Chapter 2: Winter

In front of the fireplace was everyone's favorite spot in the evenings. Dinner over, dishes washed, homework done, everyone showered and clean and relaxed. We were all there, Ben and I brushing Frances and Kate, the two of them practically purring, enjoying the fire.

Along with hairbrushing, we did backrubs. Not every night, perhaps, but often. I don't know how many times I was practically asleep by the time Ben or Frances or Kate had finished with me. Same for them. Not a lot of talking, only when someone felt like it.

A few kisses, and some lingering touches and petting here and there, especially when we said goodnight. More than once Kate and I headed off to bed and left Frances and Ben in front of the fire. We didn't feel any need to check up on them. They were old enough to decide how late to stay up and what they wanted to do with each other before bed.

"Guess who's still in front of the fire?"

Kate was back in bed after going to the kitchen for a glass of water.

"Unless we have burglars, or house guests I don't know about, I'm guessing Frances and Ben?"

"Exactly. They're having an extended back rub. Maybe even a front rub."

I started to stiffen.

"Oh, and they're nude, in case you're wondering."

Now she had my full attention.

"Did you talk to them?"

"Of course I did. I stopped to say goodnight. Didn't want to take too much time, especially since Ben looked to be about two seconds away from spraying his sister's back as he rubbed himself along her bottom."

"What did Frances have to say?"

"Well, nothing, but she had a very big smile on her face and she gave me a little wave."

Kate was moving closer and closer to me as she talked.

"I did something else, too."

She paused for a second.

"I didn't just say goodnight. I knelt down and kissed Ben. On his lips."

Now I was pretty close to rigid.

"I used my tongue, too."

I turned onto my back. Kate kissed me. Moved her hand to stroke me.

"Ben stopped for a second. Put his arm around me and kissed me back. Then he let me go. As he pulled his hand back he cupped my breast for a second, as if by accident."

Kate's hand stopped stroking. She laughed.

"I think he thought I wouldn't notice, at least that's probably what he thought until I pressed myself into his palm and wriggled a little so that he knew how I felt about it and how much my nipple liked his hand. Pretty sure he noticed when I kissed Frances on her lips, too."

I looked at her.

"You've been quite the busy one tonight, haven't you?"

"You bet. Now I'm all worked up from kissing Ben and kissing Frances and getting myself fondled, and I have designs on you, pal."

With that Kate leaned over, kissed me again, then straddled me and engulfed me. She was hot, wet, slick, and she started moving immediately.

We were dozing a little bit later, Kate still on top of me as I softened, when I heard someone giggle outside our open door.

"Goodnight Mom, goodnight Dad."

The kids kept on going down the hall.

"Dad, is it really OK with you and Mom, what Ben and I are doing?"

Frances and I were alone in front of the fire a couple of nights later. I was brushing her hair. We weren't on a regular schedule these days, but tonight Kate had gone to bed early and Ben was out with friends.

"Why do you ask, sweetie?"

"Well, Mom seems to be paying a lot of attention to Ben."

"And?"

"Is she upset with me?"

I stopped brushing. Frances turned around to look at me. I took her face gently in my hands and kissed her, firmly, on the lips. She kissed back.

"Never, Frances."

"She likes him, doesn't she?"

I grinned.

"Well, you could say that. Ben is interested in your Mom and I'm pretty sure he wants to do the same things with her that you're doing with me."

I brushed a little more.

"Your mom likes Ben's attentions, too."

Frances was quiet for a minute.

"I knew that, really, I just wasn't sure."

I kept brushing.

"Dad, I still want you to be my first. When it's time, I mean."

I already knew that Frances wasn't ready yet.

She giggled.

"I think I want Ben to be my second."

I leaned down and kissed the side of her neck. Kissed her on the lips when she turned, and kept kissing her. Then I laughed.

"What have you got, Frances, a list?"

She blushed.

"Well, not really. But I've told Ben that you're first, and he's second."

"And what did Ben say to this?"