Chapters

Peter is 17 / Alex is 15

Chapter 1: Peter

My cousin Alex is mean. I don’t mean that in any kind of nice way, either. I mean that in a ‘the only reason we get along is ‘cause he knows I can kick his ass from experience’ kind of way. He’s my best friend and I’d do almost anything for him, but to everybody else he can be really evil – unnecessary so.

About the time he passed puberty, that changed some. He got to be mostly ok and we started double dating a lot. We lost our virginity on the same night.

My Dad gave me a car after I passed the test and Alex and I would sometimes drive dates out to this spot we know on the Wicomico River. It’s on private property but even if they catch us, we won’t get arrested. They don’t arrest McElroys in this county. I’m not saying that we’re the richest family in town. But any family that celebrates it’s bicentennial the same year the town hall does winds up with a few perks. We’ve got to go some to actually get arrested – my Uncle Wilton proved that – but us making out on somebody else’s land won’t even get noticed.

Alex’s Dad is my second cousin George – I call him ‘uncle’ ‘cause it’s easier than ‘second cousin’ – anyway Uncle George gave us the lecture on safe sex and responsible dating like a week after my dad gave me the car ‘cause I guess he’s not too old to figure that one out. Dad must not be either because there was a box of condoms in the car when he gave it to me. All he said was “don’t drink and drive” which is kinda stupid because I’m only seventeen and Alex is almost two years younger so we can’t buy alcohol anyway. Well, not legally at least. Alex has his sources and I don’t ask.

Anyway, Alex and I have our spot and sometimes we go up there to get busy and occasionally we go up there to get away from our large, nosy, weird family. Up there, I can tell Alex stuff that I can’t tell anyone else and he’s cool about it. I guess he does the same thing ‘cause I know there’s stuff that I know that his parents don’t. Alex smokes, for one thing.

Tonight were up here alone ‘cause he pissed me off. Again.

“No means fucking no, shithead.” You wouldn’t think you have to remind a guy something like that but Alex needs it taped to his god damn forehead.

“She was into it. She was laughing."

He’s sitting on the hood of the car, blowing smoke rings. Which, actually, he’s pretty good at.

“Kerrie said she was scared.”

“What the fuck does she know?”

“She knows fucking no means no!”

I hit the car hard to get his attention, “Shit, dude! If you go down for rape I am totaling rolling over on you.”

He looks at me – not sure how serious I am – then sighs deeply. “Yeah, whatever.” He mutters, “She fat anyway.” Which is as close to ‘ok, I’ll leave her alone’ as he’s going to get so that good enough for me.

This is not the first time he’s pushed it, just the first time he’s done it at the party where other people could see him not out here with just me and the girls. It’s kinda beginning to worry me because…I’m not sure exactly. I know we’re kinda young for the whole sex thing, I guess, but there’s something about the way he convinces girls – not forces, not really ‘cause at least she says yes – that makes me sort of queasy. A lot of times, I ask my date to ask his if she’s really ok and if not, I make up something to call the whole thing off. If Alex has caught on to that, he must be ok with it ‘cause he hasn’t said anything about it.

We sit in silence for a couple of minutes looking at the river and the stars. My Uncle Edward is a ship captain and he says if you watch the two of them long enough, you can see your future written in them. It’s bullshit, I know, but I always catch myself looking for it anyway.

“I don’t see it.” Alex says all of a sudden.

“See what?” I ask, wondering if he’s reading my mind or doing the exact same thing.

“Uncle Edward.”

I nod. Alex and I tend to think alike. “Yeah.

I always look too. It’s bullshit.”

“Yeah,” He nods, “bullshit.”

But we both go back to looking for it anyway.

Finally he puts the cigarette out, “Who you takin’ to Homecomin’ next week?”

I shrug. I’ve never planned a date that far in advance. “You?”

“I’m thinkin’ about askin’ Lisa Hunter.”

I look at him, but he’s still looking at the stars, “Didn’t you already score her?” Actually, I know he has. He rarely takes the same girl out twice; this would be a third date with her.

“Yeah. But…” he shrugs, “I was thinkin’ about it.”

I want to sing ‘Alex has a crush’ it that irritating way but he’d probably take a swing at me. Instead, I shrug again and look back at the water, “Maybe I’ll ask Trina, then.” Trina and Lisa are best friends.

“Cool.” He doesn’t look at me directly, but out of the corner of my eye I see him smile.

My wrist alarm goes off which means we have an hour to get home before curfew. We spray everything with Febreze and head back to his place. I have standing permission so long as I call from there before curfew time.

When we get in, we barely have time to get in the door before Aunt Stacy is yelling to see Alex’s homework – which means mine too – and Alex swears. He says it louder than he would have at my house and louder than he would have if he’d known his mom wasn’t alone.

Uncle Marcus steps out of the kitchen. All six foot eight, three hundred sixty pounds of him. Alex is mean; Marcus is scary.

Uncle Marcus is Alex’s grandfather – my grandfather’s older brother – and everybody in the family has a ‘Marcus’ story. Mine is from little league – some over zealous parent on my soccer team hit the referee at a game and Uncle Marcus dropped the guy with one punch. Uncle Marcus considers game officials sacred; you don’t hit them around him if you smart.

“Sorry, sir.” Alex snaps out quickly, then “Coming, Mom.”

Uncle Marcus nods once then goes back in the kitchen. We both breathe a sigh of relief. I call my mom and then give the phone to Aunt Stacy while she reviews my homework with Alex’s. You’d think they don’t trust us.

“You boy’s behavin’ yo’selves?” Uncle Marcus sounds like a redneck hick not the CEO of a fishery worth a couple million.

“Yes, sir.” We both speak clearly.

“Yeah? Where you been all night?”

“Party.” I answer quickly. “At Mike William’s house.” Which is true and verifiable – for most of the evening, at least.

“How the football team goin’?” he asks Alex.

Alex shrugs, “We just runnin’ laps and playing skirmishes right now. Season don’t start ‘til after homecoming this year.”

“Who ya playin’?”

“Doesn’t matter,” he smirks, “we’ll win.”

Uncle Marcus nods once, “Damn straight.” He tilts his head toward the door, “’Night, boys.” Which meant for us to exit so we did.

Next day at lunch, Alex told me that it was all set; he and I were taking Lisa and Trina to the Homecoming dance. As an added bonus, they were considering the bonfire after the Homecoming game a date as well and would go with us to that as well.

I like Trina. I’ve gone out with her a couple times and she’s pretty cool. She’s short and big but she’s one of those black girls that make it work so instead of being a cow, she’s all that. She also gives the best blowjob in school – although that’s not all that well known. To say she was selective was an understatement. I see her in my sixth period math class. She’s all that, super-sized, with a bag of chips.

I sit down on her desk and she looks at me like I’m crazy. “Hey Chocolate.”

“Some reason yo’ skinny white be-hind is in my face?”

I shrug.

“You need ta roll on.” She says, rolling her eyes, and turns back to her conversation. “So like I was saying….”

I wait about a minute, but she’s really good at ignoring me so I head to the back of the class. I am definitely looking forward to next week now.

Go to Chapter: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

Chapter 2: Alex

I like strong women. Not these fuckin’ princesses that whine and play coy an’ shit. Not girls. Women. The ones who drink beer from a bottle, who help haul the wood for the bonfire, bait their own hooks and gut their own fish. The kind that don’t play that ‘no means no’ bullshit because they don’t have to – if they don’t want you touchin’ ‘em, you don’t touch ‘em.

That’s why I like Lisa. She has never broken a nail and cried about it. She can take a hit – literally. I saw her get in a fight at the mall once. I think that’s the day I decide she was the one. Not that I wasn’t gonna fuck anyone else – just that when I was ready to you know, kinda settle down, she was the one I wanted. Or someone like her, at least.

The Homecoming game this year is against the Essex Senior High Trojans. I hate The Trojans as a matter of family pride. They’re the only team me, my dad, my uncle and my grandfather all lost to at least once. And they’re the team that broke my grandfather’s knee which kept him from goin’ to Vietnam – which I’d be ok about, but he bitches about it every time the subject comes up. So anyway, pay back is a bitch so I always make sure someone playin’ for Essex goes home injured when I play ‘em. Funny that the coach has never called me on it.

After the game this year, there’s a big rally planned on the field after the losers go home – with two wide receivers in bandages, thank you – an’ I go find my family before I hit the showers. Granddad’s here tonight – hell, when I see ‘em in the stands looks like damn near ever’body here tonight. Granddad hugs me, pulling me off my feet. Then he drops me to go talk to the coach. Everyone else is excited but not crazy. I get kissed by Mom and Grandma and Great Aunt Rachael an’ high five’d by Uncle Charles who used to play quarterback. Mom an’ Aunt Elizabeth keep goin’ on about the cheerleaders. Finally, I wade through the crowd and find Peter. Trina and Lisa are with him. I grab Lisa an’ kiss her hard – I wanna screw her right here but even I can’t get away with that. Peter elbows me in the back an’ I let her go an’ go hit the showers. When I come out, I grab a soda and go lookin’ for Lisa again.

Instead, I get grabbed an’ dragged to make some stupid speech about winning the game or whatever. I yell something dumb like ‘Trojans suck’ an’ everyone cheers an’ it takes me another half hour to find Peter an’ the girls again. He’s got my smokes an’ as soon as we are out of sight, I light up.

“Can we blow now?” I ask Peter.

“Uncle Marcus wants ta see you.”

“Shit.” Granddad probably wants to go play by play and relive his youth. All I want to do is fuck Lisa. I finish the cigarette and pull Lisa with me, “Come on.”

We find the family again. It’s down to Granddad, Grandma, Great Uncle Julius and Great Aunt Rachael. Granddad starts in on the game. It not that he doesn’t know what he’s talking about but I just really want to get out of here.

“Marcus.” Aunt Rachael gets it. She’s like twenty and just married Uncle Julius last year. “Marcus, when you played, were you popular?”

He glances at my Grandmother then says, “Damn straight. And?”

Aunt Rachael looks at Lisa then back at Granddad, “Well?”

He snorts, “Boy kin do his business when I’m done wit him.” Grandma hits him, apologies to Lisa an’ Trina an’ pushes Granddad toward the parking lot. She stops and looks at us, “Am I in danger of being a great grand mother?” Lisa an’ Trina both seem to shrink in front of her and I know my evening is likely shot.

“No ma’am.” Peter finally answers.

She frowns at us and continues to pull Granddad to the parking lot. “You too, JD,” Aunt Rachael says, “Don’t stay out too late, boys.” Uncle Julius smiles and puts his arm around her waist as they leave. He is so hittin’ that every fuckin’ night, I can’t believe it.

Trina and Lisa won’t shut up about how young Aunt Rachael is. “Peter, dude, beer?”

He nods and leads the way to his car. We drive out to the real party – off school property – where there’s beer, wine coolers and no one asks where you’re goin’. I grab a pair beers and take Lisa’s pair of boobs into the woods. We kiss while we drink and I get her shirt open and squeeze her tits. Her nipples are really small – especially in relation to the size of her tits overall – so I like to bite them ‘cause that gets them as big as their gonna get. My dick’s really hard ‘cause I’ve been holdin’ her hand against it.

She squirms, “Ow. Quit it. You know I hate that.” But she doesn’t pull away from me so I ease back a little and unzip her pants. “No.”

“Aw, come on.” I get far enough to get my hand inside.

“Seriously. Not tonight.”

I stop and look at her, “What the fuck?”

She shrugs, “Alex, I’ve been thinking about us.”

“What ‘us’?” My heart’s pounding but it’s not lust.

“Well, I mean.” She bits her lip, “I know we’ve only gone out a couple times but…”

“But what?” She’s being girly and soft. I hate that weak bullshit. “Say it.”

She frowns then blurts out, “I don’t want to do it anymore unless we’re going steady.”

“Oh shit.” I laugh. I don’t know what I expected her to say but that wasn’t it. “Yeah, whatever.”

“No seriously.” She dodges when I lean in to kiss her.

“Ok.” I pin her down so she can’t avoid me, “But if-n we goin’ steady, you gotta put out.”

“Alex…” she fights a little, pushing back against me and it’s so fuckin’ hot ‘cause she can’t win but she’s trying.

“Yeah, you my girl now.” I kiss her again, “That’s cool.” I pull back a little and unbuckle my pants.

“Alex, slow down.” Her eyes are a bit wide.

“Is this what you want or not?” I look at her. If she teasing, I swear, this is not gonna go down well. I’ve been wantin’ ta fuck her since halftime.

Finally, she nods and looks away from me, “I do. Just…slower.”

I swallow hard. I’ve got that same hard edged adrenaline feel I get right after I’ve stepped off the field. I want her hard and fast but I know I’ve got to pull back. “Yeah. Ok.” Then it hits me and I smile and lie down, “You do it.”

She frowns again, “What?”

“You do it. Take it out.” She looks around but there’s nobody near us. Slowly she reaches for my zipper, slides it down and pulls my dick out. When her fingers touch it, electricity fires through my whole body, “Oh shit, yeah.” I gasp. I feel like I’m gonna shoot off in her hand but I try to hold back and see how far she’ll go on her own. She just holds it and looks over her shoulder. “Hey.” I snap, “Who you lookin’ for?”

“N-no one.” I don’t know who the fuck this weak little girl is ‘cause it ain’t my Lisa and it’s pissin’ me off.

“Do you want ta do this?” I ask her.

“Y-yes.” She looks like a deer in headlights.

“Then do it.” I put my hands behind my head so I can watch her. She slowly bends down and blows me. After a couple minutes, I can’t help but put my hands on the back of her head, “Oh, yeah, baby. Shit, yeah.” Suddenly, my hips are bucking against her mouth and her teeth scrap the whole length of my dick. The funny part is that that’s what sets me off and I cum in her mouth. I’m growling and swearing and finally I let her go.

I can hear her coughing while I learn how to breathe again. “Come here,” I pant. Slowly, she moves next to me. I lean up and kiss her then remember that she’s got a mouth full of my jizz. Actually, it tastes pretty good so I don’t stop. “That was fuckin’ awesome.” I whisper. This having a girl thing might be ok. Maybe tomorrow, I’ll go down on her. Right now, though, I’m wasted. “Come on, put your shirt back on.” I zip my pants, “I want another beer.”

Peter an’ Trina are in the back seat of the car when we finally get there so Lisa an’ I sit on the hood an’ neck until they’re done. We’re on the way back to Trina’s house when Peter’s wrist alarm goes off. He looks at me and smiles, “Dude, timing is everything.”

We laugh but the girls don’t seem to get it. Peter walks Trina to her door for that classic front porch kiss an’ I lean over the back seat to steal one from Lisa. She pecks me then looks out the window.

“What?” I ask. I know she’s worried about something but I’ll be damned if I know what.

She just shakes her head an’ Peter’s back before I can ask her again. When we get her home, I walk her to the door. “You ok?” I ask.

She almost smiles, “Yeah.”

“What time should we pick you up tomorrow?”

“Oh, uh well the dance isn’t until 8 so I guess 7:30 would be good.”

I think about that. Then bite the bullet, “Listen if you’re my girl an’ all, we should make it a real date. How ‘bout we get you guys around 6 an’ go to dinner in Heathsville?”

She really smiles then, “Really? Ok. I’ll see you then.” She starts to go in but I grab her shoulder and kiss her one more time.

Now I’m smiling, “Later.” I say as I head back to the car.

Go to Chapter: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

Chapter 3: Peter

At my house, my parents take like a million photos of me and my sister Beth. Her First High School Dance. Some geek and his parents show up with a corsage the size of Beth's head and a camera and a million more photos are taken of Beth's First Date. I gotta admit, Beth looks great. She looks like my Mom in high school with long dark hair, pined up for tonight and more of a figure than I thought she had. Mom was a cheerleader and - Dad has implied - not the hardest pants to get into. I watch him pull the geek aside and I watch the geek's face pale a bit as Dad has a 'man to man' talk with him. Dad doesn't have the worst temper in the family - that goes to Uncle Edward - but I wouldn't touch his daughter, if I were geek boy.

It occurs to me that I might be having the same conversation with Trina's Dad in like an hour.

Finally, Beth, geek boy, and I get into the car and on our way to pick up Alex. At his house, another million photos are being taken of him, my cousin Gracie and her boyfriend. My Aunt Stacy has to take a couple of me and of Beth and Alex leans over and whispers, "Could be worse. We could be at Gran-gran's."

If you have family photos taken at our Great Grandmother's house, you will be there for days. We shake on that one - well, one of those fist-to-fist things but it means the same thing - and wait for Uncle George to run out of film. Finally, pleading that we have to get our dates we escape and get to Lisa's for the next round of photos.

She's wearing this pretty blue thing with a shawl around her shoulders that doesn't quite hide the bruise on her arm. It is hand sized. Alex's hand sized. I pull him out on to the front porch.

"Dude! What happened ta her arm?"

"What?" he's genuinely confused.

"When we go back in get a look at her left arm."

We go in, we take a few more pictures and I see his face when he sees her arm. He moves the shawl off her to get a good look at it, "What the hell?"

She looks guilty. Scared. Her eyes dart from her parents to Alex to me and down to the floor. "That. Stupid. I fell." Even I know she's lying. Hell, even Alex can figure this one out.

Her father comes over and takes a good look, "That's a bad bruise, baby. You should be more careful, ok?"

She swallows hard, "Yes, Daddy."

We all leave shortly thereafter. I tell Beth and geek boy to sit up front with me. In the rear view, I can see Alex is holding her but they're not talking. He catches my eye in the mirror. I've see that look before and it's never good.

We get to Trina's and I am blown away. She looks incredible wrapped in red silk. She's very dark skinned and the red just highlights how perfect her skin tone is. Her father doesn't speak to me but I have a feeling he doesn't like me. I offer my hand to him anyway.

"We'll be home no more-n one hour after the dance ends, sir." He glares at me like, well like an angry father, "I have plenty of gas and I checked the engine last week so there won't be any of those delays." He shakes my hand, trying to break my fingers. It hurts like hell but I try not to wince.

I'm still trying to flex my fingers when we finally get to the restaurant. We get two tables - one for Beth and geek boy and one where I can see Beth and geek boy. As soon as we're seated, however, Alex starts.

"How'd you get the bruise, Lisa?"

"I fell." She still can't look at anyone.

"Bull-fuckin'-shit. Who did that?"

The waiter comes over to get our drinks and tell us the specials. Alex orders a beer without thinking - like that's gonna happen - and I resign myself to the fact that the whole night's gonna go down like this. We order dinner, we eat, we even get dessert, but Alex won't let it rest. Finally, Trina takes Lisa to the bathroom and I hit Alex as hard as I can in a public place.

"Dude, let it go."

"She my girl. I'm 'posed to protect her."

"Shithead!" I hiss at him, "Did it ever occur to you that maybe you can't?"

He sneers.

I hold up two fingers "A. It's her father and she don't want anyone to know. What you gonna do?"

"What I gotta do, man." He says with a shrug. Sadly, he's stupid enough to follow up on that.

"B. It's you."

"ME!" people around us look up and I hiss at him to lower his voice, "Fuck off, asswipe."

"Dude, chill! I don't mean intentionally. Just like last night, well, you were pretty intent and admit it - you can be kinda rough when you don't watch it, right?"

"Lisa's a big girl. She can take it." He stabs his pie like it's still moving, "She'll tell me when I'm too rough."

"Sure you right." I see the girls coming back and kick him under the table just before I stand up. I pull Trina's chair out for her - managing to steal a kiss in the process - and am glad to see Alex has some manners as well.

Before he sits again, he takes Lisa's hand, "Listen, I'm sorry about tonight. I'm really worried about you and I don't like you fallin' down an' gettin' hurt or whatever. Anyway, you look great tonight. Shit, you look fuckin' awesome. I just wanted to say that."

She smiles at him - a real smile finally and blushes, "Thank you, Alex."

I catch geek boy's attention and give him the universal 'wrap it up' signal. We all pile into my car again and get to the dance by a respectable 8:45. At that point, as far as I'm concerned, Beth and Alex both are on their own. I spend the bulk of the evening dancing with Trina and finding dark places to neck with her.

It takes me most of the night to convince her to go back out to the car with me.

We get in the back seat and I start sliding her dress up.

"Whatcha you doin' White Boy?"

"Lookin' for the liquid cherry center, Chocolate." I slide my fingers up her thighs. I've never eaten her before so I'm a little nervous. The last time I tried this, the girl tasted nasty and it made me a little sick. But I really want do this 'cause girls are supposed to really get off on it. I let my fingers slip inside her panties first. She's not particularly hairy down there but she's very wet. It slips around my fingers like syrup. Trina moans and shivers.

I look at her, "You ok?"

She nods but she still shivering. I take a deep breath and lean in to her. I can smell her through her panties. It's not like anything I can name but my dick responds to the scent before my brain does. I kiss her softly and she whimpers. I stick my tongue out and lick her panties - I can taste her. She's a little tart but definitely not like the last girl. I put my hands around her hips and pull her panties down. She's shaking like a leaf.

"What's wrong?" I ask her, "Do you want me to stop?"

"Nobody ever…" she stops and swallows hard, "I don' know if-n I'm…ok."

I kiss her lips, "Relax. Tell me if I'm doing this right." I go back down and open her with my fingers. Most of the goo is at the bottom; most of her parts are at the top. I run my finger from bottom to top. It's so dark in the car; I wish I could see her really but I think maybe it's better I do this blind the first time. What I don't see won't scare me. "Does that feel ok?" I ask again.

"Uh huh." She gasps.

I stick my tongue out and get my first taste of her syrup-coated pussy. "Mmmm." I can't quite define it but my dick's a rock. She groans deeply and a shiver runs through me. I drag my tongue slowly up the length of her and every muscle in her body seems to collapse at the same time. If she wasn't already sitting, she would have fallen. At the top, my tongue runs across a hard nub and she squeaks and shakes. I didn't know she could make a sound that high pitched. I run my tongue over it again and she makes the sound again only this time, she's panting. Her scent is incredibly strong and I realize that she even wetter than she was.

"You still ok?" I ask, pretty sure of the answer.

"Uh huh." She gasps again about an octave below where she said it before.

I slip my finger inside her. It's so tight, I can't imagine how my dick could even fit in.

"Oh god!" she cries out and pushes her hips against my hand.

I lean in again and slowly try to clean all the syrup off her. Every time my tongue reaches the hard spot, though, more syrup leaks out and her breathing becomes more erratic. Her body switches between shaking like crazy and locking stiff. I hear a really loud moan and realize that it's me - I moaning almost as much as she is.

I twist my finger inside her and suck down on the hard nub just to see what happens.

What happens is that she howls like a goddamned wolf and pees in my face. Worse, as my brain is trying figure what just happened, I cum in my pants.

I groan first, then swear, "Shit! Shit!" I'm having trouble catching my breath, "What the fuck was that?"

"Ohmagod, ohmagod, ohmagod." She pants, "I don know. I've never…" she swallows hard trying to breathe herself, "Oh God. I am so sorry."

I can smell her all over my face. Oddly - thankfully - it doesn't smell or taste like urine. It just felt like it. "Shit! Just warn me next time." Then I realize that the wet uncomfortable spot is jizz all over my boxers - and soon down my legs - "Fuck!" I struggle to get my pants off before I stain them noticeably then I lean into the front seat looking for napkins or something. There's nothing; I cleaned the car this morning. "Shit!"

"What?" she says weakly.

"I can't go back in there like this."

"Oh." She pants for a minute. "Ok, I'll go to the bathroom and get some paper towels."

It takes a couple minutes for her to pull herself together and then an eternity for her to get back. After I bang my head against the window a couple times, I roll it down to try and air out some of the smell of sex. I finally catch my breath and realize that that was the first time I'd ever cum without any kind of contact myself. I didn't know that could happen. I don't know about the peeing thing, either. I make a mental note to check wikipedia when I get home. In a weird way, it was really hot but I don't know if that's normal or not. I definitely want to do it again but I don't know how Trina feels; she looked a little freaked out.

She comes back with two handfuls of towels, some wet, some dry. I wipe my face and immediately feel much more normal. I clean my legs and check my pants. There is a wet spot but my jacket covers it. After I'm dressed and looking sharp again, I kiss her.

She pulls away, "Eww! That's just nasty!"

"You might have to get used to it."

We go back inside the dance. If Trina wasn't my girlfriend yesterday, I think she will be tomorrow.

Go to Chapter: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

Chapter 4: Alex

I play the guitar. At home and occasionally at church. My Grandma taught me and, when we were kids, used to make me an' Peter and my sister Gracie sing with the children's choir. Playing guitar is the only thing other than football that makes sense to me all the time. I don't get school, I don't get women, I don't get life in general. Football and music, I get.

I don't get Lisa. One minute she's rock solid, the next she's a fuckin' whimp. She still won't tell me who left the bruise on her arm last month. It wasn't me. I know that. I did leave one - by accident. She was being all coy 'bout goin' to the river with Peter an' me an' I grabbed her arm and pushed her into the car. We didn't do anything 'cause she didn't want to fool around which was cool but I just didn't want to be alone while Peter an' Trina fucked.

But sometimes she's got other bruises, shit I know wasn't me. She won't tell me who it is - she just 'falls down a lot' - but if I find out, I'm breakin' his fuckin' skull.

But right now, the four of us are at the river an' I'm playing - mostly classic Spanish shit - and it's nice out here. I finish the song and give my fingers a break.

"Alex?" She has that timid 'I'm scared' tone that makes me want to punch her.

"What?"

She hesitates, moves her hair behind her ear and bites her lip.

"God damn, if it's all that…"

"I just don't want you to be angry with me."

"You piss me off with that whiney shit." I snap, "If-n you got somethin' ta say, say it."

"I wanna break up with you."

I heard the words but I honestly could not understand them for a couple minutes. "What?"

"I'm sorry, I just…I don't think we're right for each other and…"

"We'd be fine if-n you weren't such a fuckin' whimp." The words come out of my mouth just to prove her point. I stare at her and watch her face change expression.

"Alex…." It's a whisper, a taunt, a needle poking sharply against my thinnest nerve.

I remember the headache creeping up the back of my neck and I remember hearing someone call her a bitch. And then Peter pulls my fucking shoulder out of joint. It hurts like shit and I swear but he's swearing louder.

"What the fuck is your problem, shithead?" he shoves me hard. Then he tosses his car keys to Trina and tells her to go home. I start protest but he shoves my shoulder again and that shuts me up for another couple of minutes. I hear the car doors shut, the engine start, and the vehicle pull away before he grabs my shoulder and yanks it painfully back into place.

That hurts. That hurts like no end of shit but it's not permanent. Peter can and has kicked my ass when I've gone too far. I sit on the ground and try to figure out what the fuck just happened. Peter is staring silently at me. As I'm cataloguing my various aches - shoulder, neck, head, back - I realize that my hand is among them. I look up at him then.

"I hit her, didn't I?" His look answers the question. "Fuck."

It is now official. I'm an asshole.

Go to Chapter: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

Chapter 5: Peter

It's a ten mile walk home. Alex has not said a word since we started.

I call my mom when my alarm goes off to let her know we'll be late. My Dad drives by about half an hour later.

"I am presuming that there is a damn good reason fo' this." he asks after we're in the car. He's pretty pissed.

"It's at Trina's."

"That is a location, not a reason. A reason is explanation that makes sense of an event an' I am still waitin' for a good one." He using his 'court room voice' - very slow, very formal mostly to control his tone and his accent. He's pretty damn pissed.

"Ran out of gas."

He stops the car. Now I'm in for it. "You have no god damned idea how much trouble you - you both - are in, do ya' boy? I'va good mind to whip ya' both 'cept I promised yo' mamma I'd let it keep 'til I got ya' home." He looks at me and I can see he's madder than I ever seen before. "Where is your god damned car?"

I glanced at Alex and can't hide my shock. Dad follows my eyes and does a double take.

"Are you - are you smoking? Since when do you -?" he reaches back and snatches the cigarette out of Alex's mouth. After he flicks it out the window, he reaches back again. When Alex does not respond, Dad all but climbs into the back seat, rifles through Alex's pockets and takes the pack from him. He looks at me again, "Now, boy!"

He is going to make my life a living hell if I don't tell him something. I sigh, "I gave the car to Trina so she could take Lisa home."

"And you couldn't do that because…?"

"Alex an' Lisa broke up."

"So you gave Trina your car?" Dad's close to really losing it. "Somehow this makes sense?"

I glance back at Alex; he's staring out the window. "Yeah, Trina an' Lisa take the car an' Alex an' I walk."

I'm surprised I can't see steam rising from Dad's ears. He glares at Alex then at me again, "You are so grounded. You gonna have gray hair 'fore you see the light uh day again." He starts the car again and drives to Alex's. When I try to get out of the car, he barks, "Sit!" and all but drags Alex to the front door. I can't hear the conversation but even from this distance it's pretty clear that Uncle George isn't any happier than Dad. At least I won't be the only one grounded this week.

When Dad finally gets in the car again, we only get about five minutes down the road before he asks again, "You wanna tell me the truth now?"

"That was the truth. Alex an' Lisa had a big fight an' broke up. Or maybe they broke up first. I don't know but it was really bad an' I didn't think it was a good idea to have 'em both in the car at the same time."

"I guess dropping off the girls an' coming back for Alex was out of the question."

I thought about Alex's temper and shook my head, "That…no, that wouldn't uh been good."

"He got dumped?" I don't answer that one. Dad can find out whatever Alex tells Uncle George. "Huh." He glances at me, not quite as mad, "You're still grounded."

The rest of the trip is silent. Mom purses her lips but doesn't say a word. I go to my room - a place I'm gonna spend a lot more time in the near future.

The next day, Dad drives me to school which means I miss my morning swim. My car's in the parking lot and Dad actually stops and checks it for damage. When he's satisfied that Trina didn't wreck in overnight, he says, "If she needs a ride home, fine, but I expect to see you by 4:30."

"Yes sir." It's not like I could say anything else at this point.

My first period teacher hands me an envelope with my keys. I spend most of the morning trying to catch Trina and missing her. When I finally do catch up with her at lunch, I'm a little hurt because my seat next to her is taken.

"Hey, Chocolate!" I try to sound casual, "What up?"

"Keep steppin', Peter." She says without looking up.

I look at the two-girl barrier around her, "Look, can we talk?" One of them goes back to her lunch, the other picks up the conversation like I'm not there. "Ok, fine. Where's Lisa. I haven't seen her all day either."

"Peter." Trina's voice has an edge of exasperation like I'm too stupid to figure this out, "Bye."

I go find an empty table, sit down and eat my lunch. What I really want to do is find Alex and pound him until my fist gets tired. It's got to be a high school thing but it's not fair; why does Trina have to dump me just 'cause Alex and Lisa broke up?

By the end of the week, the world has gone from bad to worse.

After school, instead of hanging out, I get to go to the dock and mop the deck of whichever boat gets in first - Dad's idea of grounding me. Lisa isn't in school all week. Trina won't talk to me. Alex won't talk to anyone.

By Saturday, Dad figures out that something is seriously wrong with Alex and lifts the grounding so I can go to the game and keep an eye on him. So, I'm in the stands when Alex gets called out of bounds and slugs the official. By the time it's all over, Alex is - of course - ejected from the game and barred from the next two games. Plus, he's suspended from school for a day.

I sit in the locker room while Alex showers and dresses. I can see in his eyes just how mad he is but his face is expressionless. I start to say something sympathetic but the look he gives me puts an end to that thought. I drive over to the river instead of straight home.

Alex sits on my hood and smokes half a pack without saying a word. When the sun starts to set, he gets in the car and we go home.

Aunt Stacy stops me as Alex stalks past her to his room, "Do you want to tell me what's going on yet?" It's only like the billionth time I've heard that question this week.

"I don't know." She looks doubtful, "Seriously. I thought it was this thing with Lisa but he won't talk to me either." After a brief hesitation, I tell her about the game - it occurred to me that he wouldn't say anything he just wouldn't leave his room on Monday.

"And now we go back to the fighting in school and the yelling at home." She sounds tired. "You were a really good influence on him, Peter, but I should have known it wouldn't last."

"Oh, uh, sorry."

"Oh, no, Sweetie. It's not your fault." She sighs, "Go home. I'll tell George and you don't want to be here for that."

"Yes, ma'am." She extends her cheek for a kiss and I comply before heading home and telling my parents the whole story.

Sunday, the whole family's at church. Beth and my cousins Gracie, Joan and Jean corner me about Alex and again I plead ignorant. I search for Lisa - her family sometimes attends our church - but I don't see them. Between the service and the dinner, we're there most of the day. Alex is usually on his best behavior at church but twice I find him outside smoking.

"Where do you even get those things?" I ask him the second time. He shrugs and takes another drag. "You can't stay silent for the rest of your life, you know." He's trying, apparently. "Look, what happened with Lisa was bad, but I mean, you'll apologize, and she'll be ok, and we'll all move on, right?" Actually, I'm still waiting for her father and the police to show up and arrest us for assault but I don't mention that at the moment.

He still doesn't respond.

"Dude, at least talk to your mom, man, she's really flippin' out."

Monday explains a lot. Monday, I see Lisa. Everyone sees Lisa except Alex. I have never been so glad that Alex got suspended as I was the moment I saw her. She's a wreak. The side of her face, from temple to jaw, is varying shades of purple. Her arm is in a sling. A car accident she says - last Tuesday night. Which I know is bullshit because that's the night she broke up with Alex. By lunch she's got her story fixed: a car accident Wednesday morning.

Alex slapped her twice before I got to him and he hit her pretty hard. But he could not have done all this - and he sure as hell didn't break her arm.

I sit through my classes but I miss most of them trying to figure out what to tell Alex.

Go to Chapter: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

Chapter 6: Alex

Mom drops me an' Gracie off at school Tuesday on her way into work so I get there pretty early. She still thinks I'm gonna say something but I've only got two words ta say an' one person ta say 'em to.

I'm sitting on the front step of the school when the bus arrives and people flood off and into the building. No one bumps me; by now everyone knows that's an easy way ta get hit. Lisa gets off the bus and for some reason I remember the day my great grandfather died. The air suddenly has the same sick dread; the conversations around me seem to have the same muted tone. She tries to walk past me like she doesn't see me but I grab her arm - the good one, the one not in a sling - and stare at her bruised face.

"I did this?" I knew I hit her but Peter didn't tell me how bad it was, "Oh fuck!"

"Oh, Alex." She pretends to laugh, "You're so…. No, I was in a car accident. Last week." She twists her arm and I let her go, "As if I'd even talk to you if you hit me." She fake laughs again and hurries into the building.

I broke her arm. A week later, her pretty face is still black-n-blue. I'm not an asshole; I'm not good enough to be an asshole.

As soon as most everybody's inside, I smoke another cigarette less because I want one and more because it gives me something to do with my hands other than punch a wall. Maybe all those bruises were me. Maybe it's always been me beatin' up on her an' I've been too blind or stupid ta notice.

The bell rings but I haven't finished my smoke so I don't move. When I do finish, I consider going to class and instead light another one. I wish I had something stronger than cigarettes. No wonder Peter popped my shoulder out. He shoulda beat my ass. He shoulda told me what I'd done and beat my ass for doin' it.

Eventually, Peter finds me. I pin him to the wall - only because he wasn't expecting it, "Why the fuck didn't you tell me?"

"Because I haven't seen you all goddamned day! Shit! Back off, Alex!"

I let him go; it's not Peter I'm mad at anyways. I start down the stairs.

"Where are you going?" he yells after me.

I have no idea, "Who the fuck cares?" I yell back.

A minute later, he's beside me pushing me toward the parking lot. "Get in the damn car." Since I don't have a better idea, I get in. I still want to hit something so I bang my head against the dashboard. It hurts but not enough. Peter grabs my shoulder and stops me from doing it again, "Stop that, shithead!"

I broke her arm.

I all but broke her face.

All this time I've been waiting to say I'm sorry for something unforgivable. I don't deserve forgiveness; I deserve to be beat down.

And Peter warned me - tried to anyhow. How badly would I have beat her if he hadn't stopped me? And the scary part is I care about Lisa - what did I do to all the girls before her? How many said yes 'cause they were afraid to say no? Beating's too good for me - pain goes away after awhile. I should suffer - like she's suffering. Like she suffered me, like they all suffered me. Painfully. I should drown like a rat an' get whipped in Hell. Retribution. Damnation.

Peter parks up by the river, which probably the only place we can be before 3pm without getting busted. "Alright?" he asks. When I don't respond, he hits me in the chest hard, "I said, alright? Are you listening to me?"

"Yes, shit!" I snap. He was talking the whole trip but I tuned out right after 'it's not your fault' - I don't need to hear some bullshit that justifies what I did. I didn't expect to hear it from Peter. "Ok, I heard you." It's a lie but he lets me go.

I get out and walk to the river's edge. It's a fucked up climb to the water itself 'cause the cliff's mostly dirt and lose rock. We've gone down before just to see if we could but it sucks comin' back up. It's a pretty step rise, but only like twenty feet high, so the view from here is great - sometimes I figure you can probably see all the way to the Atlantic from here. All that destiny and I'm still uh fucked up little shit.

I wander back to the car and sit on the hood. I've got one cigarette left, so I smoke it. I'm not sure what to do next but when I comes to me, I actually laugh out loud because it's so obvious and simple. If I time this right, no one will even know until it's too late. Peter is bigger and stronger than me but he's not faster. It won't take long but every second of it will suck. The coast guard can't get here fast enough, hell even if Peter had a radio, the family can't get here fast enough and Peter can't go in after me without drowning himself. I put out the cig, stop thinking and run.

Peter shouts my name once. Then I'm in the air an' I can see the river beneath me. It takes less time that I expect to belly flop hard into the water and instinctively I open my mouth to swear. Instead, I get a mouth full of salt water.

Cold salt water. Damn cold and it's seeping into my coat which is good because it will make me sink even as my damn self preservation makes me try to swim. I try to just float but it's a struggle to just let go.

'Lisa deserves this.' I remind myself 'This is to protect her.'

I think of Peter. I hope he's not too freaked out by this. I hope he knows I love him.

I still can't believe how fucking cold this fucking water is.

Go to Chapter: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

Chapter 7: Peter

I'm still yelling at him. I started once I was reasonably sure that he would live. I'll stop soon, I'm sure - maybe when I stop shaking.

"What was I 'posed ta tell yo' momma?" I think I'm repeating myself 'cause I'm pretty sure I said that already. "Hey Aunt Stacy - guess what Alex done today?"

"Shudda le'me drown." He mutters. His speech has been getting clearer the whole car ride home, which has me almost convinced that he wasn't under long enough for any permanent damage.

The longest eight minutes and fifteen seconds of my life. Thank God I can swim. Thank God that water was so cold and he's still young. Kids live longer in cold water; I don't know why but Thank God they do.

Eight minutes. I know; I started counting in my head when I heard him hit the water.

"Shithead." I mutter again. I struggle a moment to keep the car straight. I'm shaking a lot. I turn the heat up another notch. "Are you warm enough?" I ask him again. I wrapped him in the emergency blanket I keep in the trunk. Thank God Dad bought it. Thank God I remembered it. Thank God I can swim.

"Who cares?"

"I do, you jackass!" my vision blurs for a second and I almost miss my turn. I head to my house this time because no one's home yet and our basement is like its own little apartment. "I care an' yo' momma an' Uncle Marcus an' Coach Dutton an' the whole fuckin' defensive line!" I'm all but screaming. "What was I s'posed to do?"

He doesn't reply. I glance over, terrified that he's going to be unconscious and blue again but he's not. He's looking at me with just the corners of his mouth upturned.

"I get it, dude," he says softly, "chill."

"Chill." I have to laugh and can hear the hysterical edge to it, "Chill? I pull you outta the fuckin' Wicomico an' you want me ta chill?" I shake my head and try to get us home in one piece, "Un-fucking-believable."

I get him home and down to the basement and drop him on the couch. I run a hot bath and turn up the heat. By the time I get back down with dry clothes and clean towels, the tub's full. I half carry Alex into the bathroom and undress him because he seems to have trouble managing it on his own. Carefully, I help him to sit. He winces at the heat but he doesn't swear.

"Don't fuckin' move!" I snap at him then go back out and open the sleeper sofa. Thank God Mom keeps this thing ready. Thank God I can swim. Thank God it was still daylight - at night…. I have got to stop thinking about that.

The kitchen phone rings. I go to the top of the stairs and listen for the machine to pick up. If it's the school, I'm erasing it before my parents get home. It's not the school - it's Dad.

"Boy, you gods be damned well better pick up this phone or…."

I pick it up before the 'or what' part, "Hey Dad." I try to sound casual but I doubt it works.

"What in the hell are you doing home, boy? Is Alex with you?"

"Ah, yeah." I cough and try to keep my teeth from chattering into the phone. "Yeah, we weren't feeling well an' came home early. I guess I forgot ta stop at the nurse's office."

"That an outright lie, boy."

I don't have time for this. I'm freezing and Alex is probably drowning himself in the tub as I speak. "Yeah, Dad, it is. But you gonna have ta trust me this time."

"I don't have ta…"

"Yeah, ya do" I cut him off, "'cause it's the best you gonna get right now. I gotta go."

"Who in the hell you think you are, boy?" he roars.

"I'm your son." He actually falls silent at that. "Dad, please. Just trust me this time. You wanna ground me, fine, you can ground me 'til I'm twenty-one. Just please do it ta'morrah. Look, I'm sorry, but I gotta go now." I hang up. That's probably my ass; he's like as not to kill me when he gets home. But if Alex is still alive when he does it, I'll deal.

When I get back downstairs, everything's too quiet. In the tub, Alex is curled up into a ball, arms around his knees, shoulders shaking. Very quickly, it's all becoming too much for me - I can't watch him cry on top of everything else. I undress, very aware on one hand that I'm about to share a bath with a guy for the first time since I was like ten. On the other hand, I know I'm only marginally warmer than he is and I should be in a hot tub as well. Besides, right now, I'd do almost anything to hear him tell me to 'fuck off' - say anything normal and 'Alex-y'.

I get in the tub - the water is still brutally hot - and pull him close to me. He all but collapses against me. I rock him gently, stroke him back, kiss his forehead, anything - everything - I can think of to get him to stop. At some point I realize that I'm crying myself.

I almost lost him today.

I hold him tighter and sob. It takes me a couple minutes to pull myself together. "Ok, ok." I hiccup between sniffles, "You wanna tell me what that was about?"

"Divine retribution." He whispers, "Hell and damnation."

I look down at him but all I can see is the top of his head against my chest - I hate to admit it, but it feels really good holding him against me right now. "Dude, you don't need ta be punished by God." I run my fingers through his hair, which is a lot softer than Trina's braids, "God gets his own in the end."

"I deserve it now."

"You don't deserve to die. An' anyway suicides go straight to hell, no trial."

"That's the point. That's where I belong."

"You ain't do that ta her." I say again holding him tighter. Maybe if I hold him tight enough, I can keep him from doing it again.

"Bullshit."

"I was there. You didn't break her arm."

"This time." I don't like where he's going with this, "What about the next? Or the next girl?"

"You won't."

"I will." I can feel him shaking still, "I will unless somethin' stops me."

"You'll stop yourself."

"Bullshit."

We're both silent for awhile. I ease my grip on him and he kind of curls up beside me.

"Ima turn myself in." He says finally.

"Ok." I swallow hard. If he serious, then I'm with him. "We'll both go." He looks up at me. "I'm an accessory. I didn't report the assault.

"Bullshit." He mutters.

"Dude, my Dad's an attorney. Trust me, you go down, I go down with you."

He looks away again, "Shit."

My arm's around his shoulder; his is around the small of my back. Suddenly the whole scene feels very, very gay. Two guys snuggled in a bathtub. The minute I have the thought, I feel a twitch. This is going to a completely weird area I don't even want to think about. "Uh, dude," I flex my shoulder to get him to move "we should get dried off an' dressed. Like soon."

He doesn't move. "I need to be punished."

"So get your Dad ta spank you. Come on."

"Lisa should do it."

"Kinky but not her style."

"Yeah but she's the victim an' she knows me. She knows what I deserve. Dad would lecture me for an hour an' take my PS3."

I laugh, "Yeah, I'll take your Dad over mine any day."

He's not laughing and he's still clinging to me. Now uncomfortable, I put my arms around him again.

"Your Dad would punish me. Your Dad believes that people should pay for their crimes."

"My Dad never got over tryin' ta be better than his dad."

"Yeah, but he knows what retribution is."

"Hey, he also understands redemption."

"And you understand me."

I don't say a word. I can't tell if its me or the water that just went cold.

"You could punish me." He says simply. He's not looking at me but I can feel the tension in his body.

"Alex…" I start but I have no idea what to say after that.

"Or I could tell Granddad."

"He wouldn't do much more than your Dad."

"Unless I told him I enjoyed hittin' her. That I tried ta break her arm. That the only reason I didn't break her neck was 'cause I wasn't fast enough."

My heart sinks because I know if he told Uncle Marcus that story the man would pound Alex to sand; he would beat him 'til he heard bones break. Uncle Marcus would bring the wraith of God down an Alex if he really believed that Lisa's injuries were deliberately done.

"Or you could do it." He suggests again.

I swallow hard. My arms are still around him and now I'm a little afraid to move them, "So what, you just want me ta take you over my knee an' spank you?"

"What do you think I deserve?"

I think about it a minute. He slapped her twice but I know he won't accept anything as simple as that. When we were young, I remember my Mom used to pop us with a wooden spoon. It stung like hell and kept us out of the kitchen. "Yeah, ok. I got an idea. But Alex, if I do this, is that it? No more divine retribution shit? No more…shit, no more todays?"

He looks at me. His eyes are still red. "Yeah. You do this an' - an' I don't know, I can't think but no more, you know, swimming."

"Ok," I let him go, "dry off an' get dressed."

He needs to use the john, so I clear out to go dry off, dress and raid the kitchen for a spoon. I find one with a wide almost flat head but a relatively short handle that doesn't look like it will break on the first strike. On the way back down, I lock the basement door. I don't know how much longer before Dad get here, but this is one thing I don't want him to walk in on. When I get back down stairs, Alex is still naked. He's kneeling to the foot on the sofa bed so that his torso is on the bed itself but his ass is in the air. Beside him on the bed is my black belt.

"Oh fuck no." I say when I can finally think past my own aversion. Alex's head is way more screwed up than I thought, "No belts. Alex, are you sure about this 'cause this is seriously twisted."

"No." I'm floored but he doesn't give me a chance to react, "I mean I know I need to be punished but…" He takes a deep breath, "Shit. Just do it."

I walk up behind him. Alex has a really good body, I notice - especially considering that he's only fifteen. I've never been into guys but I'm not afraid to admit when one looks good. Well, not to myself at least; I'm not planning to mention Alex's tight ass to anyone. Ever.

I lift the spoon then hesitate, "How many?"

"Shit! Dude! I don't know." He actually sounds a little nervous. He looks at me, sees my arm raised and quickly looks away, "How many would yo' Dad do?"

"He wouldn't. He'd make us work the dock. Hardest labor he could find." I think for a minute. Mom's tool - what would she do? "Mom would give you one for every thing so like one for taking a cookie, one for lying about it, one for leaving crumbs. Like that."

"So one for every time I hurt Lisa?"

"You only hit her once."

"Yeah, but how often did I hurt her?"

"Dude, you a dick; you hurt somebody daily." The joke sort of slipped out and I see his shoulders slump, "Shit, dude, I don't mean that. It's a joke. A joke." I put my hand on his back but his body stiffens against me.

"But it's true. I'm an asshole. I was mean to her everyday."

"You didn't even see her every day."

"It should be one for every day we went out."

I think quickly; a couple weeks. I doubt I'll get a smaller number from him. "Ok, what like fourteen?"

"Forty-five."

"Bullshit."

"Since Homecoming."

I think for a minute then swear. He's right; it's been a month and a half at least. I lift my arm again and take a deep breath. I figure better not to argue anymore - he'll change his mind like halfway through. "Ready?"

"Uh, yeah." He braces himself and I connect twice. It's harder than I'd hit my baby brother Robert, but not like hard. Still forty-five of anything is gonna hurt. He glares at me anyway, "Don't be a fuckin' pussy! If you not gonna do it, then fuck…" He doesn't finish the sentence because I bring the next three as hard and fast as I can. After that, he doesn't say much of anything except to count the stokes quietly. Around the last few, he gasping after each one and I'm shaking as I watch his ass go from pale white to bright red.

"That's it." I say after the last and drop the spoon. He groans, panting and sweating. It's ugly. His ass is swollen and blood red. I can already see where the bruises are going to form. "Dude, I'm - I'm … shit."

"It's ok," He groans, "it was supposed to hurt."

"Was that, uh," I'm really shaking now, "was that what you wanted?" I want to do something to sooth the injury but I can feel the heat from the damage without touching him, "Oh, Christ. Alex, I'm sorry."

"Don't be. It's what I needed."

"Stay put, ok? Just stay here uh minute." I run for a cold washcloth and after a minute of trying to figure out how it will do the most good, I just spread it out over most of him.

He lets out a groan of relief, "Oh thank you. Oh, shit, that hurt!"

"I'm sorry." My stomach's knotting up.

"Dude chill. It was supposed to. That's what I asked you for, right? But man, oh, fuck!"

I lift the washcloth. His butt's not quite as hot but it's still red. To my dismay, welts are beginning to visibly take shape. And scrapes. I glance at the washcloth and gasp when I see the bloodstains - little red specks of cruelty. "Oh shit! Shit!"

He twists to look then hisses with pain, "What?" I pick up the spoon and show it to him. The head is split and splintering, "God damn, dude! That's what that was? Hell, next time use the fuckin' belt. It can't be any worse."

"I…" I bit my lips because they're trembling.

He reaches back and grabs my wrist, "Peter. It hurt. That's what I wanted. Thank you. Ok?"

I take a deep breath and get a hold of myself. "Yeah. Stay here. I'll be right back."

There's a first aid kit in the kitchen. I bring it down. I tell him to lie down while I search for the antiseptic. He stretches halfway out with his knees still bent.

"More comfortable in, uh, key areas." He says with a half smile.

I take the washcloth and gently wipe him down. I find a pair of splinters and use tweezers from the kit to pull them out. Then finally, I sigh. "Dude, I'm sorry but I can't think of any other way to do this." I don't give him any other warning, I just slowly pour the antiseptic over his injured skin. He howls - first in pain and then the tone changes and he cums, hard, all over the couch cushions.

"Oh, fuck." We both say in tandem.

Go to Chapter: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

Chapter 8: Alex

Runnin' hurts. Then again, so does walkin', standin', sittin' an' lyin' down. Peter fucked my ass up.

An' I'm glad.

It's totally fucked up. It's sick and bizarre but it's the hottest fuckin' thing ever. Every time I think about how much pain I'm in, I get a boner. Every time I move, I remember how much pain I'm in. It doesn't help to remember that he's a guy or that he's my god damn blood-related cousin for Christ sake; that just makes it sicker and me harder.

I am one sick fuck.

Ordinarily, I'd tell this kind of weird shit to Peter but he's so weirded out by this, he's barely spoken to me since it happened last night. Which is how totally fucked this is. Peter won't talk to me anymore.

Anyway, I manage to get through most of the day without too many odd looks - which is good, 'cause I don't think I could explain this to anyone. Everything is fine 'til practice.

I'm barred from playing but I still have to strap on my gear and run around at practice. An' before this, I swear, I never realized how often we slap ass on the field. One more guy pops me with a 'good play' an' I'm droppin' him. Or I'm gonna blow my wad. I can't tell anymore.

I can't figure a lot of things. While I'm one the field, I can keep my mind on the game. But as soon as I hit the sideline, I'm lost. Is this still a guilt thing or I'm I just one of those demented assholes who can only get off if someone gets hurt? Is it anyone or did I hurt Lisa because I'm really inta guys? Am I a fuckin' fag or is it worse - am I inta gettin' fucked by Peter? I don't like any of these ideas.

When Coach Dutton blows the whistle, I stall by asking the defensive coach to help me with my stance. I don't know what my backside looks like today but I got a feelin' that I don't want the locker room findin' out before I do.

Coach Hodges only has a couple of pointers so, it doesn't take as long as I like. I do see Faroud practicing his kicking which gives me what is probably a bad idea but what the fuck.

I join him, "Hold?"

He looks at me and raises an eyebrow. We've got ball stands so he doesn't actually need a ball holder. But we're all but alone on the field, so it doesn't take a genius to figure out that I wanna talk not hold the fuckin' football. He shrugs and I hold the ball in position. He's an ok kicker but we're only on the 30 so I think he's working on form more than distance.

"Can I ask you something?" I say after the ball goes soaring.

"Sure." He grabs another from a bag beside him.

"You a fag, right?"

For a second I think he's gonna kick me in the head. The ball goes way left and he glares at me. "Why would you even ask that?"

"I'm uh shithead. Sorry. I meant…I mean, are you, you know, gay. I-" I take a deep breath, "I gotta question so I kinda need to know."

He sets another ball and sends it easily through the goal posts. He grabs another ball and sets it up. "Yeah," he kicks another perfect field goal, "Yeah, I am."

I pause as he sets another kick then just blurt out, "How'd'ya know? I mean, how'd you figure it out?"

"I don't know." He kicks again, "I just am."

"So what you just woke up one morning an' decided to kiss guys?"

He stops in mid-kick and thinks about it. "Yeah, that's about it." This isn't helping an' I'm not actually sure what to say next. He grabs the last ball from the bag and kicks it, "What," he sneers at me, "you wake up 'a fag' this morning?"

I kinda laugh, "Nah, I think I went to sleep 'a fag'. I woke up confused."

He looks at me, panting a bit, "Are you serious?"

"Yeah."

He looks at me for another minute then grabs the bag, "I gotta get these."

I nod, stand and wince. He looks at me an' I'm bettin' he thinks my ass is sore for totally the wrong reason. We wander around findin' practice balls.

Suddenly, he stops me, "Did you kiss him?"

"What?" I didn't expect the question, "Who?"

"The guy. Last night. You said you went to bed gay. Did you kiss him?"

"Oh." My head spins for a minute absorbing that thought and tryin' to figure if the stuff in the bathtub counts.

"You ain't gay if you can't tongue kiss a guy." Faroud says tossin' me one more ball for the bag.

We did not tongue kiss, I think with relief. "No. No, I didn't. We…he, I mean, it was all…" It was all him beatin' my ass, I think, but I am not gonna say that, "uh…."

"You don't have to tell me," He leers at me, "much as I would love to hear it." We're next to the goal post an' before I know he's gonna do it, he braces his hand and pins me with a full on open mouth kiss.

It wouldn't be so fuckin' embarrassin' if I hadn't pulled the same fuckin' stunt on I don't know how many girls.

It's not like kissing a girl. It's harder. Firmer. More like we're fighting with lips and tongue. I grab his head, tangle my fingers in his hair and hold him still. After a couple minutes, I can feel him pulling back and I hold him harder. If-n I'm a fag, I sure as hell don't want some pussy-ass dick. He pries my fingers away.

"Ow!" He's pantin', ready for more, "Not cool with pain." He leans in again, catchin' my lips but holdin' both of my hands so that I can't do anything but stand there.

It's not bad, kissing a guy. Not until, I open my eyes an' find myself surprised that it's not Peter I'm kissin'. I yank my head away from him then wish I hadn't because now he's gonna ask why I did that.

"What? What's wrong?" He whispers.

"Shit, dude," I pant, "uh, nothin'."

He grins and pulls away completely. He grabs another ball. "You have no idea how long I've wanted to do that. Was it good for you too?"

We gather the last few balls while I try to catch my breath. That was way hotter than I expected but not better than doin' it with Lisa. Or as good as thinkin' about it with Peter. That scares me 'cause as bad as my family would take me bein' a fag, me bein' a cousin-fuckin' fag will likely get me dropped in the Potomac one stormy night.

Faroud stops in the equipment room, "So, you a fag?"

"I…" I can still taste his lips. I can think of worse things than tryin' that again but… "I don't know."

"Then either you are or you bi." He smiles at me again, "Anytime you wanna verify, you call me."

Right inside the locker room door is an alcove that used to be used for cleaning supplies until they moved all that shit to a closet by the shower room. Now, most of the guys use it to sneak girls in because it's almost completely private. So long as you're quiet, you can get away with a lot in there. As we come through the door, I yank Faroud into the alcove and pin him the way he pinned me - just to see if I could. Just to see if I chicken out before our lips met. He all but melts down the wall an' I grab his wrists an' hold them over his head just to keep him from sliding.

He tries to bring his arms down - first just by his side, then around me - but I won't let him. I can feel him start to struggle under me. He strong enough to fight me but I got leverage against him. I can feel the heat burning through me; I wanna take him as bad as I've ever wanted any girl.

He gets his mouth away from mine for a minute, "McElroy, let go."

"No." I leer at him, "I'm totally inta this."

"Well, I'm not." One of his legs forcibly parts mine an' his knee rubs firmly against my dick. I groan as my lips seek his again but he turns away and blows in my ear. As I groan again, he presses firmly and whispers, "You've got three seconds before you learn just how hard I can kick."

I may be twisted but even I don't want to dislodge my balls from my throat. I let him go and after a frigid glare, he stalks into the locker room. I follow behind just a little shaken as I realize that I just tried to force Faroud the same way I would have forced any girl. Size an' shape don't matter - just so can I hurt them. I am a sick, twisted fuck. I strip, wrap a towel around myself and hit the shower - where, of course, Faroud is as well.

We've showered together before - the whole team has - just not right after I've tried to fuckin' rape him. I turn my back to him an' try to think about anything except checkin' out his package. If-n I'm gonna be a fag, be a fag.

"Holy Christ!" Faroud practically shouts. I turn to see what the problem is and see the rest of the team reacting as well. Faroud turns off both shower sprays and looks at my ass. Which is when I remember why I'm in so much god damn pain today. "McElroy, did he - was this last night?"

"Uh, yeah." I mutter trying to turn away before the rest of the guys see. It's too late, and Evans, our quarterback, is looking at my naked butt too. "Guys! Come on!" I grab my towel.

"Dude, that's not gay, that's, like, abuse." Faroud is freaked out. "Who ever did that should be arrested."

"Yeah. Shit." Evans looks like he's gonna throw up, "Hey, somebody go an' get the Coach."

"Hey, asswipe!" I wrap the towel around myself and push out of the room, "I do not need the fuckin' Coach. Everything's cool." I sound just like Lisa, I realize. I dress as fast as I can but I hear Coach Dutton when he comes in and the flurry of voices as everyone else tries to explain what happened. Then there's a like a thousand lockers slamming and a lot of traffic. I hear the Coach and Faroud talking too low for me to make out the actual words.

Then the Coach comes around the aisle and sits down next to me.

"McElroy."

"Uh." Not a conversation I want to have. "Hey, Coach." This man is a close personal friend of my Grandfather's.

"The team seems ta think somethin' wrong."

I shake my head, "No."

"Ok." We sit in silence for a while. "They said you have an…" his voice changes tone, "injury."

I shake my head again, "No."

"Alex. You know, sometimes a parent wants to discipline their child. But they can go too far."

I look at him, confused, "You think my father…"

"Any parent," he says quickly, "or grandparent. In some cases, a grandparent can go too far and hurt their child. It's not that they don't love you…"

I tune out for a second. He thinks this is some child abuse thing, that Granddad did this. Which almost makes me laugh since this is what happened when I tried to avoid goin' ta him. Still, I don't want any of this getting' back to the family. But I can't think of any thing ta say that'll convince him that everything's cool.

"…medical suspension. Just until everything is ok at home. Ok?"

That got my attention in a hurry. "Coach, no, wait. Please don't do that. I swear everything is fine. I can practice just fine an' I can't play the next two games any how. Please don't make me go ta the nurse about this. I swear it's not my parents or my grandparents. It's me; the guys made a big deal ova a couple scratches I got doin' somethin' stupid at the dock an' I really don't want anyone ta find out."

"I'm sorry, Alex. I've got a responsibility ta ya."

An' like a fuckin' knight in shining armor, Peter walks into the locker room. "Alex?" He finds the coach an' me. He's a bit breathless, like he ran ta get here. "What's wrong?"

"The guys saw the marks on my…, well you know, an' I was tryin' to tell the Coach that it's my fault 'cause I did somethin' stupid to myself an' I don't want the whole family ta know about it."

"Alex. Look, Peter isn't involved with this…"

"Yeah," he sighs, "I kinda am."

The Coach looks at both of us, "Alright, now. You boys go on an' tell me what's happenin' right now."

I look at Peter. I'm hoping he has a good idea, because I haven't had one ever. Peter thinks for a minute. Then says, "What if my Granddad said everything was ok?" If this is his good idea, I'm not following it.

"I'm sorry, I'm gonna need something in writing from the nurse."

"What if we got something notarized from Granddad that he knew what was going on and he approved it."

Coach Dutton looks us over again. "You boys need ta keep this that much of a secret?" We both nod. "Well, I don't like it but if-n you can git Julius ta sign it, I'll let the matter rest. I'll give him a call soon as I get back to my office."

But Peter was already dialing his cell.

Go to Chapter: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

Chapter 9: Peter

Granddad closes his office door then sits behind his desk and looks at us. After a few minutes, he clears his throat, "Alright, then. I'll start. This afternoon, I gotta call from Coach Dutton sayin' he's puttin' Alex on uh medical suspension 'less-n I provide a written, notarized letter explainin' his alleged injury." He pauses, "Yo' turn."

I look at Alex; he's looking hopefully at me. He's had that same unnerving puppy dog look since we woke up this morning. It scares the hell outta me. I look back at Granddad but he's expecting something from me too. I try to think of how I can tell him what's going on without telling him what's really going on. Then, I remember why I picked him in the first place - my cousin Hanna let it slip once that Grandma Rachael gave Granddad a pair of handcuffs for Christmas the year they got married. I'm just kind of hoping that he'll understand something this weird.

"Let's try another tack, boys." Granddad gestures to Alex, "Let's see this 'alleged' injury."

Alex squirms in his seat then winces, "Uh-"

Honestly, I don't know how his even capable of sitting down. He wouldn't let me see the damage this morning but he has got to be black and blue. I keep reminding myself that it's what he said he wanted but it was still wrong. "See, it's -" Alex and I look at each other again.

"Alright, now boys, enough. I am presumin' ya'll came ta me 'cause you don't trust ya own folks an' I appreciate that but ya'll gonna have ta tell me somethin' if-n you want mah help."

"You can't tell my Dad." Alex blurts out.

"He's yor father, Alex, an' my nephew. If-n yo' Daddy needs ta know, Ima tell 'em." Then Granddad gets an odd look and leans forward, "Or were you two hopin' this would fall under client-attorney privilege?"

Actually, I hadn't thought of that - which is pretty stupid, given the number of lawyers in my family. "Uh, yeah, we sorta hoped…."

"Ya'll ain't clients. You mah grandsons, nephews, whatever." He leans back, "Now, if-n you plannin' on becomin' clients, you gonna have ta tell me everythin'. You familiar with the term 'full disclosure'?" I nod. "Good, 'cause that's what I expect. An' you gonna have to pay my retainer fee. An' mind you, I ain't agreein' ta take on this matter yet. You gonna have ta tell me what's goin' on an' if I think yor parents need ta hear it, that's the end of it. Ya'll hear me?"

"Yes, sir." Alex and I both mutter.

"Say again?"

"Yes, sir." we repeat more clearly.

"Fine, now ya'll wanna show me this here injury or is this little meetin' through?"

Alex looks at me again. It's like he's waiting for my permission. It's freakin' scary. I shrug and he nods. Then he stands up. He looks at Granddad then he turns around and starts undoing his belt. I watch Granddad; at first, he looks confused then disturbed. I look back at Alex just in time to see his shorts come down. For a moment, I'm not sure what I'm seeing. Then I realize that sitting through school all day has further bruised what was already a swollen mass of welts and scrapes. "Heaven forgive me." I whisper as Granddad says "Good Lord." He looks at me and his look darkens further.

"Is it my understanding that you were aware of this - this - pull yo' pants up son, I seen enough. Peter McElroy, am I correct in the knowledge that you were aware of this?"

"Yes sir." I was wrong; I should have taken Alex to a doctor as soon as I realized his head wasn't right. As soon as I pulled him out. When we left the school.

"I see." Granddad has the same 'court voice' that Dad has, "Alex McElroy, no games, now, who did this?" Alex hesitates and looks at the floor. "Look at me, son, you are not in any trouble here, but I need to know who did this to you."

Alex looks my Grandfather in the eye and says, "I did, sir."

"Excuse me?"

"I did it, sir." he repeats.

"Peter, do you confirm this affirmation?"

"No sir," time to come clean, Alex needs help. "I did it. I didn't know it was so bad and Alex was so upset that I just figured I'd do what he wanted an' everything would be over an' no one would know…" it all just spills out and I can hear Alex telling Granddad that he asked me to do it and that it's not fair to blame me.

Finally, Granddad stands up and the two of us fall silent. He moves toward the door. Standing behind us, Granddad, all but whispers, "Peter, did you feel any amount of sexual gratification during this event?"

"No sir. I felt scared while I was doin' it an' sick ever since."

He pats my shoulder and for a moment, I think I'm going to burst into tears.

"Alex, what about you; where you sexually effected by these proceedings?"

"Yes." he whispers. It was barely audible.

"Did you, no, when did you achieve orgasm, during or after the event?"

"After." he sounds like he is crying.

"I am presuming that you have been in no small amount of pain all day today. Have you been sexually affected by that condition?"

He hesitates this time but finally answers yes again.

"I am presuming that you boys were sexually active prior to yesterday. Were you having a relationship?"

"No!" we both near shout.

"Keep yo' voices down. We are havin' a discussion to ascertain the facts relevant to this matter. You were not engaged in mutual sexual behavior. Fine. Were your relations prior to this incident primarily hetero- or homo-sexual in nature?"

"This isn't a gay thing, Granddad." I gasp "I was supposed to punish him not - not that."

"You did what I asked, dude, chill."

"I am not gonna chill! Stop saying that!"

"Quiet. Both uh you, chill." From Granddad, it actually sounds silly but we stop bickering. "Now, I have one last question. Alex, have you ever taken pleasure from pain - either your own or someone else's prior to this incident?"

"Yes."

"Which? Yours, theirs or both?"

"Mostly mine." He shrugs "Kinda both but mostly mine."

"Thank you, gentlemen. Just a moment." He opens the door, "Ms Sullivan, I need yo' assistance, please." A moment later, I hear Grandma Rachael's voice. Granddad gives her some instructions that I don't follow and Alex and I exchange a couple guilty looks. A few minutes later, Granddad closes the door, sits down at his desk and turns on his computer. "Just be patient, boys, this will take a few minutes." He types briefly then reads, "I have viewed the alleged injury sustained by Mr. Alex McElroy and determined it to be largely superficial and self inflicted." He glances at us, and then continues, "Mr. McElroy informs me that he is not at risk for further such injuries and that the incident leading to the original event will not be repeated." He turns to us again, "Does that sound satisfactory?"

Alex's lip is actually trembling, "Yes, sir. Thank you, sir." He seems to want to say more but glances at me and stops himself.

Granddad taps the keyboard a few more times then turns to us fully. "Now, do either of you have any idea uh where you headed?"

It's kinda an odd question and I'm not sure what he's asking but I don't get to ponder it because Granddad's phone buzzes and Grandma Rachael says, "Coach Dutton, line one, JD."

"Thank you, Ms Sullivan. Just a moment, boys. Carl? I hope this isn't too late." He and the Coach talk for a couple minutes. Granddad promises to send the letter but never tells him what happened. I start to believe that this is almost over. When he hangs up the phone, there's a knock at the door. He shouts come in, and Grandma Rachael enters with several papers. She arranges them on his desk. He reviews them and then signs or initials in various places. He takes two pages and turns them toward us. "Gentlemen, then is a standard retainer agreement for this matter - which we will refer to as the Event. This is an outline of the services I will provide; most notably, that I will speak on your behalf to anyone and everyone having questions regarding this. This means that you will not speak of this incident to anyone including your parents and everyone who has questions should be directed to me for answers. Clear?"

We agree and he moves on through the agreement. On page three, is his fee schedule. The retainer is $200; his one-hour consultation fee is $150. He charges us both. "Now, you don't have to pay it all today. A few dollars here an' there, maybe a few chores around the house, an' the like. I want you boys to understand that I am legitimately your legal council an' anything you tell me in this room, stays in this room. Not even Ms. Sullivan will know less she's in the room to hear it. Now, if-n ya'll agree ta everything, sign here an' here on both copies."

It's kind of awkward. My Dad's a lawyer too. He's gonna be pissed off about this. And while it's not that I don't trust Grandma Rachael, but she spends a lot of time with Mom an' Aunt Stacy. Granddad must be reading my doubts across my face.

"I'll wager you got two problems. The first is Charles. If you ever need a lawyer, son, I'm glad you feel comfortable comin' ta me, but this agreement is for this matter only. Yo' Daddy don't ever need ta know it exists - providen' ya'll don't do anythin' else foolish 'til it's resolved." He leans back, "The other is my secretary. Notice I did not say 'my wife'. Ms Sullivan been my legal assistant for ten years, now, gentlemen. She is the very sole uh discretion when it comes to such matters."

I can't think of another way out of this. Besides, he knows everything - nearly everything at least - if we don't sign, then there's nothing keeping him from telling our parents. I sign and hand the pen to Alex. Grandma Rachael takes both sets, stamps them and fills out the bottom few lines. She does the same on another set of pages then lays all the papers in neat stacks. She gives Alex and I a copy of the letter to Coach Dutton, the contract with Granddad and the invoice for $350. She takes the rest of the paper and leaves.

"Will there be anything else, JD?" she asks just before she closes the door. She never once even spoke to Alex or I. It's the first time she ever went a whole visit without ruffling my hair.

"No, thank you Ms Sullivan. You can shut down the office. I want ta speak ta these two another minute."

"Yes, sir."

Granddad turns back to his computer and types for a minute or so. Then he looks at us. "Why on earth did ya'll think this was in any way appropriate?"

"We didn't, sir. It just sort of happened." I'm starting to feel sick again.

"He did it for me, Uncle Julius," Alex confesses. "So I wouldn't do -" he stops, looks at me then at the floor and goes on, "He did it to keep me from doing any of what I did before."

Granddad is silent. Then he shakes his head. "No, I'm not gonna ask. You boys got yo'selves inta this you just gonna have ta muddle yo' way through." He looks at us again and grins, "You have no earthly idea what's happening, do ya Peter?"

"No, sir."

"You gonna have to learn fast. An' set some guidelines." he shakes his head, "In retrospect, I guess we all shoulda seen it comin' but ya'll bein' relations an' boys at that…well. Don't matter none." Alex and I exchange looks again. I feel confused but Alex looks guilty - like what Granddad is saying makes sense to him. "Look, what you two are experimentin' with is perfectly normal. Well, not perhaps in the way ya'll going about it but, in principle. Look, ya'll need to work this out. Maybe look up a few terms on the web. I'd advise 'safe word' fo' one." He gets up and heads toward the door. He opens it then closes it again. "Let me just say this as well. I don't want ya'll believin' that I approve uh all this. I emphatically do not. However, I also realize that the more I try an' prevent you from pursuin' this course uh action, the more likely you will. Which is why I agree that this is not to reach yo' fathers. If this is some sort of experiment, then, well, I guess maybe this is a safe way ta learn. I can understand a need for trust in these sorts of matters. And I guess I can see why you would turn ta me an' Willow for guidance. But you should think carefully before makin' this a - a - relation that…." he seems lost for words and looks away. "Turn off the computer when you finished with it. An' I don't know how you found out 'bout the basement but until you learn some control, it's still off limits."

He left then. Alex and I look at each other. Then Alex sprints for Granddad's chair to see what's on the computer. He beats me to the chair by just a second because I'm wondering about the basement so I sit on the arm.

Granddad left it open to a sex website - one about dominance and submission. Bondage. S/M. Alex gets more excited - in both senses of the word - as the words and images move by. I finally stop his hand from clicking so that I can read the text. Some things began to make much more sense. Granddad said something about the basement. There's an off limits locked storage room down there. For the first time, I wonder - worry - what's actually behind that door. We read that page and several others it links to most of the evening. When my wrist alarm goes off, Alex looks at me.

Submissive. If I tell him we go home, he'll swear, but he'll get in the car. I can feel my hand shaking as I pick up the phone and call home. I tell them where I am; not that they care particularly - since it's family, Mom's not worried. She asks to speak to Grandma Rachael and I put the phone down and get her. I find her and Granddad in the living room.

Granddad is lying across the couch. His hands are above his head. Grandma is sitting on his stomach, tying a scarf in a knot. I think of the images I just saw and this looks suddenly distressing "Uh Grandma? My Mom's on the phone. She wants to talk to you."

She jumps up, "In the office?" and cheerfully pops out of the room - ruffling my hair as she goes. Granddad sits up and pats the couch. I sit.

"You have an idea what's goin' on now?" he asks.

"Yeah."

"You think you can handle bein' Alex's Dominant?"

"Shouldn't that be his -" I choke on the word 'lover'.

"Son, in a perfect world, yeah, you right, his…let's say his permanent partner should be takin' control. Hell, in a perfect world, neither uh ya'll woulda known 'bout this kinda thing 'til you was 30. But the world ain't perfect an' ya'll know now. If ya'll kin be responsible, ya'll can have a hellova time but it takes care. An' practice. You been Alex's Dominant non-sexually most uh ya'll lives. Now, it seems that's expanded some. I don't think it's right but, you the one the boy's turned to so you gonna have ta be it for a while."

"A while?"

"Until he's strong enough in himself ta find another Dom he can trust. That ain't an easy thing." Grandma came back in the room and ruffled my hair again.

"Elizabeth says you can stay the night if you want but call her when you get to school in the morning."

"Thanks." I stand up awkwardly and Granddad smiles at Grandma, "Uh, I guess I'll see you guys later."

"If-n you need ta talk, you just let me know." Granddad whispers something to Grandma then looks back at me, "I think we gonna turn in fo' the night. Why don't you boys use the guest room down here tonight?"

"Sure." I head back to the office. Alex is still reading S/M websites. He's staring at a picture of a naked guy tied to a table, being whipped by a woman in a black business suit. I swallow hard as he moans softly. He jumps when I close the door.

"I'm sorry, but Aunt Rachael is hot." he exclaims.

"You call yo' Mom yet?"

"I'll get her later." He clicks to the next picture. It's the same guy tied in a different position.

"Call her now."

"Fuck off." He says absently, clicking to the next picture.

Dominant. "Alex. Call your mom, dude."

He gasps, irritated, and reaches for the phone.

I tap his shoulder, "Get up." He stands as he dials while I sit down and open a new window. Alex talks; I back track to a page he skipped titled 'How to be a Masterful Dominant'. It reads like a manual on pet ownership. Loving discipline, don't be cruel - unless that's what they want - see to their care and feeding. I scroll back to the top of the page just to make sure I didn't click instructions on raising a puppy. Most of it sounds pretty common sense. Some of it implies that there are different levels of Dom/sub relations. Maybe Alex and I can keep this non-creepy.

He hangs up the phone. "Dude, this is dull. Go back ta the cool stuff."

Dominant. "Alex, Granddad said we should use the guest room down here. Go get towels an' stuff."

"You go get 'em." He stares at me, "What the fuck?"

I look at him. "You like this stuff, right?" I flip back to the picture he was staring at, "Which do you want ta be - the guy tied to the table or the chick with the whip?"

He looks at the screen. I can see him trying to decide what to say. It's hard for him, but unfortunately, I never had any doubt about his answer. "The guy tied down." he says softly.

"Then somebody has to be the chick with the whip. Go check the guest room."

He hesitates. He really hates taking direct orders like this. Finally, he swears and leaves the office.

I realize that I am squeezing the mouse with a death grip. I let it go and watch my hand shake for a while. I start searching for more sites about being a Dominant or a Master.

One thing I realize is that Granddad is right - we need a safe word. Alex let me hurt him last night. Lord only knows how much damage I could have done before he stopped me - if he stopped me.

When he comes back in, I ask him point blank, "Last night, how many - how many times was it before it started to really hurt. I mean not fun, just hurt?"

He shrugs, "See it didn't. I mean I knew it was doing major damage around like 25 but if you had done like I don't know 10-15 more, Ida shot the carpet not the couch."

I nod. That's what I was afraid he'd say. I turn back to the computer screen. "You gotta pick a safe word."

He laughs, "What for? I trust you."

"'Cause you gotta."

"I won't use it."

"Shit, Alex, stop being a fuckin' shithead. Pick a safe word or we're not doin' this an' you can get fucked for all I care."

He's standing next to me. I can feel him shaking slightly. I hope he realizes how fundamentally this changes our relationship. He taps my shoulder; I look up at him.

And he catches me with a full on open mouth kiss.

Go to Chapter: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

Chapter 10: Alex

School's out for a week at Thanksgiving and Peter decided that this year we'd spend part of it helping at the Fishery. Three days spent doing the maintenance stuff that usually gets done like once a year. It sucks. But Peter said we're doin' it, so we're here.

It's kinda funny 'cause over the last month, nothing has changed and yet everything has changed. We still go to school, an' hang out with the same people. We date the same girls. We still take 'em ta the river, too - although not as often 'cause it's getting' cold. We do all the stuff we used to do before, well, before The Event.

But some things…. Like Peter told me to quit smokin' so I quit. It pissed me off, but I quit. An' this maintenance thing; if Ida had my pick, Ida been on the boat fishing with Uncle Edward 'steda on the dock scrapin' six month worth of barnacles offa heavy chain. Peter told me to do it, so I'm doin' it.

We made this agreement. He plays the master thing an' I play the servant an' we see what that does if anything. Nothin' sexual, no pain, just control stuff which sounded like bullshit at first but I can kinda see it. Peter 'owns' me at least in this kinda game so I do what he says. Sometime I even get a kind of chill knowin' I'm doin' something because he wants me to - not because I want to. It's weird 'cause anytime I think I'm gonna do something Peter won't like I stop. He doesn't even have to say anything any more. Well, usually. Sometimes I'm kinda in a zone - like after a game - an' he has to pull me back but it's not like it was. Not all the time.

Not that he's fuckin' Mr. Perfect. He has his asshole days. Like today. I don't know what his damn problem is but I'm hoping he gets it in check - we're supposed to take Sarah and Taylor to the movies after we finish on the docks tonight. We get to our respective homes with barely enough time to shower and dress and pick up the girls at their houses. Taylor is another one of these heavy set black girls that Peter has a thing for; Sarah has the biggest tits on the cheering squad. If there is anything else ta know about either one of 'em, I don't know it.

We go see some bad movie. I'm not here for the picture anyway so I don't care what the fuck is playing so long as it's dark enough for me ta make out with Sarah. We kiss for a bit an' by the end of the movie, I've gotten my hands inside her bra. When the lights come up, the girls hit the restroom and Peter an' I wait in the lobby. They take forever. When they finally do re-appear, Sarah announces that she needs to go home.

"Aw, come on!" I put my arm around her, "We just getting' started. We know a nice quiet, private view uh the rivah…."

"Alex!" Peter snaps, "They want to go home, we take the ladies home."

I try to play it off, like her changing her mind like this or Peter snapping at me don't bug me but inside, I'm seething. I mean, I know he's the fuckin' Dominant or whatever, but he pisses me off when he snaps like that an' he knows it pisses me off.

The trip to Sarah's house is all but silent. I walk her to the door, wish her a happy holiday, kiss her cheek politely and wait til she's safely in the house.

Halfway to Taylor's house, she finally spills it, "Sarah started."

"Started what?" I ask not really caring.

"Her monthly. It started during the movie."

"She ok?" Peter asks.

"Yeah, just embarrassed."

Peter nods and continues to drive in silence. I watch Peter escort Taylor to her door and perform the virtually identical goodbye.

He doesn't say anything when he gets back in the car. He looks at me then just starts driving. It doesn't take long to figure out that he's going to the river or that he's pretty pissed off about something but what I haven't a fuckin' clue. I wish I had a cigarette. I get a little fidgety when I start craving nicotine.

"Sit still." He growls.

"Fuck off. I need a cigarette."

He's silent for another mile or so. "Alex. Sit still." It's kinda a command form for him - my name followed by a direct order. Whatever appeal it ever had is wearing off. Being ordered around all the time is beginning ta piss me off.

Peter stops at the intersection and clotheslines me across the chest. Fast enough to catch me off guard; hard enough to actually hurt a bit. Instantly, my nerves are on fire and I can't breath right.

"I said sit still, Alex." Despite the tension in his arm, his voice is calm.

I swallow hard and try to control my breathing. I also concentrate on sittin' still.

He makes the turn and I realize that I'm half hard from just that. Peter is really pissed at me - mad enough to hurt me. The memory of his last - first, only - punishment washes through me and my pants are suddenly way too tight.

Don't get me wrong, I still get hard with girls. I was ready to do Sarah earlier tonight. But thinking of Peter beatin' my ass get me harder, faster than anything else.

I am a sick, twisted fuck.

And Peter owns me. It's weird but he does.

We park at the river and he gets out. I sit on the hood of the car.

"What the rule?" he asks; his tone has no humor.

"No running, no jumping, no swimming." He owns me and I owe him. I owe him everything. "Dude, I'm sorry."

He tilts his head, "For what?"

I shrug and shake my head, "I don't know. I just know I did something to piss you off an' I'm sorry."

He points to me, "That."

"What?"

"That. That insincere bullshit you do."

"What?"

"You apologized." I nod, "For what?"

"Dude, I have no fuckin' idea. You've been pissed all day."

"And since my life revolves around you, you must have done something, right?"

I don't say anything. There is something seriously wrong here but I don't see what.

He takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly. "Never mind. Forget it; sorry I said anything."

"Bullshit."

He looks at me, "Excuse me?"

"Hey, dude, I'm not totally stupid. You're pissed and you're pissed at me, or with me, or about me. I don't know which an' I don't really care just tell me what ta do ta fix it."

He stares for another minute then a smile breaks through and he laughs. "You are such a dick." But there's no real force the way he says it. He sits next to me an' stares at the water and the stars. Looking for Uncle Edward's destiny, probably. I reach for my smokes, remember they're not there and force myself to sit still.

"I feel like your parent, sometimes." I can understand that; sometimes I feel like his kid. "But what's getting scary is the some other people are seeing it too. I say it, you do it, people notice. It's creepy."

He's silent again. Then he clears his throat and I'm struck for a moment by how many habits he's picked up from his Dad and Uncle Julius. "I don't know if-n I can do this, Alex."

That kinda echoes in my head and I don't catch all of what he says next. But the bottom line is that I've completely fucked his life.

"It's cool, dude." I completely cut over what ever he's saying. "I got it under control now. If I girl say 'no', I take her home. If she say 'ow', I quit bittin'. See? It's all cool. You worry too much. We musta gotten switched at birth 'cause you are way too much like my Dad."

"Alex. You're not listening again." His voice is quiet and too calm. "Shut up and pay attention."

I shut up except for the voice in the back of my head that can't stop saying 'oh shit' over and over.

"You will last exactly until your overactive testosterone gland goes off. Then, your shithead reflex takes over and you become Alex-the-fucking-hazard. And I can't sleep, I can't eat, shit, I can't jack off 'cause I'm worried about what you're doin' 24/7."

"I'll do better, Peter." I swallow hard, "I don't want you worried about shit."

He looks at me then looks away. "I know you will. I'm just having a bad day. I'll be over it tomorrow." He's a bad liar but I don't tell him that.

Then I get it. He's not pissed, he's frustrated. Emotionally, physically, sexually frustrated.

This whole Dom/sub thing is supposed to be sexual in the first place. He's my Dominant, right? And he's my best fuckin' friend and my cousin and for once - for once - he needs something I can do.

"Dude," I hesitate. Thinking it is one thing but saying it is way harder, "I got an idea."

"Don't worry. I got this."

I smile, "Actually, I got this one. You need ta get laid."

He smirks, "Been there, tried that, failed, did not buy the t-shirt."

I take a deep breath and slide my hand over his thigh, "Try again."

Neither of us moves. I try to think of what a girl could do to change my mind if I said no - like I have ever said no - slide my hand down his thigh and between his legs. His whole body shivers. Then he goes stiff and grabs my wrist. "Stop."

But his eyes give him away. And his heavy breathing. And the bulge between his legs. I stand up and he releases my wrist as I move in to stand front of him. "If I'm makin' your life harder, punish me."

"Uh, no." He swallows hard.

"Then take your frustration out on me. You the fuckin' master, right? Fuck me."

"No. Shit." He can't seem to catch his breath. "Alex-"

I drop my hand on his crotch and feel the rock straining his zipper. If-n I'm a fag, be a fag. I lean in an' kiss him while at the same time opening his pants. He's not really ready for either move and his hands flutter between pushing away my lips and stopping my hands.

It's only the second time we've ever kissed. His mouth is strong and slightly sweet. It's not a fight like Faroud was but it's not like a girl either. It's…Peter. I could stay like this for an hour. My dick's as hard as his - if not harder. When I feel his hands holding my face, I can't help but groan. They slide down to rest on my neck and I wonder for a moment what it would feel like if he tightened his grip. I shiver and lean into him. I am a sick, sick fuck.

His hands continue to slide down to my shoulders and he pushes me forcefully back. "Alex. No." He's panting, hard. 'No means no' my ass - he wants it so bad I'll bet his jockey's have a wet spot.

I reach inside his briefs and touch another guy's dick for the first time ever. Silly as it sounds, it feels familiar - like mine, in fact - and I know exactly why he catches his breath when my cold fingers touch it. I can imagine almost exactly what my hand feels like to him. He's hard as I squeeze one hand around his shaft and use the other to pull his balls out into the cold night air. He moans and I know I'm not gonna be satisfied until I hear him cum.

I hesitate for a minute, still playing with his junk but kinda unsure. I don't even like eatin' pussy all that much. Swallowing dick sounds vile even if it is Peter's. I really don't want some guy's dick in my mouth but the idea - the fact that I hate the idea - is making me really want to do this. I am one sick, twisted, fuck. But I hear myself moan as I slide my lips around him.

His hips shake and he grabs my head. He makes a sound that kinda half gasp and half groan. My dick lurches as I imagine what he's feeling. It doesn't taste bad, actually although the smell is kinda…male. Not bad, just very, very male. I'm not sure what to do so I try stuff I know feels good to me - I'm goin' purely off instinct, here. I lick, suck and squeeze my way around his junk, figuring anything that keeps him hard or makes him groan must feel good to him. Unexpectedly, he hisses, "Watch it." It's the first coherent thing he's said in like ten minutes but I'm not sure what I did.

I'm beginning to get inta this. Peter's dick feels good in my mouth and his moans of pleasure are really turnin' me on too.

Suddenly he hisses sharply, grabs a handful of my hair and pulls my head back hard. It's a total surprise and painful and I just about shot my wad.

"I feel your teeth one more time, Alex and this is over." He snarls. "Clear?"

"Clear." I pant. I cannot believe how fuckin' hot that move got me. When he lets my hair go, I suck his dick back into my mouth, careful to keep my teeth pulled back. It's not long before my jaw begins to ache and the back of my neck and I kinda get some sympathy for girls who bitch about doin' this to me. But the pain and Peter's groans keep me goin' - he's gonna shot soon and I'm gonna get a mouth full of my cousin's jizz.

I am one sick, twisted, perverted, fuck.

His fingers caress my face then slide softly into my hair, which send shivers down my spine. He pulls me gently but firmly away while calling my name, "Alex. Alex. Stop."

"Dude. Peter. Please."

"Come on, dude, you don't wanna…" he can't quite catch his breath 'cause I'm keepin' him on edge with my hand.

"Yeah, I do." I whisper.

"Safe word." He pants.

"What?"

"What's your safe word?"

We've never used it; he's never asked me that. It takes me a minute to remember what it is. "Peanut butter." I hate peanut butter.

He takes a deep breath and holds it a second or two. Then he holds my hand still and with his other hand grabs my chin to tilt my head back, making me look at him. It's so dark, I can just barely make out his face. "Do you want to suck my dick and swallow my jizz when I cum? Yes, no or peanut butter."

Oh fuckin' Christ.

My heart rate goes up like a thousand times. "No." I can barely whisper the word.

"No?" he repeats.

"No."

He strokes his fingers through my hair. Twice. I can't breath because of the anticipation. He strokes my face. Then he slaps me - not hard really, but it stings. My dick jumps.

"You cock teasing little bitch." He slaps me again and tightens his other hand around mine, forcing me to pump his dick faster.

"I, uh," I stammer. I, uh, think I'm gonna blow before he does. "Uh, please. You gonna make me?"

"Yeah." His free hand slips into my hair again and forces my head down. He's got leverage against me. I could fight him, if I wanted to. I don't want to. He forces my head down and I suck his dick into my mouth. He holds my head still and thrusts his hips against me. I have to brace my hands against the car to keep from punching myself in the mouth. It occurs to me that he's fuckin' my mouth which does it. I have to grab his thighs to keep from falling as my knees buckle and I cum harder than I ever have. Other than the night he beat my ass, at least.

He cums about two minutes later and shots like a gallon of jizz into my mouth. I almost choke because the head was right at my throat when he shot but I couldn't swallow right away. The taste is salty and a bit bitter. Which confirms it for me - given a choice, I would way rather eat pussy than suck cock. Which apparently has nothing to do with the fact that I'm rock hard again already - I didn't know it was possible ta get it up again that fast - or with the fact that I'm still suckin' his dick like I wanna swallow it whole. I realize that the sound I'm hearing is my own whimpering.

He pulls me up to him, leans over and kisses me hard. He all but jams his tongue down my throat cleaning his taste outta my mouth. I kiss back just as hard. Finally, he pulls back, panting, "I'm sorry. Sorry. I think I just got-got-carried away." He keeps apologizing and I take his hand and cup it around my rock hard dick.

"Dude, it's ok. Shit, that was fuckin' awesome." I grind my dick into his hand, "That was…oh shit, Dude, I cannot tell you."

"Oh, Christ." He whispers. I can't tell if that good or bad. His wrist alarm goes off and he kind of sags against me. "Alex. God. I, uh-"

I put his now soft dick back inside his pants and zip him. Then we help each other into the car. I can see in the light that he's upset. Really upset.

"Peter. Dude." He refuses to look at me as he starts the car and looks past me as he moves in reverse to head home. I grab his arm and he looks down, away from me. "Peter, dude, I really, really wanted ta do that. I really hope you liked it." He starts to say something but I cut him off, "An' I wanna do it again. Like soon. Shit, like tomorrah. You could totally fuck me like that every day. I donno why I like it like that but, dude," I tilt his head so that he's looking at me. I can see tears in his eyes, "dude, I swear ta you, I totally do."

He licks his lips. "Alex. That was the hottest god-damned-thing I have ever done. That was the hottest thing I've ever even heard of. I could do it again now. But I hate myself for treating you like that. I'm afraid - if we do this - that I'll forget and treat someone else like that, someone who doesn't want to be hit and abused."

"Shit, dude, you barely touched me. You are not like ta go beatin' up on the next girl ya see."

"I'm just really worried 'bout that, Alex. You don't know."

"I know you do what I need." I look him in the eyes. This, I get. "That's what you do. You gonna treat 'em all just like they want. Just like you do me." I put my arm around him and pull him close. He resists for a minute then gives in and hugs me back. When he pulls away, his eyes are red, but he looks better.

He turns to reverse the car again then pauses, "Seatbelt."

I start to argue then stop and buckle in.

If he's the Dominate, then I'm the fuckin' submissive.

Go to Chapter: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

Chapter 11: Peter

I'm sitting in church praying forgiveness. I am a seventeen year old guy; we're designed to look at women. I understand that. But not our cousins. Not our sisters. Not our mothers. I'm buying every woman in my family a full length oversized terrycloth bathrobe for Christmas. Beth's little Hello Kitty thing is way, way too small. My mother just need a robe - period. No wonder my father is always stressed.

This is Alex's fault.

This is his influence. I never checked out my grandmother's ass before him. I am pleased to say I have no attraction to my grandmother's ass - but I shouldn't know that.

Alex and his immediate family are sitting in the pew in front of my family. My Uncle Edward and his family are behind us. The McElroys, in total, take up eight pews of the church - if you include all the distant twelfth cousins and such. Even the old pastor is related by marriage.

I stop my private prayers longer enough to give my full attention to the choir stand every time they sing this morning. Trina and Great Aunt Candice are both soloist and if one of them sings, I don't want to miss it. Our church has a great choir. Hell, we have a great church. I honestly enjoy coming here - even if I'm not as religious as most of my family.

Today is a short service for Thanksgiving. I can already see my Dad checking his watch out of the corner of my eye; he wants to be at the house in time for the 1 o'clock game. Alex and his family usually go to Aunt Stacy's parents for early dinner and join us at Gran-gran's around 4pm. Uncle Edward and Aunt April show up sometime in between. We all do the same things every year. We have the same dinner. Hell, we probably sit in the same chairs every time. I know to some people that's boring. But to me, that's a family holiday. A tradition. I just wish Uncle Wilton were here.

Oh, yeah, and that Alex wasn't turning me into a god damned pervert.

At the end of service, there is the typical milling around and greeting of friends. I get my first friendly greeting from Trina in a month but we don't really get to say more than 'hi' an' 'bye'. I speak to the new pastor and his family and some of the deacons and generally avoid Alex. I can't face him - and what we've become - yet.

When I rejoin my family, my parents are arguing.

"What the hell?" I ask my sister.

"Robert asked 'bout Mom's folks.

Robert asks uh lot uh landmine questions. If there's a closet with a skeleton, Robert can find it faster than shit finds flies. Still, Mom hated her parents as least as much as Dad did, "So?"

Beth shrugs, "Mom wants ta go ta their grave."

And Dad won't give. Dad blames every flaw and quirk of Mom's character on her parents. Neither will say why but Dad let it slip once that her mom was a drug addict so I always figured that was at least part of it. They both died when Beth and I were real young but Dad wouldn't let us go to the funeral. Said even in death, they could see us when Hell froze over.

I glance around; people are beginning to notice them. I try to casually walk over a pick up Robert, "Hey, uh, Dad, maybe you guys could finish this in the car?"

He stops mid-sentence and glares at me. Belatedly, I remember that he and I ain't been quite right since Alex's accident. His eyes narrow for a moment then he takes Robert from me, "I'm taking my son and going home. Your son drove," he says indicating me, "go where you want." He turns and yells at Beth, "You comin' with me or goin' with them?"

Beth doesn't even hesitate. She looks at my mother oddly but hurries to the car with Dad. I watch them leave.

"Jackass." Mom is pissed - something I've rarely seen.

"Mom, maybe…" I stop when she glares at me.

"Where yo' car at?" I walk her to it and give her the keys when she asks for them. She drives to Tappahannock, to a residential area - a slum really - and parks in front of a rusting trailer. The front yard looks as if once someone tried to care but never got past buying a planter and a couple marigolds. Mostly, it's littered with broken things, an old push mower and Buick that's easily older than I am. My life is so good - so sheltered - that I forget sometimes that people actually live like this. I have a lot to be thankful for and seeing this reminds of it forcefully.

Mom gets out of the car and heads for the door. Mom is a pampered housewife - she only has a part-time job 'cause she likes the employee discount at Linens-n-Things - I can't imagine she knows anyone in this area of town.

I catch up with her, "Do you know these people?"

She doesn't answer, just bangs on the door. We can hear the TV loudly and she bangs again before someone swears and opens the door.

A vaguely human blob opens the door. He's fat and disheveled and no doubt wearing his formal stained muscle t-shirt. Even with the blubber sagging off his frame, he is gaunt around the eyes. He smells of stale beer and body odor. He looks at Mom, indifferent at first, then apparently recognizes her and grunts some kind of greeting, "She ain't here." He goes inside leaving the door open for us to follow, which Mom does - much to my disgust. The inside of the trailer is everything I expected from its resident.

He scratches his side, and looks me over, "Yo' latest?"

"My eldest." Mom's voice is actually strained with malice and I have ta admit that I don't like this guy at all.

"Oh." He shrugs, "What, you want money?"

Just like that, I wanna drop him.

"No." Mom is shaking. I wanna take her home, get Dad, Alex and Uncle Marcus and turn this guy into uh doormat. "I wanted to say Happy Thanksgiving."

He laughs. It's not a happy sound. Mom's hand touches my shoulder and I realize that I've taken a couple steps forward. I take a step back.

"I wanted to see if you need anything." She says. I bark a laugh at that then back off. Does he need anything? Hell, he need everything.

"Nah. We got turkey. TV work."

She nods, "Good. Fine. Then, I'll be going."

He shrugs as if he couldn't care less. He opens a battered fridge and I can see that it's empty except for a Chinese food container and a case of beer. As he opens a beer he looks almost thoughtful, "Hey you still with that one kid, that guy I seen you with that time?"

Mom freezes. I can feel her whole body stiffen, as she stares forward - not at him, just forward. Any more comments like that and Ima break him in half whether Mom likes it or not.

"I'm still married to Charles, Pop." She says softly, "Almost seventeen years now."

I don't hear much after that. We don't stay much longer anyway. I walk her deliberately to the passenger side and take the keys from her. As we drive back, I reach over and open the glove compartment. I hand her the box of tissues I keep in there. I don't know if she needs them - I'm just guessing. I don't drive home; I take her to the river.

I need to talk privately with my mother.

When we get there, she is crying softly. I give her a little while to work it out by herself while I think. She called him 'Pop' as if that creature could be even remotely related to her. He asked if I were her 'latest' - which is vile if he means what I think he means. 'What you want, money?' was his response when she told him I was her son. I don't know why the comment gives me the creeps but it does.

I hear the car door open and close behind me and turn to face her. She looks wrecked. I suddenly want to drive back to that trailer and pound him for upsetting my Mom like this. It's Thanksgiving, fer Christ sake. Instead, I clear my throat and push all that back down.

She doesn't say anything so I start. "You said you're parents were dead."

"No, Charles said thay was dead. I just ain't never corrected him."

"So…" I don't even know where to start, "what happened?"

"What, ta Pop? Oh, he always live thayr. Ain't nevah wash uh dish or swep' uh floor in thurt' years." She looks at her hands, "Whut he kep' me 'round fo'." Then she shrugged, "when he kep' me 'round, least." I always wondered why when Mom got upset, she sounded like trailer park trash.

Mom lived in that shithole. Mom was raised by that shithead. "Why did you even want to…"

"Ta see 'em? Hell, I donno. Robert asked. I couldn't remember the las' time I saw 'em. Most likely on 'Cops'." If it's a joke, I don't laugh. "Anyhow, I wan'ed ta see if-n I kin face him. An' I did. I spoke ta him like I's uh woman with some class not garbage ya'll throw away. Charles ain't nevah cared if-n I could do that but I did." She exhaled sharply, "An' I can."

I want to ask a lot of things but I have a feeling I don't want to know any of the answers, not really. Instead, I nod, "Yeah, you did. You not garbage, why would you think that?" I knew my Mom was a little insecure sometimes but…maybe it's just 'cause of him.

She doesn't answer. Instead, she looks over the water, "This is a right pretty spot." She smiles slyly, "I'm guessin' I'm the oldest girl you evah brought up here but not the only."

I can't help blushing, "Mom-"

"I ain't gonna argue just so long as I ain't uh grandmomma 'fore you graduate high school."

"You won't be. I promise."

She nods and sighs, "We'd best be getting over ta the house. Charles is likely there by now an' I'll be fightin' with him 'bout this all night as is. Best not ta be late on top of it."

It's the third time she's called him 'Charles' instead of 'your Daddy'. She turns to the car but I stay still. It's cold but that's not why I'm shaking. When she realizes I didn't follow her, she comes back.

"What's wrong, baby?"

I don't want to say it. I don't want to hear it. I don't want to think it but it's already crashing in on me and I know what she's going to say before I ask the question.

"Is Charles McElroy my father?" I catch her eyes as the words leave my mouth and grab her chin when she starts to turn away. I need to know this - the truth.

She doesn't respond but her eyes tear up again. I just made my Mother cry. Could this day get any worse?

"I don't know." She whispers.

Yes, it could.

'Yes' would have been too much to ask for today. 'No' would have been unfortunate but simple. 'I don't know' is too much. I let her go. The river is looking like a really good idea right now. I take a step away so that it's not quite as tempting.

"Peter, now listen ta me." She touches my arm but I pull it away. "He knew everything 'fore he married me. An' thay's a good chance you is his son. Ain't but him an' Pop an' George at the time an' ain't likely fo' one uh them." So, it could be the man who raised me, my uncle or my biological grandfather - the news just keeps getting better. "But thay's a reason I don't know, Peter. Listen to me."

I really want to find a corner and cry like a baby. I try to push past it and listen. "Why?"

"'Cause Charles ain't wanna know. Said if-n I had an abortion, he wouldn't marry me an' if-n he married me any child I had was his. Didn't matter what uh paternity test said, in the eyes uh God, my child was his child. You came out the spittin' image uh Charles. But you coulda been green with ten feet, an' Charles woulda claimed you anyhow."

"But I'm not his." I cannot do this. It's too much.

"You his in anyway that matter."

Then the cold creeping feeling up the back of my spine starts. Uncle George was on that list. Alex and I could be brothers. That does drop me to my knees. Mom is apologizing and crying again and I hold her tightly because I need to hold something. I'm crying too. It's a long time before we get up.

We finally move. It's late afternoon. I pull myself together enough to drive because Mom doesn't really know where we are. By the time we get to Gran-gran's house, mine is the last car to arrive.

"Damn." Mom whispers.

I park and she gets out. She wipes her eyes, fluffs her hair and smiles. Suddenly, she looks like the past four hours never happened. She takes a few steps then reaches for my hand, "Come on, now baby, we late fo' dinner. Can't keep the family waitin' too much longer, now can we?"

I get out of the car and join her. My mask is nowhere near as perfect as hers. When we enter, though, it makes no difference - there's such a flurry of greetings and activity, that no one notices me slip out to the kitchen. I sneak a beer out of the refrigerator and go out back to the forgotten gazebo. No one comes out here anymore. Except maybe Alex.

He finds me there about half an hour later. He doesn't ask me anything. He doesn't even say anything for once. When I start crying again, he takes the beer from me, and lets me lean on his shoulder. When I finally stop and it's really all outta me, he kisses me. It's the last thing I expect. But it's warm and, stupidly, I start thinking that everything will be ok. My life can't get any more fucked up but for some reason, this makes it all ok.

Alex pulls back and looks at me, "I love you, Peter." Then he blushes and looks away, "That was so fuckin' gay."

I can almost laugh at that, "It's ok, dude. I love you too." I feel myself grinning, "I'm not in love with you, but…"

"Yeah, no, seriously. You know, kinda, family-like love." He pauses, "Except that we, you know. Like friends with benefits an' shit."

"Right." I check my watch. It's late. Very late. And actually, I'm starving. "Come on, let's go eat."

"Finally!" he exclaims, "Shit, dude, I thought you'd fuckin' never get up. I'm ovah here dying."

"So why didn't you eat?"

He shrugs and hesitates, "Doms eat first, right?"

We go in the house. I don't how this works. I don't know how it can work. I just hope I can get through the night without falling apart again.

Go to Chapter: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

Chapter 12: Alex

We are sitting in the clinic midway to Richmond, me an' Dad. We'd been here an hour before Uncle Charles an' Peter got called into the back. Now, me an' Dad are just waitin'. I need a cig so bad I could spit. An' no one will answer me when I ask why we are here. Peter told me to shut up the second time I asked.

"Dad…" I start again but he cuts me off.

"There's a chance - not a big one, but a chance - that Peter isn't Charles' biological son." He says quietly.

I open my mouth and for once, nothing comes out.

That's fucked up.

We sit and wait for Peter an' Uncle Charles. When they come out, Peter sits next to me, but Uncle Charles calls Dad over. They talk for a minute then Dad goes back into the office.

Peter looks like he's been run over which is how he's looked since for the last week which is when I guess he found out about this family secret. Ten minutes later, both our Dads come out; mine's rolling down his sleeve. I hear the nurse tell them that results will be available tomorrow.

We get in the car. Dad drives to a restaurant. Uncle Charles orders a round of beers for the table. No one talks much over dinner.

I wanna ask for the full details so bad my chest aches. But Peter said to shut up about it an' it's clear that neither he or Uncle Charles are happy about this.

But it's killin' me. Finally, I can't help it. "So what?"

"Alex." Peter snaps just as Dad say, "Don't."

I ignore them, "No seriously, so what? What, he just out the family? You an' Aunt Elizabeth gonna get a divorce?" I should not have said that - that unnerves even me.

"'Course he ain't out the family; I ain't raise the boy seventeen years just ta turn him out now." Uncle Charles looks at Peter then looks away, "'Less that's what you want."

"Dad, I just…" Peter's real close to breaking. I don't know if they know it, but I do. "I…. You raised me, you cared for me. You will always be my father."

No one says anything til the perky little waitress asks if we need anything else.

"Another round." Uncle Charles says.

"No." Dad says quickly, "Just the check, thanks."

"George…"

"Charles."

They exchange a look and Uncle Charles gets up. "John." He says and walks off. Dad pays the bill. We all hit the head before getting in the car for the two hours back home.

When we finally get to their house, everybody get out of the car. I don't care if Dad thinks it's funny or not, I hug Peter. When we let each other go, I realize that our Dads are holding each other too. They have a hard time letting go but when they do, Uncle Charles looks at Peter and opens his arms.

It was what Peter needed 'cause he nearly falls into him. Dad and I bail while they're standing like that. Our drive home is just as silent but not nearly as tense. Before we get out of the car I can't help but ask, "What about, you know, me?"

Dad had opened the car door. He sits back down and closes it again, "You mean are you mine or would I keep you if-n you weren't?"

"Dude. Not funny."

He surrenders, "The answer is yes to both." He grabs me an' hugs me hard. "You and Gracie both." He lets me go and looks grave, "But Lizzie - your Aunt Elizabeth - she didn't have an easy time of it 'fore Charles an' I met her. An' she an' Charles, well, I knew this was gonna come back on him." He pats my knee, "Come on; yo' Mom's likely worried by now."

We get out of the car, and as we head into the house, he pauses, "Oh, yeah, an' I see you knock back another beer like that, you be grounded 'til you twenty-five. That was a one-time thing 'cause I ain't wanna argue with Charles just then, you hear me?"

"Uh, yeah." I was sorta wondering how that slid by.

The next day at school, Peter is a wreck. I only see him for second and fourth periods but both classes he's totally spaced. At lunch, he won't eat anything, he just keeps checking his cell phone for missed calls. A couple girls come over an' try to cheer him up but he's downright nasty to them. Michelle sits down next to him anyway. Michelle's a bit fat for my tastes but she's on target for Peter.

"Peter, you promised you'd help me. I really need you ta come ovah tonight."

"Tonight's bad."

"Peter! You promised."

I see the look cross his face. She's pushin' the right button for him - he hates breakin' a promise. He closes his eyes and exhales, "What time?"

"How 'bout after dinner? 'Round eight, maybe?"

"Fine."

"Good." She stands up and looks at me, "Hey Alex, wanna take me ta dinner?"

Shit, yeah, I think, but know it won't be tonight. "Can't. Sorry." She pouts as she walks away. I watch her ass sway as she moves through the crowd. When she's out of sight, I remember Peter.

"Dude, you should totally do her tonight. Get your mind offa, you know, family shit."

He turns and looks at me, "Have you ever gone ten seconds without thinking about sex?"

I think about it for a minute, "Nah. Not once I figured out what it was."

His eyes narrow, "You need self control."

"Duh."

"Alex." It's his command form, "You can fool around, and you do whatever you want to your girl, but from now on, you don't cum."

"What?" I heard him, I just don't understand him.

He glances to make sure no one else can hear us. "I mean, you can do everything - anything - except the money shot. Not unless I say ok."

I stare at him for a second until I realize that he's serious, "Oh, fuck off!"

The bell for class rings and his lips curl. "Oh, yeah an' no jackin' off, either." It's the first thing approaching a smile I've seen in more than a week and it's pure evil. "See ya later."

By the time football practice comes around, I'm a wreck. Thinking about this restriction has me hot and my cup is cuttin' into me sharply - the pain of which only makes me hotter. By the time practice end, I've got the worst case of blue balls in history. I get through my shower just barely 'cause touching myself reminds me that I can't 'touch' myself.

But it goes away fast when I see the look on Peter's face, waiting for me outside the locker room. I don't ask. He'll tell me when he can say it.

We go back to his place. Aunt Elizabeth is bubbly; I guess she don't know what's been goin' on. By the time dinner is on the table, Uncle Charles is home. It looks almost normal and it's driving me crazy. Neither Uncle Charles or Peter is even breaking a sweat - if they're not related, the test is fucked up. After dinner, we go up to Peter's room and I burst.

"What the fuck is goin' on? Shit, dude!"

"They have to run another test."

"Oh, shit!"

"It's ok." He takes a deep breath. "The first one confirmed that I'm a McElroy by blood but…." He clears his throat, "but they can't eliminate Uncle George."

I stare at him trying to figure out who the fuck Uncle George is - we don't have an 'Uncle George'. The only 'George' is-.

I don't remember sitting down, just my ass connecting with the desk chair. "My Dad?"

"Yeah."

"We might be brothers?"

"Yeah."

I think about it. We act like brothers anyway; once the initial shock is over, I realize, that I don't really care. I shrug, "Cool."

He nods, "Yeah, I kinda feel that way too. Dad's ok. He was worried that it might be…" he stops himself, "Mom was, uh-" he makes a face. A very ugly face and I realize what he doesn't want to say.

"Oh. Oh, shit."

"Yeah."

We both kinda relax and start our homework. An alarm goes off and he checks the time. "I got ta get over ta Michelle's. Wanna come with?"

"Sure. What you promise, anyway?"

"Oh, nothing. She couldn't install some software and told her I found a patch online and promised I show her how to get it."

"That's it?" he nods. As we tell his parent where we're headed and head out, I keep running that over in my head. In the car, I finally ask, "Dude, are you stupid?"

"What? Why?"

"She wants you ta come over an' install software?"

"Yeah."

I snicker, "Dude, I think she's looking fo' hardware. I'll wait in the car."

"Alex, Michelle isn't like that. This will be like twenty minutes. Download, install, leave."

"Sure you right." I chuckle.

At Michelle's we go to the door together. She opens it and smiles too wide. "Hey Peter, Hey Alex. Come on in."

"Hey," Peter looks at her, but I'm looking around. The house is suspiciously quiet. "Where's the computer?" He asks.

"Where're yo' folks?" I ask before she can answer.

"They in Richmond fo' the night." She says heading upstairs, "Come on. Computer's this way."

"Think I'll stay down here an' watch TV." Even I know when three's a crowd.

"Oh, they's a TV in my room, you wanna come on up."

I pause. Either this really is just computer stuff or she wants us both. Adrenaline sweeps through me and I have to consciously keep myself from running behind them.

"Very good." Peter mutters to me. He stops suddenly and holds me back, "If - if - this is more than I think, that new rule still applies."

"Oh, fuck." But even as I say it, I feel my dick lurch again.

We follow her up to her room. Peter sits down at the computer, I park myself at the foot of her bed in front of her TV and she leaves to get a couple pops. Half an hour later, I'm bored and disappointed as they talk about some astronomy software for their science class.

"So tell me something, Peter." I hear her say as I'm flipping channels for the nine billionth time, "Is it true that you like going down on girls?"

"Uh." Peter clears his throat but doesn't get any further, "Uh…"

"Yeah." I keep flipping channels but turn the sound down, "From what I hear, he's pretty good."

Peter is sputtering but I got Michelle's attention, "Oh, yeah? And who told you that?"

I glance at her, "Well, no one told me, you know, directly, but that ain't all that quiet if you do it right."

"Oh." Michelle is intrigued, Peter is embarrassed and I'm a rock already. There must be something wrong with me. Well, I mean there is but there must be something else wrong with me 'cause I get hard all the fuckin' time.

"So, Peter, what does a girl have to do to earn the privilege?" She sits in his lap facing him. I try to act like I'm not watching but I am so fuckin' watching.

Peter's recovered somewhat, "Believe me, the privilege is mine. You don't have ta do anything." He tips his head toward me, "But, uh, I could come back later."

"I thought you two did everything together."

I turn off the TV. "Alex." Peter says sharply, "Sit still." I swear this asshole's tryin' to kill me, but I stay put.

"Michelle," he's having trouble speaking because she's trying to kiss him but he finally gets her to back off a bit, "Michelle, I wanna be real clear. You want me an' Alex both ta eat you?"

She looks a little nervous, "I go down too, I didn't mean that you'd -"

He smiles, "No, not that. I mean, great, but no I just don't want you ta think that just 'cause we both here, you have to do anything. You say the word an' we go home. Ok?"

"Oh." She brightens then smolders, "Ok." She leans in and kisses him again. I can't begin to imagine why her shirt is still on. With a little effort, he pushes her back and gets her to stand up. He leads her over to the bed and sits her next to me. He looks from her to me and frowns.

"Dude," I say, "I'm cool." Barely. I would totally do Michelle anyway; doin' her like this is like some kinda porn flick.

"Michelle, you sure 'bout this?" Peter asks again.

She huffs, "You're kinda a drag, ya know?"

He looks at me an' shrugs. "Ok." I feel like I just been un-caged. I can't get to her fast enough. I kiss her just 'cause I know most girls get pissy if you dive bomb their tits. Still, my hands are busy moving her shirt an' squeezin' her nipples so they're ready when I get there. I can't hold out for long. I move down to her chest - Peter's been busy, I see, 'cause her shirt an' bra are gone. I take one tit into my mouth an' nibble on her nipple.

"Ow!" She hisses and pushes my face away, "Alex! Jesus! Quit it!"

"Alex." Peter's back to command form.

"Ok, ok. Shit, chill." I really don't want to fuck this up.

"Gently, Alex." Peter says, while kissing the back of her neck, "Say you're sorry."

"Sorry, Michelle." I try ta back down. Peter's right - I do need some control.

"What are you sorry for, Alex?" Peter's still kissing her neck an' I don't think Michelle gives a damn what I said. But Peter does; I'm not gonna be able to touch her again until he's satisfied.

All of a sudden, it hits me. I'm not makin' out with her; I'm making out through her - ta Peter. An electrical current passes through me. It makes me hypersensitive and yet at the same time kinda clears my head. It's almost the same feeling as when I'm on the field and I know the plays I need to execute to get the first down yardage.

I think fast. "Michelle, I'm sorry I bit, an' it hurt you. Can I try again?" I look at Peter; he leering back at me over her shoulder, "I'll be nice."

"Yeah, ok." She sighs, "But no biting. Jeez, what you wanna bit it off?"

I don't say yes out loud, but I do take her tit in my mouth again and gently, softly, slowly suck it.

"Oh, yeah." She practically melts, "That's nice." First down.

Slowly, we lay her down. We start to mirror each other - me on her left, Peter on her right - working our fingers and lips down her body. She's sighin' and writhin' like she's really inta this an' I'm so hard I'm havin' trouble breathing. After a couple minutes, I realize that she's getting' louder an' Peter's disappeared. I glance around an' see him on the floor; he's sucking her toes.

I thought I was sick.

The longer I think about it, the more I wanna do it.

I slid down to the floor, take off her other shoe and lick the sole of her foot from heel to toe in one swipe. It's sweaty and stinks. I hate it but my dick jumps and I groan in response. A few minutes later, as I'm lickin' an' suckin' her toes desperately, Peter interrupts me by pushing her pants down. I know when he starts eatin' her 'cause she starts moanin' real loud. His crotch is only inches from my face. I pause from her foot long enough to rub my cheek against his bulge. He shakes. I smile and climb back on to the bed; I don't think I want that much temptation right now.

Instead, I go back to her tits - which are big enough to keep me busy anyway. Her back arches and she clamps one hand on the back of my head an' one on Peter's. She starts shaking like she's having some kinda seizure. When she falls back again, gasping and weak, I lean up an' kiss her again. I pull back to let Peter get some but as her eyes roll back in her head, I realize that he's still suckin' her pussy. I don't get to watch him for long, though, 'cause she grabs my belt and we both fight ta get my dick outta my pants as fast as humanly possible.

She isn't tryin' to be sexy - which is pretty fuckin' hot in itself - she just stuffs my dick in her mouth like she needs it. I'm gonna blow. I know I'm gonna shot my wad. Her back teeth scrape the shit outta the head of my cock and I nearly double over her face. I hear myself just saying "oh, fuck" over and over while thinking 'don't cum, don't cum'. She starts sucking really hard an' moanin' again. Her mouth is actually vibrating around me. I think I'm gonna cry. Finally I feel that twitch and I know that if I feel it again, I'm cummin' whether I want to or not.

I fight to open my eyes and look at Peter. I tap the back of his head and look at him; I'm so close, I can't even speak. He gives me that evil look of his and says, "No." Then he sticks his tongue out and does something to Michelle that causes her to gasp sharply and all but bite down on my dick. It's incredible and I nearly blow right then.

"Oh, god, oh god." I chant as I pull out of her mouth. I'm shaking, nearly crying and I kiss her as she cums again just so I don't hear that sound I know will push me over the edge. The crazy part is that I don't even know why I'm lettin' him do this to me.

My dick is plastered to my stomach and throbbing. The hot bare skin of her hip pressed against me is actually helpful - it feels good but not 'right', so it's pulling me back from that edge. First down.

He slides up on the other side of her, slips his hand under her chin an' I let him turn her face to his. Even from here, I can smell the pussy all over his face as he kisses her.

She can almost breathe again when Peter pulls back. He looks at me then tips his head, "Your turn."

"What?" she gasps as I slid down her body, my eyes never leaving Peter, until I reach her slit. Then I suck down as hard on her as she did on me. I expect her to yelp and get pissy about me being too rough but instead she nearly screams. Her knees close in and squeeze my head like vise. I suck hard again and blow the wad. I can't help it. I groan into her pussy as she rubs it hard against my mouth. Her legs shift and wrap around my head. I'm trapped against her now, damn near suffocating. I don't really have any choice about eatin' her now 'cause she grindin' her pussy against me so hard.

I don't think I lost the boner when I came. If she keeps this up, I'm gonna cum again.

I get my hands on her ass an' hold her still long enough to shove my tongue inside her. She starts bouncing against me an' we tongue fuck for a while. Finally, she shakes and jerks and I can feel her pussy contracting around my tongue. My dick lurches again 'cause I realize that if I'd been in her right, Ida cum hard just now. Since I'm not, I just really want to be. Her legs fall away and I pull back from her and actually breathe. I feel kinda lightheaded and wonder if maybe I really was suffocating.

What uh fuckin' way ta go. Touch fuckin' down.

Peter gives me a couple minutes to recover then says, "Dude, time."

"What?" I can't quite focus. He taps his watch. I think for a second or two - my mind is blank except for the taste of pussy and memory of her legs locking me in place. Then I realize that his alarm must have gone off while I was down there. He kisses her as he zips his pants and stands up. I'm on the floor; I can't quite remember getting down here.

I stand up, pull up my pants and find my coat. Peter hisses in my ear, "Kiss her goodbye. Be nice."

I kiss her; she's as wasted as I am, "That was fuckin' awesome." I say. It's the nicest thing I can think of. The I think of one more, "Thank you." She smiles. Point after.

She manages to walk us to the door. We both kiss her one more time. We get in the car. He drives maybe a mile down the road an' pulls over. I am not prepared when he springs on me and kisses the fuck outta me. I can still taste her all over his lips "I didn't think you could do it. I didn't think you could hold back." He exclaims.

"Dude." I'm panting and half-hard again. I don't know why - shit, I don't know how - he does this to me. "I didn't. She squeezed it outta me when she wrapped those thighs around me."

He laughs, "No shit. I didn't think you could hold out that long. I figured you'd lose it when I said no."

"Oh, shit. It was close."

A kinda serious look crosses his face and he swallows hard. I feel his hand brush my crotch lightly and my dick lurches. I never softened all the way and the light touch stiffens me right up.

"I was thinking-" he stops and clears his throat, "I thought I might try…"

His hand squeezes me more firmly and I groan. He wanted me to wait for him. I cover his hand with my own and make him squeeze me again, "Keep that up an' Ima cum again fo' sho'"

He pulls his hand away. Then he un-clicks both of our seat belts. "Dude, what-?" His fingers open my belt. My breath catches as he unzips my pants. He pulls me out, strokes me two, maybe three times then slowly wraps his lips around my dick.

It's fast. I cum hard. I'm surprised I didn't black out. I'm such a fag. "Oh, Jesus. Oh shit." I swear between groans. He clicks his seatbelt and starts the car again. We're nearly to my house before I can pull myself together. He slows down in the drive - out of view of the house - an' kisses me again. This time I can taste me an' Michelle - I swear I'm hard again by the time he pulls away an' rolls up to the door.

"You were right. I did need that." He says. "Thanks."

"Anytime, Dude." I watch him pull off. Brother, cousin, friend, Master. I don't care. I'm beginning to get it. I smile as I go into the house.

Go to Chapter: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

Chapter 13: Peter

Dad and I went fishing. We took McElroy's Honor and dropped anchor in the Chesapeake for two days. A Father-Son fishing trip like we used to do when I was a kid. To celebrate.

George McElroy was excluded by the second test.

"I knew it in my heart." Dad say again as we sat watching the moonrise over the bay. "Why I couldn't let her abort you. I knew you was mine."

I just nod. I still feel like I just dodged a bullet.

We sit in silence for a while. I've been a rotten son the last couple of months. He's probably been wondering if that was why - if I was never his child and it was just beginning to show. "Dad…" I've been trying all day to say I love him. That I trust him. That I am so relieved and glad that he's my father. "That day I gave Trina my car…"

He nods, "Yeah the day you started-" he clears his throat, "Yeah. I remember it."

"Alex…" He not gonna like this. But I trust him. I want Dad to know I trust him, "Alex an' Lisa had a fight."

"You told me."

"No, not an argument. A fight." His face hardens as he realizes my meaning, "He hit her, Dad and I wanted to get her away from him fast so I let Trina take the car an' made Alex walk."

"An' you didn't tell me 'cause you figured I'd put him in jail."

I look away, "I didn't tell anybody 'cause Ima coward." I sigh heavily, "I shoulda tol' somebody. See, Lisa bein' beat up on a regular basis."

"What? By Alex?"

"No; her Dad, I think but she won't say an' Alex an' me never caught him. Anyway after Alex hit her, she came to school pretty messed up - way more messed up than the couple uh slaps from Alex."

"An' he blamed himself, didn't he."

Not a hard guess to make. "The day we cut class…." I take a deep breath, "Alex tried to …to drown himself."

Dad doesn't say anything for a minute, "How serious uh try."

"Eight minutes in the Wicomico."

He puts his head in his hands, "Lord Jesus, thank you." He nods and looks at me, "You right, George don't need ta know 'bout that. How'd you keep it quiet? Who got him out?"

"I did."

He covers his face again. "You did." He doesn't look at me as he asks, "How long were you under?"

I shrug, "Not long. Four minutes, maybe."

He nods again, no doubt doing roughly the same math I did on the shore that day waiting for Alex to breath again. "So, when I spoke to you…."

"….Alex was in the tub but I was still dripping wet."

"You were right." He clears his throat, "I'm sorry I didn't trust you."

"No, see that's the thing I shoulda told you from the start. See, I don't know what ta do now. See, Alex is…." Fucked up I wanna say but that's not a useful description, "He's been, I don't know, kinda messed up. He's not acting right, not like Alex. I don't know how to say it. But I'm really worried about him an' - an' I don't know what to do."

"You think he might try it again?"

"No. It's not like that. Just, like, he's not as kinda in-your-face as he used to be, ya' know?"

"Oh." Dad thinks a few minutes then shakes his head. "Peter, I'll tell you the truth, I think maybe that water put the fear uh God in the boy. I mean, George and Stacy both noticed something was different - once he started talking again. They were getting' called by the school about once a week. But they haven't gotten one in a couple of months. He's been helping out around the house. George an' me was beginning to think you two swapped places. Whatever happened that day, I think you did it right."

"But…" I stop. I am not ready to tell him everything. "What if I did something that I'm not sure was good for me but I know it was right for Alex?"

"Pray on it. Sometimes we have ta sacrifice ourselves for the people we love. You think I was happy ta marry a woman carryin' a child I didn't know fo' a fact was mine? But I did it, 'cause I knew it was best for her." He looks away for a moment - overwhelmed again - "Sides, I knew you was mine. I felt it."

I hug my father. "I knew too."

Monday, school's a lot more bearable. Alex is a lot more bearable. He looks worried when I see him.

"Mornin' Cous." I greet him.

"Everything cool?" He asks. He's trying to appear casual but I know him too well. I have to laugh.

"Chill, dude. You are way too stressed." I slap his shoulder and head for my seat, "You should get laid."

There's a short pause before he says, "Shit, yeah."

Maybe I can do this.

Michelle sits with us at lunch. And she sits with me while I wait for Alex to finish football practice.

We talk about everything and nothing - family, classmates, whatever. She doesn't mention last week so I don't either. She's nice. She's pretty. But this thing with Alex is complicated; I don't know if she'd understand it.

Then I laugh at myself - I can date a girl without explaining Alex. I like Michelle. I reach over and kiss her. I catch her off guard because she was in the middle of a word but she doesn't seem to mind too much.

"You wanna go out to a movie tomorrow?" I ask when I finally let her go.

"Sure." She sounds a little distant.

"You ok?"

"Sure."

I look back at the field. Most of the team is heading to the locker room but Alex is down field with the kicker.

"Hey Michelle, can I ask you something?"

"Yeah?" She sounds more focused.

"Did you really want to…" I stop as I realize how what I'm about to say is gonna sound, "Wait, first, last week was -" I search for a word, "- unbelievable."

"Yeah?" she blushes. It's very pretty.

"Yeah. But I don't expect…." that's not what I want to say either. "I mean I'd like ta…."

"Peter, my parents will be home tomorrow night so I'll have to be home by curfew." she says simply.

"So." I clear my throat, feeling like a complete jackass, "We'll see a movie, grab some pizza an' be home early."

She smiles shyly, "Ok." she picks up her books, smiles at me again and heads to the parking lot. Her walk is almost hypnotic.

When she's out of sight, I remember Alex. He's not on the field so I go wait by the looker room. When he comes out, I tell him to get a date for tomorrow night. "Oh yeah," I say as we head for the car, "the new rule applies."

"Fuck off." He grumbles.

We go to his house after school and study. I've a paper due before the holiday so I pretty much hog his computer.

"Hey, Peter." He's lying on his bed staring at the ceiling.

"Yeah?"

"When are you gonna fuck me?"

I turn and look at him, "Say that again?" He's still staring at the ceiling.

"You heard me."

I heard him. In all honesty, I'm glad he won't say it again; I'm not sure I want to hear it again. I turn back to the computer but I know I'm not writing jack shit tonight.

"Well?" he prods.

"Why would you even ask me that."

"Just…I donno, shit."

'Oh god', I think, 'this is a master thing, isn't it?' I turn back and face him. "Sit up, Alex." When he does, I take a deep breath, "Why do you think I'm gonna - that I even wanna - I mean, do you want to…"

"If-n I'm uh fag, I wanna be a fag, right? So," he shrugs, "what the fuck?"

"Oh." I'm not sure what to do with that. Just when I thought this was getting simpler, Alex finds a way to complicate it again. "Since when are you gay, dude?"

"Since you - you know."

"Dude, I've seen you with a ton of girls since then. You are not gay."

He shrugs.

"Ok, who's the hottest cheerleader?"

"Morgan Glen."

"Who's the hottest football player?" he shrugs again. "Who's the best hung?" His brow furrows while he thinks about it. "Ok, who's ass do you wanna fuck?"

"Shit, I don't know."

"Dude, you shower naked with them everyday! You are totally not gay."

"Yeah, but I totally want -" he stops mid phrase.

"Want who?" he makes a face and shakes his head, "Alex. If you want a guy I want to know who."

"You." He says in a kind of strangled voice, "I-I want you."

I stare at him trying to keep the panic off my face, "Is this new or since, since, you know?"

"Just since." He says quickly. "I talked ta Faroud that first day an' it been just you since."

"Faroud?" I'm jealous. Actually, seething jealous. It must show on my face 'cause Alex actually shrinks back.

"We just talked. I heard a rumor he was gay an' wann'ed ta ask, you know, stuff."

"So you told him about us?" If he says yes, I'm throwin' him back in the river.

Thankfully, he looks appalled, "Fuck no!" he relaxes a bit, "Jesus, dude, I'm not uh fuckin' retard! I just asked him how you find out if-n you a fag."

I roll my eyes; knowing Alex, that's exactly how he asked him, too. "What did he say?"

He shrugs "He didn't know really. Said you ain't uh fag if-n you can't tongue kiss uh guy." Alex looks away and blushes, "Then he tongue kissed me." I can't decide if I'm outraged or turned on by the thought of Alex kissing another guy. "I swear, dude, nothing else happened." He rushes on, "He kissed me by the goal post, I got him back in the locker room alcove, an' that was it."

"You what?" Outrage just took a decided lead in my personal war.

"Dude, there's nothin' goin' on, I swear. I, you know, kinda came on too strong an' he pussied out."

I stare at him for a minute. He is utterly amazing; the little shithead doesn't see a problem here. I can't remember ever being this angry. Ground rules. Granddad said lay ground rules. I shudda listened.

"Alex. I'm going home in a minute 'cause I figure I won't try an' kill you before that. Starting tomorrow, you will address me as 'Peter'…."

"Dude, I already call you…."

"Shut up." I snap and he actually cowers, "As 'Peter'. Not 'dude' or 'cous' or anything else when we're in public. When we're alone, you will call me 'Sir'."

"The fuck I…."

"You will or I will 'Out' you over Christmas dinner." That got his attention. "You will tell me everything from now on. You don't talk to anyone without me knowing, you don't kiss anyone without my permission. An' Alex, get this, I'm not ever gonna fuck you. Ever."

By the time I make the fifteen minute drive home, Alex has called my cell six times and I've realized two things. First, that this Master stuff gives me a rush. A real rush. A maybe-this-isn't-just-for-Alex kinda rush.

Second, I just lied; I am so gonna fuck Alex. It's gross, it's sick, it's perverted but I'm gonna do it.

The next few days are pretty hard - not the planning where or how ta take Alex or the making Alex suffer parts. Those are easy. The hard part is not letting Alex know how much I enjoy watching him bend over backwards to try an get me ta forgive him.

For starters, he follows all my instructions. I make him volunteer to play guitar when the Ballroom Dance club puts up their flyer. Buy lunch for Beth one day when she comes to borrow money from me. I add 'no cursing' to his list of rules an' make him apologize ta the janitor for swearing. I practically hurt myself trying not to laugh at him. Finally I let Michelle and Beth in on it - not totally but enough to let them push him around for a day or so as well.

Sunday in church, he looks miserable and I can't put him through it any more. "You have to tell me everything from now on, Alex, we can't have secrets an' do this."

"Yes, Sir." He's studying his shoes.

"Alex," he looks at me, "I'd rather be yo' friend than yo' Master. If-n we gotta chose, there ain't no contest fo' me." I put my hand out. He takes my hand and pulls me in for a hug. When he lets me go, there are tears in his eyes. "Hey, we going fishin' on Wednesday - all day. Uncle Edward letting' us take the Sunrise providin' we give him half our catch. You wanna go?" This is easy - Alex loves fishing.

"Sure. What time?"

"Early. Be at the dock at 5am."

He groans but nods and I try not to grin too wide - he didn't even ask who 'we' included.

5am Wednesday, I park by the Davidson dock house and find half my family standing around drinking coffee. I remember - since most of the crew are off to spend the holidays with their own families, mine are here to fish for the restaurants that we provide daily fresh fish. Great Aunt Candice is assigning all of them to commercial boats - either the Honor or the Pride - so there are a couple of indignant shouts when she assigns me to the Sunrise - which is one of our charters. She quells them with a threat to make them all work Christmas Day.

Alex an' Uncle George arrive finally as everyone is beginning to drift out. When Aunt Candice assigns him to the Sunrise as well, my Granddad casually wanders over to me. "I suggest ya'll use the nets for an hour or so. Capt. Ed don't ask question if-n ya come back with a full cooler uh bass." Then he heads out with my Dad and Uncle Marcus.

Alex and I prep the boat while the commercial boats launch. I make a show of peering down the dock every so often like I'm waiting for someone else. When we're ready, I call in and head underway. I have two years more on the water than Alex so I get ta be 'Captain' today. I tell Alex - 'Al' since we're shipboard, which makes me 'Pete' - to set up both nets. He's been looking at me oddly since I cast off, but he hasn't asked any questions. It won't take long ta get up Cockerell Creek ta where I wanna go so half an hour in, I tell him to drop the nets.

"How much fish you plannin' ta catch, Pete?" he asks finally.

"Cooler an' uh half. Get started. I'll be right out."

I watch Al work from the wheelhouse.

He's a kid. I know he thinks he knows what he wants but he's just a kid. He could be screwed up for life. I could be screwed up for life. Already, I get annoyed with Michelle when she doesn't do what I tell her to do. How can I have a normal relationship if I'm as screwed up as Alex is?

But he has been calmer in school and even more focused on the football field. Aunt Stacy has been happier 'cause Alex's grades went up this quarter and he hasn't been in any fights - none that got reported at least. Alex may just really be a Masochist. He may really need this to be whole. Right. This could all be good for him.

He needs a therapist to figure this stuff out with not me. He should talk ta Granddad or someone else who knows about this stuff. Not me. Anybody but me. I'm just a kid. He's just a kid.

He's got the nets down by the time I come on deck. I pretend to check the rigging but Al has been doin' this almost as long as I have; as expected, the knots are tight an' everything's secure.

I do not expect him to slide up behind me and wrap his arms around my waist. "Pete," he whispers, "Sir, the nets are down." Inside my coat, I shiver. He's a damn seductive kid.

"I gotta steer." I find some strength and pull away from him. He follows me into the wheelhouse. I look at the instruments. Uncle Ed always says if the engine is runnin' yo' brain best be runnin' with it.

"I thought Michelle might be comin' with us." Al says.

"No, she had family stuff today." Not that I figure she would fish with us in December - even without my plans for the day.

"An' you didn't volunteer us ta work the commercial boats?"

"They got an kinda girls against guys bet goin' for biggest haul. Grandma Rachael vs Granddad."

"Oh there's a fun day." He snorts.

"Yeah, but they'll all be in by noon. I'd planned ta be out all day."

"Yeah?" Al's voice fairly drips with innuendo.

"So we could talk." I throw out. Even I don't believe that one.

Clearly he doesn't either, "Sure you right." He chuckles.

He watches me handle the boat for a while. The creek is beautiful at this time of year. I'm always amazed by the grace of the bare branches and the dark reflective water. I'm surprised we don't charter as many tours in the winter as in the summer.

"You ever think 'bout it?" I ask Al.

"'Bout what?"

"Working the boats. You know, full time. Like Uncle Ed."

He shakes his head, "I only like the fishin' part; I hate everything else." He looks out the window at the landscape around us, "It's dull, it's ugly and it's cold."

He's serious. Jackass.

After a while, he checks on the nets. "'Bout another half hour, should pull 'em up." He slides his arms around me again, "Any idea how we can kill time?"

I pry him loose, "Not while I'm runnin' the boat." I don't like admitting it, but he's getting to me, "If you need ta keep busy, run laps round the deck."

"Fuck off." He says out of habit.

Got him.

"Alex. Go run ten laps around the deck."

I can see in his face that he's madder at himself than at me. He swears again - under his breath. "Say again?"

"Yes, Sir." His teeth are all but clinched.

"Leave your coat here." Watching Al sweat ought to be entertaining.

That stops him, though, "It's cold." He almost sneers the amended "Sir."

"You'll warm up fast enough."

"No, I won't."

"Then run twenty laps. That ought ta work up a sweat."

"Peanut butter."

The phrase is so odd, it takes me a full minute to figure it out. "Wait. You'll suck my dick on command but you won't run laps without a coat?"

"No. I won't run laps. I hate that lap shit on the field. I ain't doin' it in the off season. Even for you. Sorry. Sir."

I can't help smiling. That Alex has limits is very good news. He won't let me do absolutely anything. I was beginning to worry. I turn back to the wheel. "Ok. No laps. Go bring in the nets. We don't need that much fish ta fill the cooler."

He goes back on deck and I re-think my plan for the day. I came onboard planning to tie him up - his Christmas gift - spank him and screw him. Then, I sort of thought maybe I should just talk him out of all of this. Now I don't know what ta do.

Al waves from the deck as the first net comes up and I can see that it's a good haul. I hit the mike, "Do you need help sorting?" He gives me a 'yes' hand sign. "Ok. Pull up the other net first; if we need a second run, we'll drop 'em both again." I shut down the engines and drop the anchor. By then Al has the sorting table out and is flipping live fish either into a bucket or over the rail. We're not real specific since this is personal not commercial. If it looks too small, it is - toss it back. We toss back the females too. Somehow we both resist making the obvious pussy/fish joke. Even tossing that many back, we wind up filling both coolers 'cause of a couple of good size bass. Just to see, I weigh them - then I go back to the wheelhouse and radio in.

"Davidson Fishery, the is the Sunrise. Pride or Honor do you read? Come back."

A couple seconds later the radio pops, "Sunrise, this is the Honor. Go ahead."

Al comes in and joins me, "One more. 21 pounds."

"Honor, we know you an' the Pride got a bet going for biggest haul today. Anyone going fo' biggest fish? Come back."

There's a moment of silence as my fore-fathers no doubt confer. "I imagine a side wager could be arranged. Pride, are you in this? Come back."

A woman's voice comes over, "We might as well whip you both. What's the wager? Come back."

I look at Al. "Clean up." He says.

I open the mike again, "How 'bout second place cleans the winner's hold, loser cleans the other two? Come back."

"Sunrise, you an evil boy." I can hear my granddad's laughter. "Honor will take that. Pride, you willing to clean the hold an' the day's catch? Come back."

"You best be willin' ta do some scrubbin', Jul." I think it's my Aunt Han, "Pride'll take that. Good luck, boys. Pride out."

"Sunrise, you have a bet." There's a pause then a new voice comes on, "You boys all right out there?"

"Yeah, we shipshape."

"Good. See that ya stay that way. Honor out."

"Yes, Sir. Sunrise out."

Al grins, "We have so already won that. We got two over twenty already."

"Yeah, but they in the bay, so they got better odds." I look out at the deck. "Come on, let's hose that down."

"Dude! Come on!"

"Hey, if we win, they still have ta scrub the deck an' if we lose, we don't have at do as much later."

He makes a disgusted sound but heads back on deck with me. We clean the table, give the deck a half-assed once over, pack the nets and go below.

We're both cold and wet but there's crew quarters aboard complete with mini-washer and dryer. We hang our coats in the galley so they can drip and strip down. I drop our clothes in the dryer. Al wraps a towel around my waist as I close the lid. We stand there, Al's arms still around me and his lips brushing the back of my shoulders.

"Dude, you should totally fuck me now."

I can't think of any reason to say no.

The Sunrise is a re-fit coast guard ship. It fits a cramped crew of five but for just the two of us, it's spacious. I'm not sure which of us is leading but we wind up in the crew quarters, kissing as passionately as I have with any girl. I can feel Al getting more aggressive as he gets more into it. After a few minutes, I realize that this is a Master thing.

I push him back, "Alex, chill."

"Dude! You as hard as I am." He's not lying and he runs his hand over my erection just to prove it. I shudder then catch his wrist.

"Yeah, but I say when. Right?"

He swallows hard and takes a sharp breath, "Right. Yeah. Right, Sir."

It stuns me how fast he can fall in line sometimes.

"You called me 'dude'." I try to keep my voice calmer than I feel. "Bend over."

"What?" he's breathing hard and I don't think he believes me.

"Bend over." Slowly, he does, "Put your hands behind your back." He does that too, looking a bit awkward in that reversed L with no support. "Stay just like that." I go find my back pack and some twine. He whimpers slightly as I tie his wrists. "You ok?" I ask but he just nods.

I hold his face so that he has to look me in the eye. He has a kinda glazed over look. "You have ta tell me when you reach the line Alex, ok? If you let me hurt you again, I'm never gonna do this again, ok?"

"Yes-yes, Sir." He's panting.

I rummage through my pack and find the three things I brought in case I went through with this plan. One is a trial size tube of strawberry flavored lube that came in a box of condoms - I brought the condoms as well.

The other is a plastic paddle from a game we used to have. It's very light and hollow so it can't do much damage but it makes an incredibly loud sound. The back is smooth plastic; the front is slightly padded and covered with the teeth side of Velcro. We used to have a set of fabric covered balls to go with it but Beth and I lost them years ago. I found the paddle by chance and thought it might suit Alex.

I tighten the towel around my waist and remove the one around Alex's. He's shaking slightly as I stroke his backside with the plastic. I pop him sharply and hear his corresponding intake of breath. I pop him again. "Two for calling me 'dude'."

"Thank you, Sir." He sighs.

"Which do you like more?" I ask and pop him once each with both sides of the paddle.

"Oh sh-sh-shhhh…" He hisses, "The second one." The teeth side.

"So this," I pop him again, "makes you happy?"

"Oh fu-uh-uh." He catches his breath and his language, "Oh, yes Sir."

I hit him again; he groans. "Very good. Tell me the rules. I'll give you one for every rule you get right."

"Yeah, ok." He's panting. "No running, no jumping, no swimming." I give him three quick ones and he whimpers, "No swearing." I pop him again. "Full disclosure." I pop him twice for that.

"Oh god." He moans, "Thank you."

"What else?" I slide the Velcro over him letting it scratch him softly.

"Uh-uh-uh." His knees buckle but he catches himself, "No cumin' les'n you say so." I swat him twice again.

"Oh, god. Please say so." He begs.

"What else?"

He pants for a moment then moans, "Oh god, I donno. I'm sorry, sir. That's all, I thought."

"What's my name?"

"Peter!" He swallows hard, "'Peter' in public, 'Sir' when it's just us. Sir."

I swat him as hard as the paddle will allow and he moans. I untie his hands, "You can stretch if you need to."

He practically collapses onto his knees. His whole body is shaking. I can all but see his erection throbbing against his stomach. His ass is red, but not bruised like the first time. I kneel next to him, "How was that?"

He's actually sweating, "That rocked!" he gasps, "Oh, shi-uh…' he shakes his head, "Sir. Please. Don't stop yet."

I watch his face as I reach out and stroke his butt softly. His eyes fall shut and he moans. Then I reach between his legs and squeeze his balls firmly. He gasps, growls and cums all over his own chest.

"Oh god! Oh fuck!" he groans.

I think I'm willing to let that one go.

Slowly he works through it and after a couple minutes sits next to me with a satisfied sigh. His eyes have a kinda shine to them as he smiles shyly at me. Alex, bashful. It's a scary thought.

He glances me over and looks a bit confused. "That didn't get to you?"

"I keep telling you - I'm not into pain."

"Right, right. You like that slow, soft shit." He shakes his head, "Stuff. Sorry."

I let it go; it's gonna take him a while to get used to that rule. "Aw come on, you'd take slow an' soft over no sex anyday an' you know it."

"Dude - Peter - it is so much better - for me, ok? - it is so much better with even just a little sting, I can't tell you." He looks away then looks back with that helpless puppy dog look, "Thank you, Sir."

"Merry Christmas."

He laugh, "Du - Sir, your gift is nowhere near as cool."

"My gift is not…." I stop before I say what I was thinking. The last few months have been more stress than I though I could stand. He puts his hand on my shoulder and doesn't say a word. After a few minutes, he moves behind me and starts rubbing my shoulders. Then I feel his lips softly brush the back of my neck. I shiver. I'm beginning to see why so many girls say 'yes' to him. I'm having a hard time saying 'no' myself. He slowly reaches his hands around and caresses my chest, tweaking my nipples. I can't remember anyone ever doing that before but it's definitely worth doing again. His hands seem to be searching and he chuckles in my ear.

"Totally more fun with uh girl. You kinda flat."

"Hey, man boobs are not cool."

"Yeah, but chick boobs totally are."

We laugh and sit quietly for a while, my head on his chest, his arms around me.

"So I guess we're whatchacallit, bi?" he says after a bit.

I shrug. "I donno. You the only guy I've ever looked twice at."

"What, you been checking me out?"

"No. Not deliberately. But I see you a lot an' you do wear them tight football pants."

"Yeah. Hey; I get a better view anyway."

"What?"

"Swim team. You in them green-n-gold Speedos." I groan remembering how distressingly brief my swim trunks are - I had forgotten about them. "Oh snap!" he goes on, "That gonna be hot!"

"Alex, get a grip."

He moves around in front of me, "I'm gonna spend the whole season starin' at yo' package an' thinkin' 'bout doin' this." He opens my towel and kisses my dick.

"Alex!" I grab his shoulders even as his tongue swipes over me an' my dick stiffens in response. That got me. "Hey! This has got to remain cool, right? I mean 'gay' we could probably deal with at school but you an' me? You can not, you know, do that, right?"

"Yeah, I know." He looks annoyed, "Relax. Everything's cool."

"Ok." I let his shoulders go and put my hands behind my head. "Do it."

He goes slowly at first; licking the shaft and the head, then wrapping his lips around me and sucking hard. When he starts pumping his mouth up and down, I slip my fingers in his hair; I love Alex's hair. Soon, I'm moaning. I love bj's. I'd rather suck than fuck, I think. Alex is surprisingly good at it. I hold back to make it last as long as I can but that's not too long. When I cum, it's straight down his throat. He keeps sucking. Pretty soon I'm hard again.

He slides up me, "Peter. Do me."

"Seriously, Alex. Are you sure?"

"Don't you wanna try it?"

I'd be lying if I said I had never thought about it - but I always thought with a girl. Alex strokes his hand along my shaft, "Come on, I - I need this." He tucks his head into my shoulder, "Please." If I had any resistance, it's gone now.

"Ok." I whisper.

He rolls over on his side away from me. "I'm ready. Go ahead." He's shivering slightly. I know he must be a little scared. I am too.

"Oh, no. My way. Very slow. Very soft." He looks at me, pleading, "Don't worry; if everything I read is true, this is still gonna hurt like hell."

He looks a little dubious, "I - uh - donno. See, I kinda. Well, you know, I wanted ta know, sort uh…"

I think I know what he's trying not to say, but I'm gonna make him say it, "What?" he hems and haws a bit more, "Full disclosure, Alex."

"I've been playin' around back there." He blurts out.

"Eeewww."

"In the shower, so it's clean. Come on, I'm not that sick." I look at him and he grins, "Ok, I am but no, seriously, just like in the shower with some soap an' my finger. Just ta see what it would be like."

"And the rule?"

"Not enough ta break the rule but I'm kinda used to it. I think."

"Let's see."

I get him up on his knees and caress his ass again just to relax him. Then I get the lube and put some on my finger. His asshole is - thankfully - clean so I bit my lip and push my finger tip in. It slips in easily. When I pull it out again, it's still clean and I can't help a sigh of relief. I add a little more lube and put my finger in again. It's impossibly tight and I can't help imagining what that's gonna feel like around my dick. A thrill goes through my body and I bite back a groan. His spinster clinches around my second joint and he moans.

"Is that good or bad?" I ask him. My voice is a lot less steady than I expected it.

"Good." He whispers.

"Ok." I clear my throat, "I'm gonna try something else." I pull my finger out, add more lube and slide two fingers in. He gasps and I freeze my hand, "You cool?"

"Yeah." He pants, "yeah, do it."

I hold my hand still until his breathing normalizes then slowly twist my fingers around letting his groans and grunts guide my pace. When two fingers are sliding easily past the second knuckle, I add a third. Alex's groans become sharper and I slow down to let him adjust. "Is that good or bad?"

"Good." He sounds like he's close to tears, "Oh god, it's so good. Push harder." I shove my fingers all the way in and he jumps, nearly pulling them all the way out again. "Oh, Christ!" he all but screams and pushes back against my hand. I can feel his ass contracting against my fingers the way a girl's pussy would. In an voice that sounds almost wretched from him, he begs, "May I cum, Sir?"

"Now?" I don't know what I expected. I really sort of wanted to try…it. "No."

He gasps, pants, and tries to pull back, "Oh god…ok…oh…shi-uh…ok. I'm-I'm ready, Sir." I shove my hand in hard again and he wails, "Stop! Stop! I can't! I can't!" He's shaking, "It's too much, I wanna cum. I'm gonna cum so hard. Oh shit! Peter, please." He begs.

I suddenly realize I wanna fuck him. I wanna fuck him hard. I wanna cum inside him so deep we can't tell if it's me or him that shoots out. I pull my hand out and struggle to rip open one of the condoms. My hands are shaking but I finally get one on. I squeeze the last of the lube out and cover the head of my dick. Then I use both hands to hold Alex's butt cheeks wide open.

It's even tighter than I expected. My own blood pumping all but drowns out my hearing but I distantly recognize Alex crying out. I can't tell if it's pain or pleasure but I kinda think it's both. It mostly pleasure for me. As he stretches and I push slowly deeper it becomes all pleasure. I find myself reaching around him and holding him to me. For a moment, Alex and I are one. "Oh god," I whisper, "Thank you." I don't know if Alex heard me or not but he pulls my hand to his dick and we both slowly pump him manually while I drill his ass. Every few minutes he stops my hand and squeezes hard. I think it's to stop from exploding because the pauses become more frequent. Soon, it's every stroke.

Finally, it's down to half a stroke, "Peter, if-n you don' fuckin' le'me cum, Ima cum anyhow!"

"Oh, shit!" I groan, "Yeah, let's do this." I pull back from him - not out, just up on my knees behind him - grab his hips and start pounding him. It feels good. It feels better than almost anything I've ever felt. Better than any girl - except Trina. "Oh, Christ almighty." The idea of Alex and Trina and me together - impaled on each other, bonded, cumming - does it. A jolt of electricity spikes me and I lose control of my body for a moment. I can feel jizz blasting out of me and Alex jerking underneath me.

We both collapse, panting and moaning like….

Like we did on the shore after I pulled him out. The image over lays the real moment and I grab him, turn him to face me and hold him tightly, "Oh, god," I'm moaning and crying but I don't know why, "Alex."

He slips his arms around me and comforts me. I wake later to find our arms still around each other and a static sound in the air. Then a distant voice.

"God damn it, Sunrise, come in. Do you read?"

I shove Alex and run for the radio. As soon as I hit the deck I feel the cold damp air and swear. I get the mike and clear my throat before I open it, "This is the Sunrise. Come back." Alex appears in the doorway - with my underwear and pants. He's wearing his. I take them gratefully as I hear the last thing I want over the radio.

"Sunrise, this is the Davidson dock house. I trust you all have been watching the weather. Come back."

Alex swears and I realize that the mist I had generally ignored in my rush for the radio is a deep fog. "Uh, it's uh, foggy, Davidson. Come back."

There's a pause before the voice comes back, "Sunrise, have you been above or below deck fo' the last hour or so? Come back."

Alex and I exchange guilty looks that grow into sheepish grins, "Uh, below, sir."

Another voice comes back, "I want my boat back in my dock in one hour." Uncle Ed's voice is livid even over the static of the airwaves, "Or Ima come out and tow you in. Do you read?"

"Yes, Sir. One hour, Sir." I look at Alex say "Sorry." Then into the mike, "We'll forfeit both bets, Sir."

"Damn straight you will, Sunrise."

"One hour, Davidson dock house. Sunrise out." I put the radio down and check the instruments. It's not as if we can truly get lost in the Creek, but I start up the engine and follow the shore line as close as I can. Alex brings up the rest of our clothes and my nearly dry coat.

"I'll clean below." He pauses at the door and looks at me. "That was…" he shrugs and shakes his head.

"Uncle Ed's gonna kill us so I hope it was worth it."

He comes back to me, holds my face in his hands and kisses me hard, "My whole life was worth it."

For once, I know exactly how he feels.

Go to Chapter: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

Chapter 14: Alex

I hate Essex.

I gotta admit it - Northumberland is not a great football school. We usually finish 6-and-6 or there'bout but we have finished 0-and-12 - more than once, sadly. We've had a couple really good players - like Uncle Charles - but we only ever made it to the state finals once an' even then we lost.

Essex goes every god damn year.

Our last game of the season this year is December 23rd and it's against Essex. We're hoping to finish this season 7-and-5; they're playing for home field advantage in Game One.

Right before the half, I break the wrist of their number two running back. I maybe a shit, but right now, Ima happy shit.

It's a close game - hell, it's the best we've played all season. By the two-minute warning, we have a chance to take it - we're trailing by one. Fuckin' one. I grab a bottle of water and push my way to Faroud. He's stretching.

"Can you do this?" I ask.

He looks at me, then at the field. He's doing the math, same as me. He shakes his head. "Not from the fifty. Inside the forty, yeah, but not where we are. Not for sure."

"If I get you inside the forty, you can do this?"

He stares at the field like it can tell him something, and nods slowly, "Yeah. Inside the forty, I'm good. Inside the thirty, I'm golden."

I swallow hard and think fast. How bad do I want ta win this game.

Damn bad.

"Ok, I'm gonna get you inside the forty." I pause and take a breath, "You make that kick, an' my ass is yours."

"What?"

"We win this an' you can fuck me."

"You get me inside the 30, I'll bring the lube and you can fuck me." He puts his arm out an' I meet it - more than a shake, less than a hug. I run back out on the field.

I have one minute and 35 second to get Faroud twenty yards down field. I have to get that ball before the guy in front of me does. Watch the ball. Watch the guy. The first two downs, we hold them at the line of scrimmage. Third down, they put it in the air and I grab it.

And make it to the 26. We have fifty-six seconds on the clock as the defensive line hits the bench and special teams goes on to the field. I've seen Faroud do this a hundred times. He looks like a dancer, graceful, sleek, and elegant in profile as the ball aches through the goalposts. You can barely hear the final whistle in all the crowd noise. We didn't make the playoffs - but at least we beat Essex. I can live with that.

The celebration after the game is unreal - considering that there's no beer. Only Peter, Granddad an' Uncle Charles braved the cold to sit through the whole game but Granddad taped it so my interception and Faroud's kick will be replayed uh bazillion times between now an' the super bowl. Faroud got MVP for the game. As the team piles into the shower, I pull Faroud into the alcove.

An' kiss him hard.

"I gotta talk to…" I hesitate.

"To your boyfriend, right."

Close enough, "Yeah, right. But if he's cool…"

"I didn't think you were serious, anyway. The kiss is enough." He smiles.

"Yeah, but I wanna so just chill."

"When?" He can barely breathe.

"Next week. I think. After New Years. I'll call you." I let him go and hurry into the locker room. Oddly, I'm not hard after all that. I'm kinda surprised by 'cause Faroud's pretty good lookin' and the last time we kissed was pretty hot. This time was still ok, but, I don't know - something seemed missing.

I shower, dress and head out of the locker room. Peter and Michelle meet me at the door. We go to a party at Evans' house. His parents are pretty cool - they provide beer an' wine coolers. I spend half the night - with permission - kissing everything in a skirt.

It's kinda cool. Every time I start to go further than Peter wants me to, I stop 'cause I know there's something better at home if I can wait for it. It's not that the girls aren't hot or that I don't want to do 'em - 'cause I would happily do any of them - but more like I can see the end zone past them. This is good, but that is better. I don't know if that's what Peter was trying to teach me but that's the fastest fuckin' lesson about patience I ever got.

When Peter an' Michelle are ready to go, though, I'm pretty close to my limit. When I wouldn't let Leigh unzip my pants, she sat in my lap, kissed me hard and dug her nails into my ass. Peter has to call me twice before I can think, "Leigh, babe, I gotta go."

"Awww…"

I can just imagine what goin' all the way with her will be like - her nails leaving claw marks all over my body. I can't breath. "I'll call you. Tomorrow. I swear." I'm still kissing her as I lift her off me and stand.

She runs her nails down my arms, "You'd better."

I start to wonder if maybe this wouldn't be worth breaking a rule. Then I remember I've already broken a rule tonight; she's not gonna be worth breakin' two.

I wait until after he's dropped off Michelle. They talk for a long time on her front step before he kisses her good night.

"You got a thing goin' with Michelle?" I ask as he starts the car.

"I don't know yet. Kinda." He glances at me, "Why? Jealous?"

"No. She's cool an' all but I don't know," I shrug, "she not…"

"Violent enough?" he offers.

"No. Well, maybe. Shit, I don't know. That's your fuckin' job." I smile thinking about Leigh, "I think Leigh dug her nails into my ass so hard she drew blood."

"Ah, that's what happened."

"What?"

"You were working your way through the room, got to Leigh an' stopped. I just wondered why."

"Yeah, I almost broke a rule." I frown. I might as well tell him now. "Actually, I kinda did break a rule. Sir."

He pulls over almost immediately. He flips on the dome light and looks at me. "All of it." He snaps. I look at the stick shift but he snaps again, "Hey, eyes front."

I look at him and swallow hard, "I told Faroud that if-n he made that field goal, he could fuck me."

He's silent for a long minute. Then he opens his mouth but doesn't say anything. "Why did you do that?" He gets out on his second attempt.

"I wanted to win. I donno; I though maybe it'd give him some incentive."

"What did he say?"

"He said…, well, see at the two-minute, I ask him if he could make the kick from the fifty and he said no but if he was down under the forty, he could probably hit it. So, I said that if I got him down under the forty and he made the kick, my ass was his."

"And he agreed."

"He said if I got him under the thirty, he'd bring the lube, an' I could fuck him."

"So, you promptly get an interception and get down to the 25." The 26 but I don't correct him. He turns out the light and restarts the car.

"I told him afterward, that I had to tell you first."

"What?" He slams on the breaks. The car lurches to a sudden stop - I'm just glad there's no traffic at this hour.

"Not 'you' you, dude! Sir. Shit! I started to tell him that I had to talk to someone else and he said 'boyfriend' an' I just went with it. He thinks I'm seeing someone else and that it's not gonna happen. Shit, dude - Sir - he didn't think I was serious in the first place."

"Were you?"

I hesitate then come clean, "Yeah." I kinda laugh, "I really wanted ta win today."

He starts driving again but doesn't say anything. 'Oh shit', I think, 'I really screwed up this time.' "Sir, I can tell him no, that I can't do it. He'll under-"

"Alex. Shut up."

We drive in silence to my house. He stops in the driveway, out of sight of the house. "Ok."

"What?"

"Ok. You can do this."

"Really?" There's a catch. There has to be a catch. "Rules? Yeah, ok." I focus - if there are rules, I wanna get this right, "Yes, Sir, what are the rules?"

He smiles that thin smile he gets when he's about ta do something that I'm gonna remember for a month. "You're taking him on a date."

"What?"

"Yeah. I mean, you don't have to look like it's a date but you're takin' him to a public place, you're paying for the movie an' dinner and you don't get to do him."

"What if he wants it?"

"Bottom only." He shrugs, "If he wants to, he can blow you. He gets ta use you like a blow up doll but you just take it. You call me when you get home and you tell me every detail. I want to know how many strokes it takes ta get him off and just how close you came - but you can't cum 'til you get home and I say you can."

"Peter, what if I can't, you know, hold it?"

"Then you just have to see what happens if-n you break a rule again."

"Fuck."

"Blow me."

"What?"

"You heard me. I'm pissed off an' frustrated. Blow me."

My heart's pounding. I could simply tell him ta go fuck himself, get out of the car and go home. But if he really gets angry, he might…I don't know what he might do but I won't like it. I lean forward. "I can't even get my head past the wheel." He reaches down and pushes the seat back. Now there's plenty of space.

I unzip his pants and pull him out. He's already hard and dripping; it take like two minutes after I wrap my mouth around him for him to shot off. This time I was almost ready for him so I don't choke on it. I start to pull back but he holds my head down, slides one hand down the back of my pants and sticks a finger in my ass. I groan and shake. He drills me for a couple minutes then pulls his finger out and scratches my ass.

"Harder." I whisper. He digs in deep and I gasp as pain and pleasure both wash over me.

"Is this what Leigh was doing to you?"

"Kinda." I push back against his hand.

He lets me go. "Then make sure that Faroud doesn't do it. You likely ta break uh rule."

He starts the car and lets me off at the front door. I get out, damn near dizzy. He pulls off and I need more than a minute to pull myself together and go in the house. I get up stairs and into the bathroom before I lose it. He does less and makes me cum harder than I thought possible.

There is something wrong with me. There is something totally fucked up wrong with me.

I shower - I'm in there anyway - an' get ready for bed. Before I turn in though, I call Peter.

"You ok?" he asks as soon as he picks up.

"Yeah, shit, dude. I was just callin' ta tell you I broke a rule again. Hell, I barely made it inta the house."

"Oh." He sounds a little odd, "It's ok." We're both silent for a minute. Then he clears his throat, "Look, uh, Alex, I'm sorry. I got a little, I don't know, carried away an'…."

I see where this is going and cut him off, "Did I say 'peanut butter'?"

"What? Oh. No. No, you didn't."

"I wanna do it with Faroud 'cause I wanna know if it's guys or just you. An' then I wanna do it with Leigh ta see if it's pain or if it's just you. An' once I know it's just you, you can do whatever you want to me."

"Oh God." He's silent then he hangs up. I think I scared him. I know I scared myself.

I go to sleep and dream about being tied down and bitten. I wake up to a raging boner and wet sheets. I call Faroud.

"Hello?" He sounds like I woke him.

"I'm free."

"Who is this?"

"McElroy."

"You broke up with him?" He sounds awake now.

"No. I just kinda got permission for a one-time thing. So, where you wanna go for dinner an' like can we go back ta your house after or do we need ta try an' get a hotel room or something."

"Oh." He's dead silent.

"Was this a bad time ta call?"

"No. I just, uh, I've only ever, uh, can we, uh, talk about this?"

"What up?"

"Ok, Alex, I've never, you know, all the way."

I'm about to be Faroud's first. "It's cool. You know whatever. I, uh, you know, received but I've never kinda-" The analogy seems to fail mid-way, "passed. If that makes any sense."

"Yeah, I see. Defense but not offence."

"Yeah." Peter certainly offended my ass nicely but I don't say that. "So, where do you usually go?"

"Back behind the rec center."

"Ugh. I know uh better place than that but we need a car ta get there."

"I got a car. Well, I can use it anyhow." He pauses. "How 'bout Wednesday?"

I think for a minute; all the family parties an' stuff should be done by then. "Ok. I'll meet you at the Duplex. 6 o'clock?"

"The Duplex?"

"Yeah, I figure we could catch a movie."

He's silent for a minute, "What's playin'?"

I can't help grinnin', "Like I give a fuck. I never watch the movie anyway."

"Oh." I think he knows what I mean, "Hey, call me if you change yo' mind."

"Dude. Call me if-n you chicken out." I hang up and call Peter. I tell him all the whole conversation and all the arrangements. Then I take a deep breath, "Ok, so what are we doin' today?"

"Grandma wants the attic cleaned out before she has to put away all the decorations an' stuff. So we're gonna clean the attic or basement for everybody today, tomorrow, all week."

"Oh…" I catch myself before I say 'fuck' and grunt instead. It's really hard but I manage to squeeze out "Yes, sir."

"I'll be by 'round ten." He hangs up.

I get dressed and go grab breakfast. Mom's in the kitchen sipping coffee and looks shocked to see me. "You're off from school and up at this hour?"

"Peter an' me gonna clean out Aunt Rachael's attic today."

"Rachael doesn't have an attic."

I shrug then smile. Peter must be planning to fuck me again. "I thought he said we was gonna clean his grandma attic. Guess I mis-heard him."

She shrugs then nods, "Oh, of course. Aunt Claudia. I haven't seen her in a while. Give her my love. You want some breakfast, sweetheart?" Which is a giant duh since I'm rummaging through the fridge.

She cooks for me an' we talk about nothing. My mom's pretty ok, actually. She doesn't freak out about a lot of stuff but she's not one of those who's so busy tryin' ta be my friend that she stops bein' my mom. She still cooks for me an' laundry an' stuff like that. But she really listens when I talk about school or whatever. Like my opinion means something to her.

"You're pretty cool." I tell her when she puts the plate in front of me.

"And what brought that on?"

"I donno." I should be nicer to her. "I'm uh real shit as far as kids go, but you like me anyway." She smiles at me in that 'she's gonna start cooing' way. "Mom…" It's too late; she hugs me and plants a big wet kiss on my forehead.

She finally sits down again and grins at me across the table. She has no idea what a fucked up little shit I am. "Mom." She should know what a fucked up little shit I am, "Mom, I'm sorry."

"For what?"

"For not bein', you know, good."

She tilts her head. "That's an odd statement."

"Yeah." But it was better than 'mom I'm a fucked up little shit' so I'm not sure what to say next. "Mom, I…" I hesitate 'cause I don't honestly know what to say.

"Alex, wait. Let me tell you something first." She sips her coffee. "There are some things a mother doesn't want to know about her children - some things she should not know. I know you're not perfect, Alex, but I don't expect you to be. You were so sick when you got here, I was afraid I wouldn't be able to keep you. So every day you wake up is good enough for me. You don't need to do anything else."

"Mom, you don't know what a fucked up little shit I am."

"Alex, I don't want to know what a fucked up little shit you are. Are you doing anything actually evil - stealing, rape, murder?"

"No!" I'm not that big a shit.

"Are you drinking? Doing drugs?"

I look away, "Couple beers when I can get 'em. I quit smokin'."

"For which I am grateful. I was beginning to have trouble hiding it from your grandfather."

She got me with that. "You knew?"

"Just because I don't call you on everything, doesn't mean I don't know anything." She gets up and refills her coffee, "You're my baby boy, Alex." She kisses my forehead again, "You're good enough for me. Ok?"

My mom's pretty damn cool, "Ok. I'll get the dishes when I'm done."

She looks surprised again, "Thanks." She's still smiling as she leaves the kitchen.

The next couple days with Peter are almost normal. We clean four attics and two basements for our grandparents, parents and Uncle Edward. It's hard work but not harder than workin' the commercial dock so I'm not complaining too much. 'Sides, doin' this, Grandma cooks for us an' Aunt April makes Jean an' Joan come help out - we actually do more hangin' out than workin' so it's cool.

Wednesday after we finish, Peter drops me off. He's damn excited. "It just occurred to me this morning. I have never been on a date without you."

"Yeah? Well, don't do anything ta Michelle that I would do."

He's still laughing as he pulls away.

I shower, change clothes an' harass my sister Gracie into drivin' me into town.

Faroud is waiting a couple feet from the theatre. I act like I didn't expect to see him and get Gracie to let me out. I wait til she pulls off, check that the coast is clear an' kiss him lightly, "Come on. What's playin'?"

We pick a movie - an' I get the tickets. Then I insist on gettin' 'good' seats first an' makin' him hold them while I go get popcorn. It's actually kinda fun making it a date without looking like 'A Date'. This is a good night at the theater too 'cause damn near everybody is stuck at home doin' family shit. Faroud an' I are practically alone. Which is good, 'cause I start movin' on him as soon as the lights go out. The same stuff that works on girls works on him - kissin' the back of his neck, slidin' my hand under his shirt. By the time I push my hand inside his pants, he's rock hard and throbbing.

"Oh jeez, McElroy, you're so hot." He pants in my ear, "I've wanted you since I saw you at the tryouts."

"Yeah?" I wanna take him now. I move the arm of the seat beside him and push him down, pinning him under me. "You wanna fuck my ass, Faroud? You gonna fuck me hard?"

He's gasping too hard to answer. My heart rate starts creepin' up as I start really getting' into this. I stare down at him - pinned, helpless, waiting. A victim. Which makes me some kind of attacker. Peter said I need control. I let him up. I'm panting - I still wanna take him hard.

"McElroy?"

"Movie's gonna end soon." I say dropping my arm around him and pulling him in close. He pushes back. When the lights come up we're not touching. "Come on." I don't wait for him, just head out and down to the other end of the plaza to the Denny's. He catches up to me and yanks me to a stop.

"What the hell is you're problem, McElroy? If this is some kind of joke, it's not funny."

I start to tell him to fuck off but I know Peter would smack me - which makes me grin, but I know he wouldn't mean it in a good way. "I don't wanna fuck you in the back of a movie theater. I mean the back seat of a car isn't much better but at least it'll be private."

"Oh jeez." He swallows hard, "Why are you doing this ta me?"

"Doin' what?"

"Look, I know you're not gay. So why are you doing this?"

I think for a minute. I can't tell him the truth but I can see why he's worried. I'm a shit, yeah, but there are worse people than me in the world. "Ok, truth. I'm not gay but I am kinda seein' a guy. You remember the first time we kissed an' you said you not cool with pain?" He nods. "Well, I kinda am. An' sometimes I get kinda carried away. I don't wanna hurt you." I grin again, "Actually, I wanna tie you down an' hurt you bad but I know you wouldn't like it near as much as I would so I'm not gonna do that to you." I can see in his face that he doesn't know what to make of any of this. "Look, I just figured, you know, we could try this an' see what happens, right?"

He stares at me for a minute then shakes his head. "I don't know what I'm gonna do about you." He starts walking toward the restaurant again. I watch him for a couple minutes before I catch up and give his ass a squeeze that makes him jump.

We eat - I don't give a fuck what - and he talks. He's a senior so I let him go on and on about where he's applying or whatever. All I can think of is his mouth on my dick and his dick pounding my ass. When the waitress comes and asks us if we want anything else, I cut her off and ask for the check then pay it without even seeing it. Faroud looks a little stunned. Sometimes I forget I'm a rich kid.

I direct him to Peter an' my spot on the Wicomico, telling him that it's private property so he can't bring anyone else out there. The moon's out and full and reflecting off the water. It's about as romantic as settings get.

"McElroy," his voice catches. He's even beginning to sound like a girl to me, "It's beautiful out here."

"Told you it was better than the rec center, Malik."

He turns to me. It's that magic moment. "McElroy…" he whispers.

"Alex." I say just before I pull in an' kiss him. I fairly drag him back to his car an' fight to get the back door open an' us inside without letting go of his lips. Our coats wind up in the front seat along with our shirts. I didn't think that him sucking my nipples would feel that good but it does and even more so when he stares in my eyes and bites them.

I resign myself that I will be breaking at least one rule tonight.

He's on top of me and when he sits up to unbutton his pants, he has me pretty well pined down in the narrow confines of the car. "Dude. You gonna make me suck that thang?" He pauses then leers.

"This ain't no garden snake. You sure you want it?"

"Oh, yeah." He opens his pants all the way and I know my shock shows. "Dude!" It looks like a third leg, thicker than me an' Peter combined and way longer.

He smiles and starts jackin' himself off just in front of my face. I have to strain my neck to reach him with my tongue. "Come on, dude."

"Yeah?" he's panting, "Seriously?" He moves a bit closer and I whip my tongue around the head. He gasps and lets me suck him down. "Oh Alex." He moans. It's hard to keep my teeth off him 'cause I can't keep my jaw stretched that wide for that long yet. When his hips start twitching, I actually choke on him. He tries to pull back but I grab his tight ass and hold him still. I'm hard an' throbbin'. I slip one finger then two into his ass and he groans. Then he starts fuckin' my mouth hard.

Suddenly he pulls back, "Oh, jeez, Alex, I'm sorry. You alright?"

I cough for a minute - I was so close. He doesn't even know how close. "Yeah" I try an' get my breath back, "Yeah, dude, you gotta do me now."

His jaw drops, "You sure?"

"Oh, shit, yeah." That thing's gonna hurt like all hell.

He leans into the front seat. I hear the glove box open and close. He brought condoms and lube. He stays on top of me and, somehow, gets both of our pants off. He squeezes some lube into his hand, reaches under my ass and slips two greased fingers into me. Even with the lube it hurts.

It feels so good, my eyes roll back into my head. He drills me with his fingers for a while which is awesome. Then he lifts my hips and places the head of his dick against my asshole.

"Fast or slow?" he whispers.

"Oh fuck!" is all I can get out. He goes slow. It's excruciating. It's ecstatic.

It's not just Peter.

Faroud kisses me hard, driving his tongue practically down my throat. As I kiss him back I realize that he's hilt deep in me. My dick is in-between us and throbbing. I wiggle my ass in part to feel the twinge of pain as he rips me in half and in part to feel my boner twitch. He pulls back, "Ready?" I can only groan again.

He pulls almost out and slides in again. This time he grabs my dick and strokes it while he goes in. He does that twice more. Then I blow. While I'm shakin' and cryin' like I'm bein' electrocuted, he cums too. He collapse on top of me and holds me tight. We lie there sweating and twitching and trying ta breathe. He pulls outta me and I feel like I just dropped a log.

My asshole aches. If I had any strength, I'd cum again from that thought alone.

Go to Chapter: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

Chapter 15: Peter

Valentine's Day falls on a Saturday. I actually beg - first my Dad, then my Mom. I even ask Granddad to back me up. He laughed and stayed out of it. Alex begged Uncle George and Aunt Stacy and finally, a week before, our parents give in.

"Alright! Alright! Enough!! Yes, you can get a room!"

"Yes!" Alex and I high five.

"On the condition that Beth stays with you." Dad adds.

"What?" Alex and I are dumbfounded at the same time Beth is stunned.

"Really?" she launches at Dad, "Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you!" she actually covers him with kisses then sprints for the stairs, "I have got to call…." Her bedroom door slams shut.

"Dad…"

"Hey," Dad cuts me off, "You want a hotel room after the dance, you take your sister with you. End of deal."

I think for a minute. We won't be the only people who manage to get a room at the hotel; odds are, I can pawn Beth off on to someone else for a while and Alex, Leigh, Michelle and I can have the room to ourselves. "Ok." I say before he can change his mind.

The rest of the week is spent in anxious anticipation of the Sweetheart Dance. Happily, it's the biggest stress I've got right now.

Alex hasn't been a big deal thanks largely to the fact that Leigh likes being spanked almost as much as he does. Alex is permanently attached to the Ballroom dance team because he can actually play Spanish guitar so they get extra points during competitions for having a live musician. Leigh joined the team so now the two of them salsa a lot. They've been going steady for almost two months and it's taken most of the weirdness out of my life. Alex still obeys the rules but we don't fool around 'cause he has Leigh.

And I have Michelle.

I know I'm too young, but I think I've fallen in love with Michelle. I can't wait to see her every day. I don't even want to have sex with her - I mean I do want to, but it's not only that I want to - I want to be with her, talk to her, see her. Swim team at the rec center takes up most of my after school time - most days either at the pool or the gym but as soon as I can, I call her. We spend as much time together as possible.

Swimming is going well, so far. I'm taller now than last year and wider. But I managed to shave almost a minute off my 400-meter and my 1,500-meter time so now I hold both rec center and county records. I'm still a few tenths shy of the a State record but I still have high hopes of breaking at least one this year. The coach is pushing me to compete out-of-state a lot this year and to try a couple Open Water competitions. He thinks my times are Olympic level. I guess I have Alex to thank for that. I've always gotten up early for a 5k swim before school in the Cockerell but ever since I pulled him out, I've been pushing myself to swim further and faster. Beth joined the girls team at school this year and so far, she's doing ok - BB-level, though, so I tease her about being slow since I'm AAA. She does open water with me in the mornings now.

Life, for once, is pretty good.

The Sweetheart Dance is one of the four big annual dances our high school always has. I mean, we have a lot of dances but this one's a big deal. I rent a tux. Alex and I plan to take Leigh, Michelle and Beth to dinner at the best restaurant in town first. Beth doesn't have a date - she and geek boy broke up shortly after the last dance and she hasn't dated much since.

When she comes downstairs, ready to leave I can't begin to imagine why. She's wearing pink - a popular color tonight - but with her hair curled and the long gloves she looks like Selma Hayek in her heyday. I have to face the uncomfortable truth - my sister is hot. She's curvy not skinny but not an ounce of it is excess body fat. The dress hugs her like a second skin leaving me to wonder if she's wearing anything under it and promising good things to anyone who finds out.

"What you think?" She asks, turning slowly in front of me.

I think the boys in my school are all either stupid, blind or fags but I'm not gonna say that. "Pretty dress. You still cross-eyed."

She rolls her eyes, "Mom!" she looks in the mirror anyway, "I am not."

Mom sooths Beth and admonishes me, and I relax a bit, secure in the knowledge that teasing my sister is still more fun than checkin' out her ass. Which is perfect.

Dad stands next to me, "You'll keep an eye on her?" he says quietly.

"Every god damn minute."

He glances at me, "Actually, you lookin' pretty sharp too."

"Thanks."

"Say Hi ta Michelle for me."

"I will."

"An' you make me uh grandfather, Ima sign yo' trust fund ova' to her, hear?"

"Loud and clear, sir." That is not an idle threat; it's a clause in the family trust account. "Condoms are your friend." He nods and goes back into the den.

Mom primps Beth for a while longer then fusses with my tie and tells me how to handle the girls that will swarm all over me. There's something wonderful about having your Mom fuss over you. Eventually, however, Beth and I manage to get out the door and pick up Alex. I drop off our bags at the motel and get the room key. Then we pick up Leigh and Michelle and go to dinner.

Michelle was ready and waiting by her door when I got to her place so it's a true revelation when I take her coat at the restaurant and see her encased in black and red satin. It's a little tighter than might be best for her full figure but her cleavage is staggering so I'm not complaining.

"No comments?" she says when she gets tired of my staring at her.

"No breath to comment with." I manage, "That's stunning. Wow."

She smiles and sits. I razz Alex about wearing a suit that matches Leigh's dress but since the Ballroom Dancers are supposed to do a number tonight, he didn't have much choice. Dinner is excellent and Alex, Beth and I get to show off a bit since Davidson Fishery supplies the 'catch of the day'. When the manager finds out who we are, he and the chief come out to speak to us and comp our meal - which was great.

The school gym is packed when we get there. Alex and Leigh grab his guitar and head in one direction while I escort Michelle and Beth into the dance. We snag a table and I get three cups of punch. It's a dance and eventually dance things happen. Someone finally wakes up and sees Beth and once she's out on the dance floor, I have a hard time keeping an eye on her.

I'm not trying too hard as I'd just as soon be back in the car makin' out with Michelle. She's distracted tonight, however, and I keep seeing her looking past me for something. "Everything ok?" I ask her finally.

"Hmmm? Oh. Fine." She smiles at me then pulls me out on the dance floor. I can dance. I mean, really dance. The only way a white boy like me goes out with as many black girls as I do is 'cause I can dance and I can fuck.

Which is what I'm thinking when I see Trina walk in on Jamal's arm. Jamal, the tall undeniably handsome bro' that is the starting center for Essex's championship basketball team. 'Bet he can't make her scream.' The thought doesn't particularly console me but seeing Michelle's eyes narrow at me does. I can't help but grin. I pull her over and kiss her softly. "Have I told you, you look awesome tonight?"

"You best keep yo' eyes on the prize." She snaps.

"Why don't we go somewhere an' I'll show you how good you look."

"Why don't you just keep dancing."

Shortly thereafter, the music stops and Alex comes out on the stage. He plays for about five minutes - which leaves no room for doubt that he know what he's doing - then two dancers come out and cha-cha or tango or something Latin and sexy and I gotta admit that I'm shocked that they let high school students do that in public places.

I lean over to Michelle, "Let's take up Latin dance." She rolls her eyes. She does not smile coyly which is what I expected. I move closer to her, "Are you gonna tell me what's wrong or Ima have ta spend the night playin' twenty questions?"

"God!" she huffs, "You are such a drag! Nothin' wrong." The dancing continues and Alex and Leigh join the dancers on the stage.

People applaud around us. I applaud because they applaud, but really I'm trying to figure out what's up with Michelle. Alex and Leigh join us as at the table as does Beth and some guy I don't recognize. He's holding her hand but that stops when he sees me glaring at him. I go back to thinking about Michelle. She's been a bit distant all week but I hadn't really put much stock in it - I've been busy, she's been busy, it's not that big a deal.

Suddenly there's more applause and a spotlight on our table. I realize that everyone is looking at me. Alex tilts his head at the stage and bit confused, I stand up.

"Ladies and gentleman, our Prince of Hearts." Says Ms. Karas, the school counselor, "Come on up, Peter, don't be shy."

I half smile on my way up to the stage - shy is not one of those things I'm often accused of. When I get on stage, she reads the winner of the 'King of Hearts', Shawn Evans, quarterback extraordinaire. There are a few whistles as he joins me on stage. Ms. Karas makes a production out of presenting us with crowns, scepters and sashes. Then she announces the Princess of Hearts - my next dance partner.

Trina.

Trina of the red silk. Trina shining star of my night. I get a boner watching her walk up the stairs to get her crown. For a moment her back's to me and I see that her dress is backless to the waist. One dance. No touching, no flirting, no looking, I tell myself. Think of Michelle. I look away from Trina and find Michelle in the crowd. Alex has his head buried in Leigh's shoulder - no doubt laughing - but Michelle looks pissed. If looks could kill, there wouldn't be enough left of me ta bury. Suddenly the spotlight illuminates our table again and Beth squeals. As the whole applause thing happens again, I realize that I wasn't paying attention to the Queen of Hearts announcement. Sure enough, a crown, sash and scepter are presented to Beth.

I lean over to Evans, "Hurt my baby sister an' I'll have Alex break yo' fuckin' arm." I step back and gesture him forward to collect his dance partner. Then I move forward and offer Trina my arm. She frowns - apparently she and Michelle are on the same page - then takes it. We walk down the steps as the intro to an oldie starts. Then I realize, I know this one. Mom used to play the album constantly. Michael Jackson's "Lady in my Life." I slip my arm around Trina's waist and take her hand. Moments don't get any more perfect than this.

I find myself singing the song in her ear.

"Don't start, white boy." She mutters, "You ain't Michael."

'White boy' not 'Peter'. There is still hope. I can feel her heart beat; it's faster than this slow dance would warrant.

"Does he eat you, Chocolate?" I whisper in her ear, "Does he make you scream like I do?"

"Yes, everyday." She says too quickly. Her heart beat's pounding against my chest.

"If things hadn't happened with Alex an' Lisa, would we still be together?"

"No!"

I look at her, "Why not?"

She tsk's me, "'Cause you ask too many stupid questions like that." She rolls her eyes, "I'm through."

"Yeah, but the song's not over."

"I said I'm through."

"Chocolate….please." I want to kiss her. I can't. God, please, the song's only three minutes, let me hold her for that long.

Someone must have heard me because she leans against me again and we go back to swaying to the music. I close my eyes and pretend that I'm not gonna have to let her go eventually.

My little fantasy is broken by a tap on my shoulder. Jamal. I want to punch him or at least argue. Instead, I let her go and let him cut in. I stand there for a moment then go back to my table. As I get closer, Michelle gets up, walks over to another guy, and nearly drags him to the dance floor. I give that about a minute before I walk over and give him the same look I give Alex when he takes too long to obey a direct order. It must be a good look because poor Scott just about falls trying ta get outta my way. The music changes tempo and Michelle and I dance through the next three songs, whatever anger or jealousy there was is lost in the movement. I can not be mad at her when she slithers against me like that. Dancing like this is specifically against the school's rules but the gym is packed and there is no way that Ms. Karas and the other chaperones are gonna catch every couple.

After enough of that I lead Michelle outside and in the first semi-secluded spot I find, I kiss her. She responds at first then pushes away.

"What?" I snap which may have been a little more brusque than the moment called for.

"I donno." She snaps back, "What?"

"Michelle," I nuzzle her neck, "What up? Come on."

"Stop." She shrugs away from me, "I'm not playin' wi'chu"

"What?" I let her go but I don't move away. She can move if she really wants to.

She does. "Maybe I'm just not inta royalty."

I don't believe she just said that, "Oh, come on! You can't tell me you upset about that stupid thing." I toss the crown aside. "There. Whatever."

"Maybe I'm not upset about the contest."

I think for a minute, then I get it. "Do not tell me you're jealous."

"I don't know. Should I be?"

"Michelle, come on! It was one dance." I try to pull her back but she yanks her arm away. "You know I'm not like that."

"I know you say you not like that. But if-n you gonna be all up in her, why you got ta do it in my face?"

"What? Michelle, it was one dance." I grab her and turn her to face me. "One dance. That's all."

"Why you think Jamal stepped up?" I hadn't actually thought about it. She rolls her eyes at me, "'Cause you two looked like dogs in heat. Shoudda turned the fire hose on you."

"Michelle," I can't think of anything to say to that. "I'm with you, now."

"Oh, so you were thinking of me while you were wrapped up tight around Trina?"

"Of course I was thinking about Trina!" I realize the slip when she slaps me. I don't stop her as she stomps off. I think she dislocated my jaw. I don't think it's a good idea to follow her right now; I'll find her after she's had a minute to cool off.

I wander around the building. The night is clear and cool but not cold. The moon's out and bright and there are stars. Poetry is written about nights like this. Girls get talked into their first times. Guys propose. You'd have to be a pretty big loser to be wandering around alone on a night like this. Yep; pretty big loser. I turn around and head back inside; if I hurry, maybe I can apologize to her before she goes home with someone else.

My plan is derailed when I see Shawn leading Beth out of the dance and around the far side of the building. I don't need to think about it; in that direction, I know where he's going. The locker room. I follow them. I open the door quietly - when I break his arm, I wanna tell Dad I caught him in the act.

I'm a bit surprised by the conversation.

"Beth, are you sure? Your brother's gonna kill me he finds out."

"Peter's a dick." They both giggle over the very old joke, "Come on. You got a condom?"

"Yeah. Hang on." I hear a locker open and the sounds of a man desperately searching. "Look, it's cool without one, right? Trust me, I'll pull out. I do it lots of times."

"No glove, no love." I smile. Beth's voice is flat; he's gonna have trouble if he thinks he can talk her out of that.

He must have come to the same conclusion. I hear the locker close and another open. This happens twice more then, victorious 'aha'. He laughs, "Guess who?"

"Who?"

"McElroy."

Beth giggles, "He a little slut."

"Thank him for me later."

"Make it worth my time."

I leave while they're still kissing. I don't want to hear any more than that.

Alex runs into me as I head back to the gym. Leigh is in tow. "Hey, Peter, Michelle just left."

"How?" I can't figure this one, "She came with us."

"Yeah. Well." He and Leigh exchange looks. I look at Alex. I must be getting good at this because he looks around nervously then swallows hard. "She, uh, left with Scott."

She left with Scott. She danced with Scott then she left with Scott. I bite back on what I want to say. "Perfect."

"Yeah." Alex replies. I see Leigh tug his arm and he tugs back. They're pretty anxious to find their own private spot but Alex is waiting for my ok. My rotten night is not his fault. I give him the car keys. He grins. I gesture toward the gym. "I'm gonna find a new dance partner."

"Right. Later. Thanks." He hurries toward the parking lot.

I call out after him, "Hey, Alex? Like the ad says, "No rules, just right."

He stops and even from that distance I can see him mouth 'I love you'. "No doubt!" He yells back and waves excitedly. He slaps Leigh on the ass as they speed away. I smile wanly - at least his evening won't be a loss. Beth's either. Just me.

I wander into the gym - picking up my crown as I pass it. Mom will probably bronze it. Inside it's still packed so I can probably find several dance partners if I really want to. I suddenly realize that I'm looking for Trina and not seeing either her or Jamal. Perfect.

I find a girl standing alone and ask her to dance. I don't know her but she looks the way I feel so maybe I'm a step up for her - I'm the Prince, right? She kinda plain over all and skinny but she has a nice smile when she looks as me and miles of long wavy brown satin hair. I smile when she pleads that she's not a good dancer. "We can stay right here." I'm charming. I'm handsome. She says yes. Eventually, I get her out on to the dance floor. I give her the sash by the end of the night and a kiss at the last dance. I walk her back to her friend's car. I wave goodbye as they pull off. Then I realize didn't ask her name.

Hopefully, that made her night. Hell, that probably made her year. I smile to myself as I walk back to the gym - my good deed for the year. Everybody had a good time. Alex. Leigh. Beth. Shawn. Jamal. Scott. Whatshername. Peter the good Samaritan.

Beth and Shawn are sitting on bench in front of the building. They switched sashes. Beth's hair is wrecked but it would be if she'd been dancing all night. I try and look like I don't know where they were.

"Thanks for waiting with me." She looks away from him shyly. How long has she been fooling Dad an' me with those looks?

"No doubt. I'll call you tomorrow, right?"

"Ok."

"Hey, Shawn, you uh senior, right?" I ask.

"Yeah."

"You know my sister's fifteen, right?" He goes just a touch pale, "My dad's uh lawyer and Granddad's Sheriff Boson. You heard uh 'statutory rape', right?"

"Dude, chill?" He takes a step back looking nervously between Beth and I, "I swear I didn't touch her."

"Yeah." I sneer at him - what a liar. "You tell my Dad that tomorrow when you call."

"Yeah. Whatever." He gives Beth a fleeting glance I can't quite read then all but flees for the parking lot.

Beth hits me hard, "You asshole!"

"….oww!...."

"You jerk!" she hits me again. "He's a nice guy! He's quarterback! You asshole!"

"Oww!" I try to protect myself but not too hard, "He uh lie."

"How do you know?"

"Well, first of all, I heard you two in the locker room."

Her eyes go round, "You did not!"

"Alex keeps a box of condoms in his locker and you guys had to use one 'cause you told Mr. Quarterback, 'no glove, no love'." She hides her face in her hands. I let her suffer for a minute then tug on her hand. "Come on, whatd'ya think? I'm not gonna tell Dad. I just wanted ta, you know, keep him in line. Guys lie. Believe me, I know." I mimic his voice, "Trust me, I'll pull out."

"He woulda."

I laugh, "He just told me he didn't touch you. Beth, come on, seriously, he totally woulda pulled out - after. And then promised to be there if you got pregnant." She looks like she wants to argue but can't think of any defense. "Anyway, you did it right - right? He used the condom, right?"

She rolls her eyes and blushes, "Yes, Peter."

"Then, ok."

"Ok?"

"Ok. Really." I check my watch and glance around the lot. I do not see Alex or Leigh. Or my car. I call Alex. I wait five minutes and call him again. "I'll kill him." I mutter under my breath every time his line rolls to voicemail. Finally, I sigh deeply and look at Beth. "Alex has the car. We can see if someone's left who can give us a ride, call Mom an' Dad, wait for Alex or walk."

The hotel is about a mile away - maybe a half hour walk. She looks at the sky and smiles. "Let's walk."

It's eleven pm in 'Hicksville'. There's not much traffic. We start walking. After a while, Beth takes off her high heels and walks in her stocking feet since where we are it's mostly grass not asphalt.

"Pretty night." She muses.

"Yeah." Romantic night. Night she should have a boyfriend and I should be with Michelle. Alex is a dead man.

"The dance was fun."

"Yeah." I look at her and smile, "Queen. Mom'll flip."

"Yeah."

We're both silent for a while.

"Peter?"

"Yeah?" There's not much traffic but there is some and it gets heavier as we get closer to the main drag. My concentration is split between keeping her safe and deciding what to do to Alex.

"Can I ask you somethin'?"

"Course."

"How far have you an' Michelle gone?"

I wonder if tonight was her first time. "Why?"

"Just wondered." She shrugs. "I kinda thought you'd gone, you know, all the way.

"Yeah," I admit, "we have."

"Oh." She falls silent and I realize that that wasn't her real question. I wait for her to work it out. "Do you…well, does Michelle….Do you know if…." I can see in her face she's struggling with this one.

"Maybe you should ask Mom…"

"Mom get all weird about sex. One minute she's telling me it's great and the next she's saying that I should never ever do it."

I laugh, "Yeah, I guess so. She wants you to know about it just not do it. You know, with quarterbacks."

She blushes and hits me.

"Cross-eyed."

"Asshole."

We laugh and walk on.

"They just wanna protect you. Keep us both from, you know, startin' out like they did."

"Yeah. But we're not like them. And-" she stops short.

"And?"

"And I wanna do it. I like it. I think."

"You think?" I glance at her and see the pained confusion on her face, "Either you like it or you don't." I stop walking and grab her arm. "If someone's forcing…"

"No, not that. Just…"

I wait a minute and when she doesn't speak up right away, let her go and start walking again.

"How do you know if you doin' it right?"

"Right?" I frown. I've done a lot of research - thanks to Alex. A whole lot. "Nothin's right, Beth. But then, nothin's wrong either. If everybody's -uh - you know - 'happy' in the end, it's done right."

We walk for a bit. I wonder why God made everyone come to me with their weird sex issues.

"So…?"

"Yeah?" I really, really, really don't want to have this conversation.

"When you an' Michelle, you know do it, are you always, you know," she pauses and exaggerates the word "'happy' when you're done?"

"Always." I say smiling. Then I remember that this is my sister, "But it's different with guys. That's why you can't trust us. I mean a strong breeze makes some guys 'happy', ok? Girls are different. Harder. You have ta actually try an' make her 'happy' most of the time or it don't happen."

"Does Michelle?"

I smile again, "Always. I make sure of it."

"Oh."

She thinks about that for a while before she asks her next question. "How do you know?"

"Well, for one thing, I ask her."

"Oh."

"But I can tell. I mean, I know how she does - is - how she acts when I get it right."

"Oh."

"I mean, when a guy makes you 'happy' you know right?"

"No."

"No?" We're near the plaza and the traffic's heavier. I look at her thinking she didn't hear my question but her face tells me she did, "Whatd'ya mean 'no'?"

"I mean, I can't tell."

"Beth, you can tell. Believe me, if you can't tell, you ain't done it yet."

"Oh." She looks away from me.

I can see broken glass and other debris so I make her put her shoes back on while I consider this information. "Was tonight your first time? Maybe…"

She shakes her head.

"No?" I don't really mean to sound shocked but she's my little sister. "No?"

She gives me an impatient look, "No, 'Dad', Shawn wasn't first. Garrison was. Last summer."

"Garrison? On the Pride? First mate Gar?"

She ducks her head shyly, pleased with the memory, "I worked the Pride last summer. He's a nice guy, Peter, calm down."

"He's like forty! You're fuckin' fifteen!"

She sighs, exasperated, "He's 25 and yes, he knew I was under age. That's why we didn't tell anyone."

"Oh, he is so fired." I pull out my phone but she stops me.

"Peter! Peter, please!" She looks at me, "I had a major crush on him. I came on to him - I asked him to be first. Better him than one of the assholes at school. He took his time, he wore a condom and I'm really glad it was him. Please don't tell. Please?"

I frown, shrug, and put the phone away. I am so telling Dad when we get home.

We continue to walk. "Shit!" I finally let out, "If he was gonna pop you the least he coulda done is give you one!"

"He probably did."

"No, he didn't."

"How did you know?"

"I know 'cause you don't know. If he did, you would know." The hotel's in sight and even from here, I can see my car in the lot. "If he's asleep, Ima kill him."

When we get to the door of our room, I can already hear moaning and groaning, growing louder. As I unlock the door, there's a sudden piercing scream and the sound of Alex cuming hard. Beth pushes past me into the room and flips the light switch.

Alex is tied to the headboard with his tie and her stockings. There are visible scratches on his chest and stomach. Leigh is straddling him and judging by the color of her ass, he must have spanked her for an hour before hand. She collapses on top of him, panting and groaning. Alex is sweating and swearing. It's another minute or two before either of them notices the light.

"No one ever done that." Beth breathes.

I frown at her, grab her by the wrist and throw her in the bathroom. "Stay put." I go back to the bed, ignore Leigh's shock and Alex's nonchalance, and untie him. "Take her home. Now." He starts to argue but I glare at him and he falls in line.

He pushes her off of himself - a little rougher than I'd like - and gets up. "Come on." He says tossing her dress to her. He hustles her out as soon as she's decent.

The shower's running in the bathroom. I sit down and call Michelle only to find that she's blocked my number. "Perfect." I bang the back of my head against the wall. I can't kill Alex yet, I can't yell at Beth yet and I can't argue with Michelle yet. It's official; I hate my life.

I must have dozed off while sitting there. I have the most vivid dream that I'm getting a blow job. Michelle. I reach down and run my fingers through her hair but it's too straight. I'd say it was Alex but the mouth feels wrong and his hair is shorter. Slowly I realize that I'm not dreaming. I wish I were. Whoever this is, is really good; I want to enjoy this for as long as I can. The back of my mind ponders - not Michelle, not Alex, Leigh left and the only other person here is….

I keep my eyes shut. "Beth?"

The lips stop, "Yes?"

I don't know enough swear words for this moment. "What the fuck are you doin'?"

"Why? Don't you like it?"

I open my eyes and stare at her - on her knees, wrapped in a towel, between my thighs, "Are you fuckin' high?"

"Yeah, a little." She admits. She bends her head down again but I stop her with one hand and do my best to stuff my junk out of sight with the other.

"What do you mean, 'yeah a little'?"

"I had a little weed, I smoked it."

"You had…." I can't speak. She had weed. She's as bad as Alex. She's worse than Alex - at least he was illegally obtaining legal substances. "Have you lost yo' damn mind?"

"Peter, relax."

"Relax? Relax?" These kids say the damnest things, "Relax? You havin' sex with crewmen! You doin' drugs! You want me to relax? How fuckin' high are? Do you have any clue what you doin'?"

"I'm givin' my big brother uh hummer." She says soberly.

"An' you don't think they's anythin' wrong with that?" I'm yelling - hell, I'm practically screaming.

"You could always ask me why."

I throw my hands up. How does Dad do this? "Ok. Ok. Why, Beth? Why do you have a little weed?"

"Oh." She looks surprised, "That. Don't you ever…"

"No, Beth, never. Not ever."

"Oh. Uh," she pauses, "Oh."

"When Dad finishes with you, you gonna be grounded til Hell freeze ova."

"Come on, Peter, it's not all that. I'll flush it." She gets up and the towel falls away. The pink dress is a promise fulfilled as her round hips and full breasts find her purse, pull out a joint and sway toward the bathroom. I hear the toilet flush. "There," she says leaning on the doorframe, "Happy?"

"No. But'll do as a start."

She crawls on to the bed, "I could make you 'happy'." She coos. That would have been the most amazing offer of my life if she hadn't been the one to make it. "Then you could try an' make me happy."

"Jesus." I look away from her, "Will you get dressed?"

"I want you ta be happy, Peter. Don't you want me ta be happy?"

"Yes. No. Not, like that." When did she become sexy?

"Peter-" she starts to purr but she's interrupted by the door opening and Alex entering.

He freezes when he sees her then quickly closes the door, "Holy shit."

"Alex, would you make me happy like you did Leigh?"

"Oh shit yeah." Alex would screw drywall if he found a hole big enough. The smile that crosses his face I've seen before and I didn't like it then, either.

"Alex. Stand down." I order.

He looks from her to me and back twice before he says, "Yes, Sir." And sits in the other chair. He openly leers at her from across the room.

"Beth," I say as calmly as I can manage, "Go put on your pj's. Now."

"You can't order me around like you do Alex, Peter." But she get up and goes into the bathroom anyway, "Oh, and," she leers at us from the door, "these are my pj's." When the door closes, I sigh with relief.

"Jesus Christ!" Alex nearly explodes, "What the hell was that?"

"Beth got high. Now she wants someone to - uh," I struggle to find a way to say it that doesn't make me want to hurl.

"Bang her?"

"Uh, yeah." That was not it.

"Man! Our family is way fucked up."

"No shit." I zip my fly and redo my belt.

He gasps, "No way! She didn't…"

"Tried to."

"How far'd she get?"

"I was asleep!" I snap guiltily, "I didn't know she was down there."

He laughs, "Oh shit!"

I can't control her but I can reign him in, "Enough. One more strike an' you on suspension." Meaning he can't get spanked for thirty days. It's been an amazingly effective way to control him.

"Yes, Sir." He's still grinning.

We both turn as we hear Beth throwing up. I wonder what else she ingested tonight. Alex tilts his head toward the door and I nod. He checks on her, leaving the door open. I can hear him; he can be surprisingly caring when he tries. I turn down the blankets on one of the beds and soon he carries her out.

"Sorry." She mumbles.

"It's ok." I go in and clean the mess she left - which is not bad, considering. When I come back in, I hear Alex saying 'no'.

"'Sides, much as I want to - an' oh man, I wanna - Peter would never say yeah."

"I don't want you ta do my brother. What, does he have to approve everything you do?"

"Yes." I say startling both of them, "And he's not gonna do you."

Alex gets up and pull me back to the bathroom, "Why not?" I stare at him. Even Alex isn't this stupid. "Did she tell you why?"

"She's stoned! Who cares why."

"Ok, Dude." He catches himself, "Peter. Look, she's not wasted - I've seen wasted. She had like a puff an' even that made her sick. Come on, give 'er a break. She just wanted ta, y'know, loosen up." He glances back at her then whispers, "Look, she' been with a couple guys and no one's, ummgh" he makes a sexual gesture, "hit it, right? So now she's got this idea that she can't 'cause all her friends keep goin' on about it. But she trusts us, so we do it and she can get over it, right?"

"We are not going to have sex with my sister." I hiss at him. They're both high.

"Yeah, and then she can keep tryin' with every guy in school who claims he can hit it an' either can't - or won't. An' she'll wonder every time if she didn't or can't."

It's appallingly logical. Unfortunately, Alex is right far too often when it comes to sex.

He looks at her again, "Bet none of 'em bit her."

I try to pull his head off his shoulders, "Bite my sister, Alex, an' you won't walk outta here."

"Yes, Sir." He hisses.

I let him go and try to calm down. This is very simple; I remind her that we can't do that. Tomorrow, I'll find her a website on female sexual response. She'll be fine.

"Come on, Peter, take you ten minutes. It's ain't like she ain't hot. Jesus! I just about blew when I walked through the door."

"Alex does the word 'incest' mean anything to you?"

"Yeah." He smirks, "wear two condoms."

"Shithead."

"Du-, Peter, come on. Tell me she ain't hot. Close yo eyes an' do her."

I cannot believe I am contemplating this. Alex. Alex is depraved. And I am following him, letting him lead me down the path of sin. "No one ever finds out about this, understand? Manually. Dressed. Got it?"

"Yes, Sir."

I sit down next to Beth. She's been watching us. "I get the point, Peter." She mopes, "Thanks a lot."

"Beth, you my sister…"

"It's not like I want you ta get me pregnant."

The statement turns my stomach, "Yeah, but it's still the principal, right?"

"So let Alex. What's the difference?"

"Alex is…" I frown. "Alex. Show her your chest." He opens his shirt. Most of the scratches are still open. She gasps. "Alex like to play rough. If he's not careful, you can get seriously hurt." She reaches out and runs her fingers along the marks. Then he takes his shirt all the way off and turns around. His back is covered with even deeper marks. He looks like he was mauled by a bear.

"What the hell?" I ask; I did not do that and it doesn't look like Leigh.

He grins over his shoulder, "Leigh whipped me with her hairbrush."

"And you liked that?" Beth sounds caught between revulsion and fascination.

"Oh, yeah."

"And Leigh?"

"Likes givin' more'n receivin'" He grins at me, "Bet she won't sit comfortable fo' uh week." He looks at Beth again, "Question is, what do you like?"

She looks a little green again, "Not that. So, what's with you two, anyway?"

He and I exchange looks. "Alex gets pleasure outta doing that ta people." I say.

"An' Peter enjoys stoppin' me." He finishes. She looks dubious. Alex sits next to her and gives her his 'wolf' grin, "Hey you could always try it my way."

"Alex!" I snap.

She ignores the warning, "How?"

He looks at me and I sigh. He looks back at her. "Well first," He stares into her eyes and holds her attention for almost a minute before yanking the covers off her and surprising us both. "Ima see what Ima get." His eyes don't leave her face even as his hand lightly strokes her thigh.

She casts a worried glance between us, "You won't let him hurt me, right?" She swallows hard.

"You wanna try his way?" I say trying to remain much more casual than I feel. "He will hurt you; that's kinda the point."

"Hey." He slaps her thigh sharply and I pull back as she yelps. "Ain't no need fo' you ta talk ta him." Alex lets his speech go native. He sounds - and moves - every bit like the kind of trash you find out is the town rapist. Beth tries to back away from him. I concentrate on not putting Alex through the wall; if she wants to try this, at least Alex is a safe choice. I don't know if I could take it, though, if it turns out that she like this.

It takes another five minutes to confirm that she doesn't. Alex pinches her once too often and her voice goes from unsteady to pissed. I know the tone from years of chasing her with a water pistol. Alex is too far gone to recognize it. Once I'm sure she done playing, I grab Alex by the hair and pull his head back.

"Alright, enough. She's done. Alex." Command form. "Say you're sorry."

He gasps. "Sorry, Beth."

"Back off."

"Yes, Sir." I let go of him and he moves down to the foot of the bed while I pull the sheet over Beth again.

"I'm really sorry Beth." he says after a minute. "I thought you were, you know, into it. Leigh acts the same way," He smiles slowly, "right before she smacks me."

"She probably terrified." Beth shudders and I put my arm around her protectively.

"Ask her." He says confidently, "Did she look scared when you got here?"

"No." Her brow furrows, "Maybe I should try again."

"Maybe you should try something else." I put in before Alex can move. "Beth, you're just tired and upset. Don't let Alex talk you into doing something you'll regret."

"I won't." Alex mumbles.

Beth sighs and leans against me. "So what's your way if Alex's is so bad. What do you do with Michelle?"

"Yeah," Alex oozes, "tell her what you do ta Michelle." He wiggles his tongue.

"First, I make sure she's in the mood ta fool around." I give him what I hope is a meaningful look and he settles down. "I rub her shoulders or her feet." I pause and look at Alex again, "You know, Beth walked here 'cause uh you. Get her feet."

He nods and lifts the sheet. Beth pulls her feet away from him but I give her a reassuring pat. "Don't worry, he's not gonna hurt you now. Are you, Alex?"

"I wasn't gonna really hurt you in that first place. But it don't really work right if-n you don't think I will."

"Oh." He takes her feet and I take her shoulders and after a little while, she groans. It is not a sound I need to hear my sister make. My subsequent kiss on her neck is a habitual response to the sound. She shivers and groans again.

"And this makes Michelle happy?" Beth sighs.

"This makes Michelle relax. How does it make you feel?"

"Tingly."

"Good." I won't move beyond her shoulders, I promise myself. Alex will stay below her knees. No harm, no foul. Slowly, I follow the line of her neck with my lips over her shoulders. Her breathing picks up and I smirk to myself. Assholes. There's nothing wrong with Beth; they just didn't take any time with her.

"Oh. Oh God. Do you always do this to Michelle?" She whispers deeply. I stop kissing but she keeps panting.

I look over at Alex. He's above her knees. Way above her knees. Beth cries out loudly as his tongue swipes from anus to clit and back again. Suddenly, there's a warm, sexy girl in my lap writhing and arching as she's being eaten. Her movements allow the sheet to fall away and her full, flush breasts taunt me with a pair of mouthwatering nipples. Her arms slide around my neck as she uses me for support to rub herself against Alex's face.

I am a seventeen year old boy with a healthy sexual appetite. "Oh Christ." I whisper.

I tell myself to get up. Get up, leave the room, let them do this. Maybe it's for the best. Don't look at her. Don't watch her fingers squeezing her own nipples. Don't listen to her moan. Don't get hard. Her hair's rubbing against my face; she uses a strawberry scented shampoo the smell makes me want to turn her around and give in.

I'm still thinking 'don't do it' when my hands cup her perfect breasts. When I nibble her earlobe.

I give up. "You are so fucking hot, Beth. Oh my God, you're so hot." I whisper, rolling those pert nipples between my finger tips. "Is Alex making you feel good?"

She pants, "Oh god, yes, yes, oh god!"

"Good." I squeeze her breasts and kiss her neck, "When he's done, when he makes you scream, Beth, it'll be my turn."

She cries out and her breathing gets even more labored.

"Did he do something right?" she moans. "Tell me what he did."

Talking is virtually killing her. "Fingers. Oh God. My ass."

"Is he fucking your ass with his fingers?"

"Uh-huh."

"And he has his tongue in your pussy, doesn't he?"

"Oh God!"

"Double penetration." I whisper in her ear. Jesus Christ, my Father would have a stroke if he knew about any part of this. I am going straight to hell. "Do you like DP, Beth?"

She's groaning so much, she can barely get the word 'yes' out.

"How 'bout somethin' bigger? You want somethin' bigger and harder up that perfect ass of yours? You want Alex's tongue or his dick pushed up in you?"

Her body stiffens for a moment then her eyes flutter open and she pulls me forward, "Bigger." She gasps. I know command form when I hear it.

I slide out of the bed and shed my clothes as I find Alex's bag. As usual, there's a small bottle of lube an and open six-pack of condoms.

I grab a handful of his hair and pull his head back. "You're a whore" I whisper in his ear. His face smells like pussy and I can't resist a taste of her.

Oh God, your sister should not be so sweet.

I drop a condom in front of him and clear the blankets off the bed completely. Beth looks at me like she's never seen me before. "Wow." she smiles appreciatively.

I try not to blush, "I try."

It's only a minute before Alex is likewise naked and sits on the other side of her. "You have got the best pussy, but, my jaw's like breaking." he kisses her deeply."

Which actually gives me a moment to think. When he finally lets her up for air, I put my hand on his shoulder, "How many times did she cum?"

He frowns, "I couldn't really tell. I mean she got crazy wet, right? But it was all kinda even. Except when I rimmed ya, right?" He leers at her, "You liked that a lot."

"Peter," Beth sighs heavily, "I told you I can't."

At her age, it should be damn near physically impossible not to make her cum. "Was it good? I mean, did you enjoy it?"

"Yeah." She bites her lip, "It's the first time anybody's done that."

"So you liked it?"

She looks away, a little guilty and I realize my error, "Beth, it's ok, baby. I'm glad you enjoyed it. I just want to make sure we're on the right track." I glance at Alex, "If-n we all goin' ta hell, let's at least enjoy the trip."

Shit, yeah." He replies.

"Stop swearing. You sure you tried everything?"

"Twice. Seriously, like I think I broke my jaw."

"Everything?"

"There's not alotta equipment down there to play with. You the Master, you try it."

I think about it. Eating her has got to be less of a sin than screwing her and in all honesty, I really really want to. I slip a finger inside her and suck it clean. My eyes fall shut as I relish just how sweet she tastes. When I open my eyes again, Alex is grinning at me; he knows my weakness for oral.

I wanna take my time. Savor her. This is truly a once in a lifetime kinda thing. I use my lips, tongue, teeth and fingers. I lick softly, slowly, firmly, briskly. I suck gently and savagely in turn. I lose track of time. She rains juice down on my face - I'm more drinking her than eating her - and she clearly enjoying it. But she doesn't cum.

When I finally give up, it's more than an hour later and my jaw is aching. I slide up her body and watch her swallow Alex for a minute or two. Although I hate admitting it, he is the larger between us and if one of us is gonna do her it should be him.

I reach around her and play with her tits. "Squeeze his balls. He loves that." She does and Alex shakes. "Now, graze him with your back teeth." He swears, grabs her head and begins pumping her mouth. She tries to pull away, startled, and I pull at his hands to let her go.

His face contorts and he struggles and grunts for a few moments then his breathing levels a bit, "Yes, Sir." he growls. He's dripping with sweat.

"What was that? Beth asks me.

"Me reigning Alex in. He cums when you do."

"Oh, but that's not fair...."

"He'll live"

"He looks like he's in pain."

"Good."

She looks at me in shock. "Peter!"

"What?" I kiss her, "First off, he likes bein' in pain and second, if he's gonna fuck you, I want him to last long enough for you to enjoy it."

Her eyes grow wide.

"Still wanna try two at a time?" I ask her softly. She moans in reply. I show her the lube as I put a little on my fingers. Then we stare into each others eyes as I slip first one, then two fingers into her ass. "Tell me to stop. Say you don't want it."

"Don't stop." Her eyes fall shut. "I want it."

I barely notice Alex slip around the bed. I gasp when his lips lock down around my dick. I bite my lip and then kiss Beth again. I let my fingers play with her, stretching so that hopefully this is all pleasure and no real pain. Alex lets me go after only a few minutes and rolls a condom on me. He applies some lube. I slip my fingers out and my dick in.

Beth's eyes roll back into her head.

I turn her on her side so I have a better angle of entry and Alex can join in when he's ready. I slide in slowly. I don't know if she's done this before or not but I want to be very careful with her.

When I'm all the way in, I lie still and moan.

I didn't know sex could feel this good.

I didn't know that anything could feel this good.

I slide my arms around her and use her breasts to hold her tightly. I brush my lips against her shoulders. "Jesus." I whisper and find myself repeating it as I pull back and slide in again. I hold still and pant for a minute, trying to form a coherent thought. "Tell me...tell me ta stop. Tell me ta pull out if-n you wanna, Baby. It's ok. It's ok."

I feel the weight of the bed shift. Then Alex's lips on my hands and her breast. Beth groans. Alex's hands travel upward, stroking us both until they reach her face and he kisses her deeply.

Then I feel him enter her. It feels like only the condoms separate us - almost as if we are rubbing against each other directly. "Oh, Jesus." I sob. I don't know how long I can hold out like this.

Alex starts moving slowly but picks up speed after only a few strokes. I cannot help but match his rhythm so that Beth is bounced between us. I realize that the intermittent hum I keep hearing is Beth moaning.

I bite her neck, she bites Alex. Alex screams, "Oh, fuck, yeah!" He holds still, shaking with effort and inside her, I can actually feel him throbbing. He's trying to hold back. Sweat stings my eyes; I'm not sure who's.

Alex pants loudly, "Peter?" I hear him distantly and open my eyes to see him grinning fiendishly, "Roll." He pulls and I do my best to grab hold of both the them and push forward. Beth hollers, "Oh Christ, yeah!"

It takes a minute for us to get our legs sorted out and I tell her again, "Tell us ta stop, baby, you don't have ta do this."

"Don't stop." She moans, "Oh god, fuck me, don't stop."

I can feel Alex beneath her trying to ram into her as hard as he can. I'm now behind her doing one stroke for every two of his. She's between us, getting louder.

"Ima cum, Sir, can I?" Alex growls.

"No!" it doesn't sound like my voice that I answer with but I know if he blows Ima blow right behind him. "Not til she does."

"I can't-I can't, oh, shit, I can't stop," He wails, "I can't. Oh god, oh god, oh shit."

I can feel him pulsing and his vibrations trigger my own orgasm, "No!" I moan leaning against Beth, "Oh god, oh baby, I'm sorry." I lay gasping and panting on top of her. Then, realizing that Alex is likely being crushed, shift my weight so that we all fall sideways.

We do not dislodge.

We are a panting, sweating, tangled mass. We lie clustered together. I wake suddenly because there's a chill in the air and realize that the blankets are all on the floor. I pull away and both Beth and Alex wake. Quickly, I throw the covers over them. Alex turns off the light as I climb under the blankets and curl up next to Beth.

When I wake again, it's daylight. Alex and Beth are still wrapped around each other, Alex's hand reaching all the way to my waist. My arms are around them both. Carefully, I slide out and use the bathroom. When I come back, they're both still asleep. I put on my pants, kiss them both softly and step outside to try Michelle's number again.

It's still blocked.

Welcome to Dumped-ville, population: me.

Go to Chapter: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

Chapter 16: Alex

I have to admit it; I am way more into Ballroom dance shit than I let on. I mean at first, I was just playing the guitar which was cool, 'cause I'm good enough to do it. But then they asked me to fill in for one of the guys and I kinda got stuck in his spot while he was out sick. Then Leigh joined the dance club and we started dancing together.

It's not just dancing. I mean it's not just following the rules of what step to take and when. It's teamwork, totally. You an' your partner have to all but breath in sync. An' I lead. When I do it right, Leigh's body does what my body tells her to do. I'm the Dom. I'm the fuckin' Master and she is totally my slave. It's all I can do not to bang her in class sometimes.

"Alex!" Mr. Fuentes, our dance coach and one of the school's closet fags, stops the music. "That won't work. We'll have to re-choreograph that."

"What was wrong?" Leigh huffs, she hates practicing. She doesn't have the patience for it. It's the only thing I do have patience for.

"Nothing. Except, of course they'll arrest me of corruption of a minor." He pull Leigh away from me and starts mutter to himself. "If we… let's see… one, two, step, back, no. One, two, turn, yes, like that but stay out… step, Connie, let me hear the music again." He listens for a moment. "Yes, ok." We redo that section. Then he leave us to work on it and moves to the next pair.

We move through the steps. The routine is kinda a seduction thing - she keeps moving away an' I keep pulling her back. If I do it right, she all but snaps against me. The worst moment for me is near the end when she lifts her leg and wraps it around my waist. It would be so easy to push her against the wall an' do her. I think about it so often, I'm actually surprised I haven't done it yet. I dip her.

"God, I could so do you." I don't know why I said it. Maybe because I'm so hard I'm throbbing.

"Not that you'd do it right." She hisses in my ear as we stand again.

"What, like you don't like it." I hold her tight in and take four steps. "You know you totally get off."

"I fake." She's panting and pushes away into a turn.

I snap her back into my other arm, "You uh lie." Her arm slips quickly around my waist and her nails dig into my side as I hiss and take her other hand. We tango across the room. "I make you so wet you probably right now all but pee'd yo' panties. Ima put my tongue down there after class an' check."

She doesn't reply - just grips tighter with her nails. I love it when she digs in like that. It hurts like hell and leaves marks for at least a day. We turn around and go the other direction; when she switches hands, she digs into my other side. "You such uh fuckin' bitch, Leigh. I swear Ima bang you like the cunt you are." I feel her catch her breath when I twirl her and pull her against me.

We hold like this for two beats. Both of our hearts are racing. She mimes biting me just before I spin her out again. When I pull her in, she whispers, "You ever try to touch me again, I'll take my hair brush an' beat yo' nuts with it. It's got wire bristles. They're sharp. It's gonna hurt so much."

"Promises, promises." I catch her again and the music stops. We stand there, panting hard. I'm afraid to move because I can't think of any thing that doesn't involve screwing her here and now.

"Maybe you should go shower now, Miss Saunders." Mr. Fuentes says from behind me. It feels like forever before I can convince myself to let Leigh go. "Mr. McElroy, do we need to change your dance partner?"

"Uh, I don't…uh, no. We'll be cool."

He sighs deeply, "Are you two an item?"

"Oh, yeah. Couple months."

"Well get it out of your system before you come in here. It's too disruptive. Honestly, the two of you damn near fog up the windows. Look, I appreciate the problem. But you can't just make this class an exercise in foreplay. Ok?"

"Yeah." I take a deep breath. "I get it, sir."

"Good. Hit the showers."

I have a study hall and a lit class before I get to see Leigh again. She catches me at the school bus stop, "I have my car today. Need a lift?"

"Oh yeah." It's like a freight train rush of adrenaline as everything I was feeling while we were dancing comes crashing back in on me. We get in her car and she drives back to her place.

"My parents are still at work." She says as she gets out of the car. She lets us in through the garage and leads me down to her bedroom in the basement.

As soon as I hit the door, I pull her to me for the kiss to set it off but she pushes away, "Un-un." She points to the floor, "Down boy."

She wants me to play puppy dog. I grin as I get down on all fours and bark like a dog. She sits down at her vanity and pats her knees, "Come'er boy." She makes kissy noises. I try to push between her knees but she keeps them clamped tight and pats her lap again, "Up here, boy." Like a good puppy, I drape myself over her legs. She's gonna spank me. My dick's a rock just thinking about it.

She starts petting me and scratching my head just like I was a dog, "Good doggie, good boy. There's uh puppy." Until suddenly all hell opens up on my backside. It's that damn wire brush of hers. It hurts like a couple dozen nails being slammed into my ass. Mentally, I start counting strokes. Around fifteen, I'm whining. After twenty-five, I'm begging her, switching between 'harder' and 'no more' at random. At thirty, she pushes me on the floor and sits on me. "Oh my God, I love doing that!"

We struggle to get my pants open and her panties down. She straddles me and pulls a condom from out of thin air. She puts it on me then she rides me. Slowly. I put my hands on her hips and squeeze that tight ass of hers. I've been inching my fingers toward it but so far, she stops me before I get any penetration. But this slow straddle, she can do all day and if I do more than groan, she stops. I been learning to just lie there and take it even though I'm dying to roll her over and bang her like a fuckin' drum.

Today, my fingers get all the way into her crack. I can feel the soft pucker of her asshole. I'm trembling, trying to hold still, to just stroke that ass when I want to shove my fingers in and see how good her control is.

Suddenly she stops. She wedges herself down on me, squirming against my balls and letting the hot juice from her pussy drip down me. Then she leans in close to my face. "You really want my ass, don't you."

"Oh, fuck yeah." I groan.

She looks thoughtful for a moment. Then she stands up over me. I'm looking straight up at the pussy I was just fucking. "You want it enough to lick it before you stick it?"

"Oh, God." I moan helplessly. "Please let me lick it."

She gets down on her hands and knees and I don't give her time to change her mind. I grab her ass cheeks, spread them gently and licked her asshole. I have never done this before but right now I can't think of anything more revolting or anything I want to do more. It tastes faintly, well, like ass. I lick it again and the taste is fainter but still present. I tease the opening with the tip of my tongue and she squirms. I keep teasing until the tip slips in.

My tongue is in her ass. I should be sick to my stomach. Instead, I'm trying not to cum. I slide one hand around her firm ass cheek and run my thumb over her clit. She gasps loudly and her asshole clinches around my tongue. I grin as I push my thumb into her slit and my tongue deeper into her ass. I let the rest of my fingers play with her clit, rubbing it between them. She starts gasping and for the first time ever, swearing. I speed up everything. When she cums, everything clinches so tight, I'm afraid she seriously will rip something off me.

Which doesn't stop me from shooting off at the same time.

She rolls over on her side and I crawl over to her and try to kiss her. She pushes me away. "Ewww! Gross! Get some mouth wash at least." By the time I come out of the bathroom, she's dressed and bitching about the mess I made on her rug.

I get on my hands and knees again and she spanks me again while I clean it.

I could so absolutely live the rest of my life like this.

Go to Chapter: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

Chapter 17: Peter

If I had any doubts about Michelle dumping me, the way she hung all over Scott at school the next week resolved them. I asked around but no one knew who the mysterious brown-haired girl at the dance was. It wasn't that I couldn't get a date - I could. I just couldn't get a date I wanted. Michelle wouldn't speak to me - which also, by the holy laws of high school, eliminated all her friends. Trina would speak but not much more than 'hi' and 'bye'. And the girl at the dance might as well have been a ghost for all I could find her. Leigh was taking care of most of Alex's needs without my intervention so I wasn't using him for relief.

Generally, my world sucked.

It didn't take long for it all to come to a head. Friday, while swimming at the center, I heard the whistle blow and the coach yelling my name yet again.

"Get over here, McElroy!"

I got out of the water and trudged over. I knew I wasn't concentrating and I was slow that day. I was supposed to be in a meet in two weeks, but right then, I really didn't care.

"What the hell wrong with you, boy? You been slackin' off all week."

"Sorry." I shrugged. "Just not with it, Coach."

"You best get with it." He glanced over my shoulder then put his arm around me as if he didn't want anyone overhearing him. "What is it, is it this thing with you an' yo' girlfriend?"

I swallowed my first response to that. "I don't have a girlfriend." I finally let out.

"Yeah, yeah. I been hearin'. Look, son, I know she broke ya heart but you gotta realize it's her loss. She the one lose out on datin' an Olympic swimmer, right?"

I looked at him and tried to keep in mind that he was just trying to cheer me up. "I ain't make it yet sir."

"You don't get ova this girl, you won't make it at all." He seemed to realize that statement didn't go over well. "Peter, listen. You young, you good looking. You'll find another girl. Don't worry 'bout that. Put that energy into getting your time down. Work out uh couple extra hours. Get some sleep."

I snorted at that; I hadn't had a good night's sleep since the night of the dance.

"Oh." The Coach moved his arm. "You got uh little too much 'energy' ta sleep, huh?"

Not a discussion I wanted to have. "I'm fine, sir, really."

"Look, I was young too, once. That's why God gave us right hands." The idea of the Coach and his right hand was revolting. "Trust me, it'll help you sleep. Drop by my office before you leave tonight; I may have something that might help."

"Oh. Uh. Yeah." I managed not to lose my lunch. "Ima do uh couple laps, now." He gave me a 'fatherly' shake and I got back in the water and tried to out-swim the distressing thought that the Coach kept porn in his office.

I did not stop by before I left for home.

I did think about what he said while I was supposed to be doing homework. I couldn't even remember the last time I beat off. Once I started dating, I figured that's what girls are for.

I went down the hall to the bathroom Beth, Robert and I shared. Mom and Dad had their own suit practically and left us to our own devices. I started the shower and locked the door. Once under the water, I closed my eyes and pictured Michelle. Instantly, the image changed. The mystery girl. I wondered if she gave blow jobs. I pictured the delicate lips I remembered and reached for my dick at the same time.

Then I thought of Trina and sighed. Trina gave the best blow job period. She swallowed your dick whole. I had never met another girl who could do that. And her pussy was so hot. So juicy.

Even with the shower spray, my hand began to chafe. I grabbed the soap, poured too much in my hand and slowed down stroking myself thinking of Trina blowing me. One of these days, I told myself, I'm gonna get another chance with her. When I do she's not gonna be able to walk for a week. I'm gonna eat her until she passes out, she cums so hard.

That moment - the first time Trina came on my face - comes back to me. My hand picks up speed as I remember her taste, her smell. Suddenly I felt it, the pressure inside my balls. Everything contracted upward and the first load of my own jizz hit me in the chin.

He is a Coach, I thought. He's supposed ta know what he's taking about.

I finished showering and went back to my room. I called Alex, talked for a while then decided to make it an early night. I striped down, got in bed and flipped out the light.

I was almost asleep when I heard the tapping. My door opened and Beth whispered.

"Peter? Are you awake?"

"No." I whispered back.

She came and sat next to me anyway and I sighed deeply before giving up on getting any sleep and turning the lamp by my bed. It was a dim light and left her in a fair amount of shadow but I could just make out her distressed expression. "I couldn't sleep." She looked away.

"What? A nightmare?" She nodded. "Ain't you kinda old fo' that?"

"Peter!" She paused and pushed her hair behind her ear. "I can't sleep with Mom and Dad. Could I just stay here with you for a little while?" her voice almost faded out completely.

She was wearing a long satin robe but I was buff. I wanted to comfort my baby sister but for some reason, all I could think of was the night of the Sweetheart Dance and how sweet her pussy was. The last thing I needed was her in bed with me again for any reason.

"Please?"

She looked at me mournfully and any real resistance I had vanished. "Sure." I pat the bed next to me and silently swore as she lifted the covers and crawled in with me. She curled up into the crook of my arm with her head on my shoulder and her hands on my chest. Carefully, I put my free arm around her waist. The strawberry scent of her hair brought back that night with crystal clarity. My dick was quickly stiffening and I hoped not creating a visible tent. I couldn't close my eyes; every time I did, I imagined her naked body arching against me as Alex ate her. I couldn't resist kissing her forehead.

She's just a kid, I told myself, here because I'm her big brother and I'm supposed to take care of her. Not fantasize about fucking her up the ass again. Not imagine those full lips wrapped around my dick. I cleared my throat and tried to turn my hips as far away from her as I could. Her robe slipped between us and I felt the bare skin of her leg against mine. I try not to move, not to even breath. Sleep is out of the question.

"Peter?" she whispered again. "Am I pretty?"

"Uh," I cleared my throat again. "Yeah." I waited a minute and when she didn't say anything I asked, "Was that your nightmare?"

She shook her head. Her hair brushed softly against my arm. I stifled a groan of growing frustration. God hates me, I thought, he must just plain hate me to give me this kind of temptation.

"I didn't really have a nightmare." She confessed softly.

"You didn't?" My throat went dry yet again. "So, uh, so why you in here?"

"Couldn't sleep."

"So you figure on keepin' me up." In oh so many ways, I thought.

She shrugged and I caught the scent of her hair again. My dick twitched. Her hand brushed lightly over my chest. I could feel my heart pounding like it was going to burst. "Garrison dumped me." She said. "I mean, at the end of the summer, not recently. He said that something was wrong with me if I didn't cum with him. He said I was probably too young."

"Garrison's uh shithead." I made a mental note to get him fired at the first opportunity. "Likely, he ain't know what he was doin'."

"He said his last girlfriend came."

"Ev'rybody say that. Why Ima tell you Ima bad lover?" She shrugged again and I kissed her forehead. "You looked at the website I sent you, right?" she nodded. Her hair tickled my nipples and I swallowed hard. In another minute, I was sending her back to her own room. "So?"

"But I can't do it myself either. The site said your partner may not be able to do it but you should be able to do yourself."

"So the site was wrong." Beth, masturbating was an image I did not need in my head. "Baby, listen. You really should go back to your room now."

"Please? I really don't want to be alone and…and there ain't nobody else I can talk to 'bout this." She snuggled closer to me and more of her robe loosened. It was becoming clear to me that she was naked under it.

"Christ." I muttered. "Beth, Baby, you killin' me here. Go on back to your room. We'll talk t'morrow. I promise."

"Would you try again for me, please?"

My dick jumped. I felt the sheets shift. She must have felt the sheets shift. "Please don't ask me that."

"Just one more time and it don't work, I promise I'll never ask again."

We lay in silence, me staring up at the dim pool of light on the ceiling. Her hand slid down my chest slowly. Her fingers brushed my dick. I sat up and pulled abruptly away from her. "I got uh better idea. Why don't you show me how you do it an' maybe we can find what the problem is."

"It feels better when you do it."

"Beth…" With the sheets pulled back, the dim light was giving her exposed skin an almost golden glow. I could almost smell her pussy from where I was. I suddenly realized that my dick was swaying lewdly between us. I grabbed the sheet and covered myself with half the bedding. "You just…practice. I'll sit here. An' watch."

She sat up against the head board and adjusted her robe. "What should I do?"

"I don't know. What you normally do?"

She shrugged. "I don't normally do anything. I don't do this often."

"Well, when you do do it, what you do?"

"I don't know. I kinda have ta be in the mood."

I rolled my eyes. Unbelievable. "So what, you just expect me ta get you in the mood?"

"I thought you knew what you doin'."

"I know what I'd do, but I ain't uh girl. I don't know how you play."

"So what you do?"

"I don't know!" I snapped then lowered my volume. It was unlikely Mom and Dad were up, but I'd just as soon not find out. "I guess, I'd start with your breasts an' if that felt good, work down."

She hesitated. "This feels weird, you watchin' me."

"Yeah, well, it feel pretty weird watchin' my sister too. So you wanna just go on back ta yor room, go on."

She stop, looked at me and half smiled. "You go all red-neck when you get nervous."

I hated that accent. I cleared my throat and took a deep breath. "If you really want to do this, then let's do this. Close your eyes. Lean your head back. Take a deep breath. Relax." She followed my instructions and for a moment, I almost relaxed too. "Now. Touch your breasts." She starts to open the robe but I stop her. "No, outside first. Just caress. Feel 'em. The weight, the shape. How that feel?"

"Kinda boring."

"Beth…"

"No, seriously. They're just breasts. Nothing special."

I couldn't stop grinning at that. "I know guys who'd go thru fire ta put they hands where yours are. Trust me, they pretty special. From here at least."

"Well, from here, they only interesting if I do this." She squeezed her nipples hard and shivered. I shivered as well and deliberately looked away. I wondered if guy's dick had ever just simply burst into flames before.

"Uh, yeah, yeah, that's…that's mighty interesting." I tried to keep breathing. "You sure you don't wanna just go on back ta yor room?"

She ignored me, wholly participating in her self exploration. "Actually, that feels pretty good through the robe. I think it's the silky feel." I watched as she teased her nipples with the fabric until they stood out like bottle caps. I had not realized how big Beth's nipples were and how incredibly turned on seeing them got me. I managed not to groan aloud but I knew I wasn't going to be able to just sit there much longer.

"Uh, ok." I swallowed hard and tried not to think of sucking them. "Ok, some girls find they nipples connect to they clit. How 'bout you?"

She seemed to think about it a moment. "Not really." She spread her legs and the scent of wet pussy assailed me. I felt the wet spot on the sheets as jizz leaked from me and knew I was going to loose it before too much longer. "I don't even think I'm really wet yet." She dropped one hand to the lips of her slit. She was hairy but not thickly. Like elegant curtains on a picture window. I heard the wet 'pop' as her finger parted the lips and nearly cried. "Oh, I guess I'm better at this than I thought."

"Ok, ok. Beth, I'm sorry. That's hot." I was having trouble breathing, much less thinking.

She opened her eyes. "It is?"

"Oh yeah. Jesus Christ, yeah." I silently apologized for the sin I was about to commit. "Ok, I know I said I was gonna watch, uh…but…" I took a breath. "I can't watch you do that."

"Oh." She looked down at her hand. "Am I doing something wrong?" It was so naive I had to laugh.

"No Baby, you doin' e'rythin' right." I leaned forward and kissed her forehead again. Her ripe pussy damn near called out to me. "You just look so good. I can't just sit here. You don't know how much I wanna do this." I sucked her nipple through the robe and listened to her groan. With one hand, I reach inside the robe and pulled her other breast out and switched from covered to uncovered. She had liked tight pinches more than gently strokes so I nipped them firmly and listened to her gasp in response. I exposed the other gland and switched between them for a while. Finally, I couldn't hold out any longer.

I pushed myself down her body and glued my lips to her slit. "Oh, God." She groaned deeply. My head practically spun as I sucked my sister's pussy. She was juicy and quickly, my face was covered with her cream.

I was in heaven. Absolute heaven. Each swipe of my tongue made her twitch and I tried to ignore the extreme pressure of my aching, throbbing dick in favor of figuring out why she got so wet and tasted so good but never seemed to go over the edge. I tried sucking softly and got progressively harder until she hissed at me in pain. "Sorry." I mumbled and went back to licking around the inner folds to give her a break. I pushed my tongue inside her and started actively looking for her g-spot. When that didn't work, I tried using my fingers inside and my tongue on her clit. Eventually, I had fingers in both her slit and her ass, and sucking her clit and she still wouldn't hit it. She got close. Very close.

Finally in frustration, she shoved me away, "It's not working!" she snapped.

"Does it feel good?"

"Like, an hour uh-go, it felt great." She huffed. "Now, I'm just bored an' wanna go ta bed." I sighed deeply, feeling like shit and she wilted. "I'm sorry, Peter. I mean, it ain't you. What you do feels wonderful. I wouldn't even look for more if e'rybod' didn't insist there'd be fireworks."

"There should be." I sighed, realizing just how tired my jaw was. "An' I can feel it. I mean, most girls kinda contract - yo' pussy kinda pulses when you cum. I just can't get you there. I mean I could see if you ain't into it. But you get so wet…"

"I told you somethin' wrong with me."

"Baby!" I sat up and pulled her into my arms. "No. I ain't doin' something. Maybe I ain't reach deep enough."

"I'm sorry."

"Stop that." I turned her face toward me. "Ain't nothin' wrong with you. I promise, we'll figure this out."

"Promise?" she sounded meek.

"I promise, Baby, I promise." I kissed her forehead. She looked at me - loving, trusting. Not a look you get from you sister.

Then her expression changed and became almost vixen-ish. "You seem to have a problem of your own." She wiggled her ass and rubbed it against my aching dick.

I dropped my face against her hair - which was a mistake - and groaned. "Please don't do that."

"Here. Let me help." She wriggled out of my arms and slipped her mouth over the head of my dripping dick. I tried to push her away but somehow my fingers got tangled in her hair and my arms forgot the difference between 'push' and 'pull'. I wanted to say something coherent but all I could do was moan deeply. It took her only a few minutes to suck the jizz out of me. I struggled to not wake the whole house and clinched my teeth as Beth swallowed load after load of my cum.

I collapsed backward, panting hard. She snuggled up next to me and I found the strength to kiss her deeply, trying to clean my taste out of her throat. "Oh God, I swear, Ima make you feel that. Once, just once." I fell back again. "Jesus God, you good at that."

"I get a lot of practice." She said.

"What?" I tried to sit up but found I didn't have the energy to fuss at her over that one. "We gonna discuss that ina mornin'." I kissed her temple, because it was the easiest thing to reach. "Sleep." I mumbled before drifting off myself.

Go to Chapter: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

Chapter 18: Alex

The bus left from the Center at four AM. Shit, God ain't even up yet. But it'a a four hour drive to the meet and I only get to go 'cause Uncle Charles is all but paying for the swim team this year.

As we pull off, I notice that there are only like six swimmers on the bus. I poke Peter. "Hey, what gives? Where's the rest of the team?"

"Only the top two in each event are going this time."

I had wondered why Beth didn't show up. I lean the seat back and try to sleep. I hate bus trips. I'm only going on this one 'cause spring break's a drag if Peter and Leigh are both gone and I gotta work the boats alone. Well, not alone but hangin' out with my Dad can get old fast.

'Sides, a sub should follow his Dom around anyway.

We've almost got this D/s/SM/BD thing worked out completely. So long as I follow the rules, I can pretty much do what I want. And if I don't do anything stupid, twice a month he finds a way to spend a night causing me serious pain. Not just spankings - which are still cool - but hot wax which hurts as much going on as it does comin' off, and clothes pins which make doing laundry a lot more fun, and rubber bands which is something I would have never thought of but Peter has done some fucked up things to me with. I only managed to get myself suspended once an' I learned my lesson damn fast. Thirty days 'without' is some fucked up shit. So I have Leigh for sex and Peter for control and hardcore pain which make my life pretty damn cool.

When we arrive wherever this little swim-fest is, there's a huge banner over the registration desk. FINA Spring Qualifiers.

"Qualifiers for what?" I ask.

Peter shrugs. Either he doesn't know for what or he doesn't care. Both answers sound like bullshit to me but if I need to know, he'll tell me. I'm kinda getting used to that.

We get about an hour to prowl around and I remember why I'm here - girls in wet swimsuits. I can't touch, but I can look real hard. Peter's not looking much which worries me a lot. I've been worried about him for a while, now, though. He's been really cool about me an' Leigh - which is great, but he's stopped dating himself after Michelle dumped him. Which is weird. Peter used to get more play than me - which is goin' some - but since Michelle dropped him, he hasn't gotten play from anybody but me. I don't mind except that I know he still likes girls and he ain't celibate. I stopped suggesting that he get laid when he threatened to suspend me if I brought it up again, but that doesn't stop me from pointing him in the direction of every hottie out here.

Finally there's an announcement and I wish him good luck as he heads off to the locker room. I take a seat in the stands an' wait for them to call Peter's race. I lose interest fast. Eventually, I see a cute chick and move closer to her.

"'Cuse me." I say, all southern boy charm. She looks annoyed that I spoke to her, but I can get past that. "This here's ma first time at one uh these. I don't s'pose you'd mind tellin' me what I'm seein'?" I smile.

"It's a speed race. Fastest swimmer wins. At the end of tomorrow, the fastest dozen or so qualify."

"For what?"

"The Trials." When it becomes evident that I have no idea what she's referring to she sighs deeply, "The Olympic Trials? You have heard of the Olympics back home?"

I swear to god, I feel my jaw hit the floor. "The Olympics? Peter wins this, he's goin' ta The Olympics?"

"No, he wins this and he gets a chance to try out for the Olympic team."

I'm torn between finding him and smackin' him for not tellin' me and callin' Uncle Charles - clearly he doesn't know 'cause otherwise he'd totally be here.

"This Peter didn't mention why he was here?" the cute chick asks.

"Not to me or his folks or his sister-" My voice drops off as it hits me - Beth has to know; she's on the damn team. I dial her number then remember my manners, "'Cuse me uh sec." When Beth answers I let her have it, "What the fuck?"

"What the fuck what?"

"Olympic trials?"

"What?"

"We at the Olympic trials…"

"…pre-Olympic trials…" cute girls corrects me.

"…pre-Olympic trials, shit, whatever. Peter's competin' fo' the fuckin' Olympics! Why didn't you say shit?"

"'Cause I ain't know shit! Alex, what are you talking about?"

It takes a couple minutes - and some help from cute girl - to figure it all out. Beth didn't say anything because she really didn't know. When she finally fully gets it, she shrieks in my ear. I hear her telling the whole thing to Aunt Elizabeth then I give the phone to cute girl so she can explain it all right. By the time I hang up, Aunt Elizabeth promises to tell the whole family. I smile, Peter's gonna be celebrated whether he wants it or not.

"Oh man," I say, sitting down by cute girl, "I am so glad I didn't miss this."

"So I see." She chuckles.

"Peter always there for me. Ida kicked myself if-n I found out later that I missed this."

She looks at my jacket and her brows knit, "What color is your friend?"

I shrug, "White guy. Oh, school, right. Same as me. Green with a gold stripe."

"Like those?"

She points to the water. I'd been so busy on the phone that I stopped paying attention to the swimmers. Luckily, Peter's so much bigger than the average swimmer that he's pretty hard to miss even under water. "Shit!" I stop talking except to cheer him on. And, of course, to scream like crazy when he wins.

By the end of the day, I know the difference between the 400 meter freestyle and the 200 meter relay. Peter finishes in the top three - if not just plain first - enough times that by lunch time there is no question that he'll be in tomorrow's finals. Cute girl's actually has a name - Jessie - only she's not a girl; she's the wife of one of the coaches.

She and I wait by the locker room entrance for our respective teams and I'm so excited I'm damn near bouncing. I call Beth while I'm waiting and give her the status update. When I finally see Peter, I virtually tackle him. "You asshole!" He looks confused and tired, which, I guess makes sense. "Why didn't you tell us this was fo' the fuckin' Olympics?"

"Oh." He shrugs. "I didn't want anyone disappointed if I didn't make it."

I hit him in the head, "Hey, stupid, did it occur to you that some of us might be totally psyched that you made it this far?" I punch his shoulder "And, shit, dude, you fuckin' blew 'em outta the water."

He lifts his eyebrows at me, "Three in one sentence. You must be excited."

His teammates are walking beside us but I wanna kissed him so hard, I start to do it anyway. I think he senses that 'cause he shakes his head slightly. We get back to the bus.

"Oh, yeah, Aunt Elizabeth wants you to call soon as you can." I say as we board.

He stops cold and turns on me, "What?"

"I - uh - called them." I take a step back but there are people behind me. They shout for me to keep moving and I cautiously move forward. I don't know why he's so pissed but he is. Peter takes a seat near the back and drops his backpack in the seat beside him. I take the hint and sit somewhere else.

I hear him call his mom on the ride to the hotel.

When we get there, the coach checks everyone in, two to a room. I'm bunking with Peter which was the whole idea for coming here but now I'm kinda leery.

As we wait for the elevator, though, he says quietly, "You were right; I should have told them. Thanks."

I breath a sigh of relief.

Everyone piles into the elevator and Peter hits the top floor button. Shortly, the only people left are us and two girls also from our school.

"You really have nothing to say to me?"

I look up; one of the girls, Melissa, is glaring at Peter like she wants to rip his throat out.

"What?" He's as confused as I am.

"Forget it." Tanya says, "He's a jerk."

"No!" Melissa blocks the door as it open. "Was it uh game? Or uh joke? You an' Michelle have uh real good laugh 'bout it?"

"Melissa, what are you talking about?" Peter looks at Tanya and me but I shrug and Tanya just rolls her eyes.

"You said, 'I'll see you Monday.' Everybody in the car heard you. Then Monday you just ignore me."

He looks at me again; I shrug again. I have no idea what she's talking about.

Tanya sighs and pulls Melissa out of the doorway, "See? I told you; he's an asshole. Forget him."

"No, wait." Peter catches Melissa's arm but she snatches it away from him, "Look, I see you, like, everyday. I'm sorry if I haven't been nicer…"

"We danced all night. You coulda…"

He shakes his head, "I've never danced with you."

"What?" Melissa nearly bursts and Tanya laughs.

"Oh, my God! What a lie! We all saw you."

"I didn't. I'm sorry. I've been to, like, one dance this year. With Michelle. Who ever it was, it wasn't me. Sorry."

We move past them while they're still both in shock. As we open our door, they storm past us.

"Weird." I shake my head.

Peter seems a bit lost in thought as he takes off his shirt but before he can do anything more, someone pounds on our door. He frowns and answers it; we both know it's her.

From where I am, I can't see her, but I can hear her loud enough.

"Asshole! Here!" She shoves something at him and starts to walk off.

He grabs her, "Wait. Where'd you get this?"

"You gave it to me."

"I gave this to the girl I…." his voice trails off. Then I see him take off her glasses and toss them over his shoulder.

"Hey!" She struggles for a moment but when Peter switches to "Dom", he gets crazy strong. I don't know how but I swear it's totally true.

"Quiet." He snaps. She may not know command form, but do. He unties the complicated twist she keeps her hair in.

Melissa's stringy skinny - way too small for Peter's taste, especially since she's white - and has one of those skinny, pinched faces like her hair's pulled too tight and I guess that's exactly the problem 'cause as soon as he gets it loose, she's almost pretty under waves of like really long wavy brown hair.

He lets her arm go, "You didn't tell me your name."

"I been known you since third grade; I didn't think I needed to. You asked me ta dance. I figured you knew who I was."

"Not a clue. I spent the rest of that weekend kicking myself for not getting your name. I spent the next week trying ta find the 'new' girl with the long dark hair. No one knew you."

"New girl?" She sounds shocked.

"You looked different that night." He laughs, "You look different now - even without the makeup and dress."

"No doubt." I mutter too loud. Peter looks at me over his shoulder.

"If I told you to stay out of trouble, would you?"

I grab the extra room key. "I'll see you at the buffet. Later." I grin as I walk past them, "Oh, yeah, an' there's uh box uh you-know-whats in my backpack." I hit the elevator.

Hopefully, Peter's gettin' laid already.

In the lobby, it dawns on me that I have two hours to kill before the buffet for the swimmers starts. I had planned to watch a movie in the room but that's out now so I park myself in the lobby and try an' figure out what to do next.

"How's your cousin?" someone asks.

I look up at the cute smiling face of Jessie. "Hey! He's cool. I think he just gotta new girlfriend. You guys stayin' here too?"

"Looks like."

She grins for a moment then looks away, brushing her finger through her hair. If she were my age, I'd say she was totally into me. If she wasn't a teacher - a teacher's wife anyway - I would so move on that. "So." I got nothin'. "Whatcha up to?"

"Oh. The Botanical Gardens are a couple blocks away. They're supposed to be beautiful." She laughs shyly. "None of the guys want to go, so I'm on my own. I guess."

"You're husband ain't taking you?" Is he stupid?

"No." she shrugs, "He's…busy."

She might as well have said 'Alex, take me to a garden and do me.' "I'll go with you." I stand up and smile hopefully.

"Really?"

"Yeah. Sounds cool."

"Really?" Her disbelief is evident.

Even I can't tell that big a lie, "Well, ok, maybe not but" I lean in close an' get a whiff of her perfume in the process, "I kinda promised Peter I'd stay outta trouble an' I figure I'm safe with you." She smells way too good. I would totally do her.

She laughs again. If I did this right, I could do her tonight. "Something tells me you need someone keeping you out of trouble, don't you?"

"An' I'll bet you ain't never been trouble." I counter. "Anything smells as good as you ain't never been nothin' but sweet." She blushes; I think she like the deeper, more aggressive southern boy routine. Not the refined southern gentleman Peter's so good at. I do this right, I can do her before dinner.

We walk to the garden - it really is like two blocks away and it's fuckin' huge. We wander around and even I'm not blind. It's beautiful. She checks out the plants. I check out her. I ask a couple questions about swimming or plants or something, just to get her started then she pretty much keeps chatting on her own. I don't really care about any of it but as long as I keep nodding, she thinks I'm listening. First down.

After a couple hours of flowers, I spot my opening. I slid my arm around her waist and pull her down gently but quickly, "Hey, look!"

"What?" She stoops down with me.

"Aw, missed 'em. I think they got rabbits in here. Thought I caught one."

"Ohh. How cute!" She coos which is too sexy for words. I help her stand up again but don't move my arm from around her waist. She doesn't either. First down. We wander around some more.

I lean in close again as we look as something else pink and flowery and don't nuzzle her neck - just close enough to want to. For her to want me to. "Oh yeah. I think I should stayed at the hotel."

"Why?"

I shake my head, "You drivin' me crazy." This time I nuzzle. I feel her whole body shiver. "Oh yeah. That's gonna get me in trouble fast."

Her breath catches. I can feel her heart beating at least as strong as mine. I could do her right here. Then she pushes me firmly away, moving my arm from around her waist. "Alex. This is just a little inappropriate. You're too young to-"

"I'm eighteen." I lie. How's she gonna know?

"You can't just tell me that and expect me to believe it."

"But you wanna believe it," I put my arms around her and pull her to me, "don't you?"

"I - uh - " she blushes and looks away from me. She puts her hand on my shoulder but I can't tell if she's trying to push or pull. She too small to do either, really. I pull her closer.

"You wanna believe anything I tell you, don't you? I'm eighteen, Jessie. Don't you feel better now?"

"I'm -" she swallows hard. She's actually hot to the touch and I'm rock hard. "I'm married, Alex."

I kiss her. She gives in at first then tries to push away. I hold her still and eventually, she gives in again. First and goal.

When I let her go again it's only to find somewhere to take her. We're practically alone here but she does not need to be caught with me. I pull down the path until I see a small grove of bushes hiding a utility shed. After a quick glance to see that we are still alone, I pull her into the bushes and into the shed.

It's unlocked and has just enough space for the two of us.

"Alex! We can't be in here." She protests.

"Les'in you wanna go back to yo' room, I ain't got uh better idea."

"This is absurd. I'm not…" she takes a deep breath. "Let me go."

"No." I push her against the shed wall and hold her there. He heart is pounding and her hair is flying. She looks like something wild and precious. I'm gonna tame her. I kiss her again, "Oh God, I want you."

"I'll scream." She threatens.

"Oh yeah." I run my hand down her thigh. "Oh yeah, you will."

"I said no, Alex." She's shivering.

I take both hands off her and move back a bit. "You wanna go? Go. I won't stop you." I wait a minute but she doesn't move. "You don't wanna go." I press my body against hers. "You wanna stay an' be taken."

"This is rape." She whispers.

"This is how you like it, ain't it?" I put my finger under her chin and lift her head til my lips can reach the side of her neck easily. "Tell the truth."

"Please." She whispers. "Please. Don't. My husband…"

"Can't make you feel like I can. Can he?"

She gasps and her eyes fall shut. "No."

I reach under her shirt and caress her apple-sized tits inside her lacy bra. She sighs and bites her lip. After a couple minutes, I fight with the rear clasp and finally get to where I can suck those nipples. I can feel her writhing in my arms, hear her gasping with pleasure. I get my hands inside her pants and one hand down to her pussy - she's soupy wet. I bite down on her nipple and she shrieks. I clamp my free hand over her mouth.

"You gonna need ta be real quiet if-n we gonna have any fun, hear?" She nods but her eyes are wide. She's still wet - my fingers are inside her slipping and sliding in and out of a tight, hot hole. "Good. Now, take off them pants if-n you want me ta fuck ya." I keep one hand over her mouth and the other in her slit. I can feel her hands reach down and moving around and shortly her pants fall to the ground. "Step out." She does so, opening her legs a touch wider in the process. I begin finger fucking her in earnest and can't help smiling as her eyes fall shut and she moans against my hand. I wanna eat her. I wanna fuck her. I don't think we have time for both.

"Get my pants off if-n you want me ta fuck ya." I whisper. She nearly yanks the zipper off. Her hands grabbing me franticly and pulling my dick off practically make me groan. I get my hand out of the way and she impales herself on me, groaning. "Oh fuck." I groan in her ear as I push all the way in. Touch fucking down.

She hot and warm and tight and wet and somehow alive like no other girl has ever been. "Oh fuck, Jessie, you feel so fuckin' good."

She gasps, suddenly frantic, "Oh, Alex. Hell. Oh God. Stop. Please." Which is how I realize that my hand has slipped from over her mouth.

I put my other hand - the one that was in her pussy - on her lips and kiss her through my fingers so we can both taste her. "If-n you think Ima finish with you like that you best think again. Oh, God, you gotta sweet pussy." I start moving slowly. It's as if I can feel every inch of her slit moving along my dick. I'm trying to be cool - make her cum first - but I'm having trouble not just bangin' her 'til I break. She's moaning and groaning non-stop, sometimes begging me to stop, sometimes giving me instructions like 'deeper', 'harder', 'faster'. I do my best, but in this space I can only do so much. When she gets too loud again, I cover her mouth with my hand again.

Then I feel it. She cums, hotter and wetter than anything I have ever felt and I realize the difference.

No condom.

"Oh fuck." I whisper again as much from the struggle not to cum myself as the realization that I could already have 'planted the seed'. But by the time her breathing levels out, I've calmed down. This isn't some teen slut. Jessie's a married woman - she's on the pill or one of those other married methods. I start moving again.

Too soon I realize that I'm getting close and have to stop. One upside to the 'raincoat' - I last longer. I wait 'til the urge subsides and start up again. She's only cum once and time maybe short, but it ain't that short. When I'm almost there yet again - maybe two strokes from the point of no return, I hold still, deep in her, press her against the shed wall and kiss her hard. I can hear myself growling in the back of my throat. Her pussy's so tight, it's pulsing around me. I'm not sure I can hold back. "Oh God," I beg her, "Please don't make me cum inside you. Not yet. You feel so good. Don't…" I lose it as she cums again. We're kissing and moaning, both trying not to cry out like we want to. "Oh God. Oh God." I pant trying to breath. She near as bad.

We're both sweaty. There is not a chance that if any one sees us like this we could pretend that nothing happened. I don't care. I don't want to move.

"Alex." She pushes me hard and I nearly fall away from her. Another upside to condoms - no messy clean-up. My jizz is already running down her legs. I drop to my knees intent on cleaning it with my lips and tongue but she yanks her pants up before I can even get a taste. "We have to go. Now."

I pull my pants up and fasten them. "What the fuck? Don't tell me you didn't enjoy that." She shakes her head and shoves her watch at me. The buffet started like an hour ago. "Oh. Shit."

We pop out of the shed and hurry out of the gardens until I realize how we look. Then I make her stop at the restrooms and freshen up a bit. By the time we reach the hotel, we look like we took a long walk - not like guilty lovers.

She's guilty anyway. "I can't believe we had sex like that." She mutters for like the third time as we pass through the lobby.

I stop her. "That wasn't sex, that was the fuckin' rapture. Ima spend my whole life tryin' to do that again."

Her eyes go wide and her hands flutter for a moment, "Oh you don't think… Oh Alex, you know there's a difference between sex and love, right? I mean…"

I put my hand over her mouth again - more gently this time, "Hey. I know this ain't love, right? But it was damn special." I pull her against me, "You were fuckin' amazing. I only wish I had had time to suck that sweet pussy uh yours. I wish Ida made you really scream." I'm about to kiss her when someone behind her yells out.

"Hey!" A fairly large red-haired guy lumbers toward us. He ain't as big as Granddad but judging by the look on his face, he don't need to be, "Let go of my wife!"

Oh fuck.

I let her go and take a step back. She acts fast, "Now, Jack, wait…" she intercepts him and they spend the next few minutes split between making sure that she's ok and stopping him from killing me. Which seems like a convenient time to me to go eat.

I turn to go find the buffet and damn near run into Peter. He is not happy. He doesn't say anything at all - not down to the banquet hall, not as we fill our plates, not as we sit and eat.

How come no one outside of Northern Neck can broil a damn piece of fish?

Peter doesn't speak until Melissa and Tanya sit down with us.

"So where was he?" Melissa asks.

I open my mouth but he glares at me, "I haven't asked him yet."

"Oh." She looks at Tanya then gives a resigned shrug "Ok. Well, I'll see you tomorrow then. I guess."

His hand all but shots out to grab hers, "Hey! I'm not gonna let him screw up your night." He smiles that heart melting smile of his. "You wanna see the garden, we'll go. I promise. Let me just find a radiator to chain this rat to first. Ok?"

She smile shyly, "Ok."

"Ok. Give me ten minutes. I'll meet you in the lobby. Promise." He stands up. "Alex. Now."

I see Melissa and Tanya reactions to that. I hate being called out in public like he's my damn father or something. But in truth, I can't say 'no' to him. There's something about the fact that he owns me, that I can't defy him, that he knows every dark twisted secret; if he told me to strip and blow everybody in here, I know in my heart I'd do it. I only hesitate a couple seconds before I say "Excuse me" and follow him out.

We go back to the room before he says anything more. "What was that in the lobby?"

I hesitate again; that was the breaking of, like, every rule. "Sir, I, uh, see, ok from the start, Sir." I take a breath and tell him quickly how I meet Jessie and what we did in the garden. I pop a boner just thinking about it.

He still doesn't say anything for a minute. Then he grabs both room keys, "I'm taking Melissa to those Gardens. If you leave this room, Ima break yo' fuckin' kneecaps."

I turn on the TV after he leaves and get comfortable. This is less a 'time out' for me than the calm before the storm for him. I can count on being suspended - breaking that many rules did that. He'll likely give me some irritating new chores as well. And he'll find some clever way to keep me away from Leigh for a while. I get to think like this for a good long time before the door finally opens and Peter and Melissa slide in, Kissing. I don't say anything - I'm not sure if he remembers I'm here.

Melissa sees me first and squirms away from him and hugs herself self-consciously. Peter shoots a look at me and I grab my shoes - the only thing I took off - and my cell.

"I'll wait in the lobby. Call me when you want me." I say as I leave. This time, I go stay put; nothing could get me to move.

It's a little more than two hours later when Peter calls. They're dressed, cuddled together on the bed watching a movie when I come in. I sit on the other bed and watch with them. Eventually, she leaves and Peter still doesn't say anything.

Finally, I can't take the silence. "Sir, I'm..."

"What's too far, Alex?" He asks before I can even start.

"Uh..." I don't know what to say 'cause I'm not sure what he means.

"Just tell me that. How do you know when 'no' is just part of the game?"

"Oh." I have to stop and think about that. "I don't know. I just kinda feel it."

"And how do you know when you're wrong?"

I start to say I've never been wrong but that doesn't make sense even to me - everybody's wrong sometimes.

Then I get a chill; Jessie even said 'this is rape.' "Oh. Oh, fuck." I get up and move toward the door then stop. I don't know what to do here. "Is she - I mean, did I - oh Christ!" I sit down again; I thought I was done doing that. I thought Peter fixed me. "I gotta find her." I say moving to the door again.

"Alex. Sit."

I sit but my heart's racing.

"Do you know why I set the no one without permission rule?"

Just to fuck with me, I thought. I shake my head.

"I set it so that you always have to ask yourself if she worth the extra effort. So that you always have to stop and step away from her. You don't think, Alex. You don't listen. You just act." He shakes his head., "You're a fuckin' hazard."

He's right. This time, I'm goin' ta jail. This is evil. Even Mom won't forgive me. I'm an evil, fucked up little shit and this is the crowning proof. "Fuck!" I get up again. I need to find her and make sure she's ok.

It's Lisa all over again.

"Alex." Peter's voice stops me at the door. "I spoke to her. She's not ok..."

"...Fuck!"

"...but it's not for the reason you think."

Jack. From what she told me, her husband's a dick. If it's him, I have no problem beating the shit outta him.

"Sit down." Peter says again. His voice is getting quieter which means his patience is getting thinner. I sit.

"If I know who you're out with, I can tell yo things like 'no biting' or use a condom'. You know, helpful hints you sometimes forget."

It's true. If I have to let her go to ask if I can go further, it's usually not worth the effort.

"So, new rule. You don't touch anyone ever unless they say you can."

"Huh?"

"I mean you don't kiss, you don't tickle, you don't put your arm around her god damned shoulder unless she puts it there. You ask permission to ask her permission. You don't know how to be responsibly aggressive, so you just lost that privilege. You the submissive, Alex, be submissive."

I get this kind of tingle down my spine. "Yes Sir."

"You feel aggressive, take in out on the field. Take up boxing if you have to, I don't care but all this 'forced consent' bullshit stops tonight. Right now. And here's why." He crosses the room to me. He takes my chin in his hand and squeezes so hard I think he's gonna break the bone. "I'm not lying to cover for you ever again. I'm not fishing you outta any more rivers. You better learn what too far is before you get another girl pregnant or break another girl's arm or I'm gonna put you in jail myself. Clear?"

I nearly broke Lisa's arm but I never got anyone… He nods slowly as I feel my eyes go wide.

"Yeah. Maybe next time you'll remember to ask about protection. If you ever have a next time. oh, and you're not suspended. I'm gonna take great pleasure reminding you every day that you need ta back off. Now go shower. Ima have a long day tomorrow an' you gonna see that Melissa has a good time."

"Yes, Sir." I whisper.

Crying doesn't count if you do it in the shower, alone. I fucked up this time. If she's pregnant, well, I'm not totally screwed, not like some people. But, my trust fund goes to the baby instead of my choice of party colleges. And that bones any chance of pro ball - I'm workin' for the fishery. That's not bad, really, my family's rich off the thing. But what I wanted to do was go to college someplace cool and maybe get an NFL draft slot. I'm not even close to ready to thinkin' about havin' a kid. I'm not ready to stop thinkin' about bein' a kid.

But worse; Peter is pissed. Thoroughly, deeply, no shit pissed off at me. More than that, he can't trust me. I gotta find a way to make this up to him.

I woke in the morning to Peter slapping me hard, "Come on, up. Breakfast in twenty." I dressed as fast as I could.

Melissa and Tanya were already at a table when we arrived. Melissa had her hair pulled up in that way too tight bun again; Peter walked up behind her and pulled it down. She squawked even after she realized that it was him. He ignored her and calmly used her hair tie to pull back his own hair - which looked stupid 'cause it's not long enough.

"A prince's supposed ta get a lady's favor b'fore battle, right?" He said, combing her hair with his fingers, "I can wear this and think of you."

"My hair's a mess." She whined.

"Your hair's gorgeous and if you not swimming, I wanna see it."

She actually snorted, "Yeah. Until Monday. Then you won't know me again."

He leaned over and kissed her, "I am hopping to know you very well for a very long time."

"Hey! Hey, you two!" Peter's swim coach seemed to appear from outta nowhere to break them apart. "What am I, blind? Do that on yo' parent's time. You eaten yet, McElroy?"

"No, Sir." Peter and I answered in tandem.

The Coach rolled his eyes at me, "Hurry up, Peter. I don't need you getting cramps during warm-ups."

We eat quickly then the four of us go back to our rooms and pack. I do all the heavy lifting bring the bags down to the lobby; Peter hangs out with the girls.

Eventually, Peter and Tanya go swim. Peter's last words for the morning are, "Make sure she has fun. Whatever she wants, she gets." So I buy Melissa her choice of junk food and tee shirts. After Peter knocks the bottom outta the 1500 Freestyle, I buy tee-shirts for the whole freakin' family. He tied the damn world record.

At four pm, the do the official presentations - trophies, awards, photos. Everybody with at least one, is goin' to the Olympic trials.

Peter has three.

Melissa and I cheer like crazy. I almost forget about last night.

And then I see Jessie coming over to me.

"Alex."

I nearly drop.

"I am so glad I caught you. Give your cousin my congratulations and tell him I'll give him a call if we want to take him up on that fishing offer." she pauses and tilts her head, "Are you ok?"

No, I think, I am so not ok. But I don't say that. I open my mouth and it really hits me - this woman could be caring my child.

I really fucked up this time.

"Alex. I think you should sit down." Jessie sounds worried."

I shake my head and get a grip. "No, I'm cool. I'll tell him. Yeah, you should totally come fishing."

"You sure you're alright?"

"Yeah. Cool."

Jessie looks at Melissa then back at me. "Alright. I have to go. Take care of yourself." She looks at Melissa again, "If the color doesn't come back to his face in five minutes, get him to the first aide tent."

Melissa and I sit there. "Should I even ask who that was?" She asks.

I shake my head which was a bad idea. A minute later my head's in a trash can and the content of my stomach for a week are with it. Melissa goes and gets the Coach. I tell him I ate a peanut and had a reaction which settles him down.

As we all climb aboard the buss, Peter says "Throwing up does not qualify as fun." He sits with Melissa. I sit alone.

When we finally make it back to the Rec Center, load four bags into Peter's car and he drives Tanya and Melissa home. I carry their respective bags to their respective doors. We drop off Tanya, but Peter walks Melissa to her door. He takes his time saying goodbye. After, he takes me to the river and makes me blow him, holding my head down so I have to swallow when he cums.

Then he drives me home. "What are you doing tomorrow?" he asks. I hesitate, not knowing what he's looking for. "Whatever you tell me, Sir."

He nods, "Be ready early. We're picking up Melissa on the way in."

"Yes, Sir." I get out of the car, get my bag and move Peter's to the front seat. "Sir, I'm sorry."

"Not yet, you not. But you will be."

Go to Chapter: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

Chapter 19: Peter

I can't believe I overlooked Missy; all these years right there, like sunlight.

But she perfect. Ok, maybe not the hottest girl I ever dated but she's smart and funny and on the swim team at the center so we already do damn near everything together.

And for once, I think she feels for me how I feel for her.

She even worked a charter cruise with me one Saturday when it was my turn to fill in. Mom likes her, Dad likes her, hell even Uncle Edward liked her on the boat.

I'm keeping a B average, I qualified for the FINA Open Waters in Australia and I am now officially classified as Top 16 Open Water worldwide. Everything is going well. Everything except Alex. Alex is a problem.

He took the submissive thing to heart and went to down right docile everywhere but on the football field. When Leigh broke up with him over it, he didn't put up a fight.

I still don't think he really gets what too far is - his own tolerance for abuse is far too high, what I have to do to get him is scary. I have actually gotten him to say 'peanut butter' twice since spring break. Once I almost made him do it anyway.

About a week before some school dance, during study hall, Lisa Hunter sits down across from me.. Naturally, I was taking Missy and to my surprise, Shawn Evans was taking Beth. Since the Ballroom dance team was performing again, Alex is going to the prom but I hadn't decided if he was staying.

"What's wrong with Alex."

Of all people, she deserved the truth. "He's being punished."

"For?"

I glanced around; I don't think anyone can hear us. "For getting a girl pregnant. Maybe. She's she hasn’t called us with test results."

"Oh. Wow."

"She's married, so it's kinda complicated."

"Yeah." she looks a bit stunned.

"I'm also trying to get him to understand what too far is. He needs limits."

"Yeah."

We sit in silence for a while.

"I think you're being too hard on him." She says at last.

"WHAT?" A few people shsh me and I lower my voice, "Lisa, you of all people know how he is. I swear, he thinks consent is when she says 'hello'."

"A little aggressive's not all bad."

"A little? Lisa, honestly, how close did he come to raping you?"

She looks away. "Not that close."

"Sure you right." I test how big a liar she is. "Yo' Dad stop slappin' you around yet?"

Her jaw sets. "Dad had some issues."

"Yeah. A little aggressive, is he?"

We sit in silence for a while.

"He's so sad, Peter. It's not right."

She's right, I know she's right but I can't trust him yet. He hasn't got it. I don't know if he'll ever get it.

"Are you guys going to the dance?" Lisa asks suddenly.

"I am. Alex is grounded." I see her brow furrow. "Why, you wanna take him?"

"He was sort of my back-up plan but if he's grounded..."

"I can lift it."

"You? I thought his parents..."

"They don't know about the girl. Hopefully, they never have to find out."

"Oh. Ok, then, yeah. I wanna take Alex. I trust him, Peter. I don't know what happened, but he's really upset."

"He has restrictions. I'm not gonna lift them. It won't be, you know, how he used to be."

She looks at me for a long time. "You've really changed too." She heads back to her desk leaving me to wonder what that comment was about. I don't think it was a good thing.

I catch Alex just before Missy and I leave for the rec center. "You have a date for next week. Get a corsage."

"Yes, Sir." Even I'm at the point where I would love to hear 'fuck off' just once.

The Friday before the dance, I get a call during class - no, I'm not supposed to use my phone in class but that hasn't stopped me yet. I see the light on my phone flash before it rolls to voice mail. After class I check the message.

It's Jessie, calling to let me know that she will not be able to go fishing but thanks for the offer. I feel myself sag against the nearest wall. If she was pregnant, she was going to come meet the family. No fishing trip, no baby.

I'm going to see Alex at lunch anyway but I still call him. He needs to know this now.

"Yes, Sir?" he answers.

"Jessie's not pregnant.” There's silence on the other end. "Alex?"

"Uh. Oh. Shit. Hold on." I hear him asking to be excused in the background. Then, a minute later, he rounds the corner toward me.

He crashes into me in a very public display of emotional break-down. It only take a couple minutes for him to pull himself together but I have no idea where this reaction is coming from.

"Is she ok?" He asks finally. "Did she say?"

"She sounded fine." I offer.

"I, uh, had gotten sorta used to the idea of being uh dad."

"You could knock somebody else up."

"Not even funny. Way too soon." He wipes his face on his sleeve. "Way too far."

"Really?" If he got it finally, I'm stunned. "Why's that?"

"It's - uh -" He glances around, "now?"

"Yeah, maybe not." This could be one of those long drawn out discussions. "We'll go to the river after school. Talk it out. OK?" He nods. "Go on back ta class. Lunch?"

"Cool." I can see him pulling himself back together.

When I see him later in the afternoon, he's still pretty subdued, but he doesn't seem quite as forlorn. I can't cut practice but I break my standing date with Missy after and we go to our spot.

Before we get out of the car, I make him tell me the rule again.

"No running, no jumping, no swimming." He replies.

We sit on the hood and stare at the water for a while.

"Ok, this is gonna sound like bullshit, but it's the only way I can think to explain it."

I look at him but he's still staring at the water. "Whatever. It's cool."

He nods once, sharply. "Nothing lasts in the river. I mean, it all just flows downstream, right? I mean, good, bad, whatever, it there for like a minute - a day, maybe - then it's just gone. Floats out ta sea or the ocean or whatever." He pauses so I grunt so he knows I'm listening. "I mean you gotta go some to like really fuck shit up. It's gotta be deliberate like building a dam or like nuclear waste or something truly fuck up. I mean to permanently change it."

He pauses again.

"That's it. Life is the river. 'Too far' is anything that doesn't just float out ta sea. Babies. Babies don't fuckin' float."

"Having a kid isn't a bad thing necessarily." I say.

"It is at our age. It is if she's married. I mean ta someone else. I mean, you can't just do it. It's like a dam - you gotta plan that shit. Know where it goes; how it fits."

He has been thinking about this. He's been thinking a lot.

"What I did to you..."

"...me?" I start; he hasn't done anything to me.

"I kinda made you a Dom whether you wanted it or not."

"...oh..."

"That's too far.” He looks at me, "We can't ever go back to, y'know, normal 'cause uh me."

"Alex..."

"Too far is shit you can't take back." his voice cracks.

I put my arms around him, "I don't wanna go back."

He leans his head on my shoulder, "I'm sorry. I'm really, really sorry..."

I put both arms around him and hold him tightly. "It's ok. Shh. Shh. It's ok...."

We sit there, like that, for a long while.

At sunset, I give him a kiss on the forehead and a quick shake. "Come on. We should head home."

"Yeah, ok.” He says softly.

Before we pull off, I stop, "The thing with the dog. I was bluffing. I wouddna ever - ever - made you do that. Ever."

For a minute, I think he's going to fall apart again. The he punches me in the arm. "That was too fuckin' far! Shit! Holy shit! I been had nightmares over that shit."

"You didn't think I'd really make you - that I'd let you -" I pause as I feel the bile rising. I had been really relieved when he said 'peanut butter' that day.

"You had me. You -" he throws his hands up, "You totally had me. Join the drama club." As we drive to his place, Alex tells me his opinions of several of the more extreme orders I've given him this last month. I listen and inside I'm terrified. Hearing him recount the details and think about Lisa's comment. What kind of person does these things - what kind makes someone else do them. Alex isn't the only one who has a problem with going too far.

At his house, we look at each other.

"Thank you." he says.

He thanks his abuser. There's something so wrong with that. "Uh, yeah." I mutter uncomfortably. "Hey, uh, listen, the rules have been kinda strict, right? But I think you get it now, so we can drop all that, ok? No more rules."

He wants to argue. I can see it in his face but all he says is "Yes, Sir."

I don't go home. I call Mom and go to Granddad's.

In his office, with the door closed, I tell him everything starting with Jessie. "I think I really hurt him, Granddad. He's not right."

He sighs deeply and shakes his head, "You boys uh right mess. You think he need professional help?"

"Yes, Sir." I swallow hard. "And me too. Something ain't right with me either. I made him like this."

He looks like he wants to contest that but shakes his head again. "Anybody else seem ta think something wrong with the boy?"

I shrug, "Who else would know?"

"Fair 'nuff." He scratches his beard. "Thing is, ain't no way 'round tellin' his parents 'bout this. Or yours either for that matter. We can talk all ya want but if-n ya'll need medical attention, now that's another thing."

I shake my head, "They won't understand. Not this."

"Well, now, I think you sellin' 'em all uh bit short." he sits back, "but I admit I understand yo' hesitation." He stares at me for a long time then sighs deeply. "There are some confidential medical centers. Let me see what I kin find. Anybody find out I'll tell its for me. Lord knows I ought ta have my head examined." He grins broadly.

It’s actually unnerving. "Granddad?"

"I done kept enough uh yo' secrets. You kin keep one uh mine. Miss Rachael's pregnant."

"Pregnant?"

"Yup. We just found out fo' sure this mornin' though I done suspected fo' uh couple months. She ain't wanna fret an' I ain't wanna push the matter but, well, some signs are harder to ignore than others." He chuckled to himself.

"Pregnant?"

"Well, hell, boy! She young an', well, I ain't past it quite yet. We married folk, so what's the problem?"

I shrug. "It's just weird. I mean it's weird enough that my Grandmother is, like, twenty. Now I'm gonna have ta tell people that Grandma's pregnant. It's just –" I try to think of a better word but I can't, "- weird."

He continues to grin. "Yeah, I guess you right there. Well, you ain't got ta hold this fo' long. She'll be showin' soon - hell, she showin' now - but we'll announce in all official ta the family on Mother's Day. Seem right proper ta me. You realize you gonna have an uncle almost 20 years yo' junior?"

I stay over in the guest room because it's late and I'm going to be here to swim in the morning anyway. I don't get any sleep, though, because I can't get Alex out of my mind. Granddad's news did not help. I hope Granddad can make an appointment for us. If he can stop gloating about his pending fatherhood.

Go to Chapter: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

Chapter 20: Alex

The night of the St. Patrick’s party, I wear my green suit. It's not my choice; I wear what the dance team tells me ta wear. I eat what Mom cooks. I go where anyone takes me; I do what Peter tells me. Still. I don't care if he did say no more rules, I know me. If I do it on my own, I'm gonna fuck up.

Peter got called in at the dock, so I had to do all the last minute stuff he usually handles - pick-up the corsages, call the restaurant, call the girls. Well, girl. I called Missy 'cause I still didn't know who he set up for me. I almost called Leigh -- I figured it's gotta be her - but he didn't tell me to do that.

By 4pm, I'm dressed and ready to go, waiting in the living room.

"You're a little early, aren't you?" Mom asked.

"Yeah, but I ain't wanna be late."

"Well, you won't be that. Who are you taking?"

I shrugged. "Some girl. Peter knows her."

Mom nodded. "Sweetheart..." she started then shook her head and kissed my forehead, "You know I love you. Would you be more comfortable waiting at their place? Save Peter a trip?"

My Mother was the shit. "Yeah, actually. I mean, if that's cool."

She grabbed her keys and drove me over there. She an’ Aunt Elizabeth fussed over dressing Beth in one of my Aunt's old dresses – retro 80'. I sat in the living room and went over all the rules. No swearing. No pinching. No touching while we dance – if she wants to dance. Get her chair. No fooling around.

That's been hard. Especially after Dance class. I'm kinda keyed up but I can't do anything about it. It's really hard 'cause Fuentes, my jackass instructor knows about me and Leigh and make us dance anyway. Salsa is hot to begin with and the more aggressive we dance the hotter it gets. By the time class is over, I don't have wood, I got lead lined steel. Before we broke up, Leigh used ta blow me and that fixed that. Now she actually laughs at me. My only consolation is knowing that half the time she's so wet, it's dripping down her legs. Of course, she's seeing someone who can fix that for her.

Peter comes in, waves at me and heads up stairs. He might as well be a girl when it comes to grooming so I got at least another hour to wait.

Jessie's not pregnant. The thought comes to me again from out the blue. It hits me every so often. I'm not somebody's father. The thought's so relieving, I practically wet myself. I check my wallet – three un-expired condoms in the first credit card slot. I may never get a chance to use them but I'll damn sure never be caught without them again.

Evans shows up to pick up Beth before Peter appears. Aunt Elizabeth yells for her and he and I wait in the living room in silence.

Eventually, Beth appears on Peter's arm. Beth's in white and looks like ice cream – sweet and tasty and so good you don't care who sees you eatin' it. Evans looks like somebody hit him with a brick – until Uncle Charles has a conversation with him. I know for a fact Uncle Charles owns a gun; judging by the way he tries not to touch Beth on the way out the door, I'll bet Evans has seen it.

As soon as the door closes, Aunt Elizabeth lights into him "Charles Walker McElroy, what did you say to that boy?"

"Just what he needed to know." He says mildly. "You two gonna keep an eye on her?"

"Yes sir." Peter and I both reply.

Peter glances at his watch, "Hey we gotta fly." He kisses his mom, and we hit the road.

We pick up Missy who's apparently dressing tonight for easy access. Her skirt's so short I can almost see the lower curve of her ass. Peter stares at her like her planning to take her now.

"Is that look good or bad?" She asks finally.

"Astoundingly, amazingly, speechlessly good."

"Yeah," I gotta agree, she looks pretty good, "Seriously."

She blushes as Peter pins on her corsage and takes her hands, "A nice dinner," he kisses one hand, "a little dancing," he kisses her other hand, "And after..."

"And after?" Her father says behind him.

"And after, we'll be home by 11pm, sir."

"Good plan, son." He takes Missy gently by the shoulders, "Now, you've got your phone, right?"

"Yes, Dad."

"And enough for a taxi home, right?"

"Dad, yes."

"Alright, you be a good girl. Don't let this slick hound take advantage of you..."

"...Dad!"

"...no smoking, no drinking, no drugs..."

"Herbert," Her mother cut in. "They're good kids. They'll be fine."

He relented. Five minutes later, we were back in the car and Peter finally got the kiss he'd been angling for. "You look unbelievable, Missy."

She blushes, "You such uh liar."

He drove to Lisa's house. I looked around. Lisa had neighbors but none of them went to our school. He looked at me. "Well?"

This is just cruel. There is no way Lisa would ever go out with me again. There is no way I would ever deserve to go out with Lisa again. It's a joke. It's gotta be a joke. "Not funny." I finally get my voice to say.

"Not a joke." He counters.

"Too far." Way fucking too far. Hating me I get. Why would he do this to her?

"She asked, ok? Not my idea." His voice took that flat tone he used when he giving me orders. "She's waiting, Alex."

He expected me to just go up there like Lisa's was gonna be happy to see me. "Peter." I remembered Missy's still sitting there. I didn't care. "Sir. Don't make me do this."

He stared at me as he said, "Missy, would you please go tell Lisa we'll be in in uh minute?"

Missy got that something just happened but not what. She went to the house.

"I thought you'd be happy." He said.

"I thought you'd talked to Leigh." Leigh liked hurting me. I wasn’t good for Lisa. She deserved someone better. "Please don't make me do this."

"Alex." He was moving into full command mode. "You're her prom date. You'd stand her up?"

Stand her up or risk breaking her arm again? That wasn’t even a hard choice. Then I thought, maybe this was some kind of test. "Peter..." I hesitated 'cause I knew he'll hold me to it. "I'll never say 'no' again. If you don't make me do this, I'll do what ever you say for the rest of my life, I swear but please, please, please not this."

He looked at me for a long time. For once, I couldn't read him at all. Then quietly, in command form he said, "Alex. Get up. Get your prom date. Now."

So this wasn't about anything except him being a dick. "Asshole." I muttered under my breath. I paused on the porch. 'Oh God,' I prayed silently, 'Please don't let me hurt her again.'

Her Mom let me in like she was happy to see me. I joined Missy in the living room. Peter came in like five minutes later and Lisa finally made her grand entrance like five minutes after that.

She was wearing a pale green thing that floated around her like some old fashioned southern belle. She looked like an angel sent down from heaven. She should be placed on a pedestal and worshiped not forced to spend time with a little hell beast like me. Lisa smiled and I swear – no shit – it was like the sun just came out.

"So, how do I look?"

Like a goddess. Like a fuckin' fairy princess. Like redemption. I couldn't actually say that but I knew I had ta say something. "Very pretty.” It was lame, but at least it made sense.

"Is that for me?" She pointed to the box in my hand. The corsage was yellow 'cause I though it would be for Leigh and I knew it would match her dress. "Oh. Yeah." Next to her it's too ugly for words. I tried to tie it on her wrist but really I wanted ta just drop it in the trash.

She laughed at me, "Alex, relax. It's not like this is a real date." She kissed her mother. "I promise I won't be late."

As we left, I realized what's missing. Her father. I couldn't help grinning over the idea that Ms. Hunter finally kicked him to the curb.

At dinner, I spent less time eating than I did wondering why Lisa wanted to go out with me again. Why would an angel seek out Satan? It's not a real date she said – that would make sense. She just didn't want to arrive alone. But it wasn’t like she’d ever had trouble getting a date – half the football team would drop kick their mothers to go out with her.

When we got to the dance, I had ta run to join the Ball-Roomers. Leigh was there and unfortunately, I had ta dance with her. I couldn't even figure out what I saw in her until I remembered the pain. Am I so much of a pain slut that I would date a bitch like Leigh? Later, when we were dancing and she was finding ways to dig her nails into me, I got my answer.

Oh yeah. In uh fuckin' heartbeat.

But between them I'd rather have Lisa and no pain then Leigh with it.

Or maybe it was the dance. The last month or so while Peter's had me on a short leash, dance was the only stress reliever I had. Something about control keeping Gail and Leigh on the same short chain I'd been on got me high practically. When we dance, Leigh may still be a bitch but she was totally my bitch.

When we finished, I realized that my guitar was still on stage. I got a sudden flash. I used to play for Lisa. And I still knew her favorite song. Ms. Karas steped up on the stage to take the mike but I stopped her and asked if I could do a special dedication. She hesitated but she'd heard me play before and let me go for it. I flagged Peter up while I lowered one mike and set up the other.

"What up?"

"You remember that one by Extreme, 'More Than Words'?" We had practiced it for Uncle Julius' wedding but sang something else instead.

"Vaguely."

"I wanna do it now. For Lisa."

I could see; he was gonna say no. Then abruptly he said, "Damn. Ok."

I started playing the introduction and stepped up to the mike. "This is for," I looked up and saw Lisa looking back at me, "for my prom date." She smiled.

Luckily, that one's pretty easy compared to the stuff I did for the dance team. Peter had the hard part singing the harmonies. When we finish, there was applause and cheering and Lisa and Missy meet us at the edge of the stage.

Lisa kissed me.

Nothing else happened that night. Lisa kisses me. Lisa forgave me. I mean, we dance and there was food and what ever else happen at these things but I totally miss it all.

Lisa walked outside with me. Around to the locker room.

"Do you remember where we first made out?" she asked me. I shrugged. I haven't the faintest clue. "Right here." She fell back against the wall between the boys and girls rooms, pulling me on top of her. "You pushed me against this wall and kissed me. Hard."

She tilted her lips upward and I remembered the day. I couldn't tell at the time if she wanted me or not but I was crazy for her so I just took a chance when I saw her alone and went for it. I looked down at her lips now. Peter said no rules. I let my lips touch hers and she moaned, sliding her arms around me. We sucked face for a while. A long while. I wanted to bang her so much I was afraid to move.

She pulled back a bit and my lips grazed around her chin and behind her ear.

"I love it when you do that." she whispered.

"Do what?" I nibbled behind her ear. She was squirming in my arms and it was an amazing turn on.

"When you want me so bad that you can't act right. You just push me and take me."

"Oh God, I want you." Then what she just said registered. 'can't act right.' I let her go and took a step back. "Oh jeez! Lisa, I am so sorry. I don't know why I keep doing that. I'll stop. I'm..."

"Alex!" she pulled me back toward herself but I resisted. "Did you hear me? I said I like it when you come on kinda strong. I just don't like it when you hurt me is all."

"Oh God. Lisa, I swear I will never hurt you again. I am so...I don't know what's wrong with me. Why I'm such uh little shithead."

"There's nothing wrong with you. That's just the way you are. You're just like Daddy."

A cold wave washed over me. I was like her Father. She reached up and wiped my eyes. I'm such a little pussy.

"Lisa, I can't tell you how sorry I am..."

"I want Alex back." she said but I shook my head. "Not the guy who has to try and slap me around if I say something he doesn't like but the one who makes me feel like the sexiest woman alive."

"I can't," I tried to control my emotions, "I'm so sorry."

"I want my friend back. Can I have my friend back?"

She's Lisa. She could have whatever the hell she wanted.

She pulled me to her again, "Kiss me, Alex. Kiss me like you mean it."

She put her arms around my neck and her lips against mine again. All I could think was if she wants passion, I could do that.

But I'll never hurt her. I'll slit my own fuckin' wrist before I hurt her again.

While we were kissing, she started rubbing her body against mine. Like my dick wasn't hard from the moment I saw her. I scooped her up into my arms and carried her into the locker room. Our lips barely broke contact as I made my way to the last row of lockers and moved the bench out of the way.

The floor had much more space without it.

We lay there, groping and kissing, my jacket and tie half off, her dress half unzipped when she suddenly pushed me away, panting. She stood up and unzipped her dress fully, letting it fall to the floor. For a moment she stood before me in just a bra, panties and high heels. Something in my face must have caught her because she asked, "How do I look now?"

Like a goddess? Like the sexiest creature God ever put on this green earth? "Un-fuckin-believable." I managed to say.

She smiled and sat next to me again. She started unbuckling my belt. "I wanna blow you." She said.

I had to kiss the mouth that said that. I wanted ta suck her whole face in. I got her bra off before she could get my pants down and I switched my mouth from lips to tits. She groaned and my dick twitched. I wanted to fuck her but more than that, I wanted her to want me to fuck her. I pinned her down, sucking her tits. I started to pinch the nipples but stopped before I reach them – she didn't like it when I did that. I licked them instead.

"Do you like that?" I whispered. I couldn't remember ever asking her that.

"Oh yeah. That's nice." she sighed.

I sucked them. "What 'bout this? Tell when I'm doing it right."

"That's nice." then she hissed, "Oww, not so hard."

“Sorry! Sorry! I’m –”

“Shhh! Don’t stop, just ease up.” she pushed my face back to her chest.

Gently, softly. I licked her nipples more than sucked them, I waited ‘til she sighed, “Harder.” I slowly sucked harder. I struggled with myself not to move my hands down until she moved them forcibly to her hips. “Alex, what’s wrong?” she all but whined.

“I just don’t wanna go too far.” I gasped. It was a struggle not to just rip those pointless little panties off and do her.

“You won’t.” She assured me. “Stop teasing.”

“I’m not.”

“Then grow a pair.” She snapped which caught me completely off guard. I looked her in the eye and she didn’t flinch. She just stared back evenly. The old Lisa – My Lisa – the one who wasn’t weak.

“I don’t want to hurt you.” I said. “Not ever again.”

“Then don’t. I’ll tell you when to stop.”

She didn’t tell me to stop when I actually ripped the panties out of my way. She didn’t say stop when I ate her until she cried. She paused me to find a condom but didn’t stop me again until I was bangin’ her so hard her head almost hit the locker. Even then, it was only to change positions. I didn’t stop myself until she came and I simply couldn’t hold off any longer.

We lay together for a little while before we got up, cleaned up a bit, dressed and got back to the dance. The crowd had thinned out considerably and Peter and Missy were waiting for us.

“Everything cool?” Peter asked me.

I felt myself blush and felt all kinds of stupid. “Yeah. Yes, Sir.” I glanced at Lisa who was whispering to Missy. “Thanks.” He looked a little troubled. “Peter, I owe you…”

“No,” He cut me off. “I been doin’ far worse to you than you ever done.”

“Stop. I swear, Peter, if I spend the rest uh my life tryin’, I’ll ever be able ta repay you for…” I gestured to Lisa, “…this. Thank you.”

He hugged me. I didn’t expect it, and I wasn’t sure how to respond to it except for one thing. I hugged him back. “I love you, Peter.” I whispered. I just hoped nobody else heard me.

Go to Chapter: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

Chapter 21: Peter

I loved taking Missy to parties because she always looked so different when she dressed up for the occasions. William Parker’s birthday was just one more good excuse to get Missy in a dress. William’s parents were the liberal kind and had bought wine coolers for the occasion so half the school turned up for the event. There was dancing in the backyard and lots of loud conversation but mostly there were couples hooking up and sneaking down to the Parker’s basement. I knew Missy and I wouldn’t be going down there so I contented myself with a few cheap feels whenever I could sneak one in. That and with watching Alex. He was more or less following the rules of the day which were basically don’t piss William off and see me before you screw anyone.

Sometime after sunset Missy came over to me and sat in my lap. “Hey.” She whispered. “Do you want to go down stairs?”

Foolish as it was I honestly thought it was a trick question. It must have shown on my face too but Missy just smiled seductively and lead me to the basement door. There were three rooms one main room with an old carpet and two worn couches. To the left was a bare bones bedroom with a bed, a dresser and a lamp. The couches, the bed and the carpet were all occupied with teens in various stages of making out. Missy lead me through the other door into the laundry room. On the far side was yet another door. This one lead to the garage. Beside the car, was an unoccupied couch.

“Oh you clever girl.” I whispered nibbling her neck.

She sighed and pulled me down on top of her – a first. “Peter, let’s do it.” She whispered.

“Mmmm. Let’s.” I burrowed behind her earlobe. They were very delicate and surprisingly sensitive. I admit I wasn’t really listening to her.

“Peter.” She was a little more insistent. “I want you to do it.”

“Ok.” Then I stopped and pulled a little away from her as it suddenly dawned on me what ‘it’ might be. “Wait up, do what?”

“You know,” she looked away. “it.”

“You mean, all the way?”

“If you have a rubber, I mean.” She rushed out.

I pulled out my wallet and produced a foil packet. “We don’t have to.”

“I want to.”

I pulled away entirely. My whole body wanted to get busy while the offer was available but my head hadn’t lost total control yet. “Why?”

She stared at me. “Why?”

“Yeah. Months you been sayin’ no. Now, here you wanna say yes? Why?”

“I just want to. Ain’t that enough?”

I thought about it. “No.”

She rolled her eyes. “I don’t…” she stopped. “Never mind.”

I grabbed her before she could get up. “Wait, wait. I ain’t say no. I just wanna know why before we do. I don’t want you all upset after.”

Her expression softened. “See? That’s why. You’re so sweet. And you make me feel all –“ she shivered “- ohh! And some of the girls were talking….” She looked away.

“Yeah? Who?”

“No.” she smiled.

“Aw, come on.”

“No, it’s bad enough you know they were talking about you. You’ll get uh bigger head than you got.”

“You give me big head.”

She blushed. “Peter!”

I tickled her and she laughed and we giggled for a minute or two. I managed to get her prone under me – right where I’ve wanted her for months. “OK. Seriously. Why?”

She blushed and kind of looked away. “Mom said that her first time was…bad.”

“Bad?”

“He just didn’t know what he’s doing, she said.”

“Ah.” Then I connected the earlier comment. “Ah! And someone told you I do?”

“A reliable source.”

“Who is?”

“No.” She giggled. “I ain’t telling.”

I let it go. I didn’t really care; Missy was the only girl I wanted anymore. “Alright.” I kissed her chin. “Now, you mean this, right? You sure?”

“I thought you wanna be first.”

“I wanna be first, second, tenth, hundredth and last. But first mean more to you than to me.”

“I just don’t want it to hurt.” She shook her hair out – a nervous habit for her. “I don’t care about the rest.”

“It won’t hurt.” I promised. I kissed her lips and swore to myself I’d make that true. “It won’t hurt at all.” I took a long time kissing her and caressing her boobs. We made out a lot and gone as far as given each other hand jobs. But she wouldn’t let me go down on her and she flat refused to blow me. I got her skirt up to her waist, my hand inside her panties and made her cum once with just my fingers.

Then I slid down her. “No.” she gasped when my mouth brushed her almost bald pussy.

“Yes.” I moaned in response. I’d never eaten a girl who shaved and it was a very nice change of pace not to have hair on my tongue while I licked and sucked her slit. She came fast – so fast, I almost missed it because she didn’t squirt like Trina. I kept at her, sucking her clit and pushing my tongue in her until she hit me hard.

“Stop! Please!” she croaked. “It’s too much.”

“Oh. Sorry.” I mumbled. Actually my jaw was a bit sore anyway so I didn’t mind stopping. Instead I lay beside her again. “I wanna put this thing on now.” I said finding the condom again. “You ready?”

“Yes.” She panted. She began pulling open my belt and caressing my rock hard dick through my pants. She got my pants open and hesitated. She looked at me. “Should I…” she licked her lips nervously.

“You don’t have to.” I said shakily even though every nerve in my body was screaming ‘yes’. “I’d love it but you don’t have to.”

She stuck her tongue and tentatively took a swipe at me. She made a face. “I can’t. Can we just, y’know, skip?”

I started to point out that it wasn’t fair that I went down on her but she wouldn’t do me but then remembered why we were there in the first place. “Sure Missy.” I leaned down and kissed her to show no hard feelings. I slipped the packet into her hand. “You put it on.”

Her hands shook as she opened the pack and then struggled to figure out which way it rolled. I watched her and tried to relax as her hands kept stroking me in the process. “I’m sorry.” She lamented. “I’ll hurry up.”

“Take your time.” I sighed. “I can wait.” Eventually she got it on me. I hadn’t softened any in the process. “OK. Lie back.” I rubbed the head against her to make sure it was thoroughly wet. Then I put just the head against the opening. “Ok, tell me when to stop.” I pushed gently.

“Stop!” she was shaking.

“What?”

“I just…I…I wasn’t ready.”

I counted silently to ten and prayed I could do this with the sensitivity required. “OK. I’ll back out.”

“No, wait. Just let me get used to it.”

“Ok.”

We stayed there, not moving for a few minutes. She let me push the next quarter inch in and made me wait again. I was beginning to wonder if I would go soft before I got all the way in. Slowly, very, very slowly, she let me push into her slit. I couldn’t tell if she was actually enjoying it or not. From my end, she was actually too tight. Finally she said push and my nuts hit her butt.

“That’s it.” I sighed. It was like having someone grab my dick and squeeze as hard as they could. “You ok?”

She smiled slightly. “Yeah. Is it ok for you?”

I found enough breath to almost laugh. “Don’t worry ‘bout me. This is ‘bout you. Tell me when you want me to move.”

“Ok.” She kissed me and that made everything better as she seemed to relax some. “Try now.” I pulled back slowly and give a slight push. Already she was considerably looser and I went in almost two inches. She gasped.

“Sorry! Sorry!”

“No, no.” she said, a little shocked. “That was good. Do it again.” I pulled back and push in again. “Again.” She gasped. Her call for again began to get louder and faster and I covered her mouth with mine, vaguely aware that sound could carry. She wrapped her arms around me and began pushing back just as hard, just as fast. I held my breath and hoped I could hold out until she came.

I did but just barely. I could feel her muscles clinch at almost the moment I knew I was going to burst. As tight as she was, even if I wasn’t going to cum already, she would have squeezed it out of me. We lay there panting and sweating.

“Oh god!” She moaned after a minute. “That’s what I was afraid of?” I nodded, still trying to catch my breath. “Oh, Peter. Thank you.” She sighed. Then she kissed me again. I slipped out of her and got the rubber off while we necked. We were almost decent when William’s Father found us and round us and everyone else in the basement back upstairs. We got lucky – someone got caught mid-stroke.

Shortly thereafter I took an affectionate Missy home. We stood on her front door step and kissed until her Mother opened the door and coughed.

Driving myself home, I saw a girl walking by the roadside. There are still a fair number of hitchhikers in our area so I didn’t even really think about it until I realized that she looked familiar. I glanced back in my review after I passed her and nearly swerved off the road.

Trina.

I pulled on to the shoulder and got out of the car. There was no good reason for Trina to be out, at night, walking. As I got closer to her I realized that she was crying. She didn’t seen hurt and her dress wasn’t ripped or anything so there was no obvious reason.

When I called her name, she ignored me. When I touched her, she pulled away. I grabbed her. “Trina, I’ll won’t ask what’s wrong,” although I was aching to know who made her cry, “but I’m not gonna leave you out here.” I half dragged her to the car and sat her in the passenger side. For a minute she just took huge sobbing breaths. I opened the glove box and gave her some tissues. She wiped her eyes and blew her nose. She still didn’t say anything. “Chocolate, what’s wrong?” She burst into tears again.

My chest actually ached watching her cry. I would have done anything to make her stop but I didn’t know where to begin. I tried wiping her eyes but the tears were falling faster than I could dry them. “Please don’t cry.” I whispered, trying not to cry myself. I began kissing the tears away. I had no idea why except that it seemed right at the moment. “It’ll be alright. I promise.” I had no idea what I was saying. “Please.” Watching her cry actually hurt. My lips brushed hers and suddenly, I was kissing them not the tears and begging her to stop crying in between.

She leaned back against the seat and I pulled into the car with her to keep our lips together. She didn’t try to push me away. In fact, her fingers lingered on my face which I took as a positive sign. She’s upset, I thought, don’t make this worse. Which did nothing to stop me from releasing the seat so that it reclined flat. Her arms pulling me down with her lead me to suspect that she wasn’t upset with me. When her hand drifted down to tug on my belt, my erection was almost instant.

I didn’t ask why she wanted to fool around. I didn’t ask about Jamal. I didn’t think about Missy. A hot girl undid my pants and put her hand on my dick; I did what any straight teenage boy would do. I lifted her skirt, pulled down her panties, and slid my dick into her warm waiting hole. I didn’t want to compare them but Trina felt better that Missy did. Still tight but not crushing just close. I heard myself groan and Trina whimpered. I pulled back slowly but Trina grabbed my ass with both hands and pulled me back. “Make it work, nigga.” She growled.

Who am I to say no to a direct order?

It didn’t last long. I plowed her hard and fast for maybe ten, maybe fifteen minutes then I went off like a rocket. I took a minutes to try to get my brain function again before I realized that I didn’t feel her cum. I pulled away from her, squeezed down between the door and the seat and ate her. I’d tasted my own jizz before but never like this – not still in a girl. She sprayed my face in two minutes flat. I leaned my head on her thigh. “Oh, yeah. That’s it.” I gasped.

It didn’t take long for the euphoria to wear off. She sat up. “I should go.”

“Where you gonna go?” I asked wearily but I zipped my pants and stood up. I realized that we were still on the side of the road and damn lucky that no one had happened by. “Where you goin’ anyhow?”

“Don’t matter.” She spat and got out of the car. She started walking again but I stopped her.

“Trina, I’ll take you anywhere you wanna go but you ain’t walking.”

“Let me go.”

“We not havin’ this argument.” I was not above tying her down if I could find enough rope.

She looked at me, defiant. “You not cute. I don’t need you.”

“You still not walking.”

She tsked me. “White boy think he know every damn thing,” she muttered. “For your information, I’m going to my aunt’s house.”

“Now?”

“What you care ‘bout when and where I go?”

“It’s midnight?”

“So?”

I shrugged. I really wasn’t any of my business but…”So, you my friend. I wouldn’t let any of my friends walk home at midnight.”

She looked at me again and then her shoulders slumped slightly. “I lost my keys – I lost my damn purse. My folks at my aunt’s house so I’m tryin’ to catch up with them.”

I gaped. “You lost yo’ keys? That’s what all them tears ‘bout?”

She looked away. “Yeah.” It was clearly a lie but I didn’t call her on it.

“Come on, get in. “I’ll take you home, you want.”

“I can’t get in.”

“I got a trick.” Her house was the same design as Alex’s. He lost his keys so regularly, he left his window open so that he could break in easily. If a window was open, I could get her in the house.

By the time we got there, though, her family was home. I dropped her off and she nearly ran into the house. No good night kisses like Missy had given.

Which is when the guilt set in. I can’t sleep around any more, I reminded myself. Missy gave herself to me. I vowed to myself the Trina was the last. From now on, it would be just Missy.

Go to Chapter: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

Chapter 22: Alex

Friday morning, Lisa caught me on my way to first period. "Don't be mad, Ok?"

"I hate it when you say sh- stuff like that Lis! I'm not gonna get mad. Just say it."

"I wanna break our date tonight."

I opened my mouth to yell then closed it. I'm not mad, I told myself. I took a quick deep breath, held it briefly then blew it out in a huff. Granddad says you inhale all the anger, give it a couple seconds to boil, then shoot it out. Says it kept him from killing Uncle Julius more than once. I don't know about all that but it did at least keep me from saying the first stupid thing that popped into my head. "OK. Why?"

She looked embarrassed and blushed and looked away. "Doug asked me out."

"An' you said yes."

"He's cute." She whined, blush getting deeper. "'Sides, we not really dating or somethin'."

Of course not. Why would a fucked up little cretin like me be allowed near a jewel like her anyway? I'm just an available escort when she wants one. "Yeah. Right. Sure; no prob." I turned to continue to class but she stopped me.

"Wait! I want you to do me a favor, though."

"Sure. Whatever."

"Take Mandy out tonight."

"Who?"

"The new girl on the squad? I told her I knew someone. She's new in town. I told her we could double. Well, triple I guess."

Not how I'd planned to spend my night. We were going to double with Peter and Missy. Lisa was a 'no restrictions' date for me so I didn't have to obey any special rules. Some new chick - if Peter even says ok - I basically won't even be able to kiss her goodnight. But I didn't figure I had much choice. "Yeah. I gotta ask Peter first, but…."

"He said ok."

"What?"

"I already talked to Peter. He said ok." She tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. "He and I talked an' he said it was my call."

"Oh." Peter was letting Lisa be my Dominant for the night. So even though I was going out with whatever her name was, I was still trying to please Lisa. Two masters. "Ok." No fooling around aside, it actually sounded pretty sick. Which was definitely a good thing.

"There are, of course, rules."

"Cool."

"I'll tell you after practice tonight." She said. She grinned, poked me and headed for her first period class. "See you later."

I spent most of the morning trying to remember what the new girl looked like. Actually, I wasn't sure when they added a new girl. Then again, once football season ended, I kind of got swamped with the Dance team. We performed a lot; we had more dance competitions that football games. And we were good - we made Regional and Divisional finals and took third in State. Individually, I'd placed in the Top Five, Male at all three competitions. It was kind of a big deal but not so much considering that Peter might be going to the Olympics.

I didn't see Peter any more during the day. The few classes he had in the building were all senior level and then he left early to go swim. But he usually came back around 3 to pick up Missy and take her to the pool were they both swam for a couple hours. I caught him in that fifteen minute window and confirmed that it was ok about the new girl.

"Yeah. Mandy. Nice girl."

"You know her?"

He shrugged. "Lisa introduced her briefly. I don't really know her. She seemed nice, though. Why?"

"Just seem kinda odd; everybody know my date but me."

"Does it matter? Just be nice to her, right?"

Nice. Why can't I find a bad girl? I wondered. "Yeah. Cool. Hey, Missy."

"Hey, Alex." Missy barely acknowledged me as she put her arms around Peter and they sucked face for a couple minutes. I didn't like admitting that I was jealous but I'd be lying if I denied it.

"Guys! Come on!" I complained after a while and they let up.

"I'll be round to get you about 6." Peter said, still teasing Missy. "Cool?"

"Yeah. Cool." I headed to Ballroom rehearsal and let them neck some more without me.

After that, I finally caught up with Lisa on the late bus home. "Ok I talked to Mandy and here's the 411." She plopped into the seat beside me and launched into it. "She's a technical virgin but she's over it, she just hasn't found a guy to do it yet. She thought she had, at her old school but he was doing someone else behind her back and she kinda wants to get back at him but not really. Also, she's really really ticklish. And she's definitely the no-pain type so no pinching, no spanking, no squeezing too hard. Oh, and she let it slip that nobody's ever gone down on her before so you have to do that too."

"Do that too?" I felt like I was getting mental whiplash. "Whoo, wait - I thought we were just doing a movie and pizza over at Pauly's." Pauly's was the local teen hang out in as much as we had a local teen hang out.

"Well, yeah, but we're not gonna there all night!" She rolled her eyes at me. "God! What'd you think? Doug's gonna get me an' Mandy at my place around 6 and the movie starts at quarter to 7 so don't be late, 'K? Ok, that's my stop. I'll see you later. Tell Beth to call me!" She was gone before I could finish processing the whole conversation.

My house was another twenty minutes or so, so I had plenty of time to think about the conversation. Or rather, I would have if I hadn't spent the rest of the ride talking about the upcoming track meet we were likely to lose.

I got home, did five minutes worth of homework, changed clothes and was ready when Peter and Missy got there. When we got to the theater, I still didn't recognize Mandy but I did know Doug. We didn't hang in the same circles but he seemed like a nice guy. Mostly, he seemed hung up on Lisa and glared at me every time I got within a foot of her. Once we got in the movie, Peter made me sit between him and Mandy - preventing me getting into it with Doug or up in it with Lisa. Which was probably just as well since as soon as the lights went down, Mandy's hand started rubbing my knee. I did a standard reach around and got no complaints when my arm went around her shoulder.

We were in those loveseat style seat so there was no armrest between us and enough space for me to spread my legs slightly to see how far up she was planning to go. When she was consistently at mid-thigh, I leaned over and whispered, "Turn about far play, right?"

"What?" She whispered back.

"You do it to me, I can do it to you, right?"

"Maaaaayyyy-be!" she giggled.

I did not laugh. What the fuck is 'maybe'? Maybe I'm a cock tease, maybe I'm not? I left my hand on her shoulder and started actually watching the movie. We let the girls pick and they went with the re-make of some 80's chick flick. It was about three hot chicks and one fat-but-doable girl being chicks together. It probably had some heartwarming shit about friendship and love or whatever. All I know is my ex-wife burn out my car, she is so fucking over.

At some point, Mandy made a purring kind of sound and I realized that I was stroking her neck. She snuggled against me and I took that as a good sign that maybe might actually mean yes. When her hand moved to the inside of my thigh, I opened my legs wider. Peter was too involved with Missy's tonsils to notice. Mandy purred again and I moved my fingers to stroke around her ears and into her hair as well. Her fingers moved to my dick. I'm sorry, but maybe my ass - a girl puts her hand on my dick like that she better not be playing. I risked putting my free hand on her knee and she sighed. I tried to remember what Lisa had told me on the bus about what I was supposed to do but all I could really focus on was her rhythmically squeezing my dick to life. I started kissing her neck and licking her ear - largely to distract her from my hand moving up her thigh and between her legs. She moaned as I rubbed the crotch of her jeans. A couple minutes later, our lips met and I transferred my hand from the jeans I couldn't get inside to the shirt I could easily get under.

One thing I love about girls with tiny tits is that they are much more likely to go braless. I'll go for easy access any day. I was all set to just lift her shirt and suck them directly when someone grabbed my hair and pulled.

I did actually let a couple drops out as Peter hissed at me that the movie was nearly over. It took a couple minutes for Mandy and I to try and look respectable again. The movie ended and everyone decided to go for pizza - I personally wanted to go to the river and make out but Peter said pizza and gave me that look of his so I said pizza too.

I did get to give Mandy one thrill. I caught her by the restroom. "Hey, let me show you something." I said and pushed her back in. She objected but not strongly and she was giggling the whole time. I locked the door behind us and pushed her - gently - against the wall. "I wanna try something.

"What? What are you doing?" She squirmed as knelt down and unbuttoned her pants. "Alex! We'll get caught!"

"Not if you shut up!" I tugged her pants over her hips but left her panties in place.

"What are you doing? Alex! Oh My God!" She gasped as I kissed her slit through her drenched pink flowered undies. It was hard to tell, in the theater, if I had gotten to her but now it was pretty clear. I didn't stay down there long - just enough to get a quick taste for myself and make sure she was totally for the real thing later. Then I buttoned her back up and made her check to see if the coast was clear before we went back to the table. Peter and Lisa looked like they knew what I was up to.

We ate pizza and talked about stuff other than the movie - which none of us actually watched. Finally, Peter and Missy were nuzzling more than talking and the PDA was getting pretty sappy. So we left. Peter casually suggested that we stop by the river and see the view and Doug and I agreed that he had a excellent idea. The girls pretended that we were being subtle.

I let Mandy put her hand inside my pants on the drive over to 'our' spot on the Wicomico River. It was another of those moonlit nights and Peter - my awesome cousin, master in all things - had three blankets in the trunk. We each took one and picked a spot where we weren't staring at each other.

Mandy started to put her hand back down my pants but I stopped her. "Hey, I don't wanna go to far, right?"

"Yeah." She leaned in to kiss me. Aggressive - I like that in a chick. But I pulled back anyway. "What?"

"You wanna stop you say stop, right?"

"OK."

"I'm not stoppin' less you say something. We clear."

"Don't stop." She breathed and leaned in again. This time I let her push me flat and ran my hand under her shirt while she tried to suck my fillings out. Her nipples were really sensitive and she was squirming on top of me. I rolled her over, lifted her shirt and sucked them. She stifled a loud groan. I took that as my cue to start unbuttoning her pants.

Like they always say, lick it before you stick it. She lost her mind practically. She wasn't really loud like some girls but she mewed a lot and she got crazy wet. She did that squirting thing some girls do like three times. After the third, I figured she was wet enough. I unzipped my pants, and paused long enough to get a rubber out of my wallet. Then promptly tried to put it on backwards. I fixed it before I ripped it and slid into her.

Which is when she screamed like a fucking banshee.

"What? What?" I wasn't sure what I did or how to react. Part of me was terrified that I'd really hurt her. But part of me really was getting off on the idea that I'd really hurt her. "Should I pull out?"

"Oh God that hurt! Oh shit!"

Virgin! Lisa had said virgin on the bus. "Oh! Shit! Sorry!" The damage was done now and I knew if it was the virgin thing, pulling out wouldn't really help. I stayed still. "Just relax. Be cool. You'll get used to it in a second. Be cool, be cool."

"That really hurt! Oh my god that hurt."

"Be cool, be cool. Tell me when you're ready."

"If it's gonna hurt like that, I won't be ready!"

"It won't. I promise. That's just like the very first time. Trust me, it totally gets better." I hoped I wasn't lying to her about that. I pulled back a little and moved forward. She mewed and I kept trying to say calming things. But I also kept moving. Slowly, little strokes. After a while, her tone started to change. "How's that? Better?"

"A little."

"That's it. Just relax." We kept at it. It took a long time before she said it felt good, before she started pushing against me. I got my hand between us and played with her clit a little just to make sure she wasn't lying. It was really hard to hold back until I was sure she'd felt another one but finally, I simply couldn't hold back anymore. We both lay there, panting and sweating. We both looked like we'd fallen in the river.

"Hey, Alex!" Peter yelled out from somewhere toward the car. "Let's go."

I tried to move and felt drained. "Oh fuck." I groaned. "You good?"

"I think so." She answered, sitting up. "We should hurry up."

"Yeah." I tossed the condom and zipped my pants. Then I helped her stand and got the blanket. The others were waiting by the car for us. Doug and Lisa looked like they'd had a fight but for some reason, it was me he was glaring at.

Peter drove back to the movie theater so Doug could get his car and Mandy decided to ride home with them.

"Ok." I walked her to the car which seemed like the gentlemanly thing to do. "Can I call you?"

"Um," she bit her lip which is never a good sign, "yeah, sure."

"Cool." I didn't believe her but I figured I could get the real story from Lisa in the morning.

She stopped suddenly and looked at me. "Look, don't take this the wrong way but Lisa said that you were, kinda, y'know a kinda hit-it-and-quit-it kind of guy?"

"Oh, no, I'm totally…"

"See, that's kind of why I wanted to go out with you?"

"…oh. Uh…."

"I don't actually like you." Her cheeks darkened. "I mean, I so didn't mean to say that! I mean…"

"No, it's cool." I stopped her before it got any more awkward for either of us. "Look, Lisa has my number, right? You wanna call me, it's cool. You don't, I'll see you around, right?"

"Yeah. Totally." She looked at the car then at me again. "OK, uh, bye." She looked like she was expecting a kiss but when I leaned in, she pulled back. So I pulled back but she leaned in.

I let it go. "Cool. Later."

"Yeah. Later." She nearly ran for the car.

I got back into Peter's back seat and watched Doug pull off. Lisa gave me a thumbs up out the side window.

I shook my head. "Peter, what the fuck just happened?"

He laughed. "Don't look at me! Lisa's your problem."

Go to Chapter: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

Chapter 23: Peter

I bought a ring for her. Alex and Beth went with me. Alex kept pushing for the big ones but Beth argued that Missy would want something simple. In the end, I went with a gold band with embedded green and yellow diamonds. It cost so much, I had to call Uncle George and get him to release the spending cap on my account for the purchase.

"What the hell you buyin', boy?" he asked.

"An engagement ring." I answered. He didn't ask anything else, just approved the release and called the bank.

"When are you asking her?" Beth asked on the way home, little black box in my pocket.

"Prom Night." Alex snorted from the back seat and Beth sighed. "You got uh comment, back there?" I snapped at him.

"No, Sir." He shook his head.

"You sure?"

He shrugged. "Question is, are you sure. You done, I'm done."

"I'm sure." I can't wait to see Missy's reaction when I ask. "I'm done."

Alex nodded once and Beth sighed again. "OMG! That is so cool." She pulled her cell phone and dialed. "Hey! Peter's asking Missy to marry him at the Prom! I know! What should we…"

I nearly wreck the car getting the phone away from Beth. "Who is this?" I barked.

"Lisa! Peter, relax! God!"

"I'm not tryin' ta tell all God's creation, here!"

"I know!" Lisa and Beth say in tandem. Beth snatches the phone away. "Jesus! I'm just tryin' ta figure out what we should wear! We all goin' together! God Peter!" she paused a minute. "Oh I know, totally!" The conversation slipped to clothing and in the rear view, I saw Alex roll his eyes.

The next week dragged. All I could think about most days was the velvet box on my dresser. It was a daily struggle not to ask her every time I saw her. Then the week of the Olympic finals came up and the Coach came to the house and told my parents that either I was serious about this thing and I needed to put everything else aside for a couple months or I could tell him then and there that I wasn't really interested in being in the Games. I've never really been particularly competitive but every time I had gotten in the water since Alex's Event, I'd thought about what would have happened if I had taken nine minutes instead of eight. It kept making me try harder, swim faster. It's not really about competition but I felt a little foolish being offered the chance and not taking it. Besides, if I won, how could Missy say no to an Olympiad?

After that, I didn't see anyone outside of school, the gym and the pool. But I won a slot - 12th of 16 men chosen. I got home just in time to study for my final exams.

And then: The Prom. Alex had done all the prep work - renting a limo, dinner reservations, corsages for the girls. There were eight of us this time. Me and Missy, Beth and Shawn, Lisa and Doug, and Alex and another cheerleader, TC. He must have talked to Beth about their dresses because the flowers match each girl perfectly. "Good job." I pinch his ass while no one's watching at TC's house.

Beth and Lisa were both in shades of blue, Lisa's lighter, Beth's darker but in almost the same dress. They both looked lovely. As usual. TC was in peach which was a bad color for her but Alex heaped on compliments anyway. Since his eyes never left her cleavage, I suspected he never really saw the dress.

TC was another of Lisa's picks for Alex. "I told him to treat her like she breakable." She told me.

"I've seen TC; she could take half the football team."

"Yeah, an' all the guys treat her like one of the guys - even if she puts out. She wants to be treated like a girl sometimes." Lisa trusted Alex - God only knew why - so I just hoped she knew what she was doing and said ok.

After TC's house, we headed over to Missy's and I started getting nervous. Beth smacked my knee loudly. "Stop twitching! It's annoying."

"Yeah, dude, you ok?" Doug looked genuinely concerned. "I thought you and Missy were an item."

"They are." Lisa sighed. "That's why the cold feet."

"He's gonna propose tonight." Beth added. Shawn went pale and glanced at Beth.

Alex snickered. "Evans, chill. You ask Beth that, Uncle Charles won't leave enough uh you ta bury."

"Yeah." I nodded. "I wouldn't either."

"Dude, chill!" Shawn put up his hand in defense. "If not tryin' ta marry your sister!" He glanced at Beth. "Now. I mean, not that you ain't…I mean, we ain't even graduate yet…I mean…"

The girls broke into peels of laughter and Shawn sank back in he seat to sulk. All of which gave me a few minutes to think about something other than the lump in my suit pocket.

Eventually, we got to Missy's house and I was greeted by her father who'd gotten to the point that he'd stopped calling me a 'slick hound' and had upgraded me to 'that McElroy boy'. Hopefully, he'd get used to calling me 'my son-in-law'. We all sat in the living room and waited for Missy to come down. She was late - which was typical. Not her most endearing trait but one I was going to have to live with if I was planning on marrying her. I smiled, thinking of it as my first sacrifice of the marriage: I was no longer going to be on-time for everything.

She was worth the wait. When she finally came down, she was wearing a yellow/gold satin thing that draped down her body. Missy had no figure but the dress actually took advantage of that - if she had been curvy like Trina, the dress would have been too much. As it was, it was simple and elegant and stunning. I had wondered about the color Alex had chosen for Missy's corsage but it was perfect. She had pulled her hair back from her face but left it loose down her back. The engagement ring couldn't have matched more perfectly if she had seen it already.

I glanced at Beth and she smile innocently back. I looked at Missy. She was waiting for some kind of response. I could only think of two and I didn't want to pop the question in front of her father. So I kissed her. Something changes when you're kissing the woman you know will be the mother of your children. I wanted to blow off the rest of the night and start conceiving them. There was a tug on my shoulder and, reluctantly, I let Missy go.

"Hey, com'on, gimme uh break." Her father said. "That's my daughter there, right?"

I tried not to blush. I'm not sure you can control that, but I tried. "Uh, yes Sir. Sorry. I just…" I looked at Missy, "Melissa, you look amazing."

She definitely blushed.

We eventually got in the car and headed to the restaurant. My nerves were gone, replaced by almost giddy anticipation. Everyone kept grinning at me and Missy was getting more than a little frustrated knowing that we were keeping a secret from her. I almost asked over dessert but talked myself out of it. I did have to promise to tell her what the big deal was as soon as we got to the dance.

The Senior Prom, being one of the Big Four at our school, meant that as soon as we arrived, Alex had to go find the Ballroom Team and get ready for their performance. I stalled Missy until after that. Then I pulled her into the hallway. No place special - not the pool or under a moonlit tree. I wanted nothing to telegraph to question and nothing to distract from that ring.

We stood in a high school hallway with music in the distance and dark classrooms around us. I paused; I hadn't actually thought about what I was going to say. "Uh…"

"So what's the big secret?"

"Um. Yeah. Actually, it's not a secret. Alex an' Beth were there an' if Beth know, hell e'erybody know soon enough and…"

"Why you nervous?"

"Whut?"

"You all nervous all uh sudden. What's wrong?"

I grinned at that. "Nothing. Nothing in the world wrong." I took her hand. "Com'ere." I pulled her into the nearest class, made sure the first desk was clean and had her sit down. "I'm not sure how ta say this."

"Say what?"

I looked in her eyes and suddenly the words just popped out. "I wanna marry you."

"What?"

"I wanna marry you." The second time was easier. I pulled out the box and put it in her hand. "I want to marry you, Melissa." She sat there, mouth open and stared at me. I opened the box and tilted her face down slightly. She inhaled sharply. I heard her squeak slightly and bent down to make sure she was still breathing. "Missy?" She squeaked again. It was unbelievably cute. I took the box out of her hand, and the ring out of the box and slipped it on her finger. I had gotten lucky in guessing her ring size which just made me that much surer about the whole decision. "Missy? I don't want you to answer right now, ok? It's kinda uh big decision." She looked at me but still couldn't say anything. "Think about it, ok? Graduation's next week. I know you gonna be busy, so I'm not gonna call or nothin'. Ima give you some time on this one, ok?"

"Oh Peter." She whispered, her lip beginning to tremble slightly. Then she pulled me forward and initiated a kiss that answered any lingering doubts I might have had. We stayed like that until my back began to ache at the awkward position.

"Missy." I tried to pull away but for once, she wouldn't let me go. "Melissa." I chuckled despite myself. "Ok, then, lie down." I tried to push backward gently but that seemed to snap her out of it.

"Not here." She blushed scarlet.

"Sure?"

She bit her lip and blushed some more. "Besides, I should go tell people." A suspicious look covered her face. "You told Beth and Lisa before hand, didn't you."

"Why would you think that?" I tried and probably failed to look innocent.

"They the one's said you would love this dress."

"Missy, uh blind man love that dress. If they could bottle that, you'd outsell Viagra." She looked away, pleased and embarrassed. I'd have rather stayed there and made out but I realized the girlfriends were part of it. "You wanna go show off a bit?"

"Well…"

I helped her stand and wiped the back of the dress more than rubbed her ass. I stole one last kiss - last as a boyfriend, first as a fiancé. Then I put her hand on my arm and escorted her back to the Prom. It took a minute to find her primary circle of friends - the girl's swim team - but when we did, I kissed her cheek and let her go. "You go show off. Ima wait on the deck. Get some air."

She smiled. "You sure?"

"Of everything."

She kissed me back and hurried off. I grabbed some punch and wandered outside. The moon was full again. Last time I stood there, under that moon, I was being dumped. Now I'm practically married - it starts the day you ask, not the day you swear it. If you couldn't say 'I do' today, you shouldn't have asked the question today. I silently toasted the moon and all it's light.

"Pretty moon." A familiar voice says behind me.

I just asked Melissa to marry me, God. Why the fuck do you hate me? I turn around a see Trina walking over to me.

She's wearing a purplish thing. It's a bit flowing for her - it looks more like something worn in an opera. But nothing could hid that chest and it had an immediate affect on me. She got to me like nothing on earth.

"Pretty dress."

She shrugged. "Does the job. You can't see nothin'."

"I can see the good parts." I can't help grinning. "The front an' the back."

She tsked. "Ain't got no sense! Why you even say that? I'm not with you; I'm not gonna be with you."

"Just keepin' my options open."

"You ain't got no options."

"What? I'm off the list all ready?"

"Couple months, ain't nobody wanna be on the list." She touched her stomach and stepped away from me.

I started to say that I would always want to be on her list but something stopped me. Her silhouette. The sad expression. That late night crying thing a while back. I took a step toward her, knowing she didn't just need a better view of the sky. "Trina?"

"What?" she snapped.

"You can tell me anything. You know that, right? I will always be there for you, I don't care where we are or what happens. OK?"

"Some stuff ain't nobody need ta tell." She looked at me like I was stupid. "Some stuff you can see?" She waited a moment for me to catch on then pulled the dress tightly around her waist. Trina was a big girl but the bump of a pregnant stomach was still visible.

I was drawn to it. I put my hand on it not realizing that I had moved close enough to touch her. Her stomach was warm and smooth under my fingers. Gift wrapped under all that silk was our child. Our Child. So much for my trust fund. So much for most of my plans. Hopefully she could still fly in August - I'd hate to miss the games but I wouldn't want to miss our birth. I suddenly realized I hadn't said anything and that I should say something. "Oh. My. God."

"You know it's not yours, right?" Words have power; those were an electrical bolt that shocked me straight through.

Yes, it is, I wanted to say. I started to say it, even. But the whole question of 'when' occurred to me especially in light of the fact that she'd been dating Jamal for months. I wanted to cry. My chest felt tight and my heart was pounding. "I don't care. Don't matter. Dad didn't know the truth about me when he married Mom. They worked out fine. If you wanna keep it, we'll…"

"We'll what?" she stepped back. "Boy, you best step off with that mess! What make you think Ima keep it noway? You need ta check yo'self right quick! That's yo' problem, White Boy, you ain't got no damn sense." She glanced over my shoulder and frowned.

I looked back to see a curious Missy moving toward us. "Hey Trina!" Missy, my wife-to-be, put her arm around my waist. "Miss me?"

I slid my arm around her shoulder and watch Trina's expression turn cold. If I could have pushed Missy down a flight of stairs, I would have rather done it than watch Trina go back inside with my child and without me.

"What's wrong?" Missy asked.

I shook my head. "Trina's…she an' Jamal need ta work some stuff out."

"You sure?" I looked down at Missy to find her looking up at me. "I know you've always had a thing for her."

"Melissa," I took her chin in my hand so that neither of us could look away. "I am absolutely sure." Then I kissed her before either of us could tell if I was lying.

Go to Chapter: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

Chapter 24: Alex

Someday, even a total dick can do something right.

I realized that later, after the graduation ceremony. Gracie and Peter were both graduating. Gracie, my sister, was salutatorian, meaning that she was merely the second smartest in her class and I had spent most of the month giving her shit over it. Not that I wasn't proud of her or whatever just that, you know, I can't actually tell her that, right?

Anyway, she had to give a speech awarding the Senior Class Teacher of the Year award and she'd been working on it for a month and since she had to be at the school early for the whole event, I figured I'd ride with her and met Peter there. I could have gone over to Peter's house and ridden in with him but….

But, in all honesty, I really wasn't looking forward to all this. I mean, yay, he was graduating and all but then he'd be gone half the summer and then off to college and that pretty much fucked him and me. Things were just getting good. I wasn't ready for them to end yet.

So I was sitting in the car, thinking about how much I wanted a cig so I didn't think about Peter leaving and Gracie was going on and on about how the committee had done everything wrong and nothing looked right or was planned right or whatever. Then out of the blue, I realized that Gracie was shaking. Her mouth hadn't stopped and she was driving fine but she was scared shitless. I thought, what the hell she scared of?

Of the future, of course. Of leaving high school and home - she was already in at Chapel Hill. And probably of having to speak to like a thousand people in the next four hours.

See, the thing is that Gracie never breaks a sweat. Not when she's at the helm, not at board meetings where she's actually gotten into arguments with Dad and lived to tell about it, not when she's kicking my ass bowling, not ever. For her to be freaked out was practically unheard of. It started to bug me. Here, she's going to be the big winner in the family. She's going to be the one everybody's proud of and she's dumb enough to be freaked out over a stupid five minute speech.

"Gracie," I finally groused, "give in uh rest."

She glanced at me. "What?"

"Com'on. Give it uh rest. Like you got a reason ta bitch." She stared at me until someone honked and she looked back at the road. "Seriously. What do you care, they can't seat everybody right?"

"Because!" she sputtered for a minute, looking for a reason.

"Look, they ain't take yor advice in the first place, they get what they deserve."

"What?"

"Just proves they too stupid ta know shit. You the smartest damn one anyway."

"Not smarter than Christie." The Valedictorian.

"Christie!" I smirked. "Christie got whale-size brains an' bait-size tits. She ain't had uh date since the birth uh Christ. You got brains, looks an' personality an' the only reason you behind that uber-dweeb in anything is 'cause you out that week and had to take a make-up test still sick." I shook my head and looked out the window. "Assholes lucky you show up at all. Then you sit here an' bitch 'cause you better than them an' they don't know it yet. You gonna get all uptight 'bout somethin' you need ta get up 'bout that stupid toad joke."

"The what?" She sounded confused and I shook my head again.

"That stupid toad thing at the beginning of yo' speech. Totally lame. The rest of it works. Well, I wouldn't uh voted Irwin jack shit but that ain't your fault." We pulled into the school parking lot and I opened the car door as soon as she parked. "Look, just 'cause you The Shit don't mean you gotta be a bitch about it, right?" I looked at her as I closed the door. She was sitting there with her mouth open. I didn't know what she was going to say but it was probably something smart. "Ima go see who here." I said before she could lay into me.

I found some of the smokers I used to hang with back by the 'smokehouse' which was a storage shed on the edge of the school property. I congratulated the seniors and hung out until the smoke began getting to me and I started itching. I couldn't take smoke for long anymore - the one time Peter caught me smoking after he told me to quit, he put a couple bandages under my armpit, waited a day, then ripped them off. He told me he'd do that every day for a week if he ever even smelled smoke around me again. Now, instead of coughing like a normal person, when I smelled cigarette smoke, my armpits got itchy-achy.

Wandering around the school grounds, it occurred to me what a bad idea it was getting there that early. I had squat to do so all I was doing was thinking about how bad the next two years were gonna suck.

At least, that's all until I reached the side door of the building. There were some picnic tables under a couple trees where people had lunch just to get out of the cafeteria. It was also a prime make out spot if you weren't trying to get naked. There were two couples there, taking advantage of the early hour to get some heavy duty lip locking done. One of them was wearing Missy's favorite hair clip. I only noticed the thing because Peter gave it to her right after they started going out and she wore it all the time.

I would have kept walking, even then, if she hadn't taken her fingers out of the guy's hair and been wearing Peter's ring.

"Oh you are so fuckin' kidding me!" I grabbed the hand before it could vanish again and took a good look at the ring - despite the couple's protests. The green and yellow stones sparkled, just the way Peter hoped they would. I felt the guy get up and heard Missy call my name.

"You're hurting my wrist, Alex."

Her voice was actually giving me a headache. Hurting her wrist wasn't even on the list of things I wanted to do to her. A hand tugged my shoulder but I ignored it. Then there were a couple hands on me, pulling. I couldn't hear anything clearly, like the whole world was nothing but white noise and I couldn't see anything except that ring. I wondered how hard it would be to get it off if I broke the finger under it.

But Peter would not have approved of that. Even if he'd caught her himself. Breaking her hand would just upset him even more. I let her hand go and shoved somebody out of my way. I got two, maybe three steps away when I realized there was one more thing I could do. "Missy." I snapped and by the way she froze, I guess it was loud enough. "You best come up with somethin' good. He don't need ta hear 'bout this." She swallowed hard then nodded. I went into the locker room, to the weight room and punched a couple bags for a while. I got a little sweaty doing it but it was going up to 94% before lunch today, so likely no one would notice.

Peter found me in there a while later. "What up?"

"Nothin'." I tried to look tired - which I was - not pissed.

"Try again."

"Peter…Sir…just…nothin'. I'm just kinda…y'know. Next year."

He nodded and looked thoughtful. He came over to me and put his arm around my shoulder. "We'll make it work. Don't worry. Hey, worse case, I'll stay here til you graduate. Then we can go together."

I stared at him. "Fuck no."

He raised his eyebrows. He was only trying to lift one, but they both lifted anyway. "Come again?"

"Fuck no." I said clearly. "You ain't skippin' college 'cause uh me. Hell no." I looked away from him. "'Sides, how you gonna get married, you can't get rid uh me for uh year."

"Who say's I can't." He gave me a gentle shove. "Anyhow, I wouldn't marry uh woman, came between us."

"Yeah." I couldn't look at him. "Ain't no woman worth that."

"Come on." He stood up and checked his cap-and-gown in the nearest mirror. "I got two big dates coming an' I ain't tryin' ta be late for either."

"Two?"

"Graduation at noon. Then Melissa at 1:30." He grinned. "She wanna say yes in private."

"Yeah, right."

He caught my tone. "Problem?" I shook my head but I knew he wasn't going to let me off that easily. "You got uh problem with me an' Missy, get it out now."

"I just…I mean, are you sure? You been datin', what, six months?"

"How long's it take?"

"I don't know! But, I mean, I know you sure you sure but how you know she sure?"

"An' this ain't about you thinkin' Ima cut you loose over her."

Actually, until he said it, that thought had never even occurred to me. Cut back, of course; we wouldn't see each other every day after that. But cut loose? Scary thought.

He stepped back over to me. "Alex." I saw his eyes pass over the door behind me. Then he leaned over and kissed me. Not a light peck but a serious, only-when-we're-alone, tongue down my throat, can-I-blow-you-now kiss that actually left me breathless. "You need uh shower."

"Yes, Sir." I breathed. One day, I'm going to figure out how he does that to me.

"Come On." He chuckled and headed out of the weight room. We were practically to the auditorium when I was finally thinking clearly. "I gotta go. Catch you after."

I managed to find the rest of the family - including Beth, looking hot in a blouse you could see her bra through. I pulled her aside. "Listen, Missy gonna say no."

She practically choked inhaling so hard. "What? How do you know?"

"I - saw her earlier. If she got any sense, she gonna say no."

"What did you say ta her, Alex?"

"I ain't say nothin' an' her lips too busy ta say anything ta me."

"Her lips?" Then Beth got it. "Oh fuck! Does Peter…"

"No, he don't an' I ain't tellin' him. Just, y'know how he is."

She nodded. "He's gonna be uh wreck."

"Come on, kids," My Mom yelled out, "We want to get good seats together."

We got seats. I don't know if they were any better than any other seats, but we got them and they were together. This was the kind of thing that got the whole family out so it was us plus all the Uncles, Aunts, Grand-relations, Great-Grand-relations and by-marriages that could be there. After, we would all head to my Great Grand momma's house for a fish fry and cookout. Peter was planning to formally announce the engagement there.

Then, the music started and the speakers made their way to the stage and then the graduates entered. They made speeches. They introduced people. Gracie's bit about Mr. Irwin got a standing ovation. Just after she gave Irwin his award, she stopped and took the mike again. "I was going to tell a corny joke because they say you should always start a speech with a joke. But I didn't really like it, I was just doing it because I was supposed to. But someone told me not to be so uptight so I just wanted to say, Thanks Toad. You know who you are." There was a smattering of applause as she went back to her seat and the next speaker came up and they were calling the first graduate's name before I made the connection between that and our conversation in the car.

I was really glad that no one could see me actually blush just then.

There were only like a hundred kids in Peter's class so it didn't take that long to get through all of them when they finished, and did that whole tassel thing, Principal Giles took the mike. "Now, I know you all want to get out of here but I have one more item before I turn you loose on an unsuspecting world. Would Peter McElroy please join me?" We in the audience all looked at Uncle Charles and Aunt Elizabeth but they were just as confused as the rest of us. "As some of you know, Mr. McElroy will be swimming with the US Team this summer at the Beijing Olympics." He had to hold for the applause and cheering to die down. "Yes, I thought some of you may have heard about that. Peter, we wanted you to know that all our hopes and well wishes go with you. And as a special consideration - although you never swam on the school's team - the Athletics Department and the School Board have voted to give you this." He opened a box and pulled out a school varsity jacket. There was another minute or so of cheering, especially from Peter's close friends who knew how much it irritated him that he was the only guy in the family who hadn't managed to get one. Giles handed the mike to Peter and it took him a minute before he could speak.

"Oh God, uh, thank you! Uh. Eh-hem. I, uh, thanks. I just hope I do it justice come August."

"You'll do fine son, you'll do just fine." Giles shook his hand and dismissed the graduates. There were cheers and a few tears and I stayed in my seat waiting for the crowd to thin out. I happened to catch Missy filing by and saw two things. First she had the decency to take off Peter's ring. And second, she was holding hands with the guy behind her. I imagined myself tackling him across the rows of folding chairs. If I hit him just the right way, I could probably take out his ribs. Then again, it wasn't really him I wanted to pound into sand - it was her. She was so thin, I could likely take out her whole rib cage, maybe puncture a lung….

"Alex?" Beth shook me hard and brought me back to reality. "Come on. I wanna be there when she says it."

Actually, we missed it. We wandered around most of the school before we found Peter, alone, sitting on the hood of his car. "Hey." I said tentatively. "How'd it go."

"It, uh, didn't." He cleared his throat. "She said she thought about it. And she wanted ta say yes. But it wasn't…." He paused and looked past us both then cleared his throat again. "I figured I'd run past the mall 'fore headin' ta Gran-Gran's. Feel like takin' a ride?" We all got in the car and made a very silent ride back to the jewelry store where he bought the ring.

The salesman asked why he was returning the ring and Peter shrugged. "She ain't want uh June wedding." The man nodded, made a note on the sales slip and didn't ask any more stupid questions.

Then, just because life is like that, on the way out of the mall, we ran into Trina and Jamal. Jamal and Peter both congratulated each other on graduating and discussed college plans. "Well, that's on hold for a bit." Jamal said, looking at Trina. They both looked off put.

I saw Beth's face swivel between the three of them and then she gasped. "You're not!"

"Yeah." Trina sighed deeply. "I'm due around Christmas."

"Congratulations." Peter said tightly, flatly.

"Hey, T, you got one of them envelopes with you?" Jamal asked. Trina pulled a wide cream-colored envelope out of her purse, which he gave to Peter. "She won't invite you but I know she wants you there."

"What's this?" Peter looked like he was holding a rattlesnake.

"Wedding invitation." Trina and Jamal looked at each other but I noticed that they didn't actually touch. "We've getting married next month."

I winced. Yeah, that was just what he needed to hear. But Peter put his hand out. "That's great, Jamal. Congrats again. Trina?" He put a hand out to her and kissed her cheek. "I hope you two are very happy together." Then he glanced at his watch. "We're gonna be late. Beth, you find what you need?"

He caught her off guard but she recovered quickly. "Oh, uh, yeah, I uh, I mean, no, they don't have it but I'm done here. We can go. Yeah."

"Good." He smiled and it almost fooled everybody, even me. "We best be headin' ova the house. Ya'll swing by this evening, you know Grandmomma love ta see you."

"We're heading to my Mom's" Jamal said, not nearly as friendly as he like to seem. "We'll try to drop by later."

We went to the river. To our spot. It was a bright, clear day. The sun glittered off the waves and from this little cliff, you could see a good ten miles out to the bay. Likely further. Peter sat on the hood of the car. When Beth tried to talk to him, I pulled her off.

"Ain't nobody need ta hear you now. Leave him be."

When I looked over and saw his head on his knees, I went over to him and put my arms around his shoulders, my head on his back. I could feel him shaking but I didn't want to look and see him crying. After a minute or so, I felt Beth's arms circle him from the other side.

We stayed like that a long time.

Eventually, Peter pulled himself together and we let him go. I got the tissues out of his glove box and came back around to find Beth sucking the air out of Peter's lungs.

"What was that for?" He gasped when she finally let him up. "Not, mind you, that I'm complaining."

"You just looked so sad and pitiful."

He smiled despite himself. "I do not look pitiful. I'm alright."

"You lie like a lampshade." I laughed.

He looked confused. "Lampshade don't lie; I thought it was lie like a rug."

"Yeah. My point."

"Alex, clever? Hell musta froze over."

"Yeah, whatever." On total impulse, I leaned over and kissed him too. Beth was right; he did look sad and pathetic and like he need something to hold. After long enough to get my heart rate up, Beth cut in and she and I traded his lips as we slowly pushed him back on the car.

It took a little while, but she got his shirt open and I got his pants open and he moaned in-between half-hearted protests. Then we traded his dick the way we'd traded his tongue. I caught the first shot of his jizz then moved aside so Beth could catch a shot or two and cut my hand on the grill of the car. A shallow cut that didn't bleed much but stung like all hell. I almost came myself.

We all sat on the hood for a little while after that, watching the waves and the sun. I don't know about my future - maybe Uncle Edward's right about that, maybe he's not. I did know that looking at that view, lying with Peter and Beth, this was where my home was and whatever else happened in my life, I was going to be coming back here, to this.

Peter kissed my temple then Beth's. "Come on. We best get to the house now. Like as not, they looking for us by now."

Beth got up slowly. "You think Uncle Edward's right 'bout seein' your future if you look at the river long enough?"

Peter looked at the view one more time as he got in the car. "I don't know. I keep thinkin' I need ta swim out farther ta see it. Like I can't quite see it from here."

"Maybe you just looking past it." She said. "Like it's right there, you just can't see it."

"Yeah?" I pinched her until she scooted over so I could sit and shut the door. "What you seein' out there?"

She shrugged. "Nothin'. Well, you know, a couple boats, the fishery, normal stuff like that. That's why I keep thinkin' I'm lookin' over it. Like it's right in front of me only I don't recognize the truth."

Peter sighed. "Capt. Ed's future and my love life." But his voice didn't sound as hollow as it did earlier so I knew he'd get over Missy. Sooner or later. He'd find that right girl eventually.

And he could do me and Beth until then.

* * * * * *

Thank you for reading. This is a work-in-progress. If you want to send me feedback, go here please and thank you! All comments are welcome - REALLY!! (The box is bigger than it looks, so feel free to be opiniated.) If you prefer to rate, send me a 1 (hated it) to 5 (loved it) and thanks!

Go To: Alex - after high school * Peter - after high school * Serena J's Stuff main index * ASSTR Home Page