Chapter 77

Sheila drove down the highway, grinning to herself. Catarina had the endearing trait of moaning and crying out in French. Sheila’s French was a little rusty, but from the best she could translate them, the woman’s statements were extremely intimate and erotic.

Catarina literally purred to herself in contentment as she lay snuggled to a napping John. Thinking him the most outstandingly wonderful man she had ever met.

He seemed to read her every whim. Being soft and sensual one moment, and instantly shifting to rough and frantic the next in response to her own mood shift.

She kissed him softly on the cheek and softly slipped out of the bed. She donned a robe and pulled on some bikini panties. She made her way up front. Sheila concentrating upon her driving, looking tired.

Catarina poured two mugs of coffee and carried them with her. Sliding into the other plush Captains seat up front.

Sheila glanced at her as she took the coffee mug.

“Thanks. That outfit should give the truckers a thrill. But don’t change. It will help me stay alert better than this coffee.” she chuckled, sneaking a second peek.

“You are quite welcome to observe me dressed —or undressed— any way you wish me to be. Lord knows I have examined your stunning body quite closely. Much to my great pleasure.” Catarina said.

They rode along the sweeping landscape, sipping their coffee and occasionally glancing at each other.

“Explain some things to me.” Catarina said.

“Sure, anything I can.” Sheila replied.

“The triplets ... John did not steal them from their parents and seduce them for his own pleasure?” she asked.

Sheila glanced at her. “Is that what they told you?”

“Yes.” Catarina nodded.

“No. He saved their lives. Literally. Candice’s too. He braved a roaring blizzard, risking his own life. They were running from the man John had the altercation with that got him the name Cowboy. That was the second time he risked his life for them. He was negotiating their freedom. The man had traded a tractor for them when they were just twelve. Then he raped them repeatedly from the time they had barely reached puberty. Candice was married to the man too. He abused them all physically and sexually. Their lives were bad enough that escaping into a blizzard seemed like a better idea than staying.

John took them in and nursed them back to health. Then he gave them a future worth looking forward to. As to seducing them, he fought it tooth and nail. The rest of us had to work real hard to convince him that the girls should understand that all men weren’t like the asshole they had escaped from.” Sheila said.

Catarina nodded, “And Theresa and Cindy? Not held prisoner at the silo, as his love and work slaves?”

Sheila chuckled. “No, both runaways from abusive parents. Again —or rather first— John took them in and gave them a loving environment and a future. He met Theresa first, she literally jumped in front of his car one night. He actually bumped her into a ditch. He took her in and doctored her back to health. He hired her as his cook. When he refused her advances because of her age, she mounted him in his sleep. I’m not sorry a bit that she did, as that started all this. She talked John into letting Cindy come live with them. Theresa had a relationship with her back home ... John was understanding enough to recognize their need for each other’s love as well as his.”

“And Sally? He did not put her on the streets of New York to work for him?” Catarina chuckled.

Sheila laughed.

“No, he took her off the streets. She was homeless when he met her. He fed her, clothed and housed her, and found her a great job. I don’t think he meant to be attracted to her at all. He only meant to help her. She asked to make love with him. He did so only after he obtained permission from Theresa and Cindy. She did not tell him that she was a virgin. Once he found out, he did his very best to make it the most memorable experience of her life. He almost crippled himself doing so. He looked like a zombie for days afterwards.” Sheila giggled.

“And your story?” Catarina asked, nodding.

“What did they tell you?” Sheila asked.

“That he was blackmailing you. That he held evidence of your bisexuality over your head to extort your work and sexual favors.” Catarina chuckled.

Sheila laughed like fine crystal ringing. Catarina smiled.

“No. John gave me the opportunity of a lifetime. He needed a business manager to run Second Skin, which he set up to insure Theresa’s and Cindy’s future. He gave me the job of CEO, a position which is seldom held by a woman. He didn’t care that I was a woman, only that I was the best person for the job. As to my bisexuality. John is the one and only man who ever really tried to understand it. I treasure that understanding more than anything else on earth. When I became involved with John and the girls, it was like coming home to the life I had always searched for but never found.” Sheila said, her eyes misting.

“Yes, that sounds much more consistent with the man I have come to know and love these past few days.” Catarina mused.