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Second Chances Ch. 00

By: lili82



It started off as a regular Sunday night dinner at his parents' house. It was a tradition Angela Banks instituted when her oldest child moved out of the house seven years before. Now all her babies had moved out and they all came back every Sunday, just for her. 

"Hey, Mama", her oldest child, Katrina Lynn, or Lynn, greeted her; bussing her cheek and walking in the kitchen. "I went past the restaurant today. When did Nia start back working there?" she asked. Tania; or Nia, was her second born girl; born a full 25 minutes before her twin brother, Jayden. She was a very smart girl, but had gotten into trouble her sophomore year of college. A computer whiz, she made and released a computer virus into a major bank's files for the man that she was involved with at the time. She said she had no idea what was on the flash card; but the FBI wasn't buying it. She was placed on 18 months house arrest and can't touch a computer for the next 3 years. Since the registers at her café Rosebuds were computerized; Nia technically wasn't supposed to be working as a hostess, but she was a little short staffed.

"She isn't really", Angie replied. "But we were short staffed and I needed her to be at the door."

"She was working the register when I stopped to get the cheese for you," Lynn answered, placing the afore mentioned cheese in the refrigerator. 

"No, Addie should have been on the register. We talked about that before I left after I made the bread dough. Where was Addie?"

"I think she was in the kitchen. Nia said that she was doing that a lot today." Angie turned away from the stove.

"What does she mean by that?" she asked. "That's not like her. Addie knows that Nia can't touch the computers." Angie reached for the phone to call the restaurant, but stopped when her husband, Chris and Nia walked in. "Tania, you know you weren't supposed to touch the comps!"

"Mama, please don't start", Nia sighed. "I had a really long day. Someone needs to tell Jay to feed his girl. She stayed in the kitchen." Nia flopped down in a chair. She didn't quite look her mom in the face. How could she when she was lying to her? She couldn't tell her mom that she basically forced Addie into letting her be on the register. Addie was such a sweet girl, and she loved them so much, she never said no to them. 

"And this is where I come in", Chris said, kissing his wife. "I go in to look at the sink, which is also the reason Addie was in the kitchen, and Miss Nia is working the cash and the front."

"Well, Daddy, the food wasn't gonna ring itself up and the sink wasn't the reason Addie was in the kitchen, Mama's new sous chef is the reason!" Nia said, sucking her teeth. Lynn looked at her sister and started laughing.

"Addie is not about to cheat on Jayden! You know it, I know it, and Mama and Daddy know it! Adriana thinks the sun sets and rises in Jay! Ha!" Lynn chuckled and started peeling potatoes. It was the best of her culinary talents and soon Angie kicked her out of the kitchen. Nia stood and went to the cookie jar to get one of Angie's prized peaches and cream oatmeal cookies. 

"But seriously, Ma, you need to tell Jay about Addie. I really think she's doing something with that Tyler guy. You know he only listens to you," she said, biting into the cookie.

"Nia, it's not my place to tell him something that I really don't believe. She's not that type of girl," Angie replied, cutting the peeled potatoes into cubes. 

"I think she's stealing out of the registers, too. She was also in your office." Angie turned to face Nia at that remark. 

"How? I have the only key with me. She couldn't have."

"Mom, you know that girl grew up rough. I bet she picked the lock or got the keys off of you and got a copy made. I wouldn't put that past her."

"Well, I'll ask her about it later. Now, you need to either help me cook, or get the hell out my kitchen. You know I hate when you talk and don't do a thing." Later on, Angie began to set the table when her oldest son and Nia's twin, Jayden walked in the door with his girlfriend, Adriana Santiago, in tow. Angie grinned, seeing him. He was the only one of her and Chris's children that took after her. He inherited her smooth caramel completed skin and her gold colored eyes. He was 6'4 like Chris, and an inch taller than her baby boy Bryce. 

"Hi, Mom," he said, pulling her into a bear hug.

"Hi, son," she answered. "How have you been? You haven't called me." She lightly pushed him away.

"I have been busy at the paper. Everyone wants me as their photographer, and I've had a lot of pics to develop," he answered.

"Yes, he has," Addie replied in her soft, slightly accented husky voice. Angie smiled at her, remembering when the 19 year old girl would jump if you said hi to her. Now look at her, she thought. Just jumping into the conversation.

"Addie says that she has something to tell us, but she wants to tell us after dinner. It's a surprise, she says," Jay smirked. "Make her tell me what it is, Ma!" Both Addie and Angie laughed at him.

"If she says it's a surprise; I won't make her spoil it. Now go in the living room with your dad and Bryce. I have to ask Addie something. Its kinda girl talk," Angie said, knowing that her son would get squeamish with the girl talk bit. He kissed them both on the cheek and went to the living room to be manly.

"What do you need to ask me?" Addie asked. She walked over to the fridge to get out the sweet tea that Angie always had in there. "Have I done something wrong?" she asked with a touch of fear in her voice. As hard as she tried, she couldn't stop thinking that harm would come to her.

"No, sweetheart, it's just that Nia told me that you were in my office and that you were in the kitchen a lot, and that was why she was on the registers today. You know that her probation officer considers them a computer and that she can't be seen on or around them."

"Yes, I do," Addie started, but was cut off by Nia, Jayden and Chris coming into the kitchen.

"Where's the money?" Nia asked Addie.

"W-what money?" Addie stammered. "I don't know what you're talking about." 

"Gabby came to drop off the bank slips and there is a $3000 discrepancy. The slips are signed by you," Chris said. 

"I never signed any bank slips!" Addie exclaimed. "Why would I do that? I'm just a waitress and sometimes cook!" She turned to Angie. "You know this!" she said.

"I know, but Nia said she saw you in the office today," Angie replied.

"But I wasn't! All I did was close the door and lock it back. It was wide open when I got there." She turned to Nia. "Tell them; you were there, I asked you why it was open."

"No, you didn't. All you did was tell me that you needed me to work the register. You spent the majority of you day in the kitchen with Tyler!" Nia replied. God forgive me, she thought.

"Who is Tyler?" Jayden asked, looking at Addie.

"The new sous chef your mother hired," Addie said, looking at him. She turned back to Nia. "I was in the kitchen with him teaching him what your mother asked me to do 3 days ago, but I had class. This is why she asked you to work the front, but you begged me to work cashier today!" 

"Why are you lying? Why would I jeopardize my freedom like that? "

"Isn't that what I asked you? So I have I gone crazy now? Is that what you're trying to say to me, Tania? I know I've been off lately; but not that damn off! I haven't stolen anything since I got this job and I damn sure wouldn't steal from the only person that helped me when I needed help!"

"Then why did I see you put some money in your purse?" Addie flushed red and looked at Jayden.

"Baby, I swear, I don't know what she's talking about. Why would I steal from your mom? This is bullshit!" She flushed red again. "Sorry about that, Mama Ange. I didn't mean to say that." 

"Adriana, you promised me that if I gave you this job, you'd stop stealing. Tell me the truth; if I go look in your purse, will I find that money?" Angie asked her.

"No, ma'am, you won't. I didn't take any money. I swear! I wouldn't do that to you." She turned and looked at Jayden, who had moved to get Addie's purse. "Babe?" Jayden met her eyes.

"I don't know if I believe you," he said, answering her unspoken question. She frowned at him.

"Are you serious?!" she exclaimed. "You're joking, right?" Jayden shrugged.

"Yeah, I am serious and no, I'm not joking. You've been acting really strange; like you're hiding something." He unzipped the purse and looked in. He looked up at Addie. "So you were going to just lie all the way to the end, huh?" He pulled out the money bag that his mother kept in the safe at the restaurant. Addie's jaw dropped and she went pale.

"I don't know how that got there! I just know that I didn't put it there!" Addie exclaimed, crying. She looked at Angie, who had also started to cry. "Mama Ange, I wouldn't do that to you! Please believe me!" she sobbed. 

"Then why is it in your purse?" Nia asked. 

"I don't know!" she said, miserably. She ran her hands through her black hair and then started to twist the silver ring on her right ring finger; a sure sign that she was nervous. Jayden grabbed her by the arm and took her outside.

"Tell me the truth, did you steal the money? "He asked.

"No!" she screamed. "Why would I do that? I have a job; hell, I have 2! I don't need the money, you know this! What I can't get for myself; you show up with it!" she yelled, wiping her face off.

"Then why is the bag in your purse? Why did you have Nia on the front? And who the fuck is Tyler and why was he hugging you like he owns you?" Addie huffed at him and rolled her eyes. "I don't know; she asked; and he's the sous chef, and he didn't hug me like that! I swear, I'm feeling like I stepped into the Twilight Zone! This day wasn't supposed to be like this!" she started pacing back and forth, muttering to herself.

"I don't believe you. That is not the first time I've seen you him hug like that and I don't think this is the first time you've stolen from my mother. Last week, she was short $1500. Once again, you signed. What the fuck is going on, Adriana?" 

"I honestly don't know, Baby! I don't know! All I know is that I didn't take anything! And I don't like how you're insinuating that I have something going on with Tyler. I don't even know him all like that." He scoffed at her.

"Whatever. I saw you kiss him, Addie!" Her mouth dropped open. "Yeah, busted again! Not only are you stealing from my mom, you're being a whore with her employees." Tears came to Addie's eyes.

"You fucker! I am not being a whore! The only person I've been with is you and you know it!" she cried. "He kissed me, and I slapped the shit out of him afterwards! If you saw the kiss, you saw that! But you didn't see it; did you? I think your sister told you, because she did see it, but I bet she didn't tell you what happened after the kiss! I don't know what the fuck her issue is, but she may be on something!" she screamed at him.

"Don't talk about my sister that way! She isn't on anything and why would she lie to me? And then there's you; who has been lying to me. Who should I believe, Adriana, who?" Jayden asked her, throwing up his hands. She turned her head to the side to hide the tears that were falling.

"You know what, Jay? Believe who you want, I'm done. "She started to walk away. "Got me cryin' and shit!" she muttered, walking. "I hate crying! I hate showing weakness, and you got me out here, fucking crying and shit!" she screamed. "Why would I steal? Why would I cheat on you? Why won't you think for one moment?" Jayden sighed and ran up to grab her elbow. 

"Addie, wait," he started. She turned around and swung at him, hitting him hard in the mouth.

"Let go of me! Don't touch me! You don't believe me, so you no longer get to touch me! Let me leave!" she exclaimed, yanking her arm away. She then turned and ran down the street. 

"She didn't take that money, Jayden," Lynn said, coming up from behind and startleling him. She handed him a napkin that was in her pocket. "She got you good, but hell; the girl always could fight. You're gonna need some ice for that"

"How do you know, Lynn? Old habits die hard, and we all know she's a damn good thief," he said, dabbing his lip. Fuck, his girl could hit.

"She's not going to steal from the only family she's had," Lynn said; dabbing his lip with another tissue. "She loves us way too much to hurt us. Give her time to cool off, let's get you some ice and some food, and we'll figure this out. We'll get to the bottom of this," she said, leading her brother into the house. "You'll see."

Second Chances Ch. 01



The man at the bar had been staring at her all night and Natasha had to admit that he was a lot cuter than most men that gave her that eye. 

As she sipped on her beer, she tried to place his looks. Spanish was in his blood, his dark, wavy hair and his olive skin gave that away, but his clear blue eyes hinted at a mixed heritage. He was built too, the physic of a bodybuilder that was shown off in the black skintight t-shirt. 

“Hey, Rick.” Natasha shouted to the bartender over the blaring music. “Who’s the guy at the end of the bar?” She asked, motioning to the man with her head.

“Don’t know. Never seen him before. Looks like he’s taken an interest in you though.” The bartender shouted back, giving her a wink and a smile.

Natasha laughed and shook her head, her long brown hair shaking slightly in the messy bun at the back of her head. She smiled back at the mysterious man at the end of the bar as she stood up from her stool and slowly began walking towards the ladies room, her hips swaying in the tight black dress. The noise of the band disappeared as the door shut and Natasha enjoyed the quiet of the bathroom. She walked to the mirror, setting her small handbag on the counter as she stared at her reflection.

Reaching up, she pulled her hair free of the rubber band, letting it fall around her face as she reached for her lipstick. Natasha had always been pretty, one of those heartbreakers in high school that would use guys and leave them in the same week. Her long brown hair hung down her back, almost reaching to her butt with a slight curl to it that could never be tamed. 

A slender form that she always kept toned and dressed in the latest fashions from Milan although she really couldn’t afford it. She leaned into the mirror, applying the wine colored lipstick, watching as her steel gray eyes sparkled in the dim light. No guy could resist when she turned on the charm and Natasha now had her eyes set on the mysterious man who had been watching her all evening.

“Let’s go have some fun.” She said to her reflection as she tucked her hair behind her ears and adjusted the top of her strapless black dress so that her modest breasts jutted upward and gave the illusion of a fuller chest. 

Natasha reached out and pulled the door to the bathroom open, the blaring music of the bar overwhelming her senses as she glanced once more in the mirror. She gasped as she ran into a man and turning quickly to apologize, Natasha realized that it was her mystery man.

“Hi.” She said, with a nervous laugh, her voice husky with excitement as she looked over his face and body once more. “I’m sorry I ran into you.”

“Don’t worry about it, Bella.” He whispered, his voice tinged with an English accent that made Natasha melt inside.

“I saw you looking at me from across the bar.” Natasha said, leaning back against the wall, turning on her charm as the short black skirt slowly rode up her thigh. “See something you like?”

“I see a few things I like, Bella.” The man whispered, taking her hand in his and kissing it gently.

“I’m Natasha.”

“Charmed.” He said with a laugh as he leaned in to whisper into her ear, his lips lightly grazing against her skin. “You can call me Ben.”

“Well, Ben, would you like to get out of here? I live just down the block.” Natasha whispered back, taking a deep breath as her heart fluttered over the handsome man who was running his hands up and down her bare arms.

He took a step back, his blue eyes burning into hers. “Lead the way, Bella.”

Natasha giggled like a little girl on her first date and took his hand, leading him out into the cold winter night. She shivered slightly, cursing herself for not taking a jacket. After all, it was the dead of winter and it had been unseasonably cold this year, but fashion had been her first priority. Ben wrapped his arm around her shoulder and pulled her close, his perfect smile beaming down on her as they walked down the street.

“You’ll have to pardon the place. It’s not the best.” Natasha stated, blushing slightly as they came upon her apartment building.

It was rundown to say the least and she hardly ever invited people up to see it, after all, she had a glamorous image to maintain. This guy had such a weird effect on her though and she had invited him without thinking. Ben just smiled as he followed her up the stairs to her sixth floor apartment.

“Why not just take the elevator?” He asked as they stood outside in the dingy hallway, waiting for Natasha to fish out her keys.

“You never take the elevator.” Natasha said with a laugh as she pushed open the door and stepped inside her small apartment.

Ben surveyed the apartment, noting that Natasha was obviously embarrassed by the place. “I didn’t come to see the apartment, but the beautiful person who lives here.”

Natasha turned, blushing slightly as she set her handbag down on her ratty old couch, and giving him a big smile, flashing her perfect white teeth. “Would you like something to drink? Wine, perhaps?”

“Sounds perfect, Bella.” Ben said with a suave smile as he sat down on the couch, watching her as she moved, his eyes taking in every movement of her body beneath the tight black dress.

Natasha worked quickly to prepare the red wine, not wanting to miss a minute with the handsome man staring at her from the couch. She brought out two glasses and, after handing one to him, sat down on the couch, pushing her purse to the floor in her haste. “Bella. That’s an interesting nickname. Do you call all the pretty girls that?”

 “Only the ones that take my fancy.”

“Oh?” Natasha asked, looking at him over the rim of the wine glass as she took a drink. 

“And how many girls would that be?”

“Two. I’m looking at one of them.”

“And who was the other?”

“My fiancé.” Ben said quickly, downing the wine and rolling the glass between his hands with a sigh. 

Natasha froze, unsure of what to say at that. She could have cursed herself at this point, her mind screaming that she had brought home yet another loser. “Fiancé?”

“Don’t worry about her, Bella. She died in an accident about a year ago.”

“Oh, I’m so sorry.” Natasha whispered, her heart leaping. He IS available, her mind screamed. “You must have been heartbroken.”

“Enough talk about the past, Bella. She’s gone and it hurt for a while, but I’m ready to move on.” He said, as he slowly leaned forward, gently kissing her cheek.

Natasha laughed and leaned into the kiss, warmth spreading through her body just from that brief contact. “Well, I’d be glad to help you move on.” She whispered into his ear, her lips lightly grazing his skin.

Ben laughed, his blue eyes sparkling as he took her wine glass and set it on the floor. Taking her hands in his, he gently kissed her knuckles and then leaned in, giving her a deep, sensual kiss on the lips that left her swooning. Her hands automatically slid up the back of his shirt, tracing the muscles that lined his back. His tongue traced her lips, gently slipping inside and dancing with hers before he pulled back, leaving her breathless. His hand gently caressed her cheek, traveling down to cup the side of her neck.

“Do you want me, Bella?” He whispered.

“Oh, yeah.” She said with a soft laugh, leaning in to kiss him again.

Ben reached up and placed a finger against her lips, shaking his head slightly with a grin. “Not yet. Close your eyes.”

Natasha grinned and closed her eyes, listening as he stood up from the couch and slowly walked around the apartment. A few feet away, she heard him stop and the sound of cloth rustling filled her ears. She laughed and started to open her eyes when Ben shouted, “No peeking.” 

She closed her eyes again, trying to figure out what he was doing as she nervously chewed on her lower lip. She couldn’t deny that she was aroused, wanting nothing more than to have this man throw her on the bed and ravage her.

“You’re so beautiful like that.” Ben whispered, making Natasha jump as she realized that he was standing just in front of her. A hand on her cheek made her shiver in anticipation and she leaned her head into his hand. “Give me your hand and keep your eyes closed.”

Natasha reached out with her hand, her fingers grazing against his pants and the noticeable bulge just to the left. She blushed as he laughed and took her hand, helping her to stand. Walking a short distance, he drew her to a stop, kissing her again as he ran his hands over her bare arms. “Just what are you up to?” Natasha asked with a giggle as he slowly drew her arms over her head.

“Open your eyes.” Ben said, his breath warm against her face.

Natasha opened her eyes and smiled at him, kissing him gently on the lips as she felt the smooth rope wrap around her wrists. She looked up and saw that he had hung a rope from the old pipe that crossed over the ceiling. She squirmed slightly, more turned on than ever before. “So, you have me where you want me. What now?” She asked, her breathing heavier as her heart raced.

“I’m going to worship you, Bella.” Ben said, kissing her in-between each word as his hand slowly slid up her skirt to the damp panties underneath. “I see you approve.” He whispered, his eyes full of lust as his other hand reached for the zipper at the back of her dress.

Natasha couldn’t help but press the length of her body against his as she gave him a smoldering kiss, wanting to feel all of his muscles, naked against her. She felt his fingers caress her back where the zipper hand parted and that made her shiver. He smiled at her as he broke the kiss and he began to slid the tight dress down her body. He groaned as her breasts were bared, bouncing free of the material as it rested on her hips. They were no more than a handful, but Ben had to admit that they were beautiful and perfect; small pink nipples standing proudly at attention as Natasha puffed out her chest for him to get a better view.

“Very nice, Bella.” He murmured as he kissed the side of her neck, his tongue teasing her as he kissed down her collar bone to the hollow of her throat, his hands pushing the thin material of her dress to the floor.

Natasha moaned as he gently kissed his way down her breasts, teasing them as he hooked his thumbs into the thin material of her panties, slowly pulling them over her thighs and down her beautiful legs. He knelt and looking up into her eyes, lifted each leg and pulled the fabric free. He smiled as he took a step back, admiring the woman helpless in front of him in nothing but her strappy high heels.

“Tell me, Bella, what’s the best thing about your body?” He asked, dropping the panties onto the floor as he slowly walked over to her dresser, opening the top drawer and selecting an expensive silk scarf she had bought just a week earlier.

Natasha scrunched her eyebrows at the curious question, but was too far gone to think anything about it. “I’ve been told my hands are the best part of my body.” She stated, her voice husky with desire.

Ben turned and looked at her hands suspended above her head. “They are very lovely.”

Natasha laughed and jokingly waved her fingers at him as he walked closer with the scarf tightly in his hands. “Going to blindfold me now? Make me beg for you?”

“Close your eyes and find out.”

Natasha slowly closed her eyes, entrusting everything to this man that she had met no more than thirty minutes earlier. To tell the truth, this bondage stuff didn’t freak her out. She had once dated a stockbroker from New Jersey who was into it and she had thoroughly enjoyed herself during their little play sessions. She may have married him if he hadn’t had cheated on her with his secretary while she was off visiting her parents in Albany. Men will never learn, Natasha though as she heard Ben walking closer to her.

She smiled and moved a little against the rope as he slid the silk over her eyes. She fought the urge to push her body forward, fighting to retain some control and just wait for Ben’s next move. It was then that Natasha realized something was wrong; the silk was sliding down her face and as she opened her eyes, it wrapped tight around her mouth, effectively gagging her. She whimpered against the fabric, her gray eyes wide with fright as she stared at Ben’s smiling face.

“Sorry, Bella, but I’m afraid that I can’t do this.” He stated, stepping away her body, his eyes gazing over her intently.

What the hell is he talking about? Natasha asked herself, her heart pounding loudly in her ears, not from arousal, but from fear.

“You see, you’re part of a project of sorts for me.” He said with an evil smile. “Did your parents never teach you to bring strange men to your apartment?” Ben laughed as she started whimpering, pulling her hands frantically against the ropes. “By the way, I told a little white lie back there. My name isn’t Ben, but don’t concern yourself with that. I’ve been watching you for a while now, Natasha Eckert. Oh, yes, there isn’t anything that I don’t know about you by now.” He stated as her eyes widened.

Oh, my god. I have a stalker. Natasha thought as she watched him rummage around in his pocket, his hand playing with something. She whimpered, tears falling down her cheeks and soaking into the silk scarf.

“You want to know something?” He asked, pulling out an object that was no bigger than his palm. “My fiancé didn’t die in an accident. I intended to kill her.”

Natasha gasped, her gray eyes wide with fear as he flicked his wrist and a switchblade popped out of the object. With a calm demeanor, Ben slowly walked forward towards the girl who was screaming hysterically. Outside, no one heard a thing as the snow silently fell on New York City.

***********

 Detective Daniel Ross peered out of the frost covered window of the taxi, watching as the buildings passed by quickly and the flashing blue and red lights in the distance became brighter. Winter in New York City was hard this year, snowing and sleeting almost everyday and it made Daniel want to book it back to the airport and return to Los Angeles to his old job. The cab stopped at a road block outside of a huge apartment building somewhere in Manhattan; in truth, he had lost track of the jungle of streets that the dark city possessed. Paying the cabbie and giving him a nod, Daniel stepped to the police barricade and flashed his badge.

“You new?” The young officer asked, raising an eyebrow at him..

“First day in your fine city.” Daniel stated, his eyes scanning the neighborhood and the apartment building. 

It wasn’t the best neighborhood he had ever seen in his line of work, just row after row of run down apartment buildings, but a simple homicide was going to be a piece of cake for his first assignment here in NYC. 

“I’m looking for Det. Baldacci.” He stated, turning back to the cop who was starting across the temporary barricade towards a man who was trying to make his way around it.

“I told you, asshole, you step around the line again and I was gonna arrest you. You just had to push me, didn’t you?” The cop said, pulling the man past the line and pushing him to the ground, swiftly cuffing his arms behind his back. 

“She’s upstairs. Sixth floor. Elevator doesn’t work and the main stairwell is blocked off. Found evidence in it or something. You’ll have to take the fire escape.” He said, nodding to the iron staircase that had officers crawling all over it.

“Thanks.” Daniel muttered as he started over the icy sidewalk towards the escape as a light snow started again, layering the already freezing city in a sheet of white. He shook his spiky, blond hair free of snow, shivering as a cold wind blew straight past him.

He reached up and started up the ladder to the fire escape, cursing to himself as his hands stuck to the icy metal. He had never lived through a cold winter in Los Angeles, therefore he had no real winter clothing. He had been lucky that he bought the thick leather jacket that morning, but his hands would have to suffer for awhile. Sidestepping other officers, Daniel was breathless as he stepped through the door on the sixth story, looking over the group of officers gathered outside the doorway to an apartment, sharing a laugh as technicians scrambled in the hallway to gather evidence.

“I’m looking for Detective Baldacci.” He said to the crowd of men only to be met with blank looks as they stopped their conversation and stared at the new comer.

“New guy?” A huge, hulking officer with a shave head asked as he crossed his arms in front of himself.

“Yeah, I’m new.” Daniel stated, getting annoyed by the constant questioning. “Look, they told me at the precinct that I was working with Baldacci. Now, will you tell me where she is?”

“They finally gave her a partner?” The youngest looking of the group asked the baldheaded man. Jeeze, Daniel thought. These cops get younger every year.

“Looks like he has an attitude to match hers.” He said with a laugh. “You two are going to be a match made in heaven.”

“Why the hell are you people just standing around? If you haven‘t noticed, we‘re standing in the middle of a crime scene.” Came a shout from the doorway that made all of the officers jump. A skinny man stepped out of the apartment, his brown eyes narrowing at the group as he ran a hand through his black hair. “I don’t pay you people to stand around, do I?”

“No, Sarge.” The hulking man stated as they all scattered away from the man, like children who had been caught doing something bad.

“You Ross?” He asked, turning to the detective, his jaw set in anger.

“Yeah. Daniel Ross. I’m looking for Det. Baldacci.”

“Sgt. Justin McCartney.” The man stated, extending his hand and giving Daniel a strong shake. “She’s in here looking over the scene. I’ll introduce you two.”

Daniel followed close behind the skinny sergeant, stopping briefly in the doorway of the apartment and looking over the gruesome scene with a trained eye. It was horrible, blood pooling on the floor of the dirty one room apartment. A white sheet was spread over a figure, red streaks slowly soaking through the fabric over the stomach. Nothing much to look at: a small ratty couch with a small purse on the floor, twin sized bed with a thick quilt, dirty kitchenette and bathroom, with posters of Paris and Rome plastered over the crumbling walls. A long length of rope hung from the ceiling, the ending frayed and stained with blood.

Officers of all ranks milled around the small apartment, some taking pictures, others collecting evidence. The medical examiner stood in the center of the room, over the body, shouting orders to his assistants and basically lording over the scene. Daniel couldn’t help but notice the woman standing by the window, looking at the sill intently. 

She was tall and thin with no real muscle to see through her thick floor length overcoat. Long, light blond hair ran down to almost the center of her back, pulled neatly back into a ponytail. 

Her face was soft, with a rounded chin and an upturned nose that wrinkled in concentration as she looked from the window to the city outside. Her gaze was trained on something outside, her concentration unwavering even as the M.E. shouted at his assistants in a high pitched voice.

“Rory. Come here a second.” McCartney shouted across the room.

 The woman turned around from the window slowly, almost annoyed to be pulled away from her work, and started across the small apartment. She didn’t even bother to look up from the notepad that she was writing on as she sidestepped the body and stopped in front of the two men. 

Looking up from the paper, Daniel found himself looking into the darkest pair of brown eyes he had ever seen. This girl was a knockout by any standard: blonde, brown eyes, tall and very well built. Without the heeled ankle boots she was wearing, Daniel wagered that she was only a few inches shorter than his 6’3”.




Second Chances Ch. 01



How did she talk me into this??? Sarah thought to herself when she walked into the dimly lit ballroom. Her best friend, Jen, had said they would have a great time at their 10 year reunion, but now that she was there, alone, she was having doubts. 

Am I at the right place? Who were all of these people? No one looked familiar to her, and she spent 4 years of her life with them! Jen walked up on the arm of her husband, Jim. Her very pregnant belly made her look as if she was ready to pop. She was glowing with pride and excitement. 

Hugging Sarah, she asked, Gene is here and he said he was looking forward to seeing you again!"

Sarah's eyes went misty for a moment. She hadn't changed much in all those years, not mentally anyway. Sarah Miller was voted mostly likely to succeed. She was quiet, conservative and seemed a lot older then most of the kids she went to school with. Gene was one of her best friends back then, and he was her secret crush. They met when they were both on the school paper together, she was the editor, and he was the sports reporter. They became great friends, but Sarah knew it would never be more then that. He dated girls who were beautiful, capricious and giggly. Three things that she knew she would never be. 

"Hey, are you ok?" Jen was gently shaking her arm. As the room came back into focus, she realized the butterflies in her stomach were very real, and not just a recollection of her feelings from so many years before. 

Jen took her by hand and led her to their table. Sarah couldn't help looking around the room to see if he was around. 

She sat for an hour and watched as Jen flitted around the room talking to people, introducing her husband, and laughing. She always loved being the social butterfly. She could talk to a total stranger and make them feel like they had known her for years. That's how they became friends. Jen was the complete opposite of Sarah, but they were perfect for each other. 

Maybe a walk to the bar would make me feel less edgy, Sarah thought. She ordered a drink, and then sat at the bar and sipped it slowly watching the crowd on the dance floor grow larger. A few faces looked vaguely familiar, but she couldn't remember most of their names. How did they change so much in only 10 years she was thinking to herself, when she felt a warm hand on her bare shoulder. She turned her head and there he was. 

His face was the same, only more mature, older looking. And his smile still melted her heart. "Sarah? Sarah Miller?" His voice was deeper and was as smooth and silk. "Gene? After all these years, you look wonderful, how are you?" The ice in her glass clinked as her hands trembled nervously. 

"I was so happy when Jen said you were coming tonight." he said. Sarah didn't know what to say. She just smiled at him.

"So how has life been treating you? Jen mentioned you were the editor at Diamond magazine. I always knew you would make it in that field, you had such a flair for it back then." 

Sarah barely heard what Gene had said, she was mesmerized by his eyes. "Yes...well, it...umm...did seem to fit me...you know...sitting in an office and ...uh ...putting all the pieces together, making sure its all right...I, umm...I like it a lot." What is wrong with me, she thought. I run the magazine with no problems, I can speak my mind to anyone, but here, with this man, I'm like a babbling idiot! She silently cursed herself for being so childish.

She managed to stumble through the conversation with him for a while, talking about what they had been doing in life. When he told her he was single, she could barely contain her thoughts. How could such a perfect man, not be attached. Gene told her about his job as a pilot and how traveling made it hard for a woman to want to settle down with him. She was imagining his sexy voice on the intercom of a plane, telling her to buckle up it might be a bumpy ride. 

"They don't know what they are missing!" Sarah said before she could stop herself. 

Gene smiled at her again, and she smiled then looked down. The music from the dance floor had slowed down and he asked, "Would you care to dance with an old friend?" Sarah looked up from the tile on the floor she was studying, and shook her head. He took her hand and led her to the dance floor.

Gene wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her to him. They swayed slowly to the music. "I wonder where Nancy is tonight." he said, looking around the room, then they both giggled for a moment In his arms, the years, and her nervousness melted away, they were at the prom once again. He had promised to save her a dance, and no matter how much his date, Nancy, protested, he pushed past her and took Sarah out on the floor for the last dance. 

"I can't believe it's already been 10 years, I remember it like it was yesterday." Sarah said, her breasts pushed up against him. His face was so close to hers. "Your just as beautiful now as you were that night, if not more so." She could feel the heat rising up in her cheeks. 

"Gene, you could always smooth talk the ladies." she laughed, and rested her head on his chest, so he could not see her face reddening. Closing her eyes, she was lost in thought. She thought about what they could do if they were the only ones on the dance floor. As the song ended he took her chin in his hands and said "Sarah, I wasn't trying to sweet talk you, I really meant what I said, you're beautiful and..." Before he could finish his sentence, Ken Mallory walked up to them.

"Gene, hey buddy hows it going?!?!" He put his hand out and Gene shook it heartily. Sarah wanted to give the two friends time to catch up, so she started to walk away, but Gene grasped her hand and squeezed it tight. Glancing up at him, his eyes pleading with her to stay, she smiled and waited for the conversation to end. 

Ken's wife was calling to him so he gave Gene his number and told him to keep in touch, smiled at Sarah and walked away. 

"I'm sorry about that, can we get out of here and go somewhere and just talk for a while?" he asked. The butterflies were at it again, and Sarah smiled, "Yes, I would like that a lot. Let me get my purse and tell Jen we are leaving." 

Jen looked like she wanted to jump up and down with excitement when Sarah told her where she was going. Sarah smiled at her friend and walked away. "Good luck!" Jen said, louder then Sarah would have liked. 

She walked outside, and he was leaning against a beautiful convertible. It was the perfect night for a drive with the top down. He held open the door for her, and she got in and he closed the door, leaned down and said. "Where to, Miss?" 

The wind whipped through her hair and Sarah closed her eyes and leaned back into the leather seat, nipples hardening in the cool night air. They pulled onto the old beach road and he put the car in park. "Remember this place?" he said as he turned to look at her. Sarah looked around and she realized he had brought her to their old hang out spot. She felt like a kid again.

Gene grabbed a blanket out of the trunk as Sarah kicked off her shoes and ran off to sit on the swings. She had been here so many times before; she can't believe she had forgotten about it. Dragging her toes in the sand she leaned way back and looked up at the sky. I must be dreaming she thought to herself, but when she opened her eyes, there he was, sitting on the blanket by the waters edge watching her. Sarah got up and walked over and sat down beside him. 

"Reliving your youth??" he laughed. "No, I think I am pretty happy as I am right now." she said looking into his eyes. "Sarah I can tell you how many times I have thought about you over the last 10 years. I tried looking you up so many times, but didn't have the nerve to call."

Sarah lay back on the blanket to look at the stars and said, "You?? Scared to call me? Why? We were good friends at one time." oblivious to the change in his voice. Softly he said, "Because I have wanted to tell you something for so long, and I don't know where to begin."

"At the beginning of course" she laughed. 

Gene's face was over hers and before she realized what was going on, he pressed his lips to hers but then quickly pulled away and sat up. Sarah also sat up and turned to face him with a puzzled look. 

"I have always liked you Sarah, always wanted to be with you. You were so smart, so sure of what you wanted in life, I knew you would never want to be with me. I was a dumb jock who only passed classes by enough to keep playing on the team. And look at you. Still beautiful and you have a successful career..."

Sarah put her hand to his lips before he could continue. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. He thought she didn't want him??? She remembered it the other way around. 

"I can't begin to tell you how that makes me feel. I have wanted to kiss you from the moment we met. You were always dating some gorgeous cheerleader; I was no match for that."

He looked surprised. Then he smiled, leaned in again and placed a soft kiss on her cheek. But for Sarah, who had waited more then 10 years for this moment, wasn't going to settle for a little peck on the cheek. She didn't want to be conservative little Sarah anymore. She wanted this man more then anyone she had ever known, and her emotions look over the moment. Putting her hands on his face she pulled him closer to her and kissed him passionately on the mouth. 

Slowly, he lowered her down on the blanket. The soft glow of the moon and stars lit up her face, and reflected in her dark eyes. "I have wanted you from the beginning." he whispered in her ear. 

She could feel his breath in the hollow of her neck as he kissed his way down her body. His hands were exploring every inch of her exposed skin. Sarah's logical mind usually ruled her thoughts, making her think of everything, but now she wasn't worried if anyone could see them, or if this was the right time, was this the best place to do this? She was just lost in the moment. She never stopped him as he slid his hand under her skirt and all the way up her thigh. 

Lifting her hips up for him, Gene realized she wanted him to do. "Are you sure?" he asked breathlessly. 

In a voice she didn't recognize as her own, Sarah said, "Yes, I have never been more sure of anything in my life."

He lifted his shirt up over his head and then moved to unbutton her shirt as well. He was so sexy Sarah thought, how can this really be happening to me, after all the times I had dreamed it, now it is really happening! Her blouse was open and a quiver of pleasure ran over every inch of her skin where his body touched hers. 

She moved up on her knees and leaned over his waist. Her hand was on his pants, and before she knew it, she had them opened and was pulling them down. When she pulled them off his ankles she felt him unzipping her skirt. Turning her head, Sarah felt so alive, and so playful, she stood up, pushed off her skirt and made a dash for the water. Gene chased after her. She crashed into the water and fell down they were both laughing. 

"So much for trying to be sexy!" she gasped. Gene scooped her up in his arms. He waded out a bit in the water. It was cool against their hot, excited skin. 

"I don't know, this seems pretty damn sexy to me" he murmured in her ear. Her long legs were wrapped around his hips and she could feel the hardness of his aroused state pushing against her panties. She squeezed her legs tighter around him, pushing her silk covered pussy up against him.

"I do believe you wanted me to get rid of those for you." he said with a wicked smile. His hands were already down the back of her panties urging them down. She released her legs, and the wet material slipped off quickly. He tossed them ashore in the sand, and Sarah turned to look at the moon.

He came up behind her and pulled her back close to his chest. Sarah's nipples were hard and extra sensitive in the cool water, and Gene grazed his fingers over them gently. The sensation of his hard cock pressing against her butt and his fingers working her nipples was more then she could take. She let out a long, low moan, and spread her legs open to hook her ankles around his thighs. 

Gene's hand slid down her belly to her waiting outer lips. All of Sarah's muscles tightened as he pulled back her hood to expose the little pleasure nub. Swollen and sensitive, his attention to her clit made Sarah arch her back and push into his hand. She encircled his neck with her arms to use his body for leverage and grinds her pussy against his fingers. 

"Oh God Gene..." she gasped. The first waves of orgasm beginning to grip her body. Writhing in ecstasy, Sarah cried out as the culmination of orgasm and the desire for more, surged through her. 

Before she could catch her breath, Gene turns her around, and her hand instinctively goes to the top of his boxers, and immediately pushes them down. Carnal impulses replace the sensible thinking Sarah was known for. This is just about one thing, and nothing else. She is yearning for his cock to be inside of her, and she can think of nothing else. 

Her legs once again seize Gene's hips and his rock hard cock slides up and down in her wet pussy lips, the head skimming her clit on the upward thrust. She can't wait any longer; she pulls back far enough from him so she can get his rigid shaft into her dripping flesh box. Driving forward, Gene fills her completely and she whimpers as he clenches her ass and pumps into her swiftly. The sound of the water splashing around them mixes with their cries of reckless abandon. 

"OH...YEAH...UH...GOD YES..." Sarah's shouting could be heard echoing over the waters surface, enticing Gene to pump harder into her, only evoking more cries of satisfaction. She was feeling the currents of climax crashing over her once again.

Gene's guttural growls were growing louder as he neared his peak. Sarah's breasts bouncing up and down on his chest and the feel of her tight wet pussy drenching him in her sweet juices, is all he needed to be pushed over the edge. Squeezing her supple ass one last time and giving a hard upward thrust into her snatch, Gene released his load into Sarah, like a thundering flood.

Collapsing on the shore as the gentle waves broke over their naked bodies, Gene and Sarah lay in silence for a moment, catching their breath.

With her practical views coming back into focus, Sarah was beginning to have reservations about what he would think of her. Wild sex on the beach with a man she hadn't seen in 10 years, what he could be thinking of her right now, she wondered. 

Gene slowly rolled to face her, and she braced herself for the worst. A smile crept across his face and he pulled her to him and kissed her. A kiss with more passion and zeal then she had ever been kissed with before. 

"I hope you don't think that this is how I act with everyone." he whispered in her ear. "But that was building for 10 years and now that we know exactly how we feel...well I would love to see where life takes us...together that is."

"I'd like that..." Sarah said. Wrapping herself up in the blanket she begins walking towards his car. Letting go of her sensible side felt good and she gave him a devilish grin and said "For now, I think life is going to take us...back to my apartment..." 

To be continued...



Second Chances Ch. 01



Alexandria wasn't in a great hurry as she stepped out into the light of day sipping her favorite iced Starbucks coffee. The sun wasn't particularly hot and with the light, fresh breeze, it finally smelled and felt like spring. She wandered down the sidewalk, not paying any particular attention to where she was going. It just felt great to get out and walk around after being cooped up all winter. Most of the city seemed to have the same idea. Dozens of people were out and about. 

She stopped in front of a bookstore window and contemplated going inside on a hunt for the newest book by her favorite author, when she saw the reflection of the man behind her in the glass. He was staring at her with piercing dark eyes. With his unruly dark hair, thick bushy eyebrows and a weeks worth of scruff on his face, he looked like trouble. She stifled the shiver than ran up her spine and calmly walked away.

She paid careful attention to the man's reflection in the glass of the next few stores. He kept a few feet back, and was attempting to walk in her blind spot, directly behind her. He never took his eyes off her. He was definitely following her. 

"CRAP!" She thought to herself. "Why is this guy following me?" Before she could decide what to do about it, the man moved toward her quickly, and clamped a gloved hand on her shoulder. Before she could take a breath to scream, he had a long sharp hunting knife at her throat. 

"Scream and you die, lady!" He growled in her ear. His hot, sour breath made her want to gag. He was pushing her toward the nearest alleyway. Her heart beat in an unsteady rhythm, first too fast, then skipping a beat, then too fast again. "Oh God, Oh My God...This isn't happening!" Her mind shrieked. But it was. 

The end of the alley was closed off by a tall gate. He pushed her roughly past the garbage dumpster, the knife still at her throat. Once he got her facing the brick wall, he shoved her, hard, against the wall, twisting her arm back behind her. She gasped for breath as the sharp pain radiated through her shoulder. Her cheek bone scraped against the rough texture of the old fashioned brick. She opened her mouth to scream, but no sound came out. Before she could catch her breath and try again, he stuffed a dirty rag in her mouth. He grabbed her roughly by the hair, and slammed her face into the brick. He counted out...softly, as he pounded her skull into the unforgiving brick. One...Her face hurt and somehow felt numb at the same time, her eyes blurry. Two...her eye felt like it was on fire, spots danced and her vision darkened. Three...Time seemed to slow...she slid into darkness. She didn't hear his laughter, or feel the double edged blade slice through her clothing, making shallow cuts on her ribs and legs.

When she woke, there was duct tape over her mouth. She was still in the alley. Her head was pressed against the rough ground. He had moved the garbage dumpster to the center of the alley. The boxes piled around it blocked the view of the street. Dimly, she knew that if she couldn't see the street, no one could see them either. Parts of her body felt as if it were on fire, while other parts were numb. He was on top of her, breathing on her. Her throat ached. She couldn't see very well through her blurred vision. One eye was swollen completely shut. Alexandria knew she was naked. The breeze on her bare flesh was cold, and she became even more aware of her surroundings. 

His heavy body cut off the circulation in her lungs with every motion of him on top of her. She gasped for shallow breaths through her nose and moaned in pain through the duct tape. She felt every motion, her arms pinned in front by her own body weight, and her legs and hips pinned by him. She was on her stomach. The rough, cold gravel and rock dug into her ribs and chest. Shards of glass imbedded in the tender skin of her stomach and breasts. He grunted above her, pushing her down even harder. Her insides burned like fire every time he moved in her. He was so heavy. She couldn't move. Couldn't breathe...

"God...please...make him stop..." She prayed, silently. She screamed in agony when he slammed into her harder and faster. Finally, mercifully, he was done... He rested on top her back for a minute, breathing his sour breath into her face. 

"Were you a virgin? That was great...for me..." He laughed, cruel and guttural. He stood and calmly zipped his pants. She was laying on her stomach, with her arms still duct taped in front of her. She lay still, barely breathing. He hummed as he shoved the garbage dumpster back to it original position against the wall. He threw the boxes on top of her, one by one, humming the whole time. Once he was sure no one could see her, he walked out of the alley, and ambled down the sidewalk. No one paid any attention to the man smiling as he crossed to the other side of the street. 

Alexandria wasn't sure how much time had gone by. She drifted in and out of consciousness, but luckily, she was awake when she heard footsteps come into the alley. Someone lifted the lid of the dumpster, and slammed it shut. This was her chance. She kicked a box with all her might, shifting the pile on top of her. 

Caleb jumped back in shock when the mountain of boxes slid to the side and stared in horror when the body of the young woman was revealed. She was bruised and bloody, naked and still. She was staring at him. He thought she was dead until she blinked her good eye and moaned through the duct tape. 

"Oh my God!" He breathed. "Oh God!" He pushed the rest of the boxes away, and knelt down beside her. As carefully as he could, he peeled the duct tape off her mouth. She spat the dirty rag out of her mouth and choked in a deep breath of cool air. Caleb took off his Barnes and Noble work smock and laid it over her. It covered most of her body.

"I'll be right back!" He said. "I'm going to go call 911!" He ran around the corner and back into the bookstore where he worked. He shoved past a customer and grabbed the manager by the arm. He spun her away from the customer and toward the phone behind the counter. 

"Call 911!" He said urgently, trying to catch his breath. "There's a woman in the alley! She's been attacked!" He grabbed a box cutter and ran back out the door before anyone could say anything. 

Ellen Campbell starred after Caleb, shocked. He had never spoken much above a whisper in all the years she had known him. She grabbed the cell phone clipped to her belt, dialed and ran for the back room. She grabbed the multicolored afghan that hung on the back of the break room couch and ran toward the front of the store as fast as she could. 

"911, what is your emergency?" 

"I'm at the Barnes and Noble, at Hollow and 12th street. One of my employees found a woman in the alley beside our building. He says she has been attacked." Ellen said as calmly as she could muster. 

"Ok ma'am, where sending help now. Is the woman conscious?" 

Ellen rounded the corner and saw Caleb peeling the last piece of duct tape off her wrists. She was shaking badly, crying, her dark hair matted to her face. 

"Yes. Oh God...she is naked..." Ellen crouched over her, shielding her body from the view of the street. "She has cuts and bruises all over her body." Ellen told the voice on the other end of the phone. 

"Where is she bleeding from?" Ellen repeated the question to Caleb. 

"Everywhere!" Caleb ground out. He was picking the pieces of glass that he could see from her skin as carefully as he could. 

"It looks like mostly shallow cuts, from glass." Ellen said, putting the blanket over her. "What's your name honey?" She said softly. 

"Xandy." She whispered, hoarse. Her throat ached, her head spun. She was nauseated, and began dry heaving. Caleb held her hair back, rubbing her back gently. Crooning softly. 

"Put pressure on the cuts that look the deepest." Came the voice from the phone.

"Ok..." She pressed her hand over a cut on Xandy's thigh. It was seeping badly, and it looked really close to the main artery. Xandy yelped, heaving again. Acid burned her throat as tears seeped down her face, stinging the abrasions on her cheeks. 

"I'm sorry. We have to stop that bleeding." Ellen said. 

"A medic is on the way." The dispatcher said calmly. 

Caleb was still picking glass from her skin when the sirens blared in front of the building not a minute later. Less than five minutes later cops arrived. They took the information they could before EMT's loaded her up on the stretcher. Caleb blanched and visibly winced as she told them what happened. The medics were ready to move her. 

"Don't leave me again!" She grabbed Caleb's hand. 

"I'm right here." He squeezed her hand gently. 

"Are you her boyfriend?" 

"No. I found her." He said. "I'm going with her to the hospital." He said firmly, looking from Ellen to the cop. The cop looked surprised, but relented when Caleb stared him down. "I'll follow in the cruiser."

"We will find the guy, miss. Don't you worry about a thing." He crooned, patting her hand. Frank Banning had a daughter about her age. He would gladly go to hell and back to track down the bastard who did this. 

Ellen nodded. "Someone should be with her, and I have to stay here and manage the store." She said. "Don't worry about work, Caleb. Stay with her as long as she wants you to. I'll come to the hospital after my shift." By the time they loaded Xandy into the back of the ambulance, a crowd had gathered. The remaining cops taped off the area, gathering evidence while Banning began asking Ellen and the rest of the crowd questions. 

Caleb held her hand all the way to the hospital, watching as the EMT' worked to clean her cuts and stop the bleeding. He rubbed his thumb over her hand and spoke softly to her. "You're safe. Your safe now." Over and over. He didn't know what else to say. Mostly, he felt useless, and he felt like crying with her. He had never seen a woman so badly beaten before. Rage burned in his gut. 

He moved as fast as he could with the EMT's through the door. 

"Sir, you need to stay here." A nurse said, blocking his path. 

"No!" Xandy shrieked. "Stay with me!" They pushed her gently back down on the gurney, a flurry of activity as doctors and nurses swarmed over her. 

"I want to stay with her!" He said.

"We need to examine her, and run tests sir." The nurse said firmly. "You can't stay with her now. Wait here!" 

"Xandy...I'm here..." He shouted past her. "I'll come see you as soon as they let me! I won't leave!" 

It seemed like hours later when they finally let Caleb in to see her again. Banning had come and taken his statement, and talked to the doctor, and spent almost an hour talking to Xandy before he left. He clapped Caleb on the back as he left. "You saved her life you know. Good job son." He said. He slipped Caleb his card. "Call me if you need to. I'll keep in touch on my end too." They both stared at each other, the weight of the situation heavy on both of them.

"Is she going to be ok?" Caleb gulped. 

"Eventually...physically, at least. Her body will heal." Banning said. "Emotionally, psychologically, maybe never." He said. "She's strong though. Stronger than she realizes. Most women block it out, try to forget as soon as possible. She was able to give me details, forced herself to remember. We have enough for a sketch artist. There is an excellent chance we can catch the guy." Frank said. 

"What can I do?" Caleb asked.

"Just hold her hand. Be there. She may want to talk about it, she may not. Speak calmly with her." 

"I don't know what to say to her." He said. "I don't even know her."

"Just listen if she talks. Tell her about yourself. Don't push her to talk about it." Frank said. "She wants to see you. Been asking about you. I think she has a bit of hero worship developing." He said. "It's normal." 

"I'm no hero." Caleb said softly, carefully, his own memories coming to mind. Frank stared at him. The boy obviously had secrets. 

"Today you are." Frank said, nodding toward the door to her room. "To her, you're a hero." Banning walked away.



Second Chances Ch. 01



My stories of late have taken a turn to the dark side. I have decided to take one in a different direction. 

This story is based on a true story about a guy, who was in my unit in the military, before Ipads, cell phones and E-mail.



My name is Jon, I am 26 years old, married to Susan, who is 25. We have been married for 5 years and no children. We live in San Diego where I am stationed.

The unit I am in is a RPU, Rapid Deployment Unit, similar to the one in the tv show, The Unit, only much more mundane, for the most part.

We had been deploying quite often the last couple years. I know that it was taking it's toll on Susan and our marriage. Her job as a nurse kept her busy but I know she was down in the dumps about all the time I was gone.

I could be called away at a moments notice and never knew when I was coming back. This is what happened this time. I got a call at 8PM and told to report for deployment at midnight.

Susan and I managed to get a session of love making in before I had to leave. Little did I know that it would be the last time we would make love before a deployment.

I was gone about 3 months. Because of where I was and what I was doing, I only got mail when I came back into a base. Sometimes that was as long as a month. In the first three months I got a letter a week. She would number them on the envelope so I could read them in sequence.

The next op in the field, I got shot and had to be flown to Germany for reconstructive surgery on my left arm and rehab for it and my left leg. The letters stopped coming.

As I said there were no cell phones, so I had no way of contacting her until I got to Germany and was able to call home. I called once a day, but after 4 days of no answer, I called a buddy back home to have him check up on her and find out what was wrong. I gave him a number he could get a hold of me on.

Next day I received a call from him. Susan was gone. The landlady said all of her stuff was gone and only mine and the furniture were still there and she was waiting to see what to do with it. The rent was overdue by a month. 

I asked him if he could get some help to move it to a storage facility until I could get home. He said he could.

I finally got home two months later and had no idea where to look for her. Her Dad or brother hadn't heard from her. She had not reported for work in weeks. Our friends had no idea where she was. She had just disappeared.

I was finally sent back to San Diego for rehab. I found that she had taken half of our savings and $250 a month from the allotment I had been sending to the checking accont.

My rehab was coming along good and I finally got sent back to my unit and the deployments started again and went on for years. I had a hard time at first. I missed Susan so much. I had no idea what happened to her. She had just vanished. The $250 a month was withdrawn every month, though. I had long ago lowered the allotment to just that much. If nothing more than to let me know, that she was still alive somewhere and I think she did it for the same reason.

By the time I had 15 years in, I started having problems with my leg and was unable to do my job, so they medically retired me. I was able to get a job on the base, so I stayed in San Diego.

I started paying more attention to my health. I would go to the gym everyday and would do a slow jog every day after work along Mission Bay. 

Saturday mornings I would do my jog, so I could spend the day at the beach. But this one Saturday, I had a hangover, so I didn't go jogging until mid morning.

After I finished and stretched, I laid back on the grass to relax and watch the people walk by. Some interesting characters. 

I saw a woman and a young girl walking towards me and my heart skipped a beat and I got light headed. There was Susan with a young blonde girl, I guessed to be about 9 or 10. 

It took all I had to get up and walk towards them. Susan was talking to the girl, when she looked up and saw me. 

He hand went to cover her mouth, as she saw me she dropped to the ground, starting to cry. I ran over to her. 

"Susan, Susan where have you been." She looked up at me and burst out crying again. 

"Why did my Mom fall down and cry when she saw you Mister."

"Your Mom is my wife. She left a long time ago."

By now people were all around us wanting to know what happened and was she alright.

I told them she was alright, just a little dizzy.

"Help me get your Mom over on the grass. What's your name."

"Jennifer."

Oh, my God, that was the name we had picked for a girl, when we started our family. But she was a blonde and there are no blondes on either side of the family.

By the time we got Susan laying down on the grass she had composed herself, threw her arms around me and said, "Jon, I am so sorry."

Jennifer said, "You look kinda like a picture Mom has on her dresser. Only older."

I helped her up and got her into my truck. Susan was in a daze, just staring at me.

"Jennifer where do you live?''

"Pacific Beach, I will show you. We walked here."

"How long have you lived there?"

"All my life."

She had been right here all along. She never left San Diego.

When we got to their place, we put her in bed and Jennifer got her undressed and covered her up.

"Where is your Dad, Jennifer?"

"I don't have a Dad. When I asked Mom about that, she told me she made a bad mistake and I would never have a Dad. It was just her and me."



"Who are you. You said Mom is your wife. That makes you my Dad." How do you answer that.

"Listen, when your Mom wakes up and is feeling better, we will sit down and explain this all to you. I don't want to say anything until she is with us."

She said , "Okay." Pretty resilient kid, I thought and the more I looked at her the more of her Mom I saw in her, but none of me. 

What the hell happened. I guess I would know soon enough.

Susan woke a couple of hours later. I heard her go into the bathroom and when she came out she was crying.

I went into her bedroom. She looked at me and came to me, put her arms around me. I hugged her back and told her we need to sit down with Jennifer and talk but first we needed to talk, just the two of us.

"What happened, why did you disappear. I had no idea where to look for you. No one, family, friends or the hospital, knew anything. Where did you go?"

"After you left that day, I was so lonely. We had hardly any time together since you last got home. Then I got pissed and went to the club on base, on that Friday night."

"I had a couple drinks and danced with some of the guys, when this blond hunk came up to me and offered to buy me a drink if I danced with him. He bought, I drank, we danced and the next thing I know I am in a bed in a motel, by myself and it was morning. By the mess and soreness, I knew that I had sex in both holes."

"I was devastated and went straight home and tried to get my life back together. I didn't even remember his name, if I ever knew it. I went back to the club to find him the next two Friday nights, but he was not there."

"Then I missed my first period. Then the second. The home test showed positive. I went off the deep end. You were gone, I had no idea what I was going to do. So I took half our money and some I had saved for us to go on a nice vacation and went to Portland. A woman that worked at the hospital, had moved there and told me if we ever got up that way to look her up. I called her and told her my situation and she let me live with her until after the baby was born."

"I knew as soon as I saw her that she was not yours."

"Now that I had a baby to care for, I got a job in a preschool as an aide and took classes in Early Childhood Development. That is what I used the $250 I took from your account for.

"Portland was not for me so as soon as I had saved up enough money I moved back here. Gail was good enough to let us stay with her, so I could save most of my money.

I am a Preschool and Kindergarten teacher in a private Christian school. I love it.

"I have not dated, even once, since then. It has been only Jennifer and me. Now you are back in my life and I don't know what to do or even who I am now."

"Tell me about your life since then." She said.

"Did you know I had been shot and spent a lot of time in the hospital and rehab?"

"NOOOOOOO, Oh god, no."

"I was hit in the right shoulder and leg and needed reconstructive surgery and months of rehab. I was able to do my job, for 5 more years and then I started to have problems with my leg, so they medically discharged me last year. I am working on the base now and working out in the gym and jogging each day. I wouldn't even have been there this late, if I hadn't partied to hard last night and had a hangover this morning. So I came jogging a couple hours later. Then I saw you."

"Jon, did you ever divorce me. I abandoned you."

"No, Susan, I never did. I couldn't afford to have a PI look for you and thought that maybe you would show up sooner or later. As time went on I just never considered filing for divorce. I really didn't see the need as I decided to never get married again. I had found the one true love in my life, you, and you were gone, so I figured what the hell. I've dated a few times over the years but never more than once with anyone."

"Susan, I have to say this...........I never stopped loving you, I still love you. I just don't know where to go from here, now that we are face to face again and what about Jennifer. Our name for our first daughter."

"I never even considered naming her anything but Jennifer. We need to sit down with her and talk like you said, she is pretty savvy for a nine year old, going on 20. She knows most of what happened but not the details."

"Yah, I know. She told me she has no Dad, just you and her and that I looked like the picture on your dresser, only older and since I told her you were my wife, she said that if you were my wife, that I must be her Dad. I told her we would talk with her when you were up and feeling better."

"Jon, I never stopped loving you and I hoped you never stopped loving me. I knew that this day would come, just never thought it would be today. But one question, why did you keep putting that $250 dollars in the account each month?"

"As long as you kept taking it I knew you were still alive and well. After I got retired I kept doing it for the same reason. The whole situation was so bizarre. I just left things the way they were.

She started crying again. "That is why I kept taking it. I wanted to let you know I was still out here but couldn't face you. I know it was selfish of me to take your money, but it helped, honey, it helped me get through some hard times."

"I hoped that was what it was all about. It is amazing that after this many years, that we hadn't at least caught a glimpse of each other." I said.

"Susan, we need to get with Jennifer, soon. She can't be kept wondering what is going on and going to happen now."

"What do you want to happen, Jon. Now that you know do we get divorced and get on with our lives?"

"Susan, it is not what I want, but what we want. I know I still love you, but I would need to fall "in love" with you again. I want to at least give it a try, but if you want a divorce to get on with your life, I will grant you one.'

"No, I think I want to see where this goes, with us back in each other's lives and with a child that only belongs to one of us. That could be a sticking point."

"What me not being her biological Dad. I'm not sure that would be a problem. We just gotta talk with her."

"Lets go get something to eat and see how she is taking all of this. Then we may have a better idea of how to approach this with her." She agreed. We got Jennifer and went to dinner.

"When are we going to sit down and talk about the three of us, Mom?"

I'm thinking, "the three of us." This nine year old girl seems to have a better handle on this than the adults involved.

"Whenever you want to, sweetie."

"When we get home. This is weird. Your husband is not my father. You need to explain how that is. You said you made a bad mistake and that is why I have no father. 

I figured I would start out with how things were before her mother started. 

"Jennifer, your Mom and I were together for 5 years, before she left, that was when she found out she was pregnant with you. I was gone a lot of the time. My job called me to work at all hours of the night and day and I never knew when I was coming home. This was very hard on your Mom. She never knew if I was alive until she saw me come home. I think she got lonely and needed a friend and that is where you came into the picture. Do you understand any of this?"

"Yah, Mom fooled around and got pregnant with me." We both looked at her in astonishment.

"Honey, did you just now figure this out."

"No Mom, there are lots of kids like me, that have no Dad. Their Mom's fooled around and got pregnant or their Dads left. I know all about that. I just want to know what's gonna happen now."

I could see Susan was at a lose for words.

I asked Jennifer, "What would you like to see happen?"

"I'm not deaf, I heard you and Mom talking. I want to see you fall in love again with my Mom and her fall in love again with you, then we could be a family and you could be my Dad. I heard you say that Jennifer was the name you both picked out for your daughter, well here I am, Jennifer."

My eyes starting to tear up. I looked at Susan and she was too. This kid had it all figured out. 

So much had happened in the last 8 hours. 

"Okay, here is what I think we should do. Lets all sleep on it tonight. Absorb what has happened since noon and I will come back when you and your Mom want me to. I won't interfere in your lives any more until then. 

As I left, I kneeled down by Jennifer and whispered in her ear, "I would love to be your Dad." She smiled and walked into the house. As I got into my truck, I saw Jennifer looking out the window. Damn, she is still the love of my life. Even after all that has happened. 

I guess maturity has a way of letting you look at things more clearly. I couldn't even get mad at her. I think I have forgiven her everything. Not only that, she is not that fresh faced 25 year old anymore. She is a beautiful, more mature looking 35 year old. 

Susan called me on Wednesday and wanted to know if I wanted to go with them to Jennifer's soccer game. I said sure.

While we watched the game, Susan said that her and Jennifer want me in their lives, but not living with them until we get to know each other again. 

"Do you want to keep our marital status as is or what?"

"I want to keep it the way it is for now. If we find we are no longer compatible then we will look at starting the process but you know what, I have a feeling that is not going to be necessary. I have to see how Jennifer gets on with you. That is a major concern right now but once again it looks like that may not be a problem either."

The three of us got together at least 4 or 5 times a week. I was falling in love with my wife again and I believed that the feeling was mutual. Jennifer asked if she could call me Daddy Jon. I told her it was okay with me if it was okay with her Mom. 

Susan and I dated and I felt the intimacy returning. It took awhile but I feel I convinced her that I did not hold it against her for leaving and not coming back. To much time had lapsed since that time, over 10 years ago.

We had not slept together yet. Both of us were ready and I knew it would happen soon. It had been over 2 months now since that day at the Bay.

Jennifer had a sleep over at a friends house on Friday evening, so Susan and I had the whole night to ourselves. After we had gone out to dinner, I asked her what she wanted to do and she said, "Let's go home. I want to be with you tonight. I want you to hold me and kiss me and make love to me like we used to. I am ready to be your wife again, that is if you will have me."

"There is nothing I want more than to have you as my wife again. I love you, like never before and I feel that I have fallen in love with you again."

"I feel the same way and my love for you has never been stronger. Lets give our new relationship time to grow again but in the meantime, I want to us to think about a date sometime in the future to renew our marriage vows. Except this time I want us to write our own to each other."

"You have given this some thought, haven't you Susan"

"Yes I have and while I don't want to drag this out I don't want to jump head long into this without thinking it through, because we would have Jennifer to consider, also."

"But in any case, we are going to make love to each other tonight and in the morning we will see how we feel about things. Jennifer will be home by 9, so she'll know that you stayed over and we'll see her reaction to that. I guess this will be either the beginning of a second chance at love or no chance at all."

Part II will undoubtedly be in another genre. Romance, Erotic Coupling, Loving Wives one never knows at this point.



Second Chances Ch. 01



I took a red-eye flight out of SFO, San Francisco Airport. Couldn't wait until I got back home to Cleveland. I haven't seen Jerry in over 10 days, and I'll be a day and a half early. The project we're working on is another Big Data installation and development. It's gotten to a lull while more hardware was being installed and tested.

It's been a rough week and a half. Damn CEO client thinks all he has to do is write the check, snap his fingers and the next day he'll be up and running. He's paying our practice more to get it quicker, so I really shouldn't mind, but I do. I'm on salary and I have to bring in billable hours, but that means he owns my time. Its feeling like he owns my life. The things I do to get ahead...

I've been living with Jerry for the past year. It's his condo, but we split expenses down the middle. It's cheaper than a good apartment on my own. To top it off, I get a lover and looking like a very husband-to-be in the deal. But it hasn't been a great year for us.

The bloom's off the rose in our relationship. It could go further, but we've both been preoccupied with work. We both work crazy hours and I've spent more time on the road this year than I have in the past three since graduation. I'm still keen on Jerry, but I started to realize that we're in a difficult situation. I'm an independent woman, I know what I want, I think?

The cab dropped me off and the distance from the street to the front stairs was short, but the distance inside to our unit was long. The person who figured out that putting wheels on suitcases should go to heaven. If I start my laundry now, I'd be able to put together a surprise dinner for the two of us. I wheeled the suitcase to the laundry closet in the back. Special dinner for us here I come. This getting home a day and a half early will really be worth it for us. 

I plopped my suitcase on the table next to the laundry closet. Bed sheets were ready to be washed. Jerry doesn't wash sheets. He's not good at all with laundry. This didn't feel right, not right at all. I picked them up, I saw no stains of an accident, but the sheets have an unfamiliar scent. 

Perfume. Somebody elses perfume and a different person's scent. And Jerry's cum. 

A split second to understand. He wasn't alone in our bed. I never thought something like this would happen with Jerry. He's not that kind of guy? I have to get out of here right now. I wasn't supposed to be home, and I won't be. I have to think things out. If I call my brother Dave, he'll come by and pick me up immediately. With luck, I can be out of here in 15 minutes. Faster than a cab. 

I rang him up. "Hey Dave. Could you pick me up at the condo right now? It's important." I heard a yes. "Great, I'll be looking out for you when you pull up. Bye." I arranged everything back to what it looked like when I arrived and headed to the front door wheeling my suitcase back down that much longer hallway.

As he pulled up at the front of the condo, I threw my suitcase in the back seat then jumped in the car. "Just drive me away from here as fast as you can."

"Hey Sandy, what's going on?"

"Dave, I got home about a day and a half early to see sheets in the laundry. They stank of perfume. Not my brand. Can I stay with you until I figure out what to do?"

My brother Dave is in IT too. Information Technology. He likes the hardware, firmware and the interactions between the two. When he's in the mood, he programs in assembler for fun. That's machine language. He's built himself a good business designing, installing and troubleshooting specialized equipment that operates over the net and on networks. I work with Big Data. We're geeks.

We drove those 10 minutes to his house in silence, silence that I needed. He pulled into his driveway, yanked out my suitcase, grabbed my left arm and marched me to the kitchen. It was about 11 AM and lunch was on his mind. I'd lost any appetite a half hour ago. He made a fresh pot of coffee to get me going and to calm me down. Working 14 hours days for weeks on end has made me dependent on coffee. 

After we settled down a bit, he started talking. "Ok, you get home, the sheets smelling of perfume are next to the washer. I'm not defending anybody or anything, but we're analysts. What else could it be?" He paused and with a silly grin on his face he said, "Is he a little?" and he swished his hand to the side. "Does he like dress up?" There had to be a look of shock on my face, but he continued. "He could be a closet transvestite. I've met a few over the years." Now with a real seriousness he continued, "Look, at this point you really don't know. That's my point. Whether you'd want to stay with him if this was the case, that's up to you. But right now there is no sure way to know." 

I'm crest fallen. Getting angry and hurt is normal, but thinking things out is what I do for a living. This is going to be more painful work on my part. We sat in silence. But then Dave continued, "Do you still have the Raspberry Pi box I built for you in your bedroom?" I nodded yes. "Then wait right here." He stood up and continued, "And have something to eat before you do anything else." He pushed the makings of a sandwich toward me as he left the kitchen.

For his own use, Dave built for himself a little raspberry Pi video jukebox system. At the retail computer stores, he bought individual plug in computer modules including a Linux operating system and programmed it to do exactly what he wanted to do - serve up movies like a juke box and connect to the net when he wanted to. He ripped all his DVD movies to files, converted them to blu-ray, and then loaded them on to USB 3 drives. He's got a library of about 400 + titles, a third of them for the kids. His TV, cable box and blu-ray player are all controlled by his remote that controls the little Pi box. He gave me a set-up like that for last Christmas and we installed it in the bedroom to watch movies.

I was munching on a capicola and ham with soft assiago on a slice of roman style bread. Comfort food has always calmed me down. He came back with a little something in his hand. "I've made a few nanny cams to plug into my Pi boxes to monitor what the baby sitters were doing. One 14 year old girl we really liked we never asked back. She was going into the vodka and replacing it with water."

He held up a 1 inch cube with a thin wire and a connector at the end of it. "All we need to do is to plug this end into the Pi box connector strip and have the black face pointed toward the bed. If I remember correctly, your dresser that holds the PI is a bit messy? It won't be noticed?" I nodded yes, it was my dresser, not Jerry's immaculately clean and completely organized one. "I've still got admin privileges to your router, server and Pi box. I can handle the rest."

"Wow Dave, I've never thought about spying on anyone. And you make it so easy." The realization of what I just said triggered something in me. I started to tear up, then I broke into full sobs. My brother held me close, "Dave, It's all about trust. It's the trust with other people, the loss of trust with Jerry that hurts. Our relationship hasn't been the greatest lately. Both of us working crazy hours. We're both starting out in our fields. We have to do it now to get ahead. We've cooled off from us, and when I try to liven it up, I get another assignment across country. 

"The thing is, I have to know this. It's the trust issue that's most important for me. We can't continue, we can't go forward, I won't go forward without trust." I hung my head in silence for a minute when I quietly asked, "When can we install it?"

"Grab that sub and the 10 minute drive to get there means we get back here by 12:15. He's due home at?"

"About 6 PM, and I wasn't due home until tomorrow. I'll also grab my spare laptop from work. He has no idea where I keep it so it won't be missing."

True to his plan, we're back at my brother's place on time. He had pulled something out of the freezer to defrost to throw on the grill later. I contacted my work and as expected, was asked to return. Something big broke and the customer was nervous. I scheduled a red-eye flight out the next morning at 5 am. 

Dave and his wife Terry wined and dined me all evening. It was great to spend time with them and play with my nieces. That evening with them is what I needed. After the kids were put to bed, I was able to think out, to talk out what was happening. Both of them asked hard questions. They listened to my answers, my answers that may have started saying one thing and ended up as something completely different. The worse part of it, both answer parts were true.

Dave drove me to the airport leaving after 4 the next morning. He was always great for supporting me. "Sandy, no matter what happens, you need to understand. You've invested two years with this guy. You've been living together for a year. If this went south, stand up, shake off the dust from your clothes, and find the rest of your life. You're better than this. You deserve more. Now knock 'em dead on this Big Data job." With a hug from my big brother, I walked into the airport, looking for the express security lane.

When I arrived at the San Francisco Airport, I sent a text to Jerry telling him that the job needed me to make schedule and I couldn't come home this weekend. I didn't answer the phone to make sure that he left me a voice mail back.

By the end of my work day, I got an email from Dave. He said that I was right, he wasn't. He sent me the links to his server and I saw the video file. There was Jerry and Diana from his work going at it on our bed. It was only hours since I sent him the message, and he was going at it like no tomorrow.

Blond, blue eyed, 5' 9", pretty and thin to the point of being barely short of an eating disorder, Diana. In this corner is 5' 2", brown eyed, plain, and over wieght by 15 pounds, Sandy. It's bimbo verses brain. Bimbo won the 6' 1" blond blue eyed boyfriend.

I sent an email back to Dave thanking him for his help. I told him that I didn't think that there wasn't enough investment in the relationship for me to want to save it. Last night I talked with the two of them about a job offer in Oregon that I just received. It was for working in Big Data. More money and at higher technical level and no travel. My career was starting to move. Jerry the Accountant was still his entry level position after 2 years. It was also tax season. He had to work extra hours to prepare for the audits.

I took the next two weeks to get that job. There were five interviews. It began with a half hour phone interview with personnel, another hour with the potential boss. Then three in-person interviews with boss, the work team and the final one with the CEO. I got the on-site ones done over 24 hours during the 2 days I was scheduled to be there. It felt like a good fit all along and they offered the job to me that day.

My remaining 15 hours in Portland gave me time to find an apartment to sublet. The gods were smiling on me that day and I found one in the trendy area near the office that just opened up that morning. I signed and immediately had my mail forwarded there. 

I asked my brother to collect packing materials and organize friends for a quick move. Once against my better judgment, I watched a Diana and Jerry sex show file on my brother's server. It made me sick, but it also made it easier to leave. I still didn't know how I was going to tell him I was leaving, but I thought that getting away in the middle of the night was one of my better options.

I needed to finish up some issues with my current job and that was going to take another two weeks, so I told Jerry that I'd have to stay at the customer site till then. He sounded sad. Fucking that blond bimbo on the side and he's sad?

The last two weeks I was away was heavy tax season time for Jerry and he was working late every night of the week. He was also unexpectedly assigned to do an audit in Columbus for a couple of days. I really didn't care anymore. I needed to move on and emotionally move forward and away from him. 

One day Dave called me on the phone. "Sandy, you've got to see this, you've just got to see this. Go to the web cam" and he hung up. I opened my personal laptop and saw Diana fucking somebody new. Jerry was out of town, I had gotten a text from him yesterday. He was in Columbus, hours away. There she was fucking somebody called Don.

I heard a text arrive on my phone from my brother. "Don is her boss listen"

It was obvious that this wasn't the first time they were screwing each other. Appears that Dianna has a full time job at the office and another part time job fucking Don, the boss two levels up. Suddenly I'm starting to understand that this is not just about Jerry. I called my brother and we talked about it. He's been keeping up on their sessions. I'm wondering why? I don't know. Cheap thrills maybe? 

"Dave, what does this have to do with me anymore? You know it's over for me, he just hasn't found out yet. So she's screwing a couple more guys. What's it matter to me now?" 

"Sandy, you're not that shallow. I know you and I love you as only your brother can. Look at yesterday's session. It's pretty short. You'll see something."

I connected up with Dave's server and easily found the session. If it was a non-IT user, it'd had a descriptive name. Here among the geeks, the file name is YYYY_MM_DD_HH24_MM_SS. Nothing creative, but machine created and easy to find. It was a rather small file, compared with the others. I pulled up the session up and waited.

There was Jerry and Diana walking into the bedroom. He wasn't looking very happy about something. She playfully grabbed his ass from behind. After a few minutes of small talk, she started to undress Jerry. 

Why do I have to watch this? Why shouldn't I just turn it off? I am more pissed at my brother as each second slips on by. Why watch? Because my brother asked me to, and I trust my brother. Damn him. Why do I have to go through more pain? I waited. 

Jerry's not in the mood, he's really not in the mood. Now she's starting to talk about me. Real motor mouth and she's pretty damn nasty. Not only is she screwing my boyfriend in our bed, she is dissing me something fierce. That little ... and that jerk of a boyfriend is saying... Hey wait a minute. Jerry tossed her hands away from him. 

Jerry was verbally laying into her. He was upfront and in her face. He told her that she had no right to say anything like that. That they both were the ones with a problem. He's going on for a couple of minutes, never letting her get a word in edgewise. I see her face go from power and control, and as Jerry continues, it fades to sorrow, then to an edge of anger. He finally tells her that it's over for today and it would be better if she left now. 

As Jerry turned around to leave the bedroom, I saw a Diana make a vicious angry face at the back of his head. Then with both hands, flipped him a double bird. That's maturity if I ever saw it before. As they left the bedroom to leave, I heard Diana apologize to Jerry in a very sorry tone for saying bad things about me. That's a class act there, I know that Jerry has bigger problems with Diana then he realizes. Still, it was nice that he defended me, to his mistress. Oh whatever, I'm moving on.

A day later I got another email from Dave. There's another somebody new in Jerry's bed while he's in Columbus. I open the file and it's his co-worker Jason. I always knew that Don was a letch and I tried to keep away from him. His hands roamed whenever he was around young women. But Jason was nice, he wasn't a jerk. Jason's married and he and Loretta were trying to have a baby. We're social friends with them. This is all getting worse. Both men are married. Dan has two children. I feel so sorry for their wives. I'm realizing that I feel so sorry for me too. I've not grieved about the loss of this relationship. With these two married men, this is pain that keeps on spreading. I have to do something.

The next Friday was finally going to be D-day for Jerry and me. I'd set it up with him to meet at a fine restaurant directly after his work. It's a short distance from his work and that'll not give him a reason to go home first. I'll officially take a cab straight from the airport. It'll be my good bye dinner for him, but he won't know that until later. It's officially been a month since I've been home. 

It's over. His screwing around, both of us more committed to our careers than to the relationship...it's not meant to be.

On Thursday morning, Dave met me at the airport. Till Friday morning, I'll be with Dave and Terry. Then I'll be at a hotel till I leave on Saturday morning. He might try to find me at Dave's house. I also scheduled a connecting flight from Cleveland to Denver to Portland, not the direct flight. He won't know that. I don't want Jerry attempting to see me at all. 

On the drive to Dave's home, we talked about the flight and Portland and anything but Jerry and leaving. "I can't wait to spend some quality time with my nieces. I know that they are 3 and 1, but they're as cute as buttons and the older one calls me Zia Sandy."

"Sandy, their eyes light up when you're here. You starting a new job means no time off for awhile." Being with family is great, no matter what.

I knew being with them all now makes a big difference. The past month of Jerry's indiscretions have been more that I should have had. It's just too much. Dave had a couple of friends lined up to help me pack on Friday morning while Jerry's at work. I figured that we'll get there after he leaves at 7AM and we'll be out of there by 11. His bedroom use tended to be after noon. Dave will monitor Jerry's location in his phone so we'd know he shows up there before dinner. If he does, then it's no goodbye dinner. 

There were 4 of my brother's friends on a workday Friday, all taking the morning off to help. They took direction well and understood when I would occasionally break down. We did well, getting in at 8 and leaving at 10:30. Back at Dave's house, Terry was there helping me to sort out and package what I wanted to ship. She kept me busy, but she allowed me to grieve.

I've never liked acting, not being real. That's probably one of the reasons that I used to be attracted to Jerry. I could be real with him. I thought that he was real with me. Now I'll meet him at the restaurant. I have to put on an act. I wanted to wack him over the head, I wanted to yell and scream at him, I wanted to cry my eyes out, but none of that will ever happen with him. I know that there's going to be bit of a lack of closure, but vanishing to Portland I think is the best way to go. A bit of payback will be this romantic dinner followed by an empty condo.

I monitored my 'flight' to make sure that my story would be kept straight. I was due in at 4 and could reasonably be at the restaurant by 4:45. I walked in rolling my suitcase at 5 and Jerry was sitting at the bar. He ran up to me and gave me a big hug. That's when I started pretending, I hate pretending.

It's been a month since we saw each other. Jerry was honestly happy to see me, but a bit on edge. We talked about work, and traveling, nothing of real substance. The jerk looked at me funny, like he wanted to tell me he was cheating, but I switched the tone of the conversation when ever that happened. I wasn't going to give him a chance. We drifted, he cheated, it was over. Case closed.

As Jerry was paying the bill, Dave and Terry 'unexpectedly' showed up at the restaurant and greeted me. We broke into a conversation for a few minutes, isolating Jerry. I glanced over at him and told him that I'd like to have a drink with them, and they'll drop me off at the condo when we're finished. He wasn't happy about that, but agreed. I gave him a peck on the cheek and said goodbye and he left. As he disappeared out of sight, we left and they dropped me off at the hotel near the airport. There was no way I wanted Jerry to get in contact with me from now on.




Second Chances Ch. 01



I left a note on the kitchen table for him. "Dear Jerry, Sorry it didn't work out. I've been exclusive, and I'm sorry that you weren't. I hope you and Diana have a good life together. I've taken a new position on the west coast and have removed all the things that are mine that I want. It's better this way. Goodbye, Sandra."

A couple of days after I got settled in to Portland, I got a call from Dave. "Sandy, it went... well, let me just tell you what happened. On Saturday, Jerry and Diana walked into the bedroom. She had already removed her blouse and was trying to entice Jerry to go to bed with her. The TV set suddenly turned on and they saw themselves in a live feed on the TV. There was soft romantic music playing in the background. Great touch on my part? Both were shocked and still.

"Then your pre-recorded voice came on. "I do leave you two without much anger and resentment. I'm sorry Jerry that you couldn't be trusted. I'm sure that you'll understand how that feels. I think that you want to stay till the end of these clips."

"Diana was looking very worried and tried to turn off the TV, but the remote didn't work. My low tech wonder, I put in simple piece of paper to cover the battery contact. 

"The first clip showed them going at it, the next she's dissing Sandy, telling him she is all his and she can't wait until your relationship was over.

"Then he sees Diana and her boss Dan on several different days, all date and time stamped. Then it's her going at it with Jason.

"I heard another gasp from her when then a picture of Jason's wife Loretta popped up. I followed it up with a picture of Dan and his wife June and their two children under the age of 9. Jerry was frozen. Diana was frantic. 

"Then your recorded voice came on again, "Yes, both of their wives have seen these scenes with Diana. In fact, both have been given live and used the feeds for this for the past weeks while I was in California.

"I've left you these videos. I do hope that you and Diana can patch things up. Oh yes, you'll need to get tested. Both of the wives have been. You are aware that there may be no symptoms right away?

"So now Jerry, do you understand about trust now?

"Take care and Good bye, Sandy"



Second Chances Ch. 01



“Det. Ross, this is Rory Baldacci.”

“Nice to meet you.” He said in his most suave voice, holding out his hand to shake hers.  He had to fight the urge to kiss her hand, wanting nothing more than to make her swoon the way he had with women back in California.

Rory rolled her eyes and shook his hand, shaking her head slightly as she turned back to look over the scene. 

“What’s wrong with this scene?” She asked her new partner, not missing a beat as McCartney turned to yell at the young cop from the hallway as he walked through the puddle of blood, tracking footprints everywhere.

Daniel was taken back by the slight southern accent in her voice. Something about her appearance had her pegged as a city girl, born and bred. 

“Umm…The victim isn’t hanging from the rope?” He said, being a wise guy, but at the same time, not sure what to tell this girl.

“Funny.” Rory said, glaring at him. “The window’s open, smart guy.”

“What’s unusual about that?” Daniel asked, looking over at the window. “People open their windows all the time in LA.”

“Winter in New York. You don’t keep your window open, that’s for damn sure. Looking out the window, you would see the fire escape within reach. The person who did this wasn’t seen because he didn’t walk out the front door, just like the first case.”

“You mean to tell me there’s a serial killer on the loose?”

“Welcome to New York, Det. Ross.” Rory said, sarcastically as she started writing on the pad of paper again.

Daniel couldn’t help but notice the odd way she clutched the pad in her left hand, the tightness of her fingers left wrinkled marks on the page. Her handwriting was hard to decipher, almost childlike in its crooked letters like she had never used her right hand to write before. 

She didn’t wear any jewelry on her arms or fingers, although her hands were beautiful to say the least. Long, graceful fingers that were tipped in elegant French tips. Daniel couldn’t help but think that he had the pick of the litter standing right here in front of him.

“Mind if I looked over your notes?”

“Knock yourself out.” Rory answered, holding out the notebook to him. “Hey doc,” She shouted across the room to the medical examiner, not missing a beat. “How much longer?”

“Just have to bag and tag her.” He muttered as a stretcher was brought through the door with a body bag spread over the metal surface.

“Thinks he has a sense of humor.” Rory whispered to Daniel, a small almost smile showing on her full lips. Daniel laughed softly, squinting to try and make sense of the writing before him. “Well, no sense in waiting around here. Just have to wait for the photos to come back from the lab and we can start piecing together a suspect.”


“I thought you said that you had another case like this.”

“We do, but it’s kind of hard to pin specifics to one person off one case. You have a lot to learn about big city crimes, Ross.” She said with a laugh as she grabbed the notebook out of his hands and started out of the apartment.

Daniel was in awe of this woman, so fiery and bold. If anyone were in doubt of how strong she was, all they had to do was watch the way she walked. Head held high, shoulders squared with her hips swaying with grace. It was that left hand that caught Daniel’s attention again: curled tightly into a fist although she wasn’t carrying anything in it. Something he would have to ask her about later he decided as he hurried out of the room behind her.

“Hey. I’m going to need a ride back to the precinct. Had to take a taxi to get here.” He shouted to her as he rushed to follow her down the fire escape, some of the other cops snickering at him as he followed her like a puppy.

Rory stopped somewhere between the fourth and third floor, a few officers grumbling as they sidestepped her on their way to the ground. She turned to face him, her brown eyes blazing as she stared at him. “I’m not a taxi service.”

“I didn’t say that.” Daniel said quickly, disturbed by her standoffishness. “Jesus, why are you so defensive?”

Rory sighed, running her left hand absently over her hair. Again, it as still clenched tightly, never straightening her fingers. “I’m sorry. Just haven’t worked with a partner in over a year.”

“So, how about that ride, partner?” He asked, his light green eyes wide and pouty as Rory shook her head and turned from him with a sigh. “I take that as a yes.”

“Once. Just this once.” She said over her shoulder.

Daniel just laughed as they started back down the fire escape. Rory nodded to the first officer who Daniel had seen, pushing through the throng of people who had gathered at the first sign of flashing lights. 

Struggling to keep up with her brisk pace, Daniel felt winded by the time they reached her small black Mini Cooper at the end of the block. Rory quickly opened her door and sat in the car, waiting for the heater to defrost the windshield. 

He stood outside, looking back down the street, wondering again just why he left LA and how long it would take to get back there if he caught the next flight out.

“You coming?” Rory shouted from the inside of the car and Daniel quickly got in, looking over his partner once more as she pulled out into the street, heading off through the snow towards the precinct. This was going to be a very interesting job.

*******

Chapter 2 coming soon: Rory and Daniel get to know each other as the mysterious man strikes again. 



Second Chances Ch. 02



Rory stood outside the large storeroom at the docks, listening intently to the men speaking on the other side of the door.  All were speaking Spanish, not a problem really, she could fluently speak the language, but it was what they were saying that made her flesh crawl.  Drug shipment, a huge one worth millions of dollars that four men had already died over, was going to be delivered in two days time to this location.  This was the break in the case that she had been waiting months for.

With a deep breath, she checked her bulletproof vest once more and turned off the radio in her hand, stuffing it into the pocket of her slacks.  Justin and a small group of backup was no more than five minutes away, but if she waited any longer, the men would get away.  She had seen the black cars situated outside as she silently made her way into the warehouse, warrant in hand.  She wasn’t Lorelei anymore, the woman who was always sharply dressed and charming.  Now it was her time to show them Detective Rory Baldacci, the smart and able cop who was going to bring them all down.  

Pulling her gun from it’s holster on her hip, she turned and gave a swift kick to the door, her eyes narrowed in determination as the five men inside snapped their attentions to her in an instant.  

“Put your hands up!”  She screamed, getting blank looks from all around the table.  “Ponga sus manos para arriba!”  She shouted at them, getting a chuckle from an older gentleman sitting at the head of the table.

Arturo Sagranda, one of the biggest drug czars in the city, sat there his tan face lined as he laughed at the woman.  Dressed in his Armani suits and expensive shoes, he cut an imposing figure in the city, striking fear into people’s hearts with just one glance of his coal black eyes.  

“You’re serious?”  He asked, his voice thick with a Spanish accent that he had never lost, even in his thirty years living in America.

Rory stood her ground, gun aimed at the men in front of her.  “I’m very serious, Sagranda.  Tell them to get their hands up and dispose of any weapons they have.”  She stated, her eyes watching each of the five men intently for any sudden movements.  

They all looked to Sagranda for an explanation, one man even asking him what his son’s girlfriend was doing here.  The statement made Rory angry; she had no ties to Manuel Sagranda except that she had been leading him on for a few months now, enticing him with the hope that one day they could have a relationship.

Rory had been working undercover for the past four months, tailing and getting to know Arturo and his youngest son, Manuel.  She had been working on point for her partner as he infiltrated the gang, gathering financial and physical evidence while Rory was wined and dined by the suave Sagranda’s.  She had even gone so far as to use her real name, adding a bit of mystery to her identity and as far as she could tell, Arturo never caught on that he had two cops so close at hand.  For all he knew, she was joking, just trying to get a piece of the shipment that was coming in.

“Lorelei, if you wanted a piece, all you had to do was ask.”  He said with a another laugh, causing a few of the men to chuckle nervously.  “You mean to tell me that all of this playing cop is just for that?”

“I have a warrant, smart guy.”  She stated, pulling out the paper from the front of her vest, tossing it on the table as she kept her gun trained in front of her.  

“You have to be kidding.”  Arturo insisted, pushing the paper back towards her, not even bothering to look at it.

Rory glared at him, reaching one hand into her blouse and pulling out her badge, which hung on a chain around her neck.  Arturo’s eyes widened for a moment and he leaned back in his chair, running a hand through his salt and pepper hair as he thought for a moment.  His face was grim as the seriousness of his situation sunk in, his black eyes burning with barely contained anger.  He looked at the men sitting at the table and nodded to them, telling them to toss their weapons onto the floor.

“I should have suspected.  Where is Manuel?”  He asked, watching as three of his associates threw their guns onto the ground.

“You tell me where my partner is and I’ll tell you where Manuel is.”  She countered, quickly kicking the guns behind her as the sounds of sirens in the distance caught her ear.  Judging by the noise, they were only a short distance away and that eased Rory’s mind a bit.  At least she wouldn’t be totally alone for long.

Rory’s partner, Victor Ortiz, had been missing for two days now.  No trace was to be found of him anywhere, something that ate at her mind.  She knew she could use Manuel against his father as a bargaining tool, but something she would never mention to Arturo is that Manuel had come to the station willingly, giving them the information they needed to put out a warrant.  Unlike his father, Manuel had a hunch that Rory was more than what he saw and his suspicions had been confirmed when he stopped her outside the station, a sad look in his eyes as he realized it had all been an act.

“You know, Lorelei, I did like you.”  Arturo stated, slowly standing up out of his seat, reaching for something behind his back.

“Put your hands where I can see them!”  She shouted, her eyes narrowing as the man laughed and shook his head.  “I mean it, Sagranda!”  She aimed her gun at the man’s shoulder, remembering the shoot to wound although he deserved to be killed for what he had done to so many people over the years.

It was then that Rory realized what he was doing, the sharp click of a gun being cocked loud in her ears as she turned her head to look at the man in the shadows.  She should have just shot the old man, but he had done his purpose in distracting her from the person lurking just to her left.  Her eyes widened in disbelief as she recognized him, her heart sinking as her eyes started to water with tears.

“Victor?”  She whispered, the sound of Arturo’s laugher grating on her ears as she watched her partner level the gun at her.

His eyes were harsh and uncaring as he squeezed the trigger, the loud pop drowning out everything as the bullet hit Rory’s shoulder, throwing her hard against the wall.  She struggled to take in a breath as the gun slid from her hands, blood slowly starting to seep over her blue shirt and down her arm.  

He had hit the shoulder, a place her knew had a weakness in the vest.  Looking at her arm in disbelief, she froze when she felt cold metal pressed against her forehead.  She slowly turned her head, looking up at her partner with fear in her eyes as he pulled back the hammer on his gun.

“Now, my dear, I’m going to let Victor here take care of business while we make a hasty retreat.”  Arturo said, appearing over Victor’s shoulder as he looked down on her.  Rory worked to calm herself down, taking deep breaths against the pain as her eyes pleaded with Victor to reconsider.  “You know that I never leave witnesses to anything.  Finish it, Ortiz.”  He stated before following his associates out of the room, running towards their cars as the sirens became even louder, just seconds away.

“Victor.”  Rory whispered, a tear sliding down her cheek at the helplessness of her situation.  “I need help.”  She whimpered, feeling the barrel of the gun pressed tighter to her forehead.  

Victor just shook his head, pulling back the hammer on the revolver.  He slowly reached down and grabbed the radio from her pocket, the place that he knew she always kept it.  Turning it on, he listened to officers talking to each other, they were just a block away from the docks.  He pressed the talk button, his voice calm and clear as he began to talk.

“Officer down.  Two shots fired.  She’s dead.”  His voice strong as Justin on the other end stated barking orders, demanding to know who it was who was talking.

“Victor, please.”  Rory pleaded again, weakly trying to stand up, but the pain forced her back down.  “Don’t do this.” 

“I’m sorry, Rory.”  He whispered as Rory sobbed, slowly closing her eyes, waiting for the inevitable to come.

*******

A loud bang made Rory startle awake, her brow covered in sweat as she shot up from her desk.  The precinct was bright in the morning sun, empty except for McCartney who was yelling into his phone at someone in his office and her new partner, who had slammed a drawer on his desk shut while searching for something.  

She took a deep breath, slowly letting it out as she cradled her head in her hand as she tried to shake the nightmare from her head.  Daniel stood at his desk, digging through a box, searching for something as he chewed on a bagel.

“Sorry.  Did I wake you?”  He asked, his mouth full of food as he looked at her.

“It’s okay.  What time is it?”  She asked, moving her mouse to wake up her computer.  8:30 a.m., the clock in the corner said and Rory groaned, feeling like she had a bad hangover, although she hadn‘t had alcohol in almost a year.  

Damn, I slept here again.  She sighed, leaning back in her chair a bit to look up at the ceiling.  She was so tired that all she wanted to do was close her eyes and go back to sleep, but work was too important right now.

It had been a week since the murder of Natasha Eckert, the murder still fresh on Rory’s mind.  It was like she couldn’t give up on this case, so pouring her heart and soul into finding her killer had become her only goal.

“Anything else on the Eckert case?”  She asked, smoothing out her hair and the red shirt she was wearing, while trying to stifle a yawn.  The coffee sitting on Daniel’s desk looked so inviting to her at the moment, but she didn’t feel like asking for it, still a bit weary around him.

“Nope.”  Daniel said, sitting down at his desk as he looked over a file of the first case that Rory had told him about, taking a swig of the coffee as Rory started typing on her computer again.

Everything about Ursula Rivera’s murder was eerily similar to Natasha Eckert’s.  

Ursula had been picked up in a bar, just a few blocks from where Natasha lived, although Ursula was known to the area as a prostitute.  The photo clipped to the manila envelope showed a woman in her late twenties with a beautiful face.  She was thin and tall, not a bad figure by any standards with an almost overly exaggerated chest.  Shoulder length red hair that was straight as a stick with almond shaped chocolate brown eyes.  She had a rap sheet a mile long, being picked up two weeks before her murder for prostitution and drug possession.  

Out on bail, it looked like she had finally picked up the wrong person.

Found in her two bedroom apartment by her roommate, no one had seen the man that she came home with, but a next-door neighbor had heard them talking in the hallway.  She would swear that the man had an English accent.  She was found tied to her bed, nude with her chest cut up so badly that it was almost impossible to look at the pictures without feeling ill.  This was something that struck Daniel as odd, since Natasha Eckert had her hands mutilated in almost the same way.

“Shit, I have to feed Jack.”  Rory said suddenly, jumping out of her chair as she struggled to put on her jacket.  Her arms were tangled helplessly in the fabric as she cursed.

“Who’s Jack?”  Daniel asked, standing up to help her.

He grabbed the sleeves and held them out for her to slip into.  Once her arms were through, he ran his hands over her shoulders, frowning as she stiffened and turned to glare at him.  Rory buttoned up her jacket and looked at him for a moment, as if deciding whether or not to say thank you.

“Look, I have to go home for a bit.  If Justin asks, that’s where I am.”  She said, using her curled left hand to scoot her keys across her desk, scooping them up with her right.

“I thought we were going to start a profile.”  He said quickly, pointing to the two envelopes on his desk.

Rory sighed and looked at Daniel, her brown eyes rimmed red with lack of sleep.  “I’m too tired to argue about this.”  She muttered as she flopped down in her chair again.  She sat there silently for a moment, thinking.  “Why don’t you come with me?  We can talk on the way.  I live a few blocks away.”  It sounded almost like an order, brooking no room for argument from him.

Daniel stared at her for a moment, taken back by the fact that she had just invited him to her house.  This was the same woman who hadn’t said more than ten words to him in almost a week.  The ice queen, as he had taken to calling her in his mind, that one impenetrable personality that he longed to break through.  She was everything that he looked for in a woman, he had decided:  strong willed, independent, with the hint of a wicked sense of humor hidden deep beneath that tough girl image.

“Sure.”  Daniel said simply with a  shrug, sliding on his coat as he grabbed the two files on his desk and pitched the bagel into the trashcan.

Fifteen minutes later, Daniel stood outside a very nice apartment building about four blocks away from the station.  It was red brick, four stories tall with a certain charm that only a row house could have.  Without a word, Rory pushed past him and into the building.  She hadn’t talked to him since she had told him to come with her, the car ride he had suffered through in uncomfortable silence.  He followed her through the stairway, cursing under his breath at having to exert himself as they climbed to the third story.

“Make yourself at home.”  Rory muttered as she unlocked the door to her apartment and pushed inside the warm, bright living room.  “Just watch out for Jack.”  She said over her shoulder as she took off her coat and threw it on the couch, turning on the lights throughout the apartment.

Daniel stepped inside, looking around the surprising large apartment.  It had a full living room, furnished with a leather couch, armchair, and a large TV that was nestled into a nook in the wall.  Just past the living room was dinning room that connected to a small but well furnished kitchen.  From the living room, Daniel could see two doors that he guessed led to bedrooms.

“Not bad.”  He whispered to himself as he unzipped his jacket and lay it down on top of Rory’s.  After all, he had been spending his nights since he arrived in New York City living in a trashy hotel on Statton Island.  He asked himself many times that week why he stayed there.  It was so far out of the way it was almost absurd, but then he reminded himself that the price was right.

Pictures and diplomas hung on the pale yellow walls and Daniel was intrigued at the prospect of a clue to his partner’s past.  

One diploma from William and Mary stated that Lorelei Marie Baldacci had graduated five years ago with a degree in Sociology.  Just beside that was a merit from Quantico, something that took him by surprise.  She had worked and trained there for three years as a profiler and the merit was to congratulate her on a job well done.  Settled on top of those two was a diploma from a high school in Virginia.  He had been right about her southern accent he thought with a smirk.

Pictures scattered over the walls showed her smiling as a teenager, on a seashore somewhere on the coast; her slender body shown off by a simple black bikini.  Beside that picture was what looked like a family portrait, her with an older man and woman, seated in front of a young boy with Rory’s white blonde hair and Rory herself, much younger than the picture at the beach.  She must have been nine or ten when the picture was taken he guessed..  

She has a brother.  Daniel thought to himself as his attentions were drawn to a bookcase standing in the entryway.

“Jack?”  

He could here Rory calling from the kitchen, banging cabinets in an attempt to find this elusive Jack.

Daniel just laughed and looked at the pictures on the bookshelf.  Mostly crime textbooks and a few biographies filled the shelves, nothing too interesting.  Laying in front of one picture was a bullet, slightly crushed as if it had been shot.  Looking up, Daniel noticed the picture was of Rory and a man with dark hair, smiling and dancing at what looked like a policeman’s ball.  

She had her arms wrapped around the man’s neck, a sweet smile on her face as she looked into his eyes.  The man had on his dress uniform and looked exceptionally dashing in it.  He had a smirk on his face, his look, although focused on Rory in her long black gown, didn’t seem to show the same love that she was giving him.

Out of the corner of his eye, Daniel caught a flash of blue as something latched onto his face, forcing him off balance and hard to the ground.  “What the hell?”  He cried out in surprise, as Rory ran from the kitchen, laughing loudly as she saw the sight before her.

“I see you found Jack.”  Rory said as she reached down and pried the Russian blue kitten off Daniel, cooing to the small animal as it rubbed his face all over hers, crawling onto her shoulder and settling down as he stared down at the stranger with curiosity.

For the fright that he had just been given, Daniel couldn’t help but admire the way Rory’s smile brightened up her face.  He had only ever seen her with a frown or a scowl, despite his best efforts to make her laugh.  

“Well, Jack found me is more like it.”  He said, staring at the kitten that probably weighed no more than three pounds, nuzzling against Rory’s neck as if he hadn’t seen her in ages.

Rory just shook her head as she turned and went back into the kitchen, the sound of food pouring into a bowl as the cat soft mewling filled the apartment.  Daniel pulled himself up off the ground, brushing the cat hair off his dress shirt as he sat down on the couch, tired of snooping around.  Nothing much that he could learn without prying too deep.

“It’s a nice place you got here.”  He shouted to her as Rory came into the living room, sitting on the armchair as she shrugged and looked around, her eyes seeming to take in every detail as if she had never been in this apartment before.

“It’s too big, I think.  Two bedrooms is too much for me alone.”  She said looking nervously at Daniel and then to the floor as she pulled her hair back behind her neck.  “I bought it when I was planning to get married.”

“Planning to get married?”  Daniel asked, nearly choking on his words.

“Yeah.”  She said softly, curling up in the chair as her eyes took on a distant look.  “He’s long gone though.”

He could see how painful it was to talk about her lost love and his heart went out to her.  He wanted nothing more than to take her in his arms and comfort her.  

You are such an ass, man.  He thought to himself about the way he had treated her, as he pulled out the two folders and flipped through them, searching for something to change the subject.

“I just want you to know that the way I act is nothing against you.  I’ve just had a bad time with partners in the past.  I’m not really ready to trust another person, if that makes sense at all.”  She let out the statement in one breath, leaving Daniel a bit shocked at her confession.

“You can always trust me, Rory.  After all, that’s what partners do is trust one another.”  He said softly, watching a small smile cross her face as she stood up and stretched with a yawn, a small line of her toned tummy showing as the shirt rode up her body.

“I’m going to change real quick and then we can get started.”  She said, walking past him and pushing open the door to her bedroom.  “By the way, where are you staying?”  She asked, poking her head out the door to look at him.

“Statton Island.  Cheap hotel there that I‘m getting a good rate on until I find an apartment.”

“Are you nuts?  That’s an hour away!”  Rory said, startling him with a look of fright on her face.  “You must get up at, what, five in the morning.”

“Something like that.”  Daniel mumbled with a chuckle.  “Makes for a long day… especially with a partner who doesn’t talk that often.”




Second Chances Ch. 02



This is so unlike me, Sarah thought. The night air all around her, and she settled into the passenger seat of Gene's car, wearing only a thin blanket from his trunk. Tonight she has become another person. Sensible Sarah was no longer here, and she was pleased with her newfound sexual prowess. 

This is not something she would have EVER done before tonight. Wild sex on the beach, with a man she hadn't seen in 10 years, out where everyone could see her. She didn't even care if anyone did. She liked how he made her feel, so vibrant and alive. 

Giving Gene a sideways glance, she pushed any last bit of her "old self" out of her mind and let go of her grip on the blanket, letting it fall around her waist. The car swerved a bit when Gene saw her sitting there, baring her breasts, nipples as hard as deep red rubies. The city lights lit her tanned skin, and she felt like she was glowing. 

Turning to look at him, Sarah realized that Gene was smiling at her. "I have never felt so free." she giggled. He reached over, not able to control himself, and ran a finger slowly over one of her rigid nipples. The warm sensation of his fingers in the cool night air made her shudder. He rolled her nipple between his two fingers and it was almost more then she could take. Sarah had no idea her nipples were that sensitive. She could feel a tingle between her legs, just from the pressure of his fingers. 

When they pulled up in front of her apartment building, Sarah was so lost in the heightened state of arousal; she didn't realize the car had stopped. Rocking her hips with every move of his nimble fingers, gentle moans escaping her lips, running her hands along the bare skin of her own thighs, she was nearing orgasm. 

Gene realized what was about to happen, and he didn't want her to regret doing this in front of all her neighbors, so he whispered in her ear, "Lets finish this inside." She suddenly realized where they were and grasped the blanket around her, feeling a bit more like the old Sarah. Not wanting to return to her old self yet, she quickly got out of the car and handed Gene the keys to her apartment. 

They were half way up the stairs, hand in hand, when she thought to herself, no, this isn't who I want to be with him, I want to be free and open and wild. Letting go of his hand, and with a quick giggle she said, "Race ya." She began to sprint the stairs two at a time and Gene was hot on her trail when she let go of the blanket and darted naked to her front door. When Gene caught up to her, she was laughing and breathless. He pushed his body up against her, pinning her to the door. 

"I don't know what's going on here....but I like it" she said, and pressed her lips to his. His lips parted slightly and she slipped her tongue into his mouth. She marveled at the way his tongue danced across hers. 

Gene pushed the key into the lock and turned the knob. He picked her up and her naked legs wrapped around his hips and as he carried her inside, Sarah saw her neighbor peeking out his door at them, mouth open with surprise. Sarah waved at him as the door closed behind them, and for the first time in her life, she wasn't worried about what anyone else thought about her.

"I think we were being spied on out there" she giggled as he put her down. 

"Good!" Gene smiled and asked, "Will you regret that in the morning?" 

Sarah thought for a moment and the turned slowly to face him, "The only thing I will regret is waiting 10 years for this to happen." She led him down the hall to her bedroom. "I think I need a shower, all that sand.... Care to join me?"

He began to unbutton his shirt and said "How could I refuse a chance to wash your back?" 

The water flowed over her shoulders, down her belly and between her legs as she stood with her back to Gene. He lathered the soap between his hands and then down her back. He pulled her to him, his chest against her back and he kissed her wet shoulder. Bubbles streamed over both of their bodies and puddled around their feet. His soapy hands went to her breasts, gently lifting them the covering them with soap. Once again her nipples were standing at attention. Beginning right where they left off in the car, Gene gently pinched and pulled on her nipples, triggering her to moan loudly. 

"I've never had so much pleasure from something so simple" she breathed in his ear. Gene let the water wash all the bubbles from her perky mounds and then turned her around and lowered his mouth to them. His tongue was like a serpent's, flicking in and out, over the hardened tips. Sarah could barely catch her breath. Wave after wave of intense sensations ran through her body. She could feel the wetness begin to emanate from between her legs. 

Gene let his tongue guide him, over each nipple till they were hard as diamonds, then down her belly. Her supple skin tasted sweet, and he couldn't wait to taste the rest of her any longer. He turned off the water, and pushed back the curtain. Taking her by the hand he led her to the bed. Soaking wet, they sink in to the sheets, arms and legs entwined together. He pulls her on top of him and her wet, tangled hair sticks to their bare skin. Spreading her legs and putting her knees on either side of his hips, she invites him inside of her. 

Gene pushes his hips forward, but Sarah pulls back. A wicked smile plays across her lips and she teasingly asks, "How badly do you want it?"

Gene looks into her eyes, seeing her mischievous look and says, "Bad enough to do this..." He suddenly rolls her over and climbs on top of her before she can even fight back. He roguishly growls, "Now, who is in control of the situation?" 

Sarah's heart is beating rapidly. She had never played this game before, but she was aroused by his forcefulness. Giving him a wink she whispers, "Please, don't hurt me."

He goes along with her game, not sure where it may lead, but wanting to explore her sexual antics. 

Gene snakes his fingers into hers and pulls them over her head. Sarah is helpless under the weight of his body. She closes her eyes and pushes her chin up toward him, exposing her neck. His buries his face in the soft skin and begins to lick slowly, following the line of her collarbone. 

Letting go of her hands, he softly rakes his fingers down her upper body, his tongue trailing immediately behind them. Tracing soft, slow circles down her breasts, and stomach, Gene stops when he comes to the gentle inward curve of her belly button. He runs his tongue over the soft ridge, and pauses to look up at Sarah. 

With her eyes closed, Sarah seemed to be in a blissful trance. Her tongue was instinctively running over her lips, as if she were licking her lover's body, as he was licking hers. Her breasts heaved up and down heavily with her labored breathing. Her shoulders were practically off the bed as she arched her back up to meet Gene's relentless tongue. Gripping the sheets, her knuckles were all but white. 

Gene let his tongue caress the stretch of skin between her belly button and the tuft of hair below. Sarah's moans, once muted and restrained, were becoming more raucous the farther down he went. 

"Please," she begged, lifting her hips off the bed. He lingered a moment longer, taking pleasure in watching her body plead in a wordless torrent of yearning.

Sarah's damp hair chilled her skin, in contrast to the searing heat she felt at the mercy of Gene's mouth. His torturous voyage finally came to an end as he pushed into the wet folds of her pussy. 

Sarah's breath caught in her throat, and for a moment Gene thought she might pass out. As his tongue slid over the crest of her clit, he was relieved to hear her let out a long, low moan of release.

He delighted in her taste and her scent. Like honeysuckle. He took in a deep breath, trying to imprint her on his senses forever. Spreading her open, Gene lavished her with his tongue over and over. Drinking her sweet juices after every orgasm she had.

Sarah's thoughts were lost in a clamor of her own cries. Unaware of anything else but Gene's insistent tongue lashes, she tossed her head back and forth, gripped his hair tight in her fingers, lifted her hips up to meet his mouth, and filled the room with her uncontrollable groans. Surges of orgasm swelled in her pussy and crashed over her entire body. 

"GENE," she finally managed to say, "Please......I need you.....inside of me." He was aware of his rampant hard on from the start, but he wanted to indulge her first, but her request was more then he needed. He crawled up her body, and settled his hips between her legs. She dug her fingers into his shoulders as she silently pleaded with him.

Sarah felt him push his rigid shaft into her slowly. He nuzzled his face into her neck, and she heard his satisfied whimper in her ear. Her wet, swollen pussy swathed over him and felt like paradise. Easing in and out of her slowly, she felt the urgency of her own need grow. Sarah pushed up on his shoulders. He lifted his head and realized she wanted to roll over. 

Once she was on top, Sarah straddled his hips and sat straight up. She began to ride him hard, her round breasts bouncing in front of him, hypnotizing him. Their bodies fit together perfectly. She leaned back and let her fingers glide over her clit as she bounced on his lap. Gene watched this beautiful angel writhe on top of him. Watched her furiously rub her clit and welter with ecstasy. He watched her so long he knew that even if he closed his eyes he could still see her face. He grabbed her soft bottom and pushing into her with ever down thrust of her body. 

Gene couldn't take the spirited pace they were keeping. His guttural groan of release put Sarah over the edge once again. The harmony of their echoing cries only added to their climax. 

She wilted with exhaustion on his chest. They sat in a breathless silence for a long time. Gene finally took her chin in his hands and looked at her beautiful face. She smiled at him and leaned down to kiss him. 

"Why did we wait so long to do that??" she giggled. 

"I don't know, but there is one thing I do know," he said. 

"What's that?" she asked. 

He rolled her over onto her back, kissed her breast softly and said, "I'm not going to wait that long again."



Second Chances Ch. 02



Naomi came slowly back to awareness, briefly wondering about the sense of total peace that she felt for the first time in as long as she could remember. It took a few moments for her addled senses to realize where she was and what had just happened. She lay cradled in Aidan's arms, with his firm chest pressed against her back and one large hand cupped around her naked breast. His strong, steady heartbeat against her back was like a soothing balm to her soul.

Only she knew how astounding it was that she had seduced a total stranger. Prior to meeting Aidan, the only man she had ever felt desire for was her husband. She had met Nathan when she was seventeen, and she had been instantly smitten with his handsome face and charming wit. She had been full of girlish dreams of having a husband and family of her own.

Naomi was an only child, orphaned at the age of twelve. Having a big, happy family of her own had always been important to Naomi. Her parents had died the night their house burned to the ground, and she had been left homeless and alone. An aged aunt took her in out of obligation, but she always let Naomi know that she was not really wanted. During the five years that she lived with her aunt, Naomi nurtured her dreams of making a life for herself with a loving husband and children she could cherish. When she met Nathan, she just knew he was the right man to fulfill her dreams.

At thirty years of age, Nathan had barely noticed Naomi at first, but she had made up her mind that he would be her husband some day. She had been dedicated to making him see her as a woman and winning his affection. It hadn't taken long for Nathan to fall under the spell of Naomi's enchanting beauty and sweet disposition. Before he quite knew what had happened, he was madly in love with her. The day he proposed marriage, it seemed that all her dreams were coming true. Nathan swore that her agreement to become his wife made him the luckiest man alive.

Nathan was an adoring husband, a tender lover, and her best friend. Naomi blossomed as his wife, and it seemed their marriage was perfect. Nathan was a prosperous businessman in Sacramento, California. He provided Naomi with a lovely home, clothes, and fine furnishings. He lovingly nurtured her as she grew into a mature young woman. His relatives became her family, his friends became her friends. She built her entire world around her husband, and her life became happy and full. She was no longer alone. She no longer felt unloved.

Their life together had indeed been perfect, except for one very important thing. The one thing Nathan asked of her, she could not give him. In all the time they were married, Naomi never got pregnant.

They hadn't worried about it at first. In fact, during their first few months together, Nathan teased her that they would simply have to try harder. They shrugged off the comments of family and friends who kept asking when they were going to have children. Over time, the comments stopped, to be replaced by pitying glances. It was obvious that everyone thought Naomi was less than a perfect wife. She was a disappointment. She was a failure. Nathan's parents, anxious for grandchildren, didn't bother to hide their outright disapproval. A woman who couldn't bear children was something less than a real woman.

As months and then years passed, their lovemaking became more of a chore than a pleasure. Each time Nathan came to her, it seemed he was on a mission, and each month when she had her courses, his moods would alternate between despair and anger. He never said it in words, but the blame was there in his eyes when he looked at her. He eventually stopped making love to her at all.

Then, just as quickly as Nathan had come into her life, he left her. One day, he was a strong, vigorous man in the prime of his life, and two weeks later, he was dead. At first, her friends and Nathan's family gathered around her, supporting her through her grief. They visited her often, trying to comfort her. When her prescribed period of mourning was over, they seemed to think she should move on with her life, meet someone new and remarry. She ignored their advice. Over time, the visits became more infrequent, and finally, they stopped altogether. Naomi was once again alone.

As far as Naomi was concerned, a second marriage was out of the question. Knowing she could never have a real family of her own, she preferred to remain a widow. In the two years following Nathan's death, not a single man had stirred her emotions or inspired even a hint of desire in her. The idea of being some man's wife left her feeling completely disinterested.

Naomi spent two years feeling depressed. She barely ate, didn't go out of the house, and spent most of her time sleeping. There was no sparkle in her eyes, no smile to brighten her face. She felt like her life was utterly pointless, without any purpose or goal.

Then, one day, fate stepped in to dally in her life once more. One of the maids gave notice that she would be leaving Naomi's employment because she was getting married and moving to Oregon with her new husband. Naomi began to dream about what it might be like to go to a new place, where no one knew her or pitied her or disapproved of her. She could be alone and not have to worry about the opinions of others. She was sick of being told what she should do.

Naomi began to read about Oregon. She began going to the library, tracking down old newspapers and maps of the area. It sounded like a land of opportunity, a place for new beginnings. It sounded like the place she wanted to be. When she came across a newspaper notice of a farm that was for sale in the Willamette valley, it sounded like it was heaven sent, just for her. It sounded like this farm in Oregon might hold some tiny bit of purpose for her life.

Without a second thought, Naomi put in a bid on the farm. When she found out that her bid had been successful, she sold her house and furnishings. She raised just over two thousand dollars, enough to buy the farm and still have enough money to see her through the first few years while she made a fresh start. With only the barest of goodbyes, she packed her things and left. She told no one where she was going. She didn't want any reminders of her old life to follow her.

She hadn't been looking for a man. She had only been looking for peace and solitude. For two long years, she had believed that any womanly desires she possessed had died with Nathan.

Meeting Aidan had changed her entire perspective. She had been astonished to realize that not only were her passions alive and well, they were stronger than ever before. The desire she felt for Aidan was not the girlish infatuation she had felt for her husband, but the full-bodied, overwhelming, mature desire of a twenty three year old woman. In fact, the passion she felt for Aidan was an all-consuming need that she had never felt before.

Naomi knew she should probably be feeling shameful or guilty. She had not only seduced Aidan, she had encouraged him to totally ravish her. Yet shame and guilt were not among the emotions she was feeling. She felt invigorated, amazed, incredibly feminine and desirable, and surprisingly ready to repeat the experience. She had thought that making love with Aidan would satisfy her hunger, but instead, she found she was ravenous for more.

Aidan stirred behind her, and his hand tightened reflexively on her breast. Naomi shivered, moaning softly as she pressed the mound against his palm and rubbed the back of his hand in encouragement. He came awake with a start, lifting his head to stare at her in amazement. She wasn't just a fantasy, the result of his lewd imaginings, she was actually lying naked and thoroughly tempting in his arms. The sight of her nubile body writhing sensuously against him shook the last few cobwebs from his brain.

Naomi turned in his arms to face him and feathered kisses along the strong line of his jaw. "Hello again," she purred. She slowly unbuttoned his shirt, trailing kisses down his throat and chest as she exposed more and more of his flesh. "I thought you would never wake up."

At her prompting, Aidan shrugged out of his shirt, somewhat in a daze. This was not what he had planned. From the moment of their meeting, he had known he wanted a relationship with Naomi, but he had been thinking along the lines of a courtship and marriage. He hadn't intended to seduce her the first day, and he was struggling to comprehend where they now found themselves.

Naomi pressed lightly on his shoulder, and he fell onto his back. She began exploring his chest with her soft lips, nipping and suckling his nipples and running her fingers through the crisp matting of hair. He gripped the sides of her head and lifted her face until she met his eyes.

"Naomi, we need to talk. Everything is happening so fast. I hadn't planned to take advantage of you. Believe it or not, I've never been a despoiler of honorable women."

Naomi fought the urge to release a frustrated sigh. Talking was the last thing on her mind, especially if it involved honor and society's expectations of how a man and woman should behave. She had finally stumbled upon a man who made her feel alive again, and she wanted to relish the sensation. She shrugged out of his grasp and resumed her exploration of his delectable chest.

"I don't want to talk, Aidan. I want to make love again."

"I need to apologize to you for..."

Naomi placed a firm finger over his lips to silence whatever he had been about to say. "Don't say another word. I don't want anything to spoil the way I am feeling. I couldn't be happier. Now shut up and kiss me."

She leaned over and kissed him, plucking at his senses with her moist lips and teasing tongue. Aidan moaned as she deepened the kiss, trailing her dainty hand over his ridged abdomen to grasp his throbbing erection. The fleeting thought that he was not the seducer passed through his mind, but at that moment, he didn't care.

He gripped her head again, but this time it was only to pull her closer for his kiss. He groaned in ecstasy as she stroked him, clutching him tightly in her tiny fist as she slid her hand up and down his length. When he began to kiss his way to her breasts, she surprised him yet again by rising up to dangle the luscious orbs just above his mouth. Had he died and gone to heaven?

She straddled his waist as he clasped her breasts in his two hands and feasted. The sight of her, lips parted on a moan, shimmering hair tumbling in disarray all around them, ivory skin flushed pink with passion, surpassed every fantasy he had ever had. The sensations of her, hardened nipple in his mouth, hands like heated silk caressing his shoulders, scalding wet flesh sliding against his abdomen, made him ache like he had never ached before.

He lifted her and held her poised over his throbbing cock. She locked her gaze with his and sank onto his length with excruciating slowness. When he was fully seated within her, they released mutual moans of approval. Then she pleasured him, with undulating strokes of her velvety wet heat. She gripped him so tightly that he could feel every ridge and hollow of her inner sheath.

After enjoying the sight of her bouncing breasts, Aidan shifted his gaze to Naomi's glistening pink pussy. He stroked her outer lips, fascinated by the sight of her stretched over his cock as she impaled herself over and over. He located her clit and teased it as she loved him. Every helpless moan he elicited was like sweet music to his ears, and he gradually increased the stimulation until she was nearly frantic. Rising onto one elbow, he pulled her forward and suckled sharply on her nipple. She climaxed with a scream, clutching his head against her breast.

Aidan waited for her to catch her breath before rolling to pin her beneath him. He thrust into her forcefully, braced on his arms to watch her face as he plundered her softness. She clutched him with her thighs, encouraging him to sink deeper inside her with every stroke. Their joining became frenzied as they struggled toward their mutual fulfillment, until they finally reached their goal and their hoarse screams mingled in the air. He rolled to his back and pulled her against his side, where she collapsed in satiated bliss.

As they panted together, reality settled on Aidan like a leaden weight. He would have to find some way to catch his bearings and get them back on track. As much as he relished her body, he wanted more from Naomi than just sex. He had never believed in love at first sight. Lust at first sight yes, but love took time to grow and develop between two people. That was before this had happened. Naomi had just satisfied his lust with mind shattering thoroughness, not once but twice. If lust was all he felt for her, he would be feeling completely satisfied.

Aidan felt anything but satisfied. He felt confused, out of control, and lost about how to proceed. He wanted Naomi, in every way it was possible for a man to want a woman. He wanted her love, her trust, and her devotion for the rest of his life. Yet, he didn't know anything about her. How and why he could want her so desperately when he barely knew her was a complete mystery to him. Aidan didn't like mysteries. He liked to be in control of his own destiny, not to have it knock him on his ass when he least expected it!

As he lay stroking her hip, all the questions that had plagued him since he met her the day before resurfaced in his mind. Where had she come from? Why was she alone? Why had she come to this place? What were her hopes and dreams? Until he had answers to these questions, there was no way to know how to win her heart. Until he won her heart, there was no point in talking about marriage.

Naomi struggled onto one elbow and gave him an impish smile. "Now can I feed you some breakfast? Everything is cold by now, but you must be hungry after working so hard."

Despite his worries, Aidan made an effort to mimic her lighthearted humor as he kneaded her bottom with bold familiarity and returned her smile with a crooked grin. "Yes ma'am. We have work to do. Stop trying to distract me or we won't accomplish anything today."

He gave her bottom a sharp slap and watched with interest as she hopped up from the bed. She gave him a playfully petulant look of indignation before tossing her hair over her shoulder and walking to retrieve her discarded nightgown and robe from the floor. He watched her dress as he donned his own shirt and buttoned his breeches.

They shared a breakfast of eggs, bacon and biscuits. Even though the food was cold, everything was delicious, and Aidan mentally added another item to his list of reasons he wanted Naomi for his own – she was an excellent cook.

He unloaded the wagon, bringing in baskets of peaches, a large sack of sugar, crates of glass jars, and a large box of paraffin wax. By the time he had finished ferrying the items inside, Naomi had cleaned the dishes from breakfast.

"Why don't you get dressed and come outside?" he suggested. "I want you to have a look at the garden with me, and you can decide where you want everything planted."

"Alright, give me five minutes."

Although Aidan would have liked to stay and witness Naomi dressing, he decided it would be far better to wait for her outside. He needed some time and space to gather his wits. If he was going to win her heart, he would need to show her that he was good at something besides bedding her.

He scanned the garden patch, mentally weighing where each vegetable and herb should be planted. He would have to get rid of the weeds first, but even so the task would only take him a couple of days to accomplish. After that, he would have to find some other reason to be near Naomi because spending time with her was the only way to find the answers to his questions.

Naomi emerged from the cabin looking fresh and feminine in a dress of light blue muslin. Her hair was brushed and wound neatly into a bun at her nape, and she had a white apron tied around her waist. Aidan was assailed by the thought that she looked like a perfect farmer's wife. She crossed to stand beside him as they turned their attention to the garden.

"Tell me, what did you have in mind?"

Aidan motioned with his hand as he showed her the boundaries of the imaginary sections. "I thought potatoes here, then carrots, onions, garlic, beets, radishes, cabbages, rutabaga, beans and herbs over there." He waited for her reaction and was pleased when she merely nodded her head and smiled.

"That sounds perfect. I'm sure you know how to design a garden much better than I do."

He grinned down at her. "I think you are the first woman I've ever met who doesn't have to make a bunch of suggestions and changes."

Naomi quelled the urge to tell him that her easy acceptance of his plan was due to her total ignorance of how to plant vegetables. She had never farmed in her life. That fact had not even entered her mind before she had made her decision to buy a farm. Maybe she was naïve, but she had assumed that she would simply figure things out as she went along, and she was immensely grateful that Aidan knew what needed to be done. She flashed him an answering grin.

"As long as you don't try to tell me how to make peach preserves, I won't tell you how to plant a vegetable garden."

She retreated to the house before Aidan could reply. He watched until she had disappeared inside and then blinked a few times to clear his head. She was a mystery alright. A saucy, tempting, beautiful mystery, and he intended to unravel every last one of her secrets!

**********

Aidan worked diligently for the rest of the morning, stopping only to share a hearty lunch that Naomi prepared for him. The weather was cool and crisp, but they enjoyed the sunshine as they sat on the wagon bed eating soup and cornbread.

"So what brought you to Oregon?" he asked, trying to make his inquiry sound like idle curiosity rather than a burning desire to know more about her.

Naomi shrugged and looked off toward the trees. "I just wanted to make a fresh start. What about you?" She eyed him with interest.

"The same reason, I suppose. My brothers and I moved out from Kentucky to build a life for ourselves." He finished his meal and set his dish aside. "Did you come from back east?"

"No, I grew up in California. My parents moved there when I was just a baby, so I don't remember living anywhere else." His questions were beginning to make her feel uneasy. She had come here to escape the past, not to rehash it.

"I'm surprised that your parents would allow you to move here all by yourself."

Naomi shot him a sharp glance. "My parents died when I was twelve. I really prefer not to talk about it."

"I'm sorry, Naomi. I didn't mean to pry."

"Didn't you? Let's just say I would rather not talk about the past and leave it at that, alright?"

When she would have scrambled down from the wagon, Aidan caught her hand in his much larger one. He saw raw emotion in her eyes, but he couldn't tell what she was thinking or feeling. He only knew he didn't like the pain he had glimpsed.

"Alright. I really didn't mean to upset you." He kissed her softly on the mouth and then raised his head with a sigh. "Now, we had better get back to work."

She sighed, releasing the last of her irritation. "You're right, of course."

She let him lift her down from the wagon, and once again, she retreated into the cabin with the dishes from their lunch. Aidan felt preoccupied through the afternoon, thinking about their brief conversation. She had seemed so vulnerable and hurt, but he had no idea who or what had hurt her. One thing was clear. Questioning her was not the right way to gain the information he needed. He would have to find some other way to make her open up to him.

Naomi stood at the window, watching Aidan work, nibbling on her bottom lip. She had been curt and rude to him, and he didn't deserve that. He had no way of knowing that she didn't want to delve into her past with him. She had learned that looking to the past or the future was too painful. She wanted to simply enjoy the present with Aidan. Whatever small amount of time she was to be granted with him, she would treasure it and not ask for more.




Second Chances Ch. 02



The remainder of the day passed quickly, with each of them busy with their labor. By late afternoon, Aidan had finished nearly half of the garden, and Naomi had filled several crates of jars with luscious peach preserves.

"Those peaches smell delicious," he said with a grin.

"Thank you. I hope you and your brothers will enjoy them once you get them home."

"Don't worry, I'm sure we will. I'll be back in the morning," he said. "Not quite as early as this morning though, I have to run into town before I come out."

"That's fine, but don't you want to stay for dinner? I made a peach pie for dessert."

Naomi eyed him hopefully, but Aidan shook his head. "As much as I would love to stay, I need to get home. I have some work to do that can't wait."

Naomi quelled her disappointment and gave an understanding nod. "Of course. I really appreciate all your hard work today."

Aidan felt a nearly overwhelming urge to take her in his arms and kiss her, but he didn't think he would be able to stop with just a kiss. Instead, he gave her a smile and a nod.

"I'll see you in the morning."

She watched as he mounted the wagon and drove away. When he had disappeared from sight, a sense of emptiness settled over her, and she heaved a sigh.

"What is the matter with you," she scolded herself aloud. "You came here for solitude, remember."

She slammed the door with undue force and turned her attention to dinner. The sight of the table, with dishes laid out for two, made her lose her appetite. She wandered to the bed and eyed the rumpled blankets, untouched from their morning together. She threw herself onto the bed and sighed again. A teasing fragrance wafted up to her nostrils, and she buried her nose in the fabric to catch the essence. Aidan's scent clung to the blankets, and she took several deep breaths, savoring the memories of their lovemaking. The night stretched out before her like an endless abyss, and she squeezed her eyes shut as a single tear traced a path down her cheek.

**********

Aidan sat on the front steps of his cabin, while his brothers Brian and Liam lounged in chairs behind him. He stared off in the direction of Naomi's cabin, wondering what she was doing at that moment.

"How did it go over at Mrs. Tisdale's? Did you get her garden put in?" Brian asked.

"I'm half finished," Aidan replied distantly. "I'll finish tomorrow."

"What is she like?" Liam asked.

"She's fascinating," Aidan mumbled, clearly distracted by his thoughts.

Liam and Brian exchanged a startled glance before Liam lowered his chair onto all four legs with a loud thump. "Fascinating? I've been picturing a grey-haired old lady. I think you had better tell us all about this new neighbor of ours."

Realizing what he had let slip, Aidan gave a frustrated sigh. "You'll meet her soon enough. For now, all you need to know is that she's spoken for."

"This sounds serious," Brian said with a grin. "Could it be true that our eldest brother has finally been felled by Cupid's arrow?"

"Looks like it to me," Liam replied with a matching grin. "I've never seen him even remotely interested in any other young ladies around here. Now, all of a sudden, he's referring to our new neighbor as 'fascinating' and warning us away from her. I think you and I should pay our new neighbor a visit and see what all the fuss is about."

Aidan pushed off the stairs to stand glaring at his younger brothers with his hands on his hips. "Listen, you two. Tease me all you like, but the last thing I want is for you to go nosing around Naomi's place asking her lots of questions. She would surely clam up even more than she has already, and I'll never find out about her past. You two had better stay clear of her until I tell you different. Is that understood?" He gave each of them his most menacing, older-brother look and waited until they had each nodded their agreement. "Good! Now, I'm going to bed. I have a busy day ahead of me tomorrow."

He stomped into the house, leaving his brothers with astonished looks on their faces. Brian released a low whistle and then started to laugh. It was only a moment before Liam joined him. When they finally sobered, Brian shook his head and grinned.

"Man, he's got it bad."



Second Chances Ch. 02



Take 2:  on the Beach

It hadn't been the best of flights and that was hard to do when the mode of travel was a private Lear, the weather conditions perfect, and the service excellent. After all, two attendants for two passengers rather guaranteed that no one had to wait. That flight was still on her mind as Clare paced around the guest suite, oblivious to the tropical breezes wafting through the open balcony doors and filling the room with scents of the sea and lush vegetation. Stomping was probably closer to the truth than pacing and she'd really like to be throwing things; big, sharp, pointed things but that wasn't going to happen so she kept stomping. Stomping, pacing, what difference did it make; nothing was helping to calm her down. If anything, she was getting more riled by the minute and beginning to think that when she returned to LA (and that could not be soon enough), she was going to throttle Martin for the sick kind of practical joke that he'd played on her. 

From beginning to end, it had been a set-up; the cocktail party, the sudden appearance of Brad (damn, damn, and triple damn), and Martin, the grateful client, lending his private plane to whisk her off to a secluded island so she could spend a few days just resting. (It's nothing, Clare, a small thank you for saving my life... well a big chunk of my net worth at least. Considering that I really can't afford another divorce until this studio power plays works itself out, I'm just going to keep the bitch wife for a couple more years). Who knew that Martin Gray and Brad were old friends? When she got back to LA, she was going to expunge Martin from her client list. The next time he got caught playing around on his wife (and there would be a next time because Martin was great with the big picture but lousy with the details), he'd be some other lawyer's headache. She'd miss the 80 grand a year retainer but all she'd have to do was remember last night and the dirty, rotten, sneaky...she was running out of adjectives and about to segue into expletives which she hated using. It was one of the remaining vestiges of her Catholic education. She could still hear Sr. Angela equate profanity with small minds, stupidity and lack of control and, damn it (damn didn't count she'd decided years ago), Clare Marshall was always in control. That was Platinum Rule #1.

Right, Clare, and weren't you the girl in charge last night? You stumble into a freshman fling from your college past and decide to teach the guy a lesson. Does he slink off properly cowed by your success, your charm, your beauty? Not a hard question and it has a simple answer: no. No, no, no. Anyway you want to look at it, Brad did not slink, was not cowed. Quite the opposite, in fact. 

Clare stopped mid-stomp and cringed at the memory of herself stripped naked, twenty stories above Wilshire Blvd., tied with her own sash to a chaise lounge while Brad fingered her pussy and fucked her brains out, stopping intermittently to sip her scotch. Did you at least have the presence of mind to scream, to scratch, to pretend you didn't enjoy it? No, to all the previous, your Honor; I came three times. I can only plead...she wasn't sure what the answer was to that. Honestly, it had been the most erotic experience of her life and in some small, private, I will not tell a soul, corner of her innermost feminine being, she wanted it to happen again and with Brad. Clare commenced the stomping. Knives maybe, large rocks... definitely throwing something sharp and painful at Brad and Martin, the bastard; that would help. Thinking about Brad stripping and tying her and putting those knowing fingers into her cunt and following that up with his cock: that was only going to lead to more swearing and, damn it, there had to be something that she could control.

Clare stepped onto the balcony and looked out over an ocean that gleamed turquoise blue in the morning sun and lapped at sugar white sand. It was as private a home as you could ask for; quiet, secluded, staffed by servants who were efficient and unobtrusive. The only sounds were a few gulls and the rhythmical washing of the waves. Too quiet; Clare could hear that little voice in her head, the ruthlessly honest one who always waited for the ranting to subside before delicately pointing out the cold, sobering truth.

"You didn't have to get on that plane, you know. It wasn't as if you were pushed, or bound and gagged then," the little voice whispered.

"Right. After I cancelled a week's worth of appointments and scheduled painters to come into the condo. I'm supposed to stay home all because Brad Rivers shows up. He should have had the courtesy to bow out."

"Courtesy," the little voice said. "The man tied you up, had his way with you (prissy little voice at the moment) and you expect him to cancel his reservation to the Bahamas and, what, go back to Omaha? Do you know how cold it is in Omaha right now? Face it, Clare, you got on that plane because you wanted a rematch. Or, you just wanted him again? Hmmmm, is that it, Clare?"

Resting both hands on the balcony railing, Clare closed her eyes and swallowed hard. She liked having the answers, liked knowing the score, liked playing the game and she was good at it—as long as the game was law. She truly sucked at love and sex, well, she hadn't exactly been a virgin for the past fifteen years but she was definitely more show than go. She never really got the knack of casual sex; she'd learned how to fake an orgasm pretty well. She hadn't faked last night and, if she were really going to honest, she rather liked being tied, being told. So, yes, maybe all the stomping and swearing really wasn't aimed at Brad or Martin. 

"Yes," the little voice echoed. "So now what? Here you are for the next six days. That's a long time to stomp. Maybe you want to consider the alternatives."

Okay, Clare thought, alternatives it is. Turning back into the suite, she walked into the dressing room where the helpful staff had already unpacked for her, even added a few things by the looks of it. A handful of skimpy bikinis were folded into a large wicker basket, long flowing beach dresses dangled from padded hangers next to short flirty ones. She opened the dresser drawers to see piles of delicate bras and panties, thongs and silky nighties. By comparison, her own stuff looked...stuffy. Martin did have good taste she noted running her hands over the piles. 

Fifteen minutes later Clare was walking down the shaded open terrace that bordered green lawns that extended to the sea, past a pool, umbrella tables and unto the sand where a couple of chaises were already laid out under a large morrocan style tent whose sides were held open with ties. A narrow table held a pitcher of icy water, plates of fresh fruit, glasses and flowers. Huge fluffy towels and robes were piled on upholstered chaises. No sign of Brad and that was just fine with Clare. He was probably just a mite wary. Sure, he really struck her as the wary sort. She didn't care. It had been one night, she was here and she was not going to be scared off by someone from Omaha. She spread a towel over a chaise, kicked off her sandals and lay back, feeling the breeze waft by. She'd barely closed her eyes on the plane and now it was so peaceful here, maybe she'd just take a quick nap. It was only moments and she had drifted off, lulled to sleep by the waves. 

Brad came into the tent silently and looked at her. He wasn't sorry for last night. He knew something like that was going to happen the minute she had appeared at the party. He and Martin went back years, all the way to high school and they'd kept in touch. Once Brad began managing Martin's portfolio, it had only been a matter of months before he put two and two together. V.C. Marshall, as she liked to be called professionally, was Veronica Clare, the precious little freshman virgin from UCLA. God, what a night that was; he'd lived with the teasing for weeks after she'd run out of his fraternity room. Pride, pure pride had kept him from calling her, trying to apologize, asking for another chance. He'd been pretty sure of himself at twenty; girls had never been a problem. Clare, she was a problem, then and now. 

He looked at her lying there, at the gentle heave of her breasts in the bikini, at the rise of her mound and felt an erection growing, pushing against his trunks. Reaching out he undid the side tent ties, a silent instruction to the help to stay back. He smiled to himself, glad that he'd put ties, a gag, and a vibrator in one of the wicker baskets. She might have been pissed off on the flight down but he knew that she wasn't going to stay huddled up in her suite all week. Once she got on that flight, she had made her choice even if he was going to have to nudge her into admitting it.

One long stride and he was lifting satin ties out of the basket. Wow, there were quite a few other additions that had been added to the mix; a red ball gag, butt plug, some scented oils and lubes, a couple of different vibrators with various attachments. Nothing like good help; no wonder Martin bragged about the place. He might toy with the vibrator but he was pretty sure that what God had given him would be enough for what he had in mind this morning.

She lay there with one knee bent and, as far as Brad could tell, Clare was simply asking to be hogtied. Deftly he wrapped a tie around a slender ankle and working quickly secured it to her wrist, finishing only seconds before she roused from that morning nap and opened blue eyes to meet his brown ones. He waited for, and got the expected jerk as she tried to get up, only to find herself being firmly pressed down into the chaise. Unable to figure out why she couldn't get the leverage to sit up, Clare pulled on the tied side and fixed him with a withering stare.

"Just. What. Do. You. Think. You. Are. Doing?" The words came out low and clipped and he got a sense of Clare in the courtroom or across a negotiation table. Calm, controlled, lethal. Very nice; definitely the woman needed loosening up. 

"I hogtied you on one side, sweets. Far as I can tell, you're not blindfolded so unless you've developed some new ocular ailment, it's pretty clear what I've done. Just haven't finished." He kept his voice just as low, just as controlled as hers, bent his head to hide an amused grin and firmly caught the remaining wrist and ankle with the ties. Knotting them (he wasn't taking any chances), he stood up and surveyed the female before him. Those blue eyes were sparking and she'd caught a soft, full lower pink lip between her teeth. She was trying to look stern. She should have looked angry but she didn't. Wary, guarded, the tiniest bit anxious and definitely aroused. Her nipples pouted through the thin fabric of the bikini top, he could see the rapid rise and fall of breasts, and there was a definite smudge of moisture at the clef between her legs. 

Sitting down next to her, he pressed a hand on either side of her body and leaned into her, their faces only a breath apart. Clare blinked rapidly, swallowed, but she didn't move, couldn't move. Her breath came tight and fast, she could feel her nipples continue to swell and there was a decided tingle in her cunt, the sure sign that her arousal was growing. She should have been afraid, or angry. Instead, she was strangely caught up in the anticipation of what he would do next.

Brad leaned on his left arm, bringing his body closer to her bound one and trailed a finger down the side of her face and over the swell of her breast. Coming to rest on her nipple, he flicked a finger back and forth and was rewarded with the beginnings of soft whimpering. Without breaking his gaze, he slid a finger underneath the fabric and popped her breast out, squeezed and rolled the nipple to even greater fullness before taking the rosy bud into his mouth and sucking it, lavishing attention on it with his tongue as she arched involuntarily toward him. Small moans of pleasure and unformed words, those intimate sounds of sexual desire bubbled out of her and she turned her head from side to side with the pleasure of his touch.

"Do you like it, Clare, being tied? Being restrained? You didn't make a sound after that first question. Talk to me, Clare. Tell me what you're feeling. Now."

Somewhere in her mind Clare knew that this was an impossible situation. Did he really expect a logical, rational response? It took everything she had just to grapple with the situation. Did she like being tied up, hogtied, that's what he called it? Yes, damn it, she did. She was tired of being in control, making the decisions. She wanted him to master her, to take command. Somehow she just knew that she would never have to fake anything with him. He'd probably tell her when to come, and she would.

"I'm waiting for an answer, Clare," he prompted and to emphasize the point he moved his attentions to her other breast, roughly pulling down the bra, exposing the snowy mound and sucking deeply on that nipple while rubbing the other, still moist from his mouth. 

"Tell me now or I'll stop."

"Yes, I like it. Don't stop, please don't stop. I can't believe I said that. Oh, oh, oh my," she whimpered and felt his hand shift from her breast to her belly, stopping at the ties of her bikini. Toying with the strings, he ran a finger under the bikini and into the mass of damp curls. Further he explored, into the silky wetness of her slit allowing the pressure of his hand and the suit bottom to press against her clit.

"Tell me, Clare," Brad murmured into her hair, continuing to strum the bud of her clitoris in circular motions, rubbing the juices from her cunt onto and around the clit, thrusting two fingers into her cunt. He felt her strain at the ties, arching her body into his fingers, trying to increase the pressure and contact. Her eyes were closed, her head lolling from side to side.

"Can I do whatever I want with you, Clare? Can I rape your mouth? Your cunt? Can I strip you naked in this tent and fuck you? Are you mine?

"Yes, oh my god. Brad, Brad..." Whatever words she was trying to form were lost in the writhing of pleasure that was shooting through her body. The ties increased the pleasure; she couldn't get away from him, from his hands, his mouth. The more she strained and arched, the greater the sensation until she felt her body break apart into a wrenching orgasm that he controlled through his fingers alone, and his voice, telling her to come, to arch, to push into him.

In the utter privacy of the tent and the beach, Brad grunted in satisfaction as Clare screamed and whimpered into the orgasm. He watched her bound body shift and strain at the ties and felt an elemental male power that he could control and manipulate her pleasure. As her cries subsided into soft whimpers and moans, he gently withdrew his hand from her cunt and, in one swift movement, stripped the trunks from his body. His erection jutted out, throbbing, almost painful and glistening with moisture at the tip. He moved over the chaise and spread her legs apart, tugging the bikini ties loose and pulling the suit bottom from beneath her. At this new movement, Clare's eyes flew open and she instinctively drew her knees together.

"Spread your legs, Clare. Spread your legs for me now," he spoke in low, even tones and there was no mistaking the command in his voice. "Do it Clare. Show me that you want my cock in you."

He knelt on the chaise and waited for her response, but he did not touch her. Slowly, Clare began opening her legs, spreading them wider until she could feel the ocean breeze floating over her wet cunt. Brad reached down and inserted two, then three fingers into her slit, massaging the swollen clit with his thumb, tracing gentle circles over the pink bud, then increasing the pressure until she whimpered again.

He listened to the sounds she made, indescribable sounds of pure female pleasure. He watched as she began to rock her pelvis to meet his thrusts, pushing his fingers in harder and faster and then, in one movement he pulled them out, took his cock in his hand and plunged into her cunt, pushing into the warm, wet, creamy depths. Thrusting into her, he balanced on his hands, feeling the walls of her vagina pulsate around his shaft.

"Look at me, Clare. Look at me raping you. You're tied and I'm raping you and you love it. You want it. You need it. Keep looking at me, Clare. I want you to watch my face while I rape you and make you come." Brad watched her struggle against shutting her eyes and thrilled to the control, the pleasure. He'd had his share of women, more than most but there was something different about Clare. There was no pretense with her; she gladly gave up control. Maybe it was the shadow of innocence that peeked out from the sophisticated veneer. He could still see her at eighteen, still remember the sensation of her longing and anxiety over that single evening. He hadn't known then, hadn't had the experience to realize that all she needed was a little forcing to do exactly what she wanted. He thrust harder and knew instinctively that tying her, forcing her was unlocking layers of thwarted sexuality, awakening pools of desire that had been walled off for years. He watched her push back at him, noted that her eyes had closed; she was lost in the pleasure that he gave her, in the pure sensation of feeling. The bonds, the words, the commands; he knew how to unlock the sexual woman that she wanted to be.

Then he was thrusting faster and faster, deeper and harder, pushing into her cunt and hearing the whimpers turn into moans and the moans into louder cries and then she was thrashing and lost in an orgasm so deep that he could feel her cunt squeeze around his cock and there was nothing left to do but push into her one more time and come into her, jerking hot streams of semen and feeling an incredible release.

Brad lay heavily on top of her, spent and sated. He could feel the rapid beating of her heart, the soft heaving of her breasts beneath him. He lifted himself up and off her, passed a towel over his cock, and reached down to untie her. Tossing the satin restraints to the sand, he gathered her into his lap, watching her burrow into his chest. 

"Am I the first man to tie you up and take you?" He had to know. He was pretty sure of the answer but he needed to hear it. 

"Yes." Her answer came out in a short puff of air. "I haven't...I don't...I can't..." Clare was having just the slightest bit of trouble trying to make a sentence. "I never thought...I mean, I didn't think that women wanted to be, you know...forced, but for some reason, I do. Crazy. Somehow it makes it all better, right, increases the sensation. Oh, you don't think that the next step is going to be leather bras and whips, do you? Maybe there's something wrong with me? How did you know or is this the kind of thing that you always do? Who would have thought? Brad from Omaha: bondage king." She was rambling and she knew it. Clare didn't ramble often and when she did, it was a sure sign that she was nervous. 

Brad smiled over the top of her head. If she had been able to see his face he was pretty sure that whatever feminine whimpering and indecision over her newfound sexual preferences would disappear pretty damn quickly. In place of this lovely, soft female who was pliant and cuddling, he would have some version of V.C. Marshall, lethal lawyer to contend with. She was in a fragile state at the moment, coming to grips with the fact that she liked being tied, being raped. Granted, he was feeling some, justifiably, measure of male satisfaction. Beyond the good sex, the orgasm, he had discovered what made Clare tick. Maybe he didn't know fifteen years ago in that frat room, but he knew now and, as they say, knowledge is power.

"No leather whips and chains, Clare. You're a woman who was made, perfectly made, for satin ties and gags and being restrained and being raped and loving it."




Second Chances Ch. 02



"Gags." What do you mean? Clare sat up abruptly with as much dignity and authority as a woman wearing next to nothing could muster (that bikini top had long since stopped covering her breasts). "Let's get this straight, Brad. Maybe this one time I liked being...tied. I probably just got carried away. But if you think that this is going to be a habit, if for one moment you have the crazy idea that you can, could, tie me up, gag me and fuck me---and I'd like it...No, sorry, not going to happen. Don't look at me that way. It's not going to happen."

Brad wasn't sure if he was going to be able to keep a straight face. She was adorable and she really, honestly thought that she was back in control; that she wasn't going to like being tied and gagged. He knew better; she was going to love it. 

"Sweets," he said, holding her waist firmly. He reached back into the wicker basket and pulled out the red ball gag, "It is going to happen. Now."



Second Chances Ch. 02



Caleb was finally allowed to go see Xandy, but he hesitated at the door of her room. He wasn't sure if she would really want to see anyone. He wasn't sure if he really wanted to see her. 

"Come on in." She said softly, when she heard someone at the door. 

Caleb took a deep breath and stepped in the door. A curtain was drawn around her bed, and he peeled it back, holding his breath. 

"Caleb." She opened her closed eye. "You're still here." She sounded relieved. 

"Of course. I said I would stay." He pulled a chair closer to her bed and plopped down in it. 

"I'm glad." She said. "Thank you for saving me." She gave him a small smile. Her face hurt too much to smile like she normally would have. 

"I wish I would have taken the trash out sooner. I could have stopped him!" Caleb said fiercely. She shook her head slowly. 

"He probably would have attacked you too. You'd be in the bed next to me." She said softly. 

"I could have stopped him!" Caleb insisted. "I could have done something!" 

"You did." She grabbed his hand. "You found me, and got help. That is enough." She insisted. 

"I'm sorry..." He whispered. She looked so...broken.

"Nothing for you to apologize for silly." She said. "The police will catch the bastard."

"I hope so." He said...he hesitated. "We don't have to talk about it anymore if you don't want to." He was absentmindedly rubbing his thumb over her fingers. 

"Good." She smiled. "There are a lot more interesting topics to discuss, like how silly you look in hospital scrubs with your hair all messed up." They gave him a new shirt when they got to the hospital. His had been covered in her blood. 

He gave a hoarse laugh. "Oh...make fun of the hero huh?" 

She giggled. 

"I can't believe your laughing." He mused out loud. 

"They gave me some nice happy drugs." She said..."I feel kinda like I'm floating."

"They must have." He said laughing with her, shaking his head. "I should let you get some rest." He said, standing.

"Don't go yet, you just got here." She pulled him back down in the chair. 

"Ok." He sighed. She was laying there looking calmly at him. Her dark hair was brushed away from her face, and her swollen eye was bandaged. Her pale skin was mottled dark purple and black. She was covered in abrasions, some bandaged, some not. 

"How are you doing? What did the doctors say?" 

"They did what doctors do best. They did tests. They poked, they prodded, they asked questions and didn't answer mine. They bandaged me up and gave me some pills, and sent a counselor in here, and then they gave me something in the IV...it's making me goofy." She said. 

"Well, goofy can be a good thing." Caleb grinned. "Just go with it." He took her hand and squeezed it. "I was on morphine once, it was great stuff." 

"Really?" She asked, "Why?"

"I was in a car accident a few years ago. I was so high on morphine I didn't even know my own name. I loved it." He said. "Until it wore off." 

She nodded. "That sounds good right about now." She said softly.

"Morphine?" He asked. 

"Not remembering." She said, sleepily.

Caleb squeezed her hand gently. "Memories are a tricky thing. Sometimes we keep the ones we don't want and forget the ones we should keep." 

"How do I forget this?" She asked, a tear rolling down her cheek. 

Caleb frowned, and gently wiped the tear away with his thumb. "I don't know." He whispered. "I don't know how to forget the bad things either." 

Xandy felt the tears rolling down her face, and gasped for air as she started sobbing. Caleb's gut tightened, watching her fall apart like that. Holding her hand wasn't enough. He walked around her bed, and situated himself next to her on the bed. He felt her stiffen a little when he pressed his chest to her back. "It's ok...your safe...It's ok." He whispered softly against her ear. "I won't hurt you." Slowly she relaxed into the warmth of his body, letting the tears fall. With both of them on their sides, he could hold her as she cried. He wrapped his arm under her, cradling her head, and placed the other gently over her belly, hugging him to her. 

He held her like that, softly crooning in her ear, sometimes words, sometimes just soothing sounds, until he began to softly hum a song he had written, until she calmed. He felt her take a big breath, and sighed as she drifted off to a medicated induced sleep. Even when his arm began to tingle and fell asleep, he did not move. He simply laid there, quietly listening to her breathing, remembering the last time he laid like this in a hospital room. Quietly he began to cry too, until he drifted off to sleep too, his arms wrapped around a traumatized stranger. 

*

Banning sighed, staring at the pile of paperwork threatening to bury his desk. He rubbed his eyes, wincing. "Damn contact lenses." He growled. His coffee was cold. There were no real leads to go on, and CSU hadn't gotten back to them yet with any fingerprints. They had his DNA from the rape kit they did at the hospital, but no results yet. They got the sketch out to the local news, but so far, no one seemed to have seen the guy. If nothing comes up...the best bet was to wait and see if the guys slips up again. The criminal psychologist had been interviewing Alexandria with him. From what she had said, they both knew it is very likely they were dealing with a serial rapist. 

"Frank, man...go home. Kiss your wife, hug your kids..." His partner, Daniel Sampson said. "I will stay a while. We both know I don't have a life outside this place." He joked. 

Frank chuckled. "We got to get you one Danny, really. Go find yourself a nice girl." 

Danny laughed. "God willing." He said. They went round and round about it for years. Danny was a professed Christian, and not married. He believed if God wanted him to marry, He would bring Daniel a wife. Frank thought it was a nice thought, but told him that God couldn't give him a wife if he never went out and met any women to begin with. 

Danny always laughed and said, "God's timing is perfect." 

"Well Danny...pray we catch this guy quick, before any more girls get hurt." Frank said as he walked out the door.

"We're on it." Danny said, smiling. "Justice will prevail." Danny always prayed over the cases they got. It was no coincidence they closed almost every case that came across their path. Conviction rates were high. Danny knew they had help from on high. Some of the other cops rolled their eyes and joked about it, but Danny didn't mind most of the time. They all came to him for prayer when crisis struck. He was the "Prayin' Policeman" on the street and in the jail. He had people's respect, even if they didn't like God, they liked Danny. He loved people, and the homeless and hookers, runaways and gangsters loved and respected him for it. When he wasn't on duty he was just a regular guy, who treated them like human beings. 

"Lord...please protect the women of this city from this evil man." He said softly. "Lead us down the right path to find him. Shine Your light into the darkness like a spotlight straight on him. Lead us to find him quickly, Father. Help us to capture him safely, and bring him to justice, In Jesus's name, Amen." He stared at the mans picture and laid his hands on it as he prayed, feeling peace wash over him. He smiled softly. They would find this man.

*

A little while later, a nurse walked in to check on her. She was surprised to see Caleb asleep next to the patient, his dirty shoes hanging off the end of the bed. She smiled as she checked the monitors and scribbled something on the chart. Caleb was snoring softly into her hair, she was breathing softly, curled up next to him. 

"They look so cute together." Ellen whispered to the nurse as she walked in the room. 

"They do, don't they?" The nurse said. 

"Is he hurting her by touching her like that?" Ellen asked.

Sara shook her head. "I doubt it, if she let him. It's awful what happened to her. It's nice to know her boyfriend is so willing to be with her through it." 

"They aren't dating." Ellen whispered. "He's the one who found her." Ellen continued. " He found her outside our store. I'm his boss. I told him to stay with her as long as she needs." 

"They just met today?" The nurse said, watching them sleep. 

"Yes, a few hours ago." Ellen said. 

"The bonds formed from trauma can be pretty strong." The nurse said. "It looks like they have bonded pretty quickly, under the circumstances."

"So how is she doing?" Ellen asked. 

"We have to wait to get the results from her brain scans to check for head injuries." The nurse said. "She said the guy slammed her head into a brick wall. So we are monitoring her closely, and keeping her medicated for pain."

"She had lots of cuts." Ellen said.

"The doctor stitched the worst ones, and bandaged the others. She's strong and otherwise healthy, and if she doesn't develop complications, she will be released in a few days." 

"That's good to know." Ellen said. "I think I am going to leave a note for Caleb and get myself home. It's been a long day." 

The nurse left the room with her, and went to locate a cot for Caleb to sleep on for the next few days. She had a feeling he wasn't planning on leaving the room, no matter what hospital policy was. In some cases, they let the visitation rules slide a bit when the doctors didn't voice objections. She slipped back into the room unnoticed and set it up beside the patient's bed. Sara went back to the nurses station to tell the others about the handsome knight in shining armor sleeping in room 1307.



Second Chances Ch. 02



I got away from this story to pursue another Janet story, but it was getting to dark, so I decided to come back to this one and work on Part 2. I have gotten some feedback and E-mails wanting me to continue. I hope I don't disappoint. Enjoy and as always all comments are welcome and read.

At the end of Part 1, Susan and I were getting together, more and more, and acting more like a family, especially with Jennifer. I had started thinking of her as my daughter.



Many things have been going through my mind lately. Such as, why didn't I have her tracked down, why did I keep letting her have the money, other than knowing that as long as she took it, I knew she was alive. Maybe in some abstract way, maybe I thought I owed it to her. 

Another thing is that I dated several women, always had a good time, but never felt anything for any of them that was even close to what I felt and am feeling again for Susan. I think that is why I never worked at a serious relationship. Not like I am now. I truly want it to work. No I need it to work. Call if divine intervention or whatever, but I feel it is supposed to work.

We did spend Friday night together. Our love making was a little awkward at first. Even though legally we were still husband and wife, the feeling towards each other was new. Not the rip roaring sex we used to have 10 years ago, but a gentle, loving and ultimate, totally satisfying. We snuggled together not even bothering to get cleaned up.

I was spooned up to her like I used to and it felt good.

As we lay there, remembering back, Susan lamented, "Shit, nothing has changed. I'm still laying in the wet spot." That cracked us up. For the first time in years, I felt like a huge burden had been lifted from me. I hugged her tighter to me and we fell asleep.

We were woken up by a banging on the bedroom door.

"Hey, aren't you two gonna get up. It's Saturday. Families do things together on Saturday."

I groaned and mumbled to Susan, "Guess we gotta get up, the little shit is home."

We got showered and dressed. Pulled Jennifer away from MTV and went out for a late breakfast and spent the rest of the day at the beach. Susan and I loved the ocean and hanging at the beach. Now we had Jennifer to share it with. Just like a real family.

We wore the little turd out, boogie boarding, throwing the Frisbee and walking along the surf line. As she slept covered with he towel on our blanket, Susan and I lay in each other's arms, making out like some of the other couples were. Only they were much younger.

After we went out to our favorite little Mexican restaurant for dinner, we went home and sat around watching a movie with Jennifer.

All of a sudden, the TV went off. The kid had turned it off.

"Okay, you two lets talk. Am I getting a Daddy or what?"

Susan and I looked at each other and laughed, "Well, I guess that answers that question about her reaction to me staying over," I said.

"Honey, Daddy Jon and I have been talking about renewing our marriage vows. That is kind of like getting married again, but we don't want to rush into it. We will be discussing it more and setting a date real soon. We both want to be real sure that we are doing the right thing. It seems that we are and your reaction to all this makes it much easier for me. Do you understand all of this.

"Yes, Mommy, you just want to be sure that I am really alright with Jon being my Daddy. I want him to be and you want him to be and you love him and he loves you, so what's the problem. Let's get married."

Susan and I put Jennifer to bed and talked late into the night. We went to bed knowing that we were making the right decision.

The next morning, Sunday, we woke, with a whole new outlook on life and the three of us went to church at the place where Susan taught. I had not been to church, in I couldn't remember when. 

It was a little awkward for us, as she had mentioned to her fellow teachers and others, about the new developments. I was surprised at how welcoming everyone was, though. One old lady came up to me and told me I better make an honest woman out of Susan, even if we were still married.

"Yes, mam, I intend to do that real soon and you're invited." She slapped my arm.

Jennifer, in the meantime, was telling all her little friends, that I was gonna be her new Daddy. Now she would have a Daddy like they did. 

Susan looked at me, when she heard that and with tears of joy, laid her head on my shoulder and whispered, "I love you. Lets go home."

Neither of our places were big enough for the three of us, so we started to look for a bigger place. We wanted to stay near the beach so buying was out but we found a nice 3 bedroom condo in Pacific Beach, that was available at the end of the month. We gave our notice and started making plans for renewing our marriage vows, before we moved.

The people Susan worked with and others in the congregation, talked her into having it during church service on Sunday. It was okay with me and of course, Jennifer, because she was gonna stand up with her Mother and I had a buddy from my Navy days, who works with me, stand up with me.

We had the usual wedding ceremony and when the preacher asked if anyone objected to us being married, my old lady friend stood up and said, "Nobody objects, get on with it." It took at least five minutes for everyone to calm down from laughing so hard, so we could "get on with it."

They had finger food, drinks and a wedding cake for us afterwards in the church hall. Everyone congratulated us and said they looked forward to seeing me next Sunday. Guess I know what I'll be doing Sunday mornings

One of the teacher's was going to keep Jennifer until Monday morning. I had made reservations at the Hilton on Mission Bay for the night. Not much of a honeymoon, since we both had to work the next day, but it was a Jacuzzi room. 

We got a bite to eat on the way to the hotel. After all, we were going to need the energy.

As Susan and I entered our room and closed the door, our arms went around each other and our lips came together in a kiss of pure passion, our mouths and tongue dueling, neither able to get enough of each other.

While my arms were around her, I unzipped her dress and unbuttoned the strap around her neck that was holding it up. As we moved away from each other it slid to her waist. My mouth went right for the first breast that was exposed and locked onto the little, pink, turgid nipple and areola, the tip of my tongue flicking the nipple in my mouth. 

The other firm, pliable breast was captured in my hand and gently massaged in such a way to rub the end of the nipple on the palm of my hand.

"Ohhh, myyy, gawd. Ohhh, I, I, I , ohhhh fuuuck, yess, yes, yes I'mmmm cummming."

She held on tight to me as she erupted in an intense orgasm and as it receded she collapsed against me.

"That has never happened before. It was like there was a direct connection from my nipples to my pussy.

My panties are soaked."

I didn't give her much time to recover, lowering myself to my knees, pulling her dress down as I went. As it puddled around her feet, she lifted first one foot and then the other as I pulled it free and threw it on the bed.

My face was level with her pussy. I could feel the heat and smell the results of her orgasm. I just stared at her little close trimmed patch of brown pubic hair. She had trimmed it so that it looked heart shaped.

"You like. That's just for you." She pulled my head into her sodden, nylon and lace covered pussy. Her legs parted as I sucked on her panty covered quim. Moving her panties to one side it, forced my tongue into her. She quivered and pushed me away.

"Fuck me Jon, fuck me, hard. I don't want to make love now. I want to fuck."

I got up and pushed her back onto the bed and climbed up after her. We worked our way toward the head of the bed. Her knees were up, legs spread wide, her eager, wet slit opening to accept my engorged cock.

Her soft, little hand reached under and steered me to the entrance of her most prized possession. As I passed through the labia, she gradually opened to let my cock slid in, inch by inch, until I was buried to the hilt and our pubes were messed as one. We lay there unmoving, our lips coming together in a wet, open mouth kiss and her legs wrapped around my waist. I raised up and slammed back into her. With every stroke she pushed up to meet me, this went on for some minutes, our bodies were beginning to perspire as I kept spearing her soaked womanhood. 

"Suuuusan, I'm gonna cum, baby."

"Wait for me, wait for me, I am almost theeeeeeeeeeeere. "

A few more pile driving thrusts and I started to fill her hot, hungry pussy. 

I felt her tense and then start to quiver as her orgasm exploded through her. Her mouth wide open and a sob came out, tears started running down her cheeks, as her climax intensified and our juices, intermingled in her. Her body was wracked in sobs as she slowly came down from her orgasm. My cock was withdrawing from he depths as I rolled us over onto our sides. We stayed locked together by her legs still wrapped around my waist.

"My god. I have waited all my life to feel like that." I admitted to her that I could never remember feeling like that before, either.

Slowly, untangling ourselves, we made our way to the shower, stopping a moment to start the Jacuzzi, so it would be ready when we were done.

We washed each other, all over. As I was washing her pussy, I let my hand slide through and into the crack of her ass and washed that, too.

"That's all yours, if you want it." Hearing that made my cock start to stir. Of course, I wanted it, just not right now.

We finished and got into the Jacuzzi and sat side by side, her head laying on my shoulder.

"Jon, I wish there was some way we could get back all those years we were apart."

"Well, baby, that can never happen but we take what we had back then and what we have learned since then and build our life and family on it."

We spent about a half hour letting the hot bubbling jets, massage our bodies. 

Afterwards, we figured we might as well get dressed and we ordered a light meal from room service along with two bottles of Susan's favorite wine.

Night fall was coming on. We sat out on the little deck, ate, drank the wine and watched the lights of San Diego come to life and the sunset reflecting of the glass high rises, across the bay. As we talked about different things, we both mentioned how much we loved living here and that this is where we want to raise our family. 

After dark we watched the fireworks from Sea World, then turned in for the night.

We spent the better part of the first hour in bed, hugging, kissing and making slow, passionate love.

"Jon, we didn't get a wake up call. It's almost 9. I'm late."

"Relax baby, I got it covered. I told your principle, yesterday, not to expect you till later in the morning. She is gonna have an aide cover for you until you get there. My supervisor gave me 4 hours of personal time."

"So now that is settled you want to mess around?" I was laying on my back, with a nice column of morning wood.

She smirked, straddled and lowered herself on my rigid cock. She rode me up and down while I pulled on her nipples and massaged those firm little titties. 

She leaned over and in a low, sexy voice said, "Suck em, hard." I obliged and she rode me harder and faster until she had me cumming in her, just before she had her orgasm. 

Strange that I should think at this moment. "Why didn't I look for this woman, all those years."

Makes no difference now. We are together, again.

A few days later Susan and I talked about me adopting Jennifer. She said she would love that. We looked into it and started the paperwork.

Days turned into weeks and weeks into months. The adoption was finalized and Jennifer was as happy as a clam.

"Now you are my real Daddy."

Our lives were great or at least I thought so. Susan was measured in her response when I asked her what was the matter.

"Honey, I just don't know what's wrong. It is not us. I just feel like my life is going nowhere. I love my job, the kids are great. I love our life together but something is missing."

I had now been over a year since we got married. I wondered whether she was feeling less needed by Jennifer, now that we were both responsible for her. Her control of situations was now halved, compared to the ten years prior. I brought this up to her and she just nodded, "no".

This went on for a couple more weeks and I was at wits end, as what to do. It had started effecting Jennifer, also. She hung on me more than usual.

"Daddy, what is wrong with Mommy. She seems sad all the time."

"I don't know, sweetie. I don't think she even knows. Has she ever been like this before?"

"No, not really. Sometimes she would just sit and stare at your picture and get this way."

"Lets surprise her tomorrow and take her out to dinner. Anywhere she wants to go and see if that will help cheer her up."

The next day after work, I asked Susan if she wanted to go our for dinner, rather than cook. She said that would be nice. There was something different about her again, somehow.

I told her to get her shower and I wanted to see her in something sexy, for a change. She had been letting herself go lately too.

Jennifer and I were sitting in the kitchen waiting for her, when she came down.

"Mommy, you look pretty."

I turned and wow, she looked great. Like the old Susan. A light blue and yellow sundress and a pair of white heeled sandals. Her hair was swept up on the top of he head and pinned and she had on my favorite pale pink lipstick.

"Baby, you look great. Where do you want to go?"

"Lets go to the Loft. We can look out over the ocean from there." What a change. I wondered what brought this on.

Being it was a week day, we were able to get a window table and after we all ordered Susan took my hand and said, "I want a baby."

"You do? That's great, honey, I have been thinking about it for awhile but didn't know how to approach you about it. You seemed to be so engrossed with you job and us."

"I know and that has been bothering me a lot and I just didn't know what to do about it. Today one of the Mother's came in all excited. She was pregnant. Right then I knew that I wanted a baby, too."

"Oh, wow, a baby brother or sister. I've been wanting for one of them, but figured I would just always be an only child."

"Well, looks like Daddy and Mommy will have to get at it, so you aren't an only child."

There will be 11 years difference. That should be interesting.

It took a couple months but one night Susan came dancing out of the bathroom. Her home pregnancy kit was positive. She made an appointment with Gyno to have it verified and start her prenatal care. At 36 and 11 years since the last one, her Doctor told her, she was going to keep a close eye on her.

The pregnancy was actually pretty easy on her. When she was 6 months pregnant, she started to get really horny. We had a great sex life up till then, but this was something else again. 

She had to be on top, to be comfortable, but she was insatiable.

At about her 7th month, she came home from work and grabbed me and said, "Let's go, I need it right now."

I loved the way she looked naked, with that big baby bump and all. She had a glow that I have heard only pregnant women have.

She walked over to the night stand and took out a bottle of lube.

"I want you to take my ass." This was only one of a handful of times since we got back together that she wanted it that way.

She climbed onto the bed, with her ass in the air, her big belly and tits were resting on the mattress and her head was on the pillow.

"Just like before. Lube me up with your fingers and get me ready. I want to feel your balls slap against my pussy.

After lubing her ass and my rigid cock, I held it against her little puckered hole and let her push back. It only took a few moments until I was inside that tight, inferno. She steadily, pushed back until she had me all the way in. I fucked her with long, slow strokes, just the way she likes it. It wasn't long before I was ready to cum.

Her fingers were working overtime on her clit and pussy and I knew she wasn't far behind me. 

"Baby, you want my load in your ass?"

"Yes, yes give it to me nowwwwwwwwwwww." She pushed back hard against me and I felt her get even hotter as I unloaded in her tight ass. She came seconds later.

I slowly pulled out of her ass and she collapsed onto her side.

"I love you, my husband. That was fantastic." I agreed whole hearted.

Of course as we got closer to her date, sex was the least of our thoughts. Keeping her healthy and her weight under control was forefront in our lives. We walked on the beach every night and she still did some weight training at her fitness center.

She was into her ninth month, then it happened

"It's time, honey." Naturally, it was the middle of the night. I got Jennifer up and the three of us were on our way. We had gotten permission for Jennifer to be with me in the birthing room. Susan wanted to have natural child birth, so I had to do my thing.

When she had to start pushing, she of course was in pain and took it out on me.

"No more, damn you, this is the last one. You have the next one, owwwwwwwwww, you bastard, you did this to me."

The nurses and doctor, of course, here this kind of stuff all the time and just laughed.

"What's so fucking funny. You get your asses down her and do this."

That just made us laugh all the more. Jennifer just looked on in awe.

Soon there was a screaming, pruny looking little bundle of joy. Jennifer had a baby sister.

Life went on, the kids grew up. Jennifer is a teacher like her Mom and is married, Samantha is still in college, beating off the guys. She is a spitting image of her Mom, in her younger days.

Susan and I are more in love today than ever before and hold dear the fact that we were given a second chance at happiness and love. We both feel that there is one person out there for you to fall truly in love with, once that person is no longer in your life, finding true love again is all but impossible. I think that is the way it would have been for us. That and because I had partied to hard the night before and didn't go jogging till later than usual. It was the only time that had ever happened.



Second Chances Ch. 02



It was 1:40 PM at work and I got called to the front desk. I had a visitor and a 2 PM meeting. I'm a little ticked off, more than a little ticked off. A meeting in 15 minutes and I don't have time for anything right now. I got to the front desk and stopped in my tracks. It's Jerry. I walked up to him slowly. I am now more than just pissed about being late for a meeting. "What are you doing here Jerry? We didn't exactly part on great terms."

He's standing there with a strained, pained look on his face. All I could think was payback. "When you righteously left me, you left a few things behind. I know that these things were important to you and I got in contact with your brother. I can fully understand that you are not pleased to see me. But give me a minute, there is someone who can help." At this point he pulled out his phone and hit a button. Looking at me he says into the phone, "Yes, here she is. I was correct, you were wrong." And he handed the phone to me. The contact name and phone number was my brother.

"Dave, what the heck are you doing to me? I thought you understood? This isn't OK with me."

"Sandy, before you go any further, let me tell you a few things. He found something of yours that you left behind. Something very important. He tried to give it to me, but he slipped that he was going to Portland for work and a conference. He didn't know you were there. We've spend a couple of evenings together.

"Sis, you have to trust me now. I know you need closure, so does he. I had to talk him into seeing you. He didn't want to bother you at all. Blame this all on me, but trust me on this one. Would I steer you wrong?"

"You know that I really hate it when you make decisions for me. You know that." At this point I paused and looked at Jerry. He's not looking confident. He actually looked like he wanted to bolt out the door. Back on the phone for both Jerry and my brother Dave to hear, "Ok, for this once. It just better be good. I'll call later and ream you out royally. You won't be able to sit for a week. Bye." At his point Jerry looked a bit relieved.

I gave the phone back to Jerry. "What is this great thing that I left behind?" 

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small envelope. "I knew that this was something that you would never leave behind. I tried to give it to your brother, but he refused and then talked me into seeing you and giving it to you personally. He opened the envelope. My mother's wedding band came out. 

"Oh my, I thought that it was hidden in my jewelry box. I didn't know it was gone." The shock of seeing it, realizing that I may have lost it forever. Tears started to roll out of my eyes. Mom died when I was 18, and the world was never the same for me after that. I always held on to the ring as a symbol of her love for me. Without thinking, I grabbed him and hugged him for all I'm worth. He froze and I pulled back immediately. I crossed a line, but he was right, this was very important for me.

"Thank you, thank you so much for bringing this back to me. I don't know what to say." I'm still wiping the tears from my eyes.

"Sandy, actually, there is a favor I'd like to ask of you." He paused, "And feel free to decline. I'll understand." He paused again. "I'd like to take you out to dinner. Just dinner, that's all. I have three things I'd like to talk about with you. One is returning some of the other things that you left behind, another is to apologize and the third is to thank you."

"Look Jerry, I have a meeting in 5 minutes. I don't know." I looked at his face and held the ring tight, I made up my mind. "What hotel are you staying at?" 

"The downtown Hilton." 

"I'll meet you at the Bistro 921 restaurant at 8PM. I have to get to my meeting now."

"I'll see you there. Thanks Sandy."

I went home after work to freshen up and check my jewelry box. I was sure that the ring was always in the hidden compartment I made in the bottom of the box. Sure enough, the false bottom wasn't put back the way I always did. The inscribed diamond and platinum pendent that Jerry gave me was missing along with another necklace that he gave me. He liked to buy me custom jewelry and I liked his taste.

I changed into an evening dress. Not sexy, but elegant. I'll be with him to talk with him, not bed him. If he's going to see me, I want him to see what he threw away. 

I ubered a cab. Could have taken the Metro, but I didn't want to put up with the crowds. I walked into the Bistro 921 Bar at 7:30 to find him already there. He was sitting where he could see everyone approaching the restaurant. 

Jerry walked up to me with a smile on his face. "Sandy, thanks for agreeing to see me. May I order you something from the bar? The table won't be ready for another 15 minutes at the earliest."

"I'll take a glass of a local Oregon cabernet if you please. I'm a local now." 

He flagged the waitress and the wine appeared with a minimum wait. From his past I knew that he has already tipped her quite well.

"So, what conference are you attending in Portland? It's a long way from Cleveland and Shaker Heights."

"After I stopped being stupid, I decided to get back to work on my career. I've sort of switched fields. Instead of just being an accountant with a new CPA, I've taken my knowledge of Oracle's latest accounting system of the past several years and moved into forensic Accounting. I found out that when I look for things, I can see them where not many others can."

"Jerry, is that a straight line for me?" And we both start laughing. Jerry was notorious for not being able to find anything at the condo if it was out of sight. Put something under a piece of paper and if he couldn't see it, he couldn't find it.

"Guilty as charged. But on the other hand, when it comes to Accounting and a job, it's different. I was on an audit last month and found that I would occasionally encounter random problem transactions in the system. I'd ask a question, get a logical explanation and move on. Something didn't feel right. So I went back at night when the Accountants weren't there. With a DBA from the Accounting practice I found that a staff accountant was moving things around. The problem I would find would show him where I was at, and he'd move things 'behind that' so I wouldn't find it. He was pulling out about $150K a year, maybe more."

"Accounting practice? You're no longer with...?"

"Oh, you don't know what happened after you left." He began to smile and relaxed a bit. "Your brilliant and ethical detective work was great. By contacting the spouses involved, there was a divorce and two firings. More upheaval than that sleepy accounting department ever had. I was the only one in the clear. And I decided to leave anyway.

"Don was let go and his wife divorced him. It appears that this wasn't the first time he was stepping out of his marriage. His wife had been prepared for a while. Jason on the other hand was in the doghouse with Loretta and also had to find a new job. Work gave him some time to do that. His activities were done on company time, otherwise, they couldn't do anything about it. Diana threatening to file suit for sexual harassment saying that Don coerced her into sex. She's still there and everybody's afraid of her. They can't find grounds to dismiss her and..." the waitress appeared and let us know the table was ready. We grabbed our drinks and followed her.

We were seated at a table where it was a bit quiet and farther away from most of the other diners. I could see that he wanted some privacy to talk with me. I put my mother's ring on after he gave it to me and spent these hours away from him thinking about what happened before between us, and what was happening now. That's the thing about being an analyst, you think about if or how things work, or don't.

I love it when the wait staff try their best to start a relationship with you. You can get the feeling if they are real or it's the routine. In this case, Jerry addressed the waiter by his name first and asked if we could have a couple of minutes to settle. This was not the Jerry I knew. This Jerry was not taking a back seat, not letting me take the lead. "Ok, you've eaten here before. After all, this is your hotel." 

"This is my 3rd night here. I had to entertain several clients the past two days and became very well known by the staff here. It's actually a pretty good place. The clients on the other hand were a bit loud and we ended up spending the rest of the evening in the bar. I worked it out with the servers that my first drink was real, the rest were not, but looked real. I told them to charge me full price. I didn't want to lose my head on anything. Some of the clients needed help to their rooms later. Good and legal way to keep them clients."

"Ok Jerry, what do you suggest?" and he rattled off a meal that he knew that I'd like. That said something about him. He asked if I would like another glass of wine or something non-alcoholic, saying he was concerned that I get home safely and up for work the next day. I didn't tell him that I had the next day off. Had a scheduled doctor's appointment to go to and I needed the time away from work.

We talked about our jobs. I filled him in on what this Big Data project I was working on, how Portland was and it really is, but isn't Portlandia. Without saying those words, he filled me on how he was taking control of his life. All in all it was a pleasant dinner with pleasant conversation.

Desert was next and he asked me what, if any I wanted. He knew that I fought my weight my entire life, sometimes winning, sometimes losing. Lately, the stress of moving and a new job, I was not winning. I shook my head no and he asked "How about coffee then? The decaf espresso is not bad here, it tastes like they use Italian brands, not local ones. I've always noticed the differences since you clued me in on that." I agreed. 

After it was served, he cleared his throat and looked at the table top, then at me. "As I said earlier today, there are three things I wanted to talk with you about. Upstairs, I have a box of things you left behind, including the infamous Pi box your brother built you." At that he nervously chuckled a bit.

"The other things were for me to apologize to you. I am sorry that I didn't treat you right. We were starting to drift from our work schedules, and I lost sight of you. I was seduced." 

I started to frown, but he continued. "No one can be seduced without their consent. In the end I chose to be unfaithful to you. Four times I was unfaithful before I fully realized what I was doing. What I did was outright wrong, stupid of me, mean and nasty and so God damn dishonest that I will be ashamed of myself for the rest of my life." I was shocked over his language, and his ownership of his actions. I never heard profanity from him before, well, not in English anyway. I was also hearing an honesty from him. He continued. "You didn't deserve that behavior from me. I am so sorry for what I did to you. It was nothing that you deserved. I was a fucking idiot. I am sorry from the bottom of my heart."

This was a third shock, I never heard vulgarity from him in all our time together, unless it was him severely stubbing his toe on the bed frame in the middle of the night. It was not who he was. He wasn't a goody two shoes or a prude, but he was refined and caring, and a little bit dense at times. If he was angry, he used different, descriptive terms, colorful terms, creative terms, Polish or even Classical Latin terms. But he was never profane or obscene. I knew he was very serious now about all he was saying.

"I can explain what happened, but it does not excuse any of my behavior." He took a sip of wine and looked directly into my eyes. "As a couple, we were struggling. You were jetting off to client sites. And then staying there for a week or two at a time. I was learning the ins and out of the accounting package and studying for the CPA exams. 

"It felt a bit lonely and instead of talking with you about it, I allowed myself to be seduced. I allowed it to happen. I was active in it. No one else to blame. No one can be seduced without their own consent." He paused and took a sip of wine. "There will always be temptations in life, I failed this one, big time." At that he began to quietly stifle a sob. When he realized what he was doing, he broke away from it, embarrassed.

"The other part of what I want to say to you is thank you. Thank you for the gift of those two years. I've looked back at it these past several months and realized all the good things we had, that we were. I am sorry for betraying your trust and destroying a good thing."

He paused, and then continued. "And thank you for your parting gift, your goodbye message." At that he began to smile. "You showed me who that other person was. You showed me that I was unfaithful, I cheated with somebody that was using me for her own purposes. You didn't have to do that. You are a far better person than I ever was. Thank you."

"Jerry, don't sell yourself short. As you know, my brother recorded your extracurricular sessions on our bed. I didn't want to see them, and generally didn't. But he brought a couple to my attention. 

"I don't know if you remember this, but there was a time when Diana was dissing me, dissing me real good. You put a stop to it and ended your, your, errr, session with her. You never saw this, but when your back was turned, she flipped you a double bird with such hate on her face. Then two days later, your boss Dan was there during lunch. That was followed a day later by Jason on the bed with her. You should have heard her dissing the partners of who she was with. Do you remember your boss sending you out of town unexpectedly to do that audit for a week? He was laughing about it, thought he got away with everything." 

"You know Sandy, I never gave her a key. I had the locks changed as soon as I saw your goodbye video. That video was pretty good. She was actually speechless, especially when the wives were calling her at work and on her cell, at all hours. 

"I'm a chump, aren't I?" I nodded yes, but even I could feel the sadness on my face. He was a chump sometimes, but he's not a nasty or mean person. He trusted more than he should. "You did a great job Sandy. You exposed me and her and her other partners. Did you know I got an earful from both of the wives? When they found out that it was happening under my nose, they cut me some slack. They both still called me stupid and a couple more unmentionable things too. I deserved it. You know, what we all did with that woman was wrong, nothing less than that. I'm sorry I did that to you." He took a sip of his espresso. After waiting a minute he asked, "By the way, were you missing any valuables?"

"Now that you mention it, the diamond pendent you gave me is gone and that other necklace you gave to me too. The bottom of my jewelry box was disturbed. I checked it after work when I got home."

"Sandy, I was the one that took the ring from your box a couple of months ago. I put the false bottom back the exact way you showed me to. I had some plans for it then and wanted to... well never mind that. At least it was in safe hands and it's been returned to its rightful owner. Whatever else may be missing, please let me know and I'll replace it or reimburse you for it if I can't find a replacement. I was responsible for what happened and I need to make it as right as possible."

"When I was packing my stuff up that morning, I saw the spare key missing from the key ring in the closet. You may have been dishonest with me, but you retained something, something good. You may not have respected our relationship, but you did respect me. That sounds kind of funny now that I think about it. Anyway, I felt that I had to at least give you a running chance with her."

It was my turn now. "Jerry, I've been angry with you for quite a while. At first I was hurt, but I also realized that we were drifting. I was feeling trapped in my job and being a road warrior was only appealing for so many months for me. I realized that I was not cut out for that kind of life. I had to cut you some slack. You were trapped like me too." That's when I looked at the table then into his eyes, "I also have to take responsibility for the relationship stagnating. We weren't very good together, our jobs were always more important than us." That thought hung over us in silence for a couple of long minutes.

"Sandy, it appears that it's getting late and I don't want you to be wiped out for work tomorrow." I nodded yes, but something inside of me didn't want this evening to be over quite yet. We were talking, honestly and openly. We hadn't done that when we lived together in Ohio for quite a while. 

"I thought that you had a package for me and I don't see it anywhere."

"Oh, wait right here, I'll get it from my room and bring it right down."

"No problem. Is your room that messy that you don't want me to see it?"

"Well, no, I thought that..."

"I'd like to continue talking with you. I have a doctor's appointment at 10 tomorrow, so I don't have to get into work at all. I can afford some more time with you if you want." I stopped, looking at his eyes. "And I'll pull a cab home tonight."

There was a big smile on his face when he nodded and signaled the waitress for the bill. I excused myself and visited the ladies room and then met him at the elevators. We were both nervous on the ride up. I didn't have any horizontal plans for the evening and I hoped that he heard that. I hoped he also didn't have any plans like that either. 

Upon entering his room, he suggested the mini-bar for a drink, asking that I put something together. He went into the bedroom and returned carrying a box that once contained a case of copier paper. It didn't look that heavy now.

After he put the box down at his feet, I handed him a local craft beer. I know that this was going to pricy, but it has to be on his expense account. I grabbed a merlot and sat down across from him on the couch.

With a little bit of flourish, Jerry opened the box, shielding my eyes from the contents. He was always playful with me. This evening was bringing back many of the good things we had before it all turned sour, then putrid.

Out came the first beanie baby, Ziggy the Zebra followed by Pinky the Flamingo, Dot the ladybug and ending with Slither the Snake. All I could do is laugh. "You do realize you're bringing my childhood back to me? These were my friends for years. I never really played with them, but I had them stationed in my room while I was growing up, overlooking me and my world. I looked at them all the time. I forgot I put them in the back of the closet." That's when he pulled out my beat up Fido and had Fido 'slobber' all over me before he released him to me. 

It's been lonely here these couple of months. New job, new town, trying to make new friends. I've started, but there is no one like somebody who knows you well to make you feel completely at ease. Someone you don't have to explain yourself to. His playfulness made me realize that this new life was harder on me than I thought.

With a sly smile, he saw my anticipation when out popped two of my special coffee mugs. The first one was from my mother when I graduated high school. It was the last gift from my mother before she passed. In Italy, they don't say someone passed. They say that the person is missing. My mom is missing. 

He passed me the second mug, it was from Jerry. It took him $30 at a carnival shooting gallery to get it for me. I laughed at him when he was doing it. I also laughed with him the entire time. That was so magical then.

I was starting to get the feeling that things were going to be less playful now, and I was right. The next thing out was my photo album. The early pictures were of me growing up, and the later ones were of Jerry and me. He didn't try to make this playful, but he opened it up to the great times I had growing up. He knew all about it from before. He also skirted the pictures of the difficult times.




Second Chances Ch. 02



He next pulled out a couple of minor things and ended with the Raspberry Pi box. The instructions that my brother wrote to properly hook it up were attached to it. Jerry must have gotten another copy, the original was on a long ago deleted email.

"Well, my dear sir. It's now my turn to thank you. You've brought me back to many places with these things." I paused, surveying the pile of things at me feet. "Thank you." 

That's when I knew what I had to do. I went over to him and hugged him. Not a sexual hug but a hug of the emotional connection I was feeling again. It could be the loniness I had been feeling in a new job and a new city. It could also be the honest caring he had for me, and I still had for him. I made it a point of pulling back before this hug could morph into something more physically. 

We spent the rest of the evening talking about our lives, where we were and what we wanted to do. There was no talk about getting back together, but there was a strong feeling that we both wanted to stay in touch with each other. At 11, he walked me down to the lobby and got me into a cab. He grabbed my hand, gently squeezing it good bye and I left to go home. My brother was right this time, closure is good.



Second Chances Ch. 02



This is the second story about my relationship with my GILF. She was quite surprised (and a bit worked up, thank you very much!) at the response to the first story, and I have convinced her to write this one, and probably one more. First, though, I would like to address a couple of comments posted about the first story:

First, yes, my GILF actually exists. I don't know how you want me to prove that she is real, or refer to her other than using her name, so you'll just have to accept my word for it. The reason that our writing styles look so similar is because she has never written anything before, and I edited her parts, perhaps a bit too closely. I did minimal editing on this one.

Second, to the person that complained about how "Every fucking women has to have basketballs for tits and a cock you can use for a fucking lasso", I apologize, but this IS a true story, and in this case, GILF does have big breasts, and I do happen to be a little larger than average. Keep in mind, I am only the second man she has ever been with, and doesn't really have much to compare me to.

As always, we both hope that you enjoy the story, vote BIG for us, and we'll be back soon!

-Kurt

***** 

"Wanna go check out the balcony?" Teri asked a couple of minutes later, giggling.

*****

Teri-

I lay there snuggled into Kurt, going through the day through my mind. I kissed Kurt on the neck and say to him, "Kurt, this day was amazing, I couldn't imagine it any better. Can you stay the night or do you need to leave?" 

Kurt rolled to his side with a sheen still on his face and an ear to ear grin, his fingers tucked my hair behind my ear and traced my cheek, resting his fingers on my collar bone. He took a deep, sighing breath. The silence was worrying me in one way, yet his eyes were saying something else to me.

Was he trying to come up with a nice way to say he can't, with his long silence? His lips finally parted and his scruffy worn out voice said to me, "Yes, today was amazing. Coming back here with you ... I honestly wasn't expecting my Friday to be like this." 

"Now you want me to stay over. Do you know the fantasies I have been playing in my head over the years, even more since you announced the separation at the bar that night? Seems like you like to break news on Fridays," he added, with a laugh to his voice. 

He still hadn't said yes or no. I took my eyes from his and buried my face between his neck and shoulder and hugged tightly around his side, afraid to let go. It may be over if I do. He is drawing out his response and I may have pushed too much by asking him to spend the night. I actually am/was hoping to have had the entire three day weekend taking him in but now I'm not sure that's happening. Why isn't he giving me an answer?

*****

Kurt-

I was still trying to recover from the incredible workout that Teri had just put me through, when she teased me by asking about going out on to her balcony, and then asked if I would spend the night. 

"Well, since you are offering, I would love to spend the night," I replied, looking in her eyes. "Do you have a spare bed room, or are you going to put me on the couch?"

Teri looked at me, shocked, for a second. "Well, I thought you might be more comfortable in bed, with me," she said, "but if you prefer, I can make up the couch for you."

"Hmmm...," I said, pretending to think over the offer. "Well, I don't want to have to make you go through all the trouble of making up your couch just for me, so I'll sleep in your bed with you, I guess."

"You guess?" she asked loudly, feigning anger as she rose up.

Laughing, I pulled her down and kissed her. Teri whimpered softly as our lips meshed together, our tongues dancing softly as we slid our hands across each other's bodies.

It wasn't long before I felt my blood start migrating back down to my cock again, and as Teri and I pulled apart, I said, "Yeah. Let's go check out the balcony."

Teri looked at me silently for a couple of seconds before she smiled, stood up, and took my hand. After getting me off of the bed, she started leading me toward her door. Stopping briefly, she stepped in to her bathroom and grabbed her robe.

As I stood there nude, she started sliding one arm down the sleeve of her robe. She looked at me and I smiled, slowly shaking my head. She stopped and looked at me, confused. "Leave the robe off," I told her. "It's warm enough tonight. You won't need it." 

"Trust me," I added.

She looked at me questioningly for a second, and then smiled, letting her robe drop to her floor.

Teri then led us out to the balcony, and I turned off all of the lights in her living room and kitchen as we walked through the condo.

She stopped about ten feet from her balcony door and I stepped up behind her. 

"It will be fine," I whispered in her ear as I wrapped my arms around her, my rising cock pressed in her ass crack.

"It's late, and this side of the building is dark," I continued, my hands slowly sliding up her body. "The balcony railings are solid, so no one will see through them. There are no lights behind us. No one will be able to see us."

I firmly cupped her full tits, her nipples still hard. Teri gasped softly and leaned back against me, pressing her ass against my quickly rising shaft. 

"Trust me," I whispered as I slid one hand down her soft belly and slid my fingertips across the top of her still wet mound.

*****

I stood frozen in my tracks with Kurt right behind me, his excited manhood growing and poking at my behind.

His inviting touches to my sensitive areas weren't making this any easier for me as I stared out into the darkness thru my sliding door.

As Kurt's hands roamed my body I turned my face to him. Taking a long sigh I said, "I've never walked outside totally naked EVER in my life."

His nudged me up against the door and pressed me so my tits splayed out against the chilly glass.

"OOHHH," I let out a long moan as my hot body hit the coolness. His hips pressed me forward. My entire front side was held firmly for the world to see through the door. I couldn't move to cover myself if I wanted to ... but I didn't want to. Kurt brushed the hair from my neck and nibbled at my neck and ear lobe.

He whispered in my ear, "I promise no one can see you right now. Close your eyes and just feel my touches."

I did as told, closing my eyes and concentrating on his warm hands and moist lips caressing my nakedness. My thoughts immediately went from panicking about being seen to total bliss from his touches.

Kurt said, "Keep your eyes closed." He then turned me to face him. With one arm around my waist, he drew me into him and I heard his other hand slide my door open. I felt the sudden blast of night air against my exposed back side. Instantly, goose bumps covered my body.

Kissing me, he started to walk us thru the open doorway on to the balcony. I looked into his eyes and he quickly swung me around so my breasts were exposed above the railing, proving his point that no one was around and we had total privacy.

I was more relaxed after the initial shock of standing out there totally naked, and when I turned back around to face Kurt he was seated in a chair, legs slightly spread and stretched out. 

His balls hung heavy between his legs, and the sight of his thick, stiff manhood sticking straight up, and the hazy glow from the cloud covered moon above sure made him look delicious.

I stood there etching the view of this hotness into my brain, telling myself that every time I walk out to my balcony this is what I want to remember. Naked Kurt.

He grabbed his cock and gave it a 'come hither' wag, inviting me to come closer. Giggling, I lowered to my hands and knees and crawled over to him. He growled softly, smiling.

Kissing his thighs, my shoulders pressed his legs a bit further apart. Opening my mouth, I stuck out my tongue and lapped at his full balls, flipping them up and down with each long lick. 

Peering up at Kurt, he held a soft smile and his eyes were wide as he watched me take the tip of his cock, pressed up against his navel with my tongue, caressing his full length slowly down under his balls. On the way back up my lips clamped along the shaft and sucked as the tip of my tongue traced the throbbing vein from the base of his shaft upward.

His gurgling noises and my moans along with the crickets in the back ground made a nice rhythmic symphony. 

His fingers soon grasped at my hair. Then, he guided himself deeper into my throat. I gagged as I felt the head pop into the back of my throat, and at the same time I felt a trickle roll down my inner thigh. I just took him deeper in this position than in my bed, to my surprise.

His balls pressed against my chin, my nose sniffing his muskiness at his pubic hair. My breasts lay on top of his thighs as my head bobbed vigorously.

His grip on my head grew stronger, and I peered up at him. His head was back, face scrunched tight, lips parted, and heavy breathing sounds escaping him. He was lost in my mouth. Raising my hand to his balls I flicked my fingertips, rolling his balls over the palm of my hand. I cupped them firmly with a slight tug, and his head popped up. I give a wicked, smirking smile around his cock before releasing him from my lips.

"Enjoying?" I asked sheepishly. Kurt mustered up a nod and a moan and tossed his head back again.

I continued my lip massage up and down his length.

Soon there was a small bead of his salty juices oozing from the slit. The bold flavor was heaven to my taste buds. I picked up my pace, drawing harder along him until I heard the rolling rumble from his throat and felt his legs start to stiffen against my side. I did my best to coax his stream of hotness to pour out and into my throat, my fingers working at the base in rhythm with my bobbing head.

Kurt crunched his fingers in my hair tighter. I couldn't move. He thrust his hips up hard and then the silent night air is filled with a loud, "Ohhhhh baby! Ohhyeah! Ohhhh baby yeah!!"

My throat was blasted with a very warm stream. I swallowed once, then again and again before he finished. As the stream came to an end I just held his throbbing shaft in my mouth, cradled on my tongue as he recovered from the explosion. I could swallow his cum every day and never get tired of it.

Kurt took one hand and placed his fingers under my chin, drawing my face up and allowing his deflating cock to plop from my lips.

I stood up, giving my knees a break from the hard cold concrete and smiled at the worn out, satisfied look on his face. I took his hands and pulled him up to his feet. Then I kissed him and asked if we could go inside. I was getting chilly as the night got later and the air cooled.

We walked back into the living room and Kurt sat on the sofa as I went to the bedroom to grab my robe. I came back in and tossed him my bed throw, then went into the kitchen to get both us some refreshing drinks.

Returning with two cold beers, I handed Kurt his and asked if he was up to some nourishment of the food kind.

"That sounds like a good idea. You know how to cook?" I slapped his knee and went to the kitchen.

"Well, let's find out, if you aren't dead by morning you can answer that." I told him, opening the fridge and calling off some things I had to cook with. We both settled on a late night breakfast.

I called Kurt to the kitchen once everything was ready. As we sat on the stools at the counter bar, I gave a gasping hiss between my clinched teeth as my bottom made contact with the hard seat. "Everything alright?" Kurt asked. 

"Umm, Yeah I think so. It's been a VERY long time since my pussy has had that much attention and was noticeable as I sat, that's all. I am fine." Kurt responded by giving me a wicked, naughty smile. 

After we were done eating I started cleaning up the mess. Standing at the sink in my open robe, I soon felt warm breath at the back of my neck. The next thing I knew, my robe was being drawn off my shoulders and Kurt's soft lips were kissing the back of my neck. Leaning forward, I rested my hands on the counter and my head dropped down, letting my body soak up the feeling of his hot body once more against me.

*****

Teri and I finally made it back to bed ... to sleep ... just before the sun came up. We both woke up around noon and I ran to CVS next door for a toothbrush. When I returned, I quickly brushed my teeth before joining her in the shower.

We spent the next three days together, mostly naked and sweaty. We made love, we fucked, and we rested, occasionally stopping to eat or shower. By the time I left her condo late Monday, Teri and I had performed one kind of sex act or another in every room of her condo and on every piece of furniture possible. One of my favorite sites was her kitchen. From the surprised squeal when I first lifted her on to her countertops to eat her tasty, wet pussy, to the incredible blow job she gave me after she sat me in one of her chairs as reciprocation, until her final orgasmic explosion as she was face down on her kitchen table, that memory sent my blood rushing to my cock for months.

Tuesday morning, we both went back to work trying to act as if nothing happened between us. Between the well-known fact that the Old Man frowned on inter-work relationships, and Teri not wanting word to get back to her kids yet (she got a couple of her kid's friends jobs with the company, and both girls worked at the office, one in Teri's department) we decided to keep things low key.

Within a month, I was starting to think that I had awakened a sexual sleeping giant. Teri seemed to be trying to experience everything sexually that she had missed in her youth and during her marriage. We had sex any time, any place, sometimes even with her being the aggressor. We had sex in our cars, in a gangway beside a bar after a night out drinking, and even sneaking in some playtime at work. She started dressing sexier too, including purchasing a large wardrobe of lingerie to wear for me. 

Whenever we talked about sex, which was usually after we just had sex, I started realizing just how sheltered of a sex life she had lived through. Her ex truly was the only other man she had been with, having gotten pregnant at an early age. His idea of foreplay was to pull out a six pack of beer and a bottle of wine and ask her, "Wanna get drunk and screw?" When Jimmy Buffet sings it, it's fun. When it is the only known and accepted form of foreplay ... not so much.

Their sex life was almost strictly missionary position, with the lights off. From her descriptions, he was also a "two-pump-chump." Because of her conservative childhood and narrow-minded husband, self-pleasure was taboo, but eventually became a necessity. She told me that she had to hide that from him out of fear that he would freak out. On the rare occasions that she got to go out with her girlfriends, she listened to them talk about their at least satisfying sex lives, and she would leave feeling worse. She told me that getting together with me had opened her eyes that sex could be, and should be, enjoyable ... for both people. She once told me that she had a lot of missed time to make up for, and wanted to make up for it quickly. 

At one point, we had spent the entire week working very closely with each other, as well as a couple of others on our teams, on a very stressful, high-rush project. A lot of the burden was put on Teri on this job, and by Friday I could tell that it was getting to her. 

In addition to the stress at work, we hadn't been able to get together for over a week, so by Friday we hadn't had sex in over a week. I was able to escape the office by early afternoon to look at a problem on a different project, and then decided to go home, as I wasn't needed anymore at the office.

Teri and I already had plans to go out to dinner that night, and when I talked to her on my way home, I could tell that she was getting ready to snap. Making an executive decision, I changed our plans and told her to come to my place after work instead.

This was a first, as she had not been to my house yet. Her condo was a lot closer to the office and everything downtown, so we always went there automatically.

After giving her directions to my house from the office, I started getting ready for her. I quickly threw together all of the ingredients for a light pasta dinner, changed the sheets on my bed, and showered. While I was in the shower, I put a plan together for helping Teri release her stress of the day.

When she finally made it to my house, I was ready and waiting. I let her in to the house, kissing her and taking her bags from her. I listened to her vent about the issues that she had to deal with that day, quite a bit of which was due to other people's stupidity or negligence, while I put her bags in my bedroom.

I smiled while I looked at Teri, happy that she had decided to take advantage of casual Friday and wore one of her favorite summer dresses, a darker wrap-style dress. That would work well with my plans. 

I handed her a glass of her favorite wine. After she took a long drink, I took her glass from her and set it down on a table. Stepping back to her, I took her in my arms and kissed her deeply. I felt her start to relax a little as our kiss went on. 

When our lips separated a couple of minutes later, I placed my hands on her hips and turned her around, facing the wall. "What are you ...?" she started to ask.

"Shhh," I replied, cutting her off as I pulled a blindfold from my back pocket. "Trust me." Teri gasped loudly as I wrapped the thick black silk around her head, and I shushed her again when she started to say something.

I tied the knot at the back of her head and leaned in to Teri's body. "Trust me," I whispered in her ear as I took her wrists in my hands. I gently lifted her hands and placed them on the wall in front of her. Slowly and gently, I dragged my fingertips down the length of her arms as I started kissing and gently nibbling on her soft neck.

Teri gasped again and then moaned softly as I continued my fingertip's path down the sides of her body, pressing just a little harder to maintain contact through her dress, all the way down until I reached the hem of her dress. 

I then slowly lifted my hands back up, gently lifting her hem until I met enough resistance and then letting it drop again. Stepping in even closer, I slowly slid my hands up the front of her body as I pressed my hard shaft against her ass.

Teri whimpered and moaned softly, pressing her ass back against me as I slowly untied the belt on her dress, allowing it to fall open. She then let out a long, high-pitched sigh when I pulled her dress open.

I could tell by the way that she was trying to push her ass back at me that her troubles of the day were slowly starting to melt away. I then reached up and took her wrists again, lowering them to her sides. She let out a sift sigh, almost like one of relief, as I lowered her dress over her shoulders.

I unhooked her bra, drawing another sigh from her lips, and slowly removed it from her body, pulling one arm through her sleeve, removing her bra, and then sliding her arm back in to her sleeve. As I repeated the process with her other arm, I could tell that she was becoming confused about what I was doing.

I tossed her bra onto a chair, and then turned her around to face me. I then reached out and slowly, lightly slid my fingertips up her bare skin, from her waist up to her chest. She tried to arch her back as my hands slid higher, forcing me to make contact with her breasts, but I avoided them, teasing her further.

"Would you like another glass of wine?" I asked her softly, the thumb and forefingers of both hands stretched wide just at the underside of her breasts.

"Yes," she replied softly, nodding her head. 




Second Chances Ch. 02



Without a word, I walked away and poured her another glass of wine. I took her hand and placed the stem of the glass into it, and she brought it up to her lips. I smiled as I watched her down half the glass in one gulp. Teri didn't say a word as she finished her wine while I looked her body over. The only sounds were her breathing and the noises from the street outside. 

Teri's nipples were harder than I had ever seen them, her breasts rising and falling with every deep breath, and I saw a very dark spot on the front of her cream-colored lace panties. Good. She was definitely starting to relax.

Silently, I stepped behind her as she sipped on her wine, and she jumped when my lips softly kissed the sensitive spot on her neck, just below her ear. "Drink your wine," I whispered in her ear, my fingertips gliding across her body, intentionally avoiding her breasts and pussy. "Relax. Trust me."

She nodded her head and finished her glass. Still behind her, I kissed the back of her neck again and took the glass from her, setting it on the table. 

I quietly stepped back in front of her and opened her dress again. I then leaned in closer and pressed my body against hers as I kissed her softly, my tongue teasing her lips. Feeling her start to raise her hands, I quickly grasped them and held them down.

"Keep your hands down," I whispered. Teri nodded, and I started kissing her again. Reaching in to my back pocket, I slid my knife out and opened it. 

Continuing our kiss, I brought my open blade around and slid the side of the blade along her skin, under the waistband of her panties. Teri gasped at the touch of the cold steel, and then moaned loudly as I turned my wrist, cutting the elastic. I then took the knife in my other hand and did the same on that side. 

"I'll by you another pair," I whispered as I folded the blade again and put it back into my pocket. "I'll buy you lots of new pairs if you're a good, naughty girl this weekend."

"Yes," she breathed, nodding her head slightly again as I quietly stepped back. I stood silently, looking at her as she stood in front of me, nude except for her open dress, her nipples hard and her pussy already very moist. 

Stepping to the side slightly, I could see from the sunlight coming in through my windows her pussy juices glistening in the light. Smiling to myself, I stepped in to my bedroom and got my digital camera. Turning off the sound to the shutter, I quickly stepped back over to Teri and started taking pictures of Teri, focusing mostly on her hard nipples and the trail of her juices slowly trickling down her inner thigh. 

After getting all of the pictures that I wanted for now, I put the camera back in my bedroom and walked back out to Teri. Stepping to her side, I gave her a sharp swat on her ass and then took her by her arm. She yelped, jumping a little, and followed me as I led her to my room. 

Silently, I laid her on my fresh sheets and slid her back. Laying her back on one of my pillows, I took another one and slid it under her ass, opening her dress again. I leaned down and kissed her softly, pulling my lips back almost immediately.

"I want you to relax. Enjoy your other senses taking over," I whispered in her ear. 

"Trust me." 

Teri just nodded her head again and lay back. With her long blonde hair spread out on my pillow, dress wide open, breasts splayed out with her nipples sticking up hard and proud, and her nectar slowly oozing, she was a beautiful sight. She was so turned on her pussy lips were opened, looking like a beautiful shiny pink butterfly. I quickly took a couple more pictures and then stepped back to the bed.

I quietly opened the drawer on the table next to the bed and pulled out a feather toy. She gasped loudly as I began stroking her body with the feather, and soon was arching her back and raising her hips, trying to press her body against the soft tactile sensations.

Reaching in to the drawer again, I pulled out a small silver bullet vibrator. After warming it in my hand, I gently slid it down the length of her wet slit, causing her to moan loudly. "Oooohhhhhgeeeez!" she moaned even louder when I turned it on, raising her hips higher.

As I leaned in over her body, both hands busy teasing her with the toys, she reached her hand out, trying to find me. I gently put down the feathers and grasped her wrist just as her fingers reached my bulge.

"Keep your hands to yourself," I told her softly, placing her hand back on the bed. "On the bed, or on your body. If you reach out again before I tell you that you can, I will tie your hands down."

Teri gasped loudly, her body stiffening for a second, and then relaxing again. I then spent the next couple of hours teasing her body, using the feather and bullet, my fingers, my tongues, and ice cubes, bringing her to the edge of orgasm over and over until I finally let her cum.

When I finally let her have her release, I was pressing on her clit with the feathers a little harder, still spinning it while I held the bullet inside of her wet pussy, pressing it against the top wall. She was moving her hips up and down, humping against my hand as her orgasm approached. The way that my hand was positioned holding the bullet, my fingers were trailing underneath her, in the crack of her ass.

Soon, her hips were moving so much that my fingertips would slide across her asshole, causing her to gasp and moan each time. Finally, she moved enough that my fingertip was right at her rosebud and I started pressing harder against it.

"Ohhh! Oohhh! NNnnnnGGhhhhhhOOOOOOOOHHHHHH!" she bellowed, her body shaking. A sudden flow of juices gushed from her pussy, coating my hand and shooting on to the bed. Her hips kept shaking and my fingers were so wet that soon, my fingertip slid inside her ass, causing Teri to yelp and her body to start shaking again.

I withdrew my finger and the bullet as she started coming down from her orgasm. She was coated in sweat, her breasts still rising and falling as she tried to catch her breath. I quickly stripped down, and then climbed in to bed, spooning her from behind.

"Are you relaxed now?" I whispered in her ear as I slowly, gently stroked the soft skin of her stomach.

Teri just nodded and breathed "Yes," as she placed her hand on my arm, holding me tight.

We lay like that for a while, until I felt Teri's body jerk and then relax. Letting her sleep, I slid out of bed and went in to the kitchen for something to drink.

Teri slept through the night, and when I woke up she was still out. After completing my early-morning routine, I went in to the kitchen to make coffee. Just as I poured my first cup, adding my weekend splashes of Bailey's and Jameson, I heard her walk across the bare kitchen floor. As I turned around to greet her, she stepped right up to me, wearing one of my button-down shirts wide open, and kissed me passionately. Tasting the toothpaste remnants in her mouth, I slid my hands under the shirt and caressed her back, eventually cupping her ass cheeks and pulling her hips toward me.

Teri then pulled her head back, separating our lips, and led me to one of my kitchen chairs. After siting me in the chair, she then turned and got my coffee, handing it to me. As I sipped on the warm, dark liquid, Teri made eye contact with me as she knelt on the floor between my knees.

I watched as she started sucking my rigid cock, quickly swallowing the head and massaging it with her throat muscles. Maintaining eye contact as much as possible, Teri continued bobbing her head up and down, slowly bringing me to her final goal.

I was still a bit pent up from the night before, so it didn't take long, especially with her talent and enthusiasm, before she had my cock spewing in her mouth. Teri tried her best to keep up with my spurting cock, and as she pulled back, letting my now-deflated shaft from her mouth, she used her finger to wipe up the small amount of cum that was slowly rolling down the corner of her mouth.

"So, I take it you found the toothbrush I set out for you?" I asked a few seconds later. Those were the first words spoken between us that morning.

Later that day, after we both showered, we went out for breakfast, after which I decided to take Teri shopping. Wearing another light colored sundress, her firm legs perched on top of a pair of short heels, I was enjoying walking around with her. After the night before, and that morning, I decided to take her to Vickie's Secret to do some shopping there. I knew by the time we left that she was getting horny again, and I also knew that I was, so when we left I drove us to a newly opened Nature Preserve.

About a half-hour later, we were walking down a path running along a large pond. Within a couple of minutes, I had her on her back on top of a picnic table as I thrust my cock in and out of her wet pussy. A little while later, as my cum was slowly dripping out of her mixed with hers, I took her panties and put them in my pocket. Teri laughed and we walked back to the parking lot.

"Can I have my panties back, please?" she asked politely as we reached her car.

"No," I replied.

"What do you mean, 'no'?" she asked, her eyes wide.

"What part of 'no' don't you understand?" I responded, smiling.

"Kurt, I have to go to an event at my church tonight," she told me. "I can't go in there like this!"

"Sure you can," I said.

"Kurt, I'm still wet, and I can feel you dripping down my leg," she pleaded.

"Cool," I said, laughing.

"You're a jerk," she said, kissing me.

A couple of hours later, as I was sitting at home having a beer, she called me. "I'll be there in ten," was all I heard before she hung up.

Eight minutes later, my buzzer rang and I let her in. Seconds after that, my door opened and she stormed in, her blouse already unbuttoned.

She walked right up to me, mashed her lips against mine, and kissed me hard as she grabbed my quickly growing cock. Seconds later she was on her knees, sucking my hard shaft, moaning around it. Once she had me hard and slick, she stood, wrapped her fingers around my shaft, and pulled me to my couch.

"You got me all riled up and wet with your little stunt," she told me as she kneeled on the edge of the cushions, facing the wall, and flipped her skirt up over her ass. "Now get over here and fuck me!"

Teri was so horny that night, she exploded in her first orgasm only minutes after I sank my cock into her. Later, as we recovered, she told me how difficult it was for her, her pussy still dripping and leaking my cum, sitting through that event and having to talk to her Aunt, as well as her priest. 

*****

I don't know what happened to me those next few months, but I couldn't control the deep urges to constantly want to feel Kurt inside of me. The way we were, whether making long sultry love or just finding a dark place when we are out for a quickie. It was all so arousing and l couldn't get enough. I had had sex in places I would never had thought I would. And each time Kurt had his gentle, reassuring way to put me at ease if it was a place we could easily be seen.

I have learned that sex isn't a duty to be done and over with quickly, and that it can be like I imagined. Slow, intense, pleasurable ... and not always in the bedroom or back seat.

The summer was fun. Kurt found interesting places to curb my voracious appetite for him, as well as making the private times at one of our places breath taking every time.

I was sitting back in my big soft leather chair looking out the floor to ceiling window in my spectacular office. I was thinking about that day I found out about getting this and all the events that happened afterwards. I never would have thought that my getting divorced would bring so much relief and happiness into my life.

"Hey Stranger," I heard from my doorway. I swung my chair around and saw Shirley. "Are you ready to head out for the BBQ?"

It was Friday of Labor Day weekend and the boss was having a company BBQ out in the back lot of the building.

"Sure. Let's get out in the fresh air."

As we stepped into the hall I peered across into Kurt's office to see if he was ready but it was empty.

Shirley and I were catching up on the cubical gossip and having a few giggles as we exited the building and got a big whiff of the grills cooking away. The smells of summer would soon be replaced with crisp fall air.

Off on the grassy area I heard the clanking of horse shoes from some of the guys playing a game. I spotted Kurt over there and Shirley gave me a hip check and told me to stop staring. I gave her a glaring smile and said "What?"

Shirley and I got our plates of food and sat at the picnic table. Shirley was chowing down on her ribs and chicken and a great assortment of salads, your typical cook-out spread. I got to watch Kurt across the way and had some pretty hot thoughts that reminded me of that afternoon on the nature walk.

The last time I was near a picnic table I was panty-less and spread wide open, taking Kurt's deep thrusts as I was sprawled across the top of the picnic table. 

As Kurt was filling his plate he noticed me and Shirley and made his way to the table.

"Can I join you ladies?" Kurt asked.

I scooted over and he took a seat next to me. The afternoon was enjoyable with all the co-workers. It was a nice way to start the last long three-day weekend of summer.

I felt Kurt brushing his thigh against mine. I was hoping Shirley wasn't noticing it, sitting across from us. 

He gave me a smirk and I was wondering if he was thinking about what I was thinking about too. 

Eventually, everyone started leaving to get an early jump on the weekend traffic. Kurt walked with me to my car, and once we were at the car out of ear reach of conversation of others he asked me if I had plans with the kids or anything. I responded "No, I really didn't think that far yet."

.

"Well, how would you like to go to a cabin for a couple of nights and enjoy some more nature?"

"That sounds like fun," I responded.

"Great. I'll swing by and pick you up tomorrow at 10 and we can head out."

*****

I couldn't believe my luck when my neighbor asked me if I wanted to use his cabin for Labor Day weekend. His timing couldn't have been better, as I was looking for something to do with Teri so we could celebrate our birthdays, both of which were coming up in the next couple of weeks.

I had been to Bob's cabin in Wisconsin a couple of times, on 'guys weekends" as well as with his family and a couple of other neighbors. Normally, he and his family would be going out there for the weekend, but a niece was getting married, so the house would remain empty, a thought that didn't sit well with my neighbor. 

Bill, my neighbor, was worried that there might be some teens up for a last party weekend of the summer, and see an empty house. The temptation, my friend feared, may pose too much, and he was worried that the house may be broken in to. 

Gladly, I took the keys to the house and immediately plotted out the weekend with Teri. There was a nice steak and seafood restaurant in town which would be a good spot for a romantic dinner. I knew that she would want a bottle (or two) of wine with dinner, and I also knew what wine did to her, especially when she drank it with me.

All of that planning fell in to the "no-brainer" category. The real question was, what would happen the rest of the weekend? Especially after our romantic dinner?

In the past year, Teri has grown an amazing amount sexually. I knew that her experience was very limited, knowing only the missionary position (How any man could not want to take her from behind, or have her bouncing on top of him, was beyond my comprehension!) and her ex wasn't a big fan of foreplay ... at least, he didn't believe in GIVING, when it came to foreplay.

I was surprised how quickly and easily she was expanding her sexual horizons. After that first night at my place, she was very quiet around me for a couple of days at work. I was starting to think that I scared her off, until the next time that I had her naked. From that point on, although she's still taking baby-steps, she has come a long way from our first time together.

I'm sure that she knew this was going to be a special weekend even before I told her about the cabin. She still had quite a few boundaries to be pushed or explored, and this would be another perfect opportunity for pushing and exploring.

I was just relaxing, enjoying a beer and a ballgame, when Teri called me that night. "What am I supposed to pack?" she asked immediately. "What kind of cabin is this? Who else will be there?" along with a few other questions.

"Just pack lightly," I told her. "It's going to be hot this weekend, and it's just the two of us all weekend. We will go out to dinner tomorrow night, other than that, it's just going to be us, at the cabin, all weekend. I'll have all the food and drink, and everything else, that we'll need."

"Dress nicely for dinner. Other than that, the choice of clothing will be your choice ... and optional," I continued. 

"Umm, ok," she replied, laughing. "You couldn't give me more that eighteen hours' notice?"

"Baby, I just found out last night," I explained. "Whatever you wear doesn't have to be special. You'll be beautiful regardless. Trust me." 

"Ok," she said quietly.

"Good," I replied. "I'll see you at 10:00 tomorrow. Morning!"

By 10:30 Saturday morning, Teri and I were on the road, my truck loaded and headed out of the city. The temps were already starting to rise, and I was looking forward to the cool breeze flowing in to the cabin off the lake, a few cold drinks, and a great hot meal with an even hotter woman.

*****

Kurt arrived promptly at 10, and I greeted him with a big smile and deep kiss. "Are you ready to hit the road?" Kurt asked.

"As ready as I will ever be. Let's go." After tossing my stuff into the back of his truck Kurt opened the passenger door for me. While I was sliding in I heard a low growl as my sundress slid up my leg getting in. Looking at him, I gave him a raised eyebrow and a smirk, saying "See something you like?"

His response was simply, "Uh huh," as he shut the door.

Kurt jumped in and started the engine and as the truck was pulling away from my condo I was hit with a bit of nerves all of a sudden. Every time Kurt and I were together there was always a comfort of knowing where I was and that I could get home if needed. This will be the first time that was removed, but I was also excited that he asked me away.

I have been finding myself loving the new surprises that Kurt has been introducing me to when we're together. He has been awakening sensations that I never knew were possible to feel, much less enjoy immensely

Kurt, looking over at me, gave me a nudge in my arm and asked if everything was alright. Turning my face towards him with a big smile, I replied "Absolutely perfect!"

I shifted in my seat facing Kurt, my one leg curled under the other for comfort and not very lady like in a sundress.

"So, tell me more about this cabin. Is there much around there?" I asked him as I watched him drive. 

Kurt filled me in on the seclusion of the cabin, and also that there was a quaint little town about twenty minutes away with some bars and a few restaurants, along with some cute little shops that I might enjoy seeing.

I stared at him as he was filling me in on some of the things he had done while there in the past with his buddies and we had some laughs.

All the time he was driving and talking, I was lost in my own thoughts watching his lips move, thinking about how soft they feel when he is cradling my clit between them. His fingers shuffling along the steering wheel had my pussy crying for the touch only he can give to it. He was so relaxed and hot looking in his sunglasses, and all those moves had my hormones heating up hotter than the breeze coming in the window.




Second Chances Ch. 02



I reached my hand over and placed it on Kurt's thigh. His one hand released the steering wheel and grasped mine, gave it a squeeze and drew it closer to his inner lap. I felt how relaxed he was, and by the feel of his semi-hardness through his jeans I knew this was going to be a superhot weekend.

*****

"How long of a drive is it?" she asked, her fingers softly grazing along the length of my rising shaft.

"We have about an hour to go," I told her, resting my arm around her shoulder.

"Good," she replied, moving her hand from my growing bulge. "Plenty of time."

Out of the corner of my eye, I could see her unbuckle her seatbelt and turn a little more in her seat. As I turned to quickly look at her, Teri gave me a kiss on the corner of my mouth and slid her hand back to my crotch.

Taking a quick look out the back window, she started lowering my zipper. Slipping her hand inside my pants, she gave me another quick kiss and wrapped her hand around my shaft. 

Sliding a little closer to me, she started moving her hand around, trying to pull my stiff rod out of my pants. I did everything that I could to make her job easier, and finally I felt the cool air hit my shaft.

Seconds later she slid back a little and lowered her body, and I felt her warm lips wrap around the head of my hard cock and slowly start sliding down the length.

*****

I brushed my fingertips through Kurt's jeans, feeling his semi-hard shaft. Knowing how sweet he looked with a full hard-on, I put my apprehensions aside and got brave.

I softly kissed Kurt on the side of his mouth, then my hands located his zipper and started lowering it.

His face turned to look at me with a surprised, wide-eyed look and huge grin. I asked, "Do you mind if I do some driving of my own while you watch the road?"

Kurt replied, "Not at all!" Then he slid his available hand down to his open jeans to help me release his cock so he was comfortable.

Holding his thickness in my hand, fingertips circling the tip, my tongue running along my lower lip, I glanced out all the windows to make sure the road around us was still empty.

Once I was comfortable with not being seen, I lowered myself into a comfortable position on the seat and on his lap. Sticking my tongue out, flicking it over his shining swollen tip, and then rolling it along the underside of the rim, pleasuring his velvety feeling tip on my tongue. Peering up at Kurt, I saw that he was desperately trying to keep an eye on the road but also loved to watch me and the battle was making me grin around his shaft.

I worked my head up and down the length, slowly working my tongue across his entire surface. I softly dragged my teeth from the base all the way up, until they come to the flared point of the head. Doing this, Kurt's leg stiffened and I could feel the engine race faster as his foot pressed into the floor harder.

Letting up on the teeth dragging, I engulfed his fullness as deeply into my throat as I could, with my face pressing into the tops of Kurt's thighs. I held him deep and shook my head side to side to let the tip brush across the back of my throat, only stopping to catch my breath as I worked his tip like that on and off.

At some point without me realizing it, Kurt had pulled over to the side of the road and ran both his hands hard into my hair, holding my head and pressing my face down farther on his shaft. He was pumping his length into my throat with as much vigor as he could get behind the steering wheel. Before long he released a loud yell, "OHHH DAMN Teri! Don't stop!" Then I felt the warm rush spewing down my throat.

I gulped every drop he had to give me with little gagging when he held himself tight in my throat for seconds at a time while draining his last drops. 

After Kurt collected himself and his eyes could focus he drew me in for a deep kiss and then reached over. He buckled me back in my seat belt, gathered himself back in his jeans and continued our drive to the cabin.

Looking over at me licking my lips while he drove, he shook his head and said, "I owe you now, young lady. Just wait." My eyes grew big, my tummy jumped with excitement, and the last bit of our journey went fast and happily.

As we pulled off the main road and turned down a gravel road I felt such a rush in my tummy, like a kid seeing Disney World the first time. I love nature, and the huge trees crisscrossed over the gravel road made for such a welcoming feeling leading up to the cabin.

Kurt carried all the bags in as I scoped out the surroundings.

The cabin was the typical rustically decorated kind with all of the modern conveniences. Lanterns on the side table, a huge stone wall see-thru fireplace separated the kitchen and living room, and the loft was two separated areas for bedrooms.

The view out the bigger of the two rooms, which was considered the master bedroom, looked out at the tree tops. The room held a matching four-poster bed made from the same timbers as the cabin walls. It seemed to melt into the surroundings. Out on the balcony was a hot tub, perfectly situated for privacy with a view. My panties got instantly wet remembering what happened on my balcony that first night, and seeing the hot tub just meant more outdoor naked fun, knowing Kurt's love of not caring about wearing clothes.

Kurt came up behind me and rested his head on my shoulder, kissed the nape of my neck, and said, "Ahhh. I see you found the hot tub." I smiled leaned my head more towards his face and gave him a little bump in the hips with my bum. He smacked it and said, "Not now. We have dinner reservations tonight, and I am saving the fun for later."

After unpacking, Kurt got us a couple glasses of wine to chill with out on the front porch. We sat soaking up the sounds of nature and talking about silly things and laughing.

After a while, Kurt reached over and took my glass and said, "Go upstairs and get yourself dressed. I laid your first surprise out on the bed. Oh, and I got you those new panties I promised you when I cut your other one off."

I giggled and jumped up, kissed him, and went to the loft to get ready for dinner.

I found a sweet pair of red lace panties and matching strapless bra on the bed. I showered and dressed in his new lingerie gift and slipped over those a black camisole with a short skirt and low heeled peep toe pumps.

I came down to find Kurt on the porch nursing another beer and already dressed and ready to go, to my surprise. As I stepped out onto the porch his beer was midway to his lips and held it there, staring at me.

"Am I over dressed, should I change"? 

"Not on your life, gorgeous!" He shot back the rest of the beer and took my arm and led me to the truck.

*****

I helped Teri in to my truck and she smiled at me while she flashed me her panties as she slid back onto the seat, her skirt sliding up her thighs.

"I'm sorry," I said, smiling back at her. "I must have forgotten to tell you. Those new panties are for you to wear when you get home. This weekend is a panty-free one."

"What?" she replied, laughing.

"You want me to walk around all weekend in public with no panties?" she asked, wide-eyed.

"Baby, you're lucky I don't tell you to take your bra off, too," I replied, leaning against the door, still smiling at her.

"You expect me to go commando all weekend?" 

"Yep."

"Teri, I guarantee you that you won't be running in to anyone that you know out here," I told her. "We're going in to town for dinner, and maybe a couple of drinks afterwards. No one will know besides us."

Her eyes narrowed, and I told her, "Trust me," as I smiled even wider.

After a couple of seconds, she smiled back at me and swung her legs out of the truck. "You want me to go commando all weekend?" she said as she walked past me. "Ok. I'll do it."

"But so are you!" she called out as she walked back in to the cabin.

A couple of minutes later, she walked back out wearing a light-colored, flowery sundress. Cut low enough to show a nice amount of cleavage, I could see her breasts sway discretely under her top as she walked down the stairs. The skirt on this dress was not as tight as her other one, and the top was a bit more restricting than her loose camisole, but she looked just as good in it.

"Is this ok?" she asked, turning in front of me.

"You're beautiful, as always," I told her, giving her that smile that I knew got her going. "But I need proof that you truly are commando under that dress."

Smiling back at me, she turned, bent slightly at her waist, and lifted her skirt, showing me her bare ass. I could clearly see that there was no strap splitting her ass crack, proving that she indeed was not wearing panties. 

Turning back to face me, she continued smiling at me as she slowly, sensuously unbuttoned the front of her dress, showing me more cleavage. When she had enough buttons undone, she opened her dress far enough to show me that she was indeed braless, too, but yet showing me nothing more that he insides of her breasts, teasing me. Her smile morphed in to a smirk as she buttoned back up, and then she asked, "Happy?"

"Always, with you," I replied, offering her my arm. "Shall we go now?" 

"Smooth," she responded with a small laugh. "You know what I meant."

"Oh! That!" I replied, feigning innocence. "Ok, here."

With that, I opened my belt, and then unbuttoned my pants. I pulled them down just to the base of my shaft, exposing my pubic hair to the air. "Happy?" I asked.

"Not as happy as I will be later tonight!" she giggled as she slid back in to the truck.

Shaking my head and laughing, I walked around the truck and got in. Seconds later we were on our way to the restaurant, my hand resting on her thigh.

About twenty minutes later, I pulled in to the restaurant's parking lot after taking a cruise through town. It was your basic small town, unremarkable except for the restaurant, which served up some great steaks and fresh locally-caught fish, and a bar about a block away that served very good cocktails and had live bands on the weekends.

Teri, of course, flashed me her bare pussy, already glistening with her juices, as I helped her out of the truck. I offered her my arm, and we started walking toward the restaurant. 

As we walked to the front door, I could see Teri's reflection in the plate glass window. It was obvious by watching her that she was not wearing a bra, and she noticed it also. I know that I felt her breast brushing against my arm with every step.

"Oh my god!" she gasped as I reached for the door. "The girls are bouncing all over the place!"

"They're not bouncing," I assured her. "That's more of a sway. A very nice sway."

"Oh my god! I can't believe I let you talk me into this!"

"Relax. Enjoy yourself," I told her. "Trust me."

With a big sigh, Teri nodded her head and said, "Ok."

Opening the door for her, I lightly placed my hand on her lower back, barely making contact. The hostess, a young woman in her mid-late 30's that gave Teri a twice-over and a small smile, led us to our table, my hand again lightly at her back.

The hostess, who I also caught checking out Teri as she sat, put us in a circular booth that could have sat four easily, allowing Teri and I to sit next to each other and still see the rest of the restaurant. Throughout dinner, I kept the physical contact to a very light touch, and a minimum of it, trying to tease her. I knew that she was doing her best to tease me, so it was a fun evening. 

It was the first time in a long time that we both had a chance to just sit back, relax, and enjoy ourselves in far too long. We talked about things that we had never gone into before, sometimes going back to our childhoods. One thing that I learned that surprised me was the fact that Teri had never been on a real vacation. Not only had she never left the country, the furthest from her childhood home that she had ever travelled had been about an hour from home. 

We killed off a bottle of wine with dinner, and after paying the bill we left, going down the street for a couple of after-dinner drinks. As we walked out the door of the restaurant, my hand lightly brushed Teri's barely covered ass, probably the most intimate gesture that I'd made since we left the cabin, causing her to gasp.

***** 

Being out in a relaxed place, away with Kurt like that settled a stress in me I didn't realize was there.

As our night went from dinner to the bar down the street, I felt my body take on a whole different change. The teasing gazes and soft brushes from Kurt's hand here and there set off deeper sparks of desire and I think he knew what he was doing, too. 

The wine was relaxing me and I was being taken back in thoughts of the Christmas party last year, when everything seemed to change in our relationship and my life. I was feeling my body loosen up and feel the freest it has ever felt since the divorce. My distant stare over the table caught Kurt's attention and he eyed me with a curious glance. "What's rolling thru that beautiful head of yours Teri?"

I snapped out of my little trance and gave Kurt a big smile, leaned into his face, and planted a kiss on his luscious lips. Then I grabbed his hand and dragged him out to the dance floor. It was a slow song, perfect because now Kurt has to touch me, hold me close and his little game of barely grazing my body was going to cease right now.

My arms draped over his shoulders, my head nuzzled into his neck, and I took a deep inhale of his cologne. He placed his hands on my hips, trying to keep a small space between us, but the evening had my hormones raging from his lack of touches. He was irresistible to me and I had to feel him on my skin. I pulled my body into his as the slow music played, making sure my front was brushing tight against his.

Kurt ran one of his hands up my back, ran his fingers into my hair, and drew my head back so he could look into my eyes. I gave him a twinkling smile and he returned the same. "What are you doing?" he asked me.

"Showing the man I am stuck on how much he makes me alive inside ".

The music went from a slow one to one with more of a beat. Kurt pulled back from me and said, "You got me on the slow one but I don't do the fast ones." 

I pulled back from him and start dancing on my own as he walks back to the table and took up his beer. His eyes were glued on me as I swayed my hips and was in a rhythm that even had my unconfined tits bouncing around. My body was lost in the rhythm of the music and I was having fun teasing Kurt from the dance floor with my swaying moves. I found myself braver than I've ever been and totally forgot that my lower half was as bare at the unconfined girls were. 

Before long Kurt was on the floor embracing me. He drew me into his chest and whispered into my ear, "Make sure you save some of this energy for me." He then took my hand and walked me back to the table to finish my drink. 

Before long we downed the last of our drinks and Kurt said, "Come on. The night's still young and we still have dessert ahead of us."

I took his out reached hand and followed him out into the crisp night air. I saw the truck parked about two blocks down. The streets were empty. It seemed like everyone was either in the bar or home.

My mind wandered to something Kurt had said when he told me to drop the under-garments for the night out.

"No one knows us out here." 

Thinking about that and feeling Kurt's hand rubbing my ass through my dress while we walked towards his truck, I got brave. We stopped to look down the alley. Before stepping across the walk, I took one more glance around. No one around. 

I jerked Kurt's hand and said, "Dessert time," and quickly had his back against the building wall in the alley. My hand grazed along his groin as my lips assaulted his. He wasn't resisting my surprising advances but was willing me on. 

I felt his fingers slide up and down my thigh reaching the crease of my thigh and hip and trailing off to the side along my curly mound. My fingers lowered his zipper and reached in to grasp his growing manhood.

The sounds of our heated moaning, kissing, and touching was echoing in the silent alley way. My legs parted, inviting Kurt's fingers to search out my wetness. His finger slid barely inside me as my breath hitches and a soft "Oooooohhhh" let out. My body was pressed hard against him, his other hand was caressing one butt cheek, squeezing it hard in his grasp. 

As my hand tried to maneuver his manhood out of his pants, Kurt drew his fingers from me and grabbed my hand. "Let's take this to the cabin." 

I huffed, looked at him, and said, "Race ya." I then took off in a sprint to the truck, giggling as he was left behind me, zipping his pants and laughing as he caught up to me. 

"Eager huh?" he said, as he unlocked my door.

*****

"Eager? Me? What would make you think that?" she asked, coyly smiling at me as she leaned against the side of the truck and reached her hand out to cup my crotch. As I looked around where I had parked, I saw that I picked a perfect spot for what I had planned. 

I caught her hand about an inch from my pants and held it. I then stepped in and kissed her, pressing her body up against the side of the truck. Teri moaned in response, wrapping her arms around me and pressing her hips forward.

"How did you like going commando all night?" I whispered in her ear as our lips separated.

"Ohhh! I like it!" she replied. "I feel so sexy, so naughty!"

"Good!" I replied. I had one hand cupping her ass, and the other one was at the back of her neck. "You're starting to get braver. I like that."

"Yesss," she replied, reaching her hand down to squeeze my hard cock.

I started nibbling softly on her neck, just below her earlobe, as I slowly lowered the zipper at the back of her dress. Her moaning at my oral action was quickly replaced by a gasp at the feel of the cool night air on her back.

I took a step back and smiled at her as she looked at me questioningly. "Drop the dress," I told her as I reached for her door handle.

"What?" she asked a little louder than she intended. 

"It's dark. No one will see you," I told her. We stood there looking at each other for a few seconds before I pulled her door handle, activating the inner light, and said, "Trust me."

Wordlessly, Teri moved her shoulders around and her dress fell to the ground. I offered her my arm as support as she bent over and picked it up. Her tits swayed nicely as she bent over, and as she stood, they settled back on her chest, her nipples standing stiff. As I opened her door to let her in, I could see her pussy nectar shimmer in the light from the truck.

I watched as she laid her dress on the seat, and then slid in to the truck. I closed her door and walked around to my side of the truck. I got in and as I started the truck, Teri looked at me and asked, "You're not getting naked?"

"Nope," I told her as I smiled at her. "Just you."

Before she could say anything else, I lowered the windows, letting in the cool night air, put the truck in gear and headed back to the cabin. A couple of minutes after I left the parking lot, I saw Teri out of the corner of my eye as she started to lean in toward me, her arm reaching for my crotch.

"Sit up," I told her as I caught her wrist. "Keep your hands to yourself." 

"You don't want me getting pulled over with you like that, do you?" I asked.

"Just sit back, relax, close your eyes and enjoy the ride," I told her. "Trust me."

Huffing loudly again, she sat up straight, folding her arms under her tits. Between the night air and her excitement, her nipples were hard and stiff, almost begging to be kissed. 

As I turned off of the main highway and onto the secondary road, I reached out and gently pinched her closest nipple, causing her to gasp. I then gave her breast a gentle squeeze, trapping her nipple between my fingers, before I slid my hand down to her lap. 




Second Chances Ch. 02



Rory blushed a deep red at the comment and rolled her eyes.  She stood in the doorway for a moment, her face clenched in concentration as she struggled with a decision in her mind.  “Why don’t you stay here with me?”

Daniel looked up from the case file and stared in shock.  Had he heard her right?  “Stay here with you?”

“Why not?  I have more than enough room.  You can take the extra bedroom until you find an apartment of your own.  Look, Daniel, you want me to trust you.  It takes a lot to gain my trust.  Besides, if I have a partner who is having to travel all over the city, how can I know that you’ll be there when I need you?”

“It wouldn’t be right.  I… I mean.”  He stopped, lost for words.  This woman who had been so cold towards him, his ice queen, was opening her home to him with almost open arms.  He had to do something to make it up to her.  “I want to pay part of the rent for the month.”

Rory shrugged and walked into her room, leaving the door open a crack as he could hear a dresser being opened and then closed again.  

“Well?”  Daniel shouted.

“Like I’m going to argue with that?”  Rory asked, making Daniel laugh as he looked around the apartment once more.  Roommates with a very pretty lady, a nice neighborhood and house, a cat that acted like a guard dog.  It’s perfect. He thought as he watched Jack saunter into the living room, his tail twitching slowly back and forth as if to show that he was satisfied with his full stomach.

Looking over the cases again, Daniel quietly studied the lab reports as Rory moved around in her room.  Soon, the house was quiet, the cat curled up and purring in his lap as Daniel finally gave up.  Whoever was doing these murders was good.  Hiding his motive, or at least leading them in the wrong direction.  He just hoped that the guy slipped up before more women were harmed.  Or maybe it was that Daniel didn’t have the trained eye of a criminal profiler, something that he would have to leave to Rory.

“Hey, Rory.”  He shouted, stopping for a moment as he thought it strange that he was calling her by name.  “I was thinking of moving my stuff over tonight, if that’s alright.  I mean, save me some trouble and a day‘s rent on my hotel.”

The was no reply from the room, just the sound of Jack purring as he dozed.  Daniel picked the cat up, dropping him onto the floor as he walked to Rory’s room, silently pushing open the door.

“Rory?”  He asked, spotting her curled up on her bed, sound asleep.

He smiled to himself, looking at her sleeping form on the bed.  Her hair was fanned out on her pillow, the dark blue of the comforter making it that much brighter.  She was half-undressed, wearing her black slacks and a white bra, her red shirt laying on the floor just beside her dresser.  

Her badge and gun were laying on top of it, just beside more pictures of what looked like family.  She clutched another shirt close to her chest, obviously intending of just laying down for a quick catnap before getting back to work.  

Daniel silently made his way across the room, picking up an old blanket that was laying across a chair as he noticed her shiver.  He threw the blanket over her and took off her shoes, basically tucking her in.  He didn’t have to heart to disturb her.  She had been working such long hours that he always felt guilty leaving her at the station by herself.  In a move that startled Daniel, he leaned in and brushed her hair away from her temple, giving her a soft kiss on the forehead.

“Sleep tight.”  He whispered as he started out of the room.

As he turned off the light, he noticed the blanket had slipped off her left shoulder.  Walking closer to pull it back up, he noticed the scar the was raised and red on the joint.  No bigger than a quarter, it seemed out of place on her smooth skin.  

He leaned in closer, taking in it’s shape and location.  Reaching out a hand, he lightly traced his fingers over the site, pulling it back quickly as she mumbled something in her sleep and curled up tighter into a ball.  Gently pulling the blanket back, he saw her hand curled tightly, even in sleep.  

She was shot. He thought, quickly throwing the blanket back over her and walked into the living room, looking at the bookcase again.

He picked up the bullet next to the picture, holding it up to the light as her words floated back to him.  “I’ve had a bad time with partners in the past.”  He whispered, rolling the slug between his fingers before he placed it back by the picture.  Was the man in the uniform her partner?  If so, what had happened to him, Daniel wondered.

Daniel had to know what happened in Rory’s past and he knew of one person who could give him all the answers he needed.  Zipping up his coat after pulling it from under Jack, who had claimed it as his own, and gently shut the front door he made his way down the flights of stairs.  He stepped out into the cold, winter air, cursing the northern climate as he started his trek back over the few blocks to the station.  He was going to have a talk with Justin McCartney and find out exactly what Rory had meant when she said she couldn’t trust a partner.

*******

Xan Tyler stood in her kitchen, lighting candles at the table as she waited anxiously for her date to arrive.  The mother of two children, she found herself in a rare moment of piece a quiet, having pushed them off to her mother’s so she could have time alone with her new love.  She had only known Alex for two weeks, but she felt a connection instantly.  He was everything that her ex-husband wasn’t: attentive, loving, and he made her feel like she was the center of his world.

Xan flicked the match back and forth quickly, extinguishing the flame as she turned to check on the dinner that she had been preparing all day.  After she was satisfied that everything was in order, she made her way to her bedroom, checking her appearance once more in the floor length mirror.  

The short red dress accentuated everything about her body.  It wasn’t bad for the mother of two who was almost 36.  She had long black hair that was smooth as silk and bright hazel eyes which perfectly complimented her olive skin.  An hourglass figure, topped with a modest chest that smoothed out into a flat stomach and hips that stuck out just a bit.  A rounded bottom that most men loved to leer at as she walked by, especially if she wore a skirt that showed off her long, smooth legs.

She jumped as the doorbell rang, and then smiled as she smoothed out the dress, quickly making her way to the front door.  Pulling open the door, she was greeted by a bouquet of yellow roses, her favorite flowers.

“Alex, they’re beautiful.”  She murmured, taking the flowers from him as she gave him a quick kiss on the cheek  “Thank you.”

“Anything for you, Bella.”  He stated, wrapping his arm around her waist as the two walked inside.  “You set a beautiful table.”  He said, admiring all of the work that she had put into this evening with the perfect table setting and the red dress that he loved so much.

“Anything for you.”  Xan teased as she walked into the kitchen, pulling out her favorite vase and arranging the flowers as Alex tossed his coat on the couch and followed her, wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her into a hug.

“I’ve missed you.”  He whispered into her ear, his lips gently running over the skin as she shivered and pressed back against him a bit, a smile on her face as she looked over her shoulder into his dark blue eyes.  His accent made her melt inside, something that she could listen to forever. 

“I’ve missed you, too.”  She said back, turning in his arms to look at his loving face.

His black hair was slicked back with gel, his tan face crinkled into a grin as he leaned in and kissed her softly on the neck, the one place he knew that would drive Xan crazy.  He was so close that she could smell the soap that he used, the scent of pine strong in her nose as he slowly kissed up her neck, nibbling slightly on her ear as she giggled.

“I’ve made dinner.”  Xan whispered, her body trembling slightly as he kissed across her cheek, giving her a soft peck on the tip of her nose as he pulled back and raise his eyebrows.

“I’m only hungry for one thing, Bella.”  He whispered, moving his hips slightly so she could feel the bulge in his pants.

“And what would that be?”  She asked, wiggling her hips back and forth to drive him wild.

“You.”  He said, picking her up in one fluid motion and carrying her to the bedroom.

Xan squealed in delight as he carried her through the kitchen and back to her bedroom, tossing her on the bed playfully, the short skirt on the dress riding up her thighs as she backed away from his advancing form, challenging him to a game of chase.  Alex won the game easily, pinning her firmly to the mattress as she grinned and stuck her tongue out as she lost.

“Now, that’s not very becoming, Bella.”  He said with a laugh as he leaned in and kissed her gently.

“Oh, so you think I’m ugly?”  She teased again, laughing and squirming as he tickled her sides.

After she was begging him to stop, her face bright red from laughing, Alex lay down on top of her as he ran his hands gently through her hair.  “You’re always beautiful in my eyes, Bella.”  He whispered, kissing her gently as she sighed in contentment.

Alex’s hands ran through her hair and down her cheeks, holding her head slightly as he placed a kiss on her forehead, nose, and both eyes, making her beam with happiness as his hands continued their quest.  He gently hooked his fingers through the thin straps of her dress, pulling them down over her arms.  Xan sighed and moved her arms, slipping out of the straps so he could continue undressing her.

“So beautiful.”  He murmured as he pulled the dress down, exposing her perfect breasts to the cool air of the room, nuzzling his nose against a nipple as he watched it crinkle up from the cold and his attentions.

Xan moaned softly as he gently took one nipple into his mouth, running his tongue rapidly over the nub as he caught it between his teeth.  After giving the other breast the same attention, she could have sworn she was in heaven as she felt the short hem of her skirt slowly start to slid up her legs, his hand softly traveling up her thigh.

“You are full of surprises, aren’t you?”  He asked with a smile, looking into her eyes as he discovered she wore no panties.

“I didn’t think I would be needing them this evening.”  She murmured with a blush as his fingers brushed lightly over her lips, causing her to take in a sharp breath at the sudden touch.

Alex just laughed and kissed her neck again, his fingers stroking her clit softly as she mewled with pleasure, her hips raising off the bed, practically begging him to enter her.  After ensuring that she was wet, he slowly played with her folds, entering one finger deep inside and slowly starting to pump it in and out.

She didn’t know how much more she could take.  It had been so long since a man had taken the time to drive her wild that she feared the sensation would be over before she had fully begun to enjoy it.

“I need you in me.”  Xan whispered, a groan escaping her lips as a second finger entered deep inside her.

“Not yet, Bella.  Just enjoy it.”  He whispered into her ear, stroking a hand over her hair again, his bright eyes smiling down on her as she moved her hips in time with his motions, driving herself into an intense orgasm.

She shuddered in the aftermath, her breathing erratic as she felt his hand gently pull away and slide down her thigh.  Xan closed her eyes, enjoying the moment for all that it was.  The man that she loved had just given her pleasure that she could never have imagined.  She felt him reach between them, his hand entering his pocket and she smiled, knowing what would be next.  She would give him the same feeling that she had just received, it was only right in her mind.

A gentle kiss on her forehead and a soft caress over her hair brought Xan back to the present.  “Goodbye, Bella.”  She heard Alex whisper and before she could open her eyes, a sharp pain started on her forehead, just below her hairline.

Her eyes snapped open in shock as she opened her mouth to cry out in pain.  Alex quickly covered it with his hand, the line of pain slowly traveling along her hairline as she struggled beneath him, trying to get away.  He held her firmly with his body, his blue eyes sharp as a hand moved over her forehead, obviously the cause of the pain she was feeling.  She felt something warm slowly trickling over her temple and she suddenly got very woozy, as if she had just had too much to drink.  Slowly, her sight started to darken as the pain became even more intense, as if her hair were on fire.  Xan fell into the darkness as she stared up into the eyes of her lover, her last thought wonderings why he would do something like this.

*******

Author's note:  No, Xan's name is not a typo.  Bare with me and all will be revealed.  I promise.  :)

*******

Chapter 3 coming soon:  Daniel finds out about Rory's past as she begins to understand the way the mysterious man's mind works.



Second Chances Ch. 03



Author's Note: This story is a continuation of a series. It has been a long time since I submitted a chapter, so if you aren't familiar with it, I would suggest reading the first two chapters before starting on this one. Hopefully you enjoy...it's been a long time in coming. And now...Chapter 3...

**********************************

Daniel walked into the station, his mind set with one goal as he started searching for Justin McCartney. The office was relatively empty this morning and one of the other officers said something about McCartney watching television. Sure enough, Daniel found him in the break room, Justin's long legs propped up on a table as he watched some talk show, his brown eyes staring intently at the screen. With his arms crossed in front of him, he looked imposing, stony, and silent.

"We need to talk." Daniel said, pulling off his coat as he sat down at the opposite end of the table, wondering why the office had been so empty.

"About?" Justin asked, not taking his eyes off the TV.

Daniel turned and looked up at the screen, shaking his head at some cross dresser who was trying to convince his wife to stay with him although he had just confessed his secret to her. Getting up as the host asked a ridiculous question and the crowd cheered in the background, Daniel turned off the television and turned back to face McCartney.

"Rory." He said simply, watching as Justin sighed and picked his feet up off the table and sat upright in his chair, his gaze now locked on Daniel. "What happened to her?"

"She was shot." Justin said with a shrug.

"No shit. Who shot her?" Daniel asked, not backing down as he took his seat again across from the Sergeant, not afraid to lock horns with him to gain information.

McCartney glared at Daniel for a moment, sizing him up before letting out a small sigh and leaning back in his chair slightly. "Her partner shot her, the bastard. Is that what you wanted to hear? He shot her with intent to kill and it was only by the grace of God that one of our men on backup reached her in time."

"And his motive was...?"

"Money does strange things to people." He said with a shake of his head and a laugh. "If I were to offer you a million dollars to walk to the fifth floor and shoot Deputy Morrison because I just don't like his face, would you do it?" He asked, his deep gruff voice filling the small space.

Daniel looked at him as if he were crazy, his mind toying with the idea. "No. You'd have to give me a better reason than that." He said after a while, making McCartney nod slightly as if he agreed with the decision.

"Well, Victor Ortiz did. He was going to make three million easily from Arturo Sagranda. All he had to do was prove himself and, between you and me, he took the coward's way out."

"Who's Arturo Sagranda?" Daniel asked, furrowing his brow in confusion as he tried to get the story straight.

"Drug lord. Been dead for three months now. Killed in a drive by just outside his extra secure house. Got exactly what he deserved."

Daniel leaned back in his chair slightly, still confused, something that McCartney picked on with a sigh as he ran his hands through his short brown hair in frustration.

"Okay. Rory wasn't always like this." He began, his voice taking on a nostalgic tone. "I've known her for five years now. Ever since she entered William and Mary with the intent of going into law enforcement."

"How could you know Rory then? I mean, you have to be at least thirty years old." Daniel said with a frown, convinced that he wasn't getting the complete truth.

"Thirty-one in July." McCartney said with a smirk. "I was doing graduate work, just trying to broaden my horizon, when I met this young coed who had a smile that would melt your heart. She was smart, pretty, with a wicked sense of humor. I wouldn't have hesitated to snatch her up for myself if I weren't already engaged to my wife, Laura."

"Wait. If you met Rory five years ago, how old is she?"

"Twenty-five. Young, I know, but with more experience that any other detective in this building could ever hope to get in their career." Justin said as Daniel listened on in amazement. "Quantico snatched her up without a second thought in her junior year, but she could never really see herself working there. She wanted to be part of the city, one of those crusaders who makes life better for everyone else. Rory became a profiler, one of the best in her field."

"What did her parents have to say about all that?" Daniel asked, remembering the family portrait that hung in her apartment.

"They're dead. Car accident when she was ten. She and her brother were raised by an elderly grandmother in Virginia, although she's a born New Yorker. Her brother killed himself when he was sixteen, something that Rory never really got over. In some ways, she still blames herself for letting him get that far away from her."

Daniel sat in stunned silence for a few moments as Justin got up and poured himself a cup of coffee, making a noise of disgust as he dropped the sour mix into the trash and started making a fresh pot.

"How do you know all this about her?" He asked, as Justin searched through the cabinets for the coffee can.

"Like I said, I've known her for a long time. She's one of my best friends, and I swear to God," He said, turning from his quest for coffee to give Daniel a heated glance. "You hurt her and I'll kill you personally."

"I have no intention of hurting her." Daniel said defensively, disturbed by McCartney's sudden change of emotion. "What was she doing when she got shot?"

"Working undercover. We had put a lot of time into the operation, supplying Ortiz and her with everything we could. It was important that we brought Sagranda down before more people died needlessly. We didn't know that he had bought Victor off, something that he kept secret from Rory, even though they were close."

"Close?"

"They would have been married in January if things had worked out." Justin said, pouring a cup of the new coffee and then took his seat again, stifling a yawn. "Personally, I never liked Victor. He was a slimy bastard that treated her like crap, but he's probably the first man who ever..." He said, trailing off as he left Daniel to fill in the blanks.

"Where is he now?" He asked, leaning forward slightly as he thought of the picture on the bookcase. The man in the dress uniform had to be Victor.

"Victor Ortiz is a free man today. Damn technicality in court." He stated, obviously angered at the situation. "I took the stand to give my version of what happened and those lawyers were like vultures, turning my own words against me. Victor claimed that Rory had tried to shoot him, complete bullshit if you ask me. But they believed him and he never spent a night in jail. Quit the force and moved away. No one has heard from him in a while, although every so often he will call the precinct looking for her."

"Does she ever talk to him?"

"No." Justin answered as he took a swig from the cup and then slammed it to the table. "She never wants to see him again. She still fears him, Daniel. Looking over her shoulder just in case."

They were interrupted as another officer stuck his head into the break room, calling McCartney's attention to something. With a grumble he grabbed his coffee cup and ambled out of the room, leaving Daniel alone to think. This changed everything, even though he didn't want to admit it. It would take hard work and patience to get through to Rory, but he knew in the end that it would be worth it. 

"Where to begin?" He asked himself, running a hand over his face as he heard McCartney calling for him. "Coming, boss!" He shouted as he stood up and stretched. Duty called.

**********************************

The feeling of claws kneading her shoulder brought Rory out of her deep sleep. She sat up in her bed, picking Jack off her shoulder as she looked sleepily around the room. She had been covered in her grandmother's quilt, but she couldn't remember how. Someone had tucked her into bed, she noted. Daniel? Why would he do that? 

She groaned as she looked over at the clock on her nightstand, frowning when it flashed 12:45. She threw back the quilt and stood up, listening to the quiet apartment as she walked over and rummaged through her closet, pulling on a thick sweater and a pair of jeans. It paid to be comfortable, even if it was only for a few moments. She'd get lunch or something, sort out her thoughts and relax before heading back to the office.

"Daniel?" She called out, walking into the living room, looking around the empty space. He was gone...probably back to the office. "Least you could have done was woke me up." She muttered as she saw the files that he had left behind, all thoughts of lunch and relaxing were pushed out of her mind then and there.

She walked over and flopped down on the couch, pulling out the files that he had left there and looked over them. Even the short nap that she had did nothing to sharpen her mind or clue her into a motive of any kind. "Maybe I'm losing my touch?" She mused to herself as Jack jumped into her lap, sitting down on the papers and demanding attention.

She laughed and smiled at the kitten. "King Jack." She said as she pushed him away, only to have him resume his position on her lap. "Alright...I promise to spend time with you as soon as this is finished...that means leaving me alone to do my work." She scolded the cat as if he could understand.

Jack cocked his head at her, not moving from his spot. Rory stared at him for a few moments, engaging the cat in a silent battle of wits before she finally gave up, standing up and throwing the files back down on the couch. She walked to the side table in the hallways and picked up her badge, sliding it around her neck from its chain and stuffing her pager and cell phone into the pocket of her coat as she slid it on. Grabbing a scarf off the coat rack, she headed towards the front door.

Fresh air was like the fuel of her brain. Something that was hard to find in a city like New York, but hey, at least she would get exercise walking around. She turned and looked at Jack who had settled back down on the sofa, staring at her. "Stay out of trouble." She said as she opened the door and started on her journey through the city. She didn't really know where she was going to go, basically just picking a direction and start walking, stopping when she had discovered the answers. 

She shivered and pulled her zipper up all of the way as she stepped out of her apartment building, heading the opposite direction of the precinct. So, it wasn't the best day to be out walking around, over cast and spitting snow, but the cold forced her to think. Block after block past as she blended into the crowds, thinking over all of the evidence that had been gathered. There had to be a connection...and if there weren't it would be one hell of a coincidence.

Lost to her thoughts, Rory didn't notice that she was standing in the middle of the rundown neighborhood that had once been Natasha Eckert's. Shoving her hands into the pockets of her leather jacket, Rory made her way down the street, stopping in front of the bar that was the last place Natasha had been seen. It was closed in the early afternoon, but after peering through the dirty windows, Rory could see someone moving around. Knocking on the door, she jumped up and down slightly, cursing the cold as she waited for someone to answer.

"We're closed!" Came a shout through the door.

"I know you are, but I want to talk to you!" She shouted back, drawing a few looks from people passing by on the streets.

She just gave them a fake smile, as she waited for the man to reply. There was silence for a few moments before the sound of a lock turning caught her ear. The door opened slightly, caught on a chained sliding lock as the bartender peered through the small opening.

"Come back at eight if you want to get drunk, other than that, go away." He said with an exasperated sigh.

"I want to ask you about Natasha Eckert."

"Damn you, people. You know, you're the twentieth person who's wanted to ask me about Natasha today. What makes you think that I'm going to answer your questions if I turned the rest away?"

Rory just nodded, understanding his point completely. "Because, I have a badge." She stated, pulling her badge from around her neck and showing it to him.

The man just sighed and muttered something under his breath as he closed the door and undid the lock. He pulled open the door with a peeved look in his eye and motioned her to come inside. Rory just nodded and quickly entered the blessedly heated bar, looking around at the dim space as she pulled off her scarf.

"I've already answered questions. Told them all that I know." The bartender ground out, stepping past her and disappearing back behind the bar.

"Then you won't mind if I have a go, do you?" She asked, stepping up to the bar and sitting on one of the stools, watching as he worked to place clean glasses under the bar for the evening rush. "If you have nothing to hide, that is."

He sighed and shook his head, glancing up at her as he worked. "Go on ahead."

"First off, what's your name?" Rory asked, pulling off her scarf and setting it on the bar before unzipping her coat, everything with her good hand which caught a peculiar look from the bartender as he looked up at her once more.

"Rick Knoller."

"Well, Rick, pleased to meet you. Rory Baldacci." She gave him a slight smile and extended her hand to him, shaking his before hunkering back on the stool. There was something to be said about the way that she questioned people, always getting personal with them if she could. It always gave the best information. "I know that most cops seem like the worst people in the world to be questioned by, but sometimes my colleagues miss things. You understand?" She asked, watching as Rick reached down and filled a glass with water, setting it in front of her. "Thanks." She said softly, the faint hint of a smile crossing her face.

"I'm always the one to give advice, you know?" He said as he leaned against the bar and stared at her. "Night after night, people come in here trying to forget something or to celebrate and I'm always here to listen. I didn't really appreciate it when I found myself on the other end of the spectrum, having some cop try to blame me for something or trying to pin it all on me."

Rory nodded slightly, taking a sip from the glass. "But you knew Natasha, didn't you?"

"Yeah, I knew her. She came in here a lot, mostly on Fridays and Saturdays when this place is packed. Always looking for that one man with the roving eye. And this time, she caught someone's attention and it turned out bad."

"Natasha had a history of going away with strange men?" Rory asked, trying to connect the dots in her mind. It seemed so straightforward that two women who were known to go after every man that crossed their paths be killed by someone after finally picking up the wrong individual. It was almost too easy though; something didn't sit right with her. 

"Not really. You know, people want to make her out to be a slut or something like that, but she was a good girl. Never caused trouble, kept herself clean, had dreams. Small town girl in a big city and she just got caught up in everything. Finally picked up the wrong man. That's it." Rick said, cleaning glasses and setting them out as he talked, seeming totally at home behind the bar.

"It's too simple though. Did you see the man that she left with?" Rory asked, thinking out loud as she downed the glass of water and pushed it across the bar.

Rick shook his head, thinking back to that night. "We were really busy. One of the busiest nights that I have ever seen really. I just remember that he had dark hair and it was the first time that I had ever seen him here. He was silent and didn't talk. Hell, he didn't even order a drink." He leaned against the bar, staring at Rory for a moment. "If I knew, I would tell you. I promise that to you, but I can't remember and it has eaten me alive for the past few nights."

His voice was sincere, something that touched Rory deeply. He really did care, which was something that was hard to find in the relationship that he and Natasha must have had. "I believe you." She said softly, standing up from her stool and zipping up her coat again. She grabbed her scarf and pulled it back on, turning to head towards the exit. "Don't let it get to you and never let those assholes that interviewed you the first time get you intimidated. You didn't do anything wrong and your information is more than enough to act on." Rick nodded as he watched her walk to the door, pausing to look at him once more. "Maybe I'll come back sometime...in a non-business setting." She said with a slight smile.

"Drinks would be on the house, Det. Baldacci."

With a slight laugh from her, she nodded and pushed open the door, stepping back out onto the streets and continuing her journey to nowhere. Her thoughts turned back to the two women as she walked deeper and deeper into the city. It seemed too simple, way too simple for this game of cat and mouse and Rory had a feeling that there was more lurking beneath the surface. If her hunch were right, this entire thing could blow up in their faces.

"Think, Rory." She murmured to herself as she cleared her mind, starting from the very beginning.

She was jarred from her thoughts when her pager vibrated in her coat pocket. She jumped slightly as she fumbled for it, finally pulling it out and squinting to read the message printed across the tiny screen. 'TURN ON YOUR CELL.' She muttered a curse and fished out her cell phone, turning it on and watching as it beeped and flashed that she had a message waiting on her.

Slightly annoyed, she dialed her inbox and listened as the automated voice tell her that she had five messages waiting for her. 'Odd.' She thought as she listened to the first message, from Daniel.

"Just tried you at home. Got this number from Justin. There's been another murder. Need you back at the precinct ASAP."

She frowned as she heard that and stopped walking, listening to the next four messages, from Daniel and Justin alike. The very last one didn't sound promising as Justin spoke over the din of people talking back and forth in the background.

"If you would ever answer your damn phone, we have another murder on our hands. Get your ass down here now. It matches the others...and this guy is twisted."

She noted the location that he said, turning and jogging back the direction that she had come from. It took 20 minutes to jog the few city blocks to get to the sight. She pulled herself to a stop, gaining her breath as she looked at all of the cop cars around, yellow tape spread over the front yard to keep out the curious neighbors. 

"Damn vultures." Rory muttered to herself as she flashed her badge to the cop standing on the sidewalk and started up the short distance to the house.

She hurried up the steps of the house, her coat bundled around her tightly as she fought against the increasing winds. Her nose was running, face bright red from the cold, but at this moment, she couldn't have cared less.

"Jeans? Now, where is the prim and proper Det. Baldacci we all know?" Jeffery, a beat cop asked as he raised the tape for her to step under.

"Fuck you." Rory muttered as she ducked and glared at him for a moment.

A smile crossed his dark features as he winked at her. "You only wish, darling." He said and rejoiced as she rolled her eyes and gave him a small smile.

She entered the bright and cheery house, looking around at the surreal scene as officers swarmed everywhere. Controlled chaos that she loved. Pushing past a few people, she found McCartney talking with the coroner asking him all types of questions before turning to her.




Second Chances Ch. 03



Naomi barely slept, between staying awake thinking of Aidan and waking from heated dreams about him. Several times she woke up, trembling with need and reaching for him, only to find the space beside her empty. By the time morning arrived, she was frustrated, tired and exasperated with herself.

She rose and washed before donning a clean dress of yellow calico trimmed in white lace. She braided her hair and wound it into a knot at her crown. She wished she had a mirror so she could check her appearance, but at least she knew she was clean and presentable. She ate a hurried breakfast and started another batch of peach preserves while she waited for Aidan to arrive. He had said he would arrive a bit later in the day, but she was anxious to see him again. She kept glancing out the window, and by ten o'clock, she was finding it hard to do anything but watch for his arrival.

Finally, she spotted him coming through the trees with a large bundle in the back of his wagon. She ran to the door and threw it open, greeting him with a bright smile of welcome.

"Hello," she called with a laugh.

Her enthusiasm was infectious, and Aidan laughed in response. "Hello yourself." He hopped down from the wagon and removed his hat as he approached to stand in front of her. He pulled her slowly against him and scanned her shining face. "I thought it was a beautiful morning, but the shine in your eyes puts the sun to shame."

Naomi giggled with pleasure and stretched up to kiss him. She had meant to give him a fleeting kiss, but he would have none of it. He kissed her long and thoroughly, letting her know that he had missed her. By the time he raised his head, hers was spinning.

"I couldn't wait to do that," he murmured, stroking her cheek with his thumb. "I couldn't sleep for thinking about you."

"Me neither," she blurted, then blushed when he smiled with satisfaction.

"I brought you a few things from town. Let me unload the wagon."

She watched as he lifted several parcels and carried them into the cabin. "What on earth have you been up to? I didn't ask you to get any of these things for me."

"I know," he said, "but I knew these were some supplies you would need."

He made another trip out to the wagon and returned with several more large parcels wrapped in brown paper. Naomi eyed the things he had brought with interest. When he left yet again, Naomi laughed.

"More stuff?"

"One more thing. Hold the door open, please."

Aidan lifted a large mattress from the wagon bed and hauled it into the cabin. He carried it to the bed and waited for her to remove the pallet of blankets before smoothing it out.

"Aidan," she exclaimed, "it's a feather mattress. Where did you get it?"

"From town. There's a woman there who makes them. She always has one or two in her spare bedroom, ready for sale."

"Oh Aidan, thank you. That was so thoughtful. How much did all this stuff cost? I'll get you the money."

"Consider it a housewarming present," he said with a grin.

Naomi put her hands on her hips and shook her head. The look of determination in her eyes and the stubborn set of her jaw warned him that she might be prickly on the subject of being self sufficient.

"No way. I have money, and I would have gone into town myself to purchase some supplies soon. You must let me pay you. I'm not some charity case."

"Neither am I," he said gruffly. He pulled her against him and silenced her protests with another thorough kiss. When he judged her mood to be suitably softened, he raised his head and waited for her eyes to flutter open. "I don't think you are a charity case. But you have been feeding me. I just wanted to replace a few of the things you had used for me, so I bought you a few supplies. Accept them graciously, as a gift from someone who has enjoyed your hospitality."

Naomi raised one delicate brow, but she didn't seem too outraged. "And what about the mattress? Are you planning to make use of that as well?"

Aidan laughed a bit self consciously, as he met her eye with a sheepish grin. "The thought had crossed my mind."

Naomi smoothed the cloth of his shirt over his broad chest while she nibbled at her bottom lip. "Alright then, I will accept them with sincere thanks for your thoughtfulness. But only if you promise to make use of all the things you brought me."

Aidan's grin widened as he lowered his head for another kiss. Just before his lips met hers, he murmured a husky oath.

"I promise, Naomi."

He sealed his promise with a kiss that left them both a bit breathless. He tucked a stray strand of her hair behind one dainty ear and smiled down at her.

"Now, go and open the parcels."

Aidan had brought her a large basket of eggs, a side of bacon, coffee, a sack of flour, another of sugar, a bag of cornmeal, tins of salt and pepper, and a barrel with potatoes, carrots and onions. As he watched her unwrap the various items and put them away, he remembered the quizzical looks he had received from the shopkeepers in town. Aidan was known for the value he placed on a dollar, and since he had been to town to purchase several of the same items only two days before, his purchases raised several eyebrows. Although they politely probed, he refused to satisfy their curiosity.

He really got them wondering when he purchased the mattress, two soft pillows, and a set of white cotton sheets. Since they knew he already owned those items, they naturally wondered why he needed new ones. As Aidan watched Naomi smoothing the sheets over the mattress, he could hardly resist the urge to take her in his arms at that moment. But he wanted her to open her last gift, so he waited as patiently as he could.

Naomi held up a small hand mirror, hairbrush and comb set. They were silver and obviously expensive. An exquisite rose design had been finely wrought on their handles. She sighed with pleasure, but setting them down on the table, she looked at Aidan with a disapproving frown.

"You've already broken your promise, Aidan. Are you honestly planning to make use of these?"

"Absolutely," he said with a nod and a grin. He came to stand behind her as he gripped her waist and nibbled on her neck. "Do you remember me saying that I couldn't sleep last night because I was thinking of you?" When she nodded, his grin widened. "Well, one fantasy I had involved you brushing your hair before you went to bed." As he spoke, he continued to punctuate his words with nibbling kisses behind her ear. "I could picture you all soft and tempting, with your hair shining in the candle light. I bought these in the hope that someday, you will fulfill that fantasy for me."

Naomi shivered and dropped her head onto his shoulder to give him better access to the tender flesh he was exploring. "Would today be soon enough?" she asked softly.

He slid his hands up to cup her breasts, and she moaned as he kneaded their fullness. He worked the buttons open on her bodice and chemise and spread the two halves as he continued to kiss her neck. When he had her breasts fully exposed to his hands and eyes, he squeezed hard on her nipples, twisting them until she moaned with pleasure and stroked the backs of his hands in encouragement.

"Ah," he teased, "another fantasy fulfilled."

Naomi turned in his arms to face him, with a seductive smile. "I have some fantasies to fulfill too, you know." She began to unbutton his shirt and spread her hands over his wide chest. "I have yet to see you totally naked."

Aidan grinned down at her as she started unbuckling his belt. "I'm completely at your disposal, ma'am. Feel free to indulge any fantasy you might have about me."

She gave him a coquettish smile from beneath her lashes as she unbuttoned his breeches. "Anything I want?"

Aidan could feel the blood throbbing in his loins as she trailed her fingertips over the head of his aching erection. "Anything you want. I'm your willing slave."

Naomi laughed with delight as she snared his hand and tugged him toward the bed. She pressed down on his shoulders, and he obligingly sat on the side of the bed. As she tugged his boots off and set them aside, he enjoyed glimpses of her breasts, visible between the open halves of her bodice. She pulled off his socks and brushed his unbuttoned shirt down his arms. Then, she pulled his hands, urging him to stand once more while she peeled his breeches down over his legs. He stepped out of them and stood naked before her.

Naomi's eyes were alight with passion as she walked in a small circle around him, touching him softly with her hands as she admired his beautiful physique. The breath was tight in his chest as Aidan waited, submitting to her bold inspection with outward calm. Inside, he was trembling with need. She traced the line where his deeply tanned back met the white flesh of his bottom. She kneaded the firm globes, making him shiver from the warmth of her hands. She measured the width of his shoulders with her palms. She mapped out each muscle and sinew of his arms, right down to his fingertips. By the time she circled back in front of him, he could barely breathe.

"You're beautiful," Naomi whispered reverently. She met his eye and raised a challenging brow. "Now in my fantasy, you aren't allowed to move unless I say so."

"Yes ma'am," he agreed, wondering what she would do next.

As he watched, she shrugged out of her dress and tossed it onto the pile of his clothes. She kicked off her shoes and untied her pantalets and stepped out of them as well. Beneath his burning gaze, she lifted one foot onto the edge of the bed, flipped up the hem of her chemise, and slowly rolled her stocking down her leg. She took her time, caressing the silky flesh of her thigh, calf and ankle as she went. She gave him a sidelong smile and repeated the process with the other stocking, relishing the fire in his eyes as he watched her.

Finally, she stood before him in only her silk chemise. He had unbuttoned it halfway to her waist, making the bodice hang precariously over her breasts. Her nipples were straining against the thin material, and he could see their dark outline through the sheer white fabric. He reached to take her in his arms, but she held up a hand to stop him.

"No! I said you aren't allowed to move, remember? This is my fantasy, so stand still."

Aidan released a pained groan, and her sultry chuckle made him tremor. Naomi gripped his shoulders and stepped close, until her breasts were barely brushing his chest. She stretched up to kiss him softly on the lips. Her mouth was feather light as she teased him with unsatisfying, brief kisses. When he groaned again, she smiled and trailed kisses down to the hollow of his neck, where she licked him with her hot tongue. Her kisses drifted over his chest, paying homage to both of his nipples along the way. When she began to kiss the ridges of his well-muscled abdomen, his eyes widened.

"Naomi, what are you doing?" he gasped.

"Just stand still," she murmured.

Naomi sank to her knees before him and gripped his thighs as she studied his cock. It was standing proudly erect, throbbing against his belly. She gripped it lightly in both hands, realizing that her fingers couldn't close around its girth. She stroked it slowly, exploring every pulsing vein with her delicate fingers. It was long and thicker than her wrist. It was menacing. It was captivating. It was mouth watering. She met his eye and smiled.

"You're beautiful," she repeated. "I knew you would be."

She pulled the skin down, baring the sensitive tip where drops of fluid had begun to flow. She collected the drops with her tongue, and Aidan sucked in a breath, clenching his hands into fists to keep from touching her. She was driving him insane with desire, but he stood still as she gently took him into her mouth and suckled. He closed his eyes, savoring each flick of her silky tongue on the underside of his cock.

"I thought you were going to act out one of your fantasies," he gritted through clenched teeth.

Naomi chuckled low in her throat, and the vibrations made Aidan moan with pleasure. She worked him deeper, until the tip of his cock was hitting the back of her throat with every thrust of her mouth. She stroked the base of his cock with her hand while she used her other hand to massage his balls. Aidan watched, completely enthralled, as she made love to him slowly and sensuously. After several minutes of the mind-numbing pleasure, he could feel his cock swelling in her mouth, and he groaned.

"Enough, Naomi," he gasped. "I can't hold out any longer."

She ignored him and sucked all the harder, speeding up the thrusts of her tiny hand. With a hoarse cry, Aidan bathed her throat with his hot fluid, shuddering with the power of his climax. Naomi swallowed his seed with greedy fervor, waiting until the pulsing contractions had ended before she released him from her mouth. She sank onto her heels and grinned up at him.

"Now that was one beautiful fantasy."

"My turn," he growled.

He gripped her arms and lifted her. He devoured her lips with ravenous kisses, probing the recesses of her mouth and tasting his own musky essence on her tongue. He gripped her waist and lifted her onto the bed, fluffing both pillows beneath her head and arranging her legs slightly parted.

"Now, you don't get to move until I say so."

His menacing frown made her chuckle softly again, but she nodded her agreement. He explored the underside of her delicate jaw, tracing the sensitive skin with his tongue. He nibbled his way from her dainty earlobes down to the hollow of her neck and paused to suckle the pounding pulse there. Naomi moaned softly. He trailed kisses along her collarbones and out to each soft shoulder, pausing to brush the satin straps of her chemise halfway down her arms. The result left the garment barely covering her nipples, making her feel even more wanton and seductive than she would have felt if she were totally naked.

Aidan paused to savor the sight of her quivering breasts, barely covered by a thin web of sheer silk. There was a wicked light in his dark eyes as he grinned and resumed his travels. He kissed his way to one taut nipple and suckled it through the silk chemise. Naomi moaned again, arching her back and wishing desperately that she could thread her fingers through his silky hair. He took his time, alternating strokes of his tongue with nipping pulls with his teeth. The pressure he exerted was both pain and pleasure, and her nipple began to ache and throb from his attentions. When Naomi had been reduced to mewling cries of need, he moved to her other breast to repeat the process.

The friction of the silk against her tender flesh heightened each sensation. The feeling of Aidan's calloused hand skimming down to explore her slick womanhood made her shiver with anticipation. Her attention torn between his mouth and his hand, she opened her thighs wide, and whimpered in relief when he thrust two fingers into her aching, empty pussy. He stroked her into a maelstrom of sensations, reaching deep within her and flicking her clit with his thumb as he tortured her swollen breast. Naomi was already desperate with need, and when Aidan bit down and suckled hard on her nipple, she came apart, crying out as her back arched with her delight.

Aidan barely let her catch her breath before he began to stroke her again. He pushed her onto a higher plane, where her senses were heightened, her nerves were more raw. He taunted and teased, advanced and retreated until Naomi was writhing and panting before him.

"Aidan, please," she gasped, desperately needing him to give her some relief from her tension.

"Uh, uh, uh," he said with a wicked grin. "This is my fantasy, remember?"

He gave her nipple one final sharp suckle before removing his fingers from her pussy altogether. He chuckled when she whined her disapproval. He caught her eye and held her gaze as he brought his wet fingers to her lips. She sucked them into her mouth, moaning as she licked her own juices from his fingers. Watching her luscious mouth, memories of how it had felt wrapped around his cock sent hot blood pounding through his loins. When she had cleaned his fingers thoroughly, he slid further down to nibble the undersides of her breasts. Her belly twitched beneath his wandering tongue, and when he plunged it into her naval, she squeaked with alarm.

"Aidan, please. I'm ticklish."

He chuckled, storing that bit of information away for another time as he kissed his way to the triangle of dark hair between her thighs. He settled between her legs, forcing them wide apart. He buried his nose in her hair and breathed deeply of her fragrance, moaning his approval. Naomi watched in fascination as Aidan studied her pussy. He stroked his fingers over every moist, swollen fold, causing her to pant with excitement. He met her eye and grinned.

"You're beautiful."

When he kissed her, Naomi's eyes closed on a moan of delight. His tongue was scalding against her flesh, rasping and probing, delving and suckling. It was all she could do to remain still and let him taste her. He suckled her clit, and she groaned, her legs trembling from the effort of not arching her hips against his mouth. He speared her with two broad fingers, stroking her into a frenzy while he indulged his endless appetite for her tangy dew. When he sensed she couldn't take any more stimulation, he pressed her most sensitive inner spot while he sharply suckled her clit. She screamed, arching her hips against his mouth and clenching her thighs as she shuddered.

He brought her gently down from her summit, licking her softly with his tongue and soothing her with his fingers. When she could finally open her eyes, he snared her gaze and grinned.

"Now we're even, my beautiful Naomi. You taste every bit as delicious as you look."

Naomi blushed but returned his grin as she waited for him to settle over her. He kissed her deeply, and she could smell and taste herself on him. It was intoxicating. She reached down to guide him to her entrance, and he thrust into her with one forceful stroke. She moaned and arched her hips to welcome him deeper. Their ride was leisurely and they took turns inciting each other to even more intense passion until they finally came together with guttural groans of satisfaction.

As Aidan held her, sated and sleeping in his arms, he knew he loved her. In a matter of days, she had captured him so completely, he couldn't imagine life without her as his wife. He had to find some way to win her for his own.

***********

It was almost noon by the time they roused. They ate a hurried meal, and Aidan went to work on the garden. Naomi finished the peaches and packed them into crates for him to carry home. She felt unsettled, knowing that Aidan was almost finished outside. That meant he wouldn't be returning the following day. She had come here looking for solitude, but she wasn't looking forward to a single day without his presence.

By late afternoon, Aidan finished, and he called her outside to take a look. He had set in neat rows of all the vegetables and herbs, and he talked to her about how to maintain them and how to protect them from freezing in the winter.

Naomi hugged his arm against her breast and gave him a warm smile. "Oh Aidan, you have done a wonderful job. I can't thank you enough for your help."

He shrugged, feeling pleased by her praise. "You won't have anything to harvest until early spring. Will you be alright for supplies until then?"

She waved away his concern. "Of course. I told you already, I have money. I will buy anything I need until my garden comes in."

Something about her flippant tone raised Aidan's suspicions, and he eyed her carefully. "What about livestock? You must be planning to buy chickens and a cow, maybe a pig in the spring."

"I hadn't thought about it," Naomi said uncertainly. "Do you think I should?"




Second Chances Ch. 03



Aidan looked at her with utter amazement. "Unless you plan to buy milk and eggs all winter, you'll have to, don't you think?"

Naomi blushed and crossed her arms. "Don't look at me like that," she cried. "This is all new to me, that's all. I'm sure I would have figured that out on my own eventually."

"Do you mean to say that you don't know anything about how to run a farm?"

Faced with his disbelief, Naomi felt foolish. "No, I'm a city girl, born and bred. But that doesn't mean I'm stupid."

Aidan faced her with hands low on his hips and raised one brow. "You're not stupid, but ignorant, certainly! This is not the city, Naomi. You can't just purchase anything you need. You have to plan in advance to make sure you have the necessities to live. You can't just pretend to be a farmer." He took a deep breath and released it on a sigh, trying to calm his rising temper. "I'll be back tomorrow with a cow and some chickens. Then I'll have a good look around and see what needs to be done to get you ready for the coming winter."

His patronizing tone made Naomi bristle with indignation. Memories flooded her consciousness of all the times other people had thought they knew what she needed better than she did, of all the times she had felt like an utter failure. She had come here to escape from all that, and she felt the beginning of tears prickling the backs of her eyes as she glared at Aidan.

"Well, I might not be able to buy everything I need, but I could go into town myself to buy those animals. You don't have to be bothered with that. I'm not helpless, you know."

Aidan growled with frustration and crossed his arms. "I'm not going into town to buy them, Naomi. We raise the best livestock in the area right on our farm. I'll pick out some prime animals and bring them to you."

Naomi was not inclined to be impressed at that moment. She gave him a crisp, businesslike nod of approval. "In that case, I would be happy to purchase a cow and some chickens from you. How much will it cost, and I'll give you the money now."

"The cost of a few farm animals should be the least of your worries. We'll figure it out tomorrow," Aidan said with an impatient sigh.

"We'll figure it out now, or you can just forget it. I'm not accepting any more charity from you."

She would have whirled away from him, but Aidan caught her arm and pulled her around to face him. He scowled at her as a muscle twitched in his cheek. He was furious that she had come to a farm all alone when she knew absolutely nothing about how to take care of herself. If he hadn't happened along, she would be in real trouble, facing a bitter winter without adequate food stores or fuel. She probably had no idea that in a few months, snow would be piled several feet deep around her cabin. And now, when he was offering to help, she got all snippity!

"In case you've forgotten, we agreed that the earlier gifts weren't charity. I promised you that I would make use of them too, so you can consider my purchase of those items as self-interest." He glanced briefly at her heaving bosom before meeting her gaze and raising one mocking brow. "I think we can both attest to the fact that I got more than my money's worth for that mattress."

Naomi gasped with indignation. First he ridiculed her for not knowing about farming, and now he was taunting her about giving herself to him. She slapped him hard across the face, leaving a bright red imprint of her hand on his cheek.

"How dare you! I am not some harlot who trades herself for a mattress! I don't need your gifts. As far as I'm concerned, you can take them all with you and good riddance! I'll buy my own cow and my own chickens, and you can just go to hell!"

She stomped into the cabin and slammed the door with a bang. Aidan stood, trembling with rage until the urge to follow her and paddle her backside had passed. Then, he climbed onto his wagon and urged the horses into a fast trot.

As soon as Naomi heard him leave, she sank onto the bed and wept bitter tears of hurt and anger. She replayed their conversation over and over in her mind. They had both lost their tempers and said hurtful things, and after a long time, she realized that Aidan had only been trying to help her. That realization made her sob even harder. She had been hoping for a reason to see him again, and now, she had pushed him away for good.

***********

It seemed the weather matched Aidan's mood. By the time he reached home, a storm was brewing. He was lucky to reach the barn before it unleashed its fury. Sheets of icy rain poured from the heavens, and thunder and lightning punctuated the growing darkness. Aidan unhitched the horses and put them in their stalls for the night as he thought about Naomi.

He hoped she had enough firewood to last through the night. It promised to be a cold one. He wondered whether she was afraid of thunderstorms. He considered the mercurial nature of her moods and wondered about what had set her off. One minute, she had been grateful for his help, and the next minute, she was slapping his face.

"Women!" he muttered with a disgusted snort.

He stood in the barn doorway, staring out into the growing gloom, and let the occasional gusts of icy rain that hit him cool his temper. Their argument hadn't been all her fault, he reluctantly mused. He had been rather condescending and judgmental. And that comment he had made about getting his money's worth had been purposefully hurtful. What had possessed him to make such a remark?

He gave a short, self-deprecating laugh. He had wanted to hurt her feelings because she had hurt his. When she had so casually dismissed his help, he had wanted to shake her. He needed her at some basic, primitive level. He couldn't imagine living the rest of his life without her. Meanwhile, she seemed content to thank him for his efforts and send him on his way. Now, thanks to his big mouth, she probably wouldn't ever want to see him again. How the hell was he going to fix things?



Second Chances Ch. 03



It was about a week later when I got a call on my cell while I was at work. It was the Shaker Heights Police. Caller ID's a great thing. After verifying who I was, the officer asked to speak with me about the police report on the theft of the two necklaces. Were they mine? Yes. Did you give them away or lose them, No. I told her the story of finding the hidden compartment of my jewelry box disturbed and that both necklaces were missing. They were custom made and I had pictures of the necklaces on me wearing them. I wore them at a Christmas party and a wedding. She asked and I started to describe the Christmas party dress and the officer completed the description. I realized that she had the pictures. Then she asked that I sign an affidavit to that effect and get it to her office ASAP. I used the lawyer at work to write up what I needed to say, had it notarized and fed-exed and scanned and emailed it in two hours. I never thought I would ever even hear of that jewelry again, these pieces were so beautiful.

The thing is, the call was a great break from what was going on. The day before I received a call from the doctor's office for the follow up visit. She pulled the appointment forward, two whole weeks earlier. That didn't sound good but no one was going to say anything. My appointment was for tomorrow, Wednesday, so I still have another day to sit and worry. That's a productive way to face it. A bowl of ice cream would have worked too. I thought about it and decided to wait it out. Tomorrow would be another day and when I had the facts to work with, I'd make my decisions then. Again, it wasn't going to be a good night's sleep.

I love doctors. The reason they say medicine an art was because they don't know everything. A couple of results came back skewed, the wrong way. It could be a fluke, it could be real. She wanted to do more extensive tests, and my right breast still did not feel the same after the mammogram. I thought that I may have felt a lump, but I wasn't sure and she wasn't sure either. That concerned me. Back to medicine being an art.

It wasn't the time to panic, that happened immediately after I walked out of her office. I sat down with a friend of mine, New York Cherry. I limited myself to one cone. Funny how you get a bit more calm after some comfort food.

On the way home I sent a text to my brother Dave to Google video chat after his kids went in bed. Later with him and Terry, I gave them a quick rundown of what happened today. The three of us talked for over an hour. 

It helped that Terry had been through this before. For someone 2,500 miles away, being able to see them, hear them...they calmed me down. Terry offered to be available and would take time off of work if needed. She's such a good mother and sister. Dave said he'd be with me too. Because of the kids, they'd have to split their time. Being alone and going through health issues isn't good. I started missing everyone the past couple of weeks, and then Jerry showed up at my doorstep to add to it. That was good, but it only made it worse. I needed people more than ever, but I knew that for now, I'd hang in there. I'm my mother's daughter. I learned much from Mom's final journey those years ago. Hoped that I could be half as good as she was.

As expected, they confirmed a mass in my right breast. The thing to do now was to take a sample of the tissue, perform a biopsy. Terry warned me because of where it was exactly located, it could very well be painful. Think something like a cork screw RIPPING SOME OF YOU OUT OF YOU. For some reason they couldn't use much of a local. Don't ask me why. I was overwhelmed, I couldn't fight it. If this disease turns out to be more serious, it'll be back home to the Cleveland clinic. At least there I'd have a backup support system in place. 

Outpatient and home and a day of rest after that. The three of us agreed that I could handle this alone. Anything more than this, someone would be there. It was scheduled for Monday morning. That gave me an entire weekend to worry about it. I was successful in keeping Cherry Garcia in the freezer.

Sunday at noon I was talking with Terry on Google video when the doorbell rang. I asked her to hold on, I wasn't expecting anyone. I opened the door and stopped. Jerry was there with a dozen roses and a small box in his hand. I was in total shock and my mind was racing a mile a minute. I had to be standing there for a minute with my mouth open.

"Well, could you at least invite me in?" That's when I grabbed him and gave him a hug. He presented the flowers to me, "I thought you'd like these." 

"Jerry, what are you doing here? What is..." at that he put a finger to my lips and gave me the little box that he was carrying.

"This is yours. I thought that I'd deliver it to you personally. Let's go sit down." Walking to the couch, he moved the PC to sit down and started talking with Terry and Dave. "You guys have to make it up here. You wouldn't believe the weather. Just as much overcast as Cleveland." The three of them all laughed. That was true.

I started to get my bearings again. This wasn't random. This was planned. I grabbed the PC from Jerry and looked at both my brother and sister. "You guys set me up again. Didn't you?" While they started to mouth theatric denials I started talking over them loudly. "Thank you, thank you so much."

Dave started laughing. "It was all I could do to keep you away from the ice cream, honest. Besides, it was his turn to talk us into something now. Unfortunately, both of us are getting the flu, and that's not good for you. We'll see you guys later. Bye." And they disconnected.

Jerry sat on the couch looking at me. He's got a big smile on his face and he's holding out that small box to me. "I actually came here to deliver this to you. The roses were an add on. Don't worry, they're rainforest compliant or something like that."

I took the box and shook it slightly. We both laughed at the joke. It was something we both did as kids and never outgrew. Whenever either of us would give a gift, extra care was taken to either hide the rattle, or lay a false trail. Jerry's best was glass beads in a very small glass jar when we were not seriously dating in college. It hid tickets to see the Alkaline Trio.

He looked at me with a smile on his face, but he wasn't saying anything. I took the ribbon off, and then unpeeled the tape. But I did it slowly to see what reaction I was going to get out of him. I glanced at him and saw that he wasn't impatient.

The wrapping came off and there were two small boxes, neither of which rattled. We both laughed again. I repeated the process on the first box, taking off the ribbon, then the tape, and then found another box inside. He busted out laughing at the look on my face. I gave him a very fake scowl that barely covered my smile. Once again, the ribbon, the wrapping then a plain box that could be opened. It's my pendent necklace. He'd brought back my necklace. I looked at him then give him a big hug.

"Well, are you going to do the other one? I bring them from Ohio by covered wagon out west, over the plains and the Rockies. Fighting off the sun and thirst followed by the snow in the mountains. The least you could do is..." and I stopped him with a kiss, a real kiss. I immediately melted into his arms and begin sobbing quietly.

He wrapped his arms around me and gently held me. The stress and strains of the medical problems, the loneliness of having all the people in my life being 2,500 miles away. It all came out with my tears as he slowly rocked me back and forth and held me tight. This was the gift I needed. I think that he knew that. That damn brother of mine. He tried to take care of his little sister, like his little sister helped take care of Mom to the end, and years later, Terry till she recovered. 

Jerry sat with me and held me. He held me. He held me till I decided to move. After what seemed like forever or only a few seconds, I slowly disentangled myself from his arms. Looking directly into his eyes while wiping the tears from mine, "Thank you for being here with me. You don't know how much it means to..." This is when he stopped me with a kiss to my cheek, and a hug that said so much more.

"I know you Sandy. You've always been one strong and resourceful woman. But I remember you telling me about being with your mother as she declined. By then, it was just you and your brother. Your Nonno Adriano had passed the year before. Last week, your brother called me and told me that because of the flu, they couldn't make it. I had to come for you to have someone to be around." He paused and then smiled.. "I bet you can't guess what's in the other box?"

"How did you get these back?" I was holding the pendent up for the light to shine upon it. "I was wondering when that Officer called from Shaker Heights and she wanted to verify that they were mine and they were missing. What happened?"

"Sandy, answering her right away helped, and emailing and fed-exing the rest was helpful. You gave her all she needed to nail Diana. Since Dan was fired, Jason is just gone and I was long gone, Diane started wearing those necklaces to work. Do you remember Janet from HR?" I nodded yes. The three of us had spent some time talking with one another at the last Christmas Party. 

"She was the one I spoke with after you left. I told her everything. I was pretty upfront with her and asked that I not be in any contact with Diana. If that was at all possible. It wasn't. Because we weren't in the same department and I didn't do anything with Diane during work hours, I ended up being in the clear. 

"Dan got canned right away and Jason was notified that he needed to start looking for another job. Nobody could touch Diana until the Police report for that necklace came into play. I got a deposition from the Artist that made the pieces, the receipt, my report to the police, Janet's pictures of Diane wearing both of them at work, your statements and the rest was history. 

"In the end, I decided to not prosecute. She resigned, signed a waver against any taking any actions against the company for sexual harassment and returned your two necklaces. Dan's wife got back a bit of valuables from her house too.

"Oh, there's other thing. They were so happy that they were able to close this whole mess, they asked me what I wanted. I asked that Jason get his job back. 

"I know that Jason made a big mistake, just like this idiot. He's not a bad guy and he's was doing all he could to get a job, but things were tight. His wife Loretta got pregnant right before his transgression. I asked that they hire him back, and hire her to fill Diana's place. I know his wife Loretta from high school. She's always been a hard worker. The director of personnel thought about it for a day and agreed. I'm sure that Janet helped. Jason made a mistake and his wife and kid shouldn't have to suffer because of it."

"One final thing. There's other reason that I decided to not to prosecute." He stopped talking and got a more serious look on his face. "Over the past couple of months I realized that Diana's a lost soul. I looked up her history. Growing up was so unstable for her. She really grew up damaged. Lots of inappropriate behavior, self-defeating too. When we were 'negotiating', I offered her that if she would return the stolen items and drop the threat of suit against the company. Then the company would pay cobra, including personal therapy for her for 18 months, then I'd drop all the charges. I got the company to pay for that last bit. They aren't really heartless bean counters, but they do have to protect themselves. Cutting the threat of being sued helped. 

"Diana jumped at it. She saw that she was trapped, and I offered a 'get out of Jail Free' card. I think that it was the last thing she ever expected. I hope that she'll take advantage of it. I don't know if anybody else will ever give her a chance again." 

We both remained quiet after this. I was thinking about his changes since we split. He'd grown, he'd grown up a lot.

It was getting to be later in the afternoon and I was a bit hungry. I had to stop eating solids by 7 PM and liquids by midnight. "Hey, have you eaten? I still have a few hours left before I have to fast. What do you think?" He started laughing. I looked at him and asked, "OK, what's so funny?"

"Oh, I was thinking the last fancy dinner we had in Ohio. I really deserved it, didn't I?" He shook his head in sorrow. "I almost told you about my cheating on you at dinner, but decided to wait until we got back to the condo. I'm so sorry for what I did."

Here is a man that has flown 2,500 miles unexpectedly to be with his ex-girlfriend before she gets a non-life threatening biopsy. "You know Jerry, I won't give you a 'what's done is done'. I can forgive, but I'll never forget. With that said, let's turn a page and move on. Can we go on from here? I'm sure we'll go back to it again together, but let's move on now?" I smiled and reached for his hand. We clasped our hands together in agreement and maybe something more.

Then I continued, "So if you don't want to go out, how about take in? There's a good Thai place three blocks down. I've got a menu and you can pick it up. That'll give me some time to clean me and this place up. I'm not the neatest person when I'm not expecting anyone." We both chuckled about that one. I'm Oscar and he's Feliks, the Odd Couple. If he wasn't Polish, he'd be Felix. I'd still be messy.

With that, we ordered enough for left-overs for two days. He helped me straighten the living room, then he took off telling me that he'd walk slowly both ways to give me some more time. A fast shower and I had set the table by the time he came back. 

I planned on eating the more bland items so there wouldn't be any problems, and I did ok. The pot stickers were 'legal', and I had most of the very fresh spring rolls. They were safe. Jerry sampled the rest. I knew that I could have all this after the procedure. 

It was heading on after 8 when I realized that Jerry arrived here only with flowers and the jewelry box. "Where's your luggage? I don't see any." 

"It's back at the hotel. I checked in before I got here."

"Aren't you going to spend the night here?"

He face got an uncomfortable look on it. "I didn't want to make any assumptions with you. I came here to visit and support. I didn't want to imply or impose anything more on you. You weren't expecting me, it would have been a big assumption for anything else."

I thought about what he said, and then nodded in agreement. "Now that you're here, will you spend the night?"

"I don't know, it'll be..."

"Jerry, let me frank with you. I've been here alone going through this with the help of my brother and his wife by Google video. I can do it alone. I don't want to do it that way. You're here. I'd like you to stay with me tonight."

"To say that I'm not overjoyed to hear that from you would be a big fat lie. But there's another issue. You're in a tight space right now. I feel that if I stay, then I would be taking advantage of that. I don't want to do that. I can go back to the hotel late tonight and I'll be back here early in the morning to take you to and bring you home from the procedure. I'll stay with you afterwards until you feel ok about things. Is that OK?"

This isn't exactly the Jerry that I knew before. This is a more respectful one. "I can see your point. Let me tell you what it's like from this side." I straightened up in the chair and pushed the plates away from in front of me. Then I cleared my throat.

"I really want you to stay the night with me. You can sleep on the couch if you want, but I want to have someone else around me. I miss that. I miss that terribly. To be honest, that was the second most painful thing that's happened to me after you being unfaithful." He frowned and was about to say something, but I continued. "I'm not asking that we become lovers, but I need your warmth, caring and physical presence. That's all I'm asking for.

"And you're right, bringing more things out right now wouldn't be right. We can wait to make those decisions later. After this is hopefully all over." 

"Sandy, I don't think I could I..."

Now I was going to nail him against the wall. "IF YOU DON'T SPEND THE NIGHT, I'M GOING TO CALL TWO OF MY MALE FRIENDS. THESE FRIENDS THAT HAVE NEVER LET ME DOWN. THEY'LL SPEND THE NIGHT WITH ME. IN MY BED."

The look of shock on his face stopped him cold. I was playing hardball with him.

"WWWWWHat are you talking about? I didn't think that you had ...I know you can do this. I can..."

"Want to know their names?" He nodded with a look of honest fear in his eyes. "First one is Ben. They don't travel apart." I paused, looking at his with steely eyes. "The other is Jerry. And they're bringing their buddy, Cherry Garcia to be specific." and I busted out laughing. He went from fear, to anger, to relief then ended up laughing with me within 2 seconds. He knew my weakness for ice cream, my go-to comfort food.

"Honest Jerry, keep your clothes on. I miss the human contact of somebody who cares for me. You can sleep on the couch if that works for you. Please?" He nodded yes much to my relief.

In 10 minutes he took my car to the hotel to get his things and check out. I made up a bed for him on the couch while he was gone. We spent the evening talking quietly, playing card games, even watching a chick flick together. He was keeping my mind off of what I was going to confront for the next several days. We went to sleep in our separate rooms at midnight.

I was awake at 2 AM and tossed and turned for an hour. There was no going back to sleep. My mind was racing with worry and horror stories. The real boogeyman was playing with my head. And he was winning. I entered the kitchen to get some water when I realized that I shouldn't take anything by mouth now.

As I walked back to the bedroom, I saw Jerry sleeping on the couch quietly, sleeping peacefully. I leaned over him and stroked his forehead, looking at his face. This man crossed two thirds of the continent to be with me, when I needed somebody important here. He knew. He is not just some body, he is somebody, somebody special. I stroked his hair and looked at him for some time. Then I made up my mind. I pulled the sheets away slightly and carefully lay next to him, spooning into him. I heard his breathing, felt his warmth. I felt at peace. The spiral in my head slowed down.

The next thing I knew was that the sun was up and Jerry greeted me with a warm wash cloth for my face. If you have to wake up on a day that eating or even coffee is not allowed, this is the best way to do it. He looked at me while I let the sleep leave my eyes and my brain slowly start to function again. He remembered that it took me a while to wake in the morning. Today was also going to be tough without coffee. 

"Morning sleepy head. Did you get lost night getting back from the bathroom?"

"I'm sorry, I couldn't sleep. I nestled into you and immediately nodded off. You took away my worries. I hope you didn't mind."

"It was a shock when you were next to me this morning. After you settled, I put my arm around your shoulders to tell you it was OK. You moaned softly and you were still."

"Really, I didn't feel you move at all. I just felt safe again."

"Well, you better get your shower now. We've got 45 minutes to get out of here and grab a cab for the hospital. You ready for this?"

"Like I have a choice?"

It was great to have Jerry near. He looked out after me, he held my hand, gave me pep-talks. He let me cry on his shoulder when I saw no one was looking at me, saving me from embarrassment. I can honestly say, and I will say this to him, I can completely forgive him for his time with Diana. He was here when I needed him and he's been honest and truthful ever since. Even if we don't stay together because of the little issue of 2,500 miles, I know that he's redeemed himself in my eyes. I hoped that he has redeemed himself in his own eyes. Knowing Jerry, I think that'll be the harder sell.




Second Chances Ch. 03



We spent the next two days in the apartment. He gave me my meds, cooked meals, talked with me and even got me to get on my laptop and at least go through my emails from work. I knew that I could go back to work after a day, but decided to take advantage of Jerry being around. Besides, Cherry Garcia was still in the freezer, hiding behind the steaks and frozen vegetables. It didn't call my name so loud when Jerry was around.

I had the follow up appointment three days after the procedure. We were both in the office when I found out that I had a cyst, a non-cancerous cyst. This all had been a false alarm. I cried from the news. Jerry held me close. That's when I knew that this happened for a reason. A wake up call.

Jerry and I got back to the apartment and I called my brother and sister and shared the good news. They were elated. Both had cleared their calendars if there were going to be additional surgeries. When I got off the phone, I looked at Jerry.

"It's my turn to take you out to dinner. We have to celebrate. What's the best clothes you have?" 

"Sandy, it doesn't have to be anything special, let's..."

"We have to go out special. You paid for the dinner that ended our relationship." I walked up to him and put my arms around his shoulders. "And since nothing is hanging over my head anymore, I'd like to be the one that pays for first dinner of us trying again. 

"No guarantees, no promises that we can't keep. We need to honestly try again." At that I kissed him and he held me tight. "I don't know how this'll turn out, but we've got a series of challenges ahead of us. All we can do is try, and I do believe that we'll try."

"Wait a minute. There are lots of things that we have to work out. 2,500 miles, our jobs, our..."

That's when I put a finger over his lips. "We both know that. These are things we'll work out. What we both know is that we both want to be together. We'll do a better job working things out this time." At that he nodded yes, with a smile.

"We'll work things out better this time Sandy, we will." And he kissed and hugged me with tenderness.

So much for plans of going out. It was take out from the Greek place two blocks away with two bottles of wine. By the time we half finished with the second bottle, I knew that there'd be no stopping me. 

I pulled him up to stand. I wasn't steady on my feet. Then again, neither was he. I put my arms over his shoulders, cradled his neck. I knew I had to get serious now. "Before we go any farther, I have to tell you that I've been off the pill and have no other protection here. I'm not anti-children, but that's an important decision not for tonight." Then I started to unbutton his shirt. "I'm pretty much open to about any other thing though." And I leaned over and kissed him, wrapping my tongue around his.

He pulled away from me and brushed the hair from my face. "We have all night lover, we have all night." Holding me gently, he kissed my hands. That's when I led him to the bedroom. While he was gone for the food, I turned down the bed, had some candles ready to be lit, put a bottle of wine out to breath, and left a cheese tray with crackers and meats. I didn't want any reason to leave that room.

We entered into the bedroom. I lit the candles and stepped back into his arms. He threw his arms around me and grabbed my ass cheeks for a squeeze. I was thinking that we were going to get a little playful. So I pushed him backward onto the bed and then jumped on top of him. Unfortunately, I landed on the wrong breast and let out a groan. 

Laughing at my drunken mistake, he reached for me and held me by the shoulders. His hands probed my shoulders and he frowned. "First off Sandy, you need a massage. Your whole body is one tight muscle from all the stress you've been under. So don't argue with me and lie down on the bed and start to relax while I get ready."

"But..." and he cut me off. "First things first Sandy. Don't argue with me."

"I guess you're right. I'll lie down and you can get these knots out of my neck." 

"And your back and your arms and your legs. Maybe I can do something for that stiff neck and hard head too. Probably not the last two. I don't have the endurance for that," and he began to chuckle.

"Funny guy Jerry, funny guy. But thanks, thanks for everything." 

Using his fingertips along the wall to give himself a little bit more stability from the wine while walking, Jerry went into the bathroom. He picked up a bottle of hand lotion and came back and sat down next to me. "Sandy, you need to relax," and he brushed the hair away from my eyes and neck, then caressed my cheek. He asked me to roll over so he could unbutton my blouse and jeans. Then he rolled me back and slid my blouse off. Picking up his phone, he looked for something. In less than a minute I began to hear a soft melodic flute. Relaxing background music. Then he unfastened my bra and placed the straps off to the side.

I heard him put lotion on his hands and rub them together to warm it. He whispered into my ear, "Let the world flow away. You are on a beach, no worries, the warmth of the sun, the quiet of the outdoors. Peacefulness surrounds you." He put his hands on my shoulders and gently rubbed. He touched more than just my skin, he reached further down, he started to release my tension. He slowly put more effort and energy into my shoulders and back. He found the tense places, he applied his healing to me, almost raki like. This is from somebody who doesn't buy into it. He kneaded my stress into submission where he could. He reduced it the best he could where it was ingrained in me. I couldn't believe how tense my body had become, I only realized it when he massaged it away and I began to feel the start of lightness. A feeling that I swear I haven't felt in years.

He moved to my arms and his hands slowly loosened my muscles. He slowly moved down to my fingers and then back up, and repeated it several times for each arm till they were limp and relaxed. 

Finished with my arms, he started tugging my jeans down. I started to lift to make it easier when he whispered that it was ok. Just relax. He slid them off and then I heard him folding them as the room was so quiet. Are only accountants that orderly?

Lying on the bed in only my panties, he again put more lotion on his hands to warm it and he started at my feet. I never before realized how special it is to have someone massage your feet. I enjoyed his touch, I loved what he was doing to me. Slowly moving up each calf, he released the effects of my walking in high heels, the curse of women and definitely short women. I almost fell asleep from his hands. Warm, soft, wonderful, caring. I knew the feelings behind those hands. He moved to my thighs and repeated the process, just a bit slower this time. When I thought he'd take my panties off of me, he asked that I turn over.

He pulled the bra off to the side when I turned and I lay there looking up at him. I now got to see his eyes, his face, his smile as he massaged my body. He worked my thighs this time with a determination. Picking up my entire leg, he twisted, pulled and kneaded the muscles and released the built up tension. 

Jerry wasn't giving me a sensual massage, instead he was giving me what I needed right now. That's the sign of a real lover. He wasn't this attentive before. He was ok, but now he's so much more. I guess I'm the same way too. I lost him, and now we both learned what we really lost because we were not paying attention to each other. It's not only a good massage, it's the love and caring to be there for that person when they need you. It's not a massage, it was a life lesson.

He worked on my shoulders, rotating them, stretching them, getting them limber. I looked directly into his eyes, and he smiled at me. I see the caring, the warmth, and I see a touch of sorrow too. 

I know him so well, he'd never forgive himself for what he did. I've forgiven him but he can't forgive himself. Neither of us could ever really walk away from each other. I ran away to Portland and caused him to follow, and I was so glad my brother talked him into chasing me. 

I reached up and pulled his head toward mine. Our lips meet, not in a wet sloppy kiss, not in a chase kiss or even a sensuous kiss. It is a kiss of caring, of bonding. Two had become one.

He didn't pull back but shifted his weight to his forearms. I reached up and caressed his shoulders, slipping my hand under his shirt. He jumped at first, and moaned softly as my fingers traced his back.

He reached around me and tugged at my panties, slipping them off as I raised my hips. He slowly pulled them down my legs. I'm a combination of fully relaxed from his massage, the wine and the relief of the biopsy, and now, the different tension of actually starting with him again. This new beginning. 

Smiling, he now pulled back and took off his clothes. I haven't seen him naked, seen my lover naked for months. He's been so careful with me these last couple of days. 

Jerry doesn't have a body to die for. Then again, neither do I. He doesn't have a big cock, no washboard abs, he's not rich beyond my dreams. He'll never be on the cover of GQ with those couple of spare pounds around his waist. He's reasonably trim, reasonably strong and not flashy. He's pleasant looking, not a jaw dropper. He'll never be arm candy for any woman, except me that is. I do love his blue eyes. The best part of Jerry is that I know he loves me, and I love him back, even after all the trouble we had. Maybe because of all the trouble we've had. Because of that trouble, we've grown, we've both grown so much. I know he'll treat me right for the rest of my life. He's never made the same mistake again in all he does.

With a smile on his face, he was on his side next to me. Snuggling together we embraced, being very careful where the bandage is. I ran my fingers along his arm and face, his fingers were slowly caressing my hip, the one part he hadn't touched. 

We kissed again, molded our bodies to each other, we felt the other's heat, the other's warmth, the other's caring. We've haven't been this close since Cleveland. We've both missed this closeness, long before I actually left.

My hand moved from his face to his chest and I played with his nipples for a second before I reached my hand further down to his stomach. 

His hands that were circling my hip have now moved between my legs, caressed my inner thighs, and caused my legs to part for him. 

There was no rush, it was a join of two lovers that knew each other well after having been apart for so long. I knew our touches came from our memories of what the other liked. That built in familiarity was rekindled and strengthened by the loss and regained by our togetherness. I felt Jerry's thoughts from his body and his touches. There was no other way to say it.

His hands slowly touched my clit and I shuddered with anticipation of what will come. He was always an attentive lover. His fingers slid up my clit and using all four of them with his thumb, he slowly massaged me to where I started to moan. I haven't been with another person since Jerry, and anything from him now had an out placed intensity, a wonderful intensity.

I couldn't help myself and I started to moan louder and slightly hump his hand. I'd barely been able to get his cock in my hand before I started breathing hard. "oh yes, yes yesyesyes" and I exploded over his hand. I twitched and panted and moaned and felt so drained and relieved. I closed my eyes to recover.

Laying there while enjoying the after burn of a climax, I felt the comforter cover us and the lights go off. "Jerry, what about you? I want to..." 

"Good night Sandy, we'll have tomorrow. We will be together tomorrow too." I felt him spoon into me and his arm covered mine by the valley of my breasts. I can only think of him while I fall asleep.

I woke up in the middle of the night. The two bottles of wine had given me a reason to visit the washroom. I left the bed quietly and took care of business. Getting back to bed, I saw that we both were still naked and he was sleeping on his side, facing my side of the bed. I brushed the hair away from his eyes and smiled at him. We're going to have to work out so many things, but now I know that we both know what is most important, each other.

I still have a little bit of a buzz from the drinking and I remember that he let me go to sleep earlier. Now he's asleep and I'm awake. He's naked and his cock is not hard, but it's inches away from me. Part of me is very sure that he wouldn't mind being woken up by a ...

On the bed, I'm now on my side and placed my face at his cock. I've rarely seen it deflated like this. Except for Jerry and Greek statues, I've never seen one that wasn't erect or just finished.

I know that it's been a guy's fantasy to be woken up by someone sucking their cock. With all he has done for me, I'm going to give him his first, or at least, what I'd like to be his first.

Reaching out to his cock, I begin to stroke it slowly. Amazing for someone who is definitely asleep, his cock begins to get bigger. I breathe in his scent. It's been so long since I've done that. I know that one of the reasons I fell asleep so quickly in his arms that first night was his familiar scent. I am back home again with him, with him caring about me when I need him the most. 

Breathing him in, I put his soft cock into my mouth and wait. I'm feeling like a school girl doing something behind the bleachers. This is naughty, deliciously naughty. Why haven't I ever done this before? I start to suck his cock gently, taking my tongue to tease the underside of his knob. He starts stirring and he almost popped out of my mouth when he stirred. 

I love watching him. I've never had him this soft in my mouth. Whenever I sucked him off he came in a Kleenex or towel and I never licked him clean. I've only tasted part of his cum a couple of times when he didn't pull out quickly enough. I didn't bring anything to catch him with, and I'm not going to even look anything. Different from now on.

I moved my tongue more and sucked on him a little bit harder. He has to be awake, he's getting harder in my mouth. Playing possum with me, I'll get his attention.

I spit on my left hand for a little lubrication. Going after his ass. Or should I? Should I wait until he decides to let me know? Should I give him that freedom to think he's pulling one over on me? Should...

Suddenly I felt his hands on my head, a groan and a hump to my mouth. I pulled my mouth off of him while I continued to stroke him. "Hey lover, I didn't get to finish last night. It's my turn now," and I engulfed him again. 

I got another groan, but he also started reaching for me. I pulled away so he couldn't. "It's my turn to take care of you now. Relax and lay back while I get to enjoy doing delicious things to you." 

"But Sandy, you've been..."

I pulled off again. "It's my turn now. I need to do something for you. Can't I give you pleasure? Can't I enjoy your body? My lover's body?" I covered his cock with my mouth then started licking its sides while I fondled his balls. My left hand started to go behind his balls toward his ass. "We have to share things and right now, that's your cock. We can't fuck, no protection here. But lover, I'm going to drain you dry before you go back to sleep." Then I returned to licking his knob, "Don't worry this other pretty little head of yours about it." After I chuckled, I gave it a big wet sloppy kiss. He responded by gently holding my head in place.

I pulled back, "What, cat got your tongue Jerry? You've got your lover between your legs trying the best to give the best head she can, and I hear nothing out of it? Not a groan, not a thank you, not a..."

"Oh don't you ever think that you can stop sucking, don't even think that I'd let you. I've been dreaming of this for a long time. This is great but I know that I'm not going to last long. It's been a while for me." He exhaled and moaned. "Oh this is so nice. I think that you'd better get something so I can shoot into it. And do it soon Sandy, do it soon."

I pulled my mouth off of him and gently stroked him with my hand while I massaged behind his balls, slowly dipping toward his ass. "What makes you think that I'm going not going to suck you dry lover? I don't need to get anything if you fill my mouth with your cum." I kissed his knob again. "Would you love to see me swallow your load? You've never seen me do that for you, have I lover?" 

He reached over and took my mouth off of his cock. His eyes were wide, I felt his heart racing. I knew that he could cum in a minute if I kept it up.

"Sandy, I.. I.. I.. don't know what to say except let me come down before I have a runaway and we'll both wear it."

Pulling my hands away from his cock and his ass, I knelt by his side. "Jerry, we're starting over, aren't we? I've been next to you for the past several days, not allowed to touch you like this. I swore that if everything was going to be OK medically, we needed to break out of what we normally did. 

"I have to try new, different things with you. We don't talk when we make love, we don't get messy. We don't play with each other. Why not? Why not Jerry? Is there a law about it?"

Jerry looked at me and smiled. "We've always been quiet. And being neat, it kept everything else clean and neat too." He paused a couple of seconds. "Do you really want me to give you a mouthful of cum? Do we really want to wear it?"

"Don't you want to try it Jerry? What do we have to lose? We know that it won't kill us, will it?" He nodded, looking a little glazed with anticipation. Boundaries dropped, a new day, a new relationship, a new life started together. With that, I bent over Jerry and continued pleasuring him, noisily pleasuring him. Moaning loudly on to his cock, a first for me, and him.

Suddenly I heard him. "Oh yes baby, you're going eat my cum and we're wearing it too. There's going to be enough to do everything tonight." He sat up in the bed a bit higher and had me scoot fully between his legs. "I want to see you suck me off. I want to see my cock in your mouth. I want to see your eyes when I flood your mouth with my cum." He reached over and held my head. "Because when you're through, I'm going to eat you alive. I'm gonna put your legs on my shoulders and I'm going to feast on your cunt."

I moaned again at that, I never heard him say cunt in all our time together. I never felt him make me a sex toy for his pleasure, or mine either. "So you like this, don't you?" Then I put a finger on his asshole and sucked and licked him while he held my head in place. With little warning, he pulsed and started cumming. At that first spurt into my mouth, I looked up. He was staring at me, at my eyes. The joy, the lust, the...when the second spurt came. It was more than I could handle, I didn't swallow the first right away, there was too much or I wasn't ready for it. The salty mess started to dribble out of my mouth. He pulled back and the third hit my chin and got some in my hair. His eyes were on fire, holding me with them. There was a spark in him, a new spark. A barrier was broken. 

I rushed his cock back into my mouth while his body bucked like a bronco and filled my mouth with more. It popped out again and the next shot of cum landed on my neck. He went rigid, then collapsed and he slumped back on the bed. Some more dribbled out of his cock on to him and the bed. 

"Oh oh oh fuck, your mouth, you sucked...on my..." and he kept jerking from the aftershocks of a long delayed organism from his lover. He panted for minutes and stroked and held my head the entire time till he relaxed a bit. I put my head down on his leg, looking at his cock slowly drip cum. Looking at his face, feeling his breathing slowly subside, his hands kept stroking my head. I've satisfied my lover for now. I reached over to pull the covers over us, when his hand stopped me.




Second Chances Ch. 03



"Don't even think that we're done Sandy. I'm going to eat you alive before we cleanup or sleep." He pulled the covers back off of us and he put me back on my back, spreading my legs. His hand went on my clit and he smiled. "A little excited here?" He felt my wetness. His head moved down from my face and he moved his body between my legs, looking at my face. I got to look at his eyes like he looked at mine a few minutes ago. Turnabout is fair play. I so loved him giving me head. His tongue was magical, his fingers divine. No fucking today until we get something.

He pulled a pillow out and slipped it under my ass, lifting me up. He had a real shit-eating-grin on his face now as he placed a second pillow under me. My pussy was now pointed upward while he nestled between my legs, slowly licking my inner thighs.  

He pulled one of my legs over his shoulder, then the other over his other shoulder. I've never been in this position before and I loved it. He began to give me head, delicious head from my lover. I looked at him and all I saw were my legs and the top of his head. I petted that head as his tongue traced my clit, back and forth, making me feel so good. 

Pulling back he said, "What, cat got your tongue Sandy? You've got your lover between your legs trying the best to give the best head he can, and I hear nothing out of it? Not a groan, not a thank you, not a..."

"Use my own words against me why don't you. Do you want to hear how I love your tongue in my pussy? Your teeth gently nibbling my lips?" I groaned when he stuck a finger in my pussy. "And now your fingers entering me Jerry, your wonderful fingers and tongue eating me alive. Is that what you want to hear. Hear how you have me quivering under your tongue? OOOOOHHHHYYYYEEEESSSS"

That's when he pulled his fingers out of me. "NO NO NO don't you dare stop now, don't you..." and his finger went from my pussy into my ass and his thumb went into my pulsating cunt. 

"oh oh oh yes yes yes oh fuck yes" I was panting and grabbing his head, pushing it further into my pussy. "oh oh oh I'm coming I'm coming I'm coming" and I clamped my legs together and rocked. His tongue, his fingers, his thumb, his head all locked between my legs.

He pulled back from me and I hoped I get time to recover. One of my legs had dropped from his shoulder. I tried to take the other off, but he stopped me, kissing my foot and calf. He grabbed the lotion and stared into my eyes. "I'm going to fuck you now, I'm going to fuck that beautiful ass of yours." He must have seen my eyes say yes, but nothing came out of my mouth. He put lotion on his cock and then on his fingers, and his fingers were on my ass in a flash. Slowly entering my ass, massaging the lotion over and in.

"I have to be in you, I have to fuck you and you need to be fucked right now." I nodded in agreement. "I won't fuck you without protection." Then he smiled with a devilish smile, "But your ass is mine." That's when I started to hump his hand a little. 

"Fuck this ass of mine, put that cock into me." I felt him loosen me up with one finger. That's when I started to moan. 

"Be gentle with this ass of mine lover, get me bigger then fuck my ass hard. Is that's what you want to hear. You want to hear me ask for it? Beg for it? That's what you want lover?" 

The smile on his face said it all and I continued, "Yes, I want your cock in me. I want to feel it. I want to see your face as you fuck my ass." That's when a bit more lotion and a second finger entered me.

"OOOHH yyess. You like putting your fingers up my ass don't you? What else do you like putting up my ass lover, what else?"

"Oh babe, my fingers are only the start. I love putting my tongue up there, I love giving you a rimming. But you know what I like best, don't you?" I nodded while I was playing with his nipples. "I love putting my cock in your tight ass and frigging you at the same time. And now you're going to watch me fuck you and frig you." His fingers were now picking up speed, getting my hole bigger and bigger, ready for his cock. 

"Then I'm going to make you cum before I unload my cum into your ass, then watch it drip out." 

He's got me so near the edge. "Put that cock of your in me now. I can't wait. Fuck my ass, frig this pussy now."

At that, his fingers were quickly replaced with his cock at my asshole. He was as hard as a rock, and he slowly started pushing it in. 

"Oh babe, is this slow enough for you?

I grimaced a bit and wanted to loosen up a bit more. He saw the pain on my face and he pulled back until I told him to just stay there and wait. I slowed relaxed and the pain subsided to where I nodded yes to him and mouthed SLOW. Finally, his head slipped in, and he waited. He knew to wait. 

As I felt better, I stared to hump his cock, slowly and shallowly. He waited patiently for me, we'd been here before, we knew what to do. As I became more accustomed to his wonderful piece of meat in my ass, I humped it slightly faster, slowly picking up speed and depth. This was his queue. He started to pump me.

"You love this cock up your ass, don't you? Do you like these fingers in your cunt too?"

"You make me feel so good, so full, so wanting more of you. Yea, just pump, pump my ass slowly." I'd never done anal looking at Jerry before. I'd always been on my hands and knees in bed and once over a park bench in the ring parks outside of Cleveland during our college years. 

I looked at him and saw a grim determination, seriousness. He focused on me, to make me come. Not his pleasure. His coming he'd put off until I was satisfied. But I won't allow that now. Today's the new beginning.

"You love putting your cock in my ass, don't you lover? You always have." His fingers have now found my slit and are going after my clit. I can tell that the angle is different for Jerry, and he was having trouble at first until he got the hang of it.

"Tell me, what's the best thing about fucking my ass?'

Jerry smiled at me, "I love the tightness, the dirtiness, the wrongness of it all. Fucking you from behind I felt like an animal rutting." He started breathing a bit heavier, I've cut his denying concentration. I'd brought him back to feeling the here and now.

"But now, being away from you so long and seeing your face as I fuck your ass, I'm with you, I'm in you. I see your pleasure, your wanting, your lust. I see you fucking me back, not just feel it." That's when he picked up his pace and started slamming into my ass, harder and faster.

"That's it Jerry, look in my eyes as you fuck this ass. Feel your cock in me, feel my tightness, frig my clit." I stated to pant heavier, "Cum in my ass."

Jerry pistoned in me harder and harder. "Fuck this ass hard, shove your whole cock into me, frig this pussy, yea, cum in me cum on me cum for me." I put a finger in my pussy next to his, then put it first in my mouth for show. His eyes popped and he immediately blew his load. Then I put it in his mouth, and I came.

We both shook, panted, grabbed each other, and took minutes to come back down. By the time we disengaged, Jerry had gottten soft. I handed him a wipe for his cock and another one for me. We spooned together once again and slept in each other's arms.



Second Chances Ch. 03



TERI: Hi Readers, I'm "Teri," the real GILF/writing partner. Yes, I am a real person, lol. My ID name is: rainbowdreamer.

I'd like to thank all the readers who have enjoyed our story about Kurt & Teri. It has been fun writing it with the help of my lover who has encouraged me forward in each of these chapters. This was just another fun first he has introduced me to and has made it very easy for me to put our experiences into written word.

Again, thank you for reading and for your comments. We both hope you enjoy this next chapter. I'm looking forward to your future comments too.

KURT: Hi. I know that there are still some doubters as to Teri's actual existence. Sorry, you're just going to have to take our words for it. I highly doubt that she will allow any pictures of herself to be posted, so ... Teri doesn't have anything posted yet, but she will soon. Until then, enjoy this one, let us know what you think, and I am working on her to write some more. She is really starting to enjoy telling you about our exploits almost as much as she is getting into them. Hopefully, there will be more to cum soon.

*****

KURT:

After our weekend get-away, I noticed that Teri started opening up even more. She became more aggressive sexually, asking me for different things, initiating sex ... all things that she admits she never would have done only a couple of years ago. I noticed a couple of times while we were having sex, when I was going down on her and once when she was on her belly, that she put her hands up above her head, like she was tied down. I even found bags from a local adult "romance" store that sold toys, lingerie, and costumes. 

A couple of weeks after I found the bags, I experienced a Friday from Hell at work. It was a day where Murphy's Law reigned supreme, and at the end of it, as much as I wanted to see Teri, what I really wanted to do more than anything was to shower, turn up the stereo, and have a beer or three. Teri took the day off for a "girl's day" with her daughter. I hadn't heard from her all day, so I assumed that they was still out doing whatever it is that a mother and daughter do on a "girls day."

I was finishing my second beer as I got out of the shower when I heard the doorbell ring. Grumbling to myself, wondering who the hell was ringing my doorbell at 8:00 on a Friday night, I went to the door. Looking through the peep hole, I saw Teri standing on my porch, looking beautiful and made up.

As soon as I opened the door, she whipped her coat open and showed me a sexy French maid's outfit. She then proceeded to speak in a bad French accent, telling me that she was "Monique" from "zee Merry Maid company," and that she was there to be my personal maid, and see to "all of my weeshez." 

As crappy as my day was, and as badly as I just wanted to vegetate and have a few beers, I had to smile and welcome "Monique" into my home and let her clean. Apparently, her body was as dusty as mine, because she spent a lot of time using her feather duster on both of us.

The next morning, as we were picking up the scattered pieces of her costume, Teri admitted that she was terrified as she left her condo dressed like that, afraid that one of her neighbors would see her, and that I wouldn't be home. She also told me that she was so turned on by the time that I opened the door, that when I smiled at her and invited her in, it was all she could do to not attack me right in my doorway. 

Continuing to push her boundaries of daring, we played at work some more, including a quickie at a job site that we both had to do a walk-through on, as well as things like my slipping my hand up under her skirt and making her cum while we were at a very crowded blues bar. At a birthday party for one of her grandkids, she even led me off for a not-so-quickie behind her son's shed. We were almost caught by her daughter that time, who has been giving me dirty looks ever since.

I hadn't brought up her flirting with the boutique owner any more, but I did notice that she wore her new outfits a lot, and she was a lot more hands-on when it came to her dealing with other women. I doubted that I would ever get her to act on any hidden feelings that she had, but I am still a man. I could always fantasize.

The most surprising thing to me was how I was feeling about her. Above and beyond the amazing sex, I enjoyed just spending time with her. Even on the rare nights that there wasn't some sort of sexual play, it was enjoyable just going out for dinner or a drink, or even sitting and watching TV with her. She was constantly on my mind. It had been a long time since I could say that.

***** 

TERI:

Ever since our cabin get away, I had felt a big change in the relationship between Kurt and myself. For me, I found myself being more daring and brave, with more of a comfort zone for being naughty for him. 

I was finding it fun to always be surprising Kurt more sexually than in the past. 

I think the most daring and brave thing I ever did was when I dressed up in a hot, sexy maid outfit and went to Kurt's house without even calling first. I knew he wouldn't be expecting me because I had the day off and the day was planned with my daughter doing spa stuff. 

I was tempted a few times to check in with him but I knew there were some issues on a project and thought best to leave him alone to deal with things and not have me interrupting him. Once I had been dropped home by my daughter I felt in my gut that Kurt needed something to change his mind from the day so I took out the sexy maid outfit I had picked up on a whim when I was at Lovers Lane on my last visit. When I saw it on the dummy I just knew that would be something that would make Kurt's jaw drop when he saw me in it.

I quickly dressed before changing my mind, tossed on my trench coat over it and headed to my car. I was so nervous about getting caught dressed up like this that I was trembling while driving. I soon arrived at Kurt's. My heart was thumping so hard I thought his neighbors could hear me.

I took a deep breath and walked up to his door and rang the bell. It felt like forever before he answered. I was just about to run back to my car when I heard the door knob turn. He opened the door and before he could get a word out I mustered up my nerve. I loosened the belt on my coat and flashed him my outfit.

Kurt eyes popped open wide and drank me in from head to toe. He stood there wide eyed and smiling not saying a word. I didn't know if I was more nervous or excited, but my desires for making Kurt happy tonight over took the nerves, and in the sexiest French accent I could fake, I said, "Bonjour monsieur." That's all the French I knew how to say. Then I faked some other words very badly trying not to bust out laughing doing it and made my way past Kurt as he motioned me in. 

I took my feather duster and started running over his end table, making sure to bend low at the waist to give him a good shot of my bare ass under the short skirt. I heard a low growl and I knew he had a good view.

I then started running my duster along the sofa where Kurt had plopped down to watch the show I was giving him. He kept swigging his beer in between approving moans until I stood in front of him and bent over, letting my pushed up 38dds overflowing the outfit fall directly at his eye level and he choked on a mouthful as I started running the duster over his growing bulge. 

Putting down the duster, I reached for his lounge pants and pulled them down enough to release his bulge. I reached into my apron while mumbling in another bad French accent, "Monsieur oil, oui?"

I opened the small bottle and poured it slowly over my cleavage first. Kurt's eyes followed the stream of oil running between my squished together tits.

I took my fingers and brushed the trail of oil over all my exposed breast, nice and slow. Kurt was rolling the neck of his beer bottle between his fingers. I knew he was unconsciously following the movements of my hands along my breasts. I watched him as I continued caressing myself. Once he noticed what he was doing he smiled and stopped.

I winked and said, "Monsouier like?"

He just gave a dazed nod.

Then I let the oil drip over his cock. I took my finger tip to his swollen head and circled it, feeling the soft velvety texture that I love so much. As I drew my fingers down over the fat mushroom head under the rim, he jumped a little. I know that is a sensitive spot on him and love to feel his reaction when I go there. Then my fingers traced down his thick shaft and he shifted forward on the sofa drawing his pants down all the way. 

With greater access I squeezed some oil over his balls and my other hand cupped them, while my fingers wrapped fully around the shaft and began stroking up and down.

Kurt tried took grab my tits and I pulled back. "No no, monsieur! No touchie".

Kurt bought his hands up behind his head and tossed it back with a disappointing groan. He loves playing with my tits, so I knew this was frustrating him. My fingers worked his cock, and soon he was grabbing my hand, trying to stop me. Slapping his hand, I said, "No no, monsieur! No touch!" He warned me that if I didn't stop there would be more mess to clean up. I grinned and replied "Oui, oui!" 

It wasn't much longer until the beads of precum started to seep more and I positioned my tits over his head and we both watched as he showered my tits and neck with a steaming hot load. Once he was drained I crawled myself onto his lap and gave him a messy hug and his arms squeezed me so tight and the kiss was full of hot lustful desires.

It didn't take long before Kurt was stiff and ready to go again. He had me pinned down on the sofa and showed me just how much he enjoyed the role play show I gave him.

As the wee hours of the night rolled around, I found myself lost in the feeling of Kurt's shallow breath on the back of neck soothing me. I was in awe on how a sleeping snuggle could give me as much joy as an intense round of sex could with this man. 

I turned my head to look at him while he slept and I thought how lucky I was to have this man want to share time like this with me.

As the sun started to come in the window, I slipped out of Kurt's hold. I realized I didn't bring a change of clothes with me, not expecting to spend the entire night, and I had to get home with only my trench coat to cover me. 

While trying to sneak out of bed, Kurt woke. "Where are you going?" 

"Ummm, I was going to sneak out and not disturb you. I'm sorry." 

"Why?"

"Well," biting my lower lip, "I didn't fully think through my little surprise. I only have my coat to wear home so I was going to sneak back home while it was still early enough not to be seen by anyone."

Laughing, Kurt grabbed me and pulled me back down, rolling on top of me.

"Silly woman, do you really think I'd let you leave here without me only wearing a coat! I have some sweats that should fit you to go home in so stop worrying and let me give you a show with my tongue."

We spent until mid-morning talking and playing around before Kurt's work phone was ringing. I told him to get it. It had to be important because rarely does he get a call on weekends for work.

"There's an issue at the site again. I need to go straighten some things out."

"That's fine!"

"You're not upset that I have to go, are you?" he asked.

"Honey, I am not like that. I know sometimes I have to wait in line for your attention, and you're worth every second of waiting."

I grabbed his face between my hands and reassured him with a tongue wrestling kiss. "Call me later. That's all I need."

He tossed me a pair of his sweats to wear home and told me to not to wash them when I return them.

*****

A couple of months later Teri and I were involved in a new project that was the biggest the company had ever taken on. This project was going to take more than a year, and would require both of us to travel to Germany, where the client was headquartered.

I had already admitted to myself that I loved Teri, but I knew that working with someone puts a strain on any relationship, especially when you work as closely as we did under the types of stress that we did. This project was definitely going to be a test for our relationship.

Knowing this, I decided that we were going to take our first real vacation together. I figured that a couple of weeks away, in a relaxing, tropical setting, would be a perfect way to rest ourselves and recharge before we dove into this job. 

Because of the nature of the types of jobs that we did, there were always lulls during the activity while things like paperwork, permits, licenses, and other assorted boring things were taken care of. Sometimes, especially with jobs like this one, those lulls could be up to a month long.

Doing a bit of mental math, I estimated when some of the lulls would happen, and one in particular, which I knew would be a long one, was going to happen around the beginning of June. That was perfect. I knew that was the beginning of the low season in the Caribbean, which would get us some great deals.

Our one year anniversary was coming up, so buying the tickets would be a great present for both of us, although it would be almost impossible to top in the future! I knew that if I asked her about it first, Teri would tell me that she didn't care where we went, and would probably try to talk me out of it, so I booked us for a ten day stay at a resort that I had heard a lot about in Jamaica. This was a couples-only resort, so I knew that it would be a very relaxing atmosphere with no kids around.

I made reservations at a new, fancy restaurant about a half-mile from Teri's condo for the day of our anniversary. My plan was that if the weather cooperated, we could take a cab to the restaurant, and then walk back, stopping off for a couple of drinks on the way back to her place. Teri didn't know about trip yet, and I was going to surprise her at dinner with it.

We both had a rough week at work, as the American rep for the German client was being an enormous pain in our collective asses, but especially to Teri. To this day, I don't know if he was a misogynist, or if he was just being an asshole to her, but we were both getting tired of him. Friday night after work, I made sure that we went out for drinks with everyone else like usual, just to blow off steam. 

It was obvious that the rep had Teri wound up, because the first thing that she did when we got to the bar was to down a Jamaican Snakebite (A shot of Appleton rum topped with a thin layer of lime juice), and then half of a Captain and Coke. About an hour or so later, I was leading a drunk Teri home, where I spent the night holding her as she slept.

*****

Kurt had a real crazy week dealing with total heels and trying to be civil to the ones in charge of the project. One guy kept getting on my nerves. I don't think he liked working with a woman who was in charge of making project decisions. Kurt, at times during different meeting with this client, would notice my frustration growing and a few times actually slipped a hand under the table to massage my upper thigh to change the focus of my aggravation. 

Kurt can always read my moods. It's different having a man who knows you so well and knows how to make you feel better and doesn't even have to be asked. That's one special thing about Kurt that impressed me the most with him, his sensitivity and silent awareness of my feelings.

It was finally Friday, and our PITA client had to go out of town to check on another of his properties. I was so relieved that next week I didn't have to deal with him. Once everyone left the conference room, Kurt asked if I was up to going with the group for a few drinks. I wanted to say no but I needed a stiff one after today.

Over the time going out with Kurt, he has introduced me to a world of different drinks with fun names, and made trying them fun. So in his caring way, he must have known a fun named drink was what I needed to start my weekend right. He brought me this drink called Jamaican Snakebite. I asked him, "Where do you come up with these fun names to drink?" 

He just smiled and said, "Drink up."

In the mood I was in, and with the tastiness of the drink, I downed it real quick. Too quick!

He was about to get me another one, but I just asked him for my safe drink of a Captain and Coke. Switching drinks wasn't a smart idea I suppose, because once the tension left me from laughing with our coworkers, I could feel my horny side kicking up and Kurt was looking pretty damn hot next to me. 

I love seeing him laugh with the guys. He looks so at ease it does something to me and I can't help myself. Kurt knows what a good mood and some drinks do to me and I think he does it on purpose sometimes. 

It wasn't long before I think I was getting too frisky in front of the coworkers for Kurt, so he excused us and whispered in my ear, "We need to leave right now or everyone will notice the bulge in my pants."

I giggled and in a slurred manor said my goodbyes as Kurt helped me walk out the door.

As we walked to his car, or in my case stumbled, I kept trying to make out with my hot man and he kept trying to keep me from tripping. Once at the car when he opened my door I tried to get his zipper down but he wouldn't let me. As soon as he had my hands locked into my seatbelt to keep me still, I gave him a pouty face and he kissed me and laughed, telling me to wait until we got home.

I tried to struggle out of the tight belt, and that's the last thing I remember until I woke up in Kurt's arms, naked with the soft sound and feel of his breathing against my shoulder.

Not feeling very sexy with my sour mouth from the drinks and a mild headache, I nudged Kurt to roll him over so I could go shower and freshen up to feel better. I was happy to see we ended up at my place so all my things were here.

I brushed my teeth and looked at my wild hair and puffy eyes in the mirror. I was glad to have been the one to wake first. I thought to myself that if Kurt saw me like this he'd have snuck out from the shock as I gave a giggle, knowing he has seen me at my worst, and most those times it was his fault. He is a hot lover! 

I started the shower and stepped in. The warm water felt so soothing. I pressed my face against the wall in hope that the cool tile would take down the puffiness in my face. I started imagining I was standing under a waterfall in some exotic place as the sounds of the water cascaded down my back and soothed away my headache.

Suddenly a voice startled me. "What are you thinking?" I heard as I felt a pair of hands cup my breasts and a stuff rod poking at my back side. 

"Mmmm, just imagining standing under a waterfall in some exotic place like you see in the travel magazines, that's all"

"Any place in particular?"

"Nope. Nowhere special. Just a waterfall."

Kurt started nibbling on my ear as he fondled my erect nipples. His hips rocking made his cock brush up and down my ass cheeks. 

"How's the head? You got pretty tipsy real quickly last night. You must have been really stressed out."

"Oh it's not bad. In fact, with your cock teasing my back side, I forgot I had a headache already."

"Nice. Keep your eyes closed and think about us making love under your waterfall."

I nodded as Kurt took his knee and spread my legs apart more. He removed one hand from my breast and I felt the liquid soap dripping down the crack of my ass. I turned my head to say something but before I could, Kurt planted a passionate kiss on my lips. 

I turned my face again to relax against the wall and pressed my ass back towards Kurt. He guided his thick head between my cheeks and slowly teased my bum hole. Then he kissed my neck, and still squeezing my one breast used the other to guide himself slowly into my tight pussy.




Second Chances Ch. 03



I gasped as he drove himself fully into me. My hands and forehead pressed flat on the wall, Kurt worked his hardness in and out of me until my knees buckled when I hit a deep orgasm. He held me tight around my waist, his cock throbbing deep inside me, until I came down.

As he pulled his softened manhood out I heard him sigh against my neck. Then he kissed me and soaped up the rest of my body.

After we took turns cleaning each other with our soapy hands, I left the bathroom so Kurt could do whatever men do when in a bath room and I tossed on a silk chemise and headed for the kitchen to get the coffee and breakfast going. Kurt joined me just as everything was ready.

We were sitting at the breakfast bar, chit-chatting about work and my interesting drink and its effect on me when Kurt said to me, "I'll pick you up at seven tonight, ok?"

"You're leaving for the day?"

"Yes I have a few things I need to take care of, plus I don't have the proper clothes for a nice dinner out with my favorite lady."

Blushing, I leaned over the counter and kissed him. "Thank you. I can't wait until seven."

Once Kurt left I went through my closet, but Kurt has seen me in everything I had, so I decided that since I had time to kill, I went shopping for a new knock-out dress for our date.

Seven o'clock rolled around, and just as I was putting on my last earring the doorbell rang. I buzzed him in and Kurt walked right in as soon as he came up. He was leaning against the breakfast bar holding a corsage when I walked out. His jaw dropped, his eyes widened, and he almost dropped the corsage when he saw my new dress.

"Do you approve, or should I change?" I asked, topping on the bottom step.

"Baby, you'd better walk right out that door, because you've got my cock rising, and we might not make it to dinner if you don't."

I kissed his cheek as he placed the corsage on my wrist and patted my ass on the way out the door, mumbling something I didn't hear.

*****

'Sweet mother of God!' I thought to myself as I watched Teri walk towards me. I don't think that I had ever seen her look so beautiful and sexy as I did right then.

Teri was wearing an ankle-length, off-the-shoulder cranberry red summer dress with matching sequins lining the plunging 'V-neck' bodice. A bodice that showed off her full, round breasts that were spilling slightly over. It also had a slit up the front of the thigh that almost reached her hip, with sequins enhancing the slit. On her feet were matching stilettos heels, and she wore some amazing jewelry, including the diamond earrings that I gave her for her birthday.

"Do you approve, or should I change?" she asked me with a big smile on her face.

"Baby, you'd better walk right out that door, because you've got my cock rising, and we might not make it to dinner if you don't," I told her.

Teri smiled at me and kissed me on the cheek as I placed the corsage on her wrist. On the way out her door, I swatted her on the ass, grumbling to myself about how much I loved the view, and feel, of her ass.

As I followed her the first few steps down the hallway to the elevators, I swore that she had even more sway to her ass than usual. It took all of my energy to not reach out and squeeze her ass cheeks.

A few minutes later, after a quick cab ride that consisted of the driver splitting his eye time between his windshield and Teri's cleavage, then the valet's eyes almost popping out as he helped her out of the cab, we were sitting at the bar waiting for our table.

I knew that Teri liked Chinese food, so I decided to try to expand her tastes by taking her to a new, upscale Thai restaurant in an up-and-coming neighborhood. 

We sat at the bar while we waited for our table and I chuckled as Teri ordered a glass of wine right away. "A little hair of the dog?" I teased her.

"Just a glass of wine, wise guy," she replied. I ordered our drinks and looked at this beautiful, sensuous woman seated in front of me. As I took in the view she presented to me, and the rest of the world, of her beautiful face, long blonde hair, more cleavage than I think that she's ever shown in public, and the stretch of firm, lean leg up past mid-thigh, I wondered how in the hell I got so lucky. Between her looks, her warm, open personality, her intelligence, and her willingness to explore sexually, which she was really getting into lately, I couldn't be happier.

"What's on your mind, stud?" she asked, reaching her hand out to my thigh.

I looked at her for a second and smiled as I sipped my wine. "If I told you what I was thinking right now, you'd leave a big wet spot on that bar stool."

Just then the hostess came up to us and led us to our table. Walking behind Teri, I once again enjoyed the view, and I swore that she seemed a little wobbly in her first couple of steps. I also definitely saw her give the hostess, a curvy young woman, the once over as she sat us in our booth.

As I slid in next to Teri, I saw that her skirt had fallen to the side, exposing her leg almost up to her crotch. I looked at her with wide, questioning eyes, and she just gave me an innocent, 'What?' look. Looking up at the hostess, I saw her eyes glued to Teri's chest before she turned and walked away.

I smiled at her, knowing that this was going to be that kind of evening, and slid in next to her. Leaning in to her, I gently squeezed her bare knee and kissed her cheek. 

As we started reading the menus, our waitress came up, and I gave her our drink order. I smiled to myself as she walked away, and looked at Teri as my fingers gently stroked the inside of her knee. She turned her head to me and then leaned over and kissed me before we both went back to the menus. 

Fortunately, the restaurant management must have anticipated a lot of people who had never tried Thai food before, because each item on the menu had a complete description of the dish, which made it easier helping Teri order.

A couple of minutes later, we were toasting each other, and us, as we sipped our glasses of wine. The only thing that I had to decide was when to give her the envelope with the travel itinerary. Meanwhile, I was slowly teasing her by softly sliding my fingers along her inner thigh while she slid her hand over to my leg.

***** 

The cab pulled up and Kurt ushered me into the cab. As I leaned forward to get in I noticed the cab driver's eyes in the rear view mirror gawking at my cleavage as he said hello. I smiled at him and responded a friendly hello back as Kurt followed in behind me.

I snuggled as close to Kurt as I could. I felt uncomfortable with the way the driver kept staring at me and not the road at times. I saw Kurt glare at the driver with a proud look as if saying, "Yup, she's mine all mine!"

We pulled up in front of a Thai Restaurant, and a valet came running to the cab to open the door. As we were walking into the restaurant I whispered to Kurt, "Is my dress to low? First it was the cabbie, now the valet both were checking me out."

"You're perfect, they just aren't used to seeing a beautiful woman, that's all."

"You're prejudiced," I said as I blushed and shoved his arm.

Kurt checked in with our reservation and the hostess asked us to have a seat at the bar until our table was ready. 

Kurt got me a wine and even joined me with a wine of his own. Usually he is a beer man but due to the occasion he is sharing wine with me.

Before long our table was ready and the hostess showed us to our table. Kurt whispered in my ear as we followed her, "I think she likes you. She was checking you out."

"Stop. You're crazy," I told him as I looked down at myself to make sure the girls were still in place.

She sat us along the windows which looked out over a water feature that trailed to a pond surrounded by a nice garden of ornamental flowers and shrubs. 

"What a romantic view," I told Kurt as he looked out the window to see for himself.

Looking over the menu, never having been to a Thai restaurant before, I had no idea what to order so I asked him to surprise me and order for me. He took pleasure as he always did when he noticed it was a first for me to experience and ordered.

This was nice. My ex wasn't one for doing nice things even on special occasions and definitely didn't like going to restaurants that had meals with prices over $10, and didn't have a drive-thru.

Kurt had ordered spring rolls for appetizers, and the main course for me was a Ginger Chicken and he had a Spicy Chicken dish.

After we placed our order, Kurt raised his glass and I followed his gesture. He toasted us with a nice speech.

"Here's to the happiest year I could wish for, with the most beautiful woman I still can't believe is with me." We clinked glasses and I leaned over to give him a kiss, which turned into Kurt's hand at the nape of my neck holding me close. His other hand was already on my exposed knee and his fingers tips softy traced up my thigh. My hand dropped to his thigh and we were oblivious to our surroundings with our affection as we made out like teenagers.

We soon were interrupted with the server clearing her throat, standing at the table with our food.

Turning our heads smiling, I said "It's our first anniversary together." She nodded, smiled and placed our food down and walked away.

Looking at Kurt before trying my meal, I looked into his eyes. "Thank You, this is the greatest surprise you could have done for our anniversary. I Love You!"

"Oh, this is nothing, baby! Eat up."

Dinner was quiet mostly. I was enjoying my Ginger Chicken and Kurt's silent entertainment on my thigh. I was hoping if anyone heard me moan they'd think it was the food and not what was happening under the table.

He had become quite the talented one-handed eater. When we first sat down I couldn't figure out why he was sitting on my left side since I am left handed but soon found out why. His hand was very busy tracing up and down my thigh through the slit on that side.

At first he was teasing the back of my knee with tickling light touches while he would nibble at my neck. He knows I am ticklish and he drives me crazy finding my ticklish spots, especially in public when he knows I am limited and can't stop him.

His hand was trailing further up my thigh and I could feel the anticipation of his fingers teasing at my wet lips. The more I tried to hinder his advances the more he paid attention to my ticklish areas to get further between my thighs.

I could feel the moisture between my upper inner thighs and was praying it wouldn't make a noticeable spot on my dress when I stood up later. When Kurt found the entrance of my pussy seeping nicely he slipped two fingers slowly into me. I quickly put my glass of wine to my lips to muffle the escaping moan he was causing.

Kurt's eyes were gleaming feeling how wet I was, and his raised eyebrows told me that he was surprised that I was going commando under my dress. With his two fingers in me I squeezed my thighs together to hold him still. He gave a slight wiggle to his fingers and I stiffened, biting my lower lips as I gazed around the room to see if we were noticed. 

My hand slipped from my lap over to his, grabbing the bulge straining in his pants. By the feel of him we weren't leaving the table too soon. I began stroking him with my fingertips through his trousers, paying special attention to the head. 

I know how sensitive that is for him and it makes him harder and jumpy. I wanted to tease him back for what he was doing to me. I wrapped my leg over his calf so he couldn't move, and I ran my fingertips slowly just at the tip to just under where the bump from the rim was protruding hardest against his trousers. Kurt pressed his lips tight and glared at me. Leaning over I whispered in his ear, "Payback is a bitch, huh babe." 

With that he pressed his fingers in deeper and I squeezed him as hard as I could. I felt him throbbing and that sent my pussy into a mild spasm around his fingers. Kurt quickly withdrew his fingers and said, "Yup. Payback is a bitch!"

Kissing my neck, he knew he had left me on the verge of an orgasm and was not going to take the edge off.

*****

By the time we were done eating, I knew that Teri was getting frustrated with my teasing, so I slowed it down and changed topics while we waited for the waitress. 

"I swore that we were not going to talk shop tonight," I told her, "but we have to just a little."

"Uh-oh. What's wrong?" she asked.

"Well, I've been doing a lot of thinking about you going to Canada and Germany with me," I told her. "I know that you just got your passport, and you've never been out of the country, but ..."

I looked very seriously at her as I reached into my jacket to pull out the envelope and she did not look very happy. "I think you should read this first."

Now she look confused as she reached out and took the envelope. She looked at me once more before the opened it and pulled out the folded papers. "What is this?" she asked as she unfolded the papers.

"Why does this say Jamaica?" she asked a second later. "What is this?"

"It's a travel itinerary," I told her. "I was telling you that I was thinking about how you have a brand new passport, and you've never been out of the country."

"Honey, until you took me to the cabin for Labor Day, I'd never been anywhere," she said as I sipped my wine, "but what does that have to do with this?"

"Well, I thought that it would just be wrong to, well let's just call it losing your passport's cherry AND losing your international virginity, on a business trip, so ..."

"So, what?" she asked, her voice a little louder. "We're going to Jamaica?"

"Yep," I replied. "Unless you'd rather go somewhere else?"

"No!" she replied immediately. "I ... I don't know what to say!"

"You don't have to say anything," I told her. "Just tell me that you'll go with me."

"Yes!" she exclaimed. "Of course I will!"

"Ok then. Let's have dessert!"

"What?" she exclaimed. "Wait a minute! Dessert can wait!"

"No, baby, it can't," I told her, teasing her. "The waitress is on her way over."

Teri growled at me and dug her fingernails into my thigh as the young lady walked up to our table. I prolonged making a selection just to tease Teri a little longer, and then ordered small bowls of mango and lychee sorbets.

"Ok, quit stalling," Teri told me, digging her nails into my leg again. "What the hell is going on? Why are we going to Jamaica?" 

"Unclaw me, woman!" I told her, smiling as I squeezed a soft spot just above her knee.

"First, I'm serious about what I said about your passport. That should be christened with a personal trip, not a business one. But second, and most important, is the fact that you have made me happier than I have been in ... I can't tell you how long. When I take you to new places, and you try things for the first time, it's almost like I'm trying them for the first time again, too."

"I got a nice bonus check after one of my jobs that I've been sitting on for a while, and I can't think of a better way to use it. We're going to be gone for ten days, right before the proverbial crap hits the fan dealing with your buddy, Mr. Personality. I figured that ten days in the islands, making love, drinking, eating, having sex, relaxing, drinking, and fucking each other's brains out is going to be exactly what we need before we go to battle with him."

Teri smiled at me and blushed. "You know you said drinking twice and having sex three times, don't you?" she asked.

"Yep," I replied, smiling at her.

"Oh my god! I can't believe you did this!" she said softly, looking at the papers again.

Once again, the waitress caught us mid kiss as she brought our sorbets. "I'm going to have to make sure I tip her really well," I laughed Teri as the girl walked away.

*****

The chicken was delicious. The whole evening was perfect. As I watched him finish up his meal I got to thinking how lucky I was that our friendship grew into this unbelievable connection of the heart between us.

I was thinking back to all the things we did and what he had bought out in me. The awesome time I had along the way. 

A tear trickled down my cheek. Before I could wipe it away, Kurt's knuckle was at my chin, his thumb swiped at my cheek and he kissed me. "I hope that's a tear of happiness and nothing else."

"Of course it is. I was thinking how much my heart swells having you in my life and the happy times we have shared this past year. I am still in awe and can't believe sometimes that you are real. I'm afraid this is all a dream and I will wake up and it will all be gone."

"Wait until we get home, I'll show you what dreams are made of and this is one dream you will have forever. That is if you want to put up with me that long."

"I'd be crazy to ever let you go."

We finished dinner and had one last night cap out by the garden on one of the benches there. It was even more beautiful up close then through the window. Kurt's arm around my shoulder, me snuggled into his side he had his favorite bourbon and I sipped on a Kalhua & cream.

We decided to walk home. The evening was so mild and the walk to my place wasn't that far. We talked about some of the fun places we had snuck some fun in at and reminisced about the Christmas party that almost did us in.

As we started to walk across my parking lot Kurt stopped and turned me toward him. He placed his arms over my shoulders and rubbed his nose against mine, staring into my eyes.

I wrapped my arms around his waist and asked, "Is everything ok?"

"It just occurred to me that this is exactly where it all started. Right here in this parking lot. Do you remember what you said to me?"

"I do," taking a deep breath, stalling for a second. "Would you like to come see my place, Kurt?"

"If I do, there's no changing your mind."

"Come on Mr. Romantic. Let me show you around."

Entering the elevator, anticipating how close to being naked together that we were, we both couldn't wait to get into the condo. Groping each other, the ride up seemed so long. I was pressed against the door as Kurt tried to unlock it while tongue wrestling with me.

It was like our clothes were burning our skin, we couldn't wait to get them off. Once we were in I was again pressed against the inside of the door. Kurt's hand went up the slit in my dress and right to the crease at my thigh and when his fingers found my puffy lips. His kisses moved from my lips to my neck.

I leaned my head back against the door, letting Kurt trail his kisses wherever he wanted.

His free hand reached up to my breasts and released the right one. He took my erect nipple between his teeth and I moaned deeply. My knee ran up and down between his legs, putting light pressure at his groin with my thigh.

Kurt slipped two fingers past my lips into my very wet hole, giving a few slow deep pushes in and out.

I raised my leg up around his hip opening myself up for better access.

Shortly after that he withdrew his fingers and placed them on my lips. I sucked them in and licked my juices.

Kissing my shoulder, he pushed my dress off my arms and let it fall at my ankles. He stepped back and cherished my naked body with his eyes. I could feel his look tugging at my inner core. The sensation caused a small trickle to leak down my inner thigh.

Kurt bent down, tapping my foot to remove the dress from around my feet. When I lifted my foot his tongue licked up my wet thigh, catching the trickle running down. When he reached the top of my thighs his mouth sucked at my engorged clit peeking from its hood. I yelped and my knees buckled from the sensitivity. 

Then he pushed me against the door harder and shook his face between my thighs, spreading my juices with his tongue. Feeling overwhelmed, I tugged at Kurt shoulders, bringing him up.




Second Chances Ch. 03



"Baby, I need to sit down." Leaving my dress on the floor, Kurt grabbed my hand and led me down the hall to the bedroom.

*****

The walk back to Teri's was brisk. Not the weather, but our pace. I think that we were both so horny that we would have swept all of the dishes on to the floor and went at it right there in the restaurant if we could have gotten away with it. If her building security actually checked the video from the elevator, I'm sure they enjoyed watching our ride up to her condo. It took everything that I had not to rip her dress off and take her in the hallway when she attacked me as I was trying to open her door.

After some much needed, and well deserved, teasing against the other side of her front door, where I stripped her dress off of her and slowly licked her juices from her inner thighs, I could feel her legs start to shake and when she pulled me up I knew it was time to get her to the bedroom.

I took her by her hand and led her to her bedroom dressed only in her heels. The clicking of her heels on the hardwood floors and the sound of her breath getting heavier combined to send more blood to my cock, already uncomfortable still confined in my pants.

I led her to the side of her bed and stepped up to her. Wrapping my arms around her, I kissed her softly and passionately as I slid one hand down her back while my fingers of the other hand played in her hair.

Teri moaned loudly when I suddenly pulled her head hard towards me, kissing her harder as I slid one finger between her ass cheeks and pulled her hips against mine as I pushed my cock into her belly.

Just as quickly, I released her and spun her around, facing the bed. The front of her legs was pressed against the side of the bed, and I was directly behind her, my arms wrapped around her. I slid my hands up her body and cupped her big tits, squeezing them and pinching her nipples, rolling them between my fingertips. 

Teri moaned softly and leaned back against me, resting her head on my shoulder as she tried reaching her hands behind herself. I slowly slid one hand down her body and slid a finger between her wet pussy lips, very lightly gliding it over her hard clit. Moaning louder, she pressed her ass against me as she tried to reach around to my ass.

I placed a hand between her shoulder blades and gently pushed her down until she was resting on her elbows, looking over her shoulder at me. Standing behind her, I slowly slid my hand up and down her body. 

Teri sighed into the mattress as her body sank further down. Seconds later she was moaning as I caressed her ass cheeks and she started moving her hips a little. I knew that Teri enjoyed when I played a little rough, a couple of times even asking if something would "get her a spanking," and was probably anticipating a smack on her ass right then, but tonight was not one of those nights.

Instead, I nudged her legs apart a little further and then knelt behind her. Leaning down as far as I could, I gently placed a kiss at the back of one knee and then flicked my tongue at it. Teri gasped and her knee buckled just a bit, and I started slowly kissing and licking my way up the back of her leg, until I reached her butt cheek. I gave it a quick, soft bite, causing her to yelp, before I went to the other knee and repeated my actions on that leg.

By the time that I got to the top of that leg Teri was breathing heavy again and I felt her trying to push her hips back at me. I kissed and licked across her ass cheeks and she opened her legs a little more. I then sank down a little further and gripped both ass cheeks, pulling them apart.

"Ohhhh geeeeez!" she moaned as I stuck my face between her legs and flicked my tongue at her clit from behind. I felt her arch her back and push back to me as I slowly dragged my tongue through the wetness, from her clit to her seeping hole. 

Teri was moaning more, and her pussy was getting even wetter when I pulled her ass cheeks as far apart as I could and started pushing my tongue into her.

"Oohhhhhhhhhhh!" she moaned as I started tongue fucking her. "Ohhhhhhyyeeesssssssssss!"

I continued like that for a while before I leaned back down and started flicking at her clit again. Teri moaned loudly again and moved her hips, giving me better access to her stiff little bud. "Mmmmmmmm," she moaned as I flicked my tongue a little harder at her clit.

I knew that she was getting close to an orgasm again so I slowly dragged my tongue back through her slit, wetter than it was before, all the way back. Still holding her cheeks apart, I slowly dragged my tongue all the way back and up across her crinkled rosebud.

Teri gasped and her body stiffened as I flicked my tongue at her backdoor, and then she let out a low moan as her body relaxed. I squeezed her ass cheeks as my tongue danced around her ass, and I then slowly dragged my tongue up her back as I stood.

I stood behind her, looking at her body again as I started taking my clothes off. I heard her sigh and she turned her head again to watch me over her shoulder.

*****

As I peered over my shoulder watching Kurt strip off his clothes, I couldn't resist once his stiff manhood flung free of his boxer briefs. He stood behind me holding himself, slowly stroking as he gazed at my naked backside. 

I stood up and turned myself around and sat on the edge of the bed. Leaning back on one arm, watching him stroke himself, I ran my fingers over my clit, and into my opening, getting my fingers nice and wet. 

After a few minutes of us playing with ourselves for the others visual pleasures, I sat forward and ran my tongue over my lips. I opened my mouth and Kurt stepped in closer and guided the head across my lower lip. My mouth slightly open, Kurt then pushed the head just past my lips, back and forth while still stroking his shaft. 

My fingers still at my pussy, he guided himself in and out as much and as little as he wanted. The feeling of his throbbing shaft gliding along my tongue and lips sent quivers to my inner walls. I could feel them tensing tighter. As I was getting lost in my own pleasures my head started to fall back and Kurt took his other hand and grabbed my hair, seeing my eyes fluttering closed, knowing I was close to cumming. 

Kurt laid me back on the bed as he crawled up over me, straddling my body. Grabbing my hands, he leaned over me, drawing my hands over my head. He dangled his thick cock over my mouth. Using his hips he rocked his cock over my lips, sliding it in and out of my mouth. Passionately fucking my mouth pressing himself to the back of my throat and pumping his head with short slow strokes. I could feel every curve of the tip and the rim as it popped past my tonsils. The vein pulsing fast and hard on my tongue. The feeling was enormously different than any blow job I've ever given him and he was in complete control. My thighs were pressed so tight together, wanting friction against my clit I wanted to come so badly. My moans were vibrating on his shaft and Kurt growled deeply. 

The heat of his shaft was growing warmer and I knew he was getting close. I increased my suction making it harder for him to withdraw easy. His grip on my wrists grew tighter my back arching I was on edge. 

Looking into my eyes Kurt could tell and he withdrew from my mouth, took his knees from straddling my sides and pressed my thighs apart as his cock slid along my tummy as he made his way to my pussy.

Raising his hips, cock aligned he gave a fast thrusting drive into me and just as I was going to yell his mouth covered mine in a hot lip lock. His tongue was fucking my mouth as hard as his cock was my pussy.

It wasn't long before we both were screaming with erotic pleasures as our bodies released hot wet fluids which soaked the bed under us.

Once our bodies stopped shuttering with rushing orgasms Kurt withdrew and laid his head on my still heaving chest, neither of us saying a word as we let our bodies enjoy the after rushes of delight running through us.

As I was running my fingers thru his hair, his warm breath was sending goose bumps over my damp skin. Kissing his forehead and drumming over the evenings' events, I said, "Kurt, can I ask you something?" 

Tilting his head up to look at me, "Of course, anything."

"Was that Itinerary real that you showed me in the restaurant? Are you really taking me to Jamaica?"

*****

"Of course it was real, baby," I told her as I wrapped my arm around her shoulder and held her close. She sighed, and we both soon fell asleep.

The next morning, after Teri made us breakfast, we sat at her kitchen table, her in my lap as I showed her the website for the resort that I had booked, and a couple more just for Jamaica in general. Right after that, I got the barrage of questions that I was expecting. 

"What kind of clothes should I pack?" 

"What clothes do I have?" 

"Oh my god! I'm going to need s bathing suit! A couple of them!"

"Baby, relax," I told her, laughing as I wrapped my arms around her. "We've got a few months before we go. You've got time."

Giving me the universal look meaning, "Men!" she stood and walked into her bedroom, where I heard her going through her closet. Teri had a big closet. I sat down and turned on a ball game. 

The next few months flew by, especially with our new project picking up steam. Things got considerably easier for Teri after I pulled her tormentor aside after one rather heated meeting where he started pissing me off. I explained to him that Teri was our expert in her field, and that she was my equal and would be treated as such, or else I would make a phone call to the client, whose CEO was a woman, and tell them exactly what kind of man they had representing them here. I pointed out to him that his company would then be faced with a choice of losing the client or firing him, wherein he would be on the losing end of that deal. After that he backed off of Teri and left her alone, giving me a wide berth as well. 

Between all of the time that we were putting in on the project, family obligations, and just maintaining our day-to-day needs, we had little time, or energy, for each other, but we both promised that we would make up for it and more in Jamaica.

We were about a month away from our trip when things finally started slowing down, and we had a weekend to ourselves. Teri and I went out for a casual dinner and a couple of drinks Friday night, after which we made love for the first time in a couple of weeks, and she then spent the night at my house. 

We had already decided that we were going to spend the day together, shopping for clothes for the trip. I took her out for breakfast, and we were then on the road, heading for the mall. I knew that the day held promise when she dressed in a light colored sundress and sandals, and she had a smile on her face that I hadn't seen in a while.

"I'm glad that you came shopping with me," she told me, hooking her arm in mine as we walked through the parking lot. "It's not as much fun doing it alone."

"It's my pleasure, baby," I told her, squeezing her arm in mine. 

We spent the rest of the morning going through Teri's favorite stores, where she bought an assortment of dresses, blouses, shorts and shoes, a lot of which she enjoyed modeling for me. I then took her bags out to my truck, and we went to a brew pub in the mall for lunch and a couple of beers.

As we left the pub, Teri took my hand and led me down one of the wings that we hadn't hit yet. "Just a couple more stores," she told me happily.

*****

The morning was great, I got to wake up to Kurt by my side. I got to make him breakfast and he showed me the trip plans he had arranged for us, which I still couldn't believe was going to happen. I had asked him if he'd join me shopping and he was happy to take me to the mall.

We went to a few stores, I tried on lots of clothes and modeled each one for Kurt's approval. I was having so much fun, taking my clothes on and off so many times for Kurt had my hormones on the rise.

While sitting at lunch with such anticipation building up inside me I wanted to burst. We chilled over some beers and sandwiches, some small talk and questions about the trip when they'd pop into my mind. He's so wonderful not getting agitated over my shopping and questions. I looked at him at times like he isn't real.

I kept brushing my foot along his thigh and he'd give me one of his eye brow shifting grins and a wink. He kept his responses to my touches non-physical, and I was crawling inside to be all over him.

He was fueling my inner fires by filling my empty beer glass a few too many times and he knows what that does to me. I think he was enjoying himself a little too much. When he went to go for the fourth beer I stopped him.

"Kurt, no more or you will be carrying me out of here! Besides you darn well know what too many beers does to me."

"EXACTLY!" he said with a big grin.

I thought to myself, ok he wants to play games I'll play.

"Let's get out of here."

Kurt paid the tab grabbed my hand and led me back out into the mall. I expected a grumble since I already dragged the poor guy thru a ton of stores and made him approve every outfit I bought.

I turned and kissed him on the cheek. "How did I ever get this lucky?" I said as we walked down the last wing of the mall to check it out.

I steered him into a new store I saw on the way in with a grand opening sign in window. It was rather slow with customers and only had one employee that I could see. I found a sexy negligee and asked Kurt to come stand near the dressing room because I wanted him to approve of it but didn't want to expose myself to anyone else in the store by walking out to model it. He smiled and patiently walked back to the dressing room, leaned against the wall and smiled, not saying a word.

This man was a prince. By now any man would have surely said I'll be in the car come out when you're done shopping. Not my guy.

I took the negligee into the dressing room to try it on. I pulled the curtain closed, removed my dress and was standing in only my sandals. I had left the bra in my purse after the second store. It was getting to be a pain taking it on and off.

As usual, Kurt made sure I left the house commando. I poked my head past the curtain and quietly said, "Come in here I need your help." He glanced the store to see where the sales girl was and slipped behind the curtain.

"Um, I love you naked baby, but what do you need help with?" he said smiling.

"Oh, I think you know what I need help with!"

"Whatever do you mean?" he said as he grabbed at my waist, drawing me in tight.

I squirmed out of his grasp, and he looked questioningly at me as I ran my hand over his bulging shorts and undid the zipper.

Now I know why Kurt likes going commando. I released his thickness and squatted down and took him into my mouth.

Kurt watched in the three mirrors lining the dressing room walls. "Hey baby, I love this view," he said as he gazed from mirror to mirror.

I looked up at him and smiled with his cock filling my mouth, I glanced at the mirrors and watched myself pleasuring his sweet manhood. His fingers gripped my hair tight, keeping my mouth deep on him.

Kurt began pumping his hips, fucking my mouth, his breaths were getting hard and fast. I could hear the sales girl talking to another customer in the next dressing room.

I peered up at Kurt to see if he had heard them too, but his eyes were glued on the mirror and my mouth to care too much. He thrust into my mouth and gave hissing breaths with each one. It wasn't long before he let out a louder growl and held still, pressing deep in my throat and started to release his load.

The sound of his releasing growl was heard and just as I was taking his last spurting stream of cum the sales girl called from the other side of the curtain, "Is everything ok in there?"

Neither of us were at a point to answer. I was lost in his filling my tummy and he was oblivious to anything else but his release.

A shriek of, "OH MY!" jolted us both back to reality and we turned our head toward the curtain to see it moving.

We pulled ourselves together and walked out smiling, Kurt's arm was around my shoulder. The young sales girl just put her head down trying to look busy at the register as we passed by. I was blushing, knowing she saw us in the act and felt bad for embarrassing her too.

We walked out into the mall, and Kurt kissed my cheek and whispered in my ear, "I like it when you get liquid courage."

"WHAT?"

"I know the beers at lunch got you horny and what you just did in there, my dear, is called liquid courage."

"Oh," I giggled. "It's your fault you know. If you weren't so damn hot and got my hormones in a tizzy all the time..."

He squeezed his arm around my neck, drawing my head next to his and said, "I Iike your hormones in a tizzy."

*****

The next couple of weeks were a blur. Between the project shifting phases and the vacation prep, Teri and I rarely had a moment to ourselves. When we did, though, we took every advantage of it!

Teri went on a couple more solo shopping excursions, refusing to show me what she bought until we were actually on vacation. I think that she was still a little embarrassed, and a bit confused, about her show in the dressing room. When I took her home that night she was kind of subdued, until we went to bed, where she was as aggressive as I had ever seen her, her big tits bouncing across her chest as she rode me like a bronco buster.

On our last day at work, we were both busy all day making sure that there would be no issues while we were gone. While the Old Man had an unwritten policy about employees dating, it was a well-known secret about Teri and me, especially since we were both going to be gone at the same time. Capitalizing on that fact, I let it be known before we left that anyone attempting to call either of us over the next two weeks would be digging ditches and filling them back up for a month as soon as I got back. Even though everyone knew that I was (mostly) joking, they also knew that I was serious enough not to call us.

The night before our flight, Teri was a nervous wreck. "I've never even flown before, much less been out of the country!" she said. "I don't know what to expect!"

I laughed and kissed her on the forehead. "Expect to have a good time," I told her. "Twelve hours from now, we're going to be in the air, half way to paradise. Ten days away from everything and everyone. Nothing but us."

"You're right," she replied, kissing me back. "That does sound like paradise."

The next morning we were up and ready to go by 3:00. We had a 6:30 flight, and I booked a limo to pick us up and drive us to the airport. Teri was walking through every room, making sure that she didn't forget anything when the limo pulled up.

It was a cool morning, and Teri was shivering as we got into the car. "Damn!" she said. "I should have worn a jacket!"

"How are you not cold, being dressed like that?"

Teri was wearing a flowery summer dress and my favorite sandals, which I thought were very sexy on her, and she said were comfortable enough to walk around all day in, while I was wearing shorts and a Hawaiian shirt.

"Baby, we are already on vacation," I told her. "I just concentrate on the fact that in a mere four hours, we will be in the warm Caribbean air."

"That and the fact that I am with the hottest woman that I know of is all I need to stay warm."

"Smooth," she replied with a laugh. "But I'm still freezing!"

A couple of hours later we were wheels up, settled in our seats. We were fortunate to have been assigned the window and middle seats in a three seat row, with the aisle seat empty. I gave Teri the window seat and I sat next to her and raised the arm rest between us.

Playing off of Teri saying that she was cold, I asked the flight attendant for a blanket, which I lay across her lap.




Second Chances Ch. 03



Once everything settled down and the flight attendants were done with their duties, I leaned in to Teri a little closer, sliding my hand under the blanket and onto her thigh.

She stiffened a little and then relaxed again, turning to look at me with wide, questioning eyes as my fingers slipped under the hem of her dress. I just smiled at her innocently, my fingertips brushing against her lacy panties. I felt her body shudder a little, and then she sighed softly.

I leaned in to her, acting like I was pointing something out the window, as I slid my fingertips over her panties. She moaned softly, and I turned to her and whispered, "This is a panty-free vacation."

Her only response was to nod her head slightly as she sank back into her seat. My fingertips pressed a little harder just above her growing wet spot and rubbed her clit. Despite herself, she opened her legs and started moving her hips.

I then slid my fingertips under the leg band of her panties and over to her pussy. To my surprise, my fingertips encountered her bare skin. I turned and looked at her with wide eyes, and she just smiled at me and mouthed the word, "Surprise," as I slid my fingertips across her bare pussy and through her wetness.

*****

The morning was finally here for our trip. I hadn't been able to sleep, the anticipation and nerves had been playing a number on me. Kurt has been so wonderful putting up with me getting ready for this trip.

Note to self...I have to make sure I thank him properly during our stay in Jamaica.

At 3 A.M., Kurt was calling out for me that the limo was here for the airport.

He already had the luggage in the limo and was waiting at the door for me as I came down from upstairs.

I had put on one of Kurt's favorite sundresses and strappy sandals. He was already in his Hawaiian style shirt and shorts. He gave me a wide smile of approval when his eyes caught me.

I think the combination of my excitement and nerves along with the crisp early morning air had me shivering the moment I stepped out of the house.

The ride to the airport was quick at that time of the morning, which was good. The sooner I was on the plane the sooner I would relax. During the ride, I had my arm wrapped thru Kurt's, my head laid on his shoulder. Neither of us said much. I gazed at Kurt's face, thinking back to how we got here and how absolutely romantic and sensitive he is. Something that amazes me this man. It's sad that I had wasted so many years of my life with the wrong partner.

This being my first ever vacation going outside the USA, I have no clue what to expect and the anticipation to experience everything in Kurt's voice when he tells me about different things is so touching.

Finally getting to board the plane, I was surprised to see so many people at this hour of the morning heading out to our destination too.

Not sure if Kurt arranged it but I got to sit next to a window seat. Kurt settled into the middle seat and once everyone was on the plane we got lucky and no one sat in the aisle seat, which made it more comfy for Kurt and myself.

Kurt's always so attentive to me and takes care of things, to my surprise. I was still shivering due to my nerves so he got a blanket from the flight attendant. He nicely covered my legs. I had my hand on Kurt's knee as the pilot announced we were clear for take-off.

"Relax baby," he said softly as he kissed my cheek.

I was still rather uptight, feeling some slight turbulence. Kurt told me it would stop as soon as the pilots had the plane at the proper altitude. Soon the attendants were taking drink orders, and Kurt ordered a mixed drink to relax me. While waiting for our drinks he slipped his hand fully under the blanket and started caressing my thigh.

With each upward stroke on my thigh his fingers traced higher up. I glanced over to him with eyes wide as if to say non-verbally...what are you doing?

He smiled at me, leaned in, and whispered in my ear, "Relax baby, no one can see a thing. I promise. Trust me."

I took a deep sigh and tried to relax. We got caught once. I wasn't sure I could handle a second embarrassing moment with a flight attendant after the poor sales girl.

I enjoy Kurt's touches so much I soon dropped that thought out of my head and leaned back as much as I could in my seat, taking in the soothing caressing rhythm Kurt had going on my inner thigh.

Before long Kurt was teasing my mound thru my panties. I was getting excited and frustrated all at the same time. As he started to slide his fingers under the band of my panties he noticed the surprise I was going to give him in bed once at the room. His shocked look in his eyes made the anticipation of shaving fully for the first time for him all worth it. I mouthed, 'Surprise,' when he discovered it.

I was so eager to touch him as he was playing with my seeping pussy. I placed my hand over his bulging shorts to squeeze him to keep my mind off my growing need to cum from his playing fingers. I spread my legs apart as best I could, allowing him the access he was wanting.

It didn't take long before he felt the squeezing tension building against his fingers. Once he started brushing my clit that's all it took. I starting biting down on my lower lip, head pressed hard into the seat back, I took a deep gasping breath thru my nose so I wouldn't moan. My eyes squeezed tight, it took everything to not make a noise.

Kurt grew bigger in my hand, and as I started to cum he grabbed my hand, removing it to hold off from cumming too. Suddenly, he pulled his hand from my panties just as I was about to cum. I think I whimpered a little as I looked at him, and he smiled at me, whispering, "Wait."

Once I was back to thinking straight I kissed his cheek and quietly said "You're killing me!" 

I must have dozed off after that frustrating tryst, because the next thing I heard was the pilot saying, "Welcome to Jamaica."

I peered out the window to see the beautiful island grow larger before my eyes as the plane got close to the ground. I was unconsciously squeezing Kurt's hand as we landed.

Once the plane stopped he lifted our hands and kissed mine then shook his to bring the life back into it.

"Sorry," I said as he smiled at me playfully.

Once we gathered our luggage we were guided to a shuttle that had the name of the resort we were staying at. As we walked out the airport doors instantly the warm island air hit me, I took a deep breath and couldn't believe how the air could feel and smell so different then back home. Air was air, so I thought. But was I wrong. The fragrance of the island flowers filled my nose with such aroma as the soft breeze wafted them past.

It was a two hour drive from the airport to the resort. The drive along the way was so breath taking. I didn't know where or what to look at first. I was seeing some small animals in the trees, the sounds of nature in different parts was very overwhelming.

I kept squeezing Kurt's thigh, blurting out, "Look at that!" and "Look at this!" I was like a kid in a toy store, not knowing what to take in next. The vastness of nature before me on all sides of the bus made if feel like we weren't even in a vehicle at all.

Kurt grabbed my hand bought it up once again kissing it. "Baby, you are amazing to watch. I've never seen anyone as excited as you are now."

Turning to him, I took his face in my hands and gave him the biggest kiss I ever gave him. While kissing him, I heard loud clapping around me from the others. I pulled from Kurt's lips blushing, but didn't care this time. I was so taken in by the beauty and the thought that Kurt wanted to share this with me was the most amazing thing anyone has ever done for me. I started to feel tears run down my cheek from being so happy.

The driver made an announcement that up ahead we had a half hour stop to stretch our legs and could enjoy a drink compliments of the resort.

Kurt's hand was on my lower back, guiding me over to this cute tiki hut where there was a local tending the small bar. The path up to the tiny hut was billowing with flowering plants I'd never seen before. I had to smell each one as we passed it. 

Lifting his glass to mine, Kurt toasted, "Here's to our first of many island drinks."

I sipped the drink garnished with an island flower and fruit. I had no clue what it was. The bartender said the name but I couldn't understand his island accent too clearly, but the drink went down easy. Kurt had taken the flower from his drink and wiped it off and tucked it behind my ear and kissed my cheek. "If you're this happy now, I can't wait to see your reaction to the resort." 

I got up from the stool we were sitting at on the edge of the bar and took a few steps to get closer to the beautiful flowering plants to take in their fragrance once more and to stretch my legs.

Kurt wrapped his arm around my waist, holding another drink for me. I tilted my head and smiled at him. He knew if I had enough of these fun drinks his "vacation" was going to start real soon. He leaned in to kiss me, and whispered in my ear, "I told you on the plane that this was a panty-free vacation," he told me. "The bathroom is off to our left. Go take care of that situation."

I smiled at him, and then walked away, swishing my ass at him, knowing that he was watching me.

The road leading to the resort was exceptionally fragrant, with huge potted flowers in sizes I never saw in my life. The petals looked like fuzzy silk. Palm trees galore surrounded the road then as we turned the winding bend out of nowhere appeared the resort.

I sat up forward in my seat, so excited by the unimaginable beauty before my eyes. I was totally speechless as I looked around.

Once we got thru the check in process we followed a bell boy to our room. I was a little surprised when we got on to the elevator and he pressed the button for the top floor. The elevator doors opened on to a semi-open hallway.

The bell boy led us down the hall to a room at the end. Before he even opened the doors, I knew that this wasn't a regular room. 

The doors opened, and we walked into a good-sized sitting room. Kurt had booked us into a suite! 

"Oh honey, you're unbelievably amazing!! I would have been more than happy in a regular room! You didn't have to pay all this extra for me!"

"I know I didn't have to," he said, putting his arm around my shoulder. "I wanted to."

*****

Teri was like a little kid at Christmas not knowing which toy to play with first once we stepped off of the plane. Her wonder and enthusiasm were fun to watch on the shuttle bus ride. When she kissed me, I thought that she was going to mount and ride me right there in front of the other couples.

I didn't tell her beforehand that I had booked us into a suite, and her surprise was enjoyable to watch. The suite was on the fifth floor, as high as the hotel went, in a corner unit. Off of the sitting room was a large balcony that wrapped around the corner and had another set of doors at the bedroom.

"Oh my gosh!" she exclaimed. "Kurt, you have to see this balcony!"

I walked out to her and looked around. Directly in front of the double doors was a small table and chairs, and off to the side was a large lounge chair, easily big enough for the two of us. Walking around the corner, towards the bedroom doors, I saw another small table and chairs. The view in both directions was beautiful, giving us the sights of the tops of palm trees and the Caribbean Ocean. Being on the north side of the island, we had beautiful, cooling breezes helping make it a lot more comfortable.

As I walked back to the main part of the balcony, I saw Teri at the wall, looking out over the ocean. "My gosh," she said, "I've never seen anything so beautiful!"

"I agree," I replied, looking at her more that the ocean. I then walked behind her and wrapped my arms around her waist. Without another word, I started kissing the back and side of her neck as I slowly slid my hands up the front of her body. 

"Mmmmmm," she moaned, leaning her body against mine as I cupped her breasts through her dress. "Let's go see how comfortable that bed is."

"I don't think so," I told her as I pinched her stiff nipples. I knew as soon as I saw her that morning by the slight bounce and sway to her breasts that she wasn't wearing a bra, and she was poking against her dress. 

"This is even better than your balcony," I continued just before I bit down on the zipper tab at her neck and started to slowly lower it. "No one can see us, I doubt anyone can hear us, and that really doesn't matter because we are never going to see ANY of these people again when we leave."

Teri gasped as I started kissing her neck again and slid the dress off of her shoulders. She moaned and whimpered as I brought my hands back up to her big tits, now exposed to the warm tropical breezes, while her dress fell down to the floor, bunched up around her ankles. I then slowly slid one hand down to her mound, causing her to press her ass against me and lift one foot out of her dress.

Teri moaned louder as I slid my fingers down her bald slit and I said, "You're soaked!"

"Oh yeah!" she replied. "I can feel it running down my thighs!"

I pinched and pulled on her nipple as I flicked my fingers across her clit, causing her to gasp and stiffen briefly. I then took the hand that was on her tits and used it to open my shorts, allowing them to drop down. Teri moaned when she heard the sound of my shorts and I stepped out of them, grasping my rock hard cock with my free hand. 

I quickly switched hand, taking the one that was playing with her pussy and sliding her juices all over it while I used the other hand to gently push on her back, making her lean over.

I then took my hard cock and slid it up and down her wet slit, brushing it up against her clit, and then up the crack of her ass and over her rosebud.

I heard her moan softly as she leaned back just a little when the soft head passed over her hot, wet hole. I lined my cock up and pushed just a small bit in. Reaching up and taking a firm hold of her hips, I leaned forward, slowly burying my cock deep inside her.

"Ooohhhhgeeeeesh!" she gasped as I held her ass tight to my hips. I stayed like that for a little while, and then started slowly sliding my cock in and out of her tight, wet pussy. Soon, Teri started pushing back at me and I began to fuck her a little faster.

Soon, she pushed back harder at me and I took a small step back, letting her lean down further. This changed the angle that I was sliding in on, and apparently an angle that was hitting a sweet spot in her pussy.

I reached my hands around and cupped her tits, feeling her hard nipples pressing against my hand. She moaned loudly when she felt my fingertips graze her nipples and pushed back at me again.

I leaned back a little, sliding my thick shaft out until just the head remained inside her and started fucking her faster with just the head.

"Oh Kurt!" she gasped. "I'm gonna cum!"

"Come on, baby," I replied. "Cum all over my cock."

"Ohhhyeeaaah!" she moaned. "Fuck me! Right there!"

I started moving my hips faster again, now occasionally slipping the entire length of my cock inside her. Teri's breaths were getting shorter, and I knew that she was about to cum.

I took a few long, hard thrusts inside her, and that set her off.

"NNNNgggggggggAAAHHHHHH!" she exclaimed loudly as her body started shaking. I could feel her pussy walls clamp down on my shaft tightly, and her juices gushed from her, soaking my balls and running down her legs.

The added extra friction from her tightening pussy soon started getting me closer and I began fucking her harder and faster.

"Ohh yeeaaah! Give it to me!"

"Oh my god! I'm going to cum again!" she exclaimed a few seconds later.

"Oh yeah, baby!" I moaned, feeling myself getting closer.

"Yes! Cum with me! I'm almost there!"

I held tightly to her hips as I continued slamming against her ass, and I quickly felt my balls begin to tighten.

"I'm gonna cum," I told her.

"Yes! Yes! Cum with me! Ohhh myyyy godddd!"

Teri exploded in another orgasm, and that was all it took to set me off. I slammed hard into her pussy and I felt my cock begin to spew deep inside her. Our combined moans were loud enough that if anyone was within a few hundred yards, I was sure that they heard us.

We both moaned softly as our orgasms waned, and soon my partially deflated shaft slid from her hot, wet depths.

Teri was leaning against the wall of the balcony, with me leaning against her, when we both finally recovered. Taking Teri by the hand, I led her to the lounge chair, where we both quickly drifted off to sleep.

***** 

Once we entered the suite, my eyes were drawn to the vision of blue from the balcony doors. I walked straight out onto the balcony and stared out at the amazing site.

I called out to Kurt, "Honey you have got to come out here!"

I felt Kurt's chin rest on my shoulder as he nipped at my ear. I could feel his smile against my neck. As he reached around me I wrapped my arms around to clasp my arms over his. Leaning my head back, I soaked up two really great feelings, Kurt and this view.

Waking up to the warm breeze against my naked body and the soft sounds of Kurt's breathing, I stayed snuggled in the lounge chair resting on his chest. It was amazing to make love out here and feel free. I suppose the romp we had back home on my balcony when I first moved in made this time feel natural and comfortable and lots more enjoyable. The view alone took my mind and body to a more tranquil state and with the way Kurt leaves me fully exhausted afterwards I couldn't feel any better.

I kissed him on the cheek, whispering in his ear, "Wake up stud." Kurt yawned, stretched, and looked at me with a heart melting smile.

"I really love laying here with you, listening to the palms rustle in the breeze and the waves in the back ground. Can we go walk the beach? I would really love to put my feet in the ocean for the first time."

He grabbed my hands as he stood and we made our way to the shower and then tossed on our swimsuits. I covered mine with a strapless cover up and Kurt tossed on an island patterned shirt and left it unbuttoned over his trunks.

As we made our way thru the massive lobby, it was filled with vases upon vases of beautiful, fragrant island greenery & flowers. Island music was piped inside and out. If the ocean wasn't so breathtaking I would have been happy in the lobby, it was so beautiful.

We stepped outside and as everything else that day, I was again taken back with more beauty. I squeezed Kurt's hand and kissed his cheek. I pressed myself against his side tighter and said, "Thank you."

With a smile he kissed the tip of my nose and guided me down the path. As we get past the palm tree walk a pool appeared. There was a few couples sitting off to the side by a little shaded bar with a lot of brightly cooled lounges around. 

As we followed the path we walked through a magnificent garden. Among the plants were brightly colored birds of all kinds flying around. I had never seen such big parrots before!

Further on down as the path wound around the massive grounds we come upon another pool. This one was hidden on the back side of the garden. It was more secluded with private cabanas and the pool had a unique water feature in the middle of it.

"Kurt how many pools does this place have?" Not ever being to a resort before I was surprised when he told me three.

The third one was the most spectacular. It was closer to the ocean and it looked as if you were swimming out to the ocean. There was a bar sitting in the middle of this pool and I couldn't believe that was even possible to do.

I asked Kurt if after our walk on the beach if we could stop back at this one and get a drink at the water bar. I didn't know what else to call it.




Second Chances Ch. 03



"Anything you want baby," he told me with a squeeze to my waist. We finally made it out to the beach. I stopped dead in my tracks, the feel of the sand and the awesomeness of the ocean that close was breath taking. I had to soak it all in to believe it was really there. That I ... WE were really standing on an island beach.

There were areas of open sand and spaced out in areas close to the resort were some more cabanas to enjoy the ocean in some shade. 

As we walked down the beach near the water's edge we had a nice conversation. I had lots of questions about things we could do and of course with Kurt being more experienced in travels for fun, mine were only business trips and regular hotels with regular pools nothing comparable to where he has bought me. 

I was surprised how friendly people were as we walked around the grounds. People would stop as they passed and say hi, do a little chatting, and then continue on their walk. Very refreshing. The atmosphere of the island must bring out the friendliness in people.

We made our way back to the pool with the bar in the middle and swam up to it. That alone was fun to do. Then to actually sit on a built-in seat near the bar to enjoy the drink was even nicer.

We had a few drinks, talked to a few more people that shared some of the fun things they did on the island that we might also enjoy. One that especially sounded like fun was a bus ride to the other side of the island where there are many waterfalls and one of them called Dunn's river you could actually walk up the cascading falls. We both thought that sounded cool and the bartender told us how to sign up for the trip.

By the time we got back to the room I didn't know what to think about first. So much has happened already and we just got here. Kurt just smiled and kept hugging me to take in my excitement too. We looked over the different restaurants and decided that since the day was already long we'd stay in and do room service.

As Kurt ordered in dinner, I took the opportunity to give him the surprise I had purchased for him.

One day when I was running last minute errands before we left home I ran back to the store in the mall where we had our fun in the dressing room for the long night gown I had taken in to try on that didn't get tried on at that time.

I had hoped the sales girl that was there that day wasn't there, but she was. Now I had to hope she didn't recognize me. Since I wasn't with Kurt there was a good chance of that. Taking a deep breath I entered the shop grabbed the night gown and checked out. Luckily she didn't recognize me and I made my purchase and left quickly.

I took a quick shower, freshened up and slipped into the long purple night gown. It had a low back that stopped right above the curve of my ass. The front was a deep plunging V that fitted snug against my full breasts and it flowed over my curves perfectly.

I heard Kurt at the door, I knew dinner had arrived so while his back was to me taking care of the bellhop, I stepped into the living area of the suite and stood with the light from the balcony window silhouetting me in the back ground.

As Kurt turned he stopped dead in his tracks and his eyes lit up as a grin crossed his sweet face. I gave a slow spin giving him a full 360 view of me. I could hear the low growl rising in his throat. We both started taking slow steps toward each other. Standing before him I took another spin around, this time letting him take in the low cuts and enjoy the barely covered flesh of my body.

"Am I dressed ok for dinner babe?"

Giving me a whistle and a grab around my hips, I felt his warm hands on my bare skin. His finger traced the plunging seam of the gown on my back side as he kissed my neck. The tingles racing through me had my inner thighs growing damp. I could feel the heat of his fingertips tracing the top of the curve leading down to my ass. My chest was rising and falling heavily as my arousal grew deeper.

"Shall we eat?" I mumbled between my soft moans as he was still running his fingertips and lips over my uncovered skin.

Breaking his contact he took my arm and led me to the small table out on the balcony and had me sit.

Pushing out the service table from the bellhop onto the balcony he poured the wine and set out the plates holding our dinners.

The view out there was as breath taking as the sight of his bulge pressing tight in his shorts. I don't think I will ever see anything more beautiful in nature as this.

We toasted to our first night of our trip and proceeded to savor the delicious choice of grilled chicken with a Jamaican style rice pilaf and vegetables. Even though our dinner was more on the silent side, the deep pangs running through me as I felt Kurt undress me with his eyes across the table and a game of footsie going on under the table had both of us worked up. We couldn't eat fast enough.

Finally Kurt said to me, "Why does that look familiar?"

Blushing and giggling I simply said, "Mall sales girl." 

Smiling back he said, "Oh. Was that the result of the liquid courage that day?"

***** 

When I turned around after the food arrived I was stunned to see Teri standing in the open balcony doorway, dressed in a long purple gown and backlit by the sun. Her gown hung down to her ankles, with a deep 'V' cut in front, showing off the swell of her breasts. She then slowly spun, showing me the even lower scoop to the back, going down to just above her ass. The gown was sheer enough that I could easily see the outline of her legs though the backlit fabric.

"Damn!" I said softly, wondering where I'd seen that gown before. I could feel the blood start migrating to my cock very quickly.

Dinner consisted of grilled chicken and rice & beans, which we ate on the balcony with the breeze coming in. Teri was playing footsie under the table and smirking at me as we ate. When I asked her why her gown looked so familiar, her only response was, "Mall sales girl," as she blushed.

I then made a joke about her liquid courage that day, and she blushed even deeper. "I don't recall you complaining," she said.

After we were done eating, I pushed the cart back into the room and I had Teri pinned up against the outer wall of the balcony. I started kissing her as my hands slid softly up and down the sides of her body. I soon was slowly kissing down her neck to her shoulder and slid the shoulders of her gown down her arms. 

"Don't let those fall," I told her as I kissed along her collarbone and down her chest. Teri curled her arms and held up the top of her gown as my lips latched on to her stiff nipples. She gasped and moaned, and arched her back, pushing her tits into my face a little harder.

A couple of minutes later, I was kneeling on the balcony floor with my head up under her gown. My hands gripped her ass cheeks as my tongue softly flicked at her clit, slowly bringing her to an orgasm.

We made love again that night, quickly drifting off to sleep entangled in each other.

Teri and I spent the next few days doing all of the usual tourist stuff, like hanging around the resort, getting massages, drinking, and walking and sitting along the beach, and doing some tours like walking up Dunn's River Falls, hitting the duty-free shops, and going to the coffee plantations and Appleton Rum distillery. The Appleton tour was a lot of fun, especially after Teri had a few samples of rum. On the ride back to the resort I almost had to stop her from raping me right there on the bus. Not that it really would've been rape...

About midway through our stay, we decided to hire a taxi and go off on our own to check out the small villages around us. I have always felt that going someplace different for vacation and just staying at the resort was silly. I could do the same thing staying at home.

While we were out that day we started getting hungry, so I told the driver to take us to a Jerk shack. He made a comment about there being a decent place in the duty-free zone, and I told him that I didn't want a watered-down-for-the-tourists meal, I wanted the real thing.

"Do you live around here?" I asked him.

"Yeah, mon," he replied. "My town is just up that road there a few miles.

"Good," I said. "Then I'm sure that you have a favorite place that you go to. That's where we want to go."

Teri looked at me like I was crazy. "Are you sure, mon?" the driver asked. "We don't get tourists around there."

"Do you have a problem taking tourists to your favorite place?" I joked with him.

"No mon! You pay, we go!"

"Then I pay! Let's go!" I replied.

A few minutes later we were at an outdoor shack, sipping on a couple of Red Stripes with our driver and a few locals as we waited for our chicken. Teri quickly lost her apprehensions about being there and was talking and joking with everyone. 

For someone that doesn't really do spicy food, Teri enjoyed the food, and the locals, especially the Rasta that owned the shack, definitely enjoyed having her there. Teri didn't see it, but he was definitely flirting with her, and I'm sure that she was fantasy-bait for him for a few days, her big tits swaying under her sundress.

The resort had one restaurant that was fancier, more upscale, than the others. The "white linen tablecloths and napkins, wait staff in tuxes" kind of place, featuring "Continental" cuisine. As a guest, we were only allowed to make reservations there once during our stay, so I decided that would be a nice way to wind down the vacation. I made our reservation for our last night there. 

This was also the only place on the resort that actually had a dress code that went beyond, "You must wear a shirt and shoes," so I made sure that Teri brought something appropriate, as well as my jacket and real pants. 

The weather looked kind of ominous all day, so we stayed at the resort, hanging around the pool. Our dinner reservations were for 7:00, so by 5:00 we were in our room getting ready. Teri showered first and was doing whatever it is that takes a beautiful woman so long to make themselves even more beautiful while I showered and got dressed. I was waiting on the balcony, kicked back in a lounge chair with my eyes closed, when I heard her clear her throat.

As I turned to look at her I caught my breath. Teri was leaning against the doorway smiling at me, dressed and ready to go.

"Holy crap!" I muttered as I looked at her. Teri was dressed in a short, crimson wrap-around dress with a low 'V' cut in the front showing off as much cleavage as the nightgown that she wore our first night there, narrow shoulders, and ending halfway between her knees and her ass. On her feet she wore matching heels.

"Do I look ok?" she asked as she turned. From the plunging back, it was clear that she wasn't wearing a bra, which told me that the dress and shoes was all she was wearing.

"Ok?" I asked. "Baby, I am going to be the envy of every man, and half of the women, as we walk around this resort!"

"Oh stop it!" she said as she smiled at me and kissed me.

As I predicted, Teri got a lot of attention as we walked the grounds towards the restaurant. Almost every guy, and quite a few women, watched as she held on to my arm while we passed them. 

*****

As I was showering after a wonderful lazy day at the pool and enjoying our last day at the resort, I got to thinking of the many wonderful things we got to do this week.

The warm water of the shower took me back to the Dunn River falls when Kurt and I got to steal a long deep kiss under the waterfalls. How often does a girl get to do that with a hot man! 

I was surprised how nice that water felt, and how sensual the kiss felt. Everything this week has had a special feeling to it, unlike anything I felt back home.

The times we walked the beach and wandered out into the ocean ended up in tight embraces and even managed to release some hot pent up desires with the privacy we had in the water. The energy of the romance just came so natural at a place like this and not once was I worried about being caught, I was too wrapped up in the feelings being shared between us each time. I still can't believe Kurt planned such a perfect trip for us.

Kurt was taking five out on the balcony while I was getting ready for our last dinner of the trip. Before we left home he had told me to pack a fancier going-to-a-wedding type dress for a special dinner he had reserved for us. I put on a short low cut silk dress, matching heels, and my hair was pulled up to one side and left cascading over my other shoulder laying with full curls.

I walked out to the balcony once I was finished and Kurt's eyes again popped wide open with approving looks.

He stood and kissed my neck as his arm wrapped around my waist. He looked so hot and sexy in his jacket and dress slacks.

As we walked thru the lobby and down the path to the restaurant I kept fidgeting. Kurt squeezed me and said to relax I looked beautiful and the others are just admiring how lucky he was to be the one escorting me to dinner.

I shoved at his arm and said, "Stop." I then nuzzled into his neck and gave him a soft nibble at his ear.

It was so much fun to always flirt with Kurt and feel the charge he sent through me every time, every touch.

As we walked up the path leading to the restaurant it was lit by luminaries. With the dampness in the air that gave a glowing, hazy look to the outside.

The doorman opened the door and the soft sounds of the piano flowed out to greet us as we entered. The hostess greeted us with a tray holding Champagne and two glasses, guiding us past a beautiful dimmed lounge with dance floor and into the dining room to our table.

Kurt held my chair and nuzzled my neck with a kiss as I was sitting down. Once we both were seated the hostess had set down the bottle of Champagne and glasses, saying. "Compliments of the resort. Enjoy your evening." As she stepped away our server was right behind her to open the bottle and pour our drinks while going over the house specials for the evening. The menu was small with only five entree choices.

Once we were settled and alone for a moment we lifted our flutes and toasted to our wonderful romantic vacation.

Dinner was spectacular, and once we finished we stepped into the lounge for a few night caps and dancing. I knew Kurt didn't really like the dance floor too much from times we went out at home and hit some bars with bands playing. Often he liked watching me on the floor with the other girls having some fun. But this night he embraced me in a way I never felt him hold me in the past. We swayed to the music as we got lost in each other's eyes. Everything we were feeling was being said in those moments on the dance floor.

I asked Kurt if we could go enjoy one last moon lit walk on the beach before our time here was over. Dropping his hands from my waist he took my hand and led us outside.

The moon was dim as it shone thru the clouds skimming by. A dampness in the air felt like rain was coming, and soft flashes of lightning off in the distance danced in the sky.

Grabbing his head and pulling him to me, I locked his lips onto mine. Taking his hands, I wrapped my arms around his neck and gazed deep into his heart-stopping blue eyes.

"Babe, There are no words to tell you how much I loved our vacation here together. You went beyond anything I could ever have dreamt of in a vacation. 'Thank You' just doesn't cover how I feel."

Kurt carried our shoes and we grasped hands as we walked along the beach, kicking the water with our feet and talking about the different things we did and how much we enjoyed them as we took the long way back around to the main building.

The thunder started and the lightening streaking across the sky made me jump. Kurt would laugh each time and draw me closer. As we were half way back the rain started to come down hard. We were getting soaked, our clothes started to hang from our bodies.

Kurt gave me his jacket to hold over our heads as we ran to the building. Once we got to the shelter of the palm trees lining the path, Kurt turned me to him and ran his eyes down my wet silk dress hanging to every curve. My nipples were stiff and my ass was nicely outlined, not wearing any under garments. 

Kurt said, "See why I like you commando? You never know when a time like this will come up!"

Knowing there was no use getting self-conscious having my private areas highlighted with the wet material I gave a twirl, letting Kurt enjoy what he was seeing.

My nakedness under the wet dress was probably the best unplanned thank you I could have given to Kurt on this last night of our trip. He pushed me against a tall planter and we made out for a long time.

*****

That dinner with Teri was one of the most enjoyable nights that I could remember. I don't think that I had ever seen her so happy, and more importantly, relaxed, as I had the past few days. I knew that the silk dress had to be doing something to her naked body underneath, but she didn't look self-conscious about it at all. 

The walk along the beach back to the room was kind of bittersweet. We both knew that this was the last time that we would be doing this for a long time, but yet we were enjoying the moment too much. I knew as soon as we walked out of the restaurant that we were going to get some heavy rains soon, but I wanted to let her enjoy the walk as long as we could.

Sure enough, almost as soon as we turned up the path from the beach back to our building, the downpour started. I gave Teri my jacket to hold over her head as we ran, as best we could, to the building and shelter.

Shortly before we got to the building, we made it to a small area covered by some shorter palm trees. We stopped to catch our breath. As we stood there I looked at her and slowly spun her around. Her dress, probably ruined in the rain, clung to her every curve like a second skin. Her nipples were hard and prominent, and the wet silk clung to her pussy and ass like I wanted my lips to do later.

"THIS is why you should ALWAYS go commando!" I told her softly as I pulled her to me. "You never know when an opportunity like this will come up!"

Teri blushed and slapped my arm as we briefly kissed, and then we walked into the building. As much as I wanted to take the elevator up to our floor to get up there as quickly as possible, I decided to take advantage of the staircase on the outside of the building instead.

"You want to walk all the way upstairs?" she asked me, looking at me like I was crazy. I knew that she was a little drunk, and I wanted to have a nightcap as part of our festivities tonight, so I hoped the walk upstairs might help her a little. 

"Yes, I do," I told her. 

"And, if you walk all the way up, I will give you the best massage that you have ever had, concentrating our your gorgeous legs, your cute little feet, and that HOT ass of yours," I added, swatting her on the ass as I said 'hot.'

Teri gasped and then giggled, and then started walking up the stairs. "Wait a second," she said, stopping half-way up the first flight. "What if I DON'T want to walk all the way up? Then I don't get a massage?"

"No," I replied, "but it will just be a half-assed massage before I climb on top of you."

"Well, that doesn't sound fair!" she pouted.

"You want the reward, you gotta earn it," I told her with a smirk.

Teri looked at me for a second, still pretending to pout, and then said, "Fine!" as she started up the stairs again.

I enjoyed the view of the dress clinging to her ass every step of the way and she knew it, swaying her ass back and forth as she looked at me over her shoulder. 

I waited until we hit the landing between the second and third floors before I grabbed her and pushed her up against the wall. I quickly started kissing her passionately, pressing her against the wall as I slid my hands up the sides of her body.




Second Chances Ch. 03



"This guy is sick." He muttered, taking her by the elbow and leading her into the quiet bedroom where a body lay on the bed, covered in a white sheet.

"What do we have?" She asked softly as she walked to the bed, raising a shaky hand to pull back the sheet.

"Alexandra Tyler. Known by the nickname Xan. 36 year old divorced mother of two who had just recently gotten a new boyfriend and a new job with a law firm in the area as a secretary. From all accounts, this was a complete and total shock as the woman didn't have any enemies."

"Holy shit!" Rory said, dropping the cloth back in place and staring up at the wall for a moment before pulling it back again. "He scalped her?" 

"Told you that we are dealing with one sick bastard." Justin said, looking over her shoulder down at the body.

"Who found her?"

"Her mother. Isabelle Tyler. She had been watching her children for the evening because she had a special guest coming over. Said she got worried when she didn't call to check on the kids before bedtime like she always does."

Rory turned and looked at Justin for a moment, an eyebrow raised in question. "Special guest?"

"I already have people out there searching. We have no clue who it is, but I'm damn sure going to find out. The only thing that Isabelle could tell us was that she had been dating a man that she referred to as Alex for a little over two weeks."

"An Alexandra dating an Alex?" Rory asked, shaking her head slightly as she dropped the sheet back into place. Something didn't fit there. "Could a jealous ex husband have anything to do with this?"

"Saul Leibowictz. Daniel's already out there trying to track him down for questioning. This doesn't seem like something that he would do though. There was animosity between the two, but according to Isabelle, they divorced on good terms. He was going through rehab and willfully let her go."

"Drugs?" Rory asked as she continued to look around the room, not seeing anything out of the ordinary.

"Yeah. Known cocaine user. Got busted about two years ago. Served his time, probation, and rehab, with which he told Xan that she could get on with her life if she wished and he let her go."

"Seems like it came back to haunt her." Rory murmured as she looked around the room. Nothing was out of place, which told her that it wasn't a robbery. "But if it were her ex, wouldn't her mother have known?" She asked, walking around the bed and looking for anything out of the ordinary.

"Like I said, she never met this Alex." He said, shaking his head as he watched her work.

Rory stopped and looked at the bedside table, picking up a small picture in a frame and looking over it for a moment before placing it back down and turning to exit the room.

"Got something?" McCartney shouted as he watched her leave, trying to hurry after her.

Rory stopped and turned to look at him, that determined mask already slammed down on her face. "Her mother may not have seen this mystery man, but her children might have. You ask them yet?" She asked, listening to the sound of Daniel's voice as he walked through the front door, talking with another officer about the whereabouts of Saul Leibowictz.

"No. Haven't talked to the kids. They are still at Mrs. Tyler's house."

Rory just nodded and turned again, grabbing Daniel by the coat sleeve and practically dragging him out of the house with her. "Where are we going?" He asked, a bit confused at her actions.

"To talk with someone." She said as she gained directions from a passing detective and hurrying on her path when that Isabelle Tyler lived a few blocks away.

Her mind was working over time, trying to piece together all of the information as Daniel chattered on about something. It wasn't like she was trying to be rude and ignore him, but she was close to something big. That one huge discovery that would blow this whole thing wide open, she could feel it.

Before she knew it, she was standing in a cheery living room, while Daniel talked to Mrs. Tyler, expressing his condolences.

"Mrs. Tyler, where are the children?" Rory asked out of the blue, causing both to turn towards her.

"The kitchen." The older woman said, pointing through the living room towards the back of the house. "But what do you want with them?"

"Sometimes you can get information out of children that you can't get out of adults." Rory explained, unzipping her jacket. "Children are honest. They have no reason to lie."

Isabelle Tyler stared at her for a long moment, mulling that around in her head before she nodded slightly. "They took it pretty hard. Their mother was their world. Just be gentle with them." She whispered.

Rory looked at Daniel and then started towards the entryway into the kitchen. "I've been there before. I'll be careful." She said softly over her shoulder.

Rory walked into the kitchen and saw a little boy sitting there, drawing a picture with his mess of crayons. Hearing her footsteps, he stopped and looked up at her, his bright hazel eyes staring intently. "Hello." He whispered before going back to his drawing.

She smiled at him as she saw movement out of the corner of her eye and turning to the right slightly, she saw a girl standing there, peeking around the corner at her. She was older than this little boy, maybe 12 or 13, but she knew it was his sister...that black hair gave her away.

"Hi there." She said softly, turning her attention back to the boy. "Can I sit down?"

"I guess." He sighed, not even looking up as he drew on his picture.

"That's a pretty picture." She said, looking down at the crayon drawing of an angel. "What's it of?"

"Mommy. Grandma said that she's an angel now." He said sadly, looking up at her with those eyes.

Rory felt a lump rise in her throat with the honesty of this little boy. She cursed whoever had done this horrible act. Taking that mother away from this young child.

"My name is Rory." She said, taking her badge from her neck and laying it on the table in front of him. "I'm a police officer. I want to ask you some questions if that is alright." She smiled as he nodded his head, staring in awe at the badge. "What's your name?"

"Christopher." He said, reaching out a hand to pick up the shiny metal object. "Wow. This is real!" He exclaimed, looking over to where his sister still stood, watching them from around the corner.

Rory laughed and turned her attentions over to the girl, giving her a smile and motioning her closer with her good hand. She watched as the girl gasped and then slowly came out of her hiding spot, walking over to the table and sitting down across from Rory.

"Look, Rachael!" Christopher shouted as he showed her the badge. "A real police officer."

"How old are both of you?" She asked, turning her head slightly as she heard a noise behind them and saw Daniel standing in the doorway, watching the scene before him. "This is my partner, Det. Ross. But you can call him Danny."

Daniel was a bit taken back by both the word partner and the fact that she had called him Danny. No one had called him that since grade school except his few close friends. He stood in a stupor for a moment before shaking his head and walking forward, sitting beside Rory to look at the children.

"Twelve." Rachael muttered, looking down at the table and letting her dark hair hang around her face as her brother proudly exclaimed that he was five.

"I'm sorry about your mom." Rory said, going silent for a moment as she watched the girl take in a sharp breath and just nod. "I lost my parents when I was really young. I know what it feels like."

"It feels horrible." Rachael murmured, wiping at her eyes as Christopher fell silent.

"Yeah, it does." Rory said softly as she took back her badge when the little boy offered it to her. "Did you know your mom's friend? Alex?"

Christopher shook his head, going back to his crayons as Rachael cleared her throat. "No. He never came by the house when we were there. He would send her presents though and when these presents came, we would come and spend the night with grandma. We never met Alex."

"Did Alex have a last name?" Rory went into the next question seamlessly, always keeping her voice calm and soothing as she waited patiently for the answers.

Rachael shook her head again as Christopher agreed with her. Daniel watched over everything in silence, completely in awe at the calm that Rory seemed to possess when dealing with these children. He couldn't image being that calm if he found himself in that situation, but then again, he had never lost a parent like her either. 

His parents were still happily married and living in Southern California with his three older brothers. They had never been through a rough patch and he always had the best of the best. No, he would never know what it was to have it like these children did. Even to know what Rory had gone through was too much for him to grasp. A brother that killed himself, parents that died in a car accident...he couldn't even begin to imagine what must go through her mind every time that she is reminded.

"Thank you for helping us." Rory said with a slight, comforting smile, snapping Daniel back to the present as they both stood up from the table, letting Mrs. Tyler come to comfort the children. "We'll be in touch." Rory whispered to the woman as she passed by, receiving a numb nod as the two detectives walked out into the cold day.

It dawned on Daniel that this was probably one of those times that Rory felt left behind. Having to talk to someone about the loss of a family member seemed like something that would always be a fresh wound and turning to look at her as she burrowed down in her coat for warmth, he could see the hint of pain in her eyes.

"How about some lunch?" Daniel asked suddenly as they both walked down the street, away from the Tyler's house. "You look like you could use some lunch."

"I could use a drink." Rory said as she stuffed her hands into her pockets.

"That too. Come on. I'm buying." Daniel said as he took Rory by the arm and directed her a couple of blocks away to a diner that he had seen on the way over.

Tucked into a booth in the corner of the noisy restaurant, he watched as she barely picked at her food, concentrating hard on something in her mind. She had been quiet since they were tucked away in the diner, her brow creased in thought as Daniel dug into his hamburger. She was a strange one alright, he thought as he watched her raise a forkful of salad to her mouth.

"Hey, can I borrow your car?" Daniel asked, causing Rory to choke slightly on her food, looking up at him with an eyebrow raised.

"For what, may I ask?"

"To get my shit and move it cross town, since someone offered me an apartment and all." He said, downing his glass of water and motioning to the waitress for a refill.

"And what do I get out of it?" Rory asked, smirking slightly as Daniel looked up at the ceiling, thinking for a moment before looking at her again with a mischievous look in his eye.

"What do you get out of it?" He said, sounding slightly offended as he stood up and slid into her side of the booth, wrapping his arm around her shoulder and looking at her intently for a moment. "You get me..." He whispered in her ear, his breath causing the wisps of hair at her temple to stir against her skin. "All to yourself..." His lips grazed her earlobe and he watched as she took in a sharp breath, closing her eyes to keep composure. "As a roommate." He finished, reaching into her pocket and jerking out her key chain.

She opened her eyes suddenly, a light sheen of sweat appearing on her upper lip as she scrambled for her napkin, feigning that she was wiping her mouth before she turned to look at Daniel again, her breath still slightly elevated.

"That was low." She said, trying to hide the smile that curled her lips.

"Yeah, but I think you like it." He teased, waving off the waitress with the water and asking for the check instead. "It's nice when you loosen up."

"Don't get too use to it. Doesn't happen often." She murmured almost sadly as she pushed her plate away.

"Just because some jackass did something to you once doesn't mean that it will happen again." He said softly, startled when she turned those brown eyes to stare at him with a hurt expression. "I'm sorry..."

"It's alright." Rory said softly, clearing her throat and looking away quickly, clenching her bad hand tighter. "You had to know sooner or later."

"Hey." Daniel said softly, cupping her chin and turning her head to look at him. "I'm your partner now and I can assure you that I would never do that to you. I'm here for everything, good and bad. You can trust me."

He watched as she nodded, her eyes searching his face as if trying to find the truth there. He caught the faintest hint of a smile on her face as the waitress slapped the bill on the table, scurrying off again to take another order.

"You paying?" Daniel said with a chuckle as she rolled her eyes.

"My pockets are empty."

He stood up and pulled out his own wallet and threw down a twenty, shaking his head at her. "Damn girl, what are you good for?" He asked, smiling as he watched her grin and pull on her jacket.

"Well, if someone wouldn't have let me sleep so long, I might be on the top of my game."

"Care to go with me?" He asked, jingling her keys in front of her face playfully.

"Nah. I got some things at the office to take care of." Rory declined, pulling on her ponytail to tighten it as she scooted out of the booth and stood up, staring at Daniel for a moment with a smile before pushing past him and walking away without another word.

He turned and watched her leave, exhaling the breath that he had been holding. He had never felt like this about someone before, so why was he feeling it about her? He couldn't place his finger on it.

"Hey! Where's your car at?" He shouted after her as she pushed open the door.

"That's for you to find out, detective." She replied, smirking as she stepped out into the gray afternoon, leaving Daniel laughing and shaking his head, wondering just how she got the upper hand in this situation.

**********************************

Snow crunched under foot as Rory finally trudged home that evening. It was late, nearing close to midnight as she opened the entryway to her apartment building. She stopped as the sound of laughter caught her attention. Turning slightly, she saw a couple across the street, clinging to each other as they stumbled down the sidewalk, obviously drunk from an evening out.

The breath caught in her throat as she saw the man. That dark hair perfectly combed and gelled and paired with an expensive leather jacket and jeans. His perfect features were illuminated in the streetlights, his brown eyes shining as her smiled at the woman who was hanging onto his arm.

"Shit." Rory whispered to herself as the man looked up and straight at her.

Quickly, she turned and entered the glass door, stopping just inside the darkened hallway. She watched from the shadows as the man passionately kissed the other woman, a hungry moment in which there was no care except for the both of them. Rory touched her lips, remembering kisses like that.

A tear ran down her face as she leaned heavily against the wall, taking in a shaky breath. Her past had finally caught up to her. The man that she had been running from for so many months, while at the same time, silently praying that she would run into for just a moment together, was staring at her from across the street. A shadow was all that he was now; a ghost that had been ordered by the courts to stay away from her. It didn't matter to Rory what he had done to her in the past, she still hated him, but there was one part of her mind that didn't want to let go of what they had together.

A slamming door from upstairs brought Rory out of her thoughts, forcing her to look out on the street once more. He was staring at her, his brown eyes watching intently yet displaying no emotions as they always did.

"I'm ready to go home." The blonde headed woman slurred in his ear, gripping the collar of his jacket and kissing at his jaw, nibbling his skin slightly with her teeth.

"Alright." He whispered, looking down at her with a smile as he wrapped his arm around her shoulder and guided her down the street. Looking over his shoulder once more, he saw Rory looking through the glass door, her hand pressed against the glass as she watched them walk by.

"Victor." She whispered, a longing crossing her face as she watched the pair disappear into the distance, fading into the lights from the cars that zipped back and forth across the street. Out of her life once more and back into the depths of her memory.

**********************************

Coming soon: Chapter 4: A possible break in the case leads to trouble for Rory and Daniel. 

**********************************

I would like to say thank you for all of the emails that I have gotten about this story. It's because of all of you that I am continuing to write, and needless to say, this one is the hardest story. Please keep up the support and suggestions and I promise that Chapter 4 will not take as long. :) 



Second Chances Ch. 04



Naomi lay huddled in her bed, miserable and alone. She had cried until she had no more tears, and she felt thoroughly spent. Her stomach was clenched in a tight knot. Even after Nathan's death, she had never felt so bereft, so hopeless, so empty.

Heavy rain pounded on the roof of the tiny cabin, and the walls shook with the frequent claps of booming thunder, but Naomi didn't care. The entire structure could have come crashing in around her, and it would have seemed no more disastrous than her current state of affairs.

She loved Aidan. She barely knew him, and she certainly hadn't been seeking him, but in her soul she recognized that he was the only man who could ever make her happy. He had unexpectedly come into her life and replaced all the hollowness and sadness in her heart. He had made her laugh again, more joyfully than she had ever laughed before. And now he was gone.

She heard the door rattle, but she attributed it to the strong gusts of wind. The pounding that followed made her start as she jumped up from the bed. She ran to the door and yelled to be heard over the storm outside.

"Who is it?"

"It's me, Aidan."

Heart pounding, Naomi threw open the bolt and opened the door a crack. Aidan stood with his dripping hair plastered to his head and rivulets of rain running off his sleeves and hands. His brown eyes were unreadable as they searched her widened blue ones intently.

"What are you doing here at this hour?" she gasped. "It must be nearly midnight."

"I couldn't sleep," he muttered. "Can I come in?"

Realizing that she had kept him standing in the freezing rain, she pulled the door wide and motioned him inside. She peered into the darkness outside but didn't see a horse anywhere in sight.

"How did you get here?" she asked, closing the door and bolting it against the wind.

"I walked." Seeing her confusion, he ran a hand through his hair, shaking drops of water onto the floor. "It's only a mile or so from my house to yours."

Her eyes widened further, as she took in his soaked clothes. "You walked a mile in this storm? Are you out of your mind?"

"Yes! No." Aidan searched her eyes again, trying to gauge her mood as he groped for the right words to say. He finally settled on the naked truth. "Yes, I am out of mind. I've been worried sick about you. I couldn't rest until I apologized for the things I said to you. I didn't mean them, and I'm sorry if I hurt you."

Pleasure flooded through Naomi as she stood staring at him. Even in his current condition, soaked and muddy, she had never seen anything so beautiful as the sight of him.

"I'm sorry too," she whispered. "I know you were only trying to be helpful."

"So you forgive me?" he asked.

Naomi flew into his arms and pulled his head down for a kiss. She was only distantly aware of the icy chill from his wet clothes as he clasped her in a fierce embrace and ravished her mouth. The world around them was forgotten, as they struggled to get as close to each other as possible.

They undressed each other with fevered hands, and while Aidan carried her to her bed, Naomi lavished heated, open mouthed kisses along his throat and over his chest. Their lovemaking was wild and impetuous, much like the storm that raged outside the cabin. Their hoarse screams were echoed by the thunder, and the relentless rhythm of their bodies straining and cleaving together was reminiscent of the steady rain pounding on the roof. When the tempest had finally run its course, they collapsed on the soft bed, lulled to sleep by the sound of the thunder retreating over the mountains.

It seemed like only moments later when Naomi awoke, dragged from peaceful slumber by the movement of Aidan rising from the bed. She sat up in bed, brushing her tangled hair back from her face. She frowned in confusion as he donned his sodden clothes, shivering from the cold as he pulled his breeches up over his hips.

"What are you doing? What time is it?" Her voice was husky from sleep.

"I have to get home before my brothers wake up," Aidan answered.

He tucked his shirt into his pants and yanked on his boots before bending over to give her a searching kiss. She threaded her fingers through his hair, clutching his face close to hers to prolong the kiss. When he drew back, he savored the view of her sitting naked in the middle of the bed with the blankets pooled around her waist. Her nipples were hardened from both arousal and cold, and he cupped one lush breast, teasing the tip with his thumb. He smiled when she shivered.

"I'll be back before you know it," Aidan whispered.

Then he was gone, slipping out into the predawn darkness. Naomi listened to his footsteps squishing through the mud until they had faded into the distance before she snuggled back under the covers. She stretched and sighed as she relived the moments of the previous night. Simply by appearing at her door, Aidan had made everything right in her world once again.

Naomi buried her face in his pillow and breathed deeply to enjoy his lingering scent. She definitely loved him. While the depth of feeling she had for him was surely dangerous to her future happiness, she was determined to relish every moment of their time together before she was forced to let him go. With that decision firm in her mind, she fell asleep, dreaming of the hours she had spent in his arms.

**********

Over the next two weeks, Aidan and Naomi settled into a routine. In addition to his duties at home, Aidan spent every spare moment of his time at Naomi's farm, helping her to prepare for the coming winter. He brought her a cow and six chickens, along with sufficient feed to last for several months. She insisted on paying him, although he didn't tell her that he had charged her far below the fair market value for the animals. He taught her how to care for them, how to milk the cow and gather the eggs. He made repairs to her small stable, ensuring it was sound enough to keep the animals warm and dry. He chopped firewood and piled it beneath the overhanging roof. He hunted game and showed her how to smoke the meat and pack it in salt. He strung a rope between the house and the stable to be used in case of a blizzard. He didn't like to think about how he would find his way to her house if such an event occurred.

Each day, he gleaned a few tidbits of information about her past. Careful not to question her too openly, he gradually filled in the details until he had a sketchy idea of why she had come to Oregon entirely on her own. He admired her courage. He was deeply grateful that she had come into his life. He wondered about the feelings she might still be harboring for her dead husband.

Naomi learned quickly, and her keen mind and healthy interest made her an apt pupil. Thanks to Aidan, she had mastered the basics of running a small farm, although she had yet to learn about planting or harvesting. Aidan brought her baskets of fall vegetables and said she would be doing him a favor if she would preserve some of them for him and his brothers. Of course, he insisted that she keep some for herself as payment for her efforts. She knew that his real reasoning was to ensure she had adequate food stores, but she didn't question him. She cheerfully pickled and canned jars and jars of vegetables, and soon, her cupboards were overflowing.

Each evening, Aidan would trek back to his home to perform his nightly chores and have dinner with his brothers. As soon as his brothers were soundly asleep, Aidan would race back to Naomi, to spend the stolen hours of the night in her arms. He would arrive back home just in time to emerge from his bedroom to greet his brothers and share breakfast.

Aidan could have saved himself the trouble of going back and forth. His brothers were not idiots. Brian and Liam noticed their brother's exhaustion, and they shared many grins and winks over his efforts to hide his nighttime ventures. Still, they kept silent about it, allowing him to think he had fooled them. They knew him well enough to understand that his feelings for their new neighbor were serious, and they didn't want to say anything that would later cause her or Aidan any embarrassment about their relationship.

Naomi was content with their arrangement. She hated the time when Aidan wasn't with her, but she enjoyed every moment they were together. She didn't like to think about the time when he would either tire of her or want more from her. She was happy to live in the present, taking each day as a lovely gift.

Aidan grew increasingly dissatisfied. Every time he left Naomi, the chore became more difficult. He wanted to claim her openly as his wife and wake up beside her every morning without having to rush off to hide their relationship. Sneaking off into the dark went against his very nature. It always made him feel dirty somehow, while he viewed his time with Naomi as anything but tawdry or shameful. He loved her, and he suspected that she was beginning to love him. He dreamed of a time when he would know for certain. That's when he would ask her to become his wife.

The opportunity came unexpectedly a few nights later. Their lovemaking that night was tender and poignant. Every caress was imbued with feeling, every sigh and moan conveyed a wealth of emotion. Aidan turned Naomi onto her side and lifted one of her supple thighs over his shoulder so he could sink into her welcoming heat. He shuddered with delight as she clenched her inner muscles around him to hold him deep within her. In this position, he could reach even further inside her, and they both moaned with pleasure as he forced his way deeper. Their eyes met and held as he thrust into her repeatedly, butting against her womb with every probing stroke.

Their mutual tension mounted until they could barely breathe as he plumbed her depths with increasingly demanding thrusts. All the while, he held her gaze, willing her to understand how much she meant to him. They climaxed in unison, and she gasped as he bathed her womb with hot, pulsing waves of his seed.

He finally withdrew from her and pulled her against his side. His heart was bursting with love for her, and he kissed her hair, glorying in the feel of her soft curves pressed against him.

"I love you, Naomi," he said softly, stroking her hip with his fingertips.

"I love you too," she whispered, her voice already growing drowsy.

Aidan went totally still for a long moment before he grasped her arms and lifted her onto his chest. He clutched the sides of her head and searched her startled eyes. Her expression was full of confusion.

"What's wrong?" she questioned with a frown.

Aidan burst into laughter, giving her a gentle shake. "Wrong? Nothing's wrong. You've just made me the happiest man in the world."

He rolled to pin her beneath him and kissed her until her head was spinning. When he released her lips, his eyes were shining and he was grinning from ear to ear. He cupped her jaw and caressed her cheek with his thumb.

"Marry me, Naomi. Do me the honor of becoming my wife."

For a brief moment, Naomi's heart swelled with joy. To know that he loved her and wanted to marry her was the sweetest feeling imaginable. Then, reality crashed down on her, and her heart felt heavy in her chest. Reading the emotions on her face, Aidan grew increasingly concerned as he waited for her to answer him, and his smile disappeared to be replaced by a watchful frown.

"Thank you for asking, Aidan, but I can't marry you."

Aidan tensed, swallowing hard against the lump in his throat. "Why not?"

Naomi closed her eyes against the pain on his face and drew a tight breath. She couldn't bear to tell him that she was barren. She didn't want to see his expression turn to one of rejection or pity. She wouldn't be able to stand it, knowing that he thought she was less than a woman.

"I just can't," she said dully.

Aidan watched her for another few moments before he rose to sit on the side of the bed. "That's not an answer, Naomi. Tell me why."

Naomi stared at his forbidding back and blinked back her tears. She sat up, pulling her knees up to wrap her arms around them forlornly.

"Aidan, I would love nothing better than to marry you, but I can't. That's all there is to it."

Aidan shot her a glare from over his shoulder. "Can't or won't?"

Naomi struggled not to shrink away from the accusing light in his eyes. "Both, I guess," she said quietly.

Aidan hated to ask, but he had to know. The thought that she still loved her dead husband more than him tortured his thoughts. "Is it because of your husband? Do you feel like marrying me would be dishonoring his memory or something?"

Naomi frowned and shook her head. "No, of course not. Nathan would want me to be happy."

Her answer was far from satisfying, and Aidan growled low in his throat. He turned his back to her once more, running an agitated hand through his hair. His emotions were roiling in the pit of his belly, a mixture of pain, jealousy, anger, frustration and confusion. Sensing his feelings, Naomi bit her lip and rose on her knees behind him. She wrapped her arms around him and laid her cheek against the back of his shoulder with a shuddering sigh.

"Aidan, please understand. I do love you, with all my heart. Please don't ask something of me that I can't give you. Can't we just forget that you ever asked me and go back to the way things were?"

Aidan pulled her arms from around him and whirled to face her. He gripped her upper arms so hard that his fingers bit into her skin as he looked at her with anguished eyes.

"No, we can't! I can't go on like this, sneaking in and out of your bed, pretending that what we have is enough for me. I want you to be my wife. I want to build a life with you, to raise a family with you. If you truly loved me, you would want that too."

Naomi gave him a bittersweet smile as she stroked his cheek. "I do want that, Aidan. But sometimes in life, we have to be happy with what we can have and forget about the things that are out of our reach." She watched as his lips firmed into a thin line of disagreement, and she leaned into him, compelling him to meet her eye. "Aidan, listen. I love you. More than you can ever understand. I am grateful for every moment I have with you, and for as long as you want me, I will be here for you."

Aidan shook his head slowly. "I want a wife, not a mistress, Naomi. It's not enough for me."

Naomi searched his eyes and then sank onto her heels with a sigh of defeat. "I understand. I'm sure there are plenty of lovely young ladies who would love to marry you, Aidan. I wish you every happiness when you find one."

Aidan's face registered his shock and disbelief. "That's it? You say you love me, but you're happy just to send me off to find another woman to marry?"

Naomi felt the first stirrings of anger as she stared at him. "You needn't be so peevish about it. I never said I was happy to let you go. It's just that I understand your desire to take a wife. I can't be the woman to fill that need, so I won't stand in the way of another woman who will."

Aidan rose from the bed with an angry growl. He paced the confines of the tiny cabin, his frustration and anger warring for dominance as he clenched and unclenched his fists. Finally, he came back to the bed to scowl down at her.

"For your information, Naomi, I wasn't even looking for a wife until you showed up." He hauled her onto her knees until her breasts were pressed tightly against his chest. The feel of her in his arms soothed a small bit of his anger, and he struggled to make her understand his feelings. "I was content with my life before I met you. From the moment I laid eyes on you, I knew I needed more. My life isn't complete without you. You make me happy and whole and fulfilled."

Naomi didn't try to keep her tears from overflowing, and they streamed down her face as she held his gaze. "Then let's just carry on. I feel the same way."

"We can't just carry on! Even now, you may be carrying my child."

Naomi tensed in his arms and pulled away with a grimace. He let her go, watching as she wrapped her arms protectively around her middle and turned away. She shook her head in adamant denial. "No Aidan, I'm not carrying your child. I can't be. It's not possible."

Through his bitterness, hurt and anger, Aidan completely misinterpreted her withdrawal. "I see," he said flatly.

He stared at her only a moment before turning to retrieve his clothes. He dressed quickly, yanking on his garments and buttoning them as fast as he could. Naomi turned to face him, puzzled by his abrupt change of mood.

"Aidan, please don't leave like this. Can't we please just talk?"

"There's nothing left to talk about, Naomi. I finally understand. You have been stringing me along, content to have me as your lover, to appease your loneliness over your dead husband. And now, the mere mention of the fact that you could be carrying a child, a child that is not your husband's, makes you shrink with dread. You're so repulsed by the mere notion of me fathering your child, you have to deny that it's even possible. I think that about sums it up."

Naomi stared at him with mouth agape, horrified by his misunderstanding of the situation. "That's not it at all, Aidan. You don't understand! That's not what I meant when I said I couldn't be carrying your child."

She raced across the room, tugging on his arm when he would have opened the door. She gripped both his arms and shook him as hard as she could, frustrated when she was barely able to move him.

"That's not how it is at all," she protested. "I love you more than I ever loved my husband!"

Aidan raised one mocking brow. "Really? Then prove your love for me. Marry me."

Naomi released a frustrated squeal and stomped one bare foot on the floor. "I can't marry you, you stubborn man."

Aidan grasped her arms and pushed her slightly back. "Then, it's just like I said. There's nothing left to talk about."

Without another word, he yanked open the door and stalked off into the night.

Naomi stood in the doorway watching him go. She was naked and shivering, but she didn't care. "Aidan, wait! You don't understand, let me explain. Aidan, come back here this instant!"

Aidan disappeared into the trees, leaving her distraught. Naomi closed the door and leaned back against the cold wood. Her knees buckled, and she slid down to a sobbing heap on the floor.

She could go after him, explain her reason for refusing to marry him, and beg him to take her back. But would it solve anything? It would only prolong the misery. Sooner or later, a man like Aidan would want to marry someone, settle down and raise children. Didn't all farmers want lots and lots of children, strong, healthy sons who could help on the farm? She could never provide him with those sons, so there was no use in chasing after him.

When the chill from the door and floor finally seeped into her bones, Naomi rose to her feet and padded to the bed. She rolled into a tight ball beneath the covers, staring at the ceiling with dull eyes. She had known this day would come, sooner or later. There was no point in fighting the inevitable. She heaved a defeated sigh and closed her eyes in a futile attempt to find sleep.

***********

The next two days were touchy around the McKenzie farm. Brian and Liam learned to be careful when they spoke to Aidan, or he was likely to bite their heads off. He was anything but his usual, cheerful self. He carried out his labors mechanically, and it was clear his thoughts were elsewhere. Although his brothers knew he hadn't slipped out for the previous two nights, Aidan seemed even more exhausted than before, and dark circles appeared under his eyes. By the third day, Brian and Liam were getting truly concerned.

"Aidan!" Brian shook his arm gently to gain his attention.





Second Chances Ch. 04



Jerry came back here to Portland to spend the weekend with me three weeks ago, and he'll be here tonight for the weekend. The rush of the cancer scare showed that we were still emotionally tied with one another. The time since showed us that we had many more things to work out. Some have been good, some have been trying. I started to realize pretty quickly after he left after the procedure, I was still pissed at him. It wasn't a deal breaker now, but I was still hurt by what he did. We've been moving on, communicating more, opening up to each other more. It's been good and we've been growing and growing together. Why does growth have to be so painful?

Funny thing, I actually and honestly trusted him more now. The relationship was different. It was better, more grown-up, more mature. Closer. Also, he was not afraid of saying things to me respectfully that he would have been hesitant or even unwilling to say before. We've both been putting our inner selves out front more and more. I guess that after his being unfaithful and both of us letting our relationship slowly die, we're using this to grow closer together. Don't let anyone kid you, it's rough. Worth it, but rough.

I've been waiting all week for Friday for Jerry to get here, and it's been a very long tough week. I invited Tim from work to this bar. He's been a good friend to me. I arrived in Portland not knowing a soul at work. He befriended me, showed me the ropes and kept an eye on me. Jerry will be getting into town today at 5 and he'll be meeting us here sometimes after 6. That'll depend on the flight and how fast he can get out of the airport. Sometimes it quick, other times its heck. I wanted these two to meet for a while.

I didn't get out of work until about 5:30, late for a Friday. I told Tim to meet me at the Bent Brick in Little Italy at about 6. It's a nice place to meet people. Tim and I have gone there for drinks a couple of times after work. Tim was his usual cherry self when I suggested it. 

I got there at 5:45 and Tim was already here. He'd ordered me my usual, an Oregon merlot. We talked about the day at work and the projects our teams worked on together. After a couple of minutes of work related stuff, I broke the conversation away to the weekend. "Tim, I forgot to tell you that Jerry's in town. He should be meeting me here in the half hour. It'll be great that you two finally get to meet."

"That's great Sandy, but I just remembered that I have to see one of my tenets. He's been having trouble with something or other and this was the only time we both were available. I have to go, please tell him that I'm sorry that I missed him. See you at work on Monday, bye." He leaned over and kissed my cheek and quickly left. 

That was a bit odd, earlier he wasn't in a hurry at all. My glass was empty and it took me a minute to flag down the waiter to order another. By the time he took my order, Jerry walked up to me. He lugged his laptop in a shoulder bag and rolled his suitcase.

"Oh Jerry, so great that you're here. You just missed meeting Tim. He had to go and sends his regards."

"I know, I was watching you both for over 15 minutes."

I was a bit put off, "So why didn't you join us? It's my friend Tim." I see the look on his face, it's not a good look. "I've got nothing to hide from you."

Now Jerry has a more concerned look on his face. "That's right, you have nothing to hide from me, and you haven't hid anything from me. I think that there are things that you may not be aware of. Can I share what I saw with you? I think that it'll help you to understand." I nodded yes. He sat down with his drink and looked directly into my eyes in worried way.

"You've spoken about Tim a couple of times. He helped you get settled at your new job here, he became a local contact. Pretty friendly guy, seems like a pretty good guy, don't you agree?"

I nodded yes, "I'm thinking that I going to be hearing a 'but' in a minute, right Jerry?"

It was his time to nod, "You know that I trust you entirely, that I'm not accusing you of anything. What I have to say may not look like that. It may make me look petty, weak or scared. We've been working things out together and communication is at the top of what we do with each other now. So here goes.

"Tim is seducing you, and he's pretty good, pretty slick."

"No way Jerry, how could you think that? He's been a friend to me here. I don't believe it."

"Ok, I understand how you feel, so let me ask a few questions. You game for it?" I nodded yes. I was more than a little bit ticked about this all.

"He's been warm and helpful since you met him, right?" I nodded yes. "You told him honestly that you were unattached when you arrived in Portland? He offered his help whenever he could. All the signs of a good person, right?"

"Yes, so how does that go to seducing me?"

"This was just the start. There are lots of good people out there. I've seen you do great things like that for others too. Remember Pat, your team member? Right after the interview and she accepted, you contacted her and helped provide the details of moving to Portland." I nodded yes.

"But this is different Sandy. He first started to ask you to meet him with a group for lunch? I remember you telling me later that his hours became so crazy that it ended up being only the two of you, nobody else, right?" I nodded, but now I was starting to feel something different in my gut. 

"How many people at that level of management need to have crazy hours? Then after three months, it was after work drinks. When did he first ask to go out to dinner after work?"

I never told Jerry that we ever went out to dinner. To me it was being out to dinner with a friend after work. "That was about a month before you showed up with my ring."

"Tim is married and has two kids. Let me guess, that doesn't come up very often. Don't most parents talk about their kids, show pictures, display them on their desk, go to school plays? Does he ever talk about his wife?"

I immediately saw the whole picture. "Oh my god Jerry, I'm starting to see what you mean. This doesn't look good, does it?" He nodded no. "He doesn't talk about his kids, and he says that his home life is non-existent. He says the marriage is not great, and says nothing more about it."

"Let me guess, he compliments you with some regularity, praises your work, supports the heck out of you if there is any trouble in your life. This is very true especially if it is something that you're doing to cause the trouble. We're human. We both do things like that, don't we? Wouldn't a friend help you see what you may not be able to see?

"When I came in, I saw him touching you. Pretty casual, not sexual. Quick answer, no thinking. How many times did he touch you in the past 15 minutes?"

"Once or twice?"

"Sandy, he felt a freedom to touch your cheek, put his hand on yours. In the 15 minutes I was watching you two, he touched you 6 different times. Your arm, your hands, your cheek. How many times do same sex friends do things like that? How often do you see different sex friends do that? It's appropriate unless you were married to somebody else. It's something a husband would do with a wife, a person would do with their partner of whatever sexual persuasion they were. It's natural and warm and friendly. The problem is that you're not his wife or his partner."

"Jerry, the reason he left so suddenly was that I had just let him know that you were due here within the half hour. That's when he bolted. I'm so sorry Jerry, I had no idea what he was doing. I thought it was friendship, a natural friendship. I.."

"We have to be honest with one another, and this was hard for me to say. That's why I stayed out of sight and watched you two. I wanted to be sure."

"Jerry, I'm sorry that this happened. I should have known better. I'll break it off with him immediately. I'll not do anything that will jeopardize what we are trying to work out together.

"I'll be honest, I will miss his friendship, but his friendship is not worth it if I'm being set up. How can he damage his marriage and his family? How could anyone do that to their kids?"

"Sandy, you know I love you and would do nothing anymore to hurt you. Doing it to you once big was enough. I also do not want to tell you what to do. We're going into this together, as equal partners. But you may be able to reset your relationship with him. You may have to."

"Whoa, what and how do you mean?"

"First off, you work together. It's going to be a bit of tension for quite a while. Getting things on the table may not be possible. Denial and hurt feelings, him redoubling his efforts, being frustrated. Payback in the office is a real possibility. Never put it past people to engage in passive aggressive behavior. That's a hell of an environment to work in.

"But because the way he moves ahead, you may be able to put some stop signs that he has to confront. I remember working around Diana for a month or two before I left. I did a few things that kept the peace and made it livable, not great, but livable." At this I nodded for him to go on.

"After a week, Diana physically touched me again. That tended to be how she related to the world. I made it clear to her in a very unemotional, professional, non-hostile way and so others could hear me that I didn't want to be touched. It was not nasty, it was not mean. It was a direct and firm request. It could not be taken in any other way. This sounds small, but it put up a boundary, it gave her limits.

"If you make it clear to him that touching is unwelcome, then you've changed his go signals to stop signs. If he doesn't respect that, then it may be time to call in personnel or his wife or both."

"Jerry, no more dinners with him unless it is both of us and his wife. After work drinks only with a group. Same with lunches." I paused, but that only took care of the one-on-one after work issues.

"You're right, this could be a real problem at work. Burning him or making a scene shouldn't be the first response. Work doesn't handle people very well when there are personnel issues, even when they don't get in the way of the job. They are let go quickly." We both remained quiet for a few minutes.

"Jerry, am I that trusting of people? Am I so blind?" That's when he reached over to me and hugged me.

"And by the way, how did you get to be so smart?" I reached over and kissed him, the first kiss since he arrived.

"I have a Graduate degree, from the school of hard knocks. I'd rather not have you go to school there." He paused and looked at me with a little bit of pain in his eyes. "The reason I can tell you all of this is that this is how it happened to me. That's how and why I know. It wasn't planned for me, it happened. I took that last step, I chose to be unfaithful to you, but I was led down that path pretty easy. That last step was small, the build up made sure of that. In the beginning and even in the middle of it, I didn't think anything I did was wrong or improper. I never thought that anything was not ok." We both were quiet for a minute.

"Jerry, I've still been a bit pissed at you for going off with Diana. I know you explained it to me a couple of times, but I couldn't get my head around it. I can see it now. Tim's technique was so sly and gradual... it could have happened to me too. I don't know if I would have taken that last step. After all, I've seen what happened after you took that step. Without your experience, I don't know Jerry, I just don't know." We spent the rest of the evening at the apartment, talking things over, important things over.

The next day was Saturday and Jerry's got a 3PM flight for home on Sunday, so tonight we decided to go out. Some of my friends from work will be at Rontoms tonight, and I'll introduce Jerry to them.

At 8 PM, Jerry and I arrived and met some of my coworkers on the outside patio. It was a great place to see everybody. The warm air, the open sky, the new friendships and Jerry at my side. Work remained hectic, but we have a good group of people that really try to get along. High Tech involves high stress when things go wrong, and it still breaks with some regularity. I saw Jill across the patio and she ran toward us. She's Bob's girlfriend. I've met her a few times and we've been friendly.

"Jill, I'd like to introduce my boyfriend Jerry." Jerry reached out his hand and shook Jill's. "He's been spending a lot of time out here lately with me."

Jill asked, "What kind of work do you do? I hope not another IT person Sandy? We have way too many IT people in this crowd." and the two of us laughed. Jerry just smiled. I'm sure he was wondering if he was the only one.

"I'm an accountant and a CPA. I've been working at some firms and been in an Accounting practice for the past year or so. I specialize in Audits."

"Oooo, sounds ...sounds..."

Jerry piped up, "Dull and boring?"

Jill answered, "No, not boring, more like a detective and a 'who done it'. Catch somebody doing anything interesting?"

"Actually, I have. I had an idea but it took our firm's DBA working with me after hours to help me get the evidence."

"Jerry, I'm going to leave you and Jill alone for a while to talk shop. She's at a law firm specializing in financial litigation. I'm going to talk with Linda on some work matters for a few minutes. You really don't want to hear us talk techy shop. Not only will your eyes roll, your head will probably do an exorcist spin." then I moved on. 

About 10 minutes later, I had to visit the women's washroom and Jerry waved me over on my way there. "Jerry, I'll be back in a minute or two." I couldn't wait. I returned directly afterword and joined Jill and Jerry's conversation. 

"Sandy, I was talking to Jill about that piece of Yukon gold jewelry I bought for you." I never got any Yukon gold from Jerry and I'm sure that my confusion showed in my face. "Oh come on, we were at your brother's house. Remember, the pretty YUKON piece. It wasn't expected, just appeared out of nowhere?"

Then it struck me, Yukon was the safe word I gave him. Jerry was asking to be saved from Jill. "Oh yes, it was beautful. Just a small nugget, but very pretty. I remember it well." He breathed a sigh of relief. I noticed that Jill was a bit plastered and was a bit touchy feely with me right now, and then with Jerry in front of me. We stayed with her for a minute or two and then moved on. Jerry grabbed my hand and whispered thank you in my ear. We ran into Bob a couple of minutes later and explained that Jill was needing him, although she didn't know it. He looked at me quizzedly, then understood. Jill sometimes has a hard time stopping drinking after the first 2. 

That night back at my apartment we talked about the evening out, then about us again. We came to a mutual agreement on what we each wanted for the future. We kept going until 1:30 and it was rough, and glorious. In the end we understood and agreed with each other what our lives should be like together, now and in the future. We bonded again, stronger and more determined than before. We had a going forward plan. He was going to find a job out here and we'd move back in together. For the first time, we made a decision with our eyes wide open, along with our hearts. We're doing the right thing for both of us. We sealed our decision with making love, and then sleeping in until noon.

On Monday, I ran into Tim while waiting for a meeting to start. He and I had some small talk, the pre-meeting to the meeting. As others were assembling to go in, Tim escorted me into the room by my elbow. I jumped, I visibly jumped. Softly and without anger, but loud enough for others to hear, I asked him very politely to not to touch me, that I felt uncomfortable when he did that. He was shocked a bit and tried to cover it up and then we both joked about it, but I held firm. I hoped that it defused the problem. The meeting went on without any issues. 

By the end of the week, three additional women told Tim the same thing in the same way. The firm is 60% women and most are under 30. Tim pulled back and we kept our friendship, but it wasn't as intimate as before. His grooming me faded into the background. Jerry was right, and I'm very lucky.



Second Chances Ch. 04



Aidan blinked and turned to face him. It was obvious he hadn't heard his brother speaking to him. "What?"

"I was asking whether you thought Mrs. Tisdale needed any supplies from town. I have to go in tomorrow for some lumber, and I would be happy to pick some things up for her if she needs them."

Aidan scowled blackly and looked down at his plate. He pushed his food around with disinterest. "I have no idea. I haven't seen her for three days." The thought that someone should look in on her to make sure she was faring well had crossed his mind, but he couldn't bear to visit her, knowing that she didn't want him. "Why don't you stop by and introduce yourself? Make sure she's doing alright and ask her if she needs anything."

Aidan looked back at his plate. Brian and Liam exchanged worried glances, wondering what had happened between Aidan and the Widow Tisdale.

"Alright, I will," Brian said.

***********

The next day, Naomi sat at her kitchen table, staring into the fire. The past four days had been hell, the nights even worse. To top off her misery, she had started her monthly. When she had seen the blood, she had burst into tears. The miniscule hope that by some miracle she might be carrying Aidan's child had been dashed into a million pieces. She didn't even know why she had dared to hope in the first place.

The sound of a wagon approaching caused her to jump up and run to the door. She threw the door open with a smile of welcome.

"Aidan!"

As soon as she saw the driver, her heart sank. Her radiant smile fizzled to be replaced by a look of despair. The driver set the brake on the wagon and hopped down, removing his hat as he walked toward her with a smile.

"Hello ma'am. Sorry to disappoint you, but I'm Aidan's brother, Brian McKenzie."

Naomi shook his proffered hand and smiled as politely as she could. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. McKenzie. I'm Naomi Tisdale. Would you care to come inside for a cup of coffee?"

"No thank you, ma'am. I just stopped by on my way into town. Aidan said you might have need of some supplies. I would be happy to pick some things up for you, if you like."

The fact that Aidan had sent his brother to check on her rather than coming himself caused her chin to tremble slightly. Obviously, he wanted nothing further to do with her. Naomi plastered a phony smile on her face to cover her distress and shook her head.

"Thank you, Mr. McKenzie. That was very thoughtful of you, but I don't need anything just now. I appreciate your brother's concern, but you can assure him that he needn't worry about me. I'm quite capable of seeing to my own needs."

Brian studied her for a moment, sensing her underlying distress. Finally, he shrugged and smiled.

"Alright, ma'am. If you don't need anything, I'll be on my way. It was a pleasure to meet you, and I look forward to seeing you again sometime soon."

"Likewise, Mr. McKenzie. Bye now."

Naomi waved as he drove away before returning to the cabin. She closed the door and leaned her forehead against the rough wood, clenching her eyes against threatening tears.

"Enough weeping, you silly ninny! You can't spend the rest of your life crying all day."

She took a deep breath and straightened her shoulders. She had better get started peeling potatoes. Supper wouldn't make itself.



Second Chances Ch. 05



When Brian returned from town with a load of lumber, Aidan was waiting at the barn. He didn't even wait for him to come to a complete stop before he questioned him.

"How was she?"

Brian raised his brows as he pulled the wagon to a stop and set the brake. He eyed his brother, stalling for time as he weighed what he should tell him.

"Who, Mrs. Tisdale?" he asked as he hopped down.

Aidan shot him a glare. "Of course, Naomi! Who else would I be inquiring about?"

Brian shrugged, turning to untie the ropes securing his load. "She seemed alright. She said to tell you not to worry about her anymore, that she could look after herself."

"Damned, stubborn woman," Aidan ground out. He drew in a sharp breath and let it out on a sigh. "Did she say anything else? Did she ask about me?"

Brian eyed him warily. "No, she just thanked me for stopping by."

Aidan thought about that for a moment. He had been hoping that Naomi missed him as much as he missed her, but apparently, she was getting along fine without him.

"I'll see you at supper," he muttered, stalking off toward the river.

Liam walked up in time to see Aidan walking away. "What's up with him?"

Brian gave him a frown and shook his head. "He was asking about Mrs. Tisdale."

"Well?" Liam prompted with a look of interest. "What was she like?"

"She's the prettiest little filly I've seen for a long time. She would be perfect for Aidan. You should have seen her face when I first drove up. She came running out of the house, thinking I was Aidan. When she saw I wasn't, her smile just withered and died."

"Hmmm," said Liam. "Sounds like she's got it as bad as Aidan does. Do you think they are going to get back together?"

"Anything can be worked out, it's just a question of time and the desire to make it happen," Brian said.

"You sound like Mama," Liam laughed. "She always used to tell us that."

Brian shot him a grin. "And she's right. Now give me a hand getting this lumber unloaded."

**********

Four more agonizing days passed, during which Naomi grew more and more unhappy. It was torture knowing that Aidan was just down the road, but she couldn't see him. She tried to stay busy, doing all the chores around her small farm just the way Aidan had taught her. While the steady work kept her occupied, it did nothing to distract her thoughts.

She had determined to let Aidan go and move on with her life, but by the eighth lonely night in her bed, that plan was looking more and more unappealing. She had to see him. Reaching a decision, she was filled with impatience. She hopped out of bed and ran to her pile of clothes, rifling through the garments recklessly until she found the ones she sought. She donned the man's clothes she had worn the first day of her arrival and pulled on a pair of serviceable boots. She grabbed a coat and headed out the door.

A full moon cast just enough light to see by as she followed the path through the trees. By the moon's position in the sky, she determined it to be just past midnight. She walked as quickly as she could, careful not to stumble. It seemed to take forever, but she finally spotted Liam's cabin. She took a moment to admire the view.

The McKenzie farm was much larger and better organized than hers. A large, attractive cabin stood among a stand of trees, facing the river. There was a massive barn, a smoke house, and multiple corrals to house animals. She focused on the cabin, wondering how she was going to find Liam's room. For the first time, she considered the rashness of her actions. It would be awfully embarrassing if she ended up waking Liam's brothers.

Squaring her shoulders, she walked to the cabin and peered through the front window. There were no signs of life, so she groped her way to the back of the house. A small band of light shone through a lone window, and she crept up to peer inside. Her heart pounded in relief and excitement, as she spied Liam lying in bed. He was lying with his hands behind his head, staring at the ceiling. A lone candle on his bedside table shed light over his naked chest. A crisp white sheet was gathered at his waist, covering his lower half. He was the most beautiful sight Naomi had ever seen.

She scratched at the window, and Aidan jerked upright in the bed. He scowled as he wrapped the sheet around his waist and came to the window. He raised the panel and peered at her, mute with surprise.

"Hello Aidan," she whispered.

Her silky voice snapped him out of his momentary trance, and he scowled at her. "What the hell are you doing here?" he asked in a harsh whisper.

"I had to see you," she said. "Can I come in?"

He stared at her for only a moment longer before releasing a deep sigh. He reached for her and lifted her through the window, shutting the window silently behind her.

"Now what is so important that it couldn't wait until tomorrow?" he asked, turning to face her.

Naomi didn't waste any time on words. She threw herself into his arms and kissed him soundly on the mouth. For a brief moment, Aidan held his arms away from her, trying to resist her appeal, but he gave up with a growl and clasped her against him. It felt so good to be in his arms again, that Naomi released a moan of sheer pleasure.

"Shhh," Aidan cautioned her. "Brian sleeps in the next room."

Nodding that she understood, Naomi stretched up to kiss him again, pressing her body as close to his as possible. Aidan sank onto the edge of the bed, pulling her onto his lap. He worked at her buttons, kissing her all the while. He brushed her coat and shirt off her shoulders, and Naomi lifted her breast up to his searching mouth, eager for his touch. He suckled hard on the tender flesh, and she bit her lip to stifle another moan.

Aidan kissed his way up her neck to her mouth, using his knowing fingers to taunt her nipple. "Marry me, Naomi."

Naomi shuddered as he squeezed hard, causing her to arch her back for more. "You know I can't. You'll find someone else to marry, but please be mine until you do."

Aidan growled low in his throat. His hands firmed around her waist and he lifted her to the floor, standing up in front of her. He met her stare, and his eyes glowed with fire before he turned aside. He lit a lantern, casting a brighter glow over the room, then turned back to face her.

He quickly dispensed with her clothing and sat her naked on the side of his bed, urging her back onto her elbows and pressing her knees wide. Kneeling before her, he looped her thighs over his shoulders and kissed her pussy, plunging his tongue deep inside her. It was all Naomi could do to squelch her surprised scream. She threaded her fingers in his hair and clung to him, floating in a sea of delight. Through cracked eyelids, she noticed a large standing mirror behind Aidan. She saw a reflection of his naked back, as he worshipped at her core. The combined light of the candle and the lantern cast a warm yellow glow over them, highlighting every detail. The sight was enthralling, and she stared with wide eyes as he pandered to her senses.

He lavished her with love, caressing her with increasingly intimate strokes of his tongue and fingers until she was on the verge of euphoria. Then, inexplicably, he backed off, hardly touching her with the softness of his strokes. When she whimpered softly, he ignored her and kept up with his featherlight kisses. As soon as Naomi had gathered some composure, he assaulted her again with another barrage of sensations, pushing her once more to the brink before backing off. The torture continued, with Naomi growing increasingly desperate for release. Each time, he was ruthless in his retreat, denying her the prize she sought.

After what seemed like eons, he rose. Without saying a word, he lifted her and took her place, sitting on the edge of the bed. He grasped her waist and lifted her onto his lap with her back to his chest. He arranged her so that she was sitting on her knees, straddling his thighs. He grasped her jaw and directed her gaze to the mirror. Her eyes widened at the sight of their reflection.

She sat naked and exposed, perched with her knees wide apart and her shining pussy lips peaking out from beneath her hair. He watched her from over her shoulder, gauging her reaction. Catching and holding her gaze, he leaned near her ear and whispered in a husky, seductive voice, laced with sweet temptation.

"Are you telling me, Naomi, that I should kiss another woman the way I have just kissed you?"

Naomi's eyes widened further, and she gasped. "No," she whispered, a look of horror on her face.

"Then marry me, Naomi."

"Aidan, you know I can't," she whispered.

He reached up and cupped both her breasts in his strong hands. "Don't take your eyes off the mirror," he commanded her softly.

She watched, transfixed as he worshipped her breasts. His darkly tanned hands contrasted sharply with the ivory perfection of her skin. He squeezed and twisted her pink, swollen nipples, exerting just the right amount of pressure to send jolts of stark desire into her loins. When she forgot and closed her eyes in ecstasy, he squeezed extra hard, causing her eyes to pop open on a gasp.

"I said not to take your eyes off the mirror," he growled.

He suckled her neck, sending shivers of delight down her spine. Naomi could feel her juices dribbling onto his legs, and she wiggled her hips, trying to gain some friction. Instead, she inadvertently pressed her bottom tight against his throbbing cock, and she gasped again from the sheer heat of it. Aidan snared her gaze, refusing to let her look away. He pressed his erection in between the globes of her bottom and thrust several times, lewdly reminding her of her wanton position as he continued to squeeze her aching nipples until they were throbbing and sore. Then, he leaned close to whisper in her ear once more, still holding her gaze.

"Are you telling me, Naomi, that I should touch another woman the way I'm touching you?"

Naomi whimpered and shook her head in mute denial.

"Then marry me, Naomi."

She bit her lip to suppress a moan of sheer frustration. "I can't," she whispered softly.

Aidan released her breasts and slid his hands down to her pussy. She watched with a mixture of trepidation and fascination as he spread her shining lips wide apart and stroked the delicate pink inner flesh with his fingers. She was dripping with moisture, and he made a show of gathering her juices and spreading them around, smearing some in her thick patch of hair and out to her inner thighs. His wicked fingers came back, spearing into her to gather more juice and spreading it over her aching clit. He circled the tiny nub, teasing and taunting it, giving it an occasional squeeze, until Naomi was once more on the verge of satisfaction. Then he withdrew his hands, placing them on her waist.

He waited for her to meet his eyes in the mirror. Hers were full of urgent appeal. He raised one brow as he looked at her.

"Are you telling me, Naomi, that you want me to make another woman feel as desperate for my cock as you feel right now?"

Naomi was trembling with need, and tears trailed down her face as she shook her head. "No, I don't want you to do any of these things with another woman," she whispered. "Only with me."

"Then marry me, Naomi."

"I can't," she whispered. Her voice was full of despair.

Aidan growled once more and gripped her waist. He lifted her and plunged into her, stretching her to the point of pain as he brought her down roughly onto his cock. She gasped and clutched his arms for support. She hung on for dear life as he lifted her again and again, only to bring her crashing back down on his erection. She could barely breathe. He timed his thrusts so that he built her tension to the breaking point, then he lifted her off his cock and set her back down in her original position on his lap. Naomi sobbed with frustration.

"Marry me, Naomi."

"Aidan, please!"

She dropped her head in defeat and began to sob in earnest. Aidan had meant to be merciless, not stopping in his torture until he had gained her agreement, but he couldn't see her like this. He had given it his best effort, poured his heart and soul into persuading her, and still she had refused him. He lifted her and turned to set her on hands and knees on the bed. He gripped her hips and thrust into her, quickly taking her the short distance to fulfillment. She clenched him with her inner muscles and buried her face in the blankets to muffle her cries of pleasure as he poured himself inside her. He shuddered as her muscles milked him, coaxing every drop of his seed deep inside her.

She collapsed onto the bed, and although he wanted to join her, he remained standing, panting from his exertion. When she came back to earth, she opened her eyes and saw him staring down at her with an inscrutable expression on his face. She sat up and grasped his hand.

"What is it, Aidan?"

He gave her a sad smile and touched her cheek briefly. "Nothing, my love. Come, get dressed and I will take you home."

He slipped on his breeches and shirt and helped her button her clothes, saying nothing. They slipped out of the house undetected, and Aidan led her to the barn. He slipped a bridle on his horse and led him quietly out into the moonlight. Aidan lifted her astride the horse and jumped up behind her, pulling her back against his firm chest and encircling her with his strong arms. They rode silently through the forest, reaching her home in only a few minutes.

He lifted her down and walked her to her door. The silence wore on Naomi's nerves, and she turned to face him, spreading her hands over his chest as she stepped close.

"When will I see you again, Aidan?"

He met her eye briefly before releasing a deep sigh and looking up at the moon. Several moments of silence stretched out between them. Just when she thought he wasn't going to answer her at all, he lifted her hand and kissed the backs of her fingers. His eyes were soulful and sad as he delved into hers.

"I love you, Naomi. With all my heart, I worship you. I would give anything to spend the rest of my life with you, as husband and wife. But..."

His voice cracked, and he stopped to take a deep breath. Naomi's heart thumped against her ribs as she waited for him to continue. When he finally did, his voice was low and husky, and she had to strain to hear the words as he forced them out.

"I can't keep going on as we were before. It's not enough for me to steal a few hours with you now and then. It's too painful, loving you as I do but not being able to have you."

Naomi shook her head and grasped his hands. "You can have me, Aidan. You could even move in with me if you want. I don't care what anyone else thinks about our relationship. I'm not ashamed. I love you and want to be with you."

"I can't, Naomi." He met her eye and shook his head gently. "I just can't."

Naomi's eyes filled with tears, and they flowed down her cheeks. "Are you punishing me because I won't agree to marry you?"

Aidan laughed bitterly, looking once more at the moon shining overhead as he released a sigh of regret. "Naomi, I can't change who I am anymore than you can. It's hard enough for me to accept that we have to end this. Please don't make it any harder for me. If you don't want me as your husband, just let me go."

The hardest thing Naomi had ever done was to pull back from his arms. She gave him one last look and entered her cabin, not looking behind her as she shut the door. She listened as he mounted his horse and rode away, plodding slowly toward his home.

*********

For the next two weeks, Naomi endured a personal hell. It was far worse than when her parents had died, worse even than when Nathan had died. The loneliness she felt this time was self-imposed and bone-deep. She was so tempted to go to Aidan and beg him to take her back. She thought about accepting his proposal. Even the risk of him rejecting her once he knew she would never bear him any children wouldn't be any more painful than what she was already experiencing.

What stopped her was the knowledge that he probably wouldn't reject her. He would look into her eyes and tell her it didn't matter, that he still wanted her as his wife. Then, as the years went by, she would see resentment growing in his beautiful brown eyes. Like Nathan, he would never blame her in so many words, but sooner or later, he would wish he had married someone else, someone who could give him children. The fear of being Aidan's wife and slowly watching his love for her die was enough to keep her from going to him.

After two long weeks, Naomi was running out of supplies. She dreaded going into town. She didn't want to meet new people and have them ask her lots of questions, but neither could she sit at home and starve. The barrel of vegetables that Aidan had brought her was empty, and she needed flour and coffee. She would have to go.

She dressed carefully, selecting a gown of light blue with darker blue flowers printed on it. The scooped bodice lovingly conformed to her bosom and waist, and a white silk insert rose to button snugly at her neck. She had a matching bonnet, and when she was fully dressed, she nodded at her reflection. She looked like the very image of a proper young widow.

She saddled her horse and adjusted her skirts to preserve her modesty once she was mounted. The town was a few miles away, and when she arrived, she scanned the signs for the general store. Locating the store, she dismounted and tied her horse outside.

It wasn't as bad as she had anticipated. The owner greeted her warmly, and he and his wife were politely curious about her, but they didn't pry overly much. She bought the required items, and the shopkeeper helped her to arrange them on her horse. She thanked him, and he returned to the warm interior of his store.

Naomi was about to mount her horse for the return ride home when she spied Aidan. He was standing on the opposite side of the street, about a block away, and he was deep in conversation with a beautiful young woman. Even from a distance, Naomi could see her flirting shamelessly with him, stroking his arm and smiling up at him. She was dressed in an emerald green dress, cut low across her breasts to show a generous amount of cleavage.

Naomi's heart constricted as she watched him talking and laughing. He was facing partially away from her, but she could tell by his body language that he was anything but disinterested in his feminine companion. Several times, he leaned close to peer into her bodice, and she giggled and stroked his chest. It was positively indecent!

Tears of pain and rage welled in Naomi's eyes. She was about to turn away when the other woman brushed a kiss on Aidan's cheek and walked away, leaving him to grin at her swaying hips. Naomi's control snapped, and she marched toward him, barely able to see where she was going through her streaming tears. When she reached him, she yanked his arm around to face her and pummeled his chest with her fists.

"You cad! I can't believe I thought for even an instant that you truly loved me!" Her sobs were growing ever more hysterical as she beat against his chest, furious that her blows were not having much effect on him. "I'm so glad I didn't fall for your lies. Thank heavens I didn't marry you!"

He grabbed her arms to keep her from inflicting any more damage and held her slightly away from him. "Well, ma'am, I'm guessing that you must be Mrs. Tisdale."

The sound of his voice, slightly different from the one she expected to hear made Naomi freeze in her tracks. She gasped and finally looked at his face, close-up. His features were nearly identical, but even through her tears, she could tell that this man was a stranger to her.

"You're not Aidan," she accused with a frown.

He grinned and released her arms. "That's a fact, ma'am. I'm his younger brother, Liam McKenzie."




Second Chances Ch. 05



I saw her car pull up at the arrivals pick up lane just as I walked out of the terminal. Cell phones make getting picked up at the airports so much easier, especially after 911. 

I tossed my bags in the back seat and jumped in my sister's car. "Terry, thanks for picking me up at the airport and letting me hang out till Jerry gets off of work."

"No problem Sandy, I took the day off and the kids are at my mother's house for the afternoon. She doesn't get to see them as often as she'd like. I thought we could have an afternoon off and catch up. Your brother has been busy as heck working, and the past year of your moving and your ... troubles? Well, that's taken a toll on everybody. An afternoon sitting and visiting without anybody around was mighty tempting." 

"Yea, those first couple of months alone in Portland at a new job and then Jerry shows up at work that day. I'm still having a hard time with my brother getting Jerry to pay me a visit. He could have taken my stuff from him and we'd both have new lives." Then I heard a little chuckle out of Terry.

"Ok Terry, what gives? You know something." 

"Sandy, I figure out that you'd learn about this sooner or later, but your brother was busy."

"What do you mean? They both told me that they had met a couple of times and Jerry said that he didn't know where I was at until Dave told him. There's more I don't know about?"

"Sandy, you know your big brother? Don't you?" I nodded yes. He's six years older and looked out after me ever since dad died when I was three and he was nine. "Remember during that month when you were getting the job and setting up your new life? Why do you think that Dave would occasionally send you an email or a phone call when something was happening on the Web-cam in your bedroom?"

"I thought that he was a bit of a voyeur. It was a free show. He's a guy."

"Well, there's more to it than that. Dave was very familiar with a situation like that. He knew what it felt like to be found out seeing two different..."

"You mean that you and him and...?"

"Yep. Except there were no cheap webcams in those days. We weren't married, but we were supposed to be exclusive. We weren't living together yet, but a friend of mine saw him at a place he wasn't supposed to be at, with somebody else. The next time during non-work hours when he was supposed to be someplace else, I was there first. He didn't arrive alone. It was somebody from his work. After all was said and done, she went on to find a richer daddy, one conquest at a time. Kept trading up." 

I looked at Terry with real sorrow. "It must have been difficult for you. What did you do to that jerk of my brother?"

She immediately started to laugh. "We were apart for about 2 months when he pulled up to my apartment one weeknight. Like Jerry, he owned everything that he did. Dave explained what he did, what he did wrong and why he did wrong. And he sincerely apologized. An honest apology. He didn't pull any punches. He still doesn't when it's about him. Everybody else, he cuts some slack. 

"He apologized to me from the bottom of his heart. He didn't ask to get back together. He said that he understood that he could no longer be trusted, and that I needed someone in my life that I could depend on. The fact is, I knew he was telling me the truth. He really can't lie. I was feeling funny when he began that affair. Always trust your gut."

"Why did you get back together? I know Mr. Resolute well enough. Changing his mind? How?"

"We both ended up working in Beechwood, within 10 minutes of where Jerry's condo is at. We'd sometimes run into each other at lunch. It was uncomfortable at first, but we started talking again. 

"He changed, he changed a lot more after your grandfather then your mother died. He became serious about life. One day he asked me out to a movie. He was so desperate, it was a chick-flick. You know him. He can't stand them. I knew that he was serious then.

"We worked many things out. Lots of work. I finally got to the point where I did trust him. I remember a couple of times he went out after work with his staff, and half the staff didn't make it. The other half were young unattached women who were pretty free with themselves. These were empowered young newly graduated women, and very independent. These programmers wanted to taste life. Sometimes not knowing enough that there are married and attached people that should be off limits to tasting. He'd get me on the phone begging me to show up to save him.

"I've trusted him ever since. The other thing we both learned is to work hard to keep us alive. It's harder than I ever thought it would be. Work, family, school, kids... everything gets in the way. Automatic pilot keeps you going, going to hell in a hand basket that is. Keeping it alive and fresh, supporting one another. That's the real cost of a good marriage. As far as I'm concerned, it's worth every bit of my being.

"Before, you were wondering about why your brother monitored the webcam? He kept looking for something. Why it was happening? What Jerry felt about you? Who he really was? After the kids were in bed, Dave would bring up clips that showed Jerry being unsure, angry, sad, withdrawn with Diana around and when she was not there. 

"I think he saw part of himself in Jerry. The real kicker was after your last dinner. Did you know that Jerry sat on the bed and cried the rest of the night? He only called Diana the next day because he didn't want to be alone. She was the one who pushed him toward the bed. If you saw the clip, she was the only one in partial undress. He wasn't interested.

"It was about three weeks later when Dave got the first phone call from Jerry. He wanted to return the important things you left. Dave knew what the ring, the beanie babies and the photo album meant to you. Dave saw a broken man, like Dave had been. He also knows you too. At the least, there needed some closure for both of you.

"All those things Jerry said to you came from Jerry, not Dave. I was at the house a few times he was over and overheard. Not eves dropping, but overhearing while doing my normal things around the house, cleaning, children, laundry, cleaning. Did I mention cleaning?" We both chuckled. Dave is as messy as I am. She continued, "Dave would listen, ask a question once in a while, and listen more. You got Jerry from Jerry, the real thing. He wasn't fed on what to say.

"I had no part of this except to keep my mouth shut. Remember, I have to support my husband especially after I told him that if it blew up in his face, it was going to be years of him eating double servings of humble pie from you.

"Sandy, I knew he was right about closure. I didn't have that with your brother, and it did a number to me. Could I have lived without it? People do all the time. It's just better having it."

"Terry, I could say that I feel played, but that's not right. I never knew that about your and Dave's troubles, or the whole story about Jerry and Dave."

"We're pulling into the driveway in a minute. How about opening up a bottle of wine and we can continue this while nobody else is around. I'd say the same thing if either of them were here, but I'd be checking my words more carefully before they left my mouth. We've never had to do that with each other these years."

Ten minutes later, Terry and I sat on her back deck with half a glass of merlot. The first half went down very fast. The wine and the conversation continued for an hour. Getting the quiet time to talk with my sister about her or me, my brother or Jerry or the kids was great. Looking at the trees and the grass and feeling a warm breeze, I started to realize that it's more than half way through my second or is it my third glass on an empty stomach. "Could you get something to counteract this wine? I don't want to be real woozy when Jerry shows."

"And why not? When was the last time you were woozy and he wasn't? That'll be ripe for him to take advantage of you."

That was a bit shocking and I knew it registered in my face. "Sandy, don't worry." She chuckled. "I'll get something in a minute, but think about that till I get back." She went into the kitchen, a little unsteady herself. She used the handrail for additional balance.

Take advantage of me? Why would...then it struck me. Jerry's been out to Portland four times since my procedure. We've gone over the whys of what went wrong between us. I remembered him saying that things had gotten routine. It was something that we said that we needed to work on. We've seen each other every three weeks but didn't leave much time to do that. Mostly, our love making has not been very different. It continued to be good though. It happened much more often than when we were together before, but not different. By this time, Terry had come back with a tray of crackers and some cheese.

"Terry, I'm sorry but I have to ask. Was it the same for you two? Getting into a routine? Was that part of it or am I just attempting to justify something?" 

She nodded. "I personally think that it's both. You guys were climbing the corporate ladder and the last thing that you thought of was keeping it alive. You and Jerry have to find a way to keep it interesting. Whatever you both define as interesting." She chuckled a little bit after saying the last interesting.

I popped in several crackers, one after another to sop up the extra alcohol. Then I thought about it. Maybe tonight? Maybe I can start on him on the way home? He'd never know it was coming. 

We were sitting in the back yard for several hours talking and drinking wine. But now, we were slowly sipping instead of quickly drinking it. We kept a pleasant buzz going. It's good to let your hair down once in a while. The 50 hour work weeks in hi-tech are draining. 

Dave came home at 5:30 and Jerry showed at 6:15. Dave saw that we were feeling little pain and since he didn't have to drive until 8, had a glass of wine with us.

When Jerry showed, he was presented with two loud women and a man who was trying unsuccessfully to shush them. We women were having a great time. I got up and hugged Jerry tight, we kissed, and I then I playfully goosed his ass. He was a bit flustered but I smiled at him and whispered into his ear, "We can take a cab home tonight if need be. Relax, take it easy if you want, we both deserve it lover."

"Sandy, how long have you ..." when he realized that it was going to be a rhetorical question. "I was going to ask you what you wanted to do this evening, but I see you've already started with your sister. Is that your second or third bottle?" I held up my left hand with two and a half fingers while Terry held up four, and we giggled when we compared our numbers. He shook his head in mock disbelief. 

He saw our condition, I'm sure that he didn't want to have to keep us from walking into things if we went out to eat as we planned. "How about me ordering Thai take out for the four of us? I know that they deliver." Terry and I nodded, Dave just shook his head in polite resignation. He and Terry rarely had the time to get a bit tipsy. There was so much to do with work, kids and the house for him to not let his partner-in-life safely ease out in the warm air and a couple of bottles of wine with her sister.

Jerry sat down, pulled out his phone and placed an order for delivery. That's when I handed him a glass of wine. 

I whispered into his ear, "Honestly, I'm not as drunk as you might think. I've missed you and we did talk about things being to routine, haven't we?" He nodded yes when I continued "So when we get to the condo, let's try something different." At that I put my tongue into his ear and he jumped, but with a smile. "The safe word is Yukon." His body actually jolted when I said safe word. We've never talked about anything that needed a safe word. 

He looked at me with a bit of shock in his face while I nodded yes. His body relaxed when he knew it was for real. I'm going to find out something about him tonight, and me too.

Dinner was pleasant and warm between the four of us. All of us had not been together in about a year. There was much to catch up on. During this time, I'd cast a few glances at Terry. I noticed that she was teasing my brother when she thought no one was looking. I didn't do that very often with Jerry. I never thought about it. Being driven for success shouldn't mean leaving everybody in the dust, does it? 

When Dave and Terry went back into the house with the plates and to get another bottle of wine, I pulled Jerry over and landed a big sloppy kiss on him. By now, he was a little bit more mellow and kissed back. When those two returned, Dave accidently dropped a fork, and everybody looked where it clanged to. That's when I felt somebody cup my left breast and squeeze gently. I jumped and stared back at Jerry. He was looking at the sky like nothing had happened. Then he gave me a 'Who me?' kind of look. Nice to know he's in on the plan.

We continued talking for another half hour, and it was getting late for those two. The kids needed picking up. Dave, who only had two glasses of wine all evening, had more than sobered up enough to pick up the kids. I looked at Jerry and he nodded. "It's time for us to get back to the condo. Thanks for picking up Sandy and a lovely evening." I gave goodbye hugs and we left.

As he pulled out of the driveway, I said "Jerry, the night is very young to get home right away. Could we stop off at The Pub in Beechwood? We haven't been there for a long time." Then I reached for his knee and slid my hand along his inner thigh, "And I think that this will wait a little bit, won't it?"

"You drive a hard bargain. But you're right. It'll be nice to go there for a drink or two alone." 

Walking into the pub, I told Jerry to find a place, I had something to take care of. I went into the washroom and straightened up my hair and makeup. A refresher of perfume, lipstick, unbuttoning the top two buttons of my blouse and I was ready.

Walking into the room, I saw he was at a table with two bar stools. It was beyond the far end of the bar. The place was pretty crowded, but it was a Friday night after all. I made it look like I looking for somebody, and caught the eyes of a few men along the way. There were a couple of empty chairs open along the way, and I was invited to sit at one or two of those tables. 

Jerry was a bit concerned as he had gotten my eye, but I didn't pay that much attention to him after that. When I got closer, I make hard eye contact and then let him draw me in. I finally arrived and the time was now. "Excuse me, is this chair taken? It's pretty crowded here and you don't appear to be holding this for any one now." In the cheesiest way I could, I batted my eyes. "Hi, my name is Eva, but my friends call me Eve." I held out my hand to shake his.

He got a very confused look on his face until it finally clicked. Gently holding my hand he said, "Please sit down Eve, my name's Adam. May I get you a drink?"

"Oh thank you, that would be wonderful. A merlot or a cab if you please." 

"I haven't seen you here before. Are you new in town?" 

"Oh yes and no. I lived here years ago and was supposed to meet a few of my girlfriends from college. Several of them did warn me that they might be very late. It all depended upon a deadline at their work. I'm a half hour late myself, so I don't think that they'll be here."

"If you don't mind me asking, what kind of work do you do?" 

"Oh, I teach mechanics." 

"High school? Trade school? It must be very interesting."

"Actually quantum mechanics. I'm at MIT. I teach in their graduate program."

"I'm very impressed. I've always had a question about that." Looking at me he paused, "Where do you find the spare parts for the quantums?" Then he stifled a chuckle. 

Not to be outdone, I came back with, "We can buy them on-line now. Amazon recently had a special on quarks. And the god particle, it's two for one if we order before Tuesday." Then we both busted out laughing.

"Adam, I think that it's so funny that most people don't know the original name of the god particle. It was actually called 'that god-damned particle'. Who says physicists don't have a sense of humor."

"I'm sorry Eve, I've been in heavy technical fields too and the humor is always lacking, nerdy or very cerebral. You have to take it where ever it pops up. But seriously, how did you get into that field? The competition has to be astounding."

"Oh, I was a math major in college and one thing led to another. Adam, what do you do?"

"It's more of what I haven't done. I also was a math major until the higher level math wore me out. As you know, at a certain level, you just can't get your head around it, or want to. I realized that I didn't want to even though I could still go on.  

"Got a Masters in it before I decided to call it quits on that front. Great set of skills though. I worked in the financial markets for a while. Created models for buying and selling. Was pretty successful for a couple of years until I realized that I didn't want to do that anymore and left. About 6 months later, the first of many crashes hit and I'd had seen enough to never want to return. I signed on to go to Saudi Arabia to work in logistics for a defense company for a couple of months." At this point he sighed, "And now I'm a middle manager in a bank. But please don't judge me on that." He cleared his throat and took a sip of his bourbon, "My passion is art and photography. That's what makes me come alive, the creativity of saying things with photos.

"What makes you come alive Eve?" 

"My work does a bit of that. The research is amazing, but like you, it's not my whole life. I also like art. Not so much modern art, although that has its place and time. I love Italian, French and Flemish art from 1450 till 1650. 

"I've been to Europe a couple of times and toured the great and not so great museums. Spellbinding at times. I was 12 inches from a Caravaggio once. Spent over an hour studying it. It was wonderful."

"You actually studied his brushwork? Wasn't it amazing? The texture along with his colors and subject. Shame he died so young, but then again, he was a rascal. His religious paintings spoke to people where the older Renaissance style didn't. You are one lucky woman to have studied it so closely."

This was getting real different. Jerry and I never spoke about art before. He knew that we both had math backgrounds and I had a physics minor undergrad. He played along with that. But knowledge of Caravaggio? Wow.

"Adam, I've never known anyone who knew about Caravaggio except that it was a name in art history books."

"Well, it's one of the things I'm familiar with. It's more photography that excites me. I don't have the skills for drawing. I wish I did.

"It's another thing with film. Ansell Adams and his black and white prints developed in specific gradations." He paused, searching for the right word. "I'm sorry, I'm not explaining it well. He.."

"Adam, what's your work like? What to you take pictures of?"

"I love taking pictures, but I don't feel that my work is anything more than OK. I've done some beautiful sunsets in the winter. I sometimes position myself to catch the moon over Lake Erie. I've done the silly things too. But the things I'm most proud of are taking pictures of some people I know. Sometimes I'm lucky enough to pull their inner self out without them knowing it. Pictures not set, not staged, but their inner being flows from the picture. It takes a lot of pictures to pull that one that says it all."

"Adam, that sounds so beautiful. That's real art. Art that speaks to people. I personally think that much of modern art is like a Rorschach test. You know, ink blots, two bears dancing, that sort of stuff. It's what the beholder interprets it as. What they project on to it. Campbell soup cans is somebody's idea of art. It's just not my style.




Second Chances Ch. 05



"You're telling me that you find what's in people, and show it in your photos. That's amazing, simply amazing." Adam and I spoke about art for the next 20 minutes, until our glasses were near empty.

"Adam, this has been an amazing conversation. I want to let you know that I'm not currently seeing anyone right now. I was wondering, are you? If you are, I'd like to respect that. So, are you?" I placed my hand on his and squeezed it slightly, looking into his eyes.

That's when he sprouted such a wonderful smile on his face. "I am completely surprised about that. A beautiful, intelligent and a feeling woman like you? I thought that you'd have to beat them off with a stick. I could see how some men could be threatened by that, but to me it makes you more exciting and mysterious." Then he sipped the last of his drink. 

"Eve, I'm also not currently seeing any one." He reached over and moved my wine glass to the side and then reached for my other hand. Do you think that I could talk you into seeing some of my pictures? I don't live far away. I think that you may be pleased. It would be wonderful if I could show them to you." 

"You are very much a gentleman. I'd love to see your work. Please lead the way." At that, he picked up my sweater and helped me put it on, the night was supposed to cool. He flagged the waitress and gave her a couple of bills. She looked at her receipts and thanked him profusely. He's always been a big tipper. He waited on tables while going through undergrad. He never forgot where he came from. So many people who make it do forget.

We left the pub and we were back at the condo in a few minutes. I haven't been back since that Friday I moved out. Walking up the stairs, good and some bad feelings came up and I think that he saw some hesitation from my steps. But Adam kept talking with Eve, asking her about her life and her dreams and plans.

We entered his condo and I was immediately struck by the differences from the time I lived there with him. He wasn't role playing. There were over a dozen fully framed and matted photos in the living room, and half of them were of me.

He took my sweater from me while I stared at his art. "This is totally amazing. These sunsets are amazing." My hands traced the frames as I looked at them, one at a time. Then I came across a picture of me. I was standing in a bathing suit looking at a Lake Erie beach. Even in a bathing suit, it wasn't sexual in a lustful way. It was elegant. It showed an inner strength that I sometimes feel I have. It really showed something inside of me. I hate to say it but I looked regal, strong, and totally strong. 

He put my hand in his then said, "So, do you like the picture?"

"I..I..I don't know what to say. Your work is beautiful." I stood there in silence for a minute. I was in awe of what he did, of what he saw. "You know, your model has a couple of pounds that she needs to lose. Don't you think that she's a little on the wrong side of the scale?" 

"Oh no Eve, the subject is perfect. It is her, it is real flesh and blood. There are women who look like Kate Moss, and others literally harming themselves to be like her. No, my subject was perfect. See her radiate health, power, vulnerability, humanity, love. Yes love. Those extra pounds that only you see make her her. She curvy and flirtatious, and sensual, oh so sensual. This is a real and wonderful and powerful woman. She's complete and I wouldn't change a thing." 

I went to another picture of me and saw something else. He came up behind me, wrapping his arms around me. "Eve, this one showed a totally different side of her. Do you see how she's stretching into the sun?" It was my one and only tai-chi class. I felt like a complete uncoordinated adolescent that day and never went back. 

"Do you see the grace and the tension in her body and her mind? Such a unity of being." Then very quietly, under his breath he whispered to himself, "a dam fool that let her slip away." He hugged me tightly and spoke into my ear, "Look at that beauty that grace, that..." and he trailed off. He couldn't put it into words, but I knew what he was saying. His picture of me allowed me to see things about me that I couldn't see on my own. I leaned back into his arms and pulled them tighter around me.

We were quiet for a minute when he reached around me and pulled me in for a kiss. A kiss from a new lover, a kiss from an old lover. My arms reached around and held him tight. 

As we stood there, both of our arms started to travel lower on each other's back. Then we started to grind into one another, breathing heavier. His hand slipped around my ass and grabbed me tight, and I squealed in delight. A few minutes of this had me where he wanted me, where I wanted to be. 

"Why don't we get a little more comfortable? Eve, the bedroom is down that hall, I'll get..." 

"Adam, whatever you get will have to wait," and I pulled him by the hand to the bedroom. There I had another surprise. Flowers were in the room, candles were ready to be lit. There were 2 50's style classic elegant champagne glasses on the dresser, not the modern thin flutes. Rose petals were on the floor leading to the bed and on the bed.

"The champagne's in the fridge, but we can wait until later," he said as he enveloped me with his arms from behind, caressing my breasts.

Turning around I said, "The only thing I want now is you and some wild sex. Damn, you make me so hot, you..." and with that he inserted his tongue into my mouth and started to unbutton my blouse. With our lips locked, I went after his belt and unbuttoned his dress pants. Standing there, we started to grind into one another again. 

He pulled away and pulled off his shirt as I tossed off my blouse. As he dropped his pants and took off his shoes and socks, I dropped my skirt, hose and my shoes. We had barely got to our underwear when we joined again. My tongue was locked in his mouth while we both started to finish undressing each other while standing. 

After unclasping my bra strap, he bent over and took my right nipple harshly into his mouth while he firmly massaged my left one. I moaned while running my fingers through his hair. "Oh that feels so good, keep sucking me, keep mashing me with your hands. Oh don't stop don't stop don't stop" 

He never was a rough lover before, we've always been soothing and tender and quiet. Not any more, we've been crossing those lines and there's no going back. "Oh babe, you like sucking my tits? Do you lover?" 

Sucking harder, he pulled his hand off my breast and thrust it between my dripping wet legs, and I squealed again. "You like my hand in you? Do you like me stroking your cunt? Do you?" Then he stopped cold. I tried to continue bouncing on his hand, but he wouldn't have it. Then I got it.

"Put your fucking hand back in or you'll never get that cock of yours in my mouth or cunt, you bastard, don't you dare stop." Right after I said cunt, he was back at it, stroking my pussy long and hard and a bit rough. 

"I love to hear you moan, moan for me, moan for me Eve, moan for this pick up at a bar. Moan for this dirty sex with a stranger. Moan for me." He inserted two fingers into me with his thumb rubbing my clit. 

"Screw you Adam." I was panting like mad, arching my back to reach more of his fingers in me. "Don't stop now, please don't stop now." I was begging, oh so close. "If you want to fuck this woman, you gotta finish doing her right now to earn her later." 

He smiled while he pulled his hand out of me. I whimpered slightly until I knew what he was going to do. He set me on the bed, stripped off my panties and spread my legs. With a look of lust, he dropped his boxers, leaned over and shoved his head between my legs. No tenderness, no finesse, he sucked my clit and stuck two fingers back into me. I was humping his face and immediately exploded into his mouth after the second hump. I rocked back and forth, I kept gasping for breath until I had to put my hand front of his face to stop him. He grinned at me like a Cheshire cat. 

This was some of the hottest sex we ever had. It was going to never be like it was before. That little conversation this afternoon had helped change our lives forever. I was still catching my breath when I realized that there was a hard cock next to me that I wanted to please.

Jerry was on his side watching me come down, patiently watching me. He saw me recover from a mind blowing organism, and now he saw me look at him. Looking into his eyes, I licked my lips. I could almost feel him will my mouth on his cock.

Now I was leaning over Adam or Jerry? It no longer mattered. I caressed his hard throbbing cock with my hands. One of the things we recently learned about each other was talking during sex. We both loved it but had been uncomfortable about it during most of our relationship. Now on his bed, I moved my mouth to his cock. I looked at his eyes and I saw Jerry and Adam. Who do I want to suck? Who do I want to get off?

"Oh Adam, do you always give your pickups such mind blowing organisms? Such a wonderful lover. Let me return the favor." He grinned as I started licking his cock up one side and down the other. Keeping eye contact is such a turn on. I could about see the flames coming from his eyes. I felt the heat of his member. I felt totally empowered and in control. I don't feel subservient at all. I felt the control I have over him now. It was being sexy, naughty and brazen and in control at the same time, what a rush. I saw the look of lust on his face as his hands reached to stroke my hair. I'm sure those hands were on the way to hold my head for a mouth fuck soon, but I may have other ideas, who knows.

As I continued sucking on his cock, his hands slowly enveloped my head. Between stroking him with my mouth and my hands, I tried to spread his legs a little, and he spread them for me. I reached under his balls and started massaging, slowly going lower and closer to his rosebud. 

As I started to touch it I said, "Adam, do you want to fuck this mouth? Do you want to hold my head and jam your cock down my throat?" I know that it was a fantasy of his, and I got a slight hump to my mouth for an answer. At that I enveloped his cock with my mouth and sucked and tongued him for a minute, and then pulled back. "Or do you want to fuck me now? Do you want that cock of yours in my tight pussy bareback?" That shocked him a bit. We talked about me going back on the pill, but I never told him I did. He thought that I'm playing with fire. He's got a worried look on his face so I took my mouth off of his cock and mouthed the word pill, and he smiled.

"You little whore, playing with my head while giving me head." And with that, he flipped me on my back and straddled my chest. Taking control away from me deliciously. He's made me suck his cock. He put a hand behind my head and pulled my face to his cock. Now he's in charge. He's in control as he put his cock back in my mouth, slowly pumping it in and out. He's not anywhere in far enough to make me gag. But he played me, he's in control. "Suck this cock, keep it good and hard. You look so good with a cock in your lips. Ahhh yes, that's real good." 

He shallowly pumped my mouth and placed a hand in my pussy, started frigging me slow. I began to moan and loose myself a little. This wasn't tender romantic lovemaking. This is raw sex with a lover. A lover who used me and make me feel like a toy and a lover at the same time. 

He laughed and wiggled his cock in my mouth to get my attention. I had stopped pleasuring him, I had stopped sucking. Then I heard a commanding 'Suck it', and I did. I made my tongue do double duty on the sensitive underside of his cock head as his hand took me so near the edge.

In a minute I closed my legs together over his hand. This domineering lover yanked his hands back and forth in their prison of my pussy. He pulled me over the edge. He pulled his cock out of my mouth and shoved his tongue back into my mouth, making me taste me while he's tasted his pre-cum. I thrashed around and came down from my climax. I collapsed again on my back, spent like a rag doll.

Adam hovered over me and started jacking himself off over me and came after three strokes. Ropes of cum covered my tits as I tried to regain my breath. He finished and slumped down next to me, panting. I pulled him on to my chest and we both wore this glorious cum, wet, sticky, salty, and warm. The fragrance of our sex. We collapsed in each other's arms smelling of wonderful sex. He pulled a sheet over us and we both nodded off.

I never felt him leave the bed, but a wonderful man woke me by caressing my shoulder. "Sandy my love, would you like something?"

I stretched and looked around. It's 1 AM here and 10 PM in Portland, but I got up at 3:30 to travel. Jerry handed me a glass of champagne. For my price point, this was a very good bottle. He took some cheese and offered me some. I finally woke up enough and remembered the last hour. "Jerry, did we really do all that? And we didn't even get to fucking yet?" 

Laughing at me Jerry said, "I have no idea what you and Terry were talking about this afternoon, but I don't ever think things will be the same." Then he bent over and gave me a kiss. I scooted myself up and took some more of the champagne and some of the meats this time. "I've never felt so free with you and you with me. Who came up with the pick up at the bar? Wait a minute, I don't know if I really want to know." and he chuckled.

"Jerry, all Terry did was to tell me that we needed to keep things alive between us. And that it gets harder as more things come into life. I didn't want to get back to the condo so quick and the pick up at the bar came to me in a flash. Thanks for playing along." I caressed his face and looked into his eyes.

"When I came back here and you had these pictures of me on the wall, I was blown away by it. I never knew you were into art."

"I guess we're even, I never knew you were into role playing." He smiled at me and started to move his hands from my shoulders to my neck. He let his arm rest in the valley between my breasts while sliding his fingers along my neck. I moved his hand from my neck to a mound a bit lower to the left. His eyes immediately lit up as well as my nipples. He leaned over and started sucking on them, licking off the cream he had left on them. He's never done that before, heck, we've never done half the things today before either. 

I reached over and started to stroke his cock. It was already getting hard from his sucking on me. "Excuse me sir, but you are one ahead of me and I need to catch up. As long as today is a day for different things, how about going bareback up my ass? Would you like to shoot into me?" I stroked his cock harder, purring. "Let me feel you fill my bottom with your cum. I want you to fuck my ass and frig my cunt." I was reaching over and put my mouth on his cock. Licking and sucking him, giving him pleasure. Getting him hard.

He began stroking my head with his hands, not an excited stroke, but a loving stroke. I had offered him my ass that I know he loves to fuck, and he's not moving on it.

I look up at him. I see tenderness, a love, and tears out of his eyes. "What's wrong Jerry? What's going on?"

He shook his head no, then held up a finger to say wait. He wiped his eyes with the back of his hand. "I never thought that I'd ever see you back here after what I did. I never thought it would happen. You've forgiven me for what I did, I can't forget what I did to you. I'm sorry, I'm overwhelmed by it all."

I pulled myself to a sitting position. "Jerry, the time you came for my procedure, I told you that I can forgive, but I can't forget. There's another part to that. It's also true that what happened becomes less and less important to us. Look at us, in these months, we've both tried hard to rekindle our relationship. We're better at communicating, balancing our careers and getting closer together even with 2,500 miles apart. We're both not the same. 

"I owned my part in how our relationship deteriorated. It wasn't a one way street for you alone. You also showed me what was happening with Tim. I did my share too. But look at us now," I glanced down at the two of us naked in bed sticky from his cum. I couldn't help but chuckle. He was confused until I pointed out a dried blob of his cum in some hair on his belly, and he smiled then he began to chuckle. "Look at us. Is this two people who have real problems with one another? Or is this two people trusting each other rebuilding an interesting life with one another? 

"Jerry, it's been a work in progress for us both. We've worked out issues now and for the rest of our lives we'll continue to work out issues. We know what it's like to not do that. There are no guarantees, but I think that we both know we will do it.

"I told you that I forgave you. Can you forgive yourself? If this aggrieved independent emotional stable, successful professional girlfriend can get over it because she see who you really are, how about you?" 

He reached over and hugged me for all he was worth, and I gave it right back. We held each other for what seemed like forever. 

Then in breaking apart, I was the first to talk. "I have one more thing to add. You are one big lunk head." And I started then he joined me in laughing, holding each other in another hug. 

When we broke this time, he added "Emotional stable? With Ben and Jerry's in the fridge?" and I hit him with a pillow while we rolled on the bed laughing. 

He ended up on top of me, looking into my eyes. There is no sorrow in those eyes. There is love and understanding. I spread my legs and reached down to find his cock. My left hand found it, and it was getting firmer by the second. My other hand found his face, and in stroking that, that became softer. He kissed me, not a kiss of sexual lust, but a kiss of romantic passion.

Jerry slowly entered me and we made love, savoring each moment. There was no hurrying, no sexual thrills, but an emotional binding expressed in our love making that helped us become one, become whole. I remember him climaxing slightly before I did and us falling asleep. I was held in his arms. It was a peaceful sleep for us both.

When morning came, I was wide awake long before Jerry was. I quietly got out of bed and made breakfast. We planned to go out for a morning run along the parks in Shaker Heights. Another part of our mutual self-improvement plan. It helps that it's a beautiful run. 

Fresh brewed coffee is Jerry's alarm clock in the morning. A light breakfast of fruit and yogurt and we're good to go. We're not pushing it, it's a combination of walking and jogging for a three mile circuit. We've been doing this together and apart since our last visit together three weeks ago. It's helped both my energy level and my slight weight gain has totally stopped and maybe started to reverse. Drinking all that wine yesterday didn't help the weight, it did heal the mind and the soul.

Getting back to the condo, we headed for the kitchen. "I'll get the water to rehydrate. Can you pull the fruit out for the snack Jerry?" I hear a "Yep" and we met at the table. The first glass of water went down real easy.

"It's so pleasant running here, the parks with the water features, the trails all in the middle of Shaker Heights." Our water glasses were empty by now, so I stood up and grabbed his glass. "I'll refill," and went to the sink.

Refilling the glasses, I suddenly felt his hand on my arm and then both arms giving me a hug. I leaned back in his arms and both of his hands covered my breasts, gently massaged them in unison while his mouth was kissing my neck. "Oh Jerry, I take it that you're not interested in cold water right now?" I rubbed my ass into his crotch. I felt his hardness.

His arm was now going under my shirt and the bra clasp was undone. Both of his hands reached under the bra and rubbed my nipples, occasionally rolling one or the other of them. I moaned in appreciation. "You said that we needed to keep things alive, is this alive for you Sandy?"




Second Chances Ch. 05



"Jerry, why don't we take a shower and ..."

"Why don't I take you on the counter top now? We can take a shower when we're finished." He grabbed me tighter then slipped one of his hands into the back of my gym shorts. "Do you remember that you offered something last night" As his hand went from cupping my ass to massaging my rosebud. 

"Here? Now? In the kitchen? Don't you think..." was all I got out as he leaned me over the counter top, pulling down my gym shorts and panties. He dropped his shorts and reached over to the olive oil on the counter top. He poured some into an empty plate that was there and coated his fingers.

"Sandy you know I love your ass" and he kissed my neck and massaged my rosebud. "Don't you want your lover to take your ass right here, right now?" He slipped his other hand to my left breast and rolled my nipple. "We can clean each other up in the shower when we're finished." That's when his left hand dropped to my pussy and started on my clit. Front and back door occupied. "I want to fill your ass, I want to take my cock and fingers and make you cum so badly now, here, in the kitchen, any place but right now." He was getting me wet without my consent. I loved it. Keeping it alive is not all roses and thank you. It's sometimes being ravaged by your partner, being treated like a sex goddess, or acting like a whore with your lover.

He inhaled my tongue while pushing his finger slightly into my ass, pumping it slowly. He wanted me, he wanted to use me, abuse me, love me and make me the most satisfied person in the world. And I wanted to show him that this should be part of our life together. I wanted him to use me now.

He stopped, turned me around and set me on the counter top, spreading my legs for him. Looking into my eyes, his face descended onto my pussy with one finger massaging the outside of my ass, pumping in beat with his tongue. He was savoring me, eating me out wonderfully so. 

"Oh yes, I love getting head from you Jerry, I so love you giving head to me. Eat this pussy, stroke my ass." He pulled one of my legs over his shoulder, then the other, having my pussy right at his mouth. That's when I felt his finger rub my rosebud a bit harder.

"Oh yes, you're going fuck my ass now, aren't you. Just keep getting me prepared, just keep going slowly lover." His mouth left my pussy and I was expecting to hear something from him. That's when I felt something different, his finger pulled away and his tongue was nibbling by cheeks. Then...I'm getting rimmed. I was getting rimmed, he was tonguing my ass. "Oh yes, that is so delicious. Push that talented tongue of yours in my ass." I moaned on the counter top and pulled his head closer into my ass.

I can't wait until I get to do it to him. "If you love it half as well as I do. Oh, oh, oh yesssss. Lick my ass lover, put that tongue up my ass, keep sticking your tongue into it." 

He pulled back with his mouth and two oiled fingers went into my ass slowly. As I relaxed, he started to slowly pump as he started to lick my pussy again. "Keep stretching my hole for your cock, keep fucking my ass with your fingers, oh yes, oh yes." 

He pulled his mouth away and said, "You like things up your ass little lady? What do you like me doing to your wonderful ass? Tell me, tell me or I'll stop."

"Don't you dare, don't you stop. I want you to put that cock of yours up my ass. I want you to frig my cunt while you're fucking me. That's what you want to hear lover? Or do you want me to beg for an ass fucking like a cheap whore."

He pulled his face away from my pussy, "I'm not fucking a cheap whore, I'm fucking my lover, my partner." 

"But you still want me to beg for it, don't you? Yes lover, I'm not a cheap whore, but I love how you make us both feel so slutty. Fuck my ass, make me come with your cock and your fingers."

At that, he pulled his fingers away from my bottom, replaced by his oiled cock. He slowly used his cock like a dildo, stroking my lips, teasing my clit, almost putting it in me. I groaned. Can this man tease me. Then he touched my rosebud with it. "Yes, slowly put that cock in me. Fuck this ass, fuck your lover," I panted, "then make me come with that cock of yours and those glorious fingers frigging me."

I wasn't on all fours looking away, I was on my back on the kitchen counter looking directly at my love Jerry. I was going to see him while he fucked my ass. I love it, we've never done it this way before. 

His fingers doing magic on my clit and his cock at my rosebud, I threw my hands behind me to keep me from sliding. 

CRASH. 

We knocked the toaster oven to the floor, the glass door shattering. Shards of glass everywhere.

He looked at me in shock, and he must have seen the shock on my face. Then we both started laughing, long and hard. Talk about killing the moment.

"Ok Jerry, you get the broom and I'll get the vacuum and we'll..." And that's when he kicked away his gym shorts on the side and picked me up into his arms. He backing away, he carried me away from the kitchen. 

"Aren't we going to clean up the mess? The glass, the toaster, the ..."

"I said that I was going to fuck you right here and right now. Here is now going to be the living room. Right now is right now. Everything else will wait. That other stuff isn't important." That's when he placed me on the couch and got on his knees, spreading my legs. He took off the rest of our clothes.

"Now where were we?" I giggled. He smiled as he leaned over and kissed me while I grabbed for his cock. It wasn't so very hard, but I wasn't worried about that. Three strokes and he was getting real firm. Jerry normally would have been the one to stop everything, clean up the mess, do what had to be done. Be proper and all that. This change was one of the things we were working on. We needed to live for now sometimes, not always putting things off.

My hand was rapidly succeeding in getting him where I needed him, hard. "Well my hunk of love, when do you think you'll have me ready? I'm still waiting for your cock. Hmmm?" Then I purred. He loves it when I purr. 

Two of his fingers went back into my rosebud and I exhaled and humped his hand a little. "Yes, that feels so good lover, I want your nice hard cock in my ass." He leaned over and shoved his tongue into my mouth and started pumping my ass harder. Then he slid his thumb into my pussy. 

"Ooooohhhhhyyyeeeessss" I started panting through his mouth. "Giving me a double, damn, you know how to make me hot. Fill both of my holes. Get that cock of yours in me now, I can't wait."

He positioned his cock at my ass. As he removed his hand, his cock touched my hole. Then with a little bit of pressure, he began to slowly enter me, slowly. At the same time he started to deliciously frig my clit with his other hand. I was leaking so hard that I got some extra lube. He was scrunching up his face, concentrating on entering me on pleasuring me, not to hurt me. I love this man. 

Slowly he slid his cock in as he read my face. "Ok, just a little slower now, just a little slower now." This is the only part I hate. Thank god he doesn't have a monster. I'd never let it get in me there."

As he popped in, I motioned for him to stop. I needed to get used to it. I looked at his face and he was smiling at me with a bit of a mischievous grin. "You love your cock in my ass don't you big fella? Your nice cock in my tight ass."

"I love my cock in your ass and watching you at the same time." That's when I nodded, then humped him a little. He slowly started to pump me. 

"Fuck this ass Jerry, nice and slow until I tell you, then you can fuck me hard and pound away. Just let me get ready for you."

"Maybe or maybe not I'll pound away. Your ass is such a good slow fuck." His fingers were on my clit now and I was starting to moan.

"Oh I never knew how great it would be to see you when you fuck my ass, see and feel your hands in my pussy. You're going to make me come soon." I started panting again, he was taking me there again like he always does.

"How do you want to cum lover? Do you want to cum in my ass? Over my tits? Not in my mouth now lover, no condom, no mouth."

He kept up his determination to hold off and I started mine to make him cum.

"You know what's going to happen in the shower? I'm going to kneel at your feet and suck your cock. Suck it good and hard lover. Then you're going to fuck my mouth. You're going to hold my head and jam that cock down my throat. I know you want that, jam it down my throat, deep throat it."

I grabbed his nipples "and I going to swallow your load."

That did it for him and I felt him pulse in my ass. "I'm going to fill that tight ass of yours NOW." He jammed his cock into me as far as he could. I started to cum a second before him.

His hands were a blur on my clit and I felt that first shot in my ass. He pumped me when he came, he frigged my pussy, he put me over the edge. It took minutes for us to come down, and he finally rested on his elbows over me. We both panted as he grabbed a tissue and pulled out. A little bit of clean up, but rest was first.

"That was great Jerry, that was some of the hottest sex we've had yet. Definitely, the hottest in the living room. I was wondering how long you were going to keep going."

"Forever and a day Sandy, we're going to go forever and a day."



Second Chances Ch. 05



The horror of what she had just done dawned on her, and Naomi's face flooded with bright color. "Oh, I'm so sorry. I saw you from down the street, and I thought..." She trailed off, realizing that he already knew what she thought. Then, her expression turned even more mortified. "Oh please, Mr. McKenzie. Please promise me you won't mention this to Aidan. I couldn't bear it if he knew."

Liam cocked his head thoughtfully to one side as he studied her. "Hmmm, I'll have to think about that one. I was just about to head home. Are you going to be in town long?"

Naomi wiped the last of her tears away and shook her head. "No, I just came in for a few supplies. I'm finished buying what I needed."

"Alright," Liam said with a grin. He offered her his arm, and she took it tentatively. "Why don't we round up our horses and ride home together?"

Once they were mounted and riding toward home, he turned to her with a puzzled frown. "Would I be wrong in assuming that you are in love with my brother?"

Naomi shot him a startled glance. "No," she murmured. "Why do you ask?"

"Well, you said back there in town that Aidan had asked you to marry him."

Naomi blushed and looked away. "That's right."

They plodded along a few moments before Liam continued. "Well, maybe I'm missing something here, but you just said you love Aidan, and I know for sure that Aidan loves you or he wouldn't have asked you to marry him. I'm just wondering why two people who love each other would rather be miserable and apart than to be together." He looked at her expectantly, waiting for her answer.

Naomi gave him a lame shrug. "It's complicated."

"Then explain it to me. We've got time before we get to your place."

"I would rather not talk about it. I have a good reason for refusing Aidan's proposal."

"Does he know what that reason is?"

Naomi shook her head. "I tried to tell him once, but he misunderstood what I meant."

"Hmmm," Liam murmured thoughtfully. "Well, all I know is that Aidan has been miserable for the past few weeks. I'm worried about him."

Naomi searched his face, her eyes full of concern. "Why? Is something wrong with him?"

"I've never seen him like this. He barely talks to Brian and me. He walks around like he's in a daze all day, not really interested in anything. He barely eats, hardly sleeps, and he doesn't look too well. To tell you the truth, I think you've broken his heart."

"He'll get over it. Someday, he'll meet a pretty young lady and forget all about me."

Liam pulled his horse to a stop and waited until she met his eye. "I wouldn't bet on it, if I were you. Aidan has never been the fickle sort. Once he gives his heart to something, its forever. He's not going to get over you, Mrs. Tisdale, so unless you want him to go through the rest of his life being unhappy, you had better think of a way to patch things up with Aidan."

Naomi looked away, biting her bottom lip as she considered what he had told her. Finally, she looked at Liam again. "Tell me something, Mr. McKenzie. If you truly loved someone, but you knew if you married him, you could never give him the one thing that would make him happy, would you still marry him?"

Liam thought about it for a few moments before answering. "I would if I knew that the one thing that would make him happy was me."

They urged their horses into a walk and several moments of silence went by, as Naomi considered his words. Liam leaned close to her and nudged her with his elbow.

"I think the least you could do is explain your reason to Aidan and let him decide. He's a smart man. He'll make the right decision if you are honest with him."

"Maybe you're right," she murmured. "Maybe I should at least explain to him." She thought for a few more minutes and then looked at Liam. "Are you going to tell him about what happened today?"

"Not if you go to the dance with me this Saturday." Seeing her startled expression, Liam laughed. "Don't worry. I'm not trying to seduce you or anything. Aidan will be there, and I think seeing him at the dance might give the two of you a chance to patch things up."

"What about that pretty young lady I saw you with today? Don't you want to take her to the dance?" Liam blushed, and Naomi smiled at his sheepish expression. "What?"

"That was one of the saloon girls from Harvey's. She was trying to drum up a little business."

Realizing her blunder, Naomi burst out laughing. It was the first real laughter since she had ended her relationship with Aidan. Liam watched her with a grin. They reached the turnoff to her house, and once again, they stopped their horses.

"So what do you say? Will you go to the dance with me this Saturday?"

"Won't Aidan be angry with you for bringing me?"

Liam's eyes twinkled with mischief. "He'll be furious. He'll be ready to wring my neck. He'll be eaten up with jealousy. Shall I pick you up at six o'clock?"

His grin was infectious, and Naomi returned it with a nod. "Yes, Mr. McKenzie, I will go to the dance with you. And if Aidan will still speak to me, I'll explain to him why I've been refusing his proposals." 



Second Chances Ch. 06



There were two days between Naomi's meeting with Liam and the Saturday dance. During those days, Naomi thought of little other than what she would say when she saw Aidan again. She was full of hope, full of dread, full of fear. Still, she had made up her mind to get everything out in the open, once and for all.

She was still terrified that Aidan would marry her and then regret it later. If that happened, she would bear the pain when the time came. What she couldn't bear was the thought that her refusal to marry him was making Aidan unhappy.

Naomi prepared carefully for the dance. She pressed her favorite dress of mauve satin with small cap sleeves that sat just off her shoulders. The rounded neckline was cut low in both the front and back, showing off her long slender neck and lovely shoulder blades. The dress was cinched tightly at her waist, and the full skirt was trimmed with yards of delicate French lace. The color complemented her ivory complexion, bringing a blush of pink to her cheeks. She dressed her hair into a sedate knot at her crown, but left tiny ringlets to dance coyly around her ears.

Liam arrived promptly at six o'clock, and when he saw her, he released a slow whistle of approval. His grin was boyish when he met her eye.

"You look ravishing, Mrs. Tisdale. I have no doubt you are going to knock Aidan's senses for a loop."

Naomi laughed with pleasure. "Thank you, Mr. McKenzie. You look quite handsome yourself."

Liam was dressed in his Sunday best, a somber blue coat and slacks, a crisp white shirt, and a tie. He wore a pair of black, polished boots and a black hat.

"I bet all the girls at the dance will be sick with jealousy when they see you with me at the dance," Naomi said with a grin. She let him help her with her wool shawl, and she pulled her cabin door closed.

"Don't you worry about them, Mrs. Tisdale," Liam said, as he helped her onto the seat of his wagon. He jumped up to join her, and they started toward town. "If I were you, I would be concerned about Aidan. He's not going to take kindly to me poaching on his preserves." He faced her with a wink. "I'm not worried for myself, I can outrun him. But I don't know about you. Are you sure you are up to handling his temper? I wouldn't want to be on the receiving end when Aidan gets really mad."

Naomi swallowed hard. She had never seen Aidan get really mad, and she felt the first twinges of uncertainty about their plan. She took a deep breath and gave Liam a shaky smile.

"I'm willing to risk it. Besides, Aidan probably deserves to be mad at me. I haven't been totally honest with him, but I'm going to remedy that tonight. Provided I can get him to talk to me, that is. He may not want to have anything to do with me after the way I've hurt him."

Liam smiled and gave her a nod of approval before turning back to the horses. "Oh, I don't doubt for a second that he'll talk to you. When he sees you in that dress, he's going to want to keep every other man from talking to you."

***********

Aidan and Brian rode their horses to the dance. Aidan hadn't wanted to attend, but Brian and Liam had cajoled and nagged him until he had reluctantly agreed. He knew they wouldn't give him a moment's peace unless he went to the dance. He didn't plan to stay long. The thought of being surrounded by flirting, simpering young ladies, all intent on snaring him as their husband, made his gut clench with dread. He would put in a brief appearance and then slip off to his home, leaving his brothers to enjoy the remainder of the night.

There wasn't much chance of Aidan finding any enjoyment in this night or any other. He couldn't get his mind off of Naomi. Ever since she had visited him, even his bedroom had ceased to be a haven. Every time he entered it, he was assailed by visions of her, naked and wanton, whimpering in his arms, begging him to take her. He had cursed himself for a fool at least a thousand times. Maybe he was wrong to have ended things with her. Perhaps he should take whatever she offered him and be happy to get it. At least then, he would have her some of the time. But the thought of making love to her, always wondering whether she truly loved him or was just using him to appease her loneliness, was too painful for him to accept.

The sound of Brian whistling a cheerful tune brought Aidan's attention back to the present. He eyed his brother speculatively, wondering yet again why he was behaving strangely. Both Brian and Liam were up to something, but Aidan didn't know what. He had seen them earlier in the evening with their heads together, whispering to each other. When he had appeared, they acted as if nothing was going on, but he knew better. Then, Liam had left early, to pick up his date for the dance.

Aidan's brow furrowed as he faced Brian. "You seem awfully cheerful."

Brian shrugged. "I was just thinking about Liam. He's a lucky devil, taking the prettiest girl in town to the dance. I guess you and I will have to settle for the leftovers."

Aidan's frown grew deeper, realizing he didn't know which girl Liam was escorting. "Who is Liam taking to the dance?"

Brian didn't meet his gaze. "He said he was taking Mrs. Tisdale. Seems she was happy to be getting out of the house. Must get pretty lonely living there by herself."

Aidan drew his horse to an abrupt stop and eyed Brian. "He's taking Naomi?" When Brian nodded, Aidan's expression turned black. "And you knew about this?" Again, Brian gave him a hesitant nod. "Hell fire and damnation! I can't believe it. I never would have figured my own brothers for a couple of back-stabbers."

"Hey, wait just a minute," Brian protested, struggling to keep a grin from his face. "We thought it was over between you and Mrs. Tisdale. Liam and I didn't see any reason why one of us shouldn't try our luck with her. After all, she is a very beautiful woman. It seems like a shame for her to be so isolated. I see no reason at all why Liam and I shouldn't visit her from time to time, as long as we're discreet of course."

Aidan released a snarl of rage as he grabbed Brian by his lapels and jerked him forward until their noses were mere inches apart. "You'll stay away from Naomi if you know what's good for you, is that understood?"

"Okay, okay," Brian said, nodding his head. "I understand, but you might want to explain it to Liam. He was really looking forward to his date tonight. He said he didn't know whether he would be home tonight and not to worry if we didn't see him until breakfast."

The look on Aidan's face was priceless. He released Brian with a shove and kicked his horse into a gallop. Brian sat stunned for only a second before going in hot pursuit. It was promising to be an exciting evening.

**********

The dance was in full swing. Liam had introduced Naomi to a countless number of friendly farmers and their families. Most of them greeted her warmly, although it didn't escape Naomi's notice that she received several less-than-friendly glances from pretty young ladies. It was obvious that Liam McKenzie was a hot commodity in the area.

A small band had set up in one corner of the large barn. Lanterns had been hung from the rafters, and most members of the crowd danced and laughed to the sound of twin fiddles, a guitar, harmonica, washboard and spoons. The mood was lively and carefree as Liam whirled her through one dance after another. Naomi laughed and danced, but she kept a watchful eye on the door, hoping Aidan would appear soon.

Finally, she spotted him. He was scanning the room intently, obviously looking for someone. When he spotted her, he headed straight toward her, zigzagging through the crowd with a feral gleam in his eye. Naomi leaned close to Liam, and her voice came out as a nervous squeak.

"He's here! He's coming straight toward us."

Liam looked over her shoulder and spotted his brother. It was all he could do not to laugh at the look on his face. "Uh oh. We've really done it now. He looks as mad as a wet hen."

Aidan appeared by their side, bestowing a hard glare on each of them in turn. "Liam, Mrs. Tisdale." He gave them a mocking bow. "Do you mind if I cut in?"

The tone of his voice made it clear that he didn't care whether they minded or not, he was going to do so. Liam shrugged and stepped back, directing Naomi into Aidan's arms.

"Be my guest," Liam said. He gave Naomi a wink. "I'll get us some punch."

Aidan pulled her against him, and his muscles were as rigid as stone as he held her close for a slow dance that was just starting. Naomi swallowed hard and gave him her best attempt at a brave smile.

"Hello Aidan," she said softly. "How have you been?"

Aidan scowled at her. "Don't pretend like you care. I was a lot better before I realized how quickly you intended to replace me. Of all the men you could have chosen as your next lover, did you have to pick my brother?"

Naomi gasped. "Aidan, it's not like that at all. I only attended the dance so that I could see you."

Aidan grunted, refusing to look at her. "I find that difficult to believe. You know where I live. You could have come to see me anytime you wanted."

Naomi stroked his shoulder, trying to soften his mood. "You made it clear you didn't want to see me anymore, Aidan."

He muttered a curse under his breath. He leaned close so others couldn't hear as he growled in her ear. "I never said that. I said I didn't want to keep sneaking around with you. But if you insist on finding someone to warm your bed, that someone will be me and not my brother or any other man."

Naomi heaved a sigh of frustration. "We're back to that. I think we had better get out of here so that we can talk. I came here to talk with you. Do you think we could find somewhere a bit more private?"

Aidan stopped dancing and searched her face, finding only honesty in her blue eyes. "You want to talk?" Seeing her nod, he narrowed his eyes suspiciously. "Talking isn't going to change things between us."

"You haven't heard what I have to say. I've been doing a lot of thinking about us, about our relationship, and I think that its time for me to be honest with you."

Her answer intrigued him, and Aidan scanned her face for a moment longer before taking her hand firmly in his. "Come on. I'm taking you home."

They threaded their way through the crowd to where Liam and Brian stood talking. Their expressions were wary as they watched him approach. Aidan stepped to Liam, leaning close enough that Liam had to take a step backward as Aidan gave him a hard stare.

"I'm taking Naomi home. You can take my horse. Don't be surprised if you don't see me before breakfast." Seeing Liam's eyes widen slightly, Aidan raised a challenging brow. "Have you got any problems with that?"

Liam grinned and shook his head. "None at all."

"Good," Aidan said firmly.

Without another word, he led Naomi out to his wagon and lifted her onto the seat. Taking up the reins, he urged the horses toward home and set them to their fastest pace. Naomi sat beside him, praying that she could find the right words to make things right between them.

Neither of them spoke on the short drive home. Aidan's curiosity was only one of the emotions he was experiencing. It was overshadowed by suppressed anger and jealousy. Seeing Naomi in Liam's arms had clarified one point in his mind. There was no way in hell he could walk away from her. Even if she would never love him like she loved her dead husband, Aidan would kill before he would let any other man take his place as Naomi's lover.

When they reached her home, Aidan hopped to the ground and reached to help Naomi. He set her to the ground and kept his hands on her waist.

"I intend to stay the night," he stated baldly. Seeing no objection from her, he nodded. "You go inside while I unhitch the horses and get them settled."

Naomi nodded her acceptance and went into the cabin. She paced restlessly, waiting for him to return. She finally decided to change out of her dress, and by the time Aidan came through the door, she was dressed in her cotton nightgown, sitting on the bed. He eyed her speculatively, throwing the bolt in place and shrugging out of his coat. He undressed methodically, removing his tie, shirt, boots and socks beneath her watchful gaze. Finally, he removed his breeches before sitting on the side of the bed.

Aidan met her eyes squarely. "Alright Naomi, I'm all ears. What did you want to talk to me about?"

Naomi took a deep breath and plunged in head first. "I can never have children. I'm barren." She waited for Aidan to say something, but he simply narrowed his eyes as he studied her, so she went on nervously. "Don't you understand? That's why I refused to marry you. I knew that you would want children. It wouldn't be fair to let you marry me, knowing that someday you would grow to resent me because I could never give you a family. I couldn't bear the thought that after a few years of marriage, you would regret choosing me as your wife."

Several minutes of strained silence ticked by. Naomi grew increasingly uneasy as she watched the muscles beginning to flex in Aidan's cheek. He said nothing, merely staring at her thoughtfully as his face grew progressively angrier.

"Aidan, say something please," she whispered.

When he spoke, his voice was deathly calm. "This is the secret you've been hiding from me?"

"I tried to tell you once before, remember?"

His scowl grew even blacker. "You mean the time you let me believe that you couldn't stomach the idea of me fathering your child?"

Naomi shook her head in denial. "I never said that, Aidan. You misinterpreted what I said. You jumped to that conclusion."

"But you knew I misunderstood and you let me go on believing it, believing that you wouldn't marry me because you were still in love with your dead husband." He watched as she nodded her head shamefully. "You let me spend the past several weeks in hell rather than to have the courage to tell me the truth."

"I was trying to do what was best for you, Aidan. I thought that if I let you go, you would find someone else to make you happy. I didn't want you to see me as less than a woman because I can't bear children."

Aidan stared at her for another few moments before he growled low in his throat. He grasped her wrist in an iron grip and pulled her across the bed, laying her face down over his knees. Naomi's eyes widened with alarm as he placed a firm arm over her waist and flipped the back of her nightgown up to her shoulders, exposing her naked bottom.

"Aidan, what are you doing?" she squeaked.

"I'm giving you a spanking, just like you deserve," he said calmly.

He brought his hand down with a loud smack, igniting a stinging fire in Naomi's bottom. She squealed and thrashed, but he held her down, landing an equally hard blow on the opposite cheek. He settled into a steady rhythm, ignoring her cries and pleas as he meted out justice until her entire bottom was red and hot. Naomi finally stopped fighting, realizing that she couldn't escape from his firm grip. She cried quietly, yelping each time his hand connected with her backside. When she didn't think she could stand it a moment longer, he stopped.

Aidan rubbed her sore bottom with soothing strokes, listening to her soft cries and admiring her red bottom. He smiled grimly as he held her across his knees. That had felt good. It was just the relief he had needed. Now, he would be able to reason with her. He waited until she had calmed somewhat before he questioned her.

"Naomi, all this time, you've been thinking that you knew what's best for me better than I do. You've been making decisions on my behalf instead of letting me make my own decisions, is that right?"

Naomi bit her lip, wishing she could see his face. She couldn't tell what he was thinking from his calm voice. She took a deep breath and answered in a shaky voice.

"I didn't want you to stop loving me. I thought you would be happier with a woman who could give you children."

"You didn't answer my question," he said, still soothing her bottom with calm strokes of his hand. "Have you been keeping me from making my own decisions because you thought you knew what was best for me?"

"Yes," she whispered.

She jumped when he landed another slap on her burning bottom. He resumed his punishment, not stopping until Naomi was helplessly squirming and tensing her bottom, trying to ease the fiery pain. Once again, he resumed his calming strokes, allowing her time to catch her breath before he continued.

"From now on, I'll make my own decisions. Is that clear?"

"Yes," she cried, nodding her head to signal her agreement.

She tried to rise, but he firmed his arm around her waist, holding her still on his lap. He continued to knead her bottom as the moments stretched out and Naomi's tension mounted. When he spoke again, she jumped.

"Is it also true that you have been comparing me to your dead husband? Did you assume I would react in the same way as him when I found out you couldn't have any children?"

Naomi squeezed her eyes shut, not wanting to reply to his question. She had a sinking feeling in her stomach. Aidan slapped her hard on the bottom, making her jerk and squeal.

"Answer me, Naomi," he commanded calmly.

"Yes," she gasped.

He resumed spanking her, striking her even harder than before. By the time he stopped, it felt like molten lava had been poured over her bottom, and Naomi's face was streaked with tears. Once again, he soothed her, caressing her softly with his calloused hand as she cried. When he spoke, Aidan's voice was gentle but firm, full of conviction.

"Don't ever make that mistake again. I am not your dead husband. I am your soon-to-be second husband, and I will always love you just the way you are, children or no children. Is that clear?"

Naomi nodded vigorously. Her heart was pounding with excitement. Her bottom hurt like crazy, but the feeling of his firm hand massaging her bruised posterior was sheer bliss. She could feel his erection, hard and hot and throbbing, poking against her belly. Naomi bit her lip as she felt her juices seeping out to flow down her inner thighs, and she squeezed her legs together, hoping he wouldn't notice.

"When you knew I misunderstood you about why you wouldn't marry me, do you think it was fair to let me go on believing a lie?"

Naomi moaned and shook her head, squeezing her eyes tightly shut as she braced for another spanking. Aidan surprised her when he spoke again instead.

"Do you know that by letting me believe a lie, you have just put me through weeks of torment, when I nearly went insane without you?"

"I didn't mean to hurt you, Aidan," she whispered miserably.

Instead of answering, Aidan set her bottom on fire once more. By the time he finished, his hand was beginning to hurt, and Naomi was limp across his lap. Her legs had fallen slightly apart from her struggles, and he could see her pussy, swollen and dripping with sweet fluid.

"I have one more question for you, Naomi." He smiled when he felt her tense. "Did it ever occur to you, for even a single second, that the reason you never got pregnant before was because of your husband and not because of you?"

Naomi's face burned with embarrassment as she realized that it hadn't. Everyone, including Nathan, had made her feel like their failure to conceive had been her fault. She must be defective if she couldn't have babies. The possibility that Nathan might not have been able to father children had never crossed her mind.

"No," she whispered, awed by the thought.

"I didn't think so," Aidan said calmly.

He continued stroking her bottom, and one long finger slid lightly over her dripping slit, causing her to gasp. He grinned, still holding her down as he repeated the stealthy caress. Naomi moaned softly, spreading her thighs to give him better access. Aidan slipped two fingers inside her and probed her slick heat. His grin widened when she began pumping her hips in time to his thrusts.




Second Chances Ch. 06



We arrived at the casino on Friday at 8 PM, a full 2 hours later than our plans. It took us a while to get out of Portland and get there. Weekend traffic, getting away from work, an accident on the highway. Both Jerry and I had last minute emergency issues to clear at work before we could leave. It all conspired against us, but we finally made it. It's Jerry's birthday this weekend. We've been living together again for about 11 months now, and we both needed to get away from work and be with one another doing fun things.

It's his birthday and my turn to give him a gift. He wanted me to role play a hooker for him at the casino. I'm going to enjoy giving him this present. 

After checking in and getting to the room, we opened a bottle of wine to celebrate leaving town and taking time away. Taking this time to unwind is good. We both took a glass and slowly savored it. Planned withdrawal from the 'gottas' of life. Rushing to unwind doesn't make much sense, does it?

Jerry took a shower to get ready for the evening. We were going to have dinner, see the show and walk around the gaming tables for fun. I'll accompany him as 'arm candy'. He'll be a 'high roller' with me as a hot-for-his-body bought-and-paid-for hooker at his side. 

We aren't gamblers, but it'll be fun to watch others wager real money. We're geeks, two math majors calculating the odds and then placing imaginary side bets with each other on what will happen next. It's fun for us, with somebody else's money. My follow up in the hotel room afterwards has kept me excited the entire week. My idea, my task, his surprise. This will be rough, I wonder if he'll be able to walk normal by Sunday morning. Will I be able to walk normal by Sunday morning? 

Jerry finished his shower first and then sat down, nervously waiting for me. "Jerry, why don't you go down and I'll meet you somewhere downstairs. I'll keep looking till I'll find you. Be by the bar by the dealer's tables in 30 minutes. I want to take my shower and get ready."

"I'm so looking forward to another drink, so I'll await your... your... arrival?" He kissed me while patting my left hip and headed on out.

This gave me time to get my costume on for his birthday, a hooker to pick him up. Ever since our first role play in Beechwood at the Pub as Adam and Eve, it's been a fun thing to do. Tonight for his birthday present, we agreed I was going to be a semi-high class hooker. I also have a little present for him when he gets back here. 

Since I had no idea what hookers really look like, I did some research. The net is a great place to 'pick up' the information I needed. I found out that those women and some men working these small casinos tended to be from their early 20's to early 60's. There's an older crowd working here too. For the mid-20's working girls, its short skirts, cleavage but not that trashy looking. It's more about them approaching potential customers. I was dressed to knock Jerry out of the house with a short skirt and my dark purple 4 inch heels. I have no idea why men don't go nuts over shoes, especially shoes like this. These are beautiful. And make my ass sway. They perfectly matched my lipstick and eyeliner. After my shower, perfume in my cleavage finished me off and it was time to pick up my trick, Jerry.

Going down on the elevator, I got some very direct looks from some of the men. The ones that didn't have a girlfriend or a wife at their side. The others with someone, I got quick sideways glance. Most of the women weren't thrilled so I guess that I was slutty enough.

From the main lobby I walked around the slots since it's on the way to the bar. I walked with no other purpose but to look at all the people. As a hooker, I had to act the part, eyeing the gents and their ladies too. I occasionally got some direct eye contact from men, and twice from women, with a smile. I never realized this was a place to prowl. What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas?

Finally I saw Jerry sitting at the bar. He probably was drinking his favorite, Knob Creek, and looked out over the tables nearby. The dealers were animated and they were doing their best to keep the excitement up. 

I quietly walked over to him and finally caught his eye. "Is this chair taken? You don't appear to have anyone with you tonight, hon." My hand touched his hand while I made strong eye contact with him. He pulled the bar stool out and motioned for me to sit down. I squeezed between him and the open stool, making sure I rubbed my body against his and against his hand especially. I sat down in a way to show him my legs and give him a sideways view into my cleavage as I leaned over slightly.

"My my you're a pretty woman. That's a stunning dress you have on. That design is exquisite. I can see that's its custom made, it fits you so well."

"Oh, this old thing." I preened for him, swaying my tits toward him and getting the response I wanted. "It is a bit of a pain to put on." I paused, "But it comes off real easy." I looked at the effect of my words. I could see the starting of a tent in his pants. "Want to buy this woman a drink? We could get to know one another better that way."

Turning to the bartender Jerry says, "Would you give this woman a .." And he looked at me, "I'm sorry, I forgot to ask you what you'd like. You look like a vodka gimlet type of person. Am I right?"

"You are very close, so very close, but I prefer gin with my lime."

"Bartender, a gin gimlet for Ms?" and he looks at me. 

"Oh, I'm sorry, I'm Roxy. And you are?"

"John. Do you come to this casino very often?. It appears to be a pretty busy place."

"Oh, I'm here every so often. I don't remember seeing you around."

"Just passing through. I'm going down to LA to the garment district. There's a couple of designers that I need to negotiate with. I'm a buyer for ... well, that I shouldn't say. Let's just say that parades are our thing at Christmas and Thanksgiving." 

"So you do a lot of travelling, do you? Does it ever get lonely?" with that I placed my hand on his right knee and started to trace the inside of his thigh. I saw him squirm a little, and I was fully enjoying it. He was too. 

"Well, it does get lonely on the road."

"You look like you could use some companionship for the evening?"

"You are a very enticing woman."

"You are a very nice man" I looked down directly at his crotch, it grew in front of my eyes. "And it appears that you are packing something big down there." I moved my hand directly to his crotch and started lightly fingering his hard on. 

"But unfortunately, I don't come cheap. I can take care of this problem for you, and it won't cost that much. But I do a lot more than just plain vanilla hon." I'm teasing his cock now. "What do you think?" With that, I leaned over and kissed him, accepting his tongue in my mouth and putting his right hand on my breast.

"How much for the evening Roxy?"

"For the hour, it'll be $300, but we can decide if you want my company a bit longer."

Suddenly I felt a rough hand on my shoulder, "We'd like you two to accompany us, NOW." There's a pair of burly suited men with casino IDs talking to us. The second one had Jerry's right arm pinned behind his back in a painful looking hold. Jerry's speechless. We're both shocked.

Jerry's trying to be calm, and he's barely holding it together. "Wait I can explain. We live together, we're playing. It's not what you think. I can prove it." 

"Right buddy, I've heard that one before." Looking at his ring finger and seeing nothing there, not even a ring 'ghost'. "Does your girlfriend know you pick up hookers?" 

"NO, I mean yes, I mean, I mean, this is my girlfriend, I'm not married. I mean we're not married. I mean neither of us are married." Jerry's really frightened now, and I'm starting to shake. I look around and I see that we're surrounded by on-lookers. I've never felt so exposed in my life. I know that we can get them to understand, but ...

Jerry popped up again. "Look in my top pocket, I have our check book in there. It has both our names on the checking account, same address." He pauses, "I think I have both our driver's licenses in there too." Suddenly his face changes to fear, "Oh no, those are back in the hotel room."

The first guard looked at me, "I guess she didn't have any extra space to hold anything more." I know I turned beet red if that was any more possible.

The first security guard looked at the second who shrugged a yes. The second then reached into Jerry's blazer from behind and pulled out the check book. Opening it up, the second one looked at me, "Quick, spell the names and address."

"Top name is Zygmunt Jerzy. I'll go slowly on the spelling of the last name. P R Z Y J A C..." He cut me off. I can spell the whole 13 letters. 

"What's the second name?"

"That's mine. Sandra G R A Z I A N I" 

"OK lady, What town and what apartment number and zip."

"Portland, Oregon and 23C the zip code is.."

By this time, Jerry's arm has been released. He's moving it slowly, it must have hurt. 

The first guard cuts me off. "If he's been buying her, and paying with checks, she could have remembered it. This doesn't mean anything, Let's take 'em in."

Jerry excitedly starts talking again, "Wait, there's another thing I can prove we're together." He turns toward the first guard who nods at him. He fumbled getting something from his coat pocket. He's worried, I hear it in his voice. "It's right here, it's gotta be right here." He's physically shaking from worry. There is real desperation in his voice. He searches one pocket, than another, than another, getting more frantic as he runs out of pockets. He starts checking pockets he had just checked, and the first security guard was shaking his head no, but does nothing more. Jerry's getting more frantic as he checks every pocket again. He's not finding what he wants. 

The first guard says, "Times up, let's take them in." Now I'm starting to shake. Then in a flash, Jerry spun around and got on his knee. He looked up at me with the calmest look on his face. He slowly opened a small jewelry box with a ring in it. 

"Sandy, would you marry me? Would you be my wife?" 

He set me up, that bastard set me up, that wonderful dear bastard set me up in public. I know I've got a shocked look on my face. I see that Jerry's not worried now. He's griming ear to ear. There's so much happiness on his face. AND WE'RE NOT GETTING ARRESTED.

The two guards are grinning ear to ear. The crowds all around us have gotten closer and are all quiet. There on his knee is Jerry, looking hopeful with a platinum engagement ring with a sparklely rock. It could have been a cracker-jack ring, it would have been just as wonderful.

I have to have some payback now. I made my face and voice angry. "You bastard." I pause for effect and see a bit of worry came to his face. "I'm not taking your name." He looks confused, "YES I'll marry you, but I'm ..." 

The crowd started clapping as Jerry stood up and we kissed and hugged for what seemed like hours. The two guards slapped Jerry on his back and they both hugged me and kissed me on the cheek, wishing us the best before they left.

The bartender was pouring a round of champagne for everyone present and a waiter was passing it around. I looked around and I started to see some familiar faces from each of our works, including Tim and his wife Mary Jane.

We are all celebrating and my co-workers looked at the engagement ring and we talked and laughed. He got everybody to get in on it. So far away from family, we started a new extended family here together. There are some other of our new friends that have joined us. Jerry's friends from work toasted him and us for the next 10 minutes. 

Jerry and I spent the next two hours visiting with our friends that came to see Jerry proposing to me. I can figure out how he did it, but contacting all these people and get them to the casino on a Friday evening? It's a 30 to 45 minute drive. I'm sure some will be spending the night. 

I've been here for about a year and a half and Jerry's moved here 11 months ago. For the previous 3 months, he was here every three weeks. It's been a hell of a year for us.

I like jewelry and Jerry's got great taste. This wasn't an off the shelf ring. My women friends kept asking me to look at it then give their husbands or boyfriends a playful jab and a 'You could do something like this.' kind of look. One of them even said something about the Jared commercial. Their partners kept asking him where he got it and all he said was an artist in Cleveland. He hasn't lived in Cleveland for 11 months now and I don't think he went back for it.

For those two hours we ended up being together for a bit, then breaking apart to be with friends, and then we'd get back together again. At a certain point, I whispered to Jerry, "I hope you don't mind that I'm not going to be the hooker out here, that's more for our private enjoyment. Right?"

He whispered back, "I just needed us to be doing something wrong so the casino Security would have a reason to arrest us. Don't worry, and don't role play. This evening is for us and our friends. We'll have more to talk about after the evening is over."

"By the way Jerry, I still have a little present for you back at the room after the evening is over. Your birthday gift wasn't only going to be a hooker for the evening." He smiled and kissed me, and patted my right hip, followed by a light slap.

At a certain point, I excused myself from some friends from work and headed to the ladies room. As I rounded the corner, I saw that Tim's wife Mary Jane followed me. I slipped into a stall and took care of things then went to wash my hands. She was waiting for me. There wasn't going to be a chance that Tim would be here, and I was a little bit concerned. Her face showed some stress, but not anger. 

She started out "Is it possible to speak with you privately? I didn't want to ambush you, but this was the only private place I could approach you."

I looked around and saw that we were alone, so I nodded for her to continue.

"You've been a friend of Tim's for the past 18 months. To be honest with you. He and I have been having problems in our marriage longer than that." She looked down, then back at me. "Are you ok talking with me?" I nodded yes again, but this time, I put my hand on hers. I knew what was going to come and I wanted her to know that it was OK to speak. I could see the well of feelings behind her face.

"As I said, we've been having problems. When you showed up, he became even more distant. I thought that you made a bad situation worse. Then about that a year ago, something changed. I'd been pushing for counseling and for the first time, he agreed.

"He never told me many of the details on your relationship...if he was unfaithful or whatever." I shook my head no, but she raised her hand to stop me from saying more. However, there was a new look of relief on her face as she continued. "What I do understand is that he was emotionally intimate with you, and then something changed about a year ago. Whatever happened, he decided to become emotionally invested in our marriage again."

"Mary Jane, I saw that a couple of months ago, pictures of you and your kids appeared on his desk. I never said anything about it to him directly, but I was real happy. You are right, he wasn't invested in your marriage.

"One day after work, I was going to have Tim and Jerry meet. Jerry was arriving from the Cleveland that Friday. When Tim found out Jerry would be there in minutes, he bolted. Jerry was observing us sit there and talk for 15 minutes before Tim left. Jerry told me what was going on. I was being slowly seduced. Same thing happened to Jerry but he ended up choosing to be unfaithful. It took him crossing the county and being honest with me and a bunch more things to rebuild the trust.

"When I realized the position that Tim was putting me into, Jerry figured out how to change the dynamics of the relationship. Remember, I was still going to have to work with him. We both wanted to remain employed. Tim's still my friend, at arm's length. No one-on-one after work with him. But I quietly shifted his focus back to you and the kids, never me again. I know what it is like to be the one left behind. I could never do that to anyone.

"I am not emotionally intimate with him, but I have heard some of the things he's been dealing with. All I can say is that I let him talk and direct him back to you. I hope that you're not threatened by this. When your pictures showed up on his desk, I felt that both of you were in a better place."

At this point, someone came into the bathroom and I immediately switched into talking about the ring and the pendants that Jerry gave me. After she left, I continued. "Does any of this help? Am I out of line? What do you think? Please tell me. I've been honest with you, I hope that ..."

"Thank you, thanks for being honest with me. In our counseling sessions, Jerry's told me about some these things, and what you've said agrees with what he said. That a relief on two levels for me. What he's said to me and his honesty after years of withdrawal, and honesty from you. A year ago I hated you. Today, you're wonderful." At that she reached over and hugged me, and I hugged her back. We talked for a couple more minutes then rejoined the crowd. I gave her my number in case she ever needed to call, and I received hers too.

About half the crowd left by 11 and another batch left at midnight. Groups would join together for something and then break apart to do something else or spend time with only their partners. There was dinner, some of them gambled and some of us saw the show. I was holding Jerry's hand half the night, looking at the ring, looking at him. He's been keeping it interesting all right.

While sitting waiting for the show to start, I had time to really study the ring. It was definitely by the same artist that created my pendants. He lived in Cleveland. Jerry's not lived there for months. When did he buy this? Is this why he 'borrowed' my mother's ring from me so many months ago? For the size? Because he knew that it fit me?

After midnight I pulled Jerry on the side and asked if we could retire for the night. It's been busy and the week was long. He held me closely and we headed toward the elevators. The elevator door was closing when Tim and his wife Mary Jane walked on. They were looking pretty worn too. Over the course of the evening, Jerry and I spent a little bit of time with that couple. 

Mary Jane greeted us and asked me if it was a total surprise. "It was and it wasn't at the same time. We've been back together for over a year and we had to work things out. I'm glad he chased after me and we gave it another go. It's been rough, but it's all been worth it. I know that we're stronger than before."

Mary Jane smiled and said, "I know what you mean about it being rough. Being married takes real effort." She was holding on to Tim's hand, while his other arm reached around her waist in an embrace. It was not an embrace for show. I only saw it because of the mirrors in the elevator. It was an embrace of connectedness. 

"It was nice that Jerry invited all of us out here. We got my sister to baby sit the kids and we get a weekend away. Tomorrow we go to the coast to a boutique hotel, all inclusive. The chief's got great reviews and the room has a private outdoor hot tub and patio overlooking the ocean. We haven't gotten away without the kids in years." 

The elevator stopped and they bade us good luck and good night. As the door closed, Jerry whistled quietly.

"WHAT, you're going to be a married man and you're whistling at a married woman?"

He looked at me and laughed. "You didn't see it. In the mirror I saw as they were walking away, he grabbed her ass. She immediately turned around and started pulling down his zipper. The door was half way closed when I saw her hand was massaging him in his pants in the hallway while they were lip locked. Both of his hands were groping her ass too."




Second Chances Ch. 06



"Ok, that deserves a whistle for those two. You deserve a lip lock and a grope for what you did for them."

He pulled me into an embrace, "Wait a minute. I was protecting my assets here," then he grabbed my ass.

"Yes you were." At that I kissed him as the elevator stopped and the doors opened. "You also suggested to me how to try to do it without burning anybody else in the process. He's still a friend, an arm's length friend. And you're my faithful fiancé and soon to be faithful husband. Said his faithful fiancé and soon to be faithful wife." As we stepped out of the elevator, Jerry goosed my ass.

I jumped and squealed a little. Then I saw that there was somebody walking the other way down the hall, not looking back. In a flash I started pulling down his zipper and was able to get my hand half way in before he started groping my left cheek while trying to pull my skirt up.

I broke away laughing, running toward the room. Unfortunately I forgot that he was the one with the key card. He walked up silently behind me, opened the door for me. Then lightly slapped my ass. Then he goosed me something fierce on my way in while laughing with me.

We got in and closed the door. He started to go after me again when something caught his eye. On the table was a wrapped gift for him with two wine glasses and chocolate. While he stood there with his mouth open, I went to the fridge and pulled out a bottle of bubbly, a $50 bottle of bubbly. For us this was expensive, it showed that this was a special occasion.

Jerry was a little bit dumbfounded and walked slowly to the table. I held out the bottle with a towel for him to open. He looked at me and then the bottle and the towel.

"Well, we have good champagne, but do we spend our time looking at it?"

With a pleasant grin, he started to unwrap the wire on the stopper. Then he covered the top and slowly rocked and twisted the cork until we heard a pop. I held the two glasses while he poured.

I held up my glass to his and said, "And now for us and the wonderful surprise that you gave me today. We've earned all we have, we've sweated for it and we're going to make a great life with each other." 

We tapped our glasses together, and then we took a sip. Then Jerry started, "To my wonderful fiancée, the one who kicked me out and then took me back in. We are better then we were before, and it only gets better between us." We tapped our glasses together again and took another sip, and then we kissed. This was the first time we've been alone since Jerry proposed. He put my glass down and held me properly. Our bodies mashed together, swaying and starting to gyrate. That's when I pulled away and held up his present.

"I have a little present for your birthday. You can use it or I can use it or we both can use it. Can you guess what it is?" I gave him the most devious smile that I could. "I think that this is a little payback for this evening. You gave me the surprise of my life. Now this is one for you."

He took the box from my hand and looked at me carefully. I took another sip and backed away while he shook the box. It actually rattled and what he didn't know was that the rattle was real.

"So, you can use it or I can use it or we both can use it? Possibilities are endless? Any additional hint Sandy?"

"You mentioned something about this once, and I've never heard about it again from you."

"So I mentioned it once...how about another hint?"

"Well, it could be part of the evenings play."

He started to unwrap the box and said, "So I take it, it still can?" Then with a devilish look, "This is sounding better Sandy, or it Roxy?" The wrapping paper floated to the floor.

"I think today it better be Sandy. I wouldn't trust Roxy. So Jerry, what do you see?"

The box lid hit the floor and he looked in. He didn't say a word, his face said it all. He put the box down and pulled out a set of 4 cloth restraints followed by a blindfold. 

This was fun. The look on his face was priceless. He stared down at the restraints then back to my eyes. He didn't know what to say. I could see the wheels turning in his head. From an off-hand comment he made once, I realized that he wanted to try something like this. But he was more than embarrassed to say anything more about it. After surprising the heck out of me with his police escorted proposal, I had him. He's going to squirm for a while before I throw him a life line. I'll fully enjoy his embarrassment.

"Ah, um, um ..."

"Yes? Is there something you want to say Jerry?" He looked at me with a full mixture of lust, and fear. More fear than anything more. He kept looking at the restraints, then me, then the restraints again.

"Well Jerry, do you like your birthday present?"

"Sandy, you really surprised the heck out of me. I wasn't expecting it. I was..."

"The big question now is who gets to use it first? Hmmmmmm." The expression on his face was priceless. He had no idea and I thought that he did and didn't want to be the first to receive.

Waiting a couple of seconds while looking at the confusion on his face, I moved next to him. I took the restraints from his hands. 

"Jerry, as it's your birthday, I think that you should be the first." He still didn't know which first it was going to be, the bonder or the bondee. That's when I whispered into his ear, "Remember, YOUR safe word is Yukon." That was our safe word from months ago. "I hope you won't need it." That's when he realized who will be first to be restrained.

"WWWhat I.. I..."

Looking at him with puppy dog eyes, "Jerry, it's your birthday. Do you think I'd do anything that you wouldn't like? Hmmmmmm?"

With real concern in his eyes he quickly said, "How about not using the blindfold. We have a long future together and we don't have to do everything on the same day, OK?" He was visibly anxious. I nodded yes and tossed the blindfold against the wall. He looked slightly more relieved, only slightly.

I started to unbutton his shirt. He was still in a state of disbelief when I began to unbuckle his pants. "Don't worry Jerry, I know that you'll love this. I've been dreaming of things to do to you all week. So why don't you just relax and take another sip of bubbly."

He started to relax, somewhat. My hands roamed over his chest. I took off the shirt and then the t-shirt. He continued to calm down when I pulled his head to my lips for a sensual kiss while I ground my body against his. There was a look of relief and concern at the same time.

I had unbuckled his belt and now I started to unzip his zipper. I knelt down at his feet, trailing kisses down his chest and stomach on the way. Pulling his pants open, I slid them down his legs but left on his boxers. I pulled off his shoes and socks, one at a time, my hands caressed his legs on the way down, slowly, oh so slowly. The slower I went, the more turned on he became.

Finally, he was standing in only his boxers with me kneeling at his feet. As a surprise, I pushed him back on the bed. A five foot two woman pushing over a six footer. He landed with a plop. It was a breeze, this was going to be fun.

I quickly reached over and picked up the restraints. His worried look returned. I leaned over and kissed him fully. "Jerry, remember something. The next time these restraints are going to be used, I'm going to be in your position. Do you still need to be worried?"

He smiled at me, and a bit of worry left his face. I had no idea this was going to be so hard for him. He had to expect the worse, so I'm going to have to give him a wonderful time. 

"These restraints are for teasing and pleasing, not for punishing or degrading. Does that make it better?" He nodded yes. He damn well better not do the later with me or this will be a very short engagement.

I reached over and grabbed his left arm, stroking it softly while moving it above his head to the head board. I had scouted out how I was going to tie him to the bed before. Some hotel beds don't have anything to use, but this one did. 

I looked down at him and smiled when I took a restraint and fastened it to one wrist, then a second one to the other. By this time, Jerry was almost sweating bullets. I moved down and shackled both of his feet. His boxers were still on and I had plans for that later. I circled the bed and quickly attached the 4 ends to the bed frame. Now he's my prisoner on the bed.

"How does it feel to be my little plaything? All tied up and no place to go." I backed away from the bed and began to do a slow strip tease, heavy on the tease for Jerry. I turned around, showing him my backside. I reached behind me and pulled the zipper down on my dress inch by inch while I slowly moved my body to some imaginary sensual music. I was swaying my ass in front of his face.

I turned around and locked onto his eyes as I dropped one strap off my shoulder, then the other. He'd forgotten that he'd been tied up as he looked at me with anticipation. I saw hunger in him.

"Do you like what you see?" I began to sway back and forth in front of him. I let the top of the dress drop and my low cut black lace bra came into his view. I love black lingerie, and Jerry has learned to love it too. He knows what it does to me, then what I do to him. 

His eyes locked onto my body when I shimmed out of my dress. It dropped slowly to the floor. "You like what you see my little play thing?" I asked seductively. He nodded in appreciation. Jerry's always been a tits man. He's always been an ass man too. Heck, he's always loved my body no matter what I thought of it. The more I swayed, the more his cock was ready to burst out of his boxers. 

I shook my tits inches away from his face. I loved it when he played with them. I wonder if I should give him a tit-fuck tonight. I could wear it and let him use his mouth to clean me up. I love it when he does that. He loves it when I clean up his cock after we fuck and we're going for another round. 

I took my hands and grabbed each bra cup, mashing them, kneading them, holding them up for him to see. I'm honestly moaning with the enjoyment of my hands on my tits and of watching my restrained lover lust at my show for him. This was for Jerry's pleasure, and mine. "Oh yes, you like my show for you?" He nodded, never took his eyes off of me. I stood there in front of him wearing bikini panties, black lace low cut bra and garters with stockings. I thought that he'd like the stockings. I've never worn them for him before, but I've seen his eyes when he saw a picture when someone else has worn them. I felt like the hooker I was supposed to play. Maybe I was Roxy right now. 

I turned my back to him and reached behind and unclasped my bra while I rocked my ass back and forth slowly in front of him, inches away. I turned around again and I let the bra slowly drop from me on to his face. Gerry moaned in appreciation. 

I grabbed my tits I presented them to him. "You like to see these? Do you?" I cupped my tits and started mauling them in front of him, inches away from his face. The look of lust in his eyes made it all worth it. 

I brought my tits to his face and brushed them against his mouth. "Suck these tits, suck them real good my little play thing." I felt his breath in my nipple. As I bent down further, his tongue licked and sucked me, his hands stopped by the restraints. 

"Oh yes, this feels so good my little play thing. I love what you do with your mouth." I moved closer, thrusting my pussy on one of his restrained hands. I felt him try to reach into me and I made it easier by spreading my legs slightly. He's got his fingers in my panties, massaging my clit, my sopping wet clit. "Oh Jerry, you do such a good job with your hands too. hmmmmmmmmmmm ooohhhhyyeeeesssss." 

I looked down and saw my tied up fiancée finger fucking me while sucking on my tits. "Oh god yes yes yes yes" and I came with abandon. I fell over Jerry's chest and stayed there until I caught my breath. This was great, I never realized how much fun this was going to be for me.

As I recovered, I looked down at his boxers. His cock was desperately trying to escape. His eyes were full of want, and he was breathing harder. Now was his turn. 

"Well lover" I took my finger and put it on his forehead and slowly rolled it across his nose. "I hope that you can wait patiently for me." His eyes were wide as I slid my finger to his lips. I then slowly rubbed my finger across his lips. Unexpectedly on a whim, I gently pushed it into his near panting mouth. 

"That's right, suck these fingers lover. Suck them real good." I slowly pistoned them in, fucking his mouth with my fingers like he's fucked my mouth with his cock. That's when I got a new idea.

I took my left hand and removed my panties while he watched me and sucked two of my right hand fingers. Then I put my panties next to his face, letting him breathe me in. "Do you like that? Do you like to breathe in my arousal my little toy?" 

I took my left hand and started slowly masturbating myself for him to see. "I'm just getting this warmed up for you. You like seeing me get off, don't you?" He nodded while my fingers felt his tongue do overtime on them.

I brought my slick hand from my pussy and exchanged for the one in his mouth. The other hand traveled to his nipples, caressing them, gently twisting them. I watched his excitement and discomfort grow. I've never done his tits like this before. Finally, I leaned over and licked and kissed them. I heard groans of appreciation. "So you like a little nipple action lover. I saw that there was no longer fear in his face. It was been replaced by lust and anticipation. I think that I've succeeded.

I never realized how much I was enjoying this. I reached over and took out a pair of scissors and started to cut his boxers away. He looked at me in disbelief. "WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING TO ME?"

"Relax Jerry, no husband of mine who has a body as good as this should be wearing boxers anymore. All our excising over the past year has paid off. You're my eye candy and I have some great underwear for you that I love. Remember, if I love it, you'll love it even more by what I do to you. Hmmmmm?"

He still looked at me in disbelief, but no longer outrage. "I promise you Jerry, you'll love it."

I carefully cut away his boxers and let his cock become free. As I started pulling at the rags, he lifted his bottom off the bed to let it slide out easier. That's when I walked over to my bag and pulled out a set briefs and swimming trunks for him to see. These briefs were more form fitting and the swim wear was going to hug his body and show off his package for me.

"Aren't you going to be a little scared putting me on display in those things?"

That's when I leaned over and kissed him fully. "I have no fear of putting you on display." I trailed kisses down his chest until my head was inches away from his cock. I licked the head, tasting his precum. "Because is this ever goes any place but me, I'm going to have these." That's when I grabbed his balls and twisted slightly and giggled.

Jerry laughed. "If I'm ever so stupid to do that again, you deserve to have these served up to you on a platter." My mouth then engulfed Jerry's cock head and I gave it a warm suck and tongue lashing. 

"And by the way Sandy, you know that it goes for you too." That's when I redoubled my mouth on his cock. "Oh yes, that feels soooo good Sandy. I love your mouth on my cock. I love how you suck it, how you fuck it."

I pulled my mouth off of his cock. Brushing the hair away from his eyes I said "Jerry, getting groomed by Tim was close enough. We've learned to talk things out. I think that being faithful it won't be a problem for us." I paused, and then looked at his cock, "and I don't think that this'll be a problem for me." That's when I put it back in my mouth and started my hand toward his back door. 

All I got back from him was a moan and an "Oh yes" as he tried to reach for me, and stopped once again by the restraints. I really like those things now. Being in charge.

I made love to his cock with my mouth. He loved my mouth on his cock like I loved his mouth on my pussy. I'd stopped along the way to tell him what I was doing to him. I put some lotion on my finger and gave him a little bit of back door action too. I loved getting him so worked up where he was begging me to finish him off, and then I'd pull away. Each time I mounted his face and let his wonder tongue on my clit and I'd ride him. 

After the third time, I knew I'd give him release. "Well my love." I lifted myself over him and scooted back down to his knees while looking at him. My face was in front of his cock. "I think that it's time lover. Do you want me to make the decision?" I paused. "Or you?"

"Ride'm cow girl" I heard and I mounted his cock. I could feel him pump up to me, meeting my thrusts with his. We could only fuck for a minute before Jerry came and flooded me. I kept humping him until he asked me to stop. The look of relief on his face, the face of my soon-to-be husband. I released the cuffs and we pulled the covers over us.

It was his turn the next day. I did have trouble walking afterward.

Jerry and I decided to get married and then start a family together, in that order. We were also going to be in a house before our first would be born. I've had enough excitement in my life to not do it any other way. I'd rather have excitement with baby's first steps. When kids come, our income was going to take a hit, but that was OK. We learned to focus on the most important things first. The two of us were much more important to each other that anything else.

Because of his auditing reputation, Jerry was on several recruiters' short lists. He turned down a couple of job offers because of the traveling. Even in his current firm, he didn't apply and even turned down offers for some positions because it would mean being away from home two weeks or more out of the month. 

I found that in the future I'd be able to work part time from the house if I chose. There would be an occasional field trip, but as these Big Data operations grew more mature, the need for travel became less and less. The only problem was in the initial installations, and I wasn't doing those any more, only consulting with those who did.

Jerry had a stable position where he was happy. The last year was the best year we ever had together. There was yelling and fighting, there was talking and compromising. We both began to understand what a real working relationship with each other was all about. Marriage can't fix what is broken, but it can mend those who can help their partners to heal.

It' been over a year since Jerry and I moved back in. That was about 5 months after the biopsy. We continued getting closer and closer. His past 'activities' with Diana have become less and less important. I think that his getting to Portland before the biopsy told me who he really was. We've worked hard at our relationship since then. I still had to hit him over the head to move here, but he wanted a position here first. He got an offer and started to ship his things here the same day he accepted. 

He had put his condo up for sale months before, but the market was not great. My brother offered to put him in one of his spare bedrooms if it sold. It ended up being rented out to a visiting doctor from the Cleveland Clinic who needed a quick place to stay with his small family.

In some ways, I felt that Jerry and I divorced, and then remarried. I knew that we were only living together, but it's now the second time around. We still have our hard times, the times of either of us having only one frazzled nerve left between us. But are so much better at supporting each other. We talk more, it may be a day later, but we talk about it. I never knew how stubborn he could be. I found out that I had a hard time backing down too. I read that a good marriage is like being exposed to a mirror 24/7. It's not for everybody.




Second Chances Ch. 06



I wanted us to be face-to-face when we told my brother and his family. They were such a big part in getting us back together. Their support made a world of difference. After finding out that they were going to be home over a weekend when their oldest was in a school play, Jerry and I booked a flight without telling them.

Showing up at the school play surprised the heck out of all of them. After the show when we were all talking, Jerry said that he was hungry. I suggested dinner at a nice restaurant. Dave was puzzled, "The kids too?" I was starting to answer when Jerry cut me off and said "We're in town, we know it's a little high, but we both got promotions. We needed to celebrate. Our treat. Let's go. No arguments."

Even if the dinner with my brother Dave, my sister Terry and their two kids was at a McDonalds with Happy Meals all around, it would have been a super treat as far as Jerry and I were concerned. Family is so important to us all, and Jerry's been welcomed back with open arms. We are celebrating joy of being all together.

The initial appetizers took longer to order than it should have. Our waitress Jill was very patient with us. We ended up joking and laughing with her as we stumbled along. She left us to put in the order.

I was leaving the wine choice to Dave and Jerry. As far as I'm concerned, most wine is good, some is great. Restaurants generally don't have bad wines and since I've been in the Oregon wine country, I've appreciated wine much more. 

While Dave and Jerry were debating the wine options, the waitress arrived with a bottle. It was a cheaper one, but not bad. Dave spoke up first, "I'm sorry, but we didn't order this." 

"This wine is a gift from another table. They said it was in appreciation of what you did." This had us all confused. We looked around the room and couldn't see anyone we either recognized or was looking at us.

I asked the waitress to point out the person who provided the wine. I was still getting a no when Jerry was a little more direct with a $20 bill. He asked her to have the person come to our table if that was possible. The choice of entries was next on the discussion and we were soon moved on to that.

Dave and Jerry had moved on to discussing the differences of types of pasta. Both of them are minor foodies, to a point. A young man approached to our table. It wasn't anyone who we had ever seen before.

"My fiancé and I are celebrating our engagement today. My bride-to-be saw the two of you sitting there and wanted to thank you for all the help you gave her. I also would like to thank you for what you did for her. I hope that you enjoy the wine." Then he attempted to leave.

Jerry spoke up quickly, "I'm sorry, could you tell us your name and who your fiancé is? I'm sorry, but I can't place you at all."

"My name is Kevin Handstrong. You don't know me at all. I only know you from my fiancé. She didn't want to disturb you, and she feels uncomfortable about it." He was looking a bit uncomfortable, but he continued. 

"What you did for her was at the lowest part in her life, after all her bad decisions, you held out an olive branch and a life preserver. I knew her at the time. I saw her, I saw the person she was underneath. I've have watched her climb out of the hole she put herself in."

I am completely confused about what he is saying and I glanced at Jerry for direction. He wasn't confused at all. That's when Jerry grabbed my hand and says "Let's go and meet her, lead the way Kevin."

Leading us across the dining room I kept looking at the other diners. No one I know, no one looking at us. We turn a corner. Sitting in a profile to us is Diana. Now I understand it all.

Jerry is the first one at the table and reaches for her hand. Even I can see the difference in her face. It's not worn and drawn, it's not tense or on edge. Nervous, yes, but there's a peace that I never saw in the videos. She's also 10 pounds lighter, a great weight for her tall frame. She's healthy and happy. This is what Jerry did?

She looked up at Jerry, then me. "I didn't want to disturb you." Holding her hand out, there is a silver diamond less ring. "Kevin proposed to me this morning. I'm just beside myself. We were walking in and I saw you two there." She paused a few seconds, "It had to be fate. We've never been here before. I never had the chance to say thank you to Jerry for all you did for me. I was a pretty rotten person." Looking at Kevin then me, "I've done so much damage to so many people and Jerry here gave me the chance to get clean with everybody and myself. I was able to apologize to the other two wives but I found out you moved out of the area." She cleared her throat a little and took a sip of water. Her hand was shaking slightly. 

"And that was after what I did to him," she faced me directly, "and you. I'm sorry for what I did to both of you. Please accept my apology. Sandy, you have one heck of a man. What he did for me can never be forgotten."

I was speechless, but I reached over and gave her a big hug. I think that she sobbed a little bit. That's when Jerry spoke out, "It's funny that your celebrating your engagement today, we are too. We came back to Ohio to tell her brother and his family."

Kevin looked at his bride-to-be and smiled. "She's been working hard, very hard on her issues. It's been tough, but she's not ever been this person before. It's the real Diana now, the one that was inside of her. Not the scared one, not the broken one."

Jerry bent down and kissed her on her cheek. "Life is pretty good when we get second chances. I got one too. That's a great reason to celebrate." Reaching out his hand to Kevin, they clasped hands. "Congrats to you both. Please enjoy your dinner and your new life together." We left, watching them hug and kiss.

Walking back to our table, Jerry told me he needed to use the rest room and tried to excuse himself. Jerk doesn't think I know what he's going to do. I called out to him, "No, we're doing this together. Go to the bathroom after we pay for their bill, and I hope that it'll be for an extended dinner."

Jerry smiled at me then hugged me, "And a good tip too. Let's do what's right for them. Let's find their waiter." 

Neither Kevin or Diana were as well dressed as the restaurant would have liked. That's one of the reasons they were seated in the back. This will be an engagement present. It would probably be $100, without our wine or tip. If we didn't have the money, it would be different. Jerry and I have shared values. If he wasn't going to do it, I'd ask him to. That makes a marriage work. Holding on to anger doesn't work.

Giving people a second chance, sometimes we can succeed in life.

We got back to our table and sat down together. Terry asked "Who was it, you were gone over 10 minutes. The kids needed to start eating or we'd get kicked out of here."

I looked over at my nieces and saw both eating their pasta with a red sauce, just like their Dad makes for them. "Good thing that they're eating. I'd hate to get kicked out of here today."

"Well? Who was it?"

Jerry answered, "It was Diana, she became engaged today. They also came here for a special engagement dinner." At that Jerry nudged me and I pulled out my hidden hand, showing Terry the ring. "She isn't the only one celebrating an engagement."

We immediately became the center of attention in the dining room. Terry couldn't contain herself. "HE DID? OH MY GOD. YOU GUYS FINALLY DID. DAVE, THEY FINALLY DID IT. THEY'RE GETTING MARRIED." Then she realized the commotion she made and sheepishly sat down, holding on to my hand with the ring. 

Second chances take a lot of work. Just like luck.



Second Chances Ch. 06



He whisked her nightgown over her head and dropped it to the floor. Reaching beneath her, he grasped and squeezed one nipple, twisting hard enough to make her moan as he continued to finger her. He increased the pressure on her nipple, flicking her clit with his thumb as she writhed on his lap. With a sharp tweak of her breast, he sent her over the edge, and he cradled her as she clenched down hard on his fingers.

When her inner muscles eased their vice-like grip, he removed his hand and lifted her onto his lap, holding her like a child against his chest. Her breathing gradually returned to normal, and he tipped her chin up until she met his eye. He wiped the tears from her face with the edge of the blanket, smiling as she took a shaky breath.

"I love you, Naomi," he said quietly. "I love you more than my own life. I'm never going to stop loving you, whether or not you ever have my child. I don't know much about your first husband, but if he ever made you feel like you were less than a woman, then he was a fool. He must have been blind not to realize what a treasure he had found." Aidan stroked her face, wiping away the single tear that flowed down her cheek with the pad of his thumb. "I am not that kind of fool. I intend to spend every day of my life letting you know just how much you mean to me, and when we are old and grey, we can look back on a life that was full of love and laughter."

Naomi nodded, reaching up to stroke his mouth. "I love you too, Aidan. I love you more than I ever loved anyone else before. I know now that I was wrong not to tell you the truth before. I should have trusted you."

Their lips met in a tender kiss. Aidan explored her mouth leisurely, plucking a multitude of soft sighs from her lips before he raised his head. He leaned his forehead against hers and looked deep into her eyes, both of them breathing raggedly.

"Marry me, Naomi," he softly entreated.

"You know I will," she said, with a shy smile.

He gripped her waist and lifted her astride him. Naomi made him groan with pleasure when she gripped his throbbing cock and slid it slowly up and down her slit, moistening the tip in her juices. Then, she rose on her knees and impaled herself slowly, torturing him by taking an eternity to descend. Aidan gave an impatient growl and pulled her down swiftly, sighing with satisfaction when he felt her clasp lovingly around him.

He slid his hands around to cup her sore, hot buttocks and gave them a squeeze. He laughed when she gasped. He gave one cheek a firm slap, reminding her that she had better behave herself.

"Now ride," he growled. He gave her opposite cheek a matching slap. "And don't dawdle along the way."

Naomi rushed to comply, moaning from the mixture of pleasure and pain. His cock was heaven inside her, her ass burned like the fires of hell. She threw her head back, arching her neck wantonly as she rode him with luxurious strokes of her tight pussy. She clutched at him with her inner muscles, relishing his groans of pleasure. Seeing the direction of his gaze, she cupped her breasts in her hands and squeezed. She toyed with her nipples, squeezing and twisting them as he had done, lifting one breast until she could lick the tip. He watched, transfixed by the erotic sight of her ministering to her own breasts as she rode his cock.

Filled with sudden impatience, Aidan flipped her onto her back on the bed and pounded into her. Naomi wrapped her legs around his waist and met him stroke for stroke. When she couldn't hold out any longer, she screamed, clutching him with her thighs as she shuddered with sweet release. Aidan unleashed a flood of hot, sticky seed into her depths and collapsed onto the bed. His face was buried in the crook of her neck, one strong thigh sprawled across hers, and his arm encircled her waist. Naomi smiled as she listened to his ragged breathing finally slow as he drifted to sleep. She breathed a deep sigh of satisfaction and joined him.



Second Chances Ch. 07



Chapter 7

Aidan woke the next morning to the sound of birds singing in the trees.  He was about to roll over when he felt Naomi stir, sighing softly in her sleep.  He cracked his eyes open and tilted his head to look down at her.  The sight that greeted him made him smile.

Early morning sunshine streamed in through the tiny window over the bed, gilding her silken limbs with a pink radiance and casting red highlights through her tousled chestnut curls.  She was snuggled against him, her cheek resting on his shoulder, her luscious breasts flattened against his side, her arm flung over his waist, and one soft thigh draped across his loins.  She was dead to the world.

Aidan lifted the covers, enjoying the sumptuous view.  As he watched, his drowsy cock began to rouse, and as it hardened and swelled, it nudged against Naomi’s thigh.  She sighed again, and snuggled even closer, readjusting her leg to get comfortable as she sought his warmth.  He closed his eyes and held his breath, savoring the sensation of her velvety soft thigh brushing against his growing erection.  Naomi murmured something in her sleep, and Aidan watched as she tried to settle once more.  His headstrong cock continued to grow, pressing insistently on Naomi’s inner thigh, until she reached down in her sleep, trying to dispense with the disturbing nuisance.

Her fingers fumbled with his cock, and her smooth brow furrowed.  She would have slid her hand away, but Aidan reached down and closed his hand over hers.  Naomi came awake with a start, blinking when her eyes met his.

Aidan’s grin was elementally male as he grasped her hand and moved it slowly up and down his length.  “Just keep doing what you were doing, sweetheart.  Don’t let me disturb you.”

Naomi sighed and rolled her eyes, finally giving him a teasing smile.  “Aren’t you ever satisfied, you lecher?”

Her fingers began to work their magic, and Aidan released her hand, placing his own hands behind his head.  His grin widened, and he shook his head, watching her grip him in her tiny fist.

“No, ma’am.  I could stay here all day and let you have your way with me.”

Naomi giggled, rising on her elbow to get better leverage.  She watched his face, gauging his reactions to different techniques.  When she found something he particularly liked, she repeated it, smiling when he groaned his appreciation.  She alternated the pace of her strokes, slowing down drastically every time his tension started to build.  After the third such abrupt change, he groaned with frustration and she giggled again.

“You little wench,” he growled.  “You’re torturing me.”

Naomi raised one delicate brow to taunt him.  “That’s what you get for being so demanding, first thing in the morning.”

He gave her an evil grin.  “We’ll just see how you like being tortured.”

He grabbed her and turned her spoon like against him.  Lifting one of her sleek thighs, he plunged into her, grunting in satisfaction when she pressed back against him to take him deeper.  He kneaded her breast and nibbled the curve of her neck as he set a fast pace, taking her breath away with his frenzied strokes.  He meant to tease her like she had done him.  He was going to bring her to the brink and then stop, but without any warning, Naomi screamed her pleasure and clenched down on his cock.

Aidan groaned from the sweet agony of resisting his own release, pinching her nipple extra hard.  “You little cheater.  You weren’t supposed to get your satisfaction yet.”

She laughed weakly, still trying to catch her breath.  She shot him a mischievous grin from over her shoulder and squeezed him with her inner muscles.

“Oh well,” she sighed, without a hint of remorse for having tricked him.

“Hmmm,” Aidan mused, fondling her breast again, “I’ll just have to find a different way to torture you.”

He proceeded to drive her mindless with pleasure.  His knowing fingers and mouth found every sensitive spot she had as he thrust her into a kaleidoscope of sensation.  She climaxed again and again, barely having a chance to catch her breath before he urged her on to a new plateau.  At last, she begged for mercy.

“Please, Aidan.  Enough!  I can’t breathe,” she gasped.

He took pity on her and drove her over the final peak, pouring himself inside her as he gave a satisfied howl of delight.  They lay entwined, boneless and mindless for an eternity before he finally managed to raise his head and catch her eye.

“I win,” he said with a boyish grin.

Naomi stroked her fingers through his sweaty hair, returning his smile.  “Okay, I admit it, you win.”

He chuckled and rubbed his head against her palm, like a cat savoring a scratch.  “As much as I’d love to stay here in bed all day, I have to see about the animals.”

Naomi groaned.  “I know.  I should start breakfast, but I don’t know whether I can move.”

Aidan laughed as he planted a loving kiss between her breasts.  “Until later, my beauties,” he said, giving both of her nipples a sharp tweak.

Naomi gasped with outrage, rubbing her tingling nipples while Aidan rose from the bed.  He slipped on his breeches and buttoned them.  Still, she hadn’t moved from her sprawl.  Aidan chuckled as he pulled her to her feet.  He embraced her from behind, burying his nose in her hair and breathing deeply.

“Do you realize, this is the first time I’ve spent the entire night with you?” Aidan asked, moving her hair aside to nuzzle her neck.

“I know,” she sighed, hugging his arms closer around her.  “I used to hate waking up to find you already gone.”

“No more, my love.”  He placed a tender kiss on her temple.  “Now, let’s get to work.  I want to take you home and share the good news with my brothers.  And then, we have to locate ourselves a preacher, because I intend to make you my wife before this day is through.”

**********

Their wedding was a small affair.  Brian and Liam stood as witnesses, matching grins on their faces as they watched their brother say his vows.  They had tried to apologize to Aidan for conspiring against him, but he had laughingly waved off their explanations.  He told them that if it hadn’t been for their prodding, he might still be agonizing over how to get Naomi to marry him.

After the ceremony, the McKenzies ate dinner at the hotel in town.  It had a small dining room, and the food served there was delicious.  Toasts were drunk and best wishes spoken for the newlyweds and their future happiness.  It was a late hour when the family turned their wagon for home.

Brian drove, with Liam sitting beside him on the seat.  Aidan and Naomi were snuggled on a pallet in the back of the wagon, with a warm, wool blanket drawn over them to protect her from the cold December air.  The two younger brothers kept up a constant stream of conversation to cover the occasional soft sigh coming from behind them.  They exchanged sly grins, knowing their brother was stealing kisses from his new bride.

Aidan had decided to move into Naomi’s cabin so they would have some privacy.  The cabin was small and not nearly as comfortable as his home, but it was snug and warm.  It would see them through the winter, until he could build a home for them on his farm.

“Aidan,” Brian said thoughtfully, “you and Naomi should take a honeymoon.  Liam and I can mind the farm while you’re gone.”

Aidan raised a brow, pausing in his exploration of Naomi’s soft neck.  “I hadn’t really thought about it.”  He smiled at her startled expression as he reached a stealthy hand to slip a few of her buttons free.  Under cover of the blanket, he snuck his hand into her bodice, cupping one soft breast with a wide grin.   “I had my hands full trying to convince this woman to marry me.  I didn’t have time to consider a honeymoon.  What do you think, Mrs. McKenzie?”

Naomi held her breath to avoid moaning her pleasure.  She shot him a scandalized look, struggling not to arch her back as his thumb teased her hardened nipple through her chemise.  She tried to hide the breathlessness in her voice as she answered.

“A honeymoon sounds wonderful, but where would we go?”

“I was thinking you might want to take a trip to Oregon City,” Brian suggested.  “You know, now that you two are married, Aidan can claim some additional land.”

Aidan was busy claiming something else at the moment, but he wrestled his lust under control.  He couldn’t very well ravish his wife in front of his brothers, so he reluctantly released her breast, impatient to get home.

“That’s not a bad idea,” he said, refastening her buttons.  “If we leave tomorrow, we could be back in a week or so.  That would give us three or four days to relax in the city.”

Brian and Liam exchanged glances before Liam answered.  “There’s no need to rush back.  Its not often you’ll have a chance like this to enjoy yourselves.  Why don’t you stay a bit longer, maybe take two weeks.  We’re caught up around the farm.  Brian and I can easily look after things.”

The idea of having Naomi to himself without any responsibilities to distract them was appealing to Aidan.  It took him only a moment or two to nod his head in agreement.

“I think we will accept your generous offer,” Aidan said with a grin.  “And when the two of you decide to get married, I will return the favor.”

“That’s a deal,” Brian said, winking at Liam.

**********

The newlywed couple left on their trip the following day.  They stopped off to say goodbye before they departed.  Brian and Liam stood on the front porch, waving them on their way.  As soon as the couple was out of sight, Brian clapped Liam on the shoulder with a broad grin.

“Let’s get moving.  We only have two weeks to get their cabin built if we want to surprise them.”

Liam laughed as he followed his brother.  “Count me in.”

The two younger McKenzie brothers had been secretly discussing their plan for weeks, since Aidan had first started seeing Naomi.  They had already purchased some lumber and supplies, and they had the perfect spot picked out, a short distance from their home.  For the next several days, they worked diligently, laying down a sturdy foundation and erecting the frame.  By the end of the week, the structure was beginning to take form.  They had the walls up and the roof on, but they needed more supplies to finish the job.

Brian went into town to purchase what they needed.  He loaded the wagon with glass for windows, nails, more lumber, and a handsome iron cook stove, before turning for home.  He smiled as he drove along, thinking of how surprised his brother and sister would be when they returned from their honeymoon to find a new home waiting for them.

A freezing blast of wind blew the smile off his face, and he drew his collar up to ward off the chill.  The weather had turned cold over the past days.  Several inches of snow had fallen overnight, and as he guided the horses along the icy road, he was impatient to get home.

He rounded a bend in the road, and his eyes widened.  A woman lay in the snow at the bottom of a hill beside the road, crumpled into a heap.  Brian halted the horses and jumped down, racing to kneel beside her.  She was lying facedown, and Brian gently turned her over, gasping when he saw her face.  She was stunningly beautiful, with honey gold hair and delicate features.  He spent a stunned moment scanning her face.

Her skin was nearly as white as the surrounding snow, except for the blood seeping from a gash on her forehead.  She was limp and cold, and Brian urgently felt for a pulse.  He breathed a sigh of relief when he felt a faint throbbing beneath her jaw.  He wondered how long she had been lying there unconscious.  He almost hadn’t seen her as he passed by, and he wondered whether she had been there when he went into town, hours before.  If he didn’t get her warm soon, she could easily die from exposure.

He shrugged out of his coat and wrapped it around her limp form, gathering her in his arms.  He struggled up the icy hill, slipping on the snow and praying for her to live.  Reaching the wagon, he laid her gently in the back, tucking his coat around her before jumping to the seat.  He was close to home, and he urged the horses to their fastest pace, casting frequent glances over his shoulder.

Finally, he reached his farm, and he jumped down.  He lifted his precious cargo in his arms and raced to the house, fumbling to open the door.  He kicked it closed behind him and carried the girl to his bedroom.  He laid her on his bed and quickly began undressing her.  He had to get her out of her wet clothes before she froze to death.  He had already stripped off her dress and was starting on her chemise when Liam appeared in the doorway behind him.

“What’s going on?” Liam asked, his eyes widening when he saw the half naked woman.  “Who’s she?

Seeing the direction of Liam’s gaze, Brian moved to block his view.  “Out!”  He jerked his head to the door.  “Get out of here and shut the door behind you!”

Liam hastily complied, leaving Brian alone with his charge once more.  His fingers shook as he struggled with the tiny buttons.  He was finally successful in freeing them, and he yanked the soaked garment off her body.  Even in his agitated state, his senses registered that her body was every bit as beautiful as her face, but he ignored her feminine charms as he pulled off her wet pantalets and stockings.

When she was finally naked, he tucked her under the covers, piling two extra quilts over her for warmth.  He went to the kitchen, seeking water and a cloth to clean the wound on her forehead.  Liam was waiting, full of curiosity.

“Who the hell is she?” he asked, watching as Brian rushed to gather the items he needed.

“I have no idea,” he said, his voice full of concern.  “I found her lying beside the road.”

Brian explained succinctly as he heated a pan of water and gathered the supplies he would need to bandage her head.  When he had finished, Liam scratched his head.

“Maybe I should go for the doctor,” he suggested.

Brian shot him an impatient frown.  “You know that old drunkard is a useless quack.  I’ll take care of her myself.”  The tone of his voice was dismissive as he turned toward the bedroom, balancing a basin.

“Well at least let me fetch one of the ladies from town to care for her.  Don’t you think it’s a bit scandalous, having a naked woman alone in the house with only two men to care for her?”

“One man,” Brian growled.  He ignored Liam’s raised eyebrows.  “I’ll worry about her reputation once I know she’s going to live.  In the meantime, stay out of my bedroom.  There’s no sense in both of us seeing her naked.”

He didn’t see Liam’s speculative expression as he turned away.  He set the basin on the table beside his bed and closed the door softly.  It was late afternoon, and the room was growing increasingly dim, so he lit a lantern, turning the wick high to cast a glow over the bed.  His unexpected visitor hadn’t stirred.  She looked small and fragile, tucked in the middle of his bed.

Brian sat on the bed and dipped a cloth in the warm water.  He gently bathed her wound, relieved to find that it wasn’t very deep.  He washed away the dried blood and applied a healing ointment before wrapping her head with a neat bandage.  He felt for her pulse once more and found it steady and strong.

Brian frowned as he scanned her face.  Her skin was cold, and her lips were blue.  Full of sudden worry, he pulled her slender arm from beneath the covers and felt each of her fingers.  He repeated the procedure on her left hand, happy to see the absence of any wedding ring.  Tucking her arms back in, he lifted the covers and checked all ten of her toes, relieved to find no signs of frostbite.  Her feet were delicate and dainty, stirring feelings of protectiveness in Brian’s heart as he tucked them in securely.

He sat beside her once again, frustrated that there was nothing he could do except wait.  The fact that she hadn’t roused from her stupor was worrisome.  An agonizing hour passed, during which she lay still as death.  Then, she began to shiver, moaning softly in her distress.  Brian kicked his boots off and joined her beneath the covers, trying unsuccessfully to ignore her soft curves as he pulled her into his arms to share his warmth.  She finally breathed a sigh of relief and snuggled against him.

Brian smiled, rubbing his cheek against her silky hair.  She hadn’t opened her eyes yet, but he was confident that she would wake up soon.  Her body was warming, and her breathing was reassuringly steady.  He held her for a long time, relishing the feel of her in his arms, before he finally drifted to sleep.

***********

She opened her eyes slowly, blinking as she looked around.  She didn’t recognize the room.  Not a single item of furniture looked familiar, and she frowned as she wondered how she had gotten there.  Her limbs felt weighted, and she lay for a while not moving.  It took several minutes for her dazed brain to register the fact that there was a warm male body snuggled against her back.  Her eyes widened on a gasp, and she turned in his arms to face him.

Brian awoke with a start, and she gasped again as she stared into the most vibrant pair of translucent green eyes that she had ever seen.  They were framed by lush black lashes and set deep beneath handsome black brows.  She dragged her eyes away from his compelling gaze and scanned the rest of his features.  A sculpted nose, strong cheekbones, firm jaw, and well-proportioned lips completed his gorgeous face.  He grinned, and she mentally added a pair of deep dimples to the list of reasons he was the most sinfully handsome man she had ever laid eyes on.

“Who are you?” she asked with a bemused frown.

He raised one brow.  “I could ask you the same thing.”  Seeing her deepening confusion, he chuckled lightly.  “I’m sorry, ma’am.  I’m Brian McKenzie.  And you are…?”

“Where am I?  How did I get here?” she blurted, glancing once more at the surrounding room.  Her eyes were growing slightly panicked.

“It’s okay, you’re alright now,” Brian soothed.  “I think you must have had an accident.  I found you lying unconscious in the snow, and I brought you home.”

He watched as her delicate pink lips parted in surprise.  Her chocolate brown eyes were opened wide, but Brian could imagine how they might look if they were heavy lidded and full of passion.  A blush of rosy color had returned to her cheeks, and he longed to brush his thumb over their graceful planes.  Her face was both elegantly beautiful and temptingly sensual.

He was even more aroused by the lush body crushed against him.  Her breasts were full and firm, and they were flattened against his chest.  He had partially unbuttoned his shirt for comfort, and he could feel the twin pebbles of her nipples boring into him.  When she had turned so abruptly in his arms, his hand had landed on one naked buttock.  The globe was smooth, heated perfection beneath his palm.  He itched to knead it, but he knew he would startle her if he moved his hand.  He didn’t think she had realized yet that she was lying naked in his arms, and he was in no hurry to remind her.

“What kind of accident?” she asked quietly.

It was Brian’s turn to frown.  “I was hoping you would be able to tell me.”

Her forehead creased with worry as she searched his eyes, as if she might find the answers she sought in their green depths.  “I don’t remember,” she whispered.  Her eyes began to fill with tears.  “I don’t remember anything.  I don’t even remember my own name!”

“Shhh, it’s alright,” Brian said, tightening his arms around her.  “You’ve been through an ordeal.  I’m sure your memory will return as soon as you’ve had a rest.”

“Do you think so,” she whispered forlornly.  “What if I never remember?”

“Shhh,” Brian soothed again.  “Don’t talk like that.  You probably have a concussion.  Don’t worry, I’ll take good care of you until you feel better.”




Second Chances Ch. 07



Her fingers clutched his shirtfront, instinctively seeking his protection.  Looking into her frightened eyes, Brian couldn’t resist the urge to offer comfort.  He bent his head and gently kissed her lips, nibbling them lightly.  She tensed for only a moment before she returned his feathery kisses, sighing with pleasure.  Brian gradually deepened the kiss, exploring her mouth with bold strokes of his tongue when she parted her lips.  She was sweet and warm, uninhibited in her response.

His mouth on hers was sweet delight, plucking at her senses.  A nagging hunger began in her lower belly, and she squirmed against him.  She slid her arm around his neck and threaded her fingers through the hair at his nape.  Brian groaned with delight.  He finally gave in to the urge to explore her bottom, and he kneaded the rounded globe.  The heat from his palm was like a fiery brand, and her eyes popped wide open.  She pulled free of the kiss and stared at him in horror.  He could feel her heart pounding.

“I’m…I’m naked!” she squeaked in a weak whisper.

“Yes ma’am, you are,” Brian replied, struggling not to grin.

“Did you…,” she gulped down a breath before she continued, “did you undress me?”

“Uh, yes ma’am, I did.”

“So, you’ve seen my body…naked?” she asked, wincing with embarrassment.

Brian could no longer contain his grin, and he gave her bottom a fond squeeze to punctuate his answer.  “Yes ma’am, I’ve seen every inch of your body, and it was as naked as the day you were born.”

She squeezed her eyes tightly shut, groaning in mortification.  Brian watched as her face turned red, and it was hard to resist the urge to see whether her blush extended to the tips of her breasts.  His cock was twitching from the mere thought.

“This is dreadful,” she moaned, covering her face with both hands.

Brian chuckled and pulled one hand off her face to meet her cautious gaze.  “There’s nothing to be ashamed about.  You happen to have the loveliest body I’ve ever seen, and your virtue is safe with me.  I have yet to ever corrupt an innocent.”

The thought occurred to him that he didn’t know whether she was an innocent or not, but he didn’t voice that conjecture at the moment.  Not only would it increase the temptation to find out, but she was distressed enough without adding one more mystery to think about.

For some odd reason, his reassurance pleased her, and her renewed blush was due entirely to the effect of having an incredibly handsome man pay her a compliment.  She bit her lip and reluctantly met his eye once more, clearing her throat nervously.

“You shouldn’t be here in bed with me.  It’s entirely improper.”

Brian held her gaze for a long moment before he grinned again.  “You’re right.  I’ll go, but I want one more kiss before I do.”

He raised a questioning brow, and when she didn’t protest, he captured her lips again.  He kissed her with more passion, showing her a hint of how badly he wanted her, as he explored her bottom with growing familiarity.  She moaned into his mouth, wiggling her fanny and inadvertently rubbing her breasts against his chest.  It was too much of a temptation to pass up, and he slowly skimmed a hand over her ribs to cup one mouthwatering orb in his palm.  He grazed her nipple with his thumb and she moaned and arched her back. Her sweet responsiveness chipped away at his resolve, and hot blood flooded his cock.

She was similarly affected.  The hunger in her belly grew with every stroke of his fingers.  When he grasped her nipple and squeezed, sharp pangs of desire pierced her, making her gasp.  Brian released her mouth and rolled her onto her back, suckling her nipple into his mouth.  The shocking heat caused her to gasp again, and she pressed her breast upward, seeking more of the pleasure he was heaping on her.

Brian savored her breasts.  He had seen her body only briefly when he undressed her, and he took the opportunity to fully appreciate her beauty as he nipped and suckled the succulent mound.  Her breasts were generously rounded, perky and firm.  Her nipples were pink rosebuds perched proudly at their tips.  He devoured each of them in turn, torturing them with strong tugs from his teeth and then soothing them with lavish strokes of his tongue.  The thrill he derived from tasting her was sweet.  Her cries of pleasure were even sweeter.

She was gasping and writhing, beginning to feel desperate for some kind of relief, when she finally had the presence of mind to push gently against his shoulders.  Brian reluctantly released her nipple, sighing as it popped from his mouth.  He had never wanted to plunge into a woman so badly as he did at that moment.

“You said one kiss,” she said in a ragged whisper.  “We must stop.”

Brian’s cock was aching in his breeches, throbbing painfully for release.  He looked once more at her breasts.  Her nipples were wet from his kisses.  They pouted atop her rosy breasts, swollen and practically begging for more of his attention.  He was dying to give it to them.  Brian heaved a frustrated sigh and sat up on the edge of the bed, facing away from her as she pulled the covers under her armpits.

“You’re right, ma’am.  I apologize for my behavior.”

“There’s no need to apologize,” she whispered, surprising him with her candor.  He turned to search her gaze.  “I enjoyed every moment.  I just need to take things a bit more slowly.  I don’t even know you.”  She bit her lip, the worry returning to her lovely eyes.  “I don’t even know myself.”

“You will,” Brian assured her, brushing her golden hair behind one delicate ear.  “You will regain your memory very soon, and until you do, I promise I will take good care of you.”

She smiled at him, feeling entirely reassured by his promise.  She had no idea where she truly belonged, but being here, with him…nothing had ever felt more right.



Second Chances Ch. 08



Brian insisted that she spend the remainder of the night in his bed. He went to sleep in Aidan's vacant room. It took hours for him to fall asleep. He lay awake, remembering every detail of her naked beauty. She looked like an angel, but she felt like a temptress in his arms. His cock remained painfully hard, throbbing and aching as memories of her continued to assail him. It insistently tried to convince him to return to his bed and finish what he had started, but his conscience wouldn't allow him to betray her trust.

That trust had been evident in her warm brown eyes. She had smiled at him, and he had felt like he would die before he let anyone harm her. So, he resisted the urge to ravish her, and he eventually fell asleep.

It seemed like only moments later when he woke up, seeing the first grey streaks of morning light through the window. He donned his shirt, breeches and socks and went to peek at the woman in his bed.

She was sound asleep. Her long golden hair was spread in disarray across the pillow, one soft arm lying over the shiny tresses. The quilt was tucked around her shoulders, and her mouth was slightly parted in sleep.

Brian smiled and shut the door silently. He went to the kitchen to cook breakfast, as he thought about the sleeping mystery woman in his bed.

Liam was already sitting at the table, eating his breakfast. He eyed Brian closely as he reached for the coffeepot.

"How's our guest? Do you think she will be alright?"

"She's much better. She woke up last night," Brian said with a yawn. He sat down opposite his brother and sipped from his cup.

"Well," Liam prompted, "how did she end up lying by the road?"

"She doesn't know. She doesn't remember anything, not even her name."

Liam's eyes widened as he studied Brian's face. "Seriously?"

"I'm afraid so," Brian muttered. "I have no idea who she is, where she came from, or what happened to her."

Liam thought that over for a minute while he chewed on a biscuit. "So, now what? We can't just let her stay here indefinitely."

"I don't see why not," Brian said with a shrug. The thought of sending her away made his gut clench.

"Have you lost your mind? Someone must be looking for her, parents or a husband maybe. They must be sick with worry."

That had occurred to Brian during the night. He could barely stomach the idea that she could be married. He clung to the fact that she wasn't wearing a wedding ring as proof that she wasn't some other man's wife. He hoped to hell he was right. He looked at Liam, realizing he was waiting for an answer.

"For now, she stays put. She needs to rest after what she's been through. I'll go back to where I found her and see if there's anything there that might help us identify her. I didn't take time to look before."

"Well, shouldn't we notify the sheriff, maybe post a notice or something?"

Brian shook his head adamantly. "You said yourself that it would ruin her reputation if people found out she was staying here with two men. I want to try to find out who she is before I go spreading the news that she's here. If we aren't able to solve the mystery ourselves, then maybe we'll go to the sheriff for help."

Liam didn't look too pleased with his answer, but he grudgingly nodded his head. He rose from the table and shrugged into his coat.

"I'm going to work on Aidan's cabin. You know where I am if you need me."

Brian watched him leave before returning his thoughts to the mystery woman in his bed. Whoever she was, she had captured his imagination so firmly that he could think of little other than her. It would be in his best interest to find out her identity as quickly as he could. It wouldn't do to fall in love with her, only to find out that she was already spoken for.

***********

She woke with a sigh, not wanting to rouse from the lovely dream she had been having. In the dream, Brian was holding her again, kissing her and teasing her breasts with his wicked tongue. She blinked her eyes open, reassured to find herself in the same room she remembered from the night before. Her breasts were tingling, and there was a strange throbbing sensation between her thighs.

She rolled onto her back, stretched and frowned slightly, feeling a multitude of twinges and aches over her entire body. She wondered what had made her so stiff and sore. She closed her eyes, concentrating hard to remember something about who she was or where she had come from? Her mind was blank, and she sighed with frustration. Her concentration was interrupted by a soft knock on the door.

"Come in," she ventured.

Brian opened the door and pushed it wide. His eyes met hers and he grinned, causing his deep dimples to appear. She gave him a glorious smile of welcome. He entered with a tray of food and closed the door behind him. He set the tray on the bedside table and sat down on the edge of the bed.

"Good morning, angel. Did you sleep well?"

His deep voice sent a shiver of pleasure down her spine, and she nodded. "Yes, thank you. Did you?"

He nodded, deciding not to tell her that his lustful memories kept him awake most of the night. "I brought you some breakfast. Are you hungry?"

"I'm starving," she said.

She sat up quickly, forgetting her nudity as she dropped the covers to her waist. Brian caught a glimpse of her perfect breasts, tempting and rosy, before she remembered and snatched the sheet beneath her chin with a squeak of alarm. He couldn't help but chuckle at her look of apprehension, and he was glad to see her relax slightly. She struggled with one hand to rearrange the pillows so that she could sit up, but it was difficult while trying to preserve her modesty.

"Let me help you," he offered.

He reached around her, and she felt caged by his strong arms and chest. She caught a whiff of his clean, masculine smell. The temptation was strong to sink against him and luxuriate in his muscular body. When he was satisfied, he urged her to lean back, and she shyly tucked the sheet beneath her arms so that she could eat. He sat the tray on the bed, and she saw that he had prepared scrambled eggs, bacon, biscuits, peach preserves, and a large glass of milk for her meal.

"This looks and smells delicious," she said with a smile. "I confess, I'm so hungry I could eat a horse."

He laughed, watching with interest as she took a bite and moaned her appreciation. The morning light coming through the window turned her sleep mussed hair into a shining corona that strongly resembled a halo, and he thought once more that she looked like an angel.

"This is yummy," she mumbled around a mouthful of eggs. Noticing that he was watching her intently, she frowned. "Have you eaten breakfast?"

"Not yet, but I will. There's more in the kitchen."

"There's more than enough here," she said. "Here, have a bite."

She scooped up a generous forkful of eggs and held her other hand beneath it as she guided the fork to his mouth. She failed to notice as she did so that the sheet slipped low over her breasts. The soft cotton drooped obligingly, providing Brian with a tantalizing glimpse of one pink nipple as she leaned toward him. He took his time accepting her offer as he savored the view.

"Mmmm," he moaned, careful not to alert her to the gift she had bestowed upon him. "Very tasty."

She laughed with pleasure, completely missing his meaning as she scooped another bite into her own mouth. She continued to share her breakfast with him. With each bite she offered him, the sheet dropped slightly lower, until Brian had an enticing view of both furled nipples. Eventually, she noticed the direction of his gaze, and she blushed as she yanked the sheet up to cover her nakedness.

Brian chuckled, noticing that her blush deepened further. He set the nearly empty tray aside and moved closer to her on the bed, placing one hand near her hip as he leaned close. He smoothed her hair back and brushed a thumb over her quivering bottom lip.

"Don't be embarrassed, angel. It was naughty of me not to tell you sooner."

"Yes it was," she said, thrusting her lip out petulantly. "You shouldn't take advantage of me like that."

"I can't help myself," he murmured, leaning close to pluck a kiss from her pouting lips. The raspy timbre of his voice made her shiver with excitement. "You're so damned tempting, that I can't resist you. Besides," he said, cupping her breast through the sheet, "I've already had the pleasure of seeing your breasts, remember?"

She released a pained groan of pleasure as he kneaded her boldly. His fingers were wicked in their purpose, squeezing firmly on her nipple as they coerced her to return his steamy kisses. She wrapped her arms around his neck, letting the traitorous sheet drop to her waist once again. Brian seized the invitation, leaning into her and savoring her soft body beneath him.

She felt consumed as he plundered her mouth, stealing her breath with his bold tongue. When he finally released her lips, she drew a huge gasp of air, only to release it again on a moan when he captured her nipple. He suckled hard, drawing it deep within his mouth. She clutched his head, riding wave after wave of pleasure as he feasted.

The throbbing ache between her thighs intensified, and she moaned as she squirmed to ease it. As if he knew the source of her discomfort, Brian slipped a hand beneath the sheet and skimmed it over the soft flesh of her belly. He toyed with the soft patch of hair, and she gasped, opening her eyes to meet his gaze. Her eyes were wide and startled, and he stroked her soothingly, waiting to see if she would stop him from going further.

Her emotions were easy to read in her lovely eyes. Confusion, passion, curiosity and fear were equally mixed as he gently explored her soft thatch of hair. He was poised to stop, thinking he had gone too far, when she gave a soft sigh and relaxed back onto the pillows. She held his gaze, her own eyes trusting once more, as he slid one finger further, until he was stroking her outer lips. The wetness and heat that greeted him were the ultimate feminine temptation. At that moment, Brian would have given his soul for a chance to sink into her lovely body.

She sighed once more and closed her eyes, letting her tense thighs fall slightly apart. Brian would have grinned in triumph, but his heart was pounding too hard in his chest. He explored every slick, swollen fold as he watched her. She was dripping with moisture, her wetness coating his fingers until they made a soft, sloshing sound.

He located her entrance and sank one finger into her, as far as he could reach. She gripped him like a vice. He wondered again whether she was a virgin, as he stroked her. He couldn't feel any barrier keeping his finger out, but he had never explored a virgin's pussy. He didn't know exactly what he was feeling for. Besides, he reasoned, he had heard that some women lost that barrier from horseback riding or other activities. The fact that he could barely squeeze a second finger into her made him think that she had never been with a man. The primitive, barbarian side of him prayed she hadn't. He wanted to be the first one, no the only one to claim her body.

He stroked her for several minutes, working to loosen her tight sheath. She looked so beautiful laying there, her upper body exposed, her nipples swollen and red from his mouth, her lips slightly parted as she panted in excitement. He was aroused to the point of pain, but he knew he couldn't take her, not with so many unanswered questions. She was growing increasingly desperate, mewling softly and pumping her hips toward his hand. He located her clit and gave it a few sharp flicks, sending her over the edge.

He gritted his teeth and held his breath as she climaxed. Her inner muscles squeezed tightly around his fingers, and her soft cries tugged at his heartstrings. When her contractions eased, he slipped his fingers from her pussy and pulled the sheet back up to cover her breasts.

She opened her eyes, blinking to clear the cobwebs as she stared up at him in wonder. He grinned, though it was difficult while his cock was ready to explode in his breeches.

"Thank you, angel. I don't think I've ever enjoyed breakfast so much."

She blushed hotly, but she held his gaze and gave him a shy smile. "Me neither."

He tucked her hair behind one ear, realizing the action was quickly becoming a habit. "Your clothes should be dry by now. I hung them up to dry last night."

She looked to where he had pointed, nodding her head when she saw her clothes. "Thank you," she whispered.

"I'll leave you to get dressed. My brother, Liam, will be around if you need anything. Just make yourself comfortable."

Her eyes clouded with alarm, and she clung to his arm. "Are you leaving?" she asked in a panicked voice.

"Not for long, angel. I'll be back before lunch."

Her relief was evident, making his heart swell. "Hurry back. I'll be waiting."

Brian nodded with a smile, swallowing a lump in his throat. He picked up the tray and left, closing the door behind him. As he walked away, he said a silent prayer that they could solve the mystery of her identity quickly. If she didn't already have a husband, he wanted that role, just so he could hear her say those sweet words every day for the rest of his life.

**********

She listened to the sounds of Brian's departure from the cabin. Her body was still glowing from his lovemaking. Brian McKenzie was the embodiment of her ideal man. He was incredibly handsome, charming, thoughtful, and sweet. He wouldn't have to work very hard if he wanted to win her heart, it was already half his. She hugged herself, thinking that she was the luckiest woman in the world to have been rescued by him. If it weren't for the fact that she had no memory, she would have been floating with joy.

That unsettling thought prodded her to get out of bed. She padded to a large mirror and studied her reflection. Nothing about her appearance stirred any recollection, and she sighed. She unwound the bandage from her head and inspected the small cut underneath. She wondered what Brian thought of her appearance. She scanned her features and turned to view her naked body from different directions. She supposed she would be considered pretty, maybe even beautiful if she didn't have the cut and some small bruises on her face. She shrugged and reached for her clothes.

She quickly dressed, grimacing when she saw the dirt and stains on her dress. She wished she had clean clothes to change into, but these would have to do for the moment. She opened the door and peered down the hallway, curious about the rest of the house.

"Hello?" she called softly. 

Only silence greeted her, so she decided to look around. Brian had said she should make herself comfortable. She peered into each room, finding two additional bedrooms, a storeroom, a bathing room, and a large family room with a kitchen at one end. There was a massive stone fireplace that heated the house, and peering up, she spied a loft tucked under the roof. She was impressed by the workmanship, functionality and neatness of the home. Still, it lacked a woman's touch.

Spying the dirty dishes from breakfast, she felt relief that there was something she could do to occupy her time. She rolled up her sleeves and looked for a wash basin. Finding one in a cupboard, along with rags and soap, she began to heat some water over the fire. Soon, she was scrubbing away at the plates and utensils.

A flashing memory assailed her, and she closed her eyes to see the details more clearly. In her mind, she could see herself in a large kitchen with an apron tied around her waist. The kitchen had all the modern conveniences, a hand pump for running water, a wooden tub that had been built into the counter, and a huge cook stove that looked big enough to feed an army of people. She was standing at the counter washing dishes, when a man slipped his arms around her waist and leaned against her back.

"Ah Sarah," he sighed, laughing at her startled cry. "I knew I would find you here."

He kissed her neck and reached up to cup both of her breasts, squeezing them in his hands.

Her eyes flew open, and she gripped the kitchen table until her knuckles were white. Her heart was pounding, and her breath was coming in hard pants. She tried to remember the details of the man's face, but somehow, his face had been a blur. All she could recall for sure was that he had dark hair and a neat mustache. She had the impression that he was tall and well-dressed, although she couldn't be sure. He had called her Sarah. Was that her name? Who was that man to her? Could he be her husband?

She instantly rebelled against the notion. Remembering her morning with Brian, she released an anguished groan. The things Brian had done with her body had felt so wonderful and right. She didn't want to think about the possibility that she may have been committing adultery by inviting him to do those things.

She finished washing the dishes, dried them and put them away. No other memories surfaced, but she remained deeply troubled. She made her bed, smoothing the sheets and tucking them neatly in at the corners. As she fluffed the pillows, another memory flashed through her mind. Once again, she closed her eyes, trying to capture every detail.

She saw herself bent over a massive four poster bed. She was fluffing the pillows and arranging them at the head of the bed. Suddenly, the same man as before gripped her waist and tossed her onto the mattress. He fell down with her, laughing as he gathered her against him. He kissed her long and hard on the mouth as he fumbled with the buttons of her dress, and she moaned against his lips.

"Sarah," he murmured. "My sweet Sarah. I've been waiting all day for this."

He opened her dress and unbuttoned her chemise, baring her breasts to his gaze. He grinned at her and then bent his head, sucking her nipple into his mouth.

Once again, her eyes flew open. She could barely breathe from the intensity of the vision. She felt a sick feeling in the pit of her stomach as she tried to recall more, but the image faded, leaving only a shadowy memory. She still couldn't put a face to the man, but she was sure he was dark haired and he had a mustache. The other details of his face were too indistinct for her to piece them together.

Tears prickled the backs of her eyes, and she fell back onto the bed, curling into a miserable ball. The man had called her Sarah again. She was fairly certain that was her name. He had handled her with the familiarity of a loving husband. She couldn't think of any other relationship that was plausible. Yet, try as she might, she couldn't recall any tender feelings for the man in her visions.

Her heart constricted as she thought once again about Brian. She already had tender feelings for him. He had been so wonderful and caring. She hated to think that their relationship could be so terribly wrong. She heaved a deep sigh, wondering what she had done to make Fate treat her so cruelly.

*********

Brian scanned the road, looking for the exact spot where he had found his angel. He knew the path well, and he found the location without difficulty. As he tied his horse to a tree, he thanked heaven that it hadn't snowed anymore during the night. A heavy snowfall would have covered any clues to what had happened to his mystery woman.

He pinpointed the place where he had found her, and did a careful sweep of the surrounding area. Sure enough, higher up on the slope, he saw signs of where she must have tumbled down the hill. He retraced her path, finally spotting a small, cloth suitcase wedged among some rocks. He pried it loose and opened it. There were several dresses, women's undergarments, a wooden hairbrush, a small purse with money in it, and a bundle of books.

Brian frowned thoughtfully at the books, running his hand over the spines. The books included a bible, a cookbook, and a book entitled "Sonnets from the Portuguese". Intrigued by the title, Brian freed the book and flipped through the pages. It was a book of love sonnets. As he flipped through, he came across a small photo of a man. He was handsome, with dark hair and a mustache. Brian spied an inscription on the inside flap of the book, and he squinted to read what it said.




Second Chances Ch. 08



To my dearest Sarah on your eighteenth birthday. May this book bring you joy, as you have made my life joyful. With all my love, Y.L.F. Thomas Martin

Brian swallowed hard, reading the inscription again. The handwriting looked masculine, and he could picture the man in the photo carefully penning the message. He was obviously someone who loved Sarah very much, but was Sarah the same woman as his angel? The fact that he had begun to think of her as not just an angel, but his angel, made it difficult to accept that another man had given her a book of love sonnets. And what did Y.L.F. stand for -- your loving friend - your loving fiancé?

Brian replaced the photo in the book and bundled it back with the others, just as he had found them. He closed the suitcase and took a deep, calming breath. He didn't want to admit it, but it looked as if there was likely another man with some claim to his angel's affection, at least if she was Sarah.

Although Brian searched, he didn't find any other clues to her identity. He tied the suitcase on his saddle and turned his horse toward home. He didn't want to think about it. He didn't like to think about it. But if what he suspected was true, he owed it to Sarah to help her rediscover her past and find the man in the photo.

Brian shook his head, pondering the strange workings of the human heart. It had been less than a day since he had rescued his angel. That was hardly any time, in the grand scheme of things. And yet, in that brief span of time, he had gone from being completely satisfied with his life to being deeply troubled by the prospect of losing a girl he barely knew.

********

Brian arrived home to find his angel, once again asleep on his bed. However, this time, she was fully dressed and lying on top of the quilts. He watched her for a few minutes, enjoying the sight of her. Giving in to temptation, he slipped his boots off and stretched out beside her, hugging her spoon like against his chest.

She sighed in her sleep, and snuggled closer, pulling his arm tight around her. Brian sucked in a silent breath as his hand landed on her soft breast. His needs waged a war with his conscience. The allure of her lush body begged him to make love to her. The cold reality that she might belong to another man made him pause. He was on the verge of deciding to do the right thing, when she arched her back, pressing her hardened nipple against his palm.

"Brian," she sighed softly.

His heart pounded as she writhed in her sleep, her lovely brow knitting in concentration as she licked her lips and moaned.

"Don't leave me, Brian," she breathed, frowning in her sleep.

Her entreaty, combined with such sumptuous womanly fare, was more than he could resist. His body had been in agony all night and most of the day just remembering how she had looked and felt in his arms. His heart had been aching since he had discovered the book and the photo. Holding her against him was like a soothing balm to both his body and heart. He might burn in hell for the sin, but there was no way he was walking away from her. He thrust the man in the photo from his mind and reached to claim his love.

"Wake up, my angel," he murmured near her ear. He nuzzled her neck and kneaded her breast. "Wake up, my love. I need you." 



Second Chances Ch. 09



She woke up to the exquisitely pleasant sensation of warm, manly lips trailing kisses along her neck and a strong, firm hand kneading her breast. She knew instantly that it was Brian, even without opening her eyes. She knew it was him, because she instantly felt the same way he had made her feel that morning – beautiful, feminine, desired, cherished.

"Wake up, my love. I need you," Brian whispered, in his wickedly tempting voice.

She smiled, turning onto her back to face him. She opened her eyes and found him watching her intently. The visions that she had seen of possible memories from her past flitted through her mind, but she pushed them away. Even if it was incredibly wrong, she wanted to enjoy what time she had with Brian. She wanted to experience being 'his love'.

"You're back," she whispered. "I missed you."

"I haven't been gone long," Brian said with a smile. "Only a couple of hours."

"Still, I missed you."

She pulled him down for a kiss, opening her mouth under his so that he could surge inside. Her lips were moist and succulent, clinging to his as she followed where he led. He craved her, needed her, wanted her, with a desperation that scared him. But he knew he couldn't appease his own needs if it meant hurting her. He ended the kiss with a shuddering sigh and searched her eyes. The huge brown pools were full of trust as she smiled at him. He couldn't betray that trust.

"Angel, there is something I have to tell you."

"Not now," she insisted, kissing his neck above his collar. "Make love to me again. It feels so wonderful."

Brian closed his eyes, savoring the sensation of her lips trailing down his neck. "I went back to where I found you yesterday. I think I found some of your things."

"I'll look at them later," she murmured, unbuttoning the first few buttons of his shirt.

Her fingers were a soft delight as she explored his chest. Brian really didn't want her to stop, but neither did he want her to hate him if she found out that she had a husband or fiancé waiting for her.

"Sarah, listen. We really need to discuss this now."

When she heard the name Sarah, she stilled. She drew back to look at him with a worried frown.

"Why did you call me that?" she whispered.

"I found some things that might belong to you. The name 'Sarah' is written in a book. I assumed that it was your name."

"Oh no," she groaned miserably.

She covered her face with her hands and shook her head as if in denial. She slid her hands up through her hair, giving Brian a pained look.

"I think you're right. We should have a look at those things now."

Brian nodded and retrieved a cloth suitcase from the floor by the door. She opened it and began removing items, while he sat on the edge of the bed. There were several pretty dresses. She looked them over carefully, but they didn't stir any memories. She fingered a wooden hairbrush. There were a few strands of long blonde hair, just like hers, wound through the bristles. A small purse contained some money, she guessed about twenty dollars, although she didn't count it. Finally, she came to the books.

"This is where I found the name 'Sarah'," Brian said quietly. He had been watching her reactions closely. "Do any of the items seem familiar to you?"

"No," she whispered. "I don't recognize any of them."

He pulled out the book of sonnets and handed it to her. "Look inside," he said. "There's a photo and an inscription."

Just like Brian had done, she looked at the photo first. Her brow furrowed as she studied the face. She tried to tell if it was the same man she had seen in her memories, but she couldn't decide. Both the man in the photo and the man in her visions had dark hair and a mustache, but that didn't mean it was the same man. She didn't recognize the man in the photo, but something about his face seemed familiar. She looked for a long time, but couldn't pinpoint what it was.

"I don't know who he is," she said softly, "but somehow, I think I've met him before."

Brian swallowed hard. "Read the inscription. See what you think."

She read the words several times, but they stirred no memories. Shaking her head, she looked at Brian and sighed. "I don't recognize the handwriting or the name that he signed. And what does Y.L.F.mean?" she mused.

"I was hoping you could tell me," Brian murmured. "What about the name 'Sarah'? Do you think that is your name?"

She nodded her head. "There's something I haven't told you. I had two memories today, just brief flashes really. They were sort of like visions, but I feel certain they were memories of things that have happened to me." She met his eye briefly. "In the visions, there was a man. I couldn't see his face clearly, but he had dark hair and a mustache."

"Was he this man?" Brian asked, fingering the photo.

"I don't know," she said with a shrug. "I was trying to decide that before, but I can't be certain. Anyway, this man called me Sarah in both of the visions."

"So that must be your name," Brian said, looking anything but pleased by the discovery.

"What's wrong? Why are you looking like that?"

He blew out a frustrated breath and ran a hand through his hair. "Because if you are Sarah, it looks as if you have a fiancé, maybe even a husband."

"There's something else, Brian." She waited until he met her eye before continuing. "In my visions, the man was very...," she waved her hand in the air, trying to find the right way to phrase it, "he was very intimate with me." She went on despite Brian's scowl. "He grabbed me and kissed me. He even opened my dress and kissed me on my breast."

Brian didn't anticipate the depth of the jealousy he felt over hearing her statement. He growled low in his throat and rose, going to stare out the window. The thought of another man's mouth on his angel's breast was tormenting, and he squeezed his eyes shut, trying to block out the image.

After a long minute of silence, she came to stand beside him. "What should we do?" she asked, tugging his arm until he turned to look at her.

"I don't know," he said quietly. "I know what I want to do. What I want is to forget about all this and pretend we never knew it existed, but I know that's wrong." He took a deep breath and blew it out. "Do you remember any feelings about the man in your vision? He must be your husband if he's been that intimate with you."

She blushed, but she continued to meet his eye. "You're not my husband, and you've been even more intimate with me." Seeing him wince, she sighed and took his large hand in her much smaller one. "Don't look like that. No matter what we find out about who I am or where I came from, I refuse to think that what we've done together is wrong. At the worst, it was an innocent mistake."

"It may have been innocent before, but the feelings I'm having now are far from innocent. Even knowing what I know, I want to make love to you." Brian brushed her cheek with his thumb. "Do you think you love the man from your vision?"

She frowned, remembering how she had felt after her flashes of memory. "I don't know. It's odd, but both times, I felt quite distressed after the memory passed. I can't figure out whether I was distressed by what I was seeing or whether the act of remembering was upsetting me." She looked at Brian searchingly. "What should we do?"

He tucked a stray lock of her hair behind her ear and sighed heavily. "I think we should give it a few days. Your memory may come back on its own. You've already had a couple of recollections. In the meantime, maybe I should go into town tomorrow and ask around casually. I don't want to alert anyone to the fact that you are here just yet." He gave her a sheepish grin. "It would ruin your reputation if people found out you were living here with two men."

She nodded, accepting his logic. "Brian?" she ventured.

"Yes." Her voice, so sweet and trusting, made his heart ache.

"Whatever we find out, whatever I remember about my past," she paused to squeeze his hand, "I want you to know that I'm glad you brought me here. I'll always be glad that I met you."

"I am too, angel. I am too."

He pulled her into his arms, tucking her head beneath his chin as he hugged her. Looking out through the window, his heart felt tight in his chest. If he lost her, he knew it would hurt like hell.

*********

Brian went to help Liam with the cabin. It was already late morning, and Liam cast him a jaundiced glance.

"I was wondering whether you planned to do any work today."

"Ha, ha. Very funny," Brian grumbled as he picked up a hammer. "You know very well that I've been busy with our mystery guest."

"Did you have any luck finding out who she is?"

Brian told him about the suitcase and books and about the visions she had experienced. He left out any mention of their amorous activities.

"So, her name is Sarah?" Liam asked, nailing a board in place.

"We believe it is," Brian grumbled.

Liam noticed his brother's foul mood, but he didn't comment. Brian would confide in him when he was good and ready, and not a moment before. They worked steadily for the rest of the morning. When they returned to the cabin for lunch, a wonderful aroma greeted them at the door.

Sarah was in the kitchen, and she had cooked a large pot of stew. She smiled hesitantly at Liam and gave a much warmer smile of welcome to Brian.

"I thought you might enjoy some hot stew on a cold day like today."

Brian returned her smile. "That sounds perfect. Sarah, this is my brother. Liam, this is Sarah."

It was still difficult for Brian to call her by name, but Liam didn't seem to notice anything amiss as he exchanged greetings with their guest.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Sarah." Liam grinned, seeing her up close for the first time. "We don't often have a woman as pretty as you around the place."

Sarah blushed from the compliment. "Thank you, Mr. McKenzie. If I didn't know better, I would swear you are trying to charm me just to get a taste of my stew."

Brian laughed, glad to see that she could hold her own with his brother. "You'd better watch it, Liam. She's got you figured out already."

They washed their hands and sat down to eat. Sarah ladled generous portions of the thick, hearty stew onto their plates. She had made hot rolls, and she brought them to the table, still steaming from the oven. They tasted the food, and the two brothers were effusive with their praise as they polished off their plates and asked for more.

"These hot rolls are the lightest, most delicious rolls I've ever had," Brian said, spreading his with a generous amount of soft butter before he bit off a piece. "Mmmm, heavenly." He shot Sarah a grin as he chewed.

She was pleased, and she watched with delight as he reached for another roll. "I'm glad you like them. It's an old family recipe." As soon as she had said the words, she stopped, frowning in confusion. "How did I know that?" she mused aloud. "I made the rolls from scratch, without a recipe. It didn't occur to me until now, but I wonder how I knew how to make them."

Seeing her discomfort, Liam interrupted her thoughts. "I'm sure you'll figure it out eventually. In the meantime, I want to know the recipe for this stew. It's the best stew I've eaten since I left Kentucky," Liam declared with a satisfied sigh. He looked at Sarah and grinned, and she forgot her moment of uncertainty. "We might just keep you around."

Sarah laughed, nibbling her roll. "That was my plan. I thought if I could just please your tastebuds, you would let me stay the night."

"You can stay forever, as far as I'm concerned," Brian said.

Sarah met his eye across the table, and her heart hammered against her ribs. He had made the comment sound light hearted and teasing, but the depth of feeling she glimpsed in his luminous green eyes awed her. Even though their circumstances were uncertain, it thrilled her to know Brian cared so much for her. She glanced nervously at Liam and was relieved to see that he had missed the exchange.

They finished the meal, and the men returned to work. Sarah cleaned up the dishes, and then wandered through the cabin, wondering how she could occupy her time. She remembered the clothes in the suitcase, and she went to inspect them.

She laid the dresses on the bed, looking at them closely. They were finely made, with neat stitches applied to all the seams. They didn't look overly expensive, but they were fashionable and feminine. She quickly undressed and donned one of the dresses, looking at the result in the mirror. The garment hugged her body perfectly, conforming to every curve of her hips, waist and bosom. Even the length of the skirt was appropriate for her height. There was no question that the clothes belonged to her.

Once again, she picked up the book of sonnets, running her hand over the cover. A flashing image passed through her mind, and she lay down on the bed, closing her eyes in concentration. The image returned, stronger the second time.

She saw the man in the photo, only he looked older. He was sitting on the bench of a wagon, and she was sitting beside him, reading to him from the book of sonnets. Although the poem she was reading was a love sonnet, she didn't have the feeling that the man was her lover. Instead, they were discussing the poem, and the man had a sad, faraway look in his eye as she read a particular passage to him.

As quickly as it had appeared, the vision vanished. She opened her eyes and stared at the ceiling. She was surprised to realize that she was breathing normally, and instead of feeling distressed, she felt happy, peaceful, safe. She sat up and studied the photo again, looking for anything that might stir a memory. She sighed when she was unable to remember anything else.

She packed her things away and sighed. She was bored, and she decided to go see what Brian and Liam were doing. She could hear them hammering, and she saw a new cabin nearby. She admired the structure as she approached. It had been neatly built, and she could see that the two brothers were nearly finished with the construction. They had completed the walls, roof, floor, fireplace, and porch. All that remained were the finishing touches. They had to install windows and doors, and it would be ready to move in.

Brian spotted her and waved her over. "What do you think?"

"I think it's wonderful," she said with enthusiasm. "But do you and Liam need separate cabins?"

The two brothers laughed before Brian answered her with a grin. "We're building this cabin as a wedding present for our older brother, Aidan. He and Naomi are on their honeymoon. We expect them home in a few days, and we want to surprise them."

"Brian, that's so thoughtful," she said, admiring the interior. The new cabin was almost identical to their existing home. "I'm sure they will be very pleased."

Sarah watched as Brian and Liam carefully installed a pane of glass in a wooden frame. She frowned, remembering her impressions of their cabin. It had lacked the coziness that came from the finishing touches, the things that only a woman could bring to turn a house into a home. Suddenly, she had an idea. Maybe there was something she could do to repay Brian for his kindness.

"Brian, why don't I make some curtains for the new cabin? It would be so much more homey and welcoming when the newlyweds arrive."

Brian glanced at her thoughtfully. "I hadn't thought of that, but it would be a nice touch. I could pick up some fabric tomorrow when I go into town."

Sarah was suddenly excited about the prospect of having a project to keep her busy, and her eyes were shining as she smiled at him. "I'll make a list for you of what I need. I love to sew. This will be fun!"

Her smile abruptly faded, and her brow knitted as she looked away. Brian frowned, wondering about her change of mood.

"What's the matter? You look like something is bothering you."

Sarah chewed on her bottom lip. "I'm just wondering how I know that I love to sew. I don't have any memories of sewing, but somehow, I just know that I love it. I have the impression that I'm quite an accomplished seamstress, even though I can't recall ever making a single thing. Isn't that strange?"

Brian and Liam exchanged glances. After lunch, they had been discussing what a good cook Sarah was. They wondered how she had remembered the recipe for the hot rolls when she couldn't seem to remember anything about her past. It was puzzling.

"I wouldn't worry about it," Brian assured her with a smile. "Sooner or later, the pieces of your memory will come together."

She returned his smile, grateful for his understanding. "You're right, of course. There seems to be no rhyme or reason about which things I remember. Things just seem to pop into my head." She squeezed his shoulder before she turned to leave. "I'll make a list for you right now. Then, I can start on the curtains tomorrow."

Brian watched her go with longing in his eyes. The reasonable side of him realized that when her memory returned, she might be in love with another man. The barbarian side of him didn't care. It was urging him to take her, make her his own, keep her beside him regardless of what she wanted. The only problem was, he knew he would never force Sarah to stay. 

Realizing that Liam was watching him closely, Brian raised an imperious brow. "Well, don't just sit there staring at me. Let's get this window installed."

***********

That night, Sarah lay in Brian's bed for the longest time, trying to get to sleep. Brian had been a perfect gentleman as he bid her goodnight and walked to his brother's room. But she had seen the yearning in his clear, green eyes. She knew that he wanted her, and she wanted him just as badly.

Snuggled in his bed, she remembered the two times he had lain with her. She recalled in vivid detail every steamy kiss, every delightfully intimate caress. Brian had made her body thrum with pleasure. Just thinking about his lovemaking made her nipples tingle and her pussy ache. She wondered how he must feel. She knew he had foregone his own pleasure, while he had pleasured her so generously. His desire to claim her body, to make her his, was there in his eyes when he had said goodnight to her. She knew that he could pleasure her even more completely, if she asked him. 

The temptation to go to him, to ask him to claim her body completely, was strong. It would be a simple matter to join him in his brother's bedroom. She felt certain that he would welcome her, even though she knew he was battling with himself, trying to do the right thing.

She tossed and turned, trying to quash her desires so that she could sleep. Finally, she managed to doze. Her sleep was restless, filled with wispy dreams. The images swirled in her head, and she frowned in her sleep, trying to understand the meaning of the snatches she was seeing. Eventually, her dreams settled.

She saw herself once more, leaning over a large bed as she fluffed the pillows. Strong hands gripped her waist and tossed her onto her back on the mattress. She gasped with surprise, looking up to see Brian's laughing green eyes as he smiled down at her. She relaxed, pulling him down for a kiss.

His lips were firm and warm as they explored her mouth, and then her neck. He unbuttoned her dress and chemise, baring her breasts to his hungry gaze.

"Sarah," he murmured. "My sweet Sarah. I've been waiting all day for this."

She moaned and arched her back, rising to meet his mouth as it descended to her breast. He suckled hard, and she felt moisture beginning to pool between her thighs. She clutched his head to her, never wanting him to stop the sweet torment he was inflicting on her nipple.

He released her nipple and raised his head, giving her a leering grin. Only, it wasn't Brian. It was the man from her visions.

Sarah awoke with a gasp, bolting upright in the bed. She searched the room with panicked eyes, her heart pounding and her palms sweating. She had never felt more troubled. She didn't know how much of what she had seen was a dream and how much was a memory. All she knew for certain was that she was frightened.




Second Chances Ch. 09



Suddenly, she didn't care about right or wrong. She didn't care whether she was engaged or married. She needed comfort. She needed Brian.

She padded silently on bare feet to the room next door. Without knocking, she eased the door open and slipped inside, closing it behind her with a soft click.

Brian rose onto an elbow, surprised by her sudden appearance. He had been lying awake, thinking of her, picturing her in his bed. He had been agonizing all night, wishing he could go to her but knowing he shouldn't. Now, here she was, like a beautiful vision in a flowing white nightgown.

"Sarah?" he whispered, wondering whether she was real.

"I couldn't sleep," she murmured. "Can I sleep with you?"

Brian swallowed hard, trying to calm the pounding of his heart. "You shouldn't. What if..."

"I don't care," she whispered urgently, interrupting his objection. "I don't care about anything. I want to be with you."

Her statement made Brian's heart pound even harder, and he felt hot blood flooding his already aching cock. "If you're sure this is what you want," he said quietly. He lifted the edge of the covers, inviting her to join him in the bed.

The moon was nearly full, and its rays streamed in through the window, bathing the room in a silvery glow. Sarah could see the glitter of Brian's eyes as he watched her closely. She unbuttoned her nightgown slowly, before peeling it off her shoulders so that it could slither to the floor. Brian made her skin burn with the heat of his gaze as he inspected her naked form. He catalogued every asset, paying special attention to her pouting breasts, rounded hips, tiny waist, and coy thatch of hair. He reached for her hand, tugging gently, and she came willingly into his bed.

He crushed her against him, and the heat from his naked body made her gasp as he pinned her beneath him. She could feel his erection, fiery hot and throbbing against her belly. The ache in her pussy intensified. She wanted him inside her, and she said as much.

"Make love to me, Brian," she whispered urgently. "I want you inside me."

Brian hesitated as he studied her eyes in the moonlight. Did she truly know what she wanted, he wondered. There was no question for him. He wanted her – now, forever. He had never wanted anything as badly as he wanted her. But if he made her his own, only to lose her, he thought it just might kill him.

Sarah decided it for him, when she stroked a finger along his lower lip. "Please, Brian. I need you."

With a primitive growl of satisfaction, he kissed her. He didn't bother to hide the depth of his passion. He let it overflow, drowning her in a sea of sensation as he fed voraciously to satisfy his hunger. She was a tender morsel, a tasty tidbit, and he ravenously consumed her like a starving man.

Sarah clung to him, thrilled by the desperation of his kisses. She could barely wait for his molten mouth to reach her breast. She arched her back, thrusting her nipple up to him and urging him to feast even more. He accepted her offering with another low growl, suckling so hard that she had to stifle a scream of pure delight. He didn't spare her. His insatiable appetite was evident in the fierce tugs of his teeth, the painfully strong suction of his mouth. The intense pains in her nipple corresponded to the sharp pangs of desire that shot straight to her womb. When he had gorged himself on one breast, she eagerly offered him the other.

This was so very different from the other times he had made love to her. The gentleness was gone. Instead of handling her with tender devotion, Brian was arrogant in his possession of her body. He handled her as if she already belonged to him, as if she had always belonged to him. He took what he wanted with ruthless purpose, flaunting his right to her flesh with every blatant caress. Sarah urged him on, encouraging him to claim every inch of her body.

He didn't ask for permission. He brusquely pushed her thighs wide apart and branded her pussy with his hand. He released her quivering nipple, rising above her to watch her face as he explored her most intimate domain. His eyes flared with satisfaction when she arched her hips, opening herself wider for his touch. His fingers were almost predatory in their mastery over her slick flesh. Sarah's heart raced. She was panting with excitement, arching against his hand as he squeezed a second finger into her tight sheath.

When Brian spoke, his voice vibrated with conviction, and the harshness of his tone sent a tingle down her spine. "Once I make you mine, I'll never let you go. I keep what's mine. You had better be damned sure that this is what you want."

Sarah's eyes widened as she stared up at him. There was no way to misinterpret his warning. She had never seen this side of him, this primitive, unyielding side of him. She could easily imagine that once provoked, Brian's possessive nature would be a formidable force to be reckoned with.

She grasped his wrist and gently pushed, urging him to remove his hand from her pussy. When he had done so, she nudged his shoulder, and Brian released her. He collapsed onto his back, feeling his gut clench into tight knots of pain as he waited for her to leave his bed. He had made one last ditch effort to do the right thing, just in case she was married to another man. He had given her one last chance to retreat, and he was certain she would, leaving him desperately hungry.

Instead, Sarah grabbed the pillows, stuffing them beneath his back until he was propped up against the head of the bed. She straddled his waist, grasping one of his large hands in both of hers. She met his startled gaze and gave him a siren's smile, full of sweet promise. Her smile made it clear that he could have anything he wanted from her. She wasn't frightened, she was eager, wanton, shameless in her desire to please him and to have him pleasure her.

"This is exactly what I want," she whispered, enunciating the words slowly and clearly.

As she spoke, she led his hand back to her pussy. She used one hand to spread her outer lips wide apart and the other to trail his fingers through her dripping inner folds. Brian watched, transfixed, as she used his hand repeatedly to stroke herself before she guided his fingers to her entrance. She moaned with delight when he speared them inside her, flicking her clit with his thumb. She leaned down and kissed him, putting her stamp of approval on his claim. There was no going back. She was his.

When she was trembling and needy, Brian gripped her waist and lifted her, holding her poised over his cock as he moistened the broad tip in her juices. He held her gaze and eased her partway down, until she moaned softly from the pain. The heat of her seared him, and he gasped from the strength of her grip around his cock. His erection was huge. Even if she weren't a virgin, it would be difficult to work his way inside her. If she were a virgin, it would be torture for her. He could force his way in. With one brutal thrust, he could demand that her body accept him. He would never hurt her that way.

He released her waist and let his hands drop to her hips. Sarah stared at him nervously. She knew what had to be done to complete the conquest. Brian had left the ultimate decision in her hands. She took a deep breath and eased further down, gasping from the increasing pain and pressure. Her heart pounded in her breast, and Brian could see her pulse racing in the hollow of her throat. He waited, his breath lodged in his lungs. His masculine instincts were screaming for him to take her and get it over with.

Sarah braced her hands on his chest and took a deep breath. In an act of selfless sacrifice, she closed her eyes, lifted slightly on her knees and plunged downward with one mighty stroke. She cried out as a searing pain sliced through her pussy, making her clench her muscles in agony. She collapsed onto Brian's chest, panting and mewling softly.

He stroked her hair, hugging her tightly against him. She had been a virgin, he was sure of it. He had felt her body give, the tissue rending as he had forged inside her. The revelation made his heart swell with joy and relief. She wasn't someone else's wife. She belonged only to him.

The burning pain finally faded, until it had become only dull twinges of discomfort. Brian lifted her chin and met her eyes before he kissed her, softly and gently. Sarah sighed, losing herself once more in the pleasure of his mouth. He tightened his hands on her hips and lifted her, guiding her down gently, teaching her how to make love to him. The sensation of his cock stroking deep inside her was a shocking delight.

Sarah caught on to his rhythm, and she took over, riding him with abandon. She tilted her hips a certain way, and his cock scraped against her sensitive clit, making her moan. She repeated the maneuver, and her moan made him shiver. Her breasts bounced with the impact of her thrusts. Her nipples were swollen and hard, aching from the rough treatment he had given them. She thrust them out toward him, mutely begging him to take them.

He cupped her breasts, kneading them even more possessively than he had done before. He grasped her sore nipples, squeezing and twisting them, chastising them for their brazenness, scolding them for their greediness, claiming them as his own. She watched his expression as he toyed with her breasts, loving the look of satisfaction on his handsome face. He handled her arrogantly, as if she had no purpose in life other than to please him.

He taunted and teased her, stoking her desire into a frenzy as he wallowed in her fiery, wet sheath. His movements were calculated to emphasize his exclusive right to enjoy her body. When she was gasping for air, desperate for release, he rolled her beneath him and demanded her unconditional surrender. He drove into her, ruthlessly laying out the terms of their truce with every masterly stroke. She shattered, burying her face in the crook of his neck to stifle her scream. She clamped her inner muscles around him, signaling her acceptance. He emptied his seed inside her, claiming even her womb as his own.



Second Chances Ch. 10



Sarah came back to earth slowly, feeling a sense of wonder and peace that awed her. So this was what it felt like to be Brian's love. She grinned, slightly sorry for all the other women of the world who would have to settle for something less.

Brian had rolled onto his back and pulled her halfway on top of him. Her head was resting on his broad chest, and his hand was cupping her bottom. His deep, steady breathing told her that he was asleep.

She leaned her head back to look at him. Silvery moonlight gilded his features, imbuing them with a look of softness and vulnerability. A thick lock of dark hair had fallen onto his forehead, making her fingers itch to comb it back into place. Looking at him now, peaceful and relaxed beneath her, he looked like a perfect gentleman once more. It was difficult to believe he was the same man who had claimed her body so completely, so ruthlessly, so primitively just an hour before. She knew with certainty that she belonged to him. He had said he would never let her go. The certainty that he wouldn't made her smile.

Her eyes clouded when she remembered the dream she had had earlier. The dream had unlocked strong emotions of fear, panic and a desperate desire to escape from something. She analyzed the dream again, seeing the man's actions in a different light than she had before. Instead of seeming like a loving husband, she had a feeling he was preying on her, against her will. She squeezed her eyes shut, trying to see his face clearly, but it was still an indistinct blur. Remembering the way he had handled her body made her shiver with revulsion. She opened her eyes with a shuddering sigh and found Brian watching her closely.

"What are you thinking about, my angel? You'd better not be having second thoughts."

Sarah shivered with pleasure from the dark, arrogant timbre of his voice. He was once again the conqueror. His tone of voice made it clear that it would do her no good to have doubts, he wouldn't allow them. She had given herself to him, he had claimed her, and the decision was irrevocable.

She rose onto her elbow, leaning down to kiss him. Her lips were soft and gentle, soothing his ruffled feathers, acknowledging his dominion, conceding to his demands. She felt him relax beneath her, no longer poised for battle, but merely enjoying the spoils of his victory. His haughtiness made her smile as she ended the kiss. She stroked the hair back from his forehead, completely content to be where she was.

"No, Brian. I'm not having second thoughts. I was remembering a dream I had last night, just before I came to you."

"Tell me about it," he said, fluffing the pillows behind him and pulling her higher on his chest so he could see her face more clearly.

Sarah recounted the dream for him, blushing as she described how she had dreamed of him making love to her. Brian grinned as he watched her, but his grin faded when she told him about the man replacing him in her vision.

"I can't be sure," Sarah murmured thoughtfully, "but I have the feeling that man was forcing me against my will. I don't think he loves me, and given the panic and fear I felt when I woke up, I don't think I love him either."

Brian reached to cup her cheek, running his thumb along her fine cheekbone. His eyes glowed with commitment as he stared into hers.

"Angel, I won't let that man ever hurt you. You're safe here with me. You know that, don't you?" When she nodded, he tucked her hair back behind her ear. "We're going to find out who you are, and as soon as we do, you are going to marry me."

"How do you know I'm not already married?" she whispered.

Brian made an impatient sound and rolled to pin her beneath him. He nudged her thighs apart and eased gently inside her, gratified to hear her soft sigh of pleasure as he carefully stroked further into her, conscious that she was likely still sore.

"You and I both know you were a virgin, Sarah." He trailed nibbling kisses along her neck, gripping her waist to hold her still for his languid thrusts. "You can't possibly be married."

Sarah was finding it hard to concentrate when he was penetrating her to a slow, steady rhythm. His lovemaking was once again gentle, reminiscent of their earlier encounters. This was nice, but she was in the mood for the fire, the fierceness, the untamed ferocity he had shown after he had taken her virginity.

"What if I'm newly married but hadn't consummated the vows yet?" she asked. "What if I really do belong to another man?"

She was purposefully inciting his possessive nature. She was eager to be vanquished. She couldn't wait to submit to him completely. Brian took the bait, growling low in his throat as he pulled her arms above her head and pinned them to the pillow.

He held both her arms easily in one hand and grasped her breast in his other, kneading the plump globe. Her nipple was swollen, still tender from his savagery. He squeezed it firmly, catching and holding her gaze.

"You're mine! Never forget that, Sarah."

He squeezed her nipple even harder, and she moaned with pleasure. The tiniest hint of a smug smile on her face made him pause. He narrowed his eyes suspiciously as he watched her writhing beneath him, pressing her breast eagerly against his palm, whimpering for more.

"You're enjoying this," he accused softly. "You like making me lose control."

Sarah bit her lip, blushing beneath his steady regard. "Yes," she whispered. "Please don't stop.

Brian released the pressure on her nipple and gently soothed it, denying her what she craved. "My mother was right," he said with a smug grin. "She told me I would find a woman like you."

Sarah blinked up at him, completely intrigued. "What do you mean, a woman like me?"

Brian's grin widened. He continued to hold her down, caressing her breast softly as he spoke.

"When I was barely fifteen, I snuck into the brothel in our hometown and lost my virginity to a lusty prostitute." He ignored her indignant gasp and continued. "I thought I had been discreet, but my mother found out, and she told my father about it. He thrashed me good and proper, tanning my backside until I could barely sit down for a week. He told me that I was too young to be carrying on with women, and he forbade me from visiting that place again until I was older."

"My mother left me alone for a few days, giving me time to lick my wounds. I was glad, because I was ashamed to face her. Finally, she found a chance to talk with me about what I had done. She said that my brothers were more like our father, responsible and steady. Then, she looked at me and gave me a secretive smile. That's when she told me about you."

"What on earth are you talking about?" Sarah said with a confused frown.

"She said that I took after her. She said I had a passionate nature, that I had always had difficulty controlling my urges. She said that eventually, when the time was right, I would find a woman who was brave enough, strong enough, not only to withstand my urges but to encourage and enjoy them. She said I needed a woman who would relish my wildness without trying to tame me, a woman who could encourage me to be a good and decent man but still allow me to satisfy my darker cravings. She said I would find a woman like you."

Sarah was panting with excitement. "It sounds as if your mother is a very wise woman," she whispered.

"She is," Brian said simply. "I was amazed at the depth of her perception. I didn't understand how my pure, proper mother could know such things about me. It was only years later that I realized that she knew because she was the same. She had found the man who could satisfy her wild urges in my father." Brian dropped his gaze to her breast as he seized her nipple once more. "She knew exactly what kind of woman I needed, and now I have found you."

He bent to suckle her breast, pulling sharply on her already smarting nipple with his teeth. He showed no mercy on the tender nubbin, torturing it as Sarah moaned from the sharp pain and exquisite pleasure. When she was nearly frantic, straining against his hold on her wrists, he released her nipple, soothing it with his tongue.

"Do you want me to stop?" he asked, his voice dark and taunting.

"No," she cried, gasping for breath, flushed with arousal.

With a satisfied growl, he seized the same nipple again, treating it even more heartlessly. He smiled as he suckled. Her juices were dripping out around his balls, and she was bucking her hips in her desperation to make him move within her. He held completely immobile, imbedded in her depths as he ravished her breast.

He released her nipple again, stroking his thumb over the abused tip. It was red and quivering, begging for leniency even though Sarah would not. He granted its request, switching hands so he could savor her other breast. Sarah arched her back, thrusting the impudent tip up for the same treatment. Brian was happy to comply, devouring the sweet bud as her cries of pleasure drifted over his head. When he felt she was nearing her release, he freed her nipple and lifted a mocking brow as he grinned down at Sarah. She was beside herself, urgently seeking climax.

"What do you want, my angel?

Sarah sobbed with frustration, once again bucking her hips against his and using her legs to try to make him move inside her. She was desperate for relief.

"You know what I want," she groaned.

"Tell me," he urged, nibbling gently near her ear. "Admit it to me."

She bit her lip and squeezed her eyes closed with a moan. "I want you to take me again. I want you to make me yours."

"Ah," Brian said softly. He grinned as he began to move, thrusting slowly and gently into her body. She was deliciously wet, hot and tight, and he savored every stroke. "Shall I take you like this? Shall I be your tender lover, gentle and kind?"

"No," she gasped, meeting each thrust. "Please, I want it like before."

"How was it before, my angel? How did I take you before?"

Sarah felt so frustrated and needy that she could hardly think. She met his stare, and her eyes pleaded with him.

"You took me hard and fast and deep," she begged. "I want that again, please Brian."

"Like this?" he asked.

He sped up his pace, thrusting into her forcefully, plumbing her depths with every harsh invasion. Sarah moaned her approval, clutching at him greedily with her inner muscles.

"Yes," she cried. "Yes, yes, yes."

It took only moments for her to shatter. Brian grinned as he watched her expression transform from desperation to bliss. She had the face of an angel, but her voluptuous body encouraged him to indulge every sinfully carnal impulse he had ever had.

As soon as her muscles eased around him, he withdrew and flipped her onto her stomach on the bed. He lay partially on her back, reaching beneath her bottom to stroke her throbbing folds. He teased her, touching softly with the pads of his fingers, circling her entrance but refusing to enter. He stroked her tauntingly until she was once again desperate for release. When she whimpered softly, he leaned near her ear, and his voice was wickedly tempting.

"You're so wet and luscious, my angel." He grinned when she thrust her bottom back against his hand, encouraging him to spear his fingers inside her. He knew she must be in pain. He had taken her virginity and ravished her a second time in less than an hour. "Isn't your sweet little pussy sore?"

"Yes," she moaned, shamelessly trying to arch against his hand.

Brian flicked her clit, squeezing it gently and then leaving it forlorn as his fingers once again circled her opening. She was dripping with fluid.

"Is it aching and bruised from being stretched by my cock?"

"Yes," she gasped, rubbing her bottom enticingly against his erection. 

He replaced his fingers with his cock, sliding the tip of it along her slit. "Does it hurt when I'm inside you?"

"Yes," she whimpered, "a little, but I still want you inside me, please."

"Mmmm," he said, savoring her searing heat on the tip of his erection. "I want to be inside you too."

He lifted her leg and thrust into her, making her gasp with the suddenness of his attack. Once again, he possessed her completely, his fingers biting into her hips as he plundered her tender flesh. He reached around her waist, sliding his fingers through her hair to find and squeeze her clit in time to his thrusts. He exalted when she clamped down on his cock, screaming her release into the mattress. He pounded into her once, twice, three times more then flooded her pussy with his sticky seed, groaning victoriously as she ground her bottom tight against him to catch every drop.

When the last contraction had faded, he withdrew and slumped beside her. He gathered her into his arms - his angel, his temptress - and gently kissed her temple. His smile was one of complete satisfaction. His mother knew him better than he knew himself.

*********

The next morning, Brian left Sarah sleeping soundly from exhaustion. He made his way to the kitchen to find that, once again, Liam had risen first. His younger brother frowned at him when he entered the room.

"Good morning," Brian said cheerfully, fetching a cup of coffee and sitting opposite his brother.

"I suspect it is a good morning for you," Liam said reproachfully. "But is it a good morning for our guest, do you think?"

Brian raised a brow as he eyed his brother over the rim of his cup. "What are you talking about?" he asked.

Liam leaned back in his chair and stroked his chin thoughtfully. "The strangest thing happened last night. I was sound asleep when I heard Sarah scream. I thought she had a nightmare or something, and I knocked on her door to make sure she was alright, only she wasn't there." Seeing Brian flush, Liam pierced him with a disapproving frown. "Then, I heard Sarah moaning, and I knew she was with you. You've seduced her, haven't you?"

"Stay out of this, Liam. It's not your business."

Liam ignored Brian's black scowl and continued. "It became my business when you seduced a sweet, vulnerable girl like Sarah under our own roof. I can't believe you would take advantage of a girl who doesn't even remember her past."

"It wasn't like that," Brian gritted out. "I tried to send her away, but she insisted on joining me in my bed. I couldn't help myself."

"Hmmm, I'll bet," Liam said snidely. "You should be ashamed of yourself."

"Well I'm not, little brother." Brian rose and paced to the window, looking out at the pink sunrise. "I love her," he said quietly, "and as soon as I'm able, I'm going to marry her."

Liam was both surprised and pleased by his brother's statement, but he still had his doubts. "How do you know she's not already married?"

"Because," Brian turned to glare at him, "not that it's any of your business, but she was a virgin when I took her last night. There's no way she's married."

"Oh," Liam said, grinning. "That's good. So when's the wedding?"

"Just as soon as I can find out more about Sarah's past. It would be awfully awkward trying to get married when I don't even know her last name, don't you think?"

Liam raised a thoughtful brow and nodded. "I hadn't really thought about it, but yes it would. So what are you planning to do?"

"I'll discreetly ask around while I'm in town today. Maybe someone will have mentioned Sarah." He pinned Liam with a warning glare. "In the meantime, don't you dare let Sarah know that you heard us last night. She would be mortified."

Liam grinned. "Alright, but could you two keep it down tonight? It makes it kind of hard for me to sleep, knowing that everyone is getting some except me."

***********

Brian drove the wagon into town, and parked in front of the general store. He went inside, nodding to the owner, Mr. Thatcher, as he hung his hat on a peg near the door and went to warm his hands in front of the wood stove.

Mr. Thatcher gave him a wide smile. "Good day to you, Mr. McKenzie. I heard your brother got himself married to that pretty young widow."

"That's right," Brian said, returning his smile. "They went up to Oregon City for a honeymoon. They should be back in a few days."

Hearing their voices, Mrs. Thatcher appeared from the back of the store. She exchanged greetings with Brian, thrilled that she could verify some of the details of Aidan's recent marriage. She was just the woman Brian wanted to see. Mrs. Thatcher was well-meaning, but she did have a bad habit of engaging in local gossip. If anyone would have heard something about Sarah, it would be her. 

"The whole town is abuzz with talk about how your brother married a newcomer," she exclaimed. "There are so many local young ladies would have loved to become his bride. It caught us all by surprise. Of course you know this means that you and your younger brother will be even more hotly pursued than you were before."

"No doubt," Brian said with a grin. "You wouldn't happen to know whether there are any other young ladies that are new to the area would you?"

Her eyes lit up with avid curiosity. "Don't tell me that you're looking for a young lady to marry! Why, you could have your pick of any of the eligible ladies in town."

Brian shrugged one shoulder, keeping his voice teasing. "I keep hoping for a sweet little blonde with big brown eyes. You'd let me know if a lady like that showed up around here wouldn't you?" He gave Mrs. Thatcher a playful wink.

She laughed, flustered by his charm even though she was old enough to be his mother. "Why Mr. McKenzie," she scolded, "you're pulling my leg. Anyway, you know we don't get many new folks at this time of year. I haven't heard of anybody new moving into the area, other than your sister, of course."

"Oh well," Brian sighed. "A man can dream." He caught Mr. Thatcher's eye and they shared a laugh. "What I really came in for is some fabric and other sewing notions. My new sister gave me a list of things she needs," he lied, handing Mrs. Thatcher the list that Sarah had given him. "She asked for some fabric to make curtains. Something light and cheerful."

Mrs. Thatcher helped him choose three pretty bolts of fabric, thread, needles, scissors, and the other assorted items on the list. He paid for the goods, said his farewells and stowed the items in the wagon before heading to the sheriff's office.

Sheriff Wilson was sitting with his feet propped on his desk, looking at a wanted poster when Brian walked in.

"Hello, Sheriff Wilson," he said cheerfully.

"Howdy Mr. McKenzie. Haven't seen you around lately."

The sheriff gave him a gap-toothed grin. He was well liked by the townspeople because of his lively sense of humor and talent for story telling. He often had people howling with laughter when he told them about breaking up saloon fights or intervening in the occasional dispute between neighbors. Folks would often stop by his office just to chat.

"I've been pretty busy," Brian said, taking a seat in front of his desk. "Thought I would stop and say hello since I haven't seen you for so long. Anything new going on?"

"As a matter of fact, yes," the sheriff said, waving the wanted poster. "Just had this dropped off from the sheriff in the next county. Seems some maid murdered her rich boss, and there's a reward for information leading to her arrest. I wouldn't mind collecting $1000 dollars. Haven't seen her around, have you?" He slid the paper across the desk to Brian.

Brian whistled when he heard the amount of the reward. "Wow, her boss must have been really rich," he said.

He picked up the poster and felt like the wind had been knocked out of his lungs. Staring back at him from the paper was a remarkable likeness of Sarah. He scanned the words as he struggled for breath.

WANTED for MURDER $1000 Reward Will be paid for the arrest and conviction of SARAH MARTIN

Sheriff Wilson nodded his agreement. "Yep. Seems she was newly hired by the Henderson family. They're old money, you know. Just moved out from New York about a year ago. She'd only been working there a week when she stabbed Mr. Henderson and ran off. The family's anxious to see the woman hanged."




Second Chances Ch. 10



"Any idea why she might have done something like that?" Brian asked, trying to keep his voice casual.

"Nope," the sheriff said with a sigh. He took the poster back from Brian and pinned it to a bulletin board. "Seems like a shame, too. She's an awful pretty young thing." The sheriff gave him a grin. "Enough about that. Tell me about this new sister of yours."

Brian stayed and chatted a few more minutes before saying his goodbyes. He retrieved his wagon and headed home, anxious to be away from the town. His mind was swimming with questions. He didn't believe for a second that Sarah was capable of murder. There had to be another explanation, but unless she could remember what had happened, he was purely speculating.

Brian had only known Sarah for two days, but he would bet his life that she was not a murderer. It wasn't possible that she could be so sweet, generous, selfless, and thoughtful and also be a cold-hearted killer. He refused to accept it. He thought about what she had told him of the visions she had seen. It was possible that Mr. Henderson had been trying to rape her. Maybe she had stabbed him to defend herself. Now, it was up to Brian to defend her. The best thing he could do was make sure no one knew she was living at his home and pray that she regained her memory before it was too late.

**********

He arrived home, and Sarah came running from the house to greet him. Her cheeks were flushed with color, and she gave him a brilliant smile.

"Brian," she cried, "I'm so glad you're back."

"Me too," he laughingly replied. He cast a quick glance around, glad that Liam was nowhere in sight, as she threw herself into his arms and kissed him soundly on the mouth. "Now that's a welcome I could get used to," he teased her. "Give me another one like that."

He kissed her long and thoroughly, kneading her bottom as she leaned into him. She moaned into his mouth, flattening her breasts against his chest as she clasped him to her. He released her mouth and waited for her eyes to flutter open. His cock was throbbing in his breeches, and he pressed it against her belly, letting her know that she had aroused his full attention.

"Later, my angel," he promised, with a wicked grin. "Tonight, you'll pay for making me want you so badly in the middle of the morning."

"Why wait?" she asked, boldly stroking him. "I'm perfectly willing to take care of you now."

Brian groaned, loving the feel of her hand on his aching erection. "Naughty girl. You know I have work to do. And so do you. I brought you the fabric you asked for."

He retrieved the fabric and other things and carried them into the cabin. Sarah was as excited as a kid at Christmas when she unwrapped the paper and saw the materials he had chosen.

"Oh Brian, these are lovely," she cooed. "There's more than enough here. I'll even have enough to make a tablecloth, I'm sure of it."

He watched for a few minutes as she sorted through the supplies. She kept up a steady stream of excited chatter, unaware of the worry in his eyes. He was careful to disguise it when she met his eye.

"Did you find anything out about me when you were in town?"

"No," he lied. "We'll have to wait for a while and hope your memory comes back on its own."

"Oh," she said, scanning his face. Something about his expression made her think he wasn't being totally honest with her.

"I'd better go help Liam," Brian said. He gave her a quick kiss and turned to leave. "We'll see you at lunch."

Brian left before she could question him further. He joined Liam and filled him in on what he had found out about Sarah. When he had finished his tale, Liam blew out a long whistle.

"What does Sarah say about it?"

"She doesn't know," Brian said, "and I don't want her to find out."

"Why not? Maybe it would stir some memories," Liam suggested.

"Or maybe it would scare the daylights out of her. For now, I'm not going to tell her. Hopefully, she will begin to remember on her own. Promise you'll keep this between us."

"You know I will, Brian. I just hope you're right. It seems to me like you're getting deeper and deeper into trouble with Sarah Martin."

"Well, it's too late to do anything about it," Brian said quietly. "I love her."



Second Chances Ch. 11



Author's note: Okay, two things to note about this chapter.  Brian says some nasty, crude things to Sarah. PLEASE don't send me emails saying "I don't like it when a man talks so dirty to a woman. He should respect her, blah, blah, blah".  First, if you don't like nasty talk, you're on the wrong website. Second, I happen to love it when my man talks dirty to me and that's why I've included it in the story. In fact, Brian is probably my favorite of the McKenzie brothers. His dark sexuality really turns me on. Okay, enough ranting. I hope you enjoy the story.

*

After Brian left to work on the cabin, Sarah cleaned the kitchen table carefully and chose one of the bolts of fabric Brian had bought. She smoothed the sturdy cotton on the table top, running her hand over the soft material. She was pleased with the pattern, a cheerful yellow with small blue flowers. She measured what she would need, cutting out enough material to make several panels of curtains and strips to make matching tie cloths to hold the panels back.

When she had everything prepared, she settled into a comfortable chair and began to sew. Sarah hummed a cheerful tune as she worked, smiling as memories of her night with Brian flitted through her mind. She was a bit stunned by the depth of emotion she already felt for him. He had claimed more than just her body, he had claimed her heart as well. She loved him. It was as simple as that. And yet, she knew that it wasn't so simple.

She frowned thoughtfully, wondering once again about her past. Brian had said he would marry her, and she was anxious to become his wife. But, until she knew who she was and where she had come from, she couldn't pursue a future with Brian. She knew he was equally impatient. He had made it clear that he wanted her. She blushed with pleasure, thinking of how clearly he had let her know that he wanted her. She had to find some way to regain her memory, but she was totally at a loss about how to accomplish that goal.

She sighed, pushing those thoughts from her mind and concentrating on her sewing. She made steady progress, smiling as she applied neat stitches to the fabric. Her fingers were nimble and efficient, and soon, she had completed several panels. After a couple of hours, her eyelids began to droop. She was tired from her nighttime activities, and she yawned, stretching her arms overhead to ease her aching shoulders. Perhaps a few moments of rest would be good.

She laid her head against the back of the chair and squirmed a bit to get comfortable. Within moments, she was asleep. She sighed as she began to dream.

She saw herself sitting beside a woman on a sofa. Sarah looked younger, with her hair pleated into a girlish braid. She looked about fourteen. The woman beside her looked like a slightly older version of herself. She had the same golden hair, only hers had a few streaks of grey. Her large brown eyes were identical to Sarah's, except for the tiny laugh lines near the edges. They sat together in a cozy parlor, and the older woman was showing Sarah how to sew.

"That's good, Sarah. You are coming right along," the older woman said. "Soon, you will be able to sew better than me."

Sarah laughed with pleasure. "Oh Mama, no one sews as well as you."

"I've simply had more practice, dear. You'll see."

They heard a door open, and they both looked up with expectant smiles as a man entered. He was the man from the photo, only once again, she noticed that he looked older than he had in the picture. He smiled at Sarah before bending to kiss her mother.

"Hello, my beauties. Did you have a nice day?"

"Yes, Papa. I'm making a new dress. Mama bought the fabric for me today. See." Sarah held up the dress she was making, excited to show him what she had done so far.

"That's lovely, Sarah." He gave her a wink and grinned. "Now, be a good daughter and give me a few minutes alone with your mother. I want to greet my wife properly before supper."

Sarah giggled and rolled her eyes, but she obediently rose from the sofa and kissed him on the cheek before heading to the stairs. As she climbed to her room, she could hear her mother's soft giggles of delight and her father's playful growls, and Sarah smiled to herself. After nearly twenty years together, the pair still seemed like newlyweds. She sighed contentedly.

The sound of hammering outside woke her up, and Sarah blinked several times. The dream was still fresh in her mind, and she replayed every detail eagerly. She laid the curtains aside and ran to Brian's bedroom to retrieve the book of sonnets. Her eyes looked at the photo and scanned the inscription once more, laughing with delight. He was her father, not a fiancé or friend. He had signed the book Y.L.F. -- your loving father Thomas Martin!

Sarah was so excited, she hugged herself with joy. She knew her last name. She knew she had a father and a mother, though she didn't know where they were. She was starting to remember. She still had to fill in the details of her life, a daunting prospect to be sure, but she knew with certainty that she was Sarah Martin!

Her eyes opened even wider with delight. Brian had said that as soon as they learned her name, he would marry her. She was tempted to go and tell Brian right away, but she decided against it. She didn't want to share her news with Liam present. She wanted to share it when she was alone with Brian so she could fully express her happiness.

She fell back onto the bed, pummeling the mattress with her hands and feet in her exuberance. She could hardly wait for the coming night, when she could share her news with Brian. She was Sarah Martin -- soon to be Mrs. Brian McKenzie!

**********

Brian and Liam worked diligently on Aidan and Naomi's new cabin for the rest of the day. They stopped only to eat a quick lunch, and then resumed their labor. They were both anxious to finish the project. Their brother and sister were due to come home in two days. By late evening, they were almost done.

They stopped for the day and rushed to finish their other chores before supper. Brian entered the cabin, impatient to see his angel. She was sitting in a chair near the fire, sewing on a pair of curtains for the cabin. As he closed the door behind him, she looked up with another of her glorious smiles. She could hardly contain her secret a moment longer, but she settled for showing him the curtains she had made.

"What do you think?" she asked.

She held up the panel she was working on. It was nearly finished. She had only one remaining side to hem. She had already made several panels, as well as small tie cloths made of matching fabric. Brian admired her handiwork, grinning at her as he inspected the flawless workmanship.

"They're lovely, Sarah. I think you're right. You're a talented seamstress."

She gave a laugh of accomplishment, pleased with his praise. "I'll try to finish by tonight. That way, you can hang them in the cabin tomorrow, to add the finishing touch."

Brian stood watching her folding the sewing away and placing it neatly in the basket he had bought her. She looked so sweet and domestic. A barrage of images of her flashed through his mind - her cooking, her rocking his dark haired baby, nursing it at her lush breast, her welcoming him into her bed after a long day's work. He could picture her doing all those things for the rest of their lives, but he couldn't picture her murdering a man in cold blood. If she had stabbed Mr. Henderson, Brian was sure she must have had a damn good reason.

Unaware of his turbulent thoughts, Sarah rose and began setting the table for supper. She had made fried chicken, gravy, mashed potatoes, green beans, and her famous hot rolls. The three of them enjoyed a pleasant meal, laughing and talking, excited to see Aidan and Naomi's reactions to their new home.

After supper, Liam and Brian relaxed in the living room, while Sarah quickly washed the dishes. She hurried, sending Brian fleeting smiles as she thought about how he would react to her news.

Brian followed her movements with a brooding gaze. He was still thinking about what he had found out that morning, and he racked his brain, trying to think of some action he could take. He hated the fact that there was nothing he could do to help Sarah remember her past.

Liam noticed both Sarah's excitement and Brian's preoccupation. When Sarah was drying the last dishes and putting them away, he decided to tactfully excuse himself. He rose from his chair and stretched.

"Well, I'm going to bed early. I'm exhausted, and I didn't sleep well last night." He gave Brian a pointed look, being careful not to let Sarah see. Turning to her, he smiled. "Good night, Sarah. Thank you again for the delicious meal. If you keep cooking like that, I'm going to get too fat to fit through the door."

She laughed at his compliment. She was already growing accustomed to Liam's teasing banter, and she had decided she liked him very much. "I'm glad you liked it. I'll see you tomorrow."

Liam disappeared down the hallway, leaving her and Brian alone. He settled his intense stare on her once again, and she shivered from excitement. It hadn't escaped her notice that he had been watching her all evening, and her nerves were strung tight from wondering when he would make a move.

She didn't have to wait very long. Brian rose and prowled toward her, reminding her of a mountain lion stalking its prey. He came up behind her as she wiped her hands and hung the dish towel on a hook to dry. He braced his hands on either side of her, pinning her between his body and the cupboard.

Brian was nearly a foot taller than her, and his hard muscled frame dwarfed her much smaller one. He was a dangerous, intimidating presence behind her. Sarah felt small and vulnerable, entirely at his mercy. She shivered, relishing the suspense of how he would subdue her, how he would bend her to his will. She could hardly wait to be overpowered, consumed, ravished. She could hardly wait to satisfy his insatiable hunger once again. Sarah held her breath as he skimmed his lips down the nape of her neck, branding her with their heat.

His voice was deep and dark. "Come with me, my sweet angel. I told you earlier that you would have to pay for getting me all hot and bothered this morning. I've been aching for you all day. It's time to pay the piper."

Sarah expected him to lead her down the hall to his bedroom, but instead, he led her to the front door. "Where are you taking me?" she asked breathlessly.

Brian draped a warm coat around her shoulders before donning another one himself. "Wait and see," he said mysteriously.

He took her hand and led her out into the night. The air was freezing, and there were several inches of crusty snow on the ground that had partially melted and refrozen. Sarah lifted her hem to keep it from getting wet, and her pace was slow as she picked her way carefully to avoid slipping. Growing impatient, Brian scooped her into his arms and tromped through the snow to the newly built cabin. She was content to loop her arms around his neck.

He shouldered the door open and nudged it closed behind them. The interior of the cabin was no warmer than it had been outside, and their breath made foggy clouds in the cold December air. It was dark and Brian set her down, fumbling until he found the lantern he had left. He lit it and turned the wick high, shedding a warm circle of light around them.

He grasped her hand and led her to the large fireplace in the living room. Sarah watched as he started a fire, adding several huge logs until he had a cheery blaze burning. It was obvious that he had planned to bring her here. He had stacked wood and kindling on the hearth, and she spied a stack of blankets on the floor nearby. She smiled, pleased that he had been anticipating being with her as much as she had wanted to be with him.

The fire quickly began to warm up the surrounding area, banishing the chill. Brian spread the blankets out before the fireplace, making a soft pallet. He shrugged out of his coat and dropped it, snagging her gaze. Tugging his boots off, he laid them aside and sat down in the middle of the pallet. He looked at Sarah, and his eyes simmered with passion.

"Come here," he said quietly.

She removed her shoes and sank to her knees on the pallet between his thighs. He pulled her close and kissed her, cupping her nape to hold her still as he explored her luscious mouth. He trailed kisses along her jaw and chin, sighing with pleasure at the silkiness of her skin. He returned to her lips and feasted, deepening the kiss with bold strokes of his tongue. She was breathless by the time he released her mouth, but she wanted to share her news before they went further.

"Brian, listen," she gasped, wedging her arms between their chests as she smiled up at him. "I remembered more about my past today. The man in the photo is my father. I saw both him and my mother in a dream. That's when I knew, the book of sonnets was a gift from my father. You remember, he signed it Y.L.F. -- your loving father, Thomas Martin. My name is Sarah Martin, I'm sure of it."

Instead of reacting like she had expected, Brian frowned, looking away. For the first time, she remembered his behavior when he had returned from town. There was something he wasn't telling her.

"What is it, Brian? Aren't you happy?"

"Of course I'm happy that you're beginning to remember more, Sarah." He clasped her hands in his and looked down at them as he rubbed his thumbs along her knuckles. "I'm just impatient for your memory to return altogether. I'm anxious to move on with our lives."

"But don't you see, this means that we can move on with our lives? Now that we know my name, we can be married!" Seeing his deepening frown, she blinked. When she continued, her voice was small and uncertain. "You said you wanted to marry me, Brian. Have you changed your mind?"

Brian found it hard not to howl with frustration. He wanted to throw her over his shoulder, haul her into town, find a preacher, and marry her as soon as humanly possible. His barbarian side was chomping at the bit to claim her, to shout to the world that she was his. But none of that would be possible until they were able to prove that Sarah wasn't a murderer. If anyone knew she was living there, the sheriff would arrest her. Brian would have to keep her presence a secret until he could clear her name.

"I haven't changed my mind, angel. I intend to marry you, and the sooner, the better. But it's not enough to remember your name. You're going to have to remember your past as well."

Sarah frowned as she studied his face. "Is there something you're not telling me, Brian? You seem worried."

"No, I told you, I'm just impatient."

"Are you sure? I could swear you're keeping something from me." She eyed him suspiciously, trying to read the thoughts in his clear, green eyes.

Seeing that she wasn't going to let the subject drop, Brian snatched her against him and kissed her. He didn't want her to know what he had discovered in town, at least, not yet. He didn't want her to be frightened or uncertain. He was hoping that her memory would return, and then they would be able to clear up the mystery of how her boss had been murdered.

If there was one sure way to distract Sarah, it was by stirring her passion. Getting her body busy with pleasing him was the best way to keep her mind off of other questions. That tactic suited him just fine, because he had been dying to have her all day.

He kissed her until she was witless and panting, growling with satisfaction when she pulled his hand to her breast. He squeezed her nipple, twisting it mercilessly as she moaned with delight. She was perfect for him. Her desire to submit to him, to devote herself entirely to his pleasure matched perfectly with his desire to possess her, to make her burn for his touch. His passion was dark and forbidden. Sarah understood that, and was willing to go where most women would hesitate to venture. Brian wanted to take her even further into his dark passions, to test the limits of her willingness to please him.

He released her mouth and snared her gaze. His eyes were burning. "Take your dress off for me, slowly."

Sarah shivered from both the cold and her building anticipation. She pushed the coat off her shoulders and began unbuttoning her bodice. Brian watched, his eyes smoldering as each button slipped free. She pulled the dress off her shoulders and down over her hips, laying it carefully aside. She sat back on her heels as Brian admired the sight of her in her undergarments. Her body was every man's dream, but she belonged to him, only to him.

"Stand up and take your pantalets off," he ordered, still not touching her.

Sarah complied, letting them drop around her ankles. She stepped out of them and looked at him, patiently waiting for his next instruction.

"Now your stockings, nice and slowly."

Sarah bent at the waist, aware that Brian could see into the bodice of her chemise as she rolled each stocking off and discarded them. She shivered again. Brian lifted her chemise. He boldly trailed one long finger through her juices and held it up to his nose, savoring her clean, womanly smell.

"You smell delicious," he sighed. He leaned back, dropping her hem back in place. He eyed her breasts, raising one arrogant brow. "Now, take that chemise off. I want to see your breasts."

Sarah's fingers shook with excitement as she untied the satin ribbon and slipped the buttons free. Her nipples were tightly furled, aching for his mouth. She slowly peeled the garment away from her breasts, loving the heat in Brian's eyes as he watched the unveiling of her proud peaks. They were rock hard, standing impudently upright as they begged for his attention atop her perfect breasts. She stood naked, thrilled by the possessive fire in his eyes.

Brian tugged on her hand, and she sank to her knees beside him. Once again, he kissed her, twisting her nipples as she sighed into his mouth. He nudged her thighs apart, smiling against her mouth as he explored her slick folds. She was so wonderfully wet, and all for him, only for him. He drew back from the kiss and held her gaze as he guided her hand to his erection. He stroked her fingers up and down his hard length. Even through his breeches, his heat singed her hand, and Sarah gasped.

"Open my breeches and take out my cock," he ordered calmly.

Sarah eagerly complied. Her eyes widened at the sight of him. She hadn't gotten a good look at him the night before, because of the dark room. She marveled at the sight of him now. He encouraged her to explore him, guiding her hand as he showed her how to touch him, how to bring him pleasure. She was a talented student, and she soon had him groaning with delight.

"My cock has been like this all day, thanks to you," Brian said, giving her a reproachful look. "Do you know how painful it is for a man to be so aroused and not be able to find relief?"

"No," she whispered. "I'm sorry." She was secretly pleased to know that she aroused him so much.

"Let me assure you," Brian said darkly, "it's not pleasant. So, I'm going to teach you how to make amends to my cock...with your mouth." He met her startled gaze and raised a challenging brow. "Are you willing to pleasure me with your mouth?"

The fact that he wanted her to do something so shocking was both scary and exciting, and she nibbled her bottom lip. "Is that something women are supposed to do? I mean, isn't that rather shameful?"

Brian chuckled, enjoying her uncertainty. He didn't see any shame in a woman pleasing her man, but of course, he didn't tell her that. Instead, he gave her a condescending smile that chided her for her naïve question.

"Of course it's shameful, Sarah. It's naughty and nasty. It's scandalous. Some people would even say it's sinful. That's why no proper young lady would be willing to suck a man's cock. Only whores are willing to do it, and even then, they charge a dollar for their services."




Second Chances Ch. 11



Brian watched her expression as he gave her a few moments to digest that information. He was purposefully taunting her with his crude talk. He wanted to push her, shock her, shake her sensibilities, all so that he could see how far she was willing to go to please him. He could see that she was stunned speechless. His wicked grin deepened.

"You know, sucking a man's cock is an art. It takes true talent. I've always thought a dollar was a small price to pay to have my cock sucked by a really talented whore."

Sarah gasped, blushing bright red as she stared at him in shock. "Brian! I thought you said you stopped visiting prostitutes when your father found out."

He chuckled, stroking her cheek. Sarah looked so adorable, all indignant and outraged. "I did what Pa told me. I waited until I was older. But a man has needs, and unless he can have those needs met by his wife, he doesn't have a lot of options. What about you, my angel? Are you willing to take care of my needs, or will I have to continue to pay a whore to get a proper cocksucking from time to time after we are married?"

The thought of him with anyone else made Sarah wild with jealousy. She faced him with fire in her eyes. "Brian McKenzie, you had better stay away from prostitutes from now on. And that goes for every other woman too!" She waved her hand to indicate his erection, squaring her shoulders. "Now, teach me what to do."

Brian struggled to keep a straight face. "Are you sure, Sarah? I wouldn't want you to do something you don't feel comfortable with."

"Yes," she said, her jaw set with determination. "There's no way I'm letting another woman suck your cock!"

He smiled at both her jealousy and her innocence. He was certain she had never seen a man's cock, other than his. He was convinced she had never said the word 'cock' before. He was absolutely assured she had never even thought about having a man's cock in her mouth. But there she was in all her naked splendor, ready to do the unspeakable because he had asked it of her. He grinned and gave her a reassuring kiss of approval.

"Just do what I tell you, angel. I'll teach you everything you need to know."

In one fluid movement, he was on his feet, standing over her with his spectacular erection at her eye level. She swallowed hard, her eyes widening at the sight. The vision she made, naked and kneeling before him made him throb. He smiled down at her and stroked her cheek. He wasn't finished taunting her yet. He wanted to emphasize the forbidden nature of what she was about to do, just for him, only for him.

"Because most women would never dream of sucking a man's cock, it's hard to find someone who's good at it. Even most whores aren't good at it, because they don't really enjoy it. Only the really nasty whores really enjoy it."

Sarah swallowed hard again. She was getting more and more nervous about the prospect, but she wasn't about to back down now.

"You don't have to do this unless you really want to. Like I said, there's an art to sucking cock," he said with a wicked grin. "You have to let your man know that you aren't just willing to have him in your mouth, you're eager to have him in your mouth. You have to show him that you're hungry for his cock. You can't fake it. Actions speak louder than words. A man knows when a woman doesn't really love his cock. He can tell by the way she handles him."

Seeing her hesitant nod, his grin widened. "Let's see how you feel, Sarah. Use your hands to show me how you feel about my cock. If you decide you don't want to suck it, I'll understand."

She took a deep breath for courage, and once again, she explored him. She forgot her fear as soon as she touched his velvety soft skin. She used her soft hands to grip and stroke him until he was as hard as oak and fluid began oozing from the head of his erection. She handled him reverently, as if his cock was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen. The sight of his angel worshipping his erection was the most beautiful thing Brian had ever seen.

Brian fisted his fingers into her hair and held her still as he slowly rubbed his cock over her face, neck and breasts, holding her gaze as he did so. He teased her nipples, painting their tips with fluid from the broad head. Sarah's heart thumped against her ribs. She felt so wicked and wanton. She didn't want for him to stop. She breathed deeply of his musky scent when he pressed her nose against his balls. When he was satisfied that he had marked her as his, he guiding her fingers around his thick shaft.

"I think you really love my cock, don't you Sarah?"

She blushed hotly but nodded her agreement.

"I knew you were a naughty girl. Now, gently pull the skin back from the tip," he said. "Now lick the fluid off. That's it, angel. Mmmm, your tongue feels so good."

Sarah moaned as she tasted him. His fluid was salty, and she eagerly licked it off, darting her tongue into the tiny hole to try and get even more. He gasped, and she shot him a questioning glance. He smiled his approval. She could feel her own fluid beginning to run down her inner thighs. She felt so naughty. She felt so wonderful.

"Now, take me into your mouth and suck, my angel. That's good. Stroke the underside with your hot little tongue. Good girl." He sucked in a startled breath, flinching away from her. "Watch out for your teeth, darlin'. It hurts like hell if you scrape me."

He waited for her to open wide before shoving back into her mouth. "Perfect, that's much better. What a perfect little nasty girl you are."

Her lips squeezed him as she worked her tongue around the sensitive tip. She followed every ridge and hollow, eager to explore him.

"So naughty and nasty," Brian goaded with a grin. "You could be the nastiest little girl who's ever sucked my cock."

She began bobbing her head gently, moaning even louder as she got into the rhythm. The vibrations sent jolts of pleasure into his lower belly. He pulled out of her mouth and lifted her chin until she met his eye. She looked so lovely, naked and waiting for his instructions, looking up at him with her big brown eyes full of trust. The sight of her was almost enough to make him climax. He took a few calming breaths. He wanted the pleasure to last as long as possible.

"You know how you like me to take your pussy, hard and fast and deep?" She nodded and he grinned. "That's how I want to use your mouth. I want you to take me deep into your throat, until you can barely breathe, and then I want you to suck my cock hard and fast. Do you think you can do that?"

"Yes," she said, eager to please him as she sucked him back into her mouth.

She worked him deeper into her mouth, moaning and gagging as she tried to swallow him further. He stroked her hair, murmuring encouragement and praise. She finally got him to the back of her throat, and she moaned in triumph, sucking and bobbing her head as she pleasured him. Brian's hoarse groans of delight were like sweet music to her ears.

He watched her, feeling his love for her well up inside. He had found the perfect woman. To everyone else, she was perfect, proper lady. But for him, only for him, she was willing to be a nasty little whore. She was his beautiful, sweet, cocksucking angel. 

"Mmmm, Sarah," he groaned, "your hot little mouth is so incredible. I think you really like the taste of my cock, don't you, you naughty girl."

He showed her how to clench her hand around the base of his shaft and encouraged her to stroke him in time with her bobbing motions. She quickly caught on, and drove him to heaven. Her jaw was beginning to ache from being stretched around his huge erection, but she refused to stop, determined to please him. Her eyes widened in alarm when she felt him start to swell even further in her mouth.

"I'm going to spurt in your mouth, angel. I want you to swallow it down. Will you do that for me?"

She mumbled an affirmative answer around his cock, and he gripped the sides of her head. He held her still and thrust into her mouth several times in quick succession. He used her mouth roughly for his pleasure, and she moaned with delight. When he couldn't hold out a moment longer, he clutched her to him and groaned with satisfaction as he shot his load down her throat in a hot flood. He had never had such a satisfying orgasm. Her tongue massaging his cock as it throbbed in her mouth made him groan even louder. She swallowed convulsively, choking and sputtering, but she managed to suck everything down. He pulled out of her mouth, stroked her hair and grinned down at her. 

"That was wonderful, my angel. Only the most dedicated whores will let a man spurt in their mouth. Most of them think it's too nasty. I think you're a truly talented little cocksucker."

Sarah blushed hotly and smacked his leg. "Brian, you beast! How dare you call me names!"

His laugh was wicked and completely unrepentant. "I wasn't calling names. That was a compliment. I think you need a reward for your efforts. Lay down on the pallet." He waited for her to comply, and he knelt near her feet. "Spread your legs, my sweet angel. Show me your pretty little pussy."

She was still outraged by his crude remarks, but she complied. She felt like she was splayed before him like an offering for a god. She felt naughty and nasty, just like he had said, but she also felt wonderfully feminine and beautiful as he enjoyed the sight of her. She was desperate for his touch.

"You're so beautiful, my angel. Spread your lips for me, darlin'." The firelight glistened on her wet pussy, and he grinned, his dimples cutting deep grooves in his cheeks as he teased her. "My, my. Somebody is very, very wet. I think you liked sucking my cock, didn't you angel?"

"Yes," she admitted with a shy smile. "I loved it."

"You know, a proper lady would never spread her pussy out like that or admit that she liked to suck cock."

Sarah delighted him by raising one haughty brow and stroking her fingers over her slippery folds. "I thought we had already established that I wasn't a proper lady."

Brian threw his head back and laughed. When he finally sobered, he leaned over her and gave her a long, languid kiss.

"One thing's for certain," he said, tucking her hair behind her ear, "you're the proper lady for me, and that's all that matters. I love you, Sarah Martin."

He kissed her, groaning when he tasted his fluid on her tongue. She was wonderful. She was beautiful. She was everything he ever needed in a woman. He finally ended the kiss, settling himself between her legs. He met her startled eyes from over her silky patch of hair.

"I was pretty hard on your sweet little pussy last night. It's my turn to make amends...with my mouth."

He wedged her thighs apart with his wide shoulders and settled in to feast. Sarah had never imagined that Brian might kiss her there, and she was scandalized. But as he licked and suckled, she began to relax and enjoy what he was doing. Before she knew it, she was pumping her hips toward his mouth, moaning with delight.

"You know," Brian teased her, circling her clit with his tongue, "a proper lady would never let a man lick her pussy. Do you want me to stop?"

"You're wicked," she moaned. "You know I'll die if you stop."

He chuckled and suckled sharply on her clit, stroking two fingers deep inside her. She climaxed quickly, clenching her muscles and screaming her pleasure. Brian was glad he had decided to do this in the vacant cabin, because she would have definitely woken Liam with her uninhibited joy if they had been in his room. He barely gave her a chance to catch her breath before he dove in for more.

She tasted delightful, tart and tangy. He licked every soft, glistening fold as he mapped out his territory. He couldn't imagine a more beautiful, sensual woman. He paid homage to her womanhood with languid strokes of his tongue, gentle nips with his teeth and strong sucks with his lips. He explored her with his fingers, spreading her lips wide so he look at her and plunge his tongue inside her. She shattered again, her reaction even stronger than before.

He pushed her ever onward, forcing her over one precipice after another, until she was shivering with exhaustion. Finally having mercy on her, he knelt between her thighs and plunged into her just the way she liked it, hard and fast and deep. He gave her nipples the attention they had been seeking all evening. He drove her mindless with pleasure.

She clung to him, urging him deeper, banging her hips against his with abandon. They finally came together, writhing and groaning as he spurted deep inside her. Then, they collapsed, completely spent on the pallet, he and his naughty angel.



Second Chances Ch. 12



Sarah's soft sigh of contentment woke Brian a few hours later. They were snuggled beneath a wool blanket, the glowing embers of the fire still keeping the interior of the cabin warm and cozy. Brian held her cradled spoonlike against him, and he smiled, nuzzling her neck with soft kisses to wake her up.

Sarah blinked several times, sighing again as she snuggled back against his firm chest. She felt sated and happy, but a small part of her was worried about what Brian must think of her. She had been entirely shameless, and she nibbled her bottom lip.

"Brian?" she ventured hesitantly.

"Mmmm," he mumbled, still exploring her neck, "what is it, my angel?"

"You don't think very badly of me, do you?"

Brian paused, frowning as he raised his head to meet her eye. "Why would I think badly of you?"

She blushed and looked away. Her voice was small when she replied. "You said I was a nasty little whore for...," she swallowed hard before meeting his eye once more, "for sucking your cock."

Brian tried hard to resist the impulse, but he finally gave in and threw his head back, laughing hysterically. Sarah was not amused, and she turned in his arms. She gave him a heated glare, waiting impatiently for his mirth to subside.

"You are so mean!" she accused. "Just because you think I'm a whore, it's not nice to laugh in my face."

He was still grinning when he met her eye. "I'm laughing because you are so wonderfully naïve and innocent, my angel. I don't think you're a whore at all. I think you're absolutely beautiful and perfect."

Sarah raised a brow, watching him suspiciously. "What about the things you told me? You said that only a nasty, dirty little whore would suck a man's cock or let him spurt in her mouth. Are you saying the things you told me aren't true?"

"Well," his grin widened as he kneaded her bottom, "some of them were true."

"Which ones?" she asked, narrowing her eyes.

Brian chuckled again, enjoying the suspicious anger on her face. "Well, let me think. It's true that some people regard cocksucking as nasty, dirty, naughty or sinful. Of course, I've never thought that. I've always thought it was one of the most generous, loving things a woman could do for her man."

Sarah's face was stunned by his revelation. He could see her mental gears grinding as he went on with glee.

"It's true that most women aren't willing to suck cock, but the women who really love their men are happy to do it. I'm sure there are plenty of proper ladies who suck their husbands' cocks. Still, its true that most men have to pay to get their cock sucked, because their wives are too lazy or prudish or uncaring to do it for them."

"Brian McKenzie," she growled, "do you mean to tell me that..."

Brian arrogantly folded his hands beneath his head as he went on, not giving her time to finish what she had been about to say. "The things I told you about technique are also true. There is an art to cocksucking, and a man likes to know that a woman really enjoys sucking his cock. It's not as much fun if she's only doing it because she has to. That's why I've always been pretty particular about who I would let suck my cock. I've only found one or two whores who were really good at it, so you can consider yourself in good company."

Her eyes began to flash with anger as she rose onto her knees. "Brian McKenzie, you lying, sneaky, black-hearted..."

"I was being totally honest when I told you that most women wouldn't let a man spurt in their mouth. Some of them really do think it's nasty, some just don't like the taste. But as a man, I have to say that if a woman isn't willing to suck down my juice, it takes a lot of the enjoyment out of the whole cocksucking experience for me. It's not nearly as nice, having to pull out at the last minute, just to spare the woman's sensibilities."

Sarah's face was turning progressively darker red as her anger simmered. When she spoke, her voice was a low, menacing growl. "Brian McKenzie, I simply can't believe that you would do something like..."

"And last but not least," he said with a wide grin as he interrupted her diatribe, "I was absolutely telling the truth when I told you that you are the most talented little cocksucker who has ever had your mouth around my cock. Your technique, dedication and enthusiasm for the job far outweighed your lack of experience. When you sucked down my juice without spilling a drop, I was truly impressed. That's not easy for a beginner. I definitely don't think I'll need to spend any more money on whores, now that I have you."

Sarah's enraged scream was the only warning he got before she launched herself onto his chest. She was like a wildcat, punching, biting and scratching. Brian laughed as he wrestled with her, holding her arms to keep her from doing any real damage. He particularly enjoyed watching her breasts jiggle as she struggled to punish him.

When she finally realized that her strength was no match for his, she stopped. She was panting with frustration and anger, her hair was in wild disarray, and she was gnashing her teeth with impotent fury. As she vented her outrage, Brian relished the view of her heaving bosom and the feel of her quivering thighs straddling his waist.

"You are a beast, Brian McKenzie! I can't believe you would be so wicked! You made me believe that sucking your cock was the dirtiest, nastiest, most awful thing I could ever do. You made me feel so cheap. You said I wasn't a proper lady at all. And now, you have the gall to make fun of me because I believed you. Well, as far as I'm concerned, you can just keep right on paying whores to suck your cock, because I won't ever do it again!"

She would have risen in a huff, but Brian held her wrists firmly in his hands. When she refused to stop struggling, he rolled to pin her beneath him.

"Get off of me, you cad! I don't want to have anything else to do with you. I hate you!"

"No you don't," he said with a chuckle, pulling her wrists up to pin them over her head. He nuzzled her neck, trailing kisses beneath her jaw and nibbling at her ear.

"I do! You are sneaky and wicked and crude." Her eyes were beginning to well with tears.

"Yes, but you love me, don't you my sweet little cocksucking angel?" Brian captured one nipple in his mouth, laving it with hot strokes of his tongue.

Sarah groaned, wriggling to get loose. "Stop calling me that! Let go of me!" When Brian continued to lick her nipple, she ground her teeth. "That's not going to work."

"Sure it is," he said confidently, scraping her nipple with the stubble of whiskers on his chin. "Do you know why?"

She shivered, trying her best to resist the pleasure he was heaping on her. "Why?" she asked petulantly.

Brian grinned, scraping her some more. "Because you love me. There's no point in denying it. You love me. We belong together because we're just alike."

He gave her nipple another slow, painful scrape from his whiskers and raised his head to meet her stare. She was looking reluctantly curious about his statement. Her anger was still simmering and seething just beneath the surface, but it was starting to be overshadowed by her growing desire.

"How are we alike?" she asked grudgingly.

Brian grinned at her, forcing her thighs apart with his knee and wedging his hips between. His voice was deep and hypnotic, devilishly seductive.

"We both need to feel wicked and wild to find true pleasure. We both have a secret urge to break taboos, to explore dark sensual realms. We both love the nasty, the naughty," his voice dropped further as he whispered near her ear, "the forbidden."

She shivered, and he chuckled deep in his throat. He plunged his fingers into her sopping wet pussy and stroked her, raising one dark, mocking brow. They could both hear the sloshing sounds of her wetness, and she was panting beneath him. She moaned, and his grin widened as he taunted her, reaching deep inside her to coax even more fluid from her scalding sheath.

"That's why even now, when you would really like to wallop me for tricking you, you can't stop your pussy from begging for my cock. Isn't that true, my sweet beautiful cocksucking angel?

"Stop calling me that!" she screeched, trying to wrest her arms free from his grasp.

"Don't worry," Brian said, with a wicked grin. "I won't say it in front of anyone else. I know how embarrassed you would be if anyone else knew you were such a talented little cocksucker."

"Brian, you are a beast! Stop calling me that this minute!"

"I can't help myself, angel. Teasing you brings me great pleasure." His husky voice sent shivers of awareness down her spine as he leaned near her ear to whisper. "You and I both know you wouldn't want to deny me any pleasure, don't we angel?" He scraped her nipple even harder with his whiskers, and Sarah moaned with delight, thrusting her breasts up for more. "Now admit it, you love me and you love everything I do to you, don't you?"

Sarah released a frustrated groan, refusing to answer him. She wasn't about to give him the satisfaction of admitting her love at that moment. She thrashed about, trying to make him release her. When she heard him chuckle, she glared at him, growling with frustration.

"You know what else, my angel? I know your secret."

"What secret?" she demanded, eying him nervously.

He gave her another wicked grin, his dimples cutting deep grooves in his cheeks. "I know that you love to be controlled by me, subdued by me, overpowered by me."

He tightened his grip on her wrists to remind her of his dominance. His voice dropped low once again as he skimmed his tongue lightly over her nipple, refusing to suckle it into his mouth when she arched her back.

"You love to submit yourself totally to fulfill my desires, however dark and forbidden they might be. You would be mortified if anyone other than me knew your secret, but you can't keep it from me. I know how much you love the things I do to you, and I know how much you love me."

Sarah moaned, biting her lip with frustration. She thrashed and bucked, mewling when she could neither win her release nor get him to suckle her breast. He added to her torment by nudging at her entrance with the tip of his erection, barely parting her swollen folds.

"Admit it to me, my angel. Admit that you love me, and I'll give you what you want."

Sarah held out as long as she could before she answered. "Yes," she finally gasped, "yes, I love you."

He growled his satisfaction and stabbed into her with his cock. Nothing had ever felt so wonderful. She barely had time to gasp before he ravaged her nipple, tugging with his teeth and scraping with his whiskers until she was screaming her pleasure. All the while, he plundered her pussy, pounding into her with relentless repetition. Brian released her wrists, and she clutched him to her.

"Say it again," he demanded.

"I love you," she gasped.

"Again!"

"I love you!"

Brian rammed even deeper inside her, and she met each thrust, scraping her nails down his back in her excitement. He drove her over the edge, and they crashed together, groaning with their mutual fulfillment.

They collapsed into a sweaty heap. Sarah savored the weight of Brian as he lay with his head between her breasts, panting from his exertion. She threaded her fingers through his damp hair, stroking him lovingly. She was stunned by how well he understood her and how well he understood himself. He was right, she needed to bring him pleasure in order to find her own.

"You truly are naughty and wicked, Brian McKenzie," she said with a sigh. "But I love you, just the same."

He raised his head and gave her an unrepentant grin. "I love you too, my angel. And don't worry. Your secrets are safe with me."

He looked so boyish and naughty that Sarah couldn't help but laugh. "I'll bet you drove your parents crazy when you were growing up."

"I did," he agreed. "I wore them out. They had to spank me twice as often as Aidan and Liam combined. By the time I was sixteen, Pa had to admit that thrashing me wasn't going to make me behave." His expression turned serious, and he gently stroked her cheek. "But I'll behave for you, my angel. I might torment you for fun, but I'd never do anything to truly hurt you." His lips firmed as he remembered the reward for her arrest. "I'd die before I let anyone hurt you. I'll do whatever it takes to make you happy for the rest of your life."

Sarah held his gaze, and she knew he was completely serious. He might tease her and taunt her and drive her mindless with frustration, but in the end, he would always bring her pleasure. She knew that he loved her every bit as much as she loved him.

She raised a delicate brow, struggling to maintain a stern expression when she felt like laughing with joy. "You had better behave, Brian McKenzie. I refuse to share you with any other women, so I'd better not find out you've been visiting any more prostitutes."

"I give you my word," Brian said solemnly, "I'll never be with any woman but you." He stretched up to seal his vow. Just before his lips touched hers, a hint of the devil showed in his eyes, and he grinned. "I promise, my beautiful little cocksucking angel."

"You beast," she groaned, pulling him down for a kiss.

**********

Naomi whined, burying her head under the pillow when Aidan tried to wake her up. He was persistent, trailing kisses along her shoulder blades and her nape.

"Wake up, sweetheart. It's our last day in the city. We need to buy some supplies before we head home tomorrow."

"Not yet, Aidan. It's early," she grumbled.

Aidan smiled, pulling the sheet down so he could spread kisses over her lower back. He nibbled the twin dimples above her buttocks.

"It's nearly ten o'clock. You're going to sleep the entire day away, lazy bones."

"You're cruel," she moaned. "Night after night you keep me up till dawn, satisfying your insatiable lust, and then you expect me to jump out of bed in the morning. I can't believe I married such a cruel man."

Aidan grinned, caressing her bottom fondly. They had both enjoyed their honeymoon. The weather had been fine during their two day trip to town. They had checked into the finest suite in the nicer of two hotels in the city. The day after arrival, they took care of business, visiting the land claims office to enlarge his claim as a result of their marriage. Then, they had spent the next eight days simply enjoying their time together.

They had shopped. Aidan took her to a clothing shop and purchased several new dresses, along with undergarments, stockings and shoes. She loved the clothes he had bought her. He loved the sight of her in the scandalously sheer French silk chemises he had bought. She bought him a pipe and some fine tobacco. He bought her a wedding ring and slipped it on her finger, surprised by her happy tears.

They had dined at the three restaurants in the city. It was a special treat not to have to cook and clean, and Naomi was delighted by the creamy custards and flaky pastries that were served for desserts. Aidan was delighted by her moans of appreciation as she licked her fingers clean.

But mostly, they had enjoyed the hours they spent in their hotel suite. They indulged their fantasies, driving each other wild with passion. Naomi seduced him, flaunting her figure in the new lingerie until he chased her around the room. Aidan thrilled her, taking her to heights of passion she had never imagined with his insatiable appetite for her body. They had reached a level of intimacy that awed them both, and their love for each other grew stronger with each passing day.

Aidan hugged her, kissing the back of her neck. "I have to admit, you have been going above and beyond to make sure I'm kept happy."

She mumbled her assent. "I just need fifteen more minutes," she beseeched him.

Aidan heaved an exaggerated sigh of regret. "Alright, but I was planning to take you to that shop you liked and buy you a few new bonnets to go with your new dresses. If you stay in bed all day, we won't have time."

Naomi raised the edge of the pillow and peeked at him with one eye. "Really?" she asked, perking up with interest as she pulled her head from under the pillow. "Could I buy the lovely grey one in the window, the one with the silk rosebuds across the brim?"

Aidan threw his head back and laughed. He met her eye, and his gaze glowed with adoration. "You can buy anything your heart desires, my love. But you have to get out of bed."

"Thank you, Aidan," she cried happily. "You're so good to me."

She threw her arms around him and kissed him. He fell back onto the pillow, laughing as she spread exuberant kisses over his face. Aidan was just beginning to have second thoughts about leaving their bed when she gave a miserable groan. She jumped up and ran to the washbasin, retching violently into the bowl. When her nausea finally eased, she rinsed her mouth with water, grabbed a cool, wet cloth and flopped back onto the bed, moaning in misery.

"I don't know if I feel up to shopping after all," she said sadly, rubbing her hand over her eyes. "I don't think my supper agreed with me."

"Naomi," Aidan said carefully, "how long has it been since you had your monthly?"

"A few weeks," she mumbled. "But I don't get sick with my periods. It's not that, it's something I ate."

"I ate the same things you did, and I'm not sick," he pointed out.

"Well, maybe you have a stronger stomach than I do," Naomi said, folding the cloth over her eyes as she gave another weak moan.

"Are you sick often?" he asked, keeping his voice carefully even.

"No," she said with a frown. "In fact, I don't think I've been sick since I was a little girl and I ate too much candy at Christmas."

Aidan grinned, lifting the cloth away from her eyes and waiting until she peered at him with a questioning frown. "Naomi, my darling, beautiful wife, if I didn't know better, I would think you were pregnant."

A full minute passed, during which she mentally calculated the days since her last period. She recounted three times, finally coming to the conclusion that it had been over five weeks. Her eyes widened, and her mouth formed a perfect O of surprise. Her monthly courses had always been as regular as clockwork, coming every twenty eight days.

"Aidan," she breathed, "could it be true?"

He laughed, his own excitement building as he watched her eyes widen further. "I think so, my sweet. It's not so amazing is it? I mean, when a man and a woman make love as often as we have, it's almost certain to happen."

"But I've never been pregnant before," she breathed. "Even though you said maybe Nathan was the reason I never conceived, I never truly believed it. I was sure I could never have children. And now, I'm pregnant!" Her mouth curved into a glorious smile of wonder. "Oh Aidan!"

She hugged him as she laughed with glee. Aidan laughed with her as he stroked her hair, sending a prayer of thanks to the heavens. He kissed her temple and brushed her hair back from her shining face. She had never looked more beautiful to him.

"Oh Aidan, I simply can't believe it," she said at last. Her eyes were glittering with happy tears. "How did you know it was Nathan and not me?"

"I didn't know for sure," he said, brushing his knuckles along her cheekbone. "I was hopeful. I knew we had a fifty-fifty chance." Seeing her questioning look, he grinned. "When you mate a bull with a cow and she doesn't have a calf, you always have to think that maybe the bull is shooting blanks."

Naomi gasped, making Aidan laugh. "Aidan McKenzie! Did you just call me a cow?"

He was still chuckling as he kissed her on the nose. "You know I would never do that, sweetheart. There's never been a more beautiful woman in the entire world than you, the mother of my child."

Naomi sighed, placing her hands on her flat belly. "A baby! I just can't believe it. We're going to have a baby of our very own. Do you think it's a boy or a girl?"




Second Chances Ch. 12



"Yep," he said with a laugh. "It's bound to be one or the other." Aidan bent down and put his face on her belly. "Here, let me ask. Hello in there. Are you a boy or a girl?"

Naomi laughed with delight, stroking Aidan's hair. "You're so wonderfully silly." Her smile faded, and her eyes were full of devotion as they locked with his. "I love you, Aidan. I love you more than I ever thought it was possible to love someone."

Aidan leaned over her, kissing her gently and sweetly on her lips. "I love you too, Naomi. Even if you weren't going to be the mother of my child, I would love you just as much until my dying breath."

Their gazes locked in sweet commitment. They knew that the child in her belly would strengthen the bond between them even more. Aidan kissed her forehead and rose from the bed, donning his breeches.

"Where are you going?" Naomi asked.

"I'm going to get you some tea and toast to settle your stomach."

"Thank you, Aidan." She grinned up at him. "Then, if I'm feeling better, can we go buy those bonnets you mentioned?"

Aidan chuckled as he buttoned his shirt. He bent over to give her one more kiss before he left the room. "Anything for the mother of my child."



Second Chances Ch. 13



The next morning after breakfast, Sarah settled into a comfortable chair and resumed her sewing. As she worked, she kept thinking about the previous night. The way Brian had taunted and tormented her, purposefully provoking her was so different than other times when he had been sweet, tender and caring. She couldn't figure out which side of him was the real Brian. She was finishing the last set of curtains when Liam walked in the door.

"I ripped my breeches," he said with a grimace. There was a long tear on the outside of his thigh.

"Did you cut yourself?" Sarah asked, setting her sewing aside.

"No, I just caught the cloth on a nail," he said, walking toward his room. "I came to change clothes."

"Bring the torn ones to me, and I'll mend them for you," she called after him.

When Liam returned, he handed her the torn breeches with a smile. "Thanks, Sarah. I'm no good with a needle and thread."

"I don't mind at all," she said, returning his smile.

Liam noticed something in her expression, and he tilted his head to one side, studying her. "Are you alright? You look a bit bothered."

Sarah laughed to ease his concern. "I'm fine. I was just thinking about Brian." A delicate blush colored her cheeks when she saw Liam's grin. "I can't quite decide whether he's a devil or a saint."

Liam laughed outright, shaking his head. "You'll never be able to decide that, Sarah. Brian's definitely a bit of both."

"Tell me about him," she said. "What was he like when you were growing up?"

"Hmmm," Liam said, sitting in the other chair. "Brian has always been a free spirit. It's nearly impossible to pin him down or make him do what he doesn't want to do. He's always had a wild streak a mile wide, as Pa would say. He used to do things on purpose, things he knew were going to get him into trouble. I could swear sometimes, he liked to provoke Pa's temper just to prove he could. And he did the same with me and Aidan, still does as a matter of fact. He will pick and prod until we jump on him, punching and yelling. Then, he just laughs because he made us so mad."

"That sounds like Brian," Sarah said ruefully, thinking about how he had provoked her temper by calling her crude names.

"Mama used to say he did it because he needed to release his pent up feelings. He's never been too good at expressing his feelings. I think Mama always understood him better than anyone. She used to tell Pa that Brian had no choice but to be naughty sometimes. She said that even if it wasn't in his nature, being the middle child, it was the only way he could get the attention he needed."

"What do you mean?" Sarah asked with a frown.

Liam shrugged. "Aidan was always so responsible and good, he never had any trouble winning our parents' approval and praise." Liam gave her a conspiratorial wink, "And of course, I got my share of attention because I was the baby. I guess Brian must have felt like he could never compete with his brothers, so he might as well do whatever he wanted and to hell with the consequences. His devil-may-care attitude got him into plenty of hot water with Pa over the years."

"Do you think he resents you and Aidan?" Sarah asked quietly.

Liam laughed at the suggestion. "No. He thinks the world of both of us. That cabin we built for Aidan was Brian's idea. He wanted to surprise our brother." Liam smiled at her. "Brian is a romantic at heart, although he doesn't like others to know it. In fact, he'll tease and torment you, drive you crazy with anger just to cover up his softer emotions."

"Hmmm," Sarah said with a thoughtful frown, "I can easily believe that." 

Liam looked at her and smiled. "Still, whenever I'm in trouble, there's no one I'd rather have beside me than Brian."

"So you trust him?" Sarah asked.

"I'd trust Brian with anything, whether it was my most prized possession or my life. He can't stand to see anyone hurt. In fact, when we were boys, I remember one time in particular. Brian took the blame for something I had done, and Pa took him outside to tan his backside. I confessed to Mama and asked her to make Pa stop. I remember she just shook her head and sighed. She said I should leave it alone, that Brian would rather take a whipping himself than to see me get one."

"That doesn't sound very fair," Sarah said. "Did that happen often?"

"No," Liam said, shaking his head with a grimace. "I learned a hard lesson that day, watching Brian get spanked and knowing I was to blame. I never let that happen again."

"Sounds like you love Brian as much as he loves you," Sarah said with a soft smile.

"It's impossible not to love Brian. He can be maddening, always playing wicked pranks and then laughing at you when you fall for them. But underneath, he has the most loyal and kind heart. If you've given him your heart, you can trust that he will never break it. He'll do everything in his power to keep you safe and happy." He gave Sarah a grin. "Does that ease your mind?"

Sarah blushed again, realizing that Liam knew more about her feelings for Brian than she had thought. "Yes it does. Thank you, Liam."

"My pleasure," Liam said as he rose from the chair. He went to the door and paused, sending her one more grin. "Oh and by the way, there's one more thing you should know about Brian. He only torments the people he loves the most. If he's been driving you crazy, you can be assured that he truly cares about you."

"That's not very comforting," Sarah said with a laugh.

"Mama always told Pa that the right woman would bring him to heel someday. I'm convinced you're the one she had in mind."

Liam left before Sarah could answer, and she sank back against the chair with a sigh. She thought about everything he had told her, replaying Brian's actions in her mind. She began to see him in an entirely different light. He had the devil's handsome looks, and he certainly had the devil's charm. Sarah smiled secretively as she nibbled on her fingertips. Still, she knew he would always love his angel, even if he did like to singe her wings.

********

Brian gave Liam a questioning glance as he drove the last nail into a window frame. "What took you so long?" he asked, stepping back to inspect his work.

"I was just talking with Sarah," Liam said. He flashed his brother a grin. "She was asking about you. I got the impression you've been up to your usual tricks, tormenting the poor girl in some way or other. Seems she can't decide what to think about you."

Brian frowned thoughtfully. He had gone pretty far with teasing Sarah. The sight of her, so outraged and furious, had only made him want to provoke her more. She had looked so damned beautiful, he just hadn't been able to stop himself. He hoped he hadn't really hurt her feelings.

"Did she seem upset?" Brian asked carefully.

Liam shrugged. "Not really. I think she just wanted to know that you aren't going to hurt her."

"What did you tell her?" he asked.

"I told her that if she knew what was good for her, she would run like the devil himself was nipping at her heels." When Brian glared at him, Liam laughed. "You can dish it out, but you can't take it, huh Brian?"

Realizing that Liam was only teasing him, Brian relaxed. "What did you really tell her?"

"I told her all about you. I told her that beneath your wicked exterior, you have a heart of gold. I told her that she's the perfect woman for you."

"You talk too much," Brian grumbled, "but you're right. She is the woman for me. It's driving me crazy that I can't do anything to help her regain her memory so that we can prove she isn't a murderer."

"She hasn't remembered anything else about her past?"

"Not other than what I've already told you. I can't stand waiting around. What if her memory never comes back? I can't keep her hidden here forever."

"Give it some time, Brian. Her memory has been coming back in dribs and drabs. There's no reason to think that won't continue. For now, she's safe." Liam gave his brother a grin and raised a mocking brow. "At least, she's safe from everybody except you. That's an entirely different story."

*********

Sarah was making another batch of hot rolls when Brian came through the front door. She had just turned the dough out on the kitchen table and had begun to knead it before separating it into buns. She paused, giving Brian a glorious smile of welcome, and he breathed a sigh of relief, seeing that she wasn't upset with him.

"You're early," she exclaimed. "I won't have lunch ready for at least another half an hour."

Brian leaned back against the door, enjoying the sight of his angel. Her sleeves were rolled up to keep them clean, and she looked so prim and proper with a dish towel tied around her waist as an apron. No one would ever guess from looking at her that she shared his darker passions.

He pushed away from the door, prowling toward her with a glint of mischief in his eyes. He embraced her from behind, gripping her waist as he trailed hot, open-mouthed kisses down the side of her neck.

"We finished the cabin. All that's left to do is move Naomi and Aidan's things in and hang the curtains you made."

"You two must be hungry then," Sarah said, breathless from his kisses. "Just let me finish these rolls. I'll try to hurry so I can start on lunch."

"Take your time," Brian murmured, nibbling her earlobe. "I don't want you to rush the bread. You know how much I love your hot rolls."

As he said it, he slid his hands up to cup her breasts. He kneaded them, chuckling when Sarah gasped.

"Brian! Stop that. Liam could walk in at any minute and see you."

"Mmmm," Brian agreed, squeezing her nipples in his fingers. "He could."

Brian didn't seem the least bit concerned, as he continued to play with her breasts and explore her neck. Sarah was not so blasé about the possibility of being caught, and she squirmed in his arms, trying to make him remove his hands.

"Brian, stop that. I mean it!" she hissed.

"Why, Sarah? Are you afraid Liam might find out what a passionate little angel you are?" Brian easily resisted the pull of her hands on his wrists as he continued to knead her breasts. "He would take one look at your hard little nipples and know that you loved what I'm doing to you."

Sarah groaned in frustration. "You're making me get flour on my bodice. Stop it, I say!"

"Then keep your hands on the table, where they belong," Brian murmured.

Realizing that her angry protests weren't having the desired effect, Sarah flashed him a pleading look. "Please, Brian. Leave my breasts alone before Liam comes in and sees what you're doing."

Brian shrugged and released her nipples. "Alright, if you insist."

Sarah was about to breathe a sigh of relief when she felt him pulling up the back of her skirt. Her eyes widened with alarm. "Brian! What are you doing?"

"You said to leave your breasts alone, so I'm going to play with the rest of you."

He tucked the hem of her skirt into the dish towel around her waist, leaving her entire backside exposed. Sarah gasped and reached to release her skirt, but she groaned because her hands were covered in sticky dough.

"Put my skirt down!" she wailed.

"I don't want to," Brian said with a grin.

He held her still with an arm around her waist while he caressed her bottom. Even through her pantalets, the heat of his palm seared her skin. Sarah felt her cheeks flood with color. She again tried to reach her skirt to pull it down, despite the fact that her fingers were coated with flour and sticky dough.

"You're going to make me get my skirt dirty," she groaned.

Brian grasped her wrists and plunged them into the dough on the table. "Then keep them on the table, where they belong."

His breath was hot against her ear, and his voice was firm and commanding. He released her wrists and resumed his wicked caresses.

"Brian," she gasped. Her voice was beginning to rise in panic. "Brian, you can't do this. Liam is going to walk through that door any second, and he'll see me in my pantalets!"

"I wouldn't want that," Brian murmured. "Let's take them off."

He tugged the drawstring loose and her pantalets dropped into a puddle around her ankles. Sarah gasped, blushing even brighter red. She started to reach for them, and Brian slapped her hard on the bottom, leaving a large red imprint of his hand on her ivory skin.

"Brian!" she shrieked. Her eyes were as wide as saucers as she stared at him in astonishment.

"I said to keep your hands on the table, where they belong. Move them again, and you'll get another spanking."

Brian's voice was hard and uncompromising and Sarah gaped at him. She was beginning to panic, because he showed no signs of stopping his wicked play. She was mortified that Liam would open the door any moment.

"Brian, that's enough!" She began to reach for her pantalets. "I'm not going to stand here and let you...Ouch!" Brian landed an equally hard slap on the opposite side of her bottom, and she squealed. "That hurts!" she gasped. "How dare you...ouch!"

Brian began spanking her in earnest, smiling as she squirmed and squealed. He held her easily, pinned against the table with one arm around her waist as he paddled her bottom until it was red and fiery hot to the touch. She struggled for all she was worth, raining curses on his head as she threatened him with retribution. Brian only spanked her harder. He kept on until she stopped struggling. She cried softly, yelping each time he landed another hard slap on her burning bottom. When he judged her to be suitably subdued, he smoothed his hand over her bottom, soothing the blistered globes with calming strokes.

"That's better," he growled in her ear. "Now keep your hands where they belong, and I won't have to spank you anymore."

"You're a brute," she whined. "I can't believe you're doing this."

Brian grinned, still stroking her bottom. "Sarah, you know how much I love your hot rolls." He gave her sore bottom a squeeze, chuckling when she yelped from the pain. "And there's nothing better than a fresh hot bun with butter."

He reached around her and smeared his fingers into the pot of butter on the table, lifting a large glob and showing it to her. Sarah's eyes widened and she gulped.

"Mmmm," he purred, smearing the butter onto her bottom while she squirmed and whined. When he had covered her entire ass with greasy butter, he grinned. "That looks absolutely mouthwatering."

"What are you doing?" she gasped, twisting to see over her shoulder.

Brian knelt down behind her and began licking the globes of her bottom. His tongue was both delightfully soothing and sinfully stimulating as he licked every inch of her burning bottom. Sarah moaned. She was torn between the pleasure he was forcing on her and the fear of being caught. She clutched her fingers into the sticky dough and squeezed her eyes shut, trying to ignore the throbbing in her pussy. She sobbed, thinking that she couldn't resist for much longer, and she had to make Brian stop.

"Please Brian. Please, I'm begging you. Liam is going to catch us. You have to stop, please."

Brian ignored her and kept lapping the butter off her behind. He savored every inch of her delectable bottom, laving her with firm strokes of his tongue.

"Brian, please," she sobbed. "Please stop."

"I'll make you a deal," Brian murmured, still licking her bottom. "If your pussy is dry, I'll stop. If it's wet, I'll continue."

Sarah sobbed in earnest, knowing very well that her pussy was sopping wet. She could feel the folds throbbing and aching and the trickle of fluid running down her inner thighs. She tried to keep her legs squeezed together when Brian inserted a hand and nudged gently. He slapped her bottom, and she jerked, loosening her thighs. He held her pantalets down with his knee and pressed her thighs open, forcing her to step out of her underwear. She moaned, knowing that her pussy was fully exposed.

"What do we have here?" Brian asked with a wicked chuckle. He stroked her pussy, laughing again when her copious fluid began to run down his fingers. "There's gravy to go with the rolls."

Sarah's face felt like it was on fire with the heat of her blush. She tried to clench her thighs together again. Brian gave her bottom an especially hard slap, and she yelped. He met her eye and gave her a pointed stare, raising a menacing brow. She faced the table, gulped again and spread her legs, opening them even wider than before when he prompted her with his hand.

"That's better," he sighed. "Open those thighs nice and wide, angel. I want a taste of this delicious sauce."

He slowly ran his tongue the full length of her slit, moaning his pleasure as he tasted her. Sarah had never felt more embarrassed or more aroused. She gasped, curling her toes as she tried to resist his wicked temptation. He must be the devil, she thought wildly. Only Satan himself could make her feel so wanton and reckless. With every swipe of his tongue along her pussy, she was growing less concerned with getting caught and more concerned with reaching her climax.

Brian tortured her, nibbling at her clit and probing her with his hot tongue. He grinned as he listened to her panting breaths and desperate moans. He probed her with two broad fingers, finding and stroking her most sensitive inner spot. She sobbed, arching against his hand as he toyed with her. When he had her writhing above him, begging for release, he suckled hard on her clit and pressed his fingers against the vulnerable bundle of nerves inside her. She shattered, screaming her pleasure as she slumped over the table.

Brian smiled, bestowing a fond kiss on her quivering pussy before he straightened to his feet behind her. He unbuttoned his breeches, freeing his aching cock as he waited for her to catch her breath. He reached around her, cupping her breasts once more.


Sarah gasped from the heat of his erection pressing into the crack of her bottom. "Brian," she pleaded, "I know you aren't going to stop, but could you please hurry? I would die if Liam walks in and sees us like this." Her voice shook with her distress.

"I don't want to hurry, my angel."

As Brian said the words, he began unbuttoning her bodice, stopping when he was halfway to her waist. He started on the buttons of her chemise, and Sarah squeezed her eyes shut with a pained groan.

"I can't believe you're doing this," she sobbed. "Do you want your brother to catch us like this?"

"If he's going to catch us, he might as well see everything," Brian said.

He pulled her dress and chemise down around her upper arms, trapping them close against her sides. Her naked breasts popped free as if they were dying to be released. Sarah glanced down at her pouting nipples and she groaned again. She could imagine how wanton and shameless she looked, but she knew there was no way to make Brian stop.

"Brian, please just hurry up and finish. I'm begging you."

"Do you really want me to hurry, my angel?"

"Yes! Yes, please," she cried.

"Because I was planning to take you nice and slow," Brian murmured.

He moistened the tip of his cock and pressed into her, taking an eternity to reach her depths. The slowness of the penetration made Sarah feel every inch of his erection as he shoved himself inside her. She released a guttural moan of pleasure and he grinned. He grasped both of her breasts and began to stroke, twisting hard on her nipples as he probed her with leisurely, deep thrusts. Sarah moaned again, bracing her hands on the table and pressing her bottom back against him.

"I was planning to wallow in your luscious tight pussy," he growled in her ear. "I was planning to show you that there are other ways I can claim your sweet body other than fast...and hard...and deep."

He punctuated each of the words with an agonizingly slow thrust. Sarah shuddered from the pleasure of it. She could feel every ridge on his cock as he probed her with relentless repetition. She mewled, tilting her hips backward to allow him to penetrate even deeper into her hungry pussy. Each time he retreated, she held her breath, desperate for him to plunge inside her again. Each time he did so, she moaned with relief, clutching him with her inner muscles to keep him from leaving her.




Second Chances Ch. 13



Time ceased to be important. Sarah no longer cared whether Liam caught them or not. She didn't want the pleasure to end, and she sobbed with delight as Brian squeezed her nipples and luxuriated in her pussy. The pleasure grew until she could no longer contain it, and she came apart, screaming once again as she clamped down onto Brian's throbbing staff.

He waited for her contractions to ease and then he withdrew from her. He turned her in his arms and lifted her onto the edge of the table. She moaned when her sore bottom connected with the hard table top, and Brian gave her a wicked grin. Then he plunged into her, taking her hard and fast and deep, the way he knew she liked it. Every hard thrust pounded her tender bottom, and she moaned even louder. He pressed her back onto the table, enjoying the sight of her violently bobbing breasts as he ravaged her. He groaned with ecstasy as he claimed every inch of her sweet, hot pussy. He couldn't hold out for long. He waited only until she climaxed before plunging over the cliff with her, pouring his seed inside her with a hoarse groan of pleasure.

He slumped over her, resting against her soft breasts while he savored the final waves of her inner contractions. He could have stayed like that forever, relishing her softness as his heart swelled with love for her. When he felt her pressing urgently against his shoulder, he raised up with a questioning frown.

"Brian, let me up. I have to get dressed!"

Brian chuckled, laying his head back down on her breasts. "Relax, Sarah. Liam's gone over to Naomi's old cabin. He's going to pack up her belongings and bring them back here. He won't be back for at least another hour."

There was a moment of stunned silence before Sarah gave an ear-splitting screech. She struggled to free her arms from her sleeves so she could hit him, screaming even louder when he laughed at her efforts.

"Brian McKenzie! You black-hearted devil! You let me believe the whole time that Liam was going to catch us at any minute. I can't believe you would be so mean!"

She finally managed to free her arms only to have Brian pin them down against the table. His eyes were twinkling with mischief as he watched her squirm and struggle, eying her ripe breasts.

"Tell me the truth, Sarah. Didn't the fear that Liam might catch us enhance your pleasure?"

"Certainly not!" she gasped. "I didn't enjoy having you force yourself on me, you brute."

"Sarah," he growled with a warning gleam in his eye, "I said to tell the truth. Don't make me spank you again. Are you honestly going to say that you didn't enjoy what just happened?"

She was about to deny it when he reached down and plunged his fingers into her pussy. She bit her lip, trying to stifle a moan as he probed her. He finally removed his hand and held it up in front of her face. His fingers were glistening with their combined fluids.

"Are you going to try and convince me that you didn't want me inside you?"

She groaned, shaking her head in defeat.

"I didn't think so," he said. He pressed his fingers into her mouth, grinning as she licked their fluids off his hand. "That's my sweet angel," he murmured, "my sweet, wanton naughty angel."

He kissed her, enjoying the taste of their fluids on her tongue. She moaned and wrapped her arms around him, giving her mouth to him freely. He was a bit amazed to feel his cock beginning to harden against her belly once again. When he finally raised his head, she grinned up at him.

"Did you say Liam would be gone for another hour?" she asked, trailing her fingertip along his bottom lip.

Brian grinned, claiming her lips once again. "Yes my angel, I did."



Second Chances Ch. 14



Aidan and Naomi returned from their honeymoon on a cold and blustery late December afternoon. They were both anxious to get to their cabin, where they could seek some warmth. When they were approaching the cutoff to her farm, Aidan looked at her with one brow raised in question.

"Would you mind terribly if we go by my farm first? I'd like to let my brothers know that we're home."

Naomi kissed his cheek. "Of course not. In fact, I'm looking forward to seeing them too." She grinned at him. "And I know, even though you haven't said so, that you worried about them while we were away."

Aidan urged the horses on. "I can't help it," he said with a shrug. "Old habits die hard."

Naomi laughed and kissed him again. "And no matter how old you all get, they will always be your baby brothers, right?"

He grinned down at her, lovingly caressing her shining face with his eyes. She looked more radiant every day. Even her morning sickness hadn't dulled the light in her eyes. Now that she knew what was causing it, she was almost glad to be sick in the mornings. Almost, but not quite. He squeezed her knee fondly and kissed her on her reddened nose.

"That's right. But, in a few months, I'll have a different baby to worry about."

She hugged his arm against her breast and sighed. "You certainly will. If you fuss over our child the same way you fuss over me, nothing will ever get done around the farm."

Aidan shrugged again, looping an arm around her waist. "I'm sure we'll manage, one way or another."

"I feel like we can manage anything, as long as we're together," she said, returning his smile.

They started down the hill that led into the valley where Aidan's farm was nestled. Aidan squinted, looking toward his home. His brows gathered into a frown.

"What in the world have they been up to?" he muttered.

Following his gaze, Naomi could see a new cabin. It was built a short distance from the original one, and the two structures were very similar in size and appearance. She and Liam exchanged puzzled glances.

Just about then, they saw Liam crossing from the barn to the cabin. He paused, looking toward them and then waved his hat. He ran to the house and soon, Brian and a young blonde woman joined him on the porch. The three of them stood watching the newlyweds approach.

Aidan pulled the wagon to a halt and set the brake. He looked for a long moment at the new cabin, then he looked for an even longer moment at the beautiful stranger beside Brian. He noticed Brian's arm around her waist, but he said nothing. Finally, he raised a stern brow and sent matching glances to his two brothers.

"What have you two been doing while I was away?"

Everyone laughed, including Naomi. Aidan jumped down and lifted his wife to the ground.

"Welcome back, Aidan," Brian said with a grin. "We thought that you and Naomi might appreciate having a larger cabin than hers, so we built you one as a wedding present. We hope you like it."

"How could we not like it?" Aidan said.

He was stunned by their generosity and the obvious hard work they had put into the handsome cabin. He turned to Brian and then Liam, swallowing a lump in his throat. They seemed to understand that he was truly moved by their gift, and to ease the awkward moment, they simultaneously hugged him.

Naomi and Sarah looked at each other and smiled. The two women were touched by the sight of three strong, hardworking men hugging each other, patting each other on the backs, and trying not to shed any tears. As their gazes met, the women exchanged a nod of feminine communication and instant kinship. They each loved a McKenzie brother, that alone put them in a special group, all their own.

"I just can't believe it." Aidan smiled at his brothers. "You guys must have worked like crazy to get this finished in two weeks. I've never seen a finer cabin. Thank you both."

Naomi joined him, slipping her arm around his waist, and she smiled at Brian and Liam too. "It really is the nicest present anyone could have given us. How can we ever thank you enough?"

Brian and Liam both flushed with pleasure. Liam shrugged. "It was partially selfish of us. We didn't want Aidan to be too far away, and like Brian said, we thought you could use a bit more room."

Aidan smiled down at Naomi, and she nodded to his questioning glance. "Well, as a matter of fact," he said proudly, facing his brothers once more, "we'll be needing more space in a few months. Naomi is expecting our first child."

Brian and Liam shouted their approval, and everyone laughed. The brothers shared another hug, and Aidan had an even harder time holding back tears of joy as his brothers congratulated him. Of course, both Brian and Liam hugged Naomi and kissed her on the cheek. She glowed with joy.

"You're looking much happier than you did a few weeks ago," Liam told her with a wink. "I think marriage to Aidan agrees with you."

"It does," Naomi affirmed with a smile. She looped her arm through Aidan's and grinned teasingly up at him. "He's pretty hard to deal with, but I've been doing my best to make him behave."

Aidan growled and gave her a playful slap on her bottom, causing his brothers to hoot with laughter. His eyes met Naomi's, and she blushed, remembering the night he had spanked her. He leaned close, and his deep, husky voice was for her ears only.

"You're the one who had better behave, young lady."

Naomi shivered with awareness. She tried to hide her reaction, but she was sure that Aidan had glimpsed the brief flare of arousal as he searched her blue eyes. He gave her a smug grin before turning back to his brothers.

"Marriage is hard work, boys. It's taken all my time and attention since we spoke the vows, but I think my wife is finally beginning to recognize who wears the pants in this family."

"Oh sure," Liam grinned. "We can see that Naomi is quaking in fear. If anything, I think she has you wrapped around her little finger."

"You both look truly happy," Brian chimed in. "I'm glad to see that our little scheme to get you back together had paid off. Sounds like I'll be an uncle by summer." He gave Aidan a wicked grin. "You certainly didn't waste any time."

"I could say the same about you," Aidan said, with a smiling glance at Sarah. "I'm only gone two weeks, and it seems there've been some other improvements around the place. Are you going to do the honors, or do we have to introduce ourselves to this lovely young lady?"

Brian held out a hand toward her, and Sarah grasped it, letting him pull her to his side. "Aidan and Naomi, this is Sarah Martin."

"I'm so pleased to meet you both," Sarah said with a smile. "I've heard so much about you from Brian and Liam. They've been anxious for you to get home."

"It's a pleasure to meet you as well," Naomi said, clasping her hands and giving her a kiss on the cheek. "It's a lovely surprise to see another woman around the place. Dare I hope that you'll be staying?"

Brian put an arm around Sarah's waist, and the gesture was both possessive and affectionate. "She'll be staying," he said, looking into her eyes. "We'll tell you all about it later, but first, we want to show you your new home."

They took the newlyweds on a tour of the new cabin. They were awestruck by the fine workmanship and attention to detail that the younger McKenzie brothers had invested in building the fine structure. Liam's bedroom furniture and both of their belongings had been moved into the cabin. Brian had built them a kitchen table, and Liam had built two long benches. They would eventually need more furniture for the two additional bedrooms and the living room, but they had everything they needed to start their new life together.

"You've even hung curtains," Naomi said with delight. "They're lovely!"

"Those were Sarah's contribution," Brian said proudly. "She said you would appreciate having a woman's touch."

"I certainly do," Naomi said. Once again, she clasped Sarah's hands with a smile. "That was very thoughtful, Sarah. Thank you."

Sarah beamed from the praise. "I'm so glad you like them. It was the least I could do."

Naomi shivered, still cold from their long drive. Aidan was quick to bring an end to the tour. The last thing he wanted was for his pregnant wife to catch a chill. He ushered her to the door, kissing her on the temple.

"Why don't you and Sarah go to the other cabin and warm up? I'll start a fire to heat this place up, and Brian and Liam can help me unpack the wagon."

Naomi smiled up at him and nodded. The protective gleam in his eye never failed to touch her heart.

"Alright, Aidan." She turned to Sarah, still smiling. "Perhaps you and I could start supper. I admit that I'm starving."

As Sarah and Naomi walked to the other cabin, they were already talking and laughing like old friends. Aidan and Brian stood watching them. When they disappeared from view, Liam stepped between his older brothers and clapped them both on the shoulder. He gave them each a wide grin.

"Enough mooning over your women! Let's get that wagon unloaded."

*********

Later that night, Aidan and Naomi lay ensconced in their new bedroom. The wind had picked up outside, and it howled around their cabin, venting its impotent fury. Inside, they were snug and warm, thanks to the hard work of Brian and Liam. Not a single draft of cold air came through the walls or seeped in around the snug window frame.

"Your brothers did a fine job on this cabin," Naomi murmured, stroking Aidan's arm that was wrapped around her waist. "They must love you very much."

Aidan smiled and kissed her hair, squeezing her tighter against his side. "They do. I was overwhelmed by their generosity and thoughtfulness."

Naomi craned her neck to look up at him. She was lying partially across his chest, her limbs entwined with his. He was usually completely at ease following their lovemaking, but he seemed distracted, thoughtful.

"What's the matter, Aidan? What are you thinking about?"

He met her eye and sighed. "I'm just worried about Brian. He's seems to be getting into deep water with Sarah. I don't know how to help. I can't say I approve of him seducing an innocent woman outside of marriage, and yet, I can't tell him to do anything different." He laughed wryly. "He wouldn't listen, even if I did. He's always had a mind of his own."

Naomi frowned thoughtfully. "I don't really understand what the problem is. If they love each other, why don't they just get married? Wouldn't that be the best way?"

Aidan had to bite his tongue to keep from telling her about Sarah. Brian had taken him aside after supper. He had explained the situation, including Sarah's loss of memory and the fact that she was wanted for murder. He had sworn Aidan to secrecy. Brian didn't want either Sarah or Naomi to be frightened or upset. Although it went against Aidan's better judgment, he had reluctantly agreed to maintain his silence on the matter.

Realizing the Naomi was watching him with growing curiosity, he squeezed her bottom fondly. "I see how it is," he teased. "It took me long enough to convince you to marry me, but now that you've taken the plunge, you think every other woman should follow suit."

"Well, of course," Naomi said, rising on her elbow to grin down at him. "If I had known that marriage could be this much fun, I would have insisted on you taking me to a preacher that very first day."

"Ah, so you like being married to me, huh?" Aidan pulled her onto his chest, using both hands to knead the globes of her bottom. "I think you just enjoy using my body."

Naomi giggled as she spread hot, open-mouthed kisses along his neck and upper chest. She sat up, straddling his waist.

"Mmmm," she agreed in a husky moan, "and it's such a lovely body too. So beautiful." She traced the line of his nose, lips and jaw slowly with her fingers. "So strong." Her hands cruised slowly over his wide shoulders and upper arms, kneading his muscles with hands of heated velvet. "So firm." She explored his ridged abdomen, tracing the lines on his rock hard belly.

She gave him a smile and lifted up on her knees, sliding backward so that his throbbing erection was in front of her. She grasped him in both hands, gripping with her fists as she stroked him. Her eyes met his, and her smile turned delightfully wicked. "And so magnificently large."

"Jezebel," he growled, thoroughly content to be seduced by her yet again.

Naomi assumed a wide-eyed look of disappointment. She thrust her bottom lip out in a playful pout. "You don't like what I'm doing?" she asked, fondling his balls with one hand.

"You know good and well that I love it, you little minx."

Her sultry chuckle made him shiver with pleasure. "Mmmm," she agreed with another throaty moan. "I do know you love it."

She slid further back and leaned down until her breasts were dangling on either side of his aching erection. She caught his eye and gave him a naughty smile as she squeezed her breasts around him, enveloping his cock with her firm, plump orbs. She slid slowly up and down his length, moaning as she ministered to his erection.

Aidan could barely draw a breath as he watched her. Her breasts were mouthwatering as she used them to pleasure him. He could see her hardened nipples peeking out between her fingers, as she cupped her breasts. Each time his cock disappeared between the creamy mounds, he groaned, waiting impatiently for the purple head to reappear. The sight of her caressing her neck and the underside of her delicate jaw with the tip of his throbbing cock was enthralling. The feeling of her skin, like the finest silk, drove him insane with desire.

He enjoyed her play for as long as he could stand it before he gave in to temptation and fisted his hand into her hair. He used his other hand to free his cock and guide it to her mouth. When she opened her lips and enveloped the head of his erection, he moaned with relief. When she thrust her mouth down onto his length, not stopping until he butted against the back of her throat, he released an even deeper moan, fraught with satisfaction.

Naomi inwardly smiled as she made love to him with her mouth. His constant stream of moans and guttural groans were testament to his enjoyment of her efforts. She bobbed her head, squeezing with her lips and caressing with her tongue as she sucked steadily on his cock. Using her hand, she stroked the base of his erection that wouldn't fit into her mouth. She would have continued until he found release, but after several minutes, Aidan gripped her hair and lifted her head.

"Let me finish," she protested.

With a growl, he gripped her upper arms and lifted her onto his chest once more. He seized her mouth, drinking greedily from her soft lips as he rolled her beneath him. He nudged her thighs wide apart and thrust into her. His groan of satisfaction was long and heartfelt. He needed to be inside her.

Naomi wrapped her legs around his waist as Aidan invaded her with deep, pounding strokes. She clutched him to her, moaning and gasping as he pressed her onto higher and higher slopes of passion. Each thrust became more demanding, each caress more blatantly possessive, each kiss more heated.

Aidan rose onto his arms to better appreciate the sensual tableau beneath him. Naomi's eyes were heavy lidded, her lips parted, her ivory breasts bounced each time he hammered into her sweet pussy. He watched with fascination as his shining, engorged cock stretched her outer lips and disappeared inside her again and again and again.

Naomi was frantic, arching and straining as she met every thrust. Her moans turned pleading, and her eyes begged him for relief. With a flurry of strokes, he drove her into the madness, and his hoarse howl of triumph hung in the air as he emptied himself into her welcoming haven. He collapsed onto her, nuzzling her neck as he enjoyed the contractions of her inner muscles. Aidan smiled, breathing deeply of her womanly fragrance. It had never felt so good to be home.

*********

Brian sat on a bale of hay in the barn, cleaning a bridle while his thoughts grappled with more difficult tasks. It was sometime in the wee hours of the morning, but he had retreated there. Sleep had become an elusive entity for the past several weeks. Although he was exhausted and wanted nothing more than to slip into the soothing arms of Morpheus, Brian couldn't seem to find any relief from his constant worry and growing fear.

It was early February, and nothing had been resolved between him and Sarah. She had continued to remember bits and pieces about her past, but nothing substantial, nothing that could help him to clear her name. He couldn't escape the feeling that sooner or later, despite his best efforts to shield her, his angel would be endangered.

With every day that passed, Brian grew increasingly disturbed and impatient, restless and anxious. Sarah had started her monthly barely a week after Aidan's return. Brian's logical side had been relieved to know that she wasn't pregnant. The very last thing he wanted was for her to get caught with his child in her belly before she had his ring on her finger. He never wanted her to be shamed in such a way. His barbarian side had been far from pleased. On a deeply primitive level, he wanted nothing better than to plant his seed deep inside her womb, to claim her as his woman in the most ultimate fashion.

Since that first monthly flow, he had been much more cautious. Each time Brian made love to Sarah, he was careful to withdraw, depositing his creamy fluid on her soft belly or back. Her wimpering sighs of disappointment when he withdrew from her at the height of their passion only echoed his own keen frustration. Although their lovemaking continued to be magnificent in every other respect, he ached to reclaim the sublime pleasure of spilling himself inside her, of feeling her body lovingly receive his seed. Purposely trying to avoid fathering her child went against his most basic masculine instincts.

Even more disturbing to Brian was the fact that he could not claim Sarah as his wife. Neither his brothers nor Naomi had ever shown any disapproval of their living arrangements. Sarah openly shared Brian's bed. His family accepted it because they knew he would take Sarah to wife at the earliest opportunity. Brian was beginning to wonder whether that opportunity would ever arise. He knew that Sarah had the same doubts, although she never complained. He was at his wit's end, and he hated the feelings of uselessness and helplessness that plagued him.

Short of running away, going somewhere where no one knew about Sarah's past, he couldn't think of any way to improve their current circumstances. Leaving the farm that he and his brothers had built would be difficult. He had poured his heart into the venture, working side by side with Aidan and Liam to build something from nothing. He didn't want to leave, especially since they had started to reap the rewards of all their hard work. But if something didn't happen soon that would allow them to clear Sarah's name, Brian was beginning to think he would have no choice but to leave with her. Sarah was more important to him than the farm or even his brothers. If he were forced to choose, he would choose her.

Heaving a deep sigh, Brian put away the bridle and extinguished the lantern. He shuddered from cold as he tromped through the moonlit snow. Removing his boots at the front door, he tiptoed to his bedroom, slipping silently inside. He had moved his things into Aidan's old room, so that he and Sarah would have a bit more privacy. He quickly shed his clothes and slid beneath the quilts, shivering slightly as he pulled his angel into his arms.

She woke with a gasp and then turned to snuggle against his chest. "You're cold," she murmured sleepily. "Let me warm you."

Brian closed his eyes and reveled in the feeling of her warm hands stroking his chest and her heated breath feathering his neck. He tightened his arms around her and kissed the top of her head.




Second Chances Ch. 14



"I love you, my angel," he murmured.

Sarah bent her head back to search his face. She could see the glitter of his eyes, but she couldn't read his expression in the dark. Something in his voice was disturbing, as if he were desperate or afraid. She knew better than to ask what was bothering Brian. If he wanted her to know, he would tell her in his own good time. In the meantime, she offered what comfort she could.

"I know," she said softly. "I love you too."

Their lips melded and Brian felt as if she was offering him a soothing balm. Every soft sigh, every feather light caress, every flicker of her tongue against his helped to assuage some of his anxiety. His worries didn't disappear, but Sarah's patient and compassionate reassurance helped to hold them at bay. She showered him with understanding, offering sweet succor to his tortured soul.

He claimed her body with infinite gentleness, and she seemed to know that he needed tender lovemaking rather than his usual naughty play. Their eyes met and held as he stroked into her with slow, powerful thrusts. She felt as if he wanted to make her understand some unspoken message, but all she understood was how much he loved her. She knew from the way he worshipped her body, the way he savored every slick invasion, the way he caressed her cheek as he stared deep into her eyes.

When she couldn't hold out against the flood of emotion any longer, Sarah clutched him to her, trying to hold him inside as her inner muscles clamped down. With a tortured groan, Brian withdrew and bathed her stomach with his scalding fluid. He kissed her forehead when the pulsations eventually ceased against her belly.

Sarah knew in her soul that he hadn't wanted to retreat from her warmth. He had done so only to protect her, his angel, from disgrace. For his sake, she stifled her sigh of disappointment. She laid awake for a long time, listening to his even breathing as he finally found some degree of peace in exhausted sleep.

*********

The next day, Sarah and Naomi were working together in Naomi's kitchen. They had become dear friends, and they often cooked meals to share as a group. They had just pulled two steaming apple pies from the oven when Naomi shot Sarah a concerned frown.

"What's wrong, Sarah? I can tell you are upset about something."

Sarah sighed and shrugged. "I don't know. Brian's been so different lately. He never laughs or teases lately. He's always brooding and thoughtful. It's as if he's carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders, and I can't help him." She glanced at Naomi, and despite the delicate blush she could feel rising in her cheeks, she continued to confide in her friend. "There have been several nights lately when I've woken up and Brian isn't in bed beside me. I know he's not sleeping well."

Naomi considered her words carefully. "I've noticed a difference in him too. Aidan says that Brian is bothered that he can't marry you, but I don't quite understand why you can't wed. You two obviously love each other."

"Yes," Sarah said quietly. "I don't doubt that Brian loves me. He keeps saying that once I remember my past, we can be married." She glanced at Naomi, and her eyes began to fill with unshed tears. "What if I never remember? It's been so long. I'm starting to wonder whether my memory will ever fully return."

Naomi sighed and embraced Sarah tightly. "There must be something we can do," she said quietly. Her eyes opened wide and her mind began to race with possibilities. "You know, Sarah, when we were in Oregon City, we visited the land claims office to enlarge Aidan's claim following our marriage. They keep all sorts of records there, and there were other government offices with records of births, marriages, and that sort of thing."

She held Sarah at arm's length and cupped her chin. "Why don't we go into town and post a letter? Perhaps if we could find some information about your past, some record of your birth or your parents' marriage or a land claim by your family, we might be able to jog your memory."

"Do you think so?" Sarah asked, her eyes filling with hope. "I suppose it's worth a try, except..." Almost as quickly as her face had brightened, it began to droop once more. "Brian has told me that I mustn't go into town. He said we had to be careful not to let anyone know that I'm living here. He says it would ruin my reputation."

"Well, that may have been true before," Naomi said thoughtfully, "but now that I'm living here too, there shouldn't be any reason for folks to frown on you living here. If anyone dares to question things, I'll tell them that you are a friend of mine and you're living in our cabin with Aidan and me. No one needs to know any different."

Sarah nibbled her bottom lip. "Maybe we should ask Brian," she said with a worried frown.

"The men are working in the far east pasture," Naomi said. "Aidan said not to expect them home until late this evening. I was thinking that you and I could go into town now. That would even give us time to do a bit of shopping." She smiled at Sarah. "You know, there's nothing like a little shopping to boost a girl's spirit."

Sarah laughed, squeezing Naomi's hand with affection. "You're right," she said. "In fact, if we are able to learn something, it would be a nice surprise for Brian. Let's do it."

Within fifteen minutes, they had the wagon hitched, and they set off to town. Their mood was cheerful once more, and they laughed as they rode along. Neither of them had any inkling what lay in store for them.



Second Chances Ch. 15



Naomi and Sarah arrived in town and parked the wagon in front of the general store that also served as the local post office. They climbed down, chatting and laughing as they entered the establishment. A bell over the door tinkled, and the young women sighed, glad to be out of the freezing temperatures.

"Hello Mrs. Thatcher," Naomi said, with a friendly nod to the shopkeeper. "I trust you've been well."

Mrs. Thatcher beamed, happy to be the first to see the new Mrs. McKenzie around town. Her eyes gleamed with excitement as she carefully scanned Naomi's appearance, anxious to note any interesting details so that she could pass them along to the other ladies in the town. She noted the younger woman's rosy cheeks and sparkling eyes. She certainly didn't seem to be suffering as the bride of Aidan McKenzie, and Mrs. Thatcher couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy.

"Oh, yes I have been well, thank you Mrs. McKenzie. We've been wondering how you were adjusting to married life. No one has seen you around town since your wedding. It must get lonely for a woman, living out there with only three men for company."

Naomi laughed at the suggestion and placed her arm around Sarah, who had hung back when they entered the store. Naomi drew the shopkeeper's notice to Sarah for the first time.

"Oh, I haven't been lonely at all," Naomi said brightly. "My friend is staying with my husband and me. We've been having a lovely visit together."

Mrs. Thatcher's eyes gleamed with even more avid interest as she looked at Sarah. "How nice for you. But isn't that a little strange, I mean having a visitor when you are still so newly wed?"

Naomi had to struggle to keep her smile from turning brittle. The shopkeeper could be quite tactless. "We've been managing just fine, thank you."

Mrs. Thatcher's forehead crinkled from thought as she continued to look at Sarah. "You look very familiar to me, dear. Have we met somewhere before?"

"I don't think so, ma'am." Sarah shrugged lamely. She couldn't say for certain, because she didn't remember her past. She thrust her hand toward the shopkeeper with a friendly smile. "I'm Sarah Martin. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance."

Mrs. Thatcher shook her hand, as she returned her smile with a thoughtful look. "Yes indeed. Your name sounds familiar too. Is that Mrs. or Miss, dear?"

Sarah blushed hotly. "Its Miss, I'm not married."

"Hmmm," Mrs. Thatcher said, nibbling at her bottom lip. "I just can't remember where I've seen you." Pressing the question to the back of her mind for the moment, she smiled at them. "I'm sure I'll figure it out eventually."

Naomi and Sarah exchanged a glance, as they read each other's thoughts. Perhaps Mrs. Thatcher did know Sarah from somewhere in her past. Naomi squeezed Sarah's hand with an encouraging smile before turning back to face the shopkeeper.

"Mrs. Thatcher, we would like to post a couple of letters."

Naomi pulled the letters from her pocket and handed them to the shopkeeper. They had drafted an inquiry to the land claims office, asking for information about any claims by Thomas Martin. They had drafted a similar inquiry to the office of vital statistics, seeking a birth certificate for Sarah or a marriage certificate for her parents.

"We didn't know the addresses of these offices. Perhaps you could help us?"

Mrs. Thatcher was pleased to perform the service, feeling knowledgeable and important as she looked up the appropriate addresses in a directory of government offices. They labeled the envelopes carefully and paid her for the postage.

"How long will it take for the letters to arrive?" Sarah asked with growing excitement.

"Oh, no more than a week or two," Mrs. Thatcher said proudly. "There's a young man who stops in on a regular basis to pick up and drop off the mail. It's quite an efficient system, really."

Again, Naomi and Sarah squeezed hands, and Naomi whispered excitedly into Sarah's ear. "See! Hopefully, in a month or so, we'll get a response that will help you remember your past."

Sarah ginned at her, and they both giggled with excitement. Mrs. Thatcher watched them, still troubled by her failure to recall where she had seen Sarah before. She wished she knew what they were giggling about.

"What was that, Mrs. McKenzie?"

"Oh nothing, Mrs. Thatcher," Naomi said, smiling at the older woman. "Now that we've taken care of our errand, do you think you could show us those lovely soft cotton yarns I glimpsed the last time I was here. I'm looking for something suitable to make a baby blanket, and I think you had just what I need."

Mrs. Thatcher completely forgot about Sarah, as her eyes lit with an eager glow. For the first time, she noticed the small bulge of Naomi's belly, and her mind began racing as she quickly calculated the time the young woman had been married.

"You're expecting!" she exclaimed.

"Yes, we are," Naomi declared proudly, laying a hand over the subtle swell of her tummy. "By August, we'll be welcoming a new member to our family."

"You certainly didn't waste any time," Mrs. Thatcher said, feeling an even stronger twinge of envy. "You must have conceived practically on your wedding night."

Naomi merely grinned. She knew that Aidan McKenzie had been hotly pursued before she snagged him for her own, and she couldn't resist gloating just a bit with her triumph.

"Well, you know," Naomi said, bending close as she dropped her voice to a conspiratorial whisper, "with a man like my husband, we didn't have to try for very long. He had no trouble at all getting me with child."

Mrs. Thatcher looked both scandalized and delighted. She could hardly wait to spread the news to the other ladies in town.

"Do you still have the yarn I'm thinking of?" Naomi asked hopefully.

"Yes, indeed. It's right over here."

The three women sorted through the large basket of various colored yarns, and Naomi selected several balls of a delicate blue. She was convinced she would have a boy, and she refused to even look at the other colors available. Naomi insisted on purchasing a bonnet for Sarah, along with some satin ribbons and a beautiful comb to wear in her hair.

"Naomi, I really can't let you buy these things for me," Sarah said.

"Nonsense," Naomi replied with a smile. "You're my dearest friend, and I feel like treating you to something nice. Besides, it's the least I can do to thank you for the curtains and the table cloth you made."

She insisted, and Sarah finally agreed. Naomi happily paid the shopkeeper, chatting with Sarah as Mrs. Thatcher wrapped her parcels. They thanked her and exited the shop, still laughing and talking as they stowed the purchases in the back of the wagon.

"Thank you," Sarah said with a smile. "That was very thoughtful of you."

"You know, Sarah," Naomi murmured, linking her arm through her friend's, "we're so seldom able to come into town. I think you and I should have a cup of tea and maybe a pastry from the bakery."

Sarah laughed as they turned and strolled along the boardwalk. "I swear, Naomi. You rival Liam with your love of sweets. We have apple pie waiting at home, you know."

"I know," Naomi said with a grin, "but I am eating for two. I think a pastry would definitely be in order."

*********

Mrs. Thatcher stood with her nose pressed against the window, watching the two younger women strolling down the street. Her failure to recall where she had seen Sarah was nagging at her. She was so engrossed that she jumped when the bell over the door tinkled once more, announcing another patron.

Sheriff Wilson entered, removing his hat as he closed the door behind him. He nodded to the shopkeeper with a friendly smile. "Hello Mrs. Thatcher. Was that Mrs. McKenzie I saw leaving?"

"Yes it was," the shopkeeper beamed. "And do you know, she's already expecting."

"Really?" he said, grinning as he admired the two retreating women. He enjoyed the sight of their gently swaying hips, and his grin widened as he mentally acknowledged that Aidan McKenzie was one lucky man. "Who was that with her? I didn't get a good look at her."

"Oh, that's a friend who's been visiting them," Mrs. Thatcher said, pleased that she could be the first to spread that news as well. "Her name is Sarah Martin, and I can tell you..."

"Sarah Martin!" The sheriff's grin evaporated as he watched Sarah and Naomi enter the bakery. "That's Sarah Martin?"

Mrs. Thatcher was shocked by the way he had interrupted her, and she frowned. "Yes. Why? Do you know her? I could swear I've seen her somewhere before."

Sheriff Wilson looked at her as if she had two heads. "Of course you've seen her before. There's a wanted poster with her picture that's been hanging in my office for nearly two months!"

Mrs. Thatcher's jaw dropped, and her eyes popped wide. "Of course! I knew I had seen that face!"

"Excuse me," the sheriff said, jabbing his hat onto his head. "I've got some business to attend."

He left Mrs. Thatcher with her mouth hanging open, and he walked to the bakery as quickly as possible. The sheriff entered just as Naomi and Sarah were seating themselves at a small table. He didn't bother to remove his hat. He simply approached and stared at Sarah, scanning her features carefully.

"Sarah Martin?" he asked gruffly.

The hair on the back of Sarah's neck stood up when she saw his keen interest. She and Naomi exchanged a puzzled glance. Did this man know her? Should she know him?

"Yes," she ventured carefully.

"You'll have to come with me, ma'am. I'm afraid you're under arrest."

As he said the words, he gripped Sarah's upper arm and urged her to her feet. Both she and Naomi gasped from shock. Naomi was the first to regain her wits.

"What on earth are you talking about?" she demanded. "You take your hand off her this instant!"

The sheriff merely shook his head as he towed Sarah to the door. He opened it and pulled Sarah out onto the boardwalk, heedless of the astonished stares he received from the baker and his wife. Naomi was barely a step behind him, and he gave her a frown as he towed Sarah along beside him.

"I can't do that, Mrs. McKenzie. She'll have to come with me."

Sarah had been meekly accompanying him, still dazed by his abrupt announcement. She blinked a few times and dug her heels in, resisting his firm tug on her arm.

"Just a minute! I'm not going anywhere with you until you tell me what this is about."

Naomi joined her friend in trying to pry the sheriff's fingers from her arm. The two women both gasped with indignation when the sheriff merely grabbed Naomi's arm in his other hand. They struggled and screeched, but Sheriff Wilson refused to release them until he reached the jail.

When he let go of Naomi's arm to open the door, both women pounced on him. They pummeled him with their fists and tried to tug Sarah's arm free from his grasp. Sarah even bit him on the hand to try and win her release. With an enraged howl, the sheriff hefted Sarah over his shoulder and carried her into the jailhouse. Naomi dogged his heels, tugging and hitting him as he carried Sarah through another door to the holding cells in the back of the small building. He deposited her onto a cot in one of the two cells, but when he would have locked her inside, Naomi went even wilder.

"I'm not about to let you lock her up," she screeched. "Let her go this instant!"

She again pounded his chest with her fists, and seeing she was having no effect, she slapped him hard across the cheek. With an angry growl, Sheriff Wilson grabbed her upper arms and thrust her into the cell with her friend, locking the door with a loud clang. He rubbed his palm over his cheek to relieve the sting.

"There," he sighed with satisfaction. "You two little hellions can just cool your heels."

"You can't do this," Naomi gasped, jerking on the bars. "You can't just lock us in jail for no reason! What are you charging us with?"

"Hmmm," Sheriff Wilson said, scowling at the tooth marks on his hand, "I'm holding you, Mrs. McKenzie for interfering with an officer of the law and aiding and abetting a dangerous criminal."

Naomi gasped with indignation. "You must be out of your..."

"And you, Miss Martin," the sheriff interrupted, pinning Sarah with an accusing glare, "I'm holding you for murder."

"What?!?" both Naomi and Sarah gasped.

This time, Sarah was the first to regain the use of her tongue. "There must be a mistake. I've never murdered anyone!"

Sheriff Wilson disappeared through the door, returning only moments later with a piece of paper. He waved it triumphantly before them.

"Read it for yourselves," he said, thrusting the paper between the bars. "Now, like I said, the two of you can just cool your heels for a while."

He pulled his breeches higher on his hips and left them alone, slamming the door behind him. Sarah and Naomi exchanged a horrified glance before they huddled close and hurriedly scanned the wanted poster. Their eyes widened in alarm when they saw the drawing. It was a very close likeness of Sarah, and her name was printed in large capital letters.

"It's impossible," Naomi gasped. "I don't believe a word of it."

Sarah was busy reading the details, and when she came across the name Jared Henderson, it seemed to leap up at her from the page. She felt suddenly light headed and nauseous, and she gripped Naomi's arm so tightly, her knuckles turned white.

"Oh Naomi," she wheezed, struggling to draw a breath. Her knees began to buckle beneath her.

"Sarah!" Naomi clutched her around the waist and helped her to sit on the side of the small cot. "Sarah, what's wrong?"

Sarah squeezed her eyes shut, and her mind swam with vivid images. Jared Henderson's name was like the key to a lock, and her memory sprang open. She was flooded by visions and the room seemed to spin around her as struggled to assimilate them all. Every detail of her past crowded close, vying for her attention. She moaned, and for the first time in her life, she fainted dead away.

"Sarah!" Naomi cried again. She eased her friend down onto the cot and patted her cheeks gently. "Sarah, are you alright? Sarah?"

After a minute or two, Sarah slowly woke up, blinking her eyes in confusion. It took her another minute to realize where she was. When she did, she sat up with a gasp, clutching her friend's hands. As their gazes met, Sarah's chin firmed with determination.

"Naomi," she said softly, "I didn't murder Mr. Henderson, but I know who did. We've got to talk to the sheriff."

**********

The McKenzie brothers arrived home shortly after dark. They had spent the day clearing trees from an area where they planned to plant an orchard. All three of them were tired, cold and hungry. As they rode into the yard, they exchanged nervous glances. There were no lights shining through the windows of either cabin, and no smoke rose from either chimney.

They dismounted, and while Aidan went to his cabin to search for Naomi, Brian went to his looking for Sarah. His heart was pounding with dread. He was hoping against hope that he was wrong, because he had a sinking feeling that Sarah and Naomi had gone into town.

When Brian didn't find her inside the cabin, he ran back to his horse and jumped onto its back. Without even a word to Liam, he kicked his horse into a gallop and headed for town.

"Hey, wait," Liam shouted after him.

Aidan reappeared and ran to join Liam, as they both watched Brian race away through the trees. "This doesn't look good," Aidan muttered, mounting his own horse.

They set out in their brother's wake, trying to keep him in sight as they rode. They shared his anxiety. They had also guessed that Naomi and Sarah had gone into town, but they weren't as reckless as their middle sibling. They figured it wouldn't do anyone any good if they made their horses fall on the icy snow by pushing them too hard. By the time they were halfway to town, Brian had left them far behind.

Brian rode into town and steered his horse straight for the jail house. He didn't even bother to tie his horse to the rail, he simply burst into the sheriff's office, breathing hard from his ride.

"Where is she?" he demanded.

Sheriff Wilson had been sitting near a wood stove, chatting with two of the townsmen. He rose, hefting his breeches higher on his hips as he eyed Brian warily.

"If you're referring to Sarah Martin, she's locked up in the back, along with your sister. I was wondering when you would show up. I realized that you've been harboring a criminal all these months. You knew Sarah Martin was wanted for murder."

Brian released a snarl and headed for the door that led to the holding cells. "You idiot! She didn't murder anyone."

"What do you think you're doing?" the sheriff asked, bristling from the insult.

"I'm getting Sarah out of here," Brian muttered.

The sheriff grabbed his arm and Brian swung around with a fist, landing a hard punch squarely on the sheriff's jaw. The sheriff was jerked backward, but he quickly recovered, and he punched Brian in the stomach. The sheriff was quite a large man, but having grown up with two brothers, Brian knew how to hold his own in a fight. He would have quickly dispensed with just the sheriff, but the two townsmen joined in.

A full blown brawl ensued. The four men scuffled and fought, knocking each other across the desk and the chairs until the sheriff's office was in a shambles. Brian's anger and desperation were so strong, he saw everything through a red haze as he pounded his opponents. He pinned one of the men against the wall and was about to deliver another punishing blow when the sheriff bashed him across the back of his head with the butt of his gun. Brian crumpled to the floor, unconscious.

"Lock him up," the sheriff panted.

The two men grabbed Brian by the arms and dragged him through the back door, depositing him on the floor of the second holding cell. Naomi and Sarah were both clutching the bars, their expressions horrified as they watched the men dump Brian in the cell next to theirs.

"What have you done to him?" Sarah gasped.

Brian's face was bloody and bruised, and his clothes were torn in several places. He lay motionless on the floor. The sheriff locked the door to Brian's cell and sent Sarah a glare.

"I just knocked him out," the sheriff said gruffly. "He'll wake up soon, and when he does, he can pay for the damage to my office."

"Sheriff wait," Sarah cried. "You must listen to me. I'm not a murderer. I know who killed Mr. Henderson."

Sheriff Wilson heaved a tired sigh and shook his head. "Look little lady. You've been hollering all afternoon that you aren't a murderer. I've got a headache from the racket you two have made. Now, I don't like locking up women, but I don't have any choice but to keep you in here until a judge is able to hear your case. If you've got some evidence to prove your innocence, then tell it to the judge." He gave Naomi a reproachful look. "As for you, Mrs. McKenzie, I'll be happy to release you if you think you can behave yourself."

Naomi thrust her nose in the air and crossed her arms belligerently as she glared at the sheriff. "I'm not about to leave Sarah in here all alone. If she stays, I stay."

Sheriff Wilson sighed again, turning toward the door. "Have it your way, ma'am."

He and the other two men left, closing the door behind them. Sarah released a long groan, shaking the bars to release her frustration.

"What are we going to do?" she wailed.

Naomi hugged her around the waist, leaning her own head against the bars. "If Brian knew we're here, it can't be long before Aidan comes too. I'm sure he'll find some way other than starting a fight to get us out of this mess."

They both looked at Brian, and Sarah's lips twitched. "It was rather brash of him, the way he burst in and took on three men. He's so wild and impulsive. I can't help but love him."




Second Chances Ch. 15



Naomi smiled at Sarah. "I know you do. We all love Brian, but in this particular instance, I think Aidan's cool headedness will be much more useful. He'll be able to reason with the sheriff and get us out of this awful place." 

*********

Ironically, the sheriff was having similar thoughts, and he breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Aidan and Liam ride up outside the jail. He was hoping that Aidan McKenzie could reason with his stubborn wife and get her to go home with him.

The sheriff really didn't like having the two women locked up, especially knowing that Mrs. McKenzie was expecting a baby. He was even starting to have doubts about the guilt of Sarah Martin. It was hard to believe, when he looked into her pleading brown eyes, that she could be a murderer. Still, it wasn't up to him to decide her guilt or innocence, so there was nothing he could do.

Aidan and Liam entered the office and both of them raised their brows as they looked around at the mess. Papers were strewn on the floor, a chair was in pieces in one corner, there was a broken lantern, and the sheriff and the two other men were sporting cuts, bruises and blackened eyes.

"I'm assuming my brother has been here," Aidan said, pinning the sheriff with an expectant stare.

The sheriff hooked a thumb over his shoulder, pointing toward the cells in the back. "He's here. He's locked up in the back along with your wife and Sarah Martin. He tried to break them out of here, and got himself beaten up for his trouble."

Aidan's eyes flickered with smoldering anger as he raised a mocking brow. "It looks like to me that he got in a few good punches. In fact, from the looks of this place, you could have used more help to subdue him."

The sheriff flushed with embarrassment, taking a seat behind his desk. "Nevertheless, we did subdue him, and he's going to stay locked up until we get this mess sorted out with Sarah Martin. I'm not going to release either him or her until a judge has heard her case. I wish there was something I could do for her, but it's not up to me. Your wife, on the other hand, is free to go, but she refuses to leave without Miss Martin. I was hoping you could talk some sense into your wife."

Aidan bristled, but maintained a stoic expression. "Sounds like you don't seriously think Sarah is guilty of murder," Aidan said, watching the sheriff closely.

Sheriff Wilson sighed, scratching his head thoughtfully. "I find it hard to believe. She was telling me today that she knows who killed Mr. Henderson, and it wasn't her. Now, I know everybody says they're innocent, but to hear her tell it...well, let's just say, she sounded pretty convincing. Still, like I said, it's up to the judge to decide."

"Why didn't you get the judge down here today?"

Sheriff Wilson flushed slightly, and he cleared his throat. "Well, I just didn't have time."

"Looks to me like you had plenty of time to sit around jabbering with your friends," Aidan growled, giving the sheriff a pointed glare.

"I was taking care of business," the sheriff said with a defensive frown. He puffed out his chest. "You know, looking into the matter of Sarah Martin's guilt or innocence isn't the only job I have, Mr. McKenzie. I'm a busy man."

Aidan felt like strangling the sheriff then and there, but he clamped down on his murderous impulse. He maintained an outward calm, propping a hip onto the top of the sheriff's desk. "Then let's go find the judge now and get this matter cleared up. I'm sure my wife is anxious to get home."

Sheriff Wilson looked taken aback. "We can't do that! Do you realize it's almost eight o'clock at night? It's nearly an hour's ride to the judge's house. Judge Hawthorne would skin my hide if I bothered him at this time of night." The sheriff leaned back in his chair, confident that he had gotten his point across. "I'll see what I can do tomorrow."

Aidan had used up what little patience he had, and he lunged over the sheriff's desk. He grasped him by the lapels and leaned close until their noses were mere inches apart. Aidan's lips were curled in a snarl, and when he spoke, his voice was a deadly growl.

"There's no way in hell that I'm leaving my wife to rot in this jail overnight just to keep from inconveniencing a judge. The judge's reaction is the least of your worries, sheriff. If you don't get up off your dead ass and on your dying feet, you won't be around tomorrow to take care of this or anything else."

The two townsmen exchanged a nervous glance. Taking on one McKenzie brother had been daunting enough. They didn't know if they had it in them to take on two more.

Liam sensed their thoughts and gave them a grin. "You know, Aidan's as mean as the devil when he gets really mad." His grin widened. "I don't think I've ever seen him this mad before. I'd stay out of this, if I were you."

The two men exchanged another glance before sidling to the door. "I'd better get going, sheriff. The wife will be expecting me home."

"Me too," the other squeaked. "Good luck, sheriff."

The two men high tailed it out of the jail, leaving Sheriff Wilson alone to face the music. Aidan's narrow eyed glare had not wavered, and he still held the sheriff by the lapels.

"I'm taking my family home tonight, one way or another," Aidan growled. "If you want Sarah's case brought before a judge, it's now or never."

Sheriff Wilson gulped and nodded. Aidan released his lapels and leaned back on the desk.

"Liam," Aidan said, not taking his eyes off the sheriff, "I thought I saw our wagon parked in front of the general store. Go get it. We'll all ride together to the judge's house. I'm not leaving here without my wife."

Liam grinned and left to retrieve the wagon, while the sheriff stammered and whined. "Now listen here, Mr. McKenzie. You can't just come in here and take over. I have your brother and Miss Martin under custody, and they don't go free until I say so. I told you already, your wife is free to go anytime she wants, but she refuses to leave here without Miss Martin."

"And I refuse to leave here without her, so like I said, we'll all go together." Seeing that the sheriff wasn't going to give him any more arguments, Aidan nodded to the back door. "Now get moving. You have some prisoners to free."

Sheriff Wilson didn't have to be told twice. He led Aidan through the door, and Naomi sighed with relief when she saw him.

"Aidan," she said with a smile, "I knew you would get us out of here."

Aidan's lips hardened when he took in Naomi's disheveled appearance. Her hair looked messier than usual, and she had a small rip on one sleeve. Still, she was a sight for sore eyes. As soon as the lock was opened, Naomi flew into Aidan's arms. He hugged her and then placed a gentle hand on her belly.

"Are you alright," he asked, scanning her gaze with concern.

Naomi placed her hand over his and stretched up to kiss him lightly on the mouth. "We're fine, now that you're here."

Sarah ran to the other cell, impatient for the sheriff to open Brian's door. Once he had, she knelt beside Brian, shaking him gently on the shoulder and tapping him lightly on the cheeks.

"Brian? Wake up. Brian!"

Brian had a black eye, a bloodied lip and a large bruise on his jaw, lending him a thoroughly disreputable appearance. He moaned and rolled his head to the side, wincing. He cracked his eyes open and looked up at Sarah, then around at the jail cell. When he realized where he was, he sat up quickly, wincing again from the sudden movement

"Sarah, we have to get you out of here," he muttered. "You're wanted for murder."

"How did you know that?" Sarah asked, suddenly uneasy. "In fact, how did you know we were in jail in the first place? Did the sheriff send for you?"

"I've known since two days after I found you," Brian growled, getting slowly to his feet. When he was steady, he faced her with his hands low on his hips. "That's why I didn't want you to come into town. I knew you would be arrested."

Sarah's jaw dropped, but only for a moment. Her expression quickly turned to one of outrage and then fury. When she spoke, her voice fairly crackled with anger.

"Do you mean to tell me, Brian McKenzie, that you have been keeping this from me all along? Do you have any idea what you've done?"

At the moment, Brian's head was pounding, his ribs were hurting, and he was just beginning to recover from his initial panic at the thought of his angel being hanged. He was definitely not in the mood for a scolding.

"What I've done is try to protect you," he growled. "If you had listened to me and stayed at home, this would have never happened."

"And if you had been honest with me," Sarah returned, her voice every bit as furious, "I might have regained my memory two months ago!"

Brian's anger abruptly dissipated, to be replaced by cautious excitement. "You regained your memory?"

"Completely!" Sarah hissed. "Just seeing Mr. Henderson's name was enough to trigger my memory, and I remember every detail of my past. If you hadn't been keeping this from me, we could have cleared up this mess a long time ago."

Aidan cleared his throat to get their attention. "Do you two suppose that this conversation could wait until after we go to see the judge?"

Sarah nodded stiffly, and Brian nodded with relief. Naomi grasped Sarah's arm, and they led the procession out to the wagon, where Liam was waiting patiently.



Second Chances Ch. 16



Chapter 16

The ride to Judge Hawthorne's house took nearly an hour. Sheriff Wilson chose to ride his horse beside the wagon, and he looked increasingly uneasy as they got closer to the judge's house. Still, he didn't try to sway the McKenzies from their purpose. He knew that would be a waste of his breath. He was just hoping he wouldn't get caught in the crossfire between them and the judge.

By the time they arrived, Brian was chilled from more than the frosty temperatures. Sarah had given him the cold shoulder during the entire trip. He wasn't sure why she was angry at him. He had done what he had to do to protect her. If anything, he should be angry with her for going into town after he had warned her against it!

Liam set the break as Aidan lifted Naomi down from the wagon bed. Brian reached to help Sarah, but she gave him a cold stare.

"No, thank you," she said tersely.

She did allow Aidan to assist her, and Brian's brows lowered into a scowl. Once they had dealt with the small matter of a murder charge hanging over her head, he was going to have a stern talk with his angel!

Aidan and Naomi led the small procession to the front door, and he knocked loudly. The house was dark, the occupants obviously retired for the night. When no one answered after a brief wait, he knocked again, rattling the door with his fist.

"Alright, alright, I'm coming," came a muffled voice from inside. "Hold your horses." The door was finally snatched open, and an elderly man in a thick robe glared down his nose, first at Aidan and then at the others. "You'd better have a damn good reason for disturbing me at this hour!" he growled. "I was just going to bed when you started pounding on my door."

"I'm sorry Judge Hawthorne. I tried to tell them that we should wait..." Sheriff Wilson began, in a whiny voice.

Aidan silenced him with one raised brow before turning back to face the judge. "I realize it's a late hour, sir, but we have a problem, and we understand you are the man who can help us solve it."

"Well, couldn't this problem wait until the morning?" the judge demanded gruffly.

"No sir," Aidan said firmly. "We need to sort this out tonight, so I can take my family home. We need a few minutes of your time, and we need it now."

The judge studied the stubborn set of Aidan's jaw and then scanned the faces of his companions. With the exception of Sheriff Wilson, who was looking decidedly uncomfortable, the others all returned his stare with the same calm but determined expression. Judge Hawthorne heaved a resigned sigh and opened the door wide, waving them inside his home.

"Alright, alright," he grumbled impatiently, "but hurry up and come inside. There's no sense letting my house get any colder while you dilly dally on my front porch." When they hesitated in the foyer, he ushered them into his study. "Come in and take a seat."

The judge lit a lamp and turned the wick high, bathing the study in soft light. He muttered under his breath as he took a seat behind his massive desk and dug for his glasses in a drawer. Naomi and Sarah perched on the two chairs in front of his desk, with Brian and Aidan standing behind them. Liam and the sheriff remained standing near the door. The judge beetled his bushy brows above a stern frown and cleared his throat.

"Now, young man," he said, piercing Aidan with a stern frown. "Tell me who you are and what this is about, and be quick about it for heaven's sake."

"Sir, I'm Aidan McKenzie, and these are my brothers, my wife and our friend, Sarah Martin," he said, indicating each of them with his hand. "We believe there's been a mistake..."

"We know there's been a mistake," Naomi corrected, cutting him off. "Why, there's no way that Sarah..."

"Sarah's not a murderer," Brian interrupted firmly. "She's simply not capable of..."

"Just a minute!" The judge roared. When everyone was silent once more, he gave a satisfied humph. "I can't understand a word you're saying if everybody talks at once. Now, one at a time."

Sarah cleared her throat to get his attention and met the judge's forbidding gaze unflinchingly. "Sir, please allow me to speak for myself. I'm Sarah Martin, and I've been arrested for the murder of my former boss, Mr. Jared Henderson. I didn't murder him, sir, but I know who did."

"Young lady..." the judge began, with a deepening frown.

Sarah was frustrated that the judge was going to brush her off, just as the sheriff had been doing all afternoon. She rushed on, anxious to convince him that she was not guilty of murder. "Sir, honestly, I'm innocent. I know how it must look, because I've been a wanted woman for nearly two months. I would have come forward sooner, but I had an accident and lost my memory. I only found out today, when Sheriff Wilson arrested me, that I was wanted for murder. As soon as I saw Mr. Henderson's name on the wanted poster, my memory came back, and I remembered what had happened. I've been trying to explain to the sheriff, but he hasn't given me the chance. If you'll just listen, I can explain what happened."

Throughout her speech, the judge had been trying to get a word in edgewise. When she finally finished, he sighed with relief. "Young lady, do you mean to tell me that Sheriff Wilson has had you locked in jail all day for the murder of Mr. Henderson?" When Sarah nodded with a puzzled frown, the judge glared at Sheriff Wilson. "Ed, you are without a doubt the sorriest excuse for a sheriff I've ever met! I can't believe you put this poor young lady through such an ordeal."

The judge's statement was met by surprised gasps. Everyone turned to the sheriff, expecting that he would know why the judge had reacted as he had.

Sheriff Wilson's eyes bulged, and he quickly came forward, hands stretched out in appeal. "What do you mean, Judge Hawthorne? I was only doing my job!"

"If you were doing your job," the judge growled, "you would know that Jared Henderson's wife was convicted for his murder two weeks ago, over in Salem!"

"What?" the sheriff squawked.

"You heard me, you idiot! Thank goodness Sheriff Dobbs was in charge of the investigation instead of you." the judge roared. He cleared his throat and looked back at Sarah. "Dobbs knew from the start that something about the family's story didn't make any sense. Turns out Mrs. Henderson murdered her own husband. She found out he had been fooling around with the maids and flew into a jealous rage." Judge Hawthorne's face looked far less harsh as he smiled apologetically at Sarah. "The Henderson's housekeeper told the sheriff what had happened to you, Miss Martin. She was convinced that you didn't murder Mr. Henderson. She said you were leaving your job at the Henderson's to return to your father's home, is that right?"

"Yes," Sarah said with an eager nod. "How did you know that?"

"She went to Sheriff Dobbs and told him everything. She found out that Mr. Henderson had tried to," Judge Hawthorne cleared his throat nervously, clearly uncomfortable talking about such things in the presence of ladies, "well, that he had tried to take advantage of you. She said she helped you pack your things the day you left."

"That's right," Sarah said, leaning forward in her excitement. "Mrs. Baker was kind enough to pay me my wages out of the household funds. I went to Mr. Henderson's study, to turn in my notice, but when I got there, his door was slightly ajar. I heard him and his wife arguing, and I could see him sitting behind his desk. Mrs. Henderson was crying and screaming at him. She found out what he had done to me. She said she was tired of turning a blind eye to his affairs, and that she wouldn't stand for it anymore. Then Mr. Henderson leaned back in his chair, put his hands behind his head and laughed at her." Sarah shuddered, remembering that day. "His voice was so cruel and mocking. He told her that what he did was none of her business. He said he would enjoy any woman he wanted, and there was nothing she could do about it. That's when..."

Sarah clenched her eyes shut, and put a trembling hand to her throat. Brian squeezed her shoulders, leaning over to offer her comfort.

"What happened then, Sarah?" Brian asked quietly.

Sarah drew in a shaky breath and opened her eyes to meet the judge's kindly gaze. "Mrs. Henderson flew into a rage. She grabbed his letter opener off his desk and stabbed him in the chest. When I saw her do it, I must have screamed or something, because she whirled around and saw me. I was so frightened by the look in her eyes...she looked crazy, like a maniac. I ran, just as fast as I could. I didn't even think, I just ran."

Naomi clasped Sarah's shaking hand in hers, and Sarah gave her a grateful smile. She took another deep breath before continuing.

"As I was running down the stairs, I could hear Mrs. Henderson yelling for someone to stop me. She was screaming that I had murdered her husband. I panicked. I had only been working there a few days. I didn't know whether anyone would believe me. The only thing I could think about was reaching my father. I knew he would help me. I snatched my suitcase that I had left in the foyer, and I ran until I could barely breathe."

Sarah took a steadying breath. "I didn't have a horse, so I figured I would have to walk to Papa's house. I was walking along the road, and it was snowy and icy. I remember being afraid because I was already feeling tired and cold and I had a few more miles to go. I wasn't sure whether I could make it to Silverton, but there was no where to take shelter."

"Your father lives in Silverton?" Brian said with surprise.

"Yes," Sarah said with a nod, "he's a school teacher, and he had just taken a job there."

"That's only a few miles from our farm," Brian said thoughtfully.

Sarah turned back to face the judge, frowning as she remembered. "I was walking along, when I heard horses approaching from behind. I saw a coach, and I panicked again, thinking that it was someone from the Henderson's coming for me. I started running, but I must have slipped on the icy road. The last thing I remember is tumbling down the hill...then, I woke up at the McKenzie farm and my memory was gone."

The judge raised his eyebrows and blew out a breath through pursed lips. "That's some adventure you had, Miss Martin. And for the last two months, you've been hiding out at the McKenzie farm?"

"I wasn't hiding out, sir," Sarah said, sending a brief glare at Brian. "I didn't even know I was wanted for murder until today."

"Well, you're not wanted for murder any more, Miss Martin." The judge shot Sheriff Wilson an accusing frown. "Ed, you should have known that the Henderson murder had already been solved. Didn't you receive a notice from Sheriff Dobbs?"

Sheriff Wilson shuffled his feet, and his voice turned even whinier than before. "Judge Hawthorne, I didn't get any notice, least not that I'm aware of."

Aidan snorted. "It's probably among all those papers scattered on your office floor! Don't you go through your mail?"

"Well, I'm a busy man, Mr. McKenzie," the sheriff said with a shrug. "Sometimes I get a little behind in my paperwork."

"That's baloney," the judge spat. "We all know how much time you waste yacking with the folks around here. If you spent half as much time doing your job as you do sitting on your ass, this whole unfortunate situation could have been avoided! You can be guaranteed that the town council is going to hear from me about this, and if I were you, I would start thinking about your future, because you're about to be out of a job."

"But, sir..." the sheriff began.

"Not another word," said the judge, holding up a hand to halt his speech. "I don't want to spend another minute of my time listening to your lame excuses. You know the way to the door!"

Sheriff Wilson gulped and nodded, jamming his hat onto his head as he beat a hasty retreat. It was all the McKenzies could do not to laugh.

The judge gave a satisfied humph before turning back to Sarah. "Miss Martin, I hope you will accept my apologies for you being so inconvenienced. If there is ever any way I can be of service to you in the future, you have only to ask, my dear."

Brian cleared his throat and stepped forward. "Sir, as a matter of fact, you could perform a service for us." He grasped Sarah's hand and lifted her to her feet beside him. "We'd be obliged if you would marry us, sir."

The judge's eyebrows nearly disappeared into his hairline, as Sarah gaped at Brian. The others murmured with surprise and pleasure, but before anyone could say anything, Sarah closed her mouth with a snap and snatched her hand from Brian's. She shot him a glare before she turned to Judge Hawthorne.

"That won't be necessary, sir," Sarah told the judge, with a tight smile. "I have no intention of marrying this man."

It was Brian's turn to stare at her with surprise. For one brief moment, his jaw dropped before he clamped his lips into a thin line of displeasure and he faced the judge. "Sir, if you would excuse us for a moment. We'll be right back."

Without another word, he grasped Sarah's upper arm and towed her out into the foyer, closing the study door behind them. As soon as they were alone, he hauled her around to face him. The muscles in his jaw were twitching with anger, and he ground his words out through clenched teeth.

"What the hell is the matter with you? What do you mean you won't marry me?"

Sarah wrenched her arm free from his grasp and tossed her head, returning his glare. "You've been lying to me for weeks, Brian McKenzie! There's no way that I would trust you enough to marry you now, after what you've done."

"What I've done is protect you," he growled, stepping close until he was towering over her. "I had everything under control until you went gallivanting into town without even talking to me first."

Sarah refused to be intimidated, and she rose on her tiptoes until she was nose to nose with him. "What you've done is hide the truth from me! If you had only been honest with me from the beginning, I might have regained my memory weeks ago."

She went to brush past him, but Brian caught her around the waist. He pushed her backward, pinning her against the wall. He planted one strong arm on either side of her head and trapped her legs between his. His eyes were flashing green fire, and Sarah gulped from the sheer possessiveness in his gaze. His barbarian side was out in full force, and it was an effort for her not to quake. When he spoke, his voice was deep and hard, rumbling up from the depths of his chest.

"You're not leaving here until we're married," Brian said with deadly calm.

He held her gaze for a moment longer before kissing her long and thoroughly on the mouth. There was no gentleness in the kiss. It was clearly intended to demonstrate his claim over her. When he raised his head, his eyes flared with satisfaction when he saw her flushed cheeks and shallow breathing. He caught and held her wide eyed stare.

"You're going to march your little fanny right back in there and tell the judge that you are ready to become my wife," he growled. "Is that understood?"

Sarah's eyes narrowed into a stubborn glare, and they sparked with anger. "I'm not going to do any such thing!" She lowered her voice to a hissing whisper. "You may think you can make me do anything you want by seducing me." Seeing him raise a mocking brow, she blushed but continued. "That may be true in the bedroom, but it's not true everywhere else! I won't be bullied by you."

Brian ground his teeth, the muscles twitching in his cheek. "You are going to marry me," Brian averred. "You're going to marry me tonight, and that's final." He surprised her by nibbling beneath her ear, tracing her delicate skin with his fiery tongue. 

"Stop it," Sarah gasped, trying to shoo him away from her neck. "That is not going to get you what you want, now let me go, or I'll scream."

"You're mine," Brian whispered, exploring the delicate line of her jaw. "Deny it as much as you like, but you and I both know you're mine." He cupped one breast in his palm and kneaded it provocatively, rasping her nipple with his thumb. His caresses became increasingly blatant as Sarah became increasingly breathless. "Do you seriously think," he growled, "that I'm ever going to let you go?"

"Brian, I want to be taken to my father's house," Sarah demanded.

Brian began exploring the other side of her neck. "I'll take you to see your father tomorrow. Tonight, we're getting married."

"Brian," she groaned, trying to push his hand away from her breast. "I mean it. This isn't going to work."

"It's already working," Brian murmured, pinching her hardened nipple between his fingers.

Sarah struggled to cling to her wits. It would be so easy to give in to his persuasion, but her future happiness depended on him acknowledging her as his equal, and in this instance, she wasn't going to back down. She drew a deep breath and pressed insistently on his chest until he finally consented to meet her eye.

"Brian," she said firmly, "you can throw me on the floor here and now if you decide to. I can't stop you, heaven knows. But then I still wouldn't marry you." Seeing that she had his full attention, she went on. "If I can't trust you to be open and honest in our relationship, then I can never be happy as your wife. By lying to me and keeping me in the dark, you really hurt me. I've been trying so hard to remember my past, and all it took was one name to make it all come back. You could have spared me weeks of uncertainty!"

Brian heaved a deep sigh, rolling his eyes in irritation before locking gazes again. "How was I supposed to know that seeing Jared Henderson's name would trigger your memory? All I knew was that you were wanted for murder and might be hanged. I couldn't let that happen!"

"That still doesn't excuse you for lying to me," Sarah insisted. "You could have at least been honest with me. For weeks now, I have been wondering why you wouldn't marry me. You gave me one lame excuse after another, when all the while you were hiding this from me! Didn't you think I had a right to know that I was wanted for murder?"

Brian raked a hand through his hair to keep from throttling her. "Not if it meant scaring the wits out of you, no! I did what I had to do to protect you."

Sarah crossed her arms and glared at him. "Well, in the process of trying to protect me, you betrayed my trust. The worst part is that I've been worried sick about you for weeks! You haven't been yourself, and I've been going out of my mind because I didn't know what was wrong or how to help you. How can I possibly marry you when you won't even let me share your worries or fears?" She blinked back the tears that were prickling the backs of her eyes. "Don't you know anything about me, Brian? I'm not some ninny without a backbone! You should have let me face this with you. You shouldn't have shut me out."

Something in her expression caused Brian to pause. Her eyes were full of pain, mixed in with her anger. The knowledge that he had betrayed her trust by not being honest with her nagged at him, prodding his conscience. He swallowed hard.

"You're right," he said quietly. "I shouldn't have lied to you. Now will you forgive me and marry me?"

Sarah blinked, surprised by his bald admission. "Of course I forgive you, Brian." She cleared her throat, trying to resist the appeal of his green eyes. "But I won't marry you unless I can be assured that you won't lie to me in the future. As your wife, I would expect to be your partner, to share in all your worries and fears, to share your life. I'm not just some weak female that you need to protect."

"You can't expect me not to protect you, Sarah. I will always do everything in my power to make sure no one hurts you." Brian cupped her jaw, running his thumb over her cheek. "But I promise never to lie to you again."




Second Chances Ch. 16



Sarah searched his eyes, remembering all the times he had fooled her and teased her. "How can I believe you?" she asked quietly. "How do I know you won't do the same thing again the next time some crisis comes up?"

Brian made an impatient sound and clutched her hand in his. He opened the study door and towed her to the center of the room. With everyone's expectant eyes on him, he knelt before Sarah and placed a hand over his heart.

"Sarah Martin," he said firmly, "I solemnly swear before all my family and Judge Hawthorne, and with God as my witness, that I will never lie to you again." Seeing Sarah's eyebrow raise in skepticism, he cleared his throat. "At least not about anything important."

There was a long moment of expectant silence as everyone waited for Sarah's reply. She tried hard to keep her lips from twitching, but it was a useless endeavor. Seeing Brian kneeling humbly before her was simply too much. She finally gave in and favored him with a laughing smile.

"In that case, I would be happy to marry you."

Aidan and Liam whooped for joy and Naomi clapped her hands together delightedly. Brian rose to his feet and clasped Sarah's face between his hands, giving her a long, gentle kiss. Even the judge looked a little misty eyed. He blinked rapidly and cleared his throat, once again assuming his gruff persona.

"Alright then. If I'm going to perform this wedding, let's get to it. I want to go to bed!"

**********

Aidan pulled the wagon to a stop in front of Naomi's old cabin and grinned over his shoulder at Brian. "Well, little brother, I think Liam would get a lot more sleep tonight if you and your lovely bride spent the night here. It's well stocked with firewood and provisions, so you two should be more than comfortable."

Brian returned his grin, ignoring Liam's howl of laughter as he lifted Sarah down from the wagon bed. "You read my mind, Aidan. Don't expect to see us for a few days."

The others laughed, and Sarah blushed. Aidan nodded his approval as he turned the horses toward home. His parting comment was thrown over his shoulder.

"The cabin's nothing special, but the mattress is delightful." Aidan grunted when Naomi gave him a sharp jab in the ribs with her elbow.

Brian chuckled, watching the rest of his family disappear through the trees. He turned to his wife, squeezing an arm around her shoulders.

"Come on," he said with a wide grin.

He scooped her up and carried her inside, kicking the door closed behind them. The interior of the cabin was as black as pitch, and he set her to her feet. He fumbled around until he found a lantern and then lit a fire for them. Sarah watched him, feeling her heart swell with joy and love.

When Brian had a roaring blaze going, he rose from his haunches and came to stand before her. He cupped her face in both hands and bent to kiss her. His lips were soft and gentle, plucking at her senses as he tasted her mouth. He raised his head and waited for her eyes to flutter open.

"I love you, my angel." Brian's face was etched with sincerity and commitment.

Sarah searched his eyes for a long moment and then smiled. "I love you too."

He kissed her again while they began undressing each other. They worked their way to the bed, removing clothing as they went. By the time they reached it, they were both naked. The cabin was freezing, but neither of them noticed as they tumbled together onto the soft feather mattress. He lifted her on top of him and devoured her mouth. Their kisses were searching, hungry, eager. They were both breathless by the time Sarah rose onto her arms, straddling his hips.

"Brian," she said, as she struggled to keep a serious expression on her face.

He tucked her hair behind her ears, watching the corners of her mouth twitch. "Yes, my angel."

"I was very naughty today," Sarah said, nibbling her bottom lip to stifle an impish smile. "I shouldn't have gone into town without talking with you."

Brian raised one dark brow, his dimples beginning to show beside his mouth. "Hmmm, I meant to talk with you about that." Brian's grin deepened even further as she arched her hips, scalding the underside of his cock as she slowly rubbed its length with her wet pussy lips. His next words were slightly strained as she repeated the decadent caress. "What do you have to say for yourself?"

"I think it's time for me to make amends to you," Sarah grinned wickedly as she slid further back until she was straddling his ankles, "with my mouth."

She met Brian's eye boldly as she gripped his cock in her hands. She traced each throbbing vein with her fingertips and gently massaged his aching balls. She paid special attention to the sensitive tip, stroking it lovingly as Brian groaned his appreciation. She raised one teasing brow and her eyes sparkled with mischief.

"I guess you've married a nasty little cocksucker."

Brian couldn't help but laugh, but his chuckles ended with a groan of delight when she took him into the flaming recesses of her mouth. Her tongue was sinfully delightful as she stroked him, sucking and bobbing until she had taken him deep into her throat. With every delicious squeeze of her lips, she worshipped his cock, lavishing him with pleasure until he could barely breathe.

He enjoyed her efforts for as long as he could before lifting her head away from him. When she met his eye quizzically, he smiled.

"You're not the only one who was naughty, angel. I should never have lied to you."

He held her gaze as he urged her to turn around and straddle his shoulders, facing his cock. He lay on his back with his head between her thighs. Her eyes widened as she looked down at him. He was directly beneath her pussy.

"Go back to what you were doing darlin'," Brian said with a wicked grin. "I'll make my own apologies."

At his urging, Sarah bent over and took him into her mouth once again. She moaned when she felt his mouth on her pussy. He lapped her folds with his tongue, making sure to taste every inch of the soft, pink flesh before suckling her clit. Sarah felt overwhelmed by sensation. She was torn between the pleasure of making love to his cock and the ecstasy of his mouth on her pussy.

When Brian stroked two fingers deep inside her, searching, finding and teasing her sweetest inner spot, Sarah couldn't hold out any longer. She released his cock and leaned her forehead against his thigh, screaming with delight as her orgasm rolled through her. Brian sucked in several ragged breaths, enjoying the sight of her quivering pussy splayed above him while he allowed his own urgency to recede. As soon as she was able to breathe, he drove her on to a new summit.

By the time Brian felt he had adequately atoned for his misbehavior, Sarah was trembling with both satisfaction and heightened need. He scrambled from beneath her, leaving her on hands and knees. He knelt behind her, stroking her hips and buttocks while he rubbed his cock teasingly along her clit. Sarah shuddered, releasing a desperate whimper.

Brian planted his hands on the outside of hers, his back on top of hers. Sarah felt surrounded and defenseless. The contrast of her softness and vulnerability compared to the raw strength of his body engulfing hers made her shiver again. The feeling of surrender, the yielding of control, the absolute certainty that he would never harm her was intoxicating.

"You know, my angel," he said in a deep, rumbling growl near her ear, "I'm afraid I have a habit of misbehaving. Are you prepared for a lifetime of receiving my apologies?"

Sarah moaned as he harshly squeezed one nipple and nipped sharply on the curve of her neck where it met her shoulder. She looked sideways, managing to catch his eye, and she raised one challenging brow.

"Are you?" she replied impudently. "As you've said, I am a naughty angel. Do you think you can make me behave?"

Brian's grin was consummately wicked, and his breath was fiery hot against her neck. "Who said I want you to behave?"

Sarah gasped as he thrust his cock into the depths of her pussy, and they both gave a heartfelt groan as he bottomed out inside her. He gripped her breasts and possessed her just the way she liked it, hard and fast and deep. Each stroke was punctuated by a painful squeeze of her nipples until they were sore and aching.

Neither Brian nor Sarah was in a hurry. They each held out for as long as possible, savoring the exquisite pleasure of their joining. When the sensations finally overwhelmed her, Sarah screamed, pressing her bottom tightly against her husband as he poured himself inside her with a shuddering groan. Her inner muscles clenched tightly around him, welcoming his seed. Brian relished every rippling contraction, as she milked him dry.

When the last tremors faded, they collapsed onto the bed. Brian pulled a quilt over them, loving the feeling of holding his boneless wife snuggled in his arms. The clouds of uncertainty were banished. All he could see was an endless horizon of promise, for him and his naughty angel.

********

Epilogue - eighteen months later

Liam was in no hurry to retire to his lonely bed, and he slowly unsaddled his horse and got it settled in its stall for the night. It was nearly midnight. Liam had spent a thoroughly enjoyable evening at Harvey's saloon appreciating the extensive talents of Rita, his favorite whore. She never failed to please him. She had the body of a temptress, and she knew how to use it. Still, he heaved a sigh, feeling somehow empty and dissatisfied after his night of carnal delights.

Liam loved his brothers and was happy that they had each found their perfect mate. Aidan and Naomi had a beautiful son, Ian, who was nearly a year old. Brian and Sarah had celebrated the birth of their daughter, Leslie. Both couples were ridiculously happy. Liam was glad that his brothers were settled and content, but at times like this, he suffered pangs of envy.

In recent months, he had grown increasingly dissatisfied with his life as a bachelor. 

An occasional night in the arms of a beautiful and lusty woman was hardly enough to satisfy Liam's restlessness. He longed for a woman of his own, someone to share his life with, someone to be his loving wife. So far, he hadn't found anyone that he wanted to fill that role.

He made his way to his empty cabin, lighting a lantern and carrying it to his bedroom. When he began to remove his coat, a crackling sound reminded him of the letter he had picked up from the post office. Liam fished it from his pocket and tossed it onto the bed, removing the rest of his clothes before settling in to read the letter from his mother. He had forgotten about it, having saved it until he had privacy to read its contents. He tore through the envelope and adjusted the lantern so that it provided sufficient light.

June 18, 1854

My Dearest Children,

I hope this letter finds all of you well and happy. It is with a saddened heart that I write to inform you of your father's death. His health had been failing in recent months. He finally succumbed to a bout of pneumonia and died on the 16th of June.

Liam swallowed a lump in his throat, blinking back tears as he read about the details of his father's funeral. The pain of his father's loss was nearly overwhelming. He continued to read.

And now, my dear sons, I find that there isn't much to hold me here. Without your father, I am merely existing. You have invited us many times to come and join you there, in Oregon, your land of promise. Now that your father is gone, I have decided that I should accept your generous offer. I have begun making preparations to join you next year. The possibility of being reunited with my sons and meeting your wives and my grandchildren is my one remaining desire. I keep you all in my heart.

With all my love,

Mama

Liam read the letter once more before folding it carefully and laying it on the bedside table. He stared unseeing at the ceiling as memories of his parents and his childhood home swam through his mind. In the morning, he would have to tell his brothers the sad news.

Liam heaved a heavy sigh. He would go to fetch his mother from Kentucky. It made sense. He was the only one without a wife and child tying him down. He knew the journey, especially round trip, would be long and arduous, but he wouldn't leave his mother to find her own way. Perhaps the journey was just what he needed. Maybe it would ease his restlessness, distract him from his loneliness. One thing was certain, he needed a change.

********

Author's note: I hope you have enjoyed this story. For those of you who are wondering about Liam, you can find the rest of his story in "Trailing Home". As for me, I will write more stories soon, but for now...Spring is in the air!



Second Chances Ch. 02



For an introduction to these two characters, please read Chapter 1


We lay silently beside each other for several minutes.

She rose on her elbow and, with a mischievous look, asked, "Can I do you now? And I want to do something I never did like. I never really liked sucking you with my mouth. I just couldn't bring myself to like putting your penis in my mouth. And when you came, I had to run to the bathroom and spit it out or I thought I would throw up."

"I know, Evie. I could tell you didn't like it or even want to do it. I appreciate the fact that you still did it. But it felt so good to me, and as long as you were willing, I was going to enjoy it. I guess that was selfish."

I paused, then asked, "Why now?"

"Because of the way your mouth and tongue made me feel. I want to give you those kind of feelings too. So, is it OK with you?"

"Yes!" I answered eagerly.

"What do I do? You'll have to help me."

"Whatever seems natural."

She pushed me back on the bed, looked at me, and began tickling my penis and scrotum like she was playing a piano. She ran the fingers of one hand up and down my thighs. I quickly hardened. She started rubbing my penis by moving the palms of both hands back and forth.

"I remember you used to like this."

"I remember too," I said with a groan.

Looking at me, she said playfully, "I suppose you'd like me to kiss it?"

I nodded my head.

She wrapped one hand around my penis and started moving it up and down. She lightly caressed my scrotum with her fingers. She looked at me again, took a deep breath, leaned down, and licked me. Her tongue explored up and down and around my penis. She licked both sides and underneath. I jerked when she licked across the head of my penis.

She looked at me, grinned, then ran her tongue across it's tip. She looked at me again and took me into her mouth and partway down her throat. Now it was my turn to moan with pleasure.

Pulling off, she said, "I never could have tried that before. All I could bear was taking the tip into my mouth. I hope I can make it feel good for you."

"You already have," I said barely above a whisper.

She ran her tongue across the tip of my penis again. Noticing my body's reaction, she kept doing it. For a few moments, she ran her tongue around the head of my penis and, every once in a while, flicked its tip. I raised my hips and pushed my hardness against her mouth. 

"I won't last very long at this rate, Evie," I warned her.

She smiled. "This makes me feel so in control."

"Good for you. Now, put me out of my misery, will you?"

She took the head of my penis into her mouth once more. She looked at me with a smile in her eyes. My body was now the one doing the twitching. I closed my eyes as she began moving her mouth up and down my penis. 

"Oh, Evie ... Oh ... please take me as deep as you can and suck hard when you pull back. Please!"

She pulled back and said, "Open your eyes, I want you to see your penis in my mouth."

I did as she asked. The sight of her taking me into her mouth was exceeded only by the look in her eyes, a look promising love, and from that love, the desire to please.

I began moving my hips trying to push my penis deeper into her mouth. I felt her fingers fondling my testicles. She slowly took me deeper and deeper into her mouth. Then her fingers found my anus. I moaned. My body was nearing the point of no return. When I felt her finger push against my anus again, I held her head tightly and spurted down her throat. 

She kept me in her mouth until I was through coming. As I softened, she pulled her mouth off with one final suck and swallowed. 

Licking up the remaining semen on my penis, she said, "This stuff doesn't taste so bad after all. To think, all I used to do was run to the bathroom and spit it out as fast as I could."

I was too spent to say anything.

She lay back on the bed next to me.

After a while, she asked, "Can you talk yet?"

"Hmmmmmm"

"Next time I want you inside me."

"Hmmmm ... what?" I leaned up on my elbow and asked, "When is the next time?"

"I'll be here next week, same time. And," she said with a smile, "I'm really looking forward to it." 

************

I was in the kitchen waiting for her arrival. Knowing she liked tea, I was heating up water in the kettle. My mind was mulling over what I had planned for today. My penis was already semi-erect from the anticipation. 

Suddenly, I felt a hand reach from behind me and grab my penis. Startled, I turned around.

"The door was unlocked so I just came on in," she said.

"You snuck up on me," I accused.

"You were deep in thought so I decided to surprise you. What were you thinking about."

"Three guesses."

"I think I only need one." Looking at the tea kettle she said, "That'll have to wait. Turn the burner off."

I did. 

She took me by the hand and led me into the bedroom. She pulled my shirt over my head. I unbuttoned her blouse. She was not wearing a bra. 

I looked at her wonderfully shaped breasts and said, "Evie, your body is still absolutely fantastic!" 

"I like what you have too," she said, looking at my penis bulging against my underwear. 

She smiled and kneeled down. Pulling my shorts and underwear down, she exposed my now erect penis. Bending over it, she gave it a lick with her tongue, smiled, and took it deep into her mouth.

"What's gotten into you, Evie?"

"I've had a week to remember the fantastic feelings I had and I want to have even more. One thing worries me, though. I haven't had you inside me for a long time."

"Don't worry about that. I have a plan for that."

"You do? Tell me."

"Not right now. I'll let it be a surprise." 

I took her under her shoulders, stood her up, and pulled the rest of her clothes off. She, too, was becoming aroused. I could see a wetness around her opening. 

We stepped over our clothes and she pulled me onto the bed.

Both naked now, I drew her toward me and held her body next to mine. She adjusted herself so that my penis was between her legs. We stayed that way a long time, sharing affectionate words, kissing, and caressing each other's body. 

As our kisses became more passionate, she began rotating her hips, rubbing her clitoris against my erection. We both moaned with pleasure. 

"Not so fast, Evie," I said. "I want this to last." 

I pulled back, wet a finger, and began stroking her breasts and nipples. She turned toward me, sliding my penis between her legs again. I started caressing her shoulders and back. Soon, her fingers were meandering back and forth across my back down to my buttocks. She began to move her hips again, but I told her to stop.

"It's time for your surprise now."

I opened the drawer of my lamp stand, reached in and pulled out my recent purchases: two vibrators.

She looked amused and said, "I can guess what these are for. We used to have a hand vibrator and you'd use it on me every once in awhile. But why are there two sizes and why is the one curved on the end?"

"You'll find out. Now, lay back and enjoy."

"I'm hoping to."

"Today," I said in a mock authoritative voice, "I am going to introduce you to the joys of a vibrator. You are going to love the feel of this."

I handed her the smaller one and told her to turn it on and begin stimulating her breasts, abdomen, and vagina with it. 

"And be sure to let me know if you feel like you're on the way to having an orgasm," I added. 

I watched as she started by running the vibrator across her breasts. As her nipples became erect, she moistened a finger and traced circles around each one. 

She closed her eyes and said, "This does feel really good."

With one hand, she moved the vibrator from nipple to nipple, squeezing and twisting the other with her fingers. Her other hand worked the vibrator to the cleft between her legs. She began caressing her mound. Then, with her other hand, she slipping a finger just inside her outer lips to open them. Holding her lips open with two fingers, she began stroking the length of her opening with the vibrator. She stopped and, while pressing it against her vagina lips, she brought a second finger. I could see her juices begin to flow. I head a sharp intake of breath and saw her body tense as she found her clitoris.

"This feels so good," she said dreamily.

"Put the tip of the vibrator on your clitoris. That's it. Now, find a speed that feels best to you. Close your eyes and focus all your attention on the sensations you are feeling between your legs."

I watched as her body filled with sexual excitement. She moved the vibrator from her clit, down her inner lips, then back to her center of pleasure. She began to moan, her hips moving involuntarily as she pressed the vibrator harder against her center of pleasure. Suddenly her body stiffened then shuddered. She came with a groan of pleasure. Not moving the vibrator from her clitoris, she continued until she had another orgasm so intense that she dropped it. 

"Oh, no" she cried. "Where did it go? Where did it go?"

I reached over and picked up the vibrator. I turned it to its fullest speed and handed it to her. She pressed it hard against her clit. She began to writhe with pleasure again. She moved it up and down along her outer lips. Then she pushed it inside her. 

"Oh, it feels so good," she moaned.

She began pushing it deeper and pulling it nearly out until she had another orgasm, this time accompanied with a shriek. 

She collapsed her body and breathed heavily.

When she was breathing more easily, I reached for the other vibrator.

"Why is it curved and have a knob on the end?" she asked.

"It's supposed to stimulate your G Spot," I answered.

"G Spot? What's a G Spot?"

"I read about it a couple of years ago. It is a spot just behind your pelvis on top of your vagina. When it's stimulated, it's supposed to increase the sensations of your orgasms."

"I don't know how they could be more intense than what I just had."

"Well, let's find out."

I turned on the vibrator, rubbed it against her opening. I allowed a finger to just brush against her anus. That caused a squeal of delight. I moved my vibrator to her inner lips. I moved it back and forth, and up and down against her opening. Her hips started pushing toward the vibrator. 

"I never wanted anything in me but your penis before. But I sure want this thing inside me now."

As her sex lips opened, I pushed it just inside, then pulled it almost completely out. When I pushed it in again, her eyes opened wide with surprise. I took her hand and moved the other vibrator to her breasts.

"Stimulate your nipples, Evie."

She turned it on and began stimulating her breasts. 

I pushed the knob of my vibrator against the top of her vagina. She dropped her vibrator, grasped her breasts, and began to move her hips. I slowly moved my vibrator in and out of her vagina. Her body began to writhe. Just as I could feel her nearing her orgasm, I pushed it deep inside, pressing the nubs on its base against her clitoris. Then I pulled it back. Her hips found my rhythm and moved back and forth until it was at its deepest inside her and pressing on her G Spot on the way outward. Suddenly, her back arched. She reached my hair and pulled me against her. She screamed. Her nails dug into my back. I continued moving the vibrator in and out, then pressed it hard against her G Spot and then her cervix. She rubbed her clit with a finger and was consumed by another orgasm. It seemed to go on and on. 

"Oh ... no more ... no more ... I can't take any more," she cried.

Finally, she lay back exhausted.

I let her breathing return to near normal. "So, Evie," I asked, "How do you like a vibrator now?"

Barely able to get the words out she said, "Wonderful, just wonderful."

After she was able to breathe again, she said, "Our sex life was really boring wasn't it. I wish we would have done this back then."

"We weren't the people we were then that we are now. We seem to be putting each other's pleasure first."

"It was like sex was a chore. An unpleasant part of being married. I never thought about the pleasure we could give each other. I just wanted to do it and get it over with. Even when I had an orgasm, I knew it felt good to me, but I never thought of it as giving you pleasure too."

"I know what you mean, Evie. My focus was on the feelings I was getting out of it."

"I do know it made you feel good when I had an orgasm."

"Yes, that's for sure. It makes a man feel ... feel ... well, it's hard to explain. I guess it just made me feel more like a man when I could make you climax. Even that was selfish of me."

"Well, we sure aren't being selfish now." 

"OK, enough talk, Evie, are you ready for more?"

"Oh, yes," she responded.

"You said next time you wanted me inside you. I think the vibrator has opened you up enough to for me to be inside. What do you think?"

"I think I want you, I need you, inside me."

She raised up on one elbow and said, "But I want to give you some good feelings first. What can I do for you?"

"Just take me in your mouth and make love to my penis with your mouth for a little bit. Not too long, though, or I'll never make it inside you."

She leaned down and did just that. I closed my eyes and lost myself in the feel of her tongue and lips.

Before I could orgasm, she softly said, "I want you inside me now."

I rolled her onto her back and spread her legs apart. 

"When I get inside, wrap your legs around my waist!" 

She guided my penis to her pussy and rubbed it up and down her lips. We both moaned. She placed it at her opening. I gently pushed it just inside. I pulled back and pushed it in a little farther. With a hard push, I thrust my penis in completely. 

Evie gasped. 

"Uncross you legs," I moaned.

I put her legs over my shoulders. Leaning over her, I began thrusting back and forth. I pulled back until my penis was almost out, then pushed it back in. Her hips began to push back against me.

She moved her legs back around my hips. "I can feel your penis against my clitoris better this way," she cried.

Our hips found a rhythm. I would pull almost completely out of her then she would take me back in. I could feel the tip of my penis touching against her cervix. 

"Look me in the eyes! Look me in the eyes! I need to see your face when we come," I pleaded.

Her body began to shudder. With one final thrust, I went as deep as I could and held myself there, lifting slightly to push against her clitoris. She pushed back to increase the pressure. I saw her face scrunch up. Looking in my eyes, she came with a scream, covering our legs with her juices. At the same time, I felt my orgasm burst up my penis.

"I love you Evie, I love you," I shouted as I erupted into her. 

I began pushing into her again. She pushed back. We lost consciousness of how long we drove ourselves against each other. We could not count of the number of orgasms she had before I came a second time. We were lost in a world of intense pleasure. We had moved beyond pure love to pure lust, pure sex. 

Finally, Evie became limp. No longer able to hold myself up, I collapsed beside her.

For a long time, we said nothing.

"Evie, you are amazing. Nothing you could ever do could top this."

"I couldn't even have imagined how you made me feel today. Everything was so intense."

We lay silent again, reluctant to move.

After a while, Evie said, "One more time? Please?"

"Getting greedy, aren't you?" I laughed.

"But it will have to be next week," she said. "I'm too exhausted to do anything now"

"A week? A week? After this you're going to make me wait another week?"

"You'll appreciate it more," she said. "Remember, absence makes the ... "

"I know, I know. But I want you to know, Evie, that sex or no sex, I appreciate you. I'm fond of you. I love you."