Note: This story was dynamically reformatted for online reading convenience.
 
 January 26, 2003

   Kelly A (not so) short story by Night Hawk (NH@nighthawk.sytes.net)
Archived at </files/Authors/MikeC/James>

   Inspired by Mike C, based on characters in his novel: "James" Characters
and situations copyright by Mike C, 2002-2003





   Chapter 14



   Vanetta heard the phone ringing.

   "Oh no," she thought to herself, "Not now Kelly!"

   "Shouldn't you answer that?" asked Bobby lifting his head from her damp
curls.

   "Damn it Robert!" she said swinging her leg over his head.  "I was so
close!"

   Still nude she padded across the office floor, reached across her desk
and picked up the private line.  "Yes Kelly?" she asked.

   Kelly laughed on the other end of the line.  "Did I call at a bad time?"

   "More than you'll ever know," said Vanetta starting to smile.

   "How did you know it was me?"

   "Because Todd never calls on this line," Vanetta said, "and I don't
think Laura knows this number yet."

   "I'm sorry about that," said Kelly, "I'll let you go back and try to
finish what you started.  I just wanted to let you know that we'll be back
before noon tomorrow."

   "Okay," said Vanetta.  "I'm sure that Bobby won't mind starting over. 
By the way, that special shipment you were expecting arrived Friday
afternoon."

   "Great!" said Kelly, "say hi to Robert for me, and I'll see you
tomorrow."

   Vanetta laughed.  "Right!  Let him know that you know he's here.  I
doubt it!"

   "Have a good night Vanetta," said Kelly warmly.

   Vanetta hung up the phone and walked back to the studio couch.  She had
turned on lights in Todd's apartment earlier to give the appearance he was
home, but downstairs in the studio, a dozen coconut-scented candles
provided the only light.

   A large cream-colored satin sheet covered the couch where she and her
boyfriend had been making out.



   ~~~~~ // ~~~~~

   Robert Payne had been her boyfriend for nearly a year.  She had met him
two years ago at the university when he was a TA for one of her business
courses.  He had shown an interest in her from the start, but Vanetta had
been leery of his attentions.  During her few years in North Carolina, she
had twice dated white boys only to find their interests no deeper than the
allure of her coffee colored skin.  It brought back disturbing memories of
the rich men who visited Jamaica to rent the young dark girls.

   Her mother had warned her about dating outside of the still visible
color bar, but for some reason that bar had never excluded Todd and Kelly.
It was through Kelly's help that her mother had managed to secure landed
immigrant status, allow Vanetta and Delton to follow shortly afterwards. 
With the help of Todd, Vanetta had been accepted to UNC and Delton had been
able to start his own business.

   Todd and Kelly, what a combination.  Not once in all the time she had
known them or worked for them had she felt or seen any signs of being
different.  Todd had never once suggested anything sexual towards her,
though she knew she was not unattractive.  Actually, Vanetta was very
attractive, but Todd treated her more like a sister than an employee or
even a co-worker, and Kelly had always been just like a sister to Vanetta.

   Vanetta remembered fondly the "family" trip Todd and Kelly had taken
them all on to visit "The Home of the Rat," the first year they had been in
Charlotte.  Before Vanetta had taken on such a heavy course load at UNC,
she had gone with Kelly on trips to Canada, New York and even California.

   Perhaps it was the fact that Robert reminded her of Todd that, after a
year of excuses, she finally accepted a date with him.  Robert had picked
her up at the door of her mother's house and taken her to a movie followed
by a pizza.  He had been fun to talk to and after the date officially
ended, he had walked her back to her door and hesitantly placed a small
kiss on her cheek.

   Vanetta couldn't understand why Robert had persisted in asking her out
when he could have his choice of women.  Two years older, he was over six
feet tall and weighed in at all of 145 pounds.  He had thick dark hair,
which he kept fashionably short, and a neatly trimmed beard.  Like her, he
was an honor student bent on doing his best, and had a thirst for
knowledge. He was in his final year at the University and planned on
teaching high school business after he graduated, but for the time being
worked part time for a realty firm.

   They had dated all of six times over a two-month period of time, and he
had never tried to go further than the kiss on the cheek at the end of each
date.  After the third month he had brought her home to meet his parents
for a holiday meal.  His mother was a teacher and his father an editor for
the North Carolina Nation.  After a few more visits with his parents and
seeing no sign of being anything other than a girl whom their son was
seriously pursuing, Vanetta eased her guard.

   Vanetta had expressed her concerns to Kelly who had really listened. 
Kelly had said, "You can't love if you're afraid of being hurt." Two weeks
later after another movie, Vanetta had slid closer to Robert and instead of
a pizza they had gone parking.  He gave and received a lot more than a kiss
on the cheek that night and afterwards they had both laughed about how they
were acting like teenagers necking in a car.

   Though it was obvious both intended and hoped to take their physical
relationship farther, they had still taken their time.  Robert was fun to
be with and the two of them spent many hours just talking and laughing.

   In the month that followed their first serious necking session, Robert
had moved slowly and carefully.  His first foray had been to slip his hand
on to her hard and flat stomach stroking it slowly and had lovingly played
with her belly button which had given her the giggles.  On their next date
he dared to venture his hand up farther and had cupped her breast in his
hand over top of her bra.  Vanetta had taken the initiative that night and
undid her bra to give him free access to her 36 C cup breasts.  Her nipples
had been the size of hard pencil erasers and puckered with desire.  She had
gently pressed on his head letting him know she wanted them suckled.

   Things had heated up from that point, and they started to date weekly
sometimes skipping the movie all together.  As each date progressed,
Vanetta had allowed Robert to go farther and the night he finally slipped
his hand inside of her jeans and panties it took very little manual
stimulation from him to bring her to a climax.  That was the night she
first undid his jeans and let his rock hard cock spring forth to her gaze.
It looked so needy, all pink and with a ruby red head that she took it in
her hand and gently stroked it.  She was not prepared for how quickly he
ejaculated or how strongly.  Some landed on her blouse and some on his
shirt, before she tried to stop the flow by placing her palm over the top
of it feeling more spurts hitting her hand.  As he slowly breathed back to
a semblance of consciousness he started to apologize, but she hushed him
with a kiss.  She looked at her dark hand holding his baby pink cock and
laughed at the cum seeping out over and through her fingers.  Cream to go
with her coffee colored skin.

   Robert had confessed that night to Vanetta that she was the first girl
to ever have seen or touched his penis.  "I had once promised myself I
would be a virgin on my wedding night Netta."

   She had smiled at him.  "I understand Bobby.  You're the first man who
has ever touched my boobs much less down there!  I wasn't saving it for
marriage, but I promised myself that my first time would be with someone
who loved me and who I loved."

   "And I do love you Netta," he had said.

   They continued the weekly visits to their private lovers lane for
another month, necking and petting, masturbating each other to the point of
climax.  They were comfortable with each other at this point in their
sexual discovery, and often had multiple climaxes in an evening.  The time
in between was spent snuggling and hugging and making sweet love talk.

   While they had both been total virgins, they were not culturally
isolated and knew what the next step would be.  Nearly nine months after
their first date, Robert asked if she would consider spending the night
with him at a Holiday Inn.

   The virginity she had protected for so long she surrendered to Bobby
that night.  It had been special night for both of them.  He had taken her
out to a fancy restaurant and then gone dancing at a club they both
favored. Shortly before midnight they checked into the room he had reserved
for them.

   Standing inside the doorway they kissed for a long time, neither of them
wanting to rush the moment.  Robert slowly undid her top kissing every inch
of exposed skin as it came into view.  He helped her out of her shoes and
nylons leaving her clad in just her black bra and panties.  Vanetta pressed
him back towards the bed undoing his shirt buttons and then his pants,
throwing both to the side as he stepped out of his shoes.  She had pressed
him back on the bed and pulled his socks off, and then reached forward to
pull his shorts off.  He actually blushed.

   "You're going to blush now?" she had asked in surprise.  "I've seen him
in all his glory and he sure is in his glory right now!" she said as she
looked at his obvious excitement.

   Vanetta sat down next to him on the bed and after a few more deep soul
kisses she moved back and gently nibbled her way down his chest.  "I know
guys are supposed to really like this," she had said as she raised her head
over his throbbing cock, "but while I have an understanding of what I'm
supposed to do, you'll have to let me know if I'm doing this right." With
that she lowered her lips to his cock which twitched wildly in response.

   "Oh God Netta," he moaned.  "This is my first and I don't know what it's
supposed to feel like but whatever you're doing, it feels so good!"

   Vanetta had heard enough talk from the girls in her classes to know she
should wet her lips and suck and slide on his shaft and swirl her tongue
around the head.  All this she did to please him.

   "Oh Jesus Netta...  I can't hold back," and no sooner were the words out
of his mouth when he shot off into her mouth.

   The first splash of his thick hot cum nearly gagged her but as she
instinctively swallowed she found that aside from tasting a bit salty, she
didn't mind it at all and continued to suck on his cock until it softened
in her mouth.

   Bobby clasped her to him and kissed her deeply mumbling over and over
how much he adored her and would do anything for her.  They laid together
for a while letting Bobby get his bearings back and then he undid her bra
and slid off her panties looking at her nude for the first time ever with
the lights on.  He was transfixed on the darkness of her nipples on her
skin and they were puckered with desire.  Her crinkly pubic hair fascinated
him as well as he kissed his way from her firm breasts to her navel until
he changed position and was facing her vagina for the first time ever. 
Gingerly he brushed at her pubic hair and gently spread the wet lips that
lay beneath.  He could smell her musky arousal and it just fired him up
even more.  Determined that he would give her the same pleasure she had
given him, he slowly moved his face and more importantly his tongue down to
where he knew she liked to be touched by his fingers.

   His first lick across her clit nearly drove her off the bed!  It was so
much better than his fingers.  And then he did it again and again!  Vanetta
was bucking her hips off the bed to meet the flat of his tongue as he slid
it from her vagina across her clit in steady long strokes, until finally
she could take it no more and grabbing his head ground her pelvis against
him until she saw fireworks!

   All this served to do was to bring back his erection with an even more
blood engorged tip and seeing this Vanetta pulled him on top of her and
said, "Do it now Bobby, take the last of my virginity away while I'm so hot
and wet.  Just tell me you really love me first."

   With his cock just nestled in her cunt, Bobby said, "I love you
Vanetta," and then in a single stroke bore down and they both felt her
hymen snap.  It hurt for just a minute but the pain was soon replaced by
pleasure as Bobby pumped long and deep into her.  Having cum earlier from
her oral attention, Bobby's next climax was slow in building but for
Vanetta, her first from his tongue had only heightened her arousal and as
the pain ebbed away, she slammed back into him on each stroke matching his
lust and love.  She felt herself building to another climax and grasped his
head kissing it all over.  As she crossed the threshold once more she
slipped her tongue into his ear and discovered it made his cock swell up
inside her and increased the raggedness of his breathing.  She continued to
slide her tongue in and around his ear while whispering how good it felt to
be a woman now and how good he made her feel until his pumping became
erratic and he soon shot his seed deep inside of her as she ground back
against him reaching yet another climax.

   They lay panting on the bed afterwards.  Vanetta had her legs wrapped
around his butt still pulling him into her, and they remained that way
making sweet talk until his cock softened to the point where it slipped
out.

   Thinking quickly, Bobby pulled a handful of tissues out of the box at
the side of the bed to mop up and absorb what was flowing out of Vanetta.
His touch on her clit made her jump.

   They made love twice more that night before they were both too exhausted
to try any more and went to sleep cuddled against each other.

   That night had confirmed their true feelings for each other and they
dated as frequently as possible.  While making love was not always
possible, they did it every opportunity they had.  They sat in the library
at the university, sitting on the floor in the back rows looking at sex
guides and manuals, making mental notes of what they wanted to try next. 
They still went to the movies and had their pizza nights, but money was not
in abundance for either of them and it had been Vanetta who had suggested
Bobby come by the studio on those nights when Todd and Kelly were out of
town.  While he left at an appropriate hour, Vanetta still remained the
night, sleeping on the couch where they had made love earlier.

   Tonight had been the first night the phone had ever rung.



   ~~~~~ // ~~~~~

   "Anything important?" Bobby asked as Vanetta slid back on the satin
sheet.

   "Just Kelly letting me know that they'll be back around noon.  That
means you can spend the night if you like," she added shyly.

   Bobby smiled at her.  She was stunning.  Her skin was flawless and
looked darker and richer on the cream colored satin.  "I'd love that
Sweetheart," he said as he bent over her to suckle on her firm breasts and
large puckered nipples.

   She gently pressed on his head reminding him where he had been when the
phone had interrupted them.  Licking his way down her flat stomach he soon
slid back between her spread legs and deftly parted her labia exposing the
pink tender flesh inside.  He loved the taste of her and eagerly worked his
way into her with his tongue.  Soon she was gasping for breath as Bobby
took her over the edge twice.

   Vanetta was kissing Bobby, tasting herself on his tongue.  "I love you
Bobby," she said.

   "And I love you Vanetta," he said with the tenderness that comes with
sincerity.

   Since they no longer had to worry about Bobby leaving, they took the
time to fix something to eat from the studio kitchen, listened to some
music and cuddled.  They had time, and the tender and loving words and
gestures and touching stoked their fires again.

   Vanetta gently pressed on Bobby's chest until he was reclined on the
couch.  Kneeling between his legs, Vanetta took his semi stiff cock in her
hands.  The pale skin of his cock contrasted with the dark skin of her
hands.  As she gently played with his prick it began to swell and Vanetta
slipped it into her mouth.  She loved to feel it grow and brushed the
tender glans with her tongue, sucking as much of him into her mouth as she
could before he was fully hard.

   Her hands moved down to stroke and caress his scrotum and thighs as his
cock became fully rigid.  Allowing her teeth to gently scrape his engorged
member she alternated between wrapping her lips around and sucking as she
slowly bobbed her head, and teasing him with the scraping of her teeth,
swirling her tongue around his glans.

   Vanetta could feel his balls tighten and she knew he was close to
coming. Gently cupping both his balls with one hand she wrapped the other
around his pulsing shaft and slowly pumped it up and down while her mouth
sucked on him with wet sloppy motions.  She had learned it was his favorite
way.  Soon he was moaning out his love for her and his total devotion as
his hips bucked and he let loose with a torrent of cum that she greedily
swallowed.

   As Bobby lay there panting in the afterglow of his climax, Vanetta
continued to pump his prick with one hand as she moved closer to him. 
Taking the head of his cock she rubbed it against her wiry pubic hair.  She
knew that he especially liked that and his cock quickly rose to the
occasion.

   Vanetta continued to stroke his cock against her cunt with one hand
making sure that she brushed it across her clit as well.  Moving forward
she slipped his new erection right inside of her hot vagina and she rode
him until she climaxed, falling forward on him and planting kisses all over
his face and neck, and of course nibbling on his ears.

   Bobby loved the feeling of Vanetta's tongue in his ear and it brought
him close to another orgasm.  Wrapping his arms around her he thrust up
with a manic pace as his breath became ragged.  Vanetta herself was rapidly
approaching another climax as well and ground her cunt against him on every
stroke until both of them crossed the point of no return.

   Moaning softly, Vanetta let her legs splay out keeping him trapped in
her hot box, her tits mashed against his chest.  Wrapped against each other
in this fashion was how they fell asleep.



   ~~~~~ // ~~~~~

   Todd woke up early Monday morning and quietly slipped out of bed leaving
Kelly and Laura clutched in an embrace.

   After relieving his bladder, he packed up the last of his camera
equipment and with what the girls had packed the night before, moved it all
to the door.  They were leaving with considerably more than they had
arrived with, most of it Star Trek T's.  Laura had refused to pack the
dolphin he had bought for her, insisting that she wanted to see it through
the night.  He smiled at the thought of how easily she was pleased with
small things.  At least those things that reminded her of special events.

   Todd brushed his teeth and took stock of the suite.  No visible damage,
but he left a sizable tip for the housecleaning staff, much larger than the
day before.  The Hampton had been good to them and he intended to spend
more time there in the future, especially if this deal with Al went
through.

   Satisfied that he could do no more, he returned to the balcony and just
leaned over looking at the island.  It was still early, but he could see
the golfers heading out for an early morning start.  Unlike the previous
night, Todd had slipped on a pair of scrub pants and one of the new
t-shirts.  All the dirty laundry was in a bag waiting for the last items
that Kelly or Laura might add.

   Though he didn't want to go, Todd knew that IC depended on him to
deliver and he would deliver.  He was anxious himself to see how the shots
turned out, but his thoughts drifted to what he had said to Kelly.  He had
the love of two beautiful women and this last month had been the happiest
he had been his entire life.

   "Hey sailor!  Looking for a good time?"

   Todd laughed as Kelly joined him on the balcony.  He gave her a kiss. 
"Nope, sorry lady," he said.  "It can't get any better than what I have
now! This is as good as it gets!"

   Kelly smiled at him.  Like Todd, she had cleaned up, brushed her teeth
and for the first time since they had arrived at the Hampton she was on the
balcony dressed.  Barely.

   "I could get used to this," she said to him.  "I'm thinking of asking Al
about buying a cottage out here if we land the job.  What do you think?"

   "I think the chances of getting a cottage here is going to be somewhere
between none and not a chance in hell!" he laughed.  "But it wouldn't hurt
to ask him.  Maybe if we suggest opening an office down here the chances
would improve though."

   "Are you serious?" she asked.

   "Not really," he said.  "But it would be a nice place to come to when we
want an escape."

   "Yeah, it never hurts to dream does it?  I see you left a nice tip for
the staff, and all the packed stuff is by the door.  Are you getting
psyched to start printing?"

   "Yeah, I guess," he said.  "I've got a lot of film to process, from
Regan's to the bubble bath pictures.  Might as well run it all through at
once, it won't take much extra time."

   "Oh, I forgot to tell you," Kelly said.  "When I was talking to Vanetta
she said our Canadian beer had arrived." She took out a cigarette and lit
it.  "Just in time too.  I was nearly out of my favorite vice supply."

   "What time is the plane going to be here?" Todd asked.

   "In about an hour.  I figured I'd let Laura sleep a bit longer and then
if she hasn't woken up on her own, I'll have to help her." Kelly smiled. 
"She's a real sweetheart isn't she?  I can't remember ever being so happy."

   "That's funny," said Todd, "I was thinking the same thing before you
came out.  I can't remember being so at peace with myself."

   "Are you guys talking about me behind my back in front of my face?" came
a sleepy voice from behind.

   "You bet," said Kelly as she gave Laura a good morning kiss.

   "We were just saying how lucky we are that you came into our lives,"
said Todd as he kissed her.

   "Luck?  Or Kismet?"

   "Maybe a little of both," said Kelly.  "Are you nearly ready to take
another flight?"

   "Yep.  Got all my stuff ready to go.  You think the pilot will do what
Chris did for me on Friday?"

   "If he does," said Kelly, "he'll never father any more children! 
Speaking of which, I better take a Gravol now."

   Laura looked out to the pier hoping to catch sight of the dolphins once
more before they left but it was a bit late in the morning.

   "Don't worry Sweetheart," said Todd reading her expression, "next time
we come, we can get up really early and go down and visit your friends."



   ~~~~~ // ~~~~~

   Half an hour later, a bellhop came up and carried their bags down to a
waiting golf cart.  Kelly settled the bill for the room and asked the
manager about the availability of rooms should they land the contract to do
the new brochures.

   "Well, we always keep a few rooms open all the time just in case," said
the manager.  "Like when Mr.  Regan called.  Some people you never want to
turn away.  I'll be sure to add your name to the list."

   Kelly thanked him and left a few business cards for him.

   She saw Todd and Laura waiting in the cart wearing the cowboy hats Laura
had bought them and remembered to slip her own on.  "Might as well go in
style," she thought.

   Kelly recognized the pilot who had come for them as the same one who had
taken them to Laurel Canyon to visit the Prevans.  He gave a friendly smile
and wave as they pulled up, and helped Todd stow all the luggage on board.

   "I've just got to top up the tanks," he said, "So we should be ready to
take off in about 15 minutes."

   Laura went with him, fascinated by the bigger plane.  Kelly moved off
the runway and parked herself in the grass lighting up her last before she
would be airborne.

   The flight proved to be uneventful and with fair weather they arrived in
Charlotte just after 10:00 o'clock.

   While Laura fetched her car from the parking lot, Kelly went to talk to
Chris about another round trip to Laurel Canyon on Wednesday for Laura to
pick up the two girls.

   Laura parked the car close to the office and Todd shifted the baggage
from the plane to the Honda.  Laura dashed in long enough to once again
thank Chris for the fantastic flight he had given her on Friday, and then
the three of them drove back to the studio.

   Vanetta was waiting for them.  Bobby had left before 8.  She had
arranged for fresh fruit and vegetables that morning and Delton had picked
them up for her and dropped it off.

   While Todd unpacked his camera and carried the film into the darkroom,
Kelly and Vanetta set about making a large pitcher of juice.  Laura had
some personal needs to attend to and a phone call to her mother letting her
know she was back safe and sound.

   "So the weekend was successful?" Vanetta asked.

   "Very," said Kelly, "Probably as good as last night was for you!"

   Vanetta ducked her head slightly.  "Hush now Kelly.  That's supposed to
be a secret."

   Kelly laughed.  "Don't you worry, your secret's safe with me."

   Laura came back in time to help clean fruit for a midmorning snack. 
"I've got all the dirty clothes in a bag," she said to Kelly, "can we wash
them at your place?"

   "Of course," said Kelly.  "I've just got a few things to take care of
here and then we can head out.  I'm sure Vanetta's anxious to get home,"
she said with a smile.  "Nothing else is planned for today, and Todd's
going to be in the darkroom for quite a while.  We'll stop and get you a
cell phone of your own, and come back after supper to make sure that Todd
has something to eat."

   Todd came back out after 15 minutes, just in time to join the three
girls for a morning juice break.  Laura got the vitamins and the go-juice
out and the four of them discussed the day's activities.

   "I've got about 100 negatives to develop," Todd said, "so if Vanetta is
heading out, could you forward the calls to your phone Kell?"

   "No problem.  Laura and I are going to stop off and get her a cell of
her own, and then we figured on doing the laundry.  How long do you think
before you'll be able to come out and eat?"

   "Hmm, fresh soup, developing time, drying time...  give me about two
hours okay?"

   "It might take a bit longer than that before we can make it back," said
Kelly, "but if you print the contact sheets, we should be back in time to
feed you and to take a look at the master's work!"

   Todd laughed.  "I can only hope I got a few decent shots out of the
whole weekend."

   "Now you're just being humble," said Kelly.  "I'm looking forward to
seeing the ones you did of Anna and Laura."

   After drinking a double serving of the fresh juice, and downing the
vitamins chased back by cold fresh fruit, Todd gave his two lovers a kiss.
"See you guys around 2 then."

   "I should get running too," said Vanetta, "I might make it in time for
afternoon classes."

   "You go then girl!" said Kelly.  "I can tell you all the sordid details
of Todd's strip dance tomorrow."

   Vanetta raised her eyebrows at Todd who just sighed.

   "You might not have time tomorrow," said Vanetta.  "There's a note on
your desk about a big shipment of equipment coming tomorrow afternoon along
with four burly men to unload it all and set it up.  I guess it's pretty
heavy."

   "Perfect timing," said Kelly.  "Thanks Vanetta."

   "Oh, and I filled the fridge with beer, the rest is in the backroom
along with your cigarettes."

   "What a wonderful way to start out a new week," said Kelly.  "I'll have
to take a couple of cartons home with me!"

   "Well, on the subject of good news, Delton left a package for you as
well Todd.  It's in the crisper in your fridge upstairs."

   Todd gave her a big smile.  "Be sure to thank him for me if I don't see
him in the next few days." With that he turned and headed back to the
darkroom.

   "Did I leave enough money for the Canadian delivery?" Kelly asked.

   "More than enough," said Vanetta.  "Remember their dollar is only 62
cents US."

   "And you made sure his trip was worthwhile?" Kelly asked.

   "He was more than happy," said Vanetta.  "I asked him to stay for lunch
and I cooked him up one of those thick steaks from the freezer."

   "Was that a smart idea?" asked Kelly.  "Being alone with him in the
studio?"

   "No worries mother dear," laughed Vanetta.  "He called ahead to make
sure that somebody would be here so I had Delton stop by.  As I was cooking
up lunch, Delton helped him unload the truck.  After he finished eating he
stuck around a while to chat.  He said it was nice not to have had to run
down empty.  Said his next stop was to pick up a trailer full of oranges.
Would you believe he gets seventeen dollars wholesale on a ten pound bag?"

   Kelly laughed.  "Yeah, 17 Canadian!"

   "Still, it's a worthwhile trip for him," she said.  "But, I have to run.
See you tomorrow!"

   "Have a good day Vanetta," Kelly said.

   Laura said goodbye to Vanetta as well and silence descended in the
studio.

   "I've just got to check my email," said Kelly, "and then we can head out
ourselves."

   "Okay," said Laura.  "I'm going to put my dolphin in the bedroom
upstairs and I'll be ready."

   Kelly quickly skimmed through her mail and email, entered the numbers
from the last few days on who had been where and the feedback.  There were
no complaints and more than a few compliments towards clients from the
models.  Kelly brought her database up to date and then shut off the
computer.

   Setting the studio phone to forward calls to her cell, she and Laura
left the studio locking the door behind them.



   ~~~~~ // ~~~~~

   "Kelly, I need to stop at a drugstore as well," said Laura as she eased
her car out of the parking lot.

   "I should stock up as well," said Kelly.  "I shouldn't need them for
another week or so, but it's not like they'll go to waste.  There's a good
store near my place so we can stop there on the way home.  First let's head
into town and get you a phone."

   Laura found a parking spot near the corner of South and Euclid.  Locking
the doors, and dropping money in the meter the girls entered the At-Comm
store that serviced TKO's cell needs.

   "Hiya Kelly!"

   Kelly turned to see Benny coming out of the back office.

   "Hi Benny," she said.  "We need to get a third cell on our plan for
Laura here," introducing Laura to the manager.

   "Okay, something small and compact?"

   "Preferably."

   "Well we have a special on right now on this Sony Ericsson T68i with a
camera attachment for only $199.99," he said lifting a small palm size
phone from the display stand.  "The T68 is a triple band phone with a full
color screen and is packed with features.  It has GPRS, Bluetooth and EMS
and the T68 has advanced calendar and contacts features that you can
synchronize data with your PC.  It comes complete with a hands free earbud,
an in-car charger and a belt clip."

   Kelly laughed.  "Now don't try too hard to sell us on it Benny!"

   "But Kelly, this is a great phone!  Color display with voice activated
dialing, voice recording and voice command.  The Lithium Ion batteries will
let Laura talk for up to six hours without recharging or stay on in
stand-by mode for 144 hours!  It's even got a 500-name phone book and an
additional 250 on the included SIM card."

   It was Laura's turn to laugh.  "I don't even know 100 people!"

   "My dear girl, someone as pretty as you will soon need all 750 slots!"

   Kelly sighed.  Benny was really into the latest electronic gear.

   "You've not only got text messaging, but predictive text input!  An
internal antenna, an alarm clock with a snooze button, a silent vibe mode,
but best of all, it weighs only three ounces."

   "Okay, enough already," Kelly laughed.  "How long will it take Laura to
learn all the features?"

   "About an hour, if she's half as smart as she is good looking, just to
get the basics, and then the other features will come quickly as she needs
them."

   "Do you like it Laura?" Kelly asked.

   "It's beautiful," said Laura.  "I've never seen anything like it."

   "Okay Benny, we'll want a message center for her and call waiting as
well.  Can you set it up so we can walk out of here in the next half hour?"

   "For you Kelly, I can walk on water.  Let me get right to it.  And you
want this as part of the TKO plan?"

   "Yep."

   "Give me 15 minutes, and I'll have it all set to go."

   "That's great Benny, we'll be back shortly then.  We're going to grab
something to drink from the deli across the road."

   As they headed out of the store, Laura asked about the silent vibe.

   "You use that when you're someplace where you don't want the ringing of
a phone to interfere with whatever is going on around you.  It's quite a
powerful vibrating unit too!"

   "Maybe I should slip it into my panties and have you call me a few
times," sighed Laura.

   Kelly laughed.  "Don't you have a regular vibrator for those special
times?"

   Laura looked dejected.  "I bought one of those 'pocket rockets' that
were all the rage two years ago, but it irritated me more than it ever gave
me pleasure."

   "Ah, I know the one you're talking about.  Trust me, if you want to
enjoy a vibrator, you are better off with one that will guarantee results!"

   "And do they come with a written guarantee?" joked Laura.

   "Not quite," said Kelly, "but Carol Queen endorses the one I use as does
Dr.  Betty Dobson, author of 'Sex For One: The Art Of Self Loving' and you
can't get higher endorsements than from those two ladies!"

   "I'm surprised you use one Kelly."

   "Before you Sweetheart, I didn't have much fulfillment from my partners.
I read Betty's book and learned that I could and should take matters into
my own hands if I didn't want to settle for being a frustrated sexual
being."

   "Well, who's this Carol Queen you mentioned?"

   "Ah, she's one of the founding members of 'Good Vibrations', a minority
and women owned company that specializes in the sale of aids for females.
They also give lectures.  I had the good fortune to meet both Betty and
Carol over the years attending their seminars.  It looks like we'll have to
get you the Cadillac of personal fulfillment for those times when you want
to just have a solo session or when neither Todd or I are around to fill
your needs."

   They entered the deli and ordered a Hero which they split, and two iced
French vanilla cappuccinos.

   "It's the 'Hitachi Magic Wand' and I just happen to know a store
downtown that stocks them!" Kelly said as she sat down.

   "Kelly, I can't walk into a adult store here in Charlotte!  Somebody
might recognize me and tell my dad!"

   "Don't you worry Babe.  It's a special lingerie shop that just happens
to carry toys for grown ups!"

   "But if it's so good, why do you want a partner?" Laura whispered.

   "Oh Laura...  As good as the results are, and let me tell you they are
really good, there's nothing that beats sharing sex with someone you love."

   "Yeah, I can understand that.  One of the things that made the last few
nights so special was being able to cuddle next to my lovers."

   Kelly smiled.

   They finished their drinks and sandwich and headed back to At-Comm. 
Benny had the phone programmed and had even entered some quick dial numbers
for TKO for Laura.

   "Do you want that wrapped or are you going to start carrying it now?"
Benny asked.

   "I might as well get used to keeping it on me," said Laura as she
clipped it to her waistband.

   "I thought as much.  I've got all the instructions in the bag with the
warranty." To Kelly he gave a few cards that had Laura's new number written
on them.

   "Just bill it all to our account okay Benny?"

   "Will do Kelly.  If you need anything else, you know where to find me!"

   "Thanks Benny." Kelly said as the girls left the store.

   "Since we're downtown anyway, let's drive over to the lingerie shop
before we head home."

   "I'm going to feel so weird shopping for a vibrator," said Laura.

   "Relax Sweetie, you'll see real quick that they treat this very
seriously, and nobody is going to give you a second glance."

   Twenty minutes later they were driving back to Kelly's, Laura still
blushing from the experience, but she had a Hitachi Magic Wand of her own.

   They stopped at the drugstore in the strip mall where Kelly bought her
supplies and after stocking up on some essentials and a couple of boxes of
panty liners and four boxes of Tampax Compak Multipax, the ones that fit
discreetly in the palm of the hand, the girls returned to Kelly's.

   "I like the multipax," said Kelly.  "I don't have to bother buying
separate boxes for heavy days or light days or for through the night."

   "I'm just glad we both use regular absorbency," said Laura.  "Otherwise
we would have had to get two stashes and we wouldn't be able to help each
other out."

   Kelly and Laura tossed the dirty clothes into the washing machine and
then retired to the kitchen with a bottle of mineral water.

   "What should we fix Todd for lunch?" Laura asked.

   "Hmm...  He'll probably end up snacking all night on it so how about we
make him some chicken fingers on a bun and leave him enough chicken so he
can snack when the urge hits him?"

   "That sounds good," said Laura.

   The buzzer went off on the washing machine and Laura went to transfer
the clothes to the dryer.  Kelly had taken a few cartons of her Cameo's
from the studio and packed them away in her closet after taking a couple
packs out for her immediate use.

   The girls sat and waited for the dryer to finish and then folded the
clothes and sorted them.  Most of what Laura had gotten she packed with
Todd's clothes to take back to the studio but left a supply at Kelly's as
well knowing she was going to be spending a lot of time with Kelly.  She
also left her Magic Wand in the other nightstand beside Kelly's bed.

   Kelly and Laura stopped at the supermarket where Kelly did her grocery
shopping and picked up a large package of fresh boneless, skinless chicken
breasts and a bag of Kaiser buns before they headed back to the studio.



   ~~~~~ // ~~~~~

   Todd had processed the film and the negatives had looked promising.  He
set up his large trays for printing and ran off contact sheets of all the
rolls of film he had shot.  He knew that Kelly would like to see them when
she and Laura came back.

   While the contacts were drying Todd got on the phone.  He had done a
shoot for a diamond wholesaler a year back and had been fascinated with the
entire process of the cutting and polishing.  He had absorbed enough
information about the four C's of diamond quality that he could speak about
them with some knowledge.  He called the president of the company and laid
out his request.

   "That's an unusual request Todd," said Johan.  "We've never tried
mounting three hearts on a ring before.  If the stones are too small, you
won't be able to see the cut, and if you make them large enough to see that
they're hearts, you'll be looking at a mighty big ring.  I like the way you
think though."

   "Damn," said Todd.  "I really want something that says 'I love you' but
not garden variety."

   "Ah, I must have misunderstood you when you first said what you wanted.
I could have sworn you said two engagement rings, identical."

   Todd laughed.  "That's what I did say Johan."

   "And do you plan on marrying two girls?"

   "I'm not planning it Johan, I'm going to do it!"

   Johan laughed at the other end of the line.  "Then might I suggest you
get a set of three rings?"

   "I only need two," said Todd.

   "No my friend," said Johan laughing.  "I meant two sets of three rings.
One engagement ring with two interlocking wedding bands.  I could design
you a custom set that would have a large heart on the engagement ring with
small stones on the sides and for the two wedding bands we could put a
smaller heart on each of them with say a cascading cluster of stones
falling away from them.  That way, when your 'brides' are wearing all three
rings you would have a diagonal line of hearts."

   "That would work!" said Todd.  "How long would it take you to make that
up?"

   "We could probably make them in about a week depending on the size of
the stones.  We can mount them here and I can give you the name of a good
jeweler who can size them for you in Charlotte or you can send me the sizes
and I will have them made right to size here.  What kind of band were you
looking at?  Did you want to go with the platinum?  It's quite popular
right now."

   "No, I think I would prefer to stick to 18 karat gold bands," said Todd.
"Platinum is nice, but I want something a bit more traditional."

   "You want traditional?  And you plan on marrying two women?"

   "Yeah, I know, so I'm an oxymoron in the flesh," laughed Todd.

   "And how large would you like the main diamond?"

   "What size would you recommend Johan?  You're the expert."

   "Yes, I suppose I am," he sighed.  "For a heart shape I think you will
have to go at least one carat to show the stone off properly.  But you
realize this is an expensive cut."

   "How about bigger?" Todd asked.

   "If we go much bigger, they won't be practical to wear Todd."

   "Okay, you got the idea of what I want.  I'll get their sizes here and
let you know by the end of the week if that's okay."

   "That will be fine.  Just out of curiosity, if you don't mind me asking,
is one of the brides to be Kelly?"

   Todd laughed again.  "I'm sorry Johan, but I am taking her off the open
market!"

   "Congratulations Todd.  I'll send you over a copy of the design once I
have it drawn up.  Then you can tell me if you like it or want to change it
in anyway."

   "That would be great Johan.  Do you want the number of my bank?"

   "Todd, I know you, that's good enough for me."

   "Thanks Johan.  I'll look forward to the artwork and I'll get those
sizes to you this week."

   After he hung up the phone, Todd was humming to himself as he slid the
negative of Chuck into the enlarger.  Seeing it in full size, Todd knew he
had really captured the real essence of Chuck.  He maneuvered the sliding
table around until he had a cropped image he felt would do the most justice
and still humming turned off the lights and pulled out a 8 x 10 matte
finish sheet of paper.  As he looked at the picture of Chuck caught
unawares with that thoughtful gaze, Todd remembered the man who last Friday
had said he would be proud to call Todd his son.  Todd slid the exposed
print into the developing solution and reached for his special 11 x 14
stock.



   ~~~~~ // ~~~~~

   "Oh Todd!  She's gorgeous!" said Kelly.

   "Wow...  look at her eyes," said Laura, "they totally dominate the
picture!"

   Todd was smiling.  Taking a drink from his mineral water he asked, "What
feeling do you get when you look at her?" By "her" he was referring to
Anna. He had finished the pictures of Chuck and Anna first.  He wasn't sure
why he wanted to do these first, but it seemed more important to him than
InterCoastal's paying job.

   Kelly and Laura had arrived back at the studio a bit later than they had
expected.  Their two-hour trip had turned into a four-hour excursion, but
Kelly knew that Todd would not be waiting to eat.  He was more than capable
of finding something to snack on if he got hungry, but she also knew that
he probably would continue working in the darkroom till they got back.  And
he had.

   Todd had printed 8 x 10's of Chuck and Anna and also 11 x 14's on his
special stock.  He hadn't even bothered to start printing any other
pictures until he had the 11 x 14's mounted on a foam core back.

   "I'm not sure," said Laura.  "I feel like I'm looking at a beautiful
young girl, but those eyes...  they're haunting.  It's like she knows
something I don't and she's telling me with her eyes."

   Kelly rubbed Todd's shoulders as he took another bite of the chicken
breast bun.  "I feel a bit sad," she said.  "Maybe sad isn't the right word
but solemn, serious.  What ever did you say to that girl to get that
expression?"

   Todd was smiling from ear to ear.  When he took a picture that could
evoke such emotion, he knew he was in his groove.  He pointed to the one of
Chuck, making sure his fingers didn't touch any of the finished prints. 
After he had heard Kelly calling him to come eat, he had finished off the
Cuddy shots and hung them up to dry, covered his chemicals and come out of
the darkroom carrying the finished pictures between two hands, touching
only the sides and stood them up on the display case in the reception area
of the office where the lights were set for best exposure.

   "And this one of Chuck, the profile, it's something else all together.
When did you take that one?" Kelly asked.

   "While you and Brenda were making supper Thursday night.  Chuck and I
were just making conversation, talking about Brenda and the rest of the
'James Gang' and I was just cleaning my camera.  Amanda was kind of cuddled
up to him and he was just sitting there, calm and serene, just as you see
him.  Something we were talking about, times changing or something and he
got that look of a man deep in thought.  Actually he was so deep in
thought, he didn't even see me raise the camera or focus in!  I doubt I
could get a look like that if he knew a camera was around."

   "Well, I think we should pack them up proper and ship them down to him
with a personal letter of thanks for his hospitality and kindness," said
Kelly.

   "That's what I was thinking as well Sweetheart." Todd finished his
second chicken bun and headed over to his workbench where he had the
contact sheets of all the film he had exposed that weekend.  He washed his
hands and picked up the red wax pencil he used to write on the 16 x 20 thin
glossy sheets.  Using the larger sheets he could put a roll of film on each
sheet and after he was done with them, they would get stored along with the
negatives in a fireproof cabinet.  After a year, they would be transferred
to an old fur storage vault he and Kelly had bought.  With fur being out of
politically correct season, they had really lucked into the purchase and it
was located in a warehouse they had bought outright.  The space they didn't
need they rented to out to Steve who had bought an old very large safe and
placed it in the building to house his important legal documents, and
through Steve they had rented out more of the space to other legal firms
that wanted to keep important papers like wills or in some extreme cases
valuables that belonged to clients.  The other renters paid for the
elaborate security system and Steve and TKO split the profits.

   Todd picked up the sheet of the two girls in the bathtub from their
Friday night romp.  He had already circled four shots that he thought were
exceptionally good, but none of them would ever be seen by outsiders.  They
were just a bit too revealing.  Kelly and Laura looked over the sheet with
the large, round, lighted magnifier mounted to the bench and finally
decided on one that would be appropriate for Ray from the T-shirt shop.

   "That's another one to mail out," said Kelly.  "Laura's going to sign
her first autograph!"

   "Here's some that Laura hasn't seen," said Todd pulling another sheet
out.  It was the pictures Todd had shot from the balcony of their suite of
Laura and the dolphins.  The water, though a beautiful array of blues and
greens, seemed transparent and glistened from the early morning sunlight.
The sun also picked up the golden highlights in Laura's hair.  They were
beautiful shots and innocent, the model not even knowing she was being
watched.  Todd had selected a few that would be good for stock photos and
ones to add to Laura's portfolio.  Her expression told an entire volume of
stories.

   Next they looked at the pictures of Laura taken at "Reliving History."
They agreed with Todd's choice of pictures, one of which was a fabulous one
of Laura in a confederate soldier's uniform complete with rifle in hand
standing slightly sideways with the rifle butt on the ground.

   "But what about the ones for Peter?" Kelly asked.  "That's what I
thought you would get to first!"

   Todd had purposely left this one turned upside down on the table and
with a smile turned it over.  Because of the set up time for each shot he
had only shot off one roll of film Sunday, but of the shots he had taken,
all were good, but there were four that really stood out.  The first was a
close up of the wing as it cut through the wake the tug had generated, the
silver gleaming in the sunlight.  The second one Todd had circled was of
the wing exposed but the bulk of the hull out of the water, but it was the
third that made the girls laugh.  It looked like Sara had been skating with
the boat and at the last moment turned her blade to send a cascade of ice
slivers flying.  Except in this case it was a side view of the Cuddy as it
skidded towards them and the wing, the hull and the screws were exposed
through a sheet of water that was crystal clear in the focus.  Individual
drops seemed to blast out of the picture towards the viewer and the girls
remembered Peter and Al's response to Sara's little stunt.

   As they laughed with the memory, Todd pointed to the one he thought was
the best of the bunch.  It had been Sara's last run and with the power
opened up on the Cuddy, after the tug had totally churned the water, the
Cuddy was captured in all its glory with the entire hull out of the water
as well as the wing and screws.  The water could be seen running off the
side of the hull and from the wing.  The boat was literally flying much
like a dolphin breaking surface on the run.

   "That's a great shot Todd," said Kelly.  "Peter should be real happy
with any of these, but I think this one is the one they'll use."

   "Am I missing something?" Laura asked.  "You don't seem as excited by
these pictures as you do about the ones of Chuck and Anna."

   Todd gave her a sad smile.  "This is my work Honey, I liked the ones I
did for Regan's more because they didn't put the pressure on me like Peter
did.  From the beginning when Peter called, this was a production shoot
with deadlines and lots of pressure.  The ones I took of Anna and Chuck,
that's my life.  When we were at Chuck's, the first time, it was also a
paying job, just catalog work, but Chuck left me alone and didn't ask for
anything special.  Then when I got the shot of Sara, it was unique and
special and made it all worthwhile.  And Chuck was as thrilled with it as I
was.  I can't impress Peter because he expects more than the best, and
specifies exactly how it should look.  It doesn't leave much room to be
creative."

   Laura thought about that for a minute and slowly nodded her
understanding.

   "Anyway," he said, "I've printed these four on good stock so you can
call Peter and tell him that they're ready."

   Kelly looked at the time.  It was only four o'clock.  "If they're dry, I
might be able to get them to him with UPS or Fed-Ex overnight.  Let me call
him and see where he wants them sent."

   Laura and Todd went back to the kitchen to clean up the remnants of
their late lunch.



   ~~~~~ // ~~~~~

   Kelly lit up a cigarette as she sat down at her desk.  She dialed in
Peter's cell number and waited for an answer.

   "Hi Peter," she said when he answered.  "How did the press shoot go
today?"

   "Poorly," he said.  "We'll get the headlines for setting a new speed
record, but they were more intent on shooting the boat as it broke the
speed record.  It doesn't show the modifications of the boat, so for all
intents and purposes it just looks like a boat in the water.  I was
watching the photographers and if not for the headlines, it could have been
going 50 and nobody would know the difference.  I'm really starting to
appreciate Todd's vision.  Dare I ask how things are coming on your end?"

   Kelly took a deep drag and said, "You not only may dare, but I'm pleased
to tell you that Todd was so thrilled about our vacation courtesy of IC
that he went right at it and he has them done.  I was just calling to see
where we should deliver them?"

   "They're done already?  Damn Kelly, if I can get my hands on them now, I
can get them digitized and sent to the papers.  How do they look?"

   "Better than even you could have hoped for Peter.  Todd got four really
excellent shots out of the day, and if you want them digitized, we have the
equipment for that here."

   "Well I was just getting ready to fly out myself and head back to Rhode
Island but I'll need to catch a local flight to get to a major airport. 
Any chance I can fly to Charlotte and send the digitized images out from
your end and pick up the finished prints?"

   Kelly looked over at Todd who was smiling talking to Laura.  "I think
that would be safe Peter.  We'll get them digitized so all you have to do
is contact the various papers and send it out from here.  Call me when you
land and I'll come and pick you up at the airport."

   "Thanks Kelly!"



   ~~~~~ // ~~~~~

   "So his newspaper photographers didn't quite deliver on what he wanted
to sell eh?" Todd smiled smugly.

   "They didn't know anything about the boat or the wing Todd.  They
thought they were just looking at a boat that went faster.  Can we get the
negs scanned in Tiff format so he can sent them to the papers from here?"

   "Are we going go get the credit for the photographs?"

   "I'll insist on it," Kelly said.

   "Sure.  I can fire up the Nikon transparency scanner and give him high
resolution images." Todd said.  "You know, as much as he pissed me off, I
wouldn't want his job.  I promise I'll be nice to him!"

   Kelly laughed.  "And spoil your reputation now?"

   Todd fetched the dried prints and the corresponding negatives and
started to scan them into files.  Kelly and Laura took the clean laundry
upstairs and put everything away.

   They were going to sit and watch TV while Todd finished his printing
when Kelly thought of something and headed downstairs again.

   "Todd, when you finish scanning the prints of the boat can you scan the
ones of Anna and Chuck for me?  I told Jules I'd send her copies of the
Cuddy but I think they'd like to see what you did for Chuck and Anna as
well."

   "Sure, once this workhorse starts going, it's no problem doing a few
more scans."

   "And I might as well get the ones of Chuck and Anna packed up now and
call for a pick up.  There's still time to get them out today."

   Kelly sat at her desk and wrote a nice personal note to Chuck thanking
him and offering these pictures as a way of friendship.  She prepared the
shipping box and inserted the pictures in so they wouldn't be damaged and
then called Fed-Ex to come and pick them up.

   Laura who was starting to miss Kelly's company came downstairs and
offered to watch for the courier if Kelly was called to the airport.

   Todd returned to the darkroom to print out the one for Ray and another
of Laura with the dolphins that he would send to Al.



   ~~~~~ // ~~~~~

   Peter hadn't called yet, when Todd emerged once again from the darkroom.
He had the picture of the girls in the tub for Ray and the one of Laura's
early morning close encounter.

   Kelly and Laura both laughed as Laura practiced signing her name on
photographs with a special pen.  When she finally had it right she and
Kelly signed the one to Ray with "Love and Kisses".  Todd scribbled
underneath their signatures, "Live Long and Prosper!"

   Kelly got out another shipping envelope and wrote a note to Al regarding
the picture of Laura and asked him to deliver the bubble bath print to Ray.
She simply addressed the envelope to the Mayor of Brookhaven.

   The envelope had just been sealed when the phone rang.  Peter had
arrived.

   "I can pick him up," volunteered Laura.  "I'm getting to like that
airport!"

   "That would be great Laura.  That way I can write up a contract for him
to sign regarding our vacation."

   Laura had just pulled out of the driveway when the Fed-Ex truck pulled
in.  Kelly signed off on the shipment and for a moment there was silence in
the studio.

   "What have you got left to do Honey?" Kelly asked Todd.

   "Just the ones of Laura from 'Reliving History,' but you know Kell, all
of a sudden I'm just beat."

   "I know Sweetheart.  You push yourself too hard.  Look...  there's only
the three prints you want, you've got the chemicals out now, why not run
them off and then pack it all away?  I'll even give you a hand."

   "Thanks Kell, but you've got to write up a contract for that vacation
remember?" Todd smiled.  "I guess that's incentive enough for me right
now!"

   Todd went back to the darkroom once more.

   Kelly returned to her computer and pulled up one of the standard
contracts Steve had created for them, changed the fee from dollars to "two
week vacation in Jamaica via boat large enough for seven passengers, all
inclusive." She added a line regarding time and with proper notice because
she had promised Peter.  Satisfied this would more than cover their needs,
she printed off three copies, one for Peter, one for their own records and
one for Steve.

   Laura still wasn't back from the airport so Kelly took the time to
convert the Tiff files Todd had scanned in and converted them to smaller
Jpegs.  Then she sent an email to JulieAnn.



   Dear JulieAnn,

   As promised, here are the pictures that Todd got of the Cuddy with the
wing.  I'm sure you and the rest of the gang will be as excited with these
shots as Todd and I were.

   I've also attached two pictures that Todd took while we were at Chucks.
These are two of Todd's best shots in the last year.  I know you guys are
pretty involved with Chuck, so I thought you would like to see them.  We've
already sent the originals to Regan's. I hope that now the speed trials are
over, you can relax a little bit, but knowing the "James Gang" I'll bet you
are already working on another project.

   Best of luck and much success in your ventures.



   Hugs to all!



   Kelly

   Kelly had just pressed the send key when Laura pulled in with Peter.  It
would be cutting it close, but if Peter called the papers first and told
them he was sending the files, they should be able to replace the pictures
to go with the story.



   ~~~~~ // ~~~~~

   "Hi Peter," Kelly said as he entered the studio.  "Care for a drink
before you get on the phone?"

   Laura smiled.  All Peter had talked about on the drive over was the
pictures.  He so badly wanted to get something that would boost interest in
the boat, and had been disappointed in the news photographers who were more
interested in the speed than in the stability.  Though Laura had been
there, she really didn't understand the reason for his concern, but she did
realize this was an important thing for Peter.  She had tried to assure him
saying how impressed she was with the pictures, but Peter wanted to see for
himself.

   "Please Kelly," he begged, "Let me see at least one picture that will
show the wing.  It's the most important part of the boat and what allows it
to utilize the full power of the monster motor we put into it."

   Todd picked that moment to re-emerge from the dark room, having cleaned
up his chemicals and washed and put away his trays.  The last pictures he
had developed were in the dryer.

   "Hi Peter," he said, "Want a beer?  It's the good stuff."

   "No thanks Todd, all I really want is to see a picture that will capture
the boating worlds imagination, then I can catch the next flight out and
report with good news to the board."

   Todd laughed as he pulled one of the Molson bottles out of the fridge
for himself, asked Kelly and Laura if they wanted one, which the declined,
and said to Kelly, "Why not give him his package Honey?"

   With a smile Kelly handed Peter the protective shipping envelope.  Peter
opened it with shaking hands.  His hands steadied, as did his breathing, as
he saw the first picture.  By the time he had all four spread out on the
desk he was beaming from ear to ear.

   "Thanks Todd," he said.  "You've saved what was nearly a disaster.  And
you have these scanned already?"

   "They're all set on the computer," said Kelly.  "All you need to do is
call the papers that were there this morning and get their email addresses
and you can send them out right from here."

   "Maybe I will have that beer after all," said Peter.  As Laura went to
get him one, Peter got on the phone and started to call the big daily
papers that had shown up at Brookhaven that morning.

   Before he could get through to the first paper, Kelly slid him the three
contracts for the vacation as well as a note stating that Todd would
receive the credit for the photos.  Peter signed the contracts with
pleasure, and with each of the papers he got through to; he made it
perfectly clear that the photos be credited to Todd Ayres.

   Kelly helped him enter the various newspaper emails and they sent one
different picture to each of them.  Most would run similar pictures, but
this way all four pictures would show up in different papers.

   As he sat back, finally satisfied that only good pictures would be shown
in the papers, he took a long swig of his beer and leaned back in the
chair. "So," he finally asked, "When did you guys buy in?"

   Kelly laughed, said it had been Todd's idea, and told Peter of the
Friday morning decision.

   It was Peter's turn to laugh.  "Al was a bit pissed that he didn't get
his buy order in until just before the market closed Friday.  I'll bet he
paid a lot more for his shares than you did.  I'm nearly certain that
between last Friday morning and this Friday, the value will double.  That
Cuddy was nearly a white elephant until JamPC fixed the problem.  We
couldn't do a thing with it, and we had some of the best engineers working
on it."

   "They are an amazing group," Todd said.  "They seem to brainstorm as one
and find alternate solutions to conventional problems.  I wish they were a
public company!"

   "You and me both!" said Peter.  "Thanks for getting this done for me so
fast Todd.  I'm really sorry for being so callous back at the island. 
Sometimes I let my mouth operate before my brain.  I hope you understand
that I have a board to answer to."

   "It's okay Peter," said Todd.  "Kelly helped me to see what kind of bind
you were in.  I only have to answer to these two women.  I'd hate to have
to answer to a board!"

   "And speaking of the Board," Peter said, "I'd love to stick around for a
while but I have a meeting with them first thing tomorrow morning.  I
better get on a plane."

   "We'll drive you back to the airport." Kelly said.

   "No thanks Kelly, if you can call me a cab, that will do just fine.  I'm
not in panic mode now, so I can relax and fly home."

   Laura called a cab for Peter and fifteen minutes later he was gone with
the pictures and the contract Kelly had drawn up.



   ~~~~~ // ~~~~~

   "Anybody hungry?" Todd asked.  "I'm beat and I thought we could order
something in and go sit on the roof and pretend we're still at the island."

   "Miss it already Sweetheart?" Kelly asked.

   "I think it's all the fresh air I miss," laughed Todd.  "I've been in
the darkroom since we got back this morning!"

   "This is shaping up to be a busy week," Kelly said.  "The gym equipment
will be coming tomorrow, and I have to clean up my guest room for Cara and
Ami."

   "I'll be glad to give you a hand with that Kelly, if you can wait until
after my morning classes.  God, I'm going to have to really study now!"

   Kelly laughed.  "It's okay Laura, you just take your time and get as
many hours in as you can.  Gloria will be there to give me a hand, and I
don't have that much to move."

   "No kidding," said Todd.  "I think half of your stuff is here anyways."

   Kelly pouted.  "Just my sports equipment."

   "Are you guys sure you don't need me tomorrow?" Laura asked.

   "Baby, we want you," said Kelly, "but we think your studies should come
first."

   Kelly placed an order for a bucket of chicken wings and a large pizza,
which she went out to pick up.  While she was gone, Todd rolled a couple of
joints and then with Laura's help, wiped down the patio furniture on his
roof.

   There was a fire escape that ran along the back of the building that
ended on a flat top roof.  An access route to the fire escape was a doorway
at the end of the hall from Todd's bedroom.  It had been a large window
before Todd had remodeled the upstairs into his personal living quarters
and he had placed a solid steel cased door there.  Over the years he had
built a small-enclosed sundeck with screening to keep the mosquitoes at
bay. It was sparsely furnished with comfortable patio furniture, though he
hardly used it.  On those occasions where he had wanted to enjoy the
outdoors he had mostly gone to Kelly's house where the back yard had been
transformed at the hands of G and Delton.

   Kelly returned with the chicken wings and pizza.  She knew that Todd
wanted to light up and mellow out, which is why she had ordered the chicken
wings.  Laura helped her carry the food up to the roof and Todd brought
along an Eskimo chest filled with cold beer on ice.

   Todd opened the beers and passed them around and then proceeded to light
the first joint.  After taking a deep hit of the potent grass, Todd said,
"This would have been good in Brookhaven!"

   "Yes it would have been Todd, but we have our own rules to follow."
Kelly gently reminded him as she took the joint from his hands and took a
deep hit herself.  Rather than exhale she moved to Laura and with an open
mouthed kiss exhaled into Laura's lungs.

   "Wow!  That's a turn on by itself!" said Laura after she exhaled.

   They passed the doobie around and around until there was nothing left
but a small roach that Kelly shoved into the end of one of her cigarettes.
Then they dug into the pizza.



   ~~~~~ // ~~~~~

   By the time the pizza was demolished they were feeling a nice buzz and
Todd opened another beer for them.

   They nursed the second beer as they watched the stars brighten the
crisp, clear North Carolina sky.  They talked of life and love and the
important things that lovers often do.  An hour passed and Todd lit the
second joint.  By the time the roach had found its way into another of
Kelly's cigarettes, they were all pleasantly buzzed and soon the munchies
hit.

   Between chicken wings, Todd mentioned how quiet and peaceful it was. 
Even though it was a weekday, the industrial park was pretty well deserted
this time of night.  Regretfully, they all had early morning schedules and
decided it would be smarter to call it an early night.

   Cleaning up was done quickly and without effort.  Todd locked the
sundeck and the door to the fire escape making sure to turn the alarm back
on, while the girls disposed of the garbage and put the empty bottles away.

   They had a communal shower that night, all three of them trying to fit
into the shower at the same time.  After the other two promised not to
look, Laura pulled out her tampon and quickly wrapped it in toilet paper
and tossed it into the wastebasket.

   Though space was at a premium, they managed to soap each other up and
Kelly and Laura managed to have a mutual climax through their locked legs.
Todd's erection was at full mast, and shyly, Laura invited him to slip his
hard cock into her wet and very juicy cunt.  As they were all still nicely
stoned, Todd was able to hold back on his own orgasm and lifting Laura so
that her legs encircled him drove her over the crest again and yet once
more.  His stamina was flagging though and he let her down gently on
quivering legs.  It had been the first time she had been loved while on her
period.  Both Kelly and Laura noticed that Todd was still hard.

   Turning Todd into the water, Kelly washed off his prick and then sat on
the side of the tub to suck him to a well-deserved climax.  He was a good
man.

   Todd was the first to dry off after stepping out of the shower and after
he left the bathroom, Laura inserted a fresh tampon and slipped on a pair
of panties.  Not wanting Kelly to be left out, Laura led her to the bedroom
and proceeded to give Kelly a wicked tongue-lashing that left Kelly
writhing and clasping at the sheets.  A few more minutes of kissing and the
fatigue that had followed them all day took its toll and soon all three
were fast asleep, the two girls cuddled to Todd.  It was just 10:00
o'clock.



   ~~~~~ // ~~~~~

   The alarm went off at 8 the next morning and after they brushed their
teeth, dressed and had their vitamins, go-juice and a simple, very healthy
breakfast of raw vegetables and mineral water, Laura offered Kelly a ride
back to her house.

   "I can walk Sweetheart," Kelly had protested, but Laura had been
adamant. "Nonsense.  I know you can walk it and usually do, but you have
work you want to do and I have to leave anyway or I will be late for class.
You said yourself there was little to do right now, so why not let Todd get
his equipment set up?"

   Kelly relented.  Though she had slept well, she was still a bit tired
and a ride sounded real good.

   Laura made sure her new phone was turned on and attached to her
waistband.  She grabbed her books and after she and Kelly had given Todd
lots of kisses to last him the day, they took off.

   Todd settled back in Kelly's office chair and waited for the delivery
van to bring the equipment.  He was glad there were professionals coming
with the delivery to set it all up as he was not quite caught up on his
rest.

   Laura dropped Kelly off at her house and they shared a few quiet moments
necking in the driveway before, with a deep sigh, Laura said, "I love you
Kelly."

   "I love you too Laura," said Kelly.  "Try to get done what you can
because you'll be off flying again tomorrow."

   "I will Kelly, I promise.  I haven't forgotten that this is my chance."

   Kelly rewarded her with a big smile.  "I know you haven't forgotten
Honey, I just think that we sometimes expect too much from you."

   Laura's eyes misted quickly.  "You could never ask too much of me Kelly.
Love has no limits."

   Laura backed carefully out of the driveway and Kelly waved at her as she
drove away.



   To be continued...



   ============================

   A personal note of thanks to the readers:

   So, here it is.  Chapter 14 in what was supposed to be a one-chapter
addition to Mike C's fantastic "James" series.

   How did it turn into 14 chapters?  And still growing?

   Part of it was Mike's persuasive ways, but in the end, I think you, the
readers, have spurred both Mike and myself on.  Your loyalty, (over a year
now for James!), and those letters of encouragement have helped us push the
boundaries, and break records in collaborate writing.

   I especially want to thank my proofreaders and editors.  I owe you guys
a far greater debt than I can ever hope to repay.

   These stories are as grammatically correct as any you would find in a
published novel.  It is a source of pride that we can write believable
erotica without mixing tenses or introducing blatant spelling errors.

   Some of you have written with questions about the technical material
presented in the stories and we are also quite proud of the research we put
into every single chapter.

   As for Kelly, in February, I hope to have chapters 1 - 10 available in
PDF, HTML and in Doc format available for download.  Quite a bit of
rewriting has gone into the first ten chapters and you might enjoy seeing
the story the way it was written instead of the plain text format.  We will
keep you posted.

   Thanks again to all of you!

   Peace Night Hawk (NH@nighthawk.sytes.net) Archived at
</files/Authors/MikeC/James>