Title: Tales from an Unknown Corner
Chapters: 05-06 (of 20)
Author: Dai_wakizashi
Universe: Tfauc
Summary:  Journey of a troubled young man looking for a path and 
people around him, who, at times, give shape to his journey.
Codes: MF, FF, MFF, oral, anal, toys, petting, romance, drama
Status: in progress
Revision: 2.0

Web Sites:
  ASSTR-  http://www.asstr.org/~dai_wakizashi/
  SOL-        http://storiesonline.net/home.php
  EWP-       http://www.ewpub.org/ewpub.html

Discussion Forum:
   http://www.ewpub.org/messageboard/viewforum.php?f=76

*****************************************************************




              TALES FROM AN UNKNOWN CORNER  [Tfauc]



CHAPTER - 5: Revelations



When I returned to the room, Dana was by the window--smoking--
with a cup of coffee on the window sill. I filled a cup for 
myself, and lighting a cigarette, took a position next to her, 
watching the city lights, and listening to the traffic. After a 
few sips, I finished my coffee, and placed it next to her cup. 
There was something nagging at the back of my mind about Dana... 
That kept me coming back to why she was trying to help me, help 
us... But, it kept evading me.

It was Dana, who broke the silence.

"Mitchell, since you seem to have a very good memory, I want to 
check something. Are you sure she was talking about the present 
time, when she talked about the pilot she was involved with?"

"Well, I'm very sure she said 'He loves me'. There was no 
mistaking that... She meant, now. Also, she didn't talk as if she 
was talking about the past. At least that's the impression I got. 
Why? Is it important?"

At my question, she flashed a strained smile, and said, "Let's 
finish our smoke and coffee, then talk about it. There's no need 
to rush things."

I accepted her reasoning, and changed the subject. "You know, 
you're very good. Is it nursing training that makes you so good?"

"Partly, I guess."

"I think, you are a remarkable woman. You're kind, and you care 
about people. What made you quit?" I asked.

"You are an interesting young man, Mitch. You see things others 
don't. Why did I quit nursing school? I guess, I couldn't handle 
the misery and suffering. I wanted to help but... After talking 
to a few nurses, and spending time in the hospitals--observing--I 
realized the pay was lousy, the hours were long, and the 
emotional burden was overwhelming. I was too young to be able to 
deal with it. Now, I get to see the world, different people, and 
sometimes I'm able to do something nice, and help people. Best of 
both worlds."

"I have to say, you're doing a very good job of it. I don't 
talk... about things... and yet..."

As I was saying those words, my mind got busy with her words as 
they seem to ring a bell... the things that were nagging at me 
since the airport... There was a faint glimpse of something... 
but what?

"You are reserved. You don't make friends easily, do you?"

"I used to... well, to a certain degree... But in the last few 
years..."

"I understand... It must have been a difficult period."

"We all carry our own wounds..." I told her, and then on a hunch, 
I added, "You seem to cope with yours very well."

Her eyes shot wide open in shock. I took a step, and pulled her 
against my chest, gathering her in my arms, before she had a 
chance to react. I hugged her to me firmly, trying to make her 
feel safe, secure, sheltered. Leaning in to smell her fragrant 
hair, I whispered, "It's all right, Dana. It's all right. Tell me 
about it."

I kept rocking her, and after her initial shock was over, she 
relaxed into my arms. She looked up to ask, "How did you know?"

"I'm not sure. It was something nagging at the back of my mind. 
How things happened in the airport, then here in the hotel. Your 
apparent concern. And how you seem to understand and how we seem 
to connect... Little things that didn't fit. You are a very 
beautiful and caring person. Very kind and generous. And you 
don't hide those qualities. But, you don't seem to have anybody 
in your life. I couldn't see why, unless... you didn't want them. 
That made me think."

She seemed to accept my explanation. She laid her head on my 
chest, and wrapped her arms around me, relaxing herself into my 
embrace. It felt good to hold her in my arms, and I couldn't help 
but wonder about the differences between two women... and the 
similarities...

_Come on, pay attention. She's not here. Don't day dream! Dana's 
here and she needs you. Now! You know she's worth it. Be in the 
moment._

My inner voice was right. I needed to be with her, right this 
moment. After several minutes, she extracted herself from my 
arms, giving me a rueful smile.

"I think it's my turn to ask; do you want to talk about it?" I 
said, trying to lighten the mood.

Her smile was much warmer, but she replied, "Not yet." Seeing the 
disapproving look on my face, she added, "But I promise, I 
will... OK?"

"I will hold you to that."

That earned me a laugh, "Somehow I know you will, so I won't even 
attempt to evade."

I took hold of her hand and gave it a kiss, sharing a tender and 
special moment. Picking our cups, we took our respective seats, 
me on the armchair and she on her bed.

"You said she was hurt," Dana said, "and perhaps using the men. I 
think you are right. From what I had seen of her relations, she 
moved on without a second thought, but..." She paused to think 
about what she wanted to say next, and continued with a question. 
"Did you ever wonder if she was self-destructive, perhaps 
punishing herself?"

_Huh?_

I wasn't expecting that question, because it came from left 
field, without any warning at all. I could hear the gears turning 
in my mind to assess the question, looking for clues, trying to 
come up with an analysis.

"Stop! Mitch, stop. Don't rush it."

As soon as she had my attention, she urged me to calm down. "Easy 
Mitch, take your time."

"You caught me with that question. What made you ask that?"

"I'll explain, but you need to be calm. There's something you 
don't know. It kind of changes the picture. I don't want you to 
get worked up, and lose concentration or... get your hopes up."

_Hope? Get my hopes up? For what?_

I was getting agitated by her cryptic words, but remembering her 
warning, I tried to calm myself. I closed my eyes, and took a 
walk along the beach, doing my shallow breathing, and watching 
the sunset. Strangely enough, I managed to do my exercise very 
quickly, maybe because I was with a friend, and in a place where 
I felt comfortable, safe and secure. When I opened my eyes, I saw 
her watching me. She got off the bed, and knelt by my side. 
Taking hold of my wrist, she found my pulse... and measured it. 
When she was finished, she was chuckling.

"Strong and steady pulse. Lower than normal, as if you're 
resting. Is it difficult to learn?"

"The basic part isn't. It's a matter of breathing evenly, and 
conjuring a place you feel comfortable, relaxed, and safe. There 
are advanced levels of breathing exercises, and techniques to 
empty your mind, or help you conjure up a place. I haven't 
learned all the mental techniques, I just know a bit about how 
they are supposed to work. But, I have good memories of places 
that I can recall and concentrate on. I know some of the 
breathing exercises. You might want to pick up Yoga. It teaches 
you how to relax your muscles, and how to breathe."

I knew some advanced mental techniques, but I didn't want to talk 
about them. I had experimented when my training required, but I 
hadn't felt comfortable. I had put them aside long time ago, and 
never picked them up since then.

"Did you practice Yoga?"

"Uhh.. No... not really."

_Go, it was long ago! It had scared the shit out of me that first 
time, when I had touched 'it.' The second time hadn't been bad. 
At least, I had discovered its true nature..._

_But, what use is it to go there? Unless, I need the edge. 
Perhaps, Sensei was right when he said I would find it if I ever 
need it._

I had kept at it a few times more, practicing, getting to know 
_it_, but still, I had been reluctant in my forays, before I 
finally quit all together.

She gave me a quizzical look, but decided not to delve further. 
Picking up an ashtray, she placed it on the nightstand, where she 
could reach. She lit a cigarette, passed it to me, and lit 
another one for herself. I wondered if the gesture was to make me 
feel more comfortable. If it was, she was doing a very good job 
of it.

"Are you afraid of shocking me?" I asked.

"Was I that obvious?" she responded, amused.

"No, not really. I think I'm recognizing patterns."

"I see... Well, it isn't really shocking, though it might give 
you a surprise. Mitch, what I'm getting at is, she was lying when 
she said she was involved with a pilot. We've been flying 
together frequently over the last several months, and she hasn't 
been involved with anybody... definitely not anybody from the 
crews. She doesn't flaunt her relations, but she doesn't hide 
them either. With the amount of time we've spent together lately, 
I don't see how she could keep a relationship so secret. She was 
keeping busy with the work, and that didn't leave her much free 
time. Come to think of it, she wasn't partying as much as she 
did, and her last fling was almost half a year ago or so."

That was indeed a surprising revelation.

"So, what do you think is happening?" I asked.

"There is definitely a break in the pattern. She never went more 
than a month or two without getting involved with somebody. I had 
seen that myself, and I hear things. It's a small world. 
Everybody knows everybody."

"She might have one-night-stands in the meantime, but the general 
pattern seems to have changed." I was thinking out loud, without 
realizing what I said.

"Yes, I would say so. There is another thing," she said, grabbing 
my attention immediately with the tone of her voice.

"You remember that I told you she probably cried when she 
returned to the lounge?"

I nodded.

"I haven't seen her cry over anybody. She would shrug, and say it 
was fun while it lasted, and move on to the next relation. Most 
of the time, she was the one who broke off relations. Her 
reaction to you, lying about a non-existent relationship, and her 
later behavior in the lounge are contradictory, unless... 
Considering all I've heard from you and what I know about her, if 
I had to take a guess, I would say she has feelings for you, 
Mitch. She probably has had them for a long time."

"I'm not sure I follow your reasoning. I know I felt something 
from her, but her signals were clear. She wasn't interested in 
pursuing _us_, and she didn't want me to pursue _us_. I think we 
both know that she knew how I felt about her then, and still do 
now, even though we didn't talk about it."

"That's where it gets a bit... complicated. I think it has 
everything to do with her past, and your earlier history. You 
were correct when you said she was hurt, and that made her 
change, become a user."

"We agree on that, but how does that relate to what you said?" I 
asked.

"In the dance of mating, the male is supposed to be the 
initiator, the hunter, and the female is the hunted. In reality, 
the female decides whether she'll take a male as a partner or 
not. However this doesn't change the fact that male is the 
aggressor, so to speak, whether he'll be successful or not. Are 
you with me so far?"

I nodded.

"Now, in most cases the dance is more complicated. Both partners 
step forward and backward, testing the waters, and the chemistry 
between them, trying to find a suitable rhythm if there's one to 
be found. In her other relations, she allowed herself to be 
chased and captured. In your case, she was doing the chasing. 
From what I heard about your earlier history, she was the 
initiator. She decided when to move to the next step. That means 
she was interested in you. Of course, you must have chased her, 
but you were taking a more passive approach, whereas she was 
taking a more active role. This happens, but not so regularly and 
consistently. There's always a role reversal along the way, 
sometimes several role reversals. In your case, that never 
happened, at least until very late."

"So you're saying, because I never took the initiative, she lost 
interest, and moved onto other men..."

"That could happen, but I don't think that's the case here. You 
are forgetting she was a user before you, and she continued to be 
a user. She might have used you, but I don't believe that. First 
of all, she seems to recognize that you two had some kind of a 
chemistry. Her mood change indicates that. Second, letting her 
take the lead, you forced her to take the initiative. She could 
have easily moved onto somebody else; give another guy a signal, 
then let him chase her. That was more her style. If she saw you 
as an interesting challenge, then of course, she would go after 
you, taking the initiative. The thing is, she knew you were 
interested in her, and serious about her. In a way, you were 
chasing her but not actively. Are you with me so far?" she asked.

"Yes, I see what you're saying. But, she changed as soon as I got 
serious, so in a way, as soon as I took the initiative she 
started to push me away," I said.

"Yes, she did. The thing is you never changed. When she was 
flirting with other guys, you didn't judge her. When she turned 
her attention back to you, you were there but letting her be. She 
initiated the intimacy and decided how you two interacted. That 
was one constant. The other constant is her reaction to you. You 
said, the very first moment you two met she took it slow, almost 
cautious, compared to how she was with other people when she met 
them the first time. I think she recognized the chemistry, and 
you both come to realize that. And, that _chemistry_ didn't 
change. You said that the last two times when things were cooling 
off were as good as before, and afterwards she was loving, until 
she put her mask back on."

"Yes. They were."

"I think she loved you, Mitch. She discovered that she could love 
and not be used. She was definitely not used by you. Whether she 
was using you or not, she was using the other men, but she was 
also letting herself be used. That's another thing you got right. 
And I believe she must have realized the difference."

"OK. I understand what you're saying. Let's assume she felt 
something for me. But she chose to ignore it, and she kept on 
doing what she used to do... until now."

"Think, Mitchell. I asked you if you ever thought she was self-
destructive," she admonished me sharply.

"You're saying... she wasn't ready for it, or she was scared?"

"Most probably, but there's another possibility. In fact, it 
complements what you said. You told me that she told you she 
wasn't ready for commitment. I guess she was also scared of the 
things you evoked in her... the chemistry. I think that's a real 
possibility. If I hadn't come to know you a bit, I would have 
discarded the description you gave about your intimate moments as 
a figment of your imagination. But, you seem to have a firm grasp 
of what's real and what's imagined. And you are very sensitive, 
however reserved you might act," she said, pausing dramatically 
to make her point.

When I tried to shrug it off, she immediately seized upon it.

"Don't give me that, Mitch. Give yourself some credit. I think I 
have an idea of what you're capable of. What's more, I suspect I 
might be only scratching the surface."

That last remark made me blush with embarrassment.

"No need to be embarrassed about something like that. Just don't 
let that remark go to your head, OK?"

I nodded.

"Where were we? Oh, yes. Scared... That's a real possibility. 
Complementing all that however, is her love for you. I think she 
loved you enough to let you go. When you broke up, she didn't 
chase you back. Do you think you could have resisted if she 
chased you?"

I shook my head. "Maybe I could have resisted for a short while, 
but I think she would have succeeded. Very easily. I loved her."

"And she knew that. She could have used it. Why didn't she?" she 
asked, making her point.

I went over all the things we discussed and what she told me.

"She loved me, and she wasn't ready for commitment. She let me 
go, because she didn't want to hurt me. Hurt me more than she 
already had," I replied.

"Precisely."

"She was already self-destructive, and she felt... guilty... 
about us. So, she kept on punishing herself... Is that what 
you're saying?"

"Something like that. If she didn't feel guilty then, she 
probably did later. I think in the airport, today, she must have. 
Why else would she lie, and try to keep you away, trying to make 
sure you are OK? She still felt something for you," she said.

"She may have broken with her earlier patterns. Six months is a 
long time for her... and the encounter today, brought things 
home?" I added.

"I think so. We might be wrong about some things, but I think 
it's safe to say she loved you and she still has feelings for 
you. Now, she had the chance to pick up the game, and play it 
again. She didn't. The question is, what could you do about it, 
and if she would be willing to participate. There's a real danger 
she might be scared of being hurt, being hurt worse than before, 
and unwilling to take any risks."

Then she gave me a grave look, mixed with apprehension. 
"Mitchell... this is very important! It carries an immense 
responsibility! If you decide to take the initiative... it might 
not only destroy her, but yourself as well," she said, her voice 
laden with sadness and sympathy.

"I know," I said, my voice reflecting the same heaviness. With a 
tired sigh, I continued, "But there's no helping it. I can, of 
course, walk away from it. Considering the alternative and the 
possibilities, that might be best. I have to think this through 
carefully and, now is not the right time for it."

I stood up stretching my legs, then held out my hand to Dana, and 
helped her to her feet. Picking our cups, we made our way to the 
table for a re-fill from the thermos. I offered a cigarette to 
her and lit it, and lit another one for myself. Taking a sip from 
my coffee, I left my cup on the table, and went to the window. I 
opened it wider to get some fresh air. A few minutes later, Dana 
was standing by my side, watching the lights of the city. Some 
twenty floors up, we had a good view.

Although I was watching the view, I was well aware of her 
presence. She was taking care not to invade my personal space, 
even though I could sense her need for contact-- a touch, perhaps 
a hug. She was a remarkable woman, and I gave a silent thanks to 
whoever was watching over me. I went back to the nightstand to 
pick up the ashtray, and returned with it. After putting out my 
cigarette, I asked, "It's cold, isn't it?"

"Not very," she replied.

I stepped behind her, and wrapped my arms around her belly, 
pulling her to my chest. "There. I think you'll feel better."

She sighed and relaxed. I waited until she finished her 
cigarette, but did not release her. "You know what's coming next, 
don't you?"

"I think I have an idea... Dr. Mitchell!" she retorted in an 
amused tone, making me laugh.

"Good. So, you know how doctor patient relations work. Now, this 
doctor prescribes a glass of wine. The patient doesn't complain 
and takes her medicine," I replied falling into the role.

When she turned and looked up, I gave her soft kiss on her 
forehead, and guided her to the bed. Once she was comfortably 
settled there, I took the bottle from the floor and filling her 
glass, I handed it to her. She patted the side of the bed, asking 
me to sit by her side. Then, she told me the story.

It was bad.

About six years ago, she had been dating a guy. Over a period of 
ten months they had fallen in love with each other and decided to 
get married. One night, while he had been away for a business 
trip, she was assaulted and raped by a burglar. Aside from the 
trauma of rape, the doctors had told her she had little chance of 
having a baby. At first, her fiancé had been very understanding, 
and helped her through psychological counseling and therapy. 
However, once she pulled herself through and managed to get her 
life back, he broke up with her, because he had wanted to have 
kids, or so he said. In actuality, that was only one of the 
reasons, because he hadn't touched her since the rape. After the 
break-up, she fell into depression for a while, but managed to 
gather herself again. Since then she had had a few relations, but 
none of them had worked out.

"What about your current boyfriend?" I asked.

"It's not serious yet. It's pretty new, and he knows about my 
past."

"How did he take it?"

"He took it better than most others. He's not concerned about my 
inability to have a child. We're getting to know each other, and 
I get the feeling he is serious, but I'm being cautious."

"That's understandable, Dana. Do you love him?"

"It's too early to say anything. But, yes; I have feelings for 
him. I think he loves me as well. He's been very understanding 
and patient with me," she said pointedly.

"You have not..." I asked.

She shook her head. "We haven't been seeing each other very 
long."

"Are you afraid he'll turn into one of those bastards? Is that 
why you keep him at arms' length?"

"Maybe... I'm tired of relations that don't go anywhere..."

She started to cry. I quickly gathered her in my arms, trying to 
sooth and calm her. Slowly, she quieted down to mostly sniffling. 
I laid her on the bed, and went to the bathroom. I ran the hot 
water and wet a towel, then squeezed the excess water. Picking up 
some tissues, I returned to the room. She blew her nose, then 
used the hot towel to wipe her face. When she finished, she 
picked up her glass, and took couple of sips. Taking the glass 
from her, I placed it on the nightstand.

"Dana, you're a wonderful woman. You are a gentle, caring, loving 
person. And beautiful. Any man worth his salt would die to have a 
woman like you. You've nothing to fear. It's their loss. If my 
heart wasn't already taken, I'd be the first," I said.

Looking at her in the eye, I added, "I might still do that... 
considering the options I am facing at the moment."

That earned me an slap on my arm, and a rebuke, "You don't know 
what you're saying."

"I do! And you madam, are getting feisty before I even proposed. 
No wonder..." I quipped.

"You are terrible," she said with a small laugh.

"Yeah, I know. What can I say?" I retorted.

Then, on a more serious note, I said, "You know what I mean. You 
are a wonderful woman. I'm not saying this just because of all 
you've done to help me. I'm glad I've come to know you."

Gathering her in my arms, I gave her a kiss on her forehead. When 
we parted, she looked relaxed and happy to have unburdened 
herself and shared with me. I was glad to have known her, but a 
bit sad that I couldn't do more for her. I didn't know how to 
help her. I hoped that what she had shared with me helped her.

"Thank you, Mitch. I'm glad to know you as well." Checking the 
time she said, "It's getting late. I think we should get some 
sleep."

"Will you be all right?" I asked.

"I'll be fine, Mitch, how about you?"

"Oh, I think I'll be asleep before I touch the pillows. You want 
to use the shower first?"

"No. You go ahead, get some rest," she replied.

Giving her a goodnight kiss, I went to the bathroom for a pit 
stop, and a quick shower. Finished with my ablutions, I knocked 
at her door, telling her the bathroom was available, and headed 
into my room. Wearing only my boxer shorts, I crawled in between 
the cool sheets.

_Finally! A comfortable bed, and sleep!_

Those were the last thoughts before I fell into an uneasy sleep.



* * * * *



CHAPTER - 6: A Gift



My sleep was restless. At one point, I remember feeling a cold 
draft on my back. While I was slowly rousing up from my sleep, I 
felt the bed sag and a warm hand running on my back in a soothing 
manner, massaging. Then there were the whispered words, "Sssshhh! 
Just relax, and sleep," repeated like a mantra, urging me back to 
sleep.

I remember the hands being replaced by the warmth of a soft body 
molding itself against my back, spooning. An arm encircled my 
body, tender fingers caressing my chest, lulling me to sleep with 
their gentle caress while cuddling me. The rhythmic blow of hot 
air on my neck and shoulder from the steady breathing, 
interspersed with soft kisses... urging me to relax and sleep. I 
was too tired to respond, and the almost hypnotic manipulations 
of the hand and the whispers were difficult to resist. I was 
enveloped by the warmth of a female body, giving me shelter and 
guiding me into a deep, dreamless sleep. Somehow I knew I was in 
the care of loving hands. That was the last thing I remembered.

Several hours later, I woke up, coming out from deep sleep. The 
transition was gentle, going through gradual steps, from sleep to 
half-awake to fully awake, with a dreamy quality... a very 
pleasant experience compared to how I usually woke up at the rig-
site--a sudden lurching wakefulness. Before I woke up completely, 
I knew Dana was spooned behind me. Her breasts were soft pillows, 
the heat of her lower belly warming my lower back, and her arm 
clutching me with a gentle hold. I listened to her steady 
breathing, content to be in her arms, her body a warm comforting 
presence. I felt at peace, with myself, and with the world.

As my senses came fully awake, I opened my eyes. A full moon was 
supplying the illumination through the half-open drapes, bathing 
the room with a soft, diffuse light. I knew I was well rested, 
and couldn't go back to sleep. Yet. I was undecided, caught 
between wanting to soak and lose myself in the feel of this 
gentle woman, and wanting to watch her sleeping form in the soft 
moonlight filtering into the room. I didn't want to disturb and 
wake her up prematurely, so I stayed in the bed for quite some 
time. Eventually the decision was taken out of my hands, when 
nature came calling.

I extracted myself gently from her embrace, being careful not to 
disturb her, and got out of the bed. After the pit stop, I 
decided to brush my teeth and tongue to get rid off the dead 
mouse that seemed to have found a home in my mouth. Back in the 
room, I moved the armchair to face the bed, before taking a seat. 
I watched her sleeping peacefully, with her hair half spread on 
the pillow, and half covering her delicate features. She was a 
vision of beauty, but that was pale compared to what I had come 
to know; her inner beauty, the gentle, loving, caring soul she 
had shared with me. As I thought about what she had gone through, 
my anger flared at the unfairness of it all. She was a rare 
treasure, not only as a woman but as a human being. As I 
continued to watch her sleeping form, I slowly came to the 
realization that anger had no place, here, in this room, 
especially in her presence, and I let it go. That was a surprise, 
because I had very rarely let go of my anger before, usually only 
when it had started to overwhelm me. Most of the time I 
suppressed it, or kept it under careful control, always close by, 
at my call.

_What did you do to me, Dana? You, sweet, gentle soul... what 
kind of magic have you used on me? Thank you... I wish I could 
help you some way. I'm sorry I haven't been much of a help to 
you._

With these thoughts running in my mind, my heart ached for her 
and her pains. At first, I didn't notice it, not until my vision 
got blurry. Even then, my first thought was I must be getting 
sick. When I felt the first drops of tears on my chest, I 
realized, I was crying. I ruefully thought, 'I'm turning into a 
regular crybaby,' but I didn't fight it. It was a quiet cry, the 
tears running steadily, until they came to a stop on their own. I 
wiped my eyes, and cheeks, then took a quick look at Dana and saw 
her still asleep.

I was ready to go back to bed, but there was one more thing I 
wanted to do before that. I wanted to remember her, as she was 
now, an angel sleeping. All the time we've spent together was 
already in my recollection, but I didn't want to leave anything 
to chance. If over time some of them faded, I wanted a special 
one that would stay with me for a long time. She was one of those 
rare people with whom I felt a special bond. I wanted to make 
sure that this moment was captured; a small part of her forever a 
part of me.

I regulated my breathing, and went about clearing my mind. Once 
that was done, I let what my eyes were seeing fill in the empty 
space. Then recalling memories of her voice, her fragrance, the 
feel of her body as I held her in my arms, the heat of her body 
as she spooned with me, I added them to the image. When I was 
satisfied with the results, I cleared my mind, and after several 
deep breaths, I stood up and stretched my muscles. Now, I was 
ready for a couple more hours of sleep.

I carefully got into the bed on Dana's side, with the intention 
of spooning with her, but I realized my body was ice cold. 
Pulling the sheet and the blanket over me, I waited until my body 
was warm, and rolling on my right side, I gently molded my body 
behind her. At the contact, she started to rouse, almost waking 
up, but then relaxed to my embrace. My left arm encircled her and 
she instinctively moved my hand to her right breast, and pressed 
her body against my chest. Pushing her ass back, looking for more 
bodily contact, she molded herself to me. I realized she was 
half-awake. I heard a soft sigh escape her lips, and in a few 
minutes, she faded into a deep slumber, her breathing steady and 
slow. A while later, I fell asleep, cuddling an angel that had 
crossed my path.



* * * * *



I must have moved sometime during the night; when I woke up, I 
was on my back. Dana was on her side, half draped on my body, her 
head resting on the crook of my arm, her right arm thrown 
carelessly on my chest, and a firm breast pressing against my 
right side. She had her right leg over and entwined between my 
legs, her hot juncture and pubic hair resting on my right thigh. 
To my consternation, I realized she was completely naked. At 
least I had my boxers on.

It was early morning and dark, with little illumination. I 
guessed the full moon was probably setting down. When I turned my 
head to inhale her fragrance I felt her hand move, drawing, 
tracing patterns. I responded by caressing her from shoulder to 
hipbone with my left hand. She looked up with sleepy eyes.

"Good morning, beautiful," I said.

She raised herself a bit and slid up, her right hand brushing my 
cheek with her fingers. "Good morning, handsome. How did you 
sleep?"

"Like a baby. How about you?"

"Best sleep I've ever had," she replied giving me warm smile, 
then put her head on my shoulder. Her right hand was busy 
caressing my neck, and down my shoulder and chest, tracing 
patterns, raising goose bumps with her featherlike touch.

"Do you mind that I came to your bed?" she asked.

"No. Just surprised," I replied, wondering why she had.

Perhaps she heard my unspoken question, or perhaps she wanted to 
explain herself, because she said, "I couldn't sleep for a 
while... restless... decided to check on you, and you were having 
an uneasy sleep. I guess I felt lonely and wanted the company as 
well."

I kissed her on top of her head, but then I chuckled at the 
thought of spending the night with this gorgeous woman, 
remembering we had chosen a suite to have privacy.

"What's so funny?"

"Oh! It's nothing."

She rose up, looking at me. "Come on, fess up. What's so funny?"

"It's your question. How can any man, let alone a 25 year old 
hormonal guy, mind spending the night in the arms of a gorgeous 
woman like you?" I replied.

She gave me an admonishing look. Then, softening her expression, 
she said, "You aren't hormonal, Mitch. You are a gentleman. 
Otherwise I wouldn't have been here."

I offered sincere thanks for her compliment. She had an 
unreadable expression on her face, and her eyes seemed to be 
searching for something... but for what, I didn't know.

"Are you all right?"

She nodded, giving me a smile, "I've never been better." Then she 
lowered her face, and kissed me on my lips, taking me by 
surprise. It was a gentle, caring kiss, but there was a subtle 
hint of passion that made my blood course faster, waking me up.

Pulling back, she gave me the same searching look, then her face 
broke into a smile, her lips curling with amusement, as if she 
knew something that I did not. "There is a lot that can be said 
for being a gentleman, but... like anything else, it shouldn't be 
taken to excess."

I looked at her and blinked, confused, before...

_Is she saying what I think she's saying?_

She lowered her face and gave me another kiss, full of passion, 
taking my breath away, and bringing my blood to a boil in mere 
seconds. I sure was awake if I hadn't been before. When the kiss 
ended, I was panting, and I could feel my pulse in my temples. 
Her heat on my thigh was already starting to burn me. I saw her 
self-satisfied smile at the effect her kiss was having on me. I 
gave her a questioning look, but all I got in return was a small 
nod and a soft smile. Before I could react, she straddled me, and 
lowering her torso to my chest, she started rubbing her erect 
nipples against my chest.

I wanted her... but this was going too fast. I wanted to slow 
things down a bit. More importantly, I wanted to make sure this 
was what she really wanted. I pushed myself up to an almost 
upright sitting position. Then I wrapped my left arm around her, 
pinning her torso to mine. Using my right arm as a pivot, and my 
legs as leverage, I quickly but carefully flipped and rolled our 
bodies, getting a surprised shriek for my efforts. Once she was 
on her back, I extracted my left arm behind her back, and put my 
hands on either side of her torso to support myself, looking at 
her.

She was watching me with curious eyes, although her desire was 
clear. Putting my arm down to support my weight on one elbow, I 
lowered my body, and with my free hand, I brushed her temple, 
down her cheek, neck, and then up behind her ear. When I leaned 
for a kiss, her hands reached to clutch my neck and pulled my 
head down. She kissed me with a fierce passion and hunger. There 
was no question about what she wanted, but my overworking mind 
was questioning her motives. As the kiss ended, I looked in her 
eyes searching for answers.

Sensing my hesitation, she reined in her passion, and asked, 
"What is it... Mitch?"

"You don't know how happy I am to get to know you. You'll always 
be a part of me, Dana. Whether we do something or not." I 
replied.

She gave me a brilliant smile. "I know that. And I am happy to 
get to know you. You'll always be part of me, but... but, I want 
to have a special memory from you. Of you."

I sensed that was what she wanted, and her eyes were telling me 
the same thing and more. She knew years from now, I would 
remember what we were going to share and that was what she 
wanted. Her gift to me. The emotion of the moment caught me like 
a violent storm, and I felt my eyes getting moist.

"Mitch. This is not therapy. This is happy making, and I want 
this to be my gift to you as well as your gift to me," she said, 
and pulled me down for a soul kiss, making me lose myself in her.

When the kiss was over, I lifted my body, and sitting on my 
heels, took a good look at her.

"I think I'm overdressed for this party," I said, and went about 
removing my boxers.

She spread her legs in invitation, feet firmly planted on the 
bed, and knees raised. I could already smell her arousal. On my 
knees, I crawled between her legs, and hunched over her body, one 
arm supporting my weight on the side of her torso. I brushed my 
fingertips, tracing soft, teasing patterns from her forehead to 
her cheek, then to her neck. Down to her shoulder, I moved to her 
collarbone, then headed south to her tits. She had great tits, 
full, firm, yet they were soft without being saggy or flat. 
Lowering my lips, I gave teasing licks to her left breast, 
evading the nipple. Making small circles, my tongue moved closer 
to her nipple. After licking her areola, I moved to her right 
breast, repeating the same pattern. Her breath was catching and 
she raised her chest urging me to take her nipple, her hand 
reaching out to pull my head down to her breast.

I quickly raised my head. Getting hold of both her hands, I 
gently crossed them and held them above her head with one hand. 
Transferring my weight to that hand, I had my other hand free to 
stroke and tease her breasts. When I was restraining her hands, I 
paid careful attention to her reaction, looking for any signs of 
anxiety; her violent experience in the past not far from my mind. 
She wasn't scared being under my control, but she was getting 
impatient. To appease her, I quickly captured one nipple, gently 
licked it, and closing my lips around it, applied suction. When 
it was hard, I gave little nips with my teeth. Her back arched, 
and I could hear her breathing getting heavy. She had sensitive 
nipples. Turning my attention on the other nipple, I licked and 
sucked it to hardness.

Her hips were active, rolling, twisting. I spent several minutes 
teasing her breasts and nipples, using my hand, and lips, and 
tongue. Lowering my body, I let her nipples dig into my chest 
while kissing. By Gods, did she know how to kiss!

Lifting off her, I let go of her hands, but she kept them there, 
watching my next move. Kneeling, I rested my weight on one hand, 
and I ran my fingers under her breasts, cupping them and pulling 
her nipples, gently twisting them. Then I traced my fingers down 
her sides, and onto her belly, feeling it contract. I moved down, 
kissing and licking as I went. Soon I was settled between her 
legs. Bypassing the strategic places, I started with the insides 
of her right thigh, licking, kissing, and running the back of my 
finger and nails over her smooth skin, making her shiver. I 
repeated my attentions on the other thigh and, sensing her 
impatience, I relented.

I moved my hand to her pussy, which was clean shaven except for a 
narrow patch of hair over her mons. Her labia were already 
swollen, and seeping some moisture. I slid a finger between her 
folds, collecting her dew, and ran it along her slit, parting her 
lips, drawing a soft gasp. I could feel her heat, and I couldn't 
wait longer to taste her, so I leaned forward to kiss her labia. 
Extending my tongue, I licked from bottom to top, trying to get a 
good taste, while spreading her lips further, and felt her 
shudder. Her oils were light, almost watery, and tasted great. I 
started to work on the inner lips, giving quick licks, and her 
hips started to get active. I applied a little suction on her 
labia, slowly making my way to her clitoris, which was peeking 
out from its protective hood. Licking around it, I gave it a soft 
swipe with the bottom part of my tongue, making her jerk. I put 
my hands on her inner thighs, and spread her legs further. She 
raised her hips and her hands clutched my head, guiding me to 
lick her the way she wanted. I followed her lead.

While my tongue was busy, I removed one hand, and slowly inserted 
a finger. She was tight and hot. And very wet. The abundance of 
her oils helped me to penetrate her channel easily. I slowly 
stroked my finger, and added another finger... and rotated them. 
Forming a hook, I went looking for the 'on' switch. If what I had 
read in Playboy was true, her special spot should be somewhere in 
the roof of her channel. Concentrating on what my fingers were 
'seeing', I continued my search until I came across a bumpy spot 
that felt different than the surrounding area, when she gave a 
little yelp. I gave a soft experimental rub, and almost got my 
lips cut when she suddenly jerked her hips up, with a shriek.

_Yayyy! Jackpot!_

I moved my hand from the insides of her thigh to her belly to 
restrain any violent reactions as much as possible. I started 
licking and sucking around her clitoris, with an occasional 
direct swipe, and rubbed her special spot with my fingers. Her 
hips went crazy, rolling and jerking, her hands pulling and 
pushing my head, almost ripping my hair. There was no way I could 
restrain her violent reaction, so I just tried to keep my mouth 
and fingers in place. I was enjoying myself too much, so I didn't 
let go.

Her little shrieks changed to soft mewling sounds. I eased up a 
bit to let her catch her breath, before resuming my attack with 
increased vigor. She started a soft wail, and her hips started to 
shake, and I could feel tremors running across her belly. Her 
hands pulled me hard to her pussy. She slammed her hips to my 
face... and she froze, giving a moan that ended with a small 
scream.

I felt her pussy fluttering around my fingers, as her channel got 
even wetter. Her hands pushed my head away, and taking the hint 
her clitoris was feeling sensitive, I focused my attention on her 
labia and inner lips, while stroking my fingers very slowly, 
giving occasional and featherlike rubs to her special spot. She 
was panting as if she had finished a 100 yards dash interspersed 
with occasional mewls. I gave her soft slow strokes with my 
fingers, and once her flutters stopped, I pulled them out slowly. 
Giving a long swipe with my tongue, I probed inside her channel 
as far as I could, enjoying her taste. I finished my attention to 
her pussy with soft licks. When I looked up, her eyes were droopy 
as if she was ready to fall asleep, with a contented smile on her 
lips.

I kissed my way up her body. Supporting myself over her, I leaned 
in for a kiss, wanting to lose myself in her. Her arms came up, 
encircling my back, and she pulled me down... hard... surprising 
me with her strength. This lady was a real tiger. All my weight 
was on her, her breasts crushed under my chest. When I tried to 
lift myself up, she was having none of it, insistently pulling 
down, so I succumbed, luxuriating in the lush feel of her body. 
Then she locked her lips to mine, and gave me one of her 
passionate kisses, making me forget everything.

When the kiss ended, I was hot as a firecracker, my erection 
throbbing with urgency against the inside of her thigh. I was 
scared I would pop before I had a chance to get inside her. It 
had been quite a long time for me, and what's more she was way 
beyond any girl I had been with. I lifted up my body, keeping 
contact with her breasts. Then it occurred to me I had to get to 
my suitcase for condoms. I never thought I would get lucky, and 
now I was caught unprepared. I was pondering how to get to them 
without breaking the mood, when she noticed something was up. She 
gave me a questioning look.

"I-I... ummm... I hate to break this moment, but I need to get to 
my suitcase... for condoms," I said.

"Mitch, are you clean?" she asked.

I nodded.

She said, "I'm also clean. It's been quite a while, and I have 
always been careful."

When I gave her a questioning look, she nodded.

"I think we know each other well enough to trust. I want you like 
this. I want to feel you... all of you inside me--flesh-to-flesh. 
Is that all right?" she asked.

Instead of answering her, I kissed her. While we were kissing, 
her hand reached down, and I lifted my hips to allow her hand 
some room. Finding me already hard and ready, she rubbed the head 
between her folds, coating it with her oils, then guided me into 
her entrance.

When I eased forward, I felt her wetness and heat. With short 
strokes, I started to slide into her tight channel, taking my 
time to make sure I was properly lubricated. She was really 
tight, but I could feel her trying to loosen to ease my entry and 
her wetness helped. She felt like liquid heat. I hadn't felt that 
kind of heat before, but then I had not been with too many women. 
Pulling her knees up more, she placed her heels on my buttocks, 
urging me to go deeper. Completely inside, I took a look at her. 
Her blue eyes were intense pools, full of passion and warmth. I 
felt I was drowning in a sea of love. I wanted to kiss her, but I 
knew if I did, I would lose it before I even started making love 
to her.

I started with short strokes, and when I felt her get used to me, 
switched to long strokes at a slow pace, enjoying her slick 
channel and heat. I changed between long and short strokes, 
making sure I was grinding my pubic bone to stimulate her 
clitoris. Her hips were rolling and twisting and then, I felt her 
use her inner muscles, catching me by surprise. She was already 
tight to start with, and when she started using her inner 
muscles, there was no way I could last, so I buried myself in her 
depths and stopped my strokes. She urged me with her heels, and 
threw her hips at me, but I ignored her.

Giving her an earnest look, I said, "If you want to enjoy this, 
you have to ease up on me, OK? Otherwise, I'll pop very quickly. 
It's been a long time, and you're feeling fabulous. I can't last 
if you keep that up."

She stopped massaging me with her inner muscles and let me drive. 
When I calmed down, I started to stroke again at a slow pace, and 
kept it up for quite some time, changing the pace and the length 
of the strokes. Supporting my weight on one arm, I teased her 
breasts. Then, hunching, I sucked on her nipples, nipping them 
with small bites. Lowering myself, I kissed her neck, while 
rubbing my chest on her nipples. I could feel she was getting 
closer, and I was moving along as well. I wasn't sure if I could 
hold out until she came, so I slowed my pace further. But this 
time, she was having none of it, and urged me on.

"Mitch, please. Let go. I want you to let go," she said.

When I didn't comply, she threw her hips at me, trying to fuck 
me, while rolling them. As if that wasn't bad enough--or good 
enough depending on your point of view--she started using her 
inner muscles, again. When I gave her a warning look, she 
answered with a remorseless grin. I could feel the tingling 
sensation at the root of my cock, and knew I was getting ready to 
unload. To distract her, I took several short hard strokes, and 
was pleased to see her catch her breath. For a moment she 
faltered with her internal massaging and eased up on me. So I 
kept up the hard short strokes. But with her tightness, I was 
getting there faster. The stimulation was too much. I was 
desperately trying to find a way to make her come.

Pulling her knees more, she locked her feet on my lower back, 
which tilted her hips, changing the angle, and allowing me to 
penetrate deeper than before. I took couple of hard short 
strokes, taking advantage of the position, and then with a long 
slow stroke I penetrated as deep as I can. I didn't want to come, 
yet.

"Come in me, Mitch. Give it to me," she said softly.

I was struggling to keep myself from unloading in her, and I saw 
her give me a shake of her head as if to say 'don't hold back.' I 
gave her a pleading look, but for all my trouble she answered 
with a grin like a cat that's about to swallow a mouse. Seeing 
how much she wanted it this way, I gave up my efforts to control 
the burning feeling in my balls, letting out a resigned sigh.

"Yesss. I want it... all of it," she said, her throaty voice 
driving me crazy with desire.

To make her point, she gave a teasing, almost playful smile and 
started to milk me with her muscles, making me squeeze my eyes 
shut with pleasure, and drawing out a moan. I opened my eyes, not 
wanting to miss her eyes glittering with arousal. She was really 
enjoying making me cry with pleasure, and I found myself lost in 
her blue eyes, letting her carry me over. When she felt me pulse, 
her face lit up in joy, and she pulled me in for one of her soul 
kisses. It was an overwhelming experience. The combination of her 
kiss and the milking actions felt like I was being drained at 
both ends. Like a candle being burned at both ends. As my pulses 
weakened, she kept her milking action, drawing out my pleasure.

Then, I felt her moan in my mouth, and she broke the kiss. Her 
hands moved to my shoulders and her fingers dug in painfully. She 
looked like she was having difficulty breathing. Then her back 
started to arch, and her nipples dug into my chest like hard 
pebbles. I lifted off her body, supporting my weight on my arms, 
to allow her to breath more easily. Her eyes closed, and she 
sucked in her breath, before starting a soft wail. I felt her 
pussy flutter, not the regular massaging she had been doing, but 
erratic flutters. Realizing she was coming, I ground my pubic 
bone into her, trying to stimulate her clitoris. The way she 
arched her back offered her breasts to my tender mercies, so I 
took advantage of the situation. Hunching myself, I captured one 
erect nipple and sucked at it... hard. Then nipping it between my 
teeth, I pulled it gently, making her scream. Switching to her 
other nipple, I repeated the treatment. Then she relaxed, and 
sank into the bed. As she was starting to come down, I licked her 
breasts and suckled her nipples. When she opened her eyes, their 
intensity fixed me. They were enormous pools, and I felt like I 
was drowning in their depths. So blue, azure blue and swirling... 
I could feel the after effects of her orgasm, the ripples in her 
belly, and the occasional trembling that coursed through her 
body.

I leaned for a kiss, and she grabbed me in a fierce hug, pulling 
me down hard, wanting my weight on her body. I acquiesced, and 
while lowering my body, slid my hands under her, taking my weight 
on my elbows, and hugging her. She writhed, rubbing her breasts 
against my chest while locking her lips to mine for another of 
her trademark kisses. It left both of us breathless and panting. 
I felt like I had gone through the wringer, completely drained, 
and drowsy. I didn't want to fall asleep. Especially with my 
weight on her body. I started to kiss her neck and shoulder, 
luxuriating in the lush feel of her body.

"Stay inside me, Mitch," she whispered.

For several minutes, we stayed like that, entwined. She unlocked 
her feet and put her heels on my ass. I was semi-hard, going 
soft, and she started to massage me with her internal muscles, 
making me gasp. I licked behind her ear, and nuzzled her neck, 
making her shiver.

I gently admonished her. "Behave."

Even though I was enjoying her attentions immensely, I wanted to 
catch my breath for the second round.

She laughed, and with a playful tone she asked, "Am I too much 
woman for you?"

I rose up, and looking straight in her eyes, I replied, "You know 
you are."

We both knew the score there. I was happy that she had come, and 
I wasn't bothered that I lasted such a short time, and came 
before she had.

She cupped my face in her hands, and giving me a loving look. 
"Ahh! Sweetie. I didn't scare you, did I? You're fun. Much more 
fun than you can imagine. I loved it."

Then moving her hands to my neck, she pulled me in for another 
kiss. By Gods, I never enjoyed kissing as much as I did with her. 
She gave me a couple of hard grips using her inner muscles, 
making me pant in her mouth. When we broke the kiss, my head was 
spinning. With a mischievous twinkle in her eyes, she kept her 
gaze on me, and started to roll her hips suggestively, making us 
both break out in laughter. I hadn't recuperated yet, I needed a 
bit more time. I'd never had a partner like her before, with such 
control of her vaginal muscles. Her playful nature, how she 
shared herself with me, endeared her to me, with the other things 
I felt for her. I wanted to cuddle with her, and enjoy the feel 
of her body.

"Can we change position... you know roll over, so you're on top? 
I want to cuddle, and feel your body on mine."

"As long as you stay inside me," she replied.

Carefully we rearranged ourselves, so that we could roll over 
without breaking our connection. Once I was on my back, she 
reached for the sheets and the blanket, pulling them over her 
lower back, before draping herself over me. Then she put her arms 
on my chest, crossing them and resting her chin on them.

"Why didn't you let me drive? You almost missed it," I asked.

She gave me an amused smile. "I had already come, if you 
remember. And I was so hot to have you come inside me... I 
_really_ wanted to feel you coming in me. I knew you might not 
last, and wanted to drive you crazy."

"Well, you did."

With a self-satisfied grin, she said, "Good. It was a trip. You 
may not realize that, but it was a real trip, doing that for 
you."

I could see her point. It had been a trip, and she had enjoyed 
it. That wouldn't have changed if she hadn't come.

I felt her grip me. When I gave her a questioning look, she 
replied, "Oh, I don't think we are finished yet," like a spoiled 
child who had been given a new toy, making me laugh.

"Gods, Dana. I may be young and hormonal, but I'm not sure I'll 
survive you," I retorted.

"Don't worry, I'll make sure you survive. That's another thing 
you'll come to know. At a certain age, we get to be insatiable, 
but not too insatiable to waste a stud like you," she replied, 
with a teasing grin while she continued with her internal 
massaging.

"I think I'm getting the idea," I retorted. Then in a more 
serious tone I added, "I don't think I'll ever get enough of you, 
Dana. I'm not talking about what we did, although that's part of 
it."

When I raised my head, she leaned, and we shared a soft kiss.

_Could I say it? Should I say it? If I can't say this to her, 
then to whom can I say?_

"I love you," I whispered.

Her eyes widened for a moment, then she gave me a long appraising 
look.

"I love you too, Mitch... but--"

I shushed her. "One has nothing to do with the other. I know how 
I feel about you... and her. I love you. You'll always be a part 
of me."

I cupped her face, giving her a look that said I meant it. I was 
coming to realize the depth of my feelings for this woman, and 
when I thought about it, the intensity of my feelings surprised 
me.

"I'll never have enough of you. What we shared is only a small 
part of that. You have a piece of my heart. I can't change that. 
I don't want to change that," I said with a conviction born out 
of certainty about my feelings for her. With that, I wrapped my 
arms around her, caressing her back.

She put her head down on her arms, and relaxed into my cuddle, 
but I sensed she was perturbed. I didn't want her to think and 
worry about our little exchange. Moving a hand to her neck, I 
massaged several spots softly. There were several nerve bundles 
that if stimulated in the right manner helped a person to relax 
and fall asleep. I hadn't used the technique before, but with the 
post coital glow and lethargy, I thought it would work on her, 
and make her fall asleep or at least relax.

Unfortunately, she wasn't as lethargic, and after five minutes 
into the massage she asked, "What are you doing, Mitch?"

"Sssshhhh! Just relax. This will help you rest for a short while, 
and you need it. Trust me."

She gave a sigh, and let herself be guided to sleep. A little 
later, she was breathing slowly, sleeping. Grabbing hold of the 
sheets and the blanket, I pulled them over her shoulders, 
covering us. My hands were busy running on her back, easing her 
into deeper sleep, and after a while, I followed her blissfully 
into sleep.



* * * * *