Note: This story was dynamically reformatted for online reading convenience.
 
 Could I Interest You In A Short Pump?  Worcester, Massachusetts (Say
wuster, sort of like Luster with a W) isn't exactly a booming metropolis
but amazingly it's a bedroom community to Boston and its suburbs.  It's 40
to 60 miles from anyplace you might want to call Greater Boston and the
interstates and trains make it pretty close.  My Dad manufactured shoes in
Worcester until the mid-80's when it got too expensive to pay workers the
union wages they demanded.  Our product was priced out of the market, which
wouldn't be bad if we made designer products, but from the early 50's we
put out a respectable dress and knock around shoe for around $40 in today's
money.  For a good part of the 70's and 80's we sold a product that could
retail for $19.99 and be worn with pride to work or school.  My Dad's
intention was to make a product for the person who had to wear a nice shoe
every day, day after day, without having to spend the then outrageous price
of $100.  It's when the nation was mostly middle class.  Now although all
of the parts of our shoe, right down to the stitching, are made in America,
they are assembled in Vietnam.  The workmanship we once knew from quality
craftsmen is not there, but it is still a good product, and we take back
any shoe, direct from the consumer, that you are not happy with and replace
it with the same item, no questions asked.  The labor heads at our plant
will give us credit for anything we have to replace.  I do worry about how
they treat bad workers as the numbers from each returned product tell who
sewed and assembled the shoe.  Bottom line is, what used to cost us $15-20
labor per pair, now costs us $2 or 3 each.  I hate that it has to be this
way, but the unions got too much power and more or less brought us to our
knees on the verge of bankruptcy.  They were happy to let that happen when
I convinced my Dad to give me the business when he wanted to close it. 
After a period of 3 months when I sold all of our existing inventory to
build capital, I was able to present to our retailers a product they could
make money on with our name and an "All American Parts and Design" label.
We were the last actual shoemakers in Worcester.  We closed our factory and
I was able to sell the building, which was on rail lines, for obvious
reasons, to the Commuter Rail Company as a repair and restoration site
making them more efficient for daily travelers.  I work constantly trying
to get the pieces for the manufacture of our product at better prices or
better quality focusing on both goals.  I get daily orders from our rep at
the factory to match his demands and then I receive daily orders from our
sales force in the fields and automated orders from the big box stores that
carry our product with their name on it.  From my Fathers staff of 350
laborers, sales and office staff, I now have but 50, but sell twice the
shoes we ever did in the past.

   Our office is in an odd building downtown that lists itself as a 12
story office complex.  In reality the building is 2 levels and from the 2nd
floor there are two 5 level "towers", each offering smaller offices, but
windows for at least 2 walls of each office.  It's said to be
environmentally conservative, saving money of lighting, heating, and
cooling.  The second level is a myriad of small stores and food court style
lunch spots that you ramp or walk stairs to from the street.  The State of
Massachusetts uses the first floor as their Division of Unemployment.

   Chapter One It was there I first saw Allison in her hurried state of
confusion.  I was sitting at a bistro style tall table eating my chicken
nuggets when I saw her studying the floor and service index and getting on
the elevator and then come down and jump on the other elevator in a red
faced rush.  In a few moments she was back on the second floor again
seeming very flustered and fumbling with a cell phone.  It was then I
walked over to her and asked, "Do you have ATT phone service?" "No, and I
don't need to be sold.  I'm happy with this phone." She said in a hushed
shy voice.  "Sweetheart, most other services do not get into this part of
the building.  Don't ask why, but they don't.  If you need to make a call
you can use my phone.  You seem lost; I only want to help you." "I have a
1:00 o'clock job interview with Maribel Designs and I'm going to be late. I
think I'm in the wrong building." She said again in that small voice. 
"They share the 4th floor on B tower with me.  I'm Jess Sparkhill, from
Sparkhill Shoe Designs.  (handing her my card) Come, I'll escort you. 
Maribel was just Designs Ink until a few months ago and they haven't
changed their sign or the registry board." I said as she shyly balked at
following me.  "I'm not sure, I don't know you." She said in a wearied
whisper.  "Mmmmm, yeah, I had these cards printed in hopes of getting a
girl alone on the elevator to the 4th floor.  You want the B elevator and
get off at the 4th Floor, go to your right.  Good luck on your interview."
I said exasperated that I couldn't help her as I stepped on the elevator
and let the door close.  Suddenly the door reopened and the red faced shy
girl got on the car looking down.  Afraid to face me.  "I'm sorry, I don't
want to be late." She said quietly.  When the door opened at 4 we both got
off and she walked away quietly.  I called out to her, "Hey, you'll never
even get past filling out the application if you don't meet the interviewer
with a smile, eye to eye, speak up like you KNOW what you're talking about,
and finally press the interviewer for an answer, or promise of a call, or a
number you can call back to discuss your disposition with the job.  The
only person who can sell you is you.  Your pretty looks will get a lot of
doors opened, your attitude will get them slammed in your face." She
stopped in her tracks and turned to me.  "Do I look OK?" "Yes, you're very
pretty and dressed quite nicely.  But you look defeated before you start.
That big worry line across your forehead doesn't exude confidence.  Act
like you want the job.  Act like the job is yours and he or she is trying
to take it away from you.  Stand up straight, smile, and project.  Show
them you're determined.  Now good luck and don't fuck up." I told her,
using the profanity to insure myself that she heard me.  The way her eyes
made an exclamation point at the word, she heard me and knew I was serious.
She turned away from me and I saw her talking to herself and suddenly she
stood straight and opened the door and strode in as if on a mission.  I
didn't give her much chance at getting the job.  I had a net meeting with
an overseas shipper I used for getting goods in and out of my manufacturing
facility, going over possible plans in the event of tensions in the Middle
East escalating and shipping lanes being diverted.  We had already had a
pirate threat the year before but we had a Navy vessel intervene and calm
that situation.  I had just finished some final face to face Skype talks
with my shipper when I saw my Administrative Assistants light flashing on
the corner of my screen.  That usually meant a call was waiting, or a guest
without an appointment was in the outer office and she was waiting for
direction.  I closed my net meeting and clicked her tab and Rachel's pretty
face was on my screen.  "Mr.  Sparkhill, a young woman, an Allison
McGruder, would like to see you.  She presented your card." She said as she
switched the picture to the office security cam and I saw the pretty young
girl whom I had directed to Maribel Designs earlier.  "Put her in the
interview room and I'll be right in." I told her as I got up to grab a
drink of water after my long gab on the net meeting.  The interview room
was a small room with one table and two chairs that we used for job
interviews and like situations.  It had no door and was open for anyone to
look in.  Our litigious society made it necessary to no longer conduct
interviews behind closed doors, especially with mixed company.  An HR rep I
had hired when I was looking for sales people was accused by a woman of
propositioning her to get her the job a few years earlier and we just
thought it best to have open interviews.  The claim was found to be false.
I wanted to meet there with her so Rachel didn't think this was a
girlfriend or someone I met in a bar.  I wanted to remain above board at
all times.  I came out into the waiting area and nodded to Rachel and went
in the interview room.  Allison stood right up and looked to me and said,
"Thank You.  I'm new here in town.  I'm not going to find a place until I
know I have a job.  I'm living out of a hotel and everything sort of has me
overwhelmed.  I didn't mean to be so rude before, but I am thankful for
your kind words of encouragement.  You centered me and reminded me of why I
was here.  I really was defeated until I heard your words.  You reminded me
of my Dad." "How old do you think I am Miss Allison McGruder?" "Uh, I
didn't mean for it to sound that way.  I'm 23 almost 24 and you must be
30?" She said with a cute first time smile.  "Glad you smiled, so I know
you were kidding, I'm 26." I answered.  "So how did you do in the
interview? I assume you traveled to get here so you must have come some
distance." "I think I did OK, hard to tell.  Look, I've taken up too much
of your time.  I just wanted to thank you." She said and started to gather
her brief to leave.  "I just hope you were credentialed.  Mary Belanger
doesn't hire just anyone.  It will be just her and her new artist with her
staff of 3.  I know she's interviewed for a month now and only called in a
few of the hundreds of resume's she's gotten." I told her.  "You know Mary
Belanger?" She said brightening.  "Yes, we see each other at tenants
meetings and such." I said, fibbing a bit and not disclosing that she and I
date on occasion.

   While I was getting the new Sparkhill Shoe Designs back on its feet
after closing the factory I was alone with one desk in this suite and Mary
was in the other suite with one desk and a drafting table.  Once we each
got a little cash flow the businesses began to take shape and we went out
to celebrate a few times.  She had no time for a man in her life and I the
same for a woman.  But we did share a bed a few times and then got to a
more brother and sister kind of relationship.  That turned into a love
affair and we stood on the precipice of getting REAL serious and she sort
of dumped me.  We've remained friends and still have had a few "stress
relievers", but I can hardly look at her as anything else but my good
friend, with a few benefits.  She was last dating a city prosecutor from
town here, but I don't know how serious she was or is.

   "She interviewed me on my credential.  I have a four year Bachelor of
Arts Degree from Caerenger Miron in Pittsburgh and then went on for my
Masters there as well.  I had a huge portfolio to send to her." Allison
said, beginning to sound proud and confident.

   "Well, I hope you did well.  You don't look like you could have went to
6 years of college, but if you have the stuff, Mary would be lucky to have
someone with as much as you seem to have to offer." I said, knowing I had
more calls to make that afternoon.

   "Again, Thank You Mr.  Sparkhill." She said extending her hand to shake.

   "Please call me Jess.  I hope I see you around here soon.  If not, don't
let this town throw you.  If you don't find something here, Boston is real
close before you go home." I said shaking her hand.

   As she walked away I heard her say "As if I had a home."

   I met with a few more vendors over the phone that afternoon and I
thought about Allison again so I took a little walk over to my neighbor's
office at Maribel Designs.  Mary was out front speaking to Susan, the
receptionist and part time artist when she heard me coming in she turned
and smiled.

   "Guess what Jess?  I think I hired a designer this afternoon.  She's
young; she's fresh out of school and acts like a real go-getter.  I'm going
to give her a 30 day trial, working with her.  I liked everything about
her, and you know how picky I am.  She's just a little desperate to find
work.  She's got two suit cases of clothes, her diploma and little else."

   "That's great Mary, I'll bet her name is Allison." I said smartly with a
big grin.

   "How did you know?" she asked before I told her the tale of meeting her
at the elevators.

   "Do yourself a favor, find her a furnished place nearby, and not a flop
house, give her a fighting chance if you like her so much.  See if the
Residence Inn is on a bus line.  She's living in a hotel here downtown. 
That's no way to try and fit in." I said already knowing the girls
situation.

   "Jess?  Are you cheating on me?" Mary laughed as if we had been dating.

   "No, she was on the brink of tears trying to find your office and she
told me more of her story than she should have.  With her education she
would be worth investing in, I'm just saying." I added.

   "I'm just about done here for the night.  Meet me downstairs at The Poly
for a drink in 15 or 20?" She asked as I nodded to her.

   The Poly was a downtown watering hole that was popular for lunch and the
early evening with the downtown office crowd.  Usually by 9 or 10 it was
dead as workers filtered out of town.  It was a good place to have a
sandwich and a beer for lunch and a cocktail before heading home.  If I was
meeting Mary there she would probably ask me over or come home with me.  We
lived in town houses close to each other in the same complex.  We weren't
really boyfriend/girlfriend, more friends with benefits.  We engaged in
long sex sessions a few times early on when we thought we were going to be
an item, but since we cooled and occasionally we would have a quick screw,
sometimes just jerk off for each other.  We just didn't have time for a
relationship and we were both handy and randy.  We were each other's date
for a wedding or mutual party.  So, we tried being lovers and it didn't
work.  Now maybe once a month we might join up for a drink and usually, but
not always would go home with one another.  There were no expectations. 
Apparently she had no aspirations on a current boyfriend.

   At The Poly Mary told me a few things about Allison that she shouldn't
have as those interviews were personal.  But she did tell me she left the
Pittsburgh area because she and her lover had broken up because she was
going to have to leave to get work in her field.  That was why she had so
little with her, she had nothing.  She was young and eager and Mary felt
she could mold her a bit.  Her portfolio had impressive logo and web design
work as well as a lot of imaginative art.  She also told me that since we
talked earlier she booked her into The Residence Inn just off I-290 and
only a 10 minute bus ride.  She would tell her in the morning with a phone
call.  After her evaluation period she would help her find an apartment if
she kept her.

   "You seem pretty sure of her.  After all the interviews you've had I
didn't think you would ever find someone to pass muster." I sort of kidded
her.

   "You know Jess, I hired the first qualified body when I advertised last
year and I got taken for a ride.  This time if I didn't have a feeling
about the person, . . .  no go." She said stabbing her finger in her palm
to make her point.

   "If you were hiring cute, she would have gotten the job as well.  She's
a cute little thing.  She looks about 18, but I guess she's 24, huh?" I
said trying to remember what she had told me.

   "God, did YOU interview her too?"

   "No, but she was almost in tears thinking she might be late for you and
as she was walking to your door, she looked defeated.  I gave her a pep
talk, that's all.  Told her to act like she had the job and you were going
to take it away.  Six years at Caerenger Miron meant she was real smart or
worked a bunch of jobs to work on her debt."

   "I did a Dunn on her and she owes near nothing and had half paid for
with scholarships, so she really deserves a chance.  You keep your sniffer
away from her butt, horn dog." She jokingly warned me.

   "If I want to sniff around, I will.  (then shaking my head) Jeepers, she
looks like a kid.  Nice to look at, but I don't need to chase anyone around
that green." I kiddingly protested.

   "You won't have to chase me tonight Jessie.  Why don't you follow me
home tonight?" She said with a wink.

   "Wait, are you picking me up?" I asked.

   "What kind of girl do you think I am?" She joked as she gathered her
things and we finished our drinks.

   "I'll be over in about 20 minutes, OK?" I asked.  "I want to get out of
this suit and shower."

   "My, a shower.  You may get a bonus tonight, maybe I'll shower too.  See
you in a short." She said winking as we walked out and headed to our
prospective lots.

   Mary Belanger was a good looking woman, not a beauty queen, but pretty
in her own way.  She was around 30 and maybe 10 pounds overweight.  She
showed a little belly, but it was sort of sexy.  The only time it ever
bothered me was one time we were doing doggie and I reached under her to
hang on and plow her and her belly was two big handfuls of fat, darn
gravity shift.  I'm not exactly Brad Pitt myself, having been heavy in my
younger days and lost the excess weight, so I have a few stretch marks and
ill placed wrinkles on my stomach, plus a giant burn scar on my arm from a
childhood accident.  I was thinking of getting some replacement hair to
stop my forehead from getting so high.  I could hide it with what I had,
but a jump into pool gives me away.  No male pattern baldness on top, but
getting the high forehead.

   When Mary said I get "a bonus" it meant oral sex.  She liked to give and
receive it, but was a clean freak.  When we were trying to make a go of
"us" we showered a lot and spent a lot of face time in each other's junk,
but since we cooled that, oral was rare.  I never delved into her past a
lot, only what she volunteered.  It seems like she had a long time serious
relationship where they lived together and she expected to get married
someday.  However, she hadn't planned on "gold digging secretaries".  He
tried to come back but she shot him down and that was at least 4 years ago.
I had a lot of relationships, but nothing ever to the serious point.  Work
interested me more once it was apparent we had to make major changes to
stay in business.  There was a time when I thought Mary and I might find
the "magic" like when we started, but as much as she is a great woman, sexy
and fun; she just isn't the kind of woman I could live with, besides being
about 5 years older.  I suppose she finds me the same way because she would
speak her mind if she felt otherwise.  I never stay overnight at her place,
nor her mine.  Even if we fall asleep, if she wakes up and I'm there, she
asks me to leave so "she can sleep."

   After showering I put on light sweat shorts and a tee.  I stuffed a pair
of boxer briefs into the pocket with my money clip that had my license,
key, a credit card and a couple 10 dollar bills.  I walked the 300 or so
yards to her townhouse.  When I got there I knocked once and walked in.  I
heard her shower on and went to the door and knocked dit-datta-dot-dot, and
she answered on the wall, dot-dot.  She knew I was there.

   I put on a couple of Kenny Rankin CD's, the ones done with Don Costa. 
They were light jazz vocals with romantic lush arrangements.  He's someone
we both could agree on.  I went into her bedroom and put my pocketed undies
on her nightstand.  I opened her top drawer to get a Kleenex, always a
short box in the drawer that she had given me privy to before.  I always
chuckled at the dildo vibrator and condoms in the same drawer.  She had to
know that I saw them and I know she never asked me to use a condom, so she
must see other people, and that I was happy for.  I knew her to always be
on the pill or patch and never once made an issue of my cumming inside her.

   In the living room on the end of the breakfast counter that bordered it
was a wide mouth glass container filled with ice and a split of champagne
with two glasses.  I popped it and poured it as always and put the glasses
on the coffee table.  I caught her in the corner of my eye exiting the bath
with a robe and towel around her hair.  I settled on the sofa and waited
for her.

   She came out in a soft fleece pajama top with shorter than short
matching bottoms and carrying a hand towel.  (what she calls "the joy rag")
Her thick jet black hair was combed straight back and she sat down next to
me, sitting Indian style on the sofa facing me.

   "I got so excited about this Allison girl, I called her at her hotel
room tonight when I got in and told her I was hiring her and putting her up
for 30 days.  She cried over the phone she was so happy.  I told her to
checkout of where she is and bring everything to work tomorrow.  She's on
cloud nine.  She couldn't wait to call her parents." She said as I patted
her knee acknowledging her good deed.

   "Hopefully I can mold her into something I need badly, young fresh
ideas. I have 3 logo jobs, 2 websites, and 3 ad campaigns beset with idea
plans, but no artwork vehicles.  Business is great but I'm behind." She
admitted.  "Susan is a help with some things, but I have so much
correspondence going out, I need her up front.  With 3 other graphic
artists working part time, Allison will make 6 people on staff and that
means I'm still short, but this new business will open my pocketbook."

   I just smiled at her and was happy she had this brighter outlook.

   She sighed and dropped her head and then looked back up to me.

   "I know we shouldn't be talking business.  You're sweet to put up with
my blathering." She said as she kissed my cheek.

   She sat back and looked at me and smiled as a sexy idea crossed her
mind. She grinned at me as she leaned forward and reached to the elastic
waist of my sweat shorts.  She pulled it out from my body and reached in to
pull out my penis.  I was half hard in anticipation of the night and the
smell of her clean body excited me.  She in turn looked up to my eyes and
said.  "You smell good, clean and soapy", before fixing her eyes on my
cock.

   She held my cock and lightly stroked it as if inspecting it.  With her
other hand she reached to the far side of me and tried to pull down my
shorts.  I lifted up to help her while she removed her other hand from me
and helped lower my shorts.  Once below my knees her eyes and intention had
but one goal.  She sat back a little, still sitting on crossed legs and
leaned forward to take the head in her mouth.

   She exhaled deeply as if it were something she needed to ease a pain or
ache, and maybe it was.  I hadn't been "with her" for a month or more, and
we hadn't done any oral for a lot longer than that.  She sometimes joked
about "wham, bam, thank you ma'am" but it really was on some occasions.  We
might have hooked up at The Poly, or downstairs over lunch, grabbing a
quick sandwich to get out of the office, usually at her invitation to "stop
over tonight".  If we went to a movie or concert at my invitation we could
end up at my townhouse.  But unless we were fresh from a shower "going
south" was never on the menu and we both agreed that it was for couples
much more serious than we as a regular practice.  We both were shocked when
you read about how so many young girls did it so nonchalantly.  So, if this
was just to keep up her skills, she was doing just fine.

   She braced herself up with the back of her forearm against the inside of
my thigh while that hand fumbled my balls.  Her other hand held my cock to
her mouth whenever she popped her mouth off to slurp up her saliva.  She
was getting to me, I hadn't had my nut since the last time with her, I
guess too busy to even do myself.  I reach around her nearest arm and had
my hand inside her partially buttoned top to hold her breast and give a
loving pinch to her nipple bud.

   "Unless you want a surprise in your mouth, you better ease off Mare. 
You're going to get me." I whispered as she sat up and back wiping her
mouth with the back of the hand that held my balls.

   "You taste so clean and sexy." She whispered shyly.

   "Keep going if you like." I said smartly.

   She looked at me softly and then said "Yucchhh".

   I stood and let my shorts come off the rest of the way before kneeling
on the sofa and pushing her back to rest her head on the arm and pillow
there while she straightened her legs.  I went straight for the buttons on
her pajama top to let her tits out.  She had beautiful breasts that hung so
perfect on her.  If she was giving me head naked from between my legs, just
looking down at them swinging back and forth had me ready to froth in her
mouth.

   I paid tribute to the pair, licking, and sucking her nipples while she
squirmed underneath me, it drove her crazy and assured me of getting a nice
wet pussy when my mouth got down there.  God, I loved eating pussy.  She
would never allow it unless she were clean, so I never had to worry about
anything foul, like you might sometime encounter.  Some girls taste pissy
from just their lips, while others even when you spread them with your
tongue, as if they never wiped good.  But Mary was always a feast.  I'm
really into her boobs and she's thrusting her middle towards anything she
can rub it on so I finally ease down her body and start licking on her slit
before I get to her button and try writing the alphabet on it with my
tongue before I sweep up her juices.  When she starts puffing like a woman
in Lamaze class I know she can't handle much more.  When she cums like that
she just about passes out and she loses control a bit in panic so she
always pushes me away.  If I could get at her with a g-spot toy she might
real blast off a good one, but she would never allow that.

   I knelt up from between her legs and she is scooting down for me to get
in her before I get a chance to move.  Shy little Mary can't wait for me to
get in her and pound her harder and harder.  When we were a couple it was
"making love" and we usually we were slow and gentle.  But here for the SEX
of it she wants to be plowed and I love that too.  I never get down on her,
that's too close for her (I think she's afraid I'll try to lock mouths with
her) I kneel in front of her or she rides me and I slam the hell out of
her. Unless I really can't hold off, once I feel my cum rising I'll stop
and flip her over and ride it home by doggie and this night is no
different. She's moaning, groaning, and squealing like a wounded animal
until I splatter her insides with cum.

   We're both catching our breaths as I lay on her and wait for me to
shrink enough to come out.  As soon as we catch our breaths she searches
for the towel she brought out and brings it up under her and gives me the
OK to pullout.  Once I do, I take the towel and wipe her clean as she's
pushing out my cum (so sexy).  Intermittently I'm wiping myself clean as
well of my juice, her juice, of which there's plenty of both.  At one point
she'll reach back and hold the towel to herself and pop up and head to the
bathroom.

   I usually wash in the kitchen sink and when she comes out I'm dressed
and she'll walk up and kiss me, hug me and tell me how good it was.  Then
she walks me to the door.  We almost sound like an old married couple,
don't we?  But, all in all it's a great arrangement.  Great sex and no
commitments.

   Chapter Two

   The morning after that tryst at her apartment I'm driving downtown and
stop to get a Wall Street Journal and a coffee.  As I walking back to my
car I hear horn beep and I look up to see Mary wave to me as if I were her
gardener or something.  We have the "no strings" part of this relationship
down pat.

   Over the next two weeks I see Mary for a few fleeting moments in the
hall or grabbing a coffee downstairs.  We're both absorbed in our
business's and it's like a speeding train of life is going by and we're
stationary plotting our next move.  It's a Thursday night and I'm taking
the train to Hartford on Friday to pitch a buyer for a major big box chain
to carry our $39.99 line of Men's Dress shoes.  He's been resistant to the
line, but I'm promising to put their name on them and line through the
39.99 price point and pre-price them at 34.99.  If he puts them in every
store I can eat over half of his discount and he can eat the rest, but he
works on a shorter mark-up than most shoe sellers.

   I went out to Rachel to get my tickets and give her my itinerary and
make sure she knows what she has to do to cover the office tomorrow.  My
salesman all have to record their sales figures with her and she dumps them
into a spread sheet (she called it her weekly's) so we can order shoe parts
and coordinate with the factory.  Once I'm ready to go I decide to stop and
say hello to Mary and tell her I'll be out on Friday and if Rachel needs
her she's my emergency valve.

   Just as I'm turning the handle for the door I remember Allison.  I
hadn't checked with Mary to see how she had made out since she started.  I
really was that busy that she never even crossed my mind.

   When I opened the door I was taken by the amount of new artwork on the
walls, the unfinished projects being done, all seeming mid to almost done
judging by their content.  Usually these were hung on the creative room
walls, but there were so many, some banner sized, they were EVERYWHERE.

   "Holy crap!" I said to Susan, her receptionist and Jack of all Trades as
I panned the room.

   "Isn't she wonderful?  Allison has got us caught up and ahead of
schedule on projects we already asked extensions on." Susan said as Mary
came in from the back.

   "Well, well, well, Lazarus is risen.  I haven't seen you for a second in
a week and for just 2 seconds since the day Allison started." She said with
a big smile.

   "Looks like she's working out." I whispered.

   "Oh, my God!  She would stay all night if I let her.  She's like an
unending fountain of ideas and creativity.  I think she's done more than me
in the two weeks she's been here.  A taskmaster, I tell you.  Come back and
see her.  She had asked about you this morning." Mary said motioning me
past the door to the "creative room".

   Allison was in jean shorts and a long smock at a draft table working,
looking much too serious and into her work.  When she looked up at me she
smiled.

   "Hello, Mr Sparkhill, er . .  Jess.  I got the job!"

   "I see that!  How do you like it?"

   "It's fantastic, just what I always imagined and I'm going to start
looking for a place to live this weekend.  I'm in the Residence Inn right
now and it's been fun.  I feel like a new person."

   "You look like a new person too!" I commented.  "You're smiling and that
worry line in your forehead is gone."

   "Oh, I was so down on myself that day.  I needed this whole new start on
life." She bubbled.

   "But, you centered yourself and put those things behind you for your
interview."

   She blushed and said "Thanks to you.  A complete stranger gave me a shot
of reality.  You're a good person to help me."

   Mary had been distracted by another project and came back to the
conversation saying, "Jess, IS a good person, he's even going to buy me a
drink after work." She said as an underhanded invite to be with her later.

   "Oh?  No I can't tonight." I said regretfully.  "I have to drive to
Newton and meet my salesman there.  He has Government purchase orders in
hand and I need the actual paperwork to execute them.  He just finished up
in Boston and he'll fight the traffic out and meet me.  His daughter gets
married Saturday so I'm saving him the trip here so he can have Friday
off."

   "You're going to make Military shoes?" Mary asked.

   "No, but they'll sell that at PX locations around the world I guess. 
Military shoes have to be totally American made AND assembled." "I guess
I'll have to have that drink alone at home." She said with a pout.

   "I'll have a drink with you, if you think it's appropriate." Allison
piped in.

   Mary, who thought "having a drink" with me meant getting laid later on
thought about Allison's offer and said "OK" for a chance to get to know her
new employee better.

   I regretted turning Mary down, but I really needed those PO's and I
wanted to give my salesman, Tom Mills, a check and card for his daughter. I
didn't know his daughter, but Tom was one of my best salesmen out there who
knew so much of our operation since we went to overseas assembly production
and really pushed our "all US parts" aspect.  If I was to have a sales
manager, and that point was getting close adding 3 positions before the end
of the year, it would be Tom.

   My trip to Newton was tedious as my hour drive took 90 minutes with
traffic and, of course, construction of the Mass Pike.  Tom and I met at
Grove Street station of the MBTA Train, easy on and off for both of us.  We
parked side by side in the waiting area and worked on the hood of his car,
enjoying the cool temps and waning sunlight.  The Transit cop went by us
twice and never stopped to ask us to leave as rush hour had just passed at
6:45.  He told me of a couple cold calls he made and the possibilities of a
hit on them.  I got the rest of his sales reports that I would leave on
Rachel's desk before I went home so she could finish her weekly's and have
them ready for me on Monday morning.
For my drive home I decided to stay off The Pike and took 9&30 back to
Worcester and it took me just 45 minutes with almost no traffic.  I dropped
my things off at the office for Rachel and headed home.  It was 10:30 and I
must admit that if I saw a light at Mary's I might stop.  I had thought
about our last little tête-à-tête on the way home and gotten a little
horny, but her place was dark and I went straight home and packed for my

short trip to Hartford.

   I ended up taking my client out to dinner in Hartford and instead of
rushing like a fool to catch the last train or renting a car, I got a room
at the Downtown Ramada and then took the first train out in the morning. 
On my return to Worcester I found my car towed.  It seemed I had parked in
the daily lot, instead of the extended lot.  Thank you Massachusetts Mass
Transit.

   I called Mary and got her out of bed at 11:00 on a Saturday morning, not
making any points with her, but she came and got me and took me to the tow
lot to fetch my car and pay my fine.  On the way she told me of her "drink"
with Allison.

   "Wow, my girl Allison has a little baggage with her for such a young kid
just out of college.  This is pretty confidential, girl to girl talk, but I
have to get it off my mind, just get some perspective on it.  She lived
with a 32 year old woman in Pittsburgh her entire time at school.  She had
to live in a dorm her freshman year and this woman was the house Mom who
enforced curfew and rules, but took Allison home with her many nights. 
They became lovers and I guess when Allison graduated this woman simply
traded her in for a new freshman." Mary said, feeling troubled at telling
me, but wanting to get some opinion on her future.

   "Allison is a lesbian?" I said, sort of shocked.

   "Well, that's the rub.  This woman convinced her she was and she lived
that way, but she's really confused.  She's incredibly impressionable.  I
think it was about "comfort zone".  She ended up bawling at The Poly, so
much so I brought her to her room and sat and talked with her." Mary told
me in a way I'm sure she felt was breaking her confidence.

   "Maybe you shouldn't tell me anything more.  Sounds pretty personal and
private." I said feeling uncomfortable.

   "Well, suddenly I'm her mentor and I'm not sure what to tell her."

   "About what?"

   "She says she was sure she would find a girlfriend, or at least someone
she might feel attracted to in her time since she moved from Pittsburgh. 
She hasn't had the urge to see another woman, and when she thinks about
going back, she gets nauseated.  Now that she's away from this creepy
woman, she realizes that it was all weird." She said as she pulled into the
reclaim tow lot for the Transit Company.

   "Well, stop telling me anything.  I was thinking of asking her on a
date. I know too much already." I said.

   "What?  I'm not keeping you serviced enough?  You could have had it last
night, and you had better things to do." She said leaving me unsure of how
to take her words.

   "Mary, you aren't being fair.  You know we can't live together, and you
don't want kids." I said defending my intention of asking Allison out.

   "I certainly don't, . . .  and YOU DO?"

   "Yes, someday, if I find the right girl."

   "I'm not Mrs.  Right?"

   "No, by your own admission.  We tried getting serious and it all got
weird.  I like the way it is, and if it changed where we didn't have those
benefits, you'd still be my friend, maybe my best friend.  I didn't know
you were so possessive of me." I said sitting in her car, flustered at
where the conversation went.

   "Oh, I'm not!  It's just I was hoping you might stop in Thursday or
Friday, I really wanted to see you."

   " . . . . .  or any man?  Not just me.  What of your other boyfriends?"
I asked.

   "One of them wants to own me, and another gets too kinky.  The one guy I
had the best feeling with, . .  ends up is married, the fuckhead.  You're
the nicest and you know what I like.  There I said it, but it's not like I
want you to grow old with me." She said tearing up.

   "Well, there's a ringing endorsement!  Let me go get my car and I'll
meet you at your place."

   "You're NOT giving me a hard-up fuck today!" She protested.

   "DO YOU WANT TO TALK OR NOT?" I said pissed off getting out of the car
looking back in and asking, "Do you want me to stop and talk or not?"

   "Fuck YOU!" She shouted, so I slammed the door and went into pay my fine
and get my car while she sped off.

   Chapter Three

   I drove shaking my head at Mary's reaction to me all the way home.  When
I pulled into my lot her car was parked in my "guest" spot.  She got out of
the car when she saw me and she had obviously been crying.  She came right
over to my car door with a pouty lip, waiting for me to get out.

   "I'm sorry.  I was way out of line in every way.  I want to have my cake
and eat it too, I guess.  Whenever I take up with a guy I guess I always
compare him to you, and the one thing you have going for you to me, is
you're handy sexually.  You're a great friend and we always have fun, but
the sex is always great.  I really don't want to get married, or have kids,
or have to cook, or wash someone else's clothes.  I love my life of quiet
solitude.  I would just miss your sex if you found a girlfriend.  I won't
stand in your way if you want to go out with Allison."

   I put my arm around her and asked her to come up so we could talk in
private.  She put her arm around my waist and walked to my townhouse and we
went inside.

   "Here's the thing", she said as soon as we got inside and she sat on one
of the stools at my coffee nook.  "You've never pressed me for anything
more in our relationship once we established that living together was out
of the question.  I liked that and I got to feel you were mine.  If I was
serious about you I wouldn't have had sex with three other men over the
last year.  I knew we weren't exclusive, and I realized you knew it too. 
Of the three, I had one guy wanting to stay with me every weekend and
calling me every day.  After 2 weeks I sent him away.  Another guy was nice
enough to me and lots of fun, but after we slept together the first time he
just got too familiar, wanting to walk around the townhouse nude, playing
grab ass all of the time and then he, . . .  tried to put a finger up my
butt, God it's so embarrassing.  Then I thought I found a guy I might
actually be able to live with.  He was a nice as you, he never pressed me
for more time and actually made me want him to be around more.  He was the
one guy who didn't want too much from me.  Then I found out why, he's
married and lives on Indian Lake with a wife and 2 kids.  I'm such a
loser."

   Mary started crying and I went to her to comfort her as best I know.

   "Mary, you're not a loser.  You know how I feel about you, and you were
lucky enough to have 3 men chase you.  You're a great looking woman, and as
good a companion as any man could hope for.  I know you as well as anyone
and we tried to be a couple and neither one of us were happy, unable to
handle the little quirks and sacrifices that go with it all.  I can't let
you own me, just like I can't own you.  I've known you were sleeping with
other men, and it never made a difference to me.  But since I found that
out I've let you call the shots as to when it might happen for us."

   "How did you know?" She wondered.

   "Somebody was using the condoms in your drawer, you know, where you keep
that box of tissues?  Since you told me they were there, I go in and steal
one on occasion . . .  Uh a tissue, not a condom." I said with a chuckle.

   "I know you and I are safe, but I make everyone else wear a condom." She
said blushing.

   Mary finally calmed down and had everything in perspective, or so it
seemed.  She got up and came over to me and hugged me.  "If you want to ask
Allison on a date, I won't stand in your way, just know she's delicate and
probably a soap opera.  If you ever sleep with her just let me know in some
subtle way.  I don't want to cause trouble for anyone."

   "Mary, I don't need your permission.  We don't have a relationship
except as friends, with benefits." I said making sure she was clear.

   "I know.  You're right.  God, how do I make today disappear?  I've
embarrassed myself so." She said.

   "Mary, we can try again to have a man and woman relationship where we
look after each other's needs, do things to make each other happy besides
sex.  Attempt to bring our lives together." I said, giving her the chance
if that is what she REALLY wanted.

   She thought for a moment and looked at me and said, "No, that's not what
I want at all.  I want you when I want you, you know, outside of our normal
friendship.  I don't think I can ever live with a man again."

   "Maybe with a woman?" I asked half serious.

   "God NO!  That's probably half of what's bothering me today.  When I
brought her to her hotel I went in to make sure she was OK.  While I sat
and we talked I thought about going over and just kissing her, seeing what
it might be like.  When my mind told me I was brave enough to do it, I
almost vomited right there.  She is so pretty, but NO, not that. 
Disgusting!"

   "Mary, that only goes to show you that you ARE still searching for
someone.  Don't ever say you'll never find happiness in a relationship. 
I'll always be your friend, with or without the sex, I hope you know that."
I assured her.

   Then, very uncharacteristically, she stood and kissed me on the lips,
real hard, before saying, "I hope you know that I really love you and all
you do for me, keep me sane when clearly I may be out of my mind at times.
I hope we can take the last few hours and forget they ever happened."

   "Forgotten." I said with a smile.

   "Prove it." She said reaching between my legs and holding me in her hand
while her other hand began to undo the buttons on her blouse.

   I reached down and began to undo my belt and she busied herself taking
off her top and slipping out of her shorts.  In her bra and panties she
turned and leaned onto the stool at the nook.  I stepped out of my pants
and slipped down her panty.  She stepped out of them and bent over again
but I unsnapped her bra and she stood to let it fall and I reached around
from her back and held her womanly breasts in my hands while my cock was
nudging, nestling between her cheeks and legs while I kissed her neck, Once
my cock was hard enough to make a go I pinched her nipples and when she
bent to escape the pinch I took my place behind her and entered her.  She
was ripe and ready to be plowed.

   She swooned when I entered her and from the sounds she was making, her
whole problem with everything may have been built up sexual tension.  How
could such a sexual person have such a hard time committing to someone? 
She had too many personal quirks for me, but I loved her so many ways, and
the fact she craved my sexual companionship didn't hurt.  We truly used
each other, but with little effort each of us would have no problem finding
sex partners but she was too picky, and I was too lazy.  I was looking
forward to asking Allison out, but with these new developments, I was
second guessing that, although I hadn't thought of her as a sexual partner,
just a date with someone more my age.

   Mary was pushing back hard to meet my every thrust as if she couldn't
get it deep enough, hard enough.  It was then I saw something I had never
seen her do, she had a her fingers on her pussy, shaking her clit like
crazy and suddenly she howled and I was drenched from her g-spot, along
with the floor and the wooden seat of the stool.  She went limp for a
moment with all of her weight going on the seat of the stool as her legs
got rubbery.  She swooned loudly, almost sounding like crying and she tried
to apologize, but I grabbed her hips and adjusted to her lower stance and
railed her hard as my cum rose and I shot inside of her.  I stayed pressed
hard into her and put my hands on the edge of the counter as she laid limp
over the stool, puffing like a steam engine.

   In a few moments I heard the plop of cum hitting the floor and I pulled
myself to stand up and Mary slid right to the floor despite my feeble
attempt to catch her.  She waved off my efforts to help her up as she sat
in my cum and the fluid she shot from her g-spot.

   "I'm a fucking mess, but I needed that.  I usually only squirt alone. 
I'm sorry about the mess." She said still huffing and puffing.

   Despite her protests I bent and picked her up and brought her to the
bathroom.  She was heavier than the last time I carried her, or maybe I got
a bit older, but I got her to the tub.  I set her in and asked, "bath or
shower."

   "Help me up, I'll shower."

   I got her to her feet and she started laughing like crazy.  "I'll pay
you for the rest of my life NEVER to tell anyone about this."

   "Mary, this is what friends do, take care of each other." I said as I
turned on the water and adjusted it before I switched the spray on.

   While she showered I gathered her clothes and put them in the bath for
her.  She came out fresh with her black hair combed back.  She looked and
smelled so good I could have went for her again, but she was anxious to get
home and begin to forget the whole episode.  I didn't hear from her on
Sunday at all and on Monday morning I saw her getting coffee on the 2nd
floor and she waved to me from line.  I didn't see her for the rest of that
week or the next.  This was typical of our relationship.

   Chapter Four

   While driving to work one morning almost 3 weeks from my spat with Mary
I thought I saw Allison walking near The University (WPI) as I turned to
get downtown.  I meant to go over to Maribel Designs and ask if that were
her and if she had moved to that area, but never got the break in the day.
Two days later I saw the same girl and went around the block and saw that
it was Allison, apparently walking to work.

   "Hey Allison, can I give you a lift?" I hollered from the window and
after doing a quick double take she ran to the car.

   "Hi Jess, sure I'll take a ride.  I'm trying to save money on the bus in
hopes of coming up with a down payment for a vehicle of some sort.  You
know all those car places that advertise, no cash, no credit, no problem?
They all lie.  I have no credit at all and cash is short now that I have a
townhouse.  They're letting me rent with an option to buy after a year. 
Mary was nice enough to co-sign.  Job security, huh?"

   "Well, I drive by here every day and as long as I'm going to the office,
you're welcome to ride.  Just be out here by 8:00, does that work?"

   "I live on Pleasant, just off where it meets Highland and Coolidge. 
I'll meet you right on that corner, OK?"

   "That will be fine." I answered.

   Allison was quiet the rest of the way, but I felt she was trying to find
a way to ask a question, by the look on her face.

   "Allison, is something bothering you?"

   "Please call me Allie, that's what they call me at home.  Ummm . . . .
It's really none of my business, but do you and Mary live together?" She
asked.

   "For God's sake NO!  Whatever gave you that idea?" I wondered.

   "You seem awfully familiar together and I know you're both in the same
development."

   "Allie, Mary and I are good friends, and yes we were an item at one
time, but it didn't work out, but our friendship survived.  It didn't last
long and we never lived together.  Satisfy your curiosity?"

   She blushed saying, "Sorry to be so nosy, but I hated to ask her.  Can I
ask you something else?"

   "Fire away, Allie."

   "Did you grease the skids for me when I interviewed with her.  I know
you looked me over, I caught you ogling me.  That was why I was afraid to
get on the elevator with you." She asked.

   "How would I grease the skids?  I didn't even know your name.  You were
just that pretty girl in the 2nd floor lobby who looked lost.  Give
yourself some credit, you got your job on your own." I said with a smile.

   "Well, I'm real happy.  I've never been independent before, never lived
alone before.  I'm getting the hang of it all." She said, sort of nodding
to herself.

   "How about if I ask you a personal question?"

   "Umm, OK, I guess."

   "Would you like to go to a movie and maybe stop for a drink and a pizza
some night?  All work and no play makes Allie a dull girl.  Please don't
feel uncomfortable if you want to say no.  I'm not trying to hit on you. 
You just seem like a nice girl and I thought we might have a good time
together." I asked.

   "Oh geez, I don't know.  Would it be OK with Mary?  Umm, I haven't went
out on many dates before.  I don't have a lot to wear right away.  Ummm."

   "Allie?  You don't have to answer me right away and if you just want to
say no, do so.  I'll understand." I insisted.

   "Can I get back to you in a day or two?" She asked nervously.

   "That would be fine, and again, please don't feel obligated because I
gave you a ride or anything.  I totally understand.  OK?" Hoping my
question wouldn't shut me out from her.

   "Jess, I only know 3 people here, Mary, Susan and you . . .  oh, and my
landlord and she gave me envelopes for mailing my rent and she doesn't even
live around here.  I just need time, OK?"

   "Allie, I said it was fine.  Don't feel pressured or obligated." I
assured her.

   Not another word was said between us about my request that week or the
week following.  Summer was turning into fall and I had all but forgotten
my request for a date with Allie.  I've been shot down before and Allie was
a better than average looking girl who I am sure had her choice of men, or
women for that matter, to go out with.  She was still a nice girl and from
my latest foray with Mary, she was still balls to the wall with her work
output.  Maribel's billing had doubled in the 4 or 5 months Allie had been
there and Mary was hiring more artists to pick up the slack and color the
things they were producing.  I had never seen Mary in better moods than
lately and it showed in her sexuality when we got together.

   One particular night we played tennis for a few hours and afterward we
showered and changed at the Tennis club and I waited for her to come out.
We walked to the car and it was dark as I let her in her door.  When I got
in my side she was giggling so I asked what had her amused.

   "Look out beyond the mall, it's the neon cross from Saint Stevens on the
ridge." She said.

   "Oh right, when this area was a Drive-In Theater it used to seem to sit
over the top of the screen.  They used to say the cross kept girls out of
backseats at the drive-in." I remembered joining her in a chuckle.

   "I gave my first blowjob in a car there." She said softly.  "What do you
think if do a rerun for old times sake."

   I was a little shocked by her words and said "It wasn't with me, ummm, .
. . . .  I was probably in grade school."

   "I KNOW that, you jerk.  (slapping my arm) It's just in seeing the cross
it reminded me of the drive-in, and we're out here and you're all clean,
and I'm all horned up."

   "Do we end up in the back seat, like back then?"

   "No, I'll finish you, I can spit out the window, like I did the first
time.  I have my period, just like the first time." She said smiling.

   "Mary Belanger, you are a trip.  I thank God you're so sentimental about
such an inauspicious occasion as your first blowjob."

   "It was a big deal then.  Nice girls didn't do that, but with a big
handful of cock that you'd been playing with so much that he was in pain,
you do things you'd been daring yourself to try.  I got my period there, AT
the drive-in.  I went to pee and I was a mess and that's why he got his
chance." She said with a mischievous grin.

   "And he came in your mouth?  No warning?"

   "He had on khaki pants and in his father's car with cloth interior. 
There was no room for a messy error.  Come on, unzip, there's no one
around." She said as she knelt up in her seat ready to bend over the
console.

   "I'll never figure you out, Mare." I said as I undid my belt, unzipped
and shinnied down my pants a little.

   "And that's the way it's going to stay." She said with a smile before
bending over my cock.

   Knowing she was going to take my load made this an easy affair for me.
The perfect blowjob is the one where they take your load and lick and suck
around the head afterwards.  That is the cherry on the sundae.  Swallowing
makes no difference to me, although some girls wear that as their good deed
of the sexual day.  Even letting it fly and then going back to clean up
afterwards is just as rewarding.

   Mary was really into it, this woman who wouldn't tolerate a smell of
sweat or urine, let alone the pungent drop or two that might exist.  This
woman who rejected lovers because they touched her asshole during sex was
sucking my cock while moaning and slurping through her total enjoyment of
the act.  I could tell by the way she was trying scissor her legs that she
was getting some enjoyment out of this, so I thought I would play a head
game with her.

   "Looks like you've got quite an itch between your legs there Mary, you
good little cocksucker.  What say I bring you home and fuck you in your
ass." I said as sexy as I knew.

   She popped her head up for just a moment to say, "I'm not THAT horny, my
ass is saved for my husband, and that will never be you.  Now, cum in my
mouth."

   It was as if she was ready for my off color dig at her horniness.  She
set me in my place, but her request to cum in her mouth was about to be
fulfilled.

   Not that I didn't trust her but I put my hand on top of her head as I
began to shoot in her mouth, but she showed no resistance to taking my cum,
to which she usually said a long "yechhh" to.  She kept sucking and moving
her mouth over and around the head until she was sure I was through.  When
I could take no more I removed my hand that had slid down to her nape.  She
popped her head up and looked at me with an obvious mouthful.  She turned
and opened the door and spit it out to the ground, followed by several
cleaning spits.  I was just sitting back in the reverie of cumming as hard
as I came in a while.  She sat back in her seat and exhaled big saying,
"That was fun." along with a big grin.

   I looked down to the cock I was holding in my hand and said, "Oops,
missed some." As a big dollop almost glistened on my cock head in the
ambient light of the parking lot light and the moon.

   She, almost violently, darted over the console and took the head in her
mouth and swiped off the dollop saying, "Called your bluff, asshole.  I've
tasted cum, your cum, before, you know.  One night when you fell asleep
right after we fucked and I did just what I just did to wake you, but it
didn't work."

   "Mary, that was awesome, are you SURE there isn't something I can do for
you?"

   "No, I'm fine.  I had 2 or 3 little hard rushes during.  I'll take a
rain check for after my period.  Bring me home." She said, almost coldly,
once again in a way I could never figure her out.

   About halfway home she guffawed to herself and mimicked me, "What say I
bring you home and fuck you in your ass" She said shaking her head.  "I'm
sure that painful experience would really get me off."

   "But you would do it for your husband?"

   "Of course, I want to give him a virgin something!" She said matter of
factly.

   I just shook my head.  The guy who could marry and live with this woman
was a stronger man than me.  He'll have a great sex life, but have to have
the patience of two Jobs."(Bible reference)

   When I dropped her off at her Townhouse she patted me on the leg and
took her racket from behind the seat, saying "I'll see you downtown
tomorrow.  Have a good night and thanks for a great time."

   Mary Belanger was a trip.

   Chapter Five

   The next morning was like any other Friday, or any weekday for that
matter.  Around 8:00 Allie stood on the bus corner waiting for me to come
by and she got in with a smile and a "Good Morning" She no more than sat in
the seat and she looked at me and said, you were with Mary last night.  I
can smell her cologne, Vanilla Fields."

   "Yes, we played tennis last night and we both showered at the club, so
she probably put on fresh cologne, maybe even here in the car while she
waited for me, I was last one out.  You should be a detective." I mused.

   "I think she loves you." She said quietly, embarrassed that she made the
remark.

   "No Allie, she loves the idea of me, but she is much too complex a
person to be anyone's "love".  She and I are great friends, in the fact we
trust each other to no end, would do anything for each other, but love in
the sense beyond that of a brother/sister type doesn't work, oil and
water." I explained.

   "How about WD-40?  Oil and water and it mixes and does well when used
for its intentions." She said still staring straight, uncomfortable she was
involved with the conversation, which she had started through her own
inquisitiveness.

   "But WD-40 is never a permanent fix.  It only lasts so long before you
have to use it again, or get to the crux of the problem with a real oil
fix."

   "Touché.  I only ask because you asked me out on a date and I don't want
to jeopardize my job by going with you.  I've tried to gauge her
relationship with you, but I only see she has great affection for you." She
said turning her head to get my reaction.

   "And I for her.  But if what you think were true, do you think we would
go 1, 2 and 3 weeks sometimes without seeing each other, talking to each
other.  When our lives come together we do well, but what you think we are
would never be.  If you think my going on a date with you would be a
problem, ask her." I challenged.

   The car got quiet for another block or two when I "confessed" my
intentions.

   "Allie you are a beautiful and attractive woman.  I am a red blooded
American man who feels attracted to you, but not just from a physical
standpoint.  You have a sexy shyness I find alluring, plus you are quite
smart and have such a creative mind that I can't help but think that
complexity might translate into other parts of your personality.  I think
you would be interesting to know and from there we'll see what develops. 
I'm just interested to see what we might be together.  Then after one or
maybe two dates we might want to expand our relationship more, or perhaps
decide to keep it as we are."

   "How old are you?" She asked.

   "Twenty six."

   "Hmm, you seem much older, maybe mature is the word I want.  Ummm, . . .
how about tonight for a date?  I'm sorry for the short notice, but I've put
off this conversation all week." She surprisingly said.

   "I have no plans tonight.  That would be fine.  I'll get you around
6:00." I said.

   "I'll be on that corner, no need to come to my house.  I'd like it that
way.  OK?"

   "That's fine, decide what you might like to see."

   I went through the day happy that this was going to happen.  I hadn't
been out on a date with a woman besides Mary for quite a few months, and
when I say "date" with Mary it was usually to play tennis or racquetball, a
post "drink" rendezvous, or sometimes a movie if something comes out that
looks interesting to both of us (rare).

   Last Fall I met Lindsay, a faculty member from WPI, a woman of about 28
or 30, at the coffee bar on the second floor.  We happened to be in line
together a couple days in a row after seeing each other at the paper stand,
getting the same papers, the Boston Globe and the Wall Street Journal.  We
chuckled that we were both creatures of habit, of like tastes and I asked
her to sit a drink her coffee with me instead of running off to her bus. 
(Students and faculty alike would park downtown and use a university issued
bus pass to get to campus.  It alleviated traffic and parking problems at
the Institute) We got along very well and eventually I asked her to dinner
and that turned into going to a wine festival in Boston where I found she
was interested in sports and we went to a few Bruins games in the winter
and Sox games in the summer.  We had sex after a month or so, but never
really had a marathon session like young lovers tend to do once they become
accustom to each other.  I looked forward to a weekend we might just spend
in bed, but it never happened.  She seemed to like sex, was active in bed,
sucking, fucking, playing around, but if she or I stayed the night, when I
woke up she was already up and showered and dressed.  Those romantic
mornings just never happened.  We were great, but just never THAT great. 
We just kind of grew apart, cordially.  I still see her for coffee a lot
and she always says, we should get together, but unless she asks me out, it
won't happen.

   I'm a good looking enough guy that I don't have to remain celibate.  If
I want to frequent a club, I can usually score, or come close, or get a
good phone number.  I don't really have a lot of time for screwing around,
but I'm definitely no saint.  If not for Mary hitting my relief valve, I
might be more active in the female chasing sport, but overall I'm happy. 
But, Allie was an exception.  She is a fox, smart, and although she may be
a lesbian, according to Mary (I wondered about the context of what she
heard), I might hope she's a bi-sexual who can join another team and become
a key contributor.

   At the Cine Six all showings of the four "hit" movies started between
6:15 and 6:45, the other 2 were animated kid or family movies.  Allie was
prompt at her corner when I got there.  She was dressed in short-shorts and
a second skin top with a halter type sweater over it.  She was, in a word,
sexy.

   "Well, you certainly look very nice tonight.  What movie did you pick?"
I asked just after she got in the car.

   "Is Chloe a good choice?  It's pretty new and supposed to be a thriller
with Liam Neeson."

   "I haven't seen it, sounds good to me.  I think that one starts at 6:30
so we have plenty of time.  I was going to take you to Pizza Bistro
afterwards.  Their pie is great and they have a great wine list with
pairings for different type pizza."

   "That's different, I usually drink beer with pizza." She laughed.

   "And you can," I added, "whatever you like.  It's just their specialty."

   We made small talk before the movie and got our popcorn, drinks and she
wanted Junior Mints.  The movie was much sexier than I thought it might be
plus it featured Julianne Moore whom I find incredibly alluring and Amanda
Seyfried who had a resemblance to Allie.  Besides the regular sex in the
film, there was a scene where both women made love and I was mad I wasn't
aware of this, I didn't want to see her feel uncomfortable, but wondered if
she knew and it was why she picked it.  I speculated she picked it to give
me a message and all this, when in fact it was all coincidence.

   After the movie I asked her what she thought of it and she expounded for
10 minutes while we drove to Pizza Bistro about the relationships, the
acceptance of a man cheating on his wife in some situations, just the whole
gamut of things pictured in the film.  She definitely had an analytical
mind and showed me a glimpse of her creative brilliance as she peeled the
onion of the plot and outcome.  It occurred to me at one point that her in
depth diatribe may have been a cover for making small talk, as she had
little to say to me in fear of bringing up the blatant SEX mood the film
cast on its viewers

   We started with a Coppola Rosso wine, which is a favorite of mine, it's
neither too sweet or too dry, just a leathery grapey finish that goes well
with anything, but with the pizza (Pancetta, caramelized onion, and
ricotta) we ordered, it was recommended.  She drained her glass before he
pizza arrived and when the waiter went to refill her she hesitated, but let
him do it.  But after her first slice of pizza and half of her wine gone
she looked at me very cutely, almost blushing and asked, "Would you mind if
I switched to beer?  The wine is good, but I guess I'm just a beer girl."

   Of course I had no problem with that, whatever made her happy.  We
enjoyed the pizza thoroughly with her eating 3 pieces and I 4, leaving the
last for the sweepers.  While I just had 2 wines, she had 1 and a half, and
then 2 16 ounce beers.  I thought she was handling it all well, but after a
small scoop of gelato she seemed to be slurring a bit.  I didn't want her
to have a problem and I offered coffee, which she accepted and drank about
half of before excusing herself to the ladies room.  I worried because she
staggered walking away.  She seemed to be gone a long time and I was afraid
she may have gotten sick, but when she returned she insisted she hadn't and
looking at her closer, I could see she had been crying.

   It was quiet in the car as we headed home and I finally broke the ice by
asking the obvious.

   "Allie is there something I said or did to upset you?  I see you were
crying and I hope I didn't do anything to make you feel bad."

   "No, I just drank too much, got drunk and thought too much about making
a fool of myself.  I should never have come tonight."

   "What?  You didn't have a good time.  You seemed to love the movie."

   "Can we just not talk, and bring me home.  I'm so fucked up." She said
turning to the window.

   We drove right to her home; I went up a back street so I wouldn't leave
her at the bus stop again.  When the car stopped I went to get out and get
her door but she stopped me.

   "Wait!  I owe you a lot of explaining to be fair to someone who took an
interest in me and my well being when you didn't even know me besides a
well dressed body.  You've been so nice and so helpful and the reason I got
my job, probably." She said before crying uncontrollably for a few minutes.

   I tried to comfort her but she remained stone shouldered when I tried.

   Eventually she calmed a bit.  She took a deep breath and spoke.

   "I'm sorry if I've been such a nudge tonight (I hadn't thought that) On
top of that I drank too much and got drunk; I should have skipped the wine.
I have to tell you, you are the first man, first male, I've ever been on a
date with.  Please don't ask questions, just let me talk." She said amid
some sobs and snuffing her tears.  "I met a recruiter for Caerenger-Miron
in my junior year of high school and she and I began a love affair.  I saw
her as a mentor and I'm sad to say I fell innocent victim to her.  I saw
her occassionally through my junior and senior years of high school and
then lived with her all six years in Pittsburgh.  She told me I was a
lesbian and she treated me like one and, as I realize now, she did things
to make me feel worthless and dependant on her.  She told me that no man
would have me and my pointy breasts.  I wasn't round like her.  She called
me fat-ass because of the flare of my hips.  When I graduated and began to
go for job interviews I found she had recruited another girl and was
replacing me.  That was always her plan.  I was never her lover, I was her
toy.  I've been seeing a therapist and she told me to tell this to the
person I am closest too to prove I can be accepted.  I began to open to
Mary, but I chickened out, thinking I might lose my job over it.  I'm not
close to anyone!  I don't know anyone here.  I thought I would meet another
mate, a woman, but I've discovered I'm not interested in another woman, I
find men exciting to my eyes, my senses.  I'm attracted to YOU!  OH GOD,
you must think I'M CRAZY!!"

   I reached for her once again only to be met by her still stone
shouldered resistance.

   "Allison, come here let me comfort you and let me show you that I do
have compassion, as many others will, for your situation.  I'm accepting of
whatever you are.  I like and admire WHO you are and if WHAT you are is
something that isn't socially acceptable, I don't care.  Whatever this
beast of a person told you about your social standing, she was wrong.  Not
everyone may be accepting, but you'll find most are.  A friend, who finds a
problem with your sex, your religion, your color, or your outlook, is NOT
your friend."

   I threw my leg over the console and straddled it so hug and hold her. 
She melted into my arms and cried her eyes out for about 5 minutes more. 
Finally she calmed down and looked up at me as I held her.

   "Would you come in with me and talk so I can ease my mind?" She asked
before raising a finger to me.  "I trust you and trust the fact you know
I'm not inviting you in for anything sexual."

   "I'm understanding and never assumed that." I assured her.

   We walked from my car and into her townhouse which was sparsely
decorated and needing of furniture.  I knew I was wading into a mess as far
as Allison was concerned, but I had come this far, I would at least hear
her out.

   "I was afraid of what a mess this date could turn into and I promised
myself that I wouldn't drink, but did anyway.  My life has been so screwed
up, the only peace I have is working.  Please forgive me for involving you
in all of this.  Somehow my therapist thinks telling my closest friend the
whole story is good for me.  I couldn't bring myself to tell her I had no
close friends, so now it's you.  I didn't want to make you sorry for taking
me out, and now I've done just that."

   "Allie, I'm not sorry for anything as long as I can help you understand
yourself, or accept what has happened to you." I said, hoping I could keep
my words at a premium so as not to act as a therapist or interpreter of her
thoughts.  She wanted someone to listen, so here I was.

   "I suppose I was sexually confused at the time I met Simone and I was
easily brought under her wing as she espoused a lot of the same thoughts as
me as far as creativity and my education.  She was 8 years older than me.
She took me on a trip to the Pittsburgh campus and seduced me that night
making me think it was all normal.  It was only a 3 hour trip from my home
so I saw her a lot and she never let me out of her claws.  Once I started
school my grades were fantastic and she took credit for everything.  After
my first semester, when she convinced me to stay with her instead of going
home or the dorm, was when her control took over.  Telling me I was
imperfect, that no man would find me attractive.  I became her slave in
many regards, learning how to satisfy her.  We would go out together and
she would point out other women to me, telling me how much better they were
than me.  I never once thought any of them were alluring to me.  See how
fucked up I am?"

   "She warned me not to tell my parents or anyone from school how she
helped me along, I might lose all of my credits and get expelled.  I know
now that in reality she never helped me with the exception that she made me
study, sometimes locked in a room with only a bed pot to pee in."

   Allie, did your therapist TELL you to try and start a normal
relationship, with a man, or a woman for that matter?  Is that why you went
out with me?" I asked, in wonderment of the whole story I had heard.

   "No, I went out with you because I truly am attracted to you, but any
chance of getting to know you is shot now.  No one needs this sort of drama
and baggage." She said ready to sob again.

   "Allison, I can put all of your troubles aside if you truly want to
start a relationship.  If it doesn't seem to work out we can still remain
friends, I promise." I said knowing I could keep from crossing a line that
would break the friend to lover bond until it became inevitable.

   "You say that, but are you sure?" She asked through the beginning of
more crying.

   I was standing over her with my arms folded ready to tell her to suck it
up and face the music about her past.  "Oh poor me!" was getting old
already, but I needed to know a few more things.

   "Did your parents know about the sexual situation of you and this Simone
character?"

   "No, they suspected it once and I denied it telling my Mom it was
something I would confide in her with if it were true." She said, talking
to the floor.

   "Goddamit Allie, time to grow up and face the music.  You said you were
attracted to me and want to get to know each other.  I can't handle the
spineless act.  Now LOOK at me!  Did you ever tell this woman that you
loved her?"

   "Yes, I had too." She said almost scared into transforming from a
jellyfish.

   "Now, be honest.  Did you EVER mean it?"

   Without hesitation she said a firm "NO!  If I couldn't say I Love You
she told me it would make me a dyke whore who was going to lose her
scholarship."

   I was out of patience with her.  "Were you really so stupid, so jaded
that you were totally taken in by her."

   She looked at me with stern resolve and said, "So afraid.  I knew
graduating was going to be my way out.  I knew when I told her I was going
to job interviews she would dump me.  I finally figured that then she had
no hold on me.  My last night's there I didn't sleep, I was afraid she
might hurt me."

   "For how smart and creative you are, I find your story hard to believe,
but yet here you stand in front of me telling it.  I can deal with all of
this as long as you finish with your therapist.  What's happened here, what
you've told me is all confidential.  I would not tell anyone, and YES, even
Mary.  When you tell me you're through with your therapist, you and I can
try it again if you're still interested.  Can you live with that?"

   "I guess so.  I'm just happy that you still want to talk to me." She
said with a bit of a smile.

   "Did you ever think you might be drugged while there?"

   "No, I just took vitamins she gave me."

   "Did you ever tell your therapist about the vitamins?" I wondered.

   "I don't think so.  I just told her I wasn't taking any drugs."

   "Next trip to the therapist, describe the vitamins to your therapist so
he or she knows what you were taking.  I'm beginning to think you may have
been drugged." I surmised.

   "Oh, I don't think so, but I'll tell her." She agreed, nodding.

   "Now Allison, if I leave here now, are you going to be OK?  You're not
going to be sick or anything?  Did your doctor give you anything for
depression?"

   "No, I'll be OK.  I feared drugs would jeopardize my job and I look
forward so to going to work that hurting myself is not an option if that's
your worry.  I have so many ideas and plans for work that I would go in
right now if I had a key.  I was depressed until I got the job." She
assured me.

   She then walked up to me and whispered "Thank You" and kissed me on the
cheek.  I smiled to her and she smiled back, looking content that she got
something off her chest.

   Chapter Six

   When I got home after my "date" with Allison I truly did not know what
to think.  This girl was not stupid, or a dummy of any kind, yet she was
taken in by this woman who stalked her, brought her into her lair, and
manipulated her.  There almost HAD to be drugs involved for her to be taken
in so deeply, so long.  I also wondered if there were others before her and
who she might have on the line now.  If Allie finds that she might have
been drugged all of that time should she press charges, thus exposing her
"secrets".  I was in a deep quandary and wondered what to do.  I knew one
thing; I wouldn't say a word to anyone about our date or anything else
about Allie.  I promised her confidence and I was going to keep it.

   I just got into bed and my phone rang and I didn't know the Caller ID
number and because of the hour, I answered.

   "Hello."

   "Jess, I hope I didn't wake you, it's Allie."

   "No, I was just going to bed though."

   "Just one thing so our story is straight, if anyone asks about our
date?"

   "OK."

   "We went and saw Chloe and went for a pizza and you brought me home,
that's all.  OK?"

   "Seeing as how that is what happened, I can go along with that. 
Everything else is personal."

   "You are sweet, and a very good ear.  Have a nice night and thanks for
telling me to grow up and face the music.  I think they call that tough
love.  You've chided me twice now and both times for good.  Good night
Jess. You are a sweet man."..........and she hung up.

   She called me "sweet" two different times, and that's how Mary referred
to me when I did something nice for her.  A woman with no experience with
men would hardly choose "sweet" to describe a man.  But, the fact she
called me that made me happy.  I wanted to get really sweet on her.

   My phone rang twice on Sunday and it was Mary both times.  I wasn't sure
why she was calling me, but I figured it was either for an Allie update or
she wanted "company".  I moved my car to another building and spent the day
catching up on laundry, cleaning up, and balancing my bank statements.  I
would have felt like a hypocrite of I went over and banged Mary, if that's
what she wanted.  I wanted to hold off on that a bit until I heard some
sort of news from Allie.

   On Monday morning I was surprised not to see Allie on the corner, but it
wasn't the first time we didn't hook up.  I was about 5 minutes late and if
the bus came, she may have taken it.  I just got settled behind my desk
with my coffee when Rachel buzzed my page, "Mary Belanger on her way in." A
second later my door opened.

   "What did you do to my girl the other night?  She called in and said she
had a Doctor's appointment and would be late.  She's had appointments
before, but always had then pre-scheduled.  She's not going for the Morning
After Pill is she?" She kidded.

   "Mary, don't even joke about that.  You know I'm not THAT kind of guy,
and from what you've told me, she's not that kind of girl.  We went to a
movie, had a pizza and I brought her home." I told her convincingly.

   "No lezzie talk?" Mary asked cruelly.

   "Mary, do you suppose she would LIKE to hear that comment.  If you value
her as an employee as much as you say, I wouldn't bring that up.  Let her
live her life.  We had a normal first date and I'm not sure if there will
be a second one, I didn't ask."

   "Where were you all day yesterday?  I could have used you, umm . . . 
putting up some curtains?"

   I chuckled at her reference, saying, "Oh?  Couldn't get the rod level?"

   "Smart ass.  You were probably over doing my Allison." She said
viciously.

   "There is NOTHING going on between us and for you to say something like
that is just wrong.  Allie is a sweet girl.  We enjoyed a movie together
and had a pizza.  THAT'S IT!" I exploded.

   "Ok, OK, OK!  I was just kidding." She insisted.

   "Do you want someone else to hear that?"

   "No, you're right.  I'm sorry." She apologized before leaving, saying
she would talk to me later.

   Later on when I went out for lunch I saw Allie coming to work.  Just as
the elevator door closed going up she caught my eye and I got a half wave
before the door shut.  I wondered how she made out, but knew it wasn't my
business.

   My salesman Tom Mills called me right after lunch to tell me he had a
lead on another salesman, one who might be able to work Ohio, Michigan,
Indiana, Illinois, and the area.  That drive was killing Tom and he thought
his contacts in the Northeast were suffering when he had to make that
swing. He had a guy who previously had called on big box stores with garden
furniture and Christmas items.  The only problem was that he was on a
contract as a temp to perm through a recruiter.  If he left the contract
early he would suffer penalties and still have to pay the weekly
commission. Tom felt he was strong enough to wait for him.

   "Tom, why don't you catch up on your regular accounts, especially the
mid-west, keep them clean so you can hand them over seamlessly after a
training period.  Then come in with your friend and we can all talk.  If we
end up hiring him, I'm going to need a sales manager to handle the crew and
that's going to be you.  That'll cut your territory down and we can hire
someone to cover the balance and then you can rotate out to see each
salesperson once a month.  It'll mean more traveling, but actually less
days away from home.  You can get every salesman on the same page as you
with your systems.  How does that sound?" I asked.

   "THAT would be awesome and it couldn't have come at a better time.  I
have a job offer with a food broker that was tempting and I was
contemplating it.  Thanks Jess." He said, sounding relieved.

   "Tom, don't ever think about leaving us until you come and talk to me.
If there is a problem, I can fix it.  Understand?"

   "I understand.  I'll keep you on top of things.  Your changes will make
me happy." He said.

   I hoped he would follow up with this fellow and get a commitment plus be
far enough ahead to bring his prospect to town for an interview.  I asked
him to get me his resume so I could screen him.  IF I had 90 days to
prepare to make all of this happen it would be great.

   Solving my coverage problem would be a great help to my business and
could certainly make some more money for, not only Tom, but the new sales
person, if he worked out.  I took Rachel's manifest of last week's sales
and went through her figures and compared figures to the previous year and
was happy to see we were still growing, and that was not by introducing new
lines, it was finding a new customer in the big box stores.  No matter what
anyone tells you, price sells.  When a man has to wear a dress shoe day
after day he can spend upwards of $500 to get a shoe that will last and
look good.  But if you're new to the work force, or even school and you
have to look presentable, we make a comfortable, affordable, shoe that
looks like it costs a lot more.  How you wear it is how long it will last.
I loved the premise of our main product and planned to let Maribel work on
some national advertising for me soon.

   I stayed much later than normal, around 6:20, and that would work for
me. I didn't want to run into Mary and have her ask me for a "drink".  I
really wanted to avoid being a hypocrite in the face of Allies problems.  I
was really afraid of Mary slipping and saying something in front of her,
either intentional or not.

   When the elevator opened I was surprised to see Allie sitting on a bench
near the ramp and stairs out.

   "Thank God, I was so afraid I missed you, but Rachel said you hadn't
left when she went out at 5:30." I was just going to call a cab.  I need to
talk to you.  You can give me a ride, right?" She said sounding ominous. 
"Of course I can give you a ride, but why would you take the chance on
knowing if had or hadn't left?  You don't want to get stuck downtown here
after business's let out.  Bus service goes down to every hour." I said,
perhaps over reacting.

   "Jess, I'm an adult, I can handle myself.  I don't need a father, I need
a friend." She spat back with an edge to her voice that told me she was
beginning to get a spine.

   "Alright, alright, I'm sorry for being protective.  I worried about you,
going to your doctor unscheduled this morning."

   We walked down the ramp to the street, the night security guard letting
us out and bidding us "good-night".  Allie walked with me and as soon as we
turned to go down the gangway to the parking lot she looked fore and aft of
us and then took my arm.

   "You're smarter than that therapist it seems, questioning drug use.  I
never said anything about any pills because I thought I was just getting a
vitamin with some brain supplement to stimulate cognition.  When she asked
me to take them I asked her what it was and she told me Guarana extract and
Vitamin B.  I looked both of them up and saw they were harmless and could
increase brain productivity.  When I went home she never gave me any to
take there and I did feel different without them.  Since I left I've just
been taking Vitamins B every day.  The Guarana is too hard to find here,
most Nutrition Centers will not carry it.  I remembered that I kept one of
the vitamins she had to show the clerk at the store, but I had lost it. 
The other night after you left I remembered where I had it, in the zip
pocket of my suitcase.  It said right on the pill 10-500 and I was told it
was 10 mg guarana and 500 mg Vitamin B." She rattled out almost
breathlessly.

   "Allie, you're rambling, get to the point!"

   "It was Lortab Hydrocodone, she was getting me stoned every night.  She
had me take it after study and before bed.  The doctor said it cause
confusion, anxiety, and mood swings when taken over a long period of time.
I wasn't depressed when I got to leave Pittsburgh, I was going through
withdrawal.  I wasn't on high repeated doses, but it left me dull enough
that I would be like I was." She said as we stood beside the car door and I
was waiting to let her in.

   I sensed there was a concluding statement to her explanation and I was
waiting for her to finish.

   "I was her sex slave, as the doctor put it." She said turning red and
then beginning to cry.

   I thought she wanted me to hug her and feel sorry for her, but I was not
going to let her manipulate me.

   "Allie, stop the crying.  It's over and you're safe now.  You can't
change it.  I can only pretend that I can understand the pain you are going
through, but unless you want to constantly tell the world what you did, put
it behind you.  You've beat this, you're well on your way to be what you
want to be and you are not that person anymore." I said opening the door
and showing her in.

   "You sound like my therapist!  Can't I get any sympathy?" She said
loudly through gritted teeth.  "Allie, I feel absolutely horrified for you,
but you've been feeling sorry for yourself long enough.  Time to put this
behind you.  You're free of her." I said coldly, although it hurt like
hell.

   "I might not be.  She says that we should charge her with doing all
these things, especially if she had someone else with her now.  I might
have to testify if they charge her." She said holding back tears with
tremendous fear in her eyes.

   "I'm no lawyer, but I would not advise that.  You're free of that and
you shouldn't have to relive it.  Hopefully they can charge her with a lot
if she's repeating the same scenario now." I said, thinking aloud.

   "That's how I left it.  She thinks there may be other girls, but I was
with her over 6 years.  When I was away from her I was in withdrawal and
couldn't wait to get back to her, never knowing the real reason." She said,
her eyes getting fiery.

   It was then I pulled over, just before exiting the lot, and leaned to
her to hug her.  Now that she was MAD and not feeling sorry for herself, I
could hug her to comfort her rage.

   "That's it Allison, let it out.  Get pissed off and realize what you
couldn't help."

   While holding me tightly, I could feel her fingers holding fists full of
my jacket and she almost was squeezing the breath from me.  She suddenly
let out mouthfuls of rage.

   "That fuckin' bitch made me eat her, fuck her, lick her ass while she
whipped my ass, fucked me with her toys in my pussy and my ass.  I thought
I was liking it because it seemed so right, but in truth I could feel no
pain and was just her doll!" she said before pulling herself violently from
my arms and opening the car door to vomit out the door.

   I got out and went to the side of the car to make sure she was ok.

   "Here, get out and bend from the waist to keep your head down and get
some blood back, you're white as a sheet." I said as she continued to barf
and finally heave until she was totally worn and dropped back to sit on the
rocker panel of the car.

   I went to the trunk and got a bottle of water for her to rinse her mouth
which she drank and spit and then finally got her breath back.

   I squat down beside her and tried to soothe her with words since I had
nothing else to offer.

   "Just keep the deep clearing breaths going, Allie.  You're throwing up
all the hate and venom because it's not a part of you anymore.  You have to
let it go.  You kept those things inside and now you've let it out and I've
heard more than I need to hear and you're safe now." I said as she
continued to puff loudly trying to calm herself and fill her lungs and
bloodstream with oxygen.

   I was still squat down beside her rubbing her back and nape of her neck
when she straightened up a bit and nodded to me.  "I'm OK now, I guess I
just had to do that.  I hadn't planned on giving any details, as they're
gruesome, but I just became enraged and I think I HAD to do that.  Bring me
home?"

   I wasn't going to let her off on the corner; I pulled into the
development and drove right to her building.  I stopped the car and was
going to get out and walk her to the door when she reached for my hand.

   "Can I stay with you tonight?  I'm not meaning it to sound like anything
sexual or stupid like that, I'm fucked up enough.  I just need to get
through this night.  I see my therapist again tomorrow afternoon and she
might have some news for me about options with Simone."

   "Just be sure that your name does not come out in any accusations.  You
will be so sorry and be made to be the bad guy.  Understand?" I said as she
nodded and then looked at me as if waiting and then I realized I hadn't
answered her question.

   "No one can find out about this, if you stay, and don't worry.  I would
not try to take advantage of you at such a weak time, or any time for that
matter.  Are you sure I'm your only friend here?  Mary would let you go
home for a few days, I'm sure, if she knew how badly you need it."

   "God NO!  My parents can NEVER find out about any of this.  I would die,
literally if they did.  That is no option, no way, no how.  They wanted to
come out some weekend soon and I told them I was busy with work for the
next month so I haven't had the chance to really move in, buy furniture,
all that.  I am my parents little darling and if they ever knew what went
on they would never forgive me and go after Simone."

   "Well, SOMEONE should go after Simone." I said insistently.

   "So, I can stay?"

   " Yes, pack whatever you need and I'll wait for you."

   "You ARE a sweet, sweet man."

   Chapter Seven

   "She came out from her townhouse to my car a few minutes later and it
was apparent she had been crying again.  She got in and said little on the
way to my townhouse.  I went the back way through the area so I didn't have
to drive by Mary's place.  Just my luck she would stalk me tonight.  I
doubted it because it was a humid night, a good night to stay in the AC.  I
had changed into just a tee shirt and sweat shorts.

   I offered Allie my bed, but she insisted that the guestroom single bed
would be great and she went in and closed the door and I didn't hear a
sound for over a half hour.  I was just going to check on her when the door
opened and she came out in pajamas and a robe.

   "I laid down and must have fallen asleep right away.  I was so exhausted
after heaving.  I'm so sorry to put you through all of this drama." She
apologized.

   "Allie, you've been through a lot and held a lot inside.  I'm sure your
getting some of it out there is therapeutic, I'm just not sure if I'm the
one to hear it." I said as I went to heat up some chicken soup for her.

   "I'm sure you don't understand, but I had no friends at school, a few
acquaintances, but no one I could really relate to.  I was going to class
and then coming back to our home.  My world was school and that house.  I
was going home for the "family" holidays and parts of summers, but besides
that, it was school, study, and her obsession with me, her control of me.
After telling you what I did and then resulting revulsion, I do feel
better. I really was releasing the poison." She said as she followed me
into the kitchen.

   "Hopefully this soup will sit well in your stomach, get you going
again."

   "You're sweet.  Do me a favor?  Hug me?" She asked.

   I opened my arms and she put her arms around me nestled her head into my
shoulder and held on for dear life.  I saw her reflection in a mirrored
picture in the living room and her eyes were closed, her face a picture of
total peace, the worry wrinkle in her forehead relaxed for one of the first
times I remember.

   I patted her back and rubbed at her spine line and tried to pull away,
but she was not ready to give me up saying "Please, a few seconds more,
you're my oasis right now."

   After a few more moments she freed me and stood back.

   "Again, I don't expect you to understand, but just now was the first
time I felt any peace in my life since I started high school.  I've always
had to do this and do that and do it well to the expectations of others. 
Now I do it for my own satisfaction and this monkey has come off my back.
You're right about one thing that I'm finally facing.  What's happened, has
happened and there is nothing I can do to change it.  Time to get the rest
of my life, the part I can change, going.  Your words echo a lot of what my
doctor tells me, but coming from you makes it easier to understand." She
said quietly as she pulled out a chair to sit and eat.

   I took her soup off the stove and ladled out a bowl for her and for me
with a stack of crackers.  I poured small glasses of milk for both of us
and we began to eat.

   "Despite what I told you before, I hope you still hold interest in me. I
know I need you as a friend, but I hope we can be more someday.  I do find
you attractive and interesting.  I've never felt that way about any man
before." She said rather off handedly.

   "In fairness, how many men have you known enough to care for?"

   "None, I've never even kissed a man before.  The only naked men I've
seen were in adult videos we watched.  The only penis I've touched was
plastic." She said turning red in embarrassment.

   "So, how can you think you're attracted to me?  You haven't met any
others."

   "The warmth I feel near you, the way I can see you want to hear what I
have to say.  If I ever interacted with men before, like at school or out,
say in a store or restaurant, they stared at my breasts or I would catch
them watching me walk away.  Simone told me they were disgusting with dirty
minds.  From what I saw I believed her.  But you are different." She said
not looking at me but staring into her soup.

   "Nothing wrong with a man looking at you and admiring your body, as long
as it's to himself and discreet.  It was how and why I first noticed you."
I added defending my gender.

   "I know that now.  I dress to make myself look appealing.  If I didn't
want people to see me I would dress frumpy and not care how I look.  But,
you are altogether different." She said looking up from her semi-reverie.

   I looked at her, but had no words.  This beautiful young girl was trying
to tell me how attracted she was to me and I was struck speechless.

   "Don't try to downplay my feelings, because they are there and I can do
little about them.  Whether you ever reciprocate them is another story and
after hearing what kind of person I was I don't expect much, but will do
what I can to show you I'm a different person." She said to me very
matter-of-factly.

   "Allie, you don't have to win me over.  I am attracted to you, and I'll
say physically at first.  I'm not ashamed to admit that.  When you came to
thank me for centering you after your interview I knew you were a good
person, with a kind heart.  After seeing what you've done with Maribel in
such a short time, I also know you are a tremendous self starter.  After
knowing what you've been through and to still see you survive I know how
tough you are, how much inner strength you have." I explained.

   "Then why haven't you played hard for me?  You've never tried to kiss
me." She asked.

   "Because one walks before he runs.  I cannot make that commitment to you
until I am sure we should be together in that way.  Right now you need a
friend and gentle ear before you need anything else." I said with
conviction.

   "Jess, I need to know I'm not a lesbian."

   There it was, it floated from her mouth and hung in the air waiting for
me to answer.

   "Do you WANT me to kiss you?"

   "Yes, I do, very much so." She said quietly as she took another spoon of
soup.

   "Then, you're probably not a lesbian, if you want to kiss a man." I
answered hoping to avoid the obvious quicksand she was trying to put me in.

   "So, now the question is, does the man want to kiss me? . . .  or does
the baggage really matter despite the fact he denies it."

   I put my spoon down and sat back and looked at her with a half smile and
half skeptical sneer, if you can picture that.

   "In my estimation, the woman in question is vulnerable and anything she
took as affection may be magnified in her eyes to something bigger than it
is in reality.  Allie, I do not want to take advantage of you.  Kissing is
going to lead to more and if what you say is true, you've never even been
kissed by a man before, you may want to find out more than you should to
improperly color what you might consider love.  I would not want you to
wake up in the morning asking yourself, why did I do that?  I would be no
better than Simone." I explained treading on eggshells.

   "I'm never going to forget what went on between Simone and I, but I
think I know what got me there.  Yes, it was exciting at first and before I
knew what was happening, what I was in, soul deep.  I feel that same
excitement brewing at the prospect of kissing you." She explained so
lightly and elegantly.

   "Suppose that is true between us, how do we satisfy our excitement?  The
only answers to that question are things I don't feel we, as a couple, are
prepared for." I asked.

   She got up swiftly at my words and looked at me coldly.  "You're just
like Simone, you HAVE to be right." And she began to go towards her room.

   "Allie, I only have to be right when I am.  My love for you is not
prurient." I managed to holler out before her door slammed.

   If anyone thinks that I did NOT want to take this sweet morsel of woman
and hold her in my arms and devour her every sexual cell and make her
writhe on the bed in satisfaction and then put my excited self into her and
drive her to orgasm over and over again, they are WRONG.  I just didn't see
where it would be right or appropriate right now.  I saw little chance of
her NOT asking herself the next morning, "How did I do this AGAIN?"

   I sat at the kitchen table wondering what words I could have used to
avoid what happened here.  I didn't want another Mary relationship.  Yes,
satisfying sexually.  Yes, friendship based.  No, not personally intimate.
No, not socially satisfying.  I got up and went to the living room and
wondered if I should go to the door and fix this now rather than let it
fester to a point where it might never get fixed.

   I was still weighing the outcome of any action, when her door opened. 
She came into the room wordlessly and sat across from me in her robe.

   "I'm sorry for acting like a child just then.  Now I have a few things
to say, you sweet man."

   "I'm a sweet man again?  Not Snidely Whiplash?" I asked.

   "First of all you said "my love for you", so you DO hold deep feelings
for me, don't you?" She asked.

   I blew out a ball of air and shook my head at myself, saying, "Yes, I do
but I hate to say it so cavalierly.  Words mean something."

   "Yes, they do." She said.  "I had to go look up prurient.  I understand
what you've been trying to say.  Now I want to make an offer to you.  I'd
like to go over and sit on your lap and hug and kiss you and you kiss me
back.  We let things go for a little and then I come back over here to this
love seat, and you stay right there in that chair and we show each other
how we satisfy a sexual urge that can't be acted on."

   "We masturbate for each other?"

   "Yes, and when we're done we ask, was it good for you?" She said with a
giggle, the first time any levity got into this.

   Chapter Eight

   Her proposal to masturbate for each other was an interesting one. 
Supposing all she had told me was true, she was going to see her first live
penis, and see it in action.  She was going to discover if the thought of
it made her excited or not.  I was going to see her lithe shapely body that
I was sure held treasures a man could discover.

   "OK," I said, but if it gets to a point where we've defeated my reasons
for being conservative, we stop and that's it."

   "I understand.  Using that word prurient, made me understand a lot about
how you feel, and how you want to protect me. . .  and I heard you say . .
. you love me, you love me, I heard you say you loved me!" She sang
happily.

   She got up and came over to my chair and sat across my lap and put her
arms around my head and shoulders and held her face close to mine.  I
puckered and moved my mouth to hers and our lips met.  God, it was
electric. So soft, yet supple, she kissed quite well, smacking my lips
softly until she stayed on them and our lips seem to seal top to top,
bottom to bottom.  When we opened and our tongues found each other's it was
incredible.  She tasted so good and her tongue seemed to shadow mine,
darting and moving in unison like an old Marx Brothers mirror routine.  She
pulled herself up closer to, turning her breasts to me.  I could feel them
through my polo, her hard nipples pressing through the night gown.  It was
then I realized she had nothing on beneath the night gown, her pajamas were
gone.

   My sweat short was suddenly full of cock and she was sitting right on
it, my length between the crack of her butt and the crease of her vagina.
She was working on it as we continued to get deeper and deeper into each
other's mouths.  She took one of my hands and brought it to her breast.  As
soon as I squeezed it one of her hands went between her legs and she was
rubbing the head of my cock through my pants.  I massaged that firm and
pointy tit, squeezing and pinching the nipple until she bounced up off of
me.

   "Oh God, we better take care of business!  You are fucking hot!!" She
said with a huge smile and she jumped to the love seat and undid the few
button stays that kept her night gown together.

   Her body was exquisite.  Her breasts pointy, full and firm.  They were
round when she sat up and a pleasant oval when she sat back.  Her belly was
flat and she had a cute innie navel.  Her pussy was perfectly smooth like a
baby's.  No marks, no hair, no ingrown hair, or stubble.  I wanted to eat
her SO badly.  Her legs and the flare of her bottom were so tempting and
when she lifted her feet off the floor and put them to the edge of the sofa
to open herself up, her little Mons turning up to reveal the bottom of her
butt and the perfect round dilated hole it hid.  When she put her whole
hand on her pussy and pulled it back her asshole seemed to stick out, a
dark mysterious place that looked like I could have stuck a pencil in and
she wouldn't feel it for not touching the sides.  Using her fingers she
began to unfold those perfect little baby lips of her pussy to show her
pink and shiny insides.  I must have looked like an idiot sitting there
drooling when she said.

   "Ahem, uh....shorts?  Goods for goods."

   I smiled and proudly half stood and pushed them down with my underwear
and my cock sprung up.  I swear it was longer and fatter than it had been
in years.  I loved that she smiled and grabbed at her clit with two fingers
with her eyes fixed to my cock.  I pulled the handle to recline the chair
so I could put my knees up like hers, so she could see my balls.  She dug
at her clit as her eyes grew as big as saucers.  I could not hold off any
longer I took hold of myself and began to stroke it.

   She added a second hand to her pussy, apparently pushing two fingers in
and out and the other hand oscillating her clit.  Suddenly the sounds from
her quim were wet and squishy.  She was getting VERY wet and her breathing
became labored as her eyes closed and reopened each time a wave was hitting
her.  Her breath caught over and over again as she played and watched and
suddenly her eyes seemed to roll back into her sockets and she squealed
loudly holding her pussy with both hands firm and seeming to shake it while
she made more gritty, grunty noises.  Then a wave of fluid ran from her
pussy.  Then she repeated the whole scenario, two hard cums before looking
back over to me and sort of smiling like, "How do you like that?".  I
answered her by groaning hard and deep and then breathing harder and harder
as I lifted my ass off the chair and shot a stream of cum half way across
to her, a big watery splash, followed by another shot to the floor and then
oozing down over my cock to my balls to be caught in my underwear.

   She looked to me and said, "See, I knew you liked me a lot." and she
smiled.

   "You apparently care for me too." was all I could muster to say.  I was
exhausted.

   She stood and buttoned up her robe and went to the bathroom and came
back and dropped a towel in my lap saying.  "Now I can say you HAVE tried
to kiss me.  I'm going to bed, wake me when you get up and leave me shower
time.  I'll be OK in my place after tonight.  Thank you for everything. 
You are a sweet man."

   "Wait!" I demanded.  "You didn't give me your impressions."

   "Impressions of what?"

   "You've never seen a man live in the flesh before, what did you think?"
I wondered.

   "Scary, but alluring.  I've never had anything that big inside of me. 
The smell combined with mine makes something that would make any couple
want to be with each other.  I guess I can't describe what I mean.  I've
seen a man cum before in porno, but always on a woman's face or in her
mouth.  This was beautiful and I know I'm not ready for it.  I need to go
and think about all this.  I'm confused, but it's not bad.  I'm happy we
did it.  Good night, Jess." She said in a staccato rant.

   In the morning I was up early and showered before knocking on her door
and she called out she was up.  I was having coffee and reading the paper
when I heard her pad from the shower back to my guest room.  In another 5
minutes I heard my hair dryer (that I didn't use anymore but left out for
her) and very quickly she was at my table drinking coffee.

   She hadn't really said much and I expected she might come out and kiss
me, or hug me, but she quietly poured coffee and prepared it and sat. 
After a few minutes she reached over and touched my hand, and pulled hers
away quickly.

   "Thank you for last night.  You satisfied a lot of questions and answers
for me.  It was a mistake in the fact that I bit off more than I should
have.  But, I'm glad it happened.  I really wanted to kiss you, and I
wanted you to kiss me.  If we become anything more than we are right now, I
think we'll do well together.  I understand that it was too fast and I
understand you do not want us to be prurient, my new word.  Last night was
not prurient, it was spontaneous and heartfelt.  I also realize that when I
"caught" you saying you "loved" me, I know it was not the kind of love that
people have to make love.  It's the kind of love that says you care and are
invested in my well being.  I just had a curtain of tension to tear down.
One thing I did discover last night, a man lover would be much sexier than
a female lover for me.  The fear of God was the only thing that kept me
from running over and jumping on you, touching you and tasting you.  I
realize now that those things are off in a distance for us, if they happen
at all.  They have to be, you understand, for my mental well-being.  I now
understand so much of what my doctor tells me, what you've tried to get
through to me.  I'm a pretty fucked up person right now and when I'm ready
to see you in a situation beyond work and light socializing, I'll ask you
on a date.  I don't want to color what I'm coming to grips with and effect
what we are or might be.  Is that OK?"

   "That is quite fine," I responded.  "For the first time since all of
this came out that I know you have thought about and understand the depth
of what changes you are trying to accomplish.  I'm always there for you. 
Know that.  I, obviously, want to become your lover, but if that never
happens and we still remain friends, that will be fine as well, as long as
you're well."

   "I know that." She said with a smile that told me she had found some
peace in her night with me.

   Whether her getting physically ill truly got the "poison" out of her or
whether the symbolism of it struck a hard chord, it was the beginning of
her road back.  Her insecurity of my not trying to kiss her was ironed out
in many ways.

   I saw her every work morning that I went to the office over the next 3
months, bringing her to work, but always keeping our conversation light.  I
knew when she had news, she would tell me.  I was truly afraid of where
therapy may leave her and I wanted to no way color anything she was working
on.  She continued to be the home run hitter for Mary Belanger and Maribel
Designs.  They had hired another designer and 2 more artist with Allie
looking over most projects and Mary working the new customers and
contributing ideas.  Mary was toying with the idea of subletting part of my
side of the building.  I used just over a third of the office space and
used the rest for personal storage.  If we closed off a hallway and Mary
broke through she would have the 2 art rooms she needed.  I was ready and
able to accommodate her.  One afternoon Allie came over to look at the
space and see exactly where they might break through.  I left her alone to
see what she needed to find out and then I got a knock on my door frame. 
Looking up I saw the bright smile of Allie.

   "What time are you leaving tonight?  I could use a ride home.  We could
talk." She said with a big smile.

   "I'll probably lock and leave just around 5:30.  Does that work for
you?"

   "Yes, that's good.  Just come over and knock or call, OK?  I've got a
key now and I'll just work on a couple things until I hear from you." She
said with a nod and wink.

   Just past 5:30 I locked my door and went over to Maribel and knocked on
her door, locked when they closed.

   I saw her come around the partition in a smock and she let me in.

   "Can I just wash up and I'll be right out?  Allie asked and I nodded as
I perused the art work on display drying on easels all over the office.

   I followed the easels behind the partition to see much more in the back.
Maribel was doing as much business as they could handle.  When I turned I
saw a huge logo mural on the wall.  It was the kind you mount on a wall and
press-transfer to make it permanent.  Even looking through the rub on
overlay, the colors, and design was spectacular.  As I looked at the detail
a hand went to one of my shoulders, the other to my elbow.

   "You likey?" Allie said as she began to turn me.

   "Very Impressive!" I said turning to face her.

   Allie was right in my face when I turned and she pressed her lips to
mine hard.

   "That's for being a sweet man and being patient with me and my therapy.
I had my last session today.  I just go back every month for an interview.
You may not know it, but you were my breakthrough.  I had to have an ear to
hear everything and you were there for me.  You've kept everything
private." She said and kissed me again putting her arms around my head and
making it a deeper kiss.

   "Mrs.  Robinson!  Are you trying to seduce me?" I said trying to get a
chuckle from her and break the uncomfortable moment.

   "Actually no, I just want you to know how much I appreciate you and ask
you if I might take you to dinner Friday night." She said with a proud
smile on her face.

   "Sure, I could do that.  What time do you pick me up?" I said with a
smirk.

   "Umm, I don't have transportation yet.  Do you mind driving?  I could
have bought a car, but I'm saving to become a partner with Mary.  She gave
me a buy-in figure and I'm raising the money."

   "Wow, you're getting the hang of this work stuff, huh?"

   "I am, but we should go.  I feel like I live here." She said getting her
coat.

   We walked out to the elevator and then down the ramp to the parking lot
without words, I think both of our minds were reeling.  Once in the car she
opened the conversation about her therapy, the first I had heard anything
about it in 3 months.

   "I have come to terms with my unwilling six year affair with a lesbian
woman.  There were parts of it where I was a willing participant, but only
through rote.  I needed physical release and found it through sex.  But I
was brought into the whole affair as an innocent and coerced by a drug
induced state to begin with.  I was a hostage who at times paid her own
ransom.  Simone has been arrested and charged with a whole raft of charges
concerning the woman she has with her now, . . . .  who was only 17 when
she moved in.  I guess she wasn't as smart as I thought she was.  I was 17
when I was first with her.  I have come to accept all of this as how it
was." She said sounding a bit rehearsed.

   "So . . . . . .  ?" I said, sort of waiting for the other shoe to fall.

   "So I have to admit that there were parts of those six years where I
truly enjoyed and took part in a lesbian relationship, but they were in the
early years.  However, and my therapist knows this, the night I played
"find the gummy bear" at your townhouse was the longest and most satisfying
orgasm of my life and it was caused by the interaction with a man (you)
which she knows did not include intercourse of ANY kind.  She doesn't think
I am homosexual or bisexual.  That was after 12 sessions dealing with
questions and answers, fantasies, all of that stuff."

   "So, as much as I don't think much of psycho-therapy, you think it
worked?" I asked.

   "Most definitely.  I found a lot of things about myself, admitted a lot
of things I previously denied.  She seemed to think that most women are
bi-curious at some point in their life, but only a small percentage ever
acts on it.  I was just vulnerable." She said talking at me, not like her
shame of the past and looking away as before.  "So, is it necessary to
"come out" to any other people?" I wondered.

   "No, but I did cheat a bit.  What I did with you, the tell all, was
supposed to be with my best and closest friend who wouldn't judge me at
all. The only one close to that was you, although we could hardly be called
"closest friend".  I feared Mary might freak out.  I had already told her I
had lived with a woman before, but didn't get into details.  I will have to
explain a few things to her, but no details and nothing about my involving
you.  I hope that is in your lock box."

   "Don't worry about that.  It is LOCKED!" I assured her.

   "What did the shrink think about our little escapade?" I wondered;
because it was something they would never prescribe.

   "She thought I was stupid and took a great risk, but in the end it
worked for the better.  I found some things out that I may have had to seek
out later." Allie told me as I pulled up in front of her building.

   "Can I book it?  Friday night for dinner, my treat?" She asked.

   "Of course, we'll settle on a time on the way in Friday.  OK?  But, just
one more thing.  This is starting all over, me and you.  I don't expect to
continue from where we were before.  If we want to make a healthy attempt
at a relationship we have to keep our senses.  Let's establish a friendship
based on mutual admiration first." I said although my male ego wanted to
ravage her sweet body.

   "I understand, I was going to propose the same thing.  I should see some
other people so I know a few more things about relationships.  I've only
been involved with Simone and you.  That won't bother you will it?" She
asked with a glint in her eye, excited to be free of the binds of her past.

   "No, I don't have any bind on you or you on me.  When we think it's time
for that, if it ever is, to be exclusive, we'll know it." I said as she
smiled leaned over and gave me a quick kiss on the lips saying "I'll see
you in the morning."

   On the way home I got to thinking that as long as I had Mary making
booty calls, I could hold out to see if Allie and I were ever going to
mount to anything, and I certainly understood that she should see other
people to get a bigger slice of life that she missed before.

   When I got to my townhouse Mary was sitting my guest spot.  She got out
of her car and waited for me to open my door.

   "What happened to you?  I sat in The Poly waiting for you to walk by
until almost 6.  How did I miss you?" She asked a little perturbed.

   "Geez Mom, I told you I had Football practice." I said wise-cracking,
still sitting in the car..

   "Fuck you smart ass.  I went back up to the office to see if you were
OK, and the Security guy said you left with a woman." She spat out.

   "Did he know if I was wearing my wedding ring at the time?" I responded
in defense in her claim of ownership.

   She just scowled at me.

   "Allie heard me working and came over to see what time I was leaving,
she wanted a ride so she could avoid calling a cab or waiting alone for a
bus.  Apparently she got tied up.  So I gave her a ride home." I explained.

   "Still sniffing around that?  She works so hard I don't think she has
time to date, and I don't think she likes boys.  She see's that therapist
so much, she might be doing her." Mary spat out, taking out her vitriol on
Allison.

   "She's seeing a therapist?" I asked acting dumb.

   "Oops!  Forget I said anything.  That was my bad.  I'm just a little
frustrated with her leaving so often, not that her work suffers, it's just
I have questions and she can't have her cell on while there." She back
tracked.

   "Why don't you ASK her if she's doing the therapist?" I asked
sarcastically.

   "That was a mean and selfish thing for me to say, and I'm sorry." She
said looking down.

   "So, how did you expect to ease this frustration and what do I have to
do with it?" I asked, knowing she was there to "pick me up" and bring home.

   Mary just looked at me with a look of embarrassment and wanting as she
whispered "Fuck me?"

   "Hmm, I could go for one of those Maribel blowjobs." I teased.

   "If you take a shower." She said with a smile.

   "How about upstairs right now, IN the shower.  You can spit it right
down the drain." I said knowing I had the upper hand.

   "How do I get mine?" She asked with a half frown and half look that had
me hard already.

   "By the time I eat that pretty pussy and you suck me hard again, I
should be able to last a long time." I said knowing it was something we did
a lot in the past, but not since we "became friends."

   Mary looked both ways to be sure she was private and made a big round O
with her lips and then opened and closed the circle, like a fish feeding,
before she turned and slowly began to walk towards my stairs, looking back
every few seconds with a "come hither" look.

   I got out of my car and followed her up, knowing I had won this match.

   Chapter Nine

   By the time I got my mail and dropped my keys and headed to the bathroom
Mary was coming out of my bedroom naked.  If I've ever given the impression
that she was anything less than a very attractive woman, let me school you.
She might wear 5 or 10 extra pounds, but until you bend her into some wild
position, or if you watched from the side when we were doing doggie, you
don't notice it.  Her breasts have the perfect hang to them, just up enough
to know she's never had kids and just bottom round enough to show you she
wasn't a teenager.  If you didn't think they were sexy, you were dead.  Her
ass was still round and mooned.  There was no under-cheek crease, she was
pert and in a skirt she would turn heads anywhere.  Her face was not that
of a beauty queen, but defined features that made her pretty in her own
way. I always remember her looking at Barbra Streisand and asking me if I
thought she was pretty, because Mary thought Babs was homely and not as
pretty as she.  When you got up close, Mary was right.  Mary wore no or
little make-up and when she walked naked, everything moved like a well
directed symphony.  The walking thing is not true of many good looking
women.

   Mary went straight into the bathroom saying "Meet you in there."
obviously anxious to get started.  I heard the water go on as I was
undressing and gathering towels.  When I got in there she was just
finishing washing herself and rolling her long black hair to one side and
pushing over one shoulder as she stood back against the wall, waiting for
me.

   I got under the warm stream and quickly washed my arms and chest and
worked my way down over my crotch stepping out of the flow to work up good
suds to wash my stuff as she watched intently.  I reached under myself to
be sure I got my little hole, even though she never ventured there often. I
handed her the bottle of body wash and turned and she quickly washed my
back using just her hands and nails, with that alone enough to get me hard.
She worked her hands down over my ass cheeks and cupped them, giving them a
hard squeeze and a slap to say she was done.  I turned and rinsed, with my
cock now rising, as she watched and readjusted her hair over her shoulder
and went down to her knees.

   Now rinsed, I bent and kissed her lips and then just stood straight and
her mouth found my cock.  Using her mouth, hands, and fingers she caressed
and devoured me, her eyes closed with one hand leaving me and going right
to her pussy.  She was now fucking my cock in and out of her bobbing mouth
as her one hand was throttling the base and her other hand worked her clit.

   She was obviously enjoying her deed and occasionally her eyes would open
to look up into my eyes without pausing from her work.  She was loving this
enough for me to comment, "Do you like sucking A cock, or do you like
sucking MY cock?"

   She didn't answer but to squeeze my balls a little harder.  Just the
sight of her kneeling before me enjoying my dick in her mouth was about all
I would need to get off, but her mouth knew just the right pressure and
whatever her tongue did on the outstroke was incredible because I don't
think I could get myself off any faster than she.

   I felt my cum rising and I was determined not to warn her until I was
there.  Knowing how she liked to avoid semen and how much I wanted to
control this night, for a change, it was going to be easy to play orgasm
possum.  That moment came fast as my pop rose and my knees buckled a bit as
my hand went to the back of her head and I shot my load in her mouth as I
cried out a loud "OOOOOOFFFF" as I pumped at her mouth as she struggled not
to swallow what was billowing her cheeks.  I moved my hand from her head
and she bent and spit a mouthful of cum into the stream of cooling water
going to the drain.  Then she covered my cock again with her mouth and
lightly stroked the rest of my cum out and bent to spit that as well.  She
tenderly sucked and licked at me until she was sure no more little reports
for sperm were coming.

   Wordlessly she was telling me that she knew she had been a bitch tonight
and she was sorry.  She knows all of the things I like best about blowjobs
because I've told her a hundred times and she's never done them, usually
telling me later that "your wife can do those things".  Tonight she
tenderly did all of them, right down to holding my softened penis in her
hand and flexing her thumb over the tip and alternately licking the little
spermies it might draw out.  (A kinky little trick from an old college
girlfriend)

   She smiled at me and then stood trying to stay out of the ever cooling
spray.  I turned into it to rinse the spit and cum off my joint and shut
down the water.  I reached out and got a towel for each of us, telling her
"There's a 5 gallon expansion tank I can switch to that's already hot. 
You'll have a hot rinse in a minute.", as I kissed her lips and moved to
switch the valve on the tank in the bath closet.

   I gave her the OK and let her rinse in the hot reserve while I dried. 
Just watching her rinse had me a little excited already, and then when she
washed her pussy and ass really good again I knew my own reserve tank would
have no problem refilling either.

   She switched off the water and I handed her towel back as I turned back
the valve so to avoid a problem when the main tank reheated.  Mary was
finished drying and was combing the water out of her hair over the sink. 
She wrapped a towel around her long locks and fashioned a turban of sorts
and smiled at me as she dropped her body towel and made a sexy walk to the
bedroom.

   I followed her and she didn't lay on the bed, she sat on the edge and
wagged a finger for me to come to her.  I knelt in front of her and she
laid back spreading her legs.  I was ready to eat.  She must have shaved
that morning because she was extra smooth and my tongue was gliding all
over her as she grunted and groaned approval before I centered on her clit
and drove her crazy.  Just when she seemed to reach a peak I let my thumb
replace my tongue and I went south to lick her little asshole.  She usually
pushed me away but tonight she just hissed as I danced the tip of my tongue
on her little aperture and it spread to welcome more.  Then I would move
back to her clit and start the process all over again.  After two pretty
violent orgasms I began the same process once again except when my tongue
left her asshole this time and went to her pussy my index finger slid right
up her ass.  No fighting, no resistance, she was wide open.  She tried to
stiffen her legs to get me away, but she enjoyed my mouth on her pussy, and
whether she wanted to admit it, she liked my finger up her loosened
asshole, to her surprise.  I finger fucked her ass until she began to huff
and puff another big spasm that she could no longer hang in there for as
she closed her legs and wanted to roll onto the bed.

   I stood and went and kneeled beside the ball she had put her recovering
self into.  She was still jerking and holding her pussy with two hands.  As
she began to unfold herself from her ball she saw my cock from the corner
of her eye and she quickly flipped to get her head in position to drop her
mouth over me.

   It took her all of 20 or 30 seconds to have me rock hard once again only
stopping to look up at me to say, "I love sucking YOUR cock." answering my
question from earlier.  I pulled from her mouth and moved behind her crouch
and lined my cock up with her pussy, but not after rubbing the head on her
asshole, making her jump.  I was already sliding up into her hot pussy when
she protested my anal nudge with a whiney NO.

   "Don't worry Virgin Mary, I have no plans to get in that ass because it
means I have to marry you." I said as I sunk into her tight pussy.

   "Would that be that bad?" She asked, as the breath ran out of her lungs
as I drove into her.

   I just smiled at her and began to fuck her the way I know she likes it.
Finally after a few minutes I picked her question out of the air.

   "Would it be THAT bad?" I re-asked of myself aloud for her.  "Apparently
from what you say, YES, it would be.  You couldn't stand me being around
EVERY morning.  Besides I like it how it is right now.  You look me up when
you need me."

   "If I didn't care for you do you think I would have you make love to
me?" She asked as she panted to my strokes.

   "Mary?" I asked stopping my thrusting, "You yourself have told me this
is fucking and not making love.  I've moved past you a long time ago in
that way.  Don't jerk me around.  You can't have me committed to you one
second and then ask me to go home the next.  Why this turnaround?"

   She suddenly started crying, and if there is one thing that can make a
man go limp while he's in the middle of getting laid is to have his partner
cry.

   "I look in the mirror and I see a gray hair here and there and the last
time I shaved my pussy, the new growth was not jet black.  My belly isn't
getting tighter, it's getting softer." She said.

   "Well, I would say if you're trying to sell yourself, you're doing a
poor job." I said hoping she might rebound so I could at least finish.

   Quickly she thought about her words and she quickly changed her facial
expression and then did something she did better than any woman I was ever
intimate with, I could feel her pussy grip at me.  She turned her tears
into a little grin as I made a rebound within her.

   "Mary, remember you're a great fuck and you're only getting better. 
Don't sweat the small stuff that you can't do anything about." I said as I
began to pound her again.

   "Roll off for me, Jess.  Roll off!" she commanded and I did.  She hopped
to all fours and got on me and began to ride for a few strokes and then she
pushed up to a frog position, sitting on my cock and grabbing my arms she
began to bounce and squeeze at my cock like I never felt before.

   "Fuck Mary!  Where did you learn this trick?" I said as I suddenly felt
my orgasm cycle start up.

   She gave no answer as my orgasm rose and I strained up to deposit my
seed and she worked harder.  I was breathless and suddenly in a bit of dick
pain from the two orgasms so close, but it was good dick pain as I moved
from under her away and she fell to the side grabbing her clit and mound to
shake it to orgasm.

   We both laid there in our reverie waiting for life to return to our
bodies after the ecstasy of sexual release.  Finally I heard her roll over
to her back.

   "I'm sorry I leaked all over your sheets." She said quietly.

   "That's OK, it's my cum and it's not the first time it's been on the
sheets." I replied beginning to get to my back as well.

   "You liked my frog fuck?  That's a move I use with another lover." She
said candidly.

   "Gee, I loved hearing that, especially after you cried about us not
being a couple." I said in a tone meant to hurt her.  "If your intention is
for us to try it again, your jumping off point was a dud."

   "God Jess, I don't know what I want!" She said as she got up to clean
up.

   "Then don't get possessive and act like I'm yours when all you want is
to get laid to get you through another week or two." I snapped back.

   "Like you've got something else going on, ha!" She said going into the
bathroom.

   "I just might be working on something." I said loud enough for her to
hear.

   "I thought you were going to ask Allison out.  HA, you got shot down!"

   "Is that why I kissed her on the lips not 5 or 6 minutes before I pulled
in the parking lot tonight?" I said, sorry I did.

   I heard her stomp back to the bedroom to challenge me.  "If you're
fucking her and fucking me as well she's going to get a blow by blow of
what happened here tonight!" She spat out.

   "For god's sake Mary.  She and I are friends, and there's nothing going
on with us right now.  Unlike you, if I was fucking one person on a regular
basis, I wouldn't be fucking another.  Remember, I've seen the condoms in
your drawer and you told me tonight about other lover's moves.  I'm your
free fuck, the one you don't have to make excuses to, remember?"

   "You just love to hurt me don't you, I'm fucking leaving!" She said as
she scavenged the room for her clothes.

   I got up from the bed and went to her standing while she was bent over
trying to find a knee high and her panties.  When she refused to
acknowledge I was there I put my arm around her waist and picked her and
brought her to the bed.

   "Get your fucking hands off me.  I'm not staying here with you another
minute.  This is why we don't work as a couple, you love to hurt me!"

   Very calmly I said, "Mary I'm not letting go, you're going to calm down
and play back in your head where you told me at the height of passion that
you were doing me with one of your other lovers moves, and you said that to
hurt me.  You had to make sure I knew that we aren't a real couple.  As
long as we both know that, it's not a problem, but don't lead me down the
garden path and then set the snare to pull me out."

   She stopped fighting and relaxed.  "I know I'm a fucking bitch and
that's why I'm going to die alone.  Rich and alone.  Rich mostly thanks to
the woman I hired that you're trying to fuck."

   "Mary, I would like to start a relationship with Allie because I don't
want to die old and alone.  If not her, maybe someone else someday.  You
had your chance, but you don't like me that way, you like my sex.  As soon
as you get over the guilt of casually fucking me and just enjoy it, like
you normally do, things will be fine.  But suddenly you feel challenged and
you have no reason to feel that way.  If she and I began to date
exclusively, I wouldn't be able to sex around with you.  Although this has
happened for a few years, I won't be there forever.  I will eventually find
a mate for life.  If you ever want to retry an exclusive relationship with
me, tell me and if I have it in me, I will.  But, I won't disregard
another's feelings to satisfy you sexually.  I love Mary Belanger in so
many ways, but the way you've been for the last 20 minutes is NOT one of
them.  Now you can stay or go." I said as I let go of her totally and
rolled away from her on the bed.

   We both stayed quiet for a few minutes and then I heard Mary draw a deep
breath and then let it out as if in exasperation.

   "I don't know what I want." She said sitting up on the edge of the bed
and getting her feet on the floor and bending over and looking like she was
searching the floor by her feet for an answer.

   "Jess, I love you in so many ways, and don't take offense, but the
thought of waking up with you every day makes me want to run away.  You
love me so tenderly and do everything to satisfy me and make me feel like
the queen of all women when I orgasm with you.  We don't fight, except for
tonight, and we both love a lot of the same things.  But I know I could
never live with you, marry you.  I've told myself to hold my nose and try
it, but why put us both through that?  I want you to come and satisfy my
sexual urges when I have them, but I know that someday you must move on,
just like I know I must too.  There must be a man out there somewhere who
would put up with me, and I him.  I tell myself that the sexual part of our
relationship must end for me to look at other men in a fair light.  I've
called you to my home at least 3 times in the last 6 months to tell you it
must end, and I can't do it.  When you walk in the door my juices start
flowing and . . . .  well, you know."

   "Maybe this should be the end.  Maybe we've run our sexual course.  I
don't want to end up hating you.  They say the line between love and hate
is thin.  Maybe we've reached the edge and we should back off." I said,
even though it hurt.

   "You're right, but I can tell you, I already know I don't want that.  I
want you right now." She said with a little laugh.

   "If I could go a third time this soon I'd have a lot more girlfriends
than I do." I remarked.

   "Tell me something to satisfy something that eats at me, because of the
way I think of myself.  This is silly I know but . . .  You and I went out
New Years Eve and actually spent the whole night together.  Since that time
how many other women have you had sex with?  When I say sex, I mean real
oral or otherwise, not just petting."

   "You first since you're the one who wants to be judged." I said as I ran
through the 8 or 9 months in my mind.

   "I keep track so I can have personal guilt sessions.  I had sex with you
and 3 other men.  Tonight and New Years makes 7 times with you.  Two men
one time, and the guy who ended up married, I was with 3 times, but had sex
a dozen times.  He was freaking Superman.  Now you." She said finally
turning back to look me in the eye.

   "I'll accept your figure of 7 with you, although I don't count, but 4
other women, all one nighters." I admitted.

   "Tell me none of them are named Allison, Rachel or Susan." She asked
seriously.

   "You think I would screw YOUR secretary, or MY secretary?  You DON'T
think too much of me do you?  If I was having sex with Allison it would be
part of a relationship, not a one night stand and you would know that
because I would have stopped with you.  I do have morals in here somewhere,
but moreover, I DO have scruples." I insisted.

   "I know from having too many drinks with both Rachel and Susan, they
think you're hot and would do you in a second.  Only their jobs stop them.
Pack that in your ego bag." She said getting up.

   "I'm going to head home Jess.  I don't know where we stand as far as sex
goes.  I want to get my love life on track and as long as I can get
satisfied by you, I guess I don't try too hard.  No matter what, you know I
love you as a great and trusted friend and confidant.  Let's see what
shakes out." She said walking out as I got up and followed, realizing I was
still naked.

   She got her purse and sweater and turned to me and I kissed her,
surprising her.

   "Goodbye sweet cheeks.  See you at the office.  Don't worry, we'll
figure this out." I said giving her a pat on her great butt.

   She smiled and I know she was satisfied where we left it, whether we
never got sexy again or not.

   Chapter Ten

   The last couple days of the week went by fast and on Friday morning when
I picked up Allie she seemed brighter than usual.

   "Can you get me at 6:30 tonight?  I have 7:00 reservations at
DiPietro's." Allie said, proud she was doing this.

   "Wow, DiPietro's, that's a hot ticket.  My favorite in the area." I said

   "Really?  You're not just saying that are you?  I had no one to ask so I
read area restaurant reviews and found them." She said with a gleeful
giggle.

   "I'll bet I know the menu by heart.  It is my favorite." I told her.

   "Great and then we can come back here for a night cap.  I bought some
Sambuca, I know you like that, with coffee afterward."

   "How did you find this out?"

   "A little bird told me." She said mysteriously as the look on my face
told her I was displeased.

   "I didn't really go prying.  I was having lunch downstairs at the yogurt
place and Rachel was there and we got talking about the flavors and I had
gotten a Pina Colada flavor.  She said she didn't like sweet drinks and the
conversation turned to alcoholic drinks.  She asked if I ever had Sambuca.
I said no and she told me that she heard you say you liked and had bought
it for you for Christmas, and bought some for herself on your
recommendation.  She remarked it was sweet, but really good and powerful
and that you told her you would enjoy it as a nightcap followed by coffee.
WHEW, a long story, but I wanted you to know I didn't go snooping around,
or tell anyone we were going to go out and ask for ideas."

   I laughed and said I was glad of that, because number one, I don't date
co-workers and number two, the fact she and I were dating was private until
WE decided to make it public.  She agreed and all was fine for the rest of
our ride.

   That Friday I finally had a sales meeting with my prospective new sales
manager Tom Mills and the fellow he was recommending named Phil Candee. 
They had flown into Boston early that morning and were on a train to
Worcester early.  I was just walking with Allie from the parking lot and
into the building when a cab pulls up and I heard a holler.  "Mr. 
Sparkhill!"

   I turned to see Tom and Mr.  Phil Candee getting out.

   "Allie, here's my appointment for this morning, I'll see you tonight." I
said as she smiled and gave a nod.  (A classy move to not make it look like
we were connected at all in front of employee's)

   I shook hands and we made introductions and suggested breakfast since a
great breakfast café was across the street.  I didn't eat breakfast often
enough and today would be a great excuse to.  We went in and settled with
coffee while I called Rachel to tell her I was there, but out for another
hour.  I connected by Bluetooth to her intercom if she needed me.

   The three of us made small talk while we ate and I got to hear a lot
about Phil's background and sales philosophy and experiences.  He seemed to
handle customers in a way I would heartily approve of, professional with a
strong personal touch.  After one more coffee to finish, Tom and I began to
give Phil a short history of the company and when we got to the point of
the factory closing I moved the meeting to my office where I had a short
video presentation I used with customers showing them the overseas
operation.  I took both of them in to meet with Rachel to see how she
compiled sales figures and plugged in each man's numbers and then I took
them to show how I translated that back to factory orders, and factory
supply orders, and then figured our payroll percentage to see where and how
we were making and losing money, where improvements should come from, the
strong and weak points of the force on the street.

   I explained that most all of each salesman's connections were their own
from past experience.  The force was highly skilled and well networked. 
They each worked off of 5 price cards and were free to offer any of them to
any customer, but to be aware they earned 1% of the base sale and each card
bumped the price up 1.5 percent.  Each 1.5 percent kick up was theirs on
top of the 1%.  Obviously each man had a profit realm to wheel and deal
with.  Some men had huge customers working off the top price card and
offering once or twice a year "sales" where they could cut 5% off a
qualifying order.  Each sale earned 3% in ad dollars that went into a
general ad allowance for that salesman.  If he chose to use it all with one
dealer, he could, but other dealers may suffer from lack of brand
recognition.  If there were any dollars left in the salesmans ad bag at the
end of quarter, and his sales were up over the same quarter last year AND
his last quarter, he got 25% of it.  Skillful sales men were earning
75-100K when you added their base.  Expenses were based on miles from their
home base to their next account.  Depending on if it was air miles or car
miles they could earn 68 cents to a dollar per mile.  Once again, smart and
savvy made the most bucks, but in Rachels last study of expenses, a rep
would be hard pressed to "earn" over a $100 per month over actual costs. 
Qualified receipts had to be submitted to show travel.  I learned every
trick in the book from my father and the way we did things insured that a
rep could not "phone" it in or be lazy.  If a guy (or gal) could not earn
at least 75K under this structure, they probably could not last too long.
If you sold out of territory or offered another salesman's customer a
better deal, the "other" salesman got the credit.  They were trained NOT to
eat their young, but to pass on sales leads.

   Phil Candee would be my sixth sales rep and I expected to add 2 more by
Christmas.  That brought my total number of employees to 53, but only 13 in
this country.  Although we sold high end shoes that were real quality, our
bread and butter was the product that retailed $35-40 depending on the
seller.  That item was available in 4 different styles and costs us around
$22 to manufacture, sell, promote, and ship.  So if a store was buying off
the best price card he paid cost plus the 18% overhead most wholesalers
work on (about $5), landing them at $27.  If they sold at the pre-price of
39.99 that was a mark-up of 30+ percent, but remember that's NET markup.  A
fast moving item like a great pair of dress shoes that "look" like $100
shoes if you keep after them, maintain and shine them, is an item that in
any other department, they can call a loss leader.  Our product looked like
a loss leader and STILL made money.  Sales managers of big box and mass
retailers loved us.

   After lengthy talks and sharing of ideas I decided to hire Phil Candee
and sent him out with Tom to train him for a week and then I would go with
him for a week to observe and then he would be on his own for 30 days.  He
had 45 days to prove himself.  If Phil worked out and he joined the force
he would take a portion of Toms accounts and Tom Mills would be my National
Sales Manager and get a percentage of every sale while maintaining a few
key accounts of his own.  He would work with each salesperson for a few
days at a time to coordinate our policies and be sure they were doing their
jobs.  By the Christmas season he would have 8 reps to work with and
coordinate sales.  We were growing at a rate faster than I had expected.  I
was sure my Dad would be proud.

   By the time I got out of meetings with Tom and Phil, got paperwork
squared away I got out around 5:45 and would have to rush home and shower
to meet Allie at 6:30 or so.  I must have had the Gods on my side as I was
there by just past 6:30.  Allie looked elegant in a dress I'm sure cost a
weeks' pay that I hope she didn't buy just for me.  She came to the door in
heels and walked like she was born in them and the way it made her ass move
in the dress was quite alluring.  I told her how incredible she looked and
she blushed as she got in the car.

   "If Simone taught me one positive thing, it was how to dress, and dress
to kill.  I'm much happier dressing for you." She said in an almost whisper
to me.

   When she and I walked through the restaurant to our table the halt in
most every mans breath was palpable.  She was stunning and when her wrap
came off her shoulders her strapless dress had me hard at the table.

   "I want you to know that I feel like a new woman since finishing my
therapy.  I've gotten so many things straightened out in my head.  I'm back
to the personality I had in High School.  That would be more open,
friendlier, AND more inquisitive.  I had been in my own little world and
less apt to ask questions, now I'm a little more of a detective about
things.  I like to know how things work, how and why people tick and what
drives them.  This attitude is the reason I'm so creative, but now I'm
applying it to life." She expounded forthrightly.

   "So, am I going to like this new you?  Are the things that brought my
attention to you still going to be interesting to me?" I asked facetiously.

   She looked down at her cleavage and then up to me.  "I don't know, do
you think they've changed at all?"

   "Allie, it wasn't just your body I was attracted to.  It was the fact
you were able to take a defeat you were OK with, and simply flip it over by
hearing some positive words and then the fact you took the time to come by
and thank me.  You were smart, you were classy, you were thoughtful.  Three
things missing in today's youth, not that I'm that much older than you,
just 18 months, but I'm definitely more establishment." I told her.

   "When a client comes in and tells us what he's looking for, what his
ideas are, I try to delve into his words and actions to see what they
really want, and I'm pretty good at hitting the nail on the head finding
the things that will make them our customer." She said.

   "So what have you discovered about me?  I feel that's coming." I asked.

   "Tell me about your relationship with Mary.  If she's your girlfriend it
almost seems you're trying to play under her nose with me." Allie assumed.

   "Whoa, you've got something all wrong here.  That's not the kind of guy
I am and Mary and I TRIED the relationship thing, but it doesn't work.  We
are great friends and confidants now."

   "But, you're friends with benefits, aren't you?" She asked.

   "What makes you ask that?" I wondered before I admitted the truth.

   "Some mornings she comes in and she obviously is fresh from sex.  Her
tension is gone, the furrow in her brow is relaxed.  She never speaks of a
boyfriend and I know she lives close to you, plus I know you get together
for drinks, or tennis, or the workout club.  I just think she's getting it
and if I were in her position and could, I might take advantage of that
situation." She surmised.

   "Well, you're very observant, and while I may not be her only friend
with benefit, I do see her in that situation at times." I confessed.

   Allie looked down at her drink and quietly said "So this cat and mouse
game we've been playing is just a waste of time for me?  What happens when
she finds out about me, does my job blow up, do you two blow up?"

   "Allie, it may be hard for you to understand but Mary and I have no ties
as far as that kind of relationship goes.  She knows I was going to date
you and she knows that if anything ever started up between you and I,
between me and anyone, she couldn't call me in that situation.  I would
never do that to anyone.  If you and I had sex that night we were together,
I would have never touched her again, at least until there was some signal
that our relationship were over.  I don't seek her out, she seeks me out.
Once our relationship ended I never pursued her.  I never turned her down.
We had quite a row our last time together with her wanting to act like we
were "each others".  I made one statement to the effect that I would be
willing to try again and she blew a gasket telling me I would be the last
one to make her happy that way.  She claims she'll die old and alone, and
it might be to her choosing." I explained.

   "Are you sure it's not a case of you two being in love and both being
too proud to admit it?"

   "No, I've told her over and over again, that I love her in so many ways,
but there are other things, other ways I cannot tolerate.  She feels the
same with me.  Not that I kiss and tell, but we could have a long intimate
session and afterwards she throws me out like some stranger she picked up.
We are strictly sex partners and to tell you the truth she has made me lazy
in my pursuit of a lasting relationship.  Now, less talk about Mary and
more about you and me.  She knows I would like to date you and she has no
problem with it.  You can confront her on that if you like." I challenged
her.

   "Does she see other men?"

   "This will be the last question about Mary, OK?  Yes, she sees other
men. I am simply handy.  I may be a pig for not turning her down, but I am
a man with no ties, and she is an attractive woman.  End of story." I said
with a stern edge so she knew I was uncomfortable.

   "Was Wednesday night the last night you were with her?"

   "None of your business, but yes, that was the night we fought.  End."

   The waiter came by to refresh drinks and see if we were ready to order.

   "Yes, another round please, but we haven't had time to look at the menu
yet."

   "Don't get me drunk again." She said with a giggle.

   "You got yourself drunk, and I'm cutting both of us off at two drinks.
This is a magistrate sobriety check point night all over Massachusetts." I
insisted.

   "So what's good here?" she wondered.

   "Do you like veal?"

   "Of course!"

   "Then," I recommended, "Try the Saltimbocca, or the Veal Di Pietro which
is thinly sliced veal wrapped around crab and lobster.  If you get one,
I'll get the other and we can sample from each other if you like."

   "That sounds like fun." She said with a smile as she reached out and
touched my hand, leaving it there.

   For the rest of the night there was supposed to be no more talk of Mary
and some, but very little talk about her therapy or former life.  Instead
she was focusing on her future, her job, her partnering with Mary on the
business and then, curiously, about where she saw herself in 5 years.

   "This "5 years" thing, is that something, or an exercise from the
therapy?" I wondered.

   "That may have spawned the new idea, but I've always set goals and
looked ahead.  That was why I went for my Masters, it was why I knew I
would leave Simone eventually.  I had the plan.  My 5 year plan might scare
you off but, in 5 years I would like to be married and have children and a
career." She said brightly.

   "Suppose your husband made enough money that you didn't need to work, or
have a career?" I asked, playing devil's advocate.

   "It's not about the money, it's about making something of your life. 
Bringing children into the world so you can set them out to protect and
project and carry on your legacy.  Your father left you his business to
protect and carry on his legacy.  Wouldn't you want to offer your son or
daughter the same?  It doesn't mean they would have to take it, but have
the opportunity.  I would hope a son or daughter of mine would like to
explore their creative side if they liked what I did." She said
determinedly.

   "Who would care for the children when we worked?" I asked, sorry I made
the inference "we".

   "Either I or my husband would have day care at work.  It's the newest
thing with small businesses of under 25 employees.  Your children are not
with you, but you're there for them if needed.  Like two of the artists
working for us right now pay a thousand a month for childcare.  Mary wanted
them bad enough she agreed to pay half until they start school."

   "Well, your plan sounds like a good one, I might want to hope for the
same myself.  I do know I want to be married and have a soul mate to share
life with.  I've always wondered how I would be as a Dad.  I see one of my
salesmen whose daughter was just married and how he talks and acts so
proudly of her, and I do envy him in that regard." I admitted.

   "Have you ever been tested for STD's?" She asked out of the blue.

   "Well, MY aren't we going for broke?  Yes a year ago.  Mary gets tested
every few months, and you're making me tell tales I have no business
telling.  I don't use condoms with Mary, but any other lover she takes
does." I told her reluctantly.

   "One more uncomfortable question, then I promise, no more." She said
waiting for my OK.

   I nodded in anticipation.  "If we make love tonight, the benefits with
Mary stop?"

   "Of course."I said.

   "You feel that strongly about me?" She wondered.

   "Yes and No.  It's just I wouldn't have sex with her once I began a
relationship with anyone, especially one that involved intimacy.  I would
assume that connotes being exclusive."

   "If we have sex, are we exclusive?" She asked quizzing me.

   "I would hope so." I said to which she answered a mysterious "uh-huh".

   "When would Mary find out you were no longer her booty call."

   "You said one more question." I said smiling and sipping my drink.

   "Humor me."

   "Probably not for 6 or 8 weeks.  We've just been once a month at most.
We don't have a schedule.  But now it's MY turn.  Why all of these
questions?  Are you determined to have sex with me tonight?" I asked
brazenly.

   "First off, don't say "have sex", say "make love".  Jess, you should
know that I have a huge crush on you.  I've liked you from the first time I
saw you and every time we've been together you've done something to make my
feelings for you stronger.  You give me a strong vibe and make me feel very
comfortable.  My head was full of nightmares of things I went through in my
private life, you help make me forget it ever happened, actually when I
think of you it makes it seem like I'm looking at someone else's life." She
said not able to keep looking me straight in the eye, seeming embarrassed
to admit it all.

   "Don't you think the therapy did most of that?" I wondered.

   "Without thoughts of someday being with you, I wouldn't have made it
through therapy.  I would have stopped it long ago.  I spent one entire
session talking about how you hadn't tried to kiss me." She almost
whispered, turning red.

   I went to pat her hand and she grabbed it tightly.  "I know I told you
that I should try and date other men as well as you, but I don't WANT to. I
won't do that unless I find that what I feel for you is just an
infatuation, and it's been too deep for me to think it's that."

   "OK, now can we get back to our dinner date?  No more psychoanalyzing,
no more sex talk, no more talk about Mary.  You're all I'm interested in."
I said putting my other hand over her hand that had taken my hand.

   "You're all I want to talk about as well.  I think we're on the same
page as far as feelings." She said with a confidant smile.

   I started to verbally agree with her, but the waiter came with our meals
and I just nodded to her, making her smile.

   After refreshing the table (water, bread, condiments) and putting our
meals in front of us the waiter left us with a promise to check back in a
few minutes.

   "Wow, this looks incredible, so does yours." Allie said picking up her
fork.

   We both dug into our meals and they were beyond words.  The reputation
of DiPietro's stood unmarred.  I took a small bite of my veal with seafood
filling and offered it to her.  The way she ate it off my fork made my cock
jump.  Allie was a sensual woman!  I was really not hoping for such a
sexually stimulating evening, not wanting to go too fast, but her talk and
simply the way she carried herself with this new confidence was going to
make that hard (no pun intended but it certainly fits).

   We both thoroughly enjoyed our meals and shared little bites back and
forth and simply the action of putting things to each other's mouths put a
sexual charge into the night.  Although we had two drinks each, following
the meal, and accompanying bread and water, I thought an Irish Coffee would
be OK to have.  We sipped while looking into each other's eyes and I can
truly say I never wanted to make love to anyone more than I did her that
night.  The waiter brought the check folder and gave it to her, obviously
pre-arranged, with me not even given the option of paying or offering the
tip.  I was embarrassed to thank her thinking it should be me picking it up
(and I planned to do so) but she had made other arrangements.

   Chapter Eleven

   At the end of our dinner I helped her on with her wrap and she took my
arm as we walked out and you seem to know when a whole room is watching
you. I'd like to think I looked pretty dapper in my suit and coordinated
tie, but I know I could have been in a t-shirt and shorts and no one would
have noticed me.  I only wished I was getting the look from behind that the
other men were getting.  At the car I opened her door and she turned to me
while I held the door and placed her lips on mine for a long sensual kiss
saying, "Thank you for a wonderful evening, being such a gentleman where
most would have lost patience with my uncomfortable questions and prying. I
didn't pry for gossip though.  What was said stays here." She said touching
her lips before kissing me on my cheek and getting in the car.

   I got in and started the car and I knew she was watching me.  I looked
to her about to put the car in gear and I could not help myself.  I leaned
and she leaned to kiss me, one, two, and three times before sitting back
saying, "Let's go home".

   All the while on the quiet drive back to her place I would occasionally
look to her and each time she was looking at me.  When I rested my hand on
the shift lever in the console, her hand went over mine.  I don't know if
she was aware of it, but I was hard as a rock once she touched my hand.

   At her townhouse I came around and got her door and I walked her to the
door.  I hesitated and she said, "Oh, please come in.  We need to spend
some time together."

   Inside the door she turned back to me once the door was closed and put
her arms around my neck and we had a long, sensual, tonguey kiss while my
hands could not help trailing down her back to hold the gorgeous ass I was
so infatuated with.  When she broke the kiss she smiled at me and took her
hands to loosen my tie, pull it out of my collar and undo the top 2 buttons
on my shirt.

   "Doesn't that feel more comfortable?" She asked as she rested her head
on my shoulder with her arms around me, my hands till holding her ass.

   She broke our clinch and she stepped out of the heels she wore and took
my hand and led me to the sofa.

   "Please sit and make yourself comfortable, why don't you take off your
jacket?  I'll get that nightcap I promised."

   As I sat in the living room I noticed she had filled her place with
furniture and it was nicely decorated.  She was obviously doing well.  Then
I looked up to see her come in with a small hostess tray with 2 shooters of
Sambuca.  She sat and offered one to me and then she took her own and
offered her little glass to toast.

   "To us.  May we take the opportunity to get to know each other and build
it into something we'll cherish." She said as we clinked and took tiny
sips.

   Suddenly she seemed to get cold, like she had a chill.  I asked her if
she was cold.

   "Just my feet, I have cold feet." She said with a nervous laugh.  "I
thought we could come back here and make love, but I'm realizing it may be
too fast."

   "I've tried to tell you that, before tonight, . . .  and tonight." I
reminded her.

   "Oh, I know and I guess I didn't understand until now that although I'm
not a virgin, having a real man is . . . . . .  I guess I don't have
words." She whispered nervously.

   "Sh, sh, sh, I totally understand what a big step it is and you should
think it through and not act on the spur of the moment." I said hugging her
and letting her head rest on my shoulder.

   "It's not totally that, I know that you're the man I want to be my
first. Don't freak out at that, I've just had so many fantasies about it. I
don't want you to go or anything, I still want to get intimate, just don't
let THAT happen." She whispered in my ear.

   "Don't worry, you can lead the way." I whispered back.

   "No, I can't.  I don't know where I'm going.  I'll use an old fashioned
word term, ravish me but just don't do IT.  Do you understand what I mean?"
She whispered again, embarrassed that she was backing down from her
previous tease.

   I pulled her back so I could look in her eyes.  "Allie, nothing happens
that you don't want to happen." I said as I kissed her hard and turned
toward the cushions with my tongue exploring her mouth.

   She responded positively as we both sighed heavily holding each other.
We necked for a good amount of time before I began to slide her down to her
back.  I went with her and broke the kiss and slid my hand down to the side
of her breast, squeezing it.  She sighed again and looked for my mouth.  I
moved my mouth over hers and pulled down the front of her strapless dress.
Her right nipple went between my thumb and forefinger as the rest of my
hand cupped her breast.  I already knew how beautiful and perfect her
breasts were, but to feel them was heavenly, especially because of the way
she squirmed underneath me when I did.

   "Oh God, my nipples are so sensitive." She seemed to laugh and cry out
simultaneously as I felt the other as well a she lay flat with me over her,
my bent knee between her legs, my other foot on the floor.

   I remembered how absolutely breathtaking her breasts were and just had
to pull off her mouth to look as both hands were busy on them.

   "Holy crap Allie, you are so stunning." I said as I took my hands off
her to just look and ogle at her beauties before my eyes went to her face
and I saw her blush.

   I bent to kiss her once again, probing her mouth once again but I was
just mesmerized by those tits, I had to mouth them.  When I put my mouth
over the nipple of her right one she swooned loudly like I punched her in
the gut and her hand came up to squeeze the other, but I shooed her hand
off to take care of it myself.  Her hand went right between my legs and she
quickly felt my prong sticking out a tent.  She ran her hand over and over
the bulbous head as I nursed and she moaned, and then switched to the other
breast leaving the first with a quick nip of my teeth.  As I sucked at and
lolled over her other breast I felt her look for my zipper tab.  Leaving
her other breast as I did the first, with a quick nip, I sat back as she
fiddled for my fly.

   She giggled to me as she tried to figure how it all went and then
suddenly she was pulling it down.

   "I'm going to jerk off all over you after I eat you." I whispered as her
hand went in and grabbed my dick.

   If everything she said was true, this was the first she had ever touched
a real penis in her life.

   "Really?" She said.

   "Really, what?" I asked still overwhelmed by the fact she had never
touched a man before.

   "You're going to eat me and then jerk off on me?" She asked as she
carefully touched me and looked at me.

   "Yes!" I said.  "Get that dress off."

   "Wait, I want to suck you.  You eat me, I eat you."

   "You sure you can handle that?" I asked.

   "I've seen enough movies, just tell me when you cum." She said shyly,
almost as a question.

   I undid my belt and let my pants fall below my waist and she sat up a
bit.  I sat up a bit higher and wondered what was going through her mind
and if I should even allow her to do this on the spur of the moment.

   "I wanted to come over and taste you on that night at your house.  I've
always wondered and . . ." She tailed off and moved her mouth to the tip
and kissed it

   She put out her tongue and licked, tasting it like an ice cream cone and
looking up at me.

   She backed off and I thought she was going to abort her mission, but she
said, "Here goes." And put her mouth over the tip and a couple inches.  She
moved her mouth up and down over it with her eyes tightly shut.  Then she
seemed to relax and open her eyes and watched what she was doing and get
more fluid in her movements.

   "Does that feel good?  Am I doing it right?"

   "Ohhh Godddddd Aliie, there is no wrong way when I see and feel your
sweet mouth on me."

   "It's so sexual, I mean obviously, but it makes my pussy run to taste
and smell you." She said before fitting her mouth on me again.

   I could feel myself getting close and I didn't want to scare or startle
her.

   "Here," I said as I pulled away from her freeing her to stand.  "Take
off that dress so I can get at you without ruining it."

   She looked like a baby who just had her bottle taken away, staring at my
cock like she couldn't wait to get back to it.

   She reached behind her and undid something and then stood and shinnied
herself out of the dress, now just wearing little tiny wet panties that she
immediately pushed down and kicked off her ankle.  My pants fell to the
floor when I stood and I was unbuttoning my shirt when her mouth went over
me again, her bending from the waist.

   "Allie, Allie, let me at that pussy, your panties were soaked."

   "I don't want you to cum all over me, I want it."

   Her words had me crazy, but I still wanted her pussy as I put my hands
on her shoulders and pushed her back to the sofa and I put my face right
into the wettest and sweetest pussy ever.

   She swooned loudly as I sucked at her clit before lapping her whole slit
opening.  She filled with blood so fast her little girl slit blossomed into
a beautiful vagina flower, her inner lips now outer lips as she dripped
dew. I ate her deeply getting as much of her honey as I could while driving
her crazy.  I remember she flowed heavily that night at my house as she
shook out a g-spot thrill so I added a finger right at the top of her slit,
just below her clit and massaged the inner wall.

   With my tongue on her clit she literally flopped on the sofa like a fish
fresh out of water.  Her hand went to the center of my forehead and pushed
hard as she combination screamed and gurgled and let a wash of fluid run
out of her.  I moved in quickly to lap at her and in a moment, she did the
same, pushing on my forehead to move me away.  Then with a high pitch
squeak she brought both of her hands over her pussy so I could not get near
it as she vibrated on the sofa, kicking her legs.  I don't think I had my
mouth on her for 90 seconds and she was literally spent right out.

   Her legs moved as if she were trying to crawl into the sofa, moving
around in post-orgasmic joy.  She had rolled to her stomach with her cute
ass in the air and I could not help but to give it a good hard slap.  I
expected a coy smile, but she flipped back almost violently.

   "Why did you hit me?!" she demanded.

   "Whoa." I said, "I was just giving your cute butt a playful slap.  I'm
sorry if I hurt you."

   "No, you didn't, but that's OK, I'm sorry." She said as she put both
hands between her legs to hold the pleasure in she was still feeling.

   I couldn't take any more and stood over her and began to jerk myself. 
When she looked up and saw me stroking she bolted up quick.

   "No, I told you I wanted it.  Baptism by fire." She said as her mouth
went over me and pushed my hand away in a quick turn-around of emotions..

   I let her work her mouth over me and I took one of her arms to bring to
my balls, but she pushed my helping hand away and immediately began to
stroke me, misunderstanding where I wanted her hand.  So I took her other
arm and again she tried to pull away, but I held it fast and brought her
hand to my balls.  She got the hang of that quickly, being extra gentle
after hearing how sensitive men are there.

   "Allie, I'm going to cum, you don't need to do this." I said making a
long hiss at the end of my sentence before I growled signaling my pleasure.

   "Arghhhhhhhhhhh!" I groaned and shot into her mouth.  She kept jerking
but was losing her coordination worrying what to do with the mouthful she
had.

   She started to swallow, but gagged and pulled her head away and one last
shot I had went to the side of her face, but she put her mouth over me
again and swallowed and sucked a bit more before I touched her face,
showing her I was done.

   "Too much, I'm sorry I gagged.  It tasted different than I expected and
a lot more too."

   "Was it better or worse?" I asked.

   "Better, I heard it was bleachy jell-o, but it tasted kind of sexy, a
little like pussy, almost" she said as she draped both arms around my waist
and hugged her head to my belly, perhaps a little embarrassed she knew what
a woman tasted like.

   "You are the most awesome man.  I've never cum so fast, or so hard.  I'm
so happy right now.  You've started my life all over again.  I hope we have
lots of days and nights together." She said overflowing with adoration.

   "Don't let the moment make you say things you might regret." I reminded
her.

   She pulled her head from my stomach and looked up saying, "I've been
dreaming of this, and it's better than the dream.  You wait.  Tomorrow
we'll be just as happy."

   I chuckled at her words and hoped she was right.

   Chapter Twelve

   Allie begged me to stay the night, hoping I might succumb to a tearful
"Puh-LEEZE", but I convinced her that we both needed some time to put the
evening in proper perspective.  It would be hard to wake up together and
still not be over the top.  Instead if we both slept on it and thought
about what happened we might get a truer picture of our feelings.

   "Do you doubt our feelings are real and maybe just a product of lust?"
She asked.

   "No, of course not.  But waking together would probably spawn another
love making session, and that would still postpone the time for
retrospection." I argued.

   "Why is that necessary?" She said ready for a debate.

   I put my arm around her and held her tightly to speak softly in her ear.

   "Suppose we wake up and one of us regrets what happened, as we may have
moved too fast.  But with the other right there it would be hard to deny
the want for more affection.  After all, doesn't love cure all?  The
temptation to really DO IT might be too much, waking together in bed, and
that could only cause MORE regrets later.  Then you have to deal with what
one of us might consider coercion.  If I just go home and we both wake up
to think about how we feel about our night without the others vibe there to
color it, the picture will be clearer."

   She heard my words and then pulled back to look me in the face (God, she
is so pretty), and I perceived a little doubt.

   "Tell me that it doesn't make sense and I'll stay the night." I
challenged her.

   She looked like she was about to thrust a point upon me and then
suddenly her face and stance softened.  A tear came to the corner of her
eye that she tried to turn away from my sight.

   "I just had a moment and I can see how I've grown from therapy." She
said, embarrassed by her thought.

   "Tell me."

   "I was going to jump down your throat and say "you're just like Simone,
you have to be right to keep me under your thumb", but that isn't true and
doesn't apply at all.  I was going for an "oh poor me" excuse out of
convenience.  Yes, I would love to wake up beside you, but yes, you do make
sense in the fact you shouldn't stay.  As I planned the night out
beforehand, as I thought I had, it didn't include you staying the night.  I
was convinced you would take my virginity, what there is to take, tonight.
It seemed so right when I thought it out, but I never even considered you
staying the night, and your reason is probably why.  Having the time to
deal with it.  I have to tell you that I love you before you go." She said
kissing me on the lips and then looking into my eyes, saying "I love you.
You may think it too fast, but I can't deny my feelings."

   "You know I love you too, and I want to be in love with you.  Let's not
be jumping off any cliffs too soon." I said kissing her back, getting my
suit jacket and hugging her once again before going to the door.

   "When will I see you again?" She asked as I opened the door.

   "How about brunch tomorrow?  I'll be over around 11.  How's that?"

   "I can make brunch here."

   "We know what will happen here if we don't talk things over first."

   She smiled big and nodded.  "I can't wait to see you." .

   I really think she feared we would never see each other again.  Her
seeming doubt in me and where it came from worried me.  It was one of the
things we had to talk about in the morning.

   When I got home I began to feel a little guilty about a couple things,
most specifically, the oral sex.  While I was certain she wanted to
experience it, I may have pushed the envelope too far when she said "I want
it".  This was a woman who had seen the act in videos, performed it on
dildos, but didn't really know what it was going to be like.  Her answers
to my questions about it may have been what seemed "polite" to her.  I
asked "how was it?" and she answered as if she tasted something I had
prepared special for her to eat.  I should have told her it was going to be
a lot, was going to taste bleachy, and not every woman's cup of tea, and
just shoot it on her breasts.  She took control of a situation she knew
nothing of, and I let her.

   Also, the fact she was bound and determined early in the evening to
sleep with me, as in fuck me, and then changed her mind when the time to
jump came, made me think she might not be as mentally prepared for a
relationship as her physical side is.  She wants sex, we all do.  She wants
the physical release, we all do.  She wants to share it with someone
special, we mostly all do.  But she also knows it's a commitment that she
can't undo.  She "undid" her relationship with Simone through therapy and
could walk through life without anyone but God, Simone, and herself
knowing.

   If we were to make a baby that would all change.  There is no undoing
that.  Even an abortion leaves a deep scar on your soul you have to live
with.  Plus she could no longer say she had never been with a man to any
other person without lying.  It was a perceived innocence she sort of hung
her hat on.

   After some tossing and turning, I fell asleep and dreamt of her, how
beautiful and innocent she was in my eyes.  When I woke I had a tremendous
urge to jerk away the thoughts I had for her, but I resisted selfishly,
because if we had any relations later, I wanted to be my best.  I was hard
through most of my shower but calmed down as I shaved under the spray.  I
caught myself yawning as I got into the car to go to her house and wondered
if 11a.m.  was too early for me and her as well.  I had left her at 1:30.

   When I pulled up in front of her townhouse I could see she was in the
window, God I hoped she wasn't paranoid because I was 1 or 2 minutes late,
but she swore she just happened to look out to see the weather to know how
to dress, and she wasn't totally dressed when I got there.  I envisioned
her being paranoid, but I guess it wasn't the case.

   She opened the door in a dressing gown and apologized for being a bit
behind, gave me a quick kiss and dashed to bedroom, closed the door and
left me standing and waiting.  She came out 2 minutes later in a nice top
that showed a little belly and Capri pants, taking advantage of the
unseasonably warm weather.  She looked fabulous and I told her so.

   "Are you sure you just don't want to stay here and talk?  I can make
breakfast." Allie said, confused at my thinking.

   "Right now, you and I in this room is sex.  Let's go someplace that
isn't sex right now so we can discuss things." I said.

   "We aren't going to have "the talk", are we?" She asked.

   A big sign that said "She IS paranoid" went off in my head.  I didn't
want to deal with this, but I had to, and firmly.

   "Allie, I can do no more than what I expressed physically last night to
show my feelings for you.  If you're going to walk around on egg shells
trying to outrun my ending the relationship, I will end it right here. 
Love is trust.  You say you love me, no matter how misguided that feeling
might be.  But your actions say you don't trust me.  Love is trust and
trust is love.  They go hand in hand.  If you think I would come over here
and do what we did only to have me come back and take you out to dump you,
how much do you trust me?  I can tell you that if the circumstances of our
relationship were normal, I would be gone, out the door right now.  No one
can live in a relationship that way.  I don't own you and you don't own me,
but we're trying to earn each other's trust.  Don't do things to fuck it
up. You are my dream.  I want to do everything I can to make you my
reality."

   Of course Allie's eyes filled with tears, but she stifled herself to
talk.  "I'm sorry, I've never felt this way about someone and not had it
come back to me as threats and fear of consequences.  This morning thoughts
of Simone crept back, as I'm sure they always will.  I lived in fear she
would pull the rug out of my education, my dream.  I know she's gone and I
couldn't hate her more than I did the last few months I was there as my
orals were due.  It's why I wanted you to stay last night.  But your saying
you think of me as your dream with hopes of being your reality tells me I
have nothing to fear, Simone is gone from my life.  My therapist told me
that only I can let her back into my thoughts, and I know ways to beat back
the fear.  I ignored them last night and wanted to depend on you as a
crutch.  Be patient with me and hold out a hand when I'm sinking.  You say
love is trust and I should know that because I never trusted her after the
first years and never loved her as I began to trust her less and less."

   "OK, enough Simone talk, I really don't want to hear her name again.  I
want to learn to love you, trust you, unconditionally, and I want to earn
your love and trust the same way.  Honest open talk is one of the best ways
to do that, sharing thoughts.  So, no holding back, no fear of the others
feelings if the words are honest.  Let's go.  We can get a coffee and take
a little ride to a great place I know for brunch near Sudbury, about 20 or
so minutes from here."

   She put out her hand to me and I took it and we left.  We went to a Tim
Horton's Drive-up and got two large coffees to go and were on our way.

   The drive was scenic as I avoided I-290 to the Stone Horse Inn, an
elegant Bed and Breakfast who opened a Public restaurant for Brunch on
Saturdays and Sundays, and dinner on Patriotic Holidays, Saturday evening
and Sunday afternoon.  It was by reservation only but I knew the Hostess,
Cheri, at the desk.  (Her Dad was a buyer for my father and many holidays,
snow days and summers she came to work with him.  I was 15-16 at the time
and she was but 8 or 9, but she had a "kid-crush" on me.  My Dad called her
my shadow.) She got me in for the Noon sitting.

   We sipped coffee and kept the conversation light until I got into some
of the windy, hilly roads as we got closer.  We were 10 minutes away with
20 minutes still to Noon so I began to delve into our night before.

   "How was your first time alone and intimate with a man?" I asked as my
ice-breaker.

   "Oh God!  I was breathless in anticipation and fear, but you made it the
most incredible night I've ever had." She said, her smile 2 inches wider
than her face.

   "Ever had?"

   "I've never felt so much excitement and exhilaration where I actually
felt vibrations coming from you and my sending them to you.  I seemed to
know what would happen a second before it did, we were tuned.  I feared not
knowing how to please you and my only point of reference were porno videos
where women seemed to be treated like, well let's just say, less than a
woman.  I wanted you in my mouth so badly and wasn't sure why or if I could
do that.  But, it was beautiful.  I could truly feel you surge and grow
from excitement and the way our eyes met, the look you gave me was so
passionate, I was so close to cumming from that I had to touch myself.

   I was always told that a woman was the best oral lover for another woman
because she knew the places to take care of.  You did me like I've never
been done before; you knew just how to get it.  God, I'm soaking wet now,
thinking about it."

   "That's why we couldn't do this at home." I smiled to her.  "And I want
you to realize something, I didn't eat you, and you didn't give me a
blowjob.  We made oral love to each other.  We didn't do it for the
satisfaction of doing it, we did it to express our feelings.  Do you feel
that way?" I wondered.

   "Of course!  I'm so glad you said that because at first this morning,
lying in bed, I thought to myself that I had done a blowjob and I felt like
I should feel dirty, but it was , . . . .a . . .  beautiful thing.  It was
pleasing you but it made me feel something very sexual.  In the aftermath
we were both there with our clothes on the floor smiling and loving each
other.  I've never felt that satisfaction and reverie after sex, because
this was after making love." She said proudly.

   "One more thing, I don't normally go over the play by play of the night
before, but in your situation, I felt we should talk.  Fair enough?"

   Allie leaned across the seat and kissed me saying, "I understand.  I
would have asked a million questions about not being sure of things.  Wait
until you take my "quote" virginity.  I may have questions then." She said
with a giggle.

   It was close enough to noon now and we went to the entrance with others
that were waiting and were let in for the Noon sitting.  Cheri was
assigning servers to tables and saw me and held a finger, as if to wait and
after all the others were tended to she came over and seated us.

   I introduced Cheri to Allie and we exchanged pleasantries after Cheri
explained how the serving tables worked.  When Cheri walked away Allie
looked at me and asked, "Ex-girlfriend?"

   "Oh yeah, we played together a lot.  She was 8 or 9 and I was 15 or so
and she shadowed me around the factory while I did little errands for my
father.  She had a kid crush on me then and we've managed to stay in touch,
not even on purpose.  She happened to work at one of the food places
downstairs and we caught up again.  She's going to school for hotel
management and sort of interning here."

   "So, do I come right out and tell Mary that we're dating?" She asked,
obviously a bit worried it might cause a rift between them.

   "Well, I have nothing to hide from her, but I would keep our
relationship on a need to know basis.  If she walked in the front door
right now I wouldn't run and hide, that's for sure." I explained.

   "I guess I worry that either you still carry a torch for her, or she'll
hate me for taking you away."

   I reached over the table and took both of her hands in mine.  "Mary and
I first got together 3, maybe 4 years ago, before we each moved into Tower
Offices.  We saw each other exclusively for less than a year and then we
began little on and off periods of being a couple.  Just when I wanted to
move in she began to get cold about me even spending the night.  We drifted
apart and then we got involved at tenants meetings and realized we were
friends and still did things together, movies, tennis, etc.  It was then
she started the "with benefits" part of our friendship.  It's every month
or couple months or so and even the last time we ended up in a big row over
my thinking she wanted to take up again.  If she wanted me that badly, she
had her chance that night to nail me down, KNOWING I might see you outside
of rides to work.  She can't have a problem with it.  I was willing to give
her the opportunity and she figuratively spit in my face.  Now can Mary
talk END?  She is your boss and possible partner in business.  It won't be
good to have a negative attitude about her."

   "Wait!" Allie said holding up a hand, "You're misunderstanding. 
Professionally she is an incredibly dynamic and talented woman and anyone
with an eye on the future in the design and art business would be a fool to
pass on a chance to work with her, let alone partner with her.  So don't
think I hold any animosity towards her.  I'm just trying to be sure I don't
hurt her feelings.  I love her for giving me the chance to spread my wings
and fly."

   A server came by with a first course of Maple Pecan French Toast that
smelled incredible and we spent the next hour eating and trying just about
every course offered.  Many times we took one serving and split it so we
could try it all.  By the time we left we were both quite full and sure
that brunch had turned into a lunch and dinner.  I suggested a drive
through the hills of this part of Massachusetts, wending our way to Newton
and then taking the Mass Pike back home.  We made a couple comfort stops
and then just outside Newton we found a place to sit and watch rowing scull
teams on the Charles River.  It was a lonely bench a little hidden from the
parking area and road where we could neck and cuddle as we watched.  As we
got more involved there was less watching and more of everything else.  As
she lay on top of me on the bench we began to get nasty ideas that we
whispered to each other, but once she saw a garter snake go by the bench we
were done as she ran back to the car with me following laughing my ass off.

   Chapter Thirteen

   When we got back into town Allie seemed to get nervous and fidgety and I
knew she wanted to ask me a question.

   "Allie, what did I tell you about honesty, walking on egg shells, and
fear of the answer you don't want to hear?  There will be no relationship
without honesty, there can't be.  I read you like a book."

   She sighed and looked to me saying, "I'm afraid you'll say it's too
soon, or not appropriate." "How the FUCK can I give my opinion if you don't
tell me what it is?  Ask me honest questions and I'll give you honest
answers.  I'm going to lose patience with this real fast if you don't get
over this hump.  I WANT TO BE WITH YOU!  I'm not going anywhere."

   "Can I stay with you tonight?" She asked demurely.

   "Why in HELL would you think I wouldn't like that?  Of course you can
stay with me.  I agree it's too soon and not appropriate, but we broke the
ice last night and it seems we're playing catch up for the time we should
have been together and you were in therapy." I said as I reached over and
rubbed her hand hoping to communicate to her that everything does not have
to be a confrontation.

   "I have some things I need to tell you, nothing that will change us,
just some things my therapist says you should know." She said quietly.

   "Me specifically?"

   "Sort of, but actually any person I become emotionally and sexually
invested in, as she put it." She answered, brightening some now that she
got it off her chest.

   "We'll be home in a few minutes, wait until then so I can give you my
full attention." I said as I turned into the back entrance to my
development to be sure I didn't have to ride by Mary's place.

   Once I parked and we got inside the door we both had to use the bathroom
and when I came out she was on the love seat waiting for me.  She patted
the spot beside her for me to sit close, so I did.

   "I was going to dive head first into sex with you last night, well we
did, but we didn't have intercourse.  I got cold feet because I've never
been with a man before and I wanted to do what my therapist said I should
do before become fully invested.  I can be a little fragile about some
things and if I didn't think you would understand, I wouldn't be here." She
said and I went to assure her but she stopped me holding up a hand.

   "NO, PLEASE, let me talk and get this out and over with, I don't need
another excuse to procrastinate on it.  Just hold my hands for me, please.
This is very hard and that's why I've put it off.  I was going to skip it
but so far everything she has had me do to make things better has worked.
So here goes" She said taking a deep breath and looking me in the eye.

   "I had phallic sex with my female partner when she used dildo's and
vibrators on me so I am not a virgin in that sense, even though I know
having a real man is going to be different.  Sometimes she wore a male part
and took me as a man would, and I found it to be the only time I actually
enjoyed my sex life there.  However, when she wore the, uh . . .  strap-on,
it also meant I was going to be sodomized.  She had used toys on me there,
in my back hole, before and it was OK.  I wasn't given much choice.  But
when she did it there like a man (with the strap-on) she hurt me like hell.
I would cry and carry on while she spanked me for being what she called "a
big baby".  That was why you made me jump so much when you swatted me on my
butt last night."

   Allie took a deep breath and continued, on the edge of tears.  "One time
when she did this to me back there I wasn't clean inside like other times
and she had poop all over her strap-on and some leaked down into the bed.
She went into a rage and said she should make me clean it up with my
tongue. Right there at the smell and thought of that, I puked in the bed,.
She left me there for a few minutes while I cried.  She came back with a
bamboo switch and she caned the back of my legs and my ass for a solid
couple minutes, 30 strokes.  I could barely sit down for 3 days and even
warm water under the shower stung like fire.  She kept that cane on the top
of her dresser for the last 18 months I was there.  I was afraid to sleep
the last few nights I was there after I told her I was leaving to go on job
interviews and would not be back.  It was then I found out that she was
moving me out anyway, she had a new Freshman "protégé" and didn't need my
"soul-less sorry body" around anymore."

   I took Allie in my arms and hugged her so hard I thought I might hurt
her, I felt so bad and so protective of her at that moment.  This woman had
so terrified and controlled her that she truly didn't know what was
happening to her.  I seemed the last person who might try to set her right,
but at this point she had chosen me and I had chosen her.

   "My dear little darling, why haven't you told me you lived through
torture with your fear?" I asked as she bawled into my shoulder.

   "Only the doctor knew and I had to tell anyone I was going to trust with
my heart so they could be patient with me, understand me.  I'm so fucked up
and I just want to be normal with you." She said in my ear through her
tears and emotion.

   "Allison, we'll get you normal, and you and I will be normal.  You have
the tools to forget all of this and you and I will work this out.  If
telling me helps you, don't be embarrassed.  It just causes me great pain
to know what you've been through.  I don't know how someone could treat a
person they supposedly loved like this.  You know now it wasn't love,
right?" I asked.

   "I know", she said, calming down wiping tears, "it was control. . . . 
Do you think you and I can ever be normal?"

   "Allie, to me I never needed to know anything about your past, I was
only interested in what I knew of you from the day I met you.  However your
circumstances have made it necessary for a person who wants to be close to
you to be aware of the pain you've had to deal with.  Now, we have to put
all those fears behind you.  You and I are now, and your past has to be
forgotten.  You know and I know that you'll never "forget" it, but just
like when you have to deal with the death of a loved one, you don't get up
every day and start mourning all over just because they're still gone.  You
learn to adjust your life and file the memories away."

   "I'm trying to do that, but things come up that I feel you should know.
You keep telling me how wonderful I am, and I keep thinking of the horrible
things I did or had happen to me." She cried to me so innocently.

   "You have to remember, you were the victim, and you were coerced.  Is
there anything else?"

   "I don't think so, there were just a few things that kept knocking on my
memory, but this was the main one.  This is the one she wanted to live with
me, keep my fear up with.  I'm not afraid of her anymore." She insisted.

   "How could she have been so cruel?" I wondered aloud.

   "I've always thought it was because I enjoyed the strap-on so much more
than her lesbian sex stuff.  That was why she would turn me over and make
me pay for enjoying man-woman sex so much.  The therapist wasn't too sure
of that, she thinks there had to be control, and that was what she chose."

   I held Allie tight and leaned back with her sort of melting into me and
we just held each other.  After a few minutes I noticed I was nodding off
and I realized she had totally fallen asleep, so I let myself fall as well.
I wasn't sure what time we nodded off but, I first stirred when my school
house clock struck 8.  I bolted a bit, not really knowing the day or even
where I was for a moment, and that woke Allie.  She turned her head a bit
and looked up to me and she smiled.

   "God, I'm so happy it's you I woke up with.  I was having a real nice
dream of being loved by someone.  Not real sex but a hairy chest on my back
and big fingers playing with my breasts." She whispered embarrassed.

   "Hmmmm, that could be arranged." I whispered.

   "I have to shower because I'm soaking wet with sweat wherever I touched
you where I slept." Allie whispered in a sleepy growl as she struggled to
sit up straight and clear her throat.

   "I'm just as wet, where you were against me as well.  I have to clean up
too." I said feeling the front of my shirt.  "Shower together?" She asked
with a whimsical smile.

   "Mmmmm, not tonight, but soon, OK?  Not that we haven't been familiar,
but that's about the same as sex on the personal scale.  I'll go in right
after you and then we'll put together something to eat, if you're hungry,
and then go to bed."

   Allie frowned sadly, so I defended my stance..

   "If all I was interested in was having sex and touching and using your
body I would shower with you right now.  But, I'm interested in developing
a healthy relationship.  You have to trust my intentions.  We're going to
sleep together tonight.  We'll be close and anything can happen that you
want to happen." I said as I kissed her lightly on the lips and she nodded.

   I really needed the few minutes alone to get past the drama that seemed
to be constant.  I wasn't sick of her, I was sick of the drama.  I
understand she had been through a horrible and frightening experience. 
However, she had to put it behind her and if it took telling me the whole
deal, fine.  But for God's sake, get it over with.  At this point I would
like to get this Simone character alone for 5 minutes and shove a splintery
baseball bat up her ass.  The woman was a master of control.  Luckily she
had already struck enough fear into her new "protégé" that when confronted
she was able to pull herself away.  I knew they would still come for Allie
to testify against her and I would make every effort to be sure she wasn't
talked into it.  She was toughening against her memories and having to face
her and relive them would be disastrous, in my opinion.  I wanted to write
a letter to her therapist and have Allie present it to her if she agreed
with my stance.

   As it was, if the case became a media circus Allie's parents would put
two and two together and confront her.  I was just guessing, but if Simone
was offered a plea deal that might include NOT bringing any of her former
victims in, she might capitulate.

   I put a sign on the floor outside the bathroom that read, NO DRAMA ZONE
and went to relax in the quiet for a few minutes.  When she came out of the
shower wrapped in a towel she put a little smirk on her face when she saw
the sign.  I went to my closet and brought her a hotel robe that somehow
ended up in my baggage on a NY trip.  I kissed her and went into the shower
myself with the promise I would be out and make us a little snack in a few
minutes.

   When I was about half way through my shower I heard a knock at the door
and she opened it saying, "I did a little snooping in your kitchen and I'll
make toasted cheese sandwiches and tomato soup, if that's alright."

   "That would be great." I replied happy to see she took some initiative
instead of wallowing in self-pity.

   I finished my shower and went into the bedroom and got dressed in light
sweats like I might wear to bed.  When I went into the kitchen she had
ladled out soup and just put hot toasted cheese sandwiches on plates for
us.

   I complimented her to which she hummed an Uh-Huh and turned to get her
own and sit down.  She was surprisingly quiet and I finally said, "Penny
for your thoughts".

   She looked up and I saw rage in her eyes, like I hadn't seen before. 
She put down her sandwich and pointed to me shouting "If you think getting
fucked in your ass so hard it makes you shit and then get 30 strokes with a
cane is drama, you can try sucking your own dick tonight.  What you call
wallowing in self pity (oh my god I had only thought that comment) might
just be me trying to unload my conscience to someone I think I can trust
who MIGHT understand why I have the reservations I do." With that she got
up and threw her sandwich on the plate and tried to walk past me but I
stuck out my arm that she tried to fight off.

   "Let go of me!"

   "No, I think you misunderstood my meaning."

   "Good, no one understands me, I guess.  Let GO!"

   "No, not until you calm down!"

   She tried hard to escape my grasps going as far as to hit my arms, but
she soon found out that I was as stubborn, and a bit stronger than she. 
When she stopped pulling away from me I pulled her down to my lap as she
cried.

   "The sign simply meant that we were through talking about that, we would
just be us.  I thought therapy was over as I was growing tired of seeing
you upset.  I've seen you smile so much this weekend, I was hoping to see
it on your face again." I said calmly and right into her ear.

   "You think I'm a big baby and a complainer!" She said pouting and trying
to pull away again.

   "Allie, let's just say listening to horrifying details of how someone I
love was treated by a person who pretended to love her hurts me as well.  I
was hoping we could just have a nice night together and put those things
behind us." I continued in my calm tone.

   She suddenly stopped fighting me and turned her head towards me.

   "I'm someone you love?  Really?  That's the second time you admitted
it."

   "I thought I showed it last night.  Of course I love you and I want to
be in love with you, if you'll let me."

   "We'll work on that.  I want to fall in love with you too.  You're just
going to have to put up with some of my tantrums some times.  I'm pretty
new at this boy/girl stuff.  All I know is the stuff I used to dream of. 
Last night and this afternoon were 2 of the best times of my life, but my
devils came creeping in this afternoon with stuff I should have told you a
long time ago.  I always think no one is going to understand." She said
quietly.

   "I think you don't believe I have any compassion for you, and I do.  I
just don't want to spend all of my time with you trying to fix you, trying
to make you forget.  I want to make you happy.  Now is there any other
sordid details you've been afraid to talk about that your therapist says
you should?" I asked hoping for a simple no.

   "No, the sodomy and the caning were the things I've been afraid to tell
anyone, except my therapist and she damn near had me committed that
afternoon.  I was a mess.  I told her that right after I had to admit to
willingly participating in lesbian sex acts where I did not think I was
being forced or intimidated.  That was a sticking point with me until she
said most women at one time are bi-curious, though only 40 percent act on
it."

   I stuck my tongue in her ear and whispered "How could anyone hurt that
cute little round bottom of yours?" As I ran my hand down and squeezed each
little cheek, causing her to jump up.

   She looked back at me and winked, flirting and said.  "How about we
finish our sandwiches and soup and then go neck in the living room?"

   I just laughed and she knew I was game for her idea.

   Chapter Fourteen

   The emotional roller coaster that was Allison McGruder had me a little
crazy at times but I had to admit that when I looked at her, and by that I
don't mean just her body (that was very pleasing), I felt a magnetism, a
connection, a vibe, whatever you want to call it.  It was special.  That
was why I could go the weeks without seeing her, besides her rides in, and
be patient while she tried to get her head together.  There was something
there that couldn't be denied and I knew it would someday manifest itself
and I could live my life until she felt she was ready.  If that day never
came I would have felt tremendous disappointment, but forcing the issue,
forcing myself on her, wouldn't have been much different than her
relationship with the monster that was Simone.

   After our little dinner of comfort foods we did as she wished and went
to the living room and sat on the love seat and put the TV on, but I
quickly found a cable music station and turned it on low as we began to
cuddle and coo before we attached mouths and began a furious necking
session.  I could not get enough of her mouth as we teased and tongued our
way through each other's mouths.  At one point of catching breaths I saw
her thick white robe had opened and a nice cleavage was peeking out and my
hands could not resist.

   I reattached my mouth to hers but knelt up a bit and got both hands
inside the robe to hold and squeeze those tits.  Her pointy nipples
screamed to be pinched and pulled and I took care of that need causing her
to slip back into a laying position that took the point from her nipples
and laid out a perfect breast, the areola and nipple now wet from my mouth,
going after a feast I could not resist.  Talk about COMFORT foods.

   Her entire robe had opened now and it wasn't long before she was wet
from rib cage to belly button and below, licking all the cream she could
make in that sweet flower of her pussy.  Once again it looked like a childs
slit until she engorged and her flower bloomed, her prominent clit seeming
to tremble as I licked.  Once I added my middle finger up inside her to
massage her front wall where her g-spot lay she turned into a fish out of
water on the love seat before washing my face with her ejaculation.  The
second spurt caused her to raise her legs and I took the opportunity to
slide my tongue down to lick her abused little asshole, making her jump in
delight once again.  If got anything from her relationship with that woman,
it was apparent she had become very orgasmic.  She pushed me away and
roiled up to her side with both hands between her legs, holding her pussy
from my mouth and fingers as she trembled in her reverie.  Twice was no
coincidence, she was a heavy orgasm squirter and I loved a woman who showed
outwardly how much she appreciated the attention paid to her.

   My mouth found hers and we enjoyed a long wet kiss as I shared her
tastes with her.  Then she fit a finger between our lips causing me to back
away and she looked at me with soft doe eyes and said, "Bring your cock to
me, I want to taste him again and feel you pulse in my mouth."

   "Are you sure you don't want this to happen in the bed after we take off
all our clothes?" I asked.

   "I'm already not wearing anything, so it makes no difference to me, but
I do want those shorts off of you.  So, let's go to bed." She agreed as I
helped her up.

   She was totally out of the robe when she walked in ahead of me and I
can't begin to tell you how unbelievable her walk away was.  She might have
the nicest ass I've ever seen naked, at least.  I thought of a crass
comment a friend of mine used to say, "I'd eat a yard of her shit, just to
watch the hole close."

   If that were the highest compliment he could pay, he would have said it
about Allie.  She was, in a word, exquisite.  The thought that some monster
punished her with strokes of a cane could make me physically ill if I dwelt
on it.  That woman may have ruined a lifetime of my ass play with Allie,
for I surely wanted to play with it, even fuck it someday, but that seemed
remote, right now.

   In the bedroom I got out of my light "house clothes" quickly and slipped
in beside her, and we kissed deeply again.  She pushed me a bit and moved
over me and pulled away with a big smile on her face.

   "Should I eat you or feed you?" She asked.

   I just smiled and said "Surprise me."

   She leaned forward a bit and her tits hung so perfectly from her chest
with pointy nipples begging to be sucked, . . .  which I did.  She fed me
one and then the other before saying it was her turn, and she kissed her
way down my body until she got to my nipples and reminded me how sensitive
MY nipples were.  She made me crazy and I don't think any woman had ever
done that to me.  Then she fell to the side of me and played in my chest
hair wiggling her fingers down over my belly and back up, getting closer to
my cock each time.  Finally she got her fingers around it and in the full
light she began to stroke it and study it.

   "Playing with and using plastic penises really doesn't give you an idea
how neat and beautiful these things are.  What an amazing thing you get to
carry around with you all day." She said chuckling as she stroked.

   She sat up closer and looked at it while bending it back and forth to
see all angles of it.

   "God!  It's so hard and that's all from blood from being excited. 
Knowing it was me who excited it really makes me hot.  I wonder why we want
to put these things in our mouth?  God, I know I really want to." She said
in a loud whisper as if talking to herself.

   Me?  I was in pain because I was so engorged.

   "Allie don't be shy about doing that, putting it in your mouth, or at
least squeezing the head a little to ease the pain of being so full of
blood." I said through pained voice.

   "Really?  It hurts?  Sucking it will make it feel better?"

   "Yes, the pressure of your mouth is the same as squeezing the tip." I
whined.

   She leaned forward and filled her mouth and sucked the tip a bit and
looked back to me with a sly grin, "Better?"

   "Yes, much.  Now are you through teasing me?" I asked with a crooked
smile.

   She turned her head back and slipped her mouth over me and bobbed her
head just over the tip while adding a hand to the shaft.  She then popped
her head off and bent me towards her face a bit and tried to see how much
she could get in her mouth, obviously a veteran of watching porn with her
"girlfriend", which begs the question, why do lesbians watch boy-girl porn?
But anyway . . . .

   She was having fun sucking and experimenting on me which gave me some
relief, but since she had no rhythm to her workings, I was not going to get
off.  I thought I might give her an idea of stroke by either trying to pump
at her mouth, or work my finger in her pussy.  Since the way she was turned
offered me a chance to bring my hand under her gorgeous ass to thrust a
finger in her quim, I chose that.

   She startled at first as I touched her and worked my finger up her
slippery slot, she was wet in the first place and clearly the action of her
mouth was keeping her well oiled.  I easily added a second finger and began
to rhythmically go in and out of her causing her to visibly quiver in waves
along her backside and lower back.  It also gave her the beat at which to
move her mouth over me.  "I'm beginning to work down there.  If you want me
to shoot in your mouth like last night, don't stop.  If you want to bring
this to the next level, bring your mouth up here." I said through nervously
labored breath.

   She stopped what she was doing and turned her head to me.

   "I don't know.  I'm a little afraid.  You're a lot bigger than anything
I've had in there, plus it means something, being the first.  I feel sure
it's right, but I'm afraid of second thoughts.  God knows I want you in me.
It's a step toward normality." She said quietly.

   "From watching porn flicks you realize I'm a lot smaller than them,
right?" I asked, trying to make my case.

   "I know those guys are freaks, horsecocks, and if I'm worried about you
fitting, well . . . ."

   "Allie, I'll fit.  My hand is full of your cream, you're well lubed. 
But if you aren't sure you want to yet, we'll wait." I sighed.

   "You won't be too disappointed?"

   "No, the alternative is pretty darn tempting, as well." I said with a
sly chuckle.

   "You're telling me?  I know what to expect now and I want to taste you
like you taste me.  But you have to stop fingering me, you're making me
crazy." She said as she tried to brush my hand from behind her.

   "Here," I said, `Get in between my legs so I can watch your little mouth
work me and you can see my face, lock eyes when I cum.  Would you like
that?"

   "I think so, plus you can watch my boobs swing under me.  I always
thought that looked sexy and I know it feels sexy.  It's not that I don't
like your fingers, it's just doing this is making me water like hell.  Let
me concentrate on you.  Oh, and don't worry, you'll be inside of me soon."
She said as she crawled between my legs and looked up to face me.

   She was about to start, pushing her hair behind her ear, when she looked
up and said, "I know you might have had an idea of doing it in my other
place, and I think that's possible when everything is right, but it's not
an alternative at this point.  OK?" She said as if it would happen someday,
almost wishfully.

   I just nodded uncomfortably, know her history.

   She grabbed my cock and put her mouth over the tip and opened her eyes
to meet mine as she smiled around the O of her mouth and began to work her
mouth up and down like she had before, now knowing that rhythm is all part
of it.  She let a lot of saliva run from her mouth to add a hand to her
work as she really was getting the hang of it.  Watching her pretty face in
the full bedroom light sucking my cock was going to work fast and I began
to puff and catch my breath a couple times as she opened her eyes to meet
mine and I gave her a pained smile she must have known meant my orgasm was
near.

   "Ohhhhh, Allie!  You're doing it perfect.  You're going to get meeeee."
I grunted as I knew 3 or 4 more strokes would do it as I reached for her
free hand that was resting on the right side on my belly.

   I felt my cum rise and I griped her hand tightly as we locked eyes and I
made those funny faces you make when you're grinding out a good cum, and
she was getting me good.  I'm not sure if she was swallowing all of the
time or saving it up, but I didn't hear a noticeable swallow until I was
lowering my ass to the sheets, but she never broke the seal of her lips
around me until I was definitely through.  Then she kissed and licked at me
before holding a hand to her throat and clearing her throat.

   "You came a lot more than last night and it tasted better today." She
said with a big smile.

   Even though I could still barely speak I mentioned, "You saw me eat a
lot of pineapple at brunch.  That's the magic potion to improve spooge."

   She held my cock in her hand and leaned forward to rest her head on my
stomach.

   "Jess, I think I'm falling in love with you and I love making you happy.
You do me so well.  I know you'll make love to me soon.  Be patient, OK?'

   "I already have made love to you, and I think I'm falling in love with
you too.  We have to take that part slow, get to know each other.  Maybe we
should save regular sex until we know.  I can be happy the way we are, for
now." I said as I hugged her close and kissed the mouth that just made love
to me.

   "I know that if sexual satisfaction means anything, we're doing great. I
want to be so close to you.  I know I've caused a bit of pain this weekend,
but it's been a highlight of all my time since graduation.  I just never
knew how rewarding giving and taking in a relationship could be." She said
nestling into my arm and body and holding me tight.  That was how we fell
asleep.

   Basically living alone and being single all my life I am sensitive to
noises during the night.  Although we had fallen asleep nestled in each
others arms, I woke to the sound of someone talking around two o'clock in
the morning.

   "NO, I AM LEAVING!  I owe you NOTHING.  Why two more weeks?  Oh, just
another slave for your pleasure.  I don't care!  Don't touch me!"

   Allie was either dreaming or had sleep drama talking loudly as if she
was in a conversation with someone.  I was shocked and wanted to listen,
but I also wondered if I should wake her from her apparent nightmare.  My
only concern was that she might be in a sleepwalk stage, even though she
was in the bed.  Her words and sentences were quite animated and I finally
decided to try and wake her.  I stroked her face and began to call her name
and suddenly she startled and sat straight up, she looked around and then
seemed to melt and begin to cry as she put her arms out for me to hold her.

   She began to cry and then talk amidst her tears.  "God, it was awful she
was there and telling me I couldn't leave.  Then she told me she already
had a replacement for me and she already had sex with her.  I told her I
didn't care and she kept looking to the dresser where the bamboo switch
was, just to tease me.  If she picked that up I swear I would have killed
her!"

   I let her cry herself out and then we just held each other and I went
and got her a glass of water asking her, "Do you think you should go to
your therapist and tell her about your nightmares?"

   "If they happen again.  I swear this was the first one, but it was so
real.  I told her I was leaving to get a job and she was trying to get me
to stay, just 2 more weeks.  That was so she could show me her new girl and
then throw me out.  She tried to make me sleep in her bed when I wanted to
go to the sofa." She said in tears.

   "Is this something that really happened?" I wondered aloud.

   "Not the whole thing as I saw it, but yes it all happened..  I remember
thinking to myself that I could really kill her and that scared me.  I knew
I held some hate for her, but if she picked up that switch, I would have
killed her.  " She said to me very convincing.

   I looked at her with a bit of doubt, that a beautiful girl like this
would have this much hate within her.  She stared back at me without
blinking saying, "I had a hunting knife with a 7 inch blade I kept in my
room where she would never find it.  If she touched me with that switch,
she was going to feel it.  I had pictures of what she did to me with the
caning.  The last thing I did before I left was take the knife.  I still
have it home for protection."

   "Remind me to never make you mad at me." I said with a little laugh.

   "Oh, don't worry, I could never hate anyone as much as I hated her when
I thought of the switch, the cane, whatever it was.  Think about how much
hate you have to have to contemplate murder."

   I held her tight to me and told her everything was fine and we should
get back to sleep.  She began to recline and then she sat up and looked at
me, "For months each time I looked at the switch or thought about the
caning, I cried and could still feel it.  That was why I carried such hate.
If I had the knife that night, I might have ended myself."

   Although I didn't believe in pity parties, I felt so terrible over this
I was becoming enraged just thinking of what she went through.  Sleep was
going to be impossible.  As soon as I was sure she was asleep I got up and
went to the living room and put on the TV and watched the replay of ESPN
Sportscenter hoping it might lull me to sleep, and after an hour or so it
did.  I had only worn a long tee so I wouldn't get the blast of cold
sitting in the leather recliner.  I was going to go back to bed naked as I
had started.

   The next thing I knew Allie was shaking me awake.

   "Jess, wake up, what's the matter?" I heard her say 2 or 3 times.

   "N . .  n . ..nothings the matter.  I couldn't sleep after you got my
temper all riled thinking about what you said.  I came out here to let you
sleep and occupy my mind.  What time is it?" I wondered.

   "It's after 11, we both must have really cut some wood, huh?" She said
giggling.  "I never sleep past 8 or 9 on the weekends.

   "Me either, you must have worn me out." I said laughing.

   "If you were naked in bed I was going to wake you up in a way I know you
would like." She giggled.

   "As nice as that sounds, most men wake up with piss hard-ons and you may
get more than you bargained for." I warned her shaking a finger as I moved
the long tail of my t-shirt to show I had a big stiffie right then.

   "That's because you have to pee?" She asked.

   "One of the many wonders of the male body you've yet to learn." I said
as I brought down the recliner so I could go relieve myself.

   As I walked to the house bathroom I heard the pad of feet behind me.

   "Where are you going?" I asked already knowing the answer.

   "I want to see this.  I want to learn another of the wonders.  How do
you pee when it's so stiff?"

   "We're getting a little familiar, aren't we?" I asked.

   "I won't come in and watch if you can tell me you won't try to play with
my butthole when you wash me when we shower in your bedroom." She said with
a smirk.

   "Have a seat on the side of the tub because I can't wait to play with
that little hiney hole on your sweet ass." I said as I fought to get my
stream into the toilet.

   Soon as I began to deflate from my urination she looked up at me.  "Do
you really think you might involuntarily pee in my mouth if I tried that in
bed?"

   "Let's just say, I wouldn't bet against it.  The same as never try to
wake someone with a tongue tickle on the butt hole, you're bound to get a
fart first thing in the morning.  Gas builds all night, and comes out all
night, but there's always residual and that little stimulation should bring
it out." I said smiling big.

   "I think you learned that first hand." She guessed and I nodded.  To
which she replied, "Serves you right for obsessing over ladies buttholes."

   "But they're so cute!  Not to mention some ladies enjoy a little play
back there." I retorted.

   "After watching porn movies I didn't understand the obsession of men and
anal sex, until I found out, the hard way at first, that it's pleasurable
for the receiver when done gently and tenderly.  Being plowed, railed,
whatever term you want to use, is NOT nice at all.  It's a delicate place."
She said with a bit of distain, thinking of Simone would be my guess.

   I just finished up my pee that she had watched intently all through our
little conversation, and she looked up at me as I shook and then took a
tissue to dry, since I still had no underwear.

   "You've done anal sex before?" She asked, and I nodded, then hesitated
stating, "Giving, NOT receiving."

   "Why the fascination with a spot where poop comes out?" She asked

   "Why the fascination with the spot where pee comes out?" I replied.

   "Touché." She said as she stood and put an arm around me to walk back
out.

   "It's clean more than half the time and a woman knows when it's not
going to be right.  Evening is usually always safe, if a person voids early
in the day.  How in hell did we get to this conversation?" I suddenly
wondered.

   "I asked because I've thought of it.  I want to please you and it seems
you like the thought of it." She said quietly.

   "Yes, but Allie, with your history it just seems like it can only
conjure bad memories." I said hoping to nip the subject off.

   "After the first few times with a toy it was OK, a little intense, a
different pleasure.  Once it got to being . . . . . ." she started to say,
then tailed off, obviously upset.

   I held her close and whispered, "You don't have to worry about that ever
again.  No one, especially me, would ever treat you that way, and as
always, nothing ever happens that we BOTH don't agree and consent to."

   She hugged me and whispered "I know" before I added, "Conversely,
ANYTHING can happen, that we both agree and consent to.  We know that
sexual intercourse is generally referred to as when a man and woman
copulate, but, the word intercourse means communication, interaction, and
association; all of which connote mutuality."

   "I wouldn't let anything happen I wasn't on board with.  Not sharing my
opinions and going along to get along was the root of ALL my problems in
the past.  I never was, or did I ever want to be a lesbian.  I would admit
to bi-curious, but someone was helping me achieve my dream and they used my
lack of self esteem to achieve THEIR goals." She said surprising me.

   "You know you just proved how much therapy works.  You've never made
that admission to me.  You've admitted you enjoyed yourself at times, and
that's understandable.  But to recognize your own weakness led to where
everything got, even against your own will, is huge.  I took a few psyche
courses myself you know." I said with a little grin.

   "Surprisingly, so did I, but I failed to use the mirror method to
recognize myself." She said as she broke away from me and looked back,
"Show me where the coffee is and I'll make some."

   I pointed out the coffee and coffee maker and went to put on underwear,
at least, for breakfast.

   When I came back out she was pouring water in the maker, standing on her
toes with her arms raised to be sure it all got in the reservoir.  It made
her t-shirt ride up and her little ass was exposed as her hips swayed
moving from side to side pouring the water.  I couldn't help but go up and
grab both of her perfect little cheeks.

   "Ooooo, you bad boy, you almost made me spill!" She said with a little
yelp and jump.

   I wrapped my arms around her under her still raised arms and held each
of generous boobs in my hands.  "You almost made me cum, you looked so
cute. Where did you find that little tee that rode up so suggestively?"

   "I went in your laundry basket to get something to put on and it was
there.  I'm afraid to ask who it belongs to, as if I don't know." She said
frowning.

   "Remember, she is your boss and maybe your partner, and nothing she has
done with me was ever done with any malice towards you in any way."

   "I know, I guess it's like when a new girlfriend automatically dislikes
the ex-girlfriend or ex-wife of her guy.  No reason.  I love Mary and I
won't let us affect how she and I work.  I promise." She said crossing her
heart.

   I got the paper from the porch and we shared it over coffee discussing
the news of the day.  Finally we saw it was almost one in the afternoon and
time to get our days started.

   "What do you think?  Showers and then I'll fix you something to eat
before you bring me home?" She asked.

   "How about one shower?, . .  a long one."

   She drew a long breath and said, "OK, I think that will be fun."

   Chapter Fifteen

   The biggest change in routine on Monday morning was Allie getting in the
car and kissing me when I rode her to work.  I asked she not use any PDA's
in the building and right away she feared I was trying to hide our
relationship from Mary.  I assured her that I was going to tell her that
day.  In exchange for that I made Allie promise to call her therapist and
tell her about her dream and her telling me the dirty details of the worst
part of her 6 year affair with Simone.  We were both in our offices as
always by 8:30 and the day seemed to be progressing as a normal Monday with
me reviewing the previous week's sales when Rachel paged me.

   "Mr.  Sparkhill, Allison McGruder is here with 2 detectives, a Blake
Tucker and Bob Benson, reading from their ID's."

   I was obviously out in a flash and I saw an upset Allie with these two
refugees from a bad cop show.  They showed me their ID's and they were from
City of Pittsburgh PA Police.  As soon as I saw that I ushered them into my
office so we could talk privately.

   As soon as the door closed Allie spoke up.  "Jess, they want me to come
and testify at a grand jury hearing."

   "I've already figured that out.  Now I am not a lawyer, nor am I family
to Ms.  McGruder but we have discussed this possibility, Gentlemen.  What
possible advantage does anyone gain by her testimony?"

   "Are you her guardian?" Detective Benson asked.

   "No, for God's sake, I'm her boyfriend.  But I can tell you that she
been through an emotional roller coaster for the past year and it was
through her cooperation with her therapist that you guys were alerted to
this situation.  I certainly do not know the details of what charges you
can bring right now, but certainly you have enough not to involve Allison."
I said in my best lawyer-speak.

   "We can always just subpoena her." The other detective said.

   "That would involve extradition from Massachusetts and since she isn't
being charged with a crime, it would be a long drawn out situation." I said
using what I learned on the internet Sunday night about such things.

   "It would make a better case with her testimony.  She's depending on her
control over her current victim to soften that testimony." Benson said.

   "Hasn't the threat of bringing in Allison and others been used to get
her to look for a deal?" I asked.

   "We think she abused Ms.  McGruder when the victim was 17.  That will
put her away for a long time." Detective Tucker said looking to Allie who
was near tears again.  "That would mean her name would never come out."

   "Listen", Allie spoke up, "I don't need my family, my friends, my
employer, anyone finding out about this.  I may have been a victim, but I
was there for 6 years of what looked like my own free will.  It looked like
I could have walked away but the threats to my educational career, my
family finding out, and public embarrassment stopped me.  I just want to
forget this whole thing.  I gave my therapist permission to explore this
and I feel I've done my part.  Don't make me the victim again!"

   "We just said your name would never come out!" Benson said.

   "You know as well as I do that the press will bird dog this and come up
with me.  I CAN'T DO IT!" Allie said on the verge of breaking down.

   "Gentlemen, we are through here.  I'm sorry you wasted your trip, but
try some other avenues.  Ms.  McGruder is far too fragile to go through
this at this time." I said.

   "Ma'am, we appreciate that you've employed your boyfriend as your
advisor, but you really should reconsider.  Perhaps if you sought out the
services of a real lawyer." Detective Tucker said and at the moment he took
a breath Allie blew a fuse.

   "I committed no crimes!  What happened behind the closed doors of two
people was private business and I do not appreciate you thinking it isn't.
Yes I suffered stress from what happened but I took the action I felt I
needed to take, I left!  Just because a third party alerted you to a
possible crime and a new victim has sought to make charges concerns me not.
I want this out of my life!  You used what I told my therapist as your
basis to investigate and you got another victim.  I've done my duty to
justice.  MY LIFE WAS A LIVING HELL UNTIL I PUT THIS BEHIND ME AND YOU'RE
TRYING TO MAKE ME RELIVE IT !!" She shouted and then broke down as I went
to her to comfort her.

   The two Pittsburgh detectives left the office motioning that they would
call me, why I do not know.  I was pissed off that I had gotten Allie to
use what her therapist had taught her how to battle memories, and these
guys had seemed to shatter that.  I held her tightly until she calmed down
and then she backed away and sat on the window sill.

   "How was that?  You didn't know I could have been an actress, huh? 
Although I meant every word I said to them, I knew I needed a big moment of
drama to scare them off, have them see how much they had overstepped the
bounds of decency.  Showing up in person was their power play move to
create drama.  I figured I would give them some of my own."

   "When their superiors find out that they let you involve me, I bet
they'll be back."

   "I told them I would not see them unless you were in the room.  They
said they would subpoena me, and I told them to go ahead.  Now, what you
don't know.  About 15 minutes before they got here I got a call from a
counselor from CM.  They told me these guys were coming and they asked me
to stall an answer for a few days.  I told him that I had no intention of
going back to testify.  He said that because of Simone's connection with
the college they thought they could get her to plead guilty, accept a
lighter sentence, and keep the school out of it.  Otherwise they would not
support her in any way and be sure she would lose her accrued benefits and
any chance in working in the education system again.  Believe it or not
she's a great recruiter, but she's been picking her own "roommate" for a
long time.  I thought she was 32, she's 37." Anyway, if convicted of what
they have on her now, she could get up to 9 years and 6 years probation
without working in the education system.  If she pleads, she'll get 6 years
and be able to reapply at CM and keep her accrued benefits." Allie said as
if tying her little package with a bow.

   "Would you be happy with that?  She would be out in 6 years?"

   "I think I could get an order of protection to keep her away from me
indefinitely.  Besides prison will not be kind to her, she won't find any
young girls there, and she'll be prey to the old lizards in prison." She
said as if reciting something she heard elsewhere.

   "Who told you that?" I asked.

   "This counselor at CM.  We were friendly and he knew what was going on,
but if the girls, including me, didn't complain, they couldn't go after
her. But now, the DA told him a lot about the what and where she would be
held.  All of the girls who chose to live with her were afraid to say a
word because we felt she held the power to take away our scholarships.  She
used that cane a bit too early on her newest ingénue, and when confronted
she sang like a bird." Allie said smiling like she had won something.

   "This guy knew?"

   "He had a good idea.  He heard from a few graduates, but no one wanted
to come forth, they just wanted to get on." She said shaking her head.

   "Sort of like you?" I asked.

   "Exactly like me.  Who needs the public scourge?  I hate to sound
callous but, I didn't die, I found a guy.  I don't want or need that part
of my life exposed.  If this thing goes to trial I'm probably going to have
to answer a lot of questions that I don't want to and act stupid, like I
didn't know what was going on before or after me.  Now, I have to go, I
have 3 ideas I'm trying to get on easels over there." She said gung ho to
leave, but I grabbed her arm and stopped her.

   "Are you absolutely sure you're OK?  Don't be hiding stuff." I chided
her.

   "You got it straight as an arrow.  I just hope you talk to Mary about us
real soon, so I don't have to explain WHY I had to see you with them." She
said as she closed the door behind her.

   I picked up the phone and dialed Mary's cell number.

   "Hello Jess, what in hell is going on?  Did she commit a crime?" She
said answering the phone knowing it was me.

   "No, no, no.  Meet me in the HVAC closet."

   The HVAC was a room in the corner of my side of the building that
Maribel Designs also shared, it was where the Heating/Air Conditioning
units were when they had to be serviced.  We think there was supposed to be
a wall separating the units, but was never finished.  We used it to leave
without being seen and for personal face to face meetings (not what you're
thinking).

   I went to the corner room and opened the door and waited.  Thirty
seconds later she opened her side and I held a piece of Owens-Corning foam
insulation against the fiberglass stuffed, unfinished wall to she could
walk past without getting the pink crap all over her.  She looked at me
quizzingly and I just told her.

   "Listen, Allie and I have been seeing each other and I kind of know some
of her details and that woman she lived with is being scrutinized for
another victim of her sick shit and I'm sort of helping her past a lot of
this.  I'm her go to person from therapy and she needed me to help her. 
She is in no trouble, they simply want her to testify against the woman and
she is resisting.  That's all I can tell you.  If she wants to volunteer
more to you fine, but she is in no trouble or did anything wrong." I said
like pulling a bandage off.

   She swallowed hard and I don't think I was supposed to see that, but
quickly she shook her head and said, "You're sure she's in no trouble?"

   "Positive.  They simply want her to come back to testify and she's made
it clear that they would have to extradite her and Massachusetts is not a
fan of these kinds of cases, reluctant witness's.  Hostile witness's are a
problem, but if allowed to state her case before an official hearing,
pretty good chance they would not let Pennsylvania take her.

   Mary nodded her head and then swallowed hard again.  "So you finally
asked her out, Huh?  How long have you been dating?"

   "Well, she's been confiding in me for quite a while, but we haven't
"dated" until recently.  She has no one back here and, off the record, she
doesn't want to involve you too much seeing as how she works for you."

   "That's understandable, plus she may buy into the business if she can
come up with the money.  Well, I guess I'm happy for you.  I know you
wanted to see her for a long time, I hope her baggage isn't too much for
you." She said, although I know her mind was wandering in circles.

   "I guess this means me and you are kaput, huh?" She said trying to hide
a quiver in her voice as she coughed.

   "You're still one of my best friends in the world Mary, we just have to
drop the "with benefits" tag.  I have to find someone to settle down with
and if it's not Allie, I'll move on." I said as I heard an all stations
page for me.  Rachel needed me.

   "I have to run Mary.  Maybe we'll talk later in the week if we get a
chance."

   "Yeah, great.  OK." She said as I held the insulation board for her to
pass back.

   I waved and closed my side and I just stood there for a minute thinking
to myself that she didn't take it well.  All she ever had to do was express
an interest, but she had to remain the "iron lady".  I was about to run and
grab a phone when I heard the unmistakable sound of a woman crying.  Mary
was still in the HVAC closet.  I thought to try and comfort her, but
decided it would embarrass her and make her mad at me.  Whether she thought
she had her talons in me and I couldn't get away, I don't know.  I had
given her many chances to just express she MIGHT want to TRY and work it
out.  I was willing to work with her on my issues with her, but she was
always adamant.  Now I just had to be sure she didn't take it out on Allie.

   Although we hadn't made any plans I sort of expected Allie to come over
for a ride home.  Normally she walked, took a bus, or got a ride with one
of the artists.  I was backed up with purchase orders to finalize for
overseas, plus I had to hunt down a shipment of 4 Sea Canisters that were
supposed to be in the factory Friday.  I had a crew waiting to fill orders
and no product.  I finally located the shipment and it was a couple hours
from our dock.  My overseas foreman got a crew to hang on and get one
particular order on the line so it could be finished and shipped by late
Tuesday.  Holding the workers over was usually pretty easy.  While they
make a fraction of what American workers make, our plant paid more than
most.  I should explain, the entire plant is not ours, and what is ours is
just leased.  There are 2 or 3 other shoe companies using the same assembly
plant, but our workers work just for us and we are probably the only one
using all American made parts.  If a 4th or 5th company should move in, we
would be limited to the hours we could assign usage of equipment. 
Obviously, it's a lot different than it is over here.  We have two quality
control supervisors and they rarely have a problem.  In Vietnam, as is
anywhere else, money talks.

   I finally walked out of my office at 6:45 and everything downstairs was
shut down.  I got the guards attention as he made rounds to let me out and
log it.

   "The little chestnut mare with the fancy clothes waited for you, but she
got a cab about 15 minutes ago." The old fellow said as he let me out and
logged me.

   "Well, SHIT!" Why didn't she just call me?" I thought to myself as I
made my way down the gangway to the lot.

   I checked my phone for messages and thought it too presumptuous to stop
at her house.  She knew where I was and had my number.  I wanted to get
close to her but I'd already made as many moves as I like to make this
early in a relationship.  She was really special, but I wasn't going to
bloodhound her.

   After I made dinner (thawed would be more the word) I settled to watch
Jeopardy and just relax for the night, but my phone rang around 10 after 8
and I saw it was Allie.

   "Hello trouble!  What's up?" I asked.

   "I just got off an hour long conference call with my friend at CM, one
of the Deans, a lawyer, and a prosecutor from the local Pa.  DA's office. I
tried to get you to meet up with me to listen in, but I must have missed
you." She said all excited.

   "I HAVE a phone, you know.  I was upstairs, just late." I let her know,
but then asked, "So how did you do?"

   "Well, the school really wants to protect her, and by her . . .  I mean
themselves.  She has had 6 scholarship recruits as live in roommates.  Two
of them were 17 at the time and the prosecutor really wants her on those
charges, but neither I nor the other girl will come forward.  They want to
charge her with assault, sexual assault, unlawful imprisonment, and
distributing illegal substances to minors.  They won't go for any of the
sexual charges with a person below the age of consent as long as she turns
herself in and pleads guilty to the charges at hand.  If she does that she
will serve 6 years, and then 6 years probation.  The college will give her
a leave of absence for that time and she will keep her continuing benefits
if she is able to return to work in a non-public position.  One blip in her
rehabilitation and she loses it all." Allie explained.

   "Good Lord, does she have pictures of the Dean with animals, or what. 
Why are they protecting her?" I wondered.

   "CM has a squeaky clean rep and they will protect that to no end.  They
don't want their name mentioned and will hold their nose and turn their
heads to her charges after she is on leave.  The dean says she is a great
recruiter and has a knack for finding great students across the country. 
She will no longer be able to personally interact with any she might
designate for recruitment.  The Dean told me that the restrictions on her
after she serves will be so strict she doubts she will last very long.  She
definitely has a guardian angel there." Allie explained.

   "It's ridiculous and unprecedented, for sure.  They just want it to all
go away and hope everyone involved forgets." I reacted.

   "After the dean got off the call the prosecutor assured me that she will
serve in a real penitentiary, not one of the country club prisons, that's
why she had to admit to sexual assault.  If she doesn't, all bets are off
and in a trial she could get 30 years or more.  He, the prosecutor, thinks
that after her time she would never go back to CM to work, by her choice.
He just said, "trust me on this." Apparently he knows something we don't
know."

   I was perplexed.  "I understand the prosecutor wanting to avoid the cost
and time of a trial as well as protecting a local institution like they
are. I understand the college wanting to keep this out of the papers, out
of the media and letting her keep her accrued benefit package and
possibility of returning for some sort of non-public employment.  I even
understand them not being able to prove the contributing to the delinquency
charges because they can't get anyone to testify, but the way she took
advantage of each of you it seems they could nail her but good."

   Allie took a deep breath over the phone and very quietly said, "Because
each of us voluntarily submitted to her, even though we were legally
minors, we considered ourselves adults and our parents would have to get
involved if we pursued those charges.  Voluntarily we let her work her web
when we knew what we were doing.  Proving she forced herself on us would be
tough.  We all thought we were in love at some point.  Sexual satisfaction
is powerful."

   I had no response to her words and I hoped she didn't take that as
disgust or condemnation of her deeds.

   "Jess?"

   "Yes, I'm here.  I wish I was there to give you an understanding hug." I
said.

   "I know, but I think I need to spend the night alone thinking about what
I did to bring some of this upon myself.  I'm not taking the blame, I know
I was coerced, but I must have had some weakness that she recognized and
exploited.  I've known that and it's the reason I was so aloof with you for
so long.  If you hadn't sought me out, I wouldn't know you." She said in a
low, almost whisper, voice.

   "Allie, you . . . . . . . ." I started to say, but she cut me off.

   "I'm not sure I told you, or intimated this to you before, but, once I
got here and began to interact with people I thought I would be attracted
to a woman whom I would want to start a relationship with.  I never thought
of myself as a lesbian, but I was convinced I was.  I know that sounds
stupid and contradictory, so you can see the confusion in my mind.  But,
that never happened with all of the women I met as customers, or out
getting lunch, or shopping, . .  anywhere.  One night early in my
employment I went out with Mary and after a few drinks I told her some of
the details of my relationship.  I got to crying and she took me home and
came inside to be sure I was OK.  I really thought she and I were going to
have an affair that night.  I know she wanted to kiss me to comfort me and
I was prepared to respond to her, not that I was attracted to her, but
because she was my superior.  That was my moment of awakening.  I didn't
WANT to be with her, but would have submitted to make her happy.  That was
the moment I knew I needed professional help, knew I was NOT a lesbian, yet
had this flaw in my approach to relationships.  I mean, I have no problem
with anyone's sexuality.  You only live once and have to be happy with
yourself.  As long as I'm not preached to or recruited, I don't care what
anyone is, sex, religion, color, whatever.  Let me go now, I have lots to
think about.  I'll see you in the morning.  I can't wait to see you.  Can
we get together tomorrow night?"

   "Allie, you do what you have to do to get your head screwed on straight
and understand yourself.  Make sure your therapist knows all about this and
the things you just told me." I said wondering if she doubted US as a
couple at this point, and I would understand doubt right now.

   "Thanks Jess.  Can I tell you one more thing? . . . .  I really think I
love you and I hope we can fall in love and not let any of this affect our
relationship.  Good night." She said hanging up not giving me the chance to
respond.

   Chapter Sixteen

   I realized Allison McGruder had a lot of baggage, but I also realized
that she had been as honest as she possibly could be with me.  In her
circumstance I could not ask for anything more.  She had proved to a great
companion for dinner, talk, and travel.  We laughed at the same things, and
were sad at the same things.  We were both career driven and both knew that
little would stand in the way of achieving success on our careers.  Besides
the fact she was an incredible pretty green eyed woman with shoulder length
chestnut hair and a body to make the gods jealous, she had many other
redeeming qualities.

   One of those qualities was that she could be incredible compassionate
without being namby-pamby, let's all sing Kumbaya, make it fair for
everyone.  She uses common sense in her politics, as well as her sense of
feeling for those less fortunate, realizing some people have made their own
bed and the fact they are not a winner in life is because they spent too
much time with their hand out rather than pulling their weight.

   Mary Belanger was more the type to want to help everyone, no matter
their circumstance and that always had me a bit edgy.  She fought bitterly
discussing the Hurricane Katrina crisis with me saying I would not have
been on my roof waiting for help, I would have made sure I was ready for
the circumstance and been aggressive, while questioning the fact they had
1000's of school buses ruined in the flood, when they could have used them
to evacuate people when they knew what was coming.  The fact our opinions
differed so much didn't hurt our friendship, realizing that opinions were
what made us all different.  However in conversation with Allie, it was
nice for someone to be on the same side as me and to make conversation that
spurred more of my own ideas.  Again, the fact she could easily be a
fashion model doesn't hurt things either, not to mention her naiveté with
male-female sex.  She knows how the story goes, she just hasn't read that
book yet, but I'll try to feed it to her chapter by chapter.

   I was just about to go to bed when my phone rang again and I saw it was
Mary.

   "Hello!" I said trying to seem as normal as possible.

   "I should explain something to you.  I saw the shadow of your feet after
you closed the door in HVAC closet today.  Unfortunately it was after I
broke down.  I didn't want you to hear that.  I wasn't upset at you, or
even at Allison.  I was upset at myself for not being smart enough to take
your offers to re-try a serious relationship with you.  I've always wanted
to but felt I would be dealing from a point of weakness, my fucking ego. 
But I do know that long term, we probably wouldn't work, I'll never have
time for kids and I think you might make a great Dad.  Even with our horny
interludes, we've always managed to be good friends and confidants.  I only
wish I knew the last time was the last time.  I wouldn't have been such a
cunt."

   "Mary," I said letting out a big sigh, "We can't say we didn't try to be
together.  I just think you tried a little harder NOT to be part of a
couple recently.  Not that it would have made a big difference with Allie.
I've been attracted to her from day one and we just waited until the right
situation."

   "Well, she beats me in looks, hands down and . . ." She started and I
stopped her right away.

   "Stop!!  That has NOTHING to do with it.  There was a definite
attraction besides looks, maybe innocence, intrepidness, if there's such a
word.  When I shouted her out down your hall it was like I turned on lights
and whistles for her.  She turned and put the pedal to the metal and got
the job, she blew you away, after she had already given up in her head. 
Then when she finished she had the class and politeness to come and thank
me for "centering her" as she said.  She's a tough cookie.  Mary, YOU are a
good looking woman and for me to compare you to a woman 8 or whatever years
younger is unfair, but you turn heads all of the time and you know if you
put yourself out there you always draw interest.  You own a successful
business and have a lot of things on your plate.  You just have to open up
a bit.  You can't turn relationships on and off at your whim.  You open up
your life to share with another like you did with me, but you can't just
slam the door shut for no reason.  I know you were burned, but it's the
risk we take when we open our lives."

   "Jess, you aren't telling me anything I don't know, but you don't know
how hard that is after being kicked in the teeth." She said with a little
venom.

   "MMMMMM, yea, I do!  I had someone I wanted to open up to, I took the
chance, and she started sending me home after sex and told me we could
never make it.  So I swallowed my pride and became her friend and then put
things about her in perspective and realized she did me a great favor.  The
only two things we kept from the relationship was our friendship and the
sex." I said smugly.

   "You took my rejection that hard?  Pul-leeze!"

   "I was making future plans in my head and then without so much as any
warning you were ending "US" without any discussion.  You just started
telling me "I'd rather you didn't stay the night".  What you didn't know
was that I had my place on the market at the time.  I was that sure of us,
and WAS that blindsided by you.  But I got up, brushed myself off and took
it like a man and kept the two best parts of our relationship, which is now
down to one.  The friendship."

   "You could have told me you thought we were that serious."

   "We did all the couple things and said the "I love you's" Mary, and out
of the blue you sent me home.  I thought I did something wrong, but I
slowly learned that you're never happy, unless you're miserable." I
explained.

   I heard Mary starting to cry, but she put herself together enough to
speak.  "You're probably right with that.  I'm gun shy and always waiting
for the other shoe to drop.  The guy I trusted the most recently, who I
really gave my heart to ends up being married."

   "But Mary, those are the risks we ALL take.  Allie has 5 disqualifiers
for being on ANY list of mine, yet I waded through them and although we're
hardly what you can call a serious couple, we're working through it.  It's
a joint process.  We've trusted each other with things that can come back
and hurt us, but it's all part of the process." I said, hoping she might
take something positive away with her pain.

   "You probably told her what a whore and slut I am." She said starting to
blubber.

   "First off, you're not either of those things, and secondly whatever
went on between us is part of us, our little share of each other's lives.
You're still now, and will always be, my friend and my confidant.  Don't
over think our situation.  What we gave of ourselves was always special and
there was always a certain kind of love involved.  We can still share that
same love, but we'll have to express it in different ways."

   "I could live without the "benefits" part of our relationship, but I
couldn't live without the friends part Jess.  You're the big brother I
always wanted and never had." She said.

   "Well, now you do." I responded.

   "Thank you Jess.  I'm a mess, I have to go.  Thanks for the talk, OK? 
I'll see you tomorrow."

   I felt bad for Mary because I think she just had pride issues with me.
She didn't want to get hurt and held out her heart, even though she wanted
to get invested in my life.  It was a confusing situation and I gave her
more than one chance to try and fix it so we might have a try at being US.
But, she turned all of those opportunities down.

   I was emotionally spent and just worn out from the drama of both phone
calls and went to bed with a book on my Kindle, but by morning I didn't
recall reading one page.

   Tuesday morning as I left I realized I could not wait to see Allie, I
was so happy for some of the peace of mind she had gained over the last 12
or so hours.  I wouldn't tell her, but I still wasn't convinced they could
sell the whole idea of the deal to a judge.  The "contributing to" charge
was hard to sidestep no matter how "grown up" the victims thought they
were, 17 is 17.  Although I do recall hearing a case where a 17 year old
was living alone, away from her parents on her own as an emancipated minor.
She became pregnant by a 21 year old who became a deadbeat Dad and the
parents tried to sue him for rape and contributing to the delinquency, and
he was only charged with having to make child support payments.  So there
was somewhat of a precedential case.

   As I pulled up to Allie near her Bus Stop she wore a huge grin.  I
stopped and she asked me to pull into the bus's stopping area for a minute.
I did as she asked and as soon as I put the car in Park she dove across the
console and kissed me hard on the lips with a long kiss.

   "I know we agreed to keep our rides in the morning professional, but I
just HAD to give you a kiss and tell you how much I appreciate all you've
done for me, my well being, and my psyche." She said before kissing me once
again, slipping her tongue in my mouth for a long wet kiss before sitting
back in her seat saying, "Carry on, let's go to work Mr.  Sparkhill."

   I chuckled to myself and pulled out into traffic and we continued to
work as we always did.

   Surprisingly, we were quiet almost all the way into town.  Finally as we
pulled into the parking lot she spoke.

   "Sorry for being such a nudge, but I've got to get my head back into
work.  I have a million things going and if Mary doesn't hire another
artist soon I'm going to be way behind.  She's interviewing today."

   "I understand.  I was zoning on work myself.  I've got to get with both
of you to come up with a campaign ad for one of my lines.  Something
dealers can throw their name on with a price and run in papers and
magazines." I said thinking aloud.

   "Are you co-oping?"

   "Yeah.  We'll do a Spring push and offer 3% in ad monies if they use our
drop-in.  My salesmen are coming in to get briefed to start selling it.  We
have a new Men's dress shoe that looks like a 1 or 2 hundred dollar pair
that's going to retail from $40 to $50 depending on the market.  I just got
a deal on quality leather uppers that I usually use on my more expensive
lines, but the manufacturer is in need of cash and I can pay him fast so
we're going to do a special edition of our best seller.  We normally market
it as "The Interview", or "The Date".  We're going to call this one "The
Executive" and it's going to have some sort of bangle like a designer shoe
might have.  It'll look rich, not cheesy.  When I come over to discuss it
all I'll bring a pair." I explained briefly.

   "It's not going to be this week, is it?" Allie asked with doubt in her
voice.

   "Yes, but I'll call Sarah and make an appointment for this Thursday.  My
sales manager is coming in then and all the salesmen will be here next
Wednesday, but I've got to get going on it.  I'm hoping you have something
to show me by Wednesday." I said as we got off the elevator and went in
opposite directions to our offices.

   It felt funny not kissing her goodbye, but we pledged no PDA's in the
building, but a hug and kiss was understood.  I no more than got into the
office when my cell rang and I saw it was Allie.

   "So soon?"

   "Yes, I mentioned I wanted to see you tonight.  You'll hate me, but, can
you bring me shopping?  It's just grocery shopping and then I'll make you
dinner.  I promise." She asked cutely.

   "Yes, as long as it's not clothes shopping.  I've learned my lesson on
that already." I said with a laugh.  "Come over here when you're done
tonight."

   First thing at the office Rachel came in and we worked out the logistics
of having Tom my sales manager come in and then have all the sales people
follow.  She took all my facts and figures and went back to her desk to
assemble and arrange travel and the like.  I was just making a follow up
call to an email I got when my page rang.

   "Mr.  Sparkhill, Mary Belanger is here to see you."

   I sprang to my feet and went to open my door.

   "Mary, come in.  What do I owe this to?"

   Mary came in and I closed the door behind us.  She turned to me and
said, "I just wanted you to know that I'm going to sit down with Allie
today and speak to her about us.  She deserves to know what our
relationship was about and that she has no worries of me interfering or
letting it influence the way she and I work together.  I think it's
necessary because I sense she is walking on broken glass around me and
avoiding speaking of you.  You may have told her about us, but I think if
she hears it from me it will help.  I need her to work the way she did with
me until a few weeks ago.  Now she seems to try and avoid me."

   "I have told her that you and I will remain great friends like we have
in the past, but there will no longer be any "with benefits" part of us. 
I've made it clear that love is trust."

   "Well, that will be part of my talk with her.  I trust few people and I
haven't trusted a man with my feelings for a long time, not even you.  I'll
emphasize that you never gave me reason NOT to trust you.  I have no
problems and no qualms with the two of you dating or starting a
relationship.  I only called you for the other because I was bored, lazy
and you were handy." She said not trying to insult me.

   "Well thank you for the ringing endorsement!" I said feigning insult,
but realizing her context.

   "Please Jess, if I didn't love you in one way I would have never seeked
you out for sex.  You are now and will always be special to me.  I just
wanted you know what I was going to tell her." She said, making her point.

   "I know and I'm OK.  Now I've got to get to work here.  Ask Susan to
make an appointment for me to make a presentation to Maribel on Thursday. I
need some mock ups for next Wednesday.  Sorry about the rush." I said as I
showed her out.

   "We'll do our best, as always." she said as she left

   My day was full of prep while trying to get some purchase orders filled
for the plant.  I had missed lunch altogether, even though Rachel
volunteered to pick something up for me.  I was just too busy to think
about it.  When she buzzed me in the afternoon to say she was leaving I
looked up and saw it was 5:00 and I was on a conference call.  I just waved
to her as she checked on, not answering my page.  When I finished the call
I saw Allie wasn't here yet, so I made one more overseas call and went out
to look for her around 5:30.  There she was sitting in the chair beside
Rachels desk.

   "How long have you been here?" I asked.

   "Since 5, when Rachel left."

   "Why didn't you let me know you were here?"

   "I figured you were busy." She said shyly.

   "Allison, if Rachel is gone and I'm here, just come in and wait with me.
I've been waiting for you.  I'm starved, let's go buy some food." I said.

   I gave her a kiss and locked up and we kissed again on the elevator
before walking to parking lot.  She told me what store she wanted and we
were off.

   "So, what do you want for dinner?" She asked.

   "Whatever you like to fix, I'm not fussy.  Just give me what you planned
on." I said as she chuckled.

   "What's so funny?"

   "I planned on going home, thinking of you, and playing with myself if I
couldn't get a ride to the market." She said covering her mouth in mock
embarrassment.

   "See?  I told I wasn't fussy, I would eat that." I deadpanned.

   "I was trying to get you in the mood and be uncomfortable while we
shopped," She said as we pulled into the parking lot.  "But now, I'm gonna
be all squishy."

   I smiled at her inference as I parked and hopped out to get her door so
I could give her a big hug and then walk into the store arm in arm with
her. I wanted her to feel sexy, and I knew we looked sexy.

   Just as I thought that, she kissed my cheek and said in a low voice,
"You make me feel like a real woman and I've rarely felt that way before.
I'm not your toy, I'm your partner."

   I pulled her tight at we got to the automatic door and I pulled her
tight and said right into her ear, "You sure are."

   I got a cart and we started going up and down the aisles as she picked
up things from the list in her head.  She only dallied to tease me looking
at cucumbers, and later with Polish sausage.  She had us double back to the
wine aisle to get a bottle of Marsala wine and promised Chicken Marsala
adding, "How does THAT sound for good eating?" with a teasing grin.

   "You haven't fed me anything I haven't liked yet." I said.

   "I haven't cooked for you y . . . . .Ohh, you dirty boy!" She said with
a coy smile while grabbing my wrist.  `We better hurry home so I can start
cooking."

   "You know you're pretty hot already." I said with a wry smile as I began
to unload her cart onto the belt at the register as she blushed.

   Once in the car she repeated what she said earlier, "You make me feel
like a real woman.  One that craves the touch of a man, one that wants to
be with a man.  I want to make you so happy."

   I patted her knee and reinforced to her, "You do, you do."

   "Even without the sex?  I'm sorry."

   "Allie, don't ever think I am wanting for more.  I'm quite satisfied
until you're ready for the next step.  If it works out that it's never
right, then you were smart.  I love being with you and we should wait until
you feel right about it." I told her, meaning what I said, she had to
protect her psyche, her pride, and her values as she saw them.

   We kept quiet for the next 15 minutes in traffic off of I-290 and while
sitting in the line at the exit ramp she reached over and touched my leg to
get my attention.

   "Understand this question, no matter how odd it sounds, OK?" She asked
to which I answered, "I'll try."

   "Do you think of anal sex as a violent, submissive, or aggressive sex
act, or do you consider it a tender, personal, and very private, special
act.  You said you've done it before, so be honest and I'm not inviting you
to try it.  Just settle something in my mind." She said demurely.

   "Well, by only seeing it done in porn, and by what happened to you in
your relationship, I can understand how you feel it is violent, submissive,
and aggressive.  In reality if a couple is in love and it's done with
patience and consideration it can be a very sexy and enjoyable act for both
parties.  But, let me make no secrets, the woman does experience some pain
on penetration, but if the man is patient, he can make it go away.  I will
say that the couple has to be in a very special place to do this.  The
ultimate in trust and knowing going in that it is not for everybody.  My
best experience with it was with a woman who would use a toy on her G-spot
and would experience tremendous orgasms from the anal experience.  But, I
have also had nights end with a woman in pain.  Let's leave it at that. 
It's for a special time in a serious relationship, OK?" I said wishing she
hadn't asked me fearing I would scare her off of the possibility.

   She sighed and sank back into the seat.  Then, without looking at me she
said, "Alone or with Simone, with me using the toy, I enjoyed the feeling,
the sensation.  However you're correct in my impression of it from pornos.
It may be an option some day if I can't get over this fear of losing my
real virginity."

   "Fear?" I asked.

   "Don't misunderstand me.  Suppose I make you the first real man to enter
me and then 6 months later we find that we really aren't the right people
for each other.  I'll always regret what I did.  I fucked up so many other
things in my life, I should say my sexual life, I want to keep this
special." She said shyly.

   I had just pulled up to her townhouse and she was going to get out of
the car, but I grabbed her hand.

   "That isn't fear, Allie.  That's getting self respect and a big step for
you.  Yes, everything seems just perfect for us now, but we have so much to
learn from each other.  I hold no grudge against you or your decision to
wait on this.  I fully understand.  If you thought that the other way
(anal) you were talking about would be a way of cheating your decision, I
think you're wrong.  If we can solve our passions for each other the way we
have, and maybe a few other creative ways, and we're happy with it, I
respect and go along with any decision you might make.  Our relationship is
in its infancy and we've already went further that we might have expected.
I won't pressure you and you shouldn't pressure yourself.  Sex is a
wonderful way to communicate our feelings for each other, and we've done
just fine for now."

   She smiled and nodded to me, but I could tell she was full of emotion.
When I opened the trunk to get the bags I turned to her and hugged her and
the faucets opened.

   "Where did I ever deserve you, so understanding?  Just be patient with
me while I plot my progress through all of this." She said snuffing and
trying to change the mood and stifle her tears.

   `We're FINE, babe!  Let's go inside and we'll make dinner and see what
else develops.  I hold no expectations except to be with you, learn about
you, and show you what I am about." I said as I broke the hug, took 3 bags,
and she one.

   As she opened the door she looked back at me with a tear stained grin,
"And there's no WE in the making of dinner.  You sit and watch."

   "As long as I can sit behind you and watch that lovely ass move while
you work."

   She gave me an exaggerated wiggle and said, "Naughty boy!" going into
the galley kitchen.

   I did as I said I would do as she sashayed her ass dredging the chicken
in the flour mixture she had already prepared in the morning.  She bent and
got a skillet and added butter and olive oil to it.  She deftly took out
the mushrooms we had just bought and sliced them quickly as the knife
seemed to fly in her hand.  As soon as she heard the sizzle of oil and
butter she put the dredged chicken in the pan.  She browned one side and
turned them adding the mushrooms, the marsala wine and some light sherry.
She covered the pan and turned to me and said, "Tell me when 5 minutes is
up."

   She took out plates and silverware and set the table, purposely brushing
up against me and smirking to herself.  She made a quick trip down the
hallway and I heard the bathroom door close and a minute later she was
back.

   "That's 5 minutes Chef!" I said before she flipped the chicken.

   "You better go and wash up, we are about ready to . . . . . .  eat!" She
said with a shuddered sigh.

   I did as she asked and stopped in the living room to take off my jacket
and already loosened tie.  When I went back to the kitchen she was plating
and presenting rolls.  Then she turned to the microwave and took out a tube
of instant ready-cooked rice, some premade concoction that became a time
saver for her.

   "Sorry I can't get fancier than the rice, but I couldn't wait any longer
to . . .  eat!"

   Our dinner was delicious and she quickly cleared the plated and filled
the dishwasher and took my hand and walked me down the hall to her bedroom.
She turned and slowly began to unbutton my shirt, take it off and neatly
place in on a hanger in a dressing station there.  She undid my belt and
loosened my pants and had me step out of them before placing them neatly on
a hanger next to my shirt.

   "Go in the shower and quickly rinse off your gorgeous body.  I'll be
waiting with a towel for you before I go in and do the same.  Meet me in
bed.  Put your underwear in my hamper, I'll have a clean pair for you in
the pocket of your pants." She said patting me on the ass.

   She had apparently made these plans before, perhaps getting the idea
when she washed the underwear I left my first night here.  In any event, I
was happy to oblige her.  I got into her bed and pulled a sheet up, but it
was not hiding anything, especially my anticipation.  She was out of the
shower in a flash and came in with a towel wrapped around her that she
quickly took off and used to finish drying herself.  When she turned and
showed me her bare ass, the first thing I thought of was the monster she
lived with beating it with a cane.  Such a perfect piece of flesh, shaped
in an image only God could produce for any man lucky enough to witness it
in person.  If her breasts were used for the mold to make all future
breasts, no one would complain.  Those features plus a belly you could
bounce quarters off of and a face that could bring wars to an end.  All
that, PLUS, the fact she was such a sweet and smart person who just
happened to have a big crush on me, not to mention my yen for her.

   "What's that look for?" she asked.

   "You are, in a word, breathtaking.  I can't believe that you want me.  I
liked you the first time I saw you without any knowledge of how stunning
you are.  I must be the luckiest man in the world, but best of all, I think
I'm falling in love with you." I said before she propped up and leaned to
plant her mouth on mine, kissing me deeply with her mouth, lips and tongue.

   She only broke the kiss to say, "I could say those same things.  I would
be a fool not to fall in love with you.  You are such a sweet, good,
understanding man."

   She straddled me and I felt the lips of her pussy wet on my cock.  If I
tried to thrust I was sure I would be inside of her.  I broke the kiss and
whispered, "Be careful down there" to which she answered, "I know, it's so
tempting." Before moving her knees to the other side of me and kneeling up
straight.

   "I hope I please you with my mouth.  If there's anything I can do to
make it better, say so.  I just know I enjoy your taste and smell, not to
mention the sounds you make telling me what you like."

   "GOD!  Allie!  You are the most sexual person I've ever known and
anything you might do with me is pleasing." I said excited as she wrapped a
hand around my cock.

   She began to stroke me and I slid a hand between her legs and began to
massage around her clit.

   "How can I be the most sexual?" She asked.

   "Because I just look at you and I'm excited knowing how you taste,
knowing how you enjoy what I do to you, knowing how much you enjoy making
me happy.  You get a certain mysterious smile on your face and I don't know
what's going to happen next, but I know it's going to be good.  THERE, you
have that look right now!"

   "I'm giving you that look because I'm about to put your cock in my mouth
and although I've only done it a few times, I really like the feel of you
in my mouth and the power it gives me.  I know how happy it makes you and I
can taste how happy it makes you.  I start tasting you a minute or so
before you cum and I know you're about to shout out and push to the back of
my throat.  I can't tell you how exciting it is." She said in a low growl
as she bent forward, never taking her eyes off me, and put the head of my
cock in her mouth.  She hollowed her cheeks out and then sucked hard,
easing my pain of being so blood filled.

   She licked and sucked, sometimes using her hand, sometimes using her
hand, sometimes not, she was truly a child with a new toy.  I was still
fingers deep in her pussy and massaging her clit and finally she couldn't
take any more of the tease and she popped up to look at me.  I saw the
longing on her face and I said "Feed your sweet pussy to my mouth."

   "69?"

   "No, then neither one of us can concentrate.  Come here." I said
motioning with my wet finger.  "Stand on the bed with your feet near my
armpits and squat down."

   She gave me a crazy look, but did as I asked.

   "Her pussy opened right up to my mouth and I proceeded to eat her and
make her clit crazy while she bounced and jittered on my face as she
grabbed the headboard and enjoyed my mouth on her as much as I enjoyed her
mouth on me.  When she got to a point she couldn't take anymore she moved
herself up a bit only to have my tongue dive into her asshole.  She jumped
at first but then let herself rest on my mouth again.  Eventually she was
going to find that I loved eating ladies asses and let's just say she was
happier sooner than later.  While she shivered over me her little knot
relaxed and I tasted her bitterness and made her crazy before she stood and
turned kneeling on the bed.  I quickly reached between her legs with my
fingers and inadvertently touched her wet asshole and though I pulled my
fingers back to her pussy, the way she jumped when I did touch the little
knothole I had just licked made me give into temptation.  I re-wet my
finger in her pussy and reached back to push up into her ass.  She was just
getting ready to take me in her mouth when suddenly she looked at me,
rolling her eyes and letting out a big sigh.  After a few pushes into that
secret little hole she looked at me with that devilish look.

   "You can have that, if you want it.  Right now, but be gentle." She
whispered.

   "No, as much as I want it, baby.  We have promises to ourselves to keep.
Sorry for pushing you over." I said as she came to her senses and she
nodded, although I wasn't SURE she was convinced.

   "Cum for me baby, give me your sweet juice." She said before wrapping
her hand around the base and filling her mouth with the fat head of my
cock.

   She wouldn't have to wait long for me to fulfill her request.  She had
properly teased me since we got back to her place and I was quite ready to
blast.  When I did she locked her lips tightly around me swallowing and
savoring my seed.  I couldn't remember a woman who enjoyed tasting and
swallowing me so fully.  She made me simply crazy until I cried an
impassioned "UNCLE" to get her to stop my over sensitive "torture".

   She fell forward a bit and rested her head on my belly and stayed in
that position until we both got our breath back.  She pulled herself up and
looked back at me with that sexy grin and winked and then her smile turned
to frown.

   "I would love you to stay, but we really shouldn't.  A bad thing to
start so soon, plus I have things I have to get done around here and I have
to outline some ideas for tomorrow." She said showing me a pout.

   "No, you ARE right.  I have laundry to fold and put away at home, plus I
need to call Tom and make sure he can get out of the mid-west.  There's
been some tornadoes and twisters out his way.  He may have to revise
flights or cancel altogether.  That would suck." I added as I peeled myself
out of the bed and went to my clothes.

   After a few goodbye hugs and kisses I was off to get home and arrange my
next day, which thankfully, would begin with picking up Allie and seeing
her smiling face.

   Chapter Seventeen

   While Allie and I vowed to keep it slow, it hardly seemed that way when
I thought of the hot oral sex sessions, but they were keeping the rest of
our passions at bay.  She had taken to giving head like a pussy cat to
sweet cream.  She loved the control and the look on my face when she looked
to me while doing it.  When I ate her she seemed to be on the verge of a
stroke and I get the impression her "friend" was not as talented as me,
although they say women know best.  She had offered me her private little
hole, but I still didn't think it was appropriate yet and also thought her
morning after thoughts would make me a hypocrite.  I was playing on pure
passion when I made the move there that made her offer it.

   I made a deal with myself not to see her after work for the rest of the
week, or if we did it had to be a situation where we didn't end up getting
sexual.

   Our lust for each other's bodies had been quelled a few times and it was
time we started to have a relationship outside of the bedroom.  The extent
of our sexuality at this point of our relationship had been explored, not
that I was sick of it, but we knew what we had to offer, and what the
promise of the future brought.  She had come out of a relationship built on
sex, fear and domination.  I was hoping to build one on passion, honesty,
and trust.  Over that week and the next few months we did see each other
exclusively and usually had sexual encounters once a week, and it was even
skipped on a couple weeks, but we did manage to get closer in so many ways.
One thing we avoided was routine.  We didn't have one of our oral sessions
every Friday, or Saturday or Sunday afternoon, or after me bringing her
grocery shopping.  Allie had admitted to me that she masturbated often, and
I confessed that I did too.  But, we both agreed that thinking about the
other while doing so had a certain amount of satisfaction we could share
the next time we were together.

   Allie had been in Worcester for 11 months and pairing up with me for 10
of those, and really dating for 6 months.  The occasion of my executive
assistant Rachel getting married meant that we would be together on a
Friday night in September at The Long Wharf in Boston so we could be on a
cruise vessel the next morning at 9:00 a.m.  where the wedding would take
place.  The ship could seat 500 and it looked like they must have had at
least 300 on the ship anyway, it was a prestigious affair.  We would sail
to the Martha's Vineyard area where Rachel would be married at sea.  Her
wedding party all boarded in jeans and Tee's and dressed on the boat.  We
both thought it was a bit foolish until she came down the steps of this
huge boat in her gown to meet her Groom and they, and all of the guests
went out on the main deck for the service.  Quite fancy, quite sexy.  You
couldn't have asked for a nicer September day.  Allie and I had the best
time we ever had together.

   For the first time we really envisioned ourselves as a real "couple" in
the sense of being married and living together.  I think we both envisioned
ourselves as Rachel and her Groom and it really seemed to fit.  During the
readings and their personally written vows Allie and I squeezed each
other's hands at parts we thought were "us".  After wards we danced and
held each other with a different sort of feeling for each other.  We had
truly crossed some sort of threshold into "couplehood".  While we sat at a
table for 6, the other 4 people may not have even been there.  We spent
most of the time looking into each other's eyes, tending to our needs with
food and drink and waiting for the opportunity to dance the afternoon and
early evening away, holding each other, laughing and enjoying our love.

   As we danced the last dance of the night, Frank Sinatra's "The Way You
Look Tonight", we ended in each other's arms for a final dance floor kiss.
As we hugged before walking to gather our things from the table she
whispered in my ear, "Tonight my love, tonight.  Be inside me tonight."

   For the day and time it seemed so appropriate that we had waited for
this commitment to each other to really consummate our union.  I was sure
that she was the perfect mate for me and everything just fell into place
that night.  The kisses and glances we gave each other for this last half
hour on the ship as it prepared to dock back on Long Wharf were pure sex.
We both were ready for this step.  We had discussed before that if she were
a "real" virgin, we would have consummated long ago, but the waiting for
this meant something very special to her.  It was a choice totally hers and
although she knew exactly what to expect, it was going to be very special
to her, and to me as well.

   I'm quite sure all of our friends and co-workers who were aware that we
were "going out" or "dating" figured that after all this time we were
"doing it", but we were not.  We certainly satisfied our sexual urges with
oral sex sessions, mutual masturbation sessions, and any other way to
satisfy ourselves.  She had wanted to wait to have a real man inside of her
until she was sure.  Although we had declared ourselves sure long ago, the
event of Rachel's wedding iced things.  She saw their love and easily
compared it to our relationship.  She was ready for this step.

   Back at the dock on Long Wharf we were all given a parting gift, a
remembrance of Rachel and Nicholas special day, a nice picture frame with
their names and the name of the ship with our picture, taken during the
floating reception and then hastily prepared.  We were all hustled into a
corral type affair and watched the bride and groom run off, waving
goodbyes, to a limousine to the airport for their honeymoon trip.

   We each looked at our photos and were glad to have the photo of the two
of us together.l She smiled and hugged up to me looking at the picture and
said, "Soon, we'll have to pack one of these away."

   I understood her inference that we might be living together soon and
have to admit it was my next step in the progression of finding if we were
compatible with each other.  We had not run into to any major glitches yet
and had really given our relationship a long time to simmer.

   We strolled from the boat in the evening Boston crush of tourists as if
we were the only ones there, hugging and holding each other, making eyes,
and looking into each other's anticipatory smiles.

   Once in the Hotel we went straight to our room, locking and latching the
door.  When I turned to her she had that sexy grin I knew was her devilish
way of teasing me.  Suddenly she turned coquettish and reached out for my
hand which she took and held with both of hers.

   "You know one thing I've wondered and worried about for this moment? 
How big you are.  You always say that you aren't particularly blessed, but
you seem to compare to the men I've seen on video.  I've had toys and
strap-ons in me, but nothing the size of you.  You'll be nice to me, won't
you?  You know I have toys home and they are all thinner than you.  When
you get real excited, I have all I can do to get my mouth around you, so
the thought of it scares me." She said quietly and sincerely.

   I wasn't sure if her saying this was another tease, but if it was, it
worked.  I was about to bust out of my pants.  I took her and pulled her
close and fell to the side on the bed with her, attaching my mouth to hers.
We kissed and rolled around for a moment and I ended up on top of her.

   `I thought we would have a long tease and foreplay leading up to this
tonight as I tried to play this out since you whispered it on the boat, but
I want you NOW.  No more seduction is needed." I said as I came to my knees
and took off my jacket and gave it a fling, undid my tie and loosed my
belt. Allie reached to the side of her skirt and slid the zip down and
began to shinny out of it.

   In a moment she was there with her slip pushed up, and I with my pants
off in just my shirt tails and underwear.  I reached under her slip and
found the sides of her little panty and slid them down, up and off her
legs. I pulled my shorts down and laid upon her, kissing her.  She opened
her legs and I maneuvered my hips until I felt my tip at her wet entrance.

   She looked up at me scared and surprised.  "This is all it takes, we fit
together that well?"

   "If you're ready, yes." I said nudging a bit at her, assured I was
between her lips.

   I saw happy tears forming in her eyes and I pushed into her wet pussy.
She reached and quickly grabbed my arms, as if to hold on for a hard ride,
but I slowly sank into her while watching her worried face until I was
pubic bone to pubic bone with her.

   "God, you're so big, I'm so stretched, but you feel so good!" she
exclaimed as she tried to pull me close to her, but I flex more blood to my
tip and moved out and in again.

   "Oh God!  It's you I've always dreamed of doing this.  Make love to me!"
She squealed as I began to satisfy my own urges by stroking in and out of
her.

   I could tell by the noises and grunts she was making that this was
something altogether new to her as she looked me right in the eye, half in
fear, half in wonder and I saw that look turn totally to pleasure and
passion and then suddenly she bit her lip and said, "Oh God I hate to do
this."

   "What is it?" I asked wondering if I hurt her.

   "Condom!" She said and my heart sunk, I had none.  But she picked me up
right away and said, "My purse, I have some in my purse."

   Having to pull from her frustrated me, but I used the moment to shuck my
shirt and underwear.  I gave her the purse and she quickly went to a pocket
where she kept them, anticipating this might happen someday.

   She handed it to me saying "Here, I have no idea about these things.  I
just knew we needed them eventually." I don't like condoms but I quickly
had it out and was peeling it up my cock while she smiled like a kid at
Christmas.  I hadn't lost any rigidity as I got between her legs and
pressed into her again as she squealed, "Your big fat cock feels fantastic
inside me!"

   Any man who wouldn't like to hear that would have to be dead.

   Allie had two big orgasms under me, her face turning red, fear seeming
to grip her face, before blowing out a grunting ball of air and whooping
loudly.  She would look at me with impassioned eyes and shake her head side
to side like she couldn't believe the intensity.  So, finally, I decided to
get mine and I began to slowly build up to a light pound, hitting bottom
every time as she began to answer each thrust with an UH!.

   Soon, she was gripping my arms tightly as she loudly answered every
thrust and I began to growl.  As soon as I reached the point of no return I
pulled from her and ripped off the purple condom she had given me and I
stroked just once to spray a volley of cum from her belly to her neck,
again to her breasts, and again to her belly button.  She reached with her
hands to pull the final drops out, hand over hand pulling and making sure
none fell on her pussy, she was so paranoid.

   I fell on top of her and then to the side where we both collected our
breath and rested.  After 10 or 15 minutes she rose up a bit and said `I
have to take a shower, I'm covered in sweat and cum."

   "I hope we spend the next 12 hours or so that we're here that way" I
said with a smile to her.

   "Are you up to it?" She asked in a smart ass tone, kidding.

   "You can answer that yourself while I'm fucking you in the shower."

   "Really?" She asked with attitude.  "How many condoms do you think I
brought?"

   I reached for her purse that ended up behind me now and reached in to
the front zipped pocket and pulled out a string of 5.

   She smiled big and I said.  "You only brought 6 altogether?  No wonder
we didn't do this last night, there wouldn't have been enough for two
nights."

   She looked at me with a bit of fear, or maybe it was shock and awe,
before I smiled back.  "What do you think I am, Superman?"

   She smiled and naively answered, "They came in a box of 24, each row was
six, that sounded like a lot.  I've kind of figured that once we did start
there would be the "honeymoon" sex part where we couldn't keep our hands
off each other.

   I couldn't help but laugh like hell and hug her beauty to me, especially
now that she was totally naked.  Then she pranced into the shower, with me
following the cutest ass I've ever seen.

   The shower stall was smaller than mine at home, but we fit in OK.  We
hugged under the water and began to wash ourselves, but as soon as I began
to handle my junk she pushed my hands away and used her little soft hands
to clean me, and stroke me.  I was hard in no time.  She looked up at me
and shyly said, "You're going to let me suck him a little aren't you?  I
REALLY love it."

   She didn't wait for an answer, she just bent over and went all the way
down on me before moving her mouth up and down a few times, making me
absolutely crazy, I wanted her so bad.  She looked up at me and reached
under herself and produced another condom package.  She struggled a second
but got the wrapper off and after looking at the situation, figured how to
get the thing rolled down over me.  She stood up and looked at me as if to
say, "What now?"

   I put my hands on her shoulder and sort of turned her around and I put
my hand in the center of her back to get her to bend.  She quickly caught
on and grabbed the safety bar as I got between her now distended lips and
pushed.

   "Oooooofff!" She cried out, noticing right away you get much more depth
like this and quickly started panting as I pumped at her.

   "Oh fuck I'm cumminggggggg!" She squealed almost instantly as I saw her
knuckles turn white on the bar.

   I think she came 3 times before I even got warmed up and began to feel
like my orgasm was possible.  (sometimes the 2nd one takes forever to get
out).  I bent and held onto her boobs and began to short stroke her, but
she fell to her knees.

   "Please, My little pussy is so sore!  I'm not used to your big cock. 
She reached to shuck the condom and began to jerk it off.  She went to put
her mouth on it but she spit out quickly at the rubber taste left from the
condom.  I moved towards the water a bit an she stroked me a few times and
put her mouth on me again and I could feel my cum rising.  She heard my
grunting breathing and pulled back a second.

   "Give me that juice!" She said as the first spurt hit her below the neck
and then she put her mouth over me to catch what little else I could
conjure on a second try.  Needless to say, her mouth sucked all the
strength from my legs and I slumped to the wall of the shower.  We both
stayed quiet for about a minute and finally I got to stand up and she
followed.

   She smiled to me and took the soap and passed it to me as she grabbed a
bottle of body wash to finish herself.  When we finished we dried each
other of and went to bed, each of us laying on our back and staring at the
ceiling.  The rest of the evening from my orgasm until we fell asleep was
mostly wordless, just a few grins and tired smiles passed back and forth.

   In the morning I woke, and after I got the cobwebs out and realized
where I was, I turned to see Allie laying beside me, propped up on one
elbow, smiling, her perfect breasts out in sight.

   "Good morning LOVER!" She said emphatically, to which I smiled.  "We fit
together well, don't we?" She asked, knowing what my answer was.

   "Did you have a doubt?" I asked as she giggled and shook her head.

   "So are you ready for round two?" I asked trying to hide my morning
breath.

   She looked both ways and then rolled her eyes.  "Would you be mad if I
said I was too sore?  I've never had anything that big in me and you really
banged me."

   "No, I understand." I said, sort of expecting this.

   "We can try the other way, if you want." She said hoping to please me.

   "I don't want to get too gross in our little pillow talk here, but,
Allie it's morning.  There's probably something else that's taking up space
in "the other way".  I said.

   "Oh, you're right.  Oooo, thanks for thinking of THAT."

   "Don't worry we'll find lots of ways to make love to each other.  Let's
wear a few of the old ones out first." I said as I reached under her and
ran my fingers through her pussy lips.

   "Oooo, my little clittie likes that!" She said as she squirmed.

   "Let me get up and pee and then you can stroke me while I make that
little button happy."

   "Just hands?  I'll like that." She said with a giggle as I got up and
went to the bathroom.  On my return I saw she hadn't moved from her
position on her knees semi-facing me.  When I laid in my former spot my
hand went right under her with plenty of room to maneuver.

   "Stay outside, OK.  You left me pretty sore.  You say you're not big,
but any toy I've had was never as thick." She quietly cautioned me, and
managed to boost my male ego a bit as well.

   I got her clit, huge by any standards of women I had been with, under
the pad of my middle finger and I used the two fingers on either side to
squeeze a bit and I simply sawed back and forth.  She was clearly enjoying
the stroking she was getting as well as the one she was giving.  Her
attention seemed to go away from the hand wrapped around my cock as she
closed her eyes and fell forward a bit, bracing herself with her other hand
just above my hip.  I saw her getting close and I used a Mary move of going
from stroking to shaking, like I was trying to get a drop of dew off my
fingers.  She pausing her stroking and grunted and I felt a rush of her dew
rush over my fingers.  I knew she was happy and I kept my fingers busy on
her, but not as active as before.  She was starting to get to me, and I
didn't want her to lose it, the third time in 12 hours might have been hard
to get back.

   She was shuddering a little with my diddling but she had become quite
aware that my cock had taken a definitive bend it was so hard now and I
knew my cumming was nigh.

   "Let it go on my belly and you can clean it up with one of the towels
from last night," I said breathlessly, knowing ignition sequence had
started and blast off was imminent.

   She looked at me boldly and said, "On your belly?"

   "YES!" I said frantic as it was rising.

   "Noooo." She quietly said and bent to put just the very tip in her mouth
as my cum began to spurt out.

   At that point I had been going to settle for spurting on myself, but if
she wanted to put her mouth on me to drive me crazy, I wouldn't argue. 
Actually I encouraged her, "Suck it out!" Whereupon the whole head went in
her mouth as she stroked me until she knew I was dry and beginning to
tremble under her.

   She pulled her mouth off and wiped her lips, looking at me saying, "I
wasn't going to waste that on your belly.  I like your cum, it tastes so
sexy and I know my mouth makes you crazy.  Besides, I cooked that cum, it
was mine anyway."

   I smiled, still unable to speak, and pulled her arm to bend and hug me.
I ran my hands over her back and ass until I was able to move and talk.

   "We better shower and get out of here.  We can head home." I said as I
began to pull myself up.

   She grabbed my shoulder and I turned and looked at her.  Her face was
sullen and serious.

   "I don't want to spend more than a couple more nights alone, away from
you, ever again.  Can we do that?" She said, more serious than I'd ever
seen her.

   It hit me like a ton of bricks, not that I didn't want to do that, it's
just I hadn't expected it.

   "Logistics, Allie, Logistics.  Let's talk about how to work it on the
way home." I said as she looked like she was to cry.

   "I'm not saying "no", sweetheart!"

   "I know.  The fact that you didn't say no is what has me all emotional.
I was afraid you'd think I was crazy." She said as she got up and we went
to shower.

   Chapter Eighteen

   Our shower before we left was spent very quietly as we both thought of
the ramifications of beginning to live together.  She had about 3 months
left on her lease, which had an option to buy with her payments counting as
part of the down payment if she chose.  She knew that if she gave that up
and then we didn't work out she would lose over 10K and with her just
getting on stable ground financially and within a few months of making an
offer as planned to become a financial partner with Mary, she had a lot to
lose.

   After getting out of the traffic web that is Boston traffic we were
finally on the Mass Pike and in a position to talk freely without outside
distractions.

   "Just because we had sex it doesn't mean we are any more or less
committed long term to this relationship, does it?" I asked, hoping she
wouldn't take that out of context.

   "Well," She said beginning to well up, "I had hoped it would."

   "My point is," I said explaining, "I hope you didn't say to yourself
that once I was inside you it meant we were together forever and it was all
clear sailing."

   She settled herself down and looked at me, though I wasn't able to do
the same as traffic was heavy, but I felt her looking.

   "No, I`ve never thought that it was the way I would "hook" you, if
that's what you mean.  I hope you don't think I'm devious like that." She
said, as if a bit insulted.

   "No, no, not that at all.  It's just we held your virginity with me in
such high esteem that . . . . ." I started to say before she interrupted
me.

   "Whether or not I ever thought we had a long term possibility, I had
already decided YOU would be the first, a long time ago.  I considered the
possibility of us being friends with benefits and in any event, for all you
meant to my well-being and sanity, you were always the one." She said in a
calculated tone, not something she made up in the last few minutes.

   "But that's changed, hasn't it?"

   "Well, . . .  YES!  I would HOPE so, unless you've been someone
different than I thought."

   "Do you, in your mind," I said pausing to make sure she would think
carefully about what I was about to ask, "think ANYTHING has changed in our
relationship since you told me you wanted to live with me an hour or so
ago."

   "No!  Do you?"

   "No, but you've given me that impression, like you think I'm trying to
run away or slow down or something.  I'm not.  You are the woman I still
plan on living my life with.  I just have little fears that if we rush this
part of it all, it might create cracks." I said trying to allay any fears.
"Where do you want to go with us then?" she asked, almost like she was
sensing a scheme.

   "First of all, love is trust, and if you love me, you trust me.  I'm not
planning anything to lead to break-up.  Trust me, godammit!" I said, a
little pissed at her attitude.

   "I do trust you; I just let my mind run wild, that's all."

   "Well, for us to happen, that has to stop.  Trust, trust, trust!  You
have 3 months left on that lease option.  Let's go slow and have you move
in with me slowly, say Friday, Saturday, and Sundays.  When we leave work
on Mondays, you'll go to your place, you know, keep it up, see how much
living alone means to you, see how much we miss each other.  Plus we can
check out the market, find out about maybe buying your place and then
leasing it ourselves as income property.  As weeks go by, we can add days
to our arrangement, move some things in, sell some things if we have to, or
maybe leave your place as a furnished townhouse.  That way, you can have an
out." I explained.

   "What do I always have to have an OUT?  I love you!" She cried out.

   "I loved Mary Belanger, and she loved me, but we CAN'T live together and
we found out the hard way and now we have this friendship that at one time
included sanity sex.  Now there's still discomfort between us, but we are
working it out.  She and I have tried a lot of things, but she's too
fucking flighty to make any man think she's stable, and don't EVER say that
I told you that!"

   "Is that it?  She scared you so much?" she asked.

   "She didn't scare me, she taught me that things are not always as rosy
as they seem.  We lived together, ate together, slept together, did
everything together to the point where I was planning on selling my place
and buying her a ring.  Then one night, out of nowhere, after sex she said,
"Why don't you go home?  I don't want to wake up with you tomorrow.  I need
my privacy" I thought it was a onetime thing, she had something on her
mind, but the next day I took her home like always, we made dinner, watched
TV, played a game of scrabble, took showers, and if you know Mary, that
meant she wanted oral sex.  With her breath still smelling like my cum, she
asked me to go home to sleep, she wanted to be alone.  As you can imagine I
blew a fuse with her telling me she didn't know I was like that, so
possessive.  She had no clue to what she had done and probably STILL
doesn't." I explained.

   "So I have to pay for her being crazy?" She asked exasperated.

   "No, but imagine if I had done as I planned and bought the ring, had my
place up for sale with a seller lined up, and THEN she did that?  I hadn't
turned every stone over, and NEITHER HAD SHE!" I said making sure she knew
that it might be HER that would get cold feet or have second thoughts.

   "Oh, I see your point now.  I can't imagine anything would happen like
that, though."

   "Allie!  Neither did she.  Had I proposed a week earlier, she would have
accepted, she TOLD me that.  But she got this idea in her head and, BANG,
we were done.  Remember I said she was flighty." I laid out for her, hoping
to make my point.

   "I have to pay 3 months' rent anyway, I may as well use the place, keep
it up like you said and be ready for anything.  Will you spend some nights
with me, besides those long weekends?"

   "I'm sure that will be the case, especially after we go to dinner or a
movie or show.  It's not like we aren't going to see each other on those
other days.  Jeez, I love you and can't stand not to be with you each day."
I insisted.

   Allie thought long and deeply for a few minutes, digesting all of my
words and realizing I didn't really want to spend any less time with her.
Finally then, she thought out loud.

   "Suppose a situation like last Easter happens, when my parents came to
meet you and you were stranded in Vietnam for 4 days, if that were on the
weekend, would I still be in your place?" She asked.

   "Of course, if you wanted to.  See how living in "our" place and being
alone for a night or two is would be great, a good test, wouldn't you
think?" I wondered.

   Before she could answer I had to add, "You made that sound like I
avoided your parents on purpose.  That Icelandic volcano didn't spew ash
into the atmosphere at my behest, you know.  A 36 hour stay at the factory
turned into 4 more days of waiting and wondering.  I know I got back just
in time to say goodbye to them, but that wasn't planned or welcomed.  If
you parents weren't so damned afraid to fly, they could have come many more
times.  I have plenty of miles to get them tickets."

   "They don't travel well, in the air or by car.  They're in their 60's
and I was a surprise baby, my Mom had me when she was almost 40.  My Dad
played professional football when he was young, back in the late 60's and
into the 70's.  He was a lineman, and he basically knocked around the AFL
and NFL until the merger and then settled in with The Colts and finally The
Browns.  He was on taxi squads and started a few games, but the sport
really beat him up.  He's an assistant coach at Bucknell and works other
jobs there in the off season." She said staring off.

   "Sounds like he's had a nice life though, an athlete, a professional. 
He's had a nice long marriage and a talented daughter." I salted in, but
then she turned to me, almost a little pissed off.

   "But they're both convinced I'm a lesbian and you and me was just an
act. Then when you were "out of town" when they came they were convinced I
was putting on an act."

   "Allie?  I'm so sorry, why didn't you tell me this?  We can fly there
this weekend and show them the real couple we are." I said making her a
real offer.

   "You don't need to do that." She said quietly.

   "Uh-oh, there's ol' poor me, rearing her ugly head.  You have to grow a
set of balls and get a strong back if you think you're going to live with
me Allie.  I'm not taking any of this drama shit.  Do you want to go and
visit your parents this weekend or not?  We can insist on sleeping in the
same bed in their house, no matter how much they protest."

   Allie sat up in the seat and brightened, "Really?  We can do that?"

   "Why not?" I answered.  "We're both grown-ups and the alternative would
be to stay in a hotel.  If they want us to do that, we can do it."

   "We can fly out of Boston Friday afternoon to Wilkes-Barre, Scranton
International and that's about an hour from Danville, right?  If I remember
correctly, I've connected out of Wilkes-Barre on a 4:30 out of Logan, which
probably has a stop in Philly.  I'm guessing 3 and a quarter hours.  So we
get to Danville by 10 PM at the latest.  Rachel's cover during her
honeymoon is a woman who worked for Dad.  I'm sure she can take care of it
and arrange flights back to get us here Monday morning, the latest." I
explained.

   "That easy?" She asked.

   "I promise.  Just make sure with Mary that you can leave at 3 on Friday
and maybe arrive a tad late on Monday."

   The rest of the way back Allie was happy that we would go to see her
parents.  I seemed it would solve some issues for her and if it made her
happy, I could do it.

   When we got back to Worcester I drove her to her place and I helped her
bring her bag in the house.

   "Let me put a few things away and get clothes for work tomorrow and I'll
be with you in a minute." She hollered from the bedroom.

   I walked back there and asked her, "Are you planning on staying with me
tonight?"

   "Sure, it's Sunday and we go in together and you bring me home after
work.  We talked about that on the way home, remember?" She said almost
startled I would ask.

   "So we're on that schedule already?" I asked, looking over my
sunglasses.

   "Jess, I'm in love for the first time with a normal guy who makes it no
secret he loves being with me.  I want to spend every minute I can with him
and show him how much I love him and hope he wants to do the same with me."
She said looking me right in the eye.

   "I was thinking you might want a few days to recover from last night,
remember you said you were sore." I said in all seriousness.

   "I'll take my chances that I can bounce back pretty quickly." She said
with a sexy grin that told me she was ready to resume our "honeymoon" sex.

   I pulled her close and hoped she knew I was showing her tender affection
in that hug.  She meant more to me than any other woman I had ever been
with and I was not quite convinced she realized that.  I tried to show her
by how I made love to her, but she was mesmerized by the new experience,
and I think it went over her head.  Here was a woman who had been fucked in
her mouth, her pussy, and her ass, by dildos and plastic penises at the
hands of a dominant woman who demanded her love.  Now she was finding sex
with a man an entirely different experience and I think she was still
attached to the new feeling of sex, but not quite realizing the affection
and devotion the acts were supposed to provide.  Only when she wanted to
taste my sperm was she exhibiting the tenderness I wanted her to feel. 
That was one act her female lover was not able to do for her.  She had
viewed male-female oral sex as a domination of man over woman with women on
their knees and suffering the humiliation of someone squirting cum on their
face, eyes and hair.  Now she saw and felt the tenderness and affection it
brought instead of what she saw and formerly perceived of a man holding the
head of his felatrix, fucking and choking her mouth.  The same applied to
her invitations to me for anal entry.  She only knew what happened to her
with her dominating friend who used the act for submission, and what she
had seen in videos of women in pain being anally brutalized, but pleasing
their man.  She had, however, told me she enjoyed a toy there, perhaps in
training herself to please and maybe ease the brutality her mate made her
suffer.  I hadn't really talked in depth to her about it, but wanted to
tell her that it could be a long and sensuous experience with very little
or no pain, but maybe a little discomfort at first.  It wasn't a 15 minute
wham-bam, but rather a long carried out affair wrought with orgasms before
penetration.  I never wanted to hurt her.

   Her therapy and the facts she had to face in coming to terms with her
former life had made her a strong woman finally, getting further and
further away from the "Oh poor me" character I first engaged.  Perhaps on
this night she might see how carefully and completely I make love to her so
she feels the passion I feel towards her.  I was already mapping in my head
how I might bring her to the pinnacle of sexual pleasure as to see the
passion only what people who care for each other can feel.

   She picked up a small bag she had packed of things to begin leaving for
herself at my place, and then handed me a hanger with tomorrows work
clothes as we went to the door.  I let her out and closed it, making sure
her door was locked.  I put my arm around her and we went to my car for the
ride "home".

   Chapter Nineteen

   "Can I do a few things to make this feel like our home, and not just
yours?" She asked after she put her things away.

   "Like . . .?" I asked.

   "Umm, pictures?  A few scents, some kitchen spices, a few things on the
wall in the living room and the kitchen.  Just things that if you threw me
out tomorrow you would still appreciate." She said cutely, sort of
expecting some resistance.

   "That would be fine.  Do you want to make a list and we'll go out? 
Maybe we can catch that little Tapas Bar just outside the complex for a
little bite and a drink before we come back."

   "Oooo, that sounds great, and sexy too." She giggled, happy I was open
for change.

   I went and changed into some relaxing clothes other than the stiff jeans
I was wearing for the drive home while she made her list of things she
would like.  I was just finishing tucking my shirt into my shorts when she
came into the bedroom.

   "Oh, it appears I missed the best part of the show." She cooed and then
got serious.  "Have you ever thought of a second recliner?  I think there's
room for it out there and I can always take it to my place if I had to.  I
think I can afford it."

   "Will you please drop the defeatist attitude?  We're going to be just
fine, and if the possibility exists that we aren't "just fine" it will be a
situation where we both realize it with no animus.  You seem to think there
will be a situation where it'll be me versus you or conversely.  We both
know we love being us and as we get to know each other it's all
adjustments. We WILL be fine in a spirit of give and take.  We won't use
ANY of your money for this stuff, I'll use mine, figuring mine will be
yours someday anyway.  A second recliner will be great.  Come here." I
asked her.

   She came over to me and I gave her a huge hug and pulled her tight
slipping my hands down to cup the pert cheeks of her ass while I whispered
to her.

   "You know that I'm falling in love with a person I know I love so much
about.  Where do you think I'll find as cute an ass to hug and squeeze
elsewhere? . . .  and lips so soft to kiss . . . .  and a heart so big that
I can feel it beating right now?"

   "It's beating so fast because I can't believe how much you love me and
how much I love you as well.  I've always worried that I might fall in love
with someone who didn't love me.  So many times in my life I've loved
someone who didn't know I existed.  I know so well that you love me.  I
want to fall face-first in love with you.  I know we can make it happen, I
guess I just don't want you to think I'm assuming too much." She admitted.

   "Don't over think US, Allie.  Let it happen.  Do you remember what the
first impression of me was, that day at the elevator?" I asked her.

   "Honestly?  I thought "who is this guy thinking he can pick me up" when
I know you were giving me elevator EYES.  I detested you at that moment,
but when you proved to be real helpful I had to admit to myself that
although you leered at me, you also wanted to help."

   "So you detested me, and now you think you love me.  See how things
happen.  Have faith, my little lover.  Let it happen."

   "I will, I promise." She said with a kiss before we broke the hug to
leave.

   We made small talk as we rode to one of the local Malls where there was
an arts and crafts chain, as well as a Pier 1 store.  It was funny to watch
her get into her creative mode, almost like she was at work.  She saw a guy
in the back of the store making artist easels and you could see the light
go off in her head.  She hustled back to where we had looked at some
close-out fabrics and she fumbled through the unsold partial bolts.  She
brightened and said "There it is!" and pulled out a light colored denim
that had a lighthouses and nautical pattern.  She took out a tape measure
and started measuring, apparently the distance between the lighthouse in
the design to the next time it showed up.  The fabric must have been
intended for dressmaking or furniture, but either way it would have been
terrible.  Suddenly she smiled and ran to the back to the fellow nailing
canvas on wood frames.  By the time I caught up to her she was motioning to
the man about the size with the guy nodding, and then shaking his head when
she turned back to fly past me, but she paused and said, "wait here." A
moment later she came back with the bolt of leftover fabric under her arm.

   The framer stopped what he was doing and went to the back room and came
out with a fresh frame while Allie said "Let's go to the Import store and
look around, we can come back here."

   I simply followed and by the end of the afternoon I had a back seat full
of bags and the mounted frame of fabric.  She busied herself on the
internet from her Kindle and looked to me saying, "Don't be mad, but I just
bought a new recliner.  Can I use the same credit card you gave me before?"

   She's so damn cute, I couldn't say no if I wanted to, and I nodded and
smiled to her.  Before we got home she got a text saying the local store,
not far from my townhouse, had it in stock and it would fit into the
average car (the back and the base are separate and one slides into the
other.)

   "Can you drop me back at the townhouse and you go pick it up?  In a half
hour I'll have all of this stuff set up and you can decide to keep me or
throw me out, OK?" She asked, so excited to show me her ideas.

   "OK," I said, "But you'll have to make me dinner tonight."

   "As long as you realize I'm limited to what you have in the
refrigerator, OK?"

   "Deal!" I said, fist bumping her.

   We brought her bags and finds nto the townhouse and she shooed me out to
pick up "her" chair.

   I was gone for no more than 35 minutes and when I came into the
townhouse, it looked like a different place.  Accent pieces and moved
furniture seemed to have a special Feng Shui and the gaudy lighthouse
fabric on its faded denim background sat on the cream wall over the sofa,
but she had added a copper lighthouse appliqué to the center and it looked
like it was made and sold like that.  Everything was exquisite and
tasteful. There was an obvious blank spot where "her" chair was to be
placed.  The chair I picked up pulled in the same dominant colors on the
fabric and copper art she had created.  She rushed me out to get the two
pieces, with she helping me get both pieces in and set up.  My living room,
kitchen, and bathroom now looked professionally decorated, and I could not
believe it.  What she added was minimal, but brought out everything.

   "How about the bedroom, got any ideas there?" I asked.

   "Oh, I have a LOT of ideas for the bedroom, and they're all things I
KNOW you like already." She said with a sexy twirl as she went to the
kitchen and looked back over her shoulder to make sure I was following the
cute little caboose.  I sat at the kitchen table and watched her begin to
prepare dinner, or should I say search for an idea to prepare it with.

   I noticed she had changed into a short sweat-short and a super soft
cotton sweater top that was loose and the way her breasts moved beneath it,
it was obvious she wore no bra.  Bent over in front of my refrigerator I
enjoyed the view and when she turned to ask me a question, she caught me
staring.

   "Umm, you've seen it enough with nothing covering it, why stare now?"
She asked as I averted my eyes up to hers.

   "Because I'm human of the male variety.  Your ass is something to
behold." I said as she shook her head and asked me the question at hand.

   "Why do you have curd in here?"

   "My neighbor next door is from Wisconsin and she asked me to get it to
make fried cheese curds for our Block Association dinner.  She always raves
about how good they are, but she can't get out.  The tenants in the
connecting building do a dinner once a month to get ideas and complaints to
bring to the Commons Manager.  We like to make sure we get our money's
worth for the common area fees we have to pay each month.  It's a couple
hours a month and now we all know each other and we get things done. 
You'll have to come this month."

   "What do you make for it?" She asked.

   "This month it's my turn for the entrée.  I make a killer Swiss Steak.
It's my mother's recipe and it's a can't fail."

   "I know you said your Dad passed away a few years ago, is your Mom still
around?" She asked.

   "Yes and no.  She has Alzheimer's and is in a rehab house.  She doesn't
know anyone anymore and is actually afraid of me.  They think she thinks
I'm my Father and maybe a ghost or something.  Occasionally I'll go see her
and she's fine, even though she doesn't know me.  It's really quite
depressing.  We moved her to Upstate New York to be with her sister, who is
in the same place, same condition, but they get along, even though they
really don't always know they are sisters.  It's very frustrating to see
her and not have her know me, or cower when she sees me.  I mean, in my
mind, she's passed on long ago.  Please don't think that's cruel." I said,
my voice wavering a bit.

   "Oh, I don't, and I understand you're feeling.  You want to remember her
as your Mom, not as someone else in her body.  What's her prognosis?" She
asked.

   "Three years ago it was for maybe 2 years, but she hasn't really
deteriorated that much in the last year or so.  So who knows?" I said
dejectedly.

   "Well, back to the curd, can I use it?" She asked changing the subject.

   "Sure, I can buy more for Thursday night.  What are you going to make?"

   "Depends, are the tomatoes and prosciutto fresh?"

   "Yes, I bought them to make sandwiches' for us Saturday, forgetting
about the weekend.  Toasted with some provolone, it's awesome."

   "Wait till you taste what I'll make.  Go watch TV or would you rather
stare at my ass?" She asked somewhat facetiously.

   "Your ass would much better ratings on ANY network." I said settling in
to my seat.

   She boiled water and poured in over the curd with salt and a few minutes
later she was stretching this into fresh made mozzarella cheese, poured
some olive oil over it and rolled in tomatoes and prosciutto.  She put some
balsamic glaze over it and called it dinner, and it was delicious.  The
love of my life was also creative in the kitchen and making me happier by
the minute.

   She sent me to find something to watch on TV and I settled into my
recliner and after a quick pick up in the kitchen she joined me.

   "I have a small confession to make to you," She said, "The real reason I
wanted this recliner is that my right foot, leg and knee get especially
sore and worn out after a long day.  The reason is that one leg is longer
than the other and if you look closely at "most" of my shoes, you see they
are special ortho shoes designed to compensate.  However, for the sake of
style I sometimes buy things I shouldn't wear and make up for it with foot
pads.  It doesn't work."

   Being in the shoe business I was embarrassed that I hadn't noticed her
issue that was obvious with the shoes she had just kicked off before
reclining.  However, believe me, her feet would be the LAST thing you might
look at when seeing her.  If she had 8 toes and a thumb on each foot, I
might have needed it pointed out to me.

   "How often do you see a podiatrist?" I asked trying to seem professional
in my embarrassment for not noticing her shoes.

   "I'm supposed to go every 6 months, but I haven't found, or looked for
one out here.  I'm sorry for not telling you sooner.  If I wear regular
flats my limp is noticeable and I've hidden that from you before.  I wanted
you to think I was perfect." She said with a blush.

   "Be assured, Allie, it makes no difference to me.  You ARE perfect in so
many other ways but I now I understand why you wanted that.  We should have
gotten a double recliner." I mused.

   "There wouldn't be much relaxing or even TV watching in a double Jess, I
don't think." She said smiling wickedly to me.

   "That's assuming we'll be as horny for each other all the time like we
are now." I said raising my eyebrows deviously.

   She looked away and at first I thought she might be mad at my remark,
but she turned and pulled up the front of her soft little top to reveal her
lovely pert nipples and double handful breasts that separated nicely as she
lay back.  "So you're assuming these are going to fall off or suddenly sag
to my waist?  I can keep you interested for a long time.  Plus, I know you
love me and I love you. .  . . . . . . .  not to mention the fact I have a
lot of hetero sex to catch up on and I think you're going to love getting
me caught up."

   "Oh, so you're a dirty little girl!  I'll have to save some time before
bed to take you up on that offer."

   "Oh, it's not an offer, it's an order.  I may not have a lot of
experience with men, but I do know whom ever has the titties and the pussy
usually makes the rules." She said smartly.

   "As you wish, milady." I said giving up easily.

   We stayed up later than we had planned watching a extra long season
finale and ended up going to bed later than we had planned.  She quietly
slipped into bed and I behind her and because of the hour I thought we
might save sex until morning.  As I nuzzled and said goodnight just her
scent was all I needed to become interested.  As my cock began to rise and
nudge up to her she wiggled her butt to me and moaned.  I went to reach for
one of her breasts and she was already pinching and squeezing her nipple.

   "Not too tired?" I whispered.

   "No, never for this.  You make every nerve in my body tingle and I feel
juice running from pussy already." She said as she shoved her ass to me and
my cock was hard enough to part her cheeks a bit and I pushed.

   "Mmmmm, a little lower, you naughty boy.  You're knocking on the wrong
door." She giggled as I readjusted and slid between her wet lips.

   "Don't worry; I would never surprise you like that." I said as I slid
all the way into her and she sighed.

   "You feel so good in me.  I can feel ever vein, every ridge that my
mouth goes over when I suck on you.  When you flex and fill within me I
feel I could burst.  You make me cum so much.  Don't forget to pull out and
let me have it." She swooned.

   "Fuck, I forgot the condom!" I complained loudly and pulled from her.

   "Get back in me and let me get mine and I'll take care of you.  It's so
nice without that thing on.  I'll be on birth control by the end of the
month." She said reaching back for me and plugging the head back into her.

   I instinctively surged into her causing her to catch her breath as I
asked "You sure that's what you want?"

   "What, the pills or your cum?  I want both, now less talking more love
making." She said with a bit of interruptus irritation in her voice.

   I did as she asked and began to oscillate my hips hard into her.  The
angle was perfect for me to slide deeply and I could feel the entrance to
her uterus almost kissing the head.  She suddenly pushed hard back to me
and grunted a long muffled squeal into the pillow and suddenly my cock was
swimming in more of her juices as she continued to pant harder and push
back again as another orgasm went through her.  She brought her arm back
and tried to hold me from thrusting, and although she didn't have the
strength to stop me, I took the hint as she huffed and puffed and hummed
her approval.

   Suddenly she spun under me and climbed onto my chest pushing me flat on
the sheets.

   "You make me cum so hard, give me that cum you stewed in my pussy.  Let
me make you cum like I did.  I love you so much, I want to make you as
happy as me." She said kissing my lips and then sliding back a bit to be
between my legs.

   My cock glistened in the ambient light from her wet juices and her mouth
went over me like she hadn't eaten in a week.  Her nose touched my skin and
she popped up quickly stifling a gag before beginning to work her mouth
down over me, up and down until she just had the head and a little more in
her mouth and was stroking the shaft.

   After a minute or so she apparently either got tired or needed her hands
for herself, so she took my hand and brought it to my shaft and I quickly
started to stroke myself as she held the head in her mouth.  My own knowing
hand knew just the right pressure to get it and after about 10 strokes I
grunted and she increased her sucking pressure to get my cum that blasted
in her mouth.  Once I stopped stroking she continued to suck and loll the
head, making sure she got every drop, clearing her mouth with loud swallows
before just kissing he tip and finally laying it down to my stomach and
resting her head beside it.

   "I hope you adore oral love making, because I could give you 5 blowjobs
a day, it's so exciting." She whispered.  "It's so special so uniquely
personal, tasting you, feeling your pleasure.  There's that vein that runs
over my tongue and when you're inside me I can feel the same vein as it
twists in me.  You are my love forever Jess.  That's quite a commitment, I
know.  But I've never been so sure of anything, even after walking in so
skeptical.  You make me so happy."

   I looked at her and smiled saying, "Normally I would scold you for
making such a bold statement and commitment, but I'm falling fast too.  We
have to pace ourselves Allie."

   "I know, I'm telling myself that we have those days apart at night to
get things in perspective.  I wanted to fall in love with you, but it's
happening so fast, and it's so wonderful too." She said playing in my chest
hairs and looking up to my eyes at the same time.

   "We'll be OK baby, as long as we keep catching ourselves." I said with a
confident grin.

   "We will, we will.  We have so much time." She said crawling up to me,
kissing me, and laying her head on the pillow.

   I think we both sighed and closed our eyes to wait for sleep to come. 
It would be soon, and in the morning when the alarm went off we would start
another week.

   Chapter Twenty

   Going out to my car and getting in for her ride in to work Allie wore a
smile a mile wide.  She knew this was something that we would eventually do
every day.  We had a weekend of escalating commitments to each other and we
were on the right track to reaching our goal, to make our lives for each
other forever.

   "Why are you so happy?" I asked, knowing it was a Monday.

   "I'm with you and we don't care who see's us.  Wait until you see the
smile on my face when I come home with you on Thursday!" She said bubbling
over.

   "Too much happy for a Monday, although I do look forward to making this
a day to day thing." I said.

   "I'm happy now but I have a couple weeks laundry to catch up on at home.
I focused so much on the wedding I let things go."

   "Well, remember, we'll leave for your parents on Friday if we can get
the connections, so keep that in mind in your catching up plans." I warned
her.

   "Oh damn!  That means I can't move in Thursday night, I'll have to pack
at home to bring my things with me on Friday morning." She said making a
sad face.

   "You can't pack ahead of time?"

   "I can, but I'll sit up Thursday night thinking of all the things I wish
I had packed and have to go home again anyway.  I don't have enough
duplicate essentials yet.  Put up with me traveling.  God, if you survive
traveling with me you can marry me without a worry." She said laughing.

   "Eventually, I'll teach you how to pack.  Two people, 3 nights, ONE
suitcase, no sweat."

   "Jess, I need options when I travel!"

   "Allie, you'll be naked in bed with me a third of the time we're there."
I said with a sly grin.

   "Uh, . . .good point.  I'll listen to the experienced traveler, but I'm
putting condoms in the suitcase first, should I pack 6 or 12?" She said
trying to top my sexy remark.

   "How thick are the walls between your room and your parents?" I asked
smartly.

   "I used to put a pillow over my mouth when I diddled." She giggled, "But
I didn't know how to REALLY get off back then."

   "The clothes we wear, a change for Saturday, clothes for dinner, and
Sunday we wear the clothes we came in with a new top or shirt, what have
you.  You're only going to be sitting on a plane.  Wear the same pants in
and out." I told her since plane seats are where people just park their ass
for hours at a time.

   "You mean like Sheldon's "bus pants" on Big Bang Theory?" She asked.

   "I've only seen that show a few times, but I know about "bus pants". 
Yes, like Sheldon."

   "I'll feel more comfortable if I pack my own bag.  Indulge me Jess." She
asked cutely.

   "OK, but be sure you have it ready Friday morning because when we leave
for Logan, there are no more stops.  We'll be on the clock.  I'll already
have boarding passes.  Your bag has to be a carry on for this to work." I
warned her as we got to work.

   I kissed her in the car and then we walked into The Towers building to
begin another week of work.  I suppose our attitudes towards work were
different than others muddling in.  Allie absolutely LOVED her job and
would work 7 days if she could, and I owned my business, so I knew if I
didn't take an interest I would end up in the poor house.

   When I got in Rachel's fill-in, Cynthia, was already there and she knew
the whole system from working with my Dad, and then me for a short time,
and also from being briefed by Rachel.  Cynthia was probably 50 or 55 but
still sharp as a tack and knowledgeable about the new technologies.  She
worked as a high paid office temp, like Kelly Girl, but she normally took
May to October off to enjoy life.  She was married once and he had passed
away long ago but apparently left her well taken care of, as well as the
fact I think she was quite a saver at one time.  She had told me before
that once she reached 59 and a half where she could draw from her accounts
with no penalty, she would be off to tour the world and maybe never call
anyplace home.  When I would ask how long that would be she coyly smiled
and said when I called and found her number no longer in service, I would
know.  A true guess of her age would be 55, but she looked much better than
most 40 year olds.  I know that when I was 18-19 I had a clear shot at her
and it would have been no-strings too.  But, my Dad always warned me about
"sleeping with the help".  I think he knew Cynthia was probably a fire
cracker, and maybe she had tried to seduce him as well, once my Mom was
institutionalized.

   "Good Morning Jess!  How's my favorite doing today?" She greeted me.

   "Cynthia, it's been too long.  I want to thank you for doing this for
me. I guess I was lucky to catch you in town." I said.

   "Actually, I was supposed to be on a cruise and it was cancelled because
the ship had a fire.  It's been rescheduled for later this week, but I
passed.  I'm a little paranoid, plus the guy I was going with thought it
would be an engagement cruise.  You know, getting too serious.  I've been
married once and I don't need that again.  How about you?  Anyone caught
you yet?" She asked as she got up from the desk and hugged me.

   "Yes, I'm sure you'll meet her this week.  We're getting a bit serious."
I said as I admired her long legs and ass as she turned back to her desk.

   "Is that the Allison MacGruder on the reservations I made for you this
morning?"

   "Wow, you got that done already?  I thought I was going to have to show
you how to get into email and everything." I said happy she had taken the
bull by the horns.

   She raised an eyebrow and smiled.  "There's nothing you have to teach
me, I know it all."

   I could tell she had a double entendre in mind with those words, but she
had to know I wouldn't bite, even though I'll bet she could teach me a few
things.  She had a sexy mouth, firm boobs, nice ass, and long lean legs.  I
was sure she got her way whenever she wanted.

   "I'll have your sales reports on your desk, well, on your computer
screen in about 5 minutes.  I had to get your newest sales man to resend. I
think there was a power glitch when he sent the first time." She said as
she busied herself.

   "I guess you do have things in hand.  So, you have my web appointments
and I don't believe anyone will be in office today.  I'll be in my office
and answering correspondence, mostly by email, but I'll send it all to you
for corrections.  I know web slang and abbreviations are accepted, but we
still send things out in English." I told her before disappearing into my
office, but not before I heard her say, "just like your father".

   Monday evening Allie and I simply rode together as I brought her home
and we shared a kiss with promise of a call later if she or I had the time,
but it never happened, both of us catching up from our weekend in Boston
and together.

   Tuesday we agreed to go shopping for groceries, but this time filling
her refrigerator and pantry, and mine as well.  We shopped together for
both of us in a way that would become habit during our "breaking in" period
of living together.  It was the first time we shopped and did not have any
sex after we got back.  We had a lot of frozen things as well as dairy and
once I dropped her off we decided it was best I get everything back to my
townhouse.  Wednesday night was my tenants meeting and Allie stayed behind
at work to catch up to a few projects as she was leaving early on Friday.
Then Thursday she needed time to pack, so by Friday night at her parents'
house we were going to be randy, AND needy.

   Before taking off from Logan we were relieved to hear that the entire
Northeast was clear and cool.  Our flight left right on time, and even made
up about 10 minutes, making our stop and stay in Philadelphia just a few
minutes before we took off a little early to Scranton.  We shed about 40
passengers and took on 40+ to fill the 737.  We landed in Scranton before
8:00 pm and ended up first in line at the rental desk, arriving in Danville
just about 9:00 pm.

   Allie was nervous the whole trip, anticipating her parents reaction to
me staying in her room WITH her.  Her longest time of letting her worry
line on her forehead relax was when I told her about our owners meeting
dinner.  I had to hurry home to prepare the main dish, my mother's Swiss
steak, and Allie loved the fact I was a "little" domesticated.

   "How were the fried cheese curds?" She wondered.

   "They were awesome.  She worked about 10 minutes adjusting the oil
temperature, but once it was right, she impressed us all with her Wisconsin
treats." I said as she suddenly seemed to droop back into the seat.

   "What's the matter Allie?  You're letting this overtake you." I whined,
sick of seeing her obsess.

   "My Dad is going to freak when we tell him you're staying with me, in MY
room."

   "If he protests all we say is that we respect his views on it and
respect his decision NOT to allow us to stay together under his roof.  Then
we call and get a room and tell them we will meet them in the morning.  If
they accept that, we'll do it.  If there's any talk about sex you just say
that sleeping together does not mean sex.  We simply love each other and
want to share that intimate time together." I coached her.

   "Jess, after almost a week, I want to suck your cock so bad." She said
in a low whisper, "And feel your tongue on my bud before you fill me up. 
You know we'll HAVE sex."

   "I know, but that's our business, not theirs.  We love each other and
staying together is just a part of that." I said hoping to just end the
subject, even though I do realize she loved her parents and making them
happy was important to her.

   After letting her stew for a moment I tested her resolve, telling her,
"If you want to make your parents happy and sleep alone in your room, we
can, but if there is no other bed or room, I'm NOT sleeping on a sofa." She
sat up straight in the seat and looked me straight in the eye.  "NO, we're
together tonight, and I don't care where."

   "That's my Allie!  Whatever you decide, you're not wishy-washy.  I won't
let you slide into "Oh poor me".

   "You can bet on that!" She said, looking both ways and patting me
between my legs.

   I knew she might be a little intimidated by her parents, and probably
especially her father.  I really wouldn't be happy if she out and out
defied her father, but if she talked to him reasonably and he still
wouldn't agree I was quite willing to go to a motel.  But, if she came to
me and said for the sake of peace amongst us I shouldn't sleep with her, I
would go along.  I just wanted to make sure she didn't bend and then break.
She had learned to be assertive and I wanted her to remain that way, and if
she were assertive with me in saying we SHOULDN'T sleep together, that
would be fine too.  I just wanted her to remain her own person and not cow
to others wishes if she didn't feel it was what she actually wanted.

   She directed me as we got close to her home and we finally pulled into
the driveway and we saw her Mom watching for us in the window.  When we got
in the house there were lots of hugs and kisses for Allie and her parents
and a hug and hearty handshake for me.

   "Why don't you go out and get our things Jess?" Allie asked, and I
capitulated right away, sensing she had a plan.

   I had both carry-ons with me as I came back in the door and Allie said,
"Follow me Jess, I'll show you the room where we'll stay."

   "You're both going to stay in your room?" Her Dad asked, letting me know
that Allie had NOT primed them while I was out unloading as I had
anticipated.

   "Of course Daddy.  Where else would we sleep?  Back home we stay
together a lot and when my lease is up I'll move in with Jess and we think
we're going to pick up the option to buy on my townhouse for us to have as
rental property.  So, I haven't wasted all the lease money I've been paying
and we would have a third income." She said all matter-of-factly.

   "That's a pretty big commitment." Her mother said.

   "We're going to make a lot more commitments too, Mom.  Wait and see. 
I'm not a little girl anymore, you know.  I'm going to buy into where I am
and Jess owns a great business.  We ARE pretty sure of ourselves.  Come on
Jess.  They spoiled me with a King sized bed because of all the monkeys and
unicorns I used to have.  I gave them all to an orphanage when I
graduated."

   I smiled to myself as I went up the stairs behind Allie and her parents
either expected us to sleep together or were still stunned at her boldness.

   True to her word, she had the king sized bed, but her room was no longer
"hers" as it held but a few of her childhood and growing up mementos.  A
few class pictures, a couple trophies for bowling, classie lassie softball,
but her stuffed toys and posters were all down, and the room was fresh
painted a neutral color, no more pinks, or pastels.  It had become a guest
room.

   "Wow, I guess I can't come back here to live, can I?" She said as she
looked around while I put the bags down.

   "I'm glad they've accepted that I've set out on my own.  I think they
had their doubts at first."

   "You ARE almost 25.  Lots of women have families at that age." I added.

   "I'll own part of Maribel before I have children.  You and I will be
entrepreneur parents." She said giggling and hugging me just before we went
back down stairs.

   We heard her parents bickering in hushed voices and just as we hit the
middle landing we heard her mother say "At least she's with a man!"

   Allie picked up on it and even caught her mother's eye as the words came
out.

   "Why wouldn't I be with a man, Mother?" She asked boldly wanting to
start a confrontation.

   "We can talk about this privately Allison." Her Mom said blushing.

   "No, Mom.  We're going to be honest and forthright here.  Go ahead say
what you're thinking."

   "Well, the woman at the house where you boarded has been accused of
doing things with underage girls and is said to have long love affairs with
her boarders.  She beat this girl she's been arrested for."

   "Do you think I would have told you if the woman who boarded me for 6
years had beaten me?  Do you think I would have told you if the woman who
boarded me had tried a sexual relationship with me and abused me?  I read
those stories about Simone and I find them very disturbing.  However, she
gave me a place to live and reinforced my study habits.  If she had those
ideas about me do you think I would have stayed there?"

   Both of her parents were clearly thoroughly embarrassed by the questions
she machine gunned to them.  She had taken the bull by the horns and
answered the fears her parents had.  Yet, she did not lie to them, although
she had deceived them in the form she used to take on the subject.

   Her mother came to her and hugged her, saying, "Of course Allison.  I'm
sorry we just didn't come out and ask you instead of assuming things. 
Apparently you and Jess here have discussed this and we should just drop
it. I'm so sorry."

   "No, Mom.  Don't apologize.  If you have questions, I'm glad you asked.
I told Jess I was going to bring it up, but you did it for me.  Now, can we
drop it?" Allie said backing from her Mom and tightly grasping my arm.

   "So it sounds like you two have some future plans." Her Dad said.

   "Yes, Sir.  We have talked about the future and our ideas are similar.
Our eventual living arrangement will test our compatibility, but I can say
we are pretty sure of what we have." I said politely.

   "Please call me Ray and my wife is Ellen.  Let's be adults here.  It
appears you've swept our daughter off her feet."

   "I thinks it's more she swept me off mine, Uh . .  Ray."

   "Having sex isn't all there is to a relationship." Ellen said shaking
her head.

   "No, that is true.  That's why we've done a lot of things together to
enrich our relationship.  Movies, dinner, buying furniture, planning for
tomorrow, talking about children, discussing the world and its problems. 
We are very much attuned to each other in many ways Ma'am, Uh . .  Ellen."
I said, admittedly a bit nervous.

   "Do you understand each other's finances?" She asked.

   "Of course, and religion too." I answered quickly

   "I worry about my little girl." She retorted.

   "If you look closely, I can assure you, she is no little girl.  She is
quite a woman.  But I worry about her too, and care for her quite well, and
she for me.  Your daughter is in two good pairs of hands, hers, and my
own." I added.

   "Mommy, Daddy, this is the man I want to be with, to make a family with.
He is the only man I've known intimately.  I love him." She said looking at
me because she was declaring this from her heart and soul.

   I couldn't help but reach for her and hold her tightly declaring my love
for her as well.

   Suddenly her father sort of broke the ice and said, "Let's not all stand
here in the landing, I'm sure you're hungry.  Ellen prepared a sandwich
platter for us to snack on.  Let's sit at the table and talk."

   "Yes," Ellen said, "We ate a late lunch so we could break bread with
you. What would you like to drink, coffee, soda, wine, or beer?"

   We sat at the dinner table with a small array of sandwiches, chips,
pickles and condiments while we began to really get to know each other.  If
Ray and Ellen had suspicions about Allie's sexuality, I think she had
squelched it.  As we ate and talked I could tell they were taking more and
more to me.  I was a stable businessman from a good background with a
bright future and a level head.  They couldn't have asked more for their
daughter, especially after the fears they had after seeing what college did
to some young women.  Patting myself on the back, I knew I was a good
catch.

   Chapter Twenty One

   After bidding a good night to her parents we went to her room while her
Mom and Dad locked doors, turned off lights and did their nightly routine.
They were pretty well convinced that they didn't have to worry about their
Allison who seemed to have proved to them that she had grown up and made
some good decisions on life.  If they had seen her 2 minutes later in the
bedroom she grew up in sitting on her bed taking my cock out of my pants so
she could suck it, they might have had a different impression of their
little angel.  I was the lucky man who knew what a little devil she was
behind closed doors.

   "I've wanted to suck on you all day long, well, every day this week when
I saw you.  I've wanted to feed you my pussy, you make it feel so good."
She said looking up at me after taking me fully in her mouth to get me wet.

   "I can't wait to taste you either." Was all I could add in my state of
high pleasure.

   She came up for air once more, saying "We'll make too much noise if you
get inside me, but I'll be sure to do a good job, and I know you'll drive
me out of my mind."

   And so the evening went.  The last thing I remember was her rinsing her
mouth in her little bathroom.  The day, the flight, the drive and the sex
had worn me out.  I heard nothing all night long and the first thing I
remember was her little hands fondling me in the morning to the smell of
bacon wafting up the stairs.

   "Wake up sleepy head, my Mother is starting breakfast, and I think I may
start mine." She giggled.

   I think she may have mistaken my erection for morning lust, when I
really just had to pee, but being the gentleman I am, I got up and let the
pressure off my bladder and came back to bed and even wiped the end of my
penis off.

   "You sure we have time for this, smells like breakfast is cooking." I
said.

   But Allie was amorously resolved.

   "I dreamt about this last night.  What a turn on it is having sex in my
own bed.  God, I got myself off before you even woke up and when I saw what
you had down there I was hoping it was for me." She pouted.  "It's always
for you, but you know about bladder pressure." I said.

   "Hmmm, it looks like you're got some more bladder pressure." She said
pointing out to my stiffening business.

   I have to admit seeing her sitting nude propped up on one arm waiting
for me to come out of her bathroom had me stirred and if I was going to
talk her out of morning oral, I wasn't going to be very convincing.  I
started to get back in the bed and she put a hand out.

   "NO, stand right there." She said as she got on all fours facing me.

   "Fuck my mouth.  We've sort of done this, but I remember seeing it in a
porno and it looks sexy." She said as she reached out for me and dabbed the
head of my cock on her cheeks and tongue before covering it with her mouth.

   I always liked face fucking but never thought she might go for this, but
as long as it was presented to me. . . . .

   Once she got her mouth on me and began to work her lips and tongue over
me I put one hand on the back of her head and began to move in a fucking
motion and soon she was still, letting me take her while she sucked and
swallowed the conjured saliva.  I never got close to gagging her, I didn't
consider that sexy at all, but despite cumming some 8 hours before I was
going to get mine real fast and she knew it by the tastes I was leaking in
her mouth.

   Once she knew I was going to be close she straightened up a bit and
turned her face down a bit to accommodate the curve of my dick and keep the
most pressure on me.  Once she closed her eyes and hummed a sigh over me I
was off.

   I grunted under my breath and exploded in her mouth to her obvious joy
and she kept sucking and swallowing until I had no more for her and was
becoming too sensitive for any play.

   She sensed it and sat back looking at me with a big smile.  "I love you
so much, and you make me so happy." She said as she reached between her
legs on shook her clit once and fell to her side and spasmed while she
wrenched her little pussy.  I reached to help her but she quickly slapped
my hand away, already too sensitive herself.  I fell to the bed and kissed
her lips and we necked for a few moments before she got up saying we should
get dressed and go down for breakfast.  I think we both walked on top of an
orgasmic cloud all through breakfast not really knowing what we were
talking about with them.  Finally the 2nd cup of coffee kicked in when
Ellen asked us if we wanted to take the afternoon dinner cruise on a
paddleboat out of Williamsport, about 40 miles away.

   I got a nudge under the table and Allie said "That sound like fun Mom,
what time does it leave?"

   "It leaves around 3:30 and they make their way up the Susquehanna and
when they turn around they serve dinner and by the time we finish and have
coffee, we're back in Williamsport."

   "How's the ball team doing Dad?" Allie asked.

   "Pretty good this year.  They're in the play-offs and, as a matter of
fact the last home game is tonight." He said.

   Allie's Mom turned a finger to me and said "If you're a baseball fan you
and Allison's Dad could go to the game while she and I shop in the Malls
nearby."

   As much as I like baseball, being trapped next to my likely future
Father-in-Law for 3 hours wasn't my dream evening, but, for Allie I would
make the sacrifice.

   "I usually shop or go to a movie and then go to Starbucks and use my
laptop until he calls." Her Mom said to both of us.

   "Sounds like fun, Mom, you and I doing something together." Allie said
to be sure she cemented me into this.

   "I'm in!" I said enthusiastically, showing off my acting ability.

   Her Dad smiled and said, "Don't worry; we set a 10:15 limit.  If she
hasn't heard from me before then she gets me at 10:15 out in front of the
Crosscutters ball park.  They are enforcing some of the speed-up rules so
there isn't a lot of time between pitches."

   "So," I said, "The Williamsport Crosscutters, that's the Phillies? 
Right?"

   "Yes, and if they win tonight they go on the road to finish the series.
They lost the first game on the road so they have to win tonight and go
back to Aberdeen and win on the road." Ray explained.

   "I usually have a couple cups of coffee at Starbucks so I can drive home
OK, it's only about 40 45 minutes, but Ray falls asleep on the way home if
he had a couple beers." Ellen said with a chuckle.

   "Well, it sounds like we have a full day." I said.

   "We can take showers and go." Allie said enthusiastically.

   "Jess, you can use the downstairs shower if Allison is using the one in
the guest room." Ray said.

   Offended Allison piped up, "It's MY room, not a guest room.  You can
take all my teenage posters and animals out, but it's still MY room.  AND,
we'll shower together.  We're all for saving the worlds resources."

   With that she took my hand and nearly dragged me out of my chair before
her parents could react to her boldness.

   As soon as the door in our room clicked shut I looked to her and pointed
a finger.

   "You're just pushing buttons trying to create a controversy to prove how
much in love we are.  I would much rather show them in other ways."

   "Fucking me in the shower should be pretty convincing." She said with a
sassy tone.

   "I'M NOT putting on a show for them Allison.  Remember these ARE your
parents who stuck by you even when they were convinced you had gone down a
different path than they would have chosen for you."

   "Shit, I hate when you're right.  How will you resist making love to me
in the shower though." She said letting her pajama bottom fall.

   I reached into the suitcase and took out my ditty bag with toothbrush
and shaver etc, grabbed clean underwear and went downstairs to use the
other shower leaving Allie there in a semi state of shock.

   "I thought you were showering together." Ellen semi-snarled.

   "That was your daughter being a smart-ass in front of her parents.  As
much as you may not approve of us sleeping together under your roof, we
both know that showering together would be very disrespectful.  Please
understand that we are adults, but we also understand that you are her
Mother and Father."

   "Thank you Jess.  You're making this whole situation easier to accept.
You are a good man."

   When I finished showering and went back to our room and was getting the
cold shoulder from Allie and I told her exactly, verbatim, what I had told
her Mother.

   "Oh, I thought it over and I know you're right.  Why can't I be right
once in a while?" She asked walking up to me looking up right into my eyes.

   I didn't flinch and put a finger under her chin and spoke softly to her.
"Think things out, my little Allison.  You stood in front of two elevators
not knowing which one to take and instead of reading the tenant list you
just gave up, not thinking.  You were ready to go for your interview with
your chin down to your shoes and admit defeat, not thinking.  You twice sat
downstairs waiting for me for over an hour, not even knowing if I was still
in the building instead of calling me, not thinking.  You're such a smart
woman when it comes to work, but you tend to live a lot of your life by the
skin of your cute little ass.  Words and deeds have consequences and we
have to know what they are.  Us showering together would have been fun, but
it would have made your parents very unhappy and even uncomfortable to be
in the house at the same time.  Simone was always right because you
accepted it, I'm not always right, except in the situations I point out to
you.  In each one of those if you stopped and thought, you would have made
the PROPER decision, whether it turned out right or wrong wouldn't matter,
as long as it was right and proper.  You went from being a kid right into a
real adult situation and missed a lot of the learning process of life, so
when you go to make a decision, take a breath, and sort it out.  You're
smart, you just have to not go off half cocked."

   "I didn't need to go to therapy, you're telling me the same things she
did.  One big thing was the fact I missed a big part of growing up and
learning by making mistakes.  I went from 17 to being a sex slave to a
woman much older than me.  I was more mature in some ways, not others. 
Thanks for centering me.  I love you more right now than I did 5 minutes
ago, but not as much as 5 minutes from now.  Be patient with me, I promise
I will grow up fully in EVERY way." She said quietly.

   "If I didn't think that, Allie, I wouldn't have spent 5 minutes with
you. We've both grown and learned from our relationship, and we'll both
grow and learn from it more.  Now let's get dressed to go with your
parents." I said kissing her.

   The day ended up being a great bonding experience for all of us.  We got
to see each other in a different light than we previously did.  Even Allie,
who hadn't spent more than a few hours at a time with either of her parents
over the past 7 years, was catching up and learning, as well as showing,
things about ours and their relationship and life.  Even as frustrating as
it was to watch the ballgame, a NY-Penn league game where players a few
months out of college don professional uniforms and try to show a glimmer
of bright light to be developed, it was an exciting affair.  The lack of
fundamentals in their play was obvious and the fact that of the two 25 man
teams, only 2 or 3 would ever get a chance to play in the big leagues, made
the coaches teaching aspect tough to follow through on when the return was
so low at this level.

   The game got out at a few minutes after 10pm and by the time we got to
our meet spot, Ellen and Allie were waiting.  While we all talked on the 40
minute drive back, Ray did fall asleep as Ellen had said might happen. 
What Ellen didn't know was that besides the few kisses she saw her daughter
and I exchange in the back seat, once we got out of the city and onto
darker roads, Allie also stroked my cock through my pants and even worked
it out of my fly at one point to shower it with teasing kisses.  She had
done this under the guise of lying down because she was tired.

   Once we got home we all shuffled off to bed claiming to be tired, but
once behind closed doors, as Allie stripped to down her nightie, I pushed
her to the bed and gave her a long slow screw, much to her pleasure and
liking.  Once I felt the stirring in my balls I turned her over and slipped
a condom over myself, and with her face buried in a pillow to muffle her
noises, I rode her pussy hard to mutual orgasms.

   As we lay in reverie of our sex I fell onto her and she lowered her
knees and ass to the bed so I was laying right on her.  My head fell to the
side of hers and a light film of sweat was all that separated our bodies.

   "Oh my Jessie (she never called me Jessie before), you took me like an
animal full of feral lust.  That was intense." She whispered softly. 
"Making quiet to keep us private made it even sexier.  You are all I want
for the rest of my life."

   I rolled from her to let her breathe fully, even though she hadn't
complained.  She immediately climbed onto my chest, resting the side of her
face in my chest hair looking at me.

   "That's how I want you when you make love to my ass.  Like an animal,
but slowly so I can take you and enjoy the fullness of you within me.  I
wanted to wait until we were married, but tonight I almost hoped you would
do that.  I can't wait for the day I've had you totally." She whimpered in
a joyous tearful voice.

   "Suppose I hurt you?  I fear that.  I don't want to hurt you and stir
any bad feelings." I warned her, thinking she was speaking out of orgasmic
lust and would change her mind later.

   "If I tell you I hurt, I know you'll stop, but I've enjoyed it when I
did myself, and I wouldn't hurt myself.  I want to feel you there or at
least try.  Promise me soon, OK?"

   "We'll talk when the dopamine and epinephrine channels aren't open and
talking." I said, knowing that her passion was fueled by her post-orgasm.

   After a few minutes of catching our breath and letting our heart rates
get back to resting levels she sat up and took off my condom, getting up to
wrap it in a tissue.

   "You don't suppose they heard us, do you?" She said looking back.

   "Number one, I don't care, and number two, we were pretty quiet.  It was
more passionate making love than fucking, well, until the end." I said with
a chuckle as I got up to pee right after she finished.

   Once back in bed Allie turned off the light and it was obvious that both
of our cell phones, both on silent since we left, were flashing away with
messages.  Allie got hers and brought mine to me.

   The message for both phones was the same, and it was from Cynthia, my
fill-in secretary.  Our building had been broken into; specifically
Sparkhill Shoes and then they broke through the walls to Maribel.  Mary was
working on a Saturday and was surprised by the intruders and was assaulted.
Luckily she got off a call to 911 once she knew there was trouble.  Cynthia
had arranged Sunday morning flights for us back to Boston.  We had to be in
Scranton by 6:00 am for 6:47 departures direct to Logan by commuter jet. 
It was almost midnight but I called Cynthia back and she was still waiting
for my call.

   "I was beginning to think I missed you altogether.  I figured you were
both busy with your phones off or on silent.  Can you get to Scranton that
early?" She asked.

   "Yes, we'll just have to get out of here early, that's all.  Is Mary
OK?" I was frantic to know as I put my phone on speaker.

   "Yes, it appears so.  She knew there was something going on in our
office when she called 911, but they were after something on her side and
came right through the wall surprising her.  She tried to run but one of
the guys grabbed her while the other was looking for something.  They think
they expected a safe for some reason.  When they didn't find it they beat
her up a bit and began to sexually assault her, but police and fire people
got there and made the men run, but they were caught in the building.  I'm
told she's got bruises and black eye and they've kept her overnight.  She's
been asking for you, . . .  and Allie too.  I couldn't get into see her so
I thought making these flight arrangements is what you would have wanted."
She told me.

   "Yes, Cynthia, I trust your judgment and I think you've done the wisest
thing." I said looking to Allie.

   Allie nodded and said "I'm going to wake my parents and let them know
what's happening, leaving early and all.  Thank you for taking care of this
for us."

   I finished up with Cynthia and told her I would see her Monday morning
for her 2nd , and final week of Rachel's honeymoon, also thanking her for a
job well done.

   Chapter Twenty Two

   The circumstance of our leaving early put a damper on the weekend but I
think I made the point that I was committed to her and if a relationship
with her family sealed that commitment in her mind, it was well worth it.
Plus if her parents thought she might be a lesbian, or even if they thought
she had been a lesbian, or at least lived in that relationship, she wasn't
now.

   Cynthia had been sketchy on the condition of Mary after her attack, but
she had been told her life was in no danger.  I realized that left a lot of
room for bad things, but I was glad she was in no danger in that regard. 
Once we got to Scranton and the airport I realized Cynthia had booked a
private jet, what's called a net jet, where you share total flight costs
with other businessmen sharing similar destinations.  Unfortunately there
was only one other person sharing this 15 seater so it was going to be
expensive, but at this point money did not matter.

   Once we landed at Logan I was able to get hold of a Worcester Police
Officer, whom I had a business relationship with as far as continued
support of their projects, so I had a little inside pull.  I spoke with a
friend of mine, an Officer Jack Harvey, who was an investigator and crime
scene specialist, who was able to read to me, off the record, the report he
had prepared so far.

   It looks as though the two men had wind of there being a safe at
Maribel, no inside alarm system outside of the front door and entrance to
Maribel, (which was off since Mary was working) and (normally) no persons
on the premises for the weekend.  They had somehow gotten past the guard on
the first floor and avoided the alarm system at Maribel by breaking in my
place.  They used sheet rock knives to cut away sheet rock and once they
cleared an opening between the studs, cut a doorway inside only to find a
stunned Mary Belanger, who had already called 911.  It was hot in the
building, since the A/C was off for the weekend, so she had been working in
her bra and panties since she was alone.  Even when I worked on a Saturday
or Sunday without notifying the building super ahead of time (who would
have scheduled the A/C to be on), I only wore a t-shirt and light sweat
shorts, or boxers.  (With fans it was bearable).

   Mary had panicked and froze for a moment and she was chased down and
pressured to tell where the safe was.  The safe had been built into a
closet, but it was empty.  Mary only bought it when it came as part of an
estate auction of art she bought.  She didn't even have the combination in
the building.

   When she couldn't open the safe they threatened her, then punched her
repeatedly in the face and then grabbed her bra off and manhandled her and
threatened to rape her.  They dragged her to the safe "closet" and held her
head in the door frame and slammed it a couple times in hopes of getting
the combination.  They ripped her underwear off and that's about the time
the Police broke in.  One ran back through the hole in the wall and the
other into the utility closet and attempted to cut himself into another
office, but he just cut himself into the back room of our office where he
met police who already captured his accomplice as well.

   Mary had black eyes and a concussion as well as having many body bruises
and contusions.  Upon hearing of her plight and condition I realized how
much I loved her.  Not in the way I loved Allie, but I considered Mary one
of the most important people in my life.  I knew I would spend as much time
as I could with her to help her recover.  As Jack Harvey read the report he
was preparing over the speaker phone Allison wept hard for her friend and
mentor.  Jack asked us to meet him at the office before going to the
hospital to answer a few questions and against my wishes I agreed to do
that for him.  It was then he told me that Mary was in an induced coma
until swelling around her brain resolved itself.

   At this point I was anguished and full of bile for the perpetrators
wishing I could spend a few minutes alone with them.  I began to ask
questions aloud, to myself.

   "Why did she have to have that fucking safe brought in there and why was
it made public?  Why didn't she sell the safe when she had offers for it?
She didn't need a safe, especially an old vintage one like that!  It was
worth so much more than the entire lot it was included in.  Why a safe? 
She kept no money on premises, no artwork other than the original
properties on her computers!" I shouted to myself, aloud for Allie to hear.

   "JESS, you have to calm down!  There is nothing we can do now for her
but give the police information and pray for Mary." She said as we got
closer to downtown hoping I might calm down so Jack Harvey wouldn't see me
in this mood.

   Her words did calm me as we pulled into the lot and I saw Jack get out
of his unmarked cruiser.  I introduced him to Alison and explained that she
worked for Mary and was on target to become her business partner.  There
was no reason to withhold information from her.

   "First, let me tell you that once again I've been told that Mary is
going to be fine and could be allowed to come around as early as this
afternoon.  The coma was simply for her own safety since her head had been
so swollen, but they just told me a few minutes ago that she is battling it
quite well and they have assured me that I can tell you there is no
clotting to worry about.  She is in no danger of a stroke.  Did you know
she lists you as her only family member?" Jack asked.

   "Really?  I'm not listed as spouse am I?"

   "No.  Under health care proxy and Advanced Health Care Directive on her
health insurance and from an operation she had last year you are listed as
"step-brother" on both forms." He told me.

   "That's weird, I think she has a sister, or maybe step sister.  She's
never really spoken much other than a mention.  Was she speaking when she
got to the hospital?"

   "Yes, she asked for both of you and stated you were her proxy and to
notify you as soon as possible.  A little thereafter the swelling got
dangerous and we were shooed away." Officer Harvey explained as he took us
up the elevator and my office.

   Once inside I saw my front door had been jimmied, but nothing else
rifled in the office.  Only there were big cut aways of sheet rock to show
where they could enter Maribel.  It looked like they cut along the studs on
one side and then just burst in right near Mary's draft table.  There were
blood spatters on the table and the floor there and back in a read room
where easels of work still stood.  There was the broken door open to where
the vintage safe stood.  On the floor was a lot, an alarming LOT of blood
where they slammed the door on Mary's head.  Both Allie and I cried at the
sight and I wanted to get to the hospital as soon as possible.

   "Is it possible that there is something in that safe neither of you know
about?" Jack asked.

   "There was a safety stud that prevented the door from being closed when
it arrived.  Do you remember seeing that Jess?" Allie asked

   "Yes.  She showed me, well, BOTH of us, the safe and told us how much it
was appraised at.  Then she pulled the stud off the inside of the door and
fit it into a corresponding hole on the inner wall of the safe and closed
it.  She spun the lock and showed us it was locked.  Saying that someday
she might have something to hold in it." I remembered.

   "When I asked her if she had committed the combination to memory, she
laughed.  She said the combo was put in her safety deposit box that
morning. She said she didn't have room at home for it and wasn't going to
pay to store it somewhere.  We once kept easels in here, but she had the
doorway widened to fit the safe in.  She kept the old door to make an
entrance to next door when we expanded." Allie said as she recalled the
morning.

   "Do either of you have any reason to think that she really may have had
something of value in here?" He asked.

   "Not that I know of." We said in unison.

   "Mary is an investor and she wouldn't have money, stocks or commodities
laying around.  She lives in a townhouse and more or less lives week to
week on what she pays herself.  She's frugal about a lot of things, she
drives a 6 year old car.  She wouldn't have any valuables here, especially
cash.  She has some personal heirlooms in her safety deposit box.  I've
been with her when she was in it, but not in a long time, maybe 9 or 10
months ago.  We both shared little secrets like that, where we might find
valuables in case anything happened to either of us."

   "So you were lovers?"

   "Yes, at one time.  It's complicated.  Allie and I are serious and Allie
works for Mary, will become her partner eventually." I answered.

   Jack put on a suspicious face.  "No animosity?"

   Allie looked at me and waited to hear my answer.  "No, when I told her I
was going to date Allie she wished me luck and I gave her an ultimatum; If
she wanted to try and make a go as lovers again, I would try the experiment
again, but she laughed at me in a mean way she has of treating anyone who
tries to get real close to her.  She basically told me that I would NEVER
be her husband if that's what I was hinting at."

   Allie had never heard this scenario quite put this way and I could tell
she was a bit hurt.  I would have to smooth this out later.

   Allie girded her face a bit to avoid a tear and with a lower lips that
trembled she said, "The local newspaper made a big deal about the old safe
moving into this building.  They rolled it through the lobby and made it
travel by itself on the elevator because of the weight.  The way the
article read it sounded like there WAS something of value in it when it
should have said that the safe itself was tremendously valuable.  But that
stud was in the safe door then and it was banded shut.  I saw the band come
off and the safe was empty.  A few hours later the scenario we explained
earlier took place and I don't think she opened it since."

   "How much is it worth?" Jack asked.

   "Ummm, she told me privately that it would fetch over 10K because of its
age, condition and hand painting on it.  It had been meticulously cared for
and everything in it was original, which I guess is rare.  But find the
newspaper story and you'll see how it reads." Allie said.

   "Jack, I have to get to the hospital and see her.  I'm sick over this."
I insisted as I moved towards the door.

   "OK, lock up.  And the security company is coming in later with some of
our men to secure the walls and set her alarm.  I assume you have keys and
alarm codes." He said to Allie.

   "Yes, I do.  I suspect I'll open tomorrow as we always do.  Mary would
want that.  Is it OK to clean everything up?" Allie asked.

   "If you can wait 24 hours, please do."

   "Alright, we won't touch a thing."

   Once we got in the car to go to the hospital Allie started sobbing.

   "It sounds like she'll be OK baby.  We can't be like this in front of
her if she wakes up."I said hoping to calm her.

   "I didn't know I was your second choice, your back up if Mary didn't
want you." She said through tears.

   "WHAT?  How did you get that?"

   "You said you offered to get back with her if she wanted to and you
wouldn't date me." She said in an almost accusatory tone.

   I pulled the car over and looked at her in disbelief.

   "You have to be kidding me.  You know that she and I were an item for a
long time.  You know I was going to ask her to marry me.  You know she shot
me down hard.  You know we became great trusted friends.  You know I was
having sex with her when she wanted it.  You know I ended that when I
started seeing you.  Yes, I did say that if she thought we could salvage
our relationship, I would not go out with you.  It was her last chance, my
chance to find out HOW she felt and whether she thought I would just come
back at her beck and call.  It was the decent thing to offer.  It was in no
way making you second choice.  Does not our relationship mean ANYTHING to
you?  Do you trust me THAT little?" I said rattling off my questions one
after the other.

   "You're going to break up with me when she comes around!" She said
through tears.

   "Allie I can't do this if you have no faith in US.  Don't the last 72
hours mean anything to you?  Doesn't anything I've said to you, promised
you, done for you mean ANYTHING?  YOU are my life, but I guess I am not
yours.  Let me go to the hospital alone.  I'll get you a cab out front and
I'll see you later.  I can't deal with this." I said as I put the car in
gear and drove the last few blocks to UMass Memorial Hospital.

   "I'M NOT GETTING OUT OF THIS FUCKING CAR.  I'M NOT GIVING YOU UP THAT
EASY!!" She shouted at me.

   "You aren't giving me up, you're giving me away.  I've given you every
assurance of where my heart stands and you insist on believing something
different.  Grow the fuck up!  Now get out!"

   "Fuck you!  I love you.  Why you love me is beyond me.  Look, I say some
asshole things and think some asshole thoughts.  But I can't live without
you now.  I love and trust you.  Let me stay with you.  Please Jess!"

   "Allison, who am I in love with?  The paranoid schizoid or the
reasonable woman?  You better get back to therapy and fix this paranoia.  I
won't marry you until believe me." I said pointing a finger in her face.

   "You want to marry me?"

   "Of course!  What did you think?"

   "You beat around the bush but YOU never actually said marry." She said
incredulously.

   I reached into the glove box of my car and took out a little velvet box
and basically threw it at her.

   "What do you think I bought this for?" I asked as she opened the little
box and saw the diamond I bought for her.

   She began to break into a huge smile, but when she looked at me she knew
I was still pissed off.

   "When were you . . . . . . .?" She asked.

   "Tonight, until all of this shit happened."

   "What shit, the robbery shit, or my shit?" She asked as the waterworks
started again.

   "YOUR SHIT!  I thought I had a sane woman to spend the rest of my life
with, but she insists on walking on eggshells all her life.  Take the ring,
keep it and we'll talk about it later."

   "I'M NOT GETTING OUT OF THIS CAR!" She shouted at me.  "You have to
forgive me for being a little paranoid.  I saw the look on your face when
you heard she was attacked.  I saw the way you looked at me when you told
the cop your circumstance."

   "Allison, do you actually THINK I would have said that in front of you
if I REALLY thought it would make any difference.  I think I've intimated
to you before that I offered her a chance to get back with me, even though
I had a huge crush on you.  I thought I had sold my heart to you, but
apparently not." I said in a shitty tone, still intent on leaving her
there.

   "Sell your heart to me?  I'M THE ONE whose trying to sell my heart to
you!  I've been sold on you since the first night we went out.  I've been
trying to win YOU!" She said before we both dropped back in our seats
exasperated with each other.

   "Well, aren't we a couple of high school kids who don't know shit." I
said.  "Here we are arguing over simple shit like this when we both want
the same thing while our friend Mary is up there fighting for her life. 
Allie, you've ALWAYS had me.  Hook, line, and sinker.  You've given me
doubts, but I've always been hooked.  I wasn't going to live on eggshells,
but I think we both mistook each other's perspective.  Let me park and
we'll go in and see Mary."

   "Can I keep the ring?"

   "Not right now, put it back and I'll give it to you later.  But think if
you want to accept it or not."

   "There's no thinking Jess.  YOU are the one."

   Chapter Twenty-Three

   In Room 4602 in the CCU Mary Belanger looked puffy and bruised.  A nurse
close by came over and said the swelling had went down considerable in the
last 12 hours or so, and then added, "She had a brain scan and MRI's and
there is no obvious damage, but with the brain you don't know.  She is no
longer under an induced comatose state.  Talk to her, rub her hand, touch
her cheek.  I think she should come around soon."

   I sat down beside the bed and began to tell her about our weekend. 
Allie had taken a washcloth and began to wash her face and then hold her
hand.  Every time I looked at Allie she would mouth "I love you" to me, but
I was still pissed at her.  After about the 10th time I said I love you
back to her and she smiled.  She was hard to stay mad at.

   I could see Allie had affection for her boss cum partner in the way she
used the cool washcloth in her forehead and held her hand.  I took her
other hand and began to call her name.

   "Mary, Mary Belanger, are you in there?" I said a few times and then
suddenly she squeezed my hand.

   "MARY!  MARY!" I said loudly and I saw the expression on her face
change.

   I asked Allie to go for a nurse and she went to the hallway as Mary
opened her eyes.

   "Jess, what?  Oh my God!" She said as she began to startle.

   "Calm down kid, you're OK.  We've all got your back.  You're OK now." I
said calmly.

   Mary's eyes scanned the room and she was definitely confused but you
could sense she was putting things together.

   "Is this the end?  Did those little fuckers kill me?" She asked
panicking and very confused.

   "No, no, no.  They tried to hurt you but the police got there before
they did too much.  Everything is OK now." I insured her as Allie came back
with the nurse.

   "Oh God, the two people I need and love the most in the world are here.
I'm going to die aren't I?  Is that why they called you?" Mary asked in her
confusion as the nurse came into the room to check on her, but stood back
as Allie reached to touch her face to calm her.

   "No, we're here because we love you and care for you.  When we heard our
friend was in trouble we came right home." Allie said as I took her hand.

   "You're going to be fine.  We were scared for you yesterday but by the
time we rushed back you rallied."

   Suddenly Mary broke into tears and seemed a little hysterical.

   "They came right through the wall and chased me.  I wasn't dressed and
they grabbed at me, kicked me.  They pulled everything off me and slammed
my head." Mary said getting wild eyed as the nurse moved in to shake an IV
bag before opening it's tap into the line going into Mary's arm.  I knew it
was a precautionary sedative as I had already looked at all the bags on the
tree.

   "Wait!" I said touching the nurses arm.  "She tends to panic when
confused, give me a second." I said as I took Mary's hand again and reached
to hold her cheek in my hand.

   "I know, I know, but you're OK now.  They helped you here and nobody
laid a hand on you." I said calmly knowing how excitable she was.

   Suddenly her face seemed to lose its clench and you could tell she was
putting things in order in her head.

   "Shouting and I could hear running.  Everything I saw was red, like
blood in my eyes.  I felt a warm cover go over me.  I could smell the
leather, like a coat.  Then it got quiet and my head hurt so bad and now,
today." She said, beginning to breathe normally again.

   I looked to the nurse.  "Let her think this out.  She's confused."

   "Doctor doesn't want her getting excited.  I'm responsible." She said as
she pushed the tubal pinch up to start the flow

   Mary looked at the nurse and then to me.  "Jess, it's OK.  Let me sleep.
I'm OK now.  I'm not dead or broken." She said as she faded into sleep.

   "That stuff isn't putting her back in that coma, . . .  is it?" Allie
asked.

   "No, no, it's just a sedative to let her mind rest and heal.  I can
report to doctor that she was totally lucid and aware of things around her,
with no seeming loss of memory.  Her brain still needs to heal.  If you had
seen her yesterday you would be amazed right now."

   The nurse showed us out and told us that we might let her be until after
noon on Monday.  I was listed as her contact and acting as her "next of
kin" so I would be called if there were any changes in her condition.  Mary
always said she truly had no one, and if this is what she had on file, I
guess it was true.

   Allie and I started to the elevator but she pulled me into a small
waiting room across from the elevator near the ICU.

   "We have to talk, and by that I mean me." She said sitting and looking
up to me.  "I've never been in a serious real relationship before.  With
everything in life I wait for the hammer or ax to fall to crush it all. 
You think I don't trust you, I DO!  I know how much you love Mary and
hearing that you offered her your heart before seeing me hurt me, and
knowing she needed someone right now I felt vulnerable.  I understand your
relationship much better now, just seeing you two in there.  She always
says you're like her brother, and I think she says that to be sure I know
nothing is going on, but I see it now.  I know we've been "the thing" the
last few months, but I've never felt I "hooked" you, if that's the word I
want.  You saying that you never thought you "hooked" me is funny.  I've
always been 100% there for the taking.  Bearing with these little matters
of the heart, I can't seem to sometimes grasp our love.  But know that I
love you more than anything in life and any chance I have of losing you
puts me in a panic and my big mouth just goes off.  Jess, you are the best
thing in life for me now and if you were to offer me that ring again I
would take it and be devoted to you, just like you would be devoted to me,
like the ring means.  All I have to give you in return is all of my love,
forever."

   Allie's words had my knees buckling and tears flowing, the same as she.
I sat and kissed her deeply just as another couple came into to wait on
their loved one.  We just nodded to them and got up to get on the elevator.
We didn't say much the entire ride home.  We brought our bags in and laid
on the bed for a half hour in each other's arms in deep thought and rest.

   It was only about 3 in the afternoon, but we were both emotionally and
physically tired.  Plus she had mentally drained me with her head games and
I hoped that an honest and open relationship would result from my
chastising of her.  I remembered hearing friends telling me their tales of
woe like "I love so and so but I'm afraid to tell them" and my response
would be "well, then they'll never know".  What can't people just be
straight?  The same would be for "I want to break up with so and so, but I
don't know how to tell them." I would say, "just tell them, why further the
head game of them thinking all is fine." Emotional honesty is so important
and it was funny that I learned it best from Mary.  She told me flat out
she could not live with me and couldn't imagine me being her husband.  Was
I insulted?  No, my feelings were hurt a little but at least I knew where I
stood and we could continue as friends and that has worked out great.

   I think Allie and I had mind of making love and I'm not sure which one
of us fell asleep first, but we both went out just after we both agreed we
should get up before WE DID fall asleep.  We were drained.  The next thing
we were aware of was the phone ringing.  I saw the clock read 6 and I was a
little stunned at the time as I answered.

   "Hello, this is Nurse Atkinson calling with an update on Mary Belanger,
you're listed as her next of kin contact.  Her Brother?"

   "Ummm, yes."

   "This afternoons sedation wore off around 5 o'clock.  She seemed more
lucid and spoke to me about the incident a bit.  Told me about you and your
girlfriend and then complained of being hungry.  The Doctor had Ok'ed her
for solid food now that surgery had been ruled out and she ate like she was
very hungry.  I might encourage you not to come and see her tonight and let
her rest again.  If she doesn't sleep on her own we will assist her in
getting down.  Rest is really best for her now.  Tomorrow she is scheduled
for a few tests during the day and if all goes well the doctor will see her
Tuesday morning and perhaps release her.  If you want to see her tomorrow
without interrupting her tests I would say to come after 3 in the
afternoon."

   "She'll be asleep tonight?"

   "Yes, the more rest the better.  Her swelling is almost all down,
besides her face.  She'll get big shiners now and be sore, but we'll have
medication for her."

   "You know you won't keep her away from work.  Is it possible to get her
into a rehab?" I asked.

   "That shouldn't be necessary." Nurse Atkinson said

   "Unless you tie her to a bed, she will be at work within an hour of
letting her go home." I said.

   "She will be in pain and not feel like . . . . . . ." She started to
say.

   "If she had a limb hanging on by a thread, she would be at work.  If she
can't drive she'll call a taxi."

   "Can I give the Doctor your number so you might explain to him.  He
wants to get her home as soon as he can." She explained.

   "Her work IS her home.  Why do you think she was working on a Saturday
with no A/C in the building alone in her underwear?"

   I heard her sigh.  "OK, I'll tell him.  He doesn't like rehabs.  Can't
you stay with her?  You ARE her brother."

   I was going to light into her at this point, but instead I just said,
"I'll work on that on my end, you work on it on your end, OK?"

   I hung up and Allie was right there wanting the update.  I explained it
ALL and said, "so Mary might be living here with me, or I might stay with
her for a few nights, IF they can't arrange a rehab."

   Allie took a deep breath and looked at me forlornly and said, "OK, if
that is what you have to do.  I can help too."

   "I would hope so." I said, surprised that she didn't show any jealousy
or mistrust.  Maybe she had grown since our tiff this afternoon.

   "Are you and Susan capable of running the operation as long as Mary is a
phone call away?" I asked.

   "We can run it without speaking to her.  I have a bunch of projects
going, some are going to artwork for finish and they need presentations to
the customer.  I feel confident I can do that.  Mary sells them real well
and usually gets them by without being asked for changes, but I think I
could be OK.  With no new work coming in we can stay busy for another
month. We have things not due for 90 days or more.  Mary might be able to
work on new stuff by phone to some extent." Allie said confidently.

   "I don't know whose luckier to have you, me or Mary." I said as I hugged
her and we chuckled together.

   Allie sighed and looked at me with affection before saying, "Are we OK
now?  You're going to be able to put up with me?"

   "I'm not going to live with the doubts, Allie." I said shaking my head
and pulling away from her.

   "I love you more than anything in the world, but I am NOT going to go
through life wondering what exactly is going through your head about us.  I
say one word sideways and you look at me like I'm about to execute you.  No
matter how pissed off I may get with you, I love you, I worship you, you
are my life.  That doesn't mean I can't get mad at you, or you mad at me. A
quarrel or an argument does not mean the end of days for us.  But, doubting
my love for you is something I can't take.  I spend my day in devotion to
you, no matter what I do.  Everything I work for is or for us.  Besides the
obvious things, what could I possibly do that would make you stop loving
me?"

   "By "obvious" I suppose you mean cheating, deserting, running around
with other women, lying, deceiving, all that happy stuff you hear about
with nightmare guys, right?" She asked naively.

   "Of course and the same applies to my feelings towards you, so why in
hell would you worry, or DOUBT me?" I asked as if I were insulted at the
suggestion.

   She made a look as if she had been slapped in the face, sort of a "I
could have had a V-8" moment.

   "You know when you winnow it all down to the brass tacks of the
situation, I hate to admit that you're sooooooo right.  How could I doubt
you, or even think it.  It's so stupid." She said as she began to cry and
blubber out while she cried "I'm so sorry to think like I have about you.
No one has ever been so honest with me."

   She came to my shoulder again and cried for a few more minutes until my
back pats and rubs with comforting whispers calmed her down.  She broke the
hug and kissed me twice one on each cheek saying, "Honesty and TRUST. 
Never worry about me again."

   "And you never have to worry about me." I said, adding "Honesty and
trust.  If ANYTHING ever comes between us it will be out front so we can
discuss it openly and honestly.  Agreed?"

   "Agreed, but it will never happen.  I love you so much." She said,
crying again.

   I thought we might make love spontaneously on the spot when the phone
rang and I saw it was the hospital's exchange.  I answered it on
speakerphone to be sure Allie understood what was happening.

   "Hello, this is Doctor Szibesna, I am treating your sister, Mary
Belanger.  The nurse tells me you would prefer she go into a rehab rather
than send her home when she is ready.  That will be soon as she has
progressed quite nicely and will not need the care she is receiving here.
Are there family problems?  I assumed you would be the caretaker.  You ARE
her health proxy and you're entrusted with her wishes and best interests."

   "The problem is that she is a workaholic and does not know the meaning
of relax.  If she leaves the hospital she will be at her office within
hours, no matter how good or bad she feels.  Her business partner and I can
run her business quite well until she is fit to be at work, but I can't
imagine you would want her to put herself under such stress so soon." I
began to explain.

   "Well, she still needs bed rest, and recuperative sleep.  Ideally her
prognosis for at least 2 weeks would be for short walks, no bending over,
no lifting, bed rest, and an aided sleep of at least 8 hours.  She mustn't
drive until she gets approval from an eye doctor and then me, or one of my
staff.  She seems to be out of the woods on each of the usual problems
people with head trauma have, but things can crop up.  We want her to ease
herself back to normalcy.  I would expect she not resume regular life for
at least a month, if there are no problems.  I take it she runs her own
business?"

   "Yes, she does but she has an able partner, an experienced staff, and
enough back logged business to keep her business running and profitable. 
She will probably have enough stress just hearing updates of what is
happening in her office, and there will NO WAY of stopping that.  There is
no such thing as her "taking it easy" if she is allowed to be there.  She
is NOT cut that way.  I cannot provide 24 hour care, she would be left
alone for 10 hours a day and she would be in a cab before we knew it." I
continued.

   "She has no one else available?"

   "No, my live-in girlfriend happens to be her partner, so she cannot do
it either."

   "NO, other family?" He asked.

   Here is where I had to lie and put on an act, hoping I wasn't breaking
any law by misrepresenting myself as her "next of kin".

   "No, no other family.  I am all she has."

   "Give me a moment to think.  Hmmmmm . . . . . . ." The Doctor said as I
heard a few pages fumbled and the distinct sound of scribbling with a
pencil.  "You realize her insurance is going to dispute my recommendations
and she may have to fight this later on, but I will work with her if there
is a dispute.  I am going to move her to a regular private room with a
therapist to see her each day until Friday.  Then we'll transfer her to
Ledgestone, their Prospect Park unit in Shrewsbury.  It's a rehab
specializing in head injuries, and I'll keep her there until I see her on
the following Friday.  She'll get great care there, plus they'll monitor
her eyes, which may become her greatest concern, long term.  They will also
show her what can happen if she overdoes things, because they will push her
to her limits to evaluate her faculties.  I can tell you now, in a best
case scenario, she will know her limits and be aware what it is like to
lose, or have impaired, the senses we take for granted.  She will be a
perfect candidate for their treatment.  The brain is an incredible organ
with an awesome ability to heal itself, but it must be allowed to.  Scans
of her brain indicate damage from severe blows, but nothing, in my current
estimation, that won't turn itself around if properly cared for."

   "Oh, that's great, Doc.  I can't tell you how much this means to me and
to Mary in the long run.  We'll let her know that she will get office
updates each day from her staff and that "should" satisfy her until she
drives you and the staff at the rehab crazy." I said with a chuckle.

   "I take it your sister is driven, and that's a quality that is
admirable, but she has to know this is nothing to toy with.  Her brain and
her major senses have to walk away from this unscathed.  I will communicate
that to her and you should do the same.  I'll let her know when I see her
in the morning.  Nurse Atkinson tells me you will be to see her tomorrow
evening, that will be good giving her more time to sleep and digest what I
tell her.  Good evening Mr.  Sparkhill." He said finishing before hanging
up.

   Chapter Twenty Four

   After explaining the details to Allie that she hadn't gleaned over the
speakerphone I paced the floor of the townhouse for a few minutes running
the ramifications of all of it over and over in my head.  I was satisfied
that when she left the re-hab we could handle her at her own place.  I
would confiscate her keys from her personal effects the hospital had given
me and have Allie drive it home on Monday and park it at her townhouse. 
Then when she came home she would still depend on others for transport. 
After two weeks of intense rest and therapy I knew she would never sit
still for another two weeks and would be in her office come hell or high
water, but she was going to have to use me or a cab for a ride.

   Allie saw me in deep thought and read my mind a bit.

   "You know if she were to ride in with us, I could sort of keep her on a
leash at the office, monitor her time spent on her feet, and keep her
behind a desk.  She can hawk business and work on ideas from there. 
Presentations will be a problem, but I'll have Susan insist that clients
come to us for the showing and I'll do parts of them with her and Mary. 
Maybe if we package it as a luncheon with them they would agree to come to
us.  If someone demands we come and do the presentation on their turf,
usually with investors and principles around, I'll have Mary coach me and
even do run-thrus with me.  I get the impression from your words with the
Doctor that if she tries to push herself, she'll feel it." Allie surmised.

   "Yeah, I got that too.  A little scary there, huh?  I've read about
people who challenge their brain and feel like they are riding in a car
with the pedal to the metal and wanting to go faster and can feel the
overload, how exhausting it is.  That may be what this will be like for
her." I said, distraught this was happening to one my friends.

   Allie saw my state and pulled me to the sofa and sat me down.  She knelt
on one knee before me and produced the ring box I had given her earlier in
the day during our argument and quarrel.

   "Jess, I am here on one knee to ask you to ask me to marry you with this
ring as a sign of your unending love and devotion.  If you should do so I
will give you a resounding YES and work to prove every day that I am
deserving of your love as you will certainly work every day to prove you
are deserving of mine.  Upon us both agreeing to this arrangement I plan on
making love to you over and over tonight, so be prepared for that should
you accept."

   I couldn't help have a tear form at the corner of my eye for the cute
way she had turned this tradition around to fit our circumstance.

   "Allison, I want you to be my wife, if you would so consent." I asked as
I took the ring from her fingers and placed it on her proper finger.

   She looked at the ring on her finger and fell forward crying, almost
uncontrollably.  I didn't know joy could be so wrenching.  I tried to get
her to straighten up so I could kiss my bride to be, but she resisted, so I
let her cry it out.  After about 3 or 4 minutes she composed herself enough
to straighten out and seek my lips.  We shared wet teary kisses for a few
minutes until I felt her hand slide over my thigh and hold my cock through
my house-pants.

   She broke our kiss as she was still crying somewhat and looked to my
eyes and asked; "Is it selfish of my to want to taste you and feel you
surge in my mouth, to make you happy, to fulfill me?"

   She wasn't waiting for an answer as she pulled the satiny finished pants
from under me and before they were on the floor she had sat up a bit and
burrowed her head between my legs to trap my thankful member in her mouth
as she voiced satisfaction as my eyes rolled into my head.

   Already a natural at oral sex, she had saved her best performance until
now.  She eventually moved herself between my legs and held my balls in her
hand and put the base where my cock met my balls in the slot between her
thumb and forefinger of the other hand.  Her mouth dove over me to where
her lips were touching the circle she was forming around the base, over and
over.  I could not remember being so titillated by just a mouth with such
passion.  I don't think I lasted 90 seconds under her divine foray into a
unique adaptation of a deep throat.

   I groaned deeply and growled as my orgasm hit me in a flash.  She showed
no variation in her rhythm or meter of the beat she was keeping with her
sexuality as she swallowed and drained the balls she held in her hand. 
Only my softened cries as if to shout "uncle" made her slow and stop,
pulling her mouth off me and moving up over me to paste her mouth on me. 
There was little left of my own taste in her mouth as we kissed and necked.
She fell exhausted on me as we both caught our breath, but our workout was
too much and we both fell asleep.

   The heat of our mostly naked bodies against each other woke us both up
in what couldn't have been 15 or 20 minutes.  After she rolled off of me I
stood and picked her up and brought her smiling to the bedroom.  I set her
near the edge of the bed and I knelt on the floor to bury my face in her
pussy much to her delight.  As much as I loved making women happy with my
tongue on their clit, Allie tasted so sweet, clean, and sexy every time I
went south on her.  She seemed more tuned in this night as she began to
whip her head side to side like she was trying to endure something and
suddenly she filled her lungs with a deep breath and brought her hands to
her breasts and began to massage them and pull on her nipples.  Her tasty
pussy flushed with fluid as she pushed it to my mouth raising her hips and
suddenly bucking me off in an orgasm she could no longer endure.  She
curled into a ball and rolled up onto the bed with me chasing her crawling
up to cover her mouth with mine.  She seemed to relish her own taste as we
necked.

   Eventually I was able to slide my hand down her belly and touch her
pussy again, sinking my middle finger deep into her, beginning a rhythmic
pumping.  She smiled at me and drew up her knee before bringing her fingers
down to oscillate over her clit.  She closed her eyes and was humming one
happy note in her own little world.

   With her knee up, lying flat, her cheeks were open just enough to show
me her lovely plump plum of an asshole.  With my fingers drenched in her
juices I resisted all efforts of my conscience to stop my urge to play
there.  In one move I pulled my finger from her pussy and rubbed around her
pretty pink little wrinkle and slid my warmed, slickened, middle finger in.
She never opened her eyes or made any other motion to stop me or show me
alarm.  I leaned up and drizzled some of my own saliva over my pistoning
finger to allow me some added slippery as she was undoubtedly enjoying my
play.  I heard her breath catch and she trembled a bit as more juice flowed
from below her fingers, over her hairless lips and down to my fingers.  She
was enjoying some lovely cums to accompany both mine and her play.

   When her juice reached my finger I tucked my index finger behind my
middle finger to widen the hole I was trying to relax, and relax seemed to
be the salient word.  She was still in her own little euphoria and her
bottom was opening to me.  If I could move to fill my hand with saliva to
cover the head of my cock, I needn't shift too far to disrupt her to press
my cock into her slickened little private hole.  I already knew that she
was expecting to have me there as she made no protests or warnings as
before.  She was confident that I would not hurt her if there were a
problem.

   In one motion I rose up on the knee bent under me and took my fingers
from her and loaded them with my saliva as the light caught more of her
juice running over from her pussy to add to the wet spot under her, but not
before passing over the reddened plum of her dilated ass.

   I nudged my cock to her and I felt her draw a breath as I easily slid in
a few inches as she moaned over her hum.  I couldn't penetrate her more
than a few inches in this position, but she was feeling me at my widest and
I replicated the rhythm of my former fingering.  She just moaned and
groaned in appreciation of the full feeling I was giving her as we both
tweaked her sex nerve ending from either side.  Unfortunately, in this
position, I could not hold on much longer as I could feel a cramp building
in the knee I had been sitting on.  I had to disengage from her and stand
to stretch that out.  I was about to apologize for the interuptus when she
fully rolled to her stomach and rose her ass into the air and came towards
me, her plump red gaping asshole seeming to cry out for me.

   With a little added spittle I placed the head to the little hole and
slid right in, this time taking her fully as she seemed to startle and
press a hand back to my pubic bone and I thought she was going to cry out
in pain, but she rested her raised head down and began her moans and groans
again, moving her hand and then pushing back to me.  I began a steady in
and out trying not to go any deeper than she might want to take it with her
pushes back to me.  As our natural lubrication was drying up I felt my cum
rising, I only hoped it might happen before the friction might hurt her and
suddenly she seemed to figure out my dilemma and I felt her squeeze on me
with each thrust withdrawal, trying to hurry the inevitable.  With little
warning I felt my balls surge and the ecstasy of orgasm sweep me.  I was
just going to pull from her and squirt onto her back when she pushed back
to let her hole swallow me again.  She squeezed and I saw some of my cum
ooze from her on my back strokes telling me I had re-lubed the little chute
to allow me to totally finish.  I pumped 5 or 8 more times before I knew I
was done and my lust totally satisfied.  She reached back and awkwardly put
a hand towards my back as if to grab me as she fell forward.  I placed a
knee on the bed and fell with her, still pressed into her sweet ass and
lying right on her body.

   I heard her cry (for about the 20th time today) and she whispered with
my ear so close to her mouth.  "That was the most beautiful thing you could
have possibly done for me.  So much passion.  So much."

   If I ever had been wishy-washy to myself about commitment, that had
passed.  I was cemented to her in every way and that was not just the anal
copulation that made that commitment, it was the vibe and passion that
flowed wordlessly from body to body.  They say "intercourse" is the
ultimate male to female communication and we had just proved it. 
Wordlessly we expressed how deep and committed our love was.  It was a
moment that would last seemingly forever.

   We lay like that for 10 minutes or so when Allie complained of gas pains
and I told her to let fly, but she wanted to go in the bathroom so I helped
her wobbly legs get in.  (She would later say she experienced a body orgasm
and that her whole insides seem to "shiver" (her words) once she stood up.
However a few minutes later when she came out she said all was fine.

   "No problems or soreness?" I asked worried I had been too hard on her
reminding her of her sessions with Simone.

   "No, you made love to me and that could never be bad.  Everything is
just perfect with me and you and the world." She said with a knowing wink
to my inner thoughts.

   We dressed in our sleep clothes and went to the kitchen arm in arm.  "Do
we have anything here for dinner?" She asked, "I famished."

   "I have a cold bottle of champagne, what say I get a "Trawler" from
Bubba's delivered?  That would be a right celebration of our engagement."

   "Trawler?"

   "Shrimp!  A dozen raw peeled, 6 beer steamed, 6 garlic butter sautéed, 4
Cape Cod biscuits, and slaw."

   "Are the Cape Cod biscuits the ones you had leftover that time I warmed
them up and wolfed `em down?" She asked knowing I would remember her not
saving me one while I ran an errand.

   "One in the same!"

   "Get an extra four.  They are awesome.  You left me alone here with no
lunch and they were in a doggie bag.  Sorry about that." She giggled to me.
"Besides I'll need something to soak up the bubbly if you want to keep me
awake for another round." She said as she turned to me and rubbed her hand
from under my balls to the top of my cock.

   "So we're STILL celebrating?" I said as I grabbed her ass low from
behind through her thin sleeper shorts, my thumb pressing to her asshole
and my fingertips on her pussy.

   "Oooo, that little hole is tender, IT'S through celebrating!" She said
jumping.

   "I was a bad boy, I didn't use lube for you." I whispered.

   "Had you stopped for that it would have ruined the moment and I might
have balked altogether.  I couldn't have been more perfect or more
passionate otherwise, our spittle was OK.  We both did it without thinking.
It was truly spontaneous love making.  If we never do it again, I'll always
remember it, you were so sweet."

   Allie turned to me and almost tried to like climb up me, she wanted to
hug and hold me so hard.  I lost my balance and fell back into my recliner
as we laughed and she stayed on me and got a whimsical look on her face and
began to play in my chest hair as she spoke concentrating on her fingers
while she spoke, almost like she might have been embarrassed to tell me to
my face.

   "You know we talked about things I missed growing up in those formative
17 to twenty-something years.  My therapist asked me a lot of sexual
questions dealing with that trying to figure out where my head was, you
know, my thoughts.  I never had sex in a car, gave a blowjob in a car where
she says most girls do it for the first time.  I was never fingered under
the table or under a coat or blanket in a public place.  I never jerked off
my boyfriend or got felt up or fingered in a movie theater.  She went
through a whole variety of sexy things young girls do as they learn about
boys, sex and men.  It wasn't that girls who don't are odd, but they mostly
are liars.  I didn't have to lie, I really didn't do any of that stuff.  I
was thrust into a different situation.  Can we do some of those kid things,
those frightened teenage girl things so I can experience it all?  I know
that's silly, but you're everything I've ever wanted in being in love where
sharing and (this is where she finally made eye contact) HONESTY were the
keys.  I'm not unhappy with any of the sex we've had and am really quite
fulfilled, but I would like those other experiences.  Do you think we can
get those horny urges on our plate?  I would love to experience all of
those things with you.  I just think about necking in the car and then
sucking you and I'm so full of joy I laugh, knowing how happy you and I
would be being 17 again.  I'm not being ridiculous or silly am I?"

   "You're not being silly at all.  It sounds like fun to me and I've done
most of those things, but usually with the trepidation that I didn't know
if the girl would go along with it.  I shouldn't tell you this, but one
night after working out Mary got in the car and suddenly reminisced about
the first time she gave a blowjob and insisted on doing me right there.  So
don't think it's silly.  When it comes to sex and fulfillment, we should do
what we feel at the moment." I told her.

   "I wonder if she was as petrified as I was my first time.  You didn't
know it but I was so nervous I thought I might throw up, and not from what
I was putting in my mouth.  It was nerves.  Once I smelled the sex you
exuded and got my first taste I calmed right down.  Your man scent and the
taste just makes your sex tickle and trickle.  I used to wonder what
satisfaction a woman got from it, I found out fast." She said with a funny
little knowing chuckle.

   She kept her position on top of me and I could see her deep in thought.
I played a hunch and answered the question I knew she wanted to ask, but
wouldn't.

   "Allie, the answer is YOU by far.  She doesn't like to taste cum and
spits it out or avoids it.  She likes doing it as much as anyone, but I
always know the ending is going to NOT be real sexy.  Now, never wonder or
compare, unless you want ME asking you questions.  Certain things you just
don't talk about.

   "How did you know what I was thinking that, . . . .and I didn't say I
was?" She said with a "knowing that she had been caught" smile

   "Because that's something else a 17 year old girl wonders when she's
blowing the star of the basketball team, the one that all of her
girlfriends has already been with." I said laughing.

   "Sounds like you've been there, done that." She said sheepishly.

   "I wasn't the star of the basketball team, but I had my share of high
school sex like that and I was asked, flat out, to compare."

   "Did you lie?"

   "Sometimes yes and sometimes no.  A girl with your dick in her mouth
wants to hear she does it better that anyone, and considering she has
teeth, I would always be nice." I laughed.

   "Alright you've told me too much stuff about your days before me, I
don't think I want to hear anymore.  I want you for mine!  Why don't we
take showers?" She said pulling at my arm.

   "No, the food has to be delivered.  Why don't you go ahead and I'll go
in after you.  If we go in together I'll lose my last bit of anything in
those balls you love so much.  You know you're going to try to suck me in
the shower." I said confidently.

   "Yes, well I was looking forward to that, but I guess you're right.  I
want to taste you later, but I need a deposit in my pussy, the poor little
thing feels neglected." She pouted.

   "I'll make a special effort to neck with her later and use LOTS of
tongue." I teased as she grabbed herself with a loud start and ran to the
bathroom shower.

   By the time the food came we both had time to finish our showers and we
sat at the table eating shrimp with our fingers and drank champagne from
juice glasses while we laughed, teased, and kissed our way through dinner.
We ate every last bite of food including the extra biscuits, and all of the
champagne, a whole mag, leaving us both full and a bit tipsy, to say the
least.

   We ended up on a comforter, spread on the floor, in the living room.  We
rolled around necking and giggling until I got serious and began to eat her
pussy in my drunken exuberance to her great delight while fucking as many
as four fingers at once in and out of her.  We knew none of my neighbors
were home because they would have called the police thinking something were
terribly wrong with her impassioned squeals and shrieks.

   Once I finally gave my position up at the font of her femininity she
rolled up to her knees and proceeded to give my "bad touch area- where your
bathing suit covers" a total tonguing from belly button to top of my ass
crack finishing with a blowjob that had me to the brink 2 times, with she
being careful not to get me over.  Then, with her lips red and swollen from
all her sucking, she popped up and straddled me dropping her drenched pussy
onto my cock.  With only her pussy touching me, her hands and feet on the
floor she looked like a jockey on a horse as her torso went up and down
over me until I came, what must have been one of the longest orgasms of my
life.  I'm not sure I ever shot so much on a first try, let alone a third,
but she had me crazy.

   When we finally woke up I was still inside Allie, although she was
turned somewhat on me allowing me to breathe while we slept (maybe we
passed out, I don't know) But after we got up and cleaned up all her juice,
all my cum, I complained of a real sore dick, (saying I pulled a muscle
haha) Whatever fueled our passion for that last screw of the day was
definitely a magic potion.  The day that started so somber, flying home to
see about our injured friend, had ended with a true "around the world" one
day sex tour that probably only happens a few times in anyone's life, if at
all.  After all the changes she had put me through, even in this one day,
it ended with me solidly committed to this wonderful lover, wonderful
woman. She proved to be my true soul mate, my everything.  She understood
my needs, my wants, and I, hers.  The idea of devotion, honesty, and trust
rung true for her, for us. 
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