"The kids are great. But do you know what I realized the other day? They're the same age now as you and I were when we first started this."

"Jeez, that's right. Christ Sis, can you believe it's been twenty-three years? Twenty three years since I first shot that load all over you."

"And shot a load into my virgin mouth as I recall, big brother. And stuck your tongue in my virgin cunny." They both laughed at the memory. Janie went quiet for a moment. "I'm wondering if they're feeling the same things you and were feeling."

"Hey, I don't think there's an incest gene."

"Maybe not, but I think there's a sex drive gene. They're both horny as bunnies and they are very close. Just like you and I were."

"So.... are you planning on talking to them about this?"

"God no. I certainly don't want to steer them in that direction, the consequences can be so horrendous. You and I both know just how lucky we've been up to now. Especially when I was still married. And we both know we could be found out any time we get together. On the other hand, if they do end up getting it on, I don't want them feeling guilty about it. That can be pretty heavy too. I'd want it to be as beautiful for them as it has been for us. I'm just going to keep my eyes and ears open, cross the bridge if and when I come to it." She was quiet for some time, then ... "Make love to me again big brother. I need you inside me."

Janie looked up from her dish washing and saw Cleo and Jason on the beach in front of the cottage, walking in the shallow water. Cleo suddenly bent down, scooped up a double handful of water, threw it at her brother, and took off. Jason caught her in a few strides and the two tumbled to the sand. There was a brief and playful struggle, full of laughter and giggles, which suddenly stopped. The two teenagers seemed frozen in time, Cleo on her back in the sand, her brother half on top of her, one leg between hers, his arms pinning hers to the ground. Their faces only inches apart, their eyes locked, their chests heaving. Janie, in the cottage, her hands in the dishwater, was as frozen as her children. All three stayed that way, motionless, for what seemed a very long time. Then Jason abruptly rolled off his sister, turned his back to her, and walked away. Janie watched her daughter lying still and quiet on the sand, her arms still bent back, as though Jason still had them pinned there. And then.... Cleo raised her right arm and brought it to her left breast, her finger tips gently caressing her nipple through the thin fabric. She trailed her fingertips down and across her naked belly, over her bikini briefs and cupped her young and virginal cunt. Janie saw her squeeze her groin two or three times, then suddenly roll over, her head on her crossed arms. Her tiny shoulder blades heaved and Janie realized her daughter was sobbing.

"You love your brother, don't you Cleo?" Janie and Cleo were sitting at the table on the cottage deck.

" Of course. He's my brother."

"No. I mean you love him Cleo. You're in love with him."

"What? No! Of course I'm not in love with him! He's my brother for God's sake."

"I know you see me as "only" your mother Cleo, but I'm first, last, and always a woman. I can see it. I can tell. And I can tell that he loves you too." Cleo remained silent. "We don't get to choose who we fall in love with Cleo. We just fall in love."

"But he's my brother! I can't have him! We can never be together! Never!" She was sobbing now, and Janie put her arms around her.

"It's all right baby, it's all right. You can love him. You can love him the way you want."

"You know I can't. You know that's not true. What are you talking about? He's my fucking brother!"

"Cleo, I know what society says. I know they say you can't love your brother that way. But society's not always right. Society changes its mind all the time. It wasn't long ago they said that homosexuality was wrong, was in fact a mental illness. Before that they told us that masturbation was immoral and you'd go crazy if you played with yourself. Back in my Great Grandmother's day they decided that a woman couldn't even display an ankle. She had to ride horseback sidesaddle so as not to become aroused. Society's attitudes have changed and will keep on changing. Incest is just another taboo that won't always be taboo."

"But how can we? What will happen to us? How can we be together? They wouldn't let us."

"I know baby. They'd crucify you, just as they crucified gays not too long ago. It has to be your secret, your deepest, darkest secret. It has to be kept secret from the whole world."

Cleo was silent for a long time, her head bowed, looking down at her hands twined in her lap. She looked infinitely sad. Then she slowly raised her head to look at her mother, a look of wonderment on her face. "Jesus Mom. You and Uncle Mark. You and Uncle Mark are lovers."

It soon became apparent to Cleo that Jason was afraid of the love he felt for her. Afraid of the sexual feelings he had for her. She gave him many hints that she felt the same stirrings and would welcome his advances, would welcome his touch; but Jason ignored them. Cleo realized that she would have to be the aggressor. She would have to initiate their affair.

She waited until a day when her mother drove into town for groceries. A grey, rainy day that kept both her and Jason inside the cottage. Cleo could tell that her brother was uncomfortable being alone with her, could tell that he wanted her as much as she wanted him. When he left the living room and went to his own room, Cleo decided it was time. Time to seduce her brother. Time to give her virginity to her brother. Time to express her love for her brother.

Cleo went to her own room, undressed, and slipped her naked body into her bathrobe. She took a deep breath to steel her nerves, then walked to Jason's room and lightly knocked on his door. "Jason? Can I come in?" She waited for what seemed to her a long time for Jason to answer. Finally...

"It's open." Cleo entered Jason's small bedroom and saw him looking out his window, his back to her.

"Turn around Jason, please turn around." Her voice sounded very small and frightened to herself. "Please Jason." Jason turned to look at his sister. She stood very still for a moment, then opened her bathrobe and let it fall to the floor. She stood there, young and lovely and naked and trembling before her brother. "Make love to me Jason. Please. Please make love to me. I want you so bad I can't stand it."

Afterwards, they held one another tightly for a long time, and kissed away each other's tears.