Note: This story was dynamically reformatted for online reading convenience.
 
 A Hero's Reward
   It was getting late in the evening.  The sun was low in the west and
Laban was pulling his boat up on the trailer.  He had been fishing all day
and he was ready to pack up and get home.  His client had already left and
Laban had pocket a hefty tip for putting the man on some big fish.  He put
the bar in place holding his boat motor locked in position and pulled away
from the ramp so the next person in line could back down.  There was a
parking lot up by the Forest Service campground and he parked to finish
stowing his gear.
   There were dozens of families camping in the area and Laban noticed a
girl walk by, heading toward the lake.  He had his rods locked in the
storage compartment when he noticed a group of four men going past in the
same direction the girl had gone.  They all had on blue stocking caps and
carried blue bandanas hanging out of their back pockets.  Laban knew the
type.  They belonged to a local street gang called The Lobos.  They hung
out around the lake sometimes, usually starting trouble and intimidating
the tourists.
   He tried to avoid them whenever possible.  They usually didn't mess with
him.  He looked a little intimidating himself.  He was about six three and
240 pounds and none of it was fat belly.  His mop of red hair and bushy red
beard made him look mean, although he was a gentle man.  He had played
defensive end in college and six years in the NFL.  He was never good
enough to start but he was good enough to make teams.  His lack of speed
had hindered his football career and he retired with a fat bank account and
while he was still healthy.
   He tried mixed martial arts for three years and had won more fights than
he lost, but he retired from that too.  He discovered he just didn't like
getting hit.  Now he was a professional fisherman and guide on Lake Casitas
near Los Angeles.  He didn't need to work, but he enjoyed putting customers
on big fish.
   He fished his keys out of his pocket and opened the door of his truck.
He heard loud voices from the direction of the beach.  A girl was arguing
with a man about something.
   "Stop it," he heard her say.  "I'm not bothering you.  Leave me alone. I
said stop it!" He heard a slap and a man's curses.
   Reluctantly, he put his keys back in his pocket and walked toward the
beach until he could see around the big rocks hiding the beach from his
view.  The gangbangers had surrounded the girl he had seen earlier and
their hands were all over her.  Laban didn't want to get involved but they
were being very aggressive.  He got his phone out of his pocket and called
911.
   "Emergency services, how can I help you," he heard a woman's voice.
   "Listen, I'm at the north boat ramp at Lake Casitas by Lakeview Marina.
There's a young girl here and four members of the Lobos are molesting her.
They're feeling her up and she doesn't want them to.  I'm afraid it's going
to get ugly."
   "Sir, we have a car in the area and we're sending two more.  What's your
name?"
   "Laban Sackett, and they're starting to get rough." The girl was
shouting at the gang members now.  "Can you hear that?"
   "Yes I can.  Laban, don't do anything.  Wait for the officers to get
there.  We don't want you getting hurt."
   One of the gangsters slapped the girl across the face and another
grabbed her bikini top and was trying to rip it off.
   "Shit," Laban said.  "One of them just hit her and they're trying to rip
her clothes off."
   "Laban, just sit tight.  The car will be there in three minutes."
   "One of them just pulled a knife," he told the woman.  "I don't think
she's got three minutes.  I'm going to leave the line open but I'm going to
try to distract them.  Tell your officers to get here now."
   He heard her voice saying something but he wasn't listening.  He put his
phone on video mode and set it on the rock so it could record what was
going to happen.
   He walked closer.  "What's happening, dudes?" he asked.
   The men turned toward him.  "You better keep walking, honky," one of
them said.  The girl tried to run and one of them grabbed her.
   "Please," she wept, "They're hurting me.  Help me!"
   "She your girlfriend?" Laban asked.
   "Yeah, that's right," a burly black man about twenty seemed to be their
spokesman.  "You better get your ginger ass out of here."
   "I don't think she likes you," Laban said.  "Maybe you boys ought to
move on."
   Two of them moved toward him.  "We beat your ass if you don't get to
stepping," the leader said.
   "I don't think so," Laban said.  "Have you ever noticed that there are
some people you just shouldn't fuck with?  I'm that guy.  Let the girl go
and I won't hurt you."
   They all laughed.  "Ain't but one motherfucker going to get hurt here,"
the one holding the girl sneered.  "Kick his honky ass."
   The two thugs advanced toward Laban and he circled a little, putting the
one on the left in his buddy's way.  When they came within range he kicked
the nearest in the side of the knee.  The knee gave way with a sickening
crunch and the thug collapsed, screaming and writhing on the ground.  The
second threw a punch at Laban's face and he easily avoided it.  He grabbed
the extended arm and closed with his opponent.  He locked his arms around
the thug's back in a double under hook and smashed his forehead into the
man's face.  His nose crunched and blood spurted.  Laban's huge arms flexed
and he squeezed like a python.  The thug began a high scream that was
quickly cut off as the air was forced from his lungs.  Laban heard ribs
breaking and he threw the man to the ground.  He was unconscious.
   The remaining two stared at him.  "You son-of-a-bitch; we going to kill
you for that and then we going to have some fun with this bitch and kill
her."
   Laban knew he was in trouble if they had guns.  They didn't seem to have
any guns but they both drew knives as the leader pushed the girl into the
water.  She fell and cried out as she smashed against a rock.  Her heard
her arm break and the side of her face hit the rock.  She lay there,
stunned for a minute.
   Laban knew he was in trouble.  He was probably going to get hurt.  If he
made any mistakes, it might just turn out like they said it would.  They
fanned out, circling around him.  One of them was holding his knife wrong
but the other was clearly a knife fighter.  Laban concentrated on the most
dangerous.  He moved toward the man and out of the range of the other.  The
man took a swipe at him with the knife.  Laban couldn't avoid it, but the
cut; aimed at his neck could be redirected and he struck the knife arm. 
The stroke went low and Laban felt it bite into his ribs.  The blade struck
bone and hung for a moment, just long enough for Laban's counterstrike. 
The heel of his right hand struck the thug just under his nose and crushed
it upward.  The nose exploded into a bloody mess and the man dropped the
knife as the impact flung him through the air.  His head struck a rock with
a crack and Laban felt fire flood through his back as the second man buried
his knife in Laban's back.
   He felt almost paralyzed with pain, but he managed to spin, trapping the
thug's arm under his left arm.  He swept the man's legs with his right leg
and dropped with him to the ground.  He quickly secured an arm bar and
tried to tear that arm off.  The arm broke with a crunch and the elbow
fractured.  The thug went unconscious and Laban tried to sit up.  He heard
sirens screaming closer.  He felt very weak.  Someone was standing over
him. An angel knelt down beside him, weeping, bleeding from a cut on the
side of her head.
   God, she was beautiful, Laban thought.  He reached up to her with his
hand and tangled his fingers in her long blonde hair.  She sobbed and then
screamed when she saw the blood running from his side.  She looked up the
bank and screamed at four figures Laban saw there.
   "Over here," she screamed.  "Please, help us!  He saved my life and he's
dying!  Help us!"
   Laban's vision drew down until he could only see the angel.  His head
throbbed and he knew no more.
   He was very disoriented when he opened his eyes.  He saw a small room
with a curtain dividing it.  He was lying in a bed, but it wasn't his bed.
He saw medical equipment all around and he realized it was a hospital room.
   "Hey, you're awake!" he heard an unfamiliar voice.
   It took a huge effort to turn his head.  He saw the form of a woman
rising from a chair beside his bed.  She moved to bend over him and her
face came into focus.
   "I remember you," he murmured.  "You're the angel."
   He heard her laugh and he slept again, secure in the knowledge that an
angel was watching over him.
   When he woke up again he remembered.  He looked around and Gina was
sitting in the chair.  His sister noticed his eyes were open and she jumped
up.
   "Oh, my God, Laban; thank heaven you're awake."
   He tried to speak but his throat was so dry that only a croak came out.
He tried to swallow and it felt like his throat was full of sawdust.
   "Drink," he croaked.
   She held a straw up to his lips and he felt the cold ice water sooth his
parched throat.  He drank deeply and then relaxed his head back onto the
pillow.
   "Hey, Gina; where am I?" he asked.
   "You're in intensive care in the hospital," she said.  "Oh, my God,
Laban; I thought you were going to die!"
   "What happened to me?" he asked.
   "Don't you remember?  You saved a girl's life down at the lake.  You
nearly killed four gangbangers and you got stabbed in the side and in the
kidney.  They had to do emergency surgery.  I'm sorry, Laban, but they had
to remove that kidney.  You only have one kidney now."
   It came back to him.  "Is the girl ok?"
   "Yes, she has a broken arm and she had a concussion and some
lacerations. She's here in the hospital.  She's been coming in and sitting
with you when Sherry or I can't be here.  She's not supposed to be out of
her room but she sneaks in here.  She's sleeping now, but she'll probably
be here as soon as she wakes up.  Her father is with her and he wants to
see you as soon as you're able to talk."
   "I'm not able to talk.  Jesus, Gina, don't let him come in here.  I'm in
ICU for pity's sake.  Only family is supposed to be in here.  Keep him out.
I don't want to talk to him."
   "Why on earth not?" she asked.  "The man wants to thank you for saving
his daughter.  You're a hero, Laban."
   "That's what I thought.  I don't want to be thanked.  I'm not a hero.  I
would have just as soon walked away.  I would have if I thought they
weren't going to hurt her.  I'm still not sure it was the right thing to
do. What if she'd gotten hurt badly?"
   "Bullshit," his sister said.  "She told the police they told her they
were going to rape her, kidnap her, addict her to drugs and turn her into
their whore.  You saved her life and her father is grateful.  You can't
avoid him forever, Laban."
   "Maybe not, but I can sure as hell avoid him now.  I can't talk to him
now, Gina.  I'm in pain and I just want to sleep."
   "I'll call the nurse.  She'll give you something for the pain.  I'm
sorry, Laban.  I won't push you.  I know you need to rest."
   She pushed the button and the nurse came in.  She injected something
into his IV and he drifted off.  When he woke up again it was night and
there was only one light on.  The angel was reading a book in the chair. 
He watched her for a while under his eyelids.  She had a bandage on the
side of her head and one arm was in a cast.
   She was drop-dead gorgeous.  She had very long blonde hair.  It reached
her knees as she sat in the chair.  It was so light in color that it was
almost white.  Her eyes were spectacular.  They were a deep cobalt blue and
tilted up at the outside corners, giving her an exotic look.  She had a
little button nose with a dusting of freckles across it and lips in a wide
mouth that looked like she had been stung by a bee.  They were puffy, full
and luscious.  She had high cheekbones and a little pointy chin, giving her
face a heart shape.  Her hair was pushed back behind one tiny ear and her
skin was tanned and smooth.  Her pale little eyebrows were pulled together
in a frown of concentration as she read her book.  She looked young he
thought, maybe about 18.
   "What are you reading," he croaked.
   She jumped up and her book fell to the floor, forgotten for the moment.
She moved quickly beside him and gave him a drink.
   "Thanks," he said.  "How did you know I was thirsty?"
   "Gina told me you were when you woke up before," she said.
   Her voice was low and husky and Laban thought he would like to hear her
sing.  He could listen to her forever.
   "What's your name?" he asked.
   "It's Andrea," she told him.  "My friends call me Andy.  You can call me
Andy."
   "Are we friends?" he laughed.  He winced from the movement.
   Her eyes changed color and became almost gray.  He discovered they did
that when her mood changed.  This was her look of concern.
   "Are you hurting?  I can call the nurse but she'll make me leave."
   "No, I'm ok," he assured her.  "I don't want you to leave."
   She relaxed.  "Then we are friends.  You're my friend.  I haven't done
anything yet to make you my friend but I'm going to."
   "How can I be your friend but you aren't mine yet?"
   "Well, you almost died for me.  That means you're my friend.  I'll
always love you for that.  I don't want to embarrass you, but you're my
hero.  You might as well get used to it.  I haven't done anything for you
yet.  I will as soon as I figure out what you need."
   "Well, I need you to talk to me.  What's your last name?" He asked.
   "It's Nordstrom."
   "Are you Scandinavian?"
   "Yes, my grandparents came here from Norway."
   "It's a pleasure to meet you, Andrea Nordstrom.  I like Andrea better."
   "We've already met.  Well I've met you.  You were busy dying at the time
so you don't remember me.  I'm so sorry, Laban," she began to cry.  "They
took out your kidney and you've got a big nasty gash on your side."
   He reached out and stroked her arm.  "It's not your fault, Andrea.  You
didn't stab me.  You didn't cause any of this.  Don't worry; I've a spare
kidney.  The other one was redundant anyway.  Pull your chair over here by
my bed and read to me.  I'm getting very sleepy."
   She picked up her book and dragged the chair close.
   "What are we reading?' he asked.
   "It's a book about money," she said.  "It's called The Theory of Money
and Credit by Ludwig von Mises."
   "Are you a genius, Andrea?"
   "Yes, do you mind?"
   "Not at all, but why are we reading this?"
   "I'm going to be an economist.  I need to know these things."
   "If you don't mind my asking a personal question, how old are you,
Andrea?  You don't have to tell me."
   She laughed.  "I know I look very young, but I'm 22.  I'm a second
semester junior at the University of California at Santa Barbara.  You can
ask me personal questions, Laban.  I'll tell you anything.  I know that
you're thirty.  I like older men," she smiled and dimples appeared on her
cheeks.
   "Ok, let's find out about money and credit," he laughed.
   She read to him and he found the ideas in the book to be revolutionary
and illuminating, but the sound of that husky little voice lulled him to
sleep before she finished the second chapter.
   When he woke up again, his sister Sherry was with him.  She noticed his
eyes were open and kissed him on the forehead.
   "You gave us a big scare, dummy," she said.  "I could never keep you out
of fights."
   "I know," he grinned ruefully.  "It was the thing about the hair.  I had
to fight or be picked on by the bullies."
   "I know, baby brother.  You bit off a little more than you could chew
this time.  I'm glad you're ok.  You're not in ICU anymore."
   He looked around and he was in a new room.  "How long are they going to
keep me here?"
   "I don't know.  They said something about three weeks.  Your wounds are
still draining and I know they won't let you go until they take the drain
tubes out.  How are you feeling?"
   "I'm sleepy all the time.  Are they giving me drugs?"
   "Yes, but I think they're going to stop the morphine and start you on
oral drugs as soon as you feel well enough to eat.  Are you hungry?"
   "I'm starving."
   "I thought you might be.  We've got food.  Shall I bring you some?"
   "What do you have?"
   "Don't tell the nurses, but we got takeout from Outback.  We'll smuggle
it in."
   She left and in a few minutes, she came back.  Gina and Andrea were with
her and a tall, distinguished looking man with iron gray hair.
   "Laban, this is my father, Clifton," Andrea introduced them.
   He came and pressed Laban's hand.  "I know you don't want to hear this,
so I'm only going to say it once.  Gina told us that you're uncomfortable
with the whole `hero' thing, but I'm a grateful man.  I'll always be in
your debt for saving my baby's life.  If you ever need a friend, I'm your
man.  You don't know what that means yet, but you're going to find out that
when Cliff Nordstrom is grateful, that means something."
   "I just did what anyone would do under the circumstances," Laban said.
"I'm not even sure it was the right thing.  I was just afraid they were
going to hurt Andrea."
   "Dad's a career diplomat." Andrea told him.  "He's the ambassador to the
court of St.  James."
   "I have no idea what that means," Gina said, "but our food isn't getting
any warmer."
   "He's the ambassador to England," Laban said.  "What did you get me?"
   His sisters knew what he wanted.  He had a rib eye, a baked potato and a
Caesar salad.  They all got out their dinners and Andrea fed him.
   They talked over dinner and Laban discovered that Cliff was taking a
leave of absence while Andrea was in the hospital.  Her mother had passed
away ten years earlier from a massive stroke and that he lived for his
daughter.  A nurse came in to bother Laban and she laughed when she saw
what they were doing.
   "I won't tell, but I think Laban shouldn't eat like this very often for
a while," she said.  "I don't think Andrea should be out of bed either."
   "I agree," Cliff said.  "I can't keep her there.  Do you think it would
be possible for them to share a room?  That way she wouldn't sneak away
every time your back is turned.  I'll grease some wheels to make that
happen."
   "We have a policy against coed rooms," the nurse laughed.  "I think we
could move Laban to a double room with no roommate.  If Andrea turned up
there in that other bed, I don't think anyone would say anything if you
talk to the supervisor and the doctors.  They know what happened and they
all can't wait to meet Laban.  You've been in the news, Laban.  There are
dozens of reporters in the lobby waiting to talk to you."
   "Don't let them up here," he begged.  "I want some clothes too.  Gina,
can you or Sherry go by the house?  I want t-shirts and shorts.  Sweat
pants would be good too.  I need underwear and my shaving kit."
   They promised to bring them the next day and the nurse shooed everyone
out except Andrea.  She changed his dressings and Andrea watched closely.
She grew a little light headed when she saw his wounds but she wouldn't
leave.
   "I need to know how to do this," she said.  "I'm going to take care of
you when you get out of here."
   Laban was somewhat shocked to learn that she intended to take him home
with her.
   "Andrea, you're got a broken arm and you're recovering from a
concussion. I can't go home with you.  You need someone to take care of
you!"
   "Nonsense," she said.  "I could have gone home three days ago.  I'm
staying to be with you.  I'm going to take care of you and I don't want to
hear any more about it."
   She read to him after the nurse left and he fell asleep with her voice
sounding like music in his ears.
   When he woke up he was in a different room and Andrea was asleep in the
other bed.  She was curled up in a little ball and her hair covered her
slight form like a blanket.  He sat up and a wave of vertigo swept over
him. He held onto the bed rail until it passed.  She heard him stirring and
climbed out of bed.  She had on blue pajamas with a Tweety Bird on her
chest and right butt cheek.  Her bandage was gone from her head and he
caught the full effect of her beauty.  She pushed him back down and washed
his face with a cool washcloth.
   "Sherry came by with some clothes," she said.  "She was on her lunch
hour and she had to get back to work."
   "I see we've moved," he said.
   "Yes, Daddy talked to the hospital administrator and he said no one
would notice.  The nurse said that you could put some clothes on and maybe
walk around a little if I helped you.  You need a bath first."
   "Well, call her in and I'll get out of this awful gown," he said.
   "No, she isn't coming."
   "What do you mean?"
   "I bribed her to let me give you a bath."
   He laughed.  "You rouge!  I'm not going to let you give me a bath."
   Her eyes twinkled, becoming almost violet.  "There's no way you can stop
me.  You're too weak and I'm giving you a bath whether you like it or not."
   She went into their bathroom and he heard water running.  She came back
with a basin filled with water, a bottle of soap and several washcloths and
towels.  He tried to sit up but she pushed him back and he discovered that
he was too weak to resist, just as she said.  He tried to clutch at his
covers when she pulled them down.
   "Laban, stop it," she told him.  "You're being childish.  I'm giving you
a bath, I'm taking you home with me and I'm going to give you baths there
too.  I've seen you lying bloody on the ground, dying for me.  I'm going to
see you now and you might as well get used to me seeing you.  Did you think
I was kidding when I said I'm always going to love you?  I'm going to love
you every way possible.  Now are you going to make this difficult for me?"
   He was astonished.  He had never met anyone like this enchanting little
pixie.  She loved him.  That thought made his heart race.  He surrendered.
"Thanks, Andrea.  I'll do whatever you want me to."
   "No, don't ever thank me, Laban.  That's the one thing I won't accept
from you.  I'd be whoring in some crack house except for you.  You can't
thank me.  You can love me.  That's all I want from you," her eyes filled
with tears.
   That broke his heart.  "Don't cry, baby," he whispered.  "Come here."
   He hugged her to him and petted her.  She looked up at him and her eyes
were almost green pools as tears filled them.  She was impossible to
resist.
   "Andrea, can I kiss you?" he asked.
   "You can do anything with me," she whispered.
   He tilted her chin up and tasted her lips for the first time.  She
tasted like cinnamon and fruit and those puffy lips came alive against his.
He caught the lower lip gently between his teeth and it stretched and
popped back as she drew away.  She pulled the covers down to his waist and
began to soap his chest and belly.
   "God, you're big," she said.  "I've never seen anyone with muscles like
this.  Well, maybe on TV or in a magazine.  You're perfect, Laban."
   He laughed.  "Well, maybe except that I have two huge scars."
   "You have them for me," she said quietly.  "They're precious to me."
   She lifted his arms and washed his upper body thoroughly.  She got his
shaving kit and scraped off the stubble and trimmed his beard and mustache.
She discarded the hospital gown and wet a new washcloth.  She left his
covers around his waist as her hand slipped underneath with the cloth.  The
covers slid down and he was exposed.  She slid her gaze downward and
gasped. She continued to wash and the feeling of the rough cloth caused him
to grow.  She rinsed off the soap and continued down his legs, cleaning him
to his feet.  When she finished she dried him with a towel and moved to his
growing excitement.  She discarded the towel and grasped him in her hands.
She stroked him fully erect and it was his turn to gasp.
   Her hands looked tiny on him.  Her fingers couldn't wrap all the way
around.  She got a bottle of baby oil and rubbed it between her hands for a
moment before returning to his erection.  She stroked him with the slippery
oil and he groaned at the incredible sensation.
   "God, baby; are you sure you want to do this?" he asked.
   "Yes, I've never been surer of anything in my life.  Am I doing it
right?"
   "You don't know?"
   "No, I've never done it before.  Jesus, you're big, Laban.  That's a
little frightening.  I'm not very big, you know."
   The thoughts that her remarks conjured up nearly drove him over the
edge.
   "You're incredible, Andrea.  Don't stop."
   The motion of her hands increased and she slid them up and down.  She
leaned down and he caught his breath in anticipation.  She delayed the
moment and he groaned and closed his eyes.  He felt it, a feather light
touch and he opened his eyes to see her little pointy tongue lick over the
head of his member.  She licked for a few moments and then her lips slid
over the head and she took him in.  The heat and moisture were incredible
as she swirled her tongue just below the helmet.
   He arched up and exploded.  She faltered for a moment, then continued to
bob her head, swallowing rapidly as her lips worked over the head,
polishing it as he continued to spurt.
   He began to relax and her motions slowed.  She gave a final lick and
suck.  She allowed him to slip from her mouth and kissed her way up his
body to his lips.  They locked together for a long while.  She pulled away
and looked into his eyes with the midnight blue of her own.
   "Did I do good?" she asked.
   He sighed.  "Baby, that was amazing!  You're amazing.  Why did you do
that, Andrea?"
   "Because I love you," she said.  "Because I could and because I knew it
would make you happy.  I can't wait until you're well enough to do more."
   "No, me either," he said.  He crushed her against him, feeling her erect
nipples through her pajamas.  He winced in pain as her weight settled on
him.  She tried to draw back, but he held her too tightly.
   "It's ok," he said.  "It's worth it to feel you against me."
   She helped him dress and took him for a walk.  She pushed his IV pole
and he moved gingerly down the hall and back.  They sat in the waiting room
and Cliff came in.  He was joined by Gina and Sherry in a couple of minutes
and they brought pastrami sandwiches from a deli.  They sat together and
watched a Dodgers game until visiting hours were over.  When Cliff and the
girls left, Andrea walked him back to their room.
   "Andrea," he said.  "Do you think you could lie in my bed for a little
while?"
   "I don't know, Laban.  It's not very big.  I'd love to sleep with you
though."
   "We'll just cuddle for a little while," he said.  "I want to feel you
up."
   She laughed.  "Well, how can I resist that?"
   He got in and she spooned up against him, careful not to hurt him.  He
put her head on his arm and played with her hair.  It was fascinating.  He
had never known anyone with hair so long and silky.  He stroked her belly
for a minute and then slid his hand under her pajama top.  Her belly was
ridged with muscle.  She obviously worked out and her skin felt like satin.
He slid his hand up, taking the hem of her shirt with it.  His fingers felt
the bottoms of the swells of her breasts.  He cupped one in his palm and
she gasped as his thumb scraped over her swollen nipple.  Her breasts
weren't large, but they were full and firm, nearly hard mounds of
femininity.  Her nipples were tiny hard nubs about the size of a pencil
eraser and they sat on large areola that covered the tips of her breasts.
He pinched them gently and rolled them between his thumb and forefinger,
causing her to moan and push her butt back against him.  He played for a
few minutes and then slid his hand down over her belly and under the
waistband of her pajamas.  He felt lacy panties inside and slipped under
them to find a small patch of soft curls inside.  He lifted his hand away
and stretched the fabric of her pajamas and panties away so he could look.
She was a true blonde, the curls the same pale color as the hair on her
head.
   His hand traveled down and she raised her leg, putting it back over his;
granting him access.  She was wet and hot as he parted the slick lips and
stroked her slit.  He found the little nubbin of her clitoris and began to
coax it out of its hood.  She was moaning and writhing now, her excitement
building as the unfamiliar sensations swept over her.  He continued to
tease the little button and she began to tremble and thrust toward his
hand. He muscles went rigid and he felt a flood of moisture as she exploded
for him.  She took the hand holding her breast and slipped one finger into
her mouth as she thrust and shuddered against him.  Her body relaxed and
she quivered at his stroking and pushed his hand away.
   "I can't stand any more, Laban.  I'm too sensitive.  God, the way you
make me feel." She cried a little.  "You're going to make me into an
emotional wreck.  I've never let a man touch me like that.  I've never felt
like that.  I can't believe how good it felt."
   She turned her face to him.  She looked into his eyes.  "I love you
Laban.  I know that sounds silly.  I've only known you a couple of weeks
and you were unconscious for most of that, but I know my mind.  Do you love
me?  Just a little is all I need."
   "I do love you, more than a little.  I think you're perfect, Andrea.  I
think I'm falling in love with you.  It might take a little longer, but I
love everything I know about you.  You're sweet, kind, loyal, smart, funny
and sexy as hell.  I think any man in the world would cut off his left nut
to be with you."
   She laughed.  "I don't require left nuts; just left kidneys."
   They laughed hysterically until a nurse looked in and frowned at them.
Andrea hastily pulled her pajama top down.  "We'll be quiet," she
whispered.
   The nurse smiled, nodded and went away.
   "I'm going to get in my own bed now," she told him.  "I'm going to sleep
like a baby."
   She kissed him and moved back to her own bed.  She turned out the light
and whispered goodnight.
   He lay awake a while and thought about this amazing girl he had found.
His surgery wound hurt like hell and he took a pill.  In thirty minutes he
felt better and he drifted off with the memory of a moaning angel in his
arms.
   Andrea was discharged the next day and he missed her dreadfully.  She
went back to school but she came and read to him at night.  They finished
the money book and started a novel about doomsday after an economic
collapse in the US.  He still tired quickly, but he was feeling much
better. The doctors were encouraged with his healing rate and thought that
in two more days the drain tubes could be removed.
   He was becoming very impatient and he was a little crabby with Andrea
the next night.  She was very patient and when she got ready to go home, he
apologized.
   "You don't need to apologize to me, Laban," she told him.  "I know your
life has been disrupted and you're tired of being in pain and being in the
hospital.  I haven't forgotten why you're here.  I know it must be hard for
you and I'm not offended.  How could I be?  You can be grumpy with me.  I
love you and I don't mind.  I may be a grouch to you someday."
   That made him laugh and he squeezed her boob when she kissed him
goodbye. "You really are an angel, Andrea.  A sexy angel."
   She laughed and slapped his hand away, giving her butt a naughty wiggle
as she went out.  He got the tubes out the next day and he was very
disappointed when they told him he had to stay one more night.  Andrea
didn't come until after six because she had an event at school she had to
go to.  Cliff brought Italian food and both Gina and Sherry came.  The
nurses wouldn't let him get out of bed and some new stitches where the
tubes had been were painful.  They borrowed two chairs from other rooms and
Andrea sat on his bed while they ate.
   Cliff told Laban he had a surprise for him the next day.  It turned out
to be Andrea and a limousine picking him up from the hospital.  They
wheeled him out and Andrea carried his bag.  The driver put it in the trunk
and drove them to Lake Casitas where they had a picnic.
   "Do you want to go down to the park where you were stabbed?" she asked.
   "Maybe," he said.  "Whatever happened to my truck and my boat?  I never
thought to ask."
   "Dad and Gina picked them up the next day.  You had a parking ticket,
but they took it back when they found out what happened."
   "I guess I'm lucky they didn't tow it," he said.
   She laughed and they walked slowly down to the beach.  He could see
blood on the ground.
   "What happened to those four thugs?" he asked.
   "Well, they attacked a US Ambassador's daughter and stabbed a former NFL
player who tried to help her," she said.  "Two of them are in jail and two
of them are still in the hospital.  They'll all be charged with attempted
rape and attempted murder.  Three of them were carrying drugs.  The FBI is
investigating them for kidnapping, forcing girls into drug addiction and
pimping them out.  They found 14 girls that had been kidnapped and made to
sell their bodies.  Daddy is getting them into treatment and maybe they can
survive what's happened to them.  You did a good thing here, Laban.  You
helped a lot of girls besides me."
   "Well, that's good, but that's not why I did it."
   "I know, you did it for me."
   "You're giving me way too much credit, Andrea.  I didn't even know you.
I saw you walk past my boat.  No one deserves to be raped and assaulted."
   "Yes, I know that too.  But it was me, and it was you and that's what
makes you what you are.  That's what makes me love you.  You won't walk
away from someone when you know you're the only one that can help.  You
might have died here.  If they had guns, we'd likely both be dead.  You
knew there were four of them and that you might get hurt.  That's what a
brave person is.  He's afraid, but he does what has to be done anyway. 
That's what a hero is, and that's why you'll always be my hero."
   He hugged her close.  She saw that there were tears in his eyes and she
pulled him down and kissed them away.
   "Take me home," he told her.  "I'm getting very tired and my back
hurts."
   She took his arm and when they got to the asphalt, he stopped.  "Walk in
front of me," he said.
   "Why?" she asked.
   He grinned, "I want to look at your butt."
   She giggled and walked away, her hips tilting and her butt on display in
an exaggerated runway walk in the tight jeans she was wearing.  She giggled
the whole way back and when the driver opened the door she helped him in.
She turned away and looked back over her shoulder.  "You can feel it if you
want," she said.
   He reached out and squeezed one firm cheek before she pulled away and
got in on the other side.  She scooted over next to him and he put his arm
around her and leaned his head back on the seat.  He slept during the drive
and woke up when the car stopped.
   "Where are we?' he asked.
   "We're home, Laban.  This is where I live.  We're in Ojai."
   "I didn't know you lived in Ojai.  I just assumed it was Sana Barbara."
   He looked out the window.  "Jesus, Andrea; you live in a mansion."
   "Yes," she said.  "I know.  Do you think you'll like living here?"
   "I don't plan to live here," he said.  "I just plan to stay a couple of
weeks.  I guess I would like living here though.  I'd worry about getting
lost."
   "I'll get you a map," she said.  "All you have to do is ring the bell
and someone will come to your room and take you anywhere you want to go or
bring you anything you want."
   "I want a beautiful little blonde.  Will they bring me one?"
   She laughed.  "I'll be right next door.  You're staying in the blue room
next door to me."
   "Where is your dad's room?"
   "He sleeps downstairs.  We're upstairs."
   "He's an extraordinarily trusting parent."
   "Yes he is.  I don't think this is a matter of trusting us though.  I
think he approves.  I should tell you that he's probably vetted you.  He
knows everything about you and he likes what he knows.  He's not snoopy,
but he does care."
   "Are you very close?"
   "Yes, I trust him.  I don't tell him everything, but I've always felt
like I could."
   "That's nice.  I envy you."
   "What about your parents, Laban?  I know they're dead, but were you
close?"
   "I was close with Mom.  I never had a relationship with my father.  He
was a mean son-of-a-bitch.  I didn't see much of him.  Mom had a
restraining order on him.  He beat her up twice: once while they were
married.  She divorced him and he came around and beat her up again.  She
pressed charges and got that order.  I met him once for dinner and he
started telling me how evil Mom was.  I told him I was leaving and if I
ever saw him again I was going to punch his face in.  I was bigger than him
by then and he didn't mess with me after that.  He showed up on draft day
when the Cardinals drafted me and I had security throw him out.  He died in
a wreck.  Mom passed away from cancer when I was nineteen.  Sherry took
care of me and Gina."
   They were walking in the garden, holding hands and talking when Cliff
came out.  Laban dropped her hand, felling a little guilty, and Cliff
smiled.
   "Don't be embarrassed," he said.  "I know Andrea loves you and I'll only
be mad if you let her down.  I don't think you will.  You're a remarkable
young man, Laban.  Please, hold her hand if you want to.  Hug her or
whatever.  I really don't mind."
   "Thanks," Laban took her hand again.  "I've never met any of my
girlfriend's fathers before.  I'm not used to having a girlfriend so
young."
   "I know," he said.  "I wouldn't ordinarily approve.  You met under
extraordinary circumstances.  Those romances don't usually work out, but I
know my daughter.  Her mother was six years older than I was.  I think
you're going to be just fine.  You're looking a little pale, Laban.  Are
you ok?"
   "I think I should lie down," he said.  "I just didn't want to stop
talking to Andrea."
   "Yes, she's a stimulating auditor.  I enjoy talking to her too.  Take
him to his bed, Andrea."
   She took his arm and led him upstairs.  The house was full of antiques
and the bed in the blue room was a tall four-poster.  Andrea got him a pair
of shorts and an undershirt and helped him put them on.  She got a
footstool out from under the bed and he climbed in.  She pulled up the
covers and got him a bottle of water.
   "There are seven bathrooms up here," she said.  "None of them are
connected to a bedroom but the nearest is two doors to the left when you
come out.  My bedroom is the first door to the right.  There's another
bathroom one door past my bedroom.  If you're hungry, ring the bell.  If
you want me, text me."
   He leaned back into the big fluffy pillows and closed his eyes.
   "I'll be back in three hours if you haven't come down to change your
bandages." She kissed his forehead and went out.
   He slept until she came back and woke him up.  "The doctor said you
could take a shower if we put these plastic bandages on," she told him. 
"Do you want to shower?"
   "Very much," he said.
   She taped the sheets of plastic over the old bandages and he got clean
clothes and went to the bathroom.  He showered, brushed his teeth and
shaved.  She came in after he got back and changed the bandages.  Her hands
were unbelievably soft and he was in a daze of contentment as she worked
over him.  He felt so warm with her fussing over him.  She made him take a
pill and he soon fell asleep again.
   She was gone to school when he got up and he dressed and made his way to
the kitchen.  Cliff was drinking coffee and reading the paper when he came
in.  A maid appeared and asked him what he wanted for breakfast.
   "What do you have?" he asked.
   "Nearly anything you want," she told him.  "Do you want me to choose?"
   "That would be nice.  Just as long as there's juice and coffee involved,
I'll be fine with whatever you make.  What did you have, Cliff?"
   "I had waffles."
   "Can I have waffles?" he asked her.
   "Of course.  They'll be ready in a few minutes.  I'll bring juice and
coffee."
   She was as good as her word.  He drank the juice and was sipping his
coffee when she brought his breakfast.
   "I could get used to this," he told Cliff.
   "Why haven't you?" he asked.  "You've got plenty of money.  You made a
lot playing football and you've invested it wisely.  You don't touch your
principle and you make good money guiding.  You could have a maid if you
wanted one."
   "I'm lazy by nature," Laban explained.  "If I don't consciously guard
against it, I'd be fat as a toad in a year."
   "You're wise," Cliff said.  "When you recognize your weaknesses and take
steps to fend them off, you show maturity.  You have a good mind, Laban.  I
didn't expect that from a football player."
   Laban bristled a little at that.  "Why not?  We're not all lowbrow
types. I graduated 5th in my class from Stanford.  I have a bachelors in
business and a Masters in Philosophy.  You have to be smart to play on the
line in football.  You have to be able to think fast to play defense.  I
know some guys have natural ability.  I'm big and strong and I was even
bigger and stronger when I was playing.  I was slow.  I had to outthink the
tackles to beat them."
   Cliff laughed.  "I didn't mean to offend you.  I apologize, Laban.  I
know how smart you are; I've seen your scores.  That's what made me think
you'd be good for Andrea.  She's very smart, Laban.  Even smarter than you
and I.  If you weren't smart, I'd be worried.  She needs someone that can
evolve and change with her.  She would leave most men behind in the dust. I
know you aren't like that."
   "She told me she was a genius."
   "I can't believe that.  She just said that?"
   "Well, no.  I asked her if she was, just joking around, and she said
yes."
   "She really is, you know.  I won't tell you her IQ, but it's very high.
If you know statistics, she's more than three standard deviations over
120."
   "So, about 180?"
   "I see you do know statistics."
   "I took classes.  Business degree, you know."
   They talked for hours and Laban discovered that he really liked the man.
He was clever, funny and just a little stuffy.  There was no harm in him.
They talked politics and Cliff was pleased to discover that Laban was an
anarchist.
   "At least you've thought about it," he laughed.  "Don't expect me to
agree with you, but you'll find out that Andrea is on your page.  She hates
politicians, with one notable exception."
   "I don't hate politicians," Laban told him.  "I just want to be left
alone."
   When Andrea came home, they went out to eat.  They followed the same
ritual as the night before.  Laban's stitches were healing nicely and
Andrea said the doctor had told her that they should leave the bandages off
during the day if there was no sign of infection.
   The next day was Saturday and she took him downtown.  They shopped and
strolled along.  He was rapidly regaining his strength and it took a major
exertion to cause him any pain.  They rode in the limousine to his house
and she drove his truck to her house.
   "Does your father always call you Andrea?" he asked.
   "Yes, he doesn't like Andy."
   "I like Andy, but I think I like Andrea better," he said.  "Do you mind?
I think it fits you better."
   "I like it better too," she said.  "Everyone just shortens it up so I've
become used to it.  That's what all my friends call me.  I like the way you
say Andrea.  Say it again."
   "What am I, a parrot?" he laughed.  "Andrea, I think I'm in love with
you."
   She glanced at him and he saw that her eyes were that violet color.
   "Tell me again later," she said.
   They stopped and got carryout on the way home and they watched a movie
in his room while they ate.  She took away the trash and they both
showered. She came back wearing just a long pink t-shirt that reached to
mid thigh.  When she stretched over him, he could see lacy blue panties
underneath.  She put new bandages on him and crawled back up in bed with
him.  He arched one eyebrow in question.
   "I'm not ready for sleep yet," she told him.  "I want to talk to you."
   "Ok, anything special or can I just tell you how spectacular your eyes
are?  Will you tell me a joke?"
   "I could, but I want to hear about the eyes." She snuggled against him.
   "I've never seen eyes like yours before," he told her.  "They change
color.  Most of the time they're just that deep blue color.  When you're
excited, they turn almost violet and when you're sad, they look gray.  When
you're angry, they're green.  I could drown in them."
   She straddled him carefully, staying away from the bandage on his side.
She looked into his eyes, their lashes mingling.  They were a deep, smoky
violet.  She pressed her lips against his and the pliable fullness made his
breath catch in his throat.
   "I thought you wanted to talk?"
   "Maybe later.  I'm going to make love to you now."
   He held her face between his hands, her hair covering them like a
curtain.  "Are you sure, baby?"
   She turned and kissed one hand.  "Yes, I've been very patient.  I've
been waiting for you my whole life.  After I met you I had to wait some
more because you've been hurt.  I've been burning up waiting.  I waited,
and now I think you're well enough if I do most of the athletic stuff.  I'm
very athletic, you know."
   "Yes, I know.  I've been waiting for you my whole life too.  Since I've
met you, it was easy for me to wait because I hurt too much to be horny.  I
don't hurt now."
   "I can tell," she whispered as she rubbed her panties against his
burgeoning erection.
   She sat up on his lap and pulled the shirt up and over her head.  His
breath sucked in with a gasp as he feasted his eyes.  She was perfection in
miniature.  She was very small, but very much a woman.  Her breasts were
full and proud, capped with very erect nipples.  He pulled one into his
mouth and she moaned and pulled his head to her.  He suckled at one and
then switched to the other.  She was gasping and he felt her explode as he
pulled on the second little nipple.  She writhed and groaned in his ear as
she came.
   He was astonished at her reaction.  This little girl was smoking hot. 
If she came like that from having her nipples sucked, what would she be
like when he was inside her?  He couldn't wait to find out.
   "Oh, God, Laban," she rested against his chest.  "That was incredible.
Let me rest a minute.  I felt like I was going to have a heart attack.  You
make me feel so sexy."
   He held her for a minute and then began to stroke the silky skin of her
back.  He traced her spine with his fingers and she shivered as goose bumps
tickled her arms.  He continued to touch her with just the tips of his
fingers.  He ran down to the waistband of the little blue panties and his
hands slid inside to cover the swelling cheeks inside.  He was amazed at
how muscular she was.  Her butt was very soft next to the skin, but hard as
a rock underneath the surface.  She flexed it underneath his hands and he
squeezed in response.  She giggled and made the cheeks dance.
   "You have an amazing ass," he told her.  "This is what made a lot of
actresses and pop stars famous.  You're shaped as least as awesome as they
are."
   "Thanks, Laban.  I work on it a lot."
   "It shows.  I want these off," he tugged at her panties.
   She rolled off him and pushed her butt up off the bed so that she could
slide the panties down over smooth legs and tiny feet.  She swung back
aboard and his eyes were drawn immediately to that intriguing little patch
of white-blonde curls.  She was otherwise bare and beautiful.  She eased
his shorts and boxers off and he immediately sprang to attention.  She
pressed herself against him and it presented an obscene and erotic picture
as her pale pink lips spread themselves and slid up and down his erection.
She grasped him in her hand as he moved his hands to her hips and used him
to rub her clitoris.  It became enlarged and flushed, and she quivered in
anticipation.  She raised herself over him and slotted his head between her
lips.  He saw some degree of fear in her eyes and it tore at his heart.
   "Andrea, we don't have to do this now," he told her.
   "No, I want to," she said.  "I know you won't make me do anything I
don't want to.  I'm going to have to get past this sometime.  I want to do
it badly; I just don't like pain.  I know there's going to be some.  Just
be patient with me."
   "Take what you can," he told her.  "Pain isn't fun.  I never want to
hurt you, baby, but I'm going to at first."
   She bit her lower lip and lowered herself over him.  The pressure built
to a nearly intolerable level and then the head slipped through with a
popping sensation and she gave a little squeal.
   "Oh, my sweet Jesus, Laban.  It feels like I have a telephone pole in
me," she gasped.  "Don't move and let me get used to it for a minute."
   He didn't move.  He pulled her down against him until her breasts were
crushed against chest.  She lay there panting for several moments and then
she moved downward, taking an inch inside.  She shook and panted again, but
didn't take so long to recover and advance.  After a few more stops and
starts she was stuck.
   "Something's wrong," she told him.  "I'm at the end."
   "No, baby" he told her, "you're not.  You told me you'd never done this
before, right?"
   "Yes, you're the first.  Why do you ask?"
   "You're a virgin, Andrea.  That means you have a barrier inside you. 
Sometimes it's broken by other things, but if not, it's going to stretch or
tear.  It's going to hurt some."
   "That's ok, I want to," she said.
   She pressed harder and he made a little thrust upward.  He felt the
barrier give way and she cried out softly.
   "Wait," she gasped.  "Let me settle down a little.  Jesus that hurt!"
There were tears in her eyes and the blue showed through the violet.  He
held her and ran his hands up and down her back, moving down to cup and
massage her butt.  He sank his fingers into the resilient flesh and she
began to make small movements on him.  Each movement took a little more of
him inside and she continued until he felt his head bump up against her
cervix.  She groaned and rested for a moment.
   "I can't take any more." She cried a little.  "I wanted it all."
   "Maybe another time," he told her.  "Remember, if it hurts it isn't fun.
I'm happy.  You're a very small girl.  You have to walk before you can
run."
   "I want to run," she said.  "It's starting to feel better.  I still feel
incredibly stuffed.  It isn't painful; just uncomfortable.  I'm getting
used to it, though.  I'm going to start moving now."
   Her hips rose slowly up a few inches and then back down, taking all she
could inside her again.  Her motions became quicker and she found a rhythm
that she liked.  The discomfort was gone and she felt a rising excitement.
It quickly grew to ecstasy and she gave her pleasure voice.
   Her moans rose in pitch and became slightly louder.  Her body began to
tremble and she thrust frantically against him, seeking the fulfillment of
her release.  She crested and waves of agonizing pleasure swept over her.
She strained against him and shuddered repeatedly.  She collapsed against
his chest and rested.
   "Did you come?" she asked.
   "No, but I'm not through," he said.
   He rolled over on top of her.  "Are you sure you're up to this?" she
asked.
   "Probably not, but I'm not going to notice," he captured her lips and
took her breasts in his hands.  His heavy weight, on her and in her was
just what she wanted.
   He began to stroke in her, starting slowly and with shallow penetration.
He moved deeper until she reached her capacity and made short, deep
strokes. She climbed back to a peak and when she exploded she felt him
shudder and explode with her and in her.  She could hardly contain her
ecstasy and she came in waves as he continued to love her.  He slowed his
motion and held himself buried deeply inside her.
   "Laban, you're crushing me," she whispered.  "I can hardly breathe."
   He rolled onto his back, taking her with him and she snuggled into his
chest.  They whispered and rested together until he deflated and slipped
from her.  She could feel his semen leaking and she got up and cleaned
herself with a washcloth.
   "Can I sleep with you tonight?" she asked him.
   "I can't imagine anything I'd like better," he said.
   She climbed in again and used the washcloth to clean him as well.  She
lay against his side; the one away from his wounds and rested her cheek on
his shoulder.  One full little breast was visible on his chest and the
other was crushed against his ribs.  She moved one leg over him and he felt
her downy curls against his thigh.
   "That was everything I dreamed it would be," she told him.  "I've been
saving this moment all my life until I met the right man."
   "I'm lucky you shared it with me," he told her.  "You're an incredibly
sexy woman, Andrea.  That was amazing.  You turn me on in ways I didn't
know were possible.  You're making it very easy for me to fall in love with
you.  When I think about you, I think about a million things I want to do
with you.  I can easily imagine spending the rest of my life with you."
   She kissed his chest.  "That's my plan.  I'll always remember that you
made it possible.  I wouldn't have had this chance if you hadn't saved me.
They were going to take it all away from me.  You're my hero, Laban; and
you're my lover now too."
   She slept in his bed from then on.  The servants seemed to take it in
stride and if Cliff knew, he never mentioned it.  She was the most
interesting person Laban had ever talked with.  She knew so many things
about so many subjects that she was interested in.  She had an opinion
about most of them, and if he disagreed, she marshaled arguments in a way
that forced him to examine what he thought in detail.  She listened to
everything he said and if he had a compelling argument, she changed her
mind on the spot.  He had never encountered such intellectual honesty
before.  Her mind was so flexible that when she did one of those about
faces she made better arguments than he could.
   They argued often, but she never became angry or upset with anything he
said.  She could talk about food or economic policy with equal ease and he
couldn't get enough of hearing that husky little voice.  They made love
constantly and she was becoming more and more comfortable with his body and
her own.  She wanted to try everything and didn't hesitate to ask him if
she was doing it right and what brought him the most pleasure.  He learned
her body as well, and discovered the things that caused her to gasp out her
pleasure.
   He stayed for three weeks and when the stitches were taken out; she
declared that it was time for him to make a decision.  Cliff had gone back
to London, and he could continue to stay with her or he could go home.
   "If I go home, will you come with me?" he asked.
   "No, not permanently," she said.  "This is my home.  I'll come and stay
with you, most of the time, but you are going to need to come and stay with
me too.  If we do get to that `spending the rest of my life with you' thing
you talked about; I'll live with you.  Until then, I need my own space.  I
have a life and you have a life.  I'll share your life, and I'll let you
share mine, but I don't expect you to drop everything you do and sit around
waiting for me.  I won't do that either."
   "No, I don't expect that," he said.  "I'll take whatever you'll give me.
I will come here and stay with you whenever you need to be here.  I need to
work and you need to go to school.  I understand, I just want to be with
you.  I know you'll need to do homework and I need to take care of my
business.  We'll just have to plan when we need to be where.  I'll do that
on my end."
   "I will too," she promised.  "I want to sleep with you every night.  I
don't care if it's here or at your house.  I'm addicted to making love with
you.  I'm going to need you to be very flexible and I'll do that too.  I
know you don't need to work, Laban.  You've got more money than we could
ever spend.  You know I don't need to work either, but we both want to.  I
want to do something important with my life.  You've already done a lot of
things but I'm going to need you to do more.  I'm not going to be content
to just live off Daddy's money.  I've got ideas I want to try and I want to
write about them and help people with them."
   "I know, baby," he said.  "I'm very proud of you.  I know how smart you
are.  I'll try to follow your lead.  You're going to be a star.  I'll try
to come along for the ride."
   "You underestimate yourself, Laban.  You're brilliant.  You're just used
to using those huge muscles.  I need you to use your brain.  I think you
should get your PhD in philosophy.  I know you only lack a few hours and a
thesis.  Why haven't you already done it?"
   "I'm lazy, Andrea.  I don't push myself much.  I've always had an idea
of what my thesis should be.  If you push me, I'll get interested.  Then
once I get moving, I enjoy the ride."
   "I have something in mind we could do together," she said.
   "What is it?"
   "I want to write a book on economic philosophy.  We could collaborate.
Wouldn't that be cool?"
   "It would; but I'm not in your weight class," he said.
   "Nonsense," she said.  "You have a very sophisticated political
philosophy.  You're a pure capitalist.  You understand things most people
never think about.  You're an anarchist.  You understand money and capital;
you know how politics work.  You know what you believe and why.  I agree
with most of what you believe.  I think we could revolutionize the way
people look at economics.  You know the philosophy and I know the
economics. We could do it."
   "I think I'd rather just make love to you."
   She laughed.  "Yes, me too.  What do you think would happen while we
were researching?  I can just imagine us naked in a pile of books on a
thick rug.  Make love, read, talk and write.  What could be better than
that?"
   "Will you go fishing with me?" he asked her.
   "I'd love to.  When can we go?"
   "How about Saturday?" he asked.
   "That would be perfect.  We'll make a day of it.  I've been fishing a
few times, but I'm not very good at it.  You'll have to show me the
tricks."
   She spent the night with him Friday at his house.  They made love until
the early hours of the morning.  She was rapidly becoming an expert at
pleasing him.  He was learning her bodies reactions and she was so sexual
that he could keep her in a constant state of orgasm.  She came easily and
often and had tremendous stamina.  She feared that she was losing her
identity when she was immersed in her sexual fever with him.  She knew he
was very skilled and her lack of experience made her reactions to his love
making helpless automatic reflexes.
   She wept after they rested together, her body feeling like jelly.  He
held her closely.
   "What's wrong, Andrea?" he stroked her as she shook against him.
   "I'm scared, Laban.  You drive me wild.  I can't believe how you make me
feel.  I'm so vulnerable to you that it scares me.  You could hurt me so
badly.  I've never let anyone this close to me and you could take advantage
of me.  I love you so much that I would let you.  That scares me to death."
   His heart nearly burst.  This little angel was in his hands and she had
given herself to him fully.  He realized the tremendous responsibility and
he didn't know if he was up to the task.  He pulled her up and kissed her
fiercely.
   "Andrea, that's never going to happen," he said.  "I'll never
intentionally hurt you.  I'm scared too.  I've never had anyone like you in
my life.  I don't know what's going to happen, but I'm going to do my very
best to be everything you need me to be.  I don't know if I can, but I'm
going to try with everything in me.  I'm going to need your help.  I can't
just set a course and sail off into the sunset.  I don't know the way, but
if you help me I'm sure we can find it together.  I'm in love with you and
nothing is ever going to change that."
   She kissed him again and they slept in each other's arms.
   Saturday, they slept until ten and Laban left her in the shower while he
got his equipment ready.  He pulled the truck and boat around and parked in
front of the house.  She was making lunch when he came in and he found
coolers.  He packed drinks, helped her find things she wanted and they left
for the lake.
   The Fish and Game department had stocked Lake Casitas with Florida
strain black bass several decades ago and they had grown to huge sizes.  He
guided for them, but what many people didn't know was that the lake
supported a very healthy population of rainbow trout.  Not many people
fished for them and they were easily caught.  He taught Andrea how to throw
the reels and she learned quickly.  Few women could throw bait casting
reels, but she had very strong wrists and mastered the difficult reels
quickly.  He put them on fish without much trouble and they caught sixty
trout by the time they stopped to eat a late lunch.
   She was having a blast.  He had a dozen live crawfish and he moved into
deeper water over an underwater hump sprinkled with boulders.  She took off
her shorts and t-shirt to reveal a red bikini underneath.  She was
stunning. Her long blonde hair, hanging down to the backs of her knees, her
perfectly formed body and her angelic face nearly caused him to abandon his
fishing and make love to her right there in the boat.
   He baited up two poles and let the crawfish settle to the bottom.  She
came forward and stood between his legs, leaning back against him in the
boat chair.  He wrapped his arm around her and they kissed while they
waited.  He heard the clicker sound and he picked up the pole.  The fish
made a run and he set the hook.  He quickly handed her the pole and she
fought against the heavy fish on the other end.
   She was astonished at the strength of the fish on the other end of her
line.  This was very exciting and her eyes sparkled cobalt blue as she
battled against the runs of the large bass.  It took her nearly ten minutes
to subdue it.  Her arms were tired and she knew she was going to have a
bruise on her stomach where the butt of the rod pressed into it.  She got
the fish alongside the boat and Laban lay down to grasp it by the lip.
   He swung it in and held it up for her.  She took it by the lip,
mimicking his hold and held it up.  He snapped a few pictures and she
returned it to the water.
   "Was that a big one?" she asked.
   "It was huge, Andrea.  Most bass fishermen never get a chance at
something like that.  It was over 15 pounds.  It may have been close to 18.
That's a huge bass."
   She danced a little step.  "Did I do good?"
   "You were perfect," he told her.  "Did you like that?"
   "I loved it," she said.  "Let's catch another."
   He laughed.  "It would be anticlimactic after that.  We're very unlikely
to catch one even close to that.  Let's go home and I'll cook the trout we
caught for you."
   She sat beside him and he opened the big outboard up as they skimmed
over the water.  She was laughing as her hair streamed back behind her like
a flag.
   He let her off at the ramp and she backed the trailer down into the
water so he could load the boat.  They secured their gear and drove home.
Laban cleaned the trout and put them in the oven to bake while he took a
shower.  He dressed quickly and made roasted baby carrots and red potatoes
in butter and rosemary.  Andrea visited his pantry and came back with a
good bottle of Chardonnay.
   "You're a very good cook," she told him as they ate.  They sat outside
on the deck and watched the fire he had built in the pit.  "This trout is
delicious and so is everything else."
   "I like cooking sometimes," he told her.  "When I have a gorgeous woman
staying with me I try to impress her."
   "Does it happen often?" she asked.
   "Do you really want to know?" he asked.
   "Well, yes.  I know you're older than I am and I assume you've had women
in your life.  I don't want to know details, just a general picture."
   "I've been an athlete all my life," he told her.  "That meant something
in high school.  I was an all-American for two years.  I was sort of a big
deal.  In college, I was a big deal too.  I don't know if you are aware of
it, but there are always what people call `cleat-chasers' around.  They're
usually beautiful women that just want to get a thrill out of saying they
slept with some star.  I was as young and shallow as you can imagine, but I
quickly figured out that they were sort of too skanky for my tastes."
   "I do know what you mean," she said.  "I'm aware that sort of woman is
around at school.  It's not so prevalent were I go because we aren't that
good at sports.  Still, there are some of them you see hanging out with the
athletes.  They used to invite me to their parties.  Somehow, getting high
and being used by a big sweaty man never did it for me.  They quit asking
after a while."
   He laughed.  "No, I don't imagine that would appeal to you.  You're
beautiful enough to fit the type, but you're sort of nerdy too.  I know
you'd appeal to them, but I can't imagine that they'd appeal to you."
   "Only one," she dimpled up at him.
   "Anyway, I dated some, especially some of the girls in the Philosophy
Department, but I never found one that really made me want to go out with
them a second time.  When I was fighting, it was even worse.  You don't
meet a lot of classy women as a fighter.  You meet actresses and news
people, but not usually the kind you'd want to take home to meet mom. 
After I retired, I met more normal girls.  I dated one for two years, but
in the end, I was too radical for her.  She wasn't interested in anything
much that I was and when she ran for the state senate, I had enough.  She
knew nothing about government and didn't care to find anything out.  She
spouted lines her handlers fed her and I was just a celebrity boyfriend she
used to appeal to the type of voter that likes sports figures."
   "How long ago was that?" Andrea asked.
   "Three years ago.  My sisters try to fix me up with their friends and
I've been out with them a few times.  I was pretty much comfortable with
that.  Just the occasional casual date.  I wasn't looking for anything
serious when I met you.  What about you?  I know you must have been quite a
target.  Anyone that looks like you and has the package you have must have
been constantly hit on."
   "I had a steady boyfriend in high school," she told him.  "It was more
like it was expected, than that I was in love with him.  He was handy to
have around to take me to social things.  We broke up my senior year after
prom.  I wouldn't sleep with him, and he wanted more than he was ever going
to get from me."
   "What about college?" he asked.  "There must be guys swarming around
you."
   "They did at first," she said.  "When I was a freshman, I was constantly
asked out and invited to parties.  I always said no, and they quit asking
after a while.  I don't spend a lot of time on campus outside class.  I
went out with an English diplomat for a while but it didn't work out.  I
was waiting for a huge redhead to sweep me off my feet."
   He laughed.  "Well, I'm glad it was me.  I was missing something
special. Let's clean up and sit in the hot tub a while."
   "I've got the clean up," she said.  "You cooked.  You just go get in the
tub and I'll join you in a minute."
   He was sitting in the tub when she came out, carrying two glasses of
wine and wearing a robe.  She handed him one and set hers down on the deck.
She slipped out of the robe and she was deliciously bare underneath.  They
drank the wine and relaxed for a minute.  He pulled her over against him
and held her with his arm over her shoulders.  She looked up at him and he
caught those smoky violet glints in her eyes.  He knew what that meant and
he pulled her lips to his.
   He reached out to cup one full little breast in his hand and traced the
slick little nipple until it sprang to attention.  He pulled her into his
lap facing him and kissed and nibbled his way down to the other nipple. 
She threw her head back and moaned.  Her hair was done up in a messy knot
and he wanted to take it down.  She objected to getting it wet so he picked
her up by her waist and sat her on the edge of the tub before she would
pull out the pins holding it up.  It cascaded down behind her as she leaned
back on her hands, thrusting her breasts out and making them appear large
on her tiny frame.
   He kissed his way down her body and she groaned as he parted the lips of
her sex with his tongue.  He found the little button of her clitoris and
teased it out of its hood.  He ran his tongue around it and it engorged. 
He took it between his fingers and caressed the sides as his tongue flicked
across the head.  She exploded into a writhing orgasm and he kept her there
for long moments.  While she spasmed, he moved away, probing her folds and
when she began to relax he attacked it again.  She instantly let out a
small shriek and convulsed again.  He repeated this twice more until she
tried to push him away.
   "Stop, Laban; you're killing me.  Oh God, stop; I'm too sensitive."
   He ignored her and increased his pressure and pace.  Her body jerked and
writhed, trying to escape the delicious torment.
   "Please, Laban; I can't... I can't... please.  Don't stop, don't stop: O
my God, Laban!" Her thighs clamped against his head and she bucked until he
couldn't keep his hold on her slippery body.  She scrambled backward away
from him.
   "Jesus Christ, Laban.  You nearly made my heart stop.  What was that?  I
told you to stop!"
   "Yes, but did you really want me to?" he laughed.
   "Well, yes; I did at the time.  I didn't want you to later.  You're a
horrible man!  You were torturing me!" She laughed and stood up on shaky
legs.  "If I get back in, will you just pet me and let me calm down?"
   "I swear," he said.
   She climbed back in and discovered instantly that he had lied.  He
pulled her onto his lap as she squealed and struggled.  Her struggles
quickly ceased when she felt his excitement against her and she locked her
lips to his as she positioned him and sank down over him.
   "You're such a liar," she whispered against his ear.  "I love you.  I'm
going to torture you now."
   If this was torture, Laban was happy to be tortured to death.  His angel
moved over him, setting his heart on fire as he loved him in the way that
only she could.  He stood up and carried her to bed.
   Much later, she was resting with his deflating maleness inside her.  "I
need to go home tomorrow," she told him.  "I've got a major paper to write
and I need to do well on it.  Will you help me?  I either need you to help
me or you need to stay here and not bother me for a few days."
   "I'd love to help you, but I can't," he told her.  "I've got clients
that I had scheduled before I met you and I need to make up some dates that
I missed while I was in the hospital or at your house.  I shuffled most of
them around to other guides, but some of them will only fish with me.  I'm
sorry, baby."
   "That's ok," she assured him.  "I expected this.  We're just going to
have to be flexible with each other.  I'm going to hate not being with you,
though.  Do you know that we haven't spent a night apart since that first
night?"
   "I know," he said.  "I don't know if I can stand it.  I've gotten used
to having you in my bed, Andrea.  I don't think I can ever be happy again
with it empty.  I'm going to come over tonight," he decided.  I'm going to
make sure we never spend a night alone again." 
  
A Hero's Reward