Kinky Confessions

Chapter 21

Christy finished her last exam on Tuesday, and I drove her to the airport for her flight to San Diego. I finished my own exams the next day and headed to Atlanta. I was a bit surprised when I arrived and discovered that my mom was the only one home. I’d been expecting to see my whole family, but my dad had accepted a reverse seniority trip (sort of like overtime) and Erin had gone to Florida for spring break after all.

So Mom and I spent a quiet evening in front of the television. The next morning we worked on the flower beds in the front yard. After lunch we moved to the back yard, where we took advantage of the privacy fence to work on our tans and do some nude gardening. I didn’t think twice about teasing and flirting, since we had rules about how far it could go.

But Mom had changed the rules without telling me, although I figured it out pretty quickly when she seduced me. We had sex again after she explained, and my quiet little vacation turned into a taboo fuck-fest. A crazy part of me even thought about writing an anonymous letter to Penthouse, with the names and details changed to protect the not-so-innocent, like yours truly. I talked myself out of it pretty quickly, but my imagination was still in overdrive when I left for the airport on Saturday morning.

The rest of the day brought me back to reality. Rain and wind battered the Northeast, while snow blanketed the Rockies. Atlanta felt the effects from both directions. I was bumped from my first flight and couldn’t get on several others, so I spent nearly six hours waiting in the departure lounge before the ticket agent finally found a seat for me. On the plus side, she upgraded me to first class because I’d been polite and easy to deal with. So, score one for a

good attitude.

I spent the last of my pocket change on a quick call to Christy and then raced to my gate. I made it with plenty of time to spare and even had to wait for the last of the paying passengers to board. But eventually I settled into my comfy seat and let out a sigh as the adrenaline started to wear off. I was finally headed to San Diego.

One of the flight attendants gave me a couple of curious looks after takeoff, but that wasn’t too unusual. Someone on the crew usually knew my father, and she’d probably made the connection when she saw my name on the manifest as a standby passenger. She was several years older than me, a pretty brunette with a willowy dancer’s body. She was busy with the drinks cart and meal service for the first half of the flight, but I made my way back to the galley once the cabin settled down after dinner.

“Hey, I’m Paul,” I said, “up in 4E. I think you know my dad. He’s a pilot.

David Hughes.”

“I thought so! You look just like him.”

“Yeah, ’fraid so.”

“No, that’s a good thing.” She smiled and extended her hand. “I’m Pam.

Nice to meet you.”

We chatted for a few minutes, until the plane shook and rattled through heavy turbulence. The captain turned on the Fasten Seatbelts sign, and the first officer came over the intercom to make the announcement. Pam looked up as the flight attendant call chimed immediately after.

“I’d better get back to my seat,” I said.

“Yeah, sorry,” she agreed. “And I’d better get back to work.”

The flight was bumpy for a while but then it settled down. Pam and I didn’t have a chance to talk again, but we traded several smiles before we began our descent into San Diego.

We landed a little before eleven o’clock my time, nearly fourteen hours after I’d left my parents’ house that morning. I was worn out but felt a surge of energy at the thought of seeing Christy. I’d missed her more than I’d realized, and the promise of sex had little to do with it. Still, I let the paying passengers disembark before I shouldered my backpack and headed up to the cockpit.

The first officer and flight engineer both knew my dad, and we chatted as we made our way down the aisle to the galley and the main door there. Pam and the other flight attendants were ready to leave as well. She caught my

eye, so I lingered when the rest of the crew pulled their suitcases up the jetway.

After a bit of friendly chitchat, she gave me an appraising look. Then her body language changed, and I realized she was thinking about asking me to dinner and a drink. Her hotel room afterward was a distinct possibility. She didn’t bat an eye when she saw that I’d read her perfectly.

“You’re David’s son, all right,” she said with a laugh.

“Guilty as charged. And I’d love to get to know you better, but… I’m meeting someone.”

She didn’t bother to deny what she’d been thinking. “Girlfriend?” she said instead.

“Yeah.”

“Does she live out here?”

“No, we’re visiting her family. Spring break.”

We started up the jetway together.

“So you’re in college?” she said.

“Yeah. Why? You thought I might’ve been in high school?”

She looked at me sideways and shrugged.

“What would you have done if I were?”

“I wouldn’t’ve had a drink with you, that’s for sure!”

“And left me heartbroken?”

“Oh, my.” She glanced at me again. “How old are you anyway?”

“Twenty-one. Well, in a few months.”

“At least you aren’t a teenager.”

“Only in my head.”

She laughed.

“And in bed,” I added with a smirk.

“Aren’t you cocky!”

“Yeah. One of many flaws.”

“Your girlfriend must be very happy.”

“I think so,” I boasted. I followed up more seriously with, “But in reality, I’m lucky to have her.”

Pam’s expression went from amused to interested again, and she gave me one of her sideways appraisals.

We reached the gate before I could reply, and I spotted a very anxious Christy. She was standing in the middle of the walkway and looking back toward the main terminal. Brooke stood next to her and looked just as

confused. I couldn’t blame them, since most of the plane’s crew had left several minutes before.

I called out and waved, and Christy visibly relaxed when she saw me. She touched Brooke’s arm and pointed.

“Wow,” Pam said when she realized that both of them were waiting for me. “Which one’s your girlfriend? The blonde?”

“Mmm hmm.”

“And the redhead?”

“Her too,” I said on a whim.

“Oh, my!” Pam laughed. “You are like your dad.”

I shrugged, not the least bit sheepish. “What can I say?”

“Nothing! But I can’t compete with them, so I’ll just have to find some other way to pass the time. The first officer was cute. He’s married, though, and he didn’t seem like the type. Oh, well. Have fun while you’re in town.

Maybe I’ll see you around.”

“Yeah, maybe. You have fun too.”

“Oh, I always do.” She grinned, said goodbye, and headed after the rest of the crew.

Christy watched uncertainly as Pam walked away, although her expression cleared when she saw that I was looking at her instead. I smiled.

She dithered a moment longer before she made one of her mental adjustments.

She ran toward me, and I used her momentum to lift her into the air. Her bright blue eyes flashed in anticipation as I lowered her to my level for a kiss.

She crossed her arms behind my neck, and I supported her with mine around her waist.

“I missed you, Sunshine.”

“I missed you too. I was so worried when you didn’t get off the plane. I thought you might’ve missed your flight. And then…” Her eyes darted toward Pam.

“She knows my dad,” I said.

“Oh. Okay. I thought— Never mind. I’m just being silly.”

“Not entirely. She knows my dad,” I repeated.

She thought about it a moment and then blinked in surprise.

“Mmm hmm,” I said evenly. “She thought I might be like him.”

“Oh my gosh! Are you serious?”

“Yes, but I’ll tell you about it later.” I pointedly didn’t look at Brooke,

who was waiting a few feet away.

“Oh. Right. Okay,” Christy said. “And… um… you should probably set me down. Not that I mind you holding me, but it’s kinda hard to walk.

Besides— Oh my gosh, why’m I nervous? I’m chattering!”

I grinned, kissed her again, and set her on her feet. Then I casually took possession of her with an arm around her shoulders. I turned to Brooke and smiled. I hadn’t really been paying attention before—she was simply a pretty redhead next to Christy—but my pulse quickened as I looked at her for the first time.

She was one of those impossibly good-looking people, like Leah or Danny. She had copper-red hair, blue eyes, and a dusting of freckles over finely sculpted features. She was a half-foot taller than Christy, with the graceful curves of a swimmer. I did my best to stay cool, but Christy knew me too well. She grinned her approval.

“Nice to meet you, Brooke,” I said as I shook her hand. “I’m Paul.”

“Nice to meet you too.” Years in California hadn’t entirely erased her Texas accent. “Chris’s told me a ton about you.”

“She’s told me a lot about you, too.”

“All my dirty little secrets, I’m sure,” she said.

Christy squawked in protest, but I agreed with a laugh.

“Sorry for all the delays today,” I added as we started toward the terminal. “The weather was nasty in the Northeast, so they had to cancel a bunch of flights. The pilots were telling me that the Rockies had snow all the way down to New Mexico. We flew through the edge of it to get here.”

“It’s been sunny here,” Christy said.

“Yeah, well… the rest of the country needs to dig or dry out. Anyway, thanks for coming to pick me up.”

“Chris would’ve pestered me to death if I hadn’t,” Brooke said. “Besides, I wanted to see for myself what all the fuss was about. You’re all she talks about.”

Christy herself beamed up at me.

“I feel the same.”

“Must be nice,” Brooke said with a touch of bitterness.

I released Christy at the same time as she ducked from under my arm.

“Forget Fletcher,” Christy said as she hugged her friend. “He’s a jerk.”

“A loser,” I agreed.

“You’re better off without him,” Christy added.

Brooke nodded but still looked glum.

“Let’s talk about something happier,” I said. “Tell me what you two’ve been up to. I can guess about some of it—”

“Oh my gosh, please don’t.”

“—but I wanna hear the rest. Lots of giggling and girl time.”

Brooke reluctantly smiled and nodded.

“Working on your tans,” I added. “Nude, from what I hear.”

“No, just her,” Brooke said with cheeks gone suddenly pink. “I had class and things to do for school.”

“She doesn’t start her break till next week,” Christy said.

“Ah, okay. So one of you was working while the other was lounging around the pool?”

“That’s what I said!” Brooke laughed.

We reached the main terminal and headed down to the exits, although Brooke started to veer toward the baggage claim carousels.

“I have everything in my backpack,” I said. “I try not to check a bag when I fly standby.”

“Why not?”

“It usually ends up on the flight even if I get bumped. That’s a problem if I don’t get where I’m going. Or I have to track it down once I do, which is usually more of a pain than getting bumped in the first place.”

“Oh, okay,” she said. “That makes sense.”

“Yeah, one time the airline lost our bags for a week, back when my dad first started flying for them. He’d been with a charter airline before, so we didn’t know any better. Anyway, we…”

I told them the story as we walked out to Brooke’s car, a green two-door BMW, which fit her looks if not her personality. I’d expected someone racy and aggressive, a bit like Wren, but Brooke was more reserved.

That’s because she’s complicated, you idiot.

My eyebrows flew up and I automatically glanced at my crotch. Excuse me?

She’s complicated… like everyone.

Sage advice? I shot back. From you?

Hey, I have my moments.

“Are you okay?” Brooke asked as we climbed into the car.

“Huh? What? Sorry. I was just thinking.”

“He was probably talking to himself,” Christy said from the back seat.

“He does that.”

Brooke shot me a quick glance. “For real?”

“Yeah,” I admitted. “It’s one of my charming little quirks. But I gave myself some good advice this time.”

She clearly wanted to ask but was too polite. Instead, she said, “Oh.

Okay. Well, thanks for letting Chris come out here. I know you had plans for spring break.”

“I have her the rest of the time. Right now you’re more important.”

“You are,” Christy agreed.

“I don’t feel like it, but thanks.”

Christy changed the subject and asked me, “Have you eaten dinner? Do we need to go someplace?”

“No, but thanks. I ate on the plane. Right now, I just wanna get to your parents’ and relax.”

Brooke pulled out of the parking lot and headed toward the interstate and La Jolla. We passed a sign for the beach, which reminded me of something Christy and I had talked about while I’d been in Atlanta. I turned in the seat to look at her.

“Do you still wanna go to a nude beach?”

“Of course,” she said, although Brooke seemed less certain. “Is tomorrow okay? Only, we can’t stay all day. We have to be home early.”

“Oh?” I teased. “Why?”

“You know. The clock’s ticking.”

Brooke glanced in the rearview mirror and then at me. “I probably shouldn’t say anything, but you might be able to talk some sense into her.”

“About what?”

“Doing things her way. You know, without protection.”

“It isn’t my way,” Christy said. “It’s the Catholic way. And my calendar is protection enough, thank you very much.”

“Ah,” I said heavily. “The rhythm method. Russian roulette.”

“Mmm,” Brooke agreed as she looked at Christy in the mirror again.

“She’s stubborn as all get out, but this is just ridiculous. I mean, c’mon, Chris! It’s science, for God’s sake!”

“You have your way and I have mine.”

Brooke rolled her eyes, and I silently agreed.

“Besides, it’s my soul,” Christy added.

“It’s not your soul we’re worried about. It’s your—” Brooke glanced at

me.

“It’s okay,” I said into the silence. “I’m cool with it.”

“With what?” Christy asked from the back.

“Your relationship.”

“I know you are,” Brooke said to me, “but it feels strange to talk about it.

Besides…”

“Most guys are clueless,” I finished.

She laughed. “How’d you know I was going to say that?”

“I told you,” Christy said, “Paul gets us.”

“I’m more open-minded than most guys,” I said.

“And a lot less jealous,” Christy added.

“Must be nice,” Brooke said without the self-pity from before. She kept her eyes on the road and said, “Chris’s told me about you, but she left out a lot.”

“I did not!” the little blonde squawked from the back seat.

“Did too,” Brooke said without heat.

“That’s because we have a lot to hide,” I said.

“Hide? Huh? Like what?”

“Too soon to tell,” I said with Magic 8-Ball vagueness. “Ask again tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow? Why tomorrow?”

“At the beach.”

“The beach? What about it?”

“The nude beach,” Christy said.

“It’s easier to talk without clothes,” I added.

“Easier? How? Hold on…,” Brooke said suspiciously.

“Right,” I agreed with a grin. “I just wanna get you naked before I tell you all my secrets.” I turned serious and added, “I’m a private person, but I’m sure we’ll tell you. You’re Christy’s girlfriend, after all.”

“It’s so strange to hear you say that.”

“Why? It’s true.”

“Well, yeah, but… we never talk about it.”

“I’m not going to get upset or make you feel guilty or anything.”

“I told you,” Christy said from between the seats.

“Yeah, yeah,” Brooke admitted.

“We’ll tell you eventually,” I said. “Just give me time to get to know you better. And you to get to know me.”

Brooke glanced in the mirror. “You were right…”

“He’s pretty cool,” Christy finished.

“I dunno about cool,” I said, “but I’m definitely not like other guys.”

“Right now,” Brooke said with feeling, “that’s pretty cool.” She looked at Christy again. “Yeah, yeah, I know. Don’t even bother. You told me so.”

Brooke came inside when she dropped us off at Christy’s house, but she didn’t stay long. She said hello to Anne and then hugged Christy goodbye.

She dithered when it was my turn. I nodded politely and let her off the hook.

“It was nice to meet you,” I said.

“Nice to meet you too,” she said. “What time do you want me to pick you up tomorrow?”

I glanced at Christy. “I’ll be up early, but no sense everyone doing the same. Say, ten o’clock?”

“All right,” Brooke said. “See you at ten. G’night, Mrs. C.”

Christy saw her to the door, while I helped myself at the drinks trolley.

Anne declined when I offered to pour one for her, but then I realized who was missing.

“Hold on, where’s Harold?”

“He had an inspection tour,” she said smoothly. “He’s sorry he missed you.”

“Ah, okay. Sorry I missed him too. But I’ll see him next time.”

She smiled at the confidence in my voice.

“Or the time after that,” I added.

“Of course.”

Christy returned and accepted a glass of whiskey, and we moved to the couch. Anne took that as her cue to leave. She stood and smoothed her skirt in a gesture I’d seen countless times in her daughter.

“I have a big day tomorrow,” she said, “and have to get up early for Mass. I’m glad you made it safely, Paul. Sleep well. See you in the morning.”

She looked at her daughter. “And you, young lady… Remember the rules.”

“I will,” Christy said immediately.

“I know you won’t, dear, but let me keep my illusions a little while longer.” She gave me a “you too” look. I knew better than to promise

something I couldn’t control—Christy had come to me the last time—which Anne seemed to understand. She let me off the hook with a bland,

“Goodnight, dear.”

Christy waited until her mother had gone before she leaned in and pulled my arm around her. She hugged my chest and sighed.

“I missed you.”

“I missed you too.”

“But that was a mean thing you did,” she said. “With the stewardess.”

“Flight attendant,” I said automatically. “And her name was Pam.”

“Whatever. That woman. She looked like she wanted to jump you right there in the airport.”

“She sorta did,” I laughed. “Probably back at her hotel, but still…”

“Wait… you were serious?”

“Mmm hmm.” I told her about our conversation in the plane’s galley after the rest of the crew had left.

Christy sat up and looked incredulous. “She actually invited you back to her hotel?”

“Not in so many words,” I admitted, “but she was going to.”

“How do you know?”

“I know. Trust me. But I told her I was meeting you. That was the end of it.”

“Would you have gone with her if you weren’t meeting me?”

“I don’t know. Maybe. It depends.”

“On what?” she squawked.

“On our relationship. Yours and mine, I mean.”

“How?”

“Well, like with you and Brooke,” I said calmly. “We talked about it before spring break, so I knew you wanted to fool around with her. I—”

“So? What’s that have to do with you and that woman?”

“Everything.”

“You’d better explain,” she said in a near-perfect imitation of her father.

She even scowled like he did.

I tried not to laugh, but I couldn’t stop a smile.

Christy’s eyes narrowed dangerously. “What?”

“You. You’re just like your father.”

“And don’t you forget it, mister!”

“Oh, I won’t.” My grin disarmed her but didn’t pacify her completely.

“Okay,” I said calmly, “Brooke isn’t some random person. You have a relationship with her.”

“And…?”

“The flight attendant was a random person. I’d’ve been happy to spend more time with her—”

“Mmm hmm,” Christy said darkly, “I’m sure you would.”

“—but not unless you and I had talked about it. And since we hadn’t…” I gave her a significant look.

“You told her no.”

“Exactly.”

“Were you really interested? Never mind. Of course you were. You’re a guy. I get it. But… she was, like, thirty.”

“So? Besides, you know me. Yeah, I’m attracted to looks, but also to a healthy attitude about sex.”

“So you keep telling me.”

“Mmm hmm… for a reason.” I let my words hang in the air.

“I know,” she relented. “And I’m trying. I really am. It’s just… I guess it’s my autopilot. I see you with another woman and sometimes I get… I dunno… ‘jealous’ isn’t the right word. Maybe ‘scared.’”

“You don’t have anything to be scared about.”

“Tell that to the butterflies in my stomach.”

“Come here.” She hesitated but then scooted to my side. I put my arm around her and said, “You and I still have a long way to go. Yeah, we’ve come a long way already, but we’re not there yet.”

“Where’s there?” she asked softly.

“I’m not sure. Ask me in ten years.” I squeezed her possessively. “I’m sorry I scared you. I didn’t mean to. I was flirting with— the flight attendant, but then things turned serious. She realized I was like my dad, and…” I shrugged and left the rest unspoken.

“Would he have gone with her? Back to her hotel?”

“Probably. As a matter of fact, I’m pretty sure he has before.”

“What about your mother? I didn’t think they had that kind relationship.

You know, open.”

“It’s a lot more open than I realized,” I admitted. “And that’s something you and I need to talk about. Before we go all the way. I…” I thought the words— I need to tell you something—but couldn’t bring myself to say them.

Christy misread me and sat up in alarm. “Do you still want to?”

“What? Go all the way? Of course.”

“Oh my gosh! Don’t scare me like that.” She took a deep breath and composed herself. “I guess we should talk about that.” She folded her hands in her lap and stared at them. “We… um… sort of need to hurry.”

My eyebrows rose with amusement more than surprise.

“I know you think I’m being silly,” she continued, “but I really want to do things my way.”

“What about being submissive?” I teased, although she took me seriously.

“I’ll be submissive about anything else, but not this. It’s important. To me, I mean.”

I rested a hand on her knee until she looked up at me. “It’s important to me too.”

“Thank you. I know you think it’s Russian roulette, but it isn’t really. I’ve thought about it a lot. And I’ve looked at my calendar, like, a million times.”

“A million?”

She rolled her eyes at my tone but then looked chagrined. “We don’t have much time.”

“I kinda figured.” I hadn’t counted the days, but we were getting toward the middle of her cycle.

“Tomorrow’s our last day.”

“Then we’d better get started. Take off your clothes. Get on your back.

Spread your legs.”

She knew I was teasing that time. “Oh, no. You’re supposed to seduce me. Sweep me off my feet. Woo me.”

“No time. Brace yourself.” I reached for her but she leaned away.

After a moment she returned and pulled my arm around her again. “It’s a little weird to talk about this so matter-of-factly.”

“That’s what couples do.”

“I know, but… I want our first time to be special. Now it feels like we’re making an appointment or something. I really wanna do it tonight, but…”

She glanced toward the back of the house, and I understood.

“Okay,” I said slowly. “But you wouldn’t be telling me if you hadn’t worked out a plan.”

“You know me so well.”

“Mmm hmm. So, what’re you thinking?”

She sat up again, her eyes bright with eagerness. “Okay, my mom’s going to early Mass tomorrow. She asked if I wanted to go, but I sort of lied and

told her I need to get ready to go to the beach. Oh, she doesn’t know we’re going to Black’s Beach, so—”

“No, really?”

“Funny, ha ha, Mr. Sarcasm. No, she doesn’t know.”

“Okay. What do I say if she asks?”

“I don’t know! Um…”

I felt a mixture of fondness and annoyance that she hadn’t planned ahead.

“Oh, I know! Say we’re going to La Jolla Shores. Okay? La Jolla Shores.

Got it? Anyway, I told her I need to get ready. So we’ll have some time to ourselves—”

My eyebrows rose with a question.

“No, not for that,” she said immediately. “Just… um… fellatio time. I’ve missed you, especially in the mornings. I… um… sort of need you.”

“I need you too.”

She brightened immediately but then glanced toward the master bedroom.

All quiet on the maternal front, I thought wryly.

“Maybe we can have some time tonight?” Christy said.

“I’d like that.” I gently tugged my slacks to give my nascent erection room to expand.

Christy shook herself. “Don’t distract me. I can barely think straight when he’s like that.”

“You hear that, Mr. Big?” I said. “Down, boy.”

She laughed. “I’ve missed your dumb sense of humor almost as much as the rest of you. But I’ll never get through this if you keep it up.”

“Keep what up?”

“Ugh! Stop. Just… stop.”

“Sorry.”

“You are not. Anyway, where was I? Right. So, my mom’s going to early Mass. You and I will have some time, but not enough for… you know.”

“Sex. Making love. Fucking.”

“Oh my gosh, Paul! I’m so horny right now I think we’ll have to skip the first two.”

My eyebrows shot up.

“Uh-huh,” she said seriously, “I think you’d better just fuck me to start.”

“I’ll do whatever you want.”

“Do whatever you want. Tie me up, hold me down, bend me over— Oh my gosh! Now I have to stop! And I can’t concentrate with—” She turned

and grabbed a throw pillow, which she unceremoniously thrust into my lap to cover the bulge. “There! Now, let me finish. Please. We’ll have time tomorrow. And… um…” She glanced at the pillow. “We definitely need a not-date tonight, once I’m sure my mom is good and asleep.”

I nodded enthusiastically.

“But I have to get through this first. So… my mom has a charity auction tomorrow night. It’s a dinner and everything. She’s on the committee, so she’ll be there till it’s over. We’ll have the house to ourselves.”

“And you’ve decided that your bedroom is ‘ours’?”

“The bedroom, the living room, the kitchen table… wherever!”

She inhaled and let her breath out slowly. Then she suddenly remembered her whiskey. She drank half of it, swirled the ice, and drained the rest. She rose on her knees and leaned in to kiss me. Her lips were cold, but they warmed as we lingered over the kiss.

“Be right back,” she said at last. She stood and took my glass.

I watched with a mixture of amusement and anticipation as she set them on the drinks trolley.

She shot me a sultry look over her shoulder before she disappeared toward the back of the house and her mother’s bedroom. She returned half a minute later and said, “I think she’s asleep.”

While she refreshed our drinks, I tried to decide whether or not to throw a wet blanket over her mood. The little head wanted to get straight to the fellatio, but the big head knew better. Christy returned and handed me a glass as she settled on the couch next to me.

“Um… I have to tell you something,” I said. My mouth had suddenly gone dry, so I gulped the whiskey and felt it burn its way down my throat.

“You’re scaring me again,” she said shakily. She took a long sip of her own drink and then another. The alcohol calmed her, but not completely.

“Sorry,” I said. “It’s just… I’m scared, so… um… yeah.” I felt guilty as ominous thoughts flitted across her expression. “It isn’t bad,” I said.

“Nothing we can’t deal with.”

“Just tell me,” she said quietly. “You’re making it worse by dragging it out.”

“Sorry, this isn’t easy. It’s something I’ve hidden for a long time. Worse, I haven’t had time to rehearse what I want to say, so I don’t really know where to begin.” I made a snap decision. “You know about Susan and me, right?”

“‘Know’? No. But I suspected. I mean, it’s kinda obvious. So… yeah.”

“How come you never said anything?”

She rolled her eyes impatiently. “’Cause I knew you’d tell me when you were ready. But you’re stalling.”

“Yeah, okay. Just… gimme a minute.”

“I’m going to need more alcohol for this, aren’t I?”

“Probably. Me too.” I drained my glass and offered it to her when she stood. “Less ice this time, please.”

Her eyebrows rose. “Are you sure?”

“Yeah. Liquid courage.”

The ritual of pouring fresh drinks seemed to calm her nerves, and I felt a warm glow spread through me as the alcohol I’d drunk already worked its way into my system. Christy returned a moment later and extended a nearly full glass. Two lonely ice cubes floated in the amber liquid.

“You don’t mess around,” I joked nervously. Then I took a long sip and felt the heat going down. I cleared my throat. “Part of the reason I’m so nervous is that I’ve never told anyone this. Not Gina, not Kendall, not even Leah. Erin knows some of it, but not all. And… I’m scared about how you’ll react.”

Christy nodded silently and fixed me with a cool, slightly annoyed stare.

Liquid courage worked both ways.

“All right, so you knew about Susan and me,” I said at last. “She was my first. You probably figured that out too.”

“Mmm hmm.” She gestured at my whiskey glass. “Keep going. Drink up.”

“Hold on, are you trying to get me drunk?”

“No, I’m trying to get you to talk. You’re still stalling.”

“Right.” I drained half the glass in one long pull and wheezed as the alcohol took my breath away. “God, I don’t know how you do that.”

“Practice,” she said dryly.

I wiped my lips and set the tumbler on the floor. I was buzzed already, and the last drink and a half had gone down far too quickly. “Okay,” I continued, “the R-rated version is that Susan and I started when I was fifteen.”

Christy clearly wanted to ask questions, but she knew better than to interrupt and give me yet another excuse to get sidetracked.

“I learned a lot. Not just sex, but about women in general. I learned about

swinging, too, and that my parents were involved. I told you that story, about Gina and me, right? So, I learned about swinging and sex with Susan. At the time I didn’t realize how much she shared with my mom. And I mean details.”

Christy’s eyebrows shot up and she couldn’t hold back any longer. “With your mother?”

“Mmm hmm. Susan teased her and… um… told her what it was like.

With me. So I guess she started to see me as a man instead of a boy. For my part, I started teasing her too, although I didn’t really know what I was doing or why. Not consciously, at least. I’d always thought she was sexy, and I’d had fantasies, so…”

Christy made the connection, and her expression slowly morphed from disbelief to shock.

“Right,” I said heavily. “My mom and I… um… did things.”

“What kind of things?” She cleared her throat and took a drink of whiskey to steady her nerves. She looked annoyed when she emptied the glass, but she didn’t move to get more. Instead, she set it on the floor and warmed her hand on her jeans.

“She gave me a blowjob,” I said. “It was dark, so I didn’t know it was her, but I figured it out. And then later… we went all the way. Well, almost.”

“When you say ‘all the way’…?”

“Yeah. I had sex with my mom. She stopped it before we went too far, but… my dick was inside her.”

“Okay,” Christy said shakily. “That… wasn’t what I expected.”

“There’s more.”

She swallowed hard but didn’t look away.

“A few days ago, at home… we… um… kind of… picked up… where we left off.” I bit the bullet and said in a rush, “We had sex. For real. All the way.”

The words hung in the air for an eternity. Part of me wanted to make excuses, but I knew how they’d sound. Instead, I kept my mouth shut and mustered as much dignity as I could.

“What—?” Christy cleared her throat and tried again. “What happened?”

“D’you want details?”

“I… I think so.”

My skin prickled as even more adrenaline flooded my system. It struggled against the alcohol already there, and I felt a wave of vertigo as the

two fought it out. I waited for things to settle before I continued.

“My mom and I have always had this… thing,” I said at last. “I can’t really explain it. Not in a single word, at least. But she’s basically the first woman I ever noticed, sexually. Even before Susan. Besides, you know what she’s like. She’s…”

“Very pretty,” Christy agreed. “But she’s your mother.”

“And Erin’s my sister. You think that’s hot. How’s this any different?”

“I don’t know!” she snapped. “It just is.”

“Not really. They’re both taboo.”

“But… she’s your mother. She’s supposed to protect you, not—!” She gestured vaguely.

“She did, back when we first fooled around. She stopped things. She knew I wasn’t old enough to deal with it, with the consequences.”

She scoffed. “So she waited a few years until you were?”

“Yes. I’m old enough now to know the difference between love and sex, between something serious and… ‘an itch’ I need to scratch.”

“Oh? And what happens the next time you need to ‘scratch an itch’?”

“Well, you and I should talk about it.” I paused and felt a leaden weight on my chest. “That is, if we’re still together.”

She looked annoyed but then visibly tried to calm down. “What? Now?

Of course we are. I worked too hard to get what I want to give it up.” She cast about for something appropriate to say and settled on, “Dammit!” She glared at me defiantly, as if daring me to laugh. “Dammit, dammit, dammit!

Why’d you have to tell me now, of all times, when we’re about to go all the way!”

“Hey,” I snapped, “you’re the one who wanted to wait!”

She glared.

I glared back.

She slowly backed down.

I did too. “Sorry, I guess I’m feeling guilty—”

“You should.”

“—and defensive.” I scowled as her words registered. “Don’t do that.”

“What?”

“Pile on with the guilt. I don’t do it to you, and I’d appreciate the same courtesy.”

She bit back a heated reply and then thought about it. Liquid courage only went so far, and she eventually said, “You’re right. I’m sorry.”

“Me too. And I wish we’d talked about this beforehand, but we didn’t.

Besides, I had no idea it was gonna happen. The whole thing was a setup.

Spring break, I mean, with my mother.” I paused to get my thoughts in order.

Christy waited for a moment and then pointed at my half-full glass of whiskey on the floor. “D’you mind?” She didn’t wait for an answer. Instead, she picked it up, drained it, and closed her eyes as the alcohol went down.

“Better?”

“Yes. But keep going.”

“Are you sure?”

She nodded.

“Okay. So, I’ve always had fantasies about my mom. And she’s had them about me. We didn’t go all the way that first time, but neither of us really stopped thinking about it.”

“But… she should know better. She’s your mother.”

“She’s still a person,” I said calmly. “With all the same desires and fantasies. And weaknesses.”

Christy sighed and stared at her lap. She unconsciously raised one hand to her mouth and sucked the tip of her thumb. I couldn’t help but smile, although I managed to hide it before she caught me. She realized what she was doing and said, “I suppose you think that’s funny.”

“No. But it’s something I want in my life. Not the oral part,” I added hastily, “but the thoughtful part. You’re really trying to understand, and I get it. This isn’t easy for you.”

She shook her head.

“I grew up in a family that was much more open about sex. In this case, it means sex with each other. Not on a regular basis, but still…”

She gazed at me steadily and then nodded.

“Do you still want to hear what happened?”

“Yes.”

“Okay. She’d been thinking about it for a while. But our family has—

had rules about kids and parents. No touching, more or less. Not sexually.

But she and Erin had a big talk over New Year’s, and Erin convinced her that the rules didn’t really make sense anymore, especially now that we’re all adults.”

“And lemme guess,” Christy said with a touch of sarcasm, “Erin has fantasies about your dad.”

“Yes.”

“I should’ve known.”

“You wanted the truth,” I said evenly. “This is it, kinky fantasies and dark secrets and all.”

“Yeah, I get it. Keep going. Erin talked to your mom, and…”

“Convinced her that the rules didn’t make sense anymore. My mom talked to my dad—he knew what had happened between us, back when I was a teenager—and they decided to change the rules. She wasn’t sure anything would happen at all, but then I called and told her our plans had changed and I’d be coming to Atlanta for a few days.

“She didn’t really make the final decision until she talked to me, about us and our relationship. I told her you knew we were swingers. She was…

‘feeling us out,’ I guess you’d say. She didn’t want to throw a bomb into our relationship. Yours and mine, I mean.”

“I knew who you meant. But if this isn’t a bomb, I’d hate to see what she thinks is.”

“No, it isn’t a bomb. You’d’ve run screaming if it were.”

“You can say that again.”

“Right, so… She had a plan and put it into action.” I gave Christy a pointed look. “Sound familiar?”

“Hold on, is that why you’re with me? ’Cause I’m like your mother?”

“No,” I said quickly. “Maybe a little, looks-wise, but you’re totally different in the personality department. You’re… you. And I guess it really boils down to ‘you excite me,’ although not like she does. That was an itch, a fantasy. You’re reality.”

“I don’t know if I really understand,” Christy admitted, “but thank you.”

“You’re welcome. Now, do you want me to keep going?”

“Sort of. I want to know, but I don’t… if that makes sense.”

“It does. So I’ll give you the big details but not the little ones.” I drew a deep breath and plunged ahead. “My parents offered to pay for Erin’s spring break. Then my dad traded trips so he’d be gone too.”

“Leaving just you and your mom. Ah, now I get it. I thought you’d be bored and lonely, but…”

“No. That was her plan. She… um… didn’t want any distractions.” Or awkwardness, I added to myself, in case things hadn’t worked out. “The weather was sunny the day after I came home, so we decided to work in the yard.”

“That part was true? What you told me on the phone?”

“It was all true, but I left out a lot.”

“You can say that again,” she said, but without heat.

“Anyway, we did some nude gardening. You’ve seen our back yard—it’s private. We were flirting and joking around. Then we finished and went to clean up, but my shower was full of houseplants.”

“Part of her plan, I’m sure.”

“Mmm hmm. She wanted me to shower in the master bathroom. One thing led to another, and… we had sex. It was fun, but…” I fell silent until I had her full attention. “It was just sex. It wasn’t like you and me.”

“How d’you mean?”

“Sex with you is more emotional.”

“How do you know? We haven’t had sex. Not for real.”

“You know what I mean. It’s emotional for you too.”

She thought about it for a long moment. She knew I was changing the subject slightly, but she decided to go along with it. “Yeah,” she said at last.

“If I didn’t know before, I’d’ve realized it with Brooke. I love her, don’t get me wrong, but… she isn’t you.”

“And my mom isn’t you,” I agreed. “Neither was that flight attendant today. That’s why I turned her down.”

“I still can’t believe how many women throw themselves at you. It’s enough to make me paranoid.”

“I don’t even notice most of the time.”

“Sure you don’t.”

“Okay, I notice. But I have you, so I don’t do anything with them.”

“Except you did. With your mother.” She rolled her eyes and looked skyward. “I can’t believe I just said that!”

“It was different with her. Like with you and Brooke. They weren’t random people. We each had a relationship with them before.”

“Yes, but I told you about Brooke before I did anything.”

“Mmm hmm. And that’s why I felt guilty… for not telling you. But I was scared too. I wasn’t sure you’d understand.”

“I still don’t. Yeah, I get it—it’s a fantasy—but… wasn’t it weird?”

“Weird? Weird how?”

“I dunno. Your mom’s so much older. She’s pretty, but…” She sighed.

“Maybe it’s just me. I mean, my dad’s handsome and all, but I never thought about him like that. I’m sure my brothers never thought about our mom like that either. So I guess I just don’t understand.”

“It’s like you and pain. I don’t understand, but you like it.”

“I knew you were going to mention that. I don’t understand it either.” She sighed. “I don’t understand half the things I like. I mean, pain is the least-weird one. Like you said, it’s so normal that they have a name for it. But the other things? They all seem so perverted.”

“I think that’s why you like them. For me, the taboo is the thrill.”

“Yeah, I get it. And if I’m being honest with myself, I think it’s hot too.

The taboo, I mean, you and your mom.”

My eyebrows shot up.

“What? I’m not a total prude,” she protested. “I’m not like you, but I’m a lot more open-minded than you give me credit for.”

“True. But this is a quick adjustment, even for you. I mean, I halfway expected you to break up with me. At the very least, I thought we’d argue and sulk for a couple of days. But you seem fine with it.”

“That’s easier to explain,” she said. “I know how lucky I am. To have you, I mean. Brooke and I talked a lot the past few days. About her and Fletcher, but also about you and me. I know I’ll probably never find another guy like you, who doesn’t make me feel dirty for the things I like. I guess I’ve known all along, although I never really thought about it. Not like that.

But then Brooke said it and I knew she was right.”

“So, she knows about you? Your kinky side?”

“Oh my gosh, yes. She knew a lot from before, but I told her about our ski trips and some of the things you’ve done to me. She’ll probably give me a hard time for telling you this, but it gets her worked up too.”

My eyebrows rose with a question.

“Yeah, she’s pretty kinky too. She never told Fletcher, though. She never told any guy. That isn’t as many as you’d think, though. I’ve had more boyfriends than she has.”

“Seriously?”

“Yeah, it’s weird. She’s so beautiful, but guys never ask her out. I guess they’re afraid of getting shot down or something. That’s why she’s always been into girls.”

“Makes sense.”

“Anyway,” Christy continued, “talking to Brooke made me realize how lucky I am to have you. So that’s probably why I adjusted so quickly. I don’t want to lose you. I never in a million years expected you and your mom, but I guess it makes sense. I should’ve figured it out when you told me about you

and Erin. Your mom had to’ve known.”

I nodded and thought about what Erin had told me about Mom and her brother.

“And it doesn’t take much to go from brother and sister to mother and son,” Christy went on. “Or father and daughter, if Erin has fantasies about your dad.” She scrunched her nose and shuddered theatrically. “I just can’t imagine doing anything like that with my dad. I thought it was bad enough when I wanted to do things with Laurence.”

“Well, fantasies are one thing…,” I said.

“Yeah, I know. You told me. More people have ’em than will admit to them. I get it. But still…” She shrugged. “Most people don’t have parents like yours.”

“No.”

“And I suppose I can get used to you and your mom. Like you said, I get hot thinking about you and Erin, so…” She stared into space and laughed to herself. “I get hot thinking about me and Erin.”

“You can say that again,” I agreed.

She was too preoccupied to take the bait. “And I really, really wanna do it with both of you. But I don’t want to do anything with your mom.” She gave another deliberate shudder. “No. Just… no.”

“That’s okay,” I said. “Besides, I don’t know if I’ll do anything with her.

Again, I mean.”

“Why not?”

“Well, you and I need to talk about it—”

“Don’t be silly. Of course you can do it with her. Oh, please! Don’t look so surprised. You know I like to watch. And besides, I’ve already been thinking about you and other women. Most of them are our age—Brooke, Leah, Wren—but your mom wouldn’t be that different. Or Susan. She’s pretty too. Maybe the two of them together? With you?”

My eyebrows flew up again.

“Seriously?” she said in exasperation. “You know me. I’m as perverted as you are, even if I don’t like to admit it.”

“You are,” I said softly. “And I’m glad.”

“I am a little mad at you, though.”

“Oh? Why?”

“You totally ruined my plans for tonight. For the whole day!”

“Hold on,” I said, “the weather was responsible for earlier.”

“So? You still picked tonight, of all nights, to tell me about you and your mom.”

“I didn’t want to hide it from you, although I didn’t want to tell you either. I was scared you’d break up with me—or worse—but I thought you should know. Especially if we’re going to… you know.”

“Have sex?” She sighed. “You were right. To tell me, I mean. I’m still sort of in shock, but I’d’ve been really upset if I found out later and you hadn’t told me. And I would’ve figured it out.” She gave me a pointed look.

“No kidding. Sometimes I forget how observant you are.”

“More than sometimes.”

“Well, you don’t say anything,” I said defensively, “so I think you don’t know.”

“But I do.”

“Note to self…”

She rolled her eyes. “Erin’s right, you really are clueless sometimes.”

“More than sometimes.”

She nodded and turned thoughtful. After a moment she leaned against me, pulled my arm around her, and sighed. We sat in silence for several minutes as we each worked through our emotions. She eventually relaxed completely.

“I love you,” she said. “You still drive me crazy sometimes, but I guess that’s a small price to pay for a guy who gets me.”

“Same here. You get me, so it’s a match made in heaven.”

“Not yet,” she said tiredly. “We still have one more thing to do.”

“Take vows in front of a priest?”

“Now you sound like my mother. No, the other thing is going to happen long before we’re married. Just… not tonight.”

“That’s okay. We waited this long.”

“We can wait a little longer.”

“Right.”

We fell silent again and simply enjoyed holding each other. My eyes began to droop as the whiskey in my system finally overwhelmed the fading adrenaline. Christy must’ve felt the same, because she yawned too.

“You’re hard on a girl,” she said.

“Just wait till tomorrow. I’ll show you hard.”

“I’m looking forward to it.”

We abided by the house rules and went to bed separately. All the alcohol I’d drunk would have been enough to put me out like a light, but I also felt a huge sense of relief, like a weight had been lifted from my shoulders.

I was still sleeping soundly when Christy climbed into bed with me sometime later. I woke up enough to scoot over, but that was all I did. She hugged me and breathed a deep sigh. Then she ran her fingers under the waistband of my boxers.

“I thought you always slept nude.”

I knew a hint when I heard one, even half-asleep, so I lifted my hips and thrust the shorts under my butt.

Christy helped slide them down my legs and then tossed them to the floor. “Much better.” She slid her leg over mine and kissed my chest. “Go back to sleep.”

I sighed and did exactly that.

A dull headache and full bladder woke me in the morning. Christy was still beside me, a little furnace of temptation, so I rolled toward her and nudged her with my hard-on. She sighed in her sleep and pushed back against me.

Unfortunately, my bladder wasn’t going to empty itself, so I climbed out of bed and found my discarded boxers. My erection was still painfully obvious, but it was the best I could do. At least the hall was deserted when I emerged from the bedroom, although a sliver of light glowed under the master bedroom door.

In the bathroom I stood over the toilet and waited for my dick to sort out its priorities. My hard-on wasn’t going away without a fight, so I checked my watch. It was almost six o’clock, early by California standards, but late as far as my body was concerned. I knew I wouldn’t be able to go back to sleep, so I decided to go for a run instead.

Christy was still asleep when I eventually returned to the bedroom. I thought about waking her so she could return to her own room, but we weren’t really in danger of getting caught. I quietly pulled on my running clothes instead. Then I slipped into the hallway and came face to face with her mother. My heart leapt into my throat, although I controlled my expression and pulled the door closed behind me. Anne noticed but didn’t say

anything.

“Morning,” I said, deliberately casual.

“Good morning. Did you sleep well?”

“Just okay,” I admitted. “Up early and a little hungover, but I’ll survive.

You?”

“The same. Only, I don’t get hangovers.”

“Neither does Christy,” I said as we headed toward the kitchen. “You’re lucky.”

“I suppose. We also have to eat twice as often as most people.”

“So it’s a trade-off.”

“Mmm hmm. Would you like breakfast? Toast and juice?”

“No, but thanks. Just some water before I head out.”

“All right, dear.”

I had the sense that she wanted to say something else, but she merely smiled and started making breakfast for herself. I filled a glass with water and leaned against the counter to drink it.

“I’ll probably be gone when you return,” Anne said. “But I’ll be home by the time Brooke gets here to pick you up. I’ll be gone again when you return from the beach. I have a function this evening. I’ll be home late, around ten.”

I nodded slowly and wondered if she knew what we were planning.

Probably, I decided. After all, she’d just given us fair warning not to get caught. Then I wondered how much she’d orchestrated things so Christy and I would have some time to ourselves. Was she going to early Mass because of us? Had she let Harold go on his inspection tour for the same reason?

She looked at me out of the corner of her eye, and I knew the answers: yes and yes.

“Christy gets her insight from you,” I said after a moment, “doesn’t she.”

“How do you mean?”

“She sees and understands a lot more than she lets on. That’s what you do.”

Anne thought for a moment before she said, “I’m surprised you noticed.

It took Harold years.”

“He’s more traditional than I am. Besides, he didn’t have my advantages.”

“No, I suppose he didn’t.”

I surprised us both and said, “I’m going to marry her, you know.”

“Shouldn’t you ask her first?”

“I will. When I’m ready. But I wanted you to know.”

“Why me? Why not her father?”

I chuckled. “He doesn’t need to know. Not about this.”

“Oh? Why not?”

“You know.”

She searched for an appropriate reply. In the end, she decided on the truth. “I suppose you’re right.”

“And I think you approve.”

She stopped what she was doing and turned to face me. She looked at me for a long time without speaking.

“I love her,” I said at last. “And she loves me.” I left the rest unspoken, but she knew exactly what I meant. We gazed at each other in silence for a long time, and I eventually realized that she had more patience than I did, probably by an order of magnitude. I conceded and said, “I bet you never thought you’d have this conversation.”

“No,” she said primly, but with good grace.

“If it makes you feel any better, neither did I.”

“I know, dear. Just… be good to her.”

“I will.”

I returned from my run and felt almost normal. My headache was mostly gone and my appetite had returned. Even better, Anne had left me a couple of pieces of toast and a glass of orange juice, along with a note. I made the mistake of taking a drink as I picked up the note, which read, You’ll need your strength.

I spewed orange juice through my nose.

“Holy crap,” I gasped when I finally stopped coughing, “she’s trying to kill me.”

I blew my nose into a paper towel, and the sting of the juice was enough to make my eyes water. I gave up on breakfast at that point and cleaned up the mess instead. Then I spent several minutes pondering what I wanted to do. I reminded myself that Anne wanted me to sleep with her daughter,

although perhaps “wanted” wasn’t the right word. She was simply a realist.

Still, she’d given us her tacit approval.

I half-expected to find my bed empty, but Christy was right where I’d left her. She stirred and made an effort to wake up as I pulled off my clothes. I slid into bed behind her. She arched her back and stretched with her usual squeak.

“Your mom left while I was gone,” I said quietly. “We have the house to ourselves.”

“Mmm.”

“Are you in the mood to fool around?”

“I was in the mood last night,” she mumbled.

“Fair enough. I’m sorry I surprised you like that.”

“I’ll be okay. Besides, I’m here, aren’t I?”

“So you’re feeling better about… um… ‘things’?”

“For the record,” she said as she rolled toward me, “the word ‘things’ is a major understatement. But yes, I’m feeling much better about… ‘things.’”

She reached for my flaccid manhood and caressed it to life. “Starting with this ‘thing.’”

“I was afraid you wouldn’t be.”

“Then why’d you come back to bed? And without your clothes?”

“I was hoping… Well, you know what I was hoping.”

She snorted a soft laugh but continued fondling me. “Hoping to get lucky.”

“I don’t think you understand just how scared I was,” I said after a moment. “I—”

“I told you, I worked too hard to give it all up now. You’re mine, and I’m not going to let a little ‘thing’ like your mother come between us.”

My eyebrows flew up all by themselves.

“Mmm hmm. Besides, I told you, it’s kind of exciting. I’ve read letters about ‘stepmothers’ and ‘stepsons,’ and I know what they’re really about. So I’m not totally innocent. Oh, and speaking of which, you owe Brooke for introducing me to those magazines.”

“You can say that again.”

“You owe Brooke—”

“Uh-uh. I owe you.”

“Mmm, I like hearing you say that. So, how do you plan to repay me?”

I grinned. “Are you thinking what I’m thinking?”

“Probably, since we both have a one-track mind as far as your penis is concerned. I might surprise you, though.”

“Oh?”

She ignored the question and gently pushed me to my back. I guided her mouth to my cock, and she spent several agonizing minutes getting reacquainted without actually sucking. Then she captured the tip and swirled her tongue around it. I groaned deep in my throat and pushed her down. She obediently swallowed more and began bobbing, although she released me after only a minute or two.

I felt her move, so I opened my eyes. “What—?”

“Shh.” She straddled my hips. After a moment she slid forward and reached between us. Her hand found my erection and steadied it.

“Are you sure?”

She didn’t answer with words. Instead, she set my cock at her opening and eased back. The head parted her labia and slid inside. Her pussy was hot, slippery, and very tight, and the walls caressed my shaft as she slid lower.

The sensation nearly overwhelmed me, and I had to close my eyes to fight off the urge to come.

Finally she stopped moving and held her breath. Then she shuddered with one of her mini-orgasms. Her pussy felt even tighter, and my cock swelled with irresistible pressure. I grabbed her ass and thrust into her. The muscles in my back and legs contracted. The dam burst and we held each other as I emptied my balls deep inside her. The spurts eventually slowed and stopped altogether, and I found that I could think again, although not very clearly.

“Oh my gosh,” Christy said softly.

“No kidding.” I closed my mouth and swallowed to moisten it.

We fell silent as our breathing slowly returned to normal. I ran my fingertips lightly over her back, while she kissed my chest and sighed with pleasure.

“Not that I mind,” I said eventually, “but I thought we were gonna wait till tonight.”

“I couldn’t wait that long. So sue me. Or use me instead.”

I chuckled. “I came so fast that I’m still hard. Are you ready for round two?”

She raised her face and grinned with excitement. “And three and four and five and six!”

“I knew you were gonna say that.”

“You created a monster. A penis monster! Please, sir, can I have another?”

“Another penis?” I teased.

She rolled her eyes. “No, yours. Over and over.”

“Mmm, good idea.” She squeaked with surprise when I grabbed her and rolled us over. I pushed up and looked between our bodies, to where my hips pinned hers to the bed. “Much better.”

She caressed my cheek and drew my attention upward. “I love you.”

“I love you too.”

“And I love Mr. Good Thing.”

“Yeah, he comes in small packages. Speaking of which…”

I began moving my hips, and we both fell silent. She closed her eyes and enjoyed the feeling of my cock moving inside her. I thrust deep, and she immediately tensed up, although she relaxed as soon as I pulled back.

“I can take it,” she said. “Just… not so deep. Not till I get used to it.”

I nodded and thrust gently instead of using my cock like a battering ram.

After a while she began to enjoy it, and a flush crept up her chest and neck.

Her nostrils flared as her breathing quickened. When the flush reached her cheeks as well, I slowly buried myself inside her and began rocking my hips.

The base of my shaft pressed her clit and made her gasp.

Her eyelids drooped as her climax approached. She arched her back, and the tendons in her neck stood out as she clenched her jaw to stifle a scream.

She gripped my arms in silent ecstasy as a wave of heat washed over my cock.

I rode it out and waited for her orgasm to subside. She eventually sagged to the bed and relaxed, although her breathing was still quick and shallow. A vein in her neck fluttered with her pulse, and I smiled to myself as I watched her slowly come to her senses. At last she opened her eyes and gazed up at me with the preternatural calmness that came over her after an orgasm.

“Happy Birdy?”

“Mmm.”

“As good as you thought it’d be?”

“Better,” she said languidly. “Much, much better.” She drew me down for a kiss. Then she looked at me curiously. “You didn’t come. At least, I don’t think you did.”

“No. I wanted you to.”

“I knew you were going to say that.” She smiled again and caressed my

cheek. “I love you.”

“I love you too.”

“But now I’m hungry.”

I arched an eyebrow. “Oh?”

“Mmm, I’m a hungry little Birdy. Do you know someone with seed for me?”

“As a matter of fact…,” I said with a grin.

“And you have a special ‘bird feeder.’ I can feel it!”

I rolled my eyes. “You’re as bad as I am.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she lied glibly. “But, if you’d like to scoot up here…”

“You’ll what?”

“Be a good little Birdy and swallow your seed.”

We eventually moved from the bedroom to the bathroom. We told ourselves we were going to shower, but our resolve lasted all of ten seconds, if that. We never even turned on the water. We started kissing instead, and one thing led to another, until I turned her around and bent her over the counter. She gasped as I set my cock at her opening and slid into her.

I held her hips and began thrusting. She tried to brace herself, but she knocked over a ceramic vase instead. It bounced into a dish, which flipped and launched soap balls into the air. Nothing broke, so I ignored them and kept thrusting. Christy moaned as I slammed into her, and the jarring impacts bounced the soap balls toward the edge of the counter. They dropped to the floor with random little thuds that punctuated the rhythmic slapping of flesh on flesh.

The big head knew I should slow down, but the little one was in charge.

He even told me to slap her ass. I spanked her again and watched her expression shift from pain to pleasure.

I eventually paused to catch my breath, and Christy’s head sagged between her outstretched arms. Her shoulders rose and fell with her breathing. All of a sudden I grabbed a handful of blonde hair. I pulled her head up, and her breasts flattened against her chest as she arched toward me.

I pinched her nipple and felt her tense with an impending orgasm.

“You like it rough, don’t you?”

“Unh!”

“Answer me.”

“Yes, sir.”

“You like it when I fuck you hard.”

She moaned and nodded.

“Say it.”

“I like it— when you fuck— me hard— sir.”

She was close, so I gave her hair a little tug. Then I reached between her legs and touched her hooded clit. That pushed her over the edge, and she shuddered and cried out.

When it was over she sagged in my arms. I lowered her to the counter and bent over her back as she recovered. After a moment I brushed her hair aside and kissed her earlobe. Our breathing synced as it slowed to normal, and I closed my eyes to savor the scent of her: jasmine, honey, and sex.

“Are you okay?” I said at last. “Did I hurt you? For real?”

“No. You always know what I like.”

“That’s easy. You like sex.”

“Mmm, I do.”

We relaxed in silence until my hamstrings started to protest and I had to move. I gingerly pushed myself upright before I straightened my legs and stepped back. Christy groaned when my cock slipped free, although she immediately turned and sank to her knees. She sighed with pleasure when she tasted her own juices and my leaking pre-come.

She began bobbing slowly. I was already close and didn’t last long once she put her mind to it. She tightened her lips around my shaft and held my hips as I shot what felt like a gallon of come down her throat. Then she released me and sat back.

“I’m afraid to ask,” she said after a moment, “but… what time is it?”

“A little after nine. We’d better hurry.”

“Oh my gosh, yes!”

I was tempted to say that her mother knew exactly what we were doing, but knowing something and catching us were entirely different. So we rushed through a shower, although we teased and groped as much as we scrubbed.

Then we toweled off and kissed our way to her bedroom.

“We have to stop!” She pushed me away and grabbed her watch from the nightstand. “She’ll be home any minute! Go get dressed. Quick. And pretend

like nothing happened.”

“Duh.” I grinned and moved to kiss her again.

She started to surrender before her better judgment kicked in.

“Sorry,” I said without meaning it. “I can’t resist you.”

“Try harder.”

“Speaking of harder…” I brandished my erection.

“I’ll take care of him later. Please, go get dressed. You know I can’t think straight when he’s like that.”

“All right,” I said at last, “but you owe me.”

“I owe you a million times. And I swear I’ll do anything you want.

Tonight!”

“I know. I’m just kidding.”

“You are not. Now go. Please. Before I— Ugh!” She shoved me toward the door and reminded me once again that she was a lot stronger than she looked. She didn’t stop until I backed into the hallway. Then she unceremoniously slammed the door in my face. She opened it again, but only a crack. “I love you and I’ll do naughty things, but later. Now go! Put some clothes on. Please!”

We managed to make ourselves presentable by the time Anne came home, although we couldn’t hide that we’d been up to something. Christy filled the entire kitchen with a sunshine smile, while I was more restrained but just as happy on the inside. Anne pretended not to notice, although she smiled when Christy danced and twirled around the room.

“You’re in a good mood,” she said to her.

“It’s a beautiful day!”

“Every day’s beautiful,” I said, “if you have someone to share it with.”

“I know, right!” Christy gave me a quick kiss before she danced toward the counter and a bowl of fruit. “Hello, Mr. Apples. How’re you today, Mr.

Grapes?” She spun and opened the refrigerator door. “Where are you, Mr.

Cheese? Oh, there you are!”

I grinned at her antics.

“Oh my gosh,” she said all of a sudden, “I’m starving.”

“Have you eaten?” her mother asked.

“Um… no. I overslept and then couldn’t find my sunglasses.”

It was such a bad lie that Anne actually looked at me. Her expression made it clear that alibis were now my responsibility. I tried not to look as chagrined as I felt.

She took out the frying pan as a polite way to change the subject. “I’ll make omelets,” she said to Christy. “Get the eggs while you’re in there, dear.

At least six.” She looked at her watch. “Better make it nine.”

“Ooh, good idea!” Christy said, oblivious.

I caught Anne’s eye. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome, dear. You can start on lunch. There’s a picnic basket in the garage. On the top shelf next to the storage room.”

“Right. I’m on it.”

Anne had left the garage door up, and Brooke’s little green BMW turned into the driveway as I watched. I retrieved the basket and walked out to greet her. She smiled and waved and then took off her sunglasses.

I paused to admire her through the windshield. She wore her coppery hair pulled back in a ponytail, along with a white headband that matched her ruffled blouse. She opened the door and swung her legs out, and for a moment I thought she looked like a fashion model. Then she closed the door and caught her skirt.

“Oh, damn!”

I laughed and offered to help.

“No, I got it. Damn skirt.” She freed herself and turned toward me.

“Wow, you look nice.”

I was wearing a short-sleeved Polo, cotton pants, and a pair of docksides.

In other words, nothing special. “This? Just something I threw on for the beach.”

“Chris said you have good taste.”

“She’s the one with good taste. In clothes… shoes… purses… people.” I grinned.

Brooke turned pink, so I gestured toward the door to the house and then followed her inside.

“Found it,” I said to Anne as I set the picnic basket on the table.

“Ah, perfect. Hello, Brooke, dear.”

“Hey, Mrs. C.”

“Would you like an omelet?”

She hesitated but then saw that we were eating too. “Yeah, sure,” she

said. “I mean, yes, please. Sorry.”

“It’s all right, dear. You’re practically family.”

Christy and Brooke exchanged a couple of meaningful looks. They covered them quickly when Anne turned and asked Brooke if she wanted peppers.

“No, thanks. They give me gas. Just ham and cheese, please.”

“Oh my gosh,” Christy said out of the blue, “I have to show you something. Um… my sunglasses. In my room.”

The two girls disappeared, leaving Anne and me to an awkward silence.

She returned her attention to the stove, and I picked up where Christy had left off with the sandwiches.

“Birdy can be… flighty… at times,” Anne said at last.

I wondered why she’d used her nickname but didn’t ask. Instead, I apologized and said, “It’s my fault. I… um… shouldn’t’ve let her sleep so late.”

“Oh? Is that what they call it these days?” She smiled blandly and folded the omelet.

“Thank you,” I said after a moment. “For everything.” I could’ve been talking about the omelet, but we both knew better.

“You’re welcome, dear.”

Christy and Brooke returned with barely suppressed giggles. They both smirked at me and then composed themselves to accept plates from Anne.

“Sit down and eat, girls.” She finished cooking the last omelet, which she slid onto a plate and handed to me. “Eat up, dear. You’ll need your stamina too.”

I didn’t choke that time, but only because I wasn’t drinking anything. My eyebrows still rose with surprise. “You have a strange sense of humor.”

She smiled, artfully innocent. “Harold says the same thing.”

Brooke grew quieter as we neared the beach, and she had a death grip on the steering wheel by the time we turned into the parking lot and found a spot.

“Are you all right?” I asked.

“Yeah, sure. It’s just…” She swallowed and tried to fake a confident smile.

“We don’t have to go if you don’t want to.”

Christy sat forward and looked at her friend. “Oh my gosh, Brooke! He’s right, we don’t have to go.” She turned to me. “She’s totally like me. I get all confident when I’ve had a few drinks—”

“And then reality hits,” I finished, “and you lose your nerve.”

“Exactly, we chicken out.” She stroked Brooke’s arm in reassurance.

“Really, we don’t have to go. Besides, it looks windy, and you know what that means.”

She nodded through the windshield, and we watched two older women hold their floppy sun hats in place as they made their way back to their car. I rolled down the BMW’s window and a gust of chilly air filled the car. The temperature in the sun earlier had been cool but tolerable, but the wind sucked the heat right out of it. I rolled up the window.

“Definitely too cold for a nude beach,” I said.

Christy agreed with an exaggerated shiver, which was a total lie. She was so hot-natured that she probably would’ve been fine, but she was giving her friend an excuse.

“I’m sure it’ll be fine,” Brooke said.

“Don’t be ridiculous,” I said. “I’m not going out there, and I’m the one who’s actually a nudist.”

“Hey,” Christy bleated, “I’m a nudist too. A new one, but still a nudist.”

“You are, but do you wanna take off your clothes on a cold beach?”

“I hate it when you use logic against me.”

“Thanks,” Brooke said, “but it isn’t the weather. I don’t know why I’m nervous all of a sudden.”

“It’s okay,” Christy said.

“Don’t worry about it,” I added. “I mean, this isn’t the same as skinny-dipping in your own back yard.”

“I know. I said I wanted to go, but…” She shrugged helplessly.

“Is it okay if we hang out at your pool instead?” I asked. “We can have a private picnic instead of a public one. We don’t even have to take off our clothes.”

“You aren’t upset?” Brooke asked. “I know you wanted—”

“A relaxing day at the beach. But not if we’re all freezing.”

“Everyone but Li’l Miss Exothermal.” She hooked a thumb in Christy’s direction. “You’re sure you aren’t upset?”

“Absolutely. It’s no fun if you aren’t comfortable, physically and

mentally. Besides, your house is probably better anyway.”

“Are you sure…?”

“We’re sure,” Christy said.

“Let’s go home,” I added with a nod.

Brooke sighed in relief and started the car. She was quiet during most of the drive back to her house, but she spoke up as she turned into the neighborhood.

“You probably think I’m a prude,” she said.

“Not really. As a matter of fact,” I said, “I know you’re not. Christy’s told me all your dirty little secrets. Remember?”

“She has,” she said with a faux-glare. “But thanks for being cool about it.

Not just today, but… everything.” She glanced at Christy in the rearview mirror. “Yeah, I know… you told me.”

Christy had the good grace not to rub it in.

Brooke smiled at her and then pulled into the driveway of a largish Spanish-style house with a tall privacy fence. She turned off the engine, and we all sat in silence for a moment.

“I feel like such a loser,” she said at last.

“You aren’t. You’re pretty normal. And,” I added after a suitable pause,

“I think we all just wanna hang out. It doesn’t matter where. The beach, the pool, wherever.”

So we hauled the picnic basket and the girls’ beach bags through the gate and into the back yard. It was a lot larger than it looked from the street, with a pool and huge expanse of well-groomed lawn.

“Wow, this is nice,” I said. “No wonder Christy wanted to stay here instead of her parents’ house.”

“Mmm hmm,” Brooke agreed. “While I’ve been studying or finishing research papers.”

“Well, now, hold on…,” I said gently. “To be fair, you also did a lot of partying. I mean, you were both drinking every time I talked to you on the phone.”

“It was all her fault,” Brooke said.

“Mine?” Christy squawked. “You drink like a fish. An Irish fish!”

“I drink like a fish? You do!”

It was a friendly argument, one they’d clearly had often, and it was just what Brooke needed to lift her out of her funk.

“Do you think it’s too early to start drinking?” she asked.

I looked at my watch. It wasn’t even noon, but I said, “It’s five o’clock somewhere.”

“Do we have any whiskey left?” Christy asked.

“No, we drank it all. Remember?”

“Even the Seagram’s?”

“Uh-huh.”

“What about the wine?”

“Gone.”

Christy rolled her eyes. “Okay, then what do we have?”

“Everything else. How about rum?”

“Do we have any fruit juice?”

“How should I know?” Brooke shot back. “You’re the one who’s been here all week. You really don’t pay attention, do you? Come on, let’s look.”

She stopped and glanced uncertainly at me.

“I’ll make myself comfortable. You all go make something alcoholic.

Sounds like you both need it.”

Christy smiled gratefully and then came over for a kiss. “Thank you,” she said softly. “For being the most awesome boyfriend in the world.”

“My pleasure. Now, run along.”

They disappeared inside, and I surveyed the house. It had been built sometime in the sixties, but its design was from an earlier era, Spanish Colonial Revival. The pool had been added later, probably in the mid-seventies. Whoever had done it had also added a pergola over the patio. The two styles didn’t quite match, but that was the appeal of American architecture sometimes.

I kicked off my shoes and scrunched my toes in the grass, which was warm from the sun. We were far enough inland that the sea breeze didn’t reach us, although the house and fence would’ve blocked most of it if it had.

The temperature was balmy in the sun and mild in the shade, and a lot less humid than I was used to in either case.

The girls returned about ten minutes later with a pitcher and three large plastic cups with ice.

“We made mai tais,” Christy said. “Sort of.”

“She drank all the juice, so we had to use Hawaiian Punch,” Brooke explained.

“That stuff has nothing to do with Hawaii.”

“At least we had the right kinds of rum.”

I kept my mouth shut and smiled politely when Christy handed me a cup.

She poured one for Brooke and then herself, and we settled into chairs around the table. The pergola did little to shade us from the midday sun, but I wasn’t about to complain, since the weather was a far cry from the cold and wet that I’d left in Atlanta.

We made small talk for a few minutes and then the conversation shifted to school. I asked about Brooke’s major and made a fool of myself when she told me.

“I’m sorry, did you say engineering?”

“Yes, bioengineering,” she repeated. “Why?”

“Nothing,” I said hastily, and tried to cover my faux pas. “I just thought you’d be more like Christy.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Christy herself asked.

“That she’d be artistic or something.”

“Mmm hmm,” she said, unconvinced.

Note to self, I thought, women can do anything men can, which includes being an engineer.

Christy read my expression and must have realized what I’d just said to myself. She let me off the hook, but I was clearly on probation.

I silently thanked her and returned my attention to Brooke.

“We’re alike in lots of other ways,” she was saying, “but I’m good at math and science. Besides, it’s sort of the family business.”

Her parents were scientists, she explained. Her father was a Faculty Chair at the Salk Institute, and her mother was a molecular biologist at a pharmaceutical company.

“That’s why they’ve been gone all week,” she added. “They’re not exactly in the same fields, but close enough, and they had a big conference in Toronto.”

“That makes sense. Not why they’re gone,” I added, “but why you’re so smart. Good genes.” I was flattering her, but I was also being honest. “Sorry about before. I was being a male chauvinist. I should’ve known better.”

“You should’ve,” Christy agreed.

“Let me make up for it,” I said. “I’ll fix another pitcher of drinks.”

“That’d be nice. Thank you, dear.”

“Is there a special recipe?”

“No.”

Brooke rolled her eyes and said to me, “Yes. It’s four parts punch, one

part coconut rum, one part spiced rum. Got it?”

“I deserved that,” I said mildly. “I may not be an engineer, but I can do ratios. Be right back.”

In the kitchen I took a page from Wren’s playbook and added more rum than the recipe called for. I topped off the pitcher with the rest of a can of Hawaiian Punch. Then I realized I might’ve overdone it a bit, so I grabbed the can opener and another can of punch before I headed outside.

I half-filled our cups from the pitcher. Then I punched holes in the top of the can and filled them the rest of the way. “Way too much rum,” I explained.

“I don’t know what I was thinking.”

“Probably trying to get us drunk and take advantage of us,” Christy teased.

“No, that comes later, once Brooke knows me better. For now, I’m on my best behavior.” I slid into my seat. “Okay, where were we… before I so rudely turned into a sexist jerk?”

Christy’s eyes crinkled with a smile that let me off the hook for real. Then she raised her cup and tasted the alcohol. “Oh my gosh, you weren’t kidding.” She added more punch and offered the can to Brooke, who declined. “Are you sure?”

“Yeah, I’m still… you know.” She tried not to glance at me, but Christy saw anyway.

“Seriously? He’s just a guy. I told you, he’s totally cool. Besides,” she added, “you’re beautiful, fun, and super-smart. You just need to relax and be yourself.”

I nodded.

“Easy in theory,” Brooke said. “And… I guess I’m still hung up about Fletcher. I mean, there must be something wrong with me.”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa,” I said. “Stop right there. I don’t know Fletcher, but I know the type. Some guys are just jerks. All they care about is notches on a bedpost.” I sent a meaningful look at Christy. She’d accused me of the same thing. “You weren’t the problem,” I added to Brooke, “he was.”

“I know, but—”

“No buts,” I said. “Christy’s right—you’re beautiful and smart. I’m sure you’re fun too, just… not when you’re feeling sorry for yourself.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. It takes a while to get over a serious relationship. I sort of lost my mind for a whole year—”

“More like two,” Christy said under her breath.

I shot her a grin and continued, “So don’t rush yourself. Fletcher was a jerk. You’re better off without him.”

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. From both of us.” I covered Christy’s hand with my own and squeezed. “Okay,” I said after a moment, “let’s change the subject and talk about something fun.” As an afterthought I added, “I almost said

‘something worthwhile,’ but you’re totally worthwhile, Brooke. Fletcher?

Not so much. So… next subject.”

Brooke reluctantly nodded and then picked up her cup. “Maybe I’ll find a cure for nerdiness instead of cancer.” She drank deeply but had to stop before she emptied the cup. “Damn, you weren’t kidding.”

“I told you!” I laughed. I leaned forward and added punch to her cup.

Then I emptied the rest of the can into the pitcher. “There. Tipsy is fine; drunk isn’t. Maybe I’m crazy, but I’d like to talk to you when you’re sober and with your clothes on—”

“One out of two isn’t bad,” she said under her breath.

“Don’t worry,” I said, “we’ll get to the nudist part. But for now—”

“Hey, I know,” Christy said all of a sudden, “if you really wanna apologize for being a chauvinist earlier, why don’t you take your clothes off.”

I blinked in surprise. “Are you serious?”

“You’re the one who’s always talking about equal rights. Shouldn’t we have the right to look at you? Besides, I’ve been telling Brooke how cute you are all week.”

Brooke herself nodded.

“So, Mr. Playgirl,” Christy added, “are you gonna show us your cute butt?”

“You’re gonna see more than that.”

“Oh, goody!”

“That okay with you?” I asked Brooke.

She blushed but nodded, so I stood and pulled off my shirt.

“Not that I mind,” I said to Christy as I unbuttoned my pants, “but what’s gotten into you? You’re Miss Sex Kitten again, all confident and demanding.”

“Maybe it’s ’cause she’s finally getting laid,” Brooke said.

“Just for that,” Christy said airily, “I’m not going to tell you what it was like. So there!”

I grinned at the two of them and folded my pants over the empty chair.

My boxers followed a moment later. Brooke tried not to stare at my shaved pubic area, but she couldn’t help herself.

“I thought you were exaggerating,” she said to Christy.

“Nope. He really did it, just for me. And now for you. Ta-da!”

I smiled at Brooke and said, “You can show me yours later.”

Unfortunately, I didn’t get to see Brooke’s pussy. I knew she’d shaved it—

she’d told me in one of her tipsy moments when I’d called to talk to Christy

—but she wasn’t ready to show it off. She wasn’t ready to show off the rest of her body either. Not with a guy she’d just met, at least.

In all fairness, I’d have been surprised if she’d suddenly turned into a nudist (much less a swinger) after only a few drinks. So we spent a couple of hours getting to know each other instead of fooling around.

We also had the obligatory conversation about how I could just sit there, completely nude, like it was nothing. And once she worked up enough courage, she asked if I ever had to cover up.

“Sometimes,” I admitted, “especially times like this, where it’s just three of us and we’re all thinking about sex.”

She swallowed hard when she realized that I’d partially read her mind.

“Don’t worry, I know the difference between ‘thinking about it’ and ‘let’s do it.’ Besides, you’d know if I were really in the mood. It’s pretty obvious.”

“For sure,” she said, more to herself than me.

“Although… I would like to see more of you,” I said. “I mean, if your body’s half as sexy as your brain…” I let that sink in and then turned to Christy. “Did you bring a bikini?”

“Of course.”

“Then why don’t you girls go change? I’ll make another pitcher of drinks.

Sound good?”

Christy looked a question at Brooke, who thought about it and then nodded.

They disappeared into the back of the house while I headed for the kitchen. We’d finished the Hawaiian Punch, so I found a packet of Kool-Aid instead. It was Sunshine Punch, which looked sort of like orange juice. I

mixed it in the pitcher and then raided the liquor cabinet for vodka instead of rum.

The girls joined me outside about ten minutes later, and I got my first good look at Brooke’s body. She wore a green bikini under a light wrap, but neither could hide her lithe swimmer’s body and full breasts. Christy wore a modest white two-piece that accentuated her tan. She looked positively boyish next to Brooke, but I wasn’t about to complain.

“Wow,” I said, “you both look awesome.”

Brooke deliberately kept her eyes above my waist.

“He thinks you look nice too,” I deadpanned, “but he’s on his best behavior.”

“I’ll take care of him later,” Christy said.

“He knows. He’s patient. And… he’s in the mood for a swim instead.”

Brooke smiled at the banter. The alcohol did a lot to lower her inhibitions, and she relaxed even more over the next hour. She even flirted a bit as we lounged in and around the pool. Still, I knew better than to push things, so I played it cool.

“Thank you,” Christy said quietly, while Brooke was out of earshot. “She needs confidence more than anything. She’s always been like this, kinda dorky around guys. She really likes you, though.”

“And I like her.”

“Mmm, I can tell.”

“It doesn’t bother you?”

“No. I… kind of like it. I know you want to sleep with her, but it isn’t like yesterday, with that stewardess— flight attendant— whatever. Besides, you won’t do anything with Brooke until I say so. Right?”

“Right.”

“That’s what I figured.”

I raised an eyebrow with a question.

“Erin and Leah dropped a lot of hints.”

“You really do notice everything, don’t you?”

“And don’t you forget it, mister,” she said, playful instead of petulant.

“Oh, I won’t.”

Brooke swam back toward us. “I’d better get out of the sun,” she said. “I didn’t put on sunscreen, and I don’t wanna burn.”

“Same here,” I agreed. “Sucks to be fair-skinned, doesn’t it?”

“I know. I’m totally jealous of Christy and how she tans so easily.”

“Yep, me too.”

“And now I’m jealous for other reasons.”

“Thanks,” I chuckled. “I’m pretty jealous too. Of her, I mean.”

“She’s always been lucky. With guys especially—”

“And with girls.”

She stammered but continued, “With everything else too.”

“Fine, Mr. and Miss Tag Team,” Christy said as we climbed out of the pool and grabbed our towels, “I get it. I’m lucky. It’s not my fault, though.

Good things just happen to me. Now, can we change the subject? Please?”

“Sure,” I said. “We can talk about all the naughty things I’m going to do to you later.”

Brooke grinned, and Christy was comfortable enough that she didn’t squawk in surprise.

“Oh?” she said instead. “And what if I say no?”

“Then I’ll hold you down and do them anyway.”

“Sounds like someone knows what you like,” Brooke said.

“Oh my gosh, you can say that again.”

“And speaking of which…” I glanced at my watch. “Your mom should’ve left by now.”

The girls exchanged an excited look.

“It feels so weird to be talking about it,” Christy said.

“But you like doing it,” Brooke said.

“Oh, yes!”

“Okay, then… Bye.”

I laughed.

“Hey,” Christy said, faux-plaintively, “you’re kicking us out?”

“Yeah, but only ’cause you have better things to do.” Her grin turned into a look of resignation. “Besides, I really need to study for exams.”

They packed up Christy’s beach bag and the picnic basket while I pulled on my clothes. We said our goodbyes, and I extended my hand to Brooke.

She decided she knew me well enough for a hug instead. I slid a hand inside her wrap and touched her lightly on the small of the back, but I was a perfect gentleman otherwise. She stepped back and self-consciously pulled the wrap around herself, although the thin fabric did little to hide her stiff nipples underneath her bikini top.

“Oh, what the hell…” She let her arms drop.

“Yeah,” I said nonchalantly, “I have the same problem when I like

someone.”

She blushed furiously but didn’t cover up. Instead, she shook it off and said to Christy, “See you tomorrow?”

“Of course.”

We said our final goodbyes, and I slung the beach bag over my shoulder.

Then I grabbed the empty picnic basket and opened the gate with my free hand. Christy gave Brooke one last hug and followed me out.

“Your parents’ house is…?” I turned to get my bearings. “That way? Two streets?”

“Yeah. We can cut through the neighbors’ yards.”

We walked in silence for a little way before she slipped an arm through mine.

“Thank you,” she said quietly. “For everything.”

I nodded.

“I know you were probably expecting more, but…”

“Not really. That’s how it usually works. You get to know someone before you just hop in bed with them. I told you… I want some kind of connection before I sleep with someone.”

“Is that why you waited so long with me?”

“Ha! No. I was ready after Halloween.”

“I know. I was too, but I was scared.”

“You aren’t scared now?”

She thought about it before she answered, “A little, but only ’cause it seems more real somehow. You aren’t just my boyfriend anymore.”

“No.”

“But you aren’t my fiancé either.”

“Not officially,” I agreed.

“So it feels like we’re doing something naughty. Only… good. Exciting.

And… I understand better about you and your mom. Thinking about her made me think about me and Laurence, and what I wanted to do. It isn’t really that different. Like you said, it’s the taboo.”

“Mmm hmm.”

We walked through a yard between two houses, where we startled a neighbor. She was a doughty woman in her mid-sixties who relaxed when she recognized Christy.

“Hello, Mrs. McFadden. Just passing through.”

“Did you see my husband in the front yard?”

“No, ma’am.”

The woman huffed and pulled off her gardening gloves. “George!”

“Poor Mr. McFadden,” Christy said as the woman went to find him. “He has terrible allergies, so he hates to work in the yard. He’s always tinkering with something in the garage instead. She won’t leave him alone.” We entered her parents’ back yard, and she looked over her shoulder. “I hope we never get like that.”

“I don’t think we will.”

She sighed. “Do you ever feel like everyone else is normal and you’re the only person who’s weird?”

“All the time.”

“For real?”

“Yeah.”

“I used to think no one would ever understand, but you do.” She sighed again. “That’s why I know how lucky I am. To have you, I mean. You get me.”

We reached the screen porch and stopped at the door.

“In more ways than one,” I said with a significant look at the house.

“Mmm, I know. That’s all I’ve been thinking about. Well, until we saw Mrs. McFadden. See? I can be a philosopher too. It’s weird how your mind goes from one thing to another. But where were we? Oh, right! I was thinking about what you’re going to do to me.”

“Do you have something special in mind?”

“Uh-huh, but more than just what you’re thinking. That too, but…”

“Yes?”

“Maybe when we get home-home—to Knoxville, I mean—we can borrow Wren’s Polaroid. You can take pictures…” She rolled her eyes.

“You’re going to make me say it anyway, so here goes. Pictures of your penis. Inside me. I want to see what we look like.”

“We can do that.”

“And… I want to keep going to West Virginia, even though the ski season’s over.”

“We can do that too,” I said.

“I like the bed there. We can do things we can’t do at home.”

“What kind of things?”

“Tie me up things.” She glanced at the house. “But in the meantime, we need to do kitchen table things.”

“Oh, of course. Anything else?”

“Guest bedroom things.”

“Didn’t we do those already?”

“Not the things I’m thinking about.” She screwed up her courage.

“Maybe you can wear a towel, and I can sketch you. If you happen to ‘fall asleep’ and get hard…”

“Ha! Okay, sounds fun.”

“Yeah, you get me all right. And you don’t think I’m weird.”

“No.” I opened the screen door and held it for her.

“Even when I want to do naughty things, taboo things.”

I followed her inside. “Especially then.”

“I know. And that’s why I love you, why I’ll do anything you want.” I closed the kitchen door behind us, and Christy cocked an ear to listen. “Don’t go anywhere,” she said. “I wanna make sure.” She checked the garage—

empty—and then headed toward the bedrooms. She returned after a moment.

“The coast is clear. Now, where were we?”

She sank to her knees and unzipped my pants. I hadn’t worn my boxers home, and my dick was already growing. Christy gently pulled him out.

“Hello, Mr. Big,” she said. “You were such a good penis today. Of course, you’re a good penis every day, but you were especially good today.

So I have a reward for you. What’s that? Suck first? Okay, but only for a minute. Then Mr. Good Thing has a date with Miss Kitty. Yes, on the kitchen table. Is that okay? Awesome!”