Storiesonline.net ------- T.R.E.S by Paul Phenomenon & Ms. Friday Copyright© 2005 by Paul Phenomenon & Ms. Friday ------- Description: Sandy remembers her past lives, all 22 of them that span more than one thousand years. Josh, her brother, is an empath. While teenagers, they share their secrets and bodies and fall in love. But circumstances separate them. Nicole, a telepath, meets and falls in love with Josh, and then helps Josh and Sandy come together again. The three of them form a plural marriage. TRES is their love story. Codes: MF mf FF Ff Mult rom 1st teen cons mag inc mother son bro sis dau bi group anal mastrb fist toys squirt creampie ------- ------- Thoughts, Reincarnation, Emotions & Sensations ------- Part One: Sandy ------- Chapter 1 The memories started when puberty struck, and for a while I believed I was surely going bonkers. I mean, jeez, it's bad enough to be forced to deal with periods, tender titties, and body hair and odors, not to mention some pretty powerful sexual urges I wasn't ready to handle. Add a lot of strange memories that made no sense but were vivid enough they had to be real, and I was ready for the funny farm. Mom had been helpful with the standard puberty stuff, even the sexual urges, although I honestly didn't see abstinence as the way to go, but she wasn't equipped to help me with the memories. You see, she's very religious, a Mormon, and reincarnation and Mormonism just don't go together. For that matter, reincarnation and Christianity clashed - period. I figured if I couldn't talk to my mom about what was happening to me that I couldn't talk with anyone, so I zipped my lips about the memories and tried to act like a normal teenager. The memories invading my mind were from past lives - my past lives, I finally figured out - and they weren't fleeting, a vignette here or a passing thought there. The detail from my past lives was huge in scope, including the various languages, professions, religions, and the general cultures I experienced with each life. I also remembered the men and women I knew, and the children - especially my children. To confuse me further, I wasn't always a female. I was a male in about half my incarnations. What perplexed me more than anything at first was the order in which the memories arrived. I didn't remember my immediate past life first. Uh-uh, that would've been way too easy - less confusing, too. Instead the memories started way back when, and the first to arrive was my death - my first death I figured out later. Now that scared the bejesus outta me. I died. I don't know how or when, but I died, and nine months later, I was reborn al-Biruni in 973 AD. I died in that incarnation in 1048. Al-Biruni wasn't subjected to a whole bunch of memories like I was in this life, except he remembered that death I mentioned, and like me, he experienced his demise during his previous incarnation at the onset of puberty. He shook it off and went about his business. I decided his approach was the best way to handle the memories, but I've often wondered if he would've reacted so nonchalantly if his memories included twenty-two complete lives over one thousand plus years. Al-Biruni was an Arab scholar, quite an accomplished man for his time. That incarnation gave me fluency in the Arabic, Persian, Turkish, Hebrew, Sanskrit, and Syriac languages - a pretty good start in life, huh? I won't bore you with the details of that life, but if you're interested look him up. He's in the history books. My next life was a short one. I was born in 1049 and was killed in the Battle of Hastings in 1066. Yes, I was a man in that life, too. You can't look me up in the history books because I wasn't very important in that incarnation, but check out the Battle of Hastings. The Normans kicked butt, and the battle changed the course of European history. I lived my next life as an Icelandic female from 1067 to 1118. Again, I'm not included in the history books for that era, but check out Ari, the Icelandic historian. He was my brother-in-law. As a female and a Jew under Muslim rule, I lived in Cordoba, Spain from 1119 to 1178. I named my first son Moses. My last name for that incarnation was Maimonides. My boy made me proud. Look him up if you want. He was a pretty good philosopher. Are you starting to get the picture? I've been a man and a woman, rich and poor, lived long lives and short ones in many places on our glorious planet. And I remembered... everything! I wasn't a seventeen-year-old girl; I was a thousand or so years old. Wild, huh? The memories could be troublesome, though. For instance, I could speak about twenty languages, write some of them, too, but like English, the languages had evolved over time since I learned them as a child. One day I sat next to a Frenchman at a restaurant. I could make out what he was saying, but when I spoke with him in his language, he asked what part of France I came from because my French wasn't his French. I couldn't tell him I learned his language from 1589 to 1611 when I was a girl living in Paris, France. I also learned the hard way not to correct my history teachers about some of the wrong facts they presented, and because I'd been many races over the years, I was way too quick to denounce prejudice of any sort, which frequently put me at odds with teenagers and adults alike. But the biggest problem for me at my current age in this life was sex. I was a virgin, but I wasn't, if you get my drift. I knew a lot about the subject, not only from the female but also the male perspective. And surprise, surprise! I was bisexual. Hah! Experiencing life as both a male and a female over the last thousand years made bisexuality a given. I lusted for pretty girls and women as much as sexy boys and men. Yeah, both genders, young and old, well, not too old or too young. The age of the recipients of my lust didn't matter all that much as long as I was attracted to them. The lust I felt wasn't new, either. I'd been just as randy during each of my previous lives, but satisfying my current urges was a huge problem. Remember, I told you my mother was a religious woman, a Mormon, and Mormons, like most Christian religions, espouse a pretty rigid code of sexual conduct. I loved my mom and didn't want to hurt her, and my dad was an even bigger problem. He was the Bishop of our ward. Still, taking any religion seriously was difficult for me. In past lives, besides being a Christian, I'd been a Buddhist, Taoist, and followed the teachings of Confucius. Toss in Hinduism, Judaism, Islam, several pagan religions, and a few other well-known or obscure faiths, and you can understand my reluctance to give myself over to one religion. In some past lives, I didn't have a choice. I toed the line or else, but I figured I had a choice in this one. The question in my mind was whether to give lip service to my loving parents' religion, or openly defy them. Right or wrong, I elected the former course. I mentioned earlier that I wasn't a seventeen-year-old girl, that I was a thousand years old. That's true, but the real truth reflected the reality that I lived in the here and now, not the nebulous past. I had the experience of a courtesan, but at the same time I was an innocent girl, a frustrating dichotomy, I'm here to tell you. If you're wondering, yes, during past lives, I'd been both a thinly disguised gigolo and a renowned courtesan. Also from 1880 to 1916, I lived for thirty-six years in Brazil where I plied my trade as a common prostitute for four of those years. The beaches of Epanema and Copacabana were my corners. That I became a prostitute was not entirely by choice, more by the accident of my birth - la Vida, the life, or a daughter following her mother into the oldest profession. I used the stake I saved by selling my body for four years and combined the money with the knowledge I gleaned from my memories to improve my social and economic status. Regarding my social and economic status for this life, I was okay. My family wasn't rich, but certainly not poor; I wasn't drop-dead gorgeous, but nowhere near ugly; intellectually, I wasn't a rocket scientist, but I wasn't dimwitted, either. The memories helped make me a straight A student without much effort. I lived in Scottsdale, Arizona with my parents and my brothers and sisters - two sisters, both older, and two brothers, both younger. Dad owned and operated a large heating and air-conditioning business, mostly air-conditioning. The summers in Arizona can be brutal - profitable for my dad, though. Fortunately, he was a good business manager and knew how to delegate because he spent most of his time tending the members of the Mormon ward he led. He did an awful lot of praying, too. Mom was a homemaker, and a good one from all accounts. My oldest sister, Carol, was away at college - Brigham Young University, of course. She was also engaged to a returned missionary of the church. Whether she was a virgin was open to question. Jennifer, my other sister, was without doubt a virgin. She was the most infuriatingly righteous person I've ever known both in this and past lives. Boring. Cal, short for Calvin, was a year younger than I. Cal was a jock and much too full of himself. Josh, my other brother and the baby of the family, was fifteen going on forty, which is better than being seventeen going on one thousand, like me. I adored Josh. He could've been labeled a nerd because he was smart as a whip and serious about school and learning, but he was too good-looking to be a nerd, and he certainly wasn't shy around girls. Witness. "Sandy," Josh said after knocking on my bedroom door. "May I come in? "Not unless you want to see me naked," I said teasingly through the door. I wasn't naked. I wore panties and a bra, but... The door opened, and bold as brass, he stepped into my room. "Liar," he said with a boyish grin. Did I shriek with indignation or embarrassment? Nope. I struck an alluring pose. "Close enough to get your motor runnin', young fella." He laughed. "That's for sure. Got a question for ya." "Close the door and have a seat. I'll throw on a robe." "Shucks," he said as he plopped onto my computer chair at my desk. I belted the robe loosely and sat on my bed. "Ask away." "Can you sense what other people are feelin'?" "Sometimes. Facial expressions and body language help. And eyes. Eyes are the windows to the soul." "That's not what I mean. Can you sense what someone is feelin' even if you can't see 'em?" I frowned. "No. Can you?" "Yeah. I think I'm an empath." Did I laugh? Uh-uh. I believed I could remember my twenty-two immediate past lives, so I wasn't about to scoff at Josh's incredible claim that he was an empath. I could empathize, no pun intended, with my brother's plight, but the boy had always been imaginative. He'd had an imaginary friend when he was a child. So, I did have a few questions. "Have you spoken with anyone about this... ah, ability of yours?" "Sort of, but... ah, heck! I brought it up with Bill as something that could be possible, but he laughed at the concept." Bill Robb was Josh's ex-best friend. He and his family had moved away recently, leaving Josh as loose ends. "You said you could sense what someone is feeling even if you couldn't see that person. Give me an example. No, wait. Let's talk about feeling first. Are you referring to emotions?" "Yeah, but I feel sensations, too." "Aren't sensations and emotions the same?" "Uh-uh. I looked them up on the Internet. Emotions involve the whole body, but sensations are related to a specific part of a body. Happiness, for example, is an emotion. If you cut your finger, you feel pain. That's a sensation." "Gotcha. So, your empathic ability includes both emotions and sensations?" "Yep. Cool, huh?" "Way cool. How long have you had this ability?" He shrugged. "It started about three years ago, but it was intermittent and not very strong for a while. Now it's all the time and... Well, it's so strong now that it's becomin' a problem." "How so?" He blushed. "I walked by your bedroom about an hour ago. Jeez, Sandy! When you climaxed I did, too. In my pants!" Talk about blush! I must've been a bright red. An hour earlier, I'd been joyfully playing with my pussy. My door was shut and locked. Except for subdued gasps, I was quiet about it, too. There was no way Josh could've known what I was doing unless... I gulped and took a couple of deep breaths. His statement required a response, and I figured I could react in a number of ways. I could act indignant or furious because my privacy had been invaded. In truth, his astonishing assertion had produced both emotions, although they were fleeting. Did he feel them? On the other hand, I could stonewall him, deny giving myself a couple of comes earlier and call him a liar. Or... I chose honest acceptance, the response I would've liked from Mom when I tried to tell her about my memories. I chuckled and said, "In your pants, huh? Good. That's what you deserved for invading my privacy." He hung his head. "I didn't..." "But because you invaded my privacy without a conscious effort on your part, I forgive you." His boyish grin melted my heart. I asked, "Is a climax an emotion or a sensation?" He frowned. "I think it starts out as a sensation, turns into an emotion, and becomes a sensation again." I nodded. "Makes sense. Starts in the genitals and spreads through the whole body. What about sexual arousal?" I asked because that's what I was feeling at the moment. The little shit grinned at me. Little? Hardly. An inch over six feet, he towered over my five eight. He wore his dark, curly hair long, and his large, dark eyes glinted with passion. I glanced at his crotch. Yep, he was feeling what I was feeling, and the bulge in his pants didn't do anything to dampen my libido. Just the opposite. It dampened my panties. Incest. In all my past lives, save one, incest was verboten, a crime against nature and God, whatever God was worshiped at the time. That didn't mean incest didn't happen, and I'd committed the crime quite a few times in my past lives. The exception I mentioned happened from 1550 to 1588 when I was a female member of an indigenous tribe living in the Amazon rainforest. According to custom, I married my brother during that incarnation - happily married him, I might add. I shivered when some sexy images from that life flashed through my mind, and my panties became wetter. From my admittedly shallow investigation on the Internet, the primitive tribe no longer exists. Whether inbreeding or logging or other reasons caused its extinction is open to question. So, from my perspective, inbreeding was a problem, but sex with a close relative wasn't that big of a deal for me as long as a child didn't result from the sex and no force or coercion was involved. Knowing how I was, I'd talked Mom into putting me on the pill about a year ago - to regulate my periods, was my excuse. So, I wouldn't have a baby if I let Josh fuck me. Force or coercion wasn't in the picture, but... How did Josh feel about incest? And did I want to complicate my close relationship, my friendship, with him by adding sex to the mix? Not to mention what would happen if Mom or Dad found out two of their children were fucking each other like minks. "Sexual arousal is a sensation," he said. "Really? It's quite diffuse, at least it is in me." His grin widened. I wanted to hug him, fuck him, too. "Yeah, I know, but it's centered in... ah, in your..." "Pussy?" I said when he hesitated. The bold lad said, "I was thinkin' cunt, but pussy works for me, too." I looked him in the eye. "You're pushin' this, aren't you?" He nodded and had the humility to blush. "Sort of." "Why?" I wanted a glimmer of his expectations. His answer should give me a clue about how he felt about incest. Like me, he'd been conditioned to the teachings of the LDS Church. Unlike me, he didn't have the memories of twenty-two past lives to counter that conditioning. "Hey, I didn't start this. I came in to tell you about the weird feelin's I've been havin' and ask for..." "Hogwash. You started it when you boldly announced that you came in your pants while walking by my room and connecting with my emotions and sensations when I was masturbating." I eyed his crotch again. A wet spot had developed at the apex of the bulge. "Okay, here's the deal." Was I out of my mind? "I'm goin' ta test ya, Josh. If you're tellin' me the truth, you know I'm hot, very aroused, so I'm going to get under the sheet on my bed and masturbate again, but you're not goin' to be walkin' by out in the hall. You're goin' to sit right where you are. "The way I see it, you have two ways to go. You can either come in your pants again, or you can drop your pants to avoid the mess. Your choice, but either way you go, you can't touch yourself. If you come when I come without touching yourself, I'll believe you, and I'll help you figure out how to handle and control this amazing paranormal ability you say you have. Do we have a deal?" He swallowed nervously. "Yeah we do, and I'm droppin' my pants, so if ya don't want to look turn your head." "Lock the door first." He locked the door and pushed his trousers and briefs down to his ankles before settling back onto the computer chair. Did I look? You bet I did. I looked and what I saw made my mouth water. "Beautiful," I gushed as I dropped my panties, flashing my naked backside before I slipped under the top sheet on my bed. My knees made a tent out of the sheet, but I let the linen droop far enough between my legs that Josh could see the busyness of my fingers from the movement of the sheet. I eyed his wonderful cock. "Jeez, little brother, you sure aren't little in the dick department." He groaned but grinned. "From what I saw before you hurried under that sheet, your booty is a beauty, Sandy. I sure would like to see your cunt." "Uh-uh." I chuckled. "That might nullify the test, make you come without touchin' yourself." With another groan, he said, "Could be. Okay we'll do it your way." "What are you feelin'?" "You! Your sensations! Your emotions!" "Tell me about 'em." I'd had a lot of sex over the last thousand years or so, but this situation was unique. I loved it. "Your sensations are centered... ah, in your clitoris, I assume, but you're feelin' mighty good pretty much all around your cunt. Emotionally, you're pleased... happy, which seems strange to me, so I could be wrong." I didn't need to be an empath to know what he was feeling. His eyes, the windows to his soul, were full of lust. "You're not wrong, Josh," I said and moved a hand from my breast to my pussy to join the other hand already busy playing with my clitoris. I pushed a finger inside my cunt until it bumped up against my hymen. I also continued to strum my hard, little nubbin with other fingers. Yes, I was pleased, pleased that my first sexual experience with another person in this life was so unique, and I was happy, happy to have Josh involved in what until now had been a lonely but otherwise rewarding habit. He moaned. "You are so hot!" "Uh-huh. Should I come or stretch it out a while?" "Stretch it. I want this to go on and on. I suspect this'll never happen again, and I don't want it to ever end." "Waddaya mean? I give myself a come almost everyday, Josh, some days more than one. Are you sayin' you think that now I know you're feelin' what I'm feelin' that I'll stop the happy habit? If so, you've got another think comin'. This is the only sexual outlet I've got, and whether you connect and share my sensations and emotions or not, I'm not stoppin'. So there!" He snickered. "Fine by me. I was referring to bein' in the same room with you while you're doin' it." "Oh." His cock was as hard as any cock I'd ever seen in a previous life, and the first I'd seen in this one. I wanted it in my mouth, in my cunt. I wanted to fuck it. His hips started to wave, matching the movement of my hips. "If this isn't grossin' ya out, we'll do it again, Josh. I'm enjoying myself. Having you sit over there takes the lonely out of an essentially lonely act." He grinned and then grimaced. "So hot! How can you stand it?" "Humph. I like stayin' on the edge. Stayin' on the edge for a long time makes the sensations much stronger when I fall off the edge into an orgasm. Have you connected with Mom and Dad while they're fuckin'?" I'd used the "F" word for two reasons. One, I like talkin' dirty when I'm hot. Two, I wanted to see how Josh would react? I satisfied reason number one. Number two remained elusive because he sort of ignored it. "Yeah. Mom comes like a house afire." "Ooh, that's hot! What about Jenny?" "As far as I know, Jenny doesn't play with herself." He snickered. "She gets aroused, though, and then feels guilty about it." Pious bitch, I thought unkindly. "If you're wonderin' about Cal, he jacks off a lot, not as often as you, but almost." "Do you come when he comes?" He looked embarrassed. "Yeah. I can't help it, Sandy. That's one of the problems I want to solve. Comin' with him makes me feel like a homo, and I'm not. I like girls - period." "Women, too, I'd wager. Women, like Mom." "Yeah, but I'd like to stop that connection, too. Comin' with Mom or Dad makes me feel guilty." "What about comin' with me?" He grinned. "No way. I love comin' with you. When you start in, I usually head for the bathroom or my room, drop my pants and join you." My fingers squished in my cunt, and my eyes rolled back in my head. I couldn't remember being so hot without coming. "Go ahead," Josh said. "I know you can't hold back anymore." To prove him wrong, I lasted another four or five seconds before the wondrous sensations gathered and exploded as a massive, rapturous orgasm. I don't know how, but I kept my eyes opened and fixed on Josh's cock. At the onset of my climax, I watched a long stream of semen jet from the end of his shaft. Both of his hands gripped his thighs tightly, and his cock jerked and gushed another stream of come that fell back around his throbbing shaft, his balls and the chair. He came again, and then once more, the last one was mostly a dribble, though. That's when I closed my eyes and shuddered through the rest of my climax, by far the best I'd experienced in this life. When I opened my eyes a minute later and looked at Josh, he was slumped in the chair, his beautiful cock still standing tall and hard - messy, though. Semen oozed from the eye at the end. I wanted to jump from the bed and lick him clean. "There's a box of tissues behind you on the desk," I said. His eyes snapped open, and he blushed, which made me giggle. "I won't apologize," he said gruffly, twisted in the chair and grabbed the box of Kleenex. He jerked three or four from the box and wiped the end of his cock. "Why do you think you need to apologize?" I asked and rubbed my sticky fingers across the bottom sheet. My butt moved through a little puddle of my juices. "Toss me the tissues. I made a mess, too." He took a few more tissues and lobbed the box to me. Still covered by a sheet, I wiped my pussy and dabbed at the puddle. "Because I invaded your privacy," he said and dropped the tissues he'd used to clean up the mess he'd made in the wastepaper basket. "Oh." "Coming with you, it's... well, it's indescribable, Sandy. Your climax overwhelms mine. I hardly feel mine because yours is so intense." "Oh." He pulled up his trousers and buckled his belt. "Did you mean what you said earlier?" "About what?" "About doin' this together again." "Did you feel gross doin' it?" He flashed a wide grin. "Nope, not a bit." I think I did a little grinnin', too. "Let's see how you feel about everything tomorrow." To test him further, I pushed the sheet off me and hopped off the bed. The panties on the floor were wet, so I walked bared-assed to my dresser and pulled out another pair. He watched as I faced him and pulled them up my legs and settled them around my hips. Surprisingly, my brazen act tented his pants a little. That's when I remembered how quickly a youthful male could recover. "Hoo boy! I've finally seen a real, live pussy," he exclaimed, thoroughly pleased with himself. I laughed heartily. "And I got to see a real, live, beautiful cock." I pulled on the robe and tied it tightly around my waist. He'd knocked on my door because he needed to talk with someone about what was happening to him, that and to ask me for help. "Sit, Josh. Let's talk about your ability and the problems it's creating." All the air whooshed from his lungs, and he fell back onto the chair. I sat on the bed facing him. "You mentioned a couple of problems - coming with Cal and the parents. Tell me about the other negatives your unusual empathy generates." "I have to avoid crowds, Sandy. Feelin' all the conflicting emotions of everyone around me drives me batty. I was in the mall a week ago, and a little boy lost his mother. He was crying his eyes out, and tears streamed down my face, and I was just as frightened as the boy. "And the hate! The anger! I didn't realize how much hatred and rage so many men and women feel. I enjoy the happy emotions others share with me, but the negative ones take me down. Before I started to feel the emotions of those around me, I didn't have a lot of hate and anger in me, Sandy, but that's changin'. I'm startin' to hate the haters, and I get very angry with those who share their rage with me. This ability - I've been callin' it a curse, lately - is changin' me, and not for the better." "Hmm. 'Around you, ' you said. From that comment, I take it that your empathic ability - I won't call it a curse - has a range. Correct?" He looked contemplative, and then grinned. "I guess it does." "What's the range?" "I don't know." "Find out." "How?" "Use the scientific method. Test it. Walk away from a strong emotion you're feeling coming from someone. Does it diminish as you move away, and at what point do you stop feeling it?" "Makes sense." "What about obstructions, like walls? Do they affect your connections?" He scrunched up his expressive face. "I don't think so. I felt your climax earlier, and you were in your bedroom behind a closed door." "Test various obstructions like brick or concrete block walls." "Okay. What else, and more to the point, why do these tests?" "Logic. It's logical to assume that in order to control your ability, Josh, you'll need to understand it thoroughly, and it seems to me that control is what you need, an on/off switch for lack of a better way to say it." "That's exactly what I need!" "Either that, or a way to turn it off once and for all." He shook his head. "Uh-uh. I'll learn to live with the problems first." "Good for you, little brother. I appreciate your spirit of adventure." I walked to my dresser and picked a safety pin out of a box where I kept various odds and ends like fingernail paraphernalia and lotions and potions. With my back to him, I stabbed my finger with the pin. He grunted. "Hey, that hurt! What did you do?" I turned to him and held out my bloody finger. "What happens if you're connected with someone and they have a heart attack, Josh?" His eyes widened with fear when he looked at his finger and saw blood oozing from its tip. "Fuck! That's scary!" he breathed. "Yeah, my sentiments exactly." Would he die if he were connected with someone experiencing the pain of death? ------- Chapter 2 I'd greased my body with sunscreen and was lying out by the pool improving my tan when the patio door opened. Jenny and a friend of hers named Peggy Black walked out and sat at the patio table. An umbrella offered them some shade. "That swimming suit is obscene, Sandy," Jenny commented, looking as if she'd just chomped down on spoiled food. I was wearing a new bikini. It was sexy but certainly not obscene. With a grin, I rose to my feet and struck a pose; you know the kind, with one hand resting on a cocked hip and one leg slightly in front of the other. "Waddaya think, Peg? Do I look obscene?" Peg chuckled. "Yep, but obscene becomes you." "Peggy! Don't encourage her," Jenny said. "She doesn't have a modest bone in her body." "What can I say, Jenny?" I said. "When you're right you're right." I dove into the pool. The suit wasn't obscene when dry, but when wet obscene wasn't far from the truth. Opaque became translucent. I wanted to give Jenny a bad time by flaunting my near nakedness, and I wanted to test Peg Black. In the past, I'd noticed Peg looking at me with some lust in her pretty eyes, not a lot, but some, and with her fantastic figure and big, dark eyes, she jump-started my libido whenever I saw her. That Jenny and Peg were friends defied all logic. Jenny was as uptight as an old spinster, and Peg had some bawdy in her. Was Peg interested in girls? Maybe, but she was a member of my dad's flock, so she'd probably ignore any urges she felt. Still, a little test wouldn't hurt. I walked up the stairs out of the pool. "Sandy!" Jenny exclaimed. "Your suit! It's..." I looked down and feigned shock. "Oh, my!" My stiff nipples and darker areola were clearly visible through the wet fabric of the suit. Peg laughed. "Don't wear that swimming suit to a pool party, or someone will jump your bones." Someone, huh? Like you, Peg? I noticed movement in the house behind the sliding glass door to the patio. Josh was home. He'd know what Peg was feeling. After quickly drying myself with a towel, I stepped inside. "Love the suit," Josh said with a leer. "Thanks. Are you close enough to Jenny and Peg to connect with their feelings?" "Sure. As you suggested, I experimented and determined that I can feel emotions and sensations if the sender is within approximately fifty feet of me. The feelings diminish rapidly beyond that distance, and obstructions of any kind block all emotions and sensation if they're between a sender and me and farther away than about thirty feet. Within thirty feet, they have no affect at all. Let's see, Jenny's feelin' guilty 'cause she's turned on, and Peg... my, my, Peg's not just aroused. She's hot!" He looked at me and then back outside. "What's goin' on?" I grinned. "I think Peg likes what's in my swimming suit as much as you. Wanna share a coke?" I snagged a can from the refrigerator and poured cola into two glasses full of ice. "You mean... ? Are you sayin' Peg's a lesbian?" "Don't know about that, but she might be bisexual." I handed Josh one of the glasses, and gulped at mine. Working on a tan in the Phoenix heat builds up a big thirst. He grinned. "Like you?" Did my jaw drop? Yeah, it did. "I've been tryin' to figure out which turns you on the most - good-lookin' guys or gorgeous gals," he said. "Let me know when you come up with an answer," I said dryly. "Why is Jenny turned on?" "Hah! She liked what was in your suit, too. I figured Jenny out a while back. Girls turn her on, not guys." "My, oh my," I quipped and giggled. "Is she aware of her preference?" He scrunched up his face. "I don't think so. I think she's in denial. What's more, I think she'll stay that way. When the time comes, she'll follow in Carol's footsteps and lasso a returned missionary, get married in the temple, and the two of them will give lip service to a basically sexless marriage and devote their lives to the church. Oh, she'll do the deed to have children, but..." He shrugged. "In addition to being a sensation voyeur, are you also a soothsayer?" He blushed. "No, just usin' a little logic." "For what it's worth, I think you're right about Jenny. What about me? What do you see in my future?" He shook his head. "Uh-uh, I wouldn't venture a guess. I've tried, but I can't figure you out. You're an enigma, Sandy. Connecting with you is always a treat for me. Most teenaged girls' emotions are all over the place, rarely static, sailing high and plunging low, easily affected by momentary circumstances. Connecting with girls other than you is like hopping on a roller coaster. You're... no, you might take what I was about to say wrong." "Say it anyway, buster." He groaned but said, "I mean this in a positive way, Sandy. Your emotions aren't... darn, I don't know how to get my point across, so I'll just say it. Your emotions aren't young; they're sort of old." "Are you sayin' emotions have age?" I asked, perplexed. Aging emotions wasn't a concept I'd ever considered. "No! I'm sayin' that each person's emotions seem to be a function of that person's age. Your emotions aren't girlish, like Jenny's or Peggy's. They're not even womanly, like Mom's. If I didn't know you, couldn't see you, and connected with you for the first time, I'd think you were a hundred years old, not seventeen. Your emotional reactions seem to imply that you've already experienced whatever caused the reaction, and then you proceed to handle the emotional situation with ease. Not that you don't feel passionately about everything. You do, but... ah, I know the word I want to use. You're serene, Sandy, and because I can experience your remarkable serenity, I'm a better person for it. I'm not ashamed to say that I've used your calm acceptance of our hurly-burly world to calm the turmoil in my soul after connecting with so many men and women full of hate and anger." "Ah, that's nice, Josh. Thank you." I gave him a heartfelt hug, which gave him a partial hard-on. I didn't back away, but rather rubbed against the exciting lump some more. I gave him a big grin. "I think you like my swimming suit, too." "Uh-uh. I like what's in it. My thoughts keep returning to the other day when you shared your orgasm with me. When... ? Darn it, Mom just pulled into the garage, and Jenny and Peggy are coming toward us." Trying not to be too obvious, I backed away from him just as I heard the sliding glass door open. Jenny and Peg stepped inside. At the same time, the door from the garage opened, and Mom walked into the kitchen, her arms ladened with grocery bags. "Josh," Mom said, "the trunk's still full of groceries. Please lug them in for me. Jenny, Sandy, you can help me put everything away. Hi, Peggy? How are you?" "Hot! We've been sitting out on the patio. May I have a glass of ice water?" "Sure, if you'll fix it for yourself. You know where everything is." Later that day, Josh cornered me again. I'd showered and changed into a light sundress and was curled up on the sofa in the living room reading a novel. With all the history I'd lived, I preferred fiction to nonfiction. I read for entertainment and would rather read a good novel than watch television. "As I was sayin' when we were interrupted earlier," he said, "when are we goin' to get together for another sexy session?" Yup, bold as brass! I chuckled. "If I'm not mistaken, I've already shared one climax with you today. Don't be a greedy-gut." After the arousing incident on the patio, I'd masturbated in the shower fantasizing Peg's mouth on my pussy. "Yep, it was a good one, too, but not in the class with the one you shared while I was in your room with you." "Josh, if we continue to mess around with each other, we'll end up fucking. I don't believe that would be wise. Do you?" He slumped onto the large chair across from the sofa. "Probably not." His expression drooped like the tail of a whipped puppy. "Earlier today, you sensed Mom's arrival, and at the same time you knew Jenny and Peggy would soon walk into the house. Correct?" "Yeah." "How did you know Mom had arrived? Cal was out. It could've been Cal, not Mom, in the garage." He frowned. "Uh-uh. They have different... ah, emotional signatures." Amazing. "All right. What made you think Jenny and Peg were about to step inside from the patio?" He grinned. "I started to sense the location of each sender while experimenting with distance. Cool, huh?" "Very cool. I also noticed that you didn't concentrate on Jenny and Peg's sensations and emotions until I asked you what they were feeling. I thought you couldn't tune out a sender." "I can't, not completely, but lately I can sort of tone down what I feel from some senders by concentrating on another. You were aroused when you walked inside from the patio, so I focused on you." He chuckled. "Besides, that swimming suit you were wearing grabbed my entire attention. Wet like it was, it bordered on bein' obscene. I loved it." "Hmm, you're already moving toward controlling your paranormal abilities, Josh, which doesn't surprise me. Humans are adaptable creatures. Practice turning off one sender by amplifying another, and then switch. Back and forth, moving quickly from one sender to another. Your ultimate goal should be to completely eliminate all emotions and sensations but your own when you're in a crowded room." "All right, I'll practice, but why turn everyone off?" "What would happen if you broke your arm, and Mom took you to the emergency room?" "Ah! Gotcha." "Besides, it seems to me that being able to turn everyone off reflects ultimate control. I'm not sayin' you need to turn everyone off forever, but if possible, you should learn absolute control." While talking with him, I'd allowed the hem of my sundress to creep up my legs, and Josh noticed. I enjoyed his eyes on me. We made a good pair. He was a voyeur. I was an exhibitionist. "Who's in the house?" I asked. "Besides us, Mom, Cal and Jenny." "Where are they?" "Mom's in the master bath, in the shower, I think. Cal and Jenny are in their rooms." He frowned. "Cal's not a happy camper. He's talking with someone on the phone. Jenny's takin' a nap... dreamin'." He chuckled. "It must be a sexy dream." Amazing. "And you say you'll know if one of them moves from where they are?" He nodded. I pulled my feet up to the edge of the couch and let the sundress slip down around my waist. I spread my knees wide and pushed the leg band of my panties to one side, exposing my pussy. "This is what you wanted to see again. Right?" He gulped. "Yeah." I rubbed two fingers between the outer lips and dipped them into the entrance of my vagina for moisture before pulling them up to waggle back and forth over my clitoral shaft. "Where is everyone now?" I asked. "Mom's out of the shower toweling herself dry. Jenny's still sleepin'. Cal's... shit, Cal's comin' this way!" Leaving my panties jammed to one side, I rose to my feet and the sundress fell down around my legs. I was nearly out of the room when Cal stepped into it. "What's your problem, Cal?" I asked. "Huh?" "You don't look like a happy camper." "Cathy broke our date for this Friday." "Why?" "She says we're getting too serious, too involved." I chuckled. "In other words, she wants to be a good, little Mormon girl." "Humph." "If you wanna get laid, date a girl who doesn't belong to the church." "Shows how much you know," Cal muttered and stomped off. After Josh and I were alone again, I said, "Tell me about Cal's future." "I told you, Sandy, I'm not a fortune teller." "I know. Use logic." "Okay. Right now, he's conflicted. He's horny all the time - like me. But unlike me, he feels guilty about bein' horny all the time, and I sense that deep down he admires Cathy for backing off." "Have they done the deed?" He shrugged. "I don't know. If I were to guess, I'd say they've done everything but fuck, and not just once either, but a whole lot of times." With a boyish grin, he added, "Cathy's not uptight about sex like Jenny." He blushed. "She shared a climax with me not long ago." "Really?" "Yeah." "Tell me about it." "I came home and interrupted Cal and Cathy makin' out on the couch. She was hot; I was hangin' around, so she went into the guest bath and masturbated for relief." "Hmm, sexy." "Yeah. About Cal's future. He'll drift away from the church but come back to it. You and I are the only heathens in the family." "What? You're not a believer?" "I didn't say that. Let's just say I'm not a big fan of organized religion." "Do Mom and Dad know how you feel?" "Of course not. I'd rather go to a rock fight than have an honest discussion with them about religion." "I hear ya. You flunked the test, you know." "What test?" "I showed you my pussy to test your ability to keep us out of trouble by constantly monitoring everyone's whereabouts. You concentrated too hard on my pussy and almost allowed Cal to walk in on us." He sucked in air through his teeth. "I'll practice." "Do that." Two days later, Josh knocked on my bedroom door. After he walked in, he closed the door and locked it. "Test me again," he said. I laughed. "You just want another gander at my pussy." "True, but I think I've got the monitoring bit down pat. Test me." "Okay. Who's home? Where are they, and what are they doin'?" "Mom and Dad are in his home office. They're on their knees prayin'. Cal's in his room. I think he's jerking off. Jenny's not in the house. I don't know where she is." "Cal's jerking off, huh?" "Yeah." "Will you come when he comes?" "Nope. I've got that problem licked, too. Come on, Sandy. Give me another chance." "All right, but I want a running dialogue regarding the whereabouts of everyone in the house." "Fair enough." He looked so eager I couldn't resist giving him what he wanted, which was another look at a real, live pussy. Ten minutes later, his hungry eyes made me hunger for more than my fingers. I wanted that big cock of his. It was standing tall and hard, throbbing and jerking, pulsing like the membranes inside my cunt. "Mom and Dad are off their knees. They moved to the sofa in the office, and they're talking. Cal's close to coming." "So am I." "Yeah, I know." "What's your attitude about cunt licking?" His eyes widened. "I'm for it." "Wanna lick me?" As bold as he was, he hesitated, but a second later, he moved across the room with a flurry and knelt on the foot of my bed. "Go ahead," I encouraged. "Lick my cunt from the bottom to the top." I spread the lips of my pussy with my fingers. His large male tongue felt marvelous moving up through my crease. I shivered with passion. "Oh, fuck, Josh, that feels so good!" He licked my vulva from the bottom to the top again, and again. "Where is everyone?" "Same place," he muttered and licked me, this time wriggling his tongue over my clitoris. "So close!" "Cal's climaxing." Suddenly, I felt Josh shuddering. My eyes, which had been closed, flew open. "Fuck!" Josh growled and grabbed his hard cock. Come spewed from the end, splashing onto my thigh and the bed. He'd tasted me. Fair's fair, I thought as I quickly twisted on the bed. I caught his second ejaculation in my mouth. I didn't swallow right away. I wanted to savor the first taste of semen during this incarnation, but I had to swallow after his next copious spurt. "Lick me some more. I want to come, too," I said and moved my mouth back around his wonderful, slimy cock. I felt his face move between my legs again, and his tongue wriggled up through my crease. He nibbled my clit with his lips, and the flat of his fantastic tongue flashed back and forth over the throbbing nubbin. Amazingly, Josh came again when my orgasm struck, which enhanced the orgasmic sensations coursing through my body. I sucked and licked and swallowed more semen as rapturous orgasmic contractions pulsed one after the other. I was still coming when Josh lifted his face from my cunt. "Mom's headed this way!" He jumped from the bed, pulled on his briefs and the shorts he'd been wearing. He looked frantic. Were we busted? Then he relaxed. All the air whooshed from his lungs, and he slumped onto my computer chair. "She turned around. She's returning to Dad's office. No, the kitchen." "Where's Cal?" I asked. I hadn't moved. Being dressed wouldn't have fooled Mom for a second. My room had to smell like a jack-off booth in a triple-x video store. "Lyin' on his bed enjoying the afterglow of his climax." I giggled. "Me, too." "I know. How do you do it? Remain so calm?" "A good come does that for me. I thought you said you didn't climax with Cal anymore." I rolled from the bed and used tissues to wipe his semen from my thigh and the globs scattered across the sheet on my bed. After putting on a fresh pair of panties, I donned the shorts I'd been wearing. "I don't normally, but... ah, heck, I was so danged hot from lickin' your cunt that the sensations of his climax took me over the top. I had him tuned way down, too, but..." "I understand. Let's go for a drive. We need to talk." "How do you feel about what just happened between us?" I asked when I stopped Mom's car at a red light. I had a destination in mind, but we'd never arrive there unless Josh gave me the correct answers to a few questions. He grinned. "I loved it! Your mouth around me was amazin'. And your cunt! Your juices! They were delicious, Sandy. I can't wait to do it again." "Why?" My question obviously confused him, so I continued, "I'm your sister, Josh. You and I shouldn't be sucking each other off." "Ah, you want to talk about incest." "Yeah. What's your take on the subject?" "It's wrong for everyone but you and me." I laughed. "That's mighty convenient. Explain." "My belief stems from guilt. If I fucked Mom or Jenny or Carol or any of the many aunts or female first cousins we have, that would be incest, and I'd feel guilty because I'd be guilty. The same would be true for you, not only with the males in the family but also the females. I don't feel an ounce of guilt about what happened earlier between us, and neither do you." "Why don't we feel guilty?" "I don't know your reasons. My reason is simple. All other females who've shared their emotions with me pale in comparison to you. I'm in love with you, Sandy, have been since the first time I connected with you emotionally about three years ago. I..." "Not good," I muttered. "Sandy, please let me finish. Don't get all up tight about how I feel about you. I'm cool with it. How I feel about you isn't a new thing. Like I said, I've been livin' with how I feel for three years. I've been through the this-is-wrong phase, the this-is-incest phase, the this-is-just-puppy-love phase, the she-thinks-of-you-as-a-kid phase, and any other phase you can think of. I love you. I'll always love you. That's just the way it is. What's more, I don't expect you to love me, not the way I love you, so I won't cause you any grief in that regard. I've also learned to deal with jealousy. I neither expect nor want to be your only lover, and I'm not just talkin' about men. I know how you are about females, too." "What about you? Will there be other lovers for you?" "Yes." "A wife? Children?" "No." "Ah." "With the way I feel about you, it wouldn't be fair of me to marry another woman." "Fair to you, me or the other woman?" "The other woman." "Love isn't limited, Josh. It's possible to love me and still love someone else just as deeply." "Maybe." He grinned and melted my heart. "If the improbable happens, I'll jump at the opportunity. In the meantime, I won't hold my breath." One subject down, and he passed with flying colors. "Okay, let's talk about your astonishing paranormal talents. What do you plan to do with them?" He shrugged and sighed. "I haven't a clue. I'm still learnin' about them, how to control them, and they're still growing, becoming more powerful. Jeez, Sandy, I'm just a kid tryin' to cope with bein' a teenager, which isn't easy for any teenager. Add my empathic abilities to the mix and coping with my teenage years is much harder, not easier. I'm not anywhere close to charting a definitive plan for the rest of my life. The only thing I'm really good at is drawing, but being an artist is a hard way to go and doesn't use my empathic abilities at all." Josh had carried a sketchbook around with him most of the time when he was younger, pestering one and all to pose for him, especially me. He was a gifted artist, for sure, but he was right. Sketching and drawing didn't require any paranormal talent, and whatever he decided to do, I felt intuitively that his unusual empathy should take center stage. "Fair enough, but don't try to kid and old kidder. Besides experiencing orgasms from the females around you, you've thought about how to use your talents. For instance, you could be an entertainer, put together a stage act and go on the road." "Tacky." I chuckled. "True. Come on, Josh. You dream about your future. Everyone does. Tell me about your dreams." "Uh-uh. You'll laugh at me or think I'm too full of myself." "Nope. I know you're not too full of yourself. If you were, I would've never shown you my pussy." A huge sigh pushed air from his lungs. "Okay. I've thought about using my talents as a psychiatrist, a cop, a prosecutor, a judge, and other professions where extraordinary empathy would come in handy. Since 9/11, I even considered becomin' a government spy to ferret out terrorists, but to be honest, not all my dreams have been altruistic. For example, I'm ashamed to say that I considered startin' my own church for the money I could make." He paused and looked at me. "While dreamin' about my future, I figured out that what I do can be pretty powerful, which gives me power, and the old adage that absolute power corrupts absolutely came to mind." He leaned his head back on the seat and closed his eyes. "For three years, I told no one about what I can do. I told you for a number of reasons, but only one reason really mattered. I figured I could trust you, Sandy. The way you approach life emotionally led me to believe that you wouldn't laugh at me, that you'd listen and eventually believe me, and I was right. But you did more, much more. You recognized the peril in my empathic abilities and helped me. You pointed me in the direction that would ultimately give me control over the abilities and eliminate the danger that came with them. If I hadn't already loved you, I would've fallen in love with you all over again." He opened his eyes and turned his head toward me. "I'm putty in your hands, Sandy. I figure you'll help me mold my talents to do the most good." "Uh-uh, that gives me the power behind your talents, and I'm as corruptible as you, Josh, or anyone else." "Maybe, but between the two of us, we should be able to avoid using the power inappropriately." I pulled the car to a stop in front of a warehouse. "Why are we stopping here?" Josh asked. "You told me your secret. It's time I told you mine." ------- Chapter 3 I used a remote from my purse, and an overhead door opened. I pulled Mom's car into a large garage. Two other vehicles were parked inside. "Come with me Josh," I said and stepped from the car. After lowering the overhead door, I pressed my palm against a panel by a regular door, and it clicked open. "What the hell?" Josh exclaimed. "Patience. All will be revealed." A switch inside turned on some lights and we stepped into a waiting area. The next security device scanned my retinas, and another door opened. Josh followed me into a cavernous space, a warehouse setup like a museum, temperature and humidity controls included. "What you're seeing, Josh, are artifacts from my previous lives." "Jesus!" I chuckled. "My memories don't go back that far. They start in 973 AD, not BC. Have a seat," I said and motioned to a pair of Louis XIV solid walnut chairs with les os de moutons, or sheep's horn stretchers. I sat in one of the chairs when he took the other. "These chairs from the early 17th century reflect my life as a French woman from 1589 to 1611, a short life, but a good one." I rattled off some French words and then translated. "I said, 'Your jaw is gaping, Josh.'" "You speak French?" He looked utterly astonished. "After a fashion. I speak French as it was spoken in the 17th century. I know about twenty languages, most of which are completely outdated, and some are as dead as the bodies I occupied when I learned the languages on my mothers' knees." "Jesus!" "Your record is stuck, little brother." "How... ?" "How did I come by all you see?" "To start with, yes." "From 1917 to 1986, my immediate past life, I lived as a man in London, England, but traveled widely. I was an anthropologist and an archeologist. I was also very wealthy, so I used that life to gather the antiques and artifacts you see around you, and made arrangements to pass the collection on to the person who would be me in my next incarnation. That person turned out to be Sandra Johnson, Sandy to her friends. Me, Josh. "You had me pegged a while back. You said I had old memories, but you were way off the mark when you said they were one hundred years old. If you count all my lives, I'm approximately one thousand thirty-one years old." "Wow! Cool!" I grinned, pleased he'd accepted my secret without proof beyond my word and the evidence my artifacts offered. "Way cool." "Speak to me in some more languages." I rattled off some Cantonese, Arabic, Greek, and Spanish. "I knew you were different! I just knew it! Whew! I just didn't know how different. So, reincarnation is real?" "In my case. Whether anyone else's life form passes on to another after death is open to question." "Mom and Dad will have a conniption fit. This goes against everything they believe." "So they must never know, Josh, or anyone else for that matter. Promise me. This our secret, our secret alone, like your secret is our secret." "I promise. This is fantastic, Sandy! May I look around? I won't touch anything." "Sure. I'll point out some of my favorites if that's okay with you." "Please." "These vases are from the Ming Dynasty. I was a man during that life, living forty-four years from 1454 to 1498 in China." "Beautiful. I bet they're worth a pretty penny." "Yep. That's a medieval bronze and enamel buckle from Spain, and it's dated circa the 12th century when I lived as a woman in Cordoba from 1119 to 1178. At that time, Spain was under Muslim rule, and I was a Jew. Moses Maimonides was my son, and he became a renowned Jewish philosopher. He's in the history books. Look him up." "I will. What's that?" he asked, pointing. "An 18th century Hawaiian single-board poi bowl." I spoke a few words of Hawaiian. "Which means I was a Hawaiian male from 1718 to 1770." I grinned. "Royalty in Hawaii practiced incest, Josh. I wasn't royalty, but my sister and I had a lot of fun during that life." He smiled broadly. "Like us, I hope." I smiled knowingly. "We'll see. The ancient pages from a manuscript in this glass case don't look like much, but I cherish them. They're artifacts from my first life. From 973 to 1048, I lived as al-Biruni, an Arab scholar. Those pages are from one of my manuscripts on the elements of astronomy. They're almost a thousand years old, Josh." "Beautiful." We strolled and talked about my antiques and artifacts as I recounted my past lives, and then I opened another door and we walked into a small, one-bedroom apartment. The rooms were filled with antiques. "And this is my home away from home." He gave me a curious look. "You're rich, aren't you?" "Rich is relative. I can't sell the antiques or artifacts or use them as collateral for a loan, so they have no value except to me. In addition to assembling this collection, when I was Sir Edward Smithe, I set up a trust fund for my next life that's managed by an old British firm. I'm not Bill Gates, but I'm well off." I watched his eyes focus in the distance and tears welled in his eyelids. "I don't have a chance with you, do I?" "Do you want the unvarnished truth?" "Yeah, give it to me." Anticipating bad news, he bravely squared his shoulders, "Without your secret, I'd have to say no, but you, Josh, are as unique as I, so jump off that self-pity wagon you just climbed on and give me a kiss, a real kiss." His eyes brightened with happiness, and his smile lit up the room. The kiss he gave me wasn't anything to shout about but was enthusiastic and heartfelt. Before the kiss ended, I knew he was eminently teachable. When I leaned back from the kiss, I said, "Wanna fuck?" His exuberant, positive answer delighted me and echoed off the walls of the room. "Well, strip then." He was so excited I managed to get naked while he was still fumbling with his trousers. With a happy laugh, I raced into my bedroom, pulled down the covers, and clamored onto a canopied bed, an antique I actually slept on for a few years during my lifetime as an Italian Countess from 1790 to 1838. I've gotta admit I was a bit of a slut during that incarnation, and I had a hunch I'd do some fucking around during this life, too, starting with my little brother. Josh bounded into the room and skidded to a stop, his rampant cock bouncing like a metronome. The look he gave me squeezed my heart. "Sandy, you're gorgeous, breathtakingly beautiful!" "Thank you, kind sir. And you, little brother, are a hunk." He moved onto the bed and took me in his arms. "Teach me. I haven't... you know what I mean. I wanna be perfect for you." "You're excited, aren't you?" "Outta my mind." "Then first things first." I slipped down on the bed and took his wonderful cock in my mouth, twirling my tongue around and around its head. He groaned with pleasure. I moved my mouth off his cock and said, "Come as soon as you can - in my mouth." I stroked his shaft with my hands while I talked. "I won't last long." "That's the plan. Like you, I'm a virgin; at least my hymen is still intact. I don't want you to shove your beautiful cock inside me and come lickety-split, because I too want to come during my first fuck in this life. If you come in my mouth first, you'll last longer the second time around." He chuckled. "Nothing like piling on the pressure... ah." His long, drawn-out moan of pleasure tickled me. His long cock also tickled my throat. I bobbed and licked and sucked, and five minutes later, he rewarded my efforts by giving me a mouth full of come. I stayed with his cock, cleaning up the mess until it started to go soft. Then I moved up on the bed and kissed him. He was still out of it, but he kissed me back, sort of. A little later, he huffed a laugh. "I finally figured it out. You're a virgin, and discounting your mouth on me in your bedroom earlier, this was the first time you've taken a cock into your mouth, but in the total scheme of things, you've done it countless times. Correct?" His lips traveled down my neck and settled on one of my breasts. He nibbled and licked a nipple, pulling it up hard and sending sexy messages to my cunt. I giggled. "You've got it." "Your tits are magnificent. I love how they make you feel when I lick and suck on your nipples." "Me, too." "Which do you prefer? Bein' a man or a woman?" His mouth moved to my other breast. "When it comes to sex, a woman. Otherwise, a man. That's changing, though. In another fifty years, a preference will be immaterial for any reason." "Except for the female orgasmic response." He kissed me again. I adored his soft kisses. "There's that." I kissed him back. "I understand why you're bisexual. Would you also be bisexual if you were a man in this life?" "Yes." "Makes sense. You're hot, huh?" "You tell me." He opened his eyes and smiled at me. "I'm hard. You've gotta be hot." I glanced at his cock - tall and proud like the Rock of Gibraltar. "By the way, your reasoning was cockeyed about me bein' unable to wait for you unless I came in your mouth first," he said as his fingers danced over my vulva. "Oh, why?" I let him explore, and he learned what excited me as his fingers wandered around my cunt. "Because my connection with you is very powerful. Your emotions and sensations become mine, so much so that my sensations take second place, become background noise for yours, so to speak. When I connect with you while we're making love, I'll come when you climax, regardless." "Oh." "I'd have corrected your faulty reasoning at the time, but the idea of your mouth around my cock again made me selfish. Will you forgive me?" "Uh-huh. Dammit! Are you goin' to fuck me, or not?" He laughed joyfully and rolled atop me between my legs. I wrapped them around his waist. Expressive, liquid eyes full of lust and love looked down at me, and he kissed me, another soft, romantic kiss, just what I needed. I said, "If what you just told me is accurate, I anticipate a potentially disastrous problem." "Explain." "The pain I'll feel when you tear through my hymen will probably make you go soft." "Good thinkin'. I'll bring my sensations to the foreground and push yours way down deep in the background until the pain passes. Then I'll switch." "Cool," I said. "Way cool," he replied, using my expression. I chortled and reached for his cock. The hard shaft throbbed in my hand. I kissed him and said, "I adore your cock." "I feel the same about your cunt." I waved his cock head through my crease, coating it with a liberal amount of my juices, and seated it firmly at the entrance to my vagina. "Are you concentrating on you?" I asked. "Yes. How should we do this? Slow or quick?" "I've stretched my hymen to near breaking with my fingers. It's thin. Give me one quick, deep jab and then stop." The pain was sharp, like a bee sting. Tears smarted my eyes, and I gasped slightly. I opened my eyes to see Josh looking down at me with a worried expression. I smiled wanly. "It's done. Give me a few seconds, and I'll be fine." He pressed his lips to mine, a tender kiss full of feeling. I loved him for his tenderness. "Go slow but push your cock into me until I've taken all you can give." "May I switch now?" "Yes." Our eyes locked as we became one. He looked for pain in mine. I saw love in his. "Ah!" I moaned with pleasure when he stopped moving into me. "So full! So good! Better than I remembered." "Oh! Oh, my! Sandy, what you're feeling is exquisite!" I chuckled, which caused a twinge of pain. "Yeah, it is. Thrust slowly now." "You're still hurting," he said after thrusting a few times. "A little, but don't stop." "Yeah, I understand. It hurts so good!" I huffed a laugh and my hips started to move to meet his slow thrusts. Will he know when I'll want more? "Yes," I breathed when he picked up the pace. "Move up on me a little higher, Josh, so I can drag my clit over your cock... yeah, like that." "I see what you mean! What a difference!" I laughed. "Empaths make pretty good fucks." A minute later, I said, "I take that back. Empaths make phenomenal fucks." "You're close." "Yeah, I am." "Come. Come for me, Sandy." "Not yet. I love the edge. Exquisite!" "Your climax is gathering. I can feel it!" "Oh! Yes! Yes! Oh!" Josh bellowed like a wild animal when my orgasm struck, and I could feel his long cock swell inside me just before he bathed the back of my cunt with his semen. Then I left this world, traveled to a place of pure pleasure with sensations so intense yet fragile I never wanted to leave that place. I returned to the here and now, though, like I always returned, and the pulses of pleasure continued to wrack my body. Sensing I wanted more from him, Josh continued to move on me until the final orgasmic contraction shuddered through me. We collapsed to the bed at the same time, and he quickly rolled to my side and gathered me into his arms. He must've kissed me a hundred times in the next minute, kissed me and told me how much he loved me, how beautiful I was, how wonderful, how unique. When we recovered, I said, "This is our place, Josh. This is where we'll make love, not where we live. Here we'll be lovers. At home, we'll be brother and sister." "I understand." "We were nearly caught earlier today." "I know. I understand." As we were leaving the museum, Josh pointed to the two vehicles in the garage, a new silver Mercedes S-Class Saloon and a black Cadillac Escalade. "Are they yours?" "They belong to the trust, but they're here for my use. Josh, in a few months, I'll be eighteen, legally an adult, and the trust will revert to my management. I'll need help managing my affairs. Will you help me?" He laughed. "Of course. I'd climb tall mountains for you, and I'm afraid of heights. How can I help?" "I'm not sure. Remember, considering your wonderful empathic talents, I asked what you wanted to do with your life?" "Yes." "Like you, I haven't figured out what I want to do with this life. I'm wealthy, so I don't need to scurry around tryin' to make money. Sir Edward created the collection, a wonderful legacy for me, and others in the future, because I'll make sure the collection is passed on to future recipients of our memories. Oh, I'll add to the collection but only a few pieces." I paused and sighed. "I want to leave this life feeling like I contributed in some worthwhile, unique way that's tied to my memories. When I figure out what I want to do, then I'll know how I'll want you to help me. I'm in no hurry to make that decision. I have a year to think about the future while I finish high school." "What about college?" "Yes, I'll go to college if whatever I want to do requires credentials. If not, I'll forego college." I laughed. "I've been to college a number of times already, or what passed for college during my various lives." "Makes sense. Sandy, I have two years of high school left, and four or more years of college. Please, don't leave me behind." "You know how important you are to me, don't you?" "I think so. I'm deeply touched that you shared your secret with me. I'm even more touched that you willingly share your mind and body with me. No matter what happens between us, Sandy, I'll never betray your trust." "Josh, I believe fate played a part in bringing us together as brother and sister. We have unique secrets, you with your empathic talent and me with my memories of past lives. I believe we were destined to be together in this life. That's why I shared my secret with you, why I took you to my bed. If I ever leave you, the parting will be temporary and for good reasons. I won't leave you behind, Josh." He smiled. "Thank you." He stopped smiling and squared his wide shoulders. "I see a lot of problems ahead for us, a lot of hurdles to jump." "Yeah, like our loving but fanatically religious parents." "We'll disappoint them, Sandy." "Yeah, we will - in the end." "When can we visit the apartment again?" I laughed gaily. "Horny toad!" "Yup." "I have a plan. I'm goin' to relieve Mom and Dad of the chore of teachin' you how to drive." "I know how to drive a car. I took driver's ed in school last semester." "Are you sure? I could give you a drivin' lesson two or three times a week." "Oh." He chuckled. "You're right. No doubt about it. I need a lot of help over the next few months before I take the test for my driver's license." ------- Chapter 4 The stifling hot days of summer followed. Carol married her returned missionary in the Mesa Temple. Jenny remained Jenny. Cal patched up his relationship with Cathy, and according to Josh, they finally did the deed. I turned eighteen, and Josh celebrated his sixteenth birthday, and we visited my apartment frequently. My brother became a phenomenal kisser, an even better lover, and I fell in love with him. My love for him wasn't gut wrenching or tremulous, but it was deep and abiding. But as I'd told Josh, I believed it was possible to love more than one person at the same time, so I anticipated I'd fall in love with another man or a woman or both during this incarnation. I think if Josh hadn't been my brother, if we could've been man and wife, created some children and a complete life together, that I'd have been satisfied loving only him. He adored me, and adoration is difficult to resist. Toward the end of the summer, Josh proudly announced that he'd gained what he believed was absolute control over his empathic talents. "I can be in a crowded room now, Sandy, and turn everyone off. For a test, I walked into a busy emergency room at a hospital. I felt no pain. No emotions, negative or positive, washed over me." I hugged and congratulated him. "I've also become a walking lie-detector. I studied polygraph equipment and testing methods, and then applied what I'd learned while connected empathically with a number of individuals, testing their heartbeat, blood pressure and respiration to questions I, or others, asked them. If I can establish a baseline for truthfulness, I think I'm as accurate as a polygraph machine." "Couldn't you sense if someone was lying before?" "Yes and no. I knew when someone was nervous about a question, but that didn't necessarily mean that the person's response was a lie. The key, I discovered, is establishing a baseline for truthfulness. Deviation from the baseline indicates a lie, not normal nervousness." "Unfair!" I cried out. "First you dig into my mind and heart, and now I can't lie to you and get away with it. A girl needs some secrets, you cad!" He knew I was kidding him, so instead of looking sheepish, he blew a raspberry on my belly. We were naked on my antique, canopied bed. "Lower," I quipped. "I just came in you." "So? Don't tell me you haven't tasted your own come before. You'd have to be an uptight, squeamish, neat-freak not to be curious enough to taste your own semen, and you're open-minded, far from squeamish, and border on bein' a slob. Eat me, you cad." He flashed his boyish grin and proceeded to clean his come out of my cunt, lapping it up like he was a thirsty dog at a bowl of water. Such a male! Girls lick pussies like a kitten with milk. Hmm, maybe I needed a change of pace. Besides, I hadn't tasted a pussy for a lot of years. Thinking back, I figured the last pussy I licked was about forty years before when I was Sir Edward. He wasn't big on pussy lickin'. I think he preferred cocks. Like me, I thought with a silent giggle. "School's starting next week," I said after I recovered from my climax. "Yeah, which will reduce our opportunities for private times like this one." "True, which means you'll need to acquire a girlfriend." "Argh! I wondered when that subject would raise its ugly head." "Josh, Mom's been wondering why we spend so much time together." "I know." "We need to appear like normal teenagers, you know, date other teenagers, that sort of thing. Gary Kerr asked me if I'd go to the movies with him." "When?" "Friday night?" "What did you say?" "Yes." "Will you fuck him?" I laughed. "Not on the first date. Waddaya think of Pearl Daley?" "For me?" "Yes." "She's sexy as all get out, but I think she's more interested in you." "Is she a lesbian or bisexual?" "Bi, I think." "Let's both fuck her." I didn't need to be an empath to see that my suggestion excited my brother. "At the same time?" he asked as he rolled atop me and pushed his hard cock into my pussy. "No, silly. Then she'd know about us. Look, I've been getting a yen for some lovin' with a girl. Take Pearl out, turn her everywhere but loose, and fuck her silly. When she starts hangin' around the house, I'll seduce her." I snickered and hunched my cunt up at his plunging cock. "Pearl and I will lick each other's pussy, and I'll time it so we climax together. You can be somewhere close enough so you can connect with both of us. Think of it! A double whammy! You can experience two female orgasms simultaneously. I bet you'll shoot ten feet into the air. Waddaya say?" He laughed. "I say let's do it." "Fuck!" I exclaimed when I struck my shin on the coffee table. I briskly rubbed the point of the pain with my hand. Before the day ended, I'd have a large black-and-blue bruise. "Fuck, fuck, fuck." "Sandra Johnson, such language!" Mom said. "If you were younger, I'd wash your mouth out with soap." I grimaced, wishing I had Josh's ability to monitor the whereabouts of my family members, especially my nosy mother. "Sorry," I muttered. "If only that were true." That evening after dinner, Dad called me into his home office. Mom was already there, sitting on the leather sofa in front of Dad's desk. I sat next to Mom. "We didn't ask you to join us to criticize you, Sandy," Dad said, "but we've both noted that recently you seem to be drifting away from the teachings of the church. You avoid family prayer, if possible, and you've..." "Sounds like criticism to me, Dad," I said and immediately wished I'd kept my mouth shut. He pursed his lips and shook his head. "You're right. I was being critical, but your mother and I are worried about you, Sandy. We both know the only way to true happiness is to follow the path set down by our savior, Jesus Christ, as revealed to the Prophet, Joseph Smith." When I didn't respond, he said, "Friday evening you have a date with a boy who doesn't belong to the church. We think that's unwise." "Criminy, Dad, it's just a date. I'm not marryin' him." "This is what I was talking about earlier, Stuart," Mom said to Dad. "Her defiant attitude." "It's rude to talk about me as if I'm not present," I said to Mom. Dad glared at me. "I don't like your attitude," Mom said. "There! I included you in my comment. Are you happy now?" I sighed loudly. "Are you forbidding me to date except with members of the church?" I asked Dad, ignoring my mother, like she'd ignored me. "No, we're saying it's not wise." "Why?" "The Kerr boy doesn't have a very good reputation," Dad said. "You can do better," Mom added. "Who, for instance?" "Aaron Kemp." "He's fat." "Slightly overweight perhaps, but..." "Who else?" "Joseph Campbell." "Hmm, not bad. Should I ask him out? He hasn't asked me." "No! I'll talk to his mother." "If you do, you'll be making a fool of yourself, Mom. I'm not Joe Campbell's type. Now, Jenny..." Mom threw her hands in the air. "See what I mean, Stuart." I moved to my feet. "I'll cancel the date." "Sit," Dad said. "We're not finished with this discussion." "Yes, Dad, we are. Look, I don't drink, smoke, or take drugs. I admit to stretching the truth once in a while, but I'm not a thief, a gossip, a bigot, a vandal, or a shrew. I'm a straight-A student, so I take my education seriously. Overall, I'm a pretty good daughter, but I'm not good enough for you or Mom. You don't want a daughter. You want a saint. Well, I can't be one, and for what it's worth, you were wrong earlier. I'm not drifting away from the church. I'm running away as fast as I can." On the verge of tears, I spun on the balls of my feet and rushed from the room. I couldn't remember being so angry with my parents. It took me a while, but I found my purse and dug out my address book. When I found the number I wanted, I dialed my cell phone. "Gary, this is Sandy." "Hi, Sandy. I recognized your voice." "Listen, I'm sorry, but I must cancel our date." "Oh." "It's not you, Gary. My parents are being unreasonable." He chuckled. "I know about unreasonable parents." "Thank you for being so understanding. If I clear up my problem with my parents, may I call you?" "Sure." "Thanks, gotta go." "Sure. Bye, Sandy." As I pressed the end button, a knock sounded at my door. "Go away!" "Are you all right?" Josh asked through the door. "No!" He opened the door and stepped into my room. "What's the problem?" "Mom and Dad." "Oh." "They don't want me to date a boy who's not a member of the church." "Oh, oh, I'm scheduled to meet with them shortly. Pearl's a heathen like Gary. I suspect I'll have to listen to a similar sermon. Are you keeping your date with Gary?" "No, I broke it, but they didn't absolutely forbid me to date him. Like a thwarted, spoiled child, I cut off my nose to spite my face and told them that I'd cancel the date. If I had it to do over again, I'd tell them to take a flyin' leap." Josh laughed heartily. "Then that's what I'll do. Did they ask you to get on your knees and pray with them?" "No, I left in a snit before they could make the suggestion." I went on to tell Josh everything that was said in the meeting. "Whew! That had to go over like a pregnant pole-vaulter," he said, referring to my statement that I was running away from the church. As angry as I was, I laughed. "Thanks, Josh." "No, thank you. Forewarned is forearmed." I was curled up with a trashy, historical romance novel when Josh knocked on my door after his meeting with our parents. He grinned. "Did you just read a sexy part in that book?" "Yeah. How'd your meeting go with the folks go?" "True to form. Your name came up a few times." "I'll bet." "Especially when we knelt to pray for your soul." "I'm happy I missed that. Are you breaking or keeping your date with Pearl?" "The date's still on." "Good for you. For two cents, I'd call Gary back and tell him our date was still on." With a silly grin, Josh dug in his pockets. "Gotta quarter, but no pennies." When I didn't respond, he said, "You're starting to distance yourself from them, aren't you?" "Yeah." "They won't bend. It's their way or the highway." "I know. I won't bend, either." "I figured. I bent." "I bent when I was your age, Josh." We didn't speak for a few seconds. "Good book?" Josh said. "No. It's a historical romance, but the author made mistake after mistake regarding the era she wrote about. I could've done a better job." "Do it then." "Uh-uh. If I were to write a historical novel, it would be a thriller, not a romance." "Then write a historical thriller. No, write twenty-two of them, one for each of your past lives." His suggestion stunned me. "Yes," I whispered. Then I shouted, "Yes! Perfect!" I jumped to my feet and hugged him. "You're a genius, Josh! That's what I'll do for this life. I can see ten thrillers about al-Biruni's life alone. I'll start tomorrow. No, I'll start tonight!" Writing is a bitch. Two days later, I finished the first chapter of my first novel, reread it and, after seriously considering a book-burning party, deleted it from my hard drive and started over again. My second try was no better than my first. I went to a bookstore, purchased a half-dozen books on how to write novels, read the books and tried again. Better, but not anywhere near good enough. Then I gathered representative books from my favorite thriller writers - Patterson, Deavers, and Sanford, if you must know - read, or rather reread the books, paying attention to each author's approach to the genre, as well as their writing styles, and my next try resulted in an incomprehensible mishmash because I used bits of Patterson here, a little Deavers there, and parts of Sanford in between. Pure garbage. I needed to find my own style, my own voice, and I reasoned that would happen only if I continued to write, and I was becoming more and more determined to succeed with each passing day. I needed an excuse to leave my unhappy home, and I figured a published novel would do the trick. Since my dispute with my parents, they'd been cool toward me, and I refused to add any heat to ease the conflict. Josh was right. It was their way or the highway. Oh, they wouldn't kick me out of the house, but they could certainly make living with them uncomfortable. Some of Mom's critical comments elicited some nasty retorts from me. Dad refereed a couple of times. Of course, he took Mom's side, so I tore into him with a few choice remarks, too. Cal and Josh wisely stayed out of the fray. Fortunately, Jenny had left for college - BYU, of course - or I would've had to listen to her pious condemnation, as well. Their first punishment involved the sudden unavailability of any of the family cars for my use. I retaliated by refusing to go to church the following Sunday, and Dad promptly grounded me. They left for church, and just as promptly, I called a cab and spent the day in my apartment. Josh joined me after church, and I fucked him until his dick was raw. Another row ensued when a cab dropped me off back at the house later. I'd refused to get Josh in trouble by allowing him to drive me home. School started, a welcome change, mostly because it afforded me an opportunity to get away from my mother during the day. I rode to school with Cal and Josh, but caught rides with friends after school, usually arriving just before the dinner meal, or if I could, I'd eat fast food and skip the family meal entirely. The situation was deteriorating faster than I wanted, and I'd decided to try to ratchet down the animosity between my parents and me by bending a little, when the dispute came to a head. Dad, in his infinite wisdom, decided that my sudden change in behavior came about because I was using drugs. When he insisted that I take a drug test, I think he expected me to hit the roof. Instead, I tamped down my anger and said calmly, "Fine, I'll take the drug test, but afterwards I'm outta here." "What are you implying?" Dad asked. "I'm eighteen, Dad. If I don't want to live here anymore, there's nothing you can do to stop me." "I won't support you! I won't give you a dime!" "Fine by me. Will you drive me to take the drug test, or will I need to call a cab?" He glared at me with abject fury in his eyes. "I'll drive you." "Does not giving me a dime mean I need to pay for the test?" His lips tightened. He was angry enough to hit me. Instead, he said, "I'll pay for the test." "Let's go." We rode in silence for about ten minutes. Dad broke the silence. "How will you live? You don't have any money." "I'll get a job." "What about your education." "I've decided to be a novelist. Writers learn to write by writing. I'll manage." I'd like to think that if Dad had made an effort, if he had stopped the car and returned home without insisting on the drug test, that I'd have backed away from my decision. He didn't make the effort. At the drug testing facility, I peed in a cup, and we started back to the house. "I don't want you to leave," Dad said. "Why? You don't trust me. You don't like me." "I like you. No, I love you, Sandy." Tears welled in my eyes. "And I love you. Mom, too. But, I can't live with you anymore. I can't be the daughter you want me to be, Dad. I'll pack a few things when we get home. May I come back and pick up the rest of my stuff later?" "Where will you go?" "I have a lot of friends. One of them will take me in tonight. I'll make some calls when I get home." Home. Hah! "May Josh drive me, or will I need to call a cab?" "I'll drive you." "No, Josh or a cab, Dad. You decide, and I'd appreciate it you'd make an attempt to stop Mom from creating a messy scene when I leave." He tried but failed. Mom and I said a few things we'd both want to take back later. In the end I called a cab from the curb in front of the house. I wandered through my museum. Each piece reminded me of one of my past lives. I'd planned to locate and acquire some artifacts or personal possessions for three or four of my incarnations to improve the collection. Now would be as good a time as any to make the acquisitions. Traveling, moving around this wonderful globe I called home was just what I needed while I honed my writing skills. My cell phone rang. I checked caller ID. Josh was calling. "Hi," I said. "Hi. Are you all right?" "No." "Are you at the apartment?" "Yes." "I'm en route. ETA five minutes." "Don't get into trouble with the parents on my account, Josh, not tonight. We can get together tomorrow. I'll be all right." "I told Dad I wanted to check on you. He tossed me his car keys." Ah, Dad does care a little. "Does Mom know?" "No way." "I figured. It was her way or the highway. I chose the road." "Mom's an emotional wreck, Sandy." "I know." "She loves you." I swallowed a sob. "And I love her, but we don't like each other, and we can't live together. She'll be all right in a few days. Her bad apple isn't in her barrel anymore." "Hah! You couldn't be more wrong. I never mentioned this because I thought you knew. Of all her children, you're her favorite, Sandy." His words stunned me. "She's devastated, an emotional roller coaster, so angry with you one second that she wants to scream, and so sad the next she can't stop a sob from hunching her back. After you walked out the front door, the approach/avoidance conflict paralyzed her. She wanted to run after you and take you in her arms. At the same time, she wanted you out of her sight." "Then she chose." "Yes, but when she ran after you, it was too late. You were riding away in a cab. She collapsed on the front lawn. Dad had to pick her up and carry her back into the house. She's asleep now." "Fuck," I breathed as the tears welled in my eyes overflowed. "I see the warehouse. Buzz me in." When I opened the door for him, tears were streaming down my face. He took me in his arms and held me, and a little later, we made tender, sweet love. Afterwards while he was holding me, Josh started to cry silent tears. "Temporary, the parting will be temporary, Josh." He'd been strong for me. It was my turn to do the same for him. "Where will you go?" "I've decided to acquire some pieces for my museum, so I'll be doing some traveling." "What will you tell the parents?" "That I found a job with a travel agency." "When will you leave?" "I'm not leaving you behind, Josh." "I know. When?" "Next week." "I wish I could go with you. I'd love to see the world through your timeless eyes, stand where you stood hundreds of years ago." "Oh, Josh, I love you so very much. Nothing could please me more than to have you by my side on the journey, but..." "I know. In a couple of years, I'll breakaway, too. Then we can travel together." "Yes!" "How long will you be gone?" "I'll fly to the Maltese Islands first. I had a short life there as a woman." "What were the years?" "1771 to 1789." "How long will you be gone?" "A month, two perhaps." "I'll miss you like crazy." "Place your hand on that panel, Josh." He did and the door opened. "Now gaze into the scanner by the next door." When that door opened, he turned and smiled at me. "Surprise!" I gushed. He took me into his arms and kissed me until my toes curled. My pussy started to cream, too. "I figured you'd need a home away from home if only to maintain your sanity." "You couldn't have given me a better going-away present," he said. "No one but you, Josh. You can't bring your girlfriends here." He looked offended. "Sorry," I said and hung my head. "You should be. You know I'll never betray your trust. I'd die first." "Don't be so dramatic. Dying to protect my secret would be stupid. You know where I keep the keys to my vehicles. Drive them once in a while to keep the batteries charged." "All right." I pulled a cell phone out of my purse. "This a satellite phone, and my satellite phone number is programmed in speed dial number one. If yours rings, and you can't talk, turn it off and call me back when you can. I'll do the same. Let's talk daily, Josh." "Uh-uh, twice a day at least." I removed another packet from my purse. "Inside this envelope is some cash. Keep it here at the apartment. Also, in the envelope you'll find a credit card in your name with a prepaid limit of $5,000. The cash you can spend on whatever you wish, but like me over the last few years, you'll need to be careful so the parents don't ask pointed questions about where the money came from. I set up the credit card so you could come to me anywhere in the world I might be at any given time. Please don't use the card for any other purpose. I'm a young woman, Josh, and I could find myself in trouble and need your help." When a worried expression crossed his face, I quickly said, "I don't expect problems, Josh. I'm just being prudent." I grinned. "Besides, perhaps we can arrange a weekend somewhere, just the two of us." His smile lit up the museum. "Malta?" I shook my head. "Too far. Too much travel time. If we can meet, I'll want to spend the time with you, not traveling. Los Angeles, probably. Maybe New York City. Now take me to our canopied bed and make love with me." ------- Part Two: Josh ------- Chapter 5 I stood bereft. My sister, my love, had just left me. Tears streamed down my face. I'd tried so hard. I wanted to be brave for her. I knew what she was feeling, and I wanted her to reach for and find the strength she needed in me, and I almost succeeded. I didn't start weeping until she walked away to board her plane. When she turned to wave goodbye, she saw my tears and ran back to me, held me, kissed me passionately, twisted out of my arms, and with a strangled sob and stumbling gait, rushed away without looking back. I stayed connected with her until her emotional signature blinked out. I'd never felt so alone in my short life. My satellite cell phone rang. "Goodbye, Josh. I love you," Sandy said when I answered. "A month or two, Josh. The days will fly by. You'll see." "Maybe, but the minutes will drag. I won't say goodbye. Call me tonight when you get settled. I'll sleep with the phone under my pillow." Sandy planned a day or two in New York and a couple of days in London with her financial advisors before flying on to Malta. She sighed with exasperation. "Come on, Josh. Buck up. This isn't the end of the world." "Yeah, it is, at least our recent world, but I hear you. That world had to end, but a new one is starting. Our life together will be a series of worlds, and the worlds we'll occupy won't be dull. They'll be full of adventure." Her new sigh expressed pleasure. "That's the Josh I know and love." "I love you, Sandy." "The flight attendant says I must turn off my cell phone." "Goodbye until we talk again." At the sound of the dial tone, I closed my cell phone and walked away. I'd be okay. For a month, I could stand on my head if I had to. About twenty feet down the concourse, someone said my name. Upon arriving at the airport, I'd turned off all empathic connections except Sandy's, so I had to flip the on switch to connect with the person saying my name, and I immediately recognized her emotional signature. I turned to the voice. Pearl Daley's smiling face greeted me. "I thought that was you, Josh," she said as she stepped up to me. Did she see my sister kiss me goodbye? Possibly, I decided as I scanned her emotions, but if she did, she wasn't revolted by what she saw. In fact, she was slightly aroused. "Hi, Pearl. What are you doin' at the airport?" "My parents were due in fifteen minutes ago, so I was here to pick them up, but their flight was cancelled. Engine trouble, the airline says. I could've saved a trip if I'd called first. What about you?" I studied her eyes, the curves of her pretty lips and focused on her emotions. "You know why," I said. She blushed, confirming my suspicions. "That was not a sisterly kiss, Josh," she said. Contradicting her would be fruitless. "I'll say!" I exclaimed. I fanned my face with my hand. "Whew!" She chuckled, pleasing sounds. "I think thou protests too much." "Did you notice me protesting?" I said, no doubt grinning like a damned fool because that was the look I wanted to present. "Anytime Sandy or any girl wants to kiss me like that, I'll stand and take it." Pearl linked her arm in mine. "Come on. Buy me a cup of coffee. We need to talk." She's confused, aroused and... yes, fearful. What's she afraid of? "Talk about what?" I asked. "You and Sandy." I stopped walking, and turned her to face me. That touch - both of my hands on each or her shoulders - amplified my connection, and for the first time, I felt more than a sender's emotions and sensations. What I felt was a comprehensible attitude. Not words, per se, but I understood in a general way what Pearl was thinking. Somehow, I had to alter Pearl's attitude about what she'd witnessed. "Okay, now I'll protest loudly," I said forcefully. "I don't appreciate your attitude, Pearl. You've blown what you saw all out of proportion. That kiss was part of a tear-ladened, heartfelt goodbye. That's it, nothing more." Sandy and I are not involved in a romantic relationship, I shouted silently. Hah! Mentally shouting a command won't work. I'm not a telepath. I'm an empath. I receive emotions and sensations from others, not their thoughts. During my study of empathic abilities in others, I'd read about some empaths who claimed to have the ability to project or send emotions as well as receive them. Doubt was an emotion. Could I make Pearl doubt her current attitude about what she'd witnessed? Try! You must try, I told myself. I gathered doubt inside myself and projected it outward, visualizing the emotion traveling down my arms to my hands and into Pearl. "Sandy's an emotional basket case," I said. "As you know, my parents are deeply religious, good Mormons, and not long ago, Sandy defied them, told them she wasn't drifting away from the church, but rather was running away from it as fast as she could. Last week, she packed up and left the house. Except for me, she's completely estranged from everyone in her family. She quit school, found a job, and just flew away to take the job. If you're implying there's something more between Sandy and me than a lot of sibling love and affection, I resent the implication." She didn't speak for a couple of seconds, just stared into my eyes. Did I blink. Yup, but blinking is normal. I also transferred another blast of doubt from my hands to her shoulders. "I'm sorry," Pearl said. After empathically checking her attitude, I grinned. Doubt had replaced certainty. "Apology accepted. Listen, from what you said, engine trouble scrubbed your plans for the evening, and I don't want to go home. I don't want to be alone, either. I need company, but I don't consider my stiff-necked family good company, not tonight. I'm so angry with them for the way they've treated my sister that I could spit nails. How about I pick up a pizza and meet you at your house?" She flashed a big smile and nodded. "No anchovies." "Deal." As I rang the doorbell at the Daley residence, I wondered if I'd dodged the bullet. Had the doubt I instilled in Pearl's mind held, or had certainty crept back in to dominate her attitude? The last thing Sandy and I needed was for Pearl to gossip about the passionate, goodbye kiss she saw. I also reasoned the best way to dodge the bullet wasn't with a silver tongue or through an untested, new empathic ability. Sharing some very intimate moments with the pretty girl would be more effective. Sandy wouldn't be upset, just the opposite. "You said you enjoyed your date with Pearl. Take her out again, Josh," Sandy had told me on the way to the airport. "Show her what a phenomenal lover you are." "Can't. She'll want to know who taught me." Sandy laughed gaily. "Then fumble around at first or fabricate an older woman as your sexual mentor, a woman older than me. Look, Josh, I don't want you harboring any expectations that I'll be faithful to you while I'm gone, and I certainly don't expect fidelity from you, not regarding sex, anyway. I do have faith that, no matter what happens, we'll always love each other." Yes, I'd enjoyed my date with Pearl. We'd had some burgers and went to a movie. I'd kissed her at the door when I said goodnight, and she'd kissed me back, so I figured she would be receptive to a little more romance. How far she'd go was open to question. Wearing designer sweats and a broad smile, Pearl invited me in. "I got the super-duper deluxe, everything but the kitchen sink and anchovies model," I quipped holding up the pizza box. I carried a large bottle of root beer in my other hand. "Let's eat at the kitchen table," she said. I admired her backside as she walked in front of me. Her world-class ass was definitely her most outstanding body part. Her best feature was a toss up between her soft hazel eyes and long, softly curled, light-brown hair that cascaded halfway down her back. I liked her long, sensuous neck and full lips, too. We made short work of the pizza and talked while we ate. Pearl was smart and seemed to be a caring person. I found her easy to talk with, easy to look at, too. I touched her a few times to test her attitude about what she'd seen, but she offered no insight because her attitude was now focused otherwise, principally on me. "I'm sorry about Sandy, Josh. She must be devastated," Pearl said as she started to clean up the dinner mess. I quickly scanned her emotions looking for doubt. Yes! Doubt was still present. "I don't know who's in worse shape, Sandy or my mother. My house has been a war zone the last month or so." I told Pearl about how my father had demanded drug testing for Sandy because of my parents' perceived change in her behavior. "Her behavior hadn't changed, Pearl. What changed was the fact that my parents finally understood how she truly felt." Then, I told Pearl how Sandy had willingly submitted to the drug test, but then decided the situation at home had become too uncomfortable for her to deal with anymore. "She thinks the folks don't like her and knows they don't trust her." "Was Sandy into drugs?" "No, the tests came back today. She was clean as a whistle. Sandy doesn't smoke, drink or take drugs for personal reasons, not because of religious beliefs." Pearl grinned mischievously. "You didn't mention sex." I huffed a laugh. "As far as I know, she's a virgin, too, but..." I shrugged. "She didn't date often. Accepting a date with Gary Kerr started the mess. Mom and Dad didn't like it. Kerr isn't a member of the church." "Neither am I and you asked me out." "I received the same sermon, but politely told them to take a leap." Yep, I enjoyed Pearl's melodious laugh. "Sandy took it a step further. She cancelled her date with Kerr, and told the parents to take their religion and shove it." "From observation, I don't think you smoke, drink or take drugs. Why? For personal or religious reasons?" "Personal." "I figured. You talk about the Mormon religion as your parents' religion, not yours." I grinned. "You're very observant and analytical. I like that in a girl." "Thanks. So, you don't smoke, drink or take drugs. What about coffee and tea?" "Never acquired the habits, but I like a cup of coffee in the morning once in a while, especially while camping." "What about sex." I really grinned. "I'm for it. What about you?" Teasing twinkles sparkled in her eyes. "I do like my coffee in the morning, and iced tea or an occasional cold beer tastes good on a hot, summer day, but I don't smoke or do drugs." I chuckled. "You're goin' to make me ask, aren't you?" With a giggle, she said, "Yep." "What about sex?" "Depends." I enjoyed the pleasant sensations stirring in her pussy, and the tips of her nipples had become super-sensitive as they rubbed against the material of the designer sweat top she wore. From the sensations she shared with me, I figured she wasn't wearing a bra. "On what?" I asked. "The situation." Emotionally, she was happy, but the fear I sensed at the airport had become more intense. "By situation do you mean the place and its ambiance, the person you're with, how you feel about that person, and how the person feels about you?" She laughed. "That pretty much says it all." "Personally, I've always considered sitting around a kitchen table a sexy place. The scent of an empty pizza box adds to the ambiance." I reached and toyed with her beautiful hair. That slight connection was powerful. Once again, I understood her thinking. She wanted me to kiss her. "I know how I feel about you," I said. "I want you. What I don't know is how you feel about me." Before she could frame an answer, I leaned and pressed my mouth to hers, fulfilling her desire as I'd perceived it. It was a soft kiss, undemanding, but with a touch of romance. She responded, but didn't press for more. Her fear increased, but the sensations roiling in her cunt became turbulent. While we kissed, my hand had moved from her hair to the silky skin of her face, which increased the strength of my empathic connection with her yet again. She wanted more. She wanted my hands on her breasts. My hand slipped from her face to the zipper in front of her sweat outfit. I slowly lowered the zipper while gazing into her hazel eyes. They were full of lust, and I noticed some sexy green flecks had shown up in the gray. She didn't stop my explorations, so I moved my hand onto her bare breast and kissed her again, this time with more passion. She leaned against my hand with her breast, but I pulled my hand back and teased the nipple with a circular motion with the palm of my hand. Her breasts were still girlish and not very large, but they were extremely sensitive. The nipple under my palm became as hard as glass. She didn't stop me as I rained kisses down her long neck and over her upper chest. She didn't stop me when I kissed a hard nipple, and nibbled on it with my lips. She didn't stop me when I licked it and then sucked on it, and she didn't stop me when I cupped her cunt with my hand over the material of her sweats. Her breathing had become ragged, and her heart was racing. "The scent of an empty pizza box does not add to the ambiance, Josh. It detracts from a romantic atmosphere. And the kitchen table might be sexy for a change of pace for an old, married couple, but nothing beats a large bed as the sexiest place to make love, especially the first time." She pushed my mouth off her breast and rose to her feet. Grabbing my hand, she pulled me up and out of the room. "I have a bed," she said. "It's not large, but it isn't a single, and I'll light some candles and put on some soft, romantic music, and... and I'm rambling, but I do that when I'm nervous, and I'm nervous, Josh. Please..." I shut her up by kissing her. "I'm nervous, too," I said after the kiss. I wasn't, but Sandy had advised me to fumble around at first. I wanted Pearl naked, though, so I pushed the sweat top off her shoulders and pulled the garment off. "Your breasts are beautiful, Pearl, not very large, but perfectly shaped and..." I bent and kissed a nipple. "... delicious." I fumbled purposefully when I tried to remove the bottom part of her outfit. She helped. "Get undressed," she said. "I'll light the candles and put on the music." While I stripped, I watched her scurry around. Her slim body delighted me. Watching her muscles flex and relax as she moved aroused me. Soon, candlelight flickered off her smooth skin. The music was a classical piece - an instrumental, mostly a violin whose notes sounded clear and sweet. I'd heard the song before but didn't know what it was called, and then the candlelight and music didn't matter when she moved into my arms atop her bed. While we kissed again, my hands moved over her aroused flesh, and using my empathic sense, I adjusted the firmness of my touch to her liking. She was still nervous and frightened, which seemed strange to me until my fingers started to dance over her vulva. When I dipped a couple of fingers inside her for moisture, I discovered the source of her nervousness and fear. My intrusive fingers bumped against a rubbery obstruction. "You'll be my first," Pearl said, confirming my discovery. "Are you sure you want... ?" "Yes! Josh, if you back out now, I'll never speak to you again." Early in the evening, I'd established a baseline for truthfulness for her. My built-in lie detector told me she was telling me the truth - except for her last statement. If I backed away, she'd speak to me all right. I suspected she'd give me a piece of her mind. "What about protection?" "I'm on the pill." "Do you have any thoughts about how you'd like to do this, or do you want me to take the lead?" I searched for and found her clitoris. It was large, larger than Sandy's, anyway. Pearl gasped with pleasure when my wet finger pads rolled over its throbbing surface. "You lead - definitely." The unvarnished truth. "All right. Would you like a program ahead of time or do you want me to surprise you?" "Surprise me - definitely. Josh, I'm so hot!" A few seconds later, she was hotter because my mouth had covered her vulva, and my poking tongue was jabbing her hymen. My connection with her sensations told me she liked her clitoris mauled, so I attacked it with my lips and tongue. She screeched and twisted her fingers into my hair, jerking my face tightly to her cunt, which forced me to alter my program. I'd planned to give her an orgasm with my mouth and enter her while she was still coming, but I didn't think I could extricate my head from her grasping hands when the time came. She was moaning and groaning and gasping, and her hips were waving and gyrating as she fucked my face. I loved it! Her climax when it struck minutes later was powerful. I nearly came with her, which would've been a disaster. Pearl Daley wanted to lose her virginity, and a soft cock couldn't get the job done. As it turned out, I didn't need to alter my plan because she relaxed her grip on my hair while she was still in the throws of her orgasm. I moved up on her and waved my cock head through her very wet cunt, settling it at the entrance to her vagina. Grabbing her hips, I pulled her toward me as I thrust forward. My cock jabbed deep and sharp, tearing through her hymen with that single thrust. Then I stopped. She whimpered with pain, and tears stung her eyes. I'd removed my empathic connection with her before I tore through her hymen, so I connected with her again. She was still hurting, but the pain wasn't unbearable. I waited. Careful not to move inside her, I leaned down and kissed her. "You're a woman now, Pearl," I whispered. "Yeah, I am." "Tell me when you want more." As a test, her hips moved a little, but she winced in pain, not pleasure. I wished my empathic ability could remove her pain, and the wish caused me to remember an article I'd read on the Net about psychic healing. What the hell, I thought, nothing ventured nothing gained. I visualized her torn hymen, the source of her pain, gathered the aches and stinging sensations from the ripped flesh and cast them away. I felt them leave, but as I relaxed they came rushing back, and Pearl gasped with pain again. Put them somewhere, I told myself and selected an air vent high up on the wall to my right. I visualized the interior of that vent and formed a receptacle to hold Pearl's pain. Then I gathered the aches and stings again and sent them to that receptacle. I waited. Pearl moved her hips again. No pain. A fluke? I didn't know, but I decided to experiment with the process in the future, as well as research the phenomenon, if it existed. "Are you completely inside me?" Pearl asked. "No." "How much more?" "A few inches." "Are you big for a man. You looked big." "An inch or so longer than average, and thicker." I sensed she could take more, so I pushed slowly into her. Some twinges of pain rippled through her, but she didn't pull back. Could I heal the wound? I'd eliminated the pain from the wound - maybe. But, the wound still existed and my cock rubbing against it created more pain. Could I repair the damage I'd caused? Once again, I visualized the ripped membrane, mentally concentrating on the torn edges, the broken blood vessels, the flesh exposed that had been previously encased and protected by the rubbery surface of the membrane. Then I visualized the healing process. I closed the ends of the broken blood vessels to stop the bleeding, folded the exposed flesh within the membrane, and finally sealed the join. Was she healed? I'd never know, but as a test, I forcefully shoved the rest of my cock fully inside her. Not even a twinge of pain! "There. You've taken all I have to give," I said. "I wanna see." She moved up on her elbows, and I pushed myself up with my hands so she could see the junction of her cunt and my cock. "I can still see an inch or so," she said. Her movements and mine had pushed my cock slightly back out of her cunt. I thrust forward. She groaned, this time with pleasure. "There, now I've taken everything you have to give," she said. I felt her pride with the accomplishment. I pulled back and slowly pushed my cock into her again. "Nice," she said. "I feel so full!" Her clit needed more attention - an understood thought from her. "Touch yourself." "Huh?" "Use your fingers on your clitoris so you can come again when I do." Her reach was tentative, but when her fingers found her clitoris, she stopped bein' bashful. As her arousal increased, my thrusts became longer and faster. I ignored my own sensations and concentrated on hers. They were powerful, yet delicate - feminine sensations, my favorite kind. "Your pussy is amazing, Pearl. It feels like a million little fingers massaging my shaft as I move in and out of you." "I'm hot again." Yeah, you are, I thought. She pulled her hand from her cunt to her mouth, dribbled some saliva on her fingertips, and moved her hand back to her clit. I felt her fingers flashing back and forth as I thrust into her. Her hips started to wave again, and we established a comfortable but quick rhythm. Her arousal slowly increased until she reached the edge. Would she try to hold the edge like Sandy, or push herself over into the orgasmic abyss immediately? Ah, she's holding the edge. Perfect. My thrusts became more powerful, and she threw her cunt at my cock with each thrust. I grabbed her hips again, and jerked her toward my thrusting cock. Slapping sounds echoed around the room as our bodies met. "Oh, fuck!" she wailed when her orgasm struck. I took her orgasm as mine. Semen boiled up out of my balls, rushed through my shaft and jetted into her cunt. I reared back and thrust into her again, and then again. Her orgasm reached that peak that took her away from her other senses briefly, and I made the journey with her. Exquisite! We collapsed back to the bed, and I rolled off her and gathered her in my arms. She must've kissed me a hundred times over the next minute. Tiny, appreciative kisses. I did some kissin', too, and my hands roamed over her silky skin, calming her excited flesh. Our pounding hearts slowed, and our ragged breaths smoothed out. With a happy sigh, she said, "I'd be willing to wager everything I'll ever have that no girl ever had a better first time than the one you just gave me, Josh Johnson. Thank you, thank you, thank you." "You were amazing," I said. "Brave, too. You moved through the pain and found pleasure." "Yeah, I did." She scrambled over onto my chest and kissed me. "Will we do this again? Not tonight. I'm too sore. But another time?" Too sore? Perhaps my healing experiment failed. "I certainly hope so," I said. "Otherwise I'd feel like a sex object, used and cast aside by an uncaring female." She slugged me playfully. "Oh, you... you tease." I wiped the grin from my face and said seriously, "Yes, Pearl, we'll do this again, and again, and again, and then do it again." "Pearl Daley saw you kiss me goodbye at the airport," I said to Sandy. As promised, I'd slept with the satellite phone under my pillow and was pleased when the soft ring took me out of a deep sleep. Sandy and I had been chatting for about five minutes when I dropped the bomb. "Fuck!" Sandy breathed softly. "Yeah, busted, but I did some fast talkin'. I think she bought my explanation." I described how I'd handled the problem without mentioning my attempt to project an emotion of doubt into Pearl's mind. I needed to test the viability of projecting emotions and sensations before revealing the new ability to my sister. Likewise with the casting-out-pain experiment I'd performed, as well, as my attempt at psychic healing. "Good job, but the scene she witnessed will fester in her mind. You'll need to do more, Josh. You know what you need to do, don't you?" "Yeah, fuck her." "Yup, immediately if not sooner." "How about sooner?" Sandy chuckled. "You didn't!" "Yeah, I did." "Ooh, that is so sexy. I want details. No, wait, let me get undressed first." I heard the phone hit the bed, the rustling of clothes, and then she picked up the phone. "There, I'm ready now. You won't mind if I play with myself while you tell all, will you?" I laughed heartily. "No, as long as you reciprocate sometime with a tell-all story of your own." "Deal. Was she good?" "A virgin, but..." "You're kidding!" "Nope." "I'll be dipped. Okay. Remember a good story has a beginning, a middle, and an end, so start at the beginning." ------- Chapter 6 I thought Mom would buck up and come out of the funk she'd plunged into when Sandy left, but she became more and more depressed. Dad busied himself tending the faithful in his flock and was essentially oblivious to Mom's deteriorating mental condition, mostly because Mom put up a happy front when he was around. A good Mormon wife's main job is supporting her husband's reverent works and being a superlative homemaker and mother. The church was patriarchal in its structure. Only men could hold the priesthood, which was two-tiered: the Aaronic and Melchizedec Priesthoods, the latter reserved for the faithful eighteen years of age, or older. At my age, I gave lip service to the Aaronic Priesthood and doubted I'd ever be ordained an Elder, the first title bestowed in the Melchizedec Priesthood. Women in the church assumed a supporting position, and they took the role seriously because they believed it was their only path to the highest level of Paradise where they would live for an eternity with their faithful husbands, children and family in the presence of God and Jesus. Note that I mentioned faith a few times. To buy into the church and its plan required a lot of faith, which Sandy and I lacked. The plan smacked of the long con to me, a profitable one, too. The church required a tithe of ten percent of all gain from each of its members, in other words, an income tax. One morning, I came upon Mother sitting at the kitchen table with silent tears streaking her pretty face. I sat next to her and took her into my arms. She sobbed quietly for a few minutes. I felt so sorry for her. She was a product of religious conditioning from early childhood that forced her to reject Sandy for leaving the church, and Mom's rejection forced my sister to reject her family, except for me. It was a vicious, hurtful circle. I felt certain if only Mom and Sandy would talk that the rift between them could be healed. Oh, Sandy wouldn't return to house and hearth. She'd made her break, and the break would've taken place eventually anyway, but a peace of sorts could be fashioned. I could read emotions and feel sensations from anyone within range of my empathic abilities, and I'd experimented with projecting emotions when confronted with Pearl's belief that Sandy and I were involved intimately. Could I lift my mother out of the depressed state she was in and instill a desire in the sad woman to talk with her estranged daughter again. The problem, if I succeeded in projecting an emotion at all, was how to connect the projected emotion with Sandy. I could try to project desire, for example, but how could I project a desire for my mother to speak with Sandy? But even more was involved. The desire should include not only speaking with Sandy but also making peace with her and accepting Sandy's break with the church - complex issues to handle with mere emotions. Still, I'd believed I'd understood Pearl's attitude, and at the time, her attitude consisted of complicated issues similar to what I wanted to project. If I could receive and understand the totality of an attitude, could I project one? While I held Mom in my arms, I visualized a reunion between my mother and my sister, a reunion of the happy sound of their voices speaking with each other on the telephone, and I added the healing of grievances. In other words, I created a bundle of emotions tied to events involving my mother and sister. I had bundled an attitude. I then concentrated and tried to project the bundle to my mother from my body to hers, from my mind to hers. "Can you contact Sandy?" Mother asked me a few seconds later. "Yes." My, God, did I succeed? "I have a phone number in London that will take a message for her." "She's in London?" "Yes." "Is she all right? Happy?" "Yes and no. I think she'd like to make peace with you and Dad." "Oh, Josh! I want that, too, more than anything! I love her so, and..." She started to cry again. "And I miss her! I miss the sound of her voice." "Yeah, I miss her, too." Mom patted my hand. At a less emotional time, the pat would've been condescending, but Mom honestly wanted to comfort me. "I know you miss her, Josh. The two of you were so close. May I have the number? I want to talk with her. I must talk with her and ask her to forgive me for some of the hateful things I said." I shook my head. "No, I promised Sandy I wouldn't give anyone the number, but I will arrange for the two of you to talk." Later that morning, I called Sandy and told her about Mom's desire to make peace with her. Again, I didn't mention my attempt to project an attitude. Mom's state of mind alone could've precipitated what happened. Sandy did a little crying, too. Mom and my sister had a lot in common. Both were loving and compassionate. "Is Mom home now?" Sandy asked. "Yes." "Where is she?" "In the kitchen." "Is she alone?" "Yes. Dad's at the church, and Cal's out somewhere with Cathy." "I'll call her now. Go to the kitchen, answer my call, hand her the phone, and then hold Mom's hand while I talk with her. I might want to know how she felt about our conversation later." When I walked into the kitchen, Mom asked, "Did you leave a message for Sandy to call me?" "Yes, I spoke with her. She'll call you soon." The phone rang. Before I could grab it, Mom answered. "Sandy! Oh, Sandy, thank you for calling." Mom's eyes shined, and she stood as if rooted to the floor. She'd need to relax a little, I reasoned, so I physically shuffled her to a kitchen chair, sat next to her and took her hand. She squeezed mine affectionately, and smiled, appreciating my supportive gesture. "I miss you, sweetheart... I'm so sorry for... I'll forgive you if you'll forgive me. I didn't mean... Oh, I love you, too, so very, very much. Are you all right? Do you need anything? Money?... You know your father didn't mean what he said about not giving you a dime. He wants to help you, support you in any way... He loves you, too... I'll tell him, but I think you should tell him yourself... When will we see you again?... Try real hard for Christmas, Sandy. Spend some time with us during the holidays if you can." Mom laughed, actually laughed, the first sign of joy I'd seen in her since Sandy left. I wanted to hug her. "The Maltese Islands!" Mom exclaimed. "My, you're becoming a world traveler, Sandy. I'll have to look them up in an atlas... The Mediterranean. My, my. Send us a postcard showing some scenery of the islands. May I write you?... Just a second. Let me get a pad and pen." I motioned for Mom to stay seated and grabbed paper and pen from the counter. "Go ahead," Mom said and jotted down an address, probably the same mail-drop address Sandy had given me. Because Sandy and I talked once or twice a day, we hadn't written to each other. "Yes, he's sitting beside me, holding my hand... I'll tell him. He's been missing you, too... Goodbye, sweetheart. Please call again soon. I miss hearing your voice so much you can't imagine. Call collect. We'll accept the calls from wherever you are in the world." Tears streaked Mom's face, but they were happy tears. "And call your father... Oh, Sandy, whether you follow the teachings of the church or not, you're still our daughter, and we want you to be a part of our lives... He's at the church... Of course, you can call him there... I'll call him and tell him... Goodbye. I love you, too." Mom handed me the phone. I checked for a dial tone and found one before I set the phone on its cradle. I then took Mom in my arms again while she cried. She felt as if a huge weight had been lifted from her - an attitude. I was sensing attitudes now! Before I would've only sensed relief. A few minutes later, she asked me to hand her the phone again, and she called Dad. "Stuart! Guess who just called?" she said excitedly. I left her so she could talk privately with my father. All was well - for the moment. Yet again, love had prevailed over anger and animosity. Or... no, love did it, not me. Pearl sat next to me in the noisy cafeteria of our high school. She leaned to my ear and whispered, "I want to kiss you silly." I chuckled. "Go ahead." "Later, when we're alone," she said, her eyes twinkling with happiness. Years ago, I'd started the bad habit of classifying those around me as either basically happy, or basically unhappy. I avoided the latter and spent my time with the former. It was a bad habit because my first impressions were frequently in error. Pearl, however, was one of the happiest girls I knew. I enjoyed being with her. A few minutes later, a couple of attractive girls walked by our table. One of them, Tanya Owen, smiled at Pearl and said hi. Pearl's sudden sexual arousal when she saw Tanya shocked me. "That girl's hot!" I said without naming names. Pearl blushed. A more normal response would've been to berate me for thinking and commenting that another girl was attractive. Yup, some girls could sexually excite my girlfriend as much or more than boys. "Why are you blushing?" I asked to press the issue, and then chuckled. "Ah, you thought she was hot, too. My, goodness, you're turned on." Her blush deepened. "No, I'm not." My built-in lie detector declared her denial a lie. Paul Gomez walked up to our table and plunked down his tray, his drink sloshing over the rim of the plastic glass. Paul was one of my mistakes. At first, I'd believed that he was basically happy, and I'd cultivated a friendship with him a few years ago. Later when my empathic power increased, I uncovered a mean streak deep inside him and had since unsuccessfully tried to distance myself from him. "Hey, lovebirds," Gomez commented. "That's us," Pearl said brightly. Gomez leered at her cleavage, which took an effort because Pearl didn't have much cleavage. "Jeez, Paul," Pearl said with a wan smile. "Leave my clothes on when you look at me." He laughed. "Sorry." He wasn't sorry; he was turned on. And angry. Was he angry because Pearl had rebuffed him or just plain angry all the time? Both, I concluded. Hal Owen, Tanya's brother, joined us next. Hal wasn't one of my mistakes. Happy-go-lucky described his attitude most of the time. I liked him and counted him a friend. "Hey, Josh, Pearl. Do you mind if I break bread with you?" I thought it curious that Hal didn't ask Gomez. "Not at all," I said. Hmm, Hal turns Pearl on, too, not as much as his sister, but I felt a twinge or two in Pearl's pussy. "Are ya goin' ta the game tonight?" Hal asked. He was referring to a high school basketball game, the first of the season. Hal was an avid basketball fan. He knew every statistic about the Phoenix Suns and was prone to spout some of them at every opportunity. "Yes, Josh and I are going together," Pearl said. "Will we win or lose, Hal?" "Win, big time. What about the dance after the game?" "Yes. I told Pearl I had two left feet, but she insisted anyway." I looked at Pearl. "So, expect some bruised feet when I stomp on them." "I'll be there," Gomez said. "And I can dance up a storm. They call me Freddie Baby, after Fred Astaire. Save a dance for me, Pearl." Instantly nervous, Pearl glanced at me. "I don't think so, Paul," I said. "Pearl's dance card is filled with my name." As I felt red-hot anger flash in Paul, I felt relief flood over Pearl, and she gave me a pretty, thank-you smile. Later as I walked out of the cafeteria with Pearl, she said, "I don't like Paul Gomez. He gives me the willies." I chuckled. "I know what you mean. I liked him at first, even went out of my way to cultivate a friendship with him a few years ago when I thought he needed a friend. I'm sorry I made the effort now. Underneath his phony cheerful attitude lies a mean-spirited, angry young man." She squeezed my arm affectionately. "You're right. That's what bothers me about him. He's friendly on the surface and mean as a snake down deep. I thought he was a good friend of yours and... well, I won't tell you who you should be friends with, but... ah, heck, I will, too." She giggled. "Of course, you can ignore me or tell me to take a flying leap, and I'll understand." "I like Hal Owen." "Yeah, me, too." "Do you know Tanya well?" With a blush, she said, "Yeah, she's a friend." The warning bell jangled, announcing that the next class of the day was about to start. I gave Pearl's hand an affectionate squeeze and said, "I'll see you after school." Pearl's father had given her a used Honda Civic for her sixteenth birthday. Since we'd become a couple, she picked me up and drove me home from school. I chipped in gas money. Because Cal usually had first dibs on Mom's car, more often than not Pearl and I also used her car when we went out. After school as we were pulling out of the parking lot, Pearl asked, "Do you need to go right home?" "Not really. What do you have in mind?" She laughed nervously. "Kissing you silly... among other things. Dad's out of town on business, and Mom drove to Tucson this morning to visit her sister." "Hoo boy! Sounds fun. I'll call my mother from your house and tell her I'll be eating with you. Pizza?" "Uh-uh. Let's do Chinese tonight." "Okay, should we pick it up on the way to your house, or go out later?" "Later. I've got this itch I'd like you to scratch before we go to the game. We'll stop at Chen's on the way to the game and eat in the restaurant." "Deal. About this itch or yours, where is it exactly?" Pearl and I were lying on her bed basking in the afterglow of shared orgasms. She nuzzled her face into the crook of my shoulder and neck. With my sexual needs momentarily sated, my thoughts drifted back to Pearl's obvious and sudden sexual arousal when she saw Tanya Owen at lunch. Had Pearl and Tanya been lovers sometime in the past? Perhaps they were still lovers. I figured I'd never know unless I asked. "Tell me about you and Tanya." Pearl's body stiffened slightly, and I felt fear grow inside her. "How long has Tanya been your friend?" She relaxed a little. "We went to grade school together." "Ah, I wondered." I kissed her softly and struggled inwardly about which approach I should take to ferret out the truth. I could continue with the subtle tactic I'd started or let it all hang out. In the interest of time, I elected a more aggressive path. I'd know if she lied to me. "Have you had sex with her?" I was immediately sorry I'd selected a forceful approach. As if from pain, Pearl cried out and rolled away to sit on the edge of the bed with her back to me. I didn't need to see her face to understand her feelings. Fear and sorrow dominated her emotions. Her shoulders shook as she started to sob. When I tried to take her into my arms, she squirmed out of them and rushed from the room. I heard the hall-bath door slam. Had she locked it? I'd fucked up, and I needed to make it okay between us again. I padded to the bathroom and tried the knob. The door wasn't locked, so I opened it and stepped inside. "Go away," Pearl said between sobs. "Nope. You're full of fear, Pearl, and there's no need." "Easy for you to say." "Yes, it is, because it's the truth." She was sitting on the john. I knelt on the floor next to her and took one of her hands in mine. She didn't shy away from my touch. My comments had confused her and my obvious concern for her feelings let her relax a little. But more was needed. Could I alter her attitude? "Look at me," I said as I created a bundle of emotions tied to the two of us and projected the attitude I'd created through my hand into hers. "No, you... hate me." I swallowed a laugh. "Hardly, you're my girlfriend. If you and Tanya have been lovers, heck, if you're still lovers, you'll still be my girlfriend." She turned her tear-ladened eyes to mine, probably to test my sincerity. I checked here attitude. Yup, she'd assimilated the bundle of emotions I'd sent to her. "Truly?" "Yes." "You don't think I'm sick or weird?" I grinned. "Nope. I think you're bisexual, which isn't a problem for me." She threw herself into my arms, nearly bowling me over. I held her while she cried some more, but the hard tile floor hurt my knees, so I rose to my feet bringing Pearl to hers as she clung to me. "Oh, I love you so, Josh. I thought I'd lost you. I thought if you knew how I was you wouldn't want me anymore." Oh, oh, she'd said the L word. Was she expecting me to say it as well? I didn't love her. I loved Sandy. Didn't I? Yeah, I did. Always! I'd always love Sandy, but... One thing for sure, I needed a conversation with my sister about what was happening between Pearl and me. "You haven't lost me, Pearl. I'm still your boyfriend. You're still my girlfriend. We're still a couple. Okay?" She nodded her wet face in my chest. "Now wash your face, make the repairs you need, and join me back in your room." "'Kay." Ten minutes later with red and swollen eyes but wearing a happy smile, Pearl cuddled up on her bed with me again. "How did you know?" she asked. "Logic." I explained some of my reasoning, omitting my super-sensitive empathy that gave me more clues than logic ever could. "Are you lovers past tense, or are you still lovers?" "Past tense - mostly." I chuckled. "Mostly?" "Yeah, well, after we... you know, I had to tell someone, and... ah, I knew Tanya would understand, and after I told her, she was hot, and telling her about you made me hot, and... you know." Fear struck her again. She'd just realized that she'd admitted cheating on me. "I think you and Tanya are what I'd call occasional lovers," I said to relieve the stress she was feeling. "Yeah, that's what we are." "I also think you haven't always been occasional lovers, that sometime not too long ago, you were frequent lovers. Right?" "Uh-huh, but it's been quite a while. We started when we were quite young, Josh. At first, we were just experimenting. She taught me how to masturbate, and... and then, well we touched each other." "And before you knew it, you were going down on each other." Her fear multiplied, but she tamped down the fear herself utilizing the attitude I'd projected to her that told her I accepted her bisexuality and her relationships with other girls. She said, "Yeah. Sick, huh?" "Some might think so. I don't." "Why?" It was time to reinforce the attitude I'd projected empathically with actual words that reflected the attitude. "I guess I'm open-minded about sexual preference. I'm one hundred percent heterosexual, but I understand that there are a few other combinations and permutations out there that turn others on. Who am I to say I'm right and they're wrong. Still, I think some sexual practices are sick. Pedophilia, for instance, and I can't understand the attraction to bondage or sadomasochism. Pain turns me off, not on, and the sick fucks preying on innocent children should be neutered." Pearl snickered. "I agree on both counts." "To be honest, Pearl, female bisexuality turns me on." "Really?" "Yup, so if you're sick, I guess I am, too." She hugged me and gave me a toe-curling kiss. "I have a couple more questions," I said. "Ask away." "How young?" "When Tanya and I started?" "Yes." She blushed. "Eleven." "Hoo boy, that's sexy. How long before you started goin' down on each other?" "We were almost thirteen the first time." Talking about her sexual shenanigans with Tanya was turning Pearl on. Me, too. She noticed my hard-on and wrapped her dainty fingers around it. "This is turning you on, isn't it?" she said. "Yup." And being able to speak freely about your bisexuality is turning you on, too, pretty one. "One more question, and I hope your answer is positive. I'll tell you why after you answer. Have you been with other girls?" All the air whooshed from her lungs. "Yes. Now tell me why you hoped I'd say yes." "Because I think that means you aren't in love with Tanya." She giggled. "Oh, I love her, but not the way you mean. Tanya and I are close friends and occasional lovers, as you put it. I'm in love with you, Josh. Is that what you wanted to hear?" Oh, oh, hoisted on my own petard. "Yeah." "Why?" Argh! "Because I think I'm fallin' for you." It surprised me to realize I'd told her the truth. Yep, Sandy and I needed to talk. After a heartfelt kiss, Pearl moved over me and straddled my hips. She stroked my hard cock a couple of times, moved higher on her knees, and then slowly sank her creamy pussy down around my shaft. "Ah!" I sighed. "Just what I wanted." "'Thought so. Me, too. We'll need to hurry, or we'll be late for the game." "Fuck the game. Fuck me." She laughed, which did marvelous things inside her cunt, which of course were translated around my cock. "What?" I said. "What made me laugh?" "Yes." "With only five words, two of the five being the word fuck, you managed to use the word fuck in both a negative and positive context." I joined her laughter. "Yup, you're a smart girl. Analytical and observant. My kind of girl. Now, hush and fuck me, or we'll be late for the game." "Fuck the game," she muttered as her eyes rolled back in her head. Yup, my kind of girl. Was she fantasizing about fucking Tanya? I was, imagining Pearl and Tanya fucking each other, that is. Mouths to pussies, girl flesh entwined in girl flesh. Sexy. Later when Tanya's face morphed into Sandy's, I climaxed - my own climax, not Pearl's. But when she climaxed moments later, I joined her, using her orgasmic sensations to come yet again. One thing about being an empath, it makes you a coming machine. Stuffed with egg rolls, crab puffs, steamed rice, kung pao chicken and sweet and sour shrimp, we arrived at the half-time festivities for the basketball game. When I teased Pearl about watching the cheerleaders as closely as I, her reaction was a giggle and a playful slug to my shoulder, so I knew we'd gotten past the problem her bisexuality presented earlier. I also concluded that Helen Demaris, one of the cheerleaders, was one of Pearl's lovers, whether present or past tense, I'd find out later. We won the game - big time. The after-game dance was next, the first I would attend since starting high school. Over the years, I'd gone to a lot of dances at the church (command performances), and frankly, I'd told Pearl the truth. I had two left feet. I think Pearl's primary reason for attending the dance was for everyone to see her with me, to announce to the school that we were a couple, that I was her boyfriend and she was my girlfriend. Her desire was harmless, so I'd caved and agreed to take her. As it turned out, going to the dance wasn't as harmless as I'd thought. ------- Chapter 7 I was having a grand time. Watching Pearl in action delighted me. Look at her! Good golly, that girl could dance! Watching her move on the dance floor made me recall how she moved over or under me when we made love, how she walked across a room with her sinewy muscles rising and falling just under her sleek skin, how incredibly limber she was, and I figured she'd probably taken dance lessons in her youth, including ballet. She was grace personified, but with a large dollop of sexy mixed in the grace. Telling Gomez I'd filled Pearl's dance card with my name ended up being a big, fat lie. We weren't at the dance five minutes, when Pearl was besieged with requests to dance. I'd obviously misjudged her reasons for wanting to go to the dance. She didn't want everyone to know we were a couple - well, maybe a little. What she really wanted was for me to discover and appreciate how talented she was as a dancer. She'd succeeded. I was impressed. The song ended, and she hugged Tom Bellini, her partner for the dance. She turned and searched for me, found me, and seconds later, she landed in my lap, and gave me a quick kiss. "I'm dancing with Tanya's date next. Ask her to dance with you, Josh." I nodded. Dancing with Tanya might be interesting. I'd seen Pearl and Tanya talking quietly together shortly after Pearl and I arrived, and when Pearl joined me again, her pussy was creaming. Had my girlfriend told her occasional lover that I knew about the two of them? "If it's a slow song," I added. It was, and I asked Tanya for the dance, which she graciously accepted, even after I'd warned her about my two left feet. She moved close to me, draped both of her arms around my neck and cuddled her face against my chest. I tried to move with the rhythm of the music and failed, but I noticed that Tanya had rhythm, so I connected with her, and let her guide me. She looked up at me and said, "Liar." "Huh?" "You don't have two left feet." I laughed. "As long as I let you lead, we'll be fine." "Like Pearl lets you lead in bed?" "Uh-uh, that subject is verboten." I stumbled over one of my left feet. Tanya laughed. I liked her laugh. I liked the feel of her in my arms. I liked her hard nipples poking my chest. I liked the stirring that was going on in her cunt, but I didn't like the hard-on that rose up in response to how much I enjoyed just about everything about her. I might not have been happy about my hard-on, but Tanya was. She didn't back away from it at all, just the opposite. She was tall, nearly my height in her heels, so she could rub her mound over my erection, which was precisely what she did, enthusiastically, I might add. "Pearl told me that you figured out how the two of us were with each other," she said. I didn't respond. Her mouth went to my ear, and she whispered, "How would you like to fuck her while she's eating my cunt?" I chuckled nervously. With all the worldliness I'd gained with my empathic talents, Tanya had still managed to shock me. My emotional connection with her was strong, and from all I could sense and feel, Tanya wasn't jerking my chain. She was serious and highly aroused. "Then we could switch, and you could fuck me while I ate her," she added. Of the two scenarios, Tanya preferred the latter. "I think Pearl would have something to say about your proposal." She giggled. "True. What do you think she'd say about it?" "You tell me." With another giggle, she said, "I think she'd want to scratch my eyes out. She's head over heels for you, Josh. Please don't tell her what I said. Her friendship is important and dear to me. It was just that you're so fucking self-assured. I wanted to shake you if I could. I also wanted to test your attitude about Pearl. You passed with flying colors, by the way." "Except for my hard-on." "Oh, that. That's normal. An erection just let's a girl know she's sexy. If you hadn't gotten hard when I moved into your arms the way I did, I would've worried that I'd lost my touch with the opposite sex." I scanned her deeply again, ignoring her sensations and concentrating on her emotions and her attitudes. I hadn't recognized she was pulling my leg, because she wasn't. She was very serious about the scenarios she'd proposed and would jump at the first opportunity to make the arousing fantasies real. There wasn't a question in my mind as to how I'd react if Tanya were successful in satisfying her fantasies. Tanya and I shared the same fantasies. I wouldn't be opposed to a threesome with Tanya and Pearl because I believed sexually fidelity was a little silly at best, and at worst smacked of ownership. For me to forbid Pearl from having sex with Tanya again implied I owned her, and I didn't own Pearl, and she didn't own me. Granted, my beliefs had come from discussions I'd had with Sandy, but they made sense to me. Besides, I'd have sex with my sister whenever I could as long as I lived, so Pearl and I would need to craft an open relationship that worked for both of us, or somewhere along the line, we'd flounder as a couple, and our relationship would self-destruct. I'd taken Tanya to her seat and was searching the crowd on the dance floor for Pearl. I knew approximately where she was because I was connected with her, but I couldn't see her. With a shrug, I started for my chair. I wouldn't mind sitting out the next dance. In the blink of an eye, Pearl's emotions went from happy to very unhappy. In an effort to determine the source of her discomfort, I spread my empathic connection to a radius of approximately five feet using Pearl's emotional signature as the center of the circle. Fuck, I muttered silently. Paul Gomez's emotional signature popped up. I stood and hurried toward Pearl. Gomez was furious. I'd never felt him as angry as he was. He was also drunk or drugged up, one or the other, maybe both. Pearl went from unhappy to terrified. I crashed through the crowd and came to a stop in front of Pearl but facing Gomez. "What's your problem, Paul?" I asked. "The cunt won't dance with me." His words slurred. "Then that's the way it is. It's her choice, Paul. Back off." "Fuck you, you fuckin' wimp. When I finish with you, I'll show her how to dance, and then show her how a real man fucks." He flicked his wrist and a knife blade flashed, reflecting the dim light in the gym. Unaccountably, the sight of the knife didn't frighten me, maybe because I figured Gomez was so out of it from booze or drugs that I could defend myself. I was wrong. He was quick, quicker than I expected, and he didn't hesitate. The knife entered my abdomen as if moving into soft butter. He took a step back and jerked the knife out of my stomach. I felt myself falling to my knees on the oak floor of the gym. The crazy fucker stabbed me! A silly thought, perhaps, but that's what went through my mind. My hands had automatically moved to the wound. I looked and saw blood oozing between my fingers. My, God, I could die! Like hell I would! That's when the pain struck. It was excruciating and debilitating. Like hell! I will not die! I had a way to deal with pain. I'd removed the pain Pearl was feeling after I tore through her hymen. I'd bundled her pain and cast it away. No! It came back then. It needed a receptacle. Gomez stood in front of me with an evil grin on his face, and so much hatred inside him I wondered why he didn't cut his own throat and be done with it. Gomez would make an appropriate receptacle for my pain. He'd caused it. I'd throw it back at him. I gathered the painful sensations in and around the wound and projected them toward Gomez with all the mental strength I had. What happened when my pain struck him astonished me. His body flew backwards as if he'd been hit head on by an eighteen-wheeler. His scream of pain pleased me. Like hell! I will not die! Forget Gomez now, I told myself. Fix yourself; repair the wound. I slumped to the floor and closed my eyes. Visualizing the wound, I looked for bleeding blood vessels and closed them one after the other starting deep and moving out toward my skin. I didn't know the anatomy of the abdomen, but I knew the stomach was located behind or just under the ribs. My wound was lower and probably involved my intestines, not my stomach. To my mind, the intestines were like sausages. The waste matter of the body was akin to the meat inside a sausage, and this junk was contained within a thin, surrounding membrane. I searched for cut intestines and leaking waste products and repaired the cuts by mentally resealing the sliced membranes. I didn't know what to do with the waste that had leaked into my abdominal cavity from the damaged intestines, so I ignored that problem. Had the knife hit any bone? I didn't think so, but I couldn't be sure. I searched for damaged bone and found none. With a sigh, I opened my eyes. I'd done all I could to heal myself. My eyes focused. Holding me in her lap, Pearl looked and felt terrified. Tears were streaming down her cheeks. I cancelled her connection, and all other connections in the room just as darkness descended on me, engulfing me like a heavy fog. And then I felt nothing, not even myself. The sun was shining when I opened my eyes, which wasn't all that unusual, but I felt disoriented. And thirsty! I was very thirsty. My eyes focused, and I discovered I was in a strange room, a hospital room, I decided after taking in what I saw around me. That's when I remembered Paul Gomez and the knife. I tried to smile, but couldn't. Why smile? Because I was alive! After Gomez stabbed me, I was determined not to die, a determination so intense that I'd expelled the pain, casting it into Gomez's body, and then tried to repair the damage to my abdomen the knife had caused. I'd succeeded. Argh! Maybe not. Maybe I did nothing, and doctors repaired the wound. Whatever. I was alive! A pretty face with tired eyes loomed over me. "Mom," I croaked, my throat so dry I couldn't talk. She placed a straw in my mouth. "Drink," she said. Ah, the nurturer. How did she know how thirsty I was? "How am I?" I asked after swallowing a little water. I knew I was hurting, and I knew how to get rid of pain. I glanced around for a receptacle. Ah, another air-conditioning vent. "The doctors say you'll be all right," Mom said. I gathered my pain and cast it into an imaginary container I'd created inside the vent. "Any lasting damage?" I asked as I established an empathic connection with my mother. I wanted the truth, and while connected I could use my built-in lie detector. "No, but there's a chance for infection. They plan to keep you here for a few days for observation and treatment. Your father and some other Elders from the church just left. With the laying on of hands, they prayed for your quick recovery. Prayer is a powerful healer, Josh." Humph. She was telling me the truth as she saw it. A chubby, middle-aged woman wearing the uniform of a nurse stomped into the room on thick rubber-soled shoes. The black roots in her blonde hair showed through. I liked her honest smile, though. "Ah, you're back among us. How are ya feeling, young man?" she said with a gravelly voice. "Sore." "I should hope ta shout you're sore! You've been sliced and diced, first by that no-account that stabbed you, and then by the surgeon who opened you up to make the repairs. You confused him, though, and Doctor Sanford isn't easily confused. He says your immune system must be awesome. You'd started to heal before the paramedics dropped you off at the emergency room." "The power of prayer," Mom whispered, her eyes focused in the distance. "After being notified of your injury, Josh, your father and I prayed for you all the way to the hospital," she said with the fervor of a true believer. Criminy, I thought, Mom and Dad will have me on my knees thanking God before the doc removes the stitches. "I got a touch of the arthritis, Ma'am. Do a little prayer for me. I could use the relief." The black-rooted blonde winked at me as she took my wrist in her hand and checked her watch. "What happened to Gomez, the guy who stabbed me?" I asked. "They got him belted down and tranquilized to the gills in the psyche ward," the nurse said. "A real nutcase, that one. Swears you transferred your pain to him. Now that'd be a trick I'd like to get a handle on." "Yeah, me, too. A knife in the gut isn't fun." "There's a bunch of teenagers waitin' ta see you, young man. I'll allow one. Gotta preference?" The teasing twinkles in her eyes tickled me. "How about a pretty girl named Pearl?" "Good choice." She grinned and turned to my mother. "One visitor at a time, Ma'am." "But..." "Ah, give the boy a break. He's got one comin'." Mom chuckled. "Oh, all right." She walked to the bed, leaned over and kissed my cheek. "I'll be right outside if you need me, Josh." A minute later, Pearl entered the room. I connected with her, but then broke the connection - too many negative emotions. "Hey, pretty one," I said with a smile. "Why so glum? I'll be fine, so cast all the negative emotions you're feeling away, and put on a happy face." She gave me a lovely smile, so I connected with her again. Better. "I'm a sick man. Aren't you supposed to hold my hand?" My grin told her I was teasing. She took my hand anyway. "A little kiss wouldn't hurt, either." "Oh, you... you, tease." "Ah, come on, just one little kiss." When she kissed me, I stuck my tongue in her mouth. She backed away looking shocked. I laughed, which brought on some more pain. Some pain is good, I reminded myself. Pain tells your body it has a problem it needs to deal with. Still, I saw no reason to put up with discomfort for more than a second or two, so I bundled the new pain and shoved it in my imaginary container in the vent. Was Gomez near by? If he was, I'd send the pain to him. I searched for his emotional signature. Shucks. Sorry, vent. "The tongue was to lighten you up, pretty one. Did it work?" "Yeah. I'd love to slug your shoulder. That's what I usually do when you tease me." "Go ahead. The knife went in my gut, not my shoulder." "Oh, Josh, I've never been so terrified. I thought you were going to die!" "I'm too ornery to die. I understand they've got Gomez in a straightjacket in the psycho ward." "Yeah, that's what I heard, too. Josh, he stabbed you, stepped back and watched you go to your knees. Then all of a sudden, he went flyin' through the air like he'd been pushed. And scream! He screamed like he was in awful pain. He writhed around on the floor, screaming and cursing, cursing you, mostly, but me, too. It was weird, very strange." "He went off the deep end, Pearl, lost it completely. Either that or he's faking it to get out of goin' to prison." "He's a minor, Josh. He won't go to prison." "Reform school then, or wherever the hell they send assholes like him. Let's not talk about Gomez anymore. How are you? Did I ruin your pretty dress by bleeding all over it?" "I'm fine now. I was a basket case most of the night. I refused to leave the hospital until I could see you, until I could talk with you. My mom got upset with me, but I wouldn't leave. No one could make me leave." She grinned. "I'm fine now. And yes, you ruined my dress." "I'll buy you a new one." "I don't care about the fucking dress, Josh. I care about you. I love you." "Yeah, well, I love you, too." My words thrilled her. All the stress she'd been under suddenly melted away like snow in a furnace. Her smile lit up the room, and she kissed me again, a soft romantic kiss while she held my hand. The brassy nurse stepped into the room. "Hey, no smoochin'. Smoochin' gets my patient all riled up, and he needs to rest. Tell him goodbye for now, young lady, and go home and get some rest yourself. You've been up all night. You've gotta be dead on your feet." "Goodbye for now, Josh. I'll see you later today." Alone - finally. Time to check out Doc Sanford's work. I closed my eyes and visualized my abdomen. As my mind's eye wandered around my protoplasm, I realized I'd put myself into some sort of light trance that was similar but slightly different than the method I used to scan a person for their emotions. I searched for changes since my last incursion into the wound and found a few differences. The knife or Doc Sanford's scalpel had nicked or sliced skin, muscle, and small and large intestines. When I checked the anatomy of the abdomen later, I discovered that the sliced large intestine was labeled the descending colon. The wound was on the left side, so the knife hadn't struck my spinal chord, and it was low enough to avoid a rib or the spleen, and fortunately high enough to miss the pelvic bone. I'd been lucky. I found the sutures the doc had made to the intestines, but waste still leaked between some of the knots, so I sealed the openings. Once again, the big problem was the waste products that had leaked from the intestines. Could I solve the problem? I needed to separate the impure from the pure, and expel the impure from my body. I reviewed my conversation with Dr. Sanford. "What about the nasty stuff that leaked from the cut intestines into my abdomen?" I'd asked. "I removed most of the nasty stuff, as you call it, during the operation. The lymph glands or nodes should handle what's left. The lymph nodes are fleshy pea-shaped structures found in groups or chains throughout the body," he'd said pompously. "They serve to trap infection and foreign material by acting as a sieve and produce antibodies that help fight infection and provide immunity against infection." "I understand - maybe. Which lymph nodes will trap the nasty stuff floatin' around inside me?" Using a finger as a pointer, he said, "The spleen acts as a specialized lymph node. It's located about here." He touched my belly on the left side just below my ribs. "And the chain of nodes in and around your groin will do some of the trapping." So, armed with that knowledge, I searched first for the lymph nodes in and around the left side of my groin, found them, and did some shuffling with the nasty stuff. I watched as the lymph nodes did their job. What worried me was the immediate swelling of the nodes. The doc had mentioned what he called lymphoedema, or the swelling of a part of the body due to the obstruction to the flow of the lymph. It appeared my shuffling had plugged up the flow, so I did some mental massaging to get everything moving again. The swelling went down. I left the spleen alone. The doc said it was a specialized lymph node, and after inadvertently plugging up the flow of the lymph glands down below, I didn't want to risk making an even more serious mistake above the wound in the spleen. Next, I healed the muscles where they'd been sliced by Gomez's knife and the doc's scalpel from the inside to the outside, leaving the bandaged sutured incision on my skin as it was. A completely healed wound would confuse the doc even more than he was already confused. Once again, I'd done all I could, so I moved out of the slight trance and opened my eyes. Mom and Dad had entered the room while I'd been performing the repairs in my abdomen. They were holding hands, and their heads were bowed in prayer. I closed my eyes again. If they noticed I was awake, they'd have me praying with them. Sandy! That's when I thought of Sandy. I needed to talk with her, and the need was sudden and desperate. What if she'd called and couldn't reach me? What if she needed my help? The satellite cell phone, where was it? No, I was in a hospital. They wouldn't let me use the cell phone. Argh! I didn't know the number. I used speed-dial number one all the time. "Has Sandy called?" I asked my parents, interrupting their prayer vigil. "No," Mom said. "Where are my things? My cell phone?" "I don't know. I'll check," Mom said. "You seem upset, Son. Why?" "No, don't check." Fuck! Mom would discover two cell phones, not one, and she'd question me about it. "I'll ask the nurse. I have Sandy's number programmed in the speed-dial function of my cell phone, but they won't let me use a cell phone, not from here in the hospital, so forget it. I wouldn't be able to call her until I'm released anyway. If she calls, please give her the number for the phone here in my room." "All right. How are you feeling, Son? Are you up to praying with us?" After the parents left, I accosted my brassy nurse about the whereabouts of my things. "I'm particular concerned about a satellite cell phone I use to contact my sister. I know I can't use a cell phone inside the hospital, but I could determine the number I need to call her. It's programmed in the speed-dial function of the phone." The nurse raised one eyebrow. "This is important to you?" "Very." "I'll see what I can do. In the meantime, let's get you out of that bed. It's time to spread your wings, little birdie. If you can't fly, you can't leave my nest." "What a good idea!" If I could walk, I could step outside and call Sandy. The nurse disconnected everything attached to my body, and I rolled my feet to the floor and stood up. A twinge of pain in the sutured incision doubled me over a little, but I felt no pain below my skin inside my abdomen. Had I repaired everything? "First things first," the nurse said. "Would you like to take a leak?" "Yeah." She helped me to the bathroom. When I was standing in front of the john, I said, "How about some privacy?" She chuckled. "Sorry. Hospital policy." A lie, my mental polygraph told me. The curious woman wanted to see my dick. Hell, I didn't care, so I grabbed, aimed and let fly, missing the bowl initially, but correcting my aim until urine splashed water. I groaned with pleasure. "Feels good, huh?" the nurse said. "Yeah." I shook off the excess urine and said, "Let's take a walk." "All right. We'll walk down the hall a few feet, turn around and put you back in the bed." "You just watched me take a leak. I should know your name." "Bertie," she said, pointing at the hospital ID tag pinned to her uniform. "Bertie, is my ass hangin' out the back of this gown?" "Yep, and a cute ass it is, too." "Argh!" She laughed heartily. "You're doin' great," she said as we moved down the hall. Oh, oh, here comes Pearl. What the hell, she's seen my cute ass before. Argh! Tanya hasn't, though. I'd recognized Tanya's emotional signature a moment after identifying Pearl's. The elevator doors opened, and Pearl and Tanya stepped out into the hall. They spied me immediately. "Hey, ladies, how about a game of tennis?" I quipped. With my satellite cell phone in hand, I peeked around the door into the hall. Clear. I hurried out of the room, but before the elevator doors opened my nurse accosted me. "Where do you think you're goin', young man?" "Outside to make a call." I held up the cell phone she'd retrieved for me earlier. "No way, buster." "Ah, come on. This is important, Bertie." "Keepin' my job is more important." "How about a wheel chair then, and someone to wheel me outside. I'll make a quick call, give my sister the phone number to my room so she can call me, and go back to bed." "You'll go back to the bed right now. Gimmee the phone. I'll make the call for you." "You're a gem, Bertie," I said as I handed her the phone. "Just turn on the phone and use speed-dial number one." "Buns of steel," she muttered as she watched me walk back to the room. Ten minutes later, the phone next to the bed rang. I answered before the first ring ended. "Sandy?" "Yes! What's goin' on?" "I'll tell you everything. First you. Did you need me? Did you get into a jam and need me?" "No, I'm fine. I'm in Corfu. You first. You're in a hospital. What happened?" I told her everything, and I mean everything, about being stabbed, about throwing my pain at Gomez, about healing myself, about sensing attitudes as well as emotions and sensations, and about projecting emotions. We talked for an hour, and when we were finished I'd fallen in love with her all over again. But we weren't finished. I needed to tell her about how I felt about Pearl. "Ah, there's more, Sandy. It's about Pearl and me." "You love her." "Yeah. I don't love you any less, maybe more, but I love Pearl, too. You said love wasn't limited, but I didn't believe you. Now..." "I'm so proud of you, Josh, I could burst. I wish I was there so I could hug you to pieces." "You're not, though. You're in Corfu. Where's Corfu, and why are you there?" "Corfu is a Greek Island. I lived here as a woman from 1291 to 1348. My collection is a bit shy of artifacts from that life." "Were you successful in Malta?" "Yes! I uncovered a first-edition book that I owned during that life, a real find, Josh!" "Where to after Corfu?" "Auckland, New Zealand, and then back to Phoenix." "Ah, how about a quick trip to Phoenix first, and then New Zealand. I miss you, Sandy!" "Hmm, all right. I'll spend a week in the apartment, then a long weekend with the parents, including Christmas day, and then fly to New Zealand." "Great! I can hardly wait to see you!" "Yeah, me, too. I've stayed busy to avoid feeling so lonely, Josh." "Well, you won't be lonely while you're here. I'll be out of school for the holidays by then, and I'll spend every minute I can with you." She chuckled. "What about Pearl?" "I won't ignore her completely, but... ah, you're teasing me." "Yup. Listen, from what you told me about how you healed yourself, I think you used some techniques from traditional Chinese medicine. Remember I lived as a male in China..." "Yes, you told me. The years were 1454 to 1498." "You remember the years!" she said with astonishment. "Yeah. I've memorized your timeline as far as you've revealed it so far." "Amazing, but I don't know why I'm surprised. You amaze me at every turn, Josh. Oh, I love you so, and I miss you." "You've got tears in your eyes, huh?" "How did you know? Can you connect... ?" I laughed. "No, logic, Sandy. Oops, Bertie, my nurse is frowning at me." "I'll let you go. I'll call you later tonight." "Do that." ------- Chapter 8 Time dragged. Besides waiting impatiently for Sandy's return, I discovered convalescing is essentially boring and when bored, time slows. Reading helped, but daytime television had nothing to offer. I spent time on the computer studying anatomy, but that got old mighty quick. The only thing I enjoyed was sketching, but no one would pose for me. I did sketch a few hundred cross-sections of the human anatomy for something to do. Mom was acting like a mother hen with one lone chick, which was fine at first, but soon became irritating. I was completely healed, but the fact that I didn't actually fit the normal timeframe for recovering from a wound like mine didn't mean much. I couldn't tell anyone but Sandy that, except for the surgeon's incision, I'd healed myself before I left the hospital, and I took care of that problem my first day home. I would've left the incision alone, but it started to itch. The best part of each day was when Pearl dropped by with my homework, mostly because we did a little necking before she left, well maybe more than a little. The third afternoon after I'd been released from the hospital, Pearl locked the door behind her when she entered my room. She plunked my homework on my desk and said, "Here's the deal, Josh. I know we've done it, but I'm not very good at it, and I figure that the only way to improve anything is through practice." I was sitting on my computer chair. I'd been surfing the Net studying anatomy and doing some sketching just before she arrived. "What would you like to improve?" I asked. "Cock sucking." Whew! Talk about instant hard-on material! "Would you mind bein' my test subject each afternoon until you start school again next week?" I laughed. "I'll consider that question rhetorical." "I know you're mother is nosy, so I'll keep my clothes on and take care of myself after I leave," she said as she knelt on the carpet between my legs. "How?" She blushed but said, "You know how." She unbuckled my belt and unzipped my pants. I helped and seconds later my trousers and shorts were down around my ankles. "Yes I know, but I see more than one option." "Waddaya mean?" she asked as she wrapped my hard-on with her dainty hand. "Well, there's masturbation." She grinned and rubbed my cock against her soft cheek. "Yup." Then she frowned. "Oh, you mean... ?" "Yeah, Tanya." "Josh, I haven't been with Tanya since that time I told you about." "Why not?" She looked and felt confused. "Because I love you, silly." "What's that got to do with it?" She became even more confused. "Because it just wouldn't be right." "Says who?" "Well, says everybody." "Your parents?" "Yes." "Tell me, what would your parents think if they could see you now? They'd think what you're doing is wrong. Correct?" "Well, yes, but..." "So, we've established that you believe in free will. You're doing something you want to do against your parents and society's dictates regarding right or wrong." "I guess." "Next question. Do you believe what you're doing right now is wrong?" She grimace and seriously considered my question. "No." "Ah! We've arrived at the core of the subject already. I adore your analytical mind, Pearl. Ah, heck, I adore you period." She beamed. "So," I continued. "Each of us - you, me, everyone - has a right to choose what's right and what's wrong, subject of course to reasonable laws designed to protect the weak among us. I used reasonable as a modifier because, if I'm not mistaken, some states still proclaim oral sex a crime, to my mind an unreasonable law I won't obey." "Me, either. It's a silly law." "Agreed." "You're goin' soft." I laughed. "A problem you can remedy lickety-split in a minute or two. Let's finish this discussion first. It's a subject I've wanted to talk with you about for a while now." I pulled at her hand. "Straddle my lap while we talk." She hiked up her short skirt and sat on my lap, her legs dangling each side of my thighs. Scooting forward, she rubbed her panty-covered pussy against my partial erection. I gave her a soft kiss and said, "Which means that you and I, subject to reasonable laws, can fashion a set of behaviors that we'll agree to stay within, not like wedding vows, but probably just as important, at least if we want our relationship to continue." "Makes sense." She'd gone all squishy inside when I mentioned wedding vows, so I turned off my connection with her. I didn't want to be tempted to toss an emotion her way while we talked. I wanted her agreement. I didn't want to force her agreement. "Let's start with some facts," I said. "You're my girlfriend; I'm your boyfriend; we're a couple. Agreed?" "Yeah." "Good, now let's define what that means in terms of behavior. You stated earlier that because you loved me that you wouldn't have sex with Tanya again. Correct?" "Yup." "Why? Because I might be jealous?" "Well, yes. I love you. I don't want to do anything that could hurt our relationship." "That's what we're trying to determine - what behaviors will hurt our relationship. You assumed having sex with Tanya would make me jealous without asking my opinion on the subject. Whether on my part or yours, assuming will get us in trouble. One of us will do something we assume is all right, and the other will disagree." "Okay. Tell me now. May I have sex with Tanya?" I laughed. "Now you're asking for my permission, which I won't give you. Wanna know why?" "Yeah." "Because I don't own you." "Of course you don't, but..." "Pearl, if you can't do something without my permission that implies that I own you. Criminy, Pearl. It's your body. You can fuck anyone you want. I don't have a say in the matter unless we finally agree on a set of behaviors both of us can live with." She frowned. "I think I know where you're heading with this. You want to fuck around, don't you?" "Nope, I want us to fashion a set of rules we can both live with - no matter what. Are you saying we should include sexual fidelity as one of the rules?" "Yes." "Why?" "Because... well, sexual fidelity... it's normal, Josh." "Fuck normal. We're special, two unique individuals. Normal shouldn't be our guide. Normal for me would be the rules dictated by the LDS Church. I've been conditioned in the church's precepts since babyhood. If I were normal, I'd want you to join the church. Is that what you want?" "No." She looked whipped. "Then, dammit, tell me what you want. If you want some fun between the sheets with another girl once in a while, say so. Don't try to second-guess what you think I want. Say what you want." "You first, dammit!" she exclaimed, her anger evident in her eyes. "Fine! I don't what our relationship based on sexual fidelity. I think sexual fidelity is silly as the cornerstone of a successful relationship. You'll slip or I will, and you and I will be all over but the shouting. Now, tell me what you want." "I want what you want." "Unacceptable. This is important, Pearl. Look me in the eye and tell me what you want." "I... fuck, this is hard." "Yeah, it doesn't get any harder. Just be honest with me. When this conversation is finished, no matter what you want or say, we'll still be a couple, unless you want to call it quits." "I won't. I love you." "Then tell me what you want." "I want you to be faithful, but I'm bisexual, which means I want sex with girls, too." "Finally," I breathed. "Which isn't fair, but that's the way I want it." "Fuck fair. We're trying to figure out how to keep what we have alive and well, not be fair." "Will you be faithful?" "Before I answer that question, let me tell you how I want it between us." "I thought you'd already told me. You think sexual fidelity is silly." "No, I said sexual fidelity as the cornerstone for a relationship is silly. Sexual fidelity isn't silly. It's imperative. It's part of the honesty that must flow between two people who love each other. A synonym for fidelity is trustworthiness. If I cheated on you, snuck around behind your back and had sex with others and lied about it, you couldn't trust me anymore, and our relationship would self-destruct." "I'm confused. Explain." "I'll give you an example that's not only possible but likely. Let's say I interrupted you and Tanya or another girl having sex and joined you because you wanted me to join you, would you consider me unfaithful?" "Is that what you want?" "Argh! Sometimes you can be infuriating. I'm merely trying to fashion a definition of fidelity, or trustworthiness that we can live with. Answer my question." She looked me in the eye, kissed me hard, and said, "No, and, Josh, I just might want that, too. I've got a question for you." "Shoot." "If sexual fidelity isn't the cornerstone of a successful relationship, what is?" I grinned. "That's easy. Love." She smiled softly, and love shined in her eyes. "Beautiful," she gushed. I reconnected with her. She was bursting with love and highly aroused, and sharing her arousal quickly lengthened my cock. "Pull your panties to the side and sit on me," I said gruffly. She didn't hesitate, and a few seconds later I was buried in her wonderful cunt. "Won't this hurt you?" she asked. "No, I'm healed. Move on me." Grace personified, I thought as she started to slide on and off my cock. We established a leisurely rhythm and slowly increased it until she was moving aggressively over me. Her moans of pleasure were a little loud, but I didn't care. "Here's how I want it. I want love to be the cornerstone of our relationship. I'll trust you, and you'll trust me that no matter what happens we'll still love each other. You'll have sex with others, as will I, but we won't cheat, won't sneak around about it, and lie to each other, and sometimes you'll share one of your other lovers with me, and I'll do the same. No jealousy, none, nada. Jealousy is silly." "Yes!" she huffed. "Oh, Josh, I'm so hot!" "Come then; I'll come with you." "I'll scream." "Then scream into my mouth." I kissed her hard, and she climaxed. We came simultaneously, of course, because I took her orgasm for mine. When she finally fell limp against my chest, she said, "What you said doesn't give either of us license to fuck around." "Correct." She giggled. "We'll have to defer the blow job practice until tomorrow afternoon." Also the love-isn't-limited discussion, I thought, the most difficult concept for me to understand and accept from my discussions with my sister. I hadn't accepted the concept until I fell in love with Pearl and knew, without a doubt, that I didn't love Sandy any less. No, tomorrow afternoon is too soon for the love-isn't-limited talk. Soon, though, before Sandy comes home. Then there were my paranormal abilities. I dreaded that discussion with Pearl. "Good job, Josh," Sandy said. "Knocking down traditional walls isn't easy. Would you mind a little advice?" I'd just told her about my conversation with Pearl that afternoon. "No, I always appreciate your advice, even if I don't always follow it." "Put yourself with Pearl and Tanya as soon as possible. After you fuck Tanya and Pearl knows you love her just as much or more than before, she won't question the concept again." "Good thinkin'." I decided not to tell her that I'd already come to the same conclusion. "One discussion down, two to go," I said. "Two?" "Yeah, the unlimited-love discussion, and somewhere along the line, Pearl will need to know about my paranormal abilities." "Oh, oh, you're about to get some more advice. Hold off on the paranormal discussion until after your first serious fight with Pearl. Lovers fight, Josh. Take that as a given, so be very comfortable with your relationship with her before you reveal the big secret. I would've never told you mine if you hadn't had a secret you needed to protect, as well. With big secrets like ours, reciprocity is almost a necessity. Also, if you feel compelled to tell all, reveal bits at a time, not everything at once. Test her, Josh." "I don't know. Isn't holding something big back from a lover dishonest?" "Yup, but for the last thousand years, nearly every time I revealed my secret, it backfired on me. If word of your incredible paranormal talents becomes public, your life will become a living hell. Trust me on this one, Josh." "All right. Bits at a time, starting after our first big fight." "If ever. Ah, Josh, I called you tonight for a reason. I have a lover, a Greek man named Gregory Pappas." Her announcement stunned me. "Say something," she said. "You surprised me. I don't know what to say." "Start with how you feel." "I feel... uh-uh, first tell me about him." "Fair enough. He's thirty, give or take a year, a dealer in Greek antiquities. Physically, he reminds me of you, but he's a little thicker everywhere. Dark hair, big black eyes. Speaks English reasonably well and is teaching me modern-day Greek." She laughed nervously. "Mine's a little rusty." "Are you in love with him?" "What if I am? I wouldn't love you any less, Josh." I sighed. "Fuck, I'm jealous." Tears stung my eyes. "I knew you'd take lovers, Sandy, and I honestly believed I'd handle this better than I am. I'm sorry." When she didn't respond, I said, "I'm such a phony. I brought Pearl around to our way of thinking, part of the way, at least, and I was so proud of myself because I did it without using my empathic abilities. Then the first time you test me, I fall apart. Fuck!" Sandy laughed softly. "You'll be all right." "Yeah, I will. Tomorrow morning, I'll be happy for you. Logic will have inserted itself in my beleaguered mind again." "That's the Josh I know and love. To ease your beleaguered mind tonight, I'm not in love with Greg. I'm having an affair with him, a short, intense affair, and it's exciting and delicious and very hot. But when I leave Corfu, the affair will end, Josh. Do you know why?" With a sudden burst of insight, I said, "Because you are a woman of the world, and he's a man of Corfu." She didn't respond for a few seconds. "Now you've surprised me, Josh. I was going to say that he'd never leave his beloved island, and I couldn't live there for the rest of my life. Your explanation is similar but more accurate. How did you know?" "I've known for sometime that you were a woman of the world. How could you be otherwise considering your secret? I've also understood if I want to be a part of your life that I'd need to become a man of the world. Right now, I can't even approach that lofty goal. To start with, I'm not a man; I'm sixteen years old, a teenager. What's more, I'm stuck here for two more years. Still, I'm mentally prepared to do whatever it takes to become the man you need me to be." "I might meet a man of the world, Josh." "If you do, will you love me any less?" She laughed. "Touché. Before you reveal your secret to Pearl, make sure she can become a woman of the world, or you'll leave her behind and break her heart. Josh, a broken heart can be very vindictive." "Argh! Reveal bits at a time, but not until after the first serious fight, but then only after I'm convinced she can become a woman of the world. That's a tall order, Sandy." "Prudent, though. Look, I'll spend some time with her over the holidays. I might advise you to be more trusting after I get to know her better." On Saturday morning, I was on the Internet cruisin' around when, all at once, about a dozen worms and trojan horses and other nasties attacked my computer. My anti-virus software stopped most of them, but three of them got through, and one of them hijacked my browser. I could fix the problem, but I'd rather go to a rock fight. That's it, the last straw, I thought. I've gotta get out of this house, or I'll go stark raving mad. Mom was out somewhere with some other women from the church, but her car was in the garage. I scribbled a quick note letting her know I was going for a drive, grabbed the car keys from the key rack, and ten minutes later I was at the museum. I wandered through the displays and cases, but I'd seen everything before, even studied each item in detail. Being in the apartment alone was no different than being in my house alone, except the apartment reminded me of Sandy and made me miss her more. Then I remembered I needed to drive the Escalade to keep the battery up. I'd driven the Mercedes last. The Escalade started without a problem, and I backed it out of the garage. The windows were heavily tinted. I could drive it just about anywhere and no one would recognize me behind the wheel. Sandy had told me she'd even driven the SUV by our house a few times. I was tempted to call Pearl and take her for a drive, but that would be stupid in the extreme. I could cruise by her house, though. Chuckling, I wondered if I'd discover her with Tanya and join the two of them in a threesome. Hah! I'd commented that stumbling upon the two of them was not only possible but also likely. Talk about stretching a point! As I drove by Pearl's house I saw her getting into her Honda. Damn, she looked good. She was wearing a short skirt, not quite a mini, but almost, and her shapely dancer's legs flashed as she twisted into the driver's seat. I quickly established an empathic connection with her. She was excited, not necessarily sexually excited, but there was a sexual component to her exhilaration. Curious, I pulled to the curb to see which way she headed. When she passed me at the curb, I pulled in behind her. I felt like an international spy, a man of the world. Hah! I was just bein' nosy, bein' the teenaged voyeur I was. She accelerated and pulled far enough ahead that her emotional signature blinked out, but when she stopped at a red light, I pulled in behind her with only one car between us. I checked her attitude. Hoo boy! Maybe I was a spy. Her attitude wasn't clear, bounced around, giving me only flashes of insight, but I sensed her thoughts had something to do with how we'd crafted our relationship. Emotionally, I sensed doubt, but also resolve, conflicting emotions, but I often sensed conflicting emotions in just about everyone, usually the result of internal debates. Resolve overcame doubt as she accelerated her Honda through the light, and a few seconds later, I lost my connection with her again. At the next light, besides resolve I sensed desire, and checking Pearl's sensations gave me a hard-on. She was sexually excited. An attitude check produced a fantasy, but the girl involved in the fantasy with Pearl wasn't Tanya. The identity of the girl didn't come through, but somehow I knew Tanya wasn't the girl. Interesting. Pearl turned right, and a few seconds later as her signature blinked out, I turned the Escalade in the same direction. After a few more turns, she stopped at the curb in front of a large house. I continued down the street while checking her attitude, emotions and sensations again. If anything, she was even more excited sexually, but her resolve had weakened with doubt gaining dominance. Desire reigned, though, and through the rearview mirror, I watched her step out of the Honda. Unfortunately, I'd also traveled far enough down the street that I lost my connection with her. I pulled into a driveway, backed out and started back toward Pearl. I watched her walk up to the front door of the large house and ring the doorbell. As I drove by the house, Helen Demaris opened the door. I briefly connected with both of them before distance once again eliminated my empathic intrusions into their emotions. I knew one thing for sure. My girlfriend was about to get it on with another girl. As I drove aimlessly, my mind was going a mile a minute. At the basketball game and later at the dance, I'd figured out that Pearl and Helen had been lovers, and I'd planned to query Pearl whether the relationship was finished or ongoing or perhaps occasional, like Pearl's relationship with Tanya. Curiously, Pearl had never mentioned Helen as a lover, and I wondered why? More to the point, would she honor our agreement and tell me about the sexual tryst she'd just agreed to or initiated? We'd agreed that we could have sex with others, but we wouldn't sneak around or lie about it. We'd also agreed that we'd occasionally share our lovers. I'd tossed in the sharing bit anticipating Sandy would join Pearl and me while my sister was in Phoenix over the holidays. I'd also figured that Pearl, Tanya and I would get together. Besides, Tanya and Helen, how many female lovers did Pearl have? What you said doesn't give either of us license to fuck around, Pearl had commented referring to the agreement we'd fashioned. How many lovers could she have before fucking around applied? Another thought crossed my mind. Did Pearl actually prefer girls to guys? She was bisexual, but even bisexuals have preferences. I want you to be faithful, but I'm bisexual, which means I want sex with girls. Did she make that statement because she knew her real preference was sex with another girl, not with me? Ostensibly, she'd given up sex with other girls because she loved me, but she'd been quick to alter that stance when I opened the door to the possibility of her having sex with other girls without losing me in the process. That Pearl loved me, I had no doubt, but could her nature, her bisexuality, take a dominant position, creating behaviors outside and counter to our agreement? Well, I'd soon know. If she didn't tell me about her tryst with Helen this afternoon, I'd know where I stood in the total scheme of things. I knew one thing for sure, I'd follow Sandy's advice and be very sure of the answers to all of the questions I'd just asked myself, as well as more questions I'd think of later, before I divulged my paranormal abilities to Pearl. Out of curiosity, I drove by Helen Demaris' house again. Pearl's Honda was still parked at the curb, but another vehicle was parked just behind Pearl's, a Toyota that wasn't there before. I recognized the vehicle. Tanya had given Pearl and me a ride home from school in the Toyota one day when Pearl's car was being serviced. Hoo boy! Were the three of them getting it on? Getting rid of the browser hijacker proved more difficult than I'd assumed, probably because I couldn't concentrate. My mind hadn't slowed down since I'd followed Pearl earlier. The imagination is powerful. It creates not only unlikely events but also weird scenarios that bordered on the ridiculous extreme. Although I knew staying away from home so long would cause problems for me, I couldn't leave Helen's house until Pearl left. I wanted to check her emotions and sensations and give her an attitude check as she left. If Tanya left with her, I'd check her out, too. I picked up a paperback book at a Walgreen's, and parked down the street from Helen's house and waited. I couldn't get into the book any more than I could concentrate on fixing my computer, so I flipped open a sketchbook and did some anatomy drawings from memory. An hour later, Pearl and Tanya exited Helen's house together. I was too far away to connect with them, but I started my car and was soon driving directly behind Tanya's Toyota. Tanya was relaxed and happy. An attitude check wasn't definitive. She was thinking about food or dinner. When I checked her sensations, I found no sexual arousal, but her nipples felt sore. That proved nothing. I'd sensed sore nipples in many girls before and figured they could be irritated for a number of reasons. My imagination produced one reason - Pearl's mouth on Tanya's breasts. At a light, I stopped behind Tanya, close enough to connect with Pearl in her Honda that was stopped directly in front of Tanya. Guilt! Pearl was feeling very guilty. Checking further, I sensed no sexual arousal, but her pussy seemed swollen. Her nipples weren't sore. I looked for the lethargy I knew so well that followed Pearl's orgasms, but her guilt overwhelmed all other emotions. An attitude check told me all I needed to know. She'd had sex with Helen and Tanya, and she'd enjoyed it, but now she worried about how I'd react, and she was debating with herself whether to tell me or keep the events of the afternoon to herself. When she pulled into her driveway, the inner debate hadn't been resolved, but the guilt she'd been feeling had softened. Fuck it, I thought and turned off my computer. I picked up my cell phone and called Pearl. She didn't answer her cell phone, so I called her house. Her mother answered, and I asked for Pearl. A minute later, her mother came back on the line and said, "May she call you back, Josh?" "Sure." Pearl was avoiding me. Why? I knew why. She hadn't made up her mind whether she'd tell all or maintain silence. I looked at the clock. I couldn't call Sandy. It was the middle of the night in Corfu. Was she getting it on with her Greek lover? Probably not, not at that hour, but she might be cuddled against him while they slept. I managed to get rid of the browser hijacker before Pearl called. "I'm sorry I couldn't take your call earlier, Josh. I was in the shower." Washing away the scent of your afternoon of delight, I thought. "No problem. How was your day?" "Fine. Nothing exciting, that's for sure. How about yours?" My heart sunk. She'd decided to lie by omission. I told her about the browser problem and the troubles I'd had getting rid of its intrusive parasite, and we chatted about other innocuous subjects, but after a few minutes, I didn't want to talk with her anymore, made excuses and hung up. My first high-school romance had just floundered on the rocks of lies and deceit. Tears stung my eyes as I felt my love for Pearl start to slip away. That she still loved me wasn't open to question. That I'd break her heart when she realized I no longer loved her wasn't open to question either. What's more, I'd end up being the bad guy in the breakup. I couldn't tell her why I no longer wanted her, couldn't tell her I knew she'd cheated on me. Sandy was right. I needed to carefully guard the existence of my paranormal abilities. ------- Chapter 9 "You've made a rush to judgment, Josh," Sandy said when we talked the next morning. I'd just described the events of the previous afternoon. "Explain," I said. "You introduced Pearl to some complex issues, which she accepted, one of them being that she could have sex with other girls." "As long as she didn't sneak around or lie about it." "True, but some elements of her previous beliefs have to be lingering, getting in the way of completely accepting our approach to life and sex. You gave her the green light to have sex with girls, something she wanted, so that's precisely what she did. But afterwards she felt guilty. Her guilt is the key, Josh. Guilt points to the lingering doubts I mentioned. She doesn't truly believe you'll accept her bisexual behavior, so she can't bring herself to tell you about it." "Are you sayin' I should just brush off her deceit as if I didn't know about it and go on as before?" "Good gracious no!" "Good, because I can't ignore what happened. I feel betrayed, Sandy." "I understand. I'm merely saying that you should give her some time before you condemn her. Besides, if I were she, I wouldn't tell you over the phone. I'd want you in front of me so I could observe your reaction. Believe it or not, I worried about telling you about Greg over the telephone, but I had no choice. Pearl does." "Makes sense. I wish I could've talked with you yesterday. You could have saved me a lot of mental anguish." "Another thought comes to mind. She might put off telling you until after she shares one of the girls with you, in other words, she'll show rather than tell. You mentioned that your example of a threesome with one of her lovers appealed to her." "Yeah, it excited her, too. A lot." Sandy chuckled. "That's not surprising. It's an arousing fantasy. Josh, from what you've said and how you've handled your discussions regarding these issues with Pearl, it sounds to me that you planned to invite her to join you and me in a threesome during my visit. Don't." "Oh, why not?" "Time constraints, mostly. I arrive in Phoenix in ten days. That's not much time for you to resolve everything with Pearl. Besides the sexual fidelity issue, you still have the unlimited-love discussion to handle and resolve. Frankly, I don't recommend telling Pearl about you and me until all your doubts have been eliminated. Remember, I'm not just your lover; I'm your sister." "Argh! You're right, as usual." "Too bad, too. I'm getting a real yen for some lovin' from a girl, and your Pearl sounded like the perfect way to satisfy my cravings." "Surely Corfu offers some attractive women who could scratch your itch." She laughed nervously. "Maybe one, a voluptuous, pretty woman named Agnes. I call her Nessie. She seems to like my nickname. She's a travel agent. I met her when I booked my flight home. I'm not sure she likes girls, but we're having lunch together tomorrow, so I'll know soon, one way or the other." "Voluptuous, huh?" "Yeah, she reminds me of a young Sophia Loren." "Whew! Go for it, Sandy." She chuckled. "Sexist! You get jealous when you find out I've been with a man, but tell me to go for it with a woman." "Hah! I know you. You're bisexual but prefer men, so a woman isn't a threat to me. Besides, I'm not jealous about the man anymore. By the way, I think Pearl prefers girls to guys." "Which threatens you." I considered her statement. "A little, I admit, but she loves me, so the threat doesn't have teeth. I'll know more how it is between Pearl and me this afternoon. We're going for a drive." "What will you do if she doesn't bring up her tryst, as you called it, with her girlfriends?" "I could force her to tell me, but..." "Oh, how?" "I can implant the need to tell me with my empathic abilities. Remember, I can send as well as receive now." "Josh, that's scary! Could you force me to do something against my will, as well?" "Yes, but I'd never even make the attempt. You didn't let me finish my statement. I planned to say that I'd never manipulate Pearl or anyone like that, unless in self-defense or to protect a loved one." "Absolute power corrupts absolutely," Sandy whispered. "Yeah, we talked about that issue early on. Remember, I asked you to help me make sure I used my empathic powers appropriately." "Yes, we did talk... Josh, you're frightening me." I was stunned! Her statement, her tone of voice suddenly terrified me. Sandy wasn't the type who could love someone who frightened her. "Why?" I demanded angrily. "Why are you just now dealing with the ramifications of my new abilities? I've told you about them as they developed. I told you I mentally pushed the guy off his feet who stabbed me, sent him flying through the air when I projected my pain into his body. Why do you think I disconnected with Pearl before I had my discussion with her about sexual fidelity? I didn't want to influence her in any way, that's why." I sighed. "That I frighten you frightens me, Sandy." The silence grew between us. "Talk to me, Sandy." "Josh, I... I need time to think. I..." Tears welled in my eyes. "Don't do this to me, Sandy. I need you; I need you in so many ways. You're the only person who knows about me, about what I can do, the only one I can talk to about everything. I love you." When she didn't respond, I said, "Are you so afraid of me you don't want to be in range of my empathic ability? Are you considering changing your plans to fly home in ten days?" "Now you're being mean, Josh. I told you I needed time to think, that's all. Enjoy your drive with Pearl." Dial tone. Like hell! Sandy didn't answer my call, and her voice mail kicked in. "Call me," I said. I wanted to say more, but I figured I'd already fucked up enough for one day. I was in no mood for a drive with Pearl. I called and cancelled the date, telling her I wasn't feeling well. When the satellite cell phone rang in the middle of the night, I wasn't asleep. "Did I wake you?" Sandy asked. "I can call back..." "No, I was awake." "What happened during your drive with Pearl?" "I cancelled it." "Oh." "Does what I do still frighten you?" "Yes, but... Josh, the fact that you can force me to..." "I'm stronger than you, I could force you to do a lot of things without using my empathic abilities, but I don't." "True, but I'd know force was involved. If you planted a need in me to do something, I wouldn't know it." "You cancelled your trip, didn't you?" "Yes. I thought and thought about us, Josh, and we just don't work, not anymore, not like we did before I left home. Since then, I've... I don't know, I've grown, I guess. I've located an exceptional artifact..." My heart felt like it had suddenly turned into stone. "Shall I tell Mother or will you call her." "I'll tell her. I'll be flying to New Zealand day after tomorrow. We can still talk, Josh, every day, if you want." "I love you, and I'll always love you, but you disappoint me, Sandy, and when you think back on this conversation, you'll be disappointed in yourself. I won't call you. I'll keep the phone, and you can call me, especially if you get in a jam. If you need me, wherever you are, I'll come to you and help you in any way I can." I laughed bitterly. "Heck, with my empathic powers, I might even make a difference. Have a good life, Sandy." I did the hardest thing I ever had to do. I pressed the end button on the cell phone. She didn't call me back. Pearl picked me up for school, and we were alone and face-to-face for the first time since I'd followed her in Sandy's SUV. When I slid into the passenger seat, she leaned over and gave me a quick kiss. "Are you feeling better?" "Yup." I wasn't. I was in mourning. I'd just lost the love of my life. "How about you? How are you feelin'?" I knew how she was feeling. She was nervous as a cat in a room full of rocking chairs. I checked her attitude. She was having another self-debate about whether to tell me about what happened on Saturday or let well enough alone. I could have altered her attitude by increasing her need to tell all, but I'd been honest with Sandy. I wouldn't manipulate Pearl or anyone to that extent. My cell phone rang - the satellite phone. Unlike Sandy yesterday, I answered her call. "You hung up on me," Sandy said. "Tit for tat," I said brightly. "Can you talk?" "No, I'm on the way to school. Pearl picked me up." "You were right. I am disappointed in myself. Call me when you have a minute alone." "All right." "Who was that?" Pearl asked after I hung up. "My sister. She wants me to call her back between classes." "Oh. Where is she? Is she still in Corfu?" "Yes." Pearl's attitude change tickled me. She relived the passionate kiss Sandy had given me at the airport. "You and Sandy are very close, aren't you?" "We were. I'm not so sure anymore." "Oh, have you had a fight?" "No, she's changed since she left. She's become a world traveler. I'm still Josh, a high school student who needs a ride to and from school. We don't have a lot in common anymore." Did I sound as bitter as I felt? I wasn't all that encouraged by Sandy's call. That she was disappointed in herself was no surprise. She was a bigger person than her actions dictated yesterday and in the middle of the night. I'd call her, and I'd listen, but what we'd had between us had changed forever. I couldn't trust her anymore. Like you, Pearl. I can't trust you either, can I? "Is she still planning on a trip to Scottsdale for the holidays?" "I don't know. I think her plans are still in flux. Enough about Sandy. I'm sorry I cancelled our drive yesterday, Pearl. What did you do to kill the time?" My, oh my, I thought. Tanya again. Had I created a monster? "Ah, I was in the drivin' mood, so... I called Tanya, and she rode with me." Guilt, a lot of it, replaced Pearl's nervousness. Sandy was right. Pearl needs her girl-sex fix, but can't quite trust my open-mindedness enough to tell all. "Where did you go?" "Lake Pleasant." A lie. They'd planned to drive to Lake Pleasant, but stopped en route for some pussy licking at a private place in the desert. "I prefer Lake Saguaro." "Yeah, me, too, but Tanya hadn't seen the new dam at Lake Pleasant, so..." The truth. Fuck it. I was sick of the game. I wouldn't use my empathic powers, but I could get aggressive about it. "Did you fuck her?" Pearl nearly drove the car into the incoming lane of traffic, and then overcorrected and almost hit the car on our right. She got control of the car, changed lanes and pulled to the curb. Leaning her head on the steering wheel, she said, "Fuck, Josh, don't ask me questions like that while I'm driving. You almost caused an accident." No, your reaction to my question almost caused an accident. "Sorry," I said. Suddenly furious, she slammed the palm of her hand against the steering wheel. She turned to me and shouted, "Yes! I fucked her! Are you happy now?" I shrugged. What she did next really surprised me. She slapped me, and the blow wasn't playful either. It was delivered with force, designed to hurt me. "You smug bully! Yes, I fucked her, and not just her. I fucked Helen Demaris Saturday and Tanya joined us. It was wild and sexy and I loved it. I told you how I am, and just for you I would've walked away from what I am without looking back, but you... you said we'd... ah, fuck." Her chin started to quiver and she broke into tears. I didn't take her in my arms. I rubbed my sore jaw. "I'm neither smug nor a bully," I said as I released my seatbelt. "You're full of guilt and very angry, but you're more angry with yourself than you are with me. In any case, you had no right to hit me. I'll walk to school from here." As I tried to step from the car, she grabbed my arm. "Don't leave me, Josh!" she said, her voice full of fear and remorse. "All right, but I'll drive. Scoot over. I'll walk around." After I adjusted the seat and mirrors, I pulled away from the curb. Pearl was slumped against the passenger door, sobbing. Two blocks down the street, I said, "Would you have told me if I hadn't pressed the issue?" She swallowed a sob. "I wanted to tell you, but..." The truth. "But you were afraid I hadn't told you the truth about how I wanted it to be between us," I said finishing her sentence for her. "Yes." A lie, which surprised me. "There's more, though. Right?" "Yes." The truth. "Tell me." "I can't." The group of thoughts that came to me with her attitude brought tears to my eyes. How had she hidden her true feelings from me? "Tell me, or we're finished, Pearl." Anger flared. "Then we're finished," she said and burst into a new round of tears. Pearl Daley was a lesbian. She loved me, but in Pearl's heart she was a lesbian. She enjoyed sex with me, which made her a bisexual whether she believed it or not, but she vastly preferred sex with girls. In her mind, sex with me would never give her the pleasure she received from her female lovers. I stopped her Honda in the school parking lot and turned off the engine. I laid her car keys in her lap. "I'll find a ride home with someone else, Pearl. Have a nice life." I stepped from the car and didn't look back. I did locate Tanya and told her Pearl was in tears in the parking lot. "She needs you, Tanya. We just broke up." "Oh, no. Oh, Josh, she loves you." "No, she loves the idea of us as a couple, the normalcy represented by us. For her to truly love me, I'd need a sex change operation." A tear crept from the corner of my eye and rolled down my cheek. "Is that what she told you?" "No, but nothing else makes sense. Go to her Tanya, please. She needs someone right now." "What about you?" "I'll be fine." Hah! Yesterday, I was in love with a beautiful woman of the world and a sexy girl who was the epitome of grace, and they both loved me. I still loved them, and they still loved me, but the love we felt had been tarnished by lies and deceit and fear. And I was as much at fault as they because what I could do was what I'd become. The question in my mind was would I ever be able to trust a woman enough to let me love again? I called Sandy. "Aren't you supposed to be in class?" she asked. "Yes, but I decided talking with you was more important." "All right, here's the deal. I'm still frightened about what you can do, but I trust you. Nevertheless, I want to test you, so I'll come home for the holidays, but not early. I'll spend a few days at home and..." "You can't have it both ways, Sandy. Either you trust me, or you don't. Testing me is bullshit. Be honest with me. If you were standing next to me right now, would my built-in lie detector say you're telling the truth or lying?" When she didn't respond, I said, "I think you were more honest last night when you said you'd thought about us and didn't believe we worked as lovers anymore, not like we did before you left home. You're right. You've grown, and I'm still a kid, a sixteen-fucking-year-old boy. Still, if you don't come home early, if you only visit the family, we won't hold each other; we won't make love. We'll be sister and little brother; that's it, nothing more, and I don't know if I'll be able to handle it." I sniffed and fought back tears threatening to overflow. "Just be honest with me, dammit! If you and I are finished, say so." "Is that what you want?" "No! I love you. I need you and love you and want you so much it hurts. You either trust me, or you don't, and you either still love me, or you don't, or you don't know anymore. I need to know how you feel, Sandy. If you were here, I'd know without asking, but you're half a world away from me, so I've gotta ask, and what's more, you must tell me the truth." "All right. I still love you. I'll always love you. You were my first love in this life, Josh. But, I don't think we should be lovers anymore." I couldn't speak. I was bereft. "Say something, Josh." "Why shouldn't we be lovers anymore?" Silent tears covered my cheeks. "You don't give up, do you?" I laughed bitterly. "Not about something as important as you and I." "We can still be more than brother and sister, Josh. We can be friends, close friends. We share secrets. I can help you handle your abilities and your love life like I've been doing. Isn't that enough?" No, it wasn't enough, not nearly enough, but I wasn't ready to give up, not yet. Somehow, I needed to maintain a strong connection with Sandy, because someday, I'd become a man of the world, and she'd want me again. It'd take years, and in the interim maybe she'd find her man of the world, but I'd take that chance. I didn't have a choice. "No," I said, "but I'll take what I can get." "I won't be coming home for the holidays. I don't want to subject you to more pain, Josh." "I figured." Either that, or you're afraid to get too close to me. Both, I decided. Sandy didn't enjoy inflicting pain. "Are you all right?" "No, but I will be." "Call me tomorrow morning before you go to school." "All right." "I love you." Yeah, just not enough. "I love you, too," I said. "Goodbye for now." "Yeah, goodbye." I leaned my head onto my arms on the table I was sitting at in the quad at school, and cried. I didn't sob, I cried softly, cried for my lost loves, cried for Pearl and her secret, cried for Sandy and her fear, but most of all I cried for me, because I was alone, and I'd be alone for a long time. Oh, I'd take lovers. I liked and needed sex, but I wouldn't give my heart away again. Worse, I feared I'd never find the courage to divulge my secret to anyone, and that fact saddened me more than the others put together because that's what made me feel so alone. My paranormal talent had become a curse. ------- Part Three: Nicole ------- Chapter 10 I met Joshua Johnson one afternoon while working as an intern for the summer for the Olsen Real Estate Investment Company. The meeting became a turning point in my life. It wasn't an epiphany but it turned out meeting Josh was the single most important event of my life. He arrived wearing casual clothes looking like a teenager. I discovered later he was what he looked like - eighteen. An astute, middle-aged lawyer wearing a three-piece business suit accompanied him. Ostensibly, the lawyer represented an investment company presenting an offer on one of Olsen's many properties, but the legal beagle deferred to Josh's judgment. I arrived at the meeting with my boss, Harry Jensen, and I was dressed to the nines in a snazzy navy business suit. My skirt was short enough to show off what I considered my best asset - my long legs. Harry, bless his baldpate, looked like he usually looked - wrinkled and scruffy. Harry might've looked scruffy, but he had one of the best real estate minds I'd ever met. Admittedly at the time, I hadn't met many. I was studying business at ASU in Tempe and would start my senior year in a month - my senior year because I skipped the fourth grade and graduated from high school when I was seventeen. Being number one in my class, I earned a full academic scholarship to ASU, which was fortunate, because otherwise, college might not have been possible. I came from a lower middle-class family with three brothers younger than I. Thank goodness, lower middle-class was the norm where I grew up in a small town in northeastern Nevada. I didn't truly understand how poor my family was until I left Nevada. As was my habit, I scanned Josh and the lawyer when they entered the conference room. For those unfamiliar with the term scan in the context I just used the word, I extended a tendril from the edge of my mind until it gently reached the target. I scanned only for surface thoughts by simply brushing the tendril against the edge of the lawyer and Josh's minds. The lawyer didn't react. Josh's eyes widened, and then he grinned and said, "Get out of my mind, pretty lady." Everyone in the room looked at Josh as if he'd just lost his mind - except me. Blushing, I quickly cut off the scan. That's when I felt him in my mind. It wasn't a scan as I knew one. He wasn't reaching for my thoughts, and I couldn't figure out what he was doing. When his scan deepened, without thinking I expelled his probe and threw up a shield. "Likewise," I said. "Deal," Josh remarked with a boyish grin that squeezed my heart. "Let's talk after the meeting. You and I have something in common." I nodded acceptance. "Nicole, do you two know each other?" Harry asked. "No," I said. Josh grinned again, and said, "A first but propitious meeting." He turned his attention to Harry and introduced himself and the lawyer, Gerard Wilson. Harry acknowledged the introductions and said, "And the pretty lady, as you so aptly called her, Mr. Johnson, is Nicole Halliday. She works for me." Before the meeting ended, Joshua Johnson purchased a 300-unit apartment complex that Olsen had been trying to dump for quite a while. I worried about his business acumen. Hah! While I waited for Josh to join me, I sipped white wine. I was under the legal drinking age, but didn't look it. In my business attire I looked twenty-four or -five. My long, dark hair cascading in waves to the middle of my back helped, that and my high, prominent cheekbones. I was model-thin by nature, which would probably change later in life because I adored fine dining, something I hadn't experienced until I started working for Olsen. One of Harry's jobs was to entertain important clients. His wife was wheelchair bound and didn't enjoy the hassle eating out and entertaining entailed. Early on, she gave me her blessings to act as hostess for Harry, and Harry was harmless, loved his wife to distraction, and never made an inappropriate comment let alone a serious pass at me. Anyway, Harry introduced me to gourmet food and exceptional wine. I noticed Josh bustling toward me. As he pulled out a chair and sat across from me, he flashed that boyish smile of his and apologized for making me wait. "Gerard is a very good lawyer, but he's talkative," he said by way of explanation. The waiter arrived, and Josh ordered iced tea. "So," he said when we were alone. "We have something in common." "Are you a telepath?" I asked, getting right to the point. He shook his head, which surprised me. "Some of what I can do might be construed as telepathic, but I'm an empath." His grin broadened. "You can't imagine how pleased I am to meet you. Only one other person in the world knows about my paranormal ability - my sister - and she's afraid to enter the range of my empathic connections now." "Why?" If his sister fears him, perhaps I should, too, I thought. "She thinks that I might plant a need or a concept in her mind that would cause her to do something she wouldn't otherwise do. I'd never consider using my abilities in such an unscrupulous way with her, and she halfway believes me, maybe more than halfway, but doubt lingers." I shrugged. "Teach her how to put up a shield, for heaven's sake." He looked contemplative. "I don't think I know how to do that." He grinned again. "You do. You pushed me away mentally, and I couldn't get back in." I performed a light scan. When his thoughts let me know he felt my mind in his, I said, "Push me out." "How?" "You know how. You push your empathic scans into individuals. Do the same but push against my scan." I felt his push. "Now shield yourself." "How?" "Visualize a mental shield around your mind. Picture a mirrored surface on the shield. The mirror supposedly helps by reflecting the intrusive scan." I pushed again and bounced off his shield. A deeper probe pierced his shield, though. "Make your shield stronger." Seconds later, as hard as I tried, I couldn't get past his reinforced mental barrier. "Now you know how, teach her," I said. "She's not an empath or a telepath." "Doesn't matter. Neither is my father, but he learned how. You know as well as I that it's merely a visualization process. She might not be able to push you out of her mind, but she can construct a shield." He sighed and slumped with relief in his chair. "If nothing more happens between you and me, what you've just shown me just made today one of the best days of my life. I can't thank you enough." He sat up. "Would you like to feel how I feel?" "Waddaya mean?" He took my hand in his, and suddenly an enormous amount of gratitude washed over me, overwhelming all other emotions. He grinned. "As you can feel, I'm grateful." "Wow!" I whispered. "You're a telepath, huh?" I smiled. "Yes." "Read my mind." I probed him, but his shield was still in place. "I can't. You haven't lowered your shield." He looked confused. "Once a shield is constructed, you need to imagine it gone before a telepath can get back in," I said. "Sandy will love that feature. Sandy's my sister. She and I are partners in the investment company that purchased the apartment complex this afternoon." "Ah, Josh, I..." I felt him in my head and automatically pushed him away. Ah, what the hell? Why not? I thought and said, "Go ahead, but be gentle." He chuckled, and I felt him in my mind again. His scan felt different than how I believed mine would feel, but then I only had my dad's description of what he felt when I was in his mind wandering around. I chuckled silently. I'd been in his mind for years before he started to sense my presence. "What are you doing?" I asked. "Searching for an attitude," Josh said. "Explain, please." "I don't read minds, not like you, but I can pick up the meaning of a group of thoughts, not individual words, but rather what I call an attitude. For instance, from the attitude I found, you think I made a bad business deal today." I blushed. "Sorry." "No problem. Read my thoughts." A few seconds later, I grinned. "You're going to flip the property and already have a buyer. Ten to twenty percent's a pretty good profit, considering you'll never take possession of the apartment complex or use any or your own money except the earnest money deposit, which you get back from your buyer tomorrow." "Hey, you're pretty good at this." "Thanks." Another light scan told me he'd raised his shield, and it dawned on me that I didn't know if my shield functioned well enough to ward off his scans. "What's my attitude now?" I felt his push bounce away and smiled. "I can't read your attitude, but I can sense your emotions and sensations. For instance, your little toe on your left foot hurts. You trimmed your toenail too close." Did my eyes widen? Yup. He grinned and I melted. "Would you like me to fix it?" he asked. "You can fix it?" I asked, a little surprised. "Easily." "Do it. This I've gotta see." He closed his eyes, looked relaxed, even serene, and suddenly the pain in my toe disappeared. I thought he'd open his eyes, but he didn't, not for a few more seconds. "There," he said. "All better." "Amazing!" "Amazing is the ideal word for what you do. Do you know other telepaths?" I chuckled. "I know some phonies who think they're telepaths, but none of them can even approach what I do - or you. They formed a club of sorts, and curious and wanting to meet others with my unusual ability, I attended a meeting using a fictitious name and address. When I realized there wasn't a true telepath in the bunch, I never went back. What about you?" "You're the first. I'm happy to hear you wanted to meet others like you. If you could sense my emotions you'd know how pleased I am to have met you. Are you married, in a committed relationship? Please say no." "No, but..." He laughed. I enjoyed the sounds of his laughter. "No buts. I must see you again. I have a million questions, maybe more, and I'm sure you're no different." He nodded his head toward a man eating at a table near the entrance to the dining room. "See that man eating spaghetti?" "Yes." "Say you'll meet me again, or I'll make him put his face in the plate of spaghetti." I chuckled. What the hell? "No, I won't meet you again." A quick scan let me know that he knew I wasn't serious, that I just wanted to see him push the man's face in the spaghetti. I watched, and a few seconds later, the man lowered his face to his plate and wallowed around in the red sauce and pasta. I hooted with laughter. "What did you use? Telekinesis?" "No, I used an attitude dominated by a need. I gave him a need to wallow like an oinker in the spaghetti." I laughed again. "Remind me to keep my shield up around you." "No need. I don't misuse what I do with friends, and I already consider you a friend. Tomorrow's Friday. We'll go to dinner and talk and talk, and for what's its worth, even if you weren't a paranormal phenomenon, I'd want to know you better. You're astonishingly beautiful. I love your dark, wavy mane, and your legs are incredible, so long, so sleek. Silky, too, I bet." That I even considered not spending more time with Joshua Johnson amazed me almost as much as his remarkable empathic talents. I removed a business card from my purse and wrote my home phone number and address on the back. "Seven o'clock?" he said. "Fine. Casual or dressy?" "You pick." "Dressy." I wanted to look my best for Joshua Johnson when he picked me up at seven the next night. I'd also need to cancel my date with Ralph. Sorry, Ralph. I think you're history. "Hey, Pop, how you?" I said on the telephone, falling into the speech patterns of my youth. "Nicky! You're ears must be burnin'. Jessie and I were just talkin' about ya. I'm fine as frog's hair. How you?" "On cloud nine. I met the man of my dreams today, Pop, the man I plan to marry." He chuckled. "Does he know it yet?" "Nope. How's Bill and Bob and Jeff?" "Right as rain. You changed the subject. Tell me about this man you met." "He's an empath." "A what?" I chuckled. "He's like me except he reads emotions and sensations, not thoughts." "Oh." He laughed heartily. "Trust you ta find someone you can relate to and come out smellin' like a rose, Nicky. Hot damn! Grandbabies! When's the weddin'?" "June." "That long?" "Gimmee a break. I've gotta lasso him before I can hogtie and brand him. Lemmee talk ta Jessie, and then I'll talk ta the boys." "Okay, but talk to me again before ya hang up." My family. I talked with each in turn. Besides Pop, the best father a girl ever had, I talked with Jessie, the woman Pop married when I was seventeen. Jessie was a nurturing, gentle soul and loved my father deeply. My mother died when I was almost sixteen, and I tried to take her place. Pop finally put his foot down and told me I had to be a teenager first and his helpmate second, and then he found Jessie, or rather Jessie found him, and being a teenager suddenly became easy for me. Bill, my oldest, brother was seventeen now, the star quarterback on our high school football team and college bound in a year on an athletic scholarship. Bobby was sixteen, and a bit of a nerd, but I loved him to pieces. He was seriously into computers. And then there was my youngest brother, Jeffery, the baby of the family - just don't let him hear you say that. Jeff was fourteen going on twenty-one, a serious intellect and an athlete to boot. I loved them, one and all, and they loved me, and no, there wasn't a telepath in the bunch. After talking with everyone, Pop took the phone again. "Are ya goin' ta get home before school starts?" "Maybe. I want to, but..." "I know. The job." "I need the money, Pop." "I just wish I could hep ya." "You do by just bein' you. I love you." "I love you, too, Nicky." After I pushed the end button on the phone, I slumped back on the chair happy and content. I always felt good after talking with my family. Hmm, like how I felt after talking with Josh today. If he were here, I'd let him in my mind to share my warm love for my family with him. Suddenly, I wondered how far his empathic powers reached. Was he in my head right now? No, I'd feel his presence. Could I reach him? How about that, and his... oops. His shield wasn't up when I connected, but he sensed my soft tendril and protected his thoughts. Why? Was he up to no good? My phone rang. "Was that you?" Josh asked. I laughed softly. "Yes, sorry." "My God, how far away can you be and still connect with someone?" "I don't know. Where are you?" "Scottsdale." "Where approximately in Scottsdale?" He told me. "Hmm, I think that's about twenty miles from my place." "Amazing. My empathic range is only about fifty feet." He explained about obstructions and how they affected the range of his connections. "Have you tried connections farther away?" I asked. "Yes, but the emotional signatures blink out beyond fifty feet." "Hmm. Have you studied telepathic techniques?" "Not really. I'm an empath, so..." "I don't think there's a lot of difference between us except what we find in the minds of others and how we read them. I know about a technique you can try right now, but you'll need to let your shield down." "There, it's down." "The technique is called tagging a root source, which means you sense a scan and follow that scan back to it's root - me, for instance. The article I read suggested making a small construct that follows the signal back to its source." "Have you tried this?" "Good heavens no! You're the only person I've sensed scanning my mind." "Can you tell me how to make this construct you mentioned?" "No, sorry." "Hmm. Before I transfer an attitude to a target, I bundle a group of emotions and/or sensations that reflect the attitude I want to project, and then let it fly. Would a bundle like I just described be a construct?" "Maybe. Probably." I loved his laugh. "Okay, let's try it, but first let me create a bundle. If this works, you'll know it, Nicole. Ready?" "Yes." "Scan me," he said. "Oh, you're wicked!" I laughed. According to his thoughts, he'd bundled sexual... "Oh, my!" I exclaimed when I suddenly felt very excited, as aroused as I'd ever been without climaxing. "Jeez, Josh! What did you do to me?" He chuckled. "How about that? I just made an empathic connection twenty miles away." "Yeah, well, that's great, but how do I turn down the attitude you sent me?" "What? You don't like it?" "Josh, I don't know you well enough to feel like I'm feelin' right now. Jeez!" "Hang tight for a few seconds, I'll send another attitude." Soon, I was giggling like a twelve-year-old girl. I felt like someone was tickling my ribs and the bottoms of my feet. "Josh, enough already," I said as another laughing jag hit me. Abruptly, I felt very serious. "How long will this one last?" I asked - seriously. "I don't know. I sent bundles out last year that are still in place." "Can you cancel out what you've sent me - just let me be me?" "Yeah. Here you come." "Ah, that's better. Hey, that was interesting, a little scary, but definitely interesting. Okay, you've sent a construct twenty miles. Can you connect with me empathically now without sending a bundle?" "Shucks," he said a few seconds later. "I take it that's a no." "Yup. No can do." Good, I thought. I can check on him, and he can't check on me, but another thought struck me. "Wait, I wasn't scanning you. Let me scan you, and instead of a bundle, try to send just an empathic scan back along the path." "Do it." A couple of seconds later, I felt him in my mind. "It worked." He laughed. "Yeah, and you're still hot." I laughed with him. "Yup." "Gotta go. My mom just banged on my door. Dinner's ready." "You're still living at home?" "Sure. I have a townhouse, a home away from home, but my stiff-necked parents don't know about it, so mums the word. How old do you think I am?" "I don't know. You look younger than you act. I'd guess twenty, twenty-one." "I'm eighteen." "Shit! Oops, sorry." "No problem. Yes, you're robbing the cradle. I'll see you tomorrow night at seven. Goodnight." Dial tone. Was he afraid I'd cancel the date? No way! He might be two years younger than I, but he just bought a 300-unit apartment complex, that he'll flip at closing and make a bundle, and he has his own townhouse. I wonder what kind of car he'll be driving when he picks me up? Stop it! Possessions don't matter. Money doesn't matter. I laughed wickedly. Good thing I told Pop I wasn't going to marry Josh until next June. At least by then he won't be just out of high school. And yes, I was hot. When his bundle of sexy sensations struck me, I nearly came in my panties, which reminded me that they had to be sopping. I reached under my skirt and pulled them off. The scent of my sex filled my nostrils and the room, and I was startled at how wet I was when I touched myself. Five minutes later, I climaxed, and after enjoying the rapturous sensations of an orgasm, I basked in the glow of complete lethargy, feeling relaxed and happy. My phone rang again. "Thank you," Josh said. "You're welcome, but why are you thanking me?" "For letting me share that wonderful orgasm you just had. It was intense but crisp - efficient like you and the moment." Flabbergasted, that's what I was. Surprisingly, I wasn't embarrassed. Nor was I angry about my loss of privacy. I'd intruded on so many individual's privacy over the years that for me to be upset with Josh would've been like calling the kettle black. "You stayed connected with me, didn't you?" "Yes." "Are you still connected?" "Yes." "Why don't I feel you in my mind?" "I don't know. I'm new to the feeling-someone-in-my-mind thing. Your shield doesn't work for pure emotion and sensation scans. Remember, when you were shielded, I couldn't scan your attitude, which I do by scanning your mind, but I could still read your emotions and sensations, like the pain in your toe, for example. Emotions involve the entire body, including the mind - no, especially the mind. So, if you're shielded, your emotions still come through, but... I don't know, incomplete, maybe. Sensations involve specific parts of the body. The sensations of your climax came through loud and clear. Boy, oh, boy, did they ever!" "Now, I'm embarrassed." "Nicole, that's the first lie you've told me today. You need to know about one other ability I have. I studied polygraph techniques and applied them to my empathic aptitudes. When I'm connected with you, consider yourself connected to a polygraph machine." "I'm beginning to understand why your sister is afraid to be around you." "Fuck!" he muttered, almost under his breath. The expletive was unconscious, I believed. "You're going to cancel our date, aren't you?" he said. "No. Why make that assumption?" He explained what happened with his sister, how she'd even cancelled her trip home a year and a half ago when she discovered how intrusive and controlling his paranormal talents had become. "Josh, I didn't say you frightened me. I said I understood why you frightened your sister. You're still connected emotionally with me. Do you sense any unusual fear?" "No. Why did you modify fear to unusual fear?" "Uh-uh. That's private. Perhaps I'll explain when we know each other better. Josh, I'm not frightened because I only shield my mind. If you become too intrusive, or if I want complete privacy, I'll merely shield my entire body." "Oh." "You're missing your dinner." "Yes, I should go. Again, thanks for that marvelous climax. It was by far the best part of my day. See you tomorrow at seven." ------- Chapter 11 Lookin' good, Nicole, I told myself as I turned first one direction and then the other in front of the full-length mirror hanging from my closet door. I wore my old standby, a black sheath that fit my curves perfectly. Well, maybe not. My hips had widened a touch. Hmm, not the product of fine dining, I reasoned. I was just getting womanlier. I'd debated about the height of my heels. Josh was taller than I, so I could wear any shoes I wished. In the end, I went with my highest heels. They gave my legs a better look. Josh had liked my legs. The doorbell rang, and my heart raced. I fluffed my hair, checked my front and back in the mirror one last time, closed the closet door, and walked ladylike to the front door. When I saw Josh standing in front of me, I melted. "Lookin' good, Nicole," he said and handed me a long, flower box. "Red roses." "Oh, Josh! Thank you." I hugged him. The damned box got in the way. "Let me put these in water. May I fix you a drink?" "I don't drink. Iced tea or a soda would be good. I'm partial to root beer." "I recently acquired a taste for wine," I said as I dug a vase from the cabinet under the sink. I felt his eyes on me as I bent over. Out of habit, I reached for his surface thoughts and chuckled. I'd never considered my ass world-class, but I didn't mind if Josh did. Straightening up, I turned to him and smiled. "I thought you liked my legs." He blushed and said, "Nicole, I can't think of anything I don't like about you." I felt the same about him, but I wasn't ready to say it out loud. I plunked the long-stem roses into the vase, filled it with water, and then arranged them. "They're beautiful, Josh. I don't have any root beer. How about a coke?" "Let's skip the drinks. I made reservations at Mary Elaine's at seven-thirty." "All right." Mary Elaine's! My favorite restaurant. How did he know? And look at him! So handsome in that dark suit, white shirt and red tie - and eyes to die for. "Nice car," I said as he opened the passenger door to a Mercedes. "My sister's. She garages the Mercedes and a Cadillac Escalade in Scottsdale and doesn't mind if I use them, wants me to drive them once in a while to keep the batteries up, in fact. That's between you and me, by the way. It's another secret Sandy and I keep from my parents, like the investment company we formed." He closed the door and walked around to the driver's side. When he was seated, I said, "Why the secrets? I'd think your parents would be proud of your investment company. By my calculations, when the deal you made today closes, you'll make over a million dollars profit. If I made a million dollars, my dad would be so tickled for me, he'd be jumping up and down with joy." "It's a difficult situation to explain because I can't tell you everything, but I'll try. My parents are old-fashioned, very religious Mormons. Are you familiar with the LDS Church?" "A little. I had a few Mormon friends in high school." "Good, then I won't need to spent time explaining the religion. I'm the youngest of five children. Sandy's smack dab in the middle. The two older girls married returned missionaries in the Mesa Temple. Cal, my older brother, is on a mission now. My father is the Bishop of our ward, and Mom is a past president of the Relief Society. "Sandy left the house before she finished high school because she couldn't take the pressure the parents were putting on her about her negative attitude regarding the church, and a similar situation developed between my parents and me not long ago. Because Sandy had paved the way, the pressure on me wasn't as intense, so I've remained at home. I plan to move into the townhouse I mentioned when school starts this fall, but I haven't told my folks about the move yet. "The secrets stem from the money Sandy came into before she left home. The parents aren't aware of this money, and at this time, there's no reasonable explanation for the money. That will change soon. Anyway, about eighteen months ago, Sandy funded our investment company as a way for me to become independent should the parents react to my apostasy as they did hers. That didn't happen, but we've made so much money, neither of us wants to shut down the company." He grinned. "I seem to have a knack for making money in real estate." "I'll say. Okay, I'm confused, but I assume the confusion is based on what you can't tell me." "Yup. I've been mentioning what's secret so you don't slip and say something about one of them when you meet my parents." "Oh, you plan to introduce me to your parents, huh?" I said with short laugh. "Yup. Don't know when, but it'll happen, and I'll want to meet yours, too." I proudly told him about my family, finishing about the time he pulled under the canopy at the Phoenician Resort where Mary Elaine's was located. He gave the keys to the Mercedes to a valet, and we strolled inside. Our table wasn't ready, so we waited in the bar. I ordered a white wine, and Josh a club soda. He smiled at me and said, "You're wearing a full-body shield, aren't you?" "Yup, and after I scanned you when you were leering at my world-class ass, you put up a shield, too. Thanks, by the way, but world-class is stretching it." "Not for me. Why the shield?" "It's our first date, Josh. Let's make it normal, as opposed to paranormal." He laughed. "Fair enough. See that man at the bar wearing that god-awful plaid suit?" "Yes." "He's full of anger." I scanned him. "Yup." "Were you surprised at the amount of hate and anger around you when you first started reading minds?" "Yes! I moved immediately out of over half the minds I entered." "When did your ability surface?" "During puberty. I thought I was goin' batty. It was intermittent, which made me feel even more certain I was losing my mind. It became constant when I was sixteen, and hasn't changed much since. How about you?" "My experience reflects yours, except my abilities are still evolving. Did you tell anyone?" "My mother, who told my father. She helped a lot, and after she died, Pop was a godsend." "Anyone since?" I grimaced. "Yeah, a boy I was involved with in high school, which was a huge mistake. I vowed never to tell anyone else." "Until me." "I didn't tell you. You knew. Who did you tell?" "My sister when I was sixteen. No one else. Oh, I'd planned to tell my high-school sweetheart, but Sandy advised against it. As it turned out, telling the girl would've been a disaster akin to yours, I suspect. When Sandy's fear of what I do kept her away, I suddenly felt very alone. I talk with her almost every day, but... let me just say, meeting you, being able to tell you what I do, has taken a lot of the loneliness away." "Oh, Josh, I know what you mean! That's why I visited that stupid telepath club. Meeting you... I don't know, it's like a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders." Which was true. I was almost giddy with relief. The waiter came by our table and took us into the dining room. We ordered the tasting menus, and I ordered another white wine. If Harry and I were entertaining, he would've ordered two bottles of wine, a red and a white, and they would've complimented the meals perfectly. Oh, well, a girl couldn't have everything. I said, "From what you've said, you must be very close to your sister." "Yes. She's my rock, the source of most of my happiness as well as a lot of pain. When she refused to put herself in range of my empathic intrusions, she hurt me deeply. I spoke with her this morning and told her about you and the shield she could construct. I don't think she believed me about the shield. She believed me about you. With your permission, she wants to call you." "Of course she may call me, Josh. Where is she?" "Right now she's in New York City. She found a publisher for her first historical novel, and she's working with her editor." "How exciting! What's the genre? A romance?" He laughed gaily. "Hardly. It's heavy in the history of its time, which takes place during the tail end of the 10th century and the beginning of the 11th. The main character is an Arab astronomer, and much of the book takes place in present-day Afghanistan and India. There's some romance in the book, but it's basically a thriller." "Gracious! That must take a lot of research." "During the last year, Sandy spent some time in Afghanistan, Pakistan and India, among other locales." "She must be a very interesting person. How old is she?" "Twenty." "My age, and she's already done so much with her life. Someday, I hope I can do as much." He took my hand in his. "You will; we both will, Nicole. We're unique. That we will accomplish a lot during our lives is a given." I squeezed his hand with affection and was happy I'd shielded my emotions and sensations from him. If he knew how strongly I felt about him, how much he excited me both intellectually and sexually, I might've scared him away. Then his words shattered my reservations. "Fate put us together, Nicole. I've known you only two days, but I feel like I've known you for a lifetime. I hope I don't frighten you by telling you how strongly I feel about you, but I feel compelled to tell you. I don't love you, not yet, but I believe passionately that I will fall deeply in love with you very soon. Like me, you've been subjected to the perversities of our society, the absolute depths of degradation that exists in the minds of so many around us, but you haven't let the wickedness, the hatred, and the anger you've experienced in the minds of others turn you into an uncaring person. I..." "Josh, I'm not perfect." He grinned. "Good, neither am I." "I mean, I've done some things I'm not proud of, some things I wish I hadn't done, and some things I'd do over again that others would condemn me for." "Likewise. I can't cast the first stone, and fortunately, it appears you can't throw any rocks, either. That only makes me want you more." "Fuck," I said quietly, a thought that escaped my lips inadvertently. In my defense, I wasn't in my right mind. I was so full of love and lust, I wasn't thinking straight. "Nicole, may I scan your emotions? I have a desperate need to know how you're feeling right now." I looked into his wonderful eyes, removed my shields, and said, "Yes." I felt him in my mind, but only briefly, and then I raised my shield again, but only for my mind. I wanted him to know what I was feeling, but I still felt a need to protect my attitudes, which Josh said was his way of reading minds. He smiled and said, "I feel the same way." "May I scan you?" "Yes." I probed deeply. He let me linger. Some of what I found surprised me, but nothing dismayed me. Finally, I said, "Yes, the idea of marrying you crossed my mind. I even mentioned the possibility to my father when I called him last night. He pressed me and asked when. I told him next June." With a little laugh, I added, "He said, 'That long?'" "June is good. You'll have your degree; I'll have mine." "Yours? How?" I knew from my deep probe, but I wanted him to tell me. "I tested out of high school, and I've been attending Phoenix College online for over a year. That's not a secret, by the way. I needed my parents' involvement to overcome the bureaucracies in the way of my goals. Online I can move at my own speed. I planned to finish during the summer next year. With the incentive you just offered, I'll try to finish by June." "Josh, are you finished eating?" "What about the dessert?" "Uh-uh. Scan me again." "My townhouse?" "Now. If I don't feel your arms around me soon, I'll burst. You know what I want." Josh stopped at a red light, turned to me and asked, "Do you believe it's possible to love more than one person at the same time?" "Yes." Should I tell him? Ah, fuck, the question was moot. Keeping secrets from each other would be impossible. "Josh, I know about you and your sister. I probed your mind deeper than you realize. For what it's worth, I've a few things to tell you about my checkered past, but not tonight. We'll work out everything later, but from what I found in your wonderful mind, we aren't too far apart. Tonight is just for us. Okay?" I watched him sag with relief, and then his smile lit up the night. "Nicole Halliday, I just fell madly in love with you." Love at first sight. Go figure, I thought, and I wasn't referring to Josh's thoughts. I was thinking about myself. "Joshua Johnson, I fell in love with you when you smiled at me and told me to get out of your mind yesterday. Step on it, bub. As much as I love you, right now I lust for you more." Two blocks down the street, I said, "We'll do it together." "What?" "Become a man and woman of the world." "Yeah we will." "Josh, you've been wondering, so I'll tell you. I enjoy sex with women almost as much as I like sex with men. That's part of my checkered past I need to tell you about later." "Hoo boy!" I didn't get a tour of his townhouse, not that night, but what I saw from the front door to his bedroom looked as if it'd had a decorator's touch. The place was full of antiques. Probably his sister's doing, I thought. I was happy to see the large bed wasn't the canopied bed I'd seen in his mind that was in Sandy's so-called apartment. It was king-sized, and thick and soft, and covered with white satin sheets. Just inside the townhouse, he'd kissed me until my pussy turned to mush, and then he'd carried me - handily, I might add - to his bedroom, while I clung to him like I never wanted to let him go. Inside the bedroom, he kissed me again, and as if by my magic, my clothes disappeared while he continued to kiss me, brushing his lips against newly exposed skin before exposing more. I helped him remove his clothes, and when I pushed his boxers down his strong legs, I gasped with pleasure at the beautiful cock bouncing in front of my eyes. I couldn't resist. I dropped to my knees and took it into my mouth. I adored everything about it, its length, its unusual thickness, its taste, and I made love with it, rolled it over my cheeks, my eyes, under my chin, and I told Josh how much I loved it, how much I loved him. Not surprisingly, he soon climaxed in my mouth. Then I was on the bed, and after he spent some wonderful minutes with my sensitive breasts, his face moved between my legs. My first climax happened moments after his mouth covered my cunt, but he persisted, and I came again a few minutes later. He slid up next to me and held me in his strong arms while I recovered. His lips wandered, giving me soft kisses everywhere. "You make me feel so loved, Josh," I said. "And I'm so very much in love. Isn't loving and being loved incredible?" "The most rewarding, wonderful feeling there is." "I want you... I need you inside me now." "I know." He entered me as if he were savoring each ripple of my cunt as his superb cock probed deeper and deeper until it bumped bottom, and then reached slightly beyond. I adored what its girth did to me, spreading me so wide, and when he made his first thrust his thickness jerked on my inner lips and pulled my clitoris down into play. I knew immediately that I wouldn't need to touch myself to climax. "You're feeling everything I'm feeling, aren't you?" I said. "Not quite. You still have your shield over your mind." "Oh, Josh, I'm sorry. I didn't think!" I quickly eliminated the shield. "Ah, that's better. Oh, my goodness, Nicole, your cunt is fantastic, so sensitive!" I chuckled. "Yeah. You should've said something earlier." "This way is best. If I'd been fully connected with you earlier like I am now, I would've surely climaxed with you while I was getting to know your cunt with my mouth." He pushed into me forcefully, bumping my clit with his pubic bone. I gasped with pleasure. He expelled air through his lips, telling me he'd felt and enjoyed my pleasure. "Exquisite!" he breathed. He experimented with his thrusts, repeating those that gave me the most pleasure, discarding those that were only so-so. I moved with him, and soon we teetered on the edge, my second favorite place. The moment when I crashed off the edge into an orgasmic abyss held first place, but I also knew that lingering on the edge could enhance that first moment of bliss. I lingered, and Josh let me. She likes the edge like Sandy, he thought. Hmm, I think I'm gonna like Sandy, I thought. Would she want me? I already wanted her. She'd been my lover's mentor, his rock, the source of his joy, and some of his pain. Shame on you for the pain, Sandy! The edge became slick, hard to hold, but I hung on until I couldn't stop the slide. My orgasm was the strongest ever. I cried out with joy, and my hips jammed my cunt down around Josh's ejaculating cock. I felt his essence fly into me timed perfectly with the pulsating orgasmic contraction that took me away from this life to become one with the universe where I lingered momentarily with Josh as we shared rapturous bliss. "No more shields, not between us," Josh said as we relaxed in the languid serenity following shared orgasms. "Uh-uh, everyone, including you and me, Josh, needs complete privacy occasionally." "Hmm, you're right. I've felt so alone for so long I wanted to banish loneliness completely, but I hear you. Like you, I'll covet some alone times." It was time for me to tell Josh about my checkered past. Could he handle what I had to say? I believed he could. His incestuous relationship with his sister actually helped. But before revealing all, I wanted to spend some more time in his mind. In the restaurant, he'd let me linger during my deep probe, but because of time constraints, I'd only uncovered major issues and events. I wanted the intimacy only a prolonged, deep scan would give me, which would take time and his permission. He smiled when I told him what I wanted, and then asked me if he could do the same with me. "It seems to me," he said, "that you'll be exploring more than thoughts, Nicole. You'll be checking out my memories. I can't read your thoughts, only your current attitudes, but I believe I might be able to assimilate your memories with a prolonged attitude scan. I understand your attitudes when I scan them. Perhaps I can understand the attitudes connected to your memories. I'd like to try, anyway." "All right, we'll take the plunge together," I said. I felt him in my mind as I moved into his. At first, we didn't talk, just held each other, and from time to time, one or the other would kiss the other with affection or acceptance. At one point, his marvelous cock lengthened, and he arranged me on my back with my legs draped over his hips. While he was lying on his side next to me, he dipped a couple of fingers in my pussy, and then entered me and ran his wet fingers softly and slowly over my clitoral shaft. My arousal built slowly. As we both continued our deep scans, we also started to talk. "Your mother," he said, "not your father or brothers. That surprised me." I huffed a short laugh. "She was a woman ahead of her time," I said. Good, he knows about my incestuous relationship with my mother. "Does talking interfere with your probe?" he asked. "No." "Good. I have a hunch reading attitudes about memories isn't as clear as reading them directly as you do. May I ask questions as I move through your past?" "Of course." "I know you had sex with your mother, and your attitude about it tells me its one of the things you mentioned that you'd do again, even if society or others condemned you, but getting at the details eludes me. How old were you the first time?" "Fourteen, nearly fifteen. You do know she wasn't the first female I had sex with, don't you?" "Yes. I'll have questions about Marilyn, too, but at another time. I'm in no hurry to know all the details about everything I'm encountering, but I'm very curious about you and your mother. I'd like to hear those details now." My thoughts drifted back to the fateful day that started everything between Mom and me. "As I said, Josh, I was fourteen and nosy, and one day on a rare occasion I was actually alone in the house, so I went snooping and came across my mother's collection of sex toys. What a find! I must've climaxed a dozen times while testing each of the toys before I realized I wasn't alone in the house anymore. "'Having fun?' Mom asked as she opened the door to my tiny bedroom. My three brothers shared the largest bedroom, and Mom and Dad claimed the next largest. From what I could see, your walk-in closet in this townhouse is much bigger than the bedroom I grew up in. "Well, as you can imagine, Josh, I was embarrassed and frightened. I scanned Mom for surface thoughts, and what I found surprised me. She wanted me, Josh! Like me, my mother was bisexual, a fact I'd known for quite a while from previous scans, but I hadn't uncovered her desire to have sex with me before that day. "Meekly and in awe, I said, 'I want you, too, Mom.' "She grimaced and shook her head. 'Not before we talk about it, ' she replied. 'Get dressed and meet me in the kitchen. We'll have some hot chocolate and talk.' "We didn't have sex that day, Josh, or for another couple of months afterward. What we did was talk. We talked about incest and sex and love and about a lot of heavy issues. She told me how she felt about the subjects, and some of what she said shocked me. Nothing she said repelled or revolted me, though. Her philosophy on the subjects was similar to yours, with only slight differences, and from what I gathered, Sandy was your mentor for your beliefs on love and sex, like my mother was mine. "I guess I was shocked because I knew my mother had been scrupulously faithful to my father. She told me that he knew how she felt about love and sex before they married, but he couldn't move beyond some of his childhood conditioning, that to his way a thinking, a husband and wife should be faithful with each other both with their love and their bodies. Mom loved him, so she agreed to his terms, and their marriage vows contained the standard promises. She told me she wouldn't have sex with me without Pop's complete awareness and permission, which frightened me. At the time, I considered Pop old-fashioned, a fuddy-duddy stick-in-the-mud, which wasn't accurate at all, I found out later. He's wonderful, Josh, with an uneducated but shrewd, streetwise and open mind. He didn't condemn Mom for her desires and different philosophies. He merely wouldn't go along with some of them. "Unknown to me, Mom told Pop what was said following each of our sessions. The first time he joined Mom and me during our talks, I was as nervous as a whore in church, sort of felt like one, too, considering the circumstances, but he put me at ease and proceeded to counter Mom's philosophy with his. As it turned out, I picked some of both for my own, mostly Mom's, though. "One day, instead of talking, Mom took me into her arms and kissed me. It wasn't a mother/daughter kiss, Josh. It was the most passionate kiss I'd ever experienced up to then. "'Do you still want me after talking the subject to death?' Mom asked me. "'I nodded, and we retired to her bedroom where she taught me that I knew very little about sex between two females. We were lovers until her death a year later." "How did she die?" Josh asked. "From complications to injuries sustained in a bad automobile accident. As you can imagine, I was devastated, Josh, not only because I'd lost my mother but also because I'd lost my lover. Pop lost his wife and lover, too, and he was even more bereft than I, so I pitched in and tried to take Mom's place in the family to the extent that later I even tried to join Pop in his bed. I bathed, put on some of Mom's perfume, and tried to climb in bed with him while he was asleep. I was naked, of course." I laughed remembering what happened next. "He literally kicked me out of his bed, Josh. I hit the floor with a loud thunk and cried out with pain. 'Serves you right, Nicky. You're not my wife, you're my daughter, and I want you to start actin' like my daughter, not my wife. Got it?' "'Yes, Pop, ' I said meekly. "'If you're horny, find a boyfriend or girlfriend. I won't take the part of your boyfriend. Got it?' "'I've got it, Pop.' "'I know you're different. I know you can read thoughts, but you're also a teenaged girl. Go out there and be a goddamned teenager. Have some fun, get laid, drink some beer, but stay away from drugs. You're beautiful and smart. Learn to use both, but also learn not to misuse anyone in the process, including yourself, ' he said, or words to that effect. "Well, I didn't crawl into his bed again, but I didn't take his advice, not right away. He needed me, Josh. I continued to be his helpmate around the house, preparing meals, doing the laundry, cleaning house, driving my brothers here and there. Then one day, Jessie came home with him, and Pop announced he was getting married again. At first, I resented her, but she was too good a person to resent for very long, so I happily relinquished all the wifely duties to her that I'd assumed, and went out there and became a goddamned teenager until I left for college. "I had some fun, Josh. I drank some beer, stayed away from drugs, and got laid. Boy, oh, boy did I ever get laid, both boys and girls. I fucked around for a while, but then I hooked up with that boy I mentioned who misused what I told him about my telepathic abilities. "Not long after that disaster, I started college at ASU, and I did some more fucking around. I was pretty loose with my favors, Josh, with both young men and young women. I even became involved in a few group scenes - some I enjoyed, others were... unsavory, I guess is the best way to describe them. Anyway, I picked up a venereal disease, which was easily fixed with modern drugs, but the messy event let me know I was treading a dangerous course, so I straightened up my act. I've been a fairly good girl for over a year, taking only occasional lovers, and practicing safe sex with them. "And then one fateful day, a handsome man walked into my life, and I fell in love when he smiled and told me to get out of his mind." While I'd talked, Josh had strummed my clitoris while slowly thrusting his long one inside me, and I'd become more and more excited. "I wanna come," I said. "Go ahead. I'll come with you, take your climax as my own." "You climax when I do. I can feel you ejaculate." "Yep, but yours is better, so I go with yours. Your orgasmic sensations are so intense, they overwhelm mine anyway." "I wish I could feel yours." "Try. I've been learning some telepathy techniques. Perhaps you can awaken your dormant empathic abilities." I laughed. "Wouldn't that be something? If you become a telepath, we could talk with each other without saying a word out loud." "Yeah, it would. I thought you wanted to come." I giggled. "I'm just holding the edge like Sandy." "Oh, you know about that, huh?" "Uh-huh." His touch became more forceful, just what I wanted, and I felt my orgasm start to gather. He stopped rubbing my clitoris, and started to tap it with his flattened fingers, tapping it faster and faster and harder and harder until his taps sounded like sustained applause. I cried out with pleasure as my body stiffened when my orgasm struck. At the same time, I felt Josh's cock jerk inside me and spurt. He bellowed like a wild animal, and I cried out again as the second pulse of my orgasm wracked my body with exquisite pleasure. My climax seemed go on and on, and with a spark of insight, I realized that with both of us connected as we were with deep probes, we'd truly become one. Our heartbeats and ragged breathing were synchronized, as were the pulses of our orgasms, and I honestly believed I sensed his sensations in the background. If so, he was right. I preferred mine, too. "Wow!" Josh exclaimed when my orgasm gave up its grip. "Yeah. Coming while connected like we were was... oh, hell, I'll use the word we both overuse when we talk about each other. It was amazing, Josh. A minute later, he said, "I'll want to hear details about the time you taught your brother, Bill, how to masturbate." I chuckled. "I thought you might." "Who's Ralph?" "A might-have-been. I broke it off with Ralph last night." "What about Sherry?" "Hmm, we'll need to talk about Sherry. And the answer to your next question is no. I'll spend the rest of my life with you, Josh, but I'll need to go home tonight. I'll need some things - a toothbrush, my makeup..." His next thought startled but pleased me. "Okay, I'll move in here. What about you?" "Tomorrow, I'll let my folks know I'll be moving out of their house right away." He glanced at the clock on the nightstand. "Or rather, today. I have a plausible excuse for the money it'll take to go out on my own. It's not foolproof like the one Sandy and I planned, but it'll do the trick. About spending the night, please change your mind. It'll be a first for me. I want to wake up with a beautiful woman lying next to me." I couldn't resist his heartfelt request. "Okay, but you'll need to drive me to my place first thing in the morning. Besides, if I were to guess, you don't have any coffee in your cupboards, and I do need my morning coffee." "Deal." He took me into his arms and kissed me until I could hardly breathe. ------- Chapter 12 After making love and talking some more, I was too revved up to sleep. Josh wasn't. I watched him sleep and my love for him just kept getting stronger and stronger, and while daydreaming about our future together, I drifted off into a deep, dreamless sleep. The sun was shining brightly when my eyes opened. Josh wasn't in bed with me. When I ran my hand over the sheet where he'd been, I couldn't feel his body heat. He's been up for a while, I reasoned. I stretched kicking the sheet away and realized I was feeling wonderful! I probed the townhouse for Josh's presence and found him. He was talking with his sister on the telephone, which didn't surprise me. While she'd been gallivanting around the world, they'd talked most mornings, and the morning talks had become a habit. I'd gleaned this information with my probe, not from conversations. Josh loved me, but he also loved his sister. I'd tried to determine if he loved me more than Sandy, but the quest proved fruitless. My mom would've said simply, "Love is love, silly. That's just the way it is." "Thank you, Mom," I said out loud. I sensed Josh in my mind and let him wander around. I think my probe alerted him that I'd awakened. I was enjoying the feel of the white, satin sheets on my sensitized skin while I continued to stretch when Josh stepped into the room with a cup in one hand and his satellite cell phone in the other. "I went out early and bought some coffee and a coffee pot, a toothbrush and a few other things I thought you might need. I brewed the coffee, a first for me, but I followed directions. From an attitude check before I went out, I also found out you like sugar and non-dairy creamer in your coffee. I hope it's drinkable." "Thank you, thank you," I gushed as I took the mug. I sipped and smiled. "Ah, French roast. How did you... ? Never mind. It's good!" He beamed. "I've also been on the telephone with Sandy for quite a while. Would you mind talking with her while you have your first cup of coffee?" "She knows about us, then?" "Yes, I share everything with her, Nicole. You don't mind, do you?" I smiled. "No, I know how it is between the two of you. She's your first love, and you'll love her always." He handed me the telephone. "Hello," I said tentatively. "Nicole, it's so pleasant to finally hear your voice. I'm so happy for you and Josh!" "Thank you." I took another sip. "Sandy, I want a nice, long conversation with you, but I just woke up, and..." She laughed, and I adored the sound of her laughter. "I understand," she said. "A tinkle, among other things, is in order. Do what you need to do and call me back. Just press..." "Speed-dial number one on the satellite cell phone." She laughed again. "Yup, you do know everything down to the minutia. I'll expect your call soon. I'm really looking forward to a nice, long conversation with you, and fortunately this morning is the perfect time. Hand the phone to Josh, please. I want to talk with him some more." I gave him the phone, a quick kiss and dashed for the bathroom. His thoughts about the way I looked as I scurried away from him pleased me. Later, I was even more pleased when I discovered he'd bought the toothpaste I preferred. My lover pays attention to the detail in my mind, I thought. A hairbrush and comb approaching the kinds I used had been placed next to the other toiletries he'd purchased for me, so I brushed out the tangles and wondered what to wear. "There's a new terry robe hanging on the door hook," Josh said to my silent query. I pulled it on, once again appreciating Josh's attention to detail. Maybe I wouldn't need to hurry home this morning after all. He was still talking with Sandy when I exited the bathroom, and he handed the phone to me. "I'll shower while you two talk," he said. With a chuckle, I said, "Sandy, I guess I won't need to hit speed-dial number one." "I guess not. Okay, here's the deal, Nicole. I want to meet you face to face, just you without Josh along. Can you take time off your job? If it will cost you, Josh and I will reimburse you, and we've already agreed that we'll cover your expenses for a trip to New York City." She chuckled. "Oh, and Josh insists that you and I go on a shopping spree in Manhattan - on him, he says, and not just for you, for me, too. So you've gotta say yes, Nicole. I do love to shop on Josh's nickel. I don't get the opportunity very often." She laughed again. "In fact, this is my first. Waddaya say?" "How long?" I asked wondering if Harry had any real need for me over the next few days. There was a closing... "Let's say a week. A few days with me alone, and if things work out, Josh will fly to New York and join us for the balance of the week." "This is important to Josh, isn't it?" "Very." "All right, but I can't afford to lose my job over this. I'll need to check with my boss before I commit." "I understand. Oh, we'll have so much fun, Nicole! I can't wait to meet you. I'll get tickets to a Broadway play, and New York offers a lot of other tourist venues that I've been meaning to visit and haven't. Tell me, what do you do for Olsen Investment Company?" "I'm an intern. Besides being a go-for for my boss and acting as his hostess when he entertains, I review sale packages being offered to Olsen, run various tests on the numbers regarding the properties being offered, such as internal rates of return, Olsen's method of cap-rate calculation, and others, and then make recommendations whether the opportunity presented in the packages should be pursued or tossed in file thirteen. If Olsen looks deeper into a property, I sometimes perform an inspection visit, utilizing Olsen's checklist for property inspections, and then I write up my findings. I also work on properties we offer for sale, like the apartment complex you and Josh bought the other day. It's a pretty good summer job, and I've been told they like my work and might hire me when I graduate next May." "Yup, you're perfect for what we need for our business. Would you consider switching jobs and working with Josh? We'll double your salary." "Whoa, you're movin' way too fast for me, Sandy. I have one more year in college before I graduate, and I won't jeopardize..." "Nicole, Josh brought up the same point. We promise that the job won't interfere with your education. Will you continue working with Olsen when the new school term starts?" "No. They only utilize full-time summer help for their intern positions." "Well, our investment company will hire you part-time while you finish college. You pick your hours, and they can vary from week to week, depending on your class workload. Josh needs a little help. He's going to college, too. He told you about Phoenix College's online program, didn't he?" "Yes." "When he graduates, he plans to go on for an MBA with their online program. Are your grades good enough to get into graduate school?" "Sandy, I'm attending ASU on a full academic scholarship." "Oh, Josh didn't mention that. Straight A's or close, huh?" "Yup." "Would you like to go on and get your MBA?" "Of course, but..." "Josh does too - online. The investment company will pick up your tuition and expenses if you want to continue your education online. That way you can work part-time with Josh while you continue your education." "Oh. I don't know what to say... yes, I do. We'll talk about these issues and more during my visit with you in New York. When would you like me to come?" "ASAP, according to Josh, but don't let him bully you about it." "I won't." "Now, tell me about this shield you taught Josh how to create. Do you really think I can create one?" "Yes. My father created one, and he isn't telepathic, but with Josh, you'll need two shields, one for your mind and the other a full-body shield." Sandy chuckled. "Trust Josh to complicate things. You say you can feel it when Josh enters your mind?" "Yes, if he's probing for an attitude. And he can feel my scans." I huffed a laugh. "What I didn't know was that he could probe for pure emotions and sensations and I couldn't feel his probes. I fixed his wagon, though, with the full-body shield." Sandy laughed gaily. "Good for you. Why two shields? Why not just a full-body shield?" "I don't mind if he's feeling what I'm feeling, so the full-body shield isn't necessary unless I want absolute privacy, and from what he's told me, you'll probably end up just using the mind shield like me. I understand that your concern is the possibility of Josh implanting a need that will force you to do something you wouldn't otherwise do." "In part, yes." "Josh implants what he calls an attitude. In your case he'd bundle the kinds of needs you fear, and then he'd transfer the bundle into your mind. A mind shield effectively blocks access to your mind, so the transfer couldn't take place. You said, 'In part.' What else bothers you?" "I understand you know about my past lives. Correct?" "Yes. Josh didn't tell me, but I uncovered just about everything Josh knows about you during a deep probe last night. For what it's worth, during puberty, besides the onset of my telepathic abilities, I had flashes of memories from what I think was my immediate past life, and since then the memories have become much more complete. So, I understand firsthand that what happened to you can happen." "That's interesting. Tell me about your memories." "I was a female, thank goodness, so my past life gender didn't confuse me about my gender in this life, and I lived in England, so I didn't gain a language, like you. I'll be happy to discuss my past life in detail when we meet, and I'd love to hear about yours. My goodness! Over one thousand years, both as a man and a woman in various places around the world! I find your memories even more extraordinary than the paranormal talents Josh and I enjoy. We changed subjects. You were about to tell me what else bothered you about Josh's empathic intrusions." "My memories of my past lives are in my current memories. I don't want him to know about some of the things I had to do just to survive in some of them, Nicole." "Oh. Okay, I understand. The mind shield will effectively block him from stumbling across your memories when he scans you for attitudes, as well. Your memories should be perfectly safe, Sandy, although, for the life of me, I don't know what you're worried about. Josh loves you deeply. Nothing you did in any past life will change how he feels about you in this one." "Are you all right with the way he loves me?" "Yup. I'm happy for both of you. I learned about unlimited love from my mother sitting at the kitchen table when I was fourteen years old. I've always considered my mom the most remarkable woman I've ever known. After I get to know you better, I might need to alter that judgment. Sandy, from everything I've learned about you from wandering around in your brother's thoughts and memories, I must tell you I think you're as remarkable as my mother, maybe more remarkable." "Well, thank you, Nicole. You mentioned your father built a shield to keep you out of his mind. Before that, could he feel it when you scanned him?" "Not for years. He does now and has for some time, but my mom told him about my telepathy before he learned to sense my scans. This upset him, as you can imagine, so I did research about telepathic shields, and passed along the results to my mom, who gave them to Pop. He built a shield lickety-split, and it was a powerful sucker, too, multi-layered, a mirrored surfaced at the outside, a marshmallow shield just behind the mirror to soften the blow of a mental attack, should one occur, and a few other layers just to make sure. He's since dropped all the shields but the impervious mirror he creates." "He sounds like quite a character." "Yup." "Do you know why I want to meet you before being around Josh again?" I chuckled. "You want to test the shield you create against my telepathic probes." "You've got it! But there's more. Josh loves you. He's loved before, and unwisely. Not to put any pressure on you, but I care about Josh more than you can imagine. Frankly, Nicole, I want to check you out face to face. If that's too blunt, I'm sorry." I laughed nervously. "Sandy, if I were you, I'd do the same thing. After all, Josh and I have only known each other for two days. Of course our probes have given us intimate knowledge of each other that often isn't achieved in a long-term relationship. Look, you've been blunt with me, so I'll be blunt with you. Shame on you, Sandy, for putting Josh through so much pain because you didn't trust him to be honest with his empathic abilities." She didn't speak for a few seconds, and I wondered if I'd gone too far. Fuck it, I thought. She had it coming. "I didn't respond immediately because what you said brought sudden tears to my eyes. For what it's worth, you can't shame me nearly as much as the shame I've heaped on myself over the last year and a half. I know I hurt him deeply." She sniffed. "I like you, Nicole. That took gumption, and if you love Josh like he thinks you love him..." "He's my soul mate, Sandy. I love him more than anything, including myself. Fate brought us together. You believe fate made you and Josh brother and sister, so you know what I mean. I've been playing with the idea that fate is bringing the three of us together. I'll firm up my attitude regarding the three of us after the New York trip." I heard the shower shut down. "Josh is getting out of the shower, Sandy. I'll check with my boss today - I have his home number - and then I'll call you back. We'll talk more then, and if I can get the time off without jeopardizing my job, I'll make arrangements to meet you." "My travel agent will make the arrangements, Nicole." "Oh, good. Listen, I do want to talk more with you, but frankly right now I'd rather go help Josh dry off." Sandy laughed heartily. "Go for it, girl." I waited impatiently in my dowdy apartment, the apartment I was so proud of in the recent past. Compared to Josh's townhouse, my apartment was a dump. Earlier, after drying Josh's wet body with a fluffy towel and another hot session in bed, we showered together, and he gave me a tour of his townhouse. It was quite large, a little over two thousand square feet, Josh told me. Besides the master suite, which was beyond sumptuous, the place had a large guestroom with a private bath, a humongous office where Josh worked - with enough space for another desk if I accepted his and Sandy's job offer, Josh pointed out. A small living room was located to the left of the entry foyer, a formal dining room to the right. The grand entry hall moved toward the back of the townhouse to a large family room and kitchen with kitchen eating. The ceilings were high, soaring in places. Oh, there was a hall bath, too, and a hot tub by the patio outside. The townhouse came with a two-car garage. "Whew!" I gushed. "The rent on this place has to be higher than a cat's back." Josh laughed, and a quick scan told me he was laughing more about my cat's back expression than anything. "I don't pay rent," Josh said. "I own the place. It's free and clear, no mortgage. I bought it with cash out of my third real estate deal." "Oh." As we continued to tour the townhouse, I noted all the antiques. "Did Sandy help you decorate?" "Only to the extend that some of the furniture pieces and accessories belong to her. I did my own decorating, Nicole. I get a kick out of fixing a place up." Which didn't bode well for me. I'd fixed up my dump, but... Tears stung my eyes, and Josh picked up on my sudden unhappiness immediately. I felt a quick attitude scan. "Ah, honey, you can fix up our next place. No, we'll do it together. You've got it in you to do as good as job as I've done here." "What if I don't?" "So what? Where is it written that the female half of a couple has to do the decorating?" "Just about everywhere." He laughed, and then I laughed with him. I was being childish. After the tour and some breakfast, I checked with Harry about taking a week off. He wasn't happy, but not seriously unhappy either, so he told me I could start the week on Wednesday after a closing scheduled for Tuesday. I called Sandy and told her the news. She was delighted and told me a travel packet and itinerary would be delivered to the townhouse that afternoon, including plane tickets. "First class, Nicole, the only way to travel. I'll meet you at the airport, and the travel agency will book a suite for you in a good hotel close to where I live and work. I want you to have your privacy and all the comforts of home." She chuckled. "Including room and valet services." "Sandy, I'm not rich. Compared to you and Josh, I'm a country bumpkin. I don't have the wardrobe to look chic and in style in New York City, and..." "Which we'll fix on our shopping spree." "About the shopping spree. I don't want Josh to spend..." "Stop it!" A shout. "Sorry," Sandy said. "Look, let me be your guide. It's my fondest hope that Josh will be joining us in New York Friday. Before he arrives you will look chic. You will be in style, and we'll need to buy a trunk or two to pack all the clothes and accessories we'll buy for you. When Josh arrives, I want to knock his socks off with how chic I look. It's my responsibility to make certain you look as good as I, and whether you like it, or not, I refuse to shirk that responsibility. Also, while Josh is here, he'll need to do some shopping, too. I figure his wardrobe isn't any better than yours, probably worse. Besides, how much we spend doesn't matter. Do you know why?" "No." "Because money doesn't matter to me or Josh, except to insure our freedom to do as we wish. While were shopping, our investments will earn more than we can spend, so get off the poor-little-me wagon and get with the program. Josh tells me that you're committed to becoming a woman of the world, joining him in his effort to become a man of the world. Well, the first step in achieving those goals is to look the part you want to become. And finally, dressing you and Josh properly will make me happy. I assure you, Nicole, you don't want to make me unhappy." "Whew! You're tough. Okay, I'm putty in your hands. Spend a bundle; I don't give a diddly damn if you don't. By the way, I enjoy fine dining, including exceptional wines." She huffed a laugh. "That I can handle. Can you dance?" "Yup. I've got moves that turn heads. Josh hates dancing." "I know. I thought you and I could go dancing Thursday evening, after a gourmet meal, including fine wine, of course." "Sounds fun." We'd chatted a little more about this and that, and I noted she was doing some probing herself, the way one woman probes another, not with paranormal incursions, like Josh and me. I liked her. My doorbell rang, and I opened the door to Josh. He didn't look happy. "They didn't take you moving out very well, I take it," I said. "Nope. I just created an empty nest. Mom took it hard. I knew she would. As obnoxiously religious as my mother is, I love her, and we've been close, especially since Sandy left. I've also been Sandy and Mom's intermediary, if you will." He slumped onto a sofa. "It's done, though. I'll move Thursday while you're in New York." "You mentioned a plausible explanation for having the money to move. What did you tell her?" "That this place is Sandy's, and that she'd given me permission to use it rent free." "Oh, Josh! That's a lie!" "Yes and no. When I bought it, I was still a minor. The investment company bought it. I paid for it out of my share of the proceeds from the deal I told you about, so in essence, Sandy is a part owner. I haven't transferred ownership to me yet." "Oh." "I hate lying to her, Nicole, but I need to protect Sandy, too. Hopefully, Sandy's book will be a best seller, and we won't need to hide the source of the money anymore, or the fact that there is money." "How much do you care about money, Josh?" He pursed his lips. "Not very much. In the total scheme of things, it's better to be rich than poor - unless being rich becomes all-consuming. I like the real estate business the way I do it now. It's very lucrative. Even better, it's easy, so it doesn't take much time, and I enjoy the freedom to do what I want besides work." My telephone rang. I answered it, and Sherry Meek, a current lover, greeted me. "Sherry, how are you?" "Fine, an afternoon's delight with you would make me better." "Oh, I'm sorry. No can do. My new boyfriend is here with me right now." "What happened to Ralph?" "He's history." "This new boyfriend sounds serious." "Very. I'm in love." "Whew! When did you meet him?" "A couple of days ago." "That's surprising. I never took you for a plunger, Nicole. Just the opposite." "Yeah, well, love changes things." "What about you and me? Am I history, too?" "May I answer that question in a couple of weeks?" Sherry laughed. "Sure. We've gone that long and longer without seeing each other. You call me, though. I don't want to be a pest." "I promise." After I hung up, Josh flashed his boyish grin at me and said, "Sherry, huh? You still need to fill in the blanks for me about Sherry?" "Now?" "No. I think I'd rather have your gorgeous legs draped over my hips while I'm inside you when we talk about Sherry." "Good plan." "What would you like to do tonight?" "Besides sleep with you, you mean?" "Yes. Have you gotta yen for a specific type of food?" "Yup, home cookin'. I'll cook for you. From what I saw of your kitchen, you have everything I'll need but the food. Let's go grocery shopping." "Argh." A quick scan told me he was teasing. "Hey, I'm a pretty fair country cook. Surely a home-cooked meal is worth the teeny, tiny pain you'll feel for a few minutes while shopping." He pulled me down onto his lap and nuzzled his face in my neck while growling his argh again. I giggled; he laughed, and away we went. On the way to the grocery store, I said, "After dinner, I'd like to see Sandy's museum." "All right, but I'll need to call her for permission first." "Then call her now before it gets too late in New York." While Josh called his sister, I thought about my family. They'd take to him right away. How would he react to them? I'd told Sandy the truth. Compared to her and Josh, my family and I were country bumpkins. Oh, heck, he'd like them. They were very likeable, not a bad egg in the bunch. With a sudden burst of intuition, I wondered if I could connect telepathically with my family from Scottsdale. I'd connected with Josh twenty miles away. The distance to my family's home was much greater, but the process was the same. I closed my eyes and concentrated while I searched for Pop's psi-sig, as the wannabe telepaths called an individual's mental signature. My eyes flew open when my probe brushed Pop's mind. Goldarnit, Nicole! he thought just before he raised his shield, breaking our connection. I chuckled. He'll be madder than a wet hen when he discovers I can scan his mind so far away. I found Jessie's psi-sig next and realized why Pop was so upset. They were making love, or at least that's what Jessie was thinking about. No, they were definitely fucking. I wished I could feel emotions and sensations like Josh. I'd love to share Jessie's orgasm with her. I grinned. Or Pop's, especially Pop's. Frankly, I'd been disappointed when he'd kicked me out of his bed. When Pop told Jessie I could hear her thoughts, she asked for a demonstration, and a few minutes later, she became a believer. Pop then told her about shields, and Jessie, said, "Piffle. What I think might embarrass her, but her knowin' what I'm thinkin' won't embarrass me. If she doesn't like what she hears, then she can just stay out of my mind." I've gotta admit, some of Jessie's deliciously naughty thoughts embarrassed me, but not enough for me to stop checking her thoughts. Jessie liked sex. What's not to like? she'd think. When the boys wandered around the house in their underwear, Jessie checked them out, and her fantasies were vivid. If I were around, she'd think something like, That was a fantasy, Nicky. You have 'em, I figure, but if you don't, I feel sorry for you. I think Bill is hung like his daddy. Waddaya think? Bobby will end up bein' a better lover than Bill, though. It's his inquisitive mind, you see. Sex takes place more in the mind than the body. And Jeffy will be the best lover of the bunch. He'll have Bill's body and Bobby's mind. Frankly, I'd love to fuck all three of 'em - at the same time. Now, that'd be somethin' else again, wouldn't it? I'd been sorely tempted to fuck Bill when the boy was in his early teens. As, Josh found out during his prolonged probe, I'd taught the Bill how to jerk off. He was thirteen years old at the time. Mom had left us six months before, and I'd assumed the role of the woman of the house, and he'd come to me lookin' sheepish. "What's jackin' off?" he asked. I checked his thoughts. He wasn't tryin' to fool me. It was an honest question. Hmm, how would Mom handle this? I asked myself. I decided she would've been honest and straightforward. "Jacking off or jerking off is slang for masturbating, Bill. You've heard about masturbating, haven't you?" He blushed and hung his head. "Yeah, sorry I asked." I laughed. "Don't be. Do you masturbate?" As much as I'd been in his mind, I figured he'd give me a negative answer. "Sort of. I don't think I've figured it all out, though. Do girls masturbate?" "Yes, just about everyone masturbates, Bill." "What do girls call it?" "Jilling off, or finger-fucking, or..." "So that's what finger-fucking is," he breathed, interrupting me. A glance told me he had a hard-on. I knew Bill was capable of ejaculating. I did the laundry and had noticed the crusty residue of semen on his sheets. I'd assumed, correctly from the conversation I was having with him, that the stains were the result of wet dreams. "So you finger-fuck, huh?" he said and flashed me a boyish grin. I've always been a sucker for a boyish grin. Josh's endeared me to him. "Yup." A quick scan told me he would love to watch me finger-fuck. The idea of it creamed my panties, I'm here ta tell ya. "Do you know how boys jack off?" he asked. "Yes." "Would you show me? I wanna learn. Keith knows how. He wanted me to jack off with him. I didn't want him to know I didn't know how." Keith was Bill's best friend. From my intrusions into the minds of those around me, I knew a boy jerking off with a friend was a common event, and in no way indicated they were homosexual. Masturbation was fun and felt good, but it was essentially a lonely act. Jerking off with another boy or two took the loneliness out of it. Girls did the same thing. And more, I thought. Visions of Marilyn's mouth on my cunt increased my arousal. I could tell Bill how to jerk off, but as hot as I was, I let reason fly out the window and decided a hands-on approach would be more effective. Besides, I wanted to see his cock. "All right. Let's go to my bedroom in case someone comes home." He eagerly followed me to my bedroom, where I told him to strip. I thought he'd hesitate. He didn't. "Ooh, nice cock, Bill." "Thanks. I think it's bigger than Keith's. I've seen him hard before." "It's a cock to be proud of, Bill." It was, too, about six inches long, and quite thick. A very substantial cock for a boy his age, I figured. We sat on my bed next to each other. I could've told him what to do and watched, correcting whatever was hampering his journey to a climax, but the sight of his stiff cock tossed some more reason out the window. Bill wasn't circumcised, and his shaft was thick near the base and somewhat pointy at the crown. He was hard, but his foreskin still covered the head. I wrapped my hand around his cock and stroked down to retract the foreskin. Bill flinched, and the reason he hadn't been able to jerk off to a climax became obvious. His foreskin was too tight. I'd retracted it down off the crown, but pulling it back up was a problem, too. I explained his problem, and fear filled his eyes. "Calm down," I said. "I think your problem is easily remedied. If not, you can always be circumcised." "Ouch," he said, which made me laugh, and my laugh was contagious because he joined me. "I suggest you try a couple of other things before submittin' to a surgeon's knife. With your foreskin so tight, you haven't been washing your cock like you should. While showering, retract the foreskin and wash the head thoroughly, and be sure to rinse off all the soap residue before you pull the foreskin back down around the head." The scent of his cock had led me to the conclusion that his hygiene was sorely lacking. I stood up and went to my small dresser where I kept a bottle of baby oil. "Next," I said, holding up the baby oil, "use more lubricant." I doused his cock with the baby oil, and stroked his shaft again. "Oh, my goodness," he said. "Yeah, I get it now." I giggled and continued stroking. "Would you like to try it, or would you prefer that I finish what I started." "You finish. Fuck, Nicole, what you're doin', it's... wow!" "I'm doin' this to show you how, Bill. I won't do it again." "I know." He grimaced. "Don't stop. Ah!" I stroked down as his hips rose up off my bed and semen shot out of the tip of his cock like a ball out of a cannon, except it was a long stream of come that sailed high and fell down around his cock, my hand and arm, and my bed. He grunted and ejaculated again, and then squirted two more times before he settled back to my bed with a huge, contented sigh. "That was fantastic, Nicole!" he exclaimed and hugged me. "Thank you, thank you, thank you." I grinned. "You're welcome. Now go wash, and wash it real good, you hear?" "Yeah. Ah... may I have the baby oil?" "Sure. Now get." He left. I locked my door and ripped off my panties. My orgasm hit not more than a minute later. Using his come from my hand on my clit for a lubricant helped. Bill never asked, and I never offered to jerk him off again. I felt Josh in my mind and let him wander. "Weren't you tempted to do it again?" Josh asked, and I wondered how long he'd been in my mind. "Yeah," I said, "but if I had, somewhere along the line, I would've shown him how to fuck. If I'd been just his sister at the time, I think I might have joyfully taken the role of his sexual mentor, but I'd also assumed the role of his mother. My duel role confused the boy enough. Bringing sex into the unusual situation would've complicated it even more." "What about now? Would you be tempted now?" "You mean before I met you, right?" "Yeah." "No. Bill's a jock now, with a jock's mindset. Jock's bore me." Josh chuckled and stopped at a red light. He unbuckled his seat belt and kissed me thoroughly. "I love you, Nicole. Thank you for sharing that experience with me. It was exciting and heartwarming at the same time, and I think you handled the unusual situation exceptionally well." "You're welcome," I said with a warm smile that matched the warm feeling inside me. Being accepted regardless of what I am or what I've done is the best part of love, I decided. Well, one of the best parts, anyway. "What did Sandy say about me visiting her museum?" "She was delighted, told me to act as a tour guide." ------- Part Four: Sandy ------- Chapter 13 My heart raced as I stood in the waiting area of the crowded airport. My heart rate had quickened because I was afraid the shield I'd constructed wouldn't be effective against Nicole Halliday's intrusive mind. I'd told Josh that what he did frightened me because he could make me do something I wouldn't otherwise do. My fear was real and compelling at the time, but in retrospect, and after a lot of self-analysis, I'd used my fear as an excuse to cancel my trip home. I'd told Josh the truth. I had changed. After leaving home, I came into my own. I became an adult, a woman, and Josh hadn't left the nest, he'd remained a teenager living at home, and I... well, I did something I promised him I wouldn't do. I left him behind. I felt guilty about it, but I reasoned that's the way it was. Also, during our telephone conversations, Josh and I spent ninety percent of our time talking about him and his love life and how he should handle it, and I started to feel more like a big sister dispensing advice than a lover. He'd found a replacement for me, a sexy girl his own age. He was in love with her, and she loved him, so I convinced myself it was time for me to make the break with Josh that was inevitable sometime soon anyway. Things were different between us after that day. We still talked, but it was evident that we weren't as close as before. More often than not, I made the call, not Josh, and we'd go days without talking. Josh didn't tell me for quite a while that he'd broken up with his high school sweetheart the same day I told him that we shouldn't be lovers anymore, so I'd mistakenly believed he had her shoulder to cry on, so to speak. When he finally told me what happened, I realized how much I'd hurt him. I tried to tell him how sorry I was, but he brushed me off. Then one day he said, "What happens, Sandy, if the folks discover how I feel about the church? You had money and your past lives to call upon. I have nothing." "Josh, you know if you need help... money... anything, you can count on me." "Uh-uh, then I'd be dependent on you instead of the parents. No, Sandy, what I need to do is become independent, not transfer my dependency." "You're sixteen, Josh. There's no rush." "I disagree. You were eighteen when your rift with the parents took place. Mine could come any day. So, here's my plan. I've spoken with a guidance counselor at my school. There's a way for me to test out of high school, and I'm going to take it. With a high school degree, I can start college, and Phoenix College offers online programs for degrees in business. The tuition is a little steep, but less than BYU, including room and board, and the other expenses that add up when attending college away from home, so I think I can talk the folks into springing for the tuition. This way, perhaps I can get in a year or two of college before the rift occurs. That's the educational part of my plan, except to say that I elected the online program because I can work at my own speed and accelerate my education, and at the same time, I can work on achieving financial independence. I've wracked my brain on the financial part of the plan, and in the end decided that I couldn't succeed on my own as quickly as I think I need to without some help. It's a function of capital, Sandy. And, that's where you come in. "I considered a number of ways to make money and decided dealing in real estate is the way to go. Because of time constraints, I won't buy to hold, but rather to sell as quickly as possible, what folks in real estate call flipping a property. If the transactions are handled correctly, I won't use much capital, but I need the appearance of a lot of capital behind me. It's all smoke and mirrors, Sandy. I'll find a buyer, then find the property, buy the property, sell the property to my buyer, and hopefully the entire transaction will be handled at a double close, after which, I'll walk away with a good profit. If the buyer backs out for any reason, I'll need more capital, because I'll be required to complete the purchase, but then I'll put the property up for sale with a good real estate broker. In that instance, I probably wouldn't make a profit, but I wouldn't lose much either. "The next problem I needed to consider was my age. I'm a minor, and as a minor, I can't do deals, but a corporation can do deals, and as a minor, I can own stock in a corporation. Problem solved. "So here's the deal, Sandy. I developed an abbreviated business plan that outlines these issues and more. I have my first buyer staked out, and I located the property they want. It's put up or shut up time for me, but I need capital to pull it off. I'll e-mail the business plan to you today. Look it over, and I'll call you tomorrow morning." I looked it over, and I had my lawyers and financial advisors look it over. They told me I'd be out of my mind to proceed. What my lawyers and advisors didn't know, I knew and couldn't tell them. I knew about Josh's secret weapon - his empathic talents. I ignored my advisors, became Josh's partner in a real estate investment company, and my kid brother proved my advisors wrong - in spades. In one year, Josh became financially independent and finished two years of college at the same time. Meanwhile, I wrote, tore up what I wrote, and wrote some more, and finally finished my first historical novel. And I traveled, traveled until I became sick of living out of a suitcase. Josh matured, and I came to trust him and his empathic abilities. Well, almost. The control issue continued to bother me, but I would've taken the risk, journeyed to Scottsdale to visit my family, and perhaps renewed the love and sex that I'd cherished with Josh before I left. But, before I satisfied myself on the control issue, I found out he could use his intrusive attitude probes to dig into the memories of his victims. Yes, I considered the unsuspecting recipients of his intrusive talents as victims, and to avoid becoming one of his victims, I kept my distance from him. Why was I being so stubborn? Plain and simple, I didn't want him to see what his girlfriend might see if my shield didn't work when she stepped into my presence from the secured area of the airport. During two of my past lives, I'd killed a man, and not as a soldier. Both instances involved domestic abuse. Still, I'd committed savage, premeditated murder, not once, but twice, and given the same circumstances in this, or a future life, I'd repeat the brutal acts. I'd used a knife in one instance, and a sword in the other. In the former, I'd been a wife in an arranged marriage, and I'd stabbed the vile creature I was forced to marry, stabbed him so many times, I lost count, and then I'd cut off his puny cock and stuffed it in his mouth. The sadist had raped my young son. In the other case, I was a boy, and I committed patricide. My father took turns beating my mother, my sister and me, and he raped my younger sister repeatedly. I decapitated the fucker with his own sword. As if possessed, I'd gone berserk during both bloody incidents, wielding the blades over and over again, slicing, stabbing... dismembering... beheading. I shuddered with trepidation just thinking how frenzied, brutal and savage I'd become. Surprisingly, the authorities at the time didn't suspect me, or didn't consider me capable of committing the crimes, or just plain didn't care, so except for horrible, repetitious nightmares during those lives and the lives immediately following, I wasn't punished for what I'd done. I could probably tell Josh and Nicole about the incidents, but letting them actually experience the crimes that were so graphically stored in my memories was another matter entirely. Another issue created an approach/avoidance situation between Josh and me. I loved him, but I'd changed. I'd flown from the nest, become an adult responsible for myself, and I wanted lovers like me, not a high school student still living at home. So, I spread my wings and took some lovers. Were they better than Josh? No. Why? I asked myself, but I knew the answer. They didn't love me, not like Josh loved me. More importantly, I didn't love them. I didn't despair, though. My man of the world was out there. I just needed to find him, or he needed to find me. Then almost overnight, Josh wasn't a high school student anymore. What's more, he'd become financially independent. In a year and a half, he'd achieved what most men don't achieve in a lifetime. While talking with him most days, sharing his successes, commiserating with him about set backs, and discussing issues about his phenomenal empathic talents, I fell in love with him all over again. Josh had become a man, an adult like me, and I wanted to be with him again. I'd almost decided to risk moving in range of his intrusive mind, when all of a sudden he falls in love again, but not with me, with a woman who apparently was as unique as he. I felt... betrayed. Finally, I understood how he must have felt when I abandoned him. But Josh didn't do to me what I did to him. He didn't leave me behind. Even after meeting and falling in love with a woman with paranormal talents as unique as his, he still loved and wanted me. Nevertheless, Josh and I had trust issues to deal with. I'd betrayed him, and betrayal destroys trust. What he didn't know was that I felt betrayed, too - twice. The first time happened almost immediately after I left Phoenix when he'd had sex with his high-school sweetheart that same night. I hadn't expected sexual fidelity from him during my absence, but in only a few hours, not days or weeks, Josh had taken another lover. I pretended to be happy for him, but deep down I felt betrayed. And as the days progressed, other than sisterly advice, I started to believe he didn't need me anymore. The second time happened when, without warning, he announced he was in love, and the woman he loved was as paranormally talented as he. I congratulated him, but his announcement hurt me deeply. I was close to gathering enough courage to ignore my fears so we could be together again. After finishing the editing task on my novel, I'd planned to surprise Josh by flying to Phoenix to spend some time alone with him before visiting Mom and Dad. I was days away from telling him when out of the blue he declared he was in love with a beautiful woman he'd known for only two days. So, Josh and I had trust issues to deal with. However, if we could be with each other again, I felt confident that we could put those issues behind us. Josh saw Nicole's shield as the solution. I wasn't convinced. When he suggested that I meet her to test the shield theory with her, rather than him, I agreed, but for a number of reasons. Josh loved her. Josh had money. Nicole didn't. Was she a gold digger? Did she really love him? Also, their love affair had been a whirlwind. Two days after meeting, they were talking about a June wedding, for goodness sake. Even with their intimate mind probes, two days stretches credulity to the extreme. Had Nicole cast a spell on him? Given him a need he couldn't resist, like I'd once feared Josh would do to me? I needed answers to these questions and more. I'd hurt Josh deeply. His high school sweetheart hurt him almost as much. I didn't want to see Josh hurt again. I saw Nicole Halliday striding toward me. I recognized her from her description, which certainly hadn't done her justice. She's gorgeous! I thought. And, she carries herself like a top model, saucy and sexy. My, oh my, my baby brother knows how to pick 'em. I waved and shouted her name. She saw me, flashed a wide smile and hurried toward me. Would my shield work? If it didn't, would Nicole be honest with me? Our meeting got off to a bad start. She was toting a carryon and an oversized purse, so our hug was awkward, and then she laughed. "What?" I said, full of fear. "That's a great shield, but..." She chuckled. "Good gracious, Sandy, you created a helmet!" "So? That's what soldiers wear to protect their heads. I thought..." "I can get to your mind through your eyes, your face. Heck, my scanning tendril could probably sneak up under the helmet." Nicole must've seen how terrified I'd suddenly become, because she said, "Calm down. I won't scan your mind until you build another shield. Try this. First, get rid of the helmet. Then imagine a mirrored ball around your entire head, one you can see through, and then close the ball around your neck." She paused. "Are you finished?" "I think so; I hope so." "Uh-uh. Josh made the same mistake when building his first shield. Make it stronger. Imagine using titanium or another strong material to build your shield." She paused again. "Are you ready? Should I try scanning you again?" "Yes." "By golly, now that's a good shield. I sent a good-sized probe at your mind, and your shield held. Okay, you're safe from my prying telepathy, now." Did I relax? A little, but I didn't trust her. Why should I? I didn't know her. "Josh sends his love," Nicole said, and then shook her head and looked disgusted. "And this trip was a waste of time. You're shielded, but you don't believe me, and no, I'm not reading your mind. I can see the fear and distrust you're feeling in your eyes. Sandy, either you trust me, or you don't. If you don't, I'll catch the next flight back to Phoenix because I know of nothing I can do or say to convince you I can't read your thoughts through the shield you just created." I didn't know what to say, so I said nothing. "Which is it?" she asked. "Should we proceed and try to establish some trust between us so you can have a joyful reunion with your fantastic brother, or should I change flights and return to Phoenix? It's your choice, but know this. Right now, Josh believes you won't get close to him because he might gain some control over you. If this experiment fails, he'll stop accepting that excuse, whether it's real or not, and he'll believe you just plain don't care about him anymore. What's more, I'll encourage that assumption because, if you don't make the attempt, Sandy, you don't deserve his love." When I didn't respond, she said, "Now, dammit! Decide. Should I stay or leave?" Yup, little brother, you can pick 'em, I thought with admiration, and then said, "Stay." She grinned ear to ear. "Great! Let's go pick up my luggage." I watched Nicole as her gorgeous, dark eyes darted around the suite I'd arranged for her in the Rihga Royal, listed as one of Travel & Leisure Magazine's 500 Greatest Hotels in the World in 2003. Josh's girlfriend had described herself accurately. She was a country bumpkin. But, oh the potential! "It's wonderful, Sandy! I didn't know hotel rooms could be like this." "I told you. The only way to travel is first class. I chose this hotel because it's close to where I work and live, and its midtown location puts you only steps from New York City's premier business and shopping districts, Central Park, Carnegie Hall, and the theater district, but don't go out exploring by yourself. New York is a wonderful town, as the song says, but it can be dangerous." "Oh, my goodness!" Nicole exclaimed when she stepped through the French doors from the sitting room into the bedroom. "Splendid!" Her description of the marble bathroom was, "So grand!" I'd relaxed my fears enough that her enthusiasm delighted me. In the limo from the airport to the hotel, I'd tested my shield and involved Nicole in the tests. I didn't lower my shield and said, "Is my shield up or down?" "Up." A minute later, I said, "Up or down?" "Still up." Finally, I found the courage and lowered my shield. "Up or down?" "Down! Oops, it just went up. Sandy, I'm so proud of you. With your extreme fear, it took real courage to lower your shield, even if only to test my honesty." "Okay, I've decided to trust you. Will you promise not to scan or probe my mind without my permission?" She grinned and said, "Nope. Wanna know why?" "Argh! Yes." "Because a couple of days ago, I discovered I could perform what I call checking visits. A few times each day, I check on those I love to make sure they're all right. I scan only surface thoughts just to make sure everyone is fine." She chuckled. "Heck, each visit lasts only a few seconds, so I don't have time for any deep probes, and a deep probe would be necessary for me to get into your memories of this life, let alone your previous lives. I hope before this trip ends, I'll be able to include you on my short list." "Who's on your list?" "My family, of course, and Josh. I haven't checked if I can connect with Josh as far away as I am; would you mind if I tried now? If I connect, he'll probably call you to find out if I was the jerk disrupting his privacy." "Whew! You're as amazing as Josh, Nicole." "Thanks, I think. There, I found his mental signature. Yep, he knows I'm knocking at his mental door. Your satellite phone should ring momentarily." I had to dig the phone out of my purse to answer it. "Hey, Sandy. Is Nicole with you now?" Josh asked. "Yes, and that was her 'knocking on your mental door, ' as she put it." "Marvelous. Her range is phenomenal! To change the subject, I take it your shield worked." I told him about the helmet, and he sounded like he was rolling around on the floor laughing his fool head off. I finally laughed with him. "It wasn't funny at the time. I was terrified, but the new mirrored ball I built seems to be working." "I've been meaning to ask. I want Nicole to have one of these handy-dandy cell phones that can connect anywhere in the world. Would you mind? She'll be speed-dial number two." "Not at all. I'll add one to tomorrow's shopping list." I winked at Nicole. "By the way little brother, you know how to pick 'em. She's gorgeous. Spunky, too. She gave me what for at the airport when I didn't trust her." "I hope you two don't tear each other to shreds over the next few days." "We'll be fine." And we would. Nicole was a country bumpkin, but I sincerely believed that her love for my brother was honest. "What are these clothes in the closet?" Nicole asked from the bedroom, bringing me back to the present. "Gifts from me. That's why I asked your sizes and preferences." I strolled into the bedroom. "I wanted you to feel beautiful while we dined tonight. I made reservations at 21 Club for eight o'clock, by the way." "That's a famous restaurant, isn't it?" She pulled a slinky gown from the closet and held it up in front of her as she gazed at her reflection in the full-length mirror. "Yup." "This dress looks elegant, Sandy!" "You mentioned you enjoyed wine. I'll order a bottle of white wine while you try on the clothes." "Yes! Oh, and this purple dress is fantastic!" "Shoes and purses and some other accessories are in the boxes and bags in the closet." "Oh, oh, you... I was about to say you shouldn't have spent... oh, you know what I mean. Instead, I'll just say thank you, Sandy." She hugged me, and this time the hug was... well, a little more than a hug. Was she as attracted to me as I was to her? I ordered the wine while Nicole laid out everything on the bed. And then she stripped. That I could see her didn't seem to bother her a bit. It bothered me, but in a pleasant way. It made me hot and bothered. In moments, she was down to a sexy pair of panties, not a thong, but definitely abbreviated. Did the sight of her turn me on? You'd better believe it. Whew! She turned to me and smiled. "Which outfit should I try on first?" "The black one. With your dark hair - love it, by the way - you should look alluring in black. Isn't that much hair hard to keep up?" "Not really. Mostly, I just ignore it, and let it do what it wants." "Well, it's beautiful. You could model for shampoo commercials. In fact, with that body, you could have a career as a runway model." "Not interested," she said. "I'm doin' what I want to do." She slipped the black gown over her head, shook out her hair, and let the garment fall down around her dazzling body. The garment had spaghetti straps that widened into a plunging bodice, exposing the gap between her breasts and part of her torso below. The skirt was short, showing off her incredible legs. After slipping into some black heels, she stepped to the mirror, turned one way, then the other, and said, "This is bar none, the sexiest, most elegant dress I've ever had on my body." She turned to me. "Waddaya think?" "I think the body makes the dress, not the other way around." My pussy was clenching, not tingling. She grinned. "Thanks." A little later, I said, "We'll take the red dress back. It's not for you." "I agree," Nicole said. "Is the black dress too dressy for 21 Club?" "No, and in New York, 21 Club is referred to simply as 21." A knock sounded at the door. "Our wine is here. I'll handle it. Try on the soft purple dress." After the waiter set up the wine service and left, I returned to the bedroom carrying two glasses of wine. Nicole was standing in front of the mirror wearing the light purple dress. "Beautiful," I breathed. She spun to me, and then twirled completely around throwing the skirt high as her luxurious dark hair rose and spun with her. The most beautiful head of hair I've ever seen, a body that'd make fashion models envious, and she's a telepath, to boot! This gal has got it all! "I'll wear this one dancing tomorrow evening, and the black one to 21." I handed her the wine. She sipped and oohed and awed over the wine. "What is it?" she asked. I shrugged. "I don't know. I just told them to send up a very good white wine. I'm not a connoisseur of wine, Nicole, not in this life nor any past life." She sipped at the wine again, smacked her lips, grinned and took off the dress. Down to just her panties again, she moved to the bed and lounged, propped up against the headboard. After another sip of wine, she said, "Do I turn you on?" With a huffing laugh, I said, "Yup." "Good, 'cause you turn me on. Which would you prefer: being seduced or being the seducer?" I sipped some wine. "Go ahead. You're doing fine, so far." Did Josh put her up to this? "The limo ride, this luxurious suite of rooms, the elegant clothes, they excite me, thrill me, but you, Sandy, make me hot. Why don't you make yourself as comfortable as I am?" I took off my clothes down to my panties, like Nicole, and rolled onto the other side of the bed. "You're very graceful," Nicole said and laughed. "What?" "We look alike. We're tall, although you're slightly taller than I. We both have dark hair." "Yours is prettier than mine." "That's debatable. We're both slim with small breasts, but yours are prettier than mine, a little bigger, too. I love your perky breasts. We both have long, shapely legs, long necks, high cheekbones, dark eyes. We could be sisters, Sandy." "Hmm, you're right. Why did you laugh?" "Josh seems to fixate on a certain type." "Ah!" I laughed then. "Yup, he does. This is good wine." She turned to me and grinned mischievously. "Prepare to be shocked." The hand holding her wine glass moved over me, and she dribbled wine on my breasts. I squealed, and my body jerked. That wine was cold! When she leaned and lapped up the wine like a kitten with milk, my gasp of shock turned into a purr of happiness. Josh would've lapped like a big dog. Viva la difference! When her full, bright-red lips nibbled on a nipple, I set my wine glass on the nightstand, which twisted the nipple out of her mouth. After I settled back, she latched onto the other one. Her thick mane fell over my chest, and I bit my lower lip. "You're moving too slowly," I said, my voice cracking with passion. She brushed her hair back and looked into my eyes from her perspective at my breasts, and the lust I saw in her expression and her beautiful dark eyes thrilled me. This wasn't a seduction on Josh's behalf. Nicole wanted me! With a heartfelt moan, she moved her mouth to mine and kissed me passionately, but not as passionately as I kissed her back. I was on fire! Her nipples brushed mine. Her wonderful hair fell around my face, and I inhaled her fragrances as her tongue entered my mouth. She squirmed over until she was above me, and I spread my legs to accommodate her. My hands roamed over her fabulous body, her silky skin, and I kneaded her supple flesh. She rained kisses down my neck, and her mouth found a nipple again, but she didn't nibble it with her lips. She sucked hard - just what I wanted - and then nibbled on it with her teeth. A phrase Josh used the first time we made love came to mind. It hurts so good! Her face moved down my body, kissing, nipping, licking, until I could feel her warm breath on my cunt over the material of my panties. I thought she'd take them off, but instead, her mouth covered my cunt over the sopping gusset, and when I felt her suck my clitoris and the panties into her mouth, I gasped with pleasure. Still, she didn't remove the panties. She merely pushed them aside, and licked my cunt from bottom to top, over and over again. At the top, she rolled her tongue over my clitoral shaft, and she inserted a long finger deeply inside me. She found the small rough spot that drove me wild, and soon two fingers were inside me, and they started to tap on that spot. I was writhing under her as she took me to the edge, and then backed off by pulling her face completely away from my cunt. Those fingers kept tapping, though, so I didn't slide back from the edge. "I adore the taste of your sex," she said, and her mouth returned to my cunt. She licked my clit, but the lick wasn't aggressive enough to take me over the edge. She wanted me as close to coming as I could be without coming, and she wanted me there for a long time. Just what I wanted! Tap, tap, tap. Her fingers on the rough spot were driving me crazy with lust. Tap, tap, tap. She licked my clit again, and I nearly slid off the edge into an orgasm. Tap, tap, tap. "Oh, my god, what are you doing to me?" "Eating you. Eating the tastiest cunt I've ever had my mouth on, and your exotic scents are driving me wild." Tap, tap, tap. Talk about wild! I tried to stop it, I really did, but when she wrapped her lips around my clit and sucked, I climaxed. It was stupendous! I screeched with bliss, and my hips took off. I think she flattened her tongue, because I fucked it. The orgasmic sensations were powerful and spread to every part of my body, even to the tips of my hair. When my body relaxed, I thought she'd come up over me and kiss me, but she didn't. Tap, tap, tap. Her tongue rolled around and around my clitoris without touching it. Tap, tap, tap. Like a metronome, the tapping continued, and within a minute my arousal soared high again. Could my body survive another climax like the one I'd just had? I'd soon know. Tap, tap, tap. She sucked on my sensitized clitoris, but it didn't hurt, and then she lashed it with her tongue, and it still didn't hurt. It throbbed with need, throbbed timed to the fingers tapping inside me. "Oh, Nicole, I'm coming again. I can't believe it! I'm coming again." She pulled her mouth away from my clit. "Yes, come for me. Squirt for me." Squirt? I didn't squirt. Then it hit. Without her mouth or fingers on my clit, I climaxed, and this one was even more powerful than the last. Unaccountably, I thought I might have urinated, but pulse after pulse of rapturous pleasure jerking my body took my thoughts to another place where I could only feel, not think. When I collapsed and the tapping started again, I pulled at her. "No more. Please, no more." Her face was sopping wet with my juices when she kissed me. I didn't care. "You really squirted," she said. Had I peed on her? I was suddenly mortified. "I squirt the same way when I have a g-spot orgasm." "Is that what that was?" "Yup. My mother taught me about g-spot orgasms. She could take me to an orgasmic plateau and keep me there for an hour, or more. I'd lose track of how many times I climaxed. By the way, I love the taste of your spend. It's watery and sweet." She kissed me again. "Will you teach me how to do that for you?" I asked. "Sure. Later, though. Right now, I need to come, Sandy, immediately if not sooner." She pulled off her panties, straddled my head and lowered her cunt to my mouth. She wanted to come, so I tested her readiness by giving her clit a good suck. She was more than ready. I sucked harder and lashed the little nubbin with my tongue. Five minutes later, she cried out with bliss and came all over my mouth. While we were holding each other, Nicole said, "Shall we tell Josh about us, or make him sweat?" "Your choice." "Is his heart strong enough to handle both of us at the same time as well as separately day after day?" I laughed. "He's young and strong. Let's find out. Hmm, I just changed my mind. Let's make him sweat." "Would that we could." "Waddaya mean?" "He's been connected with me since I contacted him telepathically in the limo. He just took my orgasm for his own." "Jesus! I thought his range was fifty feet." "It is, unless I connect with him. Then he can follow my signal back to me. Don't worry. He can't connect with you, just me. I suspect your phone is about to ring, though. He'll want to thank me for the orgasm and ask a million questions." I laughed. "The two of you are made for each other." Where did that leave me? "Yup, soul mates, that's what we are." I wasn't surprised when my satellite phone rang. ------- Chapter 14 I always enjoyed dining at 21. The setting was elegant, the service impeccable, and the food delicious, delicious like my dinner guest. Nicole was breathtaking in the black dress. Not to boast, but between the two of us, we turned a lot of heads when we made our entrance. Nicole ordered the wine - red and white, a bottle of each, and the sommelier congratulated her on her selections. I had to admit the wine enhanced the food. We didn't drink all the wine, less than half of each bottle, I'd guess. "Tell me about the past life you remember," I said to Nicole. She sipped from her glass of red wine, and said, "All right. I lived in Birmingham, England, with my mother until I married a man named John Albright. I gave birth to four children, three boys and a girl, and I think I died in a plane crash when I was about forty years old. I remember flying in a small aircraft, and something happened, but I'm not clear what. It was nighttime. My husband was the pilot, and I think... I don't know. I remember a brief moment of terror, and my memories stopped at that point." "What was your maiden name?" "Edwina Harrison. From my memories, I think I was born in the mid-forties and died in the mid eighties." "What? 1945 to 1985?" "Yeah, give or take a year." "You mentioned a mother but no father." "I have no memories of a father. I do remember asking my mother about my father - I was quite young, like eight or nine years old at the time - but she wouldn't talk about him. Another memory involved a sizeable amount of money I received when I was twenty-one. My mother told me that my father's father had arranged for the money before I was born, which made me very curious. I remember questioning my mother, asking for details about my father and his father, but my mother refused to answer any of my many questions." "Are you aware that I was an Englishman in my immediate past life, living from 1917 to 1986?" "Yes, not the years specifically, but Josh told me your name for that incarnation was Edward Smithe, I believe, spelled with an E at the end. Oh, and you had a title. Were you knighted, or something?" "Yes, the knighthood was a given when I took charge of the family estates, which were substantial. Except for a few artifacts I've recently collected, I as Sir Edward assembled the items in my museum and established a fund to support the museum in perpetuity. I, as Sir Edward, also setup another fund that I, as Sandra Johnson, inherited from Sir Edward, or myself. If that sounds strange and convoluted, that happens when talking about yourself in terms of past lives. I've already made arrangements to pass the collection and a portfolio of real estate, stocks and bonds to whoever I become in my next life." "How can you do that?" "Upon my death, the museum and portfolio will go into a trust managed by a very old and trusted English firm. The trust can be claimed by anyone as long as the claimant knows certain facts and codes. I've noticed that I'm reborn about nine months after I die, but the memories of past lives don't arrive until the onset of puberty. About thirteen or fourteen years after I die, whoever I become in my next life will remember the facts and the codes along with the memories of our past lives, and that person can claim the collection and portfolio. It's not foolproof, but it worked once, so it should work again. Back to your past life. First tell me more about your mother, and then I'd like to hear about your husband and children. It sounds like it was a pretty good life." "It was - a short life, though. I've thought about traveling to England and looking up my children, but..." "Don't. It's heart rending, very painful and confusing, at best. Remember, you're not the same person you were. Because the memories come to you during your adolescence, you become a person in your own right before realizing that your current life isn't the only life you've lived. I can revisit locales where I lived before as long as I don't see anyone I knew in that previous life, but I'm more comfortable if at least fifty years has gone by, and a hundred is even better. I avoid the old haunts in London I frequented as Sir Edward." "Makes sense. I remember my baby boy so well, Harold was his name, but to see him now would be difficult." Nicole grimaced. "He wouldn't be much older than I am now." "What was your mother's name?" "Mary. She was a loving, nurturing woman, and I loved her dearly." "Mary Harrison!" "Yes." "How old was she when you were born?" "I don't know." "What did she look like?" "What's goin' on, Sandy? You're agitated." "I may have known your mother in my past life. Describe her please." "She was a voluptuous woman, not plump, but... well, curvy. A blonde, bright blue eyes - kind eyes, not flashy." "Yes, yes, how tall was she?" "Average. Five-five, I'd guess." "Unbelievable!" "What?" "If I'm right, Edwina Harrison was born in 1946. When I, as Edward Smithe, was about twenty-seven years old, I became quite taken with a young woman named Mary Harrison who worked as a servant for the family estate. We became lovers, and the affair went on for about a year. I, as Edward, couldn't marry the woman. Marrying across class lines just wasn't done in my family, but I loved her, and she loved me. One day Mary disappeared. For good reasons, I suspected my father had something to do with her disappearance, so I asked him about her. He told me that she was pregnant, but that I wasn't to worry about it, that he had taken care of everything. I searched for Mary for the rest of that life but never found her. Did your mother in that life have a birthmark on her thigh?" "Yes! It looked like a butterfly!" "Yes! Oh, my! This is amazing. Nicole, in our immediate past lives, I think I was your father." Thursday, we shopped until we dropped. Nicole's delight with designer originals was contagious, and I purchased as many clothes and accessories as she... that is, Josh purchased them, or would when I totaled up the bill and gave it to him. We had lunch at Tavern on the Green in Central Park and took in a Broadway play after an early dinner. I was happy when Nicole admitted she was tuckered out, too tired to go dancing. Instead, we went to my apartment and soaked together in my large tub filled with soothing hot water and bath oils. Candles flickered as our only light source, and soft music filled the comfortable silences when we paused our conversation to change subjects or to consider what the other person said. Not surprisingly, Josh came up during our bath. "You hurt him, Sandy. Why? And don't give me that song and dance about bein' afraid he'd make you do somethin' you didn't want to do. I understand the fear was real, but if you love him as deeply as he loves you, you wouldn't have let your fear become so overwhelming that you'd stay away from him all this time." "You're right, of course," I said and explained the circumstances, how I felt about everything, and why I'd told him we shouldn't be lovers anymore. Even to my ears, my explanation sounded weak and made me appear uncaring, even selfish. She interrupted my discourse and said, "Josh will be very disappointed. He still loves you, Sandy, and after being with you, I understand why. His expectations for the upcoming reunion are very high. He's as excited about being with you again as he is about his love for me. Before he boards that airplane tomorrow morning, I insist that you call him and tell him exactly how you feel. Don't hold anything back. His expectations will be dashed, but he'll handle the pain like he's been handling it for a while, and he'll arrive forewarned and with the proper mindset so the reunion between brother and sister rather than lovers can still be heartwarming for both of you. I won't let you hurt him again like you did before." "You didn't let me finish, Nicole. Over the last six months or so, I've fallen in love with Josh all over again. He's a man now, all man, not a mature teenager. What he's done, what he's accomplished is..." I chuckled. "Well, it's amazing, but that's only part of the reason I fell in love with him again. His maturity, how he handles his work, our parents, his love for you and, yes, his love for me, too, how he's handling his life, period, made me realize why I'd fallen in love with him in the first place. My love for him early on wasn't the gut-wrenching kind of love, but it was deep and abiding. Now, it's... well, it's gut wrenching, dammit. I tremble with just the thought of having his hands on me again." I shivered with passion. "I want him to fuck me, Nicole, fuck me hard and fast, and then I want him to make slow languorous love with me. I want to please him and take pleasure from him." "Whew! That's hot! If you truly feel that way, then I have a suggestion, no it's more than a suggestion; it's a strong recommendation. Forget the fucking shields. If you don't let Josh in your mind, he'll know you don't trust him, and eventually his love for you will whither and die." When I didn't respond she said, "Tell me about your fears. What do you truly fear, Sandy?" I told her, told her in graphic detail. When I finished, I thought she'd cringe away from me. Instead, she said, "Well, fuck, is that all? It sounds to me that the despicable brutes deserved to die." "It's the sheer savagery of what I did that I don't want you or Josh to witness. I went berserk, out of my mind. I stabbed and sliced and cut until I was covered in the blood of my victims, and still I didn't stop. I cut off a cock and stuffed it into a mouth. I cut off a head, Nicole, and watched it roll away from me, its eyes still alive briefly, looking at me as if I were crazy, and that's what I was. I can tell you or Josh about it. I just did with you, but the thought of you or Josh actually witnessing or experiencing the events terrifies me." She snorted a laugh. "Sandy, if I probed your mind for memories, they'd come to me in the form of thoughts. Telepathically, I won't, no make that can't witness any more than what you just told me. You have nothing to fear from me. I'm not sure about Josh. He reads emotions and sensations, so he might relive the emotions and sensations you went through during the incidents, and I stress might because I'm not clear how much detail he uncovers when he reads attitudes long buried, or even fresh attitudes, for that matter. He says he understands, whatever that means. We'll need to ask him what and how much he'll understand should he stumble onto one of the incidents you mentioned while checking the attitudes tied to your memories. I do know this. When he makes love with you, he'll want to take your orgasm as his own, and if you shield your mind, your sensations will come through, but your emotions will be blocked, and your emotions enhance your sensations. Somehow, they're tied together. So, if you shield your mind, you'll be denying Josh his greatest pleasure." "Fuck!" I growled. Damned if I do, and damned if I don't. "I'm turning into prune. Let's get out of this tub and into bed." Did I dare? As Nicole rubbed a thick towel over my wet flesh, she said, "Drying you off is as much fun as drying Josh." I melted, and then I pulled her into my arms and kissed her with all the sudden passion I felt. "And then there's you, Nicole Halliday! You, you wonderful creature, surprised me. I understand why Josh loves you so much, why he fell in love with you so quickly, because I'm falling for you myself." "You are?" she exclaimed, her expression full of delight. I just had to kiss her again, and she returned my passion, and more. "Yes! Nicole, I want to try something. Let's get in bed, cuddle up, and I'll lower my shield. Take your time; probe as deeply as you want for as long as you want, and find the two incidents I told you about. I want, no I need your reaction." "Are you sure?" she asked. "Yes." Fifteen minutes later, Nicole said, "You did love her, you as Edward, I mean, and I'm referring to my mother from my past life." "Yes, what my father did to protect the family name still infuriates me." "Hmm, I don't think I could be a prostitute," she said. I assumed she was referring to my life in Brazil walking the beaches of Epanema and Copacabana to ply my trade. "Some of the men... never mind. I understand your motive, though, and you succeeded." "Yeah, I did what I had to do. You're correct, some of my clients were... ah, unsavory." "My goodness, Countess, you..." "Yeah, I know. I was a slut in that life." "I like the Count. He reminds me of Josh a little. If the Count were around, I'd fuck him." I laughed gaily. A little later. "Your sister when you lived as a man in Hawaii sounds fun." "She was - sexy too." "I gathered," she said dryly. Because she seemed to be going back in time chronologically, I dreaded the next life she'd encounter. "Ah, the beheading," she said, but didn't make further comments, which surprised me. "Our culture could learn a few things about how to treat each other from the tribe you belonged to in the Amazon rainforest. Well, well, more incest, too. I can understand why consensual brother/sister incest isn't a taboo for you." I cringed. The next life... "I'm surprised you got away with it, Sandy, but I'm glad you did. He was a sick fucker. Had I been in your place, I might've cut off his cock and stuffed it in his mouth, too." She kissed me. "You have nothing to fear, Sandy. Yes, you briefly turned into a savage, but I understand why and don't hold it against you. Josh will feel the same way." "You weren't repulsed by what I did?" "Sure, but the loathsome acts perpetrated by the men you killed repulsed me more. Sandy, I don't think of you as a savage just because you could no longer take the abuse being heaped on you or a loved one. I applaud you for stopping the abuse. Because you lost it when you finally retaliated makes you human, not a savage." All the air whooshed from my lungs. "Are you finished in my mind?" "For now. With your permission, I'll want to explore some more. I find your many lives fascinating. Something I recognized in you because I recognize it in myself is the fact that you're first and foremost a young woman named Sandra Johnson, but you are also an amalgamation of all the lives you've lived. You, Sandy, are as unique as Josh and I." I cuddled against her. "Thank you, Nicole. You can't imagine how relieved I am, and yes, anytime you'd like to take a trip into my past, have at it." She chuckled. "Careful what you grant. My father loves me, but he hates it when I wander into his mind." "Ah, but he knows when you're there. I don't." "You will, and soon, I'd guess. May I try something?" "What?" "A sharp, deep probe. I'm curious to find out if you'll feel it." "Will it hurt?" She laughed. "No." "Then go ahead." I concentrated, and almost immediately a strange feeling crept over me. "It's the feeling I get when I think I'm being watched," I said when I recognized what I'd just experienced. "Yup, soon you'll sense even a gentle scan, what I call a tendril, and a deep, sharp probe will piss you off." "Will I eventually sense Josh in my mind, too?" "I do, so I suspect you will, but it may take you longer to feel his scans than mine." "Why?" "I'm not sure, but I think it's because he checks out emotions, not thoughts. Thoughts are more obvious to our sense of self than emotions. Emotions, unless they're sudden and intense, are bit players when compared to the leading roles our thoughts assume in our lives, or at least that was how I used to think. Since meeting Josh and understanding how he intuits the emotions of others, I've wondered if, because of what I do, I've been mistaken all these years. I can hear what I'd label an evil thought, but unless the person is thinking an evil thought, I wouldn't know that person is evil. Conversely, an evil thought doesn't necessarily mean the person who thinks it is evil. We all have evil thoughts from time to time, Sandy, including you and me. Josh, with one scan, seems to know immediately if a person is basically evil or someone he'd enjoy being around. His scans are more accurate regarding the overall makeup of an individual than mine." Nicole's calm acceptance of my savage acts warmed me, as did cuddling next to her naked body. I felt a sudden need to give her pleasure. "Ah, Nicole, you said you'd teach me how to give you a g-spot orgasm. Would now be a good time?" "Whew! Josh, I know you're connected with me right now. Did you feel that sudden burst of heat warm my blood and cream my pussy?" I chortled. "I take it that's a yes." "Yes!" A little over an hour later the satellite phone rang. "What did you do to her?" Josh asked. "No one can come that many times, one right after the other, and remain conscious." "Maybe I'll show you how it's done one of these days," I said boastfully. "Say goodbye, Sandy. Do you know why I want you to say goodbye?" "Why?" "Because if I don't come soon, my need for relief will become unbearable, and I'll scream." The rascal laughed, but then said, "Goodbye, Sandy. Will I see you tomorrow?" "Yes. We'll meet you at the airport. Goodbye, Josh. I love you, but..." "I understand. I love you, too, and tell Nicole, if she's conscious after what you just put her through, that I love her as much as I love you." "I will. Goodbye." I pushed the end button and turned to Nicole. She was smiling. "Your turn," she said. "You'd like a quick come to start with, I gather." "Yup, immediately if not sooner." "Well, lie down then and spread those lovely legs, and I'll dive right in. I just love ta lick a juicy cunt." "You'll enjoy mine then, it's... ah! Yes! Don't just lick it. Suck on it, too. Oh my! I wish Josh were connected with me right now. I'd share... oh, oh, yes, just... like... that!" "How are we goin' to handle tonight?" Nicole asked as we waited for Josh to walk down the concourse and meet us. "Waddaya mean?" "You're goin' to fuck him, aren't you?" "Yes, if he wants me." "Hah! He'll be hard as a rock the second he sees you. Look, this is a reunion between the two of you. If you want, I'll make myself scarce." "No! I mean... ah, fuck, I don't know what I mean. I'm a basket case, Nicole." "May I make a suggestion?" "Yes!" "Fuck him in the limo, and just before you come, drop your shield." "I don't know if I can do that, drop my shield, I mean. I think fucking him in the limo is a marvelous idea. It'll take the edge off for me, for Josh, too, probably." She laughed. "Yup, but watching the two of you will excite me out of my mind." "Well, when I finish with him, jump his bones. I won't mind." "Uh-uh, he'll be soft." "Then I'll eat you, or Josh will." "That'll do it. If you clamp your mouth on my pussy, he'll get hard again in a flash. Then I'll jump his bones. What about later?" "I don't understand your question." "Hah! Tease! Okay, I'll spell it out. The three of us can go to the hotel, or you can drop me off at the hotel, and take him to your place. Your choice." "Doesn't Josh get a vote?" "No!" Suddenly, I saw him. "Oh! Oh, my!" I heard Nicole giggle. "He's bigger, taller, more masculine. Oh, Nicole, he's gorgeous!" "Yeah, he is. Just the sight of him gets my motor running. Look, he sees us!" Our eyes locked. I saw love and lust and... fear. Oh, he's afraid! I caused that! "Go to him, Sandy. Let him know you're happy to see him." I tossed regal and ladylike out the window and ran, flinging myself into his strong arms. Our mouths touched, and then he kissed me hard, and I tried to get closer to him, but it wasn't possible. He was hard against me, the hard muscles in his chest and arms, his long cock. "Oh, Josh! I've missed you so much!" "And I've missed you. Where's... there she is." While holding me around the waist with one arm, he held out his other, and Nicole stepped into it. I watched as he kissed her as passionately as he'd just kissed me. Nicole had been wrong. She and I didn't have a vote. The only vote that counted was my brother's, my lover's, Nicole's lover. Then he kissed me again. After the kiss, I looked toward Nicole. Her smile was wide, and her dark eyes shined with happiness. "Your suite, the three of us," I said. "I figured," she replied. "What are you two talking about?" Josh asked. "The sleeping arrangements," Nicole said. "You're about to live every man's dream." Josh looked at me. I nodded. He grinned. "Let's go pick up your luggage," Nicole said. He reached and grabbed a garment bag and another small bag from the floor where he'd dropped them when I went flying into his arms. "This is it. It was my understanding, Sandy, that you planned to dress me tomorrow to emulate a man of the world, so I traveled light." I looped an arm in his, and Nicole did the same with his other arm, and away we went. I scrambled onto his lap, a knee each side of his hips, and grasped his throbbing cock. One swipe through my sopping cunt was enough, and then I settled down around his shaft, taking him fully inside me. He was as eager as I because he thrust up into me at the same time. "Ah," he gushed. "Sandy, this is a dream come true. I'd started to think I'd never feel your incredible cunt slide down around me again." I saw Nicole brush his lips with hers. "I'm so happy for you, Josh!" His hand left my hip and moved to the back of Nicole's neck. He pulled her to his mouth and kissed her passionately. "Thank you for understanding, Nicole. I love you." He turned to me. "And, I love you, Sandy. You were my first love, and I will always love you." The limo hit a pothole or something, and the bump jammed his cock even deeper into my cunt. I gasped with pleasure and started to move on him. His dark eyes shined with love and lust, and what I saw thrilled me. "Oh, Sandy, you feel so... incredible! I won't last long." His statement seemed strange. Why? Yes! He's always climaxed with me - always. He takes my arousal, uses it as his own, comes when I come because he... fuck it! I lowered my shield. "Connect with me, Josh!" "What? Oh, oh, yes! Thank you, Sandy! Thank you!" Tears stung my eyes. I did it! I didn't find the courage I needed. I just used the love I felt. Nicole brushed her lips to mine and said, "I knew you could do it." Like Josh moments before, I pulled her mouth to mine and kissed her hard. "I love you, Nicole." "Yes!" she exclaimed. "And, I love you!" "Wonderful!" Josh gushed. "The two women I love love each other. Oh! I've never been happier. Never!" I felt Nicole's fingers slide across my clitoris, and her other hand seemed to be fondling Josh's balls. Josh's mouth covered one of my breasts, and Nicole's the other. I loved and was loved by two fantastic, unique individuals, both of them connected with my mind, one listening to my thoughts, the other experiencing my emotions and sensations. One thrust his long cock into me; the other strummed my clitoris. One sucked on one breast; the other licked a nipple. What did I do? I came, and I came hard. Surely the limo driver heard my screech of pleasure when rapturous orgasmic sensations gripped my body and mind. Fuck it, I didn't care. I was loved and I was in love. And my lovers had just given me intense, exquisite pleasure. Josh climaxed at the precise moment my orgasm arrived, and he spilled his seed inside me. I'd had four beautiful, healthy children with my brother in the Amazon. Dare I try to have children with Josh? Just the thought of it caused me to come again, not a heavy climax, but a climax nonetheless. Josh's eyes flew open as he thrust violently into to me and experienced my second small climax. As he ejaculated, he stared at me with shock. Then he smiled lovingly. "Yes," he whispered. "Somehow, Sandy. We'll do it somehow." No shields, I thought. "I knew you'd get it," Nicole said and kissed me softly. ------- Chapter 15 The limo hit another pothole and reminded me of the drive into Manhattan from the airport yesterday. During that ride, I wasn't sitting like I was sitting now in the posture my mother had drilled into me over the years that made me look ladylike. Uh-uh. I'd been astraddle my brother's hips fucking him like crazy. And that had been just the beginning, the harbinger of the unbridled sex that followed in the hotel suite with Josh and Nicole, the most delicious, satisfying sex I'd had in this life, if not my previous lives, as well. What made the sex so gratifying was all the love flying around. "I agree," Nicole said with a smile. "Here, here," Josh quipped. I laughed. Being around a telepath and an empath had its moments, and this morning, Josh and I had had our moment when he understood the two times I'd lapsed into temporary insanity. I cried afterwards when I understood all was well between us. Today was shopping day for Josh. Our first stop had been Giliberto Designs, where we'd ordered some custom-made suits, sports coats and trousers, shirts, a tuxedo, and a cashmere overcoat for Josh, which he grumbled about. "I don't need all this stuff, especially the overcoat. Remember, I live in Phoenix. Besides, men don't dress this fancy in Phoenix." "Josh, you keep forgetting we're talkin' man of the world here, not just Phoenix, and some of the clothes we ordered from Giliberto can be worn in Phoenix." "The tailor says it'll take four weeks to make the clothes, and I gotta come back for two more fittings." I grinned. "I know. The other fittings pleased me no end because they'll bring you to New York two more times over the next month while I finish fixin' my novel with my editor." I looked at Nicole. "You, too, Nicole. Promise me you'll make the quick trips with Josh, so I won't miss you so much when you leave in a few days." "Sandy, I can't take any more time off from work." Nicole sighed. "I guess it's time to talk about the job you guys offered me." "What is there to talk about?" Josh said. "You're goin' to take the job, aren't you?" "No." Josh's eyes flashed with quick anger, but his expression quickly softened to a concerned look. He said, "I understand why from reading your attitude just now, and although many of your reasons are valid, I don't agree with all of them. To bring Sandy into the loop, tell her why you said no." Nicole took my hand in hers. "I'm your lover, yours and Josh's. I can't be your employee." "I agree with that reason," Josh said, "but I have a solution I'd like to propose when you're finished. Go on, Nicole." "I don't have a written contract with Olsen's, but I accepted the job for the summer, and I will keep my end of the bargain. I learned a lot this summer working for Harry." "Who's Harry?" I asked. "My boss at Olsen's." "Okay. Go on, Nicole." "I admire Harry, Sandy, and he's treated me fairly, so I won't leave him without at least two-weeks notice, which would be silly. The new term at ASU starts in four weeks. That's when Harry expects me to leave, so that's when I'll leave. I won't consider leaving Olsen's two weeks earlier than when I'd planned to leave anyway." "Okay," I said. "Frankly, I admire your loyalty. What else?" "I'm fiercely independent, Sandy. I didn't go to college to find a husband. I went to learn what I'd need to know to start a career with the ultimate goal of becoming financially independent in my own right. My desire for a career doesn't preclude a husband and children, but I will enjoy a rewarding career, too. This trip, the expensive clothes, all the money you and Josh have spent on me make me feel dependent. I agreed to the trip, the clothes, everything, because I knew how important it was for Josh to be with you again. Otherwise, I would've told you to fuck off when you shouted at me and told me to shut up when I complained about how much money you planned to spend on me. Money might not matter to you and Josh, but it does to me, but only as a way for me to avoid being or feeling dependent." I squeezed her hand with mine. "I'm sorry I shouted at you." "Apology accepted. Look, I don't have the capital to start my own business, so I charted a career path that would take years while I moved me up the corporate ladder one rung at a time until I reached a top rung somewhere. Instead, I discovered that love at first sight was possible when I fell head over heels for a real-estate prodigy and an empath, to boot. Josh took all my lofty plans for independence, stuffed them willy-nilly in a sack and gave them a hell of a shake. Then I met you, and I fell for you, Sandy, and you shook up that bag some more. Frankly, I'm bewildered. My carefully charted career course conflicts with my heart." Tears stung her eyes, I noticed. "And I don't know what to do," she said. "The only thing I know for sure is that I can't work for you and Josh and be your lovers." "Whew!" I huffed. I looked at Josh. "You said you had a solution you'd like to propose." He flashed that boyish grin, and I melted. "Yeah," Nicole said and shivered. "That damned grin of his does the same thing to me, gives me goose bumps sometimes, not to mention what it does to my pussy." She turned to Josh. "If you've got a solution for my dilemma, I'm all ears, because, as you know, I'm in serious turmoil over this issue." "My solution is simple," Josh said. "Don't go to work for us, Nicole. Go to work with us." "Huh?" Nicole said. "Instead of a wage, work for a piece of each deal you help put together." "Josh, that's brilliant!" I exclaimed. "What? You mean like an independent contractor?" Nicole said. "I was thinking of you more as a partner than an independent contractor, but use whatever nomenclature feels comfortable for you. And, by all means, finish your commitment to Harry." I watched Nicole carefully and didn't need to be a mind reader to know Josh had hit upon the perfect solution to her dilemma, especially when, with a happy squeal, she ended up in his lap and kissed him enthusiastically. "Next stop Bergdorf Goodman Men," I said, cheerily a few seconds later. "We shopped in Bergdorf Goodman," Nicole said, still perched on Josh's lap. "Yup, BG for women is across the street from the men's store. Josh, a man of the world wears clothes beyond suits to augment his insouciant lifestyle. This means you'll need some sophisticated casual wear in your wardrobe that will dazzle the casually dressed men and women in Phoenix and around the world." We spent hours in BG for men, and Josh picked out a couple of suits from the racks along with the casual clothes Nicole and I helped him select. Nicole and I had a grand time. I wasn't so sure about Josh. Once back in the limo, I wondered if the shopping spree was irritating him. "No," Nicole said. "He's havin' fun, at least accordin' to his thoughts." She chuckled. "But, his fun comes more from bein' with us, Sandy, than the shopping." "Okay. Next stop Saks Fifth Avenue for underwear, socks, handkerchiefs, lounge wear, and pajamas." "I sleep nekkid," Josh quipped. I laughed. "Then we'll skip pajamas." The limo pulled to a stop, and the driver announced we'd arrived at Saks. I followed Nicole out of the vehicle to the sidewalk, and Josh exited behind me. Suddenly, Nicole stopped dead in her tracks, and I stumbled into her. "Josh!" she said in a loud whisper. Sharp, sudden fear was evident in the tone of her voice. "That man, connect with him." "Which man?" "The middle-eastern man standin' by the sign. I think he's a terrorist!" "Oh, fuck!" Josh said with alarm a second later. "Back in the limo, ladies. Now!" "There's more than one of them," Nicole said, ignoring Josh's order. "There's one more down the street a ways." "Okay, I've got him," Josh said. "They're goin' to attack the people at the skating rink in Rockefeller Center. They have grenades, automatic weapons. Fuck! There's one more somewhere. Can you find him?" I'd scrambled back in the limousine and noticed our driver standing by the wide-open door and looking at Josh and Nicole as if they were insane. "No," Josh said. "Oh, no! The third one is a suicide bomber! He's... no, not the skating rink. He's in Saks!" "I found him. He's inside about thirty feet." "What can we do?" Nicole asked frantically. "Timing? Nicole, how much time do we have?" "I don't... Yes! They're set to go at the top of the hour." Josh glanced at his wristwatch. "Three o'clock. That gives me only two, maybe three minutes tops - I think. Dammit, my watch isn't synchronized with theirs." I gasped when I watched Josh rush inside Saks. Was he crazy? The police! We needed the police. Oh, god! Josh! I literally shook with fear, not so much for me as for Josh. We were finally together. We were lovers, friends, brother and sister. I didn't think I could survive losing him again. A few seconds later, Josh guided another middle-eastern man out of Saks, gently holding him by his elbow. The man looked confused - no, zombie-like was a better description. Was he the suicide bomber? If he was, why was Josh standing beside him? "The one by the sign! Stop him, Josh!" Nicole shouted. I looked out the front window of the limo and watched with amazement as the man standing by the sign sailed through the air about five feet, slamming onto the sidewalk and sliding on his back until his head struck a lamppost. A few seconds later, I heard a loud explosion. Had the suicide bomber detonated his bomb? No, the man from inside Saks stood meekly as if he were asleep on his feet. "The third one just threw a grenade, Josh! He has more!" Nicole said. Terror gripped me when I saw Josh rush across Fifth Avenue through the traffic. He weaved through the vehicles but slammed into the crush of humanity frantically fleeing the skating rink. I lost him in the mob as another explosion reverberated off the tall buildings. Hysterical screams and shouts filled the air as I searched anxiously for Josh. Then I remembered the suicide bomber and turned to where I'd last seen him. He hadn't moved! And he still looked like a zombie. What did Josh do to him? Something strange happened to me then. One second I was utterly terrified, and the next I felt completely safe. It was the most incredible emotional transformation I'd ever experienced. Josh had taken out two of the terrorists. One was on the sidewalk unconscious, the other stood in a daze as if frozen in time. I knew without a doubt that Josh would soon have the third terrorist under control. As calm as a cucumber, I moved out of the vehicle to stand by Nicole. "Where is he? Is he all right?" I asked. "Yes, he's... ah, good. It's over, Sandy." I caught her as she sagged against me. The stress had gotten to her, I reasoned as I helped her into the limo. She apologized inanely for being a bother. A minute or so later, Josh joined us. "Let's get out of here," he said as he jumped into the limo with Nicole and me. Our driver slammed the door and ran around the limo to the driver's seat. "What about him?" I said to Josh, referring to the zombie-like suicide bomber. "I'll explain in a minute." The limo swung away from the curb and started to weave through the chaos on the street. Our driver looked grim and determined. "Take us to our hotel," Josh said and raised the shield between the driver and the passenger sections of the limo. "Okay, first the suicide bomber," Josh said. "I went inside Saks and touched him to transfer an attitude I'd bundled that made him want to walk out of Saks and stand without moving until the police arrived to arrest him. I... I didn't need to touch him to transfer the attitude, but I didn't want to take the chance, which turned out to be a big mistake, and that mistake wasn't my first or my last." "I don't understand," I said. "I could have thrown the attitude at him without touching him, even through Saks' glass storefront," Josh said. "An attitude connection is mind-to-mind, Sandy. If the receiver of one of my attitudes is within range, an obstruction is immaterial. In my defense, I was frantic about the potential innocent victims inside the store, so I went the extra mile." "Oh." "The second terrorist saw the suicide bomber walk out of Saks, which, thank fate, confused the second terrorist momentarily. Then he made a mental leap I didn't expect. He figured his fellow terrorist had chickened out, so he decided to martyr himself by throwing a grenade to detonate the explosives wrapped around the immobile suicide bomber. When Nicole warned me, I picked up on the second terrorist's intent and hit him with a massive bundle of pain, something I'd done before, so I didn't need much time to put together the bundle. I just did it. The third terrorist saw the second fly through the air, and he immediately hotfooted it across the street and out of range before I could stop him. The twisted goon killed a bunch of people before I caught up with him and hit him with a bundle that stopped him in his tracks with his hands in the air. The police were right behind me. They had him on his face and handcuffed when I started back to the limo. Using another attitude, I clued in one of the police officers about the suicide bomber standing in front of Saks and waiting to be arrested, as well as a third terrorist lying unconscious on the sidewalk." I wrapped my arms around Josh's neck and kissed him thoroughly. "My hero," I said. "Yeah, mine, too," Nicole agreed and kissed him just as soundly. When Nicole let him up for air, he shook his head and said, "Uh-uh, not me, Nicole. You! The thoughts you heard were the key, not what I did. You knew they were terrorists, knew there were three of them, and what they planned. I stopped them, but without you, I wouldn't have known what was happening. And brave! You stood steadfast and did what had to be done. I'm so proud of you, so..." He kissed her passionately. "If anyone deserves a hero's medal, it's you." Shortly after arriving at our suite, Nicole went to sleep. The repercussions of the adrenalin rush she'd experienced at Saks had wiped her out. Although agitated, Josh seemed fine, but I wasn't in much better shape than Nicole. "Your empathic abilities have evolved, Josh. They've become much more powerful than I realized." "I told you about them. I don't know why you're surprised." It didn't take a mind reader to know what he was thinking. He'd said something similar when he realized how much his empathic abilities frightened me just before I cancelled my trip home. "Calm down, buster. I won't leave you again. You're stuck with me now." He relaxed a little. "You called me your hero. Instead, you should have slapped me silly for putting you and Nicole at risk. I made some serious mistakes, Sandy." "For instance?" "I didn't respond quickly enough to the danger those men posed. Once I'd identified all three of them, I should have hit each of them with a bundle, one immediately after the other, that put them in a catatonic state unable to move or do anything until the police took them into custody. Ten seconds, maybe less, Sandy, and it would've been over, and no one would have died. That's mistake number one. "That I didn't trust my abilities was mistake number two. Instead of dealing with the terrorist inside Saks from where I stood on the sidewalk, I walked up to him and touched him to make sure he received the bundle I'd prepared for him. "My third mistake was walking him outside, and that's the mistake that put you and Nicole at risk. A split-second, Sandy! That's how close we were to dying. I stopped the second terrorist a split-second before he pulled the pin on the grenade in his hand that would have killed the suicide bomber, the grenade thrower himself, as well as Nicole, you and me, and anyone else nearby. "My fourth mistake was watching the second terrorist fly through the air and slide across the sidewalk until his head struck the lamppost rendering him unconscious. Instead, I should have ignored the second terrorist as he flew through the air and taken the third terrorist out of play immediately. I knew what would happen to the second terrorist. I did the same thing to the creep who stabbed me years ago, so watching the results of my handiwork was a huge and, as it turned out, a fatal mistake. The third terrorist was a few feet out of my empathic range by the time I turned away from the second terrorist to deal with the third. My fourth mistake was disastrous. It cost some innocents their lives." He sighed. "I'm no hero. The only hero around is asleep in the other room." "You're being awfully hard on yourself." "Uh-uh. I'm being honest with myself." He wiped his hand across his face as if to brush away an irritating fly, but his irritation was with himself, not an imaginary insect. "I wish I could say I did the best I could. Unfortunately, I can't, and now I've gotta live with my guilt over the men, women and children who were injured or killed at the skating rink because I made so many mistakes." "Josh, you don't have the training to react immediately and correctly to a situation like the one you faced today. Hindsight is twenty/twenty. You did the best you could under the circumstances." He shrugged dejectedly. "I know one thing for sure. I hope I never have to deal with another life-and-death situation again like the one I mishandled so badly today." He made another mistake he didn't mention, I thought. He didn't deal with our driver. Our driver saw and heard too much, and what he saw and heard probably didn't make sense to him, so he'll talk about it. Would the thorough investigation by the authorities that would certainly follow the act of terror reveal Josh's unusual talents? If so, his life will become a living hell. Nicole's, too. I watched his body stiffen. "Fuck!" he muttered. "You understood?" "Yes." "I hate to say it, but I think it would be wise for you and Nicole to get out of Dodge, so to speak." "A different hotel?" "Uh-uh, a different state, like Arizona." Nicole disagreed. "I'm guessing Homeland Security or the FBI or another federal agency will shuffle the New York City police out the way and take over the investigation, so where we are when a Federal investigator wants to interview us won't matter," she said. "Besides, Josh and I are booked into this hotel through Monday night. Leaving early would look suspicious and increase the curiosity of any investigator dogging our trail." "She's got a point, Sandy," Josh said. I nodded. "Yes and no. Leaving early can be easily explained. You can say that after bein' terrorized you decided to leave the city, for example." Nicole said, "Maybe, but the limo driver will sound like a nutcase to the authorities. What we need to do is put our heads together and come up with a reasonable explanation to counter the driver's seemingly illogical account of what happened, and then stonewall the investigators." "Okay, let's try crafting a reasonable explanation," I said. "Start with your initial comment, Nicole, the one that alerted Josh to the terrorist by the sign." "That one's easy," Nicole said. "I'll simply say that I know ethnic profiling is wrong, but that I thought the middle-eastern man by the sign looked suspicious and pointed out the man to Josh." "And then I agreed, and suggested that you and Nicole get back in the limo," Josh said. "It was an order, not a suggestion, and I obeyed," I said. "Nicole didn't. Explain that." "I'll simply say that I saw another suspicious Arab standing farther down the street and pointed him out to Josh, too," Nicole said. "So far, so good," I said. "That's when you told Josh that the two men on the sidewalk planned to attack the people at the skating rink in Rockefeller Center with grenades and automatic weapons, and the driver clearly heard what you said." "Which will label him a nutcase," Nicole said. "How could I possibly know those facts unless I read minds? I'll deny saying any such thing. I'll say I saw the two men glance at each other and nod, which seemed suspicious to me because they obviously knew each other, and seemed to be together, but they weren't standing next to each other. Why? I'll say the government is always telling us to be on the lookout for terrorists, and I believed the two men could be terrorists, so I looked around searching for any other middle-eastern men that might be with the two men on the sidewalk. That's when I saw another likely candidate inside Saks." "At which point you said, 'What can we do?'" I said to Nicole. "I'll change that to, 'What should we do?'" "All right. Josh, that's when you asked Nicole how much time we had, and, Nicole, you started to say you didn't know, but then said the terrorists were set to go at the top of the hour. Josh glanced at his wristwatch and said that gave him only two or three minutes, but he was worried because his wristwatch wasn't synchronized with those of the terrorists." "We'll use my previous question to make the situation reasonable," Nicole said. "Remember, I asked Josh, 'What should we do?' Josh looked at his wristwatch and said, 'It'll be three o'clock in two or three minutes. Do we really need to synchronize our watches? Let's do some shopping in Saks, like we planned. Or, words to that effect." "Sounds reasonable," I said. "But here's where it gets a little hokey. Josh rushes into Saks, whaps the suicide bomber with an attitude, and walks outside with him." "Hmm," Josh said. "As Nicole suggested, I said, 'Let's do some shopping in Saks.' So I walked into the store, but the two of you were nervous about the middle-eastern men, so you didn't follow me. When I saw that I was alone inside the store, I walked back outside. I'll stonewall the authorities by sayin' I didn't know the man who walked outside with me was a terrorist. Heck, I'll say, I didn't even notice him." "Uh-uh," I said. "Your story will fall apart if you take that approach. Do it this way. You were a little disgusted with us, but decided you couldn't leave us alone at the limo, so you walked back outside, but then you became concerned when the middle-eastern man walked outside with you. Nicole, Josh, the two of you can't have it both ways. Either you noticed the man inside Saks or you didn't. If you noticed him, then you've got to be worried. If you didn't notice him, you've got to leave him completely out of your explanation, which might be the way to go. What happened next?" "That's when Nicole warned me that the terrorist by the sign was about to take action and I whapped him with a bundle of pain," Josh said. I chuckled. "Explain that, if you can. Remember, during this time, you weren't on the sidewalk alone. Busy pedestrians were walking by. The authorities will question hundreds of potential witnesses. Some of them will corroborate the driver's story." "I'll say I saw someone push the terrorist by the sign, and he stumbled backwards, his arms flailing, finally hitting the sidewalk and bumping his head against the lamppost," Nicole said. "And I'll say I heard Nicole shout a warning, but it didn't make sense, and I was about to ask her why when I saw the man on the sidewalk." "My warning shout could've been directed at the terrorist," Nicole said. "Uh-uh, you used my name," Josh said. "You said, 'The one by the sign! Stop him, Josh!'" "I'll say I was referrin' to the man who pushed the middle-eastern guy." I laughed. "You two are goin' in circles already, and you aren't bein' interrogated by an expert. An expert will chew you up and spit you out. If you're planning to stonewall the authorities, deny everything. Tell them our driver looked terrified, acted strangely and at the first sign of trouble, we told him to drive us back to the hotel. Period. The more you say, the more ammunition you'll give the investigator. Just look and act stupid because that's exactly what you'll be if you try to talk your way out of this." We talked for another hour, and finally came up with a much simpler story we believed the authorities would buy, using the fictional strange behavior of our driver as the hub of our tale. To make our story more plausible, I called the limo company and cancelled their service. "What's for dinner?" Josh asked with his boyish smile. "I'm gettin' hungry." "I don't feel like getting dressed and goin' out," Nicole said. "Room service, it is," I said. "We can even eat nekkid if we want." "Let's eat dressed and then get nekkid," Josh said. "Sure as shootin' I'll drop food on my dick if I eat nekkid." He paused. "On the other hand, watchin' you two lovelies eating in your all together is a memory I'd probably cherish in my old age." "Hah, you watched us eatin' nekkid last night," Nicole said. "Pussy, that is." "And that's a sight worth repeatin', too," Josh quipped and nuzzled Nicole's neck. "I'll say," I said and nuzzled the other side of Nicole's neck. She squirmed with pleasure. "Look!" She held out her arm. "Goose bumps." I ran my hand up under her skirt and cupped her pussy. "How about some tingles, too?" "She's not tingling, Sandy. She's buzzing." I rubbed my fingers up and down her crease over her panties. Josh chortled. "Now's she churnin'." "I'll say," Nicole said. "How hungry are you, Josh?" He grimaced. "My belly's growlin'." "Let's order first and play while the chef prepares our repast," I said, hopped up and grabbed the room service menu. "I don't need to look at that menu. I want a thick steak, medium rare, with fries." "Sounds good," Nicole said, "but make mine rare, and I want a baked potato, not fries. Oh, and a salad, and let's share a bottle of a good red wine." For consensus I chose a steak and ordered the meals. "Where was I?" I asked after sitting next to Nicole again. "You were playin' with my pussy," Nicole said with a mischievous grin. "Now I remember. Hmm, let's get these panties out of the way... there, that's better." She was wet. Why not? Josh had his lips wrapped around one of her perky tits. With our dinner meal on the fire, I decided to get with the program and moved to my knees on the carpet between Nicole's legs. I pushed her skirt up to her waist and pulled her to the edge of the sofa. She was stroking Josh's long cock with her hand when I covered her cunt with my mouth. "Fuck her, Josh," Nicole said huskily a minute later. "Fuck your beautiful sister while she eats me." I lifted my face from Nicole's cunt and said, "Yeah, Josh, fuck me while I eat your beautiful girlfriend." Did Josh argue the point? You've gotta be kidding! A minute later, he was balls deep in my cunt. "Don't come together," Josh said as he stroked his shaft in and out of my pussy. "We'll do the female orgasm times two after dinner." Nicole laughed. "Good thinkin'. You passed out for a couple of seconds when Sandy and I came at the same time last night. And, Sandy, leave my g-spot alone until later, too, or I'll be as limp as a sleepin' kitten when our dinner gets here." I reached between my legs, wet my fingers on Josh's thrusting cock, and found my clit. It had slipped out from under its hood and was ready for action. I licked and sucked on Nicole's clit. Josh fucked my cunt, and I diddled myself. Who could ask for more? "No one," Nicole said, answering my silent query. "Ooh, I sure do love what you can do with my pussy, Sandy." Sometime later, Nicole came first. Josh came with her, taking her orgasm as his own, and I followed seconds later with my climax, and Josh gave me an extra squirt or two when he shared mine. "Whew! That was quick," Josh said as he settled back on the sofa and pulled me onto his lap. "Nice, though," Nicole said. "Yup," Josh agreed and gave me an appreciative kiss. "Now I'm relaxed enough to enjoy my steak." Suddenly, tears filled my eyes. "She's goin' to miss us like crazy when we leave, Josh," Nicole said, echoing my thoughts "Yeah, I figured that out with a quick attitude check. I think it's time for us to talk about the future, Sandy. Waddaya think?" A knock sounded at the door. "Okay, while we eat," I said. "Sandy, I figure you need a home base where you can rejuvenate between trips around the world doin' research on your books and addin' to your collection," Josh said before he tossed a chunk of beef in his mouth and started to chew. He swallowed. "Good steak. I also figure this home base ought to be with Nicole and me. Waddaya think?" "I think you have a very good idea." "Good. Here's the deal then," he said and popped a French fry into his mouth. He chewed and swallowed and washed down the fry with some red wine. "Good fries and good wine. Oh, yeah, the deal. Phoenix is a good place for a home base. Except for the dead of summer when it's too hot for man and beast, the weather's good, and the airport rarely closes, so flyin' in and out isn't a problem. The folks are there, so you can see Mom and Dad once in a while, which will make Mom mighty happy, by the way." "Me, too," I said. "Are you all right with this so far, Nicole?" Josh asked. "Right as rain." "Whatever that means." "It means, 'Hooray!'" "Gotcha. Okay, next item - living arrangements. My townhouse is okay for Nicole and me, but... well, we can afford a whole lot better." "What about the money source problem?" I asked. "Either you're book will be a best seller, or it won't. If it is, we'll use your book. If it isn't, I'll come clean about my real estate investments. I might do that anyway." "Umm, this is a good steak," I said after I swallowed. "How's yours, Nicole?" "Not quite raw enough but close." "If we complain, they'll send up a new one." "Not worth the effort. I'm happy with it. It's very tender." "Okay. Josh, if not the townhouse, what did you have in mind?" "We can go two ways. We can buy an estate-type property and remodel, or buy some land and build." "I'd rather start fresh," I said. "What about you, Nicole?" She waved her hand in front of her mouth, swallowed and said, "Fresh." "Fresh it is," Josh said. "Waddaya think? Five acres, thereabouts?" "Sounds about right," I said. "Two houses or one?" "Two," I said. "I might find my man of the world one of these days." I watched Josh carefully. Would the green monster called jealousy raise its ugly head? He flashed his boyish smile and said, "I figured. We'll use the townhouse for a home base while we design and build." "Nope," I said. "With you comin' clean about the investment company, you can justify a bigger place. I figure it'll take a year, maybe longer, before we find the right chunk of land, hire the right architect, find the right contractor, and build. Then we'll need to decorate. The townhouse is too small for us for that length of time." "Good point." "I'd be happier if the interim house were closer to ASU for my last year of college," Nicole said. Josh laughed. "What?" I said. "She's worrying about affording a car to drive to and from school." "Use one of mine," I said. "Uh-uh. I'll buy a car for you, Nicole." When she started to protest, he held up his hand. "Call it an engagement present." Nicole's eyes shined. "Are you asking me to marry you, Joshua Johnson?" He looked confused. "I thought I already proposed and you said yes." "When?" "When we were doin' our deep probes and I said a June weddin' would be just fine." "Argh!" Nicole grumped. "Josh, that was just talk." "Little brother, shut up," I said. "Huh?" he said. "Pick a special night, plan a romantic setting, have a diamond engagement ring in your pocket, and get on your bony knees when you propose, you dunce." "Oh." He picked up a napkin ring lying on the table, moved to his knees, slipped the napkin ring on Nicole's finger - the wrong finger, but she didn't seem to care. "Nicole Halliday," Josh intoned, "Would you do me the great honor of becoming my wife? I promise to love and cherish you all the days of my life." "Yes!" she squealed and bowled him over when she threw herself at him. Not what I recommended, I thought, but better, maybe even more romantic. "Yup," Nicole said. "Romantic enough for this country bumpkin. Oh, Josh, I love you so much! And, Sandy, I can't imagine a life without you in it. I love you, too. Oh, I'm so happy!" "Then why are you cryin'?" Josh asked. "Happy tears, little brother. Happy tears." I was shedding some happy tears myself. ------- Part Five: Josh ------- Chapter 16 Nicole and I flew to Phoenix on Tuesday so she could return to her job the following day, and for the next couple of evenings I helped her move her things from her apartment to the townhouse. She was settled by the weekend. In truth, she didn't have much to move, and much of what she had wasn't worth moving. I tried not to offend her regarding some of her belongings, but I couldn't and didn't try to control what I thought, so I did hurt her feelings a few times. She understood, said that because she'd been hearing thoughts so long, she'd acquired a thick skin. Instead of getting huffy or weepy when I hurt her, she kissed me and told me that she forgave me and went on with what she was doing as if nothing had happened. Nicole was easy to live with. She wasn't a dropper. Everything had a place and she made sure everything was in its place, but she wasn't a neat freak, either. I kept my cleaning lady, but Nicole took on the kitchen duties and soon started doing my laundry with hers. We did the grocery shopping together, but I handled the running-around chores like the dry cleaning and buying the odd items not available in the grocery store. I also took out the garbage. I was surprised but pleased how easily we settled into domestic bliss. I kept Sandy's Escalade in the garage at the townhouse, and traded the SUV for the Mercedes sedan when warranted. On our first weekend back in Phoenix, I took Nicole shopping for a car. When it came to an engagement present, she wasn't bashful about what I spent, and she fell in love with a silver Lexus SC 430 that switched from a hardtop coupe to a convertible with the press of a button. Truth be known, I probably swayed her decision. I liked the sports car's upscale and refined styling. Its interior was luxurious and comfortable, trimmed in leather and rich wood.Besides, with its rear-wheel drive and a 4.3-liter V8 that put out 300-horsepower, it could run with the Mercedes SL 500 and Jaguar XK8. It was a classy luxury car for two people dressed to the nines, and with our new wardrobes, how could we resist? She drove it off a showroom floor. I figured I wouldn't have as much fun when it came time for me to shop for my own car. I missed Sandy, but the ache was bearable, not like the nearly overwhelming sense of loss I'd harbored before our reunion. I'd see her again in a few days when I flew to the Big Apple for my next fitting at Giliberto Designs. Nicole planned to follow me on Friday and join Sandy and I for the weekend. I closed the apartment complex purchase with Olsen's. Harry and Nicole represented Olsen's at the closing. The double close with my buyer took place as planned, and Sandy and I were a million dollars richer until our tax accountant confiscated a healthy chunk of the profit for Uncle Sam, which I didn't begrudge. I considered the tax the price I had to pay to live in the best country in the world. That isn't to say I didn't use every legal loophole my tax accountant could find. That's the American way, isn't it? One evening, Nicole was in the kitchen preparing dinner, and I was in my office reviewing land packages, one of which I hoped would work for the compound we'd planned for Sandy's home base and Nicole's and my home. The doorbell rang. I cast an empathic scan and immediately recognized my mother's emotional signature. She wasn't a happy camper, either, and I knew why. Nicole and I had been so busy since our return from New York, I hadn't taken the time to stop by and see Mom and Dad. Nicole was closer to the front door, so she let Mom in, but I wasn't far behind and immediately gave my mother a hug. "Welcome, Mom. I'm so glad you dropped by." "Yeah, well, I figured if I didn't, I might not get to see you. Introduce me to your friend." Nicole's presence had surprised my mother, which was understandable. I introduced them. "Will you join us for dinner, Mrs. Johnson?" Nicole asked graciously. "Not to..." Mom started to refuse Nicole's offer but decided she wanted to know more about Nicole, wanted to know more about a lot of things. "I'd love to," she said, "if I won't be a bother." "We're having lasagna, so one more at the table won't be a bother at all," Nicole said with a bright smile. She was nervous, though, also understandable. "Josh, why don't you show your mother around the townhouse while I put the finishing touches on our dinner." "May I help?" Mom asked Nicole. "No, no, Mrs. Johnson. I have everything under control. Spend some time with your son." When Mom and I were alone, she said, "Is she living here with you?" "Yes." "Is that why you moved out of the house, so you could live in sin with her?" I grinned. "Yup. I love her." "Oh." "May I show you around?" "When were you planning to tell your father and me about her?" "When we returned from New York City the first of next week. Mom, get off your high horse and cool it. Nicole and I are in love. We'll live together the rest of our lives, so I'd appreciate it if you'd give her a chance to show you how wonderful she is before you condemn her." I guided Mom into the living room, and we sat facing each other. "Okay, ask your questions. I'll try to answer them as honestly and fully as I can." "When did you meet her?" Now is as good a time as any to come clean about the real estate investment company, I thought. "I met her while making an offer to purchase an apartment complex. She was and still is working for the company that sold me the property." She frowned, and emotionally she suddenly felt very confused. "As you know, Sandy and I have kept in close touch since she left. To make a long story short, about eighteen months ago, Sandy and I formed a real estate investment company. She supplied the startup capital, which wasn't much..." A lie, but a necessary one. "... and I did the work. I have a real knack for making money in real estate." I spent the next ten minutes telling her about some of my successes while buying and flipping real property. I even mentioned the one failure I'd experienced. "What about college? I thought you were going to college." "I am. I've finished two and a half years, Mom. At the rate I'm going I'll graduate with a bachelor's degree next summer. By the way, Nicole is also a college student, but at ASU. She'll graduate with a degree in business next May. We'll both continue our education online at Phoenix College. Nicole and I would like an MBA, at least, although she's been talkin' about goin' on for a doctorate." "Humph, she's older than you then." I grinned. "Yup, she's twenty, Sandy's age. Sandy's a month older than her. To get back to my real estate business, I closed a deal yesterday. Would you like to see the closing documents?" "Josh, I wouldn't know what I was looking at. Just tell me about it." I described the transaction and told her how much money I'd made. "A million dollars!" she breathed. "A little over a million. Mom, this townhouse belongs to me. On paper, Sandy is a part owner because our investment company holds title, but it's mine. I paid cash for it out of the proceeds from my third real estate deal." Mom sat dumbfounded, and soon tears welled in her eyes. I understood her attitude, and I knew Nicole was reading her thoughts. Thank you, Lord, thank you. My prayers have been answered. He's going to be all right. My baby's going to be all right. I can stop worrying about him. He'll finish college; he has a career, and... no, I don't know if that... that woman is good for him, not yet, but I will. Oh, I hope she loves him, hope she'll nurture and support him. He deserves the best. I had Mom wrapped in a bear hug when Nicole stepped into the room and announced dinner was ready. She wore an apron and a wide smile. "You baked the dinner rolls from scratch?" Mom asked Nicole, surprise evident in her voice. "Yup," Nicole said. "My mom taught me baking, and after she died I became chief cook and bottle washer for my father and three younger brothers." She chuckled. "Those boys could put down the food, I'm here to tell ya, especially homemade bread and rolls. I baked every other day back then." Good, she can cook and from the looks of the kitchen, she can clean, Mom thought. Nicole grinned knowingly, to the extent that she looked a little smug. I wanted to kiss her. "When Pop remarried, I turned those chores over to his new bride and happily became a teenager again," Nicole said. "Jessie - that's my stepmother's name - just as happily assumed the chores and more. She's great. I love her a lot." She sipped from her glass of red wine. My mother frowned. I won't tell you what I understood her to think, but Nicole shook off Mom's silent condemnation without moving a muscle or altering her cheerful expression. I was drinking root beer. If Mom hadn't shown up, I'd be drinking wine - I'd discovered I enjoyed wine with food - but Nicole, wise to the teachings of the Mormon church, must've removed my wine glass from the table before we sat down to eat, and when she asked what I preferred, water or root beer, I'd gone with the root beer. "Mrs. Johnson, I must be a shock to you. I've been nagging Josh to tell you and your husband about us, but... well, life's been a bit of a whirlwind lately. When he had the time I didn't, and vice versa. I love him, Mrs. Johnson. He's my soul mate." She took Mom's hand. "I hope we can be friends." Mom nodded, and I noticed she squeezed Nicole's hand with affection. "I asked her to marry me, Mom, and she said yes," I said. "Oh, oh, my goodness! Congratulations, Son. You, too, Nicole." Hugging across the corners of a table isn't easy, but we managed. "Have you set a date?" Mom asked. "Sometime in June, but that's tentative," Nicole said. "Now I've met you, I'll keep you up to date on everything. For some reason, men aren't properly equipped to handle that task." "Tell me about it," Mom said. I let Nicole and my mother chat. They needed to get to know each other. Nicole told Mom about her father and brothers and mentioned her trip to meet Sandy and me in New York City that weekend, which demanded an explanation from me. Mom was upset at first when she discovered that Sandy and I had finally had our often cancelled reunion, but when I told her Sandy planned a trip to Phoenix as soon as she finished working with her editor to complete her novel, Mom's spirits brightened. Then I really made her day. "You know, I think it'd be fun for you and Sandy if you flew to New York and spent a couple of days with her. She'll have her hands full this week with Nicole and I barging in on her, but the following weekend might work. She took Nicole and me on a shopping spree to end all shopping sprees, and I know how much you like to shop. It might ease the tension here when she finally comes home for a visit if the two of you got together in New York first. With the money I made yesterday, I planned to pay you and Dad back for the tuition money you've been shelling out for me, so you'll have the money for the trip and the shopping. Waddaya say? Should I call her?" "Oh... oh, yes, Josh! That sounds like so much fun." "No guarantees, Mom. She might be buried in work. Look, I'll call her right now. Excuse me for a minute." I walked to my office and hit speed-dial number one on my special cell phone. Sandy, fortunately, answered my call. I explained why I'd called, apologizing ahead of time if I'd opened my mouth and inserted foot, but Sandy quickly warmed to the idea. "Just Mom this trip," Sandy said. "When Mom and I are alone, we get along fine. When Dad's with her, she puts on her religious-wife hat." I laughed. "I'll make sure she understands, but I'll be subtle about it." "Hah. When did you learn subtlety?" She wanted to talk some more, but I told her my dinner was getting cold, and that I'd call her after Mom left. I walked back to the dining table with a smile on my face. It was a miracle, but I hadn't screwed up. Mom was beside herself with joy when I told her Sandy would call her soon to make the arrangements for the trip, and while Nicole engaged Mom in a conversation about shopping and clothes, I cleaned up the dinner mess and set the fresh apple pie Nicole had baked on the table. "You baked the pie?" Mom asked. "Yup. Josh, grab the vanilla ice cream. The pie's still warm, and nothing improves hot apple pie like vanilla ice cream, unless it's homemade vanilla ice cream." "I know what you mean," Mom said, wistfully. "Homemade ice cream is a dying art." "Yup, except for my pop. He's a connoisseur of homemade ice cream. In the summertime, he makes a big batch every other week." A minute later, Mom said, "Oh, Nicole, this crust is so flaky. It melts in your mouth." I beamed. My mother and my future wife were getting along splendidly. That would change when Dad was around, but I'd warn Nicole about Mom's religious-wife hat, as Sandy had put it. After Mom left, I pulled Nicole into my arms and kissed her silly. "You're a wonder, Nicole Halliday. You had Mom eatin' out of your hand." "Yeah. Well, when it comes to dealin' with my future mother-in-law, being a mind reader has its advantages. I'm just happy she barged in when she did. I have a friend dropping by to meet you a little later, and your mother and my friend wouldn't mix well - oil and water, as they say." I read her attitude. "Sherry?" "Yup." "You never told me about her." "That's not my fault. You're the one who didn't want to hear about Sherry unless we were nekkid and you were inside me." I chuckled. "True. What's the program for tonight?" "You understand my attitude about Sherry. You tell me." "Hah! No way. What happens between you and your girlfriend isn't my decision. It's yours. You're tryin' to pass the buck." "Argh!" "You're also ambivalent. With Sandy, you're getting all the sex you want with a woman, and I'm satisfying you regardin' sex with a man. Still, sexy Sherry is fun and you're reluctant to tell her to take a hike." "That's it in a nutshell." "Call Sandy and talk with her about it." Nicole's expression brightened. "What a good idea!" "And while you're at it tell her I came clean about the real estate investment business with Mom today." "Will do." Fifteen minutes later, Nicole joined me in my office. I handed her a sale package. "This land might work for our compound. When you get a chance, please check it out and let me know what you think. What did Sandy say about you and Sherry?" "Her attitude reflected yours. She said I was a big girl and could make my own decisions." I chuckled. "Have you made a decision?" "Yup. If Sherry wants me for a friend, she's got me. If she wants me for a lover, she's out of luck. As far as casual sex goes Sherry's a good partner. She's competent, cheerful, inventive, and sexy as they come, but I'm in love, so the idea of casual sex without love just doesn't cut it for me anymore." She grinned wickedly. "That doesn't mean I'll always feel this way, Josh. Heck, I might change my mind when Sherry walks through the door, but if you planned to live every man's dream tonight, I'm pretty sure you'll be disappointed." "Shucks," I said, but my thoughts let her know I was kidding. "Regardless, I think you'll enjoy the evening I've planned. Scan my attitude, please." "Nicole, that's cruel!" I said after my scan. "Yup, but it's equally cruel for everyone." I was confused. I didn't know Nicole was into games. A deeper scan gave me the answer. "Ah, Sandy's handiwork." Nicole giggled. "Yup." The doorbell rang. "Open a bottle of red wine to let it breathe. I'll let Sherry in." The cork popped from the bottle of wine as Nicole stepped into the kitchen with her friend, a very attractive blonde with dark eyes. Sherry had a petite body, but all the curves were where they should be. She gave me a sultry smile when Nicole introduced us. A quick attitude scan told me Sherry liked what she saw, too. Nicole grinned wickedly. I hoped she wouldn't take the game too far. Nicole heard my thought and, in essence, asked me how far was too far? When someone gets hurt, I responded silently. A strange look entered Nicole's pretty eyes. Josh, her attitude said, are you reading my thoughts? No, your attitude tied to your thoughts. But it's as if we're having a silent conversation. Yeah, cool, huh? That's for sure. Waddaya think of Sherry? Sexy. A cute body, but with an alluring, sultry smile, which is an interesting dichotomy. Sultry and cute aren't the norm. And, she's wonderin' why we're ignoring her. Nicole laughed. "Josh, would you please light some candles and set up the wine service out by the hot tub. I'm takin' Sherry for a quick ride in my new car." The chores took two minutes; hitting speed-dial number one only a split-second. "You're mean," I said when Sandy said hello. She laughed riotously. "Go with the flow, bro," she quipped. "Easy for you to say." "You've got a hot tub that seats six. Don't tell me you haven't enjoyed any group gropes in it." "You know what I think?" "What?" "It's the writer in you. You've just set up a scene, and you want to see how the scene plays out using real characters." "Close. Sherry isn't real to me. I haven't met her. She's the wild card." "Someone could get hurt with this, Sandy." "Not really. The three of us have an open relationship. If you get the urge to fuck sexy Sherry, fuck her. Where's the harm?" "Argh!" "On another subject, how did you handle the investment company with Mom?" I told her. "Good job, but Mom's easy. Dad won't be the pushover Mom is." "Yeah, I know. I'll stonewall him like we plan to stonewall that federal investigator if one ever comes knocking at our door. Has anyone approached you yet?" "No, and it isn't the top news story anymore. Maybe we'll skate." "I hope so. I've missed you, and I'm looking forward to seeing you again." "Likewise. Be prepared for a lot of lovin', little brother. Nicole is fun, and I love her to pieces, but I'm really excited about bein' alone with you for a couple of days before Nicole joins us." "I hear the garage door opening. Nicole and Sherry are back. I'll say it again, Sandy. You're cruel." She laughed, told me to have fun and let her know how her scene with two real characters and a wild card turned out. She thinks you're gorgeous, Josh, Nicole's attitude told me when she walked into the house with Sherry. Sandy says... I started to think. I know what Sandy told you. I figured you'd call her when Sherry and I left, so I connected with her. She's right, you know. Where's the harm? Ah, you've decided... To play Sandy's game and see what happens. Argh! "Why are you laughing?" Sherry asked Nicole. "A funny thought." "Nice car, huh?" I said inanely. "I'll say!" Sherry said. "Nicole set that sucker on its tail and we took off lickety-split." "Let's get this party started," Nicole said. "Josh, I invited Sherry over to meet you. I want the two of you to get to know each other, and decided the best way to break the ice would be a soak in the hot tub." "Fine by me," I said. "Sherry, did Nicole tell you about our house rule for the hot tub?" I knew the answer. It was a key element in Sandy's game. "Uh-huh," Sherry said, looking like a cat playing with a mouse. I think I was the mouse. "No suits in the hot tub, which means we've gotta get naked." "You mispronounced naked. Around here we say nekkid." She laughed. "Got it." Nicole led us all out onto the patio. When nothing happened, I figured the ladies were waiting for me to get the ball rolling, so I took off my shirt. "Hmm, nice pecs, Josh," Sherry said. "Ooh, and a six-pack, too." "Thanks," I said as I kicked off my shoes. "I understand you and Nicole were lovers." "Darn, Nicole. He used the past tense," Sherry said and the sundress she was wearing fell off her shoulders and fluttered to the floor, leaving her naked except for a sexy pair of blue panties. "That's to be determined," Nicole said. "But not tonight. Josh, be a gentleman and help Sherry take off her panties." "Never let it be said that I wasn't a gentleman." I hooked my thumbs under the elastic top of the panties and peeled them off her hips and down her shapely thighs, revealing a bald cunt a few inches in front of my eyes. Nicole giggled. "Yeah, she keeps it hairless and smooth. Says it's more sensitive that way." I'd been set up by a pro - my sister - but Nicole was a willing accomplice. Was Sherry in the game or a wild card? I decided I'd rather be a joker than the two of clubs, so I eliminated the few inches between my face and Sherry's bald pussy and gave it a soft kiss. "Nice," I breathed. "Very kissable. Soft full lips with nary a hair in sight." Sherry laughed nervously. Nicole just laughed. "Careful, you rogue," Nicole said. "Tonight is for getting acquainted, not sex." I straightened up and looked at Nicole. She was naked - beautiful, too. I unbuckled my belt and pulled off my pants, leaving me in socks and my boxers. Taking off my socks was awkward, but I managed without falling on my face. When I slid off my boxers, my hard cock bobbed. "Now that's what I call a salute," Nicole quipped with a husky laugh. "Darn, I thought it was a cock," Sherry said, getting into the spirit of the game. Was she part of the set up? If so, I'd be the wild card. I'd led so far, so I stepped into the bubbling water, wondering where the ladies would sit. Would they sit either side of me? Or, would Nicole form a buffer between Sherry and me? They were lovers. They'd sit together, I decided. Nicole moved into the hot tub on my right, Sherry on my left. Yup, Sherry was part of the set up. Was that what the ride in the new car was all about? I suddenly realized I was having a grand time. I scanned Nicole. Me, too, her attitude said while her fingers wrapped my hard-on. She didn't stroke it, just held it. Is this salute for Sherry or me? Nicole's attitude asked. Both, as well as the situation. Unhand me and pour the wine, please. Nicole laughed and poured the wine. "A toast, Josh," Nicole said. "We need a toast." I raised my wine glass high. "To love and sex." "Here, here," Sherry said and sipped some wine. Nicole just sipped. Damn you! Nicole's attitude said. I laughed. The games afoot, Nicole. Play the game. You changed the rules. There aren't any rules. Sandy set the scene. It's adlib from here. "Are you a lesbian or bisexual?" I asked Sherry. "Bi." "With a preference for... ?" "Women." "I had a girlfriend in high school with the same preference. I always wanted to ask her why, but never got around to it, so I'll ask you. Why do you prefer women?" "They're gentler, and rarely in a hurry. They also understand my anatomy because theirs is similar, so they know where and when and how to touch me or kiss me... or lick me... or finger me." I let the air out of my lungs with a rush. "Nicole, you prefer men. Why?" "I like the feel of a full cunt, the feel of a hard cock thrusting in and out of me. I also prefer the look of male bodies, some of them, anyway." She cuddled closer to me. "Just lookin' at you, Josh, gets my motor runnin'." "You're bi, Sherry. What do you like about men?" She laughed huskily. "A full cunt is nice." She wants you to fuck her, Josh, Nicole's attitude said. Uh-uh. The only cunt I'm goin' to fill tonight is yours. Nicole gave me a soft, romantic kiss and wrapped her hand around my hard-on again. "That's it?" I said to Sherry when Nicole's mouth left mine, and she nuzzled my neck. "That's a short list of reasons." "I like semen," Sherry said. "I like the feel of the slimy stuff, how it tastes. I like to rub it on my skin, especially my breasts, and then let it dry and flake off like dandruff. And most of all I like to watch it squirt out of the end of a cock when a man comes. What do you like about women?" Hoisted on my own petard. Fuck it. This is probably the easiest question to answer I've ever been asked. "I like the look of 'em. How the soft camber of a waist becomes a hip, how undersides of breasts form soft half moons, how an excited nipple turns hard and swells. I enjoy watching kind eyes turn sultry and then passionate. I like the scent of a woman's hair, how it tickles when it brushes my face or slides across my chest. Then there's the silky skin and the supple flesh, the incredible soft spots behind the knees. Painted toenails peeking out between the straps on shoes. The heart-shaped roundness of a feminine ass. Their soft, sweet voices. Mischievous eyes. Women can be as clean and fresh as a waterfall, or as raunchy as a two-dollar hooker, and switch back and forth seemingly without effort. And their sounds, their oh-so-feminine gasps and moans, the hiss of air between their teeth. How they cry out when an orgasm strikes. And their cunts! Cunts are incredibly beautiful to me, flowers that unfold to cradle male cocks. So soft, and hot and wet! The scents! The tastes! It astonishes me how cunts flutter and pulse when climaxing and what the convulsions do for me when I'm inside them is indescribable. I love the feel of an excited clitoris under my tongue, or between my lips, or under the wet pads of my fingertips, or when it brushes against the top of my cock while I'm thrusting. I adore a woman's easy sentimentality, how easily she cries with happiness, how nurturing she can be. I like their inner strength, their..." Sherry laughed. "I get the picture." She sighed. "Nicole, you've hooked a keeper." "Yup," Nicole said, smugly but happily. Checkmate, I thought. Nicole chuckled. Sandy will be disappointed. I think she expected a group grope. No, she'll be pleased. The unusual twists and turns in the scene will appeal to her. Let's tone this down before it gets out of hand. Let's. We drank more wine and our conversations became more ordinary. Our nakedness stopped being an issue, and I'd like to think when Sherry left a little later that she considered me a friend. Her attitude told me she'd continue to be Nicole's friend - just her friend. Sherry would miss Nicole as a lover, but she understood, even approved of Nicole's devotion to me. ------- Chapter 17 The limo was white, not black, and the driver was female, not the baffled male who drove us around New York City during my last visit. Because a terrorist act we'd partially foiled potentially exposed my empathic aptitude to our old driver, Sandy had judiciously changed limousine services. After a couple of weeks without sex, Sandy was in no mood to wait, and before we left the airport complex she jumped my bones. Did I complain? Nope. I went with the flow. But my bones enjoying my eager and passionate sister was only part of what was going on. This is different, I thought. You'd better believe it, lover, Nicole's attitude said loud and clear. I even heard her mental giggle. Maybe not mental, I thought. For all I know she laughed out loud. Out loud, Nicole thought. I was in New York making love with my gorgeous sister in the private passenger cocoon of a limo. The sensations she shared with me were fantastic; we were in sync emotionally, and through her attitudes, I understood what she was thinking as if I were a telepath like Nicole. If that wasn't enough, Nicole was lying on our bed about three thousand miles away with her fingers busy at her pussy, sharing her emotions, sensations and thoughts - through her attitudes - with me. Nicole was also listening to Sandy's thoughts. And the situation was even more bizarre. Nicole and I were having a silent conversation. I wish I could feel her sensations like you, Nicole thought. Ooh, this feels so good! Sandy thought. I'm thrilled to have some time alone with Josh, but it'll be great when Nicole arrives. I've missed her, too. Give us some time alone, Nicole. Spoilsport. All right. I understand. Here's what I'll do. I'll break my connection with you but maintain my connection with Sandy. She knows when I'm connected with her now. She started to feel me when I enter her mind a few days ago, so if she wants privacy, she'll raise her shield. She doesn't mind me being along for the ride, so to speak, but she's ignoring me. No, ignoring me isn't accurate. She's enjoying you so much she's forgotten I'm connected with her. I'll probably come when she comes. Have fun. I will. Bye. I felt Nicole slip out of my mind and backed away from hers, but only regarding her attitudes, a connection she could feel. I remained connected with her sensations and emotions, connections she couldn't feel - not yet. She was masturbating, and she'd climax when Sandy's orgasm struck. Orgasm times two! Three if you count mine. I didn't. My cock throbbed with anticipation. Would I pass out again? "Fuck me, Josh. Fuck me, little brother," Sandy gushed. "Oh, you feel so good in me, thrusting... throbbing... fucking." Sandy's clit hit my pubic bone. I could feel the resulting exquisite sensations everywhere, even my hair follicles. I latched my mouth on a hard nipple, and she dragged her clit through my pubic patch and up the topside of my cock, and her thrilling sensations took me with her. Nicole's fingers flashing back and forth over her clitoris pulled a moan of pleasure from somewhere deep inside me. Nicole and Sandy were in sync. They'd climax simultaneously, and they'd share their climaxes with me. What I hadn't told them was the dual climax wasn't just twice as powerful. Their sensations struck me as if multiplied exponentially, became so powerful they took me to a different plane, one even more exquisite than the place we journeyed during orgasm where we could only feel. This new place was primordial like the burst of rapture at the moment life began. The prime sensation! The sensation that drove humankind to procreate. Then it happened. Pressure and air and light and sound struck me with hurricane force and tossed me through the first place to the second. I vibrated with the rapturous, rolling spasms and shared my blissful molecules with the dark energy and matter of the universe. Then I slipped back to the first place and connected with Sandy and Nicole, shared their delicate but powerful sensations momentarily before returning to the here and now with them. My seed was blasting into Sandy, and I went within myself, a light trance not unlike what I experienced when I healed myself, or others. I rode the wave of sperm I'd just deposited, observed their frantic, thrashing struggles, watched millions give up while few persisted. Some swam fiercely through the heavy mucous at the cervix. I felt their need, their determination, and some of them reached their goal, striking a round object protected with a thick, vitreous substance. An egg, I told myself. Sandy's egg. Some of the sperm moved partway through the protective substance but didn't have the strength to survive. Then I watched with wonder when one determined sperm rammed the barrier, wriggled its tail and drove forward with sudden strength, crashing through into the egg. I opened my eyes and smiled. "You're pregnant." "What?" Sandy asked, sounding shocked. I felt Nicole enter my mind, and I reconnected with her attitudes. "I wandered into your protoplasm and watched the amazing process of conception," I said. "I'm in awe." Sandy's pregnant? Nicole's thoughts asked. Yes. I wish you could have seen what happened, Nicole. It was a marvel, the survival of the fittest in action. "Your sperm may have impregnated an ovum, Josh," Sandy said, "but the pill will suppress the hormones that prepare my uterus so it's hospitable to an embryo." "Oh." "On the other hand, I did miss taking the pill one day this week." She's pregnant, Nicole thought. Sandy grinned. "In a day or two, wander around in my protoplasm again and take another look." I tossed two folders on the coffee table. "Land sale packages," I said by way of explanation. "One possibility is seven acres north of Scottsdale in the foothills. The other is almost six acres in Care Free. Nicole took pictures. I have them on my laptop, and she e-mailed them to you. Do you have a preference?" "Yes, the seven acres in the foothills," Sandy said. "The site is closer in, and I like the look of the high desert landscape on and around the property. Have you actually walked the land?" "No, but Nicole stomped over it." "Will it offer views of the city below?" Yes, Nicole told me silently. She'd been sipping wine and reading, but closed the book when Sandy and I started talking about the land packages. "Nicole says yes." "What about water and sewer?" "City water, but we'll put in a septic tank for sewer." A well was drilled years ago and then abandoned, Nicole said silently, so a well goes with the land. "Oops, Nicole just reminded me well water might be possible." Sandy looked surprised, which matched how she felt. "Are you and Sandy communicating with each other right now?" "Yeah. Cool, huh?" Sandy's attitude disagreed. "Where does that leave you, you ask?" I said. "That's easy. It leaves you dearly loved, Sandy." Here, here, Nicole quipped. "Nicole agrees," I said. Tears quickly formed in Sandy's eyes. She was only partially mollified. I anticipated problems on this issue latter. "When did you become telepathic?" Sandy asked. "I haven't. I use my empathic ability telepathically. I can translate your thoughts into an understandable attitude very quickly now. Nicole says it's like having a silent conversation with me." "Has your range changed?" "No, but I can connect with Nicole when she connects with me by following her signal back to her." I hadn't told either of them that I'd been almost constantly connected with them, except for attitude scans, for quite some time. Once connected with someone, I could remain connected without much effort, but I had to tamp down the level of Nicole and Sandy's connections so their emotions and sensations didn't disrupt whatever I happened to be doing at any given time. If I wanted to feel closer to one of them, I just amplified my connection or added an attitude scan. Nicole's checking visits gave me the idea. If either of them ever needed me, I reasoned that I might be able to help by increasing my empathic scan to its maximum radius of fifty feet from the one needing help. If nothing else, this might let me gather information relative to the problem. I was also playing with the idea of taking more drastic steps if needed to resolve the emergency. I wasn't sure about the more drastic steps. They needed to be tested. What's more, I could follow my own signal from my emotion and sensation connection to connect with either of them with an attitude scan. Also, once after Sandy raised her shield for some privacy to protect her thoughts from Nicole, for some reason I lost my connection with Sandy, too, which surprised me. I'd believed her shield wouldn't disrupt my non-attitude connection. I was concerned I wouldn't be able to reconnect with her until I was with her physically again. Later, when Sandy lowered her shield and Nicole connected with her again, I followed Nicole's connection to Sandy to reestablish my connection with my sister. I also knew it was time to come clean about my constant connections, so I told Sandy what I'd been doing and why. Nicole followed my conversation with Sandy by reading my thoughts. "So if either of you would like complete privacy, throw up a full body shield," I concluded. "In my defense, my motive for the constant connections was to make sure you were both safe, and if you weren't, do something about it if I could. I wasn't bein' nosy. Honest." Hah! Nicole grumbled, not with dismay, but rather as if to say, "Why should I be surprised?" Sandy just shook her head. She'd stopped worrying about my intrusions into her privacy when I'd accepted her savage attacks during previous lives. "Nicole, I'd like to try an experiment that, if successful, could truly help you out of a jam someday" I said out loud. Nicole and I had experimented with her telepathy. She concluded when I spoke that I thought the words a split-second before I uttered them. I'd spoken out loud to include Sandy in what I wanted to try. Experiment away. You will anyway, Nicole responded. What do you have in mind? No pun intended. "Don't be such a grump, Nicole. I'm talking about implanting an attitude in someone from you." "Huh?" Sandy said. Explain, Nicole thought. "Here's one unlikely but possible scenario. You're in danger, Nicole. You're bein' stalked by a serial rapist or someone equally vile. When you connect with your assailant and become aware of the danger, your attitude will tell me what's happening. Because I'm connected with you, I might be able transfer an attitude from you to your assailant that would take you out of danger." "I'd like a similar safety net," Sandy said. "But I can't connect with the bad guy like Nicole." "One step at a time, Sandy. I'll get to you in a minute. I want to try something slightly different with you." She nodded. "Nicole, is there someone you work with that needs an attitude adjustment?" Sure, a couple of them. "Can you connect with either of them now?" I don't know. I haven't tried. "Please try." Got him. "What's his problem?" He's doesn't think women should be in the work place. He's a keep-'em-at-home-barefoot-and-pregnant kind of guy. "Okay I'll fix that, but after I try something else first. There, I'm connected with him, too. Not a nice man, Nicole. Avoid him." I do. "You should know if my attitude reaches him, so stay connected. Here goes." Should he be laughing his fool head off? Nicole asked a few seconds later. "Yup. Now the attitude adjustment to fix your problem with him. There, all done." What did you do to him? Nicole asked. "I didn't want him around you any more, so he'll resign his job tomorrow." No loss. Now try your experiment with Sandy. "Can't until we go out." "What?" Sandy said, irritated. "Remember, I'm only hearing one side of your conversation." "Sorry. My experiment with Nicole worked, and she told me to try my experiment with you. I told her I couldn't until we went out, or rather you went out without me, and for the experiment to be valid, you'll need to be more than fifty feet from me. Here's my plan for you. I'll extend my scans to my maximum range from you in all directions until I locate the bad guy from his attitude, and then I'll send an attitude from you to the bad guy. It should work. The process is the same as I used with Nicole, but I'll find the bad guy myself. If it works, I'll be able to help you wherever you are in the world as long as I'm connected with you." "Yes!" Sandy gushed. Nicole chuckled. "Sandy, there is a slight difference between you and Nicole, and it's related to my fifty-foot range. The bad guy will need to be within my range from you, wherever you are, or I won't be able to connect with him. If I can't connect with him, I can't stop him. Range doesn't matter with Nicole because I can follow her scan to make the connection." "The difference is slight. Unless the bad guy is a sniper, or something like that, he'll need to get up close and personal to hurt me. Let's try it right now. I'll go out. You pick someone and make him do something silly for the test." "All right." Five minutes later she stood outside well beyond my fifty-foot range. See that fat man eating a hotdog covered with chili? Sandy thought. Make him put the messy hot dog in his pocket. I can't see, I told Sandy with a thought, forgetting she wasn't a telepath. Nicole giggled. Like the man with the spaghetti the day I met you. Yup, I said silently, prepared the bundle and sent it to the emotional signature I'd identified as a hungry male chewing. You did it! Sandy exclaimed. Whether the exclamation was a thought or a shout, I couldn't tell. Three minutes later she rushed through the front door of her apartment and into my arms. She kissed me silly. "I'll want you connected with me all the time," Sandy said. Me, too, Nicole added. Sandy and I were about to leave for the airport to meet Nicole when a knock sounded at the door. Sandy wasn't quite ready to leave, so I answered the door and a middle-aged man and a slightly younger woman stood in front of me. The man had a distinguished look, nattily dressed and gray at the temples, and he appeared in good shape for his age. The woman was homely, with a long face and large nose. "We'd like to speak with Sandra Johnson," the man said. As was my habit, I scanned them for their attitudes. FBI! My breath caught in my throat, but I recovered quickly and probed each of them again. The woman considered the upcoming interview a waste of time. She was a true paranormal skeptic. The man wasn't a strong believer in the paranormal, but he was open-minded about the subject. He'd read about some incidents involving extrasensory perception that made him think the human mind was capable of performing functions beyond what was considered normal, and a few times during his career, he'd listened to his gut feelings, and one of those times had saved his life. Our prepared story would convince the woman, but I worried the man might want to dig deeper. "Please have a seat, and I'll tell her you're here." Before I left the room, I turned back to them and asked, "May I tell Sandy your names?" "We're with the FBI," the man said. "I'm Special Agent Henry Kane, and this is Special Agent Margaret Rollins." "FBI? Is this about the terrorist attack at Rockefeller Center a few weeks ago?" "Yes. Is your first name Josh?" "Yes. I'm Joshua Johnson, Sandy's brother." "Excellent. We want to speak with you, too. We understand you were involved as well as your sister and another woman named Nicole. Is that correct?" I frowned. "Involved?" "Ah, at the scene during the incident, I mean," he said. I smiled. "Yup, I was there. Scared the bejesus outta me, I'm here ta tell ya. Nicole and Sandy, too. It didn't help that our driver - I'm referring to our limo driver - couldn't decide whether he was Rambo or terrified outta his mind." Sandy walked into the room looking like a million dollars. Special Agent Henry Kane liked what he saw, too. Hate best described the female agent's emotions. She detested beautiful women. I probed both agents deeper. Our limo driver had sung like a canary, telling all as he'd witnessed the event, but he'd exaggerated a few elements, and missed a few others. I introduced Sandy to the agents, and she said, "I've been wondering when or if the FBI would want to interview us, and I'm happy to cooperate, but... look, may we put this off for a while. We were just leaving for the airport to pick up my brother's fiancée." "Would that be a woman named Nicole?" Kane asked. "Yes." "We'd like to interview her, too, so yes, we'll come back later. When would be a good time?" "How about tomorrow morning, say ten o'clock?" Kane looked at his partner. She nodded, and the two of them rose to their feet. After they left, all the air whooshed from Sandy's lungs. "Shit," she muttered. "Yeah," I said. "Let's go pick up Nicole. From my attitude scans, we'll need to alter our story slightly." As soon as the three of us were settled in the white limo with the privacy screen raised, Nicole turned to me and said, "You don't mind, do you, Josh?" I grinned. "Uh-uh, I even understand." "What are the two of you talking about?" Sandy asked, feeling left out. Nicole reached and gently caressed the side of Sandy's face. "I've missed you, Sandy, a lot, and I want to spend the ride to the hotel with you, not Josh." Nicole leaned forward and pressed her lips to Sandy's, and Sandy moaned into her mouth, quickly turning Nicole's gentle kiss into a passionate embrace. Clothes flew. I sat with my back to the driver and watched with rapt attention as the two women I loved started to make love. No, they weren't making love. Their need, their desire for each other was too great to make love. They wanted to fuck. Still, even with their intense passion, their touches were more delicate, softer somehow, than how I would've touched one or the other if I were nearly overwhelmed with passion as they were. When connected with them, I gained insight into how they gave each other pleasure. I always adjusted how I touched based upon Sandy or Nicole's responses, emotionally or by sharing their sensations, but neither had the silent feedback system my empathy gave me. From all indications, they didn't need my advantage. They simply knew what the other wanted. Sitting across from them as a pure observer without participating was very erotic. No, I realized, I wasn't a pure observer. I was very much involved. I'd taken their sensations as my own. I felt what it was like for each of them when their bodies locked together in passion, when one mouth covered a vulva, and then the other did the same. They'd moved into a sixty-nine. As an observer as well as an empathic participant, I could hear soft sighs, the slight sound of a swallow, or the slurp of a raspy tongue, all of which enhanced what I could see and feel. I was uncomfortably hard, so I pushed my trousers and boxers down around my ankles. I'd climax with either Sandy or Nicole, whoever came first, and then I'd climax again with the one who followed. With a little luck, I'd be hit with both of their orgasms simultaneously, and I'd be transported to commune with the collective consciousness of the universe. I also had an approach/avoidance conflict going. I wanted to join them, but they were so into each other, I knew if I intruded I'd break the erotic spell they'd created and nurtured. My sister was way ahead in the race to a climax. Her sounds grew louder, and I felt Nicole attack her clitoris. Sandy turned her face from Nicole's cunt as she started to come, and my sister's deep moan of pleasure filled the passenger section of the limo. Could the driver hear her? No, a quick scan told me. Semen spurted from the end of my throbbing cock as I shared my sister's orgasm. With Nicole on top, Sandy couldn't thrash around during her climax, so as I continued to ejaculate, I watched Sandy's fingernails dig into the leather seat cover, and her eyes glazed over and became lost and vacant while the exquisite sensations of her climax pulsed. My come continued to spew with each of Sandy's orgasmic contractions until I emptied my current store of semen. Still, the contractions went on. They weren't mine. They belonged to Sandy, and I reveled in them. I thought Nicole would back off, but she persisted, and Sandy came again. My sister's fingernails dug deeper into the soft leather, and her moans of passion became a scream of pleasure. I felt a bundle of sensations strike Sandy with intense force, and her second climax was even stronger than her first. Without volition, Sandy suddenly squirmed and pushed until Nicole backed away. Sandy curled onto her side under Nicole. My sister was weeping silently, not from sadness or pain, but because the dual orgasm had released all her tension. Her body trembled from time to time as aftershocks moved through her. Nicole watched her silently, and then turned to me and gave me a soft smile. I'd just experienced two exceptionally powerful female orgasms, but I was still hard. Why? Because I was also connected with Nicole, and she was highly aroused, had been on the brink of a climax when my sister became too involved with her own orgasm to continued giving Nicole pleasure. Nicole spied my hard cock, and her smile turned into a grin. A few moments later, she straddled my lap and wrapped her hand around my erection. "Hi, love of my life," she breathed. "Wanna fuck?" Her face was covered with Sandy's juices, and I wanted a taste, so I pulled her mouth to mine and kissed her passionately. Along with the taste, I could also smell Sandy's cunt, and the scents and flavors intoxicated me. After the kiss, Nicole rose up and settled my cock at the entrance to her vagina and let gravity push her hot, wet glove down around my stiff shaft. "Ah," she moaned. "Just fuck it to me, baby. Fuck it to me hard and fast. I just gotta come, just gotta." Soon her graceful slide on and off my cock became erratic, and I had to grab her hips to bring her back into some semblance of a rhythm. She was frantic, obsessing on a climax, and my cock wasn't quite doing the job. She needed a mouth. She'd stayed on the edge too long, which had desensitized her nerve endings. She needed an aggressive mouth, a male mouth, licking and sucking and lashing her clitoris to push her over from the edge into the orgasmic abyss. I set her on the seat across the aisle, backed my cock out of her, which she fought, but she stopped thrashing when my mouth covered her cunt, and a minute later started to thrash around again, but with passion, not frustration. I flattened my tongue and let her fuck it with her clitoris, and she climaxed. Nicole's orgasm was even more powerful than Sandy's, and surprisingly my cock ejaculated a little semen when her climax became mine. Sandy was still recovering when I collapsed in a heap on the floorboard of the limo, but my sweet sister saw my plight and sat up, giving me room to move onto the leather seat between my two lovers. I wrapped an arm around each of them and pulled them tightly to me. "I love you, both of you," I said softly, but with sincerity. I kissed first one forehead and then the other. "You can't imagine how beautiful it is to watch the two of you give each other so much pleasure." ------- Chapter 18 Agents Kane and Rollins surprised us. They wanted to interview each of us separately, and then question all of us at the same time. Agent Rollins knew her partner was attracted to Sandy, so out of spite she glommed onto my sister for her interview in the living room. Agent Kane and I moved to the kitchen table for our interview, and Nicole waited her turn in the master bedroom out of earshot. While Kane asked questions, I hesitated occasionally before giving him answers because I was following Sandy's interview by translating Rollins and Sandy's attitudes to conversation mode. I wanted to make sure Sandy and I were on the same page with the major issues, and of course, Nicole telepathically followed both interviews while she waited. I took Kane through the two middle-eastern men on the sidewalk that Nicole noticed and pointed out to me. Our carefully crafted story admitted to curiosity about those two men, mild curiosity on my part, and more intense for Nicole, but we didn't bring up or mention the suicide bomber in Saks. "After Nicole pointed out the two suspicious characters on the sidewalk, our driver became very agitated," I said. "He ordered us all back into the limo. Sandy obeyed him, and Nicole started back to the limo, but I stopped her. I told her the driver worked for us, not the other way around. "By then I was getting pissed. So what if two middle-eastern men were standing on the sidewalk? To my mind, the situation didn't appear all that sinister. Anyway, I told her I was goin' shoppin' like we'd planned, and that she could either come with me or wait in the limo, and I walked away from her. Just inside Saks, I turned to see if she'd followed me, but she hadn't and looked so upset, I turned and walked back outside." "Okay, let's slide back in time a little," Kane said. "We've been told Ms. Halliday told you the men on the street planned to attack the skating rink at Rockefeller Plaza with grenades and automatic weapons." "You've got to be kidding," I said with a scornful laugh. "That makes no sense, Agent Kane." His attitude told me that he agreed with me. "Our witness also said that Ms. Halliday told you besides the two terrorists on the sidewalk..." "Look, Agent Kane, we saw two suspicious men. That's it. Nicole was nervous; I'll give you that. She brought up the fact later that the government is always telling us to be on the lookout for terrorists, and that's what she was doin', that she believed the two men could be terrorists because she saw them glance at each other and nod, which seemed suspicious to her because they obviously knew each other, and seemed to be together, but they weren't standing next to each other. Later, with twenty-twenty vision hindsight gives you, and considering what happened according to the news accounts we watched on television, I had to reluctantly concede Nicole could've been right about her assessment of those two men." "As I was saying," Kane said, "we've been told that Ms. Halliday told you that in addition to the two suspicious looking men on the sidewalk that..." He checked his notes. "... there was one more man somewhere, and she asked you to find him." I shook my head and snorted a laugh. "Whoever told you that must've been smoking some mighty strong dope." "What's more," Kane said, pressing forward, "Ms. Halliday said, and I quote, 'The third one is a suicide bomber. He's in Saks.' At which point, you said, 'I found him. He's inside about fifty feet.' Then she said, 'What can we do?' To which you replied. 'Timing? Nicole, how much time do we have?" She hesitated but finally told you the attack was set to start at three o'clock." "Your source sucks, Agent Kane, but from what you just said, it sounds to me like someone made up the story based upon facts that came out later. The only thing I can think of that even comes close to what you've been told me was just before I walked into Saks I glanced at my wristwatch and told Nicole it was three o'clock and we didn't have much more time to shop. Remember, I was tryin' to talk her into goin' shopping with me." "All right. What happened when you walked out of Saks?" "Waddaya mean?" "Our witness stated that Ms. Halliday said something like, 'The man by the sign! Stop him!'" "Oh. Nope, you've got it all wrong. I can't remember her exact words, but she pointed and said something like, 'Look at the man by the sign.' I looked and watched the man slide across the sidewalk and strike his head on a lamppost. Somebody must've given him a hell of a shove." "You didn't see who shoved him?" "Nope." "All right. Then what happened?" "Our driver was jumping up and down like a crazy man, screaming for us to get in the limo. A second or two later, I heard a loud explosion, and that's when I wondered for the first time if Nicole had been right to suspect the middle-eastern men as terrorists, so I hurried her toward the limo. Our driver wanted us to leave, and after that explosion, I'm here to tell ya that I wanted to leave, too, but before we could get in the limo, our driver took off like a cannonball." I paused, but Kane said nothing. "What confused me was he ran toward the explosion, not away from it. I thought he wanted to be a fuckin' hero, or somethin', and I wanted to get out of there. Turns out he wasn't playin' Rambo, he was just scared half outta his mind and ran without realizin' he was running toward danger, not away from it. About then, another explosion echoed off those tall buildings, and I wanted outta there even more, so I took out after him. Goddamned near got run over by a cab while I was tryin' to cross the street, but I made it, and by then everyone was tryin' to get away from the skating rink, and my driver ran smack dab into the terrified mob tryin' to get away. I grabbed him and hustled him back to the limo, told him in no uncertain terms to take us to our hotel, and we drove away." There were differences between what I told Kane and what Sandy and Nicole told Rollins, but the differences were slight, and they were planned. We reasoned if our stories were identical, they'd sound rehearsed. During Nicole's interview with Rollins, my lover cursed me for not leaving when she wanted, told her interrogator I was a stubborn SOB, was always tryin' to prove how manly I was, and that I'd rather go to a rock fight than admit I was wrong about anything. Nicole added we'd had a big fight later. Then she smiled and told Rollins that she liked the kissin'- and-makin'-up part that happened afterwards, which made Rollins grunt with contempt. Sandy simply played dumb. She told Rollins when the driver told her to get back in the car that she used his order as an excuse to do just that because she was tired. "We'd been shopping all day, Agent Rollins," she said. Sandy told Rollins she didn't see or hear anything because she'd laid her head back on the seat and closed her eyes. The next thing she heard was a loud explosion, which frightened her badly. She saw Nicole and I hurrying toward the limo when the next explosion took place, and then watched in horror as our driver dashed across 5th Avenue. Watching me chase the driver was even more frightening, she told Rollins. "I guess we got lucky," Sandy said. "Everything turned out okay, but I'll never use that limousine service again. I wanted to sue, but my attorney advised me against it. 'No damages, ' he said." Kane and Rollins left before noon, and from their attitudes, I figured our coordinated, carefully crafted story had done its job. My only fear was that one or more pedestrians occupying the sidewalk in front of Saks that day would corroborate our driver's story. Sandy harbored the same fear, but Nicole believed we could still stonewall Kane or Rollins or anyone else the FBI sent against us. "What's the schedule for the rest of the day?" Nicole asked. "Remember when we discovered that it was a high probability that I was your father in our immediate past lives?" "Yeah, which only enhanced my belief that fate brought the three of us together." "I agree. After that incredible discovery, I became curious about the men and women living today who are direct descendents of mine from one of my past lives, so I hired a genealogist to do some research for me. A few days ago I received a report from the genealogist that dated back to my life as a Dutchman named Andries Bushnell from 1839 to 1879. During that life, I married a wonderful woman named Baltje, and before my untimely death at age forty, she gave me five beautiful children. I won't bore you with the genealogy, but the report stipulated that Andrew Bushnell and his sister, Elizabeth Angleton, are direct descendents of Andries and Baltje Bushnell. By the way, Andrew and Elizabeth are the anglicized names for Andries and Baltje. Andrew is an up-and-coming young architect, and Elizabeth is already quite well known as an interior designer. Without consulting you, Nicole, I made an appointment with Andrew and Elizabeth to discuss the design of our compound in Scottsdale. Because my nosy brother is in my head all the time, he knew about the appointment. We'll be meeting with them after lunch." "All right. This sounds interesting," Nicole said. "Nicole, Josh, I want to stress you're under no obligation to hire them. This is an exploratory meeting only." Nicole grinned and her pretty, dark eyes flashed with mischief. "Are they into antiques?" Sandy huffed a laugh. "Not likely." "My goodness! Who would've thunk it?" Nicole said after reading Sandy's thoughts. "The oldest broad I know is sick and tired of antiques." Sandy blushed. "Yup. I'd like my home base to reflect today's architecture, not the architecture of the past, and that goes for the furniture and accessories, too." Nicole squealed happily and hugged Sandy. "I'm so happy to hear you say that Sandy! I feel the same way about my house." "How about that?" I said. "We have consensus." "Speaking of children, Sandy, how do you feel about not being pregnant?" Nicole asked. She shrugged. "Josh is right. We should consult with a geneticist before we take the plunge. I didn't ask you, Nicole. How did you feel when Josh believed I was carrying his child?" Nicole blushed. "At first, she was jealous," I said. "But the more she thought about it, the more she warmed to the idea. In Nicole's mind, we are a true ménage a trois, not just sexually, but in every way." "I don't like the label, though," Nicole said. "Somehow ménage a trois sounds... I don't know, a little seedy maybe. I look at the three of us as a couple, but that's even more confusing. I thought of calling us a threesome, but the connotation of that label is sleazier than ménage a trois." "I know what you mean," Sandy said. "Another foreign word might work, though. TRES, for instance, which is Spanish for three." "TRES... hmm, I like it," Nicole said. I chuckled. "What?" Sandy said. "It's also an appropriate acronym," I said. "T for thoughts or telepathy. R for reincarnation. E for emotions, and S for sensations." Sandy clapped her hands with delight. "Yes! Perfect." "Yup," Nicole said. "That's what we are. We're a TRES." "What happens if I find my man of the world?" Sandy asked, teasing me. "Cuatro doesn't work, not for an acronym, anyway," I said. Sandy liked what she saw, and she was looking at Andrew Bushnell. Was he her man of the world? The possibility loomed large. During the drive to the meeting, Sandy had told Nicole and me that Andrew Bushnell was a protégé of Rem Koolhaas, a renowned Dutch architect, and Bushnell had recently traveled to China with his mentor to research new cities in that country that had suddenly emerged in eight years, or so, seemingly out of nothing. I guessed Bushnell's age at thirty, but an empathic probe told me he was only twenty-eight. He was a tall, slim man with a long, handsome face, a heavy brow and penetrating dark-blue eyes. His full lips gave him the appearance of a constant pout, but his crooked smile made him look more cynical than self-pitying. He wore his brown hair long enough to braid, and I wondered if he'd acquired the affectation while in China. The Chinese called the braided ponytail a queue, I remembered, and way back when wore the queue as a sign of allegiance toward the Manchu government. Bushnell also liked what he saw, but he couldn't decide who he preferred - Sandy or Nicole. Because Nicole had been introduced as my fiancée, he reluctantly but enthusiastically concentrated on my sister. His thoughts were risqué but not obscene, which I knew Nicole appreciated. Then Bushnell's sister joined us. Wow! I winced when Nicole dug her elbow into my ribs. Contrary to her playful jab, Nicole's thoughts and emotions reflected my admiration for the beautiful blonde. Did you find what I found? Nicole asked me silently a few seconds later. Apparently not, I'm still enjoying her surface thoughts and great body. Pig! Nicole chuckled softly. Probe her a little deeper. My, my, incest most foul. Yup. Hmm, she's separated from her husband and living with her brother. Sleeping with him would be more accurate. If you're seeking accuracy, she's fucking him. My probe also told me Elizabeth - Liz to her friends, and I hoped she'd soon count me as a friend - was thirty years old. She was about Nicole's height, maybe a touch taller, and the blonde hair came from a bottle, which didn't matter to me. It was gorgeous, long and sleek, falling to the small of her back and framing a beautiful face. Her complexion was creamy, and her dark-blue eyes were slightly lighter than her brother's, but just as distinctive. That they were brother and sister wasn't open to question. She wasn't model slim, but she carried no extra weight. Her breasts were larger than Sandy's, and her hips slightly wider. I finally decided her body was simply womanlier than my lovers', which shouldn't have been a surprise. She was older than Sandy and Nicole by ten years. A deeper probe produced no female lovers in her past, which would probably disappoint Sandy and Nicole because my connection with them told me they were more than interested in her, especially Sandy. My sister's pussy had tingled and then clenched while considering Andrew as a potential lover, but when Elizabeth joined us, the tingling and clenching turned into a full-blown churning. Elizabeth liked my look, but she considered me too young for her. A fleeting thought when she considered what it would be like to be my sexual mentor tickled me. I considered zapping her with a few tingles in her pussy just for fun, but Nicole jabbed me with her elbow again. Be nice, she told me silently. Spoilsport. The meeting went well. The three of us liked the results of the sampling of their work they showed us, commissions Andrew and Elizabeth had completed for others, and the site we'd selected in Scottsdale intrigued them. Not to mention, our overall budget wasn't beneath their efforts. "You work out of Manhattan," Sandy said to Andrew. "Our building site is in Arizona. Is the distance a problem?" "Not at all," Andrew said. "I'm at Universal Studios at least once a month. I'm collaborating with Rem Koolhaas, my architectural mentor, for a project in Los Angeles. He's been commissioned to redesign MCA headquarters and its 420-acre Universal Studios lot. Besides, primarily I'll be your designer, so I'll align myself with a local architectural firm to do the working drawings and manage the construction." "How about you, Elizabeth?" Sandy asked. "Call me Liz, please. Sandy, your project really appeals to me. Believe it or not, Andrew and I have talked about doing something similar - one site, two houses, one for him and one for me. And, a distant project isn't a problem for me. I've completed projects in Chicago and Los Angeles in the past." "Fair enough. Let's do this. I'll be in Scottsdale in about ten days. Could the two of you meet us there and familiarize yourself with the site firsthand and to discuss the commission further? We'll pay your expenses, of course." Brother and sister looked at each other, and when Liz gave Andrew a nod, he smiled his crooked smile and agreed to Sandy's proposal. "How long are you and Nicole planning to be in Manhattan, Josh?" "We leave tomorrow night." Andrew looked at his sister. "Are you busy tonight?" With you, she thought but said, "No." "Could the three of you join Liz and me for dinner tonight or lunch tomorrow? We need to know you better, discover some of your likes and dislikes regarding your future residences. When we travel to Arizona, I'd like to arrive with some preliminary sketches, my concepts of one or more possible directions we can go with your project." "What a good idea!" Liz exclaimed. "I'll do some sketches of some interiors, as well." Sandy looked at me. I gave her a shrug that said whatever she decided was fine with me. From Nicole's thoughts, she was amenable. "Dinner sounds fun," Sandy said. "Now that's interesting," Sandy said after Nicole informed her Andy and Liz were lovers. "Is the sexual relationship recent or long standing?" We were returning to our hotel suite after our meeting with the architect and interior designer. "It's been intermittent since their adolescence," I said. "With Liz's estrangement from her husband, it's currently a full-blown affair. Their relationship isn't just sexual either. They love each other romantically as well as brother and sister. Liz believes, but hasn't said anything to Andy, that her love for her brother was the thorn that popped her not-so-successful-marriage bubble. Her husband didn't measure up to her brother in any way." "Are they mired in sexual fidelity or limited love?" Sandy asked. "I don't think so," Nicole said. "I'll probe deeper during dinner." "Sandy, I noticed Liz really revved up your motor. I don't think she's bisexual." "Shucks." "I'd label her bi-curious," Nicole said. "What? I didn't sense that possibility, Nicole, not in her emotions, her sensations or her attitudes." Nicole grinned. "I found a fleeting thought or two that led me to believe she was at least curious." "Explain, please," Sandy said. I grinned. Sandy was definitely interested in Andrew, but Liz made my sister's pussy weep. A deeper probe provided the reason. Liz reminded Sandy of Baltje, and as Andries, Sandy had loved her deeply. Andrew reminded her too much of herself when she was Andries, and Sandy wasn't into self-love all that much. "She wouldn't hesitate to join her brother in bed with another woman," Nicole said, "but I don't think she'd make love with the other woman. Watching intrigues her. She's a bit of a voyeur." "I read that, but I didn't make the leap to bi-curious," I said. "I could be wrong," Nicole said. "I'll probe deeper tonight at dinner." "Do that," Sandy said. Nicole chuckled. "I'm not into emotions and sensations, Josh. Tell me, is Sandy wet?" "Sopping. Given the opportunity to bury her face in Liz's pussy, she wouldn't hesitate a second." Sandy blushed. "Argh!" she grumbled. "Don't despair, Sandy. Nicole reacted to her almost as strongly as you," I said, which produced another jab in the ribs - warnings only, and playful to boot. Before we did anything after we'd arrived at our hotel suite, Sandy reached under her skirt and peeled off her panties. While walking directly to the bed, she stripped off the rest of her clothes. "When you're right, you're right, little brother," Sandy said. "I'm hot. And, yes, dammit, Liz made me hot. Nicole would you please eat me? Don't feel slighted, Josh, but my imagination and memories involve a woman. If you want, slip your long one in Nicole while she eats me. I'll pretend you're me when I was Andries and Nicole will be my sweet Baltje. Whew, watching Andy and Liz get it on would be a blast from the past!" Nicole didn't hesitate and dropped her clothes as she followed Sandy. Nicole moved over Sandy and kissed her, starting the sexual dance I loved watching when my two lovers decided to make love. "Skip the preliminaries, please," Sandy grumbled. "Your mouth, my pussy! Now!" I chuckled and dropped my trousers. As Nicole's lips and tongue danced over Sandy's pussy, Sandy said, "I apologize, Nicole, for using you to quench the fire caused by an old and frequent fantasy, but Liz as Baltje really turned me on." Nicole lifted her wet face and said, "No problem. I understand, but I might request reciprocity sometime in the future." And what would your fantasy be then? I asked Nicole silently. Don't play the dolt. You know how often I fantasize about some of my wild days. Sandy gushed, "Anytime. Ah! That's so good! With my hands, I lifted Nicole's hips, swiped my cock through her wet crease and pushed my length inside her. Sandy watched through squinted eyes as she relived a moment from the past, and Nicole's fantasy was even hotter - a group scene from her past that evolved into the three of us having some exciting fun with Andy and Liz. As hot as Sandy was before we even started, she came quickly and hard. I came with her, but Nicole was still excited, so my erection didn't wilt. I wouldn't shoot much semen when I climaxed with Nicole, though. I suspected Sandy's climax had depleted most of my seed for an hour or two. A glance at my sister told me she was almost recovered, so I rolled, taking Nicole with me, ending up on my back with Nicole's back to my front. I was still inside her. "Pretend Nicole is your Baltje, Sandy. Eat her sweet pussy while I fuck her." My suggestion produced a heartfelt moan from Sandy, and she quickly positioned herself between my legs and Nicole's. Sandy didn't leave me out, either. She started on my balls, licking them, sucking them gently into her mouth. Then her tongue moved up to the base of my cock where she lapped like a kitten with milk. She didn't linger long tasting my cock, and moved higher, lapping through Nicole's swollen pussy lips, finally concentrating on Nicole's clitoris. My hands were busy on Nicole's breasts, gently pinching her nipples, and pulling them out away from her body. Under my assault as well as Sandy's, Nicole climaxed quickly, and I went with her to that place of pure pleasure. Tonight should be interesting, I thought a little later. I'll say. You realize, don't you, Nicole's thoughts said, that she'll fuck them after we leave? That'd be my guess. She'll be fucking her sweet Baltje, not Liz, but she'll need to fuck Andrew to get to Liz. Liz isn't Baltje, Josh. Liz reminds Sandy of her wife when she lived as Andries, and that's Sandy's motive. I'm not sure it's a proper motive to start a love affair. I think you're right, but it's Sandy's decision, and I trust her decisions. Yeah. I just hope she doesn't get hurt. ------- Part Six: Nicole ------- Chapter 19 I watched Josh with his parents. He loved them in spite of how they felt about him, and that made me proud. With his abilities to read their emotions and translate their attitudes into thoughts, he had to know he disappointed them, but he handled their negative attitudes and emotions about him well and didn't take them personally. His mother loved him but just couldn't bring herself to accept his apostasy, and his self-righteous father remained in denial, fervently believing his prodigal son would someday return to his heavenly Father's loving embrace. Mr. Johnson never missed an opportunity to test Josh's readiness to return to the religion of his youth, pressing and pushing Josh at every turn. Unfortunately, Josh wasn't the only object of his father's proselytizing. I had to handle the subtle or not-so subtle pressure Mr. Johnson applied on me to accept Jesus Christ as my savior and guide Josh back to the true church so I could live with my faithful husband in Paradise for time and eternity. For Josh's sake, I tried to handle the pressure with grace and understanding and, for the most part, succeeded, but a couple of times that night I came close to telling the pushy cuss to get off my fucking back. We were gathered in Josh's boyhood home to celebrate his nineteenth and Sandy's twenty-first birthdays. Both birthdays had come and gone, but Josh's mother used Sandy's first visit to Phoenix in almost three years to celebrate the occasions. Josh and Sandy's birthdays were two days apart, and on Sandy's birthday Josh was in New York City for his final fitting for the clothing he'd purchased at Giliberto's. I was still working for Olsen, so I couldn't be with them. They celebrated in high style, sharing their festivities with me telepathically. Josh and I celebrated his birthday when I joined him in New Orleans two days later. Sandy would've joined us, but her mother arrived in New York City for the mother/daughter reunion the same day Josh left the Big Apple. Although Sandy thoroughly enjoyed her reunion with her mother, I think Josh and I had more fun, and the New Orleans trip kicked off my first real estate venture. I'd located a buyer, meeting him while still working for Olsen, but Olsen didn't have a property the buyer wanted. When I told Josh about him, Josh became quite excited about the prospect, so I checked with Harry, and he gave me the green light to follow up with the buyer. I arranged a meeting with him to review his wants and needs, and Josh and I met him in New Orleans where he lived. After our meeting, Josh and I decided to remain in the Big Easy for the rest of the weekend to play like tourists, no not like tourists; we were tourists. We rode through the French Quarter in a horse-drawn carriage and down St. Charles Avenue on a streetcar. We strolled down Bourbon Street, stopping here and there to listen to the fantastic music played in the various nightclubs, and even took in a transvestite floor show. That was something else again. Those strange young men sure did make beautiful women. We also enjoyed the scrumptious flavors of New Orleans' cuisine, and of course, we made love passionately and often. I was wrong about Elizabeth Angleton. She wasn't bi-curious, or at least not curious enough to fall prey to Sandy's subtle seduction attempts during the dinner the night before Josh and I left New York, and again during a private lunch Sandy arranged with Liz mid-week after we left. At Sandy's request, I connected with both of them at the luncheon to listen to Liz's thoughts, and after a telephone conversation with Sandy afterwards, Sandy backed off. Sandy and I also talked about her motive to initiate a love affair with the beautiful woman, and our discussion brought out some of the pain I wasn't aware of that Sandy carried in her present life from many of her past lives. The pain and how she handled it made me appreciate and love her that much more. "I know I've been obsessive about Liz," Sandy had said to me on the telephone that day. "But put yourself in my place. Let's say you die and remember this life in your next, not in general, but rather in great detail. You love Josh..." "You, too," I said interrupting her. "I know. I'm using Josh as an example. You love Josh deeply, and guess what? In your next life after the memories arrive during adolescence, you'll still love him, and you'll miss him desperately. You'll come to terms with the love you feel so strongly as well as the intense grief gnawing at you because you will truly be a different person. However, if one day you see a man who could be Josh's identical twin, your love for Josh will come crashing in on you once again, and with the rush of love comes the pain of loss. That's why I avoid the locales of my immediate past lives. The pain can be debilitating. Seeing Liz brought back the love and the loss I felt for Baltje, and I wanted to physically rekindle that love and, in so doing, cast away the grief. Intellectually, I knew what I wanted wasn't truly viable. Liz isn't Baltje; she just looks like Baltje, and the luncheon today helped me come to terms with that fact again. I'll deal with Andy and Liz as Andy and Liz in the future, not as Andries and Baltje." "Won't you still feel some pain when you see her?" I asked. "Yes, but partially thanks to you, Nicole, I'm no longer emotionally connected with her as Baltje. She's Liz, and frankly I like Liz as a person in her own right. She has many qualities Baltje didn't have. She's incredibly talented, and deep down she's quite happy and has a mischievous streak in her not present in Baltje. I think Liz and I can become friends." I told you I could trust Sandy's decision, Josh told me silently. The inveterate empathic snoop had been listening in on our conversation. That was then. Now, Josh's father had just asked us to join him in family prayer. "You don't give up, do you, Dad?" Sandy said with a grin. "I believe in the power of prayer, Sandy. I..." "I don't," Sandy said. "So, here's the deal. If you and Mom want to pray, have at it, but I'd feel like a hypocrite if I joined you. It's been a nice party, and I'm really happy to see you and Mom again, so please don't ruin the celebration by turning it into a Sunday school." "Humph," he muttered. Whew! I thought. Tough! She called him out and took him to the mat for the count. If only that were true, Josh told me with a thought. Before we leave, he'll be off the mat and ready to do battle with the Devil in Sandy or me. He'll never relent. His faith is too strong to let him back off. Sandy can't let him be what he is anymore than he can let Sandy be what she is. I can let him be. That's why Sandy had to leave, and I was able to hang around until I met you and wanted to live with you. I parked my Lexus in the garage, and as I walked into the townhouse, I started to strip. A new game was afoot. My telepathic connections had told me Josh and Sandy were relaxing in the hot tub - and they weren't alone. About a half-hour ago, Sherry had come calling, and she'd joined them in the throbbing, soothing water. All of them were au natural, or as Josh would say - nekkid. I'd chuckled when I heard Josh's silent cry for help. Sandy's playin' games again, he'd told me with his thoughts. Here's the scenario. Sherry doesn't know Sandy's my sister. Sandy introduced herself as Wilma when she opened the door to Sherry's knock and invited Sherry to join us in the hot tub. Since then Sandy's been... well, aggressive with me, and Sherry's wonderin' what's goin' on, where Wilma fits in our relationship, for instance. What's more, Sandy is attracted to Sherry, and vice versa. The game is in serious need of a wild card, and that's gotta be you, Nicole. Hurry! I'd hurried. I enjoyed Sandy's games. "Nicole!" Sandy exclaimed when I stepped out onto the patio. "Nothin's goin' on, honest!" I giggled. "Yeah, sure, Wilma. Have you fucked him yet?" Sandy grinned. "Nope. Got him nice and hard for you, though. Jump his bones. Sherry and I wanna watch. Don't we, Sherry?" Sherry's laugh was obviously nervous. "That's up to Nicole." I moved into the water and onto Josh's lap. I gave him a quick kiss and wrapped my hand around his erection. "Yup, he's hard. Sherry, did I mention that Josh has a sister?" "No." "Well, he does. Her name is Sandra, but Josh and I call her Sandy, and Sandy loves to play games. She's a novelist, you see, and she sets up scenes and uses real people to play the parts she creates. This scene might end up in her next novel." I moved up and swiped Josh's cock through my pussy, settled it in place and slowly sank down around his length. "Sherry, meet Sandy, except I think you know her as Wilma." Sandy stuck out her lower lip with a fake pout. "Spoilsport." "Not entirely," I said. "I'm playing a part in your scene, Sandy, and the game's still afoot. You told me to fuck Josh, and that's exactly what I'm doin'." I started to slide on his cock. "Ooh, that's nice. Josh, waddaya think? Should we let 'em watch?" "Argh! You're as bad as Sandy." "Maybe. But I'm in character. I'm fucking you, aren't I?" Tell me, lover, I said to Josh silently. How are they reacting? Your move shocked Sandy, but she's delighted with the twists and turns you're offering. Sherry's just plain shocked, but she's also hot as a firecracker. Do they want to watch? Yup. What about you? Does the audience bother you? Nope, makes me hot and bothered, though, and you don't need to tell me what the audience is doing for you. Whew! You're steamin'! I chuckled. Yeah, I am. How would you like to turn this scene on its ear? Waddaya have in mind? Will Sandy play now that Sherry knows she's your sister? Not with me, but... would you be upset if Sandy got it on with Sherry? Nope. Follow my lead. "Ah, Sherry, I need some help here," I said. "Oh, what kind of help?" "Your mouth on my clit." Sherry laughed. "Have you got a snorkel stashed nearby?" "Hmm, I see what you mean." I moved off of Josh's long one and told him to hop up on the edge of the hot tub. When he was situated where I wanted him, I settled on his thighs again, but with my back to his front. Am I going too far? I asked Josh silently. Not yet. I rose up a little, and then settled around Josh's cock again, emitting a soft sigh of pleasure. "There, Sherry. Now you don't need a snorkel." If she puts her mouth on your cunt, you'll be going too far, Josh advised me silently. Oops, too late. Sorry? Oh, Josh, her mouth feels so good! Is Sandy upset? Yes and no. Mostly, she's feeling left out. That can be remedied, but let's let her stew for a second or two. No, on second thought, making Sandy wait seems cruel. "Ooh, Sandy, Sherry's good," I said. "Would you like to find out how good?" Sandy didn't respond verbally, instead she thought, Nicole, sometimes you can be a real bitch... but this isn't one of those times. Yeah, I'd love to have her taste me, but... how is Sherry taking my involvement with you and Josh? "Good," I said to answer her silent question. "Everything's fine, Sandy," Josh said to reinforce my answer. "Sit next to me. It's been a lifelong fantasy of mine to watch you have sex with a woman." That did it. Seconds later, Sandy was sitting beside Josh with her legs spread and Sherry's talented mouth danced over her pussy. Did I miss Sherry's mouth on mine? You bet, but some saliva on my fingertips let my fingers glide over my clitoris as if they were a tongue. One of you will need to take care of Sherry when this is finished, Josh thought. Why one of us? You're still in the game, aren't you? I teased. This isn't a game anymore. This is sex, Nicole. Fucking. Sucking. We've turned Sandy's scene into a porno flick. Serves her right. She started this. We'll finish it. Josh chuckled out loud, and then thought, Sandy's not upset. She's having a ball. Oh, fuck! She's also coming! Josh groaned. Sandy cried out, and I felt Josh's cock swell just before his juices shot into me. I didn't come. I was hot, but not at the edge. I also wasn't concerned. I'd get mine. The question was, from whom? Bad! Bad to the bone, and I love it... and you, Josh thought as he continued to ejaculate in me. Will Sandy play with me? I asked Josh silently. Maybe. Whew! That was one mighty fine climax. Well, well, Sandy didn't hold the edge on purpose, I gathered from her thoughts. She'd wanted to be the first to come. Oh, oh, Josh thought. We've played into Sandy's hands, Nicole. She thinks foregoing sex for fun because we're in love is silly. And I'm just as guilty as the two of you, Sandy told us loud and clear with her thoughts. Since living with us, Sandy had learned she could think sentences as if she was conversing verbally with us, and we'd respond verbally. In this manner, she didn't feel as left out of Josh and my silent conversations. "We hear you," Josh said. But do you agree? "Yup," I said when Josh hesitated. Josh? Sandy inquired. "To a point." Josh, our mixed silent and verbal conversation is confusing Sherry, I advised. Josh, you can fuck Sherry and Nicole, Sandy said with a thought. I can have sex with Nicole and Sherry, and Nicole can get it on with all three of us, but Josh, you and I can't... Josh leaned to his sister's ear and whispered, "That's the point." Sandy grinned. "Sherry, help me with Nicole. I'll take her pussy. You work over her breasts. After she comes you can climb aboard Josh, and Nicole and I will work you over." Josh has gotta be fucking his sister, Sherry thought. Sandy's licking my cock as much as she's licking your pussy, Nicole. I didn't respond. I was enjoying Sherry's kiss too much, that and her talented fingers on my breasts. Her lips traveled down my neck and ended up around a nipple. Sandy's lips were sucking on my clit, and... "Oh, fuck, I'm coming!" I shouted. Josh's cock throbbed, and I felt more semen hit the back of my cunt as orgasmic sensations stiffened my body. Fuck, he's coming, too, Sherry thought with dismay. He'll go soft and... Fuck it! Someone will get me off. I'll do the job myself if I have to. I fell back limp against Josh's strong chest with my legs dangling in the hot water as if they were boneless. "Help Nicole get off you, Josh," Sandy said. "She's too weak to do it herself." Should I fuck her? Josh asked me. Oh, yeah, I responded, and I wanna eat her while you fuck her. Josh chuckled as he lifted me straight in the air until I felt his wonderful cock vacate my cunt. Come dripped from my pussy onto his thighs. You'll need to wait your turn, Josh thought. Sandy is dying to wrap her lips around Sherry's clitoris. He's amazing. He's still hard, Sherry thought and immediately straddled Josh's thighs. "The other way, Sherry," Josh said. "When we first met, you told me you preferred women to men. If you turn your back to my front, it's my guess you'll have two sexy women fighting over who gets to eat you first while I fuck you." Did Sherry ignore him? Nope. She spun around, and a few seconds later, Josh was buried balls deep in Sherry's hot cunt. How about that? I thought. I'm not jealous. Thanks, Mom. Sherry's gotta know that Sandy is licking my cock as much as she's licking Sherry's clit, Josh said silently. I laughed out loud when Sherry's thoughts reflected Josh's almost to the word. Incest! Sherry added. If she'll lick his cock, she'll fuck him. Nicole and Sandy are lovers. That's obvious, but there's more. The three of them are getting it on. Sandy's staying with them. Do they sleep in the same bed? Oh, fuck, this is wild. Nicole's lover's cock is inside me. His sister's tongue is licking his cock and my clit, and Nicole is watching intently. Oh, oh, hot! So hot! Kiss her, Nicole, Josh ordered silently. Kiss her and play with her tits. She's close. Take her over the edge. When Josh is right, he's right. Before I could move my lips from her mouth to her breasts, she climaxed. Not surprising, Josh came with her. Sandy cuddled Sherry while she recovered, and I held Josh. I noticed he was still hard. Yeah, Sandy got hot again, Josh told me silently. I'm finished, though. Suddenly he went soft. What happened? I cut my connection with all three of you, Josh thought in response to my question. I'm finished for a while, but Sandy isn't, and Sherry wouldn't be opposed to some more action. Also, from the buzz you've got goin', I'd say you're just getting started. While I pickup Chinese for dinner, take Sandy and Sherry to our bed. I might join all of you again after we eat. "You're fucking him, aren't you?" Sherry said to Sandy. Temporarily sated, Sherry, Sandy and I were sprawled on the bed, enjoying the afterglow of a few more orgasms. "Who? My brother?" Sherry laughed. "Yeah, your brother. Jeez, Sandy, you licked his cock more than you licked my pussy when he was fucking me." Sandy snickered. "Sneaky, aren't I?" "Answer my question," Sherry insisted. "Fucking Josh is my favorite fantasy, and if you ask him, he'll tell you fucking me is his favorite fantasy. Our fantasies are too important to both of us to turn them into reality and lose them. So, no, Sherry, I'm not fucking him." She laughed. "Why do I believe my answer disappoints you?" "Is she telling the truth, Nicole?" Sherry pressed. "As far as I know. Josh knew Sandy and I were lovers, but tonight's the first time he joined us. You didn't answer Sandy's question, Sherry. So, let me take a crack at it. You'd like to see them fuck, wouldn't you? Thinking about a brother and sister fucking up a storm turns you on, doesn't it?" Sherry blushed. "Yeah." "Why?" Sandy asked. "Most folks are repelled by incest." "I... ah, I have an older brother, nine years older, and he... well, when I was a girl he used to read me stories, and one day when I was around seven years old, he rubbed my pussy with his fingers while he was reading to me. I liked it - a lot. So, I hoped he'd touch me that way some more the next time he read to me, but he didn't. He just laid his hand on my knee. But I kept thinking about how nice his fingers felt on my pussy, so I took his hand and pulled it up between my legs, and he took the hint. After that, whenever we were alone in the house, I'd hold up a book and ask him to read it to me. What's strange is he actually read to me and never asked me to touch him or pulled out his cock. He just read to me and played with my pussy. As time went on, I noticed his fingers felt better if he moved them under the leg band of my panties, but then the leg band on other side, stretched as it was, felt a little uncomfortable, so for our next session I took my panties off just before I held up a book. He gave me my first climax that day." "Damn, that's hot, Sherry," Sandy said. Yeah, it is, Josh said in my mind. But... "Don't stop," I said to Sherry and ignoring Josh. "What happened next?" "Nothing, just more of the same. He read to me and finger-fucked me about once or twice a week for another year, or so, and I came all over his fingers every time he read to me after that. Then he turned eighteen and joined the Army, and he never touched me again." She sighed deeply. "A little later I found out about cocks and fucking, and I wished he'd let me touch him; I wished he'd licked my pussy. I wished he'd shown me how to jerk him off and how to suck his cock, and most of all I wished he'd fucked me." She turned to Sandy. "So, don't talk to me about fantasizing about fucking your brother. No woman has fantasized about fucking her brother more than I, and frankly, I don't buy your cockamamie story about not fucking him because you don't want to ruin the fantasy. You've fucked him, and from what happened today, you're still fucking him, and I say, good for you, Sandy." Josh, I said silently to my lover. Get in here and fuck your sister. No. Remember, I told you one of my empathic talents is a built-in lie detector. I established a baseline for truthfulness for Sherry while we were in the hot tub earlier. Sherry tells a hot story, but except for the first time her brother touched her while reading to her, the rest of her story is pure fabrication. I also sense she's pushing the issue because she sees it as potential leverage to maintain a relationship with you, Nicole. There's more that I'll explain later. It's been fun, but hustle her out the door as soon as possible. Call Sandy on her special phone and tell her what you just told me. All right. Seconds later, Sandy's satellite phone rang. I watched her as she listened to Josh and decided she'd make a good poker player. Her expression didn't change. A minute later she hit the end button on the phone and said, "Sherry, believe what you will, but Josh and I aren't into incest. What's more, if you were telling us the truth, all I can say is I'm sorry your older brother sexually abused you when you were such a little girl. A seventeen-year-old boy finger-fucking a seven- or eight-year-old girl is statutory rape combined with pedophilia. You didn't consent because you weren't old enough to understand the difference between consent and coercion." She turned to me. "Nicole, that was my mother on the phone. She's on the way here. We need to straighten up our act." "Damn! Sorry, Sherry, I've gotta ask you to leave." "I understand," Sherry said and rolled off the bed. She looked around. "Oh, my clothes are down by the hot tub." "Hurry, please," I said. "Come on, I'll help you find them." While Sherry and I were dressing outside on the patio, she said, "Ah, Nicole, that story I told you about my brother... well, I made it up." "Why, for heaven's sake?" I said, acting upset. "Because I believed Sandy and Josh were getting it on, and I hoped the story would make Sandy admit it." "Sherry, I'm disappointed in you. That's manipulative. Damn, I thought you were my friend. Friends don't lie to friends or try to manipulate them." I didn't need to be an empath to know Sherry turned from apologetic to angry in a flash. "Talk about lies and manipulation! What about Sandy aka Wilma? What about the phony protect-her-fantasy story?" I considered her questions rhetorical and said, "Come on, you've gotta leave." At the door, I said, "Sherry, don't just drop by again. Call before you... no, don't call, either. You're history." I was proud of myself. I closed the door softly when what I really wanted was to slam it in her face. I joined Josh and Sandy in the bedroom. "Sorry," I said. "Sherry was my friend, so..." "Hey, I'm at fault, too," Sandy said. "I started the game, and I pressed the sex for fun issue." "No one is at fault more than I," Josh said. "I sensed something about Sherry that wasn't quite right the first time I met her, Nicole, but I said nothing because I couldn't figure out what bothered me about her. Tonight was another matter. To start with she's a compulsive liar, and..." "I've probed her deeply, Josh. I do that with all my lovers, and I didn't catch her in a lie. Why is that?" "Because she's a very good liar. Tell me, when you probed her, did you come across any memories of her brother playing with her pussy?" "Yes, the first incident she told us... oh, I see what you mean. Her lies start with a partial truth." "Yup. During my first meeting with her, I didn't establish a baseline for truthfulness, but in hindsight, I think what I sensed wrong about her was her ability to tell boldfaced lies. Tonight, I quickly established a baseline, but still didn't catch her in a lie until she told her hot story. If you think back, she hardly said a word until then. Besides being a liar, while she told her story she was wondering if she could use Sandy's and my incestuous relationship as blackmail material. You weren't paying attention to her thoughts, Nicole. You were listening to her story with rapt attention, or you would've caught her thoughts regarding blackmail." "I should've slammed the door in her face like I wanted," I said, disgusted with myself. "Maybe sex just for the fun of it isn't such a good idea after all," Sandy said. Josh laughed. "Sure it is. We just need to be careful about who we ask to come out and play with us. I don't know about you two... well, that's not true. I do know about you two, and you, like me, had fun tonight until the end when Sherry's true nature surfaced. Talk about a scorpion!" He paused and took a deep breath. "Sandy, you're not hung up on Liz as Baltje anymore. Correct." "True." "Can you handle getting it on with Andy?" Sandy grinned. "Oh, yeah." "What about you, Nicole?" "Andy's yummy." "And I wouldn't kick Liz out of bed for eating crackers. Okay, we've established interest. Nicole and I will probe them as far back as their first day in kindergarten to make sure we won't have a problem, but I gotta tell you, I think sex with Andy and Liz and the three of us would be a lot of fun. What's more, they're interested in us, too, or at least they were when I met with them in New York." "Hmm, they love each other, but they're brother and sister so they have an open relationship," Sandy said. "We love each other, and as a TRES, we also have an open relationship. Everyone has something to lose, which should make any sex for the fun of it relatively safe and harmless." I grinned. "Let's not plan anything or push the issue, but let's be open to opportunities while they're here. Sandy, Josh knows, but you don't. I just adore two men getting after me at the same time. Ooh, just thinking about the possibilities, especially with Josh being one of the men, gives me the sexy shivers." "Umm, now that's what I'd call fun!" Sandy said. ------- Chapter 20 I'd been performing search after search on web sites that offered commercial properties for sale. I was looking for a property that would meet our buyer's stringent specifications and still provide a reasonable margin of profit for us if we purchased the property and flipped it to our buyer, and I was frustrated. I also realized what Josh did wasn't as easy as he made it sound. This one's close, I thought, but close doesn't count. The profit margin is there - in spades, but... hmm, if we renovated to eliminate the functional obsolescence and corrected the deferred maintenance, this property would work. Josh walked into our office. "Show me," he said. I took him through the property and pointed out the areas of deferred maintenance and obsolescence. "I haven't run the numbers, but an educated guess tells me there's room to turn the property around and still make a good profit when we sell it." "Did you deal with a property like this one while working with Olsen?" "Yeah, a couple of them. Olsen didn't buy to flip. This property would be a likely candidate for Olsen's portfolio because it offers an opportunity to create value." "It's in Las Vegas, huh? After Andy and Liz leave, let's drive up to Vegas and give it a gander." "But this property doesn't fit your paradigm, Josh." "Who says your paradigm needs to fit mine?" "My paradigm?" "Yeah. I'm basically lazy. I wouldn't touch this property - too much work - but that doesn't make it a bad property. I read a book or two about how to get rich with properties like this one. They both used nothing-down approaches, but my first deal was a flip, so I stayed with that method. If you feel strongly that we can buy this property, fix it up, sell it, and still make good money, have at it, Nicole." "Really?" "Sure. Why not? My only caveat is the length of the hold period, but even then not for economic reasons. You're impatient to feel financially independent. A long hold will frustrate that goal." He chuckled. "Your buyer might get tired of the wait, too." "There's that." I sighed. "Let's look into this property anyway. It fits what I perceive as your paradigm, but let's continue to search for a property we can flip to your buyer." He grinned. "Do you think your father and stepmother can get away for a few days and meet us in Las Vegas? I'll pick up their expenses." "Yes! What a good idea!" Then my euphoric mood plummeted. Dad was as fiercely independent as I. Would he accept Josh's offer? Sure he will if I ask him properly, Josh said, slipping into silent mode with me. "Josh, Pop's a Motel 6 kind of guy," I said, switching back to talking out loud. "What about your stepmother?" I chuckled. "Jessie would accept your offer in a second and enjoy every minute of the plush hotel suite you have in mind." "I didn't mention a plush hotel suite." "Hah! You wouldn't have it any other way." "True. It sounds like the way around your father's stubborn independence is through his wife. Do you think you could feign surprise if I planned a surprise birthday party for you in Las Vegas?" Tears stung my lives. "God, I love you." "I take it that's a yes?" "Uh-uh, that's a no. Dad would tumble to the ploy immediately if not sooner. After all, I'm a mind reader, and he knows it." "Oh, okay, no surprise party, but a party nonetheless." He picked up the phone on his desk. "What's the phone number?" "Whose phone number?" "Your father and Jessie's number in Nevada." I told him, and he dialed. I connected telepathically with Jessie so I could listen to both sides of the conversation. "Mrs. Halliday, this is Josh Johnson, Nicole's friend." "Josh, how the heck are you? It's so nice to finally get to talk ta you." "Likewise. I called because I'm planning a birthday party for Nicole. I'd make it a surprise party, but the way she bounces in and out of everybody's minds, trying to surprise her would be futile." Jessie laughed heartily. "That's for sure." "Nicole and I found a property in Las Vegas we need to inspect. I'll try to schedule the inspection trip just before or after her birthday." He chuckled. "She can even gamble legally if that turns her on." Gambling in Las Vegas is for suckers, I told Josh silently. "I suggested inviting you and your husband for the party and said I'd pick up your expenses, but Nicole told me her father is as fiercely independent as she, so I need your help, Mrs. Halliday." "Jessie, call me Jessie. How can I help you?" "Nicole and I and probably my sister, Sandy, will stay in a two-bedroom suite in a hotel on the strip. I'd like to book a suite for you and your husband in the same hotel. We'll have the party in my suite." "Ooh, sounds fun." "I'll also want you to sign for everything so I can pick up any ancillary expenses." "Yup, you need my help. Marcus will get his back up for sure." "There's more. Does your town have an airstrip?" "Yeah, small planes only, though." "I'd like to charter a small aircraft to fly you down and back." "Whew! You don't do things halfway, do you?" "Uh-uh, it's the whole enchilada or nothin'. That's why I picked Nicole for a mate." "Lucky girl." "Thanks, I think. Will you work on Mr. Halliday for me, get him to come around to my way of thinkin'?" "He's got a couple of soft spots I can press, not the least of which is seeing his daughter again. Josh, Nicky told us about the shopping spree in New York City, so I'm assumin' you'll look like you're off the cover of G.Q. and Nicky a model out of Vogue. Marcus and I... well, our clothes will be clean and pressed, but they're not much." "So what? It's Las Vegas. Anything goes. If you're worried about my attitude regarding your wardrobe, don't. I might have money, but I made it myself, and I'm not a snob." "What about your sister? Nicky told us she was the... what's the word she used? I remember I had to look it up. Yes! Epitome, that's it. Nicky said Sandy is the epitome of class and style." "True, but she's not a snob, either." Is this a deal breaker? Josh asked me silently. No. You've handled the problem perfectly, but don't offer to buy them new wardrobes. That'd be goin' too far. "Jessie, you and your husband's presence at Nicole's twenty-first birthday party is what it's all about, not how you're dressed. I merely want your trip and stay in Vegas to be as comfortable and hassle free as possible." "Okay, I hear ya. How many days are you talkin' about. I mean will Marcus need to ask for some vacation days?" Josh, my birthday falls on a Friday this year. You could fly them to Vegas Friday morning and back home on Sunday afternoon. That way, Pop would only need to use up one day of his vacation time. Good plan, Josh replied and then outlined the time frame for Jessie and added, "That's the reason for the chartered plane. Otherwise, he'd need to waste two more days of his vacation time driving to and from Las Vegas. Look, Jessie, I'm goin' ta assume you'll succeed, so I'll book the rooms and the chartered flight today. Tell Marcus I'll lose my deposits if he gets his back up too far." Jessie laughed gaily. "Yup, you're a real piece of work, Josh Johnson. I can see why Nicky is so taken with you. I'll work on Marcus tonight. Tell Nicky I might need to call on her for some help with the stubborn cuss, and I just might call on you, too, young man." "Whatever it takes, you've got it." Because I listened in, I could tell you how Jessie twisted Pop into a pretzel that night, but to make a long story short, he agreed to everything, and neither Josh nor I had to intervene, which pleased me no end because I knew deep down that if Jessie couldn't get it done, nothing I could say would change Pop's mind. I didn't apply the same logic to Josh. He could be a persuasive cuss. It was a warm day, so Sandy and I wore shorts. Andy Bushnell enjoyed our long legs as well as other curvy attributes on display but covered with clothing, and Josh's buns of steel didn't escape Liz's eyes, either. I enjoyed their thoughts. They were risqué as opposed to obscene, not that obscene is all bad. We were tramping over the site we'd selected for our future compound in the foothills north of Scottsdale. "Gorgeous," Andy said under his breath. Was he referring to the site or Sandy's beautiful backside where his eyes seemed to be focused? Liz seemed to understand Andy's focus, as well, and her knowing smile bode well for an interesting evening ahead. Josh, I said silently, you know what's goin' on, don't you? Yup. They've been talkin' about us like we've been talkin' about them. They're interested in some fun and games with us, but they see problems. Uh-huh, like Sandy might be available for Andy, but because we're engaged, you might not be available for Liz. That and Sandy's not so camouflaged attempt to seduce Liz makes them wonder if she's a lesbian and, therefore, unavailable for Andy, as well. Still, our compound concept makes them question if you and Sandy are involved in an incestuous relationship, which from all indications would tickle them pink if true. Yup, subtle revelations are in order. After dropping off Andy and Liz at their hotel, Josh and I clued Sandy in on the dynamics shaping up for the evening. Sandy decried the subtle approach. With a wicked grin, she said, "It's game time!" Josh groaned. I clapped my hands with delight. "Yes! The hot tub?" "Works for me," Sandy said. "Drinks before dinner at the townhouse should do it." "If all goes well, dinner could be a problem," Josh said. "Uh-uh. I'll whip up a batch of lasagna, and I have some frozen dough for homemade bread," I said. "Dinner at the townhouse won't be a problem. If we strike out, we'll eat out." Sandy gave me a heartfelt hug and said, "I just love you to pieces, Nicole. Every TRES needs a domestically adept member like you. You can't imagine how much I appreciate that part of you. Over the years, and I'm not talking about just this life, I've come to detest domestic chores." Sandy played bartender, and she looked stunning in a black satin dress. What looked like a glittering necklace wrapped her neck and connected with the dress at the center of the bodice. The necklace wasn't mere ornament. It held up the dress. The gown clung to her delicious curves. I wore black, as well, but my dress offered an enticing view of my cleavage, what little cleavage I had, because the bodice plunged between and below my breasts. Josh was casually chic, like Andy, and Liz's dress plunged even farther than mine, but the plunging took place on her back, all the way to the small of her back, not between her full breasts. Josh, Sandy and I sipped white wine. Andy and Liz quaffed scotch over ice with a twist of lemon. Soft music played in the background. Flickering candles and dim indirect lighting enhanced the romantic setting. The scene is set. Let the games begin, I thought. Josh groaned inwardly. He enjoyed Sandy's games, but also feared them, perhaps justifiably so after the fiasco that nearly occurred during the last one. "What's your take on nudity?" Sandy asked Andy and Liz. Andy's cynical smile crinkled his eyes. "Depends," he said. "On what?" Sandy persisted. "On where and when and with whom." "Liz?" Sandy pressed. Liz's knowing smile made her appear wiser than her thoughts. "I'm comfortable with my body. Why are you asking?" "I don't know about you, but that hike over seven acres of high desert terrain tightened up some muscles I didn't know I had until this evening. Just beyond the patio door is a hot tub that seats six. Josh, would you please explain your house rule regarding the hot tub." "Okay. Clothes of any kind, including swimming suits, are verboten in my hot tub, which means if you'd like to join Sandy, Nicole and me in the frothing, soothing hot water, you'll need to get nekkid." I zeroed in on Andy and Liz's thoughts, and I knew Josh was plugged into their emotions and sensations. We'd probed them deeply during the hike over our property and had uncovered nothing that put us off and a whole bunch that turned us on. "Do the three of you get nekkid a lot?" Liz asked. Her thoughts indicated she hoped his answer would be positive. "Yup," Josh said and flashed his boyish smile. It seemed to affect Liz like it affected me. Is Liz's pussy creamin', Josh? Yup. If we could bottle that smile of yours and sell it, we'd make a bundle. "Andy," I said, "does the three of us and the two of you nekkid in the hot tub offend or enhance your 'where, when and with whom' condition to nudity?" He glanced at this sister. She gave him her knowing smile, and he grinned. I assumed a signal had just passed between them, and his thoughts and words proved my assumption accurate. "Enhance - definitely," he said. "Are you game, Liz?" Josh asked, knowing her answer ahead of time. "Sure," she said. "Like Sandy, I've noticed a few muscles I didn't know I had." Sandy rose to her feet, unhooked the necklace-like straps to her gown, and let it fall off her to the floor. She was gloriously naked under the dress. Andy sucked air in through his teeth. "Bring your drinks with you," Sandy said, bent over and picked up her dress, and laid it casually over the back of the sofa where she'd been sitting. She turned and walked toward the patio door. I slipped the straps from my dress. I was nekkid underneath, too, and I was pleased to note Andy also reacted to my nakedness with a sharp gasp. He's hesitating because he has a hard-on, Nicole, Josh said, passing the potential problem to me for a solution. While I tried to think of a way to put Andy at ease, Josh solved the problem for me and moved the game forward at the same time. His casually chic clothes hit the floor, and he exhibited a full-blown erection. "Please forgive the hard-on, Liz. When Nicole and Sandy strip like that, my libido goes into overdrive." She laughed. "No problem," she said and backed up her claim by rising to her feet and pushing the straps of her dress off her shoulders. She had to give her hips a little wiggle along with a small tug, to free herself from the gown. She wore a sexy pair of black, lace panties, not a thong, but definitely abbreviated. Josh, bless his sexy heart, complimented Liz with a gasp as audible as Andy's two gasps earlier. I grinned at Andy. "I hope you're hard, like Josh." I watched him remove his clothing, and he returned my grin when his big cock waved in front of me. I rewarded the bobbing shaft with a gasp of my own. "Nice cock, Andy," I breathed. Liz laughed gaily as she peeled off her sexy panties, and her thoughts told me she agreed with me. Outside, Sandy took charge again. She arranged Andy and Liz next to each other in the hot tub. She sat beside Andy, and Josh settled in next to Liz. Dutiful fiancée that I was, I sat next to Josh. I sighed with pleasure as the bubbling hot water eased my tense muscles, tense not from the hike that morning, but rather from the sexual tension generated inside moments before. "Nice," Liz said. "Yeah," Sandy said. "Ah, from your reaction, Liz, I assume you've seen your brother's rampant cock before." Liz grinned. "Like you've seen Josh's, you mean?" "Yup." She hesitated. "Go ahead, Sandy," Josh said. We'd decided earlier that Josh had final say on whether to tell all or remain silent regarding our TRES because Josh's empathic scans were more revealing about character than my telepathic intrusions. "Okay, here goes," Sandy said. "Andy, Liz, you'll be working closely with us to design and build our compound, so you need to know more about us than we've told you. I hope what I'm about to say doesn't offend you. If it does, we'll understand if you decide not to proceed with our project." She took a deep breath and continued, "Josh, Nicole and I are lovers. We're what we call a TRES, for lack of a better term. Each of us loves the other two deeply. We believe in unlimited love, and furthermore, we consider sexual fidelity as the cornerstone of any relationship downright silly. Josh, Nicole, would you like to add anything?" "We trust each other implicitly," Josh said. "But it's a higher trust than that implied by sexual fidelity. I trust that no matter what happens, what I do, or what Sandy or Nicole does, I will love them, and they will love me. We put our trust in the love we feel for each other, and love is the cornerstone of our unique bond." "In our relationship, it's helpful that Sandy and I are bisexual," I said. "Josh isn't - bisexual, I mean. We understand that our bisexuality and the incestuous element of our TRES might be offending. If one or both creates problems for you that would preclude you from going forward with the project, we ask only that you speak to no one about us. As you've probably guessed, getting nekkid was a test. If you'd refused, we would've never revealed the true nature of our relationship." Liz chuckled. "As you know, Sandy, I'm not bisexual." Sandy huffed a laugh. "I know, but the question on the table is can the two of you work with a couple of bisexual women, and a brother and sister who aren't bashful about getting it on with each other." Andy and Liz looked at each other. Finally, Liz gave her brother a small nod. "Of course, we'll work with you on the project," Andy said. "We'd be hypocrites if we didn't. Like you and Josh, Sandy, Liz and I are lovers, have been for years, and like the three of you, the two of us love each other deeply." Sandy grinned, happy the siblings had chosen to come clean. "What about the bisexual element of our relationships, Liz?" "I don't have a problem with bisexual women as long as they don't hit on me. Women don't turn me on." Sandy's grin widened. "Noted and filed. Would watching Nicole and I give each other pleasure turn you off?" Liz's infuriating knowing smile faded with momentary confusion, but then returned swiftly. "No, I think I'd find observing two women making love fascinating, especially you and Nicole." That shocked look on Andy's face happened when Sandy wrapped her dainty hand around his hard-on, Josh told me silently. "I just wrapped my hand around your brother's marvelous cock. Do you mind?" Sandy asked. Oh, oh, Josh thought. The games afoot! "Not if... never mind," Liz said when Josh pulled her hand to his erection, satisfying her request for reciprocity before she could state her intent. I'm feeling left out, I thought, which prompted Josh to slide his hand up my inner thigh and cup my pussy. I watched Andy kiss Sandy passionately, and then Josh pressed his mouth to Liz's full lips, a deep, open-mouthed kiss, which made me feel left out again. Move over between Liz and Andy, Josh suggested. In the meantime, I'll keep Liz occupied. Good idea! Liz cooperated. After Josh moved where I'd been sitting, Liz scooted over a seat to give me room. Liz ignored Josh for a few seconds while she watched her brother kiss me. She chuckled and said, "Sandy, Nicole, you just made Andy a happy man. As hard as he tried, he just couldn't decide which of you he wanted most." "Let's take this inside," Sandy said. "My fingers are starting to look like prunes." The scene had changed, and we weren't playing games, but we were having fun. I was on my hands and knees, and Andy's big cock was plunging in and out of my cunt. At the same time, I was eating Sandy's delicious pussy. Sandy and I had traded places a few minutes before. Liz was watching her brother fuck me while she moved gracefully over Josh. "Damn, that's so sexy," she gushed and turned her attention to Josh. "Deep down, I thought I might be jealous, but I'm not. I get a kick out of watching Andy fuck other women." "I know what you mean. This is a first for me watching my sister and Nicole with another man. The sights excite me no end." "Really? I would've guessed otherwise, that you'd done this before, I mean. You seem completely comfortable with what's happening." "I am, but past experience isn't the source of my comfort." Hoo boy! I do like what Liz's cunt is doing for me! Josh added silently. Yeah, I said to Josh, I'm enjoying Andy's cock, too, and as usual, Sandy's pussy is scrumptious. You've wondered, so I'll tell you. Andy's cock is a little longer than yours but not as thick. Men and their penis envy! I thought women were supposed to have penis envy, not men. Uh-uh, we just like 'em hard. We adapt to any size... well, almost. Yeah, my first deep probe uncovered the guy nicknamed Horse, the behemoth you tried on for size during your first year at ASU. It wasn't easy, but my pussy finally swallowed that monster. Whew! Liz is heating up. So am I. How's Andy doin'? Grittin' his teeth. He's silently reciting logarithm tables. I couldn't stop the chuckle that escaped my lips. It sounded like I needed to do some catching up, so I reached with one hand and searched for my clit. Found it, too, if you were wonderin'. Who's goin' to come first, Josh? It's a tossup between Sandy and Andy. Sandy's in her Countess mode; she's reliving a few group scenes from that life. If you haven't noticed, Liz wants what you want. Yeah, I noticed. She wants you in her cunt, and her brother in her ass. I haven't fucked your world-class ass. Why is that? I don't know. The subject never came up. Truth be known, I enjoy a cock in my cunt more than my ass, but an ass fuck now and again is fun. Well, when it's your turn with two cocks, I want your ass. Fine by me. Where am I in the comin' race? I've been doin' some catch up. Oh, oh, Liz, Sandy and you feel dead even. If the three of you come at the same time, I'll go into overload. Are we talkin' loss of consciousness here? Big time. Should I slow down? No, Sandy's startin' to slide off the edge right now. "Ah!" Josh groaned when he took Sandy's orgasm as his own. Sandy's body stiffened under me, and she grabbed the back of my head, mashing my mouth to her cunt. I flattened my tongue and let her ride her clit over its surface while she moved through her orgasm. Josh bellowed again, and I figured Liz had just climaxed. I couldn't see, though. Sandy still held my face to her cunt. Suddenly, Andy threw his long cock into me with force, and his hands grabbed my hips and jerked my cunt even tighter around him. He grunted loudly as his semen spurted inside me. I do love come blasting the back of my cunt, and that combined with what my fingers were doing with my clit, pushed me over the edge. Josh bellowed one last time as my orgasm overwhelmed me, and not for the first time I envied Josh's ability to feel what he must've felt taking Sandy, Liz and my orgasms as his own, one after the other. Whew! I noticed he'd basically ignored Andy's. I collapsed next to Sandy, and Andy rolled onto his back on the other side. Liz had fallen to Josh's chest. We need a bigger bed, I thought when I realized I was half-on, half-off the side of the bed. Josh laughed, and Sandy solved the problem when she moved over me and helped me scoot over. She kissed me and whispered in my ear. "I wanna eat Andy's come out of your pussy." "Fine by me," I said. Would Andy react like Josh when he saw a woman eating his come from a cunt he'd just fucked? If he doesn't, he isn't flesh and blood, Josh said to me. We'll soon know. I'm more curious about Liz's reaction. Watching you eat Sandy earlier increased her arousal. At first I thought it was the overall situation, but I probed deeper and caught her wondering what it would feel like to have you or Sandy lick her clit. Really? I missed that. The errant thought means nothing. She might be bi-curious, but she'll never give it a whirl. Liz is happy you're getting hard again. That's your doing. I'm feeling what you're feeling. I figured. Hmm, I think I'll let Sandy give me another come. Ooh, how about that, Andy's getting hard again, too. Who gets first dibs on two cocks? Liz is our guest. Argh. Okay, but I'm next. Then plan on going down on Sandy again when she finishes with you. Lapping up Andy's come from your pussy is turning her on again. I'll get the double-penetration bit started with Liz right now. I watched Josh kiss Liz and whisper in her ear. He eyes lit up. I didn't need to be a telepath to know what he'd said to her. "Andy," Liz said. "Josh says there's some KY Jelly in the nightstand. Grab it and lube up your wonderful cock. You know what I want." ------- Chapter 21 The property we inspected in Las Vegas wasn't a hotel, motel, or casino, but rather an office building complex with one mid-rise tower and three four-story structures arranged around a central courtyard. It was well located on East Charleston Boulevard amid a cluster of other office buildings. The other buildings in the cluster were of a more recent vintage than the property that interested me, so obsolescence was its major drawback. The current owner and, from all indications, the previous owner hadn't corrected the obsolescence as it occurred, and because obsolescence drove tenants away, cash flow suffered, and then the owner complicated the problem by deferring maintenance, as well. Josh, Andy and I had just completed our inspection tour and were enjoying an iced tea at a nearby coffee shop. Liz and Sandy were pampering themselves in the Spa at Bellagio, the ultra-luxurious hotel where Josh had booked our rooms. Josh, Sandy and I were staying in a two-bedroom penthouse suite, and Andy and Liz were occupying a similar, adjoining suite. Andy and Liz were here for my birthday party, but I'd also hoped I could interest Andy in being the architect for the office complex. Andy had joined the inspection tour reluctantly, and his thoughts finally gave me a clue why he'd hesitated. He didn't want his name associated with a half-assed remodeling project. I probed deeper and discovered he'd never handled a renovation. "Waddaya think, Andy?" I asked. "The time has come and gone for that complex." Josh huffed a laugh. "Agreed, but is it fixable?" Andy grinned. "Oh, yeah, but the fix won't be cheap." Andy looked me in the eye. "Some of the obsolescence isn't correctable, Nicole." "Like the eight-foot ceiling heights?" I said. "Uh-huh. New office buildings are giving tenants nine-foot ceilings; some offer ten. You don't have enough room in the plenum to move the dropped ceilings from eight to nine feet, but I was thinking more in terms of the overall appearance of the complex. It's dated in the early seventies when the complex was developed. It also has a parking problem." "My research says I can move the ceiling height up six inches," I said. "That'd help," Andy commented. "Are you saying the overall appearance can't be altered to bring it more in line with the newer office buildings in the cluster?" I asked. "Not unless you throw enough money at the problem." I grinned. "That's what correcting obsolescence is all about, Andy. You haven't worked on a renovation like this one, have you?" "Nope." "Okay, let me tell you what I have in mind, starting with the interior public spaces. I see black marble floors and walls in the main lobby, included the security desk. Any contrasting materials, including the ceiling, will be stainless steel. Recessed spot lighting. A new, modern directory. Some sculpture, maybe a large painting or two, and live, potted trees and plants everywhere. The elevators are okay, and they've been maintained, but we'll redo the elevator cabs, using stainless steel walls and ceilings and Berber carpet on the floors. All new fixtures and hardware in the restrooms, and we'll continue the black marble and stainless steel motif from the main lobby to the restrooms and the lobbies on the upper floors. New, modern fluorescent lighting in the upper lobbies and corridors. Berber floor covering in the corridors on the upper floors. All new signage, and we'll make sure management understands and enforces tenant signage. This town is nuts about signs, and that attitude has crept into the office structures. All new, full-height solid-core doors, and new hardware. Oh, and glass sidelights at the entrance to each office. "Inside the offices, we'll raise the ceiling heights as far as possible, put in new dropped ceilings, and new florescent lighting fixtures. Berber-like carpet with carpet baseboards, instead of rubber. New full-height doors. Thin-line Venetian blinds on the windows. Painted walls as the building standard. Anything more will be a tenant extra. "Now lets move to the façade. It's vanilla, and you're correct, it's dated. I'd like to hire you to fix it, and I'd like to hire Liz to help me with the interiors. I see new heavily tinted glazing as one solution to the façade, perhaps combined with a new material to sheath the current pored-in-place and painted structural elements. I'll also hire a management company who knows how to manage and maintain office buildings, and a commercial real estate company that knows this market and how to move tenants from one building to another. I see the courtyard as a big plus, but it needs to look like a jungle instead of the alkali desert surrounding this town, and the courtyard should include a watercourse, fountains, and ponds and cozy seating areas with tables. I want the office tenants from miles around to enjoy their lunches in the courtyard. "As you mentioned, there's a parking problem, but it's solvable. The small strip-retail structure adjacent to the complex to the west is buyable, and the two remaining tenants are month-to-month. While you're redesigning the façade, please design a parking structure on the adjacent property as well as some space for some retail that will serve the office tenants, like a restaurant, and a copy center. Oh, I forgot. I want to offer the tenants a couple of meeting rooms, one intimate that looks like a high-end boardroom, the other large for seminars or training classes, and both rooms should offer state-of-the-art technology. Heck, if feasible, I'd like to turn the buildings into smart buildings. The training room can be put on the lower level of the tower where the maintenance personnel are storing all their junk. The meeting room should be on the second level overlooking the lobby. Andy, I don't want to bring that complex up to its competitors' standards, I want the complex to be the benchmark that new office buildings must meet or exceed to compete." "Jesus!" Andy breathed. "Will the numbers work?" "Yes, depending on what we pay for the complex and a few other issues, the most important being how Josh and I structure the financing." "It's doable," Josh said. "Does the job interest you?" Andy nodded. "Yeah, and Liz will have a ball. She's in what I call her black and white with splashes of pure color period. What about the existing tenants?" "We'll work around them, relocate them, or buy out their leases, whatever it takes. It's a two-year job, Andy. A year to upgrade, and another to fill it with tenants. Hopefully, we'll buy at a fourteen percent cap rate using the low rents the complex can generate today to calculate the net operating income, and sell it at an eight or nine percent cap rate using the higher rental rates the renovated project can produce. Do you have any ideas that would upgrade the façade?" "A few. We could... here, I'll do some sketches for you." The café used linen tablecloths, and Andy's pen started to create on its stark white surface. "The buildings aren't cohesive. With more parking available, we can add space between the buildings using skyways... like this." "Yes!" I exclaimed. "I like it!" "And the mid-rise tower is boring, basically a square tube. We could change the roofline... like this, and do the same with the low-rise buildings, but at different angles... like this." He paused. "You mentioned the courtyard. It's there, but that's it. It doesn't help the overall look." Andy quickly roughed in a site plan. "See how the courtyard serves the street, not the office buildings. I'd redesign it... something like this, and put a fountain at the street... here, which effectively closes the open end of the plaza and contains the courtyard, making it an integral part of the office complex. I'll consult with a landscape architect for the courtyard." "What's about the tinted glazing?" "Go green... for money, and copper, no stainless steel... I don't know off the top of my head. For some reason, I see the buildings sheathed in the patina of old copper, but it..." He's hooked, Josh told me silently. Let him run with it. Liz, too. They'll turn this lemon into lemonade. I need to make some calls on the deal I have cooking. Wanna join me or hang with Andy? I'll stay with Andy. I'm not stuck on the black marble/stainless steel look. Green glazing and the patina of old copper might be the way to go. Okay, see you at the room later. Dinner at seven in Le Cirque, a snazzy restaurant in the hotel. Interesting, I thought. Josh raised his shield. He wants privacy. Why? I slumped, happy and content, on the plush sofa in our suite at Bellagio. The additional hour with Andy after Josh left made me feel better about my first real estate project. If everything went according to plan, my share of the deal when we sold it two years down the line would exceed a million dollars. I shivered with the thought. Josh thinks the wait might make me impatient. Hah! The career course I'd mapped for myself before I met Josh would've taken twenty years minimum, not two! I heard a knock at the door and pushed myself to my feet, and then noticed the knock came from the adjoining room, not the main door to the suite. Andy wanted to talk some more. No, he wanted to do a little more than talk. He was at loose ends. Sandy and Liz were still bein' pampered at the spa, and Josh... I didn't know where Josh was. His shield was still in place. I opened the door. Andy grinned and said, "I'd like a drink, and I don't drink alone. It's a hard, fast rule of mine." I smiled and gestured for him to enter. "Scotch?" "Yeah, over ice with a twist of lemon." "I'll call room service. A dry white wine sounds good to me." He settled on the sofa, and as I made the call I realized I hadn't had sex with Andy without Josh in the room with us, and sex with me was what was drifting through Andy's mind. My project had excited him, and his excitement needed an outlet. Not very romantic, perhaps, but sex for the fun of it didn't need to be romantic. Yeah, I definitely felt some tingles here and there, mostly in my pussy. I wasn't dressed to seduce. I wore a business pantsuit. My white blouse was sheer, and I wore no bra, so I removed the jacket and draped it over the sofa before I sat next to Andy. His eyes took in my pert breasts, vaguely visible under the blouse. Josh believed I wasn't into games, but he was wrong. Oh, I didn't set up games like Sandy, but I thoroughly enjoyed the games played by a man and woman along the path to seduction. I liked to arouse the man, and then back off, tease, if you will. Sex didn't work well for me if the man's mind wasn't engaged because I preferred sex that started and ended in the mind with the sex act in between, bracketed by the mental bookends. Andy and I discussed the project until the drinks arrived. The waiter made Andy's drink and opened the bottle of chilled white wine. After the waiter left, I decided to bring our discussion around to the subject in Andy's mind. "I'm curious. Liz is older than you by a couple of years. Sandy's two years older than Josh. Do you think sibling incest works better if the female is slightly older than the male?" "Maybe." He huffed a laugh. "Statistics are virtually nonexistent regarding successful incestuous relationships. Sexologists and therapists delve into the dark side of the subject and blithely ignore the bright side." "Why is that, do you think?" "Because it's a morality issue. Incest is wrong. Everybody says so, including the law, so successful incestuous relationships shouldn't exist. To compile statistics for something that shouldn't exist would fly in the face of our culture's current state of morality." "You said you and Liz have loved each other for years. How many?" "From my side since my early adolescence. Liz was the object of my first schoolboy crush. I loved the look of her..." "You share many features. That you are siblings is obvious. Because you look so much alike, have you ever confused self-love with your love for her." "Not really. We share genes, but Liz is very feminine. I'm..." "All man," I said with a grin as I interrupted him. I slipped a couple of buttons loose on my blouse. Andy noticed. He smiled. "Thanks." "When did Liz fall in love with you?" "I asked her the same question recently. She's wasn't sure, said there was no one moment, no sudden revelation." He grunted a laugh. "For Liz, our relationship was about sex at first, not love. She was my sexual mentor, although I found out later that, for the most part, she learned along with me, stayed just ahead of me like a teacher assigned to teach a subject out of her area of expertise. When she noticed how committed I was to her, she cut me off, told me we couldn't have sex with each other until I'd had sex with another girl." He grinned wickedly. "I lied. I told her I'd had sex with a girl named Gloria. Supposedly, Gloria was easy, round heels, etcetera. I asked her out; she accepted, and we talked. No sex, just talk. I didn't even kiss her. My ploy worked. Liz fucked me half to death. She'd missed the sex as much as I. Then Liz and I talked, really talked for the first time. We talked about love and sex and incest and how we were with each other, and that night was a turning point for both of us." My hand caressed my chest above my breasts, which made the open blouse gape wider. "In what way?" I asked. "We believed we'd solved the problem. Because we were brother and sister, we couldn't be a couple, but we were lovers, and we wanted to remain lovers, so we agreed that we'd date and have sex with others." "A reasonable solution that didn't work from what you said." "Yeah. I fucked Gloria on our second date. In keeping with her reputation, she made it easy, and I didn't feel guilty. Perhaps Liz was right after all, I told myself. Then Liz hooked up with a guy, and our carefully crafted solution came crashing down around our ears." My fingers tweaked a nipple. It stiffened "Jealousy raised its ugly head, huh?" I said, and I noticed my self-fondling was raising a lump in his pants. "Yup, on my part. I was in love. I wanted Liz to be mine. I didn't want to share her. Liz cut me off again, and we both fucked around. Our estrangement lasted about a year, but just before Liz left for college, we kissed and made up. Whew! Did we ever! Then she left me. You'd think I would've been crushed. I wasn't. She was out of sight but not out of mind, and she created opportunities for us to be together as much as possible. As time marched on, I finally figured out that love and sex weren't synonymous, that I could have sex with others and still love Liz. We still had a problem, though. I loved her but she hadn't expressed her love for me. I could feel her love; I knew she loved me, but she was railing against how she felt about me, in denial, if you will." "When did she finally admit to you and herself that she loved you?" I undid the rest of the buttons on my blouse. "When her marriage fell apart." "That late?" "She wants children," he said as if the simple statement explained everything. Surprisingly, it did. I pulled the blouse tails out of my pants. Andy's next thought stunned me. I didn't see it coming because it was new thought, a new idea, one he hadn't explored in his mind before. He didn't pursue it with me, but the idea grew, and he decided to talk to Liz about it. I wasn't sure I liked the direction his thinking was taking him. For a few days, Josh was convinced he'd impregnated Sandy, and I've gotta admit it; I was jealous, and I felt immense relief when Sandy's womb sloughed off the impregnated egg. Our love was a new love, and it was unique. It was a TRES, and its uniqueness, its newness, to my mind, dictated more time for just the three of us before the arrival of a little baby changed everything. Would Josh agree to be the sperm donor for Andy and Liz's baby? In Andy's mind, Andy would be the father, not Josh. Josh would merely lend his genes to the effort. Knowing Josh as I did, I didn't believe he could be so cavalier about a child that was half his. I'd unbuttoned the blouse and pulled it loose so I could shrug the garment from my shoulders, but Andy's sudden scheme to give Liz what she wanted so desperately brought my attempt to seduce to a stuttering halt. Unaware of my thoughts, Andy reached and gently caressed my breasts. My own fingers had already pulled my nipples into hard points, but under his knowing hands, they became even harder. He leaned and kissed me, cupping my chin with one hand and the side of my face with the other. It was a gentle kiss, and his tenderness surprised and delighted me. Sex for the fun of it. The phrase moved through my mind, and my body responded. I kissed him back, enjoying his masculine scent, the taste of his mouth. My tongue reached for his as if on autopilot. Sex for the fun of it. Where's the harm? I searched for Josh's psi-sig and couldn't find it. He'd shielded his mind - shut me out. Lower your shield, lover. I've something I want to say. I'm alone with Andy, and he's going to fuck me. Do you hear, Josh? Soon... very soon, I'll open my legs to him and take his long cock inside me. I don't love him, but I want him to fuck me. Why? Because I enjoy sex. It's fun and feels good. I've had my wild times, those periods in my life when I had sex with a variety of partners, young men, young women... groups. Why? Because I like how sex makes me feel. I love you deeply, Josh, but soon the man kissing me will shudder and climax and spill his seed in me. I love you more because when I tell you later about this sexual interlude, you won't be upset, and you won't love me any less. My tongue in Andy's ear made him shiver as if a chill had wandered down his spine. My breathing was becoming a little ragged. His lips slipped down my neck to my breasts, and he sucked and nipped and licked while his other hand continued to fondle my other breast. Her breasts are small but perfect, Andy thought, which pleased me. I reached and pressed my hand over the bulge in his trousers. Suddenly I wanted my mouth around his stiff cock. I wanted to bob my head up and down, and suck and lick, and feel his throbbing shaft hit the back of my throat. I fumbled with his belt. He helped me. "Let's go to the bed," he said, his voice thick with passion. "No, here, now." I didn't want a bed. I wanted a quick suck, and a quick, illicit fuck. I didn't want us naked. I remembered a time in college. I was out on a date, and I'd gone to the ladies room. While I was putting on fresh lipstick, the door to the ladies room opened and a man walked in. I knew him. I'd dated him. I'd fucked him. He knew the way I was then. "In the stall," he said. It was an order, but it was an order without conviction. "Why?" "So we won't need to stop fucking if another woman needs to use the restroom." "Oh, okay," I'd said simply. The idea appealed to me on a number of levels. I was with a man, who was dutifully awaiting my return, and a quick secret fuck with yet another man would be unique, something I hadn't done before. The uniqueness of the situation excited me. Should I tell the man I was with that I'd just let another man fuck me in the toilet stall of the ladies room, or leave well enough alone? Should I wash afterwards, or should I leave this man's come in my cunt for the other man to discover later? I removed my panties and pulled my dress up around my waist. He dropped his pants and briefs to the floor without stepping out of them. I leaned my hands to the wall behind the john, and he fucked me. He was quick. I didn't come, but I wasn't concerned. The man awaiting me would fuck me later. I'd get mine. She could give Liz cock sucking lessons, Andy thought. I glanced up at him. His eyes were closed. He was concentrating on the sensations my sucking mouth was generating. I pulled off his cock with an audible lip smack. "Fuck me," I hissed the words through my clenched teeth. "I want you inside me now, fucking me. Fucking my cunt." I removed my pants and panties and straddled him. I didn't kiss him or fondle his cock. I rose up, made a quick adjustment, and his cock impaled my wet cunt. I closed my eyes and bounced, crashed against Andy's body again and again. Sex for the fun of it. And I was having fun. He grabbed my hips and I ground down on him, pushing hard, trying to strike my clitoris against his pelvic bone. I succeeded. I licked my lips. I could still taste his cock in my mouth. Raking my hands through his thick, long hair, I kissed him hard. "Fuck me," I hissed again as I gripped his shaft with my vaginal walls and clenched my pussy. "Fuck, fuck, fuck." I mashed my clit against him with each curse. I'd become frenzied with need and relentless in my quest to satisfy the need. A climax, I wanted an orgasm to crash over me. But I didn't want Andy to come in my cunt. I wanted to come, and then I wanted him to spurt his juices in my mouth. I'd slurp up his spend, swirl it around and around in my mouth and swallow it. One of his hands left a hip and covered a breast. He pinched the nipple hard, but not too hard. Then he moved the same hand to my cunt, turning it so his fingertips pressed against my clit. His hand waved furiously while I continued to roll on and off his long cock. Two fingers slipped down onto his cock when I bounced up. When I came down, his cock and his fingers plunged into my cunt. "Yes!" I hissed. "Fuck me. Finger me." My mind slipped back to another time and place. Two men, not one, and I was fucking one of them, over him, sliding on and off his cock, when the other moved behind me. I thought he was going to fuck my ass, but he placed his cock on top of the one in my cunt and pushed, and suddenly I had two cocks in my cunt. I came hard. Andy's plunging cock, his stabbing fingers, and a memory from out of my past pushed me over the edge. A second later Andy disappointed me. He climaxed, and I felt his semen swirling in my pulsating cunt. The disappointment was neither intense nor unexpected. Only one man knew my mind, the love of my life, Joshua Johnson. Where are you, Josh? Why are you shutting me out? "This place smells like sex," Sandy said with a crooked grin. "It should. Andy just fucked me." "Ooh, a little one on one, huh?" "Yeah, it was fun. How was the spa?" "Better than sex." "Hah! Liar. Nothing's better than sex." "Sad but true. Where's Josh?" "I don't know. He's wearing his shield." "Really? Maybe he's out there getting a little one on one, too." "Liz wants a baby." "That's not a surprise. Her biological clock is ticking, ticking." "Andy's got it in his head that Josh should be the sperm donor." "What?" To say that Sandy looked shocked would be an understatement. "Calm down. The idea is Andy's, and it's a new idea. It occurred to him today. He hasn't discussed the possibility with Liz, although he plans to make the suggestion tonight. For all I know, he's telling her right now." "You're not connected with him?" "No." "He's with Liz. Connect with both of them. Tell me what they're saying." "All right. Hmm, he's telling her about the sexual interlude he had with me this afternoon." I giggled. "What?" "He likes it when I talk dirty." "Yeah, well, I do, too." "She wants to know why Josh didn't join us. Andy is telling her that Josh left to make some calls after the inspection tour this morning. He's telling her that the sex just happened, that it wasn't planned, that it was quick and... sort of dirty, he says." I chuckled. "He loved it, he says, because it felt illicit, sneaky, like he and I were sneaking around behind Josh and her." "Hey! What about me? You were sneaking around my back, too." "Now he's telling her about the office project, how excited he is. Ah, Sandy, he's into the project now. He won't bring up his idea, not for a while. I'll check on him from time to time, and pass on her reaction when he makes the suggestion. That's what you're curious about, isn't it?" "Yeah. This could get messy, Nicole. Some heavy emotions are involved." "Tell me about it. When the idea occurred to him, my libido took a healthy dip. His idea came close to ruining some sex for the fun of it." I reached for Josh's mind again and was startled when I connected. I felt him enter my mind. Lead me to Sandy, he said. I did, and he followed my signal to his sister. "Josh is back," Sandy said. "Can you feel him in your mind now?" "Not often, but sometimes." She feels me every time I enter her mind, Josh told me silently, but because I'm almost always in her head, she forgets I'm there. Where ya been? I missed you. Where I've been is private. Did you and Andy work everything out? Yeah, and worked something in, too. His long cock in my pussy. When we returned from the office complex, Sandy and Liz were still at the spa. Andy and I were at loose ends, so we tied up the ends with a quick, down-and-dirty fuck. Sounds fun. That's what it was - sex for the fun of it. Where are you? In the elevator on the way up to the suite. Good. We need to talk. Sandy, too, the three of us. Sounds ominous. Liz wants a baby. Andy loves Liz and wants her to be happy, and he knows she won't be truly happy without a baby of her own. He plans to tell Liz that you could be the sperm donor, but I don't believe a test tube is under consideration to get the job done. It'll happen the old-fashion way. You'll fuck her and fill her with your baby-making juices. Fuck! That's heavy. What's Sandy's emotional state right now? I asked Josh. She's upset. Yeah, she's opposed. What about you? Uh-uh. I don't own you. I won't dictate one way or the other. True, but... yeah, you're opposed, too. Fucking mind reader. Hey! Watch your mental language. I'm just stepping out of the elevator. Andy and Liz just came into range. They're talking about this subject right now. I connected with Liz and Andy. "Sandy, Liz and Andy are discussing his idea right now. Josh is listening in, too. Andy just finished outlining his idea. Liz hasn't responded, but her mind is going a mile a minute. She's rolling over the pros and cons, and the pros are winning." "Fuck!" Sandy exclaimed. "She just told him she wants to do it, but... now they're discussing whether to tell Josh or just let it happen and keep his donation a secret. She's telling him if they do this, that she'll have to go off the pill, and that he'll need to wear a condom. He hates condoms and suggested that she dust off her diaphragm. That way they wouldn't telegraph their intent to appropriate Josh's semen." "Now that pisses me off!" Sandy exclaimed, her dark eyes flashing with anger. The suite door opened and Josh entered in a flurry. "Over my dead body!" he shouted, and he looked even more furious than Sandy. I wanted to kiss him silly. ------- Chapter 22 "Wait," I said, and smiled when I realized we didn't have as serious a problem with Andy and Liz as we'd thought. "Sandy, Josh knows, that's why he's smiling again. Liz just ripped Andy a new one. She told him in no uncertain terms that she wouldn't be a party to any deception. Either Josh would say yes, or he'd say no. If he said yes, they'd proceed. If his answer was no, they'd back off and declare the situation: no harm, no foul." "Emotionally, Andy's very relieved," Josh said. "He'd suggested the deception because the theft of my sperm without my knowledge would be the least complicated way to proceed, but he wasn't comfortable with the suggestion." "Perhaps they should consult a geneticist, like you suggested a while back to find out if you and I could have a baby, Josh," Sandy said, giving him a verbal jab with an imaginary elbow. Josh fixed his dark eyes on his sister's. He probed her deeply. I felt him moving around my scan. "You're not ready yet," Josh said, finally. "Humph. When Andy and Liz ask you to lend Liz your gene pool, and then be an Indian giver about it, what will you tell them?" "You're opposed. Nicole's opposed. I'll say no." "For us?" Sandy said. "Of course." "That's so sweet, that is, if you were telling the unadulterated truth. You'll say no for you, not for us. What I don't know is why?" "Were a TRES. The three of us will have children when were ready, and I will be the father of our babies, and I'll be there for them as their father. Andy and Liz are close friends. We've employed them as our architect and interior designer for our home base in Arizona, and will probably employ them for the office complex here in Las Vegas. We also have sex with them for the fun of it. I don't love Liz, and the two of you don't love Andy. Both of you are opposed to the idea of me spreading my gene pool around, and frankly, Sandy, your opinion and Nicole's can and does sway any decision I face. I'd be cheating our TRES and the love the three of us have for each other if I consented to such a request." "God, I love you, Joshua Johnson," I breathed and proceeded to kiss him silly. When I finished with him, Sandy curled his toes when she expressed her form of love and appreciation. The five of us entered Le Cirque together, and the whimsical setting delighted me. Colors flashed like jewels, and silk banners reminiscent of the ceiling of a Sheik's tent swooped down in graceful folds. We ordered our drinks and all of us decided to go with the three-course tasting menu. I was sipping wine, when I felt Josh digging into my mind like he was using a jackhammer. "Josh, that hurts! Back off!" What? he asked silently. Your scan, it's rough, almost mean. That's not me! Put up your shield! Now! He turned to Sandy, and I assumed he told her to put up her shield, as well, because she looked a little frightened. Josh gave her hand a little squeeze for reassurance. "What's wrong?" Liz asked. "Josh inadvertently stepped on my foot," I said and looked around the restaurant. A telepath or empath had been in my head, and he or she was clumsy and heavy-minded. Could I see him? Whoever was scanning me wasn't happy with my shield. I felt his probes crashing into the barrier, not once but a half-dozen times. Jerk! Josh leaned to my ear and said, "Lower your shield briefly so I can follow the signal back to its source." "Now?" I said. He nodded, and I dropped my shield. Almost immediately, a deep probe struck with force, and I cried out with pain. I had to push forcefully against the probe before I could raise my shield again. "Got him," Josh said softly. "Are you all right?" Liz asked me, looking confused. "Headache," I said. I leaned to Josh's ear. "Is he in the restaurant?" "Oh, yeah, and I'm digging into his attitudes, but carefully. He doesn't know I'm there." Our whispering was bothering Andy and Liz, and Sandy didn't look very happy either. Our TRES needed a private conversation, but not until Josh did his thing. I waited impatiently and sipped wine. Suddenly, Liz gasped with pain, and Andy took his hands to his head and groaned. They were being probed, and they didn't know about shields. "Zap the fucker, Josh!" I said out loud. He nodded, and my eyes flitted around the restaurant, searching for the man Josh would slap with an attitude. Then I saw him. He was rolling around on the floor as if he were having a grand mall seizure. A woman hurried to the man and knelt beside him. "My headache is getting worse," I said. "I think I'd like to go back to our room." "I'm with you," Liz said. "Go ahead, everyone," Josh said. "I'll take care of the bill and cancel our dinners." "What was that all about?" Sandy asked as soon as we were alone. "A telepath or empath probed me. He was clumsy about it, and mean. He hurt me. Josh zapped him with an attitude after his probes hurt Andy and Liz." "That man having a seizure?" "Yes." I lowered my shield, searched for Josh's mind and found it, and I felt him connect with mine. Is everything under control? I asked. Temporarily. The man's name is Paul Garnet. He's drunk, and from what I could gather in his muddled, drunken state, he felt your scan when you entered Le Cirque, but he couldn't find the source, but when you scanned the woman he was with, he followed your signal back to you. In his defense, his clumsy and painful probes were the result of his inebriated state. I don't think he was being mean on purpose. When you raised your shield, you pissed him off, frustrated him. He'd never encountered a shield before. When he couldn't probe your mind, he hit Sandy's, but by then, her shield was in place. We got lucky when you lowered your shield and I followed your scan to find him because he didn't probe me. He hit Liz next, and then Andy. That's when I put him on the floor and out of action - for a while. I followed up the seizure send with some deep probes, Josh continued silently. From what I found, he's neither a good man nor a bad one, but he has some bad habits. He drinks too much, is on the verge of becoming an alcoholic if he hasn't already succumbed to the addiction. He's a womanizer, which isn't a bad thing in and of itself, but his relationships are all about him. He treats his women as sex objects. On the other hand, he's rich - inherited money - and gives graciously to some favorite charities, which are primarily battered women and children shelters. His father beat him and his mother when he was a boy, so he has a soft spot for victims of domestic violence. He calls himself a rancher, but eighty acres doesn't make a ranch. His best friends are horses. He's also a country singer wannabe. Then I sent a few more attitudes his way, Josh said to me empathically. They may or may not hold. One told him to forget about what happened in Le Cirque tonight. Another should stop him from scanning any of us again. I'm on my way to the room. I filled Sandy in on what Josh had just told me, and he walked into the room as I finished bringing her up to date. Josh flashed his boyish grin, and I melted. "I'm hungry," he said. "Let's do room service." He'd pushed me out of his mind and raised his shield before he arrived, so I'd done the same. Sandy's shield was still in place. "All right," I said. "You're shielded. Why?" "Like I said, my attitude sends may or may not hold. I don't want that brute in my mind." I handed him the room service menu, and a minute later Sandy called in our order. "What about Andy and Liz?" I asked. "He's been in their minds, knows their psi-sigs, and can easily find them again." Josh smiled. "That's assuming he's as talented a telepath as you, Nicole. For what it's worth, I don't think his telepathic abilities come close to yours." "Josh," Sandy said, "we can't assume that. You said yourself that he was drunk. Sober, he might be a whiz." "What kind of attitude did you give him to stop him from scanning us again?" I asked. "Nothing complicated, just a need to honor our right to mental privacy." I shook my head. "That won't work. A need by definition is temporary." "I'm open to suggestions." "You've given him a seizure. Can you tie scanning any of us, including Andy and Liz, with the onset of another seizure?" I asked. "Yes, good idea." "How about making him raise a shield around Andy and Liz if he tries to scan them," Sandy suggested. "He doesn't know about shields," I said. "Oh," Sandy said, and her shoulders slumped with despair. "I'm lowering my shield to send the brute the new attitude that ties in a seizure with scanning any of us," Josh said, "and while my shield is down, I'll check on Andy and Liz." While Josh was doing his thing, Sandy and I talked. "I don't like the fact that he can probe Andy and Liz," Sandy said. "They know too much about us, and they can't shield their thoughts and memories from his scans. He's already scanned them. He may know too much about us already." "Are you suggesting that we tell Andy and Liz how to build shields and why?" "No, we can't tell them why, but we might be able to concoct a scenario that would get them to create shields without telling them about you and Josh, and what you do." "For instance?" "Let's say the three of us were talking about what happened tonight, and I mentioned that it sounded like a telepath was probing our minds. I'll tell them that I recently did some research about telepathy for a book, and that's why the idea occurred to me. Then I'll tell them that, from my research, I believed anyone could shield their minds from telepaths by constructing an imaginary barrier that stopped mental probes." Josh joined our conversation. "I don't want Andy and Liz to know about shields, Sandy." "Why?" "If Nicole and I can't get into their heads, we'll need to put an end to our association with them. Frankly, I don't trust them to be honest about confiscating my genes for the child they want." "Liz sounded definite about being honest with you," I said. "I agree, but the door to deception was opened, and a baby, especially in Liz's mind, is a highly emotional concept that could get in the way of reason and fairness." "Damned if we do, and damned if we don't," Sandy said. "Did you check on Andy and Liz?" "Yes, they'll be knocking on our door soon. They've been talking about what happened and want to discuss it with us. Our behavior, the whispering, some of the words we expressed out loud confused them, and they want clarification." "Argh," Sandy groaned. "What should we tell them?" "Nothing," Josh said. "Nicole, tell them you suddenly felt a sharp pain in your head..." "That won't work," Sandy said. "Nicole told them you stomped on her foot. Hmm, you whispered in my ear first, Josh, telling me to raise my shield. Tell them you were asking me how I felt because I'd had a headache earlier." "That works." "Then you whispered to Nicole, telling her I wasn't feeling well. At which point, Nicole said, 'Now?' Which fits if we say she was referring to foregoing dinner to return to our room." Josh grinned. "You're good at this." "Thanks. Then you said, 'Got him.' I don't have a clue about an explanation for that comment." "Turn it into 'gotcha, '" I said. "That'll work," Sandy said. "What'll we do with your comment to zap the fucker, Nicole?" "Andy and Liz were in pain then. Maybe they didn't hear me." "No such luck. They were discussing that issue when I checked on them," Josh said. A knock sounded on the door that joined the suites. "Stonewall them," Sandy said. "Deny saying anything." "Uh-uh. I'll say I was thinking about taking four ibuprofen to zap my headache and didn't realize I'd spoken out loud, especially the F word." "That'll do it," Josh said as he walked toward the adjoining door. He grinned. "We'll have deniable plausibility." I woke up feeling excited and tense, and then realized why. Sandy had her pretty face between my legs. A sudden rush of pure desire exhilarated me and brought me fully awake. I don't know how long she'd been wriggling her tongue between my pussy lips, but I was extremely hot and very wet. She noticed I was awake, and lifted her face from my pussy. "Happy Birthday!" she proclaimed. Sandy moved up over me, nuzzling my breasts on her way to give me a good morning kiss. The kiss took me back to the back seats of cars at drive-in movies when kissing went on and on, where kissing became an art form, but where I grew up girls didn't neck with other girls in the back seats of cars, especially at drive-in movies, so feeling the same sense of wonder with Sandy made the moment special for me. I moaned into Sandy's mouth and decided if anything in my life ever felt right, it was her kiss. She nuzzled my cheek with hers and said, "I've been getting you ready for one of your birthday presents." Argh! Knowing Sandy, she'd spent way too much. Feather-soft touches excited me further as Sandy made the return trip until her tongue peeled back my outer lips again. I gasped when she started to lap at my clitoral hood, but before I could assimilate the erotic shocks her tongue was sending through my system, I felt her push a finger inside me. Her finger and tongue and lips established a driving rhythm, which took me to the edge. I was too close, so I tried to close my thighs, but Sandy was in no mood to let me back off. She pushed with her shoulders and carried my legs up and back. Sandy's tongue was long and active, and my clitoris was fully exposed, and Sandy attacked it as her driving finger added jagged bolts of pleasure to the euphoric sensations generated by her agile tongue. This was raw sex, not the soft, slow lovemaking Sandy and I usually enjoyed when we were alone. I wanted to slow things down, wanted the pulsing pleasure rushing through me to last, but Sandy's insistent manipulations took control of my mind and body. When Sandy added a second finger, I arched my back and a ragged moan rushed from my wide-open mouth. She sucked my clitoris into her mouth, cushioning it from her teeth with her lips, and then ravaged the bundle of nerves with the tip of her tongue. A shock of pure bliss overwhelmed me, and a massive contraction gripped my cunt and sent rapturous sensations to every part of my body. The sensations weren't light. They were heavy and intense. I screamed out my pleasure and my hands twisted the sheet as the heavy pulses rolled one after the other until I crashed back to the bed. "That's one," Sandy said. "You've got a few more coming." "Oh, God, Sandy, I don't think I could take another like that one." "Wanna bet?" That's when I heard a buzzing sound. "What?" I enquired. "Meet one of your birthday present," Sandy quipped. I felt a blunt object at my pussy lips. A vibrator, I deduced, because the blunt object was shaking like crazy. The head of the vibrator pushed my cunt flesh aside and moved inside me, filled me. How big was that sucker? Sandy pulled it out and shoved it back in, making me gasp. Then she started to push it inside me at different angles. The thrusts were slow but powerful. Sandy wasn't fooling around. The volume of the buzzing sound suddenly increased. "Oh, God. Oh, God. Oh. Oh. Oh. I can't believe how good that feels. Oh, oh, oh. Sandy, I'm coming again! Coming... !" My second orgasm came with breathtaking swiftness, like a bolt of lightning without the following crash of thunder. The buzzing stopped abruptly when I collapsed. "Two down, a couple more to go." "No, I can't. Sandy..." "Wanna bet?" She moved up over me again, nuzzling my breasts once more on the way to my mouth, and her kiss left me breathless. "I've always wanted to fuck you," she said. "You do; you have." "Uh-uh, not until right now. Meet birthday present number two." "What? Oh, God." "Yup, a strap-on. Eight inches of latex man meat, and I get to do the thrusting, not Josh, or Andy." Eight long inches speared me when Sandy kissed me again, and the life-like cock started to plunge in and out of my cunt as the kiss continued. "And birthday present number three," Sandy said, holding up a small, blue object. "It's called Liquid Pleasure. It's a vibrating bullet and is supposed to be good for nipples and pussy lips and clits. Let's find out if the advertising for the product is honest or exaggerated." While Sandy continued to fuck me with the strap-on, she rolled the vibrating bullet over my breasts. "Whew!" I gushed. "Just wait." She slid the bullet down my body and pressed it against my clitoris. "Oh, fuck! That's..." The buzzing sound increased again. "What?" "Just making it go faster," Sandy said. "Hmm, fucking you is hot. I see why Josh loves it so much." The speed and power of her thrusts increased, as did the speed of the vibrating bullet, and as suddenly as my last climax happened, the next one zapped me even faster. I didn't feel the rush of blood to my center or the twinge in my lower back that usually presaged an orgasm. Wham! All at once! And, the climax was powerful. I went into sensory overload I guess, because the next thing I remember was Sandy holding me in her arms and giving me soft, sweet kisses. "I passed out, huh?" "Yup, not long, a few seconds. Are you ready for birthday present number four?" "No! Save it for later. I'm done, Sandy. Finished. Kaput." "Hey, you lasted longer than I thought you would. Presents four through ten are in a box on the floor by the bed." I was surprised I had the strength to laugh, but I did. "Sometime soon, I'll wanna fuck you with that doodad you've got on." "Okay, but later. Right know I just wanna come. May I use one or two of your new toys?" "Be my guest. That vibrating bullet should do it. Here, I'll help you." I'd been up a while, and I was upset, but it wasn't until Josh walked into the room that I figured out why I was upset. "I hate the shields," I said. "I miss our silent conversations, Josh, and Sandy, I miss your sensitive thoughts. It's like our TRES has been cut in half, or something." "Lower your shield and find the intrusive telepath," Josh suggested. "I'll follow your signal and check him out." A few moments later, Josh said, "Got him." I raised my shield, and not a second too soon. I felt a probe smack its surface. Josh laughed. "He just started another seizure. The attitude I gave him is still functioning." "May I lower my shield?" "No!" Josh shouted, but then looked apologetic. "Sorry. It's just that he's so furious, Nicole. He's not used to being thwarted. If he connected with you right now, I'm certain he'd try to hurt you. He's that angry." "Well calm him down, for heaven's sake," I said. Josh grinned. "Okay... there, all done. He's a happy camper now. I don't know how long the attitude will last, though. I lowered my shield and connected with Josh. That's better, I told him silently. I love you. And I love you. Happy birthday, by the way. Thanks. Were you connected with me this morning when Sandy demonstrated some of the birthday presents she bought for me? No. You still wore your shield. Oh, I forgot. You missed about a dozen orgasms, mostly one right after the other. Seven of them were mine, and Sandy managed five. Josh laughed out loud, and then told me that he knew about the presents because Sandy had bought them yesterday before we threw up our shields. Ten sex toys, he thought. How many did you try out? All of them before we finished. Whew! "What?" Sandy said. "I just told Josh about your birthday presents and how much we enjoyed them." She blushed. Josh laughed. "Sorry I missed the Hallmark moments," he said. "Yeah, well, you had to be there, and you usually are," Sandy said, dryly. "Josh, I'd feel safer if you were connected with me. If that brute comes knocking, I'll raise my shield, and then you can, as Nicole said last night, zap the fucker." "I'd agree, but we don't know his range," Josh said. "He hit my shield after I connected with him for you, but he could've followed my signal, like you," I said. "Are you still connected with him?" "Yes. I figure being in his mind at all times is the safest way to go." "Where is he?" "I don't know. I'm connected and will remain connected, but he's out of my empathic range." I remembered Andy and Liz and connected with them. They... yes, Andy was showing Liz the office complex we'd inspected the day before. We'd successfully calmed their fears and eliminated their confusion about what happened in Le Cirque last night, but they hadn't stayed long. Sandy and I claimed a rip-roarin' headaches. Also, they hadn't brought up Andy's idea about Josh cooperating in their baby-making project. They'd decided to wait until after my birthday party before broaching the subject. Are you watching out for Andy and Liz? I asked Josh silently. No, and I should. Are you connected... yes, you are. Okay, I've got them. Hmm, you really did a job on Andy yesterday, Nicole. He's very excited about your project. Liz is still lukewarm, though. She'll come around. "Are you ready to go meet your father and Jessie?" Josh said out loud. "Yes!" I gushed. ------- Chapter 23 "Pop!" I screamed and ran, throwing myself at him. I nearly bowled him over, but he stood steadfast and wrapped his strong arms around me. I hugged and hugged him. "It's so good to see you again, Pop." "Sure is, you, I mean. How you?" "Great now you're here." Then I noticed Jessie, and twisted away from Pop. I gave my stepmother a big hug, too. "Happy twenty-first!" Jessie said while hugging me back. "Pop, Jessie, I want ya ta meet Joshua Johnson. Call him Josh. Josh, this is my pop, Marcus Halliday, and his wife Jessie." I laughed when Pop looked Josh up and down like he was a side of beef Pop was considering buying. "I'm very pleased to meet you, Mr. Halliday," Josh said and stuck out his hand. I watched the two most important men in my life shake hands. The sight warmed me clear through. Josh turned to Jessie. "And I'm delighted to meet you, Jessie," he said. "You're prettier than I imagined. I mentioned your prettiness because I don't shake hands with good-looking women. I hug 'em." Josh pulled Jessie into his arms and gave her a rousing hug. She squealed with delight. "Pop, Jessie, the beautiful woman standing next to Josh, is Sandra Johnson, Sandy to her friends, and she's my best friend." And lover, I added in my mind. Josh chuckled softly. Does your father know? Josh asked me silently. Probably. If he doesn't, he'll figure it out during the drive to the hotel. He doesn't miss much. Sandy hugged Pop and said, "You'd better call me Sandy, or I'll be angry with you, you handsome galoot." Pop blushed. Jessie and I laughed. Jessie stopped laughing when Sandy hugged her. Laughing wasn't the usual reaction when Sandy hugged you. She put her heart and body into a hug. Pop wore his shield, so I didn't know what he was thinking, but Jessie was running true to form. He's gorgeous, Nicky. Ooh, he warmed me up, and then Sandy heated me up. Whew! You must be turned on all the time. Josh laughed. "Just about," he said. Jessie blushed. Fuck, she thought. I forgot he can read... oh, damn, I thought the F word. What's he goin' ta think of me? "I think you're a delight with a lively, slightly risqué mind and a good heart," Josh said. "Marcus, you might have ta show me how ta build one of them shields," Jessie said. "Shucks," Josh said, flashing his boyish grin. Jessie melted. "I know. That damned grin gets me every time, too. Jessie, Josh is like me," I said. "He won't hold your thoughts against you." "Humph," she said. "Okay, young man, I'll tell you like I told Nicky. If you don't like what you hear when you're in my head, stay out of it." "Deal," Josh said. "Let's take this confab to the hotel." He took Jessie's arm and led her toward the limo. I took one of Pop's arms, and Sandy the other, and we marched him toward the limo. "What about our luggage?" Pop asked. "Our driver loaded your luggage in the trunk of the limo during introductions, Pop." "Oh. A limo, huh? Never rode in no limo." You haven't done a lot of things you'll do this weekend, Pop. The thought warmed my heart. Josh, I said silently. I'm a mighty happy camper. I know. Happy birthday. Jessie did some oohing and ahing over the limo. She joined Josh, Sandy and me in a glass of champagne. Pop grumped until Josh mixed him a bourbon and coke. Then he mellowed out a little. Jessie brought me up to date on my brothers, and Sandy engaged Pop in a conversation about his work. Jessie did some more excited exclaiming over the suite Josh had arranged for them, and Pop did some more grumping, but I could see he was enjoying himself. "Okay," Josh said. "Here's the deal. Nicole, I've arranged for a spa and salon visit for you and Jessie - the works, I told them. The appointment is an hour away, so you'll have time to catch up on news from home first." Sandy said, "And after the spa, which is marvelous, by the way. My friend, Liz, and I took it in yesterday. As I was sayin', after the spa I'm taking the two of you shopping - part of my birthday gift, Nicole, so don't get all independent on me. You and I will be dressed to the nines tonight, and I figure Jessie should have the opportunity to turn some heads, too. Marcus, no peeking. I want Jessie's new look to be a surprise for you." "While you're at the spa and shopping, I'll entertain your father, Nicole," Josh said. He turned to Pop. "I understand you're quite the gardener." "That's for sure," Jessie said. "He wins ribbons every year at the county fair for his vegetables." "Good, then you should enjoy the Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. I'm told they're a sight to behold, Marcus, including row after row of exotic plants and flowers, offering fragrance, texture and color." "Sounds good," Pop said. Just before Jessie and I left for the spa, Josh told me silently that he needed some privacy for a little surprise and insisted that I raise my shield because he had to raise his. I grumped that he'd already done too much for me, but he kissed me and told me to shut up. I raised my shield and kissed him back. I turned first one way and then the other in front of the full-length mirror. Lookin' good, Nicole, I told myself. I wore a long satin gown, a deep metallic, almost black, purple covered in strategic places with decorative black lace. The hairdresser at the salon had pulled my hair up in the back, and my makeup was light but enhanced what I had. Sandy walked into the room. "Jessie looks great. She's a knockout in that canary yellow gown. She'll blow Marcus's socks off." "I hope he doesn't get pissed." "He's fine with everything," Josh said as he walked into the room. He looked me over, and then Sandy. Sandy wore a brilliant salmon chiffon dress with a plunging neckline. She looked delicious. I wanted to fondle her breasts, which sure would be easy to get at. Josh looked handsome in a dark Giliberto suit. "You're both gorgeous," Josh said. "Women of the world. Please, both of you, drop your shields... thank you. It's time for my surprise. Sandy, I love you. You were my first love, and I love you more every day. Nicole, you are my soul mate. I love you deeply. To my great delight, the two women I love also love each other. We are a TRES." He pulled a small jewelry box out of his pocket. "Nicole, I asked you to marry me and put a napkin ring on your finger when you said yes. It's time for a real engagement ring." He opened the box, and a sparkling diamond solitaire gathered in light and turned it into a kaleidoscope. I gasped. "Oh, how beautiful, Josh!" He slipped the ring on my finger. It fit perfectly. I started to kiss him, but he held up his hand. "Sandy, I thought about giving you an identical ring, but... well, you couldn't wear it. Instead, I have this." He removed another jewelry box, a long slim one. "The diamond in this necklace matches the solitaire diamond in Nicole's ring. This is your engagement necklace." Tears welled in Sandy's eyes. "Oh, Josh!" He placed it around her beautiful neck and fastened the clasp. "Here's how I see it. In June next year, Nicole and I will go through a public ceremony and become husband and wife. Before that date, and I'll leave the date and details to the two of you, the three of us will go through a private ceremony and pledge ourselves one to the other. On that day, Nicole, you will become my wife and Sandy's wife. On that day, Sandy, you will become my wife and Nicole's wife. And Nicole, Sandy, I will become your husband. We are a TRES, and by all that is holy we'll be married as a TRES." Sandy and I smothered him with kisses. We'd both need to repair our makeup, but we didn't care. I couldn't remember ever being so happy. Paul Garnet took that moment to strike. His probe slammed into my mind with massive force. I cried out and fell to my knees. "Put up your shield!" Josh exclaimed. I tried to expel his probe so I could raise me shield, but couldn't. "I can't, Josh. I can't..." The last thing I saw was the glitter from my diamond ring. When my eyes opened, I was lying on the bed in our suite. Sandy was holding me. She was crying. Josh... where was Josh? I turned my head to look for him, and winced with pain. "Where's Josh?" I asked. I'm coming, he said silently. I breathed a sigh of relief. "What happened?" "Josh said that Garnet guy attacked your mind." I remembered then. "How long have I been unconscious?" "Twenty, thirty minutes. I don't know. How are you feeling?" "Headache." Josh rushed into the room and to me. "Are you all right?" "Headache. That fucker tried to take me out, Josh." "I know. He won't bother us again." His dark eyes looked wild. "Good." Tell me he's dead, I said silently. He's the same as dead. Did you... ? Yes. I scrambled his brains. He turned evil, Nicole. "Josh brought you back," Sandy said. "I don't know how, but he did. You stopped breathing, Nicole, and Josh moved into your mind and fixed whatever that evil man did to you, and you started breathing again. We... I thought we'd lost you. It was horrible. I felt an overwhelming loss, stronger than I've ever felt, and I've lost many loved ones over my various lives." I took her into my arms and held her. "I'm here, Sandy. I'm here." Her sadness washed over me, and we cried quietly together for a minute. Josh wrapped his arms around both of us. "Ah, Sandy, do you have any ibuprofen?" "Oh, my, yes!" she jumped up and moments later returned with four tablets and a glass of water. "Am I holding up my party?" I asked Josh after swallowing the tablets. "A little. Are you up to a party? I can tell everyone we'll have the party tomorrow night." "Give Sandy and me a half-hour to make repairs, and we'll join the rest of you." He nodded. You did what you had to do, I told Josh. He tried to kill me. That wasn't a clumsy probe. It was purposeful and lethal, Josh. I know. Still... I've never truly harmed anyone permanently with my powers, Nicole, but when you fell to the carpet, I was so angry I struck him with such force he flew across the room, and I went with him, struck again and again. I attacked the neurons in his brain, short-circuited everything. Then I felt you leave us, and I... I hope what I did to bring you back doesn't produce any side effects. Tomorrow, I'll want you to see a neurosurgeon. I'll see a neurosurgeon if I notice anything amiss, Josh. Once the ibuprofen kicks in and softens my headache I'll be fine. Oh, that. I can get rid of your pain... There, it should be gone. Yes! You're a wonder! It'll come back until your body finishes the healing process. Let me know when you'd like more relief, and I'll gather it up and cast it away again. "Did Josh tell you what he did to Garnet?" I asked Sandy as we repaired the damage to our makeup. "No, only that he'd never bother us again." I described what Josh had told me, and added, "He went a little berserk." Sandy huffed a cynical laugh. "I know about that." "I know you know. You also know how badly Josh is feeling about what he had to do. He used his powers to permanently scramble the neurons in a man's brains. He'll need our understanding and support, Sandy. I'm glad Josh did what he did. The punishment fit the crime." Sandy brushed on fresh mascara. "He'll have it, our understanding, support, and love, I mean. Nicole, just before you were attacked, Josh proposed a marriage between the three of us, and he went beyond the two of us marrying him. He also specified that you and I would marry each other. Did he consult with you about this silently or out loud before he sprung it on me?" "No. It was a complete surprise, and surprising me isn't easy." "How do you feel about his proposal?" Sandy's thoughts and... What the hell? Besides Sandy's thoughts, I felt... no, I understood her emotions. Oh, wow! You're kidding, Josh said in my mind. No, I'm serious as a heart attack. Look, I need to deal with Sandy right now. We'll talk about this later. All right. I turned to Sandy, gently placed a hand on each side of her beautiful face, and said, "Will you marry me, Sandra Johnson?" "Yes! Yes!" She kissed me, mashed her mouth to mine. When she leaned back from the passionate embrace, she said, "Will you marry me, Nicole Halliday?" "Yes! Yes! Yes!" We did some more kissing and hugging, and Sandy's emotions got all mixed up with mine. It wasn't confusing, though, because what she was feeling was almost identical to what I was feeling - deep, gut-wrenching love. I thought that's how it was with you two, Josh said silently. Yeah, but you should've discussed it with us before springing the TRES marriage on us with nary a word... I knew what I wanted. I presented my case. I also knew when I made my case that neither of you understood fully what I'd proposed. I also knew the emotionally charged moments the two of you just went through had to take place before my proposal could be fully accepted. I love you, Nicole, but I love Sandy just as much. Love is love. I couldn't just marry you next June. Marrying only you and leaving Sandy out felt very wrong to me. At your first opportunity, tell Sandy. This should come from you, not through me to her. I hear you. Sandy and I made our grand entrance, and I discovered more surprises - three of them. "Bill, Bob, Jeff!" I exclaimed and rushed to Bill, hugging him as fiercely as I'd hugged Pop at the airport. I didn't linger, though, and shy Bob got the same treatment. I hugged Jeff last but not least. My family. Josh had somehow gathered my family for my twenty-first birthday. I wanted to hug him to pieces, so I tried. I'd just made repairs to my makeup, but the happy tears streaming down my cheeks would require more repairs. I didn't care. "How? How did you pull this off?" I asked Josh later. "I put up a shield yesterday and called Marcus. I couldn't talk to Jessie about what I wanted. She doesn't use a shield, but your father does. Anyway, I told him I wanted your brothers here for your birthday, too. He huffed and snorted, but deep down he was pleased. After the aircraft dropped Marcus and Jessie off in Vegas this morning, it turned around and returned to pick up your brothers. Marcus and I met them at the airport while you were shopping with Jessie and Sandy." "Did Sandy know?" "Nope, only your father and I were privy to that part of your birthday surprise. By the way, I like your brothers. Bill's as you described, a jock with a jock's mindset, but he doesn't have a truly mean bone in his body. Bob's something else when it comes to computers. Our investment company should consider using him on a consulting basis, and I'd like to hire him to select and install the computer system that will make our compound in Scottsdale smart. Jeff really impressed me. You're right. He's a combination of the best parts of his older brothers." Liz noticed my engagement ring before anyone else. She squealed with delight and hugged me. "It's beautiful, Nicole!" she gushed as she held my hand and stared at the sparkles flashing in the diamond. "How big is it?" I laughed. "I don't know. I didn't ask, and I know nothing about diamonds. I know I cherish it, whatever its size." It's a two caret, colorless diamond, Josh told me silently. It's not flawless, but almost, what the experts label VVS1, and it's cut to maximize its fiery brilliance. My biggest problem was finding two diamonds of that size with the same color, cut and clarity. Jessie noticed Liz's excitement and came running. "Oh, my God, look at that rock!" she exclaimed. Tears welled in her eyes. "Well, it's official now, that's for sure." She hugged me. "I missed it, Jessie. How did Pop react to the new you?" I asked. "Hah! He wanted to ravage me. I had to get mean with him and put him off." Her low chuckle sounded naughty. "I'll make it up to him later." The boys liked the new me, too, she thought, knowing full well I could hear her thoughts. Gave Bill a hard-on, I did. Shy Bob sprouted a half hard-on, and Jeffy nearly came in his pants. I love it. I laughed. Jessie had more fun teasing my brothers than I did when I lived at home. I also knew she'd never take it beyond a tease. She was completely devoted to Pop sexually, but that didn't stop her from lusting in her mind. The new me had trouble with Jessie's emotions, which were coming through to me loud and clear. Talking about the boys springing hard-ons aroused her, and I felt her arousal. Whew! Getting used to sensing everyone's emotions and sensations would take some time. Yeah, Josh said silently. She's a pistol. I have a hunch she'll turn your father everywhere but loose later. You've got that right. Oh, Josh, I'm so happy! You are going to get so lucky tonight. Andy and Liz want to help us celebrate. Uh-uh, not tonight. Tonight is for the three of us, a very private engagement party. I figured. About tomorrow... ah, the five of us would be fun. Hah! You just want to try out your new empathic abilities. Can you blame me? I'm really looking forward to experiencing Sandy's orgasms tonight. Be prepared for an orgasm times two, because when Sandy comes, I'll come. And tomorrow... Argh! You know what an orgasm times three does to me. Tough it out, lover. I can hardly wait. Sandy and I were curled together in a sixty-nine. She was on top, and Josh was thrusting into her. Occasionally, he'd slip out and push his wonderful cock into my mouth, and then I'd help him push it back into his sister. I licked her clit and lapped his thrusting cock. Sandy loved what I was doing to her and how Josh's cock felt plunging in and out of her, and the sensations Josh felt from Sandy's rippling cunt and my agile tongue were as powerful as Sandy's. When I added my own sensations to theirs, I finally understood why our TRES was so important to Josh. Josh and Sandy's sensations and emotions washed over me, and I took them for my own, but my own sensations didn't get overwhelmed. It was an additive effect, exponential, though, not merely totaled. An orgasm times three, I thought. Uh-huh, Josh agreed with me silently, but one of them will be male. Wait until you get slapped with three female climaxes simultaneously. That's what takes me out. The edge times three is exquisite, Josh. I love it. I love you. I love Sandy. And, I'm... oh, God, Josh, it's not me. It's Sandy. She's coming! Me, too! Sandy screamed. I screeched. Josh bellowed. And I passed out. Which obviously frightened Sandy half to death because a few seconds later when I regained consciousness, she was in tears again, entreating Josh to help me. "I'm fine, Sandy," I said. "I just experienced an orgasm times three. That's all." "What? How?" "I don't know. When I came to after that brute attacked me, I suddenly realized I could not only hear thoughts but also could feel emotions and sensations." It didn't take a rocket scientist to understand how my announcement affected Sandy. Depression replaced fear as her dominant emotion. She was feeling left out again. "I think I know what happened," Josh said. "With my psychic healing ability, I studied anatomy, but I'm not a neurosurgeon. I had to move into your neurons, your brain matter, Nicole, to heal you. To determine what was wrong, what Garnet did to your mind, I needed a reference point, a benchmark, if you will. So, I moved from your mind to mine and back to yours. I quickly determined some differences. Garnet's probe had short-circuited some neurons. I repaired them. Back and forth, back and forth, copying what I saw in my mind to yours. What wasn't damaged I left alone, but I think I did something that... ah, I don't know how to express this, but... I think I did something that sort of flipped a switch from off to on, the switch or group of switches that turned on your dormant empathic abilities." "Wow, that is so cool. Were you able to see the switch for telepathic ability?" "If I did, I didn't recognize it. Remember, I left what I considered undamaged neurons alone." "Would you like to turn on your own telepathic switch?" A strange look entered his eyes, and then he grinned. "Yeah." "Well do it, for heaven's sake. Wander into my mind with yours, locate the switch in me, and rearrange your mind to match mine." He closed his eyes, and I felt his presence in my mind more acutely than I'd ever felt it. His journey was gentle, though. I felt no pain, but I had the urge to push him from my mind. I didn't, but the urge was strong. Ten minutes or so went by. There, he said, silently. I did it. I smiled. Fun, huh? Yes, telepathy is much easier than translating an attitude. It just happens. "Tell me!" Sandy said. She was very agitated. Josh and I read her thoughts simultaneously. "It worked, didn't it?" Sandy said. "Yes," Josh and I said at the same time. Her next thought shocked both of us. "I don't know, Sandy. I could harm you." "I don't care. I love you, both of you, and half the time I feel left out. Do it, dammit!" Josh looked at me. I nodded, and Josh wandered into Sandy's mind. ------- Part Seven: Sandy ------- Chapter 24 My new telepathic and empathic abilities didn't arrive without problems. Like Josh, I had to learn how to turn off emotions and sensations coming at me from unwanted sources, and I also went through the same learning processes for telepathy that Nicole dealt with in her adolescence. Fortunately I had some loving experts who eased my entry into the wondrous but initially confusing world they'd been experiencing for so many years. They'd had no one and had learned control through trial and error, which made me realize just how clever and talented they truly were. Empathy, I discovered, is vastly more complex than telepathy. Telepathy just sort of happens. With Nicole's help, I quickly learned to control my telepathic on/off switches but had difficulty remaining connected with someone without the person's thoughts getting in the way of what I was doing at the time. Nicole explained that I couldn't turn an imaginary volume knob, like my imaginary on/off switches, but I could push the thoughts down to a subliminal level. When I learned to sense subliminal areas in my mind, I was finally able to remain connected with someone and have their thoughts come through, but only as background noise so they didn't disturb my concentration while performing other tasks. I also soon realized I'd never become as adept as Nicole with the search process. I think she had a photographic memory regarding what she called psi-sigs. Once connected with someone, the person's psi-sig became imprinted in her mind, and she could locate and telepathically connect with that person in seconds, wherever he or she was in the world. Her ability in this regard left me in awe. If I maintained a psi-sig mental database of less than fifty individuals, I did okay. Trying to stuff more psi-sigs in the database created glitches in my search efforts. Still, even with all the nuances and problems, I learned how to reasonably control my new telepathic abilities within weeks. Learning Josh's empathic powers took me months, and I've yet to get a handle on what Josh calls understanding and translating attitudes. Nicole and Josh had far fewer problems adjusting to their new abilities. Josh appeared as adept as Nicole at telepathy almost immediately, and Nicole picked up empathy within days and the understanding and translating of attitudes in about a month. They enjoyed some advantages not available to me. Their respective abilities contained quite a few commonalities. The on/off switches for telepathy and empathy were identical, and what Josh called tamping down an emotion or sensation coming at him was the same subliminal process Nicole used to turn thoughts into background noise. Although psi-sigs and emotional signatures differed greatly, Nicole didn't even try to learn about the more complex emotional signatures. She had no need to learn. She could connect with or recognize a person with a psi-sig search. My brother had a tendency to be smug about how quickly he picked up telepathy compared to Nicole's and my learning curves with empathy. Smug, Nicole thought. Yeah, I replied. Shall we slap him silly or kiss him silly? Then the little shit flashed his boyish grin, and Nicole and I piled on and kissed him silly, which gave us more ideas. Orgasm times three! Whew! If I climaxed, Nicole climaxed, and Josh right along with us. Every time! And the first time Andy and Liz joined the three of us, Nicole, Josh and I passed out when Liz's climax struck. Orgasm times four - five, if Andy managed to come with us - was almost too much to handle at first. Nicole and I suddenly and simultaneously drifting off to never-never land disturbed Andy and Liz, but we didn't try to explain, merely stonewalled their queries with shrugs and non-answers. Because the unusual becomes commonplace if experienced enough, Nicole and I soon learned to handle female orgasms times three without passing out. Josh had already discovered that he could tamp down Liz's climax to what he called half-force and join us without losing consciousness. He also ignored the sensations of his own orgasms, as well as Andy's, which Nicole and I were loath to do, especially our beloved's climaxes. "You might think your orgasms are insignificant compared to ours," Nicole told him, "but I don't. I cherish them." "Here, here," I agreed. With no or little privacy, another issue surfaced. Nicole and I were surprised to discover we all masturbated occasionally. Old habits die hard, I admitted telepathically when I realized Nicole was connected with me during one of my self-induced climaxes. She eliminated any embarrassment on my part when she laughed and admitted that she still masturbated from time to time. I know, Josh said telepathically to both of us. Josh, did you come with me? I asked silently. No, not this time. I wasn't in a situation where I could move through one of your marvelous orgasms. I don't consider coming in my pants an option anymore. What about you, Nicole? Did you climax with me a minute ago? I sure did. It was a surprise, a pleasant one at that, but in the future I'll probably do what Josh does, enjoy your climaxes or... Josh, do you still masturbate? Not often, but yes. As Sandy said, old habits die hard. How about that? A trio of inveterate jerk-offs, that's what we are, Nicole said, and I heard a mental chuckle. Where are you? I asked Josh. I'm just about home. There, I see the townhouse... I heard the garage door start to open. Don't get dressed, Josh ordered. I laughed. He's hot, Nicole. I know. Damn, I wish I could join the two of you. I'm sitting in a boring macroeconomics class. When will it end? I asked. Ten minutes. Visit a ladies room after class and join us empathically. Yeah, share your orgasm with us, Nicole, Josh said. Deal! Don't come until I give you the word. Our TRES was important to me before Josh fiddled with my mind and gave me his gifts and Nicole's. Afterwards, the connection between the three of us exceeded love. I didn't try to label the emotion that exceeded love. I knew only that the emotion existed. Like love, it was impossible to describe. It just was. Nicole and Josh agreed with my assessment. The three of us were as close to becoming one as possible without the loss of our individual egos. In December, we traveled to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, and while standing alone at Cape Royal, a scenic viewpoint that overlooked nature's awesome splendor, we married each other in a private ceremony that brought tears to all of our eyes. We timed our vows with the setting of the sun, and roughed it that night in a frontier cabin. The next week, we relaxed and made love in luxury on a Caribbean cruise ship. In May the following year, Nicole graduated from ASU and continued her education online at Phoenix College. I helped Jessie and Nicole plan her public wedding, and soon discovered my mother also wanted to be involved. It wasn't the Mormon Temple wedding for Josh that Mom had always dreamed about, but I think she had more fun with the civil wedding than the weddings overwhelmed with religious overtones she'd witnessed with her other children. Josh and Nicole were married in Bellagio's Conservatory and Botanical Gardens in Las Vegas on the 6th of June, and the three of us enjoyed a second honeymoon touring Europe for a couple of weeks. I functioned as tour guide. Josh didn't graduate in June, as he'd planned. He became deeply involved with the redevelopment of the office complex in Las Vegas, and he also completed a couple of deals using his own real estate paradigm, each deal larger than the one before, so he didn't finish his undergraduate work until August. Nicole helped him with both transactions. The first one involved the buyer she'd uncovered while working with Olsen, and she did much of what Josh called the grunt work on the other. Her slice of the profits from the two deals made her a millionaire. Gratefully, she stopped worrying about money. With Josh and Nicole busy with their educations and our business, I took the lead on the development of our compound and discovered I not only had a knack for real estate development but also truly enjoyed the work. We didn't move out of Josh's townhouse into a larger place. I had my small apartment and museum if I wanted some space, and the closeness we felt for each other didn't require much alone time. Oh, I almost forgot. Andy and Liz hit up Josh for his genes. He turned them down, and they accepted his negative response with grace. They perked up when we suggested that they consult a geneticist to determine the risks if they had a baby of their own, and a few weeks later, their moods plummeted when they were told the risks were too high. They decided to go the sperm bank route, and a month ago, Liz announced she was pregnant. Liz and I had worked together to decorate my new home in the compound, and I was more than pleased with the results. Liz also worked with Josh and Nicole decorating their home, and helped all of us regarding the common areas like the main kitchen and dining room, the bathhouse for the communal swimming pool, the exercise facility, an entertainment center, the investment company offices, and what we called our party room. After we finally move into the compound next month, no one would ever need to fear lying half-on, half-off a bed again when a group got together for some fun and games. Besides the oversized, ultra-luxurious bed, the room included a waterfall, lush planting, a hot tub, a well-stocked bar and kitchenette, sybaritic bathroom facilities, as well as conversation areas - Josh called them make-out areas. One was intimate for two or three, another larger for group conversations. Josh also declared that his house rule for the hot tub in his townhouse would be the house rule for our party room, in other words, get nekkid or get out. No one argued against his declaration. Josh, I noticed, was careful about including Nicole in the decorating aspects of their new home, and a shallow probe told me why. Nicole's concerns were unfounded. Her innate understanding of color, texture, and other design elements far exceeded mine, although I could empathize, no pun intended, with Nicole about Josh's abilities along those lines. In my humble opinion, he matched Liz's skill when it came to interior design. His selections were unerringly accurate. Another summer was ending. My book was scheduled to hit the stands in a month, and a book tour would occupy my spare time then, but that was then. I was feeling restless, so when Liz suggested a trip to New York to select the art for my home, I jumped at the chance. Josh and Nicole talked it over and passed on the trip because they wanted to select each piece of art for their home over time. Besides, the Las Vegas office complex was at a critical stage and needed their attention. My trip to New York marked my first separation from my husband and wife since my return to Phoenix about a year ago. We'd be separated physically but not mentally, so even 3,000 miles away I wouldn't be alone. We could talk telepathically, and we'd continue to share our emotions and sensations. I packed my bags, and Josh and Nicole took me to the airport. Even with all the closeness and contact we'd have during the trip with our paranormal abilities, our goodbyes were heartfelt and tear-ladened. From 1839 until my death in 1879, I lived as a male in Denmark. The person of note associated with me for that life was my great grandfather, Bertel Thorvaldsen. He was a famous sculptor who worked in carrera marble and spent much of his working life in Rome as well as the marble quarries around Tuscany. The Thorvaldsens Museum in Copenhagen displays many of his sculptures and paintings. I remember him, but barely and only as an old man. He died in 1844, five years after my birth. I cherish the Thorvaldsen sculpture in my museum. Besides Andy and Liz, my genealogists traced a number of descendents from my past lives, and they listed a young man named Soren Thorsen as a direct descendent from my life in the 19th century, five generations removed, and as luck would have it, a gallery in New York was opening a Soren Thorsen one-man show. I noticed Thorsen's medium of choice was carrera marble, although to be accurate, the media was mixed: white marble and black slate. Was he following in my great grandfather's footsteps? "I know nothing about this sculptor," Liz stated. From her thoughts, I deduced she certainly knew the gallery owner. He was stingy with the commissions he paid interior designers. "Let's drop by the opening, anyway. I'm intrigued by the title of the show, Black and White Emotions. One of Thorsen's pieces might work for the Las Vegas office complex." After Liz signed on to handle the interior design of the Vegas project, she moved Andy away from copper, and the lobbies and other public areas of the complex were turning into a dazzling display of black and white in a green jungle. Green because Nicole understood the value of live plants in any environment. I let her be the lead on the landscaping portion of our compound, and the results were magnificent. Fax me the gallery's brochure on the show tomorrow, Nicole said in my mind. Good idea, I replied. Don't let Liz bully you, Josh added. I felt Nicole's mental chuckle. That'll be the day, she said. Josh and Nicole were en route to Vegas, but they weren't flying. They were riding in Josh's new vehicle - his first. I'd expected him to select a sports car, like Nicole. Uh-uh, my sexy brother bought a white Hummer H2. "It's the perfect vehicle for a man of the world," he said. "It's so ugly it's casually chic, like the clothes you and Nicole picked out for me at BG Men." I'm not sure why, but his explanation and the Hummer made sense, perhaps because a Hummer fit the rugged individualist my brother had become. The boxy machine emphasized his hard, unyielding side, making his compassionate, loving nature shine that much brighter. Where are you? Josh asked. My Manhattan apartment. I'd maintained my apartments in Manhattan and London. Before Josh, Nicole and I became a TRES, I'd needed some places to call home, places where I didn't live out of suitcases. Hmm, Josh thought, we're in the middle of nowhere, a highway slashing through an official Joshua Tree Forest. He chuckled. Not named after me. A Joshua tree is a cactus. Your sexy wife has either accidentally or purposefully allowed the hem on her sundress to creep up her shapely legs. I'm seriously considering finding a road that goes deeper into nowhere and christening the Hummer with an orgasm times three, that is, if you can join us, Sandy. Liz is with me, I reminded them. Bummer, Nicole quipped. I couldn't see her, but my empathic connection clued me in on Nicole's next move. I felt her hands move up under her dress, felt her hook her thumbs in the elastic of her panties, felt her hips move slightly above the seat of the Hummer, and then she slid the silky garment down her smooth legs. My imagination and memories supplied the images, and I could almost smell her aroused scent. My pussy started to cream when I added the tightness I felt in Josh's trousers and the sensations bringing his wonderful cock to a full erection. I looked at Liz and not for the first time wished she was bisexual. Then an idea struck. Go far it, Josh said. Yeah, I'll just pet my pussy to keep the buzz going until you're ready, Sandy, Nicole added. And I'll look for the road that goes deeper into nowhere, Josh said. How to proceed? Ah, heck, just say it, I told myself. Picking up on my thoughts, Nicole chuckled. "Liz, to change the subject, do you masturbate?" I asked. She smiled nervously, which reflected the emotion my question generated. She wasn't embarrassed by the query. Instead, she was wondering if I was about to hit on her again. I groaned. "The question isn't a prelude to seduction, Liz. I know how you are. Please, just give me an answer. Yes or no?" She swallowed and said, "Yes. Why ask if not to seduce?" "Because I'm horny," I said. I'll say, Nicole quipped. I stifled a laugh. "And frankly, I've been thinking about the good come I'll give myself after you leave. Then it occurred to me that I've watched you with Andy and Josh, watched you suck them off, watched them eat you, watched them fuck you, separately and at the same time, and you've watched me do the same, but with Nicole as well, so being naked with you while I touched myself shouldn't be that much of a shock to you." My hand gently caressed my inner thigh, pushing my dress higher and higher. "So here's the deal. I'm going to get partially nekkid and play with myself, and I'd like you to watch. Even better, if the urge strikes you, I'd also like to watch you play with yourself." My hand cupped my cunt, and I huffed a quiet moan. Would she go for it? Sounds like seduction to me, Liz thought. "I promise. I won't touch you, Liz. Come on. Help me take the lonely out of an otherwise happy habit." She's getting' hot, Nicole advised. No kidding, I said. She masturbated with a girlfriend when she was thirteen, Josh said. I dug that tidbit out of her memories while probing her on our hike over the compound property about a year ago. It was a one-time experience and a happy one. Good to know, I said silently, and then spoke out loud, "I had a friend when I was in my early teens. She wasn't bisexual, but she sure did enjoy masturbating, gave herself a good come at least once a day, she told me." While I talked, I reached up under my dress and peeled off my panties. "We masturbated together a few times, Liz. It was fun, and sexy, and no, I didn't make a pass at her. I knew how she was like I know how you are." I chuckled. "That isn't to say I didn't want to touch her, like I've wanted to touch you and more when the five of us get together. But I haven't touched you because I respect your feelings on the matter." I pulled the hem of my dress up around my waist. She's relenting, Josh said. She's also hot! Nicole added, as if I didn't know. Mind talking combined with empathic understanding can be redundant. "Did you masturbate with a friend when you were a girl, Liz? From my experience, I'd say some mutual masturbation wasn't uncommon with girls our age back then." My fingers spread my pussy lips, and I dipped a finger inside for moisture. With a compliant moan, Liz caved. "Yeah, I did, and I enjoyed it." She stood and removed her panties before returning to the sofa. "Keep your distance, Sandy, and we'll have some fun." Way to go! Nicole exclaimed, if a thought transfer can be considered an exclamation. Criminy, Josh said. I think she's hotter than you, Sandy. I see a dirt road taking off to the right up ahead, Nicole said to Josh. Seconds later, I felt Josh and Sandy bouncing around as the Hummer moved off the paved highway. I gave Liz a happy smile. "Thanks," I said as my damp fingertips rolled over my clitoral shaft. "What was her name?" "The girl I masturbated with?" I nodded. Liz chuckled. "Gertrude. I always considered the name old-fashioned. There was nothing old fashioned about Gertrude, though. She was a cutesy blonde, but far from an airhead. I think she became a pediatrician. What was your girlfriend's name?" She pulled her feet up and spread her legs, offering me a marvelous view of her aroused cunt. "Peggy. Peg," I said, using a name from my past. Because I'd made up the story about masturbating with a girlfriend, I had to come up with a name. Wishful thinking, Josh quipped. I laughed inwardly. "Peg was ahead of her time, a free spirit." I described my sister's friend from memory. "Tell me about Gertrude." Ah, there's a gully we can hide in, Josh thought, a thought not necessarily directed at me. At first, I'd had a difficult time with mind talking because I included extraneous thoughts in the conversation. Thankfully, practice eliminated the confusion. The bouncing increased momentarily, and then the vehicle came to a stop. I felt Josh move out of the Hummer and into the back seat. Nicole joined him. Liz chuckled. "This might sound strange, but I remember her pussy hair. It was so blonde and fine it almost disappeared." I wanted to run my fingers through it, she thought. Hoo boy, Josh said. She's more bi-curious than I thought. "This is fun, Liz," I said. "Yeah, it is. You're missing Josh and Nicole, aren't you?" "Uh-huh. They're out of sight but not out of mind." That's for sure, Nicole remarked as she swiped Josh's hard cock through her slit, and then settled down around his long shaft with a low moan. Because I'd been a male in many of my past lives, what Josh felt at that moment wasn't new to me, but until he gave me the gift of empathy, he couldn't share the exquisite sensations he experienced when his cock first entered a receptive cunt. I reveled in Josh's sensations. They made this life whole. I could be in this life what I'd been in past lives - both a man and a woman. That isn't to say I didn't enjoy Nicole's sensations just as much, and the combination, especially adding Liz's and my sensations to Josh and Nicole's, was mind blowing. I dreaded my next life when I couldn't hear thoughts or feel the emotions and sensations of others. I moved my eyes from Liz's cunt to her face. She smiled at me. Go for it, Josh said again after reading my thought. "You have a beautiful cunt, Liz," I said. "I'm not hitting on you, but I've gotta tell you, I sure would like to taste it, roll my tongue around and around everywhere and suck on your little hard-on." She gasped and her eyes rolled back in her head. Should I? Liz asked herself. Where's the harm? A tongue is a tongue is a tongue. I'll keep my eyes closed and pretend it's Andy's tongue, or Josh's. Oh, fuck! That's hot, Sandy, Nicole said. I waited while Liz continued to wrestle with the idea of my mouth on her cunt. Finally, she said, "Go ahead." Her voice was so soft I barely heard her. I didn't hesitate. I moved to my knees between her spread legs and lowered my mouth to her cunt. She groaned loudly and grabbed the back of my head, pulling my mouth tightly to her vulva. I'd watched her do the same with Andy and Josh. I'm keyed in on Liz, Josh announced. Let's all come when she comes. Nicole and I agreed as my tongue dipped into Liz's vagina, and I lapped up her juices. Her hips waved and she pulled my head up toward her clit. She wanted more than a tongue fuck. She wanted my lips and tongue on the bundle of nerves at the top of her beautiful cunt. When my lips wrapped the nubbin and I sucked, she squealed with pleasure. Oh, God, so good! she thought. Why haven't I tried this before? A tongue has no gender. Using the tip of my tongue, I lashed her clit between my sucking lips. Finger-fuck her, Josh advised. I slipped a couple of fingers inside her. They moved in easily. She gasped, and her moans became nearly continuous. She's good, Liz thought. Yeah, she is, Nicole added. The best. Do her g-spot, Josh suggested. Turn her everywhere but loose. Make her come six times, not once. I searched and found the rough spot. Tap it now, Nicole said. "Oh, God!" Liz screeched. Back off her clit or you'll give her a clitoral climax, Nicole said. I could feel Nicole moving over my brother, taking his cock deep inside her hot pussy, sliding up and then swallowing his shaft again. Her hard nipples brushed his strong chest as she moved. Tap, tap, tap. Lick. Tap, tap, tap. Lick. "What are you doing to me?" Liz screeched. "I'm..." "Shut up! Don't stop!" Lick, tap, tap, tap. Her body stiffened and she moved into a massive orgasm. Josh, Nicole and I joined her, and an orgasm times four rushed through my body. I remained conscious, but it took a Herculean effort. Don't back away! Nicole's mental shout told me. Tap, tap, tap. I licked Liz's clitoral shaft, staying away from her sensitized clit. She'd slumped onto the sofa, but within seconds I felt her body becoming more animated. Tap, tap, tap. "Oh, fuck, Sandy, I'm getting hot again," she said with surprise in her voice. My tongue traveled down one inner lip and up the other while my fingers continued to bounce on her g-spot. "I want you to squirt for me," I said. Her confusion was evident. "When Nicole does this to me, I ejaculate," I said to clarify my point. I moved my face back to her cunt, and my lips surrounded her clit. Yeah, she's ready for more, Josh said. He wasn't telling me anything I didn't know. Five minutes later, Liz climaxed again, and Josh and Nicole encouraged me to continue. Although, Liz's arousal barely dipped after her climax, her ejaculation had been meager, not the robust squirt I'd anticipated. She's on an orgasmic plateau now. She'll come every few minutes. Do her until she squirts a bucket, Nicole said. I'm all out of semen, Josh bemoaned. I stifled a laugh. That doesn't mean I can't enjoy everyone's climax, including mine. Time passed. I let Liz's arousal dominate my own, and I climaxed with her for the third time. Her fourth was huge! And she squirted copiously. I had to swallow like crazy to keep the watery sweet stuff from going everywhere. My face was soaked in her juices. That'll do it, Nicole said. I backed away from Liz and slowly removed my fingers from her swollen, flushed cunt. She was lying limp, completely spent, and her thoughts told me she'd never felt so satisfied. Good job, Sandy, Josh said. Yeah, that'll teach her a woman can give her just as much pleasure as a man, Nicole added. I sat next to Liz and pulled her into my arms. A minute later, she started to cry. Her tears were bittersweet. Finally, she said, "I guess I'm bisexual." I chuckled. "Which isn't necessarily a bad thing." "Do you know who will be more pleased and anyone?" "Andy." "Yup. What you just did. Can men to that to me?" "Sure. Nicole and I taught Josh how to do it." She laughed bitterly. "Well, I've got a bone to pick with Josh, then. What's his excuse? Does he only do that for you or Nicole?" So far, yes, Josh commented. But if you or Nicole asked me, I'd happily give Liz a hand, pun intended. "I don't know. I'll ask him." "I also want him to teach Andy." "Uh-uh. Use Nicole as the teacher. She's better at this than I am, and Josh is still learning." Liz giggled. In a heartbeat, Nicole said answering Liz's silent query that dealt with Nicole demonstrating the technique on Liz for Andy's benefit. "All right," Liz said. "I'm out of the closet, so to speak. I just discovered I enjoy sex with a woman. Boy, oh, boy, do I ever! But the experience was one-sided. You ate me." Her dainty hand moved up my inner thigh and cupped my cunt. "I think it's time I tasted you." Can I come again? I asked myself. Go for it, Josh said. This time Nicole and I will key on you. "Kiss me first," I said and pressed my mouth to hers. I wanted to see if she'd back away from her sticky spend drying on my face. She didn't. She even licked my lips. "Hmm," she breathed. "I taste good." Would she like my flavors? You've got to be kidding, Josh said. No sweeter pussy ever lived - in this life or any other, Nicole added. God, I love you, Nicole, I said. You, too, Josh. A minute later Liz agreed with Nicole... well, almost. She didn't add any past lives, and I didn't consider her opinion valid. Mine was the first pussy she'd tasted. I also figured mine wouldn't be the last. ------- Chapter 25 Oh, God, I'm in love, I thought. Who? Nicole asked. Not who, what! I'm looking at the most sensuous piece of sculpture I've ever seen. Oh. Josh chuckled. Tell us about it. In a minute. I rushed through the gallery, glancing quickly at each of the ten sculptures displayed. I can't make up my mind. I want all of them. Are any of them suitable for our project in Vegas? Nicole asked. We need a large sculpture for the lobby. With that limitation, I studied the magnificent sculptures, moving from one piece to the next. One would be perfect, Nicole. It's about ten feet tall, principally carved from carrera marble, but the sculptor has integrated black slate with the white marble. Some of the marble is polished, and some left in a rough state. Likewise with the black slate. The integration is so seamless, the pieces appear to be carved out of one block of stone, and he's introduced some small splashes of color. No, a splash isn't correct terminology. The reds and greens and blues he uses are studied, carefully crafted forms. I think he's used other marble for the color, but in pieces put together like a mosaic and then polished to make the color look solid rather than variegated. The large sculpture has a round green form tucked in amid the black and white. Buy it, Nicole said. I chuckled. Six months ago she would've asked the price first. All right, I said. I'll also want one for my home and another for my museum. Josh and Nicole knew because they read my thoughts. A while back, I'd decided to start a new section for my museum that displayed important objects connected with descendents from my past lives that I connected with in this life. I'd started with objects I related to Andy and Liz, some casual sketches each of them created, throw away pieces, really, but they represented poignant moments. I also included Andy's preliminary drawings for the compound, and some design boards Liz put together for the Las Vegas project. A Soren Thorsen sculpture would make an excellent addition to my museum. I walked the gallery yet again, and finally stopped in front of a smaller piece. My next thoughts weren't meant to be conversational. Josh laughed. If what you thought is accurate, if you don't buy it, I will. Does it truly look like my pussy? Nicole asked. Yeah, but elongated and with no outer lips, I replied. If I didn't know better, I'd say you were the sculptor's model. He's captured your clitoral hood and shiny clit, but the hood is rough black slate and the clit is polished white marble. The colored form is a deep red and is integrated along the sinuous edge of what I'd call an inner lip. I'll buy this one for our party room. Good plan, Josh said with another laugh. I selected the first piece I saw when I entered the gallery for my museum and went in search of Liz, locating her talking with two young men, one was beautiful in face and form, the other uglier than a mud-wall fence. "There you are, Sandy. I want you to meet the sculptor, Soren Thorsen. Mr. Thorsen, this is my friend, Sandy Joshnson." I shook his large, callused hand. "I love your work, Mr. Thorsen." "Please call me Soren," he said, his English heavily accented. He introduced me to his friend, Antonio DeMarco, explaining that DeMarco's sister was his fiancée. I didn't shake Antonio DeMarco's hand, probably because he didn't offer his. Thorsen's appearance surprised me. Seeing his art before meeting him had given me erroneous, pre-conceived ideas about how Thorsen should look. Instead of an attractive, sensitive man, a huge, male brute stood before me. I'd read somewhere that the more symmetrical the features of a person's face, the more attractive that person would be. If that were true, and I suspected it was less than half-true, then Thorsen had to be the homeliest man alive. None of his features lined up properly. When I told him I wanted to purchase three of his sculptures, he smiled, and homely became... well, not so homely. The smile lines around his eyes deepened, and his mouth twisted from out of alignment to a gash that lined up straight across his crooked face. His teeth were large and white, and I felt his... gentleness. Should I scan him, Josh? I asked silently. Since our fiasco in Vegas with Garnet, we'd all been careful with our probes. I just did, not deeply, though. Go ahead. Yes, I thought a minute later, finally understanding. A woman could love this man. I also understood how he could create such sensuous pieces of sculpture. He's a gentle giant, I told Josh and Nicole. "Which pieces, Sandy?" Liz asked. "I'll negotiate with the gallery owner. With a volume purchase you should get a discount." I walked away with Liz and pointed out the sculptures I wanted. "Deliver the large piece to our project in Las Vegas, and the other two to my home in the compound." She nodded and scurried away to do her thing with the gallery owner. In my absence, Thorsen had become busy with another patron, and his friend looked at loose ends. I chuckled when I realized DeMarco looked like my pre-conceived notion of the way Thorsen should look - a sensitive, attractive man. No, don't scan him, Josh said, answering my silent query. He has a secret that could divulge your secret. Whatever you do, don't let him touch you. Explain, I said and turned away from Mr. DeMarco. He's an adept at retrognition, which is a form of clairvoyance. He sees into the past not the future. Whether he's truly adept is yet to be determined, but he believes he can see into a person's past with a touch, so I suggest you assume he can do just that until we can prove otherwise. That's scary, I said. "You picked my favorite," a deep voice said behind me. The accent was Italian, not Danish. I spun and faced Antonio DeMarco, and then took a step back. He was standing too close for comfort. "Oh, which one?" I asked. He pointed at the sculpture Liz was negotiating to purchase for the TRES party room. "Privately, Soren calls it Arousal. The brochure lists it as Provocative." I smiled. "It's both." Dammit, Josh, I want this man's hands on me! Careful, Sandy, Nicole advised. I chuckled. I hear you, but I gotta tell ya, DeMarco makes my heart go pity-pat. He's got the look of a man of the world about him. Dig a little deeper, Josh. Find out if he's an ax murderer or something equally off-putting. "Mr. Thorsen mentioned that he was engaged to your sister," I said. "Yes, Regina, my baby sister. That Soren and Regina found love answered my prayers." His sister was born with a cleft lip and palate. Not all the operations were successful, and she still has a speech defect, Josh told me. According to DeMarco, she's also the sweetest person alive. He loves her deeply. Argh. I ask for ax mayhem, and get compassion and love. Nicole's laugh came through loud and clear. He mentioned prayers. Is he a nut about religion? I asked. If he were a religious fanatic I'd back off lickety-split. Being Italian, he was raised as a Catholic, but... no, he's lapsed and not feeling guilty about it. The prayer comment was just that - an expression. Probing him is difficult for me, Sandy. He thinks in Italian, so telepathy is useless, and translating his attitudes is a chore. I speak Italian, or at least the Italian spoken in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Do you honestly think my probes would let him look into my past? No, but it's a remote possibility. It's your call, Sandy. I sent out a soft tendril and brushed his mind, jerking it back and immediately throwing up a shield. Nicole laughed again. He's not a telepath or empath, Sandy. Hah! He might not have touched me, but I touched him with a tendril from my mind. Oh, okay, you have a point. Try again. I lowered my shield and probed a little deeper. He doesn't sense my scan, I said. Hmm, he wants to touch me, but... oh, Josh, Nicole, he's so lonely! He rarely touches anyone, and never a stranger. He considers his gift a curse. As I did with mine for a while, Josh said, which probably means he's been hurt emotionally. Like I hurt you? I said. Yes. Using myself as a guide, I'd say DeMarco's emotional pain happened in the not too distant past. Unless he's too scarred from the ordeal, his gift will become a blessing again. Time heals. Yup, you called it, Josh. There she is, the bitch! He loved her, and she called him a freak! Liz returned with a smile on her pretty face, which meant she took the gallery owner to the mat in the wrestling match called negotiation. She nodded at me and said, "We did all right." She handed me a slip of paper. "To keep the accounting straight, you'll need to write two checks, one for the large piece, and the other for the two sculptures for the compound." I'd need to write three checks. The trust for the museum would reimburse me for the sculpture I'd selected for the museum, but Liz had no need to know about my museum. I glanced at the note. She'd written two numbers. "Do these numbers include shipping?" I was surprised at the amounts. They seemed way too low. "No. We'll need to arrange to have the pieces crated and shipped." "Is that usual?" "No, but Bruce was adamant. I think he's been burned on shipping in the past." I turned to DeMarco. "Is this Soren's first one-man show?" "No, his third, but the first in the United States. Why?" I chuckled. "His prices are too low?" "The gallery owner set the prices," Liz said. "Then he's in the wrong business." "How low?" DeMarco asked. "I don't know. I do know I expected to pay twice the amount I'll pay." Fire entered DeMarco's eyes. "Excuse me, please." He walked away. I stayed connected with him, and also watched him until he was out of sight. I sighed. Liz shivered, a dramatic purposeful body expression, and then she flashed a teasing smile. "I know what you mean. He turns me on, too." I laughed gaily. "What are you? A mind reader?" "Hah! It doesn't take a mind reader to see how he affects you." It helps, though, Nicole said. Good gracious, Sandy, your pussy feels like mush, which makes mine creamy, too. Josh, I might need some attention soon. Josh laughed. I ignored my husband and wife and listened to DeMarco talk with someone - the gallery owner, I deduced. I couldn't hear the gallery owner's response because I wasn't connected with him, but I could listen to DeMarco's side of the conversation. "No, don't kill the deal with the Johnson woman. You made a deal with her representative, and you'll honor that deal. Put a sold sign on those pieces and double the asking price on the unsold sculptures... Just do it, Bruce, or Soren's next one-man show in the United States won't be in this gallery." DeMarco's thoughts told me that he'd advise Soren to show his work in a different gallery anyway. Good for you, Antonio, I thought. Oh, oh, Josh. We're in trouble, Nicole commented. Sandy just switched from using DeMarco's last name to his first. Don't tease, I said. Josh, I want to invite Soren and Antonio to join Liz and me for lunch tomorrow. Waddaya think? He's not an evil man, far from one, but you'll risk not only divulging your secret but also Nicole's and mine. How so? If he sees your past in this life, he'll see our TRES and the paranormal elements involved. Oh. Okay, I'll back off. Uh-uh, Nicole said. Go for it. He's at risk, too. Nicole's right, Josh said. This is your call, Sandy. If you want to pursue a possible relationship with this man, Nicole and I will support you regardless of what happens, but I'd suggest moving slowly. I debated with myself whether to walk away from Antonio and never look back or invite him to lunch to determine if there was anything worth pursuing beyond the attraction we felt for each other. Antonio joined Liz and me, with Soren in tow. I extended the invitation. They accepted. Liz grinned. I maintained my connections with Soren and Antonio, ratcheting down the strength of the connections until their thoughts became background noise, and then made a mental note to listen for some key words that would automatically strengthen the connections - a technique Nicole taught me. Thanks, Nicole. You're welcome. She didn't ask why I thanked her because, in addition to hearing my thoughts, she was also translating my attitudes. Liz chuckled. "Who's my date for lunch, the Italian stallion or Quasi Motto?" "Be nice. Soren is a gentle giant. If you let him, he'll cuddle your heart." She raised an eyebrow. "And how, pray tell, would you know something like that about him?" Oops, I thought. Tell her you're psychic, Josh said. That'll shut her up. "Because I'm psychic," I said with a teasing grin. And she's not the only one, either, Liz thought. I swear I think Josh and Nicole hear my thoughts half the time. That's insulting, Nicole said. I hear her thoughts most of the time. As background noise, maybe, Josh countered. My connections to Soren and Antonio slipped up from background to foreground. I heard Soren say, "Miss Johnson is a nice lady. Did you touch her?" "No!" Antonia exclaimed. The big man's low rumbling laugh resonated in my mind. "Why not? I know you're interested in her, attracted to her. Aren't you interested enough to look into her past?" Soren laughed again. "Or is it more? Are you so taken with her that you fear what you'll find on the journey back in time?" "The past doesn't always reflect the present, Soren. Maria was a perfect example of that premise." Maria, I'd gathered earlier, was the woman who had called him a freak. "True," Soren said. "People change, become more compassionate or more uncaring, better or worse. It's yin and yang in action, the sliding along the scale between opposites. Circumstances cause change, but the present and the past are intimately entwined and affect the future. Maria changed, but you admitted that her past offered clues to how she eventually responded to your psychic gifts." "Humph," Antonio responded. "You're curious about Miss Johnson. Touch her tomorrow, Antonio. See her past, isolate the primary events that make her what kind of person she is today, and search for clues that foretell the directions her evolving personality will take her. You can back away from her if what you find disturbs you in any way." Fuck, I thought. Not fuck, Sandy, Nicole responded. Hooray! You asked him to lunch to explore the possibility that he could be your man of the world. If he touches you, he'll see your past. He may or may not make the leap from this life to your past lives, but regardless, he will meet the wonderful creature you are today, including our TRES and our paranormal talents. Nicole's correct, Josh said. He'll see our secrets, but at the same time, because of our secrets, he'll know that we know his secret. It's a stalemate. If what you are, what you do, intrigues him, the two of you can move forward. If he reacts negatively, tell him we'll speak to no one about his gifts as long as he maintains our secrets, and the two of you can part company - no harm, no foul. What if he makes the leap to my past lives and experiences the times I went berserk? I asked. I hope he does, Josh said. He'll either understand or back away. If he doesn't or can't understand, wouldn't it be better to know up front? I guess. He'll know about our incestuous relationship, Josh. He laughed. So what? Would you deny it? Of course not, but... no, no buts. You're right, both of you. If he doesn't touch me tomorrow, I'll lay my hand on his. Nicole's next thought made me giggle. That's one of Pop's sayings, Nicole said. It's crude but applicable. Shit or get off the pot, indeed. Liz and I were asleep in my bed at my Manhattan apartment, when my eyes opened. Josh or Nicole was in my mind. It's Nicole, she said. I groaned. Do you know what time it is here? No, but I couldn't sleep. I miss you with us, but that's not why I disturbed you. I've been probing Antonio. He won't need to leap the incest taboo to accept your relationship with Josh. Oh, do tell. I want to try something. What? I want you to follow my probe into Antonio's memories. If you can make the journey with me, I can lead you directly to the incident that deals with incest. Because I don't speak Italian, I translated his attitudes, and much was lost in the translation. You need to experience the memories through his thoughts. He's asleep. Connect with him. There, I have him. I'm there, too. Can you feel my probe? No... yes. Yes! Good. Follow me into Antonio's compassionate, loving past. Antonio was three years old when his sister, Regina, was born. He was too young to truly understand that Regina had been born with a cleft lip and palate, but he noticed the visual evidence of the defects. That his little sister was malformed didn't matter to him. He just loved her. Regina's first operation occurred when she was three months old, when the surgeons closed the gap in her lip. Three months later, another operation repaired her cleft palate. Other surgeries followed to improve the appearance of the lip and nose and the function of the palate. Because she also had a gap in the gum, a bone graft filled the space. Antonio and Regina's parents spared no expense, employing a "cleft team" that included plastic, maxillofacial and ENT surgeons, speech and language therapists, dentists, orthodontists, psychologists and even hired specialized nursing care, but the defects were so severe that after everything the specialists could do to correct them, visual evidence of her defects remained, and she was left with a speech impairment. As she grew older, Antonio became her protector. Other children teased her at school and caused her to become reclusive with everyone except her brother. She loved him above all others. She was sixteen and Antonio nineteen when she went to him with a request. To make sure he understood, she spent days formulating her request on a step-by-step basis, including her responses to any arguments he might make to deny her wishes. Because she feared her speech impairment might confuse the issue, she reduced her requests and responses to writing, and she selected a time when they would be alone to present her appeal. She knocked on his bedroom door and entered his room carrying an expandable file containing all the documents she'd prepared. He was lying on his bed reading. "Read, p'ease," she said. She couldn't pronounce L's. He smiled at her and took the piece of paper she had extended toward him. He read the words: I know my face and smile are not appealing, but you have said many times that my inner beauty shines through. I believe you, dear Antonio. You are patient with how I talk. I see tenderness and caring in your eyes and hear the same in your voice, but I have come to believe that only you will ever see my inner beauty, if indeed it exists. Accordingly, I have some wishes only you can grant. May I proceed? "Of course," he said, and she handed him another piece of paper. He read: Wish #1. I want a man to see my body, not just my disfigured face. May I show you my body? "Are you asking me to see you naked?" he said as he rolled his feet to the floor and sat on the edge of the bed. "'Es," she replied. She also had trouble with Y's. "Where are you headed with this, Regina?" he said. "P'ease, 'es or no." He studied her determined expression. "Yes." "T'ank 'ou." To reduce the undressing time, she'd worn nothing under her dress. She reached behind her, lowered the zipper, and shrugged out of the garment, which puddled around her feet on the floor. She handed him another note. Please look at my body as a man looks at a woman, not as a brother looks at a sister, and tell me what you think. Be honest. Your honesty is very important to me. Antonio studied her naked form. "Turn around please... slowly." A minute later, he breathed, "Beautiful." She smiled, ignoring the fact that her smile looked grotesque. "T'ank 'ou," she said and passed another note. Are my breasts too large or small? Are my hips too wide? Is my belly flat enough? I think my thighs are a little thick. What do you think? He smiled. "You want honesty, huh?" "'es." "I think your breasts are the perfect size and shape. They are in harmony with the rest of your magnificent body. I'm surprised at the size of your nipples, but I suspect they're swollen because it's drafty in here. If anything, your waist is too small. I think my hands could wrap your waist and my fingers would meet. You're thighs are... slightly thick, but your legs are long enough and shapely enough to hide that small problem. You have a gorgeous body, Regina." She beamed and handed him another piece of paper. It read: Wish #2. I'm sixteen years old, nearly seventeen, and I see no opportunity in the foreseeable future for me to see a man as you see me now. I want to see your body, Antonio. Will you show me what a naked man looks like? "No." When he saw tears well in her eyes, he added, "May I explain?" "'es." "Seeing you naked, ah... excited me, Regina. I have an erection." "T'ank 'ou," she said with a mischievous look in her dark eyes. She rifled through the expanded file and pulled out the next note. It read: I appreciate the compliment. I hoped my body would excite you because what I want to see more than anything is an excited male member. Please grant me my wish, Antonio. He huffed a nervous laugh, and then shrugged. "All right." He stood and slowly removed his clothes, watching her eyes closely. They widened when he pushed off his briefs and his fully erect cock came into view. Without a hint of bashfulness, she studied him from head to toe, and then walked around him, to take in his body from every side. She grabbed a notepad and wrote, You have a beautiful body. She hesitated, blushed and added, Especially your cock. "Thank you," Antonio said, somewhat shocked by her handwritten note. Shocked or not, her use of the vernacular for his penis increased his arousal. He hesitated after reading her next note. Wish #3, Part 1. I want to know what it feels like to have a man's hands fondling my breasts. Wish #3, Part II. I want to know what it feels like to have a man's mouth sucking and licking my nipples. Please grant me this two-part wish, Antonio. "No." He'd planned to explain, but instead watched her rifle through her expandable file and hand him another note. I'm disfigured, Antonio, but I have needs, urges normal for girls my age. I have no one with whom to satisfy those urges. No boy or man has looked beyond my repulsive lips to see my beautiful body. Yes, I believe I have a beautiful body. I'm disfigured, not blind. I wrote down wishes one through ten, but they all point to one wish. If you make love to me, you will grant all my wishes, save one, forever! He read her note and looked into her tear-ladened, wistful eyes. "P'ease," she said so softly he could hardly hear her. To her utter surprise, he took her in his arms and kissed her disfigured lips. "You didn't wait for me to explain why I said no, Regina," he said when he leaned back from the kiss. "After telling you no, I'd planned to add, 'Not until I've kissed you.'" She hugged him to her fiercely. "'es!" Antonio adored the feel of her naked body plastered to his. His hands wandered over her breasts, granting Wish #3, Part I. He bent and took a nipple into his mouth, granting Wish #3, Part II. Then he fulfilled all the wishes she'd written down from Wish #4 through Wish #10, and satisfied a few wishes she hadn't considered. They made love often that weekend. Some moments were poignant, others fun, even hilarious, still others serious and heartfelt. Antonio started the weekend loving Regina, and sometime during their brief time together as lovers, he fell deeply in love with her. That she was in love with him was evident from the start. Just before their parents scheduled return, Regina handed Antonio another note. Wish #11. Antonio, I love you, but I don't love you with all my heart. I'm reserving a small part of my heart for another man like you, a man who will look past my disfigured face and speech impairment and see my inner beauty. I will make a life with this man. You and I, dear Antonio, cannot make a life together. If we tried, we would destroy your life. Papa would disown you; Mama would revile you. We cannot allow this to happen. So, my final wish is that we never make love again. Please grant me this wish, my darling. "No! Never!" Antonio shouted. "I love you!" She had the next note ready for him. If you don't grant me this wish, I will not have the strength to resist you, and our love for each other will eventually come to light. The nature of our love will then change from beautiful to ugly. No blame will be assigned to me, not with my impairments. Everyone will believe you took advantage of me. Oh, I could and would protest that conclusion, but my protests would fall on deaf ears. Papa is not a well man. Within ten years, you will be forced by sad circumstances to take over the management of the family investments, businesses and properties. This, I know, is what you desire, what along with a wife and children of your own is your purpose in life. If you don't grant me this wish, your future, your purpose in life will be destroyed, and I'd be responsible. Dear, Antonio, I could not go on living under those circumstances. Grant me this wish. Promise me that we will never make love again, or I'll take my own life to save yours. Antonio knew his sister well. She didn't make promises she didn't keep. That taking her own life would cause him even greater pain would not be an argument she'd accept to alter her promise. With tears streaming down his cheeks, he said, "I promise." Whew! I said to Nicole. You called it right when you referred to Antonio's past as compassionate and loving. Yeah. Thanks for translating. The experience was more heartwarming in thoughts than attitudes. What's heartwarming is the fact that the story has a happy ending, I said. Regina found the man who looked beyond her impairments to see her inner beauty. The gentle giant is a lucky man. Uh-uh, the story isn't over, not yet, Sandy. Antonio still has to fulfill his purpose in life. He's managing his family's affairs, but he doesn't have a wife and children of his own. I chuckled. Matchmaking doesn't become you, Nicole. I admit I'm interested, but when he sees our TRES, he'll run the other way as fast as he can. We'll see. I yawned. Goodnight, Nicole. Thanks for sharing the journey with me. ------- Chapter 26 Something happened at lunch that rarely happened. Antonio acted without thinking about what he planned to do before he did it. So, when he reached and covered my hand with his, I was ill prepared for the rushing warmth that suddenly flowed from my body to his. I turned to observe his expressions at he experienced my past, but he looked serene and his eyes were closed. Soren smiled, and I sensed pride in him for his friend. He said nothing. Liz prattled on about art in the decorating process, but the four of us weren't alone in the booth at 21. Josh and Nicole were very involved. They'd wanted front-row seats, so to speak, when Antonio viewed my past. It's like fast forwarding a film, except it's running backwards, slowing briefly at major events, Josh commented. Antonio jerked his hand off mine, and his eyes snapped open. They looked feral, without fear but still wild, and so many emotions were ratcheting through him they were difficult to capture and experience. He found our TRES, Nicole said. Which didn't' disturb him, just the opposite. A plural marriage intrigued him, Josh said. What sent his emotions into overdrive was the discovery of our secrets, which made him realize that you... we were aware of his secrets before the luncheon started. He also learned that you believe you remember your past lives, but he broke his connection with you before sliding back to your life as Sir Edward in England. Antonio's eyes lost their wild look. He fixed them on mine. "We need to talk." I nodded. "After lunch." "Now, not later." He slid from the booth and moved to his feet. "Soren, please entertain Liz. Sandy and I need to talk privately. I'll call you later. Enjoy your lunch." Soren looked confused, but his confusion didn't approach Liz's dismay. I stonewalled her. "I'll call you later, Liz." Antonio helped me out of the booth and we walked away. "My hotel room is nearby," he said as we left the restaurant. My apartment was closer, but if our discussion stretched out, Liz would interrupt us at my apartment. I nodded. Are we having fun yet? Nicole quipped. "Have a seat. Would you like a drink? I'm having one," Antonio said as we entered his hotel suite. "White wine, if you have it, but don't go to any trouble," I said. He dialed room service, placed his order, and then sat across from me. "Are we alone?" he asked. I smiled. "I'm never alone." "So I gathered. Are you in my mind right now?" "Yes, all three of us, but because you think in Italian, Nicole and Josh must translate your surface thoughts into attitudes, which lose some clarity in translation. I speak Italian, so I can read your thoughts. Because we're empaths as well as telepaths, we're also experiencing your emotions and sensations. How far back in time did you go when you touched me?" "Not far. When I discovered you knew my secret, I backed off. Knowing I could look into your past, why did you ask me to lunch?" "For a number of reasons? I'm attracted to you as a man, and because you had a secret you don't want broadcasted, I felt comfortable allowing you to discover my secrets." "In other words, if I honor your confidence, you'll do the same." "Yes." I watched him visibly relax, which mirrored his emotions. "You have a deal," he said. Is he telling the truth, Josh? I asked. Before the luncheon started, Josh told me that he'd established a baseline for truthfulness for Antonio and would know if he lied. Yes, Josh said. He brought you here to make the same deal you offered. "You do more than read my thoughts and sense my emotions," Antonio said. "To know what you know about me, you had to dig into my memories." "Memories involve thoughts and emotions." Tell him the deal includes Soren Thorsen, Josh said. Soren knows about his paranormal ability. That's fine, but we don't want Thorsen to know about ours. I relayed Josh's comments, and Antonio agreed to the additional condition. "He just spoke with you?" Antonio asked, referring to Josh, I assumed. "Yes, and because you translate Italian into English before you speak to me, he hears what you say. Nicole, too." "He is your brother?" "Yes." "And your husband?" "Yes, and Nicole is my wife." I listened to his next thought. "Yes, we know about you and your sister. Someday, I'd like to meet her. Your memories about that weekend are both heartrending and heartwarming." He sighed and tears welled in his eyes. "I still love her." "I know. As Nicole would say, 'Love is.' Does she love Soren?" "Yes. Deeply, I believe." "Which upsets you. Why? Love isn't limited." He frowned. "I love my husband deeply, but I love my wife just as much. Regina can love Soren and still love you." Room service interrupted us. I soon sipped chilled chardonnay; Antonio gulped at some scotch. "You misinterpreted me earlier," he said when we were alone again. "I'm not upset because Regina loves Soren. I'm happy for her." He's happy for her, Josh said, but the first part of his declaration was a lie. I passed on Josh's comment, and added, "Besides being an empath and telepath, Josh turned his ability into a lie detector. It's impossible to lie to him. He's also a psychic healer." "You love your husband, your wife, but you said you were attracted to me as a man. I don't understand." He's ashamed of his jealousy, so he changed the subject, Nicole said. Use his jealousy to explain our TRES, Josh said. Our TRES isn't explainable, I said. It just is. Hah! If anyone can explain our TRES, it's you, Sandy, Nicole said. I smiled knowingly, and said to Antonio, "It sounds to me like you're equating love and sex." "What? Are you talking about free love? An open marriage? Are you swingers?" His tone of voice reflected his agitation. "None of the above, but possibly all of the above, depending on your mindset." "That's double-talk." I laughed. "True. You're ashamed of the jealousy you feel for Soren and Regina's love for each other. You are happy for her, but you want her to love you, not Soren." I paused. "Talk about double-talk. Your memories include many incidents that demonstrate how much Regina loves you. That you doubt her love for you is shameful. You've fallen into the classic trap that stipulates if Regina loves Soren that she can't love you, which is hogwash. Love isn't limited, Antonio, and you know this fact of life. Why are you ignoring it?" Because she makes love with him, not me, he thought. "What about Maria and a dozen other women? You made love with them while Regina stood on the sidelines. Was she jealous?" I asked. "No." He snorted a laugh. "Sometimes she'd get angry with me when I'd choose a women who was inappropriate." "Why? I'll tell you why. Because she loves you and worries about your happiness." He nodded. "Have you told Regina how you feel?" "No!" His shoulders slumped. "She'd be angry with me. She'd say I was being childish." "You're intrigued with my plural marriage because you see it as a possible solution to your dilemma. Correct?" He nodded. "But Soren and Regina would never go for it." I believe he's wrong on this point, Nicole said. The hard part - the love - is in place. The three of them love each other. The love between Soren and Antonio isn't romantic love, but it's deep and real. I agree, I said to Nicole. And because I agree with you, I believe Antonio is not the man of the world I seek. Perhaps, if he clears up... , Nicole started to say. Sandy's right, Josh said, interrupting Nicole's thought. Sandy's man of the world must love her as deeply as she'll love him. Sandy carries baggage to the love affair - you and me, Nicole. If the man of the world also carries baggage like Antonio's love for his sister, a possible love match with Sandy is highly unlikely. You and Nicole are not baggage! I shouted mentally. Any man of the world I meet who considers the two of you baggage will be shown the door, past haste. I believe Antonio is not the man of the world I seek because he must resolve his love triangle before he can deal with ours. If his resolution is positive, he'll have no incentive to deal with ours. If the resolution is negative, I won't want to deal with the emotional free-for-all he'll surely slide into that can and will fly off in every direction for a while. The question I have for y'all is whether we should help him realize his dream or leave him to his own devices? That's your call, Josh and Nicole said simultaneously. Uh-uh, I want your advice. Help him, they said at the same time, which made me laugh. "What?" Antonio said. I grinned. "We've decided to help you. Let's start with our TRES, our plural marriage." Antonio and I talked about love and sex and marriage for an hour or so... no, make that Antonio, Josh, Nicole and I. Then we spent another hour applying the principles to a possible plural marriage between Antonio, Soren and Regina. Antonio's dilemma wasn't unsolvable. The key elements of a plural marriage were present. Soren, Regina and Antonio loved each other. Soren knew about Regina and Antonio, how they felt about each other, how their love for each other went beyond a brother's love for a sister. Soren, however, didn't know about the heartwarming weekend so many years ago. Josh and Nicole connected with Soren and probed his attitudes, but he thought in Danish, sometimes in Italian, but never in English, so they enlisted my help. We searched for attitudes that would reveal his likely response if he were told about the weekend. Incest wasn't a huge negative, but the results or our search weren't conclusive. Finally, I said, "You need to speak with Regina about Soren's probable response." "Maybe," Antonio said. I pushed this issue because I believed he needed to discuss the subject with Regina before moving forward. "Now, Antonio. Call her." "No!" I laughed. "Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Call her." "You're serious." "Yes. Her attitude is key. If she's interested in a plural marriage, you can move forward. If for a host of possible reasons, she's adamantly opposed to the concept, you'll need to back off and get on with the rest of your life." He nodded. "You're right. My feelings and Soren's don't truly matter very much. In the end, Regina will decide." I grinned and said, "But she can't decide if she isn't aware an alternative exists. Call her." He reached for the telephone and pulled it to the coffee table in front of him. He started tentative, but before he finished dialing, he'd resolved himself to follow Regina's lead. They spoke Italian. I listened to Antonio's end of the conversation. Josh and Nicole were digging deep inside Antonio's mind to translate his attitudes. After a warm greeting, Antonio told his sister about meeting me and what he'd seen when he touched me. Her speech impairment hampered the conversation, but they were used to each other, and although halting, the conversational atmosphere seemed relaxed. "Yes, she's here with me now," Antonio said. "We've been talking for the last two hours about her plural marriage, and the principles that govern their union." He went on to describe the myths we'd exploded and the new morality we'd created that allowed the three of us to love each other. His pauses became lengthier - because she's responding, I guessed, and her impairment required the extra time. He remained patient and didn't try to put words in her mouth. After one pause, he said to me, "Regina says you are a lucky woman." I smiled and said, "That's for sure. Tell her how you feel about everything and what you want." He frowned. "It's time, Antonio," I said softly. What followed brought tears to my eyes. He handed her his heart with an outpouring of love that equaled how I felt about Josh and Nicole, and he included the gentle giant. He made sure she understood that she didn't need to make a choice. He wasn't asking her to choose between Soren and him. The pauses were short. They're short because I think she's ahead of him, Nicole said. Josh laughed. Yeah, she's saying, 'Go on, ' or words to that effect. After one long pause, Antonio said, "I love him. He's like a brother to me, but more... It's romantic love without the romance, Regina. I love Soren like I love you... Yes, that's precisely what I'm proposing. Before you marry Soren, I want the three of us to have a private ceremony and form a plural marriage similar to Sandy's. If you are adamantly opposed, I'll back off now, but..." I watched his eyes light up. He listened for about a minute without speaking. Then he said, "We'll meet you at the airport. I love you... Goodbye." He hung up the phone and smiled at me. He radiated with happiness. "She's coming to New York on the first available flight. She wants to sit down with Soren and me and talk about everything face to face. She also wants to meet you." Josh, Nicole, I said, can you break away, join me in New York for a couple of days? I think it would be helpful to demonstrate in person how we are with each other. Of course. We'll let you know our schedule, Nicole said. "If she wants, Antonio, she can meet all three of us. Josh and Nicole are flying to New York, probably from Las Vegas tomorrow morning." "I can't decide," I said. "I've missed you both so much." "Then do us both, for heaven's sake," Nicole said and started taking off her clothes. We were in a limo en route to my Manhattan apartment from the airport. In seconds, we were naked. I rolled atop Nicole and felt her mouth cover my excited vulva as mine covered hers. Then I felt Josh enter me. So good! I gushed silently. We'll key on you, Sandy, Josh said. I love how you feel when I first enter you. Yeah, me too, Nicole said as her tongue and lips moved around my pussy finding all the places that sent my arousal soaring. I love how Josh feels when he first enters you, too. Antonio, Regina and Soren won't have this, I said. Hey, two men loving one woman can't be all bad, Nicole quipped, which made me laugh. If Antonio and Soren love each other, I said, it's possible that they'll succumb to a bisexual relationship. Is that what you expect if you find your man of the world and he joins our plural marriage? Josh asked. His thrusts were coming quicker, matching my needs, my arousal. No, not with four of us, but with a two-man/one-woman combination it's likely that over time the two men will throw off their conditioning against homosexual activity and enjoy each other. Soren will lead the charge. He adores Antonio. I can see him licking Regina's pussy while Antonio is fucking her, and he's licking Antonio's cock as much as Regina's pussy. If Antonio's cock slips out, Soren would take it into his mouth and suck on it. Ooh, that's hot, Nicole said. Josh laughed. No, it isn't. If I weren't inside Sandy's wonderful cunt, I would've lost my erection. He's homophobic, Nicole said. Yup, I agreed, but I love him anyway. The scenario you described, Sandy, Josh said. You experienced it in a past life when you were a man. Correct? Oh yeah, more than once. Whether I'm a man or a woman, I prefer a man. If I'm reborn a man, I'll be bisexual, Nicole said. I love the feel of a man's cock in my mouth. When I was a man, I loved being fucked in the ass while the man jacked me off, I said. Yuck, Josh said. Nasty but sexy, Nicole offered. As a woman, do you prefer two men for a threesome or a man and a woman? Josh asked. It was a tossup until the three of us found each other, I said. With how we are now, the question is silly, Josh, and you know it. Is she telling the truth, Josh? Nicole asked. Yes, as our TRES stands. I admit it. I want another man in our TRES, I said as fantasies of a foursome including two men and two women wandered through my mind. The fantasies, I was gratified to discover, didn't put Josh off, just the opposite. Of course, the fantasies didn't involve the two men getting it on. That I can handle, Josh said. Nicole giggled. Me, too. Hoo boy, Josh, that sounds like fun! Josh agrees, I said. He's happy with whatever makes us happy, Nicole. I'm getting very close. Tell me about it, Josh said. Picture this, Sandy. You're riding your man of the world, and Nicole and I walk into the room. Yeah, Nicole said. I strip and, facing you, lower my pussy onto his mouth. We kiss and play with each other's breasts. And Josh moves behind me and pushes his long one into my ass. You lean back, Nicole, so I can help the man with your pussy. He stabs your hole with his tongue while I lick your clit. And you have a couple of cocks plunging in and out of you at the same time, Nicole added. And we'll all key on you, Sandy, just like Nicole and I are keying on you right now, and we'll all come together like... ah! Orgasm times three! With the three of us, sharing fantasies happened whether we wanted to share or not. Long ago, we'd all decided to just go with them. While making love, we discovered fantasies detracted if they involved others, so we kept them in under wraps during those times, but they added to the moment when we were fucking for fun. Still, sometimes one of us would go too far with our fantasies. Josh laughed, and to answer my silent query he said, "Nope. You took it right up to the edge, just far enough, lover." Regina DeMarco wasn't as disfigured as I'd pictured her in my mind before I met her, and her astonishing body made up for her scarred face and then some. At her request, Josh, Nicole and I met with her without Antonio or Soren present. When we entered her hotel suite, I introduced myself, and then Josh and Nicole. She handed me a note. It read: Thank you for agreeing to meet with me. As you know, I am speech impaired. Also, my English is poor. It would be easier for me, and for you, as well, I believe, if we could gather around my notebook computer. I'd prefer to type my questions or the responses to any questions you might have of me. After reading the note over my shoulder, Josh said, "That sounds like an ideal solution, Regina." The next note read: May I serve coffee or tea? "Coffee for me," Nicole said. Josh and I said we were fine, and after Regina fixed Nicole a cup of coffee, she settled in front of her computer. She'd situated three chairs behind her that offered a view of her monitor, and the three of us sat down. I took the seat to Regina's right. With the seating arrangements, Regina had accomplished one other goal. We could no longer see her disfigured face. As you can imagine, Regina typed, I have many questions, but first let me say I appreciate how you've approached this entire matter. Throughout, you've been uncritical and compassionate. Thank you. I applaud your plural marriage. The three of you are unique, talented individuals, very rare, so rare that any doubts I have about presenting the possibility of a plural marriage to my Soren come from the rarity of not only your marriage but also your unique paranormal talents. Antonio tells me that you are in constant communication with each other wherever you are in the world, whether together or in different locales. Is this true? "Essentially yes," I said. "Occasionally one of us desires privacy and will raise a shield, but that's rare." Does this constant contact, including your thoughts and emotions, enhance your feeling of togetherness, of oneness? "It does for me," I said. Josh and Nicole agreed with me. Obviously, Antonio, Soren and I won't have this advantage. Do you believe your paranormal connections are required for the success of a plural marriage like yours? "It helps, but isn't necessary. Normal, open communication can create a feeling of oneness, too. Sandy wasn't telepathic when our TRES started," Josh said. Josh, you're the center of your marriage; that is, one man, two women. If Antonio, Soren and I form a plural marriage, I'll assume the central role with two men. Have you had any problems at the center? Josh laughed. "Yeah, tryin' to keep up with two randy women." "You know that's not true, Josh," Nicole said. "Regina, he's an empath. If Sandy or I get randy, he gets randy right along with us." Regina chuckled but didn't turn to face us. Always at the ready, huh? she typed. "Yup," I said. Lucky women, she typed. "For sure," Nicole said. Next question. Sandy, Antonio told me that you and Nicole are bisexual. Correct? "Yes." So you not only have sex with your husband but also your wife. "Yup," I said and took Nicole's hand in mine. "I love her to pieces. She makes my heart go pity-pat and heats me up like a house afire." Antonio and Soren are not bisexual. They're not homophobic, but I don't see them becoming lovers. As Antonio said, he loves Soren romantically without the romance. Accordingly, I anticipate problems if the three of us get together, so many problems that I've decided any lovemaking I do will be one on one. Josh, what is your opinion regarding this decision? "I think it's your call to make, Regina," he said. Sandy? Regina typed. "I think that would be a mistake." Nicole? "I agree with Sandy." Sandy, Nicole, would each of you explain? "The arrangement you're proposing would require a schedule; something like one night with Soren, the next with Antonio," I said. "Nothing kills romance like a fucking schedule, and yes, I meant the phrase 'fucking schedule' literally, not as an expletive. Our lovemaking is frequent and spontaneous. It can be between just two of us, or all three of us. Sometimes two of us start and the other joins in, and for the fun of it, we occasionally invite another couple to join us. Our plural marriage isn't about sex, Regina. It's about love. If you try to make your plural marriage about sex, it will fail. Ah, heck, it'll never get off the ground." "I agree with Sandy," Nicole said. "But I'll also add you'll be the loser if you proceed as planned. Two men touching you, kissing you, fucking you, at the same time is fantastic." She shivered with passion. Nicole's comment elicited another chuckle from Regina. She typed, Josh, why did you say it was my call? "Because it is. When it comes to sex, I let my beautiful wives lead, and they've never led me awry. If you decide your plural marriage will be best served by maintaining one-on-one sex with your husbands, then that's what you should do. But, I also agree with Sandy and Nicole. If you elect to go your route, be prepared to adjust and become more spontaneous in the future." "May I ask a question?" I said. Regina nodded without typing yes or turning to me. "Do you love one of the men more than the other?" If you'd asked me that question a year ago, I would've had to answer yes, and that man would have been my brother. Then Antonio introduced me to Soren, and over time I fell in love with him. He's large and ungainly and some would say ugly, but he's the gentlest, most loving man I've ever known, and he looked past my impairments and found my inner beauty. I love him deeply. Curiously, self-analysis informed me that my love for Antonio didn't change when I fell in love with Soren. I still love my wonderful brother just as much as I did before Soren crawled into my heart. You're unlimited love theory found fertile ground with me. "Then I suggest you make all your decisions based on the love you feel for these two men, not on how you think they'll react to any given situation," I said. "Just love them, Regina. Don't hold anything back." That sounds like good advice, Sandy. Last question regarding sex, and we'll go on to other elements of your plural marriage. Sandy, you told Antonio that you were attracted to him as a man. Aren't you satisfied with your marriage as it stands? "Yes and no," I said. "I could live the rest of my life married only to Josh and Nicole, and I'd die happy, but I feel strongly that another man in our marriage - the right man - would enhance what we have." I chuckled. "We jokingly refer to this other man as a man of the world. I briefly wondered if Antonio could be that man. When I discovered you had already captured his heart, I decided to help him out of his dilemma, if possible, rather than explore a relationship with him. However, your question was related to sex, not love, which disappoints me, Regina. You asked if I'm satisfied sexually in our plural marriage. My answer is yes, but that doesn't mean I don't or won't have sex with another man or woman just for the fun of it. My final advice, which you are free to ignore, is to tell you to get off your sexual-fidelity bandwagon. Sexual fidelity goes against human nature, creates negative behaviors such as jealousy, and is usually considered synonymous with love, which is baloney." That's all well and good for the three of you. Look at you! You're gorgeous, each and every one of you. You're self-reliant, self-assured, self-everything. I'm disfigured and have a speech impediment so severe I prefer typing my side of a conversation. Soren is a giant whose features barely come together to make him appear human. Soren and I can't be cavalier about sexual fidelity, like the three of you. "You left your brother out of that mix," I said. That's because he's gorgeous like the three of you, but he isn't without problems. He considers his paranormal talent a curse, not a blessing, and most of his relationships with women have been disastrous. "Excuses, one and all," Josh said calmly. "My final advice, which you are free to ignore, is forget a plural marriage between the three of you. You don't get it Regina. You're intent on making sexual fidelity the cornerstone of your relationship, not love. I haven't met Soren, but I've been in his mind. If he's a giant in body, he's also a giant of a man inside where it counts. I think you're selling him short. And you! Yes, you're disfigured and impaired. So what? You have a gorgeous body, and from Soren and Antonio's points of view, your inner beauty exceeds the alluring beauty of your body. You're selling yourself short, too. Antonio considers retrognition a curse not a blessing because his last lover called him a freak. If he's a freak, then I've gotta apply the same label to Sandy, Nicole and me, which would be silly in the extreme. You're selling Antonio short, too. What makes a plural marriage possible between the three of you is how unique each of you are, that and the fact that you love each other. Instead, you want to turn the marriage into a shining example of sexual fidelity. Stupid! One of you will stray, probably Antonio, and your marriage will crumble. In a plural marriage, sexual fidelity isn't as important as deciding who's going to do the weekly laundry." Regina slumped in her chair and sighed deeply. Reaching, she started to type again. For what it's worth, I agree with you. I think sex for the fun of it is... well, fun, but my opportunities for fun sex over the years has been seriously limited, and Soren is no different. "Then why limit your future purposefully. I've probed your memories, Regina," Nicole said. "You've had fun... no, you've been deliciously naughty a few times, and I'm not referring to your weekend with your brother and the sex you enjoy with Soren. And, Soren! Let me just say, he didn't come to you a virgin. Nurturing women find him irresistible once they get to know him. Josh is correct. You're selling yourself and your lovers short." All right. We'll follow your model. For what it's worth, Soren will follow my lead on this issue, but Antonio will balk. "That's not surprising," I said. "Being the oldest child in your family, his conditioning was deeper, more enduring, and he was raised as a catholic." If I need your help, may I call on you, Sandy? "Sure." I'm referring to you having sex with Antonio for the fun of it. I gulped. "Oh." Josh laughed and said silently, Hoisted on your own petard. "Regina, you're not talking about sex for the fun of it. You're talking about manipulation, and I won't be a party to such an approach." She blushed and typed, Sorry. "Apology accepted." I snorted a laugh. "That isn't to say I'm opposed to sex for the fun of it with your brother." Regina laughed out loud. I liked the sound of her laughter. Nicole said, "If Antonio can't move beyond his conditioning regarding sexual fidelity, you can still fashion a plural marriage, Regina. Consensus is the key. Everyone must agree with the principles that will govern the marriage. Josh, Sandy and I were of like mind regarding love and sex. We didn't need to convince one of us to change a lifelong attitude. From your comments, it sounds like the three of you might cherish some conflicting philosophies. My advice, and feel free to ignore it, is to sit down with your men and fashion how your marriage will function. With differing positions on major principles this could take some time - days, weeks, whatever. Take the time needed to achieve consensus. What will you do if consensus can't be reached? Will you be able to maintain your relationship with Soren?" I don't know, she typed. I only know I love both men, and they love me. When you leave, I will go to Soren. If he says no, I will lose him. She's terrified, Josh said silently. It's just possible that by trying to help we might be destroying three lives. "Perhaps you shouldn't take the risk," I said. The second Antonio approached me about a plural marriage he removed that option. I must proceed. I owe it to Antonio, to myself, and yes, even Soren, to explore the possibility. Soren will either accept my proposal immediately without discussion, or the big lug will turn and walk away, which will break my heart. If Soren leaves me, Antonio and I will be haunted by what we did to Soren. It's all or nothing for me, for Antonio, and for Soren. Fuck, Josh said silently. We got lucky. The idea of a plural marriage intrigued Soren, and the three of them sat down and molded the principles that would govern their marriage. Like Nicole recommended, they didn't hurry. They talked for days on end (Soren and Antonio talked; Regina typed), and I listened from a distance, avidly at first, translating the discussions for Josh and Nicole, but when I could see that ultimately they'd make their marriage work, I tamped down my connection to background noise with some keyword automatic revivers. Their marriage ended up very different than ours. Like us, they declared love the cornerstone of the union, but unlike us, they opted for sexual fidelity as the governing principle for sex in the marriage. They tried three in a bed, which didn't work for them, so they ended up with a fucking schedule, but the schedule wasn't etched in stone. It followed Josh's concept that the woman chooses. "One of them will cheat," I muttered. Nicole laughed. "Uh-uh, all of them will cheat, and Soren will cheat first. He's the weak link. If a woman wants him, he doesn't have it in him to refuse." "At which time, they'll deal with the problem," Josh said. He gave me a crooked grin. "If you get the urge to play matchmaker again, Sandy, please leave me out of it." "Uh-uh, never again!" I exclaimed. "Hah!" Nicole said. "Until the next time, you mean." Josh and Nicole went nuts over Soren's sculptures, buying one of them for their home in the compound at the inflated price, which made me feel guilty, but a year later in a one-man show in Los Angeles, Soren's prices had doubled yet again. One afternoon while Josh was at Giliberto's and I was at my literary agent's office reviewing my upcoming book tour, Liz dropped by my apartment. Nicole answered the door, and the two of them had a grand time. The next night, Andy returned from Los Angeles, and the five of us got together. Whew! Andy spent that night mostly hard as he watched the love of his life get it on with Nicole or me, sometimes both of us. Being accommodating women, we didn't let his hard-ons go unattended, and neither of us had it in us to ignore Josh's needs. The day after that, Andy and I enjoyed some one on one, and he thanked me for helping Liz realize she was bisexual. Josh, Nicole and I moved into our compound, but before I was completely moved in, my book tour started, and I broke away from the tour a week after it started to attend the grand opening ceremony for the renovated office complex in Las Vegas. The book tour was fun - at first. But traveling from city to city and living out of a suitcase got old mighty quick, and I adored my "home base" for short visits where I made love with the man and woman I loved. Reenergized after each visit, I returned to the tour with enthusiasm, and the book sales went well. The book didn't hit the bestseller lists, but came close enough that my agent increased my advance substantially for my second novel, which I finished during the tour. From 1202 to 1269, I lived as a male in what is now called New Mexico in the United States. The history books refer to my people during that time as the Anasazi, or ancient ones. I used this era for the setting for my second book, and livened up the plot with some time travel, transporting a young woman from the early 21st century back to the 13th century, and forcing her to cope with the privations of that time and place. To my publisher's chagrin, I left the mystery about what happened to the Anasazi unanswered. That book hit the bestseller lists, and my career as a writer hit its peak, but that was a year later. In the interim, I started a new career in real estate development, or rather, our TRES started a new career when Josh, Nicole and I formed TRES, Inc. Josh came up with the idea, and the timing was perfect. ------- Part Eight: Josh ------- Chapter 27 Boredom prompted my proposal, but reason was its driving force. My real estate paradigm left me free time - too much free time - and my involvement in the renovation of the Vegas office project had ended shortly after our return from Sandy's ill-fated attempt at matchmaking. What's more, I suspected I wasn't alone in my ennui. Nicole didn't have a project in mind beyond the lease-up of the office complex, and Sandy's book tour had ended. My sister had also finished her second novel during the tour. During some idle time one afternoon, I was glancing through a Forbes magazine and noticed an article about the world's most expensive hotels. The hotels and their locales fascinated me. The Mansion at MGM Grand in Las Vegas topped the list, but what caught my attention was that many of the hotels were situated on private islands. A week later I found two islands, Butterfly Caye, a forty-minute boat ride southeast of Dangriga, Belize, and Koyo Caye, twelve miles east of Placentia, Belize. Butterfly Caye, a six-acre island, was one of the few unspoiled places left in the world. Unspoiled, but not uncivilized. The island came with a three-story main house, a guesthouse on the other side of the island from the main house, and the island came with a staff (a manager/boat captain, maid, and gardeners) and a long list of personal property including two boats. Also, the island wasn't completely isolated from modern technology. The current owner had brought in satellite TV and Internet connectivity. Koyo Caye was undeveloped period, but it was larger - twelve acres. Both islands were protected by barrier reefs. I raised my shield because I didn't want my attitude or thoughts to project my intent. "Why the shield, Josh?" Sandy asked that evening as we finished eating dinner. Sandy usually trotted over from her home to Nicole's and mine for dinner, usually slept with us, too. We'd planned accordingly. Anticipating that Sandy would find her man of the world someday, our master suite provided for four occupants, not two. The master suite in Sandy's house was just as accommodating, and about half the time the three of us ended up in her bed. "I'm bored," I replied. "Huh?" Nicole said. "I'm bored. What about y'all?" "Hmm," Nicole muttered. "Yeah, a little." "Frankly, I'm enjoying the downtime," Sandy said. "But... yeah, boredom might be just around the corner. Waddaya have in mind?" I tossed the Forbes magazine on the table. "What would the two of you say if I suggested we spend a few nights in each of the world's ten most expensive hotels?" "Sounds fun," Nicole said. "Argh. The book tour cured me of traveling for a while," Sandy said, but she picked up the magazine and flipped through the pages. "I'm not proposing traveling for the fun of it, although staying in those hotels should be fun. I need a challenge, something new to occupy my idle time and mind." Sandy handed the magazine to Nicole and gave me a funny look. "You're shield is irritating." "I'll drop it in a few minutes. Nicole, do you note any pattern to those hotels?" "Let's see. Two are located in South Africa on game preserves. Two are in Fiji. Hmm. Oh, I see! Six of them are on islands." "Yup." I tossed the two sale packages on the table. "More specifically private islands, Nicole. Here's the deal. I found two private islands for sale. Both of them are off the coast of Belize and are protected by barrier reefs. I'd like to look into developing a high-end hotel on one of them. Waddaya think?" Nicole picked up one of the packages, Sandy the other. They skimmed the folders and then traded them. Sandy looked up and said, "Are you serious about this?" "Yes and no. I'm serious about exploring the possibilities. I'm also serious about the three of us doing a project together, but money isn't my prime motive. We say we're married, that we're a TRES, and we are, but... I don't know. I think we need something that symbolizes our marriage besides our ceremony overlooking the Grand Canyon." I paused and looked at each of them. Yup, I had their attention. "In the eyes of the law, we aren't married, and I don't see the law changing anytime in the near term. When I was too young to start a business, Sandy, you and I formed an investment company to overcome the hurdle my age represented. Then Nicole joined us, and she assumed the role of an independent contractor to the company for a few of my deals. Nicole, you led the renovation of the office complex in Vegas." "You helped a lot, Josh," Nicole said. "Yes and loved every minute of it. Frankly, I enjoy your real estate paradigm more than mine." I looked at Sandy. "And because Nicole and I were so busy on that project, you led the effort to develop our home base." Sandy grinned. "And loved every minute of it. Do you really think we need something that symbolizes our marriage?" "Only in the eyes of the law, and only the economic aspects of our plural marriage, all of which can be handled with a new legal entity like the investment company. We handled the non-economic aspects of our marriage with our vows. I guess what I'm proposing is TRES, Inc., a business for sure, but structured in a manner that says to the world that the three of us are one." "What a marvelous idea!" Sandy exclaimed. "Yes," Nicole said softly, tears welling in her eyes. I lowered my shield and thought, I love you, both of you, very much. TRES, Inc., will not only own the projects the three of us do together, like the island hotel, but will also be the legal entity that protects the economic aspects of our group marriage. It should be structured... Sandy started to say silently. I grinned and interrupted her thought. To provide for more members. "Yup," Sandy said out loud. "Love isn't limited." "I agree. Also everything we do doesn't need to be and shouldn't be contained in TRES, Inc. We're one, but we're still individuals with separate needs and dreams. Sandy, you'll continue to write your novels and acquire artifacts for your museum. Nicole, I know from your thoughts that you want to continue your education. You..." "That's correct, but you don't," Nicole said. "Nope. I'll finish the MBA program at Phoenix College, and that's it." "Why finish?" Sandy asked. "The class work bores you to tears. You've tried to hide your dirty, little secret, but Nicole and I are in your head ninety percent of the time. You're financially independent. You achieved what you wanted to achieve with your business education. It's time to follow your dream, buddy boy." I groaned and hung my head. "I don't know how. I suppressed..." "For me," Sandy said and tears welled in her eyes. "I left you behind, so you suppressed your dream to catch up with me. Well, you did it, Josh. I'm yours. Step back, think, and make a plan that if followed will fulfill your need to be an artist. You can do it. You, my love, can do anything you truly want to do." "It's too late," I said. "Nonsense," Nicole said. "Someday, I hope to have a Ph.D. in economics. I want to be called Dr. Nicole Johnson, become a sought-after expert in my field, maybe even write a book or two, and I know you'll support me, help me to achieve my dream. Sandy and I will support you to be all you can be, too, Josh." "I won't go back to college to study art," I said. "Then don't. Do what I did. Teach yourself," Sandy said. "Easy for you to say." "Hey, I didn't say it would be easy." "Josh," Nicole said, "Your innate sense of design is phenomenal. When you start talking about balance or color or any design element, even Andy and Liz pay attention. Hmm, you'll need a studio. When you decide what kind of studio you want, we'll build a studio here on the property. In the meantime, how about... ?" "I won't need a studio until I start to paint. I'll start with drawing, and I'll need some models." "Nekkid models, he means, Nicole," Sandy said with a wicked grin. "You can count on me, little brother." "It'll be difficult to sit still when your eyes are roamin' over my nekkid body, Josh, but count on me, too." Nicole shivered. I do love your eyes on me, baby. Yeah, Sandy thought. I know what you mean, Nicole. His eyes sorta eat you up. His eyes on me give me goose bumps sometimes. They make my pussy wet, Nicole said silently. Look, Sandy. His pants are startin' ta tent up. Just before they pounced, I groaned - happily. After taking a quick tour of the six island hotels listed in Forbes and visiting the island properties off the coast of Belize, we purchased both islands. Butterfly Caye became our home away from home, and we initiated development plans for Koyo Caye. We also formed TRES, Inc., funding the entity with a million dollars, split three ways. When we decided it made more sense to keep the renovated office complex in Vegas than sell it, we also transferred that property into the new entity. With the cash, our home base, the office complex, and the two islands, TRES, Inc., started with a net worth of a little over twenty-two million and its assets exceeded fifty million. Those numbers would more than double when we completed the development of our high-end hotel on Koyo Caye. My boredom fled. I quit school and started to draw again. In my early teens, I'd often carried a sketchbook, and I quickly reacquired the habit. I conferred with Andy, and he designed an artist's studio for our compound. Six months later when the structure was complete, I started to paint and quickly discovered studio painting wasn't my cup of tea. I preferred the out-of-doors. I also preferred watercolors to oil paint. I liked the freshness of watercolors, the spontaneity, and fortunately watercolor painting fit my new lifestyle. Although Sandy led the development of our island hotel, Nicole and I took supporting roles, and we all traveled back and forth from Scottsdale to Belize, sometimes together, but usually separately so one of us was on hand at Koyo Caye to confer with our general contractor most of the time. While on one island or the other, I managed at least one painting a day, sometimes three or four, seascapes mostly, but some landscapes as well. I must have painted the three-story house on Butterfly Caye a dozen times, and the dock and boats also made interesting subjects for paintings. Over the one-year development period for the hotel, I painted a series of watercolors that depicted the various stages of construction, and after learning how to scuba dive, I started to paint underwater scenes from the coral reefs from memory. The staff members we inherited when we purchased Butterfly Caye were neither energetic nor ambitious, but they were a happy crew. Unfortunately, the manager/boat captain's happiness came from a bottle. I offered to help him dry out and pay for some therapy, but he gave me the finger and told me to fuck off. The maid left with him. Neither proved difficult to replace, and the housekeeper we hired also doubled as a cook, thank goodness. Sandy and I weren't very handy around the kitchen, and one or both of us were often at Butterfly Caye while Nicole was busy elsewhere. During the hiring interviews, I quickly established a baseline for truthfulness and asked each prospective employee about their attitudes regarding plural marriages and nudity, along with pointed questions whose answers gave me genuine indications about their honesty and integrity. Out of that experience, Sandy and Nicole dubbed me TRES's official personnel director. When it was time, I packed my paint box and duffel bag - read matched luggage - and started my search for a hotel manager and executive chef, key employees for our new development. I found the executive chef in a classy restaurant in Port of Spain, Trinidad, and the manager in a Marriott in St. Thomas. Besides plugging them into the development team for our Belize TRES Island Resort, they were also charged with filling all other positions for the hotel, with the caveat that I would speak briefly with each prospective employee before they were hired. My built-in lie detector avoided hiring drunks, drug users, crooks, cruel or evil staff members. I didn't bat a thousand but came close. A few weeks before the grand opening for the Belize resort, I traveled to New York to buy some art for the hotel. Nicole was in Las Vegas concluding a full-floor lease for our office building, which if successful would complete the lease-up effort, and Sandy was busy with last-minute details at the resort in Belize. I carried a portfolio of watercolor paintings, ten of my best. While buying art for the resort, I wanted the opinions of various art gallery owners about the quality of my work. None of them turned cartwheels and offered to sponsor a one-man show, but that was expected. I was still learning. I did get some honest positive feedback. Art supplies were hard to come by in Belize, so I searched out a large art supply store and was walking the aisles shopping the shelves when I walked past a well-dressed, distinguished man whose thoughts were so evil I backed out of his mind. What's wrong, Josh, Nicole asked. She'd sensed my discomfort. An evil man, I replied. Oh, one of those. No, not one of those. Worse. He was daydreaming about dismembering a body. Yuck. How's the lease progressing? We're hung up on two points - the liability and subletting clauses. Sandy joined us and we chatted silently about the lease clauses until I suggested offering the tenant a reciprocal liability clause and adding language to the subletting clause stating that we wouldn't unreasonably withhold our permission for the tenant to sublease the premises. Great! That ought to do it, Nicole said. Is the bad guy still around? Yeah, he's at the checkout counter. Scan him. He might be recalling memories, not daydreaming. I reached out with a tendril and brushed his surface thoughts. With a shudder, I probed deeper. "Fuck," I breathed. Memories, huh? Sandy said. Yeah. That is one sick puppy. Using my sketchbook as a notepad, I jotted down his name and address and what I found out about him during my probe. I'll give the details I uncovered during my probe to the police. Anonymously, Sandy cautioned. Definitely. Liz seemed happy when you talked to her this afternoon, Sandy said. Yeah, she's a good mother. Why did you pass on her dinner invitation? Nicole asked. She wouldn't leave her baby boy, wanted me to come to her house, and I'm attending two gallery openings tonight. I heard Sandy's mental chuckle. Well, I'll take good care of Andy tonight. Give him a hug and kiss for me, Nicole quipped. I paid for the supplies I wanted and left the store. At the corner, I noticed a pay phone, but it was out of order. My anonymous tips to the police aren't working. Follow up is poor to nonexistent, I said to Sandy and Nicole as I thought about the other tips I'd passed on to various police departments. I don't like the direction your thinking is taking you, Sandy said. If you're not careful, you'll end up a lab rat. Maybe not. I've got an idea. Go for it, Nicole said after she translated my attitude. Go for what? Sandy asked. She still had trouble with attitudes, so I gave her my idea with a thought. It's worth a try, Sandy said. I grabbed a cab and told the driver to take me to the local offices for the FBI. After telling the receptionist I was waiting for someone, I took a seat in the lobby. I scanned five or six agents as they moved in and out of the lobby, finally settling on a middle-aged woman who appealed to me because of her strength of character. To be honest, she was also good looking for her age, which I determined was thirty-six. I left the offices and took a cab to the building where Sandy maintained an apartment. After making a root beer float, I settled at the kitchen table. Okay, I said to Nicole and Sandy, I've probed her deeply. I probably know as much about her as her mother, more, because I know about her teenage and college sexual shenanigans, too. I like her. Why a woman? Sandy asked. No special reason. She was the best of the lot that wandered by me in the lobby. Any suggestions about how I should contact her? Telephone or e-mail? Telephone, Sandy said. Use a pay phone. Does she have an unlisted home number? Nicole asked. Yes. Call her at home. Use a pay phone in the hotel on the corner. I finished the root beer float and walked to the corner. Only one of the three pay phones worked. I used it and dialed. "Hello," she said. "Is this Special Agent Dorothy Collins?" "Yes." She was nervous. She didn't like receiving calls from strangers at her home. I gave her a phony name and said, "I'm a telepath and an empath. Today I probed the mind of a killer, and I'd like to give you his name, address and certain facts about his crimes. I usually make an anonymous call when I come across evil, but you guys don't follow up anonymous calls, so while visiting the FBI offices recently, I probed your mind and picked you as my contact. That's how I got your unlisted phone number. I like you Agent Collins. I liked the way you handled Billy Tate in the third grade when he pulled your hair. I liked the way you stopped drinking after the fiasco at the Tri Delta sorority party during your freshman year at college." She didn't believe I was a telepath but didn't hang up. Anger dominated her emotions. She wondered where I'd dug up the information about her that I'd just revealed. "First, let me prove I'm a telepath. Please think of a number between one and one hundred." I chuckled. "Thirty-six, your age. Now, think of a name, any name... You thought the name Bob Thompson first and then changed your mind. The name you thought of to test me was William T. Reynolds, your boss. One of the reasons I picked you for my contact was the fact that you're not a paranormal skeptic. Do you believe me now?" "Yes." "That was a lie. I'm also a human lie detector. Please make a statement that contains a lie but is the truth otherwise." "I named my first dog Fido." I laughed. "Shame on you. You named your second dog Fido. With that name, the other dogs must have teased him all the time." She gasped. "Where are you?" "On a pay phone in Manhattan. Yes, I'm in your head listening to your thoughts. Yes, you can trace this call, but I'll be long gone before anyone arrives to grab me. Look, Agent Collins, I'm just trying to do my civic duty, but I'm tired of being ignored, so here's the deal. From time to time I run across evil. When I do, I'd like to pass on what I learn to you. I like your morality. You're strong without being stuffy or opinionated. Will you work with me?" "Yes, if you'll meet with me." "Never happen. Do you want the facts about this killer, or not?" "Okay," she said after a long pause. I gave her the facts, which took about five minutes. She asked questions that I answered if I knew the answers. If I didn't, I connected with the killer and probed his memories until I found the answers. "Do you have enough to arrest him?" I asked. "No, but you've given me enough to put him under surveillance and possibly get a judge to grant a wiretap." "Good luck," I said and hung up. Good job, Sandy said. I love you, Nicole said. You're a good man, Josh Johnson. Back in Scottsdale, I found our answering machine clogged with messages. Sandy was still in Belize. Nicole had taken a quick trip north from Las Vegas to visit her family. She planned to fly to the Belize TRES Island Resort with me for the grand opening. I was at loose ends. I was also hungry, so I grabbed the keys to my Hummer and headed out to find some dinner. I felt like seafood, so I stopped at the Salt Cellar, an underground restaurant that served fresh Yakimono Hawaiian ahi. I know some consider it rude, but when I eat alone, I like to read, so I brought a book with me, the latest Patterson thriller that I'd started on the flight to Phoenix from New York. As was my habit when I read, I tuned down everyone's thoughts and emotions, so I wasn't forewarned when, near the end of my meal, the man at the table next to me backhanded the woman with him. With a scream of pain, she twisted off the chair to the floor. "Slut!" he bellowed and reared back to kick her. I didn't mess around. I used the woman's pain and flung it at the violent man with enough force to push him across the room. Then I gave him an attitude that told him to stand calm and collected and mute. I knelt beside the woman. I'd learned the hard way not to pressure a battered woman. For some strange reason, battered women often defended their abusers. "Would you like to call the police? He assaulted you. There are witnesses." "No! I mean, thank you, but... he's my father." I helped her to her feet. "Would you like to leave?" She looked at her father. "What did you do to him?" "Me? Nothing. I was sitting at that table when he hit you. When I stood up, he backed away, and he's been standing there like that since. Do you have a car, or did you ride here with your father?" "I rode with him." She nodded toward the calm man. "That's weird." "I agree. I'm Josh Johnson. May I drop you off somewhere?" She looked at me and then at her father. "Yes." After I paid for my meal, we walked out of the restaurant together. I helped her into the passenger seat of my Hummer, and after I started the engine, I removed the attitude I'd placed on her father and drove out of the parking lot. "Where to?" I asked. "I..." I glanced at her. When her chin started to quiver, I pulled into another parking lot and stopped the vehicle. "I don't have anywhere to go?" "How about a hotel?" She swallowed a sob. "No money." "What's your name?" "Grace. Grace Barr." "Are you a slut?" She gasped and started to leave the car. Criminy, Josh, be nice to the woman, Nicole said. Just a little shock therapy, I replied. Is it working? Don't know yet. "Yes or no," I pressed. "No!" "Shucks," I said. "I've always wanted to meet a slut, mostly to find out what makes a woman a slut. I'm married to two women; we have an open marriage, and they've both been with other men, but they certainly aren't sluts. Oversexed, yes. Sluts, no." Thank you, Nicole quipped with a chuckle. You're most welcome. Grace Barr put her face in her hands and started to cry. I figured I could drive home by the time she gained control, so I started the Hummer and pulled back onto the road. The timing was almost perfect. She stopped crying when I pushed the button on the remote to open the gate to the compound. "You have two wives?" she asked. "Yes." "Are they home?" "Nope. Sandy's in Belize getting our new hotel ready for its grand opening, and Nicole is in Nevada visiting her family. Ms. Barr, I'm a gentleman. I won't touch you. You'll be safe here. Did you eat at the restaurant?" "Yes." "Good, because I'm not much of a cook. Sandy can cook but, like me, prefers Nicole's cooking." I exited the Hummer and walked around to the passenger door and helped her out of the vehicle. In the kitchen, I offered her a drink. "Ice tea, root beer or wine." "Root beer?" "Yeah, that's my drink of choice." "I'll have an ice tea." I fixed the drinks and told her to follow me. I led her to the guest room Andy and Liz used when they stayed with us. It was patterned after the penthouse suite in the Bellagio, only better. "This is a guest room?" "Yeah. Make yourself at home. The door locks. I think you'll find any toiletries you need, and there's a robe in the linen closet. We'll talk in the morning." I poured a cup of coffee, added cream and sugar and sipped. Grace Barr was up when I rolled from my bed. Using the intercom, I told her coffee was perked. She walked into the kitchen a few minutes later wearing the terry robe we made available for guests. "Are you Eurasian?" I asked as I poured her a cup of coffee. I knew the answer. I knew a lot about Grace Barr. She was twenty-six years old and had just ended an affair with a married man. He'd told her that he loved her and would leave his wife. He didn't. His wife became vindictive, and suddenly Grace found herself without a place to live and no job. Using the last of her savings, she'd returned to Phoenix expecting support from her father. Her mother had passed away two years before. I'd witnessed the support the brute offered. "Yes." "How do you take your coffee?" "Black." She preferred tea. "There's some tea bags in the pantry..." "Coffee will be fine." We sat at the table facing each other. "Tell me your tale of woe." She laughed nervously and winced. Her cheek was bruised but she didn't have a black eye. Her hair was straight and shiny black and framed a thin, pretty face. She'd tried to cover the bruise with makeup, but failed. She then proceeded to tell me the truth, more than I wanted to hear actually. "So, in a nutshell you need a job and a place to stay." "Yes." "What are you good at?" "Besides falling for the wrong man, not much. I've been a receptionist, sold cosmetics in a department store, did a little modeling in my late teens." "Can you type?" "Yes. I'm not fast but I'm accurate." "Spell restaurant for me." She looked confused. She also wondered where I was heading with my questions. "R-e-s-t-a-u-r-a-n-t," she said. "Very good. I always get the 'a' and 'u' turned around. You're wondering why all the questions. Right?" "Yes." Sandy, Nicole, waddaya think? I asked my wives silently. We could use the help, Nicole said. Check out her attitude regarding nudity and our plural marriage, including the fact that Nicole and I are bisexual, Sandy said. What about incest? I asked. Leave that alone for now, Sandy replied. "I might have a job for you. I told you I had two wives. Did I shock you?" "Yes." Ah, an honest answer, I thought. "Sometimes we run around the compound nekkid. Would that shock you?" She laughed nervously, wondering what she was getting herself in for. "Probably, at first," she said. The truth, I thought for Sandy and Nicole's benefit. "I asked because if you work here, you'll no doubt see us nekkid sooner or later. Also, my wives are bisexual. Does that bother you?" "No." Her answer didn't surprise me. My memory probe had discovered a few sexual experiences with women in her past that she cherished. "The position requires strict confidentiality, which means what happens here, what's said here, stays here. Our plural marriage would be fodder for the tabloid press. Would you sell us out?" "No." The truth. "Are you honest?" "Yes, to a fault." The truth. "Do you abuse alcohol or drugs?" "No." The truth, and she's neither cruel nor evil. Hire her, Sandy said. I agree, Nicole added. "Here's the deal, Grace. We need what I call, for lack of a better term, an administrative assistant for our family. You'll work out of our offices here in the compound, but might be required to travel with us on occasion. We'll start you at a salary of $3,000 a month plus room and board, but you'll need to fend for yourself in the kitchen until we hire a cook. When we designed the compound, we anticipated that someday we'd need to hire some help, so we included rooms for that purpose. If you say yes, I'll show you your office and your rooms, and then drive you to your father's house to collect your things. You can start the job tomorrow." "Yes! I say yes." Two days later in Las Vegas, Nicole found our cook. She'd witnessed an altercation between the man we hired and the executive chef the man worked for in one of the larger hotels. His name was Pierre Sully, and the argument revolved around quality. Sully's boss wanted quantity (the kitchen served a massive buffet), not quality, and Sully was sick of doing a half-assed job. Sully quit or his boss fired him, one or the other, and Nicole asked him if he wanted a job and told him about our family. He hesitated because he had a restaurant mindset, but upon reflection, cooking for a family appealed to him. Through her thoughts, Nicole told me he was a short man in his mid- to late-twenties, clean cut, slim, and wore a short-cropped beard and mustache. If he weren't so serious, he'd be cute, Nicole said. I connected empathically with Sully through Nicole, and she asked the questions that allowed me to test for bad habits and honesty. Both of us probed him for cruelty and looked for evil tendencies. He considered our plural marriage interesting, and female bisexuality didn't bother him. He was a heterosexual and between girlfriends. Over all, a good man. My only hesitancy was his. Would he be happy cooking for a small family and staff? Time would tell. Nicole arrived in Scottsdale the next day. I introduced her to our new administrative assistant and told them both that Nicole would train her, not me. Sully came knocking the next day, shook his head with dismay when I showed him around the kitchen and perked up when I took him to his apartment. He'd expected a room. Grace had reacted similarly a few days before. "Consider these rooms your home, Pierre," I said. "The furnishings are bare-bones purposefully. Feel free to add furniture or change the décor anyway you wish." "These rooms are fine. May I make changes to the kitchen?" From his thoughts, the changes he wanted were minimal. "Sure. As far as I'm concerned it's your kitchen." "I prefer cooking with fresh ingredients daily. Will I be working under a budget, and will someone be providing menus?" "No budget, no menus, but we'll no doubt have requests." I handed him a debit card. "Use this card for groceries and other things you need. If you go too far, I'll let you know. On the other hand, don't be cheap. We're looking for quality, Pierre." He grinned. I'd just made him a happy camper. "Any likes or dislikes for food?" he asked. "I don't like broccoli or brussels sprouts, but Sandy and Nicole love 'em. We all grew up with home cooking, so we're not difficult to please. I snack off and on through the day - breads, fruit, cheeses, crackers, juices, that sort of thing - so I don't eat heavy for lunch and dinner. Still, I've learned to appreciate fine food, so knock yourself out for the dinner meal. I like desserts after dinner, but not for any other meal. If I don't like something, I'll tell you. I won't need to tell you when I like something. You'll see a happy smile on my face after the first taste." He laughed. "What about breakfast?" "I don't eat breakfast until I've been up an hour or two. Sandy and Nicole are just the opposite. They enjoy breakfast right away. If you're asking about the type of food we like, I don't know of any breakfast foods we don't like. Be creative if you wish. Check with Grace. You'll be cooking for her, too, and we'll be hiring additional staff as needed." "Will she eat with you and your wives?" I frowned. Sandy, Nicole, will Grace and other staff members be eating with us? At our invitation, yes. Otherwise, no, Sandy said. Nicole agreed with Sandy, so I passed on the decision. "Come on, I'll show you around the rest of the compound." As we strolled, I pointed out some of the places we'd eat like the patio and the smaller dining rooms in the two houses. "This is what we call our party room. We'll eat in here, finger food, mostly. This room isn't clothing optional. My wives and I and any guests we bring to this room will be nekkid. That's why Nicole queried you about your attitude regarding nudity. To be honest, you might see more than mere nudity in this room." I paused and looked him in the eye. "Sometimes our passion gets the upper hand. I hope we don't shock you. Also, when we swim in the outdoor pool, we're as likely to be nekkid as not." He tittered nervously. His thoughts told me he looked forward to seeing Nicole naked. The young man had a bit of the voyeur in him, so seeing Nicole fucking wouldn't bother him, either. Grace feels the same way about you, Nicole said to me with a thought and a mental giggle. Not just me. Remember, she's bisexual. What surprised me was how attracted Grace and Pierre were to each other. Yup. I have a hunch some room hopping will soon take place in the help wing of the compound. Ah, Josh, how about lets hop over to our room? All this talk about getting nekkid has turned me on. Let's get nekkid and get it on. Yeah, Sandy said. If you'll give me ten minutes, I'll go to my room and join you. Orgasm times three coming up. My heart filled to overflowing with love. I also got a hard-on. ------- Chapter 28 Because I detested using pay phones, I'd acquired a half-dozen untraceable cell phones in Belize with prepaid minutes to avoid billing. I dialed one of the phones and listened to the ring on the other end. "Good job, Agent Collins," I said when my contact at the FBI answered my call. She didn't speak for a second. "Is this... ?" "Yeah, it's your friendly telepath." "I want to meet with you." "Never happen. Was it a good bust?" Earlier that morning, she and her cohorts had arrested the killer I'd turned over to her. "Yes." "Good. Put the fucker in a cell and throw away the key. I don't know if this is in your bailiwick, but I uncovered a meth lab in Glendale, Arizona, today. May I give you the details?" "That's a matter for the Glendale P.D. or possibly falls under the DEA's purview." "Uh-uh, I picked you. Pass the information to anyone you wish. I won't deal with anyone but you." She sighed. "Okay, give me the details." Two days later, a television news commentator announced the arrest of five individuals operating a meth lab in Glendale. I dialed a cell phone while I listened to the local news. When Agent Collins answered my call, I said, "Congratulations, Dot." "Dot? Who... oh, it's you." "Yeah. I've gotta say it's rewarding to finally see my tips produce results." I chuckled when I heard her next thought. Her belief that she could successfully camouflage motive behind a crude thought caused my laugh. "What am I thinking right now?" she asked. I chuckled. "I'm not old and fat. I'm young and slim. I'm not hung like a horse, but I don't get any complaints." She laughed heartily. "Kinky," I said. "Dot, if I didn't know the motive behind your offer, I'd jump at the chance. You're a good-looking woman." "You don't play fair." "All's fair in love and war. I've got another one for you - a chop shop in Tucson. Are you interested?" "Yes. Give me the details." My eyes fluttered open, and rapturous sensations flooded my mind and body. Glancing down, I saw Nicole as she slipped her mouth up the length of my throbbing hard-on. She smiled at me. "Grace and Pierre are making love," Nicole said. I connected with them telepathically, and then slid an empathic bundle over the telepathic path to connect with their emotions and sensations. "Whew! They're close!" "Yeah, which makes me close. You, too, now that you're connected with them. Do you want to come in my mouth or cunt?" Nicole asked. "Your mouth." She chuckled. "Thought so." I closed my eyes when Nicole's hot, wet mouth engulfed my cock again. She dipped deep, taking most of my length, which felt wonderful, but not half as exquisite as the sensations rushing through Grace's systems. I adored experiencing the incomparable sexual sensations of an aroused female. While Pierre thrust his cock into her cunt, Grace tweaked her nipples with the fingers of one hand and shared with me the delicate sensations that hurried from her breasts down her spine to her pussy like a sinuous lizard. Her nipples were even more sensitive than Nicole's, and Nicole's were more sensitive than Sandy's. Grace was also using the pads of two fingers from her other hand to rub her clitoris. Her touch felt practiced. Did she masturbate often? Her caresses had assumed the rhythm of Pierre's thrusting cock. Neither was hurried nor slow. They'd achieved the edge and were trying to stay at the peak of arousal that preceded a massive orgasm. She needs direct stimulation to her clitoris to come, I said silently. Uh-huh, and Pierre's ego didn't get in the way of letting her give herself pleasure. I like him. Her, too, Sandy said. Sandy, where are you? I asked. My room at our new hotel. I'm naked and twisting my nipples and rubbing my clit just like Grace. Her cunt is amazing. Very active. And very orgasmic, Nicole added. I came with her twenty minutes ago when Pierre went down on her. Shucks. I missed that. I was asleep, I said. So close, Grace thought. Then her mind created a mental image. I translated the attitude. She wanted me in her cunt and Pierre in her ass. Nicole chuckled. What? Sandy said. Nicole translated the attitude for Sandy. If it happens, you'll love her cunt, Josh, Sandy said. Another mental image flashed through Grace's mind. Now she's thinking about Nicole licking her clit while Pierre fucks her pussy, I said to give Sandy the mental picture Grace conjured. Oops, now I'm doing the fucking. Our Grace has a very active and imaginative fantasy life. She's also into group sex. Pierre is counting backwards from one hundred, Nicole said with a mental giggle. He'll come first. Ignore him, I said. Let's come with Grace. Pierre groaned and his body stiffened. I felt what Grace experienced at the moment, felt Pierre's cock grow larger inside her, felt his throbbing shaft lurch, and felt his hot liquid spread against the back of her cunt. I didn't ignore the sensations of his orgasm, but instead tamped them down to avoid coming with him. Grace's patience and timing intrigued me. She knew what she wanted, and she was damned well going to get it. She waited until Pierre's last strong ejaculation and then let her own orgasm wash over her. Her fingers stayed with her clit, pushing, rubbing, not frantically, but studied, her delicate touch designed to enhance and lengthen her orgasm. When she hit her peak, I joined her, and Nicole and Sandy climaxed simultaneously with me. I didn't want to dampen Grace's orgasm, and I wouldn't hurt Nicole or Sandy's feelings by cutting their sensations in half, so I left the here and now momentarily when I passed out from sensory overload. The three women were still coming when I regained consciousness, so I didn't miss much. We needed a maid and a gardener for our home base, and I didn't have the slightest idea how to locate them. I'd hired a landscape contractor, but I didn't appreciate his men wandering around our property, and until we started construction on the Belize TRES Island Resort, the three of us had easily handled any housecleaning needed in the compound without help (I'd let my housekeeper go at the townhouse when Sandy moved in with us). Yes, I'd pitched in and done my part. I vacuumed the carpets, took out the garbage, and wasn't above doing the dishes. But with all the traveling the new development required from the three of us, the compound needed some TLC. What's more, it looked like we'd soon be traveling even more. I'd located a five hundred acre Greek island for sale in the Aegean Sea three miles from the port of Linaria on Skyros Island. Except for an old stone house built many years ago, the island was pristine. Sandy had taken a quick trip to view the island and was excited about developing a high-end hotel on the property. She had a good time in Greece, too, because she got with Gregory Pappas, a Greek antiquities dealer, and Nessie, a Sophia Loren look-alike. Pappas and Nessie were Sandy's lovers when she left me behind and searched for artifacts in Corfu. I was looking forward to meeting Nessie. Her orgasmic sensations were phenomenal, and she liked sex with men as well as women. Sandy said her reunion with Pappas was fun, but she wouldn't contact him again. He was too possessive. Josh, put off the search for a maid and gardener until after the grand opening, Sandy said to me. She'd been listening to my thoughts, although they weren't directed at her. All right, but give me your reasoning, I said. I think we should bring Grace and Pierre to the opening. I'd like Pierre to meet our executive chef at the hotel, and the exposure will help Grace deal with what we do and introduce her to some of the folks we know. I agree with Sandy, Nicole said. Besides, while we're gone, we can hire a crew to clean the place and another crew to spiff up the landscaping. We'll need security to watch them, I added. Then hire security, for heaven's sake, Sandy said. To change the subject, Liz will not be attending the opening. She doesn't want to leave the baby. I shrugged. Par for the course, lately. Should we look for a new decorator for the Greek island development? Not only a new decorator but also an architect, Sandy said. Andy and Liz are pulling back professionally and settling into domestic bliss. So be it, I said. After raising my shield, I wondered when Nicole and Sandy would get the urge to become mothers. I hoped they'd wait a few years. I wasn't ready to be a daddy, not yet. Would I ever be ready? I dropped the shield. The aroma was out of this world. The spoon dipped into the soup and moved to my mouth where the flavors captured my taste buds and spread like an orgasm, but in super-slow motion. My eyes rolled back in my head and a smile crept onto my lips. "Good," I breathed. I adjusted my eyes and looked up at Pierre. "That is the best lobster bisque I've ever tasted, bar none, Pierre, better than the lobster bisque I had in New Orleans." He beamed. "I started with a recipe from New Orleans that I altered to enhance the flavor of the lobster. The main course comes from New Orleans, too. Panéed veal and fettuccini." "And the dessert?" "A soufflé. The flavor will surprise you." "I can hardly wait. Isn't this soup marvelous, Nicole?" She chuckled. "I don't know. I haven't tasted it yet. I was having too much fun watching you." "The soup is very good, Pierre," Grace said. We'd invited Grace to join us for dinner because we wanted to talk to her about attending the grand opening in Belize with us. After the superlative meal, I asked Pierre to sit with us and broached the subject. "We'd like the two of you to attend the Belize TRES Island Hotel's grand opening. Pierre, we think it would be advantageous for you to meet our executive chef, and Grace, the more you know about what we do the better you can do your job. We'll be leaving in two days with a two-day layover in L.A. We're sorry about the short notice." Pierre frowned. His thoughts told me the executive chef for the hotel might not want Pierre in his kitchen. The idea excited Grace, but she worried about her wardrobe. Josh, Sandy said, I've spoken with our executive chef. He's looking forward to meeting Pierre. Nicole, take Grace shopping with you in L.A. Rodeo Drive is beckoning. With a chuckle, I informed Pierre he'd be welcome in the Belize hotel's kitchen, and Nicole announced the shopping spree on Rodeo Drive. Pierre looked pleased, but Grace looked shocked. "You'd do that for me?" Grace said. "Do What?" Nicole said, looking innocent. "Take me shopping." Nicole looked at me. "Didn't you tell Grace about the clothing allowance that came with her job?" I grinned. "I guess it slipped my mind." Nicole shook her head with disgust. "Men!" She took Grace's hand in hers. "Grace, it wouldn't be fair for us to insist that you wear expensive clothes for some of the functions you'll attend with us or on our behalf unless we provided a means for you to buy the clothes." She grinned. "Besides, we'll have fun. I hear shopping on Rodeo Drive is a treat." "There is one other problem," I said. "We're short on rooms. Besides the dignitaries we've invited to the public relations event, Sandy has comped a dozen agents from the best travel agencies in the world to see our new hotel. That means the two of you will need to share a room." Oh, oh, they know about Pierre and me, Grace thought. Pierre blushed. My wicked grin must've given me away. "We're busted, Pierre," Grace said. I laughed. "Yup. Look, if you truly don't want to share a room, we'll try to adjust." "We'll share a room," Pierre said with his own version of a wicked grin. I dialed a throwaway cell phone, and Dot answered after the first ring. Was she waiting for my call? "Don't do it, Dot," I said. I'd been in her head. She was thinking about telling her boss about me. "You've been approaching our thing perfectly. I'm an anonymous source, which is true. If you tell your boss I'm a telepath, I'll never call you again." "Argh! You are so fucking frustrating." I laughed. "Yeah, that's me." I felt her press her fingers to her pussy over the denims she wore. She'd forgotten that I'd told her I was an empath as well as a telepath. Should I remind her? "The chop shop lead panned out," she said. "The locals in Tucson will raid the shop tonight." Fingers pinched a nipple over her blouse or whatever she was wearing. Dot needed a boyfriend. "That's good to hear. I'll be in L.A. tomorrow, and it occurred to me that you might have an open case in that city that I could solve for you." Soren Thorson was exhibiting some new sculptures in a gallery in L.A., and Nicole and I had decided to check them out before flying on to Belize - the reason for our two-day layover. "Unfortunately, I can't help you unless you know the perpetrator of the crime but can't prove it. If you'll give me his name, an address, perhaps some habits that will point to the bad guy's whereabouts, I'll dig into his memories and give you something that will allow you to take him down." The idea excited her. She flipped a button on her blouse and moved her hand over a breast. She wasn't wearing a bra. Her palm traced a lazy circle over a turgid nipple. I started to get a hard-on. "All right. Give me your number, and I'll call you with the details," she said. I laughed boisterously. "Don't call me. I'll call you. I like what you're doing to your nipple. It feels good." She gasped, and I felt her hand jerk out of her blouse so quickly a button popped loose. "You forgot I told you I was an empath, didn't you?" "Are you telling me that you can feel what I feel?" "Yup, both your emotions and your sensations." "Fuck!" she breathed and hung up. I stayed with her. Her emotions ranged from anger to fear, and then she became almost serene. I felt her unbutton her slacks and push them down her legs. She stepped out of her panties and sat on some smooth material. Her fingers pried open the lips of her pussy. Fuck you, whatever your name is, she thought. Then she giggled. No, make that, fuck me. She curled her fingers and dipped them into her pussy, gathering lubricant, and her wet fingertips rolled around her clitoris without touching it. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Nicole crossing the room. "Nicole, come here, please." "What?" Are you listening? Dot thought. Are you feeling what I'm feeling? "It's Dot, Special Agent Dorothy Collins, my FBI contact. She just hung up on me, and she's masturbating. Wanna join us?" Nicole grinned wryly. "Sure." She flipped up the hem of her sundress and peeled off her panties while I pushed my trousers and boxers to the floor. "Have you found her?" I asked. "Oh yeah." I think I'll call you Dick Fucking Tracy, Dot said or thought. Dick for short, but I hope it isn't short, your dick, I mean. Do you have a big dick, a big, long, fat cock? That's what I need right now, your big, fat cock. Nicole straddled me and lowered her cunt down around my big, fat cock. "What did you do to get her goin' like that?" Nicole asked, looking surprised. She was wondering if I'd zapped Dot with an attitude. "Nothing. While I was talking with her on the cell phone, she started to play with her tits. When I reminded her I was an empath and could sense her emotions and feel her sensations, she hung up on me. A minute later, she stripped and started playing with her pussy." Nicole snickered. "Well, she sure is havin' a good time." Your big, fat cock fucking me... fucking me... filling my cunt. You can feel my sensations, huh? Well feel this, Dick. Three fingers jabbed deeply into her cunt. How about this? She added a fourth finger. And this! Her thumb curled into her palm and she pressed forcefully on her hand with her other hand. Fuck, she's fisting herself, Nicole thought. "Can you do that?"I asked Nicole. "No, and I've tried, too." Is your dick as big as my hand, Dick? I do love a big dick, the bigger the better. The hand pushing on her hand retreated and found her clit, this time rubbing it directly. A long tongue, too. Are you a cunt licker, Dick? I do love my cunt licked. Fingers flashed over her clit; her fist thrust into her cunt, and her hips started to roll. Hot, so hot! Me, too, Nicole said silently and her hips moved, matching Dot's rhythm. What the hell are the two of you doing? Sandy asked. Nicole explained and asked if Sandy wanted to join us. Sandy laughed. I'll pass. I'm in a meeting. Have fun. Are you listening? Are you feeling? Well, feel this you fucker. Dot wailed and her hips froze in the air when she climaxed. When I recovered, I asked Nicole, "Should I call and thank her for the orgasm?" "No. She'd be mortified." God, I hope he wasn't listening, Dot thought. I didn't call her until the next morning just before we left for L.A. She gave me a name and enough details for me to locate a thug connected with organized crime in California. "He's very careful, Dick, wise to wiretaps and other listening devices, and we haven't been able to turn anyone close to him." "Dick?" She chuckled. "That's the nickname I gave you. Dick Fucking Tracy." Good, he wasn't listening. She breathed a sigh of relief. "What can we do to help the homeless, Josh?" Nicole asked. Unlike Scottsdale, the streets of L.A. offered visible proof of the homeless problem. "I don't know. I'm willing, but only if whatever we do truly helps them. I understand many of them have mental problems; others are addicts, either alcohol or drugs. Throwing money at them might not be the answer. Why don't you look into it to determine how we can maximize the positive results of our help?" She grimaced. "I think I will. What about you, Josh?" "What do you mean?" "Do you have a favorite charity?" No he doesn't, Sandy said, and neither do I, and it's time we all thought about giving back some of our bounty. "No," I said for Grace and Pierre's benefit. They were riding to our hotel in a limo with us. "I've been leery about giving to charitable organizations. It seems to me that a large part of the donations they receive go to salaries and other expenses of the organization itself before any money reaches those needing help. But, you bring up a good point. I'll do some research and give you an answer later." I'll do the same, Sandy said as the limo stopped in front of the hotel. Sandy, think, I said. Your choice of charities is a foregone conclusion. Oh, how so? What caused your savage acts in past lives? Oh. Yup, put your charitable efforts into saving some battered women and children. Perfect. You're right, Josh. Thanks. I was sitting in a restaurant sipping Chianti and munching on Italian bread waiting for the antipasto I'd ordered when the object of my visit walked in from the smog with three other men, two of which I quickly determined were bodyguards for the thug Dot had directed me to investigate. One of the bodyguards used some sort of electronic device in a private room in the restaurant, checking for listening devices, I assumed. He nodded to his boss, and the hostess guided Dino Ganarelli and his guest to a table in the room. Doors closed, and one of the bodyguards stood by the door. The other took a stool at the bar that gave him a view of both the front door and the doors to the private room. From the bulges in their suit jackets, I figured they were armed. I'd established an empathic connection with Ganarelli and his guest when they'd entered the restaurant. Ganarelli was calm, but I also noticed the presence of constant and controlled anger. I also sensed the tamped-down anger could be unleashed and evolve into all-out rage in the span of a second. His guest, a man named Jim Bello, was a nervous wreck. It's time to go to work, I thought and reached with a tendril to scan Ganarelli's surface thoughts. Fuck, he's a telepath! I immediately cut off my telepathic scan but probed deeper with my empathic ability for attitudes. His attitude told me that he'd felt my tendril, but it was so brief he began to doubt his senses. Leave! Nicole ordered. Now, Josh. He can't feel my empathic scan, I told Nicole. I don't care. Get out of there. Leave that man alone. I should have taken Nicole's advice because the very next second Ganarelli felt my empathic probe. Suddenly the doors to the private room flew open. Ganarelli cast a telepathic scan around the room. I had no choice. I raised my shield, and his scan bounced off my imaginary titanium mirror. "Take him!" Ganarelli shouted, pointing at me. Like hell! I thought and lowered my shield. I hit Ganarelli with a pain attitude first and then turned the two bodyguards into temporary zombies. I'd made an effort to get next to Ganarelli, and I wasn't about to waste the effort, so I struck him with a powerful, deep telepathic probe that sucked his memories from his mind to mine within seconds. I didn't care if my probe produced brain damage. Hell, I hoped it would. I'd ignored Ganarelli's guest, which was a mistake because, while I was confiscating Ganarelli's memories, Jim Bello drew his gun and shot me. The bullet ripped through my left shoulder and spun me out of the chair to the floor. The next shot missed me and took out the window in front of the restaurant. I will not die! I heard Nicole screaming in my mind and tamped down my connection with her. Then I hit Bello with enough pain to send him flying across the room. As he hit the floor, I pushed myself to my feet. The sound of sirens made me realize Dot wouldn't pass up an opportunity to determine my identity. I needed to make myself hard to find, which wouldn't be easy with a bullet wound in my shoulder. I staggered out the door to the sidewalk. The pain was excruciating, so I bundled it and threw it at the shooter. Not a cab in sight. The sirens sounded louder, so I fashioned an attitude and sent it to the driver of a van. He stopped at the curb, and I climbed into the passenger seat. Another attitude told him to drive and stay calm until I told him otherwise. Talk to me, Josh! Nicole said frantically. I need to heal my wound, Nicole. Leave me alone for a few minutes. I closed my eyes and followed the path of the bullet. It had entered the crook of my shoulder and exited out my back, shattering my scapula in the process. I'd already lost a lot of blood, so I stopped the bleeding first. Broken bones grew back together, I knew, so I arranged the pieces of the shattered scapula like the pieces in a jigsaw puzzle, pushing the small pieces out the exit wound before pulling the skin over the hole and closing the wound again. I tossed my pain in a mailbox at a street corner as we drove past it. Nicole, could you meet me somewhere with a cab or limo? Yes! Where? What's going on? Sandy demanded. Somebody just shot Josh, Nicole said. Oh, god! He's hurting! Sandy said, feeling my pain. I'll be fine, but I need to disappear. Besides the bad guys, the Feds are probably looking for me. Nicole, where are you? Rodeo Drive. Is there a men's store handy? Yes. Buy a new shirt and sport coat for me. You know my sizes. The bad guy shot me in the shoulder. I can't walk into our hotel wearing a bloody sport coat. I proceeded to direct my rescue. Sandy was fit to be tied, but Nicole cooperated beautifully. An hour later, I was resting comfortably in our room. It wasn't easy, but I convinced Nicole to finish her shopping spree with Grace. Convincing Sandy that she didn't need to catch the next flight to L.A. was even more difficult. Yes, I remembered to tell the driver of the van to forget he ever saw me. The waiters, hostess and others in the Italian restaurant would remember me, though, including the bad guys. I wondered if I should scramble Ganarelli's brains to protect myself. Yes, Sandy said. You're serious? As a heart attack. He's evil, and he's a telepath. He represents the worst kind of threat, Josh. I have his psi-sig. I'll monitor him from time to time. If he comes after me, I'll zap him. Otherwise... I agree with Sandy, Nicole said. I nearly lost it when I felt the pain of that bullet strike you. I would have lost it if you had died. I love you more than life itself, and the thought of going on without you terrifies me. Don't mess around with the likes of that evil man, Josh. Take him down - permanently. I have his memories. I can put him behind bars where he can't harm me. What would you do if he came after Nicole or me? Sandy asked. Yeah, like Paul Garnet, that telepath in Las Vegas? You'd take him down then without hesitating. That's what you'd do, Nicole said. I still have nightmares about what I did to Garnet, I said. Buddy boy, you're as important to us as we are to you, Sandy said. I'd scramble Ganarelli's brains for you if I could. Likewise, Nicole said. Do it, Josh. I don't want to live with the threat he represents. That makes me judge, jury and executioner. Uh-uh. I'm the judge; Nicole's the jury. We've spoken. Do it. I reached out and found Ganarelli's psi-sig and breathed a sigh of relief. He's shielded. ------- Chapter 29 "Good morning, Dot," I said into a cell phone. After checking on her, I thought it wise to call and relieve her anxiety. She'd correctly assumed that I was the victim in the shootout at the Italian restaurant yesterday. I heard all the air whoosh from her lungs. "Are you all right?" "Fair to middlin'. Your thug plays rough." "He's not my thug." I laughed, which made me wince. "You're hurting, aren't you?" "Bullets do that. Where are you?" I'd called her cell phone when she didn't answer a call to her home. "L.A. I flew in last night. Do you know how many hospitals there are in the L.A. area?" "Call off the hounds. I didn't go to a hospital. Did anyone arrest Ganarelli?" "No. He wasn't the shooter. He was questioned and released." "I figured. What about the shooter?" "Questioned and released. He claimed self-defense, and half the gang in the restaurant backed up his story. The D.A. wouldn't prosecute. D.A.'s nowadays only take on slam dunks or celebrity cases." I chuckled and winced. "If you didn't go to a hospital, where did you get help?" Should I tell her about psychic healing? I asked myself. No, Nicole said. I wasn't asking you. Who were you asking? Myself. Oh. "It will take a while for the shattered bone to mend, but otherwise, I'm doing fine. Would you like to feel my pain?" I bundled it and sent it along my telepathic pathway. When she gasped, I jerked it back and put it in an imaginary box in an air vent in my room. "That's what I was feeling before I gave it to you. When the pain starts to nag, I bundle it up and cast it away." Show off, Nicole said. "What about infection?" Dot asked. "That's being monitored. Would you like the goods on Ganarelli?" "You mean... ?" "I didn't have much time, but I grabbed his memories on the fly. He's a pig. No, that gives pigs a bum rap. Do you have a pen and notebook?" "Notebook?" "Yeah, this is going to take a while, and you'll need more than a piece of paper." I started with an organizational structure for organized crime in California and other parts of the country, and went on from there, talking for two hours, occasionally answering a question. "That's it. May I dump the fucker's memories now?" "Dump... ?" "Yeah, I sure don't want them cluttering my mind." "You just gave me all this from memory?" "Yes, his memory." "Jesus!" "Do you have enough to take him down?" "Him and a dozen others, maybe more." "Oh, one more thing. He's a telepath." "What?" "He's a telepath. That's what started the ruckus in the restaurant. He felt my telepathic scan." "Oh." "Interrogating him could be a problem," I said. "Fuck!" "My sentiments exactly." Against Nicole and Sandy's wishes, I put my left arm in a sling, and attended Soren Thorsen's one-man show with Nicole, Grace and Pierre. Antonio and Regina had traveled to America to support their husband, and they were happy to see us, especially when we purchased another piece of Soren's sculptures. The gallery owner was happy to have the sculpture crated and shipped to our Belize hotel. I was pleasantly surprised to see Regina out in a social event. The plural marriage the threesome had fashioned seemed to have shattered her reclusive bent. She played mute, writing questions and answers, but was happily involved. After checking out Soren's work, I found myself next to Regina. With a chuckle, I leaned to her ear and asked, "How's the fucking schedule working out?" She laughed, and I remembered how much I'd enjoyed the sound of her laughter when we'd first met. No more fucking schedule, thank God, and Nicole was right. Antonio and Soren at the same time is delicious, she wrote. "Are you still monogamous, so to speak?" Yes. "Shucks." She laughed again and wrote, Has Sandy found her man of the world? "Nope. She hasn't given up her quest, though. Does Antonio still consider retrognition a curse?" No. What happened to your arm? I explained. You were the person shot in that restaurant? Amazing! I watched a report on the incident on television last night. "Yeah, well, mums the word." Of course. "Is sexual fidelity still the cornerstone of your marriage? Or has someone strayed?" Love is the cornerstone. Antonio... Let me just say the three of us now understand what you and your wives were trying to tell us. Jealousy is a terrible emotion. "I'm confused. You said you were still committed to sexual fidelity." I am, as is Soren. Antonio isn't. He wants a child, an heir. "Ah." The desire to reproduce in action, I thought. What's wrong with that? Sandy asked. Nothing, and I wasn't talking with you. Perhaps, but I was listening. After we develop the Greek island hotel, plan on consulting a geneticist with me, buddy boy. All right. Were you talking silently with one of your wives just now? Regina wrote. "Yes, Sandy. She's in Belize. She sends her love." I went on to tell her all about our island hotel. "We'll be flying to Belize tomorrow for the grand opening." Send us information on the hotel. It sounds like a perfect hideaway for the three of us to vacation for a few days. "I will. We'll be in Greece in a few weeks. Perhaps we can get together then." When she asked why we'd be in Greece, I told her about our plans to build a hotel on a Greek island. "Which gives me an idea. We're looking for an architect for that hotel. Perhaps you or Antonio or Soren could recommend one." Perhaps. Keep in touch and we'll let you know. Large, lavish events like our grand opening weren't my cup of tea, and with my injured shoulder, I had an excuse to avoid much of the glad-handing and socializing. I spent some time in the hotel's kitchen watching the executive chef and Pierre in action. The two of them got along famously, which gave me an idea that would help Pierre become all he could be and made a mental note to discuss my idea with my wives later. I also made an effort to check out every employee, and found one we needed to let go. A guest left out money and valuables that had tempted her, and she'd snitched them. I took the manager with me to the maid's quarters, showed him where she'd stashed the money and jewelry, and he fired her on the spot. Unlike me, Grace thrived at the event. She had a memory for names and details that astonished me. In L.A., she'd asked Nicole for a Palm Pilot, and she kept notes in the PDA and transferred the notes to a notebook computer, another purchase in L.A. She looked sharp, too. The new clothes and hairstyle gave her a classy look. She beamed when I told her my thoughts. "This is the best job I've ever had. I love you guys," she said. I laughed and said, "Hold the hug until my shoulder gets better." We'd told Grace and Pierre that I'd slipped and fallen, bruising my shoulder badly. But no one shined like my wives. They were in all their glory. I was so proud of them I thought I'd burst, but as the evening progressed I noticed the stress of the event was getting to them. When the evening finally staggered to a close, I took them to our suite of rooms where I had two masseuses waiting for them. I watched the ladies knead and prod my wives and, while I was at it, asked questions. I wanted to relax my lovelies if a masseuse wasn't available. I would've tried some of their techniques, but a one handed massage just didn't cut it. The massages turned Nicole and Sandy into wet noodles, and I poured them in bed. We didn't make love. I was hurting, and they were wiped out. While they slept, I wandered into my protoplasm and hurried the healing process by mentally mending the shattered bones of my scapula. I woke up feeling much better, thank goodness. Refreshed from a good night sleep, Nicole and Sandy wanted some loving, and I was well enough to oblige. I ate breakfast in the kitchen. Pierre was there and made me eggs benedict to order. I smiled as the flavors wandered over my taste buds. Enrico, our executive chef, watched my obvious pleasure and asked Pierre about the recipe, and the two of them started a discussion about herbs and spices and walked away, giving me the privacy to enjoy my breakfast. After eating, I grabbed my watercolor paraphernalia and searched for a scene that interested me, finding just what I wanted with a small waterfall splashing into a pond surrounded with lush greenery. We'd created the scene when we landscaped the hotel, but it looked natural. I dashed off a quick painting and the results pleased me, which didn't happen very often. I managed to capture the sunlight sparkling on the water. I'd come to realize light was important in any painting. "That's very good," a woman said. I hadn't noticed her, and I didn't know how long she'd been watching me paint, which surprised me. I was usually very aware of anyone around me, unless I'm in a crowd. "Thank you," I said. She was a beautiful, young woman, dark skinned, and I guessed she had some Mayan blood in her veins, not much, but a little. I probed her surface thoughts and connected with her empathically. She was feeling lonely - another surprise. As beautiful as she was, I couldn't imagine her being alone. Men had to flock around her. "Are you a professional artist?" "No, a student of art would be more accurate." Her thoughts told me she wanted to know my name, so I introduced myself. "My name is Lin Sluder," she said. "I'm here with my father. He's the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Tourism, NEMO and Information for Belize." She'd made the announcement with pride, which pleased me. A daughter should be proud of her father. I enjoyed the sounds of her voice. They were soft but clear, very feminine without being girlish. "I believe I met him last night," I said. "He sounds like a very important man." She nodded and suddenly placed me. "You're one of the owners of this hotel." "Yes. Did you enjoy the grand opening festivities?" He's married, she thought, suddenly dejected. I chuckled inwardly, happy that I'd attracted such a beautiful woman but, at the same time, upset because I felt her let down. Then she shocked me. I don't care that he's married. I want him. A fling, a quick fuck without complications. That's what I want. Nicole, Sandy, a beautiful woman is hitting on me, I announced. Sandy snickered. Have fun. It's about time you had some sex for the fun of it without Nicole or me in attendance. Fine by me, but be careful not to injure your shoulder, Nicole said. May I use our suite? Sure, they both replied. "Yes," Lin said to answer my question about the grand opening. "Your wife is very beautiful." "Yes, both of them." "Both?" "Yes. Nicole and Sandy. I'm thirsty. Would you join me for a cold drink?" "You have two wives?" "Yes. I love them both. They love each other, and me, so we formed a plural marriage, not legally, of course, but in our hearts we're married." I'd gathered my art paraphernalia while I talked, so I took her elbow and we walked away together. Her mind was going a mile a minute. The fact that I was not just married but doubly married didn't diminish her desire for me, just the opposite, so I probed her memories to determine why my plural marriage excited her sexually, but my probe uncovered no reasons. If Lin and I tumbled onto the bed in my suite, I'd be her first fling, as she'd put it. After I poured iced tea into two glasses and gave one to her, we settled on sofas in the sitting room facing each other. She crossed her legs, and her long skirt split at her knees, giving me a wonderful view of her shapely legs. My probe had given me one clue to her sexuality. She'd masturbated from a young age, years before adolescence. Over time, she'd learned to hide her habit and, surprisingly, experienced no guilt from her daily sessions with self-pleasure. Her self-induced orgasms were also stronger than those she experienced during sex with another person. Her thoughts had informed me that whether she was able to seduce me, or not, that she'd return to her room and give herself an orgasm. If her seduction attempt were successful, she'd use my semen as a lubricant for that session. Then it dawned on me that her loneliness probably came from her lonely habit. She'd never masturbated with anyone present. Could I induce her to masturbate for me? I sipped tea and swallowed, smacking my lips. "You're very beautiful, but then you're very aware of your beauty. Still, I sense that you're lonely. Why is that?" Her eyes widened. "That's very insightful." "I also sense that you enjoy the pleasures of sex, whether with a partner or alone." I frowned. "Alone more than with a partner." She gasped. "What are you? A mind reader?" I laughed. "Hardly, but I've been accused of being empathic from time to time. I take it my assumption hit home?" She blushed and nodded. She was comfortable with her masturbatory habit, but uncomfortable with my awareness of it. I needed to make her feel more at ease. "I masturbate; every sexually healthy individual masturbates. I see no reason for you to feel embarrassed, especially with me. My wives masturbate. Sometimes, I enjoy watching them, and they like my eyes on them as they give themselves pleasure. They tell me that my presence takes the loneliness out of an otherwise very pleasurable experience." That's true, Nicole said. For sure, buddy boy, Sandy added. I enjoyed the sexual sensations gathering in Lin's body, the tingles, the heaviness. She'd correctly analyzed my statement when she assumed that I wanted her to masturbate for me, but she was in error regarding my reason. She'd presumed watching her masturbate was my way of remaining faithful to my wives. I needed to dispel that notion, so I rose to my feet and stood in front of her, close but not touching her. Then I moved to my knees and ran my hands up her legs from her ankles to her knees and beyond over her outer thighs, pushing her skirt up her legs in the process. I looked up at her. She'd closed her eyes to concentrate on the sensations produced by my hands moving over her flesh. When I nudged a knee, she uncrossed her legs, and I moved my hands up her legs once more, but this time on the inside. When my hands reached her thighs, she allowed them to fall open, and my nostrils flared, taking in the fragrance of her aroused vulva. She raised her hips, allowing me to remove her panties, stepping out of them one foot at a time, and once again, I caressed her inner thighs. Her pubic patch was thick and dark. "Touch yourself. Cup your vulva with your hands." She obeyed because that's what she wanted to do, and my order had given her permission to act. She slipped her fingers between the folds of her cunt and massaged and played with her inner labia, pulling on them, lightly at first and then more firmly. Her fingers moved to her clitoris and gently moved up and down. Her fingers jiggled, making the loose flesh covering her clitoris slide across the exposed nubbin. When I sensed her need to be filled, I inserted a finger into her vagina. She gasped with pleasure but didn't hurry her own caresses. Her thoughts told me that if an orgasm occurred, she wanted it to be a total surprise. "Open your eyes," I said. They snapped open. "Look at your cunt, watch yourself and me, your fingers and mine. Are you feeling lonely?" "No." Using the palm of her hand, she rubbed her clitoris directly. Then she pinched it between a finger and thumb, jacking on her clitoral shaft as if it were a cock. I searched for and found her g-spot and added another finger. I didn't tap, but instead rubbed the rough surface with my fingertips. Her assault and mine provided the desired results because all at once her orgasm gathered and rushed outward. I tamped down the sensations of her climax. I wasn't ready to have an orgasm but I wanted to feel hers. I didn't know if she was multi-orgasmic, and I wanted to fuck her so I couldn't rely on her arousal to help me maintain an erection like I did with Nicole and Sandy. Wow! Nicole said. That gal can come! No kidding, Sandy said. Did you join her? I asked my wives. I did, Nicole said. And my climax was difficult to hide. I managed, though. I didn't come, Sandy said. Like you, Josh, I'm waiting for round two. When Lin fell limp back to the sofa to relax in post-orgasmic lethargy, I leaned forward and ran my tongue through her folds, carefully avoiding her clitoris. She didn't react, positively or negatively, so I rose to my feet and removed my clothes. She didn't watch me. Her eyes remained closed. That was so nice, she thought as her eyes fluttered open. They widened when she saw me standing in front of her naked. I held out my hand. She took it, and her eyes moved to my rampant cock as I pulled her to her feet and into my arms. I kissed her, and she melted against me. She also started to get excited again. We walked together into the bedroom. Her thoughts told me she wanted to watch me masturbate, so I rolled onto the bed and took my cock in hand while she removed her clothes. The rest of her body was as outstanding as her shapely legs. She was slim with a narrow waist, womanly hips and large breasts, but not too large. Her nipples were thick and hard and dark. She stood next to the bed and avidly watched as I slowly stroked my cock with my hand. She cupped her breasts and pinched her nipples. "That is so beautiful," she breathed, and then her eyes met mine. "You are beautiful." She'd wondered about my almost healed wound but said nothing about it. "Lie beside me," I said. After she moved onto the bed, I turned onto my side and we faced each other. "I'm going to fuck you now, but I want you to touch yourself while I fuck you." "Yes," she said simply. I moved over her, and she guided my cock to her entrance. It was a tight fit, but I finally managed to push my entire length inside her. Holding herself up slightly with her elbows, she'd watched me enter her. "You're large - wide," she said rhetorically as one of her hands reached for her cunt and she started her practiced touches designed to give her pleasure and ultimately an orgasm. Her fingers brushed my cock occasionally. I thrust slowly, and she watched my cock fuck her. The entire experience fascinated her. It was much different than her previous times with a man, which to her mind were hurried, and for the most part, unsatisfying events. She'd climaxed, but her orgasms had been forced. When I leaned down and took a nipple into my mouth, she fell back to the bed and closed her eyes. Connected with her sensations, I knew she liked her nipples handled roughly, so I bit at them and sucked hard. The messages that traveled from her breasts to her cunt weren't delicate. They were forceful and demanding, and her hips started to move with my thrusts. She reveled in the totality of our lovemaking. Being able to touch herself made it perfect, and her arousal soared. "Hold the edge," I whispered as I kissed and then sucked on her lower neck. "Let your orgasm be a surprise." I varied the rhythm and depth of my thrusts, and her fingers flashed over her clitoris. Her moans became louder and more constant, and she came suddenly. I joined her, took her orgasm as my own, and I was gratified that it was as powerful as her first climax when she'd masturbated. We were cuddled, holding each other when Nicole stepped into the room and removed her clothes. Sandy joined us just as Nicole moved onto the bed and started to caress Lin's shoulder and neck, trailing kisses behind her touches. At first, Lin was nervous, but Nicole's touch calmed her, and then excited her. Lin had been with women, preferred them to men. "May I eat my husband's come from your cunt?" Nicole asked as her fingers slipped through the folds of Lin's vulva, spreading my juices from Lin's vagina to her clitoris. "Yes!" Lin gushed. Sandy squirmed between Lin and me, and took Lin into her arms and kissed her. When Nicole's mouth covered Lin's cunt, I moved from the bed and positioned myself in back of my wife. I raised her hips and pushed my cock into her. Sandy played with Lin's breasts, kissed them, sucked on her nipples, and at the same time started to masturbate. Sandy rolled to her back and concentrated on herself, caressing her own breasts, using fingertips to rub her clitoris. "That is so sexy," Sandy said, referring to the sight of Nicole eating Lin while I fucked Nicole. Lin's hands went to her breasts. She pulled and jerked at her nipples, pinching them forcefully as she enjoyed the sensations of Nicole's mouth on her cunt. Sandy rolled to her side and kissed Lin again while continuing to rub her own clit, occasionally pushing a finger or two inside her. "I want to eat you," Lin said to Sandy, so Sandy moved to her knees and straddled Lin's face. Lin pulled Sandy's cunt down to her mouth. The moans and groans became louder, Sandy's and mine, that is. Cunts muffled Nicole and Lin's moans. A few minutes later, Lin climaxed. Because we were all keyed on her, we came with her. Somehow I managed to avoid sensory overload. Lin surprised me when she gave herself another orgasm in the privacy of her own room shortly after leaving us. I was fucking Sandy when we came with her once again. From all accounts, the grand opening was a huge success. The travel agents we'd invited for the opening returned to their offices and promptly booked half the room nights available for the next three months. Word of mouth finished our marketing efforts, and the hotel soon maintained a waiting list. Regina, Soren and Antonio enjoyed their stay at the hotel three months later, and reserved their rooms at the same time for the next two years. The hotel turned a profit within six months. Sandy had to step back from real estate to concentrate on her writing and the book tour for her second novel, which hit the best seller lists. Nicole backed off the business a little to complete her MBA at Phoenix College, so I took the lead on the development of the Greek island hotel. My painting continued to improve. The quality of light on the islands of Greece was amazing, and after failing to capture the light in my paintings time and time again, I finally got the hang of it. Life was good, and then it started to turn ugly. The changes were subtle, and I didn't notice them at first, probably because I was in the Mediterranean so much of the time. We'd wanted to be all that we could be, but in the process of achieving our goals, we drifted apart. I lived out of a suitcase half the time, as did Sandy, which made Nicole lonely. Then she received notice that she'd been accepted into the doctoral program for business economics at Harvard, which would require her to move to Boston. To say that I was happy for her would have been a lie, and I prided myself on not lying. Phoenix College offered a doctoral program, and I'd assumed that Nicole would continue her education online. "I want this, Josh," Nicole stated. "A Ph.D. in economics from Harvard is a dream come true. I thought you'd be happy for me." "I can't move to Boston with you." "It's only for two years," Sandy said. Surprisingly, Sandy was on Nicole's side. "I know, but..." Fuck it. They needed to know how I truly felt about what was happening. "Our TRES is crumbling. I'm stuck in Greece for another year. Nicole, you just announced that you're moving to Boston for two years, maybe longer. Sandy, you're never around. You spend more time in your New York apartment than you do here. The staff is feeling restless, even useless. How can they serve us if we're never here? The future frightens me. I'm afraid we're growing apart, not closer." "We stay in touch through our thoughts," Nicole said. "Hah! You can't deny that you've been feeling lonely lately." "That's right! I've been lonely, and what have either of you done about it? Nothing, that's what. I'm going to follow my dream, Josh." "What if I asked you to get your doctorate online from Phoenix College?" "I'd say no." "What if I need help in Greece?" "Sandy can help you. She's better at the development game than I am anyway." "Is there anything I can say or do that will change your mind?" I asked. "No." I looked at Sandy. "And you're for this?" "I'm for Nicole achieving her dream. If we can't support her, who will? I think you're being selfish, Josh, which isn't like you." "Yes, I am being selfish. I'm afraid what we have will fall apart and die if we don't spend more time together, not less, which will be the case if Nicole moves to Boston." "Josh, I'll be here during the summer months and every holiday break. And you can visit me in Boston. If we all make an effort, we'll be together as much as we've been together recently, maybe more," Nicole said. "Perhaps now isn't a good time to bring this up," Sandy said, "but I'll be spending a lot of time in Australia during the next year doing research for my next novel. I lived as a female aborigine from 1179 to 1201, and I need to walk the ground I walked back then to enhance my memories." "Which means you can't help me in Greece either," I stated. "I'll do what I can, of course, but..." "Okay, but with all of us going our separate ways, we'll need to simplify TRES, Inc. I'll sell Butterfly Caye, the office complex and our Belize hotel. I can't manage them and the development in Greece by myself." I'd expected opposition to my suggestion. I didn't get any. "I was going to suggest that we sell the office complex and Butterfly Caye," Nicole said. Sandy nodded. "Perhaps the buyer for the hotel will also buy the Greek island and take over the development. You don't seem happy about finishing the hotel in Greece, which surprises me. The hotels were your idea." "As a symbol of our TRES," I said as tears welled in my eyes. "Should we sell our compound? It doesn't appear that any of us will be here very much over the next few years." "No," Sandy and Nicole said simultaneously. "Then we'd better talk to Pierre and Grace. We'll need to find something to occupy them, or we'll lose them. Whether we're here or not, the couple I hired as gardener and maid don't present a problem." Pierre seemed relieved when we talked to him and announced that he and Grace were getting married, and that he'd been offered a position as an executive chef in a resort in Carefree. I felt betrayed. Not by Pierre and Grace, I understood that they needed to move on, but Sandy and Nicole were leaving me behind, Sandy for the second time. I'd given my heart away, but I was alone again. That afternoon, I wandered into the gardens of our compound, raised my shield and cried softly as I'd cried years ago on the day I'd lost Pearl because of her secret, the same day I'd lost Sandy because of her fears. Now my tears flowed because I was losing Sandy and Nicole, not because of secrets or fears, but so my lovers could follow their dreams. Back then, I considered my paranormal talents a curse, and they had become a curse again because I couldn't allow Nicole and Sandy to know how sad I was about being left behind. I'd need to spend a lot of time with my shield in place to protect them. Could our TRES survive the years of separation? ------- Chapter 30 I entered the darkest period of my life, but I wasn't without success. The office complex in Las Vegas sold quickly, exceeding our expectations. The sale for the hotel in Belize soon followed, but the buyers weren't interested in a partially developed hotel on a Greek island. "Finish it," the buyers of the hotel told me, "and we'll take a look." I was stuck with completing the Greek island project. We'd lose millions if I abandoned it. It was five months before a buyer surfaced for Butterfly Caye, and at that we had to take a small loss, which strangely didn't upset Nicole or Sandy. They were too busy to be concerned, I reasoned at the time. I found out later that my reasoning wasn't valid. They were merely trying to support my effort to dump the properties we'd accumulated so we could all go about our separate efforts. A lot of my reasoning during this period wasn't valid. I felt alone and bitter much of the time, and my attitude was the largest single cause of our growing rift. If I'd realized the harm I was inflicting I would've done something about it. It was a vicious circle. I was sad and bitter about being left alone, and Nicole and Sandy felt guilty for leaving me alone, so they tried to compensate by not calling me on my destructive behavior. The first time I returned from Greece to our compound in Scottsdale and found no one in residence except our maid and gardener, I didn't enjoy the timeout from work the home base was supposed to provide. I stopped in Boston on the trip back to Greece, but I caught Nicole at a bad time, and she couldn't spend much time with me. Sandy wasn't in New York. She was on the other side of the world in Australia. I became more despondent with each passing day and quickly learned to detest real estate development. I persevered, though. Someone had to do it, and the chore fell to me. I wore a shield over half the time. The Christmas break approached, and I looked forward to all of us getting together, but Nicole begged off, saying she needed the time for schoolwork. Sandy followed suit, declaring the long trip from Australia for such a short time wasn't worth the effort. That's when I shut down and raised a full-body shield. I'd made arrangements for the hotel development to continue in my absence over the break, so I turned off my cell phone and used the time to tour Europe on my own, painting buildings, landscapes, rural scenes and seascapes. When I returned to the island after the holiday, an angry sister greeted me. "God damn you, Josh Johnson! You've had Nicole and me sick with worry. Where the hell have you been?" "Touring Europe, painting. I did some good work." "Lower your fucking shield." "You won't like what you find if I do that, big sister." "Lower it anyway. We need to know what you're feeling, what you're thinking." I took a deep breath and removed the shield. Oh, Sandy, he's so sad! Nicole said. "Fuck this," I said as tears leaked from my eyes. I wrapped myself in my protective cocoon again. "Go back to Australia or wherever you came from. I've got a job to do here, and I'll do it, but I can't, not if I'm connected with either of you. You said I was being selfish. I was and am. I can't help it, but nevertheless I want to support you and Nicole. I want you both to be all you can be." "Nicole wants to talk with you." I turned on my cell phone. "Tell her to call me on the telephone." If I'd been connected with her, I might have been prepared for what happened next. Sandy slapped me hard. I think she was as surprised with how she'd reacted as I. I turned from her and walked to the telephone in my office. "Where is she? In her apartment in Boston?" "Yes. Josh, I'm..." I waved off her pending apology and dialed Nicole's number. She answered my call before the first ring ended. "I can't stand this, Josh! Let me in, please?" "I can't. Please understand that I miss you and Sandy in my mind as much as you miss being in mine. I miss being in your minds, hearing your thoughts, feeling your sensations and emotions more than I miss being with you, but if I let you in right now, I'll destroy whatever is left of our TRES. I'll lower my shield when this fucking job is finished. If there's anything left for us at that time, and it's my fondest wish that you'll still love me then, I'll be happy to connect with both of you again. That's the way it's got to be, Nicole. Just know that I love you and Sandy with all my heart. There's no one else, and there never will be. You wanted me to give you two years. I'll finish this job in six months. I'm asking you and Sandy for six months, Nicole. Will you give it to me?" She was crying. "Yes." I looked at Sandy. She nodded. I lowered my shield and dialed a cell phone. I didn't feel anyone enter my mind. Nicole and Sandy had given up trying to connect with me, I figured. "Dot, it's your friendly telepath." "Hello, where have you been?" "Europe. I've been out of touch. Did you put Ganarelli away?" "No, he skated." "Fuck! What happened?" "My boss scoffed at me when I told him Ganarelli was a telepath. Ganarelli used his thoughts against him, as well as the thoughts of the prosecutor, judge and jury members to manipulate the trial." "Hold a minute." I searched for Ganarelli's psi-sig and found it. He wasn't wearing a shield, so I scrambled his brains. "There," I said into the phone. "I just acted as prosecutor, judge and jury. He won't commit anymore crimes." "What did you do?" "Turned him into a vegetable." She gasped. "You're scary, Dick." "Yeah, power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely." I felt no remorse over what I'd just done. I didn't even try to tell myself that I was merely protecting Nicole and Sandy, or myself, for that matter. The authorities had failed, so I did their job for them. "Are you interested in a terrorist plot about to erupt in Athens, Greece?" When she said yes, I gave her the details including the names and addresses of the terrorist cell members, the financing method and individuals involved, and how and when they planned to carryout the act of terror. "You've got three days to stop them, or innocents will die. Do you have enough clout to stop them?" She hesitated. "I don't know." "Try. I don't want to break in anyone else as my contact." "May I tell my boss about your telepathic abilities?" "That won't work. He won't believe you." "I'm not so sure. I think Ganarelli's trial made him a believer." I chuckled. "Ganarelli's scrambled brains will make him a believer. Use that." Three days later when a truck bomb exploded in front of the U.S. Embassy in Athens, I called Agent Collins. "You failed." "My boss is a paranormal skeptic. The doctors told him Ganarelli had suffered a massive stroke." "Innocents died. Tell him that I hold him responsible. Tell him if he fails to act on one of my tips again that I will take direct action against him personally." I hung up. Power corrupts. Absolute power corrupts absolutely. Sandy, are you there? Yes! Oh, Josh, I'm so happy to hear your thoughts again! You might change your mind when I tell you what I've done. May Nicole join us? Yes. Josh, is that really you? Nicole said. Yes. I need help. I told them what I'd done to Ganarelli and about the threats I'd just made against Dot's boss. I don't even know her boss's name, but at the time I made the threat, I believed, without a doubt, that I'd follow up on my threat. Power corrupts. Absolute power corrupts absolutely, Sandy said, the tone of her silent communication in the form of a whisper. That's why I need help. I'm getting jaded - cold. I don't have enough love in me. I asked for six months. Four have gone by, but I can't wait. I need both of you back in my life now. If I get too maudlin, too bitter, please try to understand and forgive me. I can't go it alone anymore. Sandy, is there any way for you to break loose and help me set up the grand opening? I'm no good at grand openings, and with my current mindset, I'd blow it. Yes, hmm, I can leave in three or four days. Is that soon enough? Yes. I'm a month ahead of schedule. I've been a brutal taskmaster. I'm afraid I'm not very well liked around here. Nicole, what's your schedule like? Like you, I'm ahead of schedule. I've been pushing, too. Let me talk to my advisor. I think I can get away for a week. Okay, let's time your week so you're here for the opening. Sandy, anything I can do from here, I'll be happy to tackle, Nicole said. I'll call on you, Sandy said. Mental silence. I broke it with a thought. I had to know. Is there something left? Am I still loved? Yes! Two simultaneous mental shouts. Tears overflowed, happy tears. You've just restored my faith in love. I love you both so much right now I can hardly think. As it turned out, we didn't need to set up a grand opening. After I completed construction on the hotel, installed the fixtures and furniture, and hired the staff, the buyers of our Belize hotel visited the Greek island and made an offer to purchase the hotel. I accepted their offer without quibbling. At the closing, Sandy and I turned our plans for the grand opening over to the buyers and took the next flight to Boston, via London. Nicole greeted us at the airport with luggage in hand, and the three of us flew on to Phoenix and our compound in Scottsdale where we made love for three days. Temporarily sated, we were lying naked on lounges around the pool when Sandy asked me about my plans for the future. "My plans for the future are simple. I will be with one of you wherever you are. I lived without you for over a year. I'll never do that again. I'll walk the ground with you in Australia, Sandy, or spend time in your New York apartment when you're working with your publisher. Nicole, I'll live with you in Boston until you tell me to go away so you can concentrate." I chuckled. "Talk about extremes. If I count my Christmas European tour, I wore a shield for five months without contacting either of you. Now, I'll probably make a pest of myself." Nicole took my hand and kissed my palm. "You'll never be a pest, lover, not to me. You're my husband, and I love you." "Hah! Just wait. I want both of you to promise to get grumpy with me when I get too smothering, so I can make myself scarce for a while." I grinned. "There's always home base if both of you are busy." "What about your art?" Sandy asked. "You haven't done a painting since before we left Greece. Have you given up on your dream?" "I painted you and Nicole on our bed while you were sleeping this morning." "You did!" "Yes, come with me." I rose to my feet and held out a hand for each of my wives. We walked hand in hand, until I stopped them at the door to my studio. "Close your eyes. I have a surprise for you." I guided them to the middle of the cavernous room. "Okay, you can open your eyes now." "Oh, my God!" Nicole shouted, her head turning, twisting her body to follow her head. Sandy reacted similarly, turning a full three hundred sixty degrees. That morning I'd hung my watercolor paintings, hundreds of them. They covered most of the available surface of all four walls of the studio. "Josh, they're magnificent," Sandy breathed. Nicole, the more demonstrative of my wives, wrapped her arms around my neck and kissed me hard. She abruptly released me and walked away to study the paintings. Sandy joined her and took Nicole's hand. They moved slowly around the room, stopping at the painting I'd finished that morning. "I call that painting Love," I said. Sandy turned to me and nodded. "I can feel your love for us in this painting, Josh." Happy tears shined in her eyes. "Your command of the medium is incredible," Nicole said. "When are you going to show your work?" "I don't know if I ever will. I don't need the money." "You must!" Sandy exclaimed. "The world needs to see the beauty you create." "Why? I'd never sell the painting of the two of you slumbering, for instance. I could only bear to part with mediocre work, but I'll burn those paintings before I sell them." "You've painted some scenes more than once," Nicole said. "This one." She pointed. "And this one. Show one and keep the other." "One is better than the other," I said with a grin. "Keep the best one. The other one is still great." "Uh-uh. I painted the second one because the first one wasn't good enough." "Well, you certainly weren't idle during your hiatus," Sandy said. "Which one is great and which isn't good enough?" Nicole persisted. "I didn't capture the fantastic light of the Mediterranean sun in one of them." Nicole studied the two paintings, frowning at first, and then finally smiling when she noted the difference. She pointed, "That's the great one." "Give the lovely lady a kewpie doll!" I took the not-so-good painting from the wall and tore it in half. "I won't show or sell mediocre work, Nicole." I went around the room and destroyed about half the paintings on the walls. With a shameful look, I said, "I was showing off with quantity when I should have displayed only quality. Please forgive me." "You're forgiven," Sandy said, "but only if you paint two quality paintings for every scene you choose to depict. You must show your work, Josh. I insist." I thought about her proposition and smiled. "All right," I said simply. "Yes!" Nicole exclaimed, excitedly. "Whew! I'm married to a best selling novelist and a world-famous artist. I'll have to get my hind end in gear to catch up with the likes of the two of you." "World-famous is stretching my status as an artist, Nicole. I don't even know if I can induce a gallery owner to show my paintings, let alone sell any of them." "Hogwash!" Nicole said. "These are the best watercolor paintings I've ever seen. They should be framed, especially Love. Love should be hanging in our party room, and we should hang some of them in our house, Josh, and I want a few of them for my apartment in Boston, some that are full of sunshine. I hate the winters in Boston. Your sunshine paintings will warm the rooms and my heart." "I'll want some for my house here, as well as for my apartments in New York and London," Sandy said. What really pleased me was that they weren't merely being kind. My built-in lie detector would've told me if they'd exaggerated their praise. "Select the paintings you want, and I'll have them framed," I said. "Impossible!" Sandy said. "I want them all." "Over my dead body, wifey dearest," Nicole quipped, and the two of them cracked up. I wrapped my arms around both of and hugged them tightly to me. "I love you both so much. I'm starting feel whole again." When Nicole returned to Boston and Sandy to New York, I did what I said I'd never do again. I let them go and stayed in Scottsdale. Both of them had gotten behind in their work while babying me, and I didn't want to start off being a pest. It was time for me to grow up. I painted, and Arizona offered fantastic vistas that grabbed my full attention. I spent a month at the Grand Canyon, another month in Monument Valley. I visited the Hopis and the Navahos and painted the people, the settings of their confused civilizations, and tried and finally succeeded in capturing their cultures, both the old and new, in my work. And, it was good work. I painted two nearly identical scenes every time, except when I painted three and gave one to my Navaho or Hopi friends. At the end of three months, I had fifty paintings I could be proud of and sell, and fifty more I couldn't bear to part with. And while I painted, I talked to my wives. Nicole, you should see the dawn creeping over the horizon into the canyon. It's magnificent. Sandy, the Navaho are such gentle souls. You'd love them. Nicole, tell me a little of what you learned today, something I might be able to understand. Sandy, did you fix that chapter that was bothering you? Nicole, I'll be flying to New York with a portfolio of paintings tomorrow. Can you meet Sandy and me there for a day or two?... You can! Great. I've missed you. And I listened to them talk with each other. Nicole, Josh seems so happy. Yes, and that makes me happy. Since he came back to us, all the problems I was having with my schoolwork seem to have melted away. I know what you mean. I had a few months there when everything I wrote stunk like old fish. Now, the words flow, and they are grand words indeed. Our TRES was alive and well. Sandy met me at the airport and rushed into my arms. "You are going to get so fucked in the limo!" she whispered loudly in my ear after kissing me. Her whisper was enough to elicit a chuckle from an old woman walking by us. "Sounds fun," the crone said. "Do you have luggage?" Sandy asked, still clinging to me. "Yes. I'll be dressed as a man of the world when I meet with the gallery owners in your city." "Uh-uh, There's a better way to go." "Oh, do tell." "You need an artist's agent, a professional, and I found her for you. She took one look at your paintings in my apartment and went ga-ga. She's joining us for lunch tomorrow to look at your portfolio. Where is your portfolio, by the way?" "I checked it with my luggage." "What? You didn't! If the airline lost your luggage, the baggage handlers will feel my hands strangling their incompetent necks. Come on." She tugged on my hand and hurried me to the luggage carousel. My portfolio arrived with my other luggage. "Don't ever do that again, Josh. Carry your portfolio with you or ship it insured by a reliable carrier. Promise me." "Okay, I promise. Is Nicole still flying down from Boston in the morning?" "Yes, which means you're all mine tonight." Hah! Nicole said. I'll be with you every second tonight. Then get ready to come at least three times during the ride into Manhattan from the airport, Sandy said. You've got it, and get with it. I have a seminar I must attend that starts in ninety minutes. The limo hadn't left the airport before Sandy started stripping. "Get those clothes off, buddy boy, and prepare to get royally fucked." Yeah, Josh, Nicole said, get with the program and expect a similar treatment tomorrow morning when you pick me up at the airport. You just gotta love 'em, both of 'em. I'd expected Sandy to climb aboard immediately, but she surprised me and took my cock into her mouth. Can you taste him, Sandy asked. Yes! "Taste?" "Yeah, Sandy and I have taken your empathic ability a baby step forward. We can now share the sense of taste." "When did this start?" "About a month ago when I was going down on Liz." "How did I miss that?" "You had your connection with us tamped way down, as you usually do when you're painting. You're concentration when you're painting is complete." Then I went down on a fuck buddy of mine here in Boston, a graduate student, and Sandy could taste what I tasted. We're hoping the sense of smell soon joins that of taste. I chuckled. "Well that answers a question that I planned to ask the two of you tomorrow when we were together." What question? Nicole asked. If you were faithful during my hiatus. "We were faithful to our love for you," Sandy said as she straddled my hips and settled the end of my cock at the entrance of her vagina. How about you, Josh? Nicole asked. We're you faithful to us? Yes, both with my love for you and sexually. I groaned with passion as Sandy lowered her cunt down around my cock. Criminy! Sandy, that feels so good! It's as if I'm fucking him, not you. You went without all that time! Sandy said. I could hear amazement in her silent words. I masturbated. Masturbation fit the mental image of myself at the time. Surely you had offers, Nicole said. Oh, yeah. Angry young men attract sexy women in droves. I turned down all offers. I don't know if I was trying to punish myself, or the two of you. I was sick, mentally unbalanced. Let's not talk about that time. It was dark and soulless. I pulled Sandy's mouth to mine and kissed her passionately. The two of you must teach me how to taste empathically. The kiss put us back on course. I grabbed Sandy's moving hips and thrust up into her more forcefully as she slid down around me. Yeah, fuck her, Josh, Nicole said. Pound her. I want to see her walking bowlegged tomorrow when you pick me up at the airport. So as not to disappoint my wife in Boston, I pounded my wife in the limo. Wanting more, I rolled her onto her back and fucked her as hard as I'd ever fucked anyone. She climaxed, and I ignored her climax and continued to fuck her. It was a catharsis. All the anger in me fled. I climaxed, but she was still aroused, so I took her arousal as my own and remained hard and throbbing, and finally we climaxed together. We collapsed in a sweaty heap. Wow! Nicole exclaimed. Yeah, wow, Sandy said. You got your wish. I'll be bowlegged for a week. "I'm sorry," I said, feeling shamed. I'd taken my anger out on my wonderful wife. "Don't you dare apologize for what just happened! I felt your old anger leaving you, Josh. That was the most gratifying moment of my life." So you know, guys, I'm crying, but they're happy tears, Nicole said. Later that week, I learned taste, and then surpassed my empathic students when the sense of smell joined my empathic repertoire. The principles were nearly identical. Could I learn to see? That would be something else again. Sandy, Nicole and I were waiting in Sandy's apartment for the artist's agent to arrive. "I'm disappointed," Sandy said. "I'm not walking bowlegged." "That's because our husband isn't angry anymore," Sandy said. "Hmm, okay. That's a fair trade." Nicole cuddled closer to me. "God, I've missed you. In the end, love is what life is all about, not sex. Still, sex with you, Josh, is ten times better than any man I've ever been with, and with the exception of Sandy, better than any woman, too. Love has to be the difference." "That and our telepathic and empathic abilities," Sandy said. "A few months ago, Josh, when you finally ended your silence and I heard the words, 'Sandy, are you there?' was better than any orgasm I've ever experienced. Nicole and I talked while you were silent, but it wasn't the same without you, Josh." "That's for sure," Nicole said. "I had Sandy. She had me. You had no one. How did you stand it?" "I'd convinced myself that I would surely lose both of you if I let you feel how unhappy I was, and I still think I was right to shield my feelings from you. Right or wrong, I could never do it again. Tell me about the artist's agent, Sandy." "Her name is Wanda Thomas. She's, I don't know, thirty-two, maybe a little younger, good looking, blonde but out of a bottle, a fantastic body, divorced, twice, I think, and she's tough as nails." "Did you fuck her?" "No, I don't think she's interested in women. I couldn't find any experiences with women in her memories. She's frustrated, can't seem to orgasm with a man, only through masturbation, and then rarely. Sex isn't an important ingredient in her life, either that or she's sublimated her sexual needs to professional achievement. She's extraordinarily successful as an artist's agent and is known in artistic circles worldwide. Soren put me on to her. She met me reluctantly, and without pressure from Soren, she would've blown me off." The doorbell rang, and I met my agent, a woman who would become the third most important woman in my life. Sandy made the introductions, introducing me as her husband, and Nicole as her wife. The artist's agent took the plural marriage in stride, which surprised me, but then I remembered she knew Soren. Sandy had described Wanda Thomas accurately - to a point. My probe found some memories that Wanda had probably suppressed as a child. I ignored my findings, thinking I'd never bring them up. Wanda was probably happier without those dark memories haunting her daily. What did you find? Nicole asked me. She's a victim of child abuse - verbal, physical and sexual. How terrible! Sandy groaned. I still can't do an attitude check like you, Josh. I missed that important bit of information completely. Let's ignore what I found. That's what she's doing. "I have some questions, Wanda," I said. "Ask away," Wanda said. She had a throaty quality to her voice that I liked. "What does an artist's agent do, and how is one paid?" She laughed. "You are a babe in the woods. I don't know about other artist's agents, but this one will make you money, a lot of money." I laughed. "What if I don't care about money?" My question shocked her. "Everyone cares about money," she said. "I don't. I have more money than I can spend, even with an all-out effort, and my financial needs are simple, but from your answer, I figure that you make money if I make money. Correct?" "Yes." "How, like a percentage of gross sales?" "Yes." "What percent?" "Twenty for the first million, fifteen thereafter." "Do you represent any artists in the thereafter column?" "Yes, two." "And how many artists do you represent?" "Around fifty." "Doesn't that spread you pretty thin?" "Not really. I know what I'm doing." I chuckled inwardly. I was frustrating the hell out of her. She'd lost control of the meeting, and she didn't like it one little bit. Back off a little, Josh, Sandy said. I smiled and nodded at Sandy. "Fair enough," I said. "What do you do for your twenty percent?" "I make sure the artist is paid for his efforts." "We've already talked about that. How do you make sure an artist is paid?" "I place his work in the best galleries in the world, and I arrange for other commissions, both corporate and private." "Do you price the work, or the gallery owner?" "I price the work." I nodded toward a painting of mine hanging in the room. "How much for that painting if I wanted to sell it?" "Indian giver," Sandy said with a grin. "As an example only, Wanda. The painting belongs to Sandy." "Two, three thousand. Give me ten of them like that and I could put them in a gallery at five thousand apiece." "What slice of the pie does the gallery get?" "Thirty-five to fifty percent." "And you take twenty, which leaves thirty to forty-five percent for the artist." "No, my twenty percent is calculated on what the artist receives." "Oh, okay, so your cut isn't from gross sales, but instead from net sales to the artist?" "Yes." "What about frames, crating and shipping?" "The framing is negotiable. I usually force the gallery owner to do the framing - under my supervision. The artist is responsible for crating and shipping his work to the gallery. The gallery usually handles crating and shipping to their customers, and almost always passes that expense along to the customer." I flashed my boyish grin at her. She didn't melt. Sandy and Nicole appreciated the smile, though. "Do you give galleries any concessions or exclusive rights?" She laughed. "I take it back. You're not a babe in the woods. I try to limit any concessions and balk at requests for exclusive rights." "I'm not a babe in the woods because I've purchased a lot of art over the years. Still, I truly didn't know how the system worked. Thanks to you, now I understand the economics for an artist. I've been doing some new work, trying to capture the astonishing beauty of Arizona. Would you like to see what I brought with me?" "Are they as good as that one?" She nodded toward the painting hanging on the wall. "Better, but you be the judge. For what it's worth, Sandy and Nicole haven't seen these paintings, and their opinion is what really counts for me." I unzipped the bulging portfolio case. "I didn't bring some of my larger paintings. They were too large for this case." With a phony sense of reverence, I removed a painting from the case and set it upright on an easel that I'd acquired that morning. Sandy gasped. "Oh, Josh, that's wonderful. That's a scene the Grand Canyon, isn't it?" "Yes." I removed that painting and set it on the coffee table, and put the next on the easel. "Wow!" Nicole said. "Is that the light of dawn creeping into the canyon you told me about?" "Yes." "It's breathtaking." Whatever happened after that, I was satisfied. My wives liked my work. "How many paintings did you bring with you?" Wanda asked. "Forty, thereabouts." "Are they all as good as the first two?" "Some are better. I'm particularly proud of the Navaho and Hopi paintings." "Show me one of each." I flipped through the paintings and set one of the Hopi paintings on the easel. "Wonderful," Wanda breathed. I set that one down and placed a painting of a Navaho woman weaving a rug on the easel. "Oh, Josh, this is the best work you've ever done!" Sandy said. "Thank you." "You say some of the paintings are larger?" Wanda asked. "Yes." "How large?" "That varies. Some are four feet by four or five feet. One is five by seven." "Watercolors?" "Yes." "How many paintings are finished?" "Fifty are available for sale." She raised one eyebrow with a silent query. He's holding out on me, she thought. Nicole giggled. "What?" Wanda said. "If he says he has fifty for sale, that means he painted one hundred paintings. He didn't want to show or sell his work, Wanda," Sandy said, "but Nicole and I talked him into it. The only way he can bear to give up one of his paintings is if he retains a duplicate for his own collection. He paints each composition twice." "Three times for a few of them. I gave some to my Navaho and Hopi friends," I said. "Josh, if word gets out that these paintings aren't original and one of a kind, the price of your paintings will fall through the floor." "Then put the word out. That's the only way I'll sell my paintings." God damned yuppie. He probably inherited the money he has. Fuck! I opened my mouth to respond to Wanda's thought, but Sandy shook her head. "You don't get it, Wanda. I don't care about the money." "No, you're the one who doesn't get it, Josh. I mentioned five thousand for each painting. I can get you ten for these, more for the larger paintings. With a hundred paintings, you can make a half-million a year net to you." I grinned. "To do that, you'd need to negotiate the gallery owner down to thirty-five percent and take only fifteen percent for yourself." "What are you? A mathematical genius as well as a talented artist?" "No, I was a businessman. With Nicole and Sandy's help, I made the money I have. I didn't inherent a dime. I also know about marketing and public relations, and frankly, you're missing a bet. If you tell my story properly, the value of my paintings won't drop when buyers find out I paint two scenes so I can keep one painting for myself. The value will actually go up because I'll guarantee that I won't sell those paintings during my lifetime, not even when I'm too old and shaky to paint. If you're not interested in representing me, just say so, and I'll find another agent, but don't give me a pile of crap to get your greedy hands on more of my paintings than I'm willing to give you. And finally, it didn't take me a year to paint those fifty paintings I'm willing to sell. I painted them in three months." All the air whooshed from her lungs, and she slumped back on the sofa. "I'll represent you. Fifteen percent for me, thirty-five for the gallery owners, and I'll take what you'll give me." ------- Part Nine ------- Chapter 31: Nicole "How's the thesis coming?" Josh asked. Promising not to be a pest, he'd moved in with me for a while. Frankly, I was delighted. We were in the living room of my Boston apartment and had just finished dinner. I was sipping on a glass of white wine. I grinned. "It's a doctoral dissertation, and it's ahead of schedule. My advisor is impressed." "What's it about again?" "The domain of microeconomic analysis applied to a wide range of human behavior and social interaction. I'm combining economics with social psychology, primarily related to urban environments." Josh laughed. "I now know not one iota more than before I asked. Gobbledygook, that's what it is." Are you making fun of what I do? I asked silently. Not at all. I'm making fun of how little I know about what you do. I paint pretty pictures. Sandy uses wonderful, meaningful words to describe humanity and the worlds she knew way back when. I suspect what you do will have a more profound influence on humankind than what Sandy or I do. That's for sure, buddy boy, Sandy said. My telephone rang. I answered the call. "Oh, hi, Collin," I said when I recognized my fuck buddy's voice. "I'm at loose ends. May I drop by?" he asked. I glanced at Josh. He shrugged. That's up to you, Nicole. If you want, I'll make myself scarce for a while. That's not what I want. You know what I want. Josh grimaced and kept his mind blank. "Collin, may I call you back in a few minutes?" "Sure." I hung up and said, "Okay, out with it, buddy boy." Josh laughed. "Since when did you start calling me buddy boy? That's Sandy's expression, one she usually uses when she's either miffed or tickled with me for some reason." "Well, I'm miffed. You know I've been thinking about Collin joining us for some fun and games, but you're avoiding... no, you seemed to be downright opposed. Why?" "I'm jealous." "Baloney. I'm an empath, thanks to you. I'd know if you were jealous. Come on, spit it out or I'll start digging a tunnel through your mind. I know you enjoy it when Andy joins us, so..." "I like Andy." "Oh. What's your problem with Collin?" "I don't have a problem with Collin; he has a problem with me. He thinks he's a better man for you than I am. It has something to do with the color of his blood. He believes it's blue." Nicole laughed. "He is a bit of a snob." "You refer to him as your fuck buddy, and that's all he is to you, but he wants more, Nicole." I agree with Josh, Sandy said. Collin was fine with his fuck buddy status until Josh showed up and turned on Collin's need for dominance. It's a male instinct to dominate available breeding partners in the herd, or something like that. Josh doesn't do that, I said. Josh is a grownup, Sandy replied. "Argh! Okay, I get the picture. Darn it, I was looking forward to a little two on one." Josh laughed. "If that's what you want, let's go out and pick out a man acceptable to both of us. We'll go to a crowded place, read a few minds, dig into a few attitudes, and viola! Instant threesome." Now that sounds like fun, Sandy said. I picked up the phone and dialed Collin's number. "Collin, it's Nicole. About your request, I've gotta say no, and Collin, it might be a good idea if you found yourself a new fuck buddy." "You're making a big mistake, Nicole. I can give you more than that hick from the sticks you married. He ignored you completely for a while, made you so unhappy you cried on my shoulder a few times. You deserve more, baby." "Collin, you couldn't be a pimple on my husband's cute ass. You're history. Don't call me again." I hung up. "Fuck. I'm a telepath and an empath. Why didn't I see what was happening?" Because Collin wasn't important to you in the total scheme of things, Sandy said. Now, if I were you, I'd take Josh out to a crowded bar and check out a few men. Pick a shy man that's hung like a horse but isn't too full of himself, unlike your ex-fuck buddy. Josh laughed. If he's hung like a horse, I get your ass. Why is it that you only want my ass when we're with another man? I asked Josh. I don't know, but you're right. It's probably because I know you prefer a dick in your pussy to one in your ass, and if another man joins us your preference will be satisfied, and I can take advantage of your delectable backside without feeling guilty about it. How about that one? I asked nodding toward a tall young man at the end of the bar. Uh-uh, he's bi-curious, Josh replied. What's wrong with that? I'm not. I'm curious about something. Every man you've picked has been younger than you. Why? I frowned. I hadn't realized I was selecting younger men. I don't know. How about that man who just walked in? Josh asked. Hmm, maybe. He's older, late twenties, early thirties. I scanned him. Twenty-nine. He's single, horny, definitely not bi-curious, has been in a threesome with two woman, so he's probably good in the sack. Ah, he's also been in a threesome with a couple, a husband and wife, enjoyed the experience, too. He's a lawyer, I said. Argh, that's not good. But he's never practiced law. He runs a family business. Is he hung? Sandy asked with titter. I dug into his memories. Almost seven inches the last time he measured it in his late teens, I said. Josh, you and I need to do this sometime. It's fun! Sandy said. Is he good looking? That's for you ladies to decide, Josh said. He's a blond with blue eyes, in fair shape physically. Wears his hair long and combed straight back. Six feet tall, maybe a little taller. Dressed casually, but expensively. He's a hunk, Sandy. Oh, my! He lost his virginity to his first cousin, a girl three years his senior. She was his sexual mentor, a good one, too, I think," I said. He's acceptable on the cruelty and evilness scale, Josh said. Let's talk to him. What's his family business? Sandy asked. Stocks, bonds, real estate. He's loaded, I said. He's also leery of gold diggers. He had a bad experience with one not long ago. Go to the ladies room, Nicole. I'll strike up a conversation with him. After I establish a baseline for truthfulness, I'll check out his honesty and integrity. If he passes my tests, I'll let you know. As I freshened my lipstick, Sandy said, Stocks, bonds, real estate, huh. Is he a man of the world? My biological clock is ticking. I'll need to find my man soon. I chuckled. Sandy, you're only twenty-four. You've got a lot of childbearing years in front of you. Twenty-five next month. Hey, that's right, and Josh will be twenty-three. I should plan a birthday party for y'all. Should it be a guest party, or a getaway for just the three of us? Hmm, let's have a guest party this year. In our compound in Scottsdale. That way we can invite my parents. Josh and I have been ignoring them. I'll give you an invitation list, and Josh will do the same. You'll be the hostess, so invite your friends and family, too. I wonder if we can get Pierre to cater the party? What a good idea! Nicole, Josh said, he passed my tests with flying colors. I like him. Okay, I'm on my way. I'm jealous, Sandy said. I laughed. No, you're not, and you'll enjoy him as much as I. As I walked up to Josh, he rose from his chair. So did the man we'd selected. Hmm, he has manners. "Nicole, I'd like you to meet Darren Caldwell. Darren, this is one of my wives, Nicole." Caldwell's eyes widened but he remained focused on me. "I'm pleased to meet you, Nicole. Please join us. Your husband ordered a white wine for you." The men took a seat after Josh helped me into mine. Caldwell turned to Josh, and said, "Okay, you managed to shock me, and I'm not easily shocked. Did I hear you correctly? Did you say Nicole was one of your wives?" Josh flashed his boyish grin and I melted. "Yes, my other wife is Sandy Johnson, the novelist. Perhaps you've heard of her. Her last novel made the best-seller lists." Caldwell chuckled. "Yeah, I read her book," he said quietly and shook his head. "The last time I checked polygamy was illegal." "Still is," Josh said. "We had a private ceremony, not a legal one." "Love makes us married, Mr. Caldwell," I said. "Although Josh and I have a piece of paper that legally declares that we are man and wife, I'm just as married to my wife as I am to my husband, piece of paper to the contrary." He smiled, and I melted. Sandy, his boyish smile is as sexy as Josh's. You've got to be kidding, Sandy said. I kid you not. Made my panties wet, that's what it did. I've gotta meet this man. "Please call me Darren." "All right, and I'm Nicole." Darren turned to Josh. "You're a lucky man." Josh grinned. "I agree." "Are you married, Darren?" I asked. "No. I haven't found the right woman, let alone two of them. Josh tells me he's an artist. What do you do?" "I'm a student." "Harvard?" "Yes, I'm a doctoral candidate. Hopefully, I'll qualify for my degree in a few months. Defending my dissertation at my orals scares the pants off me." "What field?" "Economics." "Beautiful and smart, an unusual combination." I beamed. "Thank you." Darren shook his head. "Amazing. A best-selling novelist and a Ph.D. in economics. You must be a very good artist, Josh." Or hung like a stallion, Darren added as a thought. "I'm still learning. I haven't sold anything yet, but I managed to snag an artist's agent a few weeks ago. She's setting up my first one-man show in Manhattan sometime soon. She's a greedy wench and gets paid only if I get paid, so I'll probably make some money." I laughed. "Which he doesn't need. Josh made a fortune in real estate before he was twenty-one, Darren. When he was eighteen, he helped me make my first million. Until then, I was as poor as a church mouse, a country bumpkin from a small town in Nevada." I gave Josh's hand an affectionate squeeze. "I'm boasting about him, because he won't, and if he's still learning to be an artist, I'm still in grade school." Let's use showing Darren your paintings at our apartment as an excuse to get out of here, I suggested. All right. "In fact, I have a few of his paintings in my apartment. Would you like to see them?" I blushed purposefully. "I'm sorry. Perhaps you have plans for tonight." "No plans. I'd like to see your paintings, Josh." I want to get to know these people. They're the most interesting characters I've ever met. "Hmm," Josh said, "the three of us won't fit in your little Lexus, Nicole. Why don't you ride with Darren so he doesn't get lost, and I'll drive your car?" Give him some hints of things to come, Nicole, but don't scare him off. Josh, you don't qualify to give Nicole advice on how to seduce a man, Sandy said with a mental chuckle. Darren drove a Cadillac Escalade. "My wife has an Escalade," I said as Darren pulled out of the parking lot, "but it's much older than this one. She hardly ever drives it, keeps it in our compound in Scottsdale, Arizona." "Compound?" "Yes, well, at least that's what we call it. It's a walled-estate kind of property." I chuckled. "A high wall because we run around nekkid a lot of the time." "That's a sight I'd like to see." "What, our compound?" I teased. "You know what I meant, and I apologize. That just slipped out." "No apology necessary. If you want to see me nekkid, that can be arranged. Our marriage is based on love, Darren, not sexual fidelity." "Ah." "Ah, what?" "Just ah. I take it you have an open marriage." "Probably, depending on your definition of an open marriage. We're separated a lot. Josh spent the last year and a half in Greece developing a high-end hotel and painting the incredible light of the Greek sun, and Sandy was in Australia a good bit of that time researching her next novel. I've been stuck in Bean Town working on my Ph.D. Our home is in Arizona, but lately none of us has spent much time there." "You own a hotel in Greece?" "No, we sold it. Josh had the idea of developing high-end hotels on private islands. Our first was located in Belize, and it was very successful, so Josh bought a Greek island for the second one. He wanted to develop a chain, but that didn't work out. We're married, Darren, but we're individuals, too, and each of us have our own goals and aspirations. When I was accepted for the doctoral program here, and Sandy trotted off to Australia, Josh was stuck with the Greek island development. He hated being away from us, and we weren't any happier with the situation, so we liquidated all our properties except the compound." "How old is Josh?" "He'll be twenty-three next month. He's a talented, adorable man. I love him to pieces." "But you're willing to get naked with me." "Same on you, Darren Caldwell. You're equating love and sex, and you know they're not the same. And it's nekkid where we come from, not naked." He laughed. "Point taken, no make that two points taken." "Turn right at the next corner and pull into the garage." Darren stood in front of Josh's painting that I'd hung over the mantle. He turned to Josh. "You are not still learning." "Sure I am. I'll be learning until the day I die, unless my mind takes a holiday before my body gives out." "Let me know when you have your one-man show in New York. I'll attend. I want one of your paintings." "All right." I arrived with a bottle of champagne in an ice bucket. "Josh, would you open the champagne." He groaned. "I made a mess of the last one. Darren, would you do the honors?" "Sure. How long have you been painting, Josh?" Darren eased the cork out perfectly and poured champagne into three flutes. "A couple of years, thereabouts. You told me you were a lawyer. Do you work for a firm or... ?" "I don't practice law. I manage the family business. It's an old family, and over the years, it accumulated an assortment of stocks, bonds and real estate. Two years ago, my father had a heart attack and passed away, and the job fell to me. I didn't mind; in fact, I enjoy the work." "A toast," I said and raised my flute. "To new friends." "I'll drink to that," Darren said as we clicked glasses. The men settled on the sofa, and I took a chair facing them, letting the split of my skirt show off my legs. "Josh, on the way here, Darren said he'd like to see me nekkid." Darren choked on champagne. Josh patted his back. "Are you all right?" "Not if you're a black belt in karate as well as an accomplished businessman and an artist." Josh chuckled. "Nope, no black belt. Darren, I love my wives, but I don't own them. If Nicole wants to get nekkid with you, she can. It's her body, her decision, not mine." He turned to me. "Do you want to get nekkid with Darren?" "Yes." "Would you like me to leave or stay?" "Stay, if Darren doesn't mind." I turned to Darren. "No gay stuff. Josh is as straight as they come." Josh said, "The balls in your court, Darren." He tipped the flute in his hand toward me. "Whatever the lady wants." I stood up and turned my back on the men. "Would one of you please unzip my dress?" "Would you like to undress her, Darren?" Josh asked. Darren didn't say yes or no, but moved to his feet. I felt the zipper slide down my back. A shrug of my shoulders, a sexy, little wiggle and a shove, and my dress puddled around my feet. Beautiful! Darren gushed silently. I turned and faced him. He stood transfixed, but moved his eyes up to meet mine. I stepped to him and put my arms around his neck, stared into his eyes and kissed him. I wasn't frantic about it; it was a studied, practiced kiss, but very passionate. I molded my body to his and appreciated his erection. "I'm still wearing panties," I said in his ear. "Would you please take them off?" He knelt and pushed the garment toward the floor, finding his face in front of my cunt. "Kiss it," I said. "Kiss my cunt." He kissed it and more. I felt his tongue move between the folds and roll over my clitoris. He'll do, I said. I'll say, Sandy agreed. That's when I felt Josh at my back. He kissed the side of my neck and cupped my breasts in his hands. "Let's take this to the bedroom," he said. When Darren rose to his feet, I kissed him again. "Hmm, I taste good. I love to kiss someone after they've had their mouth on my cunt, especially my wife." She's bisexual, too, Darren thought. She's perfect! In the bedroom, I played with my pussy and breasts while the men removed their clothes. Neither rushed and both watched me with interest, especially Darren. His thoughts were very complimentary. They finished at the same time. "He has a lovely cock, Josh, similar to yours. Sometime tonight, I'll want Darren in my cunt and you in my ass, Josh. Is that all right?" "You're in charge this evening, Nicole." Josh moved onto the bed and put his face between my legs. He's too close. Suck him off. Then we'll give you what you want. "Come here, Darren. Straddle my chest. I want you in my mouth first. Okay?" "Like Josh said, you're in charge." Can you taste him, Sandy? Yes! I didn't ask Josh. No doubt he'd turned off his taste sense before I took Darren into my mouth. He could taste me, though. Directly. That is so hot! Sandy said. Darren's hips waved as he fucked my face, but he was careful. He didn't grab my ears and shove his cock into my throat. I tickled his scrotum as I licked and sucked and bobbed my head in time with his waving hips. And Josh was busy. He had two fingers inside me rubbing my g-spot, and his lips and tongue mauled my clit. I felt Darren's cock expand in my mouth. At the same time his balls lifted, so I backed off to savor the flavor of his come. Come with him, Josh said. So I did, Sandy, too. It wasn't an orgasm time four, but it was heavy-duty. Josh didn't come. I didn't think he would. He was waiting for the main event. The men cuddled me on each side for a few seconds, and then Josh moved to the other room and returned with the champagne. "To new friends," Darren toasted. I snickered. "And lovers." We all sipped champagne. "Josh, we must introduce Darren to Sandy." "All right." I've decided to take a couple of days off and join you tomorrow, Sandy said. I almost laughed out loud. "She's arriving tomorrow for a short visit, Darren," Josh said. "Would you like to meet her?" Darren grinned. I melted. "Yes," he said. "Surely, I've died and gone to heaven." "No," I said. "No virgins here." "Thank heaven," Josh said and laughed. "Agreed," Darren said. "Would it bother you to watch me fuck my wife, Darren?" I asked. She's got to be kidding! "Not at all." "Perhaps you could fuck her while she eats me," I said. "No perhaps about it." "Or the other way around." "That, too." "Like me, Sandy also enjoys two men at the same time. Perhaps, you and Josh will give her the same treat you'll give me when you get hard again." "I'm hard again." "My, my, so you are. Hmm, why don't you lie on you back in the center of the bed? Yeah, like that. Tonight, you get my cunt. Perhaps tomorrow night, Sandy will want you in her ass." I sipped champagne but didn't swallow, and moved my mouth over his cock. The bubbly bubbled away around his shaft as I sucked him briefly. "Whew! That's amazing," he said. "Uh-uh, this is amazing," I waved his cock through my cunt and settled down around his length, and then leaned forward and kissed him again. "You're right. Your cunt is amazing," he said. Darren played with my tits while Josh prepared my ass for his cock. Josh was very good at double penetration. The trick is for the man on top to stay on his feet with his legs spread and straddle the other man and the woman. I felt Josh's well-lubricated cock head at my sphincter and relaxed. He pushed, and half his length slipped into me. I moaned with pleasure. "I love this! And I love you, Josh! Thank you for letting me have this. And Darren, thank you for letting Josh stay." "My pleasure," they said simultaneously, which made us all laugh. Fuck, I can hardly wait until tomorrow night, Sandy said. You're not waiting, Josh said. You're feeling what Nicole is feeling. It isn't the same, buddy boy, and you know it. The men found a rhythm that worked for both of them, and I found a way to drag my clit over Darren's pubic mound. I'll come with Darren, and you come with me, Josh. All right. And I'll come with everyone, Sandy added. Two cocks thrusting in a woman is exciting. There's nothing like it, and I was enjoying every minute of it. As Darren got closer and closer to his orgasm, I moved to the edge and waited for him. The best possible moment of a session of double penetration has to be if both cocks ejaculate at the same time as the woman comes. With our empathic talent, Josh and I could make that happen every time. What made it really wild for me, and the reason I loved it so much, was that I not only felt my own sensations, I also felt what the two cocks were feeling. I screamed with joy when come gushed from Darren's cock into my cunt, and Josh's come spurted into my ass. I screamed and climaxed, and I heard Josh's characteristic bellow, and Darren's grunt, and somewhere inside my mind, Sandy was screaming with pleasure, too. A little later, we were sipping champagne again, and Darren said, "Why me?" "Waddaya mean?" I asked. "Why did you pick me? Not that I'm complaining, but I'm curious. The two of you obviously went out tonight to find a third bed partner. If I were to guess, I'd say it was, you, Nicole, who instigated the search, but that doesn't matter. I say again. Why me?" "I liked your boyish grin," I said. He laughed. "No, there was more." "I'm a little empathic, Darren," Josh said. Careful, buddy boy, Sandy said. Trust me, Josh replied. "I have a knack for discerning lies. You weren't the first man I spoke with tonight, but you were the only man who didn't lie to me." "Baloney, I could've been lying through my teeth." "Uh-uh. Test me," Josh said. Show off, I said. Hey, this'll work, Sandy commented. "My middle name is Joseph." "That's the truth." "My mother's maiden name was Wilson." "That was a lie." "Her maiden name was Carrington." "A lie." "Jefferson." "The truth." "Incredible. How do you do it?" "I'm not sure. Empathy is part of it. It isn't just body language. It just happens for me. I've had the ability since my teens. You figured out our purpose for going out, so we owe you an apology. We went out to find another sex partner for my wife, and we picked you, which made you a sex object - at first. But more than sex happened tonight, Darren, so my apology is only half-hearted." "And not necessary," Darren said. "I've thoroughly enjoyed the evening, the sex, and the company." "Thank you," Josh said. "You are very kind, a gentleman, and that's another reason we picked you. True gentlemen are difficult to find nowadays. I'd like to count you as a friend, Darren." "I want the same. Do you do this sort of thing often?" I laughed. "Tonight was the first time." I think Darren and Josh bonded more tonight than you and Darren, Nicole, Sandy said. I think you're right, I said. What can I say? I like him, Josh said. ------- Chapter 32: Sandy Josh's boyish grin thrilled me, and I rushed to him. He gathered me into his arms and kissed me, turning me into mush momentarily. Situation normal. "I've missed you," I whispered in his ear. "Where's Nicole?" I'd ignored Darren Caldwell. I wasn't supposed to know him, but Nicole was right; his smile was just as sexy as by brother's. Told you, Nicole said. "She had a meeting with her advisor. Sandy, I'd like you to meet a friend of mine, Darren Caldwell. Darren, this is my other wife, Sandra Johnson." I can see why Josh married both women, Darren thought. I wouldn't have it in me to make a choice, either. "I'm very happy to meet you, Darren. May I call you Darren? And please, I'm Sandy. I'm happy to meet you because Josh doesn't have many male friends. You must be special." He shrugged. "Compared to the three of you, I'm blandly ordinary." "You have luggage, I presume," Josh said to me. I laughed. "Of course. I can't travel light, like you." I handed Josh my baggage claim checks, and entwined my arm with Darren's. "Tell me about Darren Caldwell," I said as we stepped out. "Are you a man of the world, or a man of Boston?" She's intoxicating. "Both. Why do you ask?" "Josh says I'm a woman of the world. I believe he's correct because men with narrow, local mindsets bore me. Please, Darren, don't bore me." He smiled and I melted. See what I mean? Nicole said. Yup. He might be the one, Nicole. "You live in Boston, so I understand how you could be a Boston man, but tell me what makes you a man of the world?" "The accident of my birth. I manage my family business, and our holdings are far flung." "Excellent. That means I can talk about far away places without boring you. What do you know about Brazil? He laughed. "Quite a bit, actually. My family operates a ranch in the Panatel region of Brazil, and..." "The wetlands?" "Yes. What do you know about Brazil?" "It's the setting for my next book. The beaches of Ipanema and Copacabana in Rio, and yes the Panatel, as well as the Amazonas Rain Forest. I'm a novelist, Darren. My books are steeped in history and past cultures. My new novel will take place between 1880 and 1916, thirty-six years in the life of a Brazilian woman, four of which she worked as a common prostitute using the beaches of Ipanema and Copacabana as her corners. It will be a novel of growth, how one woman overcomes the accident of her birth." "Your new book sounds fascinating, but I'm confused. Josh told me that you were recently in Australia researching..." "Oh, that book is written. It's in the hands of my editor. I was referring to my next one, but I interrupted you. I'm sorry. I tend to do that when I'm with an interesting man." How about that? She finds me interesting. "I'll take that as a compliment." "It was meant as such." Josh, do you mind disappearing for a while when we get to Nicole's apartment? I'd like some one on one with Darren before we all get together. Not at all. I haven't been painting, and the need to work is becoming acute. We picked up my luggage, and I sat next to Darren in the limo. "Josh, Wanda called me just before I left to catch the flight here. She's arranged a one-man show of your work in Albright's, the best gallery that handles your style and medium, she says." "When?" "In a month. I'm not sure when. Call her." While Josh talked with Wanda, Darren and I talked about Australia. His family had agricultural interests in that country, whatever that meant. I told him about my life as an aborigine in terms of my book without admitting to my memories of past lives. "I'll be flying back to New York with you, Sandy," Josh said after he finished his conversation with Wanda. "Marvelous! Nicole is planning a birthday party for us about the time of your opening. We'd better coordinate the dates with her." I patted Darren's knee. "You're invited. I hope you can make it. It'll be held in our compound in Arizona." "I wouldn't miss it for the world." "That's a lie," Josh said, "but it's a social lie like telling a woman you like her hat." Darren laughed. "Perhaps, but I will make every effort to attend your party, but I'm a little confused. You said the party was 'for us.'" "Yes, I was born two years and two days before Josh. Actually, my husband and I have a lot in common. We both have religious parents - Mormons - but we've managed to slough off our childhood conditioning. Are you a religious person, Darren?" "Mormons, huh. Is that the foundation for your plural marriage?" Josh and I laughed gaily. "No," Josh said. "Our parents would be aghast if they knew about our plural marriage. What's more, we'd be excommunicated from the church. It's a common misconception that Mormons are still polygamous. They aren't. The opposite is true. The church condemns polygamy vociferously. Our plural marriage is based on love, Darren. You didn't answer Sandy's question." "I was raised a Catholic, but I have a problem with organized religions, including Catholicism, probably my mother's doing. As a family, we donate to the church, but I can't remember the last time I went to mass." I like this man, Josh. I thought you would. I was alone in Nicole's apartment with Darren Caldwell. Josh had announced that he had a date with Boston Harbor and his paint box. After he left, I realized that I didn't have a clue about how to seduce the interesting man sitting across from me, a first for me in a lot of years. That's probably because you care about his opinion of you, Nicole said. You could be right, I replied. Any suggestions? Her mental giggle tickled me. Josh and I went out last night and picked him up for a threesome. After we'd finally attained some privacy in my apartment, I was naked before we finished our first glass of champagne, and he didn't consider me a slut, Sandy. Just go for it. All will be well. I wish he'd do the seducing. He won't. He's a gentleman. Argh! I glanced at Darren, and his eyes met mine. I knew from his surface thoughts and his emotions and sensations that he wanted me. I wished I could dig into his attitudes like Nicole and Josh, but... ah, fuck it. "Nicole told me the three of you had a good time last night," I said. "A fantastic time would be more accurate, at least for me." "She's delicious, isn't she?" "Very." "Did you taste her?" "Yes." "Would you like to taste me?" "More than I can say." I chuckled inwardly. That was easy. Told you, Nicole said. I reached under my dress and peeled off my damp panties, tossing them over the back of the sofa. "You excite me, Darren Caldwell. I think you'll find me wet," I said. He didn't hesitate, thank goodness, and he didn't try to be cute and start with my toes. He went to his knees between my legs and covered my cunt with his mouth. "Yes," I breathed. He wanted to make me come, so I let him. His oral ministrations were practiced and effective, and my climax was powerful. When I recovered, I said, "Nicole's bed, now. I want you inside me." Before we undressed each other, he kissed me, and when we were naked, he moved over me and kissed me again. When his mouth wandered down to my breasts, I wrapped my hand around his hard cock and swiped it through my sopping cunt. Before inserting it inside me, I rubbed the crown over my clitoris for a few minutes while he took me higher and higher with his mouth on my nipples. He groaned with pleasure when he slowly pushed his length inside me. He's making love, not fucking, Nicole said. Uh-huh, just what I wanted. Can you join us? Yes, I'll time my arrival while you're relaxing after a shared climax. Perfect. Josh? I'm painting. Have fun. The four of us can get together after dinner this evening. Darren's eyes met mine. Neither of us looked away as we made love. I smiled, and he smiled back at me, and I melted a little more. What am I to do? Darren asked himself. Nicole and Sandy are spoiling me for other women, but they're not available. Still, they're irresistible. Nicole was in my first thoughts this morning, and Sandy will probably replace her in my mind in the morning. I pulled his mouth to mine and we kissed again, a soft kiss, more romantic than passionate, and his hands moved over my flesh. Her shoulders are so silky smooth, and her cunt is amazing, clasping and releasing - tender cock hugs. Look at her dark eyes! I could go swimming in them. Pouting lips. Soft hair, long and curling softly. Her flavors! Her scents. Perfect! I've searched for a woman like this my whole life, and in the span of twelve hours I found two of them. Beautiful, sexy, talented, smart, worldly, both of them. And Josh, he is indeed a friend. I like him. What am I to do? Nicole, Josh, I think he's the one, my man of the world. Time will tell, Josh said. There's no reason to hurry, Nicole said. It sounds like he'll be around for a while. Let it happen. Don't force it. Josh is right. Time will tell. I studied his blue, blue eyes. It was as if he was trying to see inside me, and I wanted to let him in. How will he react when he really knows me? Will he consider my love for my brother ugly? Will he accept my memories without qualms? Go slow, Josh said. Will he run away when he finds out we're in his mind? Rebel because we share his emotions, his sensations? Resist his loss of privacy? Or will he understand our TRES, the closeness we have achieved through the sharing of our love, our bodies and our minds? All questions that will be answered in time, Josh said. "I won't last much longer," Darren said. "Don't worry. I'll come with you. I've loved our slow lovemaking. This is just what I wanted. How did you know?" "It's what I wanted. I wanted to savor my time with you." His kiss was soft and sweet, but his cock was swelling. I keyed my climax to his, and when he erupted, I wailed with happiness as a powerful orgasm washed over me. We were holding each other when Nicole walked into the room. "The two of you are beautiful together," she said as she removed her clothes. "May I join you?" "Yes, of course," Darren said, "if Sandy doesn't mind." "Nicole is my wife, Darren. If she wants to join me with a man, she's always welcome." Nicole moved onto the bed, and we kissed, a soft kiss of welcome that turned romantic quickly. "Did he come in you?" Nicole asked. "Yes." "Good." She moved down on the bed and between my legs, which I spread for her. I watched Darren as Nicole started to lap up his juices and mine from my cunt. Before a minute went by, he was hard again. "Fuck her, Darren," I said. "Fuck her while she eats me." I enjoyed Nicole's sensations when he entered her. I enjoyed his sensations as Nicole's cunt cuddled his hard cock, and as usual, Nicole's mouth on me quickly took me to the edge. I climaxed twice while Darren fucked Nicole. Then we traded places, and Darren fucked me while I ate Nicole. His staying power the second time around was remarkable. In the end, he climaxed in Nicole, and while he recovered, I ate his juices from my wife's cunt. The three of us were talking and cuddling when Josh returned. His presence made Darren nervous, initially, but Josh put him at ease. "They're fantastic together, aren't they?" he said to Darren with a knowing smile. "Somehow fantastic isn't a strong enough word," Darren said. "Would you like to join us?" "Not right now. Later, yes, after dinner. You will join us for dinner, won't you?" "Yes." He sat up and, after arranging a pillow behind his back, leaned against the headboard. "I'll join the three of you in anything and everything, Josh, and not just for the sex, although the sex is incomparable." "That's good, Darren. Would you guys like to see the paintings I did today? Boston Harbor offered some interesting possibilities for paintings. The light is so different than Arizona or the Greek Islands. I hired a boat to take me out on the water and painted a cityscape." "Yes!" I exclaimed. "Show us." Josh pulled a large piece of paper from his portfolio case and held it up. "Josh, that's magnificent!" Darren said. "May I buy it?" "No, I painted it for you, Darren. It's yours." Josh chuckled. "I have two more just like it, but this one is the best of the three. It was my third one, and I came closer to capturing the light of your harbor with this one." Tears welled in Darren's eyes. "I'm overwhelmed." I hugged him and gave him a quick kiss. "Josh always does two paintings of every scene, unless he plans to give one away. Then he paints three. He'll sell one and keep the other for his collection." "There's a promenade with flowers and brightly colored umbrellas for outdoor dining and drinking near the harbor that I want to paint tomorrow. Then there's dawn and the setting of the sun over the water. I can see a dozen paintings of Boston Harbor, maybe more." He laughed. "Wanda will probably put them in a gallery here. She understands marketing." Nicole moved off the bed and hugged Josh. "You're a good man, Josh Johnson. I love you." "And I love you. I'm getting hungry. Let's eat out tonight. You ladies get all gussied up. Darren and I will wear suits and ties, and we'll go out on the town. I feel like celebrating." Darren became our constant companion over the next couple of days. Nicole attended college and did what she needed to do. Josh went out early each morning to paint, and once in the afternoon to paint a sunset, but Darren arranged every minute of both days to be with one or more of us. He went out one morning to watch Josh paint. He had lunch with Nicole on the quad, a picnic he'd assembled with care, and he spent the rest of the time with me, quietly reading when I told him I needed to work. We made love often, whenever either of us felt the urge, and Josh or Nicole or both of them occasionally joined us. Darren had decided to take whatever we offered but worried about becoming depressed when we pushed him away. From his thoughts, I knew he was neglecting his work, so I sat him down and took one of his hands in both of mine. "Darren, don't you work?" He smiled and I melted. "Yes. I'll work after you leave." "All right, but you're acting a little frantic, as if you fear you'll lose us." "I will," he said and tears welled in his eyes. I squeezed his hand affectionately. "You're wrong. That doesn't need to happen." "Of course it does. The three of you are married. I'm an interloper." "Our plural marriage doesn't preclude another wife or husband, Darren." My statement stunned him. "You mean... ?" Perhaps it wasn't appropriate, but I laughed. "That wasn't a proposal of marriage, Darren, but a proposal sometime in the future certainly isn't out of the question." All of a sudden he relaxed, and his happy smile gladdened my heart. I was falling for him - hard - but we had some hurdles we needed to jump, and now was as good a time as any to jump one of them. I'm going to tell him about us, Josh, that we are brother and sister. Go for it, Josh said. I'm five minutes from the apartment. "Darren, before we move forward there's something you need to know. Josh is my husband, and I love him with all my heart, and I've loved him for many years, long before Nicole joined us. Josh was my first lover, and I was his first. He was fifteen at the time, and I was seventeen, and we lived in the same house. Darren, Josh is my brother." His body stiffened but relaxed again almost immediately. That explains a lot, he thought. "Incest, Darren. Josh and I have an incestuous relationship that started eight years ago. If incest is abhorrent to you, I'll understand if you want to back away from us. I'll be disappointed, but I'll understand." He didn't smile as I'd hoped. Instead he said, "My first was my first cousin; I was fifteen and she was eighteen, and I fell madly in love with her. I still love her, and she still loves me, but she moved on and made a life for herself. She's happily married and has three beautiful children. If I condemned you and Josh, I'd need to condemn my cousin and me." I placed a hand each side of his face and just before I kissed him said, "You lovely man, you might be the one for me." He pulled me tightly into his arms and kissed me back. "What did you mean when you said I might be the man for you?" Josh took that moment to walk into the room. "She means you might be the man of the world she's been searching for all of her adult life. Did you tell him?" Josh asked, knowing full well I had. "Yes." Josh smiled and I melted. Between Josh and Darren, I was doing a lot of that. My brother said to Darren, "From the kiss I witnessed when I walked into the room, may I assume you don't think Sandy and I are a couple of perverts?" "No, I had a loving relationship with my first cousin for a number of years." "Good. I'm glad that hurdle is behind us. Sandy and Nicole have been worried that you might bolt and run when we told you." Josh sat down. "I finally got the light right for that promenade I told you about. Wanna see the results?" The question was rhetorical because he pulled out the painting and held it up against his chest so we could see it. Darren shook his head. "I want that one, too." "Okay," Josh said. "It's yours." "Did you paint three of them?" "No, but where is it written that I need to do that? I don't need the money. Sandy, tell Darren about your memories. Let's jump that hurdle, too." My heart raced. Dare I? Yup, Nicole said. So I told him, and the lovely man accepted my memories as readily as he'd accepted my incestuous relationship with Josh. We even chatted together in Portuguese for a minute, until Josh told me to quit showing off. I think I shocked a few people at the airport that afternoon when I kissed Darren passionately and then did the same to Nicole. Still, the parting was bittersweet. As the aircraft reached altitude, Josh took my hand in his. "Do you love him?" "Yes, but he hasn't said or thought the 'L' word." "Doesn't matter, he loves you; he loves all of us. We're what he's been searching for all his life. Fear of loss is holding him back, that and how accomplished he considers us. Your memories impressed him but increased his feeling of unworthiness, which is silly." "Yeah, well, we could lose him when we tell him our other secrets." "No, I don't think we will. He wants the closeness, the love we share. When he discovers how close he can truly be with us, he'll join us and never look back." "Maybe he won't want you to fiddle with his mind." "You did. You insisted. Why?" "Because I was feeling left out." "I rest my case." Still, I worried. I must have explored every possible scenario regarding what would happen when we told Darren about our paranormal abilities. Thankfully, Josh ignored me. He was incredibly sensitive. He knew when to let me think without interruption. God, I loved him. During the limo ride from the airport to my Manhattan apartment, Josh finally gave up and told me to give it a rest. "That's easy for you to say. He's my man of the world." "Mine, too," he said. "I've known since before you left me behind when I was a teenager that one day you'd fall in love with another man, and I feared that day more every passing day because, for our TRES to continue, I'd need to love the man you'd choose for the father of your children, and not just me. Nicole would also need to love him. What's more, the man would need to love Nicole and me, not just you. I feared that you'd walk away from me, from Nicole, and make a life for yourself like Darren's cousin walked away from him." "I'd never walk away from you and Nicole." "My fear was and is real, Sandy. The desire to procreate is very powerful." "I'd remain childless in this life before I would leave you and Nicole. You forget that I know I will live again, have children in my next life, or the next." "I didn't forget, but I also know that the urge to have a child is growing in you. Let me finish telling you my thinking. I'd like to say my astute paranormal abilities predicted what happened when Darren came into our lives, but that would be a lie. What happened from the time Nicole and I picked him out of the crowd was purely accidental. Oh, we wouldn't have extended the invitation if he'd been evil or dishonest or too full of himself or lacking in self-confidence, so we improved the odds. Nevertheless, we were incredibly lucky. I knew he was unique when he wanted Nicole but he didn't want to offend me. Then after I told him I didn't own Nicole, that she could fuck him if she wished, he didn't think of me as wimp or one of those men who get their kicks watching his wife fuck other men. He accepted the situation without condemnation and was actually thankful that we'd invited him to join us. You blew his mind when you were just as forthcoming. He can't make up his mind who he wants and loves more, you or Nicole, and he considers me his friend, from his attitudes, his best friend. When we know without a doubt that he's truly feeling left out, we'll tell him about our telepathic and empathic talents, and he'll let me fiddle with his mind. Relax, Sandy. Your scenarios about what can go wrong are silly. Okay?" I reluctantly agreed. "I'd like to change the subject. I want to help Wanda," Josh said. "Why?" "She puts on a brave front, but she's very unhappy. Her unhappiness stems from her frigidity, and she's frigid because she was molested as a child. Her father fucked her, not once but many times. What's worse, her mother was involved, even held her down while her father fucked her. Her mother fucked her, too. Her parents were killed in a plane crash when she was twelve, and an aunt and uncle took her in. They didn't rape her, but they abused her verbally and physically. She remembers the abuse her aunt and uncle heaped on her, but she buried her parents' abuse deeply in the dark recesses of her subconscious mind. "How can we help her?" "I'm not sure. I should probably probe the mind of a psychiatrist or psychologist before I approach her problem directly." "That sounds like a reasonable approach." ------- Chapter 33: Josh I waited until she was home before I called her because the crimes I wanted to report weren't time critical. "Hi, Dot," I said when she answered my call. "Thank God," she said. "I thought after the fiasco in Greece that you'd decided to find another contact or give up on helping the authorities, period." "My problem wasn't with you, but with your boss, and I need to apologize to him through you. I threatened him, and that was unconscionable. I was at a bad point in my life, and the loss of innocent lives that could have been avoided tipped the scale and let my vitriol roll out. I'm sorry." "Apology accepted, but you don't owe my boss an apology. I didn't report your threat. Had I reported it, he would've initiated a worldwide manhunt for you. Over time, I've learned to appreciate and agree with your need and desire for anonymity." The truth. How about that? "That being the case, how would you like to join me for dinner. I know about some crimes being perpetrated in Boston that you should look into. I'll tell you all about them over a pleasant meal." Silence. I'd stunned her. "Yes! I mean... ah, darn it. Of course, I'll have dinner with you." "Would it be an imposition to meet me at 21 at seven-thirty. I'll make reservations." 21! That means I must dress up. Hmm, I'll wear my old standby, the black sheath and... I chuckled. "The black sheath will be fine." "Argh, I forgot you could read my mind. Okay, I'll meet you. Whom should I ask for?" "Just give the maitre d' your name. He'll bring you to me. If I haven't arrived, he'll seat you in the bar and take care of you until I get there." Ah, this is a test. He still doesn't trust me completely. I don't blame him, but... Argh, he heard that, too. I laughed heartily. "Seven-thirty?" "Yes, darn it." I watched the maitre d' guide Special Agent Dorothy Collins to my table. She looked good in her black sheath. The dress molded her feminine figure, and I could see that she'd taken care with her hair and makeup. She was a blonde, sort of, what's called dirty blonde, I think, and she wore her hair long to the middle of her back. Her breasts were large, and the dress exposed substantial cleavage. She looked surprised when I stood to greet her. He's a kid, she thought, and then blushed. I chuckled and helped her into her seat. Leaning to her ear, I said, "I'll be twenty-three next month, if you were wondering." "I'm sorry," she said as I took my seat. "I can control my big mouth, but controlling my thoughts is beyond me." She looked me in the eye and smiled. "You're young, but you're a handsome man." "You have a fantastic smile. It lights up your face and eyes." She blushed. I knew why she blushed because, to protect myself, I'd stayed loosely connected with her since I offered to expose my identity to her, at least my appearance, and off and on as she bathed and dressed to meet me, she'd wondered what I'd look like and if I'd find her sexy or appealing. She'd also masturbated in the bathtub fantasizing about me, and Sandy and I had enjoyed her orgasm. My comment about her smile pleased her, and I felt tiny chills wander down her spine at my words. "Thank you," she said and broadened her smile. A waiter took our drink orders. She wanted a martini. To make her laugh, I ordered a root beer. She obliged and laughed gaily. Fucking kid. Fucking sexy kid. "Oops, I did it again." "I'm pleased you find me sexy. If memory serves me you're thirty-seven." I'd given her a year. She didn't correct me. "I'm twenty-three. That's only fourteen years difference, which means you're too young to be my mother, Dot. So, relax. Let's enjoy our meal." Our drinks arrived, and she sipped her martini. I felt the drink warm her as it slid down her esophagus. I didn't like the taste, so I countered the gin with root beer. "When I picked you for my contact and probed your memories, you weren't married and didn't have a significant other. Has that changed?" "Not really." "You'd also quit drinking, but that's changed." "Not really. I let myself indulge in a drink once in a while." Oh, fuck! The drinking comment refers to that party at the sorority house years ago. I'd forgotten that he'd mentioned the party the first time he called me. "I'm not sure I like you in my head, Dick. Yes, I drank too much and lost control. I submitted to... to what's vulgarly referred to as a gang bang. What I did embarrassed me the next day, so I made a vow to stay in control no matter what, and I've been true to my vow." "Which is worthy of praise," I said. "Relax, Dot. I don't hold anything you've done against you." I nodded toward a man eating with two other men two tables away. "That distinguished man likes to dress up in women's clothing." I nodded toward a woman sitting with two men in the opposite direction. "That woman is into water sports, and I'm not talking about swimming. She gets off squatting over a man and peeing in his mouth. This room is full of perversions. I picked you as my contact because I appreciated your strength of character. Your youthful shenanigans weren't perversions, just youthful shenanigans. Special Agent Dorothy Collins, you're one of the good guys." Her eyes met mine and held them. "Thank you. How do you do it? How can you be exposed to sick thoughts and deeds on a daily basis and still remain sane?" I grinned. "That's easy. I love and I'm loved. Your exposure to sick thoughts and deeds is nearly as constant as mine. How do you remain sane?" She giggled. "I masturbate a lot." I was sipping root beer when she shocked me. I coughed and sputtered, and then laughed. I also heard both Nicole and Sandy laughing in the background, where I'd sent their connections. Josh, Sandy said, give the lady a break. Take her home and fuck her. Nicole said, If the truth were known, and I know the truth because I dug around in your attitudes about Special Agent Collins to find the truth, you invited her to dinner with the unexpressed purpose of getting into her panties. She just opened herself enough for you enter, and I'm referring to her pussy, not her mind. Go for it, buddy boy. Hey, that's my pet name for him, Sandy said. Well, I just borrowed it. "Sorry about that," I said to Dot. "You shocked me, and I don't shock easily." She chuckled wickedly. "Good." The waiter came by and we ordered our meals. When we were alone I told her about the human smuggling operation I'd uncovered in Boston while painting pretty pictures of Boston Harbor, although I didn't mention the paintings or that I was an artist. "Chinese men, women and children out of Shanghai, Dot. White slavery at its worse. The young women are forced into prostitution to pay for their passage, and the men, older women and children are put to work in sweatshops for a pittance." I gave her the names of the ringleaders in Boston and Shanghai. "Close them down, if you can." She nodded and closed her notebook as our dinners were served. While we ate, she told me about her work. She was a dedicated civil servant, and I was proud to know her. After dinner, I waited until she was drinking coffee and said, "What would you say if I told you I wanted to fuck you?" She didn't cough or sputter. She swallowed daintily. "I'd say your wants are similar to mine." I heard some background snickers and ignored them. We went to Dot's place. I'd offered to rent a room, but Dot said she'd be more comfortable at her apartment. The living room was neat and sparsely furnished, but the furniture suggested quality. The decorating style was eclectic. Dot had become single-minded, so we didn't linger in the living room. She kissed me hard with hungry lips and pulled me to her bedroom. I watched her remove her black sheath. Her sexy underwear was black and lacy, and her body was in great shape, probably a requirement of her work. When her bra hit the floor, I gasped. Her tits were magnificent. She cupped them with her hands, and then pinched her large nipples. They were the largest nipples I'd ever seen, an inch long and half that wide. They looked crinkled and hard and made my mouth water. "You like?" she said. "What's not to like? They're fantastic." "Thank you." She took two steps and held one of them up for me. "Suck on it, please." Well, she did say please. I sucked and licked and nipped to my heart's content, and Dot loved everything I did. While I played with her tits, she managed to unfasten my belt, unzip my pants and push them and my boxers down my thighs. "Nice cock, Dick." She giggled. She also stroked it expertly. It's not as big as her hand, though, Nicole said, which prompted Sandy to ask for an explanation. They giggled like teenagers and were having as much or more fun as I. One size fits all, I quipped. Be nice, you two. This is important to Dot. She's looked forward to fucking me for years. And this not a mercy fuck on my part; it's fucking for the fun of it. After helping me remove the rest of my clothes, she pulled me to her bed, pushed me onto my back and mounted me. I groaned with pleasure. He was right, Nicole. One size fits all. Her cunt is remarkable. It's like a milking machine. She must do kegel exercises two hours a day. "Yeah, fuck me, Dick. Fuck me, fuck me, fuck me. Oh, I do love a hard cock fucking in me." Her massive tits bounced in front of my eyes, so I grabbed them with my hands. Her nipples had gotten larger and harder. I pinched them, but according to Dot's thoughts, not hard enough, so I pinched them as hard as I could. "Yeah, like that. Pull on 'em, too." She likes a little pain, Josh, Nicole said. "You masturbate a lot. Touch yourself," I said. She didn't miss a stroke as the pads of her fingers found her clit. She rubbed the sensitive nubbin hard, more forcefully than I would have dared. Damn, Sandy said, that actually feels good. I know, Nicole said. "Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck." Suddenly her hips took off, moving faster than I thought possible. I stayed with her, thrusting as fast as she bounced on my cock. "Coming! I'm coming!" she gushed and climaxed. She wailed, her scream echoing off the walls as her cunt clamped my ejaculating cock with force, squeezing it so tightly that I wondered if my semen could spurt. Moments later, she fell forward on me, gasping with me as we both tried to catch our breaths. "Fuck, that was good," Dot said between gasps. Yeah it was, Nicole said. Orgasm times four! Whew! Sandy gushed. I can't figure out why Special Agent Dorothy Collins can't snag a man, I said. Any ideas, ladies? She's too aggressive, Sandy suggested. Uh-uh, that'd appeal to a submissive man, Nicole said. But that type of man doesn't appeal to her, Sandy said. Are you saying she needs an aggressive man who will put up with her aggressive behavior in bed? I asked. Yup, Sandy said. Let'ssee, she's thirty-seven. Eight, I corrected. Thirty-eight, and she's a special agent with the FBI, so she's both smart and tough. She's attracted to Josh because he has unusual talents, Nicole said. Uh-uh, her attraction is the power that comes with his talents, not the talents themselves, Sandy countered. I've got just the man for her. My publisher's attorney, Henry Snow. You've met him, Nicole. Waddaya think? Maybe. Yeah, I see the possibility, but how do we get the two of them together? How about I give them a couple of temporary attitudes and let nature take its course? I said. "I'm not finished with you, Dick, not by a long shot." Dot moved down on the bed and sucked my limp cock into her mouth. She had it hard as a rock in sixty seconds flat. "My ass," she said. "Fuck my ass this time." "Got any lube?" "Use your come." Sandy laughed and said, "You look like you've been rode hard and put away wet." I spilled coffee into a mug and sipped. "Special Agent Dot was a needy woman, as you well know. She turned me everywhere but loose. I hope the attorney you've selected for Dot has a strong heart." "What? You don't want Agent Dot for your own?" "Gimmee a break. As fuck buddies go, she'd be a good one, but Dot needs more than a fuck buddy. She needs a man of her own." Don't tease, please. "Okay, I won't tease you anymore - this morning." I will, Nicole said. Argh! Guess who called and asked me out for dinner tonight? Nicole said. I don't need to guess. I'm a mind reader, I said. Collin, Sandy said. She was in a teasing mood. Collin's history, Nicole said seriously. Darren... I'm surprised Darren waited so long, I said. He must have gone through withdrawal last night. Now who's teasing? Sandy said. Sorry. Let's finish our matchmaking attempt, and then we'll talk about Darren. Would one of you please connect with Lawyer Snow, so I can give him a bundle that will make his heart go pity-pat when he sees the incomparable Agent Dot? Got him, Nicole said. I followed Nicole's telepathic pathway and connected with the man. I checked him out thoroughly before sending the empathic bundle I prepared that fit the situation, Agent Dot, Lawyer Snow, and the desired results. Then I connected with Dot and sent her a bundle that told her, in part, to take a walk in Central Park at noon and sit on a certain bench where she'd meet the love of her life. "They'll meet each other today with a mindset that will allow them to get together. The bundles are temporary - three days. They'll have to actually click as a couple to stay together beyond that point. Snow is aggressive and prefers aggressive women, especially in the sack. You had him pegged, Sandy." "Thank you." "They have a good chance. Their personalities, their likes and dislikes, their religion - they're both Catholics - contain enough commonalities to let them explore a long-term relationship. I won't force the issue further." You're a good man, Josh, Nicole said. Now, may we talk about Darren? What is there to talk about? I asked. After dinner, he'll want to fuck me. And? I said. I'll want him to fuck me. And your point is? I don't see him as a fuck buddy, Josh. My goodness, Josh! She's feeling guilty, Sandy said. That's a good thing, I said. Why a good thing, Josh? Nicole asked. He's Sandy's man of the world, and I'm falling for him. I take it you didn't listen to the conversation Sandy and I had in the airplane on our flight back to New York. No, I was busy. I laughed after checking her memories of that day. What? Sandy asked. She was turning Darren everywhere but loose in the Limo ride back into the city. Ah. Dammit, clue me in, Nicole said. Sandy loves him, too, I said. I know, and that's the problem. I love you Sandy. I don't want to get in the way of your happiness. For a Ph.D. candidate, you're not very smart, I said. Think, Nicole. Get your mind off sex and consider the situation. Put your clever analytical mind to work. You love him; Sandy loves him, and he's the friend I've needed for years to fill a large gap in my life. Ah! Nicole breathed. To keep him from getting fixated on you, Nicole, we'll invite him to New York in a couple of days. His family has holdings here. He intimated that he's close to his mother, so we'll need to meet her. He's invited to our birthday party in Arizona, so he'll see our compound and meet some of our friends, like Andy and Liz, also our parents, Sandy, and some of your family, Nicole. Sandy, I think a quick trip to Brazil is in the offing before the party. Take him with you. We should know by the party if we want him in our plural marriage. More importantly, he should know by then, as well. TRES, Inc., anticipated a new partner. What's the current buy-in number for a full partnership position? Do either of you know? Its net worth was close to sixty million the last time I checked, Nicole said. A full partnership would cost him twenty million. What if he doesn't have that much liquid cash? Sandy asked. Details easily handled by our attorneys and his, I said with a cynical laugh. Sandy, his net worth far exceeds ours. Oh, okay. Is Nicole still feeling guilty, Sandy? No, she's excited. Have fun tonight, Nicole. Maybe I'll join you for a while. Please do. This is so... She chuckled. ... cool. I felt her loving shiver as she hugged herself. She's a beautiful woman, Sandy. She reminds me a little of Meg Ryan, but not the cute Meg, the serious one, the sexy, older Meg Ryan, if you will. You know, you're right. I knew Wanda reminded me of someone, but couldn't pull a name from my mind. Beautiful on the outside, ugly inside, but the ugliness isn't her doing. "Besides the show at Albright's, I've set up another in London a month later," Wanda said. I didn't comment on the London show, which upset her a little. She was used to praise from her clients. Instead, I said, "I went out and painted this morning. I want your opinion. The painting is a radical departure from the pretty pictures I've painted before." I set the painting on an easel. Sandy gasped. I hadn't shown it to her before Wanda's arrival. I waited. Both women stared at the painting. "It's... ah, powerful," Sandy said. I'd wandered onto the streets of New York that morning looking for an interesting subject to paint and stumbled upon a group of homeless men and women in their cardboard encampment. I'd started to paint the pathetic dropouts and quickly realized that although they looked pathetic to me, they didn't feel that way about themselves. The two filthy men and one woman I was painting hadn't lost their pride. They weren't the faceless homeless I'd hardly noticed in the past. They were individuals. One of the men was angry, the other confused but determined to live through another day, and the woman was afraid but she'd learned to live with constant fear and go on with her life, miserable that it was. I'd ripped up my first attempt to paint them and started over, and a few minutes later I destroyed that painting, too. I didn't come close to capturing the indomitable spirits lurking inside my subjects until the fifth try. I wasn't completely satisfied, but it was a start. "Can you do ten or more like this for a show in San Francisco I'm trying to set up in three months?" Wanda asked. "I don't know. It took me months to learn how to paint light, and light plays a role in this painting, but light takes a secondary place to the human spirit I tried to capture under the dirty faces and bent bodies of those models. I won't show this painting, Wanda, or any like it until I can paint the worn-out but resolute souls of the homeless. I suspect learning to paint souls will be more difficult for me than it was for light. I showed the painting to you because I wanted your opinion." Wanda nodded. "I understand. Why and how I understand I can't express, but I understand. It's as if they have secrets they harbor deep down inside that keeps them going." Like your secrets, I thought, but you're afraid to let them out, Wanda. You keep going by hiding your secrets from yourself. She gave me a curious look. "Did you say something?" I smiled and said, "No." She heard something, Josh, Sandy said. I know. I moved into her mind and found her telepathy switch. It was open, but barely. I nudged it, opening it a little more, and backed out of her mind. I didn't open it all the way for two reasons. First and foremost, Sandy, Nicole and I had agreed I wouldn't give the gifts of telepathy and empathy to anyone unless the three of us concurred. In Wanda's case, even with consensus, I'd have hesitated because I believed with her mental problems, the gifts would have been too much for her to handle. "They're survivors," Wanda said. She moved her eyes from the painting to me. "If you can learn to paint souls, Josh, your name will be listed in the art history books of the future." I smiled. "You're a survivor, aren't you, Wanda?" She grinned. "Damned straight I am." "What trials did you overcome to make you a survivor?" She looked confused momentarily and then grabbed the easy answer - the abuse her aunt and uncle heaped on her after her parents were killed. "That's private," she said with a frown. Look deeper, I told her silently. Her frown turned into a grimace. Deeper? she thought. Farther back in time. I sensed a flashing image in her mind and translated it. She was five or six, and she'd climbed into her father's bed. The sheets were pale pink. He was naked and erect. She asked him what game he wanted to play. Another image. She was slightly older. The sheets were white. Two small hands wrapped her father's erection. The game was Make Daddy Come. Her mother smiled at her and nodded. A third image. Pale-green sheets. She was sitting on her daddy's face. He'd consented to play her favorite game. She was happy. She felt good. Wanda sat stunned with a thousand-yard stare. "No," she whispered and tears formed and leaked from her eyes. You're strong. You'll deal with it. You'll survive. She squared her shoulders and nodded, and then suddenly realized where she was and whom she was with. "I'm sorry," she said. "Old memories. Please forgive my woolgathering." "Of course," I said. She glanced at her wristwatch. "My goodness! Look at the time. I have another appointment." Five minutes later she rushed away. "Was it wise to open the door to her past, Josh?" Sandy asked. "According to the psychiatrist I probed, Wanda couldn't start the healing process otherwise." "Oh." "I'll direct her to find support if she doesn't do it herself." "You don't call; you don't write; you make me feel cheap," Special Agent Dorothy Collins said, trying to sound gruff and failing. I laughed. "You forget that I can pick up your thoughts, emotions and sensations whenever the whim to act the voyeur strikes me. You've been very occupied, Dot. I believe his name is Henry Snow." "You're no fun. I'd planned to break up with you with this call, and you already know about Henry. Voyeur! How much do you know? You didn't... Fuck, you did, didn't you? You peeked!" I chuckled. "No, but I connected with your thoughts shortly after one of your wild rides. From your reaction and his, I'd say he might be the man you've been looking for." "No might about it on my part, Dick. As you know, I get a little pushy when lustfully engaged in horizontal exercises, which has scared off many a man in the past except wimps who want to be mothered, and I can't abide wimps. Henry's not a whip. He's all man. He gives as good as he takes. Whew! Does he ever!" "Congratulations. I called to check on the Boston white slavery bunch. Any progress?" "Yes, but not in Boston. We're working with our counterparts in Shanghai and plan to round everyone up simultaneously. Thanks for the lead. My boss actually gave me an attaboy." "You're welcome. Gotta pencil?" "Another one so soon?" "Yeah. Corporate fraud and insider trading. Interested?" I'd stumbled onto the crimes while painting the homeless near wall street. "You bet." I gave her the details. "This is good stuff. I'll get after it first thing tomorrow. Ah, Dick, it's all right if you peek." She giggled. "Thinking about you watching Henry and me turns me on." "I know." "Argh!" ------- Chapter 34: Darren I pushed a button on a remote, and heavy, wrought iron gates lumbered open. Would Mother be waiting to talk with me, curious about where I'd spent the night? Probably. I took in the family residence as my Escalade bumped over the brick driveway. Three ivy-covered stories, twenty-eight rooms, including nine bedrooms, and ten bathrooms, a home to be proud of, a home that had graciously housed my family for five generations. I'd lived in that home my entire life, and until I met Josh, Nicole and Sandy, I'd expected to die there. Mother was waiting. "Sit," she said. "We need to talk. May I pour you some coffee? Have you had breakfast?" "Coffee, yes. No to the breakfast offer." I wanted to talk first and eat later. She set a cup of coffee in front of me and remained standing, her back to a blazing fire, one of eight fireplaces in the house. Gloria Jefferson Caldwell was a striking, refined woman. She'd be fifty-four on her next birthday. I was her only child, and I loved her dearly. "Will you be going to the office today?" she asked. "Yes," I said and chuckled. "Were you afraid I'd abandoned the business?" She smiled. "Not really." "For what it's worth I spent some time in the office yesterday." "I know." I drank some coffee and waited for her questions. I rarely lied to her, mostly because she was almost as good at recognizing a lie as Josh. "Does she come from a good family?" Mother asked. "If you mean an old, moneyed family, the answer is no. Sit down Mother, and I'll tell you everything." Well, almost everything. "Then I'll ask you to dispense some of your infinite and appreciated wisdom." She laughed and, after pouring herself a cup of coffee, took a seat across the table from me. "I think I'm in love." "Think?" "You won't let me hedge at all, will you?" "Not a bit." "All right, I'm in love." "Tell me about her." "That will be difficult because I'm in love with two women, not one." Mother smiled broadly. "Well, well, this sounds more interesting than I anticipated. Tell me about one, and then the other." "All right. Sandy is a novelist. I think you read her latest book. Sandy... ah Sandra Johnson." "Yes I read it. It was well written, a fun read, sexy, with strong, believable characters, and a good plot. She's a very good writer." She laughed cynically. "A best-selling author makes a lot of money. She won't be a gold digger like that Anderson slut." I groaned. "Be nice, Mother." "Tell me about the other one." "Nicole is a Ph.D. candidate at Harvard - economics." "What's her last name? I'll have her checked out." "Johnson." "What are they? Sisters?" "No, wives. They're both married to Joshua Johnson. He's an artist." "Jesus H. Christ! Are you crazy?" I laughed. I couldn't stop the laugh from boiling out, and once it started, I couldn't stop it. "Control yourself, Darren." "Sorry," I said and laughed a little more. "That felt good. I've been dreading this conversation with you, and your reaction was priceless." "If you've been dreading the conversation you must have known I wouldn't approve. I don't." "You're being narrow-minded, which isn't like you. Hear me out before you become judgmental." "All right, but first help me understand the situation. An artist named Joshua Johnson is married to two accomplished women, one a best-selling novelist, and the other a Ph.D. candidate at Harvard. Correct?" "Yes." "The marriage isn't legal." "Correct. It's based on love, not a piece of paper." "Is he legally married to one of them?" "Yes, Nicole. Josh couldn't marry Sandy legally, even if he weren't married to Nicole. Would you like to venture a guess why?" She sipped coffee, and I could feel the wheels grinding in her mind. "Nicole took her legal husband's name; thus, she's Nicole Johnson. Joshua Johnson and Sandy Johnson can't legally marry, but they have the same last name. They're related, probably brother and sister." "Your guess is accurate." "I didn't guess. I analyzed the information and clues you gave me. Do you love one woman more than the other?" "No. I met Nicole first, and she was everything I always wanted in a woman. Then I met Sandy, and I fell for her just as deeply. For what it's worth, they're bisexual and love each other as much as they love Josh." "Oh, ho! The picture is becoming clearer. You've bedded both of them, probably at the same time." "Yes, separately and together." "Tell me about the artist." "He gave me two of his paintings. They're in my room." I stood up. "I'll be right back with them." I retrieved the paintings, leaned one on the mantle over the fireplace and the other on the serving console against the wall. Mother studied the paintings. "He's talented. Has he sold any of his work?" "No. He says he doesn't care about money, says he's still learning. He didn't start painting until two years ago. Before that he made a fortune in real estate, flipping properties at first, and then redeveloping an office complex in Las Vegas, Nevada, and finally developing two high-end hotels, one off the coast of Belize, and the other was on a private Greek Island. He liquidated all his properties so he could spend more time with Sandy and Nicole." "You sound impressed with Josh Johnson. How old is he?" "He'll be twenty-three next month." Mother snorted. "He's still wet behind the ears." I grinned. "You'll eat those words after you meet him. For what it's worth Albright's is sponsoring his first one-man show next month. His paintings will average over $10,000 each." "I thought you said he didn't care about money." "He doesn't. Sandy and Nicole talked him into showing his work. Because he can't stand to part with one of his paintings, he paints two of each scene so he can sell one and keep the other. He did three paintings of Boston Harbor, so he could give me that one as a gift. In a moment of weakness, I told him I wanted the promenade painting, too, so he gave it to me." "Is Josh Johnson bisexual like his wives?" "No!" She slumped into her chair. "Darren, you're an accomplished man, well-educated, responsible to me and our interests, our many employees and business partners, but regarding this situation, you're out of your depth." "You're not telling me anything I don't know, Mother." "You love them, huh?" "Yes." "Do they love you?" "I don't know. They've said nothing, and I haven't told them how I feel. Just before Sandy left for New York a couple of days ago, she sat me down and asked me if I worked. I told her I'd work after she left. She suggested that I was acting a little frantic, as if I feared I'd lose them, and I had to agree with her assessment. I saw myself as in interloper, a hanger-on to their plural marriage, while the three of them were married. That's when she stated that their marriage didn't preclude another wife or husband. That statement stunned me, Mother. She laughed and added that her statement wasn't a proposal of marriage, but a proposal sometime in the future wasn't out of the question. That's the closest any of us has come to declaring our feelings." She shook her head. "That this situation appeals to you is my fault." I laughed. "Yup, as Josh would say. Did I mention that they're from the West - Arizona and Nevada?" She groaned and shook her head again. "I want to meet them." "All right, but Josh and Sandy are in New York. I don't know when they plan to return to Boston. There are a couple of other things you need to know. You can't lie to Josh. He says he's a human lie detector. I didn't believe it, but he proved he was exactly what he claimed to be." "We'll see about that. What else? This situation just gets crazier and crazier." "Sandy remembers her past lives back over the last one thousand years." "We'll see about that, too." "Mother, she speaks about twenty languages, languages she learned as a child. Her historical novels are accurate because she lived during the times she writes about. From 1202 to 1269 she says she lived as a male in what is now called New Mexico in the United States, the setting and time frame for the best-selling novel you read. To liven up the plot, she used time travel to transport a woman from the early 21sth century back to the 13th century, and forced her to cope with the privations of that time and place." "Twenty languages?" "Yes, although she readily admits the languages she speaks are outdated. She spoke Portuguese with me, and her Portuguese was definitely old-fashioned. Brazil will be the setting for her fourth novel. Her third novel is with her editor now. It takes place in Australia during the 12th century when she lived as an aborigine, a female. Listening to her speaking that language with all its clicking sounds cracked me up." "Check with them. Tell them I want to meet them. Let's see how they react." "All right." "Darren, stop pacing. You're acting like a caged lion," Mother said. "Their flight was probably delayed." When I'd told Josh that my mother wanted to meet the three of them, he simply said all right, checked with Sandy while I was still on the telephone with him, and told me they'd fly to Boston that afternoon. "Nicole will meet us at the airport with a limo, and we'll drive directly to your home. Where do you live?" I gave him my address and said, "Josh, I can't lie to my mother. I told her everything." He chuckled. "That must've blown her mind. Will we need to be wearing body armor when we meet her?" I'd laughed heartily and relaxed. "No, Mother's weapons of choice are verbal, not physical." The intercom from the front gates sputtered, and Nicole, imitating the girl from the movie, Poltergeist, said, "We're back!" Laughing, I pushed the button that opened the gates. Five minutes later, Josh, Sandy and Nicole entered my family home like a force of nature. The introductions were barely out of the way when Nicole said, "Coffee, I need coffee. Where's the kitchen? I can fend for myself." "Check out the frig while you're there," Josh said. "See if they have any root beer." "Cut the antics, you two," Sandy said. "Mrs. Caldwell will think we're uncivilized." Josh looked Mother in the eye and said, "Compared to you, Gloria, we are uncivilized." He took my mother's hand in his, bowed and kissed her hand. "Did I do that right?" Mother cracked up. "Okay, okay, I get the point. The Caldwell clan, this house, the servants, the traditions we live by, can appear a little stuffy. Sit down, relax. Nicole, we pay servants to wait on us. If I allowed you in the kitchen, they'd get upset." She turned to our butler and said, "George, coffee for Nicole, a root beer for Josh. Sandy what would you like?" "Orange juice, if you have it." "I'll have hot tea, George. Darren?" "I'm fine." "Madam," George said ponderously, "we have no root beer in the frig or anywhere." I could see George was tickled. His eyes twinkled with mirth, but his back remained straight. He prided himself on his perfect posture. "How about ice tea?" Josh asked. George nodded staidly, turned and left the room. Mother studied each of our guests in turn. "Josh, my son told me that you claim to be a human lie detector. Are you?" He chuckled. "Yes. I'm an empath which allows me to sense when someone is lying." His expression turned serious. "I can also sense when someone is hurting. How serious is your illness?" Mother's eyes widened. "It's not life-threatening. Rheumatoid arthritis, mostly in my hands." "I might be able to help you. May I try?" Josh said. She raised an eyebrow. "Are you serious?" "Yes." "Josh is a psychic healer, Mrs. Caldwell," Sandy said. She shrugged. "What will you do?" she asked Josh. He chuckled. "My methods are difficult to explain. Let's do this. First, I'll remove the pain. If you want to proceed from there, I'll try to eliminate the problem. Okay?" "What must I do?" "Nothing." "How long will it take?" "Seconds for the pain, a little longer to fix the problem. Have you consulted a doctor about the disease?" "Yes." "Then you know that joint capsules are lined with a type of tissue called synovium, which produces synovial fluid, a clear substance that lubricates and nourishes the cartilage and bones inside the joint capsule. When you have rheumatoid arthritis, for some unknown reason your white blood cells travel to the synovium and cause inflammation. When inflamed, the normally thin synovium becomes thick and makes the joint swollen and puffy to the touch. Correct?" "Yes." "Depending on the degree of bone and cartilage loss, I might be able to fix the problem permanently." He chuckled. "From your expression, I'd guess you're wondering how I know so much about your disease. While I was in Greece, I had a friend with rheumatoid arthritis, so I studied the disease because my psychic healing is based on my understanding of anatomy and how the human body functions. I was able to help my friend." "All right," she said. "Eliminate my pain." Josh looked around the room, closed his eyes, and a second or two later opened his eyes. "Is the pain gone?" "Yes! That's amazing." "The pain will return because I did nothing to eliminate the problem." "Do your thing, Josh," Mother said. "Fix the problem." He remained in the chair, closed his eyes and sat calmly. Mother didn't move a muscle. A couple of minute later, Josh opened his eyes. "The bone and cartilage loss was in the first stage. I think I cured your problem. If it returns, let me know, and I'll try again." Mother wiggled her fingers. "No pain, and my joints aren't swollen. Thank you, young man." "You're welcome. I have a request." "What?" "Please tell no one about my psychic healing ability. If word gets out, I'd be besieged by sick people." "May I tell my doctor?" "I'd prefer that you didn't. Consult with him, of course, but please let him believe he cured you, not me." Helen, our maid, entered with our drinks. "Helen," Mother said, "Mr. Johnson says he's a human lie detector. Would you help me test his claim?" "Yes, madam." Mother had often commented that Helen was a good liar. Mother believed a good liar started with a basic truth, and then twisted the truth into a boldfaced lie, a technique Helen had perfected as a child. "Before I can determine if Helen lies, Gloria, I'll need to establish a baseline for truth. It's the same technique used for a polygraph," Josh said. Josh turned to Helen. "What is your first name?" "Helen." "Are you fifty years old?" "No." "Are you ten years old?" "No." "Are you a woman?" "Yes." "Thank you, Helen. When I ask the next question, please don't lie to me." She nodded. "How old are you?" "Forty-three." "Helen, you're not playing fair. You just lied to me." Our maid looked stunned. "You're right, sir, I'm forty-four." "Another lie." Her shoulders slumped. "I'm forty-five. I'll be forty-six in December." "You're forty-five, but your birthday doesn't fall in December." "January." "Nope." "November." "Uh-uh." "What month then?" Helen asked defiantly. "I'm a lie detector, not a fortune teller, Helen." "September." "A lie." "Her birthday falls on the seventeenth of August," Mother said. "A partial lie. Her birthday is in August, but not on the seventeenth." Mother laughed gaily. "Okay, you've proven your point. Helen, tell him the truth." "Yes, madam. I'll be forty-five on the tenth of August." "A lie," Josh said. "Gloria, you're incorrigible. I suspect you conspired with Helen before our arrival to debunk my claim that I'm a human lie detector." Mother groaned. "We're busted, Helen. That will be all, and thank you." As Helen left the room, she said, "My birthday is on the ninth of August." Josh smiled and said, "The truth, finally." Mother turned to Sandy. "I have only one test for you. Did you speak French in any of your past lives?" "Yes, from 1589 to 1611, but during the intervening years the language has evolved considerably. The three of us toured Europe for our honeymoon, and I picked up some modern French, but for the most part my French is still archaic." George walked into the room speaking French. Sandy conversed with him. I don't know what they said. A few minutes later, George said, "Madam, her French is awkward, but she understands and speaks the language fluently." "Thank you, George. That will be all." "That's it. That was the test?" Sandy said. "Yes. I'm a believer in reincarnation." She turned to Nicole. "Besides being smart and beautiful, what unusual talent do you have, Nicole?" Nicole grinned. "I've been accused of being telepathic." "Are you?" "Maybe. Probably." "Should I test you?" "I'd rather you didn't." Mother nodded and said to me, "She's modest about her unusual talent, which means she's probably very good at it. If I were you, I'd be careful what you think when you're around her." I grinned. "Too late, Mother." "Josh, would you take a walk with me?" Mother said. "We have a beautiful garden, I'm told." "Certainly," Josh replied. After Mother and Josh left the room, I said, "I apologize. I didn't know my mother planned to grill the three of you like she did." "Perhaps," Sandy said. "If Josh were here, I'd ask him if you were telling the truth." She nodded her head toward the rear of the house. "What's that all about?" "I don't know." "Any guesses?" "None." "What about you, Nicole. As our resident telepath, what's happening in the garden?" "It's not perfectly clear, but I'd guess she's going to make an attempt to buy him off." "What?" I shouted. "I'll strangle her." I jumped to my feet and rushed from the room. I frantically searched every corner of the garden but didn't find them. Ten minutes later when I returned to the living room, Mother and Josh had returned and were sitting and chatting calmly with Sandy and Nicole. "Your love affair is going to cost you, son," Mother said. "What was the number, Josh?" "You're being mean, Gloria." She laughed. "Yes I am. I'm sorry, Darren. During my private discussion with Josh, I asked him what it would take for him and his wives to disappear from your life. I must say he wasn't very flattering regarding his opinion of me. What were some of the descriptive terms you used, Josh?" He grinned. "I did say you were obviously a caring mother." "Yes you did but added besides being a caring mother that I was also a misguided fool. What else? Yes, a dried-up prune who'd forgotten, if I ever knew, that love was priceless. After he told me what he thought of me, we got down to business. If you want to join their plural marriage, Darren, it'll cost you twenty million dollars. Are they worth that much to you?" Josh glared at her. "You're cruel." "I want to know if he's serious," Mother said. I gulped. "Yes, and more," I said quietly. I thought my mother would go into one of her infamous tirades. Instead, she smiled and said, "Please, explain the corporate entity you created that controls the economics of your plural marriage, Josh." Josh described TRES, Inc., in detail and why I'd be required to invest twenty million dollars in the corporation if I wanted to be a full economic partner in their marriage. "TRES, Inc., for lack of a better term, is a family bank account designed to hold marital funds and assets, as opposed to individual assets. The corporate bylaws clearly state how the marital funds can be used, what happens if one of the marital partners wants to dissolve his or her marital status in the marriage, what happens when someone wants to marry into our plural marriage, and what happens if one of us should die. TRES, Inc., also protects any children that result from the marriage, provides for their care and education, and gives them a start in their lives when they leave the nest. Because we're individuals as well marital partners, we stipulated that any income earned by the individuals, or any assets not initially contributed to the fund, would not become a part of the marital assets and would remain income or assets of the individual. The entity's current net worth is approximately sixty million dollars, thus the buy-in of twenty million, Darren. TRES, Inc., and its bylaws act much like a prenuptial agreement." To say that I was stunned would be an understatement. "Are you saying that you'd like me to join your plural marriage?" "No," Josh said. "I'm informing you about the economics of joining. TRES, Inc., is merely a tool that protects the parties to the marriage economically. It isn't the cornerstone of the marriage. Love is its foundation. We believe in limitless love but consider sexually fidelity in a marriage silly in the extreme. The trust we expect from our marital partners takes a higher form than sexual fidelity. Our vows stipulated that no matter what happens that we would continue to love and respect each other. We take this vow very seriously, Darren, and being true to the vow is more difficult than remaining monogamous in a traditional marriage. Do you have any questions?" "Yes. You said you weren't asking me to join the marriage. Why?" Josh smiled. "For a couple of reasons. Neither you nor we have talked about love. Love..." "Nicole, I love you. Sandy, I love you," I said with feeling. Before I knew what was happening, Sandy was on my lap kissing me. "I love you, too, Darren," she said. Then Nicole took my other knee and kissed me passionately. "I love you, Darren Caldwell," she breathed. I sat with a silly grin on my face with my arms around Nicole and Sandy's waists and looked at my mother. She was smiling, which surprised me. She turned to Josh. "If I were to craft a plural marriage, I'd give each partner to the marriage veto rights for any new husband or wife. Is your marriage set up that way?" "Yes." "What's more," my mother said, "wives would marry wives and husbands would marry husbands." "Nicole and Sandy married each other as well as me," Josh said. "May I assume if my son joins your marriage that he will marry you, as well?" "Yes." "With love the foundation of your marriage, not sex, then I also assume that you'll need to love Darren, and he'll need to love you, or you'll exercise your veto privilege." "Your assumption is correct. For the marriage to succeed, Darren and I would need to love each other." "You hedged your answer." "You're referring to my omission about exercising a veto?" "Yes." "I'd need to think long and hard before I used my veto. A veto could affect the higher trust we've vowed to maintain. For that reason, I'd also discuss the possibility of a veto with my wives before exercising the privilege. Gloria, I will do nothing that might cause my wives to stop loving or respecting me." "Ah, I'm beginning to understand the complexity of that vow. This morning I told Darren that you were still wet behind your ears, and he said that I'd eat those words after I met you. He was correct. How long did it take you to develop your philosophy?" He laughed. "A better question would be how long did it take me to accept and understand the philosophy. The memories of over a thousand years of living, both as a man and a woman, taught my sister the idiocy of limited love with sexual fidelity the cornerstone of a relationship. Please offer credit where credit is due, to my first love, Sandy Johnson." Mother looked at Sandy and bowed her head briefly. "I bow to your wisdom and long life, Sandy. Nicole, what about you? How did you come to this philosophy?" Nicole grinned. "My mother was a woman ahead of her time." "Like my mother," Darren said. "Josh, Nicole, Sandy, my mother's philosophy of life and love is close to yours. Josh, I didn't say it because... well, a man usually doesn't express his feelings to another, but I'll say it now. I love you." Josh rose to his feet and held out his arms. "That deserves a hug, Josh, but reserve your kisses for the ladies. I love you, too." I nearly dumped the ladies on the floor when I stood to hug Josh. When Josh stepped back, he turned to my mother and held out his arms. "You want a hug, too, don't you?" "Yes!" Mother exclaimed, jumped up and hugged him fiercely. "How did you know?" Josh smiled and said, "Because I read minds." "Josh, are you sure?" Sandy said. "Yes. Gloria, how private is this room? I mean do the servants eavesdrop occasionally?" "All the time." "That's what I thought. Let's all take a stroll in the garden." We walked outside. Josh admired my mother's prize-winning peonies, and then he blew my mind and my mother's. ------- Part Ten ------- Chapter 35: Nicole "Hey, Pop, how you?" I said on the telephone. I started to fall into the speech patterns of my youth as I dialed my father's telephone number. "Nicky! It sure is good to hear from you. I'm right as rain. How you? How's college comin' along?" "Good, Pop, real good. How's Jessie?" "Fine as frog's hair. She's not here right now, went to the store. How's that husband of yours?" "Great. Did you get the painting Josh sent you?" "Yup, it's hangin' on the wall in the livin' room. Everybody that sees it thinks it's a mighty fine picture. "Well, he has a one-man show in New York this month. That's a milestone in the life of an artist, Pop. One of these days, he'll be a famous artist." "I just bet he will. That husband of yours can do anything he puts his mind to. I believe that, Nicky. I surely do." "How are the boys? Have you heard from them?" "Yes! Bill's wife, Ellie, is pregnant. I'm goin' to be a granddaddy. How about them apples? How 'bout you? When you goin' to give me a grandbaby?" "One of these days I'll surprise you. That's great about Ellie. A boy or a girl?" Bill had torn up his knee playing football in college, lost his scholarship, and dropped out of school. He was too proud to accept help from me. He found a good wife and made a decent living in construction. He seemed happy. "They don't know yet. She's only three months along. He was talkin' to me about startin' his own subcontracting business. You might want to talk to him." "I'll do that. I can help him get started, no strings attached, if he'll let me." "He's a mighty proud man, Nicky." "I know. How's Bobby doin'" "Mighty fine. I sure am proud of that boy." Pop lowered his voice. "He told Jessie he had a girlfriend." "Really? I'm happy to hear that." "Well, mums the word. I'm not supposed to know. Why that is, I've got no idea." Bobby let me help him. I paid his tuition at a good college. He was a junior studying computer science. He'd helped us with the computerization of our compound under the direction of an expert Andy had brought in. "My lips are zipped, Pop." I didn't need to ask about Jeff, my youngest brother. He called me from time to time. I was helping with his tuition, too, but he also had an athletic scholarship. Jeff had averaged a perfect 4.0 his first year of college. I asked about him anyway. "That boy will go far, Nicky. He's like you, a real brain." "Listen, I called to invite you to a birthday party for Josh and Sandy. If we arrange for transportation, will you and Jessie join us? We've planned the party for the 20th of this month at our house in Scottsdale. That's a Friday, Pop. You'll only need to take one day of vacation." "I'll need to talk to Jessie, but I sure would like to see you and Josh again and wish him and his sister a happy birthday." "Great. We'll count on you then. I love you, Pop." "I love you, too, Nicky. You know, I hope Bill and Ellie's baby is a girl. It sure would be nice to watch another little girl grow up like I watched you." That brought tears to my eyes. My pop was a sweet, sweet man. Pop had told me nothing I didn't already know. I'd started my checking visits years ago, and I still checked on my family with quick telepathic scans a couple of times everyday. You're a good woman, wife of mine. I love you dearly, Josh said in my mind. Like my pop, you're a sweet, sweet man, Josh Johnson. "I did it, Nicole!" Darren announced as he came rushing into my apartment. He grabbed me around the waist and spun me in the air. His boyish exuberance tickled me. "Did what?" I knew but I also knew he wanted to tell me firsthand. "I walked through a crowded shopping mall and was able to pick and choose which emotions and sensations I'd experience. What a difference! I tamped down all the haters and let happiness reign." Like with Sandy, Darren had picked up telepathy techniques quickly with few glitches, but controlling his empathic abilities had baffled him at first. All the anger and hate he experienced had really bothered him, and there were times when he considered asking Josh to turn off his empathy switch. Then he'd join the four of us in bed and share our orgasms and love, and he'd persevered. I was proud of him. Congratulations, Darren, Josh said. Thanks, Josh. I'd started to wonder if I'd ever get a handle on empathy. Nicole did it. She gave me the clue that helped me figure out how to tamp down some emotions and sensations and let others wash over me in all their glory. Sandy, are you there? Yes, I've been listening. Congratulations, Darren. I remember the day I made the same breakthrough. I felt like celebrating. Yes, let's celebrate. I groaned. "I can't guys. Y'all know why. I have a date with the library tonight. Darren, fly down to New York and celebrate with Josh and Sandy." Josh, Sandy, would I be a bother? Darren asked. Not at all, Josh said. Let us know which flight you catch and one or both of us we'll meet you at the airport with a limo, Sandy said. After Darren left, I raised my shield. I'd been raising a shield a lot lately, not to shield my thoughts, but rather to avoid interruptions. I'd completed and submitted my dissertation, but I'd discovered some holes in my research that I was certain would be pointed out when I defended my dissertation at my orals. I admit it. Orals worried me. I gathered my notes and other paraphernalia and headed out the door. Two hours at the library, a quick dinner, and two more hours at the library would dispel some of my concern - hopefully. The closest parking lot to the library was full. Situation normal. I drove three blocks away and parked my Lexus at a parking place at the curb. I'd parked in the same area before and thought nothing of it. I gathered my stuff, locked the car and strode away, cutting through a vacant lot that would knock five minutes off my walking time to the library. I was halfway through the lot when a large, black man jumped out in front of me. It was dark, but I could still see his crazed eyes. Josh! I thought. He didn't respond. Josh! That's when I remembered I'd raised my shield. I lowered it and screamed silently, Josh! I'm connected with him, Josh said. Back away slowly. If he comes at you, I'll stop him. "Throw your purse to me, bitch, or I'll kill you," the man said forcefully and raised his right hand. Josh, he has a gun! That's when the men flew backwards through the air. I heard the report of the gun going off and the whine of the bullet flying past my head. Are you all right? Josh shouted mentally. Yes, the bullet missed me. I heard his mental sigh of relief. Go back to your car and drive to the apartment. Josh, I'm fine. I need to go to the library. All right. Darren, are you there? Yes. Will you meet Nicole at her apartment and drive her to the library. Yes. What happened? When Nicole raised her shield, I lost contact with her. The same thing happened to me, Sandy said. Josh said, Move it, Nicole, or you'll be spending the night with the police. The gunshot has been reported. I moved it. Josh explained to Darren and Sandy what had happened. What about the bad guy? Darren asked. He's not a bad guy anymore. He's a vegetable. What do you mean? He had a gun. I didn't have time to be nice about taking him down. I scrambled his brains. As it was, the gun went off anyway. We were lucky the bullet missed Nicole. Nicole, no shields unless you're in your apartment or surrounded by other students in the library. Okay? Yes, I said. Darren, would you mind terribly canceling your trip to New York? You'll need to pick up Nicole when she's finished at the library. No problem. Josh, Sandy said, how are you? I know turning a person into a vegetable bothers you. I'm not a happy camper, but I'll be all right. Are you saying this has happened before? Darren asked. When no one responded, I said, Darren, I'll tell you about the other times while you drive me to the library. "Can you do that, and I'm not talking about the morality of it, but rather the ability?" Darren asked as he drove me to the library. "No." I said. Darren was referring to Josh's ability to mentally throw a person through the air or turn a person into a vegetable. I'd just described the two other times Josh had scrambled the neurons in a man's brain. "Have you tried?" "No." "Then how do you know you can't?" "Because the ability comes from not only Josh's highly advanced empathic powers but also his psychic healing ability. The attitude bundles he threw at my assailant were empathic constructs beyond my ability. I can form a construct and send it along a telepathic scan to connect empathically at a distance, but my constructs contain little energy. Josh's bundles are much more complex than any I'll ever be able to construct. I can read attitudes, but I can't translate them into thoughts. I don't need to because I'm telepathic and translating attitudes into thoughts isn't necessary as long as I can hear the thoughts. Imagine what it would be like if you only had empathic abilities, with no telepathic aptitude. Imagine further that you were a teenager and had no one to help you control those abilities. That was the condition Josh lived through until not too long ago. What he did with his paranormal talent is truly incredible. I can read attitudes, but not like Josh. I can bundle and transfer a simple attitude to someone, but not like Josh, and I have no psychic healing abilities at all. When it comes to empathic ability, Josh is beyond college post-graduate work, and I'm still in high school. Conversely, telepathically he's my equal." "Which puts Sandy in elementary school and me in kindergarten." "You're doing fine," I said. "Is there a switch for psychic healing?" No, Josh said, not that I can find. He chuckled. I looked, too, because I knew one of you would ask someday. I'm surprised you asked, Darren, instead of Sandy or Nicole. I've come to believe that psychic healing is an extension of empathy. If I'm right, both of you - Sandy, too - have the potential of developing the ability sometime in the future. Josh, I owe you an apology, Darren said. When I first heard what you did to Nicole's assailant I felt a sense of dread, and that dread came from a belief that what you'd done was wrong. It was wrong, Darren. I destroyed a life. No, you protected a loved one. You did what you had to do. No, that's not correct, either. After Nicole described what happened, my attitude did a one-eighty. You hesitated to avoid destroying that cretin's life, and in the process put Nicole's life in jeopardy, which for one brief moment made me angry with you. "Darren," I said. "Power corrupts. Absolute power corrupts absolutely. Josh is hurting right now. Why? Because to protect me he just turned a man into a vegetable. How do you think Josh would feel if he'd destroyed my assailant and then discovered the man didn't have a weapon, that he could've been easily controlled without permanently taking away the man's ability to function? Besides loving each other, the four of us have an obligation to help each other remain human and compassionate. Josh reacted perfectly to the situation. If the bullet had struck and killed me, Josh's reaction would have still been the right and only reaction under the circumstances he faced. Never forget, Darren, that what we do is very powerful and can easily corrupt us, can turn us away from our humanity, our compassion, our love. I love Josh Johnson because he isn't corrupt. If he'd scrambled that man's brains before he knew how much peril I actually faced, I'd have lost respect for him. Soon you will make a vow that no matter what happens you will always love and respect us. That vow is a heavy burden, Darren. That vow led Josh's reaction tonight." I listened to Darren turn over my words in his mind until full understanding washed over him. Josh, Darren said, I love you. As Darren pulled into the parking lot close to the library, I was surprised to see a parking spot near the back of the lot. "Pull into that open space, Darren," I said. "I can drop you off closer to the library," he said. "Darren, I just came close to losing my life. That hasn't happened to you, so you don't understand, but if it ever happens, and I hope it doesn't, you'll feel what I'm feeling right now." I felt his empathic scan. "Yes," I said. "You know what I want, what I need. Pull into that parking space and fuck me." As he bought the Escalade to a stop, I scrambled through the console to the second roll of seats and lowered the back on one of them. I giggled. "Just like high school." "Oh, did you do some back-seat fucking in high school?" "Yup, my first few years of college, too. How about you?" "Uh-huh. Whew! You're wet!" he said as hand cupped my cunt after I'd removed my panties. "Eat me, Darren. Eat my wet pussy." With his knees on the floorboard, he threw my legs over his shoulders and did what I'd asked him to do. He ate me through a quick climax. He climaxed with me, spurting his come onto the seat and floor. He hadn't learned to tamp down Sandy or my orgasms yet, but my recovery time was very short. The oral sex had done little to quench my need, and because I was still hot, he was still hard. He pushed me higher on the reclined seat and covered me. When he entered me with his wonderful cock, I said, "Don't fuck around, Darren. Just fuck the livin' daylights out of me. We'll key on whoever gets to the finish line first and come together." May we join you? Sandy said. Josh just pushed his long one in me. Be our guest, I replied. Orgasm times four comin' up, Josh said. My, oh my, I sure do love you guys, I said as my hips started to wave. Twenty minutes later I entered the library with Darren's come feeling like a sticky mess between my thighs. Otherwise, I felt good. I'd reaffirmed that I was alive and well. Before I started my research, I hit the ladies room to wash my cunt, which isn't easy to do. I had one foot up on the counter and a wet paper hand towel in my hand when a young, pretty woman pushed through the door. She didn't look shocked or cover her mouth with her hand. She grinned. "You just had a good time, I take it." "Yup." "Lucky girl." Did you hear that, everybody. She's right you know. I'm the luckiest woman in the world. I'm in love and I'm loved, and not just by one person, but by three of the best lovers ever. Thank you, one and all. I received three heartfelt you're welcomes. I finished the cleaning job, dropped my foot to the floor and let my dress settle down around my hips and legs. As I exited the restroom, I said, Josh I'm raising my shield now. Then an idea struck me, and I lowered it again. Josh, if my shield is in place, can you still give my arm an empathic poke? I don't know, but I understand the reason behind your question. If you're shielded and in danger, I could get your attention with the poke to let you know that you should lower your shield. That would mean I'd need to stay connected with you empathically when you raise a shield. You've got it, buddy boy. Try it. I raised my shield and I felt my shoulder getting caressed. I lowered my shield. With a mental chuckle, I said, That wasn't a poke. True, Josh said. Would you rather I'd poked you? No, the loving touch was perfect. I found a table and spread out my work papers. Ah, Josh, I thought with a naughty, little laugh, instead of a loving touch, how about a finger-fuck? Kinky. Even better, how about a lapping tongue? I thought you had work to do, Josh said with a chuckle. Ah, come on. I'm not wearing panties. Give it a try. Could he do it? I waited and waited. With a shrug, I picked up a pad of paper and pencil and... Oh, my! I clamped my knees together. That won't do any good, Josh said. I gave you an attitude, the one you asked for. You'd feel what you're feeling with or without panties, with your legs spread wide or your knees together. Try not to squeal too loud when you come. Bye. Josh! Josh, don't leave me like this. Josh! I jumped to my feet and hurried to the ladies room. I'd be darned if I'd come sitting at a table in the library. I couldn't be quiet enough to get away with it, and Josh knew it. Josh, I'm goin' to get you for this. Be sure your sins will find you out, Sandy said with an evil laugh. I looked over the combined invitation list. I'd been surprised at the number of duplicates our individual lists contained. Still, there were names included on everyone's list that weren't included on the others. I'd listed Dr. Benton, my advisor at Harvard and Harry from Olsen's, for example, and Darren's list contained names I'd never heard. Including Darren in our plural marriage would expand our list of friends and associates considerably, a good thing to my mind. Even with all the duplications, the list totaled close to one hundred. Some of the folks we'd invite wouldn't be able to join us. Life had a way of eating up time so we all had to pick and choose how we spent the finite time allocated to each of us everyday, so we'd understand if other obligations precluded someone from joining the celebration. Still, I hoped everyone would make the effort. Would Regina, Antonio and Soren fly in from Europe? After checking his whereabouts with a telepathic probe, I dialed his cell phone number. He wouldn't mind the interruption. "Pierre, it's Nicole." "Nicole, how are you? It's great to hear from you. How are Josh and Sandy?" "Getting older. That's what this call is about. I'm planning a birthday party for them on the 20th of this month at the compound in Scottsdale." "Grace and I wouldn't miss it for the world." "You're invited, of course, but... Pierre, Josh still brags to one and all about your cooking. Would it be possible for you to act as executive chef for the party?" I'd connected with him telepathically and had sent a construct to connect with him empathically, as well, and was pleased to feel how happy my request had made him. "If you'd asked anyone but me to cater the party, I'd have been very disappointed, Nicole. Do you have anything special in mind?" "No, you select the menu items... no, wait. Josh still raves about your lobster bisque soup." "I would've included the lobster bisque in any case. Leave everything to me, Nicole. The meal will be a tour de force. I guarantee. I'll handle the booze, too. You'll need some open bars scattered around." He laughed. "I won't forget the root beer. And a birthday cake! You'll be pleased with the cake I have in mind. Don't worry about food or drink. I'll handle everything." "Great. We've invited close to one hundred guests, but knowing Josh and Sandy, they'll think of a few more names before the party. Let's figure on... No, let's do this. Do you know Bill Roberts?" "No." "He runs a shelter for the homeless in South Phoenix. Plan on two hundred for the party. What we don't eat, we'll give to Bill. I'll recruit some help from the party to serve your wonderful food to those in need the next day." I gave Pierre Bill's phone number. "Would you contact Bill and work out the logistics with him for the 21st?" "Sure. Count Grace as one of the servers for the homeless. This will please her no end. I'll work the kitchen at the shelter, too." He chuckled. "Will you relax the house rule for the party room during the celebration?" "Probably, darn it. Josh and Sandy's religious parents will be there." He laughed heartily. "Shucks, as Josh would say." "Pierre, it occurs to me that I sure could use Grace's help with this party. We should have live music, party favors, all the little extra touches. Is she working?" "No. Say, that's a good idea. She'll be thrilled if you asked for her help." "I'll call her right now. If she's like every other housewife I know, she'd love to get her hands on some mad-money. Which reminds me, don't skimp, Pierre. I want this to be the best party ever. If you need an advance..." "If you want the party lavish, an advance would help." "I'll wire you some funds today. Would $20,000 get you started?" "That's more than enough." "I'll tell Grace to call on you for any advance funds she might need. Pierre, you just made my day. With you and Grace on board, you've eliminated all the worry planning a successful party usually generates." "I'm happy to be of service, Nicole." I called Grace. She was as pleased as her husband to help, and she was happy to hear that Sandy had found her man of the world. We talked far longer than I'd planned. I'd missed her. I called Bill Roberts. He was ecstatic. I hung up and my phone rang. "Nicole, it's Gloria Caldwell." "Hi, Gloria." As was my habit when someone I knew called me, I reached out and connected with her. "I understand you're planning a birthday party for Sandy and Josh." "Yes I am." "I know how busy you are. May I help?" My empathic connection told me that she wasn't just being gracious. She truly wanted to help. "Of course." I quickly told her the arrangements I'd made. Disappointed, she said, "It sounds as if you have everything under control." "There are a few things you could do. Can you get away from Boston for a few days?" "Yes." "I assume you're attending the opening for Josh's one-man show in New York this weekend." "I am." "Could you fly from New York to Phoenix after the show?" "Yes." "Great. I need someone on the ground in Scottsdale to make sure the compound looks sharp. We maintain a housekeeper and gardener, a couple, to take care of the place, but you might need to hire additional help to prepare the houses, common areas and grounds for the party. Also, Josh pinned up about one hundred of his paintings in his studio. He painted them while he was in Greece and Belize. Like I said, they're just pinned to the walls; they're not even framed. I also think he has another fifty paintings lying around the studio somewhere, duplicates of the paintings he turned over to Wanda for the one-man show. I'd like to have them all framed and hanging for the party, sort of a surprise for Josh. I know it's a lot to ask to get done in only six days, but..." "I'll get everything done," she said with conviction, and my connection with her told me she was excited with the chores I'd given her. She felt useful. "Because you're unfamiliar with the city or our compound, I suggest you work with Grace." I gave her Grace's phone number. "Call her and let her know what you'll be doing. I told her all about Darren, but she and her husband aren't aware of our paranormal abilities. I'm sure the two of you will get along famously. I'm wiring funds to Pierre and Grace today to take care of the expenses, so Grace will handle any costs you incur." I made a mental note to increase the advance I'd send Pierre to $30,000. "Gloria, plan on staying at the compound while you're in Phoenix. Use one of the guest suites. There's a swimming pool, a hot tub, and entertainment room. Just make yourself at home. You're a lifesaver. Without your help, some things would have been left undone" She laughed. "You're just being kind, but thank you anyway." After Gloria's call, I started to gather my stuff to go to the library, but something Pop said nagged me. I sat down, looked up another number and dialed. "Ellie, it's Nicole." Josh had used Jessie to overcome Pop's sense of pride so he'd accept Josh's gift of transportation and hotel accommodations for my twenty-first birthday party at the Bellagio in Las Vegas. Could I prevail on Ellie to help me give by brother, Bill, a leg up in business? We chatted a few minutes, primarily about her pregnancy. I told her what Pop had said about a granddaughter. She laughed and said, "Bill wants a boy." "Ellie, I really called because I need your help. Pop told me that Bill wanted to start his own subcontracting business instead of working for a wage the rest of his life." "He's been talking that way, but with a baby on the way, it'll be while, if ever, before we could take the chance." "Not if he'd let me help him." When Ellie didn't comment, I continued. "Ellie, I have more money than I could spend if I made a concentrated effort everyday for the rest of my life. Heck, I'd probably still be richer when I died than I am now. I want to help. Will you help me make Bill understand that accepting my help doesn't make him less of a man?" She didn't speak for a couple of seconds. "I'll try. I don't know if I'll succeed, but I'll try." "Great. You'll succeed. Bill thinks you're the sun, moon and stars. Let's do it this way. As you know, I've been paying Bob's tuition and helping with his expenses through college, and I'm doing the same with Jeff. I set up a trust fund for each of them in the amount of $100,000 from which they could draw money to pay college expenses. They're not privy to the total amount, and they don't know that whatever remains after they finish college will be turned over to them as a graduation present, so keep that under your hat. Would the same amount put Bill in his own business?" "Nicole, I don't know anything about business, so I can't answer your question. It sure sounds like a lot of money, though." "Okay, here's what I'll do. Do you have a separate bank account?" "Yes. It's a joint account, but it's mine. Bill never looks at it." "Good. Give me the account number, and I'll wire the money to you today. Then you can go to work on Bill and convince him that taking money from his big sister isn't a bad thing if it will help him provide a better life for him and his family. When he finally caves, tell him about the money. If he doesn't cave, tell him you won the lottery, or something. If he needs more, let me know. If that happens, to keep everything equal, I'll increase Bob and Jeff's funds to match Bill's." "Whew, you don't mess around, do you?" I laughed. "I'm just happy I finally figured out a way to help my brother. I love him, Ellie. I want him to be all he can be, and if he needs a leg up from me to get there, he's got it." ------- Chapter 36: Sandy "Darren, have you had sex just for the fun of it since you met us?" I asked as we strolled along the white sands of Ipanema Beach in Rio de Janeiro. It was our last day in Brazil. We'd arrived in Rio the night before from Darren's ranch in the Panatel, and we were staying at the Copacabana Palace. We planned to return to New York the next day to attend the opening for Josh's one-man show. Darren flashed his boyish grin and said, "Only about a hundred times." "I wasn't talking about sex with Nicole and me. I'm starting to worry about you, Darren. You're becoming fixated on the Johnson women. We have an open relationship based on love, not sexual fidelity." "I haven't wanted anyone except you and Nicole. You ruined me for other women." "Of course we have. That doesn't mean you can't have fun with another woman. The trick is finding someone who wants to just have fun without getting too serious and possessive, and that's where our paranormal talents come in handy. From what I've noticed, you pick up on surface thoughts without much trouble. How are you at digging into memories?" "I'm doing fine with telepathy. I can delve into recent memories, but I'm still struggling with older memories and can't deal with subconscious memories at all. Empathy is another matter. For the most part, empathy beyond simple emotions and sensations remains a mystery to me. I don't know if I'll ever be able to translate attitudes." "I know what you mean about attitudes. I've decided that learning Josh's brand of empathy is more difficult if you're telepathic at the same time, mostly because probing deeply for memories produces similar results to translating attitudes. You're doing fine, Darren. Just keep practicing, and... Do this. As we walk along the beach, try digging deeper into the memories of the women on the beach, and probe with a purpose." I grinned. "Search for a woman that you're attracted to who'd be open to some sex for the fun of it. Tell me the results of your scans. I'll follow your scan with my own, and check out your findings." "All right." Tell me about the blonde wearing the thong bathing suit, I said. Which one? The one with the surgically augmented boobs. A few seconds later, Darren chuckled. She's a prostitute. I scanned her. Yup, but not a common prostitute. She's a call girl. What about the other blonde? She's married. So? Darren, sexually fidelity, for the most part, is a myth. Although married, she could be a candidate for some recreational sex. Dig deeper. She's a candidate, but I'm not interested. Why? The sex wouldn't be fun. She's looking for a revenge fuck. Her husband cheated, and she wants to get even. I followed his scan with mine. He'd pegged the situation perfectly, but... Dig a little deeper, I told him. Darren shook his head in dismay. Her husband isn't the father of their children, and he doesn't know it. While she's getting revenge she'll also be checking out the gene pool for a new biological father for her next child. You've got it. Hey you're getting pretty good at this. Yeah, he is. He's a natural, Nicole said. Sandy's right, Darren. Have some sex for the fun of it. We do. Gotta run. This was just a checking visit. I love you, both of you. I love you, too, Darren said. She raised her shield, Darren, I said. Oh. What did she mean by checking visit? "A couple of times each day, Nicole checks on everyone she loves and cares about to make sure they're all right." "What a good idea!" How about the long-legged brunette? Wow! I laughed. I thought you'd like the looks of that one. Do you know why? No. Tell me. Her body, her hair, some of the facial features. She could be my sister, Darren. Or Nicole's sister. You're just like Josh. You're attracted to a certain look. Fortunately, Nicole and I fit your preference. Check her out. She's married. Probe deeper. Her husband just left to play golf. He'll be gone for five hours. Check out her emotions and sensations. She's not unhappy about being left alone, and she's slightly aroused. Hmm, the half-naked bodies on the beach have been giving her ideas. She's on the prowl, Sandy. Yup. Is she bisexual? I don't know. Check her memories, Darren. Has she been with a woman? If so, was the experience pleasant? No sexual encounters with women in her recent memories. Whoa! Yeah, she's bisexual. What's the status of her marriage? Does she love her husband? Yes, I think so. Uh-uh, make that definitely. We just struck out, Sandy. I'd say just the opposite. Think, Darren. She loves her husband, but she's on the prowl. What does that tell you? I see what you mean. Perhaps they have an open marriage. Perhaps? That's a guess, Darren. With our abilities, we should be able to eliminate guessing. Hit her with a deeper probe. Shucks, I was wrong. She has a faithful husband. But... ah, that's how it is, huh? Explain. Her husband is faithful; she isn't. She doesn't equate love and sex. She cheats occasionally, but she's discreet. Does he know? No. Is she a candidate for some sex for the fun of it? Yes. Uh-uh, we don't know that yet, Darren, not for sure. When she cheats does she feel guilty? What kind of person is she? Is she vindictive? Aggressive? Submissive? Is she into some sexual kinks that would turn us off? Is she basically good or evil? Honest or dishonest? If she could, would she blackmail us? How's her overall mental health? Physical health, too, especially STDs and AIDS? Finding the answers to some of those questions is beyond my abilities right now, Sandy. I chuckled. Mine, too. Besides, time is passing. We have a five-hour window of opportunity. Josh or Nicole could find the answers to those questions in seconds. Nicole's busy. Should we ask Josh for a little help or take our chances? Josh, are you there? Darren said. Hey, Darren, how's everything? Fine. He explained the situation. Can you check her out for us? A few seconds later, Josh said, Have fun. She's naughty but nice. I might join you. Please do, I said. We don't have much time. How should we approach her? She's under the same time constraints, Josh said. Sandy, she'd be more receptive to an approach from a strange woman than a strange man. Darren, make yourself scarce for a few minutes. After Sandy meets her, join them. She's ripe. If she likes what she sees in the two of you, it'll be all over but the shouting because she'd actually prefer a couple to just a woman or man. As I said, have fun. Her name was Angela Waters. She'd been married three of her twenty-four years, and she and her husband were here on vacation from Chicago, Illinois. She had a college degree in math, so she was smart, and as expected, she was also wary. She used up two of her five hours being careful before accepting Darren's and my invitation to join us in our suite for a drink with sex for the fun of it implied, but not expressed, as the real reason for our invitation. I do enjoy the dance preceding getting nekkid and getting it on, and Angela was a pretty fair dancer, flirting and backing off, moving from Darren to me with her flirtations. Her dance was more a tango than a striptease - intense but not in-your-face intense. It was fun being Darren's date for the dance, instead of my brother's. Darren wasn't as confident as Josh would have been in the same situation. Josh would have probed for advantages and used them, cutting to the chase much faster, like he did with the beautiful woman at our island hotel in Belize. The tango ended, and the imaginary band started a slow, romantic song, and Darren pulled Angela close, moving to the rhythm, and I moved up behind her, brushed her long hair away from her neck. As Darren kissed her lips, my lips danced down her long, long neck. She enjoyed the feel of Darren's erection against her front and my breasts pressed against her back and couldn't decide whom she wanted more, Darren or me. Darren picked up on her ambivalence, understanding how she felt because that's how he was when he was with Nicole and me. "We both want you," Darren said. "At the same time." That did it. Clothes flew and the three of us ended up on the large bed with Angela in the middle, right where she wanted to be. Soon, Darren moved his face between her legs while I kissed her and played with her marvelous breasts. They were very sensitive. A probe told me she'd climaxed once in her youth while a girlfriend teased her breasts with hands and mouth without touching her cunt. That wasn't happening, though, not with Darren's lips and tongue doing the pussy two-step. She climaxed quickly. I came with her but hid my orgasm, and Darren was wise enough to back off his empathic connection with her at the last moment to save his first ejaculation for her mouth or cunt. You make me proud, I told him silently. Fuck her while she eats me. Great minds, etcetera, he replied. I chuckled inwardly and told Angela that I was hot and needed her mouth on me. "And I need my cock in you," Darren added. "It seems to me, both needs can be satisfied, if you're of like mind, Angela." Her thoughts told us that she liked our plan - a lot. I did, too, when her lips and tongue changed the dance to a jitterbug. She's good, Nicole said. I'm glad you could join us, I said. Yeah, me too, Darren said as he moved behind Angela, lifted her hips, and slowly pushed his hard cock into her grasping pussy. She took his entire length with that one push, and I wondered if her husband was larger than Darren. Darren laughed silently. A statement like that could cause me to lose my erection. Uh-uh, Nicole said. When it comes to sex, Darren, you can put your ego in your pocket. That's one of the reasons I love you so much. Ooh, she's really good at pussy licking! I gushed. Fucking, too, Darren said. Her clit needs some attention, Darren, Nicole said. Darren reached under and fondled her clit while he continued to thrust into her hot cunt. She moaned into my hot cunt. Yup, a couple of hot cunts, Nicole said. Three with yours, I said. Where's Josh? Darren asked. I'm painting and the sun will set soon. I need the time with the available light. Have fun. I'll join you after the light fades if you're still having fun. She's close, I said a few minutes later. Key on her everyone. Darren, you're about to experience three simultaneous female orgasms for the first time. You'd better back off one of us, or... Uh-uh. I want to try it. I laughed. All right, while you're in la-la land, I'll dine on your come. And that's precisely what happened, but Darren came around and fucked me while I was still dining. Josh joined us for our last orgasm of the afternoon, and Darren went into sensory overload again. After Angela hurried away to shower and be fresh for her husband when he returned from his golf game, I said, "Darren, what do you think about sex for the fun of it?" He laughed heartily. "It's fun." At my request, my financial advisors met me in New York. For some reason, I'd been concerned about Nicole's next life. She'd remembered her previous life. Would she remember this one during her next? If she did, I wanted to make sure she didn't need to chase the almighty dollar. She could do what I planned to do for her, but her funds were limited. Mine weren't. My wealth had tripled during this life, and I could easily spare the trust fund I planned to set up for her. After raising my shield, I outlined my request to my advisors, two stuffy older men from the trusted firm in London I'd retained when I was Sir Edward. They nodded and said they'd prepare the papers for my signature for the following day. Because Nicole would have no choice in the circumstances she'd be forced to accept during her next life, I set up the activation of her fund like I'd set up mine. When her memories arrived in her next life, wherever she was, whoever she was, she could activate the fund with a simple telephone call to a specific number and recite a complex code. My request stipulated that if the code wasn't activated within twenty years of Nicole's death for this life, it would be assumed that her memories didn't follow her into her next life, so the fund would revert to whoever I was at that time. I put twenty-five million dollars in the fund. Depending on how long Nicole lived in this life, the fund could double or triple before she activated it in her next life. I jotted down the telephone number and code and placed it in a sealed envelope. "I also want to change my will," I told my advisors. "Please set up a fund for any nieces and nephews I have or will have during this generation, excluding any children my brother, Josh, might have. I'd like my nieces and nephews to have the same independence at age eighteen that my fund allowed me. Make the fund large enough to give each niece and nephew one million dollars on his or her eighteenth birthday, but the bequest must carry one provision. I want them to sign an agreement that precludes them from giving any of the money to the LDS Church. If any of them refuse to sign the agreement, put the million back in my general fund. If they take the money and give any of it to the church, sue their pants off, the church, too." One older gentleman chuckled. The other grinned. I gave Nicole the sealed envelope during Josh's one-man show and explained its purpose. Independent in her own right, she accepted the gift in the spirit it was given. I think she shocked a couple of art lovers with the embrace she gave me. "Memorize the telephone number and code, Nicole. For all you know, you'll be born in absolute poverty or as a Muslim female with no individual rights." Josh's one-man show was a huge success. All twenty paintings sold during the opening. Soren Thorsen was one of the buyers, which gratified Josh. Soren was effusive with his praise for Josh's work. "The sun, Josh! You've captured the brilliant but elusive light of the sun," Soren said. "I will hang your painting in a place of honor in our villa." After Josh thanked him for his kind words, I said, "Soren, we're so pleased you could attend Josh's first one-man show. Will Antonio and Regina arrive later?" He shook his large head. "No. Regina is ill. Antonio stayed with her." "I'm sorry to hear she isn't feeling well. Is it serious?" Tears welled in the big man's eyes. "Yes. Breast cancer." "Oh, no!" The sculptor's thoughts told me what I didn't want to hear. Regina had refused to undergo the mastectomy the doctors recommended. She wouldn't allow her body to be disfigured along with her face. I hugged Soren tightly. "I'll go see her after the birthday party." Perhaps I can change her mind, I thought. Visit her if you wish, Josh said, but you won't change her mind. I've been monitoring the situation. Antonio has used every argument you could think of and some you'd never dream up. Why didn't you tell me? I asked, angry that he'd kept the tragedy from me. I called and spoke privately with her, Sandy. I didn't tell you because she asked me to keep her illness confidential, and she named you specifically in her request. Besides, when the doctors diagnosed her cancer, it was already invasive. The prognosis wasn't good even after surgery. Tears welled in my eyes. "Regina asked me to thank you, Sandy," Soren said to me in Danish. "You helped make the last days of her life the happiest they could be. She says being married to Antonio and me made her dreams come true." "How much time do the doctors give her?" "Six months, perhaps less. The cancer has spread." His thoughts told me that he believed Regina would take her own life when going on would be too painful. "I'm sorry for her, but I'm sorry for you and Antonio, too. How are you holding up?" "Badly but better than Antonio. He won't leave her side." "May I call her?" "Yes. I think she'd prefer a call to a visit, Sandy. She's seen pity on the faces of those around her for so long that she's come to detest the sight. Antonio will handle the call and act as go-between so Regina can type her side of the conversation." "Tomorrow. I'll call her tomorrow." Soren nodded gravely and said, "You're husband is very talented. He will go far as an artist." "Thank you, Soren. That means a lot coming from you." My call to Regina the next day was bittersweet. Antonio kept a stiff upper lip throughout my conversation with Regina, but when I spoke with him privately, he broke down. We cried together, and I assured him that Regina would live again, which did little to assuage his grief. "Perhaps she'll be happier in her next life," he said. "I hope so, but she won't be sharing it with me, and that makes me sad." Later during the opening, Nicole told me that Darren's mother was leaving for Scottsdale the next day to help Grace prepare for the party, which gave me an idea. "I'll go with her and help," I said. "It's your party," Nicole said. "You shouldn't need to help. Darn it, you're making me feel guilty. I agreed to host the party. I should fly to Arizona with Gloria, not you, but I can't." "Of course, you can't. I understand, and for heaven's sake, hop off the guilt wagon you just climbed on. It's silly. I'll ask Darren to go with me, leaving you by your lonesome so you can maximize your production during the week. Josh is staying in New York. He tells me Wanda has two appointments for private commissions. You can fly to Phoenix with him later in the week. Besides, you know as well as I that Darren has some issues he needs to resolve with his mother. This will be a good time to face them." Nicole grinned. "Game time? The hot tub?" I nodded. "Or the playroom." As the gala event was drawing to a close, I watched Josh interact with Wanda. How is she doing with her problem? I asked Josh. Careful, she might hear your thoughts, he replied. Her telepathic abilities improved during your time in Brazil. She and I can communicate telepathically, and she's starting to hear thoughts from others. Did you flip her telepathic switch? I asked, alarmed that he might have broken our agreement. No, just gave it a little nudge. It's halfway open. I won't flip it without conferring with you and Nicole beforehand, and I won't call on you until Wanda's mentally whole and wants more than she has. Did she get any professional help? Yes, she's in therapy with a psychologist who has helped a number of patients with problems similar to hers. I gave my husband a hug. "You're a good man, Josh Johnson." The trip to Phoenix started a little sour and ended on a higher note. Gloria was my seatmate, not Darren. I'd told Darren I wanted to get to know his mother a little better. "I have a museum in Phoenix, Gloria, where I maintain artifacts and keepsakes from my past lives. While we're in Arizona, would you like to see it?" "Yes, that sounds interesting." In the background, I sensed a different emotion. Oh, she was interested in my museum, but she was also a little angry, and I knew why from her thoughts. I put my hand on hers and said, "Gloria, my decision to return home early had nothing to do with any concern on my part or Nicole's regarding your ability to perform the tasks Nicole asked of you to get ready for the party. I'm sorry you misread my motives, but I assure you nothing could be farther from the truth." She grimaced. "I'm still not comfortable with the four of you reading my thoughts and sensing my emotions," she said. I smiled. "I understand. Would you like to hear the reasons I decided to return early?" She nodded. "I haven't seen my parents for quite a while. I figure if I spend some time with them before the party, I won't need to dote on them during the party. They're very religious..." "I know. Darren told me. Mormons, correct?" "Yes, devout Mormons, which means they'll try to bring me back to the church when I visit with them. We'll clash. Angry words will be said, but in the end we'll kiss and makeup. If I waited until the party, the angry words might happen at the party, which would be unkind to our guests. Also, although I hate to put Darren through their proselytizing, they need to meet him, and he them, but I won't subject him to them until after the kissing-and-making-up part of the reunion takes place." "Darren says they're not aware of your plural marriage." "That's correct. They're also unaware of our paranormal abilities, and we'd prefer to keep them in the dark on both counts. If the church were aware of the marriage, Josh and I would face excommunication, which would destroy what little closeness remains with our parents. Josh and I would never consider subjecting them to such heartache. Oh, Josh and I could care less about what the church does or doesn't do to us, but we care about our parents. We love them. They were and are loving, caring parents with an unwavering faith in a religion neither Josh nor I could accept. I won't ask you to meet them ahead of the party." I chuckled. "When you and I start planning my legal wedding with Darren, you'll get to know my mother. She'll want to be involved in the planning. She certainly made some of her wishes known for Josh and Nicole's legal wedding." "Where do you plan to have the wedding?" "One of two places - your house or the compound. After you've seen the compound, I'll let you decide." "Really?" "Sure. When the public wedding takes place, I'll already be married to Darren. The four of us will exchange vows privately before the public wedding. To my mind, that will be the real wedding, not the show Darren and I will put on publicly." I laughed. "Knock yourself out, Gloria. Have the time of your life planning the wedding of the decade, if that's what you wish. I'll go along with anything you want." "May I attend your private wedding?" "Ah... let me check." Darren, Nicole, Josh, are you there? When they all responded, I said, Gloria wants to attend our private wedding. What say each of you? I'd like her there, Darren said. No, Nicole said. Yes, Josh said. Why no, Nicole? Private is private. I understand Darren's motive, Josh. Why did you say yes? If your mother had been alive, would you have wanted her to witness our first private wedding? Like your mother, Gloria understands and agrees with our plural marriage. From my scans, I'd say she cares more about the private wedding than the public one that will take place later. I change my vote, Nicole said. "Yes," I said to Gloria and gave her hand an affectionate squeeze. Happy tears welled in her eyes. "Thank you." "You're welcome. By the way, you'll be the only non-participant. It's a singular honor." She smiled. "You just made me a happy mother, Sandy." "Hey, I took a vote. Thank everyone with a thought." A second or so later, I said. "They all said you're welcome." After I settled Gloria in one of our guest suites and Darren put away his things in the master suite in my Scottsdale home, I said to Darren, "I'm stiff from the flight. The frothing water of the hot tub in the party room should take out the kinks. Would you like to join me?" "Sure." "Your mother would probably enjoy the hot tub, too. Should I ask her to join us?" He raised an eyebrow. "Nicole told me about the house rule for the party room. Will you relax the rule for Mother?" "No, but I'll let her know about the rule and let her decide." I picked up a phone and dialed the extension for Gloria's rooms. When she answered I asked her if she'd like to join us in the hot tub and told her about the house rule. She laughed. "Sandy, I'm fifty-three years old. My body isn't what it used to be." "What's your point?" "Seeing me naked might alter my son's opinion of me." "Out West, we say nekkid, not naked, and I don't believe Darren is so shallow that seeing you nekkid would make him think less of you." "He's listening to your end of this conversation, isn't he?" I laughed. "Knowing him, he's listening telepathically to your end, too." "Argh. Ask him if he's all right with this?" "You just did." Waddaya say, Darren? I asked silently. He snickered nervously. If she doesn't mind, I don't. "He says he's looking forward to seeing you nekkid." I lowered my voice. "From his thoughts, he is worried about getting a hard-on." Gloria cracked up. Darren blushed deeply. "Can you find the party room on your own?" I asked her. "Yes." "Okay, then we'll either see you soon or we won't. You decide." After I hung up, Darren said, "What are you doing, Sandy? Is this one of your infamous games?" "Yes and no. You and your mother have some issues you need to deal with. I've just created an atmosphere that will allow you to deal with them or continue to ignore them. What happens is up to you and your mother." Gloria entered the party room, looking lovely wrapped in a diaphanous gown. At the hot tub, she dropped the gown to the floor and stepped gracefully into the bubbling water. She looked at Darren and said, "Do you have a hard-on?" He gulped and nodded. "Good," she said. "Gloria," I said, "I hope I look as good as you when I'm in my fifties. How do you do it, keep your face and body so youthful looking, I mean?" "I work at it, Sandy. I have a personal trainer, not to mention a cadre of cosmetic surgeons, dieticians, a masseuse, skin care specialists, and others that I pay a lot of money to make me look as young as possible. I'm not truly vain. I just have a lot of money, so why not?" I laughed gaily. "Well, you're getting your money's worth. Waddaya think, Darren?" "Mother, I've always considered you one the prettiest, sexiest women I know, and seeing you nekkid hasn't altered my opinion, just the opposite." She leaned against him and kissed his cheek. "That's sweet, Darren. Thank you." She chuckled. "If Josh were here, I'd ask him if you were telling the truth." The feel of her bare breasts against his arm and torso jump-started his libido, not that it was dormant before. Anticipating finally seeing his mother in her all together had aroused him, given him the hard-on he'd displayed as we moved into the water before her arrival. I couldn't resist and teased him about it, and although slightly embarrassed, he didn't deny the cause of his erection. Tell Gloria that Darren's comment was not a social lie, Josh said. It's late in New York. Why are you still awake? I asked and then passed on Josh's statement to Gloria. I just left Wanda. She made some real progress this evening. I'll tell you about it later. Darren, Sandy's right. You and your mother have some sexual issues you need to deal with. Sandy, please don't interfere. Leave them to deal with them alone. That was my plan, I said. Good and a good night to all of you. Before I could leave, Gloria said, "Darren, you just saw me nekkid. You're up to your neck in bubbling water. Stand up so I can see you." To his credit, Darren didn't hesitate. Talk about jump-starting a libido! When Gloria fixed her eyes on her son's hard cock, her pussy turned into mush. "Ah, I think I'll leave you two alone," I said and started to rise. "No!" both of them said at the same time, which made us all laugh, breaking the sexual tension that was getting thick enough to cut with a knife. When Gloria reached and wrapped her hand around Darren's erection, the tension returned, but multiplied exponentially like the effects of an underwater earthquake. I rose to leave again. "Stay right where you are, Sandy. You started this. You're going to see it through to the end." I returned to the water. From her tone of voice, Gloria meant every word. I watched as she stroked her son's cock expertly. "You've read my mind, Sandy," Gloria said. "What's my favorite sexual fantasy?" "Fucking Darren," I said. He gasped. "What's Darren's favorite sexual fantasy?" she asked. "Fucking you." She looked up at Darren. "Would you like to turn our fantasies into the real thing?" "Yes." "Good, because that's what I want, too." She lowered her face and took his cock into her mouth. Darren groaned with passion. I rose and left them alone. They didn't try to stop me. Join me later in my bedroom, Darren. Bring your mother with you if she's interested. I'd like to have sex with her, too. She'd like that. She's had a few female lovers in the past that she cherished. I know, but she might prefer to spend the night just with you. There's always tomorrow. They joined me later. ------- Chapter 37: Josh My thoughts that morning upon waking were private. Nicole was shielded, concentrating, doing what she had to do to be all she could be. Sandy and Darren were asleep. Gloria, too. Sandy's bed could sleep four, so the three of them slept in comfort. I don't know if I'd have pushed the mother/son sex like Sandy, not that she had to push all that much. I'd have just let it happen. I was doing a lot of that lately - letting things just happen. There were times when I enjoyed being alone, and this was one of them. I'd learned what it was like to be alone while under a shield for five months. After a while, being alone had its rewarding moments, but at first, the loneliness felt so heavy, rolling over in bed was a burden. I'd wanted the three of us to become one. I'd even created a business we could all work so we could stay together. What a disaster that turned out for us! When the shield came down, I stopped trying to make things happen, and instead tried to help those around me do what they wanted to do, be what they wanted to be, and living with myself became easier. Loving is better than being loved. It would be good to go home again, if only for a few days. No, I suddenly decided. I'd stay there for a while. Would the Phoenix sun illuminate the indomitable souls of society's castaways or dropouts? I'd made a few breakthroughs in my quest to paint souls. The homeless let me see their souls. Souls, I discovered, weren't within, contained by bodies, but rather resided at the edges. At first, I'd believed souls were the twisted features of a grimace, the slump of shoulders, a bent back, the shuffle of aged feet and legs, but I'd been wrong. This outward evidence was merely the result of hard living. I found the true human spirit, what I called the soul, in the determined look in bloodshot, bleary eyes, grimace or no grimace. I found souls in the momentary squaring of shoulders, the stubborn straightening of a back. Souls persisted. They never gave up - no matter what. Souls couldn't be harnessed, couldn't be killed. Sandy's old soul was proof. When a body her soul occupied wore out or was destroyed, her soul moved on, attached itself to another body and lived on - no matter what. To what purpose, I'd asked myself, looking for an answer to the big question, the meaning of life, and then realized that each of us answered that question every day, and the answer was whatever we wanted life to be. That's why my plan to make Sandy, Nicole and I one went awry. The plan had ignored the individual nature of souls. The doorbell rang. Wanda had arrived - a surprise visit. She hadn't learned yet that it was difficult to surprise me. I opened the door, invited her in, poured coffee into two mugs, and sat with her at the kitchen table. Why is it that the kitchen table was so pivotal in our lives? If psychologists performed a survey about the various places folks selected to have serious discussions, the kitchen table would head the list. "I dropped by to thank you for being so understanding last night, Josh," Wanda said. A partial truth. Thanking me was just one of her reasons for dropping by, the least important reason. The previous night I'd been her listening post. She'd vented, told me about her sick parents and what they'd done to her. Telling all hadn't been a catharsis for her, but telling me about the abuse had been a breakthrough. I'd listened, asked non-threatening questions, accepted what she had to say and believed her, and when I left her, she was at more peace with herself than she'd been since the suppressed memories had started to invade her conscious mind. She'd arrived this morning with a different purpose, a quest, if you will. Josh, why is it that we can talk to each other with our minds? Because we're telepathic. "When you first spoke with me in silence, I thought I was losing my mind, that I was schizophrenic because I was hearing voices. Then I realized I only heard the voices when I was with you, that it was you I was hearing, but that was almost as terrifying." "Why?" She grimaced. "My thoughts aren't always... kind." I laughed softly. "No one's thoughts are kind all the time. That I could hear your unkind thoughts didn't terrify you, Wanda. You're a very private person. You feared the loss of your privacy." "Yes, but there was more. I feared because you could hear my thoughts that you'd discover what I'd done with my father... my mother." "You've got that backwards. They did things to you. They led; you followed. You didn't do things with them, not..." "Yes I did!" Her face was full of anger. "I crawled into my father's bed to play games with him." "Of course you did. All children climb into their parents' bed to play games. That the games were sexual in nature was his doing, not yours. You were used, Wanda, used to satisfy his sick needs." She bowed her head. "I liked it," she said so softly I could barely hear her. I said, "When I was a child, I liked moving to my knees and clasping my parents' hands while we prayed to their God for wisdom and forgiveness. Why? Because cooperating with them made me feel close to them, made me feel loved. That they were in effect brainwashing a child didn't occur to them. Their faith in their God was important to them, and they wanted me to be like them, to find the happiness they'd found in their faith in the Almighty God they worshiped. Society declares this type of conditioning acceptable, even praiseworthy. I disagree, but that's a subject for us to discuss at another time. What your parents did to you, the conditioning they thrust upon your open, developing mind, is not much different than the conditioning my parents forced upon me, except your parents' form of conditioning isn't acceptable. It's condemned, and rightly so. "You were twelve years old when they died, old enough to finally realize what they were doing to you was wrong, but you loved them. Also, what they did to you made you feel good. You liked it. You believed they loved you, but suddenly they were gone, and to protect your love for them, their love for you, you suppressed their unacceptable conditioning and behavior so you could recreate them in your mind as human beings acceptable to the society in which you lived. You made them loveable. "You're ashamed because they made you feel good. Women often climax while being raped. Why? Certainly not because they mentally enjoyed what the rapist did to them. They climaxed because the female sexual anatomy is designed to provide pleasure. Sex feels good, Wanda. A cunt being petted, licked, and fucked, feels good. That's how cunts are supposed to react. It's nature's way to insure that our species endures. That you liked what your mother and father did to you isn't surprising. I would've been more surprised if you hadn't liked it." Tears welled in her eyes. "I think I've pulled all the suppressed memories from the dark into the cold light of day. I remember everything now, Josh. When my father and mother touched me, kissed me, caressed me... licked me... fucked me, I climaxed, not all the time, but a lot, especially as I became older and more developed. Why can't I find pleasure with sex now?" "Because you believe feeling good from sex is wrong. Sex with your parents felt good, gave you pleasure, but that sex was wrong... sick. Society says so, and you agree with society. Also, the pleasure your parents gave you with their brand of sex went away forever when they left you, when they abandoned you by dying. All these associations are mixed up in your mind. Guilt. Shame. Negative emotions. When it comes to sex, you're a bundle of negative emotions. You're sexual response is broken, Wanda." I knew what was next. The upcoming request had been the true purpose of her visit. "Will you help me fix it, Josh?" "I'll try." Her hands flipped open the buttons on her blouse. She wasn't wearing a bra. Her breasts were large, heavy, but not out of proportion. They were beautiful, and I told Wanda I considered them beautiful. My words gave her pleasure. When she started to shrug out of her blouse, I stopped her. "Were you honest in your request for me to help you repair your malfunctioning sexual response?" "Yes." "It's in your thoughts that I'll take you to my bed and fuck you. You believe that simple act will ignite your pleasure with sex again. That won't happen, Wanda. I might be able to help you, but only if you'll follow my lead." Her shoulders slumped, and her eyes filled with tears. "You don't want me. I'm damaged goods." "Ah, another negative response. Also, your assumption is wrong. Seeing your marvelous breasts gave me a hard-on. Would you like to see it?" Her persistent soul squared her shoulders. "Yes." I stood and dropped my pants and boxers. My hard cock bobbed in its release. Her response to seeing my hard-on was positive. I felt the beginnings of arousal in her. I returned to my chair, which disappointed her. "Will you follow my lead?" I asked again. She nodded. "Are you proud of your breasts?" She looked confused. "I guess." "You're being wishy-washy. Are you proud of them, or not?" She frowned. "Not really. They're okay. They're just breasts." "Are they sensitive? Do your nipples get hard when brushed by cold air?" She giggled. "Sure, that's normal." "Do they get hard when you touch them, fondle them? You do play with them occasionally, don't you?" "Yes." I shook my head. "I can't help you if you lie to me." "No, I don't play with my boobs. I did when I was younger, but..." "Touch them now, fondle them, pinch your nipples gently, pull them out away from your body a little." She sat like a lump. "Do you want my help, or not?" "You're embarrassing me, Josh." "I don't care. I'm trying to help. If you don't cooperate with me, I can't help you." She reached tentatively and brushed her fingers over her breasts. One hand grasped a tit and squeezed. She used the fingers of her other hand to pinch a nipple, and then pulled it away from her body. She was doing what I asked, but only because I'd insisted. I sensed no sexy messages traveling from her breasts down her spine to her cunt. "Come here," I said. "Sit on the table in front of me." She complied - reluctantly. My hard-on was still exposed. She focused on it briefly until I reached and rolled my palm over a nipple. She responded. Her nipple hardened. "Now you," I said, "but with the other breast." A couple of seconds later, I added, "You're fighting me." "I'm not." "I'm not just a telepath, Wanda. I'm also an empath. I can feel what you feel." Her eyes widened. "You're fighting me. I embarrassed you, and now you're determined to prove that what I want you to do isn't working, which it isn't and won't until you cooperate." I reached and pinched one of her nipples hard. "Can you feel that?" "Yes." "Does it hurt or feel good?" "Both." "Pinch your other nipple. Pinch it until it feels good, and then pinch it some more until it hurts... Good. Now back off until it feels good again... Thank you. Now, pull your skirt up around your waist." She complied, and her reluctance wasn't as pronounced. She was starting to cooperate. "Hmm, sexy panties," I said. "Did you select them purposefully?" "Yes." I reached to remove them. She cooperated by raising her hips. I left them dangling on one ankle. "Kick off your shoes and put your feet on my thighs... Thank you. Now cup your cunt with a hand... Good. Press you fingers against your cunt hard enough that they'll spread your pussy lips... Now curl your fingers toward you... You're dry. Spit on your hand." "What?" "Spit on your fingers and rub your saliva around your cunt." "No. That's going too far, Josh. I won't do it." I shrugged. "All right. Get dressed and go home. I can't help you." Tears welled in her eyes. "Damn you!" She spat on her hand and angrily rubbed the spittle over her vulva. "There! Are you happy now?" I grinned. "Yup. Do it again but this time don't be so aggressive with your touch. Make the touch a caress... Much better. I know what you're feeling, so I know your fingers feel much better on your cunt now that they're moist. Your touch didn't feel good when they were dry. Fondle a nipple with your other hand... Search for what feels good, Wanda. With her fingers, look for what touches give you pleasure in and around your cunt. On your breasts, too. Play, explore... You're trying too hard. Don't try to force pleasure. Just let it happen. Use one finger on your cunt. Move it around. There! Did you feel that?" "Yes!" "Good. Find more places like that. There! Another place. You need more spit." She didn't hesitate. "Hmm, moisture helps," she muttered. "Your clitoral shaft is hard now. Touch it lightly with a fingertip... Good. Now wiggle the finger back and forth over your little hard-on... Stop that now and push the finger inside you. Good, you're wet inside. You're sexual response is functioning, Wanda. You're getting aroused." She smiled and moved her finger back to her clitoral shaft and rubbed it harder that I would have. Her touch worked for her, though. Her eyes closed as she continued to pleasure herself. It was time for a little shock therapy. "When you played sex games with your father, what was your favorite game?" Her eyes snapped open. They looked wild, like a cornered animal. Had I pushed her too far, too fast? "Can you remember?" I asked softly. The wild look in her eyes softened. "Yes." "Tell me about the game." "He called it 'Sit on Daddy's Face.'" "Why was this your favorite game?" "Because it felt so good. We were playing that game the first time I had a climax." I leaned forward and licked her from the bottom of her cunt to the top, and then leaned back and smiled at her. Her response had been powerful. "What he did was wrong, Wanda. How you responded was normal and natural." I leaned forward again and licked and sucked on her cunt lips, inner and outer, waggled my tongue over her clitoral shaft, pressed my pointed tongue inside her as far as I could reach, and when I sensed she was ready, I sucked gently on her clitoris and rubbed my tongue directly over the sensitive bump. Play with your breasts while I give you pleasure, I said with a thought. She started to make small sounds, squeaks and high-pitched moans, and her hips started to wave. From her thoughts, I knew she was thinking about her father, how his mouth felt, how happy he made her when he licked her cunt, but her fantasy, her memory also made her feel guilty, and her arousal dipped. Don't think; just feel, I said. She tried, but thoughts intruded. I pushed a finger inside her, found the rough spot - it was quite small - and rubbed it while I continued my assault on her clitoris. Don't think. Just feel, I said again. Don't think. Just feel. Feel this. I sucked on her clit. Feel this. I rubbed the rough spot inside her cunt. Pinch your nipples. Feel the sexy messages your tits are sending to your cunt. Her arousal heightened. Just feel. Just feel. Say it silently with me. Just feel. Just feel. "Just feel," she said out loud. "Just feel. Just feel. Feel. Feel. Feel." "Oh, God! I'm there! I'm coming!" she announced between gasps. As connected with her as I was, I came with her. My semen spurted and fell ignominiously to the floor. I didn't care. She could come. Her sexual apparatus was working just fine. More needed to be done, much more, but she was on the road to recovery. She had to get rid of the guilt, the shame, and she had to learn to love herself again before she could truly love a man - or a woman. Her mother's betrayal nagged her more than her father's sick desires. Would Nicole or Sandy help me heal that psychic wound? She was strong. She was a survivor. She'd persevere. Her soul would help her. I painted her that afternoon. I painted her and her indomitable soul. I painted her naked and sated with semen puddled in her cunt and a smug smile on her face. Three days later, Wanda and I met Nicole at the airport, and we flew on to Phoenix. After we reached cruising altitude, Nicole asked Wanda to sit next to her, and I took Wanda's seat. I listened to their silent conversation. I'm not just grateful, Nicole. I love him, Wanda said. At my request, Nicole had led their conversation to Wanda's feelings for me. I know. He doesn't love me, not like I love him. I know. Do you think he'll ever love me like he loves Sandy and you? I don't know. Love can't be forced. Love just happens. Has he spoken with you about how he feels about love and sex? Yes. Can you have sex and find pleasure with someone other than Josh? I don't know. You need to find out. I felt Wanda's nervous shiver. That's scary. What if I fail? Darren, are you there? Nicole said. Yes. I can hardly wait to see you, Nicole. I've missed you in my arms. Likewise. Listen, I'm sitting with Wanda. She has a problem you might be able to help her with. Wanda, can you hear Nicole and Darren mind talking? Josh asked. I can only hear Nicole. Darren, please connect with Wanda, Josh said. Hi Wanda, Darren said a second later. Yes! Hello Darren. I hear you now. Can you hear me? Yes. Fun, huh? Nicole says you have a problem I might be able to clear up. What kind of problem? Wanda gulped. Nicole laughed. She needs some sex for the fun of it, Nicole said. Oh, Darren said. Sweet pea, I'll be happy to oblige. Where and when? That's the appropriate response - normally - but you need more information, Darren, Nicole said. She briefly explained Wanda's history, the problem, and the current situation. Whew! Wanda, forgive me for being flip about the request. I had the opposite problem with my mother. I wanted her, and she wanted me, but neither of us did anything about it until the other night. You and your mother are lovers! Yes, that's what I just said. You're shocked. Why? Never mind, I understand now. Wanda, not all incest is wrong. Mother and I are consenting adults. Unlike your situation, no coercion was involved. What your parents did to you was wrong, but your response to them wasn't. They twisted your need to be loved and used your love for them to satisfy their perverted desires. That you enjoyed much of what they did to you is understandable. My offer stands. If you want to test your ability to feel pleasure with a man other than Josh, I'm your man. When you get settled here, you and I will huddle in a corner somewhere and work out the details. Okay? All right. Great! Gotta run. I think my randy mother wants some more lovin' A couple of seconds later, Wanda said, "Is he gone now?" "Yes, he broke his connection with you," Nicole said. If you want to mind talk with him, just say his name and ask if he's there. If possible, he'll answer your call, but he might say something like, 'I'm here, but can't talk now.' Unless it's an emergency, respect his response. You can do the same with Josh, Sandy or me, as well. It's our method of respecting each other's privacy. I understand. Thanks for the explanation. The four of us maintain a loose telepathic connection with each other at all times. Now that you've joined our happy band of telepaths, we'll include you in our connections. Are there others? More telepaths, I mean?" Yes, but some of them are evil, and we've met none as good at it as we are. A few years ago, a telepath attacked my mind and killed me. Josh brought me back. That statement made Wanda sit up straight in her seat. Tell me about that. What happened? Nicole described the incident, and shocked Wanda further when Nicole announced that I was a psychic healer. Your soul is wounded, Wanda. Josh couldn't resist. He had to help you, Nicole said. I could feel Nicole giving Wanda's hand an affectionate squeeze, and it suddenly dawned on me that Wanda didn't know Sandy and I were brother and sister. I prepared a simple empathic bundle that Nicole could translate that told her to briefly break her telepathic connection with Wanda. When I felt Nicole withdraw from Wanda's mind, I broke my connection with Wanda, as well, and said, Wanda isn't nearly as telepathically adept as the four of us, Nicole. This morning I discovered that she doesn't know how to reach out with her mind to make a connection. She can't hear our thoughts unless we connect with her. Oh. I wondered why you told Darren to connect with her. I interrupted because I suddenly realized Wanda doesn't know Sandy and I are siblings. Would you break the news to her for me? Sure. From her reaction to learning of Darren's incestuous relationship with his mother, she needs to understand that not all incestuous relationships are wrong, at least to our way of thinking. Nicole and I connected with Wanda again. Sorry about that, Nicole said. I had to break my connection with you briefly. I have a question for you, and the question came to mind from your reaction to Darren and his mother's incestuous relationship. Do you think all incest is wrong? That Darren and his mother are lovers shocked me, I'll admit. Society, our culture, heck most cultures, condemn incest, so yeah, I've got to say that I think all incest is wrong. Even between consenting adults like Darren and his mother? She hesitated. Are you saying incest is all right as long as it's between adults and there's no coercion? No, my definition of acceptable incest is broader. I don't include the term 'consenting adults' in my definition. You just agreed to make love with Darren sometime soon. Why would you do that if you concur with our culture and revile and condemn Darren and his mother for loving each other? I'll tell you this, if you revile and condemn Darren you'll have to do the same with me. Josh and Sandy, too. Sandy is Josh's sister, Wanda, and my mother and I were lovers for a short time just before her death. Jesus! I'd heard the profane curse as a thought. She'd said the word out loud. What your parents did to you was and is contemptible, Wanda. You were a little girl for heaven's sake. You were coerced, Nicole said. I liked it. Sure you did. Nevertheless, coercion was involved, and you understand the why and how of their coercion now. I know you understand because I'm in your mind. Josh, are you there? Wanda said. Yes. Do you agree with Nicole's definition of acceptable incest? Yes. I love Sandy. She loves me. We are husband and wife. We've been lovers since I was fifteen and Nicole seventeen. No coercion was involved. Some would say that Sandy coerced me because of our age difference. They'd be wrong. Some would say that my mother coerced me because of our age difference, Nicole said. They'd be wrong, too. My mother and I talked for three months about life and love, sex and incest and coercion before we became lovers, and my father joined some of those discussions. Mom made sure I understood the choice was mine, not hers. You weren't much more than a toddler when your parents started to condition you to be their little sex toy. They coerced you, Wanda. Can you see the difference? Yes. Wanda, I said, we're not trying to convince you that we're right and you're wrong on this issue. We're just telling you how we feel about the matter. We won't talk of this again. We will answer questions you might have but won't try to further influence your beliefs about incest one way or the other. I felt Nicole backing out of Wanda's mind, so I broke my connection with her, too. She's like a wounded bird, Josh, Nicole said. Was it wise to tell all? What if she decides to go with our culture's attitude about incest? I'm concerned because she loves you and knows you don't love her. She could become vindictive. I protected us with a bundled attitude that deals not only with incest but also with our plural marriage. We're perfectly safe, Nicole. I felt my wonderful wife relax. You know, don't you, who can help Wanda more than anyone? Nicole said. Yes. Gloria. Yup. Gloria presents a tough, smart exterior, but deep down inside where it counts, she's a nurturer. ------- Chapter 38: Darren "A little higher and a touch to the right, Son." I was helping Mother hang Josh's framed paintings. The task was time-consuming, but we were almost finished. Over one hundred fifty magnificent paintings graced the walls of the studio, and more were hanging in the various guest rooms, and common areas of the compound. I was amazed at Josh's output, especially after Sandy told me Josh had destroyed what he called his mediocre work, which numbered around an additional hundred watercolor paintings that he could have sold. I stepped off the ladder and stood back, my gaze taking in one wall. I turned to my right, and then turned again, finally making a three-hundred-sixty-degree circuit. The sight thrilled me. "Thank you for your help, Darren," Mother said. I nodded. "He's good, isn't he?" "Yes, a good artist and a good man." I wrapped my arm around her waist and hugged her to my side. "You look happy. All the stress crinkles have disappeared from around your eyes." She laughed softly. "It's amazing what some good sex does for you. It's better than cosmetic surgery." "No regrets, huh?" "Only that we waited so long." While at the compound, I'd started to read deep memories, and what I'd found in my mother's mind shocked me until I realized her memories reflected her philosophy of life and love. She'd loved my father deeply, but she'd never equated love and sex. Still, she'd remained faithful to my father until he started to stray a year or two after I was born when my mother focused her attention on me instead of my father. He'd been a terrible liar, and she'd known about his infidelities almost immediately. Surprisingly, that he'd had sex with another woman didn't upset Mother very much. What upset her were his lies and his guilt. She had no doubt that my father loved her, but she also knew the guilt my father was feeling would take its toll not only on their marriage but also on my father, so she made him sit down and talk with her. She shocked him with her philosophy of love and sex, but he'd listened and learned. Out of that discussion, they crafted an open marriage, but their wealth and position in the community, demanded extreme discretion. They scheduled vacations twice each year. One of them, they took together; the other, they took separately. During the vacations, they used assumed names while they enjoyed a variety of sex partners. Group sex prevailed during the together trips, and as agreed, they never spoke of the sexual activities that occurred during their separate vacations. With my new paranormal talents, I'd been able to uncover memories my mother held of those times. To say my mother had a strong sex drive would be an understatement. She'd tried everything once, dropping sexual activities she didn't enjoy, and expanding on those she did. She didn't like pain but enjoyed light bondage. Although she could be both dominant and submissive, she preferred being slightly submissive, but master/slave games turned her off. Two of her favorite sex partners were a brother/sister couple, and that's when she started to fantasize about having sex with me. The idea of incest turned her on. As a teenager, she'd fantasized about having sex with her father, and although he didn't succumb to her overt flirtations, he was her favorite sex partner in her masturbatory fantasies during her adolescence. Unfortunately for me, my father felt differently about incest. He considered incest a crime against man and God, so Mother suppressed her desire to have sex with me. After finally coming to terms with my father's sudden and unexpected death, her incestuous fantasies had returned with even more vigor, finally culminating in our coupling five days ago. Her discussions with me about life and love and sex over the years reflected her belief and actions, and she was delighted, not upset, when I told her about my desire to join a plural marriage, especially after she met the other members of that union. That Sandy put us together in a way that allowed us to satisfy our desire for each other thrilled her, and she was even more pleased when I told her Sandy also wanted to have sex with her. Mother, I knew, was hoping Josh and Nicole would find her desirable, as well. Darren, are you there? Sandy said. Yes. Mother and I just finished hanging all of Josh's paintings. This I've got to see. You're in the studio. Right? Yes. I'll join you in a few minutes, and then we must leave to meet Josh and Nicole at the airport. Wanda's thoughts and manner seemed confrontational, which surprised me. "You fuck your mother, huh?" she said. "Yes, I have sex with my mother. Whether we fuck or make love depends on our mood at the time." "When did she seduce you?" I laughed and nearly stumbled. We were walking along a path on the grounds in the compound. The landscaping was rife with color, the reds of bougainvillea, the yellow of desert marigolds, soft purple in the plumes of fountain grass, white vincas and lantana, and more. The variety and lushness of the desert landscape Nicole had integrated on the grounds intrigued me. "We merely admitted our desire for each other," I said. "Seduction wasn't at play. As to when, our first time together happened five days ago." "Humph, incest." "I take it you've bought into our culture's negative attitude about incest." "I'm in therapy because my parents fucked me." "I'm happy to hear you've sought professional help. What your parents did to you was wrong, and it's your prerogative to believe what my mother and I do is wrong, as well, but you have to admit that your incestuous circumstances and mine have little in common." "The very act of incest is a commonality." I snorted. "True, probably the only commonality. Your parents messed with your mind, used your love for them and your need to be loved to achieve their vile purposes. Mine raised me to have an open mind but didn't try to force their beliefs on me or try to have sex with me when I was a child and too young to discern right from wrong or make an informed decision for myself." She slumped onto a bench next to the path. I sat next to her and took her hand in mine. She didn't try to pull away. "You're stuck on incest. Yes, your parents committed and forced you to commit acts of incest, but I see them more as pedophiles. I could be wrong. I'm not a professional, but I intuitively feel that if you focus on pedophilia as their crime, I think you'll find it easier to make peace with yourself. Good point, Darren, Josh said. I can't have sex with her for the fun of it, Josh, not in her current frame of mind. I understand. I just spoke with your mother. She's agreed to help me with Wanda's problem. Walk Wanda back to your mother's rooms and leave her there. Wanda doesn't need sex for the fun of it. What she needs is an older, nurturing mother figure to help her deal with what happened to her as a child. All right. I stood and pulled Wanda to her feet. "I think you should talk about this with my mother." She nodded and let me lead her away. Mother answered my knock, took Wanda in her arms and pulled her inside. Don't snoop, Darren, Nicole said. Josh will stay connected with your mother and Wanda, but the rest of us should respect their privacy. I cut my psychic connections with the women, and immediately missed my mother's lively, logical mind. I didn't miss Wanda's troubled thoughts. Sandy had hung a sign over the entrance to the party room. It read: Get Nekkid or Get Out! I laughed and got nekkid as I scanned the room. I was the first to arrive, which gave me the opportunity to hide three boxes under a cushion in a conversation area. I doubted I'd surprise anyone, but I'd tried not to think about what I'd planned for the evening. I'd soon know because I recognized Josh and Nicole's psi-sigs as they approached the party room. Sandy joined them while they were taking off their clothes, and they waited for her, chatting until she was nekkid. When she saw me, Nicole broke away from them and cuddled next to me. I enjoyed her silky flesh sliding across mine, especially her breasts when she kissed me hello. I've missed the feel of you in my arms, I told her silently while the kiss deepened. I know, and I've missed you. I looked up and noticed Josh and Sandy watching us. I smiled and said out loud, "I haven't fooled anyone, have I?" Sandy chuckled. Josh returned my smile and shook his head. Nicole said, "Sandy first." I reached under the cushion and by feel selected the smallest box. I knelt in front of her and took her hand in mind. "Sandra Johnson, Sandy, I love you with all my heart. Some would say I could only love you with one-third my heart, but love isn't limited. Would you do me the great honor of becoming my wife?" I opened the box, and removed a diamond solitaire ring that matched the engagement ring Nicole wore on her finger. Looking up into Sandy's gorgeous eyes, I waited for her response. She nodded as sentimental tears formed. As I slipped the ring on her finger, I noticed her hand was shaking. I kissed the back of her hand, and rose to my feet, pulling her up with me. "Yes," she breathed and kissed me passionately. When she leaned back from the kiss, she said, "I'll be your wife, Darren Caldwell, and you will be one of my husbands." Ask Nicole now, Sandy said silently. I selected the long jewelry box next and knelt in front of Nicole. "Mrs. Nicole Halliday Johnson, I love you with all my heart. Would you do me the great honor of becoming my wife?" She gave a happy, little yelp, which I took as a yes. She wrapped her arms around my neck, bowling me over onto my back while she kissed me. "Yes, yes, yes," she said, happily kissing me with each affirmative answer. She helped me to my feet and turned her back to me. She knew what was coming. I took the diamond necklace from the box. The necklace was identical to the one Sandy was wearing. I fastened the clasp, and she turned and kissed me again. The last box contained my engagement present for Josh. With the exception of an inexpensive wristwatch he'd had for many years and a plain gold wedding band that Nicole had slipped onto his finger during their legal wedding, he didn't wear jewelry. I'd discussed with Mother what to give him, and she'd said, "Give him an expensive, plain but classy wristwatch." The watch I selected met Mother's specifications. It was a rare Grand Complications watch, a Patek Philippe. The sophisticated ten-day tourbillion movement was encased in a rectangular platinum case. Josh moved to his feet and stood in front of me. "Joshua Johnson, Josh, I love you. Would you do me the honor of becoming my husband?" He removed his old watch and handed it to Sandy. He held out his hand, and I buckled the watch around his wrist. "Darren Joseph Caldwell, III, I love you, and I'll be honored to be your husband," Josh said formally. Tears welled in my eyes when we shook hands. Then Josh surprised me. He reached under a different cushion and removed a box. "Darren, I appreciate the effort you made to locate a diamond for Sandy's engagement ring and an identical diamond for Nicole's engagement necklace that matched the ring and necklace I gave them on a similar occasion years ago. They match. We should match, as well. I know your mother gave you the wristwatch you're wearing as a graduation gift from college, but I consulted with her, told her what I wanted to do and obtained her permission." Josh removed my wristwatch and put on a new watch identical to the one I'd just given him. "We'll wear these watches only on special occasions." He snorted. "I know they're water-resistant to thirty-five meters, but with what they cost, I wouldn't dare test the design specifications, even in the shower." I nodded. I couldn't speak. I was touched beyond measure. "Let the private engagement games begin," Sandy said. At breakfast the next morning, I asked Josh, "How is Wanda doing?" "She's having a rough time, but she's hanging in there. She's shed a lot of tears and hasn't been bashful about screaming and cursing, but the negatives have been balanced with hugs and laughter. Your mother has been amazing. She's tough as nails and as soft as a cuddly stuffed animal. I couldn't do what she's doing, and I don't know anyone else who could do it either." Josh stood and poured himself another cup of coffee. "Before we left New York, I put myself next to Wanda's therapist and probed his thoughts regarding Wanda and her treatment. Before I put Wanda with your mother, I advised Gloria of my findings. Wanda needs to understand the psychological manipulation and abuse foisted upon her by her parents. Then she needs to reconnect with and repair her past, starting with her childhood years, the inappropriate conditioning and sexual abuse, the loss of her parents caused by their sudden death, and the abuse heaped on her by her aunt and uncle. Just as importantly, she needs to deal with the lost years when she couldn't function sexually, when she couldn't maintain personal relationships, even friendships, and finally Wanda must integrate her childhood sexual abuse and adolescent mental and physical abuse into her current life experiences and handle the residual psychological effects." "Whew! That's a tall order. Is that what my mother is doing?" "Yes, in her own inimitable fashion. She's using tough love and approaching the problem as if it were an intervention for cult conditioning." I chuckled. "She can be tough." "Tough love by itself would fail, Darren. Gloria has taken Wanda on a roller-coaster ride, alternating tough love with tender love, up and down and around steep, sharp curves." "Yeah, I know about her tender side, too." Nicole joined us, poured a cup of coffee, sipped and hummed with appreciation. She opened her eyes and smiled, and her smile lit up my day. "Good morning. Have Pierre and Grace arrived yet?" "No," Josh said. "It's going to be hectic around here today, isn't it?" "Yes." "Am I needed?" "No. It's your party. Sandy's, too." "Good, then I'll disappear for a while, check out the Phoenix homeless and try to paint a few souls." "You need to stop by and say hello to your mother, Josh." He nodded. "I will and I'll try to spend a few minutes with Dad at his shop. I won't be able to give them much time at the party." He pushed back his chair. "Bye." After Josh left, Nicole leaned over and gave me a kiss. "I enjoyed myself last night." I grinned. "I know." Sometime during the celebration, Josh and I had run out of semen, but the ladies kept us going. "A bacchanalia, that's what it was." Images flashed. I was inside Nicole; Nicole had her mouth around Josh; Sandy was sitting on Josh's face. I was inside Sandy, and Nicole's lips and tongue were busy on Sandy's cunt and my thrusting cock while Nicole fondled my balls. But the evening wasn't just about sexual positions, not even about our many orgasms. It was about the look of love in an expression, love staring at you from dark eyes, tender touches, cuddles, whispers, the private moments between two of us, or three, or four. It was about candlelight flickering over golden flesh, soft sighs, gasps and hisses of air through teeth; the pungent scent of semen, wet pheromones, the fragrance of clean hair, the flavor of a tongue, the taste of lipstick and saliva. It was a celebration of the senses infused with love. It was about the amazing closeness we all shared with our thoughts our emotions and our sensations. "I misspoke; it wasn't a bacchanalia. It was a love fest. I love you, Nicole," I said. You're hard, aren't you? Nicole said silently. Yes. Love is an aphrodisiac. She stood and removed the cushion on the chair, dropping it at my feet. Don't hold back. Come as quickly as you can, she said as she moved to her knees and unfastened my trousers. Moments later, she sucked my cock into her mouth. Minutes later, I climaxed. While I slept, my body had manufactured more semen. Situation normal, a thought said. In the haze of orgasm I didn't immediately recognize the person who had projected the thought. That's sexy. Another thought, different person. We have an audience, Nicole said. I noticed. They don't appear upset. They're not. Pierre and Grace watched Josh, Sandy and I get it on when they worked for us. Sandy probed their attitudes and thoughts a few days ago. Grace has always wanted to join us for some fun and games, and Pierre has recently come around to her way of thinking. Perhaps we'll invite them to join us in the party room tomorrow night after we feed the homeless at the shelter. You're right, Darren. Last night was a love fest. Tonight is a birthday party with old friends and new friends, family and loved ones. Tomorrow night will be a bacchanalia, an old-fashioned orgy. Gloria will join us. Wanda, too, if she's mentally strong enough by then. We'd hoped that Andy and Liz would join us, as well, but they're returning to New York tomorrow morning. Andy and Liz's wild days are over for a while, until their baby gets a little older, anyway. Pierre and Grace would be good substitutes for them. I'm willing. Nicole laughed, put my limp cock back in my pants and rose to her feet. I know you're willing. Sandy told me you were attracted to Grace. Speaking of Sandy, she's on her way here. She's been shielded. I know. She called her mother to tell her that she'd accepted your marriage proposal last night. She usually wears a shield when she talks with her mother. She doesn't want us to hear her unkind thoughts. Nicole turned and said out loud, "Pierre, Grace! It's so good to see you again!" I watched as the women embraced, and then Nicole hugged Pierre. Nicole, I said, they're willing, too. Yup. From all accounts, the party was a resounding success. Because Sandy was wearing my engagement ring, Nicole and Sandy turned the event into a public engagement party as well as a birthday party. I'd met Sandy's parents earlier during the week. At that meeting, I'd been introduced as Sandy's friend. The night of the party, I was her fiancé, so they tried to be gracious and welcome me into their family. Although they were gracious, they couldn't hide their disappointment that Sandy planned to marry outside their church. I had to give them credit for their effort to appear accepting, especially Sandy's mother. Nicole's father and his wife were as advertised - country bumpkins - but I liked both of them immediately. They seem incapable of subterfuge. Jessie, Nicole's stepmother, was a nurturer, like my mother. I enjoyed Jessie's naughty thoughts. Wanda and my mother had emerged from Mother's rooms a couple of hours before the party started. Josh told me that Wanda had made significant progress, but the intervention wasn't complete. Wanda looked stunning in a new gown, but I noticed that she was hanging around Josh a little too much. I told her about the many paintings we'd hung, suggested that she check out his studio and told her how she could find it. An hour later, I checked on her. She was sitting in the middle of the cavernous room studying the paintings. "I was clinging. Right?" she said when she saw me. "A little." "Thank you for intervening, and thank you for telling me about this." She waved a hand at the walls and Josh's paintings. "Josh Johnson will be in the art history books of the future." She followed me back to the party and mingled appropriately. My mother and Sandy's mother got together to discuss the wedding. Sandy's mother felt slighted because Sandy had given my mother the option to select the location of our public wedding. Sandy had to intervene, and a short time later everyone kissed and made up. Out of the disagreement, the compound was chosen as the location for the wedding. From her thoughts, Mother wasn't upset. In truth, the compound was a better facility for the wedding than our family home, and attending the private wedding was more important to my mother than planning the public wedding. The food was marvelous, and I complimented Pierre effusively. Josh complimented him by savoring each mouthful. Pierre preferred Josh's method of approval to mine. I didn't blame him. Grace knew everyone, even those she never met, and played the part of a hostess helper perfectly, asking someone if they'd met so and so, and then introducing them, motioning for a waitress if someone needed a drink or an hors d'oeuvre, directing the waiters and waitresses, and she did it all with a affable, happy smile. She sidled up to me once and said, "Pierre and I have been invited to join the group in the party room tomorrow night. I can hardly wait." She kissed my cheek and bounded away. I heard Sandy's silent chuckle. She'd monitored the conversation. I can hardly wait, too, Sandy said silently. I've wanted to get my face between her pretty legs since the day I met her. You'll have to roll me off her to get there, Josh said. I met Harry, Nicole's real estate mentor, and one of her advisors from Harvard. Grace introduced me to Sandy's publisher, two of her editors, and her agent. I met two of Josh's old real estate clients, the general contractor and a consulting engineer for his project in Las Vegas, and Nicole silently informed me that the Las Vegas project was hers, not Josh's. More construction types from the Belize and Greek island hotels were in attendance, as well as the Belize hotel manager, and I was pleased that many of the names I'd put on my invitation list had taken the trouble to attend. I also met Andy and Liz, and Liz promptly pulled me into a private corner. "Do you know about Andy and me?" she asked. I decided to tease her. "Yes, of course. Andy was the architect for this compound and you were the interior designer. You both did outstanding work. I tip my hat to you." When she grimaced while silently struggling with whether to tell me about their more personal relationship with my future wives and husband, I let her off her hook. "Oh, yes. They also told me you were occasional lovers." She grinned, slugged my shoulder, and said, "Tease." She wants a quickie, Darren, Sandy said. What? You heard me. Take her to our bedroom. Fuck her, and be quick about it. She's disappointed she can't join us tomorrow night, so I suggested a quickie with you tonight. The choice is yours, though. I'd say yes if I were you, Darren, Josh said. She's a lot of fun. "I understand you can't stay over and join us tomorrow night for some fun and games," I said. "Nope." "A shame. I was looking forward to being with you." "How about a quickie right now?" I took her to Sandy's bedroom and fucked her, taking her climax as my own. We didn't even remove all our clothes, just enough to get the job done, but it wasn't a job; it was a lot of fun. Sandy climaxed with us. Nicole didn't, thank goodness, or I'd have drifted off to la-la land. I returned to the party looking sheepish. My mother asked why. I couldn't lie to her, so I told her the truth. She laughed and said, "Dance with me." We danced, and then Nicole cut in, then Grace and finally Sandy ended up in my arms. Toasts were made; the cake was cut; we sang happy birthday to Josh and Sandy, and a short time later, I joined Josh and Nicole and Sandy at the door thanking the guests as they left. I'd had fun, but I had to admit I was looking forward to the bacchanalia planned for the next night. ------- Chapter 39: Nicole When my eyes opened, I scanned the room. Josh and Sandy were still asleep, but Darren was missing. I search for him and found him with his mother. They were making love. Wanda was asleep. My beloved father, too, but Jessie was awake - barely. After taking care of my morning duties, I slipped on a robe and left the room and the house. My scan had also told me Pierre and Grace were up and about. They were in the communal kitchen. Pierre had the makings for eggs benedict, Josh's favorite breakfast food, but he was prepared to fill just about any order. He and Grace were talking. It was kind of Nicole to order enough food for the party to feed the homeless, Grace said. Pierre chuckled. I wonder if they'll be able to handle the rich food we'll serve them? Hah! To live the way they do, they've got to have cast-iron stomachs. You're excited about tonight, aren't you? Yes. Are you sure you're all right with us joining them? Yes. Sandy told me it would be a bacchanalia, an orgy, Pierre. I'll probably fuck everyone. Will seeing me with Josh bother you, for instance? He chuckled. Will seeing me with Nicole or Sandy bother you? She squirmed in her seat. The discussion was turning her on. I slowed my pace. I wanted to hear more before I interrupted them. No, Grace said. Her attitude told me she wanted Sandy or me eating her while Pierre fucked each of us. What did you think of Darren? Grace asked. I liked him. He fits with the three of them, and he fits Sandy's concept of her man of the world. I'm happy for her. I'll fuck him, too. Seeing Nicole sucking him off yesterday morning turned me on. That was so sexy - a quick morning suck. You're looking forward to Nicole's mouth around your hard cock, aren't you? Yes. Cool it, Grace. You're giving me a hard-on. She laughed gaily. Good, because my pussy is drooling. Would you like a quick, morning suck? When I felt Grace rub her hand over her husband's erection, I paused out of sight next to the entrance to the dining room. She unzipped his trousers, reached inside and snaked out his hard-on. He groaned with pleasure when her tongue licked around his crown as she stroked the shaft. She moved her mouth from his cock with a smack and said, "This is what I'm going to do to Josh and Darren tonight, Pierre." Her mouth returned to his hard shaft, swallowing half his length. I'm going to lick Nicole and Sandy's cunt, too, she thought as she reached under her skirt to rub her pussy over her panties. I peeked around the corner. She was on her knees on a cushion from a chair. I saw what Pierre and Grace had seen when they arrived at the compound yesterday morning, except the roles were reversed. I stepped quietly into the room. Pierre saw me first. His eyes widened. I put a finger over my lips, silently telling him to be quiet. Then I shrugged off the robe I was wearing. I was naked under the robe. Pierre grinned. I knelt beside Grace and said, "My turn while you get undressed." After the initial shock, she handed Pierre's cock to me and rose to her feet. I took him into my mouth and sucked gently. I didn't want him to come too quickly, and he was hot. I was careful to maintain his high state or arousal without pushing him over the edge into an orgasm. Peripherally, I noted clothes fluttering to the floor. When Grace finished undressing herself, she started to remove Pierre's clothing. I had to push his cock from my mouth so he could kick off his white trousers and briefs. I hopped up on the table with my legs dangling off the end. "I want Pierre in me and your pussy on my face, Grace." Neither hesitated. Pierre moved between my legs and swiped his cock through my wet cunt, and Grace climbed atop the table and straddled my face on her knees. Her fingers spread her pussy lips as she lowered her cunt to my mouth. At the same time, Pierre slowly pushed his cock inside me. I wrapped my legs around his thighs and pulled him close. Her cunt is fantastic! Pierre thought. A fantasy comes true, Grace said to herself. My Pierre is fucking Nicole, and she's eating me. Pierre was close. He'd come first, so I keyed on him. Grace fooled me, though, when her arousal soared and soon moved closer to orgasm than Pierre. I switched the focus of my attention and rolled my tongue directly over her large clit. The three of us moaned with pleasure, except a tasty cunt muffled my moan. That's when I heard another moan. I grinned into Grace's cunt. My stepmother was watching us. Look at her! Jessie thought. Dagnabit! That's sexy! I felt her fingers at a nipple. She pinched it over her blouse and bra, and then her other hand pressed against her dress and panties. My stepmother was hot! Would she join us? No. She wanted to, but she loved Pop, and Pop would be disappointed in her if she succumbed to her desires. I won't join them, but I can come with them, Jessie thought as she reached under her skirt and pushed her panties to the side. She'd need to hurry. Grace was close. I slowed my active tongue and reduced the length of Pierre's thrusts with my legs. The pads of three of Jessie's fingers became very busy on her clitoris as Grace's hips waved, fucking my flattened tongue. Grace's hips started to jerk. She was at the edge, and then she was falling off the edge into an orgasmic chasm. I came with her, and Pierre followed me. I felt his semen splash into my cunt as he bellowed with joy. Grace's exclamations of pleasure echoed off the walls. As I was coming down from my orgasm, Jessie's climax started, and I took it as my second orgasm of the morning. Whew! My stepmother was a comer! She was also discreet. While still in the throws of her climax, she moved back around the corner and slipped to the floor with her back against the wall. Her fingers remained busy for a few more seconds, and then she relaxed. Grace moved off my face, and Pierre backed out of my cunt. An orgasm times three, and another times two - a nice way to start a day. That was wild, Nicole, Darren said. Mother enjoyed it, too. My second orgasm this morning surprised her, coming so soon after the first one as it did. Thanks. You're welcome. Fifteen minutes later, I was sipping on my first cup of coffee when Jessie stepped into the dining room. "Sit," I said. "I'll pour a cup of coffee for you." I set the cup in front of her and took a seat. "Did you enjoy the show this morning?" I asked. She blushed. "You know I did." I laughed, but it was a gentle laugh. I was happy to have some time alone with her. I wanted to talk about the day and evening ahead of us. I told her about the luncheon for the homeless. "Would you like to help us? You could work the serving line or help Pierre in the kitchen," I said. "I'll help in the kitchen. Marcus wants to help serve." "All right. What about tonight? We have a private get-together planned for the party room. All those who enter must be nekkid. I don't think Pop will join the festivities." I grinned. "You're welcome, though." "Wicked, Nicole, that's what you are," she said with a grin. "I'm sorely tempted, I am, but... uh-uh. I've been true blue, and that'll never change. That's the way Marcus wants it." "He relented regarding my mother and me." "True. For you, though, not for your mother." "Really? I didn't know that." "Marcus might be uneducated, but he's a smart man, very clever. Street smart, I think it's called. He knew you were like your mother, knew you wouldn't be happy if he said no, so he reluctantly gave in. When your mother died so soon after you and your mother became lovers, he was happy the two of you had your time together. My situation is different. I'll be true blue until the day I die." I took her hand in mine. "I'm so happy Pop found you, Jessie. I love you, you know." Tears welled in her eyes. "I love you, too, Nicky." She brushed away a lone sentimental tear that escaped. "By the way, that was a good thing you did for Bill and Ellie." "Oh, she told you, huh?" "Yeah, Ellie and I talk." "Will my brother come around and accept my help?" "Yeah. Ellie can wrap him around her little finger, especially now she's pregnant. About tonight, don't you worry your pretty head about Marcus and me. We plan ta check out your entertainment room. Marcus saw some movies in your collection he'd like to see again. He sure does like those old Western movies. John Wayne has gotta be his all-time hero. I'll pop up some popcorn, make some tall drinks, and we'll cuddle up and watch a shoot-'em-up-bang on the big-screen TV." She chuckled. "We might even do a little neckin' ourselves." If not, I might sneak out and peek in the party room for a few minutes. I laughed. "Peek away. I won't tell on you." She blushed again. "That was just a thought, Nicky. If I know your father, and I do, we'll have our own little sex party tonight." I nodded. "Maybe I'll do a little peeking." She laughed. "Peek away. I won't tell on you." The line stretched outside and halfway around the block. Bill Roberts had put out the word, and the homeless were coming from far and wide. Why shouldn't they? Lobster bisque soup, shrimp cocktail, an endive salad with goat cheese and olives mixed with a creamy basil dressing to die for, prime rib cut to order with au jus, three-cheese potatoes (a Pierre special), fresh snap beans with almond slivers, and of course, cake and ice cream. Oh, yes, ice tea and root beer - lots of root beer. Jessie and I helped Pierre in the kitchen, and Bill, Sandy, Darren, Grace and Pop heaped tin plates high. Gloria and Wanda had remained at the compound to continue the intervention. Josh took the opportunity to do three paintings, giving one of them to Bill before we left. I pulled Bill aside and whispered, "That painting is worth $10,000, but don't sell it. It will triple or more in value in five or ten years." "I won't sell it unless I absolutely must to keep the shelter open," Bill said. "Let me tell you why. Josh Johnson captured the spirit of the men and women he painted. I'll have it framed and hang it in this room. When potential benefactors see the painting, they'll understand what I've been trying to tell them for years, that the homeless aren't without hope. The benefactors will see the truth in what I say first in this painting, and then in the eyes of the men and women who come in here for a helping hand. Nicole, you can't imagine how appreciative I am for what you did today. I'm not belittling what you did in any way, but I've gotta tell you that this painting will do much more for my shelter than the fantastic meal we just served." Tears smarted my eyes. "I don't feel belittled, Bill. The man who painted that wonderful watercolor is my husband. He's a good man, and nothing pleases me more than when someone recognizes just how special he truly is." What pleased me almost as much as Bill's kind words about Josh was the fact that the line of the homeless ran out before we ran out of food, which made me suspicious. I tracked down Pierre with blood in my eyes. "Pierre, we fed ninety-two last night and not less than two hundred today. How?" He grinned. "Ask Sandy and Darren." I accosted Sandy first. "Okay, how much did the extra meals cost? This was my party, and I'm payin' for it." She laughed and held up her hands in surrender. "I didn't put up a penny. I know how you are about money. Besides paying for my own birthday party wouldn't be couth." "If it wasn't you, it was Darren. Where is he?" "Calm your ruffled feathers, Nicole. Before you flew into town, I was talking with Pierre and asked him if a hundred meals for the homeless would be enough. He didn't know, so I checked with Bill. He told me to expect two hundred, but that he'd make do. Darren was privy to both conversations and told Pierre he'd make up the difference. Darren said he'd be double damned before he'd see one homeless person enjoy a fabulous meal while another, expecting the same outstanding meal, had to make do with a peanut butter sandwich. What's more, when Gloria found out what he'd done, she insisted on sharing the cost with him. You should've seen them, Nicole. They were ecstatic. They felt included - useful. Don't you dare take that away from them!" I found Darren. I didn't yell at him; I hugged him and thanked him for what he did. "Gloria, too," I added. "It was my pleasure, Nicole, and I mean that literally. It was fantastic, wasn't it? Did you see the look on some of those faces when they tasted the lobster bisque soup? It was priceless. Pierre said some of them were even better than Josh with their expressions of appreciation. I feel warm clear through!" I didn't know why, but I was at loose ends, and then I knew why. I hadn't spent any quality time with Pop. I searched for and found him wandering the grounds of the compound. We sat next to each other on a bench next to a waterfall. "I like the way you did the landscaping here, Nicky," he said. "The way you mixed desert and tropical plants." "I had some professional help, Pop." "I know, but you did it. I know. I asked. You did the landscaping at that bunch of office buildin's in Vegas, too. You're good at it, baby girl, real good." Baby girl. He hadn't called me baby girl for years. He was shielded, I knew. He put up his shield when I searched for and found him earlier, so I couldn't hear his thoughts, but empathically, I knew he was feeling melancholy about something. I took his hand in mine. "I love you, Pop." "I know. I'm a lucky man. I'm loved. Susan loved me first, gave me you kids, and then she left me. Then you loved me, and the boys, and then Jessie found me. I love her, Nicky, but sometimes..." He squinted his eyes and brushed a hand across his face. "I know. I still miss Mom, too." "She'd've been so proud of you, baby girl. I know I am. That was a good thing you did for Bill and Ellie." "It was just money, Pop. The money meant nothing to me. What matters is giving my brother a leg up on life." "Not just Bill, either. You're puttin' Bob and Jeff through college, too. I couldn't do it, and I've gotta admit when I first heard how you were helping Bob with his tuition, I got pissed off. You were doin' my job, and it made me angry, but Jessie sat me down and gave me what for, called me a selfish old fart." I snorted a sardonic laugh. "Old fart, yes, selfish, no." "I was bein' selfish; I was gettin' in the way of Bob's future. It was my pride, you see. Pride, that's my biggest failin', Nicky." "Pride isn't a failin', Pop. I learned how to be proud from you." I chuckled. "Pride can get you into trouble, though." I told him about what Darren and Gloria had done today, and how I'd initially reacted. "Sandy saved the day, gave me what for, like Jessie did with you, so instead of yelling at Darren, I hugged and thanked him." "Well, I never thanked you for what you're doin' for the boys. I'm thankin' ya now, baby girl." He wrapped his arms around me and hugged me tight. "I love you, Nicky. When I look at you I see Sue. She would've been so happy about today, the way you fed those poor folks." "Let's do this, Pop. Let's keep our pride, but let's help each other recognize when our pride might get in the way of somethin' real good happening. Okay?" "Yup." Pierre and I were busy making finger food for the bacchanalia scheduled later. He'd volunteered to help; the party that night wasn't a paid gig. I've gotta admit that his finger food was better than mine, so I let him run with it and took a helper role. "What's with Wanda?" Pierre asked. I told him. "Whew! That's rough. Grace's father knocked her around a little, but he never sexually abused her." "Did Grace ever make peace with him?" "They're cordial, but there's no warmth between them. He sees himself as a man's man, looks down his nose at me 'cause I work in a kitchen. I don't like him, but he is Grace's father, so I put up a affable front." "Does Grace know how you feel?" "Yeah. I don't try to hide anything from her. I love her, Nicole." "I know. I was there at the start of it. Remember?" "Uh-uh. Would you cut up these chicken tenders for me while I put together a salsa?" "Sure. What kind of salsa?" "Mango. You'll like it." I chuckled. "I'm sure I will. When did you and Grace decide that sexual fidelity wasn't all it was cracked up to be?" "Cut the pieces a little smaller. I'll be rolling the chicken in some flour tortillas with some other ingredients." "Gotcha." "We watched you guys a few times when we worked for you." I giggled. "I figured." "We also listened to you, learned about your philosophy of limitless love and a higher form of trust than sexual fidelity. When the three of you went your separate ways, I wondered if you were wrong. Grace didn't. She knew what was happening. She'd also listened to all of you talk about being all you could be as individuals. Anyway, Grace and I talked." He checked a pot on the stove, dipped a spoon in a sauce, touched his finger to the spoon and licked his finger. "Good. This will make a great fondue sauce. Where was I? Oh, yeah, I remember. We talked and decided that we ought to try having other sex partners." He snorted. "What a fiasco that turned out to be. Swingers, we're not, Nicole. We left the swinging party still faithful to each other. They actually drew car keys from a fish bowl, if you can imagine." I laughed. "That was a month ago. Nicole, this morning with you was our first time with someone else since before we got married." I nodded. "We enjoyed it - a lot." "Me, too. I'm finished with the chicken. What's next?" He dumped the cut-up chicken in a bowl and started to mix the other ingredients. "Cut that block of cheese into small cubes." "How big?" "Oh, a little less than one-half inch." "I sense Grace is more excited about tonight than you are." He chortled. "A while back we started to tell each other about our fantasies. Then we started to tell each other about some of our sexual experiences before we married. Grace enjoyed sex with a couple of men at the same time once, but she prefers sex with a man and another woman at the same time, and that happened more than once in her past. Yeah, I'd say Grace is excited about tonight, but I wouldn't say she's more excited than me. I want to try some of the things Grace tried before we married." "The cheese is cut up. What now?" "That's it. I'll need a half-hour in the kitchen just before the party so everything is fresh, but all the preparation work is finished." "Great. I might need another favor later, Pierre?" "Sure. What?" "I don't know if I'll get back to help you finish the finger food later. If I don't, would you put an assortment of what we're having on a tray and take it to the entertainment room? Pop and Jessie plan to watch some old, Western movies on the big-screen TV tonight." "No problem." "You're a doll." I gave him a kiss. The kiss was to say thank you, but Pierre wrapped his arms around me, and the kiss turned into a nice romantic embrace, and then turned passionate. "Later," he muttered. "Yeah, later." ------- Chapter 40: Sandy Josh and I were in the out-of-doors hot tub, getting rid of the kinks from our luncheon with the homeless when he smiled and moved out of the water. Why the smile? I asked. The intervention is finished. Gloria wants me to join them. May I listen in? Yes. After he toweled himself dry, he strolled away toward the guest quarters. Aren't you going to dress? I asked. No. Gloria and Wanda are nekkid. I laughed. That's the way it is, huh? Maybe. Why maybe? Listen in and find out. My polygraph neurons will be humming. I connected with Gloria and Wanda. They were silent, waiting for Josh. Gloria was worn out. Wanda was nervous, and her anxiety increased when Josh entered Gloria's rooms, that is until Josh took her into his arms and kissed her. I'm proud of you, he said. He turned to Gloria. You're wiped out, Gloria. I want you to do nothing but relax until the party tonight. Sandy's in the hot tub by the pool. Why don't you join her there and let the bubbling water do its thing? I felt Gloria's head nod. She hugged Wanda and left, joining me a few minutes later. I'm thirsty, Josh said to Wanda. Any root beer in Gloria's frig? Wanda laughed. I doubt it. She has a carafe of ice tea, though. That'll do. Wanda hurried away and returned with two glasses of ice tea. They settled on the sofa facing each other. At the same time, Gloria sunk into the frothing hot water of the hot tub and sighed with pleasure. "This feels good. Just what I needed." She looked at me. "Are you connected with them?" "Yes." "Good. If anything goes awry, let me know. Otherwise, let me relax." I laughed. "All right." Have you forgiven your parents? Josh asked Wanda after sipping some ice tea? No. What my parents did to me isn't forgivable. Gloria says she's all right with that. What Gloria thinks doesn't matter anymore. Why not? What matters is what you think, what you feel. That said, Gloria is a wonderful woman, caring, loving, and very, very wise. Personally, I'll listen carefully to any counsel she offers me, but in the end, I'm responsible for myself, so I must decide what's right and what's wrong for me. That makes sense, and it's not inconsistent with what Gloria has been saying the last couple of days. As a child, you loved your parents. Do you still love them? She hesitated. Would she lie? Yes. I hate what they did to me, their manipulation - Gloria called it brainwashing - but I loved them then, and I love them now. They were sick, Josh, mentally fucked up, and I had the bad luck of being born to them. What they did was counter to our cultural norms, but they never hurt me physically. In fact, they gave me a great deal of pleasure. When they were killed, I started to hate them. They'd given me so much pleasure, so much love, and suddenly they had abandoned me. I hated them for that, but deep down, I knew their death wasn't their doing, and by then, I also knew what they'd done to me was very wrong, and I hated them for that, too. Still, I didn't want to hate them, so I suppressed what they did to me and made them into normal, caring parents so I could love them. Gloria says if I'd been given to normal, loving parent substitutes after my parents' death, I might have learned to cope with what my real parents did to me and get on with my life without burying how they'd used me for their own sick desires. Instead, my aunt and uncle became my parent substitutes, and they continued the abuse but in a different way. They belittled me, called me names, beat me. I couldn't love them, so I suppressed my parents' sick behavior so I could have someone to love. She shuddered. Josh, you can't believe what I've gone through the last couple of days. Josh put an arm around her shoulder. Yes, I can. I was with you all the time. You were? Yes. Have you forgiven your aunt and uncle? No, and I won't try to forgive them. I never loved them, and I never will. Good. You seem to understand the psychological manipulation and sexual abuse your parents visited upon you, and you certainly understand the abuse heaped on you by your aunt and uncle. Do you understand how this abuse affected you? I think so. It made me feel as if I wasn't lovable. Bingo! Give the lady a kewpie doll! Wanda laughed, which tickled me. So, you believed you weren't lovable. What were the results of this erroneous belief? Josh asked. I had a difficult time... no, that's waffling, and Gloria wouldn't let me hedge anything. I couldn't maintain a relationship, Josh, sexual or otherwise. Sexually, I was frigid. I don't think I had more than ten orgasms from the age of twelve when my parents died until I met you, and those orgasms happened during my early teen years from masturbating. I not only suppressed my memories of what my parents did to me, I also suppressed my sexual urges and responses. Do you think you've reconnected with and repaired your past? I've reconnected with my past. Repaired it? No. Some repairs have been made, but I'm not cured, Josh. Still, I think I can join the living now. Will I repair my past? I don't know. Some of it is repairable, other parts - fuck it, I say. Let it lay. I could feel her grin. I was proud of her. What about your lost years? Josh asked. Lost years? Yes, those years when you couldn't maintain personal relationships, even friendships, the years when you couldn't function sexually. Ah, those years. Lost is a good description for those years. Except for my work, Josh, I'm going to write off those years. Do you have any past connections with people that you misused that you'd like to fix? Hmm, yeah, a couple, maybe more. One man and one woman, definitely. How will you fix what you did to them? Wanda laughed. Fuck 'em, probably. They both cared about me. I had sex with them, but... you know, I didn't come and I looked for excuses to make them the villains, not me. Do you think you're cured regarding your frigidity? You helped me come, not once but a bunch of times, and Gloria... well, if you were with me all the time, you know what happened between Gloria and me. Is all incest wrong? Josh asked. No. Is all pedophilia wrong? Yes. Wait! I take that back. Gloria told me about kissing Darren's little cock when he was a baby. She said sometimes while she was changing his diapers he'd get hard, and she'd kiss his little hard-on, even suck on it a little, and Darren would squirm around and giggle. He liked it. Why shouldn't he like it? It felt good. Some might call what Gloria did to Darren pedophilia. I don't. She said he seemed to like her blowing a raspberry on his belly the same way, or a kiss to his ear or when she nibble on his neck. She just loved him; she wasn't having sex with him. We're having a party tonight. Gloria told me. It's not a clothing optional party. We'll be nekkid, Wanda. Would you like to join us? I felt the nod of her head. Are you sure? Does your desire to attend the party come from a sense of obligation to Gloria or me in any way? She snorted an ironic laugh. No, that would be coercion, Josh. I'm a big girl now, a woman, an adult. I can make a decision like this. I love you, Josh. I know you don't love me like I love you, and I'm all right with how it is between us. I also believe I know the difference between love and sex. I'll find out for sure tonight. I need this test, Josh. I broke my connection with Wanda. Is she telling the truth, Josh? I asked. Yes, as she sees it, Josh replied after ending his connection with Wanda, as well. Will she fall apart tonight when she sees you with me or Nicole or Gloria, and especially with Grace? That's a part of the test. Risky. What I do isn't the riskiest part of the test. Oh? The big question in her mind is will she respond to others besides Gloria and me. Oh. "Josh, who's your favorite watercolorist?" Gloria asked as Josh petted her breasts with soft, adoring touches. Josh blushed. "I don't know any." "You've got to be kidding. You haven't studied other artists?" "No. Hmm, I did do some surfing on the Internet, but what I saw there were photographs of paintings. I like visiting art museums, but they don't hang many watercolor paintings. I'm self-taught, Gloria; trial and error, that's it. Name some famous watercolorists for me and I'll look into them." He kissed along the side of her neck. Gloria shivered with pleasure and reached for his partial hard-on. "Hmm, I like Charles Demuth and Winslow Homer. I own one watercolor painted by each. Look into Zoltan Szabo, Tom Hill, Andrew Wyeth, and Edward Hopper. There's more, of course. I'll give you a list tomorrow." Good. He's hard, she thought. "Thanks. Did any of them try to paint souls?" A hand wandered from Gloria's breast to her hip, and then to Gloria's inner thigh. "Not that I'm aware." She spread her legs slightly. Josh's hand cupped her cunt. She was wet. I knew she'd wanted Josh from the day they'd met. "Shucks. I wanted to see how another artist approached my problem," Josh said. "Wanda, you know more about art than anyone here. Has any artist ever tried to paint souls?" "Edvard Munch, maybe. He painted The Scream, a painting referred to as the 20th century's icon of angst. Wait, I'm wrong about Munch. The Scream reflected an emotion more than a soul. Honoré Daumier, perhaps. I think his painting entitled Third-Class Carriage touched on what you're trying to do. I'll do some research and give you some more names later this week." Josh laughed. Sandy, Nicole, they're trying to educate me. You need some education, buddy boy, Nicole said. You also need to fuck Gloria, I said. She's quivering inside. Wanda, Josh said, when I lift Gloria, take my cock and put it in her cunt. Okay. Put her back to your front so I can lick her clitoris while you fuck her. I watched as Josh lifted Gloria, seemingly effortlessly, and with Wanda's help, Josh's hard cock impaled Gloria's cunt. Gloria nearly climaxed when he bottomed out. She did climax when Wanda's mouth covered her vulva. Wanda stayed with her, though, and she climaxed again a few minutes later. Josh, I knew, took Gloria's second orgasm as his own. You're going to run out of semen tonight, Josh, Nicole said. Yup, he said as he nuzzled Gloria's neck and thanked her for being her. His praise thrilled her. Darren, too. I'm happy you agree with me about my mother, Josh, Darren said. She's going to be fine, I said to Josh referring to Wanda. I know. Marvelous, huh? For her and me, I said as my hips waved, effectively sliding my clit over Wanda's flattened tongue. Darren was on his knees behind Wanda, and his cock was buried to the root inside her. He reared back and thrust deeply into her again, and she moaned into my cunt. I connected with her. You like Darren's cock, huh? Yes! Wanda shouted silently. I like the creamy taste of your cunt, too. What's not to like? Nicole quipped. Hush, slutty one, I said. Enjoy Josh and let me enjoy Wanda. Josh was inside Nicole, but he wasn't fucking her. He was making love slowly, savoring every sensation, enjoying the look in Nicole's eyes, the feel of her flesh next to his. Oh, I'm enjoying him, Nicole said. He's loving me, and when he loves me like this I turn into mush. Wanda, the four of us are empaths. We can take your orgasm as our own. Would you mind? I asked. I don't understand. When you come, we'll feel the sensations of your orgasm as if it were our own. We'll come, too, of course, and everyone will share his or her orgasmic sensations with everyone connected. Darren will pass out briefly from sensory overload. Fine by me, Darren said. Josh will purposefully reduce some sensations so he doesn't pass out. Maybe not, Josh said. It'll be an orgasm times five, I said to Wanda. Okay? Yes! Will I feel all five orgasms, too? No, but you'll feel yours, and if you're thinking about everyone feeling what you feel, your orgasmic sensations will be something else again. Let's do it, Wanda said. And we did. Darren and Josh made brief trips to la-la land. "Pierre, that was mighty fine food last night, and this finger food tonight is out of this world," Josh said as he popped a tidbit of something into his mouth, chewed and smiled with pleasure. "Are you still working in someone else's kitchen?" "Yes, a resort here in Scottsdale. I took some time off for your party." "You ought to have your own restaurant, a fancy place, classy, expensive." "Yeah, well that takes capital I don't have." "Grace, quit playin' with Darren's dick and get over here," Nicole said. "Josh and I have some questions for you and your sexy husband." "I like her playing with my dick," Darren said. Nicole laughed. "Well, bring your dick over here so Grace can play with it while we talk with her." "That sounds like a plan," Darren said. "Hang on, honey, we've got some traveling to do." I cracked up as I watched Grace drag Darren by his hard-on so they could sit by Josh, Nicole and Pierre. What have you got in mind? I asked Josh silently. I was enjoying Gloria's mouth on my pussy. Wanda was watching us and casually playing with herself. Putting some idle funds from TRES, Inc., to work. Good idea! I said. It was Nicole's idea. She put a little birdie in my ear about helping Pierre and Grace and making some money at the same time. You're a genius, Nicole. Thanks, pretty lady with the tasty pussy. Gloria thinks it's tasty. I noticed. "Waddaya want?" Grace asked as she stroked Darren's hard-on. "Who's got the better business head? You or Pierre?" Josh said. "She does," Pierre said. Grace leaned over and licked Darren's cock. "As heads go, I like this one," she said, giggled and gave the head of Darren's cock a quick suck. "Be serious for a minute," Nicole said. "Okay." She stuck out her lower lip. "Spoilsport." Nicole laughed. "If TRES, Inc., developed a classy restaurant, would you guys lease it from us?" Grace's jaw dropped. She also dropped Darren's cock. "You'd do that for us?" "I'm not so sure we'd be doing you a favor," Josh said. "Running your own restaurant would be a lot of work. Pierre would have to handle the kitchen, create the menu, buy the food fresh daily, and prepare the meals to order, but a fine restaurant is more than fine food. It's impeccable service, so waiters and other personnel need to be trained and managed. It's remembering repeat customers by name, so a smart and beautiful hostess is a necessity. That'd be you, Grace. It's keeping the place clean and putting fresh flowers on the tables everyday. And then there's the business end of a restaurant. It's keeping the books. It's..." "They get your point, Josh," Nicole said. "Two questions, Pierre and Grace. Do you want to do it? And, can you do it?" "Yes!" Grace exclaimed, excited out of her mind. Pierre was more reserved. Tears welled in his expressive eyes. "For me it would be a dream come true." I don't know if I climaxed from Gloria's expert ministrations or from the happiness that was washing over me from Pierre and Grace. Regardless, it ended up being the best orgasm times one of the evening, an evening and night chock full of orgasms. "Look at that. Isn't that a sad sight?" Nicole said to Grace. "What?" "Three limp cocks." Grace laughed gaily. "I know what will get them hard lickety-split." "What?" "Five women entwined in a daisy chain. Are you game?" "You betcha." I'm ready, willing and able, I told my wife. Nicole laughed. With Wanda's talented mouth on your cunt, you should be. Wanda, are you there? Wanda giggled. I'm a little busy right now, but I'm here. Wanna join us in a daisy chain? Yes! Another first! What a night! "Where's Gloria?" Nicole asked. "Getting fresh," Grace said with a chuckle. "That's why my husband is limp." Grace hopped up to her feet. "I'll go get her." There were lulls in our sexual shenanigans when all of us were momentarily sated, and during those times, we sort of cuddled together in the large conversation area and listened to soft music and the sounds of the waterfall. We'd designed the party room to be as sensuous as possible in every way. Earlier before the party started, I'd placed candles here and there, so except for some soft indirect lighting, the room glowed with the small flames of candles. We were in one of our agreeable quiet periods when I noticed soft tears in Gloria's eyes. Her thoughts gave me no clue to the cause of her sadness. That she was sad I had no doubt. "What's wrong, Gloria?" I asked. "I miss my husband. He would've enjoyed tonight as much as I'm enjoying it." I hugged her. "I know how you feel. I lost spouses in previous lives. It's rough." "What was your favorite past life?" Josh asked. I knew what he was doing, and agreed. None of us wanted the evening to get maudlin. "That would be my forty-eight years as an Italian Countess from 1790 to 1838." "Why?" Gloria asked. Josh's ploy had worked. I giggled. "Because I was a slut." "Really?" Grace said. "Yes, by rough count I fucked over three hundred men and women during that life." Wanda gasped and said, "That's what I'd call being slutty." I laughed and asked, "At what number would the slut label no longer apply? Two hundred? One hundred? Or less than one hundred?" Gloria hooted. "She's got you there, Wanda. I'd say being a slut is a state of mind as opposed to the number of sexual partners you have over a lifetime." "True," Nicole said. "Josh has a friend in the FBI, a woman he provides information about crimes he uncovers." Nicole suddenly realized she'd given Pierre and Grace a clue to the existence of our paranormal abilities. "Oops," she said. It's my call. Correct? Josh said silently. Nicole, Darren and I agreed with him. There," Josh said. "I just gave Pierre and Grace a bundled attitude that won't allow them to talk about our paranormal talents outside the individuals in this room. Also, I'll reveal only what I do, not what the three of you are capable of. Let's see how they react. "Nicole just referred to the fact that I can read minds and sense emotions and sensations," Josh said to Pierre and Grace. "From time to time I run across crimes or criminals, and then pass on what I learn from reading criminal minds to my contact in the FBI." "You read minds?" Grace said, utterly shocked. "Yes, I'm a telepath. Anyway, my contact with the FBI had an experience when she was in college - a gang bang. She enjoyed it, but the experience embarrassed her, made her feel slutty. She straightened up her act, and..." "Hold the phone," Pierre said. "You can't drop a bomb like that and then go on as if nothing happened." Josh laughed. "I can if I want to." "How long have you been a telepath?" Grace asked. "Only a few years, but I've been an empath since I was a teenager." Grace slumped in the cushions. "That explains a lot." She grimaced. "You've heard my thoughts since the day you saved me from my abusive father, haven't you." "Yup. I adore your naughty but nice mind, Grace." She blushed. "I'm not sure I like you in my head," Pierre said. Gloria laughed. "I have moments when I agree with you, Pierre." Josh, if you hold back and only tell them about you, we could lose their friendship when they find out about the rest of us, I said. I agree. "I'm not the only telepath in the room, Pierre. My wives and Darren are telepathic, as well, and Wanda has a little telepathic ability. She can't read your thoughts, though, only the thoughts of other telepaths when they're connected with her." "Jesus," Pierre breathed. "Anyway, to get back to my contact with the FBI, she..." "What am I thinking right now?" Pierre said, interrupting Josh. "A touch crude, Pierre, but your silent comment certainly expresses your current emotion." "What was he thinking?" Grace asked. "He thought, 'Fuck you and the horse you rode in on, '" Josh said. "He's pissed." Everyone, please leave me alone with them, Josh said. I'll handle their anger over their loss of privacy. I see no reason for all of us to go through the pain. In the end, they'll accept what we do and love us that much more for it. I scooted next to Josh and kissed him. "Goodnight, sweet husband." Nicole did the same, and Darren helped us move Gloria and Wanda quietly out of the room. ------- Chapter 41: Josh I stood in front of a large blank canvas. Shortly after my studio was constructed, I'd stocked it with stretched and prepared canvases of various sizes along with oil paints and other tools and supplies for a variety of artistic pursuits. Watercolor painting had started to feel restrictive lately. I wanted to work on large paintings, and large watercolors were difficult to control. Besides, I intuitively felt that oils on canvas would be a better medium to render humans and their souls. Because I usually painted two nearly identical paintings for each subject I chose to paint - three when I planned to give one away - I was frequently forced to paint from memory. Light changed as the sun moved overhead, and I had to remember how the light affected my subjects. Out of the process and with practice, I'd improved my visual memory substantially. I'd painted the homeless at the luncheon the day before - three times. I gave one of the paintings to Bill Roberts, but I'd kept the other two. They were pinned on white poster boards, which were sitting on two easels on either side of the blank canvas. Could I paint the same scene in oils, using the watercolor paintings for reference points, as well as digging deeply into my visual memory for more insight? Time would tell. I picked up a charcoal pencil and blocked out the composition on the canvas. I'd just finished when Pierre and Grace walked into the studio. Earlier, I'd tamped down my connection with them to background noise, so I didn't know what they wanted. "Josh," Pierre said, "we're sorry if we're interrupting you, but we felt we owed you an apology." I chuckled. "I appreciate the interruption. Blank canvases are daunting, and you don't owe me an apology. You were upset over your loss of privacy, and rightly so." "Thank you for understanding, Josh," Grace said. "You said something that, upon reflection, eased our minds, no pun intended." "What?" "That you and your wives and Darren could read our thoughts, all of them, the good thoughts and the bad ones, and that you still liked us. Were you being honest?" "Yes. I rarely lie, except small, social lies, probably because I'm a human lie detector." "You know when we're lying, too?" Pierre said. "Yes." He shook his head and smiled. "What else?" "I'm a fair to middling psychic healer." From their thoughts I knew they wanted more information about my psychic healing abilities. "You were around once when I had to heal myself." I pricked their memories about the time I wore a sling for my left shoulder while in L.A. and for the grand opening of our Belize island hotel. While I explained what had really happened, we moved to a seating area in the studio, and the three of us relaxed. "About your privacy, don't try to screen your thoughts, please. You'll just drive yourself nuts. Just be you. Like you said, I've heard your good thoughts and your bad ones, and I still like you. No, that's not accurate. I don't just like you, I consider you close friends, as do my wives and Darren. We wouldn't have invited you to our party last night otherwise. Did you enjoy yourselves?" "I'll say!" Grace said, and then she blushed. "Oops." I laughed with gusto. "Do you know why I laughed, Pierre?" "No." "Grace thought she'd have enjoyed last night more if you and I had had sex with her at the same time." Pierre grinned. "Kinky." I looked at Grace and said, "We can correct that error of omission right now, if you'd like." I turned to Pierre. "Do you want her marvelous pussy or her cute ass?" "What does she want?" he asked. "She wants me in her ass." Still blushing, Grace said, "You've been there, Pierre. Josh hasn't." "Our rooms are close by," Pierre said. "Let's go there." After returning to my studio from my intermission with Pierre and Grace, I'd just found the courage to brush some paint on canvas when Gloria interrupted me. "I'm sorry for keeping you from your work, Josh, but I have a request." I put my brush in a bucket of solvent. "Okay, but I need a root beer first. There's some ice tea in the can in the frig if you're thirsty." She was fine, so I snagged a root beet and drank half the contents of the bottle before I joined her in the seating area. "Shortly after Darren returns to Boston, he'll be leaving on a month-long business trip that he's been avoiding and can no longer avoid." "Gloria, you can stay here as long as you want." She smiled. "Thank you. It's pleasant to have a request granted before it's asked. When Sandy told me that you planned to stay here for a while instead of returning back east, the thought of being alone in that big house in Boston for a month depressed me." "Gloria, I'll be driving away in my Hummer in a week to do some painting on location, so you might find yourself alone here, too." "How long will you be gone?" "About a week. I'm starting to paint with oils on canvas. I'll use watercolors on location and oil paint here in the studio. I'm not sure what schedule will work best. The ideal schedule will evolve, but initially I plan to spend a week on location and then return to the studio to paint for a week to ten days before returning to the field." She smiled. "That will be perfect. I'll impose on your hospitality for the week you're here, and then fly back to Boston." "All right. Can you cook?" She laughed, nervously. "Thanks for laughing, that was a joke. Pierre and Grace plan to stay in the compound through the balance of the vacation time he took to cater our birthday party. I'll be working with him and Grace on their new restaurant, so for the next week, Pierre will do the cooking, but he might want a little help with the clean up." Gloria groaned. "I'm rich, Josh. I don't do household chores." I couldn't help it. I cracked up. When I finished laughing my fool head off, I said, "Gloria, I have a housekeeper. She and her husband, my groundskeeper, will return tomorrow evening." She blushed. "I'd forgotten about them. Out of sight, out of mind." We sat in silence for a couple of seconds. "Josh, I could be mistaken, but I think Wanda will want to stay here for a while, too." "She does." "Will you allow her to stay?" "Yes." Gloria nodded. "Good." Then she grinned. "You read my mind and hers. You knew I wanted to help Wanda over some more bumps in the road to wellness, didn't you?" "Yup." "You're a good man, Joshua Johnson," she said and kissed me. The kiss was meant to be appreciative but soon turned passionate. Just you and me, Josh, she thought as the kiss deepened. "All right," I said. Here. Now. "All right." Good you're hard. Just push your trousers out of the way. A quickie. That's all I want. "All right." Oh! Yes! Yes! Yes! She moved over me, her mouth mashed to mine, my cock buried fully inside her. I love fucking - just love it. Her cunt was creamy and grasping, and I went with her sudden passion. She wanted a quick, hot fuck. I let her have her way because that's what I wanted. Last night was incredible, the best group sex I ever had, nothing planned, everything spontaneous, with hot times and quiet moments. And love - lots of love. I chuckled when I thought about Pierre and Grace's experience with car keys in a fish bowl. I didn't plan this, Josh. "I know," I said. I'm glad it happened. "Me, too." I think I'll come now. "All right." Nicole provided the next interruption. Was I wrong? Was fate trying to tell me I shouldn't try oil painting? Hearing my thought, she laughed. "We can talk later if you prefer." "No, now's fine. To be honest, I don't know where to start." I waved my hand at the canvas. "You'll figure it out." "Maybe." "You've been busy this morning." "Not so busy. I can't seem to get any work done." She laughed again. "You know what I mean." She wrapped her arms around my waist and hugged me. "I'll miss you." "And I'll miss you. You might get paint on your pretty sundress." I was wearing a paint-splotched smock. "If I do, I'll throw it away and go shopping. You know how much I enjoy shopping." She hugged me again. "I've made a decision." "I know." "Are you all right with it?" "Yes. You need to be all you can be." She'd been offered a position at the Wharton School of Business, Wharton West, to be specific. The campus was located in San Francisco. "Until I start teaching next fall, I'll live here with you." "All right." "Will you help me select our home in San Francisco?" "Yes." "This is your home, isn't it?" "Yes. Nicole, I'm not a man of the world." "I know. You're an artist." "Yup." "Will we be all right?" "Yes, I love you. I'll always love you." "I talked about my decision with Sandy and Darren this morning." "I know." "Why didn't you join us telepathically?" "I wanted this time with you, holding you and looking into your loving eyes." Her loving eyes dampened. "Oh, Josh, I love you so much!" We were quiet for a moment. "Will you spend time with me in San Francisco?" "Of course. I can paint anywhere." "I listened in on your plans for the next month." I chuckled. "Why didn't you comment?" "Touché. The home we select in California will have a studio." "All right." "And a nursery." "I figured." "Are you all right with that?" "Yes." "Not right away. After I get tenure, I'll take a couple of years off to be a wife and mother here with you. After that, we'll see." She hugged me again. "I understand about Wanda. I don't want you to be alone. Will you ask her to marry us?" "I don't know. We'll see." The phone in the studio rang. I picked it up. "Pierre says lunch is ready," Grace said. "Good. I'm starved. Nicole is with me. We'll be right there." Lunch was fun - at first. While we ate we talked about novels and novelists. As expected Sandy dominated the conversation, but Gloria gave her a run for her money. Gloria was an avid fiction fan. It suddenly dawned on me that I had mislaid my reading habit somewhere along the way. Sandy smiled and said. "If you'd like to find it again, when I read a good book, I'll send you a copy." She'd made a decision, too. She planned to live in Boston with Darren. I suspected they'd interrupt my work after lunch to discuss the subject with me. Why wait? Sandy said telepathically. Now's as good as time as any. The decision isn't etched in stone, Josh. We want your input first. Gloria's involved with this decision. Let's talk out loud. Sandy announced to everyone the discussion at hand, and then turned to me. "Will you feel abandoned again?" "Are you abandoning me?" "No. I love you." "Then I won't feel abandoned." Gloria said, "My home is your home, Josh." "No, it's your home and Darren's and will become Sandy's home. I'll be a guest." I smiled. "A frequent guest. I've made a unilateral decision, as well. This is my home." "I have a home here, too, Josh," Sandy said. I smiled. "Yes you do, and along with my home and the communal spaces, this is and will remain the home base for our plural marriage." "Mother," Darren said, "Josh will need a studio in Boston." She laughed. "It's not as though that old house doesn't have rooms to spare. On your next visit, Josh, select the space you want, and we'll renovate to make the space suitable for a studio." "All right." With a chuckle, I added, "I had this studio for years and never used it. Soon, I'll have three studios." I became serious. "I plan to use all three of them." "And we'll spend time here, Josh, as much as possible," Darren said. "That's a promise." I had no choice. I raised a shield. From their expressions, the shield shocked Sandy and Nicole. "Lower that shield right now, buddy boy," Sandy said with fire in her eyes. "You won't like what you hear." "Please don't put us through that torture again, Josh," Nicole said. I forced my mind to a blank state and lowered the shield. Would Nicole penetrate my attitude? Oh, Sandy, he does feel abandoned again. He worries our plural marriage won't survive the separation our divergent lives are forcing upon us. Tears smarted my eyes. "Sandy, you and Darren will have children soon. You can't deny that the urge to be a mother is pressing you. I can feel the desire heavy and urgent inside you. When a child arrives, your life and Darren's will revolve around the child, which is normal and right. The child will give you pleasure and purpose, so you will have another, and maintaining our plural marriage could become a burden. Nicole, you want a child, and the child will be mine. You'll take time off to be a mother and wife, but the urge for a successful career is as heavy and pressing inside you as motherhood is for Sandy. When you leave to fulfill your career urge, you'll take the child with you. I won't follow you. This is my home." I sighed. "Why, I've asked myself many times, why doesn't everyone want a plural marriage? On the surface, a plural marriage is the ideal expression of love if more than two people love each other. Recently, I've been turning over in my mind one possible answer to my question. Perhaps plural marriages aren't truly possible to sustain over a lifetime." "God damn you, Josh Johnson!" Sandy said with feeling. "Our plural marriage will prevail!" "Damned straight," Nicole said, just as upset as Sandy. "Like any marriage, we just need to work at it - all of us, and that includes you, buddy boy." I smiled. "Oh, I'll work at it. I'll keep the home base homey and visit both of you wherever you are, and you're welcome to visit me. Don't take what I said wrong. I'm not bailing out. I was merely pointing out some basic perils to the survival of our plural marriage looming ahead. Nicole, you read part of my attitude wrong. I am worried our divergent lives will tear us apart. I was worried enough to express my concerns, but I don't feel like I'm being abandoned. I know I'm loved. I raised my shield because I didn't want to have this discussion right now. I wanted this get-together at our home base to end on a positive note." Darren came to the studio after lunch. "Let's raise our shields. I want this talk to be private," he said. "All right." "Are you shielded?" "Yes." "Do you still want to marry me?" "Yes." He visibly relaxed. "Josh, it might not be manly, but you need to know. I love you as deeply as I do Sandy and Nicole." "I knew, Darren." "If Sandy moving into our family home in Boston will cause any grief, we'll change our plans." "Where would you live?" "Here." "Have you discussed this with Sandy?" "No." "Or your mother?" "No." "If you moved away from Boston, Gloria's wonderful soul would dry up and flutter away like dandelion seeds in a soft wind. She needs you there, needs you in charge of the business, needs you to be the recipient of your family's heritage, its traditions as well as its assets, and you and Sandy will provide the next heir so the family heritage will continue." "You do understand," he breathed, looking at something or nothing somewhere in the distance. He squared his shoulders and turned to me. "Running the family business doesn't need to be as time consuming as I've made it. I can make some simple changes that can cut my time for business in half. Sandy and I could live here six months of the year." I chuckled. "Skip the summers. They're brutal. Darren, Sandy's research and other projects will use up three of those six months. If the two of you live here three months every year, I'll be happy. Do you know why?" "Why?" "Because I plan to be in Boston for three months a year. I'll also spend three months a year in San Francisco. The trick will be coordinating the time when all of us can be together anywhere, especially after the patter of little feet start echoing in the halls, but we'll cross that bridge when we come to it. To follow tradition, we planned our private wedding for Christmas at the Grand Canyon. One of the three months should be December, and I'd like that get-together to be here at our home base. Nicole will have a teaching break in December, so she'll probably agree. "I can put December aside," he said. "Besides, December in Boston can be brutally cold. How about a month in Boston in the spring?" "We need Nicole's input. Sandy's, too, for that matter. Shall we lower our shields?" "Yeah." Sandy, Nicole, would you join Darren and me in a telepathic family conference? Plans were made. Heartfelt commitments were uttered. Would the commitments be kept? Time would tell. That thought was protected with a shield. I had my root beer open and was sitting down when Sandy arrived. I'd expected her. "I want some time alone with you this afternoon. Do you know where?" she asked. I slugged down the rest of the root beer and rose to my feet. "Yes, where we first made love. In your canopied bed in the small apartment attached to your museum. Let's take my Hummer. I feel like driving." En route, she said, "Do you remember when you told me I had old emotions?" "Yes." "You said my emotional reactions implied that I'd already experienced whatever caused the reaction, so I handled the emotional situation with ease. You went on to say that you used my calm acceptance of our hurly-burly world to calm the turmoil in your soul." "Yes, I remember. I said you were serene." "That you did. Well, buddy boy, you've past me up. To me, your emotional responses are more serene than mine - older, more at ease. You told Nicole this morning that you weren't a man of the world." "I'm not." "Raise your shield. I want this conversation to be private." "All right." "You're my man of the world, Josh, not Darren. Oh, I love him, but you were my first love in this life, and as it turned out, you're also the love of my life. I will never abandon you. Never! I might not be with you all the time. I might have children with Darren, and life might become hurly-burly so it will be difficult to sustain our plural marriage, but know this. I love you." She sighed and brushed an errant tear from the corner of her eye with a fingernail. "I've loved deeply in my past lives, but I've never loved anyone as deeply or as completely as I love you." I pressed the remote to open the garage doors to Sandy's museum, pulled the Hummer inside, and took my sister, my wife, my love into my arms. To lose my fear of oils on canvas, I'd need to master oil paints like I did watercolors, and that would take some time. Nicole was right, though. With some practice and perseverance, I'd figure it out. "Why oils?" Wanda said. I jumped. She'd surprised me, which was unusual. Then I realized how she'd arrived unannounced to my empathic senses. She was wearing a full-body shield. "Why the shield?" "I want to talk with you, and I don't want my emotions and thoughts getting in the way, and I'd like our talk private. Would you raise your shield?" I complied with her request. "Who told you about shields?" "Nicole." All at once she looked fearful. "Are you upset because I know about shields?" I smiled. "No." Her look of fear vanished. She straightened her back and took a deep breath. "I want to stay here, live with you." "All right." "That's it? No argument?" "No." "Do you love me?" "Not like you love me." "Josh, that's not an answer. Please tell me how you feel about me." "All right. I love you, Wanda, but not like I love Sandy and Nicole." "Is it possible that someday you'll love me like you love them?" "Love is limitless, so my answer is yes, but before I can love you that deeply, you'll need to be whole. When I questioned you after the intervention, I didn't ask a question, perhaps the most important question I could have asked, because I knew your answer would be no. Have you forgiven yourself, Wanda?" She shuddered and clasped herself with her arms. "No." "For me to love you deeply, you must first love yourself. That won't happen until you forgive yourself. You can stay here and live with me, but subject to two conditions. One, find support in Phoenix besides me. Retain a competent therapist, one who understands your problem and can help you. Two, do not cling to me as if you were in a turbulent sea and I was a life raft. My conditions might sound harsh, but..." "No, they're reasonable, and I understand." "What about your work?" "Josh, fifteen of the fifty artists I represent provide ninety percent of my income. Another ten are up and coming. I'll keep them, too, but I'm cutting the non-productive half loose." I grinned. "Do I need to find a new artist's agent?" "No! You're... Oh, you're teasing." "Yup." "I can do my work from Phoenix as well as New York. I'll need to lease some office space and..." "That'd be silly. Have you seen the office space here in the compound?" "No." "I'll take you on a tour tomorrow after my wives and Darren leave. The space is sitting there. Use it." "I'll pay rent..." "No you won't. You'll be living here. We'll be lovers. You will not pay rent." "We'll be lovers?" I smiled. "Yup." She got clingy. I didn't mind at all. I was painting on canvas with oils, and I was having small successes. I stepped back and studied my progress. Yup, I can do this. Of course you can, buddy boy, Sandy said. I laughed. You don't know what I was talking to myself about. Doesn't matter. If you want to do something, you'll get it done. I miss you already. Last night was special. Yeah it was. Sandy and Nicole had spent the night with me. We'd made love into the wee hours of the morning. Darren didn't join us. He spent the night with his mother, which pleased me. Gloria would miss her son like I'd miss Sandy and Nicole. I'd taken the three of them to the airport in my Hummer a couple of hours ago. Gloria had ridden with us to say her goodbyes. What were you talking to yourself about? Nicole asked. Painting on canvas with oils. Did you have serious doubts? I had doubts. Did I interrupt your concentration? Sandy asked. No, it was time for a break. I expect a call any second from Pierre announcing lunch. Darren, are you there? Yes. Your mother is fine. Her tears dried up before we left the airport complex. She's out by the pool soaking up some sun, determined to get an all-over tan before she returns to Boston. That was the moment my life started to end. Suddenly, I lost my connection with Darren completely, and I felt Sandy and Nicole rolling around like they were in a blender. I also heard their screams of terror as they held each other in their arms. What's happening? I shouted mentally and cast my empathic scan around the aircraft. I cut that scan immediately. The pain I felt had to be a heart attack coming at me from someone. What's happening? I shouted again. An explosion. The plane's going down, Josh, Sandy said. Serene. She was serene. How could that be? I've died before, Josh. I'll live again. Josh, Nicole said, I love you. Sandy, I love you. Darren... what happened to Darren? He's gone, Nicole, Sandy said. Josh, I love you. You were my love for this life. Goodbye, love. No! I screamed. No! Goodbye, Josh, Nicole said. I felt them holding each other. And then I felt nothing. I was alone. Epilogue: Josh Sixteen Years Later It's a good painting, I decided as I dropped a brush in solvent. A wrinkled old man and a pretty young girl stared back at me from the canvas. An old soul, and a new one. One ready for death but still fighting for life, angry about his decaying body and mind, but somehow serene with the understanding that he would live again in the heaven or hell his faith and acts specify or move on to a different, unsullied body to live a different life. The viewers of the painting would decide his fictional fate, not me. The young soul in my painting was unconcerned about death and eager for the future and all that it could offer. She was fresh and clean, without evil and anger, but with a lurking, dark understanding that someday, if she lived long enough, she too would be angry at her condition in life. Both souls were indomitable, perpetual, separated and differentiated only by their location on their current lifelines. The painting fit my recent creative theme. Serene old souls juxtaposed with eager new souls. Serene Sandy and eager Nicole. They weren't in my mind anymore, but I couldn't get them out of my mind. I went crazy when they left me. After a burst of rage when I destroyed all my paintings in the studio, I did nothing, could do nothing. I sat and stared a thousand-yard stare, my soul so heavy with grief my body couldn't move. The destructive sounds of my rage brought Gloria and Wanda to the studio. When Gloria finally understood what had brought on my rage, she collapsed. Poor Wanda, un-whole as she was, held us together. One day, Gloria's sister came and took her away. Wanda stayed. I lost weight because I didn't eat. Wanda fed me as if I were a baby. I became dehydrated because I'd forget to drink anything. Wanda had to tip a glass of water to my lips to get me to drink. I napped sporadically during the day, but couldn't sleep at night. Nightmares of the plane crash brought me upright and screaming in my bed. Nicole and Sandy's bodies weren't recovered, only pieces, and in my nightmare, fiery chunks of bloody flesh, pieces of Nicole and Sandy's flesh, fell down on me, splattered me as if thrown by an angry God. I was inconsolable. I hadn't said goodbye. I hadn't told them that I loved them. I didn't paint. I did nothing. Silent tears rolled from my eyes until my tear ducts dried up. Days later, the tears would start again. It was the silence that got to me. No one said, "Josh, are you there?" If I'd connected with Wanda, she could have said the words, but I refused to make the connection, and I tamped down all other thoughts, emotions and sensations until I heard only background noise and felt only the heaviness in my heart and soul. I remained in that state for months. But for Wanda's persistence to keep me alive, I would have died. I wanted to die. And then one day, everything changed. The nightmares stopped. I rose from my bed refreshed and fed myself, and I started to paint again. I went from a depressed, almost catatonic state, to a flurry of activity. I painted night and day, and the work was good. I developed Pierre and Grace's restaurant, and it became one of only a few five-star restaurants in the Phoenix metro area. I flew to Boston. Gloria was a shell of her former self. She tried to be cheerful, but failed. Just before I left her she told me she wanted a new body and a new life, that this life had no meaning for her, that she could find no joy in her soul. She died peacefully in her sleep a year later. The explosion on the plane had been an act of terror, so I declared war on terrorism. I contacted Special Agent Dot, and she guided me, sent me to far away lands, put me next to terrorists and would-be terrorists. I didn't fuck around. If my scans produced evil, if I entered the mind of a terrorist, I sucked out his memories and rearranged his neurons, and then regurgitated the memories for Agent Dot. Far away lands and terrorists can be dangerous. Three more bullet wounds puckered my flesh. I walked with a limp. Painting was my cover for my covert trips to foreign soil. I painted lost souls. I painted enslaved and impoverished souls, and although lost, enslaved and impoverished, they were indomitable - all of them. I painted souls and heartrending scenes normally reserved for foreign correspondents and photographers. I captured the souls and scenes with watercolors and my visual memory and took them back to my studio and painted them on huge canvases in oil. I kept the watercolor paintings and sold the canvases. Wanda became rich on her percentage as my agent from the sale of my paintings. She didn't care about the money. She cared about me, and three years ago something happened that made me understand that she needed more of me than I'd given her over the years, so I connected with her and said, "Wanda, are you there?" She got clingy. I didn't mind at all. That was the day I declared a cease-fire on my war on terror. Agent Dot wasn't happy about it. I bundled an attitude and hit her with it, and I never heard from her again. My painting themes changed. They became less dark and foreboding and offered more hope than despair. Unaccountably, the buying public preferred my dark paintings. I didn't care. I didn't need the money. Wanda stepped into the studio and said, "They're at the gate, Josh." I smiled and removed my painting smock. "They'll be hungry. Bring them to the communal dinning room. Pierre has prepared a special luncheon for them." Wanda would be forty-seven on her next birthday. To my eyes, she is as beautiful today as the day I met her - my sexy, Meg Ryan look-alike. I took her into my arms and kissed her. She clung to me. You have nothing to fear, I said. I know. Let me go, and I'll have them taken to the dining room. Honey, you have blue paint on your nose. Look at them! Fifteen-year-old, dark-haired beauties with large, sparkling, black eyes. I stood transfixed. The sight of them took my breath away. I knew them, but I'd never seen them. My eyes feasted on their beauty and searched the edges for their souls. They were terrified. "Good afternoon," I said as I strode into the dining room, trying to hide my limp. "You were expecting us," one of the young women stated. I smiled. "Yes. You're English is excellent, Karli." Her eyes widened and then she smiled. "You've been in our heads." "Yes, but it hasn't been easy. I don't speak Turkish. I had to translate your attitudes into English thoughts that I could grasp and understand." Karli laughed, tinkling sounds that sent pleasing chills down my spine. "Arabic, not Turkish," she declared. "Oh, well, I don't speak Arabic, either," I said and turned to the other young woman. "You must be Cari." She nodded. "How long have you been in our heads?" "I found you approximately nine months after your deaths in your previous lives." "That soon? That is surprising. Did you recognize our psi-sigs at birth?" "Actually, I recognized you by your emotional signatures first, but I don't believe it was at your birth. Not long after, though." I grinned. "I remembered Sandy saying that she was reborn approximately nine months after each death in her past lives, so I started my search at seven months in case you were born prematurely. Unfortunately, I initially made the same mistake you just made, Cari. I searched for your psi-sigs. Telepathy was all but useless until three years ago when your memories arrived and you started to secretly communicate in English with each other." "We aren't telepathic or empathic," Karli said. "Communicating secretly, as you put it..." "I know. I should have said whisper in English to each other." "We're not Nicole and Sandy, Josh," Karli said. "You are and you're not, would be more accurate," I said. "Explain, please," Cari said. "You aren't Nicole and Sandy because you are Karli and Cari Akcan, identical twin sisters born and raised in Sivas, Turkey, a circumstance of birth you both detested after your memories arrived. Until then, you'd accepted your childhood conditioning without question. You were the daughters of a mullah and you attended religious schools. I think they're called Imam Hatip." I stepped closer to them. "Karli, the memories of your past lives made you reject Islam like you rejected the LDS Church. Cari, you rejected Islam because the religion restricted your rights, a circumstance your memories made intolerable. Still, you aren't Nicole and Sandy. You are who you are, Karli and Cari Akcan. But, you are also an amalgamation of your past lives, twenty-three for you Karli, and three for you, Cari. "You are Nicole and Sandy because your memories of your lives as Nicole and Sandy are so fresh and clear. As Nicole and Sandy, you died together with your arms wrapped around each other, forming a bond that even death couldn't break." I paused and took a deep breath. "I'm sorry I didn't say goodbye. I'm sorry I didn't tell you at the last moment how deeply I loved you." Always the more demonstrative of the two, Nicole in Cari's body jumped from her seat and rushed to me. I gathered her in my arms and held her tight. She kissed me and said, "I still love you, but..." "I know. I'm old enough to be your father." "No! I..." She stopped in mid-sentence, her eyes glinting. "You dare to tease as such a moment?" "Yup." She laughed gaily, and the sounds of her laughter were just as thrilling as Karli's. I switched her to my side, holding her around the waist with one arm, and then held out my other arm for Karli. She rose gracefully from her chair and walked to me. I wrapped one arm around her and kissed her. The kiss was warm, but not passionate. Could I shatter her reticence? I walked them back to the dining table, and held a chair out for each, and then sat between them at the head of the table. "I know you're hungry. Pierre has prepared a special lunch for us. Do you remember his lobster bisque soup?" "You're making this very painful for us, Josh," Karli said. "No, I'm making it easy for you. The acute pain will ease and finally disappear altogether. Trust me. Had you been born males or to separate parents, it's possible that you could have accepted your new bodies and early conditioning and remained in Turkey or anywhere else fate selected as your birthplace, but that didn't happen. Instead, you were born identical twin females, a closer bond, perhaps, than the one you enjoyed in your previous lives. Then the memories arrived and you discovered you'd been wives in your previous life, that in another previous life you'd been father and daughter. Your bond is unbreakable. It pleased me that you became lovers before your memories arrived." Pierre stepped out of the kitchen carrying a tureen of soup. He dished up three bowls. I introduced him to Karli and Cari. "Pierre owns and operates a five-star restaurant in Scottsdale," I said. "He's a world-famous chef nowadays." Pierre grinned. "Josh and I are partners in the restaurant. He owns the land and building. I'm the chef, and my wife, Grace, runs the restaurant." After Pierre returned to the kitchen, Karli asked, "Does Pierre know us, I mean who we were in our past lives." "No, only Wanda knows. I had to tell her. I love her. She is my wife." "Why isn't she eating with us?" "She wanted me to have some time with you before she intrudes." I chuckled. "She's a little nervous. She's afraid I'll abandon her for two beautiful Turkish women." "We're not women, Josh," Karli said. I let my eyes wander over her body. "You've got all the parts." She laughed. She didn't want to laugh but couldn't stop the sounds of happiness that issued from her mouth. "Would you abandon her for us?" Cari said seriously. "No, but if you wish you can join our plural marriage." Cari gasped. "You have another wife besides Wanda?" "No, but when Wanda married me, she paid her entry fee into TRES, Inc. You know it just occurred to me that legally you might still be members and share holders." I laughed. "We could drive your old London law firm bonkers trying to figure out this tangled web, Karli." Yup, I adored her laugh. She didn't fight her hilarity this time. I sipped the soup and sighed with pleasure. Karli snickered. "The same old Josh." I grinned. "Yup. Old is accurate, too." "Hah! You haven't crossed the forty threshold yet." "All but." "This soup is good!" Cari said. We ate in silence. Wanda, are you there? Yes. How's it going? Wanda asked. So far, so good. How are you?" I'm fine. Quit worrying about me. All right. Grace stepped out of the kitchen to remove the empty soup bowls and tureen. She smiled. "Did you like the soup?" "It was marvelous," Karli said. "Yummy," Cari said. "The next course is herb crusted rack of lamb with spring vegetable tartlet. Josh said you were from Turkey, so Pierre thought you'd enjoy the rack of lamb." Pierre and Grace served the lamb. "Oh, Karli, this is the best lamb I've ever tasted," Cari said. "It is good." "Tell us about you, Josh," Cari said. "Are you still painting?" "Yes. After lunch, if you wish, I'll show you some of my work." "I'd like that," Cari said. "Cari, we agreed," Karli said. "I'm reneging. I want to know. I must know." Karli pursed her lips and nodded. "I understand." I knew about their agreement. Karli had reluctantly agreed with Cari to journey to America and to the TRES compound to ask me for a favor. The agreement further stipulated that they would make their request and then leave as soon as possible. "I feel the same way, Cari. I need to know, too. It took great courage for the two of you to escape the unpleasant circumstances of your birth. It took even greater courage for you to journey here to meet with me. Karli, I know how strongly you feel about meeting anyone from an immediate past life. I must admit that I was surprised when you finally agreed with Cari to face me, and because I'm an empath, I can feel the pain and turmoil you're experiencing right now. It's nearly overwhelming." I turned to Cari. "You want the gifts of telepathy and empathy. You miss them. Correct?" "Yes, after living with the gifts, it's like being deaf and mute without them." "Will you give them to us?" Karli said. "Yes, with one condition... no, make that two conditions." "What are your conditions?" Karli asked. "One, that you commit to stay here in the compound with Wanda and me long enough for me to capture your new souls on canvas with oils; and two, grant me permission to give Wanda full telepathic and empathic capability." Karli's eyes widened. "You haven't flipped her switches?" "No. We agreed that I wouldn't flip anyone's switches without consensus among the three of us." "Let's do it, Karli," Cari said. Karli looked at me. "If this doesn't work out, you'll break my heart, Josh. All right we'll agree to your conditions." "Good, but first let's talk about the second reason that brought you here. The bond between the two of you defied death. You love each other. You love each other as Cari and Karli as deeply as you loved each other as Nicole and Sandy, maybe more, which leaves two open questions in your minds. From your thoughts, I believe you've framed the questions incorrectly. You want to know if you still love me, and if I still love you. Cari, you're an amalgamation of three lives. You loved me in your immediate past life, and that part of you still loves me. Karli, the same reasoning applies to you and me. The first part of your question should have been phrased like this. As Karli and Cari can you love me like you loved me as Sandy and Nicole? To answer your second question, yes, I still love the portions of your souls that are Nicole and Sandy. I shall love Nicole and Sandy for all the days of my life, but there's more. I've been in your minds since shortly after you were born. I know you. I know you not only as Nicole and Sandy, I also know you as Cari and Karli, and I love you. I love you as you are today as deeply as I loved Nicole and Sandy." I sighed. "Only you can answer the first part of your question. Do you, as Karli and Cari Akcan, love me?" I huffed a sardonic laugh. "I see no reason why you should. I'm a middle-aged man. I walk with a limp. My body is scarred and is starting to sag here and there. You're young and beautiful, new souls with old attachments, but new nonetheless." I smiled. "Perhaps while I try to capture your souls on canvas, you will come to know me well enough as Karli and Cari to answer your question. Either way, I will not pressure you." "You walk with a limp?" Karli said. "What happened?" Cari asked. "I went a little crazy after the airplane crashed and you left me. Wanda took care of me, fed me, forced me to drink, held me in her loving arms when I awoke terrified and screaming from nightmares. I would've died without her loving care. After I located your new incarnations, I altered my insanity. Terrorists took down your plane, took you from me, so I waged a personal war against terrorists all over the world. Come with me." They followed me to my studio. Like most everyone who entered my studio for the first time, they stopped abruptly in their tracks and gaped in awe. "Oh, Josh!" Cari exclaimed. "They're... I can't find the words." "Magnificent," Karli breathed. "I did the paintings on the south, east and west walls during my war on terror. I used painting as a cover, and rooted out terrorists everywhere. Twelve years. I waged my personal war for twelve years. I walk with a limp because I hesitated when I should have taken the enemy out without a qualm." I grinned. "I wasn't sure, Cari. I couldn't destroy the man without being positive. Y'all would've stopped loving me, stopped respecting me if I'd lost my compassion my humanity. The bullet shattered my knee. My body carries the scars of two other wounds from my war. When your memories arrived three years ago, I declared a cease-fire and limped from the dark into the light, and Wanda was still waiting for me, in truth had never left me, and I fell in love with her as deeply as I loved Nicole and Sandy, my lost wives." Karli walked to the canvas on the easel that I'd just finished. "I like this painting better," she said. "I call it Serene and Eager." Tears filled Karli's eyes. "Damn you, Josh Johnson," she muttered without looking at me. From her thoughts, she understood the references. Serene Sandy. Eager Nicole. Cari joined her sister in front of the painting. They spoke in Arabic as they held hands. God, they were beautiful. Cari turned to me. "You see me as eager?" I smiled. "I saw Nicole as eager." "Oh, Karli, he's still got it!" "Yeah, I know." They were referring to my boyish grin and what it did to them. "Come, I have welcoming gifts for you, and then we'll get you settled. The two of you can use your... ah, Sandy's house during your stay. Pierre is preparing finger foods for the evening meal. We'll dine in the party room." I grinned again. "You aren't opposed to getting nekkid, are you?" "Josh," Karli said, "we're virgins." I laughed. "Physically yes, mentally neither of you have been virgins since the onset of your memories." My expression turned serious. "Whether you leave here with your virtue intact or otherwise is your decision, Karli." I fixed my eyes on Carli's. "I know what you want, and my answer is: we'll see." She stuck out her lower lip. "Spoilsport." I laughed with utter happiness. "Come, I'll show you your welcome gifts. I will give you the gifts of telepathy and empathy in the party room tonight." "Will Wanda be joining us in the party room?" "Yes." Karli said, "We don't know, Josh. Did you have children with Wanda?" "No." "Why not?" "A man at war shouldn't have children." "Oh." We strolled from the studio to the rear of the property where I'd constructed a barn. Wanda was waiting for us there. I introduced her to Karli and Cari. Oh, Josh, they're gorgeous! she said silently. Yup. So young, she thought wistfully. In body. Their minds, their souls are older than ours, Wanda. They agreed to my condition. Would you like the gift of empathy now? No, I can wait a few hours. Give them the gifts first and then me. All right. "You have horses?" Cari said with excitement in her voice. "Yes, Arabians. The gray mare is mine. The roan gelding belongs to Wanda. Knowing about your pending arrival, I brought in six more of the finest Arabians I could find. While I paint your souls, you can ride them, get to know them, and decide which you prefer, and the horse each of you select is yours." I chuckled. "Heck, if you want, you can keep all six of them." "Oh, Josh!" Cari exclaimed and wrapped herself around me in a rousing hug. She kissed me passionately, and then twisted out of my arms and rushed from stall to stall to see each of the horses. Karli's reaction wasn't as demonstrative, but just as emotionally charged. She was thrilled with the gift and joined her sister to look at the horses. You are going to get so fucked tonight, Wanda said with a giggle. We'll see. I was referring to me, she said and then laughed out loud. Tease, I said. Yup. Will they stay with us? For a while. Their goals are still evolving. Their individual egos are still trying to cope with the memories of their past lives. They have yet to completely resolve what they've been with who they are. They're an amalgamation of their past lives, so they are mature women. But they are also teenaged girls from a foreign land with confusing adolescent hormones assaulting their bodies and minds. In a few years, they will become women of the world. Will they marry us? Yes. They will need to love me; I will need to love them. I laughed. That, my love, will not be a problem. The four of us are about to share our thoughts, emotions and sensations. We will become one with our minds and bodies. What you feel, they will feel. What they feel, you will feel. The problems will come in a few years when they want to leave the nest and spread their wings. To become all they can be. Yes. At which time we shall give them the support they'll need to achieve their goals. Yes, our support and our love. We lounged in the party room, feeding finger food to each other. The situation, the nakedness, the memories had intruded at first, but Wanda hugged them and made them feel welcome and comfortable. "Are you ready for the gifts?" I asked. "Yes," they said simultaneously. I moved into their minds, found what I was looking for and turned on their telepathic and empathic abilities. Cari, are you there? I asked. Yes! Oh, Josh, this is wonderful. I love you. Thank you! Karli, are you there? I asked. Yes. Josh, I love you. Just a moment. I wandered into Wanda's mind and opened her telepathic switch to full bore. In truth, it was almost fully open before. I'd nudged it a few times over the years. Then I pushed her empathic switch from one-quarter open to wide open. Wanda, are you there? Yes. Say hello to Cari and Karli with your thoughts. Hi Cari. Hello, Karli. I'm so happy you decided to contact Josh and ask for the gifts. A day hasn't gone by without him missing you in his head and heart. The silence nearly drove him crazy. The silence did drive me crazy, Wanda. You witnessed my insanity. Karli said, Josh, you know it took courage for me to come here, but not as much as you think. Yes, seeing you, talking with you is painful because I'm not Sandy anymore, but there's enough Sandy in me to know that what I had in my last life with you and Nicole was extraordinary. What the three of us felt for each other exceeded love. I didn't try to label the emotion that exceeded love. I only knew that the emotion existed. Like love, it was impossible to describe. It just was. I love Cari, but what I felt for her wasn't the emotion that exceeds love. Already, I can feel the emotion that exceeds love churning inside me, and not just for Cari, Josh, but for you, too. That is the gift you've given us, not telepathy and empathy. Her insight astonished me, and she smiled knowingly at me when she read my thoughts. Cari said, If you've monitored our thoughts and emotions, you know Karli and I have discussed this subject many times. I love Karli deeply, but she's right. Josh, Nicole and Sandy loved each other with a love that exceeded love. There's enough Nicole in me to know that the three of us were as close to becoming one as possible without the loss of our individual egos. Karli said, From your comments, you fear we might think you're too old for us to be interested in you. Before our arrival, we feared that we would be too young for you to be interested in us. You dispelled that notion. Well, I don't see a middle-aged man. I see Josh Johnson, the love of my last life, and the man I love in this life. Cari said, Josh, I love you. I'll always love you, and I want to be your wife in this life like I was your wife in my last life. Tears welled in my eyes. Karli chuckled. I couldn't have children with you as Sandy. I can as Karli. I want your babies, Josh. Cari said, We decided. A boy and a girl for Karli, and a boy and a girl for me - at least. For this life I don't want a Ph.D. from Harvard. I want to be a wife and mother. Karli said, When our children, yours, mine and Cari's... They will be Wanda's children, too, I said, interrupting Karli's thought. For a plural marriage to work, every member of the union must love every other member of the union. When you died, you didn't love Wanda. She wasn't loveable, not then. You will love her now. She is the most loveable woman I've ever known, and that includes Nicole and Sandy, even includes you, Cari, and you, Karli, and I love you both with all my heart. Even without the gifts, Wanda loves me with a love that exceeds love, and I love her the same way. To my great regret, my insanity, my twelve-year war, precluded children, so Wanda and I are childless. Our children, Cari and Karli, will also be her children, and she will love them as if they were her own. Cari, bless her demonstrative heart, exclaimed, "Yes!" The teenaged girl threw her arms around my wife and hugged her tightly. Wanda returned the gesture, and the embrace became passionate. "Later," I said. Cari grinned and fanned her face with her hand. "Whew!" "As I was saying," Karli said, "When our children, yours, mine, Cari's and Wanda's are old enough, we want you to give them the gifts of telepathy and empathy so they can be all they can be." I nodded. "I will give them the gifts if they're deserving." Cari said, "With three loving mothers and a doting father, how could they be otherwise." Karli laughed. "They won't be able to pull any fast ones, that's for sure, not with a human lie detector for a father, and four telepaths for parents." "Ouch!" Wanda yelled. "Damn, that hurts!" Karli said. "I felt it, too," Cari said. I chuckled. It appearsthat the three of you must learn how to control your empathic abilities. Pierre just burned his finger. ------- The End ------- Posted: 2005-03-08 Last Modified: 2006-03-16 / 12:21:32 pm ------- http://storiesonline.net/ -------