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From: "Bill Morgan" <morg1058@chartervt.net>
Subject: {ASSM} NEW from Morgan:CYNTHIA MARTIN 4 of 6 M/F Rom
Date: Wed, 22 Aug 2001 14:10:05 -0400
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<1st attachment, "Cindy 4.txt" begin>

The following is a work of fiction regarding sexual
relationships.  If you feel that it is illegal, immoral, or
otherwise improper for you to read this, then *Don't Read It.*

*  *  *

*Cynthia Martin*

*Copyright (c) By Morgan, 1991, 2001*

Please note the original copyright date.  This story was
basically written ten years ago.  As a result, you will likely
find obsolete references.  I'm afraid you'll just have to live
with it; it's too tedious trying to keep up with the latest and
greatest.

This book is part of the Ali Clifford saga and is a sequel to --
and much longer than -- _Call Girls._  If you haven't read it, I
urge you to do so.  Without having read it, the actions in the
first few pages will not make any sense.

Incidentally, you will find occasional entries, _word_.  The
reason for this is that MS Word's Auto Format function puts a
word preceded and followed by an underscore in italics; that's my
intent.  Similarly, *word* results in the word appearing in bold
face.  If you use Word's Auto Format, it will take care of
things; if you don't, you at least know why it's there.

More of my works are posted on my site <www.asstr-mirror.org/files/Authors/Morgan/www> 
If you like it -- or if you don't -- please let me know at
<morg105829@aol.com.>  My books are now also being posted on
<www.storiesonline.net> although at this writing there are fewer
of them than on my site.

*  *  *

*Chapter 26*

The first thing Cindy noticed when she drove on to the property
of Chicago Steel Company were the other two red Mazdas.  She had
talked with Dan Burke and he agreed to meet her at the plant. 
Checking her watch, she found she was fifteen minutes early. 
After parking her car, she walked over to watch a workman
signaling a crane operator who was moving scrap.  She stood aside
and watched in fascination as very small hand movements from the
flagman were translated instantly into very small motions of the
giant track-mounted gantry crane.

The flagman gave a shutdown signal to the crane operator and
started walking toward Cindy.  While still about ten yards away,
the hard hat was lifted off and beautiful auburn hair came
spilling out. _My God!_  she thought.  _It's Kelly._  The girl
grinned as she walked over and wiped her face with her sleeve,
spreading a big black smudge on her cheek.  Cindy just stood
there shaking her head with a wry grin on her face.  "Don't you
think this is taking customer service a bit far?" she asked.

Kelly grinned and said, "I just wanted to see what's under the
top layer of junk.  Want to join me?"  She flipped Cindy a hard
hat and put hers on again.

They made their way through a narrow path the gantry had cleared
and reached the center of the pile.  Kelly whistled softly as she
saw what had been uncovered.  The girl pointed out what were
obviously parts for steam locomotives commenting they had to have
been put there no later than the 1940's and likely much earlier
than that.  As they made their way out of the scrap pile and
headed towards the office shed, Kelly told her that the electric
mill was operating on the north end of the property and the
company was currently only handling scrap sales.  Arrangements
had been concluded to put in a small electric furnace and test
the suitability of the reworked steel for further processing.

The diversified corporation that owned Chicago Steel was
favorably disposed towards a management buy-out of the facility.
Although nominally quite valuable because of its lakefront
location, as a practical matter the facility had been written
down to a value of zero on the balance sheet.  Moreover, there
were grave hazardous-waste concerns affecting the salability of
the property.  As a result, the facility was considered a
millstone around the corporation's neck and its executives were
delighted at the prospect of getting out from under it.

Walking into the shed, Cindy was glad she was wearing a sweater.
It was cold.  There were only a couple of electric space heaters
trying to warm the building that was so flimsy it was almost
porous to the cold wind blasting in off the lake.  As she
entered, Cindy saw April sitting in the corner going over
financial information with a man she assumed to be the chief
financial officer.

A tall brown-haired man came forward with his hand outstretched.
"Hi!  I'm Ted Collins and you must be Cindy Martin.  I've heard
so much about you."  Turning to Kelly he said, "I don't believe
I've had the pleasure."

Kelly introduced herself and turned as a cold blast of air came
rushing in when the door was opened again.  Cindy saw Kelly's
eyes widen as a huge man came through the door.  He was over six
four and pushing 250 pounds.  He had black hair, piercing blue
eyes and a very friendly smile.

Ted Collins grinned and said, "Kevin, I'm really glad you could
make the meeting.  I wanted these folks to meet you."  Turning
back to Cindy he said, "I'm very happy to introduce you to Kevin
Cavanaugh.  I understand from April you're quite a Bears fan.  If
you are, I'm sure you recognize the name."  Cavanaugh was the
Bear's starting tight end, and was known as a fearsome blocker. 
Cavanaugh grinned and shook hands quickly, but it was apparent
his attention was drawn to Kelly.

He walked over to her and Cindy was fascinated by the girl's
reaction.  She appeared to be shy and almost fearful.  Ignoring
the others, he took both of her hands in his.  Then he released a
hand and gently moved a stray lock of her beautiful auburn hair
away from her face.  "Hi, Irish!  I've been waiting for years to
meet you," he said.  Then he tipped up her chin and kissed her
softly and gently.

The girl's arms appeared to reach out automatically and link
behind his neck.  Electricity just flowed between them.  Both
Cindy and April were smiling warmly as they watched.

They both winced a moment later when Kelly stepped back and then
slapped Kevin's face with all her might.  "You have one hell of a
nerve, you big ape!" she exclaimed with green fire flashing from
her eyes.

Kevin Cavanaugh just shook his head and smiled.  "Well, the name
is certainly accurate," he said.  "Only an Irish girl would greet
her true love with a roundhouse right."  Kelly started to
sputter, Kevin began to laugh, while both April and Cindy were
trying to stifle their giggles.

Cindy had never seen the tall redhead look so beautiful.  "I'm
not sure it's safe to ask, but where did you two first meet?" she
asked.

"I have never met this ape before in my life!" Kelly exclaimed,
"but I did see him drop a bunch of passes in South Bend before
Notre Dame gave up on him and sent him to the Bears."

Cindy found she liked Kevin Cavanaugh very much because he
reminded her of a bigger Dan Burke.  Kevin grinned and shook his
head sadly.  "Is that the way to speak of the future father of
your children, Irish?" he asked innocently.  "The fact is there
are a number of the Bears who will testify that I announced I was
going to marry you months ago.  I go down to Calumet City all the
time just to see you dance.  You're great!  And you have a
magnificent body, too."

Suddenly Kelly blushed red as a beet.  "Do you mean to say you
have seen me... _strip?"_ she demanded.

"Well, I thought it would help you keep your job if there were
customers in the joint.  I thought you were doing it for
customers.  I mean, you don't need such a public place to strip
just for me.  Isn't that the way you keep your job?  Pack the
place with customers?"  He grinned at her and asked, "And is this
all the thanks I get?"

The others just laughed and Ted Collins told them that, aside
from being a professional football player, Kevin was a
metallurgical engineer from Notre Dame, had his master's degree
and was well along in his course work for his Ph.D.  He was
considered to be the foremost authority on electric steelmaking
and electric-furnace quality control.  Furthermore, he had been
elected to Tau Beta Pi, the engineering equivalent of Phi Beta
Kappa.

Kelly murmured, "Oh great!  A guy who can only communicate in
equations."

Kevin looked at the three women together and quietly whistled. 
"You have to be the three most beautiful women in the world!"  He
grinned at Cindy and said, "Miss Martin, as beautiful as you are,
and in spite of how much I love blue-eyed blondes, I'll have to
take a pass.  You aren't quite tall enough for me."  Turning to
April, he shook his head and said, "Unfortunately, you share Miss
Martin's height problem, and I happen to know Ron Jackson is a
very jealous man."  Kevin looked sad as he continued: "He's won
too many games for us this year.  I can't afford to destroy his
morale by taking you away from him."  He looked at her with his
eyes wide and said, "I hope you're an understanding person,
April?  Everyone on the team says you are.  You do know, it's
just in the interest of team unity, don't you?"

April's eyes were dancing as she very solemnly said that she
appreciated the great sacrifice he was making.  He smiled a
beaming smile and said, "I'm so glad you two girls are so
understanding!  I guess that leaves me stuck with Irish, here. 
At about five feet ten, she's more my size, anyway.  You do have
a name, don't you?  Something more than Irish?"

Kelly just glared daggers at him.  Cindy said, "I'm terribly
sorry, Kevin.  I would like to introduce you to Kelly Kathleen
McBride.  Like you, she's a graduate of Notre Dame.  She majored
in English and philosophy and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa." 
She grinned and added, "Isn't it wonderful the way God works? 
Here she is, particularly strong in the area in which she
believes you're weak.  She can even explain the meanings of some
of the big words to you.  I think it's neat.  By the way, Kevin,
have you named your first six children?"

Kevin looked at Cindy very solemnly and said, "Only the first
four.  After all, the mother should have some input, don't you
think?  I thought I would let her name the next four and then
we'll collaborate on names for the rest."

Kelly just glared at him and sputtered with rage.  Finally, she
said, "Kevin Patrick Cavanaugh, I wouldn't marry you if you were
the last man on Earth!  My God!  You don't want a wife, you want
a brood mare."

The byplay between Kelly and Kevin stopped suddenly when Dan
Burke entered the tiny office.  Dan looked around and again
noticed how beautiful all the girls were.  He noted there was a
new addition to their costume.  All three girls were wearing
identical heavy gold link chains around their necks like slave
collars.  He had heard the story from Janice.  She had had one
made in 18-carat gold for Cindy, claiming all slaves should wear
collars.  The chain was a wide chain-link necklace that was very
heavy because of the weight of all its gold.  Then Kathy
Cartwright insisted all the junior slaves must have slave
collars, too.  The result was April and Kathy formed a small
club.  The catch on their necklaces was engraved with the ornate
letters C and S.  Kathy explained with a grin it stood for
Cindy's Slaves.  It was presented to every girl who served naked
as a slave at the Stewart's.  Dan found out that Kathy, April and
Janice split the cost and they were presented to all of the girls
who qualified.  He knew they were worn proudly as a part of the
uniform.

April took the lead in presenting the investment proposal to Dan.
 When she finished the numbers, he was astonished to hear Kelly
giving a detailed operational explanation of the way the
steelmaking operations would work.  In response to a question
from Cindy, she said she had worked a couple of summers in a
steel mill during college because it paid so well.  That was when
she became skilled in controlling a crane with hand signals.  She
grinned and said, "I was always so damned hot, maybe it got me
into stripping.  Coupled with the fact that the guys on the crew
would work stripped to the waist and razzed me because I
wouldn't."

Kevin said, "Why not, Kelly?  You have a beautiful chest.  What
were you ashamed of?  Or didn't you have your full bust
development then?"

She glared at him and continued with the explanation.  Ted
Collins then introduced the management team, explaining that
Kevin was a critical ingredient because of his knowledge of
electric steelmaking.  Cindy watched with pride as her people
made the entire presentation.  Dan then proceeded to comb it out,
asking every kind of question he could think of.  Finally, he
turned to Collins and asked, "Ted, is this something you and your
people really want to do?  Do you or your people have any
questions?"

"I don't, Dan.  We do have one, though.  People: we have enough
people to get started, but I'm a little concerned about staffing
up.  Do you have any ideas?"

Cindy smiled and said, "That's not a problem.  One of my other
officers, Kathy Cartwright, can line up three full staffs if you
ever need that many.  She has a line on top steel men from
Poland, Czechoslovakia, Germany, Northern Ireland, and the United
Kingdom.  There are some Poles she has spoken to who can't wait
to have the opportunity to make the best damned steel in the
world in the best country in the world!"  She smiled and added,
"They are really good steelmen and good workers.  Are you
interested?"

"Sam Smith can get you up to 500 blacks he'll personally vouch
for.  They will work!" April added.

Cindy explained Kathy's language fluency and guaranteed the men
would be ready as soon as they were needed.  Then Collins said,
"I guess that takes care of the staff, then.  Now all we need is
the money."

Cindy said, "The deal we're offering is $500 million.  $100
million will be for 80 percent of the equity; there will be two
investors.  The remainder will be bank term debt.  Chicago Trust
will put up $400 million, but there's another Chicago bank that
may participate with us.  You'll have 20 percent for your
management team and we will want to know how you're going to
divide it.  You'll have the opportunity to increase the
management holding to a total of 40 percent within ten years. 
How does that sound to you?"

"It sounds like I'm dreaming," Collins replied.  "How long will
it take you to line up the money.  And where, in Heaven's name,
are you going to find two people to put up $100 million?"

"That's the easy part," Cindy said with a smile.  "I mentioned
Kathy Cartwright, who is also in my division.  Half of the money
is hers.  The other half is coming from April's mother."  The
bankers smiled as they watched Ted and Kevin's jaws drop.

Kevin recovered first.  He looked at April speculatively with his
eyes dancing and said, "April, maybe I was a little hasty.  The
more I think about it, the more I realize you're really not
_that_ short.  I realize now I wasn't being fair.  A guy should
make allowances for the less fortunate.  And hell, a guy can
carry this team loyalty stuff too far."

April just frowned and shook her head, but her eyes were dancing
with glee.  "You're too eager, Kev... and too late.  Now I see
you only love me for my money.  I'm sorry.  You had your chance
and you blew it."

Kevin pretended to be crushed.  Ted had recovered by now and was
looking down at the table top, slowly shaking his head.  He
looked at Cindy and said, "I don't know what to say.  You're
telling us that two investors and a bank are willing to put up
half a billion dollars!  And the investors are close personal
friends, to say the very least.  Wow!  What a responsibility!" 
He shook his head again and asked, "What's the next step?"

Cindy looked at Dan.  "Dan Burke is the best financial analyst in
the business, Ted," she said.  "Dan, I want to make the loan. 
What do you think the reaction will be in the bank?"

"Instant approval.  This is a win-win-win sort of deal.  We do
something for the community, for the region and for the people. 
How can we lose?"

The discussion became more general with Kevin discussing the
economics of electric steelmaking.  It appeared they would be
able to sell at a profit with a price just slightly more than
half the delivered price of competition.  Then they took a tour
and watched through dark goggles as the electric furnace turned
out a small batch of steel.  Cindy was impressed with Kevin's
knowledge and, surprisingly, Kelly's.

As they were preparing to leave, Kevin took Kelly in his arms and
kissed her again, soundly.  Cindy shook her head in amusement as
she saw the unmistakable signs of the girl's knees giving way. 
Again, they all winced at the sharp sound as she slapped his face
and stalked away.  She saw Kevin slowly rub his cheek as he
watched Kelly move and noted the love in his eyes as he watched
her go.

* * *

It was now mid-December and the Bears were playing their last
regular-season game against the Dolphins in Miami.  Surprisingly,
Jan and Peter Stewart decided to go down to see it.  Because
Miami was out of play-off contention and its stadium was so
large, getting tickets was not a problem.  They had chartered a
plane and planned to take Dan and Cindy, along with Susan and
April, down with them.

In spite of her size, Cindy thought Kelly looked very cute and
woebegone when she came into the Stewart kitchen early one
morning the week of the game.  They were meeting to review the
loan proposal in its final form before sending it forward, but
Kelly had arrived over an hour ahead of the meeting.  As usual,
Cindy was wearing no clothes and Kelly quickly shed hers.  They
sat at the kitchen table with coffee and Cindy waited for Kelly
to say something.  It was obvious something was bothering the
girl.

Finally, still looking into her cup and idly stirring the coffee,
Kelly said, "Cindy, I have a great favor to ask: Could I come
down to Miami with you?  I would be happy to pay my own way."

"Of course you can, honey!" Cindy replied, "but that's not what's
on your mind, is it?"

"It's Kevin," she said softly.  "What should I do?"  Cindy
noticed that tears were rolling down her cheeks.  In spite of it,
she looked lovely.  Then she started to cry in earnest.  "Cindy,
I'm a filthy stripper!  Everyone and his brother-in-law has seen
me, has seen my cunt, and I've tempted them.  I don't deserve a
guy like Kevin!  But, God, I love him so!"

"How long have you been in love with him?" Cindy asked quietly.

"Since the first time I laid eyes on him," she replied with a
bitter laugh.  "In spite of the way I acted and what I said, I
always saw him when he came into the club.  He's pretty hard to
miss," she said with a tiny smile.  "I think those were my very
best nights.  Whenever he came in I danced for him alone.  I
would think about going to bed with him and having him make love
to me."  She looked at Cindy for the first time and said, "I
think our lovemaking will be exactly the same as yours.  You and
Dan are so beautiful together!  When are you going to get
married?"

Suddenly Cindy's face crumpled and she started to cry.  The
younger girl took her in her arms and Cindy buried her face in
Kelly's shoulder and just bawled.  Kelly just held the girl and
could feel her shoulders shake with her sobs.  Their breasts were
in contact and Kelly realized what a strange sensation it was. 
Both girls were in perfect physical condition and had very full,
firm tits.

Slowly Cindy regained control and said, "I don't know when we can
get married, Kelly.  Years from now, I'm afraid.  I'm going to be
a slave forever!"  Then she brightened and said, "But I
apologize.  I have him in my bed every week and the experience is
exquisite.  I guess I'm better off than you are."  She eased away
and looked into Kelly's green eyes and said, "You're still a
virgin, aren't you?"

Kelly's eyes widened for an instant and then she nodded her head.
 "I'm a complete virgin, Cindy.  I have never had a man
anywhere."  Then she looked at her boss and said, "Cindy, I've
been thinking.  When I come out here as a slave, I should be
paying you.  You and Dan give a course in lovemaking.  What
amazed me is the way you take him in your mouth and in your ass.
Both appear so easy for you, yet he's so huge!  I didn't think it
was possible.  You really like it, too, don't you?"

Cindy nodded and smiled.  "I sure do!  It's funny, Kelly.  The
first time I took Dan, it was in my mouth.  I think it was almost
like doing penance or something.  We used to fight like cats and
dogs, and I thought he was the dumbest banker in the world.  Then
I found out he's really the smartest, and I wanted to make it up
to him somehow.  Then I used to see Peter Stewart taking Jan in
her ass.  She actually seemed to love it, so I insisted Dan take
me that way, too."  She looked at Kelly and smiled saying, "Now I
want him any way he'll take me.  All I know is he can play my
body like an organ.  I guess it keeps me in shape.  The other
thing I can't live without is sleeping with my head on his
shoulder.  I just adore it."

Kelly just smiled softly, shook her head and said, "I just can't
wait!"

Then the others started to arrive and soon after they began their
review of the lending agreement.  While April was concluding the
presentation, Cindy's mind wandered.  When the girl finished,
Cindy just shook her head and smiled, although her eyes were
gleaming with tears.  "You three are too much," she said finally.
 "There's not a lending unit in the industry as good as you are.
I just sit around, practice my cooking, and nod wisely once in a
while.  I just thought it was about time to acknowledge what you
all are doing."

She turned to Kelly and said, "As for you, McBride, you're
receiving a raise to $85,000 a year.  You also get a bonus of
$60,000 and a promotion to vice president."  She shook her head
and added, "It's a good thing you're an English and philosophy
major and don't know a damn thing about banking, or I'd be out of
a job."

April looked at the girls beside her and then reached across the
table to take Cindy's hand.  "Cindy, you're too much.  You really
are!  'Nod wisely once in a while' I think you said?  Speaking
for myself, I didn't know what a loan was when I started work
with you and that was less than six months ago.  Kathy has less
time than I do, and Kelly even less than that.  Kathy is the only
one with any training."  She turned to her friend and asked,
"Kath, how much of your graduate education have you used?"

_"Used?_  You two had a big advantage: You started off knowing
nothing.  I had to start by unlearning most of what I thought I
knew!  All I know about lending you taught me, Cindy.

"But there's so much more!  You know Jane Keller was transferred
to the Trust Division.  Did you know she set a requirement for
accepting a transfer?  She did.  In spite of skipping her from
assistant treasurer to vice president, she would only take the
job if she could wear a modified Special Lending Division
uniform.  She wears a jean skirt and a jean jacket along with her
slave collar.  At the first opportunity she tells anyone who is
interested what it is and what it means.  It means she's one of
Cindy's girls!  That's the highest distinction in the bank.

"Incidentally, she stood the Trust Division on its ear.  She has
at least half of its customers clamoring to be assigned to her,
including all of our very largest.  Why?  Because she learned
from you what customer service means."  Kathy looked into Cindy's
eyes and said, "Are you starting to get the picture?  You're the
finest senior officer in the whole bank.  How do you measure
performance?  Loan production?  We're tops by a mile.  Loan
quality?  The next dime we lose will be the first.  People?  You
have the best people in the bank and they all love you. 
Promotability?  Our only problem is retention because Cindy's
girls are in such demand around the bank.  On the other hand, it
takes dynamite and double promotions, usually coupled with a few
threats, to get them to move.  Leadership?  Cindy, you're one of
a kind.  Your people, top to bottom, love you and worship the
ground you walk on.  They would follow you anywhere."

April picked up and said, "Cin, I don't think I ever told you
this: Emily Amelia called you a little twit the first day I met
her.  But before she died, she told me how much you had changed
and what a wonderful person you are now.  She couldn't believe
the torture you so obviously suffered with no bitterness at all!
I came to love and deeply respect that woman, Cindy.  I can only
agree that you changed between the time she first formed her
opinion and the time I met you.  I guess you know I love you like
a sister, except as I told someone, if you and I were sisters we
would fight one hell of a lot more."  There were tears streaming
from April's eyes as she concluded, "I love you, Cin."

By this time Cindy was crying.  She looked at April and said, "Do
you remember a promise you made me make to you when you started?
You made me promise to throw your black ass out of the division
and out of the bank when you couldn't cut it?"  She straightened
up in her chair and said, "Well damn it, Jefferson, it isn't
going to happen.  You know why?  Because you're the best damned
lending officer in the bank and, while technically you're deputy
division head, we both know you run the whole damned division in
your spare time.  April, thank you.  The bonus I promised you is
in the works.  It will be one of the biggest bonuses the bank
will give this year.  I promised, remember?  There's still a
problem, though.  I want yours to be the biggest bonus in the
bank, but Dad and the directors will only agree to one of the
biggest."

Then, with an effort of will, she grinned, dried her eyes, and
said, "Thanks, guys.  You're too kind to me.  You really are. 
But what the hell...  It's supposed to be fun, isn't it?"

Kathy smiled and said, "Speaking for all of us, Cin, I don't know
if it's supposed to be, but it certainly is fun working for you."
 She grinned and added, "Bill is starting to worry.  He says I'm
much too eager to leave his bed in the morning.  He thinks I have
something going on the side.  I guess he's right, too.  I have a
golden-haired, blue eyed dream that I love to be around.  Cindy,
you're a lot of fun!"

After the review, Cindy signed the loan recommendation along with
April and sent it along to S. Stratton White, the senior vice
president in charge of the heavy-industries lending group.  It
was going to him for information since the present corporate
owners of Chicago Steel were his customers.  From there it would
go to the Board for final approval.  There was no decision yet
with respect to a participation for Northern National.  Cindy had
decided not to make a recommendation, but to leave it up to the
Board for a top-level funding decision.

* * *

The weekend in Miami was bright and clear.  By now the Saturday
afternoon touch football games with April and Susan playing Mike
and Ron had become well known to the team and around the league.
A Bears assistant coach had made inquiries and the Dolphins had
found them a small park with a field suitable for their game. 
Because it was sunny with the temperature in the 80's, the girls
decided to buy white bikinis to wear for the game.  Kelly was
with them at the store and bought one, too.

When they met at the park, Kevin Cavanaugh was waiting with the
guys.  Mike said to Susan, "I'm tired of trying to throw to a guy
who's trained to bat passes away.  I want a guy who's paid to
catch them for a change."

Sue introduced Kelly who asked, "If that's the case, Mike, what
did you bring this ape for?  Notre Dame finally fired him when he
couldn't catch one.  But since he's so damned big and takes up
half the field, I can see how he might be useful as a blocker
once in a while, though."

When asked, Kelly immediately agreed to play.  Susan knew that
all of Cindy's girls were in fantastic physical condition and she
had heard about Kelly and Kevin Cavanaugh.  The game shaped up to
be fun.  The girls whispered together, and Sue grinned.  On the
first play, Sue rolled right after an apparent fake to Kelly who
loped out to the left flat.  Sue appeared to get in trouble.  Her
feet slipped and Mike and Kevin pounced, but she didn't have the
ball.  Just then Kelly lofted a left-handed pass that reached
April running in full stride.  She had appeared to slow down when
Sue was in trouble, but then blew by Ron to catch the pass and
take it in for a touchdown.  When she scored, there was a great
cheer from the sidelines.  Almost the entire Bears defensive unit
was there to cheer for April.  The cheers were mixed with
whistles because of the beauty of the girls revealed by their
tiny white bikinis.  The girls gaily waved to the sidelines
provoking even more cheers.

The afternoon was a long one for the guys.  Susan was in Mike's
face all afternoon, disrupting his timing.  When he did get the
ball away, too often it had far more loft than he wanted but he
had to throw high to clear her up-stretched hands.  On one of his
lofted passes, Kevin had to stop to wait for the ball.  As he
prepared to catch it, Kelly leaped high, batted the ball with her
finger tips and then caught the deflection.  She easily outran
Kevin down the field.  As Ron was about to tag her, she lateraled
off to April who ran it in the rest of the way for a touchdown. 
It turned out Kelly was as adept as April at catching the ball
and ran just as fast.  The result was disastrous for the men. 
Sue had a great time with two targets to throw to instead of only
one.  The result was the men's worst loss of the season: when
they stopped the game, they were down by five touchdowns.

As they were relaxing with their beer after the game, Mike looked
at Susan with real respect.  He asked, "Sue, I'm serious now. 
How in hell did you set up those pass plays?  When we were back,
you threw in front of us.  When we played tight, you threw the
bomb.  How in hell did you know what we were going to do?"

"I didn't," she answered with a grin.  "We just set it up the way
you described.  If a guy was playing tight, I threw by him and if
he was playing back, I threw short.  Isn't that what you're
supposed to do?" she asked innocently.

That night the guys hosted the girls at the girls' victory
dinner.  Mike grinned at Kevin and said, "Cavanaugh, welcome to
the team.  You joined us just in time to pick up your share of
the check.  In fact, Ron and I decided your share is half.  We're
poor.  We have these two vultures for agents.  How would you like
to try to live on two dollars a week?"

The girls laughed and Sue said with a sniff, "It's good for you.
It keeps you out of the bars and out of trouble."  Then she took
Mike's hand and said, "Because this is a special night, Mike, I'm
even making a special rule.  I won't even smack your face
tonight.  Aren't you lucky?"

Mike grinned and winked.  Kevin said, "Thanks a hell of a lot,
Sue.  That gives my Irish terror a license to really work me
over.  As it is, she has nearly broken my nose and loosened two
teeth!"  He leaned over and kissed Kelly gently.  He heard her
make warm, happy sounds deep in her throat and then very lightly
tapped his cheek with her hand.  "What happened," he asked.  "I
know damned well you can hit harder than that."

She smiled and looked at him with love in her eyes.  "I'm sorry,
Kevin," she said softly.  "That's the best I can do tonight."

The three couples were later joined by Cindy Martin and Dan Burke
and the four couples spent the rest of the evening dancing. 
Because the game was not scheduled to start until four o'clock
the next afternoon, the men didn't even have to be back at their
hotels early.

The first time Kevin held Kelly in his arms on the dance-floor,
it was like Heaven.  She was very light on her feet and just
rested her cheek against his shoulder.  Finally he asked, "Are
you happy, Kelly?"  She just murmured softly and snuggled against
his chest.  "I love you very much, darling," he whispered.  "I
always have.  Do you think you could ever come to like me?  At
least a little?"

She looked up at him and her eyes were glowing.  "Kevin
Cavanaugh, I have always loved you.  When you came to see me
dance, I was dancing only for you.  I wanted you to know how
badly I wanted you -- how badly my body needs you.  Like you? 
Cavanaugh, I love you desperately."  Then she buried her head in
his shoulder and started to cry.

Kevin eased her towards a dark corner, stopped dancing and just
held her close while he felt her shoulders shaking.  Finally, she
looked up at him and he gently wiped her tears away and asked,
"What's wrong, darling?  Why the tears?"

"Because I'm being too easy.  You know I'm a stripper and that's
at least two strikes against me.  Honey, I really want to sleep
with you tonight.  I can't tell you how badly."  She tried to
smile, but her tears had started to flow again.  "But honey, I'm
a virgin.  I really honest-to-God am.  I want to save it for our
wedding.  Do you mind?  I've dreamed of you taking me on our
wedding night for years."  Then she managed a small smile and
added, "What are the names you picked out for our first four
kids?  I already had my four picked out.  I wonder if there are
any duplicates?"

He grinned and just shook his head.  "I thought you accused me of
wanting a brood mare?" he asked with his eyes dancing.

"I did," she replied softly.  "I guess it's because that's what I
want to be.  Honey, I so desperately want to carry your children
in my belly.  She looked at him and just shook her head.  "Can
you imagine a basketball team of our very own?  With our genes,
the kids will all be giants."  Then she winced and rubbed her
abdomen.  He asked what was wrong and she replied, "I can see
them now weighing twelve pounds at birth.  Oh, my aching birth
canal!  But what the hell, this way I can buy maternity clothes
in wholesale quantities."

"Maternity clothes?" he asked in mock astonishment.  "What
maternity clothes?  What's wrong with flour sacks?"  He leaned
down and kissed her softly and then harder.  Her arms locked
behind his head as she crushed her lips against his.

When he released her she whispered, "I'm sorry!  I lost my head.
Naked, barefoot, pregnant, and with at least one child nursing at
my breast.  Kevin, I'll love it!"  She looked up at him and
whispered, "Isn't that a terrible thing to say?"

He just grinned and slowly shook his head.  "I think it's
wonderful, Kelly.  I really do."  Then he shook his head sadly
and it was her turn to ask what was wrong.  "What chance do the
poor kids have?  They'll be born with the map of Ireland on their
face!  By the way, I love the name, Kelly, for a girl."  He
pulled her tight and kissed her again.  He could feel the
electricity and the love flow between them. _God, I love this
girl!_

The next day the Bears demolished the Dolphins.  Mike connected
with Kevin for five passes, three of which he took in for
touchdowns.  It was his best game as a Bear, and established him
as yet another offensive weapon.  The defense held the Dolphins
to just one field goal and were very annoyed when they got that
late in the game with a near-record 58-yard attempt.  A very
happy group of Bears and their fans headed back to
Chicago.*Chapter 27*

On the Friday night before the Dolphins game John Smith was in
the pantry studying.  He had come to love the Jeffersons deeply
in the months he had been working for them.  Knowing how bright
and well-informed Mary and April were, he had vowed to complete
his college degree.  Tonight was a very different night at the
apartment: For the first time he was alone with Mary.  April had
gone to Miami and even Ronnie was away for the weekend.  The
little boy had been invited to spend the weekend with Kathy and
Bill Cartwright.  Instead of going to the zoo, a movie or the
circus, they planned to spend the weekend walking around the
ethnic neighborhoods where Kathy was so much at home.  Quite by
accident, they discovered Ronnie had a facility for languages and
loved the strange sounds and smells of the ethnic neighborhoods.
He alternately walked or was carried in Bill's strong arms. 
Smith smiled at the thought.

Then he heard a strange sound coming from the library.  It
sounded like a woman crying.  He thought about putting his
butler's uniform back on but decided against it.  Wearing slacks
and a sweat shirt, he padded through the apartment to find out
what was wrong.  As he moved toward the library he heard the
sounds more clearly.  His first thought had been right: It was
Mary Jefferson crying.  He found the door almost closed, but
pushed it open quietly with a feeling that he was prying into her
personal affairs.  Looking around the door, he saw her huddled in
a leather chair.  She was wearing a bathrobe that had opened wide
at the bottom fully revealing her beautiful slender body below
her waist.  As he watched her long slim fingers running up her
slit, the tortured sound of her weeping caused his heart to turn
over.  She was so lonely and so wanting.

Almost without conscious volition, he went into the library.  It
was significant that in spite of his giant size, Mary seemed to
be unaware of his presence as he came towards her.  Hearing her
tortured sobs was tearing him up inside.  This woman, more than
anyone else, had saved his life.  He would do anything for her,
including sacrificing his own life if necessary.

John went to his knees in front of the chair and spread her
bathrobe wider.  Gently he stroked her skin.  As he knew it would
be, it was like chocolate-colored satin, vibrant and warm to his
touch.  Gently he stroked the sensitive flesh of her inner thighs
and watched her legs spread wide for him.  He had no clear idea
of what to do, so he just continued to stroke her thighs.  In no
time he could see her breathing speed up.  In moments, her pelvis
started to jerk as his mere touch on her sensitive flesh was
enough to bring the poor woman to orgasm.

Watching, he saw moisture appear between her cunt lips.  He
thought she was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen.  She
was clean limbed and almost hairless except for a very small
dense patch of silken pubic hair.  He touched it with his fingers
and found it did feel like silk.  Letting his fingers roam, he
gently ran them down her slit, evoking a gasp from the woman.

By now Mary knew what was going on, but was powerless in the face
of her wanting.  Without thought she reached down with her
slender fingers and parted her nether lips for him.  Revealed now
was her beautiful pink slit and her clitoris, now rigid and
waiting.  With a soft wordless cry he lowered his mouth to her
crotch and started to lick her slit and tongue her clit. 
Whenever he made contact with her clit, she cried out with
wanting.

John Smith had never gone down on a woman before.  He had grown
up in a macho ghetto culture which held women to be subservient
to men.  It was up to the woman to prove her fertility and her
womanhood by becoming pregnant.  With welfare, marriage was never
even considered.  Now with Mary, his world was turning upside
down.  He wanted to worship her.  Dimly he recalled reading about
tribes in Africa headed by women.  In the tribe, the men served
the queen and Mary seemed like such a queen.

He continued to lick her cunt and found it was exquisite.  It was
so clean and sweet-smelling, and her juices tasted so good.  She
came again and again and again.  Finally, as she approached an
even higher peak of sexual excitement, he bit her clit lightly. 
As her cunt exploded in a flood of juices, Mary screamed and
fainted.  Very carefully, he licked out the juice and chased down
every drop.  Then picking her up like a baby, he carried her to
the sofa.  Then he sat down and rested her across his lap.  After
carefully closing her robe, he just held her close and gently
stroked her hair.

After a few minutes, he saw her blink and look up at him with a
weak smile.  What came next amazed him.  She pulled his head down
and kissed him softly on the lips.  It was like no kiss John had
ever imagined!  It was soft and gentle, yet filled with unleashed
passion at the same time.  He could feel electricity flow between
them.  Gently she disengaged, got off his lap, and knelt on the
floor between his legs.  Then she loosened his belt and
waistband, unzipped his fly and worked his pants off him.  John
was shocked when she carefully removed his underpants and
released his giant cock, now in a raging erection.  It had been
years since he had been with a woman and the previous events
hadn't helped.

She just looked at it and whispered, "John, you're beautiful." 
Then she lowered her head and began to worship his sex with her
mouth.  He couldn't control himself.  Try as he would to control
himself, he still had an involuntary release of semen.  Although
it embarrassed him, Mary seemed to relish it, licking it all off
the head of his penis.

Then she started to use her mouth as a vagina.  She started to
move her mouth up and down on the giant black rod.  It was so big
around, she could scarcely get her mouth around it. 
Nevertheless, she worked with a will.  To his astonishment, she
finally had taken him in to his full length, and began to run her
mouth up and down its length.  To him it felt like a vagina
except he could feel the suction as she worked on him.  He could
feel himself nearing release and didn't know what to do.  He
would choke her, he feared.

Meanwhile, Mary was gently kneading his testicles and relishing
the feeling of all of his semen trapped in the sac.  When she
thought he was about to explode, she squeezed his balls and
started to knead his testicles hard.  He exploded!  In spite of
swallowing as fast as she could, some of his cum still forced its
way out of her mouth and began to run down her chin.

After what seemed like hours, his pulsations slowed and then
stopped.  She rocked back on her heels and looked up at him with
a woeful look and said, "I'm sorry, John.  I thought I could
swallow it all, but I couldn't.  I hope you don't mind toomuch?"

He lifted her up like she was a baby and put her back on his lap.
 Then he began to lick the cum off the side of her face that her
tongue couldn't reach.  "Mrs. Jefferson," he asked softly, "why
did you do that?  It's not right for a queen like you to do a
thing like that."

She just nuzzled his shoulder and said very softly, "John, thank
you.  I apologize to you.  I'm sorry you heard me weeping, but I
couldn't help myself.  It's been so long -- over twenty years --
since I've been with a man.  Tom was a real man and you are,
too."  She looked up at him and said softly, "Will you take me to
bed now?  I had almost forgotten what it feels like to be a
woman.  And John, please call me Mary."

John was nonplused.  He didn't know what to do.  He rose from the
sofa and easily carried her into her bedroom.  She shrugged off
her robe and she lay on her bed waiting for him.  For his part,
he just looked.  She was utterly spectacular as she lay there
looking at him.  He realized she had the body of a girl twenty
years younger.  She lay back on the pillow with her legs spread
and reached out to him saying softly, "Please, John?  Please take
me."

He got into bed with her and she took him in her arms.  Moving
between her thighs, she put his rod between her legs at the entry
to her vagina.  Lifting her hips, she moved her body downward in
the bed and partially impaled herself.  He could take it no
longer and began to move inside her very tight cunt.  The feeling
was like nothing he had ever experienced in his life before.

Mary was feeling sensations she had forgotten even existed.  She
started to move her pelvis in tempo with John as he drove into
her and finally buried his shaft to the hilt.  Slowly he started
to move in and out of the woman.  In almost no time at all she
was reached her first orgasm, then a second, and a third and a
fourth.  Soon, Mary realized her body was drenched in sweat as
her muscles moved out of control.  Finally, she went over the
crest and could feel a flood of hot semen flood her vaginal
cavity.

When they recovered, she kissed him slowly and lingeringly.  Then
she asked him, "John, could I try something April told me about?
It's the way the Stewarts always go to sleep.  Mrs. Stewart puts
her head on Mr. Stewart's shoulder.  He cups her tit with his
hand, and she just snuggles close.  Could we try it?"

It sounded like fun to the big man, but beyond that, he was
incapable of saying no to Mary Jefferson about anything.  They
turned out the lights and she rested her head on his broad
shoulder.  When his hand cupped her perfect breast, she just made
warm sounds of pleasure.  In moments, they were both asleep.

* * *

With the late start of the Dolphin's game, it was long after
midnight when April returned to the apartment.  Ronnie was going
to be brought home by Kathy Monday morning on her way in to the
bank.  The apartment was dark as she opened the door, but she
heard sounds from her mother's room.  Making her way quietly, she
found the bedroom door ajar.  She saw her mother on her knees
taking John Smith's enormous cock in her ass.  The noises she was
hearing were sounds of intense pleasure.  Smiling, she carefully
closed the door.  Her mother was happy again at long
last.*Chapter 28*

When the Stewarts and Cindy returned home to Deerfield, there was
a package waiting for Jan from the bank.  She opened it and
flipped through the material.  Most was routine, but there was a
sealed envelope for Cindy which Jan passed over to her.  Cindy
opened it and scanned it quickly.  It was from S. Stratton White,
saying that the loan to Chicago Steel had been turned down.  He
indicated he would be available to talk about it at two o'clock
Monday afternoon.  Cindy was furious as she got ready for bed.

The next morning she confirmed her meeting with White for two
o'clock and then called April and Kathy.  She asked them both to
be ready for the meeting.  Cindy was starting on her chores
around the house -- she could now do everything in about an hour
-- when Jan asked her what she was going to wear for the meeting.
 Cindy was taken aback.  She hadn't given it any thought at all.
"Are you suggesting our uniform might not be appropriate?" she
asked.  Then she just shook her head and said, "It doesn't really
matter much; I don't have anything else to wear, anyway."

Jan grinned and disappeared, returning a few minutes later with a
lovely blue dress.  "Try this on, Cin," Jan said.  "I think the
color will look good on you."

As usual, and despite the fact that it was almost the first day
of winter, Cindy was naked.  She slipped the dress over her head
and Jan zipped it up for her.  Looking at herself in the mirror,
she saw the color exactly matched the blue of her eyes.  She
smiled at her image in delight, but then frowned.  "Where did
this come from, Jan?" she asked.  "I can't recall ever seeing you
wear it."

"It's something I picked up for my older sister, Cin," Jan
replied softly.  "Since it's early in the day and your brain
isn't functioning too well yet, she is you."  Smiling warmly she
added, "Pete and I don't know what we're going to do when you
leave.  You've spoiled us, you know.  Cindy, you're the most
giving person we have ever seen or heard of."  Tears came to her
eyes.  "Honey, I wake up sometimes crying.  I think of what I did
to your glorious body.  You'll carry those scars forever, and
it's all my fault.  Can you ever forgive me?"  Now Jan began to
cry in earnest.

Cindy took the woman in her arms and held her close, whispering,
"Jan, Dan and I talk about it, too.  He touches the scars and I
tell him how happy I am that they're there.  Without them I would
still be in the running for the title of the world's most
obnoxious bitch.  Except I probably would have retired the trophy
by now.  Darling Jan, you changed me for the better.  I'm still
skeptical, but a lot of people are saying they think I'm pretty
nice now.  I just hope they aren't all wrong."

Then she eased Jan away from her and grinned.  "But if you don't
turn off the damned waterworks, you're going to get tears on my
beautiful new dress.  Then I'll really kill you," she said.  "You
know something?  There's something to be said for being naked all
the time.  I never have to worry about tear stains."

Jan worked on Cindy's hair and fixed it the way Henry Hall had
done it months earlier.  When she was finished she grinned at
Cindy and said, "Slave, you cheat!"

"What did I do now?"

"You're using makeup.  At least, you're using two bobby-pins
which are practically the same thing," she replied with a grin. 
"Cindy, Henry Hall said it all.  Your hair is truly exquisite and
all you do is wash it, brush it, and hold it in position with
just two dumb pins."

Cindy frowned and then shook her head sadly.  Running her fingers
lightly over Jan's golden hair she said, "Oh, the poor girl! 
Jan, you're right.  If your hair were not the color of new-minted
yellow gold, if it didn't have its glorious body and wave, and if
it didn't straighten itself when you just look at it, it would be
dull, mousy and uninteresting.  You poor thing!"  She rose and
hugged Jan saying, "Janice Stewart, I love you very much!"

Cindy then called the other girls and told them she was wearing a
dress that day for the meeting.  When she was ready to leave, she
was a vision.  She was delighted that the neckline complimented
the only jewelry she was wearing, her gold slave collar.  When
Jan asked her about it she smiled warmly and said, "It reminds me
of whom I belong to."

Driving into Chicago, Cindy focused on the upcoming meeting.  She
hadn't seen Stratton White since the fateful day in what was then
Horace Paterson's office.  White was one of the division heads
Paterson had brought into the bank.  She remembered that she had
considered him to be the model corporate lending officer at the
time.  Then she reflected on the way her opinions were now 180
degrees away from what they had been in the spring and wondered
what the meeting would be like.

April and Kathy were waiting for her in her office.  She looked
at the two girls and began to laugh.  "You two should see
yourselves," she giggled.  "You look like two 8th-graders going
to their first dance with boys.  Two girls who are far more at
home in jeans, finally putting on dresses for the first time!"

The girls looked sheepish and then grinned back.  Both looked
like they could pose for a bank advertisement showing female
lending officers at work.  Kathy was wearing an
expensively-simple gray wool dress, while April was wearing a tan
cashmere suit.

Cindy thought of the image and started to laugh.  When April
asked what was so funny, Cindy said, "Just look at us.  We could
pose for a bank ad for affirmative action or some such bullshit.
Three women: one black, one Oriental, and one white."  She
laughed and said, "I ask you?"

The girls looked at one another and then joined in her laughter.
April smiled softly and said, "Cindy, you do know that's what we
love so much about you, don't you?  I really haven't thought
about being black or even female since I started to work for you.
 I'm convinced that you don't know or care.  You care very deeply
about the kind of job I do.  I have learned more in six months or
so with you than I could have in ten years anywhere else."  Even
though there were tears in her eyes, she smiled and said, "Cindy
Martin, you're just plain great!"

Kathy said, "I don't know about that!  I admit you're senior to
me, April Jefferson, but what have I received from this deal?  I
mean, after all, I _do_ have an MBA.  All I have to show for my
four months is a vice-presidency, a husband who I adore and who
adores me, a few hundred million dollars, and an incredible
family.  Where are all the benefits we were supposed to get? 
I'll never be a success at this rate!"

Then her expression changed and she said, "Cindy Martin, it's all
your fault, too.  I have one question, though.  Bill asked me
about it.  We want to name our first child after you but Bill and
I agree that Cynthia would sound a little strange as the name for
a boy, even if the poor kid is going to be Eurasian-American to
start with."  Then she appeared to brighten and said, "On the
other hand, odds slightly favor it being female and Cynthia
Cartwright would be a lovely name for a girl, don't you think?"

The girls went up to the Heavy-Industries conference room.  Cindy
was in the lead and was the first to see Stratton White.  When
she did, her stomach turned over.  He now appeared to be
overweight, obsequious, and a man who hid behind committees -- in
short, all of the things she had come to detest.

She shook hands and was introduced to the group of people he had
assembled.  In addition to all of his senior executives that she
expected to be present, there were representatives from Public
Relations and Community Relations.  White was seated at the head
of the table with all of his people sitting down the table to his
left.  They reminded her of a group of penguins arrayed in their
pecking order.  She sat between April and Kathy to his right, and
across the table from his staff.

He began the meeting by sliding the loan recommendation down to
Cindy.  He smiled a hearty smile and said, "Cynthia, I'm sure
it's obvious to you why this proposal cannot be approved.  It's
ridiculous.  It makes no sense at all."

"It is not obvious to me, Stratton," she replied coldly. 
"Suppose you tell me why you feel it makes no sense."

"Well... I mean...  What will the other banks think?  What will
the mayor think?"  Then looking at her meaningfully, he added,
"What will SHOVE do?"

April Jefferson replied, "Why do we care what other banks think?
They're competitors.  What does the mayor know about anything
besides ward politics?  And who gives a damn about SHOVE?  Mr.
White, perhaps you should know that my mother threw him out. 
Civil-rights leader?  Hah!  He's great at enriching himself at
the taxpayers expense."  Cindy glanced at the girl and saw that
her eyes were steely as she continued, "Suppose you tell me what
the bank should do?"

"Well," he said with an expansive smile, "That's easy, and it's
what the bank is going to do!  We're joining the SHOVE consortium
that's going to reopen the entire steelmaking facility.  It's
going to provide jobs for welfare people, maintain our city's
steelmaking capacity..."

"That's bullshit, Mr. White," Kathy Cartwright interjected. 
"What you mean to say is you hope to line up government
guarantees and at least get an origination fee out of it.  We
both know there's no chance of operating the steelmaking side of
that facility again, ever!"

White had recoiled at Kathy's statement.  "Who in hell are you,
young lady?  I expect an apology, immediately!"

Cindy began to laugh and shook her head.  "I wouldn't do that, if
I were you, Strat.  Who is she, you asked?  Her name is Katherine
Chang Cartwright.  She may be the largest depositor the bank has.
 If it's not her, it's her sister, Jennifer Chapman, or her other
sister, Janice Stewart, or possibly her mother, Allison Clifford.
 Let's just say she's directly related to the ownership of about
96 percent of the bank.  Now what was that about an apology?"

The man turned gray, verging on white.  He just sputtered.  Just
then, Homer Biggs from Community Affairs said, "But we have to
back SHOVE!  If we don't, they'll picket the bank.  They're
standing by and their pickets will appear at three o'clock unless
I call Horace and tell him we'll go along.  I have to call within
the next ten minutes."  The man was so nervous, he was visibly
sweating.

As he was speaking, the door opened and Dan Burke came in.  His
first words were, "Then I guess we'll have some people picketing
outside, won't we?"

Turning to White he said, "Sam, we're making Cindy's loan.  The
board of directors unanimously approved it this morning."  As he
was speaking, he stood behind Cindy's chair and started gently to
massage her neck, although his fingers were hidden by her long
hair.  She was stunned.  She knew from his first words that the
speaker was Dan, but with his strong hands holding her she was
unable to turn around to look at him.

Dan continued, "Sam... I should apologize, Sam.  I know you like
S. Stratton these days, but to me you'll always be Sammy. 
Anyway, your actions over the last couple of days have cost you
all your jobs.  Don Martin and I were wondering what you folks...
all of you folks... have been doing for a living lately.  Now
that we find out, we don't like it at all.

"Sam, do you realize the profit from Cindy's division
substantially exceeds your gross divisional revenue?  It does. 
Don and I are old fashioned.  We believe in backing winners, so
let's look at the track records, shall we?  First, loan
production: Starting from zero, her loans for the last six months
exceed your total for the last three years.  Loan quality?  The
next dime we lose on one of hers will be the first.  I don't want
to embarrass you by talking about yours.  People?  Cindy has the
finest staff in the bank.  Every person was handpicked and
personally trained by her or her senior deputies who are here
with her today.  They tell me she trained them personally.

"When one division head attempts to overrule the decision of
another in the other's field, he's sticking his neck out.  He had
better be right!  Sam, you couldn't be more wrong, so you're
finished as of today.  You may clean out your desk now.  As for
public relations and community relations, Cindy handles those in
her spare time with no additional effort.  She just performs. 
Therefore, gentlemen, you're also expendable."  Turning to Biggs
he said, "Homer, maybe Horace Washington will give you a job.  I
hope so.  Good-bye."

The heavy-industries people and the others filed out of the room
in a state of shock.  April winked at Dan and left with Kathy,
leaving Cindy and Dan alone.  He pulled up a chair beside her and
held her hands.

She looked at him and tears were streaming from her eyes.  "Who
the hell are you, Daniel Burke?  What just happened here?"  She
reached for him and he lifted her onto his lap.  She nuzzled his
shoulder and softly sobbed while he stroked her hair.

Finally she looked up at him and he said, "Cindy, will you
forgive me?  I guess I have been terribly mean.  The fact is I'm
executive vice president and chief lending officer.  You have
been working for me for quite awhile now.  I just didn't want you
to know it.  Do you mind terribly?"

Her eyes glinted as she said, "Do you mean to say that all my
work trying to find an inexpensive apartment has been wasted? 
You're really making enough to support a wife?  You have been all
along?  Even when I bought dinner, and felt sorry for you when
you walked all the way out to the house because you spent all
your money on my flowers?"

"Honey, I have never lied to you," he protested.  "I really did
walk out because I didn't have any money."  He grinned and said,
"I didn't tell you there was none in my bank account, though.  I
really did spend all the money I brought."

He kissed her lovingly and added, "As for the rest, you've been
doing such an incredible job all by yourself.  I thought it would
be a boost to your self-confidence for you not to ask me for
advice.  Do you really mind?"

"Not really, Daniel Patrick Burke," she replied with an impish
grin.  "Just remember, though, I _will_ get even.  I don't know
how or when, but I will.  Bet on it!"

Just then the conference room phone rang.  She answered it and
found it was a call for Dan.  He picked it up and in a moment his
face turned serious.  He said, "Just watch the doors.  I'll be
right down."

Turning to Cindy he said, "Biggs didn't lose any time. 
Washington and his pickets are starting to gather across from the
bank right now.  The first television news crew just arrived."

When they reached the lobby, through the glass doors they could
see numbers of people gathering across the street with
professionally-prepared picket signs.  Then they saw something
else: People of all types were starting to gather in front of the
bank.  They just stood and faced the pickets across the street. 
As Dan and Cindy watched, the crowd continued to grow.

* * *

Across the street from the bank's main entrance, Conrad Jensen,
the evening anchor for Channel 7's Eyewitness News program, was
at his microphone.  He was describing the unfolding events.  They
were taping, but an engineer was standing by in the newsroom at
the studio prepared to interrupt regular programming with a live
report.  He had just finished describing Horace Washington and
his SHOVE people, and said they were about to move into position
to surround the bank.

Then he noticed a change.  Speaking into his microphone, he said,
"Something very strange is going on here in front of the
headquarters of Chicago Trust.  People -- hundreds of people --
are gathering in front of the bank.  More are arriving as I speak
to you.  I have never seen anything like it.  They are people
from all walks of life standing shoulder to shoulder and
surrounding the bank.  They look like... like they're protecting
it!

"Wait!  I see a group of very big men all wearing Chicago Bears
warmup jackets.  I recognize Mike Cassidy, the quarterback, but
he has a lot of company.  I see steelworkers, mechanics,
grocers...  Folks, I don't know what's going on!  These can't be
customers of this bank.  Jane Edwards is here with me and is
moving in the crowd.  Jane, can you hear me?  What's going on?"

The picture cut to Jane Edwards, a Channel 7 reporter, standing
with Henry Kwan, the Korean grocer.  She said, "Conrad, I'm here
with a man named Henry Kwan.  He's a Korean immigrant who claims
to be a depositor at Chicago Trust.  He's here to protect his
bank.  Mr. Kwan, why do you call it your bank?"

Henry Kwan was very dignified as he replied, "Miss Martin and
Miss Jefferson trusted me.  They loaned me the money I needed to
expand my business.  They are friends of small business.  Miss
Martin is a division head and Miss Jefferson is my lending
officer."  He beamed with pride and added, "She was recently
promoted to vice president.  My family is very pleased."

"But Mr. Kwan, Chicago Trust doesn't lend to small business
people.  It only lends money if you don't need it... if you're
rich.  Horace Washington says..."

She was interrupted by Sam Smith who towered over her.  He said,
"Horace Washington doesn't know (bleep)!  That's wrong: He sure
knows how to take care of Horace Washington."  He looked at the
reporter and said, "You're Jane Edwards, aren't you?"  She nodded
and he continued, "My name is Sam Smith.  I served time for armed
robbery.  I'm sure not proud of that fact, but I sure am proud of
April Jefferson, Cindy Martin, and the whole damned Chicago Trust
Company.  Would you lend money to an ex-con?  They did."  Tears
came to his eyes as he said, "Do you know what just happened? 
I'm now a trust customer of the bank.  They're managing my
retirement plan.  Can you believe it?  An ex-con with a bank like
this helping me set up my retirement?  And they really are!"

Edwards was visibly shaken.  She moved to where she had seen
Bears' warmup jackets.  She found Charley Hodgins, the giant
290-pound defensive tackle of the Bears, and introduced herself.
She asked why he was at the bank.  With the camera whirring he
said, "Because it's my bank.  My bank officer is April
Jefferson."  He beamed and said, "She's my agent, too.  She's
really taking care of me and so is the bank.  I heard they needed
help, so I came down."

Just then the SHOVE group started to cross the street to where
microphones had been set up for the "spontaneous" demonstration.
The group around the bank building gave way only enough to allow
Horace Washington to reach the mikes.  He didn't know that his
supporters, many of whom were being paid to come out, failed to
follow, so when he began his speech he realized he was completely
surrounded by unfriendly faces.  His eyes widened as he realized
his people were still across the street.  As he watched, some put
their signs in nearby trash bins and started to steal away from
the scene.

But Horace Washington hadn't worked himself into his present
position by walking away from a fight.  Whatever else he was, he
was not a coward.  He began his speech: "Today we're here to
protest the racist, elitist lending practices of Chicago Trust
Company.  This bank deals only with the rich.  The people of
Chicago made this bank.  What has it done for the city lately? 
All it does is hold the money made by generations long dead for
the benefit of people who are the parasites on our economy.  They
just take -- they never give!

"We wanted them to help with the reopening of Chicago Steel's
great mill on the lake.  Would they help?  No!  Would they talk
with us?  No!"

Washington was standing with his back to the building, facing the
TV cameras on news trucks parked across the street.  As a result
he didn't see the crowd part behind him, forming a corridor from
the main entrance of the bank to where he was standing.  Cindy
had returned to her office when she saw the crowd gathering. 
Finding April and Kathy waiting for her, she quickly told them
what was happening and they changed into their uniforms.  Because
of the cold weather, they were all wearing parkas.  When they
came out of the door of the bank, there was an immediate murmur
of recognition from the people nearby.  Guessing what Cindy
intended, they moved back to create an aisle for them.

Cindy was standing on the steps of the bank as Washington started
to speak.  She heard the first words of his speech and guessed
what he intended to say.  The hood of her parka was down and her
golden hair was flowing free as she walked up behind the speaker.
 As they walked, Ron Jackson and Bill Cartwright emerged from the
crowd and followed them.

When Washington stopped for an applause line in his speech --
because his supporters had left, there was none -- Cindy spoke
up.  "I beg your pardon, Mr. Washington.  Did I hear you say our
bank has made no loans to the people of Chicago?  My name is
Cynthia Martin.  I'm a senior vice president and head of our
Special Lending Division.  I think I see a number of our
customers all around us."

Speaking into the microphone she shouted, "Would anyone who
borrowed money from Chicago Trust in the last year please raise
his hand?"

Suddenly, almost every hand in the crowd was raised.  There was a
tremendous cheer from the people as they did.  Washington was
visibly shaken.  She continued, "Did we give Mr. Washington money
ostensibly to reopen that museum of steelmaking on the lake? 
Hell, no!  What we just did, though, was to make available $500
million to install an electric furnace and start making steel
from scrap.  I want you all to know that Chicago Trust arranged
the entire financing package with no government money or
guarantees.  Not a penny!  I want you to hear from my deputy,
April Jefferson.  April is a vice president and my deputy
division head.  She led a group that did all of the work to
create a _modern_ steelmaking facility here in Chicago.  April?"

April went up to the microphone and looked around at the crowd. 
She asked, "How many of you have received financial help from
SHOVE?"  There was no response.  She persisted, "Surely someone
here in Chicago has received money from the organization.  I know
the Federal government alone gave them almost $20 million.  The
other banks provided millions more.  Didn't anyone here getany?"

A middle-aged black man pushed his way through the crowd to the
microphone.  April glanced at Washington and saw he was looking
scared.  The man said, "I borrowed money from SHOVE.  They were
charging me 30 percent interest paid weekly.  They had
bone-breakers who would come around and collect.  I have a little
furniture store in the community.  We sell inexpensive things the
people can afford.  Miss Jefferson, you came in one day.  You
lent me the money to pay off SHOVE.  I'm paying the bank a
floating rate three points over prime."

Looking around the crowd he asked, "How many of you know what
three over prime is?"  There was no response.  He continued, "I
didn't either.  It started with Miss Jefferson who bailed me out
of a jam.  I couldn't afford the interest I was paying.  Then her
people came around.  They worked with me on my business.  They
explained what a floating-rate loan is.  They helped me!  You all
know who they are.  They all dress like these women here.  They
all drive those red Mazdas."

He paused and then stood between Cindy and April and put his arms
around them both.  He shouted, "Who are these young women!?"

There was an immediate response from hundreds of voices.  The
media didn't know what was going on, but they heard an immediate
roar, "The Twins!"

The man continued, saying, "I'm Henry Jones.  You all recognize
these women.  They are 'the twins who aren't'!  Have you ever
seen two more beautiful women together?  One is white and the
other is black.  Have you ever seen a hint of racism?  Have you
ever seen a hint of charity?  All I've ever seen is a sincere
desire to help.  Do they make money?  I hope so."

He held his head up and said, "Do you know what makes me feel so
good?  The money is not charity!  It's not because I'm black or
in spite of being black.  It's because they think it's good
business.  I can't tell you how proud this makes me, and looking
around I can see a lot of others who are just as proud!"  He
turned around and said, "Horace Washington, you are a disgrace! 
What do you have to say for yourself?"

To the astonishment of the crowd, Washington, his eyes burning
with rage, started to swing at April Jefferson.  Before his arm
could come more than halfway around, Ron Jackson had interposed
himself.  He blocked the swing and leveled Washington with a
right cross to the chin.

As Washington was falling, Ron took April in his arms and held
her tight.  Turning to the mike he said, "No one hits the Twins!
_No one!"_  There was a thunderous roar of approval from the
crowd.

April turned and said, "Thank you all for coming down here this
afternoon.  We appreciate your support very much."  Then with a
grin she added, "Now why don't you get back to work?  How are you
going to make the money for next month's payment?  We need the
money!"  The temper of the crowd changed instantly.  With a great
cheer, they started to break up and move away.

April took Ron in her arms and kissed him tenderly.  "Thank you,
Ron, darling," she whispered.  "You saved my life.  He could have
taken my head off."

Just then Conrad Jensen and Jane Edwards pushed their way to the
impromptu podium with their microphones.  Jensen asked, "What's
this news about Chicago Trust and its lending?  Why didn't you
tell us you were lending to the minority community?  Why weren't
we informed?"  As he spoke, numbers of people started to gather
around, drawn back by the news people.

"I beg your pardon?" Cindy queried.  "We don't customarily call a
news conference to announce that we made a loan.  I believe in
your business, that's called a 'dog bites man' story.  It isn't
news.  Mr. Jensen; lending money is our business.  To whom we
lend is private between ourselves and our clients."

"But it's news when you lend to minorities," Jensen insisted.

"Why is it news?" April asked.  "We lend to qualified borrowers
who we believe will benefit from the money in an economic way. 
We seek out businesses which need money to grow.  When we make
these loans, we both benefit.  They make more money from their
business and we make more money for our depositors."

"But... But you're black!  And I heard you introduced as a vice
president..."

"I noticed that fact several years ago, Mr. Jensen," April
interjected dryly.  Miss Martin is white and Mrs. Cartwright is
Oriental.  So what?"

"But, you're in community relations..."

"I'm a vice president in a Chicago Trust lending division.  I
lend money.  That's all I do.  What passes for community
relations is just a device to create jobs rather than create
value.  I like to think I help the bank to grow and prosper. 
When I do that, I can grow with it."

Jensen and Edwards were in shock.  People pressed close trying to
tell their individual stories.  The TV news shows that night on
all three network stations opened with a feature on Chicago Trust
and the destruction of SHOVE.  Late in the afternoon, the Federal
attorney for Chicago had announced a grand-jury investigation of
SHOVE to try to find millions in lost Federal money.  It also
turned out that Chicago Trust was the biggest money source to
both minority groups and small business of all kinds in thearea.

Cindy and Dan were watching the show from the leather sofa in
Dan's office.  They had just made love on it and she was resting
with her head on his shoulder, after teasing him about having a
leather sofa to sleep on every day.  As they watched the
newscast, Dan pretended to be sad and said, "Well, you really did
it this time!  Now how are you going to work twenty-four-hour
days here and still take care of Jan in Deerfield?"

Cindy just snuggled closer and said, "I have a friend who's a big
wheel in the bank now."  She lifted her head and looked at him
asking, "You are my friend, aren't you?"

He smiled and caressed her breast.  She snuggled closer and
smiled happily.  Dan frowned and shook his head.  "I don't
know...  I guess so," he said sounding reluctant.  "But what have
you done for me lately?  After all, Cin, you're getting kind of
worn..."  He brightened and asked, "By the way, does your father
provide a warranty for parts and labor?  False teeth,
orthodonture, cosmetic surgery... that sort of thing?"

She poked her elbow into his ribs and then looked up at the wall
over the sofa.  There was an old portrait of a senior officer of
the bank from many years earlier.  She smiled and said, "Dan, I
have something for you for Christmas.  I want you to promise
you'll hang it right up there."  She pointed to where the
portrait was hanging.

Dan looked skeptical and asked, "And what, may I ask, am I
supposed to hang there?"

"A portrait of your mistress, silly!  And it's an original Vance,
too."  She looked up and said, "Promise?"  Dan just smiled and
hugged her.  Before long, they were making love again.

They both received smiles from the guards on duty when they
finally signed out of the building late that night.*Chapter 29*

It was only a week before Christmas when Cindy called April and
asked what the Division was going to do for a party.  Hanging up
the phone, April immediately called the dining room and asked
about scheduling a Christmas party for the division.  By now the
unit numbered sixty people and it was still growing rapidly.  The
initial response was laughter.  She was told in no uncertain
terms that the facilities had been booked for over six months. 
Hearing the news, April was ashamed.  It was the first thing she
had overlooked in the nearly six months she had been working with
Cindy and she knew her friend would be crushed.  Thinking she
would try some local restaurants, she idly mentioned to the
hostess that she would like to leave her name in case there was a
cancellation or something.

The woman laughed and said it was most unlikely but then she
asked, "To whom am I speaking?  What unit do you represent?"

"I'm April Jefferson, vice president and deputy head of the
Special Lending Division," April replied, giving her extension
number.

Suddenly, there was a pregnant pause at the other end of the
line.  The woman said, "Oh, dear!  I'm terribly sorry, Miss
Jefferson.  I didn't recognize your voice.  When would you like
to have your party?  I'm sure we can accommodate you."

April was amazed, but asked the date of the senior officer's
party.  Told it was at noon on December 23, April asked for five
o'clock that day.  The woman said, "Oh, that will be fine!  May I
send up a menu recommendation?  We're so looking forward to
having you."

Being the girl she was, April called Cindy right back.  "Cin,
something very strange is going on," she said.  Then she reported
the strange conversation with the manager of the officers' dining
rooms.  "First, she as much as laughed me off the phone.  Then
when I told her who I was, suddenly she could handle us anytime
we want -- or at least that's the impression she gave.  What's
going on?"

Cindy chuckled and said she would check.  Hanging up, she called
Dan's number.  Now that the truth was out, she delighted in
teasing him about being a credit analyst.  Nevertheless, he
always picked up if he was in his office.  Today he was and he
did.  Picking up the phone he said, "Hi, doll!"

"I beg your pardon, sir!" Cindy said imperiously.  "To whom do
you think you're speaking?"

"A blue-eyed, golden-haired cunt," he replied in a bored tone of
voice.  "They're the only ones with this phone number.  On the
other hand, which one are you?  There are a significant number
these days."

"I'm the one with the scarred ass and circumcised clit.  Does
that sound like someone familiar?" she asked acidly.

"Oh, sure!  I remember," Dan exclaimed.  "Let's see...  I'm
pretty sure your name begins with a C.... Charlotte?...  No. 
Candy?...  No!  Cindy!  You must be Cindy!"

"Right," Cindy replied, drawing out the word.  "Daniel Patrick
Burke, you _do_ know I'm going to get even, don't you?  I still
owe you for pretending you were still an analyst...

"Incidentally, I went to a NOW meeting.  It was a waste of time,"
she finished.

"Why was it a waste?"

"Because you hear so much chatter about women as a receptacle for
a man's fluids?  Well, I went to find out how a girl does it. 
I'm tired of being made to destroy myself with my orgasms.  When
I told them that you keep me in orgasm for over fifteen minutes
at a time and then finally persuaded them it was true, the
meeting broke up.  The women bailed out to try to find you, I
think.  And they never answered my question, either," she
pretended to grump.

Dan laughed at her story and said, "I'm sorry, hon.  Seriously,
though, why the call?  What's on your mind?"

Cindy quickly told him about April's report and he laughed again.
 "Well, what do you know!?" he exclaimed.  "I think we must
finally be getting through.  Your father and I have been on a
two-man campaign to try to get you and your unit some
recognition.  I guess someone must have been paying attention. 
Anyway, are you all set?"

"Yes we are.  The reason I called was there are two questions:
First, can we get a combo in to play if we pay for it ourselves?
Second, we scheduled it for five o'clock on the twenty-third and
I want to invite you to come, assuming we get some music.  You
know, Burke, I can't remember you ever dancing with me.  You do
dance, don't you?"

Dan chuckled and replied, "I sure do.  With all the grace and
charm of a trained bear dancing on its hind legs.  It's what I
remind people of, too.  Incidentally, knock off the shit about
paying for the band.  It's a bank charge.  As far as dancing is
concerned, are you sure you want to take your life in your
hands?"

"I'll take the chance, darling," she replied and hung up.

* * *

The evening before the parties, Cindy received a call from Mary
Martin.  She said, "Cin, would you do your father a big favor
tomorrow?  Please wear your division uniform to the senior
officers' party.  I guess you'll be there with April, Kathy, and
Kelly, won't you?"  Cindy said she would and was asked to tell
the girls to wear their uniforms, too.  Finally, she was puzzled
when she was told that there would be assigned seating at the
luncheon.  The hostess would have the seating chart.

The next day the four girls looked at each other and started to
laugh.  They were identically dressed complete with their
matching slave collars.  When they arrived at the executive
dining room, expanded to its largest capacity for the occasion,
Cindy was a little embarrassed to see everyone else dressed up
while her group was wearing their customary Levi's and work
shirts.  They found themselves seated at a table immediately in
front of the head table.  As the luncheon was being served, Cindy
was surprised to see Jan Stewart and Jennifer Chapman come in and
take seats at the head table.  Her father was sitting between
them.  When she was seated, Jan looked over at Cindy and winked
at her.

When the meal was finished, Don tapped his water glass for
attention and then stood up behind the rostrum.  When the room
quieted, he said, "Welcome and Merry Christmas!  Today we're
doing a number of things that are different from what we have
done in the past.  There are several reasons for this, not the
least of which is that the bank is now a very different
institution than it was as recently as last year.  First, I want
to announce that this year is shaping up to be the most
profitable year in the bank's history.  Second, on your tables
under the centerpiece you'll find envelopes with each of your
names on them.  Please pass them out and open them now.  They
represent year-end bonus payments."

Cindy reached under the flowers and found envelopes and passed
them out.  Opening her own she grinned wryly as she saw that she
had qualified for a bonus of 200 percent of base salary.  Since
the base salary was zero, so was her bonus.  From the looks on
the faces of the girls they were receiving comparable bonuses but
with real money.  She studied the bonus stub more closely and
found that the bonus formula was divided into two pieces:
divisional bonus and bank-wide bonus.  Each could be as large as
100 percent of salary.  When she caught Jan's eye, she daintily
stuck out her tongue and Jan laughed.

Meanwhile Don Martin remained standing at the rostrum waiting. 
When the sounds died down he continued: "I hope you all looked at
your bonus stubs carefully.  The information is highly relevant
to what's coming.  You see, today we're doing something else
that's new: We're announcing a new bank-wide award, the Clifford
Prize.  This is a prize donated by the owners of the bank: Mr.
and Mrs. William H. Clifford, Mr. and Mrs. David Chapman, Mr. and
Mrs. Steven Chapman, Mr. and Mrs. Charles P. Cartwright, Mr. and
Mrs. William C. Cartwright, and Mr. and Mrs. Peter J. Stewart. 
Since the Cliffords are the largest shareholders, the award is
named after them.  The Clifford prize is to be given each year to
that division with the greatest achievement against plan.

"Before I turn over the rostrum, I want you to look at your stubs
carefully.  For some of you, virtually the entire bonus is a
result of bank-wide results.  Well, when you're considering the
degree to which you should applaud the winner, I thought you
should know that _90 percent_ of the bank-wide profit was
generated by the winning division.  Expressed another way, this
division has contributed nine out of every ten dollars to the
bank-wide portion of your bonus.

"It is now my great pleasure to introduce the chairman of the
board of directors, Jennifer Clifford Chapman, to make the
presentation."

Jen was wearing a very simple but elegant wool dress in Christmas
red.  She stood at the rostrum and acknowledged the applause
after winking at Cindy.  When the room quieted she said, "It is
my great pleasure to present the first Clifford Prize to Cynthia
K. Martin and the Special Lending Division.  Cindy?"

As Cindy rose to her feet, all the officers in the room also rose
and began to applaud and cheer wildly.  She went behind the
speakers table and stood at the rostrum with Jennifer while they
waited for the applause to die down.  While they were waiting, an
easel was set up behind them and a veiled painting was put on it.
 When the applause diminished, Jennifer went to the picture and
lifted the cloth covering it.  It was a portrait of Cindy, April
and Kathy wearing their uniforms.  Cindy was seated while the
other girls were standing behind her.  Again there was loud
applause for the portrait that Jim Vance had done.  Jennifer
announced, "This portrait of Cynthia Martin, April Jefferson, and
Katherine Cartwright will hang in the lobby of the bank.  It's a
tribute to them and to the people in their division, as well as
to what they have achieved.

"Obviously, the unit has been very profitable.  But there's more.
 There was some concern about the reaction of our old-line
customers.  There should not have been.  They have been
tremendously supportive of our efforts.  We -- and they -- are
both very pleased and very proud."  Jennifer then took Cindy in
her arms and pulled her close.  "I would like to add a personal
note.  There's no person alive for whom I have greater love,
admiration, and respect than Cindy Martin.  It's fair to say we
didn't start off as the best of friends.  Now I like to consider
her one of my very dearest friends.  I would like to close by
saying this award could not possibly go to a finer person than
Cynthia Martin."

Don Martin returned to the rostrum and Cindy returned to her
seat.  He said, "There are a couple of additional remarks I would
like to make about her division's results.  First, loan losses:
There are none.  However, there is something all of you should
know.  When the special lending program was very new and before
we had any experience with it, the owners were concerned about
what the bank examiners might say about the loan quality.  Do you
know what they did?  They personally guaranteed all of the loans.
 They were ready to buy the entire special loan portfolio from
the bank at its face value and pay us a servicing fee.  In other
words, any risk in this portfolio ran directly to the owners of
this bank _personally!_  Have you ever heard of such an
endorsement?  Incidentally, the backing was to their entire
personal net worth, a sum of money that totals nearly _$10
billion!_  The bank, the other depositors, and the FDIC couldn't
possibly lose.

"On the other hand, we did have problems with the examiners
regarding this portfolio.  It's not quite the problem we
anticipated, however.  You see, the examiners questioned why we
have _any_ loan loss reserves, pointing out -- correctly -- that
we have not yet lost a dime!  However, I don't want you to think
my daughter has no problems.  She certainly does.  Her problem is
keeping her loans on the books.  The first loan she made was
about six months ago.  It was a five-year term loan to fix up a
restaurant in Deerfield."

Turning to his daughter, Don said, "Cindy, I have bad news for
you.  The Legrands are here today."  Turning back to the group he
said, "Please welcome the very first customers of the Special
Lending Division, Marcel and Marie Legrand."  The two came in
arm-in-arm.  Cindy noticed that Marie's abdomen was starting to
bulge -- obviously she was now expecting a baby.  Don Martin
greeted them both warmly and then said, "Cindy, this concerns
you.  Come back up here, please."

Again she made her way up to the rostrum and was greeted warmly
by the Legrands.  She whispered congratulations to Marie who
kissed her warmly.  Marcel went to the microphone and said,
_"Joyeaux Noel_ -- Merry Christmas!  It was about six months ago
when a very handsome couple came into our restaurant.  The young
woman had obviously been trained as a _cordon bleu_ chef because
she critiqued my menu.  A few days later they returned and
noticed the improvements we had made as a result of her
suggestions.  Then I was shocked.  She prepared the finest
croissants I have ever eaten followed by an omelette that was
truly a masterpiece.  We listened to her advice and then she
offered to lend us the money we needed to make our plans a
reality.  We didn't believe it.  Who ever heard of a banker who
could cook?  But then two days later, dressed as you see her now,
she returned with a check."

Turning to Cindy he said, "Today I have something for you."  With
that he presented her with a check paying off the loan in full.

Cindy accepted the check and gave it to her father.  "What are
you going to do now, Cin?" he asked with his eyes gleaming. 
"What if all your customers repay us way in advance?  How can we
make any money?"

"Dad, I guess I'll just have to prospect harder for new
customers," she replied.  She kissed the two Legrands and
congratulated them both on the success of their restaurant and
the forthcoming birth of their child.

At this point Marie Legrand went to the microphone and addressed
the group: "As some of you can see, Marcel and I are expecting
our first child.  We're overcome with excitement.  Our child will
be a native-born American!  He or she might become president of
the United States.  I want you to know how proud we both are to
be in this country.  Marcel and I have talked about it often
because nothing like this could ever happen in France.  A banker
_coming to our restaurant_ to lend us money?  Impossible!  It
would never happen.  But in America it does... and it did." 
Turning to her friend she said, "Cindy, thank you!  From the
bottom of our hearts, thank you."

Don Martin returned to the podium and Cindy returned to her seat.
 He said, "There's more to this group, though.  Cindy has the
outstanding group of lending officers in the bank.  As a matter
of fact, I guess we're rethinking the qualifications to be a
lending officer in this bank.  You see, her deputy division head
started work at the bank less than nine months ago... as a
receptionist!  I have a few bones to pick with April Jefferson,
though.  Not only is she the finest lending officer the bank has
ever had, she even develops a little business on the side.  You
all have heard about banks supporting civic activities?  Well,
April got a little carried away.

"What really builds civic pride?  A winning major-league sports
franchise, right?  What's the biggest sports event of the year? 
The Super Bowl.  And who's going to the Super Bowl?  The Chicago
Bears... courtesy of April Jefferson.  She was doing it in her
spare time, of course.  Here with me today is Jim Clancy, the
general manager of the Chicago Bears to tell you about it. Jim?"

As he finished speaking, Jim Clancy entered the room and strode
over to the podium.  He greeted Don and Dan Burke warmly, as well
as Jan and Jennifer who he had come to know as guests of the
McCaskeys.  He addressed the group: "A few months ago I received
a call from a young woman who introduced herself as April
Jefferson.  She told me she was Ron Jackson's new agent and asked
if she could come over and meet me.  I soon found out that, in
addition to being Ron's agent, she was one of 'the twins who
aren't.'

"Who are they?  Well, I guess the group is much larger now.  A
few months ago, it was just two young women.  They were utterly
beautiful and drove around Chicago in a red Mazda.  The word was
on the street that if you were a small business man who needed
some money to grow, the Twins would find you.  They would provide
the you with money, advice... anything.  April Jefferson is one
of the twins, of course, and Cindy Martin is the other.  One
white, the other black.

"At any rate, when I met April, we got along pretty well and I
asked her if she would be interested in representing some of the
other players.  She was and did."  Turning towards the door he
said, "Hey guys!  Come on in."

Virtually the entire Bears defense came in wearing their warmup
jackets.  Trailing in behind the group were Mike Cassidy with
Susan Bradford and Kevin Cavanaugh.  They formed a semicircle
behind the speakers rostrum as Clancy continued.

"April Jefferson turned around our defense.  For the first time
in memory they had no off-the-field problems so they could -- and
did -- concentrate on their work.  Did she stop there?  Oh, no! 
Not her.  For the first half of the season, our offense was a
no-show.  April didn't think that was fair so she takes care of
our quarterback.  How?  She introduces Mike Cassidy to her
sister.  Her sister, Susan Bradford, is now Mike's agent,
quarterback coach, and fiancee.  She's here with me now.  Susan,
will you say a few words?"

Susan went to the microphone and said, "Thanks, Jim.  And thank
you for the introduction."  Looking out at the crowd, she said,
"Jim introduced me as April's sister.  As you can see, she has a
deeper suntan than I do."  There was laughter from the group. 
"However, I think it says something about the bank and its
people.  I studied the painting behind me as Jim was speaking. 
It sort of looks like 'affirmative action comes to Chicago,'
doesn't it?  There are three women: one white, one black, and one
Oriental.  It's anything but.  I happen to know that this
institution and its people are truly color-blind.  I live with
April, her mother, and her son.  I'm now an adopted member of the
family and love it... and love them.

"Now I would like to introduce you to a friend of mine.  I'm
trying to teach him how to throw a football and he's starting to
get the hang of it.  I would like to introduce my friend, Mike
Cassidy."

Cassidy, after acknowledging the applause, told of the weekend
football games.  He said, "I don't really understand it.  It
looks like we're going to the Super Bowl, but I don't know how we
can.  You see, we do all right against the NFL teams, but there
is another team we have a big problem with.  It's composed of
several young ladies with my friend here as the quarterback.  Her
other team members are vice presidents of this bank.  Not only
can't we seem to beat them, we keep getting worse!  The last time
out I think we lost by about five touchdowns!

"We've given some thought to enlarging our squad but have been
advised against it.  You see, we're up against some real squad
depth.  I have been told that there are a few other girls --
Cindy, Kathy, Jan, Jen -- who may be even better than the ones
playing.  All I know is they kill us.  But the funny thing is the
worse we do against them, the better we do against the NFLteams.

"There's a little more, though.  Susan is my agent.  As a
condition of her accepting the assignment, I have to get an
education.  You see, she's a Phi Beta Kappa from Smith College. 
In addition, she's the most beautiful girl I have ever met.  With
a lot of luck, she'll marry me someday and be the mother of my
children.  Maybe the kids can get some coordination from their
mother, as well as some brains."  He grinned and added, "The
problem is I can't really think of what I bring to the party. 
Oh, well.  It's said 'love is blind.'  Maybe Susan won't notice."
 With that he waved, then took Susan in his arms and kissed her
soundly.  When he released her, she started to slap his face but
then just kissed him back to cheering from the crowd.

When Don went back to the rostrum, he held up his hands for
quiet, then continued: "There's more.  I would like to introduce
another district head in the Special Lending Division.  Before I
do, though, I should tell you we haven't been able to figure out
how Cindy organizes her division.  We can't figure out what a
district really is.  It may have something to do with language
capability, but that doesn't seem to work, either.  You see,
another district head is Kathy Cartwright.  Kathy comes to us by
way of Hong Kong, Hanoi, and Shanghai.  If there's a braver
person alive than Kathy, I've never heard of her.  She made her
way here after having been enslaved and tortured for three years
beginning when she was only ten years old.  Kathy, it seems, now
speaks so many languages I don't think even she knows how many
there are.  The number is somewhere upwards of twenty, though. 
More about her in a minute.

"But back to the Division.  Kelly McBride, will you please come
to the rostrum?"  Kelly was surprised but rose gracefully and
joined Don.  He looked at her and just quietly whistled.  Then he
said, "I told you how April Jefferson was a receptionist?  Kelly
applied for that job to earn more money but was turned down.  She
was a personnel officer at the time.  Anyway, my daughter took
her into the division a short time ago and she's also now a
district head.  What has she done?  Not much.  Her first loan was
for $500 million for the new steel facility on the lake.  Don't
argue with her, by the way.  She really can make steel.

"Dedication?  It seems there's one person absolutely critical to
the process: the metallurgical engineer.  So what is she doing? 
It's my understanding she's going to marry him."

He turned around and motioned Kevin Cavanaugh to join them. 
Kevin stood behind Kelly and put his arms around her waist.  She
made soft sounds and leaned back against him.  Don said, "Have
you ever seen anything like this?  Kelly is five feet ten, by the
way.  You can see how big Kevin Cavanaugh is.  In his spare time
he's the Bear's tight end.  I have it on good authority that my
daughter told Kelly she didn't have to marry Kevin just to keep
an eye on the loan, but she said it was too important to take a
chance."  He shook hands with the two and they both returned to
the table with Kevin pulling up an extra chair for himself.

"Finally, I want to introduce Kathy Cartwright and her husband,
Bill.  Poor Bill is one of the few men in the division.  However,
he, too, has an extraordinary language capability.  Bill was in
Special Forces in Vietnam.  He was imprisoned for fourteen years!
 He was returned to the States only this year and was awarded the
Medal of Honor, the highest award our nation can bestow for
gallantry in action.  Incidentally, the action saved the lives of
Dan Burke and his men.  I can't tell you how proud we are of
these two young people.  It seems they met when he was imprisoned
and Kathy was only ten years old.  They fell in love and were
married a few months ago.  All I can say is if their children
have only a small fraction of the courage of their parents, as a
nation we're in pretty good shape."

He looked up from his notes and concluded by saying, "That's the
Special Lending Division.  I'll make only one final remark.  It's
headed by my daughter, Cynthia.  Speaking for her brand-new
mother and myself, all I can say is we could not be more pleased
nor more proud of her.  She has done it by herself under
conditions which are not to be believed.  Thank you all, and
Merry Christmas!"

* * *

A little before five, April had changed into her dress for the
party and gone up to the executive dining floor where the
division's party was scheduled to be held.  She wanted to check
with the hostess to ensure that arrangements were all set.  The
woman was standing with a number of her staff and a heated
argument seemed to be in progress.  Seeing April, the woman came
rushing over with her hand outstretched.  "Miss Jefferson, I'm
Patricia Barnes.  I'm so happy to meet you and we're so happy
you're having your division's party here with us this evening." 
April just looked at the group of staff people still standing
around and waiting for Barnes to return.

The woman blushed and shook her head saying, "I'm sorry you saw
that, but I think you may be getting the wrong idea.  You see,
it's close to Christmas, so we don't like to order our staff to
stay late for a function.  We usually ask for volunteers, but
that created the problem.  You see, I made the mistake of telling
them that it was the Special Lending Division's party."

April's brow knitted in puzzlement.  She didn't know what the
woman was talking about.  Barnes blushed even deeper and said,
"Good grief, I'm really making a mess out of this.  You see, the
entire staff volunteered.  To discourage them, I said there was
no set time for the party to end, and from what we hear about the
people in your division, I expect it to run until all hours in
the morning.  The result is that the people who are working are
not accepting any pay.  The people over there who were protesting
are the people who weren't chosen."

April was stunned.  She said, "Do you mean to tell me that those
people are complaining because you won't allow them to work for
nothing!?"  The woman just nodded her head.  "I don't understand.
 How could that be?"

Now the woman smiled easily and April saw she was a very
attractive woman.  She replied, "Miss Jefferson, surely you know
where we get our restaurant staff?  Many are immigrants or
children of immigrants.  It seems that we don't have a person on
the staff who doesn't have at least a good friend that your
division has helped.  Most have a family member.  The feeling is
that it's the least they can do after all you have done for them.
 Then, of course, there's the Christmas bonus.  In the envelope,
there was a note from Mr. Martin saying that 90 percent of the
money to pay the bonus was generated by you people, so they feel
they have already been very well paid."

Again the woman reddened slightly and showed April the menu.  She
said, "I know you and I went over the menu, but our chef didn't
think it was nearly good enough.  He has made some substitutions.
 Incidentally, there's no charge.  It seems that you have also
helped almost all of our food suppliers over the last six months
and they insisted on making it a Christmas gift."  She looked
into April's eyes and said, "I hope you and Miss Martin will take
this the right way.  It's not a bribe or anything.  They just
want to say thank-you! I hope you don't mind?"

April just shook her head.  A few minutes later the people from
the Division -- almost entirely female -- began to arrive with
husbands and boyfriends.  What followed was conceded to be the
finest party ever held at the bank in its history.  Drinks were
served with a seemingly endless supply of hors d'oeuvres.  A trio
was playing softly during the cocktail period.  Then they sat
down to a banquet.  At Cindy's insistence, April was acting as
mistress of ceremonies while Cindy and Dan sat at the very end of
the head table.  Cindy was trying to be as unobtrusive as
possible.

When the dinner was served, April tapped on her glass for
attention and rose to her feet.  She raised her wine glass and
said, "Ladies and gentlemen, please join me in a toast.  We're
gathered this evening for a Christmas celebration and also to
celebrate our very successful year.  As you know, our division is
really not even six months old.  At noon today we heard that we
have had a very successful year.  Because of your performance, I
believe it has been a personally successful year for each of you
as well.  Now I want to offer a toast to the person who did it
all... who made us the success we are.  I want to tell you
something else tonight that almost no one else knows.  This
person, who is responsible for our success has been doing it for
_no money!_  None!  Not a dime!  I happen to know she even uses
money she makes babysitting to pay for the gas in her car, as
well as parking, tolls, and the rest of it.

"I want to offer a toast to the finest division head the banking
industry has ever seen: Cynthia Katherine Martin!"  Turning
towards the end of the table she raised her glass and added,
"Cindy, we love you!"

Instantly there was pandemonium in the room as everyone jumped to
their feet and began to applaud and then cheer.  Meanwhile at the
end of the table, Cindy first looked down at her plate and then
tried to hide in Dan's broad shoulder.

He whispered in her ear, "Honey, you have to go up there and say
something.  This is a tribute to you and, damn it, you deserve
it!"

She rose from her chair and went to the center of the table where
April was waiting for her.  As she came closer, April took her in
her arms and gave her a warm kiss, whispering, "Cindy, I love
you...  We all do!"

Cindy stood at the microphone and waited for the applause to die
down.  When it did, she said, "Thank you, April.  I don't deserve
this.  I really don't.  The people who deserve the applause are
April herself, Kathy Cartwright, and Kelly McBride.  They're the
ones who really make the division go.  But most of all, the one
who deserves it is my lover, Dan Burke.  All I know about banking
and making loans -- what little that is -- I owe to him.  A
little of what he tried to teach me about banking finally sank
in."  She turned and looked back towards where Dan was sitting
and raised her glass saying, "Darling, thank you from the bottom
of my heart!"

Again there was applause and cheering as she returned to her
seat.  Dan was on his feet waiting for her to return.  When she
did, he took her in his arms and kissed her passionately.  As her
knees started to turn to water, Cindy was dimly aware of
redoubled cheering.

Later they danced together.  In spite of what Dan had said, she
found he was an excellent dancer and she just loved being held in
his arms.  It was the best party she had ever attended.*Chapter
30*

The next day, Christmas Eve, April inadvertently almost started a
riot in the Division.  She casually mentioned that there was
going to be a big Christmas party the next day at the Stewart's
and it would be nice if a couple of the girls would be willing to
work.  She said she realized it was Christmas, but...  Everyone
in earshot immediately volunteered.  In moments the word had
spread and virtually the entire division -- who were almost all
present in the bank because it was Christmas Eve -- volunteered.

April managed to avoid a mutiny by using one of the division's
computer experts to set up a system using a random-number
generator to pick out five numbers.  Those girls whose numbers
matched were the ones who would work.  However, it turned out
that only four volunteers would be able to work -- the last of
the five girls selected was left out because Kelly McBride pulled
rank and insisted that she would work on Christmas herself. 
April grinned wryly, shook her head, and put her in charge of the
detail for the next day.

Meanwhile, Cindy hadn't gone in to work at the bank.  Rather, she
was in Deerfield preparing for the feast on the following day. 
The whole Clifford family was gathering at the Stewart's for
Christmas.  While she was working in the kitchen, Janice Stewart
came in and lightly ran her fingers over the scars on Cindy's
buttocks.  When Cindy looked over her shoulder, Jan kissed her
softly and lovingly.  Cindy was surprised to see there were tears
in the girl's eyes as she said, "Darling Cin, I have a favor to
ask.  The favor is for Pete and me both."

"Of course, Jan.  Anything.  What is it?" she replied.

"May we have a plastic surgeon remove these terrible scars I
inflicted on your body?  Of course Pete and I will pay for it. 
We have a surgeon in Los Angeles all lined up through Mom.  He's
reputed to be the very finest in the world at this sort of
thing."

There was love in her eyes, but Cindy just shook her head
stubbornly and said, "Jan, anything else.  But that's something I
just can't do, even if it means extending my indenture to you
some more, or even accepting more lashes for disobedience."

Tears appeared in her eyes but she tried to grin as she added,
"Dan says the scars on my ass provide a non-slip surface.  If
they were removed he wouldn't have anything to hold on to
anymore.  He says I always get slippery with my sweat when he's
making love to me."  She looked into Jan's eyes and said,
"Darling Jan, I need the scars.  I really do.  They're a constant
reminder of what an unmitigated little shit I used to be and they
also serve as a warning that if I'm not careful I could become
again.  If that happened, I would lose Dan, first of all, and you
know I couldn't go on living if that happened.  Then I would lose
all my friends: you, April, Kathy...  I could go on and on but
you get the idea.  Jan, please don't ask me!"

Jan held Cindy close and started to cry.  She whispered in the
girl's ear, "You don't know what seeing those scars does to me,
though!  Cindy Martin, you're the most beautiful girl in the
whole world.  What I did to you was utterly beyond belief." 
Tears were streaming down her face as she continued, "I still
remember that terrible night here in the kitchen.  You stood
right over there with your back to me while I uncoiled the whip
between your legs.  Then I cracked it and you let out the most
ungodly scream.  I almost cut you in half in the most tender,
most sensitive part of your body.  You collapsed to the floor but
then just got back on your feet again.  Darling, blood was
pouring from your cunt but you just stood there.  I would have
been curled up in a ball on the floor, if I could have taken even
one stroke!  To this day, Pete and I don't know how you were able
to do it."

Cindy stroked Jan's hair and whispered, "Darling Jan, it may have
been the making of me.  I also remember you caring for me in bed
for the next weeks.  Every time you removed the covers I thought
you would become violently ill from having to look at the pus and
ooze on the horror-show that was my body.  Instead you just put
on more ointment and kept putting cool cloths on my forehead.  No
one else could possibly have been so gentle!"

"No one else could possibly have been so cruel in the first
place," Jan responded.  "You forgot something: You never
mentioned the fact that all you would take was aspirin.  You were
in the most excruciating pain but you wouldn't let me give you
anything for it.  I did take advantage of you a couple of times
by substituting codeine for the aspirin."  Cindy pulled back,
looking startled.  Jan continued, "Honey, I had to.  You were in
such agony.  You even screamed in your sleep.  There has never
been a braver person than you!"

Cindy just shook her head.  The girls then continued working
together preparing for the Christmas celebration they had
planned.  While they were working, Cindy asked with feigned
casualness, "Jan, have you ever met the people who are building
the house next door?  Do you even know who they are?  Dan has
been trying to find out but hasn't been able to."

"They are a very nice young couple," Jan replied.  "I met the
girl and she's really very sweet.  They don't have any children
yet, but they want a large family.  You'll really like them, I'm
sure."

"Jan," Cindy asked, her casual pose forgotten, "do you think they
would be willing to sell us the house?  Dan and I absolutely
adore it, and now he got a very big bonus so we even have some
money.  The bum is making a very good salary, too, so we could
carry a pretty good mortgage.  Do you think they would?  We love
the house... and the chance to live next door to you and Pete is
an opportunity that's almost beyond belief.  By the way, when are
you and Pete going to start a family?"

"We already have," Jan replied with a grin.  "You mean you can't
tell?  I'm already starting to swell.  The doctor confirmed it a
couple of days ago.  It looks like I'll be a mother sometime in
the summer!"

Cindy squealed and spun around to look at Jan as soon as she
heard the words.  As usual, Jan was utterly exquisite in her
nudity and there was not the least sign of any swelling.

She was standing with the warmest smile on her face that Cindy
had ever seen.  Tears came to the girl's eyes as she took Jan in
her arms and hugged her, saying, "Oh, Jan!  I'm so happy.  I
always knew you would be a world-class mother and now it's going
to happen.  What does Pete think?"

"Shh!" Jan replied, "I haven't told him yet.  It's going to be a
part of my Christmas present to him."  Tears of joy started to
come to her eyes as she continued, "It takes care of my last
fear, Cin.  Since I was a prostitute and allowed anyone to do
anything if the money was right, deep down I was scared that
something might have happened to my reproductive system so I
couldn't have kids.  I guess it didn't.  The doctor just whistled
when I undressed -- how unprofessional! -- and said he had never
seen a woman as well equipped for motherhood.  I don't know if
that's a comment on me or a comment on his lack of experience. 
Anyway, I'm thrilled."  She looked at Cindy and asked, "Please
don't tell Pete?  I want it to be my surprise."

Cindy immediately agreed, but then said, "You never answered my
question about the house, though.  Do you think the owners might
be willing to sell?"

Jan's face fell as she just shook her head and said, "I'm afraid
not, honey.  Besides, that place is a junior-grade palace.  I'm
sure it's costing well over a million.  Even with Dan's salary,
it would be a very big number."  Then she brightened and said,
"But I'm sure you and Dan will find a neat place of your own."

"I have another favor to ask, Jan," Cindy said.  Jan looked at
her quizzically.  "Would you and Pete allow me to become pregnant
now, too?  That way I could take care of your baby and nurse it
at my breast.  Jan, nothing would make me prouder than to be a
wet nurse for your baby.  May I?"

Jan looked lovingly at the girl she had come to think of as a
sister.  Although her heart turned over at Cindy's offer, she
said, "Let me think about it, okay?  I'll talk to Pete and see
what he thinks, too."  Then she grinned at Cindy and asked,
"Speaking of houses, how is your apartment redecorating coming? 
I haven't heard you speak of it in weeks."

"I think it's going very well," Cindy replied.  Then she looked
at Jan with a hopeful expression on her face and asked, "By the
way, the owner wants to christen it with a New Year's Eve party.
I got a message from him inquiring about caterers and stuff. 
Would you mind if I worked for him that afternoon?  I have gotten
to be pretty good with hors d'oeuvres and that sort of thing. 
Jan, I need the money, and he's been very nice.  He even advanced
a part of my fee so that I could buy some Christmas presents.

Jan's heart turned over as she heard the words.  She had recently
learned from April that Cindy was using her babysitting and
decorating money to pay for gas, tolls, and other expenses
incurred working on bank business.  She also knew that, in spite
of having no money, she had wonderful presents for Pete and
herself as well as Dan, April, and her parents.  She replied,
"Cin, of course you can."

She looked at the girl and tears came into her eyes as she said,
"I've said it before, and I'll say it again: Cindy Martin, you
are a dream!  You're a beloved sister.  I just don't know what
I'm going to do when you move out.  One thing's for sure: The
quality of the food served in this place will go downhill."  She
appeared very serious as she looked at Cindy and said, "I'm not
kidding at all, now, Cin.  We both know you couldn't even boil
water when you came here six months ago.  Now you're truly a far
better cook than I am.  Pete and I were talking about it a couple
of days ago.  He's noticed it too, and he's the guy who loves me.
 We concluded that I learned to cook to try to hide from being a
prostitute.  You learned to cook with love and thoughtfulness. 
There's a lot of 'you' in everything you serve.  You're giving
yourself to us, aren't you?"

Cindy looked embarrassed and dropped her eyes, but nodded her
head and said softly, "I really try, Jan.  Let's face it: about
the only people who regularly eat my cooking are you, Pete, and
Dan, the three people I love most in the whole world."

Jan smiled, kissed Cindy and hugged her tight.  Then she
pretended to frown and said, "That's as it may be, but in the
meantime you're my house slave so get with it!  Do I have to do
all the work myself?"

Cindy just grinned and returned to her preparations.

* * *

On Christmas morning, Kelly McBride very carefully opened the
door to Cindy's room.  The girl was carrying a large Thermos jug
of coffee on a tray along with three coffee mugs.  As usual, she
was completely naked except for a large Christmas-red bow in her
hair and a smaller one pinned on her pubic hair.  In addition, of
course, she was wearing her gold slave collar.

Even the slight noise of the latch turning was enough to waken
Cindy.  When the door opened, Kelly found herself looking into
the girl's brilliant blue eyes.  Dan was beside her in bed with
his hand, as usual, cupped over her breast.  Cindy smiled warmly
and her lips formed the words, "Merry Christmas, Kelly!"  Then
she squeezed Dan's hand awakening him instantly.  Aloud, she
said, "Good morning, darling!  Merry Christmas!"

Dan's eyes opened, he groaned and said, "Do you mean it's morning
already?  It seems like I just got to sleep.  Woman, you wear me
out!"

As he was speaking, though, he rolled over between her widespread
thighs.  In moments his now-erect cock was entering her vagina.

Kelly just watched in amazement as his immense cock just slid
smoothly into Cindy's body.  As often as she had seen it, she was
still astonished at how attuned to each other Cindy and Dan were.
 She continued to watch as Dan moved in long, slow strokes in and
out of the girl while she made wonderful noises and then began to
toss on the bed.  Soon she reached her first orgasm and Kelly saw
the girl's pelvis moving in a frenzy of motion.  All Dan did was
to slow his movement to give her time to recover and then pick up
the pace.  When he did, Cindy smiled lovingly and reached up to
pull his head down to hers to give him a loving kiss.  Still he
moved steadily inside her while he gently ran his fingers over
her now-sweating body.  Then, when he lightly touched her
nipples, she screamed in ecstasy.

Soon it was over.  Dan took her to her vibrating crest and just
held her there while her lower body moved in a frenzy.  She
collapsed as Dan discharged inside her and then lay on top of her
while he tried to regain his breath and before easing his body
off hers.

Meanwhile, Kelly had placed the tray on the dresser.  When Dan
rolled off, she got on the bed, gently spread Cindy's legs and
began to run her tongue up the girl's cunt.  It was the first
time Kelly had ever gone down on a girl, but she had heard from
both April and Kathy that Cindy's vulva was as sweet as honey. 
Spreading Cindy's nether lips apart with her fingers she saw for
the first time the scar that ran up its length right across her
clit.  She cringed, thinking how incredibly painful the whip cut
must have been.  Then she carefully began to tongue the girl's
circumcised clitoris.  As she moved her tongue to lap up the
succulent juices, she felt Cindy's hand stroke her hair and heard
her moan with pleasure.  Finally she finished by swinging her
head so that her lovely auburn hair was over the girl's slit. 
Kelly used it to dry the last drops and then straightened up,
rocking back on her heels.

"Kelly, that was beyond belief!  Thank you so much, but why did
you do it?" Cindy asked.  Kelly smiled and just shook her head;
she really didn't know why she had done it.  As Cindy was
speaking she pulled herself up to a sitting position next to Dan
at the head of the bed.  He put his arm around her and hugged her
tight, again causing her to moan with pleasure.

"Honey," he asked, "I have a question for you: What do you do
with your girls?  Looking at Kelly kneeling on the bed reminds me
again that you must hire the most beautiful young women in
Chicago."

"Is that against EEOC rules or something?" Cindy asked with a
grin.  "Actually, though, it's all the girls.  They insist on
working out.  Just look at Kelly.  Last week Kathy was teasing
her because her breasts have become so firm she can't swing
tassels with them anymore.  And I know she's gotten bigger across
the shoulders: She was complaining about the fit of herclothes."

Cindy looked at Dan and said, "You were a Marine.  I hear that
the guys who go through the Officers' Basic School in Quantico
complain about the same thing.  After going through the school
their uniforms don't fit anymore, either.  I gather it's become
an occupational hazard with my girls, too, because of the
workouts."  Turning to Kelly she asked, "Kel, would you mind
sliding up here so Dan could know what you feel like?  For that
matter, I want to feel you, too."

Kelly moved up between the two and Cindy weighed one of her
breasts in her hand, rolling the nipple between her fingers
causing it almost instantly to become erect.  Kelly moaned deep
in her throat and had her eyes closed enjoying the sensation as
Cindy stroked her tits and Dan ran his fingers over her
satin-smooth skin.  Then she opened her eyes, looked at the two
people and asked, "Cindy, could you do something for me for
Christmas?  Or, really, ask Dan to?"

Whatever the question was, it was obviously embarrassing to the
girl because she started to blush with the blood moving up her
body, flooding her breasts, and moving on up to her neck and
face.

Cindy grinned at the spectacle and said, "Dan, isn't it wonderful
to see a nude girl blush?  You see it all, don't you?  Kelly
McBride, you're exquisite and the answer is yes.  Now what's the
question?"

Kelly took a deep breath and blurted, "Could Dan bring me to
orgasm?"  She looked fearful as she asked the question and then
hurriedly explained, "Cindy, you know I'm a virgin.  You may not
know that I have never even been touched by a man until just now.
 I'm desperately in love with Kevin and we're going to get
married soon... probably right after the Super Bowl.  Anyway, I
was talking with Kathy and she told me how Dan brought her to
orgasm on Labor Day.  She says it's the reason she's so happy
with Bill now: She didn't think she could ever have an orgasm. 
She did, though.  So when she met Bill she just recreated what
she remembered you doing to her, Dan, and was in Heaven!  She
says she owes much of her happiness to you."

Then she added with a grin, "That's the part that she doesn't owe
to Cindy, of course.  She says that without Cindy she wouldn't
have ever joined the bank in the first place.  Then she would
never have come to the attention of Jen, who never would have
called her to come out to California, and so she would never have
met Bill again.  What it comes down to is she claims she owes
everything she has to you, Cindy, as well as everything she'll
ever have in the future!

"Anyway, this is a long way of asking if you'll allow Dan to do
to me what he did to Kathy?  Could it be my Christmas present?  I
so want to be good for Kevin and good to him.  This way, I can be
sure.  Please Cindy?  Will you let him?"

Instead of answering, Cindy turned to Dan and said, "Darling, I
have a part of your Christmas present for you: a virgin of your
very own to play with."  Turning to Kelly she said, "Slave Kelly,
please present yourself to your new master."

Kelly smiled warmly and moved up the bed a little more so she was
between Dan and Cindy.  She was still kneeling with her back up
straight and her weight back on her heels as she cradled her
beautiful full breasts and pinched her nipples so they were fully
erect.  Then she said, "Master, I am Slave Kelly, and I'm a part
of Cindy's Christmas gift to you.  As you can see, I have auburn
hair and green eyes.  My facial features are regular.  My breasts
are full and firm with small pink nipples.  Would you like to
feel one?"  She leaned forward and allowed her breasts to hang
down.

Dan reached out an cupped one with his hand and then gently
caressed it with his finger tips.  He noticed that her small
nipples became even harder as he did.  She moaned softly as he
gently squeezed her firm tit.  "Your tits are very nice, Slave
Kelly.  Continue your presentation," he said softly.

Kelly sat up straight again and spread her knees wide.  Using her
long, slender fingers, she spread her nether lips and said, "This
is my cunt, Master.  I took extra care to make sure it was clean
and sweet-smelling for you this morning.  As Slave Cindy told
you, it has never been used or even touched by a man before." 
Then she leaned forward again, this time raising her buttocks
high in the air.  "This is my ass, Master.  My asscheeks are
tight and very firm.  My hips are slender, but I have a large
pelvic opening in spite of that.  My doctor says I was made to
carry babies.  I so hope I will.  Does my Master approve of his
new Christmas present?"

Dan smiled and pretended to be bored.  "Cindy, she's... very
nice... I guess.  But couldn't you come up with a more original
gift?  Of course, I haven't ever received an _auburn-haired_
virgin before, so...  Well, I guess I'll try her out."

Turning to Kelly he asked softly, "What do you want me to do,
Kelly?  Are you asking me to do to you what I did to Kathy?"

"Please, Dan, will you?  Do exactly the same things.  Please?"

"Kel, did she tell you she was in tears, crying like her heart
would break before she came?  Did she tell you exactly what I
did?"  Kelly looked fearful and just shook her head, no.  "Hon,
it was a contest with April.  The two girls bet that Pete and I
couldn't get them to beg for release.  They both lost.  In fact,
that's how my love got her most painful stripes: She bet Pete
couldn't make her beg for release, either.  She _really_ lost. 
Are you sure that's what you want me to do?"

Still kneeling, Kelly replied, "I guess Kathy has forgotten that
part of it.  I don't know what you did, but her memory is one of
the most delicious pleasure.  If there was pain before, it must
have been drowned out by the pleasure that came later.  I guess
that's what I would like to do if you're willing."  She grinned
and said, "Master, I bet you that you can't get me to beg you to
release me, no matter what you do to me."

Dan just smiled, shook his head, and got her into position where
he could reach her easily.  He began to talk quietly with Cindy.
She told him about her conversation with Jan regarding the house
next door.  "Honey, it's a young couple that are building it,"
she said.  "They want a lot of children and the house is very big
as we both know.  They love it and it's very expensive so I'm
afraid we'll have to find something else."  Meanwhile Dan was
lightly running his fingertips over Kelly's body.  He looked at
her and could see her start to writhe involuntarily as his
fingers moved on her body.

Although her knees were spread wide to expose her cunt, he seemed
to ignore it, concentrating instead on her breasts and inner
thighs.  Kelly found his touch was heavenly!  He was so slow and
gentle; it was almost as if she was imagining rather than
feeling.  The girl was surprised to feel her respiration speed up
and to find she had begun to perspire.  Dan seemed to be
completely unaware of what he was doing to her or the effect he
was having on her.  He seemed to be concentrating on his
conversation with Cindy rather than on what his hand was doing. 
To her surprise, she could feel her passion rise higher and
higher.  After focusing his attentions on her thighs, he returned
to her breasts.  When he touched her nipples this time, she
screamed in pain and ecstasy.  They were so sensitive now that
they hurt!  This was something she never dreamed could ever
happen.

Higher and higher she went to the point of achieving the release
she had only heard of.  Then she went over the edge. _But I
didn't!_  she thought.  She was amazed to see that she was
gasping for breath and sweat was pouring off her body.  Dan asked
very quietly, "Do you want to take a couple of deep breaths, Kel,
before we start again?"

Kelly ran her hands through her hair and found it was soaking
wet.  Then she ran her fingers over her body to wipe off some of
the sweat and then knelt up straight, smiling.  She said, "Dan, I
think I'm starting to get the idea.  You're absolutely unreal! 
Are you sure you're Irish?  No Irishman can possibly have either
your sensitivity towards a woman or your extraordinary touch. 
But you sure do!"  Then she looked at Cindy and grinned, saying,
"Now I guess I know why you always look so well loved!  It's just
because you are."  Cindy just grinned back, nodded her head
vigorously and then snuggled closer to Dan.

His stroking began again.  This time, he took her up faster --
Kelly realized she was still sensitized.  Again he took her to
her crest...  And stopped.  Remarkably, he still had not even
touched her cunt.  Now he did.  His finger entered her slit and
she spread her legs even wider for him.  She could feel him find
her little love bud and stroke it gently.  Kelly realized she was
making noises but had no control over it.  In fact, she had no
control over anything.  All sensation was concentrating in her
cunt.  Again he took her right to the point of release, and again
he stopped.  This repeated through more cycles than she could
count.  She was shocked to realize she was crying!  Tears were
streaming from her eyes.  Vaguely she realized she must look like
a complete mess but didn't care about it at all.

Finally, she could take it no longer.  She screamed, "Please,
Dan!  Please release me.  I'm begging you!"

He asked softly, "Are you sure, Kel?  You'll lose the bet, you
know.  You really don't want to do that, do you?"

She completely lost control.  She began to cry uncontrollably and
screamed, "Please, Dan!  I'm begging you.  I'll do anything for
you... absolutely anything!  Please!"

Dan's hand began to move on her again.  This time he took her up
to her release point and then over.  Suddenly, Kelly could feel a
release of fluids in her cunt that gushed out as if she were
urinating, flooding his hand.  Now he pinched her clit and
instantly she had another orgasm.  He had not altered his tempo,
but now had her where he usually had Cindy: in a continuous
orgasm.

Kelly couldn't take it.  She was crying and screaming while her
pelvis was shaking uncontrollably.  Then she pitched forward on
the bed with her knees under her body but still spread wide to
provide Dan with easy access to her cunt.  All sensation was in
her loins.  She had never dreamed there could ever be such an
experience.  In spite of her total absence of control, she didn't
want it ever to end.  Gasping for breath, she could scarcely even
breathe.  After fifteen minutes of ecstasy, Dan pinched her clit
hard.  It was the last straw.  Kelly felt an explosion in her
loins as her body seemed to be trying to empty out her love
juices.  She couldn't take the additional sensory stimulation and
fainted.

Cindy said softly, "She's such a beautiful girl!  What did you
think, Dan?"

He grinned and said, "When are you going to let me do that to
you?"

"I get the whole cock, darling, but the result is the same.  She
is exquisite, isn't she?"

"Honey, Kevin Cavanaugh is going to be a very lucky... and very
tired... man!  She's utterly spectacular!"

With a grin, Cindy scrambled down to the end of the bed.  With
help from Dan she rolled Kelly on her back and knelt between her
legs.  Lowering her head, she began to lick the love juices that
now flooded the girl's vagina.  Then she raised her head, licked
her lips and said, "Yum!  Dan you have to try this.  I'll bet
you've never had the chance to eat a virgin cunt before.  Merry
Christmas, honey!  I hope you like it."

Dan grinned back and took Cindy's place.  He quickly agreed that
Cindy was right.  Kelly's juices were a wonderfully sweet nectar.
 He raised his head and motioned to Cindy who grinned and agreed
to change places.  Then Dan lay on his back between Kelly's
widespread legs while Cindy knelt over him and lowered her cunt
to his mouth.  Now, while she was eating Kelly's cunt, Dan was
eating hers.  Cindy ran her tongue carefully up and down the
girl's slit and then into her vagina.  Meanwhile she was feeling
the most exquisite sensations from Dan's work on her.  She began
to tease Kelly's now-erect clit with her tongue and heard the
girl moan with pleasure.

Kelly had regained consciousness and loved the exquisite
sensation.  Looking down, she saw Cindy kneeling between her legs
while further down on the bed Dan was on his back licking at
Cindy's cunt.  Cindy bit down gently on her clit and Kelly
suddenly came again in a flood.  Again Cindy licked up all of the
delicious fluid and then flipped her head to use her long golden
hair to dry Kelly's crotch.  Kelly grinned as she saw a look of
surprise on Cindy's face followed instantly by her scream of
ecstasy; obviously, Dan had taken her to orgasm, as well.

Cindy straightened up.  She was straddling Dan's body so she spun
around and then moved further down to be able to kiss him.  After
she did, again feeling the normal electricity flowing between
them, she said, "Thank you, future husband.  That was marvelous."
 Looking up at Kelly she said, "Kel, you're absolutely
delicious!"  Looking thoughtful she added, "I'm giving serious
thought to becoming a lesbian.  Do you suppose Kevin would mind
if you had a live-in girl friend?  You taste so sweet and you
don't destroy me the way this big lug does."  Then she daintily
stuck out her tongue at Dan who just grinned.

Kelly went to pull up her legs and winced in pain.  She looked
down at Dan and asked, "What did you do to me?  I thought I was
in great shape, Dan, and all you did was run your fingers over
me.  What happened?"  Then she grinned and said, "I lost the bet,
though.  What was it?  Am I now your slave?"  She ran her hands
through her hair which was now tousled and wet with perspiration,
then ran them down her still-sweaty body.  She looked woebegone
as she said, "I guess I'm a real mess, aren't I?  Dan, I'm not
even sure you would have me as your slave."

Dan sat up in the bed, smiled at the girl and asked, "Kel, how
was it?  I guess you found out you can have an orgasm.  And I
think you look lovely.  You're like a redheaded Cindy: a true
natural beauty.  All I can say is, Kevin Cavanaugh is a very
lucky guy."

The girl just rolled her eyes and said, "Thank you, Dan.  And I
really mean it, too.  I never knew anything could possibly be
this good. _Ever!_  And this was without you even getting near my
vagina.  Can it possibly ever be any better?"

"Much!" Cindy replied emphatically.  "Kelly, I think you're going
to be a simply gorgeous bride!  When you're in bed with the man
you love, it is simply joyous.  Just think, you're trying to make
a baby.  Kelly, I agree with your doctor: You're going to be one
hell of a mother!"  Then she frowned and said, "Slave Kelly, did
you come in here this morning for some worthwhile purpose? 
Coffee, perhaps?"

The girl let out a little yelp and jumped out of the bed, finding
her legs almost collapsing on her.  She recovered and poured
coffee for Dan and Cindy who had both returned to the head of the
bed.  Kneeling by the bedside, she served them both.  Cindy said,
"Slave Kelly, bring your cup and join us.  And Merry Christmas!"

They drank the coffee with Kelly sitting on the bed.  Then she
looked down and found the little bow she had worn on her pubic
hair was missing.  Cindy and Dan both laughed as the lovely
redhead crawled around the bed on her hands and knees searching
for it while her lovely little ass was sticking up high in the
air.  She let out a little yelp when she found it and pinned it
back in her pubic hair.

Then she smiled warmly at Cindy and Dan and asked, "Cindy, are
you sure it's better with a man?  With a cock in your cunt?" 
Cindy just eagerly nodded her head.  With a wry smile she said,
"I guess I had better be a little more careful slugging Kevin,
then.  He might get discouraged, and if its better than what I
experienced this morning, I can't wait!"  With a broad grin she
jumped off the bed and raced into the bathroom to take a quick
shower and wash her hair before going downstairs to see about
breakfast.  Her hair was still wet when she ran from the room.

Cindy and Dan shared a shower, then dressed and went downstairs.
As they were dressing, they had noticed it had started to snow
and the ground was already white.  They found Kelly had
supervised the preparation of a sumptuous breakfast which they
ate together with Jan and Pete.  The four were all hugely amused
by the sight of four beautiful girls all on their knees serving
while Kelly cooked and supervised.*Chapter 31*

Cindy reveled in driving Jan, Pete and Dan to church in her Mazda
GTX.  With its four-wheel drive and snow tires, it was remarkably
surefooted on the snow-slickened roads.  She teased the Stewarts
about being so dumb as to buy BMWs which couldn't handle snow or
ice under any conditions.  Jan just stuck out her tongue and said
it was fortunate they had a house slave to handle details like
that for them.

When they returned home they found the snow had accumulated and
was falling even harder.  Cindy ran in to change into her blue
jeans and chambray shirt.  Today, though, she also put on a heavy
white sweater.  Putting on a parka, she went out to the shed and
started up the lawn tractor, now fitted with a snow blower.  In
minutes she was clearing the driveway.  Dan came outside also
wearing a parka.  She grinned and told him to get his own toys to
play with.  He grinned back, took out a snow shovel and shoveled
the walk while she finished plowing the drive.

Christmas at the Stewarts was shaping up to be a very big party.
Allison Clifford had organized a family reunion with the whole
family gathering there.  Cindy knew most of the people but was
introduced to Dave and Judy Chapman, Steve's parents, as well as
Brian and Karen Clifford, Bill's son and new daughter-in-law. 
She learned that Karen was Swiss and that the two were still in
college.  Finally, Ali arrived with Bill Clifford.  Cindy was
wearing a lovely Christmas-red wool dress with her slave collar.
Dan had brushed her hair after they shared another shower,
telling her he loved to feel it.  She thought she looked very
good as she made her way downstairs.

When everyone was sitting in the living room, Ali looked
meaningfully at Jan who nodded and then asked Cindy to join them
in the library.  She followed Ali and Jan into the room and Jan
closed the door.  As they sat down Cindy had a sinking feeling in
the pit of her stomach remembering the first time she had met Ali
Clifford: the fateful day at the bank.  She had also encountered
her at Kathy's wedding on Maui, but because of the circumstances,
Cindy didn't think that counted.  Ali was looking at her closely
and then said, "Slave Cindy, undress, please.  I wish to examine
your body."

Jan nodded and Cindy rose from the chair, unzipped her dress and
slipped it over her head.  Then she slipped off her bikini and
stepped out of her pumps.  Ali asked her to approach closer which
Cindy did.  She was scared.  Ali's face was expressionless as she
studied Cindy's body and then lightly ran her fingers over the
scars.  Then she commanded, "Show me your cunt, Slave Cindy."

Spreading her legs, Cindy rocked her pelvis forward and used her
slim fingers to separate her nether lips.  She could feel that
she was blushing with embarrassment at the inspection.

Then Ali said softly, "Daughter Janice, you really did a job,
didn't you?  Billy told me about it.  He had never seen a person
so badly beaten in his life and from what I can see, he wasn't
kidding."  She looked up at Cindy's face and for the first time
smiled warmly saying, "Cindy, you better get your clothes back on
or you'll catch your death."  The girl quickly got dressed and
was then startled when Ali proceeded carefully to brush her hair
and then comb it out.  When she finished she said with a grin,
"Jan, I see what you mean.  Slave Cindy does cheat.  She uses two
bobby-pins in her hair.  That's almost the same as wearing tons
of makeup, isn't it."

Cindy returned to her seat while Jan used the telephone intercom.
 A few moments later one of the slave girls appeared with a tray
and three cups of egg nog.  As she entered the room, she squared
her shoulders and straightened her back causing her breasts to
thrust upward.  The girl was one of the newest hires in the bank
and didn't yet have her slave collar.  Like Kelly, she was just
wearing a big red bow in her hair and a small one pinned to her
small neat patch of dense and curly pubic hair.  Her name was
Cathy Collins.  She was five feet eight with brown hair, gray
eyes, and lovely features.  The girl was about to leave the room
when Ali said, "Slave, present yourself to me."

Startled, the girl stopped and returned to a position in front of
Ali.  She said, "Good afternoon, Mrs. Clifford.  I'm Slave Cathy.
 I'm the newest person in Slave Cindy's group at the bank."  She
had put her tray down and now cupped her breasts with her hands,
saying, "These are my tits.  They are not yet full enough and
they are much too flabby but I've only just started to work on
them.  My cunt is not well developed, but I don't have a
boyfriend yet, either.  My ass and hips need work but I think
I'll make it."  The girl stood up straight and finished by
saying, "I'm so proud to have been selected for the Special
Lending Division and to have the opportunity to work with Slave
Cindy."

Ali asked, "Do you like Slave Cindy?  Can she manage adivision?"

The girl looked genuinely shocked and replied, "Like?  Love is
more like it.  She's the most wonderful person I've ever met." 
The girl's smile was beautiful as she continued, "Who ever heard
of hiring an English major as a banker?  Cindy did.  As a matter
of fact, Mrs. Clifford and Mrs. Stewart, you could save
yourselves a great deal of money.  Not only are we overpaid, most
of us would work for nothing and some of us would even pay you
for the privilege.  'Can she manage?' I think you asked?"  The
girl was standing up straight and Cindy was so proud of her as
she said, "I can't answer that.  All I know is everyone in and
out of the bank worships the ground she walks on.  Just look at
her!  She's the most exquisitely beautiful human being I have
ever met, yet she's always kind and helpful.

"When I joined the division, I was assigned to Kelly McBride's
district.  Do you know what she does?  She constantly teases me
about numbers.  She says English majors don't know from numbers.
Of course, she majored in English and philosophy and is one of
the sharpest bankers alive."

The girl grinned and added, "Mrs. Clifford, I know you own the
bank so I really shouldn't be saying this.  But ma'am, this isn't
a bank, it's a club!  You can't believe how proud I am today,
because now I'll be one of Cindy's slaves!  I've only been in the
job a few weeks, but Kelly said I'll be getting one of the
beautiful collars like the one Cindy is wearing now.  You can't
believe what a badge of honor that gold collar has become!

"I was with one of the more senior girls last week who had
qualified.  (I should add that if you qualify, you _always_ wear
it.) We were going down the street just shopping.  It was the
funniest thing I have ever seen... and the most moving.  We would
go into a little shop and the storekeeper would see Janet's
collar.  Instantly, nothing was too good for us or too much
trouble.  They couldn't be nicer.  I guess I've heard about the
Twins in at least twenty different languages.

"Mrs. Clifford, I know you're from Los Angeles, so maybe you
don't know about 'the twins who aren't.'  It was a term created
on the streets for Cindy and April when the division first
started.  Now we all wear the division uniform: Levi's and
chambray shirts, and if you're really good, the slave collar.  We
drive red Mazdas like Cindy's out front.  All I can say is we
have an enormous responsibility.  Cindy started something and
built it until it's the biggest thing in Chicago.  I don't think
I'm exaggerating when I say Cindy and April are worshiped in this
city!

"Can she manage?  Cindy Martin is the greatest asset Chicago
Trust has!"

Then the girl started to blush as she thought she had been
carried away.  Ali Clifford reached out her hands and the girl
took them, then looked at Ali's face.  What she saw surprised
her.  She saw enormous warmth and love.

Ali said softly, "I can relate to that, Slave Cathy.  I'm senior
partner in a law firm in Los Angeles that's the same way.  Of
course, we're much smaller.  But one of the new girls referred to
it as more of a family than a firm.  We have a lot of fun there,
too!"  She smiled warmly and said, "Slave Cathy, welcome to
Chicago Trust!  I'm personally delighted to have you with us." 
She grinned and added, "Cathy, I want a photograph of you taken
three months from now.  You'll be a knockout!"  The girl
retrieved her tray and left the women alone.

Now Ali turned her attention to Cindy and glared at her -- or
pretended to.  She said, "Slave Cindy, I thought I had seen
everything, but you take the cake.  First, you know we bought
Chicago Trust just to fix your wagon, but boy, did you ever get
revenge!  Cindy, do you know what my biggest problem is?"  The
girl just shook her head, obviously puzzled.  Ali answered her
own question: "It's trying to spend all the damned money we
accumulate.  I know you've heard Jennifer complain about it, and
I'll bet Jan has, too.  So what do you do?  You personally make
sure that the biggest moneymaking investment I've ever made in my
life was to buy Chicago Trust!  Girl, you really know how to get
even, don't you.  Now what are we going to do with you?"

While Ali was speaking, Jennifer Chapman had slipped into the
room joining her mother and her sister.  Ali continued, "I guess
the only thing we can do is to try to cut our losses."  She
looked at Jennifer.

Jen reached into her purse and took out some papers which she
passed to Cindy saying, "Cin, these are your notes marked 'paid
in full.'  Darling Cindy, I almost get sick every time I see
those terrible scars on your body.  You certainly did pay in
full."  Then she grinned and added, "The real reason we're giving
the notes back is that the last thing we want is any more money.
By the way, this fully discharges your indenture to Janice, too.
I guess you'll want to be leaving tonight, won't you?"

Cindy was in a state of shock.  She didn't know what to do. 
Suddenly, her little world had been turned upside down.  Tears
started to stream from her eyes but she got up and stumbled over
to the sofa where Jan was sitting and went into her arms. 
Suddenly, she started to sob like her heart was broken.  Jan held
the girl tightly and said, "Sis, it's going to be fine.  You
don't have to go now if you don't want to.  It's just that you're
free to go whenever you wish.  Cindy, you do know I love you,
don't you?"  Cindy just snuggled in Jan's arms.

Tears came to Ali's eyes as she watched the beautiful girl. 
_Jan's right,_ she thought. _This girl is really something very
special._  Then she said softly, "Cindy, there's more.  I know
Jan talked to you about those scars.  Cindy, please!  I'm
personally begging you.  Let us pay for an operation to have them
removed.  You're the most beautiful girl it has ever been my good
fortune to see.  I can't stand to be reminded of what we did to
you.  Please?"

The Clifford women were startled by what followed.  Cindy
disengaged from Jan's arms and ran out of the room.  Moments
later she returned with the whip coiled in her hands.  It's tip
was still stiff from all her blood that had soaked into the
leather during her brutal beating in May.  Giving it to Ali, she
quickly stripped off her clothes again and knelt on the floor
with her scarred ass up high.  With her head cradled in her arms
she said softly, "Mrs. Clifford, the last time I was disobedient
I received ten lashes.  Does twenty sound right?"  Ali could see
tears flowing from the girl's eyes as she added, "Unless you
would rather I go outside to the whipping post, of course?"

Ali dropped the whip, jumped from her chair and dropped to her
knees next to the kneeling girl.  She took Cindy in her arms and
held her tightly.  As she did, Cindy could feel a wetness on her
cheeks that was not from her own tears.  She moved away and found
the older woman was crying like her heart was broken.  "Please,
Mrs. Clifford," she whispered.  "Please don't cry.  What did I
do?  I really can't have the scars removed for reasons I
explained to Jan, but I _am_ being very disobedient."  She smiled
wryly and said, "Actually, that was the beginning of my change
for the better.  Maybe I would be much better off if you did whip
me.  It certainly helped me the first time."

The older woman replied softly, "Cindy Martin, damn it, the name
is Ali.  Whenever you say, Mrs. Clifford, I look for Bill's
mother, but she's dead!"  She grinned at Cindy and added, "Back
at the office in LA we have a whip for slow learners.  A slow
learner is defined as anyone who calls me, Mrs. Clifford, or my
partner, Ginger, Mrs. Conrad!  And, damn it, I'm not above using
your whip for that purpose!"

Cindy looked at the woman on her knees next to her.  She knew
from Janice that Ali Clifford was thirty-seven, but she looked to
be in her early twenties.  She remembered seeing her at long
range on the nude beach at Maui and knew her figure was perfect.
She wiped her eyes with the back of her hand and smiled, then
stuck out her hand saying, "I'll make a deal with you.  I'll call
you Ali if you knock off the shit about the scars.  Okay?"

Ali grinned and took her hand in a firm grip saying, "Okay, damn
it, it's a deal."  Then she shook her head and said, "However,
we're not finished with you yet, young lady.  Somehow, I am going
to get even."  Ali was tremendously impressed with the girl and
decided she loved her like another daughter.  They rejoined the
others in the living room.

When the group gathered to open their Christmas presents, there
were some surprises.  Cindy gave Dan the nude portrait of herself
that Jim Vance had painted.  She pointed out that she would be
keeping an eye on him in his office.  She had entered Dan's
office with Jim one night and he had taken careful measurements
of the wall and the location of Dan's desk.  The result was that
her eyes in the portrait were focused precisely on the point
behind his desk where his eyes would be when he was seated behind
it.  She liked the portrait because Jim had caught and depicted
her love for him and the wanting for him that she always felt.

Judy Chapman presented a large box to her husband, Dave.  Opening
it he found it was a Vance portrait of herself.  Similar in pose
to others, she was semi-reclining and nude.  Steve Chapman looked
over his father's shoulder and whistled saying, "My God, Dad! 
Mom looks delicious.  I hope you're enjoying her charms."

Dave looked up and grinned.  He said, "Son, it's mostly your
wife's fault.  She's been working out with Judy at the health
club and this is the result."  Looking across the room at
Jennifer he said, "Daughter, you're the best thing to happen to
the Chapman family in years.  My son gets the most beautiful girl
in the world as his bride, and I enjoy the greatest sex life
since I first met Judy."  He looked at his wife and said,
"Darling, thank you... for everything!  What do you think?"

Judy sat on David's lap and put her arms around his neck.  Then
she kissed him with ever-increasing passion.  Pulling slightly
away, she had her head on his shoulder and whispered, "Darling,
the best will come tonight.  Do you like the picture?  I do.  I
think it shows my love for you... at least, I hope it does." 
Dave just held his wife tightly and heard her make wonderful
happy noises.

Janice gave Cindy and Dan two packages, a tiny one and another
somewhat larger attached together with a small ribbon.  The
larger was for Dan while the smaller was for her.  He opened his
and found one hundred hundred-dollar bills -- $10,000 in cash. 
Along with it was a note indicating she was paying her wager from
months before when he had bet her that Cindy would be able to
make character loans.  Jan agreed that she certainly could.  When
Cindy opened her tiny package, she laughed.  In it was a lump of
coal along with a note from Jan saying, "When my house slave
costs me $10,000, what the hell can she expect?"

Peter opened his gift from Janice.  It was also in a small box. 
Opening it, he found a tiny pair of baby booties she had knitted.
 He looked at Jan and she nodded her head while there was a
beautiful smile on her face.  Pete's jaw dropped as he instantly
understood the significance of the gift.  He hugged her and
kissed her warmly.  She whispered, "Darling, I'm really your wife
now.  I guess the past is finally dead and buried.  We're going
to have a baby in the summer!"

Pete lifted her effortlessly in his arms and sat down with her
seated across his lap, then kissed her with increasing passion. 
"Darling, I couldn't possibly be happier!"

The others came crowding around to congratulate them.  Connie
Cartwright, now in the sixth month of her pregnancy, was only
beginning to bulge.  She kissed them warmly and whispered to Jan,
"Sis, you're a copycat."

Jan gently ran her fingers over the girl's swelling abdomen and
said, "Connie, I only hope I can carry as well as you.  How do
you feel?"

"Simply marvelous!" she replied.  "So far it hasn't interfered
with our love life."  She grinned and added, "It does feel odd,
though, to have Chip inside me and to feel the little guy kick at
the same time!  I'm getting it from two directions at once, but
it is kind of nice."  Connie Cartwright was a silver blonde with
brilliant green eyes.  She had paid for much of her education by
working as a stripper on Sunset Strip.  Because she spent so much
time lying naked in the sun, she had a perfect golden tan, while
her hair had been sun-bleached almost white.

She looked at Jan and smiled warmly saying, "I can't tell you how
glorious it feels, Jan.  I really can't.  In spite of... or maybe
because of... the swelling, Chip now likes to rest his head on my
abdomen and listen to the baby.  While he does it, of course, his
fingers are playing with my cunt."  She looked at Jan and added,
"You know, this is what it's all about.  For months he has been
putting his magnificent weapon into my vagina, and now in just a
few months the product of his sex and mine will come out and
greet the world.

"When all the career bullshit is stripped away and we _really_ go
back to nature the way the tree-huggers advocate, isn't this
really what we're made for?  Do you know, Jan, I have never felt
so good in my life and Chip claims I have never looked so
beautiful.  I can't wait, and neither can he."*Chapter 32*

The last-minute preparations were all set for the feast Cindy had
planned and prepared.  Although Jan had cooperated with her on
the hors d'oeuvres, the dinner was entirely Cindy's.  She had
planned it, purchased the food with her own money, and prepared
it.  In spite of her teasing, it turned out that Kelly was a very
good cook and, working with Cindy, had become much better.  Kelly
was going to personally handle the final preparations so Cindy
could remain seated.

The girls who were going to serve lined up in front of Cindy for
inspection.  She noticed that Cathy Collins put her shoulders
back and thrust her breasts out.  When she looked at the girl
with a raised eyebrow Cathy said, "Cindy, I'm not yet used to
being naked in front of other people.  My body isn't yet in the
shape it ought to be and I guess I'm not proud enough of it. 
I'll just have to try harder."

Then she grinned and added, "Looking at my friends provides a lot
of inspiration.  My coloring is sort of ordinary, though.  My
God!  I look at Kelly and just shake my head in amazement.  She's
absolutely glorious!  If I had a body like hers, I don't think I
would ever put on a stitch of clothing, even when it's snowing
the way it is now.  No wonder she looks so proud!"  She looked at
Cindy and asked, "Do you think there's any hope?"

Cindy just grinned and said, "I think I'm going to make an
addition to the Division's uniform.  Collins, I think you should
wear your Phi Bete key pinned to your left nipple.  I found out
the other day that about two-thirds of our people were elected to
Phi Beta Kappa so it will generally apply.  What do you think?"

Cathy just shook her head sorrowfully, cupped Cindy's breast
through her dress and said, "I thought it was a fine idea at
first, Cin, but you have the most beautiful tits in the world
with the most lovely little nipples.  It would be a shame to put
a pin through the left one.  And of course, if we had to wear our
keys, you would, too, wouldn't you?"

Cindy just shook her head, grinned wryly, and then inspected the
other girls.  Finally, after confirming all of the arrangements
with Kelly, she went into the dining room where she found that
the seating plan had been rearranged.  She was seated to Peter
Stewart's right in the place of honor.  When she protested, Jan
insisted.  Looking around the table she realized that it was the
entire Clifford family, along with her parents and Steve
Chapman's.

The first course was glaceed breast of pheasant stuffed with foie
gr...s served with a lovely Chardonnay.  The entree was filet of
beef Wellington with a beautiful 1959 Chateau Mouton Rothschild.
After everyone was served, Ali Clifford, who was seated in the
middle of the table, raised her glass.  She said, "I would like
to offer a toast.  To Cynthia Katherine Martin: Cindy, never have
I seen or heard of a person like you.  I owe you a little
explanation, though.  I know, for example, that you were fighting
to ensure that April Jefferson received the highest bonus awarded
in the bank this year.  I know why you wanted it.  The fact is
she has received _one of the highest_ bonuses paid.  We couldn't
give the highest bonus to her, Cindy, because we had to give it
to you.

"Without you, Cynthia Martin, there would be no Special Lending
Division.  April is the first person to say so, too.  Yesterday
she told me what I know she has said in public many times before:
'Cindy Martin is the best there is!'  She went on to say that you
have taught her everything she knows.  I don't for a minute want
to take anything away from April, or, for that matter, from my
daughter, Kathy, or Kelly McBride.  But they all say it: You
train, coach, encourage, but most of all, you set an example.  I
hear it over and over.  'We try to be like Cindy.  We can't, of
course, but in the process of trying, we become far better than
we ever dreamed we could be.'

"There's more: I happen to know that all of the money you've
spent on gas, tolls, parking, and everything else, has come out
of your babysitting money."

Now tears were flowing from Ali's eyes.  She was standing at her
place looking down the table at Cindy.  She grinned wryly and
said, "Martin, this is absolutely ridiculous!  As a result, I
have a few things for you.  First, there's a small check for back
pay.  You're now earning $350,000 a year, as of December first. 
With the calculation of your bonus on your actual salary, there's
another $700,000 representing your year-end bonus.  Since you
were making $110,000 in May when the fun began, we charged you
with one week's vacation, then a raise on July 15 to $150,000, on
September 15 to $200,000 and then to $350,000 on December 1." 
She glanced down at the checks in her hand and exclaimed,
"Whoops!  I almost forgot.  In November there was a 100 percent
bonus paid, so here is a check for another $200,000.

"That's not all, Cindy.  I desperately wanted to adopt you as a
daughter, too.  Unfortunately, you not only have a father, but
you have a brand-new mother, as well.  (Their love for each other
makes Bill's and mine look like puppy love.)  So that isn't going
to work.  It was a puzzle, but Bill and I solved it.  If you
can't be our daughter, we'll settle for your being our
daughter-in-law."

Now Ali grinned and with an expression of glee said, "What's
wrong with you bankers, anyway?  Don't you _ever_ read anything
before you sign?"  She looked at Dan who had been looking
increasingly puzzled and said, "Burke, you signed a few things
for Jennifer at the last board meeting.  One of them was this." 
She reached under her napkin and took a single sheet of paper and
passed it down the table to him.  "You signed it, and now it's
official.  Dan, welcome!  You're now the adopted son of William
H. Clifford and Allison M. Clifford."

She hurried around the table to stand next to him as he rose from
his seat with an expression of utter amazement on his face.  Ali
said softly, "Dan, will you please give your new mother a kiss?"

Dan took her in his arms and kissed her sweetly.  When he
released her, her eyes were glazed and she was unsteady on her
feet.  She shook her head and exclaimed, "Wow!"  Then she grinned
and said, "I'm beginning to think I've been wasting my time
adopting daughters.  If I knew mothering boys was so much fun, we
would have done this more often."  While she was speaking she
returned to her seat.  Then she looked at Cindy and said, "Young
lady, we're not through with you yet.  You see, we need to avoid
nepotism, and I told you earlier I would find some way to get
even.  Well, our idea isn't great, but it's the best we could
come up with, so I guess it will have to do.  Cindy, I have
something else for you."

She passed a paper down towards the girl and said, "This is a
stock certificate for 15 percent of the stock of Chicago Trust
Company.  It's yours.  We have now acquired all of the previously
outstanding shares so about four percentage points are the
newly-acquired shares and the remaining eleven were Bill's and
mine.  You're now the third largest shareholder and the largest
individual owner, since ours and the Chapman's are in joint
names.

"One final point: I seem to have heard something about a promised
bonus.  The story I heard was that there was a loan transaction
last spring involving some small company in the area.  I gather
it was a $20 million loan sold for a premium of 20 percent, or $4
million.  You were supposed to get a bonus and it was never
paid."

While Ali was speaking, Cindy's face fell and her tears started
to flow.  Then Ali slid a check down to Cindy in the amount of
one million dollars, one-quarter of the purchase premium.  Cindy
looked at the bonus check, but then broke into uncontrolled
sobbing when she saw the amount.  She tried to focus on Ali but,
with her tears blinding her, could see nothing.  Nevertheless she
said, "Ali, this is typical of the morals and ethics of Cynthia
Martin.  Thank you for reminding me."

She tried to smile but couldn't even manage a weak imitation as
she continued, "Ali, I understand now what you meant about
getting even.  You just did.  I would far rather have you whip me
to a bloody rag than to torture me with this.  What did I do? 
Not much.  I just arranged for the nicest person in the world to
be sold into slavery to a man she detested, giving up her husband
who she loves more than anything in this world."  In spite of her
anguish, Cindy's head was held up straight.  The others at the
table could feel the pain the beautiful girl was suffering.

Cindy jumped up from the table and ran into the kitchen,
returning moments later with a pen.  The others looked at her
with facial expressions ranging from sympathy to amazement.  She
looked down the table at Janice and asked quietly, "Jan, what's
your favorite charity?"

Jan's eyes widened as she realized what Cindy intended to do. 
She exclaimed, "Cindy, you can't possibly!  That check is for $1
million!  Honey, this is a joke.  We didn't want to hurt you. 
Mom thought it would be a small way of repaying you for all of
the wonderful things you've done for the bank and for us over the
last six months.  Please?"

By now Cindy's tears had stopped flowing.  She had just looked at
Jan impassively while she was speaking and then quietly repeated,
"Your favorite charity?"

"Catholic Charities, I guess, honey.  But please don't!"

Cindy carefully endorsed the check to Catholic Charities of
Chicago and put it under her napkin saying, "I'll mail it
tomorrow, Jan, with a note that it is a gift in the name of
Janice Carson Stewart.  Jan, I'm so sorry!  Can you find it in
your heart ever to forgive me?"

Jan rose from her seat and hurried to the end of the table.  When
she went to her knees, her head was level with Cindy's and she
held the girl tightly to her, whispering, "Darling Cindy,
forgive?  What's to forgive?  I got a new mother and a husband
who I now know loves me.  I'm going to be a mother.  Darling,
most of that's your fault, too.  Cindy, we love you so very
much!"

Cindy smiled at Jan weakly and said, "Jan, there are no words to
express my love for you and my gratitude for all that you and
Pete have done for me.  I really don't want the money.  I'm going
to do it anyway.  Maybe it will help some people who need help."

Still standing at her place, Ali had watched the scene without
saying anything.  Now she said, "Cindy, Jan and Pete are
absolutely right.  You're a great person.  For myself, I want to
apologize to you.  It's well known in LA that while our hearts
are usually in the right place, we often have the sensitivity of
clams."

She smiled warmly and continued, "Now a personal word.  When
Billy came back to Los Angeles after treating you he was almost
physically ill.  He had never seen a person whose body had been
as abused as yours with the possible exception of Bill
Cartwright.  But he pointed out Bill had been getting it for
fourteen years.  You got yours in just two days.  Nevertheless,
while you were lying in the bed in utter agony, you insisted it
was all your own fault.  The look you gave to Janice was one of
incredible love."  She looked across and asked, "Billy, do you
want to say anything?"

The young doctor looked down the table at Cindy and said, "Yes, I
do.  Cindy, I'm focusing now on trauma as a result of treating
you.  I _know_ how agonizing your pain was.  Yet you wouldn't let
me give you morphine.  In fact you wouldn't take anything
stronger than aspirin.  Cindy, to this day I don't know how you
did it.  Your bravery and courage has been a constant
inspiration.  I just want you to know that."

Ali continued: "Then you organized the Special Lending Division.
Dan said you could do something that has never been done
effectively in banking before, and you did it.  We _know_ we have
the most effective group of banking professionals in the
industry.  We know you recruited them, trained them, and inspired
them.  Finally, a word about this dinner: I fell in love with
Janice in Los Angeles, in part because of her cooking."  She
looked at Jan with an apology and then said, "Jan prepared a
dinner like this for Bill, Pete, and me out there.  Cindy, this
is better.  I don't know how it could be, but it is.  What did
you do?"

Janice spoke up from the head of the table before Cindy could
respond.  "Mom, it's simple.  This is a work of love for Cindy. 
I don't know why, but she loves me and loves us.  Because we give
her nothing except scars, she has limited ways for expressing her
love.  This is the way Pete and I have been eating for months." 
She looked at Ali and tears were flowing from her eyes as she
added, "That's right, Mom!  Months!  And during those months she
was organizing and managing the Special Lending Division.  She
refused any help.  Not only did she do everything she had
previously done, there were always little surprises for Pete and
me.  Mom, this dinner is an expression of her love and that's why
it's so much better than I could do.  Finally, I guess you all
know now that Cindy has been receiving no money at all for any of
the work she has been doing, either here or at the bank. 
Nevertheless, she not only prepared this dinner, refusing any
help at all, but she paid for it all from her babysittingmoney."

Ali said, "I guess that's about it.  Except there's one other
small thing... I guess it's a sort of a present.  Dan?"

Dan got up from his seat and went to Cindy.  He went down on one
knee and said, "Darling, I know this is a little public, but
these are all people who love you.  Honey, I think I love you
most of all.  I adore you, Cin, and want you to be my wife and
the mother of my children.  Cindy, will you marry me?"

Cindy had been in a daze.  She couldn't fully absorb the change
in her fortune.  Now Dan was down on one knee beside her.  She
reached out and took him into her arms and hugged him tightly
saying, "Oh, God, Dan!  Of course I will.  But honey, are you
sure?  I'm beat up, and I used to be a gold-plated bitch.  I'll
marry you on one condition: We'll keep the whip and you must
promise me you'll use it if I ever need a reminder of what I was.
 Will you promise?"

"I promise, darling," he whispered as he held her tight.  Then he
released her and reached into his pocket.  He took out a
magnificent diamond solitaire ring and slipped it on her finger.
Then he took her in his arms and kissed her.  The kiss achieved a
new dimension as their love for each other flowed between them. 
Dan brought his chair down so he could sit at the end of the
table beside Cindy.

She said, "Dan, thank you."  Then she pretended to glare at Ali,
saying, "It's all very well for you to talk about my dinner,
Allison Clifford, but in the meantime it's getting cold!  Can we
eat now?"

When the magnificent dinner was over, Kelly looked out the window
and then turned on the radio to an all-news station.  As she had
feared, the snowstorm had developed into a major blizzard and the
highway department was urging all motorists to stay off the
roads.  Accordingly, it was agreed that everyone would sleep at
the Stewart's.  Fortunately, Jan had a number of new double
sleeping-bags so there were enough for everyone.  Because of the
storm, the evening was shaping up to be fun.

Over their protests, Ali and Bill Clifford were given one of the
spare bedrooms with Jan insisting that now that they were about
to become grandparents, they needed their rest.  Cindy picked up
on the comment and whispered in Jan's ear.  The girl grinned
gleefully and then spoke quietly to her sisters.  The result was
that at eleven o'clock, after everyone had retired, the girls
carefully opened the door to Bill and Ali's room.  As they
expected, they found the two making love.

Cindy's eyes widened as she realized how exquisite Ali's body
was: she looked like a girl in her early twenties rather than a
woman of thirty-seven.  Bill took Ali to her peak and, as usual
she fainted.  At that point the girls made their presence known.
Jan jumped on the bed, spread her mother's legs, and then began
to lick out the juices from her cunt.  While she did, Kathy
Cartwright went down on her father to clean him off.

Initially, Bill was surprised when he realized the room was full
of beautiful naked women.  Then he just leaned back and enjoyed
his daughters' attentions.  As Ali began to recover
consciousness, she sensed something out of the ordinary. 
Although Bill usually lapped up her cunt, this felt different. 
Looking down, she saw Jan's golden hair while the head moved on
her loins.  Ali reached down and stroked Jan's head as she came
suddenly to another orgasm.

After licking up the new cuntal flow, Jan sat back on her heels
and grinned, saying, "Mom and Dad, we have something for you, in
view of your advancing years.  In the interests of our children,
we need to protect their grandparents."

As she said it, Joan Clifford, who had worked her way through Cal
Tech as a topless cocktail waitress, came forward with a small
silver tray.  On it were two glasses of warm milk and a little
plate of Christmas cookies.  She said, "Mom, I understand that it
gets harder to fall asleep as you get older and the libido fades,
so we want to take care of you.  We understand elderly people
fall asleep easier after a glass of warm milk."

Ali had pulled herself up to the head of the bed and was resting
against Bill's shoulder.  She just shook her head in mock sorrow
and said, "Darling, I'm afraid it's all over for us.  We have now
been formally certified by our daughters as being over the hill!"
 She looked at him warmly and asked, "Bill, promise you'll push
my wheelchair next week?"

Then her expression changed dramatically as she looked at Bill
and, to the amazement of the girls, tears came into her eyes. 
She said softly, "Darling, there's one more gift I have for you,
but it won't be delivered until next summer.  Do you mind?"  Her
face fell and she looked apprehensive as she added, "Darling, I
didn't have the nerve even to mention it to you before."

Bill looked at her, puzzled.  He had never seen this new look in
Ali's eyes before, yet it appeared to be a look of incredible
love.  He replied, "Of course I don't mind, darling.  Can you
tell me what it is, though?"

Her flow of tears had, surprisingly, increased.  She said,
"Darling, I don't know how you're going to take this, but I'm
going to be a mother.  The delayed gift, Bill, is a baby."  Now
the tears were really flowing as she asked very softly, "Do you
mind very much?"

When he heard the words, Bill Clifford lit up like a Christmas
tree.  He said, "Darling, you're not kidding, are you?"  She
shook her head.  "It's really true?"  This time she nodded
vigorously.  He took her in his arms, hugged her tightly, and
kissed her with incredible love and passion saying, "My darling,
I don't know what to say!  I'm overjoyed.  But why didn't you
tell me?  What happened?"

Ali eased away from him just enough to be able to focus on his
face.  Then she said, "Bill, when I saw Connie start to blossom I
made up my mind I had to try to become a mother so I stopped
taking my birth-control pills.  I saw the doctor just before we
left and he confirmed it."

Then she brightened and laughed, "Guess what?  He started to
change the date of birth on my chart.  He thought the year was a
typo: he had my age as twenty-seven, and said he didn't believe I
was even that old.  Can you imagine?  He said I look like I'm in
my mid-twenties."  Then her face became serious as she said, "You
know what it means, though, don't you?  We will have a grandchild
older than our own son or daughter.  Incidentally, the doctor
asked me about running a test to determine the sex of the baby. 
Honey, I said no.  I want it to be a surprise.  Do you mind?"

Meanwhile the girls had been looking on in utter amazement at the
revelation.  Then they started to crowd around and kiss and hug
their parents.  Finally, Ali looked up at Connie who, being nude,
showed the expanded abdomen of her pregnancy.  Ali asked her to
get up on the bed and she did, kneeling between her parents. 
Gently, Ali ran her slender fingers over the bulge and asked Bill
to do the same.  She said, "Darling, this will be me in a few
months... I hope!  Isn't she beautiful?"  Bill agreed she was.

Ali continued: "Connie, I heard you say earlier something that
was utterly beautiful and so true!  You said this is really what
it's all about.  Bill puts his magnificent weapon inside me and
cums in a flood.  Then after nine months, the product of his
sperm and my egg, now a baby, comes out the same way his cock
went in."  Looking at Bill she said, "Darling, I'm so glad you're
not angry."

_"Angry?"_ he exclaimed.  "How, in the name of God, could I
possibly be angry.  Ali, you have just made me the happiest man
on earth!  Honey, I love Jen and Billy and Brian very much.  On
the other hand I love you to a degree that surpasses
understanding.  Occasionally, late at night, I'll wake up and
wish you could have a baby.  With your brains and beauty, I
thought a baby from your loins would be very special.  Now we're
going to see.  Darling, thank you."

The girls left the room even happier than when they went in.

On the way back to her room Cindy peered out the window at the
snow still falling heavily outside.  It was now being driven by a
rising wind and was drifting heavily.  Now that the forecast
blizzard had arrived, no one would be going anywhere the next
day.*Chapter 33*

The Stewart home was quite large with five bedrooms, of which
only two were normally in use, the master bedroom and Cindy's. 
Because of the large number of guests, Bill and Ali Clifford had
been given one of the spares, Don and Mary Martin had another,
while Dave and Judy Chapman -- Steve's parents -- had the last. 
The rest of the younger guests and the girls who were working at
the house unrolled sleeping-bags on the first floor.  The girls
from the bank were sleeping in the kitchen with Kelly and Cathy
Collins sharing a sleeping-bag.  When the girls zipped up the
bag, Kelly who was lying on her back, stretched luxuriantly.

Cathy asked, "Why do you look like the cat that swallowed the
canary?"

Kelly smiled warmly and replied, "Because this morning I reached
the first orgasm of my life!  It was heavenly!"  Turning on her
side to look at the new girl she said, "Can you believe a woman
can cum _for fifteen minutes?_  It's true.  I've seen Cindy but I
thought it was just her.  This morning Dan Burke worked on me and
I did it, too."  The tall redhead stretched again.

"But Kelly," Cathy protested, "I thought you were a virgin and
were saving it for Kevin?"

"I am and I am!" she replied.  "That's one of the things that's
so amazing.  I don't think Dan even touched my vagina.  He just
stroked my breasts, my inner thighs and my slit.  Of course, he
certainly did work over my clit!"

The new girl looked at her in amazement saying, "Do you mean...
But... I thought you had to... with a man...?"

Now Kelly began to giggle and hugged Cathy closely.  She found
that the girl smelled sweet and fresh with her only perfume being
that of her body.  She kissed the girl lightly and whispered, "Do
you feel like trying an experiment?"

Cathy looked puzzled but nodded shyly.  Although there were no
lights on in the kitchen, there was enough light reflecting in
from the snow-covered ground that she could see a grin on Kelly's
face as she said, "Great!  We'll do it first thing in the
morning.  From the looks of the snow and what they're saying on
television, we'll be staying here for a while."

The next morning Kelly stretched in the sleeping-bag and found
that she felt great.  Looking over at the girl beside her she
smiled warmly seeing the very innocent look on the girl's face. 
After savoring the warmth of the sleeping-bag for a few more
moments, she gently stroked the body of the girl beside her.

Cathy's eyes instantly opened.  She blinked and smiled, then
stretched.  Cathy said, "Kelly, that was really great!  I can't
recall sleeping so well in years."  With a small grin she added,
"Can I give you a letter of recommendation as a sleeping-bag
companion for a cold winter's night?  But should I address it to
Kevin or 'To whom it may concern'?"

Kelly returned the grin and poked the girl in the ribs. 
"Collins, the world really doesn't need another smart-ass!  Come
on, let's get to work.  There's a lot to do today."

She unzipped the bag and quickly started to make coffee.  When a
tray was prepared, she and Cathy went up to Cindy's room.  Again,
just the slightest sound of the door latch moving was enough to
awaken her.

Cindy opened her eyes and saw Kelly and Cathy entering the room.
As usual, Dan's hand was cupping her tit.  When she gently
squeezed it, he opened his eyes.  Cindy was still wearing her
engagement ring and held her left hand out straight to admire it.
 Then she rolled over to lie face down on Dan's chest.  She
lowered her mouth to his and kissed him warmly and then with
increasing passion.  "Good morning, my husband," she whispered. 
Then she grinned and added, "Of course, now that I have my
diamond, I don't really need you anymore.  I already have all I
really want out of the deal shining on my third finger."

Dan's eyes were dancing as he gently ran his fingers over her
scarred buttocks.  As he did, Cindy made happy noises deep in her
throat.  He asked, "Can a ring do that for you?"

Picking up on his game, she replied, "Of course not.  But I'm
just making myself available to you.  It was part of the price I
had to pay to get the ring.  After all, I'm just accommodating
your male sex drive."  Adopting a haughty look she said, "And,
Daniel Patrick Burke, it's a well-known fact that women don't
need sex.  We just accommodate men."

Dan just shook his head sadly, saying, "Cindy Martin, here I
thought you were a smart girl, but I guess you're a slow learner,
though.  Young lady, kneel on the bed facing me."

Kelly whispered to Cathy, "My God!  You're going to see what
happened to me yesterday, but it's going to be much, much worse
for Cindy!  Just watch!"

Cindy knew what Dan had in mind and what was in store for her,
but she did exactly what Dan had asked.  She knelt on the bed
holding her back up straight, but with a very bored look on her
face.  Placing her left hand on her thigh, she appeared to be
concentrating on the diamond on her finger, moving her hand
slightly to cause the diamond to catch and refract the light.

While she did that, Dan gently began to stroke her body.  As he
caressed her he said, "Do you realize I've never done this to
you?  As a matter of fact, it's fun.  Darling, you have an
utterly magnificent body!"

Cindy continued her playacting.  While Dan continued gently to
stroke her body, she shook her head and then combed out her long
golden hair with her fingers, pretending to be bored by the whole
thing.  She was trying to avoid giving any sign of her increasing
passion.  As she knelt beside him, she realized what fun this
was.  She and Dan had become incredibly attuned to each other
over the previous six months.  Each knew every inch of the
other's body and what the other liked and responded to.  Cindy
could feel herself being taken up and up while she fought to
maintain the bored expression on her face. _It's so much fun
trying to trick Dan,_ she thought.  She could feel herself about
to reach her crest yet he had not even touched her cunt.  All of
his attentions had been on her inner thighs and tits.  Now he was
stroking her thighs and it was like Heaven.  But just as she was
about to achieve her release, he stopped.

Trying to avoid swallowing hard, she concentrated on still trying
to look bored.  Dan was amused because, try as she might to
conceal it, he could still see her rising passion in her eyes. 
He took her through a second cycle and then a third.  The fourth
time he lightly stroked her nipples and she screamed.  They had
become so sensitive that now his touch was almost painful.  Now
he began to work on her in earnest as his fingers entered her
slit and began to work on her circumcised clitoris and the mouth
of her vagina.

Cindy gave up the pretense of boredom and tried to grin.  Shaking
her head she said aloud but seemingly to herself, "Martin, when
will you learn?  Even a small child knows that a hot stove
burns!"

As he worked on her body, all of her sensations were now
concentrated in her loins while her body was writhing in anguish
from its unsatisfied longing.  The girls, now standing across the
room, heard her moan incoherently and periodically scream
whenever Dan touched her nipples or her clit.  Cathy looked on in
amazement when she realized that Cindy's body was nothing but
evenly tanned skin over smooth rippling muscles.  There was not
an apparent ounce of fat on her body.  Noticing the scars, she
whispered to Kelly who replied that she would tell her about them
later.

After trying to maintain her upright kneeling position, Cindy no
longer could and allowed her body to sag forward.  Now tears were
streaming from her eyes and it was obvious that she was in an
agony of wanting.  Finally she screamed, "Stop, Dan!  Please
stop.  You're killing me.  Please release me, darling..."  Her
voice just faded away into her tears.  Dan ignored her and kept
working on her body.  Then he stopped and waited for her to
regain some control.

Cindy slowly became aware of her position: she was folded forward
at the waist and, although still on her knees, was collapsed
almost into a ball.  Painfully, she raised her head revealing the
tears still streaming down her cheeks.  There was a desperate
wanting in her eyes as, trying as hard as she could to control
her voice, she said, "I give up, Dan.  I'll do absolutely
anything.  I can't stand it, darling.  I need you so much... 
Please, Dan?"  Then she reached down and pulled the ring off her
finger and gave it to him saying, "Dan, I don't want your ring. 
I just want you.  I need you.  I can't live without you. 
Please?"

Dan wasn't finished with her yet.  He said, "Cindy, that's a very
valuable ring.  And women don't need sex, right?  We both know
that.  Let's see...  You said you would do anything...  Slave, I
need you to fuck my cock with your mouth."

Still crying, Cindy scrambled between his legs and began to work
on his cock, now massive in its full erection.  While her mouth
began to move up and down on it, he went back to caressing her
body, again bringing her up towards the crest of her orgasm. 
Because of all of his stimulation he quickly spent in her mouth.
Meanwhile, she was again going crazy.  When she had swallowed his
cum and licked off the last drops, she dried his cock and balls
with her hair, looked up at him and whispered, "Oh God, please...
 Dan, I really can't take this anymore.  I'm destroyed."

He motioned to her to kneel beside him again.  This time he
quickly took her to her peak.  Kelly knew that this time he was
going to take her over so she moved quickly.  She jumped on the
bad, rolled over on her back and positioned her mouth below
Cindy's now-gaping cunt.  Dan worked on Cindy and took her over
to her orgasm, then just maintained her there.

Like the terrible night with Pete, Cindy just slumped forward
with her knees still under her body but with her head and
shoulders now resting on the bed as her vaginal juices just ran
from her cunt in a steady stream.  Kelly was positioned to catch
the juices in her mouth as it just continued.  As much as she
caught with her mouth and tongue and swallowed, even more sprayed
her eyes, nose and hair.  Kelly was soaked with the succulent
fluid.  Finally, Dan pinched Cindy's clitoris.  The overwhelming
sensation overpowered her brain and she lost consciousness. 
Kelly lifted her head slightly and proceeded to lick out the
girl's cunt with her tongue.  When she finished, she used her
long auburn hair to dry the girl and then slid out from beneath
her.  Finally, she gently straightened out Cindy's legs and then
smiled at Dan.

Dan took Cindy under her arms and pulled her up to the head of
the bed with him and then rested her head on his shoulder.  With
the bedcovers now up around them he looked at Kelly, grinned, and
said, "On behalf of my bride-to-be, thank you, Kelly.  That was
the most incredible thing I've ever seen."  Then he raised an
eyebrow and said, "But did you come in just to watch, or...?"

Kelly grinned back, winked, and poured a mug of coffee for Dan. 
He took it in his left hand while his right was again cupped over
Cindy's breast.  He looked down at her and smiled.  Her cheeks
were still tear streaked, her hair was matted with sweat, but he
thought she was still the most beautiful girl alive.  Finally she
blinked, opened her eyes, and looked into his.

He whispered, "That was fun, wasn't it?"

She snuggled against his shoulder and then kissed his chest. 
Then she looked at him and asked, "Darling, next time please just
whip me?  It's really much less painful."  Then she shook her
head, grinned wryly and added, "I guess I'm _really_ a slow
learner."  She looked down at her now-bare finger and then back
at Dan.  She said, "Darling, will you promise me something?"

He said, "Of course!  What?"

"Honey, will you please get me just a plain gold wedding band?  I
would settle for brass, even.  Darling, I'm just your hot cunt. 
In fact, I guess there's no need even to marry me.  I'll proudly
carry your children and you could adopt them if you really like
them."  Tears started to flow again as she said, "I'm really
dumb, Dan.  Jan was forced to marry Pete because he wouldn't
sleep with her unless she did.  Since you have all the milk you
could ever want, there's no need for you ever to buy the cow, is
there?"

She was amazed to see tears come to Dan's eyes.  He said,
"Darling, I have to marry you.  I have the world's most beautiful
woman in my arms right now.  She's intelligent, funny, warm,
exciting...  Of course, some day she's going to wake up.  Cindy,
that's what I can't afford to allow to happen.  Some day you're
going to take a good look at me and you know what?  You said it a
few months ago: 'Burke, you're old, beat up, and generally shot
to hell.'  You were right, of course."

Now tears were streaming from her eyes as she said, "Beat up?  I
guess you are, Dan.  You got beat up defending our country. 
You're handsome, strong, incredibly gentle, smart, funny... 
Darling, I can't wait until I can carry your children in my
belly.  I just hope they get their brains and judgment from their
father, though, and not from their mother."  Then she just rubbed
her cheek against his hairy chest.

Dan motioned to Kelly who poured coffee for Cindy and then cups
for Cathy and herself.  The two girls sat on the edge of the bed
while Dan pulled Cindy around so she was again next to him at the
head of the bed.  First, he gently slid the ring back on Cindy's
finger, then he looked at Cathy Collins who had been watching
events wide-eyed and asked, "Cathy, what do you think?"

She just shook her head and said, "Mr. Burke, I don't know what
to say."

Dan began to laugh and said, "Cathy, I ask you?  When a guy and
three girls are all bare-ass naked on one bed, do you suppose
it's asking too much for you to call me Dan?"

The girl laughed merrily and said, "I'm sorry, Dan.  It was the
most beautiful thing I have ever seen.  I may be prejudiced, but
I think you're a pretty lucky guy to get Cindy, too."

The girls were about to leave the room when Kelly glanced down
and saw her small bow was missing from her pubic hair.  Again the
tall girl scrambled around the bed and the bedcovers with her
tail in the air until she found it again.

When she found it, Cindy, trying to control her giggles, said
sarcastically, "If you didn't insist on wearing so damn many
clothes, you wouldn't be losing bits of them all the time.  Now,
Miss McBride, if you're finished, I would appreciate having my
bedcovers back.  Burke is getting old so he doesn't keep me as
warm as he used to.  I'm cold!"

Dan pretended to glare at her and said threateningly, _"Young
lady?"_

A look of fear came into her eyes as she hugged him and
whispered, "Dan, I'm sorry!  Really I am.  Will you forgive me?"

Dan looked at her with an eyebrow raised.  Then he looked at
Kelly and said, "Slave Kelly, before you leave would you please
get me the whip from the closet."

Cindy snuggled even closer to him and sighed, "Darling, you're so
good to me!  As long as it's just the whip."

As the girls were going out the door, they saw Cindy and Dan
wrapped in another passionate embrace.

* * *

After breakfast, Cindy started up the tractor-mounted snowblower
and attempted to clear the driveway.  During the night the snow
had turned into a full-bore Midwestern blizzard, leaving drifts
up to four feet high.  With all the cars parked in the driveway,
though, it was difficult to maneuver the tractor around them all.
 Dan and the other girls came out and used shovels to dig around
the cars, while Cindy used the powerful blower to dispose of the
shoveled snow.  Although the blizzard had died down, snow was
still falling lightly.

Cindy reached the snow still piled high on the road.  Since town
plows hadn't yet reached their neighborhood, there was no place
to go even with the driveway cleared.  As she headed back up the
drive she found that a snowball fight had started, pitting Dan
against Kelly, Cathy, and the other girls from the bank.  Cindy
grinned and joined Dan to even up the odds.  In no time, they
were completely snow covered and rolling in the new-fallen snow
like little children.  Laughing, they went back into the house
and stamped off the snow.

Jan greeted them with a pretend frown saying, "Children, now hang
up your coats and come out to the kitchen."  To their surprise,
Jan had made a huge pot of cocoa which was wonderful after the
severe cold outside: the temperature was still down in single
digits.

When they finished, Cindy took a shovel and began to clear a path
out to the swimming pool.  Although it was an outdoor pool, it
was heated and Pete and Jan had had a bubble put over it.  The
others helped, and in a short time they had cleared off the
pathway.  Then, to the astonishment of Cathy and the other girls,
Cindy returned to the kitchen, calmly stripped off her clothes
and, in spite of the sub-freezing temperature, ran outside naked,
up the path and into the bubble.  Kelly knew what she intended to
do and was right behind her.  In no time the two girls were
powering up and down the pool.

The other girls were right behind.  Soon they were all swimming
laps.  Cindy would periodically stop and give pointers on
technique to the girls.  When they finished, they ran back to the
house.  This time Cindy led them to the gym and the exercise
equipment in it.  Cathy watched in amazement as Cindy moved very
heavy weights with no apparent effort.  On the other hand, she
could see the girl's muscles bulge as they worked.  Cindy set up
Cathy on a machine to build up her shoulders, her pectoral
muscles, and to develop her breasts.

In almost no time, the girl was sweating and close to exhaustion
but kept going following Cindy and Kelly's example.  Cindy called
a halt when she thought the girls had had enough.  The girls were
puzzled when they were told to wrap themselves in blankets.  They
had no idea what was next.  Kelly and Cindy took the girls two at
a time and began to massage their bodies.

Cindy was working on Cathy Collins' body and the girl just made
happy noises as her boss worked on her now-aching muscles. 
Looking over her shoulder she said softly, "Cindy, I don't know
how you do it.  You're the most perfectly conditioned female I
have ever seen.  What do you do?"

"Do you really want to know?" Cindy asked.  The girl nodded and
Cindy said, "It's three things.  First, I guess I work out my
legs and arms in the pool.  My shoulders and chest develop on the
machines, but the best part is my lower body.  That's Dan.  When
I'm cuming, I'm shaking my lower body to pieces.  Maybe that's
why the muscles there are so firm."

Cathy rested her head on the massage table and shook it sadly. 
When Cindy asked her what was wrong she replied, "I guess it
means I'll have to lose my virginity if I ever want to have a
body like yours."  Then she turned and grinned, asking, "Are
there any more guys like Dan?  If there was one, he could
manipulate me to orgasm while I'm still a virgin.  That's what
happened to Kelly, isn't it?"

"Sure is," Cindy responded with a grin.  "What did she think of
it?  Did she say anything to you, Cath?"

"She said it was like Heaven.  She also said that if doing it
with a man is any better, she'll have to quit clobbering Kevin. 
He might get discouraged and that's the last thing she can afford
to allow to happen.  She still doesn't know exactly what Dan did,
though, but she never felt so good in her life before."  When
Cindy finished the massage Cathy felt better than she could
recall ever feeling in her life.  To Cindy's surprise the girl
motioned for her to get up on the table.  Looking puzzled, Cindy
did.

Cathy took some massage lotion and began to work on Cindy's back
and shoulders.  Although Cindy knew the girl normally had a very
light touch, now her fingers felt like steel rods as she very
expertly worked on the muscles.  Cindy groaned with pleasure and
murmured, "Catherine Collins, you've been holding out on us. 
Where on earth did you ever learn to give massages like this?"

The girl smiled and said, "I was an assistant trainer at Carleton
College.  Maybe that's why I'm not as embarrassed being nude
around men as I ought to be.  I guess I've seen a lot of naked
men and worked on many of them.  Carleton is a pretty small coed
school so we don't always have the right number of men and women
to go around.  Anyway, I was the assistant men's trainer.  Does
it feel all right?  If you were a man, I would be more confident.
 For example, do you know if I should massage your breasts?"

Cindy just murmured sleepily, "You're doing great!  You figure it
out."  When she rolled Cindy -- now sleeping -- on her back she
just gently caressed her full firm breasts with the massage
fluid.  Cindy just smiled in her sleep and sensuously wriggled
her body.

Later that night the girls were back in their sleeping-bags. 
Cathy asked Kelly again what had happened the previous morning. 
Kelly looked at her new friend speculatively and asked, "Cath,
Cindy says a virgin cunt tastes delicious.  This morning you saw
me under Cindy while she was cuming in a flood.  What did you
think?  Were you shocked?"

The girl just smiled warmly and said, "Kelly, it was like nothing
I could even imagine.  As much as you were lapping up, even more
was splashing all over your face: your eyes, your nose, your
hair.  What was it like?  You seemed to enjoy it."

Rolling on her side Kelly looked at Cathy and said, "It was
delicious!  Does that sound crazy to you?  Cath, everything about
Cindy is exquisite, even her love juices."  Then she looked at
the girl and asked, "Would you like to try?  Cindy and Dan both
say I taste like nectar -- whatever that tastes like.  I guess
you represent my only chance to taste a virgin cunt, too."  She
just looked impassively at the girl beside her.  Again, the only
illumination came from the moonlight coming into the kitchen
reflected off the piled snow outside.

Cathy swallowed hard and said, "Could we do it fast?  Before I
lose my nerve?  Please?"

Kelly quickly unzipped the sleeping-bag and then put her arms
around the girl beside her.  She really didn't know what she was
doing, but she pulled the smaller girl close and kissed her
softly.  To her surprise, Cathy pulled her close and mashed her
own soft breasts against Kelly's firmer ones, then kissed her
lips hungrily.  The girls then reversed positions on the
sleeping-bag so they were now head-to-foot.  Kelly gently spread
Cathy's legs to gain access to her nether lips.  Meanwhile she
could feel Cathy doing the same thing to her.  The next thing she
knew, she could feel the girl's tongue lick up and down her slit.
 The sensation was exquisite.

Meanwhile, the other girls in the kitchen were watching the two
girls with great interest.  Finally, Kelly rolled over on her
back with Cathy now kneeling astride her.  She lifted her hips to
provide easier access and at the same time pulled Cathy's groin
down over her face.  She nibbled at the girl's clit and then
heard her scream as she came in a small flood.  Her loins were in
spasm now and luscious liquid was beginning to run from her
vagina in a small flood.  Moments later Kelly lost interest in
the girl's sex as she was also taken over in a flood.

Suddenly Cathy jumped off her and reversed her position.  Now she
was between Kelly's legs and put them over her shoulders.  From
this position the girl could concentrate on licking and sucking
her sex.  Kelly came again and again and again.  Finally Cathy
reached exactly the right level of sexual stimulation and
maintained Kelly in orgasm exactly as Dan had done.  The girl was
now sweating and her arms were thrashing as her loins just
continued to jerk spasmodically.  For her part, Cathy continued
to lick up and swallow the luscious juices that were pouring from
Kelly in a flood.  Finally, Cathy bit down on the girl's erect
clit.  This was more than Kelly could take.  She screamed,
exploded in another flood, and lost consciousness.

When she regained consciousness, Kelly found her head on Cathy's
bare shoulder while the girl had her hand cupped around her
breast in exactly the way Dan always slept with Cindy.  Kelly ran
a hand through her wet hair and whispered, "Wow!  Cathy, that was
utterly spectacular.  Thank you so much."

Then she lifted herself up and did to Cathy what had just been
done to her.  She had found out that Cathy's cunt juices were
very sweet.  Now concentrating her full attention on the girl she
was able to reciprocate.  Cathy came in a flood and soon reached
the point of continuous orgasm herself.  For an instant Kelly was
fearful that the girl could hurt herself with her thrashing but
then remembered that it was exactly what she had been doing
earlier.  In addition to eating the girl's cunt, she used a hand
to caress her breasts and tweak the girl's nipples.  With her
heightened sensitivity, soon every time she touched them Cathy
screamed with pain and ecstasy.  Finally, she bit the girl's
clitoris causing her to lose consciousness, too.

It was a mirror image of the earlier situation with one
difference.  When Cathy regained consciousness her head was on
Kelly's shoulder and Kelly's hand was cupping her breast.  The
difference was that the other three girls were now kneeling
around them.  One of the other girls, Gail Swanson, asked softly,
"How was it, Cath?  Did that feel as good as it looked?"

Cathy just stretched languorously and looked up at Kelly.  Then
she pulled the girl's head down to kiss her softly on the lips. 
"I guess I'm going to be a lesbian," she replied with a grin. 
"McBride, you should be illegal, too.  I thought the Irish had no
feelings?  I saw what Dan Burke did to Cindy and I felt what you
did to me.  Are you sure it's better with a man?  It almost can't
be."

Kelly replied, "Do you realize what's happening to us?  We're
around a group of people that have to be the greatest sets of
lovers in the world.  Have you ever seen Kathy with Bill
Cartwright?  They absolutely worship each other.  It's the most
beautiful thing I have ever seen... and that ignores the way they
met.  Then there's Cindy and Dan, Jen and Steve, Ali and Bill...
Good heavens!  There's also Don Martin and Mary and even Dave and
Judy Chapman!  Do you realize that the last three couples are all
middle-aged?  My God!  I hope my love life with Kevin is ever as
good as theirs is all the time.  What an education!"

The girls returned to their sleeping-bags leaving Kelly and Cathy
alone.  With her head still on Kelly's shoulder, Cathy rolled
onto her side facing the taller girl.  She proceeded to stroke
her skin with a petal-light touch.  Then she moved to her breasts
but maintained the same touch.  After a while she could see Kelly
start to writhe in the bag and make wonderful happy sounds deep
in her throat.  Cathy had an idea and finally made it happen. 
Again Kelly's pelvis started to spasm as she came in another
flood.  Cathy jumped down and began to lick up the wonderful
flow.

When it stopped, she flipped her head and used her still-damp
hair to dry Kelly's cunt and then returned to her shoulder.  When
she did, she was grinning and said, "I did it!  Kelly McBride, I
made you cum without ever touching you below the waist.  McBride,
you're too much!  You're sinfully sensitive.  If this were the
Bay Colony 300 years ago, you would be in the stocks or on the
ducking stool."  The girl appeared to frown as she added, "Kelly,
if I didn't know better I would almost think you _like_ sex!"

"Who?  Me?  Surely you must be confusing me with someone else,"
Kelly protested with a grin.  Then she did to Cathy what had been
done to her.  That, coupled with the sounds of the sexual
experimentation going on around them, caused the girls to be very
tired when the sun rose the next morning.

It was two more days before the roads were plowed enough for
anyone to leave.  When it was finally time to go, Cathy was
wearing her Levi's and work shirt along with a parka.  She hugged
and kissed Jan and then Cindy.  As she kissed Cindy she
whispered, "Cindy, this has been the very best Christmas of my
life!  Thank you so much for having me."

As she went out to her car, now cleared of snow, she felt around
her neck the heavy weight of the solid gold slave collar that
Kathy had just presented to her.

To be continued...

* * *

Comments and constructive criticism are sincerely welcome.  Let
me hear from you.  morg105829@aol.com 

*Cynthia Martin* Copyright (c) 1991, 2001 by Morgan. 
<morg105829@aol.com>

All rights reserved.  No part may be reproduced or transmitted in
any form or by any electronic means, including photocopying,
recording or by any information and retrieval system, without the
written permission of the author.
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