("`-''-/").___..--''"`-._ `6_ 6 ) `-. ( ).`-.__.`) (_Y_.)' ._ ) `._ `. ``-..-' _..`--'_..-_/ /--'_.' ,' (((' (((-((('' (((( K R I S T E N' S C O L L E C T I O N _________________________________________ WARNING! This text file contains sexually explicit material. If you do not wish to read this type of literature, or you are under age, PLEASE DELETE THIS FILE NOW!!!! _________________________________________ Scroll down to view text Archive name: chance.txt (MF, rom, cheat) Authors name: Empath (empath69@my-deja.com) Story title : Leave it to Chance -------------------------------------------------------- This work is copyrighted to the author © 2001. Please don't remove the author information or make any changes to this story. All rights reserved. Thank you for your consideration. -------------------------------------------------------- Leave it to Chance (MF, rom, cheat) by Empath (empath69@my-deja.com) *** "You really... shouldn't beat... yourself up like this... It's not... your fault." "Shut up and row... don't waste your breath...or do you want me... to beat you?" I replied in spurts. I had let Pete drag me down to the health club ("C'mon and vent some of that anger at her" was a compelling argument), but I'd be damned if he was going to lecture me about getting out and trying again. "Not... likely... but-" If he wouldn't pipe down I'd just tune him out. I let go of the handles, kept my leg-motion going, and quickly turned my walkman up LOUD, grabbed the handles on the next forward movement, and resumed my stroke. Pete had decided on a 'race': we took adjacent rowing machines, set them to a mile, and started at the same time. The first to reach the 'finish line' won a beer off the loser. And since he refused to let me stew over Becca cheating on me, and get over things in my own way, I vowed the price for nagging me would be that drink. I put everything into my rowing, closing my eyes and clearing my mind. In retrospect, I should have formed an image of me rowing across a lake or something, as thoughts of Becca slipped into the opening. * We'd been dating for almost two years before we moved in together. I was hopelessly in love with her, and she reciprocated: she walked on the ground that I worshipped. Seriously, she was warm and caring, fun and vivacious. Maybe too exuberant for me alone, looking back with the benefit of hindsight. I'd been away on a training seminar, and on my way back bad weather had delayed me. I called her to say that the earliest flight was twenty-four hours later, and she agreed to pick me up the next evening. But when I checked with the airline the next morning, they told me someone had cancelled and I could get out on an earlier flight. I took the chance, and decided to not bother Becca at work; I'd grab a cab back to the apartment and spend the rest of the day recovering from the jet lag. I know, I know - you've already figured out where this is going; it's annoying to know you've lived a cliche. To my credit, I didn't find them in bed; she was in the shower and he was drying off and getting dressed. The guy just looked at me in surprise - towel in his hands, hair still damp and spiky, pants unbuckled but thankfully covering everything. I looked at this stranger sadly and, glancing at the closet, said "At least she hasn't got you wearing my clothes" as I walked to the bathroom. I rapped on the shower door, and got a "Just a minute, lover," for my troubles. Becca shut of the water, opened the door, and looked upon me with shock. She recovered quickly, and blurted out "We were at the gym, and went to a bar to have a drink. He asked if he could clean up-" I placed a finger on her lips and said softly "Just stop lying. Please?" Her shoulders sagged, and her head slumped forward, presumably unable to look me in the eye. I couldn't tell if it was tears or water from her hair dripping onto my shoes. "How many times?" "Just this once." She did meet my eyes, and I knew. Looking her straight in the face, I could see that even though she was telling the truth, she didn't think this was nearly as serious as I did. It was that point I understood our differences. Becca was (and still is, I imagine) a hedonist - she had a huge amount of love in her and she had to share it with as many people as she could. It was admirable, and I wish I could have accepted it in her, but I'm not like that. I wanted one person to share my life and hers together. A refuge I could count on when the rest of the world turned on me. Someone to protect and to protect me. In short I wanted a private parking spot, but she was a public parking garage. It's not the best analogy, and I don't mean to make her sound slutty, but our conceptions of love were just that different. It wouldn't work, and I'd realized it then. After the guy left, I sat her down and tried to convey to her what I'd just grasped. Becca agreed with my evaluation of her philosophy on love, but she just couldn't see my side of things. She was so locked in her mindset that my 'selfish' needs were incomprehensible. Such limitations wouldn't fit in her head. And it was that inability to understand my thinking was the point we agreed upon - this relationship couldn't work with us like we were. That evening we packed up her stuff and got her ready to move in with some of her girlfriends, leaving me alone in our...my apartment. That evening I gave up my worship of this bright, shining star of happiness, and settled into dwelling on the edge of the shadows surrounding that light. That evening I gave up on finding someone to share my love, and resolved to make the best of a solitary life. That evening all of my plans for shared experiences with a soul mate were packed away in my mind, and probably festered themselves into hatred of Becca for stealing my future life from me... * It was that pent-up rage that was Pete's downfall. My fury at how Becca had betrayed me, had let me down, and how Pete was forcing me to dwell on it some more - not in a time and place of my choosing, either - fueled my body and sped it to its goal. I reached a mile about fifteen seconds before my athletic friend. But it wasn't enough. I'd been charged by these feelings, and now I had to burn off the energy they gave me. Pete stayed there and we went another three miles on the rowing machines. Well, I covered three miles; Pete was keeping a reserve - he had to go to work after this workout, whereas I holding nothing back. It was oddly peaceful, concentrating solely on my stroke and my progress. That imaginary lake I finally pictured was crossed several times before the extra energy faded. I was setting the computer for another mile when I felt a hand rest on my shoulder. "Ted? I gotta go; if I don't shower and get to work, I'm gonna have too much free time to exercise!" It took a second for my fizzing brain to process this. "Oh, okay. Pete? I'm gonna hang around for a little longer - probably hit the free weights." My friend looked worried. "Are you sure you should, Ted? I mean right now you're a little worked up-" "Thanks to you, and relax; I've burnt off that rage. Now I think I'll work these depleted muscles just to the limit." "But you're tired; you could hurt yourself." "Don't worry - I know enough to not go pushing for strength work when I'm like this. It'll be low weight, high reps - build up my endurance. It HAS been some time, and I could use some improvement. Go ahead, tell me I'm wrong." He frowned at me, as he always did when I was right and when he didn't like it. "Yeah. Go ahead. But promise me you won't do anything stupid. And get someone-" "-To spot me when I'm lifting. Relax, Pete; I know the rules. I'm just out of practice, not a rank amateur! Now go get that shower before you have to rush straight to the hospital stinking like you do!" * When I got to the weight room, I saw that my promise to Pete wouldn't be that easy to keep. The place was just about empty; a lone woman working with hand weights was the only occupant. She looked up hopefully upon my entry. Upon examining me, though, her expression looked crestfallen for a moment and she moved slightly away from the rack of weights. Without someone to spot for me, I couldn't safely use most of the free weights. I'd be stuck with the hand weights like this young woman. I sized her up, while I did some curls - small, slender, maybe early twenties. She had short blonde hair, a clean complexion and a decent set of curves to her torso. She wasn't voluptuous but couldn't be called 'boyish'. When I looked in her direction, she avoided my gaze. Shy around strangers, no doubt. What petite woman wouldn't be in a quiet, lonely part of a health club? Even someone like me - an averagely built accountant who'd skipped two year's worth of regular exercise - could be a serious threat...if he wanted to. I'd always been nauseated by this double standard life dealt out - a guy could go almost anywhere and be comfortable on his own, while a woman had to be paranoid about being alone in public - HAD to. Well, this one wouldn't be on edge because of my presence, not if I could help it. "Excuse me. Were you hoping to use the barbells?" That overture startled her, and she nearly dropped her weights. She recovered, and nodded. "Yes, so did I. I came here with a friend, but he had to leave, and there's no staff around to help, so I end up with no spotter." If she'd listened to what I'd said, she made no sign of it. Oh well, I'd have to carry this conversation. So be it - at the very least I'd be able to get some work done. "So I was wondering, could you spot for me?" This surprised her, and she doubtfully pointed to herself and asked in a soft voice "Me?" "Yes, you. You're the only one around here who could help me. And don't look like that - I don't need Schwarzenegger, just someone to give that little extra boost when I reach my limit." The woman thought it over for a second, and acceded to my request. I rubbed my hands eagerly and went over to a bench. I set up the bar light - only ten pounds in addition to the five-pound bar. "This may take a while - I haven't been keeping up for years and I'll have to start off small. That and I just had a pretty heavy aerobic workout earlier." I heard a faint sniff, and tried not to smile. I lay on the bench and grasped the bar in its cradle. I felt my spotter take up position past my head. I looked back, regarded this suddenly tall and upside-down woman. "You ready?" She nodded and, patting my shoulder "Go ahead, you'll be okay. What're you going to do?" "Sets of five repetitions, three at least and then we'll see..." "Only three? I'll go get a drink and come back when you've done five!" Apparently I misjudged her - the shyness must've been wariness from my being an unknown. I started and inwardly agreed with her - I barely noticed the weight. But the truth was somewhere between our two estimates - the bar began to get heavy during the fourth set. Then my spotter took on her secondary job - that of cheering section. "C'mon! You've got it; you can get it. That's it! One more - you're almost done this set. Just one more time. That's it, down slowly, keep it slow - good going. C'mon - c'mon! You're doing it; up just once more!" I could see her hands under the ends of the bar, but she'd be damned if she'd take any of the weight before I was completely wasted. That fifth lift was agony - my arms had lost a lot of their mass during my hiatus - and despite her urgings, I couldn't lock my arms on my own. She helped me finish, then guided the bar back to its cradle. "Uhhhh, thank you - I wouldn't have been able to get that far on my own. You're a good spotter." "Why thank you, too! And since you'll need a little rest, would you mind spotting for me?" I myself was surprised for a second, but remembered that she had been waiting around when I came in. She wanted her workout too, so fair was fair. "I'm working on my abs, today. That okay with you?" As I followed her to an angled bench, I smiled inwardly - my abdominal muscles were just fine. Becca...well, she kept them quite busy when we'd been together. "Not a problem." She set a short bar with two ten-pound weights and lay down, head higher than hips. She jackknifed her legs, crossing the ankles. I lifted the weights - gritting my teeth at my temporary weakness - and rested them in the vee of her feet. "And what limits are you setting...uh. I don't know who I'm cheering on, here." "No, you don't, do you? I'll do four sets of ten reps, at least. And if you need a name, you can call me Sam." "Ah, Samantha - nice name." She smiled sardonically. "No, just call me Sam." "Oh, I see. Husband's name?" "No, I'm not-" And 'Sam' realized that I'd wormed her marital status out of her. And *I* realized the very same thing - what was I doing? Becca had only moved out a week before; I still had a lot of brooding to get through before I could reenter the 'gene pool' and hope to keep my head above water. And that was assuming I *wanted* to. So why was I flirting with this perfect stranger? I snapped out of my daze when 'Sam' began to work - lifting her legs up to touch her knees to her chest, then lowering them until her feet were level with the bench. She'd work her thigh and lower abdominal muscles with this routine, and from my position I'd have to ignore the nice, tight ass that came into view every time she lifted. Agggh! What was I doing? I didn't want this - not yet; I wasn't ready! Half of me wanted to make an excuse and run for the showers, the other half wanted to...well, YOU imagine the position we were in; Sam lying before me, hips level with my knees. Then the libidinous half played dirty pool and reminded me I was honor-bound to spot for this attractive young woman since she had just done the same for me. I clenched my jaw, and tried not to remember the last time Becca and I... * She'd dragged me into the bedroom by the tie as soon as we'd finished supper. Her kisses mesmerized me and wiped my mind clear of independent thought; I now had to fuck this beautiful woman of mine. Becca plopped onto the bed, legs dangling over the edge, and started unfastening her dress. I knelt and removed her shoes, then rubbed her feet and legs. She took the opportunity to play with me a little by working her panties off her butt and sliding them down her legs into my face. I savored their moist aroma, and slipped them free, then flung them over my shoulder. She laughed, as she always did when she managed to make her 'dour, serious bookkeeper' act devil-may-care. Her laughter caused the top of her dress to fall free, baring her breasts. Compelled, I slid up through her legs to worship at her twin altars. Almost as large as my head, each tit was a masterpiece, with just enough self-induced sag to tell you they were real. My tongue laved over the fat nipple and dark areola, causing sounds of contentment from my goddess. I was lost in her bosom for an eternity, and then I felt her hips move and her pussy rub my covered erection. I paused my suckling to look her in the eye. She batted her eyelashes and tried to look innocent, humping my pants all the while. I eased back from her, ripped my shirt, pants, shoes, socks and boxers off - in that approximate order - and slipped back into her grasp. My dick was underneath her, nestled in her crack. She rolled her pelvis around, squeezing my rod, then reached underneath us. I felt her grasp my cock, stroke it tantalizingly once or twice, and then use it to push me back. She guided it to her center, where our moistures met, and released me to grasp her nipples. I twitched my pelvis, letting the head slide up and down the length of her slit. Then, taking a moment to push myself down to the right angle, I entered her. Her hands clenched her breasts, and she sighed in pleasure. I only thrust in halfway at first, then pulled back until only my head was within her. My second penetration was complete, our pubic hair mingling and my balls nestling against her ass. Becca lifted her legs, pausing while I moved my arms clear, then rested her ankles on my shoulders. I reached down to finger her clit, bracing myself with my other hand. We began to move against once another. She was tight, hot and wet. I dipped my thumb within her, and moved the slickened digit against her clit. Becca stopped manhandling her own chest, and lashed out to claw at mine. I kept up my onslaught, fucking and diddling her mercilessly. Strangled moans came from her throat and she managed to grasp her knees, her knuckles turning white. I clenched my jaw to restrain myself, and pushed her ever closer to climax. It was the attention to her clit that did it; after wetting two fingers, I used them to press down on either side of her little pearl and then snare it between them. The slightest twist set her off. She screamed unintelligibly, her voice hoarse and desperate. Every part of her body moved - shoulders leaving the bed then pounding against it, arms flailing wildly, legs lashing against my torso, and her hips smacking against mine. I could feel her inner muscles spasming against my intruding cock, and the sensations were enough to set me spurting into her. After we both came down from paradise, she let her legs slip down to my hips and pull me forward while her arms reached out for me. We slid up onto the bed, lay on our sides - my wand still held within - and wrapped ourselves in each other. I kissed her forehead, she kissed my neck, and we drifted off to sleep, pleasantly exhausted. * "Good job watching me for my breaking point, but your cheers leave something to be desired." I snapped back to reality, and dropped the barbell in my hands. "Wha-huh? What happened?" Sam looked up at me from a seated position on the bench. "Are you all right? I just did SIX sets, and you helped me perfectly through the last one, but you haven't said a word since I began. My breathing was short. I stared at her, then at the weight between my feet - I had to have taken it off her feet when she finished, but I didn't remember a thing about it! "Jesus, you're crying! Did you drop that thing on your foot?" I wiped a little moisture from my cheeks, finally finding my place in reality. "Oh, no. I'm fine. Sorry I wasn't terribly encouraging-" "You're not fine, you're white as a sheet! Honestly, what's your name - I'm Linda." She stuck out a hand. "Uh, Ted." I took the proffered hand, shook it absently and was almost pulled off my feet when she used it to stand up. "Ted, there's something wrong with you - no offense - and you were kind enough to help a stranger, so I feel compelled to reciprocate." What the fuck? Spill my guts to a woman I met only minutes before? "You already have - you spotted for me, I spotted for you." The woman shook her head. "Beyond that; I was edgy and nervous when you came in. I think you saw that and were kind enough to talk to me, disarming the tension. That's what I want to repay." Okay, decision time. I could turn down her offer kindly, and stick to my usual two-month schedule for recovering. Or I could confide in this stranger, let out my feelings about a week before I'd give Pete a call to go to a bar and do the exact same thing, only with the aid of a lot of beer. In short, she was offering to speed things up a little. I looked at her closely. Her expression was concerned, earnest and sincere. She broke the silence first. "Tell you what - you can leave now, stay and talk, or just stay and resume our workout with me badgering you until you give in!" I jerked my head to look at her, only to find her grinning to disarm the threat in her statement. Despite myself, I returned the smile. "How about a compromise - we exercise AND talk?" She nodded and led me back to bench I'd been using; she still hadn't let go of my hand. We set up the bar at twenty pounds, and I began more bench presses, while she made her prediction. "That's good, nice and slow like that. Right - I figure you've broken up with someone recently. Someone you loved a lot, and who either initiated the breakup or hurt you into breaking it off, right? Uh, your right arm's getting ahead of your left." "Got it in one. We've been seeing each other for two years and living together for a three months. I caught her with another guy a week ago." "Damn. Oh, easy on the return - don't stab your arms out. My fault, I guess I set you off again." Her smiling face eased into my vision. "So, do you want her back?" I paused before answering. "No. As much as I'd like to, we agreed to break it off. We're too different." "You agree with monogamy and she likes to sleep around." "It's not like that! Becca's a very nice person - warm, caring and compassionate. She still loves me a lot as well, I imagine." "Oh, I see - she has too much love to keep it all for one person." "Yeah, I guess. I suppose it's fair to say she doesn't agree with monogamy." "Watch that right arm." "Thanks." "So what did you want from the relationship?" "I dunno. A partner, I guess. Someone to share my successes with. To console me when I lose. To cheer me on when I need it-" "Go team!" I laughed. "Yeah, and vice versa; I want to be there for her when she needs me." "Ted? Do you realize you used the present-tense just now, not the past?" I thought that over. "Does that mean I want her back?" "I'm not sure. You did speak hypothetically - how you wanted 'someone' rather than 'I want Becca to be this and that.'" "So I'm over her?" "Well, I think you've accepted the break on an intellectual level. From your body language when you described her, I don't think you're angry with her. If I had to guess - and I'm not making any promises here - you may well stay friends with her." "Okay, but do I get to fuck her?" I asked, jokingly. She paused before answering, I presumed because she had to keep from laughing. "That depends. Let me ask you this: is she really a panophile like you say?" "WHAT?" "Er, it's Greek - freely giving of love to all?" I had to think on this, it was a rather deep question. I thought back to the times we'd picked up stray animals and sent word out to their owners, that day at the amusement park where she took a lost child under her wing until we could find his parents. Then too were the times we'd meet friends at a bar or dance club. She'd dance with whomever asked - I wasn't jealous in that respect. "We're talking more than just sexual attentions, right?" "Affection, friendship, sexual relationship - all of it. Does she have lots of friends?" "Oh, yeah. Plenty of both sexes, and she makes more every day." "Well, I guess that tags her as panophilic. Now, would you be willing to share her with the rest of the world? Could you be with her knowing she probably had other lovers?" "Hold on, I was just joking earlier!" "So you don't...lust for her anymore?" "Well, yeah - she's great in the sack: hot, passionate, imaginative..." I realized what I was saying to a near- total stranger. "Really? She wouldn't happen to be bi, would she?" I dropped the bar onto my chest, and wrenched my head back to look on my spotter. She was scrabbling to help me, but her expression told me she was merely joking. "How about this: I call her up saying I've got someone I want to share her with!" It worked! She blushed...but that still twigged in the back of my mind - it wasn't a denial. My spotter/analyst shook her head to clear itself, and said "Anyway, if Becca is as you describe her, she'd be more than willing to take you back into her bed, but you'd have to remember that she can't love to exclusion. This may change later in her life, but right now she's has to 'heal the world'." I stopped my presses for a moment. "Oh my god; she's used the exact same expression!" "Which proves my point. Maybe she'll feel she's accomplished her goal at some point in the future, and thus settle down with one person, but right now she feels there are too many people who need love to stay with a single one." "You sound like a shrink." "Not yet. Oh, and you just finished your seventh set of five reps." She helped me return the bar to its cradle, and helped me up. My arms felt a little weak, but I hadn't noticed a thing while I had been talking. "Wow - that's more than I expected to accomplish!" We made our way to her bench and she lay down with her feet higher this time. I hefted the same barbell to her and she cradled it to her chest. Now she would work her back and upper abdominals. I crouched beyond her head, ready to support her if she tired. "Well, thanks for the talk; I'm feeling a lot better about things! Anything I can do for you in return?" She grinned at me each time she laid back. "Not zone out like you did last time? Sorry, just teasing." I blushed and concentrated on her form. "You're pulling a little to your left." "Oh, thanks. But what happened earlier? Are you an epileptic?" "No...I just had, um...is it hot in here?" "Were you thinking about her, Ted?" God, my face was burning. "Yes." "Oh. Good memories?" "Oh, YEAH," I blurted out before I could stop myself. Her next glance was one of curious interest: she had one eyebrow raised (lowered?) and her mouth was pursed while she looked back at me upside down. I tried changing the subject. "Did you say how many sets and reps you were going to do...oh, damn I still don't know your name!" "Six of ten; it's Linda; and I told you before but I think you were a little upset." "Linda - right." A lull came over us. One that my new friend felt obliged to fill. "So what made you think of Becca earlier?" Damn - back to that. "Well, er...I was-" I lost my voice as I realized Linda's nipples were standing up underneath her top. Then I realized I'd been watching her tits; this was going to be one weird recovery period! "Hmmm?" "Can I be frank with you?" "I thought your name was Ted!" She poked her tongue out playfully at me when she came down again. "It's just that...when you were doing leg lifts earlier, the way we were positioned...well, it reminded me of the last time Becca and I had sex." There, I'd said it. It was out. "Oh." Linda paused while sitting up. I moved quickly, placing a forearm against her shoulders and the other against her spine, hand at the top. This way she wouldn't strain her back trying to keep the weight up. Despite my reflex action, I had enough presence of mind to notice her flinching when I touched her. "I'm sorry, I should've kept quiet - now I've embarrassed you." "No, no, I asked." Her shoulders shrugged. "In a way, I'm complimented that I remind you of her...doing that, too!" "Well, it's a little embarrassing for me, as well. Do you want to continue?" She turned her face to look at me out of the corner of her eye, and I could tell she was trying not to smile. "How far have I gotten?" All the way into my mind, Linda! "Uh, two sets and three reps into the third, I think." "It's nice to have you hold me, but I'd better get finished before I start something." I let her down and stepped back, somewhat agog at her behavior. I watched her in silence as she continued her exercises. "Ted? Are you okay back there?" An improper image came to mind, and I blushed again. "Uh, fine, fine." "Are you uncomfortable from talking so much about yourself to me? Would you feel better if we talked about me for a while?" "O-kaaay." I didn't correct her on why I was uncomfortable - it was bad enough having to put up with the images my id was creating of the two of us, without sharing them with her. "Well, I'm twenty-nine and just about to get my Bachelor-" "Twenty-nine?" "It's slow, I know, but I drifted from major to major for a while..." "No-no, you're that old? I thought you were younger than that when I first saw you!" She stopped on the down move and stared at me. "Thank you - that's nice of you to say." "No seriously; I'm not trying to flatter you. I guessed you were in your early twenties." She still hadn't moved, and I felt her eyes piercing at me. "Really?" I just nodded. She looked up at the ceiling and thought for a second. "Well, either I should feel good about my youthful appearance or you should worry about your poor judgement!" I smiled. "Maybe a little of both?" Linda shrugged. "Will we ever know for sure?" "Probably not. But you've almost got your Bachelor of..." "Psychology. And don't look at me like that. I was going for a B.Sc. in Astrophysics and waiting tables to pay for it when I realized I wanted to go into psych." "How'd that happen?" "I got fired from my job for spending too much time talking to the customers!" "Well, you don't have to dump your previous plans - just moonlight as a bartender!" I made her laugh. "Yeah, right!" "No, seriously - there's less expectation that you'll solve their problems, you don't have to rent offices, and it takes a lot less time to be trained!" "Maybe, but it pays a whole lot less, too!" she retorted with a chuckle. "Moving on - is there a 'Mr. Linda' in your life?" "Not right now - I was worrying about exams a month ago." "Ah, trolling for a man now, are we?" "No actively, no." She stuck her tongue out at me as her head passed by. Another lull snuck into the room, and Linda banished this one as well. "So how old are you?" "Thirty-three. I'm a CPA, if it matters." "Ah. I'm just a widdle baby girl to you, huh?" "According to first impressions you were!" "And now?" She'd stopped while lying down again. We looked at one another. That was the big question, wasn't it? "I...I'd say you're an interesting, attractive and intelligent woman with a keen empathy for others. Your turn!" Linda shrugged. "Similar - Ted 'blank' is handsome, bright, thoughtful enough to help others, and has a good sense of humor." "Oh! I knew there was something about you I was forgetting." "He's also absent-minded." We were still laughing when a staff member came into the weight room. "Oh! Ah, folks? We're closing up soon." I looked at the clock in the room - SHIT! Eight o'clock! "Oh my god, have we been here that long?" she asked. "Looks like it." I looked down at the weight in her arms. "How many is that?" "What? Damn, I thought you were keeping count!" I thought quickly and made a guess. "Without total accuracy, I can only say you've done four full sets. I think you're somewhere in the fifth." "Bah - it doesn't matter, then. Give me a hand with this." I lifted the barbell from her, our fingers touching. "So. Do you have to rush off?" she asked as I helped her stand. "Apart from the staff wanting to close up, no. You?" "Nothing that can't be put off if necessary." Yes, but would it be necessary? 'Go for it!' someone inside my head yelled. "Would you like to go get something to eat?" "Sure," she replied as if it was a trivial thing I'd just asked. "Wait for me in the lobby after you clean up." * Author's Postscript: Relax - I've got more planed for Ted & Linda! I only cut it off here because a) it seemed like a nice point to take a break >:) and 2) this thing has become much longer than I'd planned. I expected them to be almost married by 30kb! Mind you, I didn't plan on Ted's breakup figuring so pivotally like this, either; ain't it fun the way some stories just evolve? :) I can't promise you'll find chapter two by the time you read this, but I've gotta finish it soon to snail-mail to Dancer as part of an anniversary present! Here's hoping! :D Thanks for reading! * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * It's okay to *READ* stories about unprotected sex with others outside a monogamous relationship. But it isn't okay to *HAVE* unprotected sex with people other than a trusted partner. You only have one body per lifetime, so take good care of it! * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Kristen's collection - Directory 22