Chapter 48

On Monday afternoon the girls were lounging around nude in the solarium. Each a little nervous over John’s return.

“Wonder where our wayward child is?” Theresa chuckled.

“He’ll be here ... he better.” Cindy said.

“God, I’m so nervous.” Sheila said.

A distant thump-thump of a helicopter rotor spurned them all into action. Cindy flipped the controls that rolled the roof back into place. The helicopter could land with it in any position, but this gave them a moment more to get out of sight. They headed to the entry and each climbed into a snowmobile suit. Not bothering with any clothing under it. They pulled on boots, gloves and hats. Then went out just as the helicopter was circling.

The pilot came in and gently set the cargo net beside the pad, releasing it. Then circled once more as the girls secured it. He touched down lightly and motioned to the girls. Sheila and Cindy came in with their heads ducked while Theresa held the net down. The pilot yelled out the window for them to wake his passenger up.

Sheila crawled in and kissed him ... nothing. She pulled back bemused. She undid his belt and pulled off his headset. The noise of the rotor brought him half awake. His eyes barely nodding a flicker of recognition at Sheila as she and Cindy helped him out. Cindy went back to unloading the luggage as Sheila guided him safely away from the pad...

The blast of cold air helped revive him enough for the girls to guide him inside. They walked him straight down and put him into the bed. Theresa waved the Helicopter away. Then she began to open the cargo net. It was filled with a mixture of hydroponics tanks and chemicals and what looked like dress boxes and shopping bags. She opened one of the bags and pulled out a lovely piece of lingerie. Looking at it curiously. Looking after the receding helicopter. She shrugged and began to transfer the items inside.

Cindy and Sheila joined her and they got the whole bunch inside.

“Where’s John?” Theresa asked.

“OUT!” Cindy snapped.

“Out where?” Theresa asked, not understanding.

“Out cold!” Sheila said, somewhat dejected.

“Asleep?” Theresa asked.

Both the others nodded.

“Wonder what she did to him ... even if he’s only had an hour or two’s sleep we can usually wake him up.” Theresa said.

“Must be one hell of a woman. I’m just glad she stayed there.” Cindy said.

“If she did that to him, so am I.” Sheila said.

Theresa nodded, thoughtfully.

John slept for a solid twelve hours. Waking on his bed, nude. Bodies warm and snug around him everywhere he looked. Cindy and Theresa were on either side of him. His head lay in Sheila’s lap.

“Oh god, am I in trouble!” he thought.

As gently as he could he extracted himself from the bed. The two girls rolling together in his absence. Snuggling to Sheila’s shapely legs. John stood looking at the lovely sight and then slipped out.

He used the bath in the guest room and then made his way to the kitchen.

He put on some coffee and made a sandwich. He was on his third wedge of club sandwich when Cindy appeared at the door.

“The dead live ... must have been one hell of a woman.” she said, not too coldly.

John opened his arms to her and she was in them in a shot. Hugging and kissing him.

“Oh, god. I missed you!” she cried.

“I’m sorry I’m such a shithead.” he said.

“I don’t care ... as long as you’re my shithead.” she said.

“All yours.” he said. Kissing her deeply. He winced a bit over his lips.

“What did that woman do to you?” Cindy chuckled.

“I think she was testing the endurance of the male species for a science project.” he chuckled.

“Damn you. You promised you’d save some for us. I talked Sheila into staying so she’d be here to welcome you. And you return a god damned zombie.” she cried.

“I’m sorry ... I never tried to make love thirty times in a day and a half before.” John said.

“Thirty!? Are you serious?” Cindy asked.

“So she said. I lost count around twelve.” John said.

“And what did you do to her?” Cindy asked.

“The best we could figure, about a hundred-fifty, maybe a few more.” he said, sipping at his coffee.

“That’s incredible ... I’m jealous ... But why so much?” Cindy asked.

“I didn’t intend on it. But I didn’t count on her being a virgin either. When I found out it had been her first time ... well, I wanted to make it extra special for her. I told her that I would do anything she wanted if she’d just let me know...

So ... she says ... she wanted me on the table, the sofa, the floor, in the closet, the bath, the bed, in doorways, standing up, laying down, sitting and hanging from the ceiling. The last request was one of the hardest to fulfill. We ended up on top of her canopy bed. We tried it underneath too, but we couldn’t fit.” John said.

Cindy hugged her man.

“Poor baby ... but I only count twelve.” Cindy chuckled.

“Add four times before she said that. Then another eight times in the bed at various later times. Then once under the table, once in front of the stereo, again in the closet, again sitting at the table, once on the kitchen counter and again in the bath.” John concluded.

“That’s thirty ... this woman must never step foot in this house, I mean that.” Cindy said, seriously.

“Oh ... I was hoping she could come visit and meet you girls in about six months.” John said, dejected.

“Oh ... Okay.” Cindy said, happily, hugging him.

“Want any other women in your life? Maybe Theresa and I could seduce a pep club at college or something.” Cindy continued.

“No! No more women in my life! Besides the ones I’ve already got, that is.” John said.

“You certain? It might be fun seducing a pep club.” Cindy chuckled.

“You’re making fun of me.” John said.

“What do you expect, John? Four women in your life. Four!” Cindy cried.

John turned to her. Looking her right in the eyes.

“Now please listen carefully to exactly what I say. Because I’m not complaining about it. But these are the facts. Of those four women, you perhaps are the only one that I’ve initiated a relationship with. And that was after you did your damnedest to seduce me.

“One; Theresa impaled herself upon me in my sleep.

“Two; you arrived and you and Theresa started playing who the hell can dress the sexiest. Okay, we get involved.

“Three; I go to San Francisco on business. Sheila asks to come to my room, then asks if she can sleep with me anyway after I tell her I can’t have intercourse with her. I still haven’t.

“And Four; Now Sally. I met her hungry on the street. I took her to a diner and fed her. I thought I could help her. I got her her own private room for the night. Bought her some clothes she could work in and found her a good job and a place to live. I helped her set it up. Now, she strips naked in front of me, telling me how much she wants me and how I’m welcome in her bed anytime I want. I fight her off for two days, after being without sex for five days. I finally call you and ask permission if I can sleep with her. Now you tell me yes, with your blessing and all is forgiven. Come home soon.

“Now you’re objecting to my relationships with whom? I love each of you deeply and dearly. But the simple fact is that I’ve just been a victim of circumstance from the minute Theresa stepped in front of my car.

“I haven’t hardly had a moment’s peace since then, that’s spelled `p e a c e’. It refers to tranquillity, which is why I moved out here into the desert in the first place. It refers to contentment. The contentment to sit looking at the stars, just sharing each other’s presence without every occasion in life being an excuse for an orgy.

“Now basically you’re burned because after helping a woman off the street she wants me to be her first man and I try to make that a special occasion for her. After doing my best to kill myself in a sexual marathon I actually sleep for twelve hours when what you have in mind is your own little love fest. Well, I’m sorry, but I don’t feel guilty.

“Now if you give me a little time and food, I will do my very best to fulfill all your desires and the other women’s too. Okay?” John concluded.

Cindy sobbed against him. He held her, waiting for whatever came.

“I’m sorry ... I never looked at it from your point of view before ... Sometimes I’ve tried to ... but it never seemed like you just said. I guess I’ve just had this image of you and I ... together ... I do understand peace. I’ve dreamed about sitting watching you barbecue hamburgers on the deck ... It never occurred to me that it was my dream ... not yours.” Cindy sobbed.

“Cindy, there’s nobody else I’d love barbecuing for besides you. I love you with all my heart. But I told you from the start that there was a problem with our age difference. Everyone can deny it. But it’s true.

“We don’t think the same. And it’s not because either of us is doing something wrong. We think differently, because people of different ages think differently. Now I don’t want our relationship to end. I really do love you. But I can’t promise I’m ever going to think the same way you do either.

“I try to understand the best I can and to do things I think are right. Sometimes what I think is right, may be wrong for you. Sometimes what you think is right, is going to be wrong for me. That’s just the facts of life. It doesn’t mean I don’t love you. It doesn’t mean I’m an uncaring asshole. Fact is that I think I’ve been outstandingly tolerant. Before you and Theresa came into my life, I was never exposed to bisexuality. But I didn’t judge you for that. I still don’t. But as open minded as I have been, on the other side I expect an open mind in return.

Now ... Sheila ... I think first off that she’s the best person to run your company. Beyond that, yes, I’m attracted to her. You were too when you first met her. Now I have yet to have sexual relations with her.

You and Theresa had her all to yourself, for a whole week. During most of that week, I slept alone. Up to the last day and a half. During which time I spent with a lovely young girl I thought needed me. And then only after I asked for and received not only your permission, but your blessing. I left her there. I wouldn’t have minded staying, she sure as hell wanted me to. But I came back to you. Now what is fair? What is right?” John asked.

“I don’t know ... I just know I love you ... and I don’t want to lose you.” Cindy cried.

“I don’t want to lose you either ... that’s why I came back. Fact is that I didn’t expect you to say yes when I called to ask your permission. I expected you to scream and shout and hang up on me. Then I would have felt justified telling Sally no. But you didn’t say no. You can’t really get mad at me for that one.” John said.

“I know ... And when you explained the circumstances ... I didn’t want to tell you no ... but I didn’t expect ... That you’d enjoy it.” she said.

“When, darling, have any of us not enjoyed it?” John chuckled.

She smiled.

“I know ... I guess I’m just not used to being jealous.” she said.

“You know yourself that jealousy is rooted in insecurity. Now I have no intention of changing my relationship with you. You’ve told me you intend to be with me till I die. I haven’t got a clue why you’d want to. But that’s certainly agreeable to me.

“Now I don’t expect to have an ongoing relationship with Sally. She’s there, far away. All alone, beautiful and talented in a big city. If she doesn’t fall in love, and soon. Then it’s her own damn fault. I really only wanted to help her out.

“In fact ... I’ve been trying to figure out a way to help others like her, and you and Theresa ... without having to be personally involved with each and every one of them. For one thing, I don’t have the stamina or emotional energy. My sphere of love has bounded, finite limits. I fully intend to apply what little I have to those who love me now.

“That means you first ... Theresa for as long as she wants and Sheila for as long as it works with us all. Fact is that I thought Sheila might be a good friend for you when Theresa went away. I don’t know if I could keep you happy all by myself.” John said.

“You really love me first?” Cindy asked.

“Well, I couldn’t say it in front of Theresa, or Sheila ... but yes. I do. I’ve never tried to deny that I’ve wanted you since the first moment I met you. When you were looking at me like I was a dirty old man who had absconded with your girlfriend.” John chuckled.

“I was right on both counts, too.” Cindy chuckled.

“Yes, you were ... but Theresa absconded with herself.” John said.

“Uh ... John. About Theresa ... she needs all the love we can give her.” Cindy said.

“Okay ... why?” he asked.

“Well ... Sheila got her talking ... She opened up and told us all about her family and why she left. I had no idea how bad her life was. Like Sheila said, I’m amazed the girl can smile at all.” Cindy said.