Storiesonline.net
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                                Priceless
                             by Nick Scipio

Copyright© 2003 by Nick Scipio


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Description: Ethan and Kate plan to spend Sunday together. From breakfast in bed to after-dinner cognac, it's a day filled with surprises and sex.

Codes: MF Mult safe oral
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Standard Disclaimer

This piece of fiction is intended as ADULT entertainment. It contains material of an adult, explicit, SEXUAL nature. If you are offended by sexually explicit content or language, please DO NOT read any further.

All characters in this story are fictitious; any similarity to any persons, places, individuals or situations is purely coincidental. The author does not necessarily condone or endorse any of the activities described in this story.

This story may not be reproduced in any form for profit without the written permission of the author, Nick Scipio (nick_scipio@yahoo.com). This story may be freely distributed with this disclaimer attached.

Copyright (c) 2003 Nick Scipio. All rights reserved.

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Chapter 1

Friday morning found me in my office early, a little before eight. With the holiday schedule, no one else was in yet and I was mentally going over my day. I still hadn't had time to do more than think about my upcoming date with Kate. I lamented that fact for only a moment before I began to think about Kate herself.

I ran through the events of Tuesday night in my head. I pictured her lying on the light-colored wood of her breakfast table, legs spread to accommodate my hips. In my mind, my hands roamed over her skin as she worked her inner muscles, massaging my cock.

In the real world, I felt myself stiffening, and shifted to let my dick expand.

Tuesday. Kate had ridden me to a climax, her body writhing in the throes of an orgasm as her pussy gripped me fiercely. The moonlight had gently lit her second-story master bedroom, casting a soft light on her breasts, her distended nipples so hard under my palms.

I shifted in my office chair and felt my member reach its full length.

My imagination fast-forwarded to what I wanted to do to Kate when I saw her on Sunday. I wanted to fuck her from behind, my hands on her ass, holding her in place, my hips slamming into... 

... my watch alarm. I shook off the thoughts of Kate's long back and gently flared hips, and reached to my wrist to shut off the alarm. With an inward groan, I returned my mind to business.

I had a conference call scheduled, and then I was going to let Brad Behr have the entire weekend to code. The Russians had sent him everything they could recover (which wasn't much), along with a rough translation of Stasya's notes.

I'd wanted to talk to Brad at eight in the morning, but he'd finally cajoled me into calling at eight thirty. I don't know what that extra half-hour of sleep was going to do for him, but I'd conceded the point.

Now it was time to get Brad out of bed and make sure things were set for his marathon weekend. I wanted the Russians on the line as well, just in case Brad needed anything at the last minute. The time difference between the East Coast and Moscow was the reason for the early morning call.

I put on my phone headset and dialed the number for AT&T. An operator answered quickly, and I gave him my account number and call setup information. Next, I gave him the numbers for Dima and Kolya in our Moscow office, and finally, the number for Brad Behr. The operator clicked off the line to make the calls. A few minutes later, I heard Dima speaking in Russian to someone in the background.

"Dobre dyen, Dmitri Arkadievich," I said.

"Dobre utra, Ethan Borisevich," Dima said, a smile in his voice as he remembered the time differential and wished me a good morning.

I smiled to myself as well, although for a different reason. I wondered how my father, Bruce, would like having his name transmuted into Boris for my Russian patronymic.

"How are things going, Dima?" I asked.

"Good, Ethan. Good. Kolya has the SourceSafe server restored, but we will need to..."

We heard a click as Kolya joined the conference call.

"I will let Kolya himself tell you, Ethan," Dima said.

"Previet, Nikolai Gennadievich," I said.

"Hello, Ethan," Kolya replied, sounding distracted. "Tell him about what?"

"The SourceSafe server, Kolya," Dima said.

"Oh, that! Well, it's not completely fucked, but it's close. I'll tell you that for nothing."

I could almost hear Dima wince at Kolya's blunt appraisal.

"What's the problem?" I asked reasonably.

Kolya quickly outlined--in fairly technical terms--the problems with their server. "But I can fix it," he said brightly, clearly eager for the challenge.

"That's good to hear," I said.

"Da, Ethan. It is," Dima said, smoothly cutting off Kolya. "It means that we can make the final builds here."

"Of course," I said.

He was still trying to salvage what he could for his team, and I couldn't blame him. This project was worth a lot of money to them, especially with the economy in Russia. If Dima and his team could still provide the majority of what their job parameters called for, they'd receive the majority of their fees.

I liked the Russians, and what happened had been completely unforeseen, but I still had a business to run. If they couldn't meet all the job specs, they wouldn't receive the full contract payment. Dima had a top-notch team, so I wasn't worried about them being able to complete the remainder of the project.

I looked at my watch and wondered what was keeping Brad. I decided to talk with Dima and Kolya until he joined us.

"How is Stasya doing?" I asked, changing the subject.

"Much better," Dima said. "Her fever is down to thirty-eight degrees. The doctors say she could come home in a few days, maybe a week. Perhaps, Ethan, she could pick up where she..."

"Nyet," I said, gently but firmly. "Brad will finish the networking code."

Since I hadn't talked to Stasya myself, I had no way to decide whether or not she could handle the tough deadline. She was effectively out of the picture. Besides, I thought darkly to myself, if I had to, I could fly to DC and baby-sit Brad until he got my code done.

"Da. I understand," Dima said with a sigh. "Nichivo."

Click.

"Mornin' boss," Brad said in a sleepy voice.

Speak of the devil, I thought to myself.

"I just got t' sleep a couple hours ago," he said, yawning mightily. "Tell that operator guy that if he wakes me up again, I'll post his personal info all over the gay dating sites with the nickname 'Twink4Life'."

"He might like that, Brad," I said, suppressing a laugh.

"Yeah. Whatever. I just wanna get back to sleep."

Brad was a night owl, so I wasn't worried about the fact that he wanted to get back to bed. I knew he'd be back up in a few hours, ready to work through the weekend.

"Okay," I said. "Now that we've got everyone here..."

"Minutka, Ethan," Dima said, interrupting me. "Lev is here, and will join us. He will make the builds until Stasya returns. I gave him the number to call in."

Sure enough, there was a click as Lev joined the call.

"Ethan?" Lev said. "I am here."

"Horosho, Lev," I said. "Brad, since Lev and Kolya don't speak English, let's do this in Russian. I'll translate for you."

"No problemo, boss man." He yawned again. "I wanna keep this short and sweet."

Brad started talking about the project and I began relaying information between him and the Russians. He had gotten the files from Moscow, as well as Stasya's notes. The notes, he growled, were "fucking useless tripe," but everything else was good. Stasya, like Brad, worked mostly in her head, and I could only imagine the paucity of notes that had been e-mailed to him.

During the conversation, the only problem I had was translating some of the more obscure technical details between Brad and Lev. Fortunately, most of the technical words were cognates, so Brad and Lev quickly picked up the gist of what the other was trying to say. Thank God, I thought to myself, that American software (and our jargon) dominated the programming world.

In less than half an hour, Brad had all the information he needed, with promises from Lev to send the completed COM objects and the test data they'd been using. Once the technical details were settled, Brad turned surly again, said a quick goodbye, and hung up, presumably to go back to sleep. Kolya and Lev hung up as well, but I asked Dima to stay on the line for a moment.

"Have you actually been to see Stasya?" I asked.

"Da. I saw her in hospital yesterday."

"Horosho. How is she?"

"She is much better," he said brightly. I could tell that he was putting the best spin on her condition, ever the business manager, trying to save the project for his team.

"How is she, really?" I asked.

Once he realized I wasn't buying the act, Dima sighed heavily. "She's better, Ethan. But still very weak."

"How long will she be in hospital?"

"A week, at least. Two, more likely."

I could tell that Dima was genuinely worried. He cared about his people, which made him a good manager.

"Buy her some chocolate, from me. The good stuff, too. Belgian. Or Swiss. And get her some flowers. Tell her I hope she's feeling better soon. Also, tell her I'm not upset about the project, it could've happened to anyone."

"She will appreciate that. You know she blames herself?"

"Da. I know how she is. Tell her... nichivo." I smiled when I said that, and I knew Dima could hear it in my voice. I knew a thing or two about Russian fatalism.

"Spacibo, Ethan," he said.

"You're welcome. I'll talk to you on Monday. Paka, Dima."

"Paka."

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After I hung up, I took off my headset and rubbed my eyes. I looked at my watch--a little past nine thirty--and called my assistant, Marcie.

"What's up?" she asked, sticking her head in my office.

"Please wire two hundred dollars from my personal account to Dmitri Kovalenko."

"Sure thing. Anything else?"

"Yeah. You know where I can get a really nice dress?"

"Huh?" she asked.

"I need a good dress shop. Something high end, with really nice dresses."

"Sure." She had a twinkle in her eye, and her normally cheerful expression was quickly replaced by a wry grin.

"Well?"

"I know a couple of places, actually. But I don't know if they'd have anything in your size."

"Marcie!" I felt my face heating up as my blush spread.

"Sorry, boss," she said. She didn't stop grinning, though. "Try a shop called 'Couture du Monde, ' in West Hills Centre. You know the place?"

"I know where West Hills Centre is, but I don't know the shop."

"I'm not surprised," she said. "It's actually at the corner of the two rows of shops, under the breezeway that leads to the back parking lot. Unless you know it's there, you'll miss it."

"Evidently," I said sardonically.

"You want the information or not?"

"Okay, okay. I apologize. Thanks for the advice."

"Mind if I ask what it's for?" she asked, still grinning.

"My coming out party."

She snorted derisively and then laughed. "Make sure I get an invitation to that party, boss."

"Will do, Marcie," I said with a grin. "Thanks again."

"No problem. You need anything else before I get to this wire transfer?"

"No, not really. You feel like taking the rest of the day off?" I asked her.

"With you, or by myself?" she asked.

I grinned at her and shook my head in mock sadness. "Without me."

"Only if you don't need me doing stuff here."

Marcie was serious about her job and it was one of the many things I loved about her. The fact that she put up with me was pretty important too, but I always knew I could count on her to do her job well. That was worth more than anything else.

"No, I won't need you," I said. "I've just got to make some personal calls. Tell everyone else they can knock off too. Take the rest of the afternoon and get some last-minute Christmas shopping done."

"Thanks, Ethan," she said, genuinely grateful. "I'll spread the word."

There were only four of us in the office, so giving everyone the afternoon off wasn't going to affect our business one way or the other. It was simply something nice I could do for them, so I did it. When we were on a deadline, I was sometimes an ogre to work for, but everyone knew that when we weren't killing ourselves to get a project done, I tried to be a nice boss.

"You can shear a sheep many times, but you can eat it only once," I recited to myself with a smile.

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After I talked to Marcie, I began to formulate a plan for my date with Kate. I wanted to play it safe, but I also wanted to do something she'd remember. I could simply spend money on her, but she made a good living and could spend money on herself any time. Her car, her house, her wardrobe--what I'd seen of it--and everything about her reflected this.

So I knew I wasn't going to "wow" her simply with expensive gifts. That left something truly creative or something that took my time and personal attention. I could think of something creative, but it was as likely to backfire as it was to succeed, so I decided on the time-and-personal-attention route.

I put my phone headset back on and started making calls. The first was to Kate's office. I got her receptionist and was told she was at the hospital. I gave the receptionist my name, told her it was personal, and left the numbers for both my direct office line and my cell phone.

I browsed to the Yellow Pages Online, and started looking up a few of the numbers I'd need to call. My office phone rang less than five minutes later. The Caller ID labeled the call as Private, but I knew who it was.

"Hello," I said.

"Ethan?"

"Hi, Kate. Do you have a minute?"

I could hear background noise over the phone, and then it abruptly ceased. "Sure. I was hoping you'd call."

"Oh?"

"I want to see you. I don't want to wait until Sunday."

"I don't want to wait either," I said.

"Good! You can come over..."

"But I'm not gonna," I said, mirth shading my tone. I almost laughed out loud at the silence on the other end of the phone. "Are you there?" I asked teasingly.

"I'm here. I'm just not used to being told no."

"It's character-building, Kate."

"I've got enough character," she said. "I want you."

"And I want you too." My dick was already stiffening, just at the sound of the desire in her voice.

"Soon," she said.

"Sunday."

"Sooner."

I couldn't help but grin at her tenacity, and I was suddenly glad she couldn't see me. "Trust me."

"What if I say no? What if I say I can't see you on Sunday? What if I say it's now or never?" she asked.

"Then I'll be very disappointed. If that happens, I'll just have to stay at home all day, lying in bed, and fantasize about you."

"You wouldn't," she accused.

"I wouldn't want to," I said. "But if you can't see me on Sunday..."

"Hold on there, big fella," she said. "I didn't say I couldn't see you."

I grinned and let the silence draw out.

"Okay. You win!" she exclaimed.

"Good. I like the prize."

"Oh you do, do you?!"

"Mmm hmm."

Much to my relief, she laughed lightly. "So, what are we going to do all day Sunday?" she asked.

"It's a surprise."

"What kind of surprise?"

"Haven't we already been through this before? If I told you, it wouldn't be a surprise. But that's beside the point," I said, teasing her. "I need to know what time I can pick you up. Is nine okay for you? I'll bring you breakfast."

"In bed?"

I thought back to the last time she'd enjoyed her "breakfast" in bed, and my cock stiffened completely. I shifted in my seat to ease some of the pressure. "If you're a good girl," I said.

"Oh, I'll be a very good girl."

"I bet you will." I imagined the possibilities, but quickly became serious again. "Next question: what's your schedule look like on Monday?"

"The office at seven."

"Okay. Thanks."

"That's it?" she asked.

"Yep."

"You won't tell me anything about Sunday?"

"Sure," I said. "I'll tell you the most important thing about Sunday."

"You're not serious."

"Yeah, I am."

"Okay," she said. "I'll bite. What's the most important thing about Sunday?"

"Well... ," I said, drawing the word out. I could almost hear her leaning forward, waiting to hear what I said next. "The most important thing about Sunday is... I'm really, really looking forward to spending the day with you."

"You!" Her strangled cry was incredibly rewarding.

I grinned smugly and was once again thankful she couldn't see me. "I'm serious, Kate," I said. "I really am looking forward to spending the day together."

"Mmmmm. Me too," she said.

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Once I got off the phone with Kate, I started calling around and making the arrangements for Sunday. First, I called the boutique Marcie had recommended and made sure they'd be open on Sunday. The woman who answered the phone assured me they would be open for "Christmas hours," from ten in the morning until eight in the evening.

After I hung up with the boutique, Marcie stuck her head in and told me she'd wired the money to Dmitri. Then she grinned at me.

"Hot date, Ethan?"

My ear-to-ear smile told her all she needed to know.

"I hope the young lady in question survives the experience," she said flippantly, then turned to go.

Marcie was older than me, very adventurous, and very married. She also knew more about my personal life than almost anyone in the company, except perhaps Gabriel. Since we were a small company, what she knew amounted to a whole lot. With Marcie, I also had the sexual tension two people can maintain when they know the other one could be interested, but the relationship isn't going to become anything more. She was married, and I respected that.

I'd had more than my fair share of office romances in the past, but I hadn't had one in quite a while. They're not bad, necessarily, but they're not for me anymore. When you're part owner of the company, there's a lot more at stake than just your job. My future was on the line if I decided I wanted to date women from the office. In our lawsuit-crazy society, the potential for problems was just too great. I like my future. I could find companionship outside the office.

At the moment, the companionship I was interested in, Kate, needed a few appointments made for her. Fortunately for me, it only took a few more phone calls to accomplish all I needed to. When I was done, Marcie shamelessly stuck her head back in my office. Her office is right next to mine, and since there were so few people at work, I hadn't bothered to shut my door as I made calls.

"I hope she's worth all that," she said, half serious, half teasing.

"Oh, she is, Marcie. She is."

She smiled her approval and I sighed inwardly. Marcie was the best assistant I'd ever had, and I literally could not do my job without her. She had not liked my last girlfriend, Charlotte.

Truth be told, I hadn't liked Charlotte all that much either. Not after the first few weeks, anyway. She was one of the very few fashion-model-type girlfriends I've had. She was 5'11", built like a Playmate, and turned heads wherever she went. While the sex was really good, she was suspicious, manipulative, vindictive, and petty.

I didn't need that kind of headache in my life, so we'd parted ways several months ago. I'm not a mean-spirited person, but I still chuckle whenever I remember the look on her face as I told her I was breaking up with her. I think it was a new experience for her. Like the TV ad says, some things are priceless.

Before Charlotte, there had been Veronica. Veronica had been darkly attractive and a complete firecracker. She didn't do anything in half-measures. Sex with her had always been exciting, and more than once, I'd come to work wincing as my shirt rubbed against scratches on my back. But one of the major problems between us had been sexual. She didn't like oral sex at all, giving or receiving. At first, I thought she was just inexperienced, and she might enjoy it once she'd given it a try. I was wrong. She told me, in no uncertain terms, that the idea of having "that thing" in her mouth revolted her.

I lived with it because I didn't want to seem selfish. But oral sex is pretty important to me, and as things progressed, I realized that the oral sex hang-up was only the tip of the iceberg. Veronica had some serious issues with a lot of things (honesty, as it turned out, being one of the big ones).

Finally, she'd called me at work one day and asked to stop by my house to pick up her things. Her husband--husband?!--had decided to take her back, and she was breaking up with me. It was one of the more surreal breakups I'd had, but I can't say I was all that hurt by it since I'd already decided it was time to move on.

Marcie hadn't liked Veronica either, and I was beginning to suspect that she was a fairly good barometer for my relationships. Finally, I shook off thoughts of Charlotte and Veronica, smiled to myself, and thought of Kate. If things worked out between us, Marcie would meet her sooner or later. I sincerely hoped they'd like each other. Having a girlfriend and an assistant who don't get along is not something I'd recommend for the faint of heart.

"Well, I hope you two have a good time," Marcie said, breaking my train of thought. "Everyone else has left already, and I'm headed out the door now."

"Thanks, Marcie. Have a great weekend. Say 'hi' to Darren for me."

"You too. I will," she said. With a wave, she was gone.

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I had a few things to buy before Sunday, so I checked my e-mail one last time (nothing from Brad or the Russian team, which was a good sign), shut down the few other programs I had running, and left the office.

It was the Friday before Christmas, and traffic around our building--which is near a major shopping center--was snarled. I merged into it and almost immediately regretted leaving the office. Oh well, I thought to myself, I had to get out sooner or later.

My errands took me the better part of the afternoon, but it was worth it. I bought or borrowed everything I would need for the weekend. I went over my mental list one more time and, satisfied, headed back into traffic.

Friday is one of my normal workout days, so I stopped by the gym on the way home. I prefer free weights, but without a workout partner, I was better off with the machines. An hour and a half later, I was tired, but felt immensely better. I've always enjoyed how I feel after a good, hard workout. I took a quick shower, changed back into my street clothes, and headed home.

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All day Saturday, it took every ounce of willpower I possessed to keep myself from calling Kate. I felt like I was going to my high school prom, all over again. I'd made all my plans, and waited with barely suppressed anticipation.

I tried to keep myself busy, doing things around the house. I did a little work from my home office, but I still thought of her on every occasion.

After a quick lunch, I wrapped all the presents that had arrived the week before, used the computer to print out nice gift tags, and took care of the last of my pre-Christmas shipments. Thank God for FedEx--everything should get to my far-flung family by Christmas Eve. I was planning to spend several days with my brother, Neil, and his family in North Carolina, so I merely had to take their presents with me when I drove to their house.

Once I had all my wrapping and shipping done, I called Neil's house. His wife, Dani, assured me that the kids were looking forward to my visit almost as much as they were looking forward to Santa Claus. I told her that I was still planning to arrive Tuesday evening, and she wished me a safe trip.

When I got off the phone, I settled down to watch a movie on satellite and ordered a pizza. The movie wasn't bad and neither was the pizza. I stuck the leftovers in the refrigerator for... whenever... and headed into my home office. After a desultory check of e-mail (no problems), I shut everything off and headed to bed.

Since I had a big day planned, I wanted to get to sleep early, but found I was wide awake. The anticipation made me tingle. As I stared at the ceiling, I realized I was nervous, a sure sign that I really liked Kate. I grinned to myself, rolled over, and tried once again to fall asleep. I felt like a teenager before his first big date. I got an erection just thinking about her, but I refused to jerk off.

At long last, my erection subsided and I drifted off to sleep.

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My alarm went off Sunday morning and I practically leapt out of bed. I showered and shaved, wrapped my towel around my waist, and then went through the rest of my morning routine. When I was done, I threw on a clean t-shirt and some running shorts. I took a Prada suit out of my closet, picked out shirts and ties, and hung everything together on the bathroom door. I made sure a pair of black dress shoes was shined, and set them out for later. Afterward, I dressed in a comfortable shirt and a pair of blue chinos.

Once I was dressed, I made the bed, tossed a few clothes into my hamper, and generally picked up my bedroom. I had a housekeeper to take care of the regular cleaning. She'd been to the house on Thursday, so nothing really needed to be straightened up. I took a quick walk through the house to make sure it was presentable, and found everything in order. Shortly before eight thirty, I was out the door.

On the way to Kate's house, I stopped by a bakery to pick up several fresh bagels and two small tubs of cream cheese spread, one plain and one lox. I'm not a coffee drinker, and I couldn't remember whether or not Kate had a coffee maker in her kitchen (I'd been a little occupied the last time I'd been there), so I got two bottles of orange juice.

With that, I headed toward her house. When I turned into her subdivision, I noticed that the large steel gate was retracted. In front of the tracks for the gate was a wooden arm with reflectors on it. It wouldn't stop a determined intruder like the metal gate would, but it served its purpose effectively. I pulled up and stopped.

One of the benefits of living in Northshore Terrace was 24-hour security, and the guard came out of his post, bundled to ward off the cold. I lowered my window as he approached.

"Good morning, sir. Who are you here to see today?" he asked.

"Dr. Kirilov."

He made a note on the clipboard he carried. "And her address, sir?" He was polite and well-trained, so his skepticism didn't actually extend to his expression.

I froze for a moment and wracked my brain. Her house number was 108... It was the second street on the right... Then the first cul- de-sac... I struggled to remember the name of her street. I'd been a little preoccupied the only time I'd seen the street sign and I silently cursed myself for not confirming her address when I spoke to her on Friday. Worse, I didn't even have her home phone number, so I couldn't call her and ask.

I ran through the events of Tuesday night in my mind, trying to separate the memories of Kate sucking my cock from the images I'd seen as I turned onto her street. I looked at him sheepishly and... 

"108 Lakeview Circle!" I blurted, suddenly picturing the lights of her Lexus sweeping across the reflective green-and-white of her street sign.

He suppressed a grin. "Thank you, sir. And your name?" he asked.

"Ethan Mackenzie"

"Your license plate number?"

I gave him the number and he duly noted it.

"Thank you very much, sir. Let me just get the gate for you. Have a nice day."

"You too. Thanks."

He took a step back, into the warmth of his little building, and pressed a button. The wooden barrier immediately lifted, and I started forward. I drove around to Kate's house and pulled into her driveway at nine o'clock on the nose.

I grabbed the bakery bag and hopped out of the car. I rang her doorbell and almost immediately heard movement behind her front door. When it opened, I found I was holding my breath.

"Hi," Kate said.

She looked... delicious. She was wearing a dark blue silk robe that set off her eyes, and the fabric was so fine that it left little to the imagination. Her hair was pulled up and held with a clip, and it looked like she wasn't wearing makeup. I hadn't thought it possible, but she looked better than I remembered.

"Brrrrr," she said. "It's cold out there. Are you going to come in?"

I grinned and quickly stepped into the warmth of her house. She closed the door behind me, and before I even had a chance to take off my jacket, she put her arms around my midsection and pulled me close. One hand still holding the white bakery bag, I wrapped my arms around her. She tilted her head back in an unmistakable gesture, and I leaned down to kiss her.

When her lips met mine, her tongue darted into my mouth and she pressed her body against me. The kiss heated up, and I ran my hand (the one not holding the bag) down her back. I slid my palm along her thigh and then under her robe to cup her bare ass.

She broke the kiss and giggled. "Your hands are cold!"

I grinned and stepped back. Kate, however, had other ideas. She sank to her knees in front of me and began to work on my zipper. I'd been thinking about her body, and her lips, the entire drive over, and my cock was already semi-erect. She deftly reached into my boxers and withdrew my stiffening manhood. In less than a second, she had her lips wrapped around my glans.

My head swam as she opened her mouth and swallowed more of my length. Soon, I was completely erect, and Kate had more than half my cock in her mouth. She moaned as she sucked me, while I merely watched, enraptured, as she moved her lips back and forth over my shaft.

She sucked me for a few minutes, caressing my sensitive skin with her tongue, and then pulled back. When she looked up at me, she kissed the tip of my dick with shiny red lips, and smiled. I helped her to her feet and she grasped my hard-on, squeezing gently. I pulled her close and she stroked me. When I bent my head down, she lifted her lips to meet mine, and we shared a passionate kiss.

I pulled back and she practically leered at me as she moved toward the stairs, leading me by the most obvious handle. Once in her bedroom, she had me undressed in less than a minute. Before the last of my clothes hit the floor, I stepped toward her, reaching between us for the belt of her robe.

When I seized one end of it, she grinned and backed away from me, untying the loose knot as she did. I almost chuckled when she twirled and shed the robe, leaving me holding the slack end of the belt. In the soft light filtering through her blinds, I admired her nude body.

As I walked toward her, she pulled the clip from her hair and shook out her dark tresses. She tossed the clip aside and turned, pushing me onto her unmade bed. When she straddled my hips, I ran my hands up her flanks and felt her shiver at my touch. My hands had warmed, so I knew it wasn't a chill that made her quiver.

Kate kissed me again, pressing her lips to mine and grinding her pelvis against my stomach. When she pulled back, she looked at me with hungry eyes.

"It's not nice to make me wait," she said.

I grinned shamelessly.

"You wouldn't be smiling if I'd said I had other plans."

I reached around her thighs and ran my hands down the crack of her ass. When my right hand encountered the smooth skin of her pussy, I pushed two fingers between her labia. She was already incredibly wet, and I quickly found her engorged clit.

"You don't have other plans, do you?" I asked.

I moved my finger against the pearl of nerves and she whimpered, clutching my shoulders and holding herself against me. When she didn't answer me, I gently pinched the hooded base of her clit and rubbed my ring finger along her dripping slit.

"Do you have other plans?" I moved my fingers around her clit and back over her labia, causing her to moan deep inside her chest. "Hmmm?" I asked, teasing her.

She only shook her head, her silken hair tickling my shoulder as she did.

"So you want me to stay?" I asked softly.

A nod.

"Do you want me to stop?"

A headshake.

"What do you want me to do?"

A whimper.

I grinned to myself and lay back in bed, pulling her with me. Finally, she seemed to muster some control over her limbs. She shook off her lustful stupor and slid down my body, dragging her smooth pussy over my cock and making me shudder. I felt her kneel between my legs and take my erection back into her mouth.

She put her hands on my thighs and lowered her lips over my shaft, taking me as deep as she could. I felt the ring of muscle at the back of her throat grip me as she swallowed, and I groaned in pleasure at the sensation. She pulled her lips off me, kissed down one side of my shaft and then back up the other.

I heard her fumble at the nightstand, and knew she was reaching for a condom. Her lips briefly left my cock, and I felt her roll the latex sheath over my length. I looked down my torso and watched her climb onto my hips and hover over me, reaching down to aim my dick at her opening. Without preamble, she settled onto my manhood, sighing as I filled her.

I put my hands on her hips and she gripped my arms. Her shiny hair formed a veil around her face as she looked down at me with lust-glazed eyes. I smiled up at her and clenched my PC muscle, making my cock swell within her. She closed her eyes in ecstasy and began to ride me.

As she moved her hips over me, I slid my hands up her torso and cupped her breasts, gently rolling her nipples between my fingers. She moaned and I began to tug on them, twisting and pulling as her arousal mounted.

I've rarely seen a more beautiful sight than Kate, flushed with excitement, gently grinding her hips and pressing her clit against me. Her breath began to whistle through her nostrils as she closed her eyes and concentrated on her orgasm. I continued to pull on her nipples, driving her toward her climax.

I felt a rush of moisture around the base of my cock and her pussy clutched at me. She stopped moving and shuddered, collapsing against my chest, her orgasm crashing over her in a wave. I gripped her ass cheeks and clenched my PC muscle again, making my cock swell and press against her inner muscles. I did it several times in a row, and she moaned, still in the throes of ecstasy.

When her orgasm subsided, she gripped my shoulders fiercely and laid her head on my chest, breathing heavily. I lowered my hips a little and began to thrust into her slowly. Kate trembled, and I knew she was very close to a second release. With short thrusts, I stabbed into her. When my cock swelled with my own climax, she joined me.

Her vaginal muscles clamped down on me and arrested the flow of semen. I gritted my teeth and groaned at the sensation, then clamped my eyes shut as the pressure built. When it released, and I once again began spurting into the condom, I cried out and tried to thrust myself deeper inside her.

Finally, my spurting slowed to a few gushes, and I lowered my hips and relaxed my muscles. We panted from the force of our orgasms and I felt her body go limp. I hugged her to me and reveled in the feeling of her pussy gripping my tumescent cock.

-------

After we cleaned up a bit, I retrieved the bakery bag. Still nude, we sat in the middle of her bed like sybarites and ate our breakfast. I was ravenously hungry, and practically wolfed down my bagel (with lox spread), washing it down with orange juice. Kate was much more composed as she nibbled at her bagel--tearing off pieces and putting them in her mouth--but we were both infectiously grinning at each other the whole time.

"So," she asked. "What's the plan for today."

"You are relentless, aren't you?"

"Yep," she said with a smug grin.

"Well, as much as I hate keeping you in the dark," I said, practically dripping irony, "I want to keep some of today as a surprise. Let's just say that I've got an 'all about Kate' day planned."

She raised her eyebrows, clearly wanting more information.

"I will tell you we've got reservations for dinner at Marie- Claire's, and the rest of the day is geared toward that."

Marie-Claire's was a four-star French restaurant downtown. It was built in the cellar of an old cooperage, and had a tasteful ambiance, reminiscent of Paris. A few other restaurants in town had more cachet, or higher prices, but none had better cuisine.

I was friends with the owner and executive chef, Marie-Claire herself, and had been since I dated her younger sister, Arianne. Arianne was now married, and we had an easy, friendly relationship. Marie-Claire and I had always gotten along well, and we still talked occasionally.

When I called the restaurant on Friday, I spoke to Marie-Claire, and she reserved a private room for Kate and me. The restaurant had excellent food, top notch service, and an atmosphere of intimacy, so most of the tables were usually booked well in advance. But I knew they always tried to keep a few tables open for important guests and VIPs. I certainly wasn't a VIP, but being friends with the owner always has its advantages.

Kate raised her eyebrows appreciatively. "You got reservations on such short notice?"

I shrugged, in truly Gallic fashion, and smiled coyly.

"Okay," she asked, her eyes shining, "what else do you have planned? Or were you just going to wine and dine me, and then try to get into my panties?"

The fact that we were sitting in the middle of her bed--still nude and with the aroma of sex lingering in the air--was too much for me, and I laughed richly. Kate smirked and arched an eyebrow.

"Actually," I said. "I was hoping you might forego the panties."

Both eyebrows went up.

"It'll make my job easier," I said, as earnestly as I could.

It was her turn to laugh. When she stopped, she moved the bakery bag aside, careful lest she spill any crumbs, and scooted toward me. She hooked her legs over my thighs and slid forward until her smooth pussy was nearly touching my dick. I put my hands on her hips and she wrapped her arms around my neck, pulling me down to her. We kissed, gently at first, but with increasing enthusiasm. When she pulled back, she stared at me with unfocused eyes.

"I knew you'd be a good kisser," she said softly, and leaned back in.

I pulled her closer to me, pressing my limp member against her sex, and our kiss intensified. Her nipples pressed into my abdomen, and I put my hands against the small of her back, holding her against me.

We stayed like that for a long time, teasing and tasting each other with lips and tongues. I let my hands roam freely over her toned body, tantalizing her with my caresses.

I pulled back from her, and she nipped at my lower lip. I leaned forward and kissed her again, but then broke the kiss.

"We've got a big day planned," I said. "We need to get going." It was already after ten o'clock.

"You're still not going to tell me what you've got planned?"

"Nope. You'll see."



-------

Chapter 2

After our morning together, Kate wanted to take a shower. I joined her, but we kept things quick and playful. While she dried her hair, I picked up the remains of our breakfast and made her bed for her. When I came back to the bathroom, I borrowed her antiperspirant (strange as it may seem, over the years, I've come to enjoy the scent of Secret).

"What should I wear?" Kate asked as I was getting dressed.

"Something comfortable."

She nodded and went to her dresser. She pulled out a matching cream-colored bra and panty set, a pair of jeans, and a turtle- neck sweater. I grinned at her as she put on the thong panties, and she smiled archly in return, clearly enjoying teasing me. She pulled her hair back in a ponytail with a scrunchie. Then she went back to the bathroom and applied her make-up.

I'd noticed that Kate--much to my pleasure--was one of those lucky women who looked even better in the morning, before the make-up. Cosmetics enhanced her natural beauty, and when she emerged from the bathroom, I was momentarily speechless. She actually blushed when she saw my expression.

She finished dressing while I retrieved my discarded jacket from the floor and draped it over my right arm. I extended my left arm to her, and she looped hers through it.

"Listen," I said, turning to her at the top of the stairs, "I really don't want to seem presumptuous, but have you got an overnight bag you can pack?"

She arched an eyebrow at me. "So you expect to get lucky tonight?"

I blushed and shook my head. "I'm just hoping." I held my breath anxiously. Although we'd already had sex once today, I didn't want to seem like I was taking her for granted. With any woman, that's never a good idea. With Kate, I suspected it would be a disaster.

"Good answer," she said.

I tried to unobtrusively expel my held breath.

"I keep one in the car."

I looked at her inquisitively.

"I use it when I'm at the hospital for more than ten or twelve hours."

"Ah. That makes sense."

"Or, if I meet the right guy," she said coquettishly.

I grinned and followed her down the stairs. Once on the main floor, I slipped into my jacket and helped Kate don hers. She headed for the garage, and when I didn't immediately follow her, she looked at me expectantly.

"I'll drive," I said.

"Okay," she said, drawing the word out.

She retrieved a Louis Vuitton bag from the trunk of her car and walked back toward me.

"Whose Jeep is that?" I asked, nodding toward the Cherokee parked next to her Lexus. "You don't have a roommate, do you?"

She shook her head and smiled. "It's my other car," she said. "For when I want to tow something, or feel like heading into the mountains."

"Ah. I understand."

She closed the door to the garage and put her car keys back in her purse. I stepped aside, gesturing for her to precede me. In a moment, we were in my Rover, headed for the front gate.

Once on Northshore, I drove toward the interstate, and from there, to West Hills Centre. It was near enough to a major mall that traffic was thick with holiday shoppers.

"Oh!" I blurted, suddenly remembering. "I was going to call you this morning, but..."

"You only have my office number," Kate said, finishing my thought.

"Yeah. You ready to swap digits?"

"Where are you going to put your digits?" she asked mischievously.

"Hmmm," I mused, waggling my fingers. "Where would you like them?" I leaned toward her, with only half my attention on the stop-and-go traffic.

"In my phone," she said with a smile.

I gave her my three main phone numbers and she stored them in her phone. I took out my own cell phone and programmed her home and cell phone numbers, memorizing them as I did.

Finally, traffic started moving again, and I turned toward the dress shop. Surprisingly, there weren't many people in the shopping center. I suspected that the Mall may have drawn off most of the early shoppers.

We parked, and Kate looked at me eagerly as we walked toward the boutique. I smiled placidly as she tried to speed up our pace. When she figured out which shop was our goal, I let her get a little ahead of me, so I could admire her long legs and tight ass as she walked.

Finally, she slowed, turned around, and gave me a "will you please hurry up" look. I grinned at her impatience and caught up with her.

"Do you think I need to update my wardrobe?" Kate asked, teasing me.

"No," I said. "I just thought you'd like a special dress for tonight."

"For tonight?"

"Uh-huh. For the restaurant."

"And for after the restaurant?"

I pulled her close and she blinked with feigned innocence. "I don't think you're going to need the dress after the restaurant," I said.

She looked at me, batted her eyelashes, and did her best Scarlett O'Hara imitation. "Then whatever will I wear?" she drawled.

"A smile," I said.

She laughed, tucked her arm through mine, and turned us toward Couture du Monde. As we neared the shop, I could see why Marcie had said it was easy to miss. The strip mall had two major rows of stores, and where they came together, in an "L" shape, there was a breezeway that led to a rear parking lot for the employees. The dress boutique was tucked into the breezeway itself and was difficult to see. So it was no surprise that when we entered, there were no other patrons in the store.

An attractive sales clerk looked up as the door chimed, then came out from behind the counter. She was perhaps 5'6", and her auburn hair set off stunning green eyes. I made sure to keep my libido in check as she walked toward us.

"Hello. Bonjour. Welcome to Couture du Monde," she said.

Her French accent was actually quite good--the French "R" is very difficult for most Americans to pronounce, but she managed it well. I also liked the touch she added, greeting us with "bonjour."

"Can I help you with anything today?" she asked.

"Yes," Kate and I said at the same time.

We looked at each other and both smiled, then I continued. "We need a nice cocktail dress. Something less than black tie, but more than dinner party."

"Certainly, sir."

She was about to turn to Kate when she did a double-take and looked back at me. Kate looked at me as well, clearly curious about what had drawn the other woman's attention.

"Ethan?" the redhead asked.

She knew me? I frantically searched my memory for where I might have met her, but drew a blank. I'd never dated her and I wasn't much for one-night stands, so I was pretty sure I hadn't slept with her (wouldn't that be embarrassing!). But I was still at a loss for how she knew my name.

"You don't remember me, do you?" she asked.

Kate arched an eyebrow at me and tried--unsuccessfully--to suppress a wry smile.

"No, I'm sorry, I don't. Where did we meet?" I asked, inwardly cringing at the possible answers.

She laughed musically, but I remained on tenterhooks.

"We've never actually met," she said, easing my conscience a little.

I smiled tightly at Kate.

"Actually," the redhead said, picking at some invisible lint on her blazer, "I'm not surprised you don't recognize me. I've changed a lot since the last time you might have seen me."

"Oh? When was that?"

She chuckled and smiled at Kate. I began to get nervous again.

"You were a year ahead of me in the MBA program at the University."

"Oh," I said, finally breathing a silent sigh of relief.

"And I look very... different," the redhead said. "I'm sorry, I should introduce myself. I'm Renee Beaumont."

She held out her hand and I shook it. As I released it, she immediately turned to Kate and extended her hand again. Kate shook it and smiled at me.

"Renee, this is Kate. She's my... date... for the evening," I said, choosing the most politic word I could think of.

"Excellent," Renee said, then turned to Kate. She looked Kate over and then nodded. "Size 4?"

"It depends," Kate said smoothly, still grinning at me. "A size 4 is usually too tight in the bust and too loose at the waist."

"Well," Renee said brightly. "Let's see what we can find that works with both."

Renee and Kate headed toward the back of the store and I ambled after them, simply looking around. The changing rooms were set into the side wall, around a little dogleg in the store. Where they were situated, they were out of sight of the store's front windows, so customers would have a little privacy even when they weren't in the rooms themselves. There were also several comfortable-looking chairs at the periphery of the open area in front of the rooms, with large mirrors adorning the walls.

Kate grinned at me as she and Renee began talking about designers. I stood out of the way and idly listened while they chatted. They talked about Calvin Kline, Vera Wang, Dolce & Gabbana, and a number of names I didn't recognize. While they were talking, Renee was busily looking through racks of cocktail dresses. Kate picked out a few as well, and they soon had more than a dozen for her to try on.

Kate took about half the dresses they'd picked out, stepped into one of the changing rooms, and shut the door behind her. When she emerged, she was wearing a tight white beaded dress. It was so tight I could easily see the outline of her nipples. It was also so short I knew that if she so much as raised her arms, I'd catch a glimpse of more than just her upper thighs. The white fabric showed off her tanned skin and dark hair, but we all agreed the dress was scandalously short.

The next dress was a low-slung red cocktail dress that was completely backless. Unfortunately, it was too big on her. We discovered this when she bent over to smooth the hem and not one but both her breasts slipped free. Kate seemed unfazed, and grinned brazenly at me when she saw the bulge forming at my crotch.

The third dress was deep cobalt blue, with a sheer top and a low waist. Kate looked stunning, and it picked out the color of her eyes perfectly. I could easily see right through the bodice of the dress, and while I certainly enjoyed the view, we decided something a bit more modest was in order. Kate returned to the changing room, but not before taking an opportunity to graze her hand against my burgeoning erection.

When she emerged from the little room, she was wearing a classic Little Black Dress. This one made her look stunning. It was so tight I could actually see she was no longer wearing her thong panties. The thought of her wearing nothing but the thin fabric of the dress thrilled me. The sultry look she gave me made my penis quickly reach full erection. But Kate wasn't comfortable in the dress and retreated to the changing room.

The next dress was a silvery sheath with thin metal-like straps holding it up. As soon as Kate stepped out of the changing room, one of the straps broke. The entire bodice flopped forward, baring her breasts. Renee blushed, but I noticed that she didn't avert her eyes. Kate noticed as well, and boldly moved toward the other woman to have the strap re-fastened.

I tried to unobtrusively shift my erection, but Kate noticed the maneuver and smiled at my predicament. Renee saw Kate's gaze and followed it, blushing as her eyes fell on my crotch and obvious hard-on.

By now, Kate had exhausted the supply of dresses she had taken into the changing room. Renee moved into the room, gathered up the dresses, and neatly laid them atop one of the racks. She appeared ready to wait for Kate to enter the dressing room to remove the silvery dress, but Kate had other ideas.

"Do you mind if I just... ?" Kate asked, reaching up to slip the straps off her shoulders.

"No, go right ahead," Renee said. "It won't bother me a bit."

Kate smiled, and a surreal scene began to unfold. As Kate slipped the dress down her torso and then over her hips--revealing that she was nude underneath--Renee watched Kate. I watched Renee watching Kate. As my eyes slid back to Kate, I realized she had been watching me. I grinned at her and she winked. Renee just blushed at our antics, but she didn't look away from either Kate's nudity or my painfully obvious erection.

After she hung up the dress Kate had just removed, Renee said, "Excuse me a moment."

Kate and I shared a curious look as Renee walked around the corner and headed toward the front of the store. When she returned, she smiled shyly.

"I locked the doors and put up the 'Closed' sign," she said, by way of explanation.

After that, Kate didn't even bother to use the changing room. She simply stood in front of the full-length mirror and tried on the remaining dresses. Both Renee and I admired her body as she did.

Kate is one of the few women I've ever dated who looked as good out of clothes as she did in them. Most women--most people, for that matter--have little imperfections that clothing hides. I certainly had more than my fair share. Kate had them as well, but on her, they enhanced the total effect. She looked stunning, whether she was standing au naturel or in a slinky cocktail dress.

Judging by Renee's body language, she agreed with me. I grinned to myself as I noticed that her breathing had become a little more ragged and she was flushed with desire. Kate noticed as well, and she shamelessly encouraged the attention. At every opportunity, she would bend over to retrieve something she'd "accidentally" dropped. Or she would cup her breasts, presumably to make sure they looked good in whatever dress she had on. She lingered longer and longer between taking off one dress and putting on another.

Kate was also teasing me with smoldering looks, not-so-innocent caresses, and a number of other subtle tactics. By the time she tried on the last dress she'd picked out, I was ready to burst. Renee couldn't keep her eyes off of either Kate's body or my erection. The sexual tension was nearly palpable.

Finally, Kate and Renee whittled the choices down to three: a skintight backless beaded dress from Calvin Kline; a smoky grey, translucent silk dress by Vera Wang, which included a sheer grey wrap; and a shimmering gold Moschino dress that hugged Kate's hips and had a plunging neckline.

"They're all so beautiful," Kate said. "How should I decide?"

She made a show of pondering the question, but I knew her well enough by now to realize she was up to something. She got an ingenious look on her face and practically beamed at me.

"I know," she said, snapping her fingers. "We'll let Ethan decide."

She grinned mischievously, and I began to worry. She walked toward me, still completely nude, while Renee watched raptly. Kate pressed her body against me and I felt her hand reaching for my fly. I half-heartedly tried to stop her, but she inexorably lowered my zipper and then carefully extracted my erection.

When she wrapped her cool fingers around my length, I locked eyes with her. My look was full of questions, but Kate merely smirked. Out of my peripheral vision, I could see Renee shifting nervously.

"Would you mind helping me, Renee?" Kate asked, looking over her shoulder at the other woman.

Renee gulped, but nodded.

Kate reached back and with a gesture, drew Renee forward. When she was close enough for Kate to take her hand, she did so, pulling her closer. Renee saw my erection and licked her lips. Then she looked me in the eye. I could tell she was very aroused, but I also wondered how far she was willing to go. Kate pulled Renee forward and placed her hand on my rigid shaft. We both started at the touch, but Renee gripped me firmly.

"Now," Kate said. "I'll try on the dresses, and we'll buy the one Ethan likes best, the one that makes him the hardest. Okay?"

I shook my head in wonder and smiled at Kate. She gave me a lustful look and we both turned to regard Renee. Her hand fluttered on my erection, but she slowly nodded in agreement.

Kate proceeded to try on the black Calvin Kline. She looked fantastic, and teased me mercilessly. She showed off her body, and I paid close attention while she ensured that the dress fit securely.

Renee began to slowly stroke my erection and then moved very close to me. Neither action escaped Kate's notice. Kate slipped off the dress, once again making a big show of things. When she was nude, she pirouetted and mischievously winked at me. Renee used her thumb to capture a drop of pre-come and rubbed it over my glans. I took a deep breath and tried not to groan.

Next, Kate put on the Moschino dress. The neckline dropped well below her breasts, and when she moved, I could almost see her nipples. The gold dress hugged her hips and flat stomach, and accentuated the length of her legs. She twirled in front of us, and Renee gripped my cock tightly. I could tell by her breathing that she was getting more and more aroused. As she did, she began to stroke me faster.

Kate slipped out of the Moschino dress and began to don the grey Vera Wang. When she slipped it over her head and shoulders, I was rendered speechless. The dress itself was translucent, and if I looked closely, I could clearly see her nipples. The silk fabric clung to her every curve, and the diaphanous wrap covered--but did not conceal--her upper chest and shoulders, adding to the allure. It had been my favorite when she first put it on, and seeing it again only strengthened my opinion.

I clenched my PC muscle, and my cock swelled in Renee's hand. She was so startled, she nearly jumped away from me.

"He likes this one?" Kate asked, her voice sultry.

Renee nodded quickly and Kate grinned at me as she walked toward us. Renee blushed, but didn't relinquish her hold on me. Kate sidled up to Renee and rested her hand on the other woman's hip. I put my right arm around Kate as she moved closer to me. At a gesture from Kate, I put my left arm around Renee.

I felt Kate's fingers wrap themselves around Renee's and the two of them begin to firmly stroke my cock. I hugged both women to me and enjoyed the sensation as my hands roamed freely over two shapely hips.

Kate leaned over and whispered in Renee's ear, and I felt their hands squeeze my cock. I watched Renee's face as she listened to Kate. Her eyes widened, her lips pursed, and she looked a little anxious. Renee finally nodded. Kate spoke to her a moment longer. Renee began to smile and then unconsciously licked her lips. When Kate pulled back, Renee looked at her questioningly. Kate nodded and Renee's smile grew wider.

"I always wanted to, but... ," Renee said.

"Now's your chance," Kate replied.

I looked from one woman to the other, but they were intent upon each other.

"Are you sure?" Renee asked.

Kate nodded firmly and Renee licked her lips again.

"You mind telling me what's up?" I asked, as gamely as I could.

"You'll see," Kate said.

I looked to Renee, but she was already sinking to her knees. I turned back to Kate. Just as we made eye contact, Renee clamped her lips over my cock and swirled her tongue around the head. I closed my eyes and groaned. My arousal had been built to a fevered pitch by Kate's teasing and Renee's fondling--I nearly shot off as soon as Renee's lips touched me.

When I opened my eyes, Kate was looking at me and grinning ear- to-ear. I pulled her close and bent to kiss her. I groaned as Renee inhaled nearly half my length and clamped her lips around my shaft. Kate's tongue darted into my mouth as she grabbed my ass and squeezed.

Renee started bobbing back and forth on my cock, moaning and whimpering as she did. Kate sucked my tongue into her mouth and playfully nipped it with her teeth. I groaned as Renee lunged forward and took nearly all my shaft into her mouth. I grunted as the head of my cock slipped into her throat. Renee clamped her lips around the base of my shaft and then tried to swallow another inch. She moaned around my girth, and I felt her tongue move along the underside of my erection.

Kate pulled back and captured my lower lip with her teeth. When she released it, she began to kiss down my chin and neck, adding little love bites as she progressed lower. Renee dragged her lips back over my length, and I groaned, as much from Renee's mouth as Kate's kisses. When Renee reached the tip of my cock, she locked her lips around the ridge of my crown and flicked her tongue against the sensitive underside. I groaned again and she quickly repeated the motion.

Renee insinuated a hand between Kate and me, and grabbed my hips. She pulled me forward and swallowed my erection. Kate concentrated on my neck and throat, and I grunted in pleasure as the two women worked on me.

Renee made sucking and slurping noises as she happily fellated me, and she quickly brought me to the point of no return. Kate sensed my impending orgasm and I felt her move her right hand from my chest. I looked down as she put it on the back of Renee's head and began directing the other woman's motions. For her part, Renee needed little direction as she moved her lips over my shaft and worked me with her tongue.

As I groaned with my release, Kate held Renee's head, keeping my cock buried in her throat. Renee's hands gripped my hips and held me in place as I spewed hot come into her mouth. I clamped my eyes shut and nearly passed out from the feeling as the convulsive ring of muscles at the back of her throat gripped me every time she swallowed.

When my orgasm finally subsided, I slumped back against a rack of clothes, letting it support my weight. Renee moaned as she hungrily cleaned my cock, making sure she bathed every square inch with her lips and tongue. I finally opened my eyes to find Kate grinning at me, her eyes twinkling. I smiled weakly and she rose on tiptoe to kiss me.

Renee sucked me until my head simply became too sensitive and my cock began to deflate in self-defense. When it did, she sat back on her heels and took a deep breath.

"God," she said, panting lightly. "I always wanted to do that."

Kate merely grinned at me. Renee looked up at us and daintily wiped the corners of her mouth with her fingers. When her eyes met mine, she smiled broadly. She looked at Kate and it seemed like an entire conversation passed between them. Finally, reluctantly, Renee kissed the tip of my shrinking penis and gently tucked me back in my boxers. She zipped me up and I extended my hand to help her stand.

Once she was on her feet, Kate leaned over and the two women kissed deeply. I could tell Kate was enjoying the lingering flavor of my semen. Renee seemed to be getting into the kiss as well. When they separated, Renee looked at me bashfully, but Kate practically preened.

"I've never done anything like that before," Renee said in wonder.

"You looked like you knew what you were doing," Kate said.

I almost laughed out loud.

"No. Not the blowjob," Renee said. She quickly realized Kate was teasing her, and grinned sheepishly. "You know what I mean."

Kate nodded. "We'll have to do it again sometime," she said.

Renee nodded enthusiastically.

"Someplace where he can take care of us too," Kate said.

"Absolutely," Renee agreed.

I was still a little taken aback, so I wisely kept my mouth shut.

"So," Kate said, stepping away from us and twirling. "You like the dress?" She was looking at Renee.

Renee appraised her critically and then nodded.

"And we know Ethan likes it," Kate said, nodding in my direction.

Renee blushed and smiled.

"So, let's get some accessories," Kate said.

Renee nodded. I was clearly superfluous for the moment. The two women threaded their way toward the far corner of the store and were soon lost in conversation.

-------

They returned perhaps fifteen minutes later. Kate carried a silk clutch purse that was a near-perfect match for her dress. She then carefully removed the grey dress and wrap. She had left her street clothes in the changing room, and while she changed back into them, Renee re-hung the dresses Kate had considered but declined. Finally, she neatly hung the grey Vera Wang and took it toward the register.

The entire time Renee was doing all this, she and I exchanged several glances. When our eyes met, she would grin abashedly and blush. Kate emerged from the changing room and saw the two of us grinning. She arched her eyebrows at me and I tried to look innocent. Kate wasn't buying it. She chuckled wryly, took my arm, and we threaded our way toward the register.

At the front of the store, Renee unlocked the doors and slid the Open/Closed sign to "Open." She walked behind the counter, and we had an awkward moment when all three of us looked at each other. What do you say after something like that? Thanks for the blowjob? I wisely decided against it.

"So," I said to Renee. "What have you been doing since business school?"

She smiled and gestured at the store. I mentally kicked myself.

"Ah, very nice. How long have you been open?"

"About two years now."

"Really?" I asked, trying not to sound as incredulous as I was. I'd literally never heard of the store until Marcie mentioned it to me.

Renee nodded, much more comfortable once we were on a safer topic. "Actually, after school, I went to New York City and worked on Seventh Avenue for several years. After that, I came back home and opened Couture du Monde."

"And how's business?" I asked.

Renee leaned close. "Very good."

I raised my eyebrows and she nodded. She finished ringing up the dress and the purse, and Kate reached into her purse for her wallet. I stopped her with a gesture and reached for my back pocket.

"Are you sure?" Kate asked me skeptically. "Do you know how much that dress costs?"

I shook my head and Kate giggled.

"Tell him," Kate said to Renee.

Renee merely smiled, looked at me, and pursed her lips with amusement. "The total comes to $1852.58. With tax, of course."

"Of course," I replied blithely. To my credit, I didn't bat an eye. I pulled out my wallet and handed her my American Express. Thank God for no pre-set spending limit, I thought. "I see why the shop is doing so well," I said out loud.

"We have an exclusive clientele," Renee answered smoothly. "Mostly women who know what they like, and, of course, can afford it."

"Or men who know what they like their women to wear," I said with a grin.

Kate elbowed me in the ribs and playfully glowered at me. "It was your idea to bring me here, big fella."

"And I'm glad I did," I said.

Kate and Renee merely looked at each other and then giggled simultaneously.

As I signed the credit card receipt, Kate picked up one of the business cards for the store. She tucked it into my pants pocket and patted it affectionately.

"Take care of that," she said with a grin. "We're going to need it."

Renee blushed, but her eyes twinkled as she nodded. When she came around the side of the sales counter, she handed me the dress bag.

"It was great seeing you again, Ethan," she said. "And a pleasure meeting you, Kate."

"A pleasure indeed," Kate said.

Kate leaned toward her, and they kissed European style, once on each cheek. Renee turned to me and repeated the gesture. Her cheek lingered against mine for a moment, but not long enough to be flagrant. She looked into my eyes and then turned to smile at Kate.

"I hope you enjoy your evening. You'll look stunning," she said to Kate.

Kate thanked her graciously.

Behind us, the door chime sounded, and we all shared a conspiratorial grin. With that, Kate and I turned to leave while Renee went to help the mother and teenaged daughter who had just entered.

"Where to next?" Kate asked as we headed toward the Rover.

"Shoes," I said.

"Shoes?"

I nodded. "You can't get a beautiful new dress and not get shoes, too."

Kate nodded in appreciation and grinned at me as we got into the Rover.

-------

The shoe store was several miles further from the congestion of the large mall. I hadn't needed to ask Marcie where to find a high-end shoe store. I actually knew of several, but had chosen this one because it was close to the dress shop. When we pulled into the parking lot, Kate looked at me quizzically.

"How is it you know so much about shopping for dresses and shoes?" she asked.

I shrugged. "I guess I pay attention to the women in my life."

"Women?"

"Women," I said flatly. "There are many women in my life, most of them friends. But there's only one special woman at a time."

"So, am I your 'special woman'?"

So early in our relationship and I'm already on thin ice! "That depends," I hedged.

"On what?"

"On whether or not you want to be."

"Do you buy shoes for the other women in your life, or just the special ones?"

I could tell she was teasing me, but there was also a kernel of genuine curiosity in her question. "Only the special ones," I said.

"In that case, I guess I'll be your special woman."

I breathed a sigh of relief at having made it through that conversational minefield.

"For now," she added with a grin.

I grinned as well, and we both opened our doors. I opened the back door and retrieved the dress bag. We'd need it if we wanted to find shoes to match. Kate gave me an approving look as I carried it around the front of the Rover and then opened the shop door for her.

Once inside, a fashionably dressed young man helped us. I noticed him looking me over, and quickly figured out he was gay. I think Kate was more disappointed than I was. I suppose she was looking forward to a little teasing, to keep me on my toes.

Kate tried on shoes for thirty minutes before she found a pair she really liked. They were dark grey suede pumps with three-inch heels. When the young salesman fetched her size and put them on her feet, Kate smiled like a schoolgirl. She got up and walked around the store, using the mirrors to see how they looked.

The salesman covertly glanced at my left hand. Upon seeing no wedding band, he leaned toward me.

"Your sister?" he asked hopefully.

"Sorry, Patrick," I said, reading his name tag. "I'm pretty hetero."

He looked at me, as if to say "are you sure?"

I smiled at him genially and nodded. "Yeah," I said. "I'm sure."

He sighed wistfully. "The best ones always are."

I chuckled under my breath as he walked over to see if Kate wanted to keep looking. When she didn't, Patrick boxed the shoes for us and rang them up. I knew what to expect to pay for Italian suede shoes, so I wasn't surprised when he told me the total, $325.80. Once again, I put it on my AmEx. Poor Patrick gave me another hopeful look as we turned to leave, but I merely smiled and thanked him.

"What was that about?" Kate asked as I hung the dress in the back and put the shoebox on the seat.

"He was hitting on me," I said casually.

"That doesn't bother you?" she asked. She sounded dubious.

"Why should it?"

"I don't know. Most guys would get bent out of shape if another guy hit on them."

"Yeah, well, I'm not like most guys," I said.

"So I've noticed. It really doesn't bother you?"

"Not at all. I mean, I know I'm not gay. Him hitting on me isn't going to make me gay, so why worry about it? He thought I was attractive enough to hit on me. That's flattering, no matter who's doing it, a woman or a man. Besides," I said, referring to her and Renee, "it doesn't seem to bother you."

"But that's different," she said.

"Does it bother you that it doesn't bother me?"

"No," she said reflectively. "I guess it doesn't. I just figured you'd be the macho-man type and get belligerent."

"I'm full of surprises," I said.

She nodded thoughtfully. "Speaking of which," she said suddenly. "Where to next?"

"It's a surprise," I said, grinning from ear to ear.

Kate tried not to grin, but ultimately succumbed.

She was going to enjoy what I had planned next, and I enjoyed her anticipation. With a smile, I turned onto the main road.



-------

Chapter 3

After our morning spent at the dress boutique and shoe store, we had about forty-five minutes to kill before our afternoon plans. I decided it was probably a good idea to get a bite to eat, so I drove toward an out-of-the-way Italian bistro with excellent food. One of the benefits of hanging out with Gabriel--who's a very knowledgeable gourmet--was that I knew where all the best restaurants were.

Neither Kate nor I were all that hungry, so we shared a hand-made stromboli. All through lunch, she pressed me for where we were going next, but I steadfastly refused to give her any details. She began to get a little testy, so I took her hands in my own and looked into her eyes.

"Do you trust me?" I asked.

"What's that got to do with it?" Her eyes glittered dangerously.

"Everything. So, do you trust me?"

She bristled.

"You've been a great sport all day," I said quickly, realizing that a little soothing was in order. "You've got a great new pair of shoes."

She smiled tightly.

"You've got a new dress that makes me hard just thinking about you wearing it."

She warmed a little and smiled at the memory of our dress boutique exploits.

"And the day started with breakfast in bed," I said.

"Well," she said with a smile, "it didn't start with breakfast in bed. But we got to it eventually."

"Mmm hmm," I said, nodding. "Are you having a good time?"

She looked at me seriously and then nodded.

"So," I asked, "do you trust me to plan something you'll enjoy?"

She reluctantly smiled. "Yes, I guess I do. I just don't like not knowing what we're doing next."

You don't like not being in control,  I thought. I understood completely. "Well," I said, looking at my watch, "you're about to find out."

She perked up considerably.

"You have an appointment in," I looked at my watch again, "sixteen minutes."

Kate was out of her chair like a shot, and stood waiting for me as I leisurely paid our bill and left a tip. When we walked back out to the Rover, I strolled, and Kate gave me another of her "will you please hurry up" looks. I grinned at her and hit the key fob to unlock the car doors.

Fortunately for me, we were only a few minutes' drive from our next stop, and when we pulled into the salon parking lot, Kate beamed at me. Her look was full of questions, but I merely got out of the car and waited for her to follow suit.

I knew of a few high-end salons and each of them offered a comprehensive list of services. This was where I normally had my hair cut. I still had a full head of hair--while my younger brother was nearly bald--and I suppose it was one of my few vanities.

When I'd called on Friday, they assured me that during the Christmas season, they were open until nine in the evening, even on Sunday. I supposed it was because of their upscale clientele and all the usual holiday parties. We stepped into the salon and a young woman in her late teens greeted us.

"We have a three o'clock appointment under the name Kirilov." I spelled Kate's last name.

The young woman consulted her computer screen and then nodded. "Of course," she said. "You have appointments for a manicure and pedicure, a facial, a full-body massage, hair-styling, and then make-up."

Kate looked at me with a mixture of astonishment and amused curiosity, but I kept my attention focused on the girl. "And you should have an appointment for me, as well," I said. "For a four o'clock massage and a five o'clock haircut."

"Hmm." The girl studied her screen pensively. "Mr. Kirilov?" she asked hopefully.

"Yes," Kate said, smoothly interrupting me. "But you'll probably find his appointments under the name Ethan Mackenzie. You should probably change the name to Ethan Kirilov."

"Yes, of course," the young woman said, and began tapping on her keyboard.

Kate smiled smugly and I merely chuckled.

"Mrs. Kirilov," the young woman said. "You can change into a smock in the room to your left, and then I'll show you to your manicurist. If you'd like to wait, Mr. Kirilov, you can have a seat over there." She nodded toward a group of comfortable- looking chairs.

Kate smirked at me again. I tried to put on my best wounded expression, and her eyes softened. Then she rose on tiptoe and kissed my cheek.

"Thank you," she whispered, then stepped toward the changing room.

When she emerged, wearing a smock and some comfortable-looking flip-flops, the girl led her toward the manicure/pedicure chairs. I winked at Kate as she walked by, then settled myself into one of the waiting-area chairs.

Another young woman offered to get me something to drink, and I asked for sparkling water. Glass in hand, I took out my cell phone and punched the speed dial for Gabriel's number. He was probably still on the road, but I wanted to talk to him about our major project and give him an update on the situation with Brad Behr.

I knew he'd give me a call as soon as he got home, but I didn't want to be interrupted in the middle of dinner--or anything else that I might be doing later in the evening. Gabriel had an annoying habit of "exploding the phone": calling every number you had, and doing it over and over again until he spoke to you. The phone rang a few times before Gabriel answered. He was still about four hours from home, so I mentally congratulated myself for my timing.

We ended up talking for more than forty-five minutes. We spent most of the time talking about his vacation, and his notable lack of success in finding a sugar baby. I chuckled silently as he lamented that twenty-something women didn't appreciate all he had to offer. A couple of times, I tried to drag the conversation back to business, but Gabriel was being Gabriel--he's an only child--so I gave up and simply listened to him talk.

One of the salon assistants came to get me for my massage. I rolled my eyes and tried not to grin when the young woman called me "Mr. Kirilov," but I didn't correct her. I got off the phone with Gabriel and followed the assistant to one of the massage rooms.

Kate looked up when I entered. She was clearly surprised to see me. When I'd made the appointments, I had asked that our massages be scheduled together in one of the dual rooms. There was a cloth curtain that could be drawn between the beds, but we wouldn't need it. Kate flashed me her manicured nails and I smiled approvingly. Then she stepped into the massage room's changing booth while I waited patiently. A moment later, she stuck her head through the curtains and impatiently gestured for me to join her. With a grin, I did.

The changing area was big enough for both of us, and Kate began to undress as I pulled the curtain. I began to take off my clothes as well, admiring Kate's body as I did. She smiled and reached for my flaccid penis as soon as I had my pants off. She quickly stroked me to a state of semi-hardness.

Outside the booth, we heard the door open, and Kate gave me a smoldering look. She dropped to her knees, engulfed my half-hard cock, and easily sucked me to full erection. I put my hands on her head to direct her motions, but she pulled back just as I was getting into things.

I rolled my eyes at her as she stood and then shamelessly grinned at me. I stifled a groan when she wrapped a fluffy white towel around herself and stepped out of the booth. I took one of the towels and wrapped it around my midsection. Unfortunately, I kept thinking about Kate's lips around my shaft, and my erection refused to subside.

"Mr. Kirilov? Is everything okay?" one of the masseuses asked.

"Yes, Ethan," Kate said, enjoying teasing me, "come on out."

I pulled aside the curtain and stepped out, my hard-on making a noticeable bulge under the towel. The young woman, my masseuse, looked at my groin and her eyes widened in surprise. I tried to look as apologetic as I could, and she relaxed somewhat.

I hurriedly climbed onto the table, tried to unobtrusively adjust my erection into a comfortable position, and lay facedown. With a start, I realized the massage table was heated. I turned my head to look at Kate, but her eyes were closed in bliss. My masseuse turned down the room lights and turned up the soft background music. I began to relax as I watched her select a bottle of oil from the counter by the door.

The masseuses worked on us for an hour, covering every inch of our bodies, eliciting groans and whimpers of satisfaction. When we were done, they thanked us and quietly left the room. Kate sat up and looked at me with hooded eyes, completely relaxed.

"Don't ever let me doubt you again," she said with a serene smile.

She stood on wobbly legs and started toward me. When she reached me, I hugged her to me, half supporting her as she sagged against me bonelessly. She kissed the soft, fragrant skin of my bare chest and wrapped her arms around me.

"I think I'm ready to melt," she said.

"You like?"

"Uuuunh."

I smiled to myself at her incoherent response and stroked her back through the towel. A few minutes later, one of the ubiquitous assistants knocked on the door and then opened it a crack.

"Give us a minute," I said over my shoulder.

The door closed and Kate looked up at me. I kissed the tip of her nose and she moaned softly.

"I want you to take me home now," she said. "But I also want to put on that dress and go to Marie-Claire's."

"Which would you like to do more?" I asked seriously.

"Both."

I was silent for a moment, letting her think.

"The restaurant," she said at last. "I think." She looked up at me and smiled. "I want you to see me in that dress."

"And out of it?" I asked.

"If you play your cards right."

With that, we each shuffled toward the changing booth and returned to our clothes, me to my street clothes, and Kate to her jeans, smock, and flip-flops. When we were dressed, I gestured for her to precede me out of the room.

The woman who regularly did my hair, Dana, looked at me curiously when she saw "Mr. Kirilov" on her schedule. While she shampooed my hair, I explained. She giggled like a schoolgirl and asked me to point out Kate. I did, and she nodded approvingly.

My haircut only took about thirty minutes. After I was done, I settled into one of the comfortable chairs in the waiting area and half-heartedly leafed through the latest issues of Cosmo, Vogue, and Elle. I was still completely relaxed from my massage, so I wasn't really thinking about anything more than breathing and occasionally blinking.

-------

When Kate emerged from the salon's make-up room, my breath caught in my throat and I suddenly had tunnel vision. I stood up, mouth dry, and simply stared at her. Her hair was done up in a loose twist, with tendrils framing her face. When she came closer, I noticed sparkling motes of light winking from the twist, and realized that she had something cleverly woven into her hair. I didn't know what it was, but the effect was stunning.

Her make-up was subtle but artfully applied, and the effect was... it was... magical. I stopped looking at details and tried to concentrate on simply breathing. Even in the plain salon smock, she looked lovely.

She actually blushed when she smiled at me, and I worked my mouth, trying to restore some moisture. She smiled nervously and her big blue eyes implored me to speak. Finally, thankfully, I found my voice.

"Wow," I breathed. My vision expanded and I suddenly realized there were people standing behind her.

"Happens every time, honey," a man's effeminate voice said from somewhere behind her.

Kate's blush deepened, and her eyes begged me to say something else.

I wracked my brain, trying to think of something suave, something cool and collected, something... 

"Wow," I said again.

"We have a winner," someone joked from behind me.

All of a sudden, I was acutely aware of the small crowd that had gathered around us. When I began to blush as well, Kate giggled at me, and there was a collective sigh from the group.

I don't remember much else after that. Well, I do, but it's all very hazy, with a bright, shining Kate floating through all the scenes in my memory. Somehow, I paid for everything and helped her don the turtleneck sweater, taking care not to upset her hairdo. Once in the Rover, I drove to my house on autopilot.

-------

By the time we reached my master bedroom, I'd regained most of my high-order neural functions, but I was still occasionally dazzled by Kate's beauty. She had been silent the entire drive from the salon, and I'd felt an almost electric sense of excitement in the air between us.

I hung up her dress bag and tossed her shoebox onto my bed. I had left it up to Kate to bring in (or not bring in, as she decided) her overnight bag. Much to my relief, she'd picked it up from the floorboard behind her seat and brought it with her.

We had about an hour before our reservations, so I wanted to shower and shave before going out. I could tell that Kate wanted to join me, but she didn't want to muss her hair or make-up. In the bathroom, I helped her strip off her sweater, and then I let my hands roam over her body, helping her with the rest of her clothes.

Once she was nude, she practically ripped my clothes off. She dropped to her knees and, without any teasing, took my cock in her mouth. I was already half-hard from undressing her, and I quickly reached full erection. She sucked me for a few minutes, lavishing attention on my shaft, but I had better ideas.

I pulled her off my cock and helped her to her feet. I bent her over the vanity and dropped to my knees behind her. She let out a throaty moan when I put my hands on the globes of her ass and pulled her cheeks apart. Her pussy was already wet, and her musk filled my nostrils.

I buried my face in her folds, licking and sucking her lips. She shuddered as I drove my tongue into her depths and swirled it around. Her pussy opened up before me, and I began to lap along the length of her slit, rubbing my lips and cheeks against her inner thighs. I squeezed her ass and she moaned as my tongue found her engorged clit.

When I stood up, my rigid cock bumped her ass and she tried to press back against me. She cried out in distress when she realized I'd moved. In three long strides, I was at my nightstand and yanking open the top drawer. I pulled out a condom and ripped the packet open as I strode back into the bathroom, my dick bobbing and leading the way.

Once there, I rubbed one hand over Kate's slippery pussy and looked at her face in the mirror. I stepped back for a moment and quickly rolled the condom over my shaft. Then I stepped forward, steadied my prick with one hand, and thrust into her in one swift motion. She moaned in ecstasy as I spread her inner walls.

I put both hands on her hips, looked at her reflection in the mirror, and began to move within her. In only a few moments, I was madly pounding into her, lost in the feeling of her warmth and wetness. The slapping noises of my hips hitting her ass filled the air. With each in-stroke, the head of my cock grazed her G-spot and she was going nuts. Her hips thrashed back against me, and I could feel her pussy spasming around my girth.

In only a minute or two, I felt my orgasm welling up. Kate's back was heaving as she panted and moaned with the force of my pounding.

"Oh, God! Harder!" she cried, over and over, and I eagerly obliged her.

Finally, I reached the point of no return and drove into her with one powerful lunge. My cock swelled as the first gush of semen spewed forth, and she joined me in climax. I clamped my eyes shut and groaned with the force of my release. Kate's pussy gripped me fiercely as her fluids poured forth with her orgasm.

When my cock stopped spurting at last, I opened my eyes and nearly collapsed on top of her. We were both panting from the exertion, and grinning like idiots, completely sated. For the moment.

-------

When I emerged from the shower, Kate was still nude. She gestured for me to step aside, so I did, idly drying my hair with a corner of the towel. I watched as she reached into the shower, turned on the water, and then adjusted it. With a smile, she stepped into the stall and carefully took the nozzle off its bracket. Using deliberate motions, she quickly rinsed herself off, taking pains to avoid splashing her hair or make-up.

"The secret is keeping the water cool enough, so there's no steam," she said when she stepped out. "And making it quick, so you don't get anything wet."

I nodded and handed her a dry towel.

"When I was a resident," she said, "I got pretty good at taking a quick shower without getting my hair or face wet."

I nodded and she came to stand beside me, leaning against the vanity counter. I quickly shaved and went through the rest of my bathroom routine, while Kate watched me curiously. She didn't say anything whenever I looked at her, she simply grinned at me.

"Are you enjoying yourself?" I asked.

"Completely," she said. "You look good with no clothes on."

"You're not so bad yourself."

"Oh?"

She grinned at me when I nodded. I pulled her to me and held her in my arms. Her lips parted and I leaned down to kiss her, gently, lest I mess up her make-up.

"It's okay," she said, sensing my hesitation. "This lipstick isn't coming off until I want it to. Now kiss me."

Ever obedient, I did as instructed. Gladly.

"Help me with something," I said when we broke the kiss.

She nodded and stepped back.

"I didn't know what color dress you were going to pick out, so I need your help selecting the rest of my outfit."

Before I left the house that morning, I picked out three shirts and four different ties, and put them with my suit. They represented a broad spectrum of colors, and at least one of each would have matched almost any dress she picked out. Our choices, however, were obvious: a dove grey shirt with a sapphire blue patterned tie. The shirt would work well with her dress, and the tie picked out the blue in my eyes (or so she said).

I started to get dressed while Kate did the same. For her, dressing was simple. She carefully removed the tags from the Vera Wang dress and slipped it over her head. It gave me a thrill to see she had decided to forego panties. While she went to take advantage of the mirrors in the bathroom and make sure the dress was draped properly, I finished dressing.

I walked into the bathroom and stood behind her, tying my tie. She smiled at my reflection and turned to straighten the collar of my shirt. Then she possessively stroked my tie and smoothed it against my chest. She caught my self-satisfied look and grinned in reply.

I had just slipped into my shoes when I remembered the last thing I needed. I went to my dresser and pulled two black velvet boxes from the top drawer. Kate arched an eyebrow when she saw them, but followed me back into the bathroom at my gesture. When I opened the first box, the larger of the two, her eyes lit up, but she quickly looked at me and shook her head.

"Ethan," she whispered. "It's beautiful, but it's way too much."

"Relax," I said, "I'm sorry to say that it's only borrowed."

She looked at me, clearly curious.

"A few years ago, I did a web site for a friend of mine, a jeweler. Instead of paying me cash, he paid me in trade. These days, I make sure he's got a cutting edge web site and he keeps me in jewelry."

"You traded for that?" she asked, incredulous.

I shook my head quickly. "No, not this. But Friday, when I asked if I could borrow something really stunning, he pulled this out of his safe."

"It's dazzling."

"It" was a platinum necklace with 12 carats of diamonds and diamond melee, and a 3-carat blue sapphire pendant. I opened the other, smaller, box and showed her the matching earrings. She gasped when she saw them.

"How much are these things worth?" she asked.

"Well," I said, as nonchalantly as I could, "let's just say that if we get mugged tonight, I'll owe Gunther a twenty-eight thousand dollar web site."

She whistled silently, enraptured by the necklace and earrings. I took the necklace out of its custom case and gently turned Kate toward the mirror. Her eyes were riveted to the sparkling sapphire as I put my arms around her and then fastened the lobster clasp at the nape of her neck.

She admired her reflection for a moment, then absentmindedly raised her hand to stroke the pendant, making sure it was real. Her gaze met mine in the mirror, and I was surprised to see tears welling up in her eyes. She turned and hugged me tight, throwing her arms around my neck and squeezing as she planted kisses along my neck and jaw.

"It's beautiful," she said, her voice a hoarse whisper.

"You're beautiful."

She pulled back and smiled bashfully. I gazed at her for a moment; I couldn't remember a time I'd seen her look so self- conscious. The moment passed and her eyes brightened, still glistening with unshed tears, as she reached for the earrings. Once she was properly bejeweled, she preened in the mirror for a moment, too stunned to speak.

I looked at her fondly and smiled to myself as she simply stared at her reflection, lost in thought. She smiled sadly and her eyes once again threatened to overflow. With a tiny shake of her head, she seemed to come back to herself, then turned to look at me. I smiled gently, and she leaned against me to rest her cheek on my shoulder.

I couldn't tell what she was thinking, but I put my arm around her and held her protectively. We stood like that for a couple of minutes, neither of us speaking. Finally, she sniffled slightly and lifted her head from my shoulder. I wanted to know what she had been thinking, but her body language told me that she desperately didn't want me to ask.

Instead, I discreetly looked at my watch. "Are you ready to go?" I asked.

She nodded gratefully, and stepped into her shoes as I put on my suit coat. I helped her with her gauzy grey wrap, and then we took one last look at ourselves in the bathroom mirror. With her heels on, she was only a few inches shorter than me, and we looked good together. Kate must have been thinking the same thing, for when I looked at her reflection, she smiled and actually blushed.

Satisfied that we looked presentable, we headed downstairs.

-------

Once at the restaurant, I pulled up to the valet stand and put the Rover in Park. A uniformed valet opened Kate's door while another was still walking toward mine. I opened it myself, stepped out of the car, and accepted the valet ticket from the young man. I walked around the front of the car and held my arm out for Kate. When she took it, I ushered her into the restaurant and we gave our coats to the woman in the cloak room.

"Bon soir,  Madame et Monsieur," the maitre d' said as we approached. "Welcome to Marie-Claire's." His voice was a rich baritone, and his French accent was either genuine or very well rehearsed.

"We have a reservation for eight," I said. "The name is Mackenzie."

He didn't even consult his reservations book before his face brightened. "Mais oui,  Monsieur Mackenzie. A table for two in the Library. If you would be so kind as to follow me."

I decided his accent was genuine, and moved aside so Kate could precede me. The room he led us to was one I was familiar with, if only in passing. It had an Old World feel to it, and was decorated with dark, rich mahogany bookshelves--hence the fact that it was called The Library.

An intimate table had been set up, complete with a fresh rose for a centerpiece. The maitre d' held Kate's chair for her while I seated myself, to her left. Behind him, a waiter unobtrusively stepped into the room. Without seeming to notice the new arrival, the maitre d' looked at us obsequiously.

"Madame Darcy wishes me to welcome you on her behalf. Laurent," he said, indicating he had noticed the waiter's entrance, "will attend to your every need this evening. If there is any way I may be of service, please do not hesitate to call on me."

"Thank you very much," I said. "Please give my compliments to Marie-Claire"

"Ah, certainly, sir. Bon appetit."

As soon as the maitre d' left, Laurent unfolded Kate's napkin, draped it across her lap, and handed her a menu. He did the same with me and then handed me another with the night's prix fixe selection.

"I will give you a moment to peruse the menu," Laurent said. "May I bring you an aperitif or something from the bar?"

I looked at Kate and she gave me a minute headshake. "No, thank you," I said. "But please ask your sommelier to see us."

"Certainly, sir."

With a nod, he was gone, pulling the doors closed behind him.

"This is one of my favorite restaurants," Kate said. "Thank you for bringing me here."

It didn't surprise me that she'd been here before. While the restaurant was exclusive, it wasn't difficult--with the right planning and lead time--to get reservations. And it was expensive, but Kate could have easily afforded it. Or, I thought to myself, the men she had dated could have as well, most likely.

I put that thought out of my mind as the doors opened and a young woman entered, carrying a basket of bread and a pitcher of water. She set the bread on the table and quickly filled our water goblets. Kate smiled at me after the young woman left, and then went back to reading her menu.

The waiter returned with the sommelier, and they looked at me expectantly.

"Would you like a few more minutes?" the waiter asked respectfully.

"No," Kate and I said simultaneously. We grinned at each other and I deferred to her.

"I'd like the lamb cutlets with the mustard tarragon sauce," she said.

"An excellent selection, Madame," the waiter replied.

Kate ordered a Caesar salad as well, and then smiled at me.

"I'll have the veal tenderloin medallions with the duck confit," I said as the waiter turned to regard me calmly. "With a Caesar salad. And I think we'll have an appetizer. Is there anything that suits your fancy, Kate?"

The look she gave me clearly said "you." I blushed and she turned to regard the menu with a satisfied grin.

"How about the foie gras with mushrooms and boursin cheese in Muscat game sauce?" she asked.

"Sounds perfect," I said, and handed my menu to the waiter.

He took Kate's as well, and I looked at the sommelier expectantly. After listening to what we'd ordered, he recommended three different red wines, all of them French, which would complement our food. I know a little about wine, but I'm certainly no oenophile. I confidently chose the second of his recommendations and he smiled approvingly.

"I didn't know you knew wines," Kate said as soon as the two men had departed.

I grinned sheepishly. "I don't. But a lot of what I do, in business, is making decisions. When an expert gives me options, I can pick one of them and sound confident. If I need clarification, I'll ask and then make a decision. In this case," I said, gesturing to the departed sommelier, "it didn't really matter which of the three I picked. I can't imagine that a restaurant like this wouldn't have one of the best sommeliers in town, so I simply picked a wine whose name I liked."

She looked at me, shook her head in wonder, then burst out laughing.

"What's so funny?" I asked, trying not to sound wounded.

"I was just thinking how different our lives are."

"Oh?"

She nodded. "Most of my decisions are life or death."

"They can't all be life or death," I said.

"No, they're not. But enough of them are that I'd better know what I'm talking about when I make a decision."

"I understand. My job isn't quite like that, of course, but people still depend on me and the decisions I make. Half of being a good leader is inspiring confidence."

She nodded quickly.

"We lead people, Kate. You in the operating room, me in a conference room. The applications may be different, but the attitudes certainly aren't."

"I guess I'd never looked at it that way," she said.

"Our jobs may be different, but in many ways, I imagine they're very much alike. I need to be good at what I do as much as you do. So, believe it or not, I study this stuff."

She looked at me inquisitively.

I nodded. "Leadership, management, negotiation, etc. I may be a computer whiz, but I learned that I'm also good at leading people."

"Oh," she said, toying with her earring. "I can think of a few other things you're good at."

I blushed and was about to reply when the sommelier returned with our bottle of wine. Kate grinned unrepentantly and then composed herself. The sommelier showed me the wine and I nodded. He then efficiently opened the bottle and handed me the cork; I quickly checked to make sure it was moist and free of cracks. (I may not be an oenophile, but I do know a little about wines.)

When I nodded, the sommelier poured a small amount of wine into my glass. It was light red, and smelled slightly fruity. I swirled it around my glass, nosed it, and then tasted a sip. It was very good. At my smile and nod, he poured a glass for Kate and then filled mine. I thanked him and he placed the bottle on the table and took his leave.

Kate tasted her wine and nodded appreciatively. I watched as she did so, once again admiring her beauty. The diamond and sapphire necklace drew my eyes to her long neck and the earrings complemented her aristocratic facial features. She felt my eyes upon her and turned to regard me coolly.

"What were you thinking, just now?" she asked.

"How beautiful you are," I answered honestly.

She smiled and lowered her eyes. I reached out, took her hand in my own, and rubbed it with my thumb.

"I've had fun today," I said.

"Me too," she said softly.

"You're fun to hang out with."

She arched an eyebrow at me. "And fun to spend money on?"

I nodded. "But I'm serious, I've had fun today."

"I'll bet you have," she said with a laugh.

"Not just the sex," I protested. "Although that was... really enjoyable."

She grinned coquettishly.

"I dunno. I guess... well... everything just... worked. You know?"

She looked down and nodded slightly. "So," she said, changing the subject abruptly. "'Madame Darcy wishes him to welcome you on her behalf.' What was that about?"

"I know the owner, Marie-Claire Darcy."

"Oh you do, do you?"

I nodded. "I met her several years ago, when I dated her younger sister. We've been friends ever since."

"You and the sister, or you and Marie-Claire?" Kate asked archly, but with a teasing tone.

I smiled genially. "Both, actually. Although Arianne, her sister, is happily married and has two young children."

"Ah, I see. So Marie-Claire still has a thing for you?"

I snorted in laugher and Kate blinked. "I doubt it," I said, still chuckling. "If Marie-Claire had a thing for me, I'd be very surprised. Trust me. Besides," I said, leaning close to Kate, "if Marie-Claire had a thing for me, I think her girlfriend might try to shoot me."

Kate looked at me for a moment, trying to ascertain if I were being serious or not. When she saw that I was, she burst out laughing herself.

"Touche," she said.

I smiled indulgently and lifted my glass. Kate lifted hers as well.

"To a good day?" I asked.

"To a good night," she said playfully.

I nodded and we clinked our glasses together, each of us taking a sip and looking at the other over the rim of the glass.

-------

Our appetizer arrived and we began to eat, chatting about the decor of the room, the quality of the food, and other lighthearted topics. Next came the salads, and when they were cleared away, we ordered another bottle of wine. Soon after it was delivered and opened, Marie-Claire herself delivered our entrees.

"Ethan!" she exclaimed, kissing me on each cheek as I stood. "So good to see you again."

Despite her name, Marie-Claire had a decidedly southern accent. She had worked at some of the finest French restaurants in both the U.S. and France, but she cultivated her southern charm. She liked to see people's reactions when they learned that beneath her Southern Belle exterior lurked a Cordon Bleu-trained chef.

"Marie-Claire Darcy, I'd like you to meet Dr. Kate Kirilov," I said, gesturing toward Kate.

Kate dabbed the corners of her mouth with the linen napkin and then stood to greet Marie-Claire.

"It's a pleasure to finally meet you, Dr. Kirilov," Marie-Claire said.

"Please, call me Kate." Kate looked at me, curiosity plain upon her face. "Finally meet me?" she asked.

"Oh, yes," Marie-Claire said with a smile. "I'm certain I've seen you in the restaurant before. I apologize if I'm mistaken."

I chuckled and both women looked at me. "No," I said to Marie- Claire. "You're not mistaken. This is one of Kate's favorite restaurants. Besides," I said to Kate in a confidential tone, "Marie-Claire has an eye for beautiful women."

"Ethan," Marie-Claire said, playfully slapping my arm. "You're tellin' tales out of school."

I grinned and Marie-Claire turned serious. "I'm sorry I can't spend more time with you," she said, "but the mayor has a dinner party in the Yellow Room. I promised him I'd make a special dessert for them. You just know how he can get sometimes," she said with a wink and grin. "It was a pleasure to meet you, Kate. And don't be such a stranger, Ethan."

With that, she was back out the door, already intent upon the mayor and his party.

Kate and I seated ourselves and she looked at me critically. "You know the mayor?"

"No," I said quickly, laying the napkin across my lap once again. "But Marie-Claire knows just about everyone who's anyone in this town."

Kate looked at me with a hint of amusement. "So I see," she said wryly.

She affected innocence when I looked up, and I couldn't help but grin at her. She studiously ignored me, and began cutting her lamb.

Dinner was magnificent. My veal practically melted in my mouth, and the sommelier's wine recommendation was a perfect fruity complement. Kate's mustard tarragon sauce added a delicious note to the lamb, and she savored more than a few bites of my veal.

We finished the better part of half of our second bottle of wine and most of our dinners. I simply couldn't stop myself, and I knew I'd regret eating more than I should have. At Kate's guilty look, I realized that she was probably thinking the same thing. Fortunately, French cuisine is not noted for tremendous portions.

The waiter checked on us periodically, and when he realized that our eating had slowed to a halt, he cleared our plates. Despite the fact that Kate and I were both pleasantly full, when he produced the dessert menu, our eyes lit up. We finally decided on Bananas Foster, with two spoons.

After several minutes, the door opened, and instead of Laurent, Marie-Claire herself rolled a cart into the room. She grinned at us and proceeded to construct our dessert, lighting the pan with a flourish. With French cuisine, presentation is half the enjoyment, and Marie-Claire was a consummate performer. After she finished sprinkling the dish with powdered sugar, she added a sprig of mint and winked at us.

"Y'all come back now, y'hear," she said, in her best southern drawl.

Kate and I both chuckled and gave her a muted round of applause. She bowed, and with another wink, backed out of the room with the cart. The waiter closed the doors behind her. Kate shook her head in wonder.

"She's something, isn't she?" I said casually.

Kate nodded as she savored a bite of our dessert. "With that combination of southern charm and exquisite cooking," she said appreciatively, "it's no wonder she knows half the who's who list in the state."

-------

"Do you have cognac at home," Kate asked me suddenly, shortly after our dessert had been cleared away.

I nodded. "And Scotch, and... most anything else you could want. Why?"

She looked at me with a mischievous twinkle in her eye.

"Ah," I said. "Would you like to enjoy it the regular way, with a glass?" I thought back to our first dinner together, at the Jazz Club. She had let me drink the cognac, and then kissed me immediately afterward, tasting the heady liquor on my lips and tongue. "Or would you like to enjoy it the 'Kate way?'"

"Neither," she said mysteriously.

"Oh?"

"It's a surprise," she said, her voice dripping with good-natured irony.

"What kind of surprise?" I asked, setting her up for the obvious answer.

"If I told you, it wouldn't be a surprise.," she said with a grin, playfully throwing my earlier words back in my face.

We tarried a bit longer, enjoying the relative quiet of our private room and sipping on the last of our glasses of wine. By unspoken agreement, we'd left about half the bottle untouched, neither of us wanting to get more than a gentle buzz.

Kate slid her chair around so her thigh pressed against mine, and I put my arm around her. She ran her left hand up the inside of my right thigh and tickled my crotch. I arched an eyebrow at her, but she merely grinned at me. She continued to lightly stroke my flaccid member, and soon had my penis filling with blood. I shifted in my seat and she gripped my growing cock, giving me a gentle squeeze.

"Are you ready to go?" she whispered in my ear.

I nodded without hesitation.

"Good. Because I'm ready to enjoy my cognac."

While we waited for Laurent to reappear, Kate teased me mercilessly, stroking my erection and whispering in my ear about what she was going to do to me on the ride back to my house.

The wait for Laurent seemed an eternity, but was probably closer to five minutes. By then, Kate had used a combination of her hand and her sultry voice to work me into a state where I was just about ready to throw her on the table and fuck her senseless, consequences be damned.

Fortunately for her, the waiter reappeared and I asked for our check. He retrieved it from his apron pocket and without even waiting for him to leave, I handed him my credit card. Kate stroked my hard-on unabated, and pressed her lips against my earlobe as soon as he closed the doors behind him.

"Do you know what I'm going to do to you when we get to your place?" Kate asked.

I swallowed hard and shook my head.

"It's a surprise," she said, exacting a measure of revenge.

She giggled at my expression, and I reluctantly reached for the hand she had in my lap.

"I don't want to cause a commotion when I have to walk out of here," I said, tugging on her wrist.

She made a moue, but didn't protest. Laurent returned and I quickly signed the receipt, leaving him a very generous tip. My erection hadn't subsided, but I was too worked up to care. I helped Kate with her wrap, and she took my hand, leading me out of the room and toward the front entrance.

We picked up our coats, and once outside, Kate stood discretely in front of me while one of the valets ran to fetch my car. I quickly realized that she hadn't stood in front of me for modesty's sake. She took a half-step back and pressed her ass against my flagging erection, causing it to quickly return to full staff.

The valet pulled up with the Rover and one of the other young men stepped forward to open Kate's door. I walked around the back of the car and handed the valet a tip. He thanked me and I got into the driver's seat.

As soon as we were out of the restaurant parking lot, Kate turned toward me and reached for my erection. When I shifted in my seat to accommodate her, she took advantage of the situation and opened my belt. The fingers of a skilled surgeon quickly had my zipper open. Her cool hand slipped over the head of my shaft, and I tried to concentrate on the road.

The rest of the drive home was a little bit of a blur, with Kate gently stroking my erection and me trying not to get us killed. But the time I pulled into my garage, she had me in a tizzy. She let go of me only long enough for me to get out of the car--as soon as we met at the door into the house, she had her long fingers once again wrapped around my girth.

I pressed her against the door and kissed her hard. With one hand, I reached behind her and turned the doorknob. I backed her into the house with my body, never breaking contact with her lips. With one hand around my shoulder, she steadied herself, while the other hand gripped on my turgid shaft.

I kicked the door shut behind us and started backing her toward the stairs. I opened my eyes to make sure I didn't accidentally run her into anything, but kept moving forward. Her tongue thrust and feinted against mine as we shuffled through the kitchen.

By the time we made it to the stairs, I was ready to burst. Kate felt her foot hit the bottom stair and pulled back.

"Cognac," she breathed as I continued to kiss her neck.

"Later," I growled.

"No... pant... now... pant."

"Later."

She squeezed my erection just hard enough to get my attention, but not so hard as to actually hurt. "You get the cognac... pant... and meet me in your bedroom."

She kissed me hard and then pulled back, already headed up the stairs. I gripped my slipping trousers and held them up as I walked toward the wet bar. I quickly realized that I couldn't carry the bottle, the two glasses, and hold my pants up. I set everything down, quickly fastened the clasp at the waist of my trousers, and then picked up the bottle and glasses.

My cock was pointing like a divining rod when I walked through the door into my bedroom. I pulled up short when I saw Kate. She was sitting on the end of my bed, grinning at me, wearing only the necklace and earrings, the grey suede shoes, and a smile.

"You were right," she said impishly. "I didn't need the dress after dinner."

I looked at her, my eyes wild with lust.

"Awww, poor baby," she said, teasing me. "All dressed up and nowhere to go."

At the look I gave her, she giggled, and finally took pity on me. She gracefully stood and walked toward me, more beautiful than ever.

"I have another surprise for you," she purred, taking the bottle and snifters from me.

She set them on the floor, ran her hands up my chest, and slipped my jacket over my shoulders. When she had it off me, she folded it and draped it across my dresser.

"I rearranged my schedule," she said.

She loosened my tie and it quickly joined my jacket. She started tugging my shirt out of the waist of my pants and then began to unbutton it slowly.

"One of the other doctors is going to take my office visits tomorrow."

She kissed each inch of skin as she exposed it, and then slipped the shirt over my shoulders and down my arms.

"So if you'd like," she said, looking at me with big, inviting eyes. "We can spend the day together."

I stepped out of my shoes as she undid my hastily fastened trousers.

"Would you like that?" She stepped close, and her nipples grazed my chest.

I focused my attention on her face and nodded.

She smiled, and in one deft motion, knelt and had my pants and boxers around my ankles. I stepped out of them while she helped, and then she kissed my thighs as she helped remove my socks.

I kicked the discarded clothing to the side and Kate smiled up at me, capturing the tip of my rigid cock as she did. She closed her eyes and sucked a few inches into her mouth, running her tongue over the sensitive underside of my glans.

When she pulled back, grinning, I almost took her head in my hands--I wanted to force my dick back into her mouth. With an effort of will, I restrained myself, and watch curiously as she poured a glass of cognac. She corked the bottle and slid it and the unused glass toward my dresser, out of the way.

With a lascivious grin, she grasped my rock-hard member with her left hand while the right raised her glass. She swirled the amber liquor around the snifter and then bent my cock toward it. The glass was so cool that it made me flinch when it touched the hot flesh of my erection. I watched, mesmerized, as Kate dipped the tip of my manhood into the liquor. She swirled the cognac again and then lowered the glass.

My cock emerged dripping, and she quickly locked her lips around the crown. I shuddered as she hungrily licked off the cognac. She moaned and took half my length into her mouth, lavishing attention on my shaft with her tongue. When she pulled back, she gave me a smoldering look and plunged my cock back into the amber liquid.

By swirling the liquor, she coated about the first inch and a half of my member. The cognac was cool against my skin, but I didn't have long to complain, as she quickly sucked my length back in her mouth.

She repeated the process--dipping my cock in the cognac and then licking it clean--for several minutes, until I could stand it no longer. She realized I'd reached the point of no return, and wrapped her fingers around the base of my shaft. Her tongue flicked against the tip of my cock and I erupted.

My back and legs tensed up as I spilled my seed into her mouth, crying out in ecstasy as I did. Kate pumped my length and greedily swallowed my come, moaning softly. When my orgasm finally subsided, and I was once again capable of coherent thought, I looked down to see her trying to engulf the rest of my cock. The head was still very sensitive, but she concentrated on the shaft, and the feeling was exquisite. She continued to suck me as I slowly shrank, and finally relinquished her lip-lock several wonderful minutes later.

-------

We finally climbed into my bed a little before eleven o'clock. I had Kate straddle my head and I licked her right to the edge of orgasm while she revived my cock with her talented lips and tongue. When she had me completely hard, I handed her a condom from the nightstand and she rolled it over my length with her mouth.

In the blink of an eye, she turned around and straddled my hips, lowering herself onto my jutting erection. Almost as soon as she seated herself, I felt her vaginal muscles spasm and grip me. She lifted herself off me and plunged down once, her body taut as a bowstring. She rose and fell two or three more times and then began to shudder with the first throes of orgasm.

Her pussy clenched my thickness and I moved my hands over her diamond-hard nipples, driving her onward. With a rush, she came, the waves of her pleasure crashing over her like a tidal bore. She cried out and arched her back, attempting to force more of my length inside her. As her orgasm began to subside, she trembled and collapsed forward.

I held her close, my cock still buried in her quivering pussy. She panted against my chest and I lightly ran my fingernails over her back and buttocks. She shivered at my touch, and then began to gently move her hips as she regained her composure. Soon, she was bouncing atop me, working toward her second orgasm.

She came with a rush, hard and fast, her body shuddering with her release. I was close as well, and slammed into her, intensifying her orgasm and reaching my own at the same time. With a grunt, I impaled her, blasting jet after jet of semen into the tip of the condom.

Slowly, we both relaxed and shared a sated smile. Kate lay forward and hugged herself to my chest, planting tender kisses all over my sweat-sheened skin. I held her close and felt her body as her breathing slowly returned to normal.

-------

My watch alarm went off in the morning and I quickly shut it off. Kate stirred beside me, but didn't wake. I quickly slipped from under the covers, trying not to disturb her, and padded to the bathroom.

Afterward, I quietly headed downstairs to my home office. The Russians don't usually celebrate Christmas on the same day we do- -instead celebrating on January 7. But I was going to be out of town for several days, and away from my computers, so I wanted to make one final call to Dima and make sure everything was running smoothly.

I called him directly, not bothering with an AT&T conference call. He told me that he'd gotten my wired funds, and that Stasya had been very appreciative of the flowers and chocolates. She couldn't eat the chocolates until her tooth had been fixed, but he told me she had adored the flowers.

Lev had worked over the weekend; he and Brad had somehow overcome the language barrier and actually gotten a lot accomplished. Brad still had a lot of work to do before his December 30 deadline, but from the sound of things, he was on schedule to receive his bonus. Dima wished me a Merry Christmas, in English, and I rang off.

I had an e-mail message from Brad, telling me to call before eight in the morning. I was sure that he'd worked the entire weekend with little or no sleep, and knew he'd be wanting to get to bed. When I called him, he answered on the first ring, sounding sleepy but jubilant. He'd gleaned some kernel of insight from Staysa's notes and had saved at least a day. He had nothing but glowing things to say about Lev as well. Apparently, the two of them had hit it off better than I imagined possible. I told him to get some sleep and he quickly said his goodbyes.

-------

When I came back up to my bedroom, I realized Kate was awake before I even slipped into bed. While she only created a slight rise under my thick feather comforter, I could easily tell she was on her back, and her hand languidly moved between her legs.

"Couldn't wait 'til I got back?" I asked, looking down at her from the side of the bed.

She shook her head. "I woke up and wanted you. When you weren't here, I decided to get warmed up."

"And you just expect me to take care of your needs?"

She smiled beatifically and nodded. I tried to suppress a chuckle, but couldn't. One of her hands--the one not rubbing her pussy--snaked out from under the covers.

"Service me," she demanded playfully, snapping her fingers.

I grinned at her and slid under the covers. My feet were freezing, and I knew she wouldn't appreciate having them thrust upon her, so I tried to keep a little distance between us. Kate, however, had other ideas.

She snuggled close to me, throwing an arm and a leg over my body and pressing herself against my side. She was a furnace, and I luxuriated in her warmth. When her foot slid down my shin, I tried to warn her, but she continued. Her shriek as she contacted my cold foot was gratifying, but her fist in my ribs took the wind out of my enjoyment.

"We'll have to get you warmed up before I can have my breakfast in bed," she said.

"Oh ho! You think I'm going to let you have breakfast in bed?"

She ran her fingers through my pubic hair and gently grasped my cold, shrunken member. Her hand warmed me nicely, and I felt the usual stirring at the contact.

"Okay," I said quickly, "you win. You can have breakfast in bed."

"I thought you'd see it my way," she said smugly. "But while I'm getting you warmed up, so you don't freeze my backside with your feet, let's talk for a minute."

"I am yours to interrogate."

She kissed my chest and sighed contentedly, lying still for a moment. "Where was I?" she asked, coming back from her woolgathering. "Oh, yes. Do you have a tux?"

"Mmm hmm."

"Well, the chief of surgery at St. Mary's is having a black-tie New Year's Eve party at his house. Very posh. You'll need to wear a tux."

For the moment, I ignored the fact that she hadn't actually asked me to go with her, only assumed that I would. Of course I would go with her, but I didn't like being taken for granted any more than she would have.

"And, of course, I'll need to buy a new dress."

"A new dress?" I knew where she was going with that, but in order to glean more information, sometimes it's best to simply repeat a statement in the form of a question.

"Uh huh. And we'll need to go to Couture du Monde. They have the best... um... selection."

"And don't forget the staff," I added.

"Yes, of course. And the best staff. I was thinking... You could arrange a private shopping trip, something after their normal business hours. Next Sunday?"

"Hmmmm," I said doubtfully, teasing her. "I don't know..."

Kate lifted herself on her elbow and looked down into my eyes. At the look on her face, my penis stiffened noticeably. "I want to see you two together," she said, her voice sultry and demanding.

"Who?" I asked, trying to look innocent.

She squeezed my slowly inflating cock, and got the expected results. "You know who. Renee."

"Oh, her."

Kate nodded again. "I want to see you between her legs, fucking her."

"And maybe you want me to see you between her legs?" I asked with a pointed grin.

Kate nodded silently.

"Well," I said, flipping her onto her back and neatly rolling between her legs.

She squawked at the sudden reversal.

"You'll have to ask me nicely," I said, and began to slide down her body and under the covers. "And you'll have to do it after I've had my breakfast in bed. If you're a good girl, I may even say yes."

She protested at first, but her protests soon turned into whimpers. Her whimpers turned into moans, and her moans eventually turned into cries of ecstasy. Afterward, she did her best to ask me nicely, and I ultimately agreed to both the shopping trip and the party.

But that, as they say, is a story for another time.


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The End
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Posted:  2003-11-03
Last Modified: 2005-01-30 / 11:51:43 pm
Version: 1.10
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