Chapter 9

Helen had hosted the Thorntons, Murphys, and Johanssons at the Turner home for Christmas Eve. Jake had a wonderful time; it was easy to be happy surrounded by people as good as these were. They attended midnight Mass together, then parted ways at the church steps, full of the spirit of the occasion.

Christmas morning was more of the same as Melissa and Jake sat by the tree passing gifts to his newly extended family. At ten, the Diazes dropped in bringing gifts and homemade cookies. Jake scarfed down some cookies then rummaged under the tree for their gifts. He and Melissa had gone overboard for little Anita, but it was worth it watching her excitedly tearing off gift-wrap with extra-bright eyes.

Jake and Melissa had a special gift for Louisa they managed to give her later. They had arranged for Louisa to get her GED and had a check for her to pay for a year's worth of evening courses at Stetson. They also gave her a gold necklace with three intertwined hearts. Louisa held the check, too stunned to speak, as Jake pulled her hair out of the way and fastened on the necklace. Louisa thought that this had to be some kind of fantastical dream. From mopping around the house in Houston to having lovers, horses, and college, all in the space of six months, was unbelievable.

The week between Christmas and New Years was relaxing after the frenetic pace of the week before. Visiting friends and introducing the Murphys around were the short list on the agenda for Jake. Melissa, as usual, threw herself into work, tidying up end-of-year details. Jake did find time to talk with Melissa and Charles Turner about Sean Murphy senior. Jake had concluded that, with all the retail business they were doing, it was time to look at corporate security and loss prevention.

Who better to head up loss prevention than an experienced big-city robbery detective? Melissa bought off on the idea right away. Employee pilfering was becoming an onerous operating expense for the expanding TnT and Thornton. Reducing theft from construction sites by ten percent would, by itself, pay for an entire loss prevention department. Jake himself approached Murphy with the offer. Sean senior said he would have to discuss it with the real boss and would let Jake know their decision before they departed on the third of January. Jake was hopeful they would seriously consider the offer. He knew they loved the area so far, plus the salary would be a definite upward move.

It was New Years Eve before they knew it. Maria's party had been such a success last year that she was throwing another. When Jake and company arrived at the Thornton mansion most of the other guests were already there. In addition to last year's crowd, the Murphys, Terry and Dawn, plus more people from Thornton Development were on hand. Maria's law practice had grown in parallel with the expansion of the Turner and Thorntons' business empires.

The ranch was baby sitter central as Carmen was nominally in charge of watching everyone's children. In reality, she only had to personally deal with Anita and Billy Greer junior, the rest of the kids were actually old enough to amuse themselves.

Jake watched with interest the dynamics of the festive crowd as it split into roughly three groups. One group was the more conservative bunch from the Country Club and most of the Thornton people. Another was the core of family and friends that had had such a good time last year. The third consisted of the younger people; they were partying here instead of the country club this year. Jake and Melissa moved freely among the groups, but spent most of their time with the looser adult segment.

Jake had no doubt that there would be some commingling before the night was over as everyone was particularly lovey-dovey and lubricity was increasing as the punchbowls drained. Jake figured that Melissa was thinking of last year also when she tugged him over to talk to the Greers. Jake had to admit that Bill and Vickie were an attractive couple. Vickie had worked at turning Bill into a dapper gent with great success.

After greeting most everyone, Jake and Melissa headed for the bar. Jake got them both a drink and pulled Melissa aside to reaffirm some guidelines.

"Muffy, I want you to have fun and enjoy yourself however you want. I won't get angry or jealous -- no matter what."

"Thank you, Baby," Melissa replied. "I don't have any specific plans but I appreciate the thought. Let's just play it by ear, OK?"

"Sure, Honey, just remember that I'm gonna still love you regardless of what might happen tonight," Jake said.

Jake sincerely meant every word he said. It actually bothered him some that Melissa had committed herself to him so completely while letting him do pretty much whatever (or whomever) he pleased. He actually wanted her to spread her wings some before they got married. He did not want her to start having regrets about things she missed after they were hitched. He planned to only do the marriage thing once; it had to be, despite any discomfort on his part, better for her to decide getting married young was not a good idea before the fact.

Jake and Melissa were not the only ones with an open mind that evening. Dawn Diamond was in a particularly naughty mood. The bemused Terry was along for the ride; his little lover was rapidly turning him around to her way of thinking. Dawn figured that tonight would be a good test of his stated desire to be open to new things. Dawn had taken extra care in her appearance and knew she looked hot. Her knee length red velvet dress fit her like a glove; she had eschewed underwear in favor of tan elastic-top stockings. Three-inch high heels and just a hint of make up completed her ensemble. She looked as if she were twelve, going to her first dress-up dance.

Dawn had an itch for a Daddy-rumba tonight and Erika's big, good-looking father was an ideal candidate. Dawn pulled Terry across the room to where Sven and Helga were talking with Erik and Erika. Erika introduced Dawn to her parents, and then Dawn introduced Terry. The two pair were soon chatting on two levels as deep eye contacts supplemented the holiday chatter.

Sensing the others were becoming engrossed in an emotional dance, Erika grabbed Erik and beat a hasty retreat away from the parents. She had her own his-and-hers plan for her brother that involved Claudia and Michael Murphy. The teenagers were mostly hanging out on the pool deck. Maria had co-opted the propane heater idea and it was pleasantly warm outside. The teens had extinguished the lights mounted on the house so the only illumination was a soft glow coming from the pool. Maria had wisely not stocked the usual outside bar with booze. Anyone wanting a drink had to run a fluid gauntlet of observant parents when going both to and from the inside bar.

Jake and Melissa hung out with the other teens for a while. It was good seeing their old friends. Scott Hughes was there, much to Jake's delight. Scott was as funny as ever and had everyone cracking up. Scott was also a hit with the ladies, with a covey of them vying for his attention. In addition to the usual suspects, there were some new additions. Some of the Thornton people had brought their teens at Maria's urging. Jake recognized a few of them from high school as he and Melissa introduced themselves. The new additions were mostly boys, which helped in the pairing off process.

Jake and Melissa went back inside after a few minutes and mingled there. They ended up in the group that included Helen, Charles, and the Greers. Vickie was regaling them with her son's exploits; it seemed that even at six months Billy junior was amazingly bright. Helen kept looking at Jake meaningfully, her gaze made him distinctly uncomfortable as he thought he could sense her ovaries swelling at the thought of a new child both bright and beautiful.

Everyone seemed to have loosened up the strings on their corsets by ten-thirty. The lights were dim and someone had loaded the stereo with slow dancing music. Jake danced with practically every female available, spreading it around among both the adults and the teens. Melissa's dance card was full also, although she seemed to favor Charles and Bill Greer senior. Dawn was snuggled up to Sven, incongruous as that seemed. The top of her head barely reached Sven's chest; she could, in that position, hear his aorta pulse ever more strongly as she subtly dropped her hands south to his manly butt cheeks. Terry and Helga were dancing close also. Terry looked as if he had hit the mammary lotto as he held the plush blonde in his arms and her comfortably compressed chest orbs did a delightful slide dance of their own between the two partners.

Jake was most surprised that the Murphys and Greers had hit it off so well. Jake was slack-jawed in wonder at the cozy way they were eventually dancing with each other's spouses. Jake also noticed that Scott Hughes was dancing with Mitzi Walker in a serious way. Mitzi was especially beautiful tonight. Jake really noticed how much she and Melissa favored each other. He pointed them out to Melissa and got a grin from her.

"I played Jake Turner for them," she said. "I just told Scott that she needed someone to dance with and then I told Mitzi about Scott."

"Told Mitzi what about Scott? Jake asked.

"Hmmm, to put it delicately, that Debbie said he was very well equipped, very energetic, and not given to bragging about his lovelife," Melissa said, her grin getting even bigger.

"Oh," said Jake; it was his only reply possible as he considered just how stupid his question had been. Then he pressed on, "What about Claudia and Erik, did you get them together?"

"No, that was Erika's machinations. They are a cute couple though," Melissa said.

Jake next asked her if she had any scoop on her cousin Tyler. Tyler and erstwhile girlfriend Angie were pretty much ignoring each other. Angie was dancing with her cousin Michael, while Tyler was seriously trying to make a move on Louisa. Melissa shrugged and said that cousin Tyler was acting more like her brother Chip everyday; another Thornton playboy jerk, just what the world needed. Chip was not at the party; he was skiing in St. Moritz. When Jake voiced his concern about Tyler trying his Romeo act on Louisa, Melissa burst into a fit of giggles. Melissa was constantly amazed at Jake's naivety when it came to the scheming his women did without his bidding. Mr. Tyler Thornton was being set up -- big time.

"I wouldn't worry too much about Louisa, Baby. We ladies got together and made a pact with Angie that if he hit on any of us we would make him pay a fine. It looks like Louisa got the hammer honors," Melissa said.

The words were no sooner out of Muffy's mouth than sly Tyler led Louisa out the side door by her hand. Jake started to follow them when he saw Debbie slip out right behind them. Jake relaxed, Louisa would be fine, but old Tyler might be a different story. 'Jesus, women could be evil if you pissed them off, ' Jake thought. Then a second thought opened the door to hell, 'How can a guy ever know, ahead of time, what's going to piss them off on any given day?' Jake quickly closed that mental door and sealed it with crime scene tape and a vow to be more sensitive.

Five minutes later, Debbie and Louisa returned; Jake kept a watch on the door but Tyler never reappeared. Jake went across the room to see what was up. Debbie and Louisa were huddled with Erika, Angie, and Tigger laughing their collective asses off as they looked out the patio doors. Jake glanced in the direction they were looking just in time to see Tyler hauling himself out of the backside of the pool. 'Tyler can kiss that Brooks Brothers' suit goodbye, ' Jake thought, 'and his Italian loafers are probably soggy history.'

Debbie gave Jake her devilish grin, "A junior Lothario seemed to need a little cooling off," she said.

Tyler never reappeared; Jake guessed that the Thornton men were not going to be tempted to do anything else that would get Debbie on their case. Jake wandered on back to the main party to relay the dunking events to Melissa. Melissa was dancing with Charles again; Jake chuckled and grabbed Helen for a turn around the floor. Muffy was subtly letting him know that tonight was not the night to let their hair down in public, at least not this early in the evening anyway.

Dancing with Helen was probably not the best idea he had ever had. She immediately informed him that now that Charles had agreed, it was time to make a baby. She said that in two weeks she would be at her most fertile. Then she lobbed the 'if you love me you'll do this for me' grenade at him. Jesus, she was relentless. Jake caved.

"Ok, I'll do it," he said unhappily.

"Jacob, honey, don't be so down about it. Things will work out, sweetie; trust me. You know I would never do anything to hurt you or your father. I don't know why I want this so badly, but I trust my instincts and so should you."

Jake nodded; he had to admit that, as fiercely protective of her family as she was, she was not going to suddenly do something to harm them.

Helen caught his nod, saw his mood lighten, and played her trump card.

"I'll make it worth your while, honey. After I'm pregnant, I'll be your love slave in that little house you use, anytime and anyway you want. I understand you still have a spoon to keep me in line with your desires."

Wow, she was indeed pulling out all the stops and tuning up his organ. That was one promise Jake was going to make sure she kept. The thought of her tied to the big four-poster bed in the bungalow made his impregnator as hard as a hooker's heart. Helen noticed the wood he had sprung and gave him a little smile. She knew he was truly on board now because a hard dick had no conscience.

Elsewhere at the party, things were going smoothly for Dawn Diamond. She had had a little chat in the powder room with Helga, who had, in turn, talked to Sven. The Johanssons were excited about fulfilling another family fantasy by making love with different partners in the same room. Terry was keen on trying out the big blonde Viking vessel, while Dawn had already started calling Sven 'Daddy'. They were going to leave together after midnight and go to Dawn and Terry's condo where their upright dancing could morph into horizontal hulas.

Erik Johansson and Claudia had actually made a date for tomorrow to go to the beach. Erik thought that Claudia was about as captivating as any woman he had ever met. Her shy sweet nature had his glands pumping out testosterone by the gallon. Around her, he was a manly man. Scott Hughes was sitting on a couch with Mitzi Walker; they were holding hands, oblivious to everything except each other. Scott was about to acquire an appetite for things Italian; Mitzi was fixing to become computer literate. Sean Patrick and Nina elder were in their own little world as usual -- slow dancing as if they were glued together.

The crowd of revelers listened to the countdown to midnight on the radio. When Dick Clark got to zero, champagne corks and kisses flew in all directions. Jake and Melissa kissed and then headed into the throng to spread some good cheer. Jake had to admit that it was a great tradition. His lips got a work out, especially from some of the moms from the children's Christmas party. Finally, Jake and Melissa made it to where the Murphys, Turners, and Greers were standing. Jake brushed lips with Helen and received a very hot kiss from Vickie. Melissa put a big one on Charles and then Bill. Then the shocker of the evening occurred when Jake kissed Mary and she unexpectedly squirmed her tongue into his mouth. Jake was breathless when he broke the kiss. The companion look on Sean's face let Jake know Melissa had not skimped on her kiss either.

Shortly after midnight, the more staid partygoers departed. Jake and Melissa danced a couple of times and called it an evening. Mary and Sean were ready to go by then also, so Jake drove them home as well. They arrived at the ranch just as Carmen was headed home. The Greers had already picked up Bill junior and everyone else was in bed. Once in the house, Melissa and Mary headed to the bathroom to powder their noses. Jake poured him and Sean a shot of Jack Daniels that they drank at the bar, while shooting the breeze.

"That Melissa is some woman not to be Irish," Sean observed.

"Well, Sean, she's half Italian and they say in Italy that Italians invented love," Jake responded.

"Ah sure, and that's a bunch of hooey, Laddie Boy," Sean said. "It's a well known fact that we Irish taught the world about love. See, the Romans were our best students before we chased them off the Emerald Isle and they spread that good news through the empire."

To hear Sean tell it, the world would still be hunting mammoths with spears if it hadn't been for the Irish. Before Jake could respond to Sean's assertion, the women returned. Melissa kicked off her heels and went behind the bar. She rummaged around for a while and emerged with a bottle of champagne. Jake uncorked the bubbly while Melissa rustled up some glasses. They toasted the New Year again then Melissa put on some soft music. She gave Jake a smile and held out her hand to Sean.

The dancing was much more intimate than it had been at Maria's; with the lights out, one couple could barely make out the other in the dimness. Jake knew now why Claudia and the elder Nina were such good dancers as he twirled Mary around the room. Mary was light as a feather in his arms and molded herself against him like a second skin.

"That was some New Year's kiss you gave me, ' Jake said.

"As good as Claudia's?" Mary asked teasingly.

"I don't know. I was too surprised to think about comparisons," Jake replied.

"Then you better kiss me again so you'll know," she said, raising her lips to his.

Yes, she was as good a kisser as Claudia was, maybe even better. Her small tongue was active in his mouth, her lips softly demanding. As they kissed, Mary positioned her sex over his thigh and rubbed against him. Jake could almost hear her purr as she slowly moved against him, never losing the rhythm of the music. Jake slid his hand down to her small ass and pulled her tighter against him. Mary broke the kiss and looked at him expectantly.

"Yes," he said, "Just as good, just as sweet. But this is still confusing to me, what gives?"

"Sean and I decided that we needed a little excitement in our lives. We fell in love and married young. We were each other's first and only for twenty-two years. Now that the kids don't take up all our time we want to see a bit of what we missed."

"When you told us about your relationship with Melissa, we talked it over and realized that our relationship was strong enough to let each other have the same freedoms you two share. Then, when Claudia told me how absolutely fantastic it was to be with you, I knew what I wanted."

Jake nodded his understanding of the matter with a sense of inevitability and glanced over at Sean and Melissa. They were slowly swaying to the music, Sean's hands on Melissa's ass.

"What about Sean?" Jake asked.

"Sean and Erika are already very chummy. He said that when I was sure I could go through with this -- he was all set. Melissa is just warming him up to see if he is really okay with it also. We're doing a little test run tonight."

Jake should not have been surprised that the women had planned this, but he was. Women worked together much better than men, that was for sure. Guys would still be trying to figure out what they were going to say to each other by now. Yet the practical women had not only reached an agreement, they had worked out a plan. That was the reason Jake was always going to surround himself with women as he moved towards his goals. Well, one of the reasons, he amended, as Mary's lips captured his.

The two couples danced and talked for another half hour then called it a night. Things had stayed pretty tame as Mary and Sean felt there way towards opening up their relationship. Jake and Mary did a little fully clothed groping as did Melissa and Sean. Jake guessed that the guest suite would get a workout tonight but he had no idea what decision they would come to.

When the Murphys headed off to bed, Jake grabbed Melissa and bent her over the arm of the couch. He flipped her dress over her back, skinned her panties down her legs, and unzipped his fly. Melissa's pussy was a boiling caldron; she was as turned on as he was. He easily slid home in one long shove. He was holding her hips, just starting to hit his stride when she slyly looked back over her shoulder.

"Ohhh, Baby, I was so naughty tonight," she said contritely.

Jake knew and liked this game; it was time for the spanky train to make another stop at the booty station. He stopped stroking and placed the palm of his left hand on her deliciously full ass.

"What naughty things did you do?" he asked her sternly.

"I let men kiss me," she said.

Jake raised his hand and brought it down sharply on her butt cheek. She jumped but said nothing.

"What else?" Jake queried.

"I rubbed myself against your dad and gave him an erection," she cooed.

Jake gave her a few more swats. Melissa moaned, her pussy clinching on his dick with each impact. He gave her a couple of strokes to go with the spanks, then stopped again with the head just inside her, poised for the next thrust.

"Tell me more," he demanded. "Free your conscience and atone for your transgressions."

"I let Sean feel me up," she said in a hoarse whisper. "He even put his finger in me. I did nothing to stop him and even squeezed as he pulled out slowly."

Jake spanked her in time with his slow power stokes, Melissa gushed through a couple of intense orgasms before he unloaded his spunk into her. Her flawless ass was bright pink when he picked her up and headed towards their bedroom. They were both still on fire when they stripped and jumped into bed. Jake positioned her on her hands and knees and got out the K-Y Jelly. Melissa moaned her approval as he spread her cheeks and liberally lubricated her rear passage that was winking open and closed in anticipation of the pending deep penetration. She diddled her clit with one hand and stretched out with her face on the sheets as he slowly sank into her. Tonight she tried practicing a new technique: spreading fully to accept his invasions, clasping gently on his backstrokes, and keeping her opening fully expanded so he could pull completely out for the next penetration. Jake marveled again how good a lover she was as he quickly worked towards climax. He could not decide which part of the cycle he savored the most and finally decided the best part was knowing that she truly loved him and wanted to help him to enjoy her in every way possible. With that thought, Jake sank as deeply as possible and stopped, with her fully corked, as his rod throbbed and spasmed in the release of all the remaining juices which had built up during the evening. Melissa could feel the volume of his hot emissions deep in her body and raised her head in a growling moan as her own massive orgasm erupted.

Sated from their lovemaking, they snuggled under the covers and were immediately asleep. That night the dreams started. Jake woke up twice, soaked in sweat. The dreams were disturbingly real. In them, he and Elliott Buckley were arguing and physically fighting over who was going to impregnate Helen. Jake got up the next morning groggy from his fitful sleep. He mentally shrugged the dreams off figuring they were the result of his conversation with Helen.

At breakfast, Jake noticed that Nina elder kept looking at him quizzically. After eating, Nina caught up to him as he was headed for the stables.

"Jake, I woke up twice in the middle of the night with the feeling something was wrong with you. Once I even went to your bedroom to check on you but you were asleep but with a tense look on your face. It was the same feeling I use to get in my earlier life when one of my sons fell sick. Is anything the matter?"

"I had some bad dreams," Jake replied noncommittally. "Nothing to worry about. But it's strange that you knew something was wrong. You have to wonder how closely we might be linked because of what has happened to the both us."

"All I know was that the feeling was very strong and persistent. It woke me out of a sound sleep," Nina said.

"One more thing to think about; anyway, thanks for checking on me," Jake said.

"No problem, Jake; you know I love you. I'm here for you if you need me."

Jake nodded and hugged her as they parted ways. It took him all morning to shake his lethargy but he was back in the pink by the afternoon. He was sitting on the porch going over his class schedule when Mary took the rocker next to him. Mary told him that she and Sean had talked and made love last night for hours. It was the best sex they'd had in years. They both agreed that they were not jealous; to the contrary, they found the evening very arousing. They had agreed to give each other experimental space as long as everything remained in the open between them. Mary further told him that she had some kinky fantasies she been harboring for years that she thought he might be able to help her with. She said she had also had a talk with Helga that almost made her pee her pants. Jake's mind went into hyperspace as he contemplated what havoc a Mary-Helga axis could wreak; just as quickly, he realized it would be something those two consenting adult females could and most definitely would have to manage on their own.

Jake said he would be honored to help her as far as she wanted to travel. Then he switched travel subjects and asked her what she thought about moving to Florida. She said the idea enthralled her; she was ready to move -- the sooner the better. Sean was all for it also, he was going to put in for his retirement package as soon as they got back to Boston. Although the kids were going to miss some of their friends, they wanted to move too. The unsolved problems in the South Boston school system made the move even more attractive. If all went well, they should be back down in a few weeks to find a house. They estimated it would be the end of February by the time they were ready to move.

Jake told Mary he would show her the sights tomorrow when everything would be open. The Boston bunch was flying home on the third. The workers -- Sean Patrick, Claudia, Nina, and Erika -- were going to quit their jobs as soon as they got back and move to Palmdale. Nina and Sean junior were looking at houses today. Sean senior was with Erika, also ostensibly looking at real estate. Jake would not bet the ranch on the type of property Sean was inspecting right this minute, but he was sure it would be prime real estate, possibly bordering on a lake but certainly involving a view of twin peaks.

They ate a meal that Sean cooked on the grill that night. Jake watched him at work, getting some tips from the master. Sean was in an extremely jocular mood, laughing and joking as he charred the steaks to perfection. Erika was looking smugly satisfied as she helped make salad.

That night the unsettling dreams revisited Jake; he got out of bed at four and dug out some sweats. Maybe some exercise would help him sleep better, he reasoned, as he took off jogging along the fence line. Jake ran for almost an hour then went to the portion of the stables he had converted into a gym. He lifted weights and worked the heavy bag for an additional hour. By the time he showered and slipped back into bed, it was six-thirty. Melissa mumbled about his cold butt as she smuggled against him. Jake fell asleep immediately and soundly for two uninterrupted hours. He was up at eight-thirty with a new lease on life. Melissa was already dressed and ready for work when he wandered into the kitchen. She kissed him goodbye, told him to be a good boy, and hustled out the door.

Jake was munching his way through a huge bowl of raisin bran when Erika bounced in. Bounced was the only way to describe her entry, as she was obviously braless under her sweatshirt. Erika caught his gaze and grinned impudently.

"I'm taking the Murphy men horseback riding. My breasts fascinate them, so I thought I'd give them a memorable thrill," she said.

Jake laughed and slipped his hand up under her shirt to tweak her nipples into stiffness.

"Might as well give them the full effect," he said.

Erika pulled her shoulders back, thrusting her bosom forward, and said with a pointed laugh," You are as bad as they are even though you practically own these twins."

She skipped out of the reach of his fake lunge, giggling and jiggling as she ran to fulfill her mission.

Jake was sitting on the porch when Erika and company walked out to go riding. Erika had enlisted the twins to help her ride herd on her charges. Jake nearly fell of the porch when he noticed that they had decided they were riding braless also. Their equipment was not as spectacular as Erika's but their shirts were tighter and thinner. The younger Nina Murphy and her twin siblings, Donna and David were under Hope and Faith's watchful eyes while Erika was going to ride with Sean senior and Michael. Ten-year-old David was ogling the older girls just as hard as his brother was. Jake surmised that the Buckley genetics were already starting to rise in the youngest Murphy male.

Nina junior told Hope she would catch up and stopped to talk to Jake. Actually, she had stopped to flirt with a still-developing skill. Nina's insides turned to goo when she was around her cousin for some reason, but the feelings were not unpleasant. She tingled down there when he looked at her and her boobies felt hot and confined. Nina had observed how all the women acted around Jake; even her mother was always looking at him with a funny smile. Well, if they could do it, so could she. Jake surprised her by pulling her down to sit in his lap while they talked. She was pleased and surprised but mostly pleased. She told him how much fun she was having at the ranch and how she really liked Palmdale. She did not tell him that sitting with his poker just a few millimeters from her quim was the high point of the trip for her so far.

Hope called for Nina to join them at the stables. She rose from Jake's lap and then leaned over and kissed him. She even used her tongue as Hope had shown her. Jake's eyes flew open when she slipped her tongue into his mouth. Then she stood up and dashed toward the stable with flashing heels. Damn, these Murphy women needed to stop doing that without somehow warning him first; a fella could poke someone's eye out the way they could make his pintle pop.

Jake was still staring at Nina's retreating form and entertaining a concept of an intimate embrace with both Ninas when Mary came out ready to go sightseeing. Jake let out a wolf whistle when he saw her. She was wearing a turquoise sundress and sandals, her legs bare. The dress hugged her slim figure, ending just above her dimpled knees. Her fiery red hair was in a ponytail hanging midway down her back. She looked young and demure; it was hard for Jake to imagine that she was in her late thirties with seven children.

Mary blushed prettily at his whistle.

"Erika said you liked these dresses. Nina loaned me this one; she said it matched my eyes."

"They were both right," Jake said. "What they left for me to say was how well it shows off your hot little body."

Mary linked her arm through his. "Down, boy," she admonished.

Jake really did take her sightseeing. He showed her the elementary and junior high schools, then drove her by Kennedy High. All three were newer schools with excellent faculties. Jake showed her the Thornton office building where Sean would be working, then took her to Maui Jake's. Dawn was in the store, checking the quality of a shipment of her designer swimwear when they walked in.

"Hello, Boss Daddy," Dawn said flippantly.

"Hey, yourself, little girl. Did you have a good time at the New Years Party?" Jake asked.

"You bet, I picked up three loads worth of good times, as a matter of fact," Dawn said sotto voce.

Mary asked him why Dawn called him boss. Jake explained that the shops had been his idea, so he had a certain partnership in them with Dawn and Melissa. Mary shook her head in awe; her nephew was one incredible young man.

Jake ended the tour at Liz's bungalow. Mary did not seem surprised to be there. Jake decided once again that women talked too much among themselves. He brought Mary a glass of soda and fired up the stereo. They sat on the couch, talked, and made out. Jake wasn't rushing her; he figured she was old enough to decide on the pace. Jake did get her out of her panties though. Once the small filmy blue nylon was in his pocket he slid to the floor and licked her to a couple of solid orgasms with accompanying vocals. Her pussy was almost identical to Claudia's, right down to the large, prominent clit. She likewise had the same smell and taste - with perhaps a hint of extra butterscotch. Jake got up and sat back down on the couch after her third climax.

Mary took a few minutes to catch her breath, then she gently pushed his knees wide and returned the oral favor. Man-oh-man was she ever good at it, too. She formed her mouth into a small circle, sucked in his helmet, and inched his cock deeper with each slow penetration. Every few beats, she let him loose to run her lips and tongue along the length of his erection. Finally he could feel her swallowing to accept him as deeply as possible; the pressure drove his balls to contract and pump his juices in spurts and gobs. She had drained Jake's balls in fewer than five minutes, and gobbled up the evidence for good measure. Mary, flushed with success and regaining her breath, said she was not totally comfortable yet with going any further so they rearranged their clothes and headed back to the ranch. Jake and his well-drained dick had no problem with her vacillation. When she asked if he would take a rain check, Jake immediately agreed. He told her it would give him something to look forward to.

That night the dreams were so bad and so intense, Jake's thrashing around woke Melissa. The dreams were clearer and sharper now. In each dream, Jake was fighting a shadowy figure he now knew to be Elliott Buckley. They always fought over Helen, who, in the dream, always picked the winner and so far that had always been Jake. The dreams had so far stopped before Jake did anything to claim his won woman.

Jake reassured Muffy that everything was fine, and she went back to sleep protectively holding his hand. Jake lay in bed trying to sort out this new and unpleasant twist in his life. He surmised that it could be one of two things: either he was fighting his subconscious hesitance to get Helen pregnant or Elliott's mind was somehow trying to take over Jake's body so he could have his daughter again. The second idea did not sound too farfetched in light of the fact that Jake had caught glimpses of his grandfather in his mind before. One thing was for sure; the lack of peaceful sleep was becoming onerous.

While he was contemplating strange occurrences, he also had to consider Nina's ability to sense his discomfort. Was there something about their unique experience that made them receptive to each other's thoughts while they slept? Jake had never felt, nor did Nina ever mention, anything like that while they were awake. Now, Nina said that Jake's bad dreams were waking her up. 'How would you test a theory like that?' he wondered.

Joe J

Chapter 10