Chapter 1: The Question

Wednesday.

Alex and Di are good friends who I meet up with once a month, usually for a pub meal or BBQ, and we catch up on each others news - work, life, recent trips and experiences, and families, etc.

We met in O'Brien's Irish Bar close to their home for a few beers and a meal after work. The first pint slid down easily after a long day at work and after getting another round of drinks in we started to talk more as our immediate thirsts were quenched for now. The conversation seemed a bit stilted and hard work as they seemed quite sullen and spent a lot of the time looking at the table, rather than making eye contact. After catching up on how each of us was doing at work, I suggested we order dinner as I was hungry and it also gave me a break to go to the bar and order. I was hoping that if they had had a disagreement previously then they would brighten up by the time I got back to the table.

As we sat making our beers last until the meals arrived the conversation did not pick up and something was definitely wrong. So rather than having a miserable evening I asked if everything was OK, and at which point Di started crying quietly.

'Oh shit, ' I thought 'they are splitting up."

"We have a problem," stated Alex, "Dawn has been diagnosed with stomach cancer."

"Oh shit," I blurted out.

"She has been given two months to live," Alex continued," and two weeks of that has now gone."

"I don't know what to say to you both, apart from I am very sorry for all of you and if there is anything I can do to help, in anyway, just say anytime day or night," I said in shock.

Dawn is Alex and Di's only child, a shy, quiet 19 year old who was going through university until this came up.

Alex finished his beer, so I signaled for 3 more as I didn't want to leave them while I fetched them. The telling of the news seemed to have drained Alex, and Di eventually took up the conversation after a long silence.

"We took Dawn to Hawaii last week for a holiday as it is a place she has always wanted to visit and so we did it while she was still well enough to travel," Di took a sip of beer before continuing, "We had a great week together and spent most of the time talking as we felt time was slipping away. We all wanted to ensure that we had said all the things we wanted to say and express our love for each other. One evening over dinner we were talking about none of us wanting to die with any regrets and that the month should give us time to ensure that didn't happened. Alex asked Dawn if she had any regrets and if so, could they be resolved. Dawn said she had one regret and hoped that it could be solved."

For the first time both Di and Alex looked up at me and looked straight into my eyes before turning and looking at each other. They gave each other a slight nod before Alex turned back to me.

"You asked if there was anything you could do, were you serious?"

"Shit, yes," I instantly responded, "I known you all over 15 years and you are special to me. I will do absolutely anything you want to help you and Dawn especially... money, treatment, transport, anything just say"

They looked at each other again and nodded to each other again. This time Di spoke, "This is a mummy type of question and it needs to be me to ask it."

I sat quietly and waited for the question, desperately wanting to have a swig of beer, but sitting still waiting for the question.

"I would... I would like to... How can I say this?... Dawn's only regret is that she doesn't want to die a virgin," Di finally blurted out.

I stared silently at them, my mind a whirlwind trying to ensure I had heard and understood them. If I said the wrong thing now I would possibly spoil a very special friendship and make a nightmare for them. I wasn't totally sure that I understood the question as it was more a blurted statement. I took a sip of beer to buy myself some more time.

At this point the meals arrived and this gave me a couple more minutes as the waitress set the meals down and made sure we had all we needed.

"I don't know what to say," I finally responded, "as I am not sure what you are asking."

"Dawn is very quiet and shy and very religious. She doesn't have a boyfriend even though several of the boys at church have asked her out. She feels that if she lost her virginity to one of the boys, it wouldn't mean much to them, and so they wouldn't make it special for her," Di explained, "Dawn wants it to be someone she trusts who will love her, treat her gently, and make her a woman as she puts it."

Yet again they looked at each other and nodded, but this time Alex spoke.

We would like it to be you who makes love to Dawn for the first time as we trust you to treat her right."

'Fuck, ' I thought, suddenly realizing the insensitivity of that particular thought.

"I am 40," I stated, "and Dawn is 19."

"That is why we chose you, because you care and you love her as a friend and our daughter," Di added.

"Wow", I responded," Do you mind if we eat while I try to take this in?, I am stunned."

Without out waiting for a reply, I started my meal as if that most amazing conversation had never taken place. Had two pints of beers given me an out of body experience? The look of Alex and Di's faces as they ate told me otherwise.

"Did Dawn ask that it be me?" I asked part way through my main course.

"Not exactly," Di answered, "but she went on to talk about you afterward at great length, to give the suggestion that she would like it to be you, but she was too shy and embarrassed to say or ask."

What do you say to two great friends in their hour of need when they honestly ask you to make love to their dying 19 year old daughter?

I thought long and hard as I finished my meal. I had never made love to someone that much younger than myself, would I be good enough? On reflection that was a silly question as she would have no one to compare me with. What a stupid selfish thought, I bollocked myself for the uncaring thought.

"When I offered to do anything I meant it, but this has stunned me, and I am amazed that you would ask me." I said quietly.

"Does that mean 'No'?," Di asked.

"No, it means I am amazed and truly honoured that you all should trust me so much to ask such a hard question," I stated still in shock, "How would this work?'

"We would leave it entirely to you to decide, does that mean you will help?" Alex asked.

Yes, I would be proud to, and I will take the greatest care of Dawn. But it must be on the understanding that if she changes her mind, it stops with no hard feelings," I answered.

"We wouldn't have it any other way, Thank you very much," Di sobbed, "You are a great friend. Di leaned across the table and gently kissed my cheek.

My mind wandered and thought that the next person to do that would be her daughter, as I was damn sure Alex wouldn't be giving me a thank you kiss!!

We ordered another round of drinks as we loosely discussed the best way to make this happen. After that I whistled up 'Dial-a-Driver' to get me home as I had drunk more than normally and I was still probably in shock.

Friday.

In the morning I had the car valeted at work and had a courier pick up my overnight bag. About three o'clock I turned off my computer and made use of the company showers to freshen up and look the best that my 40 year old body could. Looking at myself in the washroom mirror I couldn't believe what I was going to do. Seriously, I thought I was helping out friends with a much needed favour. I did not consider I was going out to screw a 19 year old girl. I was going out to make a friends dying daughter a woman.

I parked my nice shiny (and unusually clean) wagon outside the university building where Dawn was meeting friends and waited for her to emerge to catch her bus home. When Dawn emerged and caught sight of me, she was pleased to see me and gave me a big beaming smile as I stepped forward to hug her gently. I thought of her as a fragile china doll, rather than a good looking 19 year old who looked good in a cheese cloth shirt, tight faded jeans and sandals.

"What a surprise, what are you doing here?" Dawn asked, "Are you selling your car, it isn't usually that clean?"

"No, I cleaned it specially," I replied with a smile, "as I am taking out a very special lady for dinner tonight."

Dawn punched me gently in the stomach and asked "Who?, come tell me, tell me now!" as she smiled brightly, her face a picture of radiance.

"You my lady, I am taking you out for a very special meal and evening," I smiled back.

Dawn looked stunned, "Me?" she asked.

"Yes you," I replied gently punching her arm in return, "Now get in the wagon and put your belt on."

Dawn jumped in the wagon and looked at me quizzically as I entered the driver's side. The stereo played her favourite band as we drove down to a harbour side pub and dumped the wagon in a car park.

The pub was empty for early Friday evening and we sat on high stools over looking the harbour as we drank fruit cocktails and laughed at the surprise on her face when I picked her up. We chatted easily for a couple of hours, and I became more relaxed. After the third drink I took her hand and said "Time for dinner young lady" and headed next door to one of the top seafood restaurants in town. This was Dawn's favourite restaurant for birthday treats, and it had a relaxed atmosphere and dress code.

We were shown to our table which had a lovely bunch of prearranged roses in the centre for Dawn. I ordered some drinks as she looked at the roses and then me as she read the card, which said simply 'To a great evening with a lovely woman.'

I smiled in return and said what I fancied to eat for dinner. The menu was superb and we were rewarded with an outstanding meal as the sun set over the harbour, and we shared a nice bottle of wine. We talked about all sorts and everything except her illness. Over desert we spoke about her special holiday in Hawaii. Her face glowed at the memory and the things she had enjoyed with her parents.

When she finished I asked, "No regrets then?"

Dawn looked at me in surprise," What do you mean?"

"Dawn, when we have finished dinner I would like to take you for a walk along the harbour, holding hands, and at the end of the harbour wall kiss your sweet lips." I smiled sincerely at her as she thought about our conversation and slowly started to understand.

After coffee Dawn stood and reached out for my hand, I was relieved. I paid the bill and led Dawn out into the warm evening air.

As we walked I held her hand for a short time before letting her go and placing my hand on her shoulder and pulled her into my side. Before we got to the end of the harbour wall I stopped and turned to her. I leaned down to gently lift her chin to mine and kiss her lips. I gently slid my arms around her waist and eased her gently to me. I kissed her softly and eased my tongue against her lips. Fortunately Dawn responded and hesitantly let me slip my tongue into her mouth. Her body relaxed as we kissed for several minutes ignoring the rest of the world entirely.

Eventually we broke for air and Dawn looked into my eyes, displaying a need to be loved in a physical sense.

"Do you see that room on the top of the Marriot across the road?" I asked.

"Yes."

"Well I have booked that penthouse for the evening and I would like to invite you up there to enjoy the evening with me," I quietly stated.

"Oh," she replied, clearly surprised and taken aback.

"Would you care to join me?"

"Yes... Yes I would," she responded and my heart danced. I don't know what I would have done if she had said no. Plan B was to take her home if she had declined. Fortunately there wasn't need for plan B at the moment.

We held hands as we crossed the road and walked into the foyer. I had already sent ahead instructions and a photo so the desk staff would pass over the key and forgo the bellboy showing us to the penthouse.

In the lift I held Dawn's hand and she felt nervous as the lift rose to the top floor. The lift opened directly into the room using our key card. There was subdued lighting in the room allowing the lights of the harbour and waterfront to flood in through the windows.

We walked through the room and out onto the balcony overlooking the water. I stood behind Dawn and gently kissed her neck as we looked out in the warm evening air. My hands slid down onto her hips as I kissed my way around the back of her neck, brushing her shoulder length brown hair to one side as I traversed the soft warm skin from ear to ear. Dawn sighed as I reached her right ear and gently chewed her lobe as I started to turn her around and continue my journey towards her warm lips.

As my tongue slid into her welcoming mouth my left hand slid up her back to rest between her shoulder blades and pull her so her lithe body rested against mine. My right hand slid down onto her hip and the fingers rested against the seam of her jeans between her cheeks, softly feeling the curve of her bum.

As we explored each others mouths and my hands softly caressed the warm body beneath them, I could feel Dawn respond with warmth and passion. My left hand stroked through her hair and onto her cheek as I tenderly kissed this young innocent girl. I didn't want to rush in any way so I let my right hand slowly descend over her denim encased cheeks to caress her bum as I kissed her for several minutes.

Finally we eased our lips apart, but held onto each other, Dawn's hands around my waist. Looking deep into her eyes I whispered, "I would love to make warm, tender passionate love to you tonight," and kissed her briefly again.

As our lips parted again, she breathed "Yes,... I would like that very much."

I leaned down to kiss her again, relieved with her answer, and growing horny to this lovely 19 year old that had just melted in my arms, giving me the answer I needed to take her in to womanhood. I was now in a very fortunate and trusted position of teaching this young girl the beauty of sensual lovemaking and maybe follow it with several lessons in the art of exciting sex.

There was a deep passion and longing in Dawn's lips and body as we kissed harder and more urgently than before. I didn't want her to change her mind by me rushing her as this was all new to her. As we kissed I let both hands roam over her bum, feeling its tight, firm shape under the denim as I squeezed and molded her cheeks. Dawn started to caress my back as your tongues explored each others mouths and lips as we occasionally took the odd breathe as our passion grew. Slowly I brought my hands up over her shoulders and reached down to undo the top three buttons of her blouse, pleased that Dawn sighed gently into my mouth as I did so. Feeling her acceptance I continued to undo the rest of the buttons before finally pulling the blouse out of her jeans.

Breaking away from her lips but holding on to her hips I started to kiss her chin and down on to her neck. Slowly I eased her collar apart so my lips could trail down onto her shoulder as I eased her blouse apart further to expose more of her smooth virgin skin. I wondered if she had let anyone do this amount of kissing before, but I doubted it as I gently nibbled the smooth warm skin of her shoulder.