SLEEPLESS

t's Wednesday. Graduation was last Saturday night and I'm already bored. I miss the daily contact I had with my friends at school. Most of them have summer jobs and are off to college in August. I might see a few of them between now and August but it's not guaranteed.

I particularly miss my girlfriend Brittany. Britt and I have been an item since junior year. She is two days older than I am and, last October, she gave me the best eighteenth birthday gift a girl could give a guy. While her parents were at work, she invited me into her bedroom and took my virginity while simultaneously giving me hers. She wanted to wait until we were both eighteen and we made a promise to each other. A promise we delivered on that day in October in her bedroom.

We only had an hour or so, but that hour is engraved in my memory forever.

Since October, we've managed to have sex about twice a week. It wasn't difficult since both our parents worked eight hour jobs, five days a week. Weekends we managed in our cars or at a party. My immediate problem stems from Britt's parents whisking her off on a multi-week islands vacation as a graduation gift. When she returns, she has a job as an intern at her father's law firm for the summer and, like most of the other graduates, heads for college in August on the other side of the continent. She's promised to see me every time she's home but I'm not sure that absence will actually make our relationship stronger, especially since she'll be at a university with a reputation for parties.

Add to all that, my mother told me that I should either get a job and begin to pay rent or register in college, even a community college, and my sister, Jessie, is home from university for the summer and has taken up residence in her old bedroom.

We live in a smallish bungalow. Originally, it had two bedrooms with a Jack and Jill bathroom between them and a third door to the hallway. When Jessie arrived, she got the second bedroom. Two years later, when I was born, I spent several months in my parent's bedroom and then shared the second bedroom with Jessie.

When Jessie was about five, it became apparent that Jessie and I sharing a bedroom wasn't going to work for much longer. My parents raised the roof on the back of the house and converted the unfinished attic into a huge master bedroom suite with room for a king sized bed and an extensive bathroom with two sinks, a soaking tub with built in Jacuzzi and an oversized shower. Since then, my parents have slept upstairs and Jessie and I have slept in separate bedrooms downstairs on opposite sides of the Jack and Jill bathroom.

It's no wonder, with all the changes, I can't sleep at night. For the last three nights, I've lain awake in bed unable to sleep. My mind keeps replaying my many issues and no matter how many times I roll over and try to sleep, sleep never comes. I've tried to distract myself by focusing on baseball stats without success. I've tried Zen-like clearing of my mind but my problems find a way in. I've even tried counting sheep. Nothing has worked.

Tonight, I tossed and turned in bed for about two hours and, near midnight, I gave up, pulled on a pair of shorts and an a t-shirt and headed out to the living room. I sat in my dad's leather recliner in the dark hoping the comfort of the cool leather and change in venue would allow me to sleep. I considered putting on the television but rejected it since I didn't want to risk waking up my parents or Jessie.

I was sitting silently in the recliner, staring into the darkness, when I heard noises from the direction of the hallway between the bedrooms. I squinted to see better. I watched a dark shadow tip toe from Jessie's bedroom, come around the corner, walk through the side of the dining room and enter the kitchen. She opened the refrigerator and I tried to see better in the weak light. The refrigerator door blocked my view except for a brief instant before the door closed and the light went out.

I stared until my eyes hurt as Jessie ate whatever she had found in the refrigerator, licked her fingers and headed back to her bedroom. Her silhouette was almost invisible but not completely. I deduced two things from what I had seen, Jessie had been hungry and she had been naked. At least I thought so with a ninety nine percent certainty. I slept naked so why shouldn't she?

The profile of her body as she walked back to her bedroom, even in the dark, left little doubt that she was topless. Her twenty year old boobs were large and they stood out from her chest. It was too dark to see if she was wearing panties or not, so I allowed for a one percent chance that she was.

I fell asleep in the recliner. I woke when I heard my parents stirring upstairs and was back in my bedroom before they came downstairs. I lay in my bed considering what I had seen. My naked sister needed sustenance in the middle of the night and had the courage to visit the kitchen naked to satisfy her hunger.

That led to a hunger of my own. I wanted to know if her middle of the night venture was a regular or onetime thing. With that tasty thought, I fell asleep again without a problem.

I woke hours later to a bright and promising Thursday morning. I put on underwear, shorts and a t-shirt, brushed my teeth, washed my face, combed my hair and headed for the kitchen. Jessie was sitting at the kitchen table eating a toasted bagel with bacon, cheese and egg. She also had a mug of coffee my parents had made before they left for work.

I poured my own mug of coffee, added sugar and milk and sat at the table.

"That looks good," I said indicating the bagel in my sister's hand.

"You know where the makings are," she replied. "Help yourself."

I did know where the makings were but I was too lazy to put it together. I settled for an over large bowl of cereal with more sugar and milk.

Conversation between us was mundane and banal. We covered the weather, chores to be done and how we planned to spend the day. I didn't mention Jessie's middle of the night foray. She didn't know I had seen her and I wasn't about to tell her. I planned to spend the night in the recliner again hoping that Jessie had frequent spells of middle of the night hunger and wouldn't bother to cover up on her trip to the kitchen.

I excused myself early Thursday night and sat in my room waiting for everyone to go to bed. I waited until everyone had time to settle before I quietly left my room and sat in the recliner again. I sat in the dark, dreamily anticipating my sister's naked arrival in the kitchen. She didn't disappoint. Like clockwork, she walked out of the dark hallway, through the dark dining room and into the dark kitchen.

I was prepared and confirmed that she was at least topless but still unable to confirm bottomless as well. While I was still stimulated by what I saw, I needed to add light to the situation. Actual light that would reveal her nakedness in its full glory.

Friday and Saturday nights were not suitable for nighttime observations of Jessie. My parents, without the obligation of work the next day, either stayed up late or entertained or visited friends and didn't head for their bedroom until late. I stayed up late watching a movie on the television on Saturday night to get a handle on the schedule. Jessie had her nighttime feeding while I was still awake and she was appropriately dressed.

After everyone had gone to bed, I turned out the lights and headed for my bedroom. I stubbed my toe on the leg of the table my mother had placed in the hallway between the downstairs bedrooms. The table had been there for years and I knew exactly where it was. I had to go out of my way to impact my toe on the leg.

Sunday morning, I was in the kitchen, nursing my bruised toe when my parents came into the room. "What are you doing?" asked my father.

"I stubbed my toe on the hallway table last night in the dark," I told him. I showed him my purple toe.

"We should have a night light in the hallway," he suggested. "So it doesn't happen again."

That afternoon, my father produced a seven volt night light and plugged it into the outlet under the hallway table. It provided more than enough light to prevent further collisions between toes and table legs and it was perfect for what I needed.

Sunday night, I was settled in my father's recliner waiting for Jessie to make an appearance. She was right on schedule although she was unusually cautious. The new light obviously bothered her. I heard her door open but it was several moments before I could see her. She was looking around, checking her surroundings before committing to her nightly walk to the kitchen. I sat in the leather chair in a dark corner of the living room, holding my breath in anticipation and fear of revealing myself.

The environment, although lit as it was, apparently met with her approval or her hunger overwhelmed her caution. Either way, Jessie moved cautiously through the dining room and into the relative dark of the kitchen. Her back was toward me for most of the trip. However, I was able to confirm the absence of panties. My sister was walking around the house naked in the dark.

On her trip back to her bedroom, she was facing me more. I could see the color of her nipples and the triangle of dark pubic hair between her hips.

I had never considered Jessie as a sexual person before that Sunday night. She was my sister. Watching her in the dark at the end of last week was just a casual event, much like a practical joke she'd never know about. Lying in bed Sunday night, I began to see her differently. For the first time, when I masturbated, I was imagining Jessie, not Brittany.

I watched her for the next four nights, took a break over the weekend and resumed watching Sunday night. During that time, Jessie gained confidence and she was moving as if the night light wasn't there.

Monday night changed things. As Jessie began to move back to her bedroom, I sneezed. I felt it coming. I pinched my nose, held my breath and stiffened my body without result. The sneeze couldn't be denied. I managed a tiny, almost silent sneeze but it was still enough for Jessie to hear.

She stopped moving and stood stone still. "Is someone there?" she asked, her voice an octave higher than usual.

I froze in the chair hoping that Jessie wouldn't discover me.

"Who's there?" Jessie asked.

I didn't move. I barely breathed. Jessie gave up and moved quickly toward her bedroom.

Back in my bedroom, I wondered if my misstep had screwed the pooch. Was Jessie going to give up late night snacks or at least cover up before heading for the kitchen.

The next two nights didn't answer the question. I sat in the recliner both nights but Jessie didn't make an appearance. Caution about her appearance seemed to overcome her late night hunger.

Thursday morning, I was in the kitchen, drinking coffee and consuming cereal, when Jessie came into the kitchen. Without comment or acknowledgement of my presence, she poured herself a mug of coffee and sat opposite me at the table.

"James," she opened. "If I ask you a direct question will you give me an honest answer?"

"I guess that depends on the question," I told her.

Jessie was silent for a moment. Finally, she put her elbows on the table and asked, "Was that you in the living room Monday night?"

I decided on honesty. "It was," I confessed.

"You were watching me?" Jessie asked.

"I was," I confirmed.

"I was naked," Jesse stated.

"I noticed," I admitted.

Jessie seemed deep in thought for several moments. "How long?" she asked.

"Two weeks," I answered truthfully.

Jessie did some math. "Before you stubbed your toe," she stated.

"Yes."

"Before dad installed the night light," she concluded.

"Yes," I agreed.

Jessie is not the best mathematician in the house but she can add two and two. She considered what to say for a moment. She smiled. "Pretty devious of you," she said.

"Devious?" I asked. "Me?"

"Yes, you," Jessie insisted. "You needed the light to see me better."

"Busted," I admitted.

"Why?" Jessie asked.

"The first time was an accident," I explained. "I couldn't sleep so I moved to the living room for a change of venue that I thought might help me sleep. You got hungry. That got my attention. Curiosity was the reason for the rest of it."

"Did you like what you saw?" asked Jessie.

"You're very pretty," I responded.

"Thank you," said Jessie. "But did you like what you saw?"

"You're the woman of my dreams," I ventured.

Jessie pursed her lips in thought. She needed to make a decision. "Are you going to sit in the living room tonight?" she asked.

"Are you going to be hungry tonight?" I asked.

"You'll see," she said mysteriously. She gulped the rest of her coffee, stood up, put the mug in the sink and left the kitchen.

It would take a better offer to keep me from sitting in the living room that night and Britt was somewhere in the Bahamas.

I sat up in the recliner that night. Jessie made her appearance about thirty minutes later. She opened her bedroom door. The bedroom light was on. She turned on the hallway light and stepped into the hall. She was naked. The light was bright. I had the best view of her ever. She was very pretty. She was beautiful. Her dark nipples were upright and shining. Her pubic hair was neatly trimmed and shorter than on Sunday night. She moved slowly toward the dining room. She turned on the dining room light and paused.

She turned around slowly, a show for my pleasure. Facing me again, she lifted both breasts in her hands and rubbed her nipples with her thumbs. Eventually, too soon, she moved on to the kitchen. She turned on the kitchen lights. I watched her remove something from the refrigerator and eat it slowly, standing in the well lit doorway.

She licked her fingers when she was finished eating. She sucked each finger, withdrawing it slowly from between her lips. Then she reversed her journey from her bedroom to the kitchen, including the slow turn and palmed breasts. She left all the lights on, entered her bedroom and closed the door.

I tested the strength of my legs as I got up from the recliner. I walked hesitantly back to my room, turning off the lights as I went. I got naked and lay on my bed. "Holy shit," I thought. "That was my sister."

I held my erection in my right hand. My phone rang.

It was Jessie. "Hi," I managed to say.

"Don't waste it," she said.

"What?" I asked.

"You were about to jerk off, weren't you?" she asked.

"How?" I said.

"Don't waste it," she repeated.

"Why?" I asked.

"You'll see," she said and hung up.

I considered her suggestion. I trusted her, so I let go of my erection, rolled over and went to sleep.

Mom and dad had already gone to work and Jessie was sitting in the kitchen when I woke up. When I entered the kitchen, Jessie got up, poured me a mug of coffee and sat down again. I sat in front of the mug of hot coffee.

"Good morning," I said. "Thanks."

"You're welcome," Jessie said, "and good morning."

After a short, quiet pause, Jessie asked, "Well, did you?"

"Did I what?" I wanted to know.

"You know. Jerk off," she clarified.

"No."

"Good decision," Jessie commented. "Are you going to sit in the recliner tonight?"

"It's Friday," I reminded her.

"So?" she asked.

"Mom and dad have an unpredictable schedule on Friday's," I stated.

"Not every Friday," Jessie insisted. "Tonight they're going to the Johnson's. They won't be home until dawn."

"How can you know that?" I asked.

"You'd be surprised at what I know," Jessie commented.

"About mom and dad?" I asked.

"About mom and dad," Jessie confirmed.

"Enlighten me," I suggested.

"You have to promise me that you'll never say a word to anyone, especially mom and dad," Jessie insisted.

"You have my word," I said. "Now talk."

"Mom and dad enjoy the company of other couples," said Jessie.

"So," I commented. "That's not news."

"They REALLY enjoy the company of other couples," emphasized Jessie.

"Oh," I managed to utter. "The Johnsons?"

"Especially the Johnsons," confirmed Jessie.

"And they're going to the Johnson's tonight?" I asked.

"They are," said Jessie. "And they'll get home just before dawn, before we wake up so we won't notice that they've been out all night."

"Damn," I exclaimed. "Do I have to sit in the recliner all night?"

"We'll see," Jessie said.

Friday was the longest day of the week. Jessie went shopping with a friend. I spent the day looking for a job. I applied for a position as a plumber's helper on line and went down to the local Publix to apply for a job as a grocery bagger and cart retriever.

Mom and dad both got home early from work and the four of us had an early dinner. Mom and dad were ready to leave for the Johnson's before six. "Don't wait up for us," was the last thing mom said before the door closed behind them.

Together, Jessie and I cleaned up in the kitchen and put everything away. When we finished, I changed into a t-shirt and shorts in my bedroom and met Jessie in the living room. We settled down on the sofa to watch a movie. We kept a respectful distance from each other. Jessie picked a recent romantic comedy from Netflix. We watched an inane game show when the movie was over. Near ten pm, Jessie announced she was tired. She stood up and headed for her bedroom. "Are you going to sit up all night?" she asked.

"All night, if necessary," I told her.

I put on a college baseball game to pass the time. Near eleven, when the game was over, I turned off the television, turned out the lights and settled in the recliner.

Jessie's bedroom door opened at midnight. The lights were out. Even the nightlight under the hallway table. I struggled to make out her image in the dark without success.

Jessie moved silently toward me in the dark. I couldn't see her but I was aware of her position by the changes in the air movements in the room. She walked over to the front door, leaned down and did something near the electrical outlet. She flipped a switch and the nightlight came on.

She had changed the bulb. It was no longer a bright, seven volt, bulb. Now it was muted blue light.

Jessie stood up and waited, the nightlight behind her. I twisted in the recliner to see her better. She was wearing a black, almost transparent negligee with black bra and black panties. A black lace robe hung from her shoulders. Lit from behind by the blue light, she was mysterious and exotic.

I caught my breath and my heart skipped a beat. I was already lightheaded, my erection straining to escape my shorts. I couldn't believe my sister was the most desirable person on the planet.

Jessie walked past in front of me, the lace robe flowing behind her. The musky, with a touch of jasmine, aroma of her cologne filled the air as she walked by. The air appropriately conditioned, she turned and returned to stand in front of me.

I don't know how I felt. I remember that I was breathing, but barely so. I guess my appearance somehow concerned her. "Are you all right?" she asked.

Somehow, I managed to convince her I would survive.

"Is this what you expected?" she asked.

"I expected less," I told her honestly. "However, you've just proved that more is less," I commented.

Jessie laughed. "I was hoping you'd like it," she shared.

"If I liked it any more, you'd have to call 9-1-1," I shared.

"I know CPR," Jessie shared. She sat in my lap. "I think it starts like this," she said and she kissed me.

I've kissed Jessie hundreds of times while we were growing up. Every kiss was platonic, like kissing my sister. The woman in my lap, kissing me, wasn't Jessie. She also wasn't my sister. She was an apparition from a romance novel or the leading lady in a triple X movie.

When I recovered from the experience of that first kiss, I kissed her back. The lights came on bright with that first kiss. For the second kiss, the lights went out. Her tongue was as shapely as the rest of her and it tasted incredible. If asked, I'd admit that I might have passed out for a second.

When we came up for air, I choked out, "Christ, Jessie. Where did you learn that?"

"Just now," she said. "I thought about you, imagined what it could be like and let my feelings flow."

"I can't get enough of that," I confessed.

"That's good," she responded. "I've got lots more to give."

We kissed again, our arms wrapped around each other. "You want more?" she asked.

"If you think my heart can stand it," I told her.

"You're strong and in good health," she commented. "I'll risk it."

"I'm the one taking the risk," I reminded her.

"Man up," she said as she slid off my lap.

Once again in front of me, she slid the robe off her shoulders and caught it in her right hand. She tossed it to me. "Hold this for me," she said.

She turned around slowly, the blue light shining on her from the left as she turned. The light shining through the design in the black fabric of her outfit as she turned produced continuously changing patterns against her skin. I gasped a deep breath. Not the best thing I could have done. The scent of her cologne filled my lungs and my sinuses. My lightheadedness returned with dividends in the condition of my erection.

The black cover of her black outfit buttoned in the front and barely reached the top of her hips. I could make out her nipples through the fabric and her almost not there bra. Her panties were even more revealing. I could see she had shaved her pubic hair. Her labia and slight bulge of her clitoris were mostly visible. She slowly unbuttoned her negligee, lifted it more slowly off her body and dropped it on the floor.

"Are you all right?" she asked again.

"I'm fine," I lied.

"Can you take more?" Jessie asked.

"I think so," I said. "If not, I think dad has a defibrillator upstairs," I ventured.

Jessie laughed and reached up behind her back to unhook her bra. Instead, she turned around and backed against my knees. "Can you help with this?" she asked.

I undid the two hooks holding her bra closed. When she turned around, the straps had fallen off her shoulders and her bra was held in place by only the friction between the material and her skin.

"Would you like to finish?" she asked. She leaned in, anticipating my response.

I held the sides of her bra cups in my hands. Jessie stood up. Her bra hung on my fingers and her breasts hung on her chest. I had seen her breasts from across the room. Now they were just feet from my eyes and inches from my hands. My fingers twitched.

"You can touch them if you want to," Jessie said. "You can also squeeze them, run your fingers around their nipples, kiss them and suck on them if you want," she added.

Without permission or waiting, Jessie slid back onto my lap. My left arm was around her back. My right hand on her thigh. We kissed again. My tongue penetrated her and my erection wished it could. Mid kiss, Jessie took my right hand and put it on her left breast. I moaned with the feel of her breast and the intensity of her cologne.

I did as she suggested. I squeezed her breast. I ran my thumb and fingers against her nipple. I broke our kiss and leaned forward to kiss her nipple. She pushed her breast against my lips and I sucked her nipple. After a few minutes, Jessie shifted her body and I repeated everything with her right breast.

It was Jessie's turn to gasp and hold her breath. She squirmed in my lap. It was impossible to miss the state of my erection. We kissed again and she shifted her bottom more deliberately against my erection until I was lodged in the space between her cheeks and centered on her vagina.

"I think I'd like to see what you're hiding," Jessie said.

She climbed off my lap again and put out a hand to help me up in front of her. She took the sides of my t-shirt in both hands and pulled it up and off my body over my head. Without pause, she did the same with my shorts down my legs and off my feet.

My erection bobbed between us, pointing almost straight up.

"Oh," she said. "No underwear. Come with me," she ordered and started for the bedrooms.

She took two steps, paused and shed her panties before continuing. In the hallway, we turned and headed for her bedroom.

We stood, facing each other, naked and expectant. Jessie seemed focused on my erection. "You can touch it if you want to," I said. "You can also squeeze it, wrap your fingers around it, kiss it and suck on it if you want."

She did and more. She was on her knees on the floor with my erection between her lips when I warned her about what might happen.

"You saved yourself for this last night," she told me.

"Not for this," I admitted.

"Then we should take care of that first," she said.

She scrambled up on the bed, lay on her back and spread her legs. "What are you waiting for?" she asked.

I could feel the emotion and immediate need of the moment. I crawled between her legs. Jessie was a vision from my dreams. Her preparation and willingness were evident. Her arms were reaching for my body. I took a moment for something unexpected. I leaned down and pulled my tongue between her labia and kissed her clitoris.

"Fuck!" cried Jessie. Her orgasm must have been as imminent as mine. Her body convulsed and her legs clamped around my head. It took a dozen seconds for her shaking to subside and her legs to relax. I slid up her body. My erection found the entrance to her body and slid easily inside her.

"Wha ...," she moaned and her shaking returned. She gasped, pulled me up her body, deeper inside her and kissed me. We lay together, arms and legs wrapped around each other, sealed together orally and sexually.

I moved inside her.

"Oh, yes," she cried. "Do that again."

I began a constant rhythm within her. She matched my tempo and we climbed the orgasm mountain together. Her final orgasm almost tossed us off her bed except that she held me so tightly inside her that, even if we fell off the bed, we wouldn't have lost contact with each other.

Before her orgasm subsided, I expelled everything I had saved and borrowed more from tomorrow. I pulsed over and over inside her. She cried with each pulse, her tears running down her cheeks and the salty fluid seeping between our lips as we kissed.

We lay together afterward for long minutes. Long after I had become limp inside her. Eventually, I fell out of her when she shifted for comfort. Jessie supported herself on my chest. "Can you tell me what happened?" she asked.

"I thought it was what you wanted," I said.

"It was but I never expected it to be so emotional, so consuming. If I had any inkling it would be that intense, I would have never started," she admitted.

"Are you regretting it?" I asked.

"Never," Jessie insisted. "Now that I know it's survivable I want to do it again."

"You can never have a second first time," I observed.

"I'll settle for half a first time," Jessie conceded.

"You're on," I promised. "But I have to recover first."

Jessie cuddled up. "I can wait," she agreed. "Now that I know what's possible."

Our second time was slow and overflowing with love for each other without the explosive climaxes of the first time. "That was just as wonderful," Jessie commented when we recovered.

We fell asleep cuddled together. I woke up when Jessie got up to use the bathroom. The sun was shining. When she returned, she kissed me. "Good, you're awake," she said.

"Mom and dad?" I asked concerned they came home before I could get back to my room.

"They came home hours ago and went straight up to their bedroom," Jessie explained. "I think we're clear," she added.

"Breakfast?" I suggested.

"Meet you in the kitchen," Jessie said.

I went back to my bedroom through the joint bathroom, stopping to wash up and brush my teeth on the way. When I got to the kitchen, Jessie was pouring two mugs of coffee. I sat at the table. She brought the coffee and sat down.

"We're screwed," she said. "We left our clothing in the living room last night. When I left my bedroom, mine was neatly folded on the floor in front of my door."

"Mine was in front of my door too," I revealed. "What does that mean?" I asked knowing exactly what it meant.

"It means mom found our clothing in the living room, picked it up, folded it neatly and put in front of our bedroom doors. It doesn't take a genius to figure out what else mom has already figured out," Jessie said.

"What do we do?" I asked.

"Nothing," said Jessie. "It is what it is. Today is just another Saturday. Let's see what mom does."

I found cereal in the pantry and filled a bowl with Raisin Bran and milk. I was eating my cereal when mom and dad walked into the kitchen. They were both radiant.

"You look incredible," commented Jessie.

"So do you," responded mom with a smile.

Breakfast was a quiet affair. Everyone seemed peaceful and happy with their own thoughts. A short time later, dad excused himself, put his silverware, dishes and mug in the sink and left the room. I got up to follow dad. "Stay with us for a while," suggested mom.

I sat back down, expecting the worst.

"Well," started mom. "Did you kids have fun last night?"

I didn't know how to answer. Jessie answered for both of us. "We did," she said simply.

"You didn't clean up after yourselves last night," mom said.

"That was before," said Jessie.

Mom thought for a moment. "How was it?" she asked.

"Incredible," said Jessie.

"How about you?" mom asked me.

I still didn't know how to answer. Jessie seemed to be admitting everything without saying anything and mom seemed to follow the conversation. I settled on a similar honesty. "I've never had a better evening in my life," I said.

"I'm glad to hear that," said mom.

"You're not angry?" I asked.

"Not at all," confessed mom. "I expected it. Actually, I expected it sooner than last night." She paused for a moment. "Last night was the first time?" she asked.

Jessie smiled. "It was and I wish it had happened sooner," she admitted.

"I assume you took precautions," stated mom.

I blanched. Jessie was confident. "Not last night," she admitted. "But the timing was perfect. We'll be sure to be careful in the future."

I was having problems with the conversation. Jessie was telling mom that, not only did we have sex with each other last night, she was planning to have sex with me again in the future.

"I'm glad you didn't lose control and forget the consequences," said mom.

"I didn't say we didn't lose control," corrected Jessie. "I said it was okay and I'm aware of the consequences."

"I've always preferred the kind of sex where I lose control," said mom. "And the feeling of unprotected sex is always welcome."

Now I knew the conversation had entered the twilight zone.

"How about your evening?" asked Jessie. "Did you and dad enjoy yourselves?"

"Do women always talk this way?" I asked myself.

"It was wonderful," said mom. "Maybe not as wonderful as your evening but the Johnson's are always good company."

"Was that more non conversation?" I asked myself.

"Is dad okay?" asked Jessie.

"He is," said mom. "He's never disappointed when we visit the Johnsons."

"About us?" Jessie asked indicating her and me.

"Of course," said mom. "He's been expecting it as long as I have. I think he's happy that it's finally happened and he doesn't have to wonder when anymore. So, in case you're wondering, you and James' relationship is an open secret in this house. You don't need to hide it but you shouldn't flaunt it."

"Thanks for that," said Jessie. "We'll be relaxed and respectful."

"The best of both worlds," commented mom. "Now, Jessie, if you can excuse us, I'd like a few words with James."

Jessie got up. "Thanks again for understanding," she said. "I'll leave you two alone. James, come talk to me when you can."

Jessie left me alone with mom. What does mom want to talk about? I tried to relax. I don't think I was very successful.

"James, relax," comforted mom. "I'm not going to bite your head off."

With all the obscure references of the last few minutes, I wondered what she meant. I took a deep breath and exhaled.

"That's better," commented mom. "I just want to talk."

"Can I ask a question first?" I asked.

"Sure," mom said.

"I don't know how to phrase this," I said.

"Just ask," said mom. "You can be direct with me."

"Okay. Are you having sex with Mr. Johnson?"

"I am," answered mom. "That was easy wasn't it?"

"And dad?" I asked.

"He's having sex with Mrs. Johnson," mom confirmed.

"Why?" I asked.

"Because it works for all of us," said mom. "It provides some needed variety and it fills in the gaps when one of us is unable or not interested."

"You mean it's not only when all four of you are together?" I asked.

"Sometimes," said mom. "Don't misunderstand," she continued. "Everyone knows and it's not cheating. We're consenting adults. Friends with benefits. Everyone benefits. There are no losers."

"I didn't know," I said.

"You didn't have to know," said mom. "You know now. Don't over think it."

"I'm good with it," I said.

"Good. Now about us," hinted mom.

"Us?"

"Yes, us. You've never thought about it?" asked mom.

"Not seriously," I answered. "Did I just open the door to something?" I wondered.

"But you have thought about it?" asked mom.

"Mom, I've thought about sex with other guy's moms," I tried deflection.

"Why is this so difficult?" asked mom. "Have you thought about having sex with me at any time?"

"Mom!"

"James!"

"Shit. Okay. I have," I said.

"Finally," commented mom.

"Now what?" I asked.

"I want you to have what you've thought about," said mom.

"For me or for you?" I asked.

"For both of us," insisted mom.

"How about dad and Jessie?" I asked.

"Don't forget about Brittany," stated mom.

"Shit. I never thought about Britt," I admitted. "Even with Jessie."

"Brittany doesn't have to know but she is part of the equation, at least as far as you're concerned," explained mom. "As far as dad and Jessie, they'll know."

"And that doesn't create problems?" I asked.

"Not among us unless you make it one," said mom.

"I need to think," I said.

"That's a good idea," said mom. "Take the rest of the day and come talk to me after dinner."

I walked out of the kitchen in a daze. My whole world had turned upside down in less than twelve hours. I wondered if I wanted it right side up again. I sat on my bed in my bedroom, unable to think clearly. Someone knocked on the bedroom door.

Jessie came into my room when I said, "Come in." "Are you okay?" she asked.

"I hope so," I said.

Jessie sat on the bed next to me. "What did mom want?" she asked.

"Why do I think you already know," I confronted her.

"Why do you think that?" she asked.

"Because it seems you and mom talk a lot. About almost everything," I said.

"But not everything," asserted Jessie. "I admit she did help me plan last night but she hasn't shared what she's thinking next."

"Mom knew about last night before it happened?" I asked.

"Neither of us knew for sure how it would develop. It depended on how you'd respond and neither of us was sure. I had a better feel than mom. I had the advantage of the events of the previous evenings that I hadn't shared with mom," Jessie explained.

"So, how did she know this morning?" I asked.

"Did you forget where you found your clothing this morning?" Jessie asked.

"Oh. Right," I conceded.

"So, back to the reason I came in to talk to you," insisted Jessie. "What did mom want to talk about?"

"She wants to have sex with me," I stated.

"Oh. Wow. What did you tell her?" Jessie responded.

"I told her I'd have to think about it?" I told Jessie.

"What's to think about?" asked Jessie. "Mom's a beautiful woman. I bet she's good in bed too."

"She is and I won't take that bet," I said. "But there's more to it than just having sex with her."

"What more?" asked Jessie.

"There's you," I told her. "And Britt. I also can't ignore dad. He's married to her."

"I think it's a great idea and a fantastic opportunity for you," said Jessie. "I can see how Britt could be an issue but she doesn't have to know."

"And dad?"

"I don't see the problem with dad. I'm sure mom can handle whatever comes up with him," insisted Jessie.

"What if he wants to have sex with you?" I asked.

"Ooouu. I've never considered that possibility," admitted Jessie. "Neither of them has ever hinted at something like that. I don't think he's into something like that."

"Don't be so sure," I cautioned.

"Do you know something that I don't?" asked Jessie.

"Mom and dad are close to the Johnsons," I told her.

"I know that," she said. "They see each other often."

"There's seeing each other and 'seeing' each other," I hinted.

"Wait. Are you telling me they're involved in spouse swapping?" Jessie demanded.

"That and more," I told her. "Apparently, they agree to special moments together at times other than the weekend."

"Without all of them present?" Jessie concluded. "You know this, how?"

"Mom told me. She was trying to ease my thinking about sex with her by admitting she was already involved having sex with someone other than dad," I explained.

"I think you should do it," Jessie told me. "She's an experienced and exciting lover."

"How. Do. You. Know. That?" I asked.

"Mom made a similar suggestion to me when I was eighteen," Jessie admitted.

"And you took it?"

"I did."

"Without dad?"

"Without dad."

"Do you want to tell me how that works?" I asked.

"Maybe if you accept mom's offer, you can find out for yourself," said Jessie with a grin.

"Fuck," I said.

"I'm already imagining a threesome," commented Jessie.

"I have to tell mom," I agreed.

"When does she want an answer?" asked Jessie.

"After dinner," I told her.

"Do you have time for me before dinner?" asked Jessie.

Before I could answer, she added, "Come and crawl up in bed with me."

"You want to have sex with me now?" I asked.

"I want whatever will ease your conversation with mom after dinner," Jessie said.

Time that day with Jessie was some of the best moments of my life. Jessie is easy to talk to and easy to love. We had sex. Beautiful, caring, satisfying sex. I had a conversation with mom after dinner that night. She was delighted that I accepted her offer and committed to making it happen "within the week."

Jessie was equally happy and couldn't wait for feedback on how I experienced it.

The opportunity arrived sooner than I expected. Mom's birthday was coming up soon and Jessie offered to help dad find a gift. They agreed to go shopping on Sunday.

Jessie and I slept in the same bed Saturday night. Jessie suggested that we not have sex. She wanted me to save myself for mom the next day. We had breakfast with mom and dad on Sunday morning. The mall opened at eleven on Sunday. Dad and Jessie left just before eleven. They planned to have lunch out and Jessie told mom privately that she'd be sure to not get home before four in the afternoon.

Those first few moments alone in the house with mom were awkward. Neither of us knew where to start. We were sitting on opposite ends of the sofa in the living room, unable to make the first move. Mom attempted to break the impasse. "James," she started. "I've never faced this exact situation before. Obviously, between dad and me the routine is well established and it's similar with Dale, that's Mr. Johnson to you. Every other time, things just developed naturally, not just being left alone with the expectation that we'll have sex while they're gone. How do you think we should proceed?"

I agreed with the unnatural environment and mom's analysis. However, it had similarities with the situation between Jessie and me in the beginning. Jessie solved that potential discomfort when she sat in my lap and kissed me. I thought that a similar result might work here. I stood up, walked to mom's end of the sofa, held out my hand and helped her up. I put my hands on her shoulders and looked into her eyes. She blinked twice and stared back at me. I took her cheeks in both hands, leaned in and kissed her. Her eyes shot wide open, she took a breath and kissed me back. The kiss quickly exploded into a full blown, saliva swapping, tongue dancing production. When we broke for air, mom fell back on the sofa, breathing heavily.

"Where did you learn that?" she gasped.

"I made it up as we went along," I reported.

"You're a natural," declared mom. "I don't know if I can get my clothes off fast enough."

"Don't do that," I said. "Let's make it special. Something we'll remember for a long time."

"What do you propose?" she asked.

I put out my hand and helped her off the sofa again. I looked into her eyes again and she looked back. Slowly, I raised my hands and began to unbutton her blouse.

"Oh my," she exclaimed. "I'm soaking wet just imagining what's going to happen."

"That's good, I think," I said.

"It's wonderful," said mom. "If you take too long, I'm going to dehydrate," she laughed.

When her blouse was unbuttoned, I pulled it from the waist of her skirt, pushed it off the back of her shoulders and let it fall over the back of the sofa. She was wearing a teal blue bra with lace cups.

"Did you wear that for me?" I asked.

"I thought you might like it," she answered.

"I love it," I shared. "Unfortunately, it has to come off."

"I'm good with that," mom agreed.

She turned around and I unhooked the four clasps holding her bra. When she turned around to face me again, she was holding her bra in her hands and her breasts were hanging loose on her chest. Her breasts were remarkably similar to Jessie's. They were larger and they sagged slightly more. Her nipples, however, were carbon copies of Jessie's. I thought for an instant that this was what Jessie would look like in twenty-five years. I hoped I would be around to experience them then.

I reached out and lifted mom's breasts in my hands. Her knees weakened and she sat on the sofa again. I sat next to her and kissed her again. I held her left breast in my right hand. My thumb circled her nipple and slid across it. Mom gasped and inhaled, the air passing through my mouth as she filled her lungs.

Her eyes closed and her body melted against mine. When the kiss ended, I leaned down and kissed her nipple. Her eyes popped open and she gasped. I sucked on her nipple. Her eyes closed and she collapsed back onto the sofa.

I let her recover for a moment and kissed her again. "Stand up with me again," I suggested.

"Do I have to?" she asked.

"No. You don't have to," I told her. "But if you don't, it won't be easy removing the rest of your outfit."

"Then I better stand," she agreed.

After we were standing again, a single button and a short zipper was all it took for her skirt to fall around her ankles. She was wearing teal blue brief panties that matched her bra. "You coordinated," I said.

"I did," she confessed. "I wanted it to be something for you to discover but I never thought it would be anything like this."

"Any other surprises?" I asked.

"Take them off and see for yourself," she suggested.

I knelt and pulled her panties down. I needed an extra tug to free the gusset as I pulled them down. She was completely shaved.

"Beautiful," I commented. "Are you always like this?"

"Never before this morning," mom admitted.

"How are you going to explain it to dad?" I asked.

"I'll show him after I talk to him," she told me.

"About us?" I asked.

"About us," she confirmed. "I've already told him it might happen and he's prepared for my report."

"And he won't have a problem?" I asked.

"He doesn't have a problem with Dale," explained mom. "I don't see him having a problem with you."

"Except that I'm your son," I stated.

"He'll know how special that is," mom asserted. "Enough talk."

I knelt, took her hips in both hands, pulled her toward me and pushed my tongue between her legs. Her knees buckled again and she sat heavily on the sofa. Her legs separated and she pulled my head against her pussy.

She was extremely wet. I dragged my tongue between her labia and swallowed the fluids I collected. She was trembling as I pressed her clitoris between my lips. "Enough," she cried. "Get your clothes off."

"Do you want to do it?" I asked.

"Next time," she insisted. "It will take too long right now."

I stood and stripped off my shirt, shorts and briefs. My erection was painfully erect.

"Oh my," mom gasped. "Fuck me. Right now."

"Here on the sofa?" I asked.

"On the sofa. On the floor. Wherever you want. Just fuck me," she cried.

I positioned myself between her legs on the sofa and entered her slowly.

"Stop teasing me. Harder. Faster. Deeper," she yelled.

I pushed to my limit inside her and took long, hard strokes. She responded by pulling me tightly against her and moving her hips synchronously with my strokes. She began to tremble again. The trembling morphed into a rolling shake and finally a convulsion.

"Oh God. Oh God. Oh. God," she cried repeatedly.

Her orgasm took me over the edge and I climaxed inside her, setting off another convulsive orgasm of her own.

I fell out of her and collapsed with my head on her hip. Mom began to run her fingers through my hair. I watched the combined fluids of our coupling flow from her, down her thighs and drip on the sofa.

She sat up and I sat on the sofa next to her. She kissed me. "I'll remember that forever," she told me.

"It'll be hard to forget," I agreed.

"Come upstairs with me," mom said.

"We can't do that again," I said.

"I know," she agreed. "There's only one first time but we can fuck some more."

She stood up and picked up her clothing. "Grab your stuff and follow me," she said. "Don't forget anything. I don't want a repeat of Friday night."

I picked up my shirt, shorts and underwear. I went behind the sofa, retrieved mom's blouse and followed her upstairs. Watching the gentle wiggle of her ass and her still puffy labia as she climbed the stairs stimulated my imagination and my erection began to return.

Mom pulled me into the king-sized bed with her. She quickly finished what walking behind her on the stairs had started. Seconds later, I was on my back and she was bouncing happily on my erection, her breasts bouncing in circles as she twisted, turned and plunged on top of me.

"Damn, James. This feels so good," she called out.

Her enthusiasm overcame my determination to prolong our coupling. It took only a short five minutes before I was erupting inside her again. She rolled off me, tiny beads of sweat flowing between her breasts, and lay alongside me.

"James," she said. "I can't remember when I've ever felt so good, so complete, having sex."

"Why do you think that's the case?" I asked.

"I can only conceive of one reason. It's the feeling of having you inside me again. I loved every minute of being pregnant with you. When you were born, even though I was able to hold you and cuddle you in my arms, I missed having you inside me terribly. What we've done today brought back all those wonderful memories. Feeling you inside me, feeling you move inside me, feeling the heat of your orgasm spreading throughout my body all contributed to the intensity of the memories and the intensity of our screwing."

"Is it the same with Jessie?" I asked.

Mom paused and gave me a look that seemed to say, "How could you know that?" She had two possible responses, denial or honesty. She chose honesty. "No, it's not the same with Jessie. Don't get me wrong. Sex with Jessie is intense and satisfying, just not the same as sex with you. Fingers, tongues and toys just aren't the same as your cock inside me."

Mom and I had sex three more times that afternoon, each time lasting longer than the one before it. I was kneeling behind her on her knees, stroking strongly inside her when she noticed the time. "You have to speed this along," she said. "It's almost three and we have to be done and cleaned up before four."

I was feeling wonderful, sliding in and out of her, her heat and obvious pleasure infusing my efforts. There was no way I was going to be successful in ending our fucking sooner than I was ready. Mom sensed my dilemma. She began to rhythmically squeeze her vaginal muscles, tightening them when I entered her and releasing them when I withdrew. Her efforts paid off and I came deeply inside her for the fifth time that afternoon.

We rested for several minutes. Mom rolled over on top of me and kissed me. "I don't know how I'm going to survive without you inside me," she told me.

"There'll be other times," I promised.

"Yes, but not soon enough," she explained. "We can't send dad shopping every day."

"Then, how?" I asked.

"I don't know right now but I'll find a way," she committed.

After another kiss, she gave orders. "Pick up all the clothing and put them in the hamper while I change the sheets. Then take a shower and get dressed. I'll start the laundry and do the same."

"There's a large stain on the sofa cushion," I reminded her.

"Shit," mom said. "Turn it over or rotate it so it doesn't show. We can take care of it tomorrow."

We were downstairs, watching the end of the game of the week when dad and Jessie got home. Jessie sat with us on the sofa while dad scurried upstairs with a plastic bag.

"Everything okay?" asked Jessie.

"Better than okay," replied mom. "Way better."

"What about you?" Jessie asked me.

"Mom's better is my euphoria," I told her.

"I couldn't have done it without him," mom piped in.

Monday morning, mom and dad left for work as usual. Jessie and I were planning our day, including several intimate hours together. I was cleaning the sofa cushion when my phone rang. The manager at the Publix wanted to talk to me. I agreed to see her at one.

"Let me finish that for you," suggested Jessie with a knowing smile. "You get ready for your interview."

"You don't have to do that," I replied. "I can do it and still get ready."

"Look," said Jessie. "Your chivalry is commendable but I know what caused that and you don't need to protect anyone's modesty. Just give me the cloth and take a shower."

I did as she demanded and was at the Publix at one in the afternoon. I got the job, working the front, bagging, helping customers with their bags and retrieving carts. The manager suggested a thirty-four hours a week schedule, four pm until closing at ten pm, Tuesdays through Fridays and ten hours on Saturday. Sunday and Monday off. The schedule would make me eligible for benefits like medical insurance, vacations and participation in a retirement plan assuming I was still employed after six weeks.

Jessie was happy for me even though it would impact our evenings together. "We'll still have mornings and most of the afternoons," she opined.

Mom was even happier. At dinner, she shared that her employer was experimenting with a four day work week and was looking for volunteers. She explained that meant four ten hour days and a three day weekend. She told us that she was planning to volunteer the next day.

Privately, she confided in me, "I'll get Monday off."

I accepted the position at Publix the next day and started immediately.

Our family routine began to form into a regular schedule of sorts. Jessie had me and mom. I had Jessie and mom. Dad had Helen Johnson and mom. And mom had Dale Johnson, dad, Jessie, me and possibly Helen. Mondays were particularly taxing with mom and Jessie both home but the rest of the week was reasonably sane with Jessie and me having mornings. Weekends, except Saturdays, mom and dad had the Johnson's and Jessie and I were free to be with each other. In other words, my schedule included Jessie six days a week and mom all day Monday and an occasional time during the rest of the week. Saturdays I would go to work to rest.

With all the sexual activity, I was desperate for sleep. It's ironic that what started when I couldn't sleep and sat in the dark living room was now the reason I couldn't sleep because I didn't have enough free time for sleep.

Brittany came home the second week of July after an extended vacation in the Islands. She called me within twenty minutes of getting home. Unfortunately, it was on a Saturday and I had to work. When I was finished at ten pm, Britt was waiting for me. We shared a long overdue and very public hug and kiss.

We sat in my car in the Publix lot until well after midnight. We discussed our past and our future. We shared how we had spent the last four weeks. Honestly, I was less than honest with her. Throughout our conversation, Britt seemed nervous. She repeatedly folded and unfolded her hands or pressed them into her lap. Her body quivered continually as if she was struggling with her emotions. I guessed why but I was unwilling to make love to her in the car. She deserved better than that.

A police officer on a routine check stopped and asked us why we were there. Because our explanation was truthful and we were still dressed, he suggested we move on. Not knowing where to go and unwilling to take Britt home, I drove aimlessly on the highway out of town. We passed a popular motel with few cars in the lot. I stopped on the shoulder of the road.

"Britt," I said. "We could get a room."

"Oh, God. Please," she almost cried.

I turned around and pulled into the motor lodge. Britt waited in the car while I paid for one night for a room on the third floor. The door to the room was hardly closed when Britt leapt into my arms, hugged and kissed me. We fell back onto the bed in a tangle of arms and legs.

"I've waited so long for this moment," she cried.

Britt jumped out of bed and began to remove her clothes. "Hurry up," she said. "Get your clothes off."

"Slow down," I cautioned her.

Britt stopped unbuttoning her blouse. "Why?" she asked.

"Because," I started to say. I swallowed hard. "I love you and I want to make love to you not just have sex."

Britt stood next to the bed, a solemn expression on her face that slowly morphed into a smile. "You ... you love me?" she asked. "I've loved you from the day we met."

"This is different," I said. "I want you in my life forever."

Britt thought for several moments. "You're right. This is different. I want you in my life forever too."

I stood up and kissed her, a first kiss, full of romance and promise. We undressed slowly, kissing whenever the moment seemed right. We hugged naked, pulled down the bed covers and settled in the bed together.

We made love. No hurry and no time limit. For the first time not worried about getting caught or how uncomfortable the back seat of the car was. When we were finished, we lay together, holding each other and breathing calmly.

"Does this mean we're engaged?" asked Britt.

"Between us, yes," I answered. "For everyone else, they'll have to wait until we tell them."

"Can we live together?" asked Britt.

"We can and we will," I said. "But first we have to settle some things at home."

"What things?"

"First your father," I told her. "He doesn't like me. He doesn't think I'm good enough for you."

"He has been an issue, hasn't he?" Britt agreed.

"He has and he's going to be very angry if I don't get you home soon," I suggested.

"It's too late for that," Britt offered. "He's already angry. He was angry that I was going out to meet you at all. By now, his imagination has bloomed into a full rage and I don't plan on going home until sometime in the morning."

"He'll know what we've done," I suggested.

"And I don't care. I'm an adult. I make my own decisions and right now I've decided we're going to make love again."

Britt and I left the motel before nine on Sunday morning. On the way to her parent's house we stopped for breakfast. We discussed several possibilities for our future, including marriage, medical school for Brittany and going to school for civil engineering for me.

I parked in front of her house and started to get out of the car. "Where are you going?" Britt asked.

"I'm going with you," I told her. "We're together. We're a couple. I'm not letting you do this alone."

"You know, it's not going to be pretty," Britt said.

"That's saying it mildly," I replied. "It's going to be worse than that."

We stood on the doorstep and Brittany rang the bell instead of using her key. "I'm not going to sneak back in," she explained.

Brittany's father answered the door. The anger was clear on his face. "Where the hell have you been," he screamed. "And what the fuck is he doing here?"

Fortunately, Brittany's mother was immediately behind him. She pulled his arm back. "She's here now and she's okay but your language isn't," she told her father. "Go sit down while I sort this out."

Her father stamped back into the house, letting everyone know how angry he was.

"He's upset dear," she said to Brittany. "Come in and let's talk. I'm sure we can manage to calm him down and have an adult conversation." She turned to me. "James, you don't have to be here for this."

"Mrs. Bennett," I said. "I do."

"He does have to be here," agreed Brittany. "Whatever happens, James is part of it and deserves to know whatever it is."

"Okay," conceded Mrs. Bennett. "But his presence isn't going to make things easier."

"Things aren't going to be easy either way," said Brittany.

The three of us walked into the living room. Mr. Bennett wasn't there. Mrs. Bennett led us to the kitchen. Mr. Bennett was sitting at the kitchen table. He had a steaming mug of coffee in his hands and, I swear, his anger was steaming from his nostrils and ears.

With permission from Mrs. Bennett, I sat at the far end of the table, opposite Mr. Bennett. Brittany and Mrs. Bennett sat on the sides, Brittany as close to me as she could but not out of her father's reach.

"Okay, young lady," steamed Mr. Bennett. "Justify your actions and it better be good," he ordered.

Brittany hesitated under her father's withering declaration. She looked at her mother and seemed to gain some courage from her. "James and I are going to get married," she stated. "And ..."

"The hell you are," interrupted her father. "You're too young to get married and you've got to finish your education, go to law school and assume leadership of our law firm."

"I'm not too young," asserted Bethany, her voice an octave higher and several decibels louder. "I'm eighteen, I'm an adult and I make my own decisions. It's not 'our' law firm, it's your law firm and I'm going to marry James."

Before Mr. Bennett could respond, Mrs. Bennett put up her arms as if to separate the two combatants. "Back off, you two," she ordered. Calm down and let's discuss this like the adults we pretend to be."

Mr. Bennett started at her, obviously annoyed at her inserting herself between him and his daughter. He stared but he didn't say anything.

"Okay," said Mrs. Bennett. "Brittany, why don't you take a few moments and tell us what you're thinking and, Harold, try to control yourself and hear her out."

Brittany took my hand under the table. "James and I are going to get married," she started.

"What about law school?" asked a slightly calmer Mr. Bennett.

"Let your daughter talk," insisted Mrs. Bennett.

"I'm not going to law school," Brittany asserted. "I'm not going to school in Colorado. I'm going to apply at State, where James' sister goes to school. They have a pre-med curriculum and a highly respected medical school."

"What makes you think you can be a doctor?" asked Mr. Bennett.

"What makes you think I can be a lawyer?" responded Brittany.

"The Bennett's are lawyers," said Mr. Bennett. "And you're going to be a lawyer as well."

"Not going to happen," countered Brittany. "I'm going to be a doctor and a wife."

"You're too young to make those kinds of decisions about the rest of your life," insisted Mr. Bennett. "We've been planning your life since you were born and you're supposed to go to law school and assume the family business."

"I'm not and I'm not going to," responded Brittany.

Mrs. Bennett put up her hands again. "Harold," she said. "Can you answer a few questions for me?"

Mr. Bennett looked at her as if she was setting some trap for him. He didn't answer but he nodded slightly.Okay," said Mrs. Bennett. "How old was I when we first had sex?" she asked.

"What the hell does that have to do with Brittany?" Mr. Bennett asked.

"Just answer the question," Mrs. Bennett insisted.

"Eighteen," stated Mr. Bennett quietly but he stared at me.

"And how old were you?"

"Nineteen."

"When did we begin to live together?" asked Mrs. Bennett.

Mr. Bennett thought for a moment. "1996," he said.

"What year was Brittany born?" asked Mrs. Bennett.

"What the ...," uttered Mr. Bennett.

"Answer the question," interrupted Mrs. Bennett.

"2004."

"When did you graduate from law school?" Mrs. Bennett continued.

"2006," he replied.

"When did we get married?" asked Mrs. Bennett.

Mr. Bennett looked determined not to answer.

"Harold!" said Mrs. Bennett.

"2006," he whispered.

Brittany's hands shot in front of her mouth as she gasped at the answer.

"So," concluded Mrs. Bennett. "Who's too young to make decisions about the rest of her life?"

"We struggled," commented Mr. Bennett. "We lived on franks and beans and cold cereal. At times we had nothing to eat at all. Brittany doesn't have to struggle. We've planned it all out for her. All she has to do is go to school. Everything else is waiting for her."

"Yes, we struggled," said Mrs. Bennett. "And we're better for it. The decisions and compromises we made while struggling made us stronger and our success possible. I submit that without the struggle, we wouldn't be where we are today."

"What if I want to struggle?" asked Brittany.

"You don't have to," insisted Mr. Bennett. "What about our legacy?" he asked. "What about the law firm?"

"This is about me, not you," insisted Brittany. "Find someone else to run the law firm. Find an intern or a law student. Mentor them and train them. Then turn the firm over to them and maintain a partnership with the firm that will pay you for the rest of your life," she suggested.

"If you want to struggle, then struggle," insisted Mr. Bennett. "But I'll have nothing to do with it. I'll not pay for your education except for law school and I won't contribute a single dime for anything else." He got up from the table and left us alone in the kitchen.

Mrs. Bennett watched him go. "He'll get over it," she opined. "Meanwhile, why don't you kids share some of your thinking with me?"

Brittany and I spent the next twenty minutes outlining our thoughts on the future, going to the same school and living together. We answered her questions honestly and we discussed the possibilities, both good and problematic, like adults. When we were finished, Mrs. Bennett summed up the discussion. "It's the beginning of a plan. One with real possibilities. But you have to realize that nothing ever goes as planned. The real opportunities come with how well you adapt to the unexpected things."

"I think James and I are strong enough to endure and overcome whatever we encounter," insisted Brittany.

"I believe you are," agreed Mrs. Bennett. "But you're not alone. You have us. Dad and I, and we're going to help."

"But dad, ..." said Brittany.

"I'll handle your father," insisted Mrs. Bennett. "Here's what we're going to do. We'll pay your and James' tuition at State and an apartment for the three of you to live in. You'll have to pay for the rest, books, food, utilities and the rest. If that means either, or both, of you have to work part time to raise the funds, so be it. That's part of the struggle."

"But dad, ..." repeated Brittany.

"I told you I'll handle it," repeated Mrs. Bennett. "He won't like it but he'll agree. You two just worry about getting it done."

Britt and I left her parent's house together planning to meet with my mother to let her know what we were planning. We sat in the car in front of her house to discuss the proposal from her mother.

"Do you really think your mother can get your father on board?" I asked.

"She can and I believe she will," insisted Britt. "And when she does, we can move out to State before the start of the semester and start living together."

"We have some issues to resolve," I suggested.

"What issues?" Britt asked.

"We need to register at State," I told her.

"That's just a paperwork issue," suggested Britt.

"I don't think it will be that simple," I offered. "I'm sure the school has already filled their rosters for the fall semester. We might not be accepted."

"We'll put in applications and sign up for night school as commuting students in the meantime. That way we'll get a jump on the requirements before we can attend full time," suggested Britt.

"That could work," I agreed. "But there's another problem and it's not fixed that easily."

"I'm listening," said Britt.

"I'm concerned about the living arrangements your mother suggested," I said.

"How so?" asked Britt. "Our own apartment with her and dad paying the rent. I don't think we'll have a problem making enough money for the expenses."

It's not the expenses that concern me," I said. It's the occupants."

"Occupants?" asked Britt.

"Your mother said 'the three of you,'" I reminded her.

"I assume she meant your sister since she already goes to state. I like Jessie. I don't think there'll be a problem and she can contribute to the expenses. I think it's a win-win for all of us."

"You don't think she'll be a problem with us, ... you know, having sex?" I asked.

"I think she'll understand," said Britt. "She might even encourage it and we won't mind if she has an occasional guest, even overnight."

"I agree but things are more complicated than that," I admitted.

"Explain," said Britt.

"Jessie is my sister. We're very close. We're used to being together. Being separated might become a problem," I told her.

"I don't see it," said Britt. "You'll still be together. You'll see each other every day. How can that be a problem?"

"That is the problem," I tried to explain. "You and I will be living together, sleeping together. Jessie and I will see each other every day. We'll be sharing the same space but we'll still not be together."

Britt was silent for several long minutes. She was obviously trying to put the pieces together. Finally, she asked, "How close are you and your sister?"

I hung my head in shame and whispered, "Probably too close."

Britt's silence was unsettling. "Are you fucking your sister?" she finally asked.

"That's a crude description," I countered. "It's not like that."

"Not like what?" she asked.

"Fucking," I said. "I'm not fucking her any more than I'm fucking you."

Another long silence. "I understand your feeling," she said. "I'm sorry I phrased it that way but you are having sex with your sister."

"Thank you," I softened. "I am."

"Do you love her?" asked Britt.

"I do," I admitted. I continued rapidly before she could interrupt. "But it's not the same as I love you. It's a love I have for my sister. Not the romantic love I have for you. Loving you is like being immersed in an ocean of emotion that sex with you authenticates. Sex with Jessie is an expression of the admiration we have for each other. It's a thank you for being there for each other. It's physical, like a hug or a kiss. Just more intense."

Britt listened attentively. She nodded as if in agreement. "Can you tell me how you and Jessie managed to go beyond hugs and kisses?" she asked.

I spent the next twenty minutes telling Britt how Jessie sleeps in the nude, how she satisfies her nighttime hunger by going to the kitchen in the middle of the night, without concern for her nakedness when everyone else was asleep. I described how I accidently saw her tiptoeing to the kitchen and realizing she was naked, how she discovered I was watching and how that revealed a latent exhibitionist appetite in her and how the rest was history.

Britt took several minutes to think. "And you think her 'appetite' may a problem if we share a living space with her?" she asked.

"I don't think we'll have a problem moderating our relationship to hugs and kisses," I stated. "But if we're together on a daily basis, it will be much more difficult," I shared.

"I could be helpful," suggested Britt.

"How?"

"I could talk to her."

"Then she'll know I told you and I'm sure that would embarrass her and cause problems with my relationship with her," I worried. "I'd not like that to happen and have it between us."

"I understand," agreed Britt. "I think I can get her to tell me herself and work with her on a joint solution."

"That might work," I granted.

"Okay. That's settled. Anything else?" asked Britt.

"I think the situation with my mother can be handled more easily," I said.

"Jesus, James," exclaimed Britt. "Your mother too?"

"I can handle her by myself," I said and I started to explain how that happened.

Britt interrupted me. "I don't need to know the details," she said. "You handle it and get a backbone instead of a hard on," she insisted. "And, to level the playing field, I haven't exactly been an angel while on vacation."

"Britt," I said. "I don't need to know. I have an idea."

"I'm listening," said Britt.

"Imagine a huge white board in front of us. We can both fill it with scribbling about the things we've done since graduation, none of which do anything to strengthen our relationship with each other. Now imagine we have identical erasers and we wipe the board clean and leave it for future scribbling."

"I won't have anything to write," said Britt.

"Neither will I," I agreed.

By that time it was late. The sun had set hours ago and we were hungry. We went to an all night diner and had a slow meal with additional conversation and settled most of the open issues.

Back in the car, Britt looked at her watch. "Not that that's settled, where should we go? It's late and we can't spend the rest of the night in the car."

"I think I have to go home and have a talk with my family about us," I suggested.

"It's the middle of the night. They'll be asleep," cautioned Britt.

"I think we should go anyway. At least we'll be warm and we can talk to them in the morning," I said.

I drove us to my parent's home and parked at the curb. "Let's go," I suggested.

"Inside?" asked Britt. "Do you think that's a good idea?"

"Not really," I agreed, "but it's better than trying to sleep in the car.

"Where would we sleep?" asked Britt.

"A good question," I confirmed. "I don't want to sneak you into my bedroom. That would be a larger problem than we have already. We can sleep in the living room. The furniture is reasonably comfortable."

We went inside and curled up together in my dad's favorite recliner. Britt sat on my lap and holding her in my arms as we dozed off was among the best feelings I could remember.

I was half asleep, Britt breathing deeply on my shoulder, when Jessie took her nightly walk to satisfy her hunger. I had forgotten about her nocturnal eating and my body tensed for a moment. Britt stirred in my lap. "Oh," she squealed.

Jessie stopped suddenly and looked in our direction. "Is that you, James?" she asked.

"It is," I said softly.

"I heard another voice," said Jessie. "Are you alone?"

"Britt is with me," I acknowledged. "She's asleep. Are you naked?"

"I am," revealed Jessie.

"I'm not asleep," interjected Britt.

"Shit," said Jessie.

"It's okay," soothed Britt. "I've seen naked women before."

"That's not it," said Jessie.

"If you're worried about James," offered Britt. "I'll cover his eyes."

"That's not it either," admitted Jessie.

"Oh," responded Britt. "He's seen you naked?"

"He's my brother," stated Jessie as if that explained everything.

"That's cool," said Britt. "Come join us. We can talk. It's been an exciting day."

"Be right there," answered Jessie. She went into the kitchen and got something from the refrigerator. Then she walked into the living room, munching on a donut. "Where should I sit?"

"Anywhere we can talk without problems," suggested Britt. "No clothing?"

"What's the point?" asked Jessie. She sat on the sofa next to the recliner and continued eating the donut. "Tell me about your exciting day."

Over the next hour, Britt and I filled Jessie in, starting with our plan to get married and ending with the potential living arrangements when school started. Jessie listened attentively and gave me a questioning glance when Britt told her about the apartment. Britt noticed but didn't comment.

While Jessie was mulling over what we had told her, mom wandered into the room. She was barefoot and wearing a short cotton robe. "I woke up hearing voices," she said. "What's going on?"

She looked at Jessie. "And why are you naked?" she asked.

"I was hungry," said Jessie.

Mom seemed to accept that as a reasonable response. "Then, do I need the robe?" she asked.

Britt elbowed me. "Mom," I said. "Let's treat this as a come as you are party. Leave the robe on."

Mom sat in the arm chair next to Britt and me. We repeated much of the information we had shared with Jessie.

When we were finished, mom responded, "Sounds like the start of a plan to me. I like it. Now I think we should adjourn until breakfast and we can brief your father. Jessie, you should go back to your room."

"Where should we go?" I asked.

"You two can head for your room," suggested mom.

"Is that a good idea?" I asked. "What about dad?"

"I'll fill him in. By breakfast there won't be a problem."

Jessie left for her room, snaring another donut on the way. Britt and I headed for my room and mom for hers. In the bedroom, Britt began to remove her clothes. Smiling, I looked at her.

"If it's okay for Jessie, then it's okay for me," she said. "Do you have a problem with it?"

I didn't. "Strip and meet me in the bed," she ordered.

I held her in my arms, our bodies pressed together. "Make love to me," she said.

"I hoped you'd ask," I said.

We woke up late Monday morning. Fortunately, I had the day off. Britt got up and started for the bedroom door. "Where are you going?" I asked.

"I have to pee," she answered.

"Without clothing?" I asked.

"What difference does it make?" she commented.

"Dad?" I said briefly. I got up and tossed her a long t-shirt. She put it on. I covered most of her feminine bits if she didn't bend over.

"I guess this will work," she said and opened the door.

"She returned about twenty minutes later. With a smile, I informed her about the doorway in my bedroom that led to the bathroom. She glared at me. "You let me go out into the hall when I could have just walked into the bathroom?"

"Something like that," I laughed. "What's next?" I asked.

"Nobody's moving," she informed me.

"Then come back to bed and we'll move together," I suggested.

Britt shed the t-shirt and came back to bed. Moving with Britt is one of my favorite physical activities. About thirty minutes later, we heard movement in the kitchen and then someone went into the garage and drove away.

Mom knocked on the door ten minutes later. "Come on you two," she called. "Get decent and meet us for breakfast in the kitchen."

Jessie and mom were waiting for Britt and me in the kitchen. My father had already left for work. We had an informal breakfast of coffee, juice, cereal and toast and discussed the future. Midway through the meal, Britt's phone rang. It was her mother. She held her phone so we could hear both sides of the conversation.

"You didn't come home last night," her mother stated.

"True," responded Brittany.

"Where are you?" her mom asked.

"We're at James' house," Brittany related.

"Oh. Where did you sleep?"

"Sleep?" asked Brittany.

"Oh," repeated her mom. "You're serious about James?"

"I am."

"I understand," conceded her mother. "Just be careful."

"We are," admitted Brittany.

"Your father is still upset but he's coming around. I think that what we discussed last night will be all right. What are your plans?" her mother asked.

"James and I are going to get applications in to State as soon as possible. The best result would be the university would grant admission to both of us this fall. Worse case is we'll attend evening classes while we continue to pursue full time attendance," related Jessie.

"Then you shouldn't wait to find an apartment near the school," her mother suggested.

"For three?" asked Brittany.

"For three is fine," answered her mom. "Meanwhile, what are your living arrangements?"

"I'm hoping I can stay with James' family," said Britt.

"Are they okay with that?" asked her mom.

"We are," Interjected my mother.

"Was that James' mother?" asked Brittany's mom.

"It was," she answered.

"Let me talk to her," said Mrs. Bennett.

Britt handed her phone to my mother. She took the phone and went into the living room to talk.

Jessie smiled. "Looks like we're going to living together for quite a while," she observed. She looked at Britt. "I hope you can adjust to our living arrangements."

"Including your nocturnal eating habits?" asked Britt.

Jessie looked at me as if I'd violated some moral imperative.

"Don't be harsh with James," Britt insisted. "I know last night wasn't a coincidence."

Jessie looked at me again. "How much did you tell her?" she asked.

I looked down, unable to meet her stare. "That much?" asked Jessie.

"That much," repeated Britt. "But don't worry. I'm cool. I understand. I know the special relationship that can exist between siblings and I'm okay with it. Actually, I encourage it."

Both Jessie and I looked at Britt. Neither of us could believe what Britt had just said and I guess it showed on our faces.

Britt laughed. "Your expressions are incredible. I wish I had a camera."

"Damn," said Jessie. "Where do we go from here?"

"To James' bedroom," suggested Britt.

"The three of us?" asked Jessie.

"Just you and me," said Britt. "We need to work out the details of how we'll spend the time together."

I refilled my coffee mug and sat alone at the table with toast and strawberry jam. Mom returned from the living room with Britt's phone in her hand. "Mrs. Bennett is a remarkable woman," she opined. "We're going to lunch to work out how we can all help the three of you for the next few years."

She looked around the kitchen. "Where are Jessie and Britt?" she asked.

"In my bedroom to work on their relationship," I told her.

Mom thought for a moment. "Oh," she exclaimed. "Where does that leave us?"

"In the kitchen," is suggested snidely.

"That's not what I meant and you know it," chided mom.

"I think things will continue in the same way they have in the past," I suggested.

"You mean ..."

"I do," I clarified.

"And Britt?" asked mom.

"Based on what she told Jessie and me while you were on the phone, I don't think she'll have a problem," I said.

"How long do you think Jessie and Britt will be?" asked mom.

"I have no idea," I replied. "You know how these things are. Sometimes it takes quite a while to cover everything."

"Then we have time?" asked mom.

"Looks that way," I agreed.

Mom took my hand and led me to her bedroom.

Later, Britt and I were relaxing in my bed. Mom had gone to lunch with Britt's mom and Jessie had run out to attend to some errands. "Britt," I said. "Help me out. I don't understand how things have evolved."

"I can see that. A month ago, I wouldn't have believed it myself. I did tell you that I wasn't an angel myself while we were apart."

"I get that," I said. "But girls?"

"That too," said Britt softly.

That raised a dozen questions that I wouldn't ask and didn't really want answers to.