Chapter 46

Wednesday started quietly; everyone was husbanding their resources for the afternoon meeting. Toby spent most of the morning reviewing the footage of the previous day's session of Beth's School for Advanced Cock Sucking -- those cams he put in Ma's room were worth their weight in gold... He learned an incredible amount...

It was a tea, almost. The females of the older generation turned out dressed more formally than they had in some time in dresses or blouses and skirts. Sally wore a white sleeveless blouse, a pleated skirt and REAL SHOES -- a pair of round-toed buckle shoes with low heels. Teela turned out in what was for her high-fashion -- a white blouse with a black necktie, a black spandex skirt and high boots with thick black soles -- all under a short black cape. There was no color spritz; instead, she settled for a tiara.

Rick, characteristically, refrained from disparaging her taste in clothing, limiting himself to, "What, no stockings?"

Teela smirked and replied, "No panties, either," and that was that...

If anyone dressed down, it was the guys -- and that was probably because they just didn't understand. Still, no one was exactly ratty; Lon and Rick were in golf shirts and shorts, Toby in long sleeves and slacks, and Terence in good jeans and a logo shirt. Of the group, Damian was the most casually dressed in an upscale grey track suit and a black muscle shirt.

Candace and Beth descended upon Jean's house at three-thirty, and Beth filled the women in on events the day before, recapping somewhat when Louise and her boys arrived at three-forty five. Damian was surprised at the amount of attention his Big Bro had gotten the previous day... Toby sat around, pretending ignorance while noting that his mother shuffled events somewhat to get herself out of a jam over just how and when she'd had sex with Terence...

Of the girls, Sally arrived first with Lon and was introduced around to everyone she didn't know. Rick and Teela arrived on the dot at four and Teela got the same round of introductions -- all very formal and friendly. When everyone was settled around Jean's coffee table with coffee or a soda in their hands, Jean and Candace exchanged glances and Candace waved to Jean to start. "Okay," Jean began, "We're all here -- and that puts the two of you at a distinct advantage over us, I'm afraid..."

"Oh?" Teela asked, more or less as a formality.

Candace smiled. "You know all of our names, and you know what we're doing -- and you know that it is strictly-speaking illegal. That's blackmail material..."

"Well, maybe," Teela agreed, "But if I said anything, it would mean breaking up with Rick..."

"We're concerned about things happening the other way around," Jean murmured.

"Oh," Teela replied shortly. Sally held her peace.

"Young couples seldom make it over the long haul," Jean continued, "and that makes planning for such breakups our problem. In the past, we've, um, manufactured skeletons to put in the closets of new members to ensure their silence -- if they didn't already exist. You two represent a problem in that neither you nor your close relatives are in a compromising position..."

"So I need to do something illegal?" Teela asked.

"Illegal, immoral, and fun would be better," Damian chuckled.

That got him several glares, and a question. "So, what do they have on you?" Teela asked.

"Mama," Damian replied matter-of-factly. "Just like the others, she's fuckin' young dick -- and they got pictures. That's enough, I figure, although..."

"Shut up, Little Bro!" Terence grated.

"What?" Damian frowned. 'What the fuck did he think I was gonna say?' he wondered.

"You don't need to be..." Terence burst out. Everyone looked at him as he dragged to a halt.

"Okay," Candace murmured, "so, there are some additional secrets floating around? I, for one would be very interested in hearing them..." Her gaze swept the host of poker faces before her -- it seemed like EVERYONE knew whatever it was except her and the girls...

"Jeez, Big Bro -- do you think I'm that stupid? Now YOU'VE busted us!" Damian howled.

"Shit! Shit! SHIT!!" Terence howled.

"Take it easy, Man," Toby counseled calmly. "It's all in the family." Turning to Candace, he released the minimums, "Terence and Damian had been experimenting in, um, bisexual behavior."

Jean blinked. "That's incest."

Toby rolled his eyes. "Give me a break! Who's going to get pregnant, here?" Terence sat with his head down and his face covered; Damian glared around the table.

Candace sighed. "Okay, interesting, but irrelevant. Forget about it, boys; most of us girls have done same-sex stuff. Well, maybe not the girls." She swung her gaze to Beth, "Did you do what I told you, yesterday?"

"Yes, Mistress. They're both holding rain checks for a future date," Beth replied.

"Uh huh," Candace looked at Teela and Sally. "Is that true?"

"Yeah," Teela nodded. Sally nodded, too.

Candace's gaze swung back to the Carter boys. "See? No problem."

Lon sighed. "No, Mama, it's different with guys -- especially guys our age. And especially jocks like Terence and me. Reputations get ruined. If this got out at school, their lives would be Hell -- even if the law didn't mix in it."

Candace waved a hand, "It can't be that bad."

"I disagree," Toby argued. "It's NOT bad, in and of itself, but Lon's right -- Terence and Damian would be trashed at school -- and maybe elsewhere. They'd lose a lot of friends and take a lot of crap. It would ruin them, basically. You need to realize how important it is and not go there -- ever -- with anyone outside the group."

"It's not like we have pictures," Candace argued.

"We don't need them," Toby replied. "The accusation is enough -- just like our situation and incest. They'd get fried the same way." Mentioning that he HAD pictures wasn't prudent...

"Whatever!" Candace waved her hand again, angrily. "Can we get back to the girls?"

"In a minute." Beth got up and sat next to Terence, pulling his head onto her shoulder; Terence was crying. Louise sat next to her younger son and held his hand while he glared around. Nobody gave him any crap; Lon threw out his hands when the glare settled on him, "It's cool, Man." Toby nodded; so did Rick.

"More refreshments, I think," Jean said, bouncing up.

Teela followed Jean into the kitchen. "How bad is all this?"

"The boys?" Jean asked.

"No, us. Sally and I."

"It would be nice if you weren't loose cannons. Lon and Rick, well, weren't thinking. On the other hand, we couldn't expect to monopolize them into their thirties..." Jean sighed, fishing a bag of cookies from a cupboard.

"How do we fix it?" Teela asked.

"I can't think of a thing, Dear. We need a handle on you -- and, frankly, Rick isn't enough. The issue that Terence and Damian faces is good for boys, but the taboos aren't as forceful for girls..."

"Meaning that if you took pictures of me and Sally, umm..."

"Right," Jean agreed. "It would be embarrassing to you, but not serious enough, probably."

"Well, it's a start, I bet. I'd be willing..." Teela offered.

Jean smiled. "It's something to think about, Dear. Shall we?" She led the younger woman back to the living room.

Things had settled down somewhat. Terence wasn't crying any more -- something unexpected in a guy so large and generally forbidding. Lon and Sally were whispering to each other -- but the subject was anybody's guess. Candace had throttled her impatience and Damian had throttled his anger; everyone else had apparently calmed down, too.

Jean restarted things with, "Obviously, the situation is a bit tense -- maybe for no reason. If we're all ready..." She glanced around; nobody demurred, and Candace waved for her to continue. "So, what do you think about what you've been made aware of? Is it a problem?"

Teela took the question first, replying thoughtfully, "Thus far, it hasn't been a problem. Maybe I should be grateful, even..."

"Do you have, um, moral issues with what we've been doing?" Jean pressed.

"You mean do I feel compelled to run out and tell someone about it so they'll stop it for your own good?" Teela raised her eyebrows, then snickered. "Hell, no. The legal thing is arbitrary -- the guys were obviously MORE than ready. Nobody has been exploiting anyone; nobody here is NEAR twelve..."

Jean swung her attention to Sally, "And you?"

"Teela's right," Sally declared. "If anything, the fact that you all got together has benefited Lon -- and me, for that matter. And the only wrongs done have been against legal fictions..."

"...Which are bullshit, anyway." Teela interjected.

"That said," Candace took up the lead, "are you planning on joining us?"

Teela flicked a glance at Rick. "That's... not clear. Maybe. In some limited way. We have a relationship..."

"That's been frowned upon, to date," Jean muttered, "but there were other factors involved." Clearly, there was a sore spot there...

Candace shifted her attention to Sally. "And you?"

Calm green eyes engaged hers. "That's up to Lon."

"Totally?" Candace arched an eyebrow.

"Totally."

"How totally?"

"Mama..." Lon attempted to intercede.

"Totally, like Beth," Sally insisted.

"Mama..." Lon tried again.

Candace ignored him. "Do you have any idea what kind of control I have over Beth?"

"Some," Sally replied. "I know that you dictate who and how, more or less..."

"And punishments? Discipline? Are you aware of that part of it?" Candace demanded.

"Yes."

"And?"

"It's up to Lon."

"You know that Dominants can be capricious, right?" Candace asked. She settled back in her seat, assuming a feral smile. "Beth, Honey, I left my purse in the car. Would you get it for me?"

"Yes, Mistress." Beth got up and headed for the door.

"Oh, and Beth?" Candace stopped her.

"Yes, Mistress?"

"Do it naked."

"Yes, Mistress." Beth started climbing out of her clothing, apparently unconcerned that it was broad daylight outside. Candace quirked an eyebrow at Sally.

"Mama! You do NOT own Sally, and you do NOT get to test her!" Lon erupted.

"You do," Candace shrugged. "How hard have you tested her? Do you know how far she will go?"

"What about you?" Lon challenged. "Do YOU know how far Beth will go? Why do you want me to test her to Beth's standard, anyway? Is that fair? Beth has been doing this stuff for a while..."

Meanwhile, Beth was climbing out of her panties and heading for the door. "Suit yourself," Candace shrugged. "I just thought that it might be instructive to discover whether she was a submissive or only THOUGHT she was..."

Lon turned his attention to Sally, who was watching him, poker-faced, apparently totally calm. Lon knew what was going to happen; Sally was telling him, clearly. Sally had all of the coiled readiness of a bird dog told to sit and waiting to be released to fetch. "Stop Beth at the door, Mama. Sally, go help her."

Sally was up like a shot -- and did everything but stick her tongue out at Candace while she got out of her clothing. When she joined Beth at the door, Candace waved a hand, "Go!" Sally waited only long enough to get Lon's nod and followed Beth outside.

The two women raced to Candace's car -- only to discover that it was locked. "I figured this was too easy, Sweetie -- we've been had! Let's go back..." Beth only went back as far as the porch, however, calling through the screen, "Mistress? Your car is locked."

"Oh, so it is!" Candace's eyelids drooped. "Go out and wait beside it and I'll unlock it from here."

"Yes, Mistress." Beth turned around and headed back to the car, not bothering to rush. Sally followed. Beth said conversationally, "Just letting us dash outside was too easy; Mistress wants us to stew in our own juices, worrying about when we'll get seen..." Sally nodded; this was as humiliating as Hell -- she couldn't help looking everywhere for startled witnesses -- but it wasn't actively dangerous...

Inside, Candace hadn't moved. "Mama!" Lon growled.

"Oh, all right!" Indolently, Candace rose and went to the screen door, Lon following. Outside, each of the women was outside a back door of the car in mirror-image poses; Sally wasn't settling for half-measures -- she was duplicating Beth move for move. "She's really very nice looking," Candace mused for Lon's benefit, then directed, "Girls, hang onto the door handles, but turn around and put your asses against the front doors."

"You wait," Beth hissed under her breath. "Candace doesn't own YOU! Don't let her!" Sally stopped dead and resumed her earlier position while Beth followed instructions.

Candace turned to Lon, "Sally seems... bashful."

Lon shook his head. "I don't think you get it. Sally! Go ahead!" Instantly, Sally changed position. Lon smirked at his mother. "Okay, enough is enough."

"Fine." Candace clicked the remote and the door locks popped. "Hurry along, now!" Both women open their respective car doors, but Beth did the retrieval, then the pair headed back to the house. As they reached the porch, Candace directed, "Oh! Lock the doors, please!" Beth stopped dead, turned and headed back; Sally, now clear on what was going on, awaited Lon's nod before turning around herself. A car went by on the street, slowing perceptively; the women continued on their errand, apparently unconcerned. Candace and Lon returned to their chairs; Beth delivered the purse, and she and Sally resumed their seats, nude.

"Was this absolutely necessary?" Jean grated. "I thought we were planning on exhibiting some decorum..."

"It was instructive," Candace replied. "I wanted to know if, when we figure out just how it is we're going to protect ourselves, here, Sally would do as she was told. Frankly, I'm impressed..." She turned to Sally, "Besides, is there a male at the table who hasn't seen you nude?"

"Yes," Sally replied. "Toby."

"Oh, sorry," Candace replied indifferently, "Wait until you see HIM!" Toby colored, but said nothing.

"You can dress," Lon said, abruptly realizing that he could deliver that directive.

Sally cocked her head, "Sweetheart, does that mean you want me to, or it's up to me?"

"Oh, she's good!" Beth chuckled.

Lon blinked, flustered. Then he thought about it for a moment, very carefully. "I, uh, offered you the option."

"Then may I remain as I am?" Sally replied. "We've already descended to this level -- and Beth remains nude. Besides, I think it kind of sorts things out, as far as roles are concerned, don't you?" She flicked a glance at Candace.

Lon tossed back his hair. "Guess you're right," he observed. "Do as you like -- as far as clothing is concerned. Until I decide otherwise." Had he covered all of the bases?

"Yes, Sweetheart." Butter wouldn't melt in Sally's mouth. Beth suppressed a snicker; Sally was very clearly sticking it to Candace...

"Okay! Moving right along..." Candace attempted to ignore the dig. Turning to her son, she asked, "Since it is TOTALLY up to you..."

Lon had plenty of time to prepare for this. "She will, uh, participate, um, as I direct her to. I don't figure that's full membership. For instance, she's under no obligation to have sex of any type with anyone -- unless I tell her to."

"Sounds sort of like what Candace has with Ma," Toby observed.

"Yeah, well, the difference is that she isn't allowed to operate independently AT ALL," Lon replied. "She won't be doing any playing I haven't approved..."

"Theoretically, there's still no difference," Candace interjected flatly, glaring at Beth.

Lon shrugged. "Maybe not, then. But Beth has had sex with everybody but Toby -- and I'm not sure Sally is going to do that. If she does, it will be because I made up my mind to have her do so, not because she volunteered or because she was obligated to because of her membership in the group." He turned to Jean, "I realize that might sound unfair, but as Teela said, there is a relationship involved. There is SUPPOSED to be a relationship involved."

"Is this a two-way thing, or a one-way thing?" Jean asked, pressuring Lon.

Lon sat a moment, thinking, and turned to Sally. "It's a one-way thing," he said flatly. "I still have obligations to the group." Sally nodded, apparently unperturbed.

"What do you think of that?" Jean asked Sally.

"Lon has spoken," Sally replied simply.

Jean puffed out a breath. "Right. I give it a month."

Beth pursed her lips and looked away, "That's because you don't get it." Jean flashed her a look.

Shifting her attention to her son, Jean asked, "Have you two figured out how you're going to operate? I'm guessing that it isn't as simple with you two as Sally insists that it is for her and Lon..."

Rick flicked a glance at Teela. "You're right."

"So?" Jean pressed.

Teela grimaced. "We... really haven't gotten anywhere with it. I don't want him doing anything unless I'm around, but..."

"But what?" Candace pounced.

"But there's only so far I can push, okay?" Fear and anger colored Teela's features. "I can't just tell him 'be good or else' -- because I can't DO 'or else'!" Rick reached over and collected her, and Teela buried her face in his shoulder.

"So you don't really want him doing anything," Candace prompted.

"I didn't say that," Teela's voice came back muffled by Rick's shoulder. "I'm just... jealous, maybe. My head knows that the four -- well, three -- of you aren't a threat, but my gut doesn't -- and I'm scared, okay? And there's the other thing..."

"What's that?" Jean asked.

"I... might want to play, too, sometime..."

"Oh." Jean didn't seem inclined to go beyond that.

"It might be easier if I could do what Sally has done, but I can't -- I don't think either of us is made that way. I can't just tell Rick that I'll do..." She froze. Everybody just sat there for a moment, waiting. Teela pushed back out of Rick's shoulder, wiped her face (smearing her eyeliner all to Hell) and asked, "Hey, anybody got a dog?"

"What?" Jean asked, nonplussed.

"A dog. A male dog," Teela amplified.

"No, what on Earth for?" Jean asked, mystified.

"Can you get one?" Teela insisted.

Candace cocked her head. "Honey, I'm confused. What's all this about a dog?"

"Well, it's got to be easier than a pony..."

Sally suddenly snorted. Beth's eyes got round -- so did Lon's. Everyone else was still in the dark...

"I said I'd do dogs and ponies, if Lon wanted," Sally amplified. Everyone's eyes turned to Teela.

"Well, you have to admit it's blackmail material!" Teela insisted. "You get a video of that and I don't think there's any question that you'd have a hold on us! Besides, we wouldn't have to DO anything, really -- just get the dog excited and play with his dick! A good shot of one of us just getting close to a doggie hard on would give a tight-ass apoplexy!"

"She's got a point," Louise offered, somewhat dazed by the notion.

"That'd be shit hot," Damian mumbled under his breath. Louise swatted him.

"Let me get this straight," Candace insisted. "You're seriously proposing that we find a male dog and take photos or video of you pretending to have sex with it."

"It's an idea," Teela replied, matter-of-factly. "I'm pretty sure you'd all feel pretty safe around us if you had THAT tucked away..."

"And you?" Candace asked Sally.

"I'm... already committed," Sally replied, glancing at Lon, "as long as Lon says it's okay."

Candace popped her eyes and shook her head, "Anybody got a line on a dog? A male dog?"

Terence and Damian glanced at one another. "Maybe. There's one up the street -- we'll get back to ya."

Candace gathered the agreement of the other three females, then announced, "Okay, pending the results of the dog search, I think we can table the question of how we're going to protect ourselves from the girls..."

Jean nodded agreement. "I guess we've more or less defined their roles, too -- even if they're kind of hazy."

"So what's next?" Beth asked.

"Other threats?" Candace offered.

"Fred," Louise said, flatly. "He'd be number one."

"Fred?" Sally asked.

"Louise's husband," Candace filled in. "Terence and Damian's father. He and Louise aren't doing any too well -- and as of right now, he doesn't know about us."

"So is there a problem?" Teela asked.

Louise shrugged. "Not right now, but the end is near. And if he finds out about us..."

"Is that likely?" Teela asked.

Louise shrugged. "Anything can happen. I KNOW he's playing around but I haven't caught him -- and if we did..."

"Mama..." Terence growled.

Louise turned to her son, "Boy, if he gets wind of this, he'll probably take us ALL down -- and he'll air YOUR dirty laundry, too! And you know it!"

"Shit!" Terence looked stricken and sat back.

Teela cocked her head, looking thoughtful. "If you caught him fooling around, would that be enough? Sure, it's adultery, but it's not with someone underage..."

Louise grimaced. "You could have a point, Girl." She mused for a moment. "If he's doing something ELSE, that would be better, since I know THAT would shut him down..."

"Something else?" Sally asked, confused.

Louise pursed her lips in thought, then came out with it. "Terence didn't come up with his interest in dick out of the blue, I don't think..."

"MAMA!" Terence turned eggplant purple.

"... He's a chip off the old block, I'm pretty sure," Louise continued, unruffled. "But he's so paranoid about it that even I can't be sure. That would stop him in his tracks -- but catching him would probably take thirteen private detectives."

"That being the case," Candace replied, "what are the chances that he's doing what we're doing?"

"Pretty slim," Louise sighed. "He ain't exactly Wesley Snipes. If he looked like Damian, maybe..."

Candace frowned. "Would he, if he could?"

"Oh, Hell, yeah!" Louise cackled. "In a heartbeat!"

"I'll do it!" Teela announced.

"Oh no you won't!" Rick howled.

"Oh, come on! You'd be there!" Teela replied. "After all, the trick is to get the evidence on video!"

Louise frowned. "I dunno, Girl. Someone as tiny as you? Fred might grow sense..."

"I'll do it," Sally chirped, then glanced at Lon, "if it's okay." Lon went tight-lipped, thinking.

"This sucks," Terence opined. "Y'all are planning on running a game on him!"

"Listen up, Boy!" Louise grated, "I know you want to be loyal to your Pa -- but I GUARANTEE he won't be loyal to YOU, if push comes to shove! Besides, nobody's gonna be holding his dick and sticking it in anyone -- if he doesn't take the bait, then it won't happen!"

"Maybe we should just keep an eye on him," Rick said cautiously.

"That would be the simplest thing, but it takes resources," Jean interjected. "It might work, but we could burn the rest of the summer trying to catch him."

"Why don't we do both?" Toby offered. "There are eleven of us -- and eight of us aren't working. That should be plenty to keep an eye on one guy, in rotation. We could do teams of two -- and the girls could be a bit more obvious. If one of the girls catches Louise's husband's eye before we pin something else on him, then we can talk about reeling him in..."

"We'll need cameras," Rick grunted.

"Yeah," Toby agreed, "Both still and video. And binoculars, for the ones hanging back." A webcam wouldn't do it for this...

"Well, we HAVE a still camera," Lon grunted. "What about a video cam?"

Candace sighed. "I guess we'd better pop for one. And whatever else it takes to keep it running. We may need it for other projects, too, at this rate. And maybe a second, better camera for stills."

"I still don't like this," Terence grunted.

"You don't have to play, Boy," Louise replied. "But I suggest that you do. If you don't want to be in on the girl thing, that's okay -- but you might want to keep an eye on him for other pussy -- and maybe other things..."

"Yeh. All right. I can do that," Terence nodded.

"Damian..." Louise turned to her younger son.

"I'm in. All the way. Big Bro is kidding himself -- Pa will dump on us all when the time comes. If he's clean, we won't get shit -- but if he ain't, we'll need it," Damian replied.

"Okay, then. When do we start?" Jean asked.

"Well, he'll be at the site now, probably," Louise guessed. "Why don't one of you boys go with someone to check?"

Candace nodded. "Who's going, then?"

"I'll go," Lon volunteered. "I'll take Terence and Sally." He waved at Sally and she got up and started dressing.

"Get directions and everything," Jean directed, "so we can all find it."

"Right," Lon agreed.

"Beth, why don't you and Toby and I go to the store for equipment?" Candace suggested. Beth nodded and got tacit permission to get back into her clothing, too.

Rick nodded. "Good idea -- if anyone knows what we need in the way of electronics, it's Toby." There were general nods. "Teela and I will follow Lon, so we can find the place -- and we can do tomorrow -- can't we?" He flicked a glance at Teela.

"Sure," she agreed. "When do you think we need to be watching?"

Louise thought about it. "Well, there is the question of whether he's going to work in the first place, but I'm not too worried about that. Lunch time, maybe? Call me and we'll figure out where he's supposed to be tomorrow..."

"You'll need to stop by my place," Toby instructed, "to get cameras and binoculars and stuff and instruction in how to use them. Better do that about ten, I guess."

"Okay," Rick nodded.

"We'll head home," Louise declared, "in case he's coming home early. Call us if you don't find him," she instructed Terence.

"I'll check on the dog." Damian grinned from ear to ear, while various others rolled their eyes.

"I'll go on the shopping trip, I guess..." Jean interjected. Anything to be with Toby...

"Might as well," Toby grinned.

The group split up, Lon and Sally and Terence piling into Lon's car, Candace and Beth and Toby and Jean into Beth's minivan, Rick and Teela following Lon and company in Rick's car, and Louise and Damian heading home in Louise's car. Once they were headed out, Louise turned to Damian, "I don't think you need to be in no rush to find a dog, Boy."

"Yeah, yeah," Damian rolled his eyes. "They SAID they'd do it!"

"I know, but them saying that they would do something like that makes the whole thing unnecessary, I figure. If they'll go that far..."

"Mama, they got pictures of you -- they need pictures of them a lot worse!" Damian insisted.

"Okay, Boy -- but you listen to me! Do NOT tip your hand about this! Those girls are not gonna be in the middle of some circus -- and you can't be inviting someone ELSE not in the group to watch or anything! That will just make things worse! If you can't come up with a reason to borrow that dog that makes sense and doesn't raise suspicions, DON'T BOTHER TO TRY! You understand? Don't go planning to be in on it, either! Besides, they'll just be posing for the camera, not actually doing anything..."

"Okay, I get it! I'm cool! But I still might want to watch..." Damian insisted.

Louise eyed him, disgusted, but said nothing.

Terence's presence filtered communication in Lon's car, but there was no one with Rick and Teela...

"Dogs?" Rick ranted. "Louise's husband?"

"Baby, they were looking for something -- and the dog thing works! We don't have to actually FUCK one!" Teela argued.

"I know, but DAMN!"

Teela shrugged. "Worry about it when they find a dog, Baby! In the meantime, they're happy that we're willing to do something serious..."

"Like fuck Terence's dad? Some big black guy?"

"It's for the group!" Teela pouted.

"Well, maybe so, but..."

"Baby, what are you worried about?" Teela asked.

"I'm not ready to be sharing you around," Rick grunted. "This is the second time in two days you've been asked to do something with a black guy. You're MINE, dammit!"

"Oh I am, am I?" Teela flared. "You own me? Like Lon owns Sally?"

"Not like that," Rick argued, "but I thought I was number one. If you want something else..."

"Oh, no! No!" Teela leaned across the seat and grabbed his arm. "It's not like that at all! Wait! Let's talk about this!" Teela felt a gaping hole where the pit of her stomach used to be.

"I'm listening." Rick glared at the road.

"I thought... Aren't you having sex with Candace and Beth and Louise?"

"Maybe not, now."

"Won't that cause problems?"

"I don't know. Maybe."

"I thought we agreed that if you needed to you can..." Teela said carefully.

"But you have to be there," Rick retorted.

"I just said that," Teela murmured. "It... might not make sense."

"I'm good with it," Rick retorted. "Especially if it also applies to you!"

"Well, okay, then," Teela backpedaled. "We can do that."

"You're not having ANY kind of sex with ANY other guy until I have sex with someone else! Clear?" Rick insisted. "Even then..."

"Baby..." Teela broke off, frustrated. What was wrong with him?

Rick flashed a look at her. "Are you that hot to try out someone else?"

"No, not at all!" Teela replied. "I thought it would make it easier on you if I was willing..." She eyed him. "Baby, are you jealous?"

"No..."

"Well, you shouldn't be! None of those guys is gonna take a serious interest in ME! I don't even know why YOU do, but I'm glad..." Teela sniffled a bit.

Rick shook his head. "It's just... everybody else is... bigger..."

"Oh," Teela blinked. "I don't know if I..."

"No, you DON'T, do you?" Rick interjected.

"Baby, I don't see anyone telling you to go home..." Teela argued. "Beth says you're just fine..."

"She SAYS that, but we haven't fucked, really, since the Carters showed up..." Rick replied.

"Well I think you're wonderful!" Teela insisted.

"You might not, once Damian or Terence -- or even Lon or Toby -- gets a hold of you!" Rick retorted. "Not to mention Terence's dad!"

"Baby, I really don't think..."

"That's for sure!" Rick retorted acidly.

Teela started to cry. "Baby, please! Don't be like that! I'm sorry! I'll back out of that thing, okay? Please don't be mad!"

Rick eyed her sidelong. "You'll back out?"

"Uh huh."

"No strange guys?"

"Uh uh."

"We're up front about everything, right?"

"Yes, Baby! You're my man! I don't want anyone else!"

"What about that crap about trying other guys? Getting experience? Being slutty? Maybe following your mother's footsteps?" Rick pressed.

"I... Only things you approve first -- is that okay?"

"It'll do," Rick grunted. "I don't know if I'd like having you do ANYBODY else..."

"If it means losing you..."

"All right. Let's forget it for now." Rick wrapped an arm around Teela's shaking shoulders.