Message-ID: <39216asstr$1036890605@assm.asstr-mirror.org> Return-Path: <dstar@pele.cx> From: Shalon Wood <dstar@pele.cx> X-Original-Message-ID: <873cqah2xj.fsf@pele.pele.cx> User-Agent: Gnus/5.0808 (Gnus v5.8.8) Emacs/21.2 MIME-Version: 1.0 X-ASSTR-Original-Date: 09 Nov 2002 15:02:32 -0600 Subject: {ASSM} Prudence, TX Population 1276 (Mf, ff, oral, teen, rom, cons) Date: Sat, 9 Nov 2002 20:10:05 -0500 Path: assm.asstr-mirror.org!not-for-mail Approved: <assm@asstr-mirror.org> Newsgroups: alt.sex.stories.moderated,alt.sex.stories Followup-To: alt.sex.stories.d X-Archived-At: <URL:http://assm.asstr-mirror.org/Year2002/39216> X-Moderator-Contact: ASSTR ASSM moderation <story-ckought69@hotmail.com> X-Story-Submission: <ckought69@hotmail.com> X-Moderator-ID: kelly, hecate #insert <stddisclaimer.h> Feedback welcome. This is a collaboration between my wife and I. We've got well over another 150K ready to be massaged into fiction format and sent out. =========================================================================== All the lights in the house were on when he pulled up in the drive, but as he opened the door, they all went out, leaving him in total darkness. Not even the vcr was blinking. Mark sighed, and grabbed a flashlight to find the circuit breakers. It didn't work. The muted sound of sobbing was audible from upstairs. He frowned, and dug out a candle. It took three tries to get the candle to light, and even then, the flame was small and flickering. The sound grew louder as he climbed. It wasn't coming from his bedroom, but from the small, empty room next to it. He could hear a baby crying quietly, too, as he came closer. When he opened the door, he discovered that the room had been transformed. Instead of an empty room, what he saw was a lovingly decorated nursery. Smiling cherubs were painted on the walls, and there was an abundance of pink satin and white lace. There were dozens of stuffed toys. There was a rocking chair in the corner by the expensive looking crib. Sitting in the rocking chair was a woman holding a baby, both of them crying. She looked very much alive, but somehow he knew she wasn't. She was heart-breakingly beautiful; her honey-gold hair and sapphire blue eyes made her look like an angel come to earth. "Tell me how to help you," he said. She looked up at him. "You can't. Only he can." The baby waved an arm and she held out a finger for it to grasp, fresh tears welling from her eyes. "She's always with me. I wish she wasn't. Look at her..." She uncovered the baby and held her up for him to see. She had her mothers glorious golden hair, but her eyes were a deep brown. "Her daddy's eyes. How could he doubt that she was his?" She clutched the baby to her chest. "Only he can free me." "Who is he, and how do I get him to free you?" "He was wrong. He was so wrong, but he'll never admit it. No one could ever get him to admit it." "Who is he? What does he have to do to free you?" The baby started to fuss more loudly. "You must go now, young man. She's hungry. I have to nurse her." "Please, tell me before I have to go." She started to unbutton her blouse, and power returned to the house suddenly, the bright light revealing only an empty room. Mark sighed, looking around, and decided he might as well go to bed. His dreams that night were less erotic, though still full of Kristen. They were more disturbing, though. The setting was different, and clearer than in previous dreams. At one point, he realized that they were making love in the nursery, and that the cherubs on the walls were crying. Mark drug himself out of bed in the morning, feeling slightly better than the day before since he'd gotten more sleep. The ghost made him coffee again. Unfortunately, it tasted like decaffinated. Like most teachers, he'd made a habit of leaning against the wall by his door in the morning. This let him watch the hallway. Technically, he was watching all of the hallway, and could spot misbehaving students. This was why most teachers did it. Mark, however, couldn't resist keeping an eye on his girlfriend. She didn't seem to realize he was watching her this morning, however. She was smiling when she opened her locker, but frowned when she reached inside it. He saw her pull out a sheet of paper, read it, and go pale. He tried not to be obvious, but he couldn't help but make his way towards her when he saw her face. He hadn't made it quite halfway there when Aaron, the young man who was beaten up for taking typing and so transferred into his chem class, stopped by her, frowned, and tapped her on the shoulder, asking something. She jumped a couple of feet in the air and dropped the note. He caught the piece of paper as it fell, and smiling and obviously saying something teasing, started to hand it back to her, glancing at it reflexively. His hand gripped the piece of paper tightly, and he suddenly looked angry as hell. Mark could hear him arguing with her, and she was shaking her head. As he come closer he could make out what Aaron was saying. "Look, you have *got* to tell someone. This is not a joke, Kristen." Mark stepped up behind him. "Miss. Davis, Mr. James, is there a problem?" Kristen jumped guiltily and tugged at the piece of paper. "No." Aaron didn't let go of the paper, and spoke at the same time, "Yes." Mark raised an eyebrow. "I think the two of you had best come with me." He motioned them towards the teachers lounge. Kristen frowned and glanced at him like he'd gone totally insane; Mark simply raised the other eyebrow, and waited for her to start moving. Once in the lounge, he asked, "What seems to be the problem?" "*Tell* him, Kris." "Miss Davis?" Kristen sighed. "It's just someone playing a prank, Mr. H. No big deal." "Mr. James?" "I don't think so. I think it's a threat, a real one." Mark held out his hand for the paper. With an apologetic look at Kristen, Aaron handed it to him. "Sorry, Kris, but you can't ignore this." It read, "It's too late to play innocent, slut. You're going to start putting out again...one way or the other." It was typed, no signature. Kristen watched him anxiously as he read the note. Mark paled slightly, and set his jaw. "I'm afraid he's right, Miss Davis. This will have to go to the principal." He glanced at Aaron, then looks at her. "I'll say something here that perhaps I shouldn't. I may be new to the town, but I _do_ know your reputation. I also found out about the change you seem to have made on Monday. I can tell you that I have yet to hear from a teacher who doesn't support your choice." Kristen blushed and looked at her hands. "Speaking personally, I'm glad you've decided to take control of your life. If you have any trouble from...louts who won't accept no, any of the teachers will help you, you know." Kristen said quietly, "I don't think there will be any trouble, sir." "Bullshit." Aaron snorts. Mark raised an eyebrow at Kristen. "You are telling me that the quality of teenage male has improved so dramatically since I was in school?" Aaron snorts. "Quantity maybe, but not quality. We could do with some population control around here. Mr. H, Dirk had her pinned in the girl's john for half an hour Tuesday. It's just a good thing he's too dumb to think about going *in* a girls' room." "So that _was_ you, Miss Davis. I'd wondered. This means we've already had one incident. Come, let's go talk to the principal." "M..Mr. H, Dirk is harmless. He didn't mean anything, really." Kristen's face was completely red. Mark shook his head. "I'm afraid we can't take that risk, Miss Davis. "I really don't think this is serious. They're just mad and trying to scare me. I don't want to overreact." Kristen mumbled. "This is embarrassing enough." Mark glanced at Aaron, his gaze lingering on the fading black eye. "I think it _is_ serious, Miss Davis." He motioned to the door. "Let's go." Kristen's shoulders slumped in defeat. Aaron reached over and squeezed her shoulder when he didn't think Mark was looking. Mark led them to the office, again going in to talk to the principal before bringing them in. "This was in Kristen Davis' locker this morning." Mark handed him the note. Dr. Ward read the note, frowning. "Do you think this is serious, or just a threat, Mark?" Mark raised an eyebrow. "Assuming Aaron was right when he said Dirk had her trapped in a bathroom yesterday, I'd say it's serious." He sighed. "I'd also say we have to treat it as if it was, no matter what. After Columbine..." He hesitated. "Not to mention, in the high school I went to, there was a girl with a reputation for being easy who decided to stop. She ended up gang-raped, and killed herself. And she didn't have half the reputation that Miss Davis does." "I know you're right, son, but I will be damned if I know what to do about it. I can't suspend the girl for keeping her legs closed. I can't keep the entire male student body in detention. And anything I do to draw attention to it is just going to make the problem worse *and* probably humiliate the poor child. I *can* call an assembly and have Angie give a lecture on sexual harassment and the law. That might do something." Mark sighed. "I know. Although..." He looked thoughtful. "If I remember correctly, we can legally set up surveillance cameras. I've got a couple of those wireless X-10 cameras at home that I never got around to doing anything with. I could set them up to cover her locker, and at least we could find out who's leaving the notes. And I suspect that if we quietly let David and Kevin know they wouldn't be considered tardy for walking her to and from her classes...." "Hmmm. Yes, I think we can keep her safe here at school, but she walks home. Hell, she walks *everywhere*, she's known for it. And that father of hers leaves her alone in that house more often than not." He looked seriously worried. Mark frowned. "Do any teachers live near her? If so, maybe one of them would volunteer to act as a safe house for her?" He shook his head. "Mark, *you're* the closest one to her. I think you can see the problem with that." Mark winced. "Good lord. The rumors that would get started..." "Exactly. You wouldn't even have to so much as look at her. And the next closest is *me*, and damn it, there already *were* rumors." "Of course there were. You're male. Hell, I'm surprised there aren't rumors about the female teachers, the way people talk about her." Mark sighed. "I don't know what to do. I'd hate to see her end up...in trouble." David sighed. "I almost wish she *would* change her mind. It'd be much easier. And you didn't hear that." Mark shook his head. "I don't. Maybe pick a few boys she _did_ want to sleep with...you didn't hear that either." He frowned. "How much trouble did you have with the rumors?" "Not *that* much. Basic gist was that I never paddled her because I was doing other things to her sweet little bottom. Frankly, I never paddled her because she never got in *that* much provable trouble. And...well, to avoid *worse* rumors." Mark chuckled. "I can _just_ imagine." He sighed, closing his eyes for a moment. "Maria -- the girl I told you about -- was a friend of mine. I've always felt that...well, I should have been able to do something. I'd be willing to put up with some rumors to help her, but there's a big difference between rumors and having someone shoot at you, or fire bomb your house, or losing your job and career." David sighed again. "I understand, Mark. If we could persuade the girl to pick out one guy to date on a serious basis, preferably one of the *big* ones, then probably the others would leave her alone. If her father were a more responsible parent, he never would have let his daughter get *in* this situation. Still...I suppose he does need to be informed of the situation. Wanna volunteer for that one?" Mark made a face, then sighed. "Shit. Yeah, I will. And I'll try to get those cameras set up before I go home tonight -- if it's ok, I'll run home at lunch and get them." "Fine by me, as long as you come back. *I* don't want to have to teach that damned advanced chem class of yours. Those kids *scare* me." Mark chuckled. "Oh, you could just get Kayla to teach it." "Probably. Say...you don't think *that* rumor's true, is it?" Mark raised an eyebrow. "Which one?" "You hadn't heard it? The one that suggests that the reason Ms. Davis isn't interested in our fine young gentlemen is that she's fallen for our studious young lady?" Mark choked a bit, then laughed. "I rather doubt it. I assume you heard about my demonstrations at the party they held the day before school started?" "Oh yeah. From many different viewpoints." He grinned broadly. Mark grinned back. "Well, shortly before I left the party, Miss Davis danced. It was a...most impressive sight. Several of the girls _did_ pay more attention than you might think, but Kayla wasn't one of them." "Ah. Pity. Kayla would make a good vengeful, jealous girlfriend with corrosive chemicals." Mark looked thoughtful. "I wonder if she's a good actor..." "Not worth it to either girl unless it's true, Mark. They'd catch hell for it, literally. I was just joking." Mark grinned. "So was I. Still, the thought of Kayla chasing Dirk down the hall with a beaker of something in her hands..." He chuckled. "I'll let Kristen and Aaron in now, and we can talk to her." "Wait...Aaron? What's he got to do with this? He might just be the only guy in the school who *hasn't* lost anything from Kristen's new chastity." "He saw the note when she dropped it. That's what caught my attention in the first place -- he was trying to talk her into telling someone. She, of course, doesn't want to think it could be serious." Ward rubbed his brow. "Right. Ok, bring them in." "And why hasn't he lost anything? Surely she hasn't slept with _all_ the other guys?" "Pretty much she *has* Mark. I've only been here two years, but it's pretty much a confirmed fact that she started making her way through them before she was twelve." Mark shook his head. "My." He moved to the door, and let the two in. Kristen entered reluctantly, followed by Aaron. "Have a seat kids. Dr. Hasseran showed me the note, Kristen. I agree with him that it is not something you can take lightly. We've discussed the matter, and there are some steps that we'll be taking to ensure your safety here at school. We'll need your cooperation, as well, young lady." Kristen mumbled, "Yessir." "Aaron, you were right to insist that Kristen tell an adult about this. Therefore, you will be part of a group of students who are charged with...discreetly...making sure she doesn't walk to class alone, particularly if it's a class not in the main building. You will not be considered tardy for doing this...you'll still receive a tardy slip and have to have it signed, but it will *not* go on your report card or reflect on your grades." "Yes, Sir!" "Kristen, please wait for your escorts, dear. Whether you want to believe anyone would hurt you or not, the fact is that people can be extremely stupid, and extremely cruel." Kristen sighed. "Yessir." "If the threats persist, we may have to take more obvious measures to discourage the perpetrators. We *will* be attempting to discover their identity, and if we do so, steps *will* be taken. Finally, you would be well advised to be more cautious outside of school as well. Always lock your door, curtail your long rambling walks for a while. Dr. Hasseran will be talking to your father about this situation, Kristen, I'm sorry, but it's necessary." "What?!" Kristen exclaimed. "No it's not! I'll be careful, I promise!" Mark made a face. "I assure you, Kristen, there are any _number_ of things I'd prefer to do than talk to one of my students' father about something like this. But I'm afraid that it does have to be done. I'm sorry." Kristen moaned and covered her face with her hands. Without raising her head, she asked, "Is there anything else?" "I think that's all for now, Ms. Davis. Dr. Hasseran?" Mark nodded. "I think so." "You may go to class now, children. You have choir this period, Kristen?" She nodded. "Then Aaron will accompany you to the music building." "C'mon Kris, it'll be okay." Aaron helped her up and ushered her out the door. "Interesting," Dr. Ward observed after they left. "I would have bet good money that the rumors about Aaron were true, but he seems quite taken with her, doesn't he?" "Rumors?" "I do not believe you haven't heard those, Mark. After all, they're the reason the young man transferred into your class." "Oh, those rumors. I usually ignore any rumor saying that a young man is gay. I was friends with the guy who had the most rumors like that about him in my school. In band, in choir, didn't play a sport. I stopped wondering once he mentioned to me that the cheerleaders rode on the band bus...and tended to change clothes _on the bus_. In fact, I considered joining the choir. " David laughed. "Understandable. Ah well, best go curtail your freshmen. Stop by and tell Angie to step in here? She should be in her office." Mark nodded. "I will." Mrs. Angellina Veronica Sloan, 'Ms. Angie' to all the students, was vaguely familiar to Mark, though he'd never met her personally. She was young and attractive in a blond, icy sort of way. Her office was extremely well organized, no piles of loose paper anywhere. She looked up at his knock and smiled. "Yes? Dr. Hasseran isn't it? I haven't had a chance to say hello to all the new teachers this year yet." Mark nodded. "Dr. Ward would like you to stop by his office." "Of course, thanks." *** The day was relatively uneventful after that. Dr. Ward obviously talked with David and Kevin, because Kristen didn't show up to any of her classes alone. This made it convenient for her to slip off with one of them at lunchtime as well. She seemed to have given in to the necessity, though she was still not happy about it. "Hey, Mr. H, my bike's busted, and I'm not as fond of walking as *some* people. Can you give me and Kristen a ride to her house after school?" Kayla asked you in the hall. Mark nodded. "Sure, Kayla, but I've got a few things I've got to take care of before I'll be able to leave." "No prob. We need to copy a couple of things from the library before we can work on our report anyway. Holler at us when you're ready to go." "I will." It took him about an hour to get the camera's installed, half of which was waiting for the halls to empty out so that he could do it when no one was looking. When he arrived in the library, they appeared to be studying and didn't notice him come in. "Y'all ready?" Both girls jumped. "Oh. Yeah." They grabbed their books and followed him out of the building. Kristen sighed. "What's wrong?" Mark asked. "I really do *like* walking, y'know. I don't do it *just* as an excuse to meet people for sex. It's relaxing. Soothing." "I know. Hopefully this will blow over soon." "You can't drive me home *every* day though. And *why* did you tell him you'd talk to my dad?!" Mark sighed. "I ended up trapped. There was no way I could get out of it without raising questions. I am _not_ looking forward to this." "It's dangerous Mark. There's got to be some way out of it. Tell him...tell him you thought about it and maybe a woman would be a better choice to talk to him." Mark raised an eyebrow, thoughtfully. "Ok, that's a good idea. I'll try it. I can also try the 'got cold feet about talking to a father about his daughter's sex life' routine." "I don't know why he'd think that was possible. You don't have any trouble talking to *him* about my sex life!" Kayla muttered, very quietly, 'uhoh' and tried to pretend she didn't exist in the back seat. "Actually, Kristen, I _haven't_ talked to him about your sex life -- just the effects it is having on the school. And I would love to have avoided those conversations. But I'm not willing to risk your safety. Would you want me to be?" Kristen stared out the window. "I don't know. I just feel...exposed." Mark sighed. "I'm sorry. I wish there was a way to avoid it. But I can't think of one that keeps you safe." "How bout I pretend to jump off a cliff into the sea and then live in your basement?" She sounded halfway wistful, as if she wished she could be serious. "Sorry. I don't think it would work. Be nice, though." Kristen stared out the window for the rest of the drive, glum. Mark pulled up in Kristen's driveway. "Could you give us a couple of minutes, Kayla?" Kayla hopped out of the car. "Sure." She pulled a book from her backpack and wandered up the drive and sat in the porch swing, turning her back to them. "Want to help me play a practical joke?" "Oh?" Kristen asked. "I owe Kayla one. She got me good last night -- but if you help I can turn it around on her." "Got you how?" Mark explained about the 'You could have sex with me' comment. "She's lucky I didn't think she was serious, or I might have run off the road. But if when y'all come over later you tell her -- dead serious -- that you've thought about it and you'll loan me to her since she's being so good about helping us..." He grinned. "But make sure I can see her face when you do." Kristen blinked. "Um...you know, that's almost exactly what *I* said to you...and I *was* serious. How do you know she wasn't?" "Well, for one thing she said she was just kidding." "Mark, if you weren't interested, of *course* she'd say that." Kristen glared at him, as if annoyed that he wouldn't realize that. Mark blinked. "Uhhhhh...oh. I hadn't even considered that she might be serious." Kristen looked at him disbelievingly. "Mark, half the female population of the school and a couple of the guys already have serious crushes on you." "Say _what_?!" "You mean you didn't *know*? How could you not know? I mean, with Karen the Bitch taking *every* possible opportunity to drop her damned pencil in front of you?" Mark blushed. "I hadn't noticed. Oh." He pauses. "Shit. What if she was serious?" He sounded panicked. "And if Susan squeals and says, 'Oh, Mr. H! You're *so* smart!' while hugging your arm like that one more time, I'm going to kill her." She paused. "I don't know, Mark." She says quietly, "What do you think?" "Gods. I hope I didn't hurt her feelings. Help me out here, Kristen. I never considered she might be serious." Kristen sighed. "First decide what you want to answer if she *was* serious, Mark." "Well, I think that would depend first of all on you, Kristen." "I don't see why." "I guess we _should_ clear that up, shouldn't we? What do you want for us, Kristen? Are we just lovers, or is it more?" Kristen swallowed hard. "That's...that's up to you Mark. However you want it." "I'd like us to be more. I'm already falling in love with you. Which means that you _do_ have a say in what my answer would be." "Not really. It wouldn't be fair if I did." "Emotions don't know about fair, Kristen. How would you feel if I slept with her? Not, 'how do you think you should feel', but 'how _would_ you feel'?" "I'm not sure. It would hurt, but I've really got no right for it to. And it would hurt worse if you *didn't* do it if you really wanted to, because you *aren't* jealous." Mark sighed. "It's a shame she's not bi. I won't deny she's attractive, Kristen, but you _do_ have first claim. Especially because you _tried_ to give up something that was a physical need for me. How can I do less?" "It's so confusing. I don't know what to think. On top of everything....I *do* owe her, we do. Big time. And I trust her. But...okay...the answer is, I couldn't handle it. Not right now. Maybe not ever, but I can't say for sure." Mark nodded. "Ok. Then I won't. But...shit. I _do_ need to find out if she was serious, and I _do_ need to talk to her about it, if she was, don't I?" Kristen sighed again. "No. *I* do. She would *not* tell you." "Ok. You do. And if she was, I'll talk to her." He sighed. "How would you feel about suddenly getting nervous about being here, and wanting to be over at my place?" He looked thoughtful for a moment. "But I still want to get her back, just in case. How about the original plan, but instead of loaning me to her, you tell her you'll sleep with her?" "Mark...what if she says 'ok!' ? It's not nice to offer something you're not going to give." "She told me the other night that she's not a lesbian." "Um. Neither am I. That doesn't mean I haven't slept with women." Mark blinked. "Oh. I assumed she meant she wasn't bi either. Was I wrong?" "I don't *know*. That's the point. But all 'I'm not a lesbian' means is 'I like boys'. It doesn't necessarily mean, 'I don't like girls'." "Oh. What if she _did_ say ok?" "Aren't our lives already complicated enough?" "Yes. But still -- if she did say ok, would you want to?" Kristen blushed. "I guess. I think. Look, you *know* I have trouble saying no, even to people I don't really like, and I actually *like* Kayla." Mark nodded. "And _you_ know I don't mind you sleeping with anyone you _want_ to." He paused. "If she was serious about what she said, _and_ she was interested in you...how would you feel about _that_?" "God, Mark...how am I supposed to know that? I'd need more than five minutes to figure it out, y'know?" Mark nodded. "Ok. It's something you should be thinking about, though, since I'm not capable of...of...Damn. I have no idea how to put it that doesn't sound bad. 'Providing enough'? That just sounds bad. But you know what I mean, right?" "Mark...you are. You would be. Once at lunch is all I need. If we could, safely...I wouldn't need anyone else." "I know. But we can't, safely, and what happens if I get sick or something, and we can't for several days?" Kristen looked vaguely ill herself. "I'll have to go back to blowjobs between every class again. This is so *stupid*! Why *shouldn't* we be able to do what we want? You're *not* hurting me. You're not using me...if anything it's the other way around. I hate hiding like this." "So do I, love. So do I." "If I got parental consent to date you, do you think that would be enough?" Mark shook his head. "No. The law would still apply. We'd have to get married, and...that would be more than a little tricky." "Oh." "Not that...well, I _was_ serious the other day, you know." "Mark...you thought I was pregnant. It was a desperate situation." Mark nodded. "Yes, it was. But I got to thinking about it." "Oh?" "I'd still be willing." "Honey...that's not something you should rush into. You should think about it. I mean, not just because of my age, too. I would adore having the legal *right* to be with you, but I won't chain you to me for life to do so." "I know. But...I _do_ believe in love at first sight. I've got proof. Our situation isn't ordinary, by any means. Besides, we're _already_ tangled up together, remember?" "Oh, Mark, you are so...so *you*." Mark grinned. "Yup. But I can't imagine being any less devastated if you left me tomorrow than if you left me a decade from now." Kristen licked her lips. "I won't leave you, Mark. That's not why I said no. You don't have to *ever* marry me, and I won't leave you." "But that's not why I want to. I want to make that commitment to _you_." Kristen trembled. "But what if you change your mind?" Mark shook his head. "I don't think I will, Kristen. I don't think I will, any more than you think you will." "That's different. You're special, wonderful, the best I could ever dream of. I'm something that will always be dangerous, always be a burden, always risk embarrassing you." Mark raised an eyebrow. "Dangerous how? A burden -- you are good enough, artistically, you could end up worth far more than I ever am. And why would you risk embarrassing me?" "Dangerous to your career. Respectable teachers don't marry the school slut. Embarrassing if someone found out your *wife* was sleeping around. I would be so proud to be seen with you, but I can't imagine you actually taking me anywhere in public." Mark shook his head. "Kristen, don't you understand? I don't _care_ -- no, that's not right. I _do_ care who else you sleep with. I want them to be people who make you happy. People you enjoy being around. I want you to _enjoy_ sleeping with them. I wish I _could_ take you out in public." "Mark...don't you know what people would *say* about you? How could you *not* be ashamed of me?" "Kristen, I don't _care_ what they say. And I don't think what you are doing is wrong, so what is there to be ashamed of?" Kristen looked at him, stunned. "I don't!" Kristen blinked back tears. "I've never been on a date, you know. Not a real one. Not even one." "Oh, gods, Kristen. I wish I could take you out. I really do." "No one wanted to be seen with me...not in a way where their friends might think they were *serious*, anyway. And now you...you, who have so much to lose, say you don't care what people would say." She swallowed. "As if, if I said 'yes', you really *would* marry me, and to hell with them all." "I don't. If it wouldn't cost me my job, my freedom, and my life -- and my chance to ever see you again -- I'd take you out tomorrow night and let everyone see us." "And I've already given you everything I can. You can't possibly get more from me by saying these things, there'd be no reason for you to. I'd take you on whatever terms you offered me. If you wanted to keep me a secret while you went on *real* dates and got married and had a couple of kids with someone else...I would." She sounded like she was trying to understand something. "I'm telling you the truth." "I'm scared." "Of what?" "Believing you." "You can. It's the truth," he said. "I've been wrong before." "Do you really think I'm not being honest with you? What does it _feel_ like?" "I don't trust my feelings. I've been wrong before. I want to, so bad. But if I did, I don't think I could survive being wrong again." Mark spread his hands. "How do I prove it?" He paused. "Kristen, will you marry me? Not right this instant, but at some point, when we can do so safely...will you?" Kristen trembled violently. "I'm so scared. I swore I'd never...Oh god." "What?" Kristen took a deep breath. "I swore I'd never fall in love. Because it gives them too much power over you. Or if I did...I'd never, *ever* let him know." Mark waited, not trying to influence her. Kristen wrapped her arms around her as if she was chilled in the warm night air. "Mark ...please god, oh please... Yes." Mark looked around, making sure there's no-one near, and leaned over, kissing her gently. "Thank you." Kristen whispered, "I love you." "I love you, too. Why don't you go get Kayla, and we'll go to my house?" Kristen nodded, still looking more than a little bit dazed. *** Kristen returned, still in a silent daze, with Kayla, who shot him a curious look. Mark smiled, driving to his house. Kayla said, "See that computer? It's a *nice* computer. I think I can be fascinated by it for a few hours, at least. But home by 11, guys." Mark grinned, glancing at Kristen to remind her that she still needed to talk to Kayla. He was also wondering if she _told_ Kayla. Kristen blinked. "Um. Right. I do have real homework, too." "I'll work on the computer till you're done then, Kristen," he said. "Can you help me with my math, Kayla?" "Sure, hon. C'mon." The girls retreated to the kitchen table. Mark busied himself on the computer, keeping an ear cocked. *mumble mumble* *laugh* *What?! Grrrr!* *affirmative mumble* *embarrassed silence* *whisper whisper whisper* *sniff* *sob* Mark listened more closely. As far as he could tell, both of them seemed to be apologizing to each other. They were also both crying. Mark got up and walked to the doorway, looking puzzled. The girls had pushed back from the table and Kayla was hugging Kristen. They really *were* both crying. Kayla noticed him in the doorway and shot him an angry glare before pointedly ignoring him. "Ah, I don't want to intrude, but is something wrong?" Kristen froze. Kayla sighed, "Just some miscommunication. Go 'way." Mark looked at the tears on their faces with concern, trying to decide whether Kristen wanted him to go or stay. Kristen sniffed. "S'okay. We're just talking." "O-kay. I'll just be in the other room then." Mark retreated, but kept his ear cocked. *really _quiet_ whispering* *sniff* *sniff* *giggle* *silence* *footsteps away just a bit* *giggle* *silence* He didn't hear anything after they apparently went into the living room. Mark wondered what was going on, but controlled his curiosity. *loud gasp, quickly muffled* Mark raised an eyebrow, and _very quietly_ went to make sure they were ok. They were on the couch together. Kissing. Hands under each other's shirts. He raised an eyebrow, then turned and went back in the other room. They knew where he was if they needed him. "Ah! Mmmmm..." *pitter patter pitter patter* *tap tap* on the door frame. Mark turned his head. "Hm? Kristen peeked around the doorway. "Mark? Can you come in here a minute?" Just her head was showing. Mark stood. "Sure." Kristen darted back the to the living room. Mark walked to the living room, finding that the girls had folded the couch out into a bed. They were both completely topless. Mark stared. "Bwah?" Kristen pointed to the chair beside the couch. "Sit there." Mark nodded, and sat. "Uh..." Kayla blushed and pretended fascination with the weave of the arm of the couch, but a wicked gleam was in her eyes. "May I ask what's going on here?" Mark said. "Not that I'm not enjoying the view, but..." Kristen raised an eyebrow. "What? You want me to lie?" Mark grinned. "No, I just thought a man with two Ph.D's could recognize sex when he saw it." "You _know_ what I meant, love." "You have to stay in the chair, but you can watch. That's what we decided for now. You hurt Kayla's feelings, and I did, too. And that's what she wants." "Wait. How did I hurt your feelings, Kayla?" Kayla sighed. "S'okay. You didn't mean to." She'd taken her glasses off and, for the first time he could recall, her hair down. There was quite a bit more of it than you would have thought, a mass of tight curls, a rich mahogany in color. She looked like almost a different person. And those baggy clothes hid more than he would have thought, too. "You didn't have all the necessary information." "Because I didn't take you seriously?" Kayla shrugged. "You didn't know there was any reason to. And I had *not* meant to say that out loud, anyway. But you should have at least *thought* of the possibility that I might have been, anyway." Mark sighed. "Kayla, I'm sorry. It never occurred to me you could be serious. I mean, it's surprising enough to me that _one_ of you is interested; I'd never have dreamed that both of you would be. Will you do something for me, so that I can make it up to you?" "Just because *one* girl isn't insecure, doesn't mean that most of us aren't. No way I was going to admit to such a thing. And no way I was going to do so after the two of you got together, especially. I wasn't going to hurt Kristen for that. But you *told* her and made *her* think about it, so she got hurt anyway. That's why I'm mad at you." "Did she tell you why I told her?" "Yep. Doesn't excuse it. *She* thought I might be serious.* "Ask me again." "Uh-uh." Mark nodded. "Please. I want you to hear what my answer would have been if I'd known you were serious. And I want Kristen to hear it, as well." "Hmm. I'll ask you to tell me that answer, but I won't ask a question that isn't true right now. Good enough?" Mark considered. "Good enough." "Okay, what would you have answered if you'd thought I was serious, then?" "Kayla, I'm very flattered, and I won't deny that I'm interested, but I'm not going to do anything that might hurt Kristen. I don't know how she would feel about it, and I won't risk hurting her." He paused. "That's what I would have said last night. It's not true any longer; I _do_ know how Kristen would feel about it. It would hurt her, so I won't do it. It's not because you aren't attractive, or because I don't like you, but because I've made a commitment to Kristen, and I won't break that." Kayla sighed again. "Yeah, that would have got you some bonus points." "It's the truth, Kayla." Mark said, "I'm sorry I hurt you. It honestly never occurred to me that you could possibly be attracted to me." Kayla shrugged. "Everyone sees me as asexual, it's not particularly surprising." Mark's lips quirked. "I don't think you understand, Kayla. It's not that I think you are asexual." Kayla snorted. "Sure." Mark said, quietly, "I didn't think you would be attracted to _me_." "Half the girls in the school have a crush on you. Some of them have to take a towel to class to wipe up the drool. You can notice Todd asleep under his hair in the back row but you don't notice how many girls are making puppy dog eyes at you?" "That's what *I* said," Kristen said. Mark shrugged. "It's true. Ask Kristen how shocked I was when she told me about the girls having a crush. I honestly had no clue. Maybe it's a blind spot." "I mean, there's not been a day this week when you couldn't tell that Karen's bra and panties matched." Mark had the grace to look embarrassed. "I wasn't looking at _Karen's_ bra and panties." "*How*? I mean, they've been right in your face all week." Kristen asked. "I was looking for _yours_." "Karen's are bigger. Easier to spot," Kristen said. Kayla snickered. "Poorer quality, though." Mark smirked. "That's the truth. Yours are _much_ better, love." He glanced at Kayla. "Yours aren't bad either." Kayla looked at her breasts in a rather fond way. "Yeah, I'm actually kinda happy with them. They draw too much attention if I show em off, though." Her breasts were about C-cup, quite large for someone of her age and size, especially as her body was the thin, wiry-muscled type. "Will you please believe me that I didn't mean to hurt you, and that I'm _very_ flattered?" Mark looked at Kristen, wondering if she told Kayla yet. "I said from the beginning that you didn't *mean* to hurt me. S'okay. Really it is." "And do you understand why I didn't realize it might hurt Kristen?" "Um, no, honestly. Even if you thought it was a joke, you couldn't be certain *she* wouldn't think it was serious." "Because I made it clear to her that I thought it was a joke. I really don't think Kristen is the type to get jealous without good reason, and I didn't think there was _any_ reason." Kayla shook her head. "Emotions aren't necessary reasonable, and you did know she was new at this whole 'giving a shit' thing, didn't you?" Kristen blushed and looks away. Mark paused. "There's also the fact that we hadn't really discussed exactly where our relationship was. I knew that I'd like it to be more than just lovers, but I wasn't sure where she wanted it to be." "I told you she was in love with you. Didn't you believe me?" Mark nodded. "But that doesn't necessarily mean she wanted our relationship to be more than lovers yet. It made it likely, yes. But she might have been afraid to make it more, or wanted to keep it low-key for some other reason. I'm trying very hard here not to make assumptions, thought I'm obviously not succeeding very well." "I dunno...the default condition implied by 'she loves me' is 'she would be hurt if she thought her friend had tried to get me to sleep with her'. It was just a mistake, though. You've been forgiven. S'okay." Mark looked slightly embarrassed. "Yeah, I suppose that _is_ the default condition here. It wasn't with the friends I had in college. Which probably affected my approach." He looked at Kristen. "How much of our conversation did you go into?" Kristen said, quietly, "Not everything." "You can bet it's the default condition for 14 year old country girls, okay?" Mark nodded. "Well, I'm sorry I hurt you, and I'm sorry I hurt her. I'm hoping that I've made it up to her, but that's for her to decide." "You didn't mean to, Mark. And the fact that you're still here...you didn't run away is worth just about anything to me," Kristen said. Mark held out his arms. "Come here a sec?" Kristen glanced at Kayla, then crawled across the couch to him. Mark hugged her tightly to him. "I really am sorry I hurt you, love," he whispered in her ear. "Two questions for you: First, did you just not get around to telling her, or do you not want her to know? Second, what's the purpose of having me watch? Is it supposed to be punishment, or what?" Kristen whispered back, "I didn't know if you'd want me to tell anyone, Mark. I wouldn't unless you told me I could. And...it was punishment, a bit, I think, but also, well...forgiveness too. Sort of like...like a promise, y'know?" "Anyone but her, no, but she already knows enough...either it's safe to tell her, or we're screwed anyway. And...a promise?" Kristen nuzzled up against his neck and he can actually *feel* the heat of her blush. "Hmmm?" he asked. Kristen shrugged slightly. Mark whispered. "C'mon...tell me..." "Mark..you know what I meant." She could feel his lips curve in a smile against her throat. He nibbled a bit. "Tell me...please." Kristen whispered, almost too low to hear, "A promise for...later. Or, at least, a promise to try." "All three of us?" Kristen nodded mutely. Mark kissed her neck. "Thank you for the thought, my love, but you do _not_ have to do that for me. You are enough for me; I don't need anything more. Yes, it would be fun, but I don't need it, and I won't be disappointed if it never happens, ok?" Kristen kissed his ear. "I know," she murmured. "That's why it actually might." Mark pulled back slightly, and kissed her on the lips, briefly but thoroughly. "You want to tell her?" he asked softly. "I don't know how! It's not something I ever thought about doing before." Mark smiled. "Just tell her." Kristen shivered, and crawled out of his arms, slithering back to where Kayla's waiting and snuggling up to her, whispering in her ear. Kayla didn't look very surprised, just asking quietly, "What did you say?" "I said yes." *Now* Kayla looked surprised. "You did? Wow. She did?" She looked at him inquisitively. Mark nodded. "She did." "Amazing. That soon, huh? I thought it would take longer." Mark raised an eyebrow. "How long did you think it would take?" "A couple of months at least. Maybe longer." Mark just grinned. "So I'm just supposed to watch, here?" "Yep. Just watch. No touching; not us or yourself." He winced. "Ouch. That's cruel." Kayla grinned. "Yep. That's kinda the point." Mark made big puppy-dog eyes. "Idiocy is punished. Obedience is rewarded." Mark frowned. "I _don't_ think I'd categorize my mistake under idiocy." "Welllll....maybe not quite that bad. But then, according to most men, watching two girls make out isn't *exactly* punishment, either." Mark sighed. "Not if they can touch themselves, no." He hesitated. "Look. Kristen, I love you. I hope you know that. You don't _have_ to punish me to get what you want. Kayla, you are one of my two closest friends, here. You don't have to punish me, either. Frankly, there's not much I wouldn't be willing to do for you, as long as it didn't hurt Kristen, or stop me from fulfilling my commitments. I may not be in love with you, but I _do_ care for you very much. If the two of you still feel I need to be punished, I'd rather sit down and work it out like adults." He sighs again. "I'm not saying I wouldn't love to watch you make out -- but only if you want to be watched. I don't think sex is something you should use to control someone, even indirectly." "Kristen doesn't think you need punishing. But she does want a safer way to explore her feelings on the matter than jumping into an orgy. I'm still pissed at you for making her cry, logical or not. At myself, too, for causing it." "Then let's work that out in some other fashion. Kayla, do you _really_ want to look back on your first time with Kristen, and remember that part of the reason you did it was because you were mad?" Kayla raised an eyebrow. "If you really think that the reason I want to sleep with Kristen is because I'm mad at you, then you really *are* unobservant." "I said _part_. You don't _look_ blind." Mark shook his head. "No, no, it'd be even worse for you if you were, considering how blind people find out what people look like." "Not even part. I wanted to sleep with her before I even met you. It's just the 'you watch once without touching' bit that's because I'm mad at you. I'd be happy to sleep with her without you being involved at all, too. Though it's also a turn-on, weird as that sounds." Mark grinned. "Like the thought of being watched, do you?" Kristen blushed bright red. Kayla snickered. "Maybe. Or maybe I just like the thought of men suffering. You never know." "Kayla, this is mean," Kristen said. Kayla sighed. "Kris, honey, I'd call it foreplay, but I want to give you the option of changing your mind about everything." Kristen didn't seem to know what to say to that. Finally, she settled on "Yeah, but...I didn't think it would *really* hurt him. Y'know? I thought he'd think it was...well...fun?" She looked at Mark apologetically. "Watching you _would_ be fun. Even watching you and not touching. It's using it for punishment that's _not_ fun, you see?" Kayla sighs again. "Okay. Yeah, I guess I do see. Look, then..." She stops to think. "Watch because we want you to. Because she thinks you'd enjoy it. But don't touch, because that might be too much...let her deal with neutral, see how you handle *seeing* her with someone else as opposed to merely knowing, in the abstract, that it's happening. Be here because the woman you love wants you here. Don't do anything else, yet, though, because this is hard, and not the safest thing in the world." Kristen nodded, more satisfied with that. Mark looked at Kayla for a moment, then leaned over the bed, stretching so that he could whisper in Kristen's ear. "That's an _incredibly_ good answer, love. Would you kiss her for me, and show her just how impressed I was by it?" He sat back up. Kristen smiled tentatively, and he smiled back at her, trying to show her that he _was_ comfortable with this under those terms. She turned back to Kayla, wrapping her arms around her and tilting her face up for a kiss. Kristen tilted her head to Kayla's for a kiss. The brunette glanced at Mark, who pointedly placed his hands on the arms of the chair. She smiled shyly, the soft expression quite different from her usual cynical grin. Still watching him from the corner of her eye, Kayla turned to Kristen, smoothing a lock of silky red-gold hair back from her friend's face. She ran her thumb gently along the line of the other girl's jaw, and Kristen turned her head, lips brushing the inside of Kayla's wrist. Kayla drew a sharp breath when Kristen's tongue darted out, carressong the spot where her pulse beat frantically. Drawing back, she took Kristen's head in her hands, burying her fingers in the girl's red-gold curls. Kayla tilted Kristen's head up and looked searchingly into her deep green eyes. Kristen smiled hesitantly, and Ksyla's hard grey eyes softened. "I can't believe I'm doing this," she murmured. Kristen flinched, hurt. "You don't have to," she whispered, eyes downcast. "Sweetheart, _no_...I did _not_ mean I didn't want to!" Kayla kissed her hastily, then pulled back just enough to speak. "I just can't believe it's not a dream," she whispered. Kristen looked relieved. "Good, because I don't think I can wait much longer. Oh, Kayla, please?" "Yes." And she pulled Kristen into her arms, kissing her passionately. Kristen moaned against Kayla's lips, her hands going around the smaller girl's waist and sliding down to cup her ass. Kayla shivered, her lips leaving Kristen's as she kissed her way down the girl's soft white neck. Mark cold see the chills spread down Kristen's chest, and he watched as her nipples hardened when Kayla blew softly across her ear. He gripped the edge of the chair tightly, wondering if he really knew what he was gettibg himself into. Kayla's mouth moved lower, and Mark swallowed hard as Kristen whimpered and arched her back beneath the other girl's teasing lips. Kristen's eyes were closed in pleasure as Kayla slowly kissed her way down her chest. She could feel the building need like a great hungry beast inside of her, ready to gorge gluttonously the moment she freed it. She whimpered again shocked at the strength of it. *I fed you, it hasn't been that long...* She vividly remembered how she'd spent her lunch period; David's cock buried in her throat while he stroked her hair, murmuring tenderly in japanese, his mother's language which he spoke as easily as English. The intense satisfaction when he came down her throat, the sense of satiation she felt, made her wonder how she'd been ignorant of her nature for so long. It was so _obvious_ once she knew what to look for. She gasped as Kayla's mouth closed on her nipple. "Oh! Oh, god, yes!" So good...it felt so good to be touched, strokef, petted. It might not satisfy the hunger, but it spiced it, enhanced it. It made it almost unbearably intense. She wrapped her fingers in Kayla's tight brown curls, clutching her to her chest for a moment before tuggin thw smaller girl away, unable to wait any longer. Kayla gasped as Kristen rolled her onto her back and moved on top of her. She stopped breathing when Kristen's hot, wet mout descended to her breasts, the other girls expert tongue lapping all around the swollen nipples while she carressed the soft, white mounds with both of her hands. Kayla was out of her head with desire. No one had ever touched her breasts before, much less kissed them, licked them...she cried out as Kristen sucked a nipple deep into her mouth, swueezing her legs tightly together against the growing ache between them. Kristen slid her thigh between Kayla's, spreading her legs as she licked her way down thecgirl's stomach. When she came to the waistband of Kayla's jeans, she nipped gently around the quivering teenager's naval while her nimble hans unfastened the jeans and slid them down over Kayla's hips. Kayla arched her back so that Kristen could get the pants off and felt her hook her thumbs beneath the waist of her panties, drawing them down and off with the jeans, leaving her totally exposed. She turned her head and caught site of Mark. She blushed, having forgotten he was there, suddenly shy. Not that she had a lot to be shy about. *My, but you can hide a lot beneath baggy sweaters,* he thought, looking at her. Kayla was very small, he could have wrspped his hands all the way around her waist. Her little body was hard and firm, with beautifully defined muscles, but her large, soft round breasts, as well as the slender but definite curve of her hips, made her far from boyish. She lay in the tangled nest of her lustrous mahogany curls, little pixie face flushed with desire, and it was impossible to see how anyone could see her as asexual. Heavy black lashes brushed her cheek as she closed her eyes, surrendering to the pleasure of Kristen's mouth trailing up her inner thigh. Kristen lay between her friend's spread legs and laid her cheek on Kayla's firm thigh. She licked her lips, basking in the feeling of the other girl's lust. Turning her head slightly, she sought Mark's blue eyes, needing his approval despite the desperate craving that was building within her. She was more than half afraid of what she would see in his gaze, afraid she'd see disgust, or hurt, or anger, not knowing how she'd handle that but certain that part of her wouldn't survive it. When he met her eyes, though, all she saw there was love and desire. Her power reached for him...she could feel it almost like a rope binding her body to his...and from that connection she could feel the strength of his arousal. The intensity of it made her gasp, and she rolled onto her knees above the other girl, lifting her ass and spreading her legs apart. She looked back at Mark over her shoulder, her eyes a blatant invitation. "Mark..." Breathless with need, she arched her back, the glistening folds of her cunt parting slightly, beckoning to him with the pink core of her body. Mark groaned, trembling. "Kristen! No, love, not this time." Sweat beaded on his forehead. "Not when you're caught up in it. You have to say yes when you're calm, or it's not valid." *And I think I might die now. Gods!* Kristen whimpered, wiggling her hips. "Mark, please! I need you! Oh, god, I can't wait..." She bent her head and ran her tongue across Kayla's clit. The little brunette screamed in shocked pleasure, almost coming off the bed. Kristen buried her face in Kayla's cunt, pressing her lips hard against the opening and probing its warm depths with her tongue. "Kris! Oh, goddess, Kris! Don't stop, angel, please!" Kayla sobbed with pleasure, her body writhing beneath the redhead's talented tongue. "Oh...so good, it feels so good. Ah!" She stiffened, grabbing Kristen's head. "Yes! Fuck! Lick it, Kris, lick my clit...ohhhh, yeah love, that's the way..." Kayla ground her cunt into Kristen's face. Kristen sucked the hard little nub of Kayla's clit into her mouth, gently working it with her tongue. Her own hand strayed between her legs, fingers sliding across her slippery cunt lips and slipping inside her dripping wet pussy. Mark saw her cunt clench around her fingers as she shusdered, and he knew she was cumming, hard, as she sucked Kayla's clit, pushing the smaller girl towards orgasm. Kayla moaned incoherently, her head thrashing from side to side. Every muscle was locked, trembling, as if her tightly held body was suspended from that tender bit of flesh between Kristen's lips. Kristen moved her other hand from tne bed and slid two fingers into Kayla's tight little cunt, and that was all it took. "Kristen!" she screamed as she started to come, her whole body exploding with pleasure The spasms went on and on, starting to fade, but them Kristen woukd shift slightly, changing the movement of her tongue and they would slam into her agsin, even stronger, until she couldn't even draw breath to scream. Kristen slid her fingers in and out of Kayla's cunt, feeling the girl's orgasm squeezing them painfully tight. The hand between her own legs orked frantically, four fingers stuffed into her cunt as her thumb coaxed another orgasm from her engorged clit. Finally, she cried out, collapsing on the other girl and letting Kayla drag her mouth from her throbbing, over-sensitized clit. She felt drunk with satisfaction, drifting in the warm pleasure of fulfilled need. With a sigh of purest pleasure, she closed her eyes and lay her head on Kayla's quivering stomach. Kristen's breathing calmed, and she opened drowsy eyes to look at Mark across Kayla's thigh. Mark smiled at Kristen, trying to show her how much he loved her. She rolled onto her back, head pillowed on Kayla's stomach, and held out her arms. Mark glanced at Kayla, not wanting to alarm her, but she just stretched leisurely, idly playing with Kristen's hair, spreading it across her body. She smiled in a friendly, dazed sort of way. Mark moved to Kristen, snuggling up to her, and she moved her legs apart and hooked them around the backs of his knees, pulling his head down to kiss him. Mark kissed Kristen passionately, and she returned the kiss with interest, sliding her hands under his shirt and up his bare back. He nibbled on her neck, gently, and she sighed happily, hands moving around front and starting to undo the buttons on his shirt. He pulled back slightly, glancing at Kayla uncertainly. Kayla slithered from beneath Kristen, squirming around so that she was laying pressed up against her side. She slid her hand between the two of you, cupping Kristen's breast, making her moan quietly. Kristen turned her head from Mark for a moment to capture Kayla's lips in a kiss. Mark nibbled on the curve of her jaw as she kissed Kayla. Kristen finished with the buttons, tugging his shirt open impatiently. Mark helped her slide his shirt off, bending his head to flick his tongue across her nipple, and Kayla took advantage of the opening to bend to the other nipple. Kristen gasped and arched her back off the bed as Mark nibbled around the edge of the nipple. Kristen bent and whispered in Kayla's ear. The other girl listened, then drew back, looking at Kristen with a slightly concerned expression. Kristen pulled Kayla's head back to hers, kissing her gently, then nodded emphatically. Kayla shrugged slightly and nodded, and Kristen pulled Mark's upper body tightly against her, tugging at his hair until he raised up enough to kiss her. -- -- Pursuant to the Berne Convention, this work is copyright with all rights reserved by its author unless explicitly indicated. +---------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | alt.sex.stories.moderated ----- send stories to: <ckought69@hotmail.com> | | FAQ: <http://assm.asstr-mirror.org/faq.html> Moderator: <story-ckought69@hotmail.com> | +---------------------------------------------------------------------------+ |Discuss this story and others in alt.sex.stories.d, look for subject {ASSD}| |Archive at <http://assm.asstr-mirror.org> Hosted by <http://www.asstr-mirror.org> | +---------------------------------------------------------------------------+