the handsome man's tale part 2

First of all gods, I am sorry its so quiet, had mic issues and also sorry my voice is so bloody rough and flat due to this Autumn cold and the low budget not allowing me licencing rights or hiring a singer.  The Handsome man telling his tale this one a tail of tragedy and pain. as Always I hope this tale finds you well on this all hallows eve. 

Confident that his audience of sceptics had been cowed by both his words and the eerie chill and the crackling flames he returned to his role of the showman the jester, the one man who thought mad can tell the truth in this blighted world. He leaped up onto the bar ands clapped his hands twice in a sharp staccato rhythm and began to weave his spell of otherworldly stories.

He slowly began to weave his tale as the audience watched spellbound by old magics, “I was in Ireland and walking across land long since empty lands filled with loss and pain and on this land I found a cross, a memorial from long past and so at midnight I returned and stood as I expected was a girl of twenty six summers dressed in skirt and blouse draped in a soldiers jacket to keep out the chill, she greeted me and we talked, she told a tale of her life and her death, she told it in song to me just as I am telling now. She was young when the war started, twas nineteen fourteen and the air was thick with patriotism and hope a war that would end all wars a war that would be fought against the hun and be over by Christmas, she had grown up the daughter of the publican and over the years caught the eye of a local boy, a young man a bookie who sold dreams and hope in a small dreary town, that brief moment on raceday where if the winds blew right copper could turn to gold. She turned to me and sang, sang of hope and love. My voice is not hers though the words are but the voice is something I can share.

The air grew thick with tenseness as the music started the music a mournful violin that though different from the original seemed to fit.

I'm a girl that's just come over,

Over from the country where they do things big;

And among the boys I've got a jolly sweetheart,

Since I got a sweetheart I don't care a fig.

For the boy I love is up in the gallery,

The boy I love is looking now at me;

There he is, can't you see him waiving off his handkerchief,

As merry as the robin that sings in the tree?

For the boy I love is up in the gallery,

The boy I love is looking now at me;

There he is, can't you see him waiving off his handkerchief,

As merry as the robin that sings in the tree?

He is not tall, but yet he's manly,

And I always see him in the same old place;

Curly head is bobbing, don't you see him nodding?

There he is! don't you see his smiling face?

For the boy I love is up in the gallery,

The boy I love is looking now at me;

There he is, can't you see him waiving off his handkerchief,

As merry as the robin that sings in the tree?

For the boy I love is up in the gallery,

The boy I love is looking now at me;

There he is, can't you see him waiving off his handkerchief,

As merry as the robin that sings in the tree?

“They fell in ,love and courted and were engaged to be married, that awkward period of unrequited affection and longing sighs, blushing smiles and nervous titters, waved neckerchiefs and notes turning to an engagement that filled the town with joy and laughter and the nervous energy of wedding bells approaching, but then as spring grew distant and the world turned, hope turned to fear as the men marched off to war, before he marched with his boyhood pals towards distant shores they wed out in the glades they had played in as children, just these two lovers promising before god that when he returned that they would truly be bound by priest and sacrament. 

He took a sip of wine and looked at his bride to be talking more to her than the spellbound audience, pouring the pain into his tale and his fears,  fears that if his words were not enough that he was damming her to a life alone unable to fill the aching burning regret and loss, the hole he would leave, maybe twas the worst of the curse, that his failure dams his mate to a life alone tortured with visions of what could have been, the one kiss they share the only love she will have if he is not enough to please the demons.

“he went to war marched off with boyhood friends, the scene could be anything from when they were young, broomsticks on shoulder playing at soldier now come true, pellet guns and shotguns now lee Enfield’s and webleys, he wrote letters home and she wept and prayed spending days in church on her knees begging for his safe return so she can spend her nights on her back or knees in pleasure not fear and prayer. The war wasn’t over by Christmas no, twas weeks longer then months then year after bloody year of dogeared letter and tale of shellscrape and machinegun nest till that fateful day, there was a knock and a letter, born by the local chaplain a old man of seventy, too old to fight left behind by the regiment to bring comfort and aid to the familys left behind. Rather than delivering it to home he took the notice to her, it was he that heard her wail of pain and loss as she knew what it was as he walked up the pathway,. That hateful black banded paper an arrow through her heart.”

He sinked to his knees in horror weeping at the scene his heart torn open as he recounted her pain, “the scream of pain the roaring howl of dying love and hope, a noise that was depressingly common in the village, the women flocked to her to support her as she lay wrapped in the boys dress uniform jacket, his casket laid down in the pub she worked for the wake, her night spent weeping over his cold form. He was buried and she was catatonic” he looked at his wife to be and held her closely, the women watching seeing this young man as human now, they saw and felt the guilt at the price he was to pay hitting them like a hammer blow as they realised that in their fear of the curse that they had forgotten that he was a boy just like theirs, he had been a babe in cloth, a child but he had known since birth that he may not be granted chance to grow old.

The guilt striking them as if a hammer blow to the chest as he murmured into his partners ear, that if he failed this night that this song was a begging plea for to live on to find a life after him. The sorrow of his cousin long dead something to be left in story alone.

I am stretched on your grave

And will lie there forever

If your hands were in mine

I'd be sure we'd not sever

My apple tree my brightness

It's time we were together

For I smell of the earth

And am worn by the weather

When my family thinks

That I'm safe in my bed

From night until morning

I am stretched at your head

Calling out to the air

With tears hot and wild

My grief for the boy

That I loved as a child

Do you remember

The night we were lost

In the shade of the blackthorn

And the chill of the frost

you swore before our god

 we’d be married  this was not just this night

As you left here for france

called me your  pillar of light

The priests and the friars

Approach me in dread

Because I still love you

My love and you're dead

I still would be your shelter

Through rain and through storm

And with you in your cold grave

I cannot sleep warm

So I'm stretched on your grave

And will lie there forever

If you hands were in mine

I'd be sure we'd not sever

My apple tree my brightness

It's time we were together

For I smell of the earth

And am worn by the weather

He finished his song and quietly began to sob into the girls chest, for his cousin for the boy who died alone drowning in the mud under the weight of the dead, for the girl he left behind dying of heartbreak and finally for the first time for himself and his love as the weight of his path hit him.  She knew in that moment that though he was the figure of legend that he needed her to be strong to love him, to be the only one in this blighted place to fight for him. She took him, guided him upstairs and kissed him frantically, hard rough and passionate, the two lovers taking the moment in the fear that it would be their first and last.

                                           

 Shedding clothes and scratching caressing nipping licking, moaning and biting. Moving to the bed moaning the rocking of the headboard shaking the rafters and those present remembering years gone by, the songs of this young woman reminding them 0f the price and the fear their thundering climax muffled by the roar of the fire and the pealing thunder in the sky, as they slaked their thirst for each other together, spurred on by the curse’s need for a fresh victim, conceiving his child as he himself was conceived, in the fear that this was the last and whipped up by the fear, his terror and his uncertainty the same aphrodisiac that the march to war gave. 

Oral Dilemma Pt 2

Did you enjoy the first part of the new story?  If you missed it you can go read it HERE.  

Well, it seems Roxy has found someone that loves her for herself that doesn't care about the extra pounds. Isn't it great when you find that special person that values you for who you are?  Ready to see how things progress?  

                                         Storytime Trsyts does not own copyrights.

 Oral Dilemma Pt. 2 

Summer Blues 

by 

Ellie Mack

Chad and I were crazy about each other. He absolutely adored me, and like I said he worshiped my body. If at any point I felt bad about myself or self-conscious of my appearance he was there to boost my ego and remind me just how much he loved my body. That’s the thing though. He loved my body, not me.

We dated throughout my junior year. Over the summer my dad got me a job at his company and I didn’t see Chad for three and a half months. My job was grueling, physical labor. From the middle of May to August I had dropped nearly 50 pounds and was fitting into a size 6. I was so proud of myself. In the evenings I ran two miles nearly every day to help tone things up. I was really feeling good about myself, and feeling confident. I couldn’t wait to see Chad. I couldn’t wait for him to catch me, twirl me around and say “Look at you. Wow” then kiss me deeply.

It wasn’t to be. Devon actually picked my sister and me up from the airport as mom was working. Devon was watching for us. He stood when he saw my sister approach looking around, he looked right through me. It figures right?  I knew I was invisible to him but ouch. 

It wasn’t until I was standing there beside them as they embraced that he looked up realizing it was me.  The shocked expression on his face was priceless. His jaw literally dropped as he gasped, his eyes growing large. He nearly shoved Tara aside to get to me. “Oh my God. Roxy. Look at you! “ He lifted me off the ground, embracing me,twirling me around. Right image, wrong guy. Then he added as he set me slowly down, looking at me like he thought about kissing me for a second. “Wow. Roxy I didn’t recognize you. Wow.” He hugged me again. But I knew he didn’t really want to kiss me. It did make me feel good that he at least noticed. We talked a bit like we did in the old times.

On the drive back to our house, he bought Tara and me a large ice tea. We talked casually  in an easy friendly manner. It was amazing how fast it was just like when we were kids playing in a fort. There was a comfortable ease with Devon. When we arrived at home he helped carry in our bags. Tara immediately called her friends to go out. Devon sat on the stool in the kitchen and talked with me, sharing ice tea.

It was really great, we talked like we used to before I got fat. Before I became the chubby girl at school that he didn't want to be seen with. It was casual, comfortable, without any awkward moments - an unforced natural rhythm.  I was about to ask how many hours he had logged in the gym when Devon started telling me about his job working for his dad’s contracting firm. He was noticeably bulked from what he had been before. Not that Devon was a skinny guy, but the added muscle looked really good on him. He could have easily been a model. 

I texted Chad to let him know I was home when I went to the bathroom, but he said he was at work and would come by in the morning. That was a disappointment. Sitting in the kitchen with Devon looking so hot kind of got me worked up, and well  I was hoping that Chad would at least want to come by after he got off work to get reacquainted. I washed my face trying to hide the flush of heat I felt. 

when I returned to the kitchen Devon asked if we could order a pizza, said he enjoyed talking with me. Who was I to argue?

We shared a pizza, ice tea, and funny stories about our summers. We sat out on the deck in the summer evening watching lightning bugs, reminiscing about when we were kids.At one point he reached for my hand, holding it like it was the most natural thing in the world.  A few minutes later he let go and took the empty pizza box inside to the trash bin.

“So Roxy, what do you see in that dork Chad anyways? You deserve better than him. “ He leaned in towards me as he sat on the edge of his chair.  He took my hand again, his thumb caressing over the small triangle of skin between my thumb and fore finger. 

I blushed. “He gets me Devon. He appreciates me for who I am.”  I could barely think with him caressing that little bit of my hand.

He stared into his glass swirling his ice tea. “ You know he talks.”

“Oh?” I’d talked about our relationship to Angie, the girl I worked with over the summer. “What about?”

Devon looked out over the lawn,  staring off into the distance.  A few seconds later he sighed and turned towards me, his eyes locked on mine. “He tells everyone you’re his slut. That you’ll do anything he asks. He doesn’t respect you, he's  using you Roxy.”

I couldn’t help but blush. Of all the people to hear this from I got to hear it from Devon. I suppose it was true in a sense. I was rather slutty with Chad, and had done everything he asked. I enjoyed all aspects of sex with Chad, but sitting there at that moment with Devon I felt dirty and cheap.  I wanted to crawl under a rock and hide.

“ He likes my curves.”

“You know Roxy, there are people that like you for you not for what you will do for them. “ He slugged down the last of his tea. He leaned over,  my hand in his and pulled me to my feet. “Don’t let him treat you like this. You’re better than that.”

He hugged me tight. Oh it felt so nice to be in his arms. We just seemed to fit. Of course if I hadn’t lost all that weight he’d probably never have even hugged me, certainly wouldn't have been able to wrap his arms around me like he did.  I felt safe, secure, and loved for that brief few seconds in his arms. For a minute or so it looked like he might kiss me, then he dropped his eyes down and squeezed my hand. “I, I’ve gotta go. Gotta get up early in the morning for work. “

I walked through the kitchen to the front door with him. “Thanks for picking me and Tara up from the airport. I really appreciate it.” I pulled him back for another hug."And for the company and the pizza."

He held me for just a couple seconds then sighed. “It’s great to see you again Roxy and you look amazing.” He kissed my cheek then left.

How is it that Chad kissing me, and doing everything else we did together didn’t move me like that one simple kiss on my cheek? I must have stood there for ten minutes staring after him.

                                               *                                                         *                                                                 *

Sunday afternoon Chad finally called. Our flight arrived on a Friday afternoon. I expected a text or something, I was anxious to see him. It had been three and a half months! I was on the back deck talking with Angie on my cell watching Devon mow his parent’s backyard shirtless. Come on, you would too. I’m telling you those extra pounds of muscles were truly a work of art. It was like a marble statue come to life.  His six pack abs were visible from my deck and my fingers ached to touch them.  His skin glistened in the sun from his perspiration and I wanted so much to taste the saltiness of his skin.  I imagined him holding me like he had Friday evening only shirtless.  I was barely conscious of agreeing with Angie's monologue.  I didn't notice the sliding glass patio door open.

“Roxy?”

I dropped my phone. I ‘d been caught ogling Devon. “Oh hey Chad. I missed you.” I stood quickly and threw my arms around him waiting for the spinning turn, and ‘wow baby you look amazing’. I stood there for several seconds before realizing it wasn't going to happen.  Hmm, at least Devon had been happy to see me.

He stopped about two feet from me. “Where’s the rest of you?”

“ I told you I’d lost a little bit of weight Chad.”

He combed his fingers through his hair. “Damn. You said a little weight not half your fucking body.”

“Huh?” I stopped my movement towards him.

“You said you lost a little weight. How much fucking weight did you lose Roxy?”

“About 50 pounds total. It was a lot of hard work. The job was grueling and I worked out like crazy trying to tone up and be sexy, but I feel great.”

He stepped towards me finally, pulling me into his arms, kissing me hard. It felt awkward and forced.

His hand slid down my back to my ass. “Roxy, I can get all of your ass in one hand.”

“I know, isn’t it great?” I grinned wide. 

His expression remained staunch, his jaw clenched.  He mumbled something I couldn’t understand and hugged me tight. “I’m glad you’re home babe. Missed you.”

We stood there him hugging me. I’m not sure why I did it but I glanced over to where Devon was mowing. He’d stopped and was looking towards us. There I was standing with Chad’s hand on my ass. I felt guilty as if I were betraying Devon but that made no sense whatsoever.  Chad was my boyfriend.

“So you want to go grab a burger and shake and go over to my place?” he asked quickly, before kissing me again.  "Then maybe you'll let me get reacquainted with your new body."

“Sure, let me get my shoes.” I had to just take one last glance at Devon. He was throwing something and having a real mad fit. I couldn't quite make out what he was saying. I wondered what was going on with him. 

We grabbed burgers and shakes just as he promised then went to his lair.  It was what he called his basement room.  His parents basically let him set up his own apartment in their basement, even had a small kitchen.  Not that Chad could cook.  We were never interrupted.  

That afternoon as we were getting reacquainted, it was if he was trying to prove something.  Two seconds after he unlocked his door, he had me pinned against the wall.  He jerked my top up over my head. As he looked down he saw the tan lines from the bikini I'd worn over the summer.  "What's this? Showing off for other guys were you?  Letting them see my property?" 

"What? I wasn't showing off to anyone."

He roughly unfastened my jean shorts and jerked them down, seeing my piercing on my belly button.  "What the hell is this?" 

"I thought you'd think it was sexy.  See it's a little moon."  I tried to show him the crescent moon and dangling star that I'd gotten because he would quote that bit of Shakespeare to me about the moon. "don't you like it Chad?"

"NO!  I don't like it.  I don't like you parading your body in front of other guys either."  He shoved me down to my knees roughly and unzipped his pants.  He took his cock out.  "Suck it bitch!"

There was a moment that i felt he was using me just like Devon had said.  But we'd played at being rough before.  I'd done this for him many times. I began stroking him, caressing that velvety smooth flesh. 

"I didn't say stroke me I said suck it."  He pulled my hair, then thrust into my mouth.  I gagged a little, but went along with it.  He thrust hard into my mouth with a running dialogue of  how he was going to punish me for being away,  punishment for losing weight without permission, punishment for not taking care of his needs.   

I obeyed, wondering if this was some new fascination he had.  if perhaps he intended to take our relationship into some bdsm  thing.   I sucked greedily, loving the taste in my mouth.  It had been a long summer without Chad. 

He jerked my ponytail back as he thrust hard into my mouth, an expression of anger on his face.  I didn't' understand.  why was he so angry with me?

He pulled me to my feet by my hair. "You're such a nasty little  slut."  He slapped my ass cheek as he pulled my panties down, then attacked my clit with his mouth.  

I moaned as he sucked,  dipping his finger inside me.  He lifted me up to my knees forcefully.  He continued his assault until I came.  I grabbed the pillow, moaning into the pillow afraid his parents would hear us.  

He slapped my ass again, hitting square over my slit.  The stinging sensation on my already swollen clit was enough to send me back over that precipice.  I was already coming when he entered me.   I was on my hands and knees and he was getting really rough.  Pounding me hard, as he spanked my ass cheek.  Chad went on and on about punishing me, as he used me roughly.  

He stopped rather unexpectedly  but pushed my head down into the pillow. 

"I think I'll have to teach you by proper punishment."  He spanked my cheek again then licked me.  "Were you this wet for other guys over the summer, huh slut?"

"No, there was no one this summer."

"Are you sure?   Waving this ass around in a bikini?  There had to be someone."  He slapped my cheek hard, leaving a sting.  His tongue was on me, inside me plunging into me driving me wild, pushing me towards the precipice again.  

I moaned, reaching for him.  He slapped my hand away.  "I'm not done with you slut." 

He grabbed my hand and held it behind my back.  then he leaned over to get something from his gym bag and tied both my hands together behind my back.  I'm going to teach you just who's slut you are, Do you understand me?" 

I nodded.  I had to admit I was beyond aroused.  I was so damn horny.  I'd waited all summer,  thinking about being with him again.  if I hadn't been so out of my mind horny, but i was.  At that moment he owned me. I had lost myself to him, had given up my will to be dominated by him.  

I felt his tongue slide over my tight rosebud.  That was something new that we'd not tried before.  It was oddly exciting.  A part of me felt we shouldn't but a part of me, I guess the slut part of me wanted it.  His tongue teased the delicate skin there.  Feathering swipes of his tongue teasing then pushing into me.  

 I gasped as his tongue entered my ass.  "Oh wow, baby."

 He spanked me again. "Is there anything you don't like slut?"  

I didn't know how to answer,  because at that moment I craved his touch, craved the affection, wanted more of what he was doing.  I shook my head and weakly managed to squeak out a " no nothing. "

He reached into his bag and squirted something, rubbing it into my ass.  soon he had two fingers inside my ass working me slowly, I could see him stroking himself as he fingered me.  He  bent down licking over my nub, across my slit and plunging his tongue inside me.  I groaned into the pillow.   

He positioned his cock while he worked his fingers, scissoring inside me stretching me.  If I'd have had half a brain at that point I would have wondered how he knew what to do as we'd never done that before.  but I didn't even have half of a brain cell working much less half my brain.  I just knew it felt amazing and I wanted more.  He eased in slowly,  being amazingly gentle considering how rough he'd been only a few minutes earlier.  "How do you like that Roxanne?"

"Wow.  Feels so good baby." I didn't lie.  I never imagined it would feel like it did.  I had imagined something painful and unpleasant, but it was really hot.  Especially since he was being so gentle.  Well, at first anyway.  After just a minute or two he sped up, and started getting rather rough with me. 

"Who's slut are you Roxanne?"  He thrust in deep and hard.  

"Yours Chad.  Only yours."  I could barely get the words out as he fingered my slit while he pounded into me.  

A rough slap to my ass cheek as he yelled.  "NO!  I want to hear you say it.  Who's slut are you Roxanne?"

"Yours Chad."  I said a little louder as he pounded into me, his fingers working faster. 

"NO!  Damn it Roxanne.  I w ant to hear you say it.  Want you to say, I'm Chad's slut."  He slapped my cheek again.  I imagined that my behind was pretty red at that point.  He flipped the lamp on, and pounded harder, deeper, rougher.  "Now say it!"   He grabbed my ponytail as he thrust into me.  

"I'm Chad's slut!"  He had me repeat it three times before he came inside my ass.  Then he pulled out this rubber plug and shoved it up my ass.  

"Now, I want you to keep that in for the rest of the evening with my come inside you to remind you you're mine."  He kissed me hard before he strode to the shower.  

I was so in shock, I obeyed.  I did as he asked.  I found myself in a state of bewildered 'doing what he said' over the next few weeks.

                                                            *                                           *                                                *

For the two weeks Chad and I were together once school started his friends began hitting on me. It was flattering of course as they’d never given me the time of day before. But the strange thing is that Chad almost encouraged it. Then Joey Maldonick took me aside and told me Chad was nailing his sister and was trying to pass me off on his friends.

I never cared for Joey, and his sister was fatter than I ever was. I didn’t believe it for a second. Not until three days later when I walked behind the weight training building at school, where Chad usually parked. I was going to surprise him but it was me that got the surprise. Christy Maldonick was straddling him in the driver’s seat bouncing for all she was worth. They weren’t exactly quiet about it either.

“Oh fuck Christy. Yeah like that. Oh baaaaaby ride my cock.” There was no mistaking Chad’s voice. 

"Yeah Chad. Oh fuck you're good.  Make me come then fuck my ass. "

I stood there like an idiot with my mouth open gawking. So that was where he learned it.  Finally, I came to my senses and turned around. I ran back around the building. If I hurried, I could still make the bus. Tears were streaming down my cheeks as I ran past.

“Roxy, wait.” It wasn’t Chad’s voice. I turned gasping for air, tears flowing, my nose turning red.

“What’s the matter sweetheart?” It was Devon. He ran towards me with sincere concern in his eyes.

“I just saw Chad and Christy.” I stood there clutching my books. His arms were wrapping around me. His sweaty muscular arms, and I didn’t mind.

“Were they talking? Flirting?” Devon asked calmly.

“NO! They were, . . . they were fucking in his car!” I dropped my books and covered my face with my hands as I burst into tears.  I cried and bellowed, using Devon’s shoulder. I heaved great sobs soaking his sweaty shirt. He didn’t seem to mind, in fact he held me tightly and said “I’m so sorry Roxy. I knew he wasn’t good enough for you.”

He held me till I stopped crying. It was long after the buses ran. I bent to gather my books hiccuping a little, my eyes swollen. He lifted my face to his and kissed me. It was gentle, tender, soft and I wanted more. My books fell again from my suddenly limp arms.

Devon Miller was kissing me and I never wanted him to stop.

All I want is....

Chapter 2

Another day in Dulldrum

Somewhere in the night while reading yet another hot, erotic, romantic fantasy I finally gave up and dozed off.
Vague fragments of a hot dream of me with a tall dark stranger, silk sheets, passionate kisses, moans and groans become a faint memory as I get up and flick on the coffee maker.

Grabbing my pen and pad to make my daily to-do list, I flip open the laptop and fire it up.

First on the list… emails, limit myself to thirty minutes and stay off Facebook.  There are notifications in the emails; it is part of clearing emails. Yeah right.

Number two on list.  Daily chores *priority*.

I chuckle and take a sip of my coffee, mmm Gevalia chocolate, with sugar- free raspberry syrup and French vanilla liquid creamer.  I pull up my Pandora Radio channel, select my Pain channel, turn up the volume and continue clicking off the emails that I definitely won’t read. I sort the rest into lists; recipes, blogs, Facebook, contests for publishers sights, etc. Sort of a to-do list inside the to-do list. 

My timer beeps. That was a fast half hour. I swig down the now cooled coffee and fix me another cup.

Number three on the list. Drink my eight cups of water and do my thirty minutes on the treadmill.

I smile thinking of another half hour engrossed in a hot romance. But that will have to come after the housework and -

Number four… make a list of the Valentine candy, cookies and stuff I have orders for and make a shopping list.

Number five… go to the store and get the ingredients, make out the monthly bills, and get a couple gifts for the two grand-kids with birthdays this month.

I tear off this sheet and start tomorrow’s list; after daily chores, wrap gifts, call the daughter and arrange for the kids to come tomorrow and make valentine cookies.

Number Six. Write up tomorrow’s to-do list and add the cookie decorating party to Saturday’s.

I highlight number six off and do number one, mark it off, then start a chicken veggie soup in crock-pot for dinner and start a loaf of whole grain Parmesan herb bread in the bread maker. 
Putting my hands together I say thank you for the convenience of great time-saving appliance and the ability to multi-task.

I change into a pair of jeans that are now are a bit loose, but skim my curvy thighs and hips. Yeah! No more muffin top! I appraise myself as I add a firm-fitting, low-cut soft leopard-print sweater, that shows quite a bit of cleavage and if I move just right, a peek of black lace from my sexy black push-up bra. I add a pretty pink lip stain and gloss to my makeup and smile. Not so bad for a woman pushing fifty.

 I grab my shopping lists, a bottle of water, and head to the store.

The shops weren't too busy even for a Friday, so I managed to complete my lists quickly.  Even the checkout lanes at the supermarket were slow.

A very good looking young man slipped up beside me and started meticulously bagging my groceries, separating the bagged stuff from the boxes as if he had sacked my groceries many times.

“Hi Ms. Meredith.” He grins shyly, his eyes lingering on my cleavage.

 I lean slightly forward and smile mischievously; glancing at his name-tag while picking up the current issue of Cosmo.

He raises his eyebrows and looks over at me, his big brown eyes warming with desire.

“Looks like you’re making cookies.” He gazes a bit at the cover of the Cosmo and licks his lower lip, as he quickly slips it into the bag with the chocolate chips, sprinkles and assorted colored frosting.

“Yeah, I love making cookies and cupcakes at the holidays.”  I try not to be obvious as I give him a quick once over.

He isn't but a few inches taller than my five four. A little slimmer than I prefer my men, but his strong masculine face with his well-groomed beard shadowing his handsome features, I’d rate him a high eight, even if he looks to be in his mid-twenties.

“Mom used to make them every holiday too.  I think that’s one thing I miss the most about the holidays.” His soft low voice sounding so wistful.

“Used to?” My eyes seem to stay glued to his firm backside, packed nice and tightly into a pair of well-fitting Levis as we walk to my car. Get a grip girlfriend! He’s just a kid!

“She died two years ago with cancer.”

“I’m so sorry. Would you like a batch?”

“I’d really love some, but I don’t want to put you out.”

“Trust me I make plenty extras. Do you work Thursday?  I can bring you some then.”

“No, but how about I meet you someplace? Maybe Starbucks?” He smiles shyly again.

Damn! Did he just ask me out?

“Sure, that would be fine. How about ten o clock?”

“That’s great! I’ll buy ya a cup of coffee and maybe a muffin or something in return. I hope you don’t get upset if I tell you this, but you sure look hot today.” He dips his head shyly as he finishes unloading my buggy.

“No, why would I get upset over such a sweet compliment, Jimmy.” I blush and pull out a couple dollars for a tip.

 He thanks me for the tip and winks as he turns to go back to work.

My mind races as I drive home. Did I just accept a date with a man half my age?

If you missed the first chapter you can find it here.
 Have you ever felt like you were just existing   Has someone all of a sudden given you hope or made you feel like you mattered?  we love to hear  what you think!

Valkyrie's Curse Part III

Valkyrie's Curse Part III

by

Ellie Mack

Helena stood, she barely came up to his chest.  She brushed herself off and squared her shoulders.  “You need to leave now.  This is my dig, my site and I want you gone.”

”Hvad er det? Er det en Valkyre komme til at eskortere mig til Valhal eller Nefflheim?” (What is this? Is it a Valkyrie come to escort me to Valhalla or Niflheim?)  His voice was deep,  gravelly.  His expression was one of mistrust. 

Well she didn’t trust him either.  ”Look pal, you’ve got to go!  Come on.”  She grabbed his arm tugging him towards the wall she’d just fallen through. When she turned it was gone.  That’s when it hit her, she’d fallen through the wall.  How was that possible?   It must be some sort of trick that this guy was doing to sabotage her dig.  She turned on him, slowly releasing his arm, crossing her arms over her chest and leveled him with a look that would make most men cringe.  ”What. Did. You. Do. To. My Dig?”  She enunciated each word, practically spitting then at him through clenched teeth.

”Hvordan har jeg vred det Guds at de har sendt mig sådan en smuk plage Valkyrie? Jeg ville turde dybder Niflheim for én sød kys.”

(How have I angered the God's that they have sent me such a beautiful tormenting Valkyrie?  I would dare the depths of Niflheim for one sweet kiss.  )

She was not amused.  How dare he come here to sabotage her site then speak Danish or whatever gibberish he was talking to her.  She barely could make out a few words and she didn’t have her  dictionary with her.    ” Kan du bremse, så jeg kan forstå dig?”  She hoped she’d just asked him to slow down so she could understand him, if not she may have jsut made him an elicit offer that she was not ready to fulfill.

”Ros Odin! Jeg vil langsomt min tale.” (Praise Odin! I will slow my speech.  ) The man’s eyes sparkled.  He seemed pleased.

’Oh god’ she hoped she had said the right thing and not offered him sexual favors.  ”OK” , she struggled with the Danish.  Why hadn’t she spent more time studying?  ”You must ”  she sighed trying to form the words.  ” Du skal forlade her. Du skal ikke være her.” (You must leave here.  You shouldn't be here.)

” Ja selvfølgelig!”  He exclaimed with excitement. 

Helena cleared her throat, saying a silent prayer.  ’Please let me not be telling him I”m going to be his prostitute!’  Very slowly she enunciated her words. ” Vi vil gå til te exit.”

He lifted her in the air, twirling her around. ”Ja. Ja. Ja.”

This wasn’t going anything like she had anticipated.  She still wasn’t sure if she was saying the right things, or if he was excited about an offer she didn’t intend to make.   She moved away from him quickly when he set her down.  ”OK.  Glad you’re excited.”   Under her breath she added  ”Depending on what you’re excited about anyway.”  She smoothed her shirt down. ”Let’s go this way.”  She motioned to the left, he eagerly followed.

 

                                *                             *                             *                             *                             *

Scott heard the sirens in the distance.  They grew louder as they got closer to their camp.  ”What the heck?”  He ducked out and ran to Helena’s tent.  ”Helena.  Helena.”    Surely she hadn’t fallen asleep already.  He tried louder  ”Helena!”

There was no answer.  He ducked his head inside her tent an looked around.  He jogged over to the work tent and ducked inside.  She wasn’t there either.  The police car stopped in front of the tent.

A tall thin man stepped out of the car.  ”We have a call for assistance from Helena?”

At that moment Scott realized that the quadrunner was missing.  ”She’s probably at the site.”  He motioned to the officer, and ran around the car to get into the passengers side.  He pointed down the trail towards the site.   The officer sped down the gravel trail.  They found the quad runner but no Helena.  Scott ducked into the tunnel.  He found the skid marks from her shoes in the muck, and recently fallen sod from the ceiling.  The officer searched the grounds, searched the tunnel.  Soon the area was swarming with a squad of police officers and the area taped off as a crime scene.  It was determined that the skidmarks were a sign of struggle.  When they found blood in the tunnel, it looked pretty grim. 

Scott was a bundle of nerves.  How could this happen?  He had just been with her not an hour before.  He had lain on his cot warring with his emotions to go back to her tent or give her time. He took off at a run towards the camp, furious with himself.   Fueled by his anger, he ran the short distance in no time at all.  When he got to camp, ther was chaos there as well.  One of the new undergrads was missing.  She had arrived at camp the day before, but was nowhere to be found.  The other girl in her tent said she thought she heard her fighting with someone in the night.  Scott phoned the officer taht had first showed up and reported  the girl missing.

This was not going anything like he had hoped.  What the hell was going on around here?  He searched for Brad, the only voice of sanity in the whole camp at the moment.  He found him in the mess hall with his laptop, chatting online with his girl.

”Figured I’d find you in here.”  He grabbed an apple from the large fruit bowl.

”Hey.”  Brad nodded as he tapped away on the keys.  ”So where’s Helena?”

Scott sat in the chair, his elbows on his knees, his head in his hands.  ”She’s gone man.  Someone kidnapped her.  There was blood in the tunnel.”

Brad looked up from his keyboard.  ”Seriously?”

”Yeah man”  Scott clenched his jaw.  ”She’s gone.”

”Oh damn.  That kind of blows holes in the project, and what with the new chick disappearing”  he tapped out a few more  words then set his computer on the table.   He sat silent for a few seconds before he started.  ”Look, we’ll do everything we can to find them; but gotta let the police do their work.  Let’s go over to the work tent, and see waht Helena was working on last night.  She ducked out just as soon as you left .  I thought you guys were geting close.  You’ve always had a thing for her haven’t you?”

Scott nodded his head.

Brad closed out his screen. ”Juliet my love something has come up.”  He stated out loud as he tapped in the message. ”We’ll continue our rp later darling.  Alright, let’s go.”

The two walked in silence to the main work center to check Helena’s computer.  ”It’s only a matter of time, if the police are any good before they want to confiscate our equipment.” Brad worked as he talked.  He quickly bypassed Helena’s passwords and pulled up the talemmetry screens, then the video feed that Helena had been watching. 

”There!”  Scott pointed to the screen. They  both zeroed in on the big man in the tunnel. 

Brad inserted cables to Helena’s computer and then into his own.  He downloaded the recorded feed onto his computer.  ”Yeah they are going to want to see this.”  The men watched a little longer and saw Helena show up on the screen.  She slipped, tried to catch herself then stumbled headlong.   She was there falling, and then seh wasn’t .  ”Hmmmm.  Well they are going to want these for evidence, but I don’t think. . .”  he trailed off for a moment.  He checked the progress of the transfer, when it was done he deleted the part with Helena. 

”Yeah, they are going to want this.  But we gotta get out of here and make sure they don’t take mine.  I haven’t told you what I”ve deciphered from the door.  Or wall.  It makes sense now but you’re never going to believe it.  Good news is . . . your girl friend isn’t dead yet.”

Scott looked at him hopeful.

”The bad news is, if we don’t figure this out fast she’ll be dead by Samheim.  That’s fourteen days away.”

The two ducked under the tent flaps and booked to Brad’s tent.  He stashed his computer in the bottom of his footlocker and took out a second laptop computer and shrugged.  ”Backup.  You never know.”

He removed several files from it, then tucked it under his arm. ”Let’s go.  We’ll share the files with the police, set them on the trail then get back on this ourselves.  Then I’ll show you what I’ve found.”