0 comments/ 13598 views/ 2 favorites Long Road to Find a Heart By: Egmont0409 CHAPTER 1 Three months after high school graduation Amy Wishart lost her virginity, willingly, at a party at a friend's home. Thomas Curtis, known by his buddies as Tom Cur, or simply as Mongrel when nicknames were used, performed the deed with reasonable skill and minimal discomfort to end Amy's growing fear she might suffer ignominy by becoming an adult virgin. Thomas, being a bit of a gentleman because his mother was a really nice person, even helped Amy to her feet afterwards and asked, "How was that?" Amy's answer was to burst into tears so Thomas walked away cheerfully, not looking back. Thomas sent his sister Kate to the laundry to be with Amy and both females discussed that action as being heroic because they believed males tended to behave like tomcats and cover their tracks. Unfortunately Thomas was left to rue his choice of comforter for Amy because Kate told their mom next morning. When Thomas walked into the kitchen for late breakfast wearing just shorts he was hit in the back between the shoulder blades by his mom who screamed, "You beast, you beast. Amy Wishart's virginal ways made her the outstanding girl in Kate's group of friends. How could you, how could you?" Before she could deliver a second blow Thomas had disarmed her and smacked her ass hard. Raymond Curtis burst into the kitchen, drawn by the commotion from bed where he'd been peacefully reading the sports section in Saturday morning's newspaper. He found his wife Dianna and daughter crying in each other's arms and no sign of his son. Wisely Thomas didn't return home till dinnertime. Relief at his reappearance figured more prominently than his misdemeanor that by then was fading into insignificance. His mom eyed him cautiously and said 'Sorry' and Thomas gave her the lopsided grin she so adored. Raymond had virtually forgotten how he was going to punish his son when next he saw him and so sighed and said grace and everyone focused on eating. The Curtis's were having coffee at the table when there was a knock at the backdoor. Kate returned to the dining room with a smiling Amy and even Thomas was astonished when Amy chose to sit beside him instead of where she usually sat, beside Kate. Dianna cleared her throat and said, "Thomas you have an apology to make to Amy." Thomas looked puzzled and asked, "What for?" Amy deepened the drama when she looked puzzled and asked, "Yes Mrs Curtis. What for?" An unexpected hero broke the awkward silence. Raymond pulled out fifty bucks and handing it to Thomas said, "Why don't you three kids go skating or to a movie?" "Nah," said Thomas, handing back the bill. "I have to pack." "Where are you going?" Amy asked. "Mom is sending me to live with her sister and husband until I go to college." "Oh god, where?" "About a thousand miles from here." Amy pushed her chair back and went running for the backdoor screaming "No, no. How could anyone be so stupid?" Kate followed in hot pursuit. Raymond looked at his son and shook his head. "Just mix with pals for as long as you can son. It's far easier to understand guys." They looked at Dianna. "What, what's wrong? Why did Amy run out like that?" "She's in love with me mom, that's what." "Thomas don't be so ridiculous. Why do men have to be so thick-headed? You destroyed that dear girl's most precious possession." Father and son looked at one another and raised their eyebrows. Half and hour later Kate called and Dianna, as was the custom, answered the phone when Kate was not available. "Hi it's Kate. I'm staying the night with Amy. She'd terribly upset." "But why; what did I do?" "Mom if you don't know you'll never know. Goodnight. You are rarely a witch." Dianna found Raymond watching sport on TV. "Kate is staying over with Amy tonight. She just said I'm rarely a witch. What the hell does that mean?" Eyes glued to the screen Raymond said, "How should I know? Ask Kate." "Grrrrrrrr." Dianna growled in frustration and went off to finish the dishes. At 5:00 am Thomas shook his mom awake. "I'm off." "Thomas I've been thinking. Stay. Only the blind can't see." "What?" "Amy has decided she likes you. I don't know why but it appears so." "Why did you think she sat beside me last night?" "Well then I thought it was to indicate she'd forgiven you." Thomas sniggered. "She was looking for more of the good thing mom." "Thomas please, don't talk crudely to your mother like that." Thomas said he was off. A bit of hard work on the ranch would help set him up for college football. "Amy will have forgotten me as soon as some other guy grabs a tit." His mom said women were not like that and asked Thomas to fetch her wallet from the top drawer of her dresser. He did that and said his dad had come in with money last night. "Here's another five hundred and we'll continue your weekly allowance." "Thanks mom but stop the allowance if you wish. I'll be working for wages for Uncle Dan or for neighbors. Ranch labor is wanted at this time of year." "Take care darling," Dianna said, pulling him to her, kissing him and stroking his face. "I'm sorry I screwed up last night." "It's fine. Tell Amy I'll see her at college and she can room-share with me if she wants more of me." "Oh darling, please don't think of young women as fuck bags." Thomas gazed at his mom amazed, a look she saw in the dim light of dawn that left her embarrassed. "Wash you mouth out mother. Tell dad I said goodbye." * * * The high-mileage Toyota pickup was in good shape. Thomas and his best pal Mike were always working on their vehicles together keeping them ticking over. He knew he'd miss Mike over the summer. Blonde with curls, lean with not much muscle development yet, the eighteen-year old thought sadly it would have been a great summer fucking Amy legless, er if he were capable of doing that. To date all his females had been up and away as soon as they'd had his first stream or two over their tits. It was all about being scared of being caught doing it. Thomas drove slowly down the drive, not wishing to wake his dad or near neighbors because it was early Sunday morning, day of rest. Last night his dad had handed him two grand and flicking at one eye had said Thomas was beginning a great adventure and not to screw it like sleeping in a brothel he'd mistaken for a motel and being rolled and even his vehicle stolen. His dad had said it was tough out there, but fun and a time to sow wild oats. At the end of the street, Thomas sped off to the freeway. God, that look in his dad's eye talking about sowing wild oats. His dad had never spoken to him like that before. One day he must talk to his dad about his youthful escapades. It had been four years since he'd last seen Gina and Dan. It had been at their wedding and they'd looked such a sexy couple. Gina was the real babe of the four sisters, his mom the oldest being next best. Ooooh, Gina would have been a great fuck on her wedding night. Well back to the present. He thought he'd probably drive 600 miles and then find somewhere to stay, preferably a brothel. He grinned. He'd be almost prepared to bet his dad had left home to begin an adventure and had been rolled and his money stolen on his first night away from home. God his mom would have a fit if she knew her husband had had sex with prostitutes before her met her. Well perhaps they were college girls working as motel maids, definitely not maiden maids. * * * Gina came off the phone and told Dan that was her sister Dianna. "Thomas is on his way." "Well you'll have to look after him. I don't want that skinny creep under my feet." "Dan he will have grown quite a bit in four years and what you term creep was shyness. It was the first wedding he'd even been to and women kept telling him how good looking he was. No young guy likes being told that." "You used to tell me I was good looking." "Well if you shaved and showed more and had your hair styled I would return to saying that." Dan grinned and refilled their coffee mugs. You go in tomorrow and get yourself dolled up. He'll expect me to look like a tired and worried rancher but will be expecting you to be looking as you were on our wedding day." "Careful Dan, that is almost a romantic notion. I don't want you going soft on me... you have those bulls to shift today." "A guy works better after being revved up fucking. Get those tits over here darling." Next afternoon Dan had come in early and was just out of the shower. He looked out towards the road and saw dust rising on the access track. "Your nephew is arriving." "Oh sheet, I'm not ready." "He won't care about make-up. He wants to see great hair, a big smile and your tits pulled up high and tight." "God Dan you're awful," Gina said coming into the room, her hair up like he remembered at the wedding, er from looking at the wedding photos, but the local hairdresser had not been as skilled as the big city one. "God I think he's driving one of those go-forever pickups," Dan said almost in awe. "That's very un-American but great thinking for a young guy with not much money because gas consumption will be lower." "Lower than what?" "American pickups. Weren't you listening?" "I'm doing eye shadow." Dan said slyly, "Condoms are in the top drawer of my bedroom cabinet." "Dan!" Gina yelled. "That is so fucking disgusting. He's my nephew." Dan looked into blue fearless eyes, or eyes he thought looked fearless. He also was a bit miffed. The kid was almost an inch taller and wasn't wearing cowboy boots so he had to amend that to two inches taller. "Great to see you again kid. Is it still that stuffy Thomas or do I call you Tom?" "Tom is fine providing mom's not around. My buddies back home call me Mongrel." "Mongrel? Are you a bad ass kid?" "No. At Middle School kids shorten my name Thomas Curtis to Tom Cur and then a kid said cur was a dog so I had a fight with him. Kids pulled us apart and he said I had mongrel in me and that name stuck, all through school and through high school." "Well I don't think Mongrel is an acceptable name for my nephew," Gina said, strolling on to the porch and leaning against a roof post and dressed in high cowgirl boots, her tightest jeans and a light-blue embroidered cowgirl shirt. "Jesus Aunt Gina," said the half-stunned nephew. "Jesus," echoed Dan. "Oh come on boys, there's no need to go over the top. "Take a good look Tom because you won't often see me dolled up. I'm a rancher's wife." Tom was drinking a soda, Dan a beer and Dianna had a glass of wine when the guest said, "I'm keen to work on the ranch." "What sweeping floors for Gina?" "Come on Uncle Dan, don't tease." "Call me Dan." "And call me Gina." "Thanks guys. Um I want to toughed up for college football." "Football and not soccer?" "Yeah football." "Good man. Okay, fencing and clearing drains will be good for you." "What about riding horses? I'm told that helps fitness." "We don't have horses. We have farm bikes called ATVs." "All terrain vehicles." "You know about ATVs." "Yeah, I ride bikes back home although I don't have one." "I'll allocate you one for while you're here. We have a couple of spares." * * * Three weeks later Dan had gone with a group on a two-day tour to look at bulls for sale. The next morning Tom as he now called himself had the top bedding thrown back and had started jacking off, thinking of Gina, when she swept into the room calling hi and carrying coffee. Tom was caught red-handed. Gina slammed to a halt and put her free hand over her mouth and blushed. Tom lay frozen, both hands over his dick. "Ohmigod, I'm sorry." "It's cool," he said, voice quavering. "T-the house was so quiet. I thought you would be asleep. I began thinking of you and... well." Regaining her poise, Gina said, "It's fine Tom. I imagine all healthy guys on their own do it." "D-do you?" "I played around a bit before getting up this morning, yes." "God I didn't expect you to be that honest." Gina ignored that. "Would you like me to finish for you?" Tom could only nod. Gina put down his mug of coffee and pushed his hands away. "My god, and you're only eighteen." Tom nodded dumbly but his cock answered by stiffening even more. Gina began cranking. "May I spit on it for lube?" "Yeah go ahead, you can suck it if the mood takes you." "May I?" his aunt said, turning to look at him, sending Tom scarlet. "P-please do. But only if you d-don't mention this." "What you and I do Tom will be our secret. I promise. However I am unlikely to suck you." Gina was palming and fingering Tom, playing him like a, er, musician. She was good, sensationally good. Tom's eyes closed and after a little while he thought she must be dipping his cock head into water. His eyes opened and his body went rigid. She had his cock in her mouth and it was pushing out a cheek. She was bent over him, feet on the floor and had bent her trunk so her butt had come around towards him. Eyes closed again Tom stroked her butt and felt her pull up skirt. That was surely an invitation. He casually dropped his hand and brought it back in to discover she wasn't wearing panties. Almost whistling to keep relaxed her slowly inserted a finger into her cunt. "Oooh Tom,: she panted. "I didn't realize you were that experienced. Huh? Tom opened his eyes and looked over her flank to find his middle finger was in her butt. Jesus! He blew filling her mouth. She lifted up spluttered and spitting out come and snarled, "Jesus Tom, where was the warning?" He pulled his finger out of her anus and said meekly, "I er am not all that experienced." Gina was still spitting semen over him. Jesus what a whore! Gina was brushing furiously at her mouth with a hand and whining that she never had swallowed cum before this, never. Tom could smell her arousal only he didn't know what that was. He thought she just had a smelly pussy. "I'm off to brush my teeth," she groaned. "Jesus Tom." Tom was used to taking off when his mom was mad and this was no different. He grabbed a thermos of water from the fridge and took off on the tractor to pull out more rotting posts that Dan had marked for him with a spayed X in orange paint. Around mid morning he watched Gina arrive on her ATV. She stopped and switched off. "Show me your tits." "Don't be so rude. God do you know anything about women?" He grinned and said he didn't know and she laughed. She reached into her backpack and pulled out a bundle. "Here's some hotcakes. You haven't had breakfast. Bye." "Wait." She had the motor running but made no effort to ride off. "I'd like you to fuck me, to teach me." "I'll think about it." Tom pushed his chin forward. "I'd like you to think about it now." She grinned. "Very well, work a few more hours and then come home. We can do it providing you pick up your act and jump and do things when I ask for help the first time, rather than having me ask twice and you respond half-heartedly." "Okay." Gina looked at him closely. "Are you sure when I say I'll expect you to jump to it you know what it means?" "Yeah. Are you sure you really know how to fuck?" She grinned, giving him the two fingers sign and rode off. "Way out," Tom said, returning to work. He figured Gina would be thirty-two. He crowed to the sky, "I'm going to fuck an old woman!" * * * Gina worked at bottling apricots, something she'd done with her maternal grandmother and mother and continued doing it although buying a big can was probably cheaper and eliminated her labor but it just wasn't the same, not matter if the canned product had been packed when the fruit was beautifully ripe, which wasn't often. Plums would be her next target and then she'd process berries and freeze sufficient to last them for twelve months. God to think of all the women her age who hadn't a clue about bottling and never thought of freezing anything they hadn't purchased from the supermarket. She kept looking at the clock and wondering. This would be adultery and her sister Dianna would kill her if she found out, screaming it was incest. It wasn't was it? Um no. Gina never wore panties unless in jeans and she was without them now, being in a dress, and had removed her bra to save Tom from having to fumble. She grinned, thinking not since high school had a guy asked to see her breasts. Well they were swollen now and the nipples raised because she'd been thinking sex, sex, sex. God she was such a slut. When would he come, er arrive? Then she figured that out. When he was hungry. That would be sometime between noon and 2:00. She made him a thick salad sandwich and wouldn't mind if he ate that before... well before. Gina looked at the clock when she heard the bike and grinned. It was 12:45 and that meant he was keen; nothing like being young and keen. She rubbed over her nipples to make sure they were up when he saw them. Tom entered the laundry and she could hear him washing his hands and face. She played with her nipples and then he came barging in, looked at the sandwich but ignored it, charging on to her instead. "Hi Tom. Want tit for lunch?" "God you are great Gina. You think like a guy." She was ever so pleased. "Pull the top of my dress down and my tits will pop out for you. Gina held the back of his head and pushed her other hand through his hair and he sucked her nipples, making cooing noises. That was ever so sweet. Tom pushed two fingers into her a little roughly but she wasn't complaining; that was preferable to him marking time, unsure of what to do next. She was pleased he hadn't said stupidly why wasn't she wearing a bra and panties. She reached down and unzipped him. He reached down and pulled it out for her. Oh wasn't he such a darling. Gina led Tom to the nearest bed already pumped up because he'd been wriggling a finger up her butt. "Stick it in me and fuck Tom, make me scream into my climax." The novice did well, much better and the screaming, head-shaking and writhing Gina had expected, having three climaxes over two hours and she then tongue-kissed Tom and suggested he get back to work, allowing her to clean up. Gina did clean up after an hour's perfect sleep. Throughout the summer Tom and Gina enjoyed periods of secret sexual coupling. If Dan knew about this misbehavior he never indicated such knowledge and that indicated to his wife Dan didn't know because he wasn't one to hold back on anything he found upsetting. Perhaps he couldn't comprehend that an aunt and nephew would engage in such behavior whereas she felt perfectly relaxed about it and preferred the liaison to remain secret. When the time came for Tom to leave she kissed him goodbye proudly, knowing she'd taught him every thing she'd wanted him to know about sex. Dan, no longer winning at arm-wrestling was proud of having helped Tom to gain muscle and adult strength. * * * Only Kate was at home when Tom arrived and she flew into his arms in great excitement and was embarrassed but not horrified when Tom cupped her breasts and expertly ran his thumbs over her concealed nipples and said, "These have developed; it would appear you have been well fucked and repeatedly since I've been away." "Earle Harrington," Kate said, flushing even more than when her brother the jerk had just groped her. "Wow, I'm impressed. Babes regard him as hot property but difficult to corner." "H-he came after me." That left Tom even more impressed. Tom's parents arrived and his mom was already crying before she got out of the car but had spotted him. She hugged him and then Raymond and Kate's mouths popped open when they saw the ease in which Tom lifted Dianna who was no lightweight and held her high. Long Road to Find a Heart "Can we have Amy over for dinner tonight," he asked, his mom screaming to be put down. "Sorry kiddo," Kate said. "Her father won a big promotion and went to England six weeks ago and Amy and her mom left ten days ago after the house sold." "But Amy... college... me?" Kate smiled, "She left very happy and excited. You know what women are like. Um you should see her; she's really sexy now." "Kate don't be a devil. She's teasing son," Dianna said. "Amy remains a lovely young woman and she's left a letter for you and invites you to visit them in England." That evening Rosa Collins came over to visit Kate. "You'll remember Rosa," Kate smiled wickedly as Tom came into the room. Rosa gaped. "Is this Tommy? Ohmigod." Tom noticed Rosa had also developed, probably as a result of serious fucking. Her mouth was wide and generous and her tits had become developed and noticeable. Suddenly there was no reason to pine over the loss of Amy. Amy who? CHAPTER 2 Successful divorce settlement negotiating attorney Thomas Curtis (no longer common Tom) was sent to London by his law firm Able, Long and Saltmarsh to try to persuade Sarah Saltmarsh to scale down her demands for financial settlement with her husband Tony, one of the principals of the firm. Tony had initiated the annulment of the marriage after the embarrassing discovery Sarah had for years been in a lesbian relationship with their housekeeper. After three meetings with Sarah and her team of solicitors, Thomas had succeeded in reaching agreement that Sarah would reduce her demands by 65%. Initially the offer was a 30% reduction. Thomas asked for a private meeting with Sarah and said unless she agreed to slash her original claim by 70% the reason for the marital breakup would be spread over the Sunday newspapers in England (she was English) and America. "I have an agreement with Tony that he would say nothing about the reason for our divorce," Sarah said. "Ah yes but your former housekeeper wishes to retain her position in Mr Saltmarsh's home and has agreed following my representations to confess to her misbehavior with you. Please allow me to play this recording of what she said to me." Sarah broke down and her legal team held out for a 60% reduction. Thomas called Tony and he said to hold out for 65% and Sarah instructed her counsel to accept. "Stay ten days in England at my expense," Tony said expansively, influenced by the fact Thomas had saved him being stripped of $3.7 million above what he would now pay in settlement. Thomas arrived in the London dormitory town of Cumford-on-Water that was sixty-five minutes by train from The City although only townspeople long in the tooth could remember when the trains ran on time. It had been nine and a half years since he'd last seen Amy Wishart and this was where she resided and held the position of deputy headmistress at Cumford Girl's Grammar School. The wives of seven British Prime Ministers had attended the school during the 178 years since it's founding. He'd called Amy and she was astonished to hear from him and that turned to excitement when she learned he was in London. "You must come and visit," she'd said. Thomas had said wasn't she married and Amy said no that was behind her. She'd married the second son of a baron who turned out to be uncompromisingly gay. "Surely you should have know before marriage when, um..." "Unfortunately no Thomas. He didn't push to take me carnally before marriage and I never questioned his motive, thinking perhaps it was the customary way within the peerage." So that explained that and Amy suggested Thomas meet her in the Hampton Hotel, the town's finest hotel, for high tea at 4.30. "Um I don't drink tea." She giggled and said coffee was also available. If was simply late afternoon tea of some note. Thomas didn't ask what 'of some note' meant. Perhaps the menu was noted on a blackboard. On the train he massaged his dick over his pants until the woman setting opposite him asked him to stop because it was making her feel light-headed. That was so embarrassing but he was in England where no one apart from Amy knew him. Thomas thought he should ensure the meeting was low key because women can get rather emotional. He spotted Amy in the quarter-filled dining room and sped to her, kissed her hand and said, "God you look beautiful." That of course misfired because Amy's eyes rolled up and she fell. Thomas caught her but her face squashed a plate of petit fours glacé (according a small notice on the plate). A waitress in black with a white laced apron and magnificent tits rushed over and wiped Amy's face with a napkin and asked, "Are you preggie dear?" Well that was sorted and Thomas had watercress and fish paste sandwiches (ugh, actually just a half), scones with Black Doris plum jam and clotted cream (four) and five pastries. Amy had just a cup of strong English Breakfast tea. Conversation was as to be expected rather uneven and a little awkward. Amy had paid for the high tea in advance so to play his part Thomas steered Amy into the bar and pumped two brandies into her. She then settled down but he knew it was futile, that Amy was a changed woman, no longer the vibrant young woman that matched his memories. He took her to her flat and a square-shaped and severe-faced older woman took one look at Amy and said, "What has this vile man done to you my darling?" "Nothing excessive." The larger woman scowled, pushed Thomas backward while pulling Amy forward and warned, "Don't you ever darken our doorway again." The door slammed and Thomas was left feeling two lesbians had ruined his day. Fucking women. Thomas caught a train back to London and thought he'd spend a week touring southern England and pop across to Ireland but by the time he reached his hotel he decided to return home and boarded a flight next afternoon. He was so unhappy. 'Nothing excessive,' What a stupid answer that had been but her consoled himself by the fact nothing had gone right in meeting with Amy. He fell asleep desperate not to dream of fucking Amy while she fed him petit fours. The next thing he knew was a square-faced female cabin attendant shaking him to serve him dinner. Well his visit to England had plunged from triumph to tragedy. He later fell asleep again and dreamt of the only real woman in his life, Aunt Gina but she had cheated on his husband the cow. Awake again, he thought what was it with women? After a bit more thinking he thought he was not very good with his choices of women and decided he was too focused on sex and that had skewed good judgment and perhaps blurred all the other considerations. So how did one find the right woman? Did the right woman exist? Well she would but would she find him? He sighed thinking if she did she probably wouldn't like him. The problem was apart from his mom and sister the only two women he'd ever really felt attracted to had been Amy and Gina. Well he supposed some guys would not have had even that success. Women probably had similar lack of success, especially with guys like him about. He wished he'd joined the Coastguard and had been assigned to patrolling Arctic waters. Seven months ticked by with excellent results in his work, not shortage of women but where was She? Nowhere to be found it seemed. Then why wasn't she doing something to find him? To cap that, his PA asked was there a problem with health? He appeared to have become grumpy. Jesus! Then lo, into his life came Mrs Greer Able whom he'd met several times and recalled she always appeared to be haughty. Haughty" Yes haughty. Well she was British. . * * * One of the partners, Mac Long was handling the divorce of the third partner Michael Able and negotiations had hit the wall. Mac took Thomas to lunch to brief him and find out what Thomas thought. "Mrs Smith is asking too much and Michael dug in too early." "Yeah well we were astute enough to come to that conclusion ourselves." "Mac you invited me here to sound me out. Is that it or do you wish to listen?" Mac laughed and poured more wine and said he'd heard Thomas had become grumpy. Mac said, "Being grumpy is the sign of a married man. The world's your oyster. We married guys envy you." "Yeah, yeah. You only know what you haven't got when you know it's what you want." "Oh very deep Thomas." "Shut up and listen. This stalemate is the classic situation in pre-divorce financial settlement where greed and historic fixed positions dominate. Before I can give an opinion that might assist your tactics, tell me about Michael's millstone. I know Michael reasonably well." "Well he married a generation below himself. She's more your age. We warned him." "What about her haughtiness?" "No about age difference but... Jesus, that's what she is, haughty. She's a disdainful bitch." "I don't think so Mac; it's not that deep-seated. You know her better than I do but I'd say she's not actually rude or even arrogant." Mac thumped his fork on the table, prongs upward and dabbed his lips with his napkin. "No but I agree with you she's haughty. "Remember this quotable piece by Charlotte Bronte? '...the habitual expression of her arched and haughty lip?" "Is Charlotte Bronte a client of ours?" "Mac," Thomas groaned. "I'm winding you up son. My mother read Charlotte Bronte and read passages to me but I can't recall that bit." "Yeah my grandmother has a pad of quotable quotes from literature, her favorites, and that one appealed to me because it painted such a subtle picture I could actually visualize the bitch." They laughed and Mac was now more interested. "So what is her problem?" "Well thinking about her I reckon she can't help acting with condescending pride because she'd British." Mac considered that: "You may be right." He thought for a minute and said, "Look I can't talk to her alone because I'm representing her estranged husband. What about me setting up with a meeting between you and her." "It should be done smoothly, er almost by accident to avert suspicion. Mac said, "That's unlikely but I'll talk to Elaine. She and Greer meet every couple of weeks for coffee." "Whoa, that's it. Perfect. I walk in on them having coffee." "And?" "I'll be invited to join them and your wife will have to leave in a hurry because she's remembered she's left her car unlocked." "Elaine won't lie." "Jesus, why do women have to be so difficult... I know, get her to leave her car unlocked but tell her why." "She won't like it." Thomas said firmly to tell Elaine it could be the only chance Greer and Michael have left of avoiding their settlement dispute going to court. "You know of course what her answer to that will be?" "That Michael and Greer both have to compromise?" Mac looked at Thomas and shook his head. "She'll say Michael will have to compromise and accuse us of ganging up on Greer." Thomas grinned and said, "Just winding you up pal. I know women." Later in the day Mac called Thomas and said to be as Barbara's Café at 11:00 on Thursday, that Elaine had said a most surprising thing. "That Greer was as fault?" Mac laughed and said, "No Elaine thought you'd be exactly the right person to break the deadline because you are skilled and sensitive." The call was cut and Thomas sighed. What did women really know about men? He resolved to curb his apparent grumpiness. During the night Thomas awoke, wide-eyed. Unsure whether he'd been dreaming he knew his mind had been active: The haughty Mrs Able. She could be SHE. Er her. Er the one. His mind told him to go back to sleep and stop dreaming. As Thomas entered the café Elaine waved and he went over and said, "Hi, Elaine and hi Greer." Both women smiled at him. "Will you join us?" "Er that would be intruding." "Nonsense Thomas, please join us," Greer said. Fifteen minutes later Thomas suggested more coffee. Greer said thank you and Elaine said, "Ohmigod my car... I didn't lock it." "I'll go," Thomas said but Elaine said no she'd go. She reached the door and returned and almost gave Thomas a heart attack when she said, "Greer why don't you seek friendly advice from Thomas about your stalled divorce settlement talks? He's one of the best in the business over settlement negotiations." "Bye Elaine," Thomas choked. Greer said, "Ohmigod, I've been guilty thinking this was a set-up but no one would be that brazen if involved in a set up." "I haven't spoken to Elaine for almost a month," Thomas said innocently and that was easy because it was true. So the talks are not proceeding smoothly?" The freckled-faced woman with classical lines and rich, wavy auburn hair looked at him. "Is it proper to be talking to me about my divorce?" "Well you are not my client but there is a suggestion of impropriety as your legal adviser is probably Mac or Tony and I work with them but I'll take the risk if that's why you want and accept anything I say in complete confidence." "Very well Thomas. I have always admired you from the distance because the partners of your firm are so uncouth." "Including your husband?" "God Thomas," she said, a blush now underpinning her freckles. He waited and she lowered her gaze to his chin and said yes. "Good, we have honesty. I cannot give this my best without your total cooperation and openness Greer." Thomas led her through the process on financial settlement to date and then said, "You don't have to answer this question Greer but have you ever thought of your husband as a pig, or something similar?" Her green eyes didn't leave his gaze. "Yes, rather too frequently I must say and I was stupid falling for him. I have thought the word pig." "Good." "What?" "Listen carefully Greer. Is Michael the pig going to settle if he thinks he's giving away too much?" "No definitely not." "Then what do you suggest is his current thinking on this?" While she was thinking Thomas looked at her tits and thought it would be great getting his mouth and hands round them. He looked up to catch her looking at him wide-eyed. He smiled. She smiled. Thomas said not to answer that question. He believed he'd taken it as far as he could. He regretted he'd not been of much help." "You have cleared my mind on this," she said, " and I'm grateful. Would you care to have dinner with me tonight? Rumor has it I'm a great cook." Thomas picked up her right hand and kissed it. "I regret I must say no and plead for a rain check. I have no wish to jeopardize your chances of a favorable settlement and then being forced to proceed to court." "Thank you for your very ethical response." "And you'll think of me?" Thomas hoped he was wearing his sexy smile. "And I'll think of you." Greer blushed. "When I suggested dinner I was not thinking beyond dinner and that's the truth." "I know. I recognize you as a woman who's in control Greer. Goodbye and good luck." "So I can't phone you?" "Not before settlement completes." "I might not call." Thomas was walking away when she called that out. "Then that would be a shattering loss to me but I'll get over it." * * * Greer watched Thomas walk away, hoping he'd look back but he didn't. God what was she doing attempting to seduce one man while in the process of having her marriage annulled? Almost fourteen years ago Greer at the age of sixteen had immigrated to America with her parents and two older brothers. Her father a Professor in Physics had been head-hunted by a university in New England and her mother, a senior lecturer in Victorian Literature had found at suitable position at the same university. Greer had gone on to complete a master's in Communications and Public Relations and had been hired as chief communications officer by a company organizing a major law convention in Chicago. She'd not known anyone in Chicago or anyone attending the convention so when a smartly dressed attorney Michael Able began talking to her in the bar on the first night he invited her to accompany him to the dinner the next evening, disclosing he had just been divorced and had arrived without a partner. Two months later they married quietly and Greer soon found that Michael was not the sophisticated charmer she'd stupidly had believed he was in Chicago. Even on the eve of the wedding those small doubts were growing but at the age of twenty-eight as she was then she was ready for marriage. Michael proved to be kind and generous and good in bed but beyond that he was practically running on empty in the social sense. Then she found she had a rival and when Michael admitted it they agreed to divorce. Joanne her female attorney was great on giving information and doing the paperwork but almost hopeless on negotiation so she hired Mac Long who was her friend as much as Michael's to join Joanne with Joanne's consent as an adviser. With her 31st birthday coming up Greer wished to be well provided for by Michael after doing the dirty on her within three years of tying the knot. God some men were pigs and it was only right he should pay for his unfaithfulness. Now thanks to that little chat with Thomas the burning desire to make Michael pay had dimmed somewhat and she was beginning to see unless she moderated her claims she'd end up in front of a judge who'd want to know if she was at fault in Michael straying within three years of marriage. Saying Michael was drinking rather heavily and she'd found she no longer liked her husband touching her would scarcely impress a judge. No she had to back down a little. At home that evening Greer had brief thoughts about Michael living in the apartment of that adulterous bitch and then she began thinking of Thomas. Blonde with blue eyes and great shoulder development he was more her idea of a lover. In a different era he would have been of warrior class. Greet knew she had romantic notions but she had her mother to blame for that. Her mother being a MacGregor had grown up on lusty tales of heroic deeds with knowledge about hardship, cattle stealing and clan infighting being conveniently overlooked and then of course her mother, married to a Cameron, become immerses in that family's history. In comparison most American's she'd met who talked history seemed to relate their history to wars, railroads, mining, transportation and money with emphasis on money. Her Scottish ancestry on both sides of course had come up short on claims to financial wealth. Michael, perhaps not unexpectedly, had no interest in family history. She wondered about Thomas Curtis's interest in family history. Oh so she would be talking to him again? Greer giggled and scolded herself for being stupid. Oh giggling were we. Was that a garden-variety giggle or a sexy giggle? "Oh god," she wailed. "Why was I gifted with a mind that seems so intent on pushing and punishing me?" She snorted. "Okay mind, what say Thomas Curtis is in a conspiracy to strip me of some of my claim to wealth?" On no, not sweet Thomas. She was appalled and then came relief when she decided all Thomas could be guilty of was undermining her confidence in her claims. But then he wasn't involved in the negotiations and everything she was involved in rested on her decision making, didn't it?" Eating dinner and reviewing some of her thoughts, Greer said to herself, "Sweet Thomas? She was startled and said, "Did I think that? Oh god, you are ready to jump in and make another mistake over a man. Won't you ever learn? Men were never what they appear to be." Driving to work next morning as head of PR for a major bank, Greer thought it would be lovely have a hot affair with Thomas. Feeling almost reckless she hoped he had enough to spray her breasts. She just loved that but Michael was a bit underpowered and virtually had to climb over them to wet them. God wasn't she a revolting woman and laughing swept into the basement parking building and only just missed ramming the bank president's limo. Long Road to Find a Heart "Eager to get in and at it; that's what I like to see," smiled the president. "Yes Jerry," she said struggling to speak in a Scottish accent. "To the ramparts." He laughed eyeing her and she thought he might be thinking executive material but then she amended that, he being male, could be thinking something much more basic. A week later, after a three-hour cut-and-thrust session, her legal team called for a brief adjournment while Mac contacted Michael who'd not bothered to show up for this session. He returned smiling. "Go off and have lunch Greer. My client has accepted your latest list of amendments. The papers will be ready for signing at 2.30 unless you have further matters to resolve." "No, wheel Michael in at 2:30 for the signing." During lunch Greer called Thomas and left a message for him to call her. He called back ten minutes later. "We are signing final agreement of settlement at 2.30. Are you available for dinner at my home that is to be sold as part of settlement?" "Yes. I'd love that. Does that include an invitation to stay the night?" Greer almost choked. God he was rushing it, wasn't he. But she had thought having a hot affair with him. Well why stall?" "Um we could think about that. I guess you are free to do that?" "Yes there was woman on tap for dining out with. I finished with her, letting her down gently, the evening of that day when you and I had our little chat. I wanted to be free for when you were ready." "Ready for what?" "Who knows? My thinking is not to rush beyond sex and see how we go. We'll do more than having sex and in time will become aware of our depth of compatibility." "You mean something long term." "That's been my thinking. A day doesn't go by without you being in my mind." "Oh Thomas." "Oh Greer." "Seven will be fine. You know the address." CHAPTER 3 At 3:30 Thomas was called to the boardroom to find the three partners sipping champagne. "Sit Thomas while I pour you some bubbles. My marriage annulment settlement with my wife has been signed, hence this celebration. Mac has just told us he called you in to try to knock some sense into Greer." "I wouldn't call it sense Michael, more like appealing to her to get her emotions in check and to think of the settlement as solely a business deal." "Well it worked and thank you." "I find Greer attractive Michael." Michael slopped champagne out of his half-filled glass. Mac and Tony were now looking at Thomas intently. "Have you been fucking my wife?" Thomas said easily, "Would you care to rephrase that question Michael? Ask reasonable questions and I'll answer them." "What have you been doing to me wife behind my back?" "Until this moment nothing, but that is likely to change. I was asked to consult with her without any discussion of fee and I thought it was in the interests of this firm not to have one of its partners engaged in a protracted settlement wrangle that could possibly end up in court and in the Sunday newspapers. So I agreed to Mac's proposal that I have a quiet word with Greer." Michael continued to eye Matt malevolently but Matt continued unfazed. "Mac set that up and I had the meeting and have had no other contact with Greer until she called me this afternoon to thank me for my involvement." Michael looked furious and said, "Are you prepared to swear that's the truth?" "What is this Michael, and interrogation? As I stated before I will answer reasonable questions." Mac said, "Steady Michael. Thomas you must realize this relationship between you and Greer, however slender it is at present, could prove embarrassing for Michael." "I do but my logic tells me the potentially embarrassing situation was set up purely by Michael seeking the annulment of his marriage and not by his wife's marital fidelity that apparently is beyond reproach. I have to assume in her mind Geer's belief she was married to Michael ended at the time of the final showdown, or whatever it was, when Michael confessed his adultery. Any residue of belief in her marriage, if any did exist, would have ended today when Greer was advised Michael had fully accepted the terms of settlement and would be ready to sign the agreement this afternoon. We all know that annulment will now proceed automatically unless unexpected hindrances arise." Michael choked, "And you believe in that cold-ass bitch..." "Retract that slur immediately Michael." "Or what, you'll hit me Thomas?" Mac said "Michael" and Tony said, "That was a reasonable request for retraction." "All right, are you expecting me to believe that cold-ass woman did not outline the events leading up to my declaration I would be taking steps to end our marriage." "I was given the barest of details, I guess simply to put the action into perspective for me. There was mention of another woman but I was given no name and absolutely no further detail and no cutting accusations were made against you. And why not? Because it was none of my business and because I'd simply asked Greer to outline the events to that point and what were the areas in dispute." There was silence until Mac said, "Michael that is exactly the line of questioning I would have expected Thomas to follow. If there has been any suggestion he's not acted professionally ever since he's been with us then I'd like to hear about it." Matt looked at Michael. "I believe Greer has taken a shine to me Michael and am aware this could be in panic knowing she is now within an ace of being left on her own. What happens between Greer and me outside of this firm is our business and you must surely be aware of that." "Yeah, right. I was seeing red. These are emotional times for me and costly ones. I accept I owe you because you got negotiations ready to proceed again. I have never been able to fault your professionalism and you and I have good personal relations and at times have been buddies socially. Please accept my apologies for being so bullish Thomas." "Thanks Michael. Now let me say never have Greer and I had sex to this point or even touched in a sexy manner. I swear to that." Michael wiped a hand across his eyes. "Open another bottle Mac. Thomas I would like you to have another drink with us, not as a means of my celebrating to move on with my life but because you are our rising star Thomas and the four of us should act like buddies socially." "Agreed," Mac said, popping the cork. Tony said, "Aye and well said Michael." Thomas grinned and lifted his glass in salute but when back in his office thought he should look for a senior position elsewhere. Being expected to be Michael's buddy had no appeal. * * * Thomas arrived with orchids and a bottle of red wine and was handed a glass of champagne at the front door. "Hi." "Oh hi," Greer said holding up her lips and was kissed softly and she thought with feeling. "That was very lovely," she said, eyes shining and taking the gifts she said thank you, that he was so kind. "This is a night for celebration?" "Is it? It's the death knell of my marriage." "Okay then I'll leave and you call Michael and invite him back here to live with you again." "Oh god no." Thomas, relieved of his gifts, put down his champagne flute and placed his hands on her shoulders and kissed the end of her nose. "That sounds like absolute marital termination to me with you waiting for some bits of paper. You can't have it both ways Greer." She looked at him deeply. "Oh you are so welcome. I am in desperate need of talking to someone I can trust, so thank you for coming. My best two girlfriends are not answering their phones and mom was severe, still thinking I did not make a big enough effort to save my marriage and cut the call when I said what did she mean I should jump into bed between them." "Your mother and father have probably been thinking of the possibility of grandchildren." Greer sighed and said he was so right. "I still would have thought my mother ought to have been sympathetic to me rather than thinking about herself and the tut-tuts of her friends." They talked for the next half hour, Thomas being patient to allow Greer to unburden and then he told her about having three glasses of champagne mid afternoon for Mac, Michael and Tony." "Michael was celebrating and especially invited me because I had assisted getting the wheels turning." Greer burst into tears and said she'd know there had been a conspiracy. They were sitting opposite on lounge chairs, a coffee table between them. Thomas made no effort to rush to comfort her as if knowing they would give her even greater opportunity of rejecting him. Crying, Greer looked and him and thought the pig, the fucking pig. Then Thomas floored her. He pushed across his phone and said, "Speed dial Mac on 211. Then ask Mac to tell you exactly what transpired from the time he sought my involvement." Greer sniffed and dabbed at her eyes. "No you tell me. I still regard you as an honorable man although my belief in that is presently rather strained." "Well Mac approached me to have a quiet word with you. Just a quiet word aimed at getting things moving again. He gave me no instructions and there was no mention of any fee. I asked Mac how could I get to you without asking for a meeting and that's where the only connection to conspiracy arose. Mac mentioned his wife met you for coffee every ten days or so and he briefed Elaine. Mac gave her the impression I wanted to meet you to ask you for a date and that excited Elaine and she agreed to say she'd left her car unlock, which she did, believing she couldn't lie to you. You know the rest." Greer nodded and said that all sounded very plausible and tactically it made sense. "So you were on Michael's side." Thomas frowned. "I would like you to think back about my conversation with you to see if you can recall anything I said that would be in Michael's favor without your knowledge. I had said in truth the only way to break the deadlock was for you to modify your demands to a more reasonable level." "Yes that is my recollection. I'm sorry for suggesting otherwise. Actually what you had said when counseling me was absolutely outstanding in making me see how I was allowing vindictive emotion to over-rule my judgment." "I appreciate you saying that," Thomas said. "Well when I arrived in the boardroom this afternoon Michael said to me he'd invited me to join them because only minutes earlier Mac had revealed he'd sought my influence to persuade you to become a little more moderate. He said he'd not known of such an arrangement before that. Michael thanked me and that's when I admitted having become attracted to you." "Ohmigod," Greer said, stuffing her handkerchief she was holding against her mouth. Thomas sighed. "I feel it necessary to tell you this. Michael accused me of having sex with you and I said not at all, that the only time I'd met you alone was in the coffee house and I had had no contact with you since. He became a little out of control but I parried and Mac and Tony urged him to calm down and eventually he did and said he accepted my word. I then gave him an absolute assurance I had not touched you up to this point." Greer's eyes widened. "Up to this point?" "I had in mind we could be having sex tonight so I had no intention of lying to Michael and had two sound witnesses that I did say up to this point." "Oh Thomas," Greer said, running around the coffee table to sit on his knee and to draw him into a long kiss. But the problem was she was emotional, overly emotional and she had something to tell Thomas. After a few kisses she confessed. "T-Thomas. I have to tell you two things." Thomas's gut muscles tightened in expectation the slight stutter meant he faced bad news. Heavy-eyed from weeping the previous night after feeding Thomas and knowing she'd wounded him by not rolling over for him, saying she couldn't, not while she was still married, Greer slid her phone shut. Thomas had called, confirming he'd be at her apartment in half an hour to take her to the airport. Greer had half-thought he wouldn't bother to come and she'd go by cab. He arrived smiling and her heart welled in sympathy. Ohmigod he was so brave. Last night he'd told her about the other women in his life who'd cut ties with him but he'd said her cut was the deepest of them all. Thank god, she'd thought, he'd not told her he was finished with her and accepted she had to make this temporary break to get her head together over the near finality of the breakup to her marriage. She just didn't want to face Michael ever again... well not until it was all over. At the airport they kissed goodbye. Greer had taken leave for three months without pay and was going to her parents who currently lived in Montreal. She didn't invite Thomas to visit her and he didn't suggest it. They didn't say after that final kiss 'Until we meet again' or 'I'll call'. In fact it was a sad and almost robotic farewell hugely clouded in, well despair. Yes Greer had thought, turning to wave as she entered Airport Security, the word really was despair. She looked in vain but there was no one to wave to; Thomas had gone. Greer sniffed and said aloud, "Well who could blame him. He really has taken this on the chin so heroically." * * * Thomas drove from the airport thinking he'd drink and fuck his way into oblivion. There was no way a guy could live with a woman; they were so unstable. He saw a bar but thought he'd stop at the next one. He then thought about Geer and Michael... it had not been Greer who'd walked away from that relationship. He then thought of his parents: They had maintained their relationship for thirty-six years and Greer had said her parents had been married for thirty-three years. God why was he so unstable when thinking about women? He changed his mind about drinking himself into oblivion. That was just not him. But he was off women for life. Er was that him? Later that day he called an executive search agency and spoke Carole who he suspected was an older and happily married woman named. Even her name sounded proper and stable and faithful. He made an appointment and emailed a copy of his CV from his law firm's website to her as requested. It was time to move on. Yeah that was one way of instructing one's mind to look forward rather than allowing it to stew on the past. So Greer belonged to the past? He answered himself a little bitterly: Didn't they all? He flew home the next weekend to visit his parents. His mom, as expected, said on the way home from the airport, "I'm rather anxious about you being not married yet." "Is there someone special?" asked his father hurriedly, as if attempting to end that particular topic. "No." "We have been having a good spell of weather," smiled his father, looking across at his son who was driving. He couldn't miss the appearance of Thomas's smile. On Monday Thomas registered at the agency and paid the fee. He was taken to Mrs Westcott and smiled. "Please call me Carol," said the slim, efficient woman of perhaps fifty with a motherly smile. "Everything about you is so impressive Thomas and now I have sighted you I can say very impressive." "Thank you ma'am." "Oh come young man," she chided. "Calling me Carol is fine; I am not your mother or you pastor's wife." Thomas wondered if Carol had any unmarried daughters. She produced a list of fifteen prospective opportunities for him and said there were probably 150 listings that could suit him but these were her top picks in the match to his requirements he'd given her by phone. "Coffee?" "Yes please Carol," he said and she made the call and carried on with her work while Thomas studied the resume of each vacancy. He short-listed three and then left to await emails from Carol of preliminary appointment times. One position he really favored was right up his alley... chief negotiator. By remarkable coincidence the employer was Greer's bank. He was tempted to reject that and then thought he should be apprehensive of working in the same building as Greer. After the three preliminary interviews he received two requests for second interviews and ended up with a very satisfactory deal with the bank with a three-year contract that was renewable on negotiation. Two months later Thomas began his new job and to await the return of Greer, hopefully a rejuvenated Greer with her confusion, bad memories and regrets cleared from her mind. That first week at the bank he received a postcard from Greer with a picture of Paris: "I am touring France and Italy and am having such a wonderful time. I'm feeling much happier. XXX." But there was no fucking return address. He felt so frustrated. Three weeks after Greer left, Thomas took a Friday off and went on a fishing trip with two pals and their wives. One of the wives brought along her married sister whose husband was in Chile. The move had been uninvited but the intention was quite clear because there were only four double staterooms available on the 75ft motor yacht although he could have slept on a sofa in the salon or even up on the fly bridge. Her name was Elizabeth but everyone called her Honey as she'd been called as a child, being a late arrival in the family. Honey was twenty-four and rather plain looking and appeared overweight that Thomas initially thought was saggy fat. He decided to sleep on the fly bridge sofa but when Honey appeared in a hugging black swimsuit and said she had stowed his two bags in their cabin Thomas reviewed his assessment and decided she was voluptuous rather than fat. That had him half-decided to sleep with her and late on that first night when he and Honey was alone in the Jacuzzi and she whispered she hadn't been fucked for almost a month, Thomas went in for his honey. Honey lived with Thomas for the next six weeks until the imminent return of her husband. It was a tragic parting. They both cried as she was leaving although Thomas only had to wipe away two tears. She'd been such a great fuck, a woman who always put 110% into it. Yes it was tragic she liked her husband too much to leave him. The husband had promised he would not take any further assignments overseas unless the company allowed him to be accompanied by his wife. Four more rather mundane shorter term couplings with unmarried females followed and then reading the banks monthly newsletter, Thomas noted a paragraph stating the head of PR Miss Greer Pullman, as she would now be called following the end of her marriage, would return to her job on the 28th of that month. He decided to be celibate until at least then. It was only seven days away. Only? He sighed. Thomas's policy had been not to touch, not even to seriously flirt, with any female employee or client associated with the bank in case someone rubbed his nose in it if he reconnected with Greer. He was aware there had been whispers about his masculinity although those stopped when an in-bank gossiper had seen him with the voluptuous Honey. He concluded perhaps gossiping did serve a useful purpose at times. During those crawling seven days he fretted. * * * "Well this is a surprise!" Thomas shot out of his chair and almost jumped over his desk but instead skirted it and kissed Greer on both cheeks, Continental style. She laughed. He felt so happy. Recklessly he cupped both breasts and waggled them and then ran a hand down her flank and said, honestly, "The bit of weight you've acquired really suits you. You had been in danger of becoming gaunt." She hadn't pulled away when he'd cupped her; in fact he thought she'd pushed into his hands slightly. Or was that just him being pathetically hopeful? "My healing is complete and yes I have put on a bit of weight and thank god it didn't end up only around my hips. It's pretty evenly spread." Long Road to Find a Heart Reckless again he said, "I require an examination to confirm that." She smiled and then lost that smile. "Thomas I suggest you allow me room to breath." "Ah yes," he smiled to hide his scowl, thinking how much time did she require to be breathing normally again? "Dinner at my place tonight," she smiled and keep her smile when adding, "without sex"" Well he supposed he was halfway there. "I'd love that." Their courtship, or rather their arm's length reunion was underway and during the following weeks Thomas was sure Greer wasn't dating anyone else. Greer would find it impossible to be that sneaky. They kissed easily and at times after consuming liquor kissed almost sexily and she'd allow Thomas to tongue her briefly but her tongue never entered his mouth. Twice recently she'd placed his hand on her breast and she'd only pull away when Thomas couldn't resist and would begin digging to expose the breast. She wouldn't flinch when he placed her hand on his erection but as soon at he'd pull his hand off her hand she'd place her hand back on to neutral territory. They socialized quite extensively and then the inevitable happened; at a cocktail party they came face to face with Michael and his woman. "Hi Thomas, Greer," Michael said, appearing only slightly uncomfortable. Thomas, who'd had his arm around Greer's waist, felt her stiffen. They returned the greeting and Michael introduced Marci. After a brief exchange of nothings Michael excused himself and walked Marci away. "Another cocktail?" "Thanks Tommo. Make it a stiff one." Walking to the bar Thomas thought God she'd just called him Tommo and asked for a stiff drink. Meeting Michael at last obviously had taken her through some kind of emotional barrier or in romantic terms a pain barrier. That must have been true late that night at her apartment after coffee for the first time they petted heavily and when he unzipped and placed her hand on his cock she held it unaided for quite sometime, although passively. At least it was progress. Next day his pal invited Thomas to go fishing again. "Yeah Dunk (Duncan). Could I bring a gal?" "Yeah of course. We were going to fix you up." Greer was excited at the thought of going boating and said yes. "You mean we sleep on board Friday and Saturday nights?" "Yes." "You and me in a cabin?" "Yes but I could sleep on the deck." "No cabin-sharing is fine." Ah did that mean his period of great patience was about to end? Greer asked, "Who is the captain?" "My friend Duncan who is licensed to skipper a boat that large. He helps out his uncle during emergencies at his uncle's crewed-boat charter business." * * * Thomas fleetingly remembered the voluptuous Honey, He was in the Jacuzzi late Friday night with Greer. The others had left for bed. Greer finish her drink and then pulled down the top of her swimsuit, giving Thomas an eyeful of two slightly hanging breasts with large peachy areola, each with a very erect nipple. "Thomas, I love you," she practically bleated. "It's been over six months since I was last had sex. Your tongue must be hanging out for it." THE END