Note: This story was dynamically reformatted for online reading convenience.
 
 Title: My Saving Grace Pt.  02


Summary: You can love your sister, but can you LOVE her?
Keywords: inc,fic



   Our parents arrived in the wee hours the next morning.  Dad called me
from the driveway, letting me know they were there so we didn't call the
police when we heard someone at the door.  As soon as he and Mom got in the
house, it was an immediate hug fest.  Mom was determined to double check
every inch of Grace to make sure she hadn't been hurt.  Good thing Grace
had showered!

   While Mom put Gracie under the maternal microscope, Dad took me aside
for a chat.  "I'm so proud of you son, for the way you helped your sister!"
he said with quiet emphasis.

   "Thanks Dad, but I didn't really do that much for her.  Besides, you
know she would have done the same if it had been me getting set up." Dad
nodded firmly.

   "Yes, Kevin, I acknowledge that.  Nevertheless, I'm proud of you - both
of you.  You kept your heads in a very difficult and confusing situation,
and because you did, everyone walked away under their own power, and your
sister is okay." Then, Dad hugged me.  He didn't hug me a lot, preferring a
firm handshake, so it was a bit of a surprise.  Maybe it shouldn't have
been, but there you go.

   And, then it was Mom's turn.  She caught me off guard with the sheer
force of her embrace.  My ribs groaned at the strain of standing up against
her strength.  "Thank God you were here, Kevin!  When I think about what
those two bastards planned to do to my daughter...I almost feel like-" she
broke off, her voice trembling with suppressed rage.  It wasn't hard for me
to guess what she might've said.  After all, I felt the same rage pulsing
through me.

   I didn't sleep much that night; none of us did.  My parents and I felt
like we were keeping watch, and Grace just couldn't rest.  I was sitting up
in bed, staring out my window when she slipped quietly into my room.  I
knew it was her without looking; the subtle scent of her favorite dusting
powder and her lithe, deft movements gave it away.  Grace settled quietly
into my bed, and I gathered her in my arms.  She settled herself
comfortably against me, and I kissed the top of her head, all without a
single word spoken between us.  None were needed.  After a few moments, she
finally closed her eyes and drifted off into sleep.

   That whole week after the Event, as we came to call it, was a flurry of
activity.  Grace and I went to class, by choice, believe it or not.  My Mom
and Dad changed all the locks in the house as well as the alarm code. 
There would no longer be a hide-a-key, he cautioned us.  He also hired
someone to fix the hole in the floor (and the corresponding hole in the
first floor ceiling).  I remember on Tuesday of that week, Dad approached
me with an odd little smile as I walked into the house.

   "Hold out your hand, Kevin!" My curiosity got the better of me, and I
held my hand out as requested.  He dropped a tiny, mangled piece of jagged
metal into my palm.  After a second of studying the tortured-looking piece
of gold and gray metal, I realized this could only be the remains of the
bullet I'd fired into the floor.

   "The contractor pulled it out of a floor beam.  I figured it would be an
interesting souvenir," Dad said, answering my unasked question.  "If
nothing else, it'll make a great conversation piece, huh?" I had to laugh.
I put the mangled projectile in my dresser.  I had an idea for it, for
later.

   A little about my daily schedule: On Tuesdays and Thursdays I had my lab
classes which tended to run late.  Grace would always make it home before
me on those days.  Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays I tended to get home
around 2pm and Grace was doing well if she made it before four.  I'd had to
schedule things that way in order to have time for homework and my job. 
That's why it was a surprise to me when I came home Thursday of that week
and saw Grace's car wasn't in the driveway.

   As I walked into the house I noticed Mom in the kitchen, talking to
another woman who had her back to the door.  I closed the door and headed
towards the stairs, but stopped when Mom called out to me.  "Hey Sweetie,
your girlfriend is here!" she said, brightly.  She apparently didn't notice
my reaction as she continued merrily on.  "I haven't seen Kelly in a while,
so we had a nice little chat while we waited for you.  I'll just head
upstairs for a minute so you two can talk, alright?"

   "Mom, I don't-"

   "Kevin, let's talk out on the deck, okay?" Kelly said.

   "No, thanks!  What part of 'I never want to see you again, you cheating
whore' did you not understand, Kelly?" I demanded.

   "KEVIN MICHAEL RICHMOND!" my Mom thundered.  "I DIDN'T RAISE YOU TO
SPEAK LIKE THAT!  WHAT HAS GOTTEN INTO YOU?"

   "Maybe you should ask what's gotten into her, Mother," I said.  I only
called my Mom 'Mother' when I was really upset, and hearing this cut off
further shouting from her.  "How about it, there, Kelly?" I taunted.  "Eat
any good dicks lately?  Everything going alright with your new fuck toy?"

   "Kevin please, there's no need to air our dirty laundry here-"

   "Really?  No need?  Well, I think there's a need.  Clearly there were a
few things you neglected to mention to my mother while you were
'chatting,'" I said sarcastically, holding my fingers up to make little air
quotes.

   "Kevin, please, I love you, don't-"

   "You hear that, Mother?  She loves me!  Thank goodness!  You know, I was
worried for a few days.  I was afraid I'd end up proposing to you, only to
hear you tell me you couldn't accept because you'd fallen in love with -
and had fucked - another man you met a few days ago!  Oh wait," I paused
dramatically, holding a hand up.  "That's exactly what happened!  I spent
the last six years being absolutely devoted to you!  Hell, you even
convinced me to save myself for you, making me the only 20-year-old virgin
I know of!  But you love me, so that means it's all good between us.  Water
under the bridge, like Grandpa used to say.  Right?"

   I shook my head and sighed, dropping the sarcastically cheerful mien. 
"Kelly, if this is how you treat someone you love, I think I'd rather have
you hate me, alright?"

   I glared balefully at the erstwhile love of my life.  Finally, I said,
"Kelly, if you truly loved me, you wouldn't have been ABLE to fall in love
with anyone else, but that hardly matters now.  If you didn't want to be
with me anymore, then the moral, honorable thing to do would have been to
just tell me.  Tell me honestly, to my face, and make it quick and clean.
Then, after you officially ended the relationship with me, you could have
sex with whoever appealed to you and no one could fault you for it."

   "That's right, the correct sequence of events is: 1) break up with
boyfriend, then 2) find another boyfriend.  It still would have hurt - damn
it would have hurt - but I wouldn't have hated you.  And, you still
would've had my respect.  But you got it backwards, Kelly.  So here we are.
By the way, since you won't leave me alone, will you at least tell me what
I did, or what it is about me that is so substandard, that the only way out
for you was to have sex with another man?"

   Kelly didn't answer my question, not that I figured she would.  My
mother, though, was staring back and forth between the two us, slack-jawed
with shock.

   "What the hell are you doing here anyway?" I asked, when it became clear
Kelly wasn't going to give me what I wanted.

   "I heard about what happened on the news.  I had to hear it on the news,
Kevin!  You didn't call me and tell me you were okay.  Neither did Grace.
The news said no one was killed, but there wasn't a lot of details.  I was
concerned for you," she said.  To my surprise, I actually saw tears in her
lovely green eyes.

   Now I was just confused.  Why in the hell would she be concerned about
me?  She flushed me away like used toilet paper, but she's concerned about
me?  I confess, I didn't see that one coming.

   "Look Kevin, I know I could have handled the situation between us
better," she continued, when I failed to respond.  "But you just have to
understand, I love Grant now.  It was love the second I looked into his
eyes!  He's my soul mate!  But I still care for you!  Just because I don't
love you the same way I used to doesn't mean I want to see you get hurt or
killed!"

   I managed to stop myself from telling her that she had to have a soul
before she could have a soul mate, but it took a lot of willpower.  I
rolled my eyes and stared at the ceiling.  This conversation was a lot like
talking to a politician; we were talking in circles around each other.  She
either didn't understand a single point I'd made, or she didn't care.  I
don't know which was the case and it didn't matter anyway.  Maybe the true
fault was with me.  Could I have been so smitten with her that I hadn't
seen her for what she really was?  Was that possible?  Was I really that
stupid?  For God's sake, let's just end this!

   "Whatever.  Kelly, as you can see, I'm fine.  Grace is fine, though
you'll just have to take my word for that.  Now that we've allayed your
'concerns,' please allow me to show you out."

   "That's alright, Kevin, I know the way," Kelly said softly.  She left
quietly, and I'll give her this much: she showed at least a little dignity
by departing without any tears or recriminations.

   Mom closed the door behind her and came to sit with me at the table. 
"Where's Grace?" I asked.

   "She stopped in a little while ago, but left again.  She said she was
headed over to Crystal's apartment." Mom shook her head.  "Now I realize
she just didn't want to be here with Kelly.  I wish you had told me what
happened, Kevin."

   "Aww, Mom, it doesn't matter.  Gracie's situation was way more
important. I don't want you or Dad to be worried about me too," I said
dismissively.

   "Her 'situation,' as you call it, was more important.  But that doesn't
make yours unimportant, Kevin," she said.  "I wouldn't have even let Kelly
in the house if I'd known.  I wonder why Grace didn't say anything when she
saw Kelly sitting here with me?"

   "I know why," I said, shaking my head and smiling slightly.

   "Oh?" Mom said when I didn't continue the thought.

   "Gracie told me, the day after Kelly dumped me, that I needed to talk
about it in order to work it out.  I did talk about it a little with Grace,
but I obviously still had some feelings to express, huh?  This was Grace's
idea of a therapy session." I gave a humorless chuckle, then shrugged. 
"Ironically though, Mom, I do feel better.  Now that I've said to Kelly
exactly what was on my mind, I feel...I don't know, almost lighter,
somehow. Does that make sense?"

   Mom smiled and kissed me on the cheek.  "It makes perfect sense to me,
honey," she said.  "Gracie has always known you much better than you know
yourself.  You two have always been close.  I'm just glad that, now that
you've both grown up, you still continue to look after each other.  It
makes me feel much better about the future, knowing you'll be there for
each other."

   What am I going to do with that sneaky sister of mine, I thought to
myself, as I climbed the steps to my room.  Grace is a psych major, so I
suppose I should expect things like this from her.  She'll make one hell of
a therapist!  I spent the next couple of hours buried in coursework.  It
barely registered with me that my door had opened and closed, before a pair
of warm, feminine arms wrapped around me from behind.

   "Hey, Gracie," I said, as she tenderly kissed my cheek.

   "Hey, Kev," she said.  I turned around, looked to be sure my bedroom
door was firmly closed, and pulled her into my lap.  Her body melted
against mine, and we kissed each other gently.  With one hand, I stroked
her soft hair away from her face and cupped her cheek, inviting her to
deepen the kiss.  After a moment, I felt her mouth open and her tongue
gently teased my lips.

   I let my own tongue slide along hers, enjoying the intimacy of the
moment.  I felt my passion rising...along with my manhood, and knew I had
to tone it down.  Mom and Dad were home, after all, and then...well, there
were still some questions I had to ask.  The problem was that Gracie and I
were so busy with class, homework, and everything else.  It was almost
impossible for us to get a private moment to talk.  We desperately needed
to talk.  But for right this second, passion was in the drivers seat as I
kissed the beautiful, loving, tender woman I was holding.

   She gently ended the kiss and leaned back slightly, gazing into my eyes.
"I love you, Gracie," I whispered to her.  "I love you with all of my
heart."

   "I love you to, Kevin," she whispered back.  "Now and always, no matter
what."

   I could smell a very faint odor that took a moment to identify, because
I'd only smelled it once before: the scent of an aroused woman.  I was both
elated and unnerved.  Elated, because this implied Grace was as attracted
to me as I was to her.  Unnerved, because I didn't know how, or even if, I
should move forward.  I loved Grace with all my heart, as I'd just told
her. I know she loves me too.  Grace is more than just my sister.

   She's my best friend, confidant/confessor, exercise partner, and base of
support.  We take turns cooking for each other.  I had possibly saved her
life - for sure, I'd saved her from a horrible betrayal of trust, and
probably rape too.  She had rescued me from falling into a life of
bitterness at my own hands.  We complemented each other in so many ways.  I
had no doubt that if I needed Grace, she'd be there for me.  Damn sure, I'd
be there for her!

   Now though, I wanted to explore more with Gracie.  I wanted her to be my
lover.  There, I said it!  I want her the way a man wants a woman!  But if
we went down that road, what happens to the other aspects of our
relationship that are so vital to us?  Can we continue to be all that we
are to each other and be lovers as well?  If we try and fail, what then? 
Even if we succeed, what kind of life could we live?  Would we dare risk
having a child?  What about Mom and Dad?  There were so many questions to
ask, so many potential pitfalls to avoid.  I hardly knew where to begin.  I
did know this: as Grace had said a moment ago, I loved her no matter what.

   As usual, my beautiful Grace seemed to know what was going through my
mind.  She smiled at me, the love in her eyes clear to see.  "There's time,
my dear, sweet Kevin," she said softly.  "Mom and Dad won't be here
forever; they have too much wanderlust for that!  There'll be time for us
to talk, to decide together what we want, how we feel!" She leaned into me
again and snuggled herself close.  I hugged her tightly, savoring her
warmth and closeness.  "Do you work this weekend?"

   "Yes, but only Saturday morning.  That contract at the Hiller place is
almost complete, and after that I'll be free until the snow removal jobs
start coming in."

   "Well then," she began, smiling up at me, "How about we hit the trails
again this weekend after you get off work?  Then we can cool off in the
creek!"

   "Umm," I said, and tipped her face to mine for another kiss.  This one,
while sweet and loving, was short.  "That sounds like fun.  So long as we
take...precautions."

   Grace nodded, a little nervously this time.  And I hated to admit it,
there was good reason for nerves.  Her former boyfriend Matt, was a slimy
piece of shit, but he was the scion of a pretty wealthy family.  My Mom and
Dad had enough money to do as they please (within reason, of course), but
they weren't in the same league as the Segan family.  Few people in our
county were.  I didn't know Lance Forster's (the well-muscled giant)
family, but if he was well-acquainted with Matt Segan, his family was
probably at least as well off as my own.  With Matt's resources, he'd been
released from jail on his own recognizance almost as soon as bail was set.
Lance didn't spend any time in the big house to speak of, either.

   The fact that the two conspirators were out on bail awaiting trial was
one reason Mom and Dad were still here; maybe the biggest reason.  They
were enjoying traveling the country in their RV, but there was no way
they'd ignore such a threat to their babies (even if the 'babies' in
question were in college).

   Dad's attorney had helped us file for a restraining order against the
pair, but we all knew it wouldn't do much good.  What was a restraining
order, other than a piece of paper?  It wouldn't stop bad men from doing
bad things, and everyone involved knew that.  It was kind of like the lock
on a car door.  It kept an honest person honest, but would barely even slow
a professional car thief down.

   Of more value was the 'Carry Concealed Weapon' permit he had made Grace
apply for (I couldn't, because in Indiana you must be 21, and my birthday
wasn't until December), and the compact pistol he'd given her to go along
with it.  Grace had nothing against guns, especially considering her
circumstances, but she didn't enjoy shooting like I did.  So, in order to
help her get into it and improve her skills, I appealed to her naturally
competitive nature.  I challenged her on the shooting range, pushing her to
work and improve, until she was scoring almost as well as I was.

   So far, neither Matt nor Lance had bothered us.  In fact, we hadn't even
seen them around town or campus.  That didn't cause either of us to relax
our guard, though.  This ride would be the first one we'd taken since this
whole mess began, and I think we both needed it.  But we had to remain
mindful of potential dangers, too.  There was no way in hell I'd let
anything happen to Gracie; not while I still drew breath!

   Though Grace wasn't thrilled with the idea, I made sure Mom and Dad knew
where we were going.  I also made sure her friend Crystal knew.  Mom and
Dad didn't offer to join us even though I could tell Dad wanted to.  I
suspect Mom's hand was at work there.  The odds were in our favor that
nothing would happen, but you know how Murphy's Law works: The one time
you're unprepared will be the one time something happens.

   As we loaded our bikes and the cooler into Gracie's Jeep, Mom and Dad
watched nervously.  They couldn't help it, we knew.  The drive was
uneventful, and soon we were peddling down trail 4 again.  It hadn't gotten
any less difficult than last time, but it appeared the extra time I'd spent
on our treadmill had payed off; I wasn't as far behind Grace as I'd been
the last time!

   I relaxed slightly, allowing myself to enjoy the moment.  The mid-fall
crispness in the air, the dappled sunlight that filtered through the tree
branches, the ever brighter colors of the leaves...in all, it was a perfect
fall day, made even better with the knowledge that I didn't have to work
the next day!  Mainly, I was enjoying being with Grace.  I watched her
ride, strong and confident over the trail.  This was her passion as the
shooting sports were mine.  She owned this, and it seemed as though nothing
could touch her.

   We made the circuit again and again.  By the fifth time through, I was
tired, but not completely out of gas.  I could see Gracie looking back at
me, gauging how much farther she could push me.  In the end, she didn't go
for another turn through trail 4.  Instead, as a sort of cool down, she
lead me through the far less challenging trail 2.  This one, while
possessing its fair share of climbs and descents, did not have the sharp
hairpin turns and dangerous switchbacks, nor did it have the narrow choke
points that forced you to ride single file.  I could get used to this!

   We only made one trip through that trail, and then I followed Gracie
back to the parking lot.  By now, my muscles were starting to protest some.
After I'd stowed the bikes, I looked for Grace in our usual spot, only to
find that she'd slung her day pack on her shoulders and was waiting by the
treeline.

   "C'mon!" she said as I grabbed my own pack and the soft-sided cooler. 
"Let's eat at the creek!"

   "Okay," I said with a shrug.  I'd half expected this, after all.  This
time, Grace walked along with me instead of jogging ahead.  Without
thinking about it consciously, I reached out and took her hand in mine as
we walked.  We reached the ravine in just a couple of minutes and descended
carefully to the level of the creek.  I spread out the old picnic blanket
and Gracie unpacked the simple lunch she'd made.

   We enjoyed the meal in loving silence, listening to the natural
background music provided by the trickling stream, the rush of the breeze,
and the rustling of squirrels in the branches of the screening trees.  This
place was nothing short of magical to the two of us.  After we'd finished
eating and had packed away our trash, Gracie settled herself against me.

   "Kevin, I want to ask you some things about your time with Kelly," she
said.  Feeling me tense up, she squeezed my hand and looked me in the eye.
"You know you don't have to answer me if you don't want to."

   "No, it's okay.  I love you, and I trust you.  Ask away."

   "Well, you've mentioned that you're still a virgin, but after being with
the same girl for six years, I find that a little hard to believe."

   I couldn't help getting a little annoyed.  I'd never lied to Grace.  It
would destroy the trust between us.  There were times in the past that I'd
chosen not to tell her things, but I'd never told her something that wasn't
true.  "Well it's true, Grace.  We never-"

   "Hey, easy, honey!" she said, and kissed me gently.  "I'm sorry, that
didn't come out the way I meant it.  I just figured you must have done some
things together, even if you didn't go all the way."

   "Oh, right," I said sheepishly.  "Well, we saw each other naked a few
times.  The first time was after the senior prom.  She let me touch her
breasts once." I let myself lay back on the blanket so I could look at the
sky, and Grace cuddled against me with her head nestled in the crook of my
shoulder.  After a few moments of peaceful silence, I continued.  "She
loved to lay on the bed with me while I had my shirt off.  She liked to run
her hands over my chest."

   "And that's all?" she asked, after figuring out that I wasn't going to
say any more.

   "That's it.  We never touched each others' junk, if that's what you
wanted to know, Gracie.  She insisted she wanted us to be virgins and have
our first time happen on our wedding night."

   "So, not even handjobs and finger action?" she asked, incredulously.

   "No," I said.  "I suppose, given the way things have worked out, you
could say it's for the best."

   "Yeah, I guess so," Gracie replied softly.  "God, I'm sorry though,
Kevin.  You know, you must have really loved her.  Most men in our age
group that I know would have dropped her like a live grenade after six
years with nothing physical."

   Grace propped herself up on one arm, leaned over my torso and kissed me
deeply.  I snaked my arms around her, but she broke the kiss and settled
back down against my body.  "Your restraint makes me admire you even more."
She sighed then.

   "I guess I should confess, too." She paused, considering her words
carefully.  "Look, Kevin, I'm not a slut, but I'm DEFINITELY not a virgin!
You know about that bastard Matt, of course, but there were two other long
term boyfriends that I took to my bed."

   "Jeff Adams and Grant Thomas," I said.  Gracie shot back upright again,
staring at me in wide-eyed surprise.

   "Kevin, how could you possibly know that?"

   Now it was my turn to give a knowing grin.  "Gracie, honey, you're not
near as quiet as you think you are, for one.  And, you have all kinds of
tells that I don't think you know about."

   "Oh really?  Like what?" she challenged.

   "Well, there's your 'I got laid' look.  It's unmistakable."

   "I do NOT have a-"

   "Yes you do," I said, cutting her off.  "Trust me, Gracie, it's there.
Dad commented on it once, and Mom actually told him to shut up.  You were
an adult now, and sex is a normal part of adult relationships, and all
that."

   Mom and Dad have always lived in the real world.  Unlike a lot of
parents, they remembered their own youth very clearly, and knew there was
little chance of getting us to not have sex if we chose to do it.  So they
didn't try.  Instead, they made it clear what would happen if our sex lives
resulted in pregnancy or disease.

   Mom and Dad also made it clear that there were to be no overnight
visitors, whether they were home at the time or not.  They made sure we
knew how to take precautions with our love lives (birth control options and
such).  And if I can crib a line from a country song, they taught us the
difference between sleeping with someone, and sleeping with someone you
love!

   "I didn't realize you all knew.  Oh God, I'm so embarrassed!"

   "Gracie, let me be clear: you didn't do anything wrong!  You're not a
slut!  You had sex with men that you loved, that you were in serious
relationships with.  I never had sex with Kelly, but I wanted to, believe
me!  I made that choice, because in my stupidity, I thought that we would
have a future together.  I really thought, when Kelly and I were talking
about getting married, that she meant it."

   I paused before I got upset.  I was getting off topic, here.  "The point
I'm trying to make, in my roundabout way, is that my choice to stay a
virgin doesn't invalidate your choice NOT to stay a virgin.  I would have
had Kelly in bed with me instantly if she would have let me.  Your being
sexually active doesn't bother me in any way!"

   Gracie's eyes shone with love as she leaned down again and laid her head
on my chest.  "Now your choice of partners is another thing altogether," I
said teasingly.

   "You little jerk!" she laughed, and started tickling me.  We wrestled
around on the blanket, laughing and tickling each other just as we used to
do when we were younger.  Finally, the sweat drying on our skin was
starting to get irritating.

   We both stripped naked and waded into the shallow creek.  The water
splashed over our ankles, up to our shins as we strode to the only deep
part.  At about the mid point of the creek, at the eastern edge where it
entered the ravine, there was a drop off in the creek bed.  It wasn't that
deep, really.  When I was standing upright in the middle of it, the water
barely reached my waist.  There was just enough room for two adult-size
people to fit, and that only if they were pretty comfortable with each
other.

   I watched appreciatively as my lovely sister lowered herself into the
chilly water.  "OOO!" she squeaked, and shivered.

   "Oh yeah," I said, wincing as I got in with her.  "We aren't going to be
able to do this much longer this year." I shivered slightly, and Grace
pressed herself more closely against me.

   I put my arms around her and savored the feel of her skin against mine.
This was a new and powerful feeling I'd never felt before.  Yes, I'd seen
Grace naked many times, but I'd never touched her before when she was
naked. Not beyond a playful swat on the ass, or a pat on the shoulder, I
mean.  This contact between our bodies wasn't just the first I'd had with
Grace, it was the first time I had ever held a naked woman!

   My body responded in that uniquely male way, the and tip of my member
brushed against Grace's toned thigh.  The touch was pure electricity! 
"Oh," I whispered, unable to stay completely silent.

   "It's okay, my love," she whispered back, gazing into my eyes.  She
cupped my face in one hand.  "Don't be embarrassed." I was on the ragged
edge of self control.  I leaned in closer again and claimed her mouth with
mine.  This kiss wasn't the tender, gentle symbol of love from earlier. 
This kiss was hot and hungry, wanting.  I was rock hard and in need, and
Grace could feel it.  She knew somehow that she would have to the one to
end this kiss, and after a few minutes she did.

   Her breathing was ragged with her own passion as she gently pulled back
from me.  "Wow," I said to her.

   "Wow is right," she said back.  "That was so intense!"

   Intense...yes, it was that, alright!  I took a second to calm my
breathing, willing my erection to go down some.  I focused on Grace again
when she spoke.

   "Kevin...I love you," she said, her eyes full of emotion.

   "I love you too, Gracie," I replied.

   "No...Kevin, I mean...I love you, I want you," she said.  "I want you to
have me."

   At first, I wasn't sure I'd heard her correctly.  But looking at her
eyes, seeing the emotions displayed there, I realized that not only had I
heard her correctly, she was completely serious.  "I love you the same way,
Gracie," I said.  "But, I don't want to lose you!"

   "Lose me?  Kevin, honey, you can't lose me!"

   "No, Gracie listen!  I would die without having you in my life!  If we
become lovers, and for some reason it doesn't work between us, what will
happen to the rest of our relationship?  Can it survive?  I'll go the rest
of life without sex if it means I can keep what I have with you right now,
forever!"

   "Kevin, now you listen!  No matter what - NO MATTER WHAT - you will not
lose me!  I swear it to you by everything I hold dear!  I will never
abandon you!  I will always be with you, just like you'll always be with
me. Even now, I carry you in my heart!  I don't think we will fail, not at
anything we try together!  But if by some chance we try to be lovers and we
can't make it work, it won't matter to the rest of our relationship!"

   Her eyes burned into mine, and the depth of meaning in her words was
unmistakable.  She meant what she said, and that allayed the most critical
of my concerns.  But...

   "Also...Gracie, I want to have a child someday.  I mean, obviously not
right away, but I want at least one.  How would we...you know, avoid any
pitfalls there?"

   Grace wore a thoughtful expression now.  "Well first off, I want
children too, so that's not an issue." She smiled at me and kissed the tip
of my nose.  "And by the way, I think you'll make a wonderful Dad!  If it's
birth defects you're worried about, well, that is a concern.  But it's not
as much of one as some people think.  You and I are both young and in good
health.  We don't have a family history of any serious genetic problems,
like Down's Syndrome or Pelleter's Disease.  Honestly, any pregnancy is a
roll of the dice in that regard.  It doesn't mean you shouldn't take the
chance, though, in my opinion."

   I nodded in agreement with her, and squeezed her in a gentle hug.  "What
you're really concerned about is Mom and Dad, though.  And the people at
church, in town, et cetera, right?"

   "Yes," I replied.

   "Honestly, I don't have an answer for that, yet.  Yet," she emphasized.
"I do think there is an answer, though.  If we both truly want this, I
think we can find a way to make it work.  And Kevin," she said, taking my
face in both hands, "I want to make it work.  I meant what I said, the
night you saved my life.  I want you to show me what real love is like.  I
know you can, and I think you should.  But, if this is something you don't
want, then tell me.  I'll respect your wishes, and I won't hate you; I
could never do that!"

   "Gracie...my sweet, precious Grace," I said, overwhelmed by her
confession.  "Grace, I want so badly to try!  I want to be your man, your
only man!  There's no sacrifice I wouldn't make!  I just have so many
questions, so many thoughts.  I don't know where to begin!"

   "Honey, we've already begun!" she said, her voice rough with passion. 
"I had to know if you felt the same way as I do, and now I know you do!"

   "Yes, I do!" I said firmly.

   "And, beyond that, I needed to make sure you were willing to try!"

   "I am!" I said firmly, squeezing her tightly to reinforce my words.

   Grace's beautiful features lit up as her feelings surged to the surface.
"Oh God, Kevin, I'm so happy!"

   "Me too, baby.  Me too!" We held each other tightly, and I felt tears
against my shoulder.  I didn't worry though, because I knew the tears
Gracie shed were tears of joy.  I'll admit my own eyes might have been a
little damp, too.

   "It goes without saying, though, that we're exclusive," I said, pulling
back and looking into her eyes again.  "I'm a one-woman kind of guy, and
that's an area where there's no wiggle room!"

   "Yes!" she agreed.  "I'm a one-man woman, my darling Kevin.  It's you
and me, and ONLY you and me!"

   We held each other tightly, our bodies molding into one another.  We
shared another deep, hungry kiss that lasted for what felt like hours. 
Finally, we came up for air and I felt the goosebumps popping up on Grace's
skin.

   "Let's dry off, okay baby?" I asked, climbing up out of the drop off. 
Grace smiled and let me help her out after me.

   "I love the way you say that," she said, hugging my arm as we reached
the bank.

   "The way I say what, baby?" I asked as I slid my clothes back on.

   "That!  The way you called be 'baby.' It felt so natural, so RIGHT.  Did
you even realize you did it?"

   "No," I said, after a moments thought.  "It was an unconscious thing."

   She apparently liked that answer.  We held hands as we walked back to
the parking lot, enjoying the last little bit of sunlight.  After we
arrived home, Gracie headed upstairs.  I checked all the doors and windows,
making sure everything was locked.  Hearing a snort behind me, I turned to
see Dad at the foot of stairs.

   "I was about to do the same exact thing!" he said.  I smiled at him and
left him to set the alarm as I went up to my room.  Once there, I synched
my phone to my Bluetooth speakers and put on the latest single from Rascal
Flatts.  I undressed and tossed my filthy bike shorts and shirt into the
hamper, and searched for a towel.  I heard Dad going into his room; the
door to the master suite was unmistakable due to the squeaky hinge.

   Crap, I thought to myself.  I hadn't brought any towels up from the last
time I did laundry.  Oh well, we always kept a few extra in the bottom of
the bathroom cupboard.  I walked naked across the hall to the bathroom and
started the shower.  As soon as the water was warm, I climbed in and
started to soap myself up.

   I didn't think anything of it when the bathroom door opened, but I was
very surprised when the shower door opened and Grace slid in!  "Gracie,
baby, what are you doing?  Mom and Dad can't be asleep yet!  What-"

   "Shhh," she whispered, a mischievous grin on her face.  "Don't worry
about it, love.  They're both in the master suite, and they have 'Bridges
of Madison County' playing!"

   I returned her mischievous grin.  Ever since Grace and I had been teens,
we had known not to disturb our parents if that movie was playing.  It was
there signal that they were making love.  I'm not sure what, if any,
significance the movie had for them, but the upshot was that they were very
unlikely to notice anything Gracie and I did.  So long as were discrete!

   Gracie stepped close to me.  As I went to embrace her, she took my hands
in hers instead.  "Touch me, love!" she said.  "Anywhere you like.  I'm
yours, now!"

   Panting with excitement, I cupped her face in both hands and pulled her
in for a deep kiss.  As my lips and tongue danced with hers, my hands
slowly moved south.  I caressed her delicate throat and rubbed the
sensitive hollows made by her collarbones.  Slowly, I explored her creamy
shoulders before finally moving down the upper slopes of her firm, round
breasts.

   I broke the kiss reluctantly, but I absolutely had to see with my eyes
what my hands were exploring.  Finally, I cupped her breasts in the palms
of each hand, gently squeezing them.  I marveled at how they felt.  They
were firm, but at the same time soft and yielding.  The delicate roseate
nipples capped them perfectly, and she gasped in pleasure as I stroked them
with my thumbs.

   As I explored her body, I couldn't help but compare her to Kelly.  Both
women were young and in good shape, but the differences between them far
outnumbered the similarities.  For example: skin!  Kelly's skin was a pale
paper white, and dusted with freckles.  It wasn't ugly - in fact I'd always
thought it was cute.  Grace, though, was tanned with a clear complexion. 
The texture was different too.  Kelly's skin (the parts I was allowed to
touch, anyway) wasn't nearly as smooth and creamy as Grace's.

   Grace was completely open to me, denying me nothing as my hands wandered
over her.  I was in heaven, delighting in the feel of a woman's body in
hands.  I was so hard, I was concerned I might explode right there in the
shower.

   Leaving her breasts behind, I stroked her flanks, feeling the smooth
firmness of muscle beneath her amazing skin.  I rubbed my hand over the
subtle curve of her belly and the rounded wonder of her hips, before
cupping her ass firmly.  Grace gasped again and moaned softly as I kneaded
her cheeks with my strong hands.

   "Yes, Kevin," she whispered in my ear.  "I'm yours, all yours.  Touch
me, feel me...ohh," her voice trailed off.  My fingers gently traced the
cleft of her ass downwards, before moving over the line of her hips toward
her belly again.

   Moving still further south, I allowed my right hand, at long last, to
pass over the rough stubble of her mound to her womanhood.  Grace kissed
along the line of my jaw to my throat, teasing my tender flesh with her
tongue as my fingers explored her vulva.  It was so amazingly soft - and so
warm!  I'd never felt anything quite like it.

   Gracie gently pushed back from me slightly, and took my right hand in
hers.  She guided my hand up to my mouth.  "Wet your fingers, my love," she
said, breathless with passion.  I did as she said, licking my index and
ring fingers.

   "Always be sure your fingers are moist before you touch me there, okay?"

   I nodded in understanding and thanks, and she guided my hand back
between her thighs.  "I love to be touched here," she said, guiding my
finger to her clit.  "I also love having fingers inside me, but not more
than two," she continued.

   I moved my fingers, circling her clit gently.  "Ohh, that's good, baby,"
Grace whispered.  "Press a little harder, love.  I need just a little more
pressure...oh!  Yes, that's it...now rub my clit directly...oh YES!" I
hurriedly clamped my mouth over hers as she came.  Grace's orgasm was so
strong, it was almost as though I could feel it too!  It was amazing to me,
knowing that I was source of her pleasure.

   Acting on instinct, I slid a single finger inside of her while
continuing to brush her clit with my thumb.  She was so warm and wet
inside! It was incredible!  If it felt this amazing on my fingers, I
couldn't wait to feel what it was like to slip my cock into her!

   Grace starting bucking her hips against my hand, riding the crest of a
second orgasm.  She moaned frantically into my mouth, wrapping her arms
around me.  After a few long moments, she gently but firmly pulled my hand
away from her womanhood.

   "That was amazing, my love, but I'm starting to get too sensitive.  You
didn't do anything wrong, I just get that way after a strong orgasm!" I
nodded again in understanding.  Curious, I brought my hand up to my face.
Grace watched, fascinated, as I inhaled her feminine scent.  It had both
strong and subtle notes to it.  Musky, but not at all unpleasant. 
Tentatively, I tasted my fingertip.  The taste was musky too, but again,
not at all unpleasant, and I made a show of licking them clean.  (And in
spite of what some of the guys in high school said, it didn't taste
anything at all like fish.  At least, it didn't to me.)

   Grace looked me in the eyes as her hands caressed my shoulders, the
question plain to see.  "Yes, my precious Gracie," I said.  "I'm yours,
just like you're mine!  I want you to enjoy me the same way I enjoy you. 
Touch me however you want!" And damn if she didn't do exactly that!

   My amazing sister showed me something else I hadn't known before: She
showed me just how erotic it was to touch and be touched.  Her hands glided
over my body with a smoothness that made me feel clumsy and inept by
comparison.  As she explored my toned shoulders and chest, her every touch
was gentle caress.  I have never felt so absolutely adored in all my life.

   I denied her nothing, being as open for her as she was with me.  She
delighted in her exploration, as though every inch of my body revealed to
her hands was a new discovery.  When she at long last reached my towering
manhood, I knew I wouldn't last long.  She knew it too.  Avoiding my shaft
for the moment, she gently cupped my balls in the palm of her hand.  She
applied light pressure, tugging them down and away from my body.

   "Ohhh, Gracie," I whispered.  "So good, baby, so good!"

   "I want you to cum too, love," she said, whispering softly in my ear. 
"Cum for me, my precious Kevin!" Her hand gripped my shaft firmly, and
stroked me.  The delicious pressure of her grip was too much to resist, and
as I pumped my seed over her fingers, I let out a joyous moan into her
ready mouth.

   We stood together, kissing for a moment, then she pulled away.  I
watched as she made a show of tasting my juices, as I done for her. 
Grinning wickedly, she licked her fingers clean and gave a contented sigh.
And then, as luck would have it, the hot water gave our completely.

   "Whoa that's cold!" she said, startled.  We both washed ourselves off,
passing the soap to each other and rinsing in turn.  Finally we were done.
I had a lot of fun drying her off, as she did me.  We grinned at each other
like like love-struck kids.  I knew - we both knew - that this was as far
as we could go tonight.  But, we also knew that there would be many nights
to come.  Nights were we could explore further.  Nights were we could
express physically the love that was growing with each passing second
between us.

   Neither of us knew for sure what the future would bring.  There was
still so much uncertainty.  But both of us knew, no matter what might
happen down the road, that we both wanted this.  There was no longer a
question of our passion for each other.  She had become the focus of my
life.  My sister, friend, confidant and confessor...My Saving Grace.

   To be continued....


   pics---->> http://bit.ly/1QdQXsD