Family Ties

Chapter 10

I put off the talk about camp with Christy until the night before we were supposed to leave, when I finally ran out of time and excuses. We were hanging out in her studio, where she was curled up on her favorite beanbag with her sketchbook. I was sitting on the couch with my current book, although I hadn’t actually been reading for a while. Instead, I’d been going back and forth about what to tell her.

The scared part of me wanted to keep my mouth shut and just surprise her when we arrived, but the rational part knew that wasn’t fair. She’d be stuck at a nudist camp with no easy way to leave, and I knew how I’d feel if someone invited me to something like a Southern Baptist church convention without telling me. So I finally gathered my courage and set my book aside.

“Hey, we need to talk.”

She gave me a startled, anxious look, and I realized what I must have sounded like.

“Whoa, lemme try that again. Everything’s fine. But I need to tell you something about tomorrow.”

“Oh. I thought…”

“Yeah, I know. Sorry ’bout that. Poor choice of words. And I’m supposed to be good with ’em, right?”

“Normally you are. But not this time.”

“No kidding. Next time I’ll rehearse my opening a little more.”

“Rehearse?”

“Yeah. It’s what I do. I go through a conversation in my head and figure out what I want to say. Like I did before I met your dad. I was pretty sure

we’d have the ‘what’re your intentions…?’ talk, so I spent a lot of time thinking about it. I probably should’ve done that tonight. In hindsight, I guess I was…”

She was grinning.

“What?”

“You’re chattering.”

“I am not. Well, not really. I’m explaining.”

“Of course, dear.”

“Okay, fine. You’re right. I was chattering. See? I told you… you’re changing me as much as I’m changing you. But I’m still doing it, aren’t I?”

She nodded. She was a lot more patient and relaxed once she realized we weren’t about to have a breakup talk.

“Okay…” I drew a deep breath. “Let’s try this again. Here goes. I need to tell you something about tomorrow and give you an excuse if you want to back out.”

“Excuse? Back out? Now you’re starting to worry me again.”

“It’s nothing to worry about, but… well… it’s something about me that you need to know. I hadn’t planned to tell you this soon, but Gunny’s funeral kinda changes things.”

“Okay,” she said slowly.

“Have you ever wondered why I became a figure model in the first place?

Why I wasn’t embarrassed to be nude in front of so many people?”

“Maybe a little.”

“And why I don’t have any hang-ups if you see me nude around the house?”

She blushed and looked down. “I kinda like that part.”

“Well, that’s good,” I said, “’cause there’s more to it than just being a closet exhibitionist.”

“Um… you’re not really in the closet about it.”

“True,” I chuckled. “There’s still more to it, though.” I took another deep breath and steeled myself for what I was about to say next. I’d told Trip and Wren and Sara, and probably others I couldn’t recall, but none of them had been quite like Christy.

“I’m… a nudist,” I said at last.

“Sort of, yeah.”

“No, I mean, like, officially. My whole family.”

She frowned, but with uncertainty instead of disapproval.

“We don’t have membership cards or anything, but… well… we’re nudists.”

“When you say ‘nudist,’ what exactly do you mean?”

“We go to a nudist camp. Where everyone’s nude all the time. Meals, games, swimming, volleyball, hiking, you name it.”

“All with no clothes?”

“All of it. All the time. No clothes.”

“Wow. Okay. That isn’t what I was expecting.”

“Yeah, sorry. I really wanted to work up to it, but…” I shrugged. “If you still want to go with me to Gunny’s funeral, you kinda need to know.”

Her eyes flared. “Why?”

“Well, that’s the other thing… Gunny runs— ran the camp for Susan, the owner.”

“And…?”

“We’re staying there. At the camp. They have motel rooms. And… um…

it’s a nudist camp.”

“You mentioned that.”

“We can probably get a real motel room, but… I don’t know where. I mean, I do, but… the camp’s kind of in the middle of nowhere. For obvious reasons. So the closest motel is near town. It’s a pretty seedy-looking place, though, if you ask me. Susan owns a real hotel by the interstate, but it’s even farther away. So… if we want to stay close, and stay with my family, it’s the camp. The nudist camp.”

“Yeah, you said that already. A couple of times.”

“Sorry. I’m just nervous.”

“Why?”

“Why do you think? I don’t want you to be scared or surprised or… break up with me.”

“You’re the strangest guy sometimes,” she said, more to herself than me.

To me she said, “Why would I do that?”

“Lots of people are pretty narrow-minded and judgmental. Not that you are,” I added quickly. “Just… lots of people. You’re a lot more open-minded than I thought. Still… being a nudist isn’t exactly normal. Although, let’s not get into what I think is normal.”

“Why? What do you think is normal?”

“The truth?”

“To thine own self be true,” she said with a turnabout smile.

“Right. Use my own words against me. Easiest way to win an argument.”

“I’m learning.”

“What do I think is normal?” I repeated. I decided to say the same thing I’d said to Sara. “Whatever makes you happy and doesn’t hurt anyone else.”

“That doesn’t sound so bad,” Christy said.

“I don’t think so, but…” I shrugged. “Not everyone is so enlightened.”

“No.” She looked down and gathered her own courage. “Not everyone would understand about me and all my… um… quirks.”

“Exactly.”

“So, how long have you been a nudist?”

“Since I was twelve. My family spent every summer at camp until I was eighteen.”

“Why? What happened then?”

“College. And then my summers were full of other things. Working on houses with Trip, mostly. My family still went, though. And… so did I.

When I could.”

“Hold on…,” she said all of a sudden. “Did you go last summer?”

“Yeah, after we finished the houses in Atlanta. Why?”

“I knew it!” she said triumphantly.

“What?”

“Wren! She went too, didn’t she?”

“Yes, but—”

“She had this big blank spot between her last letter and when I first saw her—and you—again. She didn’t tell me about something. You remember when I first got here? I spent a week with Sayuri, waiting for you?”

“Yeah, of course. You were really cute too, stomping back and forth on the porch in your PJs and bunny slippers.”

“Thank you. I think. But I was pretty annoyed.”

“I actually thought of ‘high dudgeon’ when I first saw you. I never get to use that phrase, so I remember it.”

“That pretty much describes how I felt. But I was especially mad at Wren.

And when I asked where she’d been—where all of you had been—she wouldn’t tell me. Not at first. When I asked again she told me this crazy story about how it took you so long to find stuff for the house. A week? Yeah, right. But then you and I started fighting and I forgot all about it. Still, a lot makes sense now.” She thought back and nodded a couple of times. “I also wondered why her tan was so weird.”

“Weird? Weird how?”

“Her tan lines were different—some darker, some lighter—like she wore different parts of her bikini. Her top, hardly ever. Her bottoms most of the time, but then… sometimes not.”

“That’s exactly what she did.”

“Because she was at this nudist place.”

“Camp. Right.”

“Yeah, that’s totally like her. She’s almost as bad as you about taking her clothes off. I mean, it was all the time when we lived together. And she jumped at the chance to pose nude when I told her Siobhan needed someone.”

“Yeah, that’s Wren all right. She’s as much of an exhibitionist as I am.”

“So… about this nudist camp… where we’ll be staying…”

“You mean you’ll go?”

“Of course. I’ll go anywhere, as long as it’s with you. But… I’m a little nervous. Will I have to take my clothes off?”

“Not if you don’t want to. Besides, it’s the middle of December. And no one will be there. No visitors, I mean. Only the people who live there year-round.”

“Will it be weird? With me there? Fully clothed?”

“I doubt it. Nudists aren’t the clothes police. We just want you to be comfortable.”

“What about you? Will you take yours off?”

“I guess it depends. Do you want me to?”

She blushed and studied her hands.

“Okay. Then I guess we’ll see. But we’re mostly using the camp as a motel, someplace to stay for free. But I didn’t want to surprise you with it.”

“Thank you.”

“And I sort of needed to tell you about me being a nudist anyway. I hadn’t planned on doing it now, but…” I spread my hands. “So… it doesn’t bother you?”

“That you’re a nudist?” She thought about it for an excruciatingly long time, which was probably ten seconds for real. “No, I don’t think so,” she said at last, and I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding. “I guess I kind of knew all along. I mean, you were always so comfortable when you posed in class. And even when you posed for the Replicant when it was just the two of us. Although…” She grinned. “Wren used to tell me what

happened when she teased you.”

“Yeah, well… I can’t help it if I react when an attractive girl teases me.”

“She is hard to resist.”

“You know it.”

She nodded and fell silent.

After a moment I said, “Thanks for going with me tomorrow.”

“Of course. I’m your girlfriend.”

“Yeah, but you didn’t know about the nudist camp when you said you’d go.”

“It doesn’t really change anything. I mean, as long as I don’t have to take my clothes off.”

“You don’t,” I said quickly.

“I’ve seen nude people all my life,” she said with a shrug. “I mean… it’s art. You can’t draw the human body if you don’t know what it looks like.”

“And you can definitely draw the human body.”

“Thank you.”

I sat back and heaved a sigh of relief.

“Were you really that worried? That I might actually break up with you?

Over… that?”

“Yeah, I was. It seems silly now, but…”

“No, it’s really sweet.”

“It is? Why?”

She thought about it a moment. “I guess because I worry about the same thing. I mean, I thought you were going to tell me you weren’t interested when we had that big talk after the Halloween party. And I’m constantly afraid you’re going to break up with me because I’m not… ready… to, you know, go all the way.”

“I won’t break up with you ’cause of that. I knew you weren’t ready from the beginning. Well, when I first admitted that I liked you. Yeah, sex is really important to a relationship, but I think you’re worth the wait.”

“Thank you.”

“Besides,” I added with a grin, “to hear Wren tell it, you’re just waiting for the right guy to unleash your inner nympho.”

“Remind me to wring her neck,” Christy muttered. “For real this time.

And don’t believe everything she tells you.”

“Why? She’s been right about everything so far. Yeah, she has her own agenda, but I don’t think she’s lied to me. Has she?”

“I don’t know what she’s told you. She won’t tell me,” she added sourly.

Then, just like her father, she visibly adjusted her attitude and decided to make the most of the situation. “But I flatly deny anything that doesn’t make me look like a paragon of virtue!”

I laughed. Then I set my book aside and gestured for her to join me on the couch.

“Oh, no! You just wanna take advantage of me in a weak moment.”

“Weak moment? What’re you talking about?”

“I’m feeling particularly affectionate toward you right now.”

“Oh? Why?”

“For saying I’m worth the wait.”

“Well… you are.”

“See? You’re doing it again, making me really like you.”

“Then come up here and show me. You can sit in my lap,” I added with a grin. “We’ll talk about the first thing that comes up.”

She rolled her eyes but joined me anyway.

“There,” I said as I wrapped my arms around her, “much better.”

“For the record,” she said, “that’s the worst line ever. No girl in history has ever fallen for it.”

“Would you rather…?” I kissed her gently. “Fall…?” I kissed her again.

“For something else?”

“Mmm. Yes, please.”

I kissed her deeper. Then she began planting kisses on my neck. My dick reacted predictably.

“Ooh! There he is.”

“Told you,” I said dryly.

“You may need to tell me again.”

“How ’bout if I just kiss you instead?”

“I’d like that.”

I spent a long time thinking about Christy during my run the next morning. I was a little surprised that the nudist camp hadn’t been more of a sticking point. Then again, it was the least shocking part of my lifestyle. The swinging would probably involve a much larger adjustment. That is, if I ever found the

right time to tell her. And I couldn’t imagine any right time to tell her about my experiences with Mom and Erin, much less my fantasies.

I also found myself thinking about the question that had been lurking in the back of my brain for a while: who exactly was seducing whom? Christy made Kendall look like an amateur when it came to getting what she wanted without having to take responsibility for it. And for some reason that really bugged me.

I didn’t want her to be a take-charge type like Wren or Sara, but I didn’t want a passive wallflower either. She wasn’t in many ways, like her art, but she definitely was in the relationship department, and especially about sex.

Things would get predictable and boring if I were the only one to start things or decide what we did.

But since I couldn’t do anything about her behavior, I had to change mine. I decided I’d do anything she wanted, as long as she started it or asked for it. She couldn’t just hint or tease or tempt, even if I knew exactly what she wanted.

Unfortunately, I’d be setting myself up for disappointment if I didn’t do anything unless she asked. After all, we’d be spending the night in the same room without any fear of being caught. Rich and the rest of her family were thousands of miles away (well, hundreds in Danny or Jim’s case, but that was good enough). And my family wouldn’t bat an eye if we slept together.

Heck, I thought with a chuckle, I could have sex with her in front of them and it wouldn’t faze them, as long as the circumstances were right.

I started another lap around the neighborhood while I worked out my rules of engagement. What was I willing to do and what would I make her ask for explicitly? Where did I draw the line between passive object and active partner? My imagination went wild, but I couldn’t make a rule for every situation, so I eventually settled on a single one: Christy would have to start anything that involved my penis inside her.

“Hey,” she said when I finally came through the front door. “You were gone a long time.”

“Yeah, sorry. Had a lot on my mind.”

“Thinking about your friend? Gunny?”

I lied with a nod.

“I’m so sorry.”

“It’s okay. But thanks.”

“You want me to fix you breakfast?”

“That’d be nice,” I said. Then I grinned. “Are you ready for your second breakfast, my fair hobbit lass?”

She rolled her eyes but took down two bowls for cereal.

We ate in companionable silence and then headed upstairs to pack and get ready for the trip.

“Do you want to shower first?” she asked.

“You go ahead.”

“Okay. And… I know I should pack super-light, ’cause it’s a little plane, but—?”

I laughed. “You don’t have to pack that light. But you’re right, the baggage compartment isn’t huge. So… is one small suitcase and a dress bag enough?”

“I think so. How many dresses should I take? One for the funeral, of course, but will we be doing anything else? With his family?”

“I don’t think so. So one dress should be fine. Maybe two,” I said. “I’m only going to take my black suit. Casual clothes the rest of the time.”

“It’s a nudist camp, right?” she teased.

“Yes, Miss Sherlock, but we’ll be doing stuff other places, in the regular world.”

“I know. I’m just kidding. I’m actually kind of looking forward to it. I mean, not the funeral,” she added hastily. “Seeing where you spent your summers. And…” She smiled and looked down.

“And…?”

“And meeting your family. I’m sorry it’s under the circumstances, but I’m really excited. I know that sounds horrible, but…”

“It’s okay. I know what you mean. And if I’m honest, I’m looking forward to it too.” Especially the part where we spend the night together. Part of me felt tremendously guilty that I was using Gunny’s funeral as an excuse to put the moves on my girlfriend, but part of me thought he probably would have understood.

Christy was unusually excited as we drove to Island Home Airport. She even followed along as I did the preflight walk-around on the Comanche.

“I know you used to fly with your brothers,” I said, “but you were a lot

smaller then, right?”

“I couldn’t even see over the instrument panel.”

“So this’ll be your first time as a grown-up?”

“Uh-huh.”

“Cool. But don’t worry, I’ll be gentle.”

She frowned for a moment and then blinked in shock. “Ugh. That was the worst.”

“What? You aren’t dating me for my sense of humor?”

“No.”

“Is it for my dashing good looks and debonair charm?”

“Those don’t hurt, but no.”

“Then maybe it’s my large… hard… extremely thick…”

Her eyes shone more white with every word, until they threatened to pop out.

“Skull.”

Her jaw fell open.

“Sorry,” I laughed, “I couldn’t resist.”

“I thought you were going to say…”

I grinned. “What?”

“You know.”

“Hands? Feet? Neck?”

She rolled her eyes. “You know.”

“Mmm hmm.” I moved close, and she looked up at me with the brightest, most beautiful blue eyes I’d ever seen. Then she teased me with a silent smile, so I arched an eyebrow. “I wanna hear you say it.”

“What, ‘penis’?”

“Yep.”

“You like it when I say… penis?”

“I love it when you say…”

“Penis?”

“It feels good in your mouth, doesn’t it?”

“What? Penis? Like yours?” She grinned coyly. “I wouldn’t know.”

I realized I was about to break my new rule, so I shut up, smiled, and kissed her. “You’ll find out,” I said. “When you’re ready.”

“Oh? I will?”

“Mmm hmm. Now,” I said breezily, “I need to finish doing the preflight.”

She squawked but followed as I finished with the empennage and

returned to the passenger door. I lifted her onto the wing and prepared to climb up after her. She turned before I could and cupped my face in her hands.

“Since you asked,” she said, her eyes full of affection, “that’s why I’m dating you. You always find a way to make me smile.” The smile in question turned into a grin. “You also make me feel all tingly inside.”

“Tingly is good.”

“Very.” She leaned down and kissed me. “Hmm, that’s kinda fun. I think I like being taller than you.”

“Lots of other possibilities with you up there and me down here.” I darted a glance at her small breasts, which were right at eye level. “But later. Right now we have a plane to catch.”

“Yes, sir.”

I opened the Comanche’s door and warned her not to step off the nonskid strip. Then I slid past her and climbed into the left seat. Once she lowered herself into the right seat, I reached over her to latch the door. Then I gave her a quick rundown of what to touch, what not to, and what to do in case of an emergency.

“It’s more complicated than I remember,” she said.

“It isn’t if you know what you’re doing.”

“You make it look so easy.”

“Well, I cheat,” I said. I showed her the laminated checklist card and then offered it to her. “You wanna be my copilot?”

“Sure!”

“Okay, you read the first part of each item and make sure I say the second part exactly like it’s printed. Ready?”

“Yes, sir, captain, sir!” She even saluted. Then she read from the card,

“Preflight inspection?”

“Complete.”

“Passenger briefing?”

I grinned a question at her.

“Complete,” she said with a nod. “Seats and belts?”

I checked both hers and mine. “Secure.”

“Parking brake?”

I touched the handle. “Set.”

We went through the rest of the checklist until everything was complete.

“Ready?” I said at last. She smiled ear-to-ear and nodded. I scanned the

immediate area and then called, “Clear prop!”

The engine whined, coughed twice, and turned over. It caught and settled into a steady thrum as the plane vibrated with power. We put on our headsets and adjusted the microphone booms.

“Check, check,” I said over the intercom. “Hear me okay?”

“Loud and clear, captain.”

The rest of taxi and takeoff was thoroughly routine as far as I was concerned. But Christy found something new to enjoy at every stage, whether I was talking on the radio or simply setting the throttle and mixture once we reached our requested cruising altitude. At that point I set the autopilot and gave the instruments and airspace another quick scan.

We settled in for the ride and chatted for about thirty minutes, and I told her what it was like to spend summers at camp. I skipped over the sex, but she could tell I was leaving out plenty of details.

“That’s where you met Gina?” she asked.

“Mmm hmm.”

“And Kendall?”

“Yes,” I said cautiously. I wasn’t sure where she was going, but I didn’t want it to blow up in my face.

“What was that like? Seeing your girlfriend—girl friends—without clothes? All the time?”

“It was cool, but not quite the way you’re thinking. Sure, I was a teenage guy, so I liked the boobs and butts and bushes.” I glanced at her sideways to judge her reaction. She simply nodded. “But being nude all the time kinda takes the naughtiness out of it.”

“For real?”

“Well, not completely,” I admitted. “I mean, the situation is important too.” I looked at her again and wondered how much I wanted to say. “Look at it this way… I can see the shape of your breasts under your sweater. And it’s a little chilly in the cabin, so your nipples—”

Her eyes widened and she immediately pulled her jacket closed.

“—are hard.” I paused and deliberately tugged the jacket from her grip.

Then I spread it open until I could see the points of her nipples again.

She fought an internal battle and then lowered her hands.

“They’re cute. And they’re part of my point.” I looked again for my own enjoyment before I continued, “So I can see the shape of your breasts, and even your nipples, but the situation isn’t sexual. Well, it wasn’t until a

moment ago.”

“It sure is now,” she muttered under her breath. The intercom picked it up and transmitted faithfully.

“Yeah, it is. And I’m starting to react.” I made a show of adjusting my nascent erection. “But before, they were just body parts. They’re attractive body parts, and ones I like to look at, but the situation wasn’t sexual, so I didn’t have a hard-on. It is sexual now, and You-Know-Who is suddenly interested.”

“Mr. Big.”

“Uh-huh. And getting bigger as we speak. Anyway, back to your question. A nudist camp is like that. They’re just body parts—boobs and butts and bushes… and boners—until the right situation crops up.”

“You mean sex.”

“Or anything that makes you think of it. A minute ago your breasts were just part of the scenery. Now I’m thinking about what they’ll look like as I fuck you.”

“Oh my gosh!”

“To thine own girlfriend be true,” I said with a chuckle.

She recovered her composure quicker than I thought she would. “Were you like this with them? With Gina and Kendall, I mean.”

“Like how?”

“Did you talk about sex and look at them so… openly?”

“In public? No. That’s just simple decorum, not to mention respect. But when we were alone? Sure, of course. Why not? They were my girlfriends.

But there were lots of times when the situation wasn’t sexual, like when we were just hanging out. They were just friends then, even though they happened to be girls and nude. I really didn’t notice. Then there were other times…” I watched her out of the corner of my eye.

“When you thought about… doing things… with them?”

“Mmm hmm. And my attention became a lot more sexual. Like with your nipples a few minutes ago.”

“It feels weird knowing you’re looking at them.”

“Why?”

“It just… does.”

“Get used to it. I like your breasts. They’re cute and perky. Besides, soon enough I’ll do more than look.”

She sighed with anticipation and then blushed when the intercom picked

it up.

I wanted to kiss her, but the conscientious part of me decided to scan the instruments and airspace first. Straight and level, no traffic in sight, so I flipped the microphone out of the way and leaned toward her. I raised her own mic and then kissed her, gently at first, but with growing heat and desire.

She moaned and leaned into me when I cupped her breast through her sweater. My thumb brushed the hard nub of her nipple, which made her gasp.

I grinned and sat back. She said something I couldn’t hear, so I gestured to her mic and pulled my own back down.

“I like flying private,” she repeated.

“Even when the pilot kisses you?”

“Especially when the pilot kisses me.”

“The headsets get in the way, though. So do sweaters and bras.”

“Yes, they do, Mr. Naughty.”

“You could take them off,” I suggested.

“I don’t think so. You’re the nudist.”

“That’s okay. I can wait.”

She rolled her eyes.

“So, anything else you want to know about camp?”

“Did you ever… you know… get… um… excited?”

“All the time!” I laughed. “I was the king of hiding a sudden hard-on.

Remember I told you I called my dick ‘treacherous organ’? Well, that’s why.”

She grinned.

“And I jerked off a lot.” Her eyes widened in surprise, so I nodded. “I’m still like that. I have a really high sex drive.”

“Even when you’re dating someone? I mean, someone you’re actually…

you know… sleeping with.”

“Yep. And even when I was dating two someones.” I grinned. “It takes two normal girls or one very special girl to keep me satisfied.”

She blushed at the compliment. “But we haven’t even…”

“Maybe not in real life,” I said, “but we have in my head. Lots. You’re a total nympho in my fantasies.”

“I’m gonna kill Wren for using that word,” she said under her breath.

“Why?”

“Because it isn’t nice.”

“Sure it is.”

“No, it isn’t.”

“Then let’s find a word you do like, one that means the same thing.”

“I don’t like any of ’em.”

“Which ones?”

“Tramp. Slut. Whore.”

“Yeah,” I agreed. “Society has some really screwed-up notions about women who like sex.”

“Huh?”

“If a man has sex a lot, he’s a stud. If a woman does it, she’s a slut. So it’s okay for a man, but bad for a woman.”

“But… isn’t it?”

“Bad for a woman to like sex?” I looked at her in surprise. “No. What a ridiculous idea. And a total double standard. Why? Do you think it’s bad?”

“Sort of. I mean… it just is. Women aren’t like men.”

I snorted derisively. “Whoever told you that is an idiot.”

“That’s a lot of people,” she muttered.

“Yeah, well, it’s a dumb idea. Women can like sex as much as men. But even then, everyone’s different. Some people like it a lot—yours truly—and some not so much. But sex isn’t bad by itself, as long as it’s consensual. I mean, it’s just… sex. It’s a physical act, a release.”

“But… it’s more than that. It’s love. It’s the union of a man and a woman.”

“Okay, now you’re spouting Catholic dogma at me.”

“I am not!”

“Yes, you are,” I said without heat.

Atlanta Center saved us before the discussion could turn into a full-blown argument. The controller called and advised me of traffic at my ten o’clock. I turned serious immediately, and Christy knew enough to let me fly the plane instead of continuing to argue. I scanned the sky and replied to the controller that I had the traffic in sight.

“Sorry about that,” I said to Christy.

“It’s okay. You had to fly.”

“Right. And I don’t want to argue with you. In some ways we’re a lot alike. But in other ways we’re still two very different people. That’s okay.

We don’t have to agree a hundred percent on everything. The big things?

Yes. But even then, not right away. We’re still getting to know each other.”

She nodded, so I reached over and touched her hand. She held mine in

both of hers, which were warm and soft.

“I like getting to know you,” I said after a moment. “It’s… exciting.

Frustrating sometimes, but still exciting.”

She nodded.

“Although… I need to remind myself we’re taking baby steps.”

“Me too.”

We fell silent, and I automatically checked the sky around us. The other airplane was right where it should’ve been, but the radio called with another traffic report from Center. I searched the vector and spotted the new plane.

“Thank you, sir,” I told the controller. “Two Five Echo has traffic in sight.” I turned to Christy. “Sorry, we’re getting into more congested airspace, so I need to fly with all my attention.”

“Okay. You probably need both hands too.”

“Yeah, sorry.”

She didn’t release me immediately. Instead, she raised my hand to her lips and kissed it gently. Then she closed her eyes. She inhaled slowly as she rubbed her cheek against the back of my hand.

I smiled when she opened her eyes. “Hold that thought,” I said quietly.

She nodded and folded her hands demurely in her lap. Her nipples, however, sent an entirely different message. I smiled to myself and then turned my attention to the business of flying.

We landed at DeKalb-Peachtree about twenty minutes later. I parked by the self-serve fueling station and reached over Christy to release the door latch.

“This is it,” I said. “Are you ready?”

“Yes? No? Maybe?”

“You’ll do fine,” I said with a smile. “They’re going to love you.”

“Are you sure?”

“Positive.”

She climbed out of the cockpit, and I resisted the urge to pat her firm little bottom. I climbed onto the wing after her and jumped to the ground. Mom and Erin were waiting for us inside the FBO. I waved, but their eyes immediately went to Christy, who saw them and nervously smoothed the front of her jeans.

“Chin up, chest out,” I whispered. “Oh, wait. Sorry. That’s later.” I actually felt her roll her eyes.

I gave Mom a hug and then Erin.

“You owe Mom,” Erin whispered. “Big time. Susan too.”

I hid my confusion and gestured to Christy. “Mom, Erin, this is my girlfriend, Christy. Christy, this is my mother, Beth. And my sister… um…

Erin. Yeah. Duh.”

“You’re such a dweeb,” Erin said.

“Nice to finally meet you, Christy,” my mom said smoothly. “Paul’s told us a lot about you.”

My stomach lurched, and I suddenly understood what Erin had meant. I hadn’t told my family a thing about Christy. I hadn’t even told them I was dating anyone.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” Christy said. “Paul’s told me so much about your family.”

I wanted to laugh. Hysterically. Two of the most important women in my life were lying to each other, just so I didn’t look like the jackass that I was.

Mom and Christy made small talk about school and art, and I realized that Wren must have been a major conduit of information to Susan, who’d fed it to my mother.

“Sorry to interrupt,” I said, “but I need to refuel the plane. Hey, Erin…

you wanna come with me?”

“Are you kidding?”

I gave her an insistent look.

“Oh, right,” she said in a monotone. “I’d love to.”

I kissed Christy and left her to talk to my mom. Erin and I headed out to the plane.

“You have to be the worst boyfriend in the world,” she said once we were safely outside. “What were you thinking?”

“I wasn’t,” I said as I bent over the wing and opened the fuel door.

Erin berated me with a sisterly lecture, but I only listened with half my attention.

“Yeah, I know,” I said when she wound down. “I’m a dweeb, a doofus, and a dork. Now, tell me what Mom knows.”

“How should I know? I only got the highlights. And just on the way to the airport, so you wouldn’t look like a total loser.”

“Hold on… Mom and Susan must have talked about her.”

“Probably. But… um… I haven’t been listening as much lately. Like, not at all.”

“Seriously.”

“Seriously. It… didn’t seem right.”

“Don’t tell me you have a newfound respect for Mom’s privacy.”

“So what if I do?”

“Wow, you have changed.” I laughed. “Mom said you had, but… wow.”

“So? We’ve been getting along better since the Night at the Limelight.”

“No kidding.” I grinned at her capital letters. I did the same thing.

“Shut up. And tell me about Christy. She’s totally gorgeous. Wow! And tiny! She’s like a little doll. How much does she weigh? Ninety pounds?”

“About a hundred.”

“What’s she like in bed? Does she like girls?”

“Erin, whoa! You seriously need to get laid, don’t you?”

“Why? Are you offering? Is she into that? Cool.”

I rolled my eyes and closed the fuel tank. “Come on,” I said. “Let’s get back before Mom and Christy run out of lies to tell each other.”

“You really are the worst boyfriend in the world. The only guys I know with brain cells above the waist are taken, but you have girls throwing themselves at you. It isn’t fair.”

Mom smiled when Erin and I returned to the waiting area after I paid for the fuel. Christy was in a good mood too, just short of bouncy.

“We’re fueled and ready to go when you are,” I said. I picked up Mom’s suitcase and a zippered dress bag. I gestured for Erin to hand me hers as well.

The women chatted as we walked out to the plane. I stowed the luggage and then did a quick weight calculation. I didn’t want to come right out and ask how much Mom weighed, so I fudged the numbers on the safe side.

“Would you like to ride up front?” Christy asked her.

“No, but thank you. You can sit with Paul.”

“Actually, it’d make my life easier if you did,” I told Mom. Then I felt the force of three curious looks. “It’d help with trim,” I explained quickly.

“To balance the load.”

“Did you just call us ‘the load’?” Erin said.

“Erin… please can I get a break here?”

“I’ll be happy to ride up front,” Mom said with a smile.

“Yeah, okay. Cool,” Erin said. “Christy and I can talk in the back.”

Mom joined in the conversation before we even took off, and the three of them got to know each other for real. They talked about school, life, and growing up in the Navy. (Mom’s father had been a career officer too.) I flew the plane and kept my mouth shut, even when Mom and Erin started telling

stories from when I was a boy.

Susan met us at the Lancaster County airport. She and my mom hugged and commiserated about Gunny, which made me feel guilty that I’d almost forgotten the reason for the trip. Susan looked like she was holding up well, and she brightened immediately when I introduced Christy.

“Beth’s told me all about you,” Susan lied smoothly.

Erin gave me a pointed I-told-you-so look.

Note to self, I thought, thank Wren too. I owed so many women that I wondered how I’d ever thank them enough.

Mom leaned close. “She’s wonderful.”

“Thanks. And, um… sorry I didn’t mention I was dating.”

“Yes, about that. We need to clarify the ‘no news is good news’ policy.

Good news is actually news.”

“Right. Got it. And thanks for covering for me.”

“Oh, you’re welcome. It’s what I do.”

“Yeah, well, I thought you’d be doing it less as I got older.”

“I’ll always cover for you, honey.”

“Thanks, Mom.” I put my arm around her and squeezed affectionately.

“When’s Dad supposed to be here?”

“Tonight. He’s flying the new plane.”

“Oh? Maybe I’m not the only one who hasn’t shared news lately.”

“A new plane isn’t the same as a new girlfriend.”

“No, but still…”

“Besides, we haven’t actually bought it yet. This is just an extended test flight.”

“Oh, cool.” I was about to ask what kind of plane it was, but Susan turned and gestured.

“Are we ready to go? We need to get to camp if you want to freshen up before the receiving of friends.”

Susan told us about Gunny on the drive. He’d been working on the clubhouse and had suffered a massive heart attack. His wife had found him when he hadn’t come home for dinner. She was devastated, Susan said, and staying with family in town.

“How long had they been married?” Christy asked me quietly.

“Not long. Maybe a year. He was a lifelong bachelor until he met her.”

“Oh, that’s so sad.”

I nodded.

She was about to say something else, but then we passed through the camp gate. Susan must have left the chain down, since only friends and family would be coming and going for the next few days.

Christy looked around at the unbroken pine forest, although there wasn’t much to see. She perked up when we passed the road to the new Pines Retreat.

“The cabins are coming up.” I pointed. “That’s where we usually stay.”

She leaned forward and looked out the window as we passed. She seemed fascinated by things I took for granted. I found myself enjoying her sense of discovery, so I pointed out the RV area on the left and told her about how it filled up during the summer months.

Susan parked the car between the clubhouse and the nearest motel-style building.

“I’m sorry things are a bit unsettled,” she said as we climbed out of the station wagon. “The camp is mostly closed down for the winter. And…

Jeremiah usually took care of guests.”

“That’s Gunny’s real name,” I whispered to Christy.

“I figured that out.”

“Right. Sorry. Beauty and brains.”

She rolled her eyes but smiled.

“Doug and Olivia arrived this morning,” Susan continued, “so they helped get the rooms ready.”

“When do Kirk and Dawn get here?” Mom asked.

“Late tonight,” Susan said. “They’re flying into Charlotte and renting a car.” She gestured at the building. “We made up three rooms.”

“I can have my own?” Erin said. “Awesome!”

I carried Mom’s suitcase and dress bag into the middle room, while Erin headed for the one on the left. I came back and grabbed our bags, and Christy followed me to the room on the right.

They were just as I remembered, but Christy looked around with polite curiosity. The queen-sized bed was made and the sheets turned down. A neat pile of towels sat on the dresser, and a little space heater glowed in the corner. Susan had thought of everything. She’d even added a vase with fresh gerbera daisies on the nightstand.

Ours was one of the rooms with bunk beds, and I glanced at them absently. I did a double take when I realized they didn’t have sheets.

“What is it?” Christy said quietly.

“Um… only one bed’s made.” I glanced at her. “Lemme ask Susan for some extra sheets.”

“Don’t!” She blushed and then said more calmly, “No, it’s all right.”

“Are you sure? That’s more than a baby step.”

She nodded. “I’m sure. I’ve…”

I waited. I knew what I wanted, but I was determined to make Christy choose.

“I’ve been thinking about it,” she said after a moment. “And, I mean, we’ve already slept together. Besides, we aren’t going to do anything.”

“Um… maybe let’s think about this a bit more.”

“Why?”

“Well, there’s no way we’re gonna sleep together without fooling around.

I mean, you may not be ready to go all the way, but there’s plenty we can do short of that.”

“Like what?” She held her breath in anticipation.

“For one, I think you’re ready to meet Mr. Big.”

“Mr. Big or Mr. Good Thing?”

My brows drew together in confusion. “There’s a difference?”

“Of course,” she said, with a logic that made sense to her. “Good things come in small packages.”

My eyebrows shot up. Was she asking me to have sex with her? I almost told her she’d be meeting Mr. Good Thing, but then I thought about it. She was hinting at what she wanted, not asking for it.

“Well then,” I said neutrally, “I’ll let you decide who you’re ready to meet.”

“Mr… I mean… oh gosh… Mr. Big, of course.”

I hid my disappointment with a questioning smile. “Are you sure?”

“I’m… sure.”

“Sure of what?” Erin asked from the door.

“Sure you were eavesdropping,” I shot back.

“Paul, be nice,” Christy said. To Erin, “We’re sure the room’s fine.”

It was the most obvious lie in the world, but Erin took it at face value.

“Hold on,” Christy said as she looked around. “Where’s the bathroom?”

“Oh, they’re in the clubhouse,” Erin said cheerfully. “Only the cabins have bathrooms. I need to go too. C’mon, I’ll show you.”

“Erin,” I cautioned, “Christy’s—”

“Jeez, Paul. Chill out. I’m not going to embarrass you. We’re just going

to the bathroom.”

Christy met my eyes and silently told me she’d be fine.

They returned about five minutes later, laughing about something ( me, probably).

“She’s awesome,” Erin said to me. “I love her already.”

Christy smiled and turned rosy. “Thanks. You’re pretty awesome too.”

“I’m going to change into something nicer for tonight,” Erin said. “Mom and Susan are talking in her room. They said we’ll leave in about thirty minutes.”

“Thanks, Er,” I said.

“See you in a bit.” She left with a wave.

“Well, what do you think?” I asked Christy after I closed the door.

“Your mother’s so pretty. And I see where you get your vocabulary. Erin is just like her. She’s totally cool too. It’s like we’re sisters already.” Her delight turned to panic. “Not that— I mean, I wasn’t saying— Oh my gosh, I should stop talking now.”

“It’s okay.” I gathered her into my arms. “I know what you meant.”

“Thank you.” She pressed her cheek to my chest and relaxed with a deep sigh. “I really like your family so far, although it’s weird to think I’ve met most of them. I keep waiting for you to introduce more people to me. You know?”

“Yeah,” I chuckled. “We’re a lot more like a normal-sized family than yours.”

“We’re normal,” she protested. “Just normal for Irish Catholics.”

“Fair enough.”

“Susan’s really nice too,” she said after a moment. “You’ve known her a long time, haven’t you?”

“Since I was little, although I don’t really remember her from back then.”

Christy pulled back and looked up at me with a question.

“She and my parents met when I was… three, I guess. About the time Erin was born.”

“Then why don’t you remember her?”

“Well, they sort of… lost track of each other for a while, although it’s a bit more complicated than that. We ‘met’ her again when we started coming to camp. Well, that’s when I met her again. She and my mom reconnected before then. Obviously.”

Christy nodded absently but then had a thought. Her eyes flicked around

as she worked it out.

“What?” I said with a chuckle.

“Your mother. Susan.”

“What about them?”

“They’re…”

“They’re what?” I knew where she was going, but I wanted her to get there on her own.

“Well, you told me your mom has a girlfriend. You said they were apart for a while but then got back together.”

I nodded.

“And I was watching them on the drive. They talked a lot, but they didn’t really say much. I know that sounds dumb, but… they sort of… I dunno…

talked. Like you and I do sometimes. You know, when I just know what you’re thinking from your eyes or the way you hold your mouth.”

“It’s because they’re intimate,” I said after a moment. I wondered if Christy would make the connection about the two of us, but she was too focused on Mom and Susan.

“Exactly! Intimate.” She thought about it for a moment and smiled.

“Wow, that’s so cool. They really…?”

“Love each other,” I finished with a nod.

“And your mom still loves your dad?”

“Very much.”

“What does he think about her? Susan, I mean.”

“That,” I said with a laugh, “is a much longer story. The short version is that he likes her a lot. I don’t know if he loves her—not like Mom—but probably pretty close.”

“So he isn’t jealous?”

“No. Why should he be?”

“But… how does she do it? Love two people at once?”

“Think about it. You love your brothers, don’t you? All of them?”

“Of course. But that’s different.”

“Is it? Is romantic love different than familial love?”

She rolled her eyes. “You and your words. But yes, it is different.”

“Why?”

“Because I don’t want to… you know… with my brothers.”

“Have sex?”

“Shh! Keep your voice down.”

“These walls are cinder block,” I said with a chuckle. “No one’s gonna hear us.”

“Still…”

“Christy, love is love. And sex isn’t the same thing.” I held up a hand to stop her. “I know, this is the same argument we almost had during the flight.

So let’s not have it now either. Okay?”

She thought about it and nodded.

“In any case, we need to change clothes and get ready for the receiving of friends. But… let me leave you with something to think about. Not an argument. Just… a couple of rhetorical questions. Is that fair?”

“I guess so.”

“Okay, here goes. Do you love everyone you have sex with? And do you have sex with everyone you love?”

“Everyone I have sex with?” she protested. “I’ve had sex with one person!”

“What about all the girls?”

“All the girls? You make it sound like an army! What kind of girl do you think I am?”

“I think you’re a girl who likes sex. And that’s okay. I’m not judging you.”

“Yes you are!”

“Am I? I mean, really? Or do you feel guilty because you were taught that you should only have sex with one person—your husband—and no one else, till death do you part?”

“Don’t throw religion in my face again!”

“Whoa! Calm down. I’m not.” I stopped for a moment and repeated my words in my head. “Okay, maybe I am,” I admitted. “Sorry. But I’m not questioning your faith or anything. I’m just asking: am I judging you, or are you judging yourself?”

She narrowed her eyes dangerously and looked so much like her father that I almost laughed.

“It’s a rhetorical question,” I said, as dispassionately as I could. “And so are the others. I don’t want an answer. I just want you to think about it. And I’m totally not judging you, one way or the other. Okay?”

“Okay,” she said warily.

“So— just to think about—do you love everyone you have sex with? And do you have sex with everyone you love?”

“I don’t—”

I put my finger to her lips. “Just think about it. I’m fine if we never talk about it again. Fair enough?”

She nodded.

“Okay. Now, are you ready to change clothes?” She nodded, so I lifted my finger.

“I’ll wait outside,” she said.

“Why? You’ve seen me before. I’m the nudist, remember? I’m going to keep my boxers on anyway. So stay.” I paused and then gave her a wink.

“Besides, I like showing off.”

“You certainly do it enough.”

“What can I say? I also like you watching.”

She tried not to smile but eventually gave it up.

I changed out of my jeans and pullover sweater and into khakis and a Polo button-down.

“Are you going to put the sweater back on?” she asked.

“I hadn’t planned to. It isn’t that cold out. Why?”

She picked it up and handed it back to me. “Put it around your shoulders.”

I did, and she tied the arms in a loose knot on my chest. Then she reached up to straighten a wrinkle on my shoulder.

“There,” she said. “Much better.”

“Thanks. Now… your turn.”

She waited for me to leave. I still didn’t move, so she glanced at the door.

“You know we’re going to spend the night together, right?”

“Yes.”

“So… I was kinda hoping for a sneak peek.”

“No.”

“Not even one little one?”

“No.” She crossed her arms.

“Not even a quick flash?”

“Will you get out?” She shoved me bodily toward the door. “I’ll be ready in a minute.”

I grinned and checked my watch. “Okay. See you in fifteen.”

“Make it twenty,” she said, just to be contrary.

Christy was the last to join us. Susan, Mom, Erin, and I were already waiting by the car. We all turned to look as she emerged from the room, and my heart skipped a beat at the sight of her. She wore a tight turquoise sweater over a mid-length black pencil skirt, with black hose and black heels. She’d done her hair and makeup as well.

She looked beautiful, but in a subtle way instead of being flashy. She reminded me of her mother, especially when she waited for me to give her a hand down from the small porch. Her high heels sank into the sandy soil, but she didn’t need me for balance. She’d done it simply because we were together, a couple.

Doug and Olivia pulled up behind us in their rental car, which was our sign to climb into Susan’s station wagon. We were among the first to arrive at the funeral home. We signed the guestbook and then offered our condolences to Gunny’s widow, Lenore, and her sister and brother-in-law.

Finally, we paid our respects at the casket. Gunny was laid out with his dress uniform and medals, row after row of them. He looked good, but I felt guilty because I couldn’t think of anything to say. Christy said a quiet prayer and then crossed herself. She came away with tears in her eyes, so I put my arm around her and escorted her to join the others.

We spent the next couple of hours making small talk with people who’d known Gunny. Mr. Nelson was there, along with several other people I recognized from camp. They looked a lot older than I remembered. Most of them were retirees in their seventies or eighties, people who’d joined the camp when Susan’s parents still ran it.

Afterward we went to dinner in town, and the mood gradually turned from somber to happy as we laughed and reminisced. Doug had grown up with Gunny as a surrogate father, and he regaled us with stories.

“I remember one time I was coming home from work,” he said. “It was late, almost midnight, and the road from town was empty. The moon must’ve been full, ’cause I turned off my headlights and floored it. I hit a hundred, easy, and was just about to slow down to make the turn when blue lights started flashing behind me.”

Susan’s eyebrows went up.

“Yeah,” Doug said. “The sheriff pulled me over and was reading me the riot act. He threatened to throw me under the jail. You remember Sheriff Henderson?”

“Oh, I remember him,” Susan said. She explained to the rest of us, “The

sheriff and I never really got on. He was an old-school chauvinist. He wanted me and the camp out of his county. Unfortunately—for him, that is—I had way too much clout and political savvy. I’m sure it drove him bonkers to be constantly outmaneuvered by a woman.” She looked at her son. “So, what did he do?”

“Took one look at my driver’s license and asked if I was related to you. I told him I was your son, so he asked if I knew Gunny. He threatened to tell him if he ever caught me speeding again.”

“That’s it?”

“That’s it. Didn’t write me a ticket or anything. And I kept my foot off the gas for a month. Drove like a little old lady on Sunday.”

“He should’ve told me,” Susan said.

“I got the impression he didn’t want to deal with you.”

“He got the short end of the stick every time he did.”

“And besides, Mom… No offense, but I was never scared of you. Sheriff Henderson might’ve been a sexist pig, but he wasn’t an idiot. He knew that if Gunny ever found out what I’d done, he’d tear me a new one.”

“He would not! He never laid a hand on you.”

Doug shook his head at her innocence. “Gunny never had to raise a hand, Mom. Kirk and I worshiped him. I’d’ve sooner disappointed you than him.

He could put me in my place with a single look.” He glanced at me. “You know what I’m talking about.”

“Oh yeah.”

“One time,” Doug continued, “I was supposed to work the hay harvest with old man Stevens. I thought I was too cool. Besides, I didn’t want to get all hot and dusty. But then Gunny found out, and…”

He told several more stories, all with the same theme: he or his brother had done something ignorant, arrogant, or reckless—one time all three—and Gunny had put a stop to it, usually with a project around camp that required lots of hard work and personal supervision. He’d spent his career in the Marines turning boys into men, and he’d clearly done the same with Susan’s sons.

We talked for a while longer but eventually wound down and paid the check.

“Do you mind if we stop at the grocery store on the way home?” I asked Susan as we walked out to the car.

“We can,” she said, “but I stocked one of the refrigerators in the

clubhouse. Nothing fancy, but you won’t starve.”

“Cool, thanks,” I said. “But… did you get any veggies? Fruit?”

“Paul, no,” Christy said quietly. “I’ll be fine.”

“Are you still on a health kick?” Erin teased. “You’re looking a little…

pudgy.”

I pointedly ignored her.

“I still think you look too thin,” Mom said.

“No,” Susan said to me. “Mostly lunchmeat, breakfast cereal, things like that. We can stop at the store, though.”

“Thanks.”

“You’re not serious, are you?” Erin asked me. “Do you really wanna eat that stuff?”

“It’s good for you, Erin. You should try it. You’re looking a little pudgy yourself.”

“Be nice,” Christy whispered. Louder, she said to Erin, “It’s for me.”

Susan suddenly grew concerned. “Didn’t you get enough at the restaurant? I thought you finished your plate.”

“I did. And thank you again for dinner.”

“She has a freakish metabolism,” I explained to Susan and the others.

“She eats six or seven times a day.”

“It isn’t freakish,” Christy muttered indignantly. “It’s just high.”

“She has a high metabolism,” I corrected.

Susan and Mom grinned at each other.

“So I don’t want her to get hungry if she wants a midnight snack.”

“In that case,” Susan said, “we’ll stop by Winn-Dixie on the way home.”

Back at camp, I took the groceries into the clubhouse kitchen and gave Christy the nickel tour.

“Everyone really cooks and eats all together?” she asked.

“Mmm hmm, although lately we’ve stayed in one of the bigger cabins with its own kitchen.”

“And… is that the only shower?”

“Oh, crap. I forgot about that.” The shower area was completely open to that part of the clubhouse, including the door from the road. “You want me to

see if we can move to one of the cabins?”

“No,” she said. “We’ll make it work… somehow.”

“You can shower tonight, or early in the morning. I’ll stand guard or something.”

“No, I won’t make you do that.”

Mom came into the clubhouse and joined us.

“I’m going to change into something more comfortable and then go relax with Susan,” she said. She didn’t invite us to join her, which told me all I needed to know. “Doug and Olivia are going to the drive-in to see the late movie. Erin’s going with them.”

I blinked in surprise. “Really?”

“Mmm hmm. She was going to ask if you and Christy wanted to hang out in the hot tub—”

Christy shot me a startled look.

“—but I suggested the movies instead.”

“Yeah, thanks.”

“You’re welcome. I thought you and Christy might like some… time to yourselves. The hot tub up here hasn’t been winterized, but I don’t know how long it’ll take to heat up. Or you can build a fire in the fireplace. She thinks Gunny kept some firewood behind the clubhouse. Or… just relax in your room and unwind.”

“Thanks. We’ll probably do that.”

She nodded and gave me a kiss on the cheek. “Goodnight. Christy, it’s been a pleasure getting to know you better. I’m sorry it’s under the circumstances, but…”

“That’s okay. It’s been a pleasure. Even under the circumstances.”

Mom left, and Christy waited until the door closed behind her.

“Your mom is totally amazing,” she said, “but did she just encourage us to…?”

“To what?”

“Get up to hanky-panky?”

“Yeah,” I said with a laugh. “She did.”

“For real?”

“For real. She knows we’re grown-ups.”

Christy stared in disbelief. “I can’t imagine…”

“My family’s a little different than yours.”

“You can say that again.”

“My family’s a little different than yours.”

“I deserved that,” she said with a rueful grin.

“Yep. Now, you wanna cut up veggies for a snack later?”

“You know me so well.”

“I do, my beautiful little bunny.”

We washed vegetables in companionable silence. While we were cutting them, we heard Doug and the girls drive out.

Christy’s head came up, and I saw her working out who was where.

“Welcome to my world,” I said. “Right now, Susan and my mom are probably relaxing in the hot tub. And they made sure you and I would have some private time too.”

Her eyebrows rose.

“My family is a lot more open about sex than yours.”

“You can say that again— No, don’t!”

“Wouldn’t dream of it.” I lifted a baggie of sliced carrots and celery.

“You want anything else before we go up?”

“Maybe a bottle of wine?”

“Mmm, sorry. Probably none around. No alcohol in the public areas.

Camp rules. It’s okay for the cabins and RVs, but…” I shrugged. “I’ll have to seduce you with my charm alone.”

“How can you be so calm about it? I mean, we’re about to commit a sin.”

“We don’t have to if you don’t want to. I can sleep on one of the bunkbeds. Or you can sleep with Erin.” Although your chances of getting laid are higher with her, I thought wryly.

“No, I didn’t say that. I just said I’m nervous.”

“Nervous is fine. I’m nervous too.”

“Why? You aren’t about to betray your beliefs.”

“You aren’t either,” I said. “And even if you were, they’re a bunch of outdated rules made by celibate old men. They were cranky ’cause they weren’t having sex, and they didn’t want anyone else to have fun either.

Besides, what do they know about being a woman, especially in the eighties?

The nineteen eighties.”

“Nothing,” she said, a touch bitterly.

“Exactly.” I picked her up and set her on the counter. Then I rested my hands midway up her thighs, safely away from the hem of her skirt. “We don’t have to if you don’t want to,” I said softly. “Now’s the time to say so.”

“No, I… want to. I’m just scared.”

“I’m scared too.”

“Why?”

“What if we aren’t compatible? What if I do something you don’t like, or go too far? I don’t wanna mess this up, ’cause I’ve totally fallen for you. I told you, I’m in real danger with you, the till-death-do-us-part kind.”

She stiffened with surprise.

“Yeah, exactly. So I’m pretty nerv—”

My words must have finally sunk in, because she threw her arms around my neck and kissed me. And not just any kiss; it was the “take me to bed, now!” variety. I might’ve been slow on the uptake, but I wasn’t an idiot. I scooped her into my arms and headed toward our room, immediately, forthwith, and posthaste.

Halfway there I realized that the little head was running the show. We fought a battle of wills that felt almost physical, until the big head regained a semblance of control.

“What’s the matter?” Christy asked, breathless and confused. “Are you okay? You just…”

I chuckled and then smiled to reassure her. “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.”

“Try me,” she said anxiously.

“Okay. But in a minute. One, it’s a little chilly out here. And two, we’re standing in the middle of the road.”

She nodded and held on to my neck so I could free a hand to open the door to our room. I maneuvered her through it and kicked it shut behind us.

Then I set her on the top of the dresser. I’d already killed the urgency of the moment, so I decided to explain.

“I’m fine,” I said, “but… I just had a little argument with my dick.”

Her eyes widened.

“Yeah. I sort of… talk to it. I think of it as a separate person. I know it isn’t, but sometimes I treat it like one. You know, like when it wants to do things one way, but the big head wants to do them another.”

“You’re serious,” she said slowly.

“Completely. And I used to lose most of the arguments I had with it. So we did what my dick wanted, regardless of the consequences. I made some really bad decisions when I let it do the thinking.”

She looked dubious. “Like… what?”

“Do you really wanna get into that now? Talk about my past mistakes in

the girlfriend department?”

“Well, when you put it that way…”

“Exactly. So just take my word for it. Not good if the little head runs the show by itself, especially in a new situation. Like… with a new girlfriend.

One I really like, but who wants to take things slow.”

“Oh. Right.”

“So the little head and I had a chat. I… convinced it… to do things my way.”

She was warming to the idea that I really did have two-sided conversations with my penis. “What did you tell him?”

“Threatened it— him with solitary confinement.”

She compressed her lips and tried not to grin.

“Told him he could stay in my pants all night.”

“And he listened?”

“What choice did he have?”

“Do you think it would help…?”

I raised an eyebrow.

“Maybe if… I talk to him?”

“Would you like to?”

She looked down and plucked up her courage. “Very much.”

“Good. ’Cause he really wants to talk to you. But on my terms.”

“I’d like that,” she said softly.

“I was hoping you would.” I lifted her chin and kissed her, with a lot more tenderness and intimacy than the kiss that had started it all. “But first…

you’re way too overdressed to meet him.”

“Oh?” She batted her eyes coquettishly. “There’s a dress code?”

“Well, you are at a nudist camp. In a nudist room. About to get into a nudist bed. With a nudist man.”

“I sense a theme…”

“Mmm hmm. So… are you ready to try being a nudist?”

“Just with you?”

I nodded.

“I can hardly say no at this point.”

“You can always say no. I’m serious about that.”

She touched my face and looked into my eyes. “I know. That’s why I won’t. Not with you. Not ever.”

It was my turn to look surprised.

“I may not be Gina or Kendall or Daphne or any of your other girlfriends, but dammit, you’re my boyfriend now. And I’m going to keep you!”

“You know,” I said after a moment, “I think that’s the first time I’ve ever heard you swear.”

Her brow wrinkled comically. “You won’t tell anyone, will you? I have a reputation…”

“Your secret’s safe with me,” I chuckled.

“Thank you. Now… about this nudist thing. How does it work?”

“Well, it’s simple: you take off your clothes. If you have a boyfriend handy, you can ask him to help.”

“Does it require much help? I mean, I’ve been taking my clothes off for years. Is there some special way to do it as a nudist?”

“I usually start at the top and work my way down. Here, let me show you.” I lifted the hem of her sweater. Then I paused. “Last chance to say no.”

She shook her head.

“No, you don’t want to keep going? Or no, you aren’t saying no?”

“The second one. I won’t say it.”

I looked her in the eyes and slowly lifted her sweater. She raised her arms, and I started to pull it over her head.

“Ow, ow, ow! Hold on. It’s caught on my earring.”

I chuckled but paused to let her free herself.

“There. Sorry. Much better.”

I pulled the sweater off and set it aside.

She was wearing a black bra with sheer lace panels. Her nipples were dark and stiff.

I surveyed her appreciatively and then touched the clasp between her breasts. “Lucky a third time.”

“It wasn’t luck.”

My eyebrows shot up.

She smirked. “I’m shy, not innocent.”

I popped the catch with a single twist, which made her shiver. “Are you okay?”

She moistened her lips and nodded. “Makes me tingly when you do that so easily.”

“How ’bout when I do this?” I peeled the halves of her bra apart and enjoyed the sight of her bare breasts for the first time. They were small but firm, with just enough weight to curve gently on the bottom.

“That too,” she said with another frisson. Then she added hesitantly, “I know you normally like them bigger…”

“Uh-uh. You remember what I said about my favorites?”

She nodded.

“Besides, they’re beautiful. Just the right size and shape.”

“You really think so?”

“Mmm hmm. But don’t just take my word for it.”

“Should I ask Mr. Big too?”

“Exactly what I was thinking.”

She rolled her eyes, but her lips quirked with a grin. Then she reached up and touched my cheek. “This is another reason I’m dating you… you make me feel beautiful. And special.”

“That’s because you are. Both.” I kissed her and slipped the straps of her bra off her shoulders. She lowered her arms and let it fall away. I kissed her again and reached behind her, where I unfastened the clasp on her skirt. She stiffened, so I stopped.

“It’s okay,” she whispered. “Just nervous.”

I nodded and slowly lowered the zipper.

“Let me down,” she said politely. “It’s easier if I’m standing.”

I stepped back and helped her to the floor. She wriggled her hips and pushed the tight skirt over them. It formed a black pool around her feet.

My eyes traveled up her legs. She was wearing stockings instead of hose, held up by a black garter belt. Her panties matched her bra, and I could just make out the darker wedge of pubic hair through the mesh and lace.

“Very nice,” I said appreciatively. “Now I know why you wouldn’t let me watch you change clothes.”

“A girl has to have some surprises.”

“That’s a pretty nice surprise.” I stepped back to admire her.

Her stomach was flat and firm, and her hips flared gently from her waist.

She was boyishly slim, but definitely a woman. She was also very nervous.

I moved close again and lifted her chin for a kiss to reassure her. Then I smiled and went to one knee. She watched me nervously but didn’t move, even when I took my time and unfastened the garter clips from her stockings.

“Still time to say no,” I said softly.

She shook her head.

I lowered her panties. She put her hand on my shoulder for balance as she stepped out of them. She looked so good in the heels and stockings that I

decided to leave them on, so I refastened the garter clips as she watched.

After a moment I slid my hand between her thighs and gently probed her nether lips. Her pubic hair was darker than the hair on her head. It was springy and soft, and it grew thicker in the middle, almost like a natural mohawk.

I spread her moisture along the cleft of her pussy. Then I eased my finger into her well-lubricated channel. She was still watching, so I pulled it out and touched it to my tongue. Her juices tasted clean and fresh, slightly tangy.

I leaned forward and kissed her bush. Then I held her hips and pressed my face into her. She gasped and leaned against the dresser, so I lifted her onto it. Her legs parted naturally and her pussy opened before me. I spread her thighs even wider and leaned in.

Her downy pubic hair tickled my cheeks, and her clit was a hard little bead under my probing tongue. She cried out softly when I flicked it and then sucked gently. I wanted to take my time and enjoy myself, but her body had other ideas. Her thighs began to quiver with pent-up desire, and the scent of her arousal filled my nostrils.

I slid my finger into her opening and circled her clit with my tongue. She gasped when I began sucking and thrusting my finger at the same time. Her breathing grew heavier, punctuated by soft gasps of pleasure.

She came with a little squeak, and the warm skin of her inner thighs clamped my face. I crooked my finger inside her and moved the tip until I felt her writhe with another spasm of pleasure. I kept going until her legs flew apart and she tried to push me away. I slowly withdrew my finger and planted soft kisses on the sensitive skin around her labia.

“Oh my gosh,” she said softly.

I stood and kissed her.

She sighed when she tasted herself on my lips, and our kiss deepened.

She wrapped her legs around me and crossed her ankles, so I picked her up and carried her to the bed. The little head threatened to revolt until I reminded him of the consequences.

Christy silently looked into my eyes as I knelt on the bed and laid her head on the pillow. She didn’t release her leg-lock, so I stretched out and rested part of my weight on her.

“So… you like being a nudist?” I asked.

“You know I do.” She kissed me again. “I like anything with you.”

Another kiss. “But… aren’t you supposed to be nude too?”

I twitched an eyebrow.

“You’re way too overdressed to introduce me to Mr. Big.”

“Fine,” I laughed, “throw my own words back at me.”

“I told you,” she said with a smile, “I’m learning.”

“Well, you’ll have to let me up if you want me to take off my clothes.”

“But… aren’t I supposed to do it?”

“You want to?”

“It’s only fair.”

“Then by all means…”

She grinned and released me.

I sat up and admired her body. She squirmed a little self-consciously, especially when my eyes reached her pussy. Her legs were spread, and her sparse pubic hair couldn’t hide the soft pink of her inner lips. I ran a hand down her thigh and paused at her hip. Then I moved toward her pussy and teased her clit with my thumb.

She stiffened and gasped with pleasure. Her nipples strained toward the ceiling as she clutched the bedspread. I thought about making her come again but decided to work up to it slowly. I left my hand where it was, as a sort of promise for later.

She sagged to the bed and breathed hard through her nose. When she finally opened her eyes, she realized I’d been studying her body.

“I know it’s not what you’re used to,” she said quietly.

“Will you stop about ‘what I’m used to’? You’re exactly ‘what I’m used to’: smart, beautiful, and sexy. Yeah, your body is different, but so what? The other ways you’re different are actually important. You’re artistic, for one.

Athletic, too. And… spiritual.”

“You were about to say ‘religious.’”

“The other girls played at religion. They used it as an excuse, a tool to get what they wanted. You’re serious about it, and I admire that. I don’t understand it—yet—but it comes with the package.” I gazed into her eyes, which were still surprisingly calm. “And in case you haven’t noticed, I like the package, the small one and the big one.”

She sat up and wrapped her arms around my neck. We kissed for several languid minutes and parted slowly. Then she glanced at the bulge in my khakis.

I grinned. “Are you ready to meet Mr. Big?”

She nodded eagerly, so I stood and pulled her with me. She practically

vibrated with impatience, and her nipples looked hard enough to cut steel. I tweaked the left one.

“Oh, no fair,” she gasped.

“What isn’t?”

“Distracting me right when I get the chance to meet your penis.”

“Ah, then I’d better stop.”

“Thank you.” She untied my sweater and then went straight for my shirt. I thought she’d be nervous, but she opened the buttons with sure hands. She planted soft kisses on my exposed skin as she continued down the row. When she finished the last one, she slid her hands up my chest and pushed the shirt and sweater over my shoulders. I shrugged them off while she unbuckled my belt.

My erection made a tent in my boxers as soon as she lowered my pants.

She grinned and sank to her knees, where she pulled off my shoes, socks, and finally my khakis. Then she gazed at the bulge in my underwear.

“He’s ready for his debut,” she said.

“Mmm hmm. But are you?”

“I’ve already had mine.”

I chuckled. “To rave reviews.”

“Thank you.”

“But are you ready for Mr. Big’s debut? He’s a bit nervous. What if you don’t like him?”

“I like you, so I’m going to like him too. He comes with the package. And what a big package it is.”

“Big enough,” I said. “But don’t get your hopes up for John Holmes.”

She looked up and gave me a sly grin. “I know who he is.”

My eyes popped.

“Mmm hmm. I told you, I’m not so innocent.”

“No kidding.”

She grasped the waistband of my boxers and pulled them down. My cock sprang up and bounced gently in front of her. She lowered my shorts and I stepped out of them, but she never took her eyes off my hard-on. She wrapped her small hand around my girth and squeezed gently. Then she stroked a couple of times and simply watched the skin move over the shaft.

“You like?”

“Very much.” She looked up and met my eyes. “You remember that thing about your favorite breasts?”

“Of course.”

“Well, that’s how I feel about your penis.”

“Oh?”

“Mmm hmm. The only thing I care about is, ‘Can I touch it?’” She grinned until she replayed her words in her head. “Oh my gosh! That makes me sound like a tramp.”

“No,” I chuckled. “It makes you sound like someone who knows what she likes. Besides, I know you’ve seen others.”

“I have not!” she lied. “Not like this. Well, one other.”

I didn’t want to get into an argument—the little head would’ve sulked for a month if I had—so I didn’t call her on it.

“But yours is bigger.”

“He’s big,” I said with a laugh at a sudden memory, “but your hands are small too.”

“What’s so funny?”

“My grandfather used to tell me to marry a girl with small hands.”

“Why?”

“‘Makes your johnson look bigger,’ he said.”

“You don’t need any help in that department.”

“Thanks.” And then, not quite mocking, I said, “I know it isn’t what you’re used to…”

“Ha ha. Use my own words against me. Fine. I get it.” She wasn’t really upset, though. She was too focused on my dick, and she continued stroking slowly. “He’s so hard,” she said at last. “And so soft at the same time.”

“Mmm hmm.” I wanted to put my hand on the back of her head and guide her mouth toward me, but I forced myself not to. The effort left me with a tingling sense of urgency that I knew all too well.

“He’s so big,” she said again. “I don’t know if he’ll fit.” She was hinting for all she was worth, but I refused to take the bait.

“You’ll find out,” I said, “when you’re ready.”

She nodded and gently touched my balls. Her hands were warm, which made me think of other places where she might be warm.

“Ooh,” she said with surprise as my cock swelled. “He likes it.”

“He likes you.”

“He does?”

“Mmm hmm. And if you keep stroking, he’ll show you.”

“Oh? How?”

“You know,” I said noncommittally.

“Is it anything like a liquid diet?”

“It is,” I said with feigned surprise.

“Well, you have a very big straw.”

“It has to deliver a lot of liquid.”

“What if it’s too much?”

“Then you’ll have to swallow twice.”

She grinned up at me. “You want me to swallow?”

Dammit! Walked into that one. “If you want,” I said aloud.

“I’d like that.” She flashed a quick, bright smile and then returned her attention to my cock. She stroked it firmly and used her other hand to massage my balls. It definitely wasn’t her first handjob, and I felt the pressure building. I knew I wouldn’t last long, but I tried to hold back anyway.

She concentrated on what she was doing as she pumped her fist up and down my shaft. My dick did look larger in her hands, and I silently chuckled again at my grandfather’s words.

Christy picked up her tempo, and her firm breasts bounced with the movement. She knew I was getting close. Her eyes practically glowed with anticipation as she moistened her lips. I took over for her and wrapped my fist around the base of my cock.

“Open your mouth,” I said at last.

She tilted her head back and opened wide. She looked like a little bird waiting to be fed.

I grinned to myself. That’s exactly what she was.

Her eyes met mine, and I erupted with a groan. A thick stream of white, hot semen shot into her mouth. I expected her to squeak, but she closed her eyes and moaned instead. The next spurt arced into her mouth, followed by a third and a fourth. I threw my head back and kept stroking until the surges of pleasure slowed and then stopped altogether.

I returned to my senses and realized that I was standing on tiptoes. My calves and thighs and buttocks were rock-hard with the effort. Christy stretched upward and braced herself with palms on my thighs. She didn’t want to miss a drop. I milked my cock one last time and spread the bead of semen on her shiny lips.

She closed her eyes and swallowed once, twice. Then she licked her lips and used her finger to wipe her chin. She sucked it clean and licked her lips for another errant drop. Her nostrils flared as she caught her breath.

“Oh my gosh,” she said at last. “That was a lot.” She gazed at my still-hard cock and then back up at me. “Is it always that much?”

“Mmm hmm.”

“For real?”

“Yep.” I lifted her to her feet. “You have a high metabolism, I have a high sperm count.”

She rolled her eyes. “Sperm isn’t the same as semen.”

“Oh?” She was right, but I hadn’t expected it. A nice Catholic girl wasn’t supposed to know anything about sex until her wedding night, right? I hid my cynicism and lifted an eyebrow instead.

“I know what you’re thinking,” she said. “Just because we’re Catholics doesn’t mean we’re ignorant.”

“I wasn’t thinking that at all!” Except that I was.

“To thine own self be true.”

I narrowed my eyes. “You remember when you said you really don’t like me sometimes?”

She fluttered her eyelashes and replied with an artful smile.

“Well, this is one of those times when I don’t like you.”

“How can you not like me? I’m so sweet and adorable.”

“And smart. So yeah, you caught me… I was thinking that a nice Catholic girl wouldn’t know anything about sex.”

“For your information, Mr. Doubting Thomas, we had to take sex ed, just like regular schools.” Her look of triumph didn’t last. “Unfortunately, it was mostly about purity and chastity. So I… um… sort of had to learn a lot on my own.”

“From books,” I said dryly.

“Exactly.”

“Any other sources?”

“No, of course not,” she lied.

“Uh-huh.” I thought about telling her to be true to her own self, but decided against it. She’d already come a long way, so calling her on a lie wasn’t going to help my cause. “Well,” I said instead, “you’ll get plenty of, ahem, hands-on education with me.”

“Oh? I will?” She looked relieved that I hadn’t pressed her.

“Mmm hmm. And lots of semen to study.”

“How am I supposed to study it if I swallow it all?” she asked with wide, not-so-innocent eyes.

“Don’t worry, you’ll never have a shortage as long as I’m around. In your mouth, on your face, on your chest, on your—”

“So… all over me?”

“Yeah, pretty much.”

“Sounds like fun. They say it’s good for your hair and nails.”

“Oh, ‘they’ do, do they?”

“Mmm hmm.” She thought about it. “But that’s probably only if you swallow it.”

“That’s what I prefer.”

Her cheeks turned rosy. “Me too.”

“Well, good. That’s one question answered: spit or swallow?”

“Swallow, please,” she said cheerfully.

I rolled my eyes.

“And speaking of which… I’m hungry.”

“Ha! But I just realized… we left your snack in the clubhouse. Want me to fetch it?”

“Why don’t we both go?”

“Sure.”

She reached for my discarded button-down. I let her put it on but stopped her before she could button it.

“Do you really need that?” I said. “It’s a nudist camp, remember?”

“But… I thought… I mean…”

I slid my hand inside the shirt and pulled her close. My cock was still semi-hard, and it bent against her flat stomach.

“It’s dark. No one can see. Besides, no one’s in the clubhouse. What better time to try being a nudist?”

“But… you said…”

“I’m a nudist. And… I’d like you to be, too.”

“So it’s part of the package?”

“Yes.” A small part of me felt guilty for only telling her bits and pieces, but the whole truth was more than she could handle at once. So I kept my mouth shut and silently willed her to agree.

She ventured a nod.

“Danny was right,” I said, and hoped my relief didn’t show. “He said you were fearless.”

That seemed to stiffen her resolve. She took off the shirt and tossed it aside.

“You’re cute when you’re determined.”

“And don’t you forget it!” She marched toward the door, and I actually had to stretch out to stop her.

“Hold on a second,” I said with a laugh. “Lemme get my flip-flops first.”

“Oh. Sorry.”

I dug them out of my backpack and slipped my feet into them. “Okay, now you can boldly go where no nudist woman in stockings and heels has ever gone before.” I thought about it. “Yeah, you’re probably the first.”

She rolled her eyes but stood on tiptoe for a kiss, which I was happy to give her. I was also happy to follow her across the darkened road, since her bare ass and stocking-clad legs looked amazing.

We found the baggie of vegetables right where we’d left it, but the clubhouse was unheated and drafty, so we hurried back to the relative warmth of our room. I closed the door behind us and grinned as she dusted sand from her shoes.

“You can probably take those off now,” I said. “I mean, they’re sexy as hell, but you can’t wear them to bed.”

She looked toward the bed in question, and I watched emotions play across her face: anxiety, determination, and finally excitement. She did her best to hide the last, but I could read it in every line of her body.

I sat on the bed and idly gnawed a carrot stick as she took off her shoes, stockings, and garter belt. She watched me out of the corner of her eye and seemed to grow more comfortable when I didn’t wolf-whistle or leer or anything.

She joined me on the bed. I hoped she’d sit cross-legged too, but she folded her legs under her and sat Japanese-style.

We chatted while she ate, and I told her more about life at camp. She perked up immediately when I described the quarry lake and its waterfall.

“It sounds beautiful,” she said. “I can’t wait to see it.”

“You realize,” I said slowly, “that you’ll have to come back. To the nudist camp.”

“Of course I will.” She rolled her eyes. “I just… have to get used to it is all.”

“You’re doing well so far.”

“Thank you. It’s… kind of fun, actually.”

I nodded.

“I thought I’d be embarrassed or self-conscious, but I’m not.”

“That’s good.”

“Besides, I really like looking at you.”

“Thanks. The feeling’s mutual.”

“Tell me more about the people at camp.”

“Let’s get under the covers first. You might be hot-natured, but I’m not, and I’m starting to get cold.”

I turned off the overhead light and then checked the space heater. It was already on its highest setting, but it was hopelessly outmatched by the cold concrete and cinder blocks. Christy climbed into bed and I joined her.

“You’re freezing!” she said. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Because I was having fun talking to you. Besides, I was enjoying the view.”

“Guys are so strange sometimes.”

“Not strange. We just like looking at nude women.”

“Well, you’ll have to settle for me instead.”

“Who’s settling? I’m lucky to have you.”

She kissed my chest and began rubbing her warm hands over my cold skin.

“Keep doing that and I’ll warm you up.”

“From the inside?”

“Mmm hmm.” I pulled her hand to my resurgent erection.

“You weren’t kidding!”

“Nope. I never kid about an orgasm.”

“Are you going to shoot in my mouth again?”

“If you want,” I said.

“Yes, please.” She sighed with pleasure and began stroking me gently.

She tensed with a question after a couple of minutes. “Do you mind…?”

“What?”

“No, it’s silly. Never mind.”

“No, tell me,” I said.

“I know you’re cold, but… do you mind if I push the covers down?”

I didn’t answer aloud; I simply did it.

“Thank you.”

I started to ask why, but then I realized that I hadn’t turned off the bedside lamp. “You like to watch, don’t you?”

“He’s so handsome.”

I chuckled and stroked her hair.

“And he’s all mine,” she added after a moment. She rested her cheek on my stomach and watched as she stroked me.

I rubbed her back and shoulders and felt her sigh with contentment.

“Mmm, that’s nice.”

“I like having you here. I want you to come back.”

“To camp or to your bed?”

“Both.”

“I’d like that,” she said softly. “Very much.”

We fell silent as she continued stroking, until I was ready to come. I fought a battle of wills with the little head. He wanted her to suck me off. I wanted to stick to the rules. For once, we compromised.

“Put the head in your mouth when I come.” I tensed with the effort to keep from shooting before she was ready, but I shouldn’t have worried. She wrapped her lips around me before I even finished speaking.

She gave another couple of strokes and then moaned when the first spurt coated her tongue. She swallowed and pumped her fist, and I obliged with more semen.

She kept nursing long after I stopped shooting, so I replaced her hand with my own. I began stroking in earnest and surprised her with another load after only a few minutes. She caressed my balls and swallowed every drop.

“Oh my gosh,” she panted, “that was almost as much as the first.” She sat up in surprise and looked at me. “No! As much as the second. That was the third.”

“Mmm hmm. I told you,” I said between breaths, “I have a high sperm count.”

“I can tell. Wow.” She bent and kissed the tip of my shaft, which had finally started shrinking. “I really could go on a liquid diet with you.”

“Probably not,” I said with a laugh, “but it’d be fun to try!”

“It would.” She scooted up and lay next to me on her side.

I rolled toward her and tasted myself on her lips as we kissed.

“Thank you,” she said softly.

“For what?”

“For everything. For bringing me here. For tonight. For not laughing at my body. For being an awesome boyfriend.”

“My pleasure. Thank you for coming. And for trying new things.”

“I had fun.” She grinned. “Especially meeting your penis.”

“I’m glad.”

“And for the record, he feels very good in my mouth.”

“Yes, he does.”

She kissed me again and sighed when I cupped her ass. I rolled to my back and pulled her with me. She slid a leg over mine and rested her head on my chest.

“You ready to go to sleep?” I said.

“I think so.”

I pulled the covers over us and turned off the bedside light. Then I rubbed her back and felt her relax.

“Mmm, that feels nice. Goodnight.” She yawned and kissed my chest.

Then she lifted the covers. “Goodnight, Mr. Penis. Sweet dreams… of you.”

Oh yeah, I thought, I’m in trouble all right.