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 This is a work fiction, involving the sexual acts between consenting
adults. If this subject offends you, close this page NOW!  If you choose to
read on you must be 18 years or older.  If you are not LEAVE!!!
   Any similarities to persons living or dead are coincidental.
   Full Circle 1: Julie and Fleur
   By
   Romany
   (M/F, cheating wife, oral, anal)
   Julie came home about 8:15.  I was upstairs on the computer and heard
the car drive into the garage.  I started down the stairs and met her at
the bottom, about to come up.  She stopped at the bottom and as I
approached her, she moved away to one side to allow me to pass.  I stopped
two stairs short of the bottom.
   "Howdy" I said and stepped down the remaining two steps leaning toward
her for a kiss.  She initially appeared to pull back then seemed to change
her mind and leaned forward for a quick peck on the cheek.
   "Brrrrr.  I'm freezing," she said rubbing her hands together.  "I'm
going to take a shower to warm up."
   "Let me cuddle you warm," I said in mock passion and reached to embrace
her.
   "Later," she retorted and ducking under my outstretched arms, she headed
up the stairs.  "Fix me a drink", she said as she disappeared up the
remaining stairs and down the hall to our bedroom.
   I laughed to myself.  She was funny when she was intent on something. 
All hyperactive and positive about doing what she felt she needed to do. 
Right now!  No procrastinating.  I ambled into the sitting room and across
to the liquor cabinet.  She liked rum and coke so I would mix her a stiff
one.  On the promise of me getting a stiff one into her later tonight I
thought gleefully.  The doorbell rang.  I stopped with the bottle of rum
and walked to the front door.  I opened it and it was Ryan Cross, from next
door.  Ryan was 11 years old and he was a neat kid and often did yard
chores for a little money for us.  We had sponsored him in his school
spelling bee.
   "Hi Danny" he said.  "I was wondering if I could collect my sponsorship
money for the spelling bee".
   "How much do I owe you?" I said.
   "Eighteen dollars and fifty cents.  For 85 correct words," he said "Wow!
85 correct!  Pretty good," I said, making a show of being impressed.  I
started scratching around in my pocket for the cash.  I scrounged about
$16.75 from my wallet and pocket.  "Hang on, I'll see if my wife has change
in her purses" I said and headed across to where Julie had dropped her
laptop bag, pocket book and coat at the end of the sofa.  Going into
Julie's personal things was a no-no.  It always had been.  She had
remonstrated with me in our early days of marriage and I knew full well
this was off limits.  But she was upstairs and I would feel a heel if I
could not give Ryan his money as planned.  Of course I should ask her to do
it, but she would be getting into the bath and Ryan would have to come back
or she would have to stop what she was doing and come downstairs.  This was
the lesser of two evils.  I opened the pocket book and looked inside.  The
first thing I spotted was a small nylon change purse she had.  I took it
out and opened it up.  There was a clutter of coins but no notes.  Most of
the coins were dimes and nickels.  Not even quarters to go with my $16.75.
I noted a zipper in the side of the purse and a slight bulge in this extra
pocket.  I pulled the zipper open looking for the bill that made the lump.
But to my surprise I found a condom in its foil wrapper.  I was stunned. 
What the hell was this all about?  I stood frozen, while I turned the
condom over and looked at it.  It wasn't one that had been there for a long
time as there were no abrasions on the foil as you might expect;
remembering the ones I kept in my wallet as a horny teen.  All faded and
scoured by months of being pressed in the wallet.  Why would a married
woman need to carry this?  Was it an emergency for us, though we never used
condoms?  Julie used a diaphragm and spermicidal jelly as the pill had
caused her some difficulties in the past.  She had side affects to it so
had opted for that method of birth control even before we had started going
out together (I was under no illusion she was a virgin when we met).
   I still didn't have the required change for Ryan so I dug a bit further
into the pocket book.  Then I recognized a small circular case.  It was her
diaphragm case.  What was that doing in here?  I tentatively reached for it
and flipped the lid open.  The case was empty.  I was stunned once more. 
She must have been wearing the diaphragm.  So why was she wearing it early
evening?  Had she come home with the thought of early evening sex?  Maybe
that was why she wanted the bath; to be fresh for some nice sex.  I spotted
a bill fold so replaced both items in her pocket book and then lifted out
the bill fold.  I found a crisp $20 and replaced the bill fold in the
pocket book and arranged everything as she dropped it on arrival.  "Here
you are young Ryan," I announced, turning and walking towards him.  "Let's
call it a net $20 for a fine effort".
   He beamed and thanked me profusely and turned and walked towards the
door and I saw him out.  I turned and looked at the laptop and pocket book
and coat at the end of the couch.  Something was not quite gelling within
me and I was still a bit apprehensive about what I should read into my
discovery.  I went upstairs into our bedroom and listened at the bathroom
door.  I could hear her in the shower.  She was humming to herself.  I'm
not sure why I did it but I walked across to her side of the bed and slid
the top drawer of her nightstand open.  She kept her birth control items in
there, as well as a small tube of KY warming lotion which she enjoyed
having me rub in her as part of our foreplay.  I looked in and to my
surprise there was a diaphragm case identical to the one in her pocket
book. I was stunned.  She had two diaphragms?  I lifted the case up and
flipped the lid.  There was a diaphragm inside.  I stood and solemnly gazed
at the diaphragm.  Two!  She had two and as the other case was empty, she
was most likely wearing one now.  Why two?  If we traveled anywhere, this
was supposedly placed in her toilet bag along with the spermicidal jelly
and KY.  Why the one in the pocket book...?  `She's having an affair' my
irrational mind said.
   I heard noises from the bathroom and realized she was getting out of the
shower.  She would soon be in her robe and come into the bedroom.  I
quietly slid the drawer closed and left the bedroom.  I walked out feeling
very vulnerable.  I walked downstairs and into the lounge and poured myself
a beer and sat in my favorite chair watching TV but not really
concentrating.  Presently she came into the room in her robe and glanced at
me then went to the end of the sofa and collected her pocket book and
laptop and the coat draped over the sofa arm, and headed towards the
stairs.
   "Your drink," I said motioning to the table where I had placed her rum
and coke.
   She had her hands full but rearranged the items to pick up the glass and
turned back to the stairs.  She stopped and turned to me.
   "Have you eaten?" she asked.
   "No, I was waiting for you" I answered.
   "Oh, sorry.  I had a late lunch.  I should have told you.  A few of us
went to the small bistro in our building once we'd finished an urgent
meeting that took us through lunchtime," she volunteered.
   "No problem.  There are some hamburger buns and patties in the freezer.
I'll whip something up," I answered.
   "OK, well I'm pooped so I'm going to redo my nails and hit the sack" she
said, and with that started up the stairs.
   I was left thinking how perfunctory this all had been.  Later when I had
slid into bed beside her I was sure she wasn't asleep despite the even,
heavy breathing.  I had rolled slowly towards her thinking I would put my
arm around her.  I succeeded in cuddling her and of course, as she was
"asleep" she wouldn't know.  She was wearing a nightgown.  She never wore
nightgowns as we both slept in the buff.  This posture lasted about 30
seconds and then she made various disturbed sleep grunts and snuffles and
rolled over and eventually onto her other side, turning her back towards
me. She mumbled a barely coherent `too hot', meaning our combined body heat
was causing her to feel uncomfortable.  I didn't sleep but lay there
thinking about all that had gone down these last few hours.  The thought
processes raced from calmly dismissing my "ridiculous" belief she was
having an affair, to working through terms of divorce if I ever got
confirmation of my suspicions.  It's amazing the scenarios that suddenly
loom as real when you are worrying in the dark.  No real ability to
rationalize.  Daylight somehow adds a different perspective.  Eventually I
fell into a fitful sleep.
   I woke when she rose next morning.  I felt like shit.  I hadn't had a
lot of sleep and I was aware there was something bugging me but my
conscious mind had not caught up to take control so soon after waking. 
That feeling lasted long enough for me to see her disappear into the
bathroom, closing the door behind her.  She had the pocket book under her
arm as she disappeared.  It was this sight coupled with the nightdress that
brought me back to the grim mood of the previous night.  I heard the toilet
lid drop and knew she was sitting to pee.  She would be no doubt removing
the diaphragm being as it needed to be left in her body for 6 to 8 hours
after sex, to be effective.  I quickly rolled to her side of the bed and
pulled the drawer open to the nightstand and noted the other diaphragm case
inside.  I took that one out and flipped the lid; just to remind myself of
the previous night's furtive investigations.  It still had one inside.  At
that point my psyche settled on infidelity as being the reason for the two
diaphragms with one "to go".  It would take a lot now to shake that belief.
I got up and pulling my robe on and went downstairs and started to prepare
coffee as I always did.  I set the breakfast items on the table ready for
her; juice, cereal and jam and butter.  I went back upstairs and she was
getting dressed; standing in a black matching bra and panties set that I
hadn't see before
   "Good morning my sweet," I said cheerily and went to embrace her.  She
turned away and allowed me to give her a quick peck on the check.  "Hurry
up Danny," you'll make me late," she chided as a response to my advance.
   It felt like a kick in the guts.  I turned and went to take my shower.
She came into the bathroom as I was returning to the bedroom after my
shower, and she paused, letting me through the door first.  She gave a weak
smile at the near collision of the two of us in the doorway.  I went into
the bedroom with a towel around my waist.  My heart skipped.  I noticed her
pocket book on the chair by the door.  I knew she kept a makeup kit in her
pocket book but of course she had a full complement of lipstick, and blush
etc.  in the vanity cabinet in the bathroom so no need to deplete here
traveling supply.  She was going into the bathroom to apply her makeup.  I
moved quickly to the chair and picked up the pocket book.  Feverishly I
released the clasp and took the diaphragm case out.  I flipped the lid open
and I saw a diaphragm was inside.  This confirmed she had two and was
wearing this one when she came home from work the evening before.  I
replaced the case in the pocket book and put it back on the chair.  I moved
quickly back to my closet and finished dressing.  She came out, looking
radiant in her gray pinstriped two-piece suit with the topcoat buttoned
over an off-white cashmere sweater.  She quickly started pulling the bed
covers up and I instinctively turned to help as I always did and we made
the bed.  She turned without a word and picked up her laptop and pocket
book and headed to the door.  I finished dressing and followed her
downstairs.  She was not there.  I looked at the breakfast items and
nothing had been touched.  I saw the pack of wax paper coffee cups on the
bench and realized she had poured a cup of coffee to take in the car with
her.  I stood feeling very uneasy about my beautiful wife's behavior.
   ****
   I decided I needed to know what she was up to so I did not go to work
that morning.  Instead I went into Boston late morning and hung around
Julie's office.  I had reasoned if she was having an affair, it was a
daytime liaison as she was always home with me week nights and at weekends.
I had no way of knowing if she would do anything untoward today but it was
Friday and most offices tended to be a little casual on Friday's.  It was a
pure gamble she would try anything at all.  I guessed maybe an extended
lunch break could offer time to meet somewhere for an adulterous liaison.
But when Julie hadn't appeared between noon and 2:00pm, I was beginning to
dismiss the possibility of her having a lunchtime liaison when all of a
sudden her car drove past the gift shop I was browsing in, out the front of
her office building.  I could clearly see a man in the front passenger
seat. I felt like I had been kicked in the guts.  Damn!  I never thought
she would use her car.  Somehow I had missed her leaving to go and collect
it from where she parked it.  Fortunately she stopped at a red light and I
noted a cab about three cars back.  I sped to the cab and hopped in and I
uttered the old clich� `follow that car' and the driver grinned and shook
his head in amusement.  Fifteen minutes of driving and she pulled into a
public parking garage near the aquarium so I paid the driver and stepped
out and into a small sandwich bar near the pedestrian exit of the garage. I
knew this was the only way in or out on foot.  Soon she appeared with the
guy who was about 5'10" and wearing a dark overcoat with a scarf and
gloves. He had neat short dark hair.  Everything about him smacked of young
high income professional.  Julie was wearing her ankle length black coat
with a woolen beanie and matching gloves.  They walked towards the north
end and deviated off towards the old bond houses on the piers that had been
refurbished as high quality apartments for Boston's downtown yuppies.  But
they moved passed there to an old brownstone building of 6 stories or so.
They went into the main entrance and I saw the door close behind them.  It
latched on a door release system, no doubt.  I stood and stared glumly at
the closed door, from across the street.
   I looked at my watch.  It was now 2:45pm and it was also starting to
snow again making the late October day gloomier.  It matched my mood.  I
thought again about the times she had left for work early and returned
late. Now it was clear.  Arrive at work early, get her work done and leave
work early to spend time with her lover.  And then arrive home after 8:00pm
saying what a hard day it had been.  I wondered who he was.  Did he work
with her?  Was he married?  If he was married how did he manage the time?
Was that his apartment?  If so did this mean his wife was at work until
sometime early evening?  He looked a smooth bastard.  He probably had a
plenty of money as inner city apartments weren't cheap.  I stood
disconsolate; standing on the street where the snow was now falling quite
heavy again.  I decided I couldn't stay here wondering much longer.  With
the rate it was snowing, I would soon be covered and it was getting cold. I
came out of my gnawing preoccupation with my thoughts when my mobile phone
suddenly rang.  I jumped, startled.  I fished in my pocket and took the
phone out and looked at the screen.  It was Julie!  "Hi, it's me," she said
in an offhand way.
   "Hi, what's up?" I asked trying to sound casual.
   "I've been asked to stay on and work on the case notes for the Pearson
merger.  The legal secretary helping Mr.  Bailey has gone home sick and
they must have this brief sorted for a full partner's review on Saturday,"
She said.  I was about to ask her how late she would be when she continued
her spiel.
   "I'll most likely be very late.  Maybe early tomorrow morning and Carol,
one of the other paralegal's here, has offered to put me up, saving me a
trip home in the snow and dark.  Carol has a place near our office and she
says she has a sofa bed I can use for the night.  Her boyfriend is away so
she is on her own and says she would welcome the company." It sounded like
a very plausible scenario.
   "Well what time will I see you tomorrow?" I asked.
   "If we are really late tonight we'll probably sleep in, so maybe about
noon," She answered.
   "Makes sense.  OK hon." I answered without conviction.  "Take care and
I'll see you tomorrow lunchtime."
   "OK.  See you tomorrow.  Bye," she came back.
   "Bye," I said, but she had already hung up.
   No need to stay here.  I reasoned she had set the scene to remain in her
cozy adulterous coop and not worry about having to venture out to come
home. I was feeling gutted.  My heart was pounding from the moment the
phone rang and it still thumped on even though the bubble of intrigue had
been well and truly burst.  I had been right.  This wasn't paranoia. 
FUUUUUCK YOU!!  YOU CHEATING FUCKING BITCH.  My brains screamed the abuse
she couldn't hear.  Disconsolate, I walked the cold trek back to Post
Office Square parking garage and retrieved my car.  As I drove home I
reviewed the evidence of the combinations of early starts and late
finishes. There weren't many but they stretched back two or three months.
Usually triggered by some urgent business at the law firm, so she said. 
But it now seemed certain it was the early start to gain an early finish so
the two of them could be together.  It was a premeditated adultery which
seemed at odds with Julie's in-built sense of integrity and fairness and
was totally out of character for her to perpetuate what was now a big
adulterous lie.  When was the shift in her values; her love for me?  `Stop
it you naive fuck' a voice said.  `Cheaters seldom confess until its common
knowledge or they want to leave.' I walked into the empty house and threw
my keys on the table.  I needed a stiff drink.  The phone rang and I
jumped.
   "Hello," I answered and my heart was thumping.
   "Danny, its Cheryl...is Julie there?"
   It was Julie's younger sister Cheryl.  My guaranteed verbal sparring
partner whenever we met.  We loathed each other.
   "No she's at work," I answered.
   "Listen Danny, dads had a heart attack and he's been taken to hospital.
I tried to call Julie on her mobile but I'm just getting her voice message.
I rang her work and they said she had left for the day so I thought she had
come home.  How can we get a hold of her?" Cheryl asked with concern. 
"Shit, how is he?" I asked ignoring her question.
   "He's doing as well as can be expected so mum says.  But she's stressed
out and we need to get there tonight if possible.  I have no idea if he's
in danger but I need to get Julie," she answered with concern.  "Do you
know the person she is staying with?" she asked.
   "Oh, right...of course...now I remember.  She told me she was finishing
early to meet up with a friend of hers...someone called Carol or Kathy or
something," I lied giving Julie an Alibi she didn't warrant.  "I think she
said they were going to Carol's for some jewellery party or something
tonight.  She's staying over, so she said," I continued the lie.
   "Do you have their number?" she asked.  "They've obviously left early
for the day."
   "No I don't but I do know where she lives," I answered.  "Or at least
Julie mentioned the building.  I can go into the city and track her down if
you like."
   "Do you think you can find her?" asked Cheryl almost skeptically.  "I
know roughly where she lives but not her actual address.  But it's an
apartment complex so I should be able to find out who she is," I answered
knowing it was bullshit.
   "Actually Danny I think....um I think..." then tapered off.  "Maybe you
won't find her," she said.
   There was something about Cheryl's tone that caught my attention.  `Of
course!  Cheryl knows Julie is having an affair!  She's now realized where
Julie must be.  She knows there is no Carol or Kathy; or at least Julie's
not with them if there is.  Cheryl knows I won't find Julie.' "I can try
Cheryl," I said positively.
   "OK...OK...do what you can.  I'll keep ringing her mobile.  Maybe she'll
get the message and call me soon," she said somewhat unconvincingly.  We
both hung up.
   I put my coat back on and went out of the house.  I drove to Boston and
parked as close as I could get to the apartment building.  My real plan was
to simply go to each apartment until I got the right one.  I'd get through
the bottom door somehow.  Hell this was an emergency.  I knew there was
going to be embarrassment and upset when I found out where she was but the
situation with her father seemed more important than why the hell she was
there in the first place.  I walked up to the front of the building.  The
street was deserted except for a young woman standing outside the locked
outer door to the building entrance foyer.  She looked out at me as I
approached and smiled at me, thinking I was about to enter the building.
   "Hi, I'm supposed to be meeting a friend of my sisters here but I've
forgotten which apartment it is and what her married name is," she said
cheerily.
   "Sorry but I don't live here.  I'm trying to find an apartment myself
but like you I don't know the peoples surname," I said.
   We looked at each other a bit foolishly.
   "Well, what to do?" she said with a nervous chuckle.  "Maybe we could
both ring the door bells.  I believe that way we would only disturb the
residents once and find the correct person each of us wants," she
suggested.
   I looked at her.  She was very beautiful and dressed in an expensive
topcoat with fur hat and gloves.  From what I could see of her hair poking
out from under that hat, I could tell she was a blonde.  A scarf was
visible under her coat and she wore fawn pants and boots.  I figured her
suggestion was worth a try.  After about three calls and one very rude
response I was less sure this would work.  It was obvious that so far we
had struck an older age profile of resident to what we were both looking
for.  But at the fourth try the woman started visibly when a man's voice
answer hello to the call.
   "That's it she said," in almost a whisper and looked at the apartment
number above the speaker.
   "Is this the one you want?" I asked.
   She looked at me and I saw she had tears in her eyes.  "Are you OK?" I
said.
   She looked away from me and she obviously too choked to speak.  I looked
at her wondering what the hell the matter with her was.
   "Are you OK?" I repeated.
   She composed herself and took a skimpy handkerchief from her coat pocket
and dabbed her eyes and wiped her nose.
   "Hello" came the voice again, and then we both heard a click.  I reached
past her and pushed the door opened.  The person who answered had released
the door; not entirely security minded.  As we pushed the door open I noted
she bowed her head and I heard a definite sniffle and suppressed sob.  I
touched her arm.
   "What's the matter?" I asked with concern.
   She was clearly unhappy and after holding back the tears again she
turned to me and said
   "Look I'm sorry to burden you but that voice belonged to my husband.  I
was hoping he wouldn't be here but I think he's upstairs...with another
woman." She was dabbing at her eyes with the handkerchief while she spoke.
"You see the company he used to work for has a corporate apartment in this
building...and...Well...he's done this before which is why I knew to look
here."
   "What company does he work for now?" I asked.
   "Caruthers and Weatherall," she answered.  "But you don't understand
it's not their apartment but the company he worked for before.  He must
have a key or most likely his friend...our supposed friend..." she
corrected herself, "...Brad who still works there may have arranged for him
to use it."
   "My wife works at Caruthers and Weatherall to," I said flatly.  "I know
she's in this building but don't know which apartment.  I think you've
helped me find it," I continued grimly.
   "You...you think she's with Steve?  My husband...." she said.
   "I don't know for sure but the coincident is too much to think two
colleagues from the same company are here independently with someone else,"
I said.  I quickly recapped my observations of earlier in the day and she
acknowledged my description of the guy I saw Julie with was likely her
husband as it was a pretty close description I gave, down to the
description of the topcoat he was wearing.  She listened grimly to my tale
and I could see it fitted with what her suspicions were regarding her
husband.  We were both silent for a few moments, then she spoke.
   "Well, are you up to coming to the apartment with me?" she asked.
   I nodded.  "My wife's father has had a heart attack.  He lives in
Vermont, and her sister put the call out looking for her to get there as
soon as possible."
   "Oh, I'm sorry this is such a burden then," she answered.  "But maybe
the answer for me and you is, as you say, in the same apartment."
   I shrugged my shoulders.  "Maybe" I said.
   "Right, well third floor, apartment 305," she said looking a little more
composed now I was with her on her mission.
   We both headed to the elevator and went inside and she stabbed 3 with
her gloved finger.  The elevator started and we both stood facing the door
as it ascended.
   "I'm Elise," she said turning to me.  "Elise Shannon."
   "Danny McCarty," I answered and put my hand out.  She shook it and gave
me a weak smile.
   The doors opened and she led the way out into the hall and turned right
walking slowly and deliberately along the hall until and stopped at the
first door she came to.  A brass number 305 on the door.  She looked at me
grimly and then pushed the button.  She pushed the doorbell then stepped to
the left, outside of view of the door spy hole.  Great I thought.  This guy
will look out the door and wonder who the hell I am and won't even answer
the door.  Or worse still Julie will come to the door and see me.  "Who is
it?" a male voice came from inside.
   "It's Roger Benson from next door.  My heat has gone off and for some
reason my phone is not dialing out.  Can I use your phone to call the
maintenance service to come and fix them for me," I said.
   Silence.  I hope Mr.  Shannon did not know there wasn't a Roger Benson
living next door.
   "It's freezing in there," I continued plaintively.  "I've just come home
from work and it's like an igloo."
   I kept the tone of my voice low in the hope that Julie wouldn't
recognize it.
   "OK, come in he said and pulled the door open and stood aside behind the
door.
   I walked in and he was wearing a shirt which had a couple of buttons
done up, over a pair of slacks and he had bare feet.  He must have let the
door go for it to close automatically on the door closer spring when Elise
suddenly pushed it open and burst in screaming and cursing at him.  He was
taken completely by surprise and spun around as she started hitting out at
him; calling him a dirty fucking bastard and it was the end for him.  He
reeled back at her onslaught and caught her wrists to stop her hitting. 
Bad move.  He stood legs apart holding her arms and she let fly with a
full-blooded kick to the balls.  He let out a shriek of anguish and sunk to
his knees and quickly clutched at his groin.  To my amazement she punched
him straight in the eye with a closed fist and his head snapped back.  He
rocked forwards on knees as if to try and stand and to stop himself from
overbalancing he put one hand down on the floor.  She let fly with another
kick and caught him full on his chest under his extended arm.  He was now
momentarily winded and she was winding up to kick at his head, like a Kung
Foo side kick, when I rushed and grabbed her and pulled her off balance
yelling "no...no...no Elise....that's enough kicking".  I was able to
maneuver her away and I had her arms, pinning them and staying between her
and her wounded husband.  But her adrenalin was pumping and she twisted
quickly and wrenched out of my grasp and lunged at him with a foot, this
time catching him on the side and he went sprawling and hit his head on a
sideboard against the wall.  I held her back again and this time I got eye
contact with her and began calming her down.  Her breasts were heaving with
her heavy breathing from the exertion.  I managed to steer her back away
towards the sofa, all the time telling her to stay calm, stay calm.  She
finally allowed herself to catch her breath and then suddenly dropped to
the couch and put her head in her hands and began crying.  I stood with her
to make sure the anger had subsided and she was now emotionally drained
from the situation.  I looked at her husband and he was trying to pull
himself up to his feet.  He had cut his head and he was also looking
decidedly shaky, no doubt from the kick to the balls.  He brushed his hand
across his forehead and then looked at the blood.  He opened his eyes in
disbelief.  I could also tell his left eye was already starting to close
from the full on punch Elise had delivered.  He looked at me.
   "Who the fuck are you?" he asked with a raspy breathing.
   "A third of one of the two triangles here," I answered wryly.
   I turned away from him and walked into the bedroom.  Julie was standing
with her back to the door with her clothes under arm, about to get into a
walk in closet.  I couldn't believe it but she was actually going to hide
in the closet.
   "Don't Julie," I said quietly.  She froze and slowly turned her head to
face me; a stricken look on her face.
   "Danny," she said in a barely audible whisper.  "How did you find me?"
   "It doesn't matter how.  What does matter is that you need to get
dressed immediately.  Your father has had a heart attack.  You have to get
to Vermont tonight," I said.
   "Daddy, what...how is he?" She stammered in shock.
   She burst into tears and clutched her clothes to herself.
   "I don't know how he is.  I've not long known myself.  Cheryl is waiting
for us to go to Vermont; as soon as I could find you," I continued grimly.
   She sunk back onto the bed and proceeded to bawl.
   "Oh daddy, daddy...no, no...not daddy..." She looked up at me.  "Danny
please say he is Ok...I couldn't' bear it if he wasn't.  Please Danny...."
She forgot she was nude and dropped her clothes and came up to me and clung
to me.  She was now sobbing with grief, no doubt made worse by the
humiliation of the situation she found herself in.  I prized her arms away
and pushed her firmly back towards her clothes.
   "Get dressed," I growled.
   I wasn't about to give into her crying.  I was taking a pragmatic
approach to the situation.  Get her dressed and get her to Vermont.  The
adultery would wait until after that.  She was shaking like a leaf and
started to sort her underwear out of the bundle of her clothes on the
floor. She started to dress.  I heard a noise behind me and turned and saw
Elise standing in the doorway.  She glared at Julie, menacingly.  I turned
toward her.
   "Go back out into the lounge Elise," I ordered.  "I'll take care of
what's in here."
   "Just wanted to see who the slut was this time," she mumbled and went
out.
   Julie finally finished dressing and stood and looked at me almost
childlike.
   "Come on," I said gruffly and motioned her towards me with a wave of my
hand.
   She moved quickly, still sobbing, and put her hands up looking for a hug
but I wheeled aside and pushed her to the door.  She shot me a desperate
look realizing I wasn't having anything of her clutching and clinging at
me. She stumbled into the lounge and headed quickly to the end of the couch
to get her coat hanging over the end.  Steve was slumped at the other end
looking at her and then back over his shoulder at me as I moved around
behind him.  I glowered at him and he started to move forward on the couch
and I realized he was preparing to make a move should I look likely to have
a swing at him.
   "Relax wuss," I sneered.  "Elise has already sorted you out as a
pushover.  You're quite safe.  I won't hit cripples."
   Elise was standing with her arms folded and butt resting against the
dining table in the kitchenette.  I noted for the first time since coming
into the apartment that there were the remnants of a meal on the table.  I
suddenly recalled seeing a wine bottle and glass on one of the nightstands
in the bedroom.  I felt my anger finally start to rise.  The reason for
them being here had almost been blotted by the events of Elise's whirlwind
assault on her husband, and my having to tell Julie about her father.  Now
the main reason for this scene was sinking in.  But I remained in control.
I looked back at Julie.  She stood at the end of the couch staring
forlornly at me.  She was still crying and to avoid eye contact when I
looked at her, she bent down and came up with the small bag she had packed
for the overnight stay.  She avoided looking at Steve and walked around
behind the couch towards me and I stepped back and guided her towards the
door.  She focused on the door and walked straight to it and opened it.  I
walked behind her and she went out.  I stopped in the doorway and looked
back at Elise.
   "Are you going to be OK?" I asked.
   She looked magnificent and not a little bit intimidating.
   "Yeah I'm going to be OK," she said grimly.  "Just dandy Danny." She
smirked at the alliteration.  "What about you?"
   I shrugged and looked at the pathetic sight of Julie sobbing, standing
in the hallway waiting for me.
   "Ceste la vie," I said.  "See you around....  take care...and thanks."
   "I'll be in touch," she promised.  "Drive safely."
   We drove directly to Cheryl's apartment on the outskirts of Cambridge
and pulled up outside.  There was only one light on in the front of the
house.  I got out of the car and walked up to the front door and rang the
bell.  A young guy opened the door with a drink in his hand.
   "Can I help you?" he said.
   "Is Cheryl here please?" I asked.
   "No, sorry.  She's had to go away.  A family emergency," he replied.
   "I have her sister in the car.  Same emergency," I explained.  "How long
has she been gone?" I asked.
   "About and hour," he said.
   A young woman had come up behind him.
   "What's the matter Tony?" I heard her ask.
   "Some guy and Cheryl's sister looking for Cheryl," he answered.
   I recognized the young woman was Fleur a roommate of Cheryl's who I had
met once or twice at parties here.  She explained that Cheryl had made a
few calls trying to contact Julie and then when she found she couldn't get
her, she left for Vermont anyway.
   "OK Fleur, Tony, thanks.  If she calls at all, please tell her Danny and
Julie called and are about an hour behind her," I said.
   "Ok, yeah will do," they chorused together.
   I turned and walked back to the car and got in.  Julie looked at me
expectantly her eyes questioning me for information.
   "Where's Cheryl?" she asked.
   "On her way to Vermont," I said.  "Apparently she didn't rate my chances
of finding you."
   I glared at her.
   "Cheryl knew didn't she?  About you and this creep Steve.  She knew I
wouldn't find the Carol you were supposed to be with," I sneered somewhat
triumphantly.  "So she went without you; knowing my fruitless search would
just waste her time.  Well I knew more than she thought..." I said and
pushed the car into drive and put my foot down.
   Julie blanched and turned away quickly and began sniveling again.
   ***
   We drove in silence.  She sat slumped against the door pillar on her
side of the car, never moving.  Eventually we arrived about eleven o'clock
and parked in the main hospital car park.  We walked into the front desk
and asked after Julie's dad.  A porter chaperoned us to the floor and ward
where Jack was and when we arrived at his room Val, the girl's mother, came
up to Julie and hugged her tightly.  Julie cried some more and Val led her
to Jack's bedside.  He was propped up surrounded by pillows and fast
asleep. Most likely he had been sedated.  His chest was bare and he had the
usual tabs and wires hooked up to an ECG machine.  He also had the heart
monitor that was blipping steadily to his heart beat, connected by a clamp
on his finger.  There was a drip in the back of his hand as well.  Val
talked in a low quiet tone and told us that there appeared to be no muscle
damage to the heart and in fact the cardiologist was not sure it was a full
heart attack.  But as always in these cases they were treating it as such
until proven otherwise.  Julie and Cheryl stood holding each other one side
of the bed and Val faced them from the other.  Given the events of the
night I felt very much the square peg in a round hole.  I was the unwanted;
or perhaps the displaced.  We stayed with Jack for over an hour; Julie and
Cheryl basically ignoring me.  I could see Val occasionally looking at me
with a quizzical look.  At one point I left the room to go to the bathroom
and when I returned she was waiting in the foyer to Jack's ward.
   "Thanks for coming Danny; and for bringing Julie," she said.
   I had a foreboding of what was to come next.
   "Cheryl said there was some issue between you and Julie which is why you
couldn't come together with her.  I'm sure whatever it is, it can be sorted
out.  But please don't let Jack know of any trouble; well not until he's a
hundred percent well.  You know how he feels about Julie...I'm sure you two
kids can get it sorted, she said optimistically".
   I nodded and took her hands, promising I would not do anything to upset
Jack; that I'm sure Julie felt the same.  We went back into the room and
both girls turned and looked at us inquiringly.  Trying to read what Val
and I might have been talking about.  Julie hung her head and looked at the
floor.  Val called the girls attention to the fact that it was after
midnight.  They discussed who would stay with Jack.  Val insisted the girls
and I go to her and Jack's home and return at 9.00am that morning.  After a
brief discussion where they said they would sit this first night out with
Jack, they bowed to her request.  She was the matriarch.  She had spoken.
We wished her goodnight with hugs and we headed out of the ward.  I had not
gone a few paces when Val called me back in a matter of fact way.  She took
my hands in hers.
   "Speak to Julie Danny," she said quietly.  "I can feel the tension
between you is immense.  Get her away from Cheryl and talk to her," she
pleaded with me.
   There was no point in arguing with her about what I might think.  I
nodded
   "Of course Val.  Don't you worry about a thing.  You just get Jack back
healthy again" I said stoically.
   She hugged me and held me for some minutes.
   "We love you Danny.  You are so good for Julie.  Every couple has
difficulties from time to time in their marriage," she said.  "You're both
really still newlyweds.  So much life ahead of you together.  You'll find
that balance that Jack and I have.  As I'm sure your own parents have.  It
just takes a bit of work to get through the rough spots".
   We hugged again and left the hospital.  When I got out to the car park
and walked over to my car, Julie was not in it.  I scanned the few cars
that there were there thinking maybe they were sitting in Cheryl's car
waiting for me but there was no sign of Cheryl's car.  I could see the
small bag Julie had taken with her for her tryst with Steve on the back
seat of the car.  I opened the door and reached over and opened the bag.  I
looked inside and saw there was a pair of panties, a pair of jeans, a
sweater, a belt and sox and sneakers plus a small toilet bag.  I looked
inside the toilet bag and smiled wryly.  An opened box of condoms - pack of
5, 3 inside - some KY warming solution, spermicidal jelly, and the usual
toothbrush, toothpaste, and an emergency tampon kit that I suspect was a
permanent item in the bag.  She would want this I thought.  She had no
change of clothes apart from this, although it was intended for a one-night
stay.  I drove to Jack and Val's house and pulled into the drive.  Cheryl's
car was parked up against the garage door.  I went to the front door and I
pushed the doorbell but didn't hear it ring.  It must be broken and no one
came so I went around the side of the house to the rear and tried the back
door.  It was locked so I walked back around the house, peering in the
windows as I went.  It was clear to me both girls were upstairs as the
downstairs was in darkness.  They are obviously not expecting me to follow.
I stood digesting this thought and decided the whole situation of the day
was more than I could bear anymore.  I felt depressed, and at that point
decided I wanted to be anywhere else but here.  It was clear Jack was
stable and in no danger, and certainly in the best place.  I walked back to
the front of the house and hung the handles of Julie's bag on the
ornamental door handle on the front door.  At a 12:45 in the morning I
backed out of the drive at my in-laws house in Vermont and headed out into
the lightly falling snow and back to Boston.  I arrived near daybreak and
crawled into bed and crashed.  `Fuck them all' I thought and dropped off to
sleep.
   ***
   I woke to the sound of the telephone at about 11:00am.
   "Hello" I answered sleepily.
   "Danny...its Val," came the voice.
   Oh hell, what has happened to Jack?  I was rapidly waking up.
   "Val.  What's wrong?" I said in a grave tone.
   "Nothing...nothing's wrong with Jack.  He's had a good night.  He's in
no danger".  She paused.  "I...ah...look Danny...I don't want to pry or
interfere but...when I asked Julie why you didn't stay in Vermont she told
me what had happened," she said in a strained voice.
   "What can I say Val...Julie's been having an affair.  I guess it is what
it is.  I only found out about it yesterday," I said grimly.
   "Yes she confessed how, where, you found her..." she said.  "Oh Danny
this is so awful..." she continued and I knew she was fighting the need to
cry.  "What are you both going to do about it?" she continued.
   "I'm not sure.  We never said a word about it from the time I got her
into the car and all the way to the hospital.  She didn't want to discuss
it and neither did I.  Given how she must have been feeling about Jack it
didn't seem the best topic of car-chat for us to indulge in," I explained.
   "No.  No, of course not.  You'll need time to yourselves to work this
out.  That's the best way.  To be left alone.  But I'm sure it will sort
itself out Danny.  You're such sensible kids."
   She was willing to believe we could get our shit together and I was not
going to prolong the discussion by voicing my doubts about Julie and our
future together.
   "So when do Cheryl and Julie think they will head back?" I asked.
   "I'm not sure.  Cheryl doesn't have a class until Tuesday and Julie was
thinking she would call in and get Monday off.  I'd expect them Tuesday but
no doubt Julie will call you," she answered.
   "No doubt" I said wryly.  "Well give my best to Jack and please keep me
up to date on Jack's condition," I said with my best
winding-up-the-discussion tone.
   "I will Danny.  I'll get Julie to call...and maybe these few days apart
will make her see she's made a dreadful mistake and you two will work this
out.  I just know you will," she said optimistically.
   "Of course we can Val.  You take care and I will talk to you later."
   "Bye Danny," and we hung up.
   I never heard from Julie Sunday through Tuesday and eventually I had a
call on my cell phone from Val on Tuesday morning to say the girls had set
off about ten thirty.  They had visited their father and left directly from
the hospital to drive back to Boston.  That means they'd be in mid
afternoon.  Jack had recovered well; the doctor saying it wasn't a heart
attack proper but he'd stay another day or two and be discharged to rest at
home.  I thanked her for the news and that is the last we have spoken for
some time.  I pondered the silence from Julie.  I had expected at least
some contact.  This wasn't a good sign and I had a sneaking feeling Julie
would go home while I was at work.  She must need different clothes by now.
She hadn't been back since she left Friday morning.  I wasn't about to have
her arrive back at the house with me absent so I feigned a sick stomach and
my boss Jeff told me to get off home.  I was sitting eating a sandwich and
drinking coffee when I heard a car door slam.  Soon I heard a key in the
front door and heard their voices as they walked into the living room and
Julie threw some mail onto the sideboard by the stairs.  I was sitting at
the dining table and she had her back to me while she started to take off
her jacket.  She looked towards the dining room where I sat and a look of
total surprise came over her face.  She clearly hadn't expected me to be
here.  She stood almost paralyzed.
   "Danny," she gasped, almost in a whisper.
   Next thing Cheryl came into view with the usual pained look on her face
she had whenever we were in the same room together.
   "Seen a ghost?" I said getting up from the table and walking towards
her. She stood, pensive, and I noted she was nervously rubbing her fingers
of each hand together, arms at her side.
   "No word from you about your father," I said somewhat acerbically.  "I
was thinking you might owe me the courtesy of an update given my role in
getting you up there.  It could have been so different, couldn't it?" I
said a little sarcastically.  "But instead you come in here, obviously not
expecting me to be home; like a couple of cat-burglars," I continued.  "Oh
spare us the dramatics," said Cheryl.  "She's here for her clothes and
things and then to get the hell away from you".
   "Cheryl!" Julie snapped.  "Wait outside.  Leave this to me," she
commanded her younger sister.
   "I'm staying put to see this bastard doesn't harm you," snarled Cheryl.
   I moved into the lounge.
   "You're quite safe Julie.  From me.  You're just lucky your boyfriend's
wife never got you, seeing what she did to him," I sneered.
   I turned to Cheryl.
   "And you can get the fuck out of her you childish little cunt," I
snarled at her.
   Her look of defiance suddenly began to wane as I moved across the dining
area towards her.
   "Just go Cheryl," yelled Julie, turning and looking at her younger
sister.  "Go outside and wait for me....go on...just do it..." Julie
commanded.
   Cheryl reluctantly turned and walked out, slamming the door behind her.
"You'd best get what you need and get on your way," I said.  "You don't
want to keep your sister waiting."
   She put her head down then slowly looked up again.  She was chewing at
her bottom lip and our eyes met.  She had tears in her eyes.
   "I didn't want it to be this way," she said, with her voice starting to
break.  "I wanted to sit down and tell you and try and make you understand
why I can't live with you anymore.  Why I don't want to be married to you
anymore.  At least I wanted to be the one to tell you and try and make you
see we are moving so far in different directions.  This way...all it looks
like is I am an uncaring cheat."
   I glared at her and she briefly tried to hold my gaze but she couldn't
and she turned away, wiping her eyes.  She composed herself and looked back
at me.
   "Say something Danny..." she sniffed.  She looked at me steadily.
   "Get what you can carry and get the fuck out of here," I said evenly.
   She gave a half jerk of surprise at my answer and realizing I wasn't
about to discuss her comments about how she felt for me she seemed to steel
her emotions and turned and looked at the stairs.
   "Well I guess that's it," she said almost in a resigned way.  "I'll just
go and pack a few things to take with me.  I can come back and finish
packing at the weekend," she said.
   "Sooner rather than later,' I said quietly, feeling somewhat flat that
the tension had gone.
   I had made it clear enough there didn't seem to be much point in
haggling over details.  I wasn't going to give her the opportunity to run
off some justification for her infidelity.  Well not at this juncture.  She
had already said she wanted out, so I wasn't going to make it easy by
allowing her to mitigate her actions.  She bowed her head and turned and
headed for the stairs.  I made another cup of coffee.  Earlier I would have
welcomed a full-scale fight, and maybe even an apology or some sort of plea
for redemption.  But her sneaking back to avoid me had pissed me off.  And
even now she admitted that she didn't want to stay with me, so being right
in my mind was no consolation at all.  Being somewhat prepared was no
solace in softening how I felt.  Did I love her?  Yes I did but right now I
wasn't `in love' with her.  Hell I didn't even like her right now!  I knew
this wasn't what I wanted.  But I had taken a position that if I were to
recant my attitude and beg her to stay, the humiliation I already felt at
how she had duped me; and the romantic nest I had found her in last Friday,
had made it impossible for me to back down.  I sat drinking my coffee and
eventually heard her footsteps on the stairs.  I heard voices and I rose to
see what was going on.  Julie had summoned Cheryl back into the house. 
When they saw me come out of the kitchen, Cheryl paused momentarily, unsure
of my reaction to her being in the house again.  Julie looked around
quickly after seeing Cheryl stop and stare passed her at me.
   "She's just helping with the big bags," she said quickly, as if toward
me off making a scene again.
   "Go ahead," I shrugged.
   Cheryl moved past Julie and went up the stairs.  It took them about
forty minutes to pack two large suitcases and ferry a number of hangers
with clothes on to Cheryl's car.  They cleared all of Julie's clothing,
cosmetics and some small boxes of old school photographs and other such
personal effects.  Finally Julie walked back into the house with her arms
loosely folded in front of her and stood looking at me.
   "Well...that's all for now," she said evenly.
   I nodded.
   "We can get together later and work out about this," she said waving her
hand to mean the house and contents.
   "Get a good lawyer," I said sardonically.
   "I work with good lawyers," she said sharply, then caught her tone and
her face softened, not wanting to antagonize me any further.
   "Steve?" I asked, raising my eyebrows.
   "No...no not Steve.  You know we don't do family law," she said evenly.
"I was kind of hoping we could avoid lawyers," she said looking at me for
some sort of agreement.
   I pondered her statement briefly.  My comment about getting a lawyer was
more a dig of bravado than a serious suggestion.  "Ok...when you're
ready...within the next month though; no later, I'm not waiting
indefinitely.  Before Thanksgiving" I said.
   "Ok...that's fair," she said quietly.  Realizing I wasn't going to say
anything more, she shrugged as if to say `oh well, that's it then' and
slowly turned and headed towards the door.  She got to the door and looked
back.
   "Walk me to the car?" she asked softly.
   I stood impassively and made no effort to move; just staring at her. 
She nodded her understanding that I wasn't going to see here off the
property, and walked out closing the door.  Shortly after I heard the car
start and a car door slam.  Then the car noise subsided as they backed out
of the drive.  Finally silence.  She was gone.
   ***
   I spent Thanksgiving alone.  Apart from a call to my folks in St Louis,
I remained at home and kept to myself.  I hadn't told my folks about Julie
and me but I know she sensed there was something amiss when she asked to
speak with Julie, to wish her a happy Thanksgiving, but I had said Julie
was in Vermont because of her father's illness and recuperation.  I lied
that we had reluctantly agreed to be apart on the holiday as I had to work
the Friday.  Mom didn't press me but I knew I sounded hollow with the
story. I was home on a Saturday morning, five weeks since Julie had left me
when the door bell rang and I left the dining room table I had set up as an
architectural drafting table to do some private cash work; to help with me
meeting the mortgage now Julie's salary was out of equation.  It was Julie
and I stood somewhat stunned by her appearance in the doorway.  I had given
her a four week deadline to sort out our house and contents and she had not
met it.  Furthermore I had no idea where she was living.  Despite knowing
her cell number and her work number, my pride would not let me chase her
for this resolution.
   "Hi she said," softly.
   She looked delicious in tight blue jeans with her brown suede boots and
an off-white chunky Merino sweater and a long brown overcoat.  She was
wearing a beanie covering her short dark hair, which matched her sweater
and had brown leather gloves on to keep out the early December chill.  I
allowed myself to be flattered that she dressed to remind me of how
beautiful she was.  To look good for me like she always had done.  I felt a
lump come to my throat and old feelings crept back reminding me why I loved
her.  Recent events had kept that emotion well suppressed of late.  And the
visual effect may be a deliberate act to rub in what I was destined to be
without.  It could all be the opposite of what I was hoping.  A long pause
ensued as we stared at each other.
   "Can I come in?" she continued.
   I stepped aside, still not saying anything.  She turned and I noted she
was scrutinizing the interior; obviously expecting it to be messy and
unkempt, being as I was now maintaining it myself.  But I had been very
diligent in keeping it tidy.  After all, I was now only cleaning for one.
She seemed impressed it looked as it usually did when she kept house.  She
finally turned to look at me.
   "Well, say something," she chided me at my silence.
   "How's Jack," I said evenly.
   She looked a little taken aback, and then seemed to compose herself. 
Her vanity must have expected my first question would be about her or us.
   "Oh...oh...he's great.  Really good," she said obviously appreciating I
put his well being before our situation.  "Cheryl and I went to mom and
dads for Thanksgiving," she said.  "They both said hi for when I saw you
again."
   I stepped aside and she entered the living room.  She spied the drawing
frame on the oak table and she walked quickly towards it, only slowing as
she realized I had put a folded sheet over the table top, under the drawing
frame so as not to mark the table.  She traced the sheet with a hand to see
the table was properly covered.  I usually used computer CAD drawing for
basic ideas and mock-ups but preferred to do all of my final blueprints on
A1 plan paper.  I felt customers didn't think they had spent their money
well unless there were copious rolled up drawings to show for it.  I was
being silently admonished for using the table this way.  She turned to look
at me.
   "How are you Danny?" she asked softly.
   "I'm doing OK," I answered positively.  "So I see," she said looking at
the drawing on the frame.  "Doing some moonlighting for Jake Worrell.  Very
prestigious."
   Worrell was well known investor and philanthropist in Boston social
circles.  Julie appreciated the value of this moonlighting work as it had
in no small way helped top up our savings the first year we were saving for
this house.  This job was for a private residence Worrell was renovating in
Maine.  He liked me as I had done some work for him with my company.  My
boss knew I did a few private jobs for clients of our company but he also
knew Worrell would not give this job to a big company anyway.  If I didn't
do it like this, some other solo architect would do it; not my company.  I
resisted the urge to ask after her well being.  She turned and ambled
towards the kitchen door, scrutinizing the hutch dresser and sideboard on
the way.  She would notice the absence of her ornaments, and photos of her
family.  All that remained were photos of my family and one photo of the
two of us taken with my parents two years ago.  I kept it out as it was a
particularly good one of my folks.  The rest of her things were all packed
in a box in the spare room downstairs.  She frowned as she realized I had
taken them away.  She walked into the kitchen and once again gave the place
the once over.  She stood behind a chair at the table with her back to the
sink.
   "I came to ask for a divorce," she said evenly, looking me in the eye.
"Fine...no surprises there," I answered.
   Her eyebrows flickered up momentarily.  She hadn't expected me to answer
so glibly.  She looked at me intently.
   "You're OK with that?" she asked.
   "I said I was fine," I repeated.
   I could see I had irritated her by my off-hand attitude as her face
clouded over a little.  "You're not just saying that?" she asked.  "Yes I
am saying that but I am meaning it," I said.  Silence.
   She fingered the back of the chair and looked around the kitchen but I
could tell she was working up to say something.
   "I did love you Danny.  And at the time our marriage was the right thing
for us...but I've changed...I want more.  But you just want the same old
same old," she started.  "You just want us safely heading towards cozy
domesticity.  [silence again] Well I don't want that anymore," she said
quietly, and dropped her gaze.
   She stopped to think about her next words.  She looked at the one
remaining photo of us on the sideboard.  One I had overlooked when I had
cleared all traces of photographs of us.  She walked slowly past me across
to the dining room and picked up the photo and looked at it.  She was quiet
for a short time and she took a small handkerchief from her jacket pocket
and wiped her nose.  She turned to look at me, still holding the
photograph.
   "I want a full time career.  I want to make money and have nice things.
I don't want to be limited by this [she gestured the house with her free
hand] with the view to stopping work and having kids like I know you want.
I want to be somebody."
   She looked back at the photograph and took it in both hands.
   "But I couldn't bring the issue up with you as I knew we were so
different in our views.  I never used to feel this way " she added quickly
"It just started to dawn on me as I gained more respect at my work; from
respected colleagues.  I knew I could be very successful."
   She looked back at me with a questioning look; seeing if I comprehended
what she was saying.  Perhaps conceding it was Ok for her to want to be a
success.
   "But in the long run you would hold me back," she said with some
difficulty.
   There!  She had got it out.  I WOULD HOLD HER BACK!  I stood impassive
but it hit me like a sledgehammer.  She put the photograph down and walked
back to the dining room table and stood by my drawing board.
   "Then Steve joined our firm and we hit it off straight away.  He had
been working a lot longer than me.  I knew I was brighter and smarter and
yet he had been so successful in spite of never being top of the class. 
But he had always managed to get the most.  I liked that in him.  I liked
being around him at work, and ...well...I realized I looked forward to
going to work each day...to be around him...more than I did coming home at
the end of each day," she said almost apologetically.  "And that's how it
started".
   "Maybe I do want different things.  But one of the virtues I loved so
much about you was your ability to always be straight with people.  If this
is the new you then I am certain I would rather have the old you or not at
all."
   I paused and she stood arms loosely folded staring at me.  My words
seemed to jolt her a little but she said nothing.
   I continued; "OK well it seems not at all.  Seems you've made the best
choice for you, and in essence I'm not complaining because you're not who I
married.  But no matter; like I said, best go your own way.  No point in
dragging it out any longer".
   It sounded good but I felt hollow.  She pulled a grim face and nodded. I
could see she didn't like this any more than I was did.
   "It means we'll have to sell this," she said and stared at me, searching
for reaction.
   I did not answer.  She'd not even made one small concession to what I
had said.  Not one small admission we did have something that might be
worth fighting for.  No effort to meet a compromise.
   "I mean you can't buy me out and I can't buy you out....so nothing for
it but to cut our losses," she went on.
   I knew her to be very precise with things financial.  A bit mean really.
One of her least endearing traits that I never came to grips with.  She had
it all worked out.  Well I had done some calculations as well.
   "Not so," I said firmly.
   Her eyes raised again surprise.  She hadn't expected that answer.  I was
the lax one usually, with things financial.
   "What....what do you mean?  You can barely afford the mortgage on your
salary, let alone find me thirty-five or forty thousand dollars to settle
my half of our equity plus what I reckon we'd get as capital gains," she
said.  "Not true on both counts," I said.
   She was now clearly confused as to what I was getting at and she looked
at me quizzically.
   "How can you afford this?" she asked.  "And what do you mean both
counts?"
   And so the haggling began.  I showed her three housing valuations in
written format and she stood open mouthed at what I had produced.  House,
contents and a forecast of the mortgage repayments which clearly showed I
could meet the payments if I pushed the term out to twenty five years, not
the eighteen year term we currently had.  And I had a quotation for
refinancing that could net me an additional two hundred a month in my
pocket from what we paid now.
   "I see.  So you've been doing your homework then?" she said and I noted
she looked quite impressed.
   "I need to check what you have here," she said quickly, scanning the
sheet.  "Can I make a quick call to daddy's accountant?  He's helping me
with my finances, she added."
   "Be my guest," I said.
   `Bullshit' I thought.  My valuations had thrown her.  I bet she was
checking with one of her lawyer pals to see how she could dismiss what I
had as the average valuation.  No way were we looking at over eighty grand
in equity and capital gains.  The three valuations were all done by
respectable realtors in this market.  She went into the lounge and I heard
her make a phone call.  She returned with the phone to her ear and picked
up the spreadsheet, and went back into the lounge.  Eventually she
returned, folding her phone and putting it in her pocket.
   "So assuming you can afford it, what do you think you need to pay me to
buy me out?" she asked.
   "You know from the average valuation what percentage is our current
equity and capital gains.  You just subtract the outstanding mortgage
payments and divide by two," I said taking the spreadsheet from her and
pointing to the numbers.
   "You've really been doing your homework," she said.
   "I figure twenty-two grand and you sign and walk away," I answered
evenly.  "You meet taxes on your share."
   "Oh come on Danny.  I put two and half years into the interior of this
place.  There's at least thirty grand in furnishings alone.  And you want
to give me that little?  Even half the furniture plus about twenty for the
house transfer gets me thirty-five grand," she said.
   So we haggled some more but I wouldn't relent on my figures and
eventually she sighed in exasperation and walked away, facing out the
kitchen window with her arms tightly folded.  The body language was enough
to tell me I was winning.  Finally she turned and leaning her butt against
the bench she sighed exasperated with me.
   "You've got it all figured out," she said a little annoyed at being
trumped like this.
   "I've also got this here mortgage discharge and release documents," I
said masking my triumph.
   She took the documents and read them over, absent mindedly sitting at
the table as she poured over the pages.  She was a paralegal.  She would
easily understand this sort of stuff.  Finally she sat and considered the
situation then looked up at me with a determined look on her face.
   "You got a pen?  Let's finish this," she said in a brusque tone.
   I took a pen out of my brief case and handed it to her.  She went to
sign them but then caught herself.  Not on her precious oak table top.  I
smiled to myself and reached for a cardboard file pocket in my briefcase
and handed it to her as a backing sheet while she signed both copies of the
releases.
   "What now?" she asked when she finished.
   "You'll get registered file copies of these from the bank along with
your release and a check," I said taking the documents.
   "What about the furniture?" she asked.
   "You can take the downstairs stuff; it was all your choices anyway.  A
bit too severe for me so I'll replace with my own choices when I can afford
it.  I'll keep the upstairs stuff and appliances.  You can take half of the
bedding and linen," I added.
   She pulled a face of disapproval at the use of the word `severe' but
nodded and slowly turned and walked to the door.  I could see she had had
enough of me for one day.  I had trumped her on the house valuation and she
was clearly well down on what she thought she would get.  Whoever she spoke
to on the phone clearly advised her I had the numbers to support my claim.
   "You might as well take these now and you can get the garage door opener
from my car before I go," she said handing me her house keys.
   We went outside and she got into her car.  She handed me the garage
remote through the window.
   "You haven't asked me what happened with Steve and me," she said looking
up at me.
   I must have looked a little surprised.  I had thought given Steve's
wife's assault on him, that he and Julie were naturally shacked up
somewhere together.  Why bother to fill me in on the gory detail?  I looked
at her and said, "Shrug".  I didn't care.
   Her face scowled at my smart assed answer.
   "You'll be pleased to know he decided he couldn't leave his psycho wife.
Seems she is a very rich lady and he didn't want to leave `the bank'.  So
you'll no doubt be delighted to know our relationship collapsed," she said
engaging reverse.
   "You're lucky his `psycho wife' never got a hold of you, I grinned,"
recalling Elise Shannon's considerable Kung Foo efforts with her errant
husband.  "You owe me your health.  "
   "Just so you know Danny, I owe you nothing and I don't give a shit
because I'm better off without the both of you," she sneered suddenly
finding the courage she didn't have all the time she was in the house. 
Mind you she was in reverse and the window was now powering closed as she
turned and started to back out the drive.
   "What goes around comes around baby," I called.
   And so she he drove off and out of my life.  The forced bold attitude I
had displayed since she had arrived today suddenly evaporated It would have
been nice if there had of been a tinge of regret or a tearful apology or
maybe a plea for trying again.  But she was a hard little nut deep down.  I
wasn't feeling like jumping for joy, as in the long run she had now really
left me.  And the consolation she wasn't with him was no consolation at all
as I realized I wasn't even a good bet as a rerun for second choice.  She
had got out of my life and that seemed to be OK by her, I mused ruefully.
Oh well.  Shit happens.  I went back indoors.
   ***
   FLEUR After Julie had left, I went out at about 4:30pm to get my weekly
groceries.  Julie and I used to do our shopping mid-week.  I had started a
routine of doing it late Saturday afternoon and then maybe having an early
dinner at a nice Italian restaurant in the mall complex where we shopped.
Today was no exception and at about 5:45 I arrived at the door of the
restaurant.  It was just getting busy but I was early enough to get a table
right away.  I sat and looked through the basic menu and soon a waitress
arrived at my elbow.  I looked up and there was something familiar about
her.  We stared at each other momentarily and then she spoke.
   "Remember me?" she asked.
   I studied her face hard then it came to me.
   "Fleur?  It's Fleur who rooms with Cheryl Henderson," I said cautiously.
I had met her couple of times when Cheryl had moved in to the house that
Fleur shared with two guys.  Both times at parties they held.  I recall
talking to her at length a couple of times.  I also recall she was there
the night Julie and I called for Cheryl when the girls' father had had his
heart attack.
   She laughed.
   "Well done.  Yeah.  I live with Cheryl and a couple others," she added.
"You're Cheryl's brother-in-law, right?  You came to a couple of rages we
held?"
   "Yeah that's right.  Well technically.  My wife...Cheryl's sister
Julie...and I have split up," I said matter of factly.  "But living with
Cheryl, you probably know that already."
   "Yes Cheryl did say something about it," she answered looking
embarrassed she knew my business.
   I was sure there was a greater level of understanding about my recent
domestic situation than she let on about.  No doubt she had heard about
Julie and I as a debrief of Cheryl's rushed trip to Vermont after her
father's heart attack.
   "Ah well.  Another statistic to the count," I said ruefully.
   There was an awkward pause.
   "And how are you?" she asked.
   "Actually I'm fine," I answered.  "Better than I thought I might be
given the circumstances."
   She nodded agreement at the comment on `circumstances' which convinced
me she knew why Julie and I had split.  I could have added more to the
updated situation but I hardly knew this girl so I left it at that.  "OK,
well you came here to eat.  Can I get you a drink first?" she asked,
getting back to the purpose at hand.
   I ordered a Sam Adams and she disappeared to the bar to get my drink.  I
looked at her leaving and noted she was a very pretty package.  She had a
petite figure with short blond hair and facially a very close resemblance
to a young Meg Ryan type; except for the closeness of her haircut.  She had
nice legs and the dark stockings she wore, as part of her mainly black
waitress attire, gave her a sexy appeal.  I had noted she had good-sized
breasts considering she was small in stature.  I guessed she was in
Cheryl's age bracket.  maybe 22 or 23.  No older than 24 I thought.  I
studied the menu and made a choice.  She soon returned with the beer and a
frosted glass.
   "Here we go," she said breezily.  "I hope the glass isn't too cold. 
Just be careful you don't get wet as the frost melts and drips everywhere."
   With this warning she placed the glass on a napkin she had put down in
anticipation of the wetness.  I studied her closely as she busied herself
pouring my beer.  I knew this wasn't what she would normally do as the
guest would be expected to pour their own.  I sensed she wanted to draw out
the contact with me.  She finished and placed the full glass, and bottle
with about half an inch remaining, on the table.
   "There...all done," she said brightly.
   I was still staring at her and our eyes met briefly when she finished
the task.  There was a brief moment when we just looked at each other.  I
sensed a faint glimmer of admiration in her face.  She liked me.  I liked
her to.  The pause ended and she asked was I ready to order.  I gave her my
choices.
   "Excellent choice," she said firmly.
   "I bet you say that to all the customers," I flirted with her.
   "Just the really nice ones," she said, flirting right back.
   OK.  There was a definite rapport building here.  She stood as if
waiting for further instructions but I knew she was waiting to continue the
banter if necessary.
   "Will that be all?" she asked when I let the flirting drop like a brick.
I couldn't think of a sensible comeback.
   "All that's on this menu," I answered.
   I regretted it straight away.  This was just too banal for words and I
had embarrassed myself by being too bold, I thought.
   "I have a special dessert menu," she quipped.  Just for special
customers who deserve it," she continued.
   She looked me in the eye with a faint smile on her lips while she made
to write on the check pad.
   "When can I see it?" I asked lightly.
   "Oh it's available only after ten," she said quickly.  "Just about when
I get off," She grinned knowingly at me.
   "Hmm.  I'm more of a cheese board and coffee freak," I answered.  "But I
could be tempted if the dessert was decadent enough."
   She couldn't keep the straight pretense any longer and laughed at my
veiled double entendre.  I grinned and she had to look away and noticed she
was blushing deeply.
   "Oh, really?  This is too much," she laughed.  "Just how decadent do you
like your desserts Mr.  Cheese and Coffee man?"
   "Wickedly sweet with a hint of raunchy spice," I said grinning.  Like a
shot of Bailey's with a shot of Kahlua," I added.
   She was now stifling her laughter.
   "Oooh that sounds really decadent," she giggled.
   "I could treat you too if you want," I laughed.
   She looked a little more serious.  It was clear she was doodling on her
order pad as a nervous reaction to the flirting.
   "Sounds great," she said more quietly.  "What else can I expect?"
"Respect," I said in a more serious tone.
   She had stopped laughing and looked at me with a serious look on her
face.
   "True?"
   "True," I said.
   "Sounds good.  Dessert after ten and I bring the menu," she said, in
review of our flirting.  "Where can I expect to share this decadent
dessert?"
   "Well I have a perfectly nice dining table at my house.  I suggest
there," I said evenly.
   "OK.  It's a date," she answered, and stared into my eyes again.
   "Look forward to it," I said quietly.  I won't eat too much, to leave
room for dessert.  Pick you up at ten?"
   "OK.  Ten it is," she said.  "Now I'd best get your order placed or
you'll never get to the dessert course."
   She turned, holding my gaze and finally left to place my order with the
kitchen.  Another girl brought the meal to the table and I enjoyed it with
my beer.  Just a light pasta dish and green salad.  Fleur breezed by as I
was finishing.
   "Anything else?" she asked on a more professional note.
   "Just dessert later," I said pointedly.
   Once again her eyes met mine.
   "Bet on it," she said quietly.  "Shall I get your check now?" she asked.
   "Yes please," I answered, and with that she wheeled and headed off to
get my check.  She returned quickly and I handed her my credit card before
she could give me the check to review.  She took it and departed again,
returning shortly with the credit card receipt.  I tipped her $15 for a $25
meal.  She raised her eyebrows as she couldn't help but take a quick peek
at how much it was.
   "Thank you," she said quietly.  "This is really more than you need to
tip,"
   "In anticipation of a completion of exemplary service," I grinned.
   She grinned and stood with a hand on her hip and one hand holding her
pen to her lips.
   "See you at ten?" she asked.
   "Absolutely," I affirmed.
   She scribbled on the back of a form from her order pad, and handed it to
me.  "My wireless phone number.  In case we get detached for any reason,"
she said.
   I took the paper and using the table edge as a straight edge, I
carefully tore the paper in two.  I took her pen and wrote my mobile number
on the blank piece.
   "Ditto," I said handing it to her.
   I rose and she walked with me as I moved to the door.  I turned as I
paused to let people come into the restaurant.
   "Until later," I said evenly.
   "Can't wait," she said quietly.
   With that I turned and walked out the door.
   I felt buoyed by the meeting with Fleur.  A lot of double entendre had
passed between us but in truth, I was apprehensive about meeting with her
later.  In reality it was maybe too soon after my breakup with Julie, and
there was the small matter of her living with Cheryl.  Did I really have
the emotional stability to have a relationship with her?  And if yes, how
would the closeness of Julie through Cheryl, affect the mix.  This was a
far cry from my usual sensible self.  But nonetheless I was keen to bang
her, and thought I possibly could.  So why introduce another unknown to
this equation?  I pondered this while driving home.
   On arrival at home, I garaged the car and transferred my groceries to
the kitchen.  I noted it was not quite 7:15 so there was plenty of time to
kill before Fleur finished work.  After I packed my weeks groceries away, I
went upstairs and opened up the Internet and surfed a few news sites for
awhile.  Eventually I had updated myself on today's news and as usual I
found myself heading into ASSTR to see what new stories had been posted.  I
resisted the urge to read any through, as I knew this would lead me into a
stroke session and I didn't want to ruin myself for the possibility of
getting Fleur into the sack.  I mean that was the intention.  I didn't know
for sure if she was intent on going that far on what amounted to a first
date but there were signs she may be up for it.  It depended if it was just
harmless flirting, or cheap talk or not.  I went and had a quick shower
then went downstairs and turned on the TV.  Then I remembered the crack I
made about Bailey's and Kahlua.  I had had a coffee once with a shot of the
two liqueurs and recall it was quite potent.  The mixture of the alcohol
set off the coffee nicely.  It could almost be classified as decadent, I
thought grinning at my flirting with Fleur.  Like a sickly sweet chocolate
might be.  I went to the dresser and found to tall Irish coffee glasses
with slip on shiny steel handles and a thin stainless steel hollow tube
with a shallow spoon end, as a stirrer.  I went out to the kitchen and
sorted through the part packs of coffee beans and selected a nice dark
Kenyan roast.  I ground the beans and prepared the coffee machine to make a
long black, which I would divide between the two glasses.  I would then add
the alcohol at a half liqueur glass measure each.  I was prepared to follow
through the main thrust of our banter, with the eye to develop into the
secondary meaning, which would hopefully mean sex.
   The time dragged by and I was looking at my watch regularly.  About 8:30
I started when my mobile rang.  I went and picked it up.  It was Fleur.
   "Hi Danny.  I just realized.  I have my car here.  It seems stupid you
coming back to get me when all I would be doing is following you anyway,"
she explained.
   "I don't mind coming back," I said brightly.  "Just to show you the
way."
   "No, no.  I know where you live, and how to get there.  You're not far
away at all.  I've been there once before," she replied.
   I didn't remember her ever visiting.
   "You've been here before?" I asked surprised.
   "Yep.  One day earlier this year when Cheryl had collected me from work.
We passed your place to collect something from Julie.  You were there," She
paused.  "Maybe you just don't remember; but I know how to get there,"
   I could hear the restaurant noises in the background as she spoke.
   "OK.  No problem.  See you about 10:15 to 10:30," I said.
   "OK.  Can't wait," she answered brightly.  "Bye now."
   "Bye Fleur," I said quietly and we hung up.
   The clock dragged around to about 10:20pm when I saw headlights flash
through the lounge window.  A car was pulling into the driveway.  It would
be Fleur.  I rose quickly and went to the front door and opened it in
preparation.  No reason not to show I was eagerly awaiting this vivacious
young woman.  I stood in the doorway and watched as she removed herself
from a drab looking Saturn Ion.  She hurried the short distance to the door
as it was cold and drizzling lightly.  I stepped back as she skipped up the
two steps and into the doorway.  She had sufficient momentum going that I
was surprised by her agility and speed and I hadn't retreated fast enough
to allow her to clear the entrance unhindered.  I was still backpedaling
clumsily when she crashed into me, forcing me back.  I instinctively leaned
forward to hold my balance and letting the door go I grabbed for her to
maybe swing her to the side so as not to bowl me over.  To my delight she
mistook my attempt at avoiding us crashing to the floor as an attempted
embrace and she wrapped her arms around my neck as I sort of swung her
sideways as I turned our bodies.  It was like a badly choreographed drunken
dance.  As I was taking all this action in I realized she was pressing into
me and craning her neck up to me with pursed lips.  She was preparing to
kiss me.  I got the message and stabilized us and bent and found her lips
in one movement.  We kissed.  I wrapped her in closer and felt my erection
start almost immediately in response to her groin pressed against my thigh,
with her thigh against my own crotch.  No mistaken courtship rituals here.
It was full on.
   She was gasping and panting as she kissed me like a crazy woman, holding
my face in both hands.  I maneuvered her to the couch and eased her back
down onto it with her butt just on the edge of the cushions.  I reached up
under her black skirt and groped her through her panties.  She arched her
back and moaned as I pushed my fingers hard against her vulva through the
panties.  I worked my hand up and caught the top of her knickers and black
pantyhose she was wearing as part of her waitress uniform, and wrenched. 
The garments came down easily and she instinctively lifted her butt off the
couch to help the underwear come off.  I pushed it down past her ankles and
she thoughtfully flicked one foot clear so the pantyhose and knickers
stayed hooked on one leg.  I had her pinned and she wrapped her arms around
my neck as she kissed me; her tongue snaking into my mouth.  She was
drinking from my lips like she was dying of thirst.  I fumbled at my flies
and pulled my cock clear; I was hard and excited and I eased back and
looked down at her bare crotch.  She had a very faint strip of trimmed
pubic hair.  I could see the curve of the mons and the slight vee at the
top of her sex.  I guided my cock to her lips and she moaned and pushed up
at me as the head touched her vulva lips.  With one easy push I buried into
her.  She was soaking.  I went so far and it became a little difficult. 
She groaned, partly as a relief to me penetrating her, partly in
discomfort.
   "Wait," she whispered urgently in my ear.
   She scooted further back along the couch so she was lying more along the
length of it and then lifted her hips.  I followed, pushing forward and she
groaned as I made another inch or two into her wet warmth.
   "Oh my God, geez, shit," she gasped as I fed my cock deeper into her.
   She spread her legs so the leg on the couch went up the back and she
hooked her heel over the top.  She splayed the leg on the floor and opened
herself wider.  I gave one last thrust and buried to the balls in her.  She
gave a low groan and moaned.
   "Oh fuck," she hissed through clenched teeth.
   She sounded like she was in some discomfort.  "You feel so fucking big,"
she gasped.  "Geeeez, oohhhhh, asy" she moaned as I pulled back and thrust
in again.  "Wait.  Wait, slow down," she gasped urgently as I started
fucking her like a madman.
   It had been nearly seven weeks since I had had sex with Julie.  A mercy
fuck she had thrown me after much badgering by me one night that I now know
she had been screwing that Steve guy that afternoon.
   Fleur reached between us and fumbled.  I felt her fingers graze my cock
and she moved her butt until I realized she was getting more comfortable. I
started to fuck in and out once I sensed she was relaxing.
   "OK...that's good...ooh fuck, it feels so fucking big," she gasped again
and held my shoulders then went "mmmmm" as I pushed evenly in and out of
her.
   It was good and I fucked her simply in and out with strong long strokes.
She settled into a regular breathing rhythm as my cock slid home.  To me
she was tight.  Maybe it was her that was small rather than me being big as
she had said.  I leaned my forearms either side of her on the couch and
bounced her ass down each in-stroke.  It didn't take long until I felt the
dull sweet ache signaling an approaching orgasm.  She was now gasping
loudly as I reamed her, and it turned me on.  I picked up speed and she
winced as I went occasionally too deep.  But she was getting off on the
carnal effort we were throwing at each other and she suddenly yelled out
loud as she grabbed me tight and humped hard at me.  I fucked her hard and
she groaned on each inward thrust.  I cried out, matching her volume, as
the orgasm took me and she was growling like a bear as I rutted hard and
cumming in spurts.  I virtually lifted her off the couch as I humped hard
and she was being pushed along the couch until her head crammed against the
arm and she was pinned by my hips pushing her into the cushions.  We were
both gasping and breathing heavily.  I was soaking wet and my shirt clung
to my back and I could feel the sweat running down the crack of my butt. 
She was clammy on her face and the few longer strands of her short blond
hair were matted with perspiration.
   The whole fuck took less than five minutes but we were gasping for air
following the effort and depth of release in orgasm.  I collapsed.  I
vaguely recall her arm coming up around my shoulders and her pulling my
face in beside hers.  We passed out.  I rallied after what seemed like a
short nap and reared back slightly to take look at her.  She was very
pretty.  The short cropped hair made her look older than her face belied.
Sort of an Annie Lennox cut on a teen face.  Her eyes were shut and her
cherry lips slightly parted.  She was breathing steadily.  I gave her a
little peck on the lips.  Just a light butterfly touch and she gave a
sleepy moan and slowly opened her eyes.
   "Hi," she whispered.
   "Hi.  How are you," I asked looking into her eyes.
   She grinned.
   "Delicious, if not a little stretched," she giggled.  "What did you use
on me, a baseball bat?" she said in mock concern.
   "Good old fashioned cock," I said lasciviously.
   "Well it's fucking enormous.  Literally," she said with mock reproach. I
grinned.
   "You're just a tight one" I said playfully, attempting to tickle her. 
She squirmed and giggled.
   "Oh no buster...I'm fine.  That's a dangerous weapon, not a cock," she
laughed.  "You should be licensed at the police station," she giggled.
   "Smooth talker," I responded playfully.
   This made me feel good.
   "So..?"
   "So what?" she asked.
   "So shall we have dessert," I said.
   "We've had it but I want seconds," she giggled.
   I eased back up onto my feet.  My cock popped involuntarily back inside
my Chinos as I stood.  Her skirt slipped back over her nether regions and
she looked fully dressed apart from the underwear hooked around one leg. 
She stood as I pulled her by her hands.  She bent and took the underwear
off her foot and held the garments in her hands.  I reached for her
topcoat, which she was still wearing and she swiveled first one side, then
the other as she allowed me to remove it and toss it on the armchair
adjacent to the couch.
   "So about seconds then...?" I asked.
   "Absolutely," she answered with a wicked flick of her tongue over her
teeth.
   I laughed.
   "I have you typed as a sm�rg�sbord dessert trolley," I said with a
knowing look.
   "Mmmmm.  I hope you can't wait to sample the wares," she answered.
   I remembered the Kahlua, Bailey's and coffee I had prepared ready to
make the Irish coffees.
   "Would you like coffee and a liqueur then?" I asked.
   "Hmmm.  Not right now.  But I could go a cup of breakfast blend much
later," she said, accentuating the word `breakfast'.
   I took her meaning.  I held my arm out like her escort to a ball and she
hooked her arm through mine and I led her towards the stairs, and we
climbed in a mock regal manner.  As if we were a king and queen, departing
the court.
   We fucked twice more that night.  After we had stripped and climbed into
bed, I spent more time on her, in foreplay.  We went at it sixty-nine for
awhile.  I loved eating pussy.  Generally I used to do Julie as a one
before the other; never together.  We'd never done a sixty nine so it had
been years since I had indulged this way; gazing up into the sweet lips of
Fleur's sex.  But as she became more and more turned on by my sucking and
licking her clitoris, she became erratic in sucking at me; struggling to
stroke and suck with the initial steady rhythm she had found once lowering
her mouth over my hardness.  She was losing her power of concentration. 
She knew what she wanted and with a groan `oh fuck I need him in me' she
squirmed around and straddled me quickly.  She grabbed my cock and paused
briefly to look at it.  Her hand looked tiny, unable to wrap around it
fully.
   "Oh my fucking God, it's so huge," she whispered.
   Undaunted she eased up and forward and pulled my cock vertical.  She
engaged her sex lips and with a self-satisfied sigh, she slowly impaled
herself.  I lay watching my cock being engulfed by her small body as she
eased down on me.  She fucked herself on me expertly.  Occasionally leaning
right forward to hold my head and kiss me.  This provided her much needed
pressure against her clitoris from my pubic bone above my cock and she
humped slowly and deliberately until she felt close.  Then she would lean
right back and sigh at the depth of penetration as she reached back and
held my ankles, to brace herself against falling backwards, and lift her
hips clear of my thighs and undulated her hips for a couple of minutes. 
Then she eased forward and leaned into me again.  I realized she was
regulating sex; setting the time for her to work towards the inevitable
orgasm.  Just like a man slowing and drawing out the fuck, Fleur had taken
control of the coupling to suit her pleasure.  I was utterly impressed with
this assertive approach to the sex.  She wasn't just here for me to bang
her.  She was having a good time on her terms.  She alternated like this
for at least ten minutes.  This isn't a position I favor, as I was not in
control.  In fact it was usually quite infuriating.  But I lay back and let
her ride me; all hard and jammed inside of her.  I was mesmerized by her
small hard tits bouncing slightly as she humped up and down.  When she
leaned forward I stroked them and pinched the nipples.  She sighed and
ground her crotch against mine occasionally lifting herself up to ease some
of my cock out of her, to ease the discomfort of the deep penetration when
she sat down fully.
   Her orgasm took me by surprise.  She was just leaning forward to embrace
me and I slipped my hands up and took her breast.  As I squeezed one
nipple, perhaps a little too hard, she suddenly took a deep breath and
began a long low wail as she jerked herself hard against me, my cock
ripping up against her clitoris and she strained forward.  She then pushed
back as she milked the orgasm from herself.  I was close to cumming, but
able to maintain control as she fucked herself over the edge, eventually
collapsing on my chest and soon became still.  My cock was still at least
three quarters the way inside her as I held her to me.  I waited a discrete
length of time before slowly easing her off me and made for her to lie down
beside me, face down.  I eased back and maneuvered myself behind her
buttocks, and astride of her legs while urging her into a half kneeling
position.  She groaned a small complaint but rose up onto her knees with
her face on the pillow.  My cock was hard and it jutted out in front of me
as I positioned myself above her and slowly bent down to ease my cock
between the cleft of her butt.  I could see the sex lips, pink from her
exertions and arousal, and the dark hole between them.  Her anus looked
clean and a light tan color with the tell tale pucker to the tiny opening.
I pushed my cock-head down and eased forward on my knees.  I slowly eased
the head in and shuffled my knees along the bed.  She moved involuntarily
and I heard her sigh.  I pushed more firmly and my cock began to enter the
tight warmth, inch by inch.  She felt the thickness easing her open and she
slowly raised her hips a little with a lazy groan as I went deeper. 
Eventually she had hoisted her butt up in the air to accommodate me with
the least discomfort.  Her hands clasped under her chest and her head
turned to one side on the pillow.  I took her hips and began to slow-fuck
her with long deep strokes.  She took the cock quietly this time.  We had a
good angle together so it was straight penetration with just the fullness
causing her lips to invert and fold out each stroke.  I fucked myself to a
glorious rowdy orgasm, all the time barely getting into second gear.  Like
she had used my cock to pleasure herself with, I used her cunt as a warm
wet glove to blow my brains out in.  I lasted about five minutes before I
flooded her.  I groaned each spurt and as I drew out I watched my cock
glistening with my ejaculation.  I finally pulled out of her with a faint
slopping sound and my cock hung semi-hard between her thighs.  She groaned
in relief and allowed her body to sink back to the bed and she lay quiet. I
eased myself up beside her and reached to turn the bedside lamp off.
   We slept like the dead.  I became vaguely aware of my cock becoming hard
and at some point in the night she mounted me again.  This time I held her
to my pleasure and I eventually rolled her on her back and fucked her
missionary position.  She gave into my control and we were back where we
had been on the couch.  Short frantic urgent rutting as I drove deep into
her.  I reached under her buttocks and pulled her up hard against towards
me as I drove deep.  She groaned in discomfort as I poled deep into her. 
My fingers strayed into her butt crack and a finger grazed her anus.  She
gasped loudly.  I realized immediately what had caused the sudden rise in
her voice and roughly I shoved the middle finger of my hand against the
rose.  She groaned loudly again and I felt she was about to squirm away
from this assault but instead she opened her legs wide and I heard her
grunt as if straining to take a dump.  My finger suddenly entered her and
she groaned again as I sunk up to the second knuckle.  This was how I held
her ass while I fucked her hard with short sharp jabs; feeling my cock
through the thin membrane that separated her vaginal cavity from her anus.
She went ape and started groaning and moaning, impaled on my cock and
finger.  As she came she raised herself up off the bed and I burst like a
dam, filling her a third time since she has tripped through the front door
last night.  Once again we were both soaked.  She cringed in pain as I
pulled the finger from her anus.  I'd never had my finger inside another
person's ass before and the sensation to my fingertip of my prick moving
inside her vagina had been wonderful.  But once my orgasm had consumed me,
I was aware my arm was aching from the position I had held it while reaming
her asshole with my finger.  I need to ease the tickling pain of pins and
needles I was now feeling from having my arm pinned under her butt.  As I
eased my cock out she sighed at the loss.  We both passed out.
   I woke after daybreak and she was gone.  I rolled and looked at the
empty space in the bed beside me.  I lay silent, listening for a sound to
tell me if she was perhaps in the house somewhere.  But all I could hear
was the faint sound of rain on the window.  I looked at my watch.  Shit. 
Eleven fifteen on Sunday morning.  I felt drained but contented.
   "Fuck it," I thought.  "It's raining.  No need to get up, I'm staying
her until noon."
   I drifted into a doze.  I woke again and it was now twelve thirty.  This
time I rose and went and emptied my bladder.  I pissed for what seemed like
an eternity.  The strong smell of urine tinged with the sickly smell of
sex. I noted there was a small wad of sodden paper in the bowl.  Shit. 
She'd used the toilet and hadn't flushed it so as not to wake me.  I
wondered when she had left.  I flushed the toilet and turned the shower on.
I spent about 15 minutes in the shower.  I took the time to examine my
cock. It was reddened from the night's exertions but no trace of the
discomfort I recall from frequent use while jacking off through the lonely
nights since Julie had left me.  I wondered if I was truly bigger than
normal, or was Fleur just small.  Whatever it was, my ego could certainly
go her comments of confirmation, Ok.  Standing in the shower I jacked off
thinking of the sexual activity I had undergone since early yesterday
afternoon and gasped and I felt my legs buckle slightly as the semen
splattered the wall of the shower stall and slowly slithered down into the
base; to be flushed away by the water.
   I called Fleur a number of times the following week.  The first time I
got through to her and we had a brief conversation.  There was an air of
impatient indifference about her, and she made like she was in a hurry and
couldn't talk right then.  The next two or three times I called, the phone
rang a couple of times then went to her voicemail.  I left messages twice,
which she did not return.  The third time I called and it rang once then
went quickly to voicemail.  I realized she must be turning the phone off.
She most likely had my name in the memory and could see it was me calling
when my number came up.  I was perplexed as to why she would avoid me after
such torrid sex which she clearly enjoyed as much as me.  But I took the
hint and stopped calling.  I haven't been back to the restaurant since.
   To be continued...
   (C) Romany 2004-2007.  Protected by copyright law.  Please do not copy,
edit, amend or post this on any website without the author's permission.
   Read `Full Circle 2: Cheryl and Elise' by Romany.
https://www.asstr-mirror.org/files/Authors/gypsey/romany/
   
  
Full Circle.1_Julie and Fleur