{\rtf1\ansi\ansicpg1252\uc1 \deff0\deflang1033\deflangfe1033{\fonttbl{\f0\froman\fcharset0\fprq2{\*\panose 02020603050405020304}Times New Roman;}{\f15\fswiss\fcharset0\fprq2{\*\panose 020b0604030504040204}Tahoma;} {\f16\froman\fcharset238\fprq2 Times New Roman CE;}{\f17\froman\fcharset204\fprq2 Times New Roman Cyr;}{\f19\froman\fcharset161\fprq2 Times New Roman Greek;}{\f20\froman\fcharset162\fprq2 Times New Roman Tur;} {\f21\froman\fcharset186\fprq2 Times New Roman Baltic;}{\f106\fswiss\fcharset238\fprq2 Tahoma CE;}{\f107\fswiss\fcharset204\fprq2 Tahoma Cyr;}{\f109\fswiss\fcharset161\fprq2 Tahoma Greek;}{\f110\fswiss\fcharset162\fprq2 Tahoma Tur;} {\f111\fswiss\fcharset186\fprq2 Tahoma Baltic;}}{\colortbl;\red0\green0\blue0;\red0\green0\blue255;\red0\green255\blue255;\red0\green255\blue0;\red255\green0\blue255;\red255\green0\blue0;\red255\green255\blue0;\red255\green255\blue255; \red0\green0\blue128;\red0\green128\blue128;\red0\green128\blue0;\red128\green0\blue128;\red128\green0\blue0;\red128\green128\blue0;\red128\green128\blue128;\red192\green192\blue192;}{\stylesheet{\widctlpar\adjustright \fs20\cgrid \snext0 Normal;}{\* \cs10 \additive Default Paragraph Font;}}{\info{\title VICKIE}{\author Douglas Hipp}{\operator Douglas Hipp}{\creatim\yr2004\mo9\dy21\hr11\min42}{\revtim\yr2004\mo9\dy21\hr11\min42}{\version2}{\edmins1}{\nofpages29}{\nofwords8182}{\nofchars-32766} {\*\company }{\nofcharsws0}{\vern89}}\widowctrl\ftnbj\aenddoc\hyphcaps0\viewkind4\viewscale75 \fet0\sectd \linex0\sectdefaultcl {\*\pnseclvl1\pnucrm\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang{\pntxta .}}{\*\pnseclvl2\pnucltr\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang{\pntxta .}} {\*\pnseclvl3\pndec\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang{\pntxta .}}{\*\pnseclvl4\pnlcltr\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang{\pntxta )}}{\*\pnseclvl5\pndec\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang{\pntxtb (}{\pntxta )}}{\*\pnseclvl6\pnlcltr\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang{\pntxtb (} {\pntxta )}}{\*\pnseclvl7\pnlcrm\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang{\pntxtb (}{\pntxta )}}{\*\pnseclvl8\pnlcltr\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang{\pntxtb (}{\pntxta )}}{\*\pnseclvl9\pnlcrm\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang{\pntxtb (}{\pntxta )}}\pard\plain \ri-720\nowidctlpar\adjustright \fs20\cgrid {\f15\fs36\cgrid0 V}{\f15\fs32\cgrid0 ICKIE \par \par }{\f15\fs28\cgrid0 \par By the Troubador \par \par \par \par \par \par \par }{\f15\cgrid0 I have to open this with an apology to the outhor of the story this is based upon. I have searched my hard drive several times and cannot find the story, though I am sure I seved it. The first is one of my favorite peices. It has haunted me for years beca use it ended without "closing". So finally I rewrote the story, adding what would have been a postscript to he original. If and when the author reads this, I would appreciate his contacting me. And hope mightily that he forgives me for using his talent. \par \par As always reader, let me know what you think of this. Remember: When you beat a dog he gives you a lick. When you pet a dog he gives you a lick. Whether you want to beat me or pat me, let me get my licks in. \par }{\f15\fs28\cgrid0 \par \par \par \par Vickie was royally pissed! \par \par Her husband Carl was pissed, too. But he was pissed royally drunk on his ass upstairs, unconscious on the bed. Vickie was mad as a cat in the shower. \par \par Dang blast it, and all the other blasts her granddad said that got her giggling; but she and Carl had agreed! They wanted a kid; they wanted it now and they wanted it their own flesh and blood. The son of a bitch she married wouldn\rquote t even go get his virility checked! \par \par \ldblquote I\rquote m fine, skookums,\rdblquote was all he said. And where the heck had he come up with skookums? It was more archaic than those things granddad used! Anyway, her husband just patted her on the head, literally, before explaining sometimes getting PG took longer than other times. \par \par Damn it to hell anyway, his cousin Gertrude claimed all she'd done was hold Bruce\rquote s hand and he'd knocked her up! \par \par Nine months later they had twins! ` \par \par Not that Vickie wanted twins particularly, but she wanted a baby! \par \par After the fight this afternoon when Carl was already half way to getting sloshed, Vickie put down a few too. She had promised herself she was going to stop the weekend drinking; and she\rquote d done it for the past couple months. But today was just too much. \par \par She loved Carl; all long, lean, blonde, funny and masculine Carl. But she wanted a baby! Vickie yearned to get pregnant and big. She longed to toss her cookies in the morning, have backaches and need to piddle 24/7. Well, she wasn\rquote t looking forward to all that, but she wanted a baby. If that's what it took, so be it! She wanted it! And it was time, damn it to hell! She was thirty-two and healthy. She wasn't getting any younger, dammit! \par \par Tiny, petite Vickie was lying on one of the redwood chaise lounges beside their backyard pool. She had tippled but was far from drunk. She and Carl had fallen into a bad habit over the six years they were married. They drank, and drank heavily on weekends. Vickie had recognized the problem they were giving themselves and she h ad been cutting down, a lot, but Carl didn't see a problem. \par \par The big doofus seemed unable to break the habit, just saying he could quit whenever he wanted. The drinking was worrying Vickie now, but she knew enough not to nag him. She had watched and listen ed to her mother for too many years not to understand that all the nagging did was drive the man away. Her mother had driven enough of them away, that was for sure. \par \par He was all right during the week, but Friday afternoon until Sunday afternoon he was \ldblquote in his cups.\rdblquote Vickie couldn't point fingers though. She'd been doing the same until they agreed to make a baby. Then she cut down the drinking, usually only having a cooler or two on hot days. When she got pregnant she would be on the wagon, and happy for it. \par \par Oh, how she wanted to be a mommy. \par \par God knows they had tried! It was just casual the last two years. She\rquote d gone off birth control. But it didn\rquote t work. Then a couple months ago they agreed they had practiced enough, it was time to get serious. \par \par Vickie had been to the \ldblquote baby-making\rdblquote doctor who told her everything looked fine. According to Dr. Lois she was a gun; loaded, aimed and cocked. All she needed was someone to pull the trigger and her womb would go off. Dr. Lois said sometimes things DID just take a l ittle time, but Dr. Lois also wanted to check Carl and make sure HIS gun was cocked\'85 so to speak. The good doctor wondered if his heavy drinking hadn\rquote t done something to his balls. Maybe soaking them in Jim Beam and Gilbey's Gin had pickled them or something. \par \par And the son of a bitch wouldn\rquote t go! \par \par Vickie had been lying there on the lounge in the hot sun for over an hour, fuming. It had been enough time for her to sip down two gin and tonics. They were more than she'd been drinking in an entire weekend lately ! The gin bottle and tonic were both in the ice bucket sitting alongside the lounge, along with melted ice. Carl, the son of a bitch, had staggered off to their room half an hour ago. His usual routine, he\rquote d sleep until dinnertime a couple hours from now. Then he\rquote d get up, eat, then drink until bedtime. \par \par God but she loved the son of a bitch! But he wouldn\rquote t get checked! And he didn\rquote t seem to be able to stop the weekend drinking. Hell! He'd never tried. \par \par What in HELL was she going to do? Without kids her li fe would be a barren desert. The most important thing to her was being a mother, raising a family! Carl had been adamant. He wanted no children that didn't come from his wife's womb. Adoption wasn't something he would even discuss. She was willing to try a rtificial insemination even though the odds of it being successful were very low. She was willing even if it risked her life. Women died in childbirth every day, it was something she risked giving birth. And if his sperm count was low the doctor suggested there were things they could do that would raise it. But Carl wouldn't think about any thing but natural childbirth for them. \par \par She was coming to see only two possibilities. The first was accepting that she would never have a child. If she chose that one he r future stretched out bleakly before her. She saw herself becoming bitter and cold. The marriage would be a shambles with no joy. Life for both of them would become desolate, a desert with no reason to live. \par \par Her second choice was leaving Carl. \par \par Leave the man she loved as much as life itself. \par \par Leave and find, if she could, another man to sire her children. That was even worse than the first choice. She couldn't leave him! Most of her would diie. \par \par But if she stayed\'85 She would blame him for keeping her children away. After a time she would feel he had taken her children away from her. That's how her mind would feel: not think, feel. \par \par Either way, her life\'85 Carl life and hers\'85 stretched ahead; a desert. \par \par "Oh my God," she prayed. "what am I to do?" \par \par It was then that she heard someone opening the creaky gate into the backyard. She didn\rquote t want company so she lay quietly, peeking through her lashes to see who was coming. Vickie was willing to bet it was their buddy Rich. He was the only one who just walked into the backyard like he owned the place. Sometimes it seemed that way to Vickie, too. He was such a gem, long skinny and blonde like Carl, and funny as the dickens. \par \par He had become so close to them they never planned anything any more without calling him first. Then the three of them had fun together. \par \par It had surprised her when Carl invited him over a couple years ago. She usually was pretty reserved around unmarried men, but Rich was just different. And he had been Carl's \ldblquote best buddy\rdblquote since grade school. Carl had been so tickled when Rich moved back to town! \par \par She never understood why the man hadn\rquote t married. He wasn't gay, he liked women. Lord knew women liked him. There seemed to be no end to the number of Vickie's friends that had set out to snare him. B ut somehow nobody seemed able to get past his reserve. Not that they weren't able to get him into bed. She'd had enough morning after post mortems to know he really liked women! \par \par Rich was a software engineer with his own company and worked out of his home. He kept some of the weirdest hours, too. When his brain got \ldblquote locked up\rdblquote as he called it, he\rquote d go for a walk. Then when his mind cleared he'd head home and work until he had that problem solved. Some days he worked all night long, not even breaking for a cup of coffee. Sometimes he walked aimlessly for hours, but most of the time his walks ended here with her and Carl. When he showed up Rich always just walked into their backyard. If no one was outside he\rquote d walk into the house, yelling he was there. Then they would all have a grand time. \par \par Vickie wasn't sure why she was OK with the casual way he made himself at home. Somehow though, it just felt right. She did know she wouldn\rquote t change it for the world. If she hadn\rquote t been as deeply in love with Carl as she w as, she would have been setting her sights on Rich. \par \par But Carl was all the man she needed. \par \par If the son of a bitch would just get her pregnant! \par \par Anyway she was pouting and depressed. She just couldn't face even Rich so she just played opossum. Let him think she was sleeping and he would leave. \par \par Rich came through the gate, announcing to the world he was there before he saw her lying by the pool. He was loud enough to scare the birds quiet that had been serenading her from the many trees in her back yard. \par \par It was all Vickie could do to keep from giggling when she heard Rich\rquote s quick gasp for air. She was wearing her new Ivory colored bikini, with her dark tan the little patches of cloth looked like her tan line. From where Rich was standing she knew she appeared nude. \par \par Privately she thought the designer who made it had only used a very small handkerchief and a ball of string. She thought he'd cut the hankie into three parts, two patches for the top and one long one for the bottom. Then he threw away the other half of the hankie. After tying the top two pieces together with the string, the designer fixed strings on what was to be the bottom. It had to be a man that designed it. Still she liked to sun in it, and had to agree Carl was rather "fond" of it. \par \par The bottom came up between her legs, then the strings were gathered into a bow on each hip. The top halves were connected by a longish string that went around her back, then two strings from each \ldblquote nipple cup\rdblquote were tied with another bow between her breasts. The last little bit of string looped around her neck. It took a certain kind of woman to wear it. Not only did she have to have guts of steel, but she couldn\rquote t have much boob. There was absolutely NO support. Vickie guessed that if a tit bounced even a little t he tiny patch supposed to cover it would be tossed off. Vickie was lucky in a way, because what she had were nipples. Almost no mammary, but big, big nipples! And man did those suckers poke out when she got aroused! \par \par Heck, Vickie loved the suit, but wouldn\rquote t be caught dead in it outside her backyard and its high privacy fence. If she had known Rich was coming she wouldn\rquote t be wearing it now. \par \par But it was too late to do anything about that now, he was here and she didn\rquote t want company. If she moved a muscle Rich would know she was awake. She wouldn't be able to find it in her to just send him away. \par \par Still, all Vickie wanted to do was pout and brood about how unfair Carl was being. \par \par Her eyes were closed tight now, but she heard Rich coming over to check on her so she kept her eyes closed, not letting him know she was awake. \par \par She felt as much as heard him standing next to the chaise lounge. It was crazy but she would swear she could feel his eyes on her. First she had this burning sensation traveling back and for th over her chest, then it swept down to her groin and kind of stayed there. Man, did THAT feel funny. After a moment or so it slowly worked its way down her legs, pausing every once in a while for a quick swoop back up to either her chest or groin. \par \par Then it began moving up her body again. Vickie almost moaned. As she felt the eyes moving up, her body got hot as it moved. When it paused at her hips it was almost more than she could do not to wiggle them. Her center felt like it had come afire, liquid fire . She worried that she had soaked the bottom of her bikini before she felt the warmth again move up to her chest. But the warmth in her belly, her center, her liquid center; didn\rquote t disappear. \par \par When it stopped at her chest Vickie almost shook her tits at him: Except her nipples didn\rquote t shake, never had. Especially when they were poking out so much. She had felt them growing when Rich\rquote s had eyes stopped for so long on her crotch. \par \par When the warmth moved up to her lips she couldn\rquote t stop them from parting, just a little. But she was able to keep the tip of her tongue from poking out to moisten her suddenly dry lips. \par \par It was almost her undoing when she felt Rich\rquote s open hand laid lightly on her tummy. His hand was cool, exciting in the warm sun. After a moment he took his hand away. \ldblquote Damn it to hell anyway,\rdblquote she thought. \par \par She almost bolted upright when she felt the chaise move. Still she managed to remain still. \par \par In a moment she felt the coolness of the shade under the big maple tree. Rich, the big darling, had moved her out of the sun. Guess he was afraid she was going to burn. He may have been right! \par \par Over her thunderous heartbeat she barely heard his sneakers as he walked away. Listening carefully Vickie heard the patio door open. Then Rich was inside calling, \ldblquote Carl? Carl, you there?\rdblquote \par \par When she heard the patio door slide shut, Vickie opened her eyes making sure she was alone. Once she knew she was sure her whole body quivered as the tension in her body let go. Not understanding why, she pulled the ends of the str ing tied between her breasts, untying the neat bow that had been holding the two cups closed. Vickie gave a little sigh, feeling the loss of the bra's constriction, slight as it was. She left the small cups lying on her nipples. Next she untied the strin gs on her hip holding the "almost" loin cloth covering her sex. It still covered her as she lay there, as did the "almost a bra", but it eased the restlessness in her body. \par \par That got her wondering just how and why her body was feeling so strange. \par \par Damned horny was what she was feeling! Was that because her platonic best friend had softly touched her belly? \par \par Uhm, his touch was so soft. \par \par \ldblquote Stop that!\rdblquote she shouted in her mind. \ldblquote Get a life, girl!\rdblquote Still, it had been so soft and gentle. It had felt good; comforting, but sensual. As if that made sense. \par \par Closing her eyes, Vickie enjoyed the suns warmth. After a few minutes she heard the patio door again slide open. She thought, \ldblquote Rich went up to check on Carl, found him passed out on the bed drunk, then I bet he got a beer out of the refrigerator.\rdblquote \par \par Sure enough, the door slid shut she heard him walking softly back toward her. After a couple steps she heard the pop of the beer can opening. \par \par She never understand why but she continued lying there, eyes closed, playing she was asleep. Soon she felt the warmth again as his eyes moved over her again. \par \par She wondered how this heat was occurring, but it was. \par \par The wondering turned to pleasure and she just enjoyed it. \par \par When Rich's gentle hands began slowly, carefully lifting t he bra cups aside it was all she could do not to give herself away. With her nipples now uncovered to the slow, warm breeze they popped up on her chest again. She heard his sharp intake of breath as he watched them swell. \par \par It was all Vickie could do to just lie there. But when she felt Rich\rquote s warm breath on her breasts, followed almost immediately by his tongue, it took superhuman effort to remain still. \par \par She couldn\rquote t help a slow squirm, but managed to keep her eyes closed and held the her chest's waggle t o a minimum. Rich paused for a moment and she could feel him studying her face. Then he relaxed where he crouched above her and his tongue returned to her breast. \par \par It felt so good\'85 She could feel the tingles race down to curl her toes. There was nothing she could do to keep from curling, but that was okay. Rich wasn\rquote t looking at her toes. After a moment the wildfire sensations\'85 they didn\rquote t ease but were no longer overpowering her. Until she felt his warm, yielding lips close on a nipple, then begin delicately suckling her. Nothing could stop her involuntary gasp. But she gave no other indication she was aware what he was doing to her. \par \par It was hardest to keep from screaming with pleasure, but again her toes curled. She had just managed to force them open, too. \par \par For a few minutes Rich alternated from one breast to the other. She knew her breathing sped up, but there was nothing she could do about that except die. \par \par It felt too good to die. \par \par She heard Rich's breath. He was breathing faster and heavier than she. \par \par She almost begged him not to go when he released her nipple and she heard him stand up. She had been so close to completion! Just from suckling on her! Why? How could he stop? \par \par But she was rewarded for continuing her deception when Rich\rquote s tender touch lifted the bottom of her bikini off her sex and let it drop between her slightly opened legs. \par \par How did her legs get opened? She knew when Rich came into the yard that her legs were together. She\rquote d actually had her ankles crossed! \par \par No matter, they were open now. Soon they moved further apart, all by themselves. Rich looked at her for a moment, then lovingly and gently pulled her left ankle up and moved it over until it rested on the ground beneath the lounge. \par \par Lovingly? Where the hell did th at come from? She knew how it felt, it felt loving, but how did that thought get into her mind. While she was puzzling this in her head Rich pulled the right leg in the other direction. She was now lying on her back, arms at her sides, her legs split wide open. Her center, her very wet center, was now open to her friends gaze. \par \par And gaze he did. For what seemed hours to the woman lying, her eyes tight shut, striving not to writhe on the chaise lounge. When Rich climbed onto the lounge to kneel between her widely splayed legs Vickie\rquote s body tensed. But she kept her eyes scrunched tight, tried to understand why she was still just lying there, and somehow managed to almost control her breathing. \par \par When the soft, wet tip of the man\rquote s tongue touched the bottom of he r slit, then slowly traveled up the moan was impossible to contain. Still, Vickie pretended sleep. Even as that tongue circled her bud, then reversed its course, traveling back down her slit she knew, she felt, her sex was opened wide. But somehow she did n't give away her awareness of what he was doing to her. \par \par For a time Rich's tongue played with her center. For that time Vickie\rquote s breathing became faster and deeper. The fire that had ignited inside her woman\rquote s body flamed and grew to uncontrollable proport ions. Then, suddenly the wildfire exploded. Vickie made a noise, her body spasmed and she felt herself flood the mouth now easily and gently covering her center. \par \par Vickie refused to admit she was aware of what he had just done. Rich stared at her face, terr ified at being caught but unable to move away. When his friend continued to sleep he decided she had drunk more than he thought. His conscience was digging at him, but he was a man who dated seldom. No matter how hard he beat himself up he couldn't bring himself to walk away from this lovely woman spread out before him. \par \par Oh, God! If she woke up she would never allow him near her again! But still he couldn't bring himself to leave before disaster struck. \par \par Truthfully he was afraid of women. He knew some women liked him, but he couldn\rquote t let himself loosen up enough to allow them inside his guard. It seemed he was often able to make love to a woman, but even then he didn't feel comfortable. He was lonely, and only with this adorable woman lying naked before him had he been able to be a friend. \par \par For an immeasurable length of time he knelt between her knees, staring at her wide-open beauty. Then he could no longer contain himself. \par \par Rich knew if she woke and found him doing this she would be correct if she said he was raping her. Still, he couldn\rquote t bring himself to stop. At the same time he grieved for throwing away the best true friendship he had ever had; and still was so wildly out of control his body drove him on, his mind clouded with desire. \par \par With shaking fingers he undid his trousers, pushing them down along with his underwear. Then leaning forward he held his weight up off her with his arms. Moving forward slowly until he felt the tip of his rock hard erecti on touching her swamp-wet sex, there he paused. For a time he enjoyed the sensuousness of her heat and wet against his sex. He felt her labia twitch, seemingly sucking at his maleness, trying to pull it into her femininity. Then he slowly pressed forward. The feel of his glans being enveloped by the welcoming sheath was almost more than he could stand. \par \par Moving inside her slowly, Rich gloried in her tunnel's nibbling acceptance. It\rquote s tightness slowly drew in his length; tight, wet, hot almost to the point of pain it consumed him. As he slowly entered he felt spasms running inside her. Looking down at the lovely creature spread open beneath him the pleasurable sensations swept in visible waves through her body. He watched her closed face as passion moved insi de her. Yet still she seemed unconscious of the glory they were experiencing together. \par \par At last reaching the end of her tunnel he felt the lips of her sex clamp firmly around the base of his root, sealing him inside. He gently but so firmly pushed again, gi ving her sensations deep within while at the same time he gave her bud, above her entrance even extraordinary stimuli. \par \par Slowly, easily, almost painstakingly, he withdrew giving her unawake body maximum pleasure. Yet all the time he prayed not to awaken her . The third entry proved too much for him. It was too much for Vickie, also. His cannon fired shot after shot deep within her, coating her womb with his eager, hungry sperm. At the same instant the wonderful woman\rquote s body lying beneath him convulsed. \par \par It seemed forever before he had totally emptied himself inside her, before wondrous Vickie locked beneath, then collapsed slack beneath him. Until the ecstasy subsided neither the man nor the woman knew anything but the glory that enveloped within. \par \par Somehow, without her conscious knowledge of effort, Vickie\rquote s eyes remained closed and though her body erupted to Rich she still seemed to sleep. When Rich was able to see again his anxious look showed him the face of a woman curiously relaxed, showing pleasure. It was also the face of a woman asleep. \par \par Cursing himself for raping his best friend, while at the same time fully sated with the loving they had shared Rich stood, pulled up his clothes and scurried out. Torn with guilt, he knew he would never forgive himself. He feared he would never be allowed to even speak to this woman again. \par \par With shaking fingers he straightened the loin cloth, tying the sides together again. Then he gently picked up the ridiculous little patches of cloth that served as a bra and laid them over her nipples. "There," he thought, "she's just as I found her." }{ \f15\fs28\cf5\cgrid0 \par }{\f15\fs28\cgrid0 \par If she found out what he had done\'85 he didn't know how he would face it. And how could she help but discovering? \par \par He knew he loved her. Not as a life mate, but as a dear friend. There was certainly no jealousy thinking of Carl being her husband. Rich could never allow himself to let go enough to be a complete partner with a woman. He couldn\rquote t do it with anyone, which was the reason he was an independent contractor in his software development. The relationship he had enjoyed with Vickie was exactly what he needed. \par \par He had just destroyed it. \par \par Vickie lay there, unbelieving of what she had just allowed, what she had encouraged and gloried in. How could she have done that? Carl must never know! Not once had she even considered being unfaithful to her husband. Now that it had happened she didn \rquote t understand how it had happened. She did know she had never before enjoyed such a complete coupling, total melding of souls, even with the husband she so adored. \par \par How could she ever look Rich in the face again? \par \par - - - - - \par \par Deep in concentrated thought Rich furiously pounded the keyboard of his computer, the string of commands unrolling out of his mind as he worked. It was four weeks since he had trapped Vickie. Four weeks since he had caught her drunk and viciously taken ad vantage of her. He hadn\rquote t talked to or seen either Vickie or Carl since that horrid day. \par \par He stayed home, immersing himself in his work, fighting to forgive himself. At the same time he knew that was something he would never be able to do. \par \par He had just comp leted a step and reached for the cola constantly on his desk when the doorbell rang. He tried ignoring it. Anyone who knew him enough to visit, knew never to interrupt him between 10 AM and 5 PM on a weekday. Or any other day for that matter, he kept no r egular days. \par \par But the thing rang again and again and again. \par \par Cursing he surged to his feet, threw himself out of his office and raced to the door. He was going to kill whoever was there! No one could interrupt him while he was working! \par \par Furiously flinging open the door he found himself staring at the tiny figure of Vickie, her angel face turned up at him. \par \par Rich shriveled inside as he looked at her. He couldn\rquote t slam the door in her face, he couldn\rquote t yell at her. He wasn\rquote t sure he could say anything to her at all! Oh God! What she must think of him? \par \par Without a word the petite woman ducked under the arm he had thrown against the door jamb to hold himself upright. She slipped into Rich\rquote s condominium, just heading out of the slate floored entry toward the Great Room. She and Carl had been here before and she was always overpowered by the luscious beauty he had surrounding him. He might be a near hermit, but his razor sharp mind had given him an annual income approaching a high six figures. Since he never dated, seldom went out, the only thing he spent his income on was his living quarters. She had teased him that while ordinary people had \ldblquote quarters\rdblquote Rich had \ldblquote wholes.\rdblquote \par \par His head hanging Rich followed her into his Great Room. Anything she asked was hers. He had raped her, his dearest friend, Carl's wife. He could only imagine what she was going to say. He could not conceive what he could do to assuage her fury. \par \par For long minutes they stared at one another. Finally Rich broke out of his silence, \ldblquote Can I get you anything, Vickie? Coffee, tea, a drink?\rdblquote \par \par \ldblquote Yeah, can I have a cola?\rdblquote she asked quietly. \par \par \ldblquote You want something in that?\rdblquote Rich asked. \par \par \ldblquote No, I\rquote ve pretty much given that stuff up,\rdblquote she answered in a firm voice. \par \par Slamming himself mentally he slunk into the kitchen. What he had done was the reason she no longer drank. She couldn\rquote t trust anyone after what he had done to her. After pouring her cola into a glass over ice he carried it back to her, bringing one for himself. \par \par They looked at one another again until Rich asked her if she wanted to sit down. This was going to be even worse than he had imagined. \par \par \ldblquote No thanks, I want to stand while my back doesn\rquote t hurt,\rdblquote she answered with a little smile. The reason made no sense to Rich, but he didn\rquote t comment. \par \par \ldblquote Uhm, guess I\rquote d just better say it and get it over with,\rdblquote Vickie stated. \ldblquote Rich, I\rquote m going to be a Mama! I\rquote m pregnant.\rdblquote \par \par It took a moment to percolate through his thoughts, but when it did Rich was filled with joy for her. She and Carl had discussed their dreams with him many times. \ldblquote That\rquote s wonderful news!\rdblquote he chortled. Maybe this wasn\rquote t so bad after all. \ldblquote What does Carl have to say about that?\rdblquote \par \par \ldblquote Well, I thought I should tell the father first,\rdblquote she answered. \par \par His brows squinting together Rich asked, \ldblquote The father? Huh!\rdblquote He thought for a moment longer, \ldblquote Well, why haven\rquote t you told him? Carl is going to be ecstatic!\rdblquote \par \par \ldblquote I did tell him Rich! Just now! I\rquote ll tell Carl when he gets home tonight.\rdblquote \par \par \ldblquote I don\rquote t understand, Vickie. What do you mean?\rdblquote Rich asked. \par \par Grinning like a cat, a big hungry one, she answered, \ldblquote I just told the father, that\rquote s you dummy! Carl\rquote s going to be the Daddy, but you\rquote re the father.\rdblquote \par \par Rich quivered, feeling like someone had hit him in the gut. \ldblquote I, uh\'85 I guess you, uh, found out about what I did,\rdblquote he managed to get out, almost in a whisper. \par \par \ldblquote Well, yeah!\rdblquote she answered. \ldblquote I was there too, you know! It\rquote s kind of hard for a girl not to know, you know!\rdblquote \par \par All Rich could do was stare at her. \par \par \ldblquote Rich, what I did wasn\rquote t fair to you. You see, I wasn\rquote t drunk like you thought. And I was awake when you came into the backyard. I certainly can't hold it against you, I knew everything you did. I could have stopped it at anytime. In a way it was mean of me not to do so. But\'85 Oh God! It felt so good! \rdblquote She looked at Rich for a moment. \ldblquote You are the father, Rich. I just came out of the Doctor's office an hour ago. Then I walked over to let you know. But we have to talk.\rdblquote \par \par Rich collapsed onto the light tan leather couch, leaning forward with his head in his hands. He got out, \ldblquote What\rquote s Carl going to say?\rdblquote \par \par \ldblquote I hope he\rquote s going to be glad he is a Daddy,\rdblquote Vickie answered in a small voice. \ldblquote Rich, Carl can never know he\rquote s not the father. He just can\rquote t, it would kill him. I\rquote ve never done anything like that before. I do love him, you know.\rdblquote They sat in silence a moment before she continued, \ldblquote You know we\rquote ve been trying to have a baby. Well, there\rquote s nothing wrong with me that would keep me from having one. But Carl won\rquote t get tested." \par \par "I'm guessing he is impotent. Because of his drinking his sperm count must be low. That's what the Doctor thinks, too. So this will be the only way we can have a child from our body. Do you understand? We'v e talked about artificial insemination, and adoption. Carl won't have a thing to do with either of them. Besides, if he doesn't have any sperm, "artificial" won't work anyway.\rdblquote \par \par Confused, Rich asked her, \ldblquote So, you aren\rquote t mad I did what I did?\rdblquote \par \par \ldblquote No, sweety. I knew what you were doing all the time. If I were mad it would\'85 Actually I was mad at first. It was at me though, not you. But I want a baby so bad, and I pretty much know Carl can\rquote t give me one. So now I am going to have one." \par \par "Rich, how many men could ignore a naked woman laying out on a lounge like that. I may not have understood what I was doing, but looking at it now it is pretty obvious my "subconscious" was trying to seduce you." \par \par Rich gave her a shamefaced look, "Vickie, I wouldn't have touched you. Except it was you! And you were so damned delicious lying there. I just thought, maybe a little peek. Then your nipples looked so good I had to taste them. It just seemed to go on from there. Everything I did was so good, and just a little more would n't matter! Maybe if you had started to wake up I would have stopped. But you didn't and I just couldn't!" \par \par "That's what I'm saying, Rich. I could have opened my eyes, or pretended I was waking up at any time. I knew you would stop, for heaven's sake! All I had to do was ask you. But it felt so good, and it was you! We are more than just friends. Oh, God, Rich. We sure are more than just friends now" \par \par "But please, Rich. I like you, maybe even love you more than a little, but Carl is my man. Please don\rquote t tell him, Rich. I think it would kill him. I know it would kill our marriage and a lot of me would die if that happened. I thought about this a lot the last couple weeks after I missed my period.\rdblquote \par \par They were quiet for a few minutes, the only sounds in the room the almost invisible sounds of the various electronics scattered around the room. Rich trying not to look Vickie in the eye, Vickie giving him a pleading look. \par \par Clearing her throat Vickie continued, \ldblquote One of the things that scared me at first was how Carl would know it wasn\rquote t his child. But you know, someone would have to tell him. Rich, you and he could be brothers. You both have the blonde Norse look, you and he are both thin and tall and your eyes are the same color. I did something illegal and checked on the Internet: You and Carl have the same blood type. It shocked me how similar you are. Carl is much more outgoing than you, his humor is broad but has everyone rolling in the aisles. You are a quieter man, really pretty reclusive, Rich. And your sens e of humor is very different. You are quiet but extremely witty, you can be very cutting when you want. But you know, you don\rquote t \ldblquote want\rdblquote very often." \par \par "You are a gentle man, like my Carl. Our baby will look as much like Carl as it will you. Please, Rich! Don\rquote t destroy my life and Carl\rquote s. You would never want that. I know you. But that is what would happen if you told him.\rdblquote \par \par Rich was silent a moment, before, \ldblquote You're right, Vickie. I've been beating myself up for what I did. I still don\rquote t know how or why I let myself get so out of hand. There is no reason on God\rquote s earth for me to destroy your lives. \rdblquote He thought for a moment, \ldblquote I can work anyplace, Vickie. I\rquote ll just move to the coast; either one, it doesn\rquote t matter which. Then everything will be safe.\rdblquote \par \par For some reason what he said disturbed Vickie. She squirmed on the couch, folding and unfolding her arms, her foot tapping. Several times she started to say something, then stopped. The silence seemed to stretch in the room. \par \par Finally she stood up, pacing around the room a moment before stopping to stand before Rich. \ldblquote That is one solution, there is another I am hoping you would choose instead. Let me explain... Let me ask you a question first.\rdblquote \par \par She paused and Rich nodded his head. \par \par \ldblquote Do you like me, Rich? I mean, really like me? I\rquote ll tell you right up front I\rquote m more than a little in love with you. I have been for years. Not like Carl, but the same kind. Do you like me a little, Rich?\rdblquote \par \par Smiling, Rich looked up at her, \ldblquote Honey, you should already know the answer to that. I've been showing you that for years now. In a different way I showed you again four weeks ago. I\rquote m not the marrying kind. I know that, and you do too. Even so you are the only woman I\rquote ve ever met who could make me change my mind. For years I\rquote ve been glad you were married to Carl. If you weren't I would try to marry you. The problem is, I\rquote m sure I would make you terribly unhappy as a husband. Friends, yes! But never married.\rdblquote \par \par Vickie sighed before giving Rich a little smile. \ldblquote This isn\rquote t going to be as hard to ask as I dreaded. Rich, I want three, maybe four kids. Number one is here in my belly now and I couldn\rquote t be happier. But something you don\rquote t know about me. I was one of five kids my mother had and raised. We were welfare brats, and none of us had the same father. I swore that would never happen to my kids and me. I also swore to stay with one man until I died if it was possible. \par \par I want to have more kids, but I want them all to have the same dad. I\rquote m sure I can count on Carl being a great Daddy. But you've already fathered my first child. I want you to father the others.\rdblquote \par \par She giggled for a moment at the horrified look on Rich\rquote s face. He seemed to want to say something. His mouth was opening and closing but he couldn't decide what to say first. Not giving him a chance to speak, she continued, \ldblquote Understand Rich, I\rquote m not new to men and their needs. I\rquote m asking for a big commitment on your part, but I think I can give you one as big right back. I want you to stay here, living near us. I know you don\rquote t go out much. I know now you have a great sex drive, but you aren\rquote t doing much to meet it. You aren\rquote t gay and you aren\rquote t going out with women. So you need something I can and want to give you. I\rquote d never ask you to stick aro und to \ldblquote service\rdblquote me once or twice every two or three years. We both know that wouldn\rquote t work. You\rquote d hate me pretty soon, because I am scared of STD\rquote s and would expect you to keep yourself safe.\rdblquote \par \par She paused, watching Rich as he tried to understand everything she was saying. \ldblquote What I want honey, is for you to stay away from other women. At least until you\rquote ve given me my three or four kids. That could be as long as ten years or more. What I will give you in return is sex two, sometimes three times a week until you and I have made our kids. You won\rquote t be the Daddy, but in some ways what you\rquote ll have is more. You will be the honorary \ldblquote Uncle\rdblquote Rich. You won\rquote t have to get up in the middle of the night, discipline the kids unless you believe you need to. You don't have to go to any of those damnable grade school concerts: None of that unless you want to. But you can take the kids to all the fun things you decide you\rquote d like to take them to. You\rquote ll have all the good and none of the bad.\rdblquote She stopped while she looked at the strange look on his face. \par \par \ldblquote The kids are going to love you as much as they love me and Carl. You will be asked to baby-sit. But heck, you\rquote ve been doing that for years for other friends. I\rquote ve seen you around children, big guy. Don\rquote t try to tell me you don\rquote t like 'em." \par \par \ldblquote If you need time to think, take all you need. But Rich, I really want you to do this. I think I can guarantee you won\rquote t regret it.\rdblquote \par \par Vickie turned and walked toward the door but didn\rquote t\rquote make it half way there. Rich took her by the elbow a nd led her to the kitchen with its cheery pale yellow walls and oak cabinets. There he sat her down on one of the white upholstered chairs. Without saying a word he began heating soup, then piled two plates with potato salad. \ldblquote It\rquote s lunch time, woman. Sit down and eat while we discuss.\rdblquote \par \par It wasn\rquote t a request, but given with such a nice smile it wasn\rquote t quite an order, either. \par \par They talked for another hour before Rich smiled at her and said, \ldblquote You have a deal, girl friend. If any problems come up I think we can talk them out. There won\rquote t be any we haven\rquote t discussed. Two questions before you go; can I come over later this evening after you\rquote ve told Carl he's going to be a daddy? The other question is, when do you want to start?" \par \par Vickie grinned up at him as she slowly unfastened the top button on her blouse. In a low husky voice she asked, \ldblquote We have a couple hours before I have to start dinner. Want to practice making babies now?\rdblquote \par \par Rich scooped her up in his arms and carried her into his bedroom while she clung to his shoulders, with a giggle he found alluring. In the bedroom he carefully set her on her feet, then sat on the edge of the big bed to watch her undress. \par \par Vickie grinned and made a production out of it. She hummed to herself as she finished unbuttoning her blouse while doing a little dance step, swaying her hips to the music she was making. Then she left it on her shoulders, the front opening and closing wi t h her movements. Taking her time she removed her skirt, letting it drop slowly down her slim legs. Stepping out of her shoes as she stepped out of the skirt, she kicked skirt and shoes to the side of the room. Turning to him she played with her shirt, fin ally turning her back as she slowly slid it down her smooth back. Rich was spellbound at the way her hips were wiggling as the shirt fell. Looking back over her shoulder to see his face she held the shirt so her butt was just covered. \par \par Turning to face him, she holding a placket in each hand and holding the shirt up to cover the cups of her bra. She did something first with her right hand while holding the plackets together, then with her left, suddenly her bra fell to the floor at her feet. \par \par Stepping up clo se to her new man she smiled into his eyes. Slowly Vickie let the shirt slide off her shoulders, down her arms and then drop to the floor, leaving her breasts bare. Proudly she stood before him, her magnificent nipples extended, the areolas pebbly and inc hes wide. \par \par Those nipples, perched atop her pale creamy mounds, were the most erotic things Rich had ever seen. He sat entranced as she proudly allowed him to gaze his fill, not moving until she saw his eyes begin to shift a bit from her chest. Then she hoo ked her thumbs in the waist band of the patch of lace that she had worn as a panty. It soon fell at her feet, where she stepped out of it. \par \par Rich reached for her, pulling her close and fastening his lips on a rosy nipple. Vickie locked her hands behind his head, pulling him to her. As he suckled, one hand went around to cup her bottom, holding her close and helping support her if her legs gave way. The other traveled up the inside of her thigh to explore her center. He played there for a time until he felt her wetness and heard her gasp in pleasure. Then he drove two fingers deep inside her sopping wet channel. She screamed into her first orgasm of the afternoon. \par \par When her knees buckled her lover swung her to the bed, laying her on her back, her legs widely splayed. \par \par Vickie licked her lips, looking into her new man's eyes, knowing she now had two men to service. \ldblquote We will make love many times, Rich,\rdblquote she told him in a husky, gravelly voice. \ldblquote I want you to fuck me today. Fuck me hard, please. Make a baby in me again!\rdblquote \par \par Without hesitation, already having felt her wetness, he drove inside her to the hilt in one long, hard thrust. She screamed in orgasm again but he ignored it continuing to drive into her, pumping her to climax after climax until finally he slammed into her even harder. Deep inside her he froze, his cock driven fully inside her. Vickie now went into full constant orgasm. To them it felt like minutes before his cream completed emptying deep into her womb. \par \par Then they collapsed together, entangled with one another. \par \par They lay together unmoving except for their hands slowly stroking each the other until the clock told them it was time for Vickie to leave today. Rich and Vickie showered together, dressed, then kissed gently at the door. \par \par \ldblquote I\rquote ll try to be here tomorrow, Rich. But don\rquote t forget to come over tonight. Drop by about 7:00, but don\rquote t plan on staying long. My husband and I will be celebrating tonight.\rdblquote \par \par - - - - - \par \par Vickie was almost skipping as she neared Rich\rquote s condo. The winter sun was warm, but not like the beaches along the Great Barrier Reef. Australia was so, so\'85 Scrumptious! And here she was, almost Easter and sporting a tan like she hadn\rquote t worn since she was in High School. Those days before she found out about Gamma Rays or what ever they were and cancer. \par \par She and Carl had been back a week, a week with the kids after three weeks without them. She giggled; she didn\rquote t know what was harder, three weeks away from them or this week back with them. \par \par Uncle Rich it seemed had not only kept the kids fed and alive, but they seemed better disciplined. They were accustomed to his constant attention. They were terribly spoiled. She guessed honorary uncles did that. \par \par The man was a miracle! Thinking of Rich as a miracle brought a blush. Lordy, it had been a month since she had seen him alone. She was blushing again as she pushed the up button in the elevator. It was going to be wonderful seeing him after this long time apart. \par \par But the Australian vacation Rich had given them for Christmas had been wonderful. It was the first vacation since before the four kids started coming. Well, they had fun on the short vacations with the family, but this was the first one she and Carl had enjoyed, just the two of them. Wha t a wonderful Christmas gift from Uncle Rich! \par \par And Carl stayed sober the entire three weeks! Thank God! He was finally whipping his addiction! They had worked so hard to rid him of his alcoholism. She had to thank Rich for that, too. He had been as influent ial as anything else to give him the understanding and courage to quit. \par \par At the door she gave their secret knock before using her key to open the door. It had been transparent to both Carl and her what Rich was doing when he hired her as his assistant. Th e job had been offered by Rich when he came to there house the night she had told Carl he was going to be a daddy. \par \par Well, Carl didn't understand one part of the reason but he had glommed immediately onto the fact Rich was paying much more than her help was worth. She and Carl had argued at the amount. How strange, an employee trying to talk the boss into a lower salary. After all Carl was making good money, too. They finally compromised with every penny going into the kids college fund. The money now there would send all four of them to Oxford or the Sorbonne in Paris! And give them far too much in spending money, too. The other reason Rich wanted her to spend almost every afternoon alone with him in his condo Carl would never know. \par \par She loved Carl more now than she ever had before the kids. What she hadn't understood was how she could possibly love two men with such intensity. Her love for Rich was not less than her love for Carl. Still, the two loves were different. She thanked God constantly that she neve r need choose between the two men. \par \par Ignoring the lush, friendly ambience of Rich\rquote s home she hurried down the hall, enjoying the deep plush honey colored carpet she had selected and paying little attention to the original art on the walls. She was proud of the little touches Rich had first allowed, then encouraged her to make. His taste in furnishing the apartment was superb. She just hoped he had been happy with the things she had added. \par \par Every so often Rich had taken her out to one of the local art galleries. It scared her every time she thought of the money he had spent when she was particularly taken with a painting or sculpture. \par \par She smiled quietly to herself. He had been very happy with her these many years. \par \par Somehow she had never been able to make him understand how important he was to her. He knew how she felt about his siring her four kids, but somehow she never felt he understood how important he was to her just for being himself. He was a wonderful, gentle, kind man. \par \par With a wicked, wicked sense of humor! \par \par Rich was waiting for her at the door to his office; leaning against the door frame. He was wearing what she called his uniform; that ragged old faded red Bliss t-shirt, tight jogging shorts and old worn out jogging shoes. She had no idea where he got the first Bliss t-shirt, but she had seen the shop where he had replacements made. She suspected Bliss had been a rock band Rich had been in as a kid. The stinker refused to tell her, just saying she MUST know where Bliss was, she took him there of ten enough. \par \par His arms had akimbo, and he reached out just in time to catch her as she launched herself at him. Vickie didn\rquote t remember taking that last step, she just knew she had melted into his arms with her face pressed against that old shirt. \par \par His scent surrounded her, became part of her again. It was male musk and Old Spice; hot, with the clean smell from his shower. She had admitted to herself long ago that she was helplessly in love with two wonderful men. \par \par }\pard \ri-720\sb240\nowidctlpar\adjustright {\f15\fs28\cgrid0 The revelation came when they took Carla home from the hospital. As Carl parked the car Vickie sat and watched Rich slowly step toward them carrying their first, two-year-old Paul. She had marveled at how much Paul looked like Rich, but knew he looked as much like her husband. As she watched, Carl opened the door to take Caroline out of her arms. Then he turned, folding down the corner of the receiving blanket to show his friend the new daughter. \par }\pard \ri-720\nowidctlpar\adjustright {\f15\fs28\cgrid0 \par Rich\rquote s face had just exploded into a smile as Carl held Caro line out for his admiration. Rich had shifted Paul so he could see his new sister. And her two men stood shoulder to shoulder, each holding one of their children as she watched. And that was one of the wonderful things. Carl considered Rich a full member of the family. \par \par That was when a wave of understanding rolled over her. Her two men, standing shoulder to shoulder, each holding one of her children. She was so filled with love for both of them that for a moment she couldn't breathe. Since that epiphany she had never been able to distinguish her feelings for the men. Her love for Rich had grown slowly over the years, but it was there. She loved them equally. \par \par Her only sadness was that she could never share the depth of feeling she had for Rich with her other true love, Carl. But it was too late, had always been too late to explain. Somehow she knew that if she could once get Carl past the first shock he would understand. He loved her, and he adored their children. And Carl was their Daddy. \par \par It was that evenin g, so many years ago, that Carl had told her with sorrow how glad he was that Rich was a real part of their family. He told her how his friend could never hold a relationship for long. His personality somehow not letting him meld with anyone. The only exc e ptions had been Carl, and now Vickie. Even as a youngster Rich became restless after a short time sharing space with someone else. He was always pleasant, but within at most a month, maybe two he was looking for some way to break it off. He once explained to Carl that after a while he felt suffocated. \par \par Carl insisted Rich enjoyed people and liked being with them: But only when he was free to leave at his whim. He speculated that, in other times, other places, his friend would have been a hermit. Rich wouldn' t have been happy, but something kept him from relaxing and becoming part of a group. Carl was delighted Rich had been able to become the \ldblquote Uncle\rdblquote in the family. It was just what Rich needed, and he gave the kids so much. Carl admitted that until her first pregnancy he had been afraid Vickie would push Rich away as every other woman had done when he got restless. \par \par She melted into Rich as he gently laid her on his bed. She had no memory of moving from the office to his bedroom, but it wasn't the first time s he lost track of time and space when in his arms. Her body sang as he undressed her, never breaking their kiss. \par \par His kiss was intoxicating Vickie as she welcomed him above her, gently lowering himself between her thighs and stretching and atop her. She strained her loins up, legs wide spread to welcome him home. Her center flowered open in greeting. \par \par She wasn\rquote t surprised to find herself extraordinarily wet. These days she always seemed to be wet when she was in his apartment. \par \par Rich\rquote s glans caught in her entry, then rushed inside her. He didn\rquote t thrust himself home. Instead she felt it pushed slowly, inch by inch, into her. Every fraction of entry ecstatic waves traveled through her sheath before progressing through her. Then his maleness nestled in to her ce rvix. There it stopped, soaking in her juices marinating. She could hardly breath with the sensations he was giving her. \par \par Then it began moving into her again, slowly, inexorably inside. Her softness was pushed aside, opening her with each slow stroke. Unt il suddenly her body broke, convulsing around him. Rich stopped to hold his hardness inside her, soaking, until her spasms eased. \par \par When he felt the ripples ease around his shaft her lover again slowly entered her. It was a moment only before the contracti ons returned and her mind exploded and then he held himself still. When she returned to earth he again began moving and would immediately break apart again. And again! And yet again! \par \par Again and again, he now commanded her body until he began driving into h er harder, his thickness, his velvety soft, steel maleness, fully inside of her. And she convulsed again! Her man this time did not wait for the paroxysms to complete, but worked his maleness hard, deep inside her, never withdrawing. The agonizingly joyfu l tension in her body continued growing, growing, growing. Then he was suddenly, wonderfully, gloriously spasming inside her. She could FEEL the potent sperm coating her, filling her. And the world exploded again into stars and fire. \par \par When she returned she was holding and being held. \par \par After a time Rich carried her to the shower, enjoying it with her. Then they sat down in the pleasant kitchen with a cup of tea. \par \par They sat silent, each thinking their own thoughts. Vickie still deliciously floating on the wave of sexual fervor, idly wondering what Rich was thinking. She was soon to find out. \par \par Her lover looked up at her, clearing his throat. "Vickie, you have your four kids now. Are you happy, girl?" \par \par She looked at him, startled, "What a question to ask, Rich. They are the best kids in the world. You know that!" \par \par "I know you love the kids, I was just worrying that you don't feel cheated with our agreement. I've been dreading this day for years. You have no idea how this makes me feel." \par \par "What are you talking about, Rich? What day? What is happening?" \par \par "You made me one of the happiest men in the world when you asked me to help you make a family. You wanted three or four kids, and from what Carl and you are saying you don't want any more. It's going to be lonely here without you visiting me." \par \par There was dead silence in the room, Vickie unable to find any words to say. \par \par Then Rich continued, "I love the kids, and hope you won't ask me to give up being an Uncle. Not surprising but I of think of them as my kids, too. I hope you don't mind?" \par \par "Oh my God, Rich! What are you talking about?" she blurted. \par \par "I know you agreed to be my lover while we were making the kids. You have no idea how much that has meant for me. But it's over now. I certainly have no reason to expect you to continue. A class lady like you, I can't describe how I've valued what you have put up with for the kids. Some nights I've lain awake hoping you haven't r egretted I was the sire. But it's too much for me to expect you to continue. I can't imagine how you must have regretted coming here every week, even when you were avoiding pregnancy." \par \par Vickie looked at him like he had lost his mind and the silence drug out so long it was painful. Rich seemed unable to look her in the eyes, studying his cup so intently she wondered if he was going to begin reading tea leaves. \par \par Finally it was her turn to clear her throat. "Rich, I don't know how you got so far wrong. I don't think it was something I ever did or said." \par \par Rich started to speak, but she held her hand up, stopping him before continuing, "I know I felt I had to bribe you to give me children, but how you ever got the idea this has been hard for me to do? You talk as if it was something I found unpleasant." \par \par "My God, Rich! How could you ever have believed that? Surely you know how much you have pleased me with your loving. But what is horrifying is how you can't see how much you mean to me! I mean as a man, a friend! Not just as a sire to my children!" She sat looking at him again. When he opened his mouth to speak she tsk, tsked at him until he sat back, silent. \par \par "Rich, I should have let you know years ago. Guess I thought you knew. This has never been a "chore" for me. How you could even imagine it was is beyond me!" \par \par "Every time, EVERY time I walked over here I have been excited about coming to you! EVERY TIME!" \par \par "I love Carl, I love him with all my being. But Rich, I love you too! Somehow I thought you always knew, or at least knew the past few years. I love both of you!" \par \par Rich sat still, listening to Vickie. Then she began trying to explain to this man she loved. \par \par "Rich, I love you. And I love Carl. Each love is different, but each is very deep. Please, don't leave me! Stay with me and the kids: and with Carl! You know what you have w ith the children, Carl and certainly with me is more than just an honorary uncle. You ARE part of the family\'85 For heaven's sake, the kids listen to you more than they do Carl or myself. They love you for yourself." \par \par "I don't know what Carl would do if you weren't around. He has beaten the alcohol, particularly with your support." Vickie looked shyly up at him from under her lashes, "And now you know how I feel about you." \par \par Rich looked at her, a quiet look of wonder on his face. "You mean it, Vickie? Our time together isn't over?" \par \par "Yeah, you big doofus! I really mean it. You almost broke my heart a minute ago when I thought you didn't want us to go on. But, is my job still here? I know you don't need me, but I'll try harder, just tell me what to do." \par \par "Oh, V ickie! How can you say I don't need you. I was hoping to convince you to keep working for me even if our agreement was over. Talk about dread! Imagine having you here day after day and not being able to touch you! With you here I have been able to spend s o much more time doing my thing. I don't know how I was able to get anything done before you came to work for me. I figured out with you here my production almost doubled. We have to talk about making you a full partner in the firm. I'm serious about this. I'll come over tomorrow evening when the kids are asleep and you, Carl and I can talk it over." \par \par He waited a moment before adding, "Well, I guess I didn't know what I was talking about when I said our agreement was over. But maybe we can go back to the bedroom and you can show me the error of my ways." \par \par He stood up, taking her hand to help her to her feet. Then pulled her to him for a kiss, long and hard. When he pulled away Vickie swayed, her legs unable to hold her. His long arm wrapped around her waist, pulled her to him, cuddling his woman to his side. Slowly he led her to the bedroom, her eyes turned up to meet his, looking adoringly into his eyes. \par }}