Chapter 9

Karl couldn’t afford to watch as Linda managed to get Keri to her feet and started down the steps, not since they were running into a series of large waves, one right after another. He couldn’t really understand why the water had suddenly grown so much rougher and at the moment he was too busy keeping the boat under control to even worry about it. Luckily, the series of waves lasted only for a few minutes, then it seemed as if they were running into much smaller waves and a somewhat calmer stretch of water.

A glance at the GPS and the radar explained the reason. Those heavy waves must have been the result of the ‘cross chop’ at the entrance to the pass he’d been negotiating. Karl sighed deeply, not only were they out of the pass between the islands, but he’d felt the boat ride more easily almost instantly after crossing through them. He double checked his position, then adjusted his direction, finding that on the new course he was able to increase the speed of the boat. On top of that he was no longer fighting the wheel as much and could pull a stool over close to the wheel so he could get off his feet for a while. That felt great since his knees had been bothering him, even if he hated to admit it.

Unfortunately the change of direction seemed to make the wheelhouse feel cooler and as soon as he sat down, he started to cool off even more. He’d gotten his pants wet when he’d been out on deck in the storm. Instead of gradually drying as he’d expected, they seemed to be getting more uncomfortable and now were feeling both cold and wet. He knew that with his arthritis problems he should get out of them as soon as possible, especially since it wasn’t good for his knees and legs to get badly chilled. On top of that, the coffee he’d had earlier had gone straight through him and he needed the head. Even worse, he was feeling the urge to relieve more than just his bladder. He was soon wishing that Linda would come back from below decks. It took long enough that he was actually quite uncomfortable when he finally heard her come up the companionway from below.

“Oh man. I’m glad to see you,” he said abruptly. “I need to get to the head. Can you take the wheel for a few minutes?”

“Sure. Sorry I was so long. I had a little problem putting Keri to bed,” Linda grinned, but sobered quickly when she saw Karl’s frown. “Should I just keep the boat on this heading?”

“Yeah. I’ll be back as quickly as I can,” he said as he stepped to the ladder. “If you have an emergency, blow the whistle a few times. If I’m in the head and busy, the whistle will wake Ely and she’ll come to give you a hand. I’ll hurry as fast as I can, but I might not be able to get here instantly.”

“I’ll be fine. Take your time,” Linda responded as he rushed below.

For Linda, it seemed to take forever before he got back. The rain was steadily easing and the wind was dropping as well, even though the swells were still quite large. It must have been almost an hour, before his head appeared coming up the ladder from below.

Actually Karl hurried to the head and took care of his needs quite quickly, but when he pulled his undershorts and pants back up, he found the damp clothing was even more uncomfortable than before. He decided he had to change them, however when he went into his cabin he was somewhat surprised to see Keri sleeping on his bunk. She slept ‘au natural’ and she must have found the captain’s bunk was warmer than she wanted to be. She’d thrown off the covers, which exposed her curvaceous body to his gaze. She couldn’t have managed to look more attractive if she’d tried. He found himself staring for a few seconds, unable to look away, then resolutely turned his back and found dry clothing.

While he was hurriedly kicking off his shorts and pants, he accidentally caught them on a drawer handle. Then, just as he was off balance and turning, while attempting to loosen them, the boat pitched as it encountered a larger than normal wave. Even as he was losing his balance and falling, he happened to catch a glimpse of Keri’s face. Her eyes were now open and she was smiling up at him. He was literally thrown into the bunk and on top of her. She caught him in her arms, but he managed to use his arms to prevent himself from crushing her under his weight.

“Pennies from heaven. Someone up there loves me,” she whispered, then before he could protest or pull away, her lips found his.

She was nude and very desirable. He was nude from the waist down and lying on top of her. He knew she was willing, even eager. And yet he fought for restraint, almost forgetting himself in that short instant when her lips touched his. A surge of pure animal desire sought to take over his body, rebuffing his restraint. Frantically kicking himself free, he shifted his body away so he wasn’t lying directly on her. She moaned, and her arms clamped even more tightly around him, but he broke the kiss and pulled his face away from hers. He paused where he was and held perfectly still.

“I can’t do this Keri,” he said firmly. “It would be a mistake. Linda is alone at the wheel and I can’t play around.”

“Aw come on,” Keri pleaded. “I need you. It’s been way too long.”

“No Keri. This just isn’t the time. It’s too damn dangerous,” Karl answered.

“Oh to hell with that. Linda won’t mind, not really,” she growled, wriggling to try to clamp her legs around his hips as her arms held his chest. “She said it was okay if you started it and damn it, you’ve started.”

“You bitch, I haven’t started anything, I fell, that’s all,” he growled, fighting against her frantically hunting legs

“Your private bitch, please,” she giggled, then she moaned and her voice changed. “And I’m in heat. I don’t know what it is, but I need you. I need a man. I need sex. It’s driving me nuts.”

“Keri, this is crazy.”

Her arms prevented him from pulling away, and along with that, every surge of the boat as it pounded into the waves seemed to force him against her wonderful tight warmth. Her position, his position, the mutual readiness of their bodies, all seemed to collaborate against his reluctance. Her body twisted and heaved under him.

“Oh Karl, please!” she whimpered.

“Keri, I can’t and it’s not because I don’t want to. I’m fighting myself as much as I’m fighting you,” he admitted. “I want you too, but right now, it could get us killed, or at least caught and jailed. We have to have two people awake and watching at all times.”

“Even for ten minutes?”

“Keri, you know damn well, you and I - look, if I made love to you, I’d have to do it ‘all the way, ‘ then I’d be tired. I’d fall asleep and so would you. We’re so bushed from all this crap that we’re running on adrenaline and I think it’s screwed up your thinking. Maybe that’s what’s making you so horny,” Karl argued. “Besides, Linda isn’t that familiar with the controls, she might make a mistake or an emergency might crop up. Who knows what could happen?”

“Okay, okay, so what if all that is true? It doesn’t help the way I feel one damn bit,” she moaned, her body finally relaxing in resignation. “I’m still horny as hell. Fuck, we all are. Even Linda and Trudy are acting horny as hell and both of them are at least getting an occasional piece of ass.”

“Oh Jesus, woman, do you think you’re the only one who feels like a raging sex maniac.” Karl laughed sardonically as he rolled to lie beside her. “I’ve never felt like this since I was sixteen. Maybe the earthquake set off some sort of gas that makes people horny or something. I don’t know, but it isn’t normal.”

“Oh Shit,” Keri couldn’t help but laugh, even if it was in frustration. “At least I know I’m not alone.”

“No, you’re not alone,” Karl snorted. “And it doesn’t help to end up in bed half nude with a beautiful woman.”

“Only by accident, or so you said,” she laughed.

“That’s right, kid. It was an accident,” Karl sighed softly. “Just an accident.”

He kissed her lightly. Keri smiled sweetly up at him.

“If this was an accident, I think I like accidents,” she sighed, then stated flatly “It’s not as if we haven’t had an ‘accident’ or two before you know.”

“I guess,” he smiled. “I must be driving you and Ely nuts huh?”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, with Linda. I mean, I practically lived with you and Ely as ... well I guess as husband and sort of co-wives for several years, Ely even had David and there is no doubt he’s my son, even if I’m not supposed to be able to have kids. Then Ely and I sort of drifted apart. She and David moved to Seattle for a while. You went off to school and then to work. Yet I always made room in my bed for you when you came back, and I did the same for Ely. Now I have Linda along and I seem to be pulling back. Even I don’t get it.”

“She’s new, Ass Hole,” Keri giggled. “And from what I’ve seen she’s bloody smart and damn competent. You’re on tenterhooks because you really like her a lot. But although you know she likes you, she’s told you she likes women too, so you may be a little insecure with that. Besides, she’s a touch possessive and a bit worried that we’ll try to steal you back from her. So, I imagine she’s made you aware of that, and it affects you as well. She hasn’t figured out how being around you works yet.”

“So, how does being around me work? I still have to that figure out myself.”

“Oh man, ask a woman to describe the impossible when she’s exhausted,” Keri laughed softly. “Tell ya what I’ll trade a short snuggle for an attempt to describe it.”

“Wench. You always need a snuggle,” he chuckled.

“From you? Of course I do,” she sighed softly as he wrapped an arm around her, just gently holding her.

“Okay, describe away,” he muttered, trying not to inhale her hair as it moved near his mouth, then he had to blow it away after all. “Pffffuuff”

“Oops,” she shifted a bit. “Better?”

“Unh huh. Looks great, tastes horrid.”

“Well, enjoy looking at it while you can, it won’t be there for long, I guess,” she started to cry softly.

“What are you talking about?” he whispered softly.

“I’m losing it, like Ely did. Alopecia. Didn’t you notice ... down below? My pussy is almost bare.”

“Oh shit. I thought Ely’s disease was genetic, from her Mom, wasn’t it?”

“I guess it was Daddy, and maybe it affects him too,” Keri sniffed. “Although of course, he denies that he had anything to do with it! It’s an auto-immune disease, so it could come from him just as well as from anywhere.”

“He would deny it,” Karl had to grin. “Hey, alopecia isn’t communicable is it, I mean, I seem to be getting a bald spot on top of my head too.”

“That’s male pattern baldness, Dolt,” Keri couldn’t help but snicker. “Alopecia is not a communicable disease. And I may not lose all of my hair, but since I’ve lost almost all of it on my body now, I will probably be bald in a year or so.”

“Poor Linda.”

“Poor Linda? Why the hell do you say poor Linda?”

“Well, she’s going to be outnumbered. I mean I’m going bald, your Dad is almost bald, Ely is bald, David is bald, now you’re joining the crew. Gee, that leaves only Trudy, Mary-Beth and Linda with hair. And if it comes from your dad, Mary-Beth might lose hers one day as well.”

“Oh, you idiot,” she snorted. “All you can do is make jokes about it.”

“Well, is there anything I can do about it? If there is and if you want me to, I will.”

“Sure, sex once a day, that’s a guaranteed cure,” Keri snapped quickly, then snickered.

“Oh sure,” Karl laughed.

“Well, it was worth a try,” she giggled.

A sudden cross wave caught the boat and they felt the sickening lurch.

“Sweetheart, you had best get back up to the wheelhouse. I’ll be okay.”

“Yeah, Linda is going to wonder what the hell happened to me,” he started to roll out of the bunk.

“Mmm, possibly I guess, but she may have it figured out, she’s smart. Before you go, I need a hug first.”

So Karl hugged her tightly for a few seconds, then pulled free and stood up. He looked down at her and smiled as he was pulling on a pair of dry pants; she winked broadly then closed her eyes again, making no comment. He hurriedly slipped away and up to the wheelhouse. Linda turned as he came up the steps, then broke into laughter when she saw he was wearing dry pants.

“What’s so funny?” he said defensively.

“It’s just that I know where you keep your pants and it took quite a while to change them,” she giggled.

“You find it funny?” he seemed totally surprised. “I damn near got raped.”

“Sorry, babe, I saw how you acted with Keri, and to quote a saying I heard long ago; ‘In order for it to be rape, one of the people involved has to be unwilling.’ And, somehow I think you’d be quite willing.”

He just stared at her for a moment. “Well, at least nothing really happened.”

“It didn’t?” Linda said in surprise. “You’ve got to be kidding.”

“No, nothing happened. Did you put her up to the attempt?” he asked incredulously

“No, I didn’t put her up to it,” she laughed. “As horny as she was, she didn’t need any of my suggestions. Cripes, remember she made a play for me before she did you. She’s as horny as I seem to feel, maybe even more.”

He sat on the stool in the corner and stared at her like he was seeing a total stranger.

“I think I can stay at the helm for another couple of hours if you want to go below and finish the job off right,” she giggled again. “You shouldn’t leave her totally frustrated.”

“She seemed quite happy when I left,” he managed to snap back.

“Oh sure, I’ll bet you were fighting her off to get away,” she laughed, then she heard a giggle and turned to see Keri’s head pop up from below.

“He did too. He hopped out of the bunk and ran,” she said, climbing the steps slowly.

Karl flushed bright red. Keri was still undressed, but was carrying her clothes and wearing a blanket draped over her shoulders.

“You’re a bitch!” he glowered at her.

“Hah, not long ago you looked at me like I was something tasty on the other side of the candy store window,” Keri laughed. “Linda, can I take our man back to bed? He didn’t satisfy me, really he didn’t. All we did was have a nice talk, then he ran off, much too soon too.”

“I didn’t think he’d taken long enough,” Linda laughed. “I can stay awake and alert for a while if Karl goes and has a ... nap.”

“Sure, but I might not let him nap for very long,” Keri joined in the laughter. “Then I might wear him out so much that he’d fall sound asleep and be gone for hours.”

“You’re both bitches,” Karl growled. “Just what the hell is going on?”

“Well, as I told you, Keri made a play for me and I told her that we were on a honeymoon of sorts, so it was up to us if it went further than hugs and kisses. I think she was willing to let it go at that. You must have been the one to take it further,” Linda grinned at him. “Just what happened?”

“You’re not mad?” Karl stared at her.

“If it was your choice, how can I be angry after I told her it was our choice?” she said. “But I am curious, what did happen?”

He stared at her for several seconds and then had to laugh himself even if it was a bit hesitantly.

“I guess I can tell you. It really was an accident. I was changing my pants and shorts because they were wet and uncomfortable from before, when we were getting everyone aboard. I was just kicking them off my feet when the boat hit a big wave and I lost my balance. I landed on the bed and partially on top of Keri. I’d even been trying not to look at her because she looked so damn tempting. She’d shoved the blankets off and was lying there nude. She woke up, wrapped me in her arms, and started kissing me. I guess if I’d known what you had said to her it might have been more than a kiss, but I managed to pull back, and talk some sense into her. Even I don’t know how I managed that though,” he stopped talking suddenly.

No one said anything for a few seconds and then he spoke again.

“I’m sorry Keri and I’m sorry Linda.”

“Oh for fuck sake!” Linda stared at him. “You stupid bastard. I love you, but we’re not married or anything. I don’t have any claim on you or on your dick. From the way the world is going, with earthquakes and tsunamis and everything else, we may all be dead in a few days or a few months. If we make it to your island hideaway, we’ll be lucky. Then we’re going to be stuck together on a little island in the middle of nowhere. As I see it, we’re going to have to share everything, and in my case, that means I know I’m going to have to share you as well. Particularly since these two women have been involved with you for years and you’ve been with me for what, two days? I’m a realist if nothing else. I could be a bitch and try to claim you for myself, then be hurt when they trip you, or I can bow to the inevitable and play around too, since Keri seems to be willing.”

She was almost in tears. Keri was at her side and hugging her almost instantly, with Karl just a second behind, but on her other side. She found herself laughing and crying as well.

“Look at you two,” she sniffed. “A beautiful nude woman and a man she was just in bed with, well at least laying in the same bed with, are both hugging me. To make it even stupider, the man doesn’t know where to put his hands for fear he might touch the other woman.”

All three of them had to laugh at that, even if it was a little insecurely. Linda grinned as she felt Karl relax and felt him reach around her to touch Keri gently.

“That’s better,” she said teasingly. “But Karl, why don’t you stand between the two of us and hug us both”

“Just what are you trying to do: drive me nuts? Just what the hell is going on?” he asked, stepping back and sitting on a seat.

He stared at the two women in confusion. Keri turned around and glared at him.

“You stupid S-O-B, wake up and smell the roses. Linda is trying her damnedest to make the best of a strange situation,” she was standing with her hands on her hips, the blanket still draped around her shoulders. “Both Ely and I still love you, even after all these years and she knows it. We didn’t hide it from her, but she can see that you love us as well, she’s giving you the opportunity to still be involved with us if you want.”

“But...” Karl started to protest.

“Shut up, damn you,” Keri growled. “Linda was right. We’re going to have to all live in close proximity on an isolated island for God knows how long. If this fucking flu running wild across the whole continent is as bad as they say, we don’t dare do anything else. We have to stay isolated. I imagine that being stuck on the island and having to work with you every day, we’ll still act the same way as we always have, hoping that we’ll be able to seduce you. Linda knows that both Ely and I couldn’t keep from wanting to go to bed with you if we had to.”

She walked over close to Karl so he was staring up at her.

“There’s an added complication,” she smiled as she turned and looked at Linda. “I’ve always been attracted to beautiful women, and I’m very attracted to Linda. Now from what Linda has said, it seems that the feeling is mutual. So while we aren’t exactly willing to give up on men, meaning you, I believe with a little imagination, we could all be in a hell of an enjoyable situation.”

She paused and smiled, lifting a hand to touch his face lightly.

“Linda was smart enough to see it almost instantly. I like the idea a lot and I think ... no, I’m fairly positive that Ely will be willing to play along. I know she’s fascinated by you and I’ve seen her friends, she likes women a lot too,” she slowly let the blanket slip from around her and sat on Karl’s lap.

She bent her head to kiss him lightly on the lips, then pulled back and grinned at his confused face.

“Don’t you want a harem?” she whispered. “Most men would love it.”

“What?” he frowned at her.

“You heard me,” she laughed softly. “There are three of us and one of you. We all like men, and we all love you, each in her own way. All of us are willing to share you as long as you don’t mind us playing amongst ourselves when we’re not in your bed.”

“But, what will your Dad say?” Karl protested.

“Dad isn’t exactly an angel,” she laughed again, very soft and sultry. “Hell, he seduced both Ely’s mom and mine at nearly the same time, after all we’re only a few months apart in age. Besides, he’s seduced almost every nurse that ever came into the house. She was either in his bed or out the door inside of two or three weeks. You ought to know that by now. Dad will probably congratulate you. In fact, I think he’s been happiest at those times when either Ely or I were living with you. Actually, I think he’d like it even better if both of us were living with you. He likes you. He keeps his nose out of Ely’s and my business, unless we ask for help. You can’t use him as a scapegoat. This choice is yours.”

Karl just stared at her, then at Linda.

“This is just too weird,” he said slowly, shaking his head. “We’re out here in a hell of a storm and could have real problems if we’re not careful. If the Coast Guard, the Navy, or even the Police from either country catch us, we could lose the boat. I suppose if things went really bad, we could be shot for breaking martial law.”

He paused for a few seconds, then carried on speaking. “I admit it, I’m tired, and I’m depending on you, all of you, for help to get us back to the island. When we get there, we might not even have homes to live in. Now, on top of that, you all seem to be trying to talk me into living some sort of group marriage with you. I’m confused, I’m exhausted, and to be truthful, I’m sceptical as hell that we could make it work.”

Keri slowly stood and walked over to stand beside Linda at the wheel.

“So go to bed. You said before that there should be two people on deck, so Linda and I can handle the boat for a while. If we have any problem, we’ll call you. Or if you need to talk before you can sleep, go wake up Ely. Cuddle and talk to her if you want, but...”

Just then they heard footsteps approach the ship’s ladder through the galley, then Ely came up from below.

“Hello, did I hear my name mentioned?” she asked quietly. “I woke up and couldn’t get back to sleep. I suppose I’m too keyed up and I’ve grown used to catching cat naps lately, then waking and running like hell to solve some problem or other.”

Karl looked at her and had to laugh. Ely was wearing one of his shirts and he doubted if she was wearing anything else. Somehow it seemed fitting that she should be there as well.

“That’s my shirt,” he accused.

“Well, I didn’t have a house coat,” she grinned at him. “I didn’t think you’d mind. You never have before.”

“I don’t really,” he chuckled, feeling relieved, at least Ely was still acting somewhat normally.

“Hi, Sis,” Keri grinned. “It’s a good thing you’re here. We were just discussing your future love life.”

“What?” Ely stared at her. “What in hell are you talking about?”

“They seem to have decided that they want you as part of a harem,” Karl said “And they want me to be the pasha, or whatever the guy is called who heads up the harem.”

Ely astounded him by giggling and blushing.

“Well? Let’s hear your thoughts,” he insisted.

She was still grinning, but now she looked thoughtful as she deliberately waited for a few seconds before she spoke.

“I have to ask Linda a question first,” she turned toward Keri and Linda. “Linda, if Karl says no, can I still come over and visit to ... well, to be your ‘friend’ once in a while?”

Linda cocked her head off to one side and seemed to think deeply for a moment.

“That depends on the friendship, if it means sex, that wouldn’t really be fair,” she shrugged. “After all, I’d feel like I was cheating on Karl. I’m sorry, but if I can play with others, he should have the same options.”

Keri turned to Karl, not saying anything for a moment. Her face was surprisingly sober for her, since she was usually so bubbly and buoyant.

“What do you think?” she said seriously.

“Honestly? I’m too damn tired to think about something this complex,” Karl said shortly. “I want to know what you all think, then I’m going to go to have a short nap and let my mind mull over what everyone has said for a while.”

“Good,” Ely smiled softly. “I think it could work, but it could also be a hell of a mess. Whether it works or not is up to all of us, and that includes Dad, Trudy and both of the kids. Hell any relationship is difficult. This idea is a hundred times as difficult, but personally, I think if it did work, it would be a wonderful way of handling a lot of problems.”

She paused and slowly stretched.

“Actually, I had the same sort of idea churning in my mind, that’s probably why I couldn’t sleep. Meanwhile, I’ve got a proposition for everyone,” she turned to Keri and Linda. “Can you two keep us afloat and on course for two or three hours, while Karl and I get some rest? He looks like he hasn’t slept much in days and I know that I haven’t slept much either, so I’m bushed. I promise not to seduce him, but I know a nice cuddle would be wonderful. I think we should all wait and think about the whole idea for a while, at least until we’re safe at home.”

“If Keri will help me, I can handle the boat, but if there is a major problem we might call you.” Linda shrugged, but even then she knew they’d only call for help if there was a bad problem.

“Keri?” Ely asked

“Oh, I’m tired, but if Linda and I can talk, I can stay awake for a while. I did have a nap earlier today, then maybe half an hour here on the boat. I know you haven’t had hardly any sleep for several days though, so you need a rest more than I do.”

“Well, Karl?” Ely looked at him. “If I promise only to cuddle, would you let me sleep with you?”

“Well, I haven’t really slept solidly in days, almost a week, a long time anyway,” he sighed. “Since this mess started I sleep a short while then awaken again, almost as if I’m expecting something else to happen. So, yeah, I’m tired enough to sleep, although I’m not so certain sleeping with you is the smartest thing I could do.”

Karl stood slowly and when no one made any more comments, he and Ely went below. He led the way to the captain’s cabin and once inside he pulled off his shirt and pants, kicking off his shoes. Ely slipped out of the oversized shirt and as he’d expected, she was nude underneath it. She slipped past him into the bunk, then turned to look at him with a grin on her face.

“I know you sleep without clothes, at least you did the last time we were in bed together, what was that, about two years ago?” she chuckled. “So hop into bed. It’s okay. I did promise to be good even if I’m sorely tempted to be a bad girl.”

She was lying on her back, her body on display to his gaze and he knew it was intentional. He looked at her in unabashed admiration for a second, then he slowly bent to pull off his socks, and hardly paused before he slid off his shorts.

Then he stood beside the bunk, gazing down at her lovely figure, admiring the way she looked once again. She had a beautiful face and a figure to match. He could feel his arousal grow and knew she was watching him just as much as he was watching her.

Her skin looked as smooth as milk chocolate, yet even lighter in colour; her body really looked like she was extremely well tanned. A heart-shaped face and hazel eyes gazed up at him, dark red lips glistened softly in the soft light above a softly round, yet somewhat pointed chin. Her breasts were round and firm, but flattened now because she was lying on her back. Breaking the smooth swellings were firm hard nipples of chocolate brown, which seemed to tighten and swell even as he watched. His gaze wandered downward, taking in the sight of the soft smooth hairless skin from the top of her head to the tip of her toes.

She watched his eves travel down her body, then back to her face and their eyes met. After a few seconds she shivered.

“Oh man,” she sighed as she stretched and simpered. “You make me feel so naked and helpless.”

“Good,” he grinned, then flipping out the bulkhead light, he slipped into bed at her side and leaned over her, kissing her tenderly.

“Man, am I ever happy to have you and David on the boat and on the way to safety,” he sighed. “Just how is my son’s Mommy anyway?”

“Happy to be here, but horny as hell!” she chortled. “Now that I’m actually in bed with you, I’m sorry I promised to be a ‘good girl’.”

“Well, I guess I could play yellow pages.”

“Hmmm? Yellow pages? Oh! No, please for God’s sake, NO!” she laughed. “That would drive me wild right now, I know how your fingers get me going, but tonight they wouldn’t be enough.”

“Well, it was only a suggestion,” he laughed softly. “Can we at least cuddle like you suggested?”

“That, is one thing we can do,” she sighed and cuddled close.

“S’nice,” he murmured softly.

“Yes, it is, I’ve missed you,” she murmured in return. “Actually I hope Keri and Linda do work something out.”

“Mmmm,” he moaned. “Too tired to talk much. Just lying here feels so good.”

“Okay love, go to sleep,” she smiled sleepily and twisted her head to kiss his cheek one more time.