Carrie Minberg, Female, 21

	- Narrator, Bitterwood graduate

	- Beige, freckled skin, 5'6, 140lbs, curly back-length dark-red

Donnie, Male, 23

	- Senior at Harvard / Cal-Berkeley, brother of Lacy

	- Beige skin, 5'10, 180lbs, short blonde hair

Lacy, Female, 22

	- Junior at UC-Santa Cruz, sister of Donnie

	- Rich-tanned beige skin, 5'7, 145lbs, back-length bleached-blonde hair

By early afternoon the next day, I was in California. Lacy met me along the airport curb in San Jose, smile on her face, flowing yellow dress blowing slowly in the light breeze. She hugged me warmly, helped me put my bags in the trunk, and before long we were heading south toward my new home.

The land was beautiful, unlike any landscape I'd seen before. Huge redwoods towered over the road, the smell of fresh pine, a distant fire, rich earth blew in through open windows as we drove. Lacy asked me questions about myself, told me about places she liked to eat or get her nails done, where she liked to shop. It wasn't forced, just friendly, and by the time we arrived at the house, I already felt welcomed and relaxed.

Lacy was a pretty young woman, long bleached-blonde hair pulled back in a ponytail, long legs, nice round hips that were obvious when she changed into a pair of black stretch pants and a tank top. Her breasts looked round, pert, too big for her frame. She looked a lot like Donnie, a feminine Donnie, one year younger than her brother. I wondered if she was as good at eating pussy as he had been, though I had no idea if she was gay or bisexual.

The house was set back into a lush redwood spread on several acres, and within minutes of arrival, Lacy was showing me around the property, glasses of red wine in hand. It was technically owned by her parents, though they had talked of letting her own the place if she decided to stay long-term. In some ways, the walk through the redwoods was a lot like the time I spent with Elise in Austria, and I missed her a lot in those moments, wished I had her arm to lean on, her mind to share the beautiful scenery.

We settled on the porch and talked more, Lacy a friendly person who seemed a little overly-eager to get to know me. I suppose it was to be expected. I was a stranger, really, just someone her brother 'knew,' someone she'd only spoken to a couple of times on the phone. She was putting herself at risk to take me on as a roommate, so really, it was just important to assure her that I'd be worthwhile to have around.

She was a student at UC-Santa Cruz, physics and astronomy as her majors. She had one year left, planned to go immediately into a PhD program. Lacy was bright, and her interest in my time at Bitterwood was genuine. When we got around to my short stay at Harvard, I was mostly honest, told her I dropped out after a breakup and couldn't get back into a groove.

“I went through that, once, myself. Breakup and dropping out. I was at Cal Tech for a while, dated a guy, thought he was the one... broke up, got tore up, couldn't keep up the classwork. Ended up back here for a while, working at a diner in town. Bradley... he's an asshole. At least, that's what I tell myself to stay over him, you know? What about your guy? Why the breakup?”

I hesitated, played the pronoun game. “We, uh... there were some things with them... I wasn't really a good partner. It was all my fault, broke their heart. I really don't want to talk about it.”

“Sure, I get it. Too recent. I'm sure he meant a lot to you.”

“Y-yes... a lot...” I let her continue to believe Elise was a man, not sure why I didn't feel comfortable enough to talk about her as my girlfriend.

“You and Donnie, just friends right now?”

“I think so. We met fairly recently, you know... Just kinda clicked as friends when I needed one. New opportunity is what I needed, and he offered to introduce me to you. Thanks, by the way. I know you don't know me well. Just let me know what to do, I'll do it, housework, yardwork, anything. And I've got money for the next couple of months of rent, I'll write you a check so I don't forget.”

“Nice. Didn't expect you to come with cash. Donnie said you might be starting from scratch. Guess we're already off to a better start than I hoped.”

“Yeah, guess so. This place is beautiful. I think I'll really like it here.”

The phone inside rang and Lacy rushed in, returning a few minutes later with the last half of the wine, pouring us each a top-off. “That was Donnie. He's on the way down to join us for supper. Getting hungry? I tend to do vegan, though I've been known to eat fish or chicken from time to time.”

“Sure, whatever. I'm easy.”

“Easy... right. I'll get a pasta started, want to help with the bruschetta?”

- - -

Donnie pulled up an hour later, kissed my check warmly but showed no other signs of affection in front of Lacy. I didn't expect more, thankful that he was my friend first, not concerned with having a lover just then.

Over another bottle of wine, we consumed our meal and sat once more out on the porch, Donnie next to me but not touching. He said quietly, “always loved this house. We grew up here, don't know if Lacy told you. Our parents bought a place in Oregon they like better, but couldn't let this one go. They rented it out for a few years until Lacy needed a place to stay, hoping she'll go to a grad school close enough to keep it occupied.”

I nodded, “it's nice here, yes. Love the trees, the property. Quite a paradise.”

Lacy got up to use the bathroom, Donnie turned to me, said kindly, “Listen, Carrie. I meant what I said, back in Boston. No pressure on you, not from me, not for a relationship, ok? Don't get me wrong, I want to see you, perhaps date you if it works out. But don't feel like you need to be involved with me to stay here. I made that clear to Lacy. You're a friend first. If you want more... say so, but only because it's what you want, not what you think I want.”

It was one of the nicer things I'd heard from a man who wanted to get into my panties. I think Donnie was sincere, and it made me want to reward him for showing me such kindness. I smiled, took his hand, kissed it, looked thoughtfully at him, “Thanks, Donnie. I'll keep that in mind. For now... I'm not opposed to trying this out. Maybe not commit, you know... just... just date, as friends and... more, if we feel like it.”

“Ok... Listen... I want to be honest with you, before we go further. I do have a close friend, a woman, who I... see... sometimes... just... friends with benefits, you know? I should have said something earlier, but the timing just felt wrong. I hope you understand what I'm saying...”

I smiled, wasn't upset at all, thankful that the pressure was really off, it seemed. “I do... yes, thank you... I think that's fine, so long as she knows about me... I don't want to be that woman if... she thinks of you as hers, you know?”

“I've talked to her already, just mentioned someone I'd met was moving out West, didn't say much more. We have a very casual relationship, nothing more. I'd like you to meet her soon, if you'd like that. Geneva is a great girl.”

I couldn't believe it was coincidence. “G-Geneva? British girl? Blonde, short, small boobs, dirty mouth?”

“Y-yeah,” he said slowly, “how did you know?”

I laughed, shook my head, “Geneva and I were classmates at Bitterwood, we had a time where... uh... well, we were friends there.”

He seemed to suspect I'd held something back, pursed his lips and shot me a studious glance, but said nothing.

Lacy returned and we talked into the night about the area. My mom's new husband Harry had given me a number to call for his company's office in Santa Cruz. I wanted to get settled in a week or two, explore the area before I had to start a job. Lacy had classes for two days then a four day break, she offered to take me on a tour of the area, and Donnie hoped to join us.

Donnie stood and stretched after a while, said he should be getting back soon. He hugged Lacy goodbye, then me, kissing my cheek. Lacy went inside, and I hesitated, wanted to show Donnie that I really was thankful in a special way.

He sat in his car, started to close the door, and I stopped him. He looked at me, said, “thought you were heading to bed? You've had a long day, Princess.” I don't know why he called me that. It came out of the blue, nothing in my past or in our conversations made a connection. I figured it was just a term of endearment he liked.

I liked it too.

“This princess has something she wants to do for you, if you'd like that.”

He smiled, said, “what do you have in mind?”

I looked back at the house, Lacy out of view inside. I dropped to my knees, massaged his crotch. Donnie stretched as I unzipped his fly, pulled his rising penis out and slipped it between my lips. He tasted sweaty, salty, meaty on my tongue, and I bobbed up and down, letting my lips trail behind, saliva drooling from my mouth.

Donnie groaned and held my hair out of my face as I sucked him. Precum dribbled and I loved the thin, sweet flavors. I mewled like a kitten as I sucked, felt his body tense and his hips rose to meet each movement of my head.

He grunted, said quietly, “gonna cum...” Donnie's penis swelled in my mouth, pushed deep into my throat. I tried to hold him there, the tip slipping out briefly before I sucked him in again, then milked him with my lips and tongue. His hips thrusting, he pushed his cock against the back of my mouth, he groaned, and filled my throat with his salty semen.

He pulsed several thick globs of his jism into my mouth. I held on, lost the tip once to the edge of my lips, then got control, kept him inside, let him finish completely before pulling off, smiling at him, and swallowing his cum. He kissed me deeply, laughing lightly. “Mmm... can I return the favor?”

I smiled, said, “another time, yes. Another time... just wanted you to know how thankful I was... for everything.”

“You didn't have to blow me to be thankful, really.”

“I know. But I wanted to do it.” I licked my lips. “Drive safe, Donnie. Call me soon.”

I backed off and closed his door, let him watch me walk slowly back up the drive before he started the engine and drove off.

Lacy was in the kitchen, cleaning up the stove. I slid to the sink, started putting away clean dishes. She smiled at me once, looked back down grinning, “something on your cheek.”

I ran the back of my hand across one, then the other, saw the sticky glob of sperm that came free. I blushed, quickly washed my hands. “Sorry...”

“S'ok.” Lacy blushed a bit, too, the oddity of having blown her brother moments before hitting me, making me draw a tight smile. She said “Donnie was happy to see you.”

I blushed harder. “Uh.. y-yeah, think he was.” We finished the cleanup in silence. Lacy showered while I unpacked. We shared a single large bathroom between our bedrooms upstairs, two smaller bedrooms downstairs had been where Lacy and Donnie grew up.

Lacy knocked on the door to my room connected to the bathroom and I called her in. She stood wrapped in a towel, long legs shining, hair still a bit wet but very lovely. Lacy grinned, said, “glad you're here, Carrie. This is going to be fun. Been a while since I've had a roommate.”

- - -

For the next week, I learned my way around Boulder Creek and Santa Cruz. The bus ran right by our house and I figured out the stops well enough to not wait for Lacy to return the first couple of days from class. The town felt very laid back, people hanging on the beach, on the Pier, playing volleyball, skating, fishing. I saw beautiful people and ragged homeless men, business suits and bikinis. It had a feel very different than anywhere I'd ever been.

On her day off, Lacy drove me on Highway 1, down the coast and back up, stopping off at beach accesses to dip our toes in the freezing water and drink hot cocoa. The landscape changed so much over just a few miles. Boulder Creek was a mountain oasis, but just miles south was the beach town of Santa Cruz. The West was more barren, long stretches of rolling hills, open fields, valleys buried around corners. There were lighthouses and farms and animals of all sorts crossing the road.

And then there was 'over the hill.' Carrie took me to San Francisco where we walked for hours in the cold grey of January, past more homeless people, jostled by tourists and locals alike. I'd been to big cities before, none of which felt as close to the edge of the world as San Fran. Dunno why it felt that way.

We ate Chinese food in Chinatown, walked the great Bridge, stared at the isolated rock of Alcatraz, took pictures of ourselves with her camera. Despite the chilly weather, I warmed quickly to the Bay area. It fit me better than Boston ever had. I admit that losing Elise there had soured that town for me, probably forever. Out West, it was all still new, exciting, new things to do, new people to meet everywhere, and nowhere did I see things that reminded me of Elise.

- - -

Donnie met us at a restaurant and brewery back in Boulder Creek on a Saturday evening. I'd been there almost a week already, felt like a local I'd grown so comfortable. Lacy and I drank dark porters as he slid into the booth next to me. He kissed my cheek and I smiled.

We told him about the days spent in growing our friendship and I let him know I loved it there. He nodded, said, “yeah, this place will do that to you. Grabs you tight. You gotta watch out, though, sometimes it holds on too tight. Won't let you go. It was hard for me to go to Harvard. This was home. Leaving it was... challenging.”

“Glad you did?”

“Oh, of course. Best decision of my life. Will be great to be back here for grad school, though. I've missed this place when I'm away.”

We left the bar, walked the half-mile or so home as the snow began to come down. I took Donnie's hand and held it in my pocket, warmed his fingers with my own.

At the house, we sat a bit in the living room where Lacy started a fire in the fireplace. She cast a couple of glances at me, couldn't quite read her expression. When she moved upstairs to the bathroom, I asked Donnie, “feel like staying the night?”

“I thought you'd never ask.”

We crept up the stairs and closed ourselves in my room. Donnie had my pants off quickly, spread my legs, and ran his tongue along my sweaty pussy. He smiled as he licked, I suddenly wished I'd showered first after a long day on the go. He seemed to enjoy himself, so I relaxed, felt his tongue work into my vagina, lapping at the strong discharge I knew was there.

I came once, didn't think to keep quiet. Only as I washed with euphoria and Donnie rose over me did I remember that Lacy was in the house, probably in the bathroom next door. I made an effort to keep my sounds lower, but as Donnie slipped on a condom and slipped into my pussy, I gave up trying and grunted with his strong thrusts.

He turned me over, slid into me from behind, my legs closed, his thighs straddling mine. He fucked me steadily, his hard penis felt so hot as it slid through my channel. Donnie leaned over me, said, “I think you like being dominated.”

I had never really considered that thought, but I grunted my agreement. He grabbed my arms and used his weight to hold them to my sides. Donnie pinned me under him, his cock slamming into my hole, my ass smacking against his flesh.

I guess I did like being dominated because I came so hard like that, spasming around Donnie, crying out, wanting more. He released one of my arms and pulled my hair back hard, rode me like he owned me. I let him, wanted him to, loved the feeling of his body slamming into mine, the pain from the hair-pulling, the restraining of my arm. I loved it all, and when Donnie cried out and ejaculated into his condom, I wished he wanted to continue.

Instead, he collapsed and looked sleepy. I purred, content enough, teased by what other rough play he might offer. I curled up to him, let Donnie hold me, kissed him a while, then wished him pleasant dreams. My pussy was sore, and the smile on my face said I loved it as I found sleep quite easy to slide into.