Chapter 70

My Monday started with the AI awakening me and my concubines, then announcing while I was still getting organized, "Bernard Rawlins, you asked to be notified should Candace Flowers require a guardian."

"I did," I agreed. My three concubines shared a glance.

"At approximately seven thirty-three this morning, during an interview with a sponsor, Stanford Flowers initiated an aggravated assault upon said sponsor while the sponsor was conducting a digital examination of Carrie Flowers' reproductive system. The sponsor repulsed said assault non-lethally, at which point Carrie Flowers assaulted the sponsor with a chair. At that point, both Flowers concubine candidates were stunned with stinger fire. There is a separate investigation into the delay on the part of the duty controller for the meeting suite. The review has already been conducted; both Carrie and Stanford Flowers have been recycled as of eight a.m."

Ugh. "Where is the child?" I asked.

"Asleep in the quarters assigned to her parents," the AI replied.

I pointed at Felicity and Harrah, "You two get the kids going," then at Trinity, "You go get Candace. For now, she is your direct responsibility -- and if I catch you teaching her bad habits I will punish you -- harshly -- in front of her! Do you understand?"

"Yes, Master." Trinity seemed to be tasting the word 'Master' -- and enjoying it. She was a mess -- and my problem.

"Get moving," I told her. "If possible, try to avoid telling her what has happened to her parents. Just say that she's been left in your care. Go! Bring all her stuff back with you!" I waved her out.

They were back in time for breakfast. Patty was thrilled, "Hi, Candy!"

"Hi, Patty!" Candy flounced over. "What are you doing here?" Patty, my youngest, was attending the same grade at school as Candace.

"I live here!" Patty replied.

"Oh." Candace looked around. "I guess it's the same as mine..."

"They're all about the same," I announced myself. "Besides, things have changed. You'll be living here, Candace."

"I will?" She was understandably concerned. "When are my parents coming back? Have they approved this?"

"Candace, maybe you should sit down," I said, flicking a glance at Trinity. "Why don't you sit on Trinity's lap?"

"I don't know..." Candace eyed Trinity. "Mum doesn't let me just associate with ANYBODY..."

"I'm afraid that Mum's opinion in this matter carries very little weight, Candace," I replied, letting a bit of my irritation show. "Mum... isn't around any more. Neither is your father."

"Oh." Candace looked stricken and backed onto Trinity's lap. "What happened?"

"They did something bad and kind of stupid -- and, well, they died," I related. "I'm afraid you're in for another big change. I have asked to be made responsible for you -- and I've appointed Trinity to act more or less as your mother, although you may approach Felicity or Harrah with your needs," I added, pointing Felicity and Harrah out. "Patty is now somewhat of a step-sister."

"Oh, my..." Candace looked up at Trinity. "I don't feel so good. Could you hold me?"

"Sure, Honey..." Trinity hugged the child to her, looking a bit dazed -- and I hid a grin. Now Trinity would have to grow up; she wouldn't be able to duck it while maintaining responsibility for Candace... Things got gradually less comfortable as Candace shifted to sniffling and on to loud crying.

I waved the other women forward. "I probably did that poorly."

Harrah shrugged. "Maybe not. She needed the shock. Is she going to school?" Felicity eyed Harrah, frowning.

"That's unclear. Jerry is, and you and Susan are. Patty may stay home. Get everyone headed for Mess." Trinity ended up carrying Candace. She was teasing her into eating when I left for the daily Brinkman staff meeting.

I think I was the only person in that meeting prepared to see Farris Lieberman sitting there with Harriet on his lap -- both of them clearly happy as clams. Both had been regressed quite a bit, which kind of helped -- Harriet, especially, since she was no longer waddling around acting cranky and looked pretty decent, actually. It was still Harriet, though -- her occasional contributions to the conversation made that clear. Farris was not a target, however, despite his proximity; her face softened any time she looked at him -- and Farris had nothing unpleasant to say about anyone and didn't brag about anything, even once! Scary!

When I got back to my quarters, Trinity had Candace and Patty in hand, heading out the door; the girls were in matching pink frocks. "What's this?" I asked.

"If Patty is going to be MY sister, she needs to look the part!" Candace announced primly.

I rolled my eyes and shifted my attention to Trinity. "You need to fix that," I told her. "Get advice from Felicity."

"Yes, Master." Trinity led my pair of little girls out.

After that, I connected with Gene. "How's it going? How's Kathy?"

Gene had the AI damp the sound in the room on his end so we could talk privately. "She's miserable. From what I have gotten out of her, our relationship is ruined. She just hasn't caught on..."

I nodded. "I punished Trini for overstepping her bounds last night and I expect her to be downright slavish for the next couple of days -- which might be a good example for Kathy -- but I think she needs to talk to Felicity. Felicity can break through, maybe." Changing the subject, I added, "What about the related problem?"

Gene went "What rel...? Oh. More concubines. Jeez..." He shrugged and popped his eyes.

"I need to move on with it if I'm going to get a couple," I asserted. "When we get to Nuevo Angelino, they're going to split the couples up. I don't see Humpty Dumpty putting them back together again properly, you know?"

"Yeah, could be you're right," Gene sighed. "Kathy and Felicity need to have that talk, first, I think. Maybe in the afternoon? Is that other guy, Farris coming?"

"I can ask. I know they're serious about the couples thing, because neither of them knows the first thing about kids," I related. "I can shoot Felicity over this morning, if you like, to try to soften Kathy up and get her reoriented," I offered.

"Yeah, okay. Send her over any time. Two?" Gene asked.

"Fine. I'll set it up -- we'll do it the way we did yesterday."

When I put all this to Felicity, Trini, kneeling up at perfect Attention and nodding obsequiously, said, "Master? If I may?"

I eyed her. "What?"

"Gene isn't helping, Master."

"Explain." I was short with her -- and she seemed to thrive on it.

"Part of the reason Kathy is still a wife is that Gene is still a husband, Master -- and not a husband in control, either. You should discuss this with him." She stopped for a moment, then said, "I mean that in my opinion it would be a good idea if you pointed this out to him -- and maybe he practiced it a bit with her..."

I thought about it and nodded. "You're right. Kathy isn't the only one who needs adjusting over there. Thank God Gene doesn't have to deal with the likes of YOU! I find it... irritating enough..." My first inclination would have been to say 'tough,' but I didn't want Trini seeing it that way. "I'll invite Gene over here while Felicity is gone and impress that upon him... Felicity, you should prepare Kathy for a more 'take charge' Gene while you're at it."

"I should take Trini," Felicity pointed out.

"No, you shouldn't. Trini is the enemy -- she sucked Gene's cock. You need to intervene on THAT, too," I replied. Trini nodded confirmation.

Felicity nodded and, eyeing me, muttered, "Yes, Master." It was a deliberate dig.

I cocked my eyebrow. "Papa spank..." Felicity grinned, unrepentant, and swayed out.

"Hey, how come...?" Trini erupted.

"You KNOW why!" I retorted. "Come over here and lick my balls or something while I call Gene..."

First, I called Farris Lieberman. He was pleased at having been included -- I could tell. The AI provided me with an interview suite reservation while we were talking, and Farris agreed to appear at two with Harriet in tow. Then I called Gene. "Has Felicity arrived?"

"Yeah," Gene nodded.

"How about leaving them alone for a while? Come over to my place -- we need to talk. Man talk."

Gene eyed me. "Okay."

"Tell the girls we'll meet them at Mess for lunch -- usual table."

"Okay." He cut the connection.

I pushed Trini away from my crotch. "Not now. Be available if Gene or I need something -- or your valuable opinion on how to be dominant," I said mildly sarcastically.

"Yes, Master." She backed off. I think I worried her a bit by not succumbing to her tongue job -- but I was getting PLENTY of sex and it made resistance quite a bit easier...

Gene arrived and I ushered him in and had Trini get coffee for us while we settled into chairs and then settle off-side. I treated her like furniture -- deliberately. Gene flicked a glance at her and said, "Okay, so..."

"I didn't notice this -- or didn't think about it -- but I have a professional slut and SHE noticed," I began. "You see, you're not helping Kathy adjust because YOU'RE not adjusting."

"What?"

"What are you to Kathy?"

"I'm her hus..." Gene stopped himself.

"The prosecution rests," I declared, settling back in my chair. "I'm not much better -- witness Trini and her little tricks -- but I'm learning. You are NOT her husband -- if anything, you are her master -- and she need to see that from you. She got all this at her training sessions, but then she came home to you..."

Gene grunted. "Shit..."

"Master? If I may?" Trini offered meekly.

I grimaced, but... "Go ahead."

"She thinks SHE runs YOU!" Trini explained. "She thinks she HAS to in order for you to stay focused on whatever it is you're up to -- she said as much to me the other day..."

Gene grimaced. "There's some truth to that. But I'm not interested in dictating my dinner menu, you know? That's HER job!"

The AI erupted, "You are describing delegation of authority. You give her the right to make such decisions. Females of your species tend not to delegate -- they do not understand the concept, as a rule. Therefore, they are 'in charge' of most of the facets of your shared relationship, from their perspective. Since you see it differently and it is seldom if ever discussed, the female tends to believe that she is in charge of the relationship."

"How do we fix it?" I asked, saving Gene the embarrassment.

"First, by making it clear that you are delegating, and on an ongoing basis by ensuring that the female realizes that the decision is being placed in her hands because it is irrelevant to you. Also, you may wish to express an opinion on such subjects periodically -- and not allow the female to override your stated preferences under any circumstances without a valid external reason. Education and the occasional assertion of your authority should be adequate."

"Anyway, the big problem here is that the husband and wife relationship is no more finished for you than it is for Kathy," I asserted, eyeing his wedding band.

"If I take this off, she will FREAK!" Gene retorted.

"If you just take it and don't give her anything to replace it, you're right -- ESPECIALLY if you take hers!" Trini erupted. "but I have an idea..."

It was a good idea -- I liked it. Gene liked it, too...

Felicity showed up and Gene headed off somewhere and we were left looking at one another. "I came to try to talk to you a bit -- I hear that you're not very happy about last night."

"God, no! Not AT ALL!" I retorted.

"Tell me why..."

"I... sucked another man's cock!"

"Okay. What did your master say about that?"

"My HUSBAND..." I began.

"NO! That's your problem. Gene is NOT your husband! In fact, he's MORE than that!" Felicity interrupted emphatically.

"How can he be more than a husband?" I argued.

"Marriage is supposedly a relationship of equals -- or near equals," Felicity insisted. "But you are not equal anymore. Gene OWNS you! His power over you exceeds anything you've really thought about! What you want doesn't matter anymore -- what HE wants is paramount! And if you buck him too much or try to lead him by the nose, there will be BAD trouble!"

"Gene doesn't own me!" The whole idea was ludicrous!

"Indeed he does!" the AI announced, making us both jump. "Your refusal to accept this endangers both of you. You operate under the impression that because you handle most of the domestic activities in your home, that you are in charge. The reality is that you have certain duties that Eugene Bradley DELEGATES to you to execute. This allows him to remain focused upon the things he needs to do to keep the family fed, clothed and housed. You may have procured food and clothing for the family and seen to it that the home remained clean and smoothly operational, but Eugene Bradley's efforts provided the wherewithal. It was -- and is -- your job to support that function. It is NOT Eugene Bradley's function to learn the subtleties of food production -- it is yours. Therefore, he does not dictate the details, he hands you the problem and relies upon you to solve it. This is even more important now that you are no longer husband and wife; your support of his day-to-day function and your production of children and the associated pleasurable sexual pursuits are your reasons for him to retain your services. If you fail in these -- if you fail to remain fully committed, and if you fail to obey him regularly -- you will not remain his concubine. The legal contract binding you to him has been voided and replaced with another -- you must fulfill the new contract, realizing that the old provisions are no longer in force and that your duties have expanded."

Bewildered, I muttered, "I don't understand. Expanded? How?"

"Your wants and needs are now irrelevant. Eugene Bradley's desires are now paramount. A concubine does not have a contract of equality or near equality with her sponsor -- your sole focus should be providing for Eugene Bradley, even if what he needs or desires is unpleasant or dangerous to you. An example would be the acquisition of further concubines. You see this as a threat to your exclusive relationship -- but while your relationship to Eugene Bradley is technically exclusive, his relationship to you is not -- and he has commitments to fulfill that require additional concubines. You must accept this, for your own good and the good of your sponsor."

"We talked about this," Felicity pointed out. "Trinity may not be your favorite person right now, but she was right about that -- you can't stop it, and you can only hurt yourself and Gene by trying."

"What if I just delay it?" I asked.

Felicity's eyes reflected pity, "And that will help -- how? Just putting off facing the inevitable? Do you realize that every day you delay more of the higher quality concubines and couples are being snapped up? You're going to end up with dogs... When we get to the colony, the couples will be split up -- and you'll be helping ruin families you COULD have saved... Families like yours, only not quite as lucky."

"I just don't see how I can do it!" I wailed. "Watching Trinity suck Gene was like being stabbed in the heart!"

Felicity sighed. "I went through this -- I thought I was prepared, but I wasn't. You have to think of Gene; was this something he had never gotten from you? Something you weren't capable of? Someone else pleasured him -- gave him something you couldn't. Now, were things any different, afterward? What did he say about you sucking Bernie?"

"He seemed, okay with it," I admitted. "That bothered me..."

"He WAS okay with it, because it was a step down the road to you accepting what IS going to happen!" Felicity replied. "Maybe he would have preferred that you not suck Bernie -- but because you DID, you couldn't object TOO much to Trinity sucking HIM -- and that kind of thing IS going to happen. So much of this is a one-way street..." She paused for a moment, then added, "Marriage is exclusive -- but you're not married anymore. What you're doing now is NOT exclusive, and you have to learn to live with it. The flip side is that no new concubine is going to steal Gene from you -- she'll just be taking a piece of him, that's all. Being a concubine isn't like being a wife -- it isn't all-or-nothing. You share..." She paused for a moment. "You share the household duties. You share the children, so they always have someone -- maybe more than one someone -- to come to. And you share him..." She paused again and looked up, "You know, our sex life has actually gotten better. I keep learning things..."

Felicity then changed the subject. "We're going to look at couples again today at two. I can't TELL you what to do, but I SUGGEST that you really LOOK for someone who can help you..."

I grimaced, but... "What do you think I should be looking for?" We talked until lunchtime; I don't know that I felt any better, but resignation was setting in...

At lunch, Gene was much more... controlling. I noticed that Bernie was, too, especially with Trinity. We collected the kids after lunch and brought them home and I put Ellen down for a nap and sent Gina into another room to do her homework; Susan and Harrah were going to watch them later. Gene turned to me and said, "Kneel at Attention. I want to see what you have learned."

I was surprised; we hadn't been doing this kind of thing. I opened my mouth, then shut it and got down on my knees and put my hands on my thighs as we'd been trained. Gene circled around behind me and removed my collar, then he put out his hand. "Give me your rings."

My heart nearly stopped! I did as I was asked; the tears flowing freely, removing my wedding and engagement rings and placing them in his hand. Gene then took off HIS ring and placed it in one hand with mine and held my collar with the other. "Which of these represents our relationship today?" he asked.

I knew the answer, but I couldn't bring myself to utter it -- it was that damned collar! Gene stood there, looking at me, waiting... I pointed at it -- it was the best I could do.

"You have to realize that this is our future," Gene said, staring into my tear-blurred eyes, "but we DO have a past -- and while these..." he rattled the rings in his other hand, "are no longer relevant, I know how hard it is to part with them -- so I am going to give you something... Wait here."

I waited -- I really had no choice. After about five minutes, Gene came back with the collar in his hand. He held it out to me. "This is what is -- but it celebrates what was..."

I took the collar from his hand and examined it. It WAS different... It was -- OMIGOD! -- our rings were there, stretched out in a strip through four or five inches of the center of the collar! My diamond was embedded right at the center -- not standing up on prongs as it had been, but in the matrix of the gold... The design was preserved; what must have been the remnants of Gene's unadorned ring extended the strip a bit on either side and above and below, wrapping the design. I turned the collar over, and on the inside, preserved, was the original inscription, 'To Kathy. All my love, Gene.' I handed it back to him, crying like a baby, and bent my neck for him to put it back on me. "Now," Gene whispered, "this represents the past AND the future..." He took my hand and dragged me to a loveseat or whatever -- AIs mold the chairs to fit what is going on -- and I cried myself out. Gina surfaced at one point, worried, and I had to get control of myself and tell her everything was okay; as she left the room, Gene asked, "Is it?" I nodded. Perfect, it wasn't -- but it WAS okay...

His hands wandered over me, petting and caressing, and soon they were wandering into places that I might have complained about -- but I didn't. I took comfort in the fact that he found me attractive and wanted to touch me, and as I began to feel better, arousal slowly crept up on me. I got wet and needy and my hands searched for and found the comforting ridge of his erection in his lap. I gazed at him and said, "Please?" and he nodded and I crawled off his lap so that I could get him out of his pants.

He stood and I got him naked below the waist and the 'new' Gene didn't ask me how I wanted it, he just said, "Bend over the couch." I knew better than to argue; I spread my stance and reached back for that much larger erection that I'd already sampled once and knew was wonderful and guided it into me...

I had two orgasms; I remember after the first one I looked up and Gina was standing there, wide-eyed. "It's okay, Honey," Gene panted, "run along. Mommy and Daddy are busy. Gina nodded owlishly and left; I don't know how far she went, though -- it may have only been to just beyond the door...

When it was over, I felt refreshed, rejuvenated; we'd had our second honeymoon -- something that hadn't happened to date because I'd been living in the past. Things had changed; I could now acknowledge it and move forward, because I had a little something special -- a gift from my mate, my sponsor -- yes, my master. No entitlements came with it -- I understood that -- but it was there, anyway, a visible sign that once, things had been different, even if they weren't now...

When Susan and Harrah and Felicity's younger kids arrived -- including one I'd never seen before named Candy -- I was avidly cleaning Gene's erection -- and thinking about asking him for more, since he was hard... Answering the door made me realize that cum was leaking down my thighs, which was mildly embarrassing. Reluctantly, I shelved the idea of more sex and placed my children in their hands so we could go look at concubines...

On our arrival at the interview suite, Felicity was bursting to show me the 'wonderful thing Bernie gave me'... Well, okay, so I wasn't unique in all the universe, but I still had something wonderful. We compared collars while we awaited Harriet and her new master. Trinity hung back some, but it didn't seem to be the thing to do to have a fit, so I waved her over; she fit herself into the group without any fanfare. "Everybody says I should get serious about this," I announced, "so I guess I will."

"We picked up a family member this morning," Trinity noted. "Remember the Flowers?" I nodded. "They had a daughter -- and they were all screwed up. They went to a meeting with a sponsor and the man got upset at the sponsor when he got a little... familiar with the woman. He attacked the sponsor, who fought back -- and the woman got into it, too, and I guess the AIs had to step in. They were executed -- sponsors don't play games with people who can't adjust..." Trinity looked away, but I recognized the warning. "We got the daughter -- little Candace -- and she's already a problem. She's going to have to make some serious adjustments... Bernie assigned ME as her substitute mother, for God's sake!"

"So THAT's who that was with the girls!" I exclaimed.

"Uh huh." Trinity nodded. She looked at me, troubled.

"I'm learning," I said quietly.

"Good."

About that time, Harriet came in and the hunt began...

We wasn't expecting much, you know? Me and my man Ramon, we're both big-boned -- that's more or less how we got together; he wasn't gonna catch him no little slip of a thing, big bear that he is... That left a lotta women I guess, but I got there first, one way or another. Ramon, he's got some Puerto Rican in him and he's purty, despite bein' a big sumbitch and I jus' wasn't lettin' that shit go, so I put it out there, you know? He's got a serious bone, too, an' he knows how to use it; I got addicted to that shit right quick!

After I dropped three kids so quick they damn near fell on top of one another, I went on the pill, religiously -- an' I STILL had Marvin... We got hooked up with the school when Ramon took a job doin' maintenance there; Ramon, he's good with his hands... Anyways, the kids, they got free tuition and things was good -- but we ended up here... I still didn't fuckin' know if THIS is good or not...

So we was sittin' around kinda down in the mouth 'cause I for SURE don' wanna lose my man and my favorite bone an' one a them AI things says, "You have a call."

I'm like, "Uh huh. Sure," but Ramon says "Put 'em on..." and the wall lights up and there be like four white women there... First thought in my head was, 'Oh, shit!' Wasn't none of 'em big and wasn't none of 'em black -- shit, three of 'em was redheads! Ramon, his eyebrows went up, too... "Can we help you?" Ramon, he's good at school talk, so I gen'ly keep my mouth shut when shit like this happens...

The one on the right -- the only one that wasn't a redhead -- said, "We're, uh, looking at families."

Ramon cocked his head and grinned that grin of his. "We got one..."

"Um, yes," the center woman took shit up. "You have four children?"

"Yeah..." Ramon nodded slowly. "Marvin, come around to Momma." Marvin, who is eight, stopped playing in the corner and came to me and I plopped him on my knee. "Aretha! Get your brothers and come in here!"

So Aretha came in; she's fifteen -- a big, strapping gal, but she ain't fat and ugly like her momma -- Ramon gave her shit I couldn't. The kids all have famous names -- I know, it's kinda fucked up, but we did it. Aretha is Aretha Franklin Wright. Marvin is Marvin Gaye Wright. Wes is Wesley Snipes Wright -- he's thirteen, and shootin' up fast. Ray, my eleven year old, is Ray Charles Wright. Ramon swears that if I have another boy, he's gonna name him Sly... Aretha, she's over the limit and can attract her own man, but she's hangin' out with us for now; once we get where we're goin', she probly won't have no choice. She saw them women and grinned and waved, then got down in one a them positions. Shit, if I get down on my knees like that it'd better be to fuck, 'cause there ain't no hoppin' right up for THESE bones... The boys wandered in behind her and plopped down wherever; I'm kinda keepin' an eye on Wes, 'cause he's WAY too interested in his sister -- with my titties runnin' a close second. I said sumthin' to Ramon and he just laughed and said I could use milkin'... Anyway, the kids settled themselves and Ramon said, "That's everybody. Are you the sponsors?" I had that question in my head, myself...

The center woman held up a finger and said, "One moment," and the sound went off. We could see 'em talkin', but I don't read lips...

I had the AI shut off the sound so we could discuss things. We'd come to the Wrights by allowing the AI to randomly scan our search criteria -- but they were a surprise. I had the files on each of the family members displayed off to one side and said, "I think maybe we bit off more than we can chew..."

Kathy just sat there -- you could see the wheels turning. This was WAY beyond anything she was ready to accept!

Felicity offered, "The scores are good -- the father is almost sponsor-grade at six point one... Young Aretha is a six and the boys are ALL in the sponsor track..."

"Ramon is fucking HUGE!" Trinity gasped, her eyes glowing.

"Yeah..." Kathy's agreement had a totally different spin on it. "If he got into a fight with Gene..."

"He's smarter than that, I bet," I argued. "But he's pretty imposing. Terise..." Terise was what they used to call a buffalo where I grew up; maybe she'd have been called a cow, but add her color... Still, I had no room AT ALL to talk...

"Yeah. She's big, too. Back her off and see what happens," Trinity suggested. The AI put up a visual and backed her down to eighteen -- and she was STILL pretty big, but not huge... "It's fixable," I reminded everyone. "Do you want to ask more questions?"

Kathy shook her head. Felicity and Trinity weren't serious, anyway. "Up to you," Felicity handed off.

Weird as it seemed, this group might fit for Farris and I; Terise wasn't competition, although Aretha sure was. We could, well, use them as domestics and let them do their own thing for a while... I had the AI reconnect the audio. "No, we're concubines. We're conducting a, well, first screening, I guess, for our sponsors. We represent three different sponsors."

The hulking adult male cut to the chase, "Any of 'em black?"

I glanced at the girls. "No."

"We're probably wasting our time, then, huh?"

"Well..."

"You're kind of... big... threatening, you know?" Kathy intervened. "That could be a problem."

"I ain't stupid, though," Ramon replied. "I know what happens if you get stupid and mix it up with a sponsor. Besides, don't they get an enhancement package? Faster reflexes and shit?"

I flashed a glance at the others, "Our sponsors are research types. I think they're all Navy. Marines get that, I think."

"I STILL ain't stupid." Ramon crossed his arms over a truly massive chest.

Trinity took the helm. "So, what about Terise and Aretha and white guys? You know how that could go..."

Ramon nodded. "Yeah... Aretha won't be a problem. Terise... Well, I'm gonna need to get off, occasionally, even if I'm not making babies." He cocked his head, looking at Trinity; the question didn't even have to be asked.

Trinity went ahead and answered it. "That would be up to my Master; he's generally very fair about such things. If he wants you to vary your diet, I can handle it."

Terise said her first words in the conversation, chuckling and muttering, "You probly won't mind..."

Trinity rose to the occasion, "No, I probably won't, although my Master is the best I'VE ever had, and I've had a few. Good stuff, huh?"

"I didn't get four kids 'cause bonin' Ramon wasn't fun," Terise grinned. "He sneaked Marvin in after I was on the pill and thought I was safe..."

"I think it is reasonable to assume that none of our sponsors would expect you to remain celibate. Anything else, girls?" I asked.

"Modifications?" Kathy brought the subject up.

THAT got under Ramon's skin. "Like what?"

"Backing Terise off a few years seems sensible," I opined. "Maybe some shrinkage after that." I eyed him and added, "I don't speak for my sponsor, but you don't appear to need much adaptation -- some age regression maybe. Yeah, you might be a little less imposing if you were smaller, but I can see where you wouldn't agree to it -- and I don't think my sponsor is that petty."

"I could drop some beer belly," Ramon offered, his eyes wary. The location for 'shrinkage' hadn't been defined, but Ramon made assumptions...

"I'm sure." I held his eyes, aware that all of the other girls were measuring his erection -- and he WAS erect... "I think we're done, for now. We'll speak to our sponsors and get back to you if there is further interest." I had the AI cut the connection.

"Wow! HE's a handful!" Kathy gusted.

"Two, actually," Trinity tittered.

"Well, he's a guy, and we were talking about shrinking his tallywhacker. That's cause for alarm. I wouldn't want to be told I was going to be totally flat-chested so I couldn't compete with black women, either..." I argued.

"Put 'em on the 'future consideration' pile," Felicity said, waving. "Next!"