7 comments/ 11247 views/ 5 favorites I See The Moon By: beagle9690 My fiancé Ben is taking a nap with Luna sleeping on his chest after spending most of today on an extension-ladder painting the intricate gingerbread work on the second story of our house. Luna is our four month old female beagle puppy; we bought her to celebrate our engagement. Goodness, our little dog follows Ben everywhere. Luna would have climbed up the ladder to be with him if she could; they look so precious sleeping like this. I need to wake Ben soon; we plan to shower together before having an early dinner. All these intimate little things like showering together are so new to me; not to mention the endless hugs and simple touches from an affectionate man who basically is so delightfully kind and gentle. It took most of my adult life to find Ben.... for Fate is cruel as well as kind, and Fate brought us together. Tomorrow I am taking Ben to meet my family for the first time. My parents are looking forward to meeting him; especially my father. They are hosting an ox roast for us in celebration of our engagement and everyone will be there. I am somewhat apprehensive about my uncle Cain who will be attending. Uncle Cain believes that anyone who does not subscribe to his narrow hard shell Baptist views is going to hell. Cain is a large and strong, domineering man, and somewhat of a bully. Cain gave up trying to argue religion with Dad. My father discretely knocked him unconscious behind the garage at a Fourth of July Picnic. They both agreed it was an accident and shook hands; we don't talk about it outside the immediate family. Other good news; yesterday Ben and I received written confirmation from my attorney that my divorce has been finalized. My ex-husband, a defrocked Baptist Minister is now hiding somewhere in Mexico after embezzling hundreds of thousands of dollars from our church. Luke burned it down for the insurance money and stole that too. I am a native Mississippian born and bred and can trace my roots to the founding of the country. I met my husband Luke here at a Born Again Christian Revival meeting on the county fairgrounds. I was seventeen years old and a virgin. I was saving myself for marriage. Luke was twenty-three with a worldly air about him and a bright future ahead of him. Luke looked incredibly handsome with his longish and thick wavy black hair...his baby blue eyes. He has such wonderful long eyelashes and a dimple in his chin. Even then Luke was a well known charismatic speaker. He had his audience eating out of his hands. They were swaying in joyous rapture praising the Lord. Women were fainting and a few men were crying openly being caught up in the moment.....I was in love. Reverend Scott introduced me to Luke later that day at our evening church social. Luke was wearing his trademark white linen suit. I had butterflies in my stomach when I shook his hand. Luke's hand was cool and smooth. I noticed that his nails were freshly manicured and thought this so sophisticated. Luke was being groomed to take over when Reverend Scott retired in the spring. When we walked over to the refreshment table for punch Luke's hand lingered on mine. He told me I was a very pretty girl. He complemented me on my dress and this caused me to blush and feel light headed. I was tingling all over and of course more butterflies............. I awoke to the sight of my miracle, my golden haired angel touching my face with her hand saying softly, "Ben, you said to wake you." Mary Beth leaned forward to kiss my lips as Luna stood, stretching and yawning, wagging her little tail for Mary Beth to pet her. Always a Lady, Mary Beth's golden blonde hair was put up in a bun that was held in place with two carved hair sticks and nothing else. She was wearing a translucent airy pale green muslin dress and like me will go barefoot every chance she gets. Women from the city where I grew up and lived most of my life never dressed like this. I love the fact my angel always wears a hat outside to protect her fair, creamy skin from the sun; what good common sense. And then there is the way Mary Beth talks; I find her soft accent sweet and endearing; the syllables just roll off her tongue to caress my ears. "That's my baby," Mary Beth said picking the puppy up to hug Luna to her bosom, "do you need to go outside to do your business?" Mary Beth put her on the floor and followed Luna to the back door to go outside. Shortly after, I then joined them outside barefoot; the warm grass felt wonderful underneath my feet. Luna was smelling everything in sight; the innocent joys of a puppy, where every new scent and sound, the slightest movement is an adventure to explore; Luna is a smart little dog and already house broken. Luna came running to greet me in that clumsy, awkward way many puppies do at this age; it's a miracle they don't trip over their little feet. "Yes, Luna, you're a good girl," I praised petting her and then putting my arms around Mary Beth's waist to hug her and to kiss the back of her neck, "I love you, Mary Beth my golden haired angel." "I love you too, Ben," Mary Beth said squeezing my hands as we watched Luna let out a little yip and spin around to bravely chase a yellow and brown striped tiger swallow-tail butterfly that flew by. Luna stopped once to assure herself we were still in her sight before pursuing her dangerous prey to the edge of the stand of magnolias bordering the east side of the property. "The chicken is marinating in the refrigerator and will be ready for the grill after our shower," said Mary Beth, turning to put her arms around my neck to kiss my lips with her warm, sweet kisses; heaven on earth kisses, my angel's kisses. "Luna," I called, "come good girl," I encouraged, also using the hand signal I taught Sophie; "we're going in the house now." Mary Beth was my first time with a woman. My angel says this is what makes me special....can you imagine that; a woman who actually thinks an ugly cuss like me is special. We have so much to explore and experience together. My thoughts and imagination of what is erotic and intimate are no longer merely words or dreams: Mary Beth is my reality...... Ben closed the wood accordion gate across our open bedroom door so Luna could see us. He told Luna to be a good girl and lay down; amazingly she did. Ben has a way with animals; they instinctually sense his goodness. Taking the initiative, "Please close your eyes, Mary Beth. I want you to undress me with your imagination and sense of touch." Closing my eyes, I reached up and put my hands on Ben's shoulders leaning forward to kiss his warm lips. Ben is special; incredibly thoughtful....and oh, so very gentle. I'm so glad Ben is getting over his initial shyness with me. I tingle all over when Ben kisses me and this is not puppy love. I ran my hands up his neck and touched his face trying to memorize the features of his face with my fingers tips. I ran my hands over his head, with and against the bristles of his sensibly very short brown hair, thinking, 'he's mine and I want him. I wanted Ben from the time I first kissed him, the night of our harvest moon.' My hands went to the collar of his white shirt where I started unbuttoning at the second button from the top. Next, I unbuckled his thick brown leather belt so I could pull his shirt out of his blue jeans, my hands lingering to stroke and squeeze his hard cock through the material. I was thinking, 'He's mine now and I will brand his cock with my lips and tongue...what wonderfully naughty thoughts. Ben brings out the woman in me to have these thoughts. My mother would be scandalized that I would even think of having a man's cock in my mouth....Luke would never let me even touch his manhood. Sex with Luke while it lasted was so banal and predictable....there now Ben's shirt is off......' Mary Beth took a step back stumbling and opened her eyes. I caught her, pulling her close to kissing her lips. She returned my kisses. Soon, my golden haired angel's tongue was caressing my tongue with hers. I can smell her sweet musky woman smell enhanced by her vanilla perfume. The scent of a woman, my woman shifted my arousal into overdrive. I have lived with years' of celibacy waiting for the right one, saving myself for my angel when she came for me. I held myself back knowing Mary Beth is worth the wait.......... I closed my eyes again and ran my hands down Ben's hard bare chest and felt the hard ropey muscles on his arms and back, taking note of every burn and scar that he bravely earned before we met. I started kissing him, working my way down his chest and flat stomach caressing him with my hands until I was kneeling at his feet. I unbuttoned the single embossed copper button of his blue jeans and then unzipped them pulling them down around his ankles for him to step out of which left only his briefs. They were bulging in front where his rock hard cock pressed against them trying to escape. I squeezed his firm ass through the fabric and then ran my hands down his muscular legs before pulling down his briefs. Ben's cock is longer and thicker than Luke's. It was standing at attention for me to lick and to use as I pleased. My eyes were still closed when I took it gently in my hands measuring the girth and length burning the dimensions of my man's manhood into my memory while kissing his balls and licking the tip of his cock before standing to face him, smiling...... "It is your turn, lover" Mary Beth said opening her eyes and lifting her arms for me to remove her dress. I did, pulling it over her head and then letting it drop to the floor. My angel removed the hair sticks from her bun and shook her head so that her long golden blonde hair unfurled down her back almost to her waist. My golden haired angel shook her head again until some of her hair fell forward partially covering her face to play peek-a-boo through it with her blue eyes, eyes to put the most precious and rare blue sapphires to shame. I closed my eyes and pushed Mary Beth's hair away from her face before gathering it up into a ponytail, next twisting it up into a loose bun to let it drop down again. I traced the length of her golden blonde tresses down her back with my fingers, touching the bottom to memorize where it ended on her curvaceous body.....Mary Beth is my earth bound epiphany. I took my angel's face in my hands to kiss her lips long and deep. Our tongues entwined and I sighed with contentment before reaching behind to unhook her bra to remove it. I slowly slid my hands underneath Mary Beth's hair at the back of her nape letting my finger follow the shape of her head and face while kissing her mouth again sighing with contentment..... Ben kissed my forehead, my cheeks and ears and neck; behind my ears... everywhere. I was tingling all over thinking about of all that I had missed. Ben was kissing me as if I were the most precious thing in the world. I love him so much that I stumble for the words, therefore I will use his; Ben is my earthbound epiphany. Ben worked his way down my neck and shoulders, lingering at the base of my throat, taking in the scent of my perfume I put there for him. I intuitively sensed what he was doing and smiled to myself thinking "Ben notices all the little details." Ben has so much self-control, while I was absolutely dripping between my legs; my panties were no longer damp but wet with my sweet juices of arousal. Ben's hands and fingers were everywhere touching; probing, lingering on my shoulders, on the small of my back and my ass. Rubbing and teasing; squeezing with his hands through the cotton of my white panties. Ben's mouth was kissing me in places that I had never been kissed before. He was paying special attention to my full breasts and engorged nipples, licking and sucking and kissing. Ben gradually worked his way down until he was on his knees at my feet, kissing and caressing. Once there Ben removed my panties before he stood up to study me with his warm grey eyes, wonderfully expressive eyes, the window to his kind and gentle soul. I saw nothing but love there; love mixed with passion....our shower would have to wait. Ben's hard manhood was standing at attention; my willing womanhood, my sweet moist flower was awaiting his hard cock.... our arousal would not be ignored. Ben smiled and took my wrists kissing them. He then picked me up underneath my knees and cradled me as would a groom carry a new bride over a threshold to put me gently on our poster bed. "Please lie on your back and close your eyes again my beautiful angel." Ben kissed my face and neck, working his way to my sensitive breasts, stroking and sucking and licking; paying particular attention to my engorged nipples. I could hardly contain myself from moaning with pleasure. I wanted to orgasm with his hard cock inside of me. "You have beautiful breasts Mary Beth. They are full and round with such pink nipples to match your perfect pink aureoles. They are a heavenly contrast to your creamy white skin. They were meant to be licked and touched and so I shall continue my angel." Ben lay down beside me and continued licking and sucking on my breasts with his warm wet tongue; all those years; I never imagined it could be like this. I caressed his head and face with my hands while moaning and gasping with pleasure. I pushed my pussy into his hand as he was stroking me. Ben parted my pussy lips to get at my sweet, swollen clitoris making me gasp and pant and moan all louder. I was so unladylike, taking naughty pleasure in expressing my sexuality. I didn't care because my moaning and squirming and dirty talk aroused Ben all the more; aroused me all the more...I can tell by Ben's passionate kisses. "Please Ben, I want to come. I want you to kiss me...oh god this feels so good! I want to lick and suck on your big cock. 'I can't believe I said that!' I thought, 'what a wonderfully naughty thing to say; what a glorious naughty thing to think; fuck me, fuck me, fuck me and fuck me hard, Ben; how's that for naughty and dirty!' "All in good time; keep your eyes closed my love......" I brought Mary Beth to the peak of orgasm and stopped. My golden haired angel is such a hot, passionate and sexy woman in the sack; it makes my head spin. I never dreamed that Mary Beth would talk like this in the throes of passion, or that I would be aroused by it...wow. I'm quite shy around women, although I maintain a professional neutral demeanor at work, however, not with her, not with my angel. I was betting myself that her ex-husband the defrocked and disgraced minister never went down on Mary Beth; the fool that he is. This is what lovers do. Oral sex is so pleasurable....the tastes, the smells... the sensual touch...the sounds all blended together with love; the key element of true passion; giving to one another freely and naturally to be as second nature as breathing. Inspired by my golden haired angel, I went down on her licking and sucking and teasing while Mary Beth lay there thrusting her dripping wet, sweet and delicious pussy in my face for me to lick harder. Mary Beth's hands were above her head in her hair. My angel was rolling her head to from side to side as the first orgasm washed over her and yet I was still not finished with her. Mary Beth rolled over onto her stomach and she got on her hands and knees, anticipating what I wanted, telling me silently what she wanted. My dam was about to burst and now that Mary Beth was satisfied I rammed my cock into her still dripping pussy while holding onto her hips and pounding her relentlessly..... I had never done anything like this before; as a matter of fact all that I experienced was the momentary missionary with the ex and nothing else. This delight along with oral was all new to me. What added to the delight was we were both as naive. I was getting aroused a second time, another orgasm was starting to build inside of me and I was thinking naughtily, 'I can feel his balls slapping against pussy. My kind and gentle shy man has a wild side.' Ben's lustful thrusts increased in speed and in power as he reached forward to grab my long hair. He twisted it into a ponytail and pulled my head back as he continued pounding me. I was bucking and panting and moaning as my second orgasm burned through me, burning away all my pent up inhibitions, "Fuck me harder, Ben! Fuck me harder!" I could feel Ben's hot, thick and rich seed being pumped into my dripping and swollen ravaged cunt as he came. Ben was breathing in and out deeply while softly moaning; and to think how close Ben came to taking a vow of celibacy. Praise god that he didn't. "I'm sorry, Mary Beth," Ben said blushing, "I didn't mean to be so rough with you; it's just, I mean...." "I loved every minute, every millisecond. It's who you are, Ben; It's who we are together; why hold back, you didn't hurt me. I loved it and I love you. Life is short Ben; let's honestly experience this facet of our love as it comes to us naturally without reservations. I love a man who takes charge and who better than you; the brave man who rescued me." "Yes ma'am," he said smiling, "I can live with my angel being a hot and sexy number when we are alone....Mary Beth." "Yes, Ben." "You'll always be a fine Southern Lady in my eyes." "That's so sweet, Ben, and this Southern Lady is going to suck on your cock before bedtime." "Yes, Ma'am....." Luke and I courted for two years and during that time we were never alone together. We were always chaperoned or with other couples, members of our little church. My mother is an elder in our church. Mom was convinced that Luke and I were the anointed couple. Mom was convinced we were perfect for each other.... or so it seemed at first. Dad on the other hand was not so sure. My Dad is a sometimes Baptist and was a lackadaisical Lutheran before he married; Mom's words not mine. Dad attended church with us every other Sunday out of love and respect for Mom. Dad's philosophy of the situation; "The Lord can have me every other Sunday. He may have me for all eternity if he so has a mind. Short of that, the catfish and Zeke and I have a long standing appointment." Dad went fishing on those as he called them "I'm-playing- hooky-from-church- Sundays" with Ezekiel (Zeke) Hawthorne a bona fide bachelor who pretty much was of the same mind. Mom let him because if she didn't Dad wouldn't attend Church at all preferring to fish every Sunday; we prayed extra hard for their souls. On our wedding night I went into the bathroom as all new brides do to make myself beautiful for my sexy husband. I took my long light blond hair down and brushed it until it shone like burnished gold, thick and soft falling to the middle of my back. I was growing it waist length for Luke. My mother's light blonde hair is waist length. I was taught a woman's hair is her crowning glory and life was glorious on that special day. Since the revival meeting, I imagined how our lovemaking would be on our wedding night. Luke would take me gently into his arms and kiss me. He would tell me how beautiful I was and how much he loved me. Luke would slowly undress me and I would undress him. I would feel his hands gently caress my breasts. I would taste his lips for the first time. He would kiss and touch me in places I never imagined could be touched or kissed. When the sweet juices of my womanhood flowed freely and I was ripe and ready, Luke would gently break my hymen with his manhood while kissing me. We would make slow and gentle love, our souls entwined and my husband would slowly bring me to orgasm spilling his seed into my fertile body making me a soon to be mother. Afterward we would lie there in each other's arms talking about our future and choose the names for our many children. Then finally, Luke would hold me gently, stroking my hair; we would fall asleep in each other's arms, the good Lord watching over us....or so I imagined. I See The Moon When I came out of the bathroom on the beautiful star lit night the curtains were drawn tight against the double glass door leading out to a small balcony. Luke was waiting for me writing notes for an upcoming sermon. I got into bed next to my sexy husband and Luke reached over to turn off the table lamp throwing the room into almost complete darkness. How I wished we could make love in view of the stars. I rolled on my side to face him, awaiting a kiss on my lips. Luke roughly... perhaps roughly is not the right word. Mechanically would be better. It was all the tenderness of a handsome wind up automaton man going through the motions. Luke pushed me onto my back and then inserted his spit covered fingers into my womanhood forcefully tearing my hymen and causing me to cry out in pain. We had intercourse in the missionary position that lasted a good sixty seconds. Luke was lying on top of me with his full weight pushing down almost smothering me. He was grunting and panting with a terrible grimace on his face as if he was in pain and the tender act of making love disgusted him. In retrospect the very act of intercourse disgusted Luke; to him sex was necessary for procreation and nothing else. When he was done, Luke kissed my cheek. He got out of bed and took a shower. When he returned Luke kissed my cheek again as he got into bed and rolled on his side facing away from me. He wished me a good night falling almost immediately asleep. This was our love making while on our honeymoon; the purpose to make babies and this remained our love making for the next three years. We were driving home on the last night of our honeymoon getaway such as it was; Luke decided to stop around midnight at a gas station- convenience store to get us a cup of coffee and use the restroom. I was out the ladies room first and sat in the car to wait for him. While I was waiting, a rust bucket of a pickup pulled into the parking space beside me. A slovenly and disgusting middle aged man with a beer gut dressed in filthy black jeans and an equally filthy black sweat stained Heavy Metal Tee shirt got out with a can of beer in his hand and slammed the door several times to get it to close. He spat a stream of chewing tobacco juice onto the ground and then stretched, scratching his crotch before drinking the last of his beer, crushing the can in his hand and throwing it on the ground. He finished stretching by farting and belching while stuffing more chewing tobacco into his mouth. His last charming action was to wipe the dried snot off of his face with the back of his grimy hand and then wiped his hand on his filthy crusty jeans. I was frightened and disgusted by him. I looked straight ahead, pretending that he wasn't there. I was praying Luke would return soon so we could leave. As I said, Luke is a big, tall strapping man. Looking in my direction the filthy cretin pushed his lank thin greasy hair over his pate trying to cover his bald spot. He smiled at me showing his few remaining tobacco stained yellow-brown rotting teeth. He swaggered over and stuck his head in the driver's side window while putting his hand on the roof of our station wagon. "What's a pretty little thing like you doing he-ah all alone this time ah night?" I could smell his alcohol laden fetid breath and his reeking unwashed body. The stench of the alcohol was perfume in comparison to the rest of his vile unwashed smells. He made me cringe with disgust and I wanted to retch. "Do you yah all want some company?" I was too frightened to answer. I stared straight ahead hoping he would go away. I wanted my husband. He turned his head and spit a stream of tobacco juice to the ground, smiling and no doubt imagining himself to be suave and charming as he leaned farther in to reach with his arm. This vile wretch of a man smiled broadly displaying his discolored gums, "You sure have pretty hair." He stroked my long ponytail with his filthy hand making my skin crawl. "What do you say about going to the roadhouse for a few beers to get better acquainted, you pretty little thing?" As he said this I could see Luke coming out of the store carrying two paper cups of coffee. "What is going on here? Stop bothering my wife!" The filthy cretin pulled his greasy head out the car window and sized Luke up. He then spit another stream of tobacco juice to the ground. "Your wife you say preacher boy. I thought she might like to be with a real man for a change. What do you say about letting me borrow her for an hour or so?" This time he spit on Luke's pants legs staining the white linen fabric with tobacco juice mixed with sputum, smiling around his few remaining front teeth. Still hanging on to the coffee cups Luke said. "You had better leave us alone or else." "Or else what, you'll pray for me?" The redneck said sneering as he knocked the coffee cups from Luke's hands. "I'll tell you what," he took a crumpled dollar bill from his jeans pocket and stuffed it into Luke's clean white shirt pocket. "I'll even pay for it and let you watch while I fuck her; we'll have us a little orgy, faggot." Luke just stood there with his head down as if he was praying. A county sheriff's car pulled into the parking lot driving slow as if looking for somebody. Seeing it, Luke lifted his head and stood up to his full height of six-four and said confidently. "If I were not a man of God, I would beat you to an inch of your miserable life. The Lord has answered my prayers by giving me strength to turn the other cheek." Luke pushed past him and got into the car. As we were driving away, Luke turned to me and said, "He should thank the Lord that the law showed up when it did. My prayers were answered Mary Beth. Otherwise there is no telling of what I would have done to him in my righteous anger." Like the blind fool that I was then I wanted to believe Luke. I slid closer to him and put my head on his shoulder. Luke puffed out his chest, sitting up straighter in the seat. He put his arm around me and I was content our prayers were answered; proud that my husband had the courage of his convictions. After all the Bible says, "But I say unto you, that ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also............" I was up early the following Sunday to make Luke a breakfast of pork sausage, fried eggs with grits; my famous from scratch buttermilk biscuits with my equally famous sausage gravy. Luke was looking at me with a thoughtful look on his face as we sat there eating. "What's the matter, honey," I asked, "what are you thinking about?" "We need to do something about your hair, Mary Beth" I had fixed my hair in a pretty bun as my mother's suggested as is befitting a minister's wife. "You don't like my hair? What is wrong with it, honey, I put it up for you?" "Nothing is wrong with your hair Mary Beth, however you are a married woman now as well as a Minister's wife. It should be shorter and more conservative. Perhaps we should tone down your blond hair to a nice respectable brown. You need something that is easier to care for on our busy schedule especially when our babies arrive. Do you remember how that sinner was tempted in the parking lot touching your hair like he did? I know it was not your fault but only God knows what would have happened if I didn't show up when I did. You are a pretty woman and pretty women turn men's heads by their appearance alone tempting them to lust. It's best to remove the temptation. I have made an appointment for you with one of our parishioners." I touched my beautiful hair lamenting any change but wanting to please him. I foolishly agreed to keep the appointment on Wednesday. The Bible says a wife shall obey her husband in all things and I still loved, trusted and believed in Luke those early years. I arrived at the salon thirty minutes early to browse through the pictures in the hairstyle books. I selected a simple blunt cut chin length bob cut with long eye framing bangs choosing a hair model with rich dark brown hair that complemented the cut. Mrs. Sullivan the salon owner and my stylist escorted me to her cutting station. I sat in the chair and she placed the cape around my neck while I opened the book and pointed to the picture. "I really like this one; I think it will look nice on me." Taking the book from me, she said, "You are so right dear, that style would suit you just fine." Mrs. Sullivan took the hairpins out of my bun letting my hair drop down into a cute sassy ponytail and I sighed because I loved wearing my hair this way the best. "You have beautiful hair Mary Beth. Would you like to donate your ponytail to the Locks of Love?" I nodded daydreaming about how I would curl my hair for Luke when I got home. I was thinking being a brunette would not be so bad after all. Who knew, perhaps our love making might improve. I assumed that Mrs. Sullivan was going to reposition my ponytail lower at the nape of my neck but instead she took the scissors and started chewing through my medium high ponytail just above the elastic hair tie. "Mrs. Sullivan, what are you doing?" I cried out in alarm, "I thought we agreed on the bob; now the back will be too short." She stopped with a puzzled look on her face but then smiled, replying, "No dear, you misunderstood me; I agreed with you that the style would look nice on you, not that I was going to cut it that way. Your husband picked out a nice short haircut on Tuesday for you, I thought you knew that." After my beautiful golden blonde ponytail was severed from my head she held it up for me to see and then she placed it on the shelf saying she would braid it later before mailing it out. Taking up the scissors, Mrs. Sullivan cut my hair in a rough bowl shape just touching the top of my ears before I started tearing up. She stopped and brought me a box of tissues while patting my hand and assuring me that I would look cute in my new style. Mrs. Sullivan then turned the chair around facing me away from the mirror so I couldn't see what she was doing. Picking up the electric clippers and snapping a 3/4"(13mm) guard in place, she ran the clippers right up to the bowl, lifting the bowl with a comb She changed the clipper guards several times: 5/8"(16mm), 1/2"(13mm), 1/4"(6mm) and finally 1/8"(3mm.), running the clippers up the back and sides, tapering and blending, 1/8"(3mm) at my hairline, 3/4"(13mm) at the bottom of the bowl. We then went to the sink and she rinsed my remaining hair. We returned to the cutting station where she applied the color and told me I would have to wait twenty minutes for the color to set. I asked to be excused to go to the ladies room and I locked myself in. I put the cover on the toilet down and sat crying my eyes out. I hated Mrs. Sullivan. I hated my husband, and most of all I hated that filthy redneck for touching my hair. I prayed, calming myself and asked God's forgiveness for hating them. I lost all track of time. Mrs. Sullivan knocked on the door startling me. She reminded me that my time was up so I washed my face and left the restroom. After the excess color was rinsed from my hair it was back to the chair again facing away from the mirror. Mrs. Sullivan picked up the scissors and comb and started cutting the bowl, further shaping and blending it into the sides and back. She combed my hair forward and cut short blunt bangs to the middle of my forehead, not the long eye framing sexy ones that I wanted. I was thinking to myself that I have not had bangs this short since I was four years old. I remembered the picture my parents took of me after I cut my hair in the front; before my mother caught me, stopping me from doing even more damage. I always take good care of my hair; getting the tips trimmed regularly and applying hot oil treatments bi-monthly to keep it soft and shiny. When I was first married my tresses were blunt cut all one length with no layers. I wore it center parted or parted off to the right depending on my mood. When I was a little girl my mother used to brush my hair and braid it for me at bedtime. It was our special time together and we would talk and tell each other secrets. Finally we would pray together. We had a special prayer...a simple prayer, that we both said together when it was dark and the moon was out. It was the first prayer that I ever learned and I pray as then on moon lit nights. "I see the moon and the moon sees me. God bless the moon and God bless me." My mom brushed my hair the night before my wedding. She braided it for me and that night; there was a full moon. We said our special prayer together for the last time. I was numb as she continued with my haircut; adding layers to the top and then thinning the top with thinning shears. My hair was barely one inch long on the top now. She finished by rubbing in some hair cream and parting it on the right. Mrs. Sullivan finally turned the chair around to face the mirror. I did not recognize the person staring back at me. Mrs. Sullivan was absolutely beaming. May God forgive my bad thoughts about her. She really is a dear sweet Lady. "You look so cute with short hair Mary Beth. Just shampoo and lightly blow dry for five minutes at the most. Finish the look with a little hair cream to condition and to add shine before you part it and you're done." I was no longer a beautiful sexy blond woman with my hair pinned up in an elegant bun. At best I was a cute brown haired girl with a short boy's haircut. If I were not wearing a dress and the minimal makeup Luke allowed me I was sure to be mistaken for a teenage boy. "No charge dear, the Reverend paid in advance and left me a nice tip." Leaving the beauty shop I drove to my parent's house to get my telescope and my astronomy books. While I was driving there it occurred to me that my hair was much shorter than my husband's. When I was eight years old my father bought me an expensive telescope. Although used the telescope came with a heavy gauge aluminum carrying case complete with compartments for all the various eyepieces needed for astronomy, photography or viewing wildlife. On clear nights Dad and I would go to Johnson's Hill to observe the heavens. I used to take that telescope with me everywhere. Dad referred to it as my security blanket. My parents comforted me as best they could. I knew that my father was very angry. Nonetheless Dad explained that it was not proper for Mom and him to interfere between a husband and wife. "Our door is always open for you to talk," Dad assured me as we hugged. I always feel very safe and secure around my Dad. He was a Marine with the rank of Gunny Sergeant before retiring as an NCIS field agent. Dad is fearless and will not back down to anybody. Dad is a kind and gentle man with mom and me. I can't remember him ever raising his voice to us. When I was thirteen we all went Christmas shopping in Biloxi which we jokingly refer to as the big city. After we pulled into our parking space I opened my car door and accidentally bumped the car next to us chipping the paint. The occupant, a young man waiting for his girlfriend, jumped out his car and started screaming profanities at me, taking the Lord's name in vain in his blasphemous tirade. Dad stepped in front me and said to him. "Son, there can't be more than four hundred dollars damage to your car if that. I can give the cash or we can exchange insurance information and settle that way. First you will apologize to my wife and daughter." "Fuck you asshole and them too!" I didn't know Dad could move so fast. He hit the blasphemer twice, two hard jabs to the stomach, knocking the wind out of him and doubling him over. Dad grabbed his wrist and pinned the man's arm behind his back. He gradually applied pressure until that dirty-mouthed young man apologized to Dad's satisfaction; that or suffer a broken arm. As I said earlier, I tried everything to become pregnant. Finally after three years of trying, and with the help of Dr. McCarthy my fertility specialist; we were finally blessed. My tests showed that I was pregnant with twins. One afternoon during my third trimester Mom and I were decorating a spare room turning it into a nursery. I left Mom stripping wallpaper while I went to the paint store to pick up and pay for the wallpaper I ordered. On the way home I was rear-ended at a stoplight by a delivery truck and my compact car was demolished. There were complications and I had a miscarriage which was followed by infections and more surgery. As a result I would never be able to conceive and have children; I was devastated. When I returned from the hospital more than anything I needed the support and love from my husband. I so desperately wanted him to make love to me and to make me feel desirable as a woman again. Luke lost all interest in sex with me for any reason. Sure, Luke went through all the motions of pretending to be a supportive husband; our relationship was mostly platonic. He put up a good front for my parents and his congregation. Eventually Luke was spending less and less time at home. He was mostly away attending meetings or traveling on church business. When Luke was home he spent a great deal of time locked in his office, the room once put aside as the nursery. Under Luke's guidance our little church grew over the years. We added a full time daycare center open to the public and a huge recreation hall. Luke had his own half-hour radio show on our small local AM radio station. I was a dutiful wife and I attended all of the Church functions or fundraisers. I was the charming hostess and gracious public wife; we slept in separate bedrooms.... the hell with him. I went back to my natural color and grew my hair out. I received a substantial insurance settlement six years after my accident. I opened a bank account under my maiden name using a portion of the money to pay for my college. I made sure Luke did not have access to this account. I remained married to Luke for fifteen, years attending collage part time and then graduating with a four year science degree. Luke considered the time I spent in college a waste of time and money. He said I did it to annoy him. I celebrated my graduation by getting a dog to keep me company; to love and return my love. Brandy was a little female beagle puppy colored white, brown and black. She had four white feet. She was a smart, sweet little thing; I had her house-broken in two weeks. Brandy followed me everywhere and loved riding in the car with her head out the window. She slept in my bed with me; Luke ignored her. Brandy soon learned to stay out of his way and his feet. As all puppies are chewers and Brandy was no exception. When she was eleven months old she chewed on one of Luke's old dress belts that he left on the bathroom floor. I was grocery shopping at the time and I may have not closed my bedroom door properly. When Luke came home and found his belt he flew into a rage and kicked Brandy in the stomach. I found her in my bedroom whimpering in pain. I made Luke drive me to the vets to no avail. Brandy died on my lap on the way. I left Luke a week later filing for divorce and I never looked back. After living with my parents for a month, I found a full time job in a Greek Restaurant as a hostess/waitress twenty miles from my hometown. I rented a two bedroom downstairs apartment in walking distance of work. The tips were good and I received a small monthly dividend from investments of the insurance settlement. I sent my resume to the Planetarium in Jackson hoping eventually to get a job there when there was an opening. I See The Moon Now at thirty- six years of age I was still considered a pretty woman although my figure has filled out over the years. Ben refers to my womanly figure as buxom and voluptuous. He tells me I am a much-improved version of Marylyn Monroe. My blond hair is well on the way to being waist length. I wear it up in a bun at work or sometimes a French braid. I generally wear it in a simple braid or in a ponytail at home unless Ben requests otherwise..... Mary Beth cooked the chicken and prepared our dinner while I sat in the grass and played ball with Luna incorporating basic verbal commands and hand signals into our play. After dinner it was Mary Beth's time with Luna while I did the dishes and picked up the kitchen; not a problem; cleaning or washing dishes or cooking. This was something I did at work in between calls when my turn came. We both work full time. Sharing our lives includes sharing the household chores; is there any other way? When I went outside with the radio I found Mary Beth sitting in the rocking chair with Luna sound asleep in her lap. I made a mental note to buy another one so we could rock together. My angel's telescope was set up in the driveway and ready for us to view the heavens when it got dark. "Our baby's exhausted," Mary Beth said smiling, "I hate to wake her. Will you put Luna on her blanket? I did and Mary Beth stood, dropping the cushion from the rocker to the floor in front of it. Oh boy, now I was going to get it. I'm going to have to put a gate with an intercom system on the driveway side of the road. "I want to suck on your cock, Ben," Mary Beth said smiling sexily while unbuckling my belt. Oh boy, I'm sure I must have been blushing, because my angel kissed my lips, saying, "You're so sweet, Ben." I really must get over this; it's just us after all. I still can't believe an ugly cuss like me is with such a beautiful angel. Not wasting any more time, Mary Beth pulled my pants down and then my boxers. She had me sit in the rocker as she knelt on the cushion and kissed my stomach, followed by giving me a raspberry and giggling. My angel took the elastic band out of her ponytail a shook her head. I watched her golden blond tresses bounce about her shoulders and back in a wondrous sight to behold. Mary Beth started kissing my stomach, working her way down to my cock; kissing, licking and sucking on the tip as her silky golden blonde hair fell forward covering her face and my stomach. I reached down and gathered her hair up into a ponytail and then twisted it up in a bun to keep it out of her mouth. I do so enjoy playing with my angel's spun golden tresses. I was trying to hold back and prolong this marvelous blowjob but the first clear pre-cum escaped despite my best efforts. Mary Beth stopped and looked at me smiling, licking her lips and sticking out her tongue to tease me.......... I was determined not to waste a single drop. I would lick and suck his cock and balls, and the heck with my mother's old fashioned ideas about sex. That's right; hurray for my new found blossoming sexuality. Ben tastes delicious and he is mine now. If I do say so myself I'm not doing badly for my first time; his big cock belongs in my mouth as his tongue belongs in my pussy. Ben let go of my bun just before his orgasm washed over him letting my hair drop onto his stomach and chest like a silky golden blonde waterfall. He pulled my hair forward from the back and arranged it to cover his chest and stomach. Ben then buried his hands in my hair to hold me in place while filling my mouth with gobs of his thick, creamy semen. I really do love it when Ben takes charge like this. I tasted and savored every bit before swallowing while wishing for more thinking, "Ben's seed tastes so complex and a little hard to describe...hmm... a little salty and a little sweat but creamy and rich and not at all what I expected; yes definitely hints of testosterone, but mostly it tastes like my sweet and thoughtful Ben.' I put my arms above my head stretching and smiling while Mary Beth knelt straight, throwing her head back to arrange most of her hair over her back and shoulders while letting the front fall forward to do another peek-a-boo with her blue eyes. I was thinking, 'Peek-a-boo, blue eyes, you are spoiling me and you do it so nicely...........' I had been working at the Pegasus Dinner on the day shift for about eight months when my boss, Mr. Poppadopalus, asked me if I would do him a favor. I agreed to work the midnight shift and my regular shift for the next two weeks. After the bars close we generally get very busy in the early morning hours before it slows down to a crawl. I had a table of college boys, jocks all eight of them. They have been coming in for the past three days. They always sat in the section of tables assigned to me. That evening the late night/morning prep- cook and the third night-shift waitress called in sick. The boss was not answering his telephone. This could only mean his youngest daughter had her baby. One young man in particular, John, considered himself God's gift to women and he constantly flirted with me. John tried for three nights to get me to go out with him on a date. I always declined causing his buddies to make fun of him. I believed they had some sort of bet going on involving me and I was insulted. I really needed this job and the generous double time I was being paid to work nights. John was accustomed to getting his way and didn't take well to the teasing his buddies gave him. Not that John is merely good looking; he is drop dead gorgeous at six-three; slim with thick blond hair and blue eyes. Besides, I was not sure if I ever wanted a man in my life again except for my father. John changed tactics that night. Every time I walked by their table he kept asking me to take my hair down while his buddies silently encouraged him. When that didn't work he actually offered me money to do so if I would do it in front of his pals. As the evening progressed John kept upping the ante and I became more insulted with each offer. This third night most of them finally tired of their game. All of John's buddies left except for one huge hulk the jocks nicknamed him Diesel. He was at least half-a-foot taller than and almost twice as wide as the rest of them. The two jocks, Alice, another waitress and I were the only people in the restaurant aside from a man drinking coffee in her section. He was dressed in nondescript clothing and was of average build and height. The poor dear was walking with a cane or at least that is what I assumed to be the case. He was quietly sitting alone at a corner table unnoticed seeming to blend into the background. Come to think of it I do not remember him coming in or how long he had been there. I was sitting in a booth near the kitchen door on my break having tea and a small salad while Alice was covering both sections. John walked over and sat down next to me uninvited, blocking me in. He placed five hundred dollars on the table while his buddy Diesel sat down across from me, smirking. "There are five one-hundred dollar bills on the table. That is more money than a low class stuck up bitch like you makes in a week," John announced, "You should have gone out with me when you had the chance because I might even have done you a favor and allowed you to give me a blow job. Better yet I might have given you a sympathy fuck. I have already asked you nicely to take your hair down," John stated putting a pair of scissors on the table, pushing them in front of me. "It's too late for that now. I have decided that you are going to sell me your ponytail. Shall you cut it off, or shall I?" As John reached for my bun I could see the unbridled lust on his face and I was afraid he wanted more than just my hair. Suddenly there was a loud bang coming from the booth next to us; startled we all looked in that direction. The handicapped man had walked up to us quietly unnoticed and hit the tabletop with his cane to get our attention. "Now that I have your undivided attention, I strongly advise you boys to leave... now," The man said, the one I recognized from the corner having coffee. "But first, you will apologize to this gentle Lady." He was leaning on his cane and I could tell from his accent that he was not from Mississippi. "Fuck off Yankee, this is a private party and you're not invited. This bitch is interested in real men not some cripple like you," Diesel declared. "We are conducting a business transaction and it's none of your concern. If you don't want your ass kicked up between your shoulders blades leave now," John added, hitting our table with his fist. With practiced ease the man slid his hand down the shaft of the cane almost to the ferrule and with one quick motion used the rounded handle to pull the money and scissors from the table to the floor. He slid the cane through his hand again grasping the shaft in the middle. Diesel got out of the booth saying "I'm going to stick that cane up your ass, Yankee," and Diesel threw a roundhouse punch at the man's head. Not a cripple at all and obviously skilled in cane fighting the stranger moved to one side and easily avoided Diesel's fist. Taking advantage of the Diesel's imbalance and momentum from the wild punch he hooked the jock's ankle with the cane and pulled him off his feet. Diesel crashed to the floor, hard, dislocating his shoulder in the process. Surprisingly, he slowly got up using his good arm for support. The jock managed to stand determined to keep fighting. Diesel's right arm was hanging limp and useless at his side and the Yankee then drove the tip of his cane into Diesel's solar plexus, doubling Diesel over and knocking the wind out of him. "Had enough, boy?" The stranger asked. Diesel turned to his friend. He was holding his stomach with his good arm gasping for air while his eyes were pleading with his friend John for help. John was looking down. He had the same expression on his face as did Luke when the dirty redneck confronted Luke in the parking lot while I sat there frightened and did nothing; the look of a spineless coward. This time there was no sheriff's car in the parking lot to save me and Alice had locked herself in the Ladies Room. Ashamed of myself, I pushed John out of the booth and walked past him and his friend to stand next to the Yankee; to help him if necessary. He glanced at me and smiled but then turned his attention to them. "I won't ask again, boy, have you had enough?" Looking down Diesel nodded yes. "Put your drivers' license on the table and then stand in that corner facing the wall." The Yankee pointed to a corner with his cane and Diesel reluctantly complied. My Yankee sighed leaning on his cane shaking his head at John, "We're waiting?" "Listen dude. I..."John started to say. That's Mr. Yankee to you...boy!" I stifled a nervous laugh by covering my mouth with my hand and I was thinking, 'Mr. Yankee?' "You wouldn't be so tough without your cane," John said with false bravado, "You have a weapon and I don't. It wouldn't be a fair fight." Mr. Yankee straightened up and stretched. He smiled as he tossed the cane at the jock's feet, ordering, "Pick it up!" John looked at the cane not moving. Sighing again and shaking his head, the Yankee said in a mocking southern drawl, "Boy, the best part of you ran down your mama's legs when you were conceived. It's a fact the man you think is your daddy wasn't even there at the time, although I'm sure all the men in town were there with your mama one time or another." Mr. Yankee then reverted back to the way he really talked. "Under the circumstances I decided that I'm not going to allow either of you to soil this gentle Lady's ears with an apology." He took my hand in his and squeezed gently. His hand was warm, strong and callused and I didn't want him to let go. I was no longer frightened. I waited to see what would happen next. "Put your driver's license on the table next to your friend's and then sit down." John did as he was told. Diesel fainted sliding down the wall to his knees. After all that just happened the Yankee went over to Diesel and rolled him to a sitting position, leaning him against the wall. "I'm going to put your arm back in place, son and it's going to hurt, do you understand?" He said, sternly Diesel nodded while the sweat was pouring off of him from the pain. Mr. Yankee put his hand on the jock's shoulder and pulled popping his shoulder back in place. For whatever else he is Diesel is no coward and took it like a man, not letting out as much as a whimper. Walking back to where I was standing Mr. Yankee took my hand again and I let him. "You both can leave now but remember, boys, we know who you are and where you live." Diesel nodded and got up slowly from the floor. Walking over to the cane he put one hand up in the air as if asking for permission. Using only his thumb and index finger bent down and picked it up slowly with great deliberation, almost reverence. He put it on the table with a solemn, serious look on his face; Diesel nodded and my Yankee nodded back. As they were walking toward the door, John reached down on the floor for the money. Diesel took it away from him and put it on a table. "Hey! What about my money!" John exclaimed. "Leave it, it's her tip," Diesel barked, pushing John roughly toward the door. "But they still have our drivers' licenses!" John whined. "Shut the Fu..." Diesel stopped not finishing his sentence and then slowly raised his hand again. "Shut your mouth, John, It is over and so are we." "Diesel you don't understand, I...." John started to say. Diesel backhanded him in the mouth with his left hand and John staggered back, holding his mouth and nose with blood dripping between his fingers. He stood in place with a shocked look on his face. "I understand just fine, John, you didn't help me. You aren't even worth a punch in the face. I heard what he said about your mother. Mary Beth really must be something special and a real Lady because her boyfriend is willing to take us both on." Diesel grabbed his former friend by the front shirt and headed for the door. "Diesel" I called after him "Apology accepted." Diesel nodded his head, closing the door quietly behind them. My Yankee let go of my hand and we watched Alice come out of the bathroom as if nothing had happened and go into the kitchen to clean the grill. Turning to really look at Mr. Yankee for the first time I saw that he was in his mid-to-late thirties. I would guess his height to be five-five, a good four inches shorter than me. The two jocks were at least a foot taller and easily out weighted him by a hundred pounds. Diesel absolutely dwarfed him. My rescuer had a pronounced receding hairline much like my father's, sensibly cutting his hair short to the scalp. This Yankee who Diesel assumed to be my boyfriend was not what you would call a handsome man. In truth he was charitably plain looking at best and bordering on homely. Most women would not have given him a second glance. I used to be one of those women; when I was seventeen not even a first. Perhaps his nose is a bit large but his light gray eyes are warm and kind and his eyelids wrinkled on the sides now that he was smiling at me. Ben is somewhat shy and reserved around women until he gets to know them; however he is strong and assertive when need be around other men. I still can make him blush when we are alone. I love it when he hugs me and I still have to remind him that I won't break. Ben loves to touch me and be touched...something I never got from Luke. He is a thoughtful gentle lover and will always pleasure me first and then he will cuddle with me afterwards. "I'm pleased to meet you kind sir," I said smiling, unsure how to thank a strange man from saving me from God knows what, "Do you make a habit out of saving women in distress?" I felt a little foolish after I said that, but I couldn't just continue to stare at him. Ben blushed and smiled looking down and then up. I could see he was a little shy and not accustomed to being praised. I found this to be so sweet. I watched Ben gather his courage as he held out his hand to introduce himself. I noticed how his eyes wrinkled at Ben's smile is a glad to meet you smile, genuine and warm. But mostly it is his eyes and the way he was looking at me. Ben has such expressive eyes, as if he was looking into my soul, but sad at the same time. I have never met a man who could convey so many thoughts or emotions just with his eyes. They were so cold.... like a glacier, frigid, overwhelmingly unyielding when he confronted those boys. Now Ben's eyes were melting like a spring thaw, pure and clean water washing over me. "I'm pleased to meet you Mary Beth. My name is Ben Ward and you are my first since I left the NYCFD." We sat and had tea together. We talked. I found out Ben is originally from New York City and was a fireman. Ben is currently working at the local hospital as a certified EMT. Ben told me that he bought a house outside of the city with 5 ½ acres for the taxes two months ago after having lived in a studio apartment all of his life. He was looking forward to a slower more laid- back lifestyle where he could spread out. Ben also said that he always wanted to fish the huge catfish found in the Mississippi River and after doing it a few times here on vacation he fell in love with our State and the river. I also found out that Ben grew up in a Catholic orphanage. He actually went to the seminary to become a priest. Ben is also the first fireman I have ever met who is fluent in Greek, Latin, Hebrew and Aramaic. "The place needs a lot of work and that's a fact but the price was right, Mary Beth. I have already gutted the inside. Everything is now down to the bare studs. Next week I will be having a new casement and pump installed for my well." Ben told me his address and I was surprised to learn he lived one road over from me. I told him a little bit about my acrimonious divorce and how I loved astronomy; enforcing that this job is only temporary. He responded by saying, "I've never been married. I guess I never found the right girl but I'll know when I find her and she will know it too; I've prayed on that." I saw the sadness in his eyes then, but it passed when he changed the subject and talked about his dog. Ben's face lit up with the sunshine of his warm smile. "Sophie has been with me 13 years now. Sure she's slowing down a bit but that's all right. She is eating well and is still able to get around." "What kind of dog is she, Ben?" "Sophie's a beagle and was abandoned as a puppy because she's deaf. I got her at the animal shelter almost minutes before she was to be put down. I guess nobody wanted her... much like me, but I really love the old girl...... Did I say something to upset you?" Ben asked. I was thinking about my Brandy and he must have seen it in my face. "No, it is nothing, and will you look at the time. I have been sitting here almost two hours and the boss will be here soon." I said while I got up to start the prep-work for the breakfast run. "Mary Beth, wait!" I turned to look at him. Ben swallowed and then stood up taking a deep breath. "Do you think we could have dinner together sometime or even simply a cup of coffee and dessert when you have more time? It does not have to be here, but it can if you want it too." "I'm sorry Ben; I am not ready for that yet, I'm not sure that I will ever be." I could see the hurt in his eyes even though his expression did not change.... except for losing the wrinkles near his eyes. I See The Moon "Of course, I understand perfectly with your divorce and all. It must have been really hard on you. I hope you get your job at the planetarium." Ben said extending his strong, warm callused hand for me to shake when he deserved a kiss on the cheek at the very least and I took his hand and shook it. Darn him all to heck, why did he have to be so nice. "It was a real pleasure meeting a fine Southern Lady like you, Mary Beth." Ben picked up his cane and rapped the tip once sharply on the floor and I let him walk out the door. A couple of weeks had gone by since that incident. Out of curiosity I took a different way home and drove out to Ben's place. Just to look I told myself and besides I was not ready yet until the right man came along. We can't possibly have anything in common. Ben told me he is Catholic, an orphan raised in an orphanage by nuns. I am a Baptist. There was no car in the driveway and that was good since he probably was not home. I don't want to give him the wrong idea. It is a large house set back about 300 yards from the road; three stories of weathered gray wood with no paint to be seen. The wraparound front porch was sagging with holes in the floor. The porch's roof was falling in with columns missing. The front steps were completely gone. Most of the windows were boarded over and there were holes in the roof covered with plastic tarp and plywood. Ben's property was overgrown with vines and weeds although I could see he had started to clear a small section around the house. His barn had collapsed completely and was overgrown with vines and weeds. No wonder Ben bought the property for taxes; nobody wanted it. The house had probably been vacant for years. I never saw Ben again in the restaurant after that day. Seven months later I was interviewed for a job at the planetarium to be hired on the spot; I finally got my dream job. I made some female friends and a few male acquaintances; one of my male coworkers made a pass at me on my first day. A year and a half had gone by since leaving my husband. We were officially separated and the bastard was contesting the divorce. I decided to test the waters. I went out on my first date with a man one of the girls from work fixed me up with. I let Marcus know from the start that I was not ready for a relationship and only wanted to be friends and he agreed. Marcus is so tall and handsome and he knows how to dress. He is six- three with an athletic build. He has thick black hair and blue eyes and dimples in his cheeks when he smiles. We went for coffee and dessert. On our next date we went out for lunch. From there it was dinner and dancing. It was late when he dropped me off home after first stopping off for drinks. I don't drink strong libations and sipped club soda with a twist of lime. Marcus had quite a few. Concerned I invited him in for coffee to help sober him up; and by coffee I meant coffee. I had just closed the door behind us and Marcus was all over me. He was groping me, trying to kiss my mouth; I tried to reason with him, tried to push him away. "You know you want it, Mary Beth, so stop being a tease." I screamed the first thing that came to mind "Ben, get in here!" When Marcus turned to see whom I was calling, I kicked him in the groin and managed to push him out the front door, locking it behind me. "Leave or I'm calling the police." I shouted through the door as he staggered to his car. I took a long hot shower feeling violated and dirty before going to bed, getting little sleep. The next day, I confronted Rosie and told her about her brother. "That's not the story I heard, Mary Beth, you lush. Marcus told me that you were drunk and all over him. He said you practically undressed him and then changed your mind. If you didn't want it, why invite him in?" "I invited him in for coffee!" "Right Miss innocent" Rosie said sarcastically "So pure and chaste and once married to a minister. As far as I am concerned you are nothing more than a cheap holier than thou tease. I bet you never put out for your husband either you lush; no wonder you're going through a divorce." I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I was so upset that I went to my supervisor, Nancy, and asked to take the rest of the afternoon off. I had two weeks of vacation coming Nancy suggested that I take it now which I gratefully did. I drove to Ben's house intending to talk to him and apologize. I would accept his invitation for dinner. Again there was no car in the driveway and I was having second thoughts. I parked the car on the road and walked up the new driveway admiring the complexity of its pattern that he had laid out with red bricks. You wouldn't know it was the same house. Ben had removed the hard packed rutted crushed stone driveway and replaced it with a brick driveway two cars wide. It extended right up to and wrapped around the front of the house to the restored wood porch. Ben replaced the original wood steps with brick. Now the porch had wide brick steps with heavy wrought iron railings leading to the front door. The outside restoration to the house was almost complete, roof to basement with the wood primed and ready to be painted. I also noticed that there was nothing on that magnificent porch except for one oak rocking chair with Rosary Beads hanging on a spindle and a folded red wool blanket on the floor. The old barn was torn down and there was a ditch dug around the field stone foundation for him to install the drain tiles stacked to one side. No doubt Ben would build a new barn on the original foundation. I got into my car and drove over to the next road where I parked and got out. I walked through the field to the tree line until I could see Ben's house through the trees. I found a fairly level piece of ground for a tripod, perfect; I had a clear view of the front of his house. For the next two weeks I drove by his house, always at a different time. I soon determined his schedule and routines. One late afternoon before dark I set up my telescope to watch the stars, but mostly to watch Ben. I observed that Ben worked hard at clearing the brush and vines from his property in the late afternoon when it was cooler. He worked right up until dark with his little beagle following him around the yard. It was obvious that Sophie was having trouble walking and at the end of the day, Ben gently picked Sophie up and carried her up the front steps. He then knelt down and put on her blanket, kissing her head. Ben would bring out her dinner and then his. Sophie would wait for him and they would eat together. Ben always saved something from his plate to give her. I started bringing my dinner with me and waited to eat with them while watching from the stand of trees. Then they would sit on the porch and listen to the radio until about midnight. I watched them on and off for another two weeks wishing that I had gone out to dinner with Ben, just once. Wishing that I were sitting on that porch, wishing...................... One Friday evening it was overcast and Ben was not following his usual routine. The weather forecast predicted a 40% chance of rain by midnight. Ben was working in the yard but he didn't seem himself. Perhaps he was ill and I noticed that Sophie wasn't outside with him. It was obvious after watching Ben for two weeks he enjoyed the hard manual labor of clearing his property. After living in a studio apartment all of his life, this place must seem huge to him; a place where he can spread out. Ben seemed to be dragging his feet as if he was tired or his heart wasn't in it. He would pause often to look at the house. Around dark he went inside and then came back outside. Ben was carrying a small bundle in his arms wrapped in a red wool blanket as if he were carrying a baby or a small child. I watched him kneel and kiss it before he put his bundle gently on the ground. He left and returned with a shovel.... Ben started to dig his beloved Sophie's grave. My heart was breaking watching him and I thought about my loveless marriage and the time I wasted with Luke. I realized how lonely I was and how lonely Ben was with no family at all. Now everything that he ever loved was gone. I started to cry. It was raining lightly and the wind started to pick up as I watched him, wanting to comfort him and share his grief. I watched him kneel and place Sophie gently into her grave and then stand up. It was raining harder now but at least it was a warm Mississippi rain. Ben picked up the shovel looking down into her grave; he stood there like a lost soul. The telescope was useless now. The rain was now coming down in buckets distorting the image. I hurriedly started putting things away while watching him stand there; everything was getting wet and slippery. I slipped on wet leaves and fell knocking over my telescope, tipping the case and causing the various eyepieces to spill to the ground. I was on my knees sobbing in the dark groping for the last eyepiece. There was a roll of thunder and a flash of lightning followed by another flash. I found myself crying out his name as I looked in Ben's direction. The lightning flashes illuminated him as Ben dropped to his knees. He reached down into the hole coming up with his Sophie wrapped in her red blanket holding her tight to his chest. Ben was rocking with his face pressed against his precious bundle and Sophie was no longer there to return his love. Sobbing uncontrollably now I fled the stand of trees abandoning my telescope. The branches were hitting me as I frantically pushed through them trying to get to him; I was praying as I ran. I ran up his driveway falling on the slippery bricks, skinning my hands but I was oblivious to the pain when I finally reached him. I felt as if a burden had been lifted from my soul when I ended my prayer. I calmly knelt beside Ben in the mud and touched his shoulder. "Ben, it's me Mary Beth. Let me help you Ben, let me help you as you helped me." "She's gone Mary Beth. I am truly alone now." Moving to the other side of the grave and reaching out with my arms, I said, "Let me help you, Ben. Let me help you put Sophie to rest." Ben lifted his head looking at me and he extended Sophie in his arms for me to share his bundle across the way. Putting my hands under his we slowly laid his precious Sophie to rest. Then I took his hands and squeezed them, looking at his beautiful, homely face. Letting go, I started pushing the wet soil and mud into the grave with my hands; discarding the shovel Ben did the same. We finished by smoothing the top and patting it level, our hands touching as we worked. Taking his strong muddy hands in mine, "I never really thanked you properly for saving me." I leaned forward and kissed his cheek. "I'm afraid, Mary Beth." "What are you afraid of, Ben?" "I'm afraid of being alone for the rest of my life." "No Ben, you are not afraid of anything. I won't let you be afraid my brave Yankee." I held his beautiful homely face in my muddy hands and I kissed his lips. "Will you spend the night, Mary Beth? Just having you in the house with me tonight will be enough." "Of course I will stay, Ben." Looking up I noticed for the first time that it had stopped raining and the full moon was peeking through the clouds. "Look Ben, a harvest moon, isn't it beautiful?" "Not as beautiful as you, Mary Beth" And now it was my turn to blush. "Mary Beth, there is something I need to say so that I will know...so you will know." Ben put his strong muddy hands on my shoulders and looked into my eyes as he prayed, "I see the moon and the moon sees me............... I put my arms around his neck while looking into his kind gray eyes, finishing the prayer "God bless the moon and God bless me." And we knew.... we had finally found each other. We went into the house together holding hands...holding hands at our age. He took me upstairs to his bathroom to clean up. My clothing was soaked through and Ben gave me a terrycloth robe to wear while he hung my clothing over his kitchen chairs to dry. We sat on the porch sharing a pot of tea. We talked about Sophie and about Brandy and many other things watching the sunrise together as we watched our harvest moon disappear. Ben brought me to his bedroom and insisted that I sleep there. Beside the kitchen, his bedroom was the only furnished room in the house with the most magnificent and massive carved poster bed that I had ever seen; it could comfortably sleep two with room to spare. He insisted that I sleep there and that he would sleep on the floor in his sleeping bag in the next room. "Ben, please close your eyes first, I want to show you something." When he did I quickly undressed dropping the robe to the floor standing naked in front of him "Do you think that I am pretty, Ben?" He inhaled sharply as he opened his eyes. "I think that you are the best thing that has ever happened to me Mary Beth, as well as the most beautiful. You are the answer to my prayers." Hesitating momentarily, Ben stepped forward and put his arms gently around me. I could tell from his eyes that he wanted to kiss me."May I kiss you, Mary Beth?" "Please, Ben." He kissed my lips long and deep stirring feelings in me that I had not had since I was a teenager.... a teenager of seventeen again tingling all over with butterflies in my stomach. "I'm not going to break and you may hold me tighter. Would you take my hair down? I would do it myself but it would be so much nicer to have my lover do it for me." Ben reached up and deftly found and removed every hairpin holding my bun in place as if he had done this hundreds of times for me. Then he pulled off my elastic hair tie from my ponytail and smoothed my long blond hair slightly damp from the rain over my shoulders and down my back. He buried his hands in my hair and sighed. "You have such beautiful hair, Mary Beth. It's soft and thick and silky, a gift from God; a beautiful sight for all to see to be shared with the world. Spun from heaven's gold which shines like a heavenly halo about your head; your halo of golden sunlight to rival an angel's tresses. Promise me that you will never cut it short for that would be a sin... please promise me, my precious Lady. Because you truly are my Lady now; the harvest moon and our prayer has confirmed us.... you are my blessing from God." I took the initiative and asked Ben to undress me and then I him. My hands lingered on his arms and shoulders. Ben is compact and solid with the long ropey muscles of a martial arts fighter. I saw then my Yankee was covered in small scars from cuts or healed burns all over him. No doubt Ben received them during his career as a smoke eater. I would find out later that Dad still has countless connections and did some checking on Ben. Ben was always the first one in a burning building and the last one out. He has numerous Medals for Bravery awarded to him for above and beyond that he was too modest to display; Ben keeps them locked in a drawer. Dad also told me that Ben is most proficient in the Martial Arts particularly judo and stick fighting. Daddy is very impressed with him and for my father that was saying something. I am still fascinated on how close he became to taking a vow of celibacy and becoming a priest. Ben's kisses are indescribable; warm and sweet but so masculine. He devoured me with his mouth and his kisses. I was aroused beyond anything I dreamed possible that night he did everything right... I had my first oral sex with him. Oral sex with his tongue, licking and probing my flower, my clitoris, it was shear ecstasy.... he was keeping me on the edge of orgasm, my sweet and final release.... teasing, cajoling and encouraging. The dam of my desires pent up for all those years burst forth washing over me making me cry out his name.... and then simply cry.......he is the one! . My brave Yankee patiently held me stroking my hair. I cried softly in his strong arms until my river of tears were finally spent. We were lying there, face to face and we made love; his manhood was probing and caressing my flower while our lips and tongues were lovers unto themselves. Before I thought my orgasm was the elusive nirvana... but now as his hot seed burst forth and seared into me, it was not merely waves of ecstasy as before, but a tsunami of pure orgasmic molten love and ecstasy overwhelming us and it melted our souls together....our very beings.... nirvana was but a trifle to what I experienced with him..... And afterward, we fell asleep fused in each other's arms..................... Mary Beth and I watched the stars until bedtime. I brought Luna inside after she did her business one more time while Mary Beth put her telescope in the front room and got the bed ready. Our shower will have to wait until tomorrow before I meet my angel's family. Can you imagine, they're roasting a whole ox roast just for us...