed. When they returned to their office Bernie locked the door. Dyan turned when she heard him pull his zip. "Bernie no. We'll be spotted and all hell will break loose." "I've figured it out. On your back by the door. People would have to be breathing against the glass to see us." "Ohmigod, I can't do this," Dyan groaned. However she stepped out of her panties and dropping on to the floor opened her shirt and pulled up her bra. She sucked her nipples until Bernie was ready to take over. "You are turning me into a slut," she sighed with a big smile, feeling his length sliding towards her cervix. They panted and puffed with Dyan who didn't particularly like Missionary digging her fingers into Bernie's butt the pulling hard on his down stroke to slam him into her hard. She oohed and aahed with her tongue lolling out of side of her mouth until she knew an orgasm was rushing to temporarily consume her. She pulled her legs together and the effect of that was to turn Bernie's face purple and he groaned and grunted and filled her. Dyan stuffed her breasts back into her bra and buttoned her shirt. She stood and was relieved to find no line of workers in the general office lined up outside her office attempting to see what all the noise was about. She looked to the left and blondie Susan Marsh, whose desk was nearest to Dyan's office, gave her a huge wink and held up a circled thumb and forefinger. Oh god, Susan knew. Dyan held her panties against her leaking pussy and told Bernie to run off and fetch her a towel from the women's restroom. "I can't. You've soaked my trousers with pussy juice and leaked my semen back on to me." "Ohmigod," Dyan wailed. She reached for her phone and called Susan. "Darling it's Dyan," Dyan said looking straight at the 40-year-old Mrs Marsh. "We've had a bit of an accident. You know how it is." "I sure do. How can I help?" "A couple of towels from the bathroom please, er delivered discretely." Susan giggled and said she was on her way. That evening Dyan told her mom she would not longer be dating Jack Doyle and had replaced him with Bernie. "Are you having sex with Bernie yet?" Dyan said yes and told her about the sex dilemma in her office at day after lunch. The both laughed loudly just as Perry came in and asked to share the joke. Quick as a flash Dyan said, "I was telling mom about one of the office girls being left in a mess when her sanitary protection pad slipped..." "Dyan, for goodness sake. It's less than an hour before I eat my dinner. Don't talk to me about stuff like that. Haven't you two anything better to do?" When Perry had gone Leigh asked, "Are you likely to marry Bernie?" "Hell no. All he's interested in me for is sex." "Then do you mind if I hit on him?" "Mom, stop that naughty talk right now. It's disgusting and would be adultery. If you dare touch Bernie I'd drop him like a hot brick." "You can be such a bitch," Leigh snapped and walked away. Leigh's attitude and comments upset Dyan. She went for a walk to return to a better mood away from her mother. She thought about declaring to her mom she'd not wish to marry Bernie because he focused on sex. Hello! What had she been focused on? Yes? Feeling rather guilty Dyan tried to think of things she disliked about Bernie and came up almost empty handed. Almost. Yes she felt caught out again after analyzing what her problem with him was: she felt threatened by him; her father could promote Bernie ahead of Dyan. "Oh God," she hissed. "Fucking men. Why do they have to cause problem?" Dyan was now in a real mood. She returned home feeling ready to punch out. Her mom appeared at her side and said, "Dyan dear, I wish to apologize..." "I'm off to bed," Dyan snarled. Her mom began bawling and so Dyan the Exterminator sighed and turned back to hug her mom and to say it was all right. She accepted the apology and accepted her mom had been under stress. Neither woman was aware Leigh had been under stress but the kind words worked well and they hugged and smiled at one another. Perry came from the TV and asked, "What's all this noise. Have you two been fighting?" "Dad come to the kitchen and pour us a drink. We should all talk." "Okay Dyan. Whisky?" The two women nodded, knowing the choice of whisky signaled this could be serious. Perry and Leigh sat and looked at Dyan expectantly. "What?" "You called this meeting," Leigh smiled nervously. They watched Dyan toss back her whisky and shudder and the spirit went down her throat. "I'm practically insanely jealous of Bernie." Leigh rushed to smother Dyan in a hug and as both women cried Perry sat shaking his head while he poured himself and Dyan another drink. When the women had separated and settled he said, "Isn't the word insanely a bit over the top?" "Yes, I was hitting out. I feel threatened you'll promote him ahead of me and that would make me feel all washed up." "How's that? You would retain your existing position." "It's how I feel dad; it doesn't have to be logical." "What?" Leigh said to Perry, "Don't be so insensitive. In explaining how she feels Dyan doesn't have to be logical. She's explaining how she feels." "Oh, right. So with those semantics and tears and you two ganging up on me I'm supposed to make the illogical decision of not offering Bernie a top position in the company to retain his expertise." "Yes." "Dyan?" "That's mom but if I say yes what does that make me?" "Try a bloody-minded manipulator." "Perry don't be so heartless." "Leave it mom. He's right. I was stupid calling this meeting." Obviously guilty about attempting to muscle in on her daughter's boyfriend Leigh said, "Let's continue the discussion guys. Dyan is obviously distraught at having an outsider stand in her way. We must hammer out a solution." "I can live with that providing it's logical," Perry scowled. Leight asked, "Dyan?" "Mom yes to you coming up with a proposal but the decision needs to be logical. This is the company we're talking about." "Thank you Dyan," Perry said. "That comment has restored my confidence in you as a company executive." * * * Dyan decided to take a greater interest in Bernie, now that she was satisfied her father had no intention of deposing her. When they greeted that morning, not kissing because they both agreed it was better if they appeared unattached, Bernie asked, "Could you please give me a time when you can tour the plant with me." Immediately on the defensive, Dyan asked why was he asking her that.? "So we can discuss things I bring up as we walk through." "Production is currently running almost 2% ahead of schedule." "Yes, I know. Very good." "I can only take criticism when I see it as justified." He smiled and reassured here no criticism was planned. The plant produced a highly successful mainstream range of stacking chairs used in schools, community halls and auditoriums plus specialty lines including some experimental lines that were not always successful such as padded chairs used in waiting rooms of attorneys, dentists and physicians and home breakfast bar stools and cocktail bar stools and patio chairs that would later be stacked away. The tour took two and a half hours with long stops to talk to assembly line managers and managers in charge of packaging for delivery and supervisors of packaging and dispatch staff. Dyan said, "That was very intense. Let's go down to a riverfront restaurant for a liquid lunch. You deserve it." "Thanks. May I also say thanks for allowing me to talk to your people without undue intervention from you. I wanted you with me because their loyalty and in-line command is with you, not with a consultant. Workers are always suspicious of consultants." Dyan laughed and said he could include her in the suspicious comment. "Some of those guys you engaged with were here in granddad's time and have this inflated opinion they run the place. You spoke to them as if you had a problem and needed their assistance about how to solve it when I know you already had the solutions." "The idea is to get them to buy into change." "Yes I know but you were unbelievable adroit in getting them onside. They'll now think the ideas for change are theirs." "That's smart assessment Dyan. Well what did you think?" "There's a lot to wade through." "Yes there will be nineteen recommendations regarding reducing bottlenecks in work flows and sixteen recommendations regarding inefficient procedures. I estimate it will cost almost $200,000 to implement all of those recommendations but it will be possible to reduce plant personnel by up to fifteen people so the changes will pay for themselves." "Dad won't wish to fire people." "They can be placed elsewhere, perhaps on a new production line or people are not replaced when their resign." "Yes, of course. So what do you think of our products?" Dyan asked as they got into her car. "My brief didn't cover product." "Just an opinion will do." "You have economy and a standard range. Standard in my opinion is mid-quality. You ought to introduce a premium range." "We've talked about it." "Then do the market research and introduce it if a premium range appears justified." "Jesus, you're tough. "You've just pushed my button maestro." * * * Under an umbrella and looking at the river, Dyan and Bernie drank and ate moderately. When midway through their mains, Dyan said, "Well today finished your appraisal of plant operations. When that report is completed you will be on to reviewing our admin procedures. And then what?" "Before that review finishes I will have taken steps to connect to my next client. I use an agency for that." "I don't want you to go." Bernie looked at Dyan intently and said, "Then come with me when I leave." "Bernie, my parents have authorized me to speak to you on their behalf. None of us want you to go. Dad wants you to take a permanent position in the company. I was upset at the thought he'd make you senior to me but we thrashed it out and reached what we think is a solution. You and I become vice-presidents and dad takes the title of company president. You and I will be on equal footing, equal salary and employment benefits but will also have a bonus system, yet to be worked out by the directors, that will relate to company net profit." A Romance Slowly Sets Sail "Why didn't your dad discuss this with me." "Because I brought it up last night, pushing for your retention." "You want me to stay?" Dyan felt her face color. "For the company yes; for me personally add a big yes." "Well the idea appeals." "You'd have responsibility for sales and administration, planning and new ideas." Bernie smiled and said he liked that last bit and what would be Dyan's responsibility. "Production, from securing materials through to distribution." "Where would your office be?" "Alongside yours. The replacement plant manager's office would be overlooking the floor of the plant." Bernie grinned. When that discussion finished Dyan said, "I suggest we go away for a long weekend to get to know one another better. Also dad said to tell you he's commissioned the work you recommended by done on the boat plus what the boat-builder suggested. She is to be fitted with two near-new turbo diesels taken from a bigger boat because the owner had decided to down-power for more economical performance." "I hope he had them checked out carefully?" "Yes and they will remain under guarantee, with thirteen months of a 24-month guarantee left to run." "Excellent." "Ohmigod, here comes mom and that's not dad she's with." Dyan called over the waitress and paid cash. They left via the other side of a room dividing screen. "Is that Leigh being a naughty girl?" Looking sheepish, Dyan said she was not prepared to pass judgment. * * * Each evening after work and on Saturday afternoons, Perry went to inspect progress on the boat, believing that kept pressure on the guys at the yard to finish on time. On most occasions Bernie accompanied him and they would stay for a beer with the guys. Through that Bernie and Perry became very close and finally Perry said, "What have you decided about staying on here after you finish your contract?" "I've decided to serious consider the offer but please don't mention that to anyone, especially your wife and daughter. As you know Dyan and I are going away this weekend to stay with my parents." "Oh yeah, well don't get your clothes covered with cow shit and remember Dyan's never been on a ranch let alone ridden a horse." "My folk's cowhands round up cattle on quad bikes and carry dogs on the trays." "God where had the glamour of herding with real cowboys gone?" Bernie smiled and shook his head. "Perry I seem to recollect that when I was a boy cowboys got all-found and about three hundred bucks a month and had to be out in all weather at all hours at times. The glamour associated with cowboys was generated well away from the ranches." "Yeah, I suppose so. We like our myths don't we? Well I want you aboard son and I want you married to my girl." "Aw take it easy Perry. That sounds like putting a noose round my neck." "If she's a good-looker I'll have her," said the cabinetmaker. "My one is losing her looks and running to fat." "You keep your dirty mind off my daughter Alf and concentrate instead on my new galley." * * * It was only a three-hour flight to meet the parents, plus an hour's drive of just over two hours to get to the ranch. As soon as they were seated on the airplane Dyan asked, "What will your parents think of me?" Her voice sounded a little shaky so he decided not to tease. "Mom will think you are lovely and well-mannered, so please watch your language. Dad will think you are a high-powered business woman and your skirt and dress lengths are too high." "Ohmigod, I haven't brought any longer stuff. Oh I know I'll wear jeans all the time." "Dad doesn't like women in pants." "Bernie, if I find you are teasing me I'll squeeze them until they turn purple." "She means my fingers," Bernie said to the elderly woman seated next to him and he heard Dyan groan in embarrassment. When Dyan had the first sip of her drink he asked, "Relaxed." "Yes. I've decided to just be myself and not worry about what your parents think of me. It's not as if they are expecting you to marry me is it?" There was no reply so Dyan said, "Bernie?" "He finished his beer, slowly, and asked Dyan did they get a meal on this flight. "I am waiting for you to reply to my question." "Um mom probably thinks this is why you are coming to visit." "But why would she think that?" "Because I've never brought a girl home since college days." "Oh Jesus Bernie; you could have told me." "Um sorry." Dyan gave him a dark look. "It's okay mutt-head; I have decided to be myself." The woman alongside Bernie dug him in the ribs and said, "Young man I think you should teach your young woman not to speak so coarsely." "Yes ma'am," he said and heard Dyan growl, "Oh Jesus. I'm being persecuted." Bernie's mom and dad and his two brothers, Caleb a pastor and Luke who managed the ranch, met them at the airport. As they approached them and Bernie had said there were his mom and dad and brothers, Dyan hissed, "You didn't tell me you had brothers." "Oh didn't I? I also have a sister who is a missionary in New Guinea." That should have warned Dyan that Bernie must have had reasons for not confiding that information before but she whispered fiercely she'd talk to him later. Dyan was ignored as his family greeted him, rather formerly and at some distance, the furious Dyan observed. And then she observed more: the father looked stooped as if he wouldn't be able to lift a box of groceries let alone a kicking calf; the mother was wearing a long granny print dress, her hair was tied back severely and she was devoid of make-up apart from a smear of lipstick. Further, the farm manager was lean like his dad and the clergyman was pasty-faced and overly fat. God what a bunch of misfits. "Folk I'd like you to meet Miss Taylor." "Good afternoon Miss Taylor," the family chorused without emotion. They now stared at Dyan curiously. Dyan wondered if there was still time to get back on the airplane. It was a through-flight but then she heard it thunder down the runway. Oh god, would she ever come out of this uncontaminated? Contaminated with what? She didn't know but thought it was would tainted with religion. She smiled in response to the chorus of greetings. "You'll wear longer dresses in my house," said the mother, gently but firmly and without smiling. "Pardon my but this is my choice of dress length. Accept it or otherwise you reject me ma'am." Dyan was ready to strangle the bitch. The air around them appeared electrified but she knew that was only her imagination. The rest of the family inspected their shoes but the rancher son said, "She can stay with Sue and me." "Very well." The father said rudely, "And wear less make-up when you are around us." That did it. Dyan cut lose. "Are you aware I'm fucking your son and brother?" Poor Bernie appeared to be looking for a hole to hide. Dyan's blood was racing as she stood firm, wanting her showdown here on the prairie, er inside the airport terminal. But she was astonished. The family just looked at her and the pastor guy actually displayed a shadow of a grin. The rancher son said gravely, "My Sue displayed similar hostility when she first met my family except for Bernie who acted protectively towards her. Oh good old Bernie, Dyan gritted, thinking she'd befriend Sue and then run away with her. They was a lull as their bags were put into the 7-seat SUV. Dyan whispered to Bernie, "I'm going to murder you" but he mumbled, "You never would have come here had I attempted to paint this picture." "Too fucking right," she hissed. "A guy can be responsible for his family only to a point." She fumed how the fuck could she answer that and was told to watch her mouth. "Bad language round these parts can be a hanging offence." Dyan felt blood drain from her face despite being hugely suspicious Bernie was lying. They traveled mostly in silence apart from unanswered declarations including, "The wind had dropped" and "Looks like rain but maybe not" and "There's talk that beef prices might rise up to two cents a pound." Oh god. "Could someone turn the stereo on," Dyan pleaded. The son the rancher said, "Sorry Miss Taylor but heathen music and the obscenities and disobedience distributed via the airwaves are not for us. We are without radio in our vehicles and without radio and television in our homes." Aghast Dyan said, "So what do you do for entertainment?" "We talk, sing and pray." Dyan slumped back into her seat, tears flowing and knowing she was already a broken woman except a slight miracle occurred: Bernie reached out and pulled her against him. The mother who was driving looked into the rear mirror and said, "Take your hands off that woman Bernie." "Shut up mom." "Please do not talk to me like that." "Then don't be a bitch. You have no right to interfere in the way Dyan and I behave." There was silence. "And if you don't like that stop and let us out. We'll hitch a ride back to the airport." The vehicle accelerated forward. Dyan reached down and squeezed Bernie's right thigh appreciatively. He grinned and removed her hand. The clergyman brother sitting alongside Bernie leaned forward and said, "So your name is Diane. I guess that's with an 'i' and one 'n'?" "It's spelt D-y-a-n." "Oh how pretty. My name is Caleb, brother of the black sheep of the family." "Oh what is your older brother guilty of?" Caleb smiled. "I meant my young brother Bernie. He spurned our traditional way of living and spiritual beliefs and ran off to the city." Bernie cut in: "Actually I mostly walked/ Because of my funny dark suit and side-whiskers on a half-drunk truck driver stopped to give me a lift." "Mom said he'd come crawling home on his belly next day but that was sixteen years ago when he was eighteen. This is the first time Bernie I mean Brahim has been back here with us." "Why ever would he come back?" "Good question and we await the answer. I think it is to show us what a wonderful woman he has found." "You have to be joking," Dyan laughed. "I speak coarsely, I raged at times and throw the dummy and I just love to fuck." Dyan felt Bernie shift nervously as if wanting to climb into the space behind them. "You misunderstand," Caleb smiled. "I meant your intelligence, your awareness of your purpose in life, perhaps you have demonstrated your preparedness to stand by your family which means you are family-oriented and will also stick by your man, You will have exhibited compassion and tenderness to him and probably Bernie has at last had his wanton propensity towards sexual intercourse fulfilled." Dyan slumped back into her seat, her mouth stuck open. They traveled along in silence. Thank god it was only 120 miles from the airport and not the 200 Bernie had mentioned. Dyan had the feeling the oppressiveness of being in that vehicle had been slowly suffocating her. But when she got out she felt like reaching over and kissing Caleb. But with the eagle-eyed mother watching she just turned slightly and gave him a huge wink and she caught the faint smile. They stood with the bags watching the vehicle continue on and the rancher's son said with a little bit more life to his voice, "Dyan I'm Luke." "Oh hi Luke. May I kiss you now your mother has gone." "Yes," he said simply turning a cheek. "Has that bitch gone," called a female and Luke smiled and said, "Yes Sue. Come out of hiding. We have two guests." Dyan's mouth was hanging open again. Out of the house came a young woman carrying a baby and with three shy children in tow. She wore lipstick and her skin was perfect, her hair long and blonde. She was quite the prettiest woman Dyan had seen for a long time. Sue's mouth fell open. "Oh Christ, a woman to stay with me. Thank the lord or you handsome man, the black sheep son Bernie. Kiss me but don't go for my breasts, they leak easily. "Sue," Luke said shuffling. "Oh sorry darling. I was misbehaving to show your brother that after seven years my spirit remains intact and I remain 'the Devil's daughter' as your mother still calls me." "I-I apologize for this intrusion but your m-mother took exception to my dress length." "Oh and she didn't say anything about you exposing all that tit?" "Sue." "Oh you must excuse Luke miss. He remains eighty percent under his mother's oppressive influence and she has her husband's devout support." "I'm Dyan." "Oh hi Dyan. A kiss please. This wee one is Kelly, next in line is Megan, and the twin boys are Harry and Tyler." "Megan said "Hi" and smiled and the boys said "Hi" and ducked behind their mom. "We often have guests but usually males and sometimes an older woman but never in all my years here have I had a younger woman to stay but of course I make sure that happens when I take the kids home for a break." "You are allowed out of here?" Sue grinned. "You have a wicked tongue Dyan and it doesn't surprise me the Renegade found you. Bernie you had guts walking out of here. Your mom has awesome power over your brothers, your father and everyone else on the ranch." "Blame Mr Lyons, our senior master at our school who in answer to my enquiring mind exposed me to the philosophy of liberty and democracy and that led to discussion about personal freedom. Whether of not he knew it his elder daughter, a couple of years my senior, taught me her version of sexual copulation." "Oh you lucky boy. I always believed the youngest of any family usually gets the best education. Come in guys. Tonight we party. Go into town and buy liquor Luke? "But darling." "Luke!" "I'm on my way. Come on boys." "Just red wine for us thanks Luke," Dyan smiled. Twice during the three-day stay Dyan came within a hundred yards of Bernie's mother. She waved but the only response from the mother was a stare. However she had a wonderful time with Sue and by the time she left the ranch they were acting like sisters. On their last night Caleb, who lived with his parents, came over for dinner and said, "Where's the wine?" Guiltily Luke brought out a bottle and when Caleb poured half a glass for himself he looked at Luke. "Come on, just half a glass to show there's at least a flicker of defiance in you to oppression." Luke poured and sipped away as if he could get to like evil liquor, at least wine. Before driving the visitors to the airport next morning Sue took the boys to school and showed the visitors around. It was a private three-classroom school funded totally by the Bader Ranch and these days operated entirely under the federal school system. The twins kissed the visitors and their mother goodbye and scampered off, obviously happy to be at school. The two women stood silently before getting back into the vehicle, watching Bernie who'd turned to look back at the school and was lost in thought. He returned to the vehicle looking pensive until Sue said, "We have time to drop in and said hi to my parents and then call on your old teacher Mr Lyons, now retired. He lives on the way to the airport and is a member of the school board. Bernie kissed his startled sister passionately while Dyan, in the back seat with the sleeping Kelly and Megan, said, "Don't be so rough darling. You don't want Sue expressing milk." Bernie kissed above both nipples and Sue ruffled his hair and said, "Ah you are just like Luke with a bit of devil in you." Surprised, Bernie said, "You don't mean our Luke?" "Oh I do. You don't think a girl like me would marry an abstinence religious freak do you? Not only the size of his dick caught my attention but he slammed into me like no one had ever done and I like my sex rough." Bernie rolled against his door in near hysterics. "God, that sly old dog. He always appeared pious. How did you meet him?" "At a bible study camp his mom insisted he attend against his wishes. I was partnered with him and thought I'd cheer him up with a little diversion." At the airport there were tears, although Bernie's weren't all that apparent. Just as they were about to part Dyan handed Sue an envelope. "What's this?" "It's $2000 from Bernie and me darling to use as your wish. But we'd like you two and the children to dress up in city clothes and come and visit us for a few days. My parents have a large house with a guest wing and would love you staying there and we can go out in the lake in dad's boat." "God all this money. I only get a hundred a month from Martha to spend on the kids and myself." "Well your mother will know all about economic enslavement darling. You decide how you use the money. I just hope to see you again because I'll never come back here again, not while she and Jed are alive." "Ohmigod, I love you Dyan and you two Bernie. I can't imagine not seeing you two again." "Then make sure that doesn't happen," Bernie said kissing her and took Kelly from Dyan so she could hug their hostess. As the aircraft took off Dyan said, "Ohmigod you took me there simply to show me what growing up was like for you." "Of course, what other reason would there be?" Dyan sat quietly until the drinks trolley came reflecting on that comment. CHAPTER 3 The first morning back at work after visiting the ranch, Bernie called Perry to arrange lunch but Bernie was committed to attending his Rotary Club meeting. They arranged lunch the next day and went to The City Club where Perry was a member. They drank beer at a window table overlooking the river and from the position they were in could see the lake in the distance. "Are you available for the launching of the boat on Friday week and come out on her for a champagne dinner, bringing Dyan with you?" "Yeah count us in." "They had her in the water Saturday afternoon to test the engines but she's back on the hard for fit-out to be completed." "What did Harry say about performance?" The engines are running beautifully. He reckons optimum cruising speed is between 19 and 21 mph and she's okay to 30 mph without two much noise and vibration but left it at that." "Is that what you wanted?" "One of the fastest motor yachts on the lake? Yeah, that was the plan and you knew that. The more economic way would have been to go with a single engine burning less fuel." "Yeah there's a price to pay for speed isn't there?" "Yeah. I'm a happy man. Now what is this you want to talk to me about?" "It's about the proposal Dyan put to me. I believe Dyan is thinking about marrying me." "She hasn't said anything to me or to my knowledge to her mother." "Well I reckon if I go she'll decided to go with me. We haven't proposed that of course." "Jesus. Are you negotiating?" "Yes, not to rob you but for your to consider what we are truly worth under the proposed plan of becoming same-status vice-presidents." Pulling out a piece of paper Perry said, "I've fixed your starting salaries at Dyan's salary plus twenty percent, an upgrade in cars, a company credit card with no limit on legitimate business expenses and identical medical and retirement plans. Take a look." "Appears okay to me. I note the bonus formula needs to be worked out." "Yes. Tell me this is on and I'll get that under way." "What does Dyan think of this proposal?" "I put it too her tonight with your comments." "Well tell her I find the proposal very agreeable and would love working alongside her." "I can't believe you have tamed her so much. I haven't heard her cussing these last two days." "Well she's just had a big shake up about people, visiting my parent's ranch. You may see ever more change, like being grateful for what she has here." Perry laughed and said that would be a change. * * * Dyan and Bernie set out together on the boat on Friday night to spend overnight on the lake. Perry and Leigh would drive to Cecil Landing to be picked up round midday to join them for lunch. A Romance Slowly Sets Sail When they'd boarded Dyan said, "Who is to be in command?" "The most competent sailor. Here's the key to the controls." "No you fool. The most competent sailor will be you. I'm just the bunny on a boat." They cruised at slow speed sitting together on the fly bridge drinking wine. "God this is the life," Dyan sighed. "I enjoy being with you but power boating is really for serious fishers and older people." "The McIntosh's have their 46-foot keelboat for sale." "I know. I looked over it." "You said nothing." "You knew I had lunch with my uncle Wednesday at the yacht club. Well he said he knew the replacement boat for me. We looked her over." "But you said nothing to me about that?" "I thought you wouldn't be interested." "I love yachting in stiff breeze through my hair and no sound of noisy motors." "You said nothing to me about that." "I thought you wouldn't be interested." They laughed until Dyan turned serious. "Leucothea is a lovely boat and I love its center cockpit and the sofa and vanity with mirror in the master's stateroom and all the teak. God she's lovely Bernie; I've sailed on her five or six times." "Okay, if you're that keen on her let's buy her." "You mean that?" "Of course." Dyan's eyes turned liquid. "That means you're really staying." "Aye. There's no need to rush into it Dyan. Let's see if we can complete this deal with your parents before Sue and Luke and the kids arrive next weekend. In the meantime let's anchor in a bay and try out your parent's new mattress. We must keep on with sex to ensure we are truly compatible." "Aren't I allowed to tell you how much I love you?" "Well let's test this mattress first and feed me the soft stuff later." "Aye, aye, captain." THE END