I spent my June and July in one of three places: at home, in the water or on a boat. After Melissa's little speech, I didn't want to speak to anyone and I didn't want anyone consoling me. It wasn't that I thought I'd never get over her - I knew eventually, I would - but I didn't want anyone telling me that it wasn't so bad or the better to love/lost cliché. I thought she loved me, I was wrong. Every time I thought about it, I got mad. The only time I didn't think about it is when I was either swimming, working or sleeping so I tried to spend most of my time physically engaged and not thinking.

Except for time with Alex.

He gave up quickly on talking me into dating someone else. Instead, he was a perfect little submissive - including one dismal night when I couldn't sleep, letting me beat him until I exhausted myself. He came twice then got up with me at five in the morning and kept time for me while I swam. He made the summer bearable.

So when Dad told me that Alex couldn't go to training camp with me, I was pissed.

"I'm sorry, son. They make provisions for a parent or guardian but not for guests. Even if he went, you two wouldn't be allowed ta hang out." He said. "Believe me, I know how you feel."

'Like hell you do.' I thought but I didn't say aloud. Instead, I went to my room and called Alex. His father had given him the same speech.

July 15th, Mom and I flew to San Diego to the US Olympic Swim team training camp. I don't know why I brought clothes or got a hotel room - it would have been easier if we had all just slept in the pool for all the time we spent on dry land. For two weeks, 16 of us did nothing that didn't connect to swimming. In all honesty, I didn't have time to miss Alex, Missy or anyone else. By the time it was over, I was a bit sick of the whole thing. I couldn't wait for the Games to get the damn thing over with.

I had two more weeks to wait. The Wednesday before the opening ceremony, I pack up and flew to Los Angeles so I could fly out of LAX with the rest of the team. Alex and Beth flew with me. The rest of the family flew Saturday morning. Beijing was invaded by the McElroy clan.

The nearly 20 hour flight was dull. Excruciatingly dull. Beth, Alex and I had three seats together overlooking the wing of the plane. We put Alex in the middle. During the second movie, he began to get ideas. He rang for the flight attendant and got three blankets.

"Alex. What are you doing?" I had a feeling I didn't want to know.

"Trust me, Sir." He grinned - which is never a reason to trust him. "I got this."

He spread the blankets so that all three of us were more or less tucked in. Then I felt his fingers tugging at my zipper just as Beth hissed, "Alex, you're gonna get us thrown off the plane."

"Relax." He fairly cooed, "Just lay back and be cool. No one will ever know."

I was on the aisle, so I shifted in my seat and crossed my legs further hiding my erection and Alex's movement from any casual glance. He was very slow, keeping me hard but not on edge for a long time. Periodically, he whispered in my ear just how wet Beth was or hard she was biting her lips to not make any noise. After a while, I realized he was reporting the same about me to Beth. While he was leaning toward her, I leaned to him, "When we land, you are getting such a spanking." He shivered. He spent half of the rest of the flight teasing us. Finally, I stopped his hand and excused myself. I had to wait in line to get into the closet that passes as an airplane bathroom but with a tissue, it was big enough to finish what Alex started. I had to grit my teeth to keep from groaning too loudly. When I got back to my seat, however, I told Alex, "My turn. Move." He grinned fiendishly and let me have the middle seat.

He was right; Beth felt like someone had spilled something. After a minute, I realized something else as well. "Where are your underwear, young lady?"

She giggled, "On the floor, under the seat."

"If they under the seat, they likely on top uh someone's carry on. You know that, right?"

She gasped and tried to twist and see who was behind us. I shoved two fingers hard inside her and she shook hard. "Too late. They stay where they are." I leaned over to Alex who was pretending to doze - except for the contortions of his face as I jacked him off. "You know you not allowed to cum, right?"

"Yes, Sir." He groaned. A few minutes later, he grabbed my hand and stiffened. After a moment, he relaxed - still hard - and let my hand go.

"Where are Beth's panties?" I had to ask him."

"If what I heard while you was in the can was right, they in briefcase uh the guy behind her."

I managed not to laugh out loud. I kept teasing them until Beth finally leaned over to me and murmured, "Either make me cum or stop. Please."

I let go of Alex and turned my whole attention to Beth, "You think I can do it now? You close enough?"

She closed her eyes and seemed to drift away for a few seconds. When she came back she was glassy eyed but disappointed, "Close but not close enough. I'm sorry."

I kissed her softly as I slipped my fingers from under her skirt, "No, baby, I'm sorry. I shouldda never let Alex start."

"It's ok, Peter." She bit her lip and smiled, "It still feels incredibly good. I'm gonna have ta change clothes just ta get off the plane."

"Yeah? Stand up."

In the awkward space, she moves the blankets. There's no wet spot on her skirt but the scent of pussy assails me. Alex groans.

"How much longer is this fuckin' flight?"

"Language." I remind him. "If you're suffering, lick your fingers." Immediately, his hand goes into his mouth and Beth giggles.

"You're both vile." She rolls her eyes, "I'm going to the restroom."

While she's gone, I lean over the seat. The three guys in the row behind us are trying to pretend they didn't just watch her walk by. "16." I say just to watch them pale. "But, uh, not shy, right?"

"Yeah." One of them breaths.

"You, uh, found her…"

"…missing garment, yeah." He reaches toward his bag.

"Keep it." I say quickly. "Teach her a lesson about modesty."

They look at each other and grin. When I see her step out of the facilities, I clear my throat and sit down in a hurry. Alex snickers and I hit him but not hard enough to hurt. She pauses at their row but none of them look up and Alex and I quickly get up so she can sit down again. She spends the rest of the flight nervously looking back at them.

Getting Beth off the plane and through the airport becomes an unbearable game as Alex and I take turns 'accidentally' lifting her skirt and flashing her naked pussy or ass to anyone lucky enough to be looking in the right direction. After the third time, she realizes that we're trying to make her blush and tries to stop responding. We keep peeking. It's the only thing keeping the three of us moving. We left Reedville on Wednesday morning; it's now Thursday night.

As we boarded the bus with the rest of the US Team and families, I pulled Beth and Alex aside, "Hey, for the rest of the trip, if anyone asks, we're not related. I got uh feeling you two gonna be more trouble than you worth." Beth looks a bit pensive. "Yes, it's lying but which would you rather, people think you uh floozy, foolin' around with two guys, or people ta know you let your brother an' your cousin flash you pussy in public?"

"Oh Christ." For a moment she looks like she going to faint.

"Beth! Baby! I'm sorry." I stroke her cheek. "I just…"

"Look on the bright side," Alex cut in, "It only for a couple days, right? The rest uh the family be here Saturday an' then we go back ta behavin' like Christians."

Beth and I both glare at him, "That doesn't help." She frowns. "You guys kinda miss the point. I was thinkin' it's uh shame that it's only for a couple days."

Alex laughs as he picks up as many bags as he can carry, "Oh, our family is so fucked up."

I can only agree.

At the hotel, there is a very large sign in the lobby announcing that due to a computer glitch, some reservations made online were over-booked and some guests were being re-routed to hotels nearby. Not athletes. Not Beth and Alex. Everyone in line is cranky with jet lag – most of us would be happy to sleep where we are standing.

At the desk, Beth asks the clerk, “You know, I only booked my own room because my mother worries but would it be helpful if my boyfriend and I shared a room?” Beth leaned over the desk and whispered something to the harried clerk. The women looked first relieved, then conspiratorial, then proceeded to waive the cancellation fee and upgrade Beth and Alex to a suite with a Jacuzzi. “Come on, boyfriend.” Beth said pulling Alex by the belt. My teammate/roommate, Michael, and I get our room keys relatively painlessly. The four of us head up stairs and crash hard. I sleep til close to 8am the next morning, which, for me is extremely late.

I don’t get a chance to play with Alex and Beth after that – by 10am, there is the first of many team meetings. Two hours later, we are told, effectively ‘go play nice, don’t do anything to get disqualified.’ I wasn’t planning to. I’m not going to have much time to play tourist and who knows if I’ll ever get back to Beijing. I go up to their room, collect Alex and Beth from their hot tub and wander around the city until dinnertime.

The palaces and temples are awesome. Tiananmen Square really gets to Beth but Alex spends most of the time there trying to pick up hot Chinese chicks. It’s not til we’re standing on Zhonghai Lake and I’m looking at the “No Swimming” sign that it all hits me. Sometime in the next week, I’m going to swim a lake that was during my life time reserved for only the highest of communist party leaders. There are people who have lived their whole lives in this city and never seen it. I’m gonna swim it. I reach out, grab both of them and hug them tightly. I don’t know why but I need a moment.

“Win or lose, Peter, we’re really proud of you.” Beth says.

I manage to pull myself together without crying – although I’ll never admit how close I was to tearing up – and we see a few more sights before heading back to the Olympic Village. There’s a huge international dinner/buffet/party/soiree going. Alex snags three glasses of champagne and we wander around for a while. As with any party, like groups cluster together and eventually I spot a large group of mostly familiar people; competitors from other races. In truth, I haven’t been in many international challenges so I’m easily the rookie on the US team. Still, I’m likely to meet most of these people again. Alex all but dives into the group, making friends quickly but Beth sticks closer to me and the few people I know.

I’m chatting with one of my teammates when someone nibbles my ear. I nearly jump through my skin even as a delightful shiver shots down my spine. My teammate grins, “I guess your girlfriend needs you. I’ll just go find some more crab puffs.”

I turn around and face Beth; I can see she’s a little tipsy. “You have lost yo’ damn mind, haven’t you?” I should set her straight but really, I just want to laugh at the absurdity of it all.

“Yes.” She says, straddling my lap, “but I can be totally trashy with ya’ll an’ ya don’t think Ima ho.”

“No.” Alex leans unexpectedly down over my neck. I must be tipsy too ‘cause all I wanna do is take them both upstairs and fuck them. “He just don’t say you uh ho.”

“You uh asshole.” She slurs.

“So? You uh cunt.” He hurls back settling behind me. His rock hard dick presses against my ass and I twitch.

“Alright ya’ll two; enough.” This is definitely a Master thing. “Beth, up.” She pouts but gets up. “Alex. Come on; I got training in the morning anyhow.” A few eyebrows go up as the three of us make our way back to the hotel. I realize why when I see our reflection. Alex and I both have our arms around Beth’s waist. We might as well have broadcast ‘ménage-a-troi’. I don’t really care. We head up to their room.

It’s hopeless and sick and twisted and wrong but I love the taste of my sister’s pussy. I love my cousin’s tongue when he wraps it around my dick and sucks me halfway down his throat. Between us, Alex and I still can’t get Beth to cum but we exhaust ourselves trying. She gives as good as she gets, sucking us both off then motivating us both into double pen – Alex from behind and me in front. I promised Alex that one day we’d put him in the middle.

The next morning I wake up on time but tired and sore. I get back to my room, shower, dress and get to breakfast. My roommate doesn’t ask any questions and I don’t offer any explanations. We get to practice with the rest of the team. Midway through, the coach pulls me aside.

“Look, it’s not my business who you choose to fool around with but put it on hold till after the games, will ya?” he shows me the morning’s tallies. I’m almost a minute slow across the board.

“Yes Sir. I’ll, uh, get some sleep tonight.”

“You do that. Just put your toys away for a couple weeks. I need you here, ok, McElroy?”

“Yes Sir. I’m here.” I look at the pool. A full minute. That is not why Beth and Alex are here. They don’t know it, but they’re my incentive. Another minute and Alex would have drown. I want Beth to be a minute faster than me. I dive in the water and by the end of the next set of laps, I have my times back down to normal. The coach gives me a thumbs up.

After, I call Beth and Alex. “No more games, guys, sorry. It’s throwing off my speed.” I can hear the disappointment in Alex’s voice. “I tell you what. Both of you meet me at Xiushui Shichang for lunch. Soon as you can get there.” He looks up the address so I can find the place and an hour later, the three of us are wandering through the Beijing silk merchant’s district looking at lingerie. “Ok, here’s your assignment: Alex, buy Beth something pretty.” His eyes light up. “Something she wants to wear to replace the panties you lost on the plane.” Beth blushes.

“Oh, hell yes, Sir.”

“Beth, you are to buy Alex something he’ll enjoy wearing. Also from this section.” Both of their jaws drop. “If you don’t see anything for either of you here, try the leather district.” I glance at my watch. “My lunch break’s almost over. I gotta sail.” I kiss them both. “Alex. You cum when she does.”

He swallows hard, “Uh, yes, Sir. Sir, Ima break that rule ina ‘bout an hour.”

I smile. “I know.” I head back to the pool and concentrate on shaving as much time off as I can. When we’re done for the day and back at the hotel, I go to the spa and talk to the manager. Thankfully, I’m not the first guy to ask so they have someone on staff who can do a full body wax. I’m also not the last one to ask so they have schedule time available as well. I don’t know if body hair adds drag or not but I feel faster after I’ve shaved. Besides, the chick’s dig it. Seriously. Even the technician who does the waxing, puts a little too much stroking into the process. “Your girlfriend must be very lucky.” He says softly.

I can’t help sighing. “Yeah, before she dumped me.” He hesitates before applying the next layer of wax so I add, “But my boyfriend seems to like it too.”

“You used to date girls, now you date boys?”

I let him pull the wax off before I answer that. I have got to do this to Alex one day. He’ll love the procedure and hate the results. “Actually, the last year, I’ve had one of each.”

“Consecutively?”

“Concurrently.”

“Oh my.” He finishes my calves and moves up to my thighs. I can feel the trepidation in his fingers as he tries to perform a very intimate service without providing a ‘very intimate service’. I wish I could say it wasn’t having an effect on me but I am very glad I’m lying face down at the moment. I actually wondering why I decided to wax this time except that Mom and some of the guys on the team said it lasts way longer. I hiss as the back of my thighs are unexpectedly cleared. That clinches it – I am definitely making Alex do this some day. “So you’re between sets right now? Turn over, please.”

I roll over. My erection is evident. I try to stare at the ceiling and pretend it’s not there but I fail miserably and feel my face turn red.

“You must be very popular in America.” He says, lips twitching. He remains more or less professional but the more I see him cast sidelong glances at ‘it’, the harder I get. Finally, he finishes waxing everything around my jockey shorts. “So, sir, do you want full body wax?”

Since he just finished the job, I’m not sure what he means for a moment. Then it hits me and I shiver. “Uh, I don’t think, uh, wax, would be good…”

“I have razor if you prefer.”

I look at him. “Uh, should you be doin’ that sorta…service?”

“I should do be pleased to do whatever service you request, sir.”

“I don’t think I can…I mean…it wouldn’t be, uh, proper.” I can’t breath. This guy wants to jack me off. An’ even if his is just offering to shave me, its gonna work out to the same thing.

“I cover the hair with shaving foam then remove it with a very sharp blade. Very proper. Clean.” He hooks his fingers inside the waistband and pulls my shorts down. I’m so hot, there’s pre-cum glistening on the tip but he ignores it. He gets the foam; it’s warm as he spreads it around my dick and balls. Then he bends my legs, parts my knees and spreads more foam liberally towards my ass.

I concentrate on holding still as he takes a straight razor and begins gently scraping the hair from my most sensitive parts. It’s difficult, however, because he keeps spreading foam around and stroking me in the process. The blade slides past my skin so lightly, it’s hard to tell it from his fingers at times. Or maybe I’m just so keyed up that any touch is pushing me to the edge. Just when I think he’s gonna push me over, he stops.

“There. All finished.”

“Wha?” I must not be thinking clearly. I thought he said he was done.

“All done.” He looks mildly surprised as I sputter incoherently. “You wanted proper service?”

I close my eyes. I’ve never wanted to punch a cock tease before but there’s a first time for everything. Then he blows on me, warm, unexpected, and I cum. When I stop twitching and moaning I realize he’s chuckling at me. “Now you all finished.” I want to say something clever but my brain still isn’t processing yet. He smiles gently. “Tissues are next to the basket on the counter. Your clothes are in the dressing room. Please take your time. Thank you.” He leaves me alone to pull myself together. The basket next to the tissues has a little note telling me that my technician’s name is Quang and that a 20% tip is customary. I leave 40%; I’d have left more but that’s all the cash I had. I sign the waxing to my room – Dad’s paying for that and he’ll no doubt have a fit when he sees the total.

But it was worth every freakin’ yen.

I go back to Alex and Beth’s room and borrow their Jacuzzi – my whole body stings but it will fade to tolerable by the time I have to swim again. I call them. They’re still shopping so I have a few hours and fall asleep in the tub. I wake to Alex getting into the tub with me.

“Peter, dude, you have got ta see what I bought Beth. Go put it on.” Beth grabs a bag and skitters off to the bathroom.

“What did she buy you?”

He stares at me, “Dude, what the fuck?” I lift my eyebrows – I’m trying to learn that one-eye-brow trick – and he rolls his eyes. “Sir, uh, you all, you know, bald.”

“Yeah.” I don’t quite have the energy to tell him the whole thing yet.

“I mean I know you shave an’ all but this is…naked.”

”Yeah.” I can feel my lips just curving into a smile. The bathroom door opens and spares me having to tell Alex about Quang just yet. Beth steps out looking down as she adjusts the shoulder strap. I can see it’s a one piece with a lace crotch but her hair is covering everything else.

“Hey, doof, move your hair.” Alex shakes his head.

“I can’t get it hooked right.” Beth flips her hair over one shoulder as she works on the other. Pink lace covers her whole body, encasing her elegantly. The top cups around her breasts, lifting but not separating cleavage I would love to drown in. Her nipples are clearly visible under the lace pattern. Finally, Beth gets the hook. “There. So whatcha think?” I wave my hand in a lazy circle and Beth turns around. The back leaves plenty of skin exposed but completely covers her ass. She pinches at it anyway, “It still feel too tight. God, the thong I tried on ‘bout killed me. We bought a silk one too – just for me, I mean, but this is the one Alex picked out.”

“Yeah,” Alex reaches under the water and squeezes my erection which just sprang up, “that’s ‘bout what I said.”

His hand, under the water, on my newly shaven genitals, feels amazingly good. “I think the coach is gonna yell at me again t’morrah. Alex. Stop that.”

He moves the hand that had been slowly stroking me but not the grin that spreads across his face. I stand up and Beth’s eyes bulge.

“Whoa! How’d you do all that?”

“I had help.” I grab a towel and dry off. Neither of them says anything. I look over my shoulder; Alex is lounging in the hot tub but Beth is waiting expectantly. “Someone helped me. That’s all.”

“Give.”

“What?”

“Someone shaved your ass you think that’s uh ‘yadda-yadda-yadda’? Oh no. Give.”

I glance at Alex. He has his patented ‘I’m not listening’ look but I doubt he’ll miss a word of this. “Look, I went to the spa for a full body exfoliation and the technician did my full body. That’s all.”

“And you let her take off your shorts and do that.” I suspect that Beth doesn’t believe it was that simple. I hesitate before responding both because I’m not sure how to deflect the statement and because of the ‘her’.

Alex catches it. “Was the tech uh ‘her’?”

“Actually, no.”

“Fag.” He snickers.

“Ohmygod!” Beth gasps, “I thought Alex was the only guy you…. I mean are you actually…y’know, gay?”

“No.” I gesture and drop the towel. “I mean, he was.” I grab the towel and realize the slip as Alex moves to giggling. “I mean, he is. Look. I was on the table. He waxed everything else. Then when I rolled over, I was, you know…”

“…boing…” Alex snickers with a gesture to match.

“…uh, yeah. So he asked if I meant ‘whole’ whole body and before I could say no, he was pulling down my jockeys and applying the shaving foam.”

“Phish-shoo.” Alex mimes an explosion.

I can feel my face burning again, “Yeah, kinda.”

“Slut.” He snickers. “Hey, wait, wax?” he sits up all the way, “Doesn’t that shit hurt? I mean that stuff hurt?”

“Yeah, like hell which is why I was in the hot tub. But it lasts longer than shaving so I won’t have to think about this again till after we get home.”

He shrugs and sinks back into the tub, “Sounds cool but it looks weird.”

“It doesn’t bother you that another guy, y’know, did him?” Beth looks shocked. She’s forgotten that she’s wearing just the lace body suit and she’s not helping my erection go down at all. “I mean, aren’t you two uh kinda thing?”

“We’re not uh ‘thing’!” I snap.

“He the Dom; he can do who he want.” Alex says calmly.

“Alex!” I hate it when he says stuff like that.

He looks at me, “She’s right. We uh ‘thing’. I mean not like uh ‘we can’t date other people’ kinda thing but, I mean,” he shrugs, “y’know. Uh ‘thing’.”

“I don’t even know what that means.” I sigh. “Look, Beth, he an’ I are as much uh ‘thing’ as you an’ I are.” The look she gives me is eloquent. “Oh, come on! You know what I mean. I’m not like Shawn or whatshisname…”

“…Hank…”

“Yeah, him. I’m not like them. I’m…” the discussion is resolving my problem, “…I’m going back to my room. Normal people don’t do this shit.” I snatch on my pants and head down the hall. Beth tries to stop me but Alex assures her that I’m ok.

“He does this. Give ‘em an hour.”

It’s kind of a pointless gesture since two hours later were sitting next to each other at dinner with the rest of the US contingent. We act normal – not ‘normal-for-us’ but actual, we’re related by blood normal. It actually feels a bit odd. Afterward, I excuse myself and go to bed early. I sleep badly and wake stressed. I swim badly at practice and the coach gives me a stern lecture on proper sleep. By the time I get back to the hotel, I’m stressed and irritable. I refuse to accept that an argument with Beth and Alex affects me the same way an argument with Missy used to. That doesn’t even make sense.

Around lunchtime the rest of the family arrives. My parents, my Grandmother and Sheriff Boson, my Grandfather, Grandma Rachael and the twins. My mother catches my mood as soon as she sees me. She and my grandmothers are waiting in the lobby while ‘the men folk’ figure out what hotel they’ve been moved to. She hugs me and fusses over me for a moment then whispers in my ear, “We’ll talk later.” Eventually Alex and Beth come back from playing tourist and Dad get the reservations straightened out and we all move out to the proper hotel. Once they get settled in a room, Mom asks me to walk with her to get some ice.

“So,” she says almost immediately, “How’s Missy?”

“What?” I don’t know why she’d even ask that. “I haven’t talked to her in months.”

“Oh.”

“Why?”

She shrugs, “You have that ‘my girlfriend’s uh bitch’ look. I thought ya’ll mighta gotten back together. Somethin’ wrong?”

I am not telling her the truth. That’s out of the question. “It’s just – I don’t know. I get here and all of uh sudden, I can’t swim right. I keep getting distracted. Slowing down.”

“They’s uh lot goin’ on, honey.” She stops and puts her hand on my face. “I can’t tell you how proud I am uh you. Yo’ Daddy too. You done somethin’ I coudda nevah dreamed uh. These people ain’t know shit. You an’ I know who the best is.”

“I just don’t want to disappoint you.” In so many, many ways.

“Peter Harper McElroy you couldn’t disappoint me if-n you tried fo’ uh hunnard years.”

I love my mother.

After that, I don’t care who does or says what. So long as I don’t disappoint my mother, the coach can kiss my hairy white ass. Bald white ass. Whichever.

The opening ceremony was a blur. I remember parading in the team uniform. A lot. I remember the amazing water cube thing we swam in. And press. I know I talked to the Richmond Times-Dispatch and the Washington Post and, oddly enough, a pair of Japanese papers. There were others but those were the ones I remember. If I wasn't in the water, I was at the pool rooting for someone. If I wasn't there, I was either eating or sleeping. In all that, there were a couple moments that time stopped and I'll remember forever.

Winning the bronze was not one of them. I didn't realize that I'd won it. I swam in the last heat. I'd been so intent on psyching myself up that I suddenly realized that I was in the water and I hadn't heard the whistle. The other swimmers were in the water by then and I couldn't tell if I got an early start or not so I kept swimming. Then, I realized that I had been so intent on whether I got an early start, that I hadn't counted laps. I tried to figure out how many I had done and how many were left. I took my best guess. When I came out of the water, the coach was yelling "14:47! 14:47!" which made no sense at the time but I realized later was my time. I kept asking him, "Was that it?" which made him think I'd hit my head. Several people kept telling me to go 'over there' to where they were presenting the medals. They were about to start without me when the coach finally convinced me that I'd made third place. I was one of the guys going home with one more piece of metal than I left with. I stood there listening to the Norwegian national anthem and realized that I was accepting an award for winning an event I practically didn't remember swimming. I should have felt great. Instead, I felt like a complete jackass. I gave the metal to Mom - who already had a 'my son won' tee-shirt on - and my Grandfather took the whole family out to dinner. Afterwards, we had to catch several cabs to get us all back to the hotels. Granddad rode with me, Alex and Beth.

"So, ya'll see much of the city?" He asks mildly.

"Um," Alex looked at me, "Some."

"We went shopping." Beth offers.

"Fine, fine." Granddad nods. Then he cleared his throat. "So. Peter. Is there somethin' you need to discuss?"

"What?" He gestures at Alex and Beth. "What?"

"I just wanna know if you wanna stop." Alex says, softly; I almost didn't hear him.

If Granddad hadn't been sitting there, I'd have thought this was some kind of joke.

"Peter, apparently you have developed some sort of relationship with both yo'" he paused, suddenly mindful of the cab driver, "with both of these persons. I will not take this opportunity to express how strongly I disapprove of said relations, we can discuss that at another time. The question at the moment is: is it yor intention to continue these relations indefinitely or are you seeking to terminate one or both of these relations at this time?"

I have no idea. I can't even figure out what kind of relation we have. I sure as hell hadn't considered it tonight. "What?"

"Am I to presume that you had not given the matter any consideration?"

"Uh, no."

"Alright, then, le'see if we can clarify the issues. Take Alex. Do you have one or more relationships with him?"

"Uh -" I really am not ready to face this now but I could feel Alex stiffing beside me. He must really be worried if he went to Granddad about it. I try to focus. "Uh, yeah. Of course. Yes."

"Do you wish to terminate all relations with him?"

"I can't terminate all of them, he's…" Granddad stops me before I say it aloud, "No, no I don't."

"Do you wish to change the nature of your relations with him."

I open my mouth and pause. "No." I look at him. "I don't want to change a thing right now. Ok?" He actually looked scared. "Not until you say you want things to change. I know this is important for you."

"Yes, Sir." He whispers. His lip trembles a bit. "Thank you, Sir."

I look at Beth, "Look, I don't know what happened with us, but…"

"But, I'm sorry. It was my fault." She looked contrite and a bit forlorn.

"Baby, no! I'm the eldest; I'm s'posed to look out for you. I'm the one who's sorry."

"Fine," Granddad brusquely cut across us, "we have established that all prior activities were unintended and all parties involved are repentant. The question is, as to future - activities - is it you mutual intention to continue this sort of immoral behavior or will you cease and desist all future actions?"

She looked away, at her hands, and bits her lips. "I'm sorry, Granddad. I'll stop."

"Now hold on there, young lady." He tilts her face toward him. "It is not my place ta approve o' disapprove uh anythin' you do. I have my concerns, an' you want my advice, I'll give it. But I long since given up on tellin' these two they business an' ain't fixin' ta start with you." He lets her go and sighs deeply. "Least you know you kin trust him. Ya'll take proper precautions, I trust?" All three of us reply with a resounding yes. "Well, then, I can think of worse things."

She looked at me again, "I don't love you. I mean, not that way…"

"…not romantically…" Granddad supplies.

"…yeah. Oh, God, no. Yeah, not romantically. I'd hate spending the rest of my life married ta you." Not that I'd want her to, but that's not exactly a compliment. "I mean, oh come on! You're uh nice guy, just not my type, ok? But it's fun with you. If you don't wanna, I'm ok with that."

"I just want you ta be happy, ok?" I move the lock of hair that had fallen in front of her face. "The other stuff is, y'know, ok. But if you're uncomfortable, then that's it. I don't care. I care, I mean it's just…"

"…not the important part…"

"…yeah."

Granddad cleared his throat. "Are you all resolved at this point?"

"I think so." I glance at Beth, who looked away grinning. I turn to Alex and realize he's asleep. "Yeah, I guess so."

"Fine, then. Now you on ya own, hear? I don't want ta know anothuh damn thin' 'bout yo' love life, hear me?"

"Yes, Sir." I have to laugh.

"I'm not laughing, boy. How comfortable would you be hearing the ins an' outs uh me an' Ms Rachael?"

"Not at all, Sir. What I know is too much already."

"Well, the feeling is more than mutual. In my day, folks yo' age didn't get up ta this kind uh trouble…." He went on but I knew it was mostly bluster. What I knew about he and his second wife made me confident that he was more offended by our age than our actions. We all kissed his cheek when we finally arrived at our hotel and he took the cab back to his own.

We have the elevator to ourselves and Beth winds her arms around my neck, "Granddad's pretty cool but I didn't think he'd wanna see this." She kisses me deeply. "I like foolin' 'round with you an' I don't wanna stop lessin you do."

"We're goin' ta Hell for this." I look past her at Alex. "You both know that, right?"

Alex shrugs, "I'm goin' anyway. Might as well enjoy the trip."

"I don't think God would send us ta Hell fo' this. I mean, nobody getting' hurt. We ain't doin' drugs or shootin' people. I don't care what Daddy say, I ain't believin' in uh God that think murder an' sex are the same thing."

Alex snickers, "Can I be there when you tell yo' Daddy that?"

Beth rolls her eyes as the doors open, "Well, obviously, I ain't tellin' him that. But just 'cause he control what church I go to don't mean he control what pastor I believe. Rev. Winslow says that God made sex fun, 'cause he wanted us ta do it."

"Inside heterosexual, adult, married relationships, yes."

"Not with yo kin, not fag, not fucked up twisted shit."

"Alex."

"Hey, bible don't say nothin' 'bout bondage."

We get to my door and Beth pecks me gently on the lips, "My point is that I don't think we're doing anything wrong if nobody get hurt. G'night Peter." She smiles at me. "You'd better get some sleep, if-n you wanna get uh necklace for Grandma." I promised her I win at least one more medal.

"Yeah, get some sleep." Alex kisses me as well; deeply like he wants more than just a kiss. "Ima break a rule tonight." He steps away then stops. "Oh yeah." He talks my hand and shoves it down his pants. I jump then realize what I'm feeling. Silk and lace. "You will not believe it, Sir, but we found a pair in green an' gold. Maybe I'll get uh chance ta show you. Later."

I go in my room and straight into the bathroom. The whole time we were out - the whole time we were with the family - Alex was wearing girl's panties. That alone gets me hard. I have to ask him how that felt. Now he and Beth were in their room. I imagine Beth kissing Alex's dick through the silk. I pull out my cell phone and call them. "Stay dressed."

"What?"

"The lingerie. Keep in on tonight. Whatever you do together."

"We did. We have, I mean."

"What's he doing?"

"He's kissing my feet. Hey, Peter, can I get him ta shave me?"

"What?" I hear Alex echo the question.

"Yeah! Gotta go, talk to ya t'morruh. Wait!" I catch her before she hangs up. "He can do you, but tomorrow see if you can buy a wax kit ta do him."

She laughs.

I jerk off thinking about Alex shaving Beth's pussy clean. It takes maybe three minutes. My roommate must think I'm a pervert.

All totaled, I compete in five events. The Open Water 10km, however, was the one I was most looking forward to. It finally starts on day one of the second week. I was in the first heat and had a pretty good time, one hour, forty-four minutes. That beat my gold metal time at the FINA's by almost two minutes. By the end of the day, I still have the Gold medal time. I am assailed by reporters. Someone asks me how important it was to me to win. I think he was expecting some bullshit answer about the spirit of competition, of winning being the only thing.

"Not very."

"All the way to the Olympics and you don't care if you win?"

"This is gonna be decided by a tenth of uh second. Hell, four uh these guy beat me in other races this year, so if I win over 'em it's just luck. We all fast. It ain't fast that's important. What's important is gettin' in an' out of the water fast enough ta keep some kid from drownin'. This," I could see Alex and Beth, just on the other side of the barrier; they're waving 'my son won' tee-shirts at me, "This is just braggin' rights."

Uncle George told me later that that was the sound bite they played the next day before the medal ceremony. I wound up with the silver, which was cool enough for me. The Gold beat me by the predicted tenth. All told, the US team won 19 medals.

The Open Water was my last event and since I had to be at the closing ceremony, I had four days to play tourist and generally be a spectator. My parents and grandparents had to get home - half the fishery corporate office was here - but Mom made Dad promise to pay the hotel bill in full and take any 'questionable items' out of my allowance when I got home.

Plus, they let Beth stay. A quick international call home fixed everything for Alex as well. "What am I gonna do with him under foot for a week?" Aunt Stacy laughed.

At Beijing International, Mom pulled me aside. "Now, look. I know some uh these girls right pretty…"

"Mom!"

"…and I already seen some uh these boys lookin' at yo' sister. But I want you ta promise me that you gonna look out fo' yo'self an' them. Hear?"

"Yes, Mom."

"Don't let 'em out yo' sight. Beth's uh good girl, I know, but temptation's uh frightful thing."

"I know, Mom."

"An' Alex uh down right ho…"

"…Mom!"

"…Well he is, an' his Momma know it. I just want you ta watch out fo' 'em both an' keep 'em safe. Ok?"

"Ok, Mom."

"I tell you how much I love you yet?"

It's an old game, "Yes, Mom" I hug her, "this much."

"How much?"

I hug her tighter, "This much."

"Hmm, no, that ain't as much as I thought. You best try again."

"This much." I can't help laughing as I pick her up and squeeze her.

"Ack!" She laughs, "Ok, ok! You win! That much! Lord, boy! When you get that strong?"

"Mom, that's all I do - swim an' weight train. How you think I won them medals?"

Dad catches us before she could get all teary eyed again, "Come on, Honey, we best get through security. Boy, behave yo'self. An' we gonna have a long talk 'bout that bill when you get home. What the hell you do at that spa, anyhow?"

"Charles!" My Grandmother snaps at him. "He done won two Olympic medals. Whatever he done, he done right. You have fun." She kisses my cheek. "Anythin' you Daddy won't pay fo', Parker an' I will."

"Ma!" Daddy throws his hands up.

The two of them fuss all the way through the security line. I wonder, watching them, if Mom and I will look just like that when I'm Dad's age.

Beth, Alex and I hire a cab and head back to Olympic Village. We're all very quiet. When we get there, Alex tells us he'll meet us later and goes to the front desk. They direct him somewhere and he wanders off. I start to ask him where he's going but Beth stops me.

"As worried as he is about you cuttin' him loose, you think he'd break a major rule this week?"

Not likely. Beth and I go get lunch and wait for Alex to re-appear. He's back before we finish eating with a hand full of pamphlets.

"What's this?"

"An itinerary, Sir." I raise an eyebrow, and he explains, "See, we got four more days here then we go back home an' I ain't wanna spend the rest of the summer in the hole on the Honor an' I was thinkin' it'd be cool ta y'know hang out. See Bangkok, shit - stuff like that. So I went ta the travel office and she totally hooked us up."

"Excuse me?"

"Yeah, see, ok, Princess Cruises goes from here ta Bangkok, right?"

"No." I could see Alex there - like a fish in water.

He laid out the plans in front of us. "Seriously, it gets better. See, the boat stops there. But three days later, the same ship goes to Sidney."

"Australia?" Beth suddenly perks up, "I so wanna go there. Marika's family went last year and she had the best time."

"Then from there, the same boat goes to LA like four days later. We could get on here, see like all of Asia an' sail home. Whadya think?"

I look at the itineraries. From port to port it's 45 days aboard ship. Nagasaki, Okinawa, Hong Kong, Malaysia, New Zealand, Hawaii. A dozen places in-between I've never heard of. The price at the bottom of the page was per person. My car cost less. "I think my Dad's gonna have a massive coronary when he see the cost."

"I say let's do it." Beth pulls out her phone.

"They're still in the air." I remind her. "There's no point in calling them now. And anyway, we still haven't decided."

"Oh, you don't have ta go. I'm goin' whether you go or not."

"Hold it, it ain't like we got uh month anyhow. School start for you two in a couple weeks an' I gotta start on-line classes before we leave here."

Whom ever she dialed picks up. "Hi Gran-Gran!"

Beth explains the whole scheme to our Great Grandmother Cecelia Rose Lee McElroy. In our family, that's the last word; if she says yes, our parents won't even fight - we get to go. It's underhanded, devious and thoroughly rotten to go over them like this. I had no idea how evil my sister was. Fifteen minutes later, Gran-gran's on speaker phone with the hotel's travel agent as we complete the necessary paperwork for the trip. Anything needing a parental signature was faxed to her and faxed back in almost immediately. She charges the whole thing to her personal credit card. I didn't even know she had a card not connected to the fishery.

"Now, ya'll know this is birthday, Christmas, every kinda gift fo' the next year, hear?" she says as we wait for the tickets to print."

"Yes, Ma'am." Alex says. "Grand, you are totally awesome cool! Ima send you pictures every day! It's gonna be like you here with us!"

"Oh, I'm too old ta be runnin' all over with you youn'uns. Just have fun. An' don't be brin' home no war brides, hear? I told Julius when he joined the Navy. You can go runnin' all over them South Seas, an' whatnot, but you come home alone. You get what I'm saying? Don't bring home nothin' you can't throw away."

We look at each other. Then I read between her lines, "Oh, jeez, Grandmamma!" Alex and Beth get it a minute behind me and both groan.

"I'm not so old I don't remember why young folk go ta Bangkok. Or why you askin' me an' not Charles. Now, ya'll understand that the only reason I'm sayin' yes is 'cause I know he won't really mind. Oh, he'll put up uh fuss but he'll be alright."

It's another half hour, but we get all the plans in place. Alex's cell phone rings about the same time we reach the pool where one of my teammates was swimming in the 400 freestyle. Alex misses most of the event arguing with Uncle George; not over the trip itself, but over the parental end run we used. And, of course, about missing a month of school.

We watch more events. We eat foreign food. It's legal here, so we drink a few beers. We have a blast. The parties after the dinner hour get wilder and later as the days pass and more athletes finish their competitions and were no longer worried about their performance. Beth's outfits get more and more revealing and Alex takes more and more liberties with her. I know I should stop them but there was something so crazy, hot voyeuristic about watching them.

Finally, one night as they were all but sitting in my lap making out, my roommate comes out and asks me. Related by marriage, I tell him; we try to keep it quiet because it was a bit strange, but we were not raised as siblings. We're not blood relatives. I add the lie to the list of reasons I'm going to Hell.

At night, we go back to their room and fuck.

We've given up on making Beth cum; we plan to tour as many sex shops as we could to find a toy she could use. In the meantime, we have fun putting every part of our bodies in connection to every other part in as many combinations as we could think of. We use two boxes of condoms before the closing ceremonies. I'm actually surprised I could walk. My - for practical purposes - ex-roommate spends the whole day laughing at me.

During that time, after my parents land and have a fit over the cruise, someone got in touch with the high school principal who in turn, got in touch with some of Alex and Beth's teachers and they came up with a solution that let them go without missing too much. Uncle George sent Alex funds to buy a new laptop with a satellite web connection. The school set up a web page for them to up load homework assignments and down load reading and other class materials. Due dates would be lenient given the fact that we were traveling but everything assigned had to be completed before they got back into the classroom. In addition, they had to keep a travel log of the trip for their classmates. It all sounded fair to me, but then, I didn't have to do it.

We have three days in Beijing before we board ship so we spend them on a train tour of province and the Great Wall. We get back to the city with barely an hour to make the ship and spend the first full day sleeping in the luxurious king-size bed our suite-with-private-balcony contains.

When we do finally awake functionally, we spend the first hour snuggled together, looking at brochures and deciding what we want to see. Eventually, we wander out for breakfast - which was actually dinner for everyone else. We walk as much of the ship as we have the strength for. Movies, casinos, nightclubs, shopping, restaurants, a dizzying array of games and activities - the ship was a floating city. Alex dutifully takes a million pictures to upload.

Since I'm 18 and listed officially as their 'guardian', we could drink legally if I buy it.

On the upper deck, we find a dance club that's open later than the rest. Alex freezes in the doorway. I can't blame him. People were packed in to the dark, smokey room like sardines as loud music blares and some form of dance takes place everywhere. The entire population of Reedville could get lost in here. "Peter?" He has to shout, "Ima break uh rule. Ima break uh lotta rules."

I grab his arm, "No pain, giving or receiving. No touching anyone who doesn't clearly consent before hand. Once an hour we meet right here just to be safe. Clear?"

He was still looking around the place. I tighten my grip on his arm and repeat myself. "Are we clear?"

"Yes, sir. No pain, no touching, check in every hour. Got it."

I slap his ass. "Have fun." He grins at me and slides into the crowd. I take Beth's arm, "You stay with me." She and I find a table us and discover the joy of plum wine. After a while, we hit the dance floor. Periodically other guys cut in and dance with Beth. She flirts a bit but points to me anytime one of them gets too fresh. Alex appears at various times usually with a girl but twice with a guy. With one of the guys, he gets to show off his tango. He joins me at the table later breathless.

"Sir, if-n I can still stand when we get to the room, tell me you gonna fuck me."

"I won't be nice if I do."

"Oh God," He moans, "Hurt me, Master, please."

I slap his ass again, "Go play."

When I meet up with Beth again, she's talking to an English-speaker who seems to be plying her with drinks. I ignored him and nuzzled the back of her neck to whisper, "He know you sixteen?"

"He ain't asked yet."

"He know you ain't wearin' no panties?"

She giggles, "He ain't asked that either."

"Excuse me, but the lady and I were speaking." He's at least polite.

"'Cuse me, but the lady spoken for."

He thinks about that for a moment. "I see. Very well, then. Good night." He wisely walks away.

"Alex wants me ta abuse him t'night."

"That's what he wants every night."

"Yeah, but we ain't alone t'night. Wanted ta see how you felt."

She thought for a minute. "I don't mind fooling around but not the weird stuff. He deserves uh good spanking but I don't like the other stuff."

Which was kinda what I thought. We go find Alex. When the club doors open, it's sunrise.

"You are shittin' me!" Alex exclaims. I let it go; it's what I was thinking too.

We get lost trying to find our room and have to find the information desk. None of us could stop laughing long enough to ask the question but somehow the porter gets the gist of it. As he escorts us to the right place - we were even on the wrong end of the ship - I try to explain.

"Ok, we've had uh bit…"

"…I thought you might have…"

"…but thing is, we own uh damn boat. Been working since we rail tall…"

"I was the youngest girl to ever work the boats 'cause I hit my growth spurt at 9." Beth was very proud of that fact.

"Oh. And what do you do on the boats?"

"Mostly work the nets. I don't like navigatin' but I can."

The porter gives Beth an appraising glance. I think he expected her to say galley or something similar.

"Any way," I go on. I think I'm rambling but I'm afraid that if I stop talking I'm gonna pass out where I stand, "you'd think one uh us coudda told bow from stern."

"Tol' ya we's on'a port side." Alex muttered. "Master my fuckin' ass."

I grab him and shove him hard against the wall. Now I know I'm drunk but I don't care. "Say 'gain, boy?"

"Nothin', sir." His eyes go a bit wide. The porter stammers nervously beside us.

"Watch yo' mouth or Ima make you watch mine the rest uh the trip." I lean closer and whisper - I think I whisper - "I'll eat Beth. Shit, I'll eat the porter an' not let you have uh bit. Jus' watch. You want me ta do that?"

He swallows hard. "No, Sir."

I let him go. He tries to recover some dignity but I could see he's rock hard. I look at the porter who's stunned, "Well, go on."

The poor man double steps us to the suite. I open the door and wave Beth and Alex in first. The porter hesitates a moment and I realize that he doesn't know whether to expect a tip from us. I have a couple small bills in my pocket and give them to him. He looked at them then looked around.

"Look, sir, I don't usually…. I mean, I'm not…." He clears his throat nervously, "What you told you're, uh, friend - "

He must have heard me. "Oh, hell, I'm jus' keepin' the boy in line." Then I smile at him, "Lessin' you change yo' mind. G'night." I go in and close the door. Alex and Beth were standing in the sitting area, waiting for me. They both look exhausted. Even if I wanted to play, I don't think any of us would last five minutes. "Bed. We in Japan t'morruh."

They both relax visibly and undress. I don't remember any of us actually getting into the bed. The next morning, I wake to sea gulls and Alex giving me a blowjob. It was the most wonderful alarm clock in the world. My brain sends the warm, tingly sensation throughout my whole body but slowly I loose track of any feeling but Alex's mouth working my tool over. Who ever invented this deserves a medal. A million medals. We honor the caveman the brought us fire. Somewhere out in history, there's a cavewoman named Ugh whom every man in existence owes a debt of gratitude. Thank you, Ugh. Thank you, thank you, thank you. "Uggghhh." I hear myself groan. Alex could deep throat. I swear I could feel my dick rubbing his tonsils. I know I'm gonna explode soon. So much for staying power; I'm probably the fastest man in the west. I don't care. It feels too good. I grab Alex's hair as I feel the throbbing beginning in the base of my balls. I let loose down his throat grunting and groaning and shaking. Alex doesn't let me go until I push he's head back. His eyes were glazed over.

"Please, sir, please let me cum." He whispers, "Please say yes, oh God, please."

That's when I notice that Beth was no where to be seen. I roll over to the side of the bed and look down. Beth was on the floor blowing Alex. Sticking out of his ass was one of the brochures for China, tightly rolled.

Alex's face was contorted as he tries not to come hard down Beth's throat. I tap the brochure and he winces, then shivers. He clinches his teeth and bears down. After almost a full minute, he leans against the bed, panting. "Oh, god, Sir. Please. I can't hold back much longer. I can't. Make her stop. Please. Let me come." He's sweating. I stroke his face and watch him. He looked tormented but I know in truth, he's enjoying every second of this torture.

I tap the brochure again and he hisses. "What's this for?"

"Paper cut." He moans. "Figured it'd hurt uh bit."

The paper was thick. Rolled it probably has some uncomfortably sharp corners. I doubt it's actually doing any damage but it's probably unpleasant. I give the paper a twist and he flinches. He looked like he's going to cry.

"Oh fuck." He snarls, "I can't stop. I can't. Ima come. Ima come."

I kiss him to shut him up. He shakes uncontrollably. Soon after, Beth slides out from under him and I move over to let Alex collapse on the bed.

"Oh god." He pants for a good minute before springing up, grabbing Beth and kissing her soundly. "I swear, one uh these days I'm make you scream so loud they gonna look for Leather face."

"What a lovely thought." She chuckles in-between kisses.

"Good morning." I say feeling just a little left out. They move fully onto the bed and include me in the morning kissing. We settle back on the bed and snuggle. I start to drift back to sleep and stir myself enough to see the clock. The tour of Nagasaki leaves in two hours. I kiss two foreheads. "Ok, you two, up. Dress. Underwear. We got uh schedule, here."

"Dibs!" Beth hollers and springs for the bathroom before Alex or I could move.

"Crap." Alex stretches and scratches, "She'll be in there two hours." He stands and starts trying to find clean clothes. "We gonna have ta do some laundry soon. Hey," he pauses as he pulls on a truly sexy pair of girl's blue silk panties, "how come we don't all feel like crap after last night?"

"I don't know." I truly don't. "Are you gonna wear those from now on?"

"Jus' for the cruise." When he pulls them all the way up, his package was outlined beautifully, "They bunch up badly and if I get hard, they squeeze like hell. Beth jus' bet me I'd run outta nerve fo' she did."

"What's her nerve for?"

"Lack uh panties - except if you give a direct order like today. I won't hold that against her."

I think about it. If they're both taking personal risks, I should take one too. I file that in the back of my mind.

When Beth came out of the bathroom, I moved quickly to get the jump on Alex. "Hey Beth, changed my mind. Underwear or not is your choice. Wear what you want."

We do get dressed and finish breakfast in enough time to catch the tour. I wish, however, at least one of us had paid attention in History class. Maybe then we would have been prepared for the city.

The shrines were inspiring. I tried to look at them and at the land. At the people. Not the war memorial. Not the still present signs of fallout. I always think of the US side. But every conflict has another point of view. I promise myself, while looking at the blast center at Peace Park, to not forget that. Alex and Beth both seem shaken as well.

When we were back aboard, Beth seems distant even over dinner. "You ok, Baby?" I ask her.

"I just fell kinda, I don't know creepy." She's clearly struggling. "We went someplace reverend and I was, y'know, whorish."

"Ain't nobody know but us." Alex says between bites. "Just think, the ghost of some poor guy coudda just gotten uh thrill."

"Alex." I snap.

He frowns at me, "Hey, look, I'm just pointin' out that we ain't the sickest people in the world. An' in truth, some poor lonely guy gettin' uh peek, hell, might make his day. If-n God ain't want you ta show it, he would'n'a given you the world's most perfect pussy. Hey, you gonna keep it shaved?"

Beth rolls her eyes and smiles despite herself. "Alex! Jesus! I can't believe you just said that in public!"

"What?" He looked at me, "Tell me I'm lyin'."

I want to snap at him again but I could already see the stress loosing in Beth's shoulders. "No, it's pretty spectacular."

"Peter!" she pinches my thigh. "Oww! Hey, pinch him, not me."

"That's the punishment." She starts eating again, "Every time you two misbehave, I'm gonna punish you an' withhold from him."

"Ok," Alex chuckles, "she's good."

"Too good. We may have to punish her."

"Very cool. Can I pick?" Alex makes a suggestion that makes Beth squeal loud enough to turn heads.

"We'll keep that on the list." He and I start making obscene suggestions to her and she blushes furiously. Finally, she bursts.

"Stop, we can do it all!" she looked around to make sure no one was staring at us, "But not on the deck. I maybe a slut, but I do have a bit of pride."

After dinner, we head up to the bow. On vacation and all of us want to watch the working of the boat. Sad. We start chatting with some of the English speaking crew and get a mini tour of some of the not-entirely-off-limits areas of the boat. Beth flashing the Boson may have helped that especially since I caught him feeling her up 'below deck' while we were below deck. She didn't seem to mind but I sure as hell did.

She also doesn't seem to mind later, at the club, letting her skirt ride up while bump-n-grinding with Alex and two strangers. For a half hour, I can't find her anywhere in the club. Then I see her walking out of a back room straightening her skirt and wiping her lips with a delicate finger. I shove through the crowd and drag her to a quiet corner. "Where have you been?"

"In my skin." She has an air of smug satisfaction.

"Not funny. Where were you?"

"Having fun." she runs her finger lightly across my chest. I grab her hand. "Relax! Don't be such uh 'peter'."

I know she's been drinking but the last time she was this 'loose', she was high - which was a thought that scares me to no end. "Are you high, again, Beth?"

She gasps and rolls her eyes. "No, Peter, I'm not. Honestly. What? Can't I have a little fun? Alex is enjoying himself."

"Alex is a 16-year-old boy with the libido of a wild dog."

"So?" she tilts her head, "What am I?"

"You…" I come up short. Beth was my baby sister. She was also a 16-year-old girl with the libido of a wild dog. "…are different." I finish lamely.

"Oh, so Alex gets to fuck anything that walks on this trip but I have to behave myself? Is that it? Thanks, Dad." She sneers like it's an insult. "I don't suppose there's any chance that I might have met someone interesting on this cruise. It is the love boat." She yanks her arm and I let her pull it away from me. "Asshole." She mutters as she stalks off.

Half an hour later, I can't find her again. I want to tear the ship apart. Instead, I sit at the bar and sip plum wine while Alex makes new friends on the dance floor.

Finally, I'm as irritated as I could be in a public place without making a scene. I walk over to him, stepping between him and his current dance partner. "Now."

"Aw, dude, come..." he sees my expression and stops dancing. "Yes, sir. Sorry, sir." He looked at the girl, "Gotta roll. Tomorrow? Lido deck pool." I leave. I don't look to see if he follows me out.

Beth was asleep in the center of the bed. Alone. I sit next to her, pull the sheets over her shoulder, and kiss her forehead. Then I go out on the balcony and stare at the water wishing the sea and the stars held comprehendible answers.

"What up?" Alex says softly.

"Nothing. Go on ta bed. I'll be in ina minute."

"Peter, you been out here an hour already."

I hadn't realized it had been that long. "Oh. Right. I'll be another sec."

"Did I do something -"

"Alex!" I didn't mean to snap, "Everything in my world does not involve you."

"I know." he's quiet for a minute. "I saw the guy she was with."

That, I did not expect. "What?"

"Beth. When she went in the bathroom. I saw the guy she was foolin' 'round with. I pretended I ain't know her an' went in the stall. When he ain't had uh condom, she gave him a hand job."

"And you didn't stop 'em?"

He shrugs, "He ain't argue, she was enjoyin' herself. She deserves uh little fun."

"She uh kid."

"Dude - sorry - Sir, she my age. It ain't like she uh virgin."

"She my baby sister."

He touches my shoulder. "Sir, yo' baby sister got tits an' uh pussy and like usin' both. You gotta get used ta the idea she bangin' other guys or you gonna have ta tie her to the bed." He squeezes my shoulder then goes back in the room.

When I finally do go to bed, I pull Beth into my arms. I don't like thinking of my sister as some sex toy that other guys play with. I don't care if that's what she wants. Not that she should be bangin' me or Alex but at least we know how special she is. Other guys won't care about her. They won't treasure her like she deserves.

I wake up to find myself nearly pushed out of the bed and Beth in a fetal position.

"Baby?" she makes a small sighing sound. "Baby, what's wrong?"

"Nothing." she groans.

"Beth, don't tell me nothin', baby, I can see somethin' wrong. Are you upset? Sick? Are you seasick?"

"I'm not seasick you idiot!" She snaps. "So stupid." she adds under her breath. "I have cramps. I'm fine. Go away."

"Cramps? Why would you have...oh..." I hadn't even thought about her cycle. And Beth's was bad the first couple days. "Ok. What do you need?"

"I need you to leave me alone."

Alex comes out of the bathroom, dressed. I could still hear water running and realize that it's the room's hot tub filling. "Hey, Beth, I started the tub. You want it hot hot or just kinda warm?"

"I want a hot bath." She snaps at him. "Not so hot I can't get in it but hot. Is that too hard to figure out?"

"Jeez, Beth! Don't be uh bitch." he rolls his eyes, "I'm tryin' ta help."

"Prick! I'll do it myself." she starts to uncurl herself but I've seen her stay home from school on the first day.

"Stay put." I get up before she could really move - and even that caused her to whimper. "I'll get it." I pull Alex back in the bathroom and close the door. First, I check the bathwater. "Ok, yo' Mom or Gracie get PMS?"

"How the hell would I know?"

"Trust me, you'd know. Look, for the next two, three days, don't give her any shit, ok? Just agree with whatever she says."

"It's that bad?"

"She usually starts taking Pamprin like the week before. Aunt Candice won't call her for a shift if she knows she's on."

"So she's gonna be uh bitch for the rest of the week?"

"Likely just the next couple of days. But, shit, I'll bet she ain't got supplies with her."

I turn off the water before the tub overflows and go back into the room. Beth's curled around the phone. I could just hear her softly ordering personal supplies from the shop. When she hangs up, I kneel next to the bed. She looked like she slept badly. "How you holdin' up, baby?"

"Ok, see, if I were a baby, I wouldn't be having cramps, ok?" She slowly pulls herself up. "I'm gonna take a bath and then I'm gonna go down to the promenade deck, find the general store and pick up some things."

"They can't deliver?" Alex asks.

She glares at him like it's his fault. "They can deliver if I'm willing to wait another hour. Or two."

"Tell you what," I cut in before Alex gets us killed, "you get in the tub an' we'll go pick up your order."

She sighs, "Fine. I'll wait for room service first, then."

"Room service?"

"They're bringing some mint tea and honey."

Poor brave bastards. "Ok, you go soak, Alex will wait for room service - with his mouth shut" I look at him and he yields, "and I'll go downstairs." She doesn't really have the energy to fight. I pick her up and carry her the few feet to the bathroom.

Once she's settled in the tub, I pull Alex into the hall. "I don't care how stupid she sounds, whatever she says goes today. She has two moods when she like this: pissed and weepy."

"Can I just say this officially sucks?" Alex shakes his head. "Gay guys don't have to deal with this shit."

"Kinda makes ya wanna convert, don't it?"

Beth's period. I hadn't even considered that. If I had I would have insisted on two rooms instead of assuring Gran-gran that we could share one big one. And, since we're gonna be a month and a half all told, she's gonna have at least one more before we get home. I am beginning to think this trip was a bad idea - definitely more than I could handle. I find the store; they have all the right products and none of the right brands. I hope like hell that Beth won't care about that.

I get back up to the room as fast as I can. Beth was soaking in a bubble bath, sipping hot tea. With her hair tied up and the bubbles, she looked like a pin-up girl. I wonder for a moment how messy period sex in the tub would be. I wonder if she'd actually let me live after I made the suggestion.

"Ok, I know this may not be the right stuff, but it's what they had. I'm sorry, baby. When we get to port tomorrow, I'll see if we can find something better, ok?"

She doesn't lift her head. She doesn't even open her eyes. "I need twenty-four hours without seeing either of you. Go away."

I open my mouth then decide that maybe I want to argue this one later. Like tomorrow.

I go out to get Alex only to find he's not in the room. "Where's he?" I ask from outside the bathroom.

"I told him to go play with the room service guy. He left."

I grab my cell and leave the room. Alex, I find on the upper deck trying to talk a girl I don't recognize into sunbathing topless. If I tried that, I'd get thrown off the ship, Alex get her to giggle. I grab a plate of breakfast, a mai-tai, a deck chair and plan on spending most of my day in the same spot.

"She got uh sister." Alex wakes me a couple hours later.

"So?" I had remembered to cover with sunscreen but since he woke me, I was debating braving Beth to get my swim trunks.

"So, they have a two-sleeper cabin."

"So we find a room to sleep in by finding a girl to sleep with?"

"Better than sleeping on deck, right? And hey, what's uh little fun, we goin' ta hell anyway?"

I just wish I didn't think it sounded like a good idea.

We go to lunch with the girls and when I mention that I don't have access to my trunks, they take us to the top deck, clothing optional pool.

"Alex says you won a medal this year." one of the girls says coyly, "race you!" she dives in.

I strip to my briefs, letting her get more than halfway across the pool. Then I follow her in and beat her by, well, enough to meet her on the edge of the other side. "He did tell you I'm fast, right?"

She's genuinely impressed. They both are. Alex looked smug. They spend another half hour trying to beat me and finally I let them - something about naked, wet, girls - pouting - distracted me from swimming. I buy a round of drinks and we sit by the pool and talk.

Da and Kai. Pilipino. They're college students having a girl's getaway. Alex and I claim the same story. The girl with us? A high school friend - not a girlfriend. They feel sorry for us being thrown out by the bad nasty PMS-Bitch. Did we know that sex was good for cramps? No, no we did not.

The look Alex gets tells me that's a theory he plans to test.

We go to one of the casual pizza places for dinner since Alex and I were not dressed for the main seating. Generally, we have fun, we hit the arcade, we wander through the mall. I call Beth's cell and leave her a message when she doesn't answer.

Alex talks me out of going back to the room to check on her. "She said give her uh day. You the one said do what she wants. 'Sides, this way she knows we take her literally, right? So maybe she won't be so fucked up next month."

I really want to check on her but I also know how she could be. He might be right in all. "If you wrong; if we go back an' she's in tears, Ima throw you over the rail."

"An' if I'm right?"

"I'll beat yo' ass." he grins and I go one better. "Tell you what. You know how you wanted me ta mark you..."

His eyes actually light up, "Yeah?"

"If you right, and Beth is really glad that we totally vanished today, it'll count as strike one."

"What do I get if-n I strike out?"

"I'll find a tattoo parlor in Singapore and sign my name across yo' ass."

He kisses me. He doesn't even pause to see if anyone's looking. I don't stop him - maybe it's the drinks, maybe it's the overall suspension of reality but I wish our whole lives were like this.

"Hey!" Kai punches my arm and Alex and I pull apart. "Don't tell me we misunderstood you two."

I let go of Alex and slid my arm around Kai's slender waist, "Depends." She's so small I could practically lift her one handed. "Did you understand I plan to get make a meal outta you tonight?"

"You looked like you were enjoying your friend." She doesn't look particularly put out by it.

"He's an appetizer. You're dinner." I lean down and kiss her. Her lips were soft and yield to mine readily. I could still taste the spicy sausage that was on the pizza we had earlier. "Let me know when I get hungry."

"I think I'm ready to eat now." She answers rubbing against me. Who am I to argue?

We take two steps and I stop her. "Hang on. Alex?"

He and Da were leaning against the wall not quite kissing. He straightens up and looked at me. "Yes, Sir?"

I have to admit it. I hate to admit it but I have to - I love it when he does that. "You do when she does. Standard rules apply."

He nods quickly, "Yes sir." His full attention turns back to Da and I turn mine back to Kai.

"What was that about?"

"Just making sure Alex doesn't play rough."

"Rough?"

"He likes to spank naughty little girls. I just told him he's not allowed to spank her."

"'You do when she does'?"

"Ah." We wait for the elevator and I whisper in her ear. "He is not allowed to finish until after Da does. Just like yo' pleasure gonna come before mine." I nibble her earlobe while we wait for the slowest elevator in history. When it arrives, it give us plenty of time for me to turn her spine to jelly suckling her neck and shoulders. Getting to her room takes forever mostly because I can't stop kissing parts of her long enough for us to walk down the hallway.

At her door, I hold her hand before she slides the keycard through the lock. "You sure? You don't know me from Adam." I murmur between kisses. I'm actually thinking the same thing for myself.

I've never slept with a girl I didn't know before. The girls I dated in high school, I may not have known them all well, but I'd at least known most of them since middle school - a couple since elementary school. I met Kai this afternoon. Not even a full twenty-four hours and yet here I am, in her room, taking her shirt off, letting her take off mine.

It did occur to me belatedly that I completely missed the answer to my question but I had more pressing concerns like figuring out how to operate the weird decorator clasp on her swimsuit top.

Alex and Da come in while I'm on my knees, trying to coax an orgasm out of her nipples. I don't pay too much attention because I'm much more interested in Kai's ragged breathing. I dance my fingers lightly around the waistband of her shorts. I have to stand up again, but eventually I get her on the bed, out of the shorts and with my tongue in her slit. She thrashes and moans. She never gets super wet, but she definitely comes.

"Jesus, Peter!" Alex laughs when she quiets down, "Kill 'er why don't you."

"I can't help it if-n mine louder than yours."

"Bullshit." he sneers and slides down Da's frame.

They actually turn out to be pretty evenly matched for volume.

Kai doesn't want to go all the way when she could move again, but she has no reservation against blowing me. Her mouth was small and feather light. "Oh, yeah, that's nice." I groan. She could do that all week. All hail Ugh. Eventually, she does add her hand and picks up both the pace and the grip strength. When I come, she aims it all at her breasts then lies down and rubs it like it's lotion. I dive on her and lick her clean. I think she came again while I was doing it. We fall asleep entwined.

I wake to a mass of black hair in my face and the smell of sour apples and sweat - which might have been nice if I wasn't expecting strawberries or at least whatever the hell Alex uses.

I pull away from Kai and use the john. I check the time; it's 5:30am. I really want to go swim. If this were Beth, I'd just go. But Kai doesn't know me.

I reach past Da and wake Alex. "I'm swimming. Kai asks, I'm coming back."

"Yeh, suh." He slurs still half sleep. I will never understand how he ever gets to his shift on the dock on time. I go back to the clothing optional pool and strip bare. Swimming naked laps for an hour was a treat I could get used to. I get to see the sunrise as I swim. It's glorious. On my way back to the girl's room, the staff were setting up the breakfast buffet so I grab a pitcher of OJ and a tray of breakfast things and slip back into the room.

It doesn't look like any of them have moved yet. I shower and get back into bed with Kai.

Da was actually the first one to wake. She pads into the bathroom and sees the tray when she comes out. "Thank you. That's very sweet."

"I try to be."

She looked back at the beds and the one body sleeping in each. Then she looked at me. "I guess the early birds got the wrong worms."

I look at her, not quite sure I got her message. "You want to go back to bed?"

"But I'm not particularly sleepily."

Two strange women in 24 hours. "I can fix this." I shake Alex. When his eyes open mostly, I tell him, "Move." He sits up, yawns, and staggers into the bathroom. I gesture Da back into the bed and climb in with her.

A few minutes later, Da was sucking my nipples and I see Alex stagger out of the bath. He glances at me, takes a few seconds to register, and climbs into bed with Kai. I go back to enjoying Da's talented fingers sliding around my dick. I slid two of mine against her clit. She shivers and stops everything to reach for the nightstand and find a condom. She puts it on me then slides herself on top of me. I let her bounce around up there. Her breasts were larger that Kai's and they bounce a lot. Finally, I pull her closer so I could suck them while she rides me. I could feel the muscles contracting when she comes.

I pull her hips forward and coax her to sit on my face. I love the taste of a girl's who's just come. She pulls the condom off and uses me as a makeshift gag. When I come, it's all over her face. I lick her face clean.

I hear a creak and a groan. Alex and Kai were spooned together, slowly screwing. I wrap my arms around Da and face her toward them. Soon, she reaches for another condom and our sex mirrors theirs. We all finish at about the same time.

I am very glad I brought breakfast down. By the time we finish, there would have been nothing left. We're snuggling and discussing how the four of us will spend the day in Shanghai when my cell rings. I nearly knock over a lamp reaching for it. "Hey, Baby!" I can't believe how relieved I am to see her number, "How you feelin'?"

"Like a total piece of shit. I can't believe I threw you out like that. Where are you guys?"

"We're fine. We found..." I look around me, "...space."

"You got lucky, you dick, didn't you?" She laughs, "Oh my god, I throw you out for one day and you two find some slut ta shack up with."

"You'll like them."

"I'd better." she counters, "and I'm finding one of my own next week. If you can play, I can play."

I glance at Alex. He's alternating between kissing Da and kissing Kai, waiting for me to get off the phone. It's not fair of me to deny her this if we're doing it. "Ok, Baby, You win. Hey, listen, we're heading into the city as soon as Alex and I change clothes if we can come back now..."

"Of course!"

"...good. Anyhow, you come with?"

"Are they prettier than me?"

"Of course not!" I am not that stupid. "We'll be back in like ten minutes." I hang up. "Ok, Alex, roll. Ladies," I kiss them both, "thirty minutes. On the Lido. We'll be the love struck idiots staring helplessly at you."

Kai rolls her eyes and Da laughs, "With the other woman with you."

"Don't knock three chicks 'til you try three chicks." Alex purrs.

Kai hits him. We head back to our room. Beth was dressed but not even remotely as close to 'chipper' as she sounded on the phone.

"Baby, stay here." I tell her with a kiss. "It's ok."

"When am I gonna be in Shanghai again?" she whines. "I'm goin'. I got drugs. I'll be fine. Besides, I gotta write something about it anyway."

The five of us take the late tour - the early one left while we were sleeping. We wander around the biggest city in China. I admit it; travel was not a McElroy strong point. Apart from me and Granddad, I don't think anyone in my family has left the Atlantic coast, let along the US. We find one of many electronic stores and buy two memory cards for our cameras - even with daily downloads; we'll never be able to keep all the pictures we're taking. I am reminded again of how small Reedville was and how big the rest of the world is. Kai and Da spend large parts of the day laughing at us.

"I thought you were Americans." Da laughs as Alex, Beth and I all crane our heads back to look at yet another skyscraper.

"We ain't city folk." Alex says, "Ain't uh building in Reedville more-n four stories."

"Alex!" Beth protests mildly, "It's not that small. There are uh couple ten-story office buildings. An' we only two hours from Richmond which is the state capital an' they got buildings like this one there." However, she admits. "But we don't spend much time there."

I slide an arm around each of our new friends, "See, we live on the river bank. All the glories uh the United States uh hunnerd mile up the Chesapeake, we don't never have call to go there."

"I been ta Washington on uh class trip once," Alex offered, "An' Peter's Granddad used ta live there. But it ain't got skyscrapers like this. Look like uh city fulla museums. Hey, whoa! Lookathere!"

Alex heads down yet another back alley, dragging Beth and the rest of us follow. We pass the day wandering around the streets of downtown Shanghai and generally looking like tourist. We spend way too much on souvenirs and clothes. But we do find a 'toy store'. I let Alex lead Da and Kai somewhere else while Beth and I glance around in search of something that might do the trick for her. I flip through some of the porn on the rack. I put it down when the tentacle'd monster begins molesting the room full of twelve year olds. Way outta my league. Beth's holding a dildo that looked like a base bat when I slip my arms around her.

"That the one?"

"No!" She looked appalled, "It wouldn't even fit! I was looking at this." She holds up and small, simple tube about six inches long.

"Hell, Beth, I'm bigger-n that." I kiss the back of her neck. "If that would do it, me an' Alex'd long since done it."

"Well, I don't want something too big."

"What's too big?"

"Painful."

"Ah."

"I did see this. Whatdiya think?"

She hands me a silver cigar shaped object. It's smooth and completely unremarkable except for a barely perceivable joint in the center. I jump nearly a foot when it starts vibrating. "What the hell?"

"It has a remote that works up to 50 feet and under water."

My dick twitches picturing her and or Alex groaning as I turn up the speed. "Batteries?"

"Two AA." She hands me the remote. It has one switch more than I could identify.

"A, B, AB?"

"It can operate up to two units at a time."

I don't have enough cash on me but the shop accepts Visa. Beth and I can't stop grinning at each other when we catch up to Alex, Da and Kai.

Beth was wiped out by the time we get back to the ship. Alex walks her back to our room while I go with the girls to theirs. After half an hour, he's not back. I start to call him.

"Afraid of being alone with two women?" Da teases.

I close the phone without dialing. "Every man oughta fear being alone with two unhappy women."

"Would we both be unhappy?" Kai slowly begins unbuttoning her top. Underneath, she was braless.

"Not if I could help it."

"Well, then. No fear." Da pulls her tank top over her head.

I pull them both to me and alternate between their breasts, comparing - mentally - their size and shape. Da's were bigger; Kai's, more sensitive. They pull my shirt off while I work on their shorts.

When they're both naked, Kai straddles my face and nearly breaks my neck rubbing her slit against me. I felt Da's lips wrap around my dick and try to give as good as I get for as long as I can. When Kai's slit begins quivering around my tongue, I suck her clit to see if I could get her to squirt but she stops me and the three of us move to a bed so the girls could change places.

Da sits on my face. Kai sits on my dick. "Oh, shit!" I moaned into Da's pussy. I am not wearing a condom; I could tell the difference immediately. I suddenly never want to wear one again. But I also do not want to be a father, not anytime soon, at least.

Da rubs pussy cream over my face, Kai slowly rotates her hips around my dick. Maybe she won't get pregnant - maybe the condoms were for safety not birth control. Maybe this will just kill me. What a fuckin' way to go.

Da's ass shows no sign of moving anytime soon, so I put both hands on Kai's waist, lift her and let her drop down on me. I hear her squeal distantly, beyond Da's thighs. I try to work them both this way, slowing down or speeding up as I ebb and crest my own waves. I don't have Alex's control though. I drop Kai down and hold her there and concentrate on making Da come. With no warning, she cries out and floods my face. I come a split second after. I drink it in, licking and sucking and moaning until Da pull away from me.

Kai also pulled away, leaning backward with her legs splayed open. I could see globs of my jizz just beginning to seep out.

My jizz. Her jizz. Mixed, still in her pussy. It was possibly the sweetest thing I've ever tasted - not as in actual 'sweet' but most satisfying, most arousing. I cannot get enough. I eat her to another orgasm and would have kept on if she hadn't stopped me.

I'm hard again. Da holds up a condom. "Sorry." She whispers.

I kiss her as I slip the foil pack from her fingers, "Don't be." I turn her around so that her back was to me and slip into her doggie style. Kai soon recovers some strength and lays next to us fingering her slit. The sight makes me shiver.

"Hey, Da," I gasp, "You ever wonder what all the fuss 'bout?" The girls exchange looks then Kai moves in front of Da and I get to watch Da eating Kai. "Oh God, that's hot." I gasp.

Kai cries out again - this time in Pilipino. I have no idea what she says but Da's slit convulses around me and I pick up my pace. I try to wait until I hear them both come again then I let myself go and pound Da until I blow hard. The three of us collapse in time to hear someone knock on the door.

Da manages to get up after a brief conversation she returns to the bed laughing, "The couple next door wanted to make sure we were ok. They heard all the noise and were concerned."

"So are you two ok?" I ask. "Any unhappy women in this bed?"

They both laugh. "I'm tired. Doesn't that count?" Kai nuzzles against my arm.

"Depends. Is that a good thing?"

"Very good." Da snuggles on the other side.

I kiss them both on the forehead. "Good." I fade to sleep feeling extraordinarily pleased with myself.

I wake to the sound of my phone ringing. I carefully extricate myself and find the phone. Of course, it's stopped by then. There's a missed call from Alex; I call him back.

"Hey, what up?"

"You called me." I yawn, "Where you?"

"With Beth. That sex-cramp thing totally works."

"Oh." For a moment, I'm a bit jealous.

"Wha'did I miss?"

My jealousy fades, "Not much. We kept busy."

"What," Alex snickers, "Ya do 'em both?" I don't respond and he stops snickering, "Peter, you did not do 'em both."

"Why not? You ain't come back; what was I supposed ta do?"

"Oh, shit! Uh, sorry. So what happened? Ow! Wait." He and Beth exchange a couple words in the background, "Sorry, Sir. Uh, Beth wanted me to ask you if you coming back to the room or gonna spend the whole day with them?"

"If she wants me back, I'll come back."

"She wants to know what you're planning."

"I'm not planning anything. What do she want?"

"Dude, if I knew that..." he sighs deeply. "Sir..."

"Tell her I'm on my way back now." I hang up and look back at the bed. Da was sitting up watching me. Kai was still asleep. I grab my pants and come sit on the edge of the bed. "I gotta get back."

"Your wife is waiting." Da says as if it's a fact.

"My wife?" She couldn't mean Beth. "I'm not married."

She rolls her eyes. "It's ok. We weren't sure but watching you yesterday together sort of gave you away. The little looks, you made jokes only she got, you..."

"She's not my wife, she's-" I realize mid-phrase that I cannot complete that sentence. "We're close."

"Look it was fun. It's a cruise fling, right? At least your wife knows. Kai's husband would kill her if he found out."

"Husband?" I stand, shocked, and nearly trip over my half-on pants. "You guys are married?"

"Oh, just Kai. Well, I'm engaged but the wedding's not 'til next year."

"Oh." I stare at them. They had seemed like such nice girls.

"Look, you and your wife fool around, why shouldn't we?"

"Well for one thing this isn't behind my wife's back." That did not come out right. "If-n I had uh wife; I ain't married. Beth ain't even mah girlfriend. I got more call on Alex, come ta that an' I ain't got call on him."

"What are you so upset about?" Da sounds offended, "You got what you wanted."

"I got what I-" I'm about to start yelling, I realize. I stop and take a breath. What did I get, exactly? I got to have sex with two beautiful girls - which was what Alex wanted. I got a room for the night - which I needed. I got to have fun with someone I thought was having fun with me. Which is, in fact, what I wanted. "You're right, Da. I'm sorry. I think I forgot that this wasn't reality. In another week you go home and I sail on and I forgot that." I zip my pants and find my shirt. "I really should go now."

"Hey, look, I..." Da starts but I cross the room to her and stop her with a kiss.

"You have your reality, I have mine. I really do start college when I get home. But don't ask me how old Alex really is, OK?" I kiss a still sleeping Kai and leave the room while I'm still together enough to do it gracefully.

When I get back to our room, I come in and throw myself on the bed.

"What's wrong with you?" Alex barely glances up from the TV.

"Where's Beth?"

He shrugs, "Went out. Told me ta stay put. Was real bitchy, so I ain't argue."

"Kai's married."

That got his attention. "Come again?"

"Da's engaged. Her wedding's next year."

"Married?"

"That's what she said." I don't know why this has me so upset. People go on cruises to have flings. It's supposed to be meaningless, fun sex - guilt free. It's not like I planned to take either of them home with me.

"Sir? Are you ok?" Alex turns off the movie he was watching and looked at me oddly.

"Yeah, fine."

"What did they say?"

"I said I'm fine. Did Beth say where she was going?"

"No, just said she be back soon. You have breakfast yet?"

"Not hungry. Whatcha watchin'?"

"Ace Ventura."

Stupid movie. "Get dressed. When Beth gets back we'll go eat."

"Yes, sir."

Alex gets dressed and I wait in silence. I like both Da and Kai; but I can't knowingly sleep with a married woman. That's just wrong.

Beth eventually returns to the room and I take the two of them for breakfast on deck. After, Beth and I change and find the one pool dedicated to people who want to swim laps. I let Alex go wander on his own. Beth's form was off and we spend a few minutes working on that. The morning passes surprisingly quickly.

Alex reappears around lunchtime. "Sir, there's a sushi buffet on the aft deck. You wanna hit it?"

"Yeah." Beth and I get out of the water, "That'll work. How you feelin' Beth?"

"Tired. I'm fine." She dries off and wraps on a sarong that makes her look only half-naked. I can't figure why half the boat ain't hit on her yet.

Maybe because they think I'm her husband.

That thought drops my mood down the sewer. We go for sushi for lunch then I tell the two of them to go play and grab a lounge chair by the main pool so I could sulk on my own. I get maybe an hour to brood before 'Julie our cruise director' starts a pool party game and harasses everyone into playing. I try an act like I'm having fun so I don't ruin it for everyone else.

The woman I'm partnered with was older - a good fifty - but in pretty good shape overall. In the end, in order to win, I grab her, and the ball, tell her to take a breath, and dive under the net marking the goal line. We still don't win but we get a consolation prize for most creative solution.

Barb and I wind up having drinks at the Tiki bar. Divorced. "You ever been married?" she asked me.

"No." I answer, "I'm, uh, still pretty young, you know."

"What does that mean?"

"That means I find you charming and intelligent and I really hope that you find youth appealing."

She laughed, "Oh, please! The last time someone my son's age gave me a line like that, I was my son's age. You don't have to try to seduce me, I'm not trying to sleep with you."

"Pity."

That got a smile. "You like older woman?"

"I like woman. Older is a bonus."

"That makes you the opposite of my ex. His last four flings were all under 30."

"So were mine." I point out.

"Yes, but so are you." She sips her drink. "He's 56."

"My Grandfather's 65; his wife's 28. They just had twins last year."

"Oh the poor girl. That must be awkward at family dinners."

"They pretty happy near as I can tell."

"Well, I'm glad it worked out for them." She finishes her drink and stands up, "Well, I should -"

"Wait," I stand and take her hand, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you. I'm sure I don't want to be your husband."

"What does that mean?"

"It means he was a jackass to let you out of his sight never mind out of his life an' I don't want ta share anything in common with a man so stupid he wouldn't move heaven and earth ta keep you happy."

She laughs, "You have a million lines like that, don't you?"

"Only if they'll make you laugh like that a million more times." I point to the seat she just vacated. "One more drink? I promise I'll be a gentleman."

"That's what I'm afraid of." she says lightly but sits as she says it.

I order two more drinks and ask her more about herself. She's a Sale Manager for a US/Asia hotel chain. Two college kids in the States and a third living in Thailand.

"For the sex." She laughed when I ask why Bangkok. "My husband was a rotten lay. So for two weeks, on a cruise, I figure - throw away my inhibitions, say yes to any offer and do what feels natural."

"And?"

"No offers to say yes to." She finishes yet another drink and signals the bartender for refill. "You see, I'm a fifty-year-old woman with sagging tits, gray hair and prune-y skin. And this." She shakes the flab under her upper arm.

Put that way, I can't figure out what I'm so attracted to. Then I realize it.

"You're seeing this wrong. All afternoon, I've been talking to an open, honest, refreshing, woman who knows what she likes and tells me what she wants. I find that incredibly hot."

"So if I told you I want you to eat me until sunrise?"

"I'd put you on the bar and start now." I put my drink down, "Do you want me to?"

"I'm kidding. You wouldn't want to do that anyway."

"Why wouldn't I?"

She sips her drink thoughtfully. "I'm debating just how drunk I am. I have female complaints. My husband never went down there. Few men, actually, have braved the depths." She takes another sip and tries to appear un-phased, "It's not a big deal."

"I can't imagine anything so hideous that I wouldn't try it." Actually, I can. "Or that I wouldn't try to find some way around."

"You're young. And I'm trashed. I should not have done this before dinner. How did I let you talk me into this?"

"I promised you hours of hot passionate sex."

"No, you didn't. That, I would remember."

"So I'm promising it now. Let's go back to your cabin and -" I am interrupted by my cell phone. I let it ring, "- and..."

"Ship-to-shore?"

"Ship-to-ship."

"Shouldn't you get that?"

"I should get you...damn it," I snatch open the phone, "Make it quick."

"Uh," Alex sounds unbalanced.

"This uh very bad time. What?"

"Dinner. Main seatin' in an hour. We ain't know what you wanna do, so I figure..."

"Hold on." I smile at Barb, "Would you like to join us for dinner? Our table over looks the dance floor down below. It's like one of the MGM movies."

"Who's we?" She arches her eyebrows at me. I have to stop myself from leaning in to kisses her.

"My friends." I smile more broadly, "Not my wife, not my girlfriend."

"Not your parents?"

"Not my parents."

"I ought to have my head examined." She downs the last of her drink and stands. "I'll meet you at the Main Galley entrance. Half an hour?"

"Forty-five minutes. I want to look pretty." She chuckles and starts to walk off. "Wait." I put my hand on her chin and kiss her softly. I could feel her tremble. "See you soon?"

"Ye-yes." she flushes a bit and hurries off.

"Alex?" I say into the phone as I watch her fairly trim ass recede.

"Yes, Sir?"

"We'll have company for dinner. Dress formally. Be ready when I get there."

I stop at the gift shop and am thrilled to find that they do indeed stock corsages. I pick up two. Alex and Beth were both ready and waiting when I get to the room. My only suit was laid out and pressed.

"Thanks!" I hop in the shower and wash as fast as I can. But while I'm in there, a thought occurs to me. I come out still drying. "I've been a complete dick today haven't I?"

"It's cool." Alex shrugs, "You the Dom."

"Stop that." I hate it when he says stuff like that. "Look, I was really upset about Da and Kai this morning and then I met Barb this afternoon. I don't know how tonight's gonna go but you guys don't have to do anything special, ok?" They exchange a look. "What?"

"Are you gonna fall in love with every girl on the boat?" Beth asks as Alex rolls his eyes.

"I'm not falling in love." I snap back. "I ain't even known her uh whole day."

"Oh right. That makes a difference."

"Don't sass me."

"Look, I'm not yo' sub an' you ain't Daddy. I'll sass you if I wanna." She stands and checks her hair in the mirror. "An' for the record, yes, you were uh little bitch all day. Alex been real worried 'bout you."

"Bitch." Alex mutters.

"No swearing." I remind him. "Beth, I was upset. I thought Da and Kai would, y'know, make things not so weird. I was just disappointed to learn they're married."

"You got over it fast enough."

"Barb is a very nice older woman. Nothing more." I know I'm lying.

"Older horny chick." Alex studies his nails.

"You could get suspended, y'know."

I dress and the two of them watch me. "She's nice." I search through my bags and find the one tie I brought with me. Alex and Beth exchange looks. "What? It shows respect. She's very nice." I check my hair again. I wish I had brought my silver chain with me but I wasn't expecting to attend any formal dinners in Beijing. Beth and Alex were smirking at my reflection. "OK! OK, Yes, I plan to do her but that doesn't mean I've fallen in love which is stupid. We meet on a cruise, we're just having fun, right?"

"Yes, Sir." Alex can't keep a straight face.

"Alright, up, both of you. Let's see."

"What, you're inspecting us now?"

"He the Dom."

"Alex," Beth warns, "I'm not under his little thumb. That's you."

They do stand and I do review their appearance. Beth is, as usual, stunning. She only brought one dress with her but she looked great in it. I put the corsage on her breast and kiss her cheek. "You look great."

"So do you. Peter." Her inflection tells me that's a noun not my name.

I let it go and look at Alex. He opted for a silk dress shirt and tie. Across the flawless football physique of his, it's downright hot. "Not bad." I say grinning.

"What, no kiss?" he jokes.

"What you do today?"

"Prove ta Da an' Kai we ain't had no hard feelin's 'bout that married thing."

"What?" I look from one to the next. "You both..."

"I" Beth stresses, "went shopping. "Or didn't you notice that these are new shoes."

"Uh..." Alex went back to the girls after he knew? "You spent all day, with Da and Kai?"

"Not in bed. Well, not all day at least."

"An' fact that they breakin' they marriage vows means nothin' ta you."

He shrugs, "If Ida know before, I mean, yeah of course, totally off limits. But after, I mean, damage kinda done, right?" He shrugs again. "But look, I told 'em that was one for the road 'cause married damn near got me killed."

"Since when?" Beth asks.

"Since the qualifiers." I tell her. "You gotta ask that from now on, ok? Both uh you. We already goin' ta hell, we don't need ta be on the bullet train." I remember one more detail about Kai and narrow my eyes at Alex, "You used protection, right?"

"After Angie?" he snorts, "Fuck, yeah. Kai says she on the pill but she uh little freak so I figure better safe then sorry, right?"

"Right." A precaution I hadn't taken. "Right. We need to buy some..."

"A case." Beth commented.

"...some in the next port. Where are we tomorrow?"

"Okinawa." Alex says with some relish. I look at him in askance. "Military bases mean party town."

"Yeah, an' whores mean supplies." Beth added.

"Ok," I can't believe we're having this conversation. I wonder if all adults have lives like this. "Tomorrow, we'll pick up enough ta last til we get home. Beth, I want you ta carry 'em too. Last thing anybody want is any of us takin' somethin' home that don't come in uh bag."

"Oh yeah."

"Between us, too." Beth says solemnly.

"What?" Alex and I both look at her.

"I'm not on anythin', y'know. An' ain't no free clinics out here ta resolve any little problems."

"Yeah," Alex nodded, "ought ta be our first stop when we get home."

"Yes." I hate to admit it, but he's right. "When you get back to Reedville, soon as you can do it, both of you go get tested fo' everything."

"What about you?"

"I gotta go straight ta campus day after we get back. But they's uh clinic on campus; I'll get checked out there."

"Cool." Alex looked at the clock. "What time we meetin' yo' chick?"

I look at the clock, "SHIT! Now."

We run - well, walk very fast to the main dining hall. I don't see her. I tell the maître d' that we're waiting for someone and we hang around the door.

What if she changed her mind? Or if she been there and left already. I don't know her cabin number - I don't even know her last name.

"Oow. Nice dress." Beth comments.

"Hot Granny." Alex counters.

I turn and look. Barb was wearing a shimmering blue-ish gray-ish dress, stacked heels and a neckline that leaves me drooling. She looked fabulous - at least ten years younger than she did at the pool. I see her before she sees me and I slid my arm and the corsage around her waist.

"I wanted something lovely but I had no idea what color you were wearing."

She jumps - a nice treat with my arms around her - and turns to face me. "Peter! You nearly gave me a fright." She pulls back from me self consciously, "You look very nice."

"You look amazing." I pin the flowers to her neckline.

"How cute. I'll bet you do that for all your prom dates."

"Well, next time I skip the gentleman caller routine and take you straight to bed."

"Oh please!" Beth groans behind me. "I cannot believe you just said that."

I throw a look at her. "Quiet. Barb, I'd like you to meet my, uh, friends. Alex and Beth."

"Friends?" She says, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Just friends."

Alex loops an arm around Beth's waist, "Well, maybe uh bit more-n friends."

"I see." She smiles finally, "How do you do."

"Charmed." Alex takes her offered hand and kisses it. Beth rolls her eyes and gets the maître d' to seat us.

Dinner conversation centers around the spectacular view of the dance floor below us and the sumptuous meal before us. Eventually, Alex takes Beth's hand and takes her down on the floor.

"I'm always amazed watching him." I remark as he twirls Beth through a salsa number.

"They're very good together. Very cute. How long have they been dating."

My jaw drops. "Uh, couple months. I guess." Another lie I'm going to hell over. "Would, uh, you like to dance? I'm not as good as he is but I won't step on your feet."

She laughs. "Actually, I'm not much of a dancer. I wouldn't mind taking a walk on deck though."

I stand and take her hand. On deck, we walk along the rail talking about Virginia and Ohio - where she's from originally - and life in general. We stop where the moonlight was streaming across the water and shining down on us.

"Barb." I interrupt her and kiss her softly.

"Peter." She tries to say something more but I kiss her again. She tries a second protest but I again prevent it with a kiss. The fourth time, she gives in and returns the kiss.

"You still sayin' yes ta any offers?"

"Make me an offer."

"Take me back ta your room, I'll make you feel 18 again."

"That's quite a boast." Then she pulls back completely. "How old are you?"

"I'm legally able to consent to what I'm about ta do."

"How old?"

"Barbara..."

"How old?"

I sigh deeply. "I'm 18."

She laughs and begins to walk off.

"Barbara, wait." I catch her but she pulls her arm back and keeps walking.

"I knew you were young. The children are young; I thought 25, 21 maybe. High school. You're in high school." She pulls out of my grasp again. "Peter, stop. This is just silly. What, some fetish? A quest to nail a bitch in every age bracket?"

"Barbara! No! It's nothing like that. I like you; I'm attracted to you."

"Oh bullshit. A high school boy is not attracted to a Grandmother."

"Again, you haven't meet my Grandmother." I quip hoping to get a smile. She glares at me. "Bad joke. I'm sorry. Barbara..."

"Barb."

"Barb. Wait." I only get a solid hold of her because she's waiting for the elevator. "Why does my age matter?"

"Why does it matter that you are more than thirty years younger than I am?"

"Yeah, why?"

"What could we possibly have in common?"

"Well, first of all, if this is only sex, we don't need anythin' in common 'cecpt attraction, an' we got that. But since it ain't just sex, at least not for me, we just spent all afternoon agreein' about politics and clothing fashions and both of us like crab but neither too crazy 'bout shrimp."

"None of that matters."

"But we do have it in common." The elevator arrives and I get on with her. "My point is, that age don't have nothin' ta do with that. Age effects our relative experience - you got it and I ain't, now that's true..."

"How many women have you even slept with? Am I first?"

I stop, largely to count. How many? "Women? None. First? No. But the girls I been with 'til now been children. Not adults."

"Oh, please."

"Seriously. They're high school girls. There were...enough." I chuckle. "First. You won't even be first on this cruise..."

"Oh, so the quest is to nail as many women as possible." The doors open and she rushes down the hall.

I run after her. "Barb! Barb, will you listen? I'm not tryin' ta set uh record. I'm just tryin' ta..." I finally get her arm and yank her to a stand still. "I'm just tryin' to get to you." She's only an inch shorter than I am in those heels. I hold her still and kiss her deeply. She responds at first then pushes me away. "Barb. I don't care about our age. Take the offer. Enjoy the moment. We can be rational tomorrow. Let's be ageless tonight."

"This is crazy." she whispers.

"So be crazy."

"Boys your age have no interest in old ladies."

"So says Ms. Robinson."

"You've actually seen The Graduate?"

"One of my favorites."

She rolls her eyes, "Of course." She pulls away and starts walking again. "This is a bad idea. In twenty minutes I'm going to feel old and used and you're going to feel sick."

"In twenty minutes, you're going wish you taken me up on the offer sooner."

"Dear, you're eighteen. In twenty minutes, you're going to be back in your cabin, asleep."

"Care to put a wager on that?"

She stops at a door and pulls out a passkey. "What kind of wager?"

"If in twenty minutes, I'm finished, hell, if I'm finished in thirty minutes, I have ta eat you at least once uh day every day for the rest of the cruise."

"And if you're not done?"

"You blow me before breakfast tomorrow."

"That doesn't seem fair."

"Yeah, but I figure you owe me for the corsage."

She laughs and opens the door. Once inside the room, she unbuttons the cuffs of her dress and a clasp at the collar; the dress falls to the floor like magic. Underneath, she's bare. "Ok, twenty minutes." She lies down and spreads her legs.

"Uh." She was so clinical. I sit next to her on the bed. "Is that how your husband did it?"

"Pretty much. In out done."

"I sorta like ta take my time."

"Oh sure; it'll take you a while to get over the revulsion."

"Ok, for the record, I am not repulsed." I take her hand and place it on my growing erection. I kiss her lips and stroke her face. I want to move down slowly; neck, shoulders, hands, chest each in its own turn. Barb isn't taut. But she's warm and soft and I find myself drowning happily in the scent of her skin. By the time I reach her pussy, I find she's already come once. I kiss her lower lips the way I kissed the upper ones - slowly, deeply and like I have nowhere else to be. She's the only girl - woman - who ever just let me stay for as long as I like. She doesn't push me away. I eat her as long as I can; until literally my jaw aches too much to continue. I came twice; I lost count of how many times Barb's muscles clinched around my tongue. I don't know what she was talking about; she's a bit tangier that most girls I've eaten but nothing to avoid.

I slid beside her and pull up the blankets over us. I don't remember undressing but I'm very glad I did. "I beat twenty minutes?" I ask, mutter more like.

"Long past." She sighs."

"Good." I wrap my arms around her. I'll close my eyes a moment, I think, then we'll really get to business.

I open my eyes to an empty bed and sunlight. It takes me a minute to remember where I am. I glance at the clock - it's late, almost 7am.

"Barb?" I call out. I here the tinkle of porcelain cups and Barb appears on the balcony. The sunlight turns her robe transparent and her whole body was illuminated. "Wow. Good morning sunlight. Glory be ta God."

She blushes and comes in the room. "That was enough of that last night."

"Can't help it if-n you hot." I get up and cross the room to kiss her. "Hell even Alex called you uh hot granny."

"Oh good." she laughs.

"You look great in the morning." I rub my morning wood against her thigh. "Let's go back to bed."

"Hadn't you better go back now; I'm sure your friends are wondering where you are."

"They ain't even up yet."

"Were you this southern when I meet you?"

I yawn and stretch, "Likely not. I try not ta sound southern at all."

"You're failing this morning. Put that thing away. Go shower. We'll have breakfast."

I kiss her again and go to the bathroom. A shower actually sounds like a good idea. When I come out, still dripping, she's sitting on the bed.

"I guess you won the bet." She says a bit pensively.

I dry my hair with a second towel - I don't think she's comfortable with me being naked yet. "I didn't mean it. Actually, that's one bet I wish I'd lost. I much rather eat you everyday."

"You don't have to say that." She stands up. "Really. Last night was enough."

"Say what?"

"And anyway, a bet's a bet, so" she took a deep breath, "Lie down."

I look at her, she's more than a bit nervous. "Barb, it's cool. I'm not gonna make you go down on me. You don't want to, it ok."

"I want to."

"No you don't." I laugh.

"And what, prey tell, makes you think that?"

"You wanted ta do it, you'da been in bed when I woke up. Hell, you'da woke me with it."

"I don't think there's anything wrong with wanting my morning tea before hand."

"There's not." I pick up my clothes and steal a kiss. "But it's ok." She grabs my crotch before I could step out of range. "Hey! Whoa! I need those."

"Yes, you do." She arches her eyebrows at me. "Now, young man, are you going to lie down or do I have to get rough?"

I arch back - well, I try to, "You wanna play rough? I kin play that." But I lie down anyway. She pulls the towel away as I do. Already, I'm at half mast again.

She looked me over. "Your actually very well built."

"Why thank you." I try not to grin.

She sits down and plays with my cock until I'm fully erect. "Bear with me. It's been a long time since I've done this."

"Oh, take your time. So far, so good."

"I can't believe I'm doing this." she mutters under her breath. I watch her face descend on me and her expression as her tongue tentatively swipes at my cock. I force my eyes to stay open as her lips close around me and slide slowly down and back up. "How was that?" she asks.

"Nice." I sigh, "very, very nice."

"Huh." Her mouth twists thoughtfully, "When I was in college, guys couldn't speak when I did this." She studies my cock for a minute then puts her mouth around it again. This time she goes down and up with her tongue and lips together. My eyes fall shut as a bolt of pleasure travels up my nerves. "How's that?" I could only groan. "Good."

After that it's a fight as she tries to make me come and I do everything I could think of to hold out. I last maybe fifteen minutes.

"Oh Barbara, I'm commin'. I'm commin'!" she pulls her face back and I come all over her mouth and chin. I lie back to catch my breath. By the time I lean forward to kiss her, though, she wiped it all off. "Hey, what gives?"

"Just cleaning up."

"Next time let me."

"Next time?" she laughs, "Ok, Peter. You were right. It was fun. Thank you. But, playtime's over. You can let go of your Granny fixation. Be free, young man."

I sit back and look at her. "Barbara, I don't think you get me yet. I like you. I like you a lot. I'm gonna be sorry when this cruise ends. But until then, I wanna spend as much time as I can with you." I grin, "Preferably in bed." I take her hand. "But not because of some fixation or fetish. Just because I like you. Is that really so wrong or impossible? That I could just like you?"

My phone rings before she could answer. She picks it up, looked at the name and to my surprise answers it. "He right here. Hold on." She hands it to me.

"Bad time." I say, "Make it quick."

"Sorry Sir." Alex's voice snaps to. "We are going on the morning tour. Anything we oughta get 'sides condoms?"

"No. Thanks. Have fun." I start to hang up and add one more thing. "No rules, dude, just rights. I got uh surprise for you when we get to Bangkok."

"Peter," He hesitates, "You rock." He hangs up.

"So my day is free." I kiss her hand. "You wanna go into Okinawa or spend the day in bed?"

"You must be eighteen. You have zero recovery time." She stands. "Okinawa."

I leave while she gets dressed - largely to get clean clothes of my own. Alex and Beth were still in the room.

"Didn't expect ta see you." Beth sounds smug.

"Don't be uh bitch." I answer.

"Hey, don't you want to, like it, stay with," she sighs deeply, "Barbara."

"Don't be uh catty bitch."

Alex doesn't say anything, just sits there, thumbing through the ship's directory. When Beth goes into the bathroom, I tap his leg, "Hey. What up?"

"Nothin'." He fakes perking up. "It's cool."

"What's cool?"

"You an' Barb. It's all good."

"Why wouldn't it be?" Alex has never cared who I slept with before; I don't know why he'd care now.

"It wouldn't. I just mean, it's cool. I'm cool. Enjoy."

"Alex, don't lie; you ain't good at it."

"I ain't lyin'; I just...it's cool, alright? Shit."

"No swearing."

He frowns for a second then shrugs it off. We sit in silence, waiting for Beth.

"It's just..." he stops and shakes his head.

"It's just what?" he shakes his head again but I grab his chin. "Full disclosure, right?"

"Yeah. OK, see, Beth's cool, right? But she doesn't...she won't...I'm cool. Everything's cool."

"Stop being uh pussy an' tell me what the fuck wrong."

"You ain't beat me since we left home." He blurts out. "I kinda wondered, y'know, if something wrong."

I think back and realize he's right. Beth isn't comfortable with it so I don't do it around her. And we've been around her for close to a month now.

"You right." he shrugs. "So let's fix that. You bring uh gag with you?"

He looked at me as if he doesn't quite believe the question. "Ain't know we'd be gone so long."

"Ok. So buy a gag today. Soon as you buy it, we'll use it. Deal?"

"Yes Sir." He looked almost wistful.

Beth finally comes out of the bathroom. I do what I need to; when I come out, Alex looked much better. "Hey, here." I go through the pockets of my suitcase and find a pair of Alex's nipple clamps. "Wear these. See how long you can take it." I lift his shirt and put them on him, tightening the springs until he hisses. "Too tight?"

"No Sir."

"Beth, don't let him be a martyr. If they start irritating him, make him take 'em off."

"They irritate me now. Can he take 'em off already?"

"Com'on, Beth, give him uh break."

She looked at Alex who looked resigned more than anything else. "Whatever."

I kiss her cheek, "Thanks, Baby."

"Quit callin' me that."

I ignore her. "Alright, you two, play nice."

Actually, we all leave the room together and meet Barb. Even in jeans and a tee-shirt, she looked good. I greet her with a hug and a kiss, "You sure you don't wanna spend the day in bed?"

"Down boy."

We do make the tour and head out with the mass of other passengers on a bright, clear, sunny day.

My day goes down hill from there.

The city, naturally, reminds Barbara of Vietnam and Korea. Which in turn brings up Iraq. Then human rights and US human rights, race relations and all things political. I'm not opinionated; I just have my own opinion. I don't understand the problem with that. Finally, on our way back to the ship, Barb refers to "white people" once too often.

"Alright, look. Is this uh problem for you?"

"Is what a problem for me?"

"Me bein' uh white guy."

"Pete, why would last night have happened if you being white was a problem?"

"Peter." I correct her, "An' I don't know but race ain't an issue for me. I mostly date black girls 'cause, I donno, I just always have.

"Well, my ex is Chinese so I don't have a problem with race."

"Not with Asian. How many white guys you sleep with?"

She stops and looked at me. "One." She walks up the gang plank, "Too much fear that your relations owned mine." She smiles but it's a mean sort of look. "Come on Massa; yo lil Kizzy make you feel real good."

I grab her arm and yank her back. "That is not a game I play, Barb. Ever." I don't know why that got me so angry so fast but I try to reign it in. "You ain't got ta worry 'bout that ownership thing with me; we ain't own no slaves. Not e'vy white guy wanna play plantation. An', Hell, even Alex ain't ma slave."

"I think you need to let go of my arm." I let her go. "I don't have a problem with you being white. If anything, I have a problem with you being 18. You are too young to think. You said your family has owned land in southern VA for close to two hundred years but no one in your family ever owned even one slave."

"We own a fishery; not much call fo' cotton pickin'."

"Oh, and there's no labor involved in fishing."

"The family always..."

"And naturally, the family did all the cooking, cleaning, child-rearing, wood-chopping and what have you because slaves never did that kind of work.

"...well I know they did but..."

"But what? But your family is somehow above what every other rich family in the country was doing at the time?" I stay silent; actually, I had never considered that. "What, we you all abolitionists? Were you a stop on the underground railroad?"

If we were, no one has ever mentioned it to me. I stop walking and pull my cell out. A ship-to-shore international call was going to cost a small fortune, but if anyone could answer this, Gran-Gran can. She doesn't know, but she promises to get a message back to me as soon as possible.

"Just have to try and prove you're right?" Barb sneers.

"I want to know the truth. Spent mah whole life believin' we ain't guilty uh that; if we is, I wanna know."

"Peter," She sighs heavily, "it doesn't matter. I got a little irritated by your attitude. That's all."

"Ain't about you." I look at her again but all I could see was how angry I am at the moment. "I - I gotta go check on them." I say.

"Yeah, you do that." She walks away and right now, I have no desire to stop her.

I go back to my own cabin. Alex and Beth were watching a movie and must have caught my mood when I came in; they don't ask any questions, just let me sulk. When the movie ends, Beth stands up.

"I think I wanna get some fresh air. I'm goin' up on deck."

"I couldn't find uh gag today, Sir." Alex says softly "But if you need me ta stay quiet, I can."

"Do I treat you like mah slave?"

"No." he sounds confused.

"Have I ever look like I want'd uh slave?"

"Not really. That kinda why I usually call you "Dom' not 'Master'; it ain't fit."

I didn't think so. That's not me. I don't own people; I don't use them. It's not just family history - it's my history. Barb doesn't understand that.

I suddenly remember that Alex actually wanted to be 'used' tonight - which was probably why Beth cleared out. "Hey, how'd you do with those clips today?"

"Sore as fuck by lunch. Beth got 'em. I'm still kinda sore but it's uh good kinda thing."

I nod. I'm glad he enjoyed his day. I hear the horn and realize that if we're pulling out of dock, I likely won't hear from Gran-gran today. I don't swear - that won't help anything. I look at Alex. He actually takes a step back from me.

"What?" I snap at him.

"You just look pissed."

"I am." He's silent for what seems like a long time. Then he comes over and kneels in front of me.

"Sir, that's like my job, right?"

"What is?"

"You need an outlet, you use me."

I glare at him. I have abused our relationship in the past but that's the exception not the rule. "Alex. You are not a punching bag. What the fuck, you think I like hittin' you? Shit, I hope ta hell every time I do it, it's the last but it ain't. You like bein' hit. I do it 'cause you like it. It don't do jack an' shit for me. Ok? Got that?" I stomp out on to the balcony. Alex stays in the room.

When Beth comes back a couple hours later, that's where we still are. She talks to Alex for a while. Then she comes out and sits with me.

"So what you fight 'bout?" she asks.

"He the masochist. I'm just helpin' out."

"Ok, that is so not true but I ain't mean Alex; I meant Barb."

I shrug. "Politics. Race relations. Bullshit. She think just 'cause we live in Verginny, we supported slavery."

"Come again?"

I wave her off, "Long story."

"Whatever. We goin' up for dinner or you wanna just order some cheese ta go with yo' whine."

"You wanna go, go. Take him."

"You are such a baby."

I let it go; she's just trying to get under my skin. Eventually, she does give up and they go out again.

I wake up with a sore neck, still on the balcony, still pissed at Barb. The room was dark but I could see Alex and Beth's shadowed forms sprawled across the bed. I crawl into bed with them. I have no idea how they put up with my moods.

The next morning, we arrive at Taipei around 9am. My phone rings as we're wandering around 10. It had become something of a family research project, Gran-Gran tells me, but they figured it out. We owned ten. The Davidson family purchased ten human beings at one time or another until the war - where several of our exalted sons fought for the south. I go back to the ship, find a bar and have a drink.

I was so sure. Arrogant, White Guilt sure. Wrong - but sure. And, more immediately, I made a jackass of myself to Barb. I have another drink.

Then I go knock on her door. She's not there, so I go search the pools until I find her lounging with a tall drink, a floppy hat, and legs that belong to a twenty-year-old. The book she's reading was in Chinese.

I clear my throat first. "Excuse me. May I sit?"

She looked at me then at the empty chair beside me. "You want to sit, sit."

I sit. "I, uh, wanted to apologies for making a complete jackass uh myself yesterday. Ima moron. I'm sorry for offending you an'" I sigh deeply, "an' you were right. We did." I stand up. "You can go on readin' now."

As I start to walk away, her voice stops me. "You know a gentleman might ask a lady if he could buy her a drink."

I turn to face her again; I figured she wouldn't want anything to do with me after that. "A lady wouldn't leave uh guy hangin' as to whether his apology was accepted."

She thinks about it for a couple seconds then nods. "True. Apology accepted."

I step back to her, "Can I buy you a drink?"

"No." I had started to smile but it freezes in place as she looked blankly at me. She carefully closes her book and gets up. "You can walk me back to my cabin so I can dress for dinner."

That sounds like a much better deal. I offer her my arm and she takes it.

When we get to her room, she kisses me; I don't resist. She doesn't resist when my tongue explores her mouth, or when my fingers pull down the shoulders straps of her swimsuit, or when my hands begin fondling her breasts. In very short order, my shirt was on the floor beside her swimsuit and we were moving slowly toward the bed. I remember to put my wallet on the nightstand before I toss my pants aside.

This time she pulls me into a sixty-nine. Her pussy in my face was heaven while she wraps her tongue around my dick. I make her cum so hard she nearly bites down on me. She swings around and faces me.

"You know how long it's been since I've done this?" she whispers.

"Too long. You shoulda been had uh string uh lovers." I kiss her and reach over her for the wallet. "I outta be one uh many."

"Five years."

I look away from fishing a condom out. "Five years? Your husband didn't touch you fo' five yee-ars?" I hear my accent exaggerate the word and wince.

"I think, after this, I'm gonna hear southern accents and think of sex. You and sex."

"Well, in light uh that, lessee if-n I can't make the association uh permanent thin'." I start to open the condom but she stops me and pulls it away.

"Allergy to spermicides. Don't worry; this bakery's closed for business." Her hand guides me into her. "Just try and last longer than ten minutes."

"Ten?"

"My husband's last time."

"Your husband..." My voice trails off. She feels so god damn good. I pump slowly and bit my lip. I want to plow her like hell but I really won't last much more than ten minutes if I do. I keep my pace as slow as I could - which was killing me - until she digs her nails into my ass and sets the pace for me. I speed up. When I feel her cum, the muscles of her pussy squeezing my dick like a vice, I stop moving and pray - actually pray - that I could hold out 'til she's done.

Then I pull out, turn her over, and do her doggie style until we both give out. I start to collapse beside her when I remember cumming inside Kai. Quickly, I drop behind Barb. Our mixed juices were already dripping down her legs. The smell was ungodly; this may be what her husband's problem was. I lap it up anyway and eat her out until she cums again. I stretch out beside her and watch while she tries to breath normally again.

"I beat 'im yet?" I'm being smug but I don't care; she shouldn't have had to wait five years to get off.

"I don't know. I wasn't watching the clock. Next time I'll guess we'll have to time it."

"You think you playin'." My watch has a stopwatch setting. I start it and roll on top of her.

"Now?" She looked shocked.

"Hey, I'm 18. Zero recovery time." Actually eating her out only got me to half-mast. I kiss her deeply and give her breasts proper attention. By the time she's writhing in pleasure again, I'm ready.

This time she pushes me flat and rides me. I had not realized just how big she was until she sat on me. She's the first girl I couldn't lift in this position. So, she truly rides me - setting a pace I can't change and keeping me pinned until she's done. It's maddening. It's keeping me up but not over. Slowly, she stops and leans over me. The kiss was sweet and sensual.

"Oh God, woman, you makin' me crazy."

"I'm sorry but I have to move."

"What?" If she wants to get up now, we gonna have a problem.

"My back." she rolls her leg over me and lies by my side. "I can't do that on top thing the way I used to."

"Did you want to stop?"

"Just change positions, honey, I'm not throwing you out of bed yet. Besides," she taps my watch, "you on the clock."

"You 'bout ta get worked ova, woman." I slide down her and push her legs apart. She said something about her husband not eating her; I can't begin to imagine why. Even as tart as she is, I could do this all day. She's dripping, juicy wet after only a swipe or two of my tongue and I feast on her pussy and, carefully, her ass until she cums all over my face twice. The second time, I nearly came with her. I crawl back up her lift her hip and slam into her all the way with one stroke. I set my pace about a heartbeat slower than I really want and make it last until we're both dripping sweat and she's moaning non-stop. I have to stop to catch my breath. We both lay there panting for a minute and I put my arms around her.

"Oh. God." she pants.

I smile and roll her over, sideways, spooning. I slide into her again and this way it's much easier to keep the slow pace until I realize she pushing back as hard as I'm pushing fore. We both last another ten, twelve strokes after that.

I vaguely remember the stopwatch and click to stop it. We could check the time in the morning, I think as she cuddles into my arms.

I wake this time as she gets out of bed and slips into the bathroom. 5:30am. I really should go swim. When she comes out, she sits on the edge of the bed.

"Morning." She leans in slightly and I kiss her.

"Mornin'. You up kinda early."

"I was about to say the same of you. This is my regular time. I like to read the paper before I go to work."

"I usually swim uh couple miles 'fore school."

"A couple miles? How many laps is that?"

"One. I ain't in uh pool; it's open water."

"You're kidding." she looked genuinely shocked.

"Nope. Get up 'bout five, jump off the dock when the first boat leave, an' swim up an' down the property line. Take 'bout fifteen minutes if I'm slow."

"So then, shouldn't you be swimming around the boat now?"

"They won't let me. Too much liability if-n I drown or get ete. Best I can do is uh couple dozen laps ina pool."

"And you want to go swim, don't you."

I smile, "Kinda."

She kisses my cheek. "I'm going to the Lido deck for the breakfast buffet. You can join me later." She gets up and starts pulling out clothes for the day. "I think we're at sea all day today. So I have no plans."

"Well," I say as I dress and gather my things, "Ima meet you on deck and we'll figure something out." As I put on my watch, I notice the timer. "1 hour, 18 minutes. That good?"

She grins. "How many miles is that?"

"'Bout uh dozen." I put my arms around her waist and kiss her neck, "But sure-n-hell this more fun."

"Neck later. Swim now."

I grin all the way to the naked pool. I swim for the pleasure of it - I don't even bother to time my speed. After, I go back to my room. Beth and Alex were knocked out on opposite sides of the bed when I go into the shower and when I come out. They look like kids. Little kids. I climb in between them and they both turn in toward me.

I don't think I have ever been happier. I doze off.

I wake to Alex sucking my nipples. I run my fingers through his hair. He stops and puts his head on my shoulder.

"You said I could be in the middle, Sir." He whispers and slides his hand around my dick.

I did say that. I look at Beth who's still asleep. "Wake her or start without her?"

"Sir, trust me. Reach down there."

"What?" How many violations were in that sentence?

"Trust me."

I feel a bit queasy but reach between Beth's legs. She's wet - very wet.

"She wake up hornier 'en me. Seriously. She gonna love this."

"Supplies?" I ask.

He gets up and I am again stunned by just how well built he is. And he's only 16; he's likely to get bigger. He grabs a couple condoms and gets back into bed. I let him slid over me to get in the center.

Happily, he sucks me hard - which take like two minutes - then slips the sheath on me. Then he rolls over and I slid in hard. He gasps, shudders and groans. "Hang on." He hisses. I watch and kiss his neck as he puts on his own condom and pulls Beth to himself. She mews softly and pulls his hands to her breasts. She gasps loudly when he slides into her. She mutters something I can't make out and Alex nuzzles her neck. I could feel him moving inside her and match my pace to his. He moans deeply. I'm suddenly glad I spent the night with Barb because I realize that I'm not in a hurry to come. I reach but I can't get my hand down to Beth's slit. I move Alex's hand down and cup her breasts myself. She murmurs something and Alex replies my name.

"Iwannabeinamiddle." She sighs.

"You always ina middle." Alex whines back. I grin - I can't believe that they could screw and argue at the same time.

We screw slowly, leisurely; none of us were in a rush to wake up. Occasionally one of us groans or sighs and the others respond but otherwise we quietly fuck. It's sweet and sensual and I don't want it to end anytime soon - literally, I want to stay here all day and screw. I think I did doze off because I have this sense of making love to Barb and Alex and Kai and Beth at the same time and yet simultaneously making love to each of them separately. It's a weird and wonderful sensation broken by Alex's arm reaching around my head.

"Harder, dude." He whispers, "Fuck me."

I let go of Beth, get both my hands on his hips and try to shove in hard only to find that I'd soften a bit as I drifted to sleep. "You want it hard?" I whisper.

"Oh yeah." He sighs.

"Make Beth beg." I bit his ear and he hisses. About a minute later, I can hear Beth mewing softly as Alex's fingers begin working her over. Soon, she's crying out, Alex was pumping her steadily and I'm banging him hard. Our quiet all-day screw rapidly becomes a race to see who could finish loudest, fastest.

It's Alex on both counts but I'm not far behind him. Beth stretches lazily, "Hmmm. Mornin' Peter. How's Barb?"

I feel another grin spread across my face. "What makes you think I seen Barb?"

"'Cause you been gone since like noon yesterday which means either you got lost or you got laid."

"'Sides, Peter," Alex snickers, "you reek uh pussy."

"Jealous?"

He shrugs, "You the Dom."

"You say that one more time, I'm never spanking you again." I try to sound serious but Alex rolls his eyes.

Slowly, we manage to get up, shower, and dress. There was actually food left on the Lido deck buffet. I grab a plate of it and find Barb at a table with an umbrella. I put my plate down then move her book out of the way and kiss her softly, "Mornin'." I give her book back and sit. Beth and Alex follow shortly and sit with us as if invited.

"Hey, Barb," Beth says after studying the list of daily activities, "are you into fashion stuff? There's a fall fashion's show today at noon and I just as soon not go with either uh these two."

Barb looked at Beth for a moment as if trying to decide how much of her vacation to spend babysitting. "Alex an' I could go find the rock wall if you wanna go." I smile at Barb, "I could almost live without you for an hour or two."

"Or," Alex reaches around and bats Beth in the head, "Beth could go ta the stupid fashion thing alone an' I could go watch the soccer matches. They gotta sports lounge downstairs."

Beth elbows Alex back, "I'm trying ta be nice, idiot." She hisses not nearly as quietly as she wanted.

"You cutin' in on his action." Alex undertones back.

"So, Barb," I cut over both of them, "would you rather go to the fashion show with Beth or have a lunchtime roll with me?"

"Or, I could make my own plans and let you kids run off on your own." She flips another page.

"True. We could do what you want. That's fine."

"I want to spend the day catching up on my reading. Quietly."

"Ok." I shrug.

"Alone."

"Barb," I suddenly realize her issue. "Ok. You spend the day alone, we scatter to the four winds. We'll see you at dinner. Or not. It's all good."

"Really." She doesn't believe me.

"Really. I'd rather spend the day with you," Beth and Alex both snicker. "Quiet. But if you want a day to yourself, I'll go away for a while." I turn her chin to me, "Hey, if you want the rest of the cruise to yourself, that's cool too. I can vanish and take these two with me."

Her eyes dart down and look at my hand but I don't move it. "I think you think you are older than you are."

"I think you think I'm a child. I'm not. I am young, but not a child." I stand up and collect both my and Barb's breakfast dishes. "We're in cabin A151. Leave me a message if you want to see me later. Alex. Now."

Alex gets up and grabs his remaining breakfast. Beth follows with something of a glare at me. I don't look back as I drop the dishes in the appropriate bin and head back to our cabin. Alex and Beth follow silently. I hate admitting it but I love it when they do that. I turn suddenly and face them. "Have I told you how much I love it when you fall in line?"

Alex actually blushes but Beth glowers. "I don't fall in line, you pushy, overbearing jackass." She marches off. I shrug; I'll make it up to her later.

"You," I look at Alex, "on the other hand do fall in line. An' you been real good on this trip."

"Good enough?" He's almost shaking with anticipation.

"More than good enough." I kiss him lightly. "I'm gonna go get uh couple sodas. You go see what you can find in our room."

"Yes, sir." He doesn't run but he moves like he's got a purpose.

I find Beth at the lounge I go into to get the sodas. "Don't come back for a while; I'm gonna get some of the pushy overbearing asshole-ness out mah system, Ok?"

She looked away and shrugs, "Ok."

"I'm sorry. I don't mean ta be uh jerk. I yank his chain an' just keep catchin' you in the way."

"I know."

"Forgive me?"

"No." She fights not to grin.

"Bitch."

"Asshole."

"Cunt." I kiss her cheek. "Call before you come by. I'll let you know if it's safe." I grab a pair of sodas and go back to the cabin.

Alex was naked and bent over the foot of the bed so that his ass was what greets me. Beside him on the bed were the new vibrator, a hairbrush, and his paddle.

I touch one of the cold sodas to ass cheek and he jumps with a muffled cry. I peer at his face as I put the drinks down. He has a washcloth stuffed in his mouth. "Clever." I acknowledge.

I pick up the paddle first. It's lightweight, which was why it was his first choice for traveling and it has two sides. I pop him a couple times hard with the flat side then twist my wrist and bat him a couple times with the teeth side. I spend few minutes alternating between the two until he was grunting with each strike. By then his ass was a deep red.

My real instinct at this point was to find something to sooth his enflamed seat. But I know Alex was just getting warmed up. I pause and get the vib. Without bothering to lube it, I push it into his anus. He squirms and moans something under his makeshift gag. I turn it on, low and he moans again.

I pop the teeth side of the paddle against the back of his legs and he twitches. His legs were surprisingly sensitive; I don't hit them too much usually - neither of us wants to make a mistake and he's out for a game during football season. But they were very sensitive and almost any touch makes him shiver and moan. Soon his legs were almost as red as his ass.

I stop all together and put the paddle down. I grab a soda and watch him for a moment. He's writhing a bit and sweating. A mixture of pain and pleasure, no doubt. I let the cold sweat of the soda drip on him and he shivers.

"You in pain, Alex?" I ask him. He nods. Then I realize what's odd about his position. Rather than being on the bed beside him or clasped behind him, him arms were under his body. "Where are yo' hands, boy?" He tilts slightly to show me that his hands were wrapped firmly around his dick. "Oh hell no, boy. You want pleasure, you get pleasure. You askin' fo' pain, you gettin' pain. Get up."

He stands, shaking. I cannot help admiring his body. It's the classic v-shape and rippled with muscles. Honestly, just straight sex sounds damn appealing but that's not what he wants. What he needs. It's funny, but he really was calmer and more focused after a good session. I scan the room looking for something to hurt him with that won't break. In the bathroom, I find a bottle of water and Beth's box of hair things. I put them down behind him and take another sip of my soda. Alex was shivering with a slightly glazed look in his eyes. "Tired of waiting?" I ask him. He agrees. "Curious what Ima do next?" He moans as he nods. He hates waiting. I love making him suffer.

I stand directly in front of him, close enough that we're touching. I finish the last of my soda. "Thirsty?" He shakes his head. "Sure? I thought you might want ta drink somethin'? Thought you might want ta get on yo' knees an' swallow somethin'. You sure you ain't thirsty, Alex?" Predictably, he sinks to his knees and removes his gag with one hand while removing my shorts with the other. He bypasses subtle and goes straight to deep throat-ing me. It's a struggle not to blow down his throat in the first few seconds. I let him keep it up until I really am only moments from coming, then I stop him regretfully and stand him up.

It had my desired effect, however, and Alex was dripping pre-cum. I kneel in front of him and he groans. "Oh God, Sir. I can't...I can't hold it if you...Oh God, please, can I cum now..." He begs while I reach around him and grab two of Beth's hair ties. I wrap one around his balls and one around the base of his dick. He muffles his own cries pretty well as he tries not to spray my face with jizz.

"Now, let's see if that helps." I stand up and pick up the brush. I run the bristles gently across his chest, over his shoulder and down his back. He shivers. I tap him gently with it, bristle side. He responds slightly. I hit him harder and harder still until he hisses. I turn his back into a pixilated pattern of red dots. I step around him and hit his nipples a few times. His eyes and teeth were clinched shut with the effort of not making any noise, just a slight growling in the back of his throat. I strike his dick with the brush and he gasps. I hit his nuts with it and he shakes uncontrollably.

I love making him cum like that. I hit his nuts twice more before he finishes and he nearly jumps through his own skin.

I slid behind him again and pick up the water bottle. I lean over his shoulder and kiss his ear and neck as he's trying to breath normally again. "Did that hurt, Alex?" I whisper.

"Oh, yes, Sir." He pants.

"Yeah?" I twist the bottle slowly into his ass. It's a plastic one that's tapered at one end and very wide from the mid-point down. "Which hurts more, the brush or the bottle?" He can't answer me; he could barely breathe as he tries to accommodate - dry and without screaming - the object I'm slowly drilling into him.

As his breathing levels out to an almost steady rhythm, I realize that there's a sob to it. I turn his face to me and see he's actually crying. "Oh, Christ!" I yank the bottle but Alex stops me before it's all the way out.

"Oh please don't stop." He whispers. "You have no idea." His hand pressures mine and slowly I twist the bottle back into his rectum. He bites his lip. If I didn't glance down and see the pre-cum virtually weeping from his dick, I would never have believed he liked this. "Oh Sir, thank you. Fuck me, thank you."

Stupidly, I can't help but ask, "Does it really hurt, Alex?"

"Feel like you shove uh bowling ball uh there." He gasped. "I think somethin' tore."

I stop. "Alex," I use my sternest possible voice - Alex was like training a puppy sometimes. "You have to tell me when I go too far, damn it."

"No, no," He won't let my wrist go. "It's uh good thing. It hurts but hurts good. I want it deeper."

"I think I need to stop this now."

"Please, please don't. It hurts so much. Please don't stop. I want it. I need it." I twist the bottle and he gasps, "Oh, yeah, Jesus Christ, fuck me." I don't mention the swearing - at moments like this, he really can't help it. I give the bottle another inward twist. "Oh God, I wanna cum." I twist. "Lemme cum." I twist again. "Oh..." I take the hair tie off and he goes inarticulate and sprays jizz all over the dresser and mirror.

He sags, nearly falling and I guide him onto the bed. I pull out the bottle and try not to freak out when I find it covered with blood and shit. I drop it in a trash bag, tie it off and drop that into another trash bag. Alex was lying on his side crying softly. His anus was distended but already smaller than the width of the bottle. I did a lot of reading about this stuff, I remind myself. It will contract. It will heal.

Still, I come around the bed to face him, "Alex, I'm sorry..."

"Shhh." He kisses me silent. "You gotta stop apologizing, Peter. You have no fuckin' clue what you do ta me."

"Alex." I take his hands. "Last time. I don't wanna hurt you..."

"Peter, please. Trust me. I wanna cum again just thinkin' 'bout what you just did."

"Alex, this isn't right..."

"Peter. Like she said, if this ain't right, then I don't care. God can send me ta hell; it'll be worth every fiery, pitched-forked demon..."

I can't resist smiling, "You realize, of course that if God sent you ta hell, there'll be garden parties an' peanut butter sandwiches."

He laughed then winced then shivered. "Oh God, what you do. Can we keep whatever that was? Or get somethin' like it back home?" He gives me that damn puppy dog look of his.

"I'll..." I have no resistance to that look, I'm learning. "I'll think about it." I kiss his forehead. "Be right back."

"'K."

I pick up the other soda and my phone and step out on the balcony. The view was astounding for a moment and I pause to snap a couple pics before I call Beth and give her the 'all clear'.

"Where are you?" I ask her.

"At the fashion show."

"Aha! Spending more of Dad's money?"

"No, I'm actually only spending mine, so there."

Actually, I knew that. We promised Gran-Gran that we wouldn't bleed our parent's dry on this trip. As a result, all of us were spending, like water, the extravagant allowance we always received but never had an excuse to waste. Not much to buy in Reedville - not at our age, at least.

I let her go back to having fun and check on Alex who was sleeping soundly. I pull the covers over his shoulder and go swimming. I avoid the Cruise Director at all costs.

We three meet up again in the cabin in time for dinner. As we're dressing, there's a knock at the door. Beth answers it casually, "Oh hey, come in."

I glance up in the mirror and smile to see Barb in a mini dress and stiletto heels. I turn around. "Hello Ms. Robinson."

Alex pops out of the bathroom, naked, then jumps back again. "Whoa! Jeez! Hey! Warn uh guy!"

"I don't mind." Barb winks at me.

He comes out again, wrapped in a towel and grabbed a shirt and pants then dashes back into the bathroom. Beth laughs and taps on the door, "Since when you shy?"

"Shut up, Beth!" came an irritated reply.

Barb sashays over to me and fixes my collar. "Do you mind if I invite myself to dinner?"

"Not even slightly." I catch her hands and kiss her fingertips.

"You are something else, you know that?"

"Mother has implied that," I turn around and put my arms around her, "But what does she know?"

"Will she know about me?"

"Likely. I tell her everything." Alex comes out of the bathroom and I amend my statement. "Practically everything."

"You're not one of those sad, pathetic momma's boys, are you?"

"Yes." Beth answered before I could.

"Don't you have something to do?" I really wished, for once, that Beth was my sub.

"Yes." She answered with a hair flip. "Barb, I have those shoes."

Barb cooed and released herself from my grip. I watched with some amazement as Barb and Beth proceeded to try on roughly a zillion pairs of shoes that Beth had hidden somewhere.

Alex watched with me. "Enough uh that, give uh guy uh fetish."

"Enough oxygen gives you uh fetish. Get uh grip, boy."

He smirked and finished dressing. I checked my watch. "Ladies, I do hate to break this up, but dinner awaits."

We got to our seating on time, but just. Most of the conversation was Beth and Barb and the fashion show. I didn't particularly notice Alex slip off to the bathroom so I was a little surprised when my phone rang.

"What up?"

"I don't know. I, uh, ok this is fucked up, but, I uh, I couldn't hold it." He sounded more than a little freaked out.

"Hold what?" I turn away from the table, knowing that Beth and Barb were both watching me now.

"I, uh," he lowers his voice, "My bowels."

"WHAT?" I shout then realize it and wish I could shrink away. "What?" I all but whisper.

"Remember I said it felt like something tore?"

"Yeah," I glance at Beth and Barb; they both look a touch concerned. "Yeah, ok, where are you."

"Left side men's room."

"Ok. Stay put. Do you, uh, need anything?"

"No. It was, uh, I could, it was y'know, flushable when I got here, ok?"

"Ok, cool. Give me uh minute." I hung up and looked at the girls. I tried to smile. "Alex. What can I say? Would you excuse me for just uh moment?"

I get up and walk damn fast to the men's room. Alex was hiding in the last stall. He looked just this side of frantic.

"Ok, slowly, from the top."

"Ok, see, I felt the urge ta take uh dump, right? So I got up and headed to the bathroom and got like halfway here and realized that I was already, y'know, in process and I couldn't stop it. So I get in here and it's like mostly solid but kinda....well, it was gross, anyway but like my drawers took the hit so..."

"Where are they?"

He shows me a wad of paper towels. "I rinsed them best I could in the toilet first."

I nod. "Ok, ok, good. Come on." I don't let him argue. We go to the infirmary.

The Doctor on staff was a young guy named Steve. It takes about five minutes for Alex and I to explain what the problem is. Steve has Alex lie down with his pants off and examines his rectal area. "A little bruising, a little tearing. No permanent damage." He says taking off the rubber gloves. "Should heal just fine in a day or so. Either one of you want to tell me how this happened?"

Alex looked at me with mild panic. "We were," I hesitate, "experimenting. It was a bad idea."

"Was it." Doctor Steve says. "Alex, I want you to stay here for just a moment. Peter, may I speak to you in my office, please?" When we were alone he asks me, "How old are you?"

"Eighteen."

"Isn't he a bit young for you to experiment on?"

"He's..." I stop cold. Alex was subject to the same Statutory Rape laws that I keep throwing at Beth.

"Hadn't thought of that had you." Dr. Steve picks up the phone. "What's his room number; I want to speak to his parents."

"A151." I offer then stop him, "But they're not here. I'm his guardian. For the trip I mean." He looked at me like I'm, well, a rapist. "He's, look, ok, we were foolin' around. Alex has a thing fo', well, anal an' I found uh water bottle an' he always sayin' bigger better so..."

"So you thought it would be a good idea to shove it up his ass?"

"I thought it was a bad idea but I knew he'd, uh, get off on it."

"You did." He sounds like he doesn't believe me. "Did he?"

I have to smile at the memory even here, "Like uh firehose."

"Really." He seems to think about it for a moment. "Stay here." He goes back into the examination room. I call Beth and apologize for walking out on dinner. Steve comes back in the room and simply takes the phone from me. "Who is this?" He listens for a moment. "This is Dr. Steve Gorman. I am currently examining Alex McElroy. Are you related? I see. Are your parent's on board? I see." His eyes sweep over me and I silently groan. "And one last question, Miss. How old are you? Thank you." He listens again. "Oh he's fine. A small, common, complaint. Shouldn't take more than a day or two for it to clear itself up. Well, it may be best if he discusses that with you, but, as the expression goes - what you see on Jackass 8 should not be done at home." He hangs up and give me back the phone. "Your cousin and your sister. Both 16. Not only could you not find victims your own age, you couldn't leave the family reunion to do it?"

"Now wait just uh damn minute..." I start but he cuts me off.

"No, you wait. I have enough circumstantial evidence to ask the Captain to open an abuse case here. He's not seriously injured. Yet. But I can see the scars."

"You don't know him. Some uh that self-inflicted. Some uh that from like six years uh football."

"A fish hook through the scrotum? Was that during the play-offs?"

I shut up and sit down. Alex had begged for that. It was an accident in the end but he had begged for that for half a day. "You don't know Alex." I mutter.

"No, you're right. But a 16-year-old doesn't get to play S/M games even if they want to. They're too young. And they certainly don't get to play them with someone who can legally be charged as an adult. I hope you know a damn good lawyer." I nod - I hadn't meant to, but I do in fact have a damn good lawyer. "My God, you've planned for this?"

"No, no!" I can't believe this is happening, "My Grandfather's uh lawyer. Dad and Granddad both 'cept Granddad already on retainer 'cause uh Alex."

"This I have got to hear."

I look at him for a moment. Likely, he's merely stalling me til the police arrive anyway. "Alex tried to commit suicide a year ago. I pulled him out the rivah an' kept it secret but I had ta make sure he wouldn't try it again. He wan'd ta be punished." 8 minutes 15 seconds. For a moment, my chest hurts. I still could see his face - he was almost dead when I pulled him out. I try not to think about that. Ever. "He wan'd ta be punished for all the evil shit he'd done, so I punished him. It left uh bruise. His coach found out and wanted to put him on a medical suspension. Granddad talked him out of it."

"And your Grandfather thinks leaving bruises on children is a good thing?"

"No. He's right put out 'bout the whole thing. But he know Alex." I take a deep breath. "An' he trust me. I ain't all too sure why."

"Well, we agree about that." He looked at his watch then goes back into the examination room. "OK Alex, how are you feeling?"

"Bored. Can we go now?"

"Well, unfortunately, I need to do a couple more things. First of all, I want to give you a mild enema to clean you out thoroughly. I'm going to ask you to stick to liquid or soft foods for 24 hours to give you rectum a break and let those tissues actually heal." Steve looked at me. "Preferably, nothing should come out or go in."

"Nothing will, Sir." I answer even as Alex whines. "Alex. Drop it."

"Yes, Sir." He sounds meek which does nothing to help my case with Dr. Steve.

"Ok, you can go wait in the lobby." The doctor's voice was very tight.

I sit in the lobby for a few minutes then call Beth and tell her what's going on. Midway through the conversation, Beth and a confused Barb walk into the office.

"If he thinks you actually abusin' Alex, he on drugs. You sure-n hell ain't done nothin' ta me!" She nearly explodes.

"Beth, calm down. Barb, you don't need to be here for this. I'll see you later." It dawns on me just how much of the truth she probably knows now. "If you want to see me. It's all kinda...twisted, I guess." I sit down again and put my head in my hands.

The exam room door opens and Dr. Steve actually looked angrier. He opens his mouth then does a double take on Beth. He swallows whatever he was going to say first. "Ladies, forgive me, I'm the only one on shift at the moment and I have a patient. I'll be with you in a moment. Are either of you in pain?"

"No." Barb answers.

"I'm Beth. I'm here about Alex."

"I see." Steve looked at Barb. "Are you also here about Alex?"

"I'm here about Peter." She says in a slightly amused tone. "I'm curious about Alex."

For a moment, Steve doesn't know what to do with that comment, but then, neither do I. Finally, he mentally files it. "Mr. McElroy, May I see you for a moment?"

In the exam room, he holds up the bullet vib. "Did you even notice it was missing?"

"Oh Christ." I had not noticed it was gone. I had forgotten it was there. I would never have used both - I pushed that bottle.... "God damn it, Alex!" I round on him, "Why ain't you tell me they both rippin' you?"

"You'da stopped. I was hopin' you meant ta do it."

"I meant to do what? Kill you?"

"Kill..."

"Yes, Alex, or do you not realize that battery acid can leak and poison you? Shit, I'm lucky I ain't just electrocute you. You are so on suspension."

"Sir, please. Come on. After we done, the batteries musta died; I ain't feel it no more. Please don't suspend me."

"Why?" Dr. Steve pushes me out of the way. "What's he do to you on suspension, Alex? Listen, I want you to know that this nightmare is over; I'm going to have the Captain put Peter in the brig so you and Beth will be safe."

"What the fuck?" I hear it in stereo as both Beth and Alex say it.

All three of them start yelling. I sit down. He's right. I need to be locked up. Barb comes and sits next to me. "So you came on a cruise to screw your siblings."

"Pretty much." No point in arguing the specifics - Alex and I might as well be brothers.

"Beth says you really helped her over a rough patch." I barely react; one doesn't help one's sister by screwing her. "She also says that you take care of her."

"Oh my God," I lament, "my family gonna hava right royal fit."

"I certainly had a fit when I caught my kids."

It takes about a full minute for that comment to sink in. Then I look at her. "Come again?"

"My kids were very close in age and when their father and I decided to use the 'traditional' Chinese method of sex education - that is let them figure it out on their own - they did exactly that. I walked in on them 'playing' one afternoon when they didn't expect me home early."

"Oh Barb." I can't imagine that but I realize my Mother's been at risk of that at least twice. "I'm so sorry."

"Why? You didn't give them the idea. And they both turned out healthy. They are both married - to other people - and they are still close. Not too close, of course."

"Jesus." I just wish security would hurry up and get down here.

Then I realize that the yelling has stopped. I look up and everyone was looking at me.

"You ok, Sir?" Alex asks me.

"Am I ok?" I look at him blankly. "Let me think. I just assaulted you in a way that could have done permanent, debilitating damage. And I'm about to be arrested for screwing my sister. Ima have ta call my Dad an' see if he's willing ta bail me out. You know I may's well stay on this boat 'cause after this I ever step foot in Virginia, they gonna drop me so deep in the Bay, NOAA won't find me with sonar." I drop my head back into my hands."

The outer door opens and someone leaves the room. No one speaks. The exam room door opens again and Dr. Steve calls me back into his office.

"I do have a few resources. I can verify some of what Alex has told me. I can't actually hold you here but I promise you this. I want to see both of them again in three days and if either of them has so much as a paper cut, you will find yourself on the inside of the nearest prison cell. Do you understand me?"

I understand that this whole thing has got to stop. Today. "Yes, Sir."

"Get the hell out of my office."

I go back into the exam room. The others look more worried than miserable. I stroke Beth's hair and touch Alex's face. "You ok, dude?"

"I'm fine." He stresses the word. "He said it's all cool."

"Good. Come on. I think we all need an early night." I look around; Barb was still waiting. "Barb, I'm sorry, but I think we need to just go back to our room and call it a night. I'm...I'm sorry."

She stands up and takes my hand. "No, I think you're right. Put the young ones to bed; they've had a stressful day." Judging by the gentle smile she has I think she's including me on that list.

I do not smile back. Maybe another day I will see some humor to this. Not today.

Alex collects a supply of adult diapers Dr. Steve gave him and we head back to the room.

I grab my suitcase and drop it on the couch. I start pulling my shirts out of the closet.

"What are you doing?" Beth asks.

"I'll talk to the porter; I'm sure there another cabin aboard somewhere."

"Oh, stop." She tries to take the shirt out of my hand but I snatch it back and grab another. "Peter, relax."

"Relax?" I throw the shirts into the case and go back for my pants. "Relax. Y'know, last year, this was still fucked up, but it weren't actually illegal. You may not care you jail bait, but I ain't tryin' ta get the cell next ta Uncl' Wilton."

"Please. He's just trying ta scare ya. I'm 16 not 6 an' it ain't like I ain't start it."

"Ok, you can't consent, you know that, right? You ain't got jack an' shit ta say right now, so go shower, put on yo' night clothes an' go ta bed." I drop the pants in the case and try to find which drawer my socks were in.

Alex walks out of the room. Simply leaves without a word.

"What the fuck?" I turn to go after him then decide that there's no point.

"Oh, stop bein' uh drama queen."

"'Cuse me?"

"You heard me."

I round on her, "Say it again."

She steps up. "You uh drama queen."

"Hey, hey, hey." Barb physically steps between us; I had actually forgotten she was there. "Both of you need a time out."

Beth takes a step back. Then she grabs a room key. "Don't wait up."

"Where the hell you think you goin'?" I grab her arm.

She yanks it back. "I am not yo' sub. Ima be in my skin." She walks out too. "Such uh peter." She exclaims as the door slams.

I lean on the dresser and count to ten. I suddenly realize that Alex's jizz was still everywhere - I forgot to clean the dresser, the mirror or check to see if the sheets needed changing. I push the suitcase off the couch and sit. "I ain't even good at this shit."

Barb sits next to me. I try to push her away but she holds me anyway. She wipes the tears when they start. She doesn't say anything; she just holds me.

Eventually, my ego tries to re-assert itself and put the world back into order. I pull away from Barb and kiss her cheek. "You should go. I ain't gonna be any fun fo' uh while."

"I'll take my chances."

I pick up the suitcase and begin folding my things neatly into it. I need to call the porter and see if there's another room available. If not, I may just turn myself in to the Captain and save the good doctor some time.

"You can stay in my cabin, if you need to." Barb offers.

I start to protest then stop. She's being kind. She's a gracious woman. "Thank you." I find my underwear and pack them. I find the few toys Alex brought with him and pack those. When I pick up the paddle, I show it to Barb. "Simple, light. One of his favorites."

"Well, legalities apart, he's very lucky he found someone who cares about him and shares his tastes."

"I do not share his tastes." I snap, shoving the paddle in the bag. "I made him cry today. I felt like shit and I made him cry and he thanked me for it." I look at her. "Tell me that ain't some twisted shit. Boy thank his abuser."

"No, he thanked his lover. I thanked you. You made me feel good. Whatever you may think about it, clearly he likes it."

"Oh yeah." I stop packing, get a wet towel, and clean the dresser. "He did all this."

"Impressive." She remarked. "Eww."

"I didn't want to do this, y'know." I fume as much to myself as to Barb. "I can't wait 'til he find his own damn freak. An' Beth - we don't do this at home. Hell, I couldn't get on her calendar ta do this home. She got uh date every night uh the week an' two on Sunday." That's an exaggeration, but I'm upset. "Rather be with you than either of 'em."

"I'm flattered."

"Don't be." I snap. "Ain't flattery. I rather be with damn near anybody than my own kin."

"So were you the one being forced? Are you the victim?"

"No, 'course not. I hurt them."

"Beth didn't seem hurt to me. Alex has left evidence of being quite...happy."

"Oh, he get off on it, alright. First time, we ain't even know. You know what set him off?"

"What?"

"Iodine."

"Iodine?"

"Yeah. I's cleanin' uh - uh cut he got an' poured iodine on it an' he blew like uh god damned volcano."

"I'll bet that was a surprise." I could see the smile on the edge of her lips. I sit next to her and put my head in her lap. I wish I could just stay here. "Peter, I don't know you or your family but, they seem fine to me. Normal. Beth and I spent several hours together today and she seems like a normal 16 year old girl to me. There are signs of sexual abuse. She doesn't show any of them."

"Beth's uh good kid."

"Yes, she is."

"She damn smart, she got uh great sense uh humor. She put her mind to it, she'd be uh damn good swimmer."

"You seem to like her."

"Of course! She my baby sister."

"Not your lover?"

I pause. Suddenly much of the world just fell into perspective. I reach up and pull Barb's lips down to mine. I kiss her the way I desperately need to be kissed right now. "You my lover, right now, least. Beth'll always only be my sister."

"I think you guys will be fine." She kisses me.

"I better call the porter."

She put her arm over me. "I mean it - you can stay with me."

"Really? You don't mind bunkin' with uh child rapist?"

"Well, I'm not a child, so I'm probably safe..."

"I got other vices."

"...I'm sure." She tilts her head. "But, I don't know, you all seem right the way you are. You argue like siblings, you act like friends. The sex seems, somehow apart from your relationships."

"You seen all that in three days?"

"OK, so maybe I'm just drunk and horny and thrilled to get the eighteen year old all to myself."

"That, I'll believe." I sit up. "You sure you don't mind?"

"You all need a couple days, maybe, to cool down."

"We just gotta stop, is all."

She doesn't respond to that as the door opens and Alex walks in with a tray of food. "Where you been, boy?" Even to myself, I sound like my father.

"I, uh, was hungry, Sir." He's lying and he knows it. It lasts maybe four seconds. "I went back down ta Doc Steve's."

Whatever I was planning to say falls out of my head. He went back to have a private conversation with my accuser. "Oh." That could mean anything. "Oh." I close the suitcase before he could see I'm taking his toys.

"I just didn't want ta leave him thinkin' you doin' somethin' wrong. I mean, it ain't like it's his business but he oughta gets his facts straight fo' he make uh fool uh himself."

"Alex." I concentrate on keeping my voice level. "The facts are that I am eighteen making me guilty as a point of law of having sex with a minor. How we feel about that law is irrelevant. Which one gonna care - your Dad or mine?"

He sets his jaw. That look that tells me that if I were anyone else this would be a fight. Instead, He seems to hold his breath and flex. "I just wanted ta make sure he knew the truth, ok? That's all."

"Fine." I don't ask what he said. If he wanted me to know, he'd tell me. He has a full disclosure rule, if he's still obeying rules. If not, then I don't need to know anyway. "What-" I stop myself. "Fine."

He slowly opens a container of soup and pours some in a hot cup. He puts it down. "I called Uncle Julius."

"Perfect." He called my attorney. Just the sort of thing an innocent guy does.

"They talked."

The things he says. "And?"

He shrugs. "Doc says he still wants me ta come back in uh couple days."

"About me!" I take a breath and count to ten. Then I start with the quietist voice I could manage. "Alex. What exactly did the conversation cover? As near as you could tell."

"Sir." He seems to change his attitude quick. "I went to the office and told him he was wrong about you and he told me that I ain't know right from wrong 'cause I was a victim and I said no, I went through all that with the therapist -"

"Wait," I cut him off, "What therapist?"

"Oh, yeah, forgot. That week you were at training camp? Well, Uncle Julius took me ta DC to see some shrink friend uh his. An' he said, I may be kinda young for it, but if I was gettin' off on it, it was probably normal. Well, he said a whole lot more shit than that, but that the important part. Anyway, I told Stevie Wonderkin all that an' he still ain't believe me so since he got uh satellite phone, I called Uncle Julius."

I glance at Barb, "My Grandfather, his great uncle, the senior company lawyer and one of the few people who knows about us."

"Aha. I was wondering."

I look back at Alex. "So?"

"They talked."

"And?"

He shrugged again and sipped his soup. "Doc wanna see me in un couple days."

I count to ten again and look at Barb. "This how I can hit him. I think of all the times I want to strangle him. Alex. Did either of them mention me in the conversation?"

"Of course."

"Did they mention, by change, me being arrested or charged?"

"No. All the Doc said after he hung up was that he wanted ta see me in uh couple days. Beth too."

"Thank you." I pick up the suitcase. "You gonna be ok for the night?"

"Not if you go." He answers casually.

"Not funny."

"Not meant ta be." He sips his soup. "I'll do whatever you say, but I told him they gonna be uh fight they try an' arrest you."

"You told him..." The suitcase slips from my fingers. I find time has leapt a few seconds and I missed how Alex got slammed to the wall and his soup all over my shirt. "You threatened the doctor?" He tries to speak but I have him in a tight spot. "An officer. You are telling me you threatened an officer on his ship? You did not just tell me you threatened an officer on his own ship."

"Sir, uh, I, Peter, you chokin' me." He coughs a bit. It's odd; I've seen Alex shake off a hit on the field from guys twice my size but he never actually fights me. I push my weight against him and could feel the truth - he's got uh hard on from this. "Please. I ain't threaten him."

I let him go and change shirts. "Come on."

"Where..."

"Come on." I snap at him. He hops to and Barb joins us as I lead him back down to the Infirmary. The outer lobby was empty but I could hear voices in the office. I glare at Alex and he sits sullenly. Barb sits beside him and puts a maternal arm around him shoulder.

Finally, my patience runs out and I knock on the office door. Something heavy hits the floor and Beth laughs.

Beth. Laughs.

I open the door and find Beth and the Doctor tangled on the floor. Beth's shirt was open and she's laughing too hard to care. Steve was struggling to extricate himself from her while pulling up his pants.

The Doctor was fooling around with Beth.

The thought rolls around my head for a little while. I wonder how I actually feel about that. I wouldn't normally care - apart from the age issue in general - if he weren't threatening to prosecute me for the same act. But Beth was able to handle herself and the Doctor seems like an ok guy overall. I don't think this should be wholly objectionable. Of course, Dad will have a fit, me being arrested for murder and all but....

I wake up in the examination room with Barb literally sitting on my chest saying things like 'it's ok' and 'calm down'.

"I'm calm." I reply.

"You're a maniac, is what you are." She snaps.

"I'm sorry." Then I think a moment. "What I'm I sorry for?"

"For trying to disable Steve, maybe? For scaring the life outta me?"

I think for another moment. "No. I have no idea what you're talking about."

"You didn't just dislocate Dr. Gorman's shoulder?"

That sounds like something I'd do. "Did I put it back?"

"Oh you're a funny, funny guy." She leans toward the door. "Alex? He telling jokes now."

Alex nearly runs in. "Holy shit, Peter! What the fuck?"

"I have no idea. You tell me. Is Dr. Steve ok?"

"Yeah. You popped his shoulder out. Beth got between you two before you could get him again. I popped it back. He's sore but cool."

"OK. Good. Am I under arrest?"

"What? No. Shit, dude, he's more freaked than you. That was so fuckin'..."

"Language." I cut in. My head was beginning to throb but I think I'm starting to piece the missing moments together.

"Huh? Oh, right. Sir. Uh, yeah. No, Dr. Steve's writin' his resignation an' tryin' not ta slit his own throat." He sees me start and stops me. "I mean figuratively, right? Beth's with him. I figure Barb could handle you."

"I wasn't sure." Barb says, clearly still annoyed.

"Easily." I try to take a deep breath but can't. "But next time either higher or lower."

"What?"

"My face or my lap." I try to smile. "I can't breath."

"Oh." Then she gets both my meanings and hits me. "Pervert." She gets Alex to help her stand up and together they both help me. I check a couple of drawers and find some sample packs of aspirin. In the lobby, I get a cup of water to swallow them with.

I walk into Dr. Steve's office. He sits at his desk, head in hands as Beth stands beside him whispering. I slump into a chair. "Oh fo'God sake, Beth, ain't you done enough tonight?"

Steve looked at me. "You have quite a little team here. This one for blackmail, that one for violence." He rubs his shoulder, "Although, I see you can handle your own."

"Sorry 'bout that. I, uh, wasn't thinkin' clearly."

"Hmm. Well. Whatever you had planned, I won't play into it. I'd rather resign than have this kind of ethical issue hanging over my head for the rest of my career." He tosses a piece of paper at me. "Have fun."

It outlines roughly the events of the last few hours then politely announces his resignation effective immediately.

"I swear, Beth." I shake my head and had the page to Barb, "You need uh leash more-n he does."

"God Lord!" Barb puts the page down, "Steven, you could end your whole future with this letter."

"I know." He says softly.

"Peter." Barb has a warning note in her voice. "You can't do this to him. You know that, right?"

"First off, I ain't do uh damn thing, an' you know it." I rub my temples. "I need uh damn drink."

Steven opens a desk drawer and puts a flask in front of me. I take a sip. I don't know what it is but it burns like all hell going down. "Jesus, God, Lord almighty. What the hell is it?"

"You remember the still they had in M*A*S*H?" He asks. I nod as I cough. "A couple of my frat brothers recreated it."

"Hey, can I..." Alex starts.

"No." I hand the flask back. "Good Lord, if-n you ain't dead, that'll sure-n hell kill you."

"Got me through med school."

"You uh stronger man'n me."

"My shoulder says not."

"Sorry." We all sit in silence for a minute. Then I start really thinking. I'm the Dominant. I have to solve this. "Look, Steve," I pause and when he waves off the first name, I continue, "I don't want ta go ta jail an' I don't want to end yo' career. All I want is everybody ta have uh good time and go home at least as healthy as when they got here." Which sends one thought flying against another until the idea strikes me. "Look, you want these two safe, right?"

"I'm beginning to believe your Uncle was right when he said I was likely the one in trouble."

"Told me the same." I nod with him. "Can you do tests? You know, HIV, stuff like that."

He looked at all of us. "You mean, you're not using -"

"We are, yes," I stop him before panic sets in and the others all confirm, "but condoms aren't perfect, right? It ain't a bad idea just to know they clean, right?"

"Right." He looked pensive for a moment. "I can draw the blood here. I can get the lab work out in port tomorrow. I don't know how fast I can get results. A few days, maybe. That won't make any of this right."

"Nothing makes any uh this right. But if they both healthy and ain't got no bruises then you can't say for sure they been harmed, right?"

"I know." He looked guiltily at Beth. "You should have told me."

"You didn't ask," She shrugs, "I didn't care."

"I knew it!" Alex shouts. "I knew you got laid the other day."

"Oh, like you didn't." Beth glowers back.

"Yeah, but I ain't lie 'bout it."

"It was none of yo' bees-wax." Beth flips her hair and turns away from us. "Sides," she admits, "if Ida told you, you'da told him."

"So?"

"Besides, it was fun."

"It was wrong." Steve's face slowly turns red more from anger than shame. "Do you know how long I worked for this?"

I totally feel his pain. "Easy, Steve. You ain't goin' down ova this. Ain't none of us got nothin' ta gain talkin' 'bout this. You an' me want the same thing - them healthy."

"Hey!" Beth snaps her fingers in front of my face. "'Them' right here. An' maybe he don't mind bein' treated like property, but I do. Steve, I did it with you 'cause I liked you an' I didn't tell you my age because why would I tell you my age an' I didn't tell you, Peter, 'cause I didn't what you bein' a peter 'bout the whole damn thing. Get ova it both uh you. Jeez! The only reason any uh this uh problem is 'cause Alex the Hazard..."

"...Hey!..."

"...can't stay outta trouble with both hands an' uh compass."

"...bitch..."

"Asshole." Beth gestures to the group of us. "Look, Peter sleepin' with Barb, I'm sleepin' with Steve, Alex sleepin' with whatever come through that door next, likely, who cares?"

I reach for the flask. Steve takes a swallow before handing it over. "I can't pretend I don't know." He says.

"Who asked you to?" Beth rolls her eyes.

"Jesus, God." I gasp as the alcohol burns down my throat. "How in the hell Daddy not lock you ina basement?"

"What Daddy don't know, don't hurt 'im." She picks up the flask and sniffs it. "Ugh, that's foul." She looked at the rest of us and gasps in frustration. "Take the blood tests! Figure out what your ethics are after the tests come back. Who knows what will happen between now and then?"

"Yes." Barb hadn't said anything for so long, I had almost forgotten she was there. "Run the tests. If anything comes back, it might tell you how to proceed."

An hour later, we we're done. He took blood and urine from all of us and actually put the women on the table and took cervical samples as well. "Can't hurt to run these as well." He promised to get one of the other doctors to get his own sample and send the whole thing off to a lab in the next port, Hong Kong. "I'll let you know as soon as I do." He and I shake hands.

We go back to the cabin. Everyone was quiet. I know why. Ultimately, regardless of what she says, Beth will do what I tell her. Alex will do what I tell him. Even, in this, I could tell Barb what to do.

Now, if only I knew what to do.

"Beth," I toss up my hands. "You my baby sister. You always gonna be my baby sister. I don't ever want you thinking things to weird or stressful 'tween us that you can't come ta me for anything. I love you. I don't wanna hurt you. I..."

She throws her arms around me. "You dumb jerk." She sniffs. "Of course, I love you. Of course, you'll always be my brother." She sniffs again. "Ok, my big brother. Jerk. This doesn't change any of that." We stand there until I'm sure I won't cry.

When we pull apart I catch her face at just the right angle. "You still cross-eyed." She hits me pretty damn hard.

I look at Alex but he puts his hands out defensively. "Hey don't come ova here with that pussy-faggy-huggy-feely crap."

"'Cuse me?"

"You heard me. You love me? Prove it."

I give Beth a sidelong glance but she looked as surprised as I am. "OK, how?"

He pulls up his shirt sleeve. "Just like all yo' other stuff, right here. 'Property uh PHM' I found this website an' we can make uh homemade brand..."

"Oh hell, no. No branding."

"You are so unbelievably twisted." Beth shakes her head.

"Yeah, Alex," Barb nods, "a tattoo would irritate your parents just as much."

"Ok, ok. uh tat's cool."

I was going to get him a tattoo anyway. "Ok. But not my initials. I already have something in mind. And where to put it."

He grins. It's at once shy and adoring. "Cool."

I look at Barb. "What 'bout you? I need ta prove my love or somethin' for you?"

"I don't love you." She says mildly. "But I'm beginning to see why they do."

"That good or bad?"

"Well, considering we only have five more days together, I think that as good as it needs to be." She stands up. "I'm going to my room. Alone." She kisses Alex and Beth on the forehead. "Go to bed. Go to sleep. I'll see you at breakfast." She kisses me on the lips. "Come see me after your swim." She leaves. We follow her advise.

I wake, pre-dawn, with Beth curled up on my right and Alex on my left. I slip out of bed and go to the naked pool. When I get my own house some day, I'm installing a naked pool. My wife will just have to deal.

Barb greets me at her door, also naked. I kiss her standing there. Anyone walking by might see her. "Some days I have the abiding belief," I tell her, finally closing the door behind us, "that God is good."

"And others?"

"On others, I hope Rev. Handley wrong 'cause if what I'm 'bout ta do uh sin, Ima just have ta go ta Hell."

"What are you about to do."

"Nothin' I haven't done before."

I kiss her again, letting our tongues wrap around each other. She's been drinking orange tea. I try to clean the taste out of her mouth. When I feel her fingers on the waist band of my shorts, I help her push them down and move us a few steps closer to the bed. She surprises me by dropping to her knees. She rubs the rock hard head of my dick against her face before she slowly licks it like an ice cream cone. "Oh, Barb, you are soo good at that." It's the last coherent thought I have. It's as if her tongue knows what nerve ending needs to be touched next and does it. I start drifting between the thought that my knees were going to give out and the idea that my dick might literally explode in her mouth. When her fingers slip gently over my asshole, I clinch, then shiver and let loose, swearing.

I drop to my knees quickly and get my mouth around hers before she could clean all of my jizz away. I do that for her. "You are a dirty little white boy, you know that?"

"You have no idea." I push her gently to the floor and proceed to kiss down her body. I go all the way down and suck her toes into my mouth.

"Is that to prove the point?"

"Partially." I lick the bottom of her foot and she squirms. "But mostly to watch you do that." I do it again. "Oh yeah." I kiss and lick gently back up her legs.

I'm licking the inside of her thigh, with her amazingly strong scent driving me crazy when she asks, "How rough can you get?"

I stop and look at her. "Alex had to see a doctor."

"So?"

I put her leg down. "How rough do you want?"

"I don't know." she looked thoughtful. "I've never tried it."

"I told you, I really don't like it that way. You want to try that, get Alex to do it." I lean in and rub my face in her wet hairy pussy. "I'd rather be tender. Let me shave you. You got uh razor?"

"No. But we can get one. I've never shaved. Not even my legs. Never like the idea."

"I do it. To swim. Supposed ta make you faster."

"Does it work?"

"Likely not, but I do it anyway." I rub my face in her slit again. "Tell me again what the hell yo' husband's problem was?"

"Just didn't like the taste."

"Idiot." Tart, yes, maybe even edging toward unpleasant. Not a valid excuse. I suck the juices there and begin trying to find more. I lose track of time. She cums several times, the last flooding my face and triggering my own orgasm. I lie between her legs panting. "If I told you how much I loved that you would never believe me."

She spins around to lie beside me. "If I told you how much I loved it when you do that, you'd never believe me." She kisses me and makes a face. "I got ta tell you the truth; I'm not fond of the smell myself."

"Love thy self."

"Huh. Maybe not. Shower?"

"Together?" She nods. We squeeze into the tight space and spend as much time laughing as washing. She puts on a sarong dress and we go to breakfast. I have the tantalizing knowledge that she's bare underneath and I don't even pretend to fight the urge to touch her.

"Quit it!" She says about every two minutes on our way to breakfast. Fifty. For a few minutes, she acts fifteen.

Alex and Beth were already there. "You ok?" I ask him.

"Everything was, y'know, normal this morning. He said it wouldn't take long."

"Yeah, well, you just be careful, anyway today. OK?"

"It's cool."

I look at the mound of food in front of him. "All of this?"

"He said soft food was ok. It's all cool."

"When was the last time you hit the gym?"

He shrugs. "I'm on vacation, right? Couple days. Hey, I'm not gettin' soft. It's cool."

"Oh. OK." I go get my own mound of non-training approved foods. We were on vacation, after all.

The four of us play tourist for the day in Hong Kong. Mid way through, I realize how normal we look. No one would ever suspect just how sick and twisted our relationship is. I don't remember much of the city.

"You're quiet." Barb put her arms around my waist. She still felt naked.

"Yo' husband saw you in this an' still divorced you?"

"I never wore anything like this in my life."

"You should take a picture and send it to him. It will kill him."

"Is that what you were thinking about? Ways to make him jealous?"

"No." I slide my hand around her ass and she slaps it. "But I have a camera and some very wicked ideas if you want to."

She laughs briefly then looked serious. "If what I mentioned earlier bothers you, I won't bring it up again."

"If what bothers me?"

"Me," she looked over my shoulder, "and Alex."

I hadn't given that a second thought. "Oh."

"Never mind. It was just a thought."

"He has a rape fetish, you know. That's part uh how we got inta this." I turn her to face me. "Making damn sure that never becomes reality."

"But a fantasy?" she looked at me levelly, "It's actually a more common fantasy than people like to admit. But it's hard to be safe - no one wants a stranger to hurt them but many people want to be taken. It's a hard line to judge."

"Is that what you want?" I ask, only a little afraid of the answer.

"The surprise. The lack of control. The rush of excitement. I think I would enjoy it. I do in my fantasies. I don't know about reality."

Why does everybody bring they sick twisted fucked up sex shit to me, God? Why?

"It's just a fantasy." she says, letting me go. "We all have dark corners in our minds."

"Some darker than others." I put my arm around her and kiss her temple. "I don't think that's uh good idea."

"Yeah, it's not."

We may have seen more of the city; maybe not. My thoughts were tied up with Barb's rape fantasy. Alex could do it; Alex would enjoy doing it. She might never have a safer, more controlled opportunity to do it. Someone she doesn't know well and will never see again. Someone who won't really hurt her. Someone she's not sure won't really hurt her. The whole idea makes my stomach turn. But if that's what she wants....

We were walking around the main deck; I've pretty well ignored everyone all afternoon. I stop walking and hold her arms. "Do you really have a rape fantasy?"

"Don't worry about it." she shakes her head. "I shouldn't have brought it up."

"You just seemed pretty, well, put out by the whole 'slave' idea and they kinda seem related to me."

"No, you were the one put out by the Kizzy comment. That's another one of those perverted things I'll never mention at home."

"Oh." I play these games with Alex, why not with someone else. "So, Kizzy, if I tied you up an' did all sorts uh immoral things to you, you wouldn't mind."

She looked at me, a bit coy, a bit calculating. "Why no, massa. Yo' miz kizzy treat you real special."

I look at her for a moment. I wonder if I will be the first Davidson man to tie a black women up in order to sexually defile her. I nearly vomit. I shake my head slowly. "I'm sorry. Not even as a game. I can't do it."

"That's not a bad thing, Peter."

"Yeah." I try an smile. "But who knows? I could be yo' last white boy."

"You could be my last man." I lift my eyebrows. "Oh, yes. I plan to be adventurous after this. See what you've done to me?"

"If it makes you happy, then I'm glad."

"I think what will make me happy is to go down to my room and try something new."

"Oh?" I lean against her and the rail. "And what's new?"

"Well, Beth told me that you like to -" she hesitates and blushes, "- you know what I mean."

"Black girls got big boodies for uh reason."

"Pervert."

"You the one want it up the butt."

She hit me. "Don't say that! It's sick."

"But that's it, right?" she bites her lip and looked away. "Come on. You want it up the butt, don't you? Admit it. I won't do it if you won't admit it." I have to resort to tickling her before she gives in, laughing and squealing.

"Ok, ok, yes! Stop." She hit me again. "I want to try it back there. But you have to do it slowly and Beth said you don't always use lubricant so you'd better get some."

"I don't always use it on those two 'cause they perverts like me an' they like it. Trust me, I'll be gentle," I kiss her, "and slow," I stroke her back, "and make it feel so good," she puts her arms around me and we kiss until another couple has to disrupt us to move past.

We smile at each other on the way to her room. We stop briefly at the ship's store to find lube.

Once in her room, I undress her slowly. I pay homage to the rest of her body before I spread he legs and lick her pussy until she cums. I dip my tongue progressively farther back then when she seems relaxed, I roll her over. I eat her ass like I ate her pussy, keeping my fingers inside her while she moans under me. When I stab my tongue deep in her, she cums. I turn my hand so that my pussy soaked fingers slip into her ass and my thumb replaces my fingers. She gasps. I give her a few minutes to adjust to it before I start moving them slowly. She moans again.

I stretch forward and kiss her ear. "How's that so far? Feel good?"

"So good." She sighs. "It's different. Pressure. I don't know." I pull my hand nearly out and push it back. She shakes and cries out. Carefully, I work her up to three fingers. By then, she's pushing back against my hand.

I can't take it any longer. I get on my knees behind her and slid into her slit. She's throbbing and I nearly burst on contact. It's a minute or two before I could move. I only do a couple strokes inside her. Then I pull out and grab the lube. She's pretty wet from her own juice but I just want to make sure this was a smooth as possible. I coat her in more than she could possibly need then push the head of my cock into her anus.

"Oh God!" She hisses through clinched teeth.

I hold where I am. "You ok?"

"Oh shit. Yeah." She's breathless. I remind myself that I can't plunge in like a jack hammer no matter how much I want to. I ease back and forth, groaning as the friction sets my nerves on fire.

I grab hold of her hips and stroke deeply since I can't go fast. we're both moaning and I keep having to hold myself back. After a few minutes, she frantically reaches back for my hand and moves it around to her clit. She nearly screams as my fingers tease the sensitive little button. She starts pushing against me, grunting with every thrust and picking up speed. Soon, I'm pounding her ass as fast and hard as I could until I realize she's grunting "ow. ow. ow." with every thrust.

I stop and laugh, sliding my arms around her and leaning to kiss the back of her neck. "Sorry! Sorry. You ok?"

She's laughing too. "Yeah. I think. Too much for a second. I think that's enough. You mind switching to normal?"

Yes. I slip out of her ass and kiss her cheek. "Of course not. We should clean up first."

"Oh. Eww. Yeah."

We shower together and in the tiny space, after I'm clean, I slip into her. She moans and wraps one leg around me.

"Ain't nothin' like uh flexible woman." I whisper, enjoying the tightness added by the position.

"Ain't nothing like a talented man." she whispers back. Her hips start moving against me oddly and her face contorts. I'm about to ask when I realize that she's making herself cum rubbing her clit against my pelvic bone. She gasps and moans and her pussy clamps down around my dick. I get to stand there and watch her cum.

When she finishes, her eyes open slowly. I kiss her. Fiercely. I push her against the wall and bang her hard and fast. In my mind's eye, the moment she hit it keeps replaying and I almost can't hear her current cries of passion. We actually cum together, and I can't kiss her deeply enough to express the moment. The only thing that get us out of the shower was the sudden cold water. Then we move pretty damn fast.

I tuck her into bed. "I forgot something in my room. I'm gonna go grab that an' some clothes." I take the room key and kiss her. "Be right back."

Alex and I sit on the balcony and discuss it. I tell him about Barb's fantasy. "No pain. Threats, I think, ok. I don't think it would work otherwise. But if she doesn't buy into it or it doesn't work, you stop. You got me?"

"Yeah. Cool. I got this. No problem, dude. Sir."

He's too flippant. I grab his hair and pull his head back. "Ima be in ear shot the whole time, boy. If she screams, I'll castrate you. You feel me?"

"Yes, Sir." He gasps.

"Alright." I let him go. "5:30 am. Be there."

"Yes, Sir."

I go back to Barb's room and climb into bed with her. She wakes just enough to curl into my arms. "Hey. Barb. Question."

"Hmmm?"

"Do you really want to try something rough? I mean, I can tie you up if you want. I showed you the paddle."

"Not now." She sighs. "In the morning. Tie me up and use me like a whore. Sleep now." She nuzzles her face against my chest.

I don't sleep well. I dream of Alex truly raping Barb while I watch. She pleads for me to stop him but all the whips and chains do was spur him on. Dr. Steve tells him to put her in a diaper for safety sake. I wake in a cold sweat at 4am with Barb's soft snoring beside me.

I'm either about to do the stupidest thing I've ever done or the most liberal. Uncle Marcus would say liberal and stupid were the same thing. Uncle Marcus would never tie a woman up. He would never allow a rape - fantasy or otherwise. He would kill me if he ever found out about this. I wonder why I'm thinking about Uncle Marcus. Then I realize that Barb does look a bit like Aunt Candice. I take a deep breath. There was still time to stop it. I pull Barb into my arms again. I don't want her to get really hurt. Alex unleashed was a monster. He thinks nothing of abusing girls.

Barb wakes me from a dream about Alex raping me that leaves me more than a little disturbed. "You ok?"

"Uh, Yeah." I lie. "Bad dream." There's a knock on the door and I jump.

"Relax. It's just room service with my tea." She gets up and get the door. It's room service with her morning tea. She puts it on the dresser and sits beside me. "You really are jumpy this morning." She checks my forehead. "You sure your not sick?"

I kiss her fingertips. "I'm fine. I guess I was just dreamin' 'bout you being hurt an'..."

"Peter, I would think you of all people would understand. Fetishes are not about the thing. They represent something to the person." She looked at her fingers. "I have always been very hesitant about sex - even when I was married, I was never sure about what I should do. Rape, slavery, bondage, yes they all have an element of violence to them. But they all take away my control. The attacker wants me; I don't have to do anything - he'll do it all. And in the fantasy, of course, he wants me to enjoy it. He expects me to enjoy it. Does that make any sense?"

I glance at the clock. I have five minutes to make this happen or stop it. "You sure, because if you are, I'll try."

"I'm sure but I don't think you could do it." She pushes me down. "I could probably do it to you."

She has leverage at the moment but, if I wanted to, I could get her down and pin her. Alex can. "Could you do me after I swim?"

She lets me go. "Chicken." She smiles, gets her tea and goes out on the balcony.

I put on my trunks, grab a towel and wave goodbye. "Be 'bout an hour."

"Be right here." she says lightly.

Alex was standing in the hallway. He looked way too excited; he's shorts were already bulging.

"What are the rules?" I hiss.

"She don't get hurt. She gets uh safe word. She cry foul, I stop. Oh, yeah, an' make her cum."

I can't think of anything else. "I'm right here. You sure you can do this."

His grin was feral. "It's cool." He knocks on the door and I step back.

As expected, she suspects nothing, she lets him in to wait for me. She screams when he makes his first move; I want to break the door in. I have my ear plastered to the door waiting for any sound that tells me I should go in. There was none. He can't gag her - not and honor a safe word. If she says anything above a whisper, I'll hear it, I'm sure. I could make out the sound of something banging - the headboard? his hand? I can't tell what. I wait for eternity then check my watch. He's been in there five minutes. I hear voices coming down the hall and I casually proceed in the opposite direction. As soon as they turn the corner, I run back to her door and listen, hoping that I didn't miss her cry for help.

She does call out once. Just "Oh." I start to open the door and stop. "Oh" was not "help"; what if she seconds from coming and I disrupt her? Alex was very good. I know that for a fact. If he does this right, she's not gonna be able to walk today. I don't want to take that from her. Who am I to judge her fantasies?

I hear another sound and press my ear to the door. Nothing. I check my watch. Another five minutes has gone by. I lean against the wall as the cleaning lady comes past; she smiles, I smile.

I should have told her I'd be back in half an hour. I could always just come back early. Or just look in to check then get out again before they see me. They'd never know. Someone around the corner opens a door, proving how loud they are. I lounge nonchalantly. "Waiting. Girlfriend." I say to the guy who looked at me suspiciously. He nods. I look at my watch again. Jesus, God, I think how the hell long it take ta rape a willing victim?

Unless she wasn't willing. What if, in the end, she really didn't want to but Alex went to far - as usual. He hardly acknowledges his own safe word, why would he hear someone else's? Not that he should even be a willing rapist. He never talked to Barb - he has no idea what her fantasies are. What the hell kind of monster was he if he would rape someone just on my say so? What I am I doing to him letting him do this? I pull the key out again.

The phone rings. Twice. Someone answers it during the third ring. Barb. "He's out." I hear her tell the caller. "Alex? He did drop by, yes. Now? Well, don't you usually find one with the other?" Her laugh sounds forced. It must be Beth calling; who else would call Barb looking for me and Alex. Or Steve. This could be important; I start to open the door again.

Except Barb's not stupid. If she needed rescue, that was a perfect moment to ask for it. And if it was the Doctor calling, she would have put Alex on the phone. She's fine. She likely enjoyin' herself. I'm worried about nothing. I look at my watch. Ten minutes before I could even think about opening that door.

I put my ear to the door again, willing them to make some kind of sound. Then suddenly I hear Alex. "You kin tell Peter what you want. It ain't right, he didn't share you in the first place."

I step aside and he opens the door, grinning. I point down the hall.

"Alright, what happened?" I ask when we're out of earshot.

"Dude you did not tell me she was hot." Alex was more excited now than when he when in.

"What happened?" I steady my voice so I don't scream at him.

"She scratched uh lot." He rubbed his sides. "I ain't know she was that rough. Leigh ain't claw me like that."

I put my hand around his throat and put him against the wall. "One more time, Alex." I am really desperately trying to calm down but I'm as terrified of what he did as I am of how she was now. "What happened?"

He whizzes something incoherent and I let go of his neck. He coughs for a moment before speaking. "I went in, told her you always share and it ain't fair I ain't been with her yet. She pushed at me but I got her robe open an' finger fucked her against the wall 'til the phone rang."

"Who was it?"

"She ain't say. But when she hung up, she say she ain't playin' games an' I needed to get out an' that kinda crap," He grinned at the memory. "So I dragged her ta the couch, pushed her the hell over it, ate her 'til she stained the thing then fucked her right."

"She came?"

"Oh, fuck yeah. Dude, she is hot."

"Why'd she scream?"

"When?"

"Like a minute after you went in, she screamed. Why?"

He shrugged. "I guess she didn't expect me ta put uh move on her. I don't know. I had her against the wall an' I was gettin' ready ta go down on her then an' she screamed. I told her she let another one like that out, I'd make it the last sound she made." I feel my blood run cold and he hurries on. "You said threats ok. I wouldn'da done nothin'. An uh safe word. I told her I ain't wanna hurt her an' if it hurt ta tell me an' I'd see if-n I couldn't make it feel better. An' I stayed away from that ass. But dude, I totally wanted to. She is so hot, dude, totally."

I have trouble finding my voice. "Go back to the cabin, Alex. Stay there."

"Yeah, dude, tot-"

I grab his neck again. "Get uh grip, boy. You call me 'dude' one more time I swear Ima break you where you stand. Clear?"

"Clear." He gasps. I think I might actually be choking him. "Sir."

I let him go and he almost runs.

I go back to Barb's room and try to pretend that I don't know anything has happened. That falls apart as soon as I open the door and find her curled up on the floor crying softly.

"Oh My God." I sink down beside her. This was my fault. "Oh, Barbara. Oh God forgive me." I'm afraid to touch her.

She looked at me, then grabs my hand hard. "Did you tell him to do that?"

"Oh God, Barbara, I am so sorry. I thought...I just wanted to..."

"Did you tell him..."

"Yes, oh Christ forgive me, yes, it was me. I'm sorry, I'm sorry...."

She collapses against me and weeps even harder. I slide my arms around her and weep too. I'm worse than he was - he's merely uncontrolled. I'm the demon directing the monster. Steve's right; I should be under the nearest jail cell.

"I wasn't sure." She says softly. "I kept thinking 'oh god, did I ask for this?' but I wasn't sure."

"No one asks for that. It was cruel. I'm so so sorry Barb. I just thought...."

"You thought you'd fulfill my fantasy, Peter. And you did." She sniffed loudly and I wipe her face with the towel I dropped. "Be careful what you ask for." She barks half a laugh. "I really should take my own advice."

"Was it what you wanted?" A stupid question; no one wants that.

"It was what I asked for."

That's not the same thing. "Do you want me to go?"

She shook her head. "Is he upset?"

"Fuck him."

"I don't want him to be upset."

"I don't care if he upset; ain't neither uh us got uh right. You the one matter. Ima see the Captain soon as I leave here."

"You can't blame him if..."

"I don't. Ain't his fault. I did this."

"Peter. I'm ok."

I look at her tear-streamed face. She was a very gracious women. "Of course. You gonna be just fine."

She pulls against me. "Just hold me for a while."

"Yes, Ma'am." I fold my arms around her and we sit there for a long time.

"I just needed some time to absorb it." She says after a while. "I didn't think I'd be scared; in my fantasy, I wasn't scared. Alex is, whew, he's quite an actor."

"No. He's not." I tighten my grip around her. "I told him he couldn't hurt you and if you didn't get into it, that he should stop." I kiss the top of her head. "I should have known better."

We sit in silence some more.

"You can go if you'd like," she says in a small voice. "I don't want to keep you."

"Do you want me to go?"

"No."

I flex my arms a moment and go back to holding her.

We sit in silence for a while more.

"Won't Beth be worried?"

"She kin call."

More silence.

"I came Peter."

I nodded. "Yeah, he had orders for that too. He ain't make you cum, he best not let me find him."

"No, I mean when I realized what was happening. When he opened my robe and I tried to close it. He pushed me against the wall and bit me and I came."

He bit her? "He bit you?"

She laughed a bit more naturally. "I think I actually screamed. He said if I did it again, that it would be the last sound I'd ever make. That's when I was sure you'd set it up. The line was so over the top."

"He wasn't allowed to gag you."

"I wondered about that. Could he tie me up?"

I shrugged. "You can't fight back if you're tied up. He said you scratched him pretty good."

"Is he ok?"

"He's fine." I don't mean for it to come out so harshly.

"That's part of his pain thing isn't it?" I nod and she snuggles against me again. "I wouldn't mind trying it tied up. Blindfolded. Gagged. Now that I know. I mean, if you did it. I could trust you."

I could feel myself shaking. I don't know who's in worse shape here - me or her. "No."

"It wasn't fun. Not like being with you. But it was" She seems to grope for the right words. "Like a roller coaster. Like that fear. People have died on rides but it's not likely to be me. I didn't think he'd hurt me. I couldn't imagine that he would have just attacked me out of the blue like that. He's a kid, just a kid."

5'10", two hundred pounds. Bench presses 280. Just a kid. Sure he is.

We sit like that for a long time as she decompresses and works through it. The longer she talks, the less I want to strangle Alex. She enjoyed it, overall.

"I mean, he's not better than you, of course."

"But he's more forceful. And you like that."

"He just has a different style."

I could chuckle at that. "Barb, he didn't lie - we do usually share. I actually wanted to suggest a three-some but I didn't think you'd be ok 'bout the age."

"I wouldn't." She says. "I think I wouldn't. I don't know anymore."

"It's ok." I kiss her forehead. "You don't have to make any decisions now."

"Actually, I have to make two."

"And what's that?"

"I have to decide if I can make it to the bathroom and I have to decide if I can make it to breakfast."

"I'll help you to the bathroom an' by now we ought ta be makin' it ta lunch."

Awkwardly, I get up - my legs had locked on the floor - and pick her up.

"You don't need to carry me."

"I want to."

She uses the facilities and then I do. When I come out, she's leaning against the wall.

"Right here. He pushed me against the wall here and opened my robe." Her robe was still untied. Still the only thing she's wearing.

I push it gently open to expose her to me. "Sight worth seein'."

"He nipped my neck."

"Like this?" I know exactly how; I seen him do it a thousand times. I've felt it a hundred.

She groans softly. "Then he moved down. I tried to stop him but he held my wrists." I hold her wrists against the wall and move slowly down to her breasts. "There. Right there. He bit me." I can't help myself, I bite her nipple and she again screams.

I let go of her wrists and massage the nipple I bit, "It's ok. Just me." She shakes and I hold her tightly.

"Oh God." she sighs. "I can't believe how that gets to me."

Not quite believing it, I reach between her legs She's soaking wet. I realize suddenly that she probably hasn't cleaned since Alex. How unhygienic. How vile. How nasty. I'm not at all sure how I got on my knees. Her scent's even stronger than usual and I could taste Alex's jizz as I eat her. She gasps.

"No, he didn't do that. Oh, God." She grabs the back of my head. Not that I was going anywhere. I push her legs apart to get deeper into her. I play gently with her anus as I make her cum again. And again. She finally pushes my head back. "Please. Please. I can't stand."

I pull away from her and she slides down the wall.

I kiss her deeply. "Who's better?"

She groans. "Don't ask me that."

"We could compete, you know. Both of us eat you, one after the other. We could both fuck you. Both take you up the ass. See which you like more - rough or sweet."

"Oh God."

I suck her nipples gently, knowing how crazy it makes her. "Do you want that? Or do you just want two guys doin' you? Beth loves double penetration. We could fuck you at the same time. I bet you'd love that."

She pulls my face back to hers and kisses me, pushing me down. "I want it all. I want to be fucked sore today, Peter, and then I want to be fucked again."

It occurs to me as I'm speed dialing Alex and kissing her, that this might be an unhealthy stress reaction to a rape that will have lasting and harmful repercussions in Barb's life. "Get back here." I gasp when I hear Alex's voice. I hang up the phone and push Barb flat on the floor. We're both naked by the time Alex knocks on the door.

I smile at her. "You ready?"

"All talk." she taunts back. I open the door.

"Alex. This woman wants to come so hard she passes out." His eyes nearly pop. "If she can walk..."

"...I ain't done. Yes, sir." He drops to his knees beside her. "Ms. Barb, was everything ok, y'know, earlier?"

"It was fine." But her tone has changed. She's no longer sure.

I sit beside her. "You want him to leave, he goes."

"N-no." She closes her eyes and takes a breath. She looked at Alex then leans forward. He glances at me then lets her lips touch his lightly. He pulls away then kisses again. Teasing. Finally, out of pure frustration, she grabs his hair and holds his head still.

I slide behind her and kiss the back of her neck. Between us, we don't leave an inch of her skin untouched. We make her cum when we jointly push her buttons - both of us attacking her breasts, both of us eating her pussy and ass, both of us screwing her.

We roll her over so we could switch places and she groans, "Stop, oh god, stop!"

"You the one wanted ta be fucked sore." I kiss her neck and nibble her earlobe. "You there yet?"

"I can't. You'll kill me."

"You wanna stop? Alex don't, do ya, boy?"

"You so fuckin' hot, Barb." He moans. "If she wanna stop, you could fuck me, sir."

"You wanna watch me fuck him, Barb? You wanna blow Alex while I fuck him hard?"

Alex was begging to be fucked, whispering in Barb's ear how much he wants to be boned. She suddenly pushes out of the bed and runs to the bathroom. She comes out seconds later with a wet washcloth. She cleans Alex off quickly then drops her mouth around him.

"Oh fuck, that's good." Alex moans. I find a condom and lube Alex. "Oh shit! Oh shit!" he can't help it.

When I slid into him, I whisper. "Don't cum. Not yet."

"Oh God, please. Please let me cum. You killin' me! Make her stop. I can't. I can't. I-" his voice catches and his whole body goes stiff.

Barb pulls back and watches him jerk in amazement. "What the...?"

"Dry orgasm. His mind thinks he's cummin'."

"Is this common?" she asks as he recovers.

"For him? Oh yeah. Among men in general, not common but not unheard uh." I kiss the back of his neck. He starts begging for me to fuck him hard. I ignore him. "I did uh lot uh research ta fool with him. What ta do - what not ta do. Any time somethin' new happen, I look it up. Once I found out 'bout this - that he did it if you make him hold back long enough - I pretty much made it a permanent rule that he can't cum without permission."

"How long can he last?" She slides against him, turning his whispered begging into an incoherent whimper.

"Couple hours if I don't make it impossible. But when I do let him cum, he done for the day."

"Don't make it impossible." She whispers as her eyes fall shut.

"Jesus, Jesus, Jesus." Alex began chanting and I realize that Barb has impaled herself on him.

"Alex." I blow in his ear and he shivers. "Slowly. Make it last." I moved slowly inside him. After a few strokes, we sync and I don't know how long we stay that way.

I don't have Alex's staying power. I'm the one who changes the rhythm eventually, makes it faster. Soon we're all screaming and I don't know who breaks first.

I just know my back hurts like shit when I wake up.

We were all still tangled to together on the floor. We didn't even get out of the doorway all the way. I lie there, feeling the motion of the ship and wondering whether it's too late for lunch or too early for dinner. I hear someone's stomach growl. We all giggle.

"I guess we're all awake." I try to sit up and poke Alex until he moves his legs.

"Oh, God." Barb moans. "I can't move."

"Mission fuckin' accomplished." Alex groans.

I move round next to Barb, "Was that what you wanted?"

She groans. Then she kisses me. "For a guy with a phenomenal skill set, you are extremely insecure. Yes, that was what I wanted. Yes, it felt good. Yes, I came. Yes, you are an excellent lover. Have I left out anything?"

"How 'bout yes I wanna do it again an' yes I wanna go have lunch?"

"Oh my God! Where do they put the batteries and how do I remove them? Can I catch my breath before we talk about 'again'? I though you said he would be done for the day?"

"Alex, you wanna do it again."

"Fuck yeah." Came his muffled reply.

"After lunch." I swat his leg. "If you good. Get up. Get dressed. You too, sexy."

"Go without me. I wanna shower. I'll catch up."

I look at her eyes, looking for traces of her earlier trauma. "You sure?"

"Go!" she shoos me away and I consider myself answered. We dress and leave while she's in the bathroom.

In our room, there's a note from Beth. 'Go see Steve.' I call Barb and we head down to the infirmary. Steve's off-shift but he left long instructions for us and permission for us to use the infirmary's satellite internet. The lab has a website; we could check our results on line. Over Alex's shoulder, I breathe a sigh of relief as we view the list of negative results. Only one positive.

A yeast infection.

I've got it too.

"How the fuck do guys get a yeast infection?" Alex mutters for only the tenth time as we sit down to eat.

"You fuck uh girl that got one, that's how." I can't even guess who. Kai or Barb were the only two choices. Unless they could jump through a condom. Or if they could transfer orally. That thought makes me wretch.

"What? You ok? Dude, what?" Alex nearly panics.

"Relax. I'm cool. I swallowed something wrong."

Barb joins us eventually in another sarong. She's damp so it's plastered to her.

"God damn, you hot." Alex greets her with a kiss on the cheek.

"So now I'm going to hear this sort of stuff from both of you?"

"Look like." I say. "God damn, you hot." I kiss the other cheek.

She sighs deeply and goes to the buffet. "So, I got your message." She starts when she has her food and settles at the table. "And it's all negative, thank god. I have a yeast infection which is annoying but harmless and another case of BV which is a life-long thing for me. Again, annoying but harmless."

"You gave us that shit!" Alex snaps.

"Quiet!" I snap back. "What's BV?"

"A yeast's cousin. What do you mean I gave you that?"

"We both tested positive for yeast infections as well."

"Oh." Her face falls. She looked utterly crushed.

"Hey. Could be worse, right?" I tilt her chin up to me. "Don't they have like one-day pills for that?"

"Yes." She smiles sadly then sighs. "Yes, they do. You're both fine - and very lucky that none of your friends were carrying anything worse."

"No shit." Alex agrees.

"Language." I remind him. "I guess we aught to call Da and Kai. Let them know."

"It would be nice, but it's not a panic. Worst case is they'll itch a bit."

Alex agrees to stop by their cabin later. We eat and discuss the weather.

Beth appears as we finish, on the arm of a very unhappy Dr. Steve.

"Would you please keep Miss. McElroy out of my office?" He tries to remove her but she laughs and clings to him. "God damn it, my co-workers are beginning to talk."

"They're teasing him about his 'new girlfriend'." Beth laughs. "They think Ima kid with uh crush."

"You are." Steve finally snatches his arm away and Beth sits down.

"No, I'm not. Believe me." She leans over to Barb. "So where have you been all morning?"

"Look, I'll make this quick." Steve talks over her. "I saw your lab results and we should all thank heaven that they're all negative."

"Says who?" Alex whines.

"Quiet." I bat him in the head. "Go on Doctor."

"I've put in a prescription for you all; you can pick it up after noon. Just follow the instructions. Ordinarily, I'd say that none of this is communicable, but you've been swimming a lot and wear the wet clothing for long periods?" We have. "Yeah, that can create a host environment for candisis. Read the information in the package. Call me if you have any other questions." He turns to leave and stops. "Alex, how are you doing? Any problems?"

"Totally healed, dude. All clear."

"Good." He walks away.

"Bye Stevie." Beth calls out. The Doctor's shoulder flinch but he doesn't turn around.

I bat Beth in the head. "Quit harassin' him. What, you tryin' ta get the boy fired?"

"What? He told them how old I am. Seriously, they all think I'm just a kid with a crush on the handsome young doctor. They given' him hell but they don't think anything goin' on really." She took a sushi off my plate. "I'm not stupid."

"You more trouble than he is, what you are." I groused.

"Nobody more trouble that him."

"Hey! I'm right here, god damn."

We bickered for a few minutes about who's more trouble than who.

"Enough!" Barb shouted. "You're all trouble. You've given me a headache. No wonder your parents let you go for two months. They're probably enjoying the rare peace and quiet."

We look at each other and laugh. "In our family?" Barb left before we regaled her with too many stories of the 'quiet' McElroys.

Alex went to see Kai while Beth and I hit the ship's store. Beth got picky about the choices.

"What's the difference?"

"I like this one."

"How do you know? What, the box color?"

"No." She sighed with exasperation. "I used to get these all the time, right before my period. They stopped a couple years ago. It's not a big deal. It's probably the type of chlorine they use in the pool here. I'm surprised my allergy hasn't broken out again."

"Look, just pick one. What you need this for anyway? He's gettin' you that pill treatment."

"It's for the itch. Peter." she muttered.

"Quit callin' me that."

"Why? It's your name."

"Yeah, but that ain't what you mean."

We bickered all the way to the counter. I thought about it a few seconds then got a tube of the itch cream for me and Alex. The cashier didn't ask; we didn't offer an explanation.

"Could be worse," Beth said as we left the store, "Mom coulda named you Richard."

"You just mean 'cause you cross-eyed."

"Am not!"

"Are too."

In the end, she just gave up and hit me.

"Ow!" I laughed. "See? Mean."

"I am not." Then, after a minute, "Am I?"

"What?"

"Mean."

I looked at her. I hadn't expected her to go all serious on me. "Nah, not really. I like you."

"You like any girl."

"Not true. I'll sleep with any girl. Most girls, least. But I don't like all of 'em."

"So then what's wrong with Steve?"

I stopped walking. "Come again?"

She looked away, embarrassed. "I'm not, like, fallin' in love or somethin' dumb like that but, I mean, we had uh good time that first night, I thought, and now he barely talk to me."

"The first time, he ain't know you 16. He could lose his license messin' with you, Beth. Course he don't wanna talk to you. Hell like that, I wouldn't either."

"Oh."

"Beth." I stopped and took her shoulders. "You don't see the look on his face every time you touch him. You drivin' him crazy. But he can't be caught messin' 'round with some sixteen year old - even here. I'll bet he ain't never meet nothin' like you an' you two years too young ta even dream about."

She blushed and rolled her eyes. "I'm sure."

"Hey." I looked around. "How you think me an' Alex feel back home? Uh girl who hot, smart and can hold her own on the dock? Hell, least you got better options. My sister damn near my dream girl."

"No, I'm not." she smirked. "Not enough tan."

I chuckled and we kept walking. "Yeah, ok. I got uh thing for dark meat. My point is you more than enough ta keep any man happy. Cross-eyed an' mean or not." She hit me again. "Ow." She kissed my cheek.

Alex arrived back in the room about two hours after we did.

"Where you been?"

"Da an' Kai's." He turned away but not before I saw the dark grin across his face.

"What you been up to, Alex?" I did not get up but I looked at Beth and at the balcony door. She got the hint, mostly. "I think I'll go see if Barb wanna go shopping." She left. "I asked what you been up to, Alex."

"I already done them." He said defensively.

"An' I said not again. They married."

"Yeah, but Da started it an' I ain't wanna be rude..." He stopped that line and shruged. "Anyway, Kai like it kinda rough, so y'know..."

"So I know what?"

"I was rough." he said softly after a hesitation. "I ain't leave bruises or nothin' but they was both happy when I left, right?"

"When or because?"

He hesitated again; I didn't think it had occurred to him that there was a difference until I said it. He shook his head. "No. When. They was into it. Both of 'em. They both uh pair uh little freaks, right? They like shit like that. First girl ever asked me ta do her ass. When. Totally when."

"Did you tell them?"

"Yeah. Before I did 'em. They ain't care. Kai say she always get 'em with condoms. Some bulls-uh-stuff about her balance."

I cross the room to him. I'm just enough taller than he was to lean my face over him if I intimidate him enough. He leans back so far he almost falls backward. "No more 'rough' on this trip. Clear? If she wants it that way, tough. She can discuss it with me."

"Yes, Sir." he says, contrite.

"You suspended." I say. It won't be for thirty days but I have to do something to get him in line.

"Yes, Sir."

"I want you in the gym, every morning, 7am. You need ta bleed off some aggression, punch something in there."

"Yes, Sir."

The phone rings before I give him another restriction.

"Peter, sweetheart, which do you like more, yellow or green?"

"Hey, Barb. For what?"

"Dinner dresses."

I look at the phone before I answer that. "I don't really care?"

"Oh, just pick one. I don't want to buy both and I can't decide between them."

"Call Beth."

"She can't decide either. She's going to buy the other one."

"Put Beth on." I cannot believe that she called me for this. "Beth, buy both - hell, buy two of both. I'll pay you back." I hang up the phone. "Women." I mutter.

Alex, I notice, was kneeling on the floor with his head down. "alright. Get up. Here." Hand him the insert from infection cream. "Read this."

Ten minutes later he gets to the part I was waiting for. "No sex? Oh fuck!"

"That's right. We all cut off until after Bangkok." He's suspended anyway

He doesn't swear aloud but he's struggling not to. "Sugar." He finally spits out.

"You got other hobbies."

"Not in f-in' Bangkok."

"Get over it." Barb and Beth shopping remind me that Alex and I have only a couple of shirts for dinner as well. "Come on."

We head down into the ship. It's a floating mall. There's even a Gap outlet. We find the girls and the four of us spend the rest of the afternoon shopping. It's actually fun.

When dinnertime rolls around, Alex and I were actually dress appropriately. Barb joins us again - looking lovely in green.

"Oh, no." Barb says when the discussion comes up, "I am not going into Vietnam with you Peter."

"Why not?"

"Because I am not spending another day of my vacation arguing politics with you."

"I won't do that."

"Yes, you will. You won't be able to keep your mouth shut." She signals the waiter over. "Singapore, fine. Thailand, sure. Not Vietnam, not Korea, not Taiwan."

"You're being ridiculous." The waiter topped off the wine glasses around the table and cleared the plates. "I'll behave." Everyone snickers at that. "Well, I won't argue. I may not behave."

In the end, she snuck out with the early tour while I was swimming. She left me a note 'I'll bring you back something special.' which helped me get my attitude fixed. We were lovers on a cruise not dating. This ends in five days. Then she goes home and I go on the next cruise. For all I know, she may have lied. She could be going home to a loving husband. That may be why she's not taking many pictures. You don't take pictures of the affair.

Either way, this romance was temporary. I can't think that she going to want to come home with me.

Alex, Beth and I did make the late tour and we were amazed at how beautiful the country is. I've only seen pictures of war-torn villages from the 70s but that was thirty years ago. The place has changed some. We snap another million photos to send home. We buy too many souvenirs. I buy a necklace for Barb.

And a locally made box to place it in. It's probably stupid but I don't want her to forget me. I'm not in love with her - I could be but she's right. The age difference was something of a problem. She knows too much; there's too much she doesn't want to explore. Somedays she's a reluctant teacher. I'd rather she be a classmate. Not that I would trade any of the trip with her. But I'm glad that I learned this here and now and not somewhere it could hurt a lot more.

Beth loops an arm around me as we head back to the ship. "You ok?"

"Yeah. Why?"

"Just look sad."

"Nah." I kiss her temple. "How 'bout you?"

"Ok. You think Jean an' Joan like that dress I bought yesterday?"

"Jean ever even worn uh dress?"

She gasped. "Never mind. I wanna call 'em when we get back ta the ship."

"Ok."

Alex pushed between us and looped an arm around us both.

"Have you guys seen the women 'round here? Unbelievable."

"Do you ever think of anything but sex?" Beth pinched him.

"Not after I figured out what it was."

"I thought you wanted ta get some local food?" I asked him, which was why he wandered off in the first place.

"I did. Two blocks that way, they's this whole line uh carts. They got twenty-five kind uh fish an' all of it cooked right. You think I could open uh branch uh the fishery here?"

"Buy uh cook book."

"Shit yeah." I smacked him in the back of the head. "Hey! I just mean, that's uh good idea, right? Hel-uh-heck, that'd almost be worth takin' home ec."

"You? In Home Ec?" Beth laughed. "You burn the school down. Less you poison somebody first."

"I poison you."

"Jerk." She pinched him again.

"Oh, yeah, do it again, do it again." She pinched him harder. "Lower, baby, lower."

"You are so sick."

"You got no fffffffreakin' idea."

Beth teased Alex all the way back.

I convinced Alex and Beth to go somewhere else for dinner and met Barb at our table.

"No kids tonight?" She asked teasing.

"Just us adults." I pulled her chair out.

We compared our tours of the city and managed to stay away from politics. Then, after dinner, I took her dancing.

"I told you, I'm not much of a dancer."

"One night. I thought this was the cruise of risk? Say yes to any offer?" She took my hand with slight reluctance. "When have I ever steered you wrong?" I asked, leading her out on the floor.

I couldn't hear her answer to that over the music. She was very stiff at first but she began to relax as the crowd arrived and she realized that no one was watching us.

The club played mostly up-tempo 70's and 80's but finally a slow number slipped in and I grabbed her. There's something so inherently erotic about slow dancing. Feeling your partner's heartbeat. Their body heat against yours. If you're lucky she rubs against you. If you're very lucky, she's glad to discover you have an erection.

That night, I was very lucky.

That was until I remembered, that we were all quarantined for a few days.

At the end of the night, I walked her to her door. "Thank you," she said, "for a lovely evening."

"Just a handshake?" I whined.

She kissed my cheek. "If I have to suffer, you have to suffer." She closed the door and I wandered back to my cabin. Neither Alex nor Beth was there. I called them. Neither answered. I went searching the ship for them.

They were nowhere to be found. When I returned to the cabin several stressful hours later, they were both asleep in bed. They were even both wearing pajamas.

I gave up on fatherhood right then. These two were enough to drive me crazy; young kids would likely kill me.

I changed clothes and climbed in with them. The next morning, at breakfast, I grilled them on where they vanished to the night before.

"We went club hoping," Beth answered, "Dad."

"I was worried."

"Why? you ain't tell us where you went." Alex pointed out.

"You ain't responsible for me."

Alex conceded defeat. "Thank god I'm not." Beth muttered over her orange juice.

We agreed to leave each other notes in the room from now on.

That day and most of the next were at sea which became my favorite words in the English language. Time was getting short and Barb and I spent it wandering around the ship doing lame things like the arcade and the bowling alley and the mini golf course. Barb and I kissed a lot and giggled a lot and generally looked like fools. Alex and Beth spend most of their time catching up with homework and online postings but, when they're with us, generally groaned and retched until I told them to go away.

The four of us were together when we ran into Da and Kai at the Lido Deck happy hour. Alex had his arm over Beth's shoulder and I had mine around Barb's waist. There was an awkward moment. Then I decided that we were all adults and we should act like it, I let go of Barb and kissed them both on the cheek.

"Ladies, you remember my sister beth? Beth, Da and Kai. This is Barb. Barb, Da and Kai."

Da smirked. "Sister? OK. And you must be his…?"

"Lover." Barb said without hesitating. "And you?"

"A friend." Kai said before Da could respond. They exchanged something in Philipino. Kai smiled, waved and pulled Da away.

Barb looked at me. "You just leave a string of broken women wherever you go, don't you?"

"That's not true." Especially given the number of times I've been dumped. "'Sides, them two both married. Shouldn't be here alone anyhow."

They all exchanged looks. "Ok." Barb said. "Sorry."

"What?"

"I seemed to have struck a nerve there."

"No, you didn't."

"Oh. Ok." She kept her expression netural but Beth was smirking and Alex flat turned away.

"Alright, now! Whut?"

"Whut?" Beth exaggerated.

That damn accent. "What are you all sniggering about?" I asked very carefully.

"Peter, the more upset you get, the more southern you sound." Barb looped her arm in mine. "It's very sweet."

"Sweet." Oh good because that's just how a guy wants to be described. "Sweet. Good. Well, I'm not upset; I just don't like the implication that I been abusin' folks." I pulled my arm away from her. "Whut you want ta drink?" Alex nearly choked trying not to laugh.

"I was teasing."

"Sides," Beth put in, "You date anything in a skirt."

"Yeah, an' everyone uh them dump me. I ain't the one leavin' broken heart down the line. I'm the one getting' broke."

Alex nearly spun around. "Sir, you can't count high school. Those bitches wouldn't know uh good man he bit 'em on the ass."

"Thanks." Beth said dryly. He made a face at her.

"Seriously, Peter, they got God's f-in' Gift ta women in front uh them an' they give him up? F 'em. They deserve ta be unhappy."

"And who's this gift?" Barb asked. "You?"

He actually looked offended. "Me? Fuck no! I'm uh fucked up little shit. Peter." He gave me that adoring, creepy-scary look of his. "He stops just short uh walkin' on water."

"To you." Beth added dryly.

"See?" Alex gestured to her. "Chicks do not know a good thing when they see it."

"Oh please!" Beth rolled her eyes and moved to the buffet.

"So what are we missing?" Barb goaded him on.

"Look, he's loaded, he's good lookin', he's smart an' he's uh f'in' awesome lay. What else you want?"

Barb looked at me. "He does have a point."

"Yeah. I am loaded." The others were open for debate.

"Well, we're suddenly in a bad mood."

"We are not in a bad mood. I just don't like being called some playboy. Hell, I ain't even in college yet, what the hell, I'm supposed ta be married already?"

The problem was that a small voice in the back of my mind says yes, I should be. My Father was. My Grandfather would have been if he hadn't gone into the Navy - and his high school girl waited for him. I wanted a girl - my girl, my partner, my wife. Missy said no, Trina was taken, Barb didn't want me. I kept meeting girls who dumped me and my luck with women was starting out badly.

"No, of course not!" Barb laughed. "Peter, I'm teasing! It's very clear, you're not the love-em-and-leave-em type. If anything, you're a bit clingy." Another ego-boasting description. Sweet and clingy. "Believe me, you will find a woman who wants that! Hell, where were you when I was twenty?"

"Not even a gleam in Momma's eye." Beth laughed. "Are you gonna be a peter all day?"

"I ain't bein' uh peter!" but I did sound a bit whiny even to myself.

"Whatever." Beth took a sip of something pink and fruit laiden then fairly bounced in her seat. "Oh! Oh! Oh! There's Stevie! I haven't caught him all day!"

"Beth, don't…" She ignored me and sprang off to annoy the poor Doctor. "Jeez!"

"Peter," Barb pushed me down into the nearest lounger. "Relax. Alex, get two of whatever Beth was drinking for us and then go find something to do with yourself. I think Mr. Grouchy needs a time out.

"Yes, Ma'am." He said happily and hurried off.

"I'm not a child. I'm not grouchy."

"You are a grouchy old man."

"Funny."

"You are! Outside the bedroom, you act older than I do. Stop it. You're bringing everybody down." She sat firmly on my lap and took the glasses Alex handed her.

"Sports lounge." He said as a goodbye and headed off.

"Now, drink this." She shoved a drink in my hand. "Cheer up and then take me back to my room and drill me."

I'd be a pure fool to resist an offer like that.

The morning we docked in Singapore, Barb joined us for breakfast.

"Room for one more?" she asks as she puts her plate down and pulls up a chair.

"Hey, Barb." Alex barely looked up but glances at his watch. "Tour leaves in half an hour."

She looked at me in surprise. "What's with him?"

"He wants ta be uh pirate when he grow up." Beth giggles but Alex lets it slide.

We make the early tour which includes the Botanical Gardens which were unbelievable and the BirdPark. We gave up on taking enough photos, and just began emailing them home as we took them. We had lunch in the historic district and wandered around a museum. After a while, it all started to look like Oriental stuff to me but Alex managed to learn more than a little about the cultures and languages. We found the US Naval Base and even get a couple pictures of the port where Granddad was stationed when he was here.

It was a good day. After dinner, the four of us found a quiet spot on the deck and watched the stars and the sea. If you look long enough at them, you could see your future. That's what my Uncle Edward always says. Of course, Capt. Ed isn't always quite sane if he's on dry land.

I look at Barb. She's the grown up version of Trina and most of the girls I dated in high school - which was undoubtedly exactly what I find so appealing about her. She looked like Trina. I hope Trina's life works out as well - basically happy and healthy. But without the five-year break in her sex life.

"What?" Barb asks me.

"Nothing. I just sorta realized that you remind me of one uh my ex-girl friends."

"Trina." Alex says.

"You see it too?" I thought it was just me.

He smirked. "Ain't hard ta see."

"So you never loved me for me?" Barb laments. For a moment, I think she's serious but she leans dramatically on Beth's shoulder. "I'm crushed! Simply crushed."

"Oh you ain't heard it." Beth gives me a sisterly grin. "Peter got more girlfriends than days in uh week. Le'see, there was Missy, Michelle, Trina uh course, Shelly, Cora..."

"Nah, Cora mine," Alex spoke up, "he just did her."

"...Taylor G and Taylor R, NaNa, Tonya, Kerrie..."

"Enough!" Barb stops her. "He's uh whore. I got it."

"I am not uh whore." I was not in the mood to discuss the merits of my past sexual conquests. "Ya'll act like I did 'em all in the same night."

"You didn't?" Barb teases. "Oh relax. I'm sure if you treated them the way you treated me, they were all very happy."

"If that were true, I'd still be with one of 'em." I groused.

"So why aren't you?" Barb prodded.

"Missy…" I pause. It still bugged me that I gave her a ring and she gave it back. "Wasn't ready to settle down." I finished a bit lamely. She nodded and waited for me to go on. "Michelle was jealous of Trina. Trina…" I glance at Alex just as he looked at me. His expression falls and he mumbles and apology. "Trina was a high school thing. That's all. Actually, she's married an' due with her first kid already." I reach for my glass and find it empty. "Most of the rest just dates, not girlfriends."

"What? No teachers? Nobody's Mom?" I glance a Barb and find her grinning back at me. "I thought I was the latest in a long line of scandals."

No, I thought ruefully, I've kept all my scandals quiet. Instead, I reached across the table and took her hand. "Why you care 'bout my past? I should ask about yours. What kinda scandals you hidin'?"

"I once had this fling with a pair of boys half my age."

"OOooo! Kinky!" Beth giggled.

"I figured if men can do it, why not women?"

"I agree wholly." I kissed her fingertips. "I think we should discuss the matter more specifically, in fact. Why don't we go some place quiet and see what we can do?"

"Oh brother!" Beth groaned. "Does he think he's being subtle when he does that?"

"Naw," Alex chuckled, "he just tryin' ta say somethin' classier than 'let's go do it'."

Barb laughed outright and I rolled my eyes. "Fine. Hey Barb - let's go do it."

"Peter! What kind of girl do you think I am?"

"The kind that says yes to all offers."

She gasped with fake shock and pulled her hand away. "Really!"

"Yeah; you look like that kind who like ta get it on anyhow."

"I do not."

"You do ta me." I couldn't help grinning. "Then again, that might be 'cause I done you everyhow."

"OK! I'm out!" Beth stood up.

"Yeah, serious." Alex got up as well. "I'm go see if the game still on."

"What game?" Beth asked.

"It matters?" he shrugged. "Any game. Soccer season still goin' and football pre-season started. I'm watch the end uh whatever, then head below."

Beth shrugged. "Sounds better then watchin' them flirt." They headed off.

"Yeah, you know she just gonna give in an' let him do her." Alex commented as they faded into the night.

"Yeah, you know she is." I repeated.

"Maybe she won't."

"Bet she will." I scooted closer to her and began kissing her exposed shoulders.

"She might surprise you."

"I'm sure she got uh few surprises left," I nibbled the back of her neck. "I just don't think that's one of 'em."

She groaned softly. "Maybe not." She turned her lips to me and we kissed for a while. "My cabin?" She breathed finally.

I stood, pulling her up with me and we hurried to her room, taking advantage of the slower-than-dirt elevators to kiss some more. I leaned her against the wall by her door and it took a couple of tries to unlock the door without breaking the kiss. Then we sort of slid around the door frame until I heard the door click shut. The thing I loved most about these sarongs of hers was the easy access to her breasts. And to her pussy, which was soaking by the time I pulled one hand away from teasing her nipples and slipped my fingers in. She was already stroking my dick through my shorts. She was right; I did like walls. Something about the passion of leaning against one. Beds were more comfortable but leaning against the wall says we couldn't wait. I played with her clit until she tried to wrap one legs around me, then I reached a little lower and pushed two then three fingers into her. Our lips barely broke contact aside from the occasional need to breathe.

When her hips began flexing against me, I got the idea to use four fingers and used my thumb against her clit. She began throbbing around my hand; spasm-ing so tightly, I thought she might crush it. I began fucking her with most of my hand, not quite believing that I could get it all in her. But she came again and drenched my wrist and the leg of my shorts. Which made me cum inside my shorts. I pulled my hand out of her and had to hold her up to keep us both from falling.

"Think you can make it ta the bed?" I gasped. She moaned in response. I laughed softly. I love a woman who's just cum. We managed to get there.

Then clothing began to fly. My shorts and shirt went fast but her swimsuit under the sarong took a minute. I looked at her, grinned lewdly mad sucked the crotch of the suit. "God I love pussy."

"Peter!" She laughed and spread her legs. "So get it from the source."

Say yes to any offer.

I woke up later, still in a dark room, still with my face between her thighs, my cheek resting on a very wet spot. Everything reeked of pussy. Oh that's vile, I thought to myself, even as I kissed her nether lips softly. And then again. My dick twitched as I used my fingers to part her hairy lips and licked the interior lips. It was like a drug. She was a drug and I was an addict. Barb sighed in her sleep and pushed against my now lapping tongue. I think dozed off before she came again but after a few hour - I think - of eating and dozing, she woke up enough to pull me next to her and got me hard enough - not a difficult task, mind you - to slip into her and far too soon shoot off into her. I fell asleep finally, still in her, wrapped around her.

Our last day was at sea. I woke before Barb did and thought maybe I'd skip my morning swim and spend the whole day with her. She curled against me with a sigh and I held her tightly.

"Shouldn't you be up?" She murmured.

"Rather be with you." I kissed her temple.

"You just think you'll get lucky."

"I already am lucky." I was very glad I wasn't falling in love with her. That would make today heartbreaking. I stroked her back and tried to memorize exactly how her body felt pressed against mine.

"Peter." She whispered, "I'm going to have my tea, and you're going to swim." I held her tighter when she tried to move. "Peter." Her voice was flat. I let her go.

She got up and I watched her naked form hurry into the bathroom. I couldn't help laughing. We've been fucking for the last ten days and she still didn't want me to see her naked.

I got up, stretched, and grabbed my shorts. Her tea arrived before she came out so I set it up on the balcony for her. This isn't love, I reminded myself, just two adults having a lot of fun.

And it had been fun. And amazing, I thought as Barb came out on the balcony, tying her robe. I pulled her close and kissed her. I had planned for something gentle but her lips parted immediately and our tongues wrestled for a while.

She broke the kiss gently. "Now, go swim. I'll still be here when you're done. I want to pack today and I doubt you're going to let me get much of that done."

"Ain't that a bit early?"

"We dock at 9am tomorrow and..." she smiled devilishly, "I doubt I'll need much in the way of clothes today."

I took the hint and gave her a quick peck on the lips. "I'm gone." I hit the john, grabbed my phone and a towel and damn near ran to the naked pool. I called Beth and Alex on the way because packing today was actually a good idea.

"Are we going to have to move in and out every time?" Beth griped. "It would be a lot easier if we could just leave our stuff here and use this as our hotel room in port."

"I'll ask the Steward today but assume we've got to go. Where's Alex?"

"The gym. I'm on my way to the sunrise tai chi class."

"Since when you do tai chi?"

"When in Rome..." I could almost hear her shrug.

"Right. Cool. Have fun. I maybe outta touch t'day."

"Gosh, I can't imagine where you'll be."

"Bitch."

"Peter."

I laughed. "Alright. Later."

About five minutes into my laps, I noticed that I was veering out of my lane - a habit I had broken years ago. I realized that I had been kind of lazy about really swimming and started doing it right. Pay attention to form and speed. I made a mental note that I needed to hit the weight room a couple times a week myself.

I was a little later than usual getting back to Barb's cabin but I was awake and pumped up for the day. I knocked on her door.

"What?" she asked when finally opened it, "you lose the key?"

"No." I took one step and pinned her to the wall of the narrow doorway. "I just wanted to do this." She didn't struggle when my lips captured hers or when I untied her robe. She rebelled a bit when I began pushing the garment off her shoulders.

"The door," she breathed, "open."

"I don't mind." pressed against her as I was, no one could see her anyway.

"Close the door, Peter." she panted. "I'm not an exhibitionist."

"You oughta be."

"Oh, now you want to play games?"

"Yeah." I pulled the robe down behind her and pulled her away from the wall. "Let's play." without taking the robe off her all the way, I used the belt to tie her wrists together. With all that fabric bound up she looked like a silk fetish pinup girl. I slammed the door shut.

"I thought you didn't want to tie me up."

"Oh I don't mind binding you. I don't want you to be uh slave." I pushed her against the wall again. "I got no trouble tyin' you up an' makin' you scream."

"You boys like walls, don't you?" she whispered. She turned her face when I tried to kiss her and my lips landed on her neck instead. She was hot already and her pulse was pounding. I pushed my leg between hers and smiled to myself as she gasped.

Through my shorts, I could feel the heat of her hips. I was beginning to think I would never wear underwear again. My dick rolled against my leg but strained the fabric trying to reach her.

"You know you love this." I teased her. "You like it rough." I grabbed her tit and squeezed it hard. She gasped and panted. "Ima make you cum til you pass out. What you think uh that?"

"I think - I think you brag too much." she moaned.

"Yeah?" I bent my head and sucked hard on the nipple I had been mauling. She shook. I switched to the other side and let my hand move between her legs. Her slit was drenched. Suddenly, I just needed to taste her desperately. I dropped to my knees and lapped her clean. I pushed my tongue inside her and around every fold. She came quickly, flooding my face. I wouldn't let her pull away from me. I pushed her leg over my shoulder so that she was open wider and I could get my tongue back to her asshole. I moving back and forth until she came again. I was obsessed for some reason. I could not get enough of her pussy. Each time I sucked and licked it clean, I only needed her to cum again. I wanted to drown in the taste of her. The smell of her. The feel of her.

Her knees shook and she slid down the wall despite my best effort to keep her up. I pushed both her legs over my shoulders so she could actually sit on my face. Then I fucked her with my tongue while I teased her clit with my nose. She bucked against me so much, I finally had to put her on the floor properly and push her legs back. When that wasn't enough, I lifted her hips and lapped her like a bowl of soup.

I began to realize that she was whimpering. I couldn't tell how much of the wet on my face was her and how much was my own sweat. I was panting and my dick was painfully hard.

I let her hips go. She seemed to deflate, exhausted. I crawled on top of her - finally pushing off my shorts - and slipped my dick easily in the ocean of hot pussy waiting for me. She gasped and moaned. I sucked her nipples and lay on top of her. With her hands tied, she couldn't stop me but when my lips brushed hers, she groaned and nipped at me hungrily. We lip locked for a long time, as I lay inside her hot wet tight snatch.

"Barb." I panted between kisses. "I know I said I's mature. I know this ain't serious. But I can't help it. I love you." Her pussy clinched around my dick and I arched my back trying to push deeper in. "I'm sorry." I kissed her, trying to reach her clit through her mouth. I found myself banging her as hard as I could and holding back. I didn't want to cum. I didn't want it to end. If I could hold it, somehow it seemed like I could hold back time. Like the longer I fucked her, the longer we would have together. I pushed her leg out of the way and stroked more deeply. She arched her hips against me and cried out. I got my hand under her back and lifted her tits to where I could reach them. It slowed down my stroke but that meant that I would last longer so I dealt with it.

At least until she came again. Then I knew I was at my limit. If this was our last moment together - hell if this was my last moment on earth - she was going to feel it. The whole boat was going to feel it deeply. Strongly. All of it. I heard a distant growling and suddenly recognized it as me. Barb came yet again and that did it. Her pussy clinched around me and I burst like a fucking cannon. I cried out something incoherent.

Then I collapsed on top of her. I made myself roll beside her just to be sure she could breathe but she moved with me and we rolled sideway, my slowly softening dick still inside her.

We lay there panting, my arms wrapped around her, and dozing. I knew I should untie her hands but I could barely move. Finally, I realized that I was thinking coherently and that her arms had to be sore. I pulled away from her; she whined as I slip out of her. I untied the robe and pulled it off her completely.

Then I carried her to the bed and climbed in with her.

"Peter." She whispered. "I love you too."

"You do?" I sat up, hopeful. Maybe this didn't have to end....

"Of course. You're a wonderful boy. Man. A wonderful man. But..." She paused and stroked my face. "I'm not in love with you. You understand the difference? I care about you. And this...this has been the best sex of my life. Maybe if we'd met twenty year ago, it would be different. But now?" She smiled softly. "No."

I knew she was right. I didn't want to agree with her and at that moment, my heart didn't agree. But my head knew she was right. I nodded. "I should go. Let you pack."

"Stay." her hand on my arm stopped me. "You promised to make me feel eighteen. I'm still feeling a bit twenty-five-ish."

The longer I stayed, I knew, the harder tomorrow would be. But what better memory to have than a whole day spent holding her. "I did promise, didn't I?" I said. I kissed her and tried to push her back but she resisted.

"My turn." she stated and pushed my chest. I let myself be pushed flat. Then she got up and got her robe, pulling the belt free. She arched an eyebrow at me and I grinned as I realized what was coming next. I put my wrists out for her but she shook her head slightly. Then she wrapped the belt across my mouth.

"Not much of a gag." I managed. "I can still talk."

She ignored me and tied the belt ends to my wrists so that my hands were forced behind my head. Then she kissed me and I found that I couldn't really get my tongue around hers. She pulled back and gave me a wicked smile. Then she went down on me. Her tongue bathed my dick, nuts and then my asshole with her well out of reach for a while. I didn't think I could get that hard again that fast after cumming as hard as I did only a few minutes ago but apparently I was wrong. It seemed like only seconds before I was hard and dripping pre-cum.

"Oh God," it was a bit muffled because of the gag, "that feels so good." I closed my eyes and reveled in her talents. She sucked and licked my dick keeping me on edge. Then she moved.

I opened my eyes in time to watch her swing her legs over my head and position that sweet, succulent pussy over my face. our mixed jizz still covered her and she reeked of our sex. I groaned and then groaned again as I realized that not only could I not touch her, but the gag was just enough to keep me from tasting her. Her mouth began rhythmically sliding up and down my cock. I could see her red, swollen clit and smell the overpowering fragrance of her and couldn't do a damn thing about it. I groaned in frustration.

Then, Barb taught me what a tease was. Her fingers slipped down and began sliding around her pussy. In and around each glistening lip, each delectable fold, and that mouthwatering clit. "Oh fuck." I moaned. "Stop." She did not. She moaned as she sucked my dick and played with her clit and I don't know how I didn't cum right then. I watched her fingers focus more on her clit and soon were rubbing it exclusively. I was getting a crick in my neck straining to reach her.

Then she came, shaking, moaning and squirting. I returned the favor and shot what felt like a gallon of jizz down her throat.

She turned anround to face me. "How was that?" I with the gag, I couldn't say anything articulate anyway but I wasn't really capable of more than a satisfied groan. She smiled. "That's a proper response."

She untied me and I held her for a few minutes, getting my breath back. "Your husband must have been one of the stupidest men alive. All this passion and he let it go to waste."

"Well, I wasn't the best wife. When I found out about the affairs, I just sort of lost interest."

"Why would any man have an affair, he got you ta come home ta?"

"I wondered that myself."

I had a thought and turned her to face me. "Hey. Promise me something."

"What?"

"That you won't wait another damn five years."

"Oh, well, I'm not…"

"No, we not havin' that, Woman." She raised an eyebrow but I went on. "You gonna promise me that you not gonna wait five years for some man ta get his head out his ass and notice you."

"Peter, I'm not looking for a relationship now."

"Who said anything 'bout a relationship? I'm talkin' about the beautiful woman I'm in bed with right now having a little fun every once in a while. Hell, you can't find anyone in Beijing, call me. I'll fly out special ta see you."

She tilted her head. "You know, I think you would." She kissed me. "Ok. I promise. I'll get laid occasionally."

"Good. Now. You down around 20 or so but you ain't quite 18 so I best get back to work." I flipped around and pinned her legs apart. Then I sucked her pussy like it was the last time.

I tried not to remember that it was.

By 10:30 am, we were at the base of the gangplank, saying goodbye. The Captain had agreed to let us leave the bulk of our luggage on board but we had to clear off while the ship re-fit. We could return when the crew did.

Barb got us a hotel room. The Presidential Suite on the top floor of the Plaza. "What's the point of being an executive with the chain if I can't throw my weight around on occasion? They're sending a car for you."

"What about you?" I slipped my hand behind her neck and leaned in for the kiss.

She stopped me. The sarongs were all packed and a conservative attitude had joined her conservative khakhi pants. "I'm waiting for my son; he's picking me up here."

I let go. "Well, ok. I guess we'll just wait."

An eternity went by - roughly five minutes. Alex and Beth went to get a cup of coffee. A car pulled up and out popped three young kids shouting "Granma!" They wrapped themselves around Barb.

A man got out. His skin was lighter and his eyes were almond but the family resemblance was there. He managed to lean past the kids and kiss her cheek.

Alex and Beth came back as he was fighting with the truck of the car. I grabbed her bags and Alex took them from me.

"Oh, uh, thanks guys. I got this." Her son said, a little surprised that strangers would help.

Just before she got in the car, I took Barb's hand. Her son looked at me and realized that I wasn't just some guy standing there. "Barb, look, I got you this." And gave her the box with the necklace. She tried to protest but I hushed her. "It's nothing big. But I want you to remember me."

She blushed. "I don't think I could ever forget you."

"And I want you to remember your promise."

She blushed even deeper.

"Keep in touch, OK?"

"You too." She smiled. "Thank you, Peter. Have a good life, OK?"

I had to kiss her. I couldn't let her just leave without one last kiss - damn her resistance and damn her son. There wasn't much resistance.

"Mom?"

When I let her go, she was grinning. "I'm never going to hear the end of that. Peter."

"Just don't let it be the last one, hear?"

She slipped out of my arms and hugged Beth. They whispered something to each other and looked at me. Then they actually giggled. She gave Alex a hug and a kiss on the cheek. "Try to stay out of trouble."

"Ain't my fault it follows me around." He replied glibly. "Dude, your Mom rocks!"

"Yeah." He looked a little numb as I helped Barb into the car and stole one last little kiss."

"Oh My God!" Beth exclaimed behind me. "That limo is looking for us!"

"You had best go." Barb gave my hand a little pat. "Try and be young for a little while longer."

They left. We got into the limo.

We had three days to kill in Bangkok, Thailand.

End Part One