Note: This story was dynamically reformatted for online reading convenience.
 
 Chapter Six



   We woke up to the sounds of the classical music station and started our
second morning together.  I don't know how Kim's day went, but mine was
normal as regards to workload, but every quiet moment when I closed my eyes
to clear my head, I had a vision of a smiling face with blue eyes, freckles
and light brown bangs in front of me.  Yeah.  It was like that.

   Leaving the job, I headed home, flipping open my phone as soon as I got
into steady traffic, and dialed OUR number.  The phone rang.

   "Tim `n' Kim's.  This is Kim." Giggle.

   `'Brave little thing, aren't you?" I laughed.

   "Either that or smart enough to recognize the number on caller ID," she
giggled.  "Uh, plan on swimmin' today, babe," she said.  "We've been eating
awfully good, you know..."

   "I know.  But you gotta know what I want to do for exercise..."

   "Me too.  But that's for later.  Come on.  I'm waiting." Pause.  "I love
you, Tim."

   "I love you, too, Kim." Like it was supposed to be.

   Twenty minutes later we were in the pool.  I don't know if I'd have
pushed quite as hard as Kim pushed us, but hey, it couldn't hurt.  When SHE
decided, we hung on the end wall of the pool, cooling off.  "That was
good," she said.

   "Yeah.  So did you hold back, or am I getting better?"

   She bent close and bumped her forehead against mine.  "A little of both,
babe."

   "I'd really like to get you in a big pool, babe, just to see you go, and
for me to embarrass myself."

   "We could go to the Y," she said.  "Might have to do that anyway if you
want to keep swimming.  This one's gonna close soon for the winter."

   "Yeah.  In December we can get a family membership."

   She smiled.  "I like hearing you say that, babe," she said.  "You keep
telling me my dreams are possible."

   "As long as it's your dream, sweetie.  You're certainly mine.  Let's go
eat."

   Hauling herself out of the pool, she turned, "Let's go shower and order
pizza, okay?"

   "Pizza'll work." We walked back to the apartment hand in hand.  Passed
the elderly couple from the other end of the complex.  Kimmy said "Hi!"
They were looking as we went into our door.

   We argued about ordering pizza and then showering before it arrived.  I
said I wasn't sure that we'd be out of the shower before the pizza arrived.
She said she could guarantee it.  I let her win, then had to answer the
doorbell wearing a bathrobe, listening to her giggle in the background.

   I looked at the two pizzas that were delivered.  She grinned and made a
phonecall and in two minutes the doorbell rang.  She let Jen and Laci in.

   Laci walked in, looking around.  "So this is the love nest, huh?  I
expected spots on the wall an' stuff." She grinned at her own joke.

   Kim smirked.  "We don't let it go to waste like that!"

   "Yuck!" Laci said.  "I don't wanna know..." then to Jenny.  "He hasn't
slowed her down any."

   Jen said, "Now, Lace, they invited us over for pizza.  Be nice!"

   "Oooo-kayyyy," Laci chuckled.  "Since they bribed me with pizza."

   The banter continued through the meal and then the four of us played
cards for a while.  Eight PM saw Jen and Laci leaving, Kim and I making a
dash through the kitchen, and then to bed.  And two hours later, to sleep.

   And Thursday was much the same, except dinner as a little family-run
restaurant for just me and my Kim, and we got home to have the evening to
ourselves.

   We were in bed early, for purely recreational purposes, and after an
energetic and very satisfying hour and a half, we were laying naked,
satiated, Kim was glowing, and we were talking about things.

   Friday came.  The swim.  Showers.  Kim said, "You wanna see if Aunt Jen
wants to come eat with us?"

   "What about Laci?" I asked.

   "Laci has to work late.  That's what Aunt Jen said.  So I thought that
we'd bring her with us.  Laci should be getting off about the time we get
back."

   "Okay, then," I said.  "I can't fault your logic."

   The three of us headed to an Italian restaurant.

   Dinner was pleasant.  When we ordered, though, Jenny said, "Tim, how
about some wine?  One glass won't hurt, and if you have two, we'll let Kim
drive."

   Kim stuck her bottom lip out, faking a pout.  "Being underage SUCKS!"
Then when Jenny looked at her outburst, Kim turned to me with a horribly
exaggerated, theatrical wink.  It's a good think I wasn't drinking, because
I would have sprayed liquid through my nose.

   "Oh, you little THING!" Jenny retorted.

   We had wine.  A couple of glasses, talking about work and school and the
coming winter and hot chocolate and warm blankets and I wasn't a drinker
and the THIRD glass of wine and I was happily buzzed and so was Jenny and
Kim was laughing at the two of us.  I paid the bill and gave Kim the keys.
Jenny took the remains of the bottle of wine with us.

   We were a block into the trip home when Jenny's phone rang.

   "Hi, baby," she said.  She turned to us, a little buzzed herself, and
said, "It's Laci!" She went back to her phone.  "Yeah, babe, I'm with Kim
`n' Tim.  Guess WHAT!" She paused.  "They want to get MARRIED!" Another
pause.  "Yeah, I know they told us before, but they're SERIOUS!" Pause. 
"No, I'm NOOT drunk.  We had some wine, me an' Tim.  Kim's drivin'" Pause.
"No, I understand, people gotta work late, sometimes!  I'll see you
tomorrow." Pause.  "Love you too, babe!  Bye!"

   Kim asked, "Laci's gotta work late?"

   "Yeah," Jenny sighed.  "An' I get to go home to an empty house. 
Ssssssucks, ya know..."

   I watched Kim as she drove.  Her face went into thinking mode for a
couple of seconds.  "Come visit with US!  Tim won't mind..."

   Well, at this point in life, slightly buzzed Tim DID mind.  I had half a
load of alcohol and full load of "I wanna get in bed with Kim" and her aunt
visiting, well, that didn't fit the plan.  But it was Kim, and I was along
for the ride.

   "No, I don't mind..." And that was alcohol.  They were BIG glasses of
wine.

   Jen called Laci back and told her of her plans for the evening.  Hanging
up, she turned to us.  "She's gonna stay at her sister's.  Laci lived with
her sister and her family.

   We got back to the apartments in fine fettle.  Kim locked the car and
took my left arm and we headed to our house.  And then I got a surprise. 
Jenny grabbed my right arm.  "Just to help me navigate," she said, giggling
maybe a little bit too much.

   Kim looked at me, grinned, and an eyebrow raised.  She unlocked the
front door and we all went inside.  Kim locked the door behind us.

   "Ya got glasses, Timmy?" Jen waved her trophy wine bottle.

   "Ssssure,"I said.  I got up and went to the kitchen and came back with
oops, THREE glasses and another bottle of wine.

   "Kim, you want a glass of wine, since we're home now?  It's okay, huh,
Jen?"

   Jen said, "Pour her a glass.  She's needs to learn to drink socially."

   I looked at Kim.  She had a strange smile.  I think I recall smiles like
that.  On cats sitting in the middle of a pile of canary feathers.  And I
poured three glasses of wine AND managed to get the cork out of the new
bottle.

   Two glasses of wine for Kim.  Her first.  Loosened her up to a very
giggly, touchy-feely mode.  In front of Jenny.

   "How's that wine, babe?" Jen asked.

   "Must be something you grow into.  But not bad.  An' I feel a little..."
Giggle.  And a hand on the inside of my thigh.  And then arms around my
neck as we sat on the sofa.

   Kim slid over and onto my lap, and another surprise.  Jenny slid up
beside me.  And Kim.  Close.  We finished our wine.

   "It'sh bedtime," Kim said.

   "I know.  I could use some bedtime," I said.

   "Me too," Jen said, giggly.  "I guesh I need ta go home now."

   "Oh, no, Aunt Jen," Kim said.  "You're gonna stay with US."

   "Nope.  I gotta go home.  If I stay here... uh, never mind." She pulled
her phone out.  "I'm callin' Laci.  I need her.  No matter how late she
is..." She held the phone to her ear.

   "Lace," she said, "don't go to your sisters." Pause.  "I know.  I don't
care how late you are.  Just come here." Pause.  "No, it's just not fair.
Kim's got Tim.  An' I don't wanna sleep by myself." Pause.  "Okay, love.  I
might be asleep, but just come on in."

   She stood, a little wobbly, and headed towards the door.  "G'nite, Tim
'n' Kim." And she giggled.  "D'ya know just how absolutely CUTE that
sounds?" She was still giggling as the door closed behind her.

   Kim was obviously tipsy as she climbed on top of me.  "'Sperfect," she
giggled.  "Aunt Jen's got Laci an' got my Timmy.  Tee-hee!" Her lips
fastened on mine, pushing me backward onto the sofa, her fingers wrestling
with my belt buckle.  "Love ya, Timmy.  Want THIS.  Hee-hee!"

   "Come on, little Kimmy," I said.  I pulled her to me and we tangled
disastrously on the sofa trying to undress each other.  The ultimate mating
was satisfying in a foggy sort of way, and somewhere during the night we
did manage to get to bed.  Together.

   Saturday morning I felt the aftereffects of the wine.  I remembered a
lesson I'd learned a long time ago: Don't get drunk on wine.  My mouth felt
like cotton dipped in dogshit.  My head was throbbing.  I got out of bed as
quietly as possible so as to not disturb Kim.

   I was in the bathroom standing before the toilet when I heard footsteps.

   "So this is what a hangover feels like?" She was pushing her right hand
against the side of her head.

   "What?  Doesn't feel good?"

   "I had two glasses of wine, sweetie," she said.

   "You're not used to drinking, baby.  And neither am I." My drinking days
were long over, aside from the occasional beer with the crowd.

   "It wasn't bad last night, but this morning..." she pushed me aside for
a spot on the toilet.

   I washed my face and brushed my teeth.

   "No," she said.  "Let's shower."

   "Okay," I answered.

   I know that the steamy shower helped me immeasurably.  Kim was leaning
back against me, wrapped in my arms, the water running over us both.  We
took a long shower.

   We got out.  My phone rang.  Kim answered it.  I heard her say, "Tim
Duncan's phone.  This is Kim." Pause.  "Yes, he's here.  Just a second."
She came into the bathroom.  "Babe, it's the job."

   This was one of the hazards of my line of work.  When you're the
engineer in charge of a plant's electrical power system and lights go out,
YOU get a call.  "Hi, this is Tim," I said.  I listened to the sad story
over the phone, asking questions, and with every exchange it became clearer
that this wasn't something that would be solved with a conversation. 
"Okay, I'll be out there in, oh, forty-five minutes."

   Kim was watching me, still delightfully nude, as was I.

   "There goes our day, babe," I said.  "They need me out there."

   She smirked.  "That's what you get for knowing things," she said.

   "Yeah, I guess." I opened my closet and pulled out jeans and a work
shirt and started dressing.

   "How long will you be gone?" she asked.

   "I dunno.  Could be a couple of hours, maybe more, but I will be home
this evening.  You gonna be okay?"

   "Will you love me all day while you're gone?" she smiled.

   "I will love you until the last star blinks out."

   "Then I'll be okay.  I have plenty to do around here." Yes, it was HER
house, too.  My toys were her toys.

   "I'll call you as soon as I find out what's going on, baby." I kissed
her, running my hands over her naked butt, and I left.

   Sometimes things just go very bad when dealing with electrical power,
and metal gets vaporized and doors blown off and general mayhem occurs.  I
walked into a little bit of the aftermath of one of these situations.  No,
it wasn't going to get fixed today.  It was going to get safely secured
today and I and a crew of electricians did some slightly heroic things
involving high voltage cables and unusual equipment applications and at
five PM we had the lights back on in a production unit and I was on the way
home.  Clearing the gate, I flipped my phone open and punched up Kim on
speed dial.

   "Hi, babe," came the bright voice that I loved.

   "Hi, sweetie, I'm on the way home."

   "Good!  I'm waiting for you.  Everything okay?"

   "Kinda sorta.  We did some temporary stuff to get through the weekend.
I'm a mess.  I crawled in some nasty places.  I'm gonna need a shower when
I get home."

   "Oooooo," she squealed.  "I can help!"

   "You might not want to, babe.  I'm nasty." I was smudged with carbon and
other blast byproducts.  I went on, "Uh, have you had dinner?"

   "No," she said.  "You said you'd be home in time."

   "Order pizza if you don't mind.  I'm tired."

   "I don't mind.  Are you up for a game of Trivial Pursuit with Laci an'
Aunt Jen?"

   "Sure.  After I clean up."

   Kim was somewhat shocked at my smudgy form when I walked in the door. 
She peeled my clothes off and started them in the laundry and then joined
me in the shower.  I appreciated her gentle but thorough hands soaping and
scrubbing my arms and face.  I got out and was shaving when I heard the
pizza and Laci and Jen arrive simultaneously.  The four of us sat around
the dining room table laughing and enjoying hot pizza.

   The Trivial Pursuit game went well.  Jen and Laci invoked Kimberly Rules
on Kim and me and Kim managed to pull off a win amongst laughter and
"Nobody in his right mind would KNOW that shit!" and "Remind me to never
play with HER again!", but I knew they'd play again.  The clock was pushing
eleven thirty when the game was over and Jen and Laci stood at the door to
leave

   When the door closed, I pulled Kimberly to me.

   "Mmmmm, babe," she purred.  "Bed!"

   Two minutes later we were naked in bed together, our bodies pressed
tightly against one another, and my hand was stroking that short, sassy
hair of hers.  And she was alternating between purring and giggling and
gosh I loved this little girl.  Little?  Five-eight?  Okay, let's do "young
girl".  She was such a doll.  My fingertips read the skin of her body,
taut, supple, youthful, smooth.  Several kisses later we were in a happy
sixty-nine, and this time we both came.  After her lips had secured the
last droplets of semen from me, she let my dick drop from her lips almost
reluctantly and turned around.

   "So what'd you do while I was gone today, babe?" I asked.

   "I went to hang out with Aunt Jen and Laci.  Laci had to go do something
and I talked to Aunt Jen while you were gone."

   "Yeah?  What'd she have to say?" I asked.

   "That she was very happy that you and I found each other and that seeing
us together made her realize how much she cared about Laci.  And she was
sorry about us drinking so much wine."

   "You told her about your very first ever hangover?"

   "Yeah," she said.  "I felt like crap for half the morning.  I'm not
doing that again."

   "One glass won't do that.  Two glasses over the course of the evening,
with a meal, won't do that.  But I had four or five.  And you had two in
twenty minutes, and you've never drank before."

   "I didn't think the taste was worth the trouble." Her face was that cute
little determined look.

   "Your call, dearest," I said.  I scooted toward the head of the bed and
she snuggled up alongside me.  I kissed her head, savoring the sweet smell
of clean young girl.

   "I'd rather have coffee." She wiggled tighter against me.

   I tilted her face toward me and kissed her.  "Better day tomorrow,
little one," I said.  "No hangovers."

   "Mmm-hmmm... Punch us up some music." My baby.  Liked to have something
uplifting to ease off into slumber.

   I set the sleep timer on the radio, listening to the late night
classics. And we eased off into sleep.

   0830.  The phone rang, and it was on my side of the bed.  "Please,
please, please don't be work," I prayed silently as I reached for it.

   "Tim's house," I croaked.

   "Hi, Tim.  Are you two up yet?" An unusually chipper-sounding Jen.

   "No, not yet..."

   "Breakfast, if you're interested."

   I felt Kim stir.  "Whoozat, babe?" she asked.

   "Your aunt.  They have breakfast."

   "Ten minutes, Aunt Jen," Kim said.

   "Did you hear?" I asked into the phone.

   "Uh-huh.  See you in ten minutes."

   I rolled over and kissed Kim.  "Good morning, little love," I said.

   She returned the kiss and pressed me back against the mattress.  "Mmmmm.
Good morning, my guy," she said.  "Let's go eat."