Juicy Secrets Forbidden Tales of Lesbian Love

by Rosey M

July 10, 2006 – Rhonda

It’d been such a hectic week. Ashley may have told me about her talk with Mom, but judging from the bruising on Mom’s hand, I had the feeling a few details were left out. Plus, she’d been avoiding Ashley like the plague ever since, and had barely said two words to me.

I felt a little guilty by how happy I was that Mom was ignoring me. Some part of me loved her, but I sort of hated her, too. And after what happened that day, I didn’t want to be around her if I could help it.

It was a little weird when Ashley used her laptop’s webcam to take pictures of the marks Mom had left me with, but she told me it was “just in case.” My bruises had turned a yellowish-green, and most of the soreness had faded. They only hurt now if I pressed on them or bumped into something.

Ashley had thrown herself into the hunt for an apartment and didn’t have much time to spare between that and her job. I was pretty upset that I wouldn’t get to live with her for real, but she assured me that it would be just like I was.

I couldn’t stop thinking about the way she’d touched me between the legs, and how good it felt, but I was mortified at the immature way I’d behaved when she wouldn’t let me touch her the same way. I just wanted to make her feel as good as she made me, but she seemed almost ashamed at the thought of me doing that.

Maybe she thought I wasn’t experienced enough to make it happen for her, or maybe she just wasn’t in the mood, but she swore up and down that it had nothing to do with either of those things when I asked her.

I was still a little embarrassed to go outside, the way Mom had banged up my face, so I begged off when Ashley invited me to view a few apartments with her. She didn’t really like any of the places she looked at, or they wanted too much money.

Eventually she talked me into tagging along on Friday, saying it would be good for me to get out of the house for a bit. I quickly came to regret it after I saw the look of pity on the landlord’s face when she saw my bruises. She introduced herself as Donna and began chatting with Ashley.

She was really pretty, with long blonde hair and a bubbly personality. If I didn’t know any better, I’d have said she was acting kind of flirty with Ashley. I tried to hide my irritation, but some of it must have shown on my face, because Ashley shot me a questioning look when Donna turned to unlock the door of the apartment.

The viewing went well after that; it was a small apartment not too far from my school, and comfortably within Ashley’s price range. It was only a studio, but Ashley didn’t need a separate room when I’d be sharing her bed, anyway.

Donna scribbled on her clipboard as she showed us around, a charming smile on her face whenever she spoke. I could tell from the set of Ashley’s shoulders that she had picked up on the fakeness of it, too.

Then Donna discreetly slipped me a note while Ashley was pulling the stove away from the wall to check behind it. Curious, I opened it up. The note urged me to let her know if I needed help.

I felt sick. This lady must have thought Ashley was the one who hurt me.

When I looked back at her, she inclined her head toward the note, and kept eye contact with me. I slowly shook my head and smiled as I pointed at Ashley, then placed my hand over my heart. Donna let out a low sigh of relief, and I hastily crumpled the note, shoving it in my pocket before Ashley could see.

Donna’s cheeriness seemed much more genuine from then on, and eventually we all said our goodbyes, with Donna telling Ashley that she hoped she’d consider putting in an application for the unit.

I told Ashley about the note when we were back in her car, and she said that it was good of Donna to try and look out for me like that. But I could tell Ashley was annoyed at someone thinking she’d hurt me. I had a heck of a time convincing her to actually apply for the apartment, but she finally relented and dropped an application off.

***

I was starfished across Ashley’s bed, waiting for her to come home from her day shift. There was nothing good on TV, and I’d already finished my book, so there was nothing much to occupy my time. Mom wouldn’t be home for several hours, and I had the house to myself until Ashley returned.

I lay there spacing out until the sound of the phone ringing in Mom’s room brought me out of my reverie. I jumped from the bed and padded over to answer it, sort of hoping the answering machine would kick in before I got there.

I picked it up on one of the last rings. “Hello?”

“Hi there! May I please speak with Ashley Duff?”

“Sorry, Ashley’s at work right now. She should be home soon, though. Can I take a message?”

“Oh, is this Rhonda?”

“Yeah.”

“Hi, Rhonda! It’s Donna from Aster Properties. We met last week? I just wanted to let Ashley know that she was approved for the unit she applied for and I need her to call me back when she has some time to set things up. Can you jot down my number to pass along when she gets home?”

My heart skipped a beat. I was ecstatic that Ashley had caught a break after all the stress she’d been under for the past week. “That’s awesome! Thanks so much!” I glanced around for something to write with. “Um, just give me a sec!”

I found a pen on Mom’s nightstand but nothing to write on, so I ran to the kitchen and grabbed a piece of junk mail from the pile I brought in earlier. Donna gave me the number, I scribbled it down, and after thanking her again, hung up.

Hugging the envelope to my chest, I squealed in delight. Ashley and I would finally have our own place! Well, technically I’d still be living at Mom’s, but I’d be spending most of my time with my sister. It all seemed so unreal! I couldn’t wait to let Ashley know.

Practically skipping all the way to the living room, I turned on the TV, splayed myself across the couch and waited for Ashley to come home. I flicked over to the TV guide channel to see if anything good was coming up but there was nothing I wanted to watch.

I figured it wouldn’t be long until Ashley got back, anyway, so I put on a cartoon I didn’t care much about, mentally tuning it out while I thought about how quickly things were changing in my life. It wasn’t that long ago when I told Ashley I hoped there’d be a day where we could live without Mom bothering us, and she’d already made it happen.

I don’t know if that fit into the Amazing Sister or the Amazing Girlfriend category, but I decided to chalk it up as both. In the past couple of weeks alone, she’d protected me, shown me love and given me the most intense pleasure I’d ever known. Now she was giving me a place of refuge from my increasingly unhinged mother.

I really wanted to do something nice for her, to give her the same incredible feelings she’d given me. I’d seen her naked, and touched her chest a little bit, but she hadn’t let me explore the rest of her body yet. I thought maybe she’d be so happy about the apartment that she’d let me do more to her later.

The jangle of keys in the front door pulled me out of my head, and then Ashley was entering the lounge. She kicked off her shoes and made her way over to where I was lying, leaning over to give me a quick peck on the cheek. I lifted my head to meet her lips head on, and did my best to pour all the appreciation I felt for her into our kiss.

When she pulled away to smile at me, I took the opportunity to appreciate how amazing she looked. Her legs were encased in a slim pair of dress pants, and she was wearing one of her black button-up shirts with the sleeves rolled up past her elbows.

Her hair was tied back in a loose ponytail, highlighting the contours of her face. To me she looked perfect without makeup, but that day she was wearing just enough to enhance her sharp features and conceal the dark circles beneath her eyes. Those deep pools twinkled down at me when she noticed how I was looking her over.

Flushing, I quickly asked, “Hey, Ashley. How was work?”

“Hey yourself, cutie. It was fine. Sorry I’m late, my boss held me back for a little bit to ask if I was interested in going full-time, now that I’m not in school anymore. They’ve been scheduling me for more day shifts this past month, so I guess he’s seen me around more and, I dunno, maybe he’s impressed with my work ethic.”

“That’s great! Are you gonna do it?”

“Eh, I guess so. I kinda feel like I’m committing to sticking around for longer than I planned to if I accept it, but the extra money would be nice now that we’re getting a place. I’m pretty sure I can weasel a raise out of my boss if I say yes, so I suppose it wouldn’t be the worst situation until I find something else.”

She looked over at the coffee table where I’d left the piece of mail with the phone number written on it, then picked it up. “What’s this?”

I jumped up and smacked my forehead. “Shoot! Donna called about that rental property. She said you were approved and she wants you to call her.”

Ashley looked stunned. “Are you serious?”

At my emphatic nod, she broke out into a huge grin that lit up her entire face. She lifted me in the air and spun us around until I was shrieking with laughter. Kissing me soundly, she deposited me back on the couch with a bounce.

She headed out into the hall, still clutching the note. “I’ll be back in a minute. I’m just gonna see if I can catch Donna before she’s done for the day.”

I was still giggling as I reached up to brush my bangs to one side. Turning the TV off, I hopped up from the couch and made my way back toward Ashley’s room, pausing for a moment in the hall. She was on the phone in Mom’s room, speaking to Donna.

In Ashley’s room, I sat on the edge of the bed and looked around me. Pretty soon this room was going to be packed up, the posters and artwork I’d become so familiar with taken down forever. I would never see it like this again. Despite all the bad stuff that had happened in this house, I felt a deep sadness that this part of my life was coming to an end.

Things had been rough here, but it was still where we grew up. Very soon we’d be making a new life somewhere else, but there was one last memory I wanted to make in this room before it disappeared from my life forever. I just hoped Ashley would be willing.

Wanting to surprise her, I shucked my shorts and shirt. After thinking about it for a moment, I slid my panties down as well. I still felt some shame over the fading bruises on my body, but I knew Ashley wouldn’t be bothered by that. Stretching out on the bed, I waited for my sister.

I could hear Ashley leaving Mom’s room, her voice carrying across the hall. “I got the place, Rhonda! I need to give a security deposit and the first month’s rent, then I’ll be good to go! Wow, I’m starving. What are you in the mood for? We could order pizza—“

Noticing that her door was open, she peered inside, doing a double take at my state of undress. She stared at my bare body, then licked her lips in a way that made me weak inside.

She shut the door behind her, then her voice dropped to a low husk. “Well, I was gonna suggest we celebrate, but I see you’ve beaten me to it. Is this for me, sweetie?”

I shimmied further toward the center of the mattress as Ashley seemed to slink across the room like a panther. She climbed onto the bed and crawled closer until she was hovering over me. She put her hands on either side of my shoulders, effectively boxing me in.

“Is it, Rhonda? Did you get naked just for me? Hmm?”

She cupped my face for a moment, then began playing with my hair. Between the way Ashley loomed over me with that fire in her eyes and the anticipation of what might happen next, my heart was pounding like a bass drum. I needed to be touched so badly.

Finally, I cried out, “Y-yes, Ashley! You can have me!”

“What a nice gift,” Ashley murmured. “So… am I allowed to do this?” Smiling wickedly, she ducked her head to kiss me on the mouth.

I nodded shyly, then her lips were trailing downward. “What about this?” Ashley teased my neck with her tongue.

Pleasant sensations were coursing through my body, and I could only moan a reply. “Mmm-hmm.”

She began to caress my torso, her fingers snaking down my sides, then settling on my hips. Every inch of my body was tingling. She peppered kisses down my throat, pausing when she reached my chest. “And this…?”

I nodded again, this time without hesitation.

She licked at a nipple, sending a jolt of electricity through my body, then briefly took it between her lips to suck. I let myself sink into this awesome feeling, but before it got the chance to build, Ashley pulled away and murmured, “Is this okay, Rhonda? I need you to tell me you want this.”

I rolled my eyes. Why does Ashley keep doing this? Can’t she just relax and make love to me? I didn’t want to upset my sister, though. Choking back my annoyance, I whispered, “It’s nice. Keep doing that, please.”

She lavished my titties with more attention, the tip of her tongue tracing gentle circles around my nipples, flickering back and forth between each one. I gripped handfuls of her hair to hold her in place, and she redoubled her efforts, making me gasp in delight. “That’s it, yeah,” I moaned. “Don’t stop, okay?”

With Ashley’s focus entirely on my chest, my lower half was aching for relief. I decided to use my free hand to take the edge off, my fingers sliding through the wet folds of my slit. I didn’t think it was possible to feel better than I did at that moment.

My hand fell away from Ashley’s head to clutch her shirt instead. Raising herself, she glanced down between my legs. “Naughty girl…”

I had to bite my lip to stifle a moan. “I’m sorry, Ashley. I j-just had to!”

Her throaty chuckle sent shivers down my spine. “Don’t be sorry. I love naughty girls. Especially when it’s my baby sister who’s being naughty.”

Ashley’s hand trailed across my hip and onto my leg. Her fingers ghosted along my thigh, edging closer and closer to my busy hand. When she finally reached the epicenter of my arousal, she gently took hold of my wrist. I thought she was about to pull my hand away, but instead she entwined her fingers with mine and guided them back and forth so we were rubbing my pussy together.

I thought touching myself was good, but having someone else leading my movements was on a whole different level. Ashley moved expertly, showing me the best ways to masturbate.

With my pleasure building, and on the verge of orgasm, Ashley increased her speed and pressure, driving me nearer to the edge. My cry was muffled as she locked her lips to mine, my body shuddering beneath hers.

And still she ground our entwined fingers into my pussy as I climaxed, eking out every last ounce of pleasure until I was entirely spent. Only then did she slow to a halt. As I lay there panting for breath, Ashley guided our fingers up to her mouth where she gently sucked each one clean of my juices. I giggled when her tongue began dancing between each finger.

Ashley looked thoroughly satisfied as I gazed lovingly up at her. Her voice had lost its throatiness, but it was no less sexy for the confident lilt it now had. “Wow, raring to go, huh? You came so fast… but I hope you’ve got room for more.”

When I nodded, she guided me the rest of the way up the bed until my head was on her pillow. “Good. I’m going to give you something even better.”

Strands of hair had fallen free of her ponytail. She brushed them behind her ear, then traveled down my body until she was back to licking my chest. She didn’t spend very long tasting my nipples this time, moving down to my tummy instead.

I shrieked with laughter when her tongue darted into my belly button. I didn’t realize I was so ticklish there. I wriggled frantically, but Ashley held me in place so I couldn’t shift away. Finally, I was able to put both hands on my sister’s head and hold her at bay. “Knock it off, Ashley!” I giggled.

“Sorry, sorry,” she chuckled. “Couldn’t resist.”

I felt her hands on my inner thighs, slowly opening my legs until I was fully exposed. She said nothing for a long moment, just stared at my bare pussy.

Feeling a sudden twinge of shyness, I tried to close my legs. Ashley gently caressed my thighs to ease away some of my tension. “It’s okay, Rhonda,” she cooed. “I’m just admiring how beautiful you are. I can’t fucking believe this is finally about to happen. It all feels like a dream. Having you spread out for me like this, waiting for me to taste you.”

Ashley drew closer to my exposed slit, but stopped just shy of her target to suck gently on the surrounding skin. I whimpered, and she locked eyes with me, her hungry gaze sending a surge of warmth to my groin. “You have no Idea how much I’ve wanted this, Rhonda. And now I get to show you.”

The first lash of her tongue made me squeak with surprise, and I knew I had to say something while I still had the chance. “W-wait, Ashley!”

Ashley let go of my thighs and quickly backed away, a panicked expression on her face. “Fuck! I’m sorry, Rhonda. Did you not want that?”

“No! I mean, yes! I definitely want this. I just need to ask you something first.”

Ashley let out a relieved breath. “Oh, thank God. I didn’t want to rush you into anything. I thought maybe I’d pushed you too far.”

I shook my head. “No, no, that’s not it. I just… I want to actually touch you today, too. I know you said you like to be the one doing all the touching, but I don’t want it to be just me feeling good. I mean, you haven’t even taken your shirt off!”

Ashley peered down at her fully clothed body. When she looked at me again, I saw her reluctance. “I don’t know, Rhonda…”

I was just a kid, but even I could tell that this whole deal wasn’t fair to her. “Please? You do so much for me, and I don’t just mean, like, sex stuff. You’ve been protecting me my whole life, and I don’t get to do anything in return. I may not even be any good at making love, but can’t you at least let me try?”

“You think you don’t do anything for me? Y-you’re the only reason I have to get up in the morning, Rhonda! You make me smile and laugh, and…”  Ashley’s voice tightened with emotion. “T-there’s something wrong with me, Rhonda. I get so angry, and I have these thoughts… It’s like I can hear whispers, and when something gets me mad I just want to smash everything in sight… I dunno, I’m afraid I might be crazy as Kate.

“Sometimes things seem so dark and hopeless. I feel like I’m losing my mind. But when I’m with you, I remember that I have one good thing in this world. I know I don’t deserve you, but I don’t think I’ll ever be able to give you up.” She pushed my hair back behind my ears, then gave me a smile that nearly broke my heart.  “I-I know I’ve said it before, but I really do mean it – You’re everything to me, Rhonda. I love you.”

My eyes brimmed with tears as I reached up to pull Ashley back to me, my face pressed against her chest. “I love you, too, Ashley. I’ll be here for you, no matter what. If you ever feel bad again, just tell me how I can help, okay? I don’t ever want you to feel alone.”

“You help just by being you, Rhonda. That’s all I need.” Ashley let out a wry chuckle. “Damn, I really know how to kill the mood, huh? Things were going so well, too.”

I used the fabric of her shirt to wipe the moisture from my eyes, then smiled back at her. “Well, it’s not your fault. I was the one who stopped you. We should, uh, keep going, probably.”

Ashley studied me intently. “Yeah?”

I gently nodded. “Mmm-hmm. But like I said, it’s my turn after you do me. I need to make you feel good, too.”

My sister took a deep breath, then slowly released it. “Are you sure?”

“Yes, I’m sure!”

After a moment’s pause, Ashley finally nodded. “Okay, then. I’m gonna eat you out, then I’ll let you decide what you want to do to me. Deal?”

I was ecstatic at finally getting a chance to return the favor. “Deal! Um… what’s eating out?”

My sister laughed out loud at that. “That’s what I was about to do earlier. It’s when you lick a girl’s pussy to make her feel good. Don’t know who decided it should be called ‘eating out’, but it sorta works, I guess.”

My cheeks were high with color as Ashley repositioned herself between my thighs. She went back to massaging my legs, and I slowly relaxed under her touch. I felt her soft kisses around my pussy, then she licked me, her tongue slowly tracing my slit.

I softly gasped, then let out a low moan as her tongue began snaking through my folds, alternating between long and short licks.

As Ashley’s mouth continued to work its magic, my body quivered with pleasure. I’d never felt anything that good before. Her tongue flicked across my clit, and I whimpered in delight as she focused her attention on that tiny sliver of flesh. She gently sucked on it, making me cry out. It’s a good thing Mom’s not home, I told myself.

Ashley slowly raised her head to look at me, and I was about to ask why she had stopped when she placed a hand on my mound to rub me there. “Feeling good, Rhonda?”

I nodded my head emphatically. “It feels amazing! Don’t stop, Ashley!”

My enthusiasm made her smile. “Oh, I don’t intend to. You taste delicious, and I’m not done just yet. But I told you I’d teach you how to do this, and I intend to do just that. You want to learn, right? Now of all the things I was doing when I licked your pussy, what felt best for you?”

Her fingers continued to run through my wet folds, and I was having trouble thinking clearly. “Um… Uh… When you licked my… what’s it called? The little lump.”

“The button at the top? Your clitoris?”

“Yeah, yeah, that! It’s called a… clit-tor-ris?”

Ashley’s fingers began gently tracing circles around the sensitive nub. “Yup, that’s the clit. Most girls like having it touched, but every girl’s different. You have to find out what feels best by paying attention to what your body’s telling you. Get it?”

As I nodded in understanding, she continued, “You can lick, suck, or rub anything down there, and it’ll probably feel good. But don’t be afraid to try things you haven’t done before. Maybe you’ll find something you like even better.”

The tip of her finger dipped inside my entrance, and my eyes widened in surprise at this new sensation. “Most girls eventually start putting fingers and other things inside themselves, ’cause that feels good, too. I think you should hold off on anything like that until you’re a little older. You still have your hymen, and the first time you put something all the way inside, it’ll hurt a little.”

I had no complaints. I didn’t want to be hurt if it wasn’t necessary, although I wondered if that meant I could put my fingers all the way inside Ashley. I didn’t much like the idea of someone else doing that to her for her first time. Maybe she’d done it to herself.

Ashley lowered her head back down until I could feel her breath caress my pussy. “Now pay attention and decide what feels best for you. If there’s anything you want me to do or not do, tell me. I want you to feel as good as possible, okay?”

She began to gently rub my clit while her mouth attacked my pussy with renewed vigor. When her tongue slipped through my entrance and swirled around inside me, I cried out, “D-do that again, Ashley!”

Ashley didn’t let up. She used one hand to spread my labia, the fingers on her other hand strumming my clit while she licked and sucked my folds. My body bucked, and I thrust myself against my big sister’s tongue, grabbing fistfuls of her hair as I came all over her mouth. Entirely spent, I sobbed with relief.

It was several moments before I could even speak. Ashley’s tongue briefly settled into a more gentle caress of my pussy while I gradually floated down from my peak. “M-more, Ashley,” I was able to moan.

Ashley drew away, and I saw something wild flash in her eyes. Her hands settled on my hips and held me firmly in place.

If she’d eaten me out with a hungry passion before, now she was positively voracious, her tongue ceasing its gentle tease to become a force of nature. She pulled away for the briefest of moments to hiss through gritted teeth, “You’re mine, Rhonda! You’ll always be mine, nobody else’s! I won’t ever let them take you from me, you hear?”

I writhed in pleasure as Ashley ravished me with her tongue. “Y-yes, Ashley!” I cried. ” I’m all yours! I won’t leave you, I p-promise!”

Ashley latched her mouth to my clit, furiously flicking her tongue across the little nub. When I squealed in ecstasy, she grunted her approval, and I gave myself fully to the pleasure of being utterly conquered by my sister.

I’d come to love it when Ashley lost control. It always gave me a boost of confidence to know I could drive her so wild.

Her tongue made its way from my clit and began to flutter down until once again, she was nestled snugly in the sheath of my pussy. Her hold on my hips tightened, and she began pushing and pulling me against her mouth. I caught on to what she wanted and thrust myself onto her waiting tongue, grinding back and forth. Once I’d developed a steady rhythm, Ashley kept one hand on my hip to help guide me, using the other to stimulate my clit.

The rapture I felt soon became almost too much to bear, and I was practically riding my sister’s tongue as I humped myself to another orgasm, this one even more intense than the last. But even as I was trying to cope with the aftershocks of coming so hard, Ashley continued to lick me.

With a tremendous effort, I was able to pull away enough to clamp a hand over my crotch, blocking Ashley from further access. She let out a frustrated growl, and I giggled breathlessly.

“S-stop! Stop, Ashley! I c-can’t take anymore! Anyway, it’s supposed to be my turn now!”

“Right, right, sorry,” Ashley murmured. “Just, uh, gimme a sec?”

I watched as she closed her eyes and bunched her hands into the sheets. She let out an unsteady breath. After several more deep inhalations she was able to look at me with something resembling calm. “Okay. Right. Your turn. What do you want to do?”

I licked my dry lips, then sat up to look my sister over. The lower half of her face was slick with my juices, and I tried to ignore the pang of embarrassment I felt for making such a mess. Strands of hair had slipped from her ponytail, and it wouldn’t take much before it spilled out entirely. Her eyes were still a little unfocused, but she was looking expectantly at me.

“Um, could you go and get us some water first?” I said. “I’m really thirsty.”

“Gotcha.”

While Ashley made her way to the kitchen, I used the time to plan my attack. I was pretty sure I knew how to start things off, at least.

When she returned with the water, I drained most of mine in one gulp while Ashley took several slow sips before putting both our glasses down on her nightstand.

Mustering my nerve, I said, “Right. Can you get onto the bed with me?”

Ashley sat next to me, and I decided to start things off by grabbing the front of her shirt and forcibly kissing her. Her eyes widened in surprise at my aggressive approach, and when my tongue entered her mouth she let out a low moan and scooped me into her arms, her lips working to match my movements.

I could taste myself on her tongue, and remembering how she’d been buried between my thighs mere minutes before had me squeezing them together, giving myself a renewed twinge of pleasure. Ashley was dipping me backwards, taking the lead again, and I knew I had to wrest control back from her before I lost my momentum.

With a burst of strength, I pushed my startled sister forward until she was lying flat on the bed, then straddled her hips, my knees on either side. I got back to kissing her, burying my hands into her hair until I found her Scrunchie and pulled it loose. Tossing it carelessly to one side, my fingers set to unbuttoning Ashley’s shirt, then spread it open to expose her upper half.

My sister’s pale skin was a sharp contrast to the dark of her clothes. Her breasts were encased in a black bra, and I was drawn to how sharply her chest was rising and falling. Shifting my attention to Ashley’s face, I was surprised to notice that she seemed almost… frightened.

That worried me. “Are you okay, Ashley? Sh-should I stop?”

She closed her eyes for several long seconds; opened them again. Her voice was shaky when she said, “Sorry. I don’t normally let people touch me like this. I’m fine, though. You can keep going.”

I got her to lift her arms so I could pull her shirt the rest of the way off. I thought my aggressive approach could be the problem, so I began to take things a little more slowly.

I gently cupped Ashley’s cheeks before pressing my lips to hers. The tension slowly drained from her body, and I knew I’d chosen correctly this time.

It took me several awkward moments of fumbling with the hook on her bra before I was able to get it loose and ease it off. My fingers gently traced the indents the bra had left behind, admiring how smooth the skin was there.

“Very nice,” Ashley murmured. “My little sister’s a quick learner. Take your time when you’re playing with someone’s body. It’s not much fun when you jump right to the finish line.”

I felt my cheeks flush with warmth at her praise. “I learned from the best. And I don’t care about anybody else’s body, Ashley. Just yours. Now, be quiet and let me concentrate!”

Ashley chuckled softly. “Okay, okay! Sorry. Carry on.”

That little exchange helped ease some of my tension, and I followed my sister’s advice by letting my hands wander across her torso, caressing every curve with wandering fingers. She’d closed her eyes again, but instead of the apprehension from earlier, she seemed at peace.

Ashley released a gentle sigh when I finally cupped her breasts, and moaned when I grazed her nipples with my fingers. Deciding to take a page out of my sister’s book, I kissed her neck, then peppered my way down until I could take the swollen tip of her breast into my mouth.

“Oh, fuck. That’s nice, Rhonda.”

Emboldened, I sucked her hardened nipple, gently pinching and rolling the other between my fingers. Ashley sighed, raising an arm to cradle my head close.

“I love how pretty your nipples are, Ashley!” I told her. “Your boobs are amazing. Do you think mine will look like yours when I’m older?”

“Th-thanks, hon, but they’re not that impressive. Yours will probably be bigger.”

“Well, I think they’re great!”

To illustrate my point, I alternated between licking and sucking on my sister’s breasts, paying careful attention to each nipple in turn. When I was sure they’d gotten what they deserved, I turned to Ashley’s still-clothed lower half. That situation needed to be remedied.

Undoing the button of her pants and tugging the zipper down was the easy part. Next, I got Ashley to lift her butt up from the bed so I could take off her pants and underwear.

Now all Ashley had on was a pair of knee length socks, and I needed a moment to take in how sexy they made her look. I lifted one of her feet to feel the soft fabric. I didn’t get why she was wearing them when they were concealed by her pants. “Er, what’s with the socks? They’re so long.”

Ashley blushed and withdrew her foot from my grasp. “I-I need to do laundry, okay? This was the only pair I had left.”

I turned to look at her laundry hamper, and saw it was almost full. Shrugging, I turned back to Ashley. Suddenly, a memory popped into my head. “Hey, Ashley? I found one of my unwashed shirts in your drawer one time. What’s that about?”

To my delight, Ashley went an even brighter shade of crimson. “Ugh, you found that? Well, I… I like your scent, okay? I used to smell it and think about you while I got myself off. There, happy?”

This time I was the one who turned beet red. “Ohhhh… you like how I smell? That’s… a little weird, but I sorta get it; I like the lavender soap you always use. Not that you need to anymore, but you’re welcome to take more of my clothes if you want.”

Ashley gave an awkward cough. “Uh, thanks. I’ll keep that in mind. Now let me get these damn socks off.”

She reached out to pull them down, but I put a hand over hers to stop her. “Um, actually. C-can you leave them on?” I asked, suddenly shy.

Ashley raised her eyebrows. “You want me to leave them on? Well, that’s kinky. And you say I’m the weird one.”

“Shut up!” I gave her a playful shove. “Big jerk.”

Ashley started giggling, and just like that, we were both laughing. When we finally got hold of ourselves, Ashley wiped tears from her eyes. “God, I love you, Rhonda. And sure, leave ‘em on. Far be it from me to stifle my little sister’s sock fetish.” She snickered again.

I didn’t bother dignifying that with a response, just scooted my body closer so I could get a better view of her exposed sex. Curious, I reached out and let my fingers glide across her folds and contours. Ashley started a little, but didn’t push me away or attempt to stop me. I tried to remember what I did to make myself feel good, and slowly began stroking her vagina up and down.

Ashley’s breath turned ragged, and I looked up to see her propped up on both elbows to watch what I was doing, biting gently on her lower lip. When I began to rub her clit, she exhaled a soft “fuck” of approval, then let her head drop down onto the pillow. I knew she was nervous about being touched, and it pleased me that I could help her relax a little.

I tried out all the things she’d shown me earlier, from varying my strokes and tracing circles across her labia to tweaking and teasing her clit. Ashley responded positively to what I was doing, but after several minutes of exploring her pussy, it didn’t seem like she was any closer to an orgasm.

“Um, am I doing this right, Ashley?”

Ashley let out a low sigh. “You’re doing great, Rhonda. Everything feels nice. But like I said earlier, I’ve never been able to get off with someone else. Did you want to stop for now?”

“No, I want to keep going!” I insisted. “I’m gonna figure out how to get you there.”

Remembering what my sister said earlier about putting things inside, I slowly spread her lips apart to get a better look at the interior of her pussy. It was a deep pink color, and I was eager to know how warm and wet she would be. I brought one of my fingers to her entrance, and Ashley let out a little whimper as I began to push it inside.

I peered up at her face and saw she was staring at the ceiling. “How about this, Ashley?”

Clenching her jaw, my sister mumbled, “Yeah, it’s fine. I just need to get out of my head a little. Go slow, okay?”

I twirled my finger around inside her, pushing a little deeper with each turn. When I reached the third knuckle, Ashley let out a breathy laugh and said, “F-fuck, that’s good.”

Encouraged, I began to move in and out. I was rewarded with a throaty moan as Ashley clutched handfuls of the sheets, her vagina contracting around my finger.

I gradually began picking up speed when Ashley flinched and stiffened briefly. “Ow, fuck!”

I quickly withdrew my finger. “Are you okay? What did I do?”

Ashley quickly shook her head. “Sorry, it’s my fault for not mentioning it. You need to keep your nails short if you’re gonna be sticking your fingers in people.”

I was mortified. “I’ll be right back!” I said, leaping off the bed in my rush to the bathroom.

“Hey, it’s fine, Rhonda! You don’t need to give yourself a fricken manicure!”

I quickly clipped and filed a couple of nails on my right hand, then hurried back to my sister’s room. Ashley looked at me in amusement as I closed the door and returned to her bed.

“You know, we could have just saved fingering for another time.”

I shook my head. “No, I could tell I was making you feel good. Let me keep going.” I proffered my hand. “Do these look okay?”

Ashley smiled as she studied my nails, shaking her head at my stubbornness. “They look fine. I guess I was enjoying it, after all… so go ahead and do your thing.”

This time around, I wanted to try going down on her. Before she got the chance to stop me, I settled my hands on Ashley’s thighs and moved in to plant a kiss on her vagina, then began gliding my tongue through her folds. I’d often wondered what it would be like to put my mouth down there, and was pleased to discover that I liked how she tasted.

I was even more thrilled when Ashley’s hands settled on my head to keep me pressed against her sex while she groaned, “Oh, fuck! Your tongue f-feels amazing on my pussy, Rhonda. Don’t stop!”

Perhaps my tongue wasn’t quite as adept as hers, but she seemed to enjoy what I was doing. I decided there and then that I was going to practice as much as possible until I was an expert at eating pussy. The fact that I’d get to practice on Ashley was the icing on the cake.

I sucked on her clit, and she let out a hoarse, “Oh, shit!”

I kept lashing her nub with slow, then faster tongue flicks, occasionally stopping to suck and nibble on it. Looking up for a moment, I could see that Ashley had begun using both hands to toy with her breasts, tugging and squeezing her nipples in concert with my licking.

Figuring now was a good time to put my fingers to use again, I lined them back up with her entrance and slowly pushed two of them inside. Ashley shrieked with pleasure as I began to piston in and out, while continuing to lavish her clit with lightning-quick swipes of my tongue.

“I-I can’t believe this,” she sobbed. “I-I’m getting close, Rhonda! I’m actually getting… close.”

I wanted to kiss her tears away, but had no intention of stopping until I made my sister come. Ashley needed this. I needed this. My jaw was starting to ache, but I would see this through to the end.

Ashley had told me to try different things, so I began moving my fingers around inside her vagina to see what she liked best. When I curled my fingers and tickled the inner wall of her pussy, she let out a low gasp of surprise. Her hands abandoned her breasts and settled upon my head, fingers twining into my hair.

“I think I’m going to… Oh, God, you’re about to make me…“

My tongue gave out before I could reach the finish line, so I clamped my mouth on Ashley’s clit and started sucking while I curled my fingers back and forth inside her.

“O-oh fuck! Keep doing that, Rhonda! Keep d-doing it! Almost… there!”

Ashley let out a guttural moan as her pussy clenched around my fingers in a vice-like grip. A spray of liquid suddenly drenched my face. Startled, I tried to pull away but Ashley’s hands kept me locked in place while she ground her sex against my face. Finally spent, she let me go, and I sat up straight to stretch my neck, trying to alleviate some of the stiffness I’d worked up.

We stared at one another in shock. Then Ashley exclaimed, “Holy shit! I never knew I could squirt!”

***

July 15, 2006 – Rhonda

I stood alone in Ashley’s room as she carried the last of her things out to the car. It’d taken several trips back and forth to move everything to the new place. I wasn’t taking much of my own, but Ashley intended to use the things in her room to furnish the apartment a little better.

Thankfully the apartment wasn’t too long a drive, but we did get stopped by a cop after we’d strapped Ashley’s mattress to the roof of the car with bungee cords. Thankfully he just gave us a warning to drive slowly, and we were all clear after that.

Mom had given me an awkward goodbye, saying I could always come back if there were any problems at the new place. I’d have been more convinced by her offer if she’d made it while actually looking me in the eye.

When Ashley was done loading the rest of her things, she joined me in her room.

“It looks so empty,” I told her.

“Yeah,” Ashley murmured.

“Do you think you’ll ever come back?”

Ashley shook her head. “Not unless you need me to pick something up. I’d sooner never see this place again, to be honest.”

I hummed in acknowledgement, trying to gather my thoughts. “We had some nice memories here, though, right?”

“Yeah,” Ashley conceded, “but they were nice because we were together, not because we were together here. I’d rather make some new memories in a new place. Wouldn’t you?”

I stood on tiptoe and kissed Ashley on the mouth. She encircled my waist and drew me into a warm embrace. When we finally parted, I took her hand in mine.

Together, my sister and I left what had been home for so many years, the first step of the journey to our new life. We didn’t look back.

Book One: The End

by Rachael Yukey

Thursday, October 19th, 2006 (morning)

I got my alarm clock! I just KNEW my mother couldn’t resist the chance to get out of waking me up for school every day. And guess what… no Mom this morning. I got myself up, got ready, and now I have some time to kill before the bus. So I’m gonna try and get this thing caught up.

So. I was writing last night about what happened yesterday at Julie’s house, and I left off where I was sitting on Lisa’s lap and she was telling me my feelings were nothing to be ashamed of.

After a little while we went into the kitchen and dished up bowls of chili. Jason wasn’t there yet, but Julie told me he teaches late Wednesdays and always eats when he gets home.

We talked about this and that at the table, but I couldn’t get my mind off how good Julie and Lisa looked. No, not just good, I realized. Sexy. They were both sexy, and the sight of them had me feeling really… I fastened on a word I’d seen used in Lisa’a novel. Horny. I couldn’t stop being horny, no matter what else I tried to put my mind on. Lisa kept giving me these sweet sideways smiles, and I had the feeling she knew exactly how I felt.

There was a lull in the conversation. Lisa was looking back and forth between Julie and I, not quite meeting our eyes. “You know,” she said at last, “when we were talking before about making yourself come, I didn’t tell you girls the whole story about how I learned to do it. Can you keep a secret?”

“Sure,” said Julie. I nodded.

“The thing is… I didn’t have my first orgasm until I got a little help.”

“Help?” Julie said.

“Yeah, help.” She looked up at the ceiling for a moment, then back at us. “My big sister caught me at it, and we ended up doing it together. I learned how to please myself by watching her.”

I knew she must mean her sister Peggy, who’s a few years older. The only thing I know about Peggy is that she had a baby girl while she was a senior in high school, but didn’t marry the father. She works at one of the two gas stations in town, and her daughter Becky is two grades behind Julie and me. They live in the old apartments behind the fire station.

“So—that wasn’t weird?” said Julie.

“No! It was actually kind of hot. We shared a room for a long time, so we touched ourselves together after that. It was nice to not have to hide it from each other.”

I was pretty bowled over by this, not to mention turned on!

“Um, do you think I might need help?” Julie’s eyes were wide. As for me, I instantly felt my panties getting wet. I was struggling to keep my breathing steady.

Lisa shrugged. “If the things we talked about today don’t help… I don’t know. I’m hesitant to even suggest this, but maybe Mallory could show you what she does. Something to think about, maybe.”

My pulse quickened at the thought. This was way too close to the things that were already going through my mind!

But then something else occurred to me, something REALLY wild! I almost didn’t say it, but my mouth started moving almost on its own. “Wouldn’t you be the best person to teach someone that stuff?” I asked. “I mean, I’m still new at this. I’ll bet both of us could learn a lot from you.”

Lisa’s eyes widened, and her face flushed. I got the strangest notion that the idea got her hot. That seemed totally crazy. Why would a sexy grown woman be turned on by kids like us? I have to admit that the idea got me excited, though! Meanwhile, Julie was staring at me with her mouth hanging open.

“I… I’m not sure that would be appropriate,” Lisa stammered. “Or a good idea.”

“It’s not like you’d be doing anything to us,” I said. “Just showing us things. How bad could that be?”

Lisa was staring at the wall, her cheeks bright pink. She opened her mouth, then closed it again. It seemed like forever before she spoke. “I don’t really think it would be bad,” she said. “But I’m sure I don’t need to tell you that most people would say it is.”

“Would you get in trouble?” I asked.

“If anyone found out, I might. Listen… I’m not saying no, necessarily. I want to help, and I don’t think there’s anything wrong with an adult showing a kid how to masturbate. But it would have to stay strictly between us. You couldn’t tell anyone else, not ever.”

I kept my face still. “I wouldn’t say anything, but if you’re worried, then maybe we shouldn’t do it.” It was tough to say that, when inside I was screaming PLEASE SHOW US!.

“Well, I wouldn’t tell anyone,” Julie piped in. It was the first time she’d spoken, which isn’t like her at all.

Lisa cocked her head. “I’m not that worried. I trust you both. Do you really want me to show you how I touch myself?”

That was easy. “I do!” I blurted out.

“Yeah, me too,” said Julie.

Lisa closed her eyes for a long moment, tilting her face towards the ceiling. I had to remind myself to keep breathing.  “Okay, then,” she said at last.  “Mallory, what time do you have to be at the church?”

I was caught somewhere between insanely turned on and utterly terrified. I hadn’t expected her to say yes, at least not right away! But I managed to get my mouth working. “7:30,” I said.

“Which is when Jason gets done teaching,” Lisa said. Her voice sounded far away and dreamy. She glanced at her watch, then stood up.“It’s only a quarter to six. We have lots of time. Who wants to come hang out in my room?”

I didn’t decide to get up… it just happened! I was on my feet so fast the chair almost fell over. I didn’t exactly know what was about to happen, but I knew I wanted in on it. God might not like it, but I wasn’t so crazy about some of the stuff he’s stuck me with, so fair’s fair. Julie got up more slowly, looking a little dazed. Her cheeks were red and her breathing was funny, so I knew she was just as turned on as I was.

Lisa stepped away from the table and led the way out of the room. I was right behind her going up the stairs, and Julie was close on my heels. I glanced back at her as she came through the stairway door, and she reached forward to take my hand. We climbed the stairs that way, with my hand trailing a little behind and Julie gripping it tightly. She’s usually the confident one, but right then I think she was more scared than me. She didn’t let go until we passed through Lisa’s bedroom door.

Lisa pulled the comforter all the way off the bed, leaving just the sheets on top, then turned around to face us.“I think this will be easier if none of us are wearing any clothes. Are you both comfortable with that?”

I was completely over being scared, even starting to feel a little bit brave. I wanted this, and for once I didn’t care what anybody thought. Without saying a word I pulled my sweater over my head and dropped it to the floor.

Lisa clapped and smiled, but there was something funny in her eyes as she stared at my naked chest. After a long moment, she pulled her own shirt up over her head. Her belly was flat, her skin still a bit dark from a fading summer tan. A plain white bra covered her boobs.

She turned to Julie, who was standing very still and trembling a little. “What about you, sweetheart?” she asked in a gentle voice. “We can stop if you want to.”

“I don’t want to stop,” Julie almost whispered. “I just…”

Suddenly I knew what to do. We were standing side by side so I turned towards her, took her arm, and gently turned her until we were face to face. I looked up at her, my beautiful Julie. For just a moment I forgot about being horny, almost overcome by a feeling of simple love. We’d been friends for almost no time at all, but I felt closer to her right then than anybody else I’ve ever known. I reached up with both hands, took her glasses off and set them on the dresser. My right hand found the side of her face, and I caressed her cheek, then ran my left hand through her long, thick black hair.

Reaching down to Julie’s waist, I took hold of the bottom of her t-shirt on either side. I didn’t lift yet, just looked into her eyes. Slowly, very slowly, she raised both arms above her head. I pulled the shirt up, but didn’t quite get it off her before I started running out of reach; she’s so tall! Lisa took a step forward and helped me take it the rest of the way off.

Julie’s arms fell to her sides, and we stood facing each other, both naked from the waist up. I pulled her into a hug, and we stood there for a minute just holding each other.

Finally I let go and turned back to Lisa. “You’re wearing more clothes than we are,” I told her.

Where was this coming from? It’s not like me to take charge, especially with an adult! But Lisa said nothing, just reached behind herself with both hands. Her bra came loose, and she let it fall.

I caught my breath. I’ve never seen a grown-up lady’s breasts before! They were beautiful, full and round and with reddish-brown nipples. I realized I was staring and tore my eyes away.

“It’s okay to look, honey,” said Lisa in a low, thick voice.

I looked back at her and saw that her breathing had quickened. Was she getting turned on, too? I didn’t get why a couple of little girls like us would turn a sexy grown woman like Lisa on, but that seemed to be what was happening.

It was too much for me to think about right then. I unbuttoned my jeans, and pushed them down along with my underwear. I stepped out of them, now completely naked, then turned to Julie again. She was wearing leggings, and I hooked my thumbs inside the elastic, found the waistband of her panties and grabbed it too, then pushed the whole works down until I was squatting at her feet. I tugged at her right leg, and she lifted it while I worked the pants and underwear off her foot. I got her sock, then did the same on the other side. I took my own socks off, stood up, and turned to face Lisa.

“Turn around,” I said. Lisa took a deep breath… a very shuddery one! She looked back and forth between Julie and me, standing naked in front of her. She did as I asked, and I unfastened the button on the back of her skirt, which then slid to the floor. I started to reach out for her panties, then lost a little bit of my nerve. But not all of it.

“Now, why don’t you finish undressing,” I said.

It sure was getting hard to keep my voice steady! Everybody was following my lead all of a sudden, so it seemed important to not have a shaky voice. I took a step back as Lisa turned around. She pushed her panties down, stepped out of them, and took her socks off. When she straightened up, I didn’t even pretend to not look at her bottom half.

Her legs are smooth, long, and curvy. I hope mine look like that when I’m grown up! Right now, they’re more like a couple of twigs. But my eyes were mostly drawn to where her legs came together. I glanced over at Julie and saw that she was staring too. Lisa saw us looking and shifted one foot so her legs were further apart.

It was an amazing sight. Lisa had hair down there, but it was trimmed into a sort of rectangle shape just above her vagina, and it looked like she kept it shaved below. I remembered that when Julie and I were poking around online, we saw pictures of ladies who did stuff like that, or just shaved it all off. Maybe I’ll do that when I start getting hair down there. You could see just a little bit of Lisa’s inside lips poking out… what the websites called the labia minora. I thought it was one of the most beautiful things I’d ever seen in my life, like the petals of a pink flower.

Lisa was staring, too. She was looking back and forth between the two of us, her eyes roving up and down our bodies. She looked like she wanted to gobble me and Julie up in one big bite. She thinks we’re hot, I realized. Seeing us with all our clothes off turns her on.

My confidence took a huge leap. Most of the time I’m unsure of myself and let other people take the lead in almost everything, but somehow I felt like this was my world. I could own it.

I climbed up onto the bed, sat down with my legs crossed, and gave Lisa what I thought was a questioning look.“You were going to give us a lesson, right?”

She gave her head a little shake and followed me onto the bed. Julie seated herself next to me, crossing her legs like mine so our knees were touching. I reached over and took her hand.

Lisa propped a couple of pillows against the headboard and leaned back, stretching her legs out and spreading them open. Her labia looked like they were about to separate. I totally wanted them to, so I could see inside! I took in a deep breath through my nose, and there was a smell in the air. I knew that scent from when I’d put my finger under my nose after touching myself. Now it was filling the room, maybe coming from all three of us! That turned me on even more… honestly, it was all I could do to keep from putting a hand between my legs right then. But I waited.

Finally Lisa spoke. “It’s important to have a fantasy. That’s what my books are for. I know they’re not very well written, but they have great sex scenes. Usually I can get a fantasy going in my head, but the books come in handy when I need a little help.”

She was tracing her belly with her fingers, up and down.

“Sometimes I like to warm myself up by touching different parts of my body,” she went on. “Everything is an erogenous zone, but some spots are extra sensitive. Like here.”Tilting her head to one side, she gently caressed her neck.

“Or my breasts,” she said, her hands moving lower. She cupped and massaged them, then pinched her nipples, which she rolled  around a little between her thumbs and fingers. Her breath was getting very ragged, and I heard a hint of strain in her voice.

“Down here, too.” She began running her fingers up and down the insides of her thighs, pulling her feet back to bring her knees up. I scooted closer, tugging on Julie’s hand so she would follow.

Lisa ran her fingertips across the outside of her labia and shivered. “I’m going to show you girls all the parts down here,” she said. “You might already know this, but let’s make sure. Do either of you know a word for the whole area?”

Julie spoke up for the first time in a while. “The vulva,” she said.

“That’s right,” said Lisa. “But I don’t much like that word.”

“Me neither,” I piped up.

Lisa chuckled. “The words I like to use for it are considered impolite by most people. Crude, even. Maybe that’s why using them seems so sexy. Words like pussy, twat, or cunt.”

I silently rolled the words around on my tongue. Yeah, I liked them much better than vulva!

Lisa was still gently stroking herself. “So the outside part of my pussy,” she was saying, “is called the labia. Or,” she added with a wink, “some of us more dirty-minded people might call them pussy lips.”

I giggled, and Julie joined in.

“These big outer lips are the labia majora, and inside you have the labia minora. My inner lips are pretty big, too… see how they stick out a little bit? Some people call that an outie, and what you girls have is an innie. But that might change; I was an innie until I was twelve or thirteen.” She glanced up at us, her eyes dancing with excitement. “Like to see what’s inside?”

“Show us,” I said. It was practically an order. I’m still not sure what I was thinking, speaking to an adult like that. Maybe doing sex stuff brings out this bossy side of me?

Using her thumb and a finger, Lisa slowly opened her labia—no, her pussy lips—for us to see. The inner lips were big and puffy and looked a little swollen, and her vagina was juicy and bright pink. It was incredibly beautiful.

“It’s wet,” I said. “Are you turned on?”

She smiled. “Aren’t you?” I nodded, because I really was. Lisa went through the stuff inside, pointing out the vagina and her clitoris, which she called a clit. I mostly knew all this already, and so did Julie, but we hung onto every word.

“When I masturbate,” she told us, “I work a finger around the opening for a while to get myself worked up, then I mostly focus on my clit. Like this.”

She began to move her hand in slow circles, then picked up speed. Her breath was coming in gasps and shudders, and her hips began to move rhythmically up and down. After a minute or two of this, she let out a low moan, her motion slowing just a little.

“Sometimes,” she said in an unsteady voice, “I’ll put a finger or two inside myself. I – I didn’t do that until I was a little older, though.”

Using her free hand, Lisa slipped her pointer and middle finger into her dripping hole. It made a wet squishy noise, and she arched her back. She began to pump her fingers in and out, moving in time with the fingering of her clit. She moaned again, louder this time. Then again. She would bring in a few hitching, shuddering breaths, then moan. Soon the moans were almost cries.

“Oh, God, girls,” she gasped. “I’m g-going to come. Do you want to, to see me… OHHH!… see me come?”

“Do it. Come for us,” I told her, though I’m not sure she even heard me. Julie was squeezing my hand so hard it almost hurt. Lisa let out a series of short, sharp grunts, then her butt came off the bed and she thrust her hips repeatedly.

Then she screamed. Actually SCREAMED. Three loud howls came out, and her backside came down hard on the bed. She was huffing and puffing for breath.

I let go of Julie’s hand, crawled up on Lisa’s left side, and draped my arm just under her boobs in a sort of hug. I don’t know where the idea to do that came from; it just felt right. After a second Julie did the same thing on the other side, her arm just below mine.

We held Lisa as she caught her breath. Finally she lifted her head and gave us a sleepy smile. “Thanks, girls,” she said. “I wasn’t planning on taking that so far, but I guess I needed it. We still have almost an hour; what would you like to do?”

She was looking at me when she said that. I was still a little dazed at the way I’d turned into the one calling the shots, but at the same time I felt like I knew exactly what needed doing.

Sitting up, I laid a hand on Julie’s arm. “Do you want to try it now?” I asked her. Her eyes met mine, and she nodded her head.

Lisa sat up too, put the pillows that had fallen back against the headboard and patted them, looking at Julie. Moving slowly, Julie took the same position Lisa had, except that she pulled her feet in so they were almost touching her butt, leaving her knees up. She slid a hand down to her belly, but hesitated just before touching her pussy. I could tell Julie was very turned on, but she also seemed a little afraid.

Lisa saw it too. “You don’t have to,” she told Julie.

Julie opened her mouth, closed it again, and then finally spoke. “I want to. It’s just—I don’t know why I’m so nervous.”

My friend needed help, and I figured it was up to me to give it. I crawled over to sit beside Julie and took her in my arms. She laid her head on my shoulder.

“It’s okay,” I told her. “I’m here, and I love you.”  Putting a hand on her belly, I inched my fingers downward.

“Let me help,” I whispered in her ear. “You don’t have to do anything… I got this.”

Julie looked at me with wide eyes, then nodded. Moving slowly, I slipped my fingers down until they rested on the outside of her pussy. Pussy. Wow, I really do like that word! And I liked the way Julie’s smooth, silky pussy lips felt to my fingers. She was SO turned on, all slippery and moist down there. Very gently, I spread her outer lips open. Julie sucked her breath in with a hissing sound, and moved her hips just a little.

She’s very different from me. Her inner lips are bigger, and it wouldn’t take much more for them to be poking out. I wonder if she’ll be an outie when she grows up, like Lisa. My twat (I like that word, too!) is the same shade of pink everywhere, but Julie’s pussy shades from bright pink down around her vagina and along the inside of her lips to an almost purplish color right around her clit.

I held her lips open with one hand and gently explored with the other. She was so wet! My fingertips were already dripping with her juices. I took my hand away for a moment to hold it under my nose, breathing in Julie’s scent. It was kind of like how I smell, but different in some way I couldn’t figure out. But I definitely liked it!

Julie was getting that wide-eyed look again, so I offered her my fingers to smell. She sniffed, carefully at first, then more deeply. She gave me a shy smile.

Reaching down again, I traced the outside of her hole. She gasped again. The juices were practically flowing out of her now. She seemed ready for more, so I used my slippery fingers to lightly brush her clit.

I watched Julie’s face the whole time. If I’d seen even a teenie-weenie sign that I might be going too far, I’d have stopped right then. Instead, she grasped my wrist and whispered, “D-don’t stop.” So I began to move my fingers in slow circles, just the way I liked to do to myself. Julie thrust her hips forward a bit and let out a contented sigh.

“That feels good?” I asked.

“Mmm-hmm,” was her only reply, but it was enough. I pressed down a little more firmly, and moved my hand a bit faster.

“How about that?” I said.

Julie just nodded. Her breath began to come in hitches and starts. She slipped an arm around me and pulled me closer. A big wave must have hit her right then, because she stretched her legs straight out, lifted her hips, and moaned out loud.

It was all I could do to keep from touching myself with my free hand, but Julie was the one who hadn’t come yet, and her needs had to come first. So instead I crossed my legs and squeezed them together. I don’t know how I thought to do that, but I was so turned on that it worked, little ripples of pleasure flowing through my body. I wondered if I could have an orgasm that way.

Julie was really starting to get into it, moaning and lifting her hips every few seconds. I slid my finger lower, resting it flat so I could still put pressure on her clit while teasing her entrance at the same time. Somehow I just knew it would be the right thing to try.

Turns out I was right about that, cause Julie gave a loud cry and her butt came all the way up off the bed. I looked up at Lisa. She was staring at us, her mouth hanging open.

I kept it up like that, rubbing Julie’s clit and teasing her vagina with the same finger, moving pretty fast. Her hips started to buck, and her breath was hard and ragged with little moans in between. I was still squeezing my thighs together, and the waves were getting stronger.

“Something’s happening!” Julie wailed, sounding excited and terrified all at the same time. “Oh, God, Mallory, something’s gonna happen, I don’t…”

“It’s okay,” I whispered in her ear, still moving my hand. “It’s okay, just let it happen.”

“Okay, Mallory, okay it’s j-just… OHHHHHHH!”

Her back arched, her thighs came together to squeeze my hand, and her butt ground down hard into the mattress. I could feel her vagina muscles gripping my finger! Julie was pressing her head hard against the headboard, her eyes squeezed shut. Then she gave a loud wail, thrust her hips a couple of times, and went limp.

I rolled onto my side, wrapped an arm and a leg around Julie and held her. She hugged me even closer so I was almost lying on top of her, my beautiful, precious Julie.

I’d really done it; I’d helped her have her first orgasm! I needed to come myself, needed it so bad my whole body was screaming for relief, but it could wait one more minute.

“Thank you,” she whispered in my ear. “That was… wow… thank you so much, Mal…” She squeezed me tightly.

After a moment I looked up at Lisa. She gave me a big smile. “I know somebody who looks like she needs to get off in a big way,” she said.

I hadn’t heard the term “get off” before, but it didn’t take a brain surgeon to know what she meant. I rolled back over onto my back, reaching between my legs. No fooling around, no teasing. I was way past ready! The moment my finger found my clit a powerful wave hit me, and I gasped. This was only going to take a a minute or two.

“Hold me,” I told Julie. She put her arms around me and held me tight. Within seconds I was thrusting against my hand, moaning with every breath. I realized I’d gotten myself closer than I thought by squeezing my legs together, and just as that was flashing through my head an orgasm hit me that was like being tilted off the edge of the world.

I thrashed and screamed. My pussy got super juicy and I could feel it dripping down the crack of my butt. Then everything just seemed to go dark for a second, and my mind got fuzzy and gray.

The next thing I remember was Julie shaking my shoulder, looking a little scared. “Mallory?” she pleaded. “Mal?”

I gave my head a hard little shake. Everything around me had been all fogged up for a moment. I wasn’t sure what my voice would sound like if I tried to speak, so I just gave Julie a big smile.

“She’s okay, Julie,” Lisa said, placing a warm hand on my thigh. Her other hand rested on Julie’s shoulder. “The French call that the little death… where you come so hard that you kind of gray out for a second. It’s only happened to me a couple of times, and not till I was quite a bit older than you. Believe me, there are plenty of women out there who’ve never had an orgasm like that… Mallory’s one lucky girl!”

She glanced over at the clock. “We have a little time left,” she said. You got to see Julie and me, Mallory; can we have a look at you?”

I knew what she meant. I spread my legs wide, then used my right hand to open myself up for them. Julie left my side and came around front of me for a better view.

“It’s a lot different from mine,” she said after a moment or two.

“It’s amazing how different each woman’s pussy is,” said Lisa. “They’re like flowers – no two are exactly the same. And look how wet she is! Pussy juice everywhere.” I liked that. “Pussy juice” sounds like the perfect name for it.

Looking at the clock, Lisa suddenly sat up straight. “We’d better get you up and dressed, Mallory,” she said, sounding a little sad about it. “You have to be at the church in about twenty minutes. I’ll drive you there; the weather is terrible and it’s getting dark.”

I went down to the bathroom stark naked carrying my clothes, where I washed myself up. I’d gotten juicier than ever, and I didn’t want Mom or anyone else at the church to get a whiff.

While I was doing that, Julie and Lisa also got dressed, and they drove me up to the church. Instead of sitting in the front next to Lisa, Julie got into the back seat and snuggled up to me. We didn’t talk on the way over, and once we arrived, I didn’t get out right away. Right then, going to church was the last thing in the world I wanted to do.

Julie put both arms around me and squeezed hard.

“Thanks for helping me, y’know, finish,” she said. “It was the most amazing feeling ever!”

I kissed her, but this time I did it really close to her mouth. Then I looked  at Lisa, who was wearing a huge grin.

“Thanks for the lesson,” I told her. For some reason that struck me funny, and I started to giggle. Julie and Lisa joined in.“And tell Jason his chili was delicious. I better go. Bye!”

I hugged Julie one more time, and she hugged me back. Then I got out of the car. Ouch, that wind almost stung! I waved to them and got myself inside the church. Perfect timing, Mom was just coming up the stairs from the basement. She said “Hi,” gave me a quick hug, and got her coat.

When we got home, she rummaged around in a Target shopping bag and pulled out a small cardboard box with a picture of a clock on it… the old-fashioned kind with bells on top.

I’d been hoping for a clock radio, but I knew better than to complain. Anyway, it didn’t matter; the whole point of this was so Mom won’t be poking her head in my room to get me up in the morning.

I thanked her, took the clock upstairs, got it out of the box, and used the owner’s manual to figure out how to set the time and the alarm. I ran back downstairs and found Mom in the kitchen putting groceries away.

“I got the clock working,” I told her. “I can get myself up for school now if you’re tired and want to sleep in.”

“Okay, sweetheart,” she said, stacking some canned stuff in the pantry. I said goodnight, went upstairs, took out my diary and started writing.

I’m thinking a lot about my feelings, and how they’ve changed. I ought to feel guilty about what happened yesterday with Julie and Lisa, but I don’t. It felt right, you know? I just hope Julie’s still okay with it. Actually, I’m kinda freaking a little about that.

But that’s not the only thing I’m worried about, is it? What exactly did we do? What did it mean? Lying close to Julie and making her feel good was one of the most amazing things that ever happened to me, and it was a lot more than just helping her out. I’m not sure what I should call what I’m feeling, so I’m going to stop thinking about it for now.

I keep thinking back to everything we did, wondering why I don’t feel ashamed. Instead, I find myself wanting to tell God to mind his own beeswax. If he really thinks he can make me feel this way and then tell me I have to hold it all in, then he can just go and stuff it.

That’s maybe the biggest thing on my mind. I just realized while I was writing that I’m not only getting mad at God, I’m starting to doubt he’s even real. I think it’s been happening for a while, but I’ve been pushing it away because it’s not okay to think about. But now I’m spending time with people who say it’s TOTALLY okay to think about, so I’m starting to let myself do just that.

But I can’t deal with that now. It’s time to go back downstairs and wait for the school bus. Gosh, I hope Julie is still okay with everything that happened yesterday.

On to Chapter Seven!

This is not my usual kind of story. Something on the news about a lost refugee girl piqued my interest. The more I thought about the trauma that many suffer, the more I wanted to write something.

There is no in-depth story, just a coming together of a lost soul and a caring person.

***

By kinkys_sis

The nights were drawing in, now that November was here. The darkness came early, making my preferred running routes a bit dangerous. I’m referring to the terrain, not any lurking unpleasant characters. The last thing I needed was a twisted ankle, or worse. I didn’t want to miss any soccer matches because of a self-inflicted injury.

The past few nights, I’d tried the local park. It had a fairly long and winding paved pathway. and it was never that busy after dark. Three or four circuits, two or three nights a week, were enough to meet my quota.

Tonight, I was on my second lap when I passed a girl sitting on a park bench. If it weren’t for the feeling that I’d seen her somewhere before, I likely wouldn’t have noticed her. She had an air of sadness about her. But these days, the world’s full of unhappy people, or so it seemed to me. I ran on.

On my next lap, I was vaguely aware that she’d gone. I didn’t give it much thought.

I arrived at the main gate, a good spot to pause and take a swig from my water bottle. Then I saw her again. She was outside the park by the main road. What was she doing? Fuck! She was trying to look sexy for the passing cars. But … it was a kind of half-hearted and very amateurish attempt.

I watched as a car drew to a stop. I saw the window wind down and a guy lean his head out and speak, though I couldn’t hear what he was saying. The girl took a couple of steps towards the car, then stopped. Suddenly, she turned and ran back into the park. I saw the tears glistening on her face as she passed me and disappeared into the darkness. The noise of the car speeding away drew my attention for a second before I turned to look for the girl again. She was nowhere to be seen.

I thought of searching for her, but why? It wasn’t wise to get mixed up with the goings-on of prostitutes, for that was what I decided the girl must be. I tucked my water bottle away and took up another lap.

I heard her before I saw her. She was back on the same bench as before. But now, she was sobbing pitifully.

I dithered, slowing my pace. It was a shock to see how young she was. I’m thirteen, and she was just about my age – a year or two older at most.

I came to a stop, barely a few yards away from her, uncertain whether I should poke my nose into someone else’s problems. She turned her head and lifted her face towards me.

For a moment she stared, then she said, “Fuck off. Leave me alone.” Her English was good enough, but she had a heavy accent. Eastern European, I guessed.

“Okay, then, if you’re sure,” I said. “I was only checking to see if you’re all right.”

“Sorry, that was rude. Shit!”

She bent forward on her seat, crying into her hands. I couldn’t just run away and leave her like that. She didn’t look up when I sat next to her. Now, I was sort of lost. What do I do, or say, for that matter? I sat quietly. I’d let her speak if she wanted to.

Eventually, her sobbing subsided. She gave me a quick glance, then turned away again. Her voice quivered when she repeated the “sorry.”

“Don’t worry about it,” I said. “If you want to talk, you can. If you don’t, that’s fine, too. Maybe I’ll sit with you for a while. Or you can tell me to fuck off again.”

That brought a momentary smile to her face. “I won’t. It was kind of you to stop, though I’m not sure why you would. I mean, you don’t know me.”

I thought she was about to burst into tears again. Cautiously, I placed a hand over hers. She began to pull away from the touch, then seemed to change her mind. Her hand turned and her fingers clutched at mine.

I saw the streaks on her face from the tears that had mingled with her mascara. Yet I could still see how pretty she was underneath the mess.

I searched for something to say, then settled for introducing myself. “My name’s Sonya. You want to tell me yours?”

In little more than a whisper, she answered, “Evhenyia.” She realised that I may not have heard her. “Evhenyia,” she repeated in a stronger voice, “but here I go by Erica. It’s easier.”

“Where are you from?”

This time, she spoke firmly and with no hesitation. “Ukraine. I’m a refugee from the war, I suppose is what you would say.”

Okay, so maybe I now understood a little. But what on earth had she been doing outside the park? It didn’t make sense. “But, that man in the car –?”

I saw she obviously didn’t want to answer, so I let it ride. “Okay you don’t want to say. So the next question is, what are you doing here?”

“I have nowhere else to go. I have no money left. I’m thirsty and I’m hungry. I thought…” There she stopped.

“So you thought you could get some money… from men? But you couldn’t do it, that’s why you ran from the guy that stopped.”

“Yes.”

I remembered my water and dug out the bottle and the one banana I always carried for energy. I never saw anyone eat and drink so fast.

“Erica, how long is it since you last ate anything?”

“I don’t know. Maybe like three days I guess.”

This whole thing defied my imagination. I thought the Ukrainian refugees were all housed and looked after. Why was this girl alone and starving?

Bit by bit, she told me her story. I saw how difficult it was for her, but at least she wasn’t crying anymore.

Her father was fighting with the army. She had no idea where he was, nor even if he was alive. She had got separated from her mother during an air raid. She had searched for her for days but without success. The Russians had been advancing towards Kyiv when a charity had bundled her onto a train heading west. She had no say in the matter, however much she pleaded. That was at the beginning of the war. She’d spent some time in a camp in Poland before she got sent on to England.

She was kept with some other kids until an English family had taken her in. At first it seemed fine. They even found a place in school for her. She had lived just waiting for news of her mother and father. None had come.

Then one night, when the wife was out for the evening with friends, the man came home drunk. He went after Erica, grabbing her breasts and putting his hand up her skirt. He’d just managed to rip her panties off when she got hold of a lamp and hit him over the head. He went down, bleeding badly but still moving. Erica knew where they kept a little money in a drawer. It was only about fifty pounds, but she stuffed that and a few of her things in a bag and ran. The man had managed to get up, and he almost caught her again, but she got away. That was maybe over a week ago. She wasn’t sure exactly how long. The money had paid for a train ticket to the city, some food and things, but now it was all gone.

“Why didn’t you go to the police?” I asked her. “They would have helped you.”

“I thought they might believe him and not me if he claimed I attacked him to steal their money,” Erica said. “I didn’t want to end up in prison or whatever. I didn’t know what to do.”

“And tonight you needed money and you thought you could get it by offering sex on the street. Which isn’t that much different than what you ran away from.”

She just nodded, and I saw the saddest, loneliest girl.

“How old are you?” I asked.

“Fourteen.”

I was almost certain my mum would agree with me that there was only one thing I could do. “Where’s your things? You wanna grab them? You’re coming with me.”

“But where to? I told you, I’m not going to the police.”

“No police. You’re coming home with me. Oh, and I don’t have a father that you need worry about.”

She led me towards some bushes where she pulled out a small bag. She dug inside the bag and found a small packet of tissue wipes. She handed one to me. “Will you clean my face for me please? I must look like shit.”

It was quite dark, but I was again struck by how pretty she was. I finished cleaning her up as best as I could. “That’ll do until we get you in the shower. I guess you’d like that.”

She put her fingers to my face. “I was right. You are kind, Sonya. Thank you.” She leaned and kissed my cheek.

“Come on, it’s not far,” I told her.

***

Mum was busy in the kitchen when I shut the front door behind us. “Good run, love?” she called out. “You’ve been a long time tonight.” Then she came out of the kitchen to find us still taking our shoes off in the hallway. “Oh, you’ve got a friend with you. I don’t think I’ve seen you before.”

“Mum, this is Erica. It’s a bit of a story. Is it okay if I show her the bathroom and I’ll tell you all about her?”

“Of course it is, love. Dinner will be an hour yet.”

I showed Erica my bedroom and where my jeans and jumpers were. “After your shower, you can come back in here and find something to wear, whatever you need. Then we can have some dinner.”

I thought for a moment she was about to begin crying again. Her lips trembled, but she managed a smile. “Sonya, can I have a hug for a minute? I’ve been so frightened and alone. I can’t believe you’re real.”

The hug lasted an age. Then she leaned back. “Thank you. Now you can show me the shower.” I got another quick peck. The only difference was, this time it was on my lips. I remembered it’s what these foreigners did. They always seemed to be kissing each other when they said hello or goodbye. But still, it was the first time I’d ever been kissed on the lips, even if I did barely feel it.

I found her a towel and showed her how the shower worked. I got myself a bit wet in the process, and it was the first time that I’d heard her laugh. It was a nice laugh. I liked this girl.

Mum was very nearly in tears herself as I told her Erica’s story. “She must stay here until we decide what to do,” she said. “The poor girl must be terrified out of her wits. And starving, never mind needing a good night’s sleep in a proper bed.”

I was relieved. I’d felt sure Mum would see it the same way I had. But you never knew with grownups, not for sure anyway.

“Now, you go up and see how she’s getting on,” Mum said. “She might be too shy to come downstairs.”

The bathroom light was off, so I knew she’d be in my room. I knocked first and waited before I heard her say to come in. She was sitting on my bed with a towel still wrapped around her, looking lost.

“What’s the matter?” I asked.

“I don’t have clean underwear, and I didn’t like to take things without asking. So I waited for you.”

“Hey, I told you, help yourself. Whatever you need, it’s fine, honestly.”

She went to my panties drawer and put a hand inside to feel around. “So many and so nice,” she said, before she picked out a pair of what I think of as my pretty but naughty ones – open white lace you can see straight through. I wasn’t even sure why I had bought them. I never wore stuff like that. I wouldn’t dare. I guess it was just the thrill of buying something I thought of as sexy.

Then I got my first big shock. She untucked the towel and let it drop to the floor. She didn’t do it for my benefit. It just seemed to be her way. I’ve seen plenty of girls in the soccer room showers but never a naked girl in my bedroom. It was different, somehow.

The panties were about a size too small for her. They fit very snuggly. Unself-consciously, she turned to face me. “Bit tight maybe? What do you think?”

She only meant for me to check the fit, but I found my eyes fixed on the patch of hair behind the lace.

Erica laughed for the second time. “What’s the matter? You’ve gone a bit red in the face. You never saw a girl in panties before?” She bent down to look at them as she spoke. “Oh, I see. They make my bits stand out. Maybe we find a better fit.”

With that, she wiggled her hips and pushed the panties down. Now my eyes were fixed on her pussy lips. I was looking to see what had caused the panties to take on the shape they had. Her slit had much puffier lips than mine.

She turned away to rummage in the drawer. Now I was staring at her arse. I shook my head. What the fuck was the matter with me? I mean, I don’t look at girls. I don’t even look at boys. That’s when the thought hit me. I don’t look, period! Now, I was. But why?

Erica soon had the second pair pulled up. They were more modest, and they fit her better. I heard Mum calling, “Dinner in five.”

Erica found a jumper and a pair of track-suit bottoms that fit her just fine. I quickly teased her hair out with a dryer and brush. She looked in the mirror. “Hello you, welcome back,” she said and laughed.

I noticed Mum had cut our portions down. I guess she thought that Erica shouldn’t eat too much just yet. But she did the same for all of us so as not to make it look too obvious. I saw Erica’s surprise when we each got a glass of wine.

“We’re sort of part Italian. We always have wine,” Mum said. “Is it okay for you? We’ve got others if you don’t like it.”

I thought Erica was going to burst into tears again. But instead, she smiled. “It’s wonderful. Everything is wonderful. And you, Sonya, and your mum. I don’t know what to say.”

Mum beat me to it. “There’s no need to say anything at all. Sonya did the right thing in bringing you here. You’re welcome here, as long as is needed. Now, I’ll hear no more about it.”

***

After dinner we sat and watched TV for a while, but I soon noticed Erica nodding off. I gave her a nudge. “What?” she asked.

“I think it’s time you were in bed,” I said. “And I’ve got soccer in the morning, so an early night won’t hurt me either.”

“You play in a soccer team? I saw the trophies and thought they were someone else’s. Are they yours?”

“Some are my dad’s. Some are my sister’s – she’s away at the moment – but some are mine. You can come and watch tomorrow. Or you can stay in bed to catch up on your sleep. Whatever you want.”

I took Erica to sis’s room. “You’re sleeping in my sister’s bed for tonight. We’ll get things sorted better tomorrow.”

She showed no shyness as she shrugged out of her clothes, but I thought she watched for my reaction as I couldn’t help glancing at her boobs. Then she climbed into bed.

“No, no, no,” she said as I turned away. “Come and say goodnight with a hug please, Sonya.”

I felt strangely nervous as I bent down to her. She reached up and pulled me down, right down, until I more or less lay on top of her. She hugged me tight for a minute or more. I was beginning to feel uncomfortable when she pushed me up just a little way.

“Thank you again,” she said. “I know I am very lucky today. You stop for a stranger and then … all of this. I think you’re a very special person.”

Then she kissed me. I mean like, a proper kiss. I almost panicked. This was something new to me. But then, she broke the kiss and just smiled up at me. “Sorry, but I wanted to do that to say thank you. I hope you don’t mind too much?”

I must have looked puzzled when she let go of me and I sat up. “Don’t look so shocked, please. I won’t do it again if you don’t want me to.”

I mumbled a goodnight. She switched off the bedside light as I left the room. Her words hung in my mind. I won’t do it again if you don’t want me to. To me, that seemed to say that she would do it again if I wanted. All I knew was I felt odd. I don’t know how else to describe it.

The last thing I remembered, as I drifted off to sleep, was how beautiful her boobs and pussy were.

***

Erica was still asleep when I left for soccer. I was surprised at how disappointed I felt. I’d really wanted her along to watch me play.

The match hadn’t long got underway when I saw her give me a wave from the touchline. From a distance, it almost looked like me standing there. My jumper, my jeans, my coat. My heart kind of flipped. “She’s here.”

The match was something of a walkover for us. Our opponents were half a mile down the table from us and we hammered the poor sods. I got a hat-trick, two headers and a rocket from my boot into the top corner. It ended up seven to nil. I felt so much more elated than normal, though, because I’d seen Erica jumping and clapping when I scored.

In the dressing room, Jane asked, “Who’s the new girlfriend then, Sonya? Haven’t seen you with a girl before.”

“I don’t have a girlfriend. It’s someone staying with us, that’s all.”

Jane laughed. “Yeah, okay, whatever you say. But go tell her, coz she thinks you’re her girlfriend. Believe me, I know these things.” She looked me up and down. “I forget you’re one of the youngest on the team. Just how old are you now?”

The team was for sixteen and under. Jane was one of the older ones. “Thirteen, but so what?”

She laughed again. “You’re so tough out there on the field, it’s easy to forget you’re still a kid. Maybe you haven’t got to thinking about these things yet, but let me tell you, that girl wants to get in your pants.” She pointedly looked at my body. “Come to think of it, I wouldn’t mind myself.” But she said that with another laugh.

I did know Jane was only into girls, but what the fuck did she mean about Erica? I was deep in thought as I dressed. The showers were bust so it would have to wait until I got home. But still, that kiss last night. And what she’d said after. Did she like me – I mean, that way? Shit! Was she a lesbian?

This was way out of my experience. Yet … it didn’t make me nearly as uncomfortable as I thought it would.

She saw me coming and ran to meet me. She actually lifted me off my feet and swung me around as she held me tightly. “Wow, Sonya, you’re a star! I never much liked football, but now. Well, I could watch you play all day.” Then she forgot what she had said the day before, because she kissed me again. Only a brief kiss, but a kiss. “Oh, sorry, I forgot,” she said. “But I had to kiss my hero.”

Holding hands was fairly common among my school friends. I mean like, buddies held hands. It didn’t make you girlfriends. But I was acutely aware of the way my hand felt in hers. This whole thing was baffling.

Mum was at work until late afternoon. I dumped my gear in the laundry room. “Help yourself if you want anything. I gotta go get a shower. I won’t be long.”

But then she followed me up the stairs. She answered my questioning look with a smile. “I keep you company. Don’t mind me.”

Well, I did mind. I wasn’t used to someone watching me get undressed or showering at home. But then I thought, yeah, I did get some weird pleasure myself watching her get undressed the day before. Besides, it seemed sorta crass to tell her no.

I couldn’t help thinking about what Jane had said, and it worried me. Erica sat herself on the loo, watching me. Her eyes glanced from one place to another as I undressed. I ditched my panties and dived into the shower. I knew she could still see me through the glass door, but I felt better with some partition between us. Or did I? I suddenly had the awful thought that I wanted her to see me and what I was doing. It was the strangest thought I could have had, and it shook me.

I’d never before had any thoughts in that direction. So why now all of a sudden?

I still tried to make a show of modesty when I washed my private parts. It was the sponge that made me aware that my pussy was tingling. Fuck! What was the matter with me? It was the first time in my life I actually thought about being turned on.

I switched off the water, realising that in my haste to get into the shower, I’d forgotten the towel. When I opened the screen, Erica was holding it out, spread wide. Naturally, I thought she’d just drape it over me and then let go. But she didn’t. Instead, she wrapped it around me and began to rub me down.

I was too startled to object or even know how to object. I just stood there dumb as she rubbed the towel over me. She did my back, then my neck and arms. She turned me to face her and without a pause, she rubbed at my boobs. The towel had opened in the process and that’s when I saw how stiff my nipples were.

She had seen my glance. She smiled at me. “They like me drying them for you,” she said “I bet it feels nice.”

I could feel the flush that came to my cheeks. Her words, as well as the reaction of my tits, had me confused. But she’d already moved on, rubbing the towel over my tummy before kneeling and drying my feet.

Her face was right in front of my pussy but she wasn’t looking there. Maybe I was wrong after all. Maybe she was just being nice.

Her hands worked their way up my legs. First one, then the other. My apprehension built. What would she do next? Surely, she wouldn’t touch me there … but she did. She slipped the towel between my legs and she pressed up. I felt myself jump and my panic welling up as I squeezed my hands into tight fists.

But then she pulled away, turned me around and went to work on my bum. She gave my back a little push as her knees pressed my legs a little wider. Oh, God, she was sliding the towel between my cheeks until it pressed to my arsehole. The tingle in my pussy had gone mad. I desperately wanted to touch myself like I would have done had I been alone. Instead, I clenched my hands even tighter.

“There, you relax now. All done,” she said. Then she lightly smacked one cheek of my arse and… fuck! She kissed the other.

The reflection in the shower glass showed her getting to her feet behind me. She lifted the towel and wrapped it around my hair. I felt her move closer before her arms came around and hugged me. She seemed to like doing it, but it was embarrassing, being naked with her pressed against me like that.

Or was it? I found myself leaning back into her. Her grip tightened. Her head rested on my shoulder and her warm breath caressed my neck. I wondered if she realised just where her hands were as they pressed beneath my boobs.

I got the answer when her fingers spread wide and slowly moved up until they cupped me. It hit me then: I liked the feel of it, and how she was making me feel. But still, I kept telling myself this shouldn’t be happening.

I reached up, intending to pull her hands away, but at that moment, her lips nuzzled my neck. My hands reached hers, but they didn’t do anything else. Her lips pressed harder.

I couldn’t suppress the groan that escaped my lips. Then I was holding her hands over my tits. They moved, feeling and squeezing. My hands just held hers and followed. The kisses on my neck moved upward. When her lips touched my ear, she whispered, “Sonya.”

Almost in a trance, I began to turn. Then I stopped. What the fuck was I doing? Her hands moved to my shoulders, one pushing, the other pulling, gently.

“Sonya, you know you feel it. Don’t fight. Please.”

I didn’t let her turn me around. Nothing made sense. Something inside was urging me to turn, and yet I rebelled against it.

Her hands went back to holding me. They weren’t forcing me. I could have pulled away from her if I really wanted, but I couldn’t seem to move.

Her fingers caressed my tummy. “So strong,” she whispered in my ear. “Your muscles are beautiful, Sonya darling.” Her other hand was back over my breast, but this time her fingers twirled the nipple. It was hard beneath her touch. So busy was I thinking about that nipple, I barely noticed the other hand dropping lower. Until a finger pressed softly and slowly into the front of my pussy.

My clit felt the light caress, the little circle her finger made as it teased me. I found myself pushing back against her once more. The finger became more insistent. My legs trembled and I knew I should push her away. I reached down to… oh shit, it felt so good. My hand covered hers and then pressed her to me. Now there were two fingers, one on either side of my clit, pinching it.

I wondered what she was up to when the hand left my tit and pushed instead behind my back. She seemed to fumble for a moment, then she took hold of the hand I had dangling at my side, drawing it back between us. I knew then what she wanted. I wasn’t sure it was what I wanted, but with her fingers squeezing my clit, I wasn’t thinking too clearly. I found my hand being pushed down the front of her open jeans.

All I could think of was how wet she was. Her panties, her pussy lips – she was soaking. So much more than I had ever been when I played with myself.

My body shook, jerking on her fingers. I had lost the ability to reason. I just wanted to come. And fuck! I wanted to feel her pussy.

My fingers curled between the hot, dripping lips and found her clit. It was the first time I had felt one other than my own. Erica rubbed me faster in response.

“Oh God, Sonya. Fuck me, yes? Please.”

I knew I was ready to come. My shaking became more violent. My body went out of control as I felt the most wonderful climax wash over me. I hunched forwards. Only her hands kept me from falling as her fingers pushed into my cunt. I had never frigged myself as fast as she did. I jerked on her hand as I came.

She turned me around and held me in her arms. My eyes were still screwed shut when her lips touched mine. This time, I didn’t want to fight it. Her lips were full and sensuous. Her tongue forced my lips apart. I found it strange, but it was the most intimate thing I’d ever experienced.

Her hips moved against mine as she humped the hand that I had forgotten was still down her – my – panties. I pushed my fingers into her and let her fuck herself on them as I lost myself in our kiss.

Her hands gripped my arse, urging me against her writhing body, then suddenly dropped to her sides as she began to tremble. For the strangest reason I wanted to see. I fell to my knees and watched my pumping fingers and the dribbles that ran down my wrist. She shouted, “Fuck!” And then she was coming.

I pulled her close and rested my face against her tummy. I could smell the giddy aroma of sex as I held her tight. Tremors still shook her as her fingers entwined in my hair.

I was overcome with an urge to take my head lower, I wanted to kiss her pussy. The jeans and panties easily slipped down until my lips could reach. Just a quick thank-you for what we’d shared. That’s all I intended. But she grabbed my hair and held me fast, grinding her pussy lips over my mouth.

Memories of odd conversations amongst the girls at school filled my mind and I knew what she was expecting from me. She must have felt my resistance, because she lifted me to my feet. “Just kiss me,” she said. “That’s all I need.”

Finally, we broke the kiss and cuddled together for a while. “I didn’t upset you? Please tell me no,” she said. “I wanted you so badly and I was frightened you’d say no if I asked. So I guess, I need to say I’m sorry. I’d hate it if I’ve spoiled things between us.”

I leaned over and gave her another quick kiss. “You’re right, I would have said no. But now… well now I’m glad you didn’t ask.”

I saw the relief on her face. I wasn’t finished, though, not yet. “I think you’ve felt every single inch of me. But me, I only got to feel your pussy. You think we might go to my room… coz I… I wanna rip your clothes off. Well, my clothes, actually.”

“Yes? You want it?” She grabbed my hand. “What are we waiting for?”

***

Mum was way overexcited when she got home. She thrust a newspaper at us. “Front page and then on page three. Read it.”

The search was on for a missing girl. A man had been arrested on unspecified but serious charges related to her disappearance. The police feared for her safety and asked the public to report any sighting of her. Erica’s photo was a bit dated, but it was definitely her. There was a whole load more, but it was clear that Erica wasn’t in any trouble.

The next morning Mum answered a knock at the door. The guy said he was from the Daily Express and asked if he could have a word with Erica. It seemed they had received a tip from an anonymous source as to Erica’s whereabouts. He assured Mum that nothing would be revealed or printed without Erica’s say-so.

The upshot was that the newspaper would pay Erica two thousand pounds for an exclusive story. Perhaps more at a later stage if they were able to follow up with a story about locating her mother and father.

“You could find my mum and dad?” she asked him.

He told her that would likely be quite easy. He also gave her some advice. She needed to get her status with us official before we got into trouble with social services. She should go to the police right away. He also told us that taking in a Ukrainian refugee was straightforward and there shouldn’t be any problems with Erica staying with us. The Daily Express would help in any way they could.

***

 A short while later, Erica had official residency status with us. Her stuff had been fetched. Of course, my sister needed her room back, but we were able to squeeze another bed into my room. It was a tight fit – which suited us just fine.

The man’s wife told her she had known the dangers from her husband and she was sorry for ever having let him get near her.

The newspaper kept its promise. Erica’s father was tracked down to a hospital where he was recovering from wounds he suffered on the front line. Her mother had only been able to make a short visit to England for a tearful reunion with Erica before she had to return to work.

“For the government, but I can’t say more,” she had said. “Although it’s not dangerous.”

***

Jane had the final word.

“You see, I did tell you? It’s plain a mile away that you two are fuckin’. Am I right?”

“Oh, yes,” I answered with the broadest grin. “We weren’t then, but we are now.”

“Way to go, girlie,” she shot back. “You’ve joined the sisterhood.”

“Oh, by the way, Jane, did you get any money from the Express? You were the one who called them, am I right?”

“How’d you guess?”

“Who else? Actually, you did us a big favour in the end!”

The End

by Rosey M

July 2, 2006 – Ashley

Sometime during the night, Rhonda had rolled over and wrapped her arms around my neck, pulling my face down toward her chest. I took a few moments to peer appreciatively at her tiny buds before carefully extracting myself from her embrace.

Getting to my feet, I stood over her sleeping form, admiring how my little angel looked lying in bed. The last month had been the best of my life. Rhonda wanted me of all people? It was something straight out of my least likely fantasies.

Rhonda made it sound as if I was at the heart of everything she’d ever wanted. I shivered at the thought of my baby sister touching herself to thoughts of me. I wanted to watch her do it, stare into her eyes as she rubbed that sweet little pussy of hers.

There was nothing I wouldn’t do for Rhonda. I’d make a deal with the devil if I had to, as long as I could be with her forever.

I gently brushed Rhonda’s hair back from her beautiful face. The mark on her cheek had darkened, and I leaned forward to brush my lips against the bruised skin. I had a feeling she’d fallen asleep long after me, and I didn’t want to wake her.

My alarm clock told me it was just after seven in the morning as I crept around my room, grabbing some clothes out of the closet, then making a quiet exit, closing the bedroom door behind me.

The house was silent as I crossed the hall to the bathroom. Once inside, I slipped my panties off, had a quick pee, then hopped into the shower. This day had the potential to be spectacularly bad, depending on how my talk with Kate went, so I turned the cold tap up all the way to fully wake myself. It did the job, but boy, it sucked.

I kept it cold for as long as I could stand, then turned it back to warm. As I washed my body, I thought about everything that happened last night. I didn’t get the full story from Rhonda, but it wasn’t hard to connect the dots.

That drunk bitch. Where the hell did she get off, anyway? Listening at doors when my sister and I were alone, then bullying Rhonda because that was easier than actually trying to understand her? Kate barely noticed Rhonda the rest of the time, but now she’d decided her youngest was old enough to start hitting, like she did to me when I was that age?

There wasn’t anyone to stop Kate when I was little, but I’d be damned if I was going to let her hurt Rhonda again. Not ever.

She’s doing it already, though. All those warnings and she didn’t listen. You messed up. 

I gritted my teeth as that stupid voice echoed inside my head. I knew the voice wasn’t real – just my conscience reminding me what I already knew – but that didn’t make it any easier to ignore. The hard, cold fact remained that I’d royally fucked up the promise I’d made to protect the one person in this world who truly mattered.

I told Kate we’d be speaking in the morning, after she sobered up, and I intended to keep my word on that at least. I knew I couldn’t trust her around Rhonda, but I hadn’t fully worked out the details on how I’d go about keeping them away from each other.

The idea of moving out had been on my mind more and more, and I definitely wanted Rhonda with me when I left. But with Kate having custody, I wasn’t sure how to do it legally without her calling the cops and having Rhonda returned to her. I didn’t have the smarts to fight that kind of thing.

Images of Rhonda’s crumpled form haunted me. Her sobbing, terrified face, the bruises I discovered on her body later on. I could feel the rage building in me even as I tried to tamp it down. Getting angry and losing control wouldn’t help, I knew that much. I needed a clear mind for this.

Groaning in frustration, I rested my head against the tiled wall and closed my eyes. The water continued to stream down my body, and I wasn’t sure how long I stood there before shaking myself from my stupor. I’d figure something out. I had to.

Shutting off the water, I stepped out of the shower and quickly toweled myself off. I brushed my teeth, then threw some clothes on. Even as I told myself I would try to keep my temper, I knew there was always a chance things would turn violent, and I needed to be prepared for that. I couldn’t trust Kate not to make things worse.

My original plan was to head directly to Kate’s room, but I figured a quick stop at the scene of the crime was in order first.

Light was already poking through the curtains when I got to the living room. My eyes homed in on the broken bottle by the couch. The whole room smelled like it was drenched in beer. There was a cluster of empty bottles on the coffee table, but the case itself had vanished. No one could say our mother didn’t have her priorities.

Moving into the kitchen to put on a pot of coffee, I spotted the phone receiver still lying on the floor where Kate had thrown it. I placed it on the counter, idly playing with the damaged wire. There’d be time to try and fix it later.

I took a broom and dustpan back into the lounge to sweep up the broken glass, then dumped it in the garbage. I thought about mopping as well, so the beer didn’t completely soak into the wooden floor, but decided to leave that until after my little chat with Kate. That conversation had been put off long enough.

I made my way to the master bedroom. I didn’t bother to knock, but the door didn’t budge when I turned the handle, and I realized Kate had put her latch on. I rolled my eyes. Did she think I was going to throttle her while she slept? Not that the idea wasn’t tempting…

I went back to the kitchen and grabbed a piece of mail from the pile on the counter. Back at Kate’s door, I slid the envelope into the crack right below where the hook sat. I pulled the door tight to get a bit of slack on the latch, then swiped upward, lifting the hook from the bolt. With the door unlocked, I entered and closed it behind me.

Kate was lying in bed, half-covered by a blanket, still clad in yesterday’s clothes. Just as I’d figured, there were more empty beer bottles on her nightstand.

I threw the envelope next to her phone and then kicked her mattress. “Wake up. We need to talk.”

She grunted in reply and shifted away from the sound of my voice. I hoofed her bed even harder. “I know you can hear me. I said, get up.”

Kate let out an irritated groan, then slowly came to life. As the blanket fell away from her body, I saw bruising across her throat where my hands had been. Good. She had it coming. I closed my eyes for a moment in an attempt to will that malevolent thought away.

Her voice was raspy when she finally spoke. “A-Ashley? What the fuck? How did you get in here?”

“Magic,” I deadpanned. “Now get up and do… whatever the hell it is you have to do to get your shit together.”

“Fuck you.”

I laughed bitterly. “Just get up already. I said we were gonna talk, and I meant it.”

She clambered out of bed and stepped toward me until we were inches apart. “So what, you’re calling the shots now? This is my house, and I’m your mother.”

I felt an odd sense of déjà vu. We’d been here before, hadn’t we? More than once. “You are? Could have fooled me, Kate. Seems to me like you’re less of an adult than your ten-year-old daughter.”

Kate sneered at that. “Oh, you mean the ten-year-old you’re fucking?”

“We’re not fucking, as you so crudely put it. I’m not going to bother denying that Rhonda and I have a special relationship, but you’re not gonna talk about me like I’m some rapist. We love each other. I guess that’s a foreign concept to you.”

Kate advanced even closer into my space, glowering at me. I could smell her rancid breath. “You make me sick, Ashley. Bad enough you choose to mess up your own life with this lesbian shit; now you’re dragging your sister into it, too? Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t call the police right now.”

I glanced at the phone on her nightstand. It was the only functioning phone in the house, now that the one in the kitchen was busted. She’d had all the time in the world to call the police, if that’s what she intended to do. Honestly, who was she trying to fool?

She knew as well as I did that she’d catch some shit of her own for the things she’d done. Not to mention how it’d look if the neighbors saw a cruiser outside the house.

“Do it, then,” I told her defiantly. “Let them come. You think Rhonda will back your story? Oh, and while they’re here, the cops can take a look at all the bruises you gave her. Maybe even check her system for the alcohol you made her drink last night. Face it, Kate, you talk big, but you’re too scared to get the law involved.” My voice dropped to a low, icy murmur. “Now get the fuck out of my face before you get yourself hurt. We still have lots to talk about.”

We continued to glare at one another for a long moment. Kate made no move to back down. I had a feeling it was all about to go off again… but then she finally looked away.

“And go take a shower, for Christ’s sake,” I added. “You smell like cheap beer and flop sweat.”

Kate didn’t reply, and several seconds passed before she finally moved, trudging toward the door, flashing me a look of purest hate as she left the room.

I let out a steadying breath when I heard the bathroom door shut, allowing some of the tension to drain from my body. I’d been prepared for an ugly confrontation, but hadn’t exactly planned to murder her before eight in the morning. I suppose as long as things hadn’t degenerated into a fistfight, I’d chalk it as a win.

I fixed myself a cup of coffee and sat at the table to wait for Kate. She took her sweet time in the bathroom, the sound of the shower still audible by the time I’d drained my cup. But it was fine. I had all the time in the world. I poured myself another coffee.

The sound of running water eventually ceased, and I could hear the sound of footsteps shambling across the floor. When Kate finally graced me with her presence, she was wearing a tattered old bathrobe. Avoiding eye contact, she took a cup from the drying rack and poured coffee for herself.

I sipped loudly from my cup to annoy her, and she wheeled around to face me. The force of her usual snappish voice was weakened by its current scratchy quality. “All right, what the hell do you want, Ashley? I know I screwed up last night; I didn’t mean to hurt Rhonda.”

I scoffed. “No? You beat the shit out of her, not to mention pouring beer down her throat. And let’s not even get into that scene at the mall yesterday. Seriously, you can’t just give some half-assed apology and expect everything to go back to normal. It doesn’t work like that. You need to take responsibility for once.”

Kate threw up her hands. “Well, what then? What is it you want me to say? Let’s not forget what you did to me.” She gestured angrily at the imprint of my hands on her throat. “Far as I’m concerned, that’s the last time you ever lay your hands on me. You’re not welcome in my house anymore, Ashley.”

Some deep buried thing inside me felt a sting of hurt at her words, but I still smirked in reply. “Yeah, that’s sort of the plan. I’m going to start looking for my own place, and Rhonda’s coming with me.”

Kate’s fist thudded on the table. “The hell she is! You can do whatever the fuck you want, girl, but Rhonda’s my kid, not yours. You don’t get to take her with you. Like you could even afford to! You barely graduated, and you’re working at a grocery store, for fuck’s sake. You think your little ‘art’ hobby is gonna pay the bills for two?”

Her words struck a few sore spots, but I’d figure something out. For my sister, I’d do whatever it took. I doubted Kate could say the same. “Let’s be real here,” I said. “You and I both know you don’t give a shit about Rhonda. Why the sudden concern for where she lives?”

“Ronnie’s still my daughter. I’m trying to save her from you, damn it. She’s not moving in with some pervert who’s gonna spend the next few years molesting her. Once she doesn’t get you hot ‘cause she isn’t a little girl anymore, you’ll just kick her out. Then I’ll be left to pick up the pieces.”

God, I wanted to punch her bloated, sneering face. “Oh, that’s the angle you’re going for, is it? Yeah, it’s not gonna happen and you know it. Rhonda’s the most important thing in the world to me. Even if she decides she doesn’t want a relationship with me anymore, she’s still my sister. I’d never abandon her, not in a million years.”

I took a breath before I continued. This was the part that mattered. It was a high-risk move, and I knew it could backfire on me badly. “After the shit you’ve pulled in the last few days, I clearly can’t trust you with Rhonda’s safety. I’ll involve CPS and fight you for her if I have to. I’ve documented years of the shit you’ve done to both of us, so it’ll be an open-and-shut case.”

Of course, I would do no such thing. If I went to the authorities, I knew Kate would do her damnedest to take me down with her. Sure, Rhonda and I would deny anything she accused us of, and the law would surely favor us over our train wreck of a mom, but I refused to put my ten-year-old sister in a scary position like that in the first place.

I’d called Kate’s bluff over her police threat. Would she call mine now?

To my immense relief, she wilted before my eyes. Hell, she even looked scared at the possibility of me involving the law in our little dust-up. I couldn’t help but feel a little satisfied by how she cringed before me.

Kate nervously wrung her hands. “L-look, Ashley. We don’t have to do it like this. Just listen for a moment.”

I raised an eyebrow. “So talk.”

She bit her lip. “It’s just… Okay, fine. You want to move out, I get it. But Rhonda doesn’t have to go with you. It’d be a lot for you to find a place for yourself, let alone a ten-year-old kid. I mean, you’re not even eighteen until next month. I’m gonna get help, I promise. Last night will never happen again.”

It was such bullshit. I couldn’t believe she was able to say it with a straight face. “All right, we both know you’re lying through your teeth, pretending to be concerned about my life. What’s the real reason you don’t want Rhonda to leave with me?”

Propping her elbows on the table, Kate rested her head in both hands. “Okay, look. I didn’t want to say this, but I won’t be able to afford this house if you take Rhonda with you. I mean, you’ve been helping me with the bills these last few years, and I appreciate it, I really do.” She peered up to gauge my reaction. I was unimpressed.

She continued anyway. “When you move out, I won’t have that financial help anymore. And with you turning eighteen next month, I won’t be getting your child tax or family allowance either. It’ll be tight without all that, but I could make do. If I also lose Rhonda’s benefits, though…”

Unable to help myself, I began to laugh. “So wait, this is about money? No concern about Rhonda leaving home? None of that ‘what will other people think’ spiel you like to go off on? Why do you care so much about keeping this shitty house, anyway? You’d probably be better off renting an apartment than living here. It’s a dump, for Christ’s sake!”

Kate groaned in frustration, tugging at her hair. “You’ll understand when you’re older. I got this place with your dad when you were a baby. Since he walked out on us, it’s all I have left.”

I stared in disbelief. “You’re serious? God, you really mean that. Never mind that you had two daughters with that asshole; the house is all you’ve got left?”

She winced. “I didn’t mean it like that…”

I couldn’t believe her. I mean, I could, but it was still pretty low. I was worried I’d have a fight on my hands because there might have been some remnant of maternal instinct still bubbling away in that stony old heart of hers, and she was just bad at showing it or something. But Kate really was as selfish as I always suspected.

She had a point, though. It would be tough to support both myself and Rhonda, at least until I could find a job that paid well enough. And despite Kate’s shitty track record as a parent, if a custody battle ensued, I would be unlikely to win. I wasn’t even eighteen yet, for God’s sake. Worse still, if both Kate and I were deemed unfit to look after Rhonda, she could end up getting taken into care. I really had no choice but to make some sort of compromise.

“Okay, fine. You want Rhonda to keep living here? I’ll agree to that. You can have whatever money the government throws your way. But the time she spends here will be next to none. You and I both know she’ll be with me most days, anyway.”

Kate didn’t say anything to that, just stared glumly back at me.

“So are we agreed then? I move out, Rhonda comes with me, you keep whatever benefits you get for her and leave us both the fuck alone.”

Finally admitting defeat, Kate raised her hands in the air. “Fine, go. It’ll be less stressful on all of us if Rhonda’s with you most of the time, anyway. I could use the extra money from the food budget if you’re gonna be taking care of her.”

I smirked at her. “More money for beer, am I right?”

“N-no. Like I said, I’m gonna get help for that.”

I stood from the table. “Yeah, you’ve said that before.” Then I extended my hand toward her. “The rest of it, though? Guess I can’t get it in writing, so we’ll have to shake on it.”

Rising on unsteady legs, she accepted my hand. I decided to give her a little reminder of my promise. Rather than let go, I tightened my grip and pulled her toward me. Kate looked at me questioningly, then threw her other hand against my shoulder to stop me from getting any closer.

My voice was low and threatening as I leaned forward in spite of her attempts to ward me off. “I meant what I said. You ever lay a hand on Rhonda again, I’ll fucking kill you. I backed off last night because she begged me to – you have her to thank for that. But never again. That was your absolute last chance. Understand?”

When she didn’t reply, I squeezed her hand until she cried out in pain. Her other hand dropped from my shoulder to tug uselessly at my arm. “I said, understand?”

Her voice broke as she cried out. “I understand! I get it! I’ll never do it again! I wasn’t going to anyway! Let go, Ashley, you’re hurting me!”

I released her hand and she yanked it away to cradle against her body, looking as if she was about to burst into tears. It made me question the way I was behaving. God knows, it was hard to muster any sympathy for Kate, and she certainly deserved some sort of payback after what she’d done to Rhonda, but the way I seemed to take pleasure in giving my mother a taste of her own medicine left me wondering if I was destined to turn into a carbon copy of her some day. The thought horrified me, and I quickly dismissed it.

“Doesn’t feel good to be on the other side of it for once, does it?” I told Kate. “Remember what I said.”

Ignoring the sorrowful muttering coming from behind me, I returned to my room. Despite our ugly confrontation, I felt like a weight had been lifted from my shoulders. Things were finally going right for once. Rhonda and I were together, I was free to leave this damned house, and Kate wouldn’t butt into our business anymore if she knew what was good for her.

Rhonda was still sleeping when I entered my bedroom. I settled down to lie beside her, then passed the time by gently stroking her hair. She made the most adorable expression when she finally began to stir, sleep falling away from her features. Finally, her eyes opened and locked with mine.

I gently stroked her bruised cheek, my thumb brushing the corner of her mouth. “Good morning, beautiful.”

She blushed at my words, then shyly turned her head. It was so cute. Her drowsy voice washed all of my stress away. “Morning, Ashley.”

I reached over and pulled her to me, enjoying the feel of her warm body against mine. “So… I talked with Kate this morning, and well, there’s gonna be some changes.”

“Um, okay. What happened?”

“Here’s the thing: I’m gonna be moving out soon—”

Rhonda suddenly pulled away, a panicked expression on her face. “Y-you’re leaving? I’m going with you, right? Right?”

“Hush, Rhonda,” I murmured soothingly, then leaned forward to brush my lips against hers, still amazed that kissing was now something we could do whenever we liked. I hoped it gave Rhonda the same feeling of peace and pleasure it gave me. To my relief she settled down a little, and I reached up to stroke her face.

“You’re coming with me,” I told her, “but it’s a little more complicated than that. For legal reasons, you’ll still technically be living with Kate, but for all intents and purposes you’ll be with me. Does that make sense?”

“But why can’t I just live with you officially? That’s dumb.”

I had to chuckle at her honest assessment of the situation. “I want you to be with me, sure, but because I’m so young, and Kate’s still legally your mom, the law would probably pick her to be your guardian. We could fight it in court, but it would be messy and expensive. It’s easier just to have you pretend to live with her, but really, you’ll stay with me. I’m sorry I didn’t ask you beforehand; it was sort of a spur-of-the-moment thing. Is that okay?”

A variety of emotions flitted across Rhonda’s face before finally settling into something that resembled hope. “But we’ll be together, right? All I want is to stay with you, and for Mom to not hurt me again. Or you!”

“Yeah, Rhonda, we’ll be together. And Kate won’t bother us anymore.”

A tentative smile appeared on Rhonda’s face. “Okay, Ashley. As long as you think everything’ll work out. I trust you.”

She’d never know how much those words mean to me. There and then, I vowed that I would never let her down. But I wanted to lighten the mood a little, and knew just the way to do it. Slipping my fingers into Rhonda’s armpits, I began to tickle her senseless.

She shrieked with laughter, scrambling across the bed to get away. I pulled her back and continued my assault, but eventually she wriggled free and lunged for me. We playfully wrestled each other, taking turns playing attacker or defender.

She really seemed to enjoy when I’d pin her down, her struggles becoming half-hearted whenever I was on top of her. I could tell she was getting excited, and in more ways than one. We eventually wore ourselves down until we were both breathing hard from the exertion, our giggles setting each other off.

Soon we were lying together spooning. I began to explore her body, my fingers mapping their way across her bare torso. All I wanted was to make my sister feel good, and I figured she was due some genuine pleasure after the events of the last twenty-four hours.

I placed a hand on Rhonda’s chest, idly toying with her stiffening nipples. Her soft moans encouraged me to continue, so I allowed my other hand to slowly snake its way down until it dipped inside her underwear. She twitched as my fingers settled into the moist heat of her pussy.

“Is this okay?” I asked.

Rhonda’s head bobbed up and down enthusiastically. “Sure is! I thought about touching myself, but we were having so much fun I didn’t wanna spoil it.”

I dipped my head and softly nipped her earlobe. “Don’t hold back if you ever feel like that. I’ll take care of you.”

Briefly pulling my hand from Rhonda’s panties, I used my mouth to moisten two fingers, then returned them to where they belonged. The tension drained from my sister’s body as I began to stroke her bare slit. I didn’t remember getting as wet as that when I was her age, but then, I didn’t have a big sister to make me feel good.

Rhonda’s breathing began to grow heavier as we fell into a rhythm, my hand alternating between rubbing her vulva and teasing her clit. She was sensitive to whatever I did, but responded best to a firmer touch, so I kept my fingers pressed into the folds of her pussy, using circular movements of my hand to drive her wild.

Her moans were steadily getting louder, enough to be overheard. “Not that I don’t love hearing how good this makes you feel,” I told her, “but don’t forget Kate’s still in the house. She knows about us now, but let’s not rock the boat any more than we have to, okay?”

Rhonda’s voice was little more than a whimper. “Sorry, Ashley. I’m trying to b-be quiet. I’m just… just…“

“You gonna come, Rhonda? Say it for me. Tell me you’re gonna come.”

Rhonda’s reluctance to say bad words always amused me, but while I didn’t want to make her do anything she was uncomfortable with, I can’t deny there was a certain thrill hearing her say something naughty.

I held her tightly against me as she ground her mons against my hand, my fingers picking up speed as they strummed her clit. “Say it, Rhonda.”

“I-I’m coming, Ashley!” Rhonda squeaked.

We rode the waves of Rhonda’s orgasm together as she trembled in my grasp. When her muscles finally slackened, I released her, and she slumped against me. “Good girl,” I said, stroking her hair. “Thank you for letting me do that.”

Rhonda’s voice was shaky when she replied. “T-thank me? You’re the one who made me feel good, not the other way around. Can I touch you now? Please?”

As much as I could have used some relief, I knew in my heart I’d leave Rhonda disappointed when I was unable to come for her. She’d think it was her fault when she tried and failed to get me off, and I already knew from experience that other people I’d slept with in the past just weren’t able to bring me to climax.

I screwed around with several different girls when I turned seventeen, in a doomed attempt to ease the desire I felt for my baby sister. The first time was with a girl named Francine who I met online, and it was more or less a disaster. She had tried to return the favor after I fucked her, and I’d panicked, lashing out at her when she reached out to fondle me. The memory still makes me wince; I always meant to apologize if we ever crossed paths again.

But it was the same with every woman after that, even when I let them try. The mere thought of having someone’s hands on me made my skin crawl, and I couldn’t bear it when they tried to touch my pussy. Thankfully, most of them understood when I explained that I preferred to give pleasure than receive it.

And that’s always been the truth for me, anyway. I love how it feels to be the one steering things during sex. I think maybe it’s a way of having some control over my life. When a lover tries to take charge it just leaves me feeling helpless and vulnerable, and I’ve spent too much of my childhood feeling like that to ever want it for my adult self.

There was none of the same acute discomfort when I let Rhonda touch my breasts, but I didn’t want to risk flipping out on her when she tried to go further. Neither of us needed that sort of negativity after the day we’d just had.

I smiled and slowly shook my head. “Sorry, sweetie. Maybe next time?”

Her hopeful smile immediately vanished. “But you said that yesterday! Why can’t I make you c-come, too?”

“I just don’t think it’s time yet. Soon, Rhonda, I promise.”

She rolled over to look me in the eyes. “That’s not fair! I want to make you feel as good as you did me.”

Rhonda looked so cute when she pouted; I couldn’t help but laugh a little. I kissed her playfully on the nose, and she pulled away while swatting half-heartedly at me. It was adorable. You’d think I just told her it was time to leave the playground or something.

I was just happy I could take her mind off everything else for a while. Better to let her worry about making her beloved sister come than all the other garbage she’d had to deal with lately.

She’d been through so much over the last few days, we both had. But I had to believe things were going to get better. God knows, we deserved that much.

On to Chapter Seven!

by Rachael Yukey

Tuesday, October 10th, 2006 (continued)

I woke up from a dream. Julie and I were kissing like those women in the story, and her hand was between my legs rubbing my clitoris. I could feel those waves coming fast, and that powerful feeling was starting to build again when I woke up.

As I came to my senses I saw that my light was on, I’d kicked the blankets off, and I had nothing on except my pajama top. I panicked. Was it morning? Had Mom come in and seen me like this? Oh Lord, where was Lisa’s book? And my diary?!

Then I looked towards the window… it was still dark outside. The clock on my wall read 2:17 A.M. I looked over the edge of the bed and saw Lisa’s book and my diary on the floor.

I collapsed back onto the bed, trying to steady my breathing. It wasn’t working. I realized that I was breathing funny because I was very aroused. It must have been the dream. I closed my eyes and tried to bring it back, but all I could remember were those last few moments, with Julie kissing me and touching me down there.

Almost on its own, my hand crept down my belly. Alarm bells went off in my mind, same as before, but this time they seemed distant and far away. I’m not sure I could have stopped even if I wanted to.

I was super-wet, so much that when I slipped two fingers into my folds it made a sloshing sound. I began to gently rub myself, picturing Julie touching and kissing me.

It only took a few seconds this time. Had I been touching myself in my sleep? Almost right away the waves were coming on top of each other and this amazing, powerful feeling was building up deep inside of me…

It was like my whole world exploded. I could feel a powerful sort of pulsing down there, and a strong surge of pleasure rippled out from my midsection and through my entire body. My back arched, my butt hung in midair, and I moaned out loud several times, unable to quiet myself. My thighs slammed together and my fingers, which still moved furiously, were mashed in between my labia. It seemed to last forever, but not nearly long enough!

As the sensations died out my butt crashed down onto the bed. I took my hand from between my legs—it was too sensitive now. I was gasping for air, taking long slow breaths to try and steady myself. I suddenly remembered that I’d made some noise, and listened carefully for footsteps downstairs. Nothing.

So THAT’S an orgasm! No doubt at all that’s what it was. The websites all said you’d know it if you had one. I couldn’t imagine anything in the whole world feeling better. Another word for it they used on the websites and in Lisa’s book was “coming”, and I thought it kind of fit. All the tension I’d felt earlier was gone, and I was all peaceful and relaxed.

I realized I was drifting off and jerked myself awake. I was lucky the first time, if I’d slept all the way through the night and Mom found me half naked with my diary and Lisa’s novel… I didn’t even want to think about it. I got my PJ bottoms and panties on and slipped downstairs. I wasn’t noisy, but I wasn’t going out of my way to be quiet. I get up to pee sometimes, and it never disturbs my parents.

In the bathroom I peed, then got a washcloth wet and scrubbed myself down there really good. I didn’t know if Mom would be able to smell what I’d been up to, and I wasn’t interested in finding out! I buried the washcloth in the hamper, then washed my hands and went back upstairs. I tucked the diary and the book back into their hiding space, turned out the light and got into bed.

It took me awhile to crash… the guilt was coming back. It wasn’t as awful as I felt before, but it was there. Is masturbating a sin against God? I totally bet it is. And what about getting excited while thinking about doing sex stuff with girls? I didn’t even have to wonder about that! Being gay was definitely against the teachings of The Word.

Is that what I am, then? A lesbian? Maybe not. After all, I got a tingly feeling when Julie was reading that story about the man and woman having sex. I tried to picture myself being kissed and touched by one of the cuter boys in my grade… ewww! I tried again, this time with a high school boy who had always been nice to me. That was different—I kind of enjoyed it. So maybe I’m into both, I thought. But that’s not any better. It’s not okay for girls to like girls that way, not even a little bit. Even if they also like boys.

All these thoughts were still chasing each other around in my head when I finally fell asleep.

***

Monday morning I woke up feeling tired but pretty relaxed. Wow, an orgasm sure is great for getting rid of stress. Thinking about it made me feel kind of guilty all over again, but it also made me start to feel all warm and tingly. Did I want another one already?! I pushed it away and went about getting ready for school.

Julie was waiting for me when I got off the bus, which makes her the best friend ever because it was cold! She hugged me and whispered in my ear: “Is everything okay?”

I gave her a huge smile. “Fine,” I said. “Let’s get inside before we turn into girlsicles.”

We both got giggling about that, and we went in together. Some other girls came and sat with us at breakfast so we couldn’t talk about much, but it was still really good to be together. We don’t get much time for breakfast anyway.

It wasn’t till after lunch on the playground that we got to be alone. It was just warm enough that we got sent outside for free time, and instead of going over to the playground with the other kids, Julie and I huddled behind the bus garage out of the wind.

“Did your parents fight any more?” Julie asked me.

“No,” I said, “they didn’t even talk to each other. Mom went to bed early, and Dad was still watching TV when I went upstairs.”

“So… did you read any of Lisa’s book?”

“Some of it,” I admitted. I’d been planning to tell her everything but suddenly it seemed kind of embarrassing to talk about.

“I read a bunch last night,” said Julie. “It was a terrible book, but I read all the sex stuff in it! And…” she looked around to see if someone was close. “I tried it,” she whispered. “You know, masturbating?”

Now I felt a little ashamed. Julie was willing to tell me everything, and I was holding back. But still I hesitated.

“Was it good?” I asked.

“Really good, for a while. I mean, really strong feelings, like big ripples through your whole body that feel amazing. But I don’t think I quite… I didn’t have an orgasm.” She looked disappointed. “At least I don’t think so. It’s supposed to be like this big ka-boom, right? I didn’t get that. It just leveled off and started to not feel as good as before. I finally just gave up and went to sleep.”

“I had one.” I hadn’t meant to say it, the words just tumbled out. I felt my face getting hot.

Julie’s mouth dropped open. “You WHAT?”

I gave her the short version of what happened the night before. Talking about it was getting me all heated up again, and Julie looked kind of flushed herself.

“Oh, my God,” she said when I was done. “That’s so incredible! I guess that means I shouldn’t give up, then. It was really that good?”

“Yeah,” I said, “It sure was.”

It was time to go in. I hadn’t told her about how guilty I felt. Julie seemed so excited and enthusiastic about it all, and I didn’t want to spoil it for her. She doesn’t have to worry about that stuff. She’s not a Christian. Sometimes I wish I wasn’t either.

That pretty much catches things up. I still have about twenty minutes before I’m expecting Mom at my door, and I’m feeling really heated up from writing about all this masturbation and sex stuff. I promised not to touch myself again until I get all this figured out, but I guess one more time won’t hurt.

 

Wednesday, October 11, 2006

I promised myself on Monday that I wouldn’t masturbate again until I’d figured out whether I was committing a sin or not. But then yesterday morning I was writing in my diary, and the stuff I wrote about got me so aroused that I just HAD to touch myself again. I didn’t have much time before Mom came to wake me up, so I just stuffed my hand down the front of my pajamas. I wasn’t trying to think of anyone in particular, but I couldn’t help imagining that I was touching Julie there instead of me. She hasn’t had an orgasm yet, so it was really exciting to pretend like I was giving her the very first one! I came only a minute or two before I heard Mom coming up the stairs.

Last night I figured I’d flip through the rest of Lisa’s book and see if there was anything else worth looking at before I wrote in my diary. But part of me knew what I was really up to. I was looking for more sex parts.

It didn’t take long to find another one with those same two ladies getting together. I only read a little way into it before admitting to myself why I was really doing this, then I got completely naked. As I read about the two women touching and kissing all over each other’s bodies, I explored myself with both hands.

One weird thing really got me going, when the book described kissing. I traced my lips with my thumb, slipped it into my mouth, then pinched both lips between my thumb and index finger. Playing with my nipples kind of had the same effect. By the time I reached between my legs, it was dripping wet down there.

In the scene I was reading, the younger lady used her MOUTH to give the older one an orgasm! It also described how much she loved the taste of the woman’s juices. I thought that sounded gross, but after I came I got curious. I ran a finger around the outside edge of my vagina where it was the wettest, then brought it up under my nose and breathed in deeply. I noticed Sunday night that I liked the scent, but I’d been so upset at the time that I never took the time to get a real sense of how it smelled. It was nice, kind of strong, and a little bit musky. I felt myself getting all tingly again! I wasn’t expecting to like the taste but I screwed my eyes shut, stuck out my tongue, and licked the end of my finger.

I opened my eyes. I’m not sure the word “delicious” came to mind, but there was something… I tried to figure out the right word, and came up with one that the ladies in the book I’m reading kept using. Sexy. I’m not sure it’s a flavor I’d want to sprinkle on my chicken, but there was something warm and kind of dangerous and just plain sexy about the taste. I was getting aroused all over again! I shoved my finger into my mouth and sucked on it.

That did it. I had to touch myself again.

I was masturbating with my right hand, so I reached down with the left to get my finger nice and wet, then brought it up to my mouth and sucked the juices off. When I’d licked and sucked it clean I went back for more. The third or fourth time I did this I felt an orgasm coming, and knew right away it was going to be a big one. When it happened I rolled over onto my belly with my hand still between my legs and bit down on the pillow to keep from screaming.

After taking a moment to catch my breath, I got my pajamas back on. I know better than to let Mom come in the next day and catch me naked! I was too tired to write anything, and nothing else interesting had happened that day anyway, so I put the diary and book away, turned the light off, and climbed into bed.

But my brain was buzzing, and I couldn’t fall asleep right away. I can’t stop, I realized. It feels too good, and I want it too much. So what do I do?

Suddenly I realized that I wasn’t feeling particularly guilty, not anymore. Maybe a little twinge, but nothing like what I felt Sunday night. I thought about the Bible, and wondered why this kind of thing would be a sin in the first place. Why would God make us with these crazy strong urges, then tell us we’re not allowed to do anything about them? That’s just dumb.

I’m having a lot of rebellious thoughts about God lately. We do all these logic games in A.L. that teach us to think critically, but whenever I use that kind of thinking on the Bible I run across a ton of stuff that doesn’t make a whole lot of sense. I try not to think about it, but the stuff keeps smacking me in the head. It was with all these things troubling me that I finally fell asleep.

 

Wednesday, October 18th, 2006

My creative writing teacher in A.L. gave me an assignment today. He wants me to go back through the story I’m writing for his class and see if I can figure out where it might be better to use semicolons instead of commas. Guess I wasn’t using them when I was supposed to. Anyhow, I think I’ve got it figured out, so I’m going to try and throw some into this diary. We’ll see how it goes.

It’s been a week since I wrote anything, but I guess there hasn’t been much to tell. Julie got the flu and missed a bunch of school—Friday, Monday, and Tuesday. It killed me to not get to see her, and I was worried, too. We talked on the phone Monday night. She was doing much better, but her dad wanted to keep her home one more day. I read to her from our fantasy book for a little while. We talked again yesterday evening for about an hour. Just chattering—it’s not like we can talk like we really want to with our parents listening in. Julie said she was feeling fine, and would see me on the A.L. bus in the morning.

Other than that, there’s not much to write about. I’ve been playing piano a lot this last week. My teacher is giving me some heavy-duty practice goals, and they’re really hard to meet when Mom is always watching TV in the same room the piano lives in. So I’ve been grabbing time when she’s cooking dinner or out doing church stuff, and on Saturday I got Dad to drop me off at the church when he drove into town, so I could use the piano in the basement. I got five hours of practice that day!

Oh, and I’ve masturbated twice more. I’m trying really hard not to, but I keep having these sexy thoughts, and I get SO worked up! It just gets to a point where I can’t stand it, and I have to do something. If I wasn’t trying to hold back, I’d probably do it every day.

Mom woke me up this morning looking pretty droopy. Wednesday is A.L. day and I have to be up early and get driven into town. While I was getting dressed I had a bright idea.

“Hey, Mom,” I said as I entered the kitchen, “how come I don’t have an alarm clock in my room?”

She gave me a blank look.

“What do you want an alarm clock for?” she asked.

“Well,” I said, “I know you work really hard, Mom, and you’re tired a lot. I get myself ready for school, so if I had my own alarm you wouldn’t need to get up so early to get me out of bed.”

I could tell from her face that I had played it just right; she’d probably sleep half the morning if she didn’t have to wake up and pretend she was helping me get ready. Except for Wednesdays when she has to drive me in for A.L., but on those days I knew she’d sleep till the last second and drive me to town in her pajamas.

“I’ll think about it,” she said.

I kept my face still, but I was grinning inside. I knew I was getting my clock. I’d have to be careful the first few days, but before long I wouldn’t have to worry about falling asleep before hiding the evidence of my wicked behavior.

“By the way,” she said, “after I get back from Alex I’m scheduled to help set up for the Bible study potluck tonight. I’ll tell your father to come pick you up when the A.L. bus gets back.”

I was almost afraid to ask, but after the clock conversation had gone so well I was feeling lucky. “What if I went to Julie’s house after school?” I said. “Then I could ride home with you. Mr. Hanson said I could come anytime.”

“But I’ll be staying for the potluck and then Bible study,” said Mom. “I’m sure the Hansons haven’t planned on an extra for dinner.”

“So at dinnertime I’ll walk over to the church and eat potluck with you. Then we can be together for dinner, and Dad won’t have to stop working to come and get me.”

Oh boy, was I ever getting good at feeding my parents a load of baloney! I knew Mom would just gossip with the church ladies and completely ignore me at the potluck, and Dad doesn’t have a lick of work to do on the farm. It’s late in the year and still too wet to finish combining, so the corn that’s left in the field will probably have to wait till spring. Anyhow, I’m figuring out that my parents are fine with letting me do whatever I want, as long as it makes things convenient for them.

Speaking of gossip, I wonder if Mom and Dad realize how much people at church are probably talking about them now. If I was them I’d be too embarrassed to show my face there ever again.

Mom was thinking it over. “We should still call and make sure it’s okay,” she finally said.

“I will!” I said, going straight for the phone.

“Mallory! It’s too early to call people! What if they’re sleeping?”

“But they’re not,” I said. “Julie will be getting ready for school, same as me.”

Mom shrugged, so I picked up the phone and dialed Julie’s house. Lisa answered.

“Hi, Lisa,” I said. “It’s Mallory. I wanted to know if it’s okay for me to come over for a while after school.”

“Of course it’s okay! We love having you. Will you be staying for dinner?”

“I think my mom wants me to go to the church for the potluck,” I told her.

“Well, if you want to eat with us and it’s okay with your mom you certainly can. There’ll be plenty. Can’t wait to see you, sweetie.”

We said goodbye and hung up. Mom had disappeared into the living room while I was talking to Lisa, and I found her on the couch flipping through channels.

“It’s all set up,” I told her. “Miss Jenkins invited me to dinner. Do you want me to come by for the potluck anyway?”

Mom shrugged. It’s her new favorite gesture.“I’ll leave it up to you,” she said. “I’ll be helping out people who can’t serve themselves at the potluck, so I won’t see very much of you anyway. If you decide to eat at Julie’s house, come over to the church after dinner so I don’t have to come get you. It doesn’t have to be right away, Bible study runs till 7:30.”

I wanted to jump up and down, but kept myself under control. I finished getting ready, toasted a couple of Pop Tarts for breakfast, and Mom drove me into town to catch the A.L. bus.

As I was getting out of the Explorer I saw Lisa’s little Honda pull up to the curb just ahead of us. Julie practically bounced out of the car just as I was walking past, and we hugged. Lisa waved to me from inside and gave me a bright smile, then drove off.

“Where’s your dad today?” I asked as we climbed onto the bus.

“Out duck hunting with my grandpa this morning,” she replied. “It’s probably going to be the last time this year, because we’re running out of freezer space. We need to save room for deer season.”

I slid into an empty seat four rows back on the driver’s side, and Julie piled in beside me.

“Lisa doesn’t mind,” Julie went on. “She has to get up anyway to go to work. She works for the city.”

I knew that already, but I just nodded. Lisa’s the person at the city office who processes people’s utility payments. She probably does some other stuff too, but I don’t know what. Julie scrunched way down in the seat. I’m such a shrimp that it brought her face pretty much even with mine.

“I keep trying, and it keeps not working,” she told me in a low voice. I didn’t have to ask what she was talking about!

“Still nothing?”

“Not exactly nothing. It feels great for a while, but then it just kind of… fades out. All the websites said if you have one you’ll know it, so I’m pretty sure I haven’t.”

“It’s true,” I said. “You’ll know. It’s like… like a bomb exploding.”

“Well, I haven’t felt that. I want to! I just feel so frustrated when it’s over. Is it still working for you?”

“Yeah, I’ve done it a bunch of times now. It’s been working just great.”

I felt almost like I should apologize for that. Poor Julie! Building up all that excitement, and not getting the big payoff at the end.

“I wish I could help,” I said.

Julie shrugged. “I must be doing something wrong,” she said. “Hey, why don’t we read for awhile?”

It was Julie’s turn, so she pulled out her copy of the fantasy book we were on, found her place and began to read out loud.

It turned out to be a really great day at A.L. We did group problem-solving exercises in the morning, which meant I got to be partnered with Julie, and at my art class the teacher said she wants to send one of my line drawings to an art competition! She said I should find a really interesting medium to draw on, so I’m thinking about that. We have until the end of January to get our submissions in, so I have time.

That kind of assignment is what they call a type-three project. Julie is already working on one. While I’m in art she takes an electronics class, and she’s building some kind of device for electric guitarists. I really don’t understand what it is, but she’s pretty enthusiastic about it.

On the bus ride home I read to Julie, and as we approached the building I could see Jason’s pickup truck waiting for us at the curb.

“Thought you ladies might like a ride,” he said. “This damn wind is just vicious.”

We got our seat belts on and he pulled out of the lot.

“Did you get any ducks?” Julie wanted to know.

“Filled out our bag limit, and brought in a couple of geese to boot.” said Jason. “They’re in the garage; you and Mallory can clean ‘em when you get home.”

Julie shrugged. “Wouldn’t be the first time I’ve cleaned a duck, Dad… but I think you’re full of it.”

Jason sighed. “You were more fun when you were gullible,” he said in a pretend-sad voice. “But you’re right, dem birdies done already flown demselves into de freezer. So maybe you two can go down and bleach the basement walls instead.”

“Or maybe,” said Julie, “we can find another fun game to play. Like hang a cage from a tree in the backyard like in a pirate movie and stuff the evil tyrant in it. See how long it takes the crows to peck your eyes out. Whaddya think, Mal?”

I threw my arms into the air. “Mutiny on the high seas!” I hooted.

Julie and I both broke into a mad fit of giggles. We were just pulling up in front of the house and Jason put the pickup in park, killed the engine, and opened his door. A gust of icy wind blasted through the cab, making Julie and me squeal.

“Who the hell is building a crow’s cage in this?” said Jason. “Your mutiny is over before it even got started. The smart mutineer bides her time until the ship sails into warmer waters.”

No arguments from me! We got ourselves inside. The air was thick with a delicious smell.

“Lisa told me you might be eating here, Mallory,” Jason was saying. “There’s chili on. Don’t worry, it’s spicy but not insanely hot.”

“I like spicy,” I told him. “It smells amazing.”

“Good,” he said. “I have to go teach. Lisa should be home in about fifteen minutes. You two need anything before I go?”

“We’re good,” said Julie. He filled a travel cup with coffee, hugged us both, and left. Jason teaches guitar in a little back room at the Salvation Army store. I heard they let him use the space in exchange for helping fix some things up.

Julie and I found a snack, settled down on the living room couch, and chattered about our A.L. projects while we ate. Well, it started out that way. The talk turned to the sexy books we’d borrowed, and by the time Lisa walked in we were talking about masturbation and how Julie hadn’t been able to have an orgasm.

We hadn’t heard her car pull up, so when the front door opened we both shut up and gave each other guilty looks. Julie’s face was red, and mine probably was too. Lisa closed the door, looked first at one of us, and then the other, and pursed her lips. Then a smile tugged at the corners.

“Well, well,” she said, shrugging out of her coat and hanging it on the hook, “I don’t remember ever seeing you two with nothing to say.”

Lisa sure is pretty. She was wearing another of her floor length skirts, this time a pale yellow one made of thick material. She also had on a pink top with a scarf that matched her skirt. I think scarves are her favorite fashion accessory.

“Um… hi, Lisa!” Julie said, just a little too loud.

“Hi,” I got out.

Lisa giggled and started towards us, holding out her arms. “Come here, you two.”

We both got up, and she pulled us close. She smelled really nice, and I pressed my face against her. A guilty thought occurred to me: what would she think if she knew about the things I imagine about her at night? What would Julie think if she knew the thoughts I had about her?

Lisa let us go and disappeared into the kitchen, returning a moment later with a cup of tea. She sat down in one of the big overstuffed chairs, facing us. “So,” she said, still looking amused, “What are we talking about that’s so secret you clam up the moment an adult walks in?”

Julie and I looked at each other again, and I felt my face getting hot. I blush really easy, and I hate it!

Lisa laughed. “It’s okay,” she said. “I was your age once. If you don’t want to tell me we’ll drop it. But I want you both to know that you can talk to me about anything… and I won’t judge you or get mad. Who knows, it might even be something I can help with!”

Julie’s eyes widened, and I perked up a little myself. It hadn’t occurred to me that Lisa might be able to help with Julie’s problem! I already know she masturbates; after doing it myself I’m totally sure that’s what we heard her doing the second night I slept at their house! And she’s been doing it a lot longer than we have. So it made sense that she would know stuff we didn’t.

“Mal?” said Julie in a questioning voice.

I shrugged and made a face. Sure, I was nervous about talking to Lisa or any grownup about this stuff, but there was another part of me that WANTED  to talk to her about it. Badly.

Julie opened her mouth, then closed it again. She looked down at her hands.

“We were talking about the stuff we read in your books,” she said finally. Lisa’s smile grew wider. “And about how it made us feel. And… and we were talking about, you know… masturbating.”

Lisa leaned back into the chair, still wearing that lazy smile. “Is that all?” she asked. “It’s nothing to be embarrassed about, you know. Everybody does it.” She thought for a moment.“If I’m getting too personal, tell me to mind my own business, but are either of you doing that when you read my books? Or do you feel like you want to? The only time I ever read them is when I want to masturbate. They get me so hot, you could fry an egg on my stomach!”

I busted up at that image, but Julie was still staring at her hands. Finally she looked up. She tried a smile, and it looked good on her. I felt a powerful urge to lean over and kiss that smile, and oh Lord God, what is happening to me?

“I’ve tried it a few times,” Julie said. “That’s what we were talking about when you came in. It starts out feeling really good, but it doesn’t… you know… go anywhere.”

“You mean you haven’t been able to come yet,” said Lisa.

“Right! It really, really sucks.”

Lisa looked at me and raised her eyebrows. It was a question, but she didn’t ask it out loud. I looked right into her eyes and decided there and then to tell her everything.

“I tried it too,” I said, still staring into her eyes. Lisa’s eyes are this deep hazel color, and I just want to lose myself in them. “That first night, when I brought your book home. I touched myself, and it worked for me. I’ve had lots of orgasms since then.”

Lisa clapped her hands. “Good for you, Mallory,” she said, then looked back to Julie. “I was about a year older than you the first time I tried it. And it took some time before I was able to come. Can I ask a couple of questions?”

Julie nodded.

“First of all, do you read while you’re touching yourself?”

“No,” said Julie. “I read till I get really worked up, then I put the book down and do it.”

“Okay. What do you think about while you’re doing it?”

“Not much. Mostly what I’m doing, and trying different ways to keep the good feelings going.”

“Well, there’s your problem!” said Lisa. “It works best when you have a fantasy in your head. I sometimes read my books while I’m touching myself, or else I’ll read them for a while, and then close my eyes and fantasize about being one of the characters or something like that. You have to keep yourself excited. Your best erogenous zone is your mind.”

Julie and I knew about erogenous zones. We’d read all about them on the internet. Julie turned to me.“Is that what you do?”

“Yeah,” I said. “But I didn’t realize it was important till now, or I would’ve told you.”

“It’s okay,” she said. “Lisa, can I ask you something?”

“Sure, honey, anything.”

“You and Dad, you guys… ummm, you know… have sex, right?”

“You know we do,” Lisa replied with a laugh. “Don’t tell me you don’t hear it!”

Julie smiled. “Well… yeah,” she said. “So if you get to have sex, why do you still masturbate?”

“Well, sometimes your dad isn’t available when I want to have sex. Other times, I want to get into a fantasy of my own. Sometimes you want to picture yourself in situations you can’t actually be in, or with people you’d never have sex with. It’s no different from the fantasy novels you two read. You read them because they take you somewhere else, right? A sexual fantasy is like that. It doesn’t mean you’re not happy with where you are or who you’re with. I’m very happy… it’s just that different can be really exciting. Does that make sense?”

“Sure does!” said Julie.

I must have had a look on my face, because Lisa turned her attention back to me. “Did you have something you wanted to say, Mallory?”

“I…” I wasn’t sure how to bring it up. Finally I took a deep breath and just went for it..“It’s about the fantasies,” I said. “And the people you pretend you’re with. That book you loaned me has women doing stuff with other women, but never with men.”

“Sure,” she said. “Lesbian sex. Maybe I shouldn’t have given you that one, but it didn’t even occur to me. I picked it because it’s a better story than most of them, and it’s not part of a series. I don’t think anything of the lesbian stuff, because I’m bisexual. Do you know what that means?”

Julie answered. “I think it means you like both men and women, right?”

“Right. Or to be more specific, it means I’m sexually attracted to both. Your dad knows that, and he’s okay with it… just in case that’s your next question.” Julie blushed and giggled.

“So, Mallory,” Lisa said, “does the lesbian sex bother you? It’s a big turn-on for me, but if you don’t like it I have plenty of books that just have men with women.”

I struggled between telling an uncomfortable truth or a comfortable lie. But Lisa was being so helpful about all of this that I couldn’t lie to her.

“It turns me on too,” I said. I was looking down at the floor, and it was hard to talk. I went on in almost a whisper. “Thinking about girls and women turns me on. And that makes me scared, cus I think maybe it’s bad.” I was almost in tears.

Lisa got up, crossed to the couch and sat down beside me. She held out her arms, and when I fell into them she drew me into her lap. She stroked my hair, and Julie slid close to join our embrace.

“I know you’ve been taught to follow the teachings of the Bible,” Lisa said, “and maybe that’s what’s right for you. But I don’t believe that two human beings making each other feel good can ever possibly be bad. I don’t think any kind of love between two consenting people is wrong. And this I know for certain… you don’t get to pick who you’re attracted to. You didn’t ask to get turned on thinking of women, did you?”

I shook my head. I couldn’t talk.

“Now why would any loving God make you like that, and then tell you it’s bad?”

I forced the words out. “It could be the devil putting those feelings in me,” I said. “Or maybe God is testing me.” Now I was crying, just a little.

“Any God that would do something like that to a girl your age, or to anyone… that isn’t a God I can really believe in, or would want to follow,” she said gently. “I’m not telling you what you should believe, Mallory, or what you should do. I’m just saying you have the right to make up your own mind. Don’t let someone else make it up for you. Not your parents, not me, not anyone.” She paused. “I don’t  really know what the Bible has to say about a lot of this stuff,” she said after a moment’s thought. “I wasn’t raised in a religious household.”

“I know it says being gay is a sin,” I said, wiping my eyes. “Masturbating I’m not so sure of.”

“You should ask Jason,” Lisa said.

“You think we should talk to Dad about this!?” Julie blurted.

“Why not? Your father is more open-minded than you might think. It wouldn’t bother him. And even though he’s not a Christian, he knows A LOT about the Bible. More than some Christians, I bet.”

She was rubbing my shoulders now. I loved the feeling of her hands on my body. She moved her hands down my arm until she was rubbing my forearms, with her fingertips lightly tracing my belly though my t-shirt. It sent little shivers through me, and I realized with a start that I was getting turned on.

This isn’t my fault, I thought. Heavenly Father, if you don’t make these feelings go away, I’m going to stop fighting them. Lisa’s right, this isn’t fair. 

Suddenly I felt much, much better. I craned my neck to look up at Lisa, and smiled at her. She bent down and kissed my forehead. Julie put her arms around me again. I felt safe, happy and loved. I never feel like that at home.

A lot more happened this afternoon at Julie’s house, but it’s getting late again. I’ll get it all written down tomorrow. I need to find a way to keep these entries shorter or this diary is going to be longer than the Bible!

On to Chapter Six!

For a detailed breakdown of this story’s chapters, please consult the Chapter Links.

by kinkychic and kinky’s_sis

Chapter Nine: The Pirate Galley

 

We sailed between Tunis and Rabat on the North African coast, keeping well to the east of the Balearic Islands. I had my best lookouts posted, and if we were lucky, we might catch one or more of the pirate vessels out at sea. We would then try to cut off their route back to their home ports.

We had heard that a galley averaged about five to six knots when pressed, and could achieve a short burst of ten knots when attacking. We could therefore easily outpace them.

I no longer felt we needed to practise our gun teams, which had become as fast as any I had ever seen. We did engage in musket drills, however. I had quite upset the Gibraltar armoury by requisitioning one hundred of these weapons. The admiral, in reply to their complaint, had told them, somewhat grudgingly, that they were to accede to my wishes.

Loading a musket is no easy task. It can take an inexperienced shooter up to one minute. I wanted men who could load at least twice in that time. Most sailors, when told to fire a musket, simply point it in the general direction of their target and pull the trigger. I now had fifty men on each ship that could choose a target, aim, and fire. They would be the decisive force in any contest with a galley, if we got close enough.

Three tedious days passed without a glimpse of anything worthy of our attention. We even sailed in close to two of the ports where the pirates were likely to be hiding. When we saw the massive fortifications, though, we knew it would be suicide to approach any closer. If the galleys carried twenty-four-pounders, the forts most likely had even larger guns.

The early hours of the fourth day brought a sound like thunder. I bounded from my cot, for I knew instinctively it was not thunder, but the roar of a heavy cannon. I had barely emerged onto the deck when the sound was repeated. Now I had a direction – to the north and away from the coast, which is exactly what I wanted, if this truly was a pirate ship.

Luck was with us. So engrossed in attacking the merchantmen were the pirates that they failed to notice our rapid approach. I was astounded at how many oars the vessel carried, and at the way they swept back in perfect unison as the galley closed on its victim.

“Guns, see if you can lay a shot right on her bow before she rams that ship.”

Halcombe must have had the two starboard eighteens already sighted, for no sooner had I spoken than both of them roared out. Barely seconds later, the galley’s forecastle was blown to splinters. The armed men who had been massing and waiting to board were sent flying by the impact.

My men were ready with their muskets. I had explained to them that the pirates would gather near the front end of the galley. This was to be their target—and not the men at the oars, who could well be slaves.

Spencer, high up the mast, knew his task – to find and bring down their captain.

Siren and Majestic were on either side of the pirate. “First party, fire!” I yelled. Twenty-five muskets spat fire and smoke. Jensen had done the same. At least a quarter of the gathered pirates fell in those first volleys.

“Second party, fire!” Another fifty muskets blasted their shot at the enemy, who fell in their dozens.

We were now close enough to see the oarsmen were in chains. They were indeed slaves. We could not come alongside, for we would have fouled the oars and likely killed many of the rowers. I called for grappling hooks to be readied. “Snag what’s left of their forecastle. We will attempt to turn her away and then board.”

The pirates had clearly never experienced concentrated musket fire before. The few of them still standing fought like men possessed. Gradually, they were forced back by the sheer weight of numbers we deployed from our two ships. But the butcher’s bill was going to be high.

Majestic’s men boarded from her stern, and the last few pirates found themselves facing us from two directions. They must have known there was no hope of avoiding defeat. In their midst was a huge, bearded man who towered over the rest. One arm hung uselessly at his side, but the other held his scimitar aloft. Anne Bonny spread her arms wide as if to hold our men back, then pointed her sword at the giant and shouted at him. I couldn’t hear her words, but whatever she said, it gave the barbarians pause.

The bearded man turned to look across at me. I called for quiet, but it took several more shouts before the noise subsided.

I pointed at the giant, who was obviously the leader. Through my trumpet, I told him, “Your fight is lost. Lay down your arms now… or you die.”

“We die here or die where you take us,” he shouted in return. “What difference?”

They would all be hanged, of course, but that wasn’t my concern. Better to end the fight now, lest more of my own people be injured or killed. But before I could answer, a surge of bodies rose up from below. The slaves must have gained possession of the keys to their shackles. Howling with blind rage, they reached up to grasp pirates by the legs and hauled them down into the depths.

I called to my musketeers, “A volley over their heads, lads!”

This had the desired effect. Everything came to a stop, and quiet returned. Anne stepped towards the captain. I held my breath. She was taking a huge risk. The brute raised his scimitar even as I shouted, “Spencer!” The shot rang out. The captain staggered, blood staining his filthy shirt. His sword came down, but not to strike. He had stuck it into the deck. A man went to hold him upright, but was pushed away. I saw the pistol for only an instant before the captain placed the barrel into his mouth, and the back of his head burst into bloody fragments.

***

The slaves were almost all Europeans and of just about every nationality. Several had been ship’s officers. Others were notable persons who had been passengers on board the captured vessels.

I spoke with one such person, who introduced himself as Sir James Parkinson. I took an instant dislike to him and his attitude, even making allowances for the ordeal he had suffered. He was none too steady on his feet, no doubt from months of labouring at the oars. Enofe fetched him a chair, and Parkinson looked with distaste at the black man.

“You are the captain of this vessel? A woman?” He didn’t wait for me to answer. “It matters not, I suppose. You will take me to Venice with all due haste.”

“And why do you suppose I should do that?”

“Because I am ordering you to do so. Your flag indicates you are a British warship of some sort, although I have never seen those colours before. It does mean, though, that you are subject to my orders.”

I had to laugh at his arrogance. “You haven’t even asked who I am. Yet you assume you can order me. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Captain Brenda Dawlish, but I am also known as Sir Bren, duly knighted by the King. My colours were given at His Majesty’s instruction, and no one, not even the Admiralty, gives me orders. Do I make myself clear?”

“Sir? A woman? Impossible!”

“It is, I admit, a unique state of affairs.”

“You must have deceived the King.”

“Not at all,” I said. “Allow me to show you proof of my authority, then perhaps we can begin again.” I retrieved from my desk the letter from the Prime Minister that gave my status and freedom of movement, etc.

He glanced up several times as he read, then lowered the document to his lap. “It seems, Sir Bren, what you say is true. I had no idea such a thing were possible.”

I bowed to him. “Now that we understand each other, would you tell me who you are and what you know?”

It transpired he was the British envoy who had been on his way to Venice on behalf of the government when his ship had been attacked by two galleys. His wife and daughter were, as far as he knew, still held captive. He was fairly sure his wife was in the sheikh’s harem. The sheikh was also the bearded galley captain who had shot himself. His name was Amastan Zammit. He was but a minor chieftain and had operated three galleys from a small fishing port.

“This anchorage – what defences does it have?” I asked. “The man’s base, is it fortified? How many men are there? How many ships?”

“There is one small fort – made of mud, I believe. It mounts three or four cannon. He has perhaps three hundred fighters plus a number of clerical types. His base is but a jumble of tents, in the Berber fashion. There is a small palace, also of mud bricks. That is where the harem is. He has three galleys – well, two now – and a captured brig. The galleys are all manned by slaves. The brig is unmanned and lies at anchor. There is not much else that I can tell you. You have already killed more than a hundred of his men.”

“It seems, Sir James, you were prepared to sail away and leave your family to their fate. I might have thought you would ask me to attempt their rescue. Besides all of the other European slaves.”

Most might have shown some measure of guilt at my observation. Sir James, however, was a diplomat. “Sir,” he said, “… or Ma’am …”

“Either is acceptable.”

“I would consider any rescue attempt a futile exercise. You are sailors, not an army, and most likely, considerably outnumbered.”

“Sir, I have rescued people from the prison fort in Jamaica right from under the British garrison’s nose. Why should I not do the same here? Besides, I would find it more seemly were you enthusiastic at the possibility of seeing your family returned to you. Is that not so?”

“I… well… I mean to say, Ma’am… “ His bluster was a false front. It was clear he did not care a whit for the fate of his wife and child.

I held up my hand. “Is it perhaps that you believe your wife has been sullied by this sheikh fellow?”

He protested vehemently, but I had him dead to rights. He would rather she were left where she was. I had heard enough. He had nothing more of use to tell me. I called for Mister Halcombe. “Take this … gentleman … and see his needs are looked after. Then summon all officers to attend in my cabin.”

As he rose, Sir James asked. “You have suitable quarters for me, I assume?”

I had had my fill of this man. “There are no quarters, I regret to say. You may even have to remain on the galley, Sir James, but you are now a free man once more. Be satisfied with that.”

Halcombe ushered him out of my sight, which was just as well. My patience had been tried quite enough.

***

Many of the freed slaves were seamen. A good few were in poor physical shape, but many were fit and keen to help in the raid I now planned. I distributed them among the three ships and placed some of our own crew on the galley, of which Taylor was made captain pro tem.

He cut a caper when he heard my decision. “Can I be ’avin’ a cocked ’at, Cap’ain?”

“Taylor, you are the galley captain, not its jester. Would you kindly act accordingly?”

“Yes indeed, Ma’am, beggin’ your pardon like.”

We approached from the east, edging towards the headland that sheltered the pirate’s bay and keeping a constant lookout on the coast. We saw no movement. I knew the fort was just over the brow of the hill. A number of the former slaves had said the Mussulmen never believed they’d be attacked and the fort was manned only by a few lazy layabouts.

In the evening dusk, the cutter headed for the shore with a group of heavily armed men, plus the master gunner and his mate. I acceded to Halcombe’s request that he might lead the party, and I watched as they clambered ashore, quickly disappearing amongst the dunes before the cutter made its way back.

The next few hours would be an anxious wait, and I prayed we would hear nothing to disturb the quiet of the evening. At midnight, with the ships in complete darkness and no moon to expose our position, we sailed to the mouth of the bay. There we cautiously dropped anchor and continued our vigil.

“Why don’t you come to bed, love?” Mariana said “It serves no purpose, your sitting there all night.”

“I’m sorry, but I’m thinking things through. I must be sure I’ve missed nothing. Besides, I couldn’t possibly sleep.”

“I’m sure you’ve thought of everything,” she said, laughing. “You should stop worrying. And if you can’t sleep… why don’t you come and fuck me?”

I laughed with her. “I know you’re right, but I cannot get undressed. We might be called into action at any moment. Perhaps you would join me for a walk in the night air. It’s so much more pleasant than the daytime heat.”

***

The time dragged slowly by until at four-thirty I gave the order to man the guns, which had been primed and run out before we moved to the bay. Muskets and pistols, though, had not yet been loaded, as I didn’t want to risk having one dropped and going off.

 

Suddenly, a mighty explosion rent the pre-dawn sky in a blaze of light. The walls of the fort simply crumbled away, the huge cannons dropping and tumbling. A second explosion followed, and I knew the gunpowder store had blown.

“Do you think Nateby used bigger charges than was necessary?” I asked Marianna. “Still, the fort is no longer of any threat.”

The explosion was the signal for the men to haul in the anchors, which were, in any case, already up and down. With our sails dropped and tightened in the morning breeze, we sailed toward the enemy. At only a hundred yards from the shore, we again dropped anchor. The momentum swung the two ships sidelong onto the port, whereupon we dropped second anchors. We were now stationary gun platforms, our broadsides facing the enemy.

The sun peeked over the horizon enough for the gunners to aim their weapons. Two broadsides blasted out. The enemy on shore, still rushing from their tents and taking up weapons, were hit by a ton of iron. It was slaughter. The city of tents was ripped to shreds, and our victims flew in all directions.

Our captured galley now surged towards the beach. The Berber may have thought it was their own forces hastening to their aid, but a hundred sailors, along with another hundred freed slaves, poured ashore before the pirates had an inkling that they were undone.

The former slaves, bent on revenge, attacked like savages. Those Berbers who had survived the bombardment of our cannons stood little chance. They died in droves. Others tried to run for the desert, but most were downed by musket fire before they got very far.

A detachment of thirty seamen headed for the small palace, Anne Bonny and Daphne in the lead. Their task was more to prevent our former slaves from ravishing the harem, rather than subduing the enemy.

I had worried that one or both of the anchored galleys might fire on us. It turned out, however, that only a few guards had been left to watch over the sleeping slaves. We later learned that all of the guards had jumped overboard as soon as our cannons fired.

Halcombe’s party had arrived at the port. It was he who directed the two galleys to be brought to shore and the slaves released from their shackles.

The full morning sun found me climbing from my cutter with Davy, as ever, at my side. Jensen was already organising shelter, water, and food for the newly freed slaves. I headed for the palace.

The exterior was rather drab. But once inside, Marianna gasped, “My God, it’s beautiful.”

And so it was. The dazzling colour was provided by hundreds of silk drapes. Luxurious carpets covered the floor, and the chairs and benches were heaped with shimmering cushions.

I heard shrieks coming from a heavily curtained arena and, upon ordering the men to hold back, I cautiously eased one curtain aside with my sword, concerned the harem guards might still be there to offer resistance. There were none, however, and Marianna and I stepped through. Davy remained in the gap.

The shrieking ceased, replaced by a collective gasp when they saw two women appear in front of them. They began to babble, louder and louder. “Quiet,” I shouted.

One stepped out of the crowd of about thirty women and girls. “You are English,” she said. “What are you –  a pirate?”

I saw a young girl peering from behind her. “Remind you of anything, Marianna?” I said.

“Oh my God, Bren. Yes, it does! Mother and I, all those years ago.”

I waved my hands for quiet again. “We are not pirates,” I said. “We have just delivered you in the name of His Majesty the King of England. You are Lady Parkinson, I presume?”

Her hand flew to her mouth. “But how did you know? My husband – is he alive?”

I did not answer her just yet. Rather, I addressed the throng of females. “A few of my men will enter. You are quite safe. Ignore their rough looks. They answer to me and will not molest you. Raise your hand if you have understood me.”

Only about a half complied. “Marianna, please.”

Marianna repeated my words in Spanish and French. This time all but two raised their hands. These two had very pale white skin. Lady Parkinson told me that she believed them to be Icelanders. No one had been able to speak with them.

I pushed my way through to these two, who seemed frightened but defiant. I held out a hand and waited. Slowly they reached to take hold of my fingers. I bent and kissed their hands. I knew nothing of their language. All I could ask was… “Dansk, Norse, or…?“

Obviously, I had struck on something. The pale women began to jabber at me. I raised my hands and shrugged just as they grabbed hold of me and covered my face with kisses. Marianna, who had followed me, now pulled me back. She pointed at me and then at herself in a way that clearly stated I was hers. The two Nordic girls laughed, but now flung their arms about Marianna and subjected her to the same kisses I had received.

Marianna looked quite flustered once she had managed to extricate herself. I just got a glimpse of the hand that had been pressed between Marianna’s legs as they separated.

“Enough,” I said. “Please, will you all sit? I have things to organise.”

***

I called a conference of my officers. Even Taylor was invited.

Jensen had been busy talking to many of the freed slaves. It seemed it was several days’ ride to any place of significance, and he did not believe any of the pirates had fled on horse or camel. Those few who had run off on foot would not survive. The fishermen were not Berbers. Indeed, they had no love for the pirates. They had not been treated well in the least, and they were grateful our cannon fire had avoided the houses and storerooms of their small community.

This intelligence enabled me to decide that we could remain here safely for a time. There was a well with sweet water, and an ample supply of food. The men and former slaves soon built a small city of tents. A lookout station was established on the hill above the ruins of the fort. The ships were anchored with their guns pointing to sea. We had taken a few prisoners, whom we locked up safely in the small prison block.

With a guard roster set for the ships, I felt I could safely stay ashore. I made my headquarters in a wing of the palace, where Lady Parkinson came to see me. Why hadn’t she seen her husband? she asked. It was a question I didn’t want to answer. She saw my hesitation.

“I think I know,” she said. “He assumes that I’ve been defiled by that horrible man, the sheikh, or whatever he is. The truth is, I haven’t. I’m glad to say that he was too busy to bother with me or my Elizabeth. I can only guess my husband has disowned us. – There’s no need to answer. In a way, you already have. May I ask, how or where will you deliver us? I have nothing and nowhere to go. What I will do, I have no idea. The only thing I do know, and with certainty, is that you, Captain, have delivered us from these devils.” She hesitated a moment. “I see you and the one called Marianna. You are … together, are you not? I was not familiar with those things until I was brought to this place. Here, amongst us women, it is common. We give each other comfort. So far, thank God, my daughter has been spared, even though she has witnessed so much.”

“Lady Parkinson –”

“My name is Cynthia. It would please me should you not refer to me as Lady Parkinson anymore. I have no further use for the name or the title.”

“Cynthia,” I said, “I cannot yet answer your questions. Just be assured that you will not be abandoned. It is not my way.”

“Then, Captain, may I extend my heartfelt thanks. I am in your debt, and yours to command.”

Her implied statement hung in the air, but it was at that moment that Marianna pushed her way through the hanging silks. “May I interrupt?” She came and took my hand. “I have an inclination to go and to try to converse with the Icelanders. They appear to be asking for me. Besides, you seem pleasantly occupied.”

I laughed, knowing full well what she intended. “Go, love, but be aware, these Vikings can be dangerous.”

I noticed how Cynthia now stared at me. “So, you have an arrangement that allows for dalliance? And Marianne just implied you were occupied. May I ask, Captain, are you occupied?”

Before I could conjure a reply, another voice – a smaller one  – interrupted us. “The Captain, I owe her my life. She is the most wonderful and bravest person I’ve ever met. I want her to love you, Mother, but most of all, I want her to love me… to be my first.”

I sat astonished. Cynthia gasped. “Child, whatever are you saying? It is unheard of. It’s not to be conceived.”

“Oh, but it is, Mother,” the girl, Elizabeth, answered. “We would both have been taken by the sheikh, but we were saved by the grace of God. This woman, this captain, has delivered us, and she loves women. I saw that today. I have come to know that I want to be hers, if only for a day.”

“Do you truly understand what you are saying, my sweet? You are but twelve years of age.”

The girl answered by slipping her dress from her shoulders. It dropped to the floor, leaving her stark naked.

“I watched you and some of the other women,” she told her mother. “I saw what you did with them. Did you think I didn’t have feelings? Did you not consider that I might want comfort, too?”

It was my turn to speak. “Elizabeth, I was your age when Marianna and I first met and fell in love, so I know you’re not too young.” I held my hands out to them both. “Cynthia, your child has grown up.”

I led them to my curtained quarters. Two Nubians had filled the sunken bath with warm, scented water. I told them they could go, that they were free men, albeit they were eunuchs, but here they still were.

With a shout of glee, Elizabeth jumped straight into the bath. Cynthia was more reserved. I beckoned her to me. “You don’t have to do this,” I said. “I seek no rewards. You owe me nothing and I will still see you safe, somewhere that suits you.”

“Captain, it’s not regret. It’s my natural shyness returning. If you would perhaps undress, then I might follow.”

In moments my clothes were laid aside, and I was settling into the water. Elizabeth watched as her mother slowly disrobed. She grasped my arm. “My mama is beautiful, is she not, Captain?”

“You both are,” I told her.

“Really?”

“I swear it,” I said. “Perhaps, young lady, it’s time you gave me a kiss. Is that not possible?”

The girl splashed into my arms, her lips searching for mine as she straddled my thighs. She was tentative at first, but her fervour mounted as my hands explored her. I stroked the length of her back, then the cheeks of her arse and the cleft between them. She instinctively rose to meet my grip as she clung to me.

I felt a hand on my leg — Cynthia had joined us. She pushed my legs apart, sliding into my crotch. There was no hesitation now. Briefly, she kneaded my pussy lips before burrowing her finger inside.

The girl began to rock. She was riding my thigh, gasping in my ear. “Oh my! This is so…nice. I knew it would be. Oh God… please.”

Then she was shuddering as her arms gripped my neck. She jerked violently as the orgasm washed over her, and I had to wonder if it was indeed her first.

“Shall you take us to your bed, my Captain?” Cynthia said. “We would like to make love… no, we want to fuck you. There, I’ve said it. And it’s true. I want to see my daughter fucked for the first time, and you … well, it must needs be you.”

It was the strangest experience when the two Nubians dried us. They regarded it as nothing more than a duty, but I must confess, it made me feel like a queen.

Once again, Elizabeth led the way. She jumped onto the bed and lay with legs akimbo, her pussy on full display. Her expression was a delightful attempt at appearing seductive.

“So, who wants to fuck me?” she said. “Mother, Captain… or both?”

Cynthia feigned shock. “Goodness, how wicked she is!” Then she laughed with me.

Cynthia wanted to kiss her young daughter, I wanted my tongue in that beautiful little pussy. We both got our wish. The child’s legs folded about my head, drawing me deeper into her slit. She rocked her pussy against my face. If this was her first time, she was learning very fast. Her clit pressed to my nose as I tongue-fucked the tightest pussy I had ever known.

Hands were exploring my naked body. Two of them were small and could not reach very far. But the other two went everywhere, lingering only a moment here or there before moving on. A touch at my arse made me jump, but then it brushed the lips of my pussy.

Elizabeth squealed in delight. “Oh God yes! Here it comes again!” Her legs gripped me, and she began to shake, wailing again and again as she climaxed.

Now, a tongue pressed to my pussy. Hands raised my arse. Cynthia sucked at the juices flowing from me. Cynthia had been taught well by her “comforters” in the harem.

Elizabeth’s young lips pressed to mine, kissing me with a new-found passion. Her hands clutched my breasts. I pushed her girl’s head down, guiding her lips to a nipple. She understood, sucking quite hungrily, then biting.

I smacked her arse.

“Bitch!” I shouted. She only bit more emphatically. I grabbed her arse this time, pressing a finger to her hole. She tensed, but I didn’t hold back, forcing my way into the tightened ring. She raised her head and gaped at me. “Oh! That’s –!”

Her expression held both shock and pleasure as I pumped her arse. But she was dry, and I didn’t want to injure her. I lifted her and swung her around, spreading her cheeks wide and reaching for the twitching star with my tongue.

Cynthia meanwhile, had been working magic of her own. My cunt spasmed as it gripped her plunging fingers, and my clit throbbed beneath her flickering tongue.

“Come, Captain,” she said. “Come for your bitches.”

“Is that what we are, mother?” said Elizabeth between joyful gasps. “Are we her bitches?”

Cynthia didn’t answer. She only sucked more forcefully as she sensed my climax approaching.

“Fuck!” I cried as it doubled me over.

I had a brief thought … I hoped Marianna was enjoying herself as much as I was.

***

I enquired after Sir James, only to learn that he had been killed in the early stages of the landing. For all of his failings, cowardice was not one. He had fought like a true knight when surrounded by the barbarians.

Cynthia did not shed a tear. Indeed, her smile neither shocked nor surprised me. “I had thought I was destitute, with nowhere to turn. His death brings me wealth and social standing. I suppose I should grieve for him, but I cannot. He chose to abandon us, and his death is my salvation.”

My foremost concern was the disposition of the harem women and the hundreds of freed slaves. Many of the women were from various parts of North Africa, and some of these were not pleased to have been liberated. They had been content enough as pampered concubines. The Europeans, though, wanted to be returned to their own countries, a task quite beyond my capabilities.

Much the same situation applied to the men. I would need a good number of them to sail the two galleys and the brig away from here. The galleys I would take to Italy, where we would be paid a bounty for them. The brig would go to Gibraltar for prize money from the British, and the funds would be shared among the slaves. Our own men hardly needed more wealth than they already possessed.

The freed slaves, though, if taken to Gibraltar, would find themselves pressed into the Navy against their will, all except the few that had some social standing. Those native to the Mediterranean could be landed somewhere suitable, whence they could make their way home.

A few of the girls had already set themselves up in business with the sailors. As one said to me, “One stork is the same as another, at least I now get paid to dip it, and I’m free to pick and choose.”Others moved to the village to seek more suitable work or partners.

That still left about seventeen others, of whom several were only young girls. One or two had more or less grown up in the harem, with no inkling as to their origins. Only their language gave us any clue. We discussed the problem between us, but as of the moment, failed to find a solution.

I allowed the women to strip the palace and share the spoils fairly among themselves. I had also discovered the dead sheikh’s strong box, which contained a considerable amount of coin and jewels. I intended to estimate the value and apportion a share, in coin, to all of the freed men and women.

Halcombe had taken a party to retrieve the cannons from the fort. I thought the Navy might find a use for them. The carpenter had carried out what repairs he could to the galley we had attacked. The four captured ships were now provisioned and ready for sea. We had no trouble in finding volunteers to crew them, as long as they would not be rowing.

There had been sufficient officers among the captives to take temporary command of the ships. I left Taylor in command of the first galley. He had done well enough, his only weakness being his inability to navigate in the event we got separated. I soon found someone who could and who didn’t object to a mere seaman taking command.

The women were divided between the Majestic and the Siren. It was an amusing affair listening to them decide who wanted to go where and with whom, but finally, it was settled.

The last thing we did was blow the palace to pieces. It would not do to leave it for other pirates to use.

When the time came to raise anchor, the crew stood by, watching the two huge Nubians as they turned the windlass on their own. They had both begged to not be left behind.

“Lay a course due northeast,” I instructed. The Siren led a convoy of six ships, making it unlikely that anyone would venture anywhere near us. We should, if the winds were favourable, make Naples within two days.

I gave up worrying about what our passengers and crew got up to. The mingling of former concubines and lusty sailors almost ensured that I had no say in the matter – unless I had the women locked up between decks, and that was not my way.

Two days of good weather and no sightings of anything that might cause us concern left us with plenty of time to enjoy the Mediterranean sun and air. It was a pleasure and a relief to be on the open sea, free from the knowing gaze of love-sick girls and petty officials, where I could wear a breeches or a petticoat, as I chose, and let my titties stand unbound beneath my shirt.

I also had time to reflect on our future. Would we hunt more pirates, or perhaps head for fresh lands and waters?

Then, on one of his visits to the Siren, Jensen handed me a sheaf of papers. “Might you care to take a look at something I’ve been working on, Captain? Your thoughts would be appreciated.”

On the top page was written, in a hand far more elegant than I could ever manage,

From Gamine to Queen of the Seas
A Nautical Adventure
by Captain Sir Thomas Jensen

The End – for now.

***

Historical Note, or Busting Myths.

 Many books have been written that detail the supposed ‘facts’ of the Golden Age of Pirates. The vast majority do little other than either repeat or add to the many myths that others invented.

The first such book was A General History Of The Pyrates, published in 1724, only three years after Anne Bonny and her compatriots were imprisoned. The author was given as one Captain Charles Johnson. A 1728 reprint was a revised edition. More rubbish detail was added, all of which is almost certainly the product of the author’s imagination – one example being the biographies of three pirate captains who have since been proven to have never existed.

There are many problems with this book, not least that Captain Johnson himself didn’t exist, either. The name was a pseudonym. It has never been established who the author was, although many attribute the book to Daniel Defoe, author of Robinson Crusoe. This early history is directly responsible for the many of the legends that subsequent authors continue to peddle as accurate history.

In 1724 it was quite impossible that a writer would know all the details he presented as fact. And be certain—they are not! Nor could he have ever met more than but one or two (if any) of those portrayed in the book.

Anne Bonny, many books claim, was born in Kinsale, County Cork, Ireland. Her father is said to have been one William Cormac (sometimes McCormac), a lawyer in said county. The name of her mother, a servant, is given as Mary Brennan. Anne is said to have married James Bonny before they moved to Nassau, the Bahamas, where James is said to have worked as a spy or informant for Governor Woodes Rogers. She is often referred to as the Queen of the Pirates. Woodes Rogers’ proclamation refers to Anne Bonny, nee Fulford. So, where did the Fulford come from?

No such lawyer is registered as having practised in County Cork. Moreover, Woodes Rogers is known to have kept meticulous records of everyone who worked for him. Yet there is no record of a James Bonny. There are many stories, mostly contradictory, of James and Anne’s comings and goings, but Anne Bonny was never truly a pirate. She was a common prostitute who ran away to sea with Jack Rackham when Nassau was raided by the forces of Woodes Rogers. She spent only a little more than two months at sea before her and Rackham’s capture, and she is known to have robbed only one person, who gave evidence at her trial.

My research leads me to believe that Anne Bonny was initially a London prostitute who was lured to Nassau by the prospect of the good money that women of her profession were said to earn there. I do not believe she was Irish-born or that her name was ever Cormac. More likely, she was born with the name Bonny somewhere in the English Midlands.

Her most recent biography is Born of the Sea: The Untold Story of Anne Bonny and Mary Read by Kate Castle  – yet another heap of unsubstantiated rubbish that does nothing but perpetuate the myths surrounding Anne Bonny.

Nor do I believe any such person as James Bonny existed. There is no documented evidence of his ever having worked for Woodes Rogers, even though, as mentioned above, the man kept thorough records of his employees.

It is generally claimed that the time and place of Anne Bonny’s death are unknown. This is likely not true either. She is listed in the official register of the district of St Catherine’s (not a church), Jamaica, as being buried in the public cemetery in 1731. The cause of death is not given, which was often the case for prostitutes who died from the diseases common to their profession.

Calico Jack Rackham has become something of a legend among pirates, but the sad truth is he was a two-bit player. He achieved nothing of renown and never made any money. For the most part, he captained very small ships and attacked only tiny fishing boats that couldn’t put up a fight. The record of his ultimate capture suggests he was also something of a coward. The only truth to his legend is his eccentric style of dress.

All of the other historical characters we have brought into the story are more or less as we have portrayed them – or so it is claimed!

by Rosey M

July 1, 2006 – Rhonda

My mouth is so dry. It feels like it’s full of cotton or something. 

As I slowly came to, I realized I was tucked into Ashley’s bed, still naked under the covers. I sat up, exposing my bare chest. With a start, I realized Ashley was sitting next to me with her back against the headboard.

She had changed into a loose shirt and a pair of shorts while I was sleeping. My drowsy gaze hovered over the smooth flesh of her long legs, then up to the laptop resting on the bed. Ashley was regarding me with an amused smile as I wiped the sleep from my eyes.

Her tablet was braced against her knees, the stylus poised in her hand as if she was in the middle of drawing something. Ashley placed them both down by the laptop before reaching over to softly brush the hair out of my face. “Hey, sweetie. How are you feeling?”

I smiled blearily at her. “Good. Just thirsty.”

Ashley leaned away to grab her glass of water off the end table, then pushed it into my hands. I drained it in one large gulp, and my sister chuckled as she watched some of the liquid dribble down my chin and onto my neck. “Guess you needed that, huh? Want some more?”

I gave a vigorous nod, and Ashley plucked the glass from my hand, kissing me on my forehead before getting up to leave the room. She returned a minute later holding two glasses, passing one to me before moving her laptop and tablet on to the end table and settling herself back on the bed.

I drank half the glass before my thirst was satiated. “Is Mom back yet?”

“Nah, it’s only been a couple of hours since you fell asleep. I’ll be surprised if she stumbles in before midnight.”

As much as I dreaded having to see Mom again, I also just wanted to get it over with. I wasn’t sure what I was going to say, but some part of me was hoping she’d just go back to ignoring me like she used to. It used to hurt a little, until I realized it just worked better for all of us that way. Ashley and I could be together as much as we wanted, and Mom could drink herself into oblivion.

If I could just explain all of this to her, I’m sure Mom would agree with me. I knew she didn’t like me very much, but she must have wanted what was best for us all. Surely she loved me enough to realize that, right? 

The thought made me quiver in anxiety. I finally asked in a small voice, “Does Mom hate me?”

Ashley winced. “No, Rhonda, of course she doesn’t hate you! How could anybody ever hate you? You’re amazing! Mom’s just… she’s never been a very good mother, that’s all.

“She did all kinds of shit to me when I was younger, but I thought she’d moved past all the bullying. I thought maybe she’d find it harder to justify hurting you. I guess she just needed the right excuse to start up all that bullshit again. She’s a fucking cow, but that doesn’t mean she hates you. She hates me, but we’ve been at each other’s throats my whole life. I wish things could be different; you deserve so much better than this.”

My heart filled with love for Ashley, even as I began festering in anger at the thought of Mom hurting her growing up. I was really starting to hate her a little myself.

“You deserve better too, Ashley. W-will you tell me about what it was like when you were little? I wish I could have been old enough to protect you.”

A bitter chuckle escaped my sister’s mouth. “I’d never want you to stand in the line of fire for me. That’s an older sister’s job and mine until the end. Besides, I don’t want to drag you into any of my shit when we’re still dealing with all of this.”

I frowned at her. “But it’s okay for me to drag you into my sh-sh-shit?”

Ashley broke into peals of laughter. I huffed as I shoved her shoulder halfheartedly, and she wiped tears from her eyes. “Don’t swear, Rhonda! It is the weirdest thing I’ve ever heard, coming from your mouth.”

I stared at her beseechingly. “Please, Ashley? Be serious for a minute. You never talk about what it was like when you were younger. I… I just want to know more about your relationship with Mom.”

That sobered Ashley instantly. She ran a hand down her face like she always did when trying to regain her composure. “I never talk about it because I don’t have many nice things to say. Ugh! Do you really want to hear about all that stuff?”

I hardened my resolve, nodding firmly. Ashley groaned, then slid down the headboard until she was flat on her back. She lay in silence with her arm pressed against her forehead. It took a long moment before she began speaking.

Her voice stuttered and cracked as she recalled all the things I was too young to remember – What it was like before I was born and how lonely she had felt. How Mom and Dad were always drinking or fighting, or taking their frustrations out on her. All the times they would hit her over stupid things, and how nobody would say anything about Ashley’s bruises. One time, a counselor tried to speak to Ashley about her home life, and Ashley told me how much shit she’d caught for it when our parents got a visit afterward.

Ashley’s laugh was bitter when she talked about starting puberty, and how Mom would tell her to keep her legs closed around guys or else she’d probably grow up to be a slut who got knocked up by some piece of shit. Ashley had shot back by asking if that’s what happened to her, and Mom had beaten her black and blue for it.

I had the vaguest memory of Ashley limping around in pain when I was really little, but I didn’t really understand what had happened at the time. I’d never stopped to consider what she’d gone through when she was younger. I couldn’t bear the thought of it. Why hadn’t she told me any of this before? 

I listened in horror as she spoke about Dad leaving, and how unstable and angry our mother became afterward. How Ashley tried her hardest to keep Mom’s vitriol directed at her so I wouldn’t be in the firing line.

It only really stopped when Ashley overpowered and pinned our mom to the floor a couple of years before, only releasing her after the slew of screamed insults tapered off and Mom backed away in tears. Now Mom only tried to hit Ashley when she was good and wasted, too inebriated to recall the folly of those hard-learned lessons.

I felt appalled and ashamed by everything Ashley had been through in her struggle to protect me, wishing I could have made it all better, somehow. Sure, Mom had whacked me a few times, but I never had to experience much of her violent, hurtful side. The mom I got was the one who preferred to act like I was invisible. But I’d have taken the full force of her anger and violence if it meant Ashley didn’t have to.

I hated Mom for every unkind word she’d ever spoken to Ashley. Every punch, every demeaning insult. How dare she treat my sister like that!?

Ashley was getting distressed, and I realized we needed to stop talking about Mom. I soothed her until she calmed down a little, then cradled her head to my chest.

“I’m so sorry that happened to you, Ashley. I love you so, so much, and I’ll always be here for you. One day it’ll just be you and me, and we won’t have to deal with Mom ever again.”

It was Ashley’s turn to sniffle. “Fuck! Fuckfuckfuck. I love you, Rhonda. You’re my reason for living.”

She pressed her fists against her eyes to rub the tears away. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to say that. I don’t want you carrying that shit in your head like I do. I can’t seem to keep my guard up when I’m around you anymore. You’ll know all my secrets before long.”

I glared at her. “You don’t need to keep your guard up around me. I’m your sister, damn it!” Taking her in my arms, I whispered, “I want to know everything about you, Ashley.” I kissed her to show I meant it, and she returned my affections gratefully.

That’s how it’s always been with Ashley and me, then and now. All it takes is seeing my sister in pain, and my own worries fade into the background. I’ll never know how I managed to stay calm whenever she was unhappy or upset, but I was always glad for the chance to offer support when she needed it.

I knew she shouldn’t have to stand up for me the way she did earlier. I had to be stronger. For Ashley, for both of us. I decided I needed to talk to Mom alone. My mother had one thing right: I needed to grow up. And if that meant having a hard conversation without my sister there to protect me, so be it.

“There’s still time before your shift. You should go to work tonight.”

Ashley looked a little hurt at my words, so I rushed to explain. “I just think it’s silly for you to miss your shift because of this. I promise, I’ll be fine. Mom probably went out drinking, and she won’t be back until after you’re off, anyway. Not that I don’t want you here, but I’ll be okay by myself. I’ll probably just take a nap after you’ve gone.”

She didn’t look convinced, so I pulled out the big guns. “You know how much I trust you. But I need you to trust me, too. I’ll be fine. If Mom comes back, I’ll deal with it. I don’t want you to end up getting fired because of her. Please, Ashley?”

She ran her hand down her face again, but finally agreed. “There’s no changing your mind, is there? Fuck. Fine. But I want you to call the store if she gets back and it seems like she’s about to freak out. I’ll come racing home. I mean it, Rhonda.”

“Deal. Now can we cuddle before you go to work, or should I give you your room back and go hang out in mine?”

Ashley kept me right where I was.

***

Ashley left for work a little while later. They hadn’t been able to call anyone in to replace her, and were glad she could make it in. Thankfully it was a short shift, so she wouldn’t be gone for too long.

A couple of hours passed, but there was still no sign of Mom. The longer I waited, the more my nerves faltered.

I took a shower to take my mind off things. I don’t know how long I stood underneath the water, staring blankly at the tiled wall as I tried to put my thoughts in order. Eventually I turned the faucet off, got out and toweled myself dry. I went to my room to change into pajamas, then just stood by my dresser.

I could hear that buzzing noise in my ears again, making it hard to concentrate when I tried to think. I grabbed my book before returning to Ashley’s room, but I couldn’t focus on reading, either. The words were a jumbled mess on the page, and I was getting a headache trying to decipher them.

The light was hurting my eyes. Why was it so bright!? Frustrated, I threw the book onto Ashley’s nightstand, then tried to stand. I could barely summon any strength into my limbs as the world swam before my eyes. I stumbled over to the light switch to flick it off, barely making it back to the bed before my body buckled under me.

I curled myself up in the center of the mattress. It felt like the room was spinning, the colors of the pictures on the wall blending together. I shut my eyes to try and dispel the nausea.

I couldn’t clear my mind at all. I was filled with dread at the thought of facing my mom. Why did she have to be so horrible to us? Couldn’t she just ignore me like she used to?

But that wouldn’t be fair to Ashley. She’d gone through so much already, and Mom had to answer for how she treated us, didn’t she? But that would cause trouble for Ashley, too. Urgh!  Why did this have to be so hard to figure out!? What was I supposed to do?

I could barely move, as if my limbs, my head, my body had turned to stone. All I could do was lie there, knees tucked against my chest, whimpering, “Oh, God… oh, God…

Why didn’t I just let Ashley stay with me?

This feels awful…

***

The last of the light had already faded by the time I came to, and the room was bathed in darkness. My brain felt foggy, my mouth bone dry. I climbed off the bed, and even though my limbs were still weak, I was relieved to find them able to support me. I navigated my way to Ashley’s door and left the room.

Shuffling my way from the hall into the kitchen, I went straight for the sink. I drank directly from the faucet until my throat stopped feeling like it was coated in dust, then grabbed a cup to fill with water. As I held it under the tap, I heard the sound of glass clinking from the living room.

I flinched, causing the cup to slip from my hand and land by the drain with a loud clatter. Fortunately it didn’t break, and I let out a relieved sigh.

“Which one of you is that?”

The sound of the voice turned my insides to ice. I closed my eyes, feeling like my heart was about to beat out of my chest. I pressed a hand over it to try and gain some control. Calm down, Rhonda, I told myself. You knew you’d see her tonight. You’ve got this. 

Swallowing loudly, I slowly made my way over to the living room. It was dark, but I could still make out the shape of my mother sitting on the couch. I moved to the wall and flicked the light switch. As light flooded the room, Mom raised one arm to shield her face.

“Shit! What the fuck is wrong with you!? Are you trying to blind me or something!?”

As my vision adjusted, I spotted the case of beers on the coffee table. A few empty bottles were scattered haphazardly beside it. After several long moments, Mom lowered her hand and glared at me. “Oh, it’s you.”

She reeked of booze, and her vision seemed unfocused as she tried to keep me in her sights.

“Um, are you okay?” I asked reluctantly.

Mom looked at me like she didn’t quite understand the question. Then her eyes suddenly sharpened as she snapped, “What? I’m fine. I was just over at Heather’s.”

I was pretty sure her friend lived across the city. I went over to the window to check outside and saw Mom’s car, parked at an awkward angle between her space and Ashley’s. Alarmed, I turned back to her. “Did you drive home drunk?”

“What’s it to you? I’m in one piece, aren’t I?”

“It’s just, aren’t you not supposed to do that? I’ve seen commercials.”

“Well, you’re not supposed to fuck your sister, but apparently that’s fine these days.”

My heart sank. “What? W-we’re not—“

Mom interrupted me with a chuckle, “Oh, calm down. I’m just messing with you.”

She leaned forward to grab a bottle from the case, then slammed the top against the edge of the coffee table to pop the cap off. She slid the bottle towards me. “Here, have a beer. You and I need to chat while Ashley’s not here. Girl to girl.”

I made no move to reach for the bottle. Mom opened another and took a long swig. As she placed it back on the table, her attention turned back to me.

“Take the bottle, Rhonda. If Ashley thinks you’re a big enough girl to screw, then clearly you’re old enough to have a drink, right?”

I was rooted to the floor. Unable to form a reply, I shook my head, and Mom responded by slamming her fist down on the table, making the bottles rattle from the impact.

“Just take the fucking bottle already! I’m trying to be nice here!”

Her raised voice sent a jolt of dread through me. I stepped closer to the table and took the bottle of beer, cradled it awkwardly between my hands.

“There. Wasn’t so hard, was it?” Mom said in a congenial voice that was somehow more terrifying than the shouting. “Take a seat, Ronnie. Or do I have to shout to make you do that, too?”

She shifted her body to one side of the couch, and I moved to sit gingerly on the edge of the furthest cushion, ready to bolt at the slightest provocation.

Mom seemed satisfied that I’d done as I was told.. She grabbed her bottle for another drink, beckoning me to do the same. “Take a sip. It’s not gonna kill you.”

Hesitantly, I took the smallest sip I could while she watched me intently. It tasted so gross I couldn’t believe anyone would drink the stuff willingly. Mom burst out laughing at my look of disgust, so I tried to school my expression back to normal, wanting nothing more than to wash the foul taste from my mouth.

Her eyes had a cruel cast to them as she smiled at me and asked, “So, how long has Ashley been molesting you? When did it start?”

I couldn’t help but flinch. Awful as those words were, they sounded so much more perverse coming from her mouth. “It’s not like that…”

“Not like what? I have eyes and ears, Rhonda. You think I can’t tell when my girls are fucking? The walls are thin around here, hon. Frankly, I’ve heard enough of you two and your creepy shit to last me a lifetime.” Her voice shifted into a shrill, mocking tone. “‘Do you, uhhhhhhhh… wanna kiss again, Ash-leee? I’ll always have time for you, Aaash-leeeee. I love you soooooo much!”’

Mom shook her head in disgust. “Like, come on! Seriously? You think you’re actually in a relationship with her? You know your sister’s only messing around with you because she’s a fucking lunatic, right?”

I shrank away from the mockery in her voice; her words laying to rest any doubts about whether she’d actually heard us or not. The way she quoted them back to me made those cherished memories seem silly and childish.

“D-don’t talk about Ashley like that! She’s not a lunatic, and she’s not molesting me! We love each other!”

Mom rolled her eyes at me, then drained what was left of the bottle. “Whatever you say, Ronnie. You didn’t answer my question, though. Ashley’s been eyefucking you for years; when did she finally make a move?”

Why was she so focused on making Ashley sound so horrible? That’s not how it was, at all! “She didn’t! I was the one who started it. I asked her.”

My mom peered curiously at me, as if seeing me in a new light. “Oh! Well, never mind then! I guess I should be having this conversation with Ashley instead, huh?”

She started laughing again, but when I didn’t join in she extended her leg and kicked lightly at me. “Relaaaax, for God’s sake! I’m just fucking with you.” She looked up at the ceiling and sighed. “How’d I end up with two incestuous dykes for daughters, anyway? I don’t even know any queers that might have influenced either of you.” She studied me thoughtfully. “Is that what you are? A queer? Or do you think you’ll go back to normal and start taking dick when you’re older?”

I blushed at her coarse words. “N-no, I’ve only ever liked girls.”

“Well, I guess we’ll find out. But hey, I guess it could be worse. At least neither of you are out there slutting it up with guys. Imagine how the neighbors would react if I had two pregnant kids!”

I shook my head slowly from side to side. “That’s… No, Mom. I-I don’t even think I’m old enough to get pregnant!”

“You’d be surprised! Stuff like that happens sometimes when little girls are raped.” She leaned toward me and whispered conspiratorially, “Good thing Ashley’s a girl, huh?”

“It’s not rape!” I cried out. “We both wanted it! Ashley and me love each other, s-so can you just accept that, please? Things can just go back to normal between us. We won’t bother you, and you don’t need to bother us, okay?”

Mom studied me in silence for several long seconds, then grabbed another bottle. Cracking it open, she drained half its contents in one gulp. “Have another drink, Rhonda. I promise it’s better after the first taste.”

“I-I don’t want anymore, Mom. It’s gross.”

“Just do it, Rhonda. Have a drink with your mother and I’ll consider what you asked.”

I slowly raised the beer to my lips, tipping it back the slightest amount. Mom’s arm shot toward me and shoved the bottle forward, the rim clinking painfully against my front teeth.

She tilted the bottle until my mouth overflowed with the foul liquid, then spurted out of my nose as I began to choke. I wrenched myself out of her reach, coughing and sputtering as the bottle tumbled to the floor and shattered.

As I burst into tears, I realized the whole front of my shirt was soaked. “Why would you do that!?”

Mom’s face was hard as stone, eyeing me like a bug she was planning to squash. “Are you retarded? Why the hell would I ignore you two dykes fucking under my goddamned roof?”

“B-but you said!”

“’B-b-b-but you said!’” Her words turned to mockery once more as she began advancing toward me. “Get a grip, girl. I know Ashley turned you into a little lesbo, but I didn’t realize you’d caught her fucking insanity, too.”

The situation had already spiraled out of control. I needed Ashley! Turning tail, I raced toward the phone in the kitchen, Mom bellowing as she rushed after me. I’d barely taken hold of the receiver when I was roughly shoved to the ground.

Mom ripped the phone line out of the wall, then turned on me in fury. “Who the fuck are you gonna call, huh!? The cops? You think anyone’s gonna care what happens to a sick little freak like you!?”

I couldn’t stop sobbing as I looked up at her, terrified and miserable – but now furious, too. “I’ve had enough of this!” I screamed back. “You’re crazy! You’re the fucking lunatic!”

Pain exploded across the side of my face. I tried to shy away as Mom hovered over me, unleashing blow after blow. I curled up into a ball as she continued to hit me, begging her to stop, please stop!

The blows suddenly ceased as Mom roughly grabbed my wrist to pry my arm away from where it shielded my face. I cried out for her to stop, trying in vain to resist her pull.

A loud bang sounded from across the house, and Mom’s hold on me faltered. Suddenly she was roughly torn away from me. The kitchen seemed to shake as she was slammed against the wall. Confused, nearly delirious with terror, I peered up to see my sister bearing down on our mother.

Ashley looked angrier than I’d ever seen her, hands wrapped around Mom’s throat. “What the fuck did I tell you!?” she snarled. “Don’t you lay a hand on her, bitch! Fucking bitch!”

Mom’s panicked eyes flickered toward me, like she was expecting me to take her side, or tell Ashley there’d been a big misunderstanding and the two of us were just having a harmless little game of rough-and-tumble.

“Don’t look at Rhonda!” Ashley screamed. “Don’t you dare look at her! Look at me! I swear, I’ll choke the fucking life out of you, Kate.”

Mom’s hands scrabbled uselessly against Ashley’s as she tried to pry herself free, her eyes widening as she fought to breathe.

“Ashley, don’t! You’re killing her! Please stop!”

Ashley ignored my cries as she continued throttling Mom. I picked myself up and stumbled over to them, pulling helplessly at my sister’s arms.

Mom’s face was turning an alarming shade of purple, her struggles growing weaker by the second

“Ashley!” I begged. I don’t want you to do this! Stop! Please!”

Ashley seemed to notice me for the first time. She instantly released Mom’s throat as if it had burned her, then staggered away, pulling me with her.

Mom slid to the floor, taking in deep lungfuls of air. Her face had reverted to a deep flush, and I could see the imprint of Ashley’s fingers on her neck. I felt awful about what was happening, but Ashley showed not a hint of remorse.

Mom’s voice was raspy as she finally spoke. “A-Ashley. Y-you… you nearly killed me—”

“Shut up. You’re lucky I didn’t after what I just walked in on.”

Ashley’s grip was firm when she turned me around to face her. Her face softened as she examined me, looking for any serious injuries. “Are you okay?”

There was a dull ache throughout my whole body, the places my mother had struck feeling especially sore. My face hurt most of all, and it was all I could do to nod in reply.

Fresh tears swam at the thought of Ashley seeing me in such a sorry state. She reached up to touch my inflamed cheek, and I flinched away from the stinging pain.

I was so stupid to think I could help. All I wanted to do was work things out with Mom so Ashley didn’t have to worry about me all the time. Instead I just ended up making the situation worse, so my big sister had to rush to the rescue, just like always. Why couldn’t I do anything right?

Ashley held me as I broke down. “I’m sorry,” I kept mumbling over and over. “I’m so sorry.”

“Hey, come on, hon. None of that now, okay?” she told me, her voice sweet and soothing. “You did nothing wrong, this is all her fault.”

She kissed the top of my head, then gently pulled away. “Rhonda, can you do me a big favor and go rest in my room for a minute or two? I promise I’ll be right behind you; I’ve just got some things to sort out with Kate first.”

I began to panic all over again. “A-Ashley, please don’t get mad or, or hit her. I don’t want you getting in any more trouble ‘cause of me. I just want this day to b-be over!”

Ashley did her best to reassure me. “I swear to you, Rhonda. I’m not planning on starting things up again. I should,” she added, giving Mom a scathing look, “but for you, I won’t. I just need to speak to her for a moment. Please, just go lay down. I’ll be there soon.”

Part of me felt like I should be there to hear whatever it was Ashley had to say to Mom, but my need to be away from this whole screwed up situation won out, so I quietly headed towards my sister’s room.

I crawled under the covers and curled into a ball, trying to ignore my aching body and frayed nerves. I was completely burnt out after what seemed like the longest day of my life. After everything that happened that day – the confrontation with Mom at the mall, the sex with Ashley, the explosive violence of Mom’s return, my sister’s enraged response – I just wanted the world to stop for one minute.

I could hear the muffled sound of Ashley’s voice from the kitchen, but I couldn’t make out anything of Mom’s reply. The only word I could make out was morning. I tried to put it all out of my head as I melted into the sheets.

As I breathed in the familiar aroma of lavender and Ashley’s natural scent, the feeling that my brain was about to snap slowly began to recede. The smell always calmed me down when I grew anxious.

It would be only too easy to doze off and hope I’d wake to find that tonight had all been a bad dream, but what was the point in kidding myself? Besides, I wanted to wait for Ashley to make sure she was okay.

I didn’t have to wait too much longer before she opened the door and slipped inside. I heard her move closer until she stood by the side of the bed. I extracted myself from beneath the blanket, the dull throb in my body more acute now that I was no longer pumped with adrenaline.

Ashley sank to her knees in front of me, gently cradling my face in one hand while she pressed a washcloth filled with ice against my cheek. I flinched at both the cold and the sting, but Ashley held it there until it started to feel good against my heated skin.

She had me hold the ice pack while she climbed onto the bed, taking me in her arms.

We lay in silence for a while, until Ashley finally spoke, her voice low and strained. “I was so scared, Rhonda. When I saw the fucked-up way Kate parked the car, I knew she’d been boozing it up. Then when I opened the door, all I could hear was you screaming and crying. I-I couldn’t think, I could barely breathe. The next thing I know, I’m choking the life out of her, a-and you’re begging me to stop.”

Ashley leaned down to murmur in my ear. “I must’ve looked like a complete psycho, but what she was doing to you…” She gave her head a quick shake. “Guess I just lost it. Please don’t be scared of me, Rhonda. I-I don’t think I could take that.”

My nails scrunched into the back of her shirt for purchase as I whispered, “I’m not scared of you! Y-you saved me, Ashley. Mom was so angry. She just wouldn’t stop. I don’t know what would’ve happened if you hadn’t come.”

“I’m so sorry, Rhonda. I never should have left. It was stupid of me. I should have known she’d come back while I was gone.”

I realized Ashley was crying, and it was hard to maintain the tenuous control I had over my own emotions. The side of my face ached horribly as I tried to speak. “Ashley, it was my idea that you go to work, not yours. You didn’t know what was going to happen any more than I did.”

“I did, though! I know exactly what kind of fucking animal she is. She beat the shit out of you, for god’s sake! That’s on me for not thinking things through a little more.”

I tried to protest and tell her it wasn’t her fault but Ashley wasn’t done. “I can smell beer on you. Let me guess, she either dumped a bottle over you, or made you drink one? Or… fuck! She didn’t break it over your head, right? Right?”

Ashley’s voice was full of bile and vitriol, and I had to wonder if Mom had maybe done that very thing to her at some point in the past.

“N-no, she just made me drink some, then pushed the bottle into my mouth when I wouldn’t have any more.”

Ashley made a choked shrieking sound, her voice turning harsher than ever. “I’m going to kill her if it’s the last thing I do!” She made some effort to calm herself, then asked me, “How do you feel now?”

“I’m fine,” I mumbled. “Just sore and tired. Are you okay?”

Her weary laugh eased the tension somewhat. “I’m fine, too. Just angry, and concerned for you. I’m going to be having words with her in the morning, I promise. Whether it means you and me leaving, or her getting some fucking help, something’s got to give around here. We’re not doing this again.”

Ashley sighed, raising her head to peer into my eyes, “Do you think you might be able to get some sleep? I dunno about you but I’m ready for this day to end.”

I nodded in reply, and Ashley slowly got to her feet. “Need to use the bathroom?” she asked, and I shook my head.

Saying she’d be right back, Ashley left the room, leaving the door slightly ajar. I tentatively took the ice pack away from my face, reaching up to wipe moisture from my cheek. It was still sore, but not as bad as earlier.

Ashley’s face was bare of makeup when she returned, the dark circles under her eyes highlighting just how tired she looked. She pulled her shirt off and threw it into the corner of the room.

It was so not the time for these kinds of thoughts, but I couldn’t keep myself from staring at Ashley’s upper body. There was a layer of wiry muscle throughout her tall, lean frame that hinted at her being stronger than she looked. When she turned away to empty her pockets onto the end table, my eyes traced the curve of her back. She shimmied out of her pants, then balled them up, throwing them in the same direction as her shirt.

I followed the path of her legs all the way up to her butt, which was snugly encased in a pair of black panties. The sight had me tingling between my legs.

Ashley reached up to unclasp her matching bra, discarding it with the rest of her clothes. It left a series of faint lines on her skin, which somehow made her small breasts look even more erotic. I wondered how it would feel to trace my fingers along those small indents.

It was all I could do not to groan out loud. Why the hell was I thinking about all of that now? My skin felt hot, and I needed to shed some layers before I combusted. I awkwardly climbed off the bed and began to remove my pajamas.

Ashley sported a small smile as I undressed, but she visibly stiffened as my bare torso came into view. I glanced down at myself to see what she was looking at. There were several dark red marks where my mom had hit me.

Her voice was strained as she spoke. “Turn around, Rhonda.”

I slowly spun in place, and heard Ashley hiss when she saw my back and shoulders. “She’s fucking dead for this.”

Turning back to face her, I hesitantly asked, “I-is it really bad?”

Ashley ran a hand down her face, sighing deeply. “Well, it’s not good, that’s for sure. You’re gonna be sore all over, come the morning. And I guess you haven’t looked in the mirror yet, but you’ve got one hell of a bruise on the side of your face.”

I winced at her assessment. “It’ll heal. Just don’t get violent over this, please? It’s not worth it.”

Ashley’s expression hardened. “After what she did to you? She’s the one who took it this far; fair’s fair at this point, Rhonda.”

“Ashley, don’t!”

My sister fought to regain her composure, closing her eyes for a few heartbeats. “Fine, fine,” she finally muttered. “I’m just gonna talk to her, I promise.”

We climbed into bed together, Ashley spooning me from behind. I could feel her boobs pressing against my back as she wrapped both arms around me. It was comforting to feel her skin against mine as we lay there; I just wished this day had gone better so I could properly enjoy it.

“Do you think things are going to be okay, Ashley?”

Ashley buried her face in my hair, her breath tickling the back of my neck. “They will be, Rhonda. I’ll make sure of it.”

I tried to relax and go to sleep, but the day’s events played over and over in my mind. That and the feeling of Ashley’s bare breasts against my back.  It was a long time before I finally dozed off.

On to Chapter Six!

by Rachael Yukey

Tuesday, October 10th, 2006 

So far writing in my diary has been an evening thing, but today I’m up really early. I had a scary dream about Mom finding my diary… I don’t even want to THINK about that!

I have over an hour before Mom comes to wake me up, but I don’t think I’ll be able to sleep. Might as well get this thing caught up, cause there’s a whole lot to tell. I was writing last night about what happened Sunday. Here’s the rest of it.

Julie and I were on our own in her house, and we decided to check out the dirty novels Lisa had stashed in her and Jason’s bedroom.

I followed Julie up the stairs, tiptoeing even though there was nobody else in the house. It wasn’t just that we were going to look at somebody else’s stuff without asking. That was kind of bad, but the worst thing was us reading about people having sex. I knew EXACTLY what my parents would think of that.

The door to Jason and Lisa’s room was hanging open a little bit, and Julie pushed it the rest of the way. We slipped inside. It’s much smaller than Julie’s room. There’s a queen-sized bed with a nice green comforter that takes up almost half the space. There was also a closet and two dressers. The walls were light blue. Like Julie’s room, it all looked nice and new.

I was getting nervous.“How much trouble will we be in if we get caught in here?”

“None,” said Julie. “I’m allowed to be here. And Lisa never told me I couldn’t read her books. There’s no way anybody is getting up those stairs without making noise, so we won’t get caught. Even if we are, I’ll just say we didn’t know about the sex stuff and I thought it would be okay. I’m allowed to read any of Dad’s books.”

That made sense, so I felt a little less nervous. Lisa’s books were in a small shelf tucked inside the closet. Julie looked through them and brought one out.

“Let’s try this,” she said.

Holy crow, that book sure did have a lot of sex in it! We found the first sexy part before the end of the second page. It described a man and a woman getting naked and having sex in a lot of detail. I didn’t understand all of the words, but I caught the gist. Pretty soon I could feel that warm, tingly feeling creeping over my body. Julie must have felt it too. She was doing the reading and her voice was getting kind of unsteady towards the end. When the scene was over, her cheeks were flushed pink.

“Wow,” she said, slowly shaking her head, then looked up from the page. “Want to see if there’s more?”

I nodded. This was wrong, God was probably looking down at me and wagging his finger, but I didn’t care one little bit what God was thinking about anything right then. I wanted to hear more. Julie thumbed through the book, then flipped back a couple of pages.

“There we go!” she exclaimed. She shoved the book at me, with her thumb pointing to a place on the page. “Right there. It’s your turn.”

I read the first sentence… then stopped. My mouth felt dry and my heart was beating like crazy. It was describing two women kissing on the mouth, and using their tongues like married men and women do. Julie was watching me. I didn’t want her to think I was scared, so I made myself start reading again.

It went on for a long time, getting wilder and wilder. The women were kissing and touching one another all over, taking all their clothes off, and then using their fingers and even their MOUTHS on each other’s private parts. I found my mind drifting as I read, forming pictures like the story was a movie I was watching. First I was one of those ladies, and the other one was Jason’s girlfriend Lisa. That just popped into my head and it kinda freaked me out, but I kept reading. Then I saw myself doing sex with Officer Felter, and then… Lord God please help me…  I was picturing my new best friend Julie, who was sitting right next to me! I forced my mind back to where it was.

Julie was watching me, her mouth hanging open a bit. She was breathing all shuddery and weird, and I realized I was too. The room felt really warm, and I had that damp feeling in my underwear again. I should stop, I thought. I should stop right now. But I didn’t. I read all the way to the end of the chapter.

When I was done, me and Julie just sat there looking at each other. It was like time was frozen. Finally I had to break the silence. “Do you understand what all these words mean?” I asked her.

“Like what words?”

I thumbed back through the chapter. Those images of naked women wanted to pop right back up in my mind, but I forced them down.

“Like this one. Clitoris. Or here… orgasm.  Do you know what those are?”

“No, I don’t. But I know how we can find out.”

Julie stood up, grabbed my hand and pulled me to my feet. She put the book back on the shelf in the closet, then led me back downstairs, where she sat down at the computer in the living room.

“My computer doesn’t have the internet,” she said. “But Dad’s does!”

That surprised me. “Are… are you allowed to do that?”

“Use the internet? Sure! Dad says if he ever finds porn in the browsing history he’ll put a password on it, but that’s not what we’re looking for. If he asks, we’ll tell him we heard the words and just wanted to find out what they meant. Actually, that’s kind of true, huh?”

We both got giggling. Julie is pretty smart! She typed the word clitoris into the search bar and then we waited. Oh boy, was there lots of stuff! Definitions and pictures and whole websites. The pictures were fascinating. I mean, who knew our privates had this much stuff? Julie was reading aloud from one of the links we clicked.

“The clitoris is stimulated during sex and masturbation to provide pleasurable…”

I cut her off. “Hey! There’s that word you used when I was spending the night. Masturbation! Boy, was I wrong about how to spell it!”

That led to some more searches. What exactly was masturbation, and how did you do it? What about arousal, what’s that? We got a real education, and I was relieved to find out that the wet feeling in my panties (which was getting worse the longer we looked at this stuff) was a normal part of growing up and becoming sexual. Is that happening to me? I wondered. I don’t even have boobs yet!

It took a lot longer than I thought it would. Every search we did led to more questions and more searches. There was one website that suggested looking at your privates with a hand mirror to learn about them and I decided to do that as soon as I could. By then I was pretty sure that I knew what it meant to be aroused because it was happening to me, and I thought it was happening to Julie too.

I was really curious about orgasms. It sounded like the best thing in the world that a person can feel, and the websites we looked at said you could give yourself one by masturbating. I was struggling a little with that.  I was dying to try it but I’d just BET it was a sin.

Eventually, we saw it was getting late and closed the browser. Jason might be getting back any minute, and Julie had promised to start cooking the duck if he was on an ambulance call. We took Benjie for a walk, and when we got back Julie taught me how to prepare a duck for roasting. It’s not as easy as a chicken! But we had fun. We were just sliding it into the oven when Jason showed up.

He came into the kitchen, put an arm around Julie, and kissed the top of her head. He extended an arm to me, and tipped his head a little to the side. I hugged him, and he hugged me back.

“How’s the birdie?” he asked.

“Dead,” Julie replied. She put on a sad face. “We couldn’t save it, Daddy. We did everything we could. It’s resting in peace in the oven.” She cracked up, and I started laughing with her.

Jason snickered. “Do you want me to take over and do the side dishes?” He wanted to know.

Julie looked at me. “Whaddya think? You wanna cook the rest of supper with me, or should we let Old Guy do it and maybe end up with weird mystery food?”

I was getting over being shocked when she said stuff like that, and wanted to get in on the fun. “I think we’d better do it,” I said. “I like eating more when I know what I’m eating!”

“Jesus,” said Jason, rolling his eyes. “Queen Smart Ass, and Smart Ass in Training. Keep talking, you’ll both be cleaning the toilet with a toothbrush after dinner.” He left the kitchen.

Julie and I decided to do turnips and green beans to go with the duck, and after we put the turnips on to boil we wandered out into the living room with a little time to kill. Jason was in the new bathroom doing some kind of work. Julie grabbed an acoustic guitar off the wall and started strumming some chords. She’s not nearly as good as her dad but it was decent. I turned on the keyboard and just kind of made up a melody to go along with it.

After a minute or so Jason poked his head out of the bathroom and said, “Hey, look at that! Maybe monkeys can use tools after all.”

Julie stuck her tongue out at him and kept playing. We kept it up for a few minutes, then went back to check the food.

“How long have you been taking lessons?” she asked.

“Since I was six,” I said.

Julie looked impressed. “I’ve been playing guitar about a year,” she told me. “I’m not always the best about practicing, though. I like playing, and Dad says I have a good ear, but I’m not going to get where I want to be if I don’t work at it more.”

Julie and I finished preparing dinner, and the three of us sat down to eat. The Hansons don’t pray before meals, but it didn’t bother me. Food seems to work just fine whether God blesses it or not. And seriously, does he bless the food of every single Christian family that asks, all the time? How does he have time for anything else? And what’s wrong with me, that I’m having all these weird thoughts about God?

Never mind. The duck came out perfect, and everything was delicious. Jason complimented our cooking, then told us some funny stories about when he used to tour. He’s been to really cool places and seen some amazing stuff. But before he could finish eating, his pager sounded again. Seventy-three-year-old female, history of heart failure, having difficulty breathing. Jason got up, gave us a quick wave, and disappeared.

Julie and I cleared the table and put away the leftovers. We were just finishing that up when Lisa came home. She hugged and kissed both Julie and me, and her kiss was really close to my lips… any closer and it would have been right on my mouth.

I suddenly felt really warm and tingly. That image popped into my head again of Lisa kissing me with her tongue like those ladies in the book, as we took each other’s clothes off and touched each other all over. I pushed it away. What is WRONG with me?

My Dad called just after that to say he’d be picking me up in half an hour. It completely wrecked the good mood I was in… I didn’t want to go home. I flopped down on the couch and pressed my head back against the cushions.

Lisa sat on the arm of the couch and massaged the back of my neck with her fingers. It felt good, but I was still grumpy. Julie looked at me for a little bit without saying anything, then ran upstairs. She came back with the book we were on in our fantasy series, sat down next to me so our legs were touching, and started to read out loud. I closed my eyes and focused all of my attention on the fantasy in the book, so much better than the reality I had at home. Lisa took her hand away from my neck, then I heard her footsteps cross the room. The stairway door opened and closed, and I could hear her going up. I kept my eyes screwed shut as tight as I could.

I could hear Lisa moving around upstairs, right above where I was sitting, then she came back down. I opened my eyes as the stairway door opened, and then wished I’d left them closed. She was holding one of her books, and it was the same one Julie and I had looked at earlier in the day.

“Julie,” she asked, “were you reading this?”

Julie gave me a guilty look, and I shot a dirty one at her. She’d told me there was no WAY we were gonna get caught!

But when I looked back at Lisa, she was smiling. “That was a ‘yes’,” she said, “and you were both looking at it, weren’t you?”

Julie let out a long sigh, while I nodded my head helplessly. I was wondering how much trouble we were in, but Lisa didn’t look mad. Actually, she seemed kind of amused!

“Okay, girls,” she said. “Or maybe I should do like Jason does and call you ladies. You’re not really little girls anymore.”

Lisa crossed the room and sat down next to Julie, turned sideways a little so she was sort of facing us. The book was on her knee. I love the long skirts she wears, this one was powder blue and plaited. She also had a loose-fitting light green pullover shirt on.

“I don’t mind if you read my books,” she said. “You don’t need to be sneaky about it. All I ask is that they go back the same way I had them. This is part of a series, see?” She pointed to a small number on the binding. Julie looked a little sheepish; she was the one who had taken the book out and put it back.

“These books,” Lisa continued, “are… how shall I say it… kind of adult in nature. Sexual. Did that bother either of you? Or…” and she smiled again, “maybe that’s why you were interested in them in the first place.”

Julie blushed deep red, and I’m sure I looked about the same. Lisa’s smile got even bigger. “It’s okay,” she assured us. “There’s nothing wrong with being curious about sex. My aunt had books like this, and I started sneaking them out of her room when I was about your age. But I won’t make you do that. You can read my books anytime you want.” Her eyes met mine. “Both of you.”

“So it’s really okay?” said Julie.

“Sure,” said Lisa. “You don’t have to hide it. Mallory, you can even borrow one of them to take home, if you want. Would you like that?”

My voice was stuck in my throat, so I just nodded. Lisa rose from the couch and went back upstairs, returning a moment later with another book in her hand.

“Try this one,” she said. “It’s a stand-alone novel instead of a series. You can take it home and read it… just remember to bring it back when you’re finished.” She hesitated. “Or do you think your mom and dad will mind you reading books written for adults?”

I could tell by her face that she knew the answer to THAT question. In a sneaky kind of way she was telling me to make sure they didn’t see it. But I don’t think she has to worry, neither of my parents pays any attention at all to what I do anymore. I could probably read it right there in the living room and Mom wouldn’t even notice. Not that I’m dumb enough to do that!

I just gave her a sneaky sort of smile, took the book from her, then went over to the hook by the front door where my winter coat was hanging and stuffed it in a pocket. Mom just got that coat out of storage, and it’s a big bulky thing with huge pockets. My hat and mittens were in the other pocket, so now there was a bulge on both sides. Perfect! And wouldn’t you just know it, Dad picked that moment to pull up out front.

He never got out of the pickup, just honked the horn. Probably he was embarrassed by the whole ugly scene at the church and didn’t want to talk to anybody.

I got my coat on and hugged Lisa, then Julie. Julie and I hugged for a long, long time, holding onto each other really tight until Dad honked again. I let go of Julie and took hold of the doorknob, but before I could turn it Lisa covered my hand with hers and leaned in close.

“You know where we are if you need us,” she said softly. She kissed my cheek, then straightened up.

Feeling a little dazed, I got myself out the door. The wind had really picked up, and it was cold! I almost ran to the pickup.

Dad and I didn’t really talk on the way home. Just kinda said “Hi” to each other and left it at that. Lisa’s book felt really heavy in my coat pocket. Back at Julie’s house I’d felt sure I could get it home without anyone finding out, but now that Dad was just across the seat from me I felt like it could be seen right through my coat. But that was silly, he barely glanced at me the whole way home. I was more worried about Mom. Would she hug me and feel the lump in my pocket? Would she try to take my coat and hang it up for me?

But neither of those things happened. Mom was — you guessed it — watching TV when we got home. As I walked through the entryway and into the living room still wearing my coat she glanced up and said “Hi, sweetheart. I missed you. Don’t forget to hang up your coat.”

“Oh, I’m gonna leave it on till I warm up,” I told her. “It’s really cold out!”

“Okay, sweetie,” she said. Her attention had already gone back to the TV.

I went straight to my room, closed the door and pulled the book out of my pocket. There’s a little compartment up high in my closet that I found when I was five by climbing up onto the shelf… it goes back up into the ceiling and you can’t see it from the floor. Even standing on a chair I can’t actually see it, but I can reach into it. I’m pretty sure Mom doesn’t know it’s there. I’ve hidden all kinds of stuff in there since then and nobody has ever found any of it! Dad grew up in this house, but this wasn’t his room so I don’t think he knows about it either. There sure are advantages to living in a hundred-year-old farmhouse! I’ve been keeping this diary there. I got up on a chair and stuffed the book in there along with it, making sure to listen for footsteps on the stairs the whole time.

I went back downstairs and hung my coat up in the entryway. Mom’s program was ending, so she turned the TV off with the remote and got up as I came back into the living room. She gave me a hug that felt sad and stiff after the ones I’d had at Julie’s house.

“I’m going to bed,” she said in a flat voice. “Make sure you’re in bed on time, you have school tomorrow. I love you.” She turned, walked past Dad as if he wasn’t there and kept going down the hall towards their room. Dad sat down where she’d been and turned the TV back on, flipping through the channels till he found the news.

“I’m taking a bath,” I announced. He didn’t even look my way, just grunted.

I ran upstairs and got my pajamas, then came back down and locked myself in the bathroom. I got naked while my bath was running, then climbed in and lay back, closing my eyes.

Whenever I’m taking a bath and in no hurry to get out, I like to let my imagination wander, and right then, that’s exactly what I was in the mood for. First, I pictured myself in the fantasy universe Julie and I liked to read about, then imagined I was out on the road at some of the crazy gigs Jason had been telling us about. I saw myself as the star, with tens of thousands of people cheering for me. But really, I didn’t need anything that fancy. I just wanted to be anywhere but in this gloomy house.

So where, I wondered, is the best place I could be right now? That was easy, wherever Julie was. Getting hugged by her, and hugging her back. Then I imagined Lisa pulling us both into a giant group hug. Then it became more. We were touching each other all over, taking turns kissing one another on the mouth.

My eyes flew open. Stop it, I told myself. But I didn’t really want to — that tingly feeling was back.

Suddenly I had a thought. I got out of the tub, dripping water all over the floor. I dug around in the top drawer of the cabinet until I found the hand mirror Mom kept in there, then sat back down in the tub and pulled the plug. As the water ran out, I pulled my legs back so my knees were nearly touching my chest. Plucking the mirror from the edge of the tub, I slowly reached down with my free hand, feeling kind of jittery. The only time I ever touched myself there before was when I’m washing in the bath, or wiping after I pee.

I ran my hand across the outside of my – vulva. That’s the word all the websites use. When I did that, I shivered with excitement. I was feeling super-tingly! I worked my fingers down to where it opens, then brought the hand mirror down so I could see. Finally, using my thumb and a finger, I pulled the lips apart.

I took my time, putting my fingers on everything, thinking back to the words me and Julie saw online. The big lips on the outside are the labia majora, so these smaller ones must be the labia minora. Mine are hardly even there! The hole down at the bottom, that’s the vagina. It feels wetter than the rest of it… I don’t think that’s just damp from my bath! It’s more slippery than water. It feels especially good to run my fingers around the outside.

So if I go up a little more… where the heck is my urethra? I think that’s it. Forget about it. Moving along, a little bit higher… a strange fluttery feeling ran through me when I brushed a finger across my clitoris. I sucked in my breath. Once the tingling had stopped, I moved my fingers again, this time pushing down and drawing a little circle. That was nice, but when I touched my clitoris again this HUGE wave went through my body, starting down there and shooting up and out in every direction. I shuddered, and a little whimper escaped my lips.

I jerked my hand away. What on earth was that?!

I got out of there. I dried myself off, used the towel to mop up the water I’d dripped on the floor, then put on my PJs. Dad didn’t even look up from the TV as I passed him in the living room and got myself upstairs as fast as I could.

There was still time before I needed to go to bed, and the main thing I wanted to do was write in my diary about everything that happened that day. But when I got up on the chair and reached into my little hidey-hole, the first thing my hand found wasn’t my diary, but Lisa’s book.

I took them both down. I don’t worry about my parents coming upstairs after I’m in bed, they never do. There’s nothing up here except my bedroom and a storage room where Mom keeps seasonal stuff like winter coats and Christmas decorations.

I got onto my bed, propped a couple of pillows against the headboard and laid back against them. I’ll read a little of the book first, I decided. Just to see what it’s about.

It was a story about two ladies. One of them was in her thirties, made a lot of money, and liked women instead of men… a lesbian. The other was eighteen and really confused about everything. It wasn’t a very good book; I was thinking before the end of the first chapter that the fantasy novels Julie and I read were written a lot better. I started flipping ahead, just to see if anything exciting was going to happen.

It didn’t take long! I found a scene where the two women are alone together. For the younger lady it was her first time ever, and the older one was showing her what to do. My mind started forming pictures. I was the younger woman, and the older lady became Lisa. She was doing all the things the older woman in the story was doing, but in my mind she did them to me. I could almost feel her hands and her mouth caressing me, touching me, tasting me, loving me. My body felt like it was on fire, and my breath was coming in shuddery gasps. Almost by themselves, my hands were running up and down the inside of my thighs, coming almost all the way up to my privates… to my vulva. I’m not sure I like that word.

Thinking back to when I was in the bathtub, I pushed my pajama bottoms and my panties down and off, kicking them onto the carpet. With the book in my left hand, I reached down between my legs with the right. I started to read again, and began stroking my outer lips… my labia. I could feel a little bit of slippery moisture between the lips, especially down close to the bottom. Like before, I started pushing down harder and rubbing in a circle, and after a few seconds that wave hit me again. I gasped, pressed my head back against the pillow, and my butt lifted off the bed without me actually doing it.

This time I didn’t stop… I wanted more. Where has this been all my life? I slid the tip of my middle finger down into the slit. It was really wet and slippery there, and I liked the way it felt. Then I ran my finger around the outside edge of my vagina, and I liked that even better! I was tempted for a second to put my finger inside, but I wasn’t quite that brave. What if it hurt?

My finger was all gooey now, and I moved it up to the little bud of my clitoris. By now I was aching with need and didn’t want to wait — I started rubbing it right away, doing those slow little circles. A few seconds later one of those waves hit me again, stronger than before. I had to suck in my breath to keep from moaning out loud. I usually don’t worry too much about making noise in my room, cause the TV is usually on downstairs if someone’s up, and Mom and Dad’s bedroom is at the opposite end of the house. But this was something I did NOT want to get caught doing!

I kept going, the waves kept coming, and every one of them felt amazing. They were coming faster and harder… and I was rubbing pretty fast and hard, too! My breath was coming in short gasps. Something was rising inside of my body, something big and powerful and heavenly and…

All at once I stopped, horrified. What was I doing? Would God like it? I was pretty sure he wouldn’t.

Pulling the blanket up over my head, I scrunched myself into a ball. The hand I’d been using between my legs was near my face, and suddenly I was breathing in what I smelled like down there. It shocked me to realize that I liked it.

Nothing could keep me from doing what I did then. I brought those sticky, wet fingers right up to my nose and drew in a deep breath. I shivered, feeling a powerful urge to put my hand back down there and finish what I had started. Somehow I resisted. Instead, I prayed. Oh Heavenly Father, please forgive this sinner for what she has done tonight. Take these feelings and thoughts away, please, and I’ll try much harder from now on to obey your commandments and honor your word. In the name of your son, my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, Amen.

I was trembling all over, almost crying. I pulled my legs up to my chest and wrapped both arms around them. I was naked from the waist down and my light was still on, but I didn’t care. Curled up tight with my head under the blanket, I could smell the juices on my fingers and probably also between my legs, and I didn’t care about that either. I’m not sure how long I lay there like that, but eventually I drifted off to sleep.

On to Chapter Five!

For a detailed breakdown of this story’s chapters, please consult the Chapter Links.

by kinkychic and kinky’s_sis

Chapter Eight: Encounter In Gibraltar

 

Mister Walpole, the British Prime Minister, had asked me to attend on him one last time. Then we would be free to be on our way. Another gentleman was introduced to me as the Foreign Secretary.

“Good morning, Captain Dawlish, Sir.” That word sir still put a chill in my bones. “We have a request, one or two really, that we would like to put to you. I must stress that whatever you decide is entirely your right and choice. But your country would be grateful should you decide to assist us.”

He moved to a large map of the Mediterranean that was tacked upon the wall. “You will, I’m sure, be aware of our recent problems with the Spanish, although it was all supposed to have been resolved last year. Between you and me, I don’t trust them and I would very much like to know what they’re up to – are they strengthening their fleet and so on.”

He waited to see if I concurred. “Your status is somewhat unusual. You are not under our command, yet you are not a privateer as such. So, what exactly are you? In law, you are a private citizen free to do as you choose. In practice, you have a formidable fighting force. His Majesty would very much like you to be working with us, even if you’re not directly under our command. Do you follow me so far, Captain?”

I must confess, I rather liked the notion of where this might be going, but what had the Mediterranean to do with it?

“We, with some considerable opposition from certain quarters, would suggest that you carry the status of Royal Ranger,” Walpole said. “You would carry the appropriate documents to confirm your situation. Admiral Sir Fleming wants you back in the Caribbean, but we want you here, for now at least.”

He tapped the chart.

“The Navy is stretched far and wide,” he said. “We simply don’t have enough ships in any one place to make an effective force. You now have two of the fastest ships compared to any navy, and they should be put to good use. We have two objectives in mind. One is to find out what the Spanish are up to. Are their fleets truly at rest, or are they being refitted and readied for conflict?

“The second objective is rather different. Have you heard of the Barbary pirates?”

“To be honest, I thought them something of a joke,” I said.

“I can assure you, Captain, they are no joke. They attack merchant ships of all European nations sailing in the Mediterranean, as well as raiding the northern shores. They have taken somewhere around a million white slaves over the last fifty years or so. They use galleys with both sail and oars, and each ship has a huge, spiked ram. They can carry anything up to five hundred men, and they are quite formidable.

“The Spanish, French, and Italian states, as well as His Majesty’s government, will pay a bounty for any captured galley. They operate mainly from these ports on the Barbary Coast.” He indicated Salé, Rabat, Algiers, Tunis and Tripoli. “But if you get the opportunity, I want them sunk. The one problem with that is, many are rowed by slaves, but some by crack crews. Naturally, we don’t expect you to sink the prisoners.

“If you are agreed, I will have the documents and your orders drawn up at once. You would have your own colours to fly, and our ships would be advised accordingly. A warning though, Captain. do not get yourself captured by these pirates. We would never see you again.”

This seemed a rewarding endeavour, but it wasn’t a decision I could make on my own. I asked for two days before I would give my answer. I was wondering how many of my men I would lose. They were rich now, and some would want to enjoy their wealth rather than run about the globe in pursuit of the King’s enemies.

***

In the event, we only lost eleven of the crew, none of great importance. Davy and Taylor told me there were over sixty good men and plenty who were ready to join us, though many were inexperienced. We wouldn’t be short-handed. All of my officers were keen on the adventure. I also took on the services of a Naval captain’s clerk. He was an affable fellow who preferred to be at sea, though not in any fighting capacity. He would serve as a part-qualified accountant and a scribe. He would, of course, learn my identity in time. An extra bit of coin in his purse would keep him from divulging it, should he choose to return to England.

The only significant questions from the crew had to do with status and discipline. The men would not be Naval personnel, nor would they be treated as such. Our status would be ill-defined – something between a merchantman, a privateer, or a mercenary – but with the King’s authority behind us. Our code of discipline would remain as it always had been, so long as the men recognised the ships were mine and I could not be overthrown. I emphasised that any man was free to leave, at any time, should he so choose.

Three days later and we sailed into strong winds through the Thames Estuary, which meant a considerable number of tacks before we made the English Channel. Then the wind was with us and I had a chance to see how the Royal Siren flew before it. We achieved an astonishing fourteen knots. She was indeed fast.

I saw distinct pride in the faces of the sail handlers. They were clearly delighted with what their rejuvenated ship could do. “She flies, Captain,” the sail master said. “The best ship I ever handled. We will run circles ’round them dons and barbarians.”

The weather moderated for our crossing of the notorious Bay of Biscay, where some of the highest seas in the world may be encountered and many ships have been lost. I took the opportunity to roll out our new guns, and to see what our new crew were made of. Down past Portugal we continued, as the guns roared out again and again. We tacked many times. By the time we reached Gibraltar, I was content. We were a true fighting force.

Gibraltar was nothing more than a garrison town that housed a few thousand British soldiers and a newly constructed Naval base, as well as the wealth of drinking establishments and whorehouses that spring up wherever the British plant their flag. How they all got there was a puzzle to me, as Gibraltar was cut off from the mainland and constantly under threat from the Spanish.

“Have your fun, but there will be no fighting with the Army,” I told the men. “We sail in three days. Find yourself in a cell, and you’ll be left behind.”

I paid my respects to the Port Admiral’s office. It was imperative that he be made aware of our presence and our purpose. At first, he scoffed. “Royal Ranger, indeed, acting independently? And with a boy in command! Quite absurd, if I may say.”

“As you please,” I said. “But my successes speak for themselves, and the King evidently agrees. You may address me as Sir Bren.”

“Hmph!”

Holding my temper, I explained in detail what we were about, and the advantage to his operations of our freedom and speed of movement. He appeared somewhat mollified and grudgingly admitted that we might be of some use. He would reserve judgement. “But don’t go getting yourselves in trouble, I don’t have ships to spare to come looking for some young pirate – ” He stopped mid-sentence. “I beg your pardon, Sir Bren. A poor choice of words.”

He looked at me intently. Such moments had begun to make me anxious. What did he see? His Majesty had kept my secret, I supposed, because it amused him, and to reveal it would undermine the goodwill my presence had built up with his subjects. The popinjay before me would have no such qualms.

“Well,” he said at last, “the King and the Prime Minister seem to have placed a great deal of faith in you. I trust it’s warranted. I suggest it’s for you to get yourselves out there and convince me.”

He glanced at the orders I had delivered. “You have free access to the dockyard and for victualling. When do you plan on sailing?”

“Admiral, this situation is as new to me as it is to you,” I replied. “We are here to assist you and the rest of the Mediterranean fleet. We shall learn as we go. As to getting in trouble — it’s what I do best, but I always come out on top. The Royal Siren is the fastest ship you have ever seen. No Spaniard or Barbary pirate will catch me … unless I want him to.”

***

There was one more function to attend. I might have refused, but the admiral’s nose was already far enough out of joint, and I thought it best to be polite.

It was a pleasant enough affair. I would guess about a hundred sat for a superb dinner, though I have no idea who made the seating arrangements, which were not at all to my liking. Marianna, Jensen, and I were split quite far apart. I had the pompous admiral on one side and some general on the other, which brought home to me just how much my world had changed, and how much I had to lose.

Watching Marianna, I saw how at ease she was and how clearly she relished the attention she received. This had been her world and she knew how to deal with whatever came her way. Once again, her presence bolstered my reputation as a virile young man.

The general tried his best to put me at my ease, but he was quite uncertain of how I fit into his society. I was a Knight of the Realm and a captain of questionable status. Yet, to him, I was almost a child, and he found it difficult to believe the stories he’d heard of me.

The dinner was over, but not the proceedings.

“Your attention, please, for Captain Sir Thomas Jensen.”

Tom had, by now, polished the story of the Siren and the seventy-four into a smashing yarn. I was more than happy to give him the floor. Recounting the tale myself always made me feel I was boasting. The general glanced at me several times as Tom spoke. When he got to the end, the crowd rose, the ladies clapped, and the men mostly thumped the tables. It was a deafening sound.

After everyone was reseated, it was the general who rose to make the reply. For a moment he spluttered a little, as if at a loss for words. But he pulled himself together.

“I will begin with a confession,” he said. “When first I heard of our good captain’s exploits, I rather thought them hugely exaggerated. Then when I first met him this evening, I felt confirmed in my belief. How could such a young man, almost a boy, possibly have directed such naval actions? It’s quite beyond understanding.”

He paused to gather his thoughts. “Yet, now we are told the story. A story of daring, of bravery under fire, of decisions made faster than the blink of an eye. And, as I understand it, it’s only one of other such actions … one of which it would be indelicate to mention.”

This last caused a ripple of laughter, especially from among the officers of the Army.

“Now I must reappraise my thoughts,” the general continued. “They were clearly wrong. We have a gallant captain, and what’s more, he fights for us. He brings a force of his own to be thrown at the enemy. I ask you, ladies and gentlemen, raise a glass to both Captain Sir Bren Dawlish and Captain Sir Thomas Jenson.”

Shortly afterward, I somehow managed to sneak away, leaving both Jensen and Marianna surrounded by admirers. No doubt many were curious as to Marianna’s heritage. I took my glass of fine claret and wandered outside to a balcony, where I admired the view of the harbour.

A voice interrupted my reverie. “Captain, may I intrude?”

I turned to find an angel standing beside me. Her poise and confidence were obvious, yet she appeared to be no more than fifteen years of age.

Her beauty was quite startling, with a fragility one wanted to protect, yet with an unmistakable strength beneath. Too late, I realised I was staring at her. She laughed with a sweet tinkling sound.

“I am used to stares, Captain,” she said. “I usually don’t want them, but from you…” She allowed the sentence to go unfinished. “I hear things – of the beautiful Doña Marianna and you…” She held out a hand, “Will you walk with me, Captain? I would not be offended if you decline, but I would not forgive myself if I didn’t at least try.”

I didn’t mean to be rude, but nonetheless, I was.

“Girl, go away. You don’t know what you’re asking. Play your games with someone else.”

Her hand didn’t waver.

“Captain, it’s no game,” she said. “I will go if that’s what you want, but I ask – are you sure?”

I have no idea what possessed me, but I found myself taking her hand. We descended the steps into the garden. She seemed to know where she was going, so I let her lead the way. She suddenly held me back.

“Captain, don’t misunderstand,” she said. “I will not come between you and your woman, but if I may take a moment of your time, will you kiss me?”

I didn’t get much of a chance to decide. She went up on her toes and planted her lips on mine. I found myself kissing her back and drawing her up into my arms. There was need and urgency in her kiss, even though it seemed wholly inexperienced. Our embrace rapidly became more passionate, until she pulled back with a jerk. “Shall we go and sit? I know a place.”

I hesitated, and she noticed. “For just one moment of your life, Captain, you can make a lonely girl happy. That’s all I ask, nothing more.” She was gently tugging at my hand. “Please.”

I felt myself follow as she led me around several corners to a bench concealed in the shadows. It was an insane risk, but the prospect of taking her full young breasts in hand was proving difficult to resist. And if I kept my breeches on, this naive child would be none the wiser.

She leapt into my arms, her lips hard to mine, barely pausing for breath. “Will you…” Now her uncertainty showed, although I could barely see her face. Her poise was gone. It had got her this far, but now –

“I don’t even know your name,” I said.

She answered in a quiet, even timid, voice. “My name is Geraldine. My father is an Army major, my mother is dead. I’ve never done anything like this before, but I have thought about it. My feelings are so very real. Then this evening I saw you. I knew… it had to be you. It took every bit of my courage. I tried so hard to look experienced, to show you that I wasn’t just a child. I haven’t succeeded, have I?”

I kissed her forehead. “Perhaps you have, Geraldine. You are remarkably beautiful, I believe you are aware of that. I would guess Gibraltar is not the easiest of places in which to gain experience. Yet I assure you, it can be done. Now, shall we not kiss once more?”

She melted into my arms. She wasn’t trying to impress me, she merely wanted to be loved, if only for a moment. I eased open the fastenings of her bodice, and a breast came into my hand. For a moment I regretted that I could not see clearly, but in the darkness, with only my sense of touch to guide me, I savoured all the more the weight, the even texture, the perfection of form. Her nipples quickly stiffened beneath my fingers. Her sigh of pleasure was a delight to hear.

Soon her hands were fumbling along my chest, and further down. I pushed her back. “No,” I said. “It’s your pleasure that matters.”

“Please,” she said. “I want to learn. Allow me, and I swear to you – I won’t tell anyone you’re a woman.”

Astonishment froze me rigid.

“I knew the moment you entered the hall,” she went on.

“You’re not such a child, after all.”

“I saw myself in you. Dressed as a man, leading a man’s life – meeting them on their own terms and beating them. And the fools have no conception. It’s the most exciting thing I’ve ever heard of.”

“Yes,” I said. “Women love a woman in uniform.”

“Don’t make fun!” she laughed, with a playful smack to my hand. “Quickly, before they miss us.”

I removed the sash from my waist, the coat was tossed aside, and the buttons to my shirt were soon undone. I hesitated at the clips to my breeches, but she nodded once more. I went to pull her close again, but instead, she held me back. She spread my shirt wide, exposing my breasts. She felt them in the darkness, as I had done hers. “So firm,” she said. Her hands covered each one and she took my nipples between her fingers, rolling them softly. I could just see her expression as she marvelled at how they grew.

I pulled her closer. “Kiss them, suck on them.”

She glanced up at me with a look of surprise. “Really?” But she bent her head and surrounded one nipple with her lips. I felt the uncertain touch of her tongue caress the tip before she drew it into her mouth.

I lifted the girl’s skirt, feeling the smooth warmth of her thighs and the wetness between her legs. She jolted at the touch but then pressed forward as my fingers eased further into her depths. Her hand forced its way into the front of my breeches, and her fingers found my pussy. Now she seemed uncertain.

“Feel my fingers in you, Geraldine,” I said. “I’m going to play… oh, fuck it! I’m going to fuck your virgin cunt. Do as I do. Fuck me as well. You hear?”

She sighed as I felt the heat of her need. “Yes, Captain. I will … fuck your cunt.”

“No need to be formal. You may call me Bren.”

“I prefer Captain.”

“As you please.”

Her fingers went between my lips, sliding easily into me. My pussy was dripping by now. I needed this child – her admiration flattered and excited me. She copied my movements, fucking me as I fucked her.

I had forgotten her hand on my tit, but then it squeezed, more firmly and confidently. I pulled her nipple, twisting it between my fingers. Again, she did the same.

“Harder, girl,” I said. “As hard as you like.”

I moved to her clit and gave it a pinch. This time, she yelped, then: “Oh, do that again!”

She was a bright, eager student. Soon she was rolling my clit between two fingers. When I shivered, she rubbed it up and down, pressing as she stroked. I briefly thought she must be remembering what she does to herself. But was she? It was an intriguing game, guessing just how much this girl knew.

“Are you able to come?” I asked.

“What is that?”

“A peak of pleasure – ”

“Yes! Yes, I do!”

Then, suddenly, I was coming myself. I hadn’t expected to, not so quickly. But I was on the balls of my feet and shaking violently as my orgasm engulfed me.

I heard clapping, and then a gasp. The gasp was from Geraldine. The applause was Marianna’s.

“So beautiful to see!” she said. “You clever little girl, how you have made my Bren come! You will now come to me and I will take you there.”

She took hold of Geraldine’s shoulders and laid her gently on the bench, her skirts hiked above her waist. She straddled the girl, hiding her face within her skirts, and bent down towards the child’s exposed pussy. “Now do as I do.”

There was a muffled reply. Marianna licked the glistening lips from top to bottom, then dipped her tongue slowly between.

“I’m waiting, girl. If you want me to go on, then you must return the favour.” Suddenly she sighed. “Oh yes, that’s better!”

She dived back into Geraldine’s cunt. I listened to the sucking and slurping in the dim light. The girl raised her knees, then her hips as she begged for more. I knew Marianna would have her girl coming in no time, and so it was. Geraldine’s legs extended straight and stiff, but they were shaking.

Marianna raised her head to look at me, “Kiss me, my darling… ooh, dio mio, muy bueno.” I obliged, and felt her coming through the kiss. When we parted, she said, “Now help me off before I suffocate the girl.”

Geraldine lay with a look of bliss on her face, even as she gasped for air. When her breathing had eased, she said, “Help me up, please.”

We sat down on either side of her and she held both our hands. “You just made my dreams come true. Not just one, but two of you. And words that I had dared not speak, but you did, you spoke them freely. You fucked my cunt and, more importantly, I fucked yours, Captain, and I sucked yours, Marianna.”

We straightened our clothes. I suggested we stroll arm in arm, with Geraldine in between, around the front of the building. “Anyone seeing us will think we’ve just had a pleasant walk and not a glorious fuck,” I said. That had Geraldine giggling more like the girl she really was. Or had been.

We stopped by before the grand entrance. “I’m here for at least another eighteen months,” Geraldine said. “So anytime you are passing and would like to give a young girl a fuck, come find me.” She began to walk away, but turned back. “Now when I play with my pussy, I have two beautiful ladies to dream about.” She handed me a card and skipped up the steps.

***

It was a bad night to be sailing east in the Mediterranean. The waves were mountainous, crashing across the deck. We had barely any sail on, only sufficient to keep us pointing into the roiling seas.

Only hours after departing Gibraltar and the sweet Geraldine, the storm had struck, bringing the highest seas I had ever experienced. One swell after another towered above us. The ship would somehow fight its way to the top, then plunge into the depths below. At times it seemed we would not rise again as we disappeared beneath another mountain of water.

Somehow though, we would rise, and I would release my breath. And so it went, hour after hour. We had long since lost sight of the Royal Majestic. God knew where she would be in the morning if we or she survived.

A dismal light heralded the day. The sailing master yelled, “Wind be easing, Captain.” It had abated the smallest amount.

Another two hours and the wind had dropped considerably, though the sea still rolled like moving hills. As expected, there was no sign of the Majestic. Jensen and I had agreed that if we were to become separated, we would head for the Spanish coast and search for one another between Malaga and Cartagena. We were not to approach Cartagena too closely, however, as there could be any number of Spanish ships inside the bay that hid the anchorage.

But we found the Majestic easily enough. She had got through the storm with only superficial damage. Once reunited, we sailed from port to port without encountering any sign of unusual activity. Most of the Spanish ships that crossed our path were clearly not in any state of readiness for war. I saw little that should concern the admiral. The Spanish, in their turn, ignored us, all except for one place known as Roses.

This port had been raided often by the Barbary pirates. Several defensive fortifications had been built in response, but to no avail. The pirates still came.

We anchored in the bay to purchase fresh supplies. When the garrison learned of our intentions, their poorly hidden antagonism turned to offers of help. We were feted as friends. Services were provided to make good our storm damage. In fact, they couldn’t do enough for us.

Two senior Spanish naval officers asked permission to come aboard. They offered to sail with us, which I declined, though I was grateful for their intelligence as to the Barbary pirates’ methods. It seemed their galleys generally carried only one cannon of any significance, usually a twenty-four-pounder mounted at the bow, which meant it could be brought to bear only when the galley was pointed directly at its prey. They would try to ram with their huge spike and then board over their bow. On the other hand, they would run for cover at the sight of a warship.

It seemed everyone in the town wanted to meet us. Even a nunnery, one which had suffered at the pirates’ hands, wanted us to come and take prayers with them.

“What?” I exclaimed. “Me in a nunnery? Surely, you’re not serious, Marianna.”

“Oh, but I am. I’ve seen this order of nuns before. They have novitiates down to very tender ages – flat-chested things as young as nine or ten. Now, why do you suppose that is?”

“Well, they’re religious. They say prayers, they meditate, and whatever devout women do … don’t they?”

“The order was established a long time ago to help penitent women such as whores and fallen girls. I would guess at some naughty things in addition to their prayers. It might be worth our time to pay a visit. The one in Malta is quite famous. This one, I’ve not heard of.”

The church was dedicated to Saint Mary Magdalene, and its interior was stunningly beautiful. The order was obviously not poor. There was a building next door where the nuns spent most of their time, and another in which the “fallen” women were housed. We were shown into what was clearly the dining hall, although I would hardly call the simple meal of wine, bread, cheese, and olives “dining.”

First, we were greeted by each nun with a sort of virginal embrace. Marianna, to their delight, addressed them in Spanish. She asked them a question, so I gathered, as she held for their inspection a small vial she had drawn from her bosom. “Si! Si!” the nuns said, nodding vigorously.

Marianna took the younger girls aside for what looked to me like some solemn Popish ritual. They stepped up to her in turn, hands folded in prayer-like fashion, and Marianna anointed each one with a drop from the vial, making the sign of the cross first on the girl’s forehead, and then on her lips. My mischievous sweetheart had become the serpent in the garden.

As we took our seats at the table, I asked her, “What did you tell them it was?”

“Holy water, blessed by Saint Catherine herself.”

“You’re a superstitious lot,” I said.

“Do you mock our faith?”

The bread was scarcely broken before the girls began to grow restless, then visibly agitated. A few pairs held hands, while others seemed to be reaching beneath the table into their neighbour’s lap.

I wasn’t the only one who noticed. The Mother Superior, along with one or two of the other nuns, was looking askance at her charges. She turned to me, at a loss to explain this extraordinary behaviour. I smiled and shrugged. “We’re all sisters, are we not?” I said.

She wasn’t sure whether she should betray shock at my words — my admission. But then she smiled and said something in Spanish. “Muéstrales a estas chicas lo que haces.” I glanced at Marianna to be certain that I had correctly understood. “Show these girls what you do,” she had said.

A number of the nuns embraced each other swiftly. Soon they were kissing, with their hands clutching one another’s breasts through their heavy clothes. Habits were being pulled up. The Mother Superior looked at me expectantly, as if waiting for some kind of signal. I turned and gave Marianna a short but passionate kiss.

The Mother Superior smiled and spoke again.

There was a scraping of benches, and a crowd of nuns rushed around to us. In seconds we were both stripped naked. We were then lifted and carried to a long empty table, and there we were laid out whilst the nuns all tore off their habits. So many pairs of hands touched us that our entire bodies were caressed and teased. No one penetrated us in any way, yet still, my arousal soared at this public molestation.

I heard another command, and the nuns stepped away to make room for four young ones to climb onto the table – two for each of us.

Marianna’s head was almost touching mine, our bodies stretched in opposite directions. One girl lowered herself to Marianna’s face, her arsehole winking at me as her pussy descended. Then the same thing happened to me – a little slit pressed to my lips and wiggled, awaiting my tongue. I also felt the weight of a second girl on my tits and her warm breath between my spread legs.

I almost laughed as a thought crossed my mind: this made two religious orders Marianna and I had shared our bodies with. Perhaps there was more to a life of devotion than I had imagined.

I pressed my tongue into the eager young slit. The girl rocked herself, her pussy sliding back and forth as I licked. The young nun between my legs was obviously experienced and capable. Her tongue and fingers were everywhere, one sensation following another as they darted about. My legs were lifted, and something soft and creamy was rubbed on my arsehole. I immediately guessed what was to come – and where!

Something tapped at my expectant hole, then pressed. The lubrication allowed almost instant access. Its girth must have increased considerably as this mysterious thing went deeper. I felt a moment of panic, thinking, No, it’s too big! These girls, however, knew what they were doing; the thing rested a moment, allowing me to stretch. Then it pressed again. I felt naked thighs against mine and knew it was now all the way in. Another short rest, and then whoever wielded the weapon began to fuck me, slowly at first, but then continually faster, her thighs banging against the cheeks of my arse.

I was being gloriously assaulted by three of them. One fucked my arse, another attacked my clit, and the third smeared her cunt about my face. I was in heaven – an apt comparison, given our location.

Needing to breathe, I lifted the young nun from my face, which gave me a quick glimpse of the rear of the one on my tits. The girl I’d been licking had fingers in both her arse and her pussy. It seemed everyone was being attended to.

The nun plumped back down on my mouth, obviously frustrated that I had lifted her. Her dripping cunt landed hard, but she had stopped her gyrations. I knew she was on the verge. I went back to her clit, my tongue working speedily. Then her hips jerked, and she came. Little squirts bathed my face one after the other as her orgasm continued.

The tongue at my clit withdrew, replaced by what must have been another huge phallus. God, how they fucked me, driving me wild as I reached my peak. I lay there gasping with my eyes closed. Marianna’s voice broke through the mist of my dazed mind. She had slithered along the table until her head was beside mine.

“You see? I told you it was a good idea, our coming here,” she said. “Now, kiss me, my love.”

When we descended from the table, I saw other girls and women—not nuns, for they were dressed in more everyday clothes – those that were dressed, that is. They had come to watch the proceedings and naturally some had joined in. I guessed these were the penitent whores.

Six girls were standing in front of Marianna and me, gazing at us with the most otherworldly expressions. They appeared to range in age between twelve and about fourteen. These were the three who had climbed on the table or been fucking our arses. I gathered my three to me in a warm embrace, for they richly deserved it.

Most of the nuns had finished, but a few were still busy. I do confess to never having seen the like.

The Mother Superior, now naked herself, brought us fresh glasses of wine. She also held an alms box in her hand.

“I hope you have enjoyed your visit to our order,” she said. “Few are welcomed as you have been, but as you yourself said, we are all sisters. May I be so bold to ask if you would care to make a small contribution to our funds? We are in desperate need.”

I somehow found that hard to believe, but I’d had a fine time, and a donation was the least I could do. Her controlled demeanour slipped a little when she saw how many gold coins I dropped into the box.

It was the strangest sight you could ever have seen: a gaggle of nuns – all thoroughly naked – kneeling and praying for our safety in the fight against the barbarians. Surely, the Lord looked favourably on such a demonstration.

It was with shaky legs that we made our way back to the harbour. The following morning, we set a southerly course for Africa.

On to Chapter Nine!